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Guardians of the Word #1
Chosen
In Chosen, J. M. Harrison transports us to a world on the cusp of destruction, caught in a thousand year cycle of ever repeating time, trapped between the warring Gods and the demon, Belial, with one young hero chosen to save not just the world, but the Gods themselves.
The epic fantasy begins when Dynan Telaerin falls into the ruins of an ancient city, and a talisman of evil power lands at his feet. Unaware that it’s all by design, he takes the bait and sets in motion a fate worse than death.
Destiny puts him on a corpse-strewn hillside in the demon's realm, uncertain if he’s dead or alive, charged with saving the soul of his ancestor, the most powerful telepath to ever exist. If he fails, the ensuing imbalance will change the fabric of time and imperil everything he knows and loves. When his own brother becomes ensnared in the trap, Dynan's choices unravel before him, leaving him one last thing to give that might save his brother and everyone he loves - his eternal soul.
The running starts, and doesn't stop to the end of this action packed adventure of a young man coming to terms with his life while he's barely a spirit, through horrors he thought existed only in dreams.
Chosen is the first book of a 7 book series, entitled The Guardians of the Word.
The epic fantasy begins when Dynan Telaerin falls into the ruins of an ancient city, and a talisman of evil power lands at his feet. Unaware that it’s all by design, he takes the bait and sets in motion a fate worse than death.
Destiny puts him on a corpse-strewn hillside in the demon's realm, uncertain if he’s dead or alive, charged with saving the soul of his ancestor, the most powerful telepath to ever exist. If he fails, the ensuing imbalance will change the fabric of time and imperil everything he knows and loves. When his own brother becomes ensnared in the trap, Dynan's choices unravel before him, leaving him one last thing to give that might save his brother and everyone he loves - his eternal soul.
The running starts, and doesn't stop to the end of this action packed adventure of a young man coming to terms with his life while he's barely a spirit, through horrors he thought existed only in dreams.
Chosen is the first book of a 7 book series, entitled The Guardians of the Word.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2011
199 people are currently reading
2025 people want to read
About the author
Jolea M. Harrison
18 books74 followers“I’m a writer, a mother, and manager of chaos. I have two new adult kids, though I’ve yet to experience the sorrows (joys?) of an empty nest, which means I try to do too many things at once, like so many of us, but it all usually works out. I love writing. It’s what I’m passionate about and what I want to do above all other things.”
After reading The Lord of the Rings, the fantasy bug left a permanent mark with the author, which was then complicated by her immediate love of Star Wars, Star Trek, and other works of science fiction. She started her writing career in earnest several years ago when she set out to publish the epic fantasy series, The Guardians of the Word.
“It’s been more than worth it, and I’ve enjoyed every minute, but especially getting to know the incredibly helpful and wonderful people I’ve met because I took a leap of faith.”
She has become a recent and avid fan of the television series, Supernatural, and immediately fell in love with the SPN family community. You can find her on twitter any given day, discussing the show with fellow fans!
After reading The Lord of the Rings, the fantasy bug left a permanent mark with the author, which was then complicated by her immediate love of Star Wars, Star Trek, and other works of science fiction. She started her writing career in earnest several years ago when she set out to publish the epic fantasy series, The Guardians of the Word.
“It’s been more than worth it, and I’ve enjoyed every minute, but especially getting to know the incredibly helpful and wonderful people I’ve met because I took a leap of faith.”
She has become a recent and avid fan of the television series, Supernatural, and immediately fell in love with the SPN family community. You can find her on twitter any given day, discussing the show with fellow fans!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
February 23, 2013
Please note: I originally read August 2011, and then re-read a year later. I originally received the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My Synopsis: Dynan and his twin brother Dain don’t know it, but they are born in fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, and if they can’t live up to their destiny, it could mean the end of the world, brought about by the demon Belial. It all beings when Dynan finds a dangerous talisman while taking part in an archeological dig, and it ends up with him needing to find the originator of his line while in the spirit world.
My Thoughts: It is really hard to describe the basic plot of this book without ending up giving spoilers, so I’ll have to leave it there. What I will say is that this is an amazing work of science fantasy (a fantasy story set in a science fiction world, I guess is the way to describe it) – the characters are developed wonderfully, the history is outlined enough to help the reader understand what is happening, and there is a perfect blend of character development and action to keep fans of both schools of writing happy. Anyone who enjoys a good story, especially in a science fantasy vein, should absolutely love this book - I highly recommend it and suggest you take the time to track it down and read it as soon as possible.
Series Information: This is the first book in the Guardians of the Word series. I have read all of the books in the series so far, and I think there are a couple more planned. The other books are:
Book 2: Myth
Book 3: Telepath
Book 4: Legend
Book 5: Union
I have linked to my review on each book title above for your convenience. A few of the reviews have spoilers in the synopsis, but I have tried to keep them under tags.
