DreamQuest

Lands of Daranor #1

by Bill Pottle

"A young boy in a small village has a mysterious dream that hints of the fantastic power of the Water Orb, one of the four elemental forces that has been lost to the world for nearly three centuries. Heeding the advice of the powerful wizard Zelin, Tarthur sets off on a quest to understand his dream and its consequences for the fate of civilization.

Join Tarthur and Derlin as they travel through the land, learning not only about the world but also about themselves and what it means to pass from boyhood into the world of men.

Journey to the mystical lands of Daranor-see a sunrise on the shoals of the merfolk, ponder the powerful evil of the Death Lord Darhyn, feel the hope of Freeton, the serenity of the lands of the elves, and the cunning of Queen Marhyn. Meet a mysterious shapeshifter, the twin heads of the Guild of Thieves, and the stunningly beautiful princess of the elves. Whether you are a child, teen, or adult, the lands of Daranor have something for you."

Genres: Fantasy

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Bill is a martial artist, author, and university professor in Colorado. He tries not to take himself too seriously while his work explores the interplay between religion and science, fantasy and technology, and what it means to be a human. Bill earned his Master's Degree in Biological Engineering from Cornell University and lives happily ever after with his wife and daughter

Reviews

[Alan White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great epic fantasy and coming of age story. Filled with distinct characters and dramatic scenes. The author has a "by the fire" sort of voice that lends itself perfectly to this genre of fantasy. Very enjoyable read.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

All joking aside, I am tempted to call this Lord of the Rings for Dummies. Not in a bad way but rather in a much less voluminous and complex manner of the standard epic about a young hero who sets out on an adventure, meets plenty of exotic life forms (dragons, elves, mermen, wizards, etc.) and saves the world. It starts with the main character dreaming about fighting the evil lord of the realm who has himself been asleep for centuries. Before long the dream takes on a life of its own in the lives of two young boys. Along the way the youngsters grows up, fall in love, learn the difference between dreaming of being a hero and just trying to life one's life by doing the right thing. Class issues emerge and are overcome. Friendships are tested. And good triumphs over evil which is vanquished (at least for the time being).

The author, originally from Denver, began writing his epic in sixth grade. And I would have to say that, at times, the story reads like something someone written at a young age. At first these instances pulled me out of the story; later on I began to appreciate them for that very reason. A different editor could have "corrected" many of these. On the other hand, I think these add another level to the story; not of the story but rather as a sweet reminder of being a young author.

It was fun and light and I enjoyed this fantasy quest.

[DashAtomic · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be honest, I got plenty of fun out of this book, it just wasn't fun the author intended. More like the B-movie type of fun. Full review: http://ouratomictomorrow.com/book-rev...