The Servant

by Justin Greer

Nearly a thousand years ago, the tyrant-sorcerer Mordechai betrayed his people, forged a weapon of darkness, and led an assault against the Middle Kingdoms to claim the throne of Reality. He slaughtered the defenders, broached the Shimmering Door, ascended to the Unseen Realm, and sought to make himself a god at the Heart of the World. Only at the last moment was he thwarted—by the sacrifice of a young woman, Lightbringer, who slew the Servant of Darkness and ended his terrible campaign.

But now evil stirs in ancient strongholds, and blood-rituals claim the lives of innocents throughout the cities of the world, and fearsome shadow-monsters have reappeared to feast upon the living. The Servant has been resurrected. His armies have grown. His power has swelled. And he has resumed his bloody war against the free world. Again he marches for the Shimmering Door and the Heart of the World; and now there are few who remain to stay his hand.

Only a young forest girl, Ashera Eldibara, has any hope of standing against Mordechai. She bears the Sword of Light, the fabled weapon of her predecessor, and its magic hums in her bones. Others stand at her side as protectors and guardians—a wizard, a warrior, and a huntress, each prepared to sacrifice all in the last desperate struggle against the Servant of Darkness.

But they are few, and Ashera is young and untrained, inexperienced in the ways of magic and warfare—and the monstrous armies that she faces are vast and powerful . . . and already hunting her.

607 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 28, 2025

About the author

Justin Greer was born in Provo, Utah, and currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, though in between he spent significant time in Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wales. He’s been writing stories for most of his life, starting with a yellow legal pad at age 10 when he first learned it was possible to write stories like the ones he loved reading. Over the years, his love for fantasy, adventure, science fiction, and horror has deepened and broadened, culminating in publishing his own stories for the world to read. The Garden Knight is just the beginning of the stories and adventures he intends to tell.

Beyond writing, Justin is a father of two fantastic boys and a husband to a wonderful wife. He spends his time reading, exercising, taking long walks, traveling, cooking, studying languages, gardening, and working as a freelance editor.

Reviews

[Graham | The Wulvers Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The heroes are brave and noble and ready to protect the innocent. And they never lose hope, even when they're the most scared."

I've read a lot of books. A lot of stories in worlds that I've wanted to visit. Stories where I care about the characters, where I flip the pages and dive into the rich story and get angry at choices whilst jumping for joy for others. Anticipating the twists and turns, the battles, the emotion, the sense of wonder. I've been yearning for a story that brings back the nostalgic days of being a kid and rooting for good vs evil. The Servant by Justin Greer is the classic, quest fantasy that brought back days of grabbing a stick and swishing it in the air, pretending to fight. It's the book that had me wishing that I was back in the woods searching for hidden treasure or jumping on logs like the hero I wished I was. Where I was good, and everything was evil.

The Servant is the book that I will be recommending from now on and I'm glad that it's book one in The Prophecy of the Five series because I need more.

This is an epic fantasy tale so we know it's going to start with a lot of world-building but Greer did this outstandingly. The way that that the land is described, the setting, the area helped me envisage everything so clearly. I was able to trace every footstep, smell every flower, hear every bit of food cooking. I also love that there are other races and the lore that can be picked up was incredible. I'm a sucker for beings with a different language and this really just added to the greatness of this. It was a truly immersive experience to feel that you were on this journey with the characters and a tribute to Greers writing skills.

Familiarly, we start with Ashera - a girl from a town in the woodland area of the Silverfire who has grown up with wondrous stories of heroes. Here she lives with her sister and father but yearns for more. Skip a few chapters and you guessed it: chaos ensues in the form of the town being burned by monstrous d'hamon and Ashe embarks on a journey to save the world. She meets other characters, each with their own story, and we join them across the land to stop the Servant of Darkness from getting to the World's Heart and taking over the world.

What I really enjoyed was Greer not accelerating anything for the plot. We really get to know these characters. What their flaws are and what their purpose is. Greer doesn't hold back from slowing down and letting us simply enjoy the story that we are being told and I love that. There was moments where Greer reminded us that this is a journey, not a sprint and it's in those moments where the beauty of Greer's writing meets the beauty of the landscape he has created where we can sit and rest. I was there in the Silverfire. I was there when the Sword of Light met the Sword of Shadows. I was there at World's Heart. And Greer has ensured I will always be there.

This is a story that brings back nostalgic and familial wonder of the classic stories told by Tolkien, Jordan, Le Guin and other literary greats that dabbled in the battle between good and evil. Greer will break your heart in two. He will have you fist-pumping, cheering, jeering, analysing, pondering, crying, and everything in between. This is classic fantasy at its modern best and I truly urge everyone to get their hands on this. This is the book that I wish I'd grown up reading.

[Justin Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m extraordinarily proud of this novel. It has been my first and greatest endeavor in fantasy, and after a long long time and lots of work, it’s matched the high expectations and hopes I had for it. I began writing in the misty dark-pine mountains of Utah when I was 10 and put some of the finishing touches on the final draft in the fairy-glens of northern Wales when I was almost 35; and in between, I’ve lived a whole life, and the world and characters have lived with me, as much a part of my psyche as the fantasy, mythology, history, and imagination of this story’s forebears. This has been a very meaningful journey. I’m incredibly pleased to have the book finished and to have it turn out as I wished for.

I hope you love The Servant as much as I have for these last 25 years.

[Eddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Servant by Justin Greer is an epic fantasy novel that draws you in with its beautiful world-building and rich lore… called me and was actually the cover reminiscence of old classic fantasy covers from the late 70s early 80s in my opinion!

The story follows Ashera, a young protagonist who embarks on a quest to save her world from darkness.

With a mix of adventure, sacrifice, and epic battles, this book is a thrilling ride. The characters are well-developed, and the magic system is captivating.

While the pace may be slightly slow at times, fans of immersive escapism and character-driven stories will love this book.

The world-building is exceptional, and the narrative has a timeless charm reminiscent of classic sword and sorcery tales.

Overall, The Servant is a compelling read that will leave you eager for more.

[Carina_inkdrinker · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

This book killed me with how good it is, and it shows the world that indie authors are the best!

Just like the first time I played breath of the wild. You get out, and you see this beautiful and magical world and just have to see more. No matter what it throws at you, you want, and you need more. This is the perfect start to Justin newest world, and I was hooked from page one with how beautiful this world and how crazy the lorebuilding is.

You start a bit slowly with the main character to get to know her life, before you get into her destiny as the chosen one and get throwed into her adventures, with incredible side characters and a wonderful/awesome magic system, badass monsters and villains.

I had a fantastic time reading this one and can't recommend The Servant enough. It's set to be released on 28th June, and I need more of this. Which we luckily will get as this is gonna be a 5 book series.

[Seantay Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your next FAVORITE READ ‼️
I was left astounded and speechless at this masterpiece, The Servant by Justin Greer. Not only was the world building unique and believable, I LOVED the culture and feel of this story. The entire story was captivating, well paced and beautifully written but the last 30 percent had me reeling and glued to my book! I grew emotionally attached to each of the characters even in the prologue!! - which was genuinely the best most engaging prologue I’ve ever read. I almost felt nervous to keep reading after the prologue cause I didn’t want to be disappointed with such a long book after such a beautiful prologue and then the book itself way over delivered with its amazing characters, epic plot and poetic themes weaved throughout.. and the ending?! CHEF’s KISS 🥹 I’m left wishing there was already a fandom I could talk to about this new book because I CANNOT STOP thinking about it!! This book left me feeling nostalgic and inspired for good REAL storytelling.

[Paul Zareith]

Beautifully presented epic fantasy reminiscent of classic works in the genre.

The somewhat slow pace at which the plot unfolds put it slightly outside my comfort zone. However, readers who love immersive escapism, rich lore and a strong focus on character development would love this book.

Many thanks to the author for sharing a review copy.

[enchanted_zunshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I may have used the Sword of Light” she thought, collecting her knapsack and her wits, “but I’m certainly no Champion of prophecy” 😏

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Author for providing me with this ARC.

Initially, I was daunted by the length of this book (574 pages) but once I began reading, I was completely engrossed. The story’s captivating flow carried me through, a testament to remarkable storytelling!

From the very first page, this story grips the reader, unfolding vividly before their eyes.

'The Servant' is divided into 4 parts, each with a distinct feel: the beginning, a compelling start that sets the stage, the middle, a gripping journey full of growth and challenges, and the end a thrilling, epic conclusion that, although still slow to unfold, ties it all together.

This story has it all: adventure, sacrifice, tragedy and death. Epic battles for the greater good, and honorable warriors like Kirindar, Aryll, and Penedur, who embody true valor. I loved Ashera's character! Despite feeling slightly unworthy of her chosen role, she embraced her destiny with remarkable courage. I have some honorable mentions Shayelin and Kyrina 🥹

The world-building is exceptional, with rich, thoughtful lore that immerses the reader completely. The characters are compelling and beautifully developed, and the narrative evokes the timeless charm of classic sword and sorcery tales. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and will eagerly recommend it to others.

[B.S.H. Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tale to savor. I slowly digested it over several months, and I am so glad that I did because this is not one you want to rush through. Greer's writing is evocative and descriptive enough to pay tribute to classic fantasy while still being adapted for modern readers. Ashera had my heart from the beginning, and I was more than happy to fully give myself over to her journey. The world building was spot on, and for a first book in series it struck the perfect balance of giving a sense of closure while still priming readers for the remaining four books in the series. I look forward to immersing myself in the next book!

[Eric Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ ARC Book Review ✨

Read by: Eric | Thanks to Justin Greer for his eARC!

This was a great start to a new epic fantasy series! One thousand years ago, Mordechai, the servant of darkness, was defeated but now he has returned. It is up to Ashera, the new light of the world, and other heroes who will join her on her journey to vanquish Mordechai once and for all.

The world building in this story was great. I really enjoyed learning about all of the different lands, languages, and people that made up this world. Additionally, the system of magic was easy enough to understand and felt right for the story.

I did not have many complaints about this novel, and it is exactly what I was looking for in an epic fantasy story. I will say it took a little while for the action to get going, but by about a third of the way in, I was completely hooked.

If you are a fan of large scale epic fantasy and looking for a great start to a new series, I would recommend checking this book out, which was just published!

[Noah Isaacs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on sffinsiders.com

First and foremost I want to thank Justin for getting me an advance copy of this book. At present there is now only one book by him I am yet to read, which will be rectified soon since they are all stellar and I cannot recommend them enough. Up to now, his previous works (the Garden Knight series) was a blend of fantasy and cozy elements that worked wonderfully. Justin is a master storyteller, so when I found out he was writing an epic fantasy I was on board from the jump.

The servant starts as most epic fantasies do; with a young protagonist way beyond their depth. Ashera is a girl from an idyllic town in the Silverfire, a woodland realm with all sorts of fairy-stories and their very own rendition of elven-fey folk. Alongside her is her faithful younger sister and a couple other kids with budding magic. And then one day, on their normal woodland adventures, telling stories as they go, Ashera is given a curious pendant she knows not the power of. Some time later, she is visited by a man foretelling of calamity offering her the very sword by which she can prevent it. Then tragedy hits.

The Silverfire comes under attack by servants of darkness, d’hamon sent from unreality to weave the will of the dark lord, vying to return to the mortal realm and claim it for himself. Thus begins Ashe’s epic adventure to run across the world and stop the agents of darkness while battling her own emotions as she loses loved ones along the way, uniting the people thought dead, people with powers beyond her comprehension. From there, I’ll leave the reader to go pick up a copy of the Servant when its out to see how the story unfolds.

This is, in my opinion, a love letter to classic fantasy. Justin sets up worlds that truly sing with life, steeping us into every facet of the story. From the woodland halls and villages, to the grand castles and keeps of the capitals of the world. Every aspect is displayed expertly, leaving the reader with a deep, vibrant world to explore.

The character work here is a joy to read. Ashe truly transforms from the front cover to the back, embarking on a journey also into herself as she navigates her new role in the saving of the world. The other characters, too, take on lives of their own, but none as interesting or beloved as Ashe. Though a few do come close, Ashera is, for me, the favorite for this story. We do also get another POV, though for less than 10% of the story I’d say, giving us some perspective into the enemy. While it was interesting, I think Ashera very comfortably takes the cake.

As is typical in most stories of this scale, it starts off quite slow then ramps up. While this might irk some readers who are less invested in stories of tremendous scope, the avid classic fantasy reader will undoubtedly find themselves right at home.

In case you couldn’t tell, I am a huge fan of Justin’s worldbuilding and writing style, and The Servant does not disappoint. It really hit on all fronts for me, and when it picked up, I simply could not put the book down.

As with all reviews, I try to highlight what did and did not work for me, with the ladder almost always being something very minor, otherwise I wouldn’t bother reading the book at all, let alone writing a review. Here, I don’t have much aside from the pacing to be expected from such a tremendous undertaking. The set up to pull off a story like The Servant has to be large, and as readers I think we need to understand that. Other than that, I was a bit confused about the inclusion of the second, more minor POV, but I have full confidence in Justin to make that POV’s story as important and impactful as Ashe’s in book two and beyond, which I am eagerly awaiting.

The Servant by Justin Greer is classic fantasy at its absolute finest, and, dare I say, the new hit classic fantasy of its generation. For fans of stories like The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and the Riftwar Saga by Raymond E Feist, The Servant is an ode to the classics that cements itself amongst the best.

[Jordan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Storms may rage and churn the waves into a tempest, tossing even mighty ships to their destruction, but men are not sailing vessels. We are alive, and while we live, we may hope.”

That's just one of the countless beautiful passages sprinkled throughout The Servant, Justin Greer's first foray into epic fantasy, though you wouldn't know it just from reading this book. Fans of Greer should be familiar with his Garden Knight novels, a series of cozy fantasy stories detailing the adventures of a gardener and his faithful dog. In The Servant, Greer dials the stakes up to eleven, increases the scope of the world many times over, and crafts a cast of characters that harken back to the fantasy classics, the ones that ignited my love for the genre all those years ago.

I'm a sucker for a Quest. I love me some Powerful Artifacts. How about a good old-fashioned Mentor-Student dynamic? Big fan of that too. The Servant deploys these themes artfully and builds on them with care, never growing stale or hammering them into the well-worn cliches that plagued the genre in its early days. Ashera Eldibara, the Sword of Light, and her band of adventurers - including a wizard and a warrior who wields earth magic, to name a few - remind me of everything that made me fall in love with fantasy.

I found myself effortlessly rooting for Ashera in her quest to defeat the titular Servant. Thankfully, Greer manages to avoid the pitfall of a 'Chosen One' assuming her role and succeeding at everything with little effort. Absent too is the frail/petite/meek FMC who is weak but also somehow destined to save the world. Make no mistake, Ashera is brash and bold, but not petulant and self-absorbed. There are growing pains aplenty for our young heroine, whether from encountering enemies bent on killing her or struggling to master the magic her mentors attempt to teach her. Her faults are refreshing, and her journey through the world is believable as she grows into her role as the Champion of Light.

Speaking of the world, Greer puts on a master class here in terms of worldbuilding. We've got different races, languages, a unique calendar, prophecies. Wars and kingdoms and cults and gods. It's a fleshed-out world that feels like it's been lived in for centuries. I'm a sucker for a deep fantasy world, and The Servant has that and more. The lore is almost Tolkien-esque in its depth, it's that good.

The Tolkien comparison is apt. The Servant is a love letter to the fantasy greats. I'm reminded of Bilbo leaving the Shire to go on his adventure. Or Rand al'Thor being sought out by the Aes Sedai as they seek the Dragon Reborn. It conjures visions of the forest-dwelling Warrows of Dennis L. McKiernan's Iron Tower trilogy, or of the young farm boy Gareth in the Belgariad. And despite all this, Greer takes a timeless journey and makes it his own, honoring the greats while also throwing his hat into the ring of epic fantasy.

And that's the best part. It's epic fantasy, so you KNOW there will be more books. More quests, more artifacts, more magic. The world will grow and the stakes will increase again. I can't WAIT to see where Greer takes young Ashera next. The Servant is everything I love about fantasy, and if you're even half the fan of the genre that I am, you'll love it too.

Read this book, and read it HARD.

- JDS

[Zammar Ahmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Justin Greer can write.

In The Servant, he hones his craft to the next level and delivers a fantastic classic fantasy tale. That’s really what this is—classic fantasy executed really damn well.

We get prose that’s easily readable yet evocative. Great characterization for our protagonist, with deep and emotional arcs rooted in both loss and joy. Strong relationships and dynamics in our little motley crew. Genuine good vs. evil. An expansive world revealed with expert pacing. Magic. And tons of beloved tropes, all handled with care and love.

The Servant is long, but it doesn’t suffer for it. The pacing feels deliberate. It’s the best kind of slow burn, interspersed with genuinely stunning action sequences.

I have two small knocks—and they are small ones:

First, I think some of the dialogue in the first quarter of the book could have been stronger. That said, one of the charms of this book is how Justin uses both prose and dialogue to show transformation—of the hero, the world, and the journey itself. So while I would’ve liked the early dialogue to be a bit crisper, it also reflects where Ashera is at the beginning of her journey. In that sense, it works.

Second, and this is more a matter of personal taste, there’s a lot of attention given to world-building and the magic system. Justin is clearly setting up something huge, and that requires a lot of detail. I’m not the most world-building-heavy reader, so I sometimes found it a bit much. But to be clear—it’s not done badly. For fans of rich, immersive worlds, this absolutely hits the mark. And it’s all plot-relevant, never feeling contrived.

All in all, if you love classic fantasy and you're looking for a hidden gem—this is it.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so impressed that this tale feels both classic and fresh! It has the scope and tone of all my fantasy favorites with everything a reader could ask for: vibrant characters, a lovingly-crafted and complex world, and a unique plotline that made reading a joy, even with the epic fantasy length. Readers who have enjoyed Justin Greer’s cozy fantasy Garden Knight novels will find his poetic writing style and masterful storytelling abilities on a grander scale in this new series.

[Bill Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Servant is not just a love letter to classic high fantasy, this is a John Cusack holding a boombox up to the Mount Rushmore of classic high fantasy: Tolkien, Brooks, Jordan, and Weis/Hickman.

Woodland girl, Ashera, is tied to an ancient prophecy and like all good classic fantasy stories, and she is tasked with defeating a resurfaced dark lord. What unfolds in these ~800 pages is a journey we've seen plenty of times but can never ever get enough of. Add in some excellent side characters and we have ourselves a boiling pot of porridge.

I mean it when I say this is classic fantasy to a 'T'. We have a champion and a dark lord after the World's Heart. We have the Light v Dark, aka good v evil. We have swords of Light and Dark (oh my). We have a 'farmboy/girl save the world' trope. We have demon beasties who are just here to kill Team Good Guys/Gals. We have dark wizards who work for the dark lord. Good wizards who help our champion. A literal slow build journey from humble beginnings to prophecized leader. Literal Prophecies (this is obvious since the series title is Prophecy of the Five). Woodland elves. Dwarves. Faeries. This tome is bursting with classic fantasy concepts and each one of them is reverent to the very idea of said tropes, almost to a fault (of which I absolutely adore).

And while we've seen so many books trying to adhere to the classic style and the greats, it really takes a deft storyteller to make you feel like you are witnessing something new. Greer is one of the most gifted storytellers I've read in awhile, hands down. His cozy-ish Garden Knight stories are so visceral, so elegant in their prose, I knew without a doubt The Servant would be the same. And it was! The prose, the pacing, the characters and their arcs, just so well done. The almost 800 pages felt like 200 because I was so engrossed in this story. Greer is a master at painting a scene, letting it breathe as needed. He doesn't just ram details down your throat, hoping you catch the taste of what he is cooking, no he simmers on low, throwing in dashes of lore, pinches of action, heaps of character.

That said, I can see how this won't be a story for everyone. It's classic for a reason: it takes its time. We spend nearly 150 pages with Ashera in her home village before the shit hits the fan. Much of what happens here seems like it shouldn't have a point other than being fluff, but trust me, it all serves a purpose to build up Ashera's arc. Characters we meet are given so much life, and when things happen, you feel terror for them when the demon beasties and bad wizards show up. And even when Ashera finally leaves her home and begins her book 1 plot (there are 5 planned books in this series), it still takes its time, especially when it comes to her learning her magic. So if you are looking for fast pacing and all out action, you won't get this here.

The vast majority of this book is told through Ashera's POV, probably close to 85% or more. She, like every farmboy/girl character before her, starts off very naive to things, but she isn't just a cardboard cutout for worldbuilding to be dumped on. She has a lot of character depth in the beginning, especially her relationship with her sister Kyrina and the twins Talia and Tovin (who also have magic). There is a realness to the relationships in this book and I commend Greer for making sure to build these up as they define Ashera throughout the book. The other two POVs are Penedur (a warrior sent to protect her, think Aragorn) and Cenhelm (a guard working for the dark lord). Penedur is fun, and he helps guide Ashera in a great way, slightly turning the hardened warrior trope on its head a bit. Cenhelm is barely seen, we only meet him way later in the book, but I have to assume we will get more with him in the rest of the series. We also have Kirin as our resident good wizard, and then Shayelin, a character I won't delve into for spoiler reasons.

I won't lie, I don't read a ton of classic fantasy as much anymore, mainly because it's hard to stand up next to the greats, or to even take those classic tropes and make them fresh again. But it was super refreshing with The Servant. I cannot wait until book 2, I just know Greer will give me another great story! So if you need some classic fantasy in your life, definitely go pick this up when it releases on June 28!