3.5 Stars

A twelve-year-old Aileen belongs to a powerful line of the Wise Women of the Skarr. She lives with her Aunt Beck in a little cottage, having a happy time while also wondering why her magic has yet to show itself. Their cousin, King Kenig, sends Aileen, Aunt Beck, Ogo, and cousin Ivar on a mission to break a spell and breach the barrier between the three islands of Chaldea and the fourth. Soon, Aileen realizes that this mission is not only dangerous but also the one to lead to her some greater. 

The story comes in Aileen’s first-person POV, written as an adult. 

I hadn’t read the author’s works, so I had no idea what to expect. This helped a lot as I could read with no expectations, comparisons, or guesswork about where the author’s story ended and where her sister continued the rest. 

The narration is on the slower side, which makes sense due to the fantasy setting and world-building. The characters are easy to guess (as in who would become what/ who, etc.). There are still a couple of teeny twists. These do the job if we don’t focus too much on the details or logic. 

The concept of guardian animals and the constant irritation between the Abrahamic and pagan cultures are shown well. The setting is apparently an ode to the British Isles. The whole thing talks of sharing wisdom and co-existing with one another (though we know what happened in real life). 

Aileen starts out a little tentative, though we can see she’s got strong opinions and quite a temper. Aunt Beck is fun to read, though I did miss her tone caused of a plot development. Prince Ivar and Ogo are stereotypical, which means they are what they are but different at the same time. 

The last section feels a lot rushed as if the story had to be wrapped up in a fixed number of pages. Also, there is no epilogue, though we get a mini summation in a couple of paragraphs. 

A few other aspects are jerky, though I guess they have been left for the reader to assume. Some of it could have worked better with a smoother and more detailed transition. 

Nevertheless, The Islands of Chaldea is an intriguing and entertaining story of magic, a journey, discovering one’s potential, and the classic good vs. evil. Both covers are wonderful, though I like this a lot better.