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Desiderata
A world hangs in the balance. And no one has a chance at saving it. Not alone.
On the faltering, hydropowered continent of Gracyr, Armando is a tyrannical emperor ever seeking greater control. And a new energy source from a sunken alien spacecraft creates his best opportunity yet to achieve it. But the very hunger for power that consumes him, that has made him such a titan of his day, may well prove the catalyst to his undoing.
Still, it'll take more than that to end his longstanding, oppressive reign.
Enter the fate-defying, sword-wielding team of Gerrard, Andromeda, Regina, and Hector. The intersecting life paths of these four unlikely companions might just suffice to seal the emperor's fate, and turn the tide against his campaign for power and control.
The journeys of these four converge, and they're set on a collision course with the freedom-crushing emperor. On their adventure, they'll have to leverage strength built from fighting the battles of their pasts. They'll have to defeat the shadow magic Armando's underlings command and unravel ancient mysteries that've eluded their modern world. And they'll have to harness relics long forgotten, and unleash the true potential of the magic they already possess.
On the faltering, hydropowered continent of Gracyr, Armando is a tyrannical emperor ever seeking greater control. And a new energy source from a sunken alien spacecraft creates his best opportunity yet to achieve it. But the very hunger for power that consumes him, that has made him such a titan of his day, may well prove the catalyst to his undoing.
Still, it'll take more than that to end his longstanding, oppressive reign.
Enter the fate-defying, sword-wielding team of Gerrard, Andromeda, Regina, and Hector. The intersecting life paths of these four unlikely companions might just suffice to seal the emperor's fate, and turn the tide against his campaign for power and control.
The journeys of these four converge, and they're set on a collision course with the freedom-crushing emperor. On their adventure, they'll have to leverage strength built from fighting the battles of their pasts. They'll have to defeat the shadow magic Armando's underlings command and unravel ancient mysteries that've eluded their modern world. And they'll have to harness relics long forgotten, and unleash the true potential of the magic they already possess.
437 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 13, 2025
Desiderata by M.P. Desmarais is a well-plotted and cleverly crafted fantasy that features memorable characters, a phenomenal conflict, and an immersive setting. In this fantasy, four unlikely heroes team up in a fight to acquire an energy source to replace the unreliable energy in their land. But an undefeated tyrant stands in their way, and they will need more than their strength and skills to beat Armando. The story’s elaborately imagined and stunningly executed world-building captures the crumbling continent of Gracyr, where failing hydropower systems threaten the survival of the people and their civilization. The four companions—Gerrard, Andromeda, Regina, and Hector—are brilliantly sculpted, with backstories that make them relatable and likeable. If you love genuinely flawed characters, you will root for these four. Gerrard’s wisdom and longing for purpose, Andromeda’s fierce independence, Regina’s intelligence, and Hector’s guarded strength create a team that is strong. Armando, on the other hand, is a towering villain with ambitions fueled by a powerful technology and dark magic. This is a tale of courage and sacrifice pitted against boundless greed and the quest for power.
June 14, 2025
To defeat the tyrant emperor Armando, four skilled fighters take up arms to free the people. Gerrard, Andromeda, Regina, and Hector are complex, flawed characters with intriguing backstories and strong personalities. They each have their own reason for going against Armando and his army of monsters. The shadow dragons, in particular, were creepy and fascinating.
This story is told in the POV of multiple characters, so I like that we get a full view of what’s going on. Unfortunately, the POV jumps from person to person without scene breaks, so I had to reread to figure out who’s perspective I was now reading from. Even though I didn’t notice any typos, which is always refreshing, the omnipresent narrator is often telling the story instead of relying on the characters to show it. I think that’s common with the sword and sorcery genre, so feel free to ignore my thoughts on this matter.
Overall, I’m sure fans of the genre will enjoy this book. However, it just wasn’t for me.
3 Stars
This story is told in the POV of multiple characters, so I like that we get a full view of what’s going on. Unfortunately, the POV jumps from person to person without scene breaks, so I had to reread to figure out who’s perspective I was now reading from. Even though I didn’t notice any typos, which is always refreshing, the omnipresent narrator is often telling the story instead of relying on the characters to show it. I think that’s common with the sword and sorcery genre, so feel free to ignore my thoughts on this matter.
Overall, I’m sure fans of the genre will enjoy this book. However, it just wasn’t for me.
3 Stars
June 13, 2025
Desiderata by M.P. Desmarais is a fantasy that tells the story of a high-stakes adventure to save a crumbling civilization. The story follows four characters—each with finely drawn backgrounds—who get together to challenge the oppressive tyrant Armando, a behemoth wielding shadow magic and alien technology. Meet Gerrard, the one who thinks clearly and who possesses impeccable fighting skills; Andromeda, a fiery fighter; Regina, a scholar with sharp intellect; and Hector, a guarded warrior with a disturbing past, as they face insurmountable odds to beat the tyrant and replace their already failing energy source. The story is well written and i enjoyed the characterization and the well-crafted dialogues. The worldbuilding is unique and imaginative. There is so much to enjoy in this story that kept me awake through the night.
August 23, 2025
This book is an engaging mix of fantasy with some sci-fi.
The world has fallen into conflict; heroes seek to make it right. A common but fun trope I happen to love.
Monsters and adventure, nice! Swords and magic abound, but I found myself wishing for more involvement of mysterious relics from the past.
The world building was well done. Sometimes, I got a little confused by its depth, but I think that’s just me.
The characters are realistic and the story is entertaining. I liked it.
The world has fallen into conflict; heroes seek to make it right. A common but fun trope I happen to love.
Monsters and adventure, nice! Swords and magic abound, but I found myself wishing for more involvement of mysterious relics from the past.
The world building was well done. Sometimes, I got a little confused by its depth, but I think that’s just me.
The characters are realistic and the story is entertaining. I liked it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews