Chronicles of Sword and Fang: Book 1 Reviews
Readers Favorite Review
5-Star
Reviewed by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers’ Favorite
Chronicles of Sword and Fang is the first book in a young adult epic fantasy series, which will leave you following Elizabeth R. Jensen for the next book. Burchard Wolfensberger is the middle son of a ruthless general. He learned at a young age that he was of little use to his father. At the age of fourteen, Burchard has a dream of a white wolf, Eos. These dreams become prophecy, and he is granted a wolf as his companion and guide. But evil forces are at play as Burchard struggles with his destiny and follows the leadership of his father, who scorns the danger right under his nose.
From the first chapter, you will understand why Elizabeth R. Jensen is an award-winning author. Her writing is precise, keeping you glued to the action. Mystical creatures and magic are woven into these medieval times, adding to its enchanting plot. Wicked competes against good and isn’t black and white in this novel, as some characters appear to fight for the wrong side. I could also see the young squire struggling with affairs of the heart as his future unfolds. Overall, Chronicles of Sword of Fang is an intriguing novel written for those coming-of-age readers who love the fantasy genre. Jensen skillfully directs the reader’s imagination and anticipation as the crusade escalates. This novel makes a vibrant start to a memorable story series that needs telling. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to encountering Burchard as his destiny develops.
The Bear’s Claw: Book Three of The Three Brothers Trilogy Reviews
Book Life Review
Editors Pick
The exciting climatic volume in Jensen’s Three Brothers trilogy finds Jules, Borus and Kass Wolfensberger fighting to protect the kingdom and royal family of Etria in another spirited—and occasionally bloody—adventure of good, evil, bone knights and fire archers, and abundant inventive fantasy concepts like sanguinium, a “blood metal” that suppresses magic. After the events of The Hawk’s Flight, which saw them stranded in the Lost Isles after a diplomatic mission, the brothers’ homecoming is cut short by the kidnapping od Princess Ella, sister to the king and the love of Jules, at the hands of Pyralis, a fire mage and elemental bent on the destruction of Etria and all who would defy him. An epic battle ensues that sees the Wolfensberger brothers, sister, and their legendary grandfather, The Wolf, tested to the very core of their own magical abilities.
As with earlier entries, a zest for adventure powers The Bear’s Claw, plus a keen interest in the brothers’ development, as men, leaders, and as practitioners of the assorted skills. Fans of the series will enjoy seeing how they’ve grown, while new readers are advised to start with the first book, though Jensen fills in the basics on the fly here.The story is nicely paced, written with striking detail and an attention to what all this mayhem actually feels like, an approach that engages readers and encourages caring about these characters and their world. This entry feels a touch more violent than the previous, the high stakes reflecting the brothers’ maturation, and Jensen does not fear to force characters to face loss.
Despite the emphasis on brothers, the series boasts a diverse cast, including female characters of all ages represented as fierce, capable, brave members of the population, and none of the dated tropes involving gender that readers might associate with heroic adventure fantasies involving royalty. The story allows any reader to imagine themselves as the hero–and what heroism might cost.
Takeaway: Rousing climax to a strong middle grade fantasy series in the classic vein.
Comparable Titles: Cindy Lin’s The Twelve, Torsten Weitze’s The 13th Paladin series, Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven series.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Reader Reviews
“The Wolfensberger brothers' epic journey reaches a breathtaking conclusion in Elizabeth R. Jensen's thrilling fantasy trilogy. In this final installment, we find Jules, Borus, and Kass facing their most dangerous challenges yet. The author effortlessly balances heart-stopping action with moments of tenderness and deep emotional connection between the characters. Jensen's vivid descriptions and intricate world-building transport readers into the magical realm of Etria, making it impossible to put the book down.” - Review by Sue E., Reviewer
“The story brims with heart-pounding action, surprising twists, and moments of heartwarming camaraderie. But it is the underlying themes of resilience, sacrifice, and the power of unity that truly make this book shine.” Review by Abigail L., Librarian
Fire & Wolves: A Tale of Etria Reviews
Book Life Review
Editors Pick
This heartening short novel from Jensen (the Three Brothers Trilogy) follows the journey of a uniquely gifted ten-year-old, Sabine, through her first year at a magical academy. All the students have magical gifts, but most are in relation to elemental magic, such as fire or water. Sabine’s, though, is shapeshifting, a skill sufficiently rare that not only is she the only student with it, but other students (and even a teacher) are threatened by it. Their fear quickly manifests as bullying, and Sabine must trust in her other teachers, her two new friends, and her loving family, especially her grandfather “Wolfie,” to help put an end to the bullying while staying true to herself.
While young readers are captivated by interesting teachers with different abilities, the daily life of living at the academy, and challenges like creating balls of magic, Jensen also weaves in valuable lessons about the best ways to handle bullying—and a reminder that it’s normal to feel hurt when faced with it. Sabine develops supportive new friends she can talk to, but also goes to several adults that make sure she feels heard, with the story reminding readers that it’s best to resolve such issues quickly, and that it’s okay to defend herself if she’s in danger. She also has a family that’s there immediately when needed and gives her healthy advice rather than making things worse or using their powerful family name to be bullies themselves.
Each chapter opens with an attention-grabbing illustration, created by Melissa Stevens, that hints engagingly at what’s to come, giving away just enough to drive readers to keep turning pages. Jensen creates a unique environment of a story that middle-grade readers will be drawn into and not want to put down, while parents and teachers will be equally thrilled about the important lessons they’re learning.
Takeaway: A perfect blend of magic-school adventure and lessons about bullying.
Comparable Titles: Dhonielle Clayton’s The Marvellers, Tamora Pierce’s Sandry’s Book.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Kirkus Review
A sparky 10-year-old tackles spellcasting school, powerful magic, and relentless bullies in Jensen’s middle-grade fantasy novel.
In the magical land of Etria, 10-year-old Sabine Wolfensberger possesses the rare but powerful gift of shape-shifting. Though she comes from a long line of powerful family members(including three brothers pursuing knighthood and an infamous grandfather ominously nicknamed The Wolf), Sabine longs to master her own magic and make a name for herself. As The Wolf escorts his granddaughter to Onaxx Academy School for Mages, Sabine reflects that her journey is just beginning—and is sure to present many challenges. She struggles to learn magic, escape her family’s looming shadow, and find her place among her classmates, both friends and foes. Cruel bullies and strict teachers threaten to break Sabine’s fiery spirit, but with the help of new friends, kind mentors, and her trusty horse, Midnight, Sabine is up for any challenge. The author expertly sets the stage with a number of tried-and-true tropes of YA fantasy novels: a magical boarding school, novice mages, trusty animal sidekicks (wolves, horses, and other cool creatures), and the like. Though Jensen’s world teems with potential, it could benefit from more development. The medieval-type setting, lovable students, varied teachers, and, most importantly, the treatment of magic create a solid foundation that leaves the reader wanting more, but the narrative is somewhat lacking in the rich detail that makes fantasy so compelling. Still, Sabine is a sympathetic protagonist who leads young readers through relatable and integral lessons, such as how to deal with bullies through self-empowerment and the help of trusted adults and treasured friends. Though more of a sketch than a finished portrait, the world of Etria is an enticing one, sure to draw young readers.
A succinct, sweet, and fantastical tale full of friendship, magic, and courage.
The Hawk’s Flight Reviews
Readers’ Favorite Review:
RATING: 5 stars (out of 5)
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite
The Hawk's Flight is the second installment of the Three Brothers Trilogy by Elizabeth R. Jensen. The Kingdom of Etria is in the middle of great turmoil as war plagues its borders, with Wanonia in the north and the traitor Ruschmann Blackwell in the south testing its resolve. As King Renard marshalls his knights, the three young grandsons of General Burchard Wolfensberger, Borus, Kass, and Jules, find themselves marching on the battlefront as pages to knights. While Borus shows extraordinary ability with the sword, Kass excels in horseback archery, and Jules grows into a mage. After an eventual peace between Etria and Wanonia, the brothers are sent on a diplomatic mission where things don't go according to plan. Meanwhile, an attack on King Renard threatens to plunge Etria into chaos once again. Will the brothers be able to fulfill their prophesied destiny?
A delicious mix of action, magic, and courtly intrigue makes The Hawk's Flight a captivating fantasy odyssey for young adults. Author Elizabeth R. Jensen weaves a gripping yarn set in a fictional medieval land of kings, knights, princes, and magic where three young brothers are thrust into momentous events of great impact. The narrative transports the reader into a fantastical setting where Jensen engages you with her intricate world-building and distinct characters. The brotherly dynamic between Borus, Kass, and Jules feels genuine, with their different personality traits and interactions making for some absorbing scenes. I had a wonderful time reading The Hawk's Flight and think other fantasy readers will feel the same.
BookLife Review:
“In the action-packed second entry in Three Brothers Trilogy, Jensen continues the story of the Wolfensberger family’s three promising fighters caught in the thick of the wars that have come to two of the borders of the land of Etria. Again demonstrating a sure hand for adventure and mounted combat, Jensen follows Jules, Kass, and Borus in classic middle-book fashion, their stories spreading throughout the kingdom while the root themes remain the relationships between the brothers, their masters, and their individual selves and burgeoning strengths. Each brother, all teenagers, finds their talents tested and honed, as Jensen links excitement and character development by dramatizing every challenge, hardship, and triumph—all as the brothers deal with knights, sorcerers, priestesses, mythic beasts, surprising magical dangers, and a standout companion named Sir Horse.
The characters, refreshingly, demonstrate honesty, integrity, and even a vulnerability too often uncharacteristic of masculine heroes, as all three care deeply for their friends, family, and kingdom. The brothers’ skills allow for a variety of types of fantasy action: Jules, the only “weather mage” in Etria, explores the techniques and application of magical powers in striking scenes, while Kass’s apprenticeship with a knight master gives him the rare opportunity to gain skills unforeseen for squires of the era. Meanwhile, Borus, the eldest, wields his sword and leadership skills with increasing alacrity. Jensen emphasizes throughout that this kind of heroism demands commitment and hard training.
While the brothers and their journeys are vividly detailed, this volume leaves it to readers to fill in much of the social, economical, and especially physical landscape of the lands in which the Wolfensbergers train and battle. Still, the eloquent writing and courtly dialogue (“It is not always the enemy outside the walls that is the worst one, it is the enemy inside your head”) as well as the serious treatment of boys maturing into heroes results in a rich, engaging read that takes young people seriously.”
Takeaway: This chivalric trilogy emphasizes character, training, and adventure.
Great for fans of: Margaret Peterson Haddix’s Greystone Secrets series, Diane Magras’s The Mad Wolf's Daughter.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Reader Reviews
“I enjoyed this the second book in the series as much as the first. Epic adventure for young and old alike. Characters are very likeable. Great coming of age read. Thanks #netgalley and #Gryphonpublishing for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.” Reviewed by Renee W.
“An excellent follow up book to the wolf's den. Just like the first book it makes great a 'reading together' book for a range of ages. The characters are engaging and you really want them to do well.” Reviewed by Anonymous
The Wolf’s Den Reviews
Readers’ Favorite Review:
RATING: 5 stars (out of 5)
Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers’ Favorite
Becoming a knight and fighting for your country represents honor, prestige, and loyalty. In The Wolf's Den: Book One of the Three Brothers Trilogy by Elizabeth R. Jensen, brothers Borus, Kass, and Jules must show their grandfather Wolf that the training they've received will provide the skills needed to be knighted and fight for Etria. This book reflects the art of war which involves strategies, trust, and choices. It had always been the strong desire of each boy to be a knight, to fight, and be a hero like their grandfather. Despite all the lessons learned throughout their childhood, they would each embark on different paths to become a knight. Will these choices help them achieve success or lead to their demise? What impact will their decisions have on Etria?
Despite how close-knit the brothers are in The Wolf's Den by Elizabeth R. Jensen, it was intriguing to learn how they develop their skills and the choices they made. I loved the care Wolf took in evaluating each of his grandsons while encouraging them and strengthening the way they used their skills to prepare for war. Despite the boys being inseparable and understanding what it takes to be a knight, it's their journeys that will determine whether they will present a united front or fall apart and lose the war. If you enjoy this book, Elizabeth has more to come with the follow-up titled The Hawk’s Flight: Book Two of the Three Brothers Trilogy. Enjoy!
BookLife Prize Critic Report:
Overall Rating: 8.25 out of 10
Plot/Idea - 8 out of 10: The Wolf's Den is an exciting, finely developed fantasy tale that will appeal to those with an interest in medieval lore.
Prose - 10 out of 10 : The author’s imagination and worldbuilding are impressive, and the details of Etria really jump off the page.
Originality - 8 out of 10: While not all contemporary readers might find this story relatable, it is an entertaining foray into escapism with a vividly realized setting.
Character Development/Execution - 7 out of 10: Borus, Kass, and Jules aim to become knights to serve the king, and each of them follows a different road. The characters are believable and their differences are interesting. Readers may wish for an additional layer of diversity among the cast.
IndieReader Review:
RATING: 4 stars (out of 5)
“Three young brothers forge their own paths toward knighthood as war looms in this fast-paced middle-grade debut. While tensions mount on the border of their homeland Etria, three young brothers dream of becoming fierce knights in service to their king. They share an intimidating legacy to uphold, as their grandfather—known as The Wolf, aptly taken from their family name, Wolfensberger—has shown his bravery in the past, his own military prowess enshrined in their historical legends. As they figure out their own strengths and weaknesses, from archery to magic, the three brothers take their own paths toward knighthood. But when war finally arrives on their doorstep and they’re confronted with real, sword-and-arrow wielding enemies, they learn that the cost of greatness is all too real, and their familial bonds can conquer anything.
Though Elizabeth R. Jensen's THE WOLF’S DEN takes place in a fantasy realm full of elemental mages and portal magic, it takes its strongest cues from medieval Europe, where young pages hope to one day become full-fledged knights. The three Wolfensberger brothers—Borus, the steadfast elder son; Kass, the rebellious middle child; Jules, the sensitive mage-in-training—live in the shadow of their cantankerous, no-nonsense grandfather. He’s a highlight of the novel, because underneath his gruff, militaristic exterior lies an unshakable protectiveness of not only his countrymen, but his young grandchildren. The boys’ parents and baby sister drop in and out of the plot, but are always a warm familial presence. It’s these bonds that hold the entire book together through its trials and tribulations.
It does take a bit to get into the novel’s style, as it’s more or less told in a sort of vignette format and covers a few years in the brothers’ lives. Because of this, some aspects of character development/ training happen off the page instead of being shown. Younger readers, however, will likely find the present tense narration engaging and easy to follow.
THE WOLF’S DEN deals with some heavy topics pretty well--like war casualties and the mental effects of battle--giving the novel plenty of high stakes. This vignette style lends itself to a “slice of life” chronicle, where the plot introduces a few different foes to the brewing threat of war on the horizon. There’s rumblings of spies with portal magic, and the boys battle against pirates, bandits, and an old enemy who’s returned to stir up trouble. While the brothers’ paths diverge, the plot becomes more complex, as Jules’ comes to control his unique magic, Kass learns through bloody combat that knighthood isn’t just for glory, and Borus excels at swordsmanship in his lessons at the training school. In all of this, they learn the value of teamwork, friendship, and unyielding loyalty. The plot culminates in a rigorous multi-day training exercise wherein the boys’ skills are put to the ultimate test and their loyalty to each other faces its most difficult challenge. How exactly they come together in the end is cleverly done, and especially satisfying after their separate journeys.
IR Verdict: A charming middle grade fantasy adventure, THE WOLF’S DEN offers an action-packed coming of age story with a medieval inspired setting and a likable cast of characters. Sword and sorcery abound in a captivating first installment.”
BookLife Review:
“Jensen’s debut, the first in a trilogy, infuses the early education of three noble brothers training to be medieval knights with fantasy and superhero elements. The Wolfensberger boys are just starting to understand their abilities, and slowly coming to accept what adults around them already see–they possess a collective power that cannot be ignored. Their grandfather Burchard Wolfensberger, known simply as the Wolf, is a fearsome warrior, military strategist, and advisor to King Renard of Etria. While his mage son, Kenric, uses magic to boost crop yields, the Wolf’s grandsons have been raised to follow in his footsteps and become knights.
It’s the summer of 600, and 10-year-old Borus leaves home to attend the Trinity School for Knights. Kassandros (known as Kass) is devastated to lose his cherished older brother, even though he will be joining Borus next year, but at seven, Julien (called Jules) is more focused on his pony and undeniable horse skills. Jensen emphasizes individual achievement by setting the brothers on different paths: Borus becomes a master swordsman, Kass accompanies the Wolf to the remote Southwind Fort and bravely employs his archery skills when they’re ambushed by an invading force, and Jules shocks his parents when his magic manifests.
Jensen’s story is rich with details of chivalric combat, whether it’s rigorous training exercises created by inventive instructors or bloody skirmishes that shatter the Etrian peace, as well as plenty of magic to please fantasy fans. Jules is a rarity, a weather mage who can manipulate the forces of nature, and his father tries to ground him with a cautionary tale of an ancestor whose abilities drained her of life. Heroes are more stoic than emotional in this tale, and their actions are emphasized over their words, as Jense explores the formative years of the valiant Wolfensberger brothers as a quest for knowledge and experience, in preparation of what they’ll face in future volumes.”
Takeaway: More sword than sorcery, this adventure focuses on the rituals of knighthood and coming-of-age as training.
Great for fans of: John Flanagan’s The Ruins of Gorlan, Andrew Peterson’s On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, and Pedro Urvi’s The Traitor’s Son.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-
Reader Reviews:
“I love tales filled with magic, knights, and kingdoms in peril. This book checks all the boxes and then some, and I know it will be one of those books I go back to again and again for fun and comfort.” – Middle School teacher from Kansas
"My favorite part of The Wolf's Den is when all of the horses and people are covered in mud." – 3rd grader from Georgia.
"My 3rd grader only reads graphic novels, but he couldn't put The Wolf's Den down, and it has no pictures!" – Mom of 3rd grader from Georgia
"I don't usually read books about knights, but The Wolf's Den held my interest from start to finish." – Retired Account Manager from Oregon
“The children enjoyed this book. They found the story engaging and the characters easy to empathise with and relate to. My youngest grandchild has decided to be a knight when she grows up ?!” Reviewed by Anonymous
“Embark on an epic quest for destiny, courage, and heroism in this Middle Grade Fantasy that will transport readers into the captivating realm of Etria. With a powerful hook that grabs you from the first page, the author plunges you into a world where war and peace coexist in delicate balance. The three brothers, bound by blood and a shared legacy, embark on individual paths that ultimately converge to shape the fate of their land. The author's masterful storytelling skillfully blends adventure, emotion, and the allure of ancient legends, captivating readers of all ages. Through their trials and tribulations, the young heroes learn the true meaning of sacrifice and bravery, inspiring readers to embrace their own potential for greatness.” - Abigail L. Librarian
Find us on
