3 out of 4 stars
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The Elf Resistance is book six in the Magi Charter series by Jordan David. This book is the longest yet at around 900 or so pages. It picks up where book five left off as we continue to follow Santa and the Elves at the North Pole.
In this book, Mistletoe Green (who we learn in previous books is evil) starts to assert control over the Santas in an effort to eventually take control of the North Pole. Anna, one Elf lass who has been around from the beginning, sees Mistletoe Green for what he is. Unfortunately, Santa Basil is completely taken in by him, and Anna cannot do much to stop what she sees happening. Anna is not content to simply sit by and watch the evil Mistletoe's rise to power, though. She must find a way to stop him and his evil plans once and for all.
Once again, Mr. David shows his mastery in this novel. His world building skills are magical; not one detail in the North Pole is missed. Not only this, but there is continuity from one book to the next. I dare anyone to find one detail different from one book to the next. Along the same lines, his characters are so realistic that you can easily identify with them to the point that you forget you are reading a book. Every time I read about Mistletoe, I find myself getting anxious at what he has in store for the North Pole and the Elves. Though, it's not only the relatable nature of the characters that I find so fascinating. I enjoy how diverse they are as well. The Elves are from all over the world with many different backgrounds and temperaments. I guarantee you'll find some of yourself in one Elf or another.
Another of Mr. David's strong points is blending history with fiction and magic in such an incredible way. In this sixth book of the series, we see many Elves being recruited from a diverse time span (around the 1800s to the 1960s.) The author regales us with stories from various battles from the Chattanooga Campaign of 1863 to World War 1 and 2. He has done his research as well; I googled some of the battles that he describes, and his descriptions are spot on. My favorite event that he describes, though, is the famous World's Fair. He describes many of the exhibits and pavilions of the time in incredible detail.
Some errors have been consistent throughout the Magi Charter from one book to the next. That is one homophone getting mixed up for another quite often (since instead of sense for example.) I'm glad to say that the number of those errors in this book is greatly reduced. While they are still found here and there, they are not nearly as numerous. One thing that I would be remiss if I didn't mention, though, is that the author renames Las Vegas as Los Vegas. That is something that definitely needs to be corrected.
The Elf Resistance is one of the more character-driven books so far in this series. Therefore, if you are expecting more of an action packed book like The Elf Coup, you'll probably be disappointed. That's not to say, though, that there isn't intrigue and mystery within this book. Nevertheless, this book is more about getting to know the characters' backgrounds better and getting hints as to where the North Pole will go in the future.
I have it on good authority that the next three books in the series are to be set in the future. As for the whole series, that would make books 1 through 3 in the present, 4 through 6 in the past and 7 through 9 in the future. I can't wait to find out how Santa Claus continues with more advanced technology. Will he be delivering toys to boys and girls on other planets? Will there still be flying reindeer? I guess I'll have to read the next book to find out.
As for this installment in the series, I have to rate The Elf Resistance a 3 out of 4 stars. Renaming Las Vegas is a pretty big error, and it occurs multiple times. Also, some might consider this book to be a little too slow moving compared to the rest of the series. For my part, I continue to be impressed by the writing skills of Mr. Jordan David. I would highly recommend this series, and in turn this book, to everyone who enjoys a series of books about an uncharted world full of magical beings from real points in history. Don't let the fact that it's about Santa Claus and the Elves turn you off! This is no simple bedtime story, but rather a complex series full of interesting and unusual characters each with their own histories to be told.
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The Elf Resistance - Book Six of the Magi Charter
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I am glad you enjoyed the book. I had to laugh when you said the author renamed Las Vegas as Los Vegas! As for the other errors, it sounds like the author would benefit from the services of a good editor. With all of the books in this series, it's a little annoying that there continues to be specific consistent errors.
