Review: Novella introduces Ilvenworld Series
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 30, 2011
GIFTED APPRENTICE is a novella which introduces the author's Ilvenworld Series.  This story takes place on Re Annan, a small island off the coast of the mainland.  A young farmboy named Sallis is on his deathbed, beyond the reach of conventional healers.  A touch-healer named Elvallon is brought in at the last minute to save the boy using the power of "The Gift."  When Elvallon touches Sallis, he can tell that Sallis is one of the rare people born with The Gift.  Elvallon takes Sallis on as his apprentice.  As the training progresses, they find that Sallis can alter time and that he also has a rare ability to track people.  Elvallon thinks that Sallis will have strong healing powers.  But when Sallis tries out his healing power for the first time, things don't go as planned.This novella was well-written.  The storyline felt original.  The main characters were likeable and easy to connect to.  At times, the story bogged down a bit with some fairly lengthy philosophical and theological discussions, but the overall flow of the novella was good.  The novella stands on its own, but it does end rather abruptly.  I have to assume that the character of Sallis is reintroduced in the Ilvenworld Series as the author tells us upfront that Sallis goes on to become an Imperial Bounty Hunter for the MARKAN THRONE.