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The Companions
When Chase, an unassuming guardian, unearths an amulet of elven divinity, it awakens an ancient prophecy that could dictate the fate of their world. Now, he must gather allies and unravel secrets that challenge the very fabric of reality.
Chase thought he knew his world, but the discovery of the mysterious amulet with the power of the ancient elves shatters everything he believed to be true. Sensing something much greater than he or anyone else could imagine, he enlists the help of his closest Flavien, an erudite elf with extensive knowledge of his ancestry as well as a bit of magical knowledge, and Lucius, a timid but charismatic bard.
Determined to understand the amulet's significance, they travel to the elven kingdom of Bakkara. What they uncover there is staggering, pushing the boundaries of belief and confirming Chase’s suspicions of looming danger. The amulet is but one of six divine relics scattered across the land, each capable of saving the world, if only they are found in time.
Compelled to prevent the resurgence of a malevolent force, Chase expands his team to include Brann, a warrior prince of the Istikara Isles, and, albeit reluctantly, his sister Kyra. Together, this band of unlikely heroes embarks on a perilous journey to locate the remaining relics.
United by a common cause but beset by unknown threats and internal strife, they face a simple fail, and the world will succumb to darkness forever.
Can they rise to the challenge, or will their fractured bonds be their undoing?
Chase thought he knew his world, but the discovery of the mysterious amulet with the power of the ancient elves shatters everything he believed to be true. Sensing something much greater than he or anyone else could imagine, he enlists the help of his closest Flavien, an erudite elf with extensive knowledge of his ancestry as well as a bit of magical knowledge, and Lucius, a timid but charismatic bard.
Determined to understand the amulet's significance, they travel to the elven kingdom of Bakkara. What they uncover there is staggering, pushing the boundaries of belief and confirming Chase’s suspicions of looming danger. The amulet is but one of six divine relics scattered across the land, each capable of saving the world, if only they are found in time.
Compelled to prevent the resurgence of a malevolent force, Chase expands his team to include Brann, a warrior prince of the Istikara Isles, and, albeit reluctantly, his sister Kyra. Together, this band of unlikely heroes embarks on a perilous journey to locate the remaining relics.
United by a common cause but beset by unknown threats and internal strife, they face a simple fail, and the world will succumb to darkness forever.
Can they rise to the challenge, or will their fractured bonds be their undoing?
767 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 5, 2024
The Companions which is the author Cade Mengler’s debut novel, was quite interesting and the character-development was good. Cade created a fantasy world with an original storyline which I quickly immersed myself in. The magic and mystery was so entertaining and I allowed myself to be caught up in Chase’s wonderful but very scary quest! I was impressed with Cade's ability to capture this different world and its surroundings and bring it to the reader to enjoy. It was a lovely read and I enjoyed it. I recommend it to fans of good fantasies with thrilling adventures and likable characters.
September 18, 2024
The Companions, Cade Mengler's debut book, is a compelling fantasy book with excellent character development and a solid plot. You will soon be engrossed in its distinct, magical, and mysterious universe. You get caught up in the protagonist's exciting journey. The writing is highly readable despite being lengthy, which makes the pages go by quickly. Following a mercenary who hunts trolls, the plot immediately launches into action. The writing quickly transforms into an exciting adventure with plenty of twists and turns. This is definitely a thrilling read and one that will be remembered for a long time. Recommended.
August 29, 2024
‘Secrets that challenge the very fabric of reality’ – an electrifying mission!
Oregon author Cade Mengler makes an impressive debut with THE COMPANIONS, blending fine prose with a keen creation of credible characters to accompany his gift for exploring a fantasy world.
The core of the tale is soundly suggested in the opening pages: ‘The fire crackled and smoked in the cool crisp air. In the distance, there was howling, possibly wolves or werewolves…Chase sat slightly hunched over, staring into the darkness of night. As the fire reflected in his piercing light blue eyes, he was tracking a group of three troll brothers who had been rising hell for the people in the nearby town of Verilwood…trolls are one of the most annoying creatures to track as it requires quite a bit of patience…because trolls only appear at night as the sun can easily cause them to combust…’ Mission established!
One plot summary distills the novel well: ‘Chase, a protector of his world, is on a quest to protect a local town when he discovers an ancient relic. Enlisting the help of his two friends, Flavien an elf and Lucius a bard, they set out to discover the relic’s origins and significance. They soon come to learn that it is linked to an ancient evil and the three are tasked with stopping it. Knowing this will not be an easy task, they recruit a few others to help. However, some of these personalities do not mesh and only create even more problems and stress. Leading to the question can they unite long enough to succeed and save the world from the imminent threat?’
The novel is lengthy, but the writing is so accessible that the pages fly while following the immersive mission in a strange but fascinating fantasy world.
Oregon author Cade Mengler makes an impressive debut with THE COMPANIONS, blending fine prose with a keen creation of credible characters to accompany his gift for exploring a fantasy world.
The core of the tale is soundly suggested in the opening pages: ‘The fire crackled and smoked in the cool crisp air. In the distance, there was howling, possibly wolves or werewolves…Chase sat slightly hunched over, staring into the darkness of night. As the fire reflected in his piercing light blue eyes, he was tracking a group of three troll brothers who had been rising hell for the people in the nearby town of Verilwood…trolls are one of the most annoying creatures to track as it requires quite a bit of patience…because trolls only appear at night as the sun can easily cause them to combust…’ Mission established!
One plot summary distills the novel well: ‘Chase, a protector of his world, is on a quest to protect a local town when he discovers an ancient relic. Enlisting the help of his two friends, Flavien an elf and Lucius a bard, they set out to discover the relic’s origins and significance. They soon come to learn that it is linked to an ancient evil and the three are tasked with stopping it. Knowing this will not be an easy task, they recruit a few others to help. However, some of these personalities do not mesh and only create even more problems and stress. Leading to the question can they unite long enough to succeed and save the world from the imminent threat?’
The novel is lengthy, but the writing is so accessible that the pages fly while following the immersive mission in a strange but fascinating fantasy world.
October 21, 2024
The Companion by author Cade Mengler is an intriguing and suspenseful novel that blends psychological tension, mystery, and emotional depth. The story revolves around different relationships between the central character and a suspicious presence, raising questions about trust, fear, and the human psyche. The author has crafted a gripping narrative that keeps readers guessing from beginning to end. I kept on turning the page of this nail-biting read with suspense.
The novel is more than a suspense thriller, exploring themes of vulnerability, solitude, and the cry for connection. It offers moments of reflection and epiphany while exploring the most sinister facets of the human condition. Even as the story takes unexpected turns, Mengler's gradual character development gives a subtle plot to the reader to engage more and think about the central character.
The Companion is a must-read for readers who appreciate psychological thrillers and novels pushing the limits of reality and perception. This novel is engaging and unforgettable because of Cade Mengler's brilliant imagination and deft narrative.
The novel is more than a suspense thriller, exploring themes of vulnerability, solitude, and the cry for connection. It offers moments of reflection and epiphany while exploring the most sinister facets of the human condition. Even as the story takes unexpected turns, Mengler's gradual character development gives a subtle plot to the reader to engage more and think about the central character.
The Companion is a must-read for readers who appreciate psychological thrillers and novels pushing the limits of reality and perception. This novel is engaging and unforgettable because of Cade Mengler's brilliant imagination and deft narrative.
October 21, 2024
An intriguing quest, unique and unforgettable characters, and an interesting world to explore. Although this is a fairly long book, the story moves along at a decent pace, and the characters and twists keep it interesting. I liked how diverse the personalities were, and how some of them clashed, giving it a more realistic feel. The core group change over the course of the story, and seeing how they adjust and grow adds another layer to everything. There are a few twists, so you can't always be sure where the story will take you next. The world-building was well done, and I'd loved to get to explore more of it. Overall, an interesting fantasy adventure, which at its heart, feels very character driven.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews