Forged for Destiny

by Andrew Knighton

In the first book of this epic chosen-one fantasy series, Raul must claim his birthright as the last surviving heir of King Balbainus and lead his conquered people to freedom.  The signs are all there—his birthmark, in the shape of Balbainus’ halfmoon and dagger sigil, the gemstone-hilted sword he found in his parents’ inn, and the sudden influx of illegal books featuring the late king’s lineage. Nevermind the fact that his sword doesn’t seem very old at all, he feels much more comfortable reading than fighting, and his birthmark is looking more and more like a burn scar…

As Raul leaves his simple village life to start a rebellion against the tyrannical Dunholmi government, he begins to wonder if his destiny is more someone else’s plan for a future he doesn’t want to be a part of. He’ll go along with things, for now, if only to prove that change can come from kindness instead of outright destruction. 

After all, destiny is what you make of it. 

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Adult

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 2025

About the author

Andrew Knighton is a British author, comics scribe, and freelance writer. His works include steampunk adventure story The Epiphany Club and alternate history thriller The Bear’s Claws. He lives in Yorkshire with a savage black cat and a huge heap of unread books.

Reviews

[Billie's Not So Secret Diary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Forged for Destiny
by Andrew Knighton
Medieval Fantasy
NetGalley eARC (Invite)
Pub Date: Apr. 15, 2025
Orbit Books
Ages: 16+

Raul's birthmark is exactly what the prophecy describes, thus marking the young man as the last surviving heir of King Balbainus and it is said that the heir will lead his people to freedom by defeating the Dunholmi government that had conquered the people eighteen years ago.

Under the care of his adopted parents: an older warrior, and a seer, Raul has been trained to fight and to see signs in the world around him. But Raul doesn't want to be a fighter because his heart is soft. He is caring, but he is willing to play along until he can find a peaceful way.


Yeah, I can't say much about this book because at around twenty-five percent I so wanted to DNF. Even though the first chapter had action and suspense, I got bored and started to skim. Nothing was going on except rambling pointless dialogue, narrations that went around and around like a textbook, and Raul's daily life and those around him, who were all flat, as was the world.

Kicking myself for not tossing this book when I first wanted to, I skimmed even faster because I was so far into it and hoped in those last chapters I would find out why so many people rated this three or more stars... And even after finishing, I still have no idea why.

Nothing grabbed my attention until the end... spoiler.... then the story left off as a minor cliffhanger...

As for the twist... 'eye roll'...

There is violence, a little gory, so this isn't suitable for readers under sixteen.

As for a next possible book, I won't be reading it!

1 Star

[Anna Makowska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who is this book for? Readers nostalgic for ye olde pseudo-medieval-Western-European feudal fantasy with a naive white male farmboy going on his coming of age hero's journey while a rebellion against an evil emperor / king / duke / governor etc. is brewing. Except that he doesn't have any special magic, just his wits and combat training.

This book is competently written with distinct characters: we have a cynical seeress, a gay jaded veteran stoic warrior, a young naive farmboy who dreams of being the hero and saviour of the people, an ambitious theatre girl, an antagonist duke / governor who's appropriately evil but not cartoonishly so, etc.

My problem with it is that it reads very paint by numbers, doesn't hold my attention, doesn't surprise me with plot twists, doesn't make me emotionally invested in the characters or the story. It's very workmanlike. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing stands out either.

And to be honest, I've already read one book this year with a young naive boy dreaming of becoming a hero, jaded mentor and mysterious theatre girl: Breath of the Dragon and that book was better in every aspect: better tension, better pacing, better characters.

I can see why this book landed in Orbit's digital imprint rather than the main branch. It's moderately entertaining but that's it. Even the big titular "plot twist" doesn't seem to impact the story in any manner. Maybe except that our "chosen one" isn't especially strong in the force or possess any magic, but you can be a chosen one without any special skill, just ask Frodo.

The protagonist's inner monologue is fairly repetitive and circular, going from "we have to save the people! oh no, I killed some guards, that's bad! nvm, I did what I had to do to save the people!" It's shallow and doesn't really present compelling character development.

3.5 star rounded up, because even though it's meh, it's not like "I'm coming out in 3 weeks and I have a single digit number of reviews" level of meh. To be honest, people ask online why did publishing turn their backs away from this kind of stories - standard white feudal fantasy with a standard farmboy hero. And sadly as we see here the answer is: because nobody reads them. I gave it a honest try, because I do have nostalgia for standard pseudo-medieval sword&whatever fantasy. But the book did not impress me.

Thank you Netgalley & Orbit / Orbit Works for the ARC.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent tale about a chosen one who's not actually a chosen one at all!
False prophecies, rugged warriors with a heart of gold, a quest to bring down the empire!

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eighteen years ago the city of Pavuno was invaded by the Dunholmi. The royal family was killed. A baby was saved by a diviner and a soldier. The baby will grow up to play a very big part in overthrowing the Dunholmi. He is the chosen one.

I really loved this take on the chosen one trope. I liked the writing style. I just didn't love the characters. The only one I really liked is Valens. I didn't like Raul. I disliked his character enough that I don't see me continuing the series. He's the chosen one. He's supposed to be someone people want to follow. I thought he was wishy-washy. One minute full of self-doubt, then the next doing something really stupid because he's the chosen one and he can save the world.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an early copy.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The city of Pavuno falls to Dunholmi invasion, and an orphaned baby is swept away to the backwater farms of the Winding Vales. For eighteen years, Raul is raised by the steadfast warrior Valens and the scheming scribe Prisca, enjoying a peaceful but isolated life. Yet Raul senses his destiny is different, and he’s marked by a mysterious birthmark tied to the ancient King Balbianus. Prophecies name him a hero, and with Valens and Prisca by his side, he sets out to rally the conquered provinces, even if it means relying on stagecraft and lies to overcome tyranny.

This engaging high fantasy offers an inventive take on the classic chosen one trope while weaving in themes of loyalty, loss, and the rebellious power of books and knowledge. Tension mounts through daring nighttime escapades, dramatic action, and straightforward yet gripping intrigue. Raul’s journey as a fragile, conflicted young man striving to prove himself adds emotional depth and explores how much of heroism is acting the part. Valens also shines as a rare example of a good father in the fantasy genre, supporting Raul despite his doubts and disillusionment. Perfect for fans of Raymond E. Feist.

(This review was originally written for Library Journal magazine.)

[Bevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

{3.5/5}

CW: violence, some gore, death, war

Read via NetGalley.

Thank you to Orbit for reaching out with an eGalley of this book! “Forged for Destiny” releases April 15, 2025!

**A note about my blurb and review— I don’t do spoilers, and I’ve written this review based on what’s revealed in chapter 1. However, my blurb and review will both tell you a little bit more than the author’s breakdown, so read at your own risk. I don’t think these are spoilers, but you might.

What if the prophecy about the chosen one was built on a lie? Eighteen years ago, as the kingdom of Estis was destroyed by war, a minister and a solider escaped with a baby. So began their plot to bring Estis back to life. When Raul accidentally discovers the prophecies, it launches his family into the midst of a destiny that they built themselves. Except, Raul truly believes that he’s the one destined to lead Estis back from the past.

I’m so conflicted about this book, and that’s largely because it’s moderately well written. The story itself is interesting enough. The premise is great. The characters, though, spend a vast majority of the book being very true to who they are as people and those people are, on the whole, really unlikable.

The puppeteer, the doormat, the child, the selfish one. Not one of them embodies anything particularly noble or heroic, and that’s the point, I think. There are no heroes. But there are choices, and we get to see these characters make them. See them turn themselves into something worth reading about, or not. If you can suffer the fools long enough to see them develop, the reward is worth it. The whole execution really reflects Raul’s development, and, even as unbearable as I found them at times, it’s well done.

I think the reason Raul specifically is so unlikable to me is that we all know he’s wrong. He’s not actually the chosen one. But he uses it like a shield and he’s so blazingly confident in a lie that it’s hard to read. It’s probably what his father was feeling the whole time, but I couldn’t cope. It’s a lethal combination— ignorance and confidence. Were he any less well written I probably would’ve spent the entire book rooting for him to get killed off and replaced with someone more competent. And we, the readers, have the horrible misfortune of knowing it’s a lie *the entire time*. We don’t get the slow creep of suspicion, the gut punch reveal of the betrayal. We just know, and we have to sit with it, and it’s awful (the writing is great, but those feels are not). And it’s particularly terrible because, outside of him being forced into a position where he has to do important things, we probably wouldn’t dislike Raul as a character. Honestly, we’d probably pity him a little bit. ‘Poor, naive boy, he means well but he’s a little clueless.’ But in this role, in this position as a grand savior of the nation, he’s so blindly unaware of how much he’s been manipulated for his entire life, and it stings.

The pacing comes across as a little slow at times, but it’s engaging enough overall that I kept reading. It does end up being very cyclical, though, which is why it felt so slow. Most of the actual action comes at the end, but again a lot of this book is kind of ‘how to be a hero 101’ for our MC, so it’s very fitting.

I love the magic here, the charms and the divination. I want to know more about it and what it does and how it’s used. It’s a nice thread that runs throughout the whole book in a story where the rest of the world building is fairly understated. Since most of what we see is charm based, it feels really reminiscent of some folk traditions, which I really enjoyed.

The ending is what really saved the book for me. Up until that point, it was a very ‘take it or leave it’ read for me. In books as much as life, apparently, I’m not overly willing to suffer a fool, and Raul is, as many 18 year olds are, a fool of the highest degree. By the end, though, we see him finally starting to get it together, and it made me want to see what he might become in the future if he continues to grow and develop. So if character development is your thing, or you just want to have a behind the scenes look at how heroes are made, this might be the story for you.

[WS_BOOKCLUB]

While I didn’t hate it, I also didn’t love Forged for Destiny. Instead, my reaction was a bit on the “meh” side. There were a few reasons for this, but the first is mine alone. Something about the blurb made me think the book would be, if not more lighthearted than it was, at least gentler. The idea of a “hero in the forging” who really isn’t the fierce warrior, or fearless leader, prophecies claim he’d be made me smile. However, the reality of the story is rather grim and much less smile-worthy than I expected.

The book begins with an intense scene and a desperate bid for hope, even if that hope had to be created. Unfortunately, (and I won’t go into details), the beginning of that scheme was much much too brutal for my liking. I swallowed my “ick” and kept on reading. I will say that it settled into a full narrative and that the violence did end up being closer to your usual fantasy fare, which is much more doable for me. But the stomach-churning scene early on left me on edge for the first few chapters.

The book was well written, although I do feel that it was a little longer than it needed to be. Poor Raul was clearly out of his depth (although I would argue most “heroes” are), although he did try. He vacillated between confidence and questioning everything about himself throughout the book. I found this to be an interesting tug-of-war and utterly believable. I didn’t love his character, but I don’t think he’s meant to be well-liked anyway, which means the author did what he intended.

In fact, I didn’t like any of the characters. That’s okay with me; I don’t have to like a character to be invested in them. Some of the most interesting characters I’ve read are flat-out jerks. The majority of the characters in Forged for Destiny weren’t really characters, though. They were stereotypes, much like the characters in The Breakfast Club. They had less development than I expected, but the author also used them to tackle larger themes. These were important ones, such as using the skills you have to do what little good you can, even if that looks different from what was expected.

Okay, this is sounding as though I disliked the book. I didn’t. The premise was fascinating, the narrative well-written (if a little slow at times), and the idea of divination playing such a large role in… well, almost everything, was great. Forged for Destiny is a solid book, albeit not what I was expecting.

While I was not sold on it, Forged for Destiny is an interesting study in choices over manufactured destiny. If this sounds like your bag, give it a go.

Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for providing me with this book. This did not affect my opinion in any way. Forged for Destiny is available now.

[Chris Monceaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Thank you to Orbit Books for providing an advanced copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

I’m a bit of a sucker for a chosen one story, and I love to stumble upon new takes on the trope. Despite having “twist” in the tag line, Forged for Destiny felt really formulaic in both its plot and characters. Nothing about it was particularly bad, though, and I had a good enough time on this adventure to want to read the next book.

The plot of Forged for Destiny was executed well despite being a bit predictable. The only real twist in the story was given away at the very beginning, but I didn’t mind it. Raul’s journey was the typical hero’s journey. I liked getting to see him leave his small town and incrementally grow into a leader of the rebellion. There are reasons why chosen one stories are so popular, and this book definitely taps into a lot of the qualities of the trope that I love. The story was a good mix of action and emotional moments with just a hint of romance thrown in for good measure.

My favorite characters in Forged for Destiny were probably Raul and his father. They were the emotional heart of the story, and I really felt their connection leap off the page. Raul grew so much. He started out a naive farm boy who was just going along with his parents plan to overthrow the tyrannical government. He was soft and kind, and the rebellion hardened him in some ways but never changed his penchant for doing what was right rather than leading with malice. By the end, he was blooming into a leader that inspired others through his actions rather than his pedigree.

One of the weakest elements of Forged for Destiny for me was the world-building. There were some interesting bits here and there, but I needed way more to chew on. It felt like a very run-of-the-mill, barebones fantasy setting without much to make it stand out. I did like the themes in the story, though. It tackled the idea of destiny versus self-determination in interesting ways and touched on the ills of imperialism.

Overall, Forged for Destiny was a good chosen one story with interesting characters and thought-provoking themes. The setting and plot were pretty unexceptional, though. Nothing in this book could be said to reinvent the wheel, but it did execute the common tropes and trappings of a chosen one fantasy well. Therefore, I rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

[Emily Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit, and Andrew Knighton for giving me an eARC of Forged for Destiny in exchange for my honest Review.

Forged for Destiny is the first book in a new fantasy trilogy that has the chosen one trope but with a twist. This is a book of character development. You have to go in blind because there is not a whole lot happening really with the plot. There are small things here and there, but it is really the character development that this book focuses on and getting Raul to where he needs to be. This book is a slow read because of that, and it is not necessarily a book that will draw you in and be difficult to put down. Now, that is not to say that this book is not good, because I really enjoyed watching Raul as he figured out who he is and what he wants to do with this "destiny" that he has been given. This is a book that follows a trend that I have seen a lot more of in recent fantasy books where instead of having this action-packed first book, a set-up-focused second book, to get us to this epic finale, the first book ends up taking on a bulk of the setup. This is something that I cannot decide if I love or hate, but I think that is because the second and third books in this new trend (that maybe I just made up in my head) have not been published yet. But I will say that while I found this book to be on the slower side, it showed a lot of promise. I loved where Raul's character ended up, and I truly want to see how he continues to develop as a character as he starts to make his own decisions rather than going with what he is being encouraged by others to do. I also cannot wait to see how his interpersonal relationships continue to develop, especially after the end of this book. While I do hope that there is a little more action in book two or at least a bit of a quicker pace, I will say that this book and the concept behind it have drawn me in. Where I stand, I am not sure there ever was a good guy in the situation between empires and conquerors, so where do they go from here, who knows? Also, this book has some pretty powerful themes that go along with that last statement, where I am interested to see where Knighton takes these themes next because there is a lot of potential with these themes, and it really makes the readers think. I know it got me thinking, that is for sure.

[Chrystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forged for Destiny is the story of a boy who is meant to be the chosen one.....sort of. The story was a new take on the chosen troupe that is so popular in the fantasy genre. We follow Raul, a kind-hearted "chosen one," as he navigates through the trials and tribulations, and whether he truly will be the hero that everyone is looking for.

Forged for Destiny had an easy writing style that made it simple to pick up and immediately get back into the story. However, a criticism that I have is that there were many places where the story seemed to drag or become repetitive. It seemed that the same things were happening, or close to it, before anything happened that progressed the story. The last 20 percent of the book was the most interesting and I feel that some of it could have been spread into the story. Some of the characters were flat and did not seem to grow; however, at the end, it seemed that there was potential that would prompt me to read the next book.

The story did stand out as being a different take on a familiar trope, and it definitely did it well. The writing was easy and the book was not incredibly long. The shorter book did not allow for a lot of world-building, and there were definitely some gaps in the history of the land that are definitely missing, but perhaps can be filled in along the way.

All in all, it was a solid book, I liked that it was on the shorter side which made it a good book to just get lost in but not feel overwhelmed by a behemoth high fantasy, however read a little bit of a high fantasy take.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

[Dan Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really glad my parents didn't mislead me my entire life for a plot that will make a trail of bodies. Just how much money it takes to survive in the US these days. So time to read about Raul in "Forged for Destiny" by Andrew Knighton, dude has a rough go of it.

Living through the sack of your city is horrifying. Especially when you add leaving a friend to die and stealing a random kid to the mix. Jump forward 18 years to a sleepy village and Raul has grown to be a nice lad. Just some odd things are happening. A random gem encrusted sword, illegal texts, the play his ma is funding that tells of the return of a foretold king. Yea he's the chosen one. But all that shine has just a bit of tarnish.

Narrated by Stewart Clark, the tone of voice as actions evolve was a great switch.

Reasons to read:
-Just a nice kid being gaslit by his parents/abductors
-Revolution against folks deleting your culture
-Dang they might have a good reason for it
-Everyone actually having evidence that this is really sus

Cons:
-In this economy lying for a job isn't the worst idea, hopefully with a smaller body count in reality if done though

[Kelsie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am always looking for new authors to read, and I can often count on Orbit to deliver. Andrew Knighton, however, I won’t pick up again. Forged for Destiny by Andrew Knighton is, frankly, shallow, predictable, and boring. It barely has magic—a shapeshifter and “omens” that certain characters follow. The characters: a naïve boy, a jaded old war veteran, a crazy priestess/scribe, and an aspiring actress. The plot: A birthmark distinguishes Raul as the one who would restore his people’s independence, and the time has come to start a rebellion.

But the rebellion fell flat. The characters were flat, and I couldn’t stand Raul. He was a kindhearted softie. Raul never questioned his “destiny.” He embraced it, and he tells himself again and again that he’s the hero. He’s the chosen one. It’s his duty and responsibility, and because he’s the “chosen one” everyone will follow him. He fights, sure, leaving bodies in his wake. He feels guilty about it each time but tells himself, “It’s what I have to do.” And this keeps happening…again and again. I tired of Raul rationalizing his actions. The whole majority takes place in one city. The rest? Traveling to the city. While there are skirmishes, the plot has no ebb and flow. It’s all very predictable. I kept waiting for the characters to become more admirable, the plot to become more enthralling, and it never happened.

No surprises. Nothing inspiring. Not suspenseful. I expected something far more Arthurian in nature, and Forged for Destiny by Andrew Knighton never rose to the occasion. The “big twist” wasn’t much of a twist. Knighton dropped in the war veteran’s sexual preference, but nothing happened with it in the novel, which begs the question…why was it included in the first place? Just to check a box? Maybe it’ll come up in later novels. But it rubbed me the wrong way.

I will try any author once. Andrew Knighton is not one I will try again.

Note: I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All views expressed are my own.

[Dominique "Eerie" Sobieska · Rating 1 out of 5]

The premise sounded interesting. A simple foretold/ destined hero will rise to save them all. As you continue reading Forged for Destiny, you realise things mean not be what they seem. Although this sounds wonderful, I feel the entire book failed to captivate me.

The characters you follow do not stand out; they feel flat. As for the protagonist, Raul, I cannot tell if he is just unlikable or created to be unlikable. The dialogue felt mundane. Jasmi... I need to ask why is she unbelievably perfect, every page she is mentioned in is like praise galore. An important thing I wanted to say was Raul does a U-turn on what he wanted to do before he was told he was destined for greatness. It was out of character. With the lack of discovery of your path, this was just a missed opportunity for me. Also being told on numerous occasions that Raul will learn in times was not appealing at all.

That twist-not a twist. If you remember the details from the prologue, you'll see the twist coming a kilometer away.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read Forged for Destiny.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was a interesting take on the “chosen one” trope. In this story the prophesied one to take back the land for a conquered people is artificial engineered with a birthmark that is in actuality a branding that was given to him as a baby and other evidence planted to make him and the people believe that he is the one to fulfill this.

The problem (for those who created these signs) is he is a kindhearted young man of 18 when the story opens after the prologue and in a lot of ways he is not a good fit for the role. By the end of this book there is a great stopping point but there appears to be more of the story. Hopefully the author is able to write more stories in this world. It gets four stars because while it is entertaining, and I did finish, I didn't find myself constantly thinking about these characters and world throughout my day like I would for a five star book.

[Jeff Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of Tolkien, Weis and Hickman, and the quest driven stories they wrote, I approve of this. I like how the journey wasn't as much physically traveling from one place to another as much as it was the inner journey the characters took from the start of the book to the end.
Speaking of the characters, one thing a well written character should do is invoke feeling in the reader. Nearly all of the characters in this book I found myself either really liking or disliking and sometimes going from one to the other about the same character. Even the main antagonist was a character I found myself liking.
I really enjoyed how the characters were well rounded people. They were brave, cowards, kind, selfish, honest, liars, sure, filled with self doubt, they were like us. Certainly not stereotypes of heroes and villains. Most characters had a bit of both hero and villain within.
I am looking forward to the next book.

[Meaghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Raul is the Not-so-Chosen One, an infant plucked from an orphanage during the kingdom's downfall and given a scar to match the one prophesied to retake the throne.

I get it - Raul is the naive farm boy told by his adoptive parents that he is the true king. All of his motivation comes from the lie pressed upon him by his parents. But he is just. So. Naive!

The world building is interesting. Raul has a shapeshifting best friend, and there seems to be magic (but no explanation of the magic system itself). And Raul gets through everything with luck, pluck, and plot armor. I had to push myself to finish and, knowing it ends on a cliffhanger, will chose not to continue the series.

Note: I received an ARC through Netgalley.

[Cayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways fate decides if we are chosen… this could be for the good and the bad. In this case fate made a grumpy warrior pick the proverbial chosen one out of a group of babies. The prologue kicks off with an ending of an empire. Halfway through the book, we are back where it all began and trying to end yet another reign.
I enjoyed the parental characters a lot, and somehow disliked the “chosen one” for being so naive. Which is an important point of the story and just maybe that’s exactly why he’s the “chosen one”.

I shall ponder this for a while longer..

Nonetheless, this was an interesting take on a common trope and I truly enjoyed exploring it!

[Dee Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forged for Destiny had potential, but unfortunately it didn’t deliver for me. The concept was intriguing, but I struggled to stay invested in the character’s journey. Dialogue felt stiff at times, and the pacing was inconsistent—some scenes dragged while others skipped over important details. I wanted to enjoy it more, but it just didn’t quite come together. Still open to reading the sequel to see where the story goes.

Thank you Goodreads for a ARC!

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 rounded down. If this book were YA, it would be fine, but it’s too flawed for adult fantasy. Interesting plot and beats, but uninteresting prose and an MC who is naive to the point of stupidity over and over. Side characters who do have some arcs but are really just props, and incredibly one-note.

[Aaron Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher-Orbit-in exchange for an honest review. I thought this book was good. Had many aspects that stood out and was a neat twist in the “chosen one trope”. I did feel there was some rushing in the world building but otherwise an enjoyable read.

[Janna Felix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forged for Destiny had moments of promise, but it didn’t fully land for me the way I hoped. Raul was by far the highlight. His quiet strength, his loyalty, and the weight he carried made him the most compelling part of the story. Watching him navigate the conflict between duty and desire added real depth to an otherwise uneven plot. While the world had intriguing elements and the setup was solid, the pacing dragged in places, and I found myself wishing for more emotional payoff and sharper tension. That said, Raul’s arc gave the story heart, and for that alone, it was still worth the read.

[Sammy Nyquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if we kissed in front of our dads that occasionally hook up?

[Jelena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway. I tried to like it really but it was not compelling. I didn’t care for the characters.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

good story!

[Ari · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting an older protagonist that didn't have his parents around to tell him what to do since this is not a YA book but alas, that was not the case. I really could not relate to these characters and I found myself bored even in the action scenes. The reveal didn't work for me and the character development felt off. Unfortunately, I will not be continuing this series.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this different take on the chosen one myth about a young man with a forged birthmark raised to be hope for his people.

[MJ Barrette · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a serviceable fantasy.

If you're looking for something along the lines of The Vagrant Gods from David Dalglish just without the religion bits, or if you generally enjoy fantasy reads with a chosen one trope, you'll have a good time.

Otherwise, the one thing I can say is that it didn't necessary do anything new.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a good job.

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for an e-copy.

[Carla Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this Title in a Goodreads Giveaway. This book is well written and full of a great imagination. Lots of action in this one. Raul is used as a pawn by his adoptive Mother, but he doesn't know it. She tells of a prophecy of a hero reincarnate that will come back and save their peoples empire. Between the effort of being raised as a hero to save all, he starts to see his childhood friend as something more, Yasmi is an actress and a shape-shifter. Who helps him with many battles along the way. Will Raul find the hero in him his step-mom wants? Does he become a Hero of his own making and become his own man. Read it and find out.