One Realm Beyond

Realm Walkers #1

by Donita K. Paul

In book one, a young boy named Cantor has the gifts to jump between the realms that make up his world, but when his first Realm Walker assignment encounters a rocky start (and a hard-to-work-with dragon), he must summon every skill he's developed to battle the secrets that threaten his guild.

Genres: Fantasy, Christian, Young Adult, Christian Fiction, Dragons, Christian Fantasy, Fiction

413 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2014

About the author

I am an author of Christian Fantasy. My first 7 books were Christian Romance, but I came over to the Dark Side when I heard there were cookies.

Reviews

[Sisters Three · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't finish, the narrator's voice on audible was horrible! I can't do this!!!! So, yeah that's all I have to say...
~Rissy

[Emileigh Latham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donita K. Paul's sunny and merry writing is back with her colorful descriptions and excellent attention to detail.

good:
I thought Bixby was adorable and so unique. She was a strong female character who loved fashion and shopping. A girly-girl - who wore multiple layers and colors and textures of clothing - demonstrated courage, bravery, and confidence even in dangerous situations.
Dukmee was another one of my favorite characters. He was a young man with many talents. Dukmee was a healer, a wizard, a scholar, a realm walker, and...well, anything else he wanted to be, he did. He was serious, independent, intelligent, and a little mysterious.
And, of course I could not forget Bridger, a mor dragon, and his pet cat, Jesha. I could not have imagined this book without them. They provided great moments of humor and entertainment.

I loved the mor dragons. The mor dragons were dragons that could shape-shift.
Let's take a moment and come to grasp at how awesome this is.

....

Wow.
Did you feel that?
I know. Totally epic.
Bridger, one of the mor dragons, could shape-shift into anything from a stretcher to an old man. AMAZING! I loved the creativity and the imagination of this talent being placed in dragons not in the humans.

Another thing I dote on in fantasy books is writer's inventive objects and technologies - that we all wished were real - in their worlds. Donita K. Paul never fails at this. That is one of the reasons why I love her books. In this book, she added a bag-like object called a "hamper." You could put anything into it. I know such bags have existed in other great fantasy works but you gotta say it is a classic and I always enjoy seeing what characters put into them and pull out of them. Even Bixby's many tiaras and circlets enhanced cool abilities. She would put on different ones and they would increase her gifts. Plus they helped her with her whimsical apparel.
Portals. Oh, yeah!
The Realm Walkers would use portals to travel from plane to plane that were flat and stacked on top of each other. (Let's get real. How often have we hoped for a portal to open and take us to Starbucks. No?)
In Brock Eastman's interview with Donita K. Paul, she explains where she got the idea of stacked flat planes:

One day I was thinking about Christopher Columbus. Then I thought about all the people who thought the world was flat. And I wondered what would happen if your world was flat? How would you get from one pancake world to the others?

This series is definitely different from the DragonKeeper series. In this world there are realms sitting on different planes that are constantly and dangerously shifting. It made this world into a universe of unknown places and stirred an enthusiasm to discover with the characters. Think of the unlimited amount of adventures.

bad:
It was very hard for me to get into the story. I've notice a few others like myself get about halfway through the book before it started to draw them in.

The main character, Cantor D'Ahma, I did not find compelling. In fact, there were times I forgot about him entirely. Which deeply grieves me to say because in all of Mrs. Paul's books that I have read, she has created some of the best characters.
I also thought Cantor's annoyance with the dragon, Bridger, was a bit blown out of proportion and a bit too dramatic to where I was annoyed with Cantor's annoyance with Bridger. I thought it a bit immature for a 20-year-old to behave in such a way.

There were a couple of times in the book that I felt like the characters got out of trouble a little bit too easily. I know that sounds cruel but, hey, it's what makes a story interesting.

With that said, I do see potential and I am excited for the next book.

do or don't: do

note:
In exchange for my little review, Zondervan generously sent this book to me for FREE. Thank you.

[Bill Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always amazed by Donita Paul's easy to read adventures. No stumbling over tough words or hidden meanings, says puts things into easy to understand dialogue. She is especially good at picking coming of age hero' and heroines. Cantor, Bixgy, Dukmee and of course the dragon Bridger become friends quickly and enchant you till the end.

[J.L. Mbewe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donita K. Paul returns with her style of creativity in Realm Walkers: One Realm Beyond. And I love her creativity. I never know what I'll find when I'm venturing in one of her stories.


This one is written for a younger audience similar to that of the DragonKeeper Chronicles, which I love. And I LOVE young adult novels, but this one feels more middle grade. Perhaps the style felt a bit young for me, but I LOVE her DragonKeeper Chronicles. I think the difference with this one is that Cantor is 20 years old and Bixby is 18, and I expected a bit older behavior. Yet the contrast of different worlds where things don't line up with our own, helped to ease the odd feeling. Perhaps their timelines don't match our timelines. This is fantasy, after all.

The story started slow and wound its way to the end as we get to know some interesting characters and places. I loved the idea of the different plains called realms in the universe only accessible by portals through which the realm walkers are able to walk through. The realm walkers are responsible to protect and defend the realms, and to uphold the laws of Primen, the creator of the realms.

There was a lot of information to take in about the way the realms work and the purpose of everything. I feel that this story will be foundational to ones that are to come, and once we know all the ins and outs, we'll have a deeper appreciation for all the adventuring these characters will do.

I definitely enjoyed getting to know the characters and I'm curious to see if Cantor will accept the dragon Bridger as his bonded companion (called constant), and if the dragon's sister Totobee-Rodolow will emerge from retirement to become Bixby's constant. Bixby is something else, lots of mystery. Like I said, this story is just the tip of the iceberg, promising lots of adventure and political intrigue for the younger readers and young at heart.

*In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Bèbè ✦ RANT ✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world where two different planes and different realms exists, there is a selective group of people with gifts that can jump the realms and help people. Cantor has been learning how to be a realm walker ever since he was a boy and was blessed to have an amazing mentor who was a legend. When Cantor finally passes his final test before being a realm walker, he is set for an adventure to find his dragon, be a traveler, and make friends along the way.



One Realm Beyond was nothing that I've read before. I rarely read High Fantasy books but it made me realize how exciting the world can actually be. The adventures, details, and character development was amazing. Although slow paced at times, it kept my attention and made me love the whole book. My favorite character by far was Bridger - smart, witty dragon who got into his head that he was Cantor's. Me and him could definitely be best friends! Definitely recommend for anyone who is a fan of fantasy and dragons and cannot read the next book!

[Regan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tl;dr: first two-thirds were confusing and a bit slow. Was pretty wholesome until the end where there's a mass casualty that I didn't see coming. Characters were ok. Had a lot of trouble getting through this book.
I decided to pick up this book after I read the Dragonkeeper Chronicles, which I had thoroughly enjoyed, so I was surprised when I didn't immediately fall in love with this book. Very quickly after starting it, I found myself entirely lost. Elements and plot lines seemed to appear out of nowhere without necessary introduction, only being properly fleshed out several chapters later. I couldn't figure out what was going on for the first half of the book. It was like I was reading a sequel to a book that didn't exist. I actually double checked that this was the first book in the trilogy because I felt like I was missing a backstory for 80% of the characters/plot. Realm-walking and portals, for example. I am still unsure why they exist and how they even work (and this is the entire basis of the trilogy, so it felt kind of weird that there was so little information about the actual act of realm-walking.) And there's Bixby's crowns and their apparently magical properties, as well as her mystical talents which are only vaguely described. I have still not learned why she was gifted with them in the first place.
Some things did get explained, like the shape-shifting dragon constant thing, but it was explained way too late and I was left confused for too long. I've actually read sequels before, accidentally, and been less confused as to what was happening at any given moment in the story.
My second complaint is how long it took for things to get going. All the action is relegated to the last third of the book. The characters are ok, and the ending was interesting, albeit sad. The book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger so I will be reading the next book in the trilogy, but I really would rather have re-read the Dragonkeeper Chronicles.

[Shannon McDermott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cantor only ever wanted one thing: To be a realm walker – to travel from one plane to another, helping, discovering, adventuring, with an impressive dragon by his side.

All right. He wanted two things. One he will certainly get.

One Realm Beyond is the first book in Donita K. Paul’s Realm Walkers series. The shape-shifting mor dragons are a classic fantasy element, but overall the book had sci-fi flair to it. The “realms” were given a more or less sci-fi explanation; even the special powers of the realm walkers struck me as more superhuman than supernatural.

The setting of this novel completely engaged me. I enjoyed the various bits of technology, I enjoyed the political intrigue and the educational “rounds”, I enjoyed the fantasy mix of races – dragons and humans and Brinswikkers. I enjoyed the idea of the realms and the realm walkers.

The characters were even more engaging. Bridger and Bixby charmed me at once, and the more I saw of Totobee-Rodolow, the more I appreciated the uniqueness of her character – supremely confident, supremely knowledgeable, and almost exaggeratedly feminine. Cantor was the straight man of the foursome, which made him less flashy but not less needed. Somebody has to be normal.

One of the interesting pieces of this story is how the dynamics between the two young realm walkers and their dragons work out. Cantor is persuaded to accept a dragon as a “temporary constant” (now there’s a contradiction in terms), and Bixby persuades a dragon to accept her as a temporary constant. Bixby ends up with the sort of dragon – elegant and sophisticated – that Cantor dreamed of having, and Cantor gets an offbeat, diversely talented dragon who is much more like Bixby than himself.

Religion was a persistent theme of the story, but by no means an overstated one. Primen (their name for God) is mentioned a good number of times, but always in ways that seem natural to the characters and their situations. (In a brief but fascinating moment of complexity, a character who has been studying “Primen’s Guide” denounces realm-walking as witchery.)

One chapter revolves around going to sanctuary – an obvious church equivalent. And what is interesting about that is that even fantasy novels with religion generally have no church equivalent. Going to church (or the synagogue, temple, etc.) is such a constant in real-life religion, and so rare in fantasy-world religion, that I have to congratulate Donita Paul for the chapter.

The plot of One Realm Beyond moved only gradually to the main point; it took a while for the story to find its dramatic center. I noticed this as I read, but it never really bothered me. I was enjoying myself anyway. It is such a fun book, such a light-hearted book, with entrancing characters and a terrific setting. I like fantasy, and I like sci-fi, and I hold a special fondness for well-done science fantasy – which is what One Realm Beyond is.


In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warning, spoilers may follow!

The character development took waaaaay too long. The MC Cantor was soon dense and downright mean and rude to Bridger. And lets not forget judgmental. I know for a character to develop, he/she needs to start off with something lacking so they can grow as the story progresses, but could he have had like ONE redeeming quality to start? His growth was too little, too late. By the end, his growth still wasn't that impressive.

And Bixby, the female MC only seemed to think about clothing and the accessories that she was wearing. I think she was supposed to come across as kooky and unique and colorful, but I only saw it as vapid.

Both she and Cantor had this superiority thing going on, though in different ways. It kind of grated. Especially with Cantor. Can you tell he got under my skin? Refreshingly enough though, no love interest really. It would have been nice to see more of the training they were doing though.

The plot, once it started moving, was interesting and was your classic good versus evil plot line. The explosion and the aftermath could be triggers for someone who experienced something similar. It took me back to 9-11, so it may affect others similarly.

I wouldn't mind reading the next book in the series to see if it got any better and it would be nice to see how the good guys win, cuz they do, that's how these books roll. Which is fine, I like me a HEA. It just doesn't really come in this book, not in a tying it al together type of way.

Due to the last scene of the explosion and people dead, hurt, etc., I would say this is more for a higher middle reader to YA and adult. Not a bad book, but nothing really jumped out at me in an "OMG, I HAVE to read the next book NOW" way. Though seeing how Cantor's affinity with writing implements develops might encourage me to pick up the next one, I'm in no hurry right now. A solid three stars. Decent fantasy, with potential.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this through the BookLook Bloggers Program in exchange for a fair and honest review.

First, let me say that for a book published by a Christian Imprint, I was thoroughly impressed with the fact that the religious aspects in this book were so subtle that, if you did not know to look for them, you would have believed it to be mainstream young adult fantasy fiction. For a lot of people, that is really a good thing.

I was impressed with how well thought out and well written this novel was. I had never heard of the author before but the cover art sucked me in and the description was enough to catch my attention. I mean, really, look at that cover. Isn't that just an awesome cover that makes you want to know what is in the pages?

Cantor's Journey was one that if you think about it enough, can be mirrored in each of our own hearts. The journey to find our way, to learn who we are as we grow up and become the people we are supposed to be. It is a journey that each and every one of us makes, young and old alike, to becoming the people we are intended to be and live the life that the universe has in store for us. I don't think we ever finish that journey until the day we stop breathing.

If you want to know more, pick up the book and give it a read. I really cannot pinpoint much negative about it, except that it was a little slow starting and took me 3 days to finish completely because the beginning just didn't seem to catch on fast enough. Overall, though it was enjoyable and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for our friends.

[Jill Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cantor has trained his whole life to be a realm walker. He sets off through a portal on his first solo journey and is immediately caught up in an adventure. And while he makes new friends with another realm walker and two dragons—including one who likes to shop—he also discovers that the world is corrupt. Even the members of the Realm Walkers Guild cannot be trusted. There are few heroes left in all the realms, and Cantor and his new friends step up to the challenge.

This book was delightful. Donita K. Paul has crafted a complex and whimsical storyworld. I loved how her realms sat on different planes and were shifting dangerously. I loved the portals that enabled realm walkers to travel between the planes. And, most of all, I loved the shape-shifting dragons, especially Bridger and his cat. Just mentioning some of these fun facts to my children got them excited to read the book for themselves. (My daughter is especially intrigued about the dragon’s pet cat.)

This is a story about characters. The plot unravels slowly, building the storyworld and setting up the rest of the series, but the characters each grew in this story. And I look forward to seeing what happens to them next. This is a wonderful new series for readers, both young and old. Give it a try.

*In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, and Z Street Team, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

[Aaron Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled to the brim with imaginative ideas, memorable characters, and Christian themes woven into the story, One Realm Beyond is the beginning of the new 'Realm Walkers' series by Donita K. Paul. I think there are going to be three novels in total, but I'm not entirely sure. What I am sure of, however, is that this is a fantastic start! The book may seem slow paced to some, but Mrs. Paul puts a lot into building up the plot and fleshing out the world(Or should I say worlds, flat worlds stacked like pancakes, one of the many creative ideas you'll discover in the book). Character development is top notch and the characters are fun, my personal favorite being Bridger the shapeshifting dragon. By the end of the book you'll find yourself attatched to the characters and eagerly anticipating the next book. I can't wait! If this is your first time reading a book by Donita K. Paul, I suggest while you are waiting for the next one you read her 'DragonKeeper Chronicles' and 'Chiril Chronicles'. They are adventures you don't want to miss out on! One Realm Beyond is a fun, exciting read and I'm very much looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first novel I have read by Donita K. Paul and what an epic novel it was! She has a fascinating way of weaving me into the story that it constantly left me turning pages as soon as I could!

My favorite thing about "One Realm Beyond" was the dragons! They were so very awesome and were nothing like how I read in other fantasy stories! Bridger is quite hilarious and I love his sister's beauty/spunk! Not only were these dragons utterly amazing, but so was Bixby! I loved her quirky ways and especially her clothing! She has such a big heart!

The overall plot of the story was a very interesting one! The book was never really slow, but it gradually begins to pick up the excitement as the story keeps going! I wouldn't say that your really left hanging at the end where your not satisfied with the cliff hanger, but I am eagerly anticipating book two! There was so much that happened and so much more that NEEDS to happen!

If you enjoy a fantasy mixed kind of YA action novel this one I would recommend! It's an exciting journey all the way through and sure to be even more exciting as the series progresses!

I give "One Realm Beyond" by Donita K. Paul a 4.5 out of 5 stars!

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donita K. Paul has not let me down yet! One Realm Beyond is classic Paul, full of colorful characters of various races--including dragons, of course--thrown into a captivating plot.

While Cantor is the center of attention, Bixby might be my favorite character. She seems flawless at first, almost elf-like, but her vulnerability soon begins to peek through as she becomes refreshingly real. And Bridger. Dear, dear Bridger also wiggled his way up there on my list, despite being the most annoying dragon I've ever read about.

Alas, the slightly less-than-perfect rating. Why? I'm not sure. I just didn't connect with the characters as well as in Paul's other books. It doesn't mean I look forward to book two any less, though!

[Dominique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Join Cantor, Bridger, Bixby, and Totobee-Rodolow on exciting (and sometimes crazy ;) adventures! From Cantor being caught by Brinkswikkers(not going to tell you who those are) or spying on some members of the Realm Walkers guild or saving prisoners(again not spoiling it! :).
When you read this book it makes you want to jump into it and hang out with the characters!
And the cover is so cool, I love it!!
I loved this book so much!! And the ending just left me wanting to get the next one as soon as it comes out!

I received this from Zondervan Z Street Team in return for an honest review.

[Lisa Godfrees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donita K Paul is the master of creating quirky characters in fantastical realms.

Who can't help but fall in love with Bridger, Bixby, Duckmee, Cantor, and Totobee Rodelo? And the idea of stacked realms - how cleverly wonderful.

I did a combination of reading (I had to see how the names were spelled) and listening via whispersync. I enjoyed this book every bit as much as I enjoyed her original Dragon series. And I'm more than pleased that the second book in the series releases this month. I already pre-ordered it.

Highly recommended for dragon fans.

[Elise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have loved this author in the past but this one wasn't a favorite. Too episodic and slow. The whole book felt like a setup for a bigger story. Will give the next book in the series a try to see if it pays off.

Update: After realizing that the final book in this series was never released, I gave up on the second book.

[April Suter · Rating 5 out of 5]

My high school student reviewed this book:
Trip into the mystical life of those who travel the planes.
Left me wanting more.
Creative wildlife, characters and setting.
Would recommend to fans of fantasy!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book very good love that the characters have a deep bond good story about growing up and belief in yourself. And belief in God

[Melody Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What was the most compelling part?

When Cantor and Bridger meet, I automatically adored Bridger. He was funny, clever, and unique from the other dragons. When Cantor balked against him I was a little upset, so one of the aspects that kept me going in this book was watching Cantor warm up to Bridger. I really wanted to know if he would officially name Bridger as his constant, which means they're together forever.

Were you disappointed at all?

Not really. I thought I was going to be upset at one point when a random guy came up and said "oh if you need a place to hide here's this inn and the guy hates the guard so you're good." All I could think was really Donita? you couldn't make that any more subtle? But in the end it was just a piece of fluff or something because they never go to the inn.

Rate it 1-5, 5 being the best
4
Additional comments
Religion Rant:
I liked this book enough. It wasn't a huge page turner for me, I'm just a really fast reader most of the time. I've read other books by Donita K. Paul and I liked them a lot when I was younger so I knew this book would be decent. However, I got hit right in the childhood with this book and something I saw on the back.
I was reading the back, and it was all cool. Dragons, different planes, evil guild of wizards and lots of magic. What more could you want? I was skimming the useless (At least for me) information on the bottom and saw what genres it was listed under. When I saw religion and Christian I was a little confused. This didn't seem like it had anything to do with religion. I became a little hesitant but decided I'd read it either way anyway so I might as well wait and see for myself.
The book itself has nothing to do with Christianity directly. There is no reference to Jesus, God or the 12 disciples. The religious theme is actually quite subtle and honestly if I hadn't seen it on the back of the book I never would have thought about it. I've read plenty of books with a God like character, someone the characters look to for guidance and help. I never give this much thought though because, unlike God, they usually show up in a corporeal form of some sort. The same is true of this novel, with a man, probably equivalent to an angel in Christianity, sent to help the adventurers fight against evil.
The evil is in the form of the Realm Walker Guild. Only 3 of the 99 members still walk in the light and with Primen, the God character of this book. The evil Realm Walkers are corrupting people every way they turn and are fighting in Primen's name but are not following His ideals, in reality. This is akin to terrorists, fighting in their God's name. I never thought I could relate a fantasy book to real life. It's crazy.
Being only marginally religious, I'm happy to say the presence of religion in books does not bother me, even after I realized the books were allowing me to agree with Christian ideals in a way that I thought was cool and rateable. Which is weird considering they almost always have dragons in them, and who can relate to dragons?
The whole religion thing hit me right in the childhood because I'm forced to reanalyze all of the books I've read in my youth with religion in it, especially the monotheistic ones. Paul did this in another series I read by her, as well. I understand it and accept it, but I can't believe it took me this long to figure it out. I actually like it. I think it's cool. Especially when there is some God smiting happening, which hasn't happened in this series yet, but I'll get my hopes up.
Everything Else:
The book had lots of action in it, but I have a few problems with the progression of the book. There are some places where it seems like whole sections of the plot just magically happened and they don't talk about it. One paragraph: Hey let's go to the barn. End of chapter. Beginning of chapter: So we went to the barn.... and I'm just like what? You did? And I didn't get to go? Oh so now you're going to fill me in. I think this is just a stupid writing style. I would have much rather been there in the barn. There wasn't actually a barn..I just made that up.
I thought the transitions between characters, mainly Bixby and Cantor, were decent except for a few places where I was reading and I didn't even realize it had switched to a new character until about a paragraph in. This might have been because I was distracted for a moment by the TV or my mother, but still it was kind of weird.
My predictions for this series is that:
1. Cantor and Bixby hook up
B. Cantor and Bridger become permanent constants
3. There's some serious prophecy junk going on
4. Cantor is the boy who lived...wait that's Harry Potter. He's the one to rule them all? I think that's LOTR. Anyway I think he's going to become king or lead wizard of the guild. It'll be great.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cantor is destined for great things. He’s just been given the title of realm walker, and much is expected from him. His sacred oath to protect the realms is crucial to mankind. Leaving his mentor, Ahma, behind, he sets off for adventure. Cantor leaps through a portal on his first journey into a new realm, but this time as a true realm walker. As a young man, he finds the feeling of independence refreshing.

On his trek, Cantor meets a clumsy, shape-shifting dragon by the name of Bridger – who is determined to become his companion. With a dragon on his heels, a talk of rebellion within the council of realm walkers, and a whole new host of whimsical creatures in his path, Cantor must bravely face his life-long journey as a realm walker.

Choosing faith over fear, he must do whatever it takes to protect the realms, even if that means starting a fierce revolution within the council.

{My Thoughts:}

I’m an avid reader of fantasy – it’s my favorite genre. Most of what my bookish-mind devours is actually Christian fantasy with a twinge of medieval flair. Usually, these consist of sword-fighting, castles, kings, and the fight between good and evil. I often try to stay away from any book that incorporates too much magic (this is difficult to do), and I often find Christian fantasy to be allegorical – which is what I prefer.

I was eager to pick up One Realm Beyond by Donita K. Paul. She’s well-known for her stories on dragons. I’ve never read any of her books, but I’ve noticed her passion for writing fantasy. I was not disappointed with this one. My expectations of her writing were indeed met. Cantor’s story engulfed me. My mind was filled with amusement, fear, joy, and sadness. I connected with all of the characters and was drawn into their plight.

I was struck with this book’s unique take on the story’s structure. It lacked any obvious plot path. Like a true adventure, I didn’t know what to expect in One Realm Beyond. The weaving of the story surprised me, and I really enjoyed that feeling of being left hanging in mid-air from it.

It’s allegorical in that there’s a being that watches over the realms: Primen. The characters also visit a “sanctuary,” and sing songs – a-kin to a church service. Some of its meaning is easy to ascertain, but other parts may be hidden. I want to go back and chew on what I read. I don’t want to miss any significant part. Overall, it’s not preachy, but balanced well.

The tale left me hanging at the end, and I wanted to continue reading. It was so hard to let go and put it away with my stack of books. I am now impatiently waiting for Donita’s next title to be released – which I hope will be soon! In the meantime, I fully intend to check out her other collection of works.

Well done, Donita. I’m impressed. You’ve won a new fan.

I highly, highly, completely, and definitely recommend One Realm Beyond to fantasy readers. As with most fantasy, there’s violence, tense situations, and a guarantee that you will be drawn into the story. One Realm Beyond not only made it in my top reads of this year, but in my top reads ever list! It’s whimsical, magical, and full of charm. A must read!

{This book was provided to me by BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.}

[Janet Sketchley · Rating 4 out of 5]

At 20 years old, Cantor is ready to step from apprenticeship into his role as a realm walker. His first solo assignment? Travel in another realm until he finds the mor dragon who will be his partner.

Cantor knows better than to accept the first dragon he meets, especially since the dragon manages to set himself on fire (while disguised as a haystack). But the dragon, Bridger, keeps following him.

Soon Cantor joins up with two other strangers to this realm and the three humans, plus the dragon and his cat, mount a daring attempt to rescue some imprisoned villagers.

Donita K. Paul's worlds and cultures are always richly imagined and filled with lifelike details, and here she's working with a number of different worlds—the different realms which the walkers access through portals.

One Realm Beyond is a good read for the YA market and for adults. The characters are engaging and they take on what looks like an impossible task in their desire to challenge the Realm Walkers Guild's corruption. The book sets the scene for the series to follow. To me, it feels like two short episodes combined to reach novel length, and I found the transition between them a bit abrupt.

Within the story, the characters face issues and questions common to us here on earth: a ruling council corrupted by greed, places of worship with declining attendance, and the question of why a good deity would allow evil to flourish. For the characters, as for us, there are no easy answers, but Cantor and his friends will fight for justice and not accept the lie of "what can so few do against so many?"

Donita K. Paul is known for her young adult fantasy novels and the dragons she brings to life in them. I didn't realize she's also the author of a number of romances, under the names Kathleen Paul and Donita Kathleen Paul. Visit donitakpaul.com for more about the author, or click here to read a sample chapter of One Realm Beyond.

[A review copy was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.]

[James Swenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Born with the ability to walk between worlds, Cantor is about
to begin his life as a Realm Walker. His first task: to step
through, and seek the dragon who will be his life-long partner.
His elderly caretakers have begun his training; now, the Realm
Walkers' Guild must continue it. But can the Guild be trusted?

One Realm Beyond is a coming of age adventure written for
Christian kids in the middle grades. Initially, I assumed the
text would be oppressively fundamentalist in its orientation.
In fact, the author expresses some skepticism toward those who
try to tell others how to follow God ("Primen," in this
telling), and generally presents a humane version of the faith,
centered on respect and service.

The most engaging plot point is Cantor's search for his dragon.
He immediately meets Bridger, a dragon with surprising
abilities of transformation, but also a proclivity for
embarrassing mishaps. Cantor makes a virtue of not committing
to the first dragon he meets, but we recognize that his
teenaged dignity is offended by the thought of a dragon with
visible imperfections, and his teenaged stubbornness makes it a
struggle for him to overcome his dismissive first impression.
Cantor's battle against his destiny is enjoyable and painful.

The book's view of gender is somewhat less satisfactory. For
the most part, the male characters (both human and dragon) are
interesting for what they can do; the females seem far more
concerned with how they look. Still, NAME, the female lead, is
the most appealing character in the book -- a princess in
disguise, with a variety of skills and an uncertain commitment
to the role of Realm Walker.

Some points are left underdeveloped, partly because this is the
first volume of a series, and partly due to the demands of
exposition. If the villains have motivations beyond
opportunism, for example, they will have to be clarified later
in the series.

But as an adult, I am not in the target market for this novel.
It must be a good sign that when my copy came in the mail, my
11-year-old son immediately latched on to it; I didn't see it
again for three weeks. He reports that the book is "awesome,"
because the characters are cool.

I received this book from the Library Thing Early Reviewers
program in January 2014.

[April Erwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cantor D’Ahma is starting his life. The last 20 years have all been preparation for the day he’ll become a Realm Walker. First he must find his dragon constant, but he can’t take the first dragon he stumbles across. Can he? Bridger the dragon thinks so and there go the dominoes for the rest of the story. One thing leads to another and soon Cantor has embarked on an adventure with a dragon, a cat, and a very unique and talented girl named, Bixby. For Cantor and his friends their adventure is only beginning. There is a great evil they must face in order to save the realms. It’s an adventurous ride that had me addicted to the very last page.

Donita K. Paul has once again crafted a masterful story full of humor, adventure, magic and (of course!) dragons. It’s also deftly woven with words of wisdom and faith. I found myself mulling over a characters words multiple times and thinking, “Well said.”

Her novels are always fun and capture your heart and attention. Keeping you awake ‘til all hours reading, investing yourself in the characters, and visiting a brand new world never before seen. She’s also very good at using clear allegories to present what a healthy relationship with Jesus should be. Primen is the name of the Creator in Realm Walkers, he’s the giver of all gifts, including things like discernment. Cantor and his friends know that all glory goes to Primen, not man; but there are many in the Realms who are forgetting that. For me, a part of the allegory represented how the world has become too focused on man’s achievements and built up an egotistical and false front to the point of pushing Jesus out of the center of everyday living and praise. It’s laid out beautifully in the chapter called “Sanctuary”. There is so much more to the beauty of the allegory and that part of the story, but you must read it to enjoy it.


One Realm Beyond is a gold medal winner in my book. Good for young and old readers and all of us in-between. It’s got all the adventure, fantasy and fun you could ask for with a bit of substance. Not too heavy, not too light – Just right!

(Now I'm sitting on pins and needles anxiously waiting for book 2...)

[Eric · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book made no sense to me. I was lost most of the time. The pacing was all over the place. Things I thought weren't important were explained in great detail while the things I thought were important weren't.

Characters had weird names. And I lost track of who was who after a certain point. It didn't seem like either of the main characters, Cantor and Bixby, had any real flaws. If they did have a flaw, they overcame it pretty quickly. Also, how characters meet each other is strange. Like Cantor meets Bixby in a tree. Why? Out of everything you could do for characters to meet, it's in a tree.

The world building wasn't well made. It didn't seem like a fantasy book right away. And how Donita delivered it, wasn't much better. I thought Cantor lived on a very normal farm, like here in the real world, and then all of a sudden a portal just shows up and a dragon is flying overhead to keep him away from the portal. And the author made up new creations, which is fine in some cases, but there is one, in particular, that didn't make sense. They talk about needing to find the explosive before it goes off, and they talk about how dynamite might be something the bad guys would use. Instead of sticking with something readers would know, the author makes up a new type of bomb that's shaped like a gourd, something you can eat, and they only way it exploded is if you shake it hard and fast enough. Why did you have to come up with something stupid like that? Just stick with dynamite or TnT.

I didn't understand the rules to being a Realms Walker. The dragons didn't make much sense to me. How can there be some dragons meant to be partners for Real Walkers, but most of the population is not?

They was nothing I personally enjoyed about this book, and I don't plan on reading the rest of the series either.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My family and I have long been fans of Donita K. Paul’s Dragonkeeper Chronicles, so naturally I was thrilled to be offered a sneak peek at the first book in her new series, Realm Walkers. One Realm Beyond introduces us to a whole new world consisting of several “realms” which can only be accessed by Realm Walkers who make use of special portals. After a long apprenticeship, the Realm Walkers are sent forth to right wrongs and uphold justice--but only after finding and bonding with a special shape-shifting “mor” dragon.

Cantor (our hero) meets a dragon named Bridger almost immediately, but it isn’t exactly the beginning of a beautiful friendship, despite Bridger’s very impressive shape-shifting skills. Cantor sees Bridger as bumbling and inept, while Bridger is determined to prove his worth to Cantor. I love Bridger’s puppy-dog personality and in fact he may be my favorite character.

Before long they meet up with Bixby, a diminutive and mysterious young lady with impressive abilities. Cantor and Bixby find themselves mixed up in Guild politics and intrigue, and end up in some truly dangerous situations. My primary “beef” with the book, if there is one, is that sometimes I think the characters get out of trouble too easily, but of course this story is aimed at young people who might not want to see their heroes suffer too much.

This is a fun read for anyone over the age of eight. I enjoyed it as an adult and for me that is a mark of a good book--if it can be enjoyed by all ages, as this book can. The primary problem with reading this book is that you will have to wait for the other two books in the series. I received a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but it starts out so slow that I just couldn’t ever get into it.

I never skim read but I found myself starting to skim after spending almost a week on the first 100 pages—also something that never happens.

Aside from the slow pace, I found that the main character acted more like a young child than a grown man; he was very rude to the dragon, Bridger. He was so negative that I really didn’t have the patience to read most of his dialogue.

I also thought a few of the descriptions were odd, like this one, “The farmers obeyed to the point that they scarcely moved to breath. For a moment, the healer noticed the acrid scent of anxiety surrounding the two men, underpinned by the earthy smell of determination.” I never ever realized that anxiety or determination had a scent? I don’t know, I just didn’t enjoy the book. It wasn’t poorly written but it didn’t appeal to me.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book for review is “One Realm Beyond” by Donita K. Paul. It falls into the genre of teen fiction and fantasy.

Our main character is Cantor D’ ahma. He is a young man who has been groomed by his mentor to be a realm walker. This is someone who can travel between worlds. His job is to protect and defend the realms that are present.

Saying good-bye to Ahma and Odem, his mentors and the only family he has known, he enters a new world. Upon doing so he immediate encounters a dragon, Bridger, who believes he is Cantor’s constant. Bridgar, a clumsy dragon but loyal, is determined to help Cantor through his trials even if he is the cause of some of the turmoil. Cantor refuses to accept this dragon, the first animal he comes across, as he wants to check out more before he settles.

He soon meets new friends who will help him on his journey. Which is good since the world he has walked into is in disarray. The people in charge are corrupt and crime is rampant throughout leaving the people very much afraid. It is not as easy to be a realm walker. He must start training to learn what it takes to be successful. Dukmeer, his trainer, soon makes his appearance and starts Cantor in the right direction

Anxious to return home to see his mentors and catch up on what is going on, he finds them missing with no clue of where they have gone or if they are even alive. They must be found.

I absolutely loved this book. I was hooked immediately as I couldn’t put the book down. It took you on an adventure of a lifetime. If you like dragons, new worlds and fantasy this is a good pickup to read. I will be recommending this book to others. It is volume one in a series. I’m excited for the next one.

[(Jen) The Artist Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars.

Donita K. Paul makes her return to fantasy after a two year absence: a new book set in a new world (along with a new publisher, Zondervan instead of Waterbrook) that will charm and delight readers anew.

Cantor D’Ahma is an untested new member of the Realm Walker Guild, the protectors of the nine planes (or realms) with the ability to travel between them through portals. During his first mission, he discovers that the long heard rumors of corruption within the Guild may be true. Along with new allies –Bixby, a fellow realm walker, the mysterious Dukmee, and a shape-shifting mor dragon named Bridger– Cantor must decide where his true allegiance lies.

I really enjoyed Mrs. Paul’s new world of the Realms. The only critique I have is that I wish there was a map and perhaps a glossary as her previous series’ did (note: I have an ARC copy, so I’m not sure if the published version is different). Though Cantor is her first male main protagonist, I found his voice to be authentic and I liked how he plays off of Bixby and especially Bridger. Bixby is another quirky character. Her agility and lightness (in temperament and in the flowing clothes she loves) reminds me a bit of the Kimens in Mrs. Paul’s previous series, but she is definitely her own person! Some may find the beginning slow, but I enjoyed getting immersed into and learning about their world. With the ending being a bit of a cliffhanger, I hope to read the next Realm Walkers book soon!

*I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher. No compensation was received and the opinions expressed are my own.*

[Carol R Gehringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donita K. Paul returns with a new fantasy series aimed at middle school readers, filled with unforgettable characters (both human and dragon) in a battle of good vs. evil.

In One Realm Beyond, Cantor d’Ahma trained with an elderly mentor for the past twenty years. He is finally ready to begin his role as a realm walker, a protector and defender of the realms. His first step: find his dragon constant, but he is unprepared to bond with the first dragon he meets, especially since Bridger appears so inadequate. Cantor befriends Bixby, a female realm walker trainee, with colorful clothing and crowns. Cantor’s next assignment is to uncover the secrets of a corrupt Realm Walkers Guild and stop them before it is too late. Together they use their gifts to discover who can and cannot be trusted within the Guild.

Paul is an accomplished storyteller, taking her time to create a world where dragons are constants (similar to sidekicks for superheros), special gifts enable humans to perform their duties as realm walkers, and where good vs. evil is fought on a regular basis. The realms are the different worlds with portals that realm walkers use to travel between them.

Though it starts out slowly, One Realm Beyond engages the reader in the struggle facing Cantor as he progresses in his skills and puts his training to use. Bixby is an endearing character with her quirky ways, and Bridger appears an adept dragon when in fact, his gifts are equally important to Cantor. One Realm Beyond ends a bit abruptly and with a cliffhanger, but that may be a result of being book one in a trilogy.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed both main characters in One Realm Beyond. While Cantor drove me a bit batty with his refusal of Bridger, he still was well developed which was one of the reasons I was able to get annoyed with him. Bixby was quite the quirky character who had some issues of her own. The flawed characters helped make the characters more believable. The mor dragon aspect is quite interesting. Bridger cracks me up as he’s this beautiful, amazing creature, but his clumsy nature often causes him issues. Totobee-Rodolow was not as well developed (which, I believe, was intentional), but she too is rather intriguing.

The story itself took some time to develop which made it hard for me to get into until later in the book. I like books that capture my attention from the very beginning, and this book was a little lacking in a true draw. That being said, I found the concepts intriguing which kept me reading until the story started to unfold. Some of the scenes weren’t completely developed, but since this is a series, I imagine we’ll receive more back story in future installments.

The Christian theme is played out throughout the story as is the fall of man due to evil. It’s an interesting twist on an age-old story.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to seeing how the story continues in future books as I want to get to know a few of the characters better as well as see how they will combat the evil permeating the realms. While this is geared towards teens, I believe it would be easy reading for a younger audience as well.