Sparrow's Journey

by Tanner Woods

A skilled martial artist beyond his years, fifteen-year-old Sparrow is on a grueling quest in search of a man with golden eyes, when he stumbles into a feud between two rival martial arts academies—one run by the brutish Master Mon and the other by the wise Master Shin.

But the seemingly righteous Master Shin is harboring secrets of his own—a volatile past that has created powerful enemies. When Lord Governor Nao seizes Master Shin, threatening to behead him, Sparrow must weigh his commitment to a cause suddenly filled with shades of gray, even if it means risking the quest to which he has devoted his life.

Set in a world reminiscent of feudal Japan, but filled with pesky spirits, prophetic rats, wish-granting foxes, and giant man-eating centipedes, Sparrow’s Journey is a must read for fantasy and adventure lovers of all ages.

Genres: Fantasy

299 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2023

Reviews

[Tanner Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it's pretty good, but I am rather biased!
Let me know what you think!

[Journey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book. I never knew what would happen next, like the best kind of roller coaster. The characters were amazing and the writing engaging.

[Heathers_readss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary - 15 year old Sparrow is travelling alone on a quest to find a mysterious man with Golden Eyes. From the first chapter we learn that sparrow is extremely talented in Martial Arts, but due to his age and size he is overlooked and underestimated. After being forced to defend himself he quickly makes some deadly enemies who seek to kill him. Whilst on the run he stumbles upon members of a small village and magical mythical creatures who may be able to assist him with his quest, however his main goal goes out of focus when an innocent Master of the fist needs his help. Will he choose his greatest desire or his honour.

Review - This was such a fun read I thoroughly enjoyed embarking on this magical filled journey with sparrow. The book is fast paced and just the right length, you could easily read this is one day. I enjoyed the vast variety in characters and each of their unique personalities (humans, healers, witches, ‘evil’ spirits and mythical creatures), some definitely got a laugh or two out of me. I’m not somebody who knows much about martial arts but it was extremely easy to follow along and highly entertaining. I found myself immediately routing for the MC Sparrow as he has a strong moral code and seems to be far wiser than his age should allow, I also liked his quick wit and seeing him takedown certain opponents who deserved it to say the least, there’s definitely a heavy presence of karmic justice in this novel. I very much look forward to the next adventure in the sequel to this book, I am eager to see what kind of allies Sparrow will run into next.

**Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think I would enjoy this story as much as I did! A bit different from what I usually read but surprisingly amusing and entartaining, with lots of deep take home messages!

I have to say that the ability of the narrator is what made it so much more enjoyable. Really appreciated all the different voices and intonations, making it so easy to follow. I was completely absorbed in the adventures of little Sparrow with so many great characters and lots of surprises making me believe I was the one living the adventure!

The only thing that didn't sit right for me was how rats were negatively portrayed and how caterpillars were deemed disposable..

Other than that I cannot wait to see what awaits Sparrow on his journey!

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to listen to it and this is my honest review.

[Edna Caluza · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 17 year old granddaughter read this for me and she loved it.. Thank you..

[Kiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sparrow Puts Up With Too Much

That should be the subtitle of this book lol. But I can respect someone who gets knocked down time after time and keeps getting back up. Now I need to know what his next adventure will be.

[Jason Spears · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story

I throughly enjoyed this story. Sparrow is a likable character and I was invested in his adventure. I’m really looking forward to the next book.

[Nimalee Ravi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tanner Woods, this book isn't just pretty good. This book is absolutely brilliant. Sparrow's Journey we follow the journey of a fifteen year old Sparrow on a quest to find this mysterious man with golden eyes.

I thoroughly enjoyed Wood's writing and the characters. I was captivated from page one, and the pace of the story did not slow. The descriptive writing style is definitely a strength to the story. You can tell that a lot of research has gone into this. From the fight scene to describing the mythical creatures, Wood describes it so well. I can picture every scene and character.

I have passed the book on to my thirteen year old, and she is loving it so far. If you are looking for a fantasy adventure with martial arts, witches, and mythical creatures, this book is definitely for you. I highly recommend it.

[Carla Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. I love the pace of this book it moves along quickly because you don't want to put it down. Young Sparrow seems to have the worst of luck. (I truly understand how that is.) I loved all the adventures and cliffhanger approach of the book. I couldn't wait to see what happened next. A perfect well told story of good versus evil. Nicely done Mr. Woods. Kudos #goodreadsgiveaway #tannerwoods

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It is fast-paced and will hold your interest throughout. I became invested in Sparrow’s adventures right from the start, and look forward to the continuation of the story in future books.

[Daniela Gómez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sparrow’s Journey pulled me into a dark, magical world full of unexpected twists and richly drawn characters. The story follows Sparrow, a complex and resilient male protagonist grappling with a haunted past and a mysterious destiny. His journey is one of growth and self-discovery, and I couldn’t help but root for him throughout his trials.

One of the standout supporting characters for me was Sam—she brings a refreshing twist to the story. However, I really wasn’t a fan of Yuri. His constant doubt interruptions were more irritating than endearing, and I found myself wishing for less of his chaotic presence.

The writing is atmospheric and immersive. Tanner’s ability to craft a world so vivid is impressive, especially considering that I know him personally as an attorney. It’s incredible to see him excel as both a skilled legal professional and a captivating fiction author.

If you enjoy dark fantasy with strong atmospheres, morally gray characters, and a touch of magical realism, this book is worth picking up. Here are some of the tropes you can expect:
• Found family
• Enemies to reluctant allies
• Witches and curses
• A dangerous quest
• Forbidden magic

Overall, Sparrow’s Journey is a thrilling read. Despite my frustrations with Yuri, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and look forward to what Tanner writes next.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for sending me a free copy to review.

I really enjoyed this book! I felt the pacing was good and the character work was enjoyable. I found that I was quite invested in Sparrow and his journey.

The length was just right and I felt I flew through this. It didn't drag and felt entertaining throughout. I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes in the future!

[Sara (thebookwebb) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fast paced adventure that has lots of action and a lot of fun. I loved how the book started right in the middle of Sparrow's journey with no slow build up, it really helped to set the pace and it felt like I was immediately thrust into the middle of things. A great cast of characters and mythical creatures and some great martial arts action.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting coming of age story that is the perfect length. The main character is a well written character who has great wit. This book has plenty of magic, with a nice cast of magical characters. This is an adventure book you can easily enjoy and won't be able to put down.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. I was invested from start to finish in Sparrow's journey.

[Terry Rudge · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is fast paced and enjoyable.
It lacks a bit of substance and character development but certainly was a good first book and I would like to read more from the author

[August · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, satisfying read with nonstop action and likeable characters. I would recommend this for ages 10 and up, but adults will certainly enjoy this too. I hope the series will continue.