Ranger's Calling: The Fires of Wynchell

by Raymond Keith

A far greater calling than He imagined. One that will test all his skills and wisdom.

Young Galieb trained among the elite Qoholet, a hidden society of highly skilled and learned rangers sages. But even among this tight knit community, he feels like an outsider, known as the “Half-elfin.” Ready to find adventure and discover his destiny, the ranger travels north, following rumors of brutal raiders known as eshkin. But as Galieb fights eshkin, he believes there may be something else behind the dead sheep and missing villagers. Will he break under the fiery trials or emerge reforged?

An epic fantasy adventure with rangers, knights, wizards, and other heroes. If you like Dungeons and Dragons, J R R Tolkien, mythical creatures, good versus evil, and heroic deeds, you will enjoy this fantasy novel.

Genres: Fantasy, Christian

266 pages, Paperback

Published February 27, 2025

Reviews

[D.T. Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Inn at the Forest's Edge, and when I found out this book was coming out, I was really interested to go back to this world. I enjoyed getting to see various races and some of the diversity in this world. I also appreciated the subtle pro-life bent we get to see here and there throughout the story.

Having said all that, I did feel this book fell short in terms of technical execution in several ways.

I get fatigued by first person very quickly, unless it's done well, and unfortunately this one leaned too hard on filtering, which made reading it difficult for me. An overabundance of "I," "my," "noticed," and several other words pulled a lot of attention to the first person POV, so instead of immersing me in the world, I was frequently thrown out of the story.

Pacing was another thing that just didn't feel right in many places. Action scenes were overlong, but important moments went by too quickly. Details--which are great sometimes--were frequently the focus of the prose, so instead of getting to see the characters interacting with the world, we saw info-dump sections that would have been more naturally incorporated in other ways. To me, this book either needed to be twice as long and take it's time, or it needed to be half as long and let readers sink into the world more before getting into the conflict. Build more suspense for what's coming. As is, the stakes didn't feel high enough. The themes didn't shine as much as they needed to, and the characters often felt a bit flat.

Prose was the third difficulty. I would love to see this book get a thorough line edit from someone who does line editing on a frequent and consistent basis. Taking out filler words, activating passive verbiage, varying sentence structure more, all of these would really add to this book and make it shine the way it needs to.

If you read mainly for action scenes and in-world details, none of this may bother you, and that's great. But I love to see a story's beating heart and shining soul, so I need more than that. I need to see the eternal value of a story--what makes it worth my time, attention, and investment as a reader who uses every fictional encounter as a chance to grow my faith.

[Stacey Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ranger's Calling: The Fires of Wynchell* by Raymond Keith is a masterfully crafted fantasy adventure, blending rich world-building, dynamic characters, and relentless pacing. Keith’s evocative prose immerses readers in a tale of heroism and intrigue, where moral dilemmas heighten the stakes. A standout for fans of epic fantasy, highly recommended.

[Tripp Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book, for litrpg. I don't read a lot of litrpg in general. It's just not my thing, I guess. But I've read a few, and this is by far the best.

Likeable main character. Multiple villainous rascals that need to be put in their place. Swordplay, dangerous animals, and subterranean adventure. Magic that caught me by surprise (my last D&D version was AD&D, so I'm a little out of date.)

This growing author seems to be on the right track.

Tripp<

[Caedon Hull · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.1 out of 5.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ranger’s Calling: The Fires of Wynchell

Interesting read that I felt more than a coming of age story was more a series of transitions, from trainee, to searching for himself, finding his calling, and proving one can go through life fulfilling said calling, handling situations good or bad and staying true to self and to core values both taught and learned hard way so to speak.
A good clean read showcasing morals and respect.

[Nancy Fagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. The author has created an interesting world with likable characters and nasty villains. Some, like Lady Zebah, are still unknown. Can't wait for book two. I highly recommend this book.
This book was received from the author for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jadolita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ranger’s Calling: The Fires of Wynchell is a classic epic fantasy done right. Galieb is a compelling hero, skilled yet uncertain, strong yet searching for purpose. The world-building is rich, the action is exciting, and the moral themes add depth without feeling heavy-handed. A great read for fans of Tolkien and D&D-style adventures.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a solid first full-length novel. The protagonist is compelling, highly skilled but inexperienced at the start. The combat is intense and brutal for people like myself without being too graphic for more sensitive readers. While the story has familiar fantasty elements woven in the author does a good job of making them his own. As an avid fantasy reader I found it fairly easy to follow and keep track of all the names. I was entertained as I followed Galieb throughout his journey. There is an element of mystery to the events as well that keeps you interested in what was happening. This book explores themes on the nature of good and evil without being too heavy-handed, and I honestly wish there was a bit more of that. The was a particular conversation Galieb has with someone that added some complexity to the story and challenged Galieb's beliefs. I'm sure we'll get more in the future novels, I just really enjoyed that scene and wanted more of it. Despite this it doesn't take away too much from his character arc and the book ends with an exciting confrontation and a satisfying conclusion. It does this while not answering every question and leave some intrigue for future novels. I did notice a tendency to tell rather than show, particularly in the first few chapters, but this doesn't hinder the flow of the novel too much, and I did see an improvement as the novel went on. Overall Ranger's Calling: The Fires Of Wynchell is a fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed. This is a good read for most audiences that I think most fantasy readers will enjoy. I am excited for the next book in the series and will be on the lookout for it.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Galieb, a half-human and half-elf, is trained among the elite Qoholet, a prestigious group known for its exceptional skills and knowledge. He sets out on his own quest with his unique abilities and a profound understanding of the mystical forces at play in the forest of Wynchell. He will encounter many challenges, many unusual creatures, allies and also traitors. The story is an engaging and captivating read.

Merged review:

The story revolves around Galieb, a half-human, half-elf who is trained among the elite Qoholet, a prestigious group known for their exceptional skills and knowledge. The novel is set in a richly detailed fantasy world where Galieb embarks on a journey filled with adventure, danger, and self-discovery. As he navigates through various challenges, he uncovers secrets about his heritage and the true nature of the Qoholet.

[Cilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. Galieb had just qualified to become one of the elite Qoholet rangers with all the uncertainty of someone trained but not tested in battle. On a routine patrol he comes across some Eshkin (think intelligent Orcs like Lord of the Rings) and manages to kill them, and is then sent on a mission to see if other places have been attacked by Eshkin and to help where needed. I really liked how even though he had doubts he was able to put them aside and still trust in his training. I liked the deeper meanings and references to the Christian life - helping others, trusting God, and I liked how Galieb met all the challenges and grew as a person and as a warrior. Clearly all is not right in their land, with the emergence of more evil in many places and look forward to book 2. I received an ARC but this review is my own.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed how the main character aspired to do what is morally right and helpful to others. Appreciated also the fact that the main character was not always the "big" hero in every situation but was willing to learn from more experienced men.
Though the back index was helpful, I had visual trouble with all the weapons and armor mentioned. However, it did peek my interest to look up all these weapons and find out what they looked like.
Thank you!

[Raeleane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic epic sword and sorcery story by Raymond Keith. The story hooked me from the first page and held me to the very last. A great cast of characters, of course, my favorite being Galieb. All the characters were well defined and engaging and I found myself hoping that all would make it through the battle with the Eshin. Raymond's world building skills are perfection. Immersive and smooth. This book is absolutely a must read!

[Brooke May · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is by my child who devoured the novelette and did the same with this one.
He really liked the main character because he was courageous and someone you want to cheer for.
Great world building and a fun adventure he didn't want to end.
He is now eagerly awaiting the next book.

[Quilting Tangent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventure!
A pleasurable, easy to read story about good vs evil. A young ranger fights against evil with magic and skill. Interesting characters and wonderful descriptions bring the story to life.