Alaris

Featured
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Author(s)
Publisher Name
Fanny Vergne
Age Range
15+
Release Date
March 29, 2024
ISBN13
978-1738620814
ISBN10 or ASIN
      
Twins. The tale of a villain and a hero.
Druids living secluded in the Astral Forest, Lucine and Solehan have been blessed by the stars since birth and are poised to become the protectors of the druidic clans during the Eclipse. But when a strange curse befalls the ceremony, the twins, sole survivors of the massacre, find themselves separated.

Taken away from his loved ones by an enigmatic and malevolent being, will Solehan succumb to the discovery of his deepest desires?

Left to herself and to the dangers of a world of which she knows nothing, and meeting fellow travelers with contrasting devotions and colorful personalities, will Lucine manage to uncover much more than she hoped for?

Between bonds of love and friendship, will this surprising group of adventurers succeed in finding Solehan before it's too late and in saving humanity?

Embark on an epic quest with ALARIS, the standalone and debut fantasy novel by Fanny Vergne, a celebrated artist in the video game industry.

This book offers familiar tropes like "found family" and "enemies to lovers," yet it diverges from mainstream expectations. It's tailored for readers who enjoy delving into nuanced characters and observing, among other things, the evolution of a villain.
While heavily inspired by Dungeons and Dragons, the world-building is entirely original, meticulously crafted with intricate details. Moreover, the magic systems, including one based on genre, offer a fresh and distinctive twist.

Editor review

1 review
RPG style teen fantasy
Overall rating
 
3.8
Writing Style
 
3.0
Plot
 
3.0
Characters
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
RPG style teen fantasy with found family, a pretty cover wrap, and lots of heart. The story follows Lucine and Solehan, twin druids who are separated by sudden tragedy that destroys their village (gasp!) and could threaten the entire kingdom (gasp again!). Familiar story beats, but I was surprised by how these and others came to life through the characters, who bring a bold, contemplative perspective as they wrestle with grief, captivity, religious doubt, or even unexpected love. I particularly enjoyed the paladin (defensive tendencies, ideologically conflicted) and the bard (charming, devil-may-care, as bards do).

I did struggle with the writing style. From the first line, the story is so packed with details that it gets in its own way, with the wordiness distracting from the flow. Given the book’s dual release in English and French, I wonder if some of that is due to the translation (although, I’m not sure which version was the “original”, if there was one).

However, I’m rather picky and I’m sure there’s folks who will enjoy the endless, imaginative descriptions and straight-forward narrative. I'd most recommend to younger readers who like fancy words.
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