Coming Darkness

Elandera #1

by Greg Lampman

Twenty-four hours ago, Damian was jut a normal kid with a normal life. But that all changed in an instant.

Using a special Gem bracelet left behind by a mysterious stranger, Damian was transported to the marvelous land of Elandera. A world of wonder. A world of magic...

...a world at war. Elandera is currently being threatened by a dark force known as the Kalimai Regime, waging a brutal war in an attempt to take cntrol over the land. Creatures of all shapes and sizes are being recruited with promises of endless power. Out of greed and ignorance, they agree.

Those that remain must band together to stop this threat before their world falls to pieces around them. However, they cannot do it alone. If Elandera is to survive these dark times, they are going to need a saviour.

Brought from a world called Earth through a mystical portal, Damian is that saviour. He just doesn't know it yet.

316 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading Elandera: Coming Darkness, I found myself in a strange position. I recall when I first purchased the book at a local Chapters, where I apparently just missed the author to get it signed, unfortunately. Nevertheless, his vacant table still had the book sitting there in colourful contrast, waiting. Despite the book's relative obscurity, I was always a fan of fantasy novels and colourful creatures, so I was interested anyway. It was clear to me that this book fit the genre, and the added bonus of supporting a fellow Canadian pushed me further. I had wanted to meet the author before getting the book, but I find myself even more driven to meet him afterwards. At first glance, this book probably seems like nothing more than a simple plot with a kiddy exterior and a sprinkling of Pokémon rip off. And yet, such thoughts did not cross the mind of my 15 year old self when I first looked at it. There's something oddly intriguing about the book, even before you open it, and, to me, it can't be described by anything other than child-like wonder. This book reminds me of the stories that I wanted to write when I was a kid, where limitations were few, and yet it all, somehow, came together into a relatively cohesive experience. It makes me question whether I'd get the same effect if I wrote a book with my current skill, but used the ideas I had when I was a kid. Is the plot simple? Yes. Does it read like a child's homework assignment? No. And that's the key difference. Sure, the target audience is children, but I felt that it didn't pander to its audience as much as you think it might. It's written pretty simplistically, but competently too, and it's clear that the author knew his audience. And yet, it has this distinct charm that I think even older people can appreciate. The fact that I enjoyed it this much is mystifying. It might be a bit too sugar coated for some, but I found myself enjoying it anyway, and it kept me invested enough to stay up late and finish reading it. Now, 3 years later, I look back on it with positivity because of this. If you're looking for a light-hearted and colourful adventure to share with your children, or even a story that might get you to look back at your childhood, then I recommend this book. It may be hit or miss, but it's sure worth a try (you just might have to dig deep into the shelves to find it).