Griffin's Daughter

The Griffin's Daughter Trilogy Book 1

By: Leslie Ann Moore

Narrated by: Whitton A. Frank

Seventeen year old Jelena has lived her entire life as an outcast because of her mixed human and elven blood. Raised as a servant in the household of her uncle, the powerful Duke of Amsara, Jelena has managed to find a measure of contentment, thanks to the love of her foster mother and her cousin Magnes, the Duke's son and heir.

Her peace is shattered when she is attacked by a castle bully and discovers she possesses a frightening ability that manifests as blue fire emanating from her fingertips. She is convinced it's a form of magic inherent in her elven blood, but with no elf to teach her, her power remains beyond her control.

When the Duke informs her that she is to be sold to a wealthy neighbor as a concubine, Jelena chooses instead to flee Amsara and strike out in search of her elven father. Her only clue to his identity - a signet ring in the shape of a griffin. Accompanied by Magnes, who is escaping troubles of his own, Jelena travels north toward the elven lands. As the two cousins near the border, they are ambushed by bandits....

Ashinji Sakehera is a young man unhappily constrained by the traditions of elven society. A lord's son and a soldier by training, he longs for the life of a scholar. For weeks he's been troubled by a dream in which a beautiful half-elven girl cries out to him for help, only to be swallowed by a shadow with glowing red eyes. He has no idea what the disturbing dream means, until one day on patrol he stumbles upon an ambush by a river...

Beneath an ice-covered mountain, an ancient entity imprisoned and unconscious for a millennium has awakened. Its only desire...to find and reclaim the key to its lost power, which will allow it to destroy and remake the material world to suit its own purpose. It knows the magical key lies within a living being, a vessel that carries the energy in the form of a blue fire....

Griffin's Daughter is the first book in the Griffin's Daughter Trilogy.

©2012 Leslie Ann Moore (P)2019 Leslie Ann Moore

Finally, the Audiobook version!

I have been a fan of Leslie Ann Moore' s books since this book (her first) came out a few years back. I devoured this trilogy (I am on the much older side of a YA, but love fantasy literature), and re-read each instalment several times. There's a little bit for every fantasy fan in this series. Magic, elves, fights, gladiators, a bit of Japanese lore, and (since it may matter to the parents of younger listeners) some tastefully written sex scenes.
I realize I am writing a review on the trilogy, more than on Griffith's Daughter, but it's because I am certain you will find the characters compelling enough to read on (or listen on, if they are one day released) the next two installments. Having read all three, I can tell you that the author's style evolves greatly, the story and characters development will not leave you wanting, or frustrated.
You may think at first that parts of the story have been "done before", but I believe that the author has instilled a definite unique perspective in Jelena, a perspective that reflects today's challenges that are faced by many women of mixed heritage, who are made to feel they are "less", because if their ancestry. That is one of the few aspects of the book that mirrors real, and actual life (along with segregation, slavery, racism), told through the Elves and human worlds.
I really hope you will give this book a try, and follow up with the two installments, because I think you will enjoy it, YA fantasy fan.

Can’t wait to continue the adventure

I loved this book! Lots to enjoy here, and lots of deep questions and political things to stir your mind that the author seamlessly intertwined. I loved that woman and men were equals in the guard. It was really cool to see a progressive society in that aspect, but then that contrasted with the inequality of the breeds. The plot was constructed well and the romance aspect was fun to read. I’m excited and eager for book 2! *I was given the opportunity to listen this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderfully narrated

Griffin's Daughter doesn't necessarily do anything new with the genre of YA high fantasy, but I don't know that it needs to. It sets itself up as a trilogy from the outset, which gives the story a little bit of wiggle room in terms of the growth of the characters.

The story deals with some heavier themes for being in the YA genre (Such as the prospect of being sold as a concubine) but it handles them well, such as having the protagonist reject the idea and seek out her birth father.

I would have liked to see more character development and maybe the magic system worked on a bit more, but given that this is only the first book, I think there's time to see where everyone ends up and how they get there.

Whitton Frank does a remarkable job with the narration, effortlessly changing voices and keeping the reader engaged. Very quickly everyone feels unique and the weight of their words is felt. I could listen to Whitton narrate a dictionary.

Suggested for a younger crowd who are interested in adventure and romance, I'm looking forward to boole two.