Review: Spireheart (Jekua #6) by Travis M. Riddle

**Note: This is the final book in a series and therefore may have some minor spoilers for previous books in the series! If you would like to read a review for books 1-5 in the series, you can find those here.**

Spireheart by Travis M. Riddle

Independently Published

Publication Date: September 3rd, 2024

Ebook. 638 pages.

About Spireheart:

"There's no time left.

The vengeful Facet is racing across the wrecked island of Pakree to reach the site of the crystal disaster all those years ago and harness the power of the final Veptilo. If they succeed, they may very well unleash destruction the likes of which the world has never seen before.

Unfortunately, Balt and his friends are the only people who can stop them.

Everything Balt and the others have trained for has come to this, but the magical crystals covering the island enhance the Facet's Artificial Jekuas, rendering their own almost useless. Going head-to-head with the Facet's unbelievably powerful monsters is certainly a death wish.

But what choice do they have?"

I can’t believe the Jekua series has come to an end, but instead of dwelling on that, let’s dive into what makes Spireheart so remarkable. My reviews for these books are usually long and this one is no exception, so buckle up and grab a snack.

We return for the final time to Balt and his crew as they embark on their long-awaited journey to the lost island of Pakree, which has been impossible to reach—until now. This installment is just as action-packed as the previous books–if not more so–with intense action scenes ramping up as the stakes rise and the biggest players face off.

Spireheart is the 'final battle' book in any big fantasy series and it absolutely delivers. There’s plenty of action and more Jekua battles than you could possibly hope for, which makes for an exciting and engrossing read. I've loved the creativity involved with the Jekuas and experiencing–along with Balt and everyone else–just what they are capable of and what new techniques can be applied along the way. In addition to the action, however, we also get a lot of slower and more thoughtful moments between our characters, as well as a great deal of background on so many of the characters we've been introduced over the course of this series. This added a lot of depth and insight into everyone's motivations, which also made the emotional stakes of this story feel even higher and more vivid.

One highlight for me throughout the series has been watching Balt and Alani’s friendship evolve and strengthen. We don't get nearly enough platonic male/female friendships in fiction and it's been one of my favorite elements. The way they work together and constantly play off of each other’s personalities shows how deeply they care for one another, even when they disagree or struggle in the moment. It’s been such a refreshing and emotionally fulfilling component of this story.

Balt's growth has also been incredible. He starts out as a bit of a naive guy with a singular focus: to imprint Jekuas, train, and become an amazing Summoner just like his grandmother. By the end of the series, however, he's matured into a much more self-aware person who still holds onto those same dreams, but because he's learned so much along the way he now has a much deeper understanding of the world and the people around him. 

I’ve mentioned in previous reviews how much I’ve enjoyed Alani’s journey as well, and I have to say I’m immensely satisfied with how her arc concludes in this final book. She began on a somewhat singular path as an initiate with the Church, but through her travels with Balt, her growing understanding of the world, and seeing firsthand where the Church and other powerful institutions fall short, she’s come to realize her own values and what truly matters to her—and it’s not following the Church’s path. I’ve loved watching this gradual self-discovery unfold throughout the series. Alani's ability to reflect on who she is and what she really wants is inspiring, especially since the Church has been such a prominent part of Alani's life. It once felt like her only safe haven from her childhood home, but it slowly began to feel like a trap instead. 

I've also had such a great time with the slowly expanding cast of characters. Watching how Balt and Alani’s friendship adapts to new dynamics and how they each build relationships with these new characters has been fascinating. I especially loved seeing Balt’s relationship with Wassaru transform from cousins who barely tolerated each other to true friends. Aeiko and Niona are both awesome characters that have been a joy to get to know as well. Niona has an incredible adventurous spark and is someone who's always game for pretty much anything, and Aeiko's someone who's a bit more cautious, but is still passionate about helping out their friends and doing what's right. 

The world-building has been another one of my favorite parts of this series (which, I guess everything has probably been one of my favorite parts, come to think of it...). In just about every book we get to explore at least one new area with our characters, and this has genuinely been a blast. Riddle’s ability to craft such vivid, immersive settings is simply amazing, and it made me feel like this is a real world that could (and should?) exist.

There are some really heartwarming moments that made me feel sincerely happy for various characters, as well as plenty of more gut-wrenching and heartbreaking moments that really hammered home how high the stakes are and what was really at risk. The reunion in Pakree was one of the most intense moments for me—I was genuinely nervous for the entire lead-up to the moment  because I truly felt like I had no idea which way things would go because Riddle is not one to hold back when necessary. And that’s one thing I really loved about this book: it’s ability to strike that perfect balance of bittersweet, where even in the face of overwhelmingly positive moments, there can still be loss, grief, and plenty of hardships still occurring.

Spireheart is a book that's very real and authentic, but not one that takes pleasure in being grim or miserable; rather, it balances a sense of normalcy in that horrific things happen everyday, but we can’t revel in them. Instead, it asks how we choose to respond to these situations: Will we break apart and give up? Get angry and take it out on others? Or will we realize that we can stick together, show kindness, keep going, and strive to make what we currently have better?

And, of course, I couldn't possibly write this review without mentioning the Jekuas! They are such a massive part of this world and truly bring everything together. Learning about their diverse abilities, hybrids, and even the artificially created ones was a blast. I especially liked the journey of seeing how Jekuas can work at their 'normal' level and how Summoners can slowly build their knowledge and ability to control them in ways that were essentially 'leveling up'–the possibilities felt endless. I’d love to see a full compendium of them someday—like a real-life version of Balt’s grandmother’s Jekua dictionary. (Though I should note that each book has some excerpts from her Jekua dictionary in the book and they are fantastic!)

Lastly, I really appreciated how the book explored some timely themes of kindness and how we treat others in our society. The message of looking out for one another resonates strongly, especially in today’s world. The contrast between those who act with compassion and to improve the world around them is contrasted strongly in this book with those who take the turn towards vengeance when things aren't going how they want them to. It's understandable to be angry sometimes, especially when government bodies and the like aren't looking out for those who most need them to, but it's important to keep kindness and the goal of looking out for one another as a top priority no matter what we are feeling (in fact, I'd say it's most important to do that especially when we are angry).

It’s always hard to say goodbye to a series, especially when you’ve grown so attached to the characters and the world, but it’s a special kind of satisfaction when a series ends on such a high note.  The pacing throughout this series has been spot-on and I feel like everything fits well when looking at this series as a whole–there's no real slow or bad parts, it's all great.  I also think it's hard to get endings right, but after reading so many of Riddle's books and wrapping up yet another series, it's clear that Riddle has mastered the art of endings, and I'm immensely grateful for the journey I've been able to go on with this series. These books have brought me so much joy during some difficult times over the past couple years. 

Overall, of course I've given Spireheart five stars! If you haven't started this series–what are you waiting for!? All six books are out now, so there's no excuse (also, if you haven't started this series, you probably shouldn't have started on this review...). The Jekua series is an incredible journey that takes you to different places, showcases some awesome fantasy creatures with all sorts of different cool powers, has an array of clever and lively characters, and is filled to the brim with heart and adventure. 

(If you made it this far in the review, be sure to give yourself a pat on the back for me–I appreciate it!)

*I received a copy of Spireheart in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating.*

Buy the book: Amazon 

Review: The Cloud Roost (Jekua #5) by Travis M. Riddle

The Cloud Roost (Jekua #5) by Travis M. Riddle

Independently Published

Publication Date: March 12th, 2024

Paperback/Ebook. 630 pages.

About Cloud Roost:

"Balt Vana is going to do the unthinkable: imprint a legendary Jenu.

That's his plan, anyway. His grandparents might not be dead on Pakree after all, and he needs a Jenu's Warp magic to reach the island.

Complicating matters is the Facet, the shadowy organization stealing the Church's Veptilos. With them continuing to make moves, setting up a new base and preparing their Summoners for one final assault, Balt has to move fast.

Ascending the mountains and imprinting the Jenu at its peak will be the hardest thing Balt and his friends have ever done. When they reach the top, it's possible they might not even succeed.

And in all likelihood, they won't."

As usual, I won't include any spoilers for The Cloud Roost, but there will likely be some spoilers for the first 1-4 books as I recap some of what has happened before, so do be aware! I have reviews for books 1-4 up on my blog as well, so feel free to visit any one of those if you aren't at book five yet.

The Cloud Roost continues the tumultuous journey we've thus far embarked upon with Balt, Alani, and all the friends they've made along the way. After their encounters with the Facet on Yuluhu Island and some discoveries made about Alani's abilities, the gang are now on Kou Tekkis where Balt and his cousin, Wasaaru, have decided that their best shot at saving everyone on Pakree is to imprint a legendary Jenu, Sawarestao–no big deal, since people imprint enormous legendary Jenus everyday, right? (In case you missed it, that was sarcasm. It's actually a huge deal and not something people do everyday.) With this daunting task in front of them, the group begins to prepare, which includes preparation for hiking the mountains of Kou Tekkis to even reach the place where Sawarestao resides.

We once again meet up with Balt, Alani, Niona, Aeiko, and Brine for the journey, only this time we add Wasaaru, Balt's cousin, to the group. This group has been through so much together and it's been a ride to watch them all grow and develop from it. The evolution of Balt and Wasaaru's relationship has been one of my favorite things to see in this series, as it's not something I necessarily expected, but has turned out to be a very natural and engaging development. I feel like this falls in line with a lot of the general growth we've seen Balt experience throughout this series, as he has really matured a lot in this relatively short but seemingly long period of time. It's been a joy to see that growth occur not only in regard to his skills as a Summoner, but also within his personal views and relationships with those around him. Wasaaru has also seemingly matured a lot over the times we've seen him, and it's been interesting to see how the two make amends and relearn how to be something close to friends. 

Alani has been struggling with her place in the church, and this continues as she nears the final Veptilo on her pilgrimage and must come to terms with where she stands. This has been a storyline that I've been really drawn to, not just because I think it's shown a really great example of character growth and development, but also because I feel I can somewhat relate to some of the struggles she has experienced. Her realization that the church has been something she's been a part of largely due to it providing her something to do and somewhere to live, but not necessarily because she feels passionately about it is a type of complacency that I think a lot of us can empathize with. It's extremely daunting to consider striking out on your own when you don't have any idea what else you might want to do, and I've loved watching Alani undertake this journey of discovery, no matter what she ends up choosing to do and whether it's with the church or not. 

Niona has recently been offered representation by an agency for her Summoning career, which has really boosted her spirits and offered some additional insight into what it could be like to be a Summoner in this world. I've really liked her casual, 'go get 'em' type of attitude that I think acts as a strong foil to characters like Alani who are a bit more inhibited and law abiding. There's honestly a little something for everyone in all of these characters. 

Aeiko and Brine continue to be some truly stalwart companions on this trip and I always appreciate their contributions. I've loved watching Brine slowly develop a bit of personality and loyalty, and Aeiko's support to the group–both moral support and support due to their intelligence–has been critical to the group's success. I'm excited to see where things go with these two in the final books. 

And just when you think you've already met an abundance of Jekuas, there are even more introduced in this book. The majority of the Jekuas we come across in this book are those that reside in the mountains of Kou Tekkis, and they seem to be on an entirely different level than those we've met in different locations. These Jekua are larger, more aggressive, and much more dangerous, which really puts everything Balt, Niona, and Wasaaru have been learning and practicing to the test. I really enjoyed seeing these three work together in some pretty high stress situations to take down some of the largest Jekua threats we've come across in this series. 

I'd also like to touch on the world-building, as I've truly enjoyed how Riddle has allowed his characters and readers alike to explore different areas of this world on a journey together. I love that the entire plot setup has built in the need to visit all the different islands and explore the different cultures, landmarks, food, Jekuas, and much more that inhabit each place. There's always something new to explore and in so many different settings that it's made it a joy to be a part of the ride.

This choice to have our characters moving around and exploring different places has also allowed the pacing to remain fairly consistent and never really allows for boredom because there's always something new to check out with each book. I've mentioned multiple times in previous reviews how much fun I've had with this series and how easy it's felt for me to really become immersed in this vibrant and exciting world, and that remains true for The Cloud Roost. There is a perfect mix of downtime, character development, thoughtful discussions, and of course plenty action with Jekuas that makes it work as a really well balanced book and series. Everything is finally fully setup for the final installment and I am both eager and a little sad to know that (hopefully) everything will be figured out and settled by the end of the next book. But I absolutely cannot wait for the rest of this adventure!

Overall, it's another unsurprising but well-deserved five stars from me for The Cloud Roost! If you haven't started the Jekua series yet then you probably shouldn't have read this review, but you should  start reading this series because it's an adventure that's full of heart, extraordinary friendships, vibrant world-building, captivating creatures, enthralling battles, endless twists, and timeless journeys of discovery.

*I received a copy of The Cloud Roost in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating.*

Buy the book: Amazon 

Review: Whispers from the Poisoned Isle (Jekua #4) by Travis M. Riddle

     

Whispers from the Poisoned Isle (Jekua #4) by Travis M. Riddle

Independently Published

Publication Date: September 19th, 2023

Ebook. 584 pages.

About Whispers from the Poisoned Isle:

"Yuluhu Island was once a thriving ecosystem, but now it's a toxic wasteland.

After barely surviving the attack on the Makanuele Rumble, Balt and Alani set out with their friends on a dangerous journey across the island to find a laboratory that might hold the key to learning what truly happened to Balt's grandparents eight years ago.

The Summoners will have to battle mutant Jekuas warped and strengthened by their toxic environment, search for a way to repair the mana leak that threatens to plunge Alani into perpetual soulsickness, and avoid the attention of their enemies.

But surviving the island won't be enough, because the supposedly abandoned lab is still in use – and a threat deadlier than any they've faced before is waiting."

Where do I begin this review? The fourth book of Travis M. Riddle's Jekua series, Whispers from the Poisoned Isle, is finally here and I couldn't have been more excited to read it and share my thoughts now! Just a quick head's up before getting into this review: this review will likely have inadvertent spoilers for books #1-3, so if you haven't read any of those books you might want to skip this review and check out my reviews for one of those books (which can all be found here). 

First, before I jump into the review itself, can we take a moment to appreciate the cover art for Whispers from the Poisoned Isle? This entire series has had some consistently outstanding artwork for each book and I think the illustrations and colors bring the world to life with such vibrancy. 

With that out of the way, let's dive into Whispers from the Poisoned Isle!

