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The Aelfraver Trilogy #2
The Rebel
An arcanepunk cyberfantasy set in J.R. Traas's futuristic world of El, The Aelfraver Trilogy is a story about teenage rebellion—against the ruling elite and their gods.
GODS IN THE SHADOWS
It has been two years since the Battle of City Hall. The Consul of New El spearheads an assault on the Hextarchs of Ozar, six dying gods representing the last bastion of resistance against the world-spanning Elemental Empire. Reorganized under a charismatic miracle worker known as The Savior, the fanatical Sanctum gains influence and followers. Alina K’vich takes refuge on Mount Morbin along with her impatient and murderous teacher, a rusting android, a three-inch-tall winged mouse, and the girl she kidnapped two years ago.
As Cho trains in lethal combat, Alina loses herself in the dream-walking Discipline of Revomancy. While Alina contends with her mutating body and Sevensin powers, Cho reconfigures her cybernetic enhancements, awaiting the day the men who murdered her family finally come for her.
Driven from their haven, the girls smuggle themselves into Ozar, a sprawling underground city-state populated by Aelf and humans. Pushed apart by their clashing priorities and philosophies, they pursue their own agendas: Alina stalks The Sanctum’s leaders to uncover her family’s secrets while Cho’s compulsion for revenge drags her into the darkest recesses of the digital netherworld.
Now The Authority closes in, the complete extermination of the Aelf and Ozari resistance within their grasp. As Alina and Cho’s obsessions precipitate the slaughter of loved ones, deaths of deities, and sundering of nations, the feuding pair must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice to escape annihilation.
GODS IN THE SHADOWS
It has been two years since the Battle of City Hall. The Consul of New El spearheads an assault on the Hextarchs of Ozar, six dying gods representing the last bastion of resistance against the world-spanning Elemental Empire. Reorganized under a charismatic miracle worker known as The Savior, the fanatical Sanctum gains influence and followers. Alina K’vich takes refuge on Mount Morbin along with her impatient and murderous teacher, a rusting android, a three-inch-tall winged mouse, and the girl she kidnapped two years ago.
As Cho trains in lethal combat, Alina loses herself in the dream-walking Discipline of Revomancy. While Alina contends with her mutating body and Sevensin powers, Cho reconfigures her cybernetic enhancements, awaiting the day the men who murdered her family finally come for her.
Driven from their haven, the girls smuggle themselves into Ozar, a sprawling underground city-state populated by Aelf and humans. Pushed apart by their clashing priorities and philosophies, they pursue their own agendas: Alina stalks The Sanctum’s leaders to uncover her family’s secrets while Cho’s compulsion for revenge drags her into the darkest recesses of the digital netherworld.
Now The Authority closes in, the complete extermination of the Aelf and Ozari resistance within their grasp. As Alina and Cho’s obsessions precipitate the slaughter of loved ones, deaths of deities, and sundering of nations, the feuding pair must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice to escape annihilation.
549 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2022
2 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Traas
25 books14 followersJ.R. Traas is an author, editor, and tutor who has published over twenty books, as well as various short stories and poems.
With well over a decade of teaching experience, it has been his privilege to instruct dozens upon dozens of young people in a plethora of subjects. Some of his students have won awards and scholarships for their writing. One of them calls him “Gandalf”—the highest compliment he has ever received.
Gandalf lives near Atlanta with his wife and their animal friends.
Heading over to Blankbooklibrary.com is the simplest way to reach him and, if desired, join the conversation. If you liked this story, please leave a review and spread the word. Cat food, after all, doesn’t grow on trees.
With well over a decade of teaching experience, it has been his privilege to instruct dozens upon dozens of young people in a plethora of subjects. Some of his students have won awards and scholarships for their writing. One of them calls him “Gandalf”—the highest compliment he has ever received.
Gandalf lives near Atlanta with his wife and their animal friends.
Heading over to Blankbooklibrary.com is the simplest way to reach him and, if desired, join the conversation. If you liked this story, please leave a review and spread the word. Cat food, after all, doesn’t grow on trees.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 9, 2022
THE REBEL
by J.R. Traas is the exciting continuation of the YA fantasy series, The Aelfraver Trilogy.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I did receive an copy of the eARC from the author to read in exchange for an honest review. That being said, the author did NOT have to ask twice because the answer was a quick and resounding YES!
Did THE REBEL suffer from second book syndrome? Absolutely not! This one was so good that I'm over here scratching my head wondering how on Earth J.R. Traas is going to be able to follow this one up with the third installment.
What is it about? Our favorite characters Alina and Cho are back in full effect, two years after the first book, THE RAVE . You know that line, "Whenever someone at the top falls or gets taken out, it creates a power vacuum that must be filled by someone of equal or greater power"? Well, that's what we're dealing with as the Elemental Empire reorganizes and rallies under a new leader known as The Savior.
Alina, our fantasy element, has been relentlessly working to master Revomancy - the art of walking through dreams, a discipline that grows from imagination. While I did feel the training and time spent developing Alina's progress went on a little too long in the beginning, I do appreciate that we saw her put through the paces, it wasn't an instant achievement.
Cho, our sci fi element, is likewise working hard - except her training is much more lethal in nature. As a child, Cho's parents had her implanted with all sorts of cybernetic enhancements and Cho has been constantly working to enhance them...along with clandestine attacks on the Walazzins, her enemy who murdered her entire family.
Each girl has her own focus as far as intent - Alina wants to discover more about her family, primarily her grandfather and Cho wants to get her revenge. Meanwhile, The Authority is showing their hand by setting into motion things that will eradicate all Aelf - maybe a whole city with them.
The turbulent setting of all the political unrest made for an exciting read - not to mention how much more we learned of the magic of the Aelf. This book went places I never dreamed it would go - that's why I'm just completely mind blown as to what could come next! The author's creativity with the world building and magic system ALONE leaves me speechless.
I cannot wait to see what the third and final book holds!!!
In the spirit of full disclosure, I did receive an copy of the eARC from the author to read in exchange for an honest review. That being said, the author did NOT have to ask twice because the answer was a quick and resounding YES!
Did THE REBEL suffer from second book syndrome? Absolutely not! This one was so good that I'm over here scratching my head wondering how on Earth J.R. Traas is going to be able to follow this one up with the third installment.
"If only freedom could be bought with a currency other than blood."
What is it about? Our favorite characters Alina and Cho are back in full effect, two years after the first book, THE RAVE . You know that line, "Whenever someone at the top falls or gets taken out, it creates a power vacuum that must be filled by someone of equal or greater power"? Well, that's what we're dealing with as the Elemental Empire reorganizes and rallies under a new leader known as The Savior.
Alina, our fantasy element, has been relentlessly working to master Revomancy - the art of walking through dreams, a discipline that grows from imagination. While I did feel the training and time spent developing Alina's progress went on a little too long in the beginning, I do appreciate that we saw her put through the paces, it wasn't an instant achievement.
Cho, our sci fi element, is likewise working hard - except her training is much more lethal in nature. As a child, Cho's parents had her implanted with all sorts of cybernetic enhancements and Cho has been constantly working to enhance them...along with clandestine attacks on the Walazzins, her enemy who murdered her entire family.
Each girl has her own focus as far as intent - Alina wants to discover more about her family, primarily her grandfather and Cho wants to get her revenge. Meanwhile, The Authority is showing their hand by setting into motion things that will eradicate all Aelf - maybe a whole city with them.
The turbulent setting of all the political unrest made for an exciting read - not to mention how much more we learned of the magic of the Aelf. This book went places I never dreamed it would go - that's why I'm just completely mind blown as to what could come next! The author's creativity with the world building and magic system ALONE leaves me speechless.
I cannot wait to see what the third and final book holds!!!
June 18, 2022
The Rebel is sequel to YA science-fantasy (arcanepunk cyberfantasy) The Rave which I read last year.
This book doesn't hold back, stakes are high.
We get much more magic, scheming and politics, new characters and places are introduced.
It was great to come back to familiar characters and follow what happens to them, they went through a lot and I enjoyed every second of it. I'm so excited to read the next book.
This book doesn't hold back, stakes are high.
We get much more magic, scheming and politics, new characters and places are introduced.
It was great to come back to familiar characters and follow what happens to them, they went through a lot and I enjoyed every second of it. I'm so excited to read the next book.
June 21, 2022
4 stars!
Admittedly, The Rebel took longer for me to get into than the first of the series but by the end, I was completely hooked and staying up late repeatedly to enjoy the story and see how it ended- but mr Trass has definitely given me trust issues!
I’m incredibly excited for the next installment!
Admittedly, The Rebel took longer for me to get into than the first of the series but by the end, I was completely hooked and staying up late repeatedly to enjoy the story and see how it ended- but mr Trass has definitely given me trust issues!
I’m incredibly excited for the next installment!
May 16, 2023
⭐️⭐️ 2.5
Alina has been trained to become an Aelfraver—a hunter of beasts and demons. After ‘defeating’ the entity terrorising the floating capital, and finding out way more than she ever wanted to about her family, her history and identity, she escapes with Cho to try and live a semi-normal life.
Of course, nothing can stay normal for long: Alina is being hunted by the Authority and Cho is a rebellious teen girl. Oh and they have a demon along for the ride with them too.
This book was more slow-going than the first one and I found myself desperately waiting for something to happen. Not that there wasn’t a ton of plot, there was, but I always felt in anticipation of something… greater.
I think this wasn’t helped by the time jump from the first book with minimal explanation. Indeed, we learn of deaths and departures threw off-hand comments 1/4s in.
There was also a lot more emphasis on moralistic meanderings which I love in small doses - once it becomes a characters arc, it’s quickly tiring to read of someone trying to be so pious and righteous due to their altered belief system.
Also, I just felt there was an over-indulgence in religious fanatics.
However:
The world building was fantastic - a mix of cyberpunk and fantasy - and with real drawbacks of using magic.
Like previously, this was filled with witty snark that caused giggles and snorts.
Bookstagram
Alina has been trained to become an Aelfraver—a hunter of beasts and demons. After ‘defeating’ the entity terrorising the floating capital, and finding out way more than she ever wanted to about her family, her history and identity, she escapes with Cho to try and live a semi-normal life.
Of course, nothing can stay normal for long: Alina is being hunted by the Authority and Cho is a rebellious teen girl. Oh and they have a demon along for the ride with them too.
“Look at us: we've got a bodybuilding mouse, a weird shadow witch, a human water gun, a white-haired trust fund baby, and the world's most attractive thief.”
This book was more slow-going than the first one and I found myself desperately waiting for something to happen. Not that there wasn’t a ton of plot, there was, but I always felt in anticipation of something… greater.
I think this wasn’t helped by the time jump from the first book with minimal explanation. Indeed, we learn of deaths and departures threw off-hand comments 1/4s in.
There was also a lot more emphasis on moralistic meanderings which I love in small doses - once it becomes a characters arc, it’s quickly tiring to read of someone trying to be so pious and righteous due to their altered belief system.
"The law and justice aren't the same thing."
Also, I just felt there was an over-indulgence in religious fanatics.
However:
The world building was fantastic - a mix of cyberpunk and fantasy - and with real drawbacks of using magic.
Like previously, this was filled with witty snark that caused giggles and snorts.
“So, what do you want with me?"
"From you. Your head."
"That's problematic: I'm sort of using it at the moment."
"Yeesh." Cho turned to Cbarassan. "So, looks like I hafta ask you to help me restrain my best friend, who seems to have body-snatched a total stranger."
The Aelf said, "Accessory to abduction.
Joy. Do you do this sort of thing often?"
"Not, like, all the time, but enough to make it a recurring theme."
Bookstagram
August 14, 2022
The Rebel may be book two of the Aelfraver Trilogy, but it is the number one book in my heart. Everything about this book exceeded my expectations of where Traas could possibly take the story after The Rave.
In The Rave we find Alina in over her head from the start, meddling in situations in which she has no business. It is a ratcheting tension that just doesn’t end as the book progresses. The Rebel…. How do I put this? The Rebel makes The Rave look like training wheels. Child’s play. A pillow fight…
Don’t get me wrong, I loved The Rave. It was a magnificent book and there is nothing to criticize about the scale of the conflicts facing our main characters or the enjoyment I received from following Alina’s journey. But if The Rave tossed Alina into the deep end, The Rebel made it feel like the shallows. The Rebel strapped concrete blocks to her feet and placed her under a waterfall made of magical, flesh-eating razorfish.
Everything about this book is more intense, bigger, and more dangerous. The stakes are so much higher. No one has plot armor and you can feel it. The pacing is incredible and the plots (plural) weave in and out from different perspectives seamlessly. It was so hard to put the book down because of the push and pull between the different chapters, needing to find out where each of the stories were headed for each of our dual protagonists and side characters (Team Cho). You can’t pause an action movie in the middle of a fist fight, how do you put a book down when every scene catapults the characters further and further into danger?
I love this book. I love this series. I can’t wait for book 3. Stop reading my poorly written excuse for a review and instead go read this book. Now. Seriously… Why haven’t you started yet?
In The Rave we find Alina in over her head from the start, meddling in situations in which she has no business. It is a ratcheting tension that just doesn’t end as the book progresses. The Rebel…. How do I put this? The Rebel makes The Rave look like training wheels. Child’s play. A pillow fight…
Don’t get me wrong, I loved The Rave. It was a magnificent book and there is nothing to criticize about the scale of the conflicts facing our main characters or the enjoyment I received from following Alina’s journey. But if The Rave tossed Alina into the deep end, The Rebel made it feel like the shallows. The Rebel strapped concrete blocks to her feet and placed her under a waterfall made of magical, flesh-eating razorfish.
Everything about this book is more intense, bigger, and more dangerous. The stakes are so much higher. No one has plot armor and you can feel it. The pacing is incredible and the plots (plural) weave in and out from different perspectives seamlessly. It was so hard to put the book down because of the push and pull between the different chapters, needing to find out where each of the stories were headed for each of our dual protagonists and side characters (Team Cho). You can’t pause an action movie in the middle of a fist fight, how do you put a book down when every scene catapults the characters further and further into danger?
I love this book. I love this series. I can’t wait for book 3. Stop reading my poorly written excuse for a review and instead go read this book. Now. Seriously… Why haven’t you started yet?
August 10, 2022
Where to begin... The character consistency was lost in the second book so much that I felt like I was reading a new book with new characters:
Gloomy lesbian protagonist: Alina
A cyborg-ish sidekick that reminded me of Ramona Quimby being mischievous: Cho
A mystical druid in Sahara: Baraam
Gone with the wind: Calthin
Caitlyn Jenner: Ordin
Professor Trelawney: Baraam's sister
That nasty final boss in FFXII named The Undying: Tolomond
I personally felt like it didn't add up anything to the story. The first book was wrapped up nicely, so nicely that the conflicts created in the second book felt like a push.
Gloomy lesbian protagonist: Alina
A cyborg-ish sidekick that reminded me of Ramona Quimby being mischievous: Cho
A mystical druid in Sahara: Baraam
Gone with the wind: Calthin
Caitlyn Jenner: Ordin
Professor Trelawney: Baraam's sister
That nasty final boss in FFXII named The Undying: Tolomond
I personally felt like it didn't add up anything to the story. The first book was wrapped up nicely, so nicely that the conflicts created in the second book felt like a push.
January 11, 2023
I loved parts and struggled through others. It was pretty good in the beginning but then it fractured and I had a hard time enjoying it. I was actually happy to reach the end. I should say that this is not the type of stories I usually read which may have contributed to my assessment.
December 3, 2025
What seems like a slow start actually lays the groundwork for an epic finish. I really enjoyed seeing all the pieces come together. Looking forward to the concluding book.
March 22, 2023
The Rebel by J.R. Traas (@j.r.traas) is the sequel to The Rave, a sci-fi fantasy book with a captivating throughly planned out world. Without giving anything away, this book launches into a very level up type character development for our main characters, dives very, very deep into the world’s lore, and includes some explicitly queer romance. A solid sequel, my only main critique is that the book length and density of detail felt like it could have been split into two books with a slightly faster pase and more clear story arch like The Rave, book one. Other than that, I enjoyed the exploration of the fantasy world from several character perspectives as well as the exploration of religion/cult and is influence on politics and capitalism. Also, as in book one, the scale between the sci-fi and fantasy elements of the book is extremely well balanced.
September 19, 2024
I lovedddd this sequel! I fell in love with the characters in The Rave (shout out to my favorite buddy pair Cho and Mezami) and Traas introduced new and intriguing characters while raising the stakes! This book brought me to tears even more often than the previous book did... I felt even more emotionally connected to the world and characters, and I was on the edge of my seat wondering how or if my beloved characters would make it through the mounting obstacles. I also loved the culty stuff…and the dream magic (revomancy) aspect is so well-done and unique…don’t want to give any spoilers so I’ll say no more! This book was a ROLLERCOASTER and I did not expect it to go the way it did, in a good way! At the same time, I can tell the writer thinks through every small detail, so I feel like I’ll be in good hands! Cannot wait to start the next book in the series!!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews