Depths of Vanalf

The Book in 1 Sentence

A power fantasy about a group of people with a history of of magic, but have complacent and the demon world sees it.

Brief Review

This is one of those books like Red Rising that kept popping up on social media about "One of the best books I've read" or whatever catchy algorithm required title they give it. However, unlike Red Rising and it's Hunger Games sociopathic leaning, Depth of Vanalf tells a story of belonging and a yearning to do more.

Why I Read this book

Recommended 1000 times

In-Depth Review (Favorite Quotes)

After reading Children of Ash and Elm and The Witcher Books, watching The Witcher and Dungeons and Dragons Honor Among Thieves, I see the influences that this book called on without outright theft of the plot.

The main 4 are honestly solid characters, however, their flaws are beacons of light that you cannot miss. One is a loner learning to love. Another has a complete disregard for tactics and rushes into things. The third is so focused on gaining power, that they will for inevitable betray the team. Lastly, she is some who knows all the things, but will eventually "burn-out" or almost will because she can't stand being wrong.

The story is very well told. How you have humans pulling from the world, only to learn that the world isn't what you expect. I am curious to find out in future books about how populated the rest of the world is speaking that the "Magicians" have been in hiding for hundreds of years.

I think my biggest issue right now is the enemy. There is a master mind at play here and the demon we see fits, but still feels like a cog and not the main one.

Rating

At no time in this book did I think our intrepid heroes were ever actually in trouble or were going to mess something else. I also saw the signposting of the magic they acquire relatively early, but it didn't take away from their achievement so well done on the way that was written. I hope future books have more weight to them, but I did enjoy this. Finishing this book in about a week is pretty good pace for me right now and speaks to how entertaining the book was. I am giving this an 8. I enjoyed it.

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