The Elements of the Crown (The Elements of Kamdaria Book 1) by Kay L. Moody – Review by Hansini Wasalamudalige

The Elements of the Crown by Kay L. Moody
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

‘The Elements of the Crown’ by Kay L. Moody is the first book of ‘The Elements of Kamdaria’ series. It follows the journey of Talise as she strives to gain the title of ‘Master Shaper’ who has the honour of working directly with Kamdaria’s Emperor and is Talise’s last and only chance to rise out of generations of poverty and prejudice. A major highlight of the story is Moody’s worldbuilding- Kamdaria comes across as a living and breathing place with its class structures, beliefs, politics and institutions described in full and elaborate detail. Kamdaria’s lore isn’t explored in a way that’s ham-fisted or entirely expository- readers learn about this world through Talise and the other characters, their actions and the narrative itself. It also helped that Kamdaria was just so interesting- its inhabitants have the ability to ‘shape’ or control the elements of water, earth, fire and wind and it was a delight to discover how this society was modelled after this power afforded to most of its citizens and how it would affect its functioning.

A story is only as good as its characters and ‘‘The Elements of the Crown’ doesn’t disappoint. Talise is such a fleshed out and compelling protagonist and Moody allows for readers to sympathise with her easily- her bravery and determination is truly inspiring given her dire situation and background. At times, I found myself rooting for her, gasping at the sudden obstacles in her way or crying for her. The secondary characters are just as interesting and deep as Talise- Aaden Sato, for instance, is more than he appears and, despite his situation being so much different than Talise’s, their similarities are startling and its fascinating to see how Kamdaria’s governing laws can both disadvantage the weak and the strong and the poor and the rich in equal measure. Another notable character is the elusive Emperor of Kamdaria himself, Emperor Flarius, who’s machinations and schemes are delicious to untangle and discover.

In conclusion, if you’re in the market for a book with a rich storyline and characters, then picking up ‘The Elements of the Crown’ is a must. It is an excellent first entry and I cannot wait to read more.

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