Waldgrave Trilogy by A. L. Tyler – a Combined Review

Arrival of the Traveler – Book 1
Arrival of the Traveler by A.J. Tyler introduces Lena and her father, Aaron who lived like nomads (mom died when Lena was five); travelling and exploring the world like adventurers.  Following her father’s sudden death, Lena’s world starts to unravel and she questions if that life was really “normal”.  Gone is the only comfort and security she unwittingly took for granted.  Perhaps there was a reason behind her father’s restless nature?  When you move…people can’t find you.

Forced to relocate and live with Uncle Howard, her only living relative, Lena moves into Waldgrave Estate.  Far from convivial, Lena fends for herself and immediately notices how very strange this new home is.  Paintings and portraits are disappearing, clothes are hanging in her once-empty closet, and previously blank books suddenly appear written.  The house is a veritable labyrinth, but Uncle Howard admonishes her interest and warns her not to venture to the fourth floor of the estate.  When she makes her first friend, an older boy named David who works at Waldgrave, he tells her she’s not the “sharpest knife in the drawer”; the estate is welcoming her home!  WHAT?!  “Can’t you read my thoughts, Lena?”  Her unconscious body lying on the ground is a resounding NO.  When Lena comes to, she discovers her mother, Ava is very much alive.  Instead of landing on her feet and acclimating herself, Lena is thrust into an ancient community of telepaths known as the Silenti and her future now hinges on her acceptance of this new world.

Waldgrave Estate is the center of a theology divided.  Lena’s powerful, maternal family, the Darays, is considered royalty and subscribe to the Old Faith whose allegiance focuses on the existence of the much-maligned portal (an entrance to their original homeland that can only be opened by an heir).  The paternal Collins line is considered the New Faith (aka the Integrationists), who have mixed with humans and are diluting the pure blood.  In a bitter feud spanning centuries, Lena is pushed and pulled from the onset.  Not only is she struggling to believe her long-denied abilities (death “foresight”, mental communication) are going to continue to develop, but both sides of the family, including the creepy figure that has been watching her from the prohibited upper floor (her grandfather/mother’s father), are asking her to align with their faith.     

It’s hard not to admire a young lady like Lena.  In a matter of months, she lost her father (primary guardian), her maternal grandmother (actually paternal, but it’s just the first of many lies), and now her mother has reappeared.  Arrival of the Traveler sets the foundation for Lena’s life.  She is a spirited, resilient young woman who must pave her own way and not fall, or follow, absentmindedly with either side of the family.  If Lena thought she could remain neutral regarding the conflicting philosophies, the real threat revealed shattered that paltry hope:  To keep the portal from being opened, Lena, as the last royal Daray heir, is a target.  The clandestine current within the labyrinthine home, replete with individual agendas, is the perfect setting to conceal everyone’s secrets. 

Deception of the Magician – Book 2
Lena is now the only female member of the Silenti Council, but it isn’t such a welcome victory.  Due to Master Daray’s notoriety, no one truly knows what “side” Lena supports.  Bigger problem?  Neither does Lena.

Having set quite the precedent with her membership, Lena’s every move is scrutinized.  As the granddaughter of both Silenti faiths, the Council figures she can either lead the New Faith’s integration or finally open up the portal and return the Old Faith to original ruling.  Lena just turned 17 – she wants to live like a teenager, but her visits are monitored, her interactions are limited and outings are nearly prohibited.

Then there’s Griffin aka David!  He misrepresented himself to get into Lena’s good graces, but it turns out he’s Master Daray’s right hand and all-around puppet and…I like him!  I like that he challenges Lena on her negative opinions about her grandfather.  There is a budding romance, but the author kept that maddeningly subtle!  As we come to discover many hidden truths in the introductory novel, why is Lena so quick to pronounce the Darays evil?  It’s actually a pretty immature explanation:  If Lena gets the support of the Integrationists, she’ll be allowed some independence (or so she thinks):

“I propose to mount an expedition to find the portal and put it where it belongs:  in the capable hands of the Council, under lock and key, so that we will never have to fear the unknown again…I can aid in finding it, but I pose no threat to opening it.”  

This is me losing my patience with Lena!  Impetuous to the core, Lena forges ahead with the plan, but never fully considers the dangers ahead.  In their travels, you didn’t think the Council would let her travel on her own, did you?  10 Council members plus Lena, her mother and Griffin embark on a mission to procure the portal by retracing her grandfather Collins’ (only confirmed Silenti to have seen it) steps to Ecuador. 

Enter Griffin and his need to put things into perspective (as well as blow off some steam; Lena tends to evoke fevered reactions out of him):

“You’re the one turning the world upside down because you think it will buy your freedom, but let me assure you it won’t.  None of them have any intention of ever letting you out of Waldgrave.  You’re the ungrateful brat who’s dragged us all out here on a worthless pursuit so that you can put power in the hands of the New Faith Representatives.  And once they have it, our support is gone.  They’ll have all the control, and they’ll do with us as they please.  Our lives are over after you put it in their hands.” 

A series of unfortunate events transpire along the way and the journey isn’t without a multitude of mishaps and full-out attacks.  Someone is watching the caravan of Silenti and is determined to keep them from acquiring the portal.  Lena manages to relive her grandfather’s final moments (oh, yeah, he died shortly after discovering the portal) and the vicarious experience shatters her decision to have even pursued the “prize”. 

Book 2 definitely contained more action, but I still feel we’ve gone nowhere fast.  Tragedy struck and lives were lost.  Lena is back at Waldgrave with her life intact, but back to a dejected “square one”.  I wanted to fling my Kindle during several moments of the book.  Why take all these purposeful steps, inspire the New Faith, only to regret the proposal and deflate their optimism?  It literally felt like Lena gave up and proved her immaturity (and Griffin’s theory).

“She wanted to go back to Waldgrave and she didn’t.  She didn’t know what she wanted, but she knew she didn’t have it.  And not knowing what she wanted, she didn’t know where she should be going or how to get there.  An alarm went off in her brain; she knew she was treading dangerous waters.  If she couldn’t pick a direction, she would drown.”  

I know I used a lot of quotes in this review, but they were so poignant and depicted the characters’ states of mind so perfectly, my mere words wouldn’t have sufficed.  The last quote in particular describes a rambling Lena; utterly confused after taking on such an endeavor…and the panic she faces as a result.  Does she sink or swim?

Secrets of the Guardian – Book 3
Secrets of the Guardian was my favorite book of the series!  Book 2 rattled me because Lena’s naiveté minimized the potential dangers she and the Silenti members would face; the lengths to which the rogue faction would go to prevent the portal’s recovery.  But if mistakes aren’t a sign of growth, I don’t know what is? 

Lena’s safe at Waldgrave, but when the magician is revealed at the conclusion of book 2, the deception alters Griffin’s beliefs and he flees the estate with no intention of returning.  An old “friend” turns out to be responsible for the ambush on the Silenti caravan; Rollin speaks for the “human-born” Silenti who are considered lower class and disallowed on the Council.  He continues to wreak havoc on the Silenti and overthrows Waldgrave.  Lena, under advisement of Uncle Howard, is on the run.  To be fair, diaries and journals discovered in Master Daray’s secret basement contained detailed events that dispelled many rumors, but begged to be explored (as if we could hold back Lena!).  When Dr. Evans, the Silenti physician, furtively provides Lena with an address in South Carolina…to another living Daray relative…Lena doesn’t hesitate to escape the upheaval at Waldgrave.

**Drum roll, please**  The mystery relation turns out to be her maternal grandmother who exposes the true, but dark Daray family history.  To say the knowledge was enlightening is the understatement of the year!  Lena’s instincts were sound.  Before long, Lena discovers she is being followed.  Someone must have intercepted her emails to Uncle Howard and tracked her location.  Lena is on the run…AGAIN, but this time is different.  So different, she reaches out to Griffin.  Inspired by the outcome of her grandmother’s revelations, Lena concocts a plan that will make Griffin her partner.  I know Griffin was off having a tantrum, but this newfound awareness changes EVERYTHING.  Their connection might have been subtle (the romance even more so), but this pair has been inexplicably attached; it’s time to learn why (SOOO good!) and stop resisting.  Griffin managed to elicit a swoon (or two) out of me!

Lena stops living in the echoes of her family.  She is tired of running and wants to unite the Silenti.  The vacillating relationship with Griffin becomes a profound partnership that will keep them on a level playing field.  Ever hopeful, I pray it develops into full-blown romance more than a merger.

Final analysis:
What a thoroughly intriguing trilogy!  I was on the proverbial “rollercoaster ride” throughout the series with all the twists and turns inside Waldgrave and out.  There were maddening constants that kept me on edge:  Lena’s choices weren’t always cautious (but she is a teenager); while so closely guarded at one point, the author kept her on the run for far too reasonable a time by any parent/guardian’s standards (why Uncle Howard wasn’t more proactive bothered me!); and my biggest complaint were too many adults looking out for themselves.  Whenever Lena had the gumption to ask her mother about the past, Ava would tell her she couldn’t handle it.  Actually, Ava kept to a “pick and choose” mentality where the truth was concerned and I couldn’t believe the author would think her audience so forgiving.  In the end, I loved watching Lena’s evolution from child to young woman.  

As much as I’ve highlighted in this review of the trilogy, there is so much left for you to love.  I couldn’t have asked for a better ending (yes, I screamed out loud!), but the epilogue…floored me.  Surely there’s more to come…right??!!  A worthy read to be enjoyed by all ages.  I’m ready for more.   

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Author