Aleksandra Layland is a retired civil engineer and federal civil servant who worked primarily for the United States Air Force as a senior installation engineering manager responsible for buildings, airfields, infrastructure, fire protection, and emergency preparedness. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Western Caroline Islands where she helped build school classrooms and cafeterias, low-income housing, and simple village water distribution systems.
Reviewed by Courtnee Turner Hoyle for Readers' Favorite
Aleksandra Layland captures the attention of young adults and more experienced readers alike in Leofric of Longridge: A Windflower Saga Novella. Leofric was raised by Brother Ermen in the Longridge Monastery from the time he was a toddler. Later, Leofric was taught lessons by the other monks and learned many skills such as fishing and self-defense. At age fourteen, Leofric was waiting to study in another town when tragedy struck the monastery. Vowing revenge, Leofric altered his path, but his determination and work ethic help him in ways he couldn’t have anticipated.
To make a hero from her epic fantasy more accessible to a wider audience, Aleksandra Layland has written a novella about Leofric, who is featured in her Windflower Saga. Readers who don’t know the exceptional hero will meet him for the first time, but those who have been curious about his early life will be drawn to these pages. Dive into the world of Kimbria and learn that even a hero has fears and insecurities as a child and teen, but the challenges Leofric faced helped mold him into a strong man. The author provides enough detail to immerse readers and commit them to the fate of her well-developed characters. The accompanying illustrations give readers a visual reference for those with whom they form special attachments. Layland has crafted a tale that will draw readers in from the first chapter and keep them engaged. Leofric of Longridge is a great choice for readers who enjoy fantasy novels without intense scenes.
