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Elf Realm #3
The Road's End
In this action-filled conclusion to the Elf Realm trilogy, Matt, Tuava-Li, and Tomtar must reach the fabled elfin city of Hunaland at the North Pole. There they will plant the seed that will cause the Tree of Adri to grow anew and strengthen the invisible walls that separate the elfin world from the human.
Meanwhile, Jardaine and Nick the troll have tricked Becky into joining them to supposedly rescue Matt from danger. In reality they wish to plant the Seed of Adri themselves, sacrifice Becky, and claim the glory and rewards from the elfin gods.
It is a fast-paced race to get to the North Pole first and plant the seed, but unexpected horrors await whoever journeys beyond the Gates of Vattar, where the fading tree grows and where the new seed must be relinquished. Who will get there first? Readers will eagerly seek to discover if Matt and Becky save the world from impending doom and destruction and forever separate the human world from the elf realm for the safety of them all.
Meanwhile, Jardaine and Nick the troll have tricked Becky into joining them to supposedly rescue Matt from danger. In reality they wish to plant the Seed of Adri themselves, sacrifice Becky, and claim the glory and rewards from the elfin gods.
It is a fast-paced race to get to the North Pole first and plant the seed, but unexpected horrors await whoever journeys beyond the Gates of Vattar, where the fading tree grows and where the new seed must be relinquished. Who will get there first? Readers will eagerly seek to discover if Matt and Becky save the world from impending doom and destruction and forever separate the human world from the elf realm for the safety of them all.
- GenresFantasy
496 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 16, 2021
#Bookreview
Book: The Road's End (Book 3 or conclusion of Elf Realm trilogy)
Author: Daniel Kirk
Genre: Middle-grade fantasy, science fiction
Themes: Respect of one's boundary, friendship, trust, loyalty, sacrifice, quest, life's purpose
My Rating: 5.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
NB: Included in this post are some illustrations of Elf Realm The Road's End.
After reading the Elf Realm's epic conclusion, I felt empty at the thought of the characters' need to part their ways to live in the realm where they should belong. Sepanx (separation anxiety) is real! However, I need to accept the fact this whole journey to this trilogy is over. Good thing I'm holding onto Princess Asra's idea that what once was, will be again. I'm pretty much sure there are a lot of books out there with the same themes and pure euphoria as Elf Realm. Liking this series much was the least of my expectation. I should have had read this sooner!
Sacrifice is what The Road's End meant for. It's just a 9-letter word with thousands of definitions. Sacrifice for you could be offering your whole self for the benefit of all or it could be just forgetting your old evil self to win over the heart of someone you love. King Macta is a great epitome of that.
What made this trilogy a gem to me is how I changed my views towards King Macta. He is just a secondary character but he's got the biggest character development and what happened to him at the end left a lump in my throat. I started hating this obnoxious villain in book 1. He is the type you would kick in the butt because of his evil deeds and irritating behavior, not to mention his cocky banter with Princess Asra. However, in book 3, I got to understand that badass king better. Just any other character in the book, he is just a damaged soul inside and out and a victim of his circumstance, longing for the love he doesn't get even from his parents. I started to appreciate Macta for all the sacrifices he made. He was willing to offer himself just to claim the love of his life and to save Elf Realm from eternal destruction. I was touched by his selfless gestures to Princess Asra whom he saved many times. Just read the book and be affected by his great transformation in book 3.
Throughout my journey with Elf Realm, I realized how essential humanity is in the formation of a harmonious world where the moral, political and spiritual implications are deemed important for the benefit of mankind. Someone living in a flawed society may willingly make minute sacrifices for the good of the many. It may just be a little thing but it makes a great difference. Albeit the concept of sacrifice may be relative to all of us, it is particularly so for the next generation. Building a future which we can sustain requires great deal of sacrifice. The way we select to do our bidding for our personal gain and growth, and how we pair it up with concern and kindness for our fellows, determines how our characters will be looked into.
The Road's End is a total package. It has strong character development, wonderful world-building and heart-warming themes. It's, overall a journey full of fun, making me young again.
I know that Daniel Kirk is an under recognized author and there are not much copies of his books in the market but whenever you find his masterpiece in the bookstore, go grab it and read! He deserves much recognition.
Book: The Road's End (Book 3 or conclusion of Elf Realm trilogy)
Author: Daniel Kirk
Genre: Middle-grade fantasy, science fiction
Themes: Respect of one's boundary, friendship, trust, loyalty, sacrifice, quest, life's purpose
My Rating: 5.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
NB: Included in this post are some illustrations of Elf Realm The Road's End.
After reading the Elf Realm's epic conclusion, I felt empty at the thought of the characters' need to part their ways to live in the realm where they should belong. Sepanx (separation anxiety) is real! However, I need to accept the fact this whole journey to this trilogy is over. Good thing I'm holding onto Princess Asra's idea that what once was, will be again. I'm pretty much sure there are a lot of books out there with the same themes and pure euphoria as Elf Realm. Liking this series much was the least of my expectation. I should have had read this sooner!
Sacrifice is what The Road's End meant for. It's just a 9-letter word with thousands of definitions. Sacrifice for you could be offering your whole self for the benefit of all or it could be just forgetting your old evil self to win over the heart of someone you love. King Macta is a great epitome of that.
What made this trilogy a gem to me is how I changed my views towards King Macta. He is just a secondary character but he's got the biggest character development and what happened to him at the end left a lump in my throat. I started hating this obnoxious villain in book 1. He is the type you would kick in the butt because of his evil deeds and irritating behavior, not to mention his cocky banter with Princess Asra. However, in book 3, I got to understand that badass king better. Just any other character in the book, he is just a damaged soul inside and out and a victim of his circumstance, longing for the love he doesn't get even from his parents. I started to appreciate Macta for all the sacrifices he made. He was willing to offer himself just to claim the love of his life and to save Elf Realm from eternal destruction. I was touched by his selfless gestures to Princess Asra whom he saved many times. Just read the book and be affected by his great transformation in book 3.
Throughout my journey with Elf Realm, I realized how essential humanity is in the formation of a harmonious world where the moral, political and spiritual implications are deemed important for the benefit of mankind. Someone living in a flawed society may willingly make minute sacrifices for the good of the many. It may just be a little thing but it makes a great difference. Albeit the concept of sacrifice may be relative to all of us, it is particularly so for the next generation. Building a future which we can sustain requires great deal of sacrifice. The way we select to do our bidding for our personal gain and growth, and how we pair it up with concern and kindness for our fellows, determines how our characters will be looked into.
The Road's End is a total package. It has strong character development, wonderful world-building and heart-warming themes. It's, overall a journey full of fun, making me young again.
I know that Daniel Kirk is an under recognized author and there are not much copies of his books in the market but whenever you find his masterpiece in the bookstore, go grab it and read! He deserves much recognition.
January 3, 2015
I did a full reread of the Elf Realm books to prepare for the finale, because Daniel Kirk has created an incredibly intricate and exciting world with this series. There is an environmental twist to it, but it never feels preachy. Kirk delves into a lot of deep stuff in this book (and the series as a whole): faith, obsessive love, predestination, and sacrifice. This third book is a straightforward quest story, as three rival groups set out for the center of the earth and the Seed of Adri. Kirk does a great job balancing the stories of the three groups, as well as keeping the reader guessing as to how the story will turn out. There are some great twists along the way, and Kirk is (as ever) unafraid of killing off characters to service the story… an example I wish many of today’s most popular authors would follow.
I think the Elf Realm series is one of the most unappreciated gems I’ve ever found in a bookstore, and am I ever glad I did. It is so hard to write a good finale – I’ve been burned several times this past year – yet Kirk made it seem effortless. I very much hope he continues writing novels, and I will certainly read them.
I think the Elf Realm series is one of the most unappreciated gems I’ve ever found in a bookstore, and am I ever glad I did. It is so hard to write a good finale – I’ve been burned several times this past year – yet Kirk made it seem effortless. I very much hope he continues writing novels, and I will certainly read them.
February 29, 2016
Ok.........great story but boy did it ever drag on and on. I thought I would never finish it. It was a little hard to get into it as I waited too long in between books 2 and 3. I kind of forgot some of the story and was a little confused as to what was going on. But in the end I remembered and the story story turned out great.
February 3, 2012
It wasn't as good as the other ones, it just seemed really childish. I also didn't remember a ton of stuff from the other two, so that made it not as good as well..... And the end seemed to sudden and final as well, so not super awesome...
A couple hours finish time???
A couple hours finish time???
May 22, 2013
Don't remember this book well. A tad dry.
May 3, 2017
I will admit, I could feel myself falling into a reading slump — an unrelated reading slump — as I began The Road's End, but nonetheless I feel this was a strong conclusion to the Elf Realm trilogy.
In my review of The High Road, I said that, whilst I found the second instalment less compelling than The Low Road, I was amazed by the development of the characters and their relationships. Likewise, even though I didn't find The Road's End as compelling as its predecessors, I found amazement in the climax and resolution of the story. I certainly never anticipated any part of what transpired at the centre of the world, and I most certainly did not anticipate crying. To be clear, I did not cry for the departed, but rather, for the character who sacrificed lifetimes.
I'd also just like to thank Kirk, to express how undyingly grateful I am, and how appreciative I am that Asra never returned Macta's feelings. I was terrified reading this book that Asra would suddenly decide 'Macta's not so bad. I love him'. It's an easy storyline, one that has been used too many times, and one that discredits Asra's years of discomfort at Macta's hands. I am truly grateful that Asra, whilst she recognised Macta's strengths, didn't suddenly forget his cruelty and fall in love.
The main, and perhaps only, issue I had with The Road's End is the way in which the reader is left waiting and waiting for the three different storylines to finally intersect — it's just not a plot structure I enjoy. When the parties of the three storylines are essentially on the same quest, it turns into some tedious waiting game for everyone to catch up. The strength of Kirk's writing made it more bearable than it may have been by another author, but still irked me.
Ultimately, The Road's End is a very strong conclusion to a very strong trilogy. Whilst I still believe that The Low Road is the best of the trio, all three books were well crafted, well developed, and never missed a detail.
In my review of The High Road, I said that, whilst I found the second instalment less compelling than The Low Road, I was amazed by the development of the characters and their relationships. Likewise, even though I didn't find The Road's End as compelling as its predecessors, I found amazement in the climax and resolution of the story. I certainly never anticipated any part of what transpired at the centre of the world, and I most certainly did not anticipate crying. To be clear, I did not cry for the departed, but rather, for the character who sacrificed lifetimes.
I'd also just like to thank Kirk, to express how undyingly grateful I am, and how appreciative I am that Asra never returned Macta's feelings. I was terrified reading this book that Asra would suddenly decide 'Macta's not so bad. I love him'. It's an easy storyline, one that has been used too many times, and one that discredits Asra's years of discomfort at Macta's hands. I am truly grateful that Asra, whilst she recognised Macta's strengths, didn't suddenly forget his cruelty and fall in love.
The main, and perhaps only, issue I had with The Road's End is the way in which the reader is left waiting and waiting for the three different storylines to finally intersect — it's just not a plot structure I enjoy. When the parties of the three storylines are essentially on the same quest, it turns into some tedious waiting game for everyone to catch up. The strength of Kirk's writing made it more bearable than it may have been by another author, but still irked me.
Ultimately, The Road's End is a very strong conclusion to a very strong trilogy. Whilst I still believe that The Low Road is the best of the trio, all three books were well crafted, well developed, and never missed a detail.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews