The Fall of Selvandrea is the first book in author T.J. McKay’s The Draemeir Chronicles. Readers who enjoy epic fantasy novels packed with detail, drama, and danger will not want to miss out on this epic novel.
The Fall of Selvandrea reaches out to readers with a gorgeous cover. In the background, readers can see the rising buildings depicting a cityscape. In the foreground, stands a man with a flaming sword garbed in a cloak with a hood ready to do battle. His eyes appear to be glowing. In front of him is a blue-skinned creature that one would presume to be an orc preparing to face off.
The Fall of Selvandrea encompasses previous publications of Rise of Dresca, Seas of the Zovah, and Fall of the Selvar. So, if you’ve read Rise of the Dresca and Seas of the Zovah you’ll find a lot of familiar content within these pages. However, that does not mean skip ahead to the part(s) you assume you haven’t read yet! So, don’t even think about it! LOL!
The Fall of Selvandrea starts things off first and foremost with a beautiful sketch rendering of the main character and a dragon. In the foreground, you’ll see a man reaching out for a sword sticking up out of the ground. In the background, a dragon appears out of undergrowth. The dragon doesn’t appear to be threatening, but who can really tell? This drawing is beautifully rendered and helps to set the tone for what is to come.
At the beginning of each “part” in The Fall of Selvandrea will be a specific sketch artwork that depicts a particular scene that will play out in this novel. Each picture is beautifully rendered and will draw the reader in to examine each minute detail that they can see. It will also be something that draws them back then the scene in that image plays out on the page in words.
As the story begins to unfold we meet first, Elaryn. She is one of the characters that author McKay will be focusing on. When you first meet her, she’s not alone. She’s with a group of others, but this group? They are “under attack” and there will be no survivors. The question of “What is happening?!” will be one that immediately jumps into your head.
Pay attention to one particular character in these initial unfolding scenes. This character isn’t “crucial” to the storyline, but author McKay takes great pains to remind us of them throughout the story. So make a note, because despite what unfolds here, you will be “seeing” them again.
As The Fall of the Selvandrea transitions from this jaw-dropping prologue, author McKay isn’t done with the jaw-dropping moments. In the first chapter of this book, you will meet the individual who will become the main character of this story – Valdaris.
Valdaris Drascar is a soldier and a captain in the Cereman military. When we meet him and his friend Graveck, they are embroiled in a battle. The intensity of it cannot be understated. This is a fight for their very lives. Danger swirls all around them, and the enemy is inching closer. They are losing this fight.
You are immediately going to be pulled to the edge of your seat. Piece by piece author McKay drops hints of where the unfolding events are heading. It’s not looking good.
In this first chapter, you’re going to be eagerly devouring this book as you question – what is about to happen? Prepare for a landslide of scenes that will have your eyes bugging and your jaw on the floor. War is ugly, but author McKay makes it so hard to look away. While Drascar may escape death on the battlefield he’s not found a safe haven either.
The Fall of Selvandrea is an interesting fantasy novel that draws readers in with the beginning chapters, which set the stage with tons of drama and suspense. Why did Elaryn do what she did? What horror Valdaris must have experienced in his final moments? What is the mysterious creature made of mist and shadows?
Loads of questions will follow you throughout this book, but one thing that author McKay is going to do is make sure that he gives you some answers along the way. Valdaris is made to suffer and go through quite a lot throughout this book, but he won’t be the only one.
Author McKay gives readers a dynamic cast of characters to follow along with throughout The Fall of Selvandrea. Told from the third person perspective this story shifts through the various characters of this book. You’ll know which ones are going to be the focus by how often they appear. They each will have their important parts to play in what is to come.
Rise of Dresca lays the foundation for The Fall of Selvandrea. You’re introduced to Valdaris and how he comes to be the one intended to save this world. His “dance with death” helped morph him into what he must be, and how he will be able to bring others to his side. The pacing of the story slows down in this particular part of the novel. The groundwork is being set for the characters and gradually brings them each to the stage.
The deeper you go into this novel, Seas of Zovah and finally the Fall of Selvar things begin to pick up the pace. Looking for the dragons and monsters? The dragons make an appearance soon after Valdaris’s “second” appearance. As the story goes along the swarms of dragons readers are promised to make an appearance and these creatures are ruthless. The monsters? Well, they pop up everywhere but brace yourself for some surprise pop-ups that you won’t be expecting. We promise you the characters will absolutely be wishing for a “heads-up.”
Readers hoping for “intelligent” dragons will be disappointed, but readers who are longing for more creature-like dragons will be thrilled. The dragons in this book are unpredictable, but the more you read the more you’ll discover about them. They are tied to something bigger, and it is something that Valdaris as battled before. How it ended that first time? He can’t quite recall.
A specific character we favored in this book is Rhynwhen. She’s a child, but she brings a touch of lightness to the story. There is more to her than meets the eye and that is something that author McKay makes a point of pointing out in the chapter she makes her first appearance.
Though of course, we must beg the question – who exactly are Jedda and Kanna? These two characters appear quite frequently throughout this book, and it leads one to wonder…why? How important are they and…what are they exactly? There is something more to them than meets the eye, but it’s a question that we’ll have to cling to for a time yet.
Readers who enjoy dark fantasy novels with a focus on drama, battles, and twists you won’t see coming this is the book for you. Author McKay will lead readers up to moments packed with tension that pull you to the edge of your seat and then shift to another character. We may or may not have shaken the book a few times out of frustration. LOL!
Seas of the Zovah brings the aquatic element to this novel. The characters spend quite a lot of time out on or around the oceans. Think that they’ll escape the dangers of monsters in the waters? Ha! Guess again! Besides, what fun would that be if there weren’t sea monsters to boot? We would have liked more detail about some of the creatures of the waters, but since they don’t play a huge part in the story we’ll let it slide on that lack of detail.
One thing is for sure in The Fall of Selvandrea the evil cult members know how to get around! You try to keep an eye out for them, but they will appear at the most inopportune times. But also, author McKay makes sure to remind readers that while there is an epic battle of “good vs evil” brewing, there are still wars being fought between the vying nations themselves.
While this book brings a “good vs evil” element, author McKay also gives readers morally gray characters. Usually, it’s only one or two characters who would be classified as “morally gray.” Not in this book. We get characters who shift from one side to the other in a heartbeat. Their unpredictability adds another surprise element to this novel that will truly keep readers on their toes. Why? Because you just don’t know who is truly on your side or how long they will be there.
One element that makes The Fall of Selvandrea unique is the science fiction elements mixed in. They don’t show up until much later in the book, but when they do it’s a surprise twist. It’s something unexpected, but is done in a way that doesn’t overshine the fantasy element of the book. Instead, it works to blend together and then takes a backseat when not needed.
Overall the flow of The Fall of Selvandrea is well done. In the beginning, some moments could have used more cohesion to keep the flow going smoothly, but once the story fully hits its stride it’s smooth sailing. Danger is rampant, and the characters get brief moments of respite, but evil never rests and they must keep pushing. When the drama and action kicks into high gear – hang on tight! You’re going to be page-turning and devouring this book.
The fight scenes in The Fall of Selvandrea will pull you to the edge of your seat. Monsters will spring up out of nowhere and attack so fast that neither you nor the characters will know what hit them! Of course, it won’t be just the monsters you have to worry about. There are humans who will be allied with them, and those are the most dangerous ones you won’t see coming. You’re going to love it.
Hate cliffhangers? Well, The Fall of Selvandrea has one. It’s a moderate cliffhanger really. Certain characters will be lost. Others will show who’s side they are currently on. Author McKay will expose more secrets, surprises, and twists that will have you anticipating what happens next.
Love fantasy novels with a light seasoning of science fiction? Love dragons but prefer them more animalistic than intelligent? Love an epic evil villain that must be stopped no matter what the cost? Then The Fall of Selvandrea is the book you’re going to need to go out and grab!
Pros:
- Dynamic storytelling
- Jaw-dropping moments
- Attention to detail
- Engaging characters
- Twists and surprises
Cons:
- None of merit
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