Book Review #72: Realm of Hope by E.L. Li

Hello Dear Reader!

Sorry for the long absence. I got into a reading slump after finishing my previous read, but this one got me back into the swing of things, which is really funny because it’s also a really long book, almost 500-pages long. BUT it was just as enjoyable, especially for a JRPG fan like me! If you’re a huge fan of Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, and Fire Emblem, hold on tight, because this read is definitely for you!

But before I get into that, here's the back-cover summary (from Goodreads):

Darkness is rising...

Gripping and action-filled, Realm of Hope is an epic science-fantasy tale with magic, supernatural powers, and a large and diverse cast, perfect for fans of Percy Jackson & The Olympians, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

For the first time in several millennia, nations set aside their differences. Only an interplanetary level threat could simmer down any tensions between leaders. Peace has never been eternal. Throughout the Mortal Realm, powerful bloodlines, clans, and royal families stepped up to save their worlds from the brink of destruction. Past heroes had plenty of living descendants with exclusive powers.

Annually, mortals aged five to six take an examination to determine if they’d possess inherent capabilities, such as heat immunity or the ability to travel at the speed of light, which would grant them the privilege of becoming trained Agents. Lumière Inc. placed those with potential into teams, training them for more than a decade.

Agents were symbols of hope. Decades passed, however, and cynicism rose. Morale needed a boost. Dream Teams formed. With bloodshed and shattered dreams recorded throughout history, they can only hope their fates won’t face inevitable doom. In the pursuit of tracking down the root cause of the rising everlasting darkness, our heroes must not lose sight of themselves.

Realm of Hope is the first book in the thrilling science-fantasy trilogy and sets up the Celestial Legacies Universe. E.L.Li’s debut novel depicts modern themes of dealing with loss, harsh realities, self-doubt, acceptance, rising up to pressure, and expecting the unexpected. Expect brutality, danger, and revelations in the fight for a cause that may be lost.

Time for the review!

Just like my previous read, this book is long and has a ton in it! Divided into three parts, it follows the points of views of four of the many characters in the story, Zephyr, Skye, her twin brother Shadow, and Luna. Within these perspectives is a complex story full of likeable characters that remind me of some of the characters in video games (I’m looking at you, Shadow, you remind me of Sora) and magical and fast-paced action scenes!

The world of this story definitely reminded me a lot of Kingdom Hearts, as there is mention of multiple worlds in this universe, and we only get to travel through one of them due to said worlds losing the ability to communicate with each other. Even though only one of the worlds is featured in this book, there’s a lot to it! Many different cities, terrain, and climates, flesh the setting out a ton, and it was one of my favorite parts of the book.

What I liked even more was the magic system! It definitely reminded me of the typical features of JRPG games, set with class types, magic types, unlockable skills, and upgradeable equipment. It was like reading through what a mix of Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts and Fire Emblem would look like if mushed together into one entity.

Just as likeable are the many, many characters of Realm of Hope. Zephyr was my personal favorite as I found him most relatable, but the other main characters are just as fleshed out as he is, each with their unique strengths, weaknesses, and stories. It was a bit hard to keep track of a lot of the minor characters that didn’t get as much screen time because there were so many of them, especially if they weren’t part of the Dream Team of the book, but I still enjoyed reading about them and their different personalities and roles in their own teams.

Though I enjoyed reading this book overall, I couldn’t help but feel it lulled and plateaued in terms of tension after a while. There are a ton of characters in this book, and there are quite a few events in multiple characters’ stories that are jammed into this near 500-paged story. I personally felt confused by plot points at times as well as sequences of events that occurred throughout the story, and things were unclear to me at times when I felt I should’ve been aware or able to piece together what had happened leading up to these points in the story.

I also feel bad to say I wasn’t able to really connect to any of the characters and their stories. Tragic and sad times in this book didn’t really hit me as hard as I would’ve liked. Still, I found the story very enjoyable because of the nostalgia it made me feel, reminding me of my favorite video games. It was an action-packed story full of character growth, both inside and out, and I wish I could play this as a video game.

So, Realm of Hope rating:

3.5/5 and recommend if you ae a HUGE fan of games and shows like Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, and Avatar the Last Airbender. This book is a great amalgamation of elements  from all of those and more!

Thanks for reading!