Stormwaker

Bewilderness Book Four

Young Adult - Fantasy - General
302 Pages
Reviewed on 04/02/2024
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Miche Arendse for Readers' Favorite

In an epic adventure to stop the Shadows from taking over every corner of the universe, Stormwaker by Kevin Cox follows Ambrielle and Gavian in their attempt to save the world. Having finally figured out a way to destroy the Nulthereals, Ambrielle and Gavian travel in search of the shadowstones while also trying to find a way to seal the rifts between worlds. Not as easy a task as it sounds and, to make matters worse, they have a sinister presence lurking around every corner, ready to strike.

Stormwaker by Kevin Cox is a brilliant read following on from the third book. While it was easy enough to get into, I will advise reading the previous books. That being my only ‘criticism,’ I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book. As always, Cox is a master at world-building and every scene is so vividly described without getting overly wordy. The expansive worlds, races, and cultures you see in the book, along with the lore, make it such a joy to read because you really feel as though you’ve been transported to another world. The pacing was also really good, especially considering that this book takes place at a pinnacle point in the overall story. There were plenty of action and mysteries to uncover but what I loved most was how there was still so much of this world to be discovered within the story. This shows the amount of time and thought that went into this book. Stormwaker is genuinely good and well worth the read.

K.C. Finn

Stormwaker is a work of fiction in the fantasy adventure, action, and interpersonal drama subgenres, and forms the fourth novel in the Bewilderness book series. The work is intended for the young adult reading audience and was penned by author Kevin Cox. Ambrielle, yearning for a life beyond the ordinary, teams up with Gavian to uncover the secrets of a long-lost civilization. Their journey is fraught with peril as they're pursued by a shadowy antagonist. As they explore the enigmatic vaults of an ancient alien race, the story takes on a richly mystical and historical dimension. Against the backdrop of Gavian's war-torn homeland, they embark on a mission to seal the rift between worlds and thwart the imminent threat of the Shadows.

Author Kevin Cox has crafted a deeply immersive world filled with ancient secrets and profound challenges, making the central quest both exciting and thought-provoking as we navigate past and present to search for the truth. Amidst this fast-paced and intricately penned adventure plot, there is also a story of courage, friendship, and self-development that tugs at readers' emotions. The narrative skillfully balances action with moments of reflection on the characters' journey and their growing bond, so there’s never a dull moment, but we also get plenty of heart and learning opportunities along the way. I was especially impressed by Gavian’s journey and the shadows of the past that have to be gradually laid to rest in order to forge a new future. Overall, fans of the series so far will not be disappointed by the high-quality thrills and emotional drama of Stormwaker, and I’d recommend this novel and the Bewilderness series in general for YA fantasy fans everywhere.

Essien Asian

Ambrielle's deep feelings for Gavian motivate her to tag along with him on his quest to find his friends. Their journey takes the couple back to Isodonia where they find the land in the middle of a civil war. Gurrians, a race of violent giants, have overrun the place and are seemingly destroying cities at random. Gavian takes it upon himself to rescue his friends before they become casualties of this war, using a combination of a special weapon he has and Ambrellia's newly discovered gift. Will they succeed or will Isodonia fall like the others before it? Only time will tell in Stormwaker by Kevin Cox.

Kevin Cox's Stormwalker has two friends laying down their lives to restore order in a faraway world. The storyline is complex as one must first familiarize oneself with the principal players, and there are many of them, to get a real grasp of the world Cox has created. Cox does an excellent job of drawing in the reader when crafting this story as he includes elements of a potential time travel loop into the story arc by way of Gavian and Amnrielle's findings in the vault and the interesting explanation about the Kavekkians. Ambrielle and Gavian's budding romance is anything but straightforward with the introduction of other possible characters that fit perfectly into that triangle as the story progresses. The battle sequences are detailed enough for one to feel like they are a part of the action and the conversation between the characters helps when understanding the reasons behind Gavian's name change. Even though Stormwaker is the fourth book of an extensive series, it stands alone admirably courtesy of Cox's impressive storytelling.