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Born and raised in Massachusetts, Joel now lives and writes in Coral Gables, Florida. A reluctant reader at a young age until his mother encouraged him to pick up Tolkien's The Hobbit, thereby unlocking the wide new world of his imagination. Since, Joel has found inspiration from a variety of authors, from Swift and Carroll to Dickens and Poe. Joel is an avid New England sports fan and loves the outdoors, fishing and golfing among his favorite activities. Joel's first book, Finding Love At First Sight won the Reader's Favorite award in 2011 in the Fiction Humor category. For more information on Joel you can visit his web page at www.joelborelli.com.
Reviewed by Bil Howard for Readers' Favorite
"The Last Defender" is a fantasy fiction novel that is packed with plenty of action as Varek Hai storms forward defending the Mother’s peace. He is the last of a breed of warriors. He is guided by a magical ring that directs him in his quest. He is aided by a fearless commander of the King’s army of Manoa, Nesral, as they seek to recover an adolescent boy, Slarech, who holds special powers of which he is unaware, who has been kidnapped by an evil wizard, Vigomane, who hopes to use those special powers to his own dreadful ends. They follow the kidnapper and his army through the mountains and into the veil which divides the worlds of the living and the dead. They emerge from the veil into a magical forest where the animals are able to morph themselves into human form. These Vergmani are defenders of the Staff and Stone that had been placed in a Grotto on a hill in the forest. They join Varek Hai in a battle against an army of Vorg’s who are men that were changed into the creatures of whatever evil character qualities they possess by the wizard Vigomane. Their interest in the kidnapped boy is not quite the same as Varek Hai, as they believe that the boy is merely stealing the Staff and Stone which they are sworn to protect, but their alliance is necessary if they are to defeat the plans of Vigomane.
This is a very well-written fantasy adventure with plenty of action and plenty of unique characters. The character development and visual imagery that the author uses to tell this story is of a high, literary quality and the reader becomes very much involved with the entire unfolding of the plot. One is able to visualize in vivid detail creatures that do not exist in reality as though they were a normal part of everyday life. The quest upon which the hero embarks is suspenseful and keeps the reader turning pages to find out what new event, creature or place will be unveiled next. For those who love fantasy or adventures, this is a must read and something that will certainly fit the most seasoned palate. There is room at the closing of this book for a sequel, so it is likely that there is a complete series in the offing. Read "The Last Defender" and enjoy a wild ride through a fantasy world with a capable hero.
