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Fantasy adventure. Inspirational allegory. The journey of a lifetime.
Young Iliff believes his prison world to be all there is. But when a stranger tells him the incredible story of a long-ago escapee, Iliff resolves to learn the truth. Thus begins his journey to find the Sun, a magnificent power from which all things are said to originate -- including him. But first he must venture beyond the very walls he is charged with upholding and into realms deep and dark, where fearsome creatures lurk.
A fantasy-based search for one's true self, The Prisoner and the Sun Trilogy will be enjoyed by fans of The Alchemist and Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
Escape is followed by Lights & Shadows and Final Passage.
Appropriate for ages 10 and older
Young Iliff believes his prison world to be all there is. But when a stranger tells him the incredible story of a long-ago escapee, Iliff resolves to learn the truth. Thus begins his journey to find the Sun, a magnificent power from which all things are said to originate -- including him. But first he must venture beyond the very walls he is charged with upholding and into realms deep and dark, where fearsome creatures lurk.
A fantasy-based search for one's true self, The Prisoner and the Sun Trilogy will be enjoyed by fans of The Alchemist and Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
Escape is followed by Lights & Shadows and Final Passage.
Appropriate for ages 10 and older
165 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2011
13 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Brad Magnarella
50 books379 followersBrad Magnarella writes urban fantasy for the same reason most read it – to explore worlds where magic crackles from fingertips, vampires and shifters walk city streets, cats talk (some excessively), and good prevails against all odds. It’s shamelessly fun.
His three main series, Prof Croft, Blue Wolf, and Maddy Deeds, make up the growing Croftverse, with nearly a half-million books sold to date and an Independent Audiobook Award nomination.
Hopelessly nomadic, Brad can be found in a rented room overseas or hiking America's backcountry.
To learn more about the Croftverse, and download two free prequel novellas, visit his website at bradmagnarella.com
His three main series, Prof Croft, Blue Wolf, and Maddy Deeds, make up the growing Croftverse, with nearly a half-million books sold to date and an Independent Audiobook Award nomination.
Hopelessly nomadic, Brad can be found in a rented room overseas or hiking America's backcountry.
To learn more about the Croftverse, and download two free prequel novellas, visit his website at bradmagnarella.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 3, 2012
I enjoyed this story. It took me a little bit to get used to the writing style (I don't know why, but it almost seemed like reading the Bible). But once I did, I was really sucked in to this man's journey. It is such an interesting tale which is trying to answer the questions (as least for Iliff) where did we come from? what are we doing? where are we going?
August 5, 2011
Escape (The Prisoner and the Sun Book #1) – Could Not Put It Down!!
Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Author: Brad Magnarella
Format: Kindle
With trowel in hand, Iliff labored daily in his underground prison to repair the ever increasing fissures forming on the prison walls Not knowing any other existence than the confines he lived within, a strange old man approaches him and tells him the unbelievable – that there is life beyond the walls. Not only that, there is something called a sun. Journey to the sun – the old man tells him. It is life’s true quest. At first, Iliff thinks the old man is crazy, but the truth of the man’s words slowly seep into Iliff’s brain. If there are walls, there must be something beyond the walls – it only makes sense. But is it worth risking everything and all you know to leave especially if there is no way to come back?
“Escape – The Prisoner and the Sun Book #1”, by Brad Magnarella, is a one of the best books I’ve read this year. I really enjoyed this book and honestly could not put it down. I suppose if falls in the fantasy genre with some magic, trolls, and talking stags. But these are not what anchor the story. It is Iliff and his journey to find what life really is – not the prison he was confined to. Is Iliffs journey an allegory for life? What of his relationship with Troll – what does it represent? Will he reach the sun and what significance is it? If he returns to his prison and tries to convince others of the outside world, will they look upon him as they did with the old man? All these questions and more were eating at me as I devoured the pages wanting to know the answers. As I read Escape, I was reminded of “The Allegory of the Cave” in Plato’s classic – The Republic. Would Iliff suffer a similar fate? As I neared the end of the book, my excitement built but so did my dismay as it would soon be over.
So why only 4.5 stars and not 5? Because this is only book one in a trilogy. I never did get my answers from the end of book one so hooray, more for me to enjoy! But would it meet my expectations and resolve all these questions satisfactorily? If yes, this is easily 5 stars, if not still a good solid 4 stars. Given the strength of book one, I’m optimistic. At $0.99 on Kindle this is one heck of a deal. Definitely one of my favorites this year.
Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Author: Brad Magnarella
Format: Kindle
With trowel in hand, Iliff labored daily in his underground prison to repair the ever increasing fissures forming on the prison walls Not knowing any other existence than the confines he lived within, a strange old man approaches him and tells him the unbelievable – that there is life beyond the walls. Not only that, there is something called a sun. Journey to the sun – the old man tells him. It is life’s true quest. At first, Iliff thinks the old man is crazy, but the truth of the man’s words slowly seep into Iliff’s brain. If there are walls, there must be something beyond the walls – it only makes sense. But is it worth risking everything and all you know to leave especially if there is no way to come back?
“Escape – The Prisoner and the Sun Book #1”, by Brad Magnarella, is a one of the best books I’ve read this year. I really enjoyed this book and honestly could not put it down. I suppose if falls in the fantasy genre with some magic, trolls, and talking stags. But these are not what anchor the story. It is Iliff and his journey to find what life really is – not the prison he was confined to. Is Iliffs journey an allegory for life? What of his relationship with Troll – what does it represent? Will he reach the sun and what significance is it? If he returns to his prison and tries to convince others of the outside world, will they look upon him as they did with the old man? All these questions and more were eating at me as I devoured the pages wanting to know the answers. As I read Escape, I was reminded of “The Allegory of the Cave” in Plato’s classic – The Republic. Would Iliff suffer a similar fate? As I neared the end of the book, my excitement built but so did my dismay as it would soon be over.
So why only 4.5 stars and not 5? Because this is only book one in a trilogy. I never did get my answers from the end of book one so hooray, more for me to enjoy! But would it meet my expectations and resolve all these questions satisfactorily? If yes, this is easily 5 stars, if not still a good solid 4 stars. Given the strength of book one, I’m optimistic. At $0.99 on Kindle this is one heck of a deal. Definitely one of my favorites this year.
July 13, 2023
Very "meh" fantasy.
January 17, 2013
I expected sf and got fantasy. I don't normally read fantasy but this was fairly well told, decent enough characters, an engaging story that moved along well too.
You could tell it was part of a series with no real ending as such but it wasn't half bad at all.
You could tell it was part of a series with no real ending as such but it wasn't half bad at all.
September 27, 2015
Very slow - the ending left you wanting to know what happens next, but not wanting to read an entire book just to know. Bland and for the most part... Uninteresting and slow. Good thing when I got this book the kindle version was free.
January 19, 2013
I enjoyed this book... The man in the story finds out that the life in prison, the only place he remembers is not all there is .
February 17, 2013
It was interesting but it dragged in some places. It felt like there were a lot of depressing parts. I was hooked enough to read the second one though.
September 4, 2019
I will NOT be continuing this series... Very slow and boring book.
March 20, 2013
I liked this book. Not my normal thing I read but still good.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews