Blurb:

At five years old, Kasiel was found with the pointed ends of his ears cut off. Despite that brutal start, he’s lived twelve peaceful years with the man who took him in. Keeping his hair long over his mutilated ears helps him hide the fact that he is Vanrian, a child of the enemy.

Everything changes when mercenaries arrive hunting for Kasiel. The last people he expects to come to his rescue are Vanrian soldiers, one of whom claims to be his spirit brother, whatever that means. They plan to take him across the war zone to deliver him to his real father, a man whose name strikes terror in his enemies.

With his secret exposed, Kasiel can’t return to his old home. This is his chance to find out who he was supposed to be. It means traveling to a foreign land where they have unusual psychic abilities he may share. It also means leaving behind everything he’s ever cared about. If he is to survive, he will need to learn their language and culture and earn his place in their society.

Meanwhile, the man who cut Kasiel’s ears will do anything to keep him out of his true father’s hands, even if it means killing him.

Review:

NOT ONLY OBVIOUS ENEMIES

Child of Vanris by Nikki McCormack was one of my reads for this year's SPFBO (Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off), and it turned out to be a well crafted story.

This epic fantasy novel centers on a young man from an elf-like tribe who’s been raised in a different land, living a peaceful life until a tragic event forces him to leave it all behind. The beginning of the book hits hard, as our protagonist is thrust into a harsh world where he must quickly shed his naivety and learn how to navigate the complexities of life.

Right from the start, the atmosphere of tension and distrust is palpable; he suddenly realizes that his world is filled to the brim with uncertainty. Fear lurks around every corner.

The protagonist, Kasiel, is swiftly and dramatically thrust into a situation where he must question everything he once knew. This shift is particularly heartbreaking as he begins to fear for his life, not only from obvious enemies, but also from those he once considered friends and loved ones. 

COMING-OF-AGE

Leading the way for much of the story is the protagonist’s frailty and his gradual journey to gaining confidence, understanding friendships, and learning how to stand up for what he believes in. It’s a strong coming-of-age story, even though some early scenes felt a bit jarring with abrupt jumps that left me questioning the author's intent. The characters, however, are generally well-developed, and their relationships are engaging, particularly the protagonist’s reconnection with a childhood friend in a culture where such bonds are almost sacred.

ORIGINS AND DISTRUST

Kasiel's internal struggle as he returns to his original culture resonated with me on a personal level, drawing parallels to the journey of growing up and the harsh lessons we learn about trust, friendship, and self-acceptance. His return is marked by a deep, instinctive desire to blend in with the people he was born into, to find comfort in the familiarity of his roots. But this desire is constantly at odds with the gnawing distrust that has taken hold of him after barely surviving a betrayal by someone he once considered family.

It’s heartbreaking to watch him navigate this treacherous path, especially as his relationship with Jethan—a person he was supposed to be bonded with since birth—becomes a focal point of this internal battle.

The bond that was meant to symbolize a lifelong connection of trust and loyalty now feels like a fragile thread, easily severed by doubt and suspicion. Kasiel’s struggle mirrors the painful realization many of us face as we grow older: that not all friendships withstand the test of time, and that trust, once broken, is difficult to repair. His journey becomes an exploration of self-acceptance, as he must reconcile the person he has become with the expectations of a culture he no longer fully understands or trusts. This tension, this push and pull between wanting to belong and the fear of further betrayal, is a powerful reflection of the challenges we face in learning who we are, who we can trust, and ultimately, how to accept ourselves even when the world around us feels unsafe and unfamiliar.

PROGRESSION

While the pacing starts slow, especially in the first third of the book, it picks up as the story progresses. The action scenes are well-described and they all help to flesh out the whole plot; they never feel gratuitous or superfluous.

The book manages, quite well, to set the stage for the rest of the series. I do wish there had been more depth in world-building and lore, as epic fantasy often thrives on rich backstories and detailed settings. But for readers who prefer character-driven stories, Child of Vanris delivers, though it left me wanting a bit more in terms of world complexity.

Whether this book is aimed at young adults or straddles the line between YA and adult fantasy is unclear to me, but it’s accessible, well-delivered, and a solid start to a series that promises more.

If you enjoy fantasy with a focus on character relationships and are looking for a new series to dive into, this one is worth checking out.