In Which I Review... Reclaiming Ter Chadain by C.S. Yelle

              

 “If the true bloodline does not rule Ter Chadain, the Protector shall appear and reclaim the throne for the rightful Queen.”
King Englewood reads the prophecy every day since he murdered the royal family, all of them. Or so he thought. The three year old twins escaped that night thirteen years ago, but his men are closing in to finish the job before they can turn sixteen and activate the magic spell making his worst fears a reality. A Protector in Ter Chadain and a royal heir with claims to the throne he now held.
Logan and Teah Lassain witness the violent murder of their family and narrowly escape. They now find themselves not only thrust into the revolution, but the keys to the reunification of Ter Chadain.
Bestowed with the powers and spirits of past Protectors, Logan must learn to control both before their memories destroy him. Wrenched with anger and the desire for revenge on the man responsible for decimating his life, King Englewood, Logan must keep to the path of greater good and gather support for the revolution from the dukes and duchesses of Ter Chadain.
Teah is trained by the Zele Magus, an order of sorceresses, to control and accept her newly discovered magical powers enabling her to take the throne. Struggling, she must also ask the question…what happens when there are two Protectors of Ter Chadain? Two Protectors are not foretold in the prophecies….

Paperback, 282 pages

Published March 3rd 2011

Have you ever read a book that wasn’t what you would normally read and had it subsequently shock you to the core? That is what happened to me while reading C.S. Yelle’s novel, Reclaiming Ter Chadain. When I was graciously offered this book for review, I agreed thanks to the great blurb. My initial inkling of reluctance towards this action adventure novel, however came to two points, which basically laughed in my face while challenging me to a duel.

               

               Firstly: I was worried that it would be a “boy’s book”. By that I mean that I was afraid that the book, which had a cover depicting two crossed swords, would be filled with unnecessary violence, and would completely disregard normal human interaction. You know, bloodied swords, men running from beasts, or unrealistic sorcerers casting spells that make no sense. I dreaded the possibility of it being a book where the male species seemed superior to the female while the women of the novel simply played with their hair and looked wistfully out of windows.
                 

                However, I was pleasantly surprised. The main male protagonist, Logan Lassain was without a doubt a strong character. His sister, Teah, however, was a strong character as well, which is what made the book so enjoyable.

                Secondly: I didn’t want to read a book written in the tongue of old. I wasn’t in the mood for old yore. I often find myself bored with novels that are written in the current day but use prose befitting the stories of Austen, or even written in the manner of the books of old philosophers. The main reason being that it isn’t used properly in many occasions.  Luckily, the writing in the novel was spot on and time appropriate.

                With my qualms thrown out the window at the beginning of my experience with this novel, there was nothing else to do but immerse myself in the plot. Some might call it blasphemous to compare this novel to many stories filled with an adventurous quest thought to be epic, but Reclaiming Ter Chadain is just that. This novel takes us on an epic quest to reclaim the throne that rightfully belongs to the Lassain twins, and every moment of it is a breathtaking experience.

                 

                The best way to explain the novel is as fantasy adventure. Reclaiming Ter Chadain was a book that is appropriate for people of all ages and preferences. Rarely do I recommend a book to both males and females, from early teens to older adults but this book was one that I could indeed do so for. Reading C.S. Yelle’s novel was a pleasure and I am hoping to read the second in the series soon. With its powerful ending, I can only salivate at the thought of the next in the series. Reclaiming Ter Chadain like few others has become one of those books that ended before I was ready for its departure, despite the over adequate 277 pages it harbors. As the central conflict of the novel comes to a smile inducing close, a new conflict comes into light and then… you feel that heart-wrenching pull because only then do you realize the story has nearly reached its end. Not only do you become invested in the characters and their fates, but you become invested in Ter Chadain as a whole, and that is a great feat to accomplish. The only thing left to say… Thanks you C.S. Yelle. Your imagination has provided me a new book to love. I, like the Queen’s Guard, like the Betra, like Talesaur and Sasha, am invested in the fates of both the Queen and the Protector of Ter Chadain.

                Definitely a must read.  5/5 stars