From the Land of Cross and Star by Andrew Volkov, Reviewed by Deepireads

From the Land of Cross and Star: A Historical Fantasy Adventure (Ilyusha Book 1) by Andrew Volkov is a historical fantasy that I ended up enjoying more than I expected.

The story is divided into 4 parts, and I like how each part creates a different atmosphere while also carrying a different person’s perspective. The story starts with Ilyusha’s ceremony to become a monk, but to his and everyone’s surprise, he gains supernatural powers from his mentor. The main protagonist is Ilyusha, who I didn’t like because of the decisions he made, but I would say his character is very well developed. I appreciate the author for creating such a very real character with flaws and questionable decision-making skills.

The fantasy elements in this historical fiction are a very different blend of genres, which I love. The magic system is also very different from other books I have read so far. I love travel tropes, and this book has it. Even though the author focuses more on one specific location than their traveling journey, the shift in locations across each part was refreshing.

My favorite is always slow-burn love. The “love at first sight” between Ilyusha and Anya is very less tolerable, but considering the situation they are in, I paid more attention to the plot than them. Coming to the plot, in part 1, Ilyusha’s powers were explained, and I love the fact that, like us readers, he also experienced his magic for the first time.

In part 2, Ilyusha sets off to save his brother with his brother’s bride, Lyubanya, who is also someone he has a love interest in. I didn’t really like Lyubanya. She is supposed to be his brother’s bride, but still shows feelings for Ilyusha and even flirts with him, which just didn’t sit right with me. Ilyusha does save his brother in a very unexpected way, and I truly appreciate the fight scenes in this part.

Part 3 takes place on a burning ship and involves so many fight scenes, I couldn’t love it more. The thrill in this part is truly amazing. This is also the part that made me question Ilyusha, but everything made sense at the end. The whole of part 4 is very much an unexpected twist. It’s a very bold move by the author to introduce new characters in the last few chapters while also creating a very thrilling and worthy climax.

This story is a very big example of the line “Everything that happens in life has a reason.” It shows many strong emotions like betrayal, guilt, and fear of death, most of which are explored in part three.

Overall, this was a 4.5-star read for me. I enjoyed the journey, the emotions, and how everything came together in a way that felt real rather than dramatic.