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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Shadel Ayerbe

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Secrets of the Sorcery War: An Epic YA Fantasy by Elise Carlson is a great LGBTQ Fanatasy story

Reading Ruarnon is a pleasure. They are complex characters who the reader can’t help but enjoy getting to know. Ruarnon feels pressure to uphold their parents’ standards while still developing their own identity as the successor to the Tarlahn throne. Although they are young, they are intelligent beyond their years and lack any obnoxiousness. Characters in Secrets of the Sorcery War have a lot of depth.The book’s Australian characters are very beautifully written. The other protagonist of the story is Linh, who, like Ruarnon, is intelligent beyond her years without being annoying and has excellent interactions with people from both realms. The language flows smoothly and never seems out of place. Australian adolescents sound natural and realistic.

Despite being a YA novel, it doesn’t hesitate to approach its subjects through an adult lens. This allows it to explore its topics while telling an in-depth story, even though it is lengthier than typical for its target group.

Every page was exciting and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen. It is a very unique story with even more one-of-a-kind characters. The story really transports you into their world. I couldn’t put the book down.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Shadel Ayerbe

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Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy) by Elise Carlson is a great young adult fantasy book.

The author skillfully incorporates a modern perspective with the addition of 4 children from today’s culture while skillfully balancing the several adolescent characters and their reactions to the battles, deaths of friends and foes alike, and the portal addition. The fantasy worldbuilding is good despite the necessity for speech to frequently carry a lot of exposition to keep readers informed of the rivalries and conflicts in this convoluted world. There are many characters to follow! The treatment of the “midlun” sex, Ruarnon, a non-binary protagonist who battles uncertainties and anxiety while rising to the trials of the manipulator’s war to become the leader the people need to defeat conquistador armies and wicked chaos produced creatures, was what I found to be most enjoyable.

Every page was exciting and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen. It is a very unique story with even more one-of-a-kind characters. The story really transports you into their world. I couldn’t put the book down. Ran right for book 2.

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Kerry Carr

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Ruarnon Triology. I really recommend reading these books in order so you can follow the story and have a better understanding of what’s going on.
This story is full of action, adventure, danger, lies and betrayal which will keep any young adult engaged. The author does a great job with the world building and characters especially Ruarnon who is non- binary.
In this book we see Ruarnon in charge after their parents have been kidnapped. They now need to plan and launch a rescue mission to save them from an evil king. But he is as evil as Ruarnon had been lead to believe. Who can Ruarnon trust? Can they save the people that are taken as prisoners? And what would be the consequences if they don’t succeed.
This book is fast paced with loads of action. It is definately a read that someone who love fantasy would really enjoy. I can’t wait to read the final book in this great series

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Melissa Saxton

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Follow Ruanon and company as more adventure and mayhem await them!
This time they set sail on the seas ro rescue people from the sorcerer king who is said to be extremely evil… what they actually find when they face off is something you’ll have to discover reading.
This book is a good Ya fantasy and it also includes a non binary main character that is very well done.
As with the first book I struggled to stay engaged as the story was choppy and sometimes too much information or detail was given on some topics but when I needed more information on other things it was lacking, however this is better than the first book. A cute quirk is also the art work between chapters that was very cool.
Overall worth a read!

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Carla Clemmons

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a great second in the series! This author definitely has a unique writing style. They are very in depth with their characters and the descriptions of the world. I recommend reading the first book so you have a better understanding of the characters and you can see all their growth. And there is so much character growth in this book. Ruarnon grows more into their role as a leader. There is a lot of action in the book as they are challenged more by the sorcery king. This book is a YA book but can definitely be enjoyed by an adult audience as well. If you are into fantasy stories this is definitely worth the read! Will be looking forward to book 3 when it comes out!

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Jennifer Reimer

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was hard for me to put down, I was in the zone constantly with this book. It as like nothing else existed. It was just as amazing as the first one maybe even a little bit better. Fantasy is my favorite type of genre, and this book didn’t disappoint. I couldn’t read this book fast enough to know what was going to happen next to Ruanon, Linh and the others. This time on a quest to find out if King Nartzeer was up to no good. The characters were once again well written into the book that it makes you feel like you have known them all your life. The setting and everything around it made you also feel like you were watching everything unfold right before your eyes. I can’t wait to see what is in story for this adventure next.

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Jennifer Reimer

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was hard for me to put down, I was in the zone constantly with this book. It as like nothing else existed. It was just as amazing as the first one maybe even a little bit better. Fantasy is my favorite type of genre, and this book didn’t disappoint. I couldn’t read this book fast enough to know what was going to happen next to Ruanon, Linh and the others. This time on a quest to find out if King Nartzeer was up to no good. The characters were once again well written into the book that it makes you feel like you have known them all your life. The setting and everything around it made you also feel like you were watching everything unfold right before your eyes. I can’t wait to see what is in story for this adventure next.

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Rayne East

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The adventure continues
Second book in the Ruarnon Trilogy and this takes off from where book one finished off. It is worth reading book one to get the foundation of the story. This flowed a lot better than book one but maybe it’s because the story is at its peak. There’s a lot of depth and imagery to the story with some parts I felt overdone but this didn’t detract from the overall story. With fantasy, myths, magic, action & drama there’s a lot to sink your teeth into and enjoy. Recommend.

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Tausha Treadway

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson. This is the second book in the Ruarnon Trilogy and I highly recommend reading them in order to better understand the characters and story. This is a young adult fantasy read and its a sit down and buckle your seats read. Ruarnon is about to be challenged like never before by the sorcery king. Having to figure out who he can trust who he can’t trust is going to be key in this battle. There are battle after battle and the action is ongoing from the get go. The main character is non binary which is new to me as well. There is danger, murder, lies and love all wrapped up in this fast paced story. This is a fast paced fun read!

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Secrets of the Sorcery War is the second book in the Ruarnon Trilogy. It’s definitely a series to read in order, so if you haven’t already I’d recommend starting with Manipulator’s War which is another great book.

This is an epic fantasy series with teenage characters, suitable for YA readers and beyond. It’s set in a vibrant and diverse fantasy world with some characters who have come from our world. In Secrets of the Sorcery War there are plenty of new settings to discover alongside Ruarnon and their friends!

I was initially drawn to this series by the nonbinary main character. It’s so great coming across well-written nonbinary characters in genres I enjoy like fantasy! And more broadly it’s a great tool for teaching people how to use they/them pronouns.

As Ruarnon develops as a leader, their understanding and skills at diplomacy grow. This is fun to read, as they keep being thrown into Situations and having to figure out how to respond. They’re also aware of their own limitations and shortcomings and open to asking for help or information that they need.

This book gets five stars from me! I’d recommend it to fans of fantasy worlds such as Narnia and Tortall looking for a great modern series to get stuck into!

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Erin DeRoma

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love a good fantasy series. I typically don’t but I did read a couple other Fantasy books in between Manipulators War and reading this, and yet I was able to jump right in and be right back into it. This was a page turner, and it was hard to put it down. Carlson kept me entertained from the moment I opened book 1, her words just flow and create a true picture in my mind. I look forward to continue reading books by Carlson.

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Kirsten Berkebile

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This is the second book in the Ruarnon Trilogy. I can honestly say that I feel completely different from this book then the first one. I am struggling to stay focused and am now realizing that maybe not all fantasy books are my thing. While I do like her style of writing, I’m just not sure if I can follow along with the story line this time. This time I don’t feel like I’m in two worlds but rather a world that I just don’t understand.

Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Ruarnon Trilogy. I can honestly say that I feel completely different from this book then the first one. I am struggling to stay focused and am now realizing that maybe not all fantasy books are my thing. While I do like her style of writing, I’m just not sure if I can follow along with the story line this time. This time I don’t feel like I’m in two worlds but rather a world that I just don’t understand.

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Betsy Melano

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a great continuation of the first book. The main characters go on an adventure to rescue their parents. The characters are well written and you can feel all of the emotions they are experiencing. There are magical things happening and each character has a pert to play in this adventure. The story is well written and I enjoyed learning more about each of the characters.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Betsy Melano

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Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An action packed from the start, new to me series. Also, the author is new to me too. This series is a young adult fantasy with some time travels included. The author did a wonderful job with world building and the characters are good too. There is a lot happening within the book so anyone reading would have to pay close attention – especially as you learn about what Ruarnon is going through as they grow into their new position as heir after their parents are attacked.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and soon after decided to read the 2nd book in the series.

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Alison Risher

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The second installment of this trilogy was a good continuation of the storyline. The author gives a nod to popular culture by having a nonbinary main character. The sorcery battle scenes were well-depicted. The author includes diplomacy throughout the story. One of my favorite parts of the book was the artwork between sections of the book- sometimes a weapon, at other times a stack of books. I think the author is saying that a civilization needs both education and weaponry.

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Stephanie R

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in this YA fantasy series. I really enjoyed the continuation in this universe. It’s very well written, the author does a great job with the character and story development which really draws you into the story.

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Kerry Baker

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson

This book is the second in the series, and a great continuation of the story. It was an easy book to engage with and I found myself picking up the story with no effort, as though I had read it straight after the first. I was excited to see where the author would take the story next.
I thought the characters were all interesting. They each had a part to play I loved how every one developed. The author has a detailed way of writing. It was easy to visualise what was being described and, for me, that made the book more interesting to read. I thought this was a thoroughly enjoyable book and I am looking forward to the next one.

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Jenni Bishop

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Secrets of the Sorcery War: An Epic YA Fantasy (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2)Secrets of the Sorcery War: An Epic YA Fantasy by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars
Secrets of the Sorcery War is the second book in the Ruarnon Trilogy and Elise’s second book. It is a YA fantasy tale. The adventure continues on from the first book Manipulator’s War.
As with the first book it was hard for me to fully engage in the story because it was a bit choppy meaning the story didn’t flow as seamlessly as it could have. Elise’s is a very vivid storyteller however at times the story became bogged down with too much information. It is good to see that Elise’s writing has grown from Manipulators War and I expect that I will see more growth in the next book as she settles into her writing style and develop her storytelling.
Ruanon, Linh and the gang are back to sail the seas and to face off with a sorcerer-king Nartzeer. To find out if he is evil or not you will have to read it for yourself.
Elise has created intriguing LBGTQ+ all-inclusive characters. With the MC’s being asexual and nonbinary. This story has action and adventure, things that go bump in the night, murder and mayhem, myths and lore, assassins and magic, drama and sorcerers and more.
I look forward to reading the final book in the trilogy Land of the Clouded. If you love adventure stories, then take a chance on this YA trilogy.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book #2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Angela Hayes

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

3 Stars

 

Secrets of the Sorcery War is the second instalment in the Raurnon Trilogy by Elise Carlson. This continues the adventure we started in Book One, so I highly recommend reading the previous book before starting on this one as the first book contains important information, character introductions, backstory, and other relevant details that you really should know in order to fully appreciate this second instalment.
This is a YA LGBTQ+ action-adventure fantasy with a non-binary MC, challenges, drama, secrets, magic, a quest, and high stakes.
Ruarnon (and co) are about to be challenged like never before as they face off against a formidable foe- the sorcerer king. But things aren’t going to be straight-forward- bit first they will need to find the right allies for the quest. Let the adventure begin. What ensues makes for an interesting read.
Although I was a little more ‘settled’ in this story than I was in the first, I still wasn’t as immersed and invested as I would have liked to have been. I still haven’t fully connected with the character/s, which then made it difficult to fully appreciate them and the outcome of their story. The story does lag and drag a bit in parts, and was also quite ‘wordy’ too, which made for some slow-going reading. Again, I found my attention wandering, but not as much as the first book, as I had to keep reminding myself to stay focused on what was happening. There is also a lot of detail, which is great in part, because it helped me to visualize everything- but I felt that there were times that the descriptions were a bit of an over-kill and became more like an info dump. Some elements were over-detailed, and other aspects that I felt were more relevant seemed almost skirted over. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy this book, more than the first, and I’m interested to see how things will play out in ‘Land of the Clouded Sky’, the third and final book in the trilogy- as maybe everything will final ‘fall into place’ for me there.
Happy Reading…

Thank you, Elise Carlson!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The story continues the adventures of The Manipulator’s War. If you are into stories that include the LGBTQ+ genre and love the YA fantasy adventure, you’ll enjoy this. Ruanon, Linh and the others are so well-written. I can’t say they are relatable but you do feel their challenges. The adventure and drama they face keep you involved in the story until the very end. That’s what keeps the story intriguing.

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Bobbi Wagner

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Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy #2)Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this fantasy book. I found this book to be well written and hard to put down. A story where the characters take you on an adventure across the sea, to rescue people from a king that may not be as bad as they say. An adventure that is non stop and kept me turning pages fast just to see what would happen next. I enjoyed how the characters pulled me into their world. They are connectable and strong characters that had to the stories entertainment value for sure. They have great growth throughout the story which makes it easy to read. What happens in this story is something you don’t want to miss. I really enjoyed this story and I highly recommend it.

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Review by @bjwagner

Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson

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•°•☆ •°•☆•°•☆ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ☆•°•☆•°•☆•°
Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3LE8v0y
Barnes & Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secrets-of-the-sorcery-war-elise-carlson/1142605591?ean=2940166538598
Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/secrets-of-the-sorcery-war
Apple Books – https://books.apple.com/us/book/secrets-of-the-sorcery-war/id6444117904
#ontour #ItsyBitsyBookBits #ItsyBitsyBookBitsTours #ITSYBITSYBOOKBITSPROMOTIONS #BookSpotlightShowcase #SecretsoftheSorceryWar #RuarnonTrilogy #EliseCarlson #YA #YoungAdult #Fantasy #LBGTQ
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Genre – YA, Fantasy, LGBTQ
Page Count – 377
Cover Designer – Judah Lamey 
Heir Ruarnon seeks allies to free their parents from unpredictable sorcerer-king Nartzeer. The reclusive Urai are not who they had in mind but can offer far more than Ruarnon anticipates. However, negotiations are interrupted when Nartzeer’s murderous grey-hided damars are sighted sailing towards Tarlah.

 The damars’ human handlers are lost Aussie Linh’s chance to confirm that her gateway home —and sorcerers able (and hopefully willing) to operate it— lie in the dangerous West.

 When Linh sets sail to confront the handlers, she learns that magic is very much still wielded on Umarinaris. That some of the Sorcery War’s deadliest weapons survived. And that Nartzeer somehow knows all of this, and has his own plans for those weapons.

 But is Nartzeer the villain everyone in the East believes? What do his fleets truly seek in the Eastern Seas? And why have the damars become so formidable that they threaten to sink Ruarnon’s ship and overrun all of Ruarnon’s potential allies?

~ AMAZON ~ KOBO ~ BARNES & NOBLE ~ APPLE BOOKS ~

Click here to view the Book Trailer for Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson

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Elise Carlson (they/them) is an Aussie who graduated from playing imaginary games in their extensive backyard to writing YA Fantasy. In between educating energetic, enthusiastic minds as excited about life as they are —children— and adventures in Europe, North America, South-East Asia and locally, Elise enjoys writing adventures and epic conflicts for the young and young at heart.

Author Interview with Elise Carlson

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Tracy Greenhalgh

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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60128154-manipulator-s-war” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1647091645l/60128154._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60128154-manipulator-s-war”>Manipulator’s War</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22292560.Elise_Carlson”>Elise Carlson</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5411431372″>4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is the first time I have read a book by this author, and I can honestly say I am very pleased I did read this book, the world building is well described and interesting and the characters are very diverse, both in where they are from and their gender, including a very well developed non binary character, alongside the definite male and female roles.<br />In this book we follow Ruarnon and observe them grow into their leadership position and dealing with the neighbouring people under king Kyura (who wants peace, but the population want more land) and the strangers who have travelled through gateways to his world.<br />Linh wants to get home to Australia, can they help Ruarnon, can they get home, through travel, sea monsters, battles this story takes you by the hand and walks you through this amazing world.<br /><br />
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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Rayne East

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Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A wonderful mix of fantasy
This is the first book in the Ruarnon Trilogy and is a well written YA fantasy that has portals, battles and plenty of adventure. The author delivers an overall strong first book with only a few parts that were not as smooth as the rest of the book. Having said that I love the strong Australian undertone and the storyline. There are multiple POVs but it’s Ruarnon who dominates the story. I am keen to see where the story goes from here in book 2.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Brandy Rymer

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Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book starts with action right from the very beginning, even during the Prologue you are introduced to Ruarnon, one of our main characters in the book. If you make it a habit of jumping right into the chapters and skipping this section of the book, you will miss so much information! I love how we start out getting to see the point of view of Ruarnon in his time and place, and then into the lives of our other main characters Linh, Fiona, Troy, and Michael in their modern times and home. What a fascinating idea that during a school field trip, the four kids are sent into a different time and place as if by magic to enter Ruarnon’s land and time, right when they are most needed. This book is an amazing fantasy book full of surprising twists and turns and some greatly developed fighting scenes. You will laugh, cry and cheer on our heroes and heroines as they seek to find a passage back to their homes while crossing the path of Ruarnon, the man leading his people to victory.

@brandyjo 03/2023

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Lucy Machard

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Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Right off the bat, this book had my full attention. I loved seeing an LGBT+ main character for the series, especially one so well written! Honestly what really captivated me was the wit of Ruarnon’s personality. There’s a lot of world building in the first chunk of this book, which is to be expected with it being a fantasy trilogy. This is my first book by this author, and I’m really impressed with it! The writing style is very detailed, and reminds me almost of Tolkien’s work. It did take me some time to get through it all, but I really enjoyed it and I do recommend it!

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Christine Baranek

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Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Manipulators War
By: Elise Carlson

Great YA Fantasy

This isn’t my usual book of choice. But I’ve been expanding my types of reading when it comes to middle grade and YA books so that I am able to make great recommendations to my students. This book definitely is one that I will be recommending to my older students that enjoy fantasy novels. This is one that is fast paced and definitely sucks you in at the beginning and doesn’t let you go until the very end. I will say that this is a book that needs your full attention when you are reading or else there will be moments later on in the book where you will feel confused. I am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Breanne Christian

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Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So much occurs in Manipulator’s War that I am afraid to give anything away. To start off, nonbinary Ruarnon is trying to prove that they are worthy to be king. While a supposed peaceful visit with the neighboring king threatens Ruarnon’s life, a group of four students on a field trip stumble upon a portal into a different realm. Manipulator’s War is a current, traveling-between-realms science fiction novel. Although many events occur, each event winds up being a twist of what is expected. This novel will keep you guessing.
Manipulator’s War is full of characters with relatable feelings. You feel as though you are in the story with them with descriptive scenery. With the jumping between realms and the different characters, it can become confusing if you are not paying close attention, same with the use of “they/them/etc” for Ruaranon. I would have to make sure that the novel is mentioning Ruarnon themselves and not the company that they were with as well.
Overall, I enjoyed Manipulator’s War. I enjoyed how diverse the characters were and the descriptors that went along with each scene. If you are looking for an action packed science fiction novel with relatable characters look no further.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ruarnon has spent their life learning lessons in combat and how to run the kingdom they will one take over. As the non-binary heir to Tarlah they have had to work harder to impress their father who happens to be the King of Tarlah. When Ruarnon’s parents are abducted in the middle of the night they are thrust into the role quicker than anticipated and find themselves forced to make difficult decisions as they take over ruling the kingdom. In their new role Ruarnon finds that they are uncertain who to trust within the Royal Council and is also faced with the news that the neighboring kingdom wants to expand into Tarlah. Ruarnon is thrown headfirst into their role as heir to the throne and jumps straight into battling an ongoing war.

Meanwhile, Linh is on an excursion to Australia with her class when her and her classmates find themselves in a foreign land they do not recognize. As they try to find their way back Linh learns of a place that has a race that may have the knowledge to help her get back home. In her journey she stumbles onto a small island where monsters are attacking anyone and everyone. The monsters see everything as a target and annihilate anything that moves. Will she be able to escape to safety and find this race that will help her find her way home?

This book was action packed from the first pages as Ruarnon was thrust into their role as ruler of Tarlah. The storylines were entertaining, and I had to continue to read to see how the two were going to join together. I loved that the protagonist was non-binary and written from their perspective. The character of Ruarnon was written well and the author did a great job of including the struggles they faced as being non-binary without that defining them. It was an aspect of who they were, not what they were. A great read full of action, war, rivalry, betrayal, and even some monsters.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Anastasia Dodson

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Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This fantasy story was the first that I have read by this author and I enjoyed it. The writing style was good and I was entertained throughout the whole of the story. It was creative and I enjoyed the fast paced storyline. It had action , betrayal and pesky little assassins. I am looking forward to more by this author in the future!
Happy Reading!

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