Book Review: Teneo

In another world called Teneo, there is a girl named Mu’n. Danger is surrounding her, and she isn’t sure how she will survive. Not only that, but for some reason, a boy named Novian has found some sort of mental link with her. On Novian’s side, he has just started to learn about being an elf and the world elves live in. Changes are all around him, and he can’t even seem to keep his mind in his own body! Both of them will have to keep their wits about them if they want to survive the dangers ahead.

If you are looking for an easy fantasy young adult novel, Teneo  by N. Dunne might be a good choice to check out. This novel is fairly short with a nice light feel to it. I actually think that one of the best things about this book is how easy and quick it is read. It is a shorter book, page wise, and it is written in a very simple way that allows the reader to move through it fairly quickly. It definitely reads like the young adult novel it is.

As for the characters, I enjoyed Mu’n as one of the main characters. I really like how she is a smart and competent young girl who is content in her life. Of course, her life is upset when she is hurtled into danger, but she is confident in herself and her abilities. She makes quick judgements when she needs to. She handles every situation calmly and smartly. Plus, she’s very kind. I think there are a lot of great qualities to admire about her, and she adds a lot to the story.

I also enjoyed the world of Teneo. I enjoyed learning about the different kinds of people and cultures that exist on Teneo. Although I feel like I have seen some of the magic and cultures in other stories before, I feel like Dunne changed some of the details, and connected them together in a fresh intriguing way. The magic was one of the most engaging aspects, and I wish there had been a little bit more to it. I feel like there is a good foundation for Dunne to build upon his current foundation in future books.

Now, as far as our other main character, Novian, is concerned, I felt like his side of the adventure was weaker than Mu’n’s. Novian was a little less believable as a character, at least to me, because he accepts everything very easily. He was born and raised on Earth with no clue that elves, magic, or other worlds exist, but when he learns about it, he just accepts it right away. In fact, throughout the whole book, he just accepts everything he learns right away without questioning anything or freaking out. I feel like it’s a bit too easy to be realistic. I wish that there had been a bit more to his discovery of the elven world along with more adjustment time for him to adjust to his new more complicated life.