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A Kingsguard Tale: Road to Celestia
Dart Horowitz had always dreamed of becoming a Kingsguard, but he never imagined just how dangerous his training would become. When he's given the task of escorting Ava, the last Ancient of the Celestials back to her home in the sky, Dart finds himself thrown into a perilous adventure that could have dire consequences for humanity. Pursued relentlessly by an evil being who will stop at nothing to capture Ava, Dart and his charge must use every ounce of their strength, courage, and wits to survive. From the desolate wastelands to the treacherous mountains, they face one danger after another, never knowing who they can trust. Will they make it to their destination in time, or will the world be plunged into chaos?
This thrilling tale of adventure, magic, and heroism will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
This thrilling tale of adventure, magic, and heroism will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
- GenresFantasyEpic Fantasy
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 17, 2023
70 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
May 10, 2025
A Kingsguard Tale: Road to Celestia shines with its rich world-building, crafting a vivid fantasy realm that evokes the epic scope of Final Fantasy. The kingdoms, landscapes, and magical systems are intricately detailed, pulling you into a beautifully realized world.
However, the novel struggles with information overload. The extensive lore and backstory, while fascinating, often arrive in lengthy info-dumps that disrupt the narrative flow. This made it hard to stay engaged at times.
Despite this, Kinsguard: Road to Celestia has a lot to offer. The characters show promise, and the overarching quest carries enough mystery to keep you curious. For readers who love diving into deep, detailed fantasy worlds and don’t mind some heavy exposition, this book is a worthwhile journey.
For me, the imbalance between its captivating setting and clunky info-dumps leaves room for growth, and I’m intrigued to see how Allen refines this balance in future works.
However, the novel struggles with information overload. The extensive lore and backstory, while fascinating, often arrive in lengthy info-dumps that disrupt the narrative flow. This made it hard to stay engaged at times.
Despite this, Kinsguard: Road to Celestia has a lot to offer. The characters show promise, and the overarching quest carries enough mystery to keep you curious. For readers who love diving into deep, detailed fantasy worlds and don’t mind some heavy exposition, this book is a worthwhile journey.
For me, the imbalance between its captivating setting and clunky info-dumps leaves room for growth, and I’m intrigued to see how Allen refines this balance in future works.
April 4, 2025
This was one of the most confusing pieces I have ever read. Not intentionally confusing, but like pages and sections were missing. I found this novel on X and thought it would be solid with all the positive reviews. They have to be fake. I've read indie books that have typos and minor mistakes, but A Kingsguard Tale is unrefined.
Some of the characters are solid, there's a story here, but between errors, formatting, and general development flaws I wasn't sure what was going on in several areas. DNF about 50% through.
Some of the characters are solid, there's a story here, but between errors, formatting, and general development flaws I wasn't sure what was going on in several areas. DNF about 50% through.
August 22, 2025
“A” for effort but it’s giving middle school creative writing assignment. I pride myself on never dnfing, but unfortunately I could not get past the choppy syntax and schematic descriptions. Seems like a great idea and a decent plot but it feels like a first draft.
March 5, 2024
I want to begin my review with this, because I feel that it is the most important part of any book that is written: this was written from the heart. The knowledge comes from the feeling of life that the characters display, that subtle hint that they are far more than words on paper. I felt that one such example was Whisper, even though the spotlight was on her for only one chapter.
My primary criticism of this is mainly constructive, which is more or less a good thing in comparison to most. I don't normally point out constructive errors unless it gets in the way of storytelling. The reason is that I am well aware of my own constructive errors and cringe upon the slightest misspelling in my own work. Much of the first half of the book was somewhat difficult to follow with regard to dialogue, as two people would speak within the same paragraph. This is not a problem later on though. There have been a couple instances of situations that seem to repeat, or the same scene happens twice but with a sudden change. Chapter 21 was what led me to my decision to mention the construction. At first, Shayla and Kalisa saw a woman named Kara. Suddenly, they end up seeing at that same spot a man named Arel.
Just a couple minor notes, the head-hopping in the early chapters threw me off a bit. Also, I felt that the exchange between the king and a couple of his subjects felt too casual, and the king himself came off as playing the "Good cop, bad cop" routine early on when talking about practicing a forbidden art. In regard to Whisper in Chapter 11, I was saddened to see that her only other appearance seemed little more than a footnote in comparison. All that said, this work overall gives a feel of a 3.6.
As harsh as the criticism may be, I want to reiterate my belief that this work was written from the heart. So, don't let the criticisms discourage you. In fact, I encourage you to keep on writing. Everyone begins somewhere, and I believe this was a good foundation. What I do advise, though, is to give this work another run-through to clean up the constructive errors. I feel that the material in this book is enough to spawn more stories in that same world. On a personal note, I would like to see you write a side story centered on Elise's time in the guild. Not only would that give Whisper more spotlight, it would also be a good connection between Chapter 11 and Chapter 18.
My primary criticism of this is mainly constructive, which is more or less a good thing in comparison to most. I don't normally point out constructive errors unless it gets in the way of storytelling. The reason is that I am well aware of my own constructive errors and cringe upon the slightest misspelling in my own work. Much of the first half of the book was somewhat difficult to follow with regard to dialogue, as two people would speak within the same paragraph. This is not a problem later on though. There have been a couple instances of situations that seem to repeat, or the same scene happens twice but with a sudden change. Chapter 21 was what led me to my decision to mention the construction. At first, Shayla and Kalisa saw a woman named Kara. Suddenly, they end up seeing at that same spot a man named Arel.
Just a couple minor notes, the head-hopping in the early chapters threw me off a bit. Also, I felt that the exchange between the king and a couple of his subjects felt too casual, and the king himself came off as playing the "Good cop, bad cop" routine early on when talking about practicing a forbidden art. In regard to Whisper in Chapter 11, I was saddened to see that her only other appearance seemed little more than a footnote in comparison. All that said, this work overall gives a feel of a 3.6.
As harsh as the criticism may be, I want to reiterate my belief that this work was written from the heart. So, don't let the criticisms discourage you. In fact, I encourage you to keep on writing. Everyone begins somewhere, and I believe this was a good foundation. What I do advise, though, is to give this work another run-through to clean up the constructive errors. I feel that the material in this book is enough to spawn more stories in that same world. On a personal note, I would like to see you write a side story centered on Elise's time in the guild. Not only would that give Whisper more spotlight, it would also be a good connection between Chapter 11 and Chapter 18.
July 21, 2023
A Great Fantasy Story
As I read this story, I felt a sense of nostalgia. It brought me back to my childhood, to a time when Super Nintendo games and big book fantasy were the rage, when I began to forge my own imagination. That pure wonder and creativity is captured by this author. I thoroughly enjoyed the variously different characters and varying biomes in the book and the World the author has created. It’s almost like I read the book through the lens of 16 but graphics in my minds eye and it brought me back to that time in my life when things were simpler and everything was new and unknown. 5/5 stars. Can’t wait til the next one comes out.
As I read this story, I felt a sense of nostalgia. It brought me back to my childhood, to a time when Super Nintendo games and big book fantasy were the rage, when I began to forge my own imagination. That pure wonder and creativity is captured by this author. I thoroughly enjoyed the variously different characters and varying biomes in the book and the World the author has created. It’s almost like I read the book through the lens of 16 but graphics in my minds eye and it brought me back to that time in my life when things were simpler and everything was new and unknown. 5/5 stars. Can’t wait til the next one comes out.
August 9, 2023
In "A Kingsgard Tale," G F Allen weaves together a gripping tale of friendship and courage. The characters and plot surprises keep you hooked, while the intense fight scenes make you feel like you're right there. This book is a fantastic start to the series and leaves you excited for more.
September 23, 2024
It was enjoyable to listen to. And easy read and has a great story line. I have a hard time with fantasy but this one held my attention. It’s a first time author and he did very well. Very easy read and reminded me of a fun YA book.
December 2, 2024
Would do 3 stars due to proofread/editing issues, but I Seemingly got an older copy compared to his update. Very imaginative with the world he wants to create.
July 1, 2023
This book has such good imagery that it’s like you walked right into a new world, and helped fight with the kings guards. Don’t pass up reading this book, being the first by this author you can expect great things in the future!
November 28, 2024
I GOBBLED this book up. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I felt like I was witnessing life from the older Final Fantasy games. Hard to believe this is his debut book because.... wow
February 8, 2025
A Kingsguard Tale: Road to Celestia exists in that rare literary space where a book can be both deeply frustrating and unintentionally brilliant at the same time.
Its structure is completely chaotic—punctuation rebels against every paragraph, with commas finding their own, unique places to settle. Quotation marks appear and disappear at will, often refusing to participate at all. The book is a beautifully broken masterpiece. It is, unintentionally, a literary fever dream that defies logic, grammar, and (seemingly) the very fabric of fictional time and space.
At page 23 it was almost a DNF (Did Not Finish). I think it was page 23; page lengths vary. But despite the desperate pleas of my inner voices insisting that I would come out the other side a changed man—and not for the better—I persevered. And now the frantic cries of those voices are drowned out by my own laughter, as I stumble excitedly through a stream-of-consciousness narrative that refuses to be tamed. It reads like an unfiltered first draft: a 10,000-foot narrative free fall, and the author has made no offer of a parachute. Truth be told, I don’t want one.
My frustration over the early pages turned to obsessive fascination as I completely abandoned any attempt to follow the plot and focused solely on the prose. The book’s raw, unfiltered charm gave birth to moments so wonderfully odd they will live rent-free in my mind for a long time to come.
The story (or what I can make of it):
Dart Horowitz is a blacksmith (we are told) who dreams of becoming a Kingsguard. His aspirations lead him into a perilous mission: escorting Ava, the last Ancient of the Celestials (other than, perhaps, her family and various other characters who also appear to be Celestials. Truth is it’s all a little confusing. I just don’t know who is who). Naturally, their journey is perilous: the two face various threats from malevolent beings and other nasty things, because life would be boring if they didn’t. (At one point Dart finds himself battling an android… that turns out not to be an android. As luck would have it, though, he is able to pull a revolver—yes, a revolver—out of nowhere to aid him in his fight.) I haven’t finished the book yet, so can’t tell you how it all plays out, or whether Dart and Ava face these challenges alone or with the help of others. After all, random characters seem to appear out of nowhere at the most surprising moments. Honestly, I don’t care—I’m just here for the words.
Narrative Logic? That Ship Sailed on Page One. (It Just Wasn’t Mentioned.)
At some point (my mind is a blur on which one, exactly) I stopped expecting ANY logical continuity. Dart changes sex—and switches back again—in the space of a short paragraph. A character lying on rune-covered stones gazing up at the stars suddenly opens a closet to look for a pretty dress. Flashbacks contain other flashbacks, timelines interweaving like a Celtic knot that has no end to hold onto, to stop you slipping into insanity. And people find themselves repeating the same action multiple times—sometimes something as simple as walking through a door—before it finally happens.
G. F Allen’s A Kingsguard Tale is a fascinating study in how storytelling can work (or fail) in ways the author might not have intended. It’s one of those works of fiction that has read the writer’s rulebook cover to cover, then tossed it away with the flick of a quill. And yet, it remains utterly compelling.
It swaggers confidently into the lawless frontier of literary faux pas, where characters defy spatial continuity, and sentence structure is a choose-your-own-adventure experience.
For the love of all that is holy, get this book NOW, before some rogue Celestial editor slaps a leash on its madness, and erases all the beautiful chaos forever.
Its structure is completely chaotic—punctuation rebels against every paragraph, with commas finding their own, unique places to settle. Quotation marks appear and disappear at will, often refusing to participate at all. The book is a beautifully broken masterpiece. It is, unintentionally, a literary fever dream that defies logic, grammar, and (seemingly) the very fabric of fictional time and space.
At page 23 it was almost a DNF (Did Not Finish). I think it was page 23; page lengths vary. But despite the desperate pleas of my inner voices insisting that I would come out the other side a changed man—and not for the better—I persevered. And now the frantic cries of those voices are drowned out by my own laughter, as I stumble excitedly through a stream-of-consciousness narrative that refuses to be tamed. It reads like an unfiltered first draft: a 10,000-foot narrative free fall, and the author has made no offer of a parachute. Truth be told, I don’t want one.
My frustration over the early pages turned to obsessive fascination as I completely abandoned any attempt to follow the plot and focused solely on the prose. The book’s raw, unfiltered charm gave birth to moments so wonderfully odd they will live rent-free in my mind for a long time to come.
The story (or what I can make of it):
Dart Horowitz is a blacksmith (we are told) who dreams of becoming a Kingsguard. His aspirations lead him into a perilous mission: escorting Ava, the last Ancient of the Celestials (other than, perhaps, her family and various other characters who also appear to be Celestials. Truth is it’s all a little confusing. I just don’t know who is who). Naturally, their journey is perilous: the two face various threats from malevolent beings and other nasty things, because life would be boring if they didn’t. (At one point Dart finds himself battling an android… that turns out not to be an android. As luck would have it, though, he is able to pull a revolver—yes, a revolver—out of nowhere to aid him in his fight.) I haven’t finished the book yet, so can’t tell you how it all plays out, or whether Dart and Ava face these challenges alone or with the help of others. After all, random characters seem to appear out of nowhere at the most surprising moments. Honestly, I don’t care—I’m just here for the words.
Narrative Logic? That Ship Sailed on Page One. (It Just Wasn’t Mentioned.)
At some point (my mind is a blur on which one, exactly) I stopped expecting ANY logical continuity. Dart changes sex—and switches back again—in the space of a short paragraph. A character lying on rune-covered stones gazing up at the stars suddenly opens a closet to look for a pretty dress. Flashbacks contain other flashbacks, timelines interweaving like a Celtic knot that has no end to hold onto, to stop you slipping into insanity. And people find themselves repeating the same action multiple times—sometimes something as simple as walking through a door—before it finally happens.
G. F Allen’s A Kingsguard Tale is a fascinating study in how storytelling can work (or fail) in ways the author might not have intended. It’s one of those works of fiction that has read the writer’s rulebook cover to cover, then tossed it away with the flick of a quill. And yet, it remains utterly compelling.
It swaggers confidently into the lawless frontier of literary faux pas, where characters defy spatial continuity, and sentence structure is a choose-your-own-adventure experience.
For the love of all that is holy, get this book NOW, before some rogue Celestial editor slaps a leash on its madness, and erases all the beautiful chaos forever.
January 11, 2026
A Kingsguard Tale: Road to Celestia blurb gave me Zelda/ Witcher/ Final fantasy vibes, a book genre I’m ALL OVER given the chance.
I discovered upon reading with its trials, tribulations and battles it absolutely did elude to that kinda feel. It was a fun fantasy adventure with an amazing concept, I just feel that it needed a little polish. The action portions are well written and enabled to me imagine them happening before my very eyes… like watching them on a big screen or playing them in a game! Sadly though this book is let down by massive continuity issues. It seems to me that this should have gone through another edit to really fine tune it as there is a lot of repetition and errors throughout. Maybe even getting some arc readers together to help you refine it etc.
Flaws I found are various but to list a few:
1. The contents table at the start of the book is off… chapter 4 and 5 both are on page 62 in my copy which is wildly wrong
2. The formatting is massively wrong, I have chapters starting part way through a page… chapters splitting up unnecessarily across pages.
3. POV changes during this book without obvious markers and location changes again without obvious markers.
4. There’s been some spelling mistakes that made me re-read on more than one occasion… the one that stood out at the start was: in answer to a question of something happening “pixel fly!”, it instead should have read “pigs’ll fly!”…. Safe to say pixels weren’t about in the time period/world it’s set in.
5. Confusion mid chapter - a kingsgaurd called Jack mentions the battle against the infernal almost killed his apprentice, then the next paragraph or so the King is apologising for the death of that same character… Dart. The main man himself!
6. Similarly more confusion mid chapter - the rescue of Ava. Dart and his crew encounter a powerful knight, he’s defeated and apparently runs away, only for the next paragraph to continue the fight which he still loses and now has a sword at his throat.
7. The flashbacks interrupt the flow of scenes… one that stood out was Dart is in the middle of the fight and blacks out, the narrative then flashbacks to his days before he had passed his Kingsguard exam really putting pause on the action I had been enjoying
As I stated at the start of my review this book is a fun action filled albeit flawed fantasy adventure. Despite the flaws, I enjoyed the characters and the settings once I was able to get in to a flow as I’m sure G. F. Allen intended his readers to do so.
I discovered upon reading with its trials, tribulations and battles it absolutely did elude to that kinda feel. It was a fun fantasy adventure with an amazing concept, I just feel that it needed a little polish. The action portions are well written and enabled to me imagine them happening before my very eyes… like watching them on a big screen or playing them in a game! Sadly though this book is let down by massive continuity issues. It seems to me that this should have gone through another edit to really fine tune it as there is a lot of repetition and errors throughout. Maybe even getting some arc readers together to help you refine it etc.
Flaws I found are various but to list a few:
1. The contents table at the start of the book is off… chapter 4 and 5 both are on page 62 in my copy which is wildly wrong
2. The formatting is massively wrong, I have chapters starting part way through a page… chapters splitting up unnecessarily across pages.
3. POV changes during this book without obvious markers and location changes again without obvious markers.
4. There’s been some spelling mistakes that made me re-read on more than one occasion… the one that stood out at the start was: in answer to a question of something happening “pixel fly!”, it instead should have read “pigs’ll fly!”…. Safe to say pixels weren’t about in the time period/world it’s set in.
5. Confusion mid chapter - a kingsgaurd called Jack mentions the battle against the infernal almost killed his apprentice, then the next paragraph or so the King is apologising for the death of that same character… Dart. The main man himself!
6. Similarly more confusion mid chapter - the rescue of Ava. Dart and his crew encounter a powerful knight, he’s defeated and apparently runs away, only for the next paragraph to continue the fight which he still loses and now has a sword at his throat.
7. The flashbacks interrupt the flow of scenes… one that stood out was Dart is in the middle of the fight and blacks out, the narrative then flashbacks to his days before he had passed his Kingsguard exam really putting pause on the action I had been enjoying
As I stated at the start of my review this book is a fun action filled albeit flawed fantasy adventure. Despite the flaws, I enjoyed the characters and the settings once I was able to get in to a flow as I’m sure G. F. Allen intended his readers to do so.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2024
Narrative is amazing, the narrative by Steven Ragsdale was exceptional, but seemed slight monotone during the epilogue, there is a wonderous amount of detail put into the world-building, and characters, magic system and mythology are just magnificent, and how the interaction between characters helps develop into something special and unique as they bond, into a merry band of adventurers.
Theirs unique characters from the mentoring process from Conner, and Jack.
However, this is a wonderful story of Dart, a young blacksmith who dreams of following his dreams of being a kingsguard, who must take a journey to save Ava, with the aid of Butler, who is a shapeshifter, a robot who joins them on their adventures and journey.
With feelings of an Arthurian and the Knights of the Round Table storyline, however, it’s also will give a sense of being in a gamer’s world where they merry band of adventurers through a number of different challenges and experience a number of unique world’s within world’s, like the different levels of a game.
With adventure, mystery, battles between different factions of trying to either steal someone or save them, the story is wonderful without adding unnecessary drama of the romantic element, which is refreshing to see, and makes this suitable for younger readers.
G.F. Allen has created a magnificent book, that will give fantasy readership something completely different and new, and will be interesting to see how the story develops in future books, and what will draw readers is the simple elements of the book cover, which will intrigue and entice them.
Having not read the physical book as yet, this review is very much oriented from and audible review standpoint, and further comments will follow shortly after after I have read it.
Theirs unique characters from the mentoring process from Conner, and Jack.
However, this is a wonderful story of Dart, a young blacksmith who dreams of following his dreams of being a kingsguard, who must take a journey to save Ava, with the aid of Butler, who is a shapeshifter, a robot who joins them on their adventures and journey.
With feelings of an Arthurian and the Knights of the Round Table storyline, however, it’s also will give a sense of being in a gamer’s world where they merry band of adventurers through a number of different challenges and experience a number of unique world’s within world’s, like the different levels of a game.
With adventure, mystery, battles between different factions of trying to either steal someone or save them, the story is wonderful without adding unnecessary drama of the romantic element, which is refreshing to see, and makes this suitable for younger readers.
G.F. Allen has created a magnificent book, that will give fantasy readership something completely different and new, and will be interesting to see how the story develops in future books, and what will draw readers is the simple elements of the book cover, which will intrigue and entice them.
Having not read the physical book as yet, this review is very much oriented from and audible review standpoint, and further comments will follow shortly after after I have read it.
April 6, 2024
So good!
For those who appreciate immersive adventures, 'A Kingsguard Tale: Road to Celestial' by G.F. Allen is an absolute must-read. From the moment I cracked open its pages, I was completely engrossed, finding it nearly impossible to tear myself away. The narrative sweeps you away on a thrilling journey through the enchanting realm of Frea, immersing you in Dart's gripping quest to join the ranks of the legendary Kingsguard. Allen's masterful use of vivid imagery brings Dart's harrowing trials and triumphs to life, making every moment pulse with excitement and wonder. This tale isn't just about adventure; it's a celebration of bravery, camaraderie, and unwavering dedication, ensuring that you'll be hooked until the very last page. If you're drawn to tales of mystical creatures and epic heroism, look no further – this book is tailor-made for you. And despite its hefty size, I devoured it eagerly in just two days, eagerly awaiting the next installment. Trust me, 'A Kingsguard Tale' is an adventure you won't want to miss!
For those who appreciate immersive adventures, 'A Kingsguard Tale: Road to Celestial' by G.F. Allen is an absolute must-read. From the moment I cracked open its pages, I was completely engrossed, finding it nearly impossible to tear myself away. The narrative sweeps you away on a thrilling journey through the enchanting realm of Frea, immersing you in Dart's gripping quest to join the ranks of the legendary Kingsguard. Allen's masterful use of vivid imagery brings Dart's harrowing trials and triumphs to life, making every moment pulse with excitement and wonder. This tale isn't just about adventure; it's a celebration of bravery, camaraderie, and unwavering dedication, ensuring that you'll be hooked until the very last page. If you're drawn to tales of mystical creatures and epic heroism, look no further – this book is tailor-made for you. And despite its hefty size, I devoured it eagerly in just two days, eagerly awaiting the next installment. Trust me, 'A Kingsguard Tale' is an adventure you won't want to miss!
July 8, 2025
Ok
I am giving this book 4 stars because, it is a good story and it is definitely written from the heart, but it felt more like a 3 and a half star read.
I did get lost a couple of times and I think it would be an interesting series.
That being said there are parts of this book that are described that don't need it and there are parts that need much more, the world building is a little rushed and would have loved more information about what lead to the point of the story that takes place. Maybe in the next because it is left on a cliffhanger. I would love to hear more about the characters and their stories.
I am giving this book 4 stars because, it is a good story and it is definitely written from the heart, but it felt more like a 3 and a half star read.
I did get lost a couple of times and I think it would be an interesting series.
That being said there are parts of this book that are described that don't need it and there are parts that need much more, the world building is a little rushed and would have loved more information about what lead to the point of the story that takes place. Maybe in the next because it is left on a cliffhanger. I would love to hear more about the characters and their stories.
November 6, 2024
I just finished this book and all I can say is I was in another world ! It was so well written i can truly say I was hooked from start to finish I read this book in 2 days could not put it down. Can’t wait for the second book to come out.
January 24, 2025
A wonderfully crafted debut novel, and an incredible story with so many twists and turns that you’re not able to escape from celestia without a struggle.
Definitely recommend reading it and well worth 5-stars
Definitely recommend reading it and well worth 5-stars
March 10, 2024
A kings guard Tale: Road to Celestial took me another world 🌎. I wish I could transport myself in the book.
October 17, 2024
This was gifted to me by the author in audiobook format and I enjoyed it immensely. I loved the story. It was like everything I had hoped Game of Thrones would be. 4/5 stars.
May 11, 2025
Very nice book. I recommend it!
September 9, 2025
Fantasy & Video Game Nostalgia
A Kingsguard Tale: Road to Celestia is on my top 5 books of 2023. I can describe it as Final Fantasy 14 meets King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table. Imagine your favorite JRPG in book form.
This is the story of Dart Horowitz... After growing up hearing the tales of his grandfather's adventures, he starts dreaming of becoming a Kingsguard. After witnesing his village getting attacked, his dreams become stronger, not only to protect his loved ones but also to protect the kingdom.
With that said, Dart is not your typical hero, all muscle and no brains or emotions. Dart is a knight carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, a mind full of dreams and his heart on his sleeve. You feel his happiness, weakness, and sadness, and you can even sense the humanity coming out of the pages. He learns from his mistakes, isn't afraid to admit when he fails, and at times, he is a bit harsh on himself but never to the point of being annoying.
After he finally makes it into the Militia ranks and proves his worth, he still fails to become a Kingsguard. This doesn't deter him, and when the King entrusts him with the most important mission yet, he only has one goal in mind... Bring the Ancient One to Celestia no matter what. He is apprehensive at first, but he knows if he fails, the faith of his Kingdom and probably the world would be at stake.
He encounters dangerous adversaries of great strength called Infernals. Vile creatures with no sense of morale but a lot of sense of destruction. They want to abduct the Ancient One and prevent humans from defeating them and eradicating their race from existence.
Good thing Dart has an amazing team that will encourage, challenge, and help him grow. The road has characters straight out of your favorite fantasy books and video games.
Elise: the childhood friend, supportive and caring.
Ava: the Last Ancient, a mix of innocence, resilience, and hope.
Butler: the Shifter, Ava's protector, and the big brother of the team.
Jack: the Kingsguard, Mentor, a noble with a heart of gold.
Silver Fang: the strongest Kingsguard, cold and secluded, but will risk his life for the good of others.
Dale: the kooky helper, Jack of all trades.
Maroone: the dark Mage with a conscience.
Drakar: evilness personified and the one that can end it all.
Since I don't want to throw any spoilers... all I can say is: the book has action, mystery, and an amazing plot that transports you to another Era where magic, summons, and knights are the norm.
If you like fantasy, adventure, mythology, or if you are a nostalgic gamer circa 80s & 90s, this book is for you!
A Kingsguard Tale: Road to Celestia is on my top 5 books of 2023. I can describe it as Final Fantasy 14 meets King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table. Imagine your favorite JRPG in book form.
This is the story of Dart Horowitz... After growing up hearing the tales of his grandfather's adventures, he starts dreaming of becoming a Kingsguard. After witnesing his village getting attacked, his dreams become stronger, not only to protect his loved ones but also to protect the kingdom.
With that said, Dart is not your typical hero, all muscle and no brains or emotions. Dart is a knight carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, a mind full of dreams and his heart on his sleeve. You feel his happiness, weakness, and sadness, and you can even sense the humanity coming out of the pages. He learns from his mistakes, isn't afraid to admit when he fails, and at times, he is a bit harsh on himself but never to the point of being annoying.
After he finally makes it into the Militia ranks and proves his worth, he still fails to become a Kingsguard. This doesn't deter him, and when the King entrusts him with the most important mission yet, he only has one goal in mind... Bring the Ancient One to Celestia no matter what. He is apprehensive at first, but he knows if he fails, the faith of his Kingdom and probably the world would be at stake.
He encounters dangerous adversaries of great strength called Infernals. Vile creatures with no sense of morale but a lot of sense of destruction. They want to abduct the Ancient One and prevent humans from defeating them and eradicating their race from existence.
Good thing Dart has an amazing team that will encourage, challenge, and help him grow. The road has characters straight out of your favorite fantasy books and video games.
Elise: the childhood friend, supportive and caring.
Ava: the Last Ancient, a mix of innocence, resilience, and hope.
Butler: the Shifter, Ava's protector, and the big brother of the team.
Jack: the Kingsguard, Mentor, a noble with a heart of gold.
Silver Fang: the strongest Kingsguard, cold and secluded, but will risk his life for the good of others.
Dale: the kooky helper, Jack of all trades.
Maroone: the dark Mage with a conscience.
Drakar: evilness personified and the one that can end it all.
Since I don't want to throw any spoilers... all I can say is: the book has action, mystery, and an amazing plot that transports you to another Era where magic, summons, and knights are the norm.
If you like fantasy, adventure, mythology, or if you are a nostalgic gamer circa 80s & 90s, this book is for you!
June 13, 2024
I would hands down give this captivating story a 5*read.
This beautiful book is filled with surprises, magic and adventures!
The cover is actually what drew me in. The cover is simple and yet metal-esk and that is what made me know this book is full of an awesome journey. If you want to go on an amazing journey go and get this book fast.
This beautiful book is filled with surprises, magic and adventures!
The cover is actually what drew me in. The cover is simple and yet metal-esk and that is what made me know this book is full of an awesome journey. If you want to go on an amazing journey go and get this book fast.
August 12, 2025
The audiobook really set the story better!!! I love it!!!
June 19, 2024
"This is not how it ends, Elise,"
Okay, let's just appreciate that this author NEVER edited it, and it's his first ever debut novel. Look at the cover for a start 😍
The first thing I should say is for a fantasy book. This was an easy read. It wasn't jam-packed together full of words and confusion. It was a great back story with everything making sense. The prologue was 👌😍
We have disruption of peace across four kingdoms as the king wanted immortality and political wars between kingdoms all for the theme of greed.
If you want skin shifters, kreg dealers, internals, demons, dragons, dwarves, gargoyles, and griffin's, all crafted perfectly into the one novel 😍
There were so many aspects to this book that made it different to others, one being the element of sci-fi, and the made-up little creatures in the book made me adore the writers imagination.
Full of intense battle scenes and a very detailed back story, I'm impressed for a debut novel, I'm excited to read the sequel 🙌
Evikson and Butler were my favourite characters, and also the chapter about the spirit of the lake.
Here's the blurb 👇
Dart Horowitz had always dreamed of becoming a Kingsguard, but he never imagined just how dangerous his training would become. When he's given the task of escorting Ava, the last Ancient of the Celestials, back to her home in the sky, Dart finds himself thrown into a perilous adventure that could have dire consequences for humanity. Pursued relentlessly by an evil being who will stop at nothing to capture Ava, Dart and his charge must use every ounce of their strength, courage, and wits to survive. From the desolate wastelands to the treacherous mountains, they face one danger after another, never knowing who they can trust. Will they make it to their destination in time, or will the world be plunged into chaos?
This thrilling tale of adventure, magic, and heroism will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page
Okay, let's just appreciate that this author NEVER edited it, and it's his first ever debut novel. Look at the cover for a start 😍
The first thing I should say is for a fantasy book. This was an easy read. It wasn't jam-packed together full of words and confusion. It was a great back story with everything making sense. The prologue was 👌😍
We have disruption of peace across four kingdoms as the king wanted immortality and political wars between kingdoms all for the theme of greed.
If you want skin shifters, kreg dealers, internals, demons, dragons, dwarves, gargoyles, and griffin's, all crafted perfectly into the one novel 😍
There were so many aspects to this book that made it different to others, one being the element of sci-fi, and the made-up little creatures in the book made me adore the writers imagination.
Full of intense battle scenes and a very detailed back story, I'm impressed for a debut novel, I'm excited to read the sequel 🙌
Evikson and Butler were my favourite characters, and also the chapter about the spirit of the lake.
Here's the blurb 👇
Dart Horowitz had always dreamed of becoming a Kingsguard, but he never imagined just how dangerous his training would become. When he's given the task of escorting Ava, the last Ancient of the Celestials, back to her home in the sky, Dart finds himself thrown into a perilous adventure that could have dire consequences for humanity. Pursued relentlessly by an evil being who will stop at nothing to capture Ava, Dart and his charge must use every ounce of their strength, courage, and wits to survive. From the desolate wastelands to the treacherous mountains, they face one danger after another, never knowing who they can trust. Will they make it to their destination in time, or will the world be plunged into chaos?
This thrilling tale of adventure, magic, and heroism will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page
December 10, 2024
A Kingsguard Tale: A Road to Celestia has a lot of potential, but it’s held back by some structural and editorial issues.
The epilogue was a standout moment—20 minutes long but well-written and engaging. It gave me hope that the story would deliver a solid adventure. The first chapter continued smoothly enough, but I started noticing quite a few editing issues. While this didn’t immediately pull me out of the story, it became more distracting as I read on.
Chapter two, however, was a challenge—it was over two hours long. No chapter should take that long to get through. Breaking it into smaller chapters would have made the pacing much easier to follow and less overwhelming.
One key moment in the story is when Dart, the main character, is stabbed and wakes up in an infirmary. Here, he starts reading entries from his journal, which felt more like short stories than personal reflections. By the fourth entry, I found myself skimming, wanting to return to the main narrative rather than lingering in these side stories.
Another element that stood out was Dart’s apprentice occasionally referencing him in a way that made it seem like he wasn’t alive. It was a bit confusing and detracted from the flow of the story.
Overall, A Kingsguard Tale: A Road to Celestia has an intriguing premise and glimpses of great storytelling, but it needs significant editing to refine its pacing, structure, and clarity. With some revisions, it could shine.
The epilogue was a standout moment—20 minutes long but well-written and engaging. It gave me hope that the story would deliver a solid adventure. The first chapter continued smoothly enough, but I started noticing quite a few editing issues. While this didn’t immediately pull me out of the story, it became more distracting as I read on.
Chapter two, however, was a challenge—it was over two hours long. No chapter should take that long to get through. Breaking it into smaller chapters would have made the pacing much easier to follow and less overwhelming.
One key moment in the story is when Dart, the main character, is stabbed and wakes up in an infirmary. Here, he starts reading entries from his journal, which felt more like short stories than personal reflections. By the fourth entry, I found myself skimming, wanting to return to the main narrative rather than lingering in these side stories.
Another element that stood out was Dart’s apprentice occasionally referencing him in a way that made it seem like he wasn’t alive. It was a bit confusing and detracted from the flow of the story.
Overall, A Kingsguard Tale: A Road to Celestia has an intriguing premise and glimpses of great storytelling, but it needs significant editing to refine its pacing, structure, and clarity. With some revisions, it could shine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2024
A Kingsguard Tale, Road To Celestia.
I quite enjoyed AKT, the plot kept on giving without the story seemingly dragging on. The author gave some well-rounded characters as well, from Dart, Ava, butler, Jack, Dale, etc. Each bringing something new to the table - balancing each other out.
To be completely transparent, and this is completely a personal pref for me , I did have a critique about the book, which was actually the formatting. At times, this pulled me away from the story as it wasn't appeasing to the eyes. That being said, this didn't take away anything from the plot, the world building, etc.
Id also like to add the sprinkles of mythology, which were also a nice touch. And whether this was intentional or not, I deffo pick up video game inspiration from some of the content. Ffx vibes (the gaurdians and the summoner on a pilgrimage to save Spira from Sin, and Ava and Butlers relationship reminding me of Yuna and Kimahri's.) All in all, AKT was a good read, a nice book to get stuck into.
I quite enjoyed AKT, the plot kept on giving without the story seemingly dragging on. The author gave some well-rounded characters as well, from Dart, Ava, butler, Jack, Dale, etc. Each bringing something new to the table - balancing each other out.
To be completely transparent, and this is completely a personal pref for me , I did have a critique about the book, which was actually the formatting. At times, this pulled me away from the story as it wasn't appeasing to the eyes. That being said, this didn't take away anything from the plot, the world building, etc.
Id also like to add the sprinkles of mythology, which were also a nice touch. And whether this was intentional or not, I deffo pick up video game inspiration from some of the content. Ffx vibes (the gaurdians and the summoner on a pilgrimage to save Spira from Sin, and Ava and Butlers relationship reminding me of Yuna and Kimahri's.) All in all, AKT was a good read, a nice book to get stuck into.
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July 29, 2024I’m sad to say I had to DNF at 5%, which I don’t do.
But there was just too much information given in such a short space of time that it actually made me even more confused. Timelines were not clearly outlined when changing between them.
The POV kept switching rapidly and I had to go back multiple time to re read what I had just read.
I had some issues with language as well - for me an epic fantasy like this tends to lean towards medieval or old style language and some of the character names and things said just did not seem to fit what this world was trying to be for me.
However, the concept was there, with great imagination into creatures and magic. I think with some editing this has the premise to be a great epic fantasy, and would gladly re-visit.
But there was just too much information given in such a short space of time that it actually made me even more confused. Timelines were not clearly outlined when changing between them.
The POV kept switching rapidly and I had to go back multiple time to re read what I had just read.
I had some issues with language as well - for me an epic fantasy like this tends to lean towards medieval or old style language and some of the character names and things said just did not seem to fit what this world was trying to be for me.
However, the concept was there, with great imagination into creatures and magic. I think with some editing this has the premise to be a great epic fantasy, and would gladly re-visit.
February 24, 2025
I loved A Kingsguard Tale: Road to Celestia! It was full of adventure and brave heroes. The story was easy to follow, and I liked the characters a lot. There were exciting moments that made me want to keep reading. It felt like I was on a big journey with them! I think anyone who loves knights and adventure will really enjoy this book. I can't wait to read more!
The dedication to his Father was so nice .
The dedication to his Father was so nice .
May 21, 2024
This book was a wonderful fantasy adventure that had me hooked from the start. Love, friendship, a thrilling journey with a promising setup for the rest of the series!
I’d liken this book to ‘the Inheritance Cycle’ by Christopher Paolini, or ‘Realm breaker’ by Victoria Aveyard
The author is self published, I would absolutely recommend checking them out and giving them some support!
I’d liken this book to ‘the Inheritance Cycle’ by Christopher Paolini, or ‘Realm breaker’ by Victoria Aveyard
The author is self published, I would absolutely recommend checking them out and giving them some support!
October 2, 2023
"A KingsGaurd Tale," by G.F. Allen is an epic fantasy that won’t disappoint! Loved the characters and the plot. This book will keep you hooked with surprises until the very end. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy books. Can’t wait for his next book!
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