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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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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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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 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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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Manipulator’s War is the first book in the Ruarnon Trilogy and the debut novel by Elise Carlson. This story sees Ruarnon trying to prove their worth as heir to Tarlah’s perfect King. Their parents get kidnapped and they find themselves ruling Tarlah with impending war and no allies.

I found this story very interesting. The book also has tons of diverse characters. Since there are a lot of characters it can be a bit overwhelming at times to keep up. The book has a lot of elements that YA Fantasy fans will enjoy like time travel and sea monsters. The book is action-packed and with the exception of some flow issues, is very fun and entertaining.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Jules Herbert

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

If you enjoy the YA genre then this is a great book for you…If you like Fantasy then grab this book and get reading….If you enjoy both then you absolutely won’t want to miss this book for sure!!! I will admit it took a little while to completely hook me but boy when it did it hooked me hard!! The non-bianary Character Ruarnon is a truly wonderful character who will draw you in to the story even more than you first expect. There is ALOT going on in this fantastic book, so pay careful attention while reading so you don’t miss a thing. Trust me it will be worth every second! With such a great first book I just know the rest of the trilogy will be just as great and I can’t wait.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Carla Clemmons

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

This was an interesting read and good start to the series! Being my first time reading this author I was not sure what to expect but definitely enjoyed their writing style. This story is complex and fast paced, it will hold your attention until the end. Overcoming adversity and being thrown into a role they were not ready for Ruarnon has to prove they are ready. This story is definitely one of a kind and very unique. I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see where the author takes us!

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

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Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This fantasy book may appeal to those who enjoy time travel, war, and sea monsters along with high stakes situations involving a lot of threats and murder. There is a lot of action that takes place in this book. At times, it became very difficult for me to keep up with who was doing what and where. There are times the writing was a bit choppy too. It’s a debut author so there is definitely a lot of room for growth, and I’m sure it will take place. I had a very difficult time keeping up with the characters too. I understand that a book of this length and depth will have a variety of characters but it almost seemed too much for me. I did feel for the main characters and the challenges that they faced and the decisions that these young minds were tasked to make. I even teared up in a couple of scenes. I’m sure that there are others who really loved this book but for me, it just wasn’t my style.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Katie Turner

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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 by Elise Carlson is the first book in the Ruarnon Trilogy and my first book with this author. This is also my first book with a nonbinary character lead. I didn’t have any particular expectations going into this book but it sounded interesting. While the story did not take off immediately for me as I got into the rythym of it all, I eventually found myself absolutey enthralled in this tale and then the pages turned faster and faster. I felt like the characters and their interactions, the plot, and details were beautifully crafted and all came together perfectly inside its fantasy realm. And at the end, I was ready for more. This book has definitely opened me up to be more willing to read outside of my norm. Never know when you’ll find an absolute gem where you’re not necessarily looking for one. I look forward to reading book two!

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Karen Pearman

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

A new author to me I was not sure what to expect from this young adult book. What I got was a realistic book I could not put down. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is very inclusive and not did not exclude anyone based on race, gender, or sexuality. That was a pleasure to see from a young adult story. It is great to say that there is a story out there I can recommend to friends and family members that are part of the LGBTIQA+ community. This is the first book in this book series, and I cannot wait to read the next book. If you are interested in historical young adult fiction, please give this story a read. It is well written and informative.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Tausha Treadway

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

Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson. This is the story of Ruarnon who is the heir of Tarlah and also happens to be non-binary. Ruarnon’s father who is the King thinks they can be the next ruler as long as they do their best. When Ruarnon’s parents are kidnapped they must do everything they can to find them. They also have to take the Throne with the help of their Uncle but its hard because people don’t want a non-binary for a leader. Ruarnon has a lot of obstacles to overcome but they are going to do their best to find their parents and prevail. When 4 students from Australia accidentally get transported to Tarlah. They are in shock trying to navigate the crazy world. Will they be able to get back home and will Ruarnon find their parents before the people do away with Ruarnon? Read this fast paced adventure to find out.

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

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

Book has a map of the lands and is useful to reference in the novel. I appreciated all the thought that went into creating the fantasy story and the characters were realistic. In the beginning, it was confusing about the non-binary character referring themselves as a they/them. This was the first story I’ve read with a non-binary character. It was interesting how the author explored the idea of gender within a society where gender was neutral. Once I figure that out, I could move past the confusion and enjoy the rest of the story. You begin in one world and end up in another. This was definitely a one of a kind book!

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Erin DeRoma

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

This book had me hooked from the first Chapter. This was my first book by Elise Carlson and I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but I am so glad that I read it. It was a page turner right from the start. I really appreciated that all though it was fantasy the characters were very realistic. Along with being my first book by Elise Carlson, it was also my first book with a non-binary character and I think Elise wrote the character well.
The only reason why I gave this book a 4 and not a 5 star rating was because although entertaining and engaging from beginning to end, you really had to pay attention from beginning to end or you could get lost a bit. It was not a book I could read before bed with my mind winding down for the night, and even with full attention during the day there were times where I had to stop go back just to make sure I was following correctly.
I can’t wait to read the other books in this series.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Jerricka Brown

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

This book was amazing. It is well written and fast paced. I love the way the author wasted no time with the plot of the book. I was hooked from the beginning and stayed hooked until the end. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series. I highly recommend this book.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Alison Risher

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

This book is unique because it features a nonbinary main character in one of its amazing dual story arcs. I like the way the author was sensitive with her nonbinary character. The other story arc features a group of teen students who find themselves transported to another place or time. The nonbinary character grapples with sudden responsibility that follows in the wake of abducted parents. The teens must figure out what they need to learn, in order to cope with their new reality.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Melissa Fink

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https://www.amazon.com/review/R2M37DJ0FHNRFH/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

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

This isn’t my typical type of genre to read but I wanted to change things up. I am so glad I did. Everything in this book was amazing. The world building, characters, and plot was on point. The language in the first few chapters was hard to understand but after you get past that, it was easier to understand. It was a fast paced and page turner book.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Allyson Ware

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

This novel was well written. It was fast paced, complex, and inclusive. Although, I would have liked to see more inclusivity in this book. For a YA book, an author can really dive into the hardships, trials, and tribulations that nonbinary individuals face in today’s society. It has potential to be a great book for youth that are struggling to find themselves, but I would have liked to see more of it than the author intertwined in this story. Regardless, the author does a great job with the characters and the plot of this novel.

From the beginning, you are sucked into this story of Ruarnon and Linh. The amount of detail that the author puts into this novel is outstanding. I just wish the author would have focused more on the character building. That is my only complaint about this book. If you enjoy stories with monsters, war, and tough decision making then this book is for you. You will not want to put it down until you finish it.

Review by @aware
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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Tonya Merritt

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

I am not as positive as to what I expected when I began reading this book but it definitely changed. A mix of Narnia and other fictional stories with a deep root in stopping a war. You follow these kids who just want to find a way home but become part of this new world. Manipulator’s War is well written and easy to follow.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book #1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Angela Hayes

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Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

3 Stars

 

Manipulator’s War is the first book in the Raurnon Trilogy by Elise Carlson. It is a YA action/adventure fantasy with tests, trials, and challenges- as well as myth, murder, mayhem, assassins, threats, drama, and high stakes.
We meet Raurnon, the non-binary heir to the throne of Tarlah who has to step up and assume the throne when their parents are kidnapped. With war looming, and no one to turn to things take a complicated and dangerous turn. What happens makes for an intriguing adventure story.
Although I found the premise of this story interesting, I just couldn’t find my groove with this story as I found it hard to connect with the character/s, which then made it difficult to immerse myself in the adventure or invest in the outcome of their story. I also found the story quite slow in parts, and because of that I found my attention wandering a lot- and then it continued to lag and drag along the way, on and off, making for a bit of a choppy and somewhat frustrating read for me. I have put this down to this being the author’s debut novel and they were still finding their own writing groove. I think the rest of the series holds a lot of promise and I am curious to see where we go from here.
Happy Reading…

Thank you, Elise Carlson!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson
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Genre – Fantasy, YA
Page Count – 412
Cover Designer – Judah Lamey

Nonbinary Ruarnon is determined to prove their worth as heir to Tarlah’s perfect King. Things get complicated when their parents are abducted and they’re left ruling Tarlah in the shadow of impending war, with absent allies.

Neighbouring King Kyura has no intention of invading Tarlah. But his warmongering subjects long for the glory of expansion. When Kyura rejects their calls for war, assassins threaten his family and mutiny threatens his reign.

Stranded Aussie Linh is desperate to return to her family in Australia. But the only transport to her gateway home is Ruarnon’s absent allies, sailing to Tarlah’s aid.

Monsters at sea threaten everyone. Linh’s monster observations could save Kyura’s people, and clear her homeward path. If she risks her life aiding Ruarnon. But to secure peace with Kyura’s unruly subjects, Ruarnon’s ultimate test as heir risks betrayal and Tarlah’s bloody defeat.

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Elise Carlson (they/them) is an Aussie YA Fantasy author writing fantastical adventures in between real-world exploration and educating energetic, enthusiastic minds as excited about life as they are -children. Elise has lived in, taught in and explored their native Australia, England and New Zealand. Inspired by studies of the ancient Mediterranean world and their real-life adventures throughout Europe, America, Canada and South-East Asia, Elise enjoys writing adventures and coming of age stories for like minds -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 Moriah Venable

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

Ruanon is the heir of Tarlah, this involves lessons in fighting, history of the kingdom and more importantly how to run the Kingdom that will one day be theirs to rule. Because they are non binary, Ruanon works twice as hard to prove themselves to their father who is the current King.

The dangers of ruling over a Kingdom hits Ruanon in the face one night when their parents are kidnapped after a foiled assassination attempt. Now Ruanon is unsure of who to trust as they attempt to rule the kingdom and prevent war from a neighboring Kingdom.

Lihn finds herself in an unknown location while on a school trip to Australia. How did she get there? And more importantly, how does she get back home?

I really enjoyed this novel. It was fast paced and unpredictable. I couldn’t wait for both storylines to come together and how it would.

The main character being non binary is what cause my attention the most. It is not something I’ve seen before in the fantasy genre.

I saw that this is supposed to be a trilogy so I can’t wait for the next book.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Heidi Sturgess

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

This isn’t my usual genre but I was up for a bit of change and a challenge and I must say that while I won’t easily be converted this was a good read ❣️📕

There were times I just had to stop , breathe and let myself absorb and process what I’ve read there’s alit of detail and that’s not a bad thing so that’s not critique it’s just me being out of my genre and I think if this is your thing you’ll love every page !

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Kirsten Berkebile

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world and wind up another, you really feel like you are in the story as well at times. Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Manipulator’s War ( Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson is confusing and yet entertaining at the same time. I feel dragged into two different worlds but yet feel like I belong in both. It’s the first book that I have ever come across with a main character that is nonbinary. Not sure how or why the character became nonbinary but it does play a role in my opinion. You start off in one world and wind up another, you really feel like you are in the story as well at times.

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Shannen Kern

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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 is incredibly detailed and I took some breaks here and there just to really wrap my head around what was happening. It was a bit difficult to get into the groove at first but once I did, I was completely enthralled!

Ruarnon is our non-binary main character and they must prove that they are up to many challenges, including finding their abducted parents and trying to end a terrifying war in their home of Tarlah. They need to decide who to trust and rely on internal instincts in the face of opposition. The four students from Australia are in for a life-altering experience as they attempt to navigate through this unbelievable world they stumbled upon. Will they ever find their way back to Australia or will Tarlah become their new home?

There are many emotions woven into this book and I enjoyed the multiple vantage points from different characters. I’m excited for the release of the second book in this trilogy, highly recommend for any reader interested in YA, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, or LGBTQ+ Fiction!

Reviewed by @shannlynn

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Susan Ratchford

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

Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy) Book 1
By Elise Carlson
Review By Susan Ratchford
4 stars

After assassins try to strike the non binary Raurnon down, the heir to Tarlahs perfect King, and their parents are abducted, they must assume the throne and try to be the worthy ruler that they always challenged them self to be. In the face of untrustworthy allies and a war that has stained their entire history they know they need more than brains and battle strategies to end this war. To do this they need a bargaining chip.
After traveling through a portal Linh and her friends happen upon a strange world they do not recognize. No longer in Australia they are in the world of Ruarnon and the people of Tarlah. Trapped in a time of civil unrest and a growing plague of monsters Linh will do anything to find her way back to her own time and place. Even pretend to be someone she isn’t and travel to see the heir Ruarnon herself and risk a plan for home. Will Linh be exactly what Ruarnon needs to end this war and secure everlasting peace or will their plan fail and with it the fate of them and their people?
I loved this book and will definitely be reading the rest of this series!!!! I really enjoyed the inclusion of a nonbinary protagonist it made me focus on other aspects of the story that were so engaging and emotionally gripping! This book took me on an emotional roller coaster with every twist and turn. I felt like I was there with Linh and Ruarnon through every struggle! Elise Carlson did a wonderful job of creating a complex and detailed plot that is constantly surprising you as well as fast paced. This is definitely a great YA series that anyone can enjoy and highly recommend you give it a try!

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