Unfortunately this book has gone in my DNF pile. It just wasn't engaging me like it would have years ago when I first requested it. My reading tastes have changed a lot over the years as I've gotten older and unfortunately some of the books requested years ago have been affected by my reading tastes and the fact that a lot of books for younger audiences haven't been grasping my attention as of late. I thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you so much to net galley for sending me a copy of this book. I love this series and this book did not disappoint

Lynette Noni manages to build a whole, other, magical world while still giving readers the comforts of home. Readers get to return to the world we left in Akarnae and join Alex and her friends as they fight for Medora.

I will admit that I didn't know that this book was a sequel and so I had to find the sequel BUT I am glad that I had the opportunity to read this series because it is so imaginative. I know that the description describes it as a Harry Potter meets Narnia but it is so much more than that. I don't want to get into too much detail because, once again, it's a sequel but don't sleep on this series1

Well, my friend had to call me and sit there in silence while I made various pterodactyl noises so I think that adequately describes this book.

Great book! Had me not wanting to put it down. Could not wait to see how it was going to end.

"There's a great difference between knowing what's right and being able to hold onto it in the face of adversity." - Raelia by Lynette Noni 

It's only after reading Raelia that I realise just how powerful Alex's power was and how magical the world is. Arkanae set the scene but Raelia delivered the story like no other and at the end I was really shocked! I can understand why a cliff-hanger like that could make the wait for the next book Draekora so difficult for fans. Another part that I loved about Raelia is that Lynette Noni has allowed platonic relationships to thrive in her fantasy world. It really sets this book apart from other YA novels for me and I feel that this book really made the characters compelling and loveable. I highly recommend this read if you loved Akarnae or even if Akarnae didn't float your boat, I still highly recommend giving Raelia a chance as it's really THAT good that will change your mind and convert you to this fantasy series!

Raelia, Lynette Noni’s follow up to her debut Akarnae, starts off almost too good to be true. Alex’s parents find out she’s been missing for the better part of a year because she was attending a magical school in a fantasy world and they’re just cool with it. In fact, they insist on accompanying her to this fantasy world for the next year so they can explore it themselves. A little bit of magical convenience, but I won’t question it – any chance I have to follow Alex back through that magical door, I will take it! I loved the world Noni created for us and couldn’t wait to continue exploring it. 

As a whole, Raelia had a similar vibe to Akarnea and Noni gave us a chance to explore the world even more in depth, which is always my favourite part. I love the scenarios she came up with, she even created her own language for some characters, the world building is strong and even though there’s still elements familiar from other fantasy series, Noni still manages to put her own imaginative spin on things which, if nothing else, is just a whole lot of fun to read about. 

What vibe didn’t seem the same, however, was my impression of Alex. I initially loved her sarcastic, don’t-understand-how-little-ol’-me-can-be-the-chosen-one attitude, but this time around it became a bit more gritting, like the pretty-girl-not-knowing-she’s-pretty trope, which has really started irritating me. She’s obviously brave and strong, she does many things to prove that, but I’m starting to get tired of characters not knowing their worth or lacking the confidence to live in these characteristics. I also noticed that she explained away situations, instead of us actually reading about her doing them, which I felt were missed opportunities. 

Alex questions and fears every situation that is presented to her, she openly tries to avoid any challenge and she’s constantly claiming that she’s fine, that everything is fine, when it’s clearly not. I get that she’s growing into herself and being faced with some pretty crazy and defining things, but you can still show that hesitance and vulnerability without seeming like a frightened and sometimes immature child every time she turns a corner. The mixture of traits just wasn’t doing it for me this time around, unfortunately. 

 Looking at characters, however, we’re introduced to a few more this time around as Alex joins an elite Sleuth and Subterfuge class. This adds a bit more variety to her crew, but also develops a bit of a love interest for her in Kaiden, who I actually really super adored. It wasn’t anything too over the top yet, but you could see a connection between the two and that’s one relationship I will definitely be rooting to see more of. 

This wasn’t the most difficult book to follow, it was pretty easy to see where things were heading and even the twists and turns weren’t that surprising, except for the ending, which threw me for a total loop and flung me off that cliff, hanging, waiting to see what comes next. This book seemed to set up the scene a bit more and train Alex for a journey to come, but I think the next installment will be full of more adventure with the focus actually on destroying the big bad guy and returning things to their normal state.

This book was Awesome! This is the type of book that makes you annoyed at being interrupted.  I devoured this in one day.  Alex is a strong character.  She is easily likable and I loved everything Kaiden.  Medora is mesmerizing and I love getting to know the characters and their powers.

Wow. That was a surprise ending and quite a twist. 

Noni builds so much intrigue between the different factions that its hard to put the book down. Her characters are inspired and amusing. They have great chemistry and are a delight to read. The world is expanded in mystical ways, and I can't wait to explore more of in book 3. 

While I remember the first book opened in America, there are a few references that do not fit with an American character like "mum" and "realised." This is a minor nitpick. 

Like book 1, Noni successfully transports her readers to a wonderful world with multifaceted characters in both teens and adults in "Raelia." I'm quite excited for the next books in this series. 

"Life is full of crossroads, Alex. Full of choices. There are many paths we can take. It's up to us to decide which ones lead in the right direction."

Kept hearing about the series via little book owl on YouTube. She recommended this series several times, I was not disappointed

“Life is full of crossroads, Alex. Full of choices. There are many paths we can take. It’s up to us to decide which ones lead in the right direction.”
 
Raelia, the second book in the stunning Medoran Chronicles, by Lynette Noni is just as exquisite as the first book. Full of danger, adventure, intrigue and gorgeous imagery, this series is a must read for anyone who loves wildly imaginative fantasy. Alex is back for her second year at Akarnae Academy with her best friends and a full load of classes. Trying to keep one step ahead of the banished Meyarin prince Aven after narrowly escaping him the year before, Alex must learn how to protect herself and those closest to her. If Aven gains access to a doorway to Meya and claims his birthright every world will be at risk. A fantasy rooted in good and evil, the villain is key and Aven is an excellent villain: crafty, deliciously sinister, and oh so mysterious.  

Alex is an incredible heroine: intelligent, feisty and very sarcastic with remarkable character growth. A complex character with the weight of the world on her shoulders, she has astonishing potential as a heroine and is in some of the most difficult classes. Her growth as a character is evident as she becomes a force of power both mentally and physically. Alex learns to fight hard for what she believes in during her nonstop adventures; despite this she is still good for many laughs with her verbal gaffes.  

The friendships in this narrative are perfection. I loathe stories that ruin every boy-girl friendship by forcing them to turn into a romance, that is not realistic. Alex, Bear and Jordan are #squadgoals! I love how they tease each other, are each other’s support system, and are like siblings, not love interests. Bear is fantastic; seriously his family is one of the greatest parts of the story. His quiet intelligence and understated strength make him a force to be reckoned with. Jordan is cheeky and just so fun. Loyal and loving, his strength in this story is tested in so many ways. Dix (D.C.) plays a much larger role in book two and it is great to see her influence on the narrative. One of my favorite characters from book one was Kaiden, he played such a minor role, but clearly had a future. He is protective of Alex, but also respectful of her abilities, which I love, plus he is a total heartthrob. I really appreciate how they are becoming friends first and I look forward to seeing where this relationship goes. 

The world building is complex and beautiful, building upon expertly plotted out layers that I love to piece together. If I had to attend a magical school, the idea of a school for essentially X-Men definitely has its appeal, plus the classes sound amazing! I’ve heard this series compared to Harry Potter, Narnia and the X-Men and I can see all of that in the books, but what I mainly see is some thrilling YA fiction with superb writing thanks to the Aussie writer Lynette Noni. I love it! This is an underrated author that definitely deserves a greater following, her Medoran Chronicles are amazing, my only complaint is that the entire series is not done yet especially with that nail biting cliff hanger.    


Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

This was a book that was hard for me to get into, and I found myself putting down several times.  Wasn't able to follow to much through the book.

I loved it,the book was awesome, the plot was captivating and interesting, the plot well developed, the characters strong and the prose beautiful and interesting. The mystery was so perfect it hooked me right in from the beginning and this was a one sit read for me . I loved it and would recommend it to everyone. The book was absolutely fabulous.

I love love LOVE this series! Lynette Noni has created a unique, wonderful and magical world that takes you though plot twists and spins and leaves you feeling breathless at the end for more. I thought the first book in the series 'Akarnae' was fabulous and I was hanging off the edge of my seat to get my hands on the second book, and thank goodness this book holds to the same pattern... more please!

Brilliant loved the first one couldnt wait for the 2nd and i wasent dissapointed.

I loved this book. I thought it was a great second book in the series and I am eagerly anticipating the third.

While I did love this book I felt like more happened in the first book than happened in this one, or this one just built up a little slower for me. I love that Alex gets more training in this one and that we get to see the training, I like that she isn't automatically the best and we get to see her working hard and earning everything she has. I love the friendships in this book and I love that her parents were brought back into this book and that wasn't just left open-ended like a lot of YA books do.

Overall I give it a 4/5 stars and must say that it left off at a perfect cliffhanger to keep me eagerly anticipating the third book.