Borealis by Andri E. Elia is the 11th book in the Worldmaker of Yand series. While I haven’t read the other books in the series I didn’t feel I’d missed out on any crucial aspects that prevented me from enjoying the book. The novel centres around Queen Asimia and her family, including her husbands and close relatives, as they travel between galaxies to find a new home, to escape the devastation of war. Alongside them, a warrior woman named RC emerges as a pretty cool character.

I’m not always the biggest fan of Space Opera type reads, but I think this offered way more than one of those typical books. The story has a lot of depth, and interesting character development, as each family member's backstory and personal struggles are explored, adding layers to their journey and interactions. These characters have their complicated past to deal with while also navigating the challenges of their new environment and the continuous threat of their enemies, the K’tul, potentially finding them.

The storytelling in Borealis is pretty vivid, and author Elia obviously has an eye for crafting quite compelling scenes. The narrative is about more than just survival, and involves themes of healing, betrayal, and secrets that shape the relationships and histories of the characters. I found it to be a blend of speculative fiction and intricate personal dramas, which made it an enjoyable read for someone with my tastes, with a mix of action, adventure, and introspective moments. I liked it a lot. ( )

Borealis by Andri Elia is the third book in the Worldmaker of Yand series. It is an intricate piece of work that presents a vast universe full of magic, dragons, celestial wizards, space and time travel, love, and many more that will captivate the reader. It is a piece of work for those who seek to be swallowed by the book, not the other way around.

Although I may say that the story, or better said, many sentences, felt saturated with unfamiliar designations, which reminded me of the Klingonian language from Star Trek, hindering my reading pace a little, I was ultimately pleased. The storyline was intriguing, funny, and heart-touching, and the characters were well-rounded and diverse. ( )

When I first started this book, I wasn't expecting to enjoy it so much. I was initially confused. The names and the events seemed to overlap. However, after getting through a few chapters I started to get the sense around it. I also found out about the appendix at the end of the book so I could familiarize myself with the characters and places.

Now, I believe this book is part of a series or part of the world the author has created. However, this is the first book I picked up. I also thought this book was intended for a younger audience, but the book does contain a few mature scenes (not in detail though).

Putting all that aside, I really liked Sunny and Willie. Their relationship was just adorable. The way they rely on each other and care for each other really warmed my heart. I also liked Asimia and her relationship with her husbands!

The book itself focuses on two perspectives (Asimia and Sunny/Willie). It also goes back and forth in time, so that part took me a while to get used to; however, the chapter states when and where the chapter is taking place.

Overall, it is a fun read and I am excited to see how big the universe really is. ( )