Hello! Welcome to the next stop on the Twilight of the Elves blog tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. I'm really happy to share my thoughts on this book with you!
Author: Zack Loran Clark & Nick Eliopulos
Pub. Date: November 13, 2018
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 384
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks
I should probably start at the beginning, Zed wrote, when things first went wrong?
Zed, Brock, and their friends may have saved Freestone from destruction, but the fight against the Dangers is far from over. No one knows what to expect next from the dark power that forced the elves to abandon their city. And the influx of elf refugees in Freestone strains resources and brews resentment among the townspeople. Things have shifted between best friends Zed and Brock, as well, with their friendship crumbling under the weight of the secrets they're keeping from each other.
When tensions reach an all-time high, Queen Me'Shala, leader of the elves, approaches the Adventurers Guild with a mission. She wants a small group of adventurers to go behind the king's back on a covert mission to save her city, and Zed, Brock, Liza, Jett, Micah, and their elven friend Fel join the quest. To face a powerful form of magic thought to be extinct, the adventurers will have to learn how to rely on each other and fight harder than ever before.
Don't miss this second installment of Zack Loran Clark and Nicholas Eliopulos's Adventurers Guild trilogy, where the stakes are raised, the action is breathless, and the dangers will stop even the bravest of hearts.
๐
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
Twilight of the Elves was like Lord of the Rings, but MG. I loved it! There were elves, dwarves, and even a necromancer! Seriously, it's like this book was made for me. I really enjoyed reading this one to my son, and we've already gone online and ordered the first book, The Adventurer's Guild. Even though this is the second book in a series, we didn't feel lost or confused by the world or the characters. The authors were informative, but not overly so. You shouldn't feel bombarded with facts if you've read the first book, but you'll feel adequately informed if you haven't.
I really enjoyed the story and how relatable the characters were. The more mundane aspects of their lives were things my son could understand, while we simply enjoyed the magical and fantastical elements. For example, one of the characters mentioned not having time to brush his teeth, and my son thought that meant he should be able to skip brushings every once in awhile. I had to tell him that he wasn't actively fighting monsters, and therefore had no excuse not to brush his teeth.
This book prompted a lot of conversations between me and my son, and I liked how involved he was with the story. I've been reading chapter books aloud to him for awhile now, but this is the first time he's played an active role in the story. I think that alone says something about the quality of this book. He wanted to pay attention and ask questions instead of simply drifting off to sleep. More often than not, I would leave his room with him still awake and asking me to read just one more chapter.
Twilight of the Elves was a really fun and enjoyable read! The world-building was amazing, the characters were believable (I wish there had been more character development since this was the second book), and there was plenty of action and adventure! Like I said, very Lord of the Rings. I cannot wait to see what this duo comes up with next! The ending definitely left room for more.
About Zack & Nick:
ZACK LORAN CLARK and NICK ELIOPULOS grew up in Florida and now live in New York. Best friends, they get together to play Dungeons & Dragons every week. Zack fervently hopes that magic is real; Nick desperately hopes that monsters are not. The Adventurers Guild is their first novel.
Giveaway Details:
3 winners will receive a finished copy of TWILIGHT OF THE ELVES, US Only.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
11/5/2018- Feed Your Fiction Addiction- Review
11/6/2018- BookHounds YA- Spotlight
11/7/2018- Bri's Book Nook- Review
11/8/2018- Adventures Thru Wonderland- Review
11/9/2018- Books a Plenty Book Reviews- Review
Week Two:
11/12/2018- Here's to Happy Endings- Review
11/13/2018- Oh Hey! Books.- Review
11/14/2018- Texan Holly Reads- Spotlight
11/15/2018- Do You Dog-ear?- Review
11/16/2018- Two Points of Interest- Review
I think I heard about this series but I never tried the books though I would be curious to do so
ReplyDeleteWe're definitely going to go back and read the first one! I hope the authors decide to write more books like this. :)
DeleteI think it's awesome that your son liked it so much. Sounds like a great story.
ReplyDeleteIt really was! I love seeing him get excited about books and their stories. <3
DeleteHi, this is one of the authors, Zack! We're thrilled you enjoyed the book--and please let your son know that it is definitely *not* an argument for skipping tooth brushing. :)
ReplyDeleteHey! Thanks for stopping by! He and I had a very long conversation about teeth and the importance of brushing, haha. He said that sometimes he's too busy to stop and brush his teeth, so I argued that we could stop doing something he enjoyed in order to give him more time. Unsurprisingly, he changed his mind and decided that he had plenty of time to get it done! We're really looking forward to reading the first book, and can't wait to see what happens next. :)
DeleteYou had me at Lord of the Rings. I think this sounds awesome, Lindsi. Great find!
ReplyDeleteI love LOTR! Did you know it was on Netflix right now?? I've been trying to find the time to watch it, but I've been busy with life and the #HoHoHoRAT. Soon!
DeleteI love that you read this with your son and he was really involved in the story. That says so much about the book!
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly! I love that he was so invested in the story and the characters. It made it a really enjoyable read for us both. <3
DeleteI absolutely love middle grade adventure too Linds. Every since discovering Percy Jackson, I'm always on the lookout for more. The Lord of The Rings comparison has me super excited! I wish I was a fly on the wall for that conversation, you don't actively fight monsters so you have to brush your teeth!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant review Linds, so glad you both enjoyed it ♡♡♡
Percy Jackson is my jam! We've read through those a few times. I also really love Gregor the Overlander. Have you read that series? Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, and now this! I hope we continue finding amazing books to read together, because I know it's only temporary. Eventually, he isn't going to want me to read to him anymore, and he'll be doing it all on his own.
DeleteHe was convinced that this book was literal truth when it came to brushing your teeth. It took a little bit of explaining and convincing! :)
Wow this sounds great! Glad it was such a good read for both of you. Nice too that you read it without having the first one and not being totally lost.
ReplyDeleteI was lucky that it worked out that way! I accepted this book for review (and the tour) without realizing it was the second book in a series. I'm really glad it worked out in the end, and now we have something else to look forward to. :)
DeleteI think this series is so fun, and I love that it sparked lots of conversation between you and your son.
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I'm really glad I didn't need to read the first book to enjoy the second! I'm sure there are references that I'm not fully understanding, and I can't wait to go back and see what I've missed.
Delete