Elven Worlds Book 1: a new high fantasy adventure from bestselling author R. K. Lander.
All things die—even elves. But immortality comes at a leave everything behind—everything except memories . . .
In the second elven world of Naz'arán, chaos reigns in the south as the demi-god Arzen and his revenant army threaten to destroy everything in their path. Only one elf has the power to turn the tide of war—but he can't even remember who he is.
Feldar was brought back to life by the Master Dominie, but his memories are slow to return. In time, he must join the Order of Shirán and find a way to stop Arzen from annihilating Elvendom. But first, he must win the greatest battle of the battle raging in his own mind.
I read Tolkien and Hobb. I read Robert Jordan and Will Wight. I read all those classic fantasy books and when there was nothing left to read, I wrote my own stories, the ones I wanted to read but couldn't find.
I love epic fantasy. The battles, the creatures, the riveting stories and sweeping worlds. But I love the characters just as much. I love the intrigue, the politics, the strategy and the philosophy behind the magic systems. I love imaginary worlds that make sense, and I love characters that think logically.
I love exploring the depths of the warrior mindset. I love the emotions that life-changing events bring about, and if I can make my readers feel all those things, then that is what I most love about writing.
I hope you will read my stories and enjoy them, and if you do, I would love to hear from you.
I have read and re-read the Silvan Saga books many times and was anxiously awaiting this new start to RK Lander’s next series. The wait was worth it! This is a must read! Lander’s world building and character development draw you in and wholly envelop you. I have always been so excited to jump into the Elven world that Lander created for its excitement, adventure, and heart wrenching emotions. This book is no different; it contains complete anguish, fear and despair alongside hope, sympathy, loyalty and redemption. It’s a wonderful beginning to another binge worthy series! I cannot wait for the next one!!
I found this book to be both good and not so good. The characterisation, the descriptiveness, were as good as ever with RK Lander. However, there were a great many glaring mistakes which the proofreaders needed to have picked up: ill-bread instead of ill-bred, hail instead of hale, one character was named Taigon most of the time and Zaigon a couple of times, and sunk instead of sank on so many occasions. I found that I preferred Fel'annar from the Silvan books over Feldar of this book. I wished for an explanation about why there was no connection to trees in this book. The worst thing though was the crude language. Okay, I get that Lander was trying to emphasise anger, but to use bad language to me is an indication of a lack of vocabulary which I know doesn't apply to the author, so I can only assume she couldn't be bothered. I give it 3 and a half stars, which is a sad disappointment to me. I hope things will improve in the next book.
I had some major issues with the choices made by many of the characters in the story. The elves in charge have been given stewardship of a sacred duty to protect the new souls that transition to their world. They are supposed to protect new elves while they remember and find themselves at their own pace, but the elves in charge throw everything out the window when Feldar emerges into their world. Feldar was entitled to the same rights and respect as everyone else gets, and I just don’t buy the reasoning used to endanger his future. They say they need to take risks with him and rush him because a skill he MIGHT have is too important and sorely needed. Rather than be thankful he was murdered in his first life and that they will eventually get access to his potentially extraordinary powers (yes, I’m being sarcastic), they act like he took his sweet time in his first life waiting to get killed, so now they have to hurry him up so he can be useful. By this reasoning, it would have been acceptable (but maybe frowned upon) to have one of the Shiran kill him themselves on his first world just to get him involved in their war even sooner. The war has been going on for hundreds/thousands of years, but they can’t even give Feldar a few weeks or months to come to terms with the tragedy that happened when he was killed. Everyone kept saying there is a very specific process for helping elves remember and find themselves, and that it has been proven disastrous to deviate from that plan, but they do it anyway. The fact most of the characters went along with this makes me pretty contemptuous of them.
I would have only rated this book 3 stars if I was looking at it from the perspective of being the first in a series. Even though I loved the first series and have read most of the books multiple times (I would do a reread before new releases), I was still pretty confused with all the terminology and aspects of the world building in the first quarter of the book. There are a lot of new words/names/places to keep straight and the author takes for granted that you will remember a good portion of the more nebulous aspects of her multiverse that was described in the first series.
Finally, I would also like to point out that the series has been getting very dark for awhile, and that aspect doesn’t let up in the least for this book. Despair and horror (with a tiny dash of hope and determination) were the prevailing emotions from books 5 and 6, and Order of the Shiran is pretty much despair and depression. I fell in love with this series because it started off focusing on how fellowship and love drive a determined group of friends to change the world, but the last few books have been very grim. I’m really hoping the next book can bring some of the original magic back.
I am so disappointed. Read all the Silvan Saga, I am the biggest fan. There was an action and things happening on every page. Suspense and a good story, me turning pages with a speed of light.
This on the other hand was dragging, lots of over complicated terms that didn’t make sense and were just slowing the already non existent story down.. Expect the exact opposite of the previous books.
I also personally hated what the author did to the main character. Maybe someone liked it, arguing it gives him more dimension, not anymore just the superhero that overcomes anything and has the drive to do anything (that’s why there used to be story ) and now this was just swamp of misery .
I am sorry but this was a most painful read in a while. I kept reading , hoping it will pick up speed and give me story at last … but it didn’t . All feeling dark and very boring. With that being said , I hope one book of a misery set up is enough and the next book will get us back to story and adventure and saving the world because I am here for it for that.
Please, R. K, don’t disappoint with the next book. I am your fan, but this was a tragedy. Let’s hope it just a hick up on a road of good stories
Listened as an audiobook. You can definitely see how the author has improved throughout the silvan series to here. In the beginning of the silvan series I had lots of gripes about small things, that faded out throughout the series, but reading this book has been nothing but a pleasant experience.
I've been very pleased how the mainly male cast has diversified into a more well rounded one, and I like how the women of the world have full personalities and lives, which is a great improvement from the beginning of the silvan saga, where the very few women seemed more like plot devices for the mens lives. I don't get that vibe at all anymore.
Only thing that I still take notice of is the occasional "kick, block, duck, kick, punch"-way of describing battle scenes or training, which was a common occurence in the silvan saga, especially in the first few books of the series. Luckily it's obvious the author has developed other, more immersive ways of describing movement and physical contact. So I'm giving benefit of the doubt that maybe it's a way of communicating the sense of separation from the situation, where you don't even see your opponent, but just react automatically or something. Regardless, that's how it comes off to me, like suddenly the fighter is just alone in space, moving through the acts mindlessly and not even making contact with the opponent.
I love the world the author has created and its unique qualities with the different worlds and the liminal. I was very surprised of the direction this book took, going into a lot of psychological growth, self reflection, and dealing with trauma of the past life, instead of the action and training that would have been the obvious direction for the beginning of the series. I thought it made a very unexpected, interesting read, and I found that the effect of trauma and his reaction to it was believable and realistic to me as a person with severe PTSD myself. Well, considering the fantasy universe, realistic in that context.
Order of Shirán #1. But this is part of "The Sylvan" series which was 6 books, so this could be #7 if you're so inclined!
This book! This was her best book yet. I won't give any specific details because I feel as if no matter what I might say, it would be a spoiler somehow. And dang, there's a lot to spoil! Vagueness is in order.
This had a totally different vibe from "The Sylvan" series and it really worked, to the author's credit. This story was much more...mature, maybe? Not that the others were immature. Let me try again. It was much more developed. It's one of those mesmerizing books that are hard to put down.
The characters were three-dimensional. The plot was engaging. The world gained more complexity. And the psychological aspect in the storyline was outstanding. I'm not going to lie: I cried. I read this one certain scene at 2 AM this morning, and 😭. Normally I am not up reading that late, but I fell face first into the "just one more page" trap.
The predominant themes to this one are grief, guilt, duty, healing, forgiveness, loyalty, friendship, and family.
