After two years, I’m returning to the world started by The Silvan series by R. K. Lander. This time, she takes us on a bit different journey, but it’s clear that she knows well how to write to spark emotions in the reader.

This universe takes a different approach to elven immortality – elves age and die, but reincarnate in their next life, in another world. Depending on the details of their death, this might turn out to be quite a messy experience.

This is the case with Feldar, who only remembers that he failed to save his son, and the anger and disappointment is threatening to tear him apart. Once a great and powerful warrior now struggles with guilt and rage while danger looms – one that the skills he had in his previous life might be able to stop, if he can remember them and get over his negative emotions.

The beginning felt quite messy here – very little context was given about his demise, which was intentional so that the reader discovers the fragmented memories along with Feldar, but that led to me feeling a bit disconnected from the previous series. Some other characters from there who appear eventually make that easier, at least, and eventually, more context comes forward.

Feldar has two elves from the Dominie order to help him, which turns out to be quite a challenge to them as well, and reveals that they, too, have their burdens to bear.

Meanwhile, the Order of Shirán is struggling in their own battle – a battle they hope Feldar would join soon, but his struggle against his grief is too slow. Meanwhile, they have to deal with their dwindling ranks, and the ambition of some of their other members. Chief troublemaker among them Ezrah, who seeks a higher rank but tends to misdirect blame on others, and takes out his frustrations on Feldar once he begins training.

It takes several calculated risks taken by the friends he had met – and lost – in the first series to help bring Feldar from his anger, regret, and self-pity – and hope that he might, once again, be the hero the world needs. But that’s something for the sequel.

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Read date: 19.9.-3.10.2025
Published: 16.3.2023
Goodreads/Amazon rating: 4,5/4,6
My rating: 90%
Length: 394 pages (Kindle Edition)
My highlights

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As mentioned above, returning to the series wasn’t easy as a lot of context still feels to be missing, though I understand the approach. The first book isn’t as much action-packed as the first series, dealing more with the inner struggle of several characters, but it does that quite well.