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The Warrior Kind #1
A Warrior's Redemption
Our story begins with a boy named Roric. Raised sheltered in the countryside he is ill prepared for the event of watching his family die violently, only to then see his entire world crumble as everything he thought he knew is turned to fantasy and he is forced to find himself chained into the life of a slave. A slave struggling to survive in the gladiatorial arena where every match means death for someone, but he survived and one day he escaped. A Warrior's Redemption is the tale of one man's journey from being a slave to becoming a warrior, who changes the fate of an entire world. It is a story of intrigue, honor, passion and the hope of redemption that is available to all and not just in fantasy. In the story we follow Roric, as he becomes a man and then a leader and eventually a legend. This book is but the beginning of an epic fantasy saga that spans five books in length. The underlying message of, A Warrior's Redemption, is the story of life that many of us face, but few choose to except. A hero of the people grapples with the long held secrets of his family and unlike his father before him, decides to fight so that his people can remain free. He rises above his humble past to become a leader that inspires a nation in its fight for survival and becomes a legend beyond the realms of fantasy. - EXCERPT - The marketplace was filled with tradesmen hawking their goods. Prospective buyers filled out the rest of the market’s space. My attention throughout the walk from the cell had been drawn to a woman ahead of me. She would have been quite attractive, if it hadn’t been for the hard lines etched deeply into the skin around her mouth and eyes. She had a mean look about her, too. She held a baby in her left arm almost carelessly, while her right hand gripped the forearm of a young girl that walked beside her. The girl’s cinnamon red hair hung all the way to her waist. She was sure to be noticed by the whore buyers, even though she had yet to show the maturity of a grown woman. Something told me that these two must have been the two I had overheard the night before. A sudden disturbance off to our left caused them and the guards to all turn and glance over in that direction. I kept walking forward though. I’m not sure what possessed me to do what I did, but it felt like the right thing to do and I didn’t question my actions any further than that. My manacled hands separated apart and, as her face was turned to the side, I raised a fist and swung hard at the girl’s head. I intentionally sideswiped her left cheek with the chunky metal protrusion of the manacles binding my hands, instead of with my whole fist. Blood spurted from where the edge of my rough manacles caught her high on the cheekbone and lower down on the cheek, ripping the flesh badly. The force of the blow, even though I had pulled the majority of the strength behind the punch off to the side, knocked her forwards breaking her mother’s hold on her arm. She fell heavily into a muddy puddle of water, which splashed all over her, dowsing her in the dirty water of the marketplace gutters. Complete shock at the unjustified hit had widened her eyes in a questioning gaze, as she looked up at me from where she lay in the muddy water. Blood trickled down her face in abandon and I mouthed two words. “I’m sorry!” I had barely gotten the words out when I was slammed to the ground from behind by the guards. I was only pulled back up to my feet after I had been kicked and whipped several times savagely. My aggressive actions got me placed in a group of other surly individuals, who were unified in their dislike of me. Hitting a woman was bad, a girl worse and a fellow slave even worse. No matter, I didn’t regret what I had done. They just didn’t understand. Now the only thing the girl would be selected for was a field laborer, which from having overheard the conversation I had last night that was exactly what
407 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2013
72 people are currently reading
436 people want to read
About the author
Guy S. Stanton III
29 books98 followersI’m a redeemed ordinary person intent on bringing
my Heavenly Father, pleasure and a return on the
priceless investment that He has made into my life. I’ll never be able to fully repay Him, but my goal is to try and when my time comes to go that I’ll
be caught away in the very act of still trying to do so.
Read my books and you'll learn everything there is to know about me in a way that only several hundred thousand words can do, but in a nutshell I'm imaginative and I love to write and at some point in my busy life I have apparently had a lot of time to do just that.
my Heavenly Father, pleasure and a return on the
priceless investment that He has made into my life. I’ll never be able to fully repay Him, but my goal is to try and when my time comes to go that I’ll
be caught away in the very act of still trying to do so.
Read my books and you'll learn everything there is to know about me in a way that only several hundred thousand words can do, but in a nutshell I'm imaginative and I love to write and at some point in my busy life I have apparently had a lot of time to do just that.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 25, 2014
An author friend of mine contacted me informing me that Guy Stanton had asked him if he knew of anyone who would be willing to review his books. My friend mentioned my name, and my friend contact me and gave me Guy's details. I checked out his books. As soon as I read the blurb for A Warrior's Redemption, I knew this was a series I had to read. I have not been disappointed.
When I started reading, I was instantly impressed with Stanton's writing style. My first thought was how beautiful it is. It is not overly descriptive, but it is well constructed yet simple in its execution. His descriptive style lends well to this book and its fast pace, it allows the plot to flow almost seamlessly from one scene or plot twist to another.
It is addictive and provides a richness to the plot and character development and the world that he has created. Without this richness, it would one very weak and mediocre novel. His characters would be two dimensional and less relational, the plot weak and the fantasy world he creates very bland.
Stanton is a master at adding depth to his characters. It is a hallmark of a talented writer who provokes emotions in you that are specific to how you relate to the characters, for example, you find yourself wanting to protect those in distress such as Krista, you respect, admire the strength of character and humility of Roric and aspire to be like him, you admire the loyalty of Roric's fellow slaves, Rolf being one of many, who Roric set free and who became all brothers in arms and fellow warriors. You hate and despise the demon possessed Marfoul, the sex slave mistress, Esmeralda, who exploits Krista, the many men who treat the slaves including Krista and Roric so badly, and inhumanely. And these are just a few of the many and varied characters where the reader finds themselves experiencing a wide variety of emotions.
Stanton is also a master of describing the richness and complexity of the different environments of this novel, such as The Valley Lands, the Plains of Zoar and The Attorgron Forests. But on the whole, Stanton succeeds in transporting the reader to this world, and it is this as well as what I have outlined in this review so far that is all absorbing and enthralling. So many times, I was not aware of my surroundings and nearly missed my train station! You can definitely become part of this world and not want to return to reality.
If there is one thing that Stanton really shines in is the spiritual elements. This book and I presume the entire series is very God and bible focused, and that is one of the strengths of this series. Stanton has depicted God as not only as he has experienced Him in his life but also as the God of the Bible. There does not appear to be any difference between the two. I have said before in other reviews that one thing that impresses me about a Christian author's writing is that it reflects the depth of their relationship with God. Many of my favourite authors have this characteristic in their novels and for me that is an assurance that their writing will have depth, be biblically sound, honour God, strengthen a Christian's faith and not lead a reader who does not have a relationship with God astray. Stanton ticks all those boxes in this novel.
There are some wonderful orations from Roric about the goodness of God, of His many characteristics and of His mercy, love and forgiveness. These can be found when Roric states to his band of brothers that he is giving up the life of revenge against his former masters/tormentors and for killing his father and brother, and his declaration to follow God and His ways only. The hairs on the back of my neck raised. This oration/declaration is very powerful and so is the one when he declares victory over the Zoarinians at the end of the book. I had the same physical reaction to this latter declaration as well. Very inspiring indeed and well written. These make your faith soar and reinforces the belief that we really do serve a victorious God in any battle,and His victory is our victory when we do battle in our lives His way.
Roric could be seen as a Christlike figure from the many examples in this novel, from being a warrior in battle, from being tender and loving towards his fellow Valley Landers, for accepting Krista with no judgement or condemnation for her being treated as a sex slave, from leading his band of brothers in the way of the Lord leading to their acceptance of Him as Lord and Saviour. There are many more, and I encourage any reader to seek these out as they read this novel. Truly a blessing!
Stanton has also shown his characters to have flaws, Roric struggling with sexual temptation, but not giving into, despite his commitment to God to remain sexually pure until marriage. He depicts this with much realism that I am sure most male Christian readers would identify with. He also shows many characters, including Roric, having doubts about God's faithfulness in times of despair and dire circumstances, but it is here in some of these instances where he has included an angelic visitation to encourage Roric or a supernatural event when all seems lost. Again, Stanton's writing shows in all these instances the omnipotence of God, God's Sovereignty, His victory over sin and death can be ours in our doubts/temptations and human weaknesses. He also shows that these characters follow through with God again after this. Even the depiction of an angel when they visit to deliver a message from God is very uplifting and encouraging to the reader's faith and this is very biblical as well.
There is so much more in this epic and enthralling novel that it did not surprise me to think that there could be a study guide to accompany this work to enable the reader to get the best out of the many and varied Christian themes that I am sure readers could apply to their lives.
I did not want this novel to end, but it is very comforting to know there are 4 more books to escape to and continue to be blessed by this author and the much loved characters and more to be introduced. Continuing in this series is to be in a reader's heaven!!
Highly Recommended.
When I started reading, I was instantly impressed with Stanton's writing style. My first thought was how beautiful it is. It is not overly descriptive, but it is well constructed yet simple in its execution. His descriptive style lends well to this book and its fast pace, it allows the plot to flow almost seamlessly from one scene or plot twist to another.
It is addictive and provides a richness to the plot and character development and the world that he has created. Without this richness, it would one very weak and mediocre novel. His characters would be two dimensional and less relational, the plot weak and the fantasy world he creates very bland.
Stanton is a master at adding depth to his characters. It is a hallmark of a talented writer who provokes emotions in you that are specific to how you relate to the characters, for example, you find yourself wanting to protect those in distress such as Krista, you respect, admire the strength of character and humility of Roric and aspire to be like him, you admire the loyalty of Roric's fellow slaves, Rolf being one of many, who Roric set free and who became all brothers in arms and fellow warriors. You hate and despise the demon possessed Marfoul, the sex slave mistress, Esmeralda, who exploits Krista, the many men who treat the slaves including Krista and Roric so badly, and inhumanely. And these are just a few of the many and varied characters where the reader finds themselves experiencing a wide variety of emotions.
Stanton is also a master of describing the richness and complexity of the different environments of this novel, such as The Valley Lands, the Plains of Zoar and The Attorgron Forests. But on the whole, Stanton succeeds in transporting the reader to this world, and it is this as well as what I have outlined in this review so far that is all absorbing and enthralling. So many times, I was not aware of my surroundings and nearly missed my train station! You can definitely become part of this world and not want to return to reality.
If there is one thing that Stanton really shines in is the spiritual elements. This book and I presume the entire series is very God and bible focused, and that is one of the strengths of this series. Stanton has depicted God as not only as he has experienced Him in his life but also as the God of the Bible. There does not appear to be any difference between the two. I have said before in other reviews that one thing that impresses me about a Christian author's writing is that it reflects the depth of their relationship with God. Many of my favourite authors have this characteristic in their novels and for me that is an assurance that their writing will have depth, be biblically sound, honour God, strengthen a Christian's faith and not lead a reader who does not have a relationship with God astray. Stanton ticks all those boxes in this novel.
There are some wonderful orations from Roric about the goodness of God, of His many characteristics and of His mercy, love and forgiveness. These can be found when Roric states to his band of brothers that he is giving up the life of revenge against his former masters/tormentors and for killing his father and brother, and his declaration to follow God and His ways only. The hairs on the back of my neck raised. This oration/declaration is very powerful and so is the one when he declares victory over the Zoarinians at the end of the book. I had the same physical reaction to this latter declaration as well. Very inspiring indeed and well written. These make your faith soar and reinforces the belief that we really do serve a victorious God in any battle,and His victory is our victory when we do battle in our lives His way.
Roric could be seen as a Christlike figure from the many examples in this novel, from being a warrior in battle, from being tender and loving towards his fellow Valley Landers, for accepting Krista with no judgement or condemnation for her being treated as a sex slave, from leading his band of brothers in the way of the Lord leading to their acceptance of Him as Lord and Saviour. There are many more, and I encourage any reader to seek these out as they read this novel. Truly a blessing!
Stanton has also shown his characters to have flaws, Roric struggling with sexual temptation, but not giving into, despite his commitment to God to remain sexually pure until marriage. He depicts this with much realism that I am sure most male Christian readers would identify with. He also shows many characters, including Roric, having doubts about God's faithfulness in times of despair and dire circumstances, but it is here in some of these instances where he has included an angelic visitation to encourage Roric or a supernatural event when all seems lost. Again, Stanton's writing shows in all these instances the omnipotence of God, God's Sovereignty, His victory over sin and death can be ours in our doubts/temptations and human weaknesses. He also shows that these characters follow through with God again after this. Even the depiction of an angel when they visit to deliver a message from God is very uplifting and encouraging to the reader's faith and this is very biblical as well.
There is so much more in this epic and enthralling novel that it did not surprise me to think that there could be a study guide to accompany this work to enable the reader to get the best out of the many and varied Christian themes that I am sure readers could apply to their lives.
I did not want this novel to end, but it is very comforting to know there are 4 more books to escape to and continue to be blessed by this author and the much loved characters and more to be introduced. Continuing in this series is to be in a reader's heaven!!
Highly Recommended.
February 9, 2014
The author has mastered an elegant, fluid writing style. I found myself zipping along with this epic quest as if I were listening to an audio book. If you are seeking a story with Christian values and morals, complete with reluctant hero who finds faith and lost family, a fierce battle on land and sea, a magic sword, a horse who comes to the rescue upon hearing his special whistle, whales that come to save the day, a tortured love story, and a two thumb's-up happy ending, then this book is for you. I would argue the age range suggested by other reviewers. A young person who plays video games and is exposed to media news reports has encountered a higher level of violence and sexual innuendo than this book presents. I could have read it as an upper elementary or middle school student. My one criticism is the author's occasional use of contemporary phraseology which yanks me back out of his world needlessly. When our hero and his lady share their first kiss, Roric shouts, "Wow! That was awesome." Not something I would expect to hear in the timeframe of this setting. In another instance, a boy is described as being "stressed out." Again, too contemporary for this time. Keep us in your world, Mr. Stanton, and keep writing great tales of love, honor, duty and faith!
September 20, 2014
I really could not get into this book at all... It felt one part Gladiator, one part Christian fiction, and yet it began with a confusing chunk of exposition all about space travel? It was too slow for me, and even the plot twists were not exciting enough to excite me into reading more. I rather dreaded picking up my Kindle each day to slog through more pages. In movie form I might like a story like this, but in book form it was just too much...or rather not enough.
April 15, 2014
Interesting story, well developed characters
I would've rated this book higher, but the grammar and punctuation was just awful. It seemed as though every page contained wrong tenses, poor punctuation, and wrong words. I which caused me to have to re-read the sentence/paragraph/page to determine what just happened in the story. I wish I had been asked to proofread it before the book was published.
I would've rated this book higher, but the grammar and punctuation was just awful. It seemed as though every page contained wrong tenses, poor punctuation, and wrong words. I which caused me to have to re-read the sentence/paragraph/page to determine what just happened in the story. I wish I had been asked to proofread it before the book was published.
February 13, 2014
While I have read my share of beautiful epic fantasy adventures, I am in awe of this brilliant tour de force! It raised the bar on the fantasy genre a few notches for me, and I am truly amazed at the level of energy and heart that is packed into this story! It is filled with everything you could ever want – thrilling action, non-stop adventure, deadly suspense, passionate romance, and deep-seated faith. I finished reading the last page with a soul-satisfying, quiet contentment. There is nothing better than reading a book that fuels your faith, quiets your doubts, and fulfills your highest hopes.
Roric has led a life that was both common and yet extraordinary. He knew the joy of being a free man and the despair of being a slave. While he fought for his freedom, he also found himself fighting for his very soul. He found himself in the middle of an ageless struggle between good and evil. The choice that lay before him would change everything that he knew, but it would also require more courage and faith then he had ever known. Would he boldly stand up and become the man he was born to be, or would be shy away from his destiny and settle for second best?
The characters are pleasantly surprising, beautifully well-rounded, and such a pleasure to discover. Even the secondary characters are very well developed and fleshed out. I couldn’t help but fall in love with them. They really touched me in their determination, their dedication, and especially their heart. Even when things fell apart and looked hopeless, they pushed onward knowing that things would work out as they were supposed to. My heart broke for them during their darkest times, and when the light shone the brightest I nearly jumped for joy. Their words literally jumped off the pages and into my heart. I couldn’t get enough of them.
This is a very special and unique story compared to any others that I have read up to this point. The troubles, heartaches, and battles fought could easily translate to any of our lives. It was the pure and simple faith that continued to grow and strengthen throughout the pages of this wonderful journey that really spoke to me the most. I have struggled with my own faith throughout my life, and I was encouraged that even in my greatest weaknesses I can be made into a beautiful example of the boundless power and unfailing love of the Creator of all. To hear those words written gave me a hope and an understanding that I didn’t have before. It reached down and pulled me a little farther out of the mire of my fears and doubts.
The depth of heart and talent that I see manifested in the writing of Guy Stanton is phenomenal! What a blessing to be able to read and enjoy this beautiful gift of a writer! I truly hope to be able to read more from him in the future as he was able to lift my spirit and encourage my heart while weaving a beautifully spell-binding story of epic proportions. I highly recommend both this book and this author to anyone who truly enjoys the art reading a well-crafted and highly entertaining story.
Roric has led a life that was both common and yet extraordinary. He knew the joy of being a free man and the despair of being a slave. While he fought for his freedom, he also found himself fighting for his very soul. He found himself in the middle of an ageless struggle between good and evil. The choice that lay before him would change everything that he knew, but it would also require more courage and faith then he had ever known. Would he boldly stand up and become the man he was born to be, or would be shy away from his destiny and settle for second best?
The characters are pleasantly surprising, beautifully well-rounded, and such a pleasure to discover. Even the secondary characters are very well developed and fleshed out. I couldn’t help but fall in love with them. They really touched me in their determination, their dedication, and especially their heart. Even when things fell apart and looked hopeless, they pushed onward knowing that things would work out as they were supposed to. My heart broke for them during their darkest times, and when the light shone the brightest I nearly jumped for joy. Their words literally jumped off the pages and into my heart. I couldn’t get enough of them.
This is a very special and unique story compared to any others that I have read up to this point. The troubles, heartaches, and battles fought could easily translate to any of our lives. It was the pure and simple faith that continued to grow and strengthen throughout the pages of this wonderful journey that really spoke to me the most. I have struggled with my own faith throughout my life, and I was encouraged that even in my greatest weaknesses I can be made into a beautiful example of the boundless power and unfailing love of the Creator of all. To hear those words written gave me a hope and an understanding that I didn’t have before. It reached down and pulled me a little farther out of the mire of my fears and doubts.
The depth of heart and talent that I see manifested in the writing of Guy Stanton is phenomenal! What a blessing to be able to read and enjoy this beautiful gift of a writer! I truly hope to be able to read more from him in the future as he was able to lift my spirit and encourage my heart while weaving a beautifully spell-binding story of epic proportions. I highly recommend both this book and this author to anyone who truly enjoys the art reading a well-crafted and highly entertaining story.
April 21, 2014
I read the entire Warrior Kind series in less than a week. I couldn't put them down. The story lines where amazing and creative. I love how The characters though very imperfect in some ways worked through their issues and grew closer to Christ. Their experiences made them stronger. The details were amazing I could picture everything. Roric the main character was very endearing from the very beginning. He is a protector and defender of those he cares about.
There were two downsides to the books. I found quite a few words in each book that were improperly used. For example: "there" instead of "they're". But to me it doesn't matter because I understood. The other downside is the details. A double edged sword. I couldn't recommend these books to just anyone. The details in which the unmarried characters desire each other physically went farther in the description than many Christian books and is not for everyone. I wouldn't give these books to my family to read. But on the other hand lust is something that is prevalent in this world and the characters deal with it as best as they can with God's help. I am glad that they still desired each other the same after they were married.
To sum it up I love Christian science fiction/fantasy/adventure/romance/historical and these books have it all. I will read them over and over again. They are a permanent fixture for my kindle.
There were two downsides to the books. I found quite a few words in each book that were improperly used. For example: "there" instead of "they're". But to me it doesn't matter because I understood. The other downside is the details. A double edged sword. I couldn't recommend these books to just anyone. The details in which the unmarried characters desire each other physically went farther in the description than many Christian books and is not for everyone. I wouldn't give these books to my family to read. But on the other hand lust is something that is prevalent in this world and the characters deal with it as best as they can with God's help. I am glad that they still desired each other the same after they were married.
To sum it up I love Christian science fiction/fantasy/adventure/romance/historical and these books have it all. I will read them over and over again. They are a permanent fixture for my kindle.
January 3, 2015
I really liked "A Warrior's Redemption." I was given a copy by the author, Guy Stanton III, in exchange for an honest review. It is unapologetically Christian. However the beliefs and the scriptures are all part of the story and does not come across as cheesy or trite. Several places inspired me to be more open and bold about my own faith! The story about an alternate society on another planet, founded by earthlings that fled before the flood. They have forsworn modern technology and live as in medieval times. The story contains fighting and battles of an epic scale. There is espionage, love, family, loyalty and lots of evil characters. Not a "chick" book. Can not recommend for readers younger than high school due to mature content. This is the first in the series, and I am definitely reading the rest.
May 31, 2014
My hope is that since I found this for free on Amazon, I got some sort of unedited version. The grammatical errors alone almost made me stop reading several times. There/their/they're, to/too, missing commas, missing or inappropriate apostrophes, etc. - it was enough to drive me crazy. All in all, the story was good enough to keep me reading and surprise me with some of the twists. I think with a good editor to revise some sections, and help with refining the writing, it would actually be a good piece of Christian fiction. As it is now, I don't think I'll even bother continuing with the series, though I got the rest for free as well.
And as a warning - this is a heavily Christian book, with emphasis on the 'heavily.'
And as a warning - this is a heavily Christian book, with emphasis on the 'heavily.'
February 27, 2014
It is rare for me to leave a book unfinished but i somehow could not finish even half the book. Events occurred with no directional flow, jumping from one line of progression to another. It was quite obvious that the author is a devout man but there was little else about the book that i enjoyed. There was no time spent in building any depth to the characters and frankly, very little logic applied to their actions.
December 19, 2013
I have to say this book is better than I first thought. When I started reading it I expected to see a cliched protagonist who never doubts himself and never does any wrong. That proved false however and it was a pleasant surprise for me. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
November 3, 2015
A Christian action story of another world, with only fragments of the holy scriptures. Sold as a slave and put into the arena as a gladiator, surviving, escaping, taking revenge and finally a war against the evils. This story had everything I wanted from a good story, and foremost it was action from the start.
Read
April 1, 2023As another reviewer has mentioned, A warrior's redemption was an interesting mix of Gladiator, sci-fi, and Christian Fiction. I must add that 2 of the 3 elements caught my attention and were the reason I decided to give it a chance. Honestly? It took me a long time to get through all of it. In between reading this book (which, it must be noted, was the author's first published one), I finished another series of his (The Agents for Good), so when I came back to this book, that new expectation from reading that other series was both good and bad. Bad in that it made me miss what he had learned by the time he wrote that second series, but good because I had already learned what to expect from him.
I don't remember all the sci-fi explanations, but it's set in a parallel world with people that came from Earth but don't have the Bible. Despite this, the story is very heavily Christ-focused and depicts through both the action and missions Roric goes through the battles and standards a Christian is engaged in and called to uphold. I don't necessarily agree with all of his theology (like the "holding place" for the Kurts); and other things that one has to keep in mind is that while he doesn't use language in his books, there's plenty of violence (from nongraphic but still described enough group rape of a woman, to depictions of all kinds of wounds, be them induced by animals or human weapons). Also, he doesn't shy away from sexual elements/descriptions (but no explicit sexual scenes.) Some examples are the hedonistic temple towards the first part of the book or the encounter with the female-ruled tribe that walks around pretty much topless. As far as the main couple goes, it's only passionate kisses, and descriptions of her being scantily dressed (sometimes not by choice but as part of her being a slave.)
Personally, I would have loved more time focused on the main couple, but I'm OK with what we've got. There could be less info dump when explaining past history, and how the world or people came to be, but this is one of the things I knew to expect from this author.
Overall, an interesting new world/story, but due to some things that I didn't agree with or that were not fully explained (are they "married" just because he asked her to?), I can't give it 3 stars. Still, I'd be willing to check out other books in this series.
I don't remember all the sci-fi explanations, but it's set in a parallel world with people that came from Earth but don't have the Bible. Despite this, the story is very heavily Christ-focused and depicts through both the action and missions Roric goes through the battles and standards a Christian is engaged in and called to uphold. I don't necessarily agree with all of his theology (like the "holding place" for the Kurts); and other things that one has to keep in mind is that while he doesn't use language in his books, there's plenty of violence (from nongraphic but still described enough group rape of a woman, to depictions of all kinds of wounds, be them induced by animals or human weapons). Also, he doesn't shy away from sexual elements/descriptions (but no explicit sexual scenes.) Some examples are the hedonistic temple towards the first part of the book or the encounter with the female-ruled tribe that walks around pretty much topless. As far as the main couple goes, it's only passionate kisses, and descriptions of her being scantily dressed (sometimes not by choice but as part of her being a slave.)
Personally, I would have loved more time focused on the main couple, but I'm OK with what we've got. There could be less info dump when explaining past history, and how the world or people came to be, but this is one of the things I knew to expect from this author.
Overall, an interesting new world/story, but due to some things that I didn't agree with or that were not fully explained (are they "married" just because he asked her to?), I can't give it 3 stars. Still, I'd be willing to check out other books in this series.
June 21, 2023
while it was a bit preachy the story plot was good, and well worth the read. If you are someone who is seeking christian preachy lit, yet enjoys sci fi, then this series will offer both.
I was raised on the spiritual values that match some of it, but I am more open to the ideas of others. It was good to read a story centered on plot, and characters rather than who is sleeping with who. Yes there is fighting the Warrior is a good clue to that, it isn't fight scenes for the sake of fighting, they are part of the plot and story.
I was raised on the spiritual values that match some of it, but I am more open to the ideas of others. It was good to read a story centered on plot, and characters rather than who is sleeping with who. Yes there is fighting the Warrior is a good clue to that, it isn't fight scenes for the sake of fighting, they are part of the plot and story.
October 6, 2018
It has been a long time since I have read a book that was this much fun to read.
A rags to riches plot is certainly not a new idea but this was refreshingly different. It had the same type of appeal as the early Frank Peretti stories like "Piercing The Darkness" and "This Present Darkness" did except it is in a mid-evil setting. I would not commend it to someone who is offended by a strong Christian world view but I personally enjoyed it immensely.
A rags to riches plot is certainly not a new idea but this was refreshingly different. It had the same type of appeal as the early Frank Peretti stories like "Piercing The Darkness" and "This Present Darkness" did except it is in a mid-evil setting. I would not commend it to someone who is offended by a strong Christian world view but I personally enjoyed it immensely.
February 4, 2024
This Christian Fantasy is unlike anything I have read (at least, not in a very long time). The author’s imagination captivated mine with this epic adventure into a fascinating world somewhere out there in the universe. I resented life’s interruptions when I just wanted to keep reading this gritty tale with futuristic as well as medieval vibes.
December 1, 2017
Good story, but...
Excellent story. Too many repetitive words and phrases in most paragraphs. Wrong spelling of words. I would have given 5 stars if those would have been cleaned up!
Excellent story. Too many repetitive words and phrases in most paragraphs. Wrong spelling of words. I would have given 5 stars if those would have been cleaned up!
September 16, 2023
Awesome story!
Not very often do I find a book that combines the Christian belief and an excellent fictional story. This was very well written and even had bits of actual scripture in it. Highly recommend it
Not very often do I find a book that combines the Christian belief and an excellent fictional story. This was very well written and even had bits of actual scripture in it. Highly recommend it
August 4, 2018
Bad grammer and the religious aspect....no thnak you ! Did not even finish the book.
December 7, 2014
Okay, so the writing is nothing special. In fact, I had to skim through it, taking small doses at a time, to prevent my inner editor from having apoplectic fits. Despite the distracting technical problems, though, I like some aspects of this book.
The biggest: within a Christian scriptural context, this story presents an abundance of intriguing questions. Let me show you.
The backstory provided as a Prelude explains that, a short time before the great Flood of Noah’s day, a group of people left earth to seek a fresh start on another planet, being distressed at the rampant sin of the world.
Before you blast this story concept, bear in mind that people lived for centuries back then. (I say this as one who believes the scriptures are true as written. Readers who adhere to evolutionary religion would disagree, as is their right.) We’re not talking about dragging out the disability of old age through interminable years of misery; these were vibrant, active, productive years.
With such longevity, imagine how much learning could be accomplished in one lifetime. Though the scriptures never so much as hint at it, there is a logical possibility that antediluvian society could have been more technologically advanced than ours today. We have no way of knowing this, of course, and the idea of such people being capable of space travel is highly speculative. However, they call this genre speculative fiction for a reason. So let’s suspend our disbelief long enough to continue reading.
The Prelude goes on to tell us that the people found a new planet with the right atmosphere and other conditions—and it was already populated with the descendants of some earlier earth refugees. The newcomers settled in. But, predictably, human nature did what human nature does best: they messed up everything.
So, millennia later, a group of people once again got fed up and went back to earth, hoping things there had improved. No such luck. They arrived in the latter part of the Middle Ages, when the situation was little better than what their ancestors had fled. At least now, though, God’s revelation to man was complete. They grabbed a copy or two of the scriptures and took off again, settling on yet another planet. The story opens some seven centuries later—where, not surprisingly, their new world is rife with sin.
I mentioned that the questions this story raises are within a Christian scriptural context. I won’t comment on the practical likelihood of these and other situations within the story. I’ll just accept the tale for what it is (imaginative and speculative) and focus on the scriptural issues.
Right from the start, we have a good one: how would God have His people respond to the sin of their world? This is important, because that’s right where we are: sinners living in a sin-sick world. What does God do about it? What does He command His people to do about it? Are we to flee? (As the story demonstrates, you can’t flee sin: it follows us, because it’s a disease that we ourselves carry.) Or does God have another plan in mind? The scenario portrayed in the book begs for a serious and relevant Bible study.
The author gives us other matters to ponder as well, such as: If God supernaturally inspired the writing of the scriptures, does He not preserve them as well? Can limiting the availability of technology thwart evil forces? When is it acceptable to keep people in ignorance, and who has the authority to decide these things? Are we to obey God implicitly, not knowing where that obedience might lead? Can we expect Him to pull off a last-minute miracle to get us out of a tight spot, or does our following Him sometimes result in the direst of consequences? Even considering that there is one God and that Jesus is deity, is it sufficient to merely trust the Creator? Or must we know the Risen Savior and believe in His work?
If you crave food for thought artlessly strewn across a table of never-dull action, this book is a smorgasbord. I give it 3 stars for chewiness of subject matter as well as some clever battle strategies toward the book’s end.
The biggest: within a Christian scriptural context, this story presents an abundance of intriguing questions. Let me show you.
The backstory provided as a Prelude explains that, a short time before the great Flood of Noah’s day, a group of people left earth to seek a fresh start on another planet, being distressed at the rampant sin of the world.
Before you blast this story concept, bear in mind that people lived for centuries back then. (I say this as one who believes the scriptures are true as written. Readers who adhere to evolutionary religion would disagree, as is their right.) We’re not talking about dragging out the disability of old age through interminable years of misery; these were vibrant, active, productive years.
With such longevity, imagine how much learning could be accomplished in one lifetime. Though the scriptures never so much as hint at it, there is a logical possibility that antediluvian society could have been more technologically advanced than ours today. We have no way of knowing this, of course, and the idea of such people being capable of space travel is highly speculative. However, they call this genre speculative fiction for a reason. So let’s suspend our disbelief long enough to continue reading.
The Prelude goes on to tell us that the people found a new planet with the right atmosphere and other conditions—and it was already populated with the descendants of some earlier earth refugees. The newcomers settled in. But, predictably, human nature did what human nature does best: they messed up everything.
So, millennia later, a group of people once again got fed up and went back to earth, hoping things there had improved. No such luck. They arrived in the latter part of the Middle Ages, when the situation was little better than what their ancestors had fled. At least now, though, God’s revelation to man was complete. They grabbed a copy or two of the scriptures and took off again, settling on yet another planet. The story opens some seven centuries later—where, not surprisingly, their new world is rife with sin.
I mentioned that the questions this story raises are within a Christian scriptural context. I won’t comment on the practical likelihood of these and other situations within the story. I’ll just accept the tale for what it is (imaginative and speculative) and focus on the scriptural issues.
Right from the start, we have a good one: how would God have His people respond to the sin of their world? This is important, because that’s right where we are: sinners living in a sin-sick world. What does God do about it? What does He command His people to do about it? Are we to flee? (As the story demonstrates, you can’t flee sin: it follows us, because it’s a disease that we ourselves carry.) Or does God have another plan in mind? The scenario portrayed in the book begs for a serious and relevant Bible study.
The author gives us other matters to ponder as well, such as: If God supernaturally inspired the writing of the scriptures, does He not preserve them as well? Can limiting the availability of technology thwart evil forces? When is it acceptable to keep people in ignorance, and who has the authority to decide these things? Are we to obey God implicitly, not knowing where that obedience might lead? Can we expect Him to pull off a last-minute miracle to get us out of a tight spot, or does our following Him sometimes result in the direst of consequences? Even considering that there is one God and that Jesus is deity, is it sufficient to merely trust the Creator? Or must we know the Risen Savior and believe in His work?
If you crave food for thought artlessly strewn across a table of never-dull action, this book is a smorgasbord. I give it 3 stars for chewiness of subject matter as well as some clever battle strategies toward the book’s end.
April 2, 2020
I was given an e-book copy by the author in exchange for an honest review:
First of all I am really sorry Guy for taking such a long time in finishing the book. I read the book in 3 stages - in 1st stage I read it upto 20% or so then 2nd time it went on to 37% and that's when it was left on its own devices because I din't think that I would be able to finish the book but then I persisted and was pleasantly surprised as then I finished the remaining book in few short days .. I can't always read continuously due to my job and everything :)
Two biggest thing I didn't like were typos and then the Christian theme. I am sorry but this was just not for me.
Apart from that in the beginning the book jumped to many different story lines very quickly and one time it read exactly like Spartacus. But overall story was nice and enjoyable. Plotline is shared by many reviewers so I will not do so. My policy is that I try to finish the book no matter what as I have found that many books pick up speed only after you are through half of its 800 pages. Once again the action is later parts was much better and quick.
Nice end to this book too .. obviously open seeing as there are 4 more books in this series.
My rating for the book is a toss up between 3.5 and 4.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
First of all I am really sorry Guy for taking such a long time in finishing the book. I read the book in 3 stages - in 1st stage I read it upto 20% or so then 2nd time it went on to 37% and that's when it was left on its own devices because I din't think that I would be able to finish the book but then I persisted and was pleasantly surprised as then I finished the remaining book in few short days .. I can't always read continuously due to my job and everything :)
Two biggest thing I didn't like were typos and then the Christian theme. I am sorry but this was just not for me.
Apart from that in the beginning the book jumped to many different story lines very quickly and one time it read exactly like Spartacus. But overall story was nice and enjoyable. Plotline is shared by many reviewers so I will not do so. My policy is that I try to finish the book no matter what as I have found that many books pick up speed only after you are through half of its 800 pages. Once again the action is later parts was much better and quick.
Nice end to this book too .. obviously open seeing as there are 4 more books in this series.
My rating for the book is a toss up between 3.5 and 4.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
March 5, 2014
A Warrior's Redemption
Guy Stanton III
A refreshing, if not daring, detour from our typical Christian fiction as in epic romance/warrior hero/science fiction. I dare say this is for men and women alike as long as the woman are not weak of heart. Stanton takes us to an alternate world where good versus evil has come to a standoff.
Stanton weaves past and present events as a fluid stream with his storytelling in an unpredictable unfolding of a young man's journey. We are taken in by his early childhood struggles with belief system, his many losses and disappointments, his failures, his molding, his character building and his strong faith. Stanton, indeed, allows us to see this hero's heart.
While an excellent story with characters who stay with you long after you finish the last page the many grammar errors can be a real distraction. The beginning of the book had a sluggish writing style. This was corrected quickly making me think it was done hurriedly or as an afterthought and not proofread. The supernatual manifestations were a bit similiar and quite possibly too abundant. Sometimes less really is more.
The part I found most remarkable was the multi-layered strategy demonstrated as battle plans were made and took place. These were superior. I truly could not put book down!
I look forward to more of Stanton's writing and suspect he will be moving to best sellers as he perfects his craft.
Guy Stanton III
A refreshing, if not daring, detour from our typical Christian fiction as in epic romance/warrior hero/science fiction. I dare say this is for men and women alike as long as the woman are not weak of heart. Stanton takes us to an alternate world where good versus evil has come to a standoff.
Stanton weaves past and present events as a fluid stream with his storytelling in an unpredictable unfolding of a young man's journey. We are taken in by his early childhood struggles with belief system, his many losses and disappointments, his failures, his molding, his character building and his strong faith. Stanton, indeed, allows us to see this hero's heart.
While an excellent story with characters who stay with you long after you finish the last page the many grammar errors can be a real distraction. The beginning of the book had a sluggish writing style. This was corrected quickly making me think it was done hurriedly or as an afterthought and not proofread. The supernatual manifestations were a bit similiar and quite possibly too abundant. Sometimes less really is more.
The part I found most remarkable was the multi-layered strategy demonstrated as battle plans were made and took place. These were superior. I truly could not put book down!
I look forward to more of Stanton's writing and suspect he will be moving to best sellers as he perfects his craft.
February 3, 2014
This was an exciting adventure read! I was well engrossed in it for a couple days. There for a little bit in the middle, I started to think that maybe it was too predictable, but then that abruptly changed and there was surprise after surprise hurtling the story along.
The grammar and editing need some help, but I'm not one to let that get in the way of a good story. There's some adult content in there too, but nothing pointless or over-the-top. I appreciate a good, gritty read. Some of the scenes are a little fantastic, and stretch the imagination further than mine is used to stretching, but it's an un-apologetically Christian book, and some stories in the Scripture stretch me like that, too!
The scene with the big battle in it is well thought out and reminded me of some of my dad's real time strategy games. The only part I liked better than that scene was when the hero and the heroine were fighting for the first time. That was comical and lots of fun.
All in all, I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's work! And I'll be referring some adventure-loving friends in his direction.
Oh! And I received this book for free in exchange for a review and a copy of my own book.
The grammar and editing need some help, but I'm not one to let that get in the way of a good story. There's some adult content in there too, but nothing pointless or over-the-top. I appreciate a good, gritty read. Some of the scenes are a little fantastic, and stretch the imagination further than mine is used to stretching, but it's an un-apologetically Christian book, and some stories in the Scripture stretch me like that, too!
The scene with the big battle in it is well thought out and reminded me of some of my dad's real time strategy games. The only part I liked better than that scene was when the hero and the heroine were fighting for the first time. That was comical and lots of fun.
All in all, I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's work! And I'll be referring some adventure-loving friends in his direction.
Oh! And I received this book for free in exchange for a review and a copy of my own book.
March 26, 2015
Roric Fortigar Ta'lont life isn't like other peoples. Roric was farm boy, slave, arena fighter, and rebel leader Roric has always wanted to know more about his family's ancestors since they were murdered in cold blood. Roric discovers his faith in The Creator continues to grow through guidance and prayer. Krista is an escaped slave currently living with a healer and herbalist. Krista would rather be dead than to be a slave again. Roric and Krista paths collide but spark a fiery passion between them. Will Roric find his family history? Will Krista trust Roric? Your answers await you in A Warrior's Redemption.
This new to me author has written an exceptional book. I found his characters to be real, flawed, honest, and down to earth as well. The story surprisingly faith based was a joy to read from first to last page. I will definitely be reading more of this author's work in the future.
This new to me author has written an exceptional book. I found his characters to be real, flawed, honest, and down to earth as well. The story surprisingly faith based was a joy to read from first to last page. I will definitely be reading more of this author's work in the future.
January 12, 2014
I have to say this was not what I expected and not a genre I usually read. I do read everything but just some more than others. I would liken it to Francine River books, it was a lot like her mark of the lion series. So if you love her books this would be good as well. I also think if you like the new release Defy by. Sara Larson, this follows the same line but it's Christian. So as for the book, I rated it four stars even though it was an outstanding book, some things just bothered me. When a book effects you to the point it bothers you then it has the power to mold you. Some of the scenes in the book are just horrific. I have a great imagination and some images took awhile to go away. Superb writing though. Thanks for this read and I wish the author luck.
January 30, 2015
'I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review'
This was a good read. It is more of a religious type of book then I would have thought. So do keep that in mind when you purchase. I love all types of books so this was a good read for me. I definitely think you will enjoy this book and most of the characters. Roric is the main character. His love interest is Krista. You meet the wonderfully courageous Kurt family. A lovely little girl named Zarsha. You also have the devil in disguise who is the cause of everyones troubles. The Characters faith gets put to the test time and time again. If you enjoy books with a religious aspect to them I definitely recommend reading!
'Read and Reviewed by LSK Sweetheart Reviews'
This was a good read. It is more of a religious type of book then I would have thought. So do keep that in mind when you purchase. I love all types of books so this was a good read for me. I definitely think you will enjoy this book and most of the characters. Roric is the main character. His love interest is Krista. You meet the wonderfully courageous Kurt family. A lovely little girl named Zarsha. You also have the devil in disguise who is the cause of everyones troubles. The Characters faith gets put to the test time and time again. If you enjoy books with a religious aspect to them I definitely recommend reading!
'Read and Reviewed by LSK Sweetheart Reviews'
March 11, 2014
The good: A Warrior’s Redemption is a good story; full of heroism and adventure. You’ll find a lot of sword fighting and ancient war in this one, and a bit of a futuristic setting in the story. At first one thinks the setup for the story could have been a story in its own right. But in the end it all ties together and is worth the read.
The bad: First, it’s a bit rough at times, this is not for the young or squeamish, and there are a scattering of awkward sentences and the like, and a handful of typos that pulled me right out of the story.
Either way, this is an author to watch. I hope for more good things.
The bad: First, it’s a bit rough at times, this is not for the young or squeamish, and there are a scattering of awkward sentences and the like, and a handful of typos that pulled me right out of the story.
Either way, this is an author to watch. I hope for more good things.
September 12, 2016
Very good story and world building.
Caveat: Lots of grammar errors. Very distracting and made for many disgusted eye rolls. I will finish the series and hope that the other books have been proofread better.
Authors: The whole purpose of writing a book is to gain a paid readership. Putting out a book with grammar errors all over the place is NOT going to accomplish that goal. If you can't afford a professional editor, at least have some family or friends proofread a book for you before you publish it.
Caveat: Lots of grammar errors. Very distracting and made for many disgusted eye rolls. I will finish the series and hope that the other books have been proofread better.
Authors: The whole purpose of writing a book is to gain a paid readership. Putting out a book with grammar errors all over the place is NOT going to accomplish that goal. If you can't afford a professional editor, at least have some family or friends proofread a book for you before you publish it.
February 7, 2016
A futuristic book taking place on another planet with technology gone, a boy who was brought up sheltered from the world, has his family torn from him, gets sold as a slave. This book is action packed, faith based and a good read. I liked the way God came to help and LOVED how God used animals to make a way where there wasn't one. Looking forward to the rest of the series. I was given a copy of this book for my honest review.
January 14, 2014
I honestly couldn't put this down once I started reading it. I was given the book to read in exchange for an honest review, and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. It does include scripture at appropriate times which I was happy to see, along with a hero with morals. It's been a while since I've read this type of fiction and I did enjoy it.
February 2, 2014
An action packed thriller that kept me up at night. This book is hard to put down. I enjoyed the twists and turns in the plot. At chapter 18, I bought the other 4 books in this series. I don't want to spoil this for others, so I will just say, WOW! There is some pretty graphic violence in this book, so it may not be suitable for all readers.
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