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Ancient Earth Trilogy #1
The Realms Thereunder
Ancient legend tells of an army of knights that will remain sleeping until the last days. The knights are waking up. A homeless man is stalked by a pale, wraithlike creature with a mouthful of needle-sharp teeth. Maimed animals and a host of suicides cluster around a mountain in Scotland. And deep beneath the cobbled streets of Oxford, a malicious hoard besieges a hidden city. Freya Reynolds is a university student with a touch of OCD and an obsession with myth and folklore. Daniel Tully is living rough on the streets of Oxford, waging a secret war against an enemy only he can identify. Years ago, they found themselves in a world few know is real. They have since gone their separate ways and tried to put that adventure behind them. But the mythical world is now bleeding into our reality—a dark spiritual evil that is manifesting itself in forgotten corners of the British Isles. Alex Simpson is a Scottish police officer who specializes in hunting mythical creatures. Together, they must confront the past, the present, and points beyond to defeat the ultimate threat to humanity. Nothing they've seen so far prepares them for what awaits . . . in The Realms Thereunder.
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2011
46 people are currently reading
752 people want to read
About the author
Ross Lawhead
24 books31 followersRoss Lawhead comes from a literary household and has written since he could hold a crayon. He has collaborated with his father on a trilogy of speculative fiction, written and illustrated a graphic novel, and published two volumes of "awful" poetry in a series called "The Colour Papers." He lives in Oxford and this is his first full-length novel. For more on Ross' musings on comics, movies, books and culture, visit www.rosslawhead.com/blog/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
dnf
April 27, 2024DNFd at16%….i just wasn’t engaged
December 14, 2020
It must be difficult to enter into the same genre that your Dad also writes in especially when he does it so amazingly. But Ross takes it head on and is no slouch himself as he introduces us to this series of Christian Fantasy books.
In a nutshell, two teens go on a field trip and are sucked into a world of knights, armor, wars and epic journeys and struggles.
Likeable main characters, a plot that bounces along at a steady pace and good doses of humor and clever dialogue round this off. Not a masterpiece but definitely makes you want to invest the time to read the next book in the series.
Sincerely, Laura-Lee
In a nutshell, two teens go on a field trip and are sucked into a world of knights, armor, wars and epic journeys and struggles.
Likeable main characters, a plot that bounces along at a steady pace and good doses of humor and clever dialogue round this off. Not a masterpiece but definitely makes you want to invest the time to read the next book in the series.
Sincerely, Laura-Lee
September 14, 2011
The first book of the Ancient Earth trilogy, The Realms Thereunder, is also author Ross Lawhead’s debut novel. It creates a well-thought out plot that alternates between two worlds, the world of present day Oxford and the timeless realm existing under the earth. His protagonists, the drifter Daniel Tully and the OCD student Freya Reynolds are on a quest to discover the source of the increasing evil that is manifesting itself in horrible and unsettling ways.
Though comparison with Lawhead’s father, author Stephen Lawhead is inevitable, one should try to read Realms for its own merits, which are many. A well-written and engaging read full of dark alleys, evil and malignant creatures, memorable characters and travel between alternate realities, it maintains a good pace and enough interest to hold this inveterate and opinionated reader of good fantasy captive.
The Realms Thereunder is a blend of ancient and modern day England and draws heavily from the country’s rich store of history and myth, creating a compelling landscape across which the author spreads his story of interweaving realities. For an exciting distraction from your own reality, I would heartily recommend this book.
Though comparison with Lawhead’s father, author Stephen Lawhead is inevitable, one should try to read Realms for its own merits, which are many. A well-written and engaging read full of dark alleys, evil and malignant creatures, memorable characters and travel between alternate realities, it maintains a good pace and enough interest to hold this inveterate and opinionated reader of good fantasy captive.
The Realms Thereunder is a blend of ancient and modern day England and draws heavily from the country’s rich store of history and myth, creating a compelling landscape across which the author spreads his story of interweaving realities. For an exciting distraction from your own reality, I would heartily recommend this book.
August 8, 2014
I really wanted to like this - loved his father's books growing up and I like the kinds of things he's trying to do here, but I just don't think he does them well. Actually, I should qualify that - the parts with the 2 main characters grown up actually seemed like a pretty good start; but getting into their history and their journey into the realms of the title, it seemed... too easy and convenient and not at all real. And I was getting all excited and hopeful with the bits of Old English, but alack and alas.... A magical archway that allows them to suddenly understand and somehow speak in OE in a book taking itself seriously just doesn't measure up to the Babel Fish cozily ensconced in some wonderful satire. Possibly a fun read for younger readers, but sadly not for me.
December 8, 2014
This book hit a lot of sweet spots for me -- It was YA, so an easy read, but it was by no means "dumbed down". It contained classic fantasy elements (think Tolkien and C.S. Lewis), Anglo-Saxon mythology (sleeping knights) and some significant references to history (King Alfred of Wessex). The plot was well constructed and complex to keep me turning pages to see what would happen next. I love Ross Lawhead's father's books (author Stephen Lawhead), but son and father have very different writing styles, and I look forward to the next two books in this series as well as whatever else Ross Lawhead comes up with in the future.
April 6, 2015
I couldn't get through it. It had nothing that kept me wanting more. The way it jumped between past, present, this world and the next was just all over the place for me. The storyline seemed interesting enough but each part doesn't excite enough that you can't wait to get back there. I wouldn't recommend this book.
January 27, 2015
Fantastic read for those who enjoyed Narnia, The Inkheart Trilogy, and the Bright Empires series by Ross's father, Stephen Lawhead. Clearly Ross is a skilled wordsmith, and this was a really interesting fantasy book. His Christian worldview comes through but isn't blatant. Recommended!
March 8, 2016
Book 1 in a trilogy... it was a very fun read... I think I'll order the second and third book from amazon to finish the story...
August 16, 2017
A quite enjoyable read, though I will confess that it was the latter third of the book where it finally started to hook me into the story. I've been a fan of Stephen R. Lawhead (Ross' father) for years, so it's kind of interesting to find some elements of his father's writing in the story, though subtle they were.
Definitely a YA type of novel. The first book of a trilogy, and it definitely left a lot hanging. Reading the summary, I felt slightly misled by how the story actually played out. The summary made it sound like the two main characters had engaged in some mysterious adventure and victory in the past, and the current story was connected to it - which was actually a very intriguing way to start a story, in my mind. I thought it would make for some very interesting world-building and character revelation having the past of the characters emerge through their adventures in the present. What really happened was the book settled into a rhythm of The first chapter taking place now, the next taking place back then.....and so on, throughout the book. When I stopped getting annoyed with the technique I started to enjoy it.
So, the book is pretty good. As best I can tell this trilogy is going to be fine for teens and even pre-teens (I'm probably going to attempt to sneak it into my 10 year old son's to-read list). Not too long, not too short. Enjoyed this one and looking forward to the next one in the series.
Definitely a YA type of novel. The first book of a trilogy, and it definitely left a lot hanging. Reading the summary, I felt slightly misled by how the story actually played out. The summary made it sound like the two main characters had engaged in some mysterious adventure and victory in the past, and the current story was connected to it - which was actually a very intriguing way to start a story, in my mind. I thought it would make for some very interesting world-building and character revelation having the past of the characters emerge through their adventures in the present. What really happened was the book settled into a rhythm of The first chapter taking place now, the next taking place back then.....and so on, throughout the book. When I stopped getting annoyed with the technique I started to enjoy it.
So, the book is pretty good. As best I can tell this trilogy is going to be fine for teens and even pre-teens (I'm probably going to attempt to sneak it into my 10 year old son's to-read list). Not too long, not too short. Enjoyed this one and looking forward to the next one in the series.
January 12, 2019
The story line is interesting but the pacing isn’t the greatest. I think I would have liked it more if it was chronological vs jumping back and forth in time. Maybe the author thought it would be easier to incorporate multiple perspectives that way? Regardless I am committed enough to see what the next novel has in store. I do want to see how it all plays out.
October 20, 2018
I found this book really hard going, I wanted to like it, it had all the ingredients to make it a story I'd enjoy. Too much back story and definitely the intro book to a series. I won't be reading any further.
August 11, 2020
DNF at about 50%. This book was dry, overly wordy and confusing. I didn’t care for Freya as a character, there were too many rules tied into the different worlds, and so much jumping between timelines.
October 22, 2024
I thought this book was incredible. Not incredible enough to binge but incredible enough to give it 5 stars. Every time Id put it down for a few days/weeks I always thought about what was going to happen next. It can be dry at times but that makes it seem more real.
March 9, 2017
Strange take. A Tale of a mythical band of knights, sleeping until the last days, which appear to be occurring as the knights awaken.
August 24, 2018
Complex; travel between worlds/times/fantasy; a bit disjointed but overall good YA fiction. Good/evil.
October 2, 2018
Yawn...FTF Couldn't get into this book. I really wanted to like this....
Read
June 20, 2019DNF got caught in too much description of the knights preparing for battle
Read
June 1, 2021I couldn't get into it. I was not drawn into the story.
June 3, 2021
This book is a fun read. I don't normally read fantasy, so I don't know that I can give it a rating based on other fantasy works, but, that said, I very much enjoyed it.
May 16, 2023
Fantastic new world. Harry Potter & Lord of the rings fans will love this series!
September 21, 2023
Wish the story didn't unnecessarily jump back and forth in the timeline. Rarely is it a useful mechanic.
November 21, 2024
Painful. Barely made it through. It's rare for me to give up on a series, especially in this genre, but no thank you.
January 10, 2016
Stephen Lawhead is one of my favourite authors, and so I was greatly intrigued to dive in to this recent work by his son. The two share a love for Celtic mythology and historical fantasy. Ross followed the lead of his father in taking up residence in Oxford so as to gain a more intimate connection with his narrative. These are the similarities. Where they differ is in style, audience and focus. Ross has written something decidedly more fantasy where his father is more interested in marrying the historical. Ross also seems more intent on targeting a younger teen audience (the book strikes me as something I would have really enjoyed as a young kid, and takes me back to memories of my early days of fantasy reading). On a literary level the two Ross is much focused on descriptive detail than his father, even as they both share a familiar approach to character development (which is highly conversational).
The story itself is easy to trace within the lines of obvious company. Lewis and Tolkien can be felt through the pages of the novel as a high adventure story. Where Ross is most interesting though, and probably his most authentic and unique, is where he marries pieces of history, whether through the inclusion of ancient poems and images, or mythological characters. He infuses his narrative with these additions in subtle ways that keep it interesting.
The ideas that sit behind the story are interesting as well, which includes parallel time lines where worlds become infused together. Developing the characters from different age perspectives is also a neat idea. However, the product itself (that is, the writing) ends up feeling somewhat less than it's ambitions. Ross' clear love of the Celtic mythology is apparent in his heavy emphasis on infusing Old English language, names and figures, but there is a point where it feels like the narrative is being described rather than lived. In his fathers first book in the Song of Albion series, there is a moment where the characters reach across from one world in to another. He deals with this transition by allowing us to feel and hear this transition. In this tale by Ross we don't necessarily feel or hear this transition as well as we should, and it takes away from an opportunity to really enter in to the character's own development and journey.
The book also feels much longer than it needed to be. It is written on a grand scale, reminiscent of the flow of the LOTR. And yet here the scope feels much larger than it actually needs to be. Interestingly, in an interview with Lawhead, he suggests this was the desire and encouragement of the publishers to expand the scope of (what was) a smaller narrative (at one point) in to a trilogy. Time will tell on the impact this has for the second and third instalments (first books are always tricky), but at this point it feels stretched more than it needs to be, and where it takes it's toll is on underdeveloped characters becoming overly predictable, and even somewhat annoying (when their responses to every new corner and situation become repeatedly the same).
The concept is stronger than the final product, and in truth that was enough for me to enjoy it. What I really loved was the way it transported me back to my own childhood, something that coincides with the characters own movement in the story. There is a back and forth movement between what is real and what is imagined, and a challenge to reconsider what it means to truly engage not only with our own story, but with the stories around us. Ross is good at conjuring up those emotions that come with sitting around and telling old lore of big monsters and shadowy forests, grand adventures and dangerous corners. He is also good at bringing up those emotions that come with marrying ones difficult past and memories with a hopeful future and present confidence. These are the parts that come most alive in his characters, and these are the parts that bring me back to my own childhood, curled up in a corner with a good story.
The story itself is easy to trace within the lines of obvious company. Lewis and Tolkien can be felt through the pages of the novel as a high adventure story. Where Ross is most interesting though, and probably his most authentic and unique, is where he marries pieces of history, whether through the inclusion of ancient poems and images, or mythological characters. He infuses his narrative with these additions in subtle ways that keep it interesting.
The ideas that sit behind the story are interesting as well, which includes parallel time lines where worlds become infused together. Developing the characters from different age perspectives is also a neat idea. However, the product itself (that is, the writing) ends up feeling somewhat less than it's ambitions. Ross' clear love of the Celtic mythology is apparent in his heavy emphasis on infusing Old English language, names and figures, but there is a point where it feels like the narrative is being described rather than lived. In his fathers first book in the Song of Albion series, there is a moment where the characters reach across from one world in to another. He deals with this transition by allowing us to feel and hear this transition. In this tale by Ross we don't necessarily feel or hear this transition as well as we should, and it takes away from an opportunity to really enter in to the character's own development and journey.
The book also feels much longer than it needed to be. It is written on a grand scale, reminiscent of the flow of the LOTR. And yet here the scope feels much larger than it actually needs to be. Interestingly, in an interview with Lawhead, he suggests this was the desire and encouragement of the publishers to expand the scope of (what was) a smaller narrative (at one point) in to a trilogy. Time will tell on the impact this has for the second and third instalments (first books are always tricky), but at this point it feels stretched more than it needs to be, and where it takes it's toll is on underdeveloped characters becoming overly predictable, and even somewhat annoying (when their responses to every new corner and situation become repeatedly the same).
The concept is stronger than the final product, and in truth that was enough for me to enjoy it. What I really loved was the way it transported me back to my own childhood, something that coincides with the characters own movement in the story. There is a back and forth movement between what is real and what is imagined, and a challenge to reconsider what it means to truly engage not only with our own story, but with the stories around us. Ross is good at conjuring up those emotions that come with sitting around and telling old lore of big monsters and shadowy forests, grand adventures and dangerous corners. He is also good at bringing up those emotions that come with marrying ones difficult past and memories with a hopeful future and present confidence. These are the parts that come most alive in his characters, and these are the parts that bring me back to my own childhood, curled up in a corner with a good story.
February 20, 2012
Ancient legend tells of an army of knights that will remain sleeping until the last days.
The knights are waking up.
Written by Ross Lawhead - son of Stephen R. Lawhead - The Realms Thereunder is the first book in The Ancient Earth Trilogy and tells the story of Daniel and Freya's adventures as children in a world that is mysteriously connected to our own. Years after their return, they begin to realize that the battle isn't quite over. Evil increases in our world, dark things emerge into daylight, and Daniel and Freya find themselves caught in the middle.
The back cover hooked me. I couldn't wait to dig into the book! A homeless man, hidden cities, myths that are real - an exciting premise! Then I started reading and my enthusiasm gradually lessened. Mainly I found the book disjointed and somewhat confusing.
The Realms Thereunder jumps back and forth almost every other chapter between Daniel and Freya's adventures as children and their adventures now. At the start of the book, it seemed that their modern predicaments completely outweighed their adventures as children, but toward the end, their earlier difficulties seemed much more important than what was happening to them at the moment. So much so, that the present storyline seemed more a distraction from the main plot than anything else.
I would have preferred the author divide the storylines and present all of the previous story before moving into the present. The back story felt fully developed whereas the modern story (toward the end) felt more like filler before jumping into the action that I anticipate will come with book two.
Although the premise hooked me, the actual story didn't completely draw me in. The writing style seemed a bit heavy and overbearing at times, not engaging.
As much as I wanted and tried to, I didn't find myself caring about most of the characters. When Daniel and Freya were children, they meandered from acting like ordinary frightened children to speaking like adults. There were several times when Daniel and Freya stepped forward and took charge of the situation in ways that I doubt thirteen year old kids who had just fallen into another world actually would. I also didn't think that the knights they traveled with would have allowed them to take charge unchallenged.
However, I have always loved the blending of the historical, mythical, and modern and found that one of the most enjoyable aspects of The Realms Thereunder. In many cases, it read like an ancient myth or fairy tale from the British Isles, involving plenty of fantastic creatures like elves, gnomes, faeries, and the yfelgopes (don't worry, even after finishing the book I'm still not entirely sure how to pronounce that one!)
I chuckled at Ecgbryt's constant retelling of his days fighting with Alfred the Great against the Danes, because I always loved reading about Alfred the Great growing up. (Who wouldn't like the King who was scolded by a peasant woman because he forgot to watch her cakes and let them burn?) Also, the idea of an ordinary policeman who hunts down mythical creatures as a secret part of his job was pretty cool!
All in all, although I felt The Realms Thereunder didn't quite live up to the expectations produced by the back cover copy, I enjoyed reading it. Don't expect a rapid page turner, but if you enjoy a good blend of history, myth, and modern times, you'll enjoy a foray into The Realms Thereunder. 3 stars.
Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The knights are waking up.
Written by Ross Lawhead - son of Stephen R. Lawhead - The Realms Thereunder is the first book in The Ancient Earth Trilogy and tells the story of Daniel and Freya's adventures as children in a world that is mysteriously connected to our own. Years after their return, they begin to realize that the battle isn't quite over. Evil increases in our world, dark things emerge into daylight, and Daniel and Freya find themselves caught in the middle.
The back cover hooked me. I couldn't wait to dig into the book! A homeless man, hidden cities, myths that are real - an exciting premise! Then I started reading and my enthusiasm gradually lessened. Mainly I found the book disjointed and somewhat confusing.
The Realms Thereunder jumps back and forth almost every other chapter between Daniel and Freya's adventures as children and their adventures now. At the start of the book, it seemed that their modern predicaments completely outweighed their adventures as children, but toward the end, their earlier difficulties seemed much more important than what was happening to them at the moment. So much so, that the present storyline seemed more a distraction from the main plot than anything else.
I would have preferred the author divide the storylines and present all of the previous story before moving into the present. The back story felt fully developed whereas the modern story (toward the end) felt more like filler before jumping into the action that I anticipate will come with book two.
Although the premise hooked me, the actual story didn't completely draw me in. The writing style seemed a bit heavy and overbearing at times, not engaging.
As much as I wanted and tried to, I didn't find myself caring about most of the characters. When Daniel and Freya were children, they meandered from acting like ordinary frightened children to speaking like adults. There were several times when Daniel and Freya stepped forward and took charge of the situation in ways that I doubt thirteen year old kids who had just fallen into another world actually would. I also didn't think that the knights they traveled with would have allowed them to take charge unchallenged.
However, I have always loved the blending of the historical, mythical, and modern and found that one of the most enjoyable aspects of The Realms Thereunder. In many cases, it read like an ancient myth or fairy tale from the British Isles, involving plenty of fantastic creatures like elves, gnomes, faeries, and the yfelgopes (don't worry, even after finishing the book I'm still not entirely sure how to pronounce that one!)
I chuckled at Ecgbryt's constant retelling of his days fighting with Alfred the Great against the Danes, because I always loved reading about Alfred the Great growing up. (Who wouldn't like the King who was scolded by a peasant woman because he forgot to watch her cakes and let them burn?) Also, the idea of an ordinary policeman who hunts down mythical creatures as a secret part of his job was pretty cool!
All in all, although I felt The Realms Thereunder didn't quite live up to the expectations produced by the back cover copy, I enjoyed reading it. Don't expect a rapid page turner, but if you enjoy a good blend of history, myth, and modern times, you'll enjoy a foray into The Realms Thereunder. 3 stars.
Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2011
Have you ever been so wrapped up in a historical period, that you wish you could have lived there? I think that's what happened to Ross Lawhead: at some point, he started studying early Medieval England and thought to himself "gosh, I wish there were still knights and monsters and magic and adventure today." And then he wrote a book about all of those things existing.
At least, I assume that's what happened, because that's what The Realms Thereunder is: a ~400 page story about two people discovering that there are still knights fighting evil in England. I'm not going to say why, because that's not actually very relevant to the book. In fact, this book really seems like nothing more than a lead-up to the book that Ross Lawhead really wants to write, which presumably will be the next one in the series.
So, some strengths and weaknesses of the book.
Strengths: Ross Lawhead clearly has great potential as a writer. His prose flows well, and he is excellent at blending action and dialogue, often in fairly unique ways. Moreover, he manages to work in his worldview in a way that blends well with the story and isn't at all preachy. Apparently, this is part of a trilogy (at least, that's what the front cover says), and book one makes you want to know what happens next.
Weaknesses: Ross Lawhead isn't terribly original. This book is really just a combination of several different fantasy ideas (even horcruxes make an appearance). Even more than that, his characters are wooden, and he occasionally forgets (or ignores) the backstory he's built up for them. For example, the first few chapters focus on the clinical OCD of one of the main characters, which then disappears through the rest of the book. I don't want to be too harsh, since he seems to be a young-ish writer (even with a great writer like Stephen Lawhead for a father, it takes time to grow those sorts of skills), but he definitely needs to up his game a bit if he's going to be writing 1,000 page trilogies dealing with the weighty issues he's raised in this book.
Also, and this is more of an editorial criticism, this book really needed another once-over. Spelling, word usages, grammar, and even occasionally mixing up characters definitely distract from the reading of this book.
Overall, it's a readable book, and I will likely pick up the next in the series just to find out what happens (especially if I get it for free to review... hint hint). Even more than that, I look forward to seeing Ross Lawhead develop as a writer so he can get down to the business of cranking out five-star material...
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
At least, I assume that's what happened, because that's what The Realms Thereunder is: a ~400 page story about two people discovering that there are still knights fighting evil in England. I'm not going to say why, because that's not actually very relevant to the book. In fact, this book really seems like nothing more than a lead-up to the book that Ross Lawhead really wants to write, which presumably will be the next one in the series.
So, some strengths and weaknesses of the book.
Strengths: Ross Lawhead clearly has great potential as a writer. His prose flows well, and he is excellent at blending action and dialogue, often in fairly unique ways. Moreover, he manages to work in his worldview in a way that blends well with the story and isn't at all preachy. Apparently, this is part of a trilogy (at least, that's what the front cover says), and book one makes you want to know what happens next.
Weaknesses: Ross Lawhead isn't terribly original. This book is really just a combination of several different fantasy ideas (even horcruxes make an appearance). Even more than that, his characters are wooden, and he occasionally forgets (or ignores) the backstory he's built up for them. For example, the first few chapters focus on the clinical OCD of one of the main characters, which then disappears through the rest of the book. I don't want to be too harsh, since he seems to be a young-ish writer (even with a great writer like Stephen Lawhead for a father, it takes time to grow those sorts of skills), but he definitely needs to up his game a bit if he's going to be writing 1,000 page trilogies dealing with the weighty issues he's raised in this book.
Also, and this is more of an editorial criticism, this book really needed another once-over. Spelling, word usages, grammar, and even occasionally mixing up characters definitely distract from the reading of this book.
Overall, it's a readable book, and I will likely pick up the next in the series just to find out what happens (especially if I get it for free to review... hint hint). Even more than that, I look forward to seeing Ross Lawhead develop as a writer so he can get down to the business of cranking out five-star material...
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
September 12, 2011
My Review: I have a feeling that Ross Lawhead will be the next big thing in the Christian Fantasy market. In The Realms Thereunder, Mr. Lawhead writes a heart-stopping tale of epic proportions, intricately woven, and overall masterfully done.
I wasn't sure how much I would like it, because it is so different from what I would usually read. But being a huge fan of a Mr. Stephen R. Lawhead, and the fact that this is his son convinced me to give it a shot. And I certainly wasn't disappointed - far from it! I was blown away by the how well written and how well plotted it was. Yes sir, Mr. Ross Lawhead is one to watch out for.
The book follows two characters, both very robustly written, Freya and Daniel. Now here's the twist, it follows them at two different times. The past and the present. Eight years before, Daniel and Freya got swept into an underground battle between good and evil, to save the underground kingdom of Nithergard. Now in the present time they are being hunted down by the same evil forces that they tried to defeat eight years ago. Occasionally this book reminded me of Narnia or Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the classic fairy tale, but all remixed and recharged in a whole new way. Oh, and this book has some pretty awesome knights! Just thought I'd add that :)
My favorite character was Daniel, maybe because his (present day) adventure was easier to follow along with, whereas Freya's (present day) tale was really creepy.
This book was pretty hard to put down and definitely had me returning to it throughout the day. I was a bit disappointed that the theme was more of a battle between good and evil, and not as distinctly Christian as I would prefer. But God was mentioned a few times, mostly indirectly, but it's obvious that Freya and Daniel are in a spiritual battle against the devil. I was a little put out with the book because it was over so soon, and because it ended with a cliffhanger of sorts. I feel like it was just the beginning, and the real adventure is coming in the next two books. And if the next two book were released already, I would be at the bookstore right now purchasing them.
So overall, I would highly recommend this book for all you adventure lovers out there, and I have a feeling that this will be a hit with teen boys. My brother was eyeing this book, while I was reading it with devious intent (LOL). I think that fans of Stephen Lawhead, and action-adventure, fantasy fans, will really enjoy it. Just to warn you that some of the scenes were pretty violent, not to bad if you don't pause to think about it too long. I made that mistake. But this is a book that will captivate your attention and take you to epic dimensions in other worlds. Thanks!
Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson Publishers (Booksneeze) for giving me this review copy free of charge in return for my honest review.
February 19, 2012
Ross Lawhead has taken his first step in fulfilling a fantasy-genre fictional based storyline that I will no doubt have to read the next book called The Fearful Gates according to the advertisement at the conclusion of this book, even though his blog site states that The Hero's Throne is book 2 so on that part I am a bit unclear which will come out first.
In The Realms Thereunder, the first book in the Ancient Earth series, he has a great storyline that you can relate to regarding a secret history of England and the sleeping Knights who protect the realms of ancient Earth before, during and after of any evil doing. I found myself immersed in this book for the first few chapters. I found the characters of Freya and Daniel to be compelling and well written. However, after the first 4 to 5 chapters I found myself being confused on the storyline where Freya is once in a chapter with Daniel and 2 other knights, then is all of a sudden pregnant and has a different story line altogether. I found myself disconnected with how it switched from past to present, one realm to a different realm and one story to another very distracting! I found myself being very confused between which part of the story line I was at and had to skip either back or forward to find myself figuring out where I should be.
Better time frame negotiation and chapter development should be given to better straighten out the story as most readers I feel would be very confused in this book. I feel like Ross who although has a great storyline, needs to define the chapters and stories within stories to better give understanding of where each character is at. I think that while he definitely has a great premise for storytelling, I was let down on many occasions trying to figure out where the characters were going or coming from. Chapter formatting and development needs to be well written and chronological instead of fragmented the way this book is structurally put together haphazardly.Now don't get my wrong, some readers may love the way this book is written but since I process my thoughts logically, I found myself getting lost in what was happening several times through this book and had to go back and re-read sections to see where I might have missed something.
I would rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars for The Realms Thereunder by Ross Lawhead.
For Ross’s first book however, he has a strong writing ability that will hopefully bring more fluidity and structure to his next series of books to come. It's also difficult to not be compared to your father's books and writing styles when you are just starting out as an author. Yet he has been published and I am quite confident that his books will only get better as he continues to write. I received this book compliments of Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy for my honest review.
In The Realms Thereunder, the first book in the Ancient Earth series, he has a great storyline that you can relate to regarding a secret history of England and the sleeping Knights who protect the realms of ancient Earth before, during and after of any evil doing. I found myself immersed in this book for the first few chapters. I found the characters of Freya and Daniel to be compelling and well written. However, after the first 4 to 5 chapters I found myself being confused on the storyline where Freya is once in a chapter with Daniel and 2 other knights, then is all of a sudden pregnant and has a different story line altogether. I found myself disconnected with how it switched from past to present, one realm to a different realm and one story to another very distracting! I found myself being very confused between which part of the story line I was at and had to skip either back or forward to find myself figuring out where I should be.
Better time frame negotiation and chapter development should be given to better straighten out the story as most readers I feel would be very confused in this book. I feel like Ross who although has a great storyline, needs to define the chapters and stories within stories to better give understanding of where each character is at. I think that while he definitely has a great premise for storytelling, I was let down on many occasions trying to figure out where the characters were going or coming from. Chapter formatting and development needs to be well written and chronological instead of fragmented the way this book is structurally put together haphazardly.Now don't get my wrong, some readers may love the way this book is written but since I process my thoughts logically, I found myself getting lost in what was happening several times through this book and had to go back and re-read sections to see where I might have missed something.
I would rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars for The Realms Thereunder by Ross Lawhead.
For Ross’s first book however, he has a strong writing ability that will hopefully bring more fluidity and structure to his next series of books to come. It's also difficult to not be compared to your father's books and writing styles when you are just starting out as an author. Yet he has been published and I am quite confident that his books will only get better as he continues to write. I received this book compliments of Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy for my honest review.
October 10, 2011
The Realms Thereunder is a Christian fantasy, and the first in a new series entitled, "The Ancient Earth Trilogy." It is the story of two children, Daniel and Freya, who discover a hidden world of unique and interesting characters that dwell in tunnels within the earth. When the two children wander off during a field trip, they quickly find themselves on the adventure of their lives. Yet, the escapade is not entirely pleasant, for the lands in the center of the earth are at war. Daniel sees the clash as an opportunity to do something important and to become a hero. Freya wants nothing more than to return home to her normal life. The book tells of their journey both in the present and the past.
When I chose to read this book for a review, I wasn't entirely sure if I would like it or not. I enjoy a good fantasy (providing it doesn't get dark), so I felt it was worth a try. What I discovered was that the plot and characters have a lot of potential. Overall, Lawhead has a good storyline, but I feel he could have told the story in fewer words. The story was burdened with excessive description and a lot of filler that didn't have any bearing on the story. In addition, the constant bouncing back and forth from past to present and from character to character made it very confusing.
To be honest, if I hadn't agreed to read the book in its entirety, I would have put it down before I reached the halfway mark. I kept waiting for it to get interesting, but it really didn't pull me in until the last few chapters. This being the first book in a trilogy, the story really doesn't end. That being said, I'm not sure how many loose ends the author intended to leave, but I felt that several things were truly odd, and I have yet to figure out where they actually fit into the story.
Lastly, for a Christian fantasy, I didn't see anything in the story that distinguished the book as Christian. On the contrary, there were a few words and phrases that I felt were inappropriate for a book in the Christian market.
I'm not saying that I hated the book or that I would never read anything else by this author. However, I prefer a clean book with lots of meat and less filler. Good story. Great potential. But not a compelling read.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
When I chose to read this book for a review, I wasn't entirely sure if I would like it or not. I enjoy a good fantasy (providing it doesn't get dark), so I felt it was worth a try. What I discovered was that the plot and characters have a lot of potential. Overall, Lawhead has a good storyline, but I feel he could have told the story in fewer words. The story was burdened with excessive description and a lot of filler that didn't have any bearing on the story. In addition, the constant bouncing back and forth from past to present and from character to character made it very confusing.
To be honest, if I hadn't agreed to read the book in its entirety, I would have put it down before I reached the halfway mark. I kept waiting for it to get interesting, but it really didn't pull me in until the last few chapters. This being the first book in a trilogy, the story really doesn't end. That being said, I'm not sure how many loose ends the author intended to leave, but I felt that several things were truly odd, and I have yet to figure out where they actually fit into the story.
Lastly, for a Christian fantasy, I didn't see anything in the story that distinguished the book as Christian. On the contrary, there were a few words and phrases that I felt were inappropriate for a book in the Christian market.
I'm not saying that I hated the book or that I would never read anything else by this author. However, I prefer a clean book with lots of meat and less filler. Good story. Great potential. But not a compelling read.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
April 28, 2015
Ross Lawhead seems to be taking after his father, weaving together fantasy, history and Anglo/Celtic mythology like a medieval tapestry.
And his solo debut novel "The Realms Thereunder" is a great way to kick off a writing career. While the time-flipping narrative gets a little annoying at times, Lawhead crafts a genuinely suspenseful tale with gentle humor, strong writing and a rich mythic core focusing on the knights who slumber under England.
Eight years ago, Daniel Tully and Freya Reynolds went mysteriously missing. What nobody except them knows is that they wandered into an underground chamber where a pair of ancient knights slept. Those knights took them into the underground kingdom of Niðergeard, an ancient magical land ruled by an immortal king, and surrounded by an army of the gruesome yfelgópes.
And in that place, Daniel and Freya learned of Gád, a malevolent creature intent on destroying the city and its magic -- as well as the legendary warriors who slumber in the earth. The only ones who could stop him were the mortal children.
In the present day, Freya is a student at Oxford and Daniel is homeless. But after he encounters a yfelgópe, both of them are slowly pulled back into the old conflict -- Freya becomes drawn into a strange dream-life, while Daniel is yanked into Elfland. And their only hope lies in Niðergeard...
"The Realms Thereunder" is a hard book to pin down -- it has a rare mythic richness mingled with whimsy, which echoes classic authors like J.R.R. Tolkien. It's both high fantasy and urban fantasy, modern yet timeless, overflowing with Anglo-Celtic lore but easily accessible.
That doesn't mean it doesn't have some rough edges. The constant bouncing between past and present is a bit distracting, and occasionally Lawhead's plot seems to float away from him.
But his writing style is strong and lush, filled with poetry and haunting turns of phrase. His descriptions of Elfland and Niðergeard are spellbinding, but he drops in some dryly humorous moments ("... the Society of Concerned Individuals. It's a deliberately vague and eccentric title") that remind me of classic British literature.
And he peppers his story with dragons, knights, gnomes, ancient weavers, the needle-toothed yfelgópes and noble Elves. Daniel and Freya are compelling central heroes -- in the past we see them as bright-eyed, plucky child heroes in a strange fantastical world, and in the present as older, more reluctant figures who struggle in their daily lives because of what they've seen. I don't think I've seen another author who handled that idea.
"The Realms Thereunder" is a promising debut for Ross Lawhead -- a rich melting pot of fantasy, myth and imagination. Now if only we had the next book.
And his solo debut novel "The Realms Thereunder" is a great way to kick off a writing career. While the time-flipping narrative gets a little annoying at times, Lawhead crafts a genuinely suspenseful tale with gentle humor, strong writing and a rich mythic core focusing on the knights who slumber under England.
Eight years ago, Daniel Tully and Freya Reynolds went mysteriously missing. What nobody except them knows is that they wandered into an underground chamber where a pair of ancient knights slept. Those knights took them into the underground kingdom of Niðergeard, an ancient magical land ruled by an immortal king, and surrounded by an army of the gruesome yfelgópes.
And in that place, Daniel and Freya learned of Gád, a malevolent creature intent on destroying the city and its magic -- as well as the legendary warriors who slumber in the earth. The only ones who could stop him were the mortal children.
In the present day, Freya is a student at Oxford and Daniel is homeless. But after he encounters a yfelgópe, both of them are slowly pulled back into the old conflict -- Freya becomes drawn into a strange dream-life, while Daniel is yanked into Elfland. And their only hope lies in Niðergeard...
"The Realms Thereunder" is a hard book to pin down -- it has a rare mythic richness mingled with whimsy, which echoes classic authors like J.R.R. Tolkien. It's both high fantasy and urban fantasy, modern yet timeless, overflowing with Anglo-Celtic lore but easily accessible.
That doesn't mean it doesn't have some rough edges. The constant bouncing between past and present is a bit distracting, and occasionally Lawhead's plot seems to float away from him.
But his writing style is strong and lush, filled with poetry and haunting turns of phrase. His descriptions of Elfland and Niðergeard are spellbinding, but he drops in some dryly humorous moments ("... the Society of Concerned Individuals. It's a deliberately vague and eccentric title") that remind me of classic British literature.
And he peppers his story with dragons, knights, gnomes, ancient weavers, the needle-toothed yfelgópes and noble Elves. Daniel and Freya are compelling central heroes -- in the past we see them as bright-eyed, plucky child heroes in a strange fantastical world, and in the present as older, more reluctant figures who struggle in their daily lives because of what they've seen. I don't think I've seen another author who handled that idea.
"The Realms Thereunder" is a promising debut for Ross Lawhead -- a rich melting pot of fantasy, myth and imagination. Now if only we had the next book.
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