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The Fates of Aten #1
The Waking of Storm and Flame
You can defy a crown. You can outrun a war. But no one escapes their bloodline.
Alira Verbrandt never wanted a crown, only the quiet pursuit of knowledge. But when the ruthless Illyrian Empire marches on her homeland, the princess of Namelle is forced into a war that began long before her time.
On the eve of invasion, Alira discovers a dangerous truth: she is a Fate, the heir of a divine bloodline tied to ancient power and prophecy. Hunted for what she is and burdened with what she must become, Alira must unite others like her to awaken a rebel god; their last hope against annihilation.
But even the gods have something to fear. An ancient prophecy stirs, warning of their creator’s return, and with him, a final judgment that could erase both mortals and immortals alike.
For fans of spellbinding magic, epic battles, and heroines who rise as their world falls, The Waking of Storm and Flame is a captivating beginning to The Fates of Aten, a pentalogy of rebellion, ruin, and rebirth.
Alira Verbrandt never wanted a crown, only the quiet pursuit of knowledge. But when the ruthless Illyrian Empire marches on her homeland, the princess of Namelle is forced into a war that began long before her time.
On the eve of invasion, Alira discovers a dangerous truth: she is a Fate, the heir of a divine bloodline tied to ancient power and prophecy. Hunted for what she is and burdened with what she must become, Alira must unite others like her to awaken a rebel god; their last hope against annihilation.
But even the gods have something to fear. An ancient prophecy stirs, warning of their creator’s return, and with him, a final judgment that could erase both mortals and immortals alike.
For fans of spellbinding magic, epic battles, and heroines who rise as their world falls, The Waking of Storm and Flame is a captivating beginning to The Fates of Aten, a pentalogy of rebellion, ruin, and rebirth.
- GenresFantasy
397 pages, ebook
First published October 16, 2024
About the author
N.A. Betts
6 books42 followersN.A. (Nick) Betts is a Canadian author of epic fantasy with a love for timeless storytelling. A Veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, he crafts sweeping tales of good versus evil, drawing inspiration from Tolkien and other classic works of the genre. His stories are filled with tropes such as coming of age, self-discovery, and found family, while exploring themes of physical perseverance and mental resilience.
When he's not busy creating new worlds, Nick can be found enjoying professional wrestling, diving into stories of the unexplained, or relaxing with some good jazz. He lives just outside Edmonton, Alberta, with his wife and three cats, Bandit, Carter, and Addley.
When he's not busy creating new worlds, Nick can be found enjoying professional wrestling, diving into stories of the unexplained, or relaxing with some good jazz. He lives just outside Edmonton, Alberta, with his wife and three cats, Bandit, Carter, and Addley.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 4, 2025
Invasion brings together countrymen. Binds families. Amidst the terrifying chaos of battle lies a dark truth. Gods walk amongst us.
A fast paced action packed classic fantasy with heart. Enchanted weapons. Magical artifacts & warring gods. Thrilling!
A fast paced action packed classic fantasy with heart. Enchanted weapons. Magical artifacts & warring gods. Thrilling!
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October 31, 2025Your classic good v evil where the youngest sibling is suddenly thrust in the limelight.
If you like battles, basic strategising, and motifs of divine powers, wars, you might enjoy this.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t as engaged as I wanted to be after the fifty page mark, so I ended up DnF’ing at page 185 - 35% in.
Physical arc provided by author.
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If you like battles, basic strategising, and motifs of divine powers, wars, you might enjoy this.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t as engaged as I wanted to be after the fifty page mark, so I ended up DnF’ing at page 185 - 35% in.
Physical arc provided by author.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
February 7, 2025
What a great debut!
First off, one of the most clear examples of a cover grabbing me right away. It's beautiful, and the color scheme is FIRE (no pun intended; ok maybe).
The story itself is a classic epic fantasy, which I needed at the moment. Lots of hero tropes, and the borderline-familiar "I need to step up and face my destiny!" character, but what Betts does to it makes it feel new in a few ways, which was much appreciated. Starting with the characters we mostly follow, sisters Alira and Zahra. Both of them have a character arc that starts off relatively typical but quickly pivots and the journeys they experience along the way become original and a lot of fun to read.
I try to avoid main plot points to prevent spoilers, but there was a lot of things along the way that really made it fun to read as well. The side characters were also incredibly intriguing and helped to build tension through the story, before it peaked especially hard in the last 25% of the book. It felt like I read that in like 20 minutes, frantically flipping the page until I finished.
The writing style is definitely hit or miss based on other reviews I see here, but I enjoyed it. It was also very classic epic fantasy inspired, so it can come across very formal and traditional sounding, but that's the authors intent and I don't find that to be a bad thing. It was immersive and felt like I was transported back into the setting, and I definitely appreciated that.
Overall there were a few things I did think could be improved upon, but that's the case with 99% of an authors first book. For a debut, this was quite strong, and I'm definitely going to picking up book 2 when it comes out!
First off, one of the most clear examples of a cover grabbing me right away. It's beautiful, and the color scheme is FIRE (no pun intended; ok maybe).
The story itself is a classic epic fantasy, which I needed at the moment. Lots of hero tropes, and the borderline-familiar "I need to step up and face my destiny!" character, but what Betts does to it makes it feel new in a few ways, which was much appreciated. Starting with the characters we mostly follow, sisters Alira and Zahra. Both of them have a character arc that starts off relatively typical but quickly pivots and the journeys they experience along the way become original and a lot of fun to read.
I try to avoid main plot points to prevent spoilers, but there was a lot of things along the way that really made it fun to read as well. The side characters were also incredibly intriguing and helped to build tension through the story, before it peaked especially hard in the last 25% of the book. It felt like I read that in like 20 minutes, frantically flipping the page until I finished.
The writing style is definitely hit or miss based on other reviews I see here, but I enjoyed it. It was also very classic epic fantasy inspired, so it can come across very formal and traditional sounding, but that's the authors intent and I don't find that to be a bad thing. It was immersive and felt like I was transported back into the setting, and I definitely appreciated that.
Overall there were a few things I did think could be improved upon, but that's the case with 99% of an authors first book. For a debut, this was quite strong, and I'm definitely going to picking up book 2 when it comes out!
January 29, 2026
I just finished the audiobook of The Waking of Storm and Flame by and it was so good! A great political sword and sorcery tale with lots of action mystery. The audiobook narration by Nikki Lyons was one of the best I’ve ever heard.
October 10, 2025
A top tier fantasy novel by a brilliant Alberta writer. I was drawn right into the story. I felt like I was right there along side the characters. It was action packed, intense and emotional. If you are looking for your next fantasy read look no further.
September 17, 2025
An excellent Book One
Really enjoyed this one. Felt like a love letter to classical fantasy. Very slow paced at the beginning to expand on the characters and world-building. While I personally enjoyed it, readers looking for epic dragon fights in the second chapter may not have the patience for it. I do want to say the last few chapters are absolutely epic and worth the wait.
Biggest plus for me was the dialogue. Very solid interactions, and the writing as a whole was tight throughout. My only minor complaint (and I’m guilty of doing this too) was a few ambiguous pronouns. Nothing major, but a lot of She said, She verbed, etc when the two sisters spoke sometimes had me guessing who was doing what. Nothing major.
World-building was S tier. I love me some honorable characters fighting the temptation to accept a wrathful gods power, and there is plenty of that here. Excellent book one. Things were tightly wrapped up but it’s clear where the conflict is going for the rest of the series
Really enjoyed this one. Felt like a love letter to classical fantasy. Very slow paced at the beginning to expand on the characters and world-building. While I personally enjoyed it, readers looking for epic dragon fights in the second chapter may not have the patience for it. I do want to say the last few chapters are absolutely epic and worth the wait.
Biggest plus for me was the dialogue. Very solid interactions, and the writing as a whole was tight throughout. My only minor complaint (and I’m guilty of doing this too) was a few ambiguous pronouns. Nothing major, but a lot of She said, She verbed, etc when the two sisters spoke sometimes had me guessing who was doing what. Nothing major.
World-building was S tier. I love me some honorable characters fighting the temptation to accept a wrathful gods power, and there is plenty of that here. Excellent book one. Things were tightly wrapped up but it’s clear where the conflict is going for the rest of the series
March 13, 2026
If you love ancient and powerful gods working plots among men, then this book is for you! Waking of Storm and Flame follows the Verbrandt Royal Family as ancient powers begin to awake and reveal themselves. These characters are genuinely good and noble, and their family bonds are one of the most endearing aspects of the story!
March 16, 2026
I went into this book not really realizing that noble bright fantasy was its own thing, so this ended up being a new experience for me in that sense! I usually gravitate toward morally gray characters, so reading a story where the main cast is genuinely trying to do the right thing was a nice change of pace. It gave the book a different feel than a lot of fantasy I normally pick up, and I appreciated that more than I expected.
The strongest part of this book for me was definitely the world building. You can tell a lot of thought went into the history, the mythology, and the way the gods are connected to the world. That aspect felt detailed and interesting without being completely typical, and I liked the larger ideas the story was working with. At the same time, there were moments where I felt a little overwhelmed by all the information, and I really think a map or glossary would have helped!
Alira was an interesting main character to follow because she starts from such a sheltered place and is forced to grow quickly once the realities of war start closing in around her. I liked seeing her pushed outside of what she knew, even if I did not always feel fully emotionally connected to everything that was happening. The character development was there, but I wanted just a little more depth in some places.
The writing is descriptive and paints the setting well, especially in the more intense scenes. There were definitely parts that felt immersive and well imagined. For me, though, the pacing was a little uneven, and some sections were easier to get invested in than others.
Overall, I think this was a solid start to the series. It did not completely blow me away, but I liked a lot of the ideas it was working with, especially now knowing this was my first experience with noble bright fantasy. Even though I will probably always love a morally gray character, there was something refreshing about spending time with main characters who were just genuinely good. Excited for the next book!!
The strongest part of this book for me was definitely the world building. You can tell a lot of thought went into the history, the mythology, and the way the gods are connected to the world. That aspect felt detailed and interesting without being completely typical, and I liked the larger ideas the story was working with. At the same time, there were moments where I felt a little overwhelmed by all the information, and I really think a map or glossary would have helped!
Alira was an interesting main character to follow because she starts from such a sheltered place and is forced to grow quickly once the realities of war start closing in around her. I liked seeing her pushed outside of what she knew, even if I did not always feel fully emotionally connected to everything that was happening. The character development was there, but I wanted just a little more depth in some places.
The writing is descriptive and paints the setting well, especially in the more intense scenes. There were definitely parts that felt immersive and well imagined. For me, though, the pacing was a little uneven, and some sections were easier to get invested in than others.
Overall, I think this was a solid start to the series. It did not completely blow me away, but I liked a lot of the ideas it was working with, especially now knowing this was my first experience with noble bright fantasy. Even though I will probably always love a morally gray character, there was something refreshing about spending time with main characters who were just genuinely good. Excited for the next book!!
February 23, 2026
Really enjoyed The Waking of Storm and Flame!
The opening instantly hooked me. It has the same reflective, storyteller at the hearth feeling as Bilbo writing There and Back Again—a narrator looking back on events with warmth and gravity. It made me want to curl up with a cup of tea and sink into the tale.
Like classic epic fantasy, this book offers sweeping landscapes, rich description, and a wide cast. But unlike many slow building classics, The Waking of Storm and Flame launches straight into the action. Within the first hundred pages, we’re thrown into war, political tension, and a world already in motion.
I was surprised by how quickly I connected with the characters. At first, their voices felt formal—almost echoing the narrator—but that quickly became a strength. It gives the world an ancient, other worldly tone, as though these people truly come from a different age. The varied dialects and languages deepen that sense of scale and history.
Alira herself is a standout. Quiet, devout, book loving, and wholly uninterested in power—until fate demands otherwise. She’s exactly the kind of heroine fantasy readers fall for.
So much unfolds in this first installment, and I’m genuinely excited to see where the Fates lead these characters next.
The opening instantly hooked me. It has the same reflective, storyteller at the hearth feeling as Bilbo writing There and Back Again—a narrator looking back on events with warmth and gravity. It made me want to curl up with a cup of tea and sink into the tale.
Like classic epic fantasy, this book offers sweeping landscapes, rich description, and a wide cast. But unlike many slow building classics, The Waking of Storm and Flame launches straight into the action. Within the first hundred pages, we’re thrown into war, political tension, and a world already in motion.
I was surprised by how quickly I connected with the characters. At first, their voices felt formal—almost echoing the narrator—but that quickly became a strength. It gives the world an ancient, other worldly tone, as though these people truly come from a different age. The varied dialects and languages deepen that sense of scale and history.
Alira herself is a standout. Quiet, devout, book loving, and wholly uninterested in power—until fate demands otherwise. She’s exactly the kind of heroine fantasy readers fall for.
So much unfolds in this first installment, and I’m genuinely excited to see where the Fates lead these characters next.
March 6, 2025
I must admit that I jumped into this book with zero expectations. And I just want to say, Nick, you made something big here! 🤩
I had a lot of mixed feelings about it.
First of all it was hard for me to connect with Alira and Zahra… at the beginning I felt more connected to Cael Verbrandt…but that didn’t last 🥺 but by the end I understood, and definitely Alira and Zahra are a couple of amazing characters, their growth is amazing!
I have to be honest. For me it was a roller coaster, at first I liked it a lot! Then I didn’t so much, but I was patient, Im not the DFR a book kinda girl because of this very reason!…. by the last 100(ish) pages I was all in and so intrigued about what was coming next! 🤩
The story is engaging, the characters are interesting, it had a lot of plot twists that I didn’t expect.
Can’t wait for the next book! I need to know what happens next!!! ❤️
I had a lot of mixed feelings about it.
First of all it was hard for me to connect with Alira and Zahra… at the beginning I felt more connected to Cael Verbrandt…but that didn’t last 🥺 but by the end I understood, and definitely Alira and Zahra are a couple of amazing characters, their growth is amazing!
I have to be honest. For me it was a roller coaster, at first I liked it a lot! Then I didn’t so much, but I was patient, Im not the DFR a book kinda girl because of this very reason!…. by the last 100(ish) pages I was all in and so intrigued about what was coming next! 🤩
The story is engaging, the characters are interesting, it had a lot of plot twists that I didn’t expect.
Can’t wait for the next book! I need to know what happens next!!! ❤️
February 11, 2026
The first half of this book starts off slow with very descriptive world building, your classic high fantasy. I connected with Alira, the FMC, right aways! She’s stubborn, expressive and has a deep thirst for knowledge and history.
Alira struggles to find her place in the world having grown up somewhat sheltered due to the overprotectiveness of her brother and sister. The dialogue is quite formal and took me a while to get used to it as I haven’t read many books like this but I was soon immersed in the story and enjoyed the many twists and turns throughout!
Alira learns that she is a Fate, the heir of a divine bloodline. Her homeland is forced into a war, she must unite the kingdoms to fight off the evil creators return, promising judgement and annihilation.
I look forward to reading the next book in this series!
Alira struggles to find her place in the world having grown up somewhat sheltered due to the overprotectiveness of her brother and sister. The dialogue is quite formal and took me a while to get used to it as I haven’t read many books like this but I was soon immersed in the story and enjoyed the many twists and turns throughout!
Alira learns that she is a Fate, the heir of a divine bloodline. Her homeland is forced into a war, she must unite the kingdoms to fight off the evil creators return, promising judgement and annihilation.
I look forward to reading the next book in this series!
March 29, 2026
This fantasy was a little different from others I have read. But when I say this, it’s not a bad thing. This book was a bit more complex in aspects and there were some points where I got a little lost and had to back track just to fully understand.
This story is very battle and military heavy. I would say it’s a majority of the plot. I did also enjoy the concepts of the Gods and Magic that was included.
We have two women that it primarily focuses on: Alira and Zahra. Alira is more of a sheltered girl who has never outside of their city. She is a book girly and I loved that. But she is about to learn a lot more about herself. Now Zahra is a baddie, she was trained by a high general and has become a warrior.
The world building was done really well. I know sometimes it can get a bit choppy and hard to follow along, but the author did a really good job with it.
This story is very battle and military heavy. I would say it’s a majority of the plot. I did also enjoy the concepts of the Gods and Magic that was included.
We have two women that it primarily focuses on: Alira and Zahra. Alira is more of a sheltered girl who has never outside of their city. She is a book girly and I loved that. But she is about to learn a lot more about herself. Now Zahra is a baddie, she was trained by a high general and has become a warrior.
The world building was done really well. I know sometimes it can get a bit choppy and hard to follow along, but the author did a really good job with it.
October 17, 2024
loved this book. I had to binge read as it was so difficult to stop reading to find out what was going to happen next. The flow of the book was spot on. It left no gaps in the story line and flowed seamless. I loved the characters. They were tight knit, family orientated and fierce. There were instances that included narrative that was a lesson or message for the reader regarding love, life, death, joy and sadness and about finding your own path.
Example
So many years removed from care, it saddens me to see what it has fallen into. “Age erodes all, Alira. Everything must wither and die with the passage of time. It is the circle of existence that binds together every living thing.”
Congrats to the author for finding his path.
Cannot wait until the next saga is available.
Example
So many years removed from care, it saddens me to see what it has fallen into. “Age erodes all, Alira. Everything must wither and die with the passage of time. It is the circle of existence that binds together every living thing.”
Congrats to the author for finding his path.
Cannot wait until the next saga is available.
March 18, 2025
An epic fantasy! The characters were well written with fantastic depth and character growth. The storyline is filled with unexpected plot twists and betrayal that keep readers guessing at what's to come. Filled with adventure, bravery, and perseverance, the highs and lows of the journey immerse readers in the development of the strong female main character, Alira, and her fight to restore peace to the kingdoms, with plenty of side characters to fall in love with along the way.
If you like fantasy books with:
✨ Strong character development
✨ LOTR vibes
✨ A badass FMC
✨ Plot twists
✨ Betrayal
✨ Found family
then this book might be for you!
If you like fantasy books with:
✨ Strong character development
✨ LOTR vibes
✨ A badass FMC
✨ Plot twists
✨ Betrayal
✨ Found family
then this book might be for you!
March 21, 2026
The Waking of Storm and Flame by N.A. Betts is an engaging and emotionally rich start to an epic fantasy series, offering a refreshing take on a genre often dominated by darker, more cynical storytelling. Instead of leaning into grimdark tropes, Betts builds a world centered on hope, growth, and resilience—even as kingdoms fall and war looms.
The story follows Alira Verbrandt, a princess who would much rather live a quiet life of learning than rule a kingdom. But when the Illyrian Empire invades her homeland, she’s thrust into a destiny far greater—and more dangerous—than she ever imagined. Discovering she is a Fate, tied to ancient power and prophecy, Alira must rise to unite others like her and awaken a god that could save—or doom—the world.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its emotional depth. The story pulls you in quickly, making it easy to become invested in both the characters and their struggles. Alira’s journey feels personal and compelling, and the emphasis on growth rather than despair gives the book a unique tone within the fantasy genre. It’s the kind of story that’s easy to get lost in—I finished it quickly and immediately wanted to continue with the series.
The worldbuilding also stands out, particularly with the inclusion of French dialogue to create a sense of cultural depth and realism. The added translations ensure that readers aren’t left confused, which makes this creative choice feel immersive rather than distracting.
That said, the book isn’t without its flaws. There are moments where the worldbuilding and character reactions feel slightly disconnected, briefly pulling you out of the story. Additionally, some dialogue feels more like it’s pushing the plot forward rather than naturally revealing emotions or actions, which can lessen the impact of certain scenes.
Despite these minor issues, The Waking of Storm and Flame is a strong and worthwhile read. It offers a vibrant, hopeful twist on epic fantasy, filled with magic, prophecy, and characters you can root for.
The story follows Alira Verbrandt, a princess who would much rather live a quiet life of learning than rule a kingdom. But when the Illyrian Empire invades her homeland, she’s thrust into a destiny far greater—and more dangerous—than she ever imagined. Discovering she is a Fate, tied to ancient power and prophecy, Alira must rise to unite others like her and awaken a god that could save—or doom—the world.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its emotional depth. The story pulls you in quickly, making it easy to become invested in both the characters and their struggles. Alira’s journey feels personal and compelling, and the emphasis on growth rather than despair gives the book a unique tone within the fantasy genre. It’s the kind of story that’s easy to get lost in—I finished it quickly and immediately wanted to continue with the series.
The worldbuilding also stands out, particularly with the inclusion of French dialogue to create a sense of cultural depth and realism. The added translations ensure that readers aren’t left confused, which makes this creative choice feel immersive rather than distracting.
That said, the book isn’t without its flaws. There are moments where the worldbuilding and character reactions feel slightly disconnected, briefly pulling you out of the story. Additionally, some dialogue feels more like it’s pushing the plot forward rather than naturally revealing emotions or actions, which can lessen the impact of certain scenes.
Despite these minor issues, The Waking of Storm and Flame is a strong and worthwhile read. It offers a vibrant, hopeful twist on epic fantasy, filled with magic, prophecy, and characters you can root for.
October 7, 2024
Interesting premise, though the language reads quite formal and the author does more telling than showing. Looking forward to the next book in the series
January 9, 2025
3.5 rounded up. I was introduced to this author and his first published novel by one of my sons, who knows the author from work. I volunteered to be a ARC reader. I certainly hope that the Canadian libraries purchase his works. Certainly, his book can be bought on-line.
Betts’ characters were written with a freshness that was appealing to me, who as a voracious reader is easily bored by “cookie cutter” or “formulaic” writing. The characters were nuanced and flawed. Having said that, I did find Alira to be rather immature for a 25 year old … and that grated somewhat.
The military aspects were very authentic … from leadership styles to strategies to battle scenes.
Betts’ ending was great … leading the way to a sequel.
Betts’ characters were written with a freshness that was appealing to me, who as a voracious reader is easily bored by “cookie cutter” or “formulaic” writing. The characters were nuanced and flawed. Having said that, I did find Alira to be rather immature for a 25 year old … and that grated somewhat.
The military aspects were very authentic … from leadership styles to strategies to battle scenes.
Betts’ ending was great … leading the way to a sequel.
March 6, 2026
At its heart this is a coming-of-age story about family. The standout of this book, for me, was the older sister Zahra (who we get POV from but isn't the main character) and the way she reacted to battles and the loss of her troops, and how she commanded her troops. Due to the author's military background the dynamics felt more realistic than most books. Zahra can be very intense, she guards her feelings, and commands with great authority. I hope she continues to have a large role in the subsequent books!
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October 14, 2024Thank you to N. A. Betts for the ebook ARC!
I have few qualms with the plot of this book. It follows a Lord of the Rings-style storyline, full of sword fights, deities, and mystical powers beyond the imagination that had the potential to combine for an epic high-fantasy novel.
Unfortunately, the writing made that attempt crash and burn. As if it were a nonfiction work, it was composed rigidly, with very few meaningful interactions. The balance of showing and telling was disproportionately composed. Characters were bland and awkward, unintentionally, with little personality differences that made them stand out. The action didn’t inspire any sort of anticipation; the dialogue was impersonal and unnatural; and, the worst of all, the little bit of romance added in was one of the saddest attempts to translate passion or attraction I’ve seen. More of the text was taken up with bizarre names than should be allowed in any book.
Between the lack of inspired feeling, eccentric pacing, and absence of atmosphere, it became a chore to read.
Despite this, I gave it a chance, pushing through until the last page, but it wasn’t the greatest experience for me. If you aren’t too picky about your writing style, pacing, or emotion, feel free to give it a go. Otherwise, I feel that steering clear would be your best decision.
All the best to this author!
I have few qualms with the plot of this book. It follows a Lord of the Rings-style storyline, full of sword fights, deities, and mystical powers beyond the imagination that had the potential to combine for an epic high-fantasy novel.
Unfortunately, the writing made that attempt crash and burn. As if it were a nonfiction work, it was composed rigidly, with very few meaningful interactions. The balance of showing and telling was disproportionately composed. Characters were bland and awkward, unintentionally, with little personality differences that made them stand out. The action didn’t inspire any sort of anticipation; the dialogue was impersonal and unnatural; and, the worst of all, the little bit of romance added in was one of the saddest attempts to translate passion or attraction I’ve seen. More of the text was taken up with bizarre names than should be allowed in any book.
Between the lack of inspired feeling, eccentric pacing, and absence of atmosphere, it became a chore to read.
Despite this, I gave it a chance, pushing through until the last page, but it wasn’t the greatest experience for me. If you aren’t too picky about your writing style, pacing, or emotion, feel free to give it a go. Otherwise, I feel that steering clear would be your best decision.
All the best to this author!
September 19, 2025
Betts’s debut, The Waking of Storm and Flame, sets out to deliver a sweeping, mythic epic fantasy and succeeds in laying strong groundwork. The prose is detailed and descriptive, leaning formal in a way that fits the genre and especially shines in world set dressing and landscape building. The worldbuilding is thorough, with cities and histories that clearly reflect careful thought and effort. Alira’s arc from timid princess to someone who must face the weight of destiny was engaging, and other MC’s growth became equally compelling as the story progressed. Overall an ambitious debut, with creative freshness the classic fantasy genre often lacks.
This is a slower-paced read that asks for patience, and I’ll admit the first half was a struggle for me when it came to connecting with most of the cast, Alira being the exception. Above all, Alira is the standout of the book for me: a timid, bookish royal forced to step up when war arrives at her door. She is detailed, expressive, and written with a kind of care and nuance that felt genuinely refreshing, especially given that she’s written by a male author. Too often I expect the worst when I see female characters in male-written fantasies, but from my perspective she was the most fully-realized and “loved on” character in the cast, which I quite enjoyed. That being said, everybody else made sections that I would have loved more of a chore since Alira was really the only person I liked up until half way through 😅 The other characters did grow on me as the story progressed, and Zahra in particular became much more compelling by the end, but it did take time to get there.
The POV is also worth noting 👀: the book aims for third-person omniscient, but doesn’t always land cleanly. Early on, I found myself confused about whose thoughts I was in, and it didn’t quite read like proper omniscient until I realized and adjusted to what the author was attempting. Once I understood that, the shifts became easier to follow but readers who are more picky or strict about POV may find it distracting (keep in mind, I’m not a POV picky person I’ll read any POV in any kind of way, so if you’re not that person you’ll probably have more issues with it than I did).
As for the prose, it leans formal, which sometimes makes the dialogue and some of the interactions feel a little stiff or sterile. I can see that being a turn-off for some readers, but honestly, once I settled into the rhythm, I hardly noticed. And at the end of the day, this is epic fantasy, we need to expect that, y’all just gotta get with the program 😂 For fans of Tolkien-inspired classic epic/high fantasy, this will feel right at home.
While it has some bumps (uneven POV execution, slow pacing, and characters who take time to grow into themselves) The Waking of Storm and Flame is a strong debut! The worldbuilding feels fresh, the mythos is intriguing, and Alira stands out as a well-crafted protagonist. For readers who enjoy classic, richly descriptive epic/high fantasy with original twists, this book delivers a satisfying experience and leaves plenty of reason to be excited for what Betts will write next in this series 📚✨
This is a slower-paced read that asks for patience, and I’ll admit the first half was a struggle for me when it came to connecting with most of the cast, Alira being the exception. Above all, Alira is the standout of the book for me: a timid, bookish royal forced to step up when war arrives at her door. She is detailed, expressive, and written with a kind of care and nuance that felt genuinely refreshing, especially given that she’s written by a male author. Too often I expect the worst when I see female characters in male-written fantasies, but from my perspective she was the most fully-realized and “loved on” character in the cast, which I quite enjoyed. That being said, everybody else made sections that I would have loved more of a chore since Alira was really the only person I liked up until half way through 😅 The other characters did grow on me as the story progressed, and Zahra in particular became much more compelling by the end, but it did take time to get there.
The POV is also worth noting 👀: the book aims for third-person omniscient, but doesn’t always land cleanly. Early on, I found myself confused about whose thoughts I was in, and it didn’t quite read like proper omniscient until I realized and adjusted to what the author was attempting. Once I understood that, the shifts became easier to follow but readers who are more picky or strict about POV may find it distracting (keep in mind, I’m not a POV picky person I’ll read any POV in any kind of way, so if you’re not that person you’ll probably have more issues with it than I did).
As for the prose, it leans formal, which sometimes makes the dialogue and some of the interactions feel a little stiff or sterile. I can see that being a turn-off for some readers, but honestly, once I settled into the rhythm, I hardly noticed. And at the end of the day, this is epic fantasy, we need to expect that, y’all just gotta get with the program 😂 For fans of Tolkien-inspired classic epic/high fantasy, this will feel right at home.
While it has some bumps (uneven POV execution, slow pacing, and characters who take time to grow into themselves) The Waking of Storm and Flame is a strong debut! The worldbuilding feels fresh, the mythos is intriguing, and Alira stands out as a well-crafted protagonist. For readers who enjoy classic, richly descriptive epic/high fantasy with original twists, this book delivers a satisfying experience and leaves plenty of reason to be excited for what Betts will write next in this series 📚✨
October 24, 2024
Thanks to the author for allowing me to be an ARC reviewer for this novel!
I came into my first ARC review with high expectations, and this story didn't disappoint! It was a classic, epic fantasy tale in the spirit of LOTR. It follows the FMC on an epic quest against, not only the face of evil, but also a cosmic entity that lingers far above. This was a dual POV story, but I viewed Alira as the 1A, with her sister as the 1B.
The character work was excellent. Alira's story is one of doubt, and self-discovery. As she's forced out of her comfort zone, she discovers parts of herself that she didn't want to know. Her past is fraught with hardship that only bleeds into her present. She's a character to feels like she's lost control, and has been forced into the present events of the story - a square peg in a round hole.
Zahra's arc seems to mirror her sister's, but in an opposite way. I don't want to give any spoilers, but it was an incredible tale with allusions and nods to mental illness, and what can happen when you live inside your own mind for too long. You end up becoming a prisoner of it.
I will agree with other reviews, the author's writing is formal - there's no shortchanging that. I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing, but it will only develop as the author gets more comfortable writing. I thought the character interactions were wonderful, as the author weaved in emotional highs and lows in perfect balance. The pacing might be considered slow for some, but I enjoyed it. It gave us time to get to know the characters and see the intricacies of their relationships when action isn't constantly being thrown in our face. That being said, there's no shortage of sword fights, harrowing moments and magic use that you would expect to find in a fantasy story.
Overall, I give this 4.5/5 stars for a read - only because of the formality of the writing - but I fell in love with this story. I genuinely cared for the characters, shedding tears at more than one point in the telling! As such, I decided on 5 stars rather than 4. Other than the writing style, the story was everything I was looking for in a classic fantasy tale.
I'm thrilled to know that the series will continue, and I wish I could jump into the sequel. I see the author's potential, and was fortunate to have taken the chance on this story.
Definite recommend!
I came into my first ARC review with high expectations, and this story didn't disappoint! It was a classic, epic fantasy tale in the spirit of LOTR. It follows the FMC on an epic quest against, not only the face of evil, but also a cosmic entity that lingers far above. This was a dual POV story, but I viewed Alira as the 1A, with her sister as the 1B.
The character work was excellent. Alira's story is one of doubt, and self-discovery. As she's forced out of her comfort zone, she discovers parts of herself that she didn't want to know. Her past is fraught with hardship that only bleeds into her present. She's a character to feels like she's lost control, and has been forced into the present events of the story - a square peg in a round hole.
Zahra's arc seems to mirror her sister's, but in an opposite way. I don't want to give any spoilers, but it was an incredible tale with allusions and nods to mental illness, and what can happen when you live inside your own mind for too long. You end up becoming a prisoner of it.
I will agree with other reviews, the author's writing is formal - there's no shortchanging that. I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing, but it will only develop as the author gets more comfortable writing. I thought the character interactions were wonderful, as the author weaved in emotional highs and lows in perfect balance. The pacing might be considered slow for some, but I enjoyed it. It gave us time to get to know the characters and see the intricacies of their relationships when action isn't constantly being thrown in our face. That being said, there's no shortage of sword fights, harrowing moments and magic use that you would expect to find in a fantasy story.
Overall, I give this 4.5/5 stars for a read - only because of the formality of the writing - but I fell in love with this story. I genuinely cared for the characters, shedding tears at more than one point in the telling! As such, I decided on 5 stars rather than 4. Other than the writing style, the story was everything I was looking for in a classic fantasy tale.
I'm thrilled to know that the series will continue, and I wish I could jump into the sequel. I see the author's potential, and was fortunate to have taken the chance on this story.
Definite recommend!
April 10, 2026
Rating: 3.5 stars
If you like high stakes action, elemental magic, and a well built world, this book is for you!
When I started this book, I had a bit of trouble getting into it, but I had a feeling that that would happen. I find that with a lot of fantasy books I don't tend to absolutely love getting into the depths of world building so the first book in a series tends to not be the one I enjoy the most in a series. I did appreciate that the information was just as much information as you needed and didn't over explain things, I find that that can make it harder to digest as well.
I love that languages that we use were also used in this book as it made it easier for me to imagine these characters voices!
I did really enjoy the battle scenes! As someone who works in the film industry, I can almost see how it would play out, which gives a really cool visual aspect to the story. I also liked that with each battle you were always trying to figure out what was going to happen and it kept you so on the edge of your seat.
I will say, there were a couple of points I felt like I was reading someone’s fever dream journal(I blame divine intervention, iykyk) but it was amazing to see how bits and pieces fit together! I can’t wait to keep finding those moments!
I can't wait to start the next one and see what kind of adventure we go on and who we're going to be following!
If you like high stakes action, elemental magic, and a well built world, this book is for you!
When I started this book, I had a bit of trouble getting into it, but I had a feeling that that would happen. I find that with a lot of fantasy books I don't tend to absolutely love getting into the depths of world building so the first book in a series tends to not be the one I enjoy the most in a series. I did appreciate that the information was just as much information as you needed and didn't over explain things, I find that that can make it harder to digest as well.
I love that languages that we use were also used in this book as it made it easier for me to imagine these characters voices!
I did really enjoy the battle scenes! As someone who works in the film industry, I can almost see how it would play out, which gives a really cool visual aspect to the story. I also liked that with each battle you were always trying to figure out what was going to happen and it kept you so on the edge of your seat.
I will say, there were a couple of points I felt like I was reading someone’s fever dream journal(I blame divine intervention, iykyk) but it was amazing to see how bits and pieces fit together! I can’t wait to keep finding those moments!
I can't wait to start the next one and see what kind of adventure we go on and who we're going to be following!
May 14, 2025
*Review copy*
I absolutely loved this book!! I could not put it down, the world captivated me from page one. And The Waking of Storm and Flame has everything; epic battles, betrayals, sibling bonds, heart wrenching moments, fates, a growing evil.
Watching Alira grow from a timid princess to who she was meant to be was amazing. I loved the character growth and I cannot wait to see where it takes her. And you cannot help but fall in love with these characters and root for them to succeed.
The amount of times I cried in this book is ridiculous! The tragedy in this book is gut wrenching. So well written, you could just feel the pain and torment they all went through. And let me tell you, the author doesn't hold back on who gets dealt pain. It's free game for sure!!
This book just was so amazing and I loved every minute of it, cannot wait to get into Book 2.
I absolutely loved this book!! I could not put it down, the world captivated me from page one. And The Waking of Storm and Flame has everything; epic battles, betrayals, sibling bonds, heart wrenching moments, fates, a growing evil.
Watching Alira grow from a timid princess to who she was meant to be was amazing. I loved the character growth and I cannot wait to see where it takes her. And you cannot help but fall in love with these characters and root for them to succeed.
The amount of times I cried in this book is ridiculous! The tragedy in this book is gut wrenching. So well written, you could just feel the pain and torment they all went through. And let me tell you, the author doesn't hold back on who gets dealt pain. It's free game for sure!!
This book just was so amazing and I loved every minute of it, cannot wait to get into Book 2.
December 18, 2025
On the level of the scene, and overall plot this book is excellent. This story has potential to be a favourite of mine in the long run. This events of this book have set the stakes high and I am so invested in the emotional lives of the characters.
Alira is far from a perfect heroine and I feel like it’s a very realistic portrayal of someone thrust into a place of power and responsibility. Her naivety, mistakes, and growth throughout this book are a beautiful journey.
Given all this, I highly recommend this book to other fans of classic fantasy with excitement to continue the series!
Alira is far from a perfect heroine and I feel like it’s a very realistic portrayal of someone thrust into a place of power and responsibility. Her naivety, mistakes, and growth throughout this book are a beautiful journey.
Given all this, I highly recommend this book to other fans of classic fantasy with excitement to continue the series!
May 5, 2025
Debut for this Author, and first in the series. The world building, and character development is exquisite. The actionable ND adventure reminded me of "LOTR", and i was hooked! There is a strong female character, whom is just trying to restore peace to her kingdoms. There is plot twists, betrayal, and comfort found in unlikely places. Cant wait for book 2, and see where the story goes!
August 4, 2025
Good first novel! Few things that I have questions about, but grabbed the second novel to see how they get answered!
Could have used a bit more world building, in my opinion, and perhaps one more edit for some grammer and word choices. (Nothing that context didn't fix)
Finally while I love the Gladiator line/reference it took me out of your book!
Could have used a bit more world building, in my opinion, and perhaps one more edit for some grammer and word choices. (Nothing that context didn't fix)
Finally while I love the Gladiator line/reference it took me out of your book!
spfbo-xi
February 13, 2026Read as a judge for SPFBOXI
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January 2, 2025
A really brilliant epic fantasy story. The book is action packed from the first page, with sword fights and quests and gods inflicting their magic on the mortals. The story follows a vast range of characters allowing the reader to experience different view points for a fully immersive experience. While I do agree with others that the writing style is a little formal, the author still manages to convey a broad depth of emotion in a wonderfully poetic way at times. Would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a LOTR style fantasy!
April 24, 2025
Looking for some classic-style fantasy but with a modern slant? Then make sure to check out The Waking of Storm and Flame, as it has all the trappings of classic fantasy: chosen ones (The Fates of Aten), meddling gods (who actually walk amongst mortals), magical implements (a nice ring), and heroes getting betrayed. So yeah, perfectly classic fantasy!
When a neighboring land invades, royal Steward of Gondor, I mean Duke Cael Verbrandt raises his army under the leadership of his adoptive sister, Commander Zahra Ke’elle, as well as his younger sister, Alira, and marches to the dwarven lines in hopes of stopping the invasion. Cael is declared King, they’re attacked and overwhelmed. Some things happen, and voila, the siblings are separated and we spend the rest of the novel trying to get back together and save their homeland.
The characters are really what drives this novel, specifically Alira and Zahra, who you could argue are the two main characters. Both are as different as can be. Alira is a bookish young woman who has never been outside their city, has never witnessed battle, nor has she really seen anything outside of her imagination and history books. While Zahra, on the other hand, was trained by their country’s famous general, has become a warrior of renown (she’s one of the few people to kill a very gnarly beastie type guided by the aforementioned meddling gods), and has a mysterious past. Both women are fantastic and trope-filled. Their arcs follow a similar trajectory toward self-discovery and I enjoyed them both equally, although Alira did at times grate on me like a younger sibling should. Cael is your standard fare royal warrior with some baggage, aka feelings of inadequacy. The general and the other side characters have some nice bits to them, but many just move the plot along when needed.
I will say my favorite aspect of TWoSaF are the meddling gods and magic system. There are a few layers to them as there are gods, then there are the Fates of Aten (one of the gods). And on top of that, the gods are at war with each other over reasons. I don’t want to spoil anything there, but I really did enjoy how the gods manifested themselves on the characters via those magical implements. The main implement in this book is the Ring of Terra, and is an earth-based magic weapon of the goddess Drea. And when invoked, Drea actually takes over the user for a time, thus creating some great tension when said character wants to regain control. Another magical weapon (this time a sword the Verbrandts’ father carried into battle) is found, and based on where Alira’s arc ends, the rest of the series will be spent finding the rest of Aten’s Fates/weapons. Another really cool magical tidbit is the sheyde, a shadow being-esque thing that has afflicted Zahra after her battle with the beastie. It’s almost like a possession, and toward the end, it plays a role in Zahra’s arc. This was really neat.
This story is very battle heavy and military forward (based on Betts’ own military background). The entire first half of the book is essentially one big battle. Then when the siblings split up post battle, we have some scenes of politicking to muster more soldiers, then we climax with another huge battle. I will say the battles were great and I loved the accurate chain of command, but there were times I felt discombobulated and didn’t exactly know where I was settings-wise, as well as timeline-wise. Things did kinda blend together because a lot of what happens during the battles were told to the characters via messengers like how actual commanders would have. Until they take the field of battle, which Cael, Zahra, and Alira do often.
The prose teeters on the line of classic fantasy ala Tolkien and a tad modern. I’d say the pace of the story was up and down accordingly due to the battles mentioned above versus the more political side. As a personal taste, I do feel like the economy of setting was not as strong as I would like, meaning I didn’t feel very immersed in the scenes, especially the battles. However, I do feel as there were great emotional beats throughout the story, certain twists were clear as day but the consequences were nice and hit when needed. My biggest gripe, as with most classic SFF books, is the use of third person omniscient POV. I’m just not a fan of head hopping. There were a number of times where the POV wasn’t clear for paragraphs or a ‘she’ was used to describe the character in the scene and it wasn’t clear who ‘she’ was. Again, small things that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this story.
The Waking of Storm and Flame is definitely a love letter to the type of fantasy stories I grew up reading, and I can honestly say I had a fun time with this story. It doesn’t break a ton of new ground but it doesn’t need to. I was fully engaged with Betts’ story and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for these characters in his upcoming sequel, The Last Cry of Innocence, which comes out on May 14th!
When a neighboring land invades, royal Steward of Gondor, I mean Duke Cael Verbrandt raises his army under the leadership of his adoptive sister, Commander Zahra Ke’elle, as well as his younger sister, Alira, and marches to the dwarven lines in hopes of stopping the invasion. Cael is declared King, they’re attacked and overwhelmed. Some things happen, and voila, the siblings are separated and we spend the rest of the novel trying to get back together and save their homeland.
The characters are really what drives this novel, specifically Alira and Zahra, who you could argue are the two main characters. Both are as different as can be. Alira is a bookish young woman who has never been outside their city, has never witnessed battle, nor has she really seen anything outside of her imagination and history books. While Zahra, on the other hand, was trained by their country’s famous general, has become a warrior of renown (she’s one of the few people to kill a very gnarly beastie type guided by the aforementioned meddling gods), and has a mysterious past. Both women are fantastic and trope-filled. Their arcs follow a similar trajectory toward self-discovery and I enjoyed them both equally, although Alira did at times grate on me like a younger sibling should. Cael is your standard fare royal warrior with some baggage, aka feelings of inadequacy. The general and the other side characters have some nice bits to them, but many just move the plot along when needed.
I will say my favorite aspect of TWoSaF are the meddling gods and magic system. There are a few layers to them as there are gods, then there are the Fates of Aten (one of the gods). And on top of that, the gods are at war with each other over reasons. I don’t want to spoil anything there, but I really did enjoy how the gods manifested themselves on the characters via those magical implements. The main implement in this book is the Ring of Terra, and is an earth-based magic weapon of the goddess Drea. And when invoked, Drea actually takes over the user for a time, thus creating some great tension when said character wants to regain control. Another magical weapon (this time a sword the Verbrandts’ father carried into battle) is found, and based on where Alira’s arc ends, the rest of the series will be spent finding the rest of Aten’s Fates/weapons. Another really cool magical tidbit is the sheyde, a shadow being-esque thing that has afflicted Zahra after her battle with the beastie. It’s almost like a possession, and toward the end, it plays a role in Zahra’s arc. This was really neat.
This story is very battle heavy and military forward (based on Betts’ own military background). The entire first half of the book is essentially one big battle. Then when the siblings split up post battle, we have some scenes of politicking to muster more soldiers, then we climax with another huge battle. I will say the battles were great and I loved the accurate chain of command, but there were times I felt discombobulated and didn’t exactly know where I was settings-wise, as well as timeline-wise. Things did kinda blend together because a lot of what happens during the battles were told to the characters via messengers like how actual commanders would have. Until they take the field of battle, which Cael, Zahra, and Alira do often.
The prose teeters on the line of classic fantasy ala Tolkien and a tad modern. I’d say the pace of the story was up and down accordingly due to the battles mentioned above versus the more political side. As a personal taste, I do feel like the economy of setting was not as strong as I would like, meaning I didn’t feel very immersed in the scenes, especially the battles. However, I do feel as there were great emotional beats throughout the story, certain twists were clear as day but the consequences were nice and hit when needed. My biggest gripe, as with most classic SFF books, is the use of third person omniscient POV. I’m just not a fan of head hopping. There were a number of times where the POV wasn’t clear for paragraphs or a ‘she’ was used to describe the character in the scene and it wasn’t clear who ‘she’ was. Again, small things that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this story.
The Waking of Storm and Flame is definitely a love letter to the type of fantasy stories I grew up reading, and I can honestly say I had a fun time with this story. It doesn’t break a ton of new ground but it doesn’t need to. I was fully engaged with Betts’ story and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for these characters in his upcoming sequel, The Last Cry of Innocence, which comes out on May 14th!
October 16, 2024
NO SPOILERS in this review. I read a lot of fantasy and science fiction and so was intrigued when I heard about this one. This was a really good book and it held my attention very well. The characters are well thought out and you are given good introductions and see the characters grow throughout this book... but the growth and development don't end with this book (that is what I believe). I like the world that the author has created, and I look forward to seeing where he takes things going forward. the story flowed very well and unlike some books the beginning wasn't slow but moved at a really good pace.
I was almost sad finishing this one and then I saw that he has another coming out next year and that this book will be available in hard cover as well. It is definitely a book I will read again and it will join my shelf of favourite books. If you want something new and that will keep you hooked - give this book a chance. I'm really looking forward to the next book.
I was almost sad finishing this one and then I saw that he has another coming out next year and that this book will be available in hard cover as well. It is definitely a book I will read again and it will join my shelf of favourite books. If you want something new and that will keep you hooked - give this book a chance. I'm really looking forward to the next book.
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