A honeyed tale about a beautiful girl with a beautiful soul, who truly finds her voice.
Abigaia Grena may not speak out loud, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t clever. Under the care of her Aunt and Uncle since the loss of her mother and father years earlier, Abi has proved resourceful with her small allowance. True, she steals from vendors at the market to help stretch the family’s meager provisions. But she feels conflicted and wants to change. In fact, Abi wants to change a lot of things about her life. She wants to travel and explore her royal heritage and uncover the mystery that her father encouraged her to discover about herself.
The story is well framed, making for an exciting transition once Abigaia is able to travel to the famed Eubeltic Realm. The journey and the city are richly described, adding to the beauty and excitement of this enriching tale. The book is unique in that the protagonist is mute. Abi communicates through a notebook she wears around her neck and later with sign-language she had learned from books. Her resilience and determination are sure to encourage others to persevere despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Nadine C. Keels has an amazing grasp on the narrative in this tender romance story that features a strong woman learning to stand up for herself and make the right decisions, even when it’s difficult. The plot moves in welcomed but unexpected directions. There are so many brilliant aspects to explore in Abi’s world, including finding true friends, developing heartfelt trust and displaying guileless courage, that you’ll be thankful that this isn’t the only book Keels has written about in the Eubeltic Realm. Short and sweet, Eubeltic Descent is a honeyed tale about a beautiful girl with a beautiful soul who truly finds her voice.
