This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite
I must admit that I am a huge fan of fantasy. It’s my most preferred genre, and the one that I feel has the most promise for true creativity. That being said, I must also admit that I have been getting a bit burned out from my favorite genre lately. Too many fantasy-related books are relying on the same old story lines, the same creatures, even the same types of heroes. So I picked up the new book by author Raymond Bolton, The Awakening: Book One in the Ydron Saga somewhat warily. I needn’t have worried. What we find in this creative and interesting new take on old themes is simply an amazing adventure. Following the story of Prince Regilius, the young man designed specifically to fight his world’s enemy, the Dalthin, an alien species that is encroaching on his people’s very way of life, this book is a fantastic ride from the beginning. When Regilius’ mother kills his own father, and he’s faced with the possibility of killing her to save his people, things get even more intense.
Taking place in a time when steam power is just starting to be developed enough to start to take the place of horses and ships, where Regilius’ followers still use bows and arrows and catapults, but are fighting a powerful species of alien creatures, The Awakening tests the bounds of human loyalty and innovation, friendship, trust and betrayal. Author Raymond Bolton’s ability to integrate alien beings into a feudal kingdom was a masterful piece of work, and one that I am very much looking forward to continuing to read about in future installments in this series.
