When two worlds collide, the worst place to be is in the middle.
Wood Sprites, Night Elves, and Forest Elves have lived largely secluded from one another for generations. Willow, a willful young half-Wood Sprite, half-Night Elf, is unusual for being of mixed blood, but lives a normal life among the Wood Sprites. At least, she does until she is suddenly kidnapped by Night Elves and learns the shocking truth behind her parentage.
Though a captive, Willow soon becomes embroiled in escalating political conflicts within and between the races—including a fight between those who accept relationships between the races, and those who don’t. Her survival depends on her learning to fight, reading those around her, and finding allies wherever she can. Faced with numerous battles, tension between old beliefs and new, and the mystery of the long-vanished Water Sprites, can Willow and her companions emerge victorious and bring about a more peaceful, accepting society?
With a rich and original fantasy setting, epic battle scenes, shocking twists, and important themes such as confronting racial intolerance, Willow: Awakened, Ascended, Avenged will enthrall both longtime fans of the fantasy genre and those new to it.
★★★★★
goodreads review
The excellent and surprising twists keep the reader engaged and wondering what will happen next. Willow: Awakened, Ascended, Avenged, offers a unique depiction of sprites, elves, and the world they live in. For example, as a reader I found that Don’s portrayal of water sprites to be a perfect blend of fascinating and terrifying.
★★★★★
goodreads review
I loved the writing style—it reminds me of all the best old epics, like King Arthur, The Lord of the Rings, etc. It is very plot and action heavy, telling the story like it’s a history, rather than focusing on characters and what’s going on in their minds. It made me feel like I was listening to someone tell a story at a campfire. There were a lot of twists, battles, and noble sacrifices. This is definitely the sort of book that makes me feel like a kid again.
★★★★★
amazon review
I read for pleasure, and “Willow: Awakened, Ascended, Avenged,” did not disappoint. I enjoyed getting to know the main character, Willow, as she grew to know herself, her heritage, and the world around her. Don Bourque’s fresh portrayal of sprites and elves is enjoyable. He has created a world that I would like to learn more about. It’s an engaging story of love, loss, betrayal, sacrifice, war, politics and triumph in a fantasy setting. And it ends in a way the suggests that we may get to return to this world…
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