Artama returns from E1 to find everything about his home world has changed. A new ruler, D’anor, runs the place with the help of his Kingsmen. Naturally, not everyone is happy with the leadership change, and some push Artama to do something about what they perceive as injustice. Artama refuses, focusing instead on his rising interest in intellectual matters and his love for Kora, whom he left behind. Matters come to a head when one of Artama’s most vocal supporters is arrested by the Kingsmen, and the young hero must decide where his heart lies in Bruce Paul’s Artama And The New Kingdom.

Evil thrives when good men are reluctant to act in Bruce Paul's Artama And The New Kingdom. The character development is superb as Paul expertly crafts the two sides of Artama’s persona, showing his aversion to violence as a solution to the impasse and complementing that with a curiously softer side, highlighted by the well-crafted poems that permeate the narrative. This striking feature repeats itself in many characters' development. The dialogue is interesting to follow, with a fair share dedicated to the intellectual arguments between Artama, his friends, and his father, giving insight into why he does not want to involve himself in open confrontation. Paul pays attention to Artama and Kora’s growing romance, using it significantly to connect with the other installments in The Artama Legend series. He pulls all these features together and combines them with a unique narrative style to create an incredibly realistic one-of-a-kind adventure; one where there are no true villains or heroes but flawed individuals on both sides trying to maintain what they believe is best for everyone. Fantasy and adventure genre enthusiasts will enjoy this beautiful work from a talented author.

Artama & The New Kingdom: The Third Journey by Bruce Paul is the third entry in The Artama Legend series and an imaginative tale filled with adventure, magic, sacrifice, and courage. The story follows the journey of Artama, a young man born with a special gift, as he embarks on a dangerous quest to cross the treacherous Plain — from Eastedge to The Capital to The Honeycomb through the Plain and eventually through the watchtower portal. The narrative introduces readers to an incredible cast of characters and creatures, dangerous secrets, and esoteric writings. Artama is the central character in the narrative, driven by a strong sense of curiosity and adventure. His father, Alagon, is a wise and kind mentor who guides Artama on his journey. This book reads like a metaphorical tale, a physical journey that beautifully reflects the inner workings of the protagonist and the secrets of the universe.

Bruce Paul’s Artama & The New Kingdom is a beautifully crafted, hugely entertaining tale with characters that readers will love. While Artama instantly catches readers' interest, the supporting characters like Zortan and Kora are stunningly sculpted. The author excels at crafting intriguing details into the narrative, and the descriptive prose evokes stunning imagery. The dialogues feel real and natural and are intelligently written to enhance conflict and characterization while exploring the characters' inner worlds. The world-building is impeccably rendered, and readers have a strong sense of place. The plot is suspenseful, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. The author's foreshadowing augments the tension and anticipation. Readers are kept on the edge of their seats, expecting something to happen soon. While this book offers adventure and explores Artama’s courage, it also handles themes of the place of wisdom and the power of knowledge, love, sacrifice, and more. This narrative engages with robust characters, a fully drawn setting, and exciting prose. It is a gorgeous offering for fans of fantasy.

Artama & The New Kingdom: The Third Journey is the third book in The Artama Legend Series by Bruce Paul. The journey of Artama continues as he returns home to E3 with the hope of sharing his knowledge with his people. However, upon his return, he is warned of dark times and that their world has changed. The New Kingdom is full of perils and dangers he never expected. While he did have his beautiful Kora and Cressa by his side, Artama also had to worry about his friends and family. As Hape, Tribb, Cressa, and D’anor worked their hardest to make Artama’s life tough, Artama tries his best to survive and make life easier for his people as well. But what can Artama do when he faces an enemy much stronger than he is? Was there any hope for him?

Although I haven’t read the previous novels in the series, I had no issues with falling in love with the characters. The story itself was great, the pace was perfect, and the overall feel of the narrative was incredible. The chapters were long (which I prefer), and the length made it possible for me to fully immerse myself in the plot. I particularly loved the action and the feel of adventure in the story. Author Bruce Paul’s narrative style is engaging. The narrative was descriptive, the imagery was vivid, and the story itself was refreshing. As for the characters, although I did love Artama and his determination, I really enjoyed Korbin as well. He was hopeful, full of life, and ready to give his best to the cause. He supported Artama and his revolt against D’anor. The story was complex, the characters had enough page space to fully develop, and the ending was shocking, to say the least. I cannot wait to read the first part of the series and experience it all once again.

Artama & The New Kingdom: The Third Journey by Bruce Paul is a captivating fantasy novel and the third installment in The Artama Legend series. After his second journey to planet E1, Artama returns home to E3, where dark times loom. This speculative fiction tale follows Artama’s adventure through the New Kingdom, encountering a variety of characters, both heroic and sinister. Themes of love, knowledge, betrayal, and the nature of life and death permeate the story. Through lyrical prose and a rich array of characters, Paul explores profound ideas about existence, fate, and the mysteries of the universe. Paul’s lyrical writing style elevates this gem of a book from the typical high fantasy genre, offering readers a beautiful and immersive story where the language, world, and atmosphere are just as important as the characters and the story.

Bruce Paul masterfully balances a large cast of characters, each richly developed with brilliant dialogue and interplay that contributes to the emotional depth and complexity as Artama continues to discover more about himself and the universe around him. The vivid world-building takes us through colorful vistas that are cinematically described but also rounded out with multisensory detail. Paul’s creative imagination and attention to detail make you feel as though you’re there experiencing it all with Artama. The sheer depth of philosophical exploration, particularly around life, death, and the cosmos, adds a unique brand of intellectual intrigue to the action-packed storyline. There are plenty of introspective moments devoted to having sudden big-picture moments that give the whole adventure a powerful new context and perspective. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Artama & The New Kingdom: The Third Journey for fans of the series so far, and the series in general to fantasy readers seeking something vividly penned and highly original in its tone and approach.