Return of the Elf Lord (Kingdom of the Elf Lords Book 1) by Heidi Vanlandingham – Review by Ayla Phipps

Return of the Elf Lord by Heidi Vanlandingham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book I have read by Heidi Vanlandingham, and I was not disappointed. The way the author mixes Norse Mythology, with American History captures the reader from the first page. Bernard is a World War two veteran that lost everything in the beginning of the war that he loved, his wife and young children. Alva is a Huldra that was cast out along with her sisters when she was young.

Bernard thinks of only one thing when Freyja brings him back to life, why was he brought back and how can he get his family back. When he questions Freyja on why he has been brought back she tells him that his dear friends initially asked but that she had the final choice. He had not completed his true purpose, she questions him about his family, parents, siblings. Something about him seemed familiar but she couldn’t place it but vowed she always figures it out eventually. Alva was taken in by her father after her mother the Queen of the Huldra kicked her and her younger sisters out when she found new love. Now an adult Alva goes to visit her mother but is captured by the fiercest of her cousins, Maya. With the wrong actions but a worthy purpose Alva is held captive by her cousin for nine days before she is rescued by Freyja and her partner. For years the Huldra have been withering away due to lack of their primary source of energy, the life-force from males. Bernard can’t explain it but when he looks at his spy partner Alva, she helps him feel lighter, happier touching her cheek for a moment without thinking before disappearing after her rescue. Alva has never been like the Huldra, she refuses to kill her host taking only enough to survive no more. Lifetimes have passed and thanks to Maya questions are finally being asked, why must they fall in love with the male, losing the bark from their backs and losing their tails only to kill the male taking his life force and gaining the bark and tail back. Gytha the oldest living Huldra remembers a moment when she was young, her mother and grandmother speaking about a “curse”, but time has forgotten the rest. Tells Alva for answers she must travel to visit the Huldra Historian for answers on all she wishes to know.

Bernard set on bringing his family back to life puts odds between him and Heimdall. Alva is the voice of reason within the Huldra castle searching for peace amongst her family. Two actions set a new history in motion, with an outcome no one would have predicted, and why does Bernard see Alva’s face the moment he starts the new path. This book had me craving more, the mixture seemliest meddling together into something amazing. Heidi builds an amazing world and the characters equally amazing. I cannot wait to read the next book Curse of the Elf Lord.

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