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Perilous Realm #2
The Fathomless Fire
"The Perilous Realm is not just a world with stories in it. This world is Story. Whatever you might find in a story, you will find here. Adventures, strange encounters, riddles. Heroes and monsters. Bravery, goodness and terrible evil."
Will has returned from his exhilarating adventure in the Realm and is back at home with his family trying to go through the motions of ordinary life. But he is dogged by feelings of restlessness and is desperate to see Rowen again. It's not long before he obeys the irresistible pull to return to Fable and resumes his quest. Will is shocked to discover that in the time since he left he's become a legend. He is greeted as a returning hero. Soon enough, Will may have to test his true Rowen is missing and in great danger. Will must stop the evil Malabron before Rowen and all of Fable are swept up by his wicked scheme.
Will has returned from his exhilarating adventure in the Realm and is back at home with his family trying to go through the motions of ordinary life. But he is dogged by feelings of restlessness and is desperate to see Rowen again. It's not long before he obeys the irresistible pull to return to Fable and resumes his quest. Will is shocked to discover that in the time since he left he's become a legend. He is greeted as a returning hero. Soon enough, Will may have to test his true Rowen is missing and in great danger. Will must stop the evil Malabron before Rowen and all of Fable are swept up by his wicked scheme.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 10, 2012
About the author
Thomas Wharton
34 books170 followersI live near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and write for grown-ups and children. My newest novel, The Book of Rain, will be published by Random House Canada in 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 3, 2014
My only regret is that I never discovered this series, The Perilous Realm sooner so I would have read the first episode earlier. The Fathomless Fire is the second of this trilogy. But for excitement and fascination, we are quickly whisked away into the current realm and all its secrets.
What happens to a story when it never ends, when for some reason the telling of the story is never finished? This is the heart of this trilogy and what makes it so interesting. Though this is the second book of 'The Perilous Realm' trilogy there is enough to connect the reader to the first and in my case, to cause me to want to read the first. I loved this book! Well written, well researched, the reader will find bits and pieces of stories familiar and not so familiar, just enough to follow what is going on.
Thomas Warton has given us an adventure to remember, with all the accouterments to excite and thrill all ages. Dragons, ogres, dwarves bringing a brief touch of Snow White in a tangled web at one point. Young people leading us on unknown and hidden paths leading to danger or safety, which will it be? Nothing is ever as it seems. Our young human from our world is a hero, a pathfinder in the Shadow Realm. I can see so many bits and pieces of stories immersed, entangled, and disappearing throughout this book, many triggering memories of long ago.
This is an action adventure story steeped in magic and fantasy. Reading the middle book first makes me long to read the first and the last; otherwise, I would never know what the beginning and ending would be. An imaginative and clever trip through a very special world. It leads me to wonder whatever happens to stories never told but kept within. Those stories only heard in our own creative imaginations, which are left unsaid. Is it possible when we put pen to paper, our stories are struggling to come out? Altogether I see many possible scenarios any of which I would love to be a part of, whether magically inspired or humanly executed.
What happens to a story when it never ends, when for some reason the telling of the story is never finished? This is the heart of this trilogy and what makes it so interesting. Though this is the second book of 'The Perilous Realm' trilogy there is enough to connect the reader to the first and in my case, to cause me to want to read the first. I loved this book! Well written, well researched, the reader will find bits and pieces of stories familiar and not so familiar, just enough to follow what is going on.
Thomas Warton has given us an adventure to remember, with all the accouterments to excite and thrill all ages. Dragons, ogres, dwarves bringing a brief touch of Snow White in a tangled web at one point. Young people leading us on unknown and hidden paths leading to danger or safety, which will it be? Nothing is ever as it seems. Our young human from our world is a hero, a pathfinder in the Shadow Realm. I can see so many bits and pieces of stories immersed, entangled, and disappearing throughout this book, many triggering memories of long ago.
This is an action adventure story steeped in magic and fantasy. Reading the middle book first makes me long to read the first and the last; otherwise, I would never know what the beginning and ending would be. An imaginative and clever trip through a very special world. It leads me to wonder whatever happens to stories never told but kept within. Those stories only heard in our own creative imaginations, which are left unsaid. Is it possible when we put pen to paper, our stories are struggling to come out? Altogether I see many possible scenarios any of which I would love to be a part of, whether magically inspired or humanly executed.
March 21, 2018
It was a wonderful, good read and quickly whisks you away into the land of story. Thomas Wharton is a fantastic author and I hope he re-opens this series.
November 5, 2024
Not my favourite from the Perilous Realm but I really enjoy Wharton's writing nonetheless. Rowen's character development in this novel is *chef's kiss*.
February 27, 2017
After reading the first book I had to find the second and was not let down by this fantastic continuation of the Perilous Realm where you are given the characters you love once more and find yourself loving a cast of new characters within the mix.
All in all if you enjoyed the first book this will not disappoint and if you have not read the first book and enjoy fantasy I highly recommend you do so.
All in all if you enjoyed the first book this will not disappoint and if you have not read the first book and enjoy fantasy I highly recommend you do so.
February 3, 2012
Reason for Reading: Next in the series.
The first book in this trilogy was published in 2008 and I read it at that time. That book had ended with the conclusion of it's main plot although leaving it open for a next book to carry on with an overall arching plot. I had basically forgotten about this series when I saw the second volume was finally out and vaguely remembering a fondness for the story decided to carry on with it. I barely remembered any of the plot of book one as I went into this but that was ok because this book starts off with a brief page and a half summary of book one and then throughout the story mentions events from book one to refresh the readers' memory. These bits certainly don't go into any great details, but are welcomed by a reader who was with the author four years ago for the first book.
I had some issues with the first book and they've been solved this time around. Will is a much more fleshed out character and I've grown more fond of him. Again this is a typical high fantasy story with a quest and a motley cast of travelling companions. Joining Will is old friend Shade the wolf, and eventually Flinn Madoc the Dwarf but we have a new fun and interesting character in Balor the wildman. Once again, even though I enjoyed the story and characters, I did find it a slow read, like the first one and I find it hard to explain way, except perhaps the writing style. While I was hooked on the plot, I just didn't find it a page-turner. Wharton has created a unique world here in which Will Lightfoot can travel from his own Earth with the convenience that weeks on Earth are equal to about a year in the Story Realm allowing him much time to complete his adventures.
This book doesn't have quite as satisfying an ending as book one did. Yes, the main subplot that runs through the volume is solved and comes to a conclusion but the over all story arch running throughout both volumes is more pronounced in this book and the final ending, while not being a cliffhanger, is indeed a foreshadowing of what is to come in the next volume. With this kind of ending I can only hope readers do not have to wait another four years for the next book! Recommended for those who like their fantasies to consist of a quest with evil vs good and a cast of characters such as dwarfs, wildmen, horsemen, mages, seers, etc.
The first book in this trilogy was published in 2008 and I read it at that time. That book had ended with the conclusion of it's main plot although leaving it open for a next book to carry on with an overall arching plot. I had basically forgotten about this series when I saw the second volume was finally out and vaguely remembering a fondness for the story decided to carry on with it. I barely remembered any of the plot of book one as I went into this but that was ok because this book starts off with a brief page and a half summary of book one and then throughout the story mentions events from book one to refresh the readers' memory. These bits certainly don't go into any great details, but are welcomed by a reader who was with the author four years ago for the first book.
I had some issues with the first book and they've been solved this time around. Will is a much more fleshed out character and I've grown more fond of him. Again this is a typical high fantasy story with a quest and a motley cast of travelling companions. Joining Will is old friend Shade the wolf, and eventually Flinn Madoc the Dwarf but we have a new fun and interesting character in Balor the wildman. Once again, even though I enjoyed the story and characters, I did find it a slow read, like the first one and I find it hard to explain way, except perhaps the writing style. While I was hooked on the plot, I just didn't find it a page-turner. Wharton has created a unique world here in which Will Lightfoot can travel from his own Earth with the convenience that weeks on Earth are equal to about a year in the Story Realm allowing him much time to complete his adventures.
This book doesn't have quite as satisfying an ending as book one did. Yes, the main subplot that runs through the volume is solved and comes to a conclusion but the over all story arch running throughout both volumes is more pronounced in this book and the final ending, while not being a cliffhanger, is indeed a foreshadowing of what is to come in the next volume. With this kind of ending I can only hope readers do not have to wait another four years for the next book! Recommended for those who like their fantasies to consist of a quest with evil vs good and a cast of characters such as dwarfs, wildmen, horsemen, mages, seers, etc.
January 17, 2012
In this sequeal to The Shadow of Malabron Thomas Wharton takes us back into the land of story as Will discovers that his friends are in danger and it is up to him to help them to safety again. Rowen begins to learn more about her legacy and future under the watchful eye of her grandfather, the loremaster but as the forces of darkness close in she is forced to go foward on her own.
I really enjoyed this book, as I did the first. Wharton has a great way of weaving original thoughts with classic characters and tales. I can only hope that it doesn't take another four years for the next book. I just can't wait that long.
I really enjoyed this book, as I did the first. Wharton has a great way of weaving original thoughts with classic characters and tales. I can only hope that it doesn't take another four years for the next book. I just can't wait that long.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 8, 2012Read for professional review.
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January 24, 2014Not as good as the first but still really great!!! I love this series! Thomas Wharton is a great writer!
June 9, 2015
This is book two and it shows. While some cool stuff happened (I especially enjoyed the skyships), there was little resolution. Most of the plot is building towards book three.
January 9, 2016
Very good. I don't think it was as excellent as the first one for sure but I still liked it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews