Orison

by Daniel Swensen

Story lives as a thief in the free city of Calushain, and has a plan to escape to better life. But when her stash of money is stolen by her brother, she finds herself faced with a death sentence from her crime lord boss.

Desperate to pay off her debt, she searches for a score big enough to earn her freedom. Instead, she finds the orison, a magical artifact that could tip the balance of power between the city and the Empire seeking to conquer it.

The power to change the world is now in the hands of a sneak thief — if it doesn’t kill her first.

Genres: Fantasy

231 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2014

About the author

Daniel Swensen tries to write the kind of fiction he wants to see in the world. ORISON is his first novel. http://ninemusepress.com/books/orison/

Reviews

[Emmie Mears · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been waiting for this book a long time. I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and I've known Daniel for some time now.

Way back when, I read his short story, BURN. I was completely smitten by his writing then, and when I heard ORISON was in the works, I knew he wouldn't disappoint.

I was right -- he not only delivered a rock-solid debut novel, but the story and particularly the protagonist, Story, really blew me away. There are so few female protagonists in fantasy and so many tropes revolving female characters in fantasy that my primary mantra when it comes to a new book is always "Surprise me, surprise me, surprise me." He did.

ORISON is the tale of a young thief named Story who has been squirreling away money from her takes in order to one day leave the oppressive city and crime lord that dictate her life. When her cache is stolen and she is betrayed, she's given an ultimatum and goes after the one item big enough to clear her debt and buy her freedom.

This book immersed me in a new world, gave dragons a fresh spin, and introduced me to characters I know I'll want to go back to.

Highly recommended.

[Naomi Parrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do not expect ye olde fantasy book when reading this one. The author not only dodges the standard fantasy tropes, but has created a fast-paced story, no pun intended, that entertains without those tired tropes dragging it down.

The characters are fully fleshed and very compelling. From complicated relationships to believable motivations, each character is captivating in their own way.

The components of the tale, from intrigue to magic, are beautifully woven to create a book that's difficult to put down. Each scene left this reader eager to see what happened next.

I'm now anxiously awaiting Story and Wrynn's next adventure and recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well crafted fantasy.

[Lex Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A drunk, a thief, his strife and her brother...
When I lament the dearth of smart, capable characters in media, invariably someone pipes up to claim smart characters are uninteresting.

I have always disagreed, and now I have Orison as an example of a book where there are characters with intelligence, nuance, integrity and strength weaving a compelling page-turner of a tale. These are engaging characters, each uniquely endearing. These are momentous events visited on the powerful and the meek alike.

A clever thief commits a high-stakes heist in a bid to win her freedom from a life of crime. An apostate alcoholic ex-wizard finds he can't run from his integrity. A stoic warrior and unlikely ally battles a wolfen bodyguard to an inscrutable queen... all in pursuit of an object of power thrown like the apple of discord to sow chaos for the amusement of immortal dragon-deities.

While a clever girl relies on her wits to transform herself from pawn to player in a game of intrigue with forces both mortal and magical. Story has an enduring intelligence that isn't sacrificed in service of a plot point or romance, which is a much-appreciated and refreshing departure from the typical genre heroine.

Orison is an action-packed tale in a vividly rendered setting, with deftly imagined characters and conflicts sure to delight and entertain. Even though I was lucky enough to get an ARC, I bought a copy to support more fiction like this in the world.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much as I enjoy sword-and-sorcery mayhem amidst epic backdrops (and that is certainly present in healthy dollops), what stands out in Orison is the almost Elmore Leonard-like quality of roping up a bunch of characters, each of whom so much smaller than that backdrop, and spending time with them as they are tossed about by forces and momentous choices beyond their grasp. Dan Swensen isn’t trying to do anything particularly new here, but he does do it particularly well. I think one of the trickiest balances to strike in building worlds painted in muted, prismatic streaks of grey is to encourage the reader to sympathize with characters’ actions which are neither good nor evil while still conveying that there is profound moral weight to the choices they make. We walk this edge all the time. To our right is a noxious pit in which one finds the writer indulging in moralistic sadism; to our left is a precipitous drop into bottomless chasm of amoral nihilism. In the world of Orison, the gods are cruel, personal agency is severely curtailed, and the noblest of souls are drunkards, thieves, exiles, and relentless soldiers. Within this motley mix, however, we find that friendship, loyalty, and love stubbornly persist; not merely surviving, but perhaps, in the unlikeliest and smallest of ways, creating the possibility to chart the course of empires. When the world is ruled by capricious dragons and amoral magic, it is gratifying to read fantasies in which the people (whether strictly of that species or not) are human, and sometimes even display humanity to each other.

[Sherry D. Ramsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy novel--and I've been feeling "meh" about a lot of fantasy for a number of years. I've found a lack of fresh ideas to be plaguing the genre, but Orison stood out for me as something different from the rest of the pack. The writing is top-notch and the pace fast and engaging. I particularly liked the characters, especially Wrynn, and really became invested in what happened to them. My only complaint is that it seemed too short and gone too quickly! Highly recommended, and I hope there's another installment coming soon!

[Aaron Engler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a fantasy book to miss.

When I read a book, I look for something that transports me away from this world into something new and different, something that immerses me from the get-go. Orison delivers. The book is written with a verdant prose that grips the reader's imagination from the first page and doesn't let go, until it's swift and all-too-brief journey is over.

Set amongst the intrigues of dragon spirits and underworld thieves, Orison is the story of a young woman making her way though the perils of living in the criminal underworld. She is confronted with the possibility of changing her fate when she stumbles across the path of an ancient and magical artifact, the Orison- a powerful relic rumored to once belong to the ancient Gods of Calushain.

Such power always attracts a host of interested parties. Surrounding the chase for the Orison are fascinating and memorable characters: Mar Dunnac, mysterious warrior from a distant land, Wrynn Sendir, a dilapidated, homeless wizard on his last legs, and the half-man, half-wolf Ashen One-Howl, royal bodyguard, swordsman, and mystic.

This is a tight book, cut to the quick- the very opposite of the phonebook size books for which the fantasy genre is notorious. In this case, I think that this works against the book- there is so much here, it feels like the reader is only getting their feet wet, all the while being tempted by a warm ocean just out of reach.

I found the secondary characters more compelling than Story herself, not because of any inherent weakness in Story's character, but rather it seemed Swensen had more of a connection to them than the protagonist- he obviously relished writing Wrynn, Dunnac, and Ashen, leaving Story eclipsed by their personalities.

This book should be in the digital collection of anyone who is a fan of the fantasy genre, or anyone who has an interest in it but hasn't yet found the appropriate on-ramp. It should appeal to the YA audience as well as more seasoned fantasy fans.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been eagerly awaiting Daniel Swensen’s next work after since I read his short story Burn. While Burn is a solid science fiction tale, Orison is a wonderfully written fantasy novel that interweaves the perspective of three great characters: a thief named Story, a banished wizard named Wrynn, and a guard of the queen named Ashen. Each of these characters struggles to navigate the dangers of a city fraught with conspiracies of powerful people who have no qualms about using Story, Wrynn, and Ashen as disposable pawns.

“Good and evil are leaky boats that will not hold the weight we place in them,” a priest warns Story as she tries to balance her loyalties and her survival with her desire to live by her own terms. This sentiment is a running theme in Orison, where good people must often make tough choices and those who seem to be bad often reveal themselves to be dealing with their own shifting alliances and unpredictable fortunes.

Throughout it all, Ashen, Story, and Wrynn try to protect those they love while making sure that a powerful talisman does not end up in the hands of someone who will use it to create chaos, war, and suffering. This sometimes brings them into direct conflict with one another, and it is hard to know who to root for when Swensen’s honorable and powerful characters collide with one another.

Orison is an engaging novel with complex characters that leave me hoping that Swensen will be writing more.

[Mona Bliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not the sort of reviewer that is going to tell you the story of the book. I will tell you that this is a very well crafted book with a tight plot and excellent world building. But where it really shines is with the characters. The main character is a young woman named Story. Right out of the gate I loved that name. I won't explain why that is her name, read the book and you'll find out. She's smart and independent and is doing everything she can think of to make her way in the world against some pretty daunting odds. Even when it looks like she is truly behind the 8-ball she keeps thinking and trying to figure out how to save herself. All the characters are fully realized and interesting. The magic system is clear and also interesting. I loved the politics of the plot but it didn't get bogged down in politics. This was a story about a young woman in a bad spot and a city/world that was about to have a very bad time of it depending on how things played out. The book has great pacing and takes some left turns I didn't expect and I LOVE IT when that happens.

I HIGHLY recommend this book if you enjoy fantasy. I also think this book is completely appropriate for both adult and YA readers. I will be handing it off to a couple of my teenage godchildren to read.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to read an earlier draft of Orison, by Daniel Swensen, about a year ago, and I enjoyed the read quite a bit. It was a well-crafted tale that would fit well into the fantasy genre and hold its place on shelves at stores and libraries. I knew that he was working on revisions, and I looked forward to the final draft with excitement. To say the final product impressed me would be a significant understatement. Daniel managed to take an engaging tale and make is something more, an inventive, original take on a story genre that is stuffed to the gills, and one that leaves you wanting more.

...I'll post the rest of my review on Friday, when the book is officially released, although I have read a preview copy.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happily read this book in one sitting. In fiction and especially in fantasy, there are a number of stories which are frequently retold. I don't think that's always a bad thing, but there's room for different narratives and it's really wonderful to find another sort of story. Story Khai Tann is a delightful protagonist. She's got plenty of problems and they keep getting bigger, and they don't include needing to find True Love or to be rescued. She's not the only wonderful character in this book, but I found her so very refreshing, as I did the absence of sexual violence. I hope to spend more time with these characters and this world in future books.

[E.A. Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

The adventure of a young thief named Story who is trying to survive in the city of Calushain after her brother gets them in a bind, while simultaneously avoiding the notice of the Dragon gods, is a page-turning piece of sharply crafted narrative that left me wanting more. The pacing is perfect, the characters feel real, and the world clearly has deep roots that you can feel supporting every page. I can hardly wait for the sequel.

[Rebecca Fyfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book yesterday and didn't start reading it until late last night. Starting it so late was a mistake though as I couldn't put it down. I was so swept up the story being presented before me that I stayed up much too late in order to finish the book, and now I am waking up today feeling tired and lacking enough sleep.

I love the main characters in the world of Daniel Swensen's creation. There are so many protagonists in this story, people of honour despite their flaws, that it's difficult to root for any when they clash. I found myself reading the fight scenes just hoping none of them would hurt each other too badly.

I feel like I can't possibly do this story justice, no matter what I write here. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I think it ended in a way that would make a sequel possible. I find myself hoping for a sequel. I was left with the lingering feeling that many of the characters' stories go on to face even more epic adventures.

Crux, Story, Wynn, Dunnoc and Ashen - Their lives are inexorably linked together and their fates are woven with the same thread.

Ultimately, the salvation or demise of Calushain comes down to relationships and the love within those relationships: a brother's love for his little sister, a girl's love for her only friend, a swordsman's love for his home country, a warborn's love for his Sworn, and a man's love for a girl. Daniel perfectly portrays how complicated relationships of all kinds can become, and yet how much stronger having those relationships make the people within them.

You really should get a copy of this book and read it. You will love it!

[Dr. Pete Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The trend in modern fantasy seems to be an obsession with showing the darkest, grittiest corners of a world the author can find. Characters in conflict move more and more beyond redemption, until I find it difficult to relate to any of them. Orison accomplishes something rare - to paint its characters on a backdrop of conflict, with strokes of real human motivation and flaws, and yet somehow make them redeemable.

Calushain and the world around it are locked in turmoil, with lives and thrones on the line, and the demi-human dragons of Orison's mythology seek to twist humans to their cruel games, and yet free will exists and those who exercise it don't always find themselves on the same path. From Story to the Queen of Storms, every player in the game has real depth and can't be easily discarded at the author's convenience.

In most fantasy novels, I find myself pulled off into sub-plots unwillingly, eager to return to one or two main characters. With Orison, I was drawn to the fictional lives of at least half-a-dozen players. Swensen crafts a deep and compelling world, and Orison is wonderfully complete while still leaving you wanting more not just of the heroine, Story, but of her companions and her would-be enemies.

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty clean, complex fantasy. Unconventional plotting which works nonetheless. Sympathetic characters, imaginative world-building. Don't be put off by the long list of names and places; well worth the satisfying ending if you can wade through those minor instances.

When I read the author's online post about writing fantasy and building backstory, I thought he had it right. Orison does not disappoint in that sense. There is obviously a lot of history behind the story, but Swensen, for the most part, artfully drops hints instead of overloading the reader with a weighty archive. I also appreciated his concrete descriptions of unique magical experiences. A real writing feat.

As I hurtled toward the last two chapters, I was sure the book would end at the edge of a cliff, and I would close the book unsatisfied and frustrated. Wrong! The author manages to tie up his loose ends without jumping the shark, he even brings the story (or at least the characters) full circle while leaving the door open for the next adventure in their lives.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good story.

The characters are fairly stock fantasy characters - a desperate thief with nothing to lose, an exiled wizard stripped of his power who resorts to drink. However, these characters are likeable and have good stories behind them. So it's cool.

The author adds just the right amount of backstory-worldbuilding-flavour to keep the reader interested without bogging down the plot. This book is first in a series, right? There will be more, right?

[Alex Brightsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pacey, involving, and set in a densely imagined and tantalisingly glimpsed world, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this book except that I don’t quite love it, and I’ve been putting off reviewing it in the hope that I would reread it in a better mood and improve my rating – but there’s far too much on my to-read list to wait for that to happen.

[Devon G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I respect, admire, and love Mr. Swensen, and I'm happy to say that I LOVED his book.
From rich characters that I want to hang with to the refusal of using tired tropes, I'm so pleased to be looking for much more from him.
Which is GRAND, considering we're buds. Thank goodness it won't be awkward!
Get cracking, D! I'm wanting more!

[Stacy Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orison transports you another world, but be careful - here there be dragons.

I don’t like to write reviews, partially because I don’t know what will spoil the read for someone else. So I will tread carefully here. I really enjoyed reading Daniel Swensen’s Orison, finishing it in one sitting on a lovely snowy Saturday.

Orison is the tale of Story, a sort-of female Oliver Twist, and her drunken ex-sorcerer friend named Wrynn who unwittingly become embroiled in a complicated plot to start a war. She just wants to get the heck out of Calushain and he would like not to die. But really, it’s about more than just the two of them. Well-told in multiple perspectives, it’s a tapestry of intertwined lives at the mercy of complex coincidences that are really the whims of the cold dragon-gods. And while there were times I liked the Queen’s Guard, Ashen One-Howl, more than I liked Story, I enjoyed the entire cast as they tumbled toward each other, circling in ever tighter orbits around Penumbra’s plot for chaos. The dragon-god’s skill at manipulation could turn even an honorable refusal into just the right move to bring about ruin and war. What’s a person to do, when even the right choice is wrong?

The best part was the setting. I read fantasy mostly because I love cultural world-building. Not descriptions of alien places and wildly illogical things, but more the interwoven cloth of clashing cultures, and the people within (or just outside of) those societies. And in this respect, Orison was delightful - rich and deep in its own history, yet not delving into the past with the bluntness of a historical treatise. Each character’s background culture was visible in their thoughts and reactions, giving it a subtle depth I really appreciated.

Swensen’s portrayal of magic as a powerful foreign energy bound by certain laws and costs struck just the right balance of imaginative fireworks and systematic plausibility. But if you prefer swords to sorcery, don’t worry. There is plenty of that here for you, too.

If you’re looking for that next fantasy novel to satisfy your thirst for new worlds previously unseen, give Orison a read. I think you’ll find everything you’re looking for there. Well done, Mr. Swensen. A great first novel.


I don’t like to write reviews, partially because I don’t know what will spoil the read for someone else. So I will tread carefully here. I really enjoyed reading Daniel Swensen’s Orison, finishing it in one sitting on a lovely snowy Saturday.

Orison is the tale of Story, a sort-of female Oliver Twist, and her drunken ex-sorcerer friend named Wrynn who unwittingly become embroiled in a complicated plot to start a war. She just wants to get the heck out of Calushain and he would like not to die. But really, it’s about more than just the two of them. Well-told in multiple perspectives, it’s a tapestry of intertwined lives at the mercy of complex coincidences that are really the whims of the cold dragon-gods. And while there were times I liked the Queen’s Guard, Ashen One-Howl, more than I liked Story, I enjoyed the entire cast as they tumbled toward each other, circling in ever tighter orbits around Penumbra’s plot for chaos. The dragon-god’s skill at manipulation could turn even an honorable refusal into just the right move to bring about ruin and war. What’s a person to do, when even the right choice is wrong?

The best part was the setting. I read fantasy mostly because I love cultural world-building. Not descriptions of alien places and wildly illogical things, but more the interwoven cloth of clashing cultures, and the people within (or just outside of) those societies. And in this respect, Orison was delightful - rich and deep in its own history, yet not delving into the past with the bluntness of a historical treatise. Each character’s background culture was visible in their thoughts and reactions, giving it a subtle depth I really appreciated.

Swensen’s portrayal of magic as a powerful foreign energy bound by certain laws and costs struck just the right balance of imaginative fireworks and systematic plausibility. But if you prefer swords to sorcery, don’t worry. There is plenty of that here for you, too.

If you’re looking for that next fantasy novel to satisfy your thirst for new worlds previously unseen, give Orison a read. I think you’ll find everything you’re looking for there. Well done, Mr. Swensen. A great first novel.

[J.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review of Daniel Swensen​'s Orison:

Daniel Swensen’s Orison is at once charming, infinitely exciting and introspective, and forever fun. Told through the perspective of a young, female thief, an exiled sorcerer, and an inhuman bodyguard to the Queen of Calushain herself, the reader will start on page one and soon think to themselves “Wait… how the hell is this book almost finished already?” The book is the type that you won’t want to put down. Chances are, in fact, that you will not.

Calushain, a shining star of a city within Red Cities, finds itself under siege inside and outside by a bevy of forces. When a small object with extraordinarily significant power happens to appear, the fate of not just Calushain shifts, but the entire world. The protagonists of this tale, all people who have come to see their lowest of lows play out in front of them, are at once connected not through fate but the power of the deities themselves. Whether these bonds strengthen or are ultimately severed is answered within the pages of this book.

Swensen’s style is addicting. It is a fast-paced approach that manages not to skimp on the quality of writing. You won’t find yourself bogged down with unnecessary detail, but for those who do enjoy a heavy-handed book in terms of description, you will also be pleased. There is description and world-building abound, but the thing about Swensen is that he gives you what matters. He won’t meticulously describe what everyone is eating down to the very last crumb because in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t matter that Character-A is having pea soup with a side of whatever. No, what he gives you is a fascinating world with an intoxicatingly pleasing mythology.

And did I mention dragons? Because there are dragons. Dragons as gods and goddesses. In case you didn’t hear me: THERE ARE DRAGONS.

The biggest compliment I could give an author is that they make me want to read more. I did not read Orison and think “Okay, that was cool, but I’m done now.” No, I want the next book. I want to know more about the mythology. I want to know more about the dragons. I want to know more about the world, the politics, the factions, the ever-increasing intrigue of mortality and immortality.

The strongest point of Swensen is his characters. This comes as no surprise given that Steven Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen is an inspiration. There are strong shades of Erikson in Swensen, but he stands on his own quite well. Too many writers forcefully emulate their favorite authors to the point it feels like pseudo-fan fiction. Not Swensen. With Orison, Swensen merely adds to what is good about the fantasy genre, and I cannot wait for him to add more.

If you like fantasy, if you like loveable and well-crafted characters, an intriguing plot, and a fast past of writing, you will like Orison.

If not, I won’t believe you.

[Anne Odom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick reminder: 3 stars means I liked it. :)

Daniel Swensen puts together a robust world without subjecting the reader to a massive information dump at the start - this skill makes me a very happy reader. :)

WHAT I LIKED
----------------
- Wrynn and Dunnac. Their relationship and interactions are witty and endearing. I enjoyed the history beyond both characters, and I feel like we've only scratched the surface of those guys.
- Ashen. He may well be my favorite character. His loyalty, clear understanding of himself and others, and conviction had me reading anxiously to get to new bits from his perspective.
- The dragon religion. One of the things I enjoy most in fantasy is the religious development of the world. I find the religious structure, faith, and conflict created by Swenson quite intriguing.
- The overall story both entertained and satisfied me.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
-------------------
- I felt far more attached to Wrynn, Dunnac, and Ashen, than I did to Story. I didn't dislike Story or anything, I just felt like her background and current conflict were less interesting than the personal demons the support characters struggled with.
- I kind of don't like the name "Story". But that's clearly an issue with me, not the author.
- Sometimes the book dragged a little for me. In some scenes/passages, it seemed like the main purpose was to provide the reader with info or character development, but aside from passing on the info, nothing actually *happened* in those passages. To be fair, I like a lot of action and minimal downtime in my books.

I realize as I'm writing this book that I'm assuming this is the first of a series. I should point out that I don't feel like things were left unfinished in this book. Instead, I'm assuming there's more coming because I *want* to read more about what happens with Wrynn, Dunnac, and Ashen.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is sword-and-sorcery done right.

Not only is the writing and editing almost flawless, the plotting, the character development and the worldbuilding are all at a very high standard. I seldom see a book this good.

Set in a grim world, but not grimdark, it's the story of hapless lowlifes doing the right thing, largely because of their friendship with each other, at personal cost. There's tragedy, but it's not all tragedy. (In fact, there are some wonderful wry comic moments in the dialogue, especially between the mage and the warrior.)

The characters have depth, and there are things they care about and will fight for. They're proactive and largely self-rescuing.

The world is the creation of powerful, arbitrary, even malevolent dragon-gods (and how cool is that?) who continue to interfere for their own amusement and to advance their inexplicable agendas, and against this seemingly hopeless backdrop the characters do the right thing anyway.

I normally only give five stars to books that have an extra layer of depth to them, that point outside themselves to deeper truths about the human condition, and/or those that are beautifully as well as competently written. Although the language here doesn't make it all the way to beautiful, it's certainly got the competent dial turned all the way up, and everything else is also so well done that I decided to award the fifth star - even before I worked out that this book does have something profound to say about the human condition and the perseverance of hope and friendship in the face of oppression.

I bought Orison because I'd seen several friends recommend it, and I wasn't at all disappointed. I recommend it very highly indeed.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orison presents a fantasy world and cosmology not quite like any other I've read. These differences underpin the central conflict of the book, and make for an engaging read.

The world of Orison is ruled by Gods called the Semblances, or Dragons. Each one is a personification of a property - shadow, power, etc.

The relationship between the dragons and the people is complicated, and categorized more by fear and distrust than love and awe. Everyone seeks the dragons' favor, while simultaneously fearing their attention.

The two main characters of the story are very close to rock bottom. Wrynn was trained to be a mage for a world spanning empire - but rejected the use to which they wanted to put him. He was cut off from his magic, and exiled. Now he makes a "living" as a modest gambler, and a drunk.

Story is a second story thief, and good at her job. Unfortunately, she's practically a slave to the chief of her crew, and desperately wants to escape. Her brother and only family is one of the crew leader's close subordinates, complicating matters further.

The live in the city of Calushain, which is ruled by a powerful queen, aided by her seer and beastial general. Calushain and other free cities (called the Red Cities) are in an uneasy alliance to keep the attention of the Empire elsewhere.

Into this cauldron of tension, the Semblance of shadow tosses a golden apple in the form of an Orison. The Orison, a gem containing the power of a dragon, promises nearly limitless temporal power. Unfortunately, it also promises chaos and death.

Before long, Wrynn and Story are each caught up in the Orison's wake. Will they prosper? Will they even survive?

[Lara Hays · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've gone back and forth on the rating and I think I've settled on 4.5 stars so that rounds up to 5. Swenson's prose is electric and moving. His ability to paint a world of imagery with the same 26 letters of the alphabet we all use is beyond impressive. The premise of Orison was refreshing. Tales of the "chosen one" -- from Harry Potter to Luke Skywalker to Ender Wiggins -- get overdone. From Story to Wrynn to Ashen, each character works for their own fate. Reading the book summary, I assumed Story would be the featured character. It was her description that first intrigued me and persuaded me to purchase Orison (a tough chick thief named Story? I'm in!). I did not relate well with the Ashen scenes and often breezed through them hoping for the next section. Wrynn was a fantastic surprise and ended up being my favorite character. While I do enjoy fantasy, I admit that I am a lazy fantasy reader and I find that too many unfamiliar words and cultural aspects personally bog down my reading experience. There were times that I had to re-read to remind myself of the political and religious nuances of the world Swenson built. That being said, my occasional scramble to remind myself of the details in no way diminished the overall arc of the novel, the compelling journeys of each of the characters, and the delicious ending. The ending was surprising in all the best ways and I finished the last page with a giant grin on my face. If you love fantasy, you'll love Orison.

[Janie G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I took a chance on this book. I was pretty hesitant to read it- an author I stumbled upon while reading blogs? Fantasy? I dunno...... I read a lot of fantasy while growing up, but as an adult I have been pretty disenchanted with the genre. Orison proves that good fantasy novels still exist.

Most of all, the plot is well constructed. The characters' lives and complicated motivations are all nicely tangled together to keep the story moving. I appreciated a strong female character that isn't looking for a man to save her. The lack of romance was an incredibly welcome change to what I'm used to in most fantasy. I loved that the author never falls back on tired fantasy conventions.

The themes in this story are some of my favorites to read about- friendship (thank you thank you thank you for not drowning the plot in romance) and defying fate. I was reminded of Greek mythology and storytelling while reading this book. Interfering deities that are flawed and conniving trying to manipulate the human world to their own ends. Humans fighting back the only way they can by defying their fate, or are they really just walking into it? I love that conflict.

The book ends with the plot tied up and complete, but there is room for a sequel. I'm torn between whether I want one or not, Orison will be a lot to live to! (Just picked up a physical copy for my nephew and noticed the "book one" inscription! Woot!)

[Kurt Springs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally published by Kurt's Frontier under Invincible Love of Reading.

Synopsis:
Story is a thief who lives in the city of Calushain. She and her brothers are servants of a crime lord boss, and Story is skimming money from her thefts to escape the city and her servitude. When her brother betrays her to their boss, she finds herself living on borrowed time. In her effort to repay her debt, she steals a magic object that can tip the balance of power on her world. The Orison that is filled with the power of the dragons, powerful beings that sow chaos with their meddling. With a disgraced Imperial Sorcerer and a foreign warrior helping her, she holds the power to reshape or destroy the world. What could possibly go wrong?

Review:
Daniel Swenson has put out an epic fantasy. Story is instantly likable as a sharp, sensible, somewhat reckless burglar. She has a brother she loves but doesn’t trust. She has a wizard friend who drinks and gambles his money away. Daniel Swenson guides the reader through political intrigues, betrayals, and the machinations of the dragons who hold ultimate power on this world. Like many others, I am eagerly awaiting the sequel.

[Lisa Shambrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantasy to draw you in…

In my head I’d built this book up to be a huge fantasy tome, but forget GRRM, this was just the right length, and utterly enchanting. Swensen’s writing is tight and captivating and his story follows suit.

His characters are well fashioned, three-dimensional and very believable. From the beginning I was caught up in Story’s tale, as she leapt from rooftop to rooftop and several times, thanks to the author’s superior description, my heart was in my mouth. Swensen intertwines his characters and their individual tales so well, you won’t predict the plot, but you’ll be waiting for them to overlap, and you won’t be sorry when they do! Each character, from the quietly rebellious Story, worn-down Wrynn and loyal Ashen, weaves through the background of Calushain and an epic tale unfolds…

I, for one, can’t wait for more from this author. Intelligent writing and beautiful description leaves me with an urge to read more and more!

[Traci Loudin]

I read it in a week, so clearly I enjoyed it! By the end, I loved Story and Wrynn. I have to admit it's not often that you see friendships portrayed this strongly between opposite-gendered characters, so I kept wondering if there was going to be romance. But even though other characters often remarked on them liking each other, nothing came of it. Still too much talk of it for me to mark this as non-romance, however. There for a while I even thought Wrynn and Dun might have a thing going.

So the point is the characters care deeply for each other, which is nice to see but apparently so rare that I had trouble believing it at times. maybe that says more about me than the book!

The novel started out slow and somewhat disjointed as epic fantasy novels are wont to do. I'm glad I stuck it out, because eventually I couldn't put it down!

Very good standalone fantasy novel.

[Andy Goldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are gods and magic and dragons to be found in this book, but the characters are very grounded in believable, real-world problems. And despite getting some description of the city and world in which this book is set, it is really all about the characters and their navigations through a world where the gods are meddling once more.

I should mention that I know a sequel is on the way, but this book is satisfying as a stand-alone even as it hints at further tales to be told. The ending was really pleasing for me. Nice call-back to the beginning there. I should have seen it coming but I didn't.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will not bother giving a synopsis of this book. It is fantasy, and the editor has a synopsis already available, as do other reviewers.

What I will say, however, is that I do not think anyone will be disappointed with this book. Ratings and feelings will vary, of course, but I cannot see anyone giving this a bad review.

The greatest thing about this book? This is the authors first book,and I believe he will only get better. For that reason, I will definitely be on the look out for the next in this series!

[Lizzie Koch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. Read in one sitting as I was captivated by the main character, Story, from the start as she sprinted across the roof tops. I eagerly wanted her path to cross with other characters and was not disappointed when individual stories became one.
With rich description and exciting story telling, this novel is for anyone who wants to be whisked away to another world of adventure with magic and vivid sword play, where loyalties are tested and friendships are made.
A very intricate world and strong characters who I would love to read about again.