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The Outerworld Key #1
The Protector: The Outerworld Key
Legends tell of how the great god Gon instructed his seven children to each create a race pleasing to them. They did this gladly, yet one in particular sulked at his brethren’s work and his father’s wishes. For spite, Baris created horrible demons to oppose the beauty of the world and its new peoples.
Once the treachery of Baris was discovered, Gon cast both the abominations and his now deposed son into the Outerworld. There they imprisoned and sealed by magical gate and key, which were then hidden from all knowledge.
Barrett, the sorceress Letha and their companions now follow the trail of the key, seeking to gain its control before it falls into evil hands. Meanwhile, the malicious enchantress Basath also pursues the treasure in hopes of releasing unspeakable abhorrent beings upon the world while having the evil god Baris bestow demi-god powers upon her as reward .
Once the treachery of Baris was discovered, Gon cast both the abominations and his now deposed son into the Outerworld. There they imprisoned and sealed by magical gate and key, which were then hidden from all knowledge.
Barrett, the sorceress Letha and their companions now follow the trail of the key, seeking to gain its control before it falls into evil hands. Meanwhile, the malicious enchantress Basath also pursues the treasure in hopes of releasing unspeakable abhorrent beings upon the world while having the evil god Baris bestow demi-god powers upon her as reward .
- GenresFantasy
470 pages, Paperback
First published August 13, 2013
2 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Mark Matthews
5 books21 followersAs a teenager I wrote short stories for pleasure. They were mainly a form of relaxation. It was during this time my own style began to slowly develop and come through.
The story behind my latest book concerns Barrett and his mismatched companions that must save the world from an imprisoned evil god and his demon horde who shall be released from their Outerworld prison if the evil sorceress Basath has her way.
Some readers, and even other authors, say fantasy writers are traditionally narrow minded in their stories. We are blamed for constantly re-doing the basic 'good vs. evil' plot. However, I believe that is what fantasy is all about. Usually, it involves swords, sorcery, creatures of various kinds, and adventure. Often times you'll find romance and humor thrown in as well. It's difficult to turn away from a winning combination, and in the same instance each author can add his or her own flair to it.
A writer's portrayal of these imagined worlds and characters makes the story worth reading and enjoying. If the author can make readers 'be there' or 'see it' unfold before their eyes, then we have succeeded in our goal, regardless the age old plot.
Please know I put a great deal of thought and time into developing my characters and worlds. I hope you share their passions, thoughts, and feelings as you read on from page to page.
When asked about the greatest joy of writing, I answer that sharing my work and, believe it or not, having a reader expound their thoughts on my books is a joy beyond comparison. So many times readers download your book then simply wait patiently for the sequel or next series.
Writers look for validation of their material. Not just a Facebook 'Like', but a reader's comment or review is the most satisfying thing of all. And of course, if they share that knowledge with friends, family, etc... it makes it all the better.
After all, that is how fans are formed. Naming the writer's greatest joy is quite simple....it's our fans.
I also offer proofreading and editing services if desired.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 17, 2013
First and foremost, the disclaimers:
1. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2. Reading is subjective. This is merely my opinion.
Throughout this review, you’ll see me refer to David Eddings’ series. The Belgariad. I grew up on David Eddings, reading and re-reading his Belgariad and Malloreon series all through grade school and high school, so I’m quite familiar with them. This book reminds me very strongly of the Belgariad series, so be prepared to see Belgariad mentioned a few times below. Now, on to the review.
First, what bothered me.
My first issue has me straddling the 3 and 4 star rating (if I could, this would be a 3.5 star). It was the romance between two main characters, Barrett and I’ll leave the other nameless so I don’t totally ruin it, in case you don’t see it coming. Barrett is supposedly 24 years old in this book, and I totally ate up that fact until the budding romance started. I would peg these two characters, based on romance alone, to be more young teen. It’s a little childish. It reminded me of the Belgariad romance, but the Belgariad fit better since the main character was like 13 or 14 when the romance started. Of course, as I complain about nearly every book I read, the romance started too soon, mere weeks after meeting. I just have a hard time swallowing such fast paced love. Flirting? Absolutely! Kissing? Sure! Fooling around? Why not. Undying love and marriage? Hold your horses. I need to work up to that. So, there you have it. I was annoyed by the romance. Is there any book I’ve read where I could handle the romance? Ummm...the Belgariad....and only the Belgariad. Not because I enjoyed their courtship (I actually didn’t), but because I understood it. It took quite a bit of time and then after they married, there were a boat load of problems to work through. It wasn’t so clean cut. Not that The Protector didn’t have a few ups and downs, but it seemed fake at times.
Secondly, every great once in a while the humor felt a little forced, like I should have been laughing when I wasn’t. It’s damn hard to get me to laugh aloud. I mean, really hard. I didn’t do it with this book, though it wrestled a few smiles out of me. Still, sometimes I felt a little guilty when I wasn’t smiling.
Now, on to the fun stuff.
What I enjoyed about this book was how it felt like I was on the journey with the group of characters. Not a lot of time was skipped, and when it was it was a few short days of travel here and there. It kept me tied into the story. Much like the Belgariad, they traveled from place to place and had a good set of adventures along the way. The pace was well thought out and kept me interested. After all, I read it in one sitting.
For those of you who are die-hard map followers, be prepared. They travel a lot with no map for you to reference. I’m a map glancer. I take a look at it and then dive right in. I rarely ever look back. Take heart, though. This book didn’t lose me. Like I said, I was along on the journey and never felt lost. We moved from kingdom to kingdom in an orderly, well thought out manner.
The settings were wonderfully described. I hate long, drawn out descriptions, but Mr. Matthews was able to give me plenty of information to keep me in the story without boring me to tears. Yay! Smells, sights, and sounds were alive. I really did feel like I was there.
The world was well thought out. The races and kingdoms weren’t crammed down my throat in the beginning, trying to immerse me immediately. Mr. Matthews eased me into the history through dialog and stories. It prevented me from feeling like I was in history class listening to the droning voice of a professor. And it didn’t even rely on a prologue! Yay!
The story itself is light, which agains remind me of the Belgariad series. Stuff happens, some not so pleasant, but the vibe is upbeat and the characters joke among each other with regularity. It gave the book a carefree feeling, but that did drain the tension from some scenes.
Quite a few of the characters I could exchange with those in the Belgariad books and the stories would still flow effortlessly. One character in particular hit very close to Pol. Funny thing, I didn’t really latch on to any one character. But I didn’t in Belgariad either. That’s very odd for me. If I don’t latch on to someone, I usually don’t like the book. But like the Belgariad, the characters had their quirks and the story was enjoyable enough to make up for the lack of my whole investment. Tylor was my absolute favorite though. His sense of humor was awesome and his abilities were incredibly fun to read about.
Please note, this is not a dark book. This is not a horribly traumatized cast of characters. This is a very clean cut fantasy. It is a break from the dark books out there and has a completely followable plot.
So, you might be wondering why, especially for a character driven reader such as myself, I would award this book four stars. What tipped it for me was because of the nostalgia it brought. I was young again, enjoying a story that didn’t hurt my brain, sitting astride a horse while gazing at what they saw and listening to their conversations. It was a break from reality and a quick little adventure.
Would I read it again? Probably not. Will I buy the second book? Absolutely.
So there you have it. My ramblings are done.
1. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2. Reading is subjective. This is merely my opinion.
Throughout this review, you’ll see me refer to David Eddings’ series. The Belgariad. I grew up on David Eddings, reading and re-reading his Belgariad and Malloreon series all through grade school and high school, so I’m quite familiar with them. This book reminds me very strongly of the Belgariad series, so be prepared to see Belgariad mentioned a few times below. Now, on to the review.
First, what bothered me.
My first issue has me straddling the 3 and 4 star rating (if I could, this would be a 3.5 star). It was the romance between two main characters, Barrett and I’ll leave the other nameless so I don’t totally ruin it, in case you don’t see it coming. Barrett is supposedly 24 years old in this book, and I totally ate up that fact until the budding romance started. I would peg these two characters, based on romance alone, to be more young teen. It’s a little childish. It reminded me of the Belgariad romance, but the Belgariad fit better since the main character was like 13 or 14 when the romance started. Of course, as I complain about nearly every book I read, the romance started too soon, mere weeks after meeting. I just have a hard time swallowing such fast paced love. Flirting? Absolutely! Kissing? Sure! Fooling around? Why not. Undying love and marriage? Hold your horses. I need to work up to that. So, there you have it. I was annoyed by the romance. Is there any book I’ve read where I could handle the romance? Ummm...the Belgariad....and only the Belgariad. Not because I enjoyed their courtship (I actually didn’t), but because I understood it. It took quite a bit of time and then after they married, there were a boat load of problems to work through. It wasn’t so clean cut. Not that The Protector didn’t have a few ups and downs, but it seemed fake at times.
Secondly, every great once in a while the humor felt a little forced, like I should have been laughing when I wasn’t. It’s damn hard to get me to laugh aloud. I mean, really hard. I didn’t do it with this book, though it wrestled a few smiles out of me. Still, sometimes I felt a little guilty when I wasn’t smiling.
Now, on to the fun stuff.
What I enjoyed about this book was how it felt like I was on the journey with the group of characters. Not a lot of time was skipped, and when it was it was a few short days of travel here and there. It kept me tied into the story. Much like the Belgariad, they traveled from place to place and had a good set of adventures along the way. The pace was well thought out and kept me interested. After all, I read it in one sitting.
For those of you who are die-hard map followers, be prepared. They travel a lot with no map for you to reference. I’m a map glancer. I take a look at it and then dive right in. I rarely ever look back. Take heart, though. This book didn’t lose me. Like I said, I was along on the journey and never felt lost. We moved from kingdom to kingdom in an orderly, well thought out manner.
The settings were wonderfully described. I hate long, drawn out descriptions, but Mr. Matthews was able to give me plenty of information to keep me in the story without boring me to tears. Yay! Smells, sights, and sounds were alive. I really did feel like I was there.
The world was well thought out. The races and kingdoms weren’t crammed down my throat in the beginning, trying to immerse me immediately. Mr. Matthews eased me into the history through dialog and stories. It prevented me from feeling like I was in history class listening to the droning voice of a professor. And it didn’t even rely on a prologue! Yay!
The story itself is light, which agains remind me of the Belgariad series. Stuff happens, some not so pleasant, but the vibe is upbeat and the characters joke among each other with regularity. It gave the book a carefree feeling, but that did drain the tension from some scenes.
Quite a few of the characters I could exchange with those in the Belgariad books and the stories would still flow effortlessly. One character in particular hit very close to Pol. Funny thing, I didn’t really latch on to any one character. But I didn’t in Belgariad either. That’s very odd for me. If I don’t latch on to someone, I usually don’t like the book. But like the Belgariad, the characters had their quirks and the story was enjoyable enough to make up for the lack of my whole investment. Tylor was my absolute favorite though. His sense of humor was awesome and his abilities were incredibly fun to read about.
Please note, this is not a dark book. This is not a horribly traumatized cast of characters. This is a very clean cut fantasy. It is a break from the dark books out there and has a completely followable plot.
So, you might be wondering why, especially for a character driven reader such as myself, I would award this book four stars. What tipped it for me was because of the nostalgia it brought. I was young again, enjoying a story that didn’t hurt my brain, sitting astride a horse while gazing at what they saw and listening to their conversations. It was a break from reality and a quick little adventure.
Would I read it again? Probably not. Will I buy the second book? Absolutely.
So there you have it. My ramblings are done.
April 23, 2014
SCI-FI #FANTASY ~ THE PROTECTOR:The Outerworld Key (#1) by Mark Matthews [Charlotte M. Liebel Review], April 21, 2014
The brilliant, well-developed and imaginative implications of a fantasy god, trolls, sorceresses, animals, and mini-kings are enchanting. Subjects of the realms are drawn to centuries old prophecies and a legend about The Protector who is gifted. The fascination for magical storytelling is that of Author Mark Matthews: THE PROTECTOR: Book One of The Outerworld Key.
The Protector, a young prince of the Western Lands, is named Barrett. He is gifted beyond his wildest dreams and discovers his magical charms as slowly as the audience. Such extraordinary talents make for curiosity and excitement along the journey traveled with his entourage. Albeit, the band of companions all possess gifts and talents. Among them are four princes, a woman spy, and the Ancient One who is also a woman.
The gifted partners of the party all carry important roles and assignments and their slowly evolving descriptions are admirably introduced. Readers initially learn of Prince Barrett's rambunctious meanderings as a child in the king's castle. He is scolded even as an adult by Brandli (a significant player) for his errant travels, through a secret passageway, to the city without him as his personal bodyguard. At this point, we do not know why.
Among favorite moments are the king's great love and memory of his wife, the queen of Westmore. Later discoveries of interest about a prisoner ~ The Fader ~ named Tylor, `soaring' feats of bravery and grace regard Prince Barrett and, especially his friendship with Arrow, his talented horse, are all memorable and mind-boggling. The tale is extravagant with personality descriptions, gross descriptors of functional abilities and limitations of some enemies. Town-folk become agents of unique assistance and ancient libraries provide maps.
Throughout the journey, companions provide clues about where they will find the 'Key' from those privy to such information of their group. One of the party is Zanora, the beautiful and feisty redhead who was trained as a spy. Her looks knock the Westmore prince to his knees but, of course, her smart-mouth and tough attitude rub him the wrong way when they meet. Much of the beauty and her character develop en route.
The objective is finding The Outerworld Key that the angry god Gon hid from his world eons ago. The evil seekers are many and their aim is to release demons. The Protector with his companions have the best interests of humanity at heart. Surely they must find the `Key' first.
A nail-biting war is dangling from the hinges of chaos! Thousands are involved... their swords and arrows are many! Yet the magical swirls of dust could prevail... against all odds! Recommended for all fantasy fans.
THE PROTECTOR: Book One of The Outerworld Key by Mark Matthews. *The book was received as a gift for an honest review. *The Amazon Kindle edition is a verified purchase.
The brilliant, well-developed and imaginative implications of a fantasy god, trolls, sorceresses, animals, and mini-kings are enchanting. Subjects of the realms are drawn to centuries old prophecies and a legend about The Protector who is gifted. The fascination for magical storytelling is that of Author Mark Matthews: THE PROTECTOR: Book One of The Outerworld Key.
The Protector, a young prince of the Western Lands, is named Barrett. He is gifted beyond his wildest dreams and discovers his magical charms as slowly as the audience. Such extraordinary talents make for curiosity and excitement along the journey traveled with his entourage. Albeit, the band of companions all possess gifts and talents. Among them are four princes, a woman spy, and the Ancient One who is also a woman.
The gifted partners of the party all carry important roles and assignments and their slowly evolving descriptions are admirably introduced. Readers initially learn of Prince Barrett's rambunctious meanderings as a child in the king's castle. He is scolded even as an adult by Brandli (a significant player) for his errant travels, through a secret passageway, to the city without him as his personal bodyguard. At this point, we do not know why.
Among favorite moments are the king's great love and memory of his wife, the queen of Westmore. Later discoveries of interest about a prisoner ~ The Fader ~ named Tylor, `soaring' feats of bravery and grace regard Prince Barrett and, especially his friendship with Arrow, his talented horse, are all memorable and mind-boggling. The tale is extravagant with personality descriptions, gross descriptors of functional abilities and limitations of some enemies. Town-folk become agents of unique assistance and ancient libraries provide maps.
Throughout the journey, companions provide clues about where they will find the 'Key' from those privy to such information of their group. One of the party is Zanora, the beautiful and feisty redhead who was trained as a spy. Her looks knock the Westmore prince to his knees but, of course, her smart-mouth and tough attitude rub him the wrong way when they meet. Much of the beauty and her character develop en route.
The objective is finding The Outerworld Key that the angry god Gon hid from his world eons ago. The evil seekers are many and their aim is to release demons. The Protector with his companions have the best interests of humanity at heart. Surely they must find the `Key' first.
A nail-biting war is dangling from the hinges of chaos! Thousands are involved... their swords and arrows are many! Yet the magical swirls of dust could prevail... against all odds! Recommended for all fantasy fans.
THE PROTECTOR: Book One of The Outerworld Key by Mark Matthews. *The book was received as a gift for an honest review. *The Amazon Kindle edition is a verified purchase.
September 6, 2016
In “The Protector,” Author Matthews sets out to start the telling of a classic quest tale set in a high fantasy world bursting with sword fights, archers, sorceresses, and evils Faders. The hero, Barrett, has been chosen to lead a band of brave warriors deep into enemy territory to secure a sacred key that unlocks the gates to the underworld. Like most great heroes, Barrett accepts his new responsibility with a healthy dose of distrust and fear. Nevertheless, he is The Protector and he must deliver — whatever the cost.
Like a many of the other reviewers, the budding romance between Barrett and one of his traveling companions felt inauthentic and at times distracted from the meat of the story. As is sometimes the case with high fantasy, the pace of the story can be slower than modern readers are used to.
On the other hand, there is much to like in this first book in the Outerworld Key series. For one, Matthews sets up a compelling meta-story that will certainly carry into subsequent books. He also has a real talent for scene setting, often so crucial in this type of story. Managing the cast of characters that comes along with a quest tale can be a challenge. I felt Matthews developed a few of his characters exceptionally well. My favorite character hands-down was Tylor, the Fader, a type of shape-shifter.
If you’re in the mood for a classic quest tale, then “The Protector” is for you.
Like a many of the other reviewers, the budding romance between Barrett and one of his traveling companions felt inauthentic and at times distracted from the meat of the story. As is sometimes the case with high fantasy, the pace of the story can be slower than modern readers are used to.
On the other hand, there is much to like in this first book in the Outerworld Key series. For one, Matthews sets up a compelling meta-story that will certainly carry into subsequent books. He also has a real talent for scene setting, often so crucial in this type of story. Managing the cast of characters that comes along with a quest tale can be a challenge. I felt Matthews developed a few of his characters exceptionally well. My favorite character hands-down was Tylor, the Fader, a type of shape-shifter.
If you’re in the mood for a classic quest tale, then “The Protector” is for you.
December 13, 2013
I know I've read a great book when days later the characters are still hanging around in my thoughts. The Protector, Book One of the Outerworld Key, authored by Mark Matthews has that magical prose. I was off into a fantasy world with the young prince and his companions as they journeyed across lands to find the key before the world is destroyed. The characters were well developed, each with their own quirks and personalities made the story all that more entertaining. The settings felt real and the pace is perfect, there was always some action or dilemma happening. I enjoyed the growing friendship and trust between the prince and his companions, the fight between good and evil, the mystical beings, and the end that felt like a beginning. This is the first book I've read by Mark Matthews and I am looking forward to book two. I give this book five stars and recommend it for reading.
December 17, 2013
The Protector, the 1st in the Outerworld Key series, is a wonderous story, the first saga of a journey through a fantasy land peopled with Narnons, Faders, Pangorians, Muslin and countless others. Some are aligned against the demons in the outerworld while other are out for the power rumored to be held by the possessor of the key.
As predicted in the prophecy, can the prince find the key and save the kingdoms or will others be before him. Will good triumph over evil, or will evil rule the world? Read, The Protector, to find out.
As predicted in the prophecy, can the prince find the key and save the kingdoms or will others be before him. Will good triumph over evil, or will evil rule the world? Read, The Protector, to find out.
January 24, 2014
I'm a fan of the fantasy genre, so I went into this expecting to like it and I was not disappointed. Mark's writing is one half Tolkien and one half Paolini, with a story as intricate and interesting as both.
Prince Barrett has led a pretty happy life, all things considered, but his world is about to change when he discovers things that move in the shadows; spies, sorceresses, and the threat of an ancient evil. he must team up with a group of mismatched companions, including the princes from two neighboring realms, a lady spy, an ancient sorceress who he has an unknown tie to, and his personal bodyguard, Brandli, and travel across his world in an effort to stop an evil sorceress and a fader from finding the key that could release an ancient, evil God.
One thing that stuck out for me was a nice dose of reality - the characters have to bathe, they have to eat. many books skip this, and I've often found myself thinking "but they have to be filthy by now!" But The Protector addresses this, in fact other characters even comet on their travelworn state!
Over all the story had a good pace and just the right touch of humor. The descriptions were detailed enough to give a picture, but didn't bog the story down (as some fantasy novels suffer from). The fight scenes had just enough gore/violence to feel bloody but not so much as to feel gory, and the world and races were well thought out and presented. Most of alI, I enjoyed the characters. Brandli and prince Unger were my favorites (the prince really has a lot of development), though all of the characters felt fleshed out and interesting. The romance was fun, and considering the prince's no doubt sheltered life, his reactions made sense. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and seeing what else the author has in store for the companions.
Prince Barrett has led a pretty happy life, all things considered, but his world is about to change when he discovers things that move in the shadows; spies, sorceresses, and the threat of an ancient evil. he must team up with a group of mismatched companions, including the princes from two neighboring realms, a lady spy, an ancient sorceress who he has an unknown tie to, and his personal bodyguard, Brandli, and travel across his world in an effort to stop an evil sorceress and a fader from finding the key that could release an ancient, evil God.
One thing that stuck out for me was a nice dose of reality - the characters have to bathe, they have to eat. many books skip this, and I've often found myself thinking "but they have to be filthy by now!" But The Protector addresses this, in fact other characters even comet on their travelworn state!
Over all the story had a good pace and just the right touch of humor. The descriptions were detailed enough to give a picture, but didn't bog the story down (as some fantasy novels suffer from). The fight scenes had just enough gore/violence to feel bloody but not so much as to feel gory, and the world and races were well thought out and presented. Most of alI, I enjoyed the characters. Brandli and prince Unger were my favorites (the prince really has a lot of development), though all of the characters felt fleshed out and interesting. The romance was fun, and considering the prince's no doubt sheltered life, his reactions made sense. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and seeing what else the author has in store for the companions.
January 7, 2014
I received this copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love high fantasy, it is one of my favorite genres, so when this book was offered to me I jumped on it.
I am so happy I did. This book is the story of a young prince and his companions. They are hunting for a key before their land is destroyed.
What I journey it is. What a journey.
The characters are very well developed, each add something to the story that made this a book I could not put down. Once I started it I knew I wanted to finish it in one sitting.
Like almost every high fantasy there is a battle between good and evil, and I can't wait to see which will prevail. This book also has other important elements of high fantasy. Prophecy, well developed and complex characters and a journey. Love it. I am smiling right now as I think about it.
I am ready for book 2, and this book is going to be very hard to top for 2014! This book will go on my 2014 favorites and I am so very happy I found such a great book for the new year!
I love high fantasy, it is one of my favorite genres, so when this book was offered to me I jumped on it.
I am so happy I did. This book is the story of a young prince and his companions. They are hunting for a key before their land is destroyed.
What I journey it is. What a journey.
The characters are very well developed, each add something to the story that made this a book I could not put down. Once I started it I knew I wanted to finish it in one sitting.
Like almost every high fantasy there is a battle between good and evil, and I can't wait to see which will prevail. This book also has other important elements of high fantasy. Prophecy, well developed and complex characters and a journey. Love it. I am smiling right now as I think about it.
I am ready for book 2, and this book is going to be very hard to top for 2014! This book will go on my 2014 favorites and I am so very happy I found such a great book for the new year!
February 3, 2014
Do not be fooled by the fantasy label on this novel. While there is certainly enough sorcery, feudal lore, and classic plot devices to fit the genre, The Protector is far more than just that.
The narrative centers on Prince Barrett, a young man fighting each day with trying to balance his birthright and all that comes with it with being the man he wishes to be. Before he has a chance to find that balance though, he discovers there are evil forces in the world desperately seeking to unleash a darkness that could destroy the planet. Led by an ancient prophecy and joined by a random assortment of companions - a pair of princes, a comely spy, a loyal bodyguard, a sorceress he has known even longer than he realizes, and a new companion that nobody quite knows what to make of yet - Barrett sets off on a journey he only vaguely understands to do what he hopes will be right.
While this is certainly a fantasy tale, what will draw readers in is the humanity that permeates every action. There is uncertainty and second-guessing on Barrett’s part throughout, stemming from young love, newfound abilities, allies he’s not sure he can trust yet. In addition, there are lengthy discussions about class interaction, about the value of nature, even the realizations that come with interacting with different races and species.
The story alone would be enough to keep a reader engaged, but taken with how nuanced and relatable the characters and the situations they face are, the pages never stop moving. This is the first book in the Outerworld Key storyline, and Matthews’ excellent work will be sure to leave the reader anxious to see what happens next.
The narrative centers on Prince Barrett, a young man fighting each day with trying to balance his birthright and all that comes with it with being the man he wishes to be. Before he has a chance to find that balance though, he discovers there are evil forces in the world desperately seeking to unleash a darkness that could destroy the planet. Led by an ancient prophecy and joined by a random assortment of companions - a pair of princes, a comely spy, a loyal bodyguard, a sorceress he has known even longer than he realizes, and a new companion that nobody quite knows what to make of yet - Barrett sets off on a journey he only vaguely understands to do what he hopes will be right.
While this is certainly a fantasy tale, what will draw readers in is the humanity that permeates every action. There is uncertainty and second-guessing on Barrett’s part throughout, stemming from young love, newfound abilities, allies he’s not sure he can trust yet. In addition, there are lengthy discussions about class interaction, about the value of nature, even the realizations that come with interacting with different races and species.
The story alone would be enough to keep a reader engaged, but taken with how nuanced and relatable the characters and the situations they face are, the pages never stop moving. This is the first book in the Outerworld Key storyline, and Matthews’ excellent work will be sure to leave the reader anxious to see what happens next.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews