The Girl Who Fell into Myth

At the start of this entertaining but uneven series-launching fantasy from Kenyon (Prince of Storms), 21-year-old Yevliesza is whisked from the mundane world to magical Numinasi, her ancestral homeland, by a dragon-like creature known as a dactyl. Once in this unfamiliar land, one of many alternate realities evolved from human myths, Yevliesza is taken under the wing of dashing ne’er-do-well Lord Valenty. While feeling like an outsider and struggling to adjust to matriarchal Numinasi’s political and magical workings (and lack of modern conveniences), Yevliesza discovers unexpected abilities and becomes infatuated with handsome elven prince Tirhan. Danger arises in the form of enemy forces known in this world as the Volkish, but which Yevliesza recognizes as Nazi troops from Earth. When the Volkish threaten to invade, Yevliesza must master her powers in time to stop them. Kenyon’s worldbuilding is vivid, ambitious, and expansive, but it often raises more questions than it answers. Frequent shifts in point of view, meanwhile, result in some characters being less developed than others and a slightly overcomplicated plot. Still, the romantic tension is well drawn, the heroine is easy to root for, and Kenyon lays solid groundwork for future installments. Readers will be excited for more. (Self-published)