From the author of Elemental Links:

“Take him and run.” The last words of Jake’s mother urged him to save his brother, Louie. Jake and Louie get thrown into the outside world where Jake learns his skill with a sword can save their lives, and Louie, gifted with elemental magic, soon learns his magic is part of something much bigger: a world of spirits that wage a war of their own.

The necrom are after Louie. They only way the necrom can increase their numbers is to capture and possess more adepts. After centuries of the necrom pillaging, adepts are scarce. The necrom want Louie and won’t stop until they capture him.

Along their way, they meet Cassie; a fiery brunette with more secrets than Jake and Louie signed on for. The boys' unlikely friendship with her turns their run-and-hide strategy on its heels. Their journey is fraught with unexpected creatures, friends, and new allies. Aside from tournaments and drakons, Jake and Louie are tested as they've never been before. Can they defeat the force that threatens not just Louie, but every adept in Elabrium? Will their allies stand with them against the horde of necrom, whose mere presence threatens not just themselves, but their newfound friends as well?

Elemental Links is a fast-paced medieval fantasy that is terrifying and heartwarming at the same time. It tells the story of Jake and Louie, two teenage boys who find themselves running for their lives because of Louie’s magic. The bond between the brothers was charming from the very start, and Jake’s desire to protect Louie made me like him. I liked Louie, too; he was courageous, and I appreciated how he was willing to take risks to help the people around him. At times, he seemed older than his stated age, but what can you expect from someone who possesses extraordinary magic?

The stakes in this story couldn’t be higher! The dramatic beginning sets the tone perfectly, and the excitement increases steadily as the plot thickens. The necrom were truly frightening, and the author did a wonderful job laying out the magic system in a way that felt natural. It was clever to have Louie learning about his magic at the same time the readers are learning about it. Also, the glimpse into the spirit world seen through Louie’s eyes was intriguing. Allowing him to transition between the two worlds made his narrative fascinating while keeping it grounded in reality. In contrast, Jake’s point of view was exclusively practical; he was more relatable than Louie because he wasn’t burdened by magic, but I confess I was more interested in Louie’s story than I was in Jake’s.

Elemental Links was a charming book to read, and I enjoyed so many things about it! It was scary and dramatic without being depressing, and it was humorous at times, too, which made the characters more endearing. The imaginary universe and backstory hung together effortlessly, and there is still so much to discover by the time the book ends! It’s always delightful to find a good series to read. I would recommend Elemental Links for any teens who appreciate fantasy. It is complicated enough for older readers to enjoy putting all the pieces together and simple enough for younger readers to follow the story.

FTC disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.

Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Melanie has been in love with medieval fantasy all of her life. Dreams of magic, dragons, maidens, and knights have enthralled her since a young age. Medieval literature university classes were among her favorites, as was art history from the medieval to the classical periods. Together, along with her excitement of reading anything written about the medieval period, Melanie has gained a realistic view of the medieval age, and how to tweak it into something new. Action, peril, strategy, and determination fill her books. Determination for life, for friends, and for doing what no one else dares to do. On the side, Melanie has strong interests in design, photography, and horse jumping. If you read carefully, you might notice tidbits only an artist or horse owner would know.

To learn more about Melanie’s writing, check out her author page on Goodreads.

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