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Fifthwind
Imagine a place where magic is merely myth, legends are little more than fireside stories, and monsters… Well, that’s just absurd.
Now imagine if all that were to suddenly change.
Ben can see with his eyes closed. It's called Mindsight... and it's just the beginning.
With the passing of ages, the origins of folklore can sometimes be forgotten. Some tales were never intended to be myth and some horrors are rooted firmly in history.
In a remote trading town, full of seasoned soldiers, the most terrifying of all fables is coming to life. When nightmares from the days of myth awaken in the forests, even the bravest of men can be gripped by fear. Now, one man must rise to play the role of hero in a real-life tale of encroaching evil and impending human annihilation. In a race against time to unravel the secrets of an ancient poem and master the skills of a mythic warrior, Ben Karr soon finds himself becoming a legend.
Now imagine if all that were to suddenly change.
Ben can see with his eyes closed. It's called Mindsight... and it's just the beginning.
With the passing of ages, the origins of folklore can sometimes be forgotten. Some tales were never intended to be myth and some horrors are rooted firmly in history.
In a remote trading town, full of seasoned soldiers, the most terrifying of all fables is coming to life. When nightmares from the days of myth awaken in the forests, even the bravest of men can be gripped by fear. Now, one man must rise to play the role of hero in a real-life tale of encroaching evil and impending human annihilation. In a race against time to unravel the secrets of an ancient poem and master the skills of a mythic warrior, Ben Karr soon finds himself becoming a legend.
- GenresFantasy
465 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2012
15 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Ken Kiser
6 books2 followersKen grew up in Southern Louisiana. He spent much of his youth lost in daydreams as he explored the untamed forests and swamps that sprawled for miles around.
He is a U.S. Air Force veteran, and currently works as a Surveillance professional.
After traveling the world and finding his bride, he now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He is a U.S. Air Force veteran, and currently works as a Surveillance professional.
After traveling the world and finding his bride, he now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 24, 2014
There was a time in my younger days when I would have devoured this book and begged for more. The easy, fast-paced writing style, the brave young hero with uncanny powers, the impending threat of overwhelming evil foes... those all would have been just what I was looking for in my earlier days of reading fantasy books. And I'm sure that many, many readers will love this book now.
For myself, however, nowadays I'm looking for more than an adventurous thrill ride. I crave deeper, more complex character development and a more nuanced approach to plot and theme. I want to have my expectations challenged and turned upside down in ways that move--and perhaps even trouble--me. This book, while exciting and fun, didn't get me there.
This is not to say it was poorly written or that other readers won't enjoy it. I did like the main character's camaraderie with his friend Mason, and I thought that some of the portrayals of the strange apparitions that Ben starts seeing in the very first chapter were nicely scary, but overall, I didn't end up feeling a lot of attachment to the protagonist, which lessened the story's impact for me.
For myself, however, nowadays I'm looking for more than an adventurous thrill ride. I crave deeper, more complex character development and a more nuanced approach to plot and theme. I want to have my expectations challenged and turned upside down in ways that move--and perhaps even trouble--me. This book, while exciting and fun, didn't get me there.
This is not to say it was poorly written or that other readers won't enjoy it. I did like the main character's camaraderie with his friend Mason, and I thought that some of the portrayals of the strange apparitions that Ben starts seeing in the very first chapter were nicely scary, but overall, I didn't end up feeling a lot of attachment to the protagonist, which lessened the story's impact for me.
November 4, 2014
Fifthwind is a fantasy tale about an ex-Kreggorian soldier named Ben and his companion, Mason, as they discover that the tiny town of Kishell Springs is more than it seems... and that the world as they know it is about to change.
The world and the magic of the Fifthwind is quite creative. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Mindsight and the other talents that Ben learns, and I really did feel the chill of winter while I was reading, and Ben’s dedication to saving Kishell Springs and his friends is admirable.
Something felt missing. I never quite felt connected to Ben as an MC or cared about his attachment to Kyla. That being said, the relationship between Ben and Mason was well-done. Certain aspects of the plot seemed a bit out of place, but for the most part the story was compelling. The manuscript could also have been cleaner in terms of punctuation (a pet peeve of mine), but I don’t think most people would notice it.
I’m not usually a fan of darker fantasy stories that contain monsters and a lot of battle scenes, but toward the middle/end of the story, I found it difficult to put down. If you like this sub-genre of fantasy, I think you’d enjoy this novel. 3.5 stars
The world and the magic of the Fifthwind is quite creative. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Mindsight and the other talents that Ben learns, and I really did feel the chill of winter while I was reading, and Ben’s dedication to saving Kishell Springs and his friends is admirable.
Something felt missing. I never quite felt connected to Ben as an MC or cared about his attachment to Kyla. That being said, the relationship between Ben and Mason was well-done. Certain aspects of the plot seemed a bit out of place, but for the most part the story was compelling. The manuscript could also have been cleaner in terms of punctuation (a pet peeve of mine), but I don’t think most people would notice it.
I’m not usually a fan of darker fantasy stories that contain monsters and a lot of battle scenes, but toward the middle/end of the story, I found it difficult to put down. If you like this sub-genre of fantasy, I think you’d enjoy this novel. 3.5 stars
November 14, 2014
Great first entry into Ken's series. I enjoyed how it felt like classic fantasy, but also felt fresh and new.
Loved it and looking forward to the next one.
Loved it and looking forward to the next one.
June 12, 2015
Great story line
Really liked the story. A little light on magic and magic users for my taste. Could be turned into great trilogy.
Really liked the story. A little light on magic and magic users for my taste. Could be turned into great trilogy.
September 8, 2015
Excellent book
Just finished this book and it was an excellent example of fantasy. The story kept my attention all the way to the end and had me entertained all the way.
Just finished this book and it was an excellent example of fantasy. The story kept my attention all the way to the end and had me entertained all the way.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews