Buy Links
Christian W. Freed was born in Buffalo, N.Y. more years ago than he would like to remember. After spending more than 20 years in the active duty US Army he has turned his talents to writing. Since retiring, he has gone on to publish 17 military fantasy and science fiction novels, as well as his memoirs from his time in Iraq and Afghanistan. His first published book (Hammers in the Wind) has been the #1 free book on Kindle 4 times and he holds a fancy certificate from the L Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest.
5 stars
Daniel Thomas is a former soldier that has made his civilian living as an author of fantasy stories with elves in them. But Daniel’s publisher tells him that the market has gone to zombies and vampires and she just can’t sell his books. Daniel gets rather upset and goes to confront her. He finds her moments away from death in her office. But when she tells him that everything he wrote was true and that she couldn’t publish the books and let the rest of the humans know. Daniel’s world gets turned upside down as he learns how the fantasy creatures he wrote about live next to humans in disguise. But then he is thrown into solving a murder.
I loved this story. You have a realistic world and characters that draw you into the story. This world is well created and I enjoyed all the classic fantasy creatures/monsters that Daniel comes across. Of course you get a feel of Mr. Freed’s military background that just adds more realism to the fight scenes in the story.
This is the first book I have read of Christian Freed’s but it won’t be my last. I loved Where Have All The Elves Gone and I recommend anyone that likes a fantasy story to check it out.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Where Have All the Elves Gone? Excerpts
“Daniel…. you must leave!” she finally managed to gasp after he placed her on her back and elevated her head above a stack of books.
The truth being too dark, he decided to lie. “Shhh, save your strength, Ariel. It’s going to be all right.”
Her right hand weakly grasped for him. “Listen to me…not much time….is coming back. You must flee!”
His eyes narrowed with concern. She must be delirious. “Ariel, stop. Whoever did this is gone. You’re going to be fine, but I need to call 911.”
“No time,” she protested. Her eyes glazed over before returning to normal. “Go to the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet. There is a small black case. Take it. Keep it safe. You will be contacted with instructions on what to do. Please, Daniel. Do this for me.”
“Who did this to you? What’s going on here?” he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
“The princess must be kept safe!”
He froze. Princess? What the hell was she talking about? There was no royalty in central North Carolina, at least none he was familiar with. She must have read too many fantasy novels and was now imagining things. He glanced down. The blood had stopped spreading, mostly.
“Ariel, what princess? Stop talking! You’re wasting your strength and I need you to be strong for me,” he tried to console.
She offered a haunting smile. “I’m so sorry, Daniel. Your books…wonderful. And…true.”
****
“There is movement down the hill to the right,” Guilt interrupted.
“Where?” Daniel slipped the night vision over his eyes and followed where Guilt pointed. Nine figures, taller and bulkier than elves or dwarves, stalked through the planted bamboo grove running from the central plaza up to the aviary. Humans! He let the thought slide, finding it entirely too comfortable in making such a proclamation. Still, the question of what they were doing and who they were remained. “I didn’t think there were any humans involved.”
“Xander has a few remaining. The ogres took care of most of them. There should not be any others here,” the gargoyle snarled. Unlike the other races, he could see perfectly at night, so he noticed their armor, their guns, and their distinct manner marking them as government agents. The temptation to fly away and not look back grew stronger. Dealing with the king and queen was one matter, one he had no qualms with facing, but the government took matters to new levels. Too many of his kind withered and died under federal interdiction while being blinded by false claims of protection. He had no trust in the men darting through the trees but didn’t want to risk a confrontation with them either.
“It is DESA,” he said, backing deeper into the shadows.
Sara asked, “What’s DESA?”
“A clandestine government department answerable to no one,” the gargoyle divulged. “The Department of Extra Species Affairs. They hunt us, contain us, and regulate everything our species does. They are very bad people.”
Daniel had never heard of them, but that didn’t really surprise him. In Afghanistan, he’d worked with more people that officially didn’t exist than he could have imagined. There were government departments by the dozens he’d never heard of before the war, and that frightened him. People that don’t exist can get away with anything. No wonder these guys hate humans so much. We’re still hunting them, still trying to be the overlords.
“Do we engage, or will they ignore us?” he asked, suddenly more concerned with their chances of getting to the princess. Once again the tables had turned, leaving him with the wrong cards.
“It is bad enough they are here; do not risk open confrontation with them unnecessarily. It is a fight we cannot win.”
jbronderbookreviews 
Leave a Reply