As with previous books in the series, we pick up pretty soon after the events of Makanuele Rumble following Balt, Alani, Niona, Aeiko, and Brine as they begin their journey to the plague-ridden island of Yuluhu. Yuluhu is not a typical vacation destination because of the aforementioned disease known as strihova that is prevalent on the island. Any and all visitors must quarantine for a week before leaving the island and are required to wear permanent masks while on the island. This permanent mask situation also leads to some... interesting eating arrangements where visitors have to adopt a liquid-only diet (with drinks ranging from the fruity to the savory...) through their mask, and I have to say all this plus the risk of getting infected would probably prevent me from visiting, but I know our crew have important things to take care of. 

The group has arrived on Yuluhu in order to continue Alani's pilgrimage to all the church's Veptilos, but they have a secondary goal as well: to find out if the Facet is indeed working out of an abandoned Lakhalo lab on the island, and to see if they can figure out why they are stealing Veptilos. On Yuluhu, they discover that the relatively mysterious disease known as strihova has affected not only its human inhabitants on Yuluhu, but also turned many of the Jekuas into rabid mutant Jekuas that wreak a vast amount of havoc on the island and its residents. 

I always love hanging out with this group of characters. Balt and Alani are the OGs and continue to embody strong personalities that are consistent in many ways, yet also ever-evolving and dynamic. Each book seems to showcase some sort of arc for each character and pushes forward their development in a consistent, evenly paced manner. In the previous book, we started to see Alani really begin to question her passion for the church and whether it's really the future she wants, and this book continues to explore that thread with Alani really diving deep into what drives her and what she sees wanting to do in her future. I've really enjoyed this deeper exploration with Alani's character, and I have to say it's not one I initially would've expected from the beginning of the story, and I'm really enjoyed where it's going. 

Balt has also experienced some drastic worldview shifts as he experiences more and more while accompanying Alani on her pilgrimage. Stepping back to look at how far Balt has come from the very first book before he'd imprinted even one Jekua to now when he's been creating hybrids and participating in some pretty intense Jekua battles (including his stint int he Makanuele Rumble!) has shown his growth not only in hard skills at using Jekuas and increasing his mana reserves, but also in his own maturity in knowing more about his own limits. 

Niona once again joins us on the journey for this book, and we also get Aeiko and Brine our favorite coral golem joining us on this leg as well. I love the growing cast and enjoying getting to dig in a little into Niona's struggles as well as she tries to come to terms with the fact that she might never see her first and favorite imprinted Jekua after her kayet was badly damaged in the Facet battle in the last book. Niona remains extremely outspoken and not one to shy away from saying exactly what's on her mind, and it brought a new dimension to her character to see her go through some new struggles. Aeiko is a pretty steady character in this book, though I feel like Brine has been slowly changing ever so slightly since we first met him in the first book. 

Sadly, due to the eating situation of this book, we did not get nearly as many delectable food descriptions in this book (though we did still get one or two), and instead were treated to some pretty gnarly sounding drinks–liquified versions of meat and potatoes, anybody?–but fortunately there was enough else going on with the plot that I didn't have to feel too sad about this. 

There are plenty of Jekua battles littered throughout Whispers from the Poisoned Isle, ranging from relatively friendly practice games to some of the more intense ones we've seen with much higher stakes than we've seen previously (barring a few times). For me, there was also the added stress of worrying about one of our characters' masks getting dislodged at any point in these battles, so that kept me even more on the edge of my seat than I already was. Some of these Jekua battles felt much different from those we saw in Makanuele Rumble, given that the previous ones were largely setup during a tournament with rules and parameters, and a good deal of these were about needing to win or achieve some level of safety. 

All the subtle foreshadowing and little hints at things being not quite they seemed that I mentioned in previous novels has really begun to fruition with some pretty massive discoveries uncovered in this book, and I think this book really serves as a climactic moment in what I assume is the overarching arc fo the series. I really can't seem to get enough of this world and learning all about the new islands and Jekuas that pop up as the story progresses. In fact, the entire progression of this series has felt so methodically laid out that I've been consistently impressed with how well we, as readers, are given something new to explore in the world with each book, while also leaving plenty of hints and ideas of new things and adventure to come. I've been particularly excited to explore each new island that we visit

Something about this series has just been so effortlessly engaging for me that it's hard to compare my reading experience to anything else. I feel like there are books you love that require some level of effort to sit down and read, and then there are books you love that you just sit down and with only one or two sentences you're fully immersed in the world and reading along with relative ease, and this series has easily been the latter. That's not to imply it's low bar or anything–far from it, in fact–but seems to reflect more on the author's ability to tell a story with a tone that feels both natural and doesn't rely too much on tricks and cheap devices to keep you hooked. There's a strong sense of realism with how the characters interact and dialogue with one another, as well as how the world has been constructed and we've slowly learned more and more about it along with our characters.

Overall, I've given Whispers from the Poisoned Isle five stars! There's a part of me that keeps wondering when I'll have to stop doling out the five stars for this series, but I've yet to see that happen and I'm happy a truly fantastic time with this series. I cannot wait for the next book! If you've not yet started this series (which, if you haven't and you've read this entire review then you didn't heed my previous advice, clearly), do yourselves a favor and go check out On Lavender Tides, I promise you won't be disappointed. If you have been reading this series, then you're in for a treat because this series only seems to be getting stronger with each book. 

*I received a copy of Whispers from the Poisoned Isle courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon 

Review: Makanuele Rumble (Jekua #3) by Travis M. Riddle

 

Makanuele Rumble (Jekua #3) by Travis M. Riddle

Independently Published

Publication Date: March 14, 2023

Ebook. 712 pages.

About Makanuele Rumble:

"Summoners travel from all over the world to compete in the biggest Jekua tournament in the Volukho Isles: the Makanuele Rumble.

Alani's sacred pilgrimage brings her group to bustling Makanuele at this crucial time. Her next stop is at the heart of the city, deep within an ancient crater. The Church led her along this path, but as the journey grows more difficult, she questions whether it is a path she wants to walk at all.

Meanwhile, Balt and Niona have been training for weeks just to earn a spot on the tournament bracket, but the competition is fierce. Facing savage Jekuas and harrowing environments, every battle may bring them closer to the champion's title – or else bring their journey to a premature end.

Yet as the group struggles with their inner demons and the mounting pressures of the tournament, greater dangers are prowling in Makanuele's streets."

This review will likely contain spoilers for the first two books in the Jekua series, so if you haven't read those already, you can find my reviews for them at the following links: 
Book #1: On Lavender Tides
Book #2: A Fracture in the Qwisdeep

Reading Makanuele Rumble was the most fun I've had with a book in months! It came at the absolute perfect moment for me to read. I'd been saving it to read in March closer to its publication, and I'm so glad I did because I went through a pretty rough February and this book really helped me through that time because it was just so much fun and such a genuinely enjoyable read that I was able to fully lose myself in. I just always knows that I'm going to have a great time every time I sit down and crack open one of Travis M. Riddle's books. 

Makanuele Rumble picks up right after the end of A Fracture in the Qwisdeep with Balt and Alani traveling around for Alani's pilgrimage. This time we are stopped in Makanuele where it is time for the Makanuele Rumble, a huge Jekua competition that Balt has been eager to compete in. Almost the entirety of this book centers around the competition itself and at 700+ pages, you might think that's overkill, but I absolutely promise you that it is not. Instead, it is an steady-paced, highly compulsive read that fully explores the world of Jekuas and immerses readers in a series of high-action Jekua battles and is filled with compelling characters that make it a lively read. 

As with the first two books, I really loved seeing Balt and Alani's relationship grow even more in this book. They've gone through some pretty tough times together, and here we can see them be what they really are–close friends who love each other, care about each other, and can move forward from conflict with one another. It was also really nice to see them interact with more people and friends as well. Seeing Balt and Niona's relationship grow in different ways has also been really interesting, and I've enjoyed how Riddle has crafted their interactions so far. Similarly, we see Alani meet up with an older friend, Aeiko, and it was nice the see her interact with someone new and different, especially since it is someone who she has her own confusing personal feelings about. Aeiko was a really welcome addition to the bunch; they aren't overly outgoing, but they bring a nice sense of normalcy to the bunch and have a very laidback demeanor that I think fit in well with the rest of the characters. We also meet a side character named Holly, also Aeiko's roommate and ex, and all I have to say about Holly is that she definitely helped facilitate some bonding among the rest of the group. 

The tournament was so much fun! I think this tournament really brought the entire world to life in such a strong way because everything really comes together with regard to the world and Jekuas. We've heard about all the competitions, summoners, Jekuas of higher levels and caliber, different areas people are from, etc. in previous books, and this book is where we really get to see it all. We get to see Jekua summoners from all over and we finally get to see what a real tournament looks like firsthand through our own characters we're following. This feels like a perfect mid-series book where you just get to hang out in this world that has been created. We aren't traveling much at all in this book so there isn't too much additional world-building in that regard, but I felt like this was a great break that let's us enjoy a setting while knowing there will be more world exploration later on. 

Initially, I thought that maybe getting the play-by-play detail of so many battles over and over might get a little repetitive, but I was very, very wrong. I was riveted by literally every single battle. I'm not entirely sure how Riddle does it, but he somehow makes each battle and Jekua incredibly unique to the point that I just couldn't help but feel excited, intrigued, and unbelievably curious to find out which Jekuas would appear for each battle, what they would be able to do, if any would be modified, how the summoners would handle them, and much more. This was a great setup for this book, and I liked that we really got to dive in and experience it all through each step from eliminations rounds through to the end. 

I also think this book was a nice sort of breather after how intense the last book felt. Balt and Alani had quite a bit of conflict in A Fracture in the Qwisdeep and I think this book worked really well for the overall pacing of the series. I could see where this might seem like a slightly slower one-off book in the series, but I think when considering the overall arc it works really well as a realistic cooling off period. Characters seem to be somewhat recovering from the past events, rediscovering their interests, and Alani is able to slow down a little and face the newfound challenges relating to the church and how she feels about her connection to the church and future with it. Honestly, this might sound a bit much, but I almost feel like this is one of the best plotted/paced/character-developed series I've read in a while. It feels very apparent that Riddle has planned things out for this series extremely well, and I look forward to seeing what else is in store. 

There is also major plot progression that occurs in this book, so don't let me make it seem like nothing happens because some big things happen–arguably some of the biggest things that are setting up for later books– but it feels mellower overall with the lack of traveling. All the subtle foreshadowing that we've been getting in the previous two books have finally really started to come to fruition and I'm thrilled about it. I love feeling like I'm finally vindicated that there is definitely something sinister and weird going on in the background of our seemingly happy-go-lucky pilgrimage (well... except for the attacks on the shrines, of course). I know it's somewhat obvious with everything going on with the attacks on the shrines, but the eeriness has felt deeper than that and has been growing. Some very big events happen in this book that really takes things to a new level, both character-wise and greater plot-wise, and it's made me that much more excited for future books.

I believe Riddle has said that this is a planned six-book series, and I'm really hoping that six books is enough to sate my appetite for this series because I really feel so close to it at this point and have been having way too much fun with. It's continuously captured me and always seems to help me take my mind off of other things happening in my life in all the best ways. It's hard to convey how I feel because sometimes because I say (a lot) how fun this series, but it really is more than just fun. This is a really close character examination of these two characters at an important crux in their lives as they go from teens to young adults and continue going on with their lives. Alani is moving into a really big potential future career with the church, and Balt is really getting a start with his summoning and leaning into this new particular path of being a more professional summoner. I cannot wait to see what's next for these two!

Overall, it's an easy five stars from me! It's out today in paperback, ebook, and it is also available as an audiobook if that's more up your alley. 

*I received a copy of Makanuele Rumble courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon

Review: A Fracture in the Qwisdeep (Jekua #2) by Travis M. Riddle

A Fracture in the Qwisdeep (Jekua #2) by Travis M. Riddle
Independently Published

Publication Date: September 16th, 2022

Paperback/Ebook. 438 pages.

About A Fracture in the Qwisdeep:

"There’s no better place in the archipelago for a young Summoner to explore than the Volukho Wildlife Center. It’s an enormous wildlife reservation that houses rare, endangered Jekuas in a jungle called the Qwisdeep. Traveling through the reserve’s lush greenery and glowing flora with magical monsters in his sights is the best experience Balt could have ever dreamed of. 

But Alani is growing increasingly frustrated having to remind her friend that this is not a vacation, it’s her pilgrimage, and that they are here for the Church. The whole reason he’s even on this journey is to aid and protect her, but he has always had a one-track mind, and nothing matters more to him than imprinting Jekuas. 

While the jungle may be home to countless beautiful creatures, there are also untamed dangers lurking in its shadows, and Balt’s reckless nature may very well get them stranded in the Qwisdeep."

If you haven't read the first book in the Jekua series, On Lavender Tides, you can find my review for it here!

We have yet another winner from Travis M. Riddle! In A Fracture in the Qwisdeep, we pick up right after the events of On Lavender Tides and rejoin Balt and Alani on their journey together to complete Alani's pilgrimage and also allow Balt the opportunity to collect more Jekuas. There are a couple of minor subplots that pop up in this sequel that added a lot of intrigue and depth to the story, and one in particular that I felt really added a level of seriousness that I didn't necessarily expect, but really appreciated (sorry for the vagueness–I aim to avoid any and all spoilers!). 

This second installment goes a lot deeper with the world-building and character development, and I felt like we really started to truly get to know both Balt and Alani on a deeper level, as well as learning more about the world itself and its history, different areas, etc. This time, the journey requires Balt and Alani travel through the Volukho Wildlife Center, which encompasses an expansive jungle known as the Qwisdeep that is home to a wide variety of endangered Jekuas, and this is where we spend most of our time in this book. I loved exploring the Qwisdeep and all the different wildlife and nature that it had to offer, and I especially loved meeting a lot of new characters on this journey as well, which I'll discuss more later on. 

A Fracture in the Qwisdeep shows more conflict and tension pop up between Balt and Alani, and I appreciated how realistic their occasional bitterness towards one another was and how their arguments flared up and were generally resolved. It was almost refreshing to see them struggle with one another because, let's be honest, who isn't going to start bickering with their sole travel-mate when traveling on foot each and every day? One thing that I thought was interesting about their conflicts, however, was how often they seemed to be a direct result of their own internal conflicts manifesting into bigger issues, or internal struggles causing more irritability to manifest itself in their interactions with one another. Since we get POVs from both Balt and Alani, I really liked seeing how these two friends would perceive the other's irritation and how they also talked to themselves and each other to work on said issues.

I found Balt a little frustrating in this book at times because of his wandering focus from Alani's pilgrimage, but at the same time it was that frustration where you also totally understand why they're acting the way they are because, let's face it, there are some once in a lifetime opportunities to experience. Balt is first and foremost on this journey to assist Alani and escort her to the shrines, but he's also on a bit of his own personal journey to explore the world around him a bit and collect new Jekuas and practice his skills, which is what builds the tensions between the two friends. 

I mentioned in my review for On Lavender Tides that I personally relate more to Alani than Balt, and that remains true for this installment. We really see Alani start to question her decision to be a part of the church and whether she really wants to be doing what she is, and I felt like seeing her deal with these doubts about her choices and future really humanized her to an even greater extent and even allowed me to feel more connected to her. I am so curious to where she ends up and what choices she'll make in the future. 

One thing I've found to be a strength of Riddle's writing is his ability to write colorful and captivating characters. In addition to Balt and Alani, we meet a huge variety of characters in A Fracture in the Qwisdeep (and reunite with some) and each one was so distinct and full of personality. I particularly loved the brothers Yud and Yi and the sheer amusement and delight they brought me every time they entered a scene. They are the perfect comic relief characters and are delightfully dense, but also much more capable than they are probably given credit for. 

I've really loved this series so far because, on the one hand, it feels very casual and slice-of-life adventure, but there's always this ever-present sense of mystery at play for me that lingers in the background. This is especially true whenever some of the more mysterious things about this world are mentioned or something rather unexplained happens–a lot of these aren't mentioned in any particularly dark or mysterious way, but my mind won't ket me wonder just a little bit as some of these very subtle moments (and if they aren't meant to be anything bigger, then I guess I have bad instincts, haha). There's also some action in this adventure, from Balt's Jekua battles with other characters to his needing to summon Jekuas to defend himself and Alani at unexpected moments, so there's definitely never a dull moment. This also allowed the pacing to feel fairly even overall, with some faster-paced moments–often involving Jekuas–and some slower moments such as when were following Balt and Alani on their very, very long walk. 

Lastly,  I want to mention just how much I've been loving exploring this world! This a very island-based world and thus far I have really enjoyed exploring new cities and environments with Balt and Alani, and really look forward to all of the places we will continue to visit in the future. And don't worry–we still have a plentiful amount of wonderful food descriptions if you've been enjoying those as much as I have in this series. We also get to meet so many more Jekuas in this book and I just enjoy learning about all these different creatures so much. They are all so unique and full of surprises and I just can't get enough of them.

Overall, I've given A Fracture in the Qwisdeep a well-deserved five stars! There's so much more I could say about this book, but I'll try not to get carried away and leave it here. I have found this series to be an amazing comfort read with plenty of action and intrigue to keep you hooked. If you haven't already started the journey with Balt and Alani, you're missing out!

*I received a copy of A Fracture in the Qwisdeep courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon 

Review: On Lavender Tides (Jekua #1) by Travis M. Riddle

On Lavender Tides (Jekua #1) by Travis M. Riddle

Independently Published

Publication Date: March 25th, 2022

Paperback/Ebook. 398 pages.

About On Lavender Tides:

"Ever since he was a kid, all Balt Vana wanted was to be a world-renowned Jekua Summoner like his grandmother, battling other Summoners in front of audiences of thousands. But from where he stands now, living up to the Vana name feels impossible. 

When his best friend Alani, an initiate at the local Church, is sent on a pilgrimage to find her path in life and the god she will follow, Balt sees the perfect opportunity to launch his career by escorting her across the archipelago and its purple seas. The islands are filled with monsters to imprint and Summoners to battle, with every victory bringing him one step closer to his dream. 

It will take more than just his family name to reach the same heights as his grandmother, but Balt won't stop until he does."

This was one of most enjoyable books I’ve read in a while, and I truly mean it when I say that absolutely everything about this book was so much fun. The creativity in this book is off the charts and combines everything I love, from adventures through a spectacular world to quirky and incredible animal-like creatures to charismatic characters–it has it all! This is the perfect escape from all the stresses in your life.

On Lavender Tides is the first book in a brand new progression fantasy series inspired by the author’s love of Pokemon. In this story, we follow Balt on his journey to become a Jekua Summoner and make a name for himself in the same way that his grandmother did before him. We also follow Alani, Balt’s best friend and an initiate of the local church, as she is sent on a pilgrimage by the church to discover what her next path in life will be. Together, the two embark on what is shaping up to be an adventurous and exploratory journey to adulthood and discovering who they are and what their purpose in the world is. 

Balt and Alani were both incredible characters to follow and have personalities that are the perfect foil to one another. Balt is a pretty casual guy overall and doesn’t tend to take things in life too seriously–except for summoning, of course. Balt may not be the most dedicated student in school, but he is an extremely dedicated budding Jekua Summoner who has spent countless hours poring over his grandma’s book of Jekuas and making sure he knows as much as he possibly can about the creatures inside. He’s a rather impulsive character and tends to let his emotions drive his actions and decisions–something that doesn’t always work out so well for him–and I can definitely see where he has already made a lot of growth in this book and where I’m sure he will continue to grow in future books. 

As mentioned, Alani is an almost perfect foil to Balt and seems to be slightly more responsible and serious about things. She is currently an initiate of the Church, a place that has been a refuge for her to escape from her difficult home life, and is told that she must complete a pilgrimage in order to determine which Veptist god will claim her. I really appreciated Alani’s outlook on life and how determined she is to make a better life for herself. I think I’m most curious to see how her journey will transpire, as I feel like this pilgrimage will be more than just a religious one, but rather one that may really help her discover who she is and what she wants out of life. The Church was a refuge to her at the time, but will it continue to be what she needs? 

Despite Balt and Alani’s differences–or perhaps because of–they have an incredibly strong friendship that balances out both of their personalities. Each complements the other’s personality by highlighting the areas in which they both excel, as well as by making up for each other’s weaknesses with their own strengths. For instance, Balt often lets his emotions take over his actions, which gives Alani the opportunity to share her own advice and help Balt learn to move past things that may upset him. I also found myself amused and appreciating the authenticity of this relationship by seeing Alani get annoyed by Balt’s recklessness throughout their journey, but being unable to stay too annoyed with him for long because they just work together too well. 

Also, I’ll talk about Jekua more a little later when I talk about the main 'magic system' of this book, but since they are sort of characters to me, I just wanted to note now how much I adored them and had such a fun time meeting each one. One of my favorite bits was Riddle’s inclusion of a few ‘excerpts’ from Balt’s grandma’s book of Jekua, which includes illustrations and notes about them. I genuinely cannot wait to (hopefully) see more of these in the future, as they really helped bring everything to life! 

As much as I love the characters in this book so far, let’s dive into the next best thing about this series: the world and magic system! I’m loving this world so far and am so excited by knowing that this is just the start of what is sure to be an even more expansive and exciting world. In this first book, we visit a couple main locations, and Riddle’s descriptions of these islands and Balt and Alani’s journeys to them were so vivid and intoxicating that it makes me want to visit them all myself. Riddle has done an excellent job of creating a world that I honestly just want to go hang out in and explore, and if we’re being honest, there aren’t always that many fantasy worlds I’d actually want to visit! 

The magic system is one of the main components of this book and also one of the most exciting, so let’s talk about that for a little. Much like Pokemon, Jekua are the many animal-like creatures that inhabit this world, each with their own unique skills and abilities. Jekua Summoners use special devices called kayets to ‘imprint’ them, essentially creating a copy of them, which they can then use to have battles with other Summoners and their own Jekua. Summoners have to train with their Jekua in order to work cohesively together and can learn a wide myriad of tricks and techniques to become better and stronger competitors, many of which go on to compete in tournaments and acclaim great fame for their skills. I haven’t read all that many progressive fantasy books, so I wasn’t sure exactly what I might be getting into this time around, but I have to say that I had such a blast learning about the mechanics of summoning. From the hard rules about imprinting and how to work Jekua to the more varied lessons about teaching Jekua new skills and learning how to better work with them, I was fully engrossed and watched everything play out in my hand like a movie. 

I also really appreciated the additional component of mana that go with working with Jekua, which essentially dictates how much ‘energy’ a Summoner has while working with their Jekua-if you run out of mana, you risk soulsickness, a deeply unpleasant illness that has more dire consequences if it becomes a more common occurrence. This reminded me so much of stamina bars in games (and also how annoyed I get at them, haha!). Even though Pokemon already exists, I wish this series could become a game so that I could play it and do all the fun things that Balt is doing, as well as explore all the different islands along with Alani. (Side note: Alani’s pilgrimage requires her to visit some different shrines from various churches, and I had a hard flashback to having to visit a bunch of different shrines from Breath of the Wild and I thought that was super fun, intentional or not.) 

The pacing of On Lavender Tides was perfect. I wouldn’t call it fast- or slow-paced, but rather relaxed and deliberate. It reminded me of a focused vacation where you’re relaxed and free from work so you can take your time, admire the view, taste the local food, etc., but you also have a goal in mind of where you want to go and what you want to see. It’s purposeful, but not rushed, and we readers get to take our time in each and every location and scene in all the best ways possible (and for those like me who love food descriptions in their books, Riddle once again does not disappoint in the slightest with that. I think I’ve actually started looking forward to descriptions of food in his books at this point…) 

I think this review is shaping up to be way longer than most people probably want to read, so I’ll try to wrap it up here by saying that if you are looking for a book that has a fun coming-of-age vibe, two friends embarking on a journey together to discover themselves, a vibrant and exciting new world to explore, adorable and intriguing creatures, and an all-around delightful and engrossing story, then you’re going to want to pick up a copy of On Lavender Tides. Trust me on this one.

Overall, it's five stars from me!

*I received a copy of On Lavender Tides courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon