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The Waif and the Warlock: Book 1 in the Tyranny of Light Cycle
An ancient hatred stirs in the hearts of elves and men as the old gods prepare to wage war.The significant pieces on the board begin to fall as the champion of the darkness advances into his end game. The warlock Aegmemnervon has worked too hard and for too long to leave anything to chance.The final battlefield awaits within the soul of Nahwei'Ko, a girl fostered at the frozen edge of Prima'Tol, the dying sphere of the elves. Her hidden power may hold the weight necessary to balance the scales of Chaos once more.As agents of both the light and darkness are drawn into the preamble to the coming Chaos War, those that seek to uphold the dying light find themselves behind in a race to aid the girl capable of restoring their decaying world.Time is running out.
418 pages, Paperback
Published October 28, 2023
18 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 13, 2024
Fun, well paced grim dark fantasy. Really enjoyed the characters. The story was exciting and fresh and dark. Can’t wait to see how the world opens up more in the subsequent books.
November 2, 2023
Although The Waif and the Warlock is not typically the kind of book I gravitate towards, I couldn't resist when the author reached out to me for a review. I saw it as an opportunity to support the him and expand my horizons in terms of book genres.
To be honest, I had my doubts initially, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story. The author has a knack for creating endearing characters that I couldn't help but fall in love with. Whether they were heroes or villains, it was hard not to become emotionally invested in their journeys.
The heart of the book revolves around a young girl who finds herself lost at the edge of the world, completely unaware of the extraordinary powers she possesses and a crew of all types from Elves to Vikings etc. set out to find her before anyone else can.
Typically, I'm drawn to romance fantasy novels where the romance takes center stage, with action playing a supporting role. However, this book took a refreshing approach by immediately thrusting the reader into the heart of the action. What I found particularly clever was how the author skillfully used narration POV of first and third, allowing us as readers to have a unique way of experiencing and understanding the story. I noticed with this type of narration the author was able to fill in the gaps about what other characters were doing when the action was somewhere else. This storytelling technique kept me engaged and allowed me to fully immerse myself in the book through multiple perspectives.
One of the standout qualities of Nichols' writing is his remarkable attention to detail. While some fantasy novels focus solely on world-building, Nichols strikes a perfect balance by intricately weaving in those small details that make the readers feel as though they are right there, preparing for battle or in the midst of it. This level of immersion truly captivated me and made the world and its characters come alive.
Although it's not my usual cup of tea, I'm incredibly glad I read this book. If you're prepared to embrace the exhilarating power of chaos, then this is the perfect book for you.
Thank you again, Kevin Nichols for allowing me to be read your work.
To be honest, I had my doubts initially, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story. The author has a knack for creating endearing characters that I couldn't help but fall in love with. Whether they were heroes or villains, it was hard not to become emotionally invested in their journeys.
The heart of the book revolves around a young girl who finds herself lost at the edge of the world, completely unaware of the extraordinary powers she possesses and a crew of all types from Elves to Vikings etc. set out to find her before anyone else can.
Typically, I'm drawn to romance fantasy novels where the romance takes center stage, with action playing a supporting role. However, this book took a refreshing approach by immediately thrusting the reader into the heart of the action. What I found particularly clever was how the author skillfully used narration POV of first and third, allowing us as readers to have a unique way of experiencing and understanding the story. I noticed with this type of narration the author was able to fill in the gaps about what other characters were doing when the action was somewhere else. This storytelling technique kept me engaged and allowed me to fully immerse myself in the book through multiple perspectives.
One of the standout qualities of Nichols' writing is his remarkable attention to detail. While some fantasy novels focus solely on world-building, Nichols strikes a perfect balance by intricately weaving in those small details that make the readers feel as though they are right there, preparing for battle or in the midst of it. This level of immersion truly captivated me and made the world and its characters come alive.
Although it's not my usual cup of tea, I'm incredibly glad I read this book. If you're prepared to embrace the exhilarating power of chaos, then this is the perfect book for you.
Thank you again, Kevin Nichols for allowing me to be read your work.
October 26, 2023
I give 4 stars because this story is truly unique and interesting. This author really captured so many different personalities and sub-stories in one book. The book is in several characters’ POV. I love that we get to see both the “good” and the “bad” POV. All the characters come from different walks of life, different backgrounds, and different ranks. From children to farmer to warlock, we get to see how all the characters are connected by the power of Chaos (the source of magic) and how they all fit into the conflict of the story. I felt a connection with characters I didn’t expect to care for (looking at you, Wraal 🤣).
I really enjoyed the battles. They were intense and brutal, and it really was easy for me to imagine it. I was able to see the settings, characters, and mannerisms like a movie in my head.
The writing style is a bit different than I am used to (switched narration POV from 3rd to 1st and back), so it did take me a second to get the hang of it, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The Waif and the Warlock is very unique, and the author captures the reader from the first page.
My favorite POV was Dolphin and Wraal 🖤🫶🏻 I can’t wait to see what becomes of them in the next one!
I really enjoyed the battles. They were intense and brutal, and it really was easy for me to imagine it. I was able to see the settings, characters, and mannerisms like a movie in my head.
The writing style is a bit different than I am used to (switched narration POV from 3rd to 1st and back), so it did take me a second to get the hang of it, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The Waif and the Warlock is very unique, and the author captures the reader from the first page.
My favorite POV was Dolphin and Wraal 🖤🫶🏻 I can’t wait to see what becomes of them in the next one!
October 26, 2023
The book is infused with mythology and fantasy. The characters are so intriguing. There are rituals, trials and war. A human girl ended up in Molokai became oblivion to her own identity. But soon she realised that she is born with a gift that will serve the higher purpose. There are rituals and trials. Then there is a man who lost his wife but defeated the Vikings. There were two boys who were looking for their purpose. The characters have lost their loved one’s and they have to go through pain. But later they come face to face with destiny to fulfil their purpose. While some characters form new bonds so some are waiting to fulfil their quest of avenge. There is a villain also. The book ended on cliffhanger and can’t wait to read more about Dolphin. It has multiple POVs. I absolutely loved the book. It’s an epic fantasy.
October 29, 2023
This genre is completely out of my comfort zone, but the fact that I enjoyed it goes to show just how great the story was. Nichols weaved a wonderful world of fantasy and mythology where the characters are well-defined and compelling.
Characters building is this author's strong suit, and I love the fact that they all have such distinctive personalities. Especially Nahwei'ko who is a kick ass female protagonist. There are multiple points of view/perspectives from all the characters, and the villains were just as compelling as the rest of the cast. There is also a touch of humor where some scenes and diologues were quite comical.
The battle scenes were very well crafted, with great attention to detail, which made visualization of the action distinctive.
Overall, this was a 5 star read for me.
Thank you to the author Kevin Nichols for the advanced copy.
Characters building is this author's strong suit, and I love the fact that they all have such distinctive personalities. Especially Nahwei'ko who is a kick ass female protagonist. There are multiple points of view/perspectives from all the characters, and the villains were just as compelling as the rest of the cast. There is also a touch of humor where some scenes and diologues were quite comical.
The battle scenes were very well crafted, with great attention to detail, which made visualization of the action distinctive.
Overall, this was a 5 star read for me.
Thank you to the author Kevin Nichols for the advanced copy.
November 1, 2023
"The Waif and the Warlock" by Kevin Nichols is an absolute gem in the realm of fantasy fiction. This gripping tale unfolds in a decaying world, where an ancient hatred stirs, and the battle between light and darkness looms large. The story's fast-paced narrative, filled with captivating characters from various walks of life, kept me glued to the pages. What sets this book apart is its seamless blend of multiple perspectives, offering a diverse and interconnected view of the world. The author's attention to detail shines in the well-described battle scenes, making the story truly immersive. Despite a slight adjustment to the narrative style, the book's innovative approach adds depth to the characters' experiences. For fantasy lovers seeking an exhilarating adventure with compelling characters and epic battles, "The Waif and the Warlock" is an absolute must-read.
April 18, 2024
Very good
Medieval fantasy; this first book is just the beginning of a saga. The book starts slowly and a bit confusing; a lot of separate introductions of various characters that, I suppose, will converge as the story develops. I will definitely buy the next book in the series.
The writing is ok, I hope it will improve as the author gains experience.
Medieval fantasy; this first book is just the beginning of a saga. The book starts slowly and a bit confusing; a lot of separate introductions of various characters that, I suppose, will converge as the story develops. I will definitely buy the next book in the series.
The writing is ok, I hope it will improve as the author gains experience.
January 20, 2025
The Waif and the Warlock was a venture into new territory for me as a reader. I am not typically a fantasy reader, although recently I have been opening up to the genre more. This novel takes place in a world that has vikings, non-human civilizations, magic, monsters, and more. That being said, for any fantasy lovers out there, the world in the book has you covered on that front.
This book tells its story through various points of view using 4-5 main ones, with one-off POVs for minor characters now and then. Personally, I love this. I've always been a huge fan of multi POV stories, so much so that the book I'm writing myself has it too. It's a great way to get to know the characters more intimately. In this novel, each character is presented with their own drives and motives in an unapologetic manner- which can make for some uncomfortable scenes if the character is doing something less than moral, but allows the reader to better form their own opinions on the characters they’re learning about.
I will say though, I did have my issues with the book. I think it does a bit too much tell and not enough show, which can be primarily indicated through the less frequent use of dialogue. On one hand sometimes it's nice reading about a character's thought process directly, but on the other hand it can sometimes feel like spoon feeding.
I should also add some content warnings- this book does have swearing, gore, and descriptions of s*x, r*pe, and pr*stitution (the descriptions are not graphic, but still... I'm putting it here because not everyone is comfortable with reading that kind of stuff and it's best to know beforehand).
Overall, though, a decent book, and I am interested to know what happens in the next book!
This book tells its story through various points of view using 4-5 main ones, with one-off POVs for minor characters now and then. Personally, I love this. I've always been a huge fan of multi POV stories, so much so that the book I'm writing myself has it too. It's a great way to get to know the characters more intimately. In this novel, each character is presented with their own drives and motives in an unapologetic manner- which can make for some uncomfortable scenes if the character is doing something less than moral, but allows the reader to better form their own opinions on the characters they’re learning about.
I will say though, I did have my issues with the book. I think it does a bit too much tell and not enough show, which can be primarily indicated through the less frequent use of dialogue. On one hand sometimes it's nice reading about a character's thought process directly, but on the other hand it can sometimes feel like spoon feeding.
I should also add some content warnings- this book does have swearing, gore, and descriptions of s*x, r*pe, and pr*stitution (the descriptions are not graphic, but still... I'm putting it here because not everyone is comfortable with reading that kind of stuff and it's best to know beforehand).
Overall, though, a decent book, and I am interested to know what happens in the next book!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews