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Worldmaker of Yand-Yildun
Worldmaker of Yand-Yildun by Andri E. Elia takes us to the planet Yand, orbiting the star Yildun, where Yanara, a powerful spellcaster known as the Worldmaker, must defend her world from the menacing K’tul, an intergalactic invader. The story intricately weaves themes of love, loss, and the responsibilities that come with immense power, all while introducing a rich cast of characters, including Yanara’s daughter, who is just beginning to manifest her own inherited abilities. As threats loom, Yanara is not only challenged by external forces but also by the complexities of her personal life, especially her relationships and her desire to protect her family.
From the start, I was struck by the depth of Yanara’s character and her multifaceted nature. She is powerful, yet vulnerable, particularly when it comes to her family. The narrative begins with a rich backstory, laying a solid foundation for the events that unfold. I found the early exploration of Yanara’s internal struggles compelling, especially her reflections on her marriages and her longing to start a family. These personal conflicts made Yanara relatable despite her extraordinary abilities, and they added a layer of emotional depth to the story. The planet Yand, with its empathic, winged humanoids and their intricate societal norms, is vividly depicted. I particularly enjoyed the scenes that highlighted the contrast between Yanara’s immense power and the everyday struggles of life on Yand. The descriptions of the landscape, the technology, and the unique cultural elements of the Yandar people were immersive, drawing me deeper into this fantastical world. The illustrations, particularly those by Lily Dormishev, beautifully complement the narrative, capturing the essence of Yand’s unique environment and its inhabitants.
Elia’s writing is both evocative and engaging. It has moments of intense action balanced by introspective passages. I appreciated the seamless blend of science fiction and fantasy elements which kept the story unpredictable and fresh. The inclusion of LGBTQIA+ themes, particularly in the depiction of Yanara’s relationships, felt natural and added a contemporary touch to the classic hero’s journey.
Worldmaker of Yand-Yildun is a captivating start to a trilogy that will appeal to fans of both sci-fi and fantasy. It is a book for those who enjoy stories rich in character development, world-building and complex themes. I recommend it to readers who appreciate layered narratives and aren’t afraid to dive into a world as complex as the characters that inhabit it.
Pages: 308 | ASIN : B0BJRMM3T6
The Intersection Of Her Two Natures
Worldmaker of Yand – Yildun follows a spellcaster that must save her world from invaders while trying to build her family. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
In my previous book Queen of Highwings, one of my favorite characters is Snowfox, a yandar archer who, with his wife Asimia, left his homeworld Yand to a new planet seeking to make a new start after the ravages of the K’tul Wars. Gradually I worked up Snowfox’s back story, which became rich with new characters and magic. Prominently, his mother Yanara evolved as a powerful Celestial Wizard, a Worldmaker, the best defender against their enemy the k’tul.
To describe the devastations of the K’tul Wars, I drew on my personal experience. Many years ago my homeworld here on Terra was invaded and taken over, making half the population, including me and my family, war refugees.
Yanara is a very complex character with unique challenges in her life. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
With Yanara I wanted to reflect on contemporary issues about gender, women’s power, equality in love. Also the duality of nature that many women espouse. As a powerful wizard she is ruthless, devastating, terrifying. But as a wife and mother she is soft, loving, protective, with a huge heart. The intersection of her two natures is very interesting.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The biggest theme is the devastation of war on a world, a people, and a family.
Another is the breaking of gender stereotypes both professionally and in family relationships.
Another is that bonds of love can be as strong as bonds of blood.
A big theme I wanted to bring out in the subplot is that you love who you love, regardless of gender, or exclusivity. On Yand, marriage is whatever you put in your marriage contract.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have recently completed Worldmaker of Yand-Polaris, and it is available on Amazon under books and my name. The hardcover has many colorful illustrations.
I have just completed a collection of short stories that flesh out events that happened offline in Yildun. Battles, but a few romances as well. Told with humor at times.
I am now writing the third installment in the Worldmaker of Yand series called Eltanin, after the star in the Draco constellation.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Worldmaker of Yand – Yildun
Worldmaker of Yand-Yildun, by Andri E. Elia, is the story of Yanara of Yand, a spellcaster. She is the Worldmaker, the only one of her kind until she gives birth to a daughter. She is tasked with keeping Yand safe from invaders. The story begins with Yanara narrating her life, what she has accomplished, and the people who surround her. Yanara is ranked the Queen and the savior of Yand. Much of the novel is about Yanara’s personal life, her marriage to multiple men and one woman, and wanting to start a family. An interesting focus for a book with humanoids and unimaginable powers. Yanara, alongside her family, saves Yand once again from an army of foreign invaders through the use of spells, telepathy, and her falcon Blackhawk.
This novel has a slow-burn style in the beginning. Elia spends a lot of time on Queen Yand’s back story, explaining how she arrived at the place the novel starts. There are a lot of different character interactions that go into this story and if readers rush through the opening chapters they may miss key information. One element of the story is the polyamorous relationships and the LGBTQ+ relationships. This non-traditional family structure is a key element to this coming-of-age novel. As the story continues, Yanara and Frost start building a relationship. This relationship advances the dialogue and storyline into something meaningful and engaging. The development of their relationship, and of their non-traditional family is an element that readers will enjoy discovering.
The writing style in this new-age book is extraordinary and irregular. The dialogue is written as though you were sitting in on the conversations watching it all unfold. The combination of artistic an writing style and a mysterious landscape will delight readers looking for something new to try.
Worldmaker of Yand-Yildun is the narration of the Worldmakers life. Readers of fantasy, action, romance, and other-worldly life with an LGBTQ+ twist will find this fantastic world unforgettable.
Pages: 299 | ASIN : B09BDGT47B
LITERARY TITAN 