Review: The Winds of Change by Sam Paisley

“First was the realm of eternity. From the darkness came forth light, and the realm of eternity gave birth to the realm of the living. That is how the cycle began. This is the word of Elevation.”

Blurb:

Destiny, personal responsibility, what the future holds – common concerns for anyone graduating high school. But usually not because of a cosmic war between timeless beings where you’re the central player.

As the end of school quickly approaches, and Cooper Bailey watches his perfect world slip away, his only concern is savouring every last minute of his high school career. For his best friend, Reid Patterson, graduation is a doorway to the future, where his discipline and focus will finally allow him to meet his true potential.

When a mysterious mirror-masked man begs for their help to stop a dangerous heretic, Cooper and Reid find themselves thrust into unknown worlds, wrestling with a destiny as old as time itself. As the truths about their roles in the universe unfold, and enemies disguise themselves as allies, their only hope is to trust each other - and learn fast! Far from home and in mortal peril, Cooper and Reid attempt to hone their newfound abilities and come to grips with their purpose for being.

Inspired by classic and modern science fiction and fantasy, and drawing upon timeless themes of destiny and personal responsibility, The Elements of Time is a series written for anyone who loves an escape into a rich and deep world. With references to Star Wars (the Original Trilogy), The Last Bender, Stargate SG-1, Supernatural, and much more, The Elements of The Winds of Change is fun action-adventure, with it’s own unique magic system, and themes that touch what it means to grow up and take on the challenges of life.

Review:

Don’t settle for another predictable novel. Sam Paisley’s debut, The Winds of Change is destined to be a breakout success. Paisley takes you on a heartwarming coming-of-age story filled with emotional rollercoasters. Simply put, Paisley's debut is anything but forgettable. 

Warning for readers who typically skip prologues, don't skip this one! Paisley's Prologue explodes onto the scene, leaving you shell shocked as you move on to Chapter 1. It's packed with clever foreshadowing, so make sure you pay close attention.

We kick things off in what feels like a typical small town as we get to know our two main protagonists, Cooper and Reid. These two best friends are the embodiment of opposites attract. Cooper is a star athlete and thrives in the spotlight. While Reid is the bookworm who finds solace in the library's quiet corners. If you enjoy a good bromance, then you will love the dynamic between these two. Their effortless banter resonates with the same easy familiarity I share with my own friends, drawing you into their world from the get-go.

“Ugh. You’re such a dork sometimes, you know that?” Cooper said. “Yes, but a dork with a magic stone,” Reid taunted.

But Paisley's exceptional character work doesn't stop there. This debut portal fantasy thrives with the use of multiple POVs. It's clear he meticulously planned each character arc, resulting in a story where everyone feels natural. None of the interactions feel rushed or forced, a remarkable feat considering the blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements. As a character-driven reader like myself, I can promise you'll be captivated by Paisley's interconnected cast.

Unlike most authors who are content with crafting a single world, Paisley boldly builds not only multiple worlds but also explores alternative dimensions. This opens The Elements of Time trilogy to endless possibilities, further fueling readers speculation as they eagerly await the next installment. World-building and dimension-hopping become the backdrop for Cooper and Reid as they encounter new members of the cast as they enter "The Trials". It's here that they'll embark on a journey of self-discovery, awakening to their true destiny. The need to hone their fighting skills becomes paramount for survival. To avoid spoilers, I won't reveal too much about the actual trials. However I will say, if readers look closely they will find clever foreshadowing hinting at future developments within the book and the series.

“You’re not even worthy enough to be Prolia initiates, and now your lives are in danger.”

Tropes are an aspect of fantasy that readers either love or hate, and Paisley took on a large number of them. However, for a good majority of them, I feel like he managed to put a bit of a unique twist on each, truly making them his own. I’m especially a fan of coming-of-age, found family, and mentor-apprentice tropes in general, and he tackled each of these with ease.

One of my favorite parts of the story arc is when Cooper and Reid are separated for a bit for some one-on-one training with their mentors. Growing up as a child of the 80's, this mentor-apprentice dynamic always reminds me most of Mr. Miyagi and Daniel-San from the classic film 'The Karate Kid.' I can't think of a better example of a mentor-apprentice dynamic and I felt a strong sense of it as these two spent their time training, and honestly I loved every minute of it. More importantly though, Paisley once again showcased his writing skills and took the time to slow the story down. He ensured the training aspect of the character arc had the room it needed to develop naturally. So many authors fall short here, with characters going from zero to hero in a blink. Thankfully, that wasn't the case here, and I truly appreciate his attention to detail.

If I haven’t sold you on the book yet, maybe the magic system will. Remember how I told you earlier that Paisley likes to take normal tropes and put his own twist on them? Well, his elemental magic system is a prime example of this. While it leverages the traditional elements, it does so via these adorable little creatures called “Spreeta” that require a symbiosis bond with the one who is going to wield the magic. I think I've said enough without revealing too much, as I don’t want to spoil anything, but I promise you this approach is not something you see in fantasy every day.

“The Keepers are beings of pure time, but they have an equal and opposite: beings of pure space. The Spatial Elementals, fire, air, water and earth, are the building blocks of our universe.”

When it's all said and done, "The Winds of Change" by Sam Paisley is one hell of a debut novel with damn near perfect pacing between excitement and build-up, all while sprinkling in just enough foreshadowing to keep you on your toes from start to finish. Don't let the YA label fool you; this book is just as much for adults as it is for teens. Some of the deeper hidden meanings within the story, I believe, will resonate with readers and leave the truths revealed living rent-free in the reader's mind for years to come.

P.S.

Sam I’m gonna need you to hurry up and make some Spreeta plushies so I can put them on my shelf by your book.