{Third of 5 of Medoran Chronicles; fantasy, YA, adventure} (2017)

In the first book, Akarnae, Alexandra Jennings answered the Call and jumped to Medora from our Earth (known there as Freya) and was Chosen. She spent a year in boarding school there and returned again in Raelia where she rediscovered an immortal elf-like race known as Meyarins and also discovered that one of them was bent on the destruction of humans. In Draekora Alex rediscovers dragons - sorry, draekons - who are extinct in the present day when she is pulled back in time while running a Meyarin endurance race.

She goes back thousands of years to when her Meyarin friends seem her age rather than a few years older, to before Aven Dalmarta turned against humans, and discovers that people who are friends in her present don't like each other in the past and present enemies are not yet enemies, which gives her the opportunity to make friends with them - despite initial deep misgivings - to maybe discover how to deal with them when she returns to the present. She has some help from a Tia Auran (a race who are to Meyarins as Meyarins are to humans) to ensure that her friends do not remember her in the present.

I found the first part of this story a little slow so I kept taking breaks but once Alex went back to the past, the pace picked up and I wanted to keep reading. The time loop paradoxes are there although Noni has dealt with some of them - but I decided to let the whole 'if she hadn't done that in the past then ...' concept ride. A lot of threads from the previous book are pulled together in this one and the plot was well thought out, so I feel that the paradoxes may be resolved in the later books. And if they're not, the story is still fun.

I thought the banter, while fun, was a bit too flippant. I appreciate that I'm being a snob - my elves should speak high elven and my dragons should not be saying things like 'Bite me' - and that it's one thing that many readers of this series align with but, at the same time, it's phrases like this that date the series. However, that's a minor quibble; I'm sure it works for its target audience.

I thought the friendship with Aven had potential and though it was a shame she felt unable to return his feelings - with reason - I suppose that would go towards explaining his extreme reaction towards humans. Otherwise, his attitude was a rather abrupt about-face.

May 2021
3.5-4**** ( )

*may contain hints and spoilers*

I don't know what to say...

I think it's incredibly sad to know about Aven. He was on his way, but he found something more important. And I really wished that Alex returned it.

It would be a more tragic story if it was mutual. If only Alex opened up her mind more to the possibility: not of what she knew but of the potential.

I also think that Aven is prone to extreme reactions. WAY extreme.

I feel that Aes Daega is an interfering little busybody and it's all her fault.

I just... I'm very sad of Aven, of what could have been.

P.S.

I'm sorry Kaeden but I saw the potential and sometimes I see stars when it comes to something star-crossed.

But it's all in the past and the what-could-have-been.

P.S.S.
And about Niyx as well! Darn it!

One thing I could say about Draekora is how fantastic the development of the characters were. ( )

No matter what I write or say it's going to be a spoiler!!! I loved it. How much so, words won't cover it. Though fan-girling would be a start. A small one but a start.

I'm going straight into a reread. I have a feeling that I'll be rereading Draekora a lot.

I should have known better then to start at 10pm but I just couldn't help it. ( )