Book: The Careless Travels of Regulus Elk by Essie S Nix
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
The Careless Travels of Regulus Elk by Essie S. Nix
⭐⭐½ (2.5/5)
Human orphan Regulus is thrust into a world of magic and mystery when he breaks through the border between Thrystil (the human world) and Ogynodtha while fleeing a wolf attack. There, he meets water nymph Indra, with whom he feels an instant connection. Together, they travel the realms of Ogynodtha, searching for answers about what started the war between humans and magical beings, as well as the mysteries surrounding Regulus's past.
Regulus is an interesting character. Orphaned at nine when his parents turned him out of the house, unable to care for more than one child and choosing his younger sister instead, he's learned to fend for himself and make his own way through life. He adapts surprisingly quickly to Ogynodtha, adjusting to the existence of magic almost immediately. He's also fiercely protective of those he loves, a circle that eventually grows to include Indra. He serves as a good surrogate for the reader, discovering Ogynodtha alongside us.
Indra is a sweetheart. He cares deeply for Regulus and is willing to risk both his safety and his station in life for the powerful bond he feels with the human. His devotion was genuinely touching, and he was easily the heart of the book for me.
Unfortunately, the storytelling itself didn't work nearly as well for me. The way Regulus and Indra's POVs intertwine was confusing at times, and I found myself rereading sentences just to figure out who was speaking. And while I understand that the story centers on their travels, too many secondary characters seemed to appear solely to deliver an info-dump before disappearing, never to be seen or heard from again. The frequent flashbacks and dream/thought sequences only added to the disjointed feeling.
The ending came fast and furious, feeling rushed before abruptly leaving things on a cliffhanger. After such a winding journey, I wanted a more satisfying stopping point.
There are interesting ideas here, and I appreciated the connection between Regulus and Indra, but the uneven execution made it difficult for me to fully connect with the story.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC.