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Storm Phase #1
The Storm Dragon's Heart
STORM PHASE
A teenage wizard burdened with a mysterious destiny, a cat-girl ninja he can't help but fall for, and a bat-winged daemon that doubles as a diary embark on a journey of self-discovery in a world teeming with monsters and magic. Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and Avatar: the Last Airbender, this enchanting Asian-inspired fantasy series delivers fast-paced adventure for readers young and old.
Book 1: THE STORM DRAGON'S HEART
Turesobei dreams of adventure and a chance to prove he's no longer a child. Wizards should be careful what they wish for.
Destined to become his clan's next and perhaps greatest ever high wizard, Turesobei feels smothered under everyone's expectations. And he's fed up with people treating him like he's still a child, especially his grandfather, the current high wizard. After foiling an assassination attempt on his treasure-hunting dad, his grandfather sends Turesobei on his father's expedition to find a powerful artifact known as the Storm Dragon's Heart. He's supposed to blow off some steam and get a dose of real world experience.
But disaster strikes, and their quest becomes a race for survival.
Aided by a sassy ninja cat-girl and a mysterious diary that transforms into a bat-winged familiar, Turesobei battles sinister cultists, vengeful spirits, and a mad wizard from a rival clan who's determined to use the artifact to destroy Turesobei's homeland.
To fail is to lose everyone he loves, but success carries a terrible price.
A teenage wizard burdened with a mysterious destiny, a cat-girl ninja he can't help but fall for, and a bat-winged daemon that doubles as a diary embark on a journey of self-discovery in a world teeming with monsters and magic. Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and Avatar: the Last Airbender, this enchanting Asian-inspired fantasy series delivers fast-paced adventure for readers young and old.
Book 1: THE STORM DRAGON'S HEART
Turesobei dreams of adventure and a chance to prove he's no longer a child. Wizards should be careful what they wish for.
Destined to become his clan's next and perhaps greatest ever high wizard, Turesobei feels smothered under everyone's expectations. And he's fed up with people treating him like he's still a child, especially his grandfather, the current high wizard. After foiling an assassination attempt on his treasure-hunting dad, his grandfather sends Turesobei on his father's expedition to find a powerful artifact known as the Storm Dragon's Heart. He's supposed to blow off some steam and get a dose of real world experience.
But disaster strikes, and their quest becomes a race for survival.
Aided by a sassy ninja cat-girl and a mysterious diary that transforms into a bat-winged familiar, Turesobei battles sinister cultists, vengeful spirits, and a mad wizard from a rival clan who's determined to use the artifact to destroy Turesobei's homeland.
To fail is to lose everyone he loves, but success carries a terrible price.
ebook
First published August 1, 2011
About the author
David Alastair Hayden
21 books116 followersDavid Alastair Hayden writes science fiction and fantasy. He lives in Alabama. He studied history, literature, and religion at the University of Alabama.
David is also an avid collector of vintage manual typewriters, mostly from the 1950's.
To learn more about David's upcoming projects or to leave him feedback, please visit www.dahayden.com.
David is also an avid collector of vintage manual typewriters, mostly from the 1950's.
To learn more about David's upcoming projects or to leave him feedback, please visit www.dahayden.com.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 2, 2012
Book Title: "The Storm Dragon's Heart"
Author: David Alastair Hayden
Published By: Typing Cat Press
Age Recommended: 10 +
Reviewed By: Kitty Bullard
Raven Rating: 5
Review: A young wizard's apprentice Turesobei is bored with learning the ways of magic, tired of the lessons his elder is trying to teach him and wishes for high adventure. When he ends up getting his wish however, he realizes that sometimes it's far better to be happy with what you have than what you have no idea about.
I greatly enjoyed this book, yet another wonderful tale from Typing Cat Press, and the amazing authors there. David Alastair Hayden weaves a magical tale of enchantment, with all the finer elements that makes fantasy what it is. There is something for everyone in this one, lands of excitement, creatures unknown and magical, a tale of love and so much adventure you can barely keep up! It left me breathless and the characters were completely loveable. I would recommend this book to both young and old readers and don't be surprised if it reminds you of older tales you've read before. This books definitely makes your imagination work but the cover art is beautiful and lends its own spark to the story. This one is definitely a good read!
Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...
Author: David Alastair Hayden
Published By: Typing Cat Press
Age Recommended: 10 +
Reviewed By: Kitty Bullard
Raven Rating: 5
Review: A young wizard's apprentice Turesobei is bored with learning the ways of magic, tired of the lessons his elder is trying to teach him and wishes for high adventure. When he ends up getting his wish however, he realizes that sometimes it's far better to be happy with what you have than what you have no idea about.
I greatly enjoyed this book, yet another wonderful tale from Typing Cat Press, and the amazing authors there. David Alastair Hayden weaves a magical tale of enchantment, with all the finer elements that makes fantasy what it is. There is something for everyone in this one, lands of excitement, creatures unknown and magical, a tale of love and so much adventure you can barely keep up! It left me breathless and the characters were completely loveable. I would recommend this book to both young and old readers and don't be surprised if it reminds you of older tales you've read before. This books definitely makes your imagination work but the cover art is beautiful and lends its own spark to the story. This one is definitely a good read!
Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...
September 24, 2011
Yet another book by David A Hayden that I couldn't put down. It gripped me from the start and truly made me resent intrusions from the real work like having to eat and sleep that took me away from reading it. Bravo!
Read
March 30, 2017Whenever I open a fantasy novel, I do so in the hopes of being taken to another world. This book did not disappoint as the lands of Ekaran came to life in an enjoyable romp through a unique and vivid world full of its own culture and creatures. Hayden’s imagination gives depth to young Turesobei and his companions as they battle their way through treacherous lands and deadly adversaries in search of an ancient and powerful artifact. To put it plainly...
All fans of fantasy novels should definitely give this book a shot. I think you’ll be glad you did.
Jason Woodham (Author)
Blaze: A Superhero Origin Story
All fans of fantasy novels should definitely give this book a shot. I think you’ll be glad you did.
Jason Woodham (Author)
Blaze: A Superhero Origin Story
June 17, 2012
When I read the description of the book I felt it would be a rehash of other young adult books, but was pleased that it is not. I give the book a 4 rating as it was entertaining and moved along. The downside is that it seems that it could have been edited better in cleaning up and tightening the story. The book is meant for ages 10 and up and I feel that a glossary is needed for the who/what/where of the book as characters and places get confusing.
June 8, 2012
I was clearly taken away from the beginning. It was an easy book to read, fast-paced, and filled with unforgettable characters. I couldn't stop reading until I was done. This book is filled with magic, sorcery, action, and romance. I enjoyed reading every bit of this book and so will anyone who wish to read this book.
August 6, 2011
An awkward teen-age wizard on the biggest adventure of his life. A quest through a deep, exotic jungles for a powerful magical artifact. A insanely jelous rival and a ninja cat-girl. Honestly, who could ask for more?
October 28, 2011
A MUST READ!!!!!!!!!! Amazing book, could not put the book down and then when I had to, just could not get it off my mind and wanted to run back to it. !! Looking forward to getting my hands on other books by this author!
June 27, 2012
In full disclosure I received a free eBook edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.
One of the great things about this fantasy book is that it is based on an Eastern/Japanese culture. This makes it much more original then many other fantasy novels.
In the first quarter to third of the book there is not much action, but a lot of world building and character introduction. Personally I didn’t find this a problem as it was very interesting, especially considering the originality of much of it. Once you get pass that part there is plenty of action, with more balance between action and character/world development.
The main character Turesobei is a teenage wizard who is being trained by his grandfather the high-wizard. He is a good character who wants to do well and please his grandfather. Although he is somewhat reluctant in his role as the high wizard’s apprentice and is more keen on going on adventures with his treasure hunting father.
Turesobei has help from a number of allies. First is Lu Bei, a familiar that usually takes the form of a book. He is a great concept and a very interesting personality. He aids Turesobei with knowledge and helps him with his spells, but he also has information that he keeps from our hero.
Also helping Turesobei is a cat-girl called Iniru. She has ninja skills and a lot of attitude. She has a great personality and makes a great contrast to Turesobei. Her race is a lot less formal than the Turesobei’s making for a lot of interesting interactions between the two.
Onudaka’s is another companion who is a great warrior and helps Turesobei in many ways and giving him great advice.
Turesobei has an interesting family dynamic, his grandfather is his teacher who is an excellent mentor in the way he both annoys and inspires his pupil. Turesobei loves his father and wants to be with him, but his father has been off on adventures most of his life and not with his family. Turesobei loves his sister and they have a somewhat playful relationship but they clearly care for each other a lot. Turesobei doesn’t get on with his mother.
The romance part of the book is actually well written for a young adult/fantasy book. It takes time to build up and goes through a believable development.
The magic system is good, basically the wizard get worn out from casting spells and can even pass out if they use up too much of their energy. This is great as it stops the wizards becoming too powerful.
There is a good amount of humour in the book which helps with the story.
One problem I had with the eBook edition of this book was that it sometimes would skip pages. I had to use the Publishers Default settings, and sometimes had to turn them off and on again to get it to turn pages correctly.
I really hope there will be more books to this series as there are some unanswered questions. The characters in the book are excellent, the story is fantastic. The world building is very interesting and it was great to see an fantasy book based on Japanese culture rather than the traditional European.
One of the great things about this fantasy book is that it is based on an Eastern/Japanese culture. This makes it much more original then many other fantasy novels.
In the first quarter to third of the book there is not much action, but a lot of world building and character introduction. Personally I didn’t find this a problem as it was very interesting, especially considering the originality of much of it. Once you get pass that part there is plenty of action, with more balance between action and character/world development.
The main character Turesobei is a teenage wizard who is being trained by his grandfather the high-wizard. He is a good character who wants to do well and please his grandfather. Although he is somewhat reluctant in his role as the high wizard’s apprentice and is more keen on going on adventures with his treasure hunting father.
Turesobei has help from a number of allies. First is Lu Bei, a familiar that usually takes the form of a book. He is a great concept and a very interesting personality. He aids Turesobei with knowledge and helps him with his spells, but he also has information that he keeps from our hero.
Also helping Turesobei is a cat-girl called Iniru. She has ninja skills and a lot of attitude. She has a great personality and makes a great contrast to Turesobei. Her race is a lot less formal than the Turesobei’s making for a lot of interesting interactions between the two.
Onudaka’s is another companion who is a great warrior and helps Turesobei in many ways and giving him great advice.
Turesobei has an interesting family dynamic, his grandfather is his teacher who is an excellent mentor in the way he both annoys and inspires his pupil. Turesobei loves his father and wants to be with him, but his father has been off on adventures most of his life and not with his family. Turesobei loves his sister and they have a somewhat playful relationship but they clearly care for each other a lot. Turesobei doesn’t get on with his mother.
The romance part of the book is actually well written for a young adult/fantasy book. It takes time to build up and goes through a believable development.
The magic system is good, basically the wizard get worn out from casting spells and can even pass out if they use up too much of their energy. This is great as it stops the wizards becoming too powerful.
There is a good amount of humour in the book which helps with the story.
One problem I had with the eBook edition of this book was that it sometimes would skip pages. I had to use the Publishers Default settings, and sometimes had to turn them off and on again to get it to turn pages correctly.
I really hope there will be more books to this series as there are some unanswered questions. The characters in the book are excellent, the story is fantastic. The world building is very interesting and it was great to see an fantasy book based on Japanese culture rather than the traditional European.
August 3, 2012
I read this as an e-book that the author was kind enough to send me for free. It was my first e-book I have ever read, and I'm glad it was the first.
The story revolves around a young man named Turosobei, who is training to become the High Wizard of his clan, the Chonda. He ends up going on what is supposed to be a mission to help his father, but finds his magic skills tested to their limits in what was supposed to be a quiet trip to give him some life experience and see more of the surrounding lands. He makes some interesting friends along the way as well that help in his adventures.
Without giving away more of the story, the story seems geared toward young adults, with short chapters, and the coming of age theme that is prevalent in many young adult novels. However, the setting is a completely alien world, as is the magic and mythology surrounding the world, though it is reminiscent of some Asian mythology and themes. I was pleasantly surprised to find out how original the backstory was, that this book is not of the ilk of constant rehash of Harry Potter and Twilight clone books that seem to be so prevalent nowadays.
For me, since it was my first e-book, it gave me a chance to get used to reading in a style I was not used to, with chapters that were easily finished while standing on line somewhere or waiting for someone. As I got more involved with the story and characters though, I ended up sitting down and finishing the rest of the book in 1-2 sittings.
There is definitely more in store for Sobei and his friends, and I hope I get a chance to read those adventures as well.
The story revolves around a young man named Turosobei, who is training to become the High Wizard of his clan, the Chonda. He ends up going on what is supposed to be a mission to help his father, but finds his magic skills tested to their limits in what was supposed to be a quiet trip to give him some life experience and see more of the surrounding lands. He makes some interesting friends along the way as well that help in his adventures.
Without giving away more of the story, the story seems geared toward young adults, with short chapters, and the coming of age theme that is prevalent in many young adult novels. However, the setting is a completely alien world, as is the magic and mythology surrounding the world, though it is reminiscent of some Asian mythology and themes. I was pleasantly surprised to find out how original the backstory was, that this book is not of the ilk of constant rehash of Harry Potter and Twilight clone books that seem to be so prevalent nowadays.
For me, since it was my first e-book, it gave me a chance to get used to reading in a style I was not used to, with chapters that were easily finished while standing on line somewhere or waiting for someone. As I got more involved with the story and characters though, I ended up sitting down and finishing the rest of the book in 1-2 sittings.
There is definitely more in store for Sobei and his friends, and I hope I get a chance to read those adventures as well.
June 11, 2012
Turesobei is a 14 year old high wizard apprentice. He is tired of his set training schedule and the lack of freedom being the next High Wizard affords him. He is promised to marry a girl who seems to hate him and is generally unhappy with his current lot in life.
Turesobei dreams of adventures of his own. A mysterious book, enchanted with an unusual being finds its way into Turesobei’s possession.
Noboro, Turesobei father, returns home with visions of finding a great and ancient evil, The Storm Dragon’s Heart. The Storm Dragon’s Heart actually holds the heart of the evil Naruwakiru. The heart has cast a spell on Noboro, this spell causes Noboro obsession to acquire it from the evil Storm Dragon Cult.
Turesobei’s grandfather grants permission for him to assist his father in his quest. Together with 24 guards, Turesobei and Noboro leave for this daunting quest.
This is a wonderful fantasy story written for the younger teen and beyond. There are no inappropriate scenes for the younger reader, although some are implied. The journey of Turesobei’s growth from boyhood into adulthood is a vivid story telling that will hold readers of all ages. I am a fantasy enthusiast, I truly enjoyed this book. I did find the character's names slightly overwhelming but that was quickly overcame as the story progressed. David Alastair Hayden is a gifted story teller that captures your heart, mind and imagination through out this adventure!
This copy of The Storm Dragon's Heart was given to me by Cat Press and David Alastair Hayden in exchange for an honest review.
Turesobei dreams of adventures of his own. A mysterious book, enchanted with an unusual being finds its way into Turesobei’s possession.
Noboro, Turesobei father, returns home with visions of finding a great and ancient evil, The Storm Dragon’s Heart. The Storm Dragon’s Heart actually holds the heart of the evil Naruwakiru. The heart has cast a spell on Noboro, this spell causes Noboro obsession to acquire it from the evil Storm Dragon Cult.
Turesobei’s grandfather grants permission for him to assist his father in his quest. Together with 24 guards, Turesobei and Noboro leave for this daunting quest.
This is a wonderful fantasy story written for the younger teen and beyond. There are no inappropriate scenes for the younger reader, although some are implied. The journey of Turesobei’s growth from boyhood into adulthood is a vivid story telling that will hold readers of all ages. I am a fantasy enthusiast, I truly enjoyed this book. I did find the character's names slightly overwhelming but that was quickly overcame as the story progressed. David Alastair Hayden is a gifted story teller that captures your heart, mind and imagination through out this adventure!
This copy of The Storm Dragon's Heart was given to me by Cat Press and David Alastair Hayden in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2012
The Storm Dragon's Heart tells the story of Turesobei, a young man who is being forced into a life he isn't sure about. With his family and his level of talent he is destined to be the next high wizard for his clan, but the constant studying of the magic as well as all of his other obligations are making him question his fate.
The story is a pretty good one, especially for young adults, with a lot of action and some very good characters. Sobei could be a spoiled whiny brat from living his life of privilege, but that is not the case at all. He is a good person at heart and is quick to treat others as his equal even the people that other clans use practically as slaves. The part that really appealed to me was how he interacts with the ninja assassin.
This is a solid fantasy offering for the YA to adult crowd. Sobei has some very interesting developments occur within his life and I for one and very curious to see what else is in store for him in the future.
Review copy provided by the author.
The story is a pretty good one, especially for young adults, with a lot of action and some very good characters. Sobei could be a spoiled whiny brat from living his life of privilege, but that is not the case at all. He is a good person at heart and is quick to treat others as his equal even the people that other clans use practically as slaves. The part that really appealed to me was how he interacts with the ninja assassin.
This is a solid fantasy offering for the YA to adult crowd. Sobei has some very interesting developments occur within his life and I for one and very curious to see what else is in store for him in the future.
Review copy provided by the author.
June 17, 2012
This book was very good. I don't read many books with Asian backgrounds so it took a little bit to get use to it. But the magic/wizard theory worked very well and the main characters were very likable. It was an easy read, but I was hoping for that in this book. Sobei's progression through the story from young, stubborn, arrogant kid to young adult was very smooth and believable. All the characters grew throughout the story well. The final battle sequence was very good and Sobei's survival was not a cop-out, but a good and clever twist. This book deffinately deserves to be up there with some of the greats like the Percy Jackson series. A great young adult/kids book.
July 15, 2012
I won this book from the goodreads giveaways program. Sassy Ninja Cat-Girl? Yes, please ^_^ Decent story and definitely a fast read. I'm sure the chapters are so short since it is intended for age 10+, but it was a little weird having 54 chapters in 233 pages... I feel like this story left a lot of unanswered questions that implies a sequel. Lu Bei was an adorable, unique addition to the story that I wish had more significance, perhaps in the next book? The ending was a little disappointing, though, overall a good read.
July 21, 2014
Good Story
This book contains a different story line and setting than I have read before. Most fantasies are based on Great Britain/European history or folklore. Hayden based his book on Far Eastern/Japanese folklore/history/cultural mores. I recommend this book! I plan to buy and read the full series.
This book contains a different story line and setting than I have read before. Most fantasies are based on Great Britain/European history or folklore. Hayden based his book on Far Eastern/Japanese folklore/history/cultural mores. I recommend this book! I plan to buy and read the full series.
May 14, 2014
A great new YA Series
In the tradition of The Lightning Thief, only with a more Asian flavor, The Storm Dragon's Heart is a story about courage and strength. A good fun read that can be enjoyed by younger readers and Adults alike. If you like Harry Potter try this book.
In the tradition of The Lightning Thief, only with a more Asian flavor, The Storm Dragon's Heart is a story about courage and strength. A good fun read that can be enjoyed by younger readers and Adults alike. If you like Harry Potter try this book.
June 20, 2012
pretty good but not full version only got hold of chapters 1 - 31
May 8, 2013
What an amazing book. I read it on Wattpad and loved it.
August 28, 2014
This is one best books I have read in a long time. It has the right amount of humor, action, and adventure you could want in a novel. I highly recommend this book!
July 29, 2021
Ninjas and dragons and magic, oh my! This was creative and colorful. I'm already reading the next one!
September 12, 2019
Close, but too much telling for me to put up with.
May 15, 2013
I expected more from this book than I got. There are numerous errors throughout the book that are quite distracting to the actual plot and character developments. expression and punctuation are poor and left me feeling unsure of what the author was trying to say. I think two stars is generous for something that is a year 7 standard more likened to a school essay for a first time literature venture.
April 29, 2015
Nicely Done!
Starts off a tad slowly, but gains ground, turning into a very nice and thoughtful story with an unforced ending. The characters are solid and entertaining for young or old, and both they and the story grow in unexpected ways. A good read, and recommended.
Starts off a tad slowly, but gains ground, turning into a very nice and thoughtful story with an unforced ending. The characters are solid and entertaining for young or old, and both they and the story grow in unexpected ways. A good read, and recommended.
February 29, 2016
I got this book for free by joining the author's mailing list, and I have to say it's a pretty fun fantasy adventure novel. It's a solid popcorn read, and I'm certainly considering picking up more books in the series to see where the adventures of these characters leads.
June 14, 2012
Usually when a book in this genre caters a younger audience, it is a chore to go on. But this was a pleasant surprise.
March 18, 2015
Amazing nook, defiantly one of my favorites.
May 16, 2015
splendid!... awesome action and adventure.
October 13, 2016
Second read: 10-11-16 - 10-12-16
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews