Reviews
Battle for Eklatros Reviews from Readers’ Favorite
As the first installment in a new fantasy series, Battle for Eklatros has all the trimmings of a visionary fantasy adventure. It is a rousing tale, with skillful prose that blends world-building and characterization with enough detail that doesn’t slow the plot’s pace. Ànifa’s journey to discover her identity and her forging of new alliances become the crux of the storyline – an introduction to who is who and what is what for you to understand what makes the major players tick. As you become familiar with the general outline, you begin to admire Alex Galassi’s word painting, as he has created a compelling world and a unique work of high fantasy with a contemporary mainstream appeal. What he has done in this novel is awesomely difficult, and he deserves to be read.
Eklatros is diverse and depicted in vivid detail. I could feel the extreme heat in the desert areas, the cool mistiness of the riverbank, and the wind near the great barriers. Alex Galassi gave distinct personalities to all of the characters. I found the cursing of Vesten in keeping with the nature of a pirate. The description of the characters’ attire was just as varied as Eklatros. The story was easy to read and the amount of detail was not burdensome, allowing for the timeline and pace of the story to hold my full attention. There was not a moment in the entire story when I could pull myself away from the book. The incorporation of the animal gods and their appearances were some of my favorite aspects of the story. There is tragedy, humor, and determination involved throughout, and, of course, magic. The backstories provided me with insight into the motivation for the paths chosen, including that of the main villain. The conclusion of the story leaves an opening for an intense sequel, which made me eager to keep reading the series. I recommend Battle for Eklatros to readers who enjoy magic, adventure, fantasy, and intriguing characters who grow together.
Battle for Eklatros by Alex Galassi is an extraordinary science-fiction fantasy novel that strikes a perfect balance between conflict, mystery, and character development. The intense series of events and battles and adventures throughout this novel is highly suspenseful, memorable, fun, and heartfelt. Alex Galassi crafted an incredibly immersive world filled with awesome and complex characters, such as elves, half-elves, angels, sorcerers, knights, sailors, and more. I am so invested in the world-building and the characters that I can’t wait for the next installment. Anyone interested in a gripping novel that follows a mysterious elvish woman as she discovers her identity while fighting an enemy that slowly corrupts the animals, humans, and gods must read this book.
The lore and worldbuilding on show in this work from the very first page are outstanding, with a complex and nuanced world that is highlighted beautifully by the narrative within it. Even more importantly, author Alex Galassi’s narrative voice does a sublime job of bringing us into this new world at just the right pace, making the world of Eklatros not just vivid and imaginative but also highly accessible to readers. Ànifa is an excellent protagonist for a fantasy epic, at once both a small figure when standing against the threat presented by the Gnusar and also a powerful figure in her determination and resilience. Her evolution throughout the story as she meets new people and overcomes the various challenges is so engaging to watch. Overall, Battle for Eklatros finds plenty of opportunities for all of its characters to shine whether that be through exciting action or deep reflection on their world.
Review Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by: Foluso Falaye through Readers’ Favorite
As a result of a cruel battle that took place thousands of years ago on planet Eklatros, the elves who were previously abundant are said to have vanished from the world. Ànifa, who seems to be an elf but has no recollection of her past, is discovered among humans at a time when Eklatros is being attacked by monsters and the planet appears to be on the verge of destruction. Subsequently, Ànifa sets out on an improbable journey to save the world with a bunch of new allies, using her talent for archery and her magical gift. They must look for the Great Barriers and overcome the difficult obstacles along the path, including pirates, monsters, gods, magical creatures, and more formidable phenomena. Battle for Eklatros by Alex Galassi is a fast-paced, magic-packed quest to save a world teeming with fearsome, wicked monsters and discouraging odds.
If you like frightening stories, be ready to be blown away by the book’s spine-chilling creatures, including the ugly monster covered in boils and warts. The world’s complexities, such as the fact that seeing a unicorn is always a warning of something horrible, make Battle for Eklatros feel more genuine and compelling. The friendship between the main characters, who joke about and try to always be there for one another despite the enormous obstacles they face, is truly admirable. Expect a fast-paced tale with several points of view, lively conversations, and nonstop action. The book’s numerous engaging aspects, ranging from communicating with animals to manipulating the weather, encountering wolf spiders, and hearing voices, will appeal to fantasy aficionados and adventure seekers who also appreciate dark themes. Alex Galassi’s novel is simply a terrific story to keep readers turning the pages!
Battle for Eklatros Reviews from The Wishing Shelf
Male reader, aged 43
This is a good fantasy novel. I loved the Eklatros setting, and the second half of the book is a blast. If you enjoy quest-like fantasy, this is probably for you.
Female reader, aged 54
I would call this high fantasy. It´s long with a complex plot and a small number of complex characters. The protagonist, Ánifa, is interesting and fun to root for. I also enjoyed getting to know the oddballs who are accompanying her. Although the first half is a bit slow, the second half is excellent with faster pacing. I would read another book by this author.
Male reader, aged 19
The fantasy story is compelling and skillfully constructed. The author is a solid plotter, but he works best with his characters, strongly developing them all the way till the last page. I see it´s book one; I´m happy to read book two!
Male reader, aged 32
Amazing ending! The pacing in the last third of the novel is excellent.
Male reader, aged 23
A little uneven but gets better and better as you fly through this fantasy thriller.