The Winds of Change is the first book in the science fantasy series The Elements of Time, written by the Canadian author Sam Paisley. A new adult coming of age story at first sight which slowly evolves into a more complex plot, following a pair of friends whose life will definitely change after their encounter with a mysterious man.

Cooper and Reid are two friends in their last year of high school, their worries don't go further than what they will do the next year; but when a mysterious masked man approaches them to ask for assistance to stop a heretic, they will start a journey that takes them to unknown worlds and put them in the middle in a timeless war between immortals. But if we learn something soon, is that appearances are deceiving, and our pair will need to learn much before really taking a side in the conflict.

A novel with an intriguing and imaginative worldbuilding, especially creative during the trials our heroes have to endure in order to prove themselves worthy; there is also a really cute animal companion you should really know. And in the center of all, our two friends that are the definition of besties; they complement each other perfectly, making a really balanced pair.

I have to say that I found the pacing the weak point of this book, as it was too slow-burn for my taste, especially taking into account the coming of age nature of this book; the writing is really competent, but I would have preferred less exposition in the first part of the book. We can find ourselves a bit confused by the given info.

Said that, if you are looking for a new adult coming of age story, with relatable characters, The Winds of Change fulfills perfectly that definition; a solid debut by Sam Paisley, who I hope to continue exploring this universe.