Synopsis for The Amber Elixir (from Goodreads):
Viviane, the new Lady of the Lake and High Priestess of Avalon, accepts a challenge from Merlin unaware her bold actions will have tragic consequences. Two of her priestesses are turned to stone. A forbidden love deserts her. Now alone, she has six young handmaidens to train and protect.When Morgan le Fay demands assistance with a spell that could change the balance of power in the Two Realms, Viviane refuses her. But what if Morgan’s secret knowledge could restore the stone priestesses? Will an alliance prompt Viviane’s love to return? Or will the gamble cost her all she holds dear?
Other books in the series:
Series: Two Realms Trilogy / Two Realms Novellas
Author: Ariella Moon
# of Books: 2 (The Beltane Escape, The Viking Mist, Book 3)
There is a novella, The Amber Elixir. (Recommended to read after Book 1)
Book Order: Unsure
Complete?: No, The Viking Mist, is to be published
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic, Arthurian Legend
Heat Rating: cold
Point of View: Third Person, Alternating
Publication Date: February 2016 – ongoing
Source & Format: Xpresso Book Tours–eARC
Add: Goodreads | Buy: Amazon / Kobo / Barnes and Noble
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
I love Arthurian Legend! I even took a course about it for my English minor because I just love the whole idea of this epic story and world. When I saw that The Amber Elixir has a different take on the Arthurian world, I just had to see what was in store.
What I Liked:
–The World Building–
Ariella Moon has done a great job of weaving classic Arthurian elements and her own imaginings into this novella. It’s a really interesting blend of fantasy elements at play and I loved learning more as I read.
I think fans of classic fantasy novels will love the world we get here. It’s very complex and rich and completely captivates you.
–Weaving of Different Stories–
While the focus is mostly on Viviane and her role in the world, we get introduced to quite a few players and that just makes everything a little fuller and more complex. I like stories that have a lot going on; that have multiple storylines and characters involved and this one has it. I found this to be a very strong story and for its novella length, it reads more like a full novel.
–Viviane’s Forbidden Love–
While this isn’t a romance by any means, Vivane’s forbidden love does play a crucial role in Viviane’s development and actions. I’ll just say that I really liked why this was “forbidden” and how it upped the ante for this story.
What I Didn’t Like:
–That I Probably Should Have Read Book 1 First–
You can definitely read this novel without reading The Beltane Escape. It does a great job of tying the two together to get readers up to speed. It is noted on Ariella’s site she does recommend reading this novella after The Beltane Escape. My problem was that I didn’t know there was a Book 1 so I was a little confused during the prologue what was happening as I unaware we’ve been introduced to this world before.
But like I said, I quickly got up to speed and found myself immersed into this world as it does focus on other characters. And if anything, it made me curious to pick up The Beltane Escape 😉
My Rating: 3/5
The Beltane Escape N/A | [The Amber Elixir 3/5] | The Viking Mist TBP | Book 3 TBP
Perfect for fans of stories involving Arthurian Legend and classic fantasy novels, this is a series you’ll want to read!
Read if You Like: Arthurian Legend, fantasy, magic
Avoid if You: dislike fantasy, want more romance
- The Falconer by Elizabeth May (The Falconer Trilogy #1)
- Avalon High by Meg Cabot
- The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (The Iron Fey Series #1)
Ariella Moon
Ariella Moon draws upon her experiences as a shaman to create magical Young Adult fiction. Her Two Realms Trilogy is a medieval fantasy adventure series. The Teen Wytche Saga is a series of sweet contemporary paranormal romances.
Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety and taller students that mistook her for a leaning post marred her youth. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. She lives a nearly normal life doting on her extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly spoiled dogs, and a media-shy dragon.
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Book Tour Organised by:
Ooh love an Arthurian story. Did you ever read Avalon High by Meg Cabot? I was OBSESSED with that book when I was a teen. I read it so many times.
One of my favourites! I actually just bought my own copy this past Christmas as a gift to myself. I read it many times <3
Thanks for being on the tour! 🙂
Anytime!
Thank you for your wonderful, thoughtful review of The Amber Elixir. What a great blog!
Thank you very much!