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Salinor the Beginnings #1
Salinor: The Beginnings
In Salinor a prophecy is about to come true but it is held in secrets. Identities have been hidden and no one is who they appear to be. This is the world Leo and Danais have found themselves in. They are not who they thought they were; their friends and family are leading double lives; nothing is as it seems. In this world of magic and lies, lies are used to hide the truths that Leo and Danais must find out unassisted. The two of them are the key to bringing down a Tyrant who has ruled the realm with his hate for over a thousand years. Each moment spent in the search of truth brings the Tyrant closer to uncovering a plan, years in the making, that can destroy him. Salinor is full of magic, gods, humans, magicians and the hidden prophecy holds all of them on the edge of possible destruction. The prophecy may be undone and if so, Salinor will perish. Danais and Leo must figure things out before all is lost. Then again, their lives are not the only lives to be hidden in Salinor by powerful magic.
742 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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February 15, 2015An Epic Fantasy
Salinor: The Beginnings is a very promising start to an ongoing story. There are twists and turns throughout the book that will leave you guessing as to the identities and agendas of the many characters within it's pages. There are some great characters within these pages, and the world they travel through is amazingly detailed.
I found myself drawn into a world where good and evil are not as clearly defined as some might like, and where characters have shades of gray in their personalities. You will find a world filled with magic, love and sacrifices.
If I had one complaint, it would be that the plot took a little longer to get going than I usually like, but there were some really magical moments that made the wait worth while.
Salinor: The Beginnings is a very promising start to an ongoing story. There are twists and turns throughout the book that will leave you guessing as to the identities and agendas of the many characters within it's pages. There are some great characters within these pages, and the world they travel through is amazingly detailed.
I found myself drawn into a world where good and evil are not as clearly defined as some might like, and where characters have shades of gray in their personalities. You will find a world filled with magic, love and sacrifices.
If I had one complaint, it would be that the plot took a little longer to get going than I usually like, but there were some really magical moments that made the wait worth while.
March 17, 2014
1.5/5.0
“Salinor” displays a shadow of “Harry Potter”, a twist of “Lord of the Rings” and a dollop of the unknown.
Read full review in the 2014 March issue of InD’tale Magazine.
“Salinor” displays a shadow of “Harry Potter”, a twist of “Lord of the Rings” and a dollop of the unknown.
Read full review in the 2014 March issue of InD’tale Magazine.
January 29, 2018
I had such high hopes for this book. It started off shaky to be sure, but that happens sometimes. I figured ‘maybe it’ll get better from here.’ No such luck. After the opening, frankly, things went downhill.
Danais and Leo are like a fantasy version of Romeo and Juliet, only with happier overtones. They were adopted on two different sides of the world and still managed to find each other. As they learn more and more about each other, will their love manage to endure?
That’s the closest I could come to summary. I still have no idea what was going on in this book. It was kind of like reading a first draft, wherein the author just put whatever down for an edit later. Except the later editing never came. The writing style and the story took a very convoluted turn about a quarter of the way through, after the author finished introducing the reader to the world. The world-building made sense (mostly). There’s so much telling. Ninety-five percent of the narrative is telling. Even with that, I kept feeling like I was missing important bits of information, narrative, or dialogue while reading, and would sometimes go back three chapters and read again only to find out that I didn’t miss anything. I do that so often it grew frustrating real quick. The description was wonky, not to mention that characters would pop in and out of new sets of dialogue after a scenery change without any indication that they were ever there. It was jarring and once more led me to backtrack to see what I missed.
The love story was awkwardly paced—definitely way too fast. I loved their relationship dynamics for the most part. The fast way things moved made some interactions appear creepier than they were meant to.
I liked the fact that the author took their time to create their own world and taught the readers about it in a fun way through mythos. I felt like I was being educated without the info dump. Like a tour guide setting their group up for the next, new area.
I wanted to like this book. The beginning was shaky but promising. This novel needs to go through a thorough editing to clean up a confusing narrative and writing style. Promise exists, it just needs some help to shine through.
Danais and Leo are like a fantasy version of Romeo and Juliet, only with happier overtones. They were adopted on two different sides of the world and still managed to find each other. As they learn more and more about each other, will their love manage to endure?
That’s the closest I could come to summary. I still have no idea what was going on in this book. It was kind of like reading a first draft, wherein the author just put whatever down for an edit later. Except the later editing never came. The writing style and the story took a very convoluted turn about a quarter of the way through, after the author finished introducing the reader to the world. The world-building made sense (mostly). There’s so much telling. Ninety-five percent of the narrative is telling. Even with that, I kept feeling like I was missing important bits of information, narrative, or dialogue while reading, and would sometimes go back three chapters and read again only to find out that I didn’t miss anything. I do that so often it grew frustrating real quick. The description was wonky, not to mention that characters would pop in and out of new sets of dialogue after a scenery change without any indication that they were ever there. It was jarring and once more led me to backtrack to see what I missed.
The love story was awkwardly paced—definitely way too fast. I loved their relationship dynamics for the most part. The fast way things moved made some interactions appear creepier than they were meant to.
I liked the fact that the author took their time to create their own world and taught the readers about it in a fun way through mythos. I felt like I was being educated without the info dump. Like a tour guide setting their group up for the next, new area.
I wanted to like this book. The beginning was shaky but promising. This novel needs to go through a thorough editing to clean up a confusing narrative and writing style. Promise exists, it just needs some help to shine through.
January 23, 2018
This was a book that I was initially thinking I’d five four stars. It gets five.
Why? Fantastical culture clash, really. In the very beginning of the book, it felt a lot like Alexander was making far too big a deal of making clear that sex is largely not a big deal amongst most people certain cultures in the story; or rather, that it perhaps is a big deal, but in a very relaxed fashion, on a par with eating food. Where taboos exist, they’re commonly different than where they commonly exist in our world. Anyway, once we get over the initial show-and-tell-and-show-and-tell onslaught (no, it’s not erotica, merely skirted around pointedly), the rest settles down and becomes chiefly a story that’s 50% romance, 50% high fantasy sorcery and political machinations. Direct description of sexual interludes that do occur focus on intimacy rather than carnality, and Alexander does this very well.
As a rule I’m not very readily drawn to romance, but can definitely enjoy reading it if it’s very well-written, and here it was.
If there is any criticism, it won’t be from me per se, but some readers may find it a bit slow-going. Personally I’m fine with that and am perfectly comfortable with an author taking their time if it’s an enjoyable and immersive story, and even more so if they are actually going somewhere with it. Since books—or fiction books, anyway—are a chiefly process-oriented affair, not goal-oriented (ie, one reads to enjoy reading, not to achieve having read the book), for me it can absolutely be as much about the world as the journey, sometimes more so. Characters, too, can definitely be enjoyed even outside of their narratives, just for the characters’ sake.
I notice another reviewer mentioned one of the main characters over-thinking things too much to be enjoyable; I didn’t really find that, but then I too am often accused of over-thinking things. Maybe some people prefer to under-think things, but for me, I was very happy with this well-written and engaging narrative.
Why? Fantastical culture clash, really. In the very beginning of the book, it felt a lot like Alexander was making far too big a deal of making clear that sex is largely not a big deal amongst most people certain cultures in the story; or rather, that it perhaps is a big deal, but in a very relaxed fashion, on a par with eating food. Where taboos exist, they’re commonly different than where they commonly exist in our world. Anyway, once we get over the initial show-and-tell-and-show-and-tell onslaught (no, it’s not erotica, merely skirted around pointedly), the rest settles down and becomes chiefly a story that’s 50% romance, 50% high fantasy sorcery and political machinations. Direct description of sexual interludes that do occur focus on intimacy rather than carnality, and Alexander does this very well.
As a rule I’m not very readily drawn to romance, but can definitely enjoy reading it if it’s very well-written, and here it was.
If there is any criticism, it won’t be from me per se, but some readers may find it a bit slow-going. Personally I’m fine with that and am perfectly comfortable with an author taking their time if it’s an enjoyable and immersive story, and even more so if they are actually going somewhere with it. Since books—or fiction books, anyway—are a chiefly process-oriented affair, not goal-oriented (ie, one reads to enjoy reading, not to achieve having read the book), for me it can absolutely be as much about the world as the journey, sometimes more so. Characters, too, can definitely be enjoyed even outside of their narratives, just for the characters’ sake.
I notice another reviewer mentioned one of the main characters over-thinking things too much to be enjoyable; I didn’t really find that, but then I too am often accused of over-thinking things. Maybe some people prefer to under-think things, but for me, I was very happy with this well-written and engaging narrative.
January 23, 2018
Revelations is an enchanting, enthralling and exciting novel woven around a legend. The story deals with the antipathy between the magicians and the Atorathians and how the two races decide to save their land from evil forces by uniting their powers and gifts and through love and patience. I was spell bound by the author's mastery over his craft. Samuel Alexander is a gifted writer who knows exactly how to keep his readers engaged and interested. The start of the book is fast, but then it loses it strides and progresses in a leisurely fashion. There are a number of characters but each introduced in such a fashion, that there is no confusion about their identities. The author also ensures to make us intimately acquainted by the land and all its customs and defines many new words to us us like "black magic". The book is almost complete in itself, although it is the start of one very exciting journey. Hence, while I am much looking forward to the next book, I am also feeling sated by the story which i just read and glowing in the warmth and adventure of it. Brilliant book!
January 10, 2018
Salinor: The Beginnings by Samuel Alexander is a unique entry into the fantasy and science fiction space. With wonderful character development, a touch of romance and sexual tension, and a magical backdrop, this book is clearly different from the rest. Alexander writes well, and slowly pulls the reader into the story, with nuanced and captivating writing. The main character Danais is quite well defined, full of very real and human qualities, even if he isn't quite human. His relationship with Leo is well drawn, and adds a nice romantic twist to the story. While not a typical science fiction book,this book takes the reader on a fantastical journey that features magic, giving it a different style from the norm. Add in a plot that focuses on the conflict between good and evil, and you have a substantive and entertaining story. Highly recommended for good, escapist type reading.
January 26, 2018
Samuel Alexander’s, “Revelations (Salinor the Beginnings Book 1),” is a fast paced novel that follows Leo and Danais, both of whom are orphans on a trek to determine the truth of their past. As any fantasy novel goes, the characters are a bit eccentric and sitting in this will I or won’t I situation, trying to fulfill a potential prophecy that they seem to fit in. The two trouble makers are quite involved in trying to understand their parents and potential future of their lives. There is a caste like system in place that pushes the two even further on their quest, but sometimes their attitudes and personalities make it a bit difficult to follow their train of thought. There is quite a bit of description going on in the novel, but sometimes it feels like it isn’t always necessary and overthrows what is going in the story, but overall, I think it will be a good series to continue with.
January 27, 2018
Talk about one heck of a fantasy book! This author was new to me, and I found the book to be a good read. The author seems to blend genres, which was captivating. I love the mix of sci-fi and romance, and nothing beats a good love story. This is a book geared towards young adults, but I think people of all ages can enjoy. This is the first of the series, and while it is lengthy and took a bit for the plot to really pick up, I will be reading the others in the series. I have to know what happens! Be prepared to step from your house into a magical realm beyond anything you could have dreamed.
January 11, 2016
Really enjoying the story. Still in the beginning but it definitely has me intrigued.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews