Resistance
2025 Book Review: #1
Welcome, dear readers, to the first book I read in 2025! In order to practice writing more, I decided to write my thoughts about each book I read in this new year. I have many books on the list: some fantasy fiction, some nonfiction, some manga, and some textbooks, even. I want to gather up everything here. Each book will get its own post, with the exception of manga. Since those tend to be a little shorter, I will write one review for two volumes, as I have several series on the list.
Without further ado, here is the first entry!
Book: Resistance
Author: Jaye L. Knight
Genre: New Adult Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
Taken from home at a young age and raised to serve the emperor, Kyrin Altair lives every day under a dangerous pretense of loyalty. After her unique observation skills and perfect memory place her into direct service to the emperor, Kyrin finds herself in further jeopardy as it becomes increasingly difficult to hide her belief in Elôm, the one true God. Following the emperor's declaration to enforce the worship of false gods under the penalty of death, many lives are endangered. But there are those willing to risk everything to take a stand and offer aid to the persecuted.
I have a propensity for fantasy fiction. When I was a teenager, I found myself escaping into the Lord of the Rings series to find friendly faces and a reprieve from difficult circumstances. Another book series I read was The Door Within trilogy, a Christian fantasy fiction series that I loved dearly for its use of worldbuilding and characters.
The same is said for this first entry of The Ilyon Chronicles. Resistance opens with two protagonists, Jace, a half-human, half-ryrik (a race of elves with dark hair and glowing blue eyes known for their aggression and barbarism), and Kyrin Altair, a human girl living at Tarvin Hall, a training school created by the Emperor to train gifted children to fill important positions in the empire.
The story opens with Jace being used as a gladiator as his master forces him to fight for money. He’s freed from his debt by one of the main characters, a man by the name of Rayad, who immediately sees Jace like his own son and takes him in, teaching him of the love of Elôm, this story’s version of God. Rayad works to assure Jace that Elôm loves people like him, despite the arguments of others that Elôm could never like anyone with ryrik blood, as they’re seen as animals because of their barbaric nature.
The chapters switch back and forth between Jace and Kyrin, a young girl known for how well she can read people. Children in Tarvin Hall are promoted once they reach the age of nineteen, but her gifts catch the Emperor’s eyes early, and she is promoted at the age of seventeen to read people. During her time in Tarvin Hall, she came in contact with the hall’s librarian, Sam, and was taught the ways of Elôm. Followers of Elôm must keep their faith a secret, as the Empire worships two gods, Eartus and Villai, created after the two moons of the land of Ilyon.
News is spreading that governors and barons who allow the worship of Elôm are found dead in accidents or disappear entirely. There’s word that the Emperor will soon pass a new decree, one that demands worship of Eartus and Villai alone. Should anyone be found worshiping Elôm and his “myths,” they’ll face the penalty of death.
Can Jace understand that Elôm has a bigger purpose for him? And can Kyrin live knowing that she is keeping her faith hidden? Resistance is rising, fighting for the freedom to worship the True King.
This novel brought up time and again one question: “If I would be threatened with death for my faith, would I continue to worship openly? Would I share my testimony unashamedly, or would I shrink back in fear for my life?” In Resistance, we see the followers of Elôm standing for their faith, taking the fall, even when it means their deaths. As I read this book, I found that I couldn’t say with certainty that I would stand unashamed, and the thought never let me sit easy. I’m still reminded of it as I read the news and go about my day. Knight proposed a question that lingers with me.
I finished this book in just a couple of days. Knight writes in a way that makes you want to know what happens next right to the very end of the book. The worldbuilding is so intriguing. It’s based on the classic European fantasy settings with swords, quarterstaves, and armor, but it adds some great touches, like the more sci-fi trope of two moons and a focus on the Empire being the enemy.
The characters are memorable. There’s a hint of romance that sweetens the story but nothing that makes it cloyingly sweet or romance-y. No one came off as insufferable to read unless they were the villains, of course. Interestingly, one thing I noticed was that when the Emperor was introduced, he wasn’t oozing with evil. Here’s how he is described:
“‘Your Majesty,’ Videlle said, her voice low with reverence.
Slowly, they straightened, and Kyrin let out the breath trapped in her lungs. The emperor had closed the distance between them with the other man a few feet behind. […] Warm, amber-brown eyes met hers—not at all cold or steely like she’d anticipated. In fact, nothing about this man matched her expectations. Though she’d seen him on occasion, it had been at a great distance.
[…] Could he really be the man she and [her brother] spoke of so often as their enemy? Those golden-brown eyes of his, twinkling in the warm glow of the candles of the wall, could not be less threatening.”
When the Emperor is first introduced, he’s kind and caring for his staff. But as we see Kyrin work for him and time pass, we see chinks in the armor, showing someone much more manipulative. I love that approach to the villain. Instead of someone who just reeks of evil, he breeds some distrust. This can’t really be the emperor, right?
And when he turns, we get that satisfaction, knowing we’re right, but a sickening feeling because we were right.
This in-depth character writing extends to the other characters as well. Each one is distinct, and even the background characters are discernable, which is something that can be hard to do in large books. Knight writes each character in a way that connects you with them, making you want to learn more. She also did the same to the plot and the world. Knight wrote this first installment in an excellent way, tying up the specific plot for the book but still leaving things open for the series. Based on the description of the second book in the series, we’ll be getting more worldbuilding and history, something I really do love in a fantasy series.
The next installment in the series is in the mail as I write this, and I’m excited to crack it open once it arrives. For certain, you’ll hear from me as soon as I finish it!
In the meantime, though, what fantasy series always stands out to you when you think about it? Why is it so distinct in your mind?