This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Stories from the Vale: Gifts of the Elven is a work of fiction in the fantasy and adventure subgenres. It is intended for the general reading audience and was penned by author Kathy Ann Trueman. In a fantasy land where those with the gift of magic are forced to hide themselves away for their personal safety, the grandson of the supposedly impartial king sprouts a pair of wings. As Arlin comes to terms with his new status and abilities, he meets the canny junior bookmaster Fiella, who agrees to help him find safety. But there are also those who would seek to use Arlin’s power for their own vengeful gain.
Creating a fully functioning, brand new fantasy world is no mean feat, but author Kathy Ann Trueman has achieved it with ease in her concise but highly immersive fantasy novel. Young adults and adult readers alike will appreciate the emotional complexities and power dynamics between the novel’s main characters, as well as their connection to the wider, oppressive political system working overhead. I enjoyed the magical lore immensely, with a highly inventive variety of gifts for the magical characters to discover and master, but enough solid logic to keep it all under control. When this is combined with the intelligent and well-paced twists and turns of the plot, the result is a novel that is sure to please fantasy fiction fans on all counts. Overall, I would highly recommend Stories from the Vale: Gifts of the Elven as an immersive fantasy read from a very promising author indeed.
