Review - Defining Justice

Original Title: Defining Justice
Series: Threats of Sky and Sea, #0.6
Author: Jennifer Ellision
Published: May 4th, 2015
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

*THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*

This is a very short novella, I read it in little more than half an hour, and it was very good. It made me love Prince Caden even more, because, here, we can see how his rebellion against his father quietly started, and how he realized that what was happening in Egria wasn’t quite right. Through this little insight, and his effort to right his wrong, freeing the Shaker he accidentally revealed as such in front of his father, he proves he has what it takes to be king, because he didn’t just bring justice to a matter that had been judged according to an outdated law, but also saw, as the Shaker Walden spoke, the opportunity to improve the lives of his people and create well-being, using Elemental powers to produce food, give new life to the Earth, and hence, sustain the kingdom. I love him for that, because he’s perfectly capable of ensuring Egria’s safety and future through Elementals, seeing them as a blessing, instead of just considering his kingdom an Adept recruitment field. He saw that they needed more than just getting ready for the next war, unlike his father, and that, in my opinion, is a true king, a leader worth the title.

As for Aleta’s brief appearance, she’s still my favorite character, and I love her defiance, how she’s brave enough to stand up to the king, fearless, even when she’s still very young. From the start she assumes her role as future queen, strong and with that attitude of “I’m unbreakable” she mentions in Threats of Sky and Sea. I just didn’t imagine Caden had been somewhat attracted to her at some point of his life, because they practically grew up as brother and sister, and their betrothal was purely political, arranged by his father in order to conquer Nereidium. But I guess that so much pressure and insistence on his marriage to the princess made him believe, if shortly, that eventually they could like each other enough as to make their relationship work. Although both their hearts were destined for other people, they didn’t know it just yet.

So, in short, loved this, and I will definitely be on the lookout for new fantasy novels by Jennifer Ellision!