Waykeepers of Valdeor
Valdeor Chronicles Book 2
ISBN 9781737739814
ASIN B09JN7QGVC
I loved book 1 in this series, Champion of Valdeor, book 2 took me longer to get into, but once I got going, I could hardly put it down. This story is set in the same world, and some years after volume 1. The story is well written, the characters believable. The description of the book is:
“Valdeor is threatened by a new foe from across the seas. The secret of overcoming the enemy lies with the mysterious waykeepers. Donella searches for the strongest of their order, the Gifted One. Guy fears his destiny is controlled by the strange birthmark on his hand. Is he the one they await? Only the Gifted One can save them all.”
This book is written in the style of the classic epic adventure. This one begins some time after volume 1, and for the first third of the book we are focused on who and what the waykeepers are. We are given a glimpse of their power and abilities. And especially Guy who appears to be a long awaited one. Waykeepers have the ability for the most part via rings to open portals at a waypost to another waypost, or to find someone through the portals via a token. Donella encounters Guy and believes he might be the strongest of their order. But their first encounter does not go as she plans. Soon they both come to realize that something is amiss, and their land is likely being scoter for an invasion. And invasion that would use the wayposts and give the invading army a massive advantage. Eventually we encounter Lauressa and prince Alloryn and embark on an epic battle that spreads over the nation via sea attack and attacks through the wayposts.
This second installment in the series is very different than the first. Volume one is classic epic adventure. This one adds in the portals, wayposts and waykeepers. Turning it more into fantasy adventure. The characters are what make this volume and the series today so good. We get a clearer picture of the differences between believers in the way and people from lands that do not. It fells very much like it is written in homage to C.S. Lewis’s Narnia and especially A Horse and His Boy. And the way the Wayposts work is reminiscent of the rings in The Magician’s Nephew. And the hints that are given about book three could deliver the same for The Last Battle.
Even with that being said, the writing in this story is great. It is good clean fiction. It is very family friendly. But still with that epic fantasy feel. The battle scenes are tightly written and engaging. It is a book I think my older teen and tweens will love. And once I got going it more than kept me engaged. The writing is tight and clean. The pace starts slow but once it gets going it races to the end. The characters will become favorites leaving you wanting the next story in the Pilgrims of Valdeor. A good read in what is shaping up to be an excellent series!
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan!
Books by Sandralena Hanley:
Valdeor Chronicles:
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