Title: Blue Cloak Warrior
Author: Miguel Lopez de Leon
Publisher: BookBaby
ISBN: 1098316193
Pages: 314
Genre: Fantasy
Reviewed by: Liz Konkel
Pacific Book Review
Cas has a chance to achieve the highest honor. Already a powerful water elemental and district leader, Cas has the opportunity to become a member of a powerful council called The Five that rules over the land of Merr. The nomination doesn’t come with an easy task as for him to be admitted into the council, Cas must first complete a series of quests that take him into the four realms: Nes, Fros, Thew, and Dron. Each quest brings him against dangerous obstacles where he faces a variety of creatures: bird-like, bee-like, mermaids, serpents, and phantoms. Now he’ll risk it all for the chance of a lifetime to become a councilman and have a voice over the land.
The world is a thorough and fascinating foray into fantasy with four realms that are each distinctly different from each other. Each of the obstacles Cas faces during his quests is fitted to the realm he’s in with each being warrior based, water-based, ice-based, and bird based. The story is a fun hero’s quest focused on the goal of achieving the power which comes with the seat within the council and the voice that would give him over the world. He already has a substantial place within the society as a powerful elemental and a district leader so he’s the ideal candidate to embark on these quests which are reminiscent of the epic legends of myths. His challenges are based upon the realm; such as facing a serpent monster in the water realm or getting an egg from the bird-folk realm. Each quest tests Cas through his perseverance, strength, and power of his water elemental abilities. By facing these various beings he’s being pushed to show his cunning, intelligence, and warrior-spirit which are at the heart of what makes this an epic fantasy adventure. Cas battles against bird-like beings that are powerful and fierce which are reminiscent of furies and create a balance to bee beings that he fights while in the ice realm, he faces the challenge of a Yeti and in the water realm, he meets mermaids and uses the depths of his powers to fight a serpentine creature. Each realm pushes him further into the extent of his own power and to become a hero worthy of the Council.
The various beings that make up the realms are humanoid and beautiful from bees to mermaids to yetis, de Leon has a surprise awaiting around every corner. The society has its own system with politics and power which is subtly woven into the quests as you meet the realms then packed into the end when you see first-hand the Five in their council element. The Council has an ominous undertone when Cas discovers another councilman has died and he’s drawn into a new threat that gives you a deeper look at the power system of the world. This gives it a subtle political and conspiratorial mystery element underneath the epic fantasy setting which adds a layer to the hero’s quests.
The world is magical and otherworldly which brings Cas’ journey to life by creating a hero to root for as he tackles each quest and each time you cheer him on to succeed. The Blue Cloak Warrior shines under author Miguel Lopez de Leon’s attention to little details of each realm that brings to life elemental themes, legendary creatures, and quests that pull you into an adventure you want to be part of. This is perfect for those seeking a modern epic of a hero’s quests that weaves legendary beings and elemental fantasy into a fun plot that has action, adventure, and heroics. Blue Cloak Warrior is action-packed, with many trials, and has the perfect challenges for Cas to face. For a great adventure, I highly recommend reading, Blue Cloak Warrior. Readers will not be disappointed!
