THE BOVEN NATURALS

Teens search for ancient relics amid the reemergence of a dormant evil in Rehfus-Wilsek’s debut YA fantasy.

The Arcana Academy of Boven Naturals welcomes students for a new semester. This elite school, located in the capital city of the Boven Naturals Universe, teaches all five of this world’s magical species; Paige Connatis, for example, is a teen “Nativus” whose usually lilac-toned skin changes colors with her emotions. At the academy, she’ll hone her native scientific magic (technological enchantments) and learn to control two forms of wild magic. Her new roommate is Ceyonne Ustrina, a “Caudate” who’s essentially a dragon-human hybrid, complete with scales, a prehensile tail; fire is her native element. They befriend one another as well as other students representing the remaining three species and their associated elements: winged “Sylphs” (air), muscular dwarf-like “Kobolds” (earth), and glowing-skinned “Naiads” (water). Soon a group of nine friends coalesces and becomes fixated on the Shadow Ankhs, powerful artifacts supposedly hidden for thousands of years. The teens believe the prophesied Cinquain Henten—five individuals destined to find the Ankhs—are among them. The prophecy also predicts the dissipation of wild magic and the reawakening of the diabolical, power-hungry NullMaji. Tracking down the relics is harder than it sounds (it involves riddles) and some may not want the friends to succeed—there’s a break-in at the Academy’s library and a professor mysteriously vanishes. Which of the teens make up the Cinquain Henten, and will their hunt for the Ankhs really end in a battle with the NullMaji?

As the first in a prospective series, Rehfus-Wilsek’s tale zeroes in on introducing its effervescent characters. Paige and the others not only showcase diverse magical species but also hail from a variety of backgrounds. Much of this narrative is taken up by searching for and researching artifacts without providing many details about what the Ankhs specifically are or what the teens plan to do with them once they find them. As such, the pacing is leisurely; even with the relic hunt at the forefront, the story certainly isn’t the “adventure” or “quest” that the text continually hints at. Still, engaging tensions between the friends gradually build, as there are only five Cinquain Henten and four of the teens are bound to be disappointed. At the same time, the High Consul has eyes on them (as the prophecy seems to be coming true) and may want to get to the Ankhs first. Plentiful scenes unfold on the Academy’s campus, which the author vividly describes, highlighting the “fragrance of freshly mowed grass,” the library’s “towering shelves,” and the high-ceilinged dining hall with magical orbs floating in the air. The ending unquestionably sets the stage for a second outing and the much-promised quest.

A bright, superbly developed cast headlines this unhurried but colorful series opener.