Elior

Prince of Fae

Young Adult - Fantasy - General
258 Pages
Reviewed on 03/12/2021
Buy on Amazon

    Book Review

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

If you are in the mood for some fast-paced urban fantasy adventure, get ready to have your socks knocked off by Elior: Prince of Fae. Author Joshuan Rivera Jimenez's deliciously crafted novel brings forth a tale of witches, fae, and changelings that seems bound to entertain readers of the young adult genre. Elior of Lemora, the crown prince of the fae, wakes up to find himself trapped in the human realm and struggles to find the portal leading back to the realm of the fae. Elior's search leads him to a runaway changeling and the witch Tenneh, who help him revive his dormant powers. As the trio forms a reluctant friendship, they are tracked and chased by a group of half-humans led by the mysterious woman Eva, making their quest further complicated.

Elior: Prince of Fae is a coming of age tale of friendship, romance, and adventure. The core of Joshuan Rivera Jimenez's story stems from the dynamic shared between Elior, Alex (multiple avatars), and Tenneh, as every scene shared by the three of them felt delightfully entertaining. I found Elior's evolution from an uncompromising brat with a superiority complex to a responsible adult able to comprehend and respect people's feelings a fascinating character arc. Each passing chapter pushes the plot in unpredictable ways, making it immersive and entertaining. The dialogue is crisp and laden with wit and sarcasm to make for some hilarious moments and keeps the narrative light-hearted and fun. I thoroughly enjoyed Elior: Prince of Fae, and I think fans of the young adult genre will absolutely adore it.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford

Waking up in Brooklyn, Prince Elior of the fae is confused. At first, he doesn’t understand where he is and why. And when people start chasing him and threatening him, despite those who try to help him, Elior is on the run, grasping at straws, trying to find his way to the nearest portal to his homeworld of Lempara. He connects with changelings and life becomes even more complicated as he starts to remember bits and pieces of his life and the conflict with his father. Was it a mistake that he was suddenly trapped in the human world? Was his father teaching him a lesson? Or was there some deeper conflict, one that Elior knows threatens not only his world but the human world as well?

Joshuan Rivera Jiménez’s young adult fantasy novel, Elior: Prince of Fae, is a thrilling adventure that crosses between worlds. With magical characters like faes and changelings, as well as ordinary humans, the plot is full of excitement and tension. The setting is well described and the dialogue is very believable and well constructed. The characters are intense and each has their own personal agenda to suit their own personal interests. The underlying theme of a dying world does not go unnoticed as Elior, the main character, seeks to preserve nature, to ensure the well-being of not only the human world but his world as well. Elior has a lot to learn in the human world, and his new knowledge may set him apart from the fae and force him to remain in the human world. This is a real page-turner; a thrilling story with characters that will certainly appeal to young adult readers.

Lesley Jones

In Elior: Prince of Fae by Joshuan Rivera Jiménez, Elior of Lempara, crown prince of fae folk, awakes in the human realm of Brooklyn dressed as a human but not knowing how he arrived there. Elior must find his way back to the portal so he can return to Lempara. Unfortunately, he cannot remember where the portal is. He meets a changeling called Alex and she agrees to help him return home. However, they soon find themselves being pursued by three bounty hunters who want Elior to open the portal and allow them into Lempura to create chaos. Once Elior finds a means of escape from the human realm, he remembers some shocking truths about his family and past. Elior has discovered many truths about himself and he realizes he now has difficult choices to make about his future. He must confront those who have wronged him and decide whether to claim his right to the throne or abandon Lempura and remain with the friends who have helped him.

The action and adventure are continuous throughout Elior: Prince of Fae by Joshuan Rivera Jiménez. I found the obstacles Elior had to overcome brought great tension and excitement to the story. The characters are beautifully created and their personalities are totally unique. I especially loved the changeling characters as they had so many layers to their personalities. My favorite changeling was Alex; her personality was fantastic and her wit and fearlessness were amazing. I loved the dialogue exchanges that were authentic and, at times, hilarious. I also thought the relationships between the characters were developed beautifully, in particular, Tenneh and Elior; theirs was a true love/hate friendship. I felt the inclusion of social issues such as the environment and animal welfare was superb and really relevant for today's readers. There were some important life lessons scattered throughout too, especially how we all have the power to choose our actions. This was especially highlighted by Tenneh when she said, “There was a life you led, and there is a life you created for yourself. It’s up to you to decide who you want to be going forward. No one person or circumstance can make that choice for you.” This was such a powerful and thought-provoking statement and a great piece of advice for the children reading this book. A highly compelling read and one that I would recommend.