In Jaran, we meet Tess—a young woman who isn't comfortable as her brother's heir and isn't sure how to find a different role. She stumbles into intrigue on the world of Rhui and finds purpose as she works to solve the puzzle. As she settles in, Tess begins to understand the jaran people who adopted her, the lands she rides through, and what it means to be human and adapt to change. Elliot's world and character building is deep and rich; while this first book requires patience, the result is worth it. All four books of this series are worth the investment of time.