Review: Keys of the Origin ( The Scions of balance #1) by Melissa A. Joy

In a world where ancient races still dwell, the events of an age-old prophecy begin to stir. 

From the pages of an antique tome, there is much the ancients themselves have yet to learn.

The time has come for the Keys of the Origin to play their part in restoring balance to Aeldynn; but how will their choices affect the outcome?

Two young men; one a righteous law-abiding servant to the people, the other a distinguished outlaw, don’t yet realise they are to play a part in a foretold bid for the future of Aeldynn. 

Fate leads them down a road they would never have dreamed of following; a road that leads them into a struggle to bring the world back into a state of balance from the precipice of madness and desolation. 

It is not only Zehn and Larkh who are fated to take on the malevolent forces of Aeldynn; there are others who must join with them as they are coaxed into the embrace of the ancient Nays and the fabled Drahknyr, who are also entangled in the masterful puppeteering of a renegade sorceress hell bent on reviving the greatest threat of all.

I was hooked to this story from the first page itself. I loved how the author built the entire world. I especially loved the way she explains about the different factions of humans in this world and how their power are connect to one single source. One of the notable elements was when one of the factions, namely Nays, were allowed to speak in their own language. It made them a lot more interesting. 

This is an epic fantasy novel and first in the series. It is a very well realised and detailed fantasy story, which follows multiple characters that are well rounded and relatable. I very much enjoyed the chemistry that each character shares with the others in the story. In particular I loved how Mey supported Larkh. 

There are multiple sub plots lines which feed into one epic plot. The plot is well paced. Further, I appreciated how the author interweaves lores in the story. It never felt forced. It flowed very smoothly into the main storyline, and gave the reader enough knowledge in order to connect to the fantasy world.

Another thing that was very interesting is the way the magic elements work in this world. Every faction in this world does not have the same magical powers. The way these factions use their powers is also different. There are very intricate details in the story that make it impossible for a reader to put it down. 

The ending was a cliffhanger which is very satisfying and tempting enough to pick up the next book in the series. 

Even though I loved this book, there were certain things that would have made my reading experience a little more easier and enjoyable. Firstly, the fact that the translations of the Nay’s language was given at the back, made me jump from one page to another while reading a sub- plot. I would have loved if the translation were right next to the language, or the Nay’s dialogues. Secondly, since there are multiple characters in this book, a glossary of all the characters would have been helpful.

In conclusion, I loved this book and would recommend it to all the epic fantasy lovers out their. As far as my rating for this book is concerned, I would rate it a 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

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