Elphie Earns Her Wings

By: S. C. Delaney

Narrated by: Melanie Esplin

Elphie Earns Her Wings is the coming-of-age story of the rebellious half-fairy, half-pixie–fixie, Elphie Askul who, despite her parents’ banishment and her own differences, demonstrates courage, empathy, and teamwork to earn her wings and become a full-fledged member of her troupe.

Once upon a dewdrop, pixies and fairies lived together in the land of Eludia.

Moon and Sun populated their secret land with their favorite living things, allowing the animals they chose to live their lives, have children, and then eventually transition from this world to the next. It's unclear whether a fairy or pixie first discovered Eludia (the old knowledge is lost), but what is known is that the powers of both fairies and pixies were needed to create their home in Eludia. Here they lived separately, but together, in a cluster of home trees called Homestead. Moon and Sun allowed their presence but dictated that fairies and pixies could never blend their families.

The Wonderfolke obliged. Those who transgressed were banished from Homestead.

Po and Marri Golde were one such couple that was exiled. The pixie and fairy were deeply in love. This is the story of their daughter, Elphie Askul. Despite her parents’ banishment, Elphie earns her wings to become a full member of her troupe.

©2024 S.C. Delaney (P)2025 S.C. Delaney

A fun adventure through a semi-familiar fantasy world

The world-building flowed well with the multiple stories within the main arc. The author deftly introduced small twists on classic fantasy elements that didn’t rub this casual fantasy fan the wrong way. Lots of fantasy has a unique protagonist born of extreme circumstances. It’s refreshing to have one born with unique abilities but sourced from regular life events like love and tradition.

As I was reading, I visualized how this would translate well into an animated kids' series on Netflix or Amazon.