Today I’m posting my fifth Finalist review for #SPFBOX (here’s a link to the Finalist table).  I’ve already posted a review for The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids (Teraglossa #1) by Stephanie A. Gillis,  The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage by Hiyodori, Oathsworn Legacy by KR Gangi and Wolf of Withervale (Noss Saga #1) by Joaquin Baldwin.  Over the next two weeks I shall be posting regularly in order to fit all the Finalists in before the competition ends.  So, without further ado let’s get to my review for Runelight (The Aenigma Lights Book 1) by JA Andrews:

Firstly here’s the description (courtesy of Goodreads), the cover and a link.

Kate thought finding the puzzle box would give her all the answers.

But it only holds far more desperate questions.

Kate is a Keeper—a storyteller, magic-wielder, and researcher—but a single mystery has evaded her all her life: What happened on the tragic day when two strangers stole not only the puzzle box that hummed with magic, but so much more?

She and her brother Bo have searched for twenty years with no luck. Until Venn, a surly elf, shows up on the hidden doorstep of the Keepers’ Stronghold, with that same aenigma box—and a message that Bo has disappeared.

Kate needs a guide back to Venn’s homeland to search for him, and Venn needs to find him for reasons of her own. Reasons she refuses to explain.

Despite their mutual distrust, Kate and Venn form a grudging alliance.

Somewhere in the midst of infiltrating dwarven tunnels, discovering the secrets of the aenigma box, and stumbling onto shocking ancient relics, the alliance shifts to friendship.

But as the search for Bo grows increasingly dangerous, they uncover a complex plot woven through centuries, devastating not just individuals, but entire empires.

And even working together, the inexplicable forces standing against them may be too much.

Half treasure hunt and half rescue mission, this epic fantasy adventure is a tale of puzzles, mysteries, and the kinds of friendships—both old and new—that shape the soul.

Before I started reading Runelight I confess I was daunted by the page count which according to GRs is over 700 pages, and yet, as it happens it didn’t feel like a chunkster and was quite an easy read.  To be fair, that’s not to say that there aren’t areas that could be sharpened up, but, I didn’t find myself struggling at any point which I think is a testament to the writing which is very easy to engage with.

As the story begins we meet Kate and her two brothers.  They love searching in an abandoned mine and on one occasion they discover a strange box.  Unluckily enough it seems that others are also searching for goodies deep in the mine and what started out as a fun adventure soon takes a downward turn.

From there we jump forward a good number of years (I think about 20ish).  Kate has become a Keeper (a guardian of stories – also she wields magic).  Meanwhile, her brother (Bo) is out in the wilds searching for clues to the mystery that has haunted them both since that ill-fated day many years ago.  Kate receives Bo’s missives detailing where he’s been and he regularly sends items back to the stronghold where she lives.  When a strange elf appears to have found the hidden passage to the stronghold, bearing a gift and a message for Kate from Bo, this sets in train the start of an adventure.

What I enjoyed.  Well, I liked the characters.  I think Kate came across as a little immature for a 30 year old but I guess she’s also lead a fairly sheltered existence preferring her books and studies to scamping around outside.  Kate is a magic wielder and has the strange ability to smell the different, I don’t know, imprint – if you will – that a person leaves behind, each one being unique (strangely enough this comes in much more handy than you’d imagine), she can also wield magic creating shields and such like.  Venn is the grumpy elf that came looking for Kate with a message from her brother.  The two form an unlikely alliance at first, backtracking to Bo’s last known situation.  Along the way they also pick up another couple of companions in the form of two dwarves.  I wouldn’t say that Silas and Tribal stepped out of the norm but they did bring humour to the story and I really enjoyed the banter that took place between the characters with their inclusion.

I liked the way the story is written.  It’s a very easy book to engage with, yes, it could use some tightening, but, I found myself really enjoying the adventures that our merry little band found themselves on and the ways in which they managed to get out of numerous tight spots.

The plot also becomes a lot deeper than I originally suspected it would.  I thought this was going to be something of an Indiana Jane adventure all about the puzzle box but it turns out there is so much more involved.

In terms of criticisms.  Well, this ends on a cliffhanger.  I’m not a great lover of cliffhangers to be honest – I’m too impatient and want the payoff now.  But, is it a deal breaker?  Not really.  Like I mentioned, this could be tightened some, it doesn’t particularly break the mould in terms of certain stereotypes but regardless it was an enjoyable read.

I received a copy courtesy of the author, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 7.5 of 10