I would strongly recommend this to anyone that enjoyed the previous six books. I think the world and goings-on might be hard to understand if you haven't read those. Book two will be published in January 2024; I pre-ordered that sucker right before I started this review.
I have read the complete Sivan series written by R. K. Landers and fell in love with her writing. She has the ability to make fictional characters come to live and make the reader invest their emotions and thoughts in them. Shiran is no exception. You will find yourself getting angry, crying and laughing every step of the way as the main character rediscovers himself because of his transition and trauma. Along the way he finds the support and loyalty of both old and new friends and family discovered.
There have been few authors who have won me over and make me crave the next book like Ms Landers. With some authors you read their most exciting passages are read and then you close the book and forget them. With Shiran and other Landers works get the adrenaline pumping that lasts long after closing the pages.
The only reason I gave this book a five star rating is because they don't have fifteen stars.
Another great start to an enchanting series by today's premiere female writer of epic fantasy. Order of the Shirán will disappoint neither followers nor the new-to-Landers fans. And fans you will become, I guarantee it. Immerse yourself in the world of the elves. This a book about passing into a new life whilst having to painfully try to remember the old life. This story is one of loss, kinship and loyalty, conflict and resolution. And maybe a little romance and redemption too. MS. Lander's skill for world building is unequaled in modern fantasy novels but is reminiscent of Tolkien, LeGuin and McCaffrey. You do not want to miss this book. You will find yourself impatiently awaiting the next in the series . This definitely is a 5 out if 5 stars for.me. So jump in and let the wonder begin. There will be no regrets this I vow.
Another great start to an enchanting series by today's premiere female writer of epic fantasy. Order of the Shirán will disappoint neither followers nor the new-to-Landers fans. And fans you will become, I guarantee it. Immerse yourself in the world of the elves. This a book about passing into a new life whilst having to painfully try to remember the old life. This story is one of loss, kinship and loyalty, conflict and resolution. And maybe a little romance and redemption too. MS. Lander's skill for world building is unequaled in modern fantasy novels but is reminiscent of Tolkien, LeGuin and McCaffrey. You do not want to miss this book. You will find yourself impatiently awaiting the next in the series . This definitely is a 5 out if 5 stars for.me. So jump in and let the wonder begin. There will be no regrets this I vow.
I’m so happy to get a new series from R. K. Lander! If you haven’t read the previous 6 books, don’t read this. It won’t make sense to you, and unless you are in love with Felannar from the beginning you won’t care about anything that happens here. It’s a lot of set up and world building for Felannar’s second life, a very clever way to continue a series where almost all the characters died. I don’t find it nearly as interesting as the very first book, but since I am deeply invested in this world and a huge fan of this author I’m very happy. Thankfully, the second book is already out and the third is coming very soon. And once again we get swoon worthy cover art. I only own the kindle versions of these books, but when I’m able to collect books again there will be signed copies of these books on my shelves.
Despite its outward trappings as a western fantasy, this is fundamentally a xianxia.
You have:
- Immortal heroes who once their service is concluded ascend to the next heavenly realm. - Demons and demonic sorcerers. - Spirit beasts . - Sects of martial arts practitioners. - Arrogant young masters (well, only one in this case.) - Magical abilities, some rooted in martial arts movements. - Demonic sorcerers. - Jade beauties (pretty much automatic when you're dealing with elves.) - Divine deities.
I only realized this after getting somewhat into xianxia and it's rather amusing that no one else seems to have noticed the parallels by now.
I was sure that this was some ghost writer filling in for RK. I nearly dropped this book several times, never to read another page. Why? I'll tell you why... Drama. A good 85/90 percent of this 1st volume was just that. No man nor elf including my boy Fel'annar could be that pathetic. My idol, R.K. Landers would not need to drop the F bomb a half dozen times to illustrate the protagonist's despair (over 85 percent of again). But I picked it back up, and crawled to the very end where my literary Angel got back to finish this saga. And she did , thank God. Great ending, great characters, great family relief. But really, yes another but, it could have been done with less trees being turned to pulp. But I will read on. Oh yes I will!
What I mean by in depth is that there is a lot of soul searching for the character. There are those that help to guide those that have passed on into finding themselves again so they can make the choice on whether or not to live free as an elf or be in part of the order of Shiran. I was a little lost during the book because sometimes I can get confusing with the different scenarios happening, but they’re at least a few main characters that kind of help tie things together and of course the ending was just the best. I love the ending. Narrator did an amazing job I think. He really brought this to life. I don’t think I would’ve been able to physically read the book so I’m glad I had the audio.
The details and the emotions, of joy and pain, fury and love, rejection and acceptance. These are the makings of a beautiful story, one that brings you to tears and fills you with exhilaration. I am thrilled to have a chance to continue reading this story and will truly be sad and unsure of where to go and what to read next once this story is over. So far this has been a read I couldn’t put down and it is because the writer has seduced me into falling in love with the characters, causing me to want their story to persevere over the evil that would destroy them.
It is, quite simply, all that. Which is to say it's a masterful piece of work, and anything but simple. The writing is, without hyperbole (IMO), exquisite. If you ever need an example of what is meant by writing that flows, point to this book. Other than unavoidable breaks, I read this in one sitting. Glad I started at breakfast or I'd have been up way too late. :-)
I had some pretty high expectations after the amazing books covering Fel’annar’s or now Feldar’s journey. I will say my expectations were met and other great series is born. My only sadness reading the book was his and his son’s death.
3,5 ☀️ This book sets the tone for the series well, but I had a bit of trouble getting into it at first, the universe and vocabulary can be pretty complex. It talks more about death, grief, pain and acceptance than it does of war, elven universe and fantasy.
From tragic death to rebirth as a magnificent dragon, life goes on.
How can he forgive what he did? Only through the help of his friends and new transition support. Each step helps to heal all involved. Enjoy the adventure.
It leaves a large gap between the two. Will the company ever be together again. So as I understand it Elves are immortal unless their light gets ripped out. It's a bit confusing and very frustrating.
Life after death is something we all must face, and with it, the fear of the unknown. When my time comes, I hope I am surrounded by those who have gone before me and those who will teach me what happens next. A new evolution and a new journey
First book in a new high fantasy series. Good world building and relatable characters. A reborn elven warrior finds himself in a new world that he must learn to navigate. Charged by the gods to drive back the evil that threatens to destroy everything in it’s path. He needs to remember the skills of his first life and quickly learn the new ones, that he will need to survive and try to turn the tide in a war that seems all but lost
This book is a shock to the system… after everything Fel’annár faced, he awakes in his second life with next to nothing! There is such beauty in the worlds RK Lander crafts, a million questions rise & are answered on the journey through these pages. Understanding Fel’annár emerge as Feldar is akin to watching someone you love go through deep grief. They tear themselves apart as much as those around them, but are so loved… so loved that their grief is explainable & just another demon to battle. He can’t see it yet, but as Feldar he will have things he never had… he just needs to hold on
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book is a shock to the system… after everything Fel’annár faced, he awakes in his second life with next to nothing! There is such beauty in the worlds RK Lander crafts, a million questions rise & are answered on the journey through these pages. Understanding Fel’annár emerge as Feldar is akin to watching someone you love go through deep grief. They tear themselves apart as much as those around them, but are so loved… so loved that their grief is explainable & just another demon to battle. He can’t see it yet, but as Feldar he will have things he never had… he just needs to hold on
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Sorry .. I loved the original series but not this. It was annoyingly slow and boring. Nothing happened for the entire book. The hero was reduced to a ranting self hating volatile and childish imbecile. I managed to finish but barely so..I will read the next one in the hope that it picks up.. I really hope it does :( .