Short Review: The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches by Robert Stanek

The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches is the first in a series by Robert Stanek. I picked this up because I love fantasy, I think elves are great, and I am the queen of series. I don't remember enough of the book to write a decent summary, so here is the publisher's synopsis:

The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches tells the story of [the] fantasy world of Ruin Mist. After the Great War that divided the peoples, the kingdoms of men plunged into a Dark Age that lasted 500 years. To heal the lands and restore the light, the great kings decreed that magic and all that is magical, be it creature, man, or device, shall be cleansed to dust. The cleansing raged for so long that no human could recall a time without it, and it is in this time that the Dark Lord Sathar returned from the dark beyond. The one hope of the peoples of Ruin Mist was Queen Mother, the elf queen of old. She saw a way out of everlasting darkness, a path that required the union of the divided peoples. And so it began.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. When I read the novel in 2007, here's all I had to say: "Very tedious. I love fantasy, but this did not click with me. I know that millions of people love this series, but I could barely get through the first book. Even though it ends in a cliff hanger, I have no desire to read more."

The cover shows the 2007 Reagent Press edition. (Source: borrowed; see review policy)

Kingdoms and Elves of the Reaches at an Indie

Kingdoms and Elves of the Reaches at Powell's
Kingdoms and Elves of the Reaches at Amazon
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Reading at the Beach is the host for this meme: Each week she invites us to spotlight a book whose title begins with the featured letter. This week it's K.