Journey of Destiny is a work of fiction in the epic fantasy, adventure, and action sub-genres and is part of the Titanian Chronicles series. It is aimed at young adults and was penned by Leisl Kaberry. The story follows the journey of our human protagonist Afeclin, a young man who was abandoned as a child and raised amongst royalty. Along with his Elvin companion Wolfgang, Afeclin undertakes to learn about the mystical forces that govern his world. As they embark on their expedition, they become aware of dark forces with ill intent putting a plan into motion to devastate their peaceful world with deadly conflict.

Author Leisl Kaberry has crafted an emotive and highly evocative work of fantasy fiction that encompasses all the features that a reader could ask for. In terms of character development, central protagonist Afeclin is mysterious from the start, thanks to his interesting heritage, and the close narrative, speech, and thought presentation endears him to readers more and more as he undergoes his personal journey. I also found the worldbuilding to be solidly crafted, with convincing magical lore, political and social struggles in the many lands, and highly immersive, atmospheric descriptions that bring it all to life in a cinematic way. Overall, I would certainly recommend Journey of Destiny as a promising start to what looks to be an enticing new YA fantasy series and one which is sure to open readers up to an inventive new world filled with intrigue, magic, and stacks of emotion.

Journey of Destiny is the first book in the Titanian Chronicles by Leisl Kaberry, an epic fantasy that is written with strong plot threads and exceptional characters, a most suitable tale for young readers and lovers of young adult fantasy. Afeclin is a human who was found as a child and raised by an Elven King. Grown up now, he is eager to learn about the mystic arts, so he sets out on a journey to uncover his destiny, accompanied by his best friend, the elf named Wolflang. But a cruel warlord, Moorlan, has devised a plan to bring war to the land of Marrapassa. Both Wolflang and Afeclin witness the cruelty of the human world, like the murder that Wolflang watches helplessly, unable to anything. Can these characters make a difference in a world that is harsh and filled with violence and what part can they play to end the impending war?

This is a fascinating tale. It is transporting, and the author plunges the reader into a world that is well-imagined. At the heart of the story is the theme of finding one’s place in the world. While Afeclin has grown up in the peaceful Elven Kingdom, he has never felt as though he were part of that world. So, where does he really belong? The author explores this struggle of the young character in a very deft manner, exposing the differences between the human world and the peaceful land of the elves. The characters are ingeniously written and I loved Wolflang and his fiancée, Lena. Lena plays a powerful role in the story and the effect she has on Afeclin deepens the plot and character. An unlikely proposition she makes to Afeclin reveals a lot about her character and the bond of friendship between Wolflang and Afeclin. The characters are elaborately written, genuinely flawed — and this makes them believable and relatable. The author ensures that the characters evolve in circumstances that are realistic, without losing the magic of the entire tale, from the key characters to the supporting cast, such as Zallucien, Cuthbire, Oomall, Endorf, and many others. Journey of Destiny is written in gorgeous prose, a gripping, hard-to-put-down fantasy that captivates the reader and excites the imagination in many ways. It is a fantasy tale that stands out in its originality.

Journey of Destiny is the first book in the Titanian Chronicles by Leisl Kaberry. A human child is brought up in the magical world of the elves. Afeclin was an orphan before he was taken in by the Elvin King. While Afeclin was much loved, he always felt like the odd one out. He knew he was not an ordinary human, the little glimpses of his destiny he had seen told him so. However, to fulfill his destiny he needed to travel to make it a reality. Supported by his friend Wolflang and accompanied by Lena, they leave their home behind so that Afeclin can learn wizardry from the greatest wizard of all time. However, the world outside was too different for them to comprehend. All Afeclin wanted was to learn magic, but he had no idea that the dangers of leaving their home behind could outweigh his desire to learn magic. Will the three of them survive the world beyond Titanian?

In my mind, epic fantasies are notorious for over-the-top plots and overly-complicated character names. However, Journey to Destiny proved to be very different. Leisl Kaberry created an intricate background to make it believable as well as retable. Afeclin was very different than other people he grew up with, but his support system was very strong. The author left little clues for readers to find, allowed them to feel like a part of the story, and gave them just enough information to be intrigued. The descriptions allowed me to invest myself in the story, feel what was happening around Afeclin and how it all affected him. The author did a great job of building up the hype around the mystery of Zallucien the wizard, the mystery of the world beyond Titanian, and the way Afeclin, Lena, and Wolflang handled the many dangers that came their way. The ending surprised me, to be honest. I was not expecting such a twist at the end. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

The first book in the Titanian Chronicles begins with Journey of Destiny. Series author Leisl Kaberry introduces us to Afeclin, a human child raised by an Elvin King. As he returns to a poor but humble village where he was found, it didn’t make the least bit of sense to him why it lay in ruins from incineration. Yet one cottage stood unaffected by the devastation, and inside he finds a cradle. Upon touching it, it gives him a searing image of fire in his mind that makes him fall backward. Touching it again for the second time with more concentrated effort, it shows him harrowing details that gnawed on his soul and hurt his brain. The vision involves a woman screaming in terror and a tall man pulling her away from the blaze as the woman is trying to save something from the inferno. This creates questions that he needs to find answers to, and it further stokes his desire to become a wizard. And so begins the difficult and perilous journey that will pit him against a powerful warlord and a dark mage.

This initial offering in the Titanian Chronicles is promising and enjoyable. Leisl Kaberry knows how to build tension and does not show any signs of stalling the plot. Moreover, she has an ear for dialogue and makes her characters talk in a way that comes naturally. You are given a conversation that helps move the plot along and makes you anticipate what is to come. Journey of Destiny is generous in sensory details of places, but it does not bog you down in going from point A to point B. That being said, if you enjoyed reading Afeclin’s journey into the uncertain, you have more to look forward to in this series, as his enemies grow stronger and more questions need to be answered.