The power had lain dormant for a thousand years until Nienna woke it up. Now the world is in turmoil as the Elemental Guardians begin to stir.

***Please Note***

In this post, you’ll find reviews for the series as a whole, plus each book individually. I do my best not to give away spoilers, but some details are necessary for subsequent reviews.

Before we dive in to the review on the book, here is a reminder of how I rate what I read (these will be on a scale of 1-10; 1 being low, 10 being high):

• Plot Structure: How well the story was put together.
• Character Development: Level of growth a character achieves and how well the author makes them feel “real.”
• Language: Level of swearing, innuendos, verbal abuse, and other triggers.
• Violence: Level of fight scenes and gore.
• Sexual Content: Level of physical intimacy.

Here are the star ratings and what they mean:

MUST READ!

LOVED IT!

WORTH READING

Anything less than three stars will not be posted as I don’t want to waste your time or mine.

If you would like an editorial review for your own book with content ratings, you can contact me directly, or request me as your reviewer on Reedsy Discovery.

Disclaimer: The more I write, the more I critique books harder on plot structure and how the various elements work together. Thus my reviews reflect this. However, if you see a book appear on the blog, it’s because I enjoyed reading and thought you, as a fellow bookie, would enjoy it as well. As always, reading is subjective and what resonates with me may not resonate with you. And that’s OK! We’re in this to discover new books that are family appropriate and worth taking the time to read.

Book Descriptions:

My Reviews:

The Fire Drake is an exciting ride of a prequel to this series. We start out with twelve-year-old Ross who just had a genetic, magical mark wake up on his arm and cause him to lose control over his magic.

After an interrogation goes wrong, and the man dies, Ross flees his home and abusive father, desperate for a new life. What he didn’t bargain for was getting sucked into a life of crime with the gangs of Lambswell as he crossed into Tellidus.

Ross is a fun character to grow with as this book starts out with him being twelve, and then after he is roped into the Haggis gang, we jump forward in time to now seventeen-year-old Ross and the jewel heist of his life.

***

This book was a surprise. It was not part of the original series plan, but as I dove farther into Ross’s past after The Raider’s Curse, I saw this book was going to be critical to everything that came after.

One thing I don’t love about this novella is:

1. The fact that we jump from him being twelve to seventeen is about one-third of the way through. If I were to write this book over, I would shorten that to the first quarter of the story, and then expand his time as a thief with the Haggis gang and fill this out to be a full-sized novel. It currently sits at 43k words, and I would expand it out to at least 80k by providing more build-up to the big jewel heist. This would help Ross develop more depth as a character. It would also give the reader time to really experience his life in Lambswell.

Despite the shortness, this novel continues to be a fan favorite, especially if they are “Team Ross” for the love triangle later in the series.

• Plot Structure: 7/10: This novel could have been expanded and made into a stronger book.
• Character Development: 8/10: Despite his struggles, Ross stays true to who he is and his morals.
• Language: 1/10: No swearing
• Violence: 5/10: Rooftop chases, gang fights, and magical calamities.
• Sexual Content: 2/10; Rooftop kisses, hand-holding, and one invitation to stay in the same room that is declined.

The Earthspark is the official start to the series and the book that was written first.

When Nienna receives a letter from her former university, requesting that she interview for a cartographer professor position, she sees her chance to leave behind the politics of court-life. What she didn’t bargain for was how much her life would change when she fell into a lava chute in the woods outside Feltus. Inside, she woke the ancient Earth Guardian—her family’s greatest enemy—and her own magic.

As her power grows, so does the number of creatures hunting her. It’s only through her tenuous alliance with the Earth Guardian that she even stands a chance of surviving. However, something neither of them planned on was how their feelings toward each other would change, bringing them closer together.

***

This book has received a minimum of six major updates since it was first published in 2021. I have become a stronger writer in that time and could see more of the flaws that existed in this book, and updated what I could while still keeping the integrity of the current story.

In places, you will still find clunky wording, info-dumps, and other things that make it feel not as well-written as the latter books. Despite this, many readers still get lost in the story and fall in love with these flawed and very human characters.

I intentionally wrote in themes from my faith, including the phrase most often highlighted in the kindle version, “Light does more when shared,” which comes from the New Testament verse from Matthew 5:16. 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The intention behind this phrase is to get more people to share their gifts and to see how much we can help each other when we do. This theme is carried throughout the series.

Sexual Content: 2/10; Light hand-holding, dancing, and one kiss at the end.

Plot Structure: 7/10: There are places where the plot gets bogged down in details, and there are a few info-dumps.

Character Development: 8/10: Nienna has a quiet strength that she carries throughout the story. She is not a great fighter, but her power lies in her desire to help and protect others.

Language: 1/10: No swearing.

Violence: 5/10: Nienna is attacked by a rock monster called a Grimmole. There is a battle between monster wolves and Nienna and her friends. Nienna is attacked by a former friend and carried captive to Solace Prison. She is strapped to a stone table and has her magic stolen in a ritual.

The Raider’s Curse is a high-flying fantasy adventure that picks up right where book 1 left off.

Things kickoff with Nienna’s brother and his wife nearly getting assassinated at their wedding party. To make matters worse, Nienna and Ross are marked by a magical brand that steals their magic anytime they try to use it. This creates a paradox because they must use their magic to find Tellen and get their marks removed, but the more they use it, the stronger the sleeping dragon gets. And if he gets enough, the winged-terror will get free.

***

This book was one of the most fun to write. It was a straightforward fantasy adventure with the clear goal of stopping the bad guys before they freed the dragon. The writing takes a huge leap forward in this novel and is much cleaner and easier to read. 

One thing my husband questioned me about was who Ross is based on, as I often use real people as the starting point for my characters and expand upon them. To be honest, Ross had always been a wild card. I considered him to be the “what-if” in the romance part of the plot and leaving the reader with some angst over who Nienna would choose in the end.

• Plot Structure: 8/10: Much better and cleaner prose in this novel.
• Character Development: 8/10: Nienna and Ross must learn to work together on their journey with the Sky Guardian and his followers, and their friendship feels earned.
• Language: 1/10: No swearing.
• Violence: 5/10: There are sky battles and magical combat throughout this novel, but no graphic violence.
• Sexual Content: 2/10; Light hand-holding, sharing a blanket while sitting together, patching up a bitten midriff by one character. 

Book 2 left us with a big teaser for where we’d be headed in The Queen of the Night, and it did not disappoint. From the opening chapter we are left with the question of “Who really was The Queen of the Night?” And this book spends the next 390 pages giving us that answer. 

Nienna gets thrust back in time and becomes the human slave of a dragon shifter. She is forced to help him prepare the other human slaves he takes to market each week and by the end of her enslavement, she has had her mind twisted in so many directions that she has a hard time remembering who she truly is.

Yet through the help of Tellen and her other friends, she is able to stop the dragon from hurting anyone else. However, she has a secret. One that could ruin everything if it were known.

***

There has been a strong divide on this book as to whether the slavery and manipulation theme was too much. Some people felt like they needed to visit a therapist afterwards while others absolutely loved how the dark place Nienna is in at the beginning, contrasts with where she ends up by the completion of the book. 

Full transparency, while writing this novel, the movie, The Sound of Freedom was just coming out and my social feeds were full of human trafficking awareness posts, and it had always been a topic I was a strong advocate for. As those themes wove their way into the novel, I researched why victims have a hard time getting away from their abusers, and the biggest reason is because of the way those abusers break their victims down and remake them into subserviant individuals who feel like they must rely on their captors for everything, Trusting them even when they are hurt.

That translated into the harrowing experience Nienna endures in Book 3. She brought to light how the manipulation and abuse damages them internally so that the half-truths and lies they are fed become their reality.

Several readers offered their sympathy to me saying that I must have had some real trauma to be able to write something like this. In truth, I actually had a very loving and happy upbringing, but because of my personality type, I am easily able to put myself into others’ shoes and empathize with them. Which has helped me in my writing.

• Plot Structure: 7/10: We almost have two climatic moments in this novel and it can feel like the second one does not carry the same impact as the first. 
• Character Development: 8/10: We get to see a side of Tellen in this one that hasn’t been shown thus far. He is confident, a little reckless, and willing to give even a criminal a second chance.
• Language: 1/10: No swearing.
• Violence: 6/10: There are several magical battles, but death is not glorified. Instead it is harrowing to the characters and pushes them toward their next growth milestone. The dragon shifter hits Nienna and hints of off screen violence where he breaks her fingers (not-shown).
• Sexual Content: 2/10; Hand holding, embraces, and sweet kisses only.

Nienna is back in her own time, but is struggling to fit in. Too many terrible experiences linger in her past that prevent her from moving forward. When she and her father set out to meet with the Northern Tribes, they are betrayed and ambushed. Nienna is taken hostage and is sent on her way to the dragon once more. With the memories of all Darius had made her endure, she refused to go back to him and narrowly escaped. 

However, she becomes embroiled in a quest to find the Water Guardian, Serene, and her medallion before the dragon does. The search for the Water Guardian leads them to the island of the Sirens, former followers of Serene. The sea witches strike a steep bargain that could cost Nienna everything she holds dear, including her secrets.

***

Much like The Raider’s Curse, The Siren’s Call came together quicker than other books. I loved being able to research what it would be like to use a small sailing craft and how weather patterns leave sailors as the mercy of the ocean. I also ran into very interesting research about ghost ships where the ships are in perfect condition, but not one soul is on board.

The main plot driver for this book came from an episode of the BBC TV series “Merlin,” where Arthur discovers Gwenivere with Lancelot after they are engaged. Arthur delivers a line as Gwen is in prison that has haunted me for years.

“I don’t want to see you in chains. I don’t want to see you hanged…. I don’t want to see you.”

It was such a heart-wrenching moment that I knew I had to translate into my books somewhere and it landed in book 4. More than one reader has emailed me, distraught about this turn of events.

• Plot Structure: 7/10: In the original version, I did not go into the detail I should have when Nienna arrives back in Mirror Mer. This has since been addressed. Also in that first version, Tellen’s parting argument did not link cohesively enough and felt a tad forced. This too, has hopefully been resolved.
• Character Development: 8/10: Most of the character developement comes from Ross in this one. He is thrust into a leadership role he never asked for and is left picking up the pieces.
• Language: 1/10: No swearing.
• Violence: 4.5/10: No detailed violence, but plenty of sword fights, magical battles, and action-packed scenes.
• Sexual Content: 2/10; Hand-holding, embraces, and sweet kisses only.

The epic finale is here and all those loose threads from the previous novels are being woven together into a tapestry. The Phoenix and The Wolf leans heavily on the prequel novella and his past and present collide. 

After crossing the Black Wall, Nienna’s plan to assassinate Darius goes horribly wrong, landing her as his slave once more and dropping Ross back into a past he’d rather forget. However, the chemistry between them grows, and it leads them down an exhilarating, and dangerous road.

***

This was possible the hardest book for me to write. In part, because I struggled to land on who went with who for the love triangle (I will not do one of these again for a very long time). I loved being part of this world. It has lived in my head for over ten years and I’m excited to finally have it out in the world.

My writing has come a long way since I first started and I have been blessed to meet so many wonderful readers and writers and in-betweeners along the way. And I’m only getting started.

• Plot Structure: 8/10: I feel like the plot progression in this story hit all the correct beats and the emotional tension along the way was strong. The only point that could have been stronger would have been the prophecy and Nienna’s role. While strong already, there could have been subtle tweaks that could have made it even better.
• Character Development: 8/10: Each of the main POV characters had to learn self-acceptance in this book and by the end, they’ve each stepped up to their potential.
• Language: 1/10: No swearing.
• Violence: 6/10: There is the battle at crossing the wall. Minimal description. The skirmish out in the Black Waste with ghostly casualties. The assassination attempt on Darius where he is stabbed in the side. The arena battle between Ross and Nienna and the Pythons, Ross is bitten, several fighters are killed (no gore). The wolf attack in Solomon, several die, but no gory details. The street fight in Lambswell with the gang bosses, the Vixens. The final battle. High casualties, with traps in pits, but most of the fighting is glossed over. Where it zeroes in is with the dragons fighting. Scaled skin is ripped.
• Sexual Content: 2/10; Hand-holding, embraces, and sweet kisses only.

Conclusion:

Overall Series Impression

This series started with a story I felt was worth telling and hundreds of you have thought so as well. This clean, epic fantasy is great for mid-teens through adults young at heart who want all the adventure and none of the extras.

You can find out more about the author at http://www.vanessathurgood.com.

I have plans to write three complete spin-off series from The Comstock Chronicles, along with a smattering of other books, including my upcoming book which it currently titled, “Project Cupcake”

The Comstock Chronicles is available at all major ebook retailers as well as on her website bookshop.