Insight

Beholders #1

by Terron James

More than a thousand years ago, the king of Appernysia banished the Rayders to the Exile. The Beholders, men with the ability to see and harness the world’s energy, were slaughtered, and the Second Age began without magic. Now, ruthless Rayder scouts are searching Appernysia for a Beholder to lead their people to victory against the Appernysian king. When Rayders come to Pree, twins Lon and Mellai Marcs are caught in the middle of an ancient conflict. Seventeen-year-old Lon discovers he is a Beholder—the first of the Second Age—and the one the Rayders are searching for. Lon must learn to use his power before it kills him, but the only person who can help him is deep within Rayder territory. He must decide if keeping himself alive is incentive enough to betray his family, his king, and the woman he loves by joining the enemy.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

430 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Born in the wrong age, Terron James continually fantasizes of shining steel, majestic stone architecture, thundering cavalry rushes, and opportunities to prove his honor. Under the direction of his queen, Terron labors diligently in his kingdom, striving to prepare an inheritance worthy of his four heirs.

When he finally graduated from the University of Utah with his English BA, Terron had become besties with most of the English department staff, as well as the employees of Brio, who make a wicked cup of hot chocolate.

Although he currently resides in Tooele, UT, Terron’s dream is to capture every sunset with his wife, fingers interlocked, the reflection of his soul in her brown eyes, and the ocean surf rolling over their bare feet.

Terron is a junior high English teacher, a former Tooele Chapter president of the League of Utah Writers, and a member of Pikes Peak Writers.

To schedule a book signing, appearance, or interview with Terron James, please contact Terron or his publicist, Kirk Cunningham, at kirk@jollyfishpress.com.

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

This is a great, fun old-school fantasy adventure perfect for that age between MG and YA. It’s easily enjoyed by all ages. Beyond the adventuring, it explores the relationships of family members and friends; loyalty and culture; and hard work, courage, and wisdom.

There are some typos throughout. I did not know that this author was my friend’s cousin when I bought the books.

[Krista Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating/Reviewing MO

Edit: I read the new edition of the book if you want to read my review.

This is an excellent, action packed fantasy adventure!

I really enjoyed reading Insight. Just a warning - you will want to pick up the second book in the series right away!

The story is full of interesting characters and fascinating details of the world it takes place in.

The story is fairly well written. The narrative is relatively smooth, although sometimes the presentation of back story breaks up the flow a little. I purchased the e-book and did not see any glaring formatting issues.

Not sure I was thrilled about all the plot points - but as always, I will reserve my final judgement until I have read the entire series.

Over all a great read and recommend to fantasy fans!

[Sharan Volin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew! Somehow Firefox managed to restore this text after a crash, so here's my review:

First a couple of disclaimers. First, I won a copy of this here on Goodreads. I will be honest about it, though. Also, I used to be an editor a long time ago, and I'm a writer and member of a really good critique group. So I may be a little pickier than some readers (although I've been involved in fandom for years and have found that many SF and Fantasy readers do tend to be picky too). I also tend to read more science fiction and urban fantasy, so I haven't read much straight fantasy lately.

There will be a few spoilers here although I'll try to keep it to a minimum:). But I'll hide the review just in case.

O.K, now for the review:).

First, the good. And there is plenty of good here! The story is about a 17 year old boy who suddenly starts getting powers he can't control that are slowly killing him when some of his enemies, the Rayders, show up and he is forced to defend himself and his family. He then finds out that his father was once a Rayder and that they are probably the only people that can help him learn to control his powers.

The idea and storyline are very interesting, and in general I really like the way this is going. The writing is clear and readable, and the characters are very well done. This was a good book. It's especially impressive when you see in the back that he only decided to start writing in 2008, so he hasn't been writing for long. He's definitely an author to watch in the future.

The problem, however, is that what was a good book could easily have been a much better or even great book. For whatever reason the author decided not go go the traditional publisher route, and honestly I think the book suffered from that decision. I know people want to get their work out as quickly as possible, but there's a REASON for that process and for traditional publishers, and this book proved it to me.

There were little things here and there that bugged me, things that seemed a little too easy for the characters or similar problems, but I wrote them off since they were relatively minor and since this is a first novel I know he'll only get better. The big problem came about 2/3 of the way through the book when the biggest problem started to happen which really destroyed my suspension of disbelief and made the rest of the book hard to get through.

***SPOILER WARNING***

Lon, the main character, has gone into the land of his enemies and told them he wants to join them. He is taken before their leader, who says to take him to the training grounds. He fights a Rayder and manages to knock him out with his power (somehow without anyone noticing his eyes, which get noticeably weird when he uses his power). Only then the next thing you know he and another Rayder are made generals and put in charge of all the troops. Now if this had been months or years later it would have been completely believable. But it's apparently right after that training ground fight or shortly thereafter (not much later he reflects as general on the fact that he's only been there 3 months). He just came across from their enemies. I don't see them making him a general that quickly for anything short of saving the leader's life (and even then it was really too soon. After all he could have been a spy for all they know.)

The problems continue in a similar vein through the last third of the book. Things just happen over too short a time period, and Lon changes much too quickly to be believable. The individual parts are great, but the timing of everything is really off. This could have taken place over a few years and would have been much better for it.

Let me get one thing straight: there is NOTHING wrong with this book that couldn't be fixed in a rewrite. In fact because it was so good that made the rest of this so frustrating for me. Any good editor, agent, or even a good critique group could help turn this into a great book that I could see coming out from a major publisher. It just needs work. I just hope he considers hiring an editor for the next one, and if there isn't a stack of this one sitting in a warehouse somewhere it could use a rewrite too. EVERY author needs someone who reads a lot of similar books and will give real, honest critiques, since you always get too close to your own work and can't see the problems.

I apologize to the author if this seems a little harsh but I see real potential and if nothing else I hope this will make him think of these issues in the future and become a better writer. And I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where he goes in the future! In fact after that ending now I want to know what happens in the next book;).

[Lehua Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if you had a powerful gift that was slowly killing you? What if at the moment you needed it most, it knocked you out cold? What if soldiers were hunting people with this gift and the only way to protect your family and everything you loved was to leave it behind?

Insight, book 1 of the Beholders, by Terron James is a sword and shield fantasy set in Appernysia. Seventeen year old Lon has the gift of True Sight, which in a trained Beholder’s hands allows a person to see the world’s energy and manipulate it. But Lon has never met another Beholder and doesn’t have a clue about how to use his gift. Just having it paints a target on his back for the Rayders, an invading army scouring the countryside for a True Sight Beholder. Lon soon realizes that for everyone’s sake, he has to leave his family to search for answers. It’s a journey that leads him to some remarkable revelations as he learns how harness and control his True Sight.

If it doesn’t kill him first.

Insight is an adventure quest full of battles, inner conflict, and humor. While this is mainly Lon’s story, I suspect Lon isn’t the only Beholder in the family.

Guess I’ll have to wait until book two to find out.

[Teri Harman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This high fantasy young adult novel is an enjoyable read, especially for those that love magic and swords. I loved the relationship between Lon and his sister Mellai, as well as the strong family bond. There is plenty of tension and adventure in this hero's tale that takes the reader back in time to a new world of complex decisions and sacrifice. Lon's journey is a difficult one and I felt for and cheered for him from the beginning.

[Karen French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insight is a very good young adult fantasy novel. It is an interesting story and the characters are lively. The story draws you in from the beginning until you are hooked. The sequel should be very good too. I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the books that got me excited to read fantasy books. It is about a teenage boy named Lon who finds out he has this power that hasn't existed for decades. This power, if discovered by others, can get him killed, if the power doesn't kill him itself first. He can't control it, and now he must leave his home, everything he loves, and everyone he knows behind to go find the one person that might know how to help him control this power. The biggest problem, the person that can help him is part of the enemy of his kingdom. He must abandon his kingdom, join the enemy and make them trust him, then control this power. But there is something else going on behind the scenes that Lon isn't aware of.

[Garret Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, and very detailed high fantasy, ripe with difficult choices and consequences from the protagonist, Lon.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

4

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to re-review Insight. I originally reviewed the Indie book, and it has since been published by a small press publisher.

I immediately knew the updated version would be better when I read the new prologue. It was spot on. Most of my issues with the first manuscript were addressed in the new one, things such as the pacing and too much description. However, the new manuscript seems to have the addition of perhaps too much explanation. There is nothing left for me to figure out. Putting two and two together has already been done, like the author is afraid I won't get it--though in my first review (see below) I DID say that there was more going on than the average YA reader would get.

I felt better connected to the characters this time around, but their dialogue with each other still does not ring true with me. The sentences are still too long and too formal, even when the characters are joking with each other. I don't know if that's kind of a genre specific form (don't read a lot of fantasy over here) or a specific stylistic choice that I am just not liking. Either way, I wouldn't want to meet any of these characters and have to carry on a conversation with them. It would be exhausting.

The pacing has also been addressed, and yet the first half of the book still seems very slow--even though there is plenty of action. I have to wonder what would happen if we dropped Lon into the Exile in the first scene and only the necessary info from the first half of the book was revealed slowly over time. If we first saw Lon as a Raider and only caught glimpses into why he is what he is and what he gave up to do it and what he stands to gain.

I'm not trying to rag on the book. It's good, and you will probably like it. But I don't think it is yet all that it could be.

I base my stars on my own enjoyment of books, and so I am keeping my stars at 3 of 5. The new manuscript is trimmed in some places, expanded in others, but it is essentially the same story told in the same way. You can read my original review below.

OLD REVIEW--Terron James successfully creates believable characters that live in a world they do not fully understand. As the plot progresses, the three main characters are each immersed in situations that test them and require them to grow--the key element in a Young Adult novel. Effectively using cause and effect, James forces his characters to become adults in a world they come to understand. However, being that Insight is the first in a new series, they do not fully reach that potential in this book.

To me--and I'm basing my opinion on the genres I normally read--Insight does not read like other YA novels. Almost every instance of dialogue is written in complete sentences, not the way people, and teens especially, talk at all. This is cumbersome to read at times and seldom rings true, making me distrustful somehow of most of the characters. Lon's father's habit of calling him "Son" is so patronizing (moreso because I think it is intended to be a sign of caring) I almost couldn't overlook it to enjoy the story, which is well thought-out. While the descriptions of the setting are delightfully detailed, the meat of the story sometimes gets lost in their complexity. And while the descriptions of each character's feelings and motives are sufficient, they would be more powerful if they were shown in the character's actions more than told in the narration.

As you know, my favorite novels always involve romance, and this one has it--sort of. Lon's reasons for leaving home are based on his love for Kaylen, which sounds romantic, but the two actually have very little interaction, not enough to solidify their feelings for each other. At first I thought it wasn't enough to base his actions on, but while Lon's feelings for Kaylen are weak, they are more complex than I originally thought because they are rooted both in his desire to fulfill an ideal which his parents have created and in his competitive satisfaction at having won against Braedr in securing Kaylen's affection. But even that is a really easy choice for Kaylen because Braedr is a jerk, reinforcing the idea that Lon's love is not enough to justify his actions, but those more complex and subtle issues are. So, I think there is a lot more going on in this storyline than the average YA would pick up on, but the story works either way.

I give Insight 3 of 5 stars based on my own enjoyment of it, but I recommend it to all Fantasy readers, young and old, and expect that anyone more interested in and knowledgable about the Fantasy genre than I am would easily give it 4 or 5 stars

[Sara Burr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Insight. It's a good, solid, high fantasy book that centers around three main characters; Lon, his twin sister, Mellai, and his betrothen, Kaylen. From the very beginning of the story, Lon is struggling with powers known as True Sight, which identify him as a Beholder. The True Sight is the power that binds the world together, and as a Beholder, Lon can see it, if in the right emotional state, and he can use it. The problem is, the right emotional state seems to come only when he's frustrated, angry or otherwise upset, and he can't control the outcome. These powers are overwhelming him, and his family has no idea how to help him get them under control. If something isn't done soon, Lon's going to die, or someone he love will be caught in the crossfire.

After an accident hurts Kaylen, Lon leaves their small village in search of help from the very people he was raised to hate the most, the Rayders. Lon's father believes there is one man who will be able to teach him what he needs to know. In order to gain his trust, Lon will need to become a Rayder and gain status among them. The plan is to gain status within the Rayder tribes, and then betray them later on down the line by abandoning them -- much like his father did when he met his mother. But will Lon stick to the plan? Lon hatches a different sort of a plan in the end. You will be surprised by the outcome.

What I loved about Insight the most was the magic. I am a magic junkie, and the magic in this book was COOL! Right from the prologue, James has you sucked in by the magic system, and wondering where it came from and what it is. I also like how rare the magic is. Rather than living in a magical society, Lon is in danger, both by the people who find out about his magic, and by himself because he can't control it. His magic became much stronger as he approached his coming of age. When I write about magic, that's typically how I approach it, as well -- with the magic growing stronger as the character gets older -- so I really identified with that.

I also thought that the relationships were extremely well done, particularly the tender love that Lon and Kaylen shared right from the start. It was so sad, when he had to leave.

It's a sweeping epic fantasy, and all that comes with that. For me, one of the downsides to epics is the length. I tend to like a quicker read. Also, it takes a lot longer to set up the story in a book like this, but the good thing about that is that they usually come in long series, so the second one should be much easier to get into. In fact, I can't wait to dig into the second one! The side stories were good, and he kept them together well.

In the end, I will say that I hope I'm invited to participate somehow with the release of the next book, because it's been really fun to watch Terron's excitement as the release approached. One major reason I hope this is because a big perk of getting an advanced reader copy is that they're advanced. Less waiting! I can't wait for more of this story!

[Scott Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh ho! This book surprised me! Yes, the cover did throw me off. The guy on the cover is so depressed. But are we not told to NOT judge a book by its cover? Well I’m so glad I didn’t. Before I tell you why, I will say here that this cover actually is perfect after you follow Lon’s tough journey. Author Terron James is planning on changing the cover but let me tell you the story inside is good enough no matter what the cover looks like.

Insight is the story of a boy who becomes a man, gaining “insight” as he discovers everything he knew was wrong. It’s a coming of age story set in a realistic world of warring nations, exiled people and years worth of false hatred. Appernysia could easily be any place on Earth, where people were raised up to believe the other people “over there” are bad and we’re good. Lon grew up in a small community where everyone lived the lives they were expected and never stepped out of line or challenged their world.

But what happens if the “bad guys” come to Lon’s sleepy outskirt community ? What happens when Lon discovers that these Rayders seem to be just as human as anyone else?

It doesn’t help that Lon discovers the reason behind his headaches, the amazing untrained abilities he now has and the terrible dangers those abilities bring his loved ones. If unchecked, his new abilities could kill him.

Revelation after revelation completely turn him upside down. He’s forced to leave his loving parents, his hot-headed twin sister, his home and the love of his life. He must go to the one person who can help him, the scholar Omar, deep within the Rayder’s world.

How does his sharp tongued sister Mellai or his love Kaylen feel about this? What do they do and where do they go as a result? How does Lon fit into the harsh military world of the Rayders and how will he become the man he needs to be? Will he master his gifts or will they destroy him? Will he grow into an amazing leader or die by the sword and his pride?

This book is filled with adventure, romance, shocks, humor, realism and fantasy. It even has a monster or two. I identified with Lon and Mellai. They were two of my favorite characters. I also enjoyed Omar and Tarek. There are also plenty of characters you’ll love to hate like Braedr and Commander Rayben Goldhawk.

All in all I really enjoyed this book. I recommend it to anyone. The chapters end in ways that you just have to turn the pages and devourer more. The story starts slow and continues to build until you just can’t stop reading. The final last two chapters alone are so amazing when… wait. Go get a copy and find out for yourself. It’ll be worth it!

[Mandy Sickle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Insight from the publisher Jolly Fish Press in return for an honest review. Insight is about three main characters Lon Marcs, his twin sister Mellai and his fiancé Kaylen. The Rayders have been searching for the Beholder who has been rumored to be born this generation. The first is a very long time that may change the future for both the Rayders and Appernysians. Lon shares a special connection with his twin Mellai that she can feel what he’s feeling.

Lon is the hunted Beholder yet he’s unable to control his gift it’s actually killing him with each time True Sight overtakes him. His father before he left them was once a Rayder attempts to help Lon gain control over the True Sight but after an accident that almost kills Kaylen he flee’s . Lon’s only choice is to join the Rayders hoping his father’s friend will be able to help him control the True Sight before it kills him.

While Lon sneaks away from Pree without saying goodbye his sister and fiancé also leave Pree heading for his grandparents town. Mellai decides to stay with her grandparents while Kaylen decides to continue on with the traveler’s right to the city where the king lives. While Kaylen takes a job as a handmaid Mellai is enjoying her peaceful existence with her grandparents.

Lon’s adventure is anything but simple he has to journey across Appernysia just to reach where the Rayders are in Exile. Upon reaching Exile Lon will be tested risking his life to prove himself worthy to join the Rayders. Once he proves himself he’s invited to join the elite ranks, getting the chance to learn how to control his True Sight with the help of his father’s friend. Lon doesn’t want to be with the Rayders but if it’s the only way he can protect Kaylen then he will do it. Lon comes up with the idea of uniting the two groups of people like they once were and attempts to put his plan in motion changing everything for all of them.

Insight is my first real epic fantasy book so I was a little unsure but it proved itself. Insight is a captivating story with a unique concept that captures the heart. A fast paced action adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat till the end. The characters are easy to connect with you can’t help cheering them on as they each have their own struggles. I enjoyed that the author gives us Mellai and Kaylen’s story because they enhance Lon’s story since he is the main focus. I also like the Insight is a clean story so that teens as well as adults will love it as much as I do. I really loved the whole idea of Insight and I’m anxiously waiting the next book it can’t come fast enough.

[Laura Bastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had already read this book in its first printing and enjoyed it then. I think it has improved a lot since the first version. Some of the extra fluff and unnecessary stuff was removed or condensed. (And I loved the prologue in this version)

Things I liked about this book. Lon Marcs actually goes and does something about his problem. The battle and fight scenes were very engaging and kept my attention throughout. I liked the characters and how they were developed for the most part. Some characters I even hated, but I believe I was supposed to and Terron did a great job on making me feel something for the characters. The world and the magic system were interesting and I liked how Lon had to work hard to figure out how to survive with this magic that was taking over his body.

Some things I didn’t like. Though most of the characters were well developed and I got a pretty good feel for them, I thought they were lacking in emotion and a solid reason for them to do what they did. I didn’t see it enough. I’m not used to reading 3rd person stories where we get to see everything everyone else sees, I prefer the kind where I get really into a characters mind and emotions so I personally didn’t feel what I had hoped to from the characters.
I also thought there were many times when things were skipped over for one character while we went to a different location and a different character. I wanted to see more of Lon’s trials and experiences in the Rayder lands instead of the stuff about his twin sister Mellai and his girlfriend/fiancé Kaylene. I’m sure they are important later on in the series, but I sort of found their little side stories kind of annoying at times since I missed out on stuff from Lon’s point of view.

The only real fault I can find with this story is that Lon’s experience spans 7 months I believe in the story and I never really felt that his rise to power in the Rayder army was truly warranted. I didn’t see him really earn it since I think a lot of the time we went to the side characters stories and missed what he did to actually earn his place. I can believe his change of loyalty and the reason for him truly joining himself to the Rayders cause. I just don’t think it really would have happened that fast with the information I saw as a reader experiencing Lon’s actions. Other than that, it was a fun read. Not quick and easy by any means, but enjoyable still.

[Erleen Alvarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visit my blog for the review of Insight plus a giveaway here.

With an original storyline and imaginative world-building, Insight is a thrilling epic fantasy adventure about the twins, Lon and Mellai, and how their lives suddenly changed because of a gift (or is it a curse?). A captivating story full of secrets, magic, suspense and surprising twists

Set in a medieval time, the Marcs family used to live a normal life in Roseiri, until an incident happened that exposed Lon’s ability and led them to run away and hide in Pree. Five years later and after a good friend of them sacrificed his life to protect them, all the secrets about their family were unveiled. One of those was Lon’s identity as a Beholder, a person who has an ability called True Sight. And as his coming-of-age came nearer, his True Sight became more and more powerful and also, uncontrollable. He will have to make the biggest decision in his life before he endangered his life and everyone he loved the most.

Insight immediately grabbed my attention from the very first page. I don’t know how to explain it but there’s a certain mystery in the way the mood was set and the story was told, that kept glued to it. And the way Terron James described the world of Appernysia was breathtakingly beautiful. I swear, I could vividly picture it in my mind.

The characters were realistic. They have the right balance of strengths and weaknesses which made them believable and easy to relate with. Lon was like your typical teenager who was just coming of his age. He’s a bit unsure, impulsive and has a temper issue. But what made him admirable is his willingness to take the risk and sacrifice himself just to protect Kaylen, his fiancé, and his family.

On the otherhand, Mellai, was the outspoken, a bit bossy and strong-willed twin sister of Lon. I actually like her even if she’s a bit talkative. She’s very brave and stubborn and has a really great sarcastic humor that I really liked in heroines. The other characters that I liked were Kaylen, Tarek, Theiss and Omar.

Overall, if you love original high fantasy novel with magic, fight scenes and a rich back-story, then why don’t you try Insight. This will definitely surprise you.

[Caleb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beholders: Insight is a high fantasy adventure story of a young man on a quest of self-discovery. Set in a medieval European-type setting, Beholders follows the story of Lon as he learns he is a mage called a Beholder—the first one in over a thousand years. He unleashes a power that could kill him and those whom he loves the most. Lon must consider the people he cares about most as he seeks the answers to questions rising with his newly discovered powers.

The book starts out well—the first several chapters had me sucked into the story and anxious to see where it was all going to lead. The prologue is filled with wonder as we see the magic system in action. James creates an interesting mystery surrounding the main character Lon and his sister Mellai—two twins wrapped in an intricate magical web. James has done the work to research his world—knowing the intricacies of medieval weaponry. He masterfully unfolds some unexpected plot points that surprised and delighted me. The story yields several battle and fighting scenes of intense action.

I rated the book three stars because of a few hang-ups. Although the first chapters start out well, the story takes a little while to go anywhere after the first initial action. Also, characters’ motivations sometimes were unclear to me.

Overall, however, Terron James has written a book of adventure and magic that should appeal to the lover of fantasy.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well first off can we say cover love!! I just love the cover of Insight and I know you all will too! Thanks to Terron James and Jolly Fish Press for sending this one to review!

I enjoyed this one, I did have a little trouble in the start but once I got past that it took off. The story of Lon was page turning. Only Seventeen and having the gift of True Sight, something that in a trained Beholder fingers will allow that person to see the worlds energy and manipulate it. But what do you do when you know no one else with this gift, how to you learn to use it and control it? The Rayders, which are in search for a True Sight beholder, are after him and this is only making Lon’s life much more dangerous.

Lon must travel from home and go in search for answers, as well as keep his family safe. You will not want to miss the incredible journey Lon travels on. He will learn some very valuable things and might just find out how to control that True Sight he has. There are some very on the edge of your seat scenes you will feel like you are part of. Terron never disappoints when is comes to making you feel like you just stepped into a adventure full of battles, quests of finding your true self and so much more!

Get ready read because you will not want to stop once you start Insight! Can’t wait for more from the Beholders series!

[Elsie Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

INSIGHT, Terron’s James’ first story in his young adult “Beholders” fantasy series, gripped my interest from the first page. His fantastical world of Appernysia (complete with detailed maps and a glossary of terms), and the main character's dilemmas, was like a cross between Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and the BBC’s miniseries, Merlin, both of which I love. Though the first third of the book flowed at a leisurely pace, taking time to introduce the reader to the main character, Lon, and his background and trials, it really picked up in the second portion of the story, making INSIGHT a page-turner. I itched to learn what would happen next in Lon’s quest to control his new-found powers in perceiving and utilizing the invisible essences of nature. As he’s drawn into enemy territory and forced to become one of them, Lon is torn and confused over who he is and who he needs to become in order to save his life and the lives of those he loves. James' descriptions of settings, weapons and events are fascinating, allowing the reader to really picture the scenes in great detail, but that in no way slow the story. Of course, I was completely hooked by the end of the book and eagerly looking forward to the next installments in the “Beholders” series, especially with James leaving the reader with a hint of events that will unfold in the next books. Well done, Terron James!

[J.A. Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying I read this before Jolly Fish had it (one benefits of being a beta reader) and wow, some of the changes blew me away. The writing was new realm of awesome with some really powerful imagery mingled in. Certain scenes were switched around to make the story stronger, and it worked really well.

I still believe being a Beholder is one of the coolest forms of magic ever thought of, and Terron did a great job of making the reader feel like they were suffering along with Lon as he struggled to control everything happening to him. The contrast between Appernysia and the Rayders gave a great sense of tension with the perfect action packed ending. The cliffhanger at the end still gave me chills even though I've read part of book two (Take that, suckers!)

I've said all this good stuff even though this really isn't my type of book. I never finished reading Lord of the Rings becasue of some of the same things that bothered me with Insight. It starts slow, taking time to get into the world and understand the characters, it doesn't mean the story as a whole isn't worth it, I just had a hard time with it.

In general, if you like Lord of the Rings, and can't get enough of high fantasy worlds, this is your book.

[Sheila (sheilasbookreviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insight is the first book in the Beholders fantasy series. Terron creates a world set in a medieval time. The World of Appernysia is vividly introduced as the reader gets to know main character, Lon. Though there is a slow start, the adventure soon takes over and you have to keep reading. There are many exciting moments, as Lon discovers that he is the long awaited Beholder that people have been waiting a millennium to be born. Lon fights against what is right and wrong.The lines will become blurred as to the decisions he makes. It was exciting to see Lon's journey as he became a Rayder. The Rayders reminded me a lot of the French group of Musketeers, because of their loyalty to each other and their cause.

Lon's twin sister, Mellai, is also vital to the heart of the story. I enjoyed seeing the twins, grow and mature along the way. The romance between Lon and Kaylen is told realistically, but heartbreaking at the same time.

Insight has something for all readers, adventure, romance, fantasy elements,and an exciting twist at the end of the book. You are left wanting to read the second book immediately, even though it is not ready to read yet;soon I hope!

Go to http://terronjames.blogspot.com/ to read more about The Beholder series.

[Jesse Kimmel-Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting book. It does well at keeping the attention of the reader. I really enjoyed the characters. Terron does a great job at crafting his characters in a way that appeals to the reader. It makes us want to keep going to try and find out what will happen to them. We invest in them- not all books today get you to invest in the characters.

Terron also does a great job at character development and character arcs. The characters are the soul of any story and he makes sure that his story has a brilliant one!

I love the overall story itself. It's very unique and it's a great read. It does leave you wanting more though- and since book 2 is not out, you'll be wanting until it comes out! A plus and a minus. Plus because the book was that good, minus because you have to wait now.

I had read some reviews about a guy being on the cover, but there wasn't one on mine. It does leave me a bit curious as to what the cover looked like before I got my ARC. ;) This is a great book and I recommend it for those that love a good action-adventure book with well written characters, that will leave you wanting more.

[Tamra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't at all sure what to expect when I began reading this book and as I'm not a real big fan of the fantasy genre, I have to admit I struggled to get through the first few chapters. But as the story progressed I found myself more and more interested and impressed. There were plot twists that took me by surprise and the author has a great imagination with descriptions and knowledge to back it up. The characters are believable and relatable, although I'm looking forward to having them even more fleshed out in the sequel. My one complaint are the pivotal moments that I felt deserved more attention. Often I had to go back and re-read certain passages to make sure what I thought had just happened had really happened. I wanted a bit more emotion or description to feel the full impact of the moment instead of feeling that they were glossed over or hurried through. And I know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover but I'm not too crazy about this one (petty, I know). But, all in all an incredible first novel. I'm looking forward to the sequel.

[Krista Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating/Reviewing MO

I read the previous edition of this book, if you want you can read the review.

Note: I am holding on to the fourth star until I finish reading the series.

Insight takes place in a really fascinating fantasy world. I really enjoyed the magic system of True Sight. It was very intriguing.

The characters are interesting, but I never really connected with one individual one. It was more of the big picture events that drove the story forward.

I noted some issues with back story in the narrative in the previous edition. This edition has really smoothed those out. And my only real complaint with story was that there were some scenes that were alluded to that I would have like to see.

Over a great fantasy read.

My blog will be featuring a more detailed review on May 24th.

[Rebecca McKinnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. I have to admit, it didn't hold my attention at first, and I'm not sure why. However, as I got into it, I found myself more involved with the story.

The story is mainly about Lon, but I wish there was more of Kaylen and Mellai---although, from the ending of the book, my guess is that the next book will be about Mellai, so that makes me happy. ;)

Like any good high fantasy, we have a protagonist with an internal struggle, a desire to improve things, something that sets him apart from those around him, and a quest. All the characters are believable and likeable (or hate-able, as the case may be). The "enemy" isn't evil, they just have a different view of how things should be. The history of this world is well thought out.

My favorite part? The last 8 lines.

[Trudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this book is AMAZING!!

I was SO excited when I relieved it & learned that the author lives in Utah, like me!!

I've not been much of a fantasy reader in the past, so I didn't know this was going to be so exhilarating to me!!

I loved the combination of values & morals, love & loss, integrity & honor, etc. So many deep seeded virtues that were blended with a spectacular rumored gift/curse of a boy who has come of age & suddenly has to leave all he loves behind on a quest to find out who he is & how to survive & use this gift/curse. If that is even possible.

Mr. James has such a creative & talented mind to pull together such a strong & heart-felt story, leaving you impatiently waiting for the next one.....

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

[Beka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable book, recommended to me. It takes the reader into another world filled with all of the settings and characters to make for an amazing adventure. From the beginning, you find yourself caught up in the places and descriptions. The people you are introduced to are able to capture your interest hold it until this story concludes. The author did a great job of hooking the reader in, letting them enjoy the places and changes of the characters, while leaving them wanting to continue on with the journey. I can't wait for book 2, it can't come soon enough! Thanks for a great read!

[Quinn Heder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insight was a departure from my usual reading, but Terron is a local author, and so I welcomed the chance to exchange books and reviews. Although I found myself enjoying the story, I found the writing cumbersom, and dificult to wade through in order to satisfy my curiosity. For readers who enjoy intricate detail, this novel paints an entertaining picture of alter existance along with fun characters although with good editing I think it could have been much better. I never became completely engaged, because of the wordiness, and to me, needless filler, but Terron has a terriffic imagination, and in time will doubtless produce some good stories.

[Terri Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terron James has created yet another fantasy world that makes you feel right at home. His descriptions are spot on. I can see this loyalty torn world through the eyes of Shalan, Aron, Mellai, and Lon, espcially Lon. James has given us the delectable combination of a loving family, a not-quite-so black and white world, and enough bad guys that leaves the reader going next book NOW. I really liked the moral dilemmas Lon goes through. I found the world believable, the fight scenes epic, and the romance sweet but not sickening. Well done, Mr. James. And now about that next book.....say when?????

[Nicole/Books Complete Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. Insight takes us into a world of swords, horses, and magic. Lon has some choices to make, and those choices take him far from his family, and his beloved. Through the connection that Mellai has with him (being twins and all) she is able to "keep tabs" and know at least that he's alright.


I like the format in which this is written. We're not just getting it from one person's POV. We're able to "see" what's going on with the different characters. As you're reading, you can tell that Terron James put a lot of research into his book!

[Kristi Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all this really isn't my type of book that I would pick up and read. It was a book club book and the author was coming to talk about it so I reluctantly picked it up to read. I was very surprised and actually ended up reading the book in about a day. I loved the descriptions of the lands. It was interesting to talk to the author about it and how it came to be. Also fun to get the background on who characters were based after.