A young girl lives as a social outcast due to her mixed human and elven blood. To escape an arranged marriage, Jelena flees into the unknown on a quest to find her elven father. Her journey takes her on an unexpected adventure of magic, danger, and most startling of all — true love.
"GRIFFIN’S DAUGHTER is ranking right up there with any fantasy I’ve read recently from the major presses.” —Fantasy Debut
"Leslie Ann Moore’s debut fantasy book, Griffin’s Daughter (the first book of the Griffin’s Daughter Trilogy), is quite an interesting book. I think it’s the best romantic fantasy debut I’ve read this year.” — Sami Airola, Risingstar.net
"[A] likeable set of characters who showed heart, and an engaging story. [R]eaders new to fantasy who liked Feist, and the Mallorean, etc, would like this too - I would recommend it accordingly.”
— Janny Wurts, author of The Wars of Light and Shadow
"Griffin’s Daughter is far more than a mere fantasy novel despite its setting of kings, castles, elves and men. Griffin’s Daughter follows in the tradition of allegory, a tale of universal symbols with multiple meanings, for at its heart this book is about the nature of thoughtless prejudice and the devastation it creates. —Michael Sullivan, author of The Crown Conspiracy & Avempartha
"Moore’s debut novel earned her the 2008 Ben Franklin Award for Best First Fiction and it’s easy to see why. This is a good book and the second installment is even better."—Todd A. Fonseca, author of The Time Cavern
Griffin’s Daughter – Award Winning Fantasy! (5/5)
Being half-elf and half -human, Jelena Preseren lives life ridiculed and looked down upon by others. Though her mother, who died giving birth to her, was the sister of the Duke of Amsara, this does little for Jelena who is forced to live her days working in the castle scullery. Her only friend is her cousin Magnes who sees beyond her lineage. Though she accepts her lot in life as a servant, Jelena draws the line when her uncle the Duke decides to sell her as a concubine. She decides to flee and search for her Elven father.
Having learned of his own arranged marriage to someone other than his true love, Magnes joins Jelena. While on their quest, Jelena discovers a strange power locked deep inside her. Little does she know, that she is the vessel containing the magic from an ancient evil sorcerer banished centuries earlier but whose soul lives on searching for the key to his release.
Ashinji Sakehera, second son of an Elven Duke, is troubled by continued dreams of a girl he has yet to meet. Once he and Jelena’s worlds collide, they find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another. But how can a half-elf woman who is ostracized by both human and elf society ever have a romantic future with nobility?
Leslie Ann Moore’s Griffin’s Daughter is the first novel in a three part series. It sets up a number of story arcs only one of which is closed at the books conclusion. So be prepared to run out to purchase book two (which is also very good – see my review for Griffin’s Shadow). Moore’s prose is refined and sets the tone and mood for the novel. Apart from the good story telling, and wonderful fantasy elements, I really enjoyed the way Moore weaves in the personal impact of prejudice. Jelena is mistreated in both human and elven societies belonging to neither. What is so sad is Jelena believes herself inferior because of the way others see and treat her. No matter how much her cousin Magnes tells her otherwise or even her love Ashinji, Jelena truly believes she is not worthy of the love and friendship from those around her – all because of how she is treated by the majority. What a wonderful glimpse into how prejudice is felt by those who experience it.
Moore’s debut novel earned her the 2008 Ben Franklin Award for Best First Fiction and it’s easy to see why. This is a good book and the second installment is even better. Please note, this may not be a suitable read for some younger readers as there are some adult themes presented occasionally throughout the story. For those who enjoy a good, well written fantasy, pick up a copy of Griffin’s Daughter.
Fantasy Debut's Review of Griffin's Daughter by Leslie Ann Moore
Griffin's Daughter - Continues to Impress
Although the story has hit a bit of an impasse, GRIFFIN'S DAUGHTER by Leslie Ann Moore continues to impress. Moore keeps tension on every page and the plot continues to move.
At first, I thought this was a European based novel--and I still think that--but imagine a Europe before Christianity, when slavery and the practice of keeping concubines still existed. Throw in some elves and give it a lot of racial tension between elves and humanity.
You guys know I'm not given to excesses of praise, but I'm hard-pressed to think of a critique other than just a touch of a mid-book slowdown. At first I thought I found a mistake in timing, but upon rereading the section in question, I'm inclined to think it was my own mistake rather than the author's. The closest thing to a critique I can think of is that Jelena, the heroine, has determined that she will "never love again" which I always find hard to swallow. Never? She's only eighteen!
But of course, such a sentiment might well come from an eighteen year old, so that can't really be a critique either. It's not the author's fault that I'm a heartless forty-something!
GRIFFIN'S DAUGHTER is ranking right up there with any fantasy I've read recently from the major presses. The subject matter may not be gritty enough to be fashionable these days, but I'm hardly one to find fault with that. I'm continuing to enjoy the story and I'll put up another post when I'm finished.
#1 Ranked Amazon Reviewer's Take on Griffin's Daughter
All her life Jelena has known prejudice because she is half elf and the Soldaran Empire believes elves are soulless evil demons. The Duke of Amsara, who is her uncle, keeps her out of sight; her only friends are her foster mother Claudia and her cousin Magnes. When her uncle sells her to another noble as his concubine, the two cousins run away seeking Alasiri, the land of elves.
Attacked by bandits, they are rescued by Ashinji Sakehera, who has dreamed constantly of Jelena. He takes the twosome to Kerala Castle where she heals from injuries and Magnes returns home to face his irate father for abetting the escape of his cousin. Jehena’s blue fire attracts the attention of the Nameless One, an evil entity who wants the Key and the talisman so he can return to the living. A group of elves have plans for Jehena and Ashinji to use them as expendable pawns to defeat the Nameless One. They believe destiny will save this pair especially if they marry but to persuade his parents to allow him to wed a half-breed seems unlikely in spite of love and even if the realm is at stake.
This is the opening tale of what looks to be a great epic fantasy. Refreshing the saga is prejudice so overwhelming that even with a world at stake few bend let alone move past their bias. Jelena is a fascinating protagonist used to being the subject of scorn and de jure and de facto discrimination because she is half elf, which has enabled her to become independent and brave as she faces the ridicule of others. Fantasy fans who read this author’s first published tale will demand Moore adventures in the Soldaran Empire and beyond.
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