The Flame Within: Keepers’ Garden Trilogy, Book One

Eric Noss
iUniverse (2008)
ISBN 9780595505715
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1/09)


“The Flame Within” is Book One of the Keepers’ Garden Trilogy.  This series begins with an assassination that causes the Keepers’ Garden to lose its leader.  This affects all of the city-states that fall under the Keepers’ Garden rule.  Two movements are vying to gain control.  The Imperial Red Lion legions are led by an evil man named Salinar Gederin.  He is behind the assassination and is also forcing people to fight for him.  His efforts are destroying both the realm and its people.

The other movement is the Liberation, which is led by Spirit Knight Aralon Mittel.  Aaron has a rough road ahead of him.  As a Spirit Knight he has special powers and training to assist him.  Aralon is also searching for his missing brother, Hyval Mittel, who is considered to be the best Spirit Knight. 

In addition to a small army, Aralon has two people helping him.  One is Darvin Hegg, who was once his instructor and now is under his command.  The other is a Mist Elf named Kiyana Irhan.  She will assist him until the fighting ends; she has a need for his assistance in her own land.  As the evil spreads through the land, Aralon is racing against time to rescue the rightful heir to the throne and to find his brother. 

I really enjoyed reading “The Flame Within.”  The author, Eric Noss, has done an excellent job of creating a compelling, fantasy adventure that is sure to keep readers hooked for the next two installments in the trilogy.  He does an excellent job of describing the conflict, and taking you into the characters thoughts.  They are all well developed.

My favorite character is the Mist Elf Kiyana.  Although she has great strength, she is new to this world and I enjoyed reading about how she has to adapt.  Elves are not like humans, and there are times when she really has to be taught the differences, especially to avoid fighting among the men.  The reader also gets some glimpses into what is happening to Hyval.  This part of the story definitely has me hooked.  I definitely want to know how it will play out in the upcoming novels.

I highly recommend “The Flame Within” by Eric Noss to fans of fantasy fiction.  They will not be disappointed.

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