Emissary

Legends of the Realm #1

by Thomas Locke

Hyam is a likeable lad who will make a fine farmer someday. But he carries a burden few can fathom. As his mother slips toward death, she implores him to return to Long Hall, where he spent five years as an apprentice. It was there that Hyam's extraordinary capacity for mastering languages came to light--and soon cast him into the shadows of suspicion. How could any human learn the forbidden tongues with such ease? When Hyam dares to seek out the Mistress of the Sorceries, her revelation tears his world asunder.

He has no choice but to set out on the foreboding path--which beckons him to either his destiny or his doom. An encounter with an enchanting stranger reminds him that he is part hero and part captive. As Hyam struggles to interpret the omens and symbols, he is swept up by a great current of possibilities--and dangers.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Young Adult, Magic, Christian Fantasy

384 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2014

About the author

Thomas Locke is an award-winning novelist with total worldwide sales of seven million copies.

His work has been published in twenty languages, and critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction and his 2014 induction into the Christy Hall of Fame.

Thomas divides his time between Florida and England, where he serves as Writer In Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University. He holds a lifelong passion for epic fantasy, science fiction and techno-thriller stories.

Thomas's screenplay adaption of EMISSARY is under development as a feature film with a British production company.

Contact Thomas at info@tlocke.com

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veteran author Davis Bunn, under the pseudonym Thomas Locke, ventures into the realm of fantasy and allegory with this book, the first of a planned series. There's plenty of adventure to go around in this novel...but the story itself is only getting started.

(I received Emissary by Thomas Locke compliments of Revell Publishers and Edify Media Group for my honest review. I received this book for free with no monetary exchange either written or expressed for my sole review.)

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Emissary tells the story of Hyam, who up until his 21st birthday was a plain farmer's son who enjoyed hunting. And that is all I could tell of who the guy was. He was dull and his emotional range appeared minimal to say the least.

Anyway, it's his 21st birthday and it appears that he is not a regular human after all. He has powers. Powers which only manifest themselves at that specific age. Why? You tell me. Apparently it's in his race. People turn 21 and boom - they get powers. Does that answer satisfy you? It sure didn't please me.

When his mother dies he goes to tell his estranged father on some wizard school city place, since she begged that of him. When he first leaves his village to go on that trek we are told that he isn't allowed to hunt. Why? You tell me.
So, very grudgingly, he arrives at the place where people were so mean to him, beating him senseless (Why? No clue.) to tell the man who abandoned him at a young age of his mother passing, except the guy is dead too.

So he gets there and talks to the place's mistress. He refuses to accept what he is told about his heritage and to take the advice of this very smart old woman, who we are told Hyam instinctively knows is very clearly speaking the truth. However, it seems that he either doesn't believe her or, if he does, he plans to do nothing about this new information. And then, when he develops the powers she said he would, he still refuses to follow her advice and go seek help from someone we can obviously tell is also trustworthy. Why? You guessed it! You tell me.

So there he is, very willingly practicing his awesome new powers in a secluded place. With mastery, I must point out - apparently just because he remembers some words in another language which he had learned years ago very grudgingly. How can someone who is now discovering they have powers control them like that? Again, feel free to tell me.

So he uses his powers with great skill, murders a bunch of people (bad guys, granted, but still people) and doesn't seem to feel a thing. Now I would like to think he had never murdered anyone up to that point, so yes, I would have expected a bit of emotion there.
He takes one of the bad guys' treasures and his horse and goes on his merry way, making plans to visit a very special city. And here I must note that, for someone who is so reluctant to go on this so called quest, he sure gives away the only home he knew rather quickly.

When he gets a supposedly extremely smart dog as his companion, you'd hope there would be room for some creative interaction here but nope, he just travels by the mutt's side, neither uttering a sound (Crazy as it seems, not exploring this relationship was one of the things about the book which upset me the most. I mean, seriously. A super smart part wolf-part dog-part something else which name I cannot recall who is usually destined for royalty? Such a waste...).

Both the wolfhound and the horse Hyam got by murdering its owner (call me petty but considering how Hyam got it I never considered it his horse) seem to grow instantly attached to Hyam and give him their complete loyalty. Why? Uh... Right.

We are fed a lot of information too quickly about all the races and can tell how not all of it is accurate, although not why or how or which parts. So while reading I kept thinking ok hmm we are going on this assumption but it's probably wrong.

Then the voice changes and we are introduced to Joelle. I immediately thought uh oh... Feisty girl with similar background of being a prisoner and not belonging, a couple years younger than main character, similar wizard powers... I smell forced romance. And was spot on. From the moment Hyam sets eyes on her he is smitten with her, solely due to the fact that she is a prisoner in a Long Hall just as he was. He smashes through the place cause he is almighty and stuff, and gets her. From the moment he meets her face to face till they get married what, a week after they met? - there is literally no clue that they fell in love with each other (as if possible), only that there was a moment of intense physical attraction. I would have had much more respect for the author and the story had he made them develop a kindred sibling relationship. If the rest of the book felt out of context then this bit right here takes it to a whole new level.

Moving back a bit, his role of emissary is explained, bestowed and accepted by him in a manner that made me think Huh? That's it?
Even though he is guaranteed protection, he is apparently abandoned. Why he wasn't helped, as promised, after things died down beats me.

And I will stop specifying what happens in the book now; it's pretty pointless given the book's length, and as a rule I don't appreciate doing this at all, as I prefer the reader to discover things as they unfold.
However, in this case I felt this introduction was required to make it very clear that, as I was following Hyam around, I was left with this hollow and confused feeling of not knowing why things happened and why the narrative developed the way it did, and this was something that accompanied me throughout the book. There were no clues that I could refer to thinking oh so that's why that happened until pretty much the end of the book, and by then it was too late.

Take the main character. Hyam starts off as a sort of ornery type who has never come to terms with his past and refuses to deal with the information given to him about his heritage. However, over the course of the book, I sometimes felt I was reading about a guy in his 40s, one who had suddenly gained all sort of moral values and a self-confidence and bravery that I had not seen before nor realized where it came from.
We are told that he had barely stepped out of his village all his life, certainly not very far, and suddenly he is giving orders left and right, owning all the places he visits, as if it was the most natural thing in the world to him, and having all sorts of people pledging alliance to him. All the crazy easy magery that happens is justified by the fact that he is, apparently, someone really, really special. Now while plenty of people may be happy with that explanation, especially because of the interesting world creating, to me it just felt extremely forced and overly simplistic. Not to mention extremely convenient.

I simply could not feel involved in the narrative nor relate to the any of the characters, the main one in the least. Whatever chance there were for bonding between characters was obliterated. The plot lacked direction for at least 3/4 of the book, nothing felt natural. Reading Emissary made me feel like I was watching a board game unfold. Ok, main character is here, so I am going to move hiiiim.... Here. Yep, sounds good. Now, this happens. And now let me move him to another square in... this direction seems good! The action never felt progressive. I felt that one minute I was in a place and then in another with no transition. I wasn't in the story, I could not feel what the characters were feeling nor was I particularly interested in knowing what came next. I was actually more curious to see if the dog would do anything interesting.

In a nutshell, all the focus of this book is clearly on the world building, completely deterring character and plot development. Things happened not because they make sense but because it was convenient to where the author wanted the book to go. Yes, there are good things, particularly towards the end of the book, but not nearly enough to make it one worth reading, in my opinion.

It did start to pick up a bit on the last third or so - at least we were finally getting some explanations and some sense of direction - although even then things which could have had tremendous impact were given miserable treatment/null development/utterly rushed) and the hidden for a thousand years line got SO freaking old. But you know what? Whatever was mildly enjoyable came too late. By that point, the book had succeeded in almost completely losing me, because I had been fed piles and piles of descriptions about the places Hyam and the others visited and, well, that was about it. I kept trying to hold on to the plot, to why certain things were happening or to even remember aspects that seemed important. But I just couldn't get a grip on the narrative because the situations were presented out of the blue, events unfolded with no clues whatsoever to get the reader to arrive to those conclusions by him or herself until it was too late to enjoy; stuff was just planted.

I cannot tell if this negative experience is due to me not being a native English speaker, the progressively archaic, sometimes even presumptuous, writing or because my mind kept wandering, since nothing there told seemed to interest me and I could not relate, but the fact is after a while, against all desire to just give up, I just trudged on and, for the most part, it was not a very pleasant experience. And then things became so predictable and disappointing, especially the romance bit, that I felt like reading this book was a huge waste of time.

In conclusion, Emissary has pretty close to spectacular world building, but without a plot that makes sense, that allows me to connect the dots, is overall well developed and keeps me interested along the way; without characters who have their own personalities, whose relationships are clearly developed, and with whom I can relate in the least - then it just becomes a travel book of beautiful sceneries which I would love to visit someday.

The extra star is for the ending, which thoroughly surprised me.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Sarah Sundin · Rating 5 out of 5]

From my fantasy-loving 16-year-old son, Matthew: "The story is well written and very enthralling. The story following Hyam leaves you with a sense of wonder, but has enough realistic properties that it does not become insanity. Though the story is meant for a younger audience, members of an older audience could still find enjoyment in reading this book. Through and through, Emissary is a great story and a good read. I recommend this story to lovers of adventure and fantasy."

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

High fantasy that was just too predictable & easy. It started out well & held my interest well for the first half, but it just became a drag. Everything was "a thousand years ago" & there wasn't a lick of tension. It had every over-used trope I could name, too. Still, I got through it & the first part was pretty good. I'll give it 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I don't recommend it to anyone who has read a lot of fantasy, though.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Hyam's mother passes away before his 21st birthday, he follows her final wish to go find his father and tell him that she has died. Upon going to the Long Hall where his father was at that he was banished from after 5 years of training, he is told that his father has passed away and to go away. It is only when he goes to the Ashanta that they declare him emissary to their clan that his true adventure begins. Can he warn the others of the sinister force that is descending into the land to cause chaos and destruction and stop the force with his newly-discovered mage powers before it is too late? Read on and find out for yourself.

This was a pretty good read that I got for 99 cents with another book at a clearance sale at a local Christian bookstore that is going to become a movie soon. If you like Christian Fantasies, then def look for this at your local Christian bookstore and wherever books are sold.

[Pegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not read a good fantasy novel in a long time. I enjoy the genre when it's done well, and Emissary is done well. It has all the elements of a good fantasy tale. There is a hero who is honorable and steadfast. The hero has a quest that is shrouded in a mystery. There is an older wizard (okay, not a mandatory element, but one I like) who mentors the hero. And there are clear lines between good and evil. Fantasy that smudges that line won't work for me.

Hyam begins his journey by honoring his mother's last request. He discovers a truth about himself that shakes his world. It also requires that he leave his home and everything he's ever known. Mysterious things start happening to him and around him. He discovers the world is not what he had learned it was. People thought long dead are not. Myth and fact mix together in a confusing array of events that draw Hyam to his ultimate purpose.

Emissary is a very good story with wonderful characters. I'm withholding one star because parts of it lacks clarity, or explanation, of unfolding events. While the mystery aspect is definitely part of the story, I was at times a little frustrated over that lack of clarity.

The end of the book includes the first couple of chapters of the sequel - and I will be reading it when it comes out.

[Paula Vince · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hyam's mother dies the week he turns 21, and he returns to a Long Hall where he used to be an acolyte, to tell his father of her passing. He hates having to go back, as he has traumatic memories concerning his time spent there. Hyam learns that his father is deceased, but that he himself was actually an orphan with unknown origins who his parents took under their roof. Although Hyam is willing to return to his village and farm his land, his magical heritage catches up with him now that he is of age. In fact, his powers turn out to be so vast that he must fight to ward off evil powers which are threatening the whole world.

Allies he teams up with along his journey include his faithful animal sidekicks, Dama, his wolfhound and Matu, his noble steed. They are joined later by Joelle, the beautiful young woman Hyam rescues from a hostile Long Hall, and Trace, the wise old Mage.

I've got to admit this isn't one of my favourite fantasies. A fair chunk of the magic seems to happen unintentionally, giving the plot an impression of randomness at times. The astral travel which both Hyam and Joelle embark on at different stages seemed so out there (excuse the pun), my head was spinning. I found this way of whizzing out of their human bodies to be present at various significant gatherings verged on making discoveries a bit too convenient at times. Sometimes it even happened while Hyam was trying to have a good night's sleep. Having said this, there were always huge challenges ahead of the protagonists, no mistaking that. To judge from other reviewers, it seems I might be in the minority with these misgivings anyway, so you may choose to take them with a grain of salt.

This novel's author and publisher are Christian, and I found the themes to be hidden rather than in-your-face. Some of the imagery and storyline I did find interesting include the following.

* The user/bearer of the powerful orbs is the one who determines how the force is to be applied. The power is present for anyone who can tap into it, and the orbs take on the colour red for those who wish to use them for destruction.
* Hyam gets a chance to reveal the supposed experts, the controlling mages of the Long Hall, to be not as adept in their magical arts as they think they are.
* The setting has a Medieval feeling I liked a lot.

Yet overall, although there's a lot that's good, I'm not sure I'll be interested enough to read the sequel.

Thanks to Net Galley and Revell for my review copy.

[Christian Fiction Addiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis will rejoice at a new addition to the realm of epic fantasy with the arrival of "Emissary". From page one, I was captivated by Hyam and his story, as his status as orphan garnered my sympathy while the explosion of his powers onto the scene held me captive to the point I simply couldn't put the book down. I had to find out, just who is Hyam? How did he come to have these mysteries powers? I absolutely love characters who come from humble beginnings, only to discover that their future holds more than they could have imagined, and Hyam is just such a character. As with books by Tolkien and Lewis, "Emissary" isn't overtly Christian in that God or Jesus aren't mentioned anywhere in the pages. Yet Christian themes abound, from Hyam having a purpose that is beyond himself, to the age old fight of good versus evil. I greatly enjoyed watching Hyam discover his powers and fight for not only his own survival, but the survival of the world around him. This book has it all - mystery, intriguing characters, epic battles, and romance that serves to move the story forward.

Locke does an excellent job at setting up this story as the first in a series, because despite the triumphant ending readers are still left with an ominous sense of foreboding that there is much left undone, that Hyam's destiny isn't fully realized. So I found myself turning the last of the pages feeling unsatisfied by only one thing - I have to wait an entire year until I find out what is coming next for Hyam! However will I survive the wait?

Those readers who typically read fantasy novels are going to love this book. And those who have never given the fantasy genre a chance should definitely plan to do so now. "Emissary" is well worth the read. 5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

[Deb Haggerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deb’s Dozen: 12-Word Summaries – Dying mother’s last request sends orphaned farm boy on a quest – Emissary!

Fantasy has always been one of my favorite genres, although, until recently, I’d not read much of note. Emissary, by Thomas Locke, has shot to the top of my list of favorites. Clean, crisp writing paired with descriptions that pull you into the environment make this a very enjoyable novel.

Hyam’s dying mother had one last request—tell your father that I am gone. Hyam’s father had left them years ago to reside in the Three Valley’s Long Hall, residence of what remained of wizardry and magic. Hyam himself had spent five long years there and had no fond memory of the experience. But obey his mother’s wish as he had promised, he would do—Hyam was honorable if nothing else.

When he arrives, he’s told his father’s been dead for four years—and wasn’t his father, nor his mother his mother. The Mistress of the Hall sends him to another hall to seek the mage, Trace. And so begins Hyam’s epic journey of danger and disbelief and destiny.

I was given a copy of Emissary by Revell Publishing for my candid review.

The story so enthralled me that I dreamt about Hyam’s adventures and woke myself up—only to read to the wee hours until I had finished. As I loved Hyam and Trace and Joelle, I am delighted to tell you this is merely the start of the adventures. The Emissary stands by itself, though, with a beginning and a conclusion—unlike many series that leave you hanging.

If you love a rollicking adventure, with romance and danger involved, you’ll love Emissary as I do. Although a fantasy story, Locke writes with such assurance that you’ll almost believe in a new reality. Five stars – be sure to pick up a copy and enjoy!

I was given a copy of Emissary by Revell Publishing for my candid review.

[Kayleigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 28%

I don't really have a lot I can say about this book because I didn't even get 30% of the way in, but I just couldn't do it. I was bored.

That doesn't mean that this is a bad book by any means. I can definitely see that some people would actually love this book, it just wasn't for me.

This, actually, very much reminded me of The Wise Man's Fear, which is strange because I loved both of Patrick Rothfuss' books but I just couldn't get along with this one.

There seems to be a complete lack of emotion in the writing which made it very hard for me to connect with the story and the characters - it's hard to feel involved or relate to anyone in any way. And there was this feeling of being perpetually confused about everything. There's a lot of back story here that you need at the beginning to be able to follow the story and you're not given it. After a while you start to feel like you've walked into a conversation halfway through and are being forced to join in with absolutely no context as to what has already been discussed.

The pacing is a little bit off - it was a bit jarring to me. Nothing progressive seems to happen and there wasn't anything interesting enough happening to make me want to keep on reading. The writing, however, is of a very high quality.

Like I said - I can see how some people would like this book - in fact, there are some hardcore high fantasy lovers out there who I think are going to adore this book, but it wasn't enough to hold my attention and I kept finding myself wondering off to do other things.

This isn't a bad book - it just wasn't for me.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Wow! And triple wow! I LOVED this book. This is no epic. This book for me, however, was epic enough where it counted. I love the characters, the mystery, the magic and the quest. The main character Hyam is one amazing guy. Simple, kind, an all around good man and a total bad-a** with what he can do. This simple read had me sucked in from the get go and I hated to put the book down. As I read, the better it got. This is not a story for everyone out there. It may seem too simple and streamlined. But I loved it. I won this as a Goodreads giveaway and I am so glad I did. I sincerely look forward to reading the rest of this awesome series!

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

This was a difficult read for me that I had a hard time getting into. Emissary felt at the same time too long and missing details about the characters, mainly the main character Hyam, who for some reason only at 21 finds out he has magical powers, after first enjoying his simple life as a farmer.

The rest is a pretty standard fantasy story, where Hyam will prove everyone rather quickly why he is such a special boy and fights some battles. The problem is that even though Hyam is really at the core of the story, I didn't feel like I got to know him at all. Also, the romantic angle I didn't care for.

I won't be continuing this series, it was not for me.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Nyxus · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is very picky about fantasy novels, I found Emissary to be a great addition to my fantasy shelf. The story of Hyam is fast-paced however not because every page is filled with action. The dialogue is quick, even explanations are left blunt and to the point, which works very well for this book. My only trouble was every so often I'd get so engrossed that I'd forget who was speaking and would have to backtrack a sentence or two as a reminder. As the book delves into Hyam's adventure, we get the sense of how vast this world is without having to explain exactly how many days go by. Yet at the same time, it's easy to realize that you haven't seen that much of the world because only a few towns were visited. This, of course, is a great set up for future novels because we want to see more.

The only time I had a struggle with the fast-paced nature was in the beginning. Because Locke leads in with no explanation (relying on the idea that the reader should learn as he or she continues), the intro of Hyam is a little jarring. We learn right off the bat that his mom is dead and something about coming of age, but as these details seem unnecessary to the story we never learn more about them apart from his mother. As I continued I was fine with it, but I do think some side additions (maybe just a paragraph) of how the village functioned might have added some depth to Hyam's hometown. Of course, the limited knowledge is inherent of a third person limited view, so the book still succeeds regardless.

Locke also doesn't flee from some of the topics of temptation and true love. Thankfully his novel also does NOT function like a teen novel where the plot really is "love first, save the world later". Instead Hyam pushes the thought of love to the side knowing that the fate of the world comes first. Also thankfully, neither Hyam nor the other woman feel as though they absolutely cannot survive without one another. The characters are strong enough to be separate individuals with lives, and their love comes second to that, a great departure from some of the sappy novels out there now.

Overall I really loved this book. It serves as a full, separate story while also acting as an obvious beginning to a series. The pace is fast but it still functions well. There is no crude humor. Hyam is a strong character with traits that one may question at times simply because he is not as much of an archetype. Love this book and could probably even say more but that would be spoiling it!

[Kathleen (Kat) Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in a possible mid century type of style where wizards, mages, magic, mystery and a clouded past are just a part of the true underlying story of Hyam. Born and raised by a mother who did not birth him and a father who did not raise him casts shadows of uncertainty and an unresolved past of who Hyam really is. He has powers and can speak forbidden tongues of Milantian, Ashanti, and Elven even from an early age. It was told that anyone speaking or to be of Milantian blood would be killed on the spot. Hyam tries to understand who he is, where he is from and his uncertain future that bids of doom and prophecy.

Reading through the book from the first several chapters sent me in search of Ore as I turned each page. The character development was very well written and with each chapter I could see the characters forming in my imagination! Some of the writing could be better written with explaining how Hyam got from one town to another as in the beginning. It skips a bit without much detail on how the main character gets from one place to another.

Hyam, Joelle, Bryna as well as a flock of other interesting characters fill the pages with a deep sense of sorrow, wanting, and a lust to be free. The main characters could each have a separate book written about them and their races that would be just as fascinating as this book was. I will leave that to the author...

I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and would recommend anyone who loves mythical, magical science fiction and fantasy! I received Emissary by Thomas Locke compliments of Revell Publishers and Edify Media Group for my honest review. I received this book for free with no monetary exchange either written or expressed for my sole review. Thomas Locke is the pseudonym for Davis Bunn as he launches into a new genre of novels for readers. Davis Bunn has long been a favorite author of mine and this was did not disappoint. Definitely one I would recommend to fans of novels like The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Chronicles of Narnia. This is the first novel in the Legends of the Realms Series due out in December of 2014, with a teaser prequel The Captive out now! I can't wait for the sequel and once again this author has found a true treasure in this book lover's heart!

[Rebekah Gyger · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first saw this book up for review, I was not aware that Hyam was to become a mage. Ordinarily, I would stay away from books with wizarding heroes, but since it was from a Christian publisher, I decided to stick it out.

Let me start by saying that Locke has done some fantastic world building. At no time did I feel like this was not a real world that I could somehow enter and move around in. The story was easy to follow and the magic interesting. Yet, as a whole, I could not get into the story.

For most of the book we are given absolutely no insight into Hyam's emotional state. We know his mother just died and assume this makes him sad, but there is no real clue that it does. The mages themselves seem to be the only things which draw an emotional response from him. Because we have no idea of his emotions, I really can not say what his motivations were. It made him difficult to relate to.

Joelle was a much easier to understand. However, it took half the book for her and Hyam to meet and during that time she did relatively nothing important to the plot except give us a better glimpse of the red mage.

Emissary had a great story, I just wish the characters had been more relatable.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emissary, by Thomas Locke, is a fantasy which takes place in a world that is often frightening and dangerous. Ominous forces threaten the realm, and most of those who have the wisdom and power to stop these forces have been hidden away, their powers forbidden. Hyam, a young man with a mysterious lineage, turns his back on all that is familiar to become the reluctant leader of a brave, loyal group of mages, soldiers, and a beautiful, equally mysterious young woman, all of whom are dedicated to freeing the realm from the terror that threatens to destroy the realm. Characters are well-drawn, action moves quickly and urgently, and the writing transports the reader to the realm. It has been awhile since I last read fantasy; this novel was a good journey back to that genre.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

On his 21st birthday, Hyam receives powers far beyond anything he could have imagined. Suddenly he finds himself involved in a rising war, as his powers are tested and his destiny is revealed.

The beginning drew me in, but as the story progressed I lost interest and got kind of lost. I really wanted to love this book, and I tried hard, but in the end I felt as if I didn't really have much of a connection with the characters, and I felt more like I was seeing them from a distance rather than being right there beside them.

The world building was well done and from the first few chapters I was able to get a rudimentary grip on the society.

Overall, a new fantasy series about a young man searching for his place in the world, as he fights the evils rising about them. I know a lot of people who really liked this book, and I know that it will delight many fantasy lovers :)

[Claudia {SparrowHawk} · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPARROW'S THOUGHTS:
// Emissary, Legends of the Realm captures all the very best elements in the fantasy genre: young nobodies destined for greatness, fascinating and enchanting races and realms, ancient mythical fiends, the gathering of a team, valiant quests, and the way in which Thomas Locke weaves them all together is so brilliantly clever!

// Thomas Locke's writing is skillfully executed in this novel. He presents a unique sort of writing style that strangely writes itself; a type of writing style that I have only encountered in very few books (i.e. The Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia). His creativity and imaginativeness is so atmospheric, vibrant, and deeply addicting; it's refreshing to say the least

// I read Emissary during an unusual season, to put it plainly, I was in a reading funk; I had lost my motivation to read and was finding it extremely difficult to stay interested in anything. Even more sad, video games and re-reads did nothing for my sullen mood - except maybe make it worse. But when Emissary arrived at my doorstep, I was immediately spellbound in racing along with the characters in this narrative and the climatic events that unfolded, until I found it was dawn and I had to get up and make breakfast for the family!

// Emissary has established itself on my bookshelf as one of the most epic fantasy novels since J.R.R Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy

// In short, Emissary is a story that chronicles the struggle to control these ancient orbs that posses both destructive power and life-giving power, the outcome of course is dependent on the one who is linked to the orb. After a near-death experience, Hyam is determined to prevent the dark forces that move in secret throughout the realm from taking the orbs power to wield it in order to dominate and control The Realm. It's a story of self-discovery too; of honor and glory, friendship, duty and loyalty, sacrifice, courage, love and resolve, all while facing brutal choices and foes; it was a true delight to read

// I really liked this story! It is an epic narrative that is sure to hurl you into vast dream lands where magic is common and mythical beasts abound. . .okay, I admit, I have been tossing Lord of the Rings & Chronicles of Narnia references loosely in this review, but please know that it is only so I can anchor you onto something derivable, and because Locke's action and imagination is totally comparable to that of Tolkien's & Lewis! Also while Thomas Locke does take on familiar Tolkien/Lewis tropes, he surprisingly manages to avoid coming off as a carbon copy Tolkien/Lewis would-be; thus, I highly recommend this series!


3 THINGS I LIKED:
+ The world-building in this novel is seriously glorious and deserves all the highly esteemed praise it has received. Thomas Locke is in touch with the fantastical elements that have shaped the worlds and kingdoms that we have breathlessly fallen in love with in novels such as The Lord of the Rings & The Chronicles of Narnia. He stirred an awakening in me and made me remember why I love living in these magical alternative worlds!

On the other side, the ridge fell away, revealing more forest. Only there was an unmistakable difference to this woodland. The silence was not as it had been. Everything listened. Each blade of grass, every bird, all the trees-they were aware.

Aiyana lifted her hands and began to chant. If her speech sounded musical before, this was wondrous. Hyam was left breathless from the simple spectacle. Her words flowed together into a single long utterance. He thought he could probably have dissected it and drawn out the individual words. And as she stopped speaking, he realized that for the first time since leaving his field, he was joined again with the forest and the earth. By the simple act of listening.

+ The often dark and violent battle scenes are detailed and exhilarating. There were seriously, so many times when I was able to hear the earth roar and rumble, the rivers sweep and strew across the rocks, I smelled the foul stench of decayed bones and rotten flesh, I saw magical arrows soar through the air landing on its inevitable targets, I felt the terror and wonder of magic, I could go on and on, really. This was one of my favorite scenes:

There was no time for worry nor logic. He knew with gut-wrenching certainty what he had to do. Hyam raced to the shed, over the earth that now compressed eight warriors and their steeds. He hefted his bow and strung it in one fluid motion. He plucked an arrow from his quiver, lifted the bow, and drew it to his chin, aiming it at the point where the knight had vanished among the trees. He released the arrow and yelled in three Milantian words, "Fly! Find! Kill!"

+ Locke has prepared a map of The Realm in which the story takes place, and we visit most if not all of the terrains through Hyam's quest in this novel! I just simply love and appreciate when authors fashion these clever and original worlds and draw them on paper for their readers


3 THINGS I DID NOT LIKE:
- The plot and pacing of the narrative moves along quite quickly as Hyam tackles an endless list of uncertainties and obstacles; he must learn what it means to be completely responsible and powerful. This, along with the world-building with an eye for detail is what captured my attention most; however, towards the last quarter of the book, the climate of the prose seemed to drag significantly, BUT the last battle more than made up for it {winks}

- There were a few instances in which I was fully enraptured by a defining point in the story line, only to be abruptly taken to an otherwise character's prose, and I found these transitions to be slightly distracting, BUT then again, I was too immersed in the experience of Emissary to care!

- The novel packs in a great company of characters, resultantly it was difficult to narrow down a favorite or a preferred one because you enjoy each character's arc so much, but isn't this something similarly experienced through the Lord of the Rings series? I personally loved each character in the LOTR trilogy. Even so, despite the fact that Hyam's role was not as monumental as I expected it to be, his determination, quiet confidence and strong will won my heart. In fact, he reminded me a great deal of Aragorn from Lord of the Rings; his character tone was humble and meek


Overall Rating:
Storyline | 4/5
Characters | 4/5
World Setting | 5/5
Moral Value | 4/5
Cover Art | 4/5
Overall | 4/5

Violence | Heavy
Profanity | None
Sexual Content | Minor
Drugs & Alcohol | Minor

Mature subjects/themes include, but are limited to: Loss of a loved one, death, war, mysticism, black magic, holding someone against their will, thievery, disease, sorcery, witchery

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emissary, book one of the Legends of the Realm series, takes us to a world filled with magic and wonder, where elves once flitted beneath the forest canopy and wizards of unprecedented power and ability reshaped the very world with but a casual thought. However, long gone are the days of sorcery and magic, the kings of old now living in exile at the edge of the known world and those few remaining mages a mere shadow of their former glory. Enter Hyam, a farm son whose mother has recently passed away. When Hyam travels to the nearby Long Hall, he is told he is potentially a Milatian, a race of superb sorcerous ability and the ones responsible for the destruction of the elven race. It's not long before his powers awaken and Hyam is set of on a journey that will take him from one end of the kingdom to another, meeting up with an array of allies seeking to beat back the advance of an encroaching darkness that, if successful, would mean the end of all he holds dear.

Emissary is the rise-of-a-hero story with a splash of magic thrown in for flavor. The magic and world are detailed and intriguing. However, I have to knock a few points off for the simple observation that our main hero was, in my opinion, too powerful. Within 30 pages, Hyam was performing feats of magic that left the world itself shaken to its core, and as the story progressed, he only continued to advance. There was no slow coming into power, no side effects to his body suddenly being filled with its awesome power; he was simply able to do it. Too many books do this, believing that they need to make the main character the best wizard, swordsman, tactician, etc. that the world has ever seen. I am perfectly fine with the hero struggling through one trial after another, which simply wasn't the case here. Regardless, it was a decent story and I'm open to trying the next one.

[E.F. Buckles · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Emissary” by Thomas Locke is the first book in the “Legends of the Realm” series. This first book is about a young farmer named Hyam who discovers many new things about himself after his twenty-first birthday, not the least of which being that he now has powerful magical abilities he has to learn to control. Oh, and the parents he grew up with, who have both died, were not his real parents. There is also a Mysterious Bad Guy (we know him as the “Crimson Mage”) with a “join-me-or-die” attitude who is beginning to slowly, but surely, make war on the whole realm and, oh yeah, Hyam may or may not be related to him somehow. There are also powerful orbs which serve as conduits to help access the rivers of magic that flow beneath the earth’s surface, good mages, corrupt knights, green elves, and a brand new fantasy race called the “Ashanta” who sort of act like a hive-mind (in a non-creepy way) and have violet eyes and incredibly powerful mental abilities.

I have to admit, the first thing that attracted me to this book was the colorful cover. I was just walking innocently through my local Lifeway Christian Book Store when I saw it sitting there on the “new releases” shelf and thought, “Oooh, cool wizard-y cover! I wonder what it's about?” So, I looked at the synopsis, thought the story sounded interesting, and bought it.

My mom actually ended up reading it before I did. She liked it, but described it as being like Lord of the Rings but with orbs instead of rings of power. This description actually put me off reading it myself for several months because, as much as I love all things Tolkien, I’m don’t like stories that basically just copy LOTR and therefore end up being predictable.

Well, now that I’ve read it for myself, I can say with confidence that “Emissary” is NOT like Lord of the Rings with orbs instead of rings. In fact, I’m not even sure why my mom called it that, because I don’t think it’s an accurate description of this story at all. First of all, the orbs in this story, like I said in the first paragraph, are conduits that allow mages (in this case, people who are born with a special ability to use magic) to tap into the rivers of power that flow beneath the earth’s surface. Unlike the rings of power in LOTR, while the orbs have the capability to store magic for a time, they are not power sources in and of themselves, and if they are not “charged up” by tapping into the underground rivers of magic, they will eventually run out of power and become useless. Secondly, unlike the One Ring which has only one master and can therefore only be used for evil, these orbs have no known master and can be used by anyone with inborn magical ability for any purpose. The purposes for which they are used determine their color. Evil purposes seem to result in them turning reddish, while using them for good or neutral purposes turns them a variety of other colors, depending on the owner of the orb. (Example: Hyam’s orb turns violet, while an orb that belongs to another good character is silver. The Crimson Mage’s orb is red.) And finally, the end goal of the main characters' journey is simply to stop the Crimson Mage from making war on the realm, not to destroy the orbs.

All of that being said, now that I have read the book for myself, I liked it and I did not find it predictable. The characters were likable, the story was fun, and I look forward to seeing what happens next.

My only real complaint (and the only reason I gave it four stars instead of five) is that I did not always like the author’s writing style. He has a tendency to not do much in the way of description, which was perfectly fine sometimes, but at least three times, at various points throughout the book, it caused me mild confusion and annoyance, which I think could have been avoided with the addition of only a few more words of description. There were also times that I wished the author would get into Hyam’s head a bit more and show the reader what he was feeling. But at the same time, I got the impression that Hyam is a pretty simple guy and what you see is what you get. So, this may have actually been an intentional, stylistic choice and I think I can let that one part of the complaint slide. I also felt like the pacing of the story was a bit slow at times. While I’m not usually one to be bothered by slower stories, I felt like the entire first half of the book was slow enough that it could very well lose some people, (which I see from some other reviews that it did), and I think that is very unfortunate, because it is ultimately a good story despite initial slowness. And it looks like, based on the preview in the back of “Emissary”, that the pacing will be much better in the second book, so I truly hope that those who put “Emissary” in the DNF pile, will maybe wait until the second book comes out and then give “Emissary” another chance because I think this looks like this will be a good series overall.

One last thing I want to touch on before I finish my review is whether or not this series is actually Christian Fiction or not. Although I notice that some people here on Goodreads have marked is as Christian Fiction and I myself bought this book at my local Lifeway Christian store, I have done some research and discovered that, although the author has written award-winning Christian Fiction in the past, he has actually written the “Legends of the Realm” series as Mainstream Fantasy, hence the reason he is writing this series under a different name than usual. So, although I think “Emissary” is still good and wholesome reading for Christian readers, it should be known that readers should not expect an evangelical message from this series. Please see the link in my reference section for details straight from Davis Bunn’s (a.k.a. Thomas Locke’s) blog.


Reference

http://www.davisbunn.com/blog/qa-with...


P.S. I noticed in the author bio information on the back of the book that it says, “Davis’s screenplay adaptation of “Emissary” is currently under development as a feature film with a British production company.” Well, I just want to say that I think “Emissary” will be excellent when translated to the screen. Assuming all goes well and they are successful at turning it into a movie, you can consider my ticket bought. I will be more than happy to go see a movie adaptation of this book. In fact, I look forward to it.

[Skye · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed with this one, it had an intriguing synopsis. The writing was good, descriptive, and clean. The characters however felt really flat to me, they didn't have any depth. I didn't connect with any of them, and though the book had a nice pace. I couldn't get into it. It was also fairly predictable, nothing took me by surprise.

[Sarah W. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book just wasn't for me... I muddled my way to the end, but I never felt connected or invested in the characters and their fates. Plot-wise, this is a pretty standard fantasy novel, with a young man suddenly discovering he has magical powers and setting off on a journey and promptly meeting a woman who is, of course, the love of his life. While I can often get into a traditional hero's journey, this rendition just didn't feel very compelling or interesting to me.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting fantasy story with touches of reminders of Lewis and Tolkien.

I was intrigued to give this a chance. Knowing his other work (not as Locke), I was very curious. This novel didn't disappoint. There are certainly a few young reader aspects that I felt were in it, but it's a novel for any age to enjoy.

[Kris Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Karla Akins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know you're not suppose to judge a book by its cover, but really, what's not to like about this gorgeous work of art? It's the perfect marquee for this new fantasy series by Thomas Locke. It depicts the flavor and mood of this story perfectly.

I don't read fantasy as a rule, but because it's such a popular genre for the younger set, including Millennials, I wanted to read it as a way get to know why they love this type of story. Walk into any bookstore these days and the shelves overflow with novels featuring wizardry and witchcraft. These books appeal to those who cut their teeth on Harry Potter and fantasy role-playing and video games. They crave more stories that take them into the land of fairy tales and magic.

I am one of the few who hasn't read Harry Potter due to my own personal convictions. And I will admit being wary of this book. However, I do believe Locke has tapped into a market that desires a less dark fantasy experience. There is no overt Christian message, but there is definitely a main character to admire and a quest to be fought for. The thing to remember when reading fiction, Dear Reader, is that it is Fantasy.

Locke himself stated on his blog that he wants to take his readers on a story journey similar to what he loved reading while growing up:

"During our formative years – up until around age 30 – we are reinforcing our world view when we read for entertainment. But much of the fantasy that’s being published today doesn’t offer that sense of courage and inspiration that used to be prevalent in fantasy and science fiction novels.

Of course, not all of the “classic” authors wrote uplifting work. Ray Bradbury is one example. But even Bradbury’s writing gave me a sense of mind-bending escape and the opportunity to dream and envision more than what was available in world around me.

The books I loved most offered hope for a better tomorrow. Hope for growing into someone who could have these sorts of adventures. I want to infuse that hopefulness into my characters, and not give in to the temptation of creating characters who are only bitter and cynical.

In Emissary, key themes include courage in the face of fear, travel to unknown destinations, and new personal avenues of growth and development. I’ve tried to bring each of these into a story structure that’s applicable to today’s culture."

I was quite surprised how quickly I was drawn into the story. Usually I read historical or political suspense, but I found myself smiling and turning page after page, eager to learn what Hyam, the main character, would face next.

Since I cut my own teeth on Catherine Marshall and Janette Oke novels (as well as classics such as Little Women and The Yearling), it was a stretch for me to keep track of the visible and invisible in this story. It was also a stretch to "believe" the fantasy (which is a very strange oxymoronic thing to experience and explain). But Locke does a brilliant job of clarifying and describing his made-up world. His writing is seamless, and I found myself actually lost in the story instead of paying attention to his craft. Only good writing can do that. Occasionally there was a word or two I'd need to Google, but not often, and I only Googled them because I'm the curious sort, and I don't mind learning new turns of phrase and words. Again, had I cut my teeth on such books, perhaps I'd have known what they meant.

This story is about a young man named Hyam who is able to speak several languages. He has the gift of magic which is forbidden in the realm. As a young child he was trained by wizards at a Long Hall, a place which he hated.

Due to a series of unexpected events, he is called to turn away from everything he has ever known in order to save those who may not even have his best interest at heart.

I kept looking for an allegorical message since it is classified as Christian Fiction, and I didn't really find a consistent one. However, the protagonist is noble, and the values are clearly upright. Loyalty, courage and honesty are visible in the protagonist's imperfect character.

For other personal reasons, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's not because it's not beautifully written because it is. And if you like fantasy, and you'd like to find something uplifting and heroic to read without all the gory darkness, this book is definitely for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

[Jessica Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling new journey in the realm of fantasy and science fiction. Filled with action, romance, and subtle humor, this is the beginning of a promising new series.

Hyam is a young man who just lost his mother. Her dying request is that he return to the Long Hall where he spent five years as an acolyte apprenticing in the languages of the Milantian, Elven, and Ashantan, of which he mastered all. Actually, he mastered Milantian, the others were beaten into him. However, it is said that only true Milantian’s can speak their language and they carry a death sentence for past crimes of domination. After speaking with the Mistress of the Long Hall, Hyam returns to his fields for planting when he finds that he may have a bit of magic in him. When he sticks the spade in the earth, the entire row is suddenly opened for seed. When a group of knights see this, they declare to kill him and burn his village. Hyam uses the newly acquired power to open the earth and swallow the group of knights. This one act leads Hyam on a quest which uncovers many old beliefs to be untrue and he might just be the one to save The Realm.

Joelle is the product of a forbidden marriage between a human and an Ashanta. She is exiled with her parents, who both succumb to a fever when she is very young. A year later she too is affected by the fever and the Ashanta heal her to the point of survival and then bring her to a Long Hall. Her sentence is to spend the remainder of her years at the Long Hall as a prisoner. If she leaves, the Ashanta have vowed to kill her. If she stays, the Mage’s will most likely kill her. So, after four years of secretly practicing spells, she plans her escape. She schemes to make her way to freedom; if she dies in the process, so be it. But one night her path crosses with Hyam and the course of the world could be changed forever.

When I read the synopsis of this book, I thought that it sounded interesting. Then I got the book and saw that Thomas Locke is a pseudonym for Davis Bunn. I had just read The Patmos Deception by Bunn and while it was a good story, I was not completely enthralled with it as I felt that there were several holes throughout. Needless to say, I was worried that this book would be of the same substance. I am happy to say that everything I thought was lacking from The Patmos Deception was adequately covered in Emissary.
The characters really came to life in this story, which is really interesting because neither of the main characters really have a back story. Hyam doesn’t know his heritage and although we know Joelle’s, she has mainly been imprisoned in some form or fashion. The supporting characters throughout the story really complete it though. The mage Trace, the earl, Adler, Meda, Gimmitt and even the villains are portrayed perfectly. Each character really brings a unique quality and fits into the story quite well.

Bunn is very descriptive with describing all the different areas of The Realm. I was able to no longer read about the Elven Kingdom and the Ashanta cities and start walking through them. This is a rare quality that only a handful of authors possess. Throughout this book I actually lived the story and didn’t just read about it.

There is an e-book short that is called The Captive that is basically the story of Joelle up to the point that she is liberated by Hyam. All of the content is already in Emissary so you don’t have to read the short in order to get more of the story. Even so, it is still a good standalone short if you are interested in Joelle.

This was a great book to close out the 2014 year. I am eagerly anticipating book two, which unfortunately will not be released until 2016.

[Emmanuel Boston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Locke delivers something to his readers that, by all measures, is really quite good. Mystery embedded in mystery. Adventure in fantasy. Love in trust. Story in words.

Instead of giving you a book summary like many of the other reviews, I’ll give you a more analytical/critical review to help you gauge (not whether it will be a riveting story, but) whether you want to read this philosophy over-against competing philosophies.

Book Philosophy: Greater good can be had in denying myself, even being willing to sacrifice everything, and pursuing the cause of the outcast and the downtrodden; in pursuing good for goodness’ sake.

Main Point:
Sacrifice self, pursue good
Supporting Points:
There are greater things at stake
People follow whom they can trust
Every individual needs others
There are mysterious, guiding forces at work

Genre: Fantasy Adventure
Setting: Medieval world, undefined universe
Plot Flow: Ascending, monochronic; Rags-to-riches; quick-paced
Additional literary elements: Self-discovery, community building, battle

The primary characters presented offer the antitype Hero-Leader, Chaos-Villain, comforter, and sage

Cultural Target: youth, young adults, fantasty


A few mechanical corrections need to be made—there were several times in the first 50 pages that a sentence felt cumbersome or lacking in a word. But after these first few, the writing style and sentence structure was flawless. So perhaps it was simply that I needed to get accustomed to the way Locke was writing, but nonetheless: there were a few times I had to reread a sentence because I couldn’t distinguish subject from object or distinction of antecedents.

Along a similar vein, there were several times in the book that I thought the plot developed to quickly—almost like there were gaps in the plot development (not to be confused with plot holes!). It occasionally thought: “There wasn’t enough time for Hyam & Co. to determine that course of action. He didn’t even have a chance to think through the events.” Hyam seemed to respond too quickly and adeptly—he’s not done these things before, but he is somehow the perfect leader in every situation and knows how to react to things that are coming his way. If it were intended in Hyam’s characterization, he would appear haughty and presumptuous, but the characterization of Hyam was humble and compassionate (albeit holding grudges).

And occasionally it seemed like Locke didn’t spend enough time staging and describing the scene—this critique I know will be dismissed by most because many people want to ‘get to the story/action’ and find description overbearing, but I sometimes found myself rushed from one area to another without ever getting a chance to ‘look around’ as it were, and experience. Now this was not always the case, but I think more often than not the pace of the story was too quick for enjoying the world… and to be honest it was never quite clear in the story why there was such a rush. It seemed like Hyam ‘just knew’ that everything had to be done as expeditiously as possible without a clear plot element that gave cause.

And yet! All these critiques being leveled, the story was so good that all was quickly forgiven. The problems didn’t really even matter because the whole package was so enjoyable the whole time. In fact, all you have to do is read other reviews to understand the things that are so excellent.

I give this book 4/5 stars and recommend it to any fantasy readers as young as age 10.

Thomas Locke's book Emissary is released January 6, 2015
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

[Pam Graber · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I, as a non-fantasy reader, was invited to review “Emissary” by Thomas Locke, I was skeptical about not just enjoying it but even getting through it seemed a stretch. I shouldn’t have worried. “Emissary” kept me up at night reading “just one more chapter” until I finally finished. This book had all the excitement and mystery that I look for in the suspense novels I read while taking me to a medieval world where wizards, Elves and glowing orbs of power are the norm.

“Emissary” introduces us to our hero, Hyam – a young farmer who is just coming of age. Two days before his 21st birthday, his mother dies and her deathbed request is that he return to Long Hall to inform his father of her passing. Hyam’s father is a mage/sorcerer at Long Hall and Hyam spent 5 years there as a child serving as an acolyte. While there, Hyam showed an unusual affinity for languages, learning Ashanta, Milantian and Elven with relative ease. He also vowed never to return to Long Hall because of his treatment there, where beatings and humiliation were a daily occurrence.

The first inkling we get that Hyam may be more than he appears comes as he is trying to decide whether to fulfill his mother’s last wish. He arrives home exhausted, falls asleep and dreams vividly of a battle to come. Then, he goes out to work his field, which he points out has always been a magical place. Since his oxen are for some reason spooked by the field, he goes to turn the soil with his shovel. As soon as the shovel pierces the ground, a perfectly straight furrow forms along the whole length of the field. Fascinated by both the power he feels rising up from this place and the magic he is able to effortlessly command, Hyam plows the entire field oblivious to the king’s men who have ridden onto the scene. The king has forbidden the commoners to wield magic so Hyam has been caught in an illegal act. His defeat of the company of men sends him on the quest of a lifetime.

The characters in this book were finely wrought and it was always very clear who the “good guys” were and who the “bad guys.” Hyam gradually picks up an entourage, starting with his destrier, Matu and his huge wolfhound, Dama. He then gains the sorcerer, Trace and the Lady Joelle, both of whom saw his coming before he ever arrived at their Long Hall. The women, for the most part, are every bit as strong as the men and always have as much say in decisions that are made. Hyam vanquishes foe after foe using his wits far more often than his brawn. His impeccable logic and ability to think through problems also gains the respect of town leaders. His kindness and fairness to the underdog gains him the adoration of the people.

I would definitely recommend this book to the sci-fi/fantasy book lovers out there and since it is such a clean read, I wouldn’t have any qualms about pre-teens reading this. Since some of the battle scenes are a bit gory, I don’t think the very young reader should tackle this but 11 or 12 year-olds would definitely be OK with this. I would also say this is a great book for those who, like me, have really not read the fantasy genre. Pick this one up! It was a 5-star read for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

[Janet Sketchley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hyam is an honest and unremarkable farmer in a world where magic is only permitted within the confines of  Long Halls: places of training for wizards. He was a Long Hall acolyte for a time, until the wizards threw him out. Not that he wanted to stay. To be an acolyte was much like being a prisoner.

Now, as Hyam reaches his coming-of-age birthday (21), his mother's deathbed request sends him back to the Long Hall with a message. The unwelcome news he receives there, plus the sudden onset of what seems to be magical ability, thrusts him from his home and into a life of adventure.

Emissary is mainstream fantasy fiction, in the classic reluctant hero's journey style. It's been called epic, but I wouldn't go that far. It's a fun read with plenty of action and struggle, enjoyable characters and a well-developed world and magic system, but epic fantasy has a weight to it. Emissary, for all the great danger Hyam faces, is a lighter read.

The dangers are huge and at times spectacular, but he always comes through them with ease – even when survival looks impossible at first. [I'm excluding the ending from this comment, because I don't want to give any spoilers. Perhaps they all die. You'll have to read the book to find out!]

Thomas Locke is a pseudonym for Davis Bunn, a well-known, award-winning novelist. I understand the choice to use a pen name for this series. It's an entirely different genre (fantasy instead of suspense) and it's also a clean mainstream story instead of Davis Bunn's overtly Christian novels. This way, readers know not to have the same expectations they'd have of his other work.

If you want to know more about Emissary, there's a free ebook excerpt called The Captive available through the author's site: The Captive. This may be only available in Kindle format. It's Joelle's story (she's one of the key characters in Emissary). There's also a book trailer for Emissary and a sample chapter on the Thomas Locke website.

Emissary is book 1 in the Legends of the Realm series, and book 2 is scheduled to release in 2016. Also to come from Thomas Locke is Trial Run, book 1 in the Fault Lines series. This one looks more like science fiction from the brief description at the end of Emissary, and I'm eager to learn more about it.

[Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.]

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Disclaimer: I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley.]

While I'm only giving this book three stars, I am going to say that this was one of the better new fantasies I've read in a long time. Three stars simply means "I liked it," and I didn't LOVE it, so that's why it's only three. This book was more rooted in traditional fantasy than a lot of other books I've read lately, that purported to be fantasy but were in actuality just a teen romance. It probably helped that Hyam is 21, not 17, and the romance aspect was very underplayed until right around the end.

First, what I did like. I enjoyed the fact that this was more about defeating an enemy than a character finding himself. At one point, Hyam is told that he had better get over himself and stop being so selfish. His quest to find who he is can wait, but right now there's a threat and he needs to do something. I also appreciated that Hyam isn't "the chosen one," but rather an orphan who goes in search of his history, only to find that he has power to help save the country and decides to do something about it.

BUT, and here are the reasons why I couldn't give this four stars (these are very personal reasons and maybe people think I'm being petty, but aren't reviews personal?):

I hate the word crimson. It's like nails on a chalkboard. And I swear it showed up on like every other page. "The crimson mage" this and "the crimson mage" that. Every time the bad mage showed up, it was the only descriptor used. He was "the crimson mage," and that was it. He's referred to so often I wanted to start striking through the word. While this is a rant about the word crimson, it's also a rant about word choice. If you only have one descriptor for a character, there's a problem.

I really didn't understand why doors were referred to as portals. They are *doors*. They don't transport you anywhere. It just sounded like the author was trying to make the world sound more foreign, but it didn't work, because calling doors "portals" was the only real thing that was so altered.

Hyam's personality seemed to change a lot over the course of the book, and I couldn't keep up with what was going on in his head. I had a very hard time connecting with him as a character. I didn't really understand who he was trying to be. While I am grateful that we didn't really get the chosen one trope in this book, I still needed a bit more of a solid character to identify with. Overall, while he does grow and change and evolve throughout the story, and while this is usually a good thing, for me he sort of fell flat.

I did enjoy the plot, and most of the way the story was told. For me it was more of the descriptors, and some of the character development, that really took away from the book. I still recommend this to fantasy lovers, and I'm very glad I was approved to read it. It's certainly an interesting premise and story.