Book Review for Chosen of Trees and of Talons by Jeff Pryor
Chosen of Trees and of Talons, by Jeff Pryor, is an epic fantasy about standing up for the truth, even if enemies watch you from the shadows.
The book is separated into two parts. The first part introduces Daeron, a boy who is revealed to be the true king of the Arneisians. After being chosen in a ceremony that places him directly under the scrutiny of The Ones, a group of elites that have enslaved the Arneisians, he must determine who he can trust, all the while clinging to remnants of a forgotten promise made generations before. The second part deals with the beginnings of a rebellion, entwining various threads of destiny together, if only to greet the true king. Pryor weaves an enchanting tale about friendship, faith, and hope, as the people of Arneisia await for their king to liberate them.
I loved reading about the relationships that Daeron and the boys have formed. Immediately there is distrust in the group when they first arrive, and with Alhearn already being singled out as a “rat”, it seemed to me that Alhearn would betray the group. Denton seemed so adamant that Alhearn can’t be trusted, despite the fact that The Ones have probed all their minds, although I can empathize with his thinking. As for The Ones themselves, it was interesting to see the schism taking hold of them. Delthar was perhaps the most paranoid, and wouldn’t even fathom a future with him not being the leader of The Ones. From not killing a potential threat and locking him in the basement, to training a War Mage, to even considering killing all the Chosen, it was as if I was watching the fear inside of him taking root. I loved Melpharious, but there was only so much he can do against Delthar. I can’t help but think that if there was a way to settle things peacefully, it would’ve been through him.
Something I’ve been quite taken with when I picked up this book was the Eldara Tree. There were special individuals in the book that could talk with these trees, and these characteristics were one of the prominent reasons why people were able to stave off The Ones and The Darkness for so long. Throughout literature, trees represented life and stability, peace even. We teach children about the environment and its importance to humanity, so I enjoyed reading about how these trees protect us in return. I loved the Chosens’ interactions with the tree, and how, in Bregan’s presence, the other Chosen were able to see glimpses of the truth. The way Jonni and his family treat these trees is something to be said, treating them as friends rather than mere obstructions on the ground. Another interesting thing to note was the Gor; unlike what Daeron faces, these monsters are real, horrific, and something that Jonni and his family have had to fight against. It was like I was reading a war on two fronts, with each character showing their heroism in their own way.
Because of this, I would give this book a rating of a 4.7 out of 5 stars. The characters and parallels were well written. What’s more, the Eldara Tree was the very thing that tied this book together, showing how shared destinies could lead to an even greater fate. I would thus recommend this book to those who enjoy The Arena by D. Michael Withrow and Seeds of Hatred by Christian Nadeau.
