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The Waking of Storm and Flame
A DESTINY SHE NEVER CHOSE. A FATE, SHE CAN'T ESCAPE.
Alira Verbrandt, the Princess of Namelle, savored the scholastic tranquility of her life until the Illyrian Empire descended from the north. On the eve of battle, Alira is drawn into the center of a war that has raged for a thousand years.
Unveiled as a Fate, the descendant of a legendary bloodline, destiny is thrust upon her. Alira must navigate her mortal obligation of defending her people from an empire who means to destroy them, while finding others like her to awaken a rebellious god that may be her last hope..
At the heart of her worry, an ancient record foretells the return of their creator. He who shall pass a final judgment over both humanity and the gods, one they may not survive.
The Waking of Storm and Flame is the first book in N.A. Betts' 'The Fates of Aten' series, and the author's debut novel. It is perfect for fans of Danielle L. Jensen's, A Fate Inked in Blood, and those who enjoyed the elemental magic of M.L. Wang's, The Sword of Kaigen.
Alira Verbrandt, the Princess of Namelle, savored the scholastic tranquility of her life until the Illyrian Empire descended from the north. On the eve of battle, Alira is drawn into the center of a war that has raged for a thousand years.
Unveiled as a Fate, the descendant of a legendary bloodline, destiny is thrust upon her. Alira must navigate her mortal obligation of defending her people from an empire who means to destroy them, while finding others like her to awaken a rebellious god that may be her last hope..
At the heart of her worry, an ancient record foretells the return of their creator. He who shall pass a final judgment over both humanity and the gods, one they may not survive.
The Waking of Storm and Flame is the first book in N.A. Betts' 'The Fates of Aten' series, and the author's debut novel. It is perfect for fans of Danielle L. Jensen's, A Fate Inked in Blood, and those who enjoyed the elemental magic of M.L. Wang's, The Sword of Kaigen.
- GenresFantasy
408 pages, Paperback
First published October 16, 2024
21 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
N.A. Betts
6 books31 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 two 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 two cats, Bandit, Carter, and Addley.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 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.
Bookstagram
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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!
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 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!!! ❤️
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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!
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
May 10, 2025
This was a first read for me by this author. I normally read more of a Fantasy Romance or a Romantasy, however this classic Fantasy delivered. It definitely pulled me in and kept my attention from start to finish.
This story was action packed, suspenseful and thrilling even. The world building and magic system was ahhmazing and the detail was so that I felt I was there taking it all in. The character development was impressive and even the side characters I felt had some depth to them.
The writing style was a little different for me, but it didn’t diminish the flow of the story nor did it make it less enjoyable. The battles, betrayals, magical powers, and plot twists kept me engaged until the unexpected cliffhanger. Thankfully I won’t have to wait to dive into the next book! I have questions!!
If you are one for classic fantasy reads with battles, amazing world building and exquisite magic systems you should definitely grab yourself a copy and enjoy the read!
This story was action packed, suspenseful and thrilling even. The world building and magic system was ahhmazing and the detail was so that I felt I was there taking it all in. The character development was impressive and even the side characters I felt had some depth to them.
The writing style was a little different for me, but it didn’t diminish the flow of the story nor did it make it less enjoyable. The battles, betrayals, magical powers, and plot twists kept me engaged until the unexpected cliffhanger. Thankfully I won’t have to wait to dive into the next book! I have questions!!
If you are one for classic fantasy reads with battles, amazing world building and exquisite magic systems you should definitely grab yourself a copy and enjoy the read!
March 24, 2025
I was gratefully gifted the ebook version of The Waking of Storm and Flame by N.A. Betts.
It has been a while since I have delved into an epic/high fantasy, and this did not disappoint.
Following the sisters, Alira and Zahra’s, intertwining adventures, being introduced to interesting side characters and the intricacies of the world’s different political interactions all mixed with magical elements kept me intrigued.
The writing style may not suit all readers, but I thought it benefited the style of story being told. I also appreciated the glossary of French and German (for the small passages they were used), as I will admit I have a limited understanding in both languages.
I look forward to continuing this story.
It has been a while since I have delved into an epic/high fantasy, and this did not disappoint.
Following the sisters, Alira and Zahra’s, intertwining adventures, being introduced to interesting side characters and the intricacies of the world’s different political interactions all mixed with magical elements kept me intrigued.
The writing style may not suit all readers, but I thought it benefited the style of story being told. I also appreciated the glossary of French and German (for the small passages they were used), as I will admit I have a limited understanding in both languages.
I look forward to continuing this story.
December 30, 2025
There were several positives in this story. It had moments which brought deep emotion to me. The arc and premise of the story are solid; however, this story contains many plot flaws.
The easiest way to lose a reader is to confuse them. This story shifted between points of view to the extent that I felt constantly thrown around. Frequent overuse of pronouns led to further confusion. I'll provide an example: "As she ran her hands over her stomach, she realized she’d forgotten–in the commotion of the campaign and the night’s events–that she carried her brother’s child." This is a deeply unfortunate sentence that references two different women. Failure to use the proper name before each pronoun switch not only added confusion but also prevented me from remembering or connecting to character names.
Most characters had two to four names that were used to refer to them. There were several times I went 'wait, that's not two characters?' Adding to my confusion were sound-alike names including: Amélie, Emile, Emmeline, Emmi (a nickname).
If only the problems stopped there, but no. The plot is just as confused as I was.
Warning: Spoilers from here on.
The goal of the story is to unite the world for when Zeion returns to judge the world. The evil group, in an effort to stop this judgment, wants to unite the world? Ultimately the two groups are after the same goal and yet are killing each other because one has goddesses and the other demons? I'm not really sure.
The goddess Drea possessed Alira's father and got him killed; possessed Alira's brother and got him killed. So we blindly trust in this goddess? Make this make sense. Why are we letting Drea continue to possess us? And why are the characters surprised when this doesn't go well? She never felt like the ally she was claimed to be because her actions led to high casualties while not achieving strategic goals, and while providing inconsistent power to various characters.
Avery the immortal. Avery is slammed to the side by a giant monster and left in a motionless lump, fine in the next scene. Hit in the chest with a warhammer and tossed, fine in the next scene, and marching home. Survives a shipwreck, only to suddenly be at death's door because he was thrown from his horse -- just to be saved by deus ex magicka. All of which deteriorated my trust in any and all injuries because it shows the hand of the author. Injuries that should have been life threatening are waved away. Ones that are far less intense, which I didn't even register because 'Avery's survived worse': nope. The plot wanted drama here so he's on death's door.
Zarha. Zarha is being possessed from some fight before the story begins. The possession helps her but is slowly taking over her mind. Zarha is a super-skilled warrior woman capable of killing thousands of trained men. She kills a hundred elite warriors to get to challenge a betrayer in combat, then suddenly... she needs more power and gives into the shadow to kill three people?
Worldbuilding - Still spoilers.
This society has royalty, arranged political marriages, and bloodlines tied to goddesses. This implies a culture highly focused on lineage. Yet, Alira, as the last of her royal family line, one of five bloodlines connected to a goddess, is lusting after a woman, and no one cares that such a union can't have children? There's no push for her to have an heir or a political marriage, no turmoil in the nations over inheritance. The one place where an LGB character does NOT fit with the worldbuilding is where we find one. She was the sole heir, not some fifth sister.
A woman is introduced claiming to be a long lost part of Alira's family line, erased from history books, and is instantly considered legitimate (without records) because she knows the name of a sword? This so-called Aunt didn't bother to show up when a 10 year old was made duke? Plus, there's been zero title claims in the generations since the family fractured. But for some reason, after GENERATIONS, they care enough to build this elaborate plan to marry daughters into royalty, and this unknown, unlanded, erased family was the best possible alliance those nations could make? This stretches my believability too far for the established monarchy system, which I admit isn't explained; but since it's NOT explained, it's left to readers to fill in, and I couldn't make it fit with anything that makes sense to me.
On top of that, if lost members of a blood line are legitimate, no matter how distant (like they might be fifteenth-cousins??) that solves the problem of the family line disappearing. There ought to be countless cousins with at least one percent of one percent of one percent (that's one millionth, which would be a twentieth-cousin according to my husband) then the entire concept of the magic being blood-tied to a few people is logically faulty. Kids having kids makes every generation bigger, and if some long lost blood line counts, then by this time most of the population should count as the 'fate' of these goddesses.
Tropes in this book that, as a woman, I'm tired of:
- Women in military
- Women just as physically strong if not stronger than men
- Women not considered strong unless they behave like men
- Miscarriage/Pregnancy loss for shock value
All of this builds a distrust in the worldbuilding for me, because it isn't consistent with itself. The writing delivered well on emotion, but there has to be SOME logic to pair with that, or at least this reader gets kicked out of the story by that. Repercussions of actions aren't considered more than 'this would spice up this section'.
The easiest way to lose a reader is to confuse them. This story shifted between points of view to the extent that I felt constantly thrown around. Frequent overuse of pronouns led to further confusion. I'll provide an example: "As she ran her hands over her stomach, she realized she’d forgotten–in the commotion of the campaign and the night’s events–that she carried her brother’s child." This is a deeply unfortunate sentence that references two different women. Failure to use the proper name before each pronoun switch not only added confusion but also prevented me from remembering or connecting to character names.
Most characters had two to four names that were used to refer to them. There were several times I went 'wait, that's not two characters?' Adding to my confusion were sound-alike names including: Amélie, Emile, Emmeline, Emmi (a nickname).
If only the problems stopped there, but no. The plot is just as confused as I was.
Warning: Spoilers from here on.
The goal of the story is to unite the world for when Zeion returns to judge the world. The evil group, in an effort to stop this judgment, wants to unite the world? Ultimately the two groups are after the same goal and yet are killing each other because one has goddesses and the other demons? I'm not really sure.
The goddess Drea possessed Alira's father and got him killed; possessed Alira's brother and got him killed. So we blindly trust in this goddess? Make this make sense. Why are we letting Drea continue to possess us? And why are the characters surprised when this doesn't go well? She never felt like the ally she was claimed to be because her actions led to high casualties while not achieving strategic goals, and while providing inconsistent power to various characters.
Avery the immortal. Avery is slammed to the side by a giant monster and left in a motionless lump, fine in the next scene. Hit in the chest with a warhammer and tossed, fine in the next scene, and marching home. Survives a shipwreck, only to suddenly be at death's door because he was thrown from his horse -- just to be saved by deus ex magicka. All of which deteriorated my trust in any and all injuries because it shows the hand of the author. Injuries that should have been life threatening are waved away. Ones that are far less intense, which I didn't even register because 'Avery's survived worse': nope. The plot wanted drama here so he's on death's door.
Zarha. Zarha is being possessed from some fight before the story begins. The possession helps her but is slowly taking over her mind. Zarha is a super-skilled warrior woman capable of killing thousands of trained men. She kills a hundred elite warriors to get to challenge a betrayer in combat, then suddenly... she needs more power and gives into the shadow to kill three people?
Worldbuilding - Still spoilers.
This society has royalty, arranged political marriages, and bloodlines tied to goddesses. This implies a culture highly focused on lineage. Yet, Alira, as the last of her royal family line, one of five bloodlines connected to a goddess, is lusting after a woman, and no one cares that such a union can't have children? There's no push for her to have an heir or a political marriage, no turmoil in the nations over inheritance. The one place where an LGB character does NOT fit with the worldbuilding is where we find one. She was the sole heir, not some fifth sister.
A woman is introduced claiming to be a long lost part of Alira's family line, erased from history books, and is instantly considered legitimate (without records) because she knows the name of a sword? This so-called Aunt didn't bother to show up when a 10 year old was made duke? Plus, there's been zero title claims in the generations since the family fractured. But for some reason, after GENERATIONS, they care enough to build this elaborate plan to marry daughters into royalty, and this unknown, unlanded, erased family was the best possible alliance those nations could make? This stretches my believability too far for the established monarchy system, which I admit isn't explained; but since it's NOT explained, it's left to readers to fill in, and I couldn't make it fit with anything that makes sense to me.
On top of that, if lost members of a blood line are legitimate, no matter how distant (like they might be fifteenth-cousins??) that solves the problem of the family line disappearing. There ought to be countless cousins with at least one percent of one percent of one percent (that's one millionth, which would be a twentieth-cousin according to my husband) then the entire concept of the magic being blood-tied to a few people is logically faulty. Kids having kids makes every generation bigger, and if some long lost blood line counts, then by this time most of the population should count as the 'fate' of these goddesses.
Tropes in this book that, as a woman, I'm tired of:
- Women in military
- Women just as physically strong if not stronger than men
- Women not considered strong unless they behave like men
- Miscarriage/Pregnancy loss for shock value
All of this builds a distrust in the worldbuilding for me, because it isn't consistent with itself. The writing delivered well on emotion, but there has to be SOME logic to pair with that, or at least this reader gets kicked out of the story by that. Repercussions of actions aren't considered more than 'this would spice up this section'.
May 14, 2025
The first instalment of N. A. Betts’s The Fates of Aten series introduces us to the main character, Alira, who is a timid bookish daughter born into royalty.
When war ravages her home, she is forced to confront her world’s history, uncover some hard truths and learn how to defend herself.
Betts has some really intriguing world building, playing with the idea of the Gods working alongside humans and not against them, which offers a unique and refreshing take on the usual fantasy tropes. He crafts characters and cities with convincing detail and has clearly put so much effort and time into his world-building. I only wish there was some sort of map or guide to go along with his books to make it a little more digestible for readers like myself who find it hard to keep up sometimes!
Betts has a very fluid writing style and his description is gorgeous, bringing the story to life. The settings and descriptions of war are very lifelike and immersive, adding to the pace of the story. The characters are interesting and well-developed, and the progression from beginning to end was strong.
Overall, this was a heavy epic fantasy book with clear influences from the greats, such as Tolkien. It had a good mix of plot, character development and lots of events to capture the attention.
I look forward to seeing what Betts comes up with next!
When war ravages her home, she is forced to confront her world’s history, uncover some hard truths and learn how to defend herself.
Betts has some really intriguing world building, playing with the idea of the Gods working alongside humans and not against them, which offers a unique and refreshing take on the usual fantasy tropes. He crafts characters and cities with convincing detail and has clearly put so much effort and time into his world-building. I only wish there was some sort of map or guide to go along with his books to make it a little more digestible for readers like myself who find it hard to keep up sometimes!
Betts has a very fluid writing style and his description is gorgeous, bringing the story to life. The settings and descriptions of war are very lifelike and immersive, adding to the pace of the story. The characters are interesting and well-developed, and the progression from beginning to end was strong.
Overall, this was a heavy epic fantasy book with clear influences from the greats, such as Tolkien. It had a good mix of plot, character development and lots of events to capture the attention.
I look forward to seeing what Betts comes up with next!
August 21, 2025
This attempt at dark epic fantasy with a battle between good (light) and evil (darkness) has a strong premise, and much potential. Unfortunately, with the head hopping and totally incoherent fight scenes, not to mention characters I simply couldn’t connect with, this turned into a slog to read. It’s sad, because there really are a lot of things I would have loved if attention had been paid to a solid structure and a proper exploration of the themes (only hinted at) through each of the characters.
April 10, 2025
I am so saddedned to have finished this but happy to hear a sequel is coming out. I became very invested in the characters, especially Alira and Zahra. This plot kept you on your toes and the intricate plans the authors laid out for us. It has the perfect balance of action, emotions, and potential romance without overdoing either of those. And it has magic and goddesses! I look forward to the next book!!!
May 30, 2025
I am a person who cannot put good books down once I start, and this was one of them.
I really enjoyed the character development and how they drew me in and created a connection to the emotion they feel. I especially love the old world setting crossed with the magical and combative nature. The attention to detail brings the story to life as you are able to picture everything from the fond embraces to bloody battle scenes a like. I impatiently await the release of book 2.
I really enjoyed the character development and how they drew me in and created a connection to the emotion they feel. I especially love the old world setting crossed with the magical and combative nature. The attention to detail brings the story to life as you are able to picture everything from the fond embraces to bloody battle scenes a like. I impatiently await the release of book 2.
October 6, 2025
Very classic high fantasy!! Think LOTR meets, Game of Thrones (no spice) and then the Last Airbender (tv series)!! Once we get through the world building and into the action of the story, it’s gripping! Full of intense fight scenes, heartbreaking foreshadowing (like characters doomed to die as they plan for a future), and so much more. I like the elements of fate, elementalism, and overall feel of this one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2024
This is definitely a slow paced book that takes focus to get through. I found the writing style to be more formal than expected, with character interactions falling flat. I also had trouble keep the perspectives straight as it jumped around without much warning. I started this book with high expectations, but it was a tough book to get through.
February 16, 2025
I won a copy of Waking of Storm and Flame in a giveaway. I enjoyed this book quite a lot. The elements of war and the descriptions of the setting were especially well done. If you enjoy fantasy, you should add this book to your TBR.
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