Shortened Summary: A stand-alone prequel to The Isles of Gracidea, learn a beloved character's backstory through his eyes.

Review: Although I hadn't read The Isles of Gracidea first, I was intrigued by the prospect this story offered. Since it is set in an AU version of the Pokémon, this gave more freedom in the writing and it shows. Not only do we get a realistic world filled with conflict, but the Pokémon are also shown in new ways. While Pokémon still hold the most power over the elements, people in this world are also capable of this control if they are born with similar abilities. Even though the conflict centers around this power, it also focuses on Loto and his own inner struggles. I also really liked the side characters and how their stories are developed without taking away from the main plotline. Each gets their own backstory to a degree (the main ones at least) and have their own development throughout the tale. Pokémon even get their own stories and development, same as their human counterparts. With an easy to follow plotline that still has twists and turns, MNiL offers something for almost every Pokémon fanfic lover. Adventure. Romance. Pokémon. This story has it all, so give it a try.