What do you think?
Rate this book
The Minstrel and the Prophet: Book One of the Chronicles of the Lawbreaker
Times are strained in the Federated animals are born deformed, crops fail overnight, and raiders strike from within the neighboring Kelmar Empire. In his backwater village, Lauren dreams of becoming a minstrel, the itinerant musician scholars of the Federated Kingdoms. His father, though, demands that Lauren train to be a warrior. When his father attacks him in a drunken rage, Lauren flees to the minstrel’s college at Songhaven. During his training, Ambrose – master of the college and a prophet – teaches him about an ancient prophecy concerning the Lawbreaker, a man whose battles with the goddess Mar will destroy the world. As Lauren and Ambrose race to forestall a plot to kill the High King, they struggle to learn the identity of the Lawbreaker. Then Lauren discovers that he is being hunted. Could it be the Lawbreaker? What use could that dark power have for a minstrel?
- GenresFantasy
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2024
9 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Larry Z. Daily
3 books3 followersLarry Z. Daily was born in Covington, Kentucky and currently resides in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He holds a Ph.D. in Psychology and teaches psychology classes at Shepherd University. The Chronicles of the Lawbreaker is his first foray into fiction and is the result of a decades long love of fantasy inspired by Tolkien, Ursula K. Le Guin, Patricia McKillip, and Mary Stewart. In his spare time Larry builds HO scale model trains, plays folk music on six- and twelve-string guitars, and devours fantasy novels.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 6, 2024
I have just read a debut fantasy novel from Larry Z Daily. This is part 1 of the Chronicles of the Lawbreaker. It is good. Fantasy, adventure, with minstrels, soldiers, scholars, and a great story to go with them. It took about 50 pages and I was hooked. If you want to read something that actually made me stop quilting and watching kdramas for a bit, this is the one. Wow. I can't wait til the 2nd in this series is published.
The cover artwork is amazing too.
The cover artwork is amazing too.
January 18, 2025
Daily’s series opener in The Chronicles of the Lawbreaker immerses readers in a fractured world where a boy’s desperate flight from violence leads him to a chilling prophecy. Chaos engulfs the Federated Kingdoms: deformed beasts, barren fields, and Kelmar raids leave devastation in their wake. Lauren, a village boy, yearns to be a minstrel but clashes with his father, who demands he train as a warrior. Forced to flee, Lauren finds refuge at Songhaven, where the prophetic Ambrose reveals a dire warning: the Lawbreaker will bring destruction. As conspiracies unravel, Lauren realizes he’s being hunted. Is he the Lawbreaker—and how could a minstrel shape such a fate?
Lauren’s transformation from naïve dreamer to courageous young man is rendered with remarkable depth. Daily captures his quiet resilience and growing bravery, delving into the complex, often strained relationship between Lauren and his father, a battle-hardened veteran of the High King’s army. Their emotional journey, marked by conflicting expectations and unspoken love, carries immense weight. With his profound wisdom and mysterious past, Ambrose, the prophetic master of Songhaven, adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. Daily’s world-building is vivid.
The Federated Kingdoms, scarred by decay and threatened by war, pulse with tension. The plot strikes a perfect balance between action, introspection, and suspense. Lauren’s escape from his father’s violent outburst and his flight to Songhaven are riveting, setting the stage for tense revelations. The prophecy of the Lawbreaker creates a palpable sense of urgency, while Lauren’s growing realization of his potential adds to the tension.
Throughout, the novel grapples with profound themes of destiny, power, and self-discovery. Lauren’s artistic aspirations clash with his father’s martial expectations, reflecting a larger tension between individuality and tradition. This is a masterful blend of vivid world-building, character-driven storytelling, and thematic depth. A must-read for lovers of epic fantasy.
Lauren’s transformation from naïve dreamer to courageous young man is rendered with remarkable depth. Daily captures his quiet resilience and growing bravery, delving into the complex, often strained relationship between Lauren and his father, a battle-hardened veteran of the High King’s army. Their emotional journey, marked by conflicting expectations and unspoken love, carries immense weight. With his profound wisdom and mysterious past, Ambrose, the prophetic master of Songhaven, adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. Daily’s world-building is vivid.
The Federated Kingdoms, scarred by decay and threatened by war, pulse with tension. The plot strikes a perfect balance between action, introspection, and suspense. Lauren’s escape from his father’s violent outburst and his flight to Songhaven are riveting, setting the stage for tense revelations. The prophecy of the Lawbreaker creates a palpable sense of urgency, while Lauren’s growing realization of his potential adds to the tension.
Throughout, the novel grapples with profound themes of destiny, power, and self-discovery. Lauren’s artistic aspirations clash with his father’s martial expectations, reflecting a larger tension between individuality and tradition. This is a masterful blend of vivid world-building, character-driven storytelling, and thematic depth. A must-read for lovers of epic fantasy.
January 18, 2025
Daily kicks off The Chronicles of the Lawbreaker series with a tense and insightful journey into the dynamics of power, self-discovery, and fate. The Federated Kingdoms are shattered by failing crops, monstrous creatures, and brutal raiders. Amid the chaos, Lauren, a boy with dreams of music, is torn between his father’s harsh expectations and his own desires. After a violent assault, he flees to Songhaven, a refuge for minstrels, where the shadow of a dark prophecy looms: Lauren may be the Lawbreaker, the one destined to unravel the world.
Daily excels in crafting deeply human characters. Lauren’s transformation from a hesitant, conflicted youth to a confident minstrel is both relatable and inspiring, resonating with universal struggles of identity and ambition. Ambrose, as a mentor and prophet, serves as a compelling counterbalance. Secondary characters like Peg and Tavis add depth and complexity to the story. The world of the Federated Kingdoms is rendered with lyrical precision, brimming with vivid landscapes, cultural richness, and a palpable sense of history.
Music and storytelling are seamlessly woven into the narrative, adding a fresh dimension to the plot. Action scenes—from fierce clashes with Kelmar raiders to eerie encounters at shrines to the Dark Ones—bristle with tension and urgency, while quieter, reflective moments provide emotional depth. At its heart, the story examines the moral dilemmas of power, the burden of destiny, and the impact of choice, inviting readers to ponder profound questions about agency and responsibility. A tense, character-driven epic fantasy that is impossible to put down.
Daily excels in crafting deeply human characters. Lauren’s transformation from a hesitant, conflicted youth to a confident minstrel is both relatable and inspiring, resonating with universal struggles of identity and ambition. Ambrose, as a mentor and prophet, serves as a compelling counterbalance. Secondary characters like Peg and Tavis add depth and complexity to the story. The world of the Federated Kingdoms is rendered with lyrical precision, brimming with vivid landscapes, cultural richness, and a palpable sense of history.
Music and storytelling are seamlessly woven into the narrative, adding a fresh dimension to the plot. Action scenes—from fierce clashes with Kelmar raiders to eerie encounters at shrines to the Dark Ones—bristle with tension and urgency, while quieter, reflective moments provide emotional depth. At its heart, the story examines the moral dilemmas of power, the burden of destiny, and the impact of choice, inviting readers to ponder profound questions about agency and responsibility. A tense, character-driven epic fantasy that is impossible to put down.
September 23, 2024
Much much more than I’d thought it would be !
Fantasy is not a first choice for me. I am more of a mystery thriller. Being a narrow genre reader, this book was chosen because I loved the cover art. But now I can’t wait for the other books to be released! I read this in two days and only put it down when my tablet needed charging! Please hurry Mr. Daily and give us the next book. It is a thriller, mystery, fantasy and more the characters are rich and blossom before your eyes! A great read and a gotta get !
Fantasy is not a first choice for me. I am more of a mystery thriller. Being a narrow genre reader, this book was chosen because I loved the cover art. But now I can’t wait for the other books to be released! I read this in two days and only put it down when my tablet needed charging! Please hurry Mr. Daily and give us the next book. It is a thriller, mystery, fantasy and more the characters are rich and blossom before your eyes! A great read and a gotta get !
September 8, 2025
"The Minstrel and the Prophet is a gripping start to the Chronicles of the Lawbreaker series, with immersive worldbuilding and characters you can’t help but root for. Larry Z. Daily weaves action, intrigue, and heart into a fantasy tale that feels fresh yet classic. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series."
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews