Ella Jones vs The Battle Noise
Portrayals of disability in fantasy fiction used to be rare, often including a trope where magic was able to ‘remove’ said disability. This is far from the case in the Ella Jones series, where the titular character is vision impaired. Rather than something to be magically waved away, Ella’s vision impairment is central to her story; it makes her uniquely qualified to face the challenges thrown her way. Ella, and not her friends, is the one able to save the world precisely because she is used to experiencing it in a different way.
While this is the second instalment in the series, it is easy to pick up without reading the first. Ella must find an ancient relic before the god of battle noise throws the world into chaos. Written in first person from Ella’s perspective also makes for a unique reading experience. Many books lean heavily on descriptions of what a character sees. Here, descriptions are based on what Ella hears or her guide dog indicates.
The story shines most when focusing on Ella and her friends. Some of the world-building and plot devices feel a little incohesive. There is a mixture of mythologies that feel a little confused (a Greek deity is searching for an Egyptian relic previously owned by a Celtic god) and some of the plot turns are very convenient. That said, there is much to love about Ella Jones, and this is a very charming read.
