Far Endeavor: A Windflower Saga Novella by Aleksandra Layland takes us on a journey through time and adventure as we follow the travels of three siblings - Lord Branimir Rongo, plus his sister and brother - as they set sail to find antiquities worth studying, for the university where they all either teach or study. This hazardous journey will open up new horizons for all three siblings and will transform their lives forever. Especially for Branimir, whose original quest for manuscripts will change to a search for his history and that of his family and clan. Born of the Kimbrii, the indigenous people, Branimir and his siblings are typical of his people, a mixture of the white and the dark. Their skin may be dark, but their eyes give away their heritage. Layland has created herself an entire uncharted world here, where dangerous voyages on small boats are required to find and explore ancient cultures.

This is a novella and as such is relatively short, but I found it fascinating and it drew me into this culture and world that Aleksandra Layland has created covering a broad span of stories. The writing is simple, yet endearing, and draws you into the story beautifully. Layland explores the heritage and birthright of these three siblings, as they set out on what was supposed to be just a simple voyage of archaeological interest, but would instead turn into a life-changing journey for all three of them. At its heart, Far Endeavor: A Windflower Saga Novella is a romance, and a very acceptable one at that, but scratch the surface and you find much more. The author’s dry and sometimes wicked sense of humour comes through in her characters, as does the subtle, but very real commentary on racism, sexism, war, and social mores that are equally as relevant in our world as they were in Lord Branimir’s. I have not previously read any of Layland’s work, but if nothing else, this book opened up a world of possibilities, for me, as a reader. I was impressed by this work and would encourage readers to take a look at her entire Windflower series, as I will indeed be doing. This is an excellent read.

Far Endeavor is a work of fiction in the fantasy, love, and life drama sub-genres, and was penned by author Aleksandra Layland. Written as a novella from the Windflower Saga, volume nine of twenty, the work explores the journey of the Kimbrii people, their ways and cultures, as well as telling us of Lord Branimir Rongo of Ansgar. His personal struggle during this novel is a slow-burning storyline that develops more as the plot progresses, showing us a romantic entanglement, the cost of duty owing to his position as a noble, and what he is willing to give up in order to really help people and choose a simpler life.

Author Aleksandra Layland offers another slice from the in-depth and excellent Windflower Saga for those who want to know more about the offshoots of different characters and the lesser-known tales of her epic pseudo-historical fantasy world. I really enjoyed this tale, which mixes more historical information about the world into a romantic mystery theme and introduces the lesser-known Branimir with his own deep emotional narrative. The descriptive techniques are excellent in highlighting both character and atmosphere, and Layland’s worldbuilding slots Branimir perfectly into this world with plenty of struggles and choices for him to face. The plot points were excellently paced for a novella-length tale, delivering a satisfying story arc. Overall, I would highly recommend Far Endeavor to fans of the existing series of novels, and as a great point to dip in and see if you enjoy this writer’s accomplished ethereal fantasy style.