Windsworn (Derek Alan Siddoway)

Windsworn
The Gryphon Riders trilogy, Book 1
Derek Alan Siddoway
CreateSpace
Fiction, YA Fantasy
**** (Good)

DESCRIPTION: For seventeen years, blacksmith's apprentice Evelyn has lived with her foster father Soot in the city shadowed by the Gyr, great mountainous stronghold of Rhylance's legendary Windsworn gryphon riders. She never thought she'd be among them, until a series of events leads to a stolen red gryphon egg hatching in her hands. Against all odds, the hatchling has bonded with her. Torn from her family and friends, Eva must now live among the other recruits in the Gyr while struggling to manage her unruly gryphon chick. Worse, red gryphons are a once-in-a-generation rarity, marking their riders for greatness - a daunting prospect when the mere thought of flight makes her head spin and stomach heave, and when she's come to training five years late. As much as she longs to return to the forges, though, Eva soon finds herself caught up in unusual events stalking the halls of the Windsworn stronghold, events unexpectedly tied to her own lost family and the very future of the Gyr and the kingdom of Rhylance itself.

REVIEW: If the description seems somewhat familiar from other young adult (or middle-grade) fantasies, it's no coincidence. Windsworn draws clear inspiration from such popular franchises as Harry Potter, Eragon, and others, with gryphons swapped in for the dragons who usually fill the bonded-fantasy-animal-companion role. Eva and her friends (and enemies) fall into readily recognizable roles, only occasionally stretching their wings to become more rounded, though Eva's a relatable heroine for all that. She is no prodigy by any means, struggling to catch up on her training, master her acrophobia, and deal with a gryphon hatchling who, despite genre convention, does not instantly become a perfect companion and friend to his "chosen" human. Eva's failures and frustrations make most of her victories (when she finally achieves them) well earned. I say "most" because, at the climax, there's some backsliding on her intelligence at a key point, a reliance on an external deus ex machina that robs her of some agency in what should've been her great triumph. (Other elements of that climax are also, unfortunately, telegraphed early on once you recognize the literary influences behind Windsworn, robbing the revelation of some of its power if you've read enough.) This, plus the final (long-delayed) revelation about her family, almost cost the book a half-star in the ratings, but ultimately I gave it the benefit of the doubt, on the theory that the target audience may be less critical or jaded than I am. What can I say - I'm in a forgiving mood tonight. That, and I like gryphons enough to encourage their appearance... plus there's some indication that things become more original as the trilogy progresses. (I'm not yet certain whether I'll pursue it or not, but there is promise.)

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