Griffin's Daughter Book Review

Griffin's Daughter, by Leslie Ann Moore, is the first in a fantasy novel trilogy of the same name. The story is set into a land divided; Alasri is to the north where the elves reside, and Soldara, home of the humans, in the south. Jelena is the seventeen-year-old niece of a Soldaran nobleman. As the progeny of a human woman and an elven man, she is subjected to ridicule and bigotry in Soldara. The priests of Soldara believe the elves are the spawns of demons and have no souls. Jelena’s uncle does the minimum for his niece, barely acknowledging their blood ties. If it weren’t for her heartmother, Claudia, and her cousin, Magnes, she would have no friends.

In the days surrounding the annual harvest celebration, Jelena learns that she may possess the ability to wield magic and that her uncle has signed a contract committing her to be the concubine of another nobleman. Furthermore, he’s arranged for the marriages of his two children keeping in mind his profits all the while. Unable to face a life she hasn’t chosen, Jelena decides to journey to Alasri to find the father she’s never met and to find out more about this newfound blue energy. The only clue to her father’s identity is a signet ring Claudia has kept hidden. Magnes, who can’t marry his true love, and wants nothing to do with his chosen bride, insists on accompanying Jelena to the Northern lands.

During their escape from bandits, Jelena and Magnes meet an elven patrol led by Ashinji, the second born son of a nobleman. All elves are born with Talent. Ashinji’s Talent manifests itself in the ability to converse with his mind and he’s been having recurring dreams that feature a half elf girl. The story begins to move forward quickly after Jelena and Magnes accompany Ashinji home.

One of the enjoyable aspects of Griffin's Daughter is the world-building that Moore does with her humans and elves. The humans seem to live in a typical medieval setting and the details of Jelenals duties as a kitchen maid make life in her uncle’s household believable. The elves, however, are a different breed from the usual elf found in fantasy literature. Moore has given them an Asian twist with their clothing and customs. This is refreshing. It also allows the reader to be empathetic to Jelena’s feelings of an outsider when she first lives with the elves.

I have to give kudos to Moore for her accomplished use of a writing tool that is often overlooked. In the prologue she gives a piece of information that is repeated several times to the point that it becomes common knowledge and is filed away. The reader then gets so caught up in the subsequent pace that the original information is forgotten behind other facts and names. When the information is revealed again towards the end of the novel, it’s a surprise. This is one book where you don’t want to read the last page first.

When I got to the end I was disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to learn right away what would happen to Jelena, Ashinji and Magnes. Some minor characters, such as the siblings of Ashinji and Magnes, are certain to play bigger roles in the trilogy. The next book hasn’t been published yet but I will be one of the first lined up to buy it.