Marella has grown up on the Isle of Wraidd Elfennol, where humans, animals, and the very Elements live in harmony together.Since she was a youngling, Marella has wanted to become a Water Weaver, gifted in hydromancy. At thirteen years old, she will go to the main village of Charon to take her Test, and find out which of the Elements she is strongest in. This will also determine her future.… future.
Marella’s best friend, Daren, is also going for his Test. They have shared many adventures together, as their families spent rest days together.
Yet when the day comes where their fates will be decided, doubts and insecurities creep into Marella’s mind.
What happens when you don’t get what you wish for?
And what happens if you do?
more
Morgan Sheppard’s Wraidd Elfennol series has an intriguing beginning, found within the pages of Marella. Though it took me a long time to finish, it was worth it. Because stories have so many elements to them, I feel it’s only fair to break down my review into four categories: Plot, Prose, Character Development, and Originality. Overall, Marella has earned 4 out of 5 stars.
• Plot 4/5
Marella’s plot is a slow build, taking you through her world. Her joys, hopes, and concerns, regarding her future. It begins on the night before young Marella’s test, where she will learn which of the four elements is her strength, and which is her secondary element. She wishes for it to be water. Desperately, she desires to be a Water Weaver. But will it happen? Marella tries her best to be content with the idea that water may not be her strength. It may not even be her secondary. Sheppard has beautifully captured the bliss and anxiety of a thirteen-year-old girl, who’s waiting for the next chapter of her life to begin.
By the end of Marella, I knew this series is a keeper. Mysterious things happen, after Marella’s test. Things don’t go how anyone imagined, not even how Marella imagined.
Sheppard lets things settle, then another interesting bit of information slips out, teasing this reader to keep going. To finish the book. Though the first in the series is a short, light read, I feel the story is just starting. That Sheppard is gearing up for an epic story.
• Prose/Style & Grammar 4/5
Morgan Sheppard’s style is different from what I’m used to. I had to get accustomed to the English (not American-English) spellings for words being used i.e. colour instead of color, etc. It wasn’t a big deal. Nor the fact that she has multiple viewpoint characters, within the same scene. While it might normally be distracting, I found that the transitions were smooth. Not jarring at all. It also added depth to the story, since Marella is young and unaware of many things. Her parents, Edlin and Riva, were the secondary viewpoint characters, with a few others adding their own tidbits here and there.
There are some typos in the paperback I bought, but not many. Only one or two places confused me enough that I had to re-read the whole phrase. I imagine some of the phrasing that I found confusing has to do with the book being written in a different dialect of English than what I’m accustomed to reading. This type of difference would never stop me from finishing a good book, though. I like seeing each author’s unique voice. 🙂
• Character Development 3/5
The main character, Marella, is written very strong. She came to life, on the pages. I clearly felt what she was experiencing. She gets 5 out of 5 for development. It’s the supporting cast that didn’t quite leap off the pages for me. I wanted to know so much more about them. Sheppard has taken the time to include them in the story. Therefore, I wanted to know more about their past. What has transpired between them and Marella, or Marella’s parents, that led to their fierce love for her? Sometimes, too much was left for the reader to imagine. It only makes me look forward to getting to know these supporting characters in the books to come.
• Originality 5/5
I especially love the Partners aspect of the story. They are given to each young teenager, after their test. This Partner is always an animal with a connection to the elements that the teens possess strength in, whether it’s their primary or secondary element. I foresee a lot of story-depth transpiring from these Partners. They’re fun, yet possess an unexplained wisdom. It’s very intriguing.
Marella is unique, but I always look for what other stories the books I read remind me of. I had to do some memory searching to nail down why Marella feels so familiar. She reminds me of a girl version of Link, from The Legends of Zelda. The book very much has the feel of the start of Skyward Sword, before Link was ever a hero. Before he discovered that he has an epic destiny to fulfill. It’s something about the reactions of the characters and the type of portrayed humor, while a mystery brews beneath the surface of the story, that’s so reminiscent for me. Although there are elements similar to other stories, too much is different about Marella to make a comparison. Overall, I’m excited to see it play out.
Thanks for reading my review to the end. I recommend that you give Marella a chance. Let yourself escape to her world. It promises of a good journey for the Wraidd Elfennol series.
Oh, my goodness. Does this bring back memories! That wobbling uneasiness of facing something unknown, the angst at facing possible failure, and wondering if you would look different after passing a major milestone. Very good job at bringing you into the character’s subtle build of unwarranted anxiety that all of us have faced as youngsters. I chuckled when Riva is trying to express to Marella that we can spout out definitions of things as if we’re knowledgeable, but experience is the only true measure of truly knowing what you’re talking about. How many times have we rolled our eyes at our parents for those “been there, done that” type of advice sessions? After having read Water Weaver, I’m sure Marella must have had a moment where she remembered this conversation with her mother and said, “Ah, got it now, Mom.”
Ms. Sheppard did a wonderful job of pulling me through Marella’s world and providing great depth to the close-knit community. I was able to visualize myself walking alongside her the whole time. Especially liked how the author didn’t just ‘tell’ me descriptions, but peppered the characters reactions throughout, making it more realistic and smooth. I loved reading this prequel to Water Weaver and seeing how Marella and Daren met their partner’s for the first time. Gotta love Nixie!
Great YA short read and recommend to those that want a little more early insight leading up to the epic Water Weaver novel. Well done, Ms. Sheppard!
Whether you are a young adult, or just young at heart, you are bound to love “Marella.” I’m still not sure what I enjoyed most about this novel. In the beginning, I was impressed with the author’s detailed and flavorful world building as she draws us into a world of wonder with delightful characters who care about each other and the world they live in. It’s a world full of animals who bond with people and the hint of magic bound in realism. I soon found myself as protective of the main character as her family while I watched her begin her journey into adulthood. An explanatory and intriguing ending are sending me off to the next book in this series with the sincere hope that Morgan Sheppard will be writing many more in this series because I just found my new book addiction.
Marella is the prequel novella where we meet her for the first time. You find out a bit more about her childhood, her relationship with her parents, Daren, and also you are with her when she meets Nixie for the first time. This novella shows how important some things are to Marella, giving her the basis for the woman she becomes in Water Weaver.
I would recommend that you read this one first, before Water Weaver, just so that you get the rounded picture of Marella. Saying that, if you haven’t, I don’t think it would spoil anything. Definitely recommended for all fans of Wraidd Elfennol.
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!