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Wycaan Master #3
Ashbar
Mastery of your magic can mean the difference between freedom and utter defeat. All Odessiya holds its breath and craves the Wycaan Master who can set them free.
Seanchai is a broken elf and a danger to himself and others. His victories have been won at too great a price and he walks alone in darkness, though surrounded by friends and light. All Odessiya waits and watches. A young Wycaan, confident and in his prime may not be enough to defeat the Emperor, but the empty shell that the young elf has become, seems bereft of hope. Seanchai must seek to complete his training with those who have rejected all others. He must pass a great test if he is to return with the skills and resources to set Odessiya free.
Seanchai knows how to make friends and form alliances, but he also attracts a dearth of enemies. A Master Assassin seeks vengeance on Shayth and Seanchai. He doggedly tracks them together with three graduates of the Emperor's Military Academy. One holds the destiny of Odessiya in his grasp and the others dirks poised to stab him in the back.
Shayth must master his own losses and emotions and make the greatest decision of his life. He was once destined to walk a path to greatness but it is his own past that is most likely to destroy him.
All will converge at the Cliftean Pass and when the battle joins, everyone must confront their fears, their enemies, and their destinies.
Seanchai is a broken elf and a danger to himself and others. His victories have been won at too great a price and he walks alone in darkness, though surrounded by friends and light. All Odessiya waits and watches. A young Wycaan, confident and in his prime may not be enough to defeat the Emperor, but the empty shell that the young elf has become, seems bereft of hope. Seanchai must seek to complete his training with those who have rejected all others. He must pass a great test if he is to return with the skills and resources to set Odessiya free.
Seanchai knows how to make friends and form alliances, but he also attracts a dearth of enemies. A Master Assassin seeks vengeance on Shayth and Seanchai. He doggedly tracks them together with three graduates of the Emperor's Military Academy. One holds the destiny of Odessiya in his grasp and the others dirks poised to stab him in the back.
Shayth must master his own losses and emotions and make the greatest decision of his life. He was once destined to walk a path to greatness but it is his own past that is most likely to destroy him.
All will converge at the Cliftean Pass and when the battle joins, everyone must confront their fears, their enemies, and their destinies.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2013
2 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Alon Shalev
14 books122 followersAlon Shalev lives and writes in two worlds. He is the author of three social justice-themed novels and a series of Young Adult Epic Fantasy. He swears there is a connection.
In 2010, while on a family camping trip in Northern California, Shalev began writing an epic fantasy novel to read to his sons around the campfire. Over the next five years, both sons and the ancient redwood forests bore witness to the summoning of the Wycaan Masters.
His first epic fantasy novel, At The Walls Of Galbrieth, won the 2013 Eric Hoffer Book Award - YA Category and was a Grand Prize Finalist. The sequel, The First Decree, was released in March 2013, and there has been a book every year. In September 2015, From Ashes They Rose - Wycaan Master Book 5, was released and Calhei No More, the final book in the series, was released in November 2016. All books are published by Tourmaline Books.
More details of these novels and future projects can be found at the author's website (www.alonshalev.com) and he blogs at www.elfwriter.com.
Shalev's also explores using fiction as a platform for social justice. In 2012 Unwanted Heroes (pub. Three Clover Press) was released. Unwanted Heroes brings together an old, battle-scarred Chinese American war vet and an idealistic and pretentious young Englishmen, who share a love for San Francisco, coffee and wine. They soon discover they share even more when repressed memories bring them together as they find in each other unlikely allies to set themselves free from the tragic past that binds them both.
Other novels include:
A Gardener's Tale: a story of healing of family, land and community, along with a look at the Pagan religion and its time-honored impact upon rural communities.
The Accidental Activist: a fictional account of the astonishing 'McLibel' trial that captivated Britain in the 1990's, a David .v. Goliath court case that highlights the treachery and ruthlessness of the multinational corporations and how the advent of the Internet can curb them, when a few individuals refuse to back down. It is a defense of Freedom of Speech and the acknowledgment of the Internet as a tool for social change.
In 2010, while on a family camping trip in Northern California, Shalev began writing an epic fantasy novel to read to his sons around the campfire. Over the next five years, both sons and the ancient redwood forests bore witness to the summoning of the Wycaan Masters.
His first epic fantasy novel, At The Walls Of Galbrieth, won the 2013 Eric Hoffer Book Award - YA Category and was a Grand Prize Finalist. The sequel, The First Decree, was released in March 2013, and there has been a book every year. In September 2015, From Ashes They Rose - Wycaan Master Book 5, was released and Calhei No More, the final book in the series, was released in November 2016. All books are published by Tourmaline Books.
More details of these novels and future projects can be found at the author's website (www.alonshalev.com) and he blogs at www.elfwriter.com.
Shalev's also explores using fiction as a platform for social justice. In 2012 Unwanted Heroes (pub. Three Clover Press) was released. Unwanted Heroes brings together an old, battle-scarred Chinese American war vet and an idealistic and pretentious young Englishmen, who share a love for San Francisco, coffee and wine. They soon discover they share even more when repressed memories bring them together as they find in each other unlikely allies to set themselves free from the tragic past that binds them both.
Other novels include:
A Gardener's Tale: a story of healing of family, land and community, along with a look at the Pagan religion and its time-honored impact upon rural communities.
The Accidental Activist: a fictional account of the astonishing 'McLibel' trial that captivated Britain in the 1990's, a David .v. Goliath court case that highlights the treachery and ruthlessness of the multinational corporations and how the advent of the Internet can curb them, when a few individuals refuse to back down. It is a defense of Freedom of Speech and the acknowledgment of the Internet as a tool for social change.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 27, 2014
So with a change of blog scenery, I review the "conclusion" to the Wycaan Master trilogy. This section of Seanchai's life may have come to a close, but I have it on pretty good authority that we will be continuing in the land of Odessiya. Plus the not-so-ending ending clued me in to future stories. Now we have assassins, firebreathers, bear shape shifters, and more Wycaans! This just keeps getting more epic.
The amount of character growth and development through this series continues to impress and amaze. I really look forward to seeing where these crazy kids are going to end up. The meek have developed confidence and bravery; the headstrong have developed balance and fortitude; and the confident have been rattled. Magnifico! The land to the west really made me see the great redwood forests in my mind. Love, love, loved the imagery descriptions. They were not too overdone and really led to great visualization.
First we met the elves in a human-only world. They were defeated and suppressed but still trying to make a home for themselves and their future to thrive. Then, we met the dwarves and their struggle against integration after isolation. Now we learn about the Pictorians (really neat species heritage) and the Elves of the West (the great mythos themselves). I really enjoy Shalev's integration of cultural struggle. How free is free? What is too small a population to stand up for what is right?
My only knock to the book, this time I think the editor was on vacation. I stumbled up on misplaced words and some serious typos. It was a bit of a bummer if I really had a great flow going with the story, but it did not ruin the 5 star experience as an overall.
I'm super stoked for more of the Aqua'lanis! What is Maugwen doing? Building excitement.
The amount of character growth and development through this series continues to impress and amaze. I really look forward to seeing where these crazy kids are going to end up. The meek have developed confidence and bravery; the headstrong have developed balance and fortitude; and the confident have been rattled. Magnifico! The land to the west really made me see the great redwood forests in my mind. Love, love, loved the imagery descriptions. They were not too overdone and really led to great visualization.
First we met the elves in a human-only world. They were defeated and suppressed but still trying to make a home for themselves and their future to thrive. Then, we met the dwarves and their struggle against integration after isolation. Now we learn about the Pictorians (really neat species heritage) and the Elves of the West (the great mythos themselves). I really enjoy Shalev's integration of cultural struggle. How free is free? What is too small a population to stand up for what is right?
My only knock to the book, this time I think the editor was on vacation. I stumbled up on misplaced words and some serious typos. It was a bit of a bummer if I really had a great flow going with the story, but it did not ruin the 5 star experience as an overall.
I'm super stoked for more of the Aqua'lanis! What is Maugwen doing? Building excitement.
April 3, 2014
Bravo!
I have literally just finished Asbar and I have to say simply "Bravo"! What an awesome ending to this part of your story Alon! The growth and changes, both in the positive and negative, your characters went through really brought this whole trilogy together and solidified the whole story from first to last. I am highly impressed with the way things turned out and glad you left it open ended so these great characters can come back to life! I look forward to anything you write in the future!!
I have literally just finished Asbar and I have to say simply "Bravo"! What an awesome ending to this part of your story Alon! The growth and changes, both in the positive and negative, your characters went through really brought this whole trilogy together and solidified the whole story from first to last. I am highly impressed with the way things turned out and glad you left it open ended so these great characters can come back to life! I look forward to anything you write in the future!!
October 6, 2014
Even though this story comes in the middle of a much larger one, Shalev does well to dovetail the details in such a way that a first-time reader feels welcome in this world he has created. His love for the genre is obvious, and I have no doubt that the further adventures of these characters will demonstrate the same passion.
June 3, 2014
An adventurer’s tale of courage, friendship and warfare told by a master story teller.
January 1, 2016
Ashbar
What a way to finish this trilogy. The pain, the laughs , and the joining of the races to overcome their trials and tribulations. This is definitely a must read.
What a way to finish this trilogy. The pain, the laughs , and the joining of the races to overcome their trials and tribulations. This is definitely a must read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews