THE LEGENDS OF EVE

This third installment of a YA fantasy series stars an intrepid hero.

Anonymous’ tale follows The Legends of Eve: Book of Fire (2020) and focuses on “Fujita, the School of Wind and Wisdom.” Fujak is a young man of the Fuj family. It has been some two years since he was at Fujita, and he returns with friends. But Fujak is nervous. He brings along a romantic interest named Tayna, who is greeted by Fujak’s father with a dagger pointed at her throat and some tough questions. Quite the welcome indeed; still, Tayna passes the initial inspection. Meanwhile, the people at Fujita are in a festive mood. But things take a turn when a prophet informs Fujak that trouble is just around the corner. According to the seer’s prediction, “This parade, this festival, this happiness and dancing is only the precursor before the death that sweeps through this Kingdom…this year.” Fujak is just one of several characters who will be tested. As the prophet tells others, “The world as you know it will burn, but from its ashes may come hope.” And so begins an imaginative adventure with an extensive cast that incorporates the elite Crystal Soldiers, creatures called Archons, and even a sexual experience for Fujak. Although there is a lot to keep track of, the narrative rewards patience with unexpected developments. At several points, Fujak even addresses readers directly. Then there are numerous changes of scenery that include an icy tundra and a lush rainforest. But chapters tend to be heavy with conversations, and the dialogue is often unproductive and marked by ellipses, as when one character says: “Please tell me…you aren’t thinking about going in there.” Such assertions are not particularly creative in a work that so often bursts with surprises. Still, other portions of dialogue put a twist on the genre. For instance, talk of understanding the nature of Archons (“Do we consider them monsters…for merely wanting to survive?”) helps make this engaging story something more than just a tale of good versus evil.

An inventive romp through a variety of intriguing worlds with captivating characters.