Imaginative and forward thinking.
Childlike innocence is abruptly forged into a fountain of vengeance within young Elysia Dayne. Known in her early adult years as a ruthless dragon slayer, she struggles to find human connections, relying instead on her survival-driven instincts. But it hasn’t always been this way. From an idyllic village where neighbors looked after one another, Elysia once enjoyed loving family relationships. Her youthful curiosity enabled Elysia to form a long-distance friendship with a fearsome dragon. Certain she understood the beast in a way others could not, Elysia’s heart was broken when the dragon razed her community and annihilated her family. This tormented past, a brutal severing of naivety, intrudes on and shapes the present. It is with this jaded perspective that Elysia goes into each mercenary assignment. Rescuing a spoiled princess should be no different. But this princess proves to be more than just a pretty face. Together, these women share in similar heartbreak and build a bond that might cost them everything.
Under an Azure Sky is a well-honed literary fantasy with a light LGBTQ romance underpinning the grand tale. The flowery, embellished language will challenge and delight audiences as it paints a beautiful fantasy world where goblins, dragons and princesses vie for space, making for an energetic novel suitable for intelligent teen readers and beyond. Wil Chan has a lovely way of skillfully weaving background details into the story in natural places without making them feel forced or awkward. The well-conceived characters are conveyed organically and in harmony with the surrounding scenes. Equally character and plot driven, the complex relationships are as important to the story as are the elaborate escapes and daring action sequences. And the ongoing conflict between Elysia and a terrifying adversary is built slowly and dramatically, reaching a climax of epic proportions. Imaginative and forward thinking, but still true to the genre, Under an Azure Sky is a powerful fantasy novel with a larger-than-life protagonist.
