AJ Wolfe weaves a remarkable tapestry of mysticism and villainy in her spellbinding new novel, The Aether Chronicles: Rebellium.
In the fantastical realm of Araedia, freedom is only a privilege for some, while those who hold political power seek to control those wielding powers of a very different nature. However, people who survive under the heel of a boot inevitably rise, and discover more power within themselves than they could have imagined.
Natalia and Damien make a compelling pair of young heroes, one having lost a brother, and the other a father, to the cruelty of President Vayne. Both are wrestling with guilt and attempting to find a channel for their simmering anger, even as they age closer to being identified as elementals and subsequently conscripted as brainwashed soldiers. Aurum, Ren, and Lavelle round out this defiant fellowship, but different goals take them in new directions, including finding the rebels who are actively resisting Vayne’s domination.
When Natalia finally crosses paths with the mysterious freedom fighters, including Roman – their strikingly handsome leader, she feels that she has found her purpose, and another kindred spirit seeking revenge. Roman, the estranged son of President Vayne, is a tragic and fascinating figure, wracked by guilt, filled with elemental magic, and furiously set on a righteous vendetta against his own father – a familiar set-up, but one that is done to good effect.
Incredibly powerful forces of magic, lust, revenge, and loyalty collide as the rebel forces not only attempt to liberate children with elemental gifts before they can be enslaved in Vayne’s army, but to bring down the entire sector system of Araedia and its cruel puppet masters. War is coming, lives will be lost, and Natalia is desperate to make a difference, but little does she know that her abilities may be the key to changing this world, or destroying it.
With aspects reminiscent of other YA series, there are some derivative parts of Wolfe’s story, such as tightly controlled sectors filled with an oppressed proletariat populace, unique color-coded abilities belonging to each character, a “chosen one” that the villain of the series is desperately hunting, and a fiercely strong sibling relationship as a plot-driving factor. However, the elemental angle sets this series apart from previous YA sagas, giving the prose and action sequences a more primal, druidic, and ancient basis that helps it stand apart. The descriptions of the different magical abilities in battle scenes are unique and vivid, with Wolfe masterfully shaping the elements of fire, water, earth, and air into volatile and creative tools in the hands of her characters.
Wolfe’s colorful cast of characters is established well early on, and the relationship crafting is intimate and realistic from start to finish, encouraging readers to quickly invest in the friendships, bonds, and conflicts that bind this story together – this, above all, is what helps the novel rise to the level of other works in the genre. Some of the foreshadowing is rushed, as it doesn’t take long to recognize the protagonist’s dangerous destiny, but that doesn’t detract too much from the unfolding of the plot, as a hero’s journey is expected here.
Boasting an original magical premise, a relatable team of heroes, and the timeless appeal of ragtag rebels versus overwhelming odds, this is an exciting and impressively penned start to a new fantasy series.
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