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Metorm: The Thunder Dance
Anyone can learn the Secret. That’s why it is so dangerous.
When lightning razes their lodge, young Sagiron is told to finally prove his worth. Easier said than done for the weakling whose proudest achievement is ‘the worst fighter in the village’s Skill Games’.
Then, on a hunting trip, he finds a hidden scroll containing the long-lost cipher to the Secret – the only known form of magic. Initiated overnight, he becomes an unmatched champion, certain his troubles are over.
But the Colonial Empire oppressing Yanakhon is already searching for the lost Code, destroying everything in their path. Sagiron must choose: destroy the last copy so the enemy can never learn the Secret, or initiate allies to stand for Yanakhon… knowing one flawed initiate could bring equal ruin.
When lightning razes their lodge, young Sagiron is told to finally prove his worth. Easier said than done for the weakling whose proudest achievement is ‘the worst fighter in the village’s Skill Games’.
Then, on a hunting trip, he finds a hidden scroll containing the long-lost cipher to the Secret – the only known form of magic. Initiated overnight, he becomes an unmatched champion, certain his troubles are over.
But the Colonial Empire oppressing Yanakhon is already searching for the lost Code, destroying everything in their path. Sagiron must choose: destroy the last copy so the enemy can never learn the Secret, or initiate allies to stand for Yanakhon… knowing one flawed initiate could bring equal ruin.
437 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2024
11 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 2, 2024
Why not dip your toe in a wild and dangerous new fantasy world.
Whilst out hunting, Sagiron crosses to a forbidden area, where he loses his new bow, witnesses a massacre, and narrowly escapes with his life. But in the process, he unearths an old, hidden parchment. He cannot read or understand the document, but he knows it is old and feels it is important. After several attempts to destroy his find, Sagiron begins to learn the significance of his discovery and its potential for both good and evil. This dilemma sets the scene for a wild adventure as Sagiron discovers secrets about himself, his family and his friends.
The first thing that struck me when I started to read Metorm was how detailed a world Eric Highwater has created. The geography, history and background of Antoria initially overwhelmed me, but I quickly realised Metorm was the start of a fantasy adventure of epic proportions. His characters are compelling and their adventures believable, and once started, the adventure sweeps you along. Eric Highwater is a Finish author, and this is written in a second language which is amazing, but occasionally this is apparent, however I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre in the vein of Tolkien. Why not dip your toe in a wild and dangerous new fantasy world?
Whilst out hunting, Sagiron crosses to a forbidden area, where he loses his new bow, witnesses a massacre, and narrowly escapes with his life. But in the process, he unearths an old, hidden parchment. He cannot read or understand the document, but he knows it is old and feels it is important. After several attempts to destroy his find, Sagiron begins to learn the significance of his discovery and its potential for both good and evil. This dilemma sets the scene for a wild adventure as Sagiron discovers secrets about himself, his family and his friends.
The first thing that struck me when I started to read Metorm was how detailed a world Eric Highwater has created. The geography, history and background of Antoria initially overwhelmed me, but I quickly realised Metorm was the start of a fantasy adventure of epic proportions. His characters are compelling and their adventures believable, and once started, the adventure sweeps you along. Eric Highwater is a Finish author, and this is written in a second language which is amazing, but occasionally this is apparent, however I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre in the vein of Tolkien. Why not dip your toe in a wild and dangerous new fantasy world?
October 26, 2024
A Step into the Unknown: Is Metorm Worth the Adventure?
As someone who doesn’t usually venture into epic fantasy, I picked up Metorm: The Secret with some hesitation. While I’m more of a sci-fi fan, the intriguing concept of a hidden secret that could change the fate of a world drew me in. At first, I felt a bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount of world-building—there’s a lot to take in with the history, geography, and unique elements of Antoria. But once I got past that initial feeling, I found myself more engaged than I expected.
Sagiron, the main character, starts off a little naive, which I found relatable. His journey into the unknown, discovering the significance of an ancient scroll, kept me curious. The book touches on deep themes without getting too heavy, and the balance between action and character development is just right. Even though this genre isn’t my usual go-to, I appreciated the rich details and could see why fantasy lovers would get hooked.
Overall, Metorm is a solid start to what looks like a promising series. While I was unsure at first, I’m now tempted to see where Sagiron’s adventure goes next.
As someone who doesn’t usually venture into epic fantasy, I picked up Metorm: The Secret with some hesitation. While I’m more of a sci-fi fan, the intriguing concept of a hidden secret that could change the fate of a world drew me in. At first, I felt a bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount of world-building—there’s a lot to take in with the history, geography, and unique elements of Antoria. But once I got past that initial feeling, I found myself more engaged than I expected.
Sagiron, the main character, starts off a little naive, which I found relatable. His journey into the unknown, discovering the significance of an ancient scroll, kept me curious. The book touches on deep themes without getting too heavy, and the balance between action and character development is just right. Even though this genre isn’t my usual go-to, I appreciated the rich details and could see why fantasy lovers would get hooked.
Overall, Metorm is a solid start to what looks like a promising series. While I was unsure at first, I’m now tempted to see where Sagiron’s adventure goes next.
March 16, 2025
This fantasy adventure was amazing; I was hooked from the start. I love Sagiron. His change from regular hunter to super-secret-holder is believable and thrilling. The world-building is immersive, with rich lore, political intrigue, and a sense of mystery that keeps the story moving.
I especially enjoyed the way the story balances action with character development. The stakes feel high, and the challenges Sagiron faces aren’t just about physical battles but also about understanding the deeper power of the scroll he discovers. The author does a great job weaving in elements of magic, ancient secrets, and the dangers of power, making every twist in the plot feel meaningful.
Some parts felt a bit overwhelming with the sheer amount of world-building, but once I got into the flow, I was fully invested. The pacing is fast but not rushed, and the writing style is engaging.
If you love epic fantasy with strong storytelling, unique magic, and high-stakes adventure, this book is well worth the read. I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment in the series.
I especially enjoyed the way the story balances action with character development. The stakes feel high, and the challenges Sagiron faces aren’t just about physical battles but also about understanding the deeper power of the scroll he discovers. The author does a great job weaving in elements of magic, ancient secrets, and the dangers of power, making every twist in the plot feel meaningful.
Some parts felt a bit overwhelming with the sheer amount of world-building, but once I got into the flow, I was fully invested. The pacing is fast but not rushed, and the writing style is engaging.
If you love epic fantasy with strong storytelling, unique magic, and high-stakes adventure, this book is well worth the read. I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment in the series.
October 15, 2024
If you have seen any of my other reviews you would know that I am a fan of world building, and Metrom delivers. The world is well fleshed out and in this first book you get the feel that his building well into the world (intrigued to see where these 5 books will take us). Since this is more epic fantasy make sure you are ready for that before picking this up, because at times there are the moments where you have to put the piece of the world together (though the occasional footnotes help)
Highwater's style is concise and clear, with a focus on action and dialogue. The interactions with characters was natural and help build my interest in the characters and world. Sagiron, our MC, has a certain level of naivety to him that is to be expected in tropes of epic fantasy, and I find myself hoping that as the series goes on he is continued to pushed, hopefully into more morally challenging dilemmas.
Highwater's style is concise and clear, with a focus on action and dialogue. The interactions with characters was natural and help build my interest in the characters and world. Sagiron, our MC, has a certain level of naivety to him that is to be expected in tropes of epic fantasy, and I find myself hoping that as the series goes on he is continued to pushed, hopefully into more morally challenging dilemmas.
October 29, 2024
Metorm: The Secret has great potenial for an awesome series. This fantasy novel had great character development and dialogue to keep the reader engaged. The authhor lays out both a forward and notations over his world building. As a writer, myself, I understand to need to do this. However, I encourage this writer in the future to have faith in the reader. On the core of his writing, I understood clearly where I was, despite the maps listed in the books. An extra, if you'd like visuals.
On parts of this adventure, I felt that Sagiron's decisions behind 'the secret' was misplaced. I couldn't decide if it was based on wisdom or youth; but I saw plenty of applications on how to use his gift. I guess we all have our own morales. Something that this author does explore. I just hope that Sagiron doesn't slip into some darkside like the original Star Wars ark does. Hell, who I am fooling? That would be an ark that made sense.
November 5, 2024
Metorm: The Secret is an exhilarating dive into a world filled with mystery, suspense, and unexpected twists. The story captivates from the very first page, pulling readers into the life of a protagonist whose discovery of a hidden truth leads to a cascade of thrilling events. The author’s skillful storytelling keeps the tension high, with every chapter revealing new layers of intrigue.
One of the standout elements of this book is the richly developed world that feels both familiar and otherworldly, providing an immersive reading experience. The characters are complex, with personal struggles and secrets that make them relatable yet unpredictable. I was especially drawn to how the plot intertwines themes of courage, resilience, and the quest for truth, making it more than just an action-packed story. Metorm: The Secret is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys suspenseful narratives that leave you questioning what’s real. Highly recommended for fans of mystery and adventure!
One of the standout elements of this book is the richly developed world that feels both familiar and otherworldly, providing an immersive reading experience. The characters are complex, with personal struggles and secrets that make them relatable yet unpredictable. I was especially drawn to how the plot intertwines themes of courage, resilience, and the quest for truth, making it more than just an action-packed story. Metorm: The Secret is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys suspenseful narratives that leave you questioning what’s real. Highly recommended for fans of mystery and adventure!
November 28, 2025
Was in a fantasy mood so figured I would try this series. The result was mixed feelings. While the author clearly put some thought into their world, the choice not to translate certain words (their meaning usually clear from context) will be hit-or-miss for many. For me, it was a miss. Translation convention works fine.
Was that enough to poison my reading? Nope. Sagiron and crew are still interesting enough. The whole bandit plot at the start could have come across as cliche, but actually works at setting the stage. Our hero actually has to earn his victories.
Some of the world-building left me scratching my head. What are clearly automatic crossbows should really have altered the way wars are fought, for example. But on the other hand “X-bows” were banned in the starting village. Then again the magical “code” was a somewhat refreshing take. Over all I’m going with a solid 4 out of 5. This is a great start, which hopefully means the series gets even better.
Was that enough to poison my reading? Nope. Sagiron and crew are still interesting enough. The whole bandit plot at the start could have come across as cliche, but actually works at setting the stage. Our hero actually has to earn his victories.
Some of the world-building left me scratching my head. What are clearly automatic crossbows should really have altered the way wars are fought, for example. But on the other hand “X-bows” were banned in the starting village. Then again the magical “code” was a somewhat refreshing take. Over all I’m going with a solid 4 out of 5. This is a great start, which hopefully means the series gets even better.
September 2, 2024
A fantasy story of epic scale.
There are so many reasons to love this book. Fully fleshed out massive world, unique flora and fauna, interesting characters, consistent language, unique magic system, histories spanning generations, mysterious figures, and a world-changing secret!
The themes covered by this book are highly relevant today but what I liked about this story is it never got preachy. It just showed how those complex themes apply to this world and didn't try to justify any of it.
Typical of the first book in a series, it ends at a vague point. I am looking forward to the next book.
There are so many reasons to love this book. Fully fleshed out massive world, unique flora and fauna, interesting characters, consistent language, unique magic system, histories spanning generations, mysterious figures, and a world-changing secret!
The themes covered by this book are highly relevant today but what I liked about this story is it never got preachy. It just showed how those complex themes apply to this world and didn't try to justify any of it.
Typical of the first book in a series, it ends at a vague point. I am looking forward to the next book.
September 1, 2024
Everyone can learn the secret which may show others what may happen next. He will learn the one secret which was never revealed. He will need to work hard to learn and keep the secret. A wonderful adventure and so see how he gets on
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
September 5, 2024
A well written book I enjoyed this world setup is interesting and the characters are very fleshed out a good book 1
August 17, 2025
This gripping and imaginative tale masterfully blends revenge, mystery, and power, pulling readers into a high-stakes battle over a secret that could change everything.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews