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The Way To Dawn

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It’s not often that a vague, ill-omened dream begins to dictate your life. But dreamers become believers when their life is on the line.
Greyshio and Demeseus experience a conjoined dream with the given option to choose a mystical weapon. Soon after receiving this power, they awaken to a nightmare. Their hometown is torn to shreds by demonic creatures being led by a mysterious man with unrestrained hate for anything human. Once separated through the use of his dark magic, the two of them are forced to come to terms with their untapped gifts and the meaning of loss…

271 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 12, 2013

1 person is currently reading
80 people want to read

About the author

Charles Lee

8 books15 followers
Charles Lee has always been a fan of stories with greater meaning than what the surface portrays. His love for profound fantasy began at a young age. His growing interest in thought-provoking stories ranged from a gamut of different areas of literature. These are experiences he’s cherished and evolved with for over a decade. It’s his key drive for creating compelling, unique, philosophical stories.

When he decided to begin his own novel, The Way to Dawn, he originally had no intention of pursuing writing as a career. But when he fell in love with his own characters, he became inspired. He was so proud of his creations that he wanted to share this part of himself with others. In no time, writing soon became more than just his way of expression. It became his wings.

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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Chris Lang.
1 review
November 14, 2014
It was really good. I got into the charcters more than I expected. Each person has a n interesting spin on what they believe is going on. Even though it started out fairly slow, it made up for it in engagement. I think the character that left me wanting to know more was Aquarius. He's funny but really sneaky. He also seems to be really good at acting from behind the scenes, never letting on too much.

The story is not like many books I've read, it kinda pulls you in as if to be watching it instead of reading it. I know it sounds odd but that's how it feels. I think that's what Charles Lee really wanted from us readers, to not only feel their pain, but to see their world beyond your mind. An experince to give ryes to the unseen.

I look greatly forward to continuing this series which I highly recommend to fantasy lovers, comic book lovers, and anime lovers. It's all that in one and then some.
Profile Image for Lynn.
13 reviews
November 23, 2020
I'm doing this review, courtesy of Booktasters.
The way to Dawn. This was an intriguing read for me. 2.5 stars. I genuinely enjoyed the plot of the story, the originality in the fantasy and magic of the land. And the names. Lord, I loved the names. They were beautiful and sexy and now I'm thinking of naming my kids those names. Derexen. Wonderful name for an evil lord.
Anyway! This story begins by reminding us of our position on this Earth, and how it can be manipulated by the teller of our story. I was gripped. And we go into the young mind of a one Derexen where he chooses a blade. Apparently, this is what all World Guardians go through when chosen. What I get from this is that Derexen isn't a normal young man, and I have so much hope for the future in him.
Onto the next island, we meet our other heroes. Greyshio and Demeseus. Love them. My only concern was that I didn't really feel their characters then. It's like the story was dragging and felt... unrefined.
The tournament was a good way to introduce the big players of the game together. And killing Brad was a good motivation.
We follow Greyshio to Yock, and he meets Dean. I'd like to say this was a bland meeting in my opinion and could have some work done on it. They train and fight Derexen and his loyal sidekick. But Dean dies. He just dies when I'd started to like him!
Lex had a major glow up, and maybe it suits him, the little bastard.
There's a world skip and we link up with Demeseus. Amnesiac, beaten up and has no clue who he is. Fancy that he's being looked after by a very beautiful woman. He's the envy of Greenwood's men. Their... relationship jumps at me so fast, I don't even see it. But when her eyes turn from blue to yellow, I know she's not to be trusted. And I knew the man leading Demeseus to his memories was Aquarius! Sly old man. I knew it. I feel good knowing I knew it.
Next we see Demeseus appear in another place, and he's been killing monsters and Demi's and shit. But...how? I read nowhere that he'd trained on even how to call his blade. But for the sword fighting, maybe he was better than Greyshio. Also where did he get those gauntlets??? Is it some metalbending kinda move? I like it, but it would've been nice for a bit of insight on it.
The Righteous Kiras is a great villainy name. But it...didn't come at me the way a villain name should have. Like the way it was introduced. And the fact that world guardians have been fighting them for a while, it would have been nice to know of it thru a bystander or a seasoned world guardian.
We rejoin Demeseus in a town and he is getting ready for a ball, when he reunites with his love. That takes a terrible turn for the worse when his love beats him up and leaves him to near death, until a random stranger finds him and takes him to hospital, saves him by sacrificing his(stranger's) life force while in league with Derexen on how to find a hidden paradise so full of light, no darkness is there.
We climax with Balthazar the offbrand RK paired with a mad scientist woman fighting Greyshio. He manages to hit Balthazar to unconsciousness, but they escape and so does he, in his cute Uniship that I am yet to know how the inside looks.
All in all, this book had a very good plot, and interesting characters, but it was a little difficult for me to read. It seemed like a kind of first draft, or maybe second draft kind of story. I honestly felt like I was beta reading, and kept calling out comments. There wasn't a character I felt had...depth, dare I say. And there wasn't much of character growth, or development. The only growth was probably Demeseus getting over Michelle, but that too seemed kind of forced and not for real. There was also telling, but not enough showing. The world building wasn't done enough justice too, and I believe there's a lot that can be explored there. This book has so much potential. I felt like I was reading an anime.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kalpanaashri.
63 reviews7 followers
September 16, 2021
I am so grateful to receive this book in exchange of providing my honest review. I would love to thank Booktasters for giving this opportunity!

Genre:
Fantasy with a touch of modernity.

Plot:
One dream. One Choice. A choice that can permanently change one’s destiny. When Greyshio and Demesus experience a conjoined dream with an option to choose a mystical weapon, they never expected that their dream could change their lives forever.

A nightmare soon following their dream, they soon lose everything dear to them. Separated from each other, with a mysterious man on pursuit – will they be able to harness their newly found power, get united and defeat this formidable new enemy?

Review:
Written by author Charles Lee, the book starts with a mind-boggling question. The author takes us on an adventurous journey filled with action, loss, friendships, and betrayals. Tracing the journey of two friends Greyshio and Demesus, the book is action packed. Yet it does not feel heavy. Once you start reading, it’s quite difficult to put it down.

The author manages to create unique world within the book. There is no specific period mentioned in the book. The references to sword fights in the beginning gives medieval fantasy feel. However, the description of attires, references to recycle etc. gives a modern touch. The fights and description of the scenes feel realistic.

There are right number of characters either side. The author has given enough importance to all of them, making them strong. There is ample scope for character development. With certain characters we fall in love immediately, some there’s instant dislike but we warm up over time. The negative characters are balanced well. Overall, it is very engaging.

The story is well paced. The ending leaves desiring for more. This book is first in a series. The curiosity of finding out what will happen next is high.

However, there are couple of points which could’ve made the book better. A mini map of the world would have aided in visualizing it better. The background behind making choice in dreams would have helped in understanding better. I hope it will be addressed in successive books.
I really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely read the next one in the series!
I recommend grabbing this one!
Profile Image for Livy.
267 reviews15 followers
November 4, 2020
I was kindly given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, however there were several aspects that just didn't quite sit well with me like the portrayal of women and the random and distasteful swear words. Apart from that I did really enjoy the word building, especially because the main characters trailed around the world to various different locations and that showcased Charles Lee's ability to create very individual locations for the story to take place in.

The plot too was good and certainly holds promise for the rest of the series, the idea of World Guardians and the RKs are interesting and their rivalry over the world in the book is engaging. However there wasn't really a final confrontation at the end o this book which would have raised the stakes for the next books in the series as well as being a great ending. I did find the love plot interesting because of the implications of it, however parts of it did feel a little irrelevant to the overarching plot.

The characters were well written and they all had interesting details that separated the characters from each other. The one thing about the female characters was that the description of them was all about their physical appearance and the male characters weren't given the same treatment. They were also kind of put aside and weren't really relevant to the overarching plot of the book. Perhaps this could be improved for the next books in the series.
Profile Image for Alexandra.
6 reviews1 follower
October 14, 2020
This book was a pleasant surprise for me. While the writing style is not what I tend to prefer, I still found myself intrigued by the deep characters, the relationships they built and their reactions to the fantastical events that they are thrown into. I found myself emotionally invested in everyone, even with the antagonist, because I had been show his world and how he came to be who he was. I very much enjoy when a book keeps me guessing. This book definitely did just that. It wasn’t a perfect read, perspective changes and almost too much description at times, but I do recommend it. The story as a whole is worth the read!
12 reviews
October 30, 2025
"The Way to Dawn" is a thrilling fantasy novel that dives deep into a battle between light and darkness. The story follows two young men, Greyshio and Demeseus, whose ordinary lives are destroyed when a powerful and hate-filled enemy named Derexen attacks their home. Forced to become "World Guardians," they are given magical swords and a desperate mission to stop him.

The book cleverly splits into two parallel adventures. Greyshio's path is one of rage and vengeance, while Demeseus awakens with no memory in a seemingly perfect, snowy town that hides a sinister secret. Their separate journeys are full of action, difficult choices, and personal growth, leading to a final confrontation that is both epic and emotionally charged.

What makes this book special is its heart. It's not just about magical battles; it's a story about friendship, overcoming trauma, and finding the courage to hope when all seems lost. The characters are complex and their struggles feel real.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for nath ᥫ᭡.
186 reviews28 followers
January 24, 2024
[SENT BY BOOKTASTERS]

4🌟 definitely a pleasant read!!!! i really enjoyed the dark fantasy aspects of the book and it was such a palette cleanser from other book i’ve read so far. was super interested with the characters as well and they were portrayed so beautifully! loved the development. would definitely recommend & read the sequel/prequels of this.
Profile Image for Mavera .
5 reviews
October 2, 2025
Thanks to Booktasters for sending me a copy of this book for review.

Rating: 2.5

The cover and blurb of this book had me honestly intrigued, but sadly, it didn't deliver as much as I would have expected.

Let's begin with the characters. They were not compelling enough—positively or negatively. The main characters were not well written and executed. This made them very forgettable and further reduced the high expectations for the story.

Also, the conflict, being the whole point of the story, wasn't properly identified after chapter two, and it made the story move at a snail's pace.

These two points, for me, made the book less enjoyable, but nonetheless, the world building was great. It made a lot of sense. I really wish the writer did more to this book. It would definitely have come out better with a little tweaking here and there.
Profile Image for Kelly Smith Reviews.
256 reviews51 followers
February 17, 2014
The world has always been divided between good & evil. In Charles Lee's novel The Way To Dawn (part one of three), we are taken into that world, watching as two teen boys, Greyshio and Demeseus, find out that they are world guardians, destined to save the world from the Righteous Kiras, a growing group formed by their former rival Derexen after the teen found an old book one night.
Derexen creates and sends Demis, demonic creatures, to destroy the fictional world known as Terra. It's up to Greyshio, Demeseus and the other world guardians to stop him...but how can they when they're blinded by their own emotions?

This has NOTHING to do with the amazing story, but, as a reviewer I feel that I must point out to the readers that this book does have some noticeable editorial errors. They do not, however, take away from the strong characters & fast-paced plot in The Way To Dawn.
I have said this before & I'll say it again, I do NOT grade books on grammar, spelling or editing. I grade them on plot strength, continuity & character relations.

From page one you get to know each individual character and get a sense of what the book will hold for you. Aside from the heavy fantasy element, this story deals with love, life, death, bullying and friendship, along with that ever-popular theme of good vs. evil.
The Book is very descriptive and readers will be able to easily see Mr. Lee's creations in their mind's eye. It reminds me of an epic anime movie for the mind and it's one of the few books I've reread twice.

Great story, great characters and even better subplots. A must-read for fantasy, anime and action fans.

Stay tuned in the next two days for another review and an exclusive interview with the author on www.kellysmithreviews.wordpress.com !

4/5--great work!
Profile Image for Racheal Wesker.
1 review
November 28, 2014
Was not fully hooked in the start because I found Derexen to be a grouch lol. I didn't understand his dark outlook until a bit in the following chapters. STill a grouch! But Greyshio and his friends were quite the odd par so I kept on. Surprisingly, this book was not what I had expected, and that's good.

I found Charles Lee's way of telling the story engaging. The colorful characters was really the selling point in my opinion. Second would be the story. I like the story a lot, especially after diving a bit ahead by visiting the website. It gets pretty in-depth in terms of all we are introduced to. But the characters were it for me. My favorite is Minerva. SHe seems like a strong no nonsense kind of girl, unless of course she is alone with the people she cares about. But at the end of the day, she seems like the type to put duty over self, like me!.

I was recommended to read this book because I'm a Bleach and The Legend of Korra fan and my friend said this would be right in my alley. She was right and I love her for it. I'm excited to see where Charles Lee will take his readers as the dark tale of Derexen and the heroes, Demeseus and Greyshio grows.

But from the sample chapters I impatiently peaked (I couldn't contain myself) at on the site, this book is going to make me scream, lol.
Profile Image for Zia.
83 reviews
May 23, 2021
Thank you so much Book taster for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for a physical review.

Okay so I am honestly so confused with this book, but not in a good kind of way. This is book has young adult characters but again, cursing don’t make a young adult character. There was so much cursing and degrading to another character that just don’t sit right with me even if it was meant to show the person’s character. It was such a bad read for me. \

It was so bad that I didn’t even understood the setting until I got a hold of the chapters almost half-way.

Maybe it’s because I’m not at the right stage of reading that I didn’t appreciate it as much, but I wouldn’t really want to read this again.
1 review
July 26, 2016
'The Way To Dawn' had a rather slow start but upon further reading, the book got very interesting. It had a good plot and was well developed. The descriptions were very detailed which made everything seem realistic. This was an entertaining book and I enjoyed rearing it. I liked Derexen at the start because I slightly relate to him at times. I liked that Greyshio was determined to defeat Derexen and I also admire him for wanting to avenge Brad. I was saddened by the fact that Dean died, I really liked him. I also admire Demeseus for sacrificing his "perfect life" to defend his world. Overall this book was really good and I would recommend reading it.
Profile Image for Amber.
215 reviews23 followers
September 24, 2025
Review posted on my blog The Writer's Library.

I love when a story immediately grabs my attention. This can happen any number of ways, but I admit that I often don’t anticipate it coming. So, when it does occur, I’m often surprised by just how quickly the story pulls me in. It’s an amazing feeling when it happens!
That specific situation happened so many times while I was reading this story that I’ve lost track of exactly how often it occurred. I have a lot of questions (and I do see some things I’d like to discuss in more depth), but the overall premise of Charles Lee’s The Way to Dawn had me heavily invested from the very beginning!
Before I go any further into my thoughts, let’s discuss that premise.
Summary
We open to a swordplay tournament where two boys named Greyshio and Demeseus are looking to compete alongside their friends. When a stranger from a nearby island takes the prize, however, they discover that the world is in danger. Greyshio and Demeseus learn that the stranger – Derexen – has destroyed their home island during the event. Derexen admits that he is looking to kill Greyshio and Demeseus as well. 
Driven from their home and separated from their friends after the disaster, the two find themselves navigating new roles as World Guardians looking to stop Derexen and his followers from bringing about total global destruction.
Can they stop him before it’s too late?
Thoughts
I’ve loved adventure stories since I was a child. I remember being as young as twelve years old and being interested in stories that had high stakes. And The Way to Dawn has high stakes in spades! The story doesn’t stop reminding the reader what is at risk. This made the book very easy to get through while allowing me to simultaneously form connections with the two main characters. The story balances out each character’s arc and makes it easy to become invested in where their stories are going.
That said, I admit that I didn’t see the horror angle coming in this narrative. This lends to a darker tone that I had to warm up to. I was worried that it would go a specific way with that darker tone, but the story never fully commits to the path I was worried it would take. The way the horror angle is treated pulls back the curtain a bit on the antagonist’s actions and shows that they’re not just horrific for the reasons I had assumed. While I was unsure about it at first, I do like that it shows the full extent of what is happening.
Well, I think those are the random thoughts I wanted to talk about. Let’s move on to the story’s structure!
Structure
The structure of this story left me with a few questions. I like that the narrative shows the three main players we will follow and gives us time to get to know them before the plot kicks in. And once the plot does get going, we see how all the characters are affected by it and the full scope of who they are within it. This left me with questions about the world and their roles within the story, which created investment in the plot and world being built.
However, at the same time, I wish we had seen more of Greyshio’s and Demeseus’ growth as new World Guardians. While the structure gives time to expand upon both their stories, I think we needed more scenes to see just how they grow as characters. Both of their journeys to those points are glossed over, so the reward of seeing their character growth isn’t entirely earned.
With that, I think that’s all I have on the story’s structure. Let’s move on to the writing.
Writing
The writing left me with mixed feelings. On the positive side, the pacing is fast and kept me invested all the way, even when I have the questions I do! While the beginning with the sword tournament is somewhat slow, it provides setup for the pacing to take off and build intense conflicts! What is at stake is made clear very early on and the writing moves at a speed that makes it feel like these events are piling up on top of one another, creating a situation where I was anxious to see what would come next!
However, I will admit that the writing didn’t always flow the way it needed to. There were instances where the prose threw me out of the story for a brief time. This usually happened with the dialogue, because it wasn’t clear enough to keep me fully invested in the conversations occurring. While it wasn’t enough to break immersion with the pacing being so fast and the high stakes, I need to mention it because it did briefly distract me from what was happening in the story.
That said, I think that’s all I have on the writing. I think I’ve discussed everything, so let’s wrap this up.
Conclusion
I wish I didn’t see the issues that I do, because otherwise this is a gripping story! The characters are interesting, the pacing is breathtaking, and I want to see where this goes next. However, there were things that distracted me and made it harder to entirely get lost in the narrative.
While I enjoyed it and want to know what happens next, I did find issues with it that stopped me from fully immersing myself in the story. With that said, everything I have outlined here means I will be giving this story three stars.
Profile Image for Muffin~.
462 reviews
August 17, 2016
I got this book through booktasters .

Thanks to the author that I was able to read this book


Lets start with the good points of the book.
First of all I really loved the development of the characters. As the characters of the book developt the plot as well developt with them.
I wouldnt call the writing style as typical.
And because of that fact I loved to read the book.

Eventhough I need to add that I think from time to time the book got quite long but people who enjoy that maybe like it. I Am not such a deep fan of less action more talking .
Profile Image for Elle McKay.
1 review
July 10, 2016
If you are looking for something different than your regular fantasy that reads similar to manga or an anime novel then this is for you! I unexpectedly enjoyed the plot of this novel, I also enjoyed how well developed the characters are. Overall a good read!
Profile Image for Mercy Presh.
39 reviews1 follower
December 13, 2025
REVIEW ON "THE WAY TO DAWN" BY CHARLES LEE



The plot of The Way To Dawn is characterized by rapid escalation, immediately propelling its protagonists from mundane life into a cataclysmic conflict.

The narrative initiates with an initial sense of normalcy, centered around two young boys, Greyshio and Demeseus, who are participating in a local swordplay tournament alongside their friends. This established everyday life is quickly disrupted by the onset of the fantastic. The boys experience a "conjoined dream" in which they are presented with the option to choose a "mystical weapon," marking their acquisition of latent power.
​The dream sequence functions as the formal call to adventure, but the true inciting crisis immediately follows in the waking world. Derexen, a stranger hailing from a nearby island, wins the tournament prize and uses the occasion to reveal his destructive purpose. His sudden appearance and immediate declaration of war against the boys and their world act as the catalyst for the entire series.

The strength of The Way To Dawn lies in the immediate reader connection established with its main characters. However, the subsequent trajectory of the series is critically impaired by the management of these character arcs, particularly the abandonment of crucial emotional development and the disruptive introduction of a new protagonist late in the saga.

The fundamental subject matter of the novel is the exploration of human resilience and moral conviction when faced with overwhelming circumstances. The narrative posits that true power is derived not from mere physical ability, but from a profound shift in perspective, encapsulated by the maxim that "dreamers become believers when their life is on the line". The protagonists are forced by catastrophe to accept their reality and their potential.

The Way To Dawn stands as a testament to the power of a strong opening. The initial volume is a gripping story that effectively sets up an epic conflict and successfully integrates philosophical themes into a trauma-driven adventure. For readers who enjoy fast-paced, high-stakes narratives that immediately thrust protagonists into their destined roles, the first book is highly engaging and warrants its initial positive critical appraisal.
5 reviews
January 23, 2026
You ever read a story and it pisses you off but you can't stop reading because you don't know how to stop? this was it for me. Courtesy of book tasters I read this book and to be honest I feel like it needs a lot of improvement. I don't know derexen's motivation for destroying the world except that he hates it. plus why did we just forget that demeseus is a known bully. and Greyshio himself too. Grey's defence for demeseus being a bully was that his dad hits him at home. being a victim doesn't absolve you of doing no wrong. I feel like the only character I came to like was Brad and he was killed too quickly and was used as some form of motivation for Greyshio to have a reason to hate derexen more. Sophia didn't have any other personality traits asides being Grey's girlfriend (sorry grey I know you hate being called that but your name is too long to type) Brad was mad at demeseus for bullying lex and now Alexus is a villain. which Is so cliche if you ask me. another issue I have is the selection of world guardians. these kids are chosen with no training whatsoever and no special camp or school to learn and they just go into the world to defeat villains???? who selects them anyways we need to have a chat. it's why grey and demeseus end up being beaten up over and over again and lose friends. give them a teacher that doesn't die for them or loses their life after meeting them. or take them to some special world guardian school. the story has potential icl but a lot of things annoy me. why didn't Minerva kill demeseus immediately she found him, why fall in love with him and go through that long process and not end up killing him. she can't even do one job. Greyshio needs to learn and humble himself you can't be proud and not know how to do shit. even when Jared told demeseus to get over Minerva like it's that easy to forget someone you spend months with and fall in love with. I'm honestly rooting for improvement. and I hope the story gets better. I will be reading the other books in the series too because I want to see how far the author has come. thank you
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Luna Ovela.
1 review
October 29, 2020
I just finished reading The Way To Dawn. The book was featured by Booktasters and when I read the blurb or the plot, it peaked my interest.

I give props to the author because the book is filled with amazing ideas about fantasy and the general plot is definitely abundant with dark concept and a lot of people do love this type of genre.

Another thing that I liked about the book is the different point of views portrayed by the characters of the story. Their sense of identity is strong and it shows in the development through each chapter.

I gave it a rating of 3 because it was a very interesting read. 4 would be over the top and 5 would be for mind-blowing creation. Since this is the first book of the novel series, there's a possibility of the other books being more interesting than the first.

Thank you to Booktasters and the author Charles Lee for allowing me to read the book.

Am I thankful I read The Way To Dawn? Yes. Yes I am.
Profile Image for Alan D.D..
Author 39 books79 followers
November 30, 2020
Comenzando por el lado positivo, la idea me recordó mucho a las series anime y los mangas, lo cual siempre es bueno para mí. La fantasía es un elemento que se combina con facilidad con las constantes peleas y personajes interesantes que me hicieron pasar un buen rato, y debo decir que muchos de los poderes eran bastante creativos.
Reseña completa: https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/20...

Starting on the positive side, the idea reminded me of a lot of anime series and manga, which is always good for me. Fantasy is an element that is easily combined with the constant fights and interesting characters that gave me a good time, and I have to say that many of the powers were quite creative.
Full review: https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/20...
Profile Image for flow.
5 reviews
February 14, 2026
I really love the plot, because it straightforward moving to the next part and always makes me curious. I’m invested in the relationship between minerva and demeseus, pls i love their dynamic. I thought this book would only end up “like that” but just found out there is a sequel book. Might jump into this series as well.
Profile Image for Celia Espadas Robles.
5 reviews
October 15, 2020
It is a symphony of mystery and horror, with deep characters and a riveting story which will captivate your mind, it is certainly entertaining.
Profile Image for Sana.
8 reviews
February 5, 2026
I really liked the book . I am very selective when it comes to fantasy books but this one was really good
Profile Image for Raven.
Author 1 book8 followers
August 18, 2016
I received a free e-book from the author, via Booktasters, in exchange for an honest review.
And I'll give them both honest and complete one, so be aware - there's a lot of text.

I extremely rarely give up on a book. If I'm not mistaken, it's only happened 3 or 4 times before. Even more rarely I know I won't even try to give it a second chance. But, after approximately 30% of this one, I knew I'll be deleting the file and not looking back. Well, except for the purposes of writing this.

I cannot comment on the story itself, as I haven't read enough of it to know the full story. For all I know it might have been great, but the problem is that it wasn't well written. After three years of university, reading other students' creative writing pieces multiple times a week, I can say that I have seen a lot of work that would benefit from editing, but never anything in such dire need for it.

Starting with the big picture: the plot moves too fast. I'm not committed to either camp "build it up slowly from ground zero" nor "get right into the action and explain on the way", some stories require the former, while some work better with the latter. However, once you choose one, you should stick to it and not attempt to blend both. In this book it seems that the author is eager to get to the main action, so he's struggling to get to it, while confusing the reader. When I started reading it, and the tournament was first mentioned, I thought this would be a significant part of the plot. Instead, it was over in a chapter or two, without me fully grasping what was happening. If you're having a big event, make it count: make the characters talk about it, about its history, show more of their preparation, let me know their strengths and weaknesses and let them play out on the event itself. And only then move on, if that was the intention.

Part of the reason everything moves so quickly is because the author spends half the time describing who is wearing what. That works for American Psycho, and even those I started skipping after a while, because it's boring. But I did admit its importance and that it was necessary there, because it's an important part of Patrick Bateman's character, it matters to him on a such a huge level, that by obsessing over it the author shows the character's obsession. In The Way to Dawn, however, it doesn't work, because it serves no purpose whatsoever: it does not impact on the story, it does not tell us anything about the character, it simply uses up page space that could have been used much more efficiently. Such detailed descriptions might be needed when you're writing a script, in a novel they're often too tiresome at worst and distracting at best.

And most of that I would have endured, skimmed through, finished the book and gave it a two or three star rating, depending on the story, if it wasn't just so badly written in terms of actual sentence-to-sentence writing. The dialogue is artificial, strained, unnatural. The descriptions often make no sense because either the choice of wording is bad and unclear or because words appear to be missing. It felt like I was reading a rough draft at best, before the first round of editing was done. In general the writing was clumsy, lacking grace, didn't flow. Someone once said that when you write the story, you tell it to yourself. When you edit, you tell it to the reader. The version I read was still the author's notes to himself, definitely not the edited version the reader should receive.

And I'll end with a quote, which I'd hate myself if I didn't comment on:
But it's okay, I'm a girl. I tend to take things to higher emotional levels compared to boys.

I'm rather sure that even back in the day when sexism in literature was the norm, because that's just the way society worked, no one would have gotten away with having an actual female character speak those words herself. And I think it really shows how much thought and effort the author put into developing genuine authentic characters and conversations.

Overall it seems like an attempt to write an epic story, but in my eyes it's just an epic failure. And if anyone reading this has made this far and has written or is thinking of writing a book: please, invest in an editor. Or at least ask your friends read it through to you. Or join a writing club or facebook group. Really, the possibilities are endless.
Profile Image for Andrea Belacqua.
5 reviews1 follower
August 16, 2016
If reading is a pleasure, it always is, it gets even better when we find some little surprise hidden in the middle of a huge amount of new proposals, which adds freshness to what we have known before. This is the case of The Way of dawn, written by Charles Lee. A new saga that as a great success, addresses issues with poor visibility in the literature. Lee introduces us to a truly striking adventure. The plot takes us into the lives of two boys, Greyshio and Demeseus, who after receiving a great power within their city being ravaged by strange demonic beings, led by a mysterious man, and should manage to leave things as before, and also take different positions with the matter. The book can be known to the point of having a lot of adventures and many outstanding scenarios for a single volume, and the great good use given to them. brilliantly developed characters who travel the argument without leaving loose ends. Details abound.
As for the narrative form, Lee's prose is quite good, with accelerated speed to keep the reader aware of what happens without becoming annoyed Quite a seriously enigma - and allows being involved in a tenuous atmosphere, reminiscent of classics like Tolkien's work, or Martin (while maintaining a good influence brought from far away, the Asian shonen) and leading to a final part full of action. I love that the book tells a story from different points of view. Highlight passages describing the relationship is formed between the protagonists.
In a book written for young, easy reading. It is a good introduction to the series, where it makes clear that there is still much to come, and by that I mean that there is enough space to develop new and diverse additions, already read later. It is an epic story, which takes us completely from school days to a world of fantasy, emotion, action and improbable characters. In some parts I could not help thinking that it would be the perfect story to develop a sleeve. Highly recommended for those fans of fantasy literature. Absorbent. I recommend it to anyone that wants to let your imagination and enjoy a great adventure. I want to read the following.
Special mention Derexen, my new favorite literary character.
Profile Image for Claire.
67 reviews4 followers
September 12, 2016
The Way To Dawn is a fantasy book for young adults. In my opinion the beginning of the book was slow and all over the place. One minute there's a bunch of typical teens sitting around at lunch discussing a tournament some of them will be involved in, the next minute there's total destruction and death with some sort of monster crushing houses and stepping on things. Good news is, the pace and action picks up The thoughts of the characters veer from profound and intelligent to immature and petulant which can be confusing but in all honesty the author is writing about teenagers. I don't know why Mr. Lee felt he had to describe what every character was wearing even down to their shoes, but I still found myself getting into the story and enjoying it. I like Mr. Lee's take on the fact that nothing in life is clear cut and black and white and that sometimes even the lines between good and evil are blurred.
All in all I enjoyed reading this book and would like to find out more about a lot of the characters.
Profile Image for Dandc Pending.
3 reviews
November 19, 2014
It was a fun read. Didn't come off as a typical book, more of a detailed feel in the text but still really good. I wad turning those pages simple by its interesting opening with the ominous dream setting.

But to be honest, the real reason I hung in the was because of the characters and the future samplevchapters I read on Charles Lee's website. The cast and the plot is rich and ever spaning. 5*
Profile Image for Deborah Ackerman.
13 reviews
December 3, 2016
I got this book through Book Testers on Twitter. I thought I would really get into it sooner than I did. The characters took longer to grow on me than with most books but it happened eventually. After a slow start, it stuck to me. The story telling, different points of view of each character reminded me of the show Once Upon A Time as being from all perspectives. If you can stick it out through the start, this book is a good read.
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