Circle of Reign

The Dying Lands Chronicle #1

by Jacob Cooper

Lands Die.
The Living Light Fades.
An Ancient Darkness Awakens.

The Living Light that sustains Arlethia is dwindling.

An unknown, vicious enemy approaches in stealth from beyond the northern glaciers, a wasteland of ice that spans hundreds of miles. A clandestine brotherhood of assassins, held in check by the Light for millennia, seeks to break their maledictive shackles and unleash their bloodlust upon the world. Those that should stand with Arlethia clothe themselves in betrayal, desiring her secrets for themselves, leaving Arlethia to stand alone.

The rebirthing of lands ceased decades ago. The world of Våleira is dying. Only Arlethia, the Western Province of the Realm, remains untainted by the Ancient Dark’s Influence. Reign, the young daughter of Arlethian Lord Thannuel Kerr, becomes entangled in a perilous web of deceit, greed, and assassination plots after witnessing something horrific – something that will destroy all she knows and loves. As threats culminate, she and her twin brother, Hedron, must battle demons on every side – both external and internal – in their efforts to save Arlethia from extinction, as they simultaneously reach for their own personal redemption. But they have become pariahs to their own people. There will be few that dare to stand with them in the dimming Light – and even fewer that will survive.

The world of Våleira cannot endure without Arlethia. And the Living Light is fading ...

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Magic, Ebooks

616 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 24, 2014

About the author

I'm Jacob Cooper. I write epic fantasy, and, when my wife can convince me, paranormal romance. We team write The Summer Omega Series.

Currently, I'm working on the Dying Lands Chronicle. Altar of Influence (prelude), Circle of Reign (book 1), Song of Night (book 2) and The Vanishing (a short story) are widely available. Book 3, BLADES OF ORWIAN, is underway. I was super stoked to wake up one day in 2015 to find Circle of Reign at #1 on Amazon and Audible in the Epic Fantasy and Sci-fi/Fantasy genres. Later that year, it won Gold for Best Fantasy in the international 2015 IPPY Awards. So there's that, I guess.

I hope one day that writing will become my full time gig, but raising 5 kids takes most of my time. Wouldn't trade it for the world. Aside from all that, you can probably find me at a piano or behind a drum set, possibly in the desert on an ATV, probably in Lake Powell, and maybe at the gym, trying to keep up with the younger athletes. I'm sure someday I'll realize I grew up a while ago.

Thanks for hanging out on my author page. Drop me a line on social media. We'll hang.

To find out more, visit: www.circleofreign.com
facebook.com/jacobcooperCOR
Twitter @authorjacobcoop

Reviews

[Jacob Cooper]

Hello everyone. Thanks to all those who took a chance on Circle of Reign. It's my first book and something I poured my heart into, as all authors. I've learned a lot as a first time author and appreciate all feedback, positive or negative. As the Dying Lands Chronicle continues to grow (and as I do as an author), I hope you'll feel free to interact with me here, Facebook, and Twitter. Altar of Influence, a prelude to the Dying Lands Chronicle, as well as The Red Grove (short story) are also out. Remnants and Shadows, another short story, is in final production right now. Song of Night, Book 2 in the DLC, is due out late this year.

Recently, Circle of Reign hit #1 on Amazon and Audible for the sci-Fi/fantasy and epic fantasy genres (audiobook format) and was awarded Gold for Fantasy in the national 2015 Independent Book Publisher's Awards (IPPY).

[Jacob Cooper]

As many may know, Circle of Reign recently went through a decent-sized rewrite with Fantasy legend, David Farland. I was lucky that he took an interest in my book and elected to work with me one-on-one. For those who don't know David Farland's work, check out The Runelords Series. Farland taught Brandon Sanderson, Brandon Mull, James Dashner, and Stephanie Meyer among many other well-known authors. I felt really honored to work with him closely.

David enjoyed COR but thought with some coaching, the book could be brought to a much higher level. I enthusiastically set out to rewrite the book under his tutelage. The result is a longer book (180,000 words vs 216,000) even though we cut about 35,000 words from the original manuscript. It is truly a better book with expanded scenes, some cut scenes, better prose and better action sequences. Much more feeling and we get much deeper into Reign's head and more expansive worldbuilding.

I'm proud of the original. Without many resources to draw upon and having never taken a writing class in my life, the original was a major effort. I am humbled that it became a #1 bestseller and won a national award. Since the rewrite was completed, the audio rights were purchased by Audible Studios, one of the largest audio publishers in the world. Altar of Influence also underwent a rewrite, although a much more minor one. Both books are currently in production for new audio versions (don't worry, Michael Kramer is still the narrator). The new ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook will be released simultaneously. AOI is scheduled for 0ct 11, 2016 for re-release and COR will follow shortly after that.

[Alia Capodici · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo Jacob Cooper!!

Bravo Jacob Cooper!!

For a first novel, Cooper surpassed every one of my expectations!! In recent years I have feared the genre of Epic Fantasy would be only approached by certain very brave authors, who have already tested their work, and either sunk or swam. To see new blood strike out so bravely into the fantasy world with the first book of what I know is going to be an amazing series, is not only impressive, but shows true courage!! This first book of Cooper's is beautifully written, action packed, and left me absolutely wanting more!! I look forward to more from you Jacob Cooper because if this is the caliber of all your work, I will gladly read every one of you future books! Bravo!

[Kristopher Sandberg]

(NOTE: I've been informed that the book has been significantly revised since I wrote this review. I'm not about to give it another try, but I've removed my one-star rating and wish the author the very best.)

In desperate need of an editor. Grammatical errors and non-words abound, characters talk like exposition-delivering robots, fight scenes suggest that the author has been watching too much anime, the author makes up words in fancy-sounding fantasy languages when there are perfectly good English words that would suffice (even to the point of having a character use a fantasy word, then using the English word with the exact same meaning right after to clarify). The author is also prone to overexplaining everything his characters are doing; if they are obviously berating themselves, he then assures you that they are doing just that, in case you missed it the first time. The whole style comes off as halfway between paranoid and condescending, and the story jumps around between way too many unmemorable characters to give the reader even the slightest chance at becoming invested. All in all, a great example of how not to write fantasy.

[Charles Woythal · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan, Patrick Rothfuss, and Robin Hobb, I definitely recommend that you check out this book immediately! I came across this book as an advertisement on Facebook and decided to give the sample a try. I thought that it was very well written and couldn't wait for the final release. I enjoyed every bit of the story immensely and am now awaiting the release of his prequel "Altar of Influence."

[Julia Sarene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't remember how I found this book, but I didn't realise it was indie published until yesterday (when I had read, or rather listened to about 85% of it). With some indies you will notice soon that they haven't seen an editor yet, but this one could easily have come from a big trad publisher.

It is a solid epic fantasy, that has quite some of the normal fantasy tropes - just enough to make you feel at home, but also has some new things - so it doesn't feel like a carbon copy of other books.


I really enjoyed the characters, whom we meet as children (Reign is 9 years old at the start) and get to see grow up thought the first 1/3 of the book. I loved watching them grow and changed over time. My only gripe was that the good guys are too good and the bad guys too bad for my personal liking. I want a bit of grey area too - though I think that'll come true in book two.

I liked the world and the magic within the world! It didn't feel like I was fed infodumps, but I got enough knowledge to firmly settle me into the story. It was easy to understand, and yet not something I read often before.

The prose was fluent and didn't really stand out. I think some of the dialogue would have felt a bit stilted if it wasn't for the amazing narration by Kramer, but all in all I really enjoyed it.

There were quite some action scenes - some felt a bit like from an anime or a Jacky Chan movie - but in the good way. It never got boring, and I could vividly imagine it.

I thought some parts could have been a bit shorter, so I'll give the whole book 4 stars, and I'll be sure to continue the series!

[Robert Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

(taken from my Audible.com review) I recently took a long road-trip across the country, spending six full days on the the road. I found myself excited to get back on the road so I could listen more to this story. Jacob Cooper deftly weaves in compelling character story lines, political intrigue, and martial action. The underlying mythos is also an intriguing foundation to more wonderful story telling to come. I look forward to the next book in the series and hope the Jacob Cooper doesn't take too long.

I compare Circle of Reign to High Fantasy books like Terry Brook's Shannara series, JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings books, and Georg RR Martin's Game of Thrones. Circle of Reign weaves in the timeless good vs evil plot with compelling characters, political intrigue, suspense and action. I was very impressed with how drawn in and engaged I was with the various character story lines. I've read all of George RR Martin's Game of Throne's books thus far, however, I often found some of the character story lines in the Game of Throne series boring enough that I sometime skipped or skimmed through chapters to get to those I found more interesting. This did not happen with Circle of Reign. I truly enjoyed the meaningful stories of each character in Circle of Reign. Like these other great epic fantasy stories, the Dying Lands Chronicles has a good foundational mythos.

[Dicken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible pacing, good story, good writing.


Comparable to Sanderson's works except less nerdy and more gritty. Very heart wrenching. Almost too heart wrenching , there were times it hit the feels real good, I was close to shedding a tear and there were times I almost couldn't read due to... Don't want to spoil it but it can get very dark.

I particularly like they way he writes action scenes , easy to follow and not overly technical like The Red Knight (whose author is a f*cking nerd for sure).

And just like game of thrones, no character is safe. So danger feels very real.

Be warned, this is not for the light of heart.

[Valerie Hemlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book so thoroughly envelops the reader in its world you feel logy when you emerge. This total immersion is a delight to the senses. And his characters and plot roll forward naturally and with great energy. I was so excited to discover this new writer. Highly recommended to ALL epic fantasy lovers.

[Plbabe93 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's the deal with this book: you are dropped into the action right from the beginning. The author doesn't waste time or insulting your intelligence by spoon feeding you expository info. You learn plenty as the characters learn. I love that. Fantasy buffs should be able to escape into this dying world with ease.

There's plenty of humor as well. You meet two characters who are hilarious together but also meaningfully add to the story.

The book in intense. It is face paced. There is even a love story mingled through the plot, and I hope for more in book 2! The end of this first installment will rock you.

You do have to really pay attention to what the author is hinting at. It's not always obvious and there are a lot of unanswered questions in my mind, but enough of the loose ends were addressed to keep me thinking about it for days since finishing, trying to develop my own theories.

I would highly recommend this book.

[Billr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story, wonderfully told.

I'm shocked this book has not received more attention.

At first the multiple POV's are a bit confusing but as the story progressed they were pulled together well. The author does a wonderful job of making each character matter, have motivations you understand and makes sense in the larger context. refreshingly the young protagonist (2) are not so blinded by fear, guilt or revenge that they become stupid, as happens in many books. I highly recommend this book.

minor complaints: purposely obscure to avoid spoilers
1. The 6 year gap, not much of Reign of her brothers activities are explained once they arrive at the wolf holder.
2. The water seeker and scribe, just disappear from the story after using chapters to introduce them.
3. Roman, timeline.... didn't make sense. He would have had to sit a LONG time ignoring everything to be so weak from lack of food.

Lastly, Roan's new comrades seem a bit too powerful, none died in actual fighting other than when facing Aiden? I just hope the darkness does not become so powerful that the story requires a Deus ex machina resolution.

[Renee Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading Circle of Reign and in a book full of plot twist that keep you very engaged, the final twist in the epilouge filled me with adrenaline as I began to realize what had happened! The story grabs you from the beginning and brings you on a rollercoaster with so many twist. You learn so much more about this exciting world as you continue to read. Amazing character building and world development and full of very well written action scenes. The book is fullI of emotion, action, moments of humor and there is even a love story. You will find yourself very attached to the characters and invested in their well being. Your with feel the emotional ups and downs with them as the story develops. It is obvious Cooper took his time in perfecting every detail of this story. It is not a story that you will soon forget but will remain with you and leaves you anxious for the rest of the series to be released. Congratulations Jacob on such an impressive entry into the world of fantasy!

[Jaclyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read a good fantasy novel in awhile and this one hit the spot! I was sucked into the world of Valeira in the first chapter! I loved the different POVs, very Game of Thrones esque but different. All the characters were well developed and even though the plot was a little predictable I thoroughly enjoyed it. I needed to know what happened next and I couldn't put the book down. The description of the world was amazing! I felt like I could picture it in my head. The only issue I had were the multiple races. There were so many and I got lost trying to keep track of who was who and what happened in the past. I'm hoping when reading the Altar of Influence that I will get the chance to learn more about the different races. I look forward to reading more about Reign and all the characters. The next book can't come fast enough!

I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know that feeling when you start listening to an audiobook and you think "This is the kind of book I've been waiting for!" ? This is how I felt with Circle of Reign. Jacob Cooper has created a complex world, with various factions struggling for power or survival. It's not a standard fantasy setting either, it has unique elements, my favorite being the Wood Dwellers with their special abilities and their connection to nature. The story also has a subtle science flavor to it, which I particularly like in fantasy books ever since I read Brandon Sanderson's work.

Characters have depth and evolve throughout the story, sometimes in unexpected ways.
As the plot progresses, it will be even harder to set the book aside, as you'll probably be too curious about what happens next.

Another huge plus is the reader, Michael Kramer, who does an amazing job, as usual.

All in all, I definitely recommend this book and I'm looking forward to more books from this author.

[Dougie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely enjoyable read overall and generally very polished considering its a new authors first foray into self publishing

The characters, the fast pace and plot are all put together very well in my view and I find the style makes it very easy to visualise the scenes and action. There's some nice concepts thrown in and there's some very good use of previously seen mechanics but i think Jacob Cooper's slant on things works very well indeed. Just as an example the geas driven character type has been seen before but the way he describes the Charged, its effects and blends them to the story brings it alive very well for me.

Definitely worth the read and looking forward to the next release.

[Kathleen Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Cooper's first volume of The Dying Lands Chronicle, "Circle of Reign", was an astounding read! I was holding a treasure when I received it in the mail and felt like a little kid on Christmas morning!
He uses time masterfully as a device to create the background. His characters are colorfully presented; with key characters teasingly presented in details throughout the novel.
I am absolutely recommending him to all my family and friends.
My only problem - the next novel isn't here yet!

[Dt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being his first book, I started reading with apprehension, not knowing what to expect. Than it hit. The story was going right from the start, it caught me, intrigued and interested me at a surprising rate. It became a page turner very early in the story.
I gave the author and story 5 stars because I felt as I was reading,that I was watching this on a big screen. I am certainly looking forward to future volumes.

[Karen Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe I am hooked on a series with Book 1 and book 2 is not out yet. But hooked I am. I like it better than the Game of thrones though they read similarly. There are children of leaders and friends of leaders and betrayal of leaders, and wolves and wolf cubs and Dragons. Adventure and actions scenes are well written. I mostly can keep the characters straight. And it is cold , the land is changing. Something is amiss!

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a captivating book. It kept my interest from page one to the end. Waiting for the next book is going to be hard, but it will be worth the wait. I have read a lot of good books, and this one is one of the best I've read. I felt like I was a part of the story rather than just reading it. This book would make an excellent movie.

[Cizur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books like this are why I love fantasy. Excellent. Now another favourite author to add to my list. Please keep them coming.

[Joey Stettnisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best fantasy novels I've read in a very long time. If you enjoy Brandon Sanderson, read this ASAP. Just friggin wow.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. The first few chapters really drew me in, and the last 1/3rd of the book took it home in a great way. the middle of the book I personally thought left me wanting a little. I normally wouldn't give a 4 star or higher review to a book that I had to force through some chapters in the middle. This book really is great though. Seems like a great start to a promising series.
What made me read the book is how it was likened to Brandon Sanderson's work. I can agree kind of. There are some similarities between this and the Stormlight Archives. This book does set the stage for a grand fantasy epic. However, the scope of this novel cannot be compared to The Way of Kings or Words of Radiance. When I read the Stormlight archives it was rapturous, intense and addicting, I could not put the books down. I was surprised by plot twists, laughed, shocked all the emotions you should have when reading a grand epic. With Circle of Reign, I was rarely surprised save for a few moments. The story seemed rather predictable. When you are surprised by events in the book the effect is lost on you because you are eased into it instead of slapped in the face with it. This easing into key moments not only takes the suspense out of it robs you of the emotion too. By the time you get to what you have suspected for a few paragraphs if not pages or chapters you are like finally! instead of feeling the emotion you should with the moment.
All that being said, this is a great book and a great start to what could be an amazing epic. I do recommend it. one and a half thumbs up.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book threw me into an incredible Chase and battle scene from the very beginning. Jacob Cooper showed his amazing skill to create jaw dropping action scenes that leave you wanting more. He built a world that is rich and deep in history. The creation of multiple unique races with their own distinct culture and customs that help you understand the characters. Each are more interesting than the last without going overboard. All characters are developed with realistic actions, reactions, and dialogue. The multiple Points of Views keep you interested without confusing you as others have. A well balanced mix of action, back-stories, tragedy, revenge, and even sensible twist that keep you guessing. Nothing of this book was rushed or forced; this consistency lead up to a ending with resolution that had enough loose ends to leave you yearning for more. I cannot wait to read the prelude Altar of Influence and Book 2.

Who I would Recommend This book to people who:
Unfathomable force of Dark vs a relentless Light that fights till the very last breath.
Medieval politics involving many provinces
Long journeys of self discovering
Like Action scenes
Epic Battles
Gruesome deaths
Revenge
Betrayal

[Susan Bissell · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW! What great start to a trilogy!, December 4, 2014
By SueBiss (USA)
This review is from: Circle of Reign (The Dying Lands Chronicle Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
I agree with the other reviewers here as I was reading this book, it was like watching an epic movie. The characters are so rich in descriptions that it makes you feel for empathy for some and hatred or others. This story is magnificent and lavish in detail that all the spectacular places of the realm you are taken to feel like genuine living locations. All is so well thought out from the smallest of details to the extraordinary names and costumes, even the imaginary animals you can almost smell and touch, that is what makes this book captivating, it is so action packed from the beginning it will have your heart pounding from suspense​. It is hard to believe that this is the author first book in fiction! This book is part of a trilogy that will have many people hooked like other great fantasy books that have been written by renowned authors.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ryan Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of self-published fantasy, but I saw good reviews for this one from members of the SFFWorld forums. I'm glad I listened to those reviews. In this book, Cooper has created a mysterious and complex fantasy world filled with characters I actually want to root for (which a lot of authors fail to do). Then he added a fast-moving, action-packed plot. It was a long book, but I read the entire second half of it during the course of one day.

Was it perfect? No. There were a few places where I think the editing could have been better, but it never distracted from the story. I was engrossed in this story the same way I am with some of my favorite writers like Sanderson and Weeks.

Now I'm dying to read the next one. I'll have to read the prequel to satisfy my urge for more.

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG! What the actual f@&$!!!! And that is for the last 2 or 3 sentences of the book. Talk about how the end a book with a cliff hanger. This is the mother of all cliffhangers. There is no way in hell you could not read on to the next book in the series after that ending. No way in hell!

So after all that, the book did drag on a little, I found myself losing interest and getting a little lost in the narration (this was an audiobook read by Michael Kramer), so the ending really caught me unaware. I would have rated a 3.5 star if not for how the ending panned out and the fact that, like George R R Martin, the author is not afraid to kill off leading characters.

I would also recommend reading the prequel first.

[Corey Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Circle of Reign. Altar of Influence, and The Red Grove. All I can say is WOW. For his debut novel, Jacob Cooper absolutely killed it in my opinion.

I have been very impressed with this series thus far. It for sure has one of the most original story lines that I have experienced in a long time. Normally, in the beginning of a new epic fantasy series, I want a more in depth world building process than Cooper provided, but the way he throws you right into the action and explains the back story as you progress works beautifully with this series.

For anyone who is a fan of fantasy novels, this is an absolute must read. The second book in the series cannot be released soon enough!

[Clyde Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall:
I just finished this book and loved it. The characters were not one dimensional and the story flowed well. There were a few points that were shaky but they quickly recovered and the stories flow kept moving.

Plot:
The plot was well outlined. I won't lie, I was lost by the time shifting at some points but was able to follow the entire plot. There were some areas that seemed rushed but the main plot points were clear.

Characters:
The characters were well defined. There were a few characters that needed more depth but they were secondary characters that, I feel, will have more explanation in Book 2. The main characters had believable conflict and strife.

[E.A. Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so impressed!

As an avid reader of fantasy stories, I know that unique storylines are hard to come by. In fact, if a book's summary has any of the typical blather about a princess, a mercenary, an orphan, or an assassin I won't even bother to read the rest of the summary. Books regularly have a wizard who's so old no one alive remembers his birth (but who's also surprisingly nimble), or elves who think they're Orlando Bloom.

But this book captured my interest and imagination with its summary. It was haunting, descriptive, and unique - and Jacob weaves those same characteristics into a mystical, beautiful tale.

I'm very much looking forward to the next book.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Circle of Reign is a solid book from a new fantasy writer. The story moves along nicely and it never seemed like it was work to get through. The dialog is a bit verbose and unrealistic at points but it doesn't affect the story enough to be a big concern. The characters actions were also a bit counter intuitive at points and things just seemed to happen by sheer luck just to move the plot along.

If you are a Brandon Sanderson fan then this is probably right up your ally and it doesn't have everyone raising an eyebrow or scratching their butts in confusion whenever something happens.