What do you think?
Rate this book
The Moondark Saga
Warrior: The Moondark Saga
Two kingdoms battle to rule the Pacific Northwest when a centuries old cryogenic crèche awakens, bringing to life military leaders with weapons unlike anything this world has ever seen.
An epic adventure fantasy set in a post-apocalyptic future, from award winning-author, Don McQuinn.
Read Warrior Today
Included in Warrior
Escape To Challenge (The Moondark Saga Book 1) Warrior's Gamble (The Moondark Saga Book 2) Who Dares Define Victory (The Moondark Saga Book 3)
An epic adventure fantasy set in a post-apocalyptic future, from award winning-author, Don McQuinn.
In the grand landscape of the Pacific Northwest, two great kingdoms battle to rule the inlet sea. Gan Moondark is expected to one day rule the Dog People, but war and prophesy have a different fate in store for him.
The balance of power in the region is about to shift when a centuries old cryogenic crèche awakens. It brings to life military leaders from a long forgotten war, with weapons and technology unlike anything this world has ever seen.
Will these strangers help Gan Moondark start a new era of peace and prosperity? Or will they drive the three kingdoms further into brutality and war?
Read Warrior Today
Warrior is the first book in The Moondark Saga, available digitally for the first time since it's original publication. The series is available in it's original three book set, Warrior, Wander and Witch, or broken up into nine serial novels.
Included in Warrior
Escape To Challenge (The Moondark Saga Book 1) Warrior's Gamble (The Moondark Saga Book 2) Who Dares Define Victory (The Moondark Saga Book 3)
989 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2014
305 people are currently reading
717 people want to read
About the author
Don McQuinn
18 books12 followersDon McQuinn is an American best-selling author and retired U.S. Marine. He was born in Winthrop, Massachusetts, and lived in several places before moving to Texas. Don graduated from Galena Park HS, and after a year of military school in Minnesota he won a USNROTC scholarship to the University of Washington.
After graduating with a BA in English, Don served twenty years in the Marines. He served the first half of his career as an infantry officer and the second half as an intelligence officer, including tours in Korea and Vietnam. He retired as a Major in 1971 and started his new career as an author not long after.
His books have won major awards and been on bestseller lists, and he's written in genres that range from science fiction to contemporary literary fiction. He lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with his three grown sons.
After graduating with a BA in English, Don served twenty years in the Marines. He served the first half of his career as an infantry officer and the second half as an intelligence officer, including tours in Korea and Vietnam. He retired as a Major in 1971 and started his new career as an author not long after.
His books have won major awards and been on bestseller lists, and he's written in genres that range from science fiction to contemporary literary fiction. He lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with his three grown sons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 18, 2016
Cross between Dune and Foundation.
Excellent! This book was a joy to read because it was so well balanced... great personal stories, epic battles, thorough world building. It avoids cliches, surprises you with plot twists, and leaves you wanting more. Highly recommended.
Excellent! This book was a joy to read because it was so well balanced... great personal stories, epic battles, thorough world building. It avoids cliches, surprises you with plot twists, and leaves you wanting more. Highly recommended.
January 7, 2019
I learned about this series from a story on sci-fi series on Tor.com.
While I don't think it's better than The Lord of the Rings series, it's pretty interesting. It's kind of a cross between LOTR and Wayward Pines.
Twentieth Century folks are placed in cryogenic chambers and centuries later, they emerge to find a version of Earth that is confusing in ways they did not expect. While they were encased, there was some sort of nuclear doomsday apocalypse that destroyed people, animals, and land. They find "savages" in an all-against-all civilization with evil kings, barons, and clans. Women are property and have no rights to their own bodies and thoughts. Learning to read and write is mostly forbidden. Saying the word "Jesus" could get you killed in torturous ways the Spanish Inquisition never even dreamed. Oh, and there are NO people of color that the survivors see. That's understandably difficult for the one woman of color who survived.
There are 2 more sets of trilogies in this series. I have to read the rest to see what happens. That's why I usually avoid continuing sagas in literature. SUCH a commitment. Even if I hate it...I have to know what happens next.
Recommended for those who like fantasy and sci-fi together. And, for those who want a different type of dystopian, post-apocalyptic story.
While I don't think it's better than The Lord of the Rings series, it's pretty interesting. It's kind of a cross between LOTR and Wayward Pines.
Twentieth Century folks are placed in cryogenic chambers and centuries later, they emerge to find a version of Earth that is confusing in ways they did not expect. While they were encased, there was some sort of nuclear doomsday apocalypse that destroyed people, animals, and land. They find "savages" in an all-against-all civilization with evil kings, barons, and clans. Women are property and have no rights to their own bodies and thoughts. Learning to read and write is mostly forbidden. Saying the word "Jesus" could get you killed in torturous ways the Spanish Inquisition never even dreamed. Oh, and there are NO people of color that the survivors see. That's understandably difficult for the one woman of color who survived.
There are 2 more sets of trilogies in this series. I have to read the rest to see what happens. That's why I usually avoid continuing sagas in literature. SUCH a commitment. Even if I hate it...I have to know what happens next.
Recommended for those who like fantasy and sci-fi together. And, for those who want a different type of dystopian, post-apocalyptic story.
June 1, 2017
3 book series set in post apocalyptic NW U.S. Sounded like Seattle area. Could hardly put one down to start the next. Liked the storyline immensely, but was enough. The series goes on for several more books.
February 18, 2020
Interesting post apocalyptic story, where oddly enough the survivors who wake from stasis play a smaller role than expected.
I found some of his predictions of how societies would re-form a bit far fetched, and there is a little blurring from sci-fi into fantasy. Overall a pretty engaging story.
I found some of his predictions of how societies would re-form a bit far fetched, and there is a little blurring from sci-fi into fantasy. Overall a pretty engaging story.
December 3, 2016
Really good story
The characters are fun to follow. I like the plot of the story, makes one think what one would do in the same situation :)
The characters are fun to follow. I like the plot of the story, makes one think what one would do in the same situation :)
October 31, 2018
Great series
Enjoying this series great storyline lots of mystery and intrigue to keep you reading. Love all the characters some more than others
Enjoying this series great storyline lots of mystery and intrigue to keep you reading. Love all the characters some more than others
October 27, 2021
Got bored about 1 book in
June 21, 2015
So far I have read the first book, Escape to Challenge, of the Moondark Saga.
I want to start by saying that the writing is exceptional. I was immediately swept up in the telling of this unique story. So if writing style is important to you, take note that this is an easy, enjoyable read.
The characters are richly developed. In this first book, we are introduced to Gan (son of the war chief, Col Moondark), Sylah the Rose Priestess, Tate and Clas. I also want to mention Gan's war dogs because they're just super cool.
This is a unique telling of a story set in a post apocalyptic setting. If you are like me and enjoy this dystopian genre but are tired of the all the cliches...then this is a saga you have to read. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes scifi, dystopian or thriller/adventures! (probably throw in fantasy, too. :) )
I want to start by saying that the writing is exceptional. I was immediately swept up in the telling of this unique story. So if writing style is important to you, take note that this is an easy, enjoyable read.
The characters are richly developed. In this first book, we are introduced to Gan (son of the war chief, Col Moondark), Sylah the Rose Priestess, Tate and Clas. I also want to mention Gan's war dogs because they're just super cool.
This is a unique telling of a story set in a post apocalyptic setting. If you are like me and enjoy this dystopian genre but are tired of the all the cliches...then this is a saga you have to read. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes scifi, dystopian or thriller/adventures! (probably throw in fantasy, too. :) )
July 16, 2015
I read this trilogy and enjoyed it. It is a very interesting premise so I'll be reading the other two triologies.
I rated it as I did because, while it is not a "grabber", I did get drawn into some of the characters. Yet, I've been a little put off by not being sure which characters were going to stay around. That has led me to be less eager to invest myself in a character for fear that the next book will finish him/her off. So, while I found myself interested in the story, the lack of emotional investment in the characters has contributed to a reduced eagerness to see what comes. It almost made me wonder if this was being written with no real plan for the characters but simply to see what happens to them.
I rated it as I did because, while it is not a "grabber", I did get drawn into some of the characters. Yet, I've been a little put off by not being sure which characters were going to stay around. That has led me to be less eager to invest myself in a character for fear that the next book will finish him/her off. So, while I found myself interested in the story, the lack of emotional investment in the characters has contributed to a reduced eagerness to see what comes. It almost made me wonder if this was being written with no real plan for the characters but simply to see what happens to them.
January 8, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this series. I just cannot help myself when tempted with multi-book series! And they are all Kindle Unlimited too.
Very interesting characters that are extremely in-depth and well made. I was invested in their stories immediately. The world building is great, believable. Though you don't see a map until after the 3rd book?
Anyway, the 2 story lines are fabulous! So creative and extremely interesting, very believable. The first one is from the "travelers" the ones from the past. It is sci-fi and post-apocalyptic. The second story line is epic fantasy, but not your typical fantasy either. Not even close.
I highly recommend the series. I can't wait to enjoy the next 2 sets of books!
Very interesting characters that are extremely in-depth and well made. I was invested in their stories immediately. The world building is great, believable. Though you don't see a map until after the 3rd book?
Anyway, the 2 story lines are fabulous! So creative and extremely interesting, very believable. The first one is from the "travelers" the ones from the past. It is sci-fi and post-apocalyptic. The second story line is epic fantasy, but not your typical fantasy either. Not even close.
I highly recommend the series. I can't wait to enjoy the next 2 sets of books!
June 25, 2015
I have finished the first of the trilogy so I shall update this review as I finish the other two.
And I shall definitely be finishing the other two. :)
At first I wasn't entirely gripped but I slowly began settling into the rhythm of the book. Then along came a completely new and "alien" element and I was hooked! This element brings in an exciting contrast and a new understanding for us to relate with. Despite reading many apocalyptic stories, this is a take I've not yet read and it is rather intriguing.
I shall update as I progress further and may end up giving 5 stars at this rate.
Highly recommended.
And I shall definitely be finishing the other two. :)
At first I wasn't entirely gripped but I slowly began settling into the rhythm of the book. Then along came a completely new and "alien" element and I was hooked! This element brings in an exciting contrast and a new understanding for us to relate with. Despite reading many apocalyptic stories, this is a take I've not yet read and it is rather intriguing.
I shall update as I progress further and may end up giving 5 stars at this rate.
Highly recommended.
June 13, 2015
Interesting read with some flaws
Great concept, but the execution is a little lacking. It's weird that the cryogenic people aren't more important to the story, but perhaps their worth will come about more in the sequels. Also, the books are rather short, so it feels like they're trying to rip you off, so don't pay full book price for each one.
Great concept, but the execution is a little lacking. It's weird that the cryogenic people aren't more important to the story, but perhaps their worth will come about more in the sequels. Also, the books are rather short, so it feels like they're trying to rip you off, so don't pay full book price for each one.
May 30, 2015
Great story!
This thoroughly engrossing story was a pleasure to read. The author's writing is superb. I love the unique storyline and am anxious to start the next book in the series.
This thoroughly engrossing story was a pleasure to read. The author's writing is superb. I love the unique storyline and am anxious to start the next book in the series.
June 18, 2015
The first volume was exciting. The second volume narrated me to sleep with all the specifics needed to make a long running series. Third volume ended in a squawk. I'm not sure I can wade through any more of the series.
September 30, 2016
A well deserved 5
I really enjoyed the first three books of a destruction aftermath of advanced society after a nuclear war and the society arising from that war seemed so real that it read, to me like a history of those times. I highly recommend this series.
I really enjoyed the first three books of a destruction aftermath of advanced society after a nuclear war and the society arising from that war seemed so real that it read, to me like a history of those times. I highly recommend this series.
October 25, 2016
Excellent trilogy
Great story telling and descriptive narrative through out the books. I enjoyed the action scenes and the lead up and follow through getting there. Highly recommend. Can't wait to get the next books.
Great story telling and descriptive narrative through out the books. I enjoyed the action scenes and the lead up and follow through getting there. Highly recommend. Can't wait to get the next books.
November 7, 2016
Good book
I got the three book collection because I thought the story would finish. I don't like never ending stories. The story itself is very good and the characters are fleshed out well. My one disappointment is that the story is not finished and has too many loose ends
I got the three book collection because I thought the story would finish. I don't like never ending stories. The story itself is very good and the characters are fleshed out well. My one disappointment is that the story is not finished and has too many loose ends
June 2, 2015
A good yarn. I can take or leave fantasy novels, depending upon how well done they are. This one (actually 3) kept me going until the end.
September 25, 2016
This story was very engaging. The world and characters are well written and the story kept me wanting to read just one more chapter.
I'm looking forward to more from this author.
I'm looking forward to more from this author.
Read
January 19, 2017Very entertaining
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews