Review of “Avelina” by L.E. Brooks

​Score: 90/100 (9.0 out of 10)

Avelina by L.E. Brooks is a bit like John Wick with magic!

Avelina: The Cult of Anick is the first installment in a fantasy-adventure series. It sets the stage for what promises to be a series full of magic, mystical creatures, supernatural powers, and romance.

And it all started because of a beloved dog!

The book follows the titular character, Avelina Silva (“Lina” for short), who awakens in the hospital after a traumatic, shocking, and sudden horse riding accident near her family stables. She recalls encountering a mysterious, massive white wolf in the woods that spooked the horse, triggering chaos. She also recalls a woman's disembodied laughter. To make matters worse, her loyal companion, soulmate, confidant, and emotional anchor, Rogue (presumably a pharaoh hound), went missing during the event!

Avelina's parents, Giana and Alberto, support her recovery, though the news that Rogue may be gone forever devastates her.

She is possessed by the need to find and recover Rogue despite her many injuries and the trauma of the incident. Thankfully, she doesn't have to look far as one of the book's main antagonists, Seleca, reveals herself as a mysterious guest at her parents' bed-and-breakfast. Seleca is unnerving and unsettling to say the least, earning her the fitting nickname “Psycho Snow White.”

Seleca seems privy to tragedy that befell Avelina, if not outright responsible for it.

As Avelina begins to heal, she reconnects with her ex-girlfriend Drew, who reenters her life unexpectedly. Their interactions are charged with unresolved tension, as Drew seeks to rekindle their relationship while Avelina remains wary, still hurt by their breakup years earlier.

Determined to find Rogue, Avelina organizes a search party that includes her friends Marti, Milo, Spirit, and Drew. The group ventures into the foggy woods surrounding her family’s horse stables, encountering eerie and inexplicable phenomena. The search grows more surreal when glowing blue orbs appear, and Avelina’s reality begins to blur.

Avelina eventually follows Rogue into the forest, only to find herself pulled into an otherworldly light, crossing into what feels like a magical and dangerous realm. Avelina’s journey intensifies as she finds herself in a mysterious and magical realm after being pulled into the blue light. The sensory overload and pain she experiences as she crosses over reveal deeper layers of her psyche, forcing her to confront her flaws and hidden insecurities.

As Avelina navigates this strange world, her perception of reality is challenged as she struggles to piece together her purpose in this realm. She encounters new dangers and allies. Chief of these new encounters is Aaron, a wary outlaw from the realm of Monash who becomes an essential ally. His character represents a mix of mistrust and necessity, as Lina must rely on him to navigate the harsh and oppressive world she’s been thrust into. Aaron acts as a guide and partner for Lina in her fight against the Ministry, providing critical support as she adjusts to her newfound powers and unfamiliar surroundings. His knowledge of Monash’s dangers and his apparent opposition to the tyrannical Ministry make him a valuable asset.

Avelina eventually learns of the dangerous Cult of Anick, to which the aforementioned Seleca is aligned.

Seleca antagonizes, taunts, and imperils Avelina and her allies throughout the story, creating a very good heroine-villainess dynamic that is sure to keep readers on their toes!

Also, what happened to Rogue? And what higher, secret, mysterious purpose might he serve?

It should be briefly noted that this book does get a bit edgier and a bit on the sexually-explicit side as it goes along, which may appeal to some while turning away others.

Nonetheless, this is a solid fantasy novel!

Check it out on Amazon!