My Synopsis: Dynan and his twin brother Dain don’t know it, but they are born in fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, and if they can’t live up to their destiny, it could mean the end of the world, brought about by the demon Belial. It all beings when Dynan finds a dangerous talisman while taking part in an archeological dig, and it ends up with him needing to find the originator of his line while in the spirit world.
My Thoughts: It is really hard to describe the basic plot of this book without ending up giving spoilers, so I’ll have to leave it there. What I will say is that this is an amazing work of science fantasy (a fantasy story set in a science fiction world, I guess is the way to describe it) – the characters are developed wonderfully, the history is outlined enough to help the reader understand what is happening, and there is a perfect blend of character development and action to keep fans of both schools of writing happy. Anyone who enjoys a good story, especially in a science fantasy vein, should absolutely love this book - I highly recommend it and suggest you take the time to track it down and read it as soon as possible.
Series Information: This is the first book in the Guardians of the Word series. I have read all of the books in the series so far, and I think there are a couple more planned. The other books are:
Book 2: Myth
Book 3: Telepath
Book 4: Legend
Book 5: Union
I have linked to my review on each book title above for your convenience. A few of the reviews have spoilers in the synopsis, but I have tried to keep them under tags.
October 30, 2013
I loved this story from beginning to end! The start of a series concerning twins Dynan and Dain, this tale delves into the mysterious and amazing world that is filled with both magic and technology, mystery and suspense, good versus evil.
It's very well written, and crammed with detailed and realistic characters - some good, some bad - with an immense back story of mythical proportions.
What can I say about the story without giving spoilers? Nothing, but I will say that this book is highly recommended, and for those who love fantasy will adore it.
I am reading book #2, Myth and you will be as hooked as me to see what happens amongst the creativity and limitless imagination of this author.
As they say, a must read!
It's very well written, and crammed with detailed and realistic characters - some good, some bad - with an immense back story of mythical proportions.
What can I say about the story without giving spoilers? Nothing, but I will say that this book is highly recommended, and for those who love fantasy will adore it.
I am reading book #2, Myth and you will be as hooked as me to see what happens amongst the creativity and limitless imagination of this author.
As they say, a must read!
April 29, 2012
I liked this book.
January 13, 2012
In a world made up of a strange and fascinating mix of past and future, supernatural and science, twin princes Dynan and Dain are destined players in a battle that will save or destroy the universe. The five incarnations of their ancestor, Adiem, are in a battle to conquer the afterlife and then the living world, with the boys as the catalysts for his gory victory. Adiem's twin brother, Alurn has battled his for the fate of the planet Cobalt and the universe since before his death, sacrificing his own afterlife for the stability of reality. Now Dynan must rescue Alurn from Adiem’s clutches. As the founder of the royal dynasty of Cobalt, his position in the afterlife must be restored to prevent an apocalypse. But can Dynan overcome gory obstacles and painful trials to reach him in time?
I have to admit, this book was a little hard for me to follow, especially at first. It is probably due to the chaos of my life and the constant interruption. It's possible, with some stricter editing, that Chosen could be easier to follow for those of us with three kids clamoring. The word choice sometimes left doubt as to who or what was the subject of descriptions and actions. Technology and supernatural forces mixed, but often left me behind, though it didn't prevent me from enjoying the story.
My perseverance was rewarded with understanding and the enjoyment of a thrilling and meaningful tale. Stories about the afterlife are a particular favorite of mine because they explore the ultimate mystery. This mystery leant itself to the story, and though I was sometimes confused, so were the characters and it worked for good to create a very human story with real and likeable individuals. The theme of the child wavering between good and evil was compelling, as was the hairsbreadth closeness between destruction and salvation, hell and paradise. The bad guys made me squirm and the description of their destruction of Purgatory with all the dead bodies was wonderfully awful! I also found it interesting that Jolea wrote her story with primarily male characters without making them seem at all womanish, which can be a challenge for us gals.
I really enjoyed this one and I'd recommend Chosen!
I have to admit, this book was a little hard for me to follow, especially at first. It is probably due to the chaos of my life and the constant interruption. It's possible, with some stricter editing, that Chosen could be easier to follow for those of us with three kids clamoring. The word choice sometimes left doubt as to who or what was the subject of descriptions and actions. Technology and supernatural forces mixed, but often left me behind, though it didn't prevent me from enjoying the story.
My perseverance was rewarded with understanding and the enjoyment of a thrilling and meaningful tale. Stories about the afterlife are a particular favorite of mine because they explore the ultimate mystery. This mystery leant itself to the story, and though I was sometimes confused, so were the characters and it worked for good to create a very human story with real and likeable individuals. The theme of the child wavering between good and evil was compelling, as was the hairsbreadth closeness between destruction and salvation, hell and paradise. The bad guys made me squirm and the description of their destruction of Purgatory with all the dead bodies was wonderfully awful! I also found it interesting that Jolea wrote her story with primarily male characters without making them seem at all womanish, which can be a challenge for us gals.
I really enjoyed this one and I'd recommend Chosen!
March 7, 2013
I had the pleasure of reading CHOSEN by Jolea M. Harrison and quite enjoyed myself.
CHOSEN is the first book in The Guardian of the Word, a sci-fi epic fantasy series. The story tells of Dynan Telaerin and his ancestor’s long-lived struggle to rid the world of evil. Throughout the ages, destruction, re-birth, and devastation appears in a repetitive cycle every 1,000 years with previous information being destroyed, therefore handing the mystery to future generations until a certain king sacrifices his soul to remain and help. He brings this information forward in time to Dynan and Dain, who like him, are telepathic twin brothers. It is their destiny to finally break the cycle or die in the attempt, damning the world to eternal darkness and evil!
I loved the story line and the whole idea of the book. The story started a bit slow for me, and me being someone who enjoys fantasy (historical-ish, medeival-ish, renaissance-ish) more than sci-fi, it took a little while for me to get into the futuristic ambiance, but once I did, I loved the atmosphere of the Telaerin’s world! There is a point in the story when a certain character crosses the barrier, (veil, porthole, or what-have-you) and travels to a strange and mystical place. That’s when the fantasy really kicked in and I was hooked! I would have liked to know a bit more about the characters, but I’m sure as I go on in the series more will be revealed about them and I will grow to love them even more. That’s the great thing about a series; there’s always more to devour! To wrap it up, everything else was pretty darn good. The author’s description of the world, its geography, climactic spots in the story, and scenarios that the character’s find themselves in is wonderfully mastered and creates a beautiful picture in your mind. You always know where you are (and how it feels to be there) in CHOSEN. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys science fiction reading and I would recommend it to people who love fantasy with a futuristic twist!
Awesome writing Jolea!
CHOSEN is the first book in The Guardian of the Word, a sci-fi epic fantasy series. The story tells of Dynan Telaerin and his ancestor’s long-lived struggle to rid the world of evil. Throughout the ages, destruction, re-birth, and devastation appears in a repetitive cycle every 1,000 years with previous information being destroyed, therefore handing the mystery to future generations until a certain king sacrifices his soul to remain and help. He brings this information forward in time to Dynan and Dain, who like him, are telepathic twin brothers. It is their destiny to finally break the cycle or die in the attempt, damning the world to eternal darkness and evil!
I loved the story line and the whole idea of the book. The story started a bit slow for me, and me being someone who enjoys fantasy (historical-ish, medeival-ish, renaissance-ish) more than sci-fi, it took a little while for me to get into the futuristic ambiance, but once I did, I loved the atmosphere of the Telaerin’s world! There is a point in the story when a certain character crosses the barrier, (veil, porthole, or what-have-you) and travels to a strange and mystical place. That’s when the fantasy really kicked in and I was hooked! I would have liked to know a bit more about the characters, but I’m sure as I go on in the series more will be revealed about them and I will grow to love them even more. That’s the great thing about a series; there’s always more to devour! To wrap it up, everything else was pretty darn good. The author’s description of the world, its geography, climactic spots in the story, and scenarios that the character’s find themselves in is wonderfully mastered and creates a beautiful picture in your mind. You always know where you are (and how it feels to be there) in CHOSEN. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys science fiction reading and I would recommend it to people who love fantasy with a futuristic twist!
Awesome writing Jolea!
December 4, 2011
I feel like no matter what I write in this review, it's not going to do this book justice.
I read "Chosen", the first Guardians of the Word book, a couple months back and absolutely fell in love. I raved endlessly about the author's flawless writing and the amazing world she's built in this science-fiction/futuristic fantasy series. It's hard to pick up the 2nd book in any series because there's always the worry it won't measure up to the first.
But then, you have some sequels that DO measure up. "Myth" is one of them. I devoured this book in two days when I had other stuff I should have been doing (what? I'd been waiting a long time to see what happened next :P) From page one, I was sucked back into the Dain and Dynan's world. This book felt like it was more split between the twins (whereas in Chosen, it was a lot more of Dynan's POV), and I really liked that because I built a relationship with Dain. A lot of hard decisions are made in Myth -- the kind of decisions that make your heart pound and your eyes tear up as you read. Within the space of just a few chapters, Dynan and Dain are forced to grow up much too soon as they realize that not everyone they know and love is as they seem... "Myth" has a cliffhanger of an ending (darn it) that left me dying for the next one.
I highly, highly recommend this book for both fantasy/sci-fi lovers and everyone else. I was never a fan of this genre before I read Chosen -- it's just that good. I can't wait for the next!
I read "Chosen", the first Guardians of the Word book, a couple months back and absolutely fell in love. I raved endlessly about the author's flawless writing and the amazing world she's built in this science-fiction/futuristic fantasy series. It's hard to pick up the 2nd book in any series because there's always the worry it won't measure up to the first.
But then, you have some sequels that DO measure up. "Myth" is one of them. I devoured this book in two days when I had other stuff I should have been doing (what? I'd been waiting a long time to see what happened next :P) From page one, I was sucked back into the Dain and Dynan's world. This book felt like it was more split between the twins (whereas in Chosen, it was a lot more of Dynan's POV), and I really liked that because I built a relationship with Dain. A lot of hard decisions are made in Myth -- the kind of decisions that make your heart pound and your eyes tear up as you read. Within the space of just a few chapters, Dynan and Dain are forced to grow up much too soon as they realize that not everyone they know and love is as they seem... "Myth" has a cliffhanger of an ending (darn it) that left me dying for the next one.
I highly, highly recommend this book for both fantasy/sci-fi lovers and everyone else. I was never a fan of this genre before I read Chosen -- it's just that good. I can't wait for the next!
January 12, 2012
A must read for all SciFi and Fantasy fans!
From the very first word of this book you are thrown head first into the exciting and often dangerous world of Dynan and Dain Telaerin - twins and Princes of Cobalt the two are born with a destiny that neither understands or even knew existed.
The writing is so incredibly powerful that it drags you in and you cannot help but imagine yourself standing with or above the brothers watching events unfold as they go through them and that is a strong tool for any author to have, the ability to draw you in and keep you there long after you've read the final word of the book.
This book has elements of SciFi and Fantasy and Action and Adventure and Love and Death and everything else needed to make it a truly engrossing novel that you will want to read over and over again and the best part is there's still 7 books to go in the series!
December 31, 2012
A great read about an age old prophecy involving twins, a king's dark past and some magic. This is only the first book in a series and is only available on amazon. It seems quite long winded but is written in a simple manner and tells the story from many different view points which makes it quite unique and fun. The story line is interesting one of the twins called Dynan who is chosen from birth to become the next king. His twin brother Dain is chosen to look after him as his protector and is trained all his life to do that. When a gate to the otherworld is opened and Dynan is dragged into it it's up to Dain to rescue him. Dynan is uncertain about his role as the next king and is rreally put to the test during his time in the other world testing his beliefs and finding out the truth about his parents past. This is also a testing time for Dain it's up to him to save Dynan and it doesn't help that no one believes him when he says Dynan's in another world. It's a bit slow to get into but once you do you won't be able to put the book down and will want to read on to find out what happens next.
August 19, 2011
Dynan and Dain are twins living in a fantasy/futuristic world and they have a destiny of which they've never known--a destiny that sends them spiraling into an ancient prophecy.
I honestly don't know what to say but WOW. Double WOW. OMG-I'm-in-LOVE WOW.
Harrison is a fantastic writer. The world she has woven in "Chosen" is magical, dramatic, and sucks the reader right in. If I hadn't been so busy while I was reading it, I wouldn't have been able to put this book down. This is a writer to watch. Her ability to tell the story, to connect you deeply to every character, and to keep you on the edge of your seat is phenomenal. I can NOT WAIT for the next Chronicle of the Word book. I'm hooked.
I honestly don't know what to say but WOW. Double WOW. OMG-I'm-in-LOVE WOW.
Harrison is a fantastic writer. The world she has woven in "Chosen" is magical, dramatic, and sucks the reader right in. If I hadn't been so busy while I was reading it, I wouldn't have been able to put this book down. This is a writer to watch. Her ability to tell the story, to connect you deeply to every character, and to keep you on the edge of your seat is phenomenal. I can NOT WAIT for the next Chronicle of the Word book. I'm hooked.
September 29, 2011
Chosen is a truly enjoyable read with an endearing hero. After the introduction of the key characters and the scene setting, the story gallops at an amazing pace, stirring up a hornet's nest of spirits and creatures from the underworld which provide the backdrop where graphic fights, nail-biting flight and heart-stopping danger escalate to a resounding climax. For fans of sci-fi fantasy, a must-read.
May 27, 2014
Chosen, Guardians of the Word is a story of the constant battle between good and evil and the people in history whose destiny is to keep it in balance. Dynan and Dain are telepathic twins with a legacy predicting they have the ability to prevent the end of the world. Together they will endure pain and suffering as their ancestors did before to fulfill their legacy. This is a wonderfully, creative book with more to read since it is the first in a series!
February 13, 2012
Plenty of action! A good, strong, interesting story with it's own unique elements. The telepathy thing is intriguing! I hope she develops the characters a little more in the coming books. It was a fun read!
March 6, 2012
Very strong book with a great sense of story. Since this is a series let me just say, move to book two and continue the story...it will be well worth your time...
January 9, 2013
I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves sci-fi/fantasy and a good battle between good and evil.
February 11, 2013
was a good book
January 26, 2021
Take a walk with fate
This novel will keep you reading till the end. There are more twists and turns involved that will satisfy even the most die hard LOTH lover.
The author creates a world fighting for its' existence through a royal bloodline of telepathic. This world has gone through many iterations of the same ending - waiting for an end. Thrust upon the protagonists is the curse of responsibility without knowledge. The author addresses the concerns, fears and responsibilities of the main characters in a manner that exhibits their growth.
I'm not a big fan of fantasy - but the pacing and character development will draw the reader in.
This novel will keep you reading till the end. There are more twists and turns involved that will satisfy even the most die hard LOTH lover.
The author creates a world fighting for its' existence through a royal bloodline of telepathic. This world has gone through many iterations of the same ending - waiting for an end. Thrust upon the protagonists is the curse of responsibility without knowledge. The author addresses the concerns, fears and responsibilities of the main characters in a manner that exhibits their growth.
I'm not a big fan of fantasy - but the pacing and character development will draw the reader in.
September 9, 2019
Loved the book, looked and found only 1-4 are currently available in kindle or print of the 8 in the series. Would love to continue this series but won’t till books 5-8 are either back in print or preferable released as a kindle bundle to go with the 1-4 bundle.
January 28, 2021
After life
This book was seen ok read. Its about two brothers whom are telepathic. Terry are born in order to stop evil coming to life. The story is good but I would recommend this book to a younger crowd. Not a page turner but it's got excitement.
This book was seen ok read. Its about two brothers whom are telepathic. Terry are born in order to stop evil coming to life. The story is good but I would recommend this book to a younger crowd. Not a page turner but it's got excitement.
September 23, 2017
A book so good I never wanted to stop reading
This book brings human frailty and the fight against evil together in a poignant story of personal struggles and human triumph.
This book brings human frailty and the fight against evil together in a poignant story of personal struggles and human triumph.
December 10, 2018
This book was well written, but a bit odd. Dimensional travel, but medieval times. Telepathy between siblings was fun. Not sure I understood that whole point of the story.
April 8, 2019
New take on preventing the end of the world(s) and good vs. evil. Interesting read.
December 24, 2020
Good read
Typically not my kind of book but as I struggled through the first part, I became engrossed with the story.
Typically not my kind of book but as I struggled through the first part, I became engrossed with the story.
November 9, 2016
This is a tough one for me to review. There was a lot I liked about it, but I wanted … more.
First off, I think this was well written. It all flowed nicely, and the pacing was great. The book was a quick read with each page urging you to the next. I was pleasantly surprised.
The reason for my conflict is partly because based on my reading preferences I shouldn’t have liked this book. I don’t pick up young adult because the characters are usually super whiny or just plain annoying. Don’t get me started on all the love triangles that ruin young adult books. I didn’t realize the characters were young when I downloaded this. However, they were well written. Certainly they had a youthful flair, but not in the normal “Why me?” voice. And bless Harrison, she kept out love triangles. But not only was this YA, it also had some sci-fi elements woven into the story. (And if you remember I usually struggle with sci-fi.) Honestly, I wish there weren’t. The mesh never really seemed to work for me, but luckily it wasn’t a focus of any part of the story so it never distracted from the plot.
My other reason I didn’t fall in love was the twins’ relationship. I love siblings in books. Seriously love it. I wish there were more, and it was a major reason I started reading this book. They are close and extremely involved with each other, but we never really see that close relationship. We’re told, and only a handful of examples are shown, and none really give me that deep connection that’s supposed to be there. Now, this is the first book, so perhaps that will happen more in the next one, but it felt a bit lacking for me.
Despite this, I did enjoy both brothers. They had unique voices. Matter of fact, I liked all the PoV’s we were given. The characters were developed barely enough to keep me interested, and it left me wanting more. I kept wanting to explore their inner thoughts just a bit longer than the author.
As for the world, it was interesting enough for a reader like me that doesn’t get super excited over complicated worlds. I enjoyed that I got enough details thrown in here and there to grow the scenes and history, but none of it bogged down the flow of the story.
What I loved most was the setting. One character gets stuck in a purgatory/hell-like setting. Don’t worry, I won’t tell you if he/she actually died or if his,her soul is merely sent there while his/her body is alive. The gory setting is awesome. And it is gory. Harrison does a good job setting up suspense, and those scenes where our character is hunted are pretty awesome. It makes it a fast read.
Besides my complaint about the brothers lacking a showing relationship, I must say the climax in purgatory had me very confused. I might have read it too quick, but I never felt very grounded in the scene. Matter of fact, there were a few scenes that left me floating without a good visual, while others were painted wonderfully.
Overall, I might be wishy-washy on this, but I think it’s a good, fast read, especially for those who like a bit of demon/hell activity and some gore.
First off, I think this was well written. It all flowed nicely, and the pacing was great. The book was a quick read with each page urging you to the next. I was pleasantly surprised.
The reason for my conflict is partly because based on my reading preferences I shouldn’t have liked this book. I don’t pick up young adult because the characters are usually super whiny or just plain annoying. Don’t get me started on all the love triangles that ruin young adult books. I didn’t realize the characters were young when I downloaded this. However, they were well written. Certainly they had a youthful flair, but not in the normal “Why me?” voice. And bless Harrison, she kept out love triangles. But not only was this YA, it also had some sci-fi elements woven into the story. (And if you remember I usually struggle with sci-fi.) Honestly, I wish there weren’t. The mesh never really seemed to work for me, but luckily it wasn’t a focus of any part of the story so it never distracted from the plot.
My other reason I didn’t fall in love was the twins’ relationship. I love siblings in books. Seriously love it. I wish there were more, and it was a major reason I started reading this book. They are close and extremely involved with each other, but we never really see that close relationship. We’re told, and only a handful of examples are shown, and none really give me that deep connection that’s supposed to be there. Now, this is the first book, so perhaps that will happen more in the next one, but it felt a bit lacking for me.
Despite this, I did enjoy both brothers. They had unique voices. Matter of fact, I liked all the PoV’s we were given. The characters were developed barely enough to keep me interested, and it left me wanting more. I kept wanting to explore their inner thoughts just a bit longer than the author.
As for the world, it was interesting enough for a reader like me that doesn’t get super excited over complicated worlds. I enjoyed that I got enough details thrown in here and there to grow the scenes and history, but none of it bogged down the flow of the story.
What I loved most was the setting. One character gets stuck in a purgatory/hell-like setting. Don’t worry, I won’t tell you if he/she actually died or if his,her soul is merely sent there while his/her body is alive. The gory setting is awesome. And it is gory. Harrison does a good job setting up suspense, and those scenes where our character is hunted are pretty awesome. It makes it a fast read.
Besides my complaint about the brothers lacking a showing relationship, I must say the climax in purgatory had me very confused. I might have read it too quick, but I never felt very grounded in the scene. Matter of fact, there were a few scenes that left me floating without a good visual, while others were painted wonderfully.
Overall, I might be wishy-washy on this, but I think it’s a good, fast read, especially for those who like a bit of demon/hell activity and some gore.
August 11, 2013
I found myself really enjoying this book. At first, it feels a little overwhelming. There is lots to take in. A word of warning about reading this, and something I would tell myself before reading if I could go back is take your time. There is a large cast of characters here, they have quite similar names and the plot does start to get complicated. I am a reader who rushes. This is not a book for rushing. It's good though, I liked the complexity that it brought. It felt realistic and genuinely painted the world for me rather than just being overcrowded. Yes it was complicated, but we knew who the main characters were and who was important, and that made the world around them seem even richer. I liked the mix of Fantasy and Sci-Fi, something I've not come across too often but it worked. I would perhaps have liked a few more reminders or nods to the Sci-Fi elements, but it's only a minor quibble.
The characters here are strong. I personally prefer reading male protagonists and here we had three. It felt a bit odd because we were often jumping between character's points of view. I liked how we got the different viewpoints but I felt it took a little away from who I think was supposed to be our protagonist - Dynan, who actually was a very interesting character who I really wanted to know more about. I liked the points of view we got about him from others though, and the way we understood about the differences yet developments in character for both Dynan and Dain and that was interesting.
I liked the idea behind the novel. It worked well for the characters and I certainly felt the urgency and desperation come off the page. A thoroughly decent read and the next novel will certainly be on my to read list. I'll just make sure I slow down a little next time!
The characters here are strong. I personally prefer reading male protagonists and here we had three. It felt a bit odd because we were often jumping between character's points of view. I liked how we got the different viewpoints but I felt it took a little away from who I think was supposed to be our protagonist - Dynan, who actually was a very interesting character who I really wanted to know more about. I liked the points of view we got about him from others though, and the way we understood about the differences yet developments in character for both Dynan and Dain and that was interesting.
I liked the idea behind the novel. It worked well for the characters and I certainly felt the urgency and desperation come off the page. A thoroughly decent read and the next novel will certainly be on my to read list. I'll just make sure I slow down a little next time!
December 6, 2012
Twins Dylan & Dain, are destined to stop a great evil. Their father is the king of the "most powerful planetary system in Brittallia-- a kingdom of three planets and four billion people." This world is constantly threatened by an unspeakable dark force from the depths of hell and would've been overcome if not for the vigilance of the Guardians of the Word. They are monks who help protect the kingdom and its secrets. Just as the royal twins are Chosen to stop this evil, so are twins Carryn and Maralt born as Guardians to the Chosen. It's up to these young people to stop the demon Belial from coming into their realm to spread its horrors.
It is an epic tale with a big plot and a most graphic depiction of Hell. This version of Hell is filled with terror, suffering, pain, fear, and just about every bloody nasty thing that make life miserable--for eternity. The suspense from both sides, hell and reality, makes me jumpy and impatient for immediate solutions. The characters have enough mettle to interest me as the story unfolds their conflicts with a steady pace. Although this has the usual grammatical errors and spellings I've come to expect (unfortunately) in most free e-books, and some minor unclarified points, it still kept its essence intact and delivered quite an entertaining read.
It is an epic tale with a big plot and a most graphic depiction of Hell. This version of Hell is filled with terror, suffering, pain, fear, and just about every bloody nasty thing that make life miserable--for eternity. The suspense from both sides, hell and reality, makes me jumpy and impatient for immediate solutions. The characters have enough mettle to interest me as the story unfolds their conflicts with a steady pace. Although this has the usual grammatical errors and spellings I've come to expect (unfortunately) in most free e-books, and some minor unclarified points, it still kept its essence intact and delivered quite an entertaining read.
August 16, 2013
3.5*
What a very unique & compelling story!! Swords, ink wells & parchment, energy fields, space pods, planetary systems. An interesting blend.
The story had me feeling the full gamut of emotions & some of them quite intensely. The visuals were at times very disturbing, but made the prose that much more impactful.
At times the writing left me a little confused during action sequences, but we eventually would learn that the hero had a sword. So a few little rough spots, but otherwise a compelling read!!
It was especially lovely as this first Kindle is free!! All following installments are $4.99 each. (The first ebook was about 276 pages.)
*******************************************************************
I see the following installments have come down in price. Well, some of them have. $3.88, $3.95, & others have gone up - $5.95. I noticed that she created a Kindle "boxed set" of the first 3 books. It cuts the cost by roughly $2, which is nice. I'm considering buying that, actually, since I rather enjoyed the first. ... Purchased!! :D
So much to read, so little time!!! :D
What a very unique & compelling story!! Swords, ink wells & parchment, energy fields, space pods, planetary systems. An interesting blend.
The story had me feeling the full gamut of emotions & some of them quite intensely. The visuals were at times very disturbing, but made the prose that much more impactful.
At times the writing left me a little confused during action sequences, but we eventually would learn that the hero had a sword. So a few little rough spots, but otherwise a compelling read!!
It was especially lovely as this first Kindle is free!! All following installments are $4.99 each. (The first ebook was about 276 pages.)
*******************************************************************
I see the following installments have come down in price. Well, some of them have. $3.88, $3.95, & others have gone up - $5.95. I noticed that she created a Kindle "boxed set" of the first 3 books. It cuts the cost by roughly $2, which is nice. I'm considering buying that, actually, since I rather enjoyed the first. ... Purchased!! :D
So much to read, so little time!!! :D
July 26, 2015
Firstly....this was such a BORING read. It took me years (not really) to get through this thing. There were a lot of grammar issues. And I never felt connected to any of the characters. The author never bothered to describe them in much detail either so it was hard to actually picture them.
A few questions:
So when Dynan and Dain were removed from their mothers stomach, it was said that the first baby (Dynan) taken out, was actually suppose to be the second one. How Dian was really suppose to be the first born. How did they know this? And later on Dynan even comments on this fact, saying how he shouldn't have been born first.
What is with all the twins? I assume this is a common occurance? And it also seems like said twins all have some magical power. The whole magical thing is never really explained is it?
I found it really stupid to have Dain, basically standing guard at in Orbs room. I mean the 'darkness' wanted him, so isn't it best to have him all by himself standing right in front of them?
Needless to say, I am not continuing in this series, or reading anything else from this author.
A few questions:
So when Dynan and Dain were removed from their mothers stomach, it was said that the first baby (Dynan) taken out, was actually suppose to be the second one. How Dian was really suppose to be the first born. How did they know this? And later on Dynan even comments on this fact, saying how he shouldn't have been born first.
What is with all the twins? I assume this is a common occurance? And it also seems like said twins all have some magical power. The whole magical thing is never really explained is it?
I found it really stupid to have Dain, basically standing guard at in Orbs room. I mean the 'darkness' wanted him, so isn't it best to have him all by himself standing right in front of them?
Needless to say, I am not continuing in this series, or reading anything else from this author.
September 17, 2013
Okay, so this is a lot darker and bloodier than I expected. (I know, I know, read the Amazon genre listings. This book is clearly marked as Horror > Dark Fantasy. Missed that. So many Amazon freebies I've picked up lately were miscategorized that I've quit reading the listings.)
Besides, the point is, I wound up not caring. This is a crackerjack story. Good world-building, nice characterization, fascinating use of telepathy, strong combination of fantasy and sci fi, and a great plotline all kept me nailed to the e-reader. Very nearly broke my own 24-hour waiting rule; very nearly bought the sequel from the end-cap page at book's end. That almost never happens.
The reasons this isn't getting five stars are a) it's a lot darker and bloodier than I prefer, b) sometimes the writing wasn't entirely clear as to who went where and did what, forcing me to re-read some sentences and even paragraphs or sacrifice following the action, c) sometimes it was easier to sacrifice following the action, and d) the host of minor characters all ran together after a while, and I found I didn't need to remember them in any case. But still, it kept me up late last night reading. So four strong ones.
Besides, the point is, I wound up not caring. This is a crackerjack story. Good world-building, nice characterization, fascinating use of telepathy, strong combination of fantasy and sci fi, and a great plotline all kept me nailed to the e-reader. Very nearly broke my own 24-hour waiting rule; very nearly bought the sequel from the end-cap page at book's end. That almost never happens.
The reasons this isn't getting five stars are a) it's a lot darker and bloodier than I prefer, b) sometimes the writing wasn't entirely clear as to who went where and did what, forcing me to re-read some sentences and even paragraphs or sacrifice following the action, c) sometimes it was easier to sacrifice following the action, and d) the host of minor characters all ran together after a while, and I found I didn't need to remember them in any case. But still, it kept me up late last night reading. So four strong ones.
October 18, 2012
Chosen (Guardians of the Word) (Kindle Edition)
I liked this book. I wanted a fast read and it held my attention. I liked the switches from "world" to "world" and found "hell" interesting to visit. (Wouldn't want to live there.) The basic assumptions of the book were unique enough to keep me interested. I wasn't sure if the main character, or who I saw as it at first, would even live through the first half of the book. Then I watched to see who would live or who would die or who was already dead or dying.
This book is part of a series it appears. What I liked was the fact that it can be it's own book as well, a stand-alone. It was also free, which was an added bonus. The rest of the books are higher than I'd spend though, cheapskate that I am. Now at a bit less... ?
Well written and fun to read.
I liked this book. I wanted a fast read and it held my attention. I liked the switches from "world" to "world" and found "hell" interesting to visit. (Wouldn't want to live there.) The basic assumptions of the book were unique enough to keep me interested. I wasn't sure if the main character, or who I saw as it at first, would even live through the first half of the book. Then I watched to see who would live or who would die or who was already dead or dying.
This book is part of a series it appears. What I liked was the fact that it can be it's own book as well, a stand-alone. It was also free, which was an added bonus. The rest of the books are higher than I'd spend though, cheapskate that I am. Now at a bit less... ?
Well written and fun to read.
May 30, 2015
This book is a blend of science fiction and fantasy which works incredibly well. You also have soul spirits, demons, wraiths as well as the monks and Guardians of the Word. The story is rich and in-depth and will leave you wanting more.
The world is well thought out and the characters all play their parts incredibly well. I don't think there is a single character that I thought could have had more development. Saying that, this is solely for this book because I can see that the story and characters both will continue to grow and advance as the series moves on.
It is hard to say anything more without giving away any spoilers so I will leave it there. What I can and will say is that I can definitely recommend this to all fans of both Science Fiction and Fantasy. Whilst it is free, what you got to lose?
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
The world is well thought out and the characters all play their parts incredibly well. I don't think there is a single character that I thought could have had more development. Saying that, this is solely for this book because I can see that the story and characters both will continue to grow and advance as the series moves on.
It is hard to say anything more without giving away any spoilers so I will leave it there. What I can and will say is that I can definitely recommend this to all fans of both Science Fiction and Fantasy. Whilst it is free, what you got to lose?
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
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