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Altered Legacy
A discovery that will change everything.
Insecure mage Brenna Nylund lives every day with the echoes of insults and derision from her narcissistic mother. Eight years after the cruel woman’s death, Brenna still hides away in her forest home to avoid the judgement of others. However, her refuge couldn’t hide her from a mysterious psychic message that suggests she may be more than she seems. When she meets the sender, Brenna knows her life will be forever altered.
Restless Thorn Squad Leader Calder Lindgren has always done what his father expected of him to uphold the Lindgren Legacy. The Thorns are tasked with discovering why people are disappearing from the town, but Calder believes the problem is more complex than it appears. After a lifetime of following orders and knowing exactly what to do, everything changes and Calder is presented with a life-altering choice.
Along with unexpected allies, Brenna and Calder search for the missing people, but find far more than they imagined.
Insecure mage Brenna Nylund lives every day with the echoes of insults and derision from her narcissistic mother. Eight years after the cruel woman’s death, Brenna still hides away in her forest home to avoid the judgement of others. However, her refuge couldn’t hide her from a mysterious psychic message that suggests she may be more than she seems. When she meets the sender, Brenna knows her life will be forever altered.
Restless Thorn Squad Leader Calder Lindgren has always done what his father expected of him to uphold the Lindgren Legacy. The Thorns are tasked with discovering why people are disappearing from the town, but Calder believes the problem is more complex than it appears. After a lifetime of following orders and knowing exactly what to do, everything changes and Calder is presented with a life-altering choice.
Along with unexpected allies, Brenna and Calder search for the missing people, but find far more than they imagined.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 18, 2023
2 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 3, 2023
The story starts with us learning about the creation of two creatures, the Banadyr and the Knifewings, both created by wizards. One lost control of his creation, the Banadyr, who have become creatures of evil, and are growing out of control like a festering plague. The other, the Knifewing, was a creature that was actually created by the Wizard as a last ditched effort to fight the Banadyr.
We move forward a period in time, to the town of Rumgeit, what was once a place that used to be a hub of trade with other towns, but since the Banadyr infestation, has been cut off, and now has become somewhat self-sufficient due to not being able to have anyone get in or out. They are protected by a group of proud warriors, called Thorns, who are in a lot of ways similar to the fantasy Rangers, with some wood craft, and the ability to use bow, melee weapons etc.
They are dead against Magic though, with the hierarchy of the Thorns believing it to be a bad thing. As such, if you are found to be a Mage, you cannot be a Thorn.
There are very few Mages though.
We are introduced to two main Characters, the first being a young woman, Brenna. She was raised by her cruel mother, Vaetilda, who practiced magecraft, but in a dark way. When Brenna would not follow her instructions, as she was too kind, she eventually left her and her husband, and they believe she has passed.
Brenna has continued to try and learn some magecraft, teaching herself, she has an uncanny ability with healing, empathy, the ability to hear other peoples thoughts, and with plants.
The other main character is a young man called Calder, who is a Thorn. Raised from an early age by his incredibly strict Father, who was also a Thorn, to be one of the order, he has known nothing else. He has a good sense of humour though, and does not necessarily want to be a Thorn like the rest of his Family, much to his Father’s disgust.
He and Brenna have been friends since they were young kids.
Brenna helps her Father with a pottery shop, he runs the store, and she makes the stuff.
As the story unfolds, we learn all about the town, its people, and of how the Banadyr have attacked and continue to attack the town and have locked the people in the town. We also learn that there have been people taken, and going missing over a period of time now, including Thorns.
When Brenna receives a telepathic message from someone she doesn’t know, it leads to a journey of discovery for both her and Calder. However, that journey also leads them to a dark place as they find that the Banadyr are not the only thing that is stalking the town of Rumgeit, and it may be that Brenna and Calder are the only people that can save their town.
The character work in Stynwyck’s stories is exceptional, and it is hard to believe that this is her first book. With detailed characters that develop and grow as the story evolves, great dialogue, and storylines that have a good mixture of thrills, humour and some outstanding world building, it makes for a captivating read you just can’t put down.
Brenna is a really beautiful character, kind, gentle, but with a mettle about her as she begins to understand her abilities. Calder has spent his life being told he has to be one thing, trained in that, but has come to realise that not everything has to be that way? Having been around Brenna, her kindness has brought out the amazing person in him, and although he is mischevious, he is also a loyal, brave and amazing friend.
There are some other brilliant characters in this book – but I don’t want to give away spoilers!
The world building is stunning, from the two different creatures, to the town of Rumgeit, and the surrounding region that the Thorns patrol, all of it is beautifully described to immerse the reader in this captivating world. You really feel you are in this alternate world, walking through the streets, or the woods (or so many other places I won’t spoil!).
If you love a good action/adventure Fantasy, with a solid magic core to it, one with extraordinary characters, and breathtaking world-building – then you will love this!! It is an absolute must read, and for a first book – just brilliant!
We move forward a period in time, to the town of Rumgeit, what was once a place that used to be a hub of trade with other towns, but since the Banadyr infestation, has been cut off, and now has become somewhat self-sufficient due to not being able to have anyone get in or out. They are protected by a group of proud warriors, called Thorns, who are in a lot of ways similar to the fantasy Rangers, with some wood craft, and the ability to use bow, melee weapons etc.
They are dead against Magic though, with the hierarchy of the Thorns believing it to be a bad thing. As such, if you are found to be a Mage, you cannot be a Thorn.
There are very few Mages though.
We are introduced to two main Characters, the first being a young woman, Brenna. She was raised by her cruel mother, Vaetilda, who practiced magecraft, but in a dark way. When Brenna would not follow her instructions, as she was too kind, she eventually left her and her husband, and they believe she has passed.
Brenna has continued to try and learn some magecraft, teaching herself, she has an uncanny ability with healing, empathy, the ability to hear other peoples thoughts, and with plants.
The other main character is a young man called Calder, who is a Thorn. Raised from an early age by his incredibly strict Father, who was also a Thorn, to be one of the order, he has known nothing else. He has a good sense of humour though, and does not necessarily want to be a Thorn like the rest of his Family, much to his Father’s disgust.
He and Brenna have been friends since they were young kids.
Brenna helps her Father with a pottery shop, he runs the store, and she makes the stuff.
As the story unfolds, we learn all about the town, its people, and of how the Banadyr have attacked and continue to attack the town and have locked the people in the town. We also learn that there have been people taken, and going missing over a period of time now, including Thorns.
When Brenna receives a telepathic message from someone she doesn’t know, it leads to a journey of discovery for both her and Calder. However, that journey also leads them to a dark place as they find that the Banadyr are not the only thing that is stalking the town of Rumgeit, and it may be that Brenna and Calder are the only people that can save their town.
The character work in Stynwyck’s stories is exceptional, and it is hard to believe that this is her first book. With detailed characters that develop and grow as the story evolves, great dialogue, and storylines that have a good mixture of thrills, humour and some outstanding world building, it makes for a captivating read you just can’t put down.
Brenna is a really beautiful character, kind, gentle, but with a mettle about her as she begins to understand her abilities. Calder has spent his life being told he has to be one thing, trained in that, but has come to realise that not everything has to be that way? Having been around Brenna, her kindness has brought out the amazing person in him, and although he is mischevious, he is also a loyal, brave and amazing friend.
There are some other brilliant characters in this book – but I don’t want to give away spoilers!
The world building is stunning, from the two different creatures, to the town of Rumgeit, and the surrounding region that the Thorns patrol, all of it is beautifully described to immerse the reader in this captivating world. You really feel you are in this alternate world, walking through the streets, or the woods (or so many other places I won’t spoil!).
If you love a good action/adventure Fantasy, with a solid magic core to it, one with extraordinary characters, and breathtaking world-building – then you will love this!! It is an absolute must read, and for a first book – just brilliant!
February 24, 2023
Amazing!!!
Absolutely loved this book! I've always loved books where humans bond with an intelligent non-human to form a pair that, working together, is more powerful than two people working alone. I was pulled into this book right from the beginning, and I loved how it ended. I'm hoping that the author will write more books set in this world!
Absolutely loved this book! I've always loved books where humans bond with an intelligent non-human to form a pair that, working together, is more powerful than two people working alone. I was pulled into this book right from the beginning, and I loved how it ended. I'm hoping that the author will write more books set in this world!
January 7, 2024
A breath of fresh air
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It wasn’t what I expected, it was so much more. A different perspective on magical powers and the responsibilities of those who wield it. The relationships that develop and grow between the characters are beautifully illustrated. The finale is excellent and hopefully this is the first of many in the series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It wasn’t what I expected, it was so much more. A different perspective on magical powers and the responsibilities of those who wield it. The relationships that develop and grow between the characters are beautifully illustrated. The finale is excellent and hopefully this is the first of many in the series.
June 6, 2023
A great fantasy series for fantasy lovers
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews