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Rhodinya: Seeking balance

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“After a few minutes, a lit candle suddenly appears out of nowhere on the desk, right next to an open book. A grand chandelier adorned with sparkling diamonds and holding a hundred candles floods the foyer with light. The bookshelves begin to fill, from top to bottom…”

Join Thom, an ordinary guy from our world, as he steps into the enchanting realm of Rhodinya—a land once filled with magical beings living in perfect harmony. But this balance has been broken by an all-consuming darkness that is slowly but surely taking hold of the land.

To his dismay, Thom learns that he unknowingly played a part in this looming threat. Determined to set things right, he sets out on a quest to save Rhodinya and its extraordinary inhabitants. With a group of compelling allies, Thom embarks on a thrilling adventure full of unexpected twists and turns. Along the way, he must not only face external foes but also battle his inner demons.

This unparalleled adventure is packed with action, humor, suspense, and romance. Although Rhodinya features magical wonders, you’ll find striking parallels to our own world. The rich storyline and vibrant characters draw you in, making you feel like you’re a part of this enchanting journey.

Rhodinya – Seeking balance is the captivating first part of an epic series that promises an unforgettable reading experience, pulling you in from the first page to the last. Don’t miss out on this incredible journey − let yourself be swept away by the magic of Rhodinya.

“Feel the peace that surrounds you. Become one with Rhodinya and enjoy each moment. Once you are totally calm, slowly open your eyes and take in everything you perceive around you while listening to the natural symphony of Rhodinya...”

368 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2025

6 people want to read

About the author

R.G. Nabwaltik

2 books2 followers

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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Kealyn.
570 reviews137 followers
July 11, 2025
Rhodinya: Seeking Balance by R.G. Nabwaltik

4/5 stars

Rhodinya: Seeking Balance is such a magical, creative and mystical book. It was a joy to read from start to finish. I love how quickly the world expands and how many new fantastical and magical creatures we meet along the way. It felt like every chapter added a layer to the story and that every chapter gave the characters more and more depth. It was so easy to imagine the world of Rhodinya in my mind. And I love how the book tethered on the middle grade/young adult line.

The book starts with Thom hearing voices that implore him to help them. He listens and follows the voices. He goes through several doors and suddenly enters a different world. He meets Aarun of the Drunolai. He tells Thom that he is in Rhodinya. And that Rhanox holds them captive. They want to be free and only Thom can help the Drunolai. He needs to paint the runes of all the Drunolai on a painting to set them free. 

Thom's heart aches for Aarun and his kind and he promises to paint the painting. And when he does a portal opens and things aren't as they seem. And that is what kickstarts this beautiful story.

People are after Thom and he meets many new friends along the way. People think he is a sorcerer and that brings troubles of its own. 

I love how open Thom's heart is. And how he is in awe of every new person and creature he meets. 
Amara and her family's storyline had me captivated all the way through! And that ending, oh my heart broke for her and her family.
And the second I met Henna and Zayn I was invested in their love story. I think those two were my favorite characters in this novel. 

I also loved the idea of edible magic in this book. It's the second book I read that uses this approach and I really love that. This book is full of tiny details that made me smile and kept my eyes glued to the pages. And the stunning artwork added so much to the feel and experience of reading this book. 

If you love magic and reading books about epic quests and friendship and love. And an expanding world, then definitely give this beauty a chance! It's a joy to read and I am very grateful to have read it. 

4 huge stars for Seeking Balance! 
Profile Image for ReadingWithShannon.
25 reviews
June 14, 2025
The story is already exciting and interesting from the very beginning. It invites you to continue reading.

It’s written in a way that’s easy to understand but also in a beautiful flowy writing style. There were a few times I didn’t fully understand a small thing but then I’d understand it later. The author asked me to read both the English and Dutch editions of this book. I read one chapter of the Dutch version and then the same chapter in the English version and so on. This also helped me understand things better sometimes. I read the English edition much faster than the Dutch one. The writing gives a slightly different feel but is equally beautiful. The way everything was written made me see everything before me and sometimes even made me feel as if I was there with the characters.

There are quite some parts in this book where a character tells Thom, and us the reader, a story about something that happened in their past. This was interesting but the first time it happend I wanted to continue reading about Thom’s story. I do understand why this is done and eventually I did enjoy this a lot, it just works really well in this book. These parts were written beautifully. But I did find them very detailled. Which also fits and makes the experience what it is. But I did find myself questioning how these characters could remember and tell these memories from so long ago in such detail. Often from when they were very young.

All the characters are very well developed. I always knew who was who. There was even a noticable difference in the way the characters talked. I thought this was very well done.

There are SO many different kinds of creatures that live in Rhodinya. Most of the time I could tell them apart well because they are all very different from each other. I also found it very interesting to learn more about these creatures. As more and more of them were introduced throughout the story it did get a lot to remember them all. This is the first part of a longer series so now we’ve been introduced to all these creatures I think it might be easier to follow in the rest of the series.

The story is very different from what I expected based on the beginning. It also kept going in different directions than I expected.


I give Rhodinya, Seeking Balance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars). I was doubting a bit between 4,5 and 5 stars. I think if the next book will be as good it might even be better.


I really enjoyed this story. Also that ending!!😱 I really want to keep reading, I’m so curious and excited to read the rest of this series!

There is so much to talk about but for that you should read the book.🤭


There are wonderful illustrations at the end of every chapter. I really liked this!


It also has a beautiful map inside. I don’t often actually look at the map inside a book while reading but with this book it was really interesting to look at.
Profile Image for Melanie ~ melsbookishescape.
346 reviews
September 9, 2025
Rhodinya follows the story of Thom, a 20 year old ordinary young man, who finds himself entangled in a magical, fairytale world, and is meant to save it from looming darkness.

This book had some very strong elements and some weaker ones. First of all, it made use of significant info dumping to explain the world of Rhodinya: it was all said and done in chapter 1. Even after explaining the issue at hand, and Thom’s role in it, I found the world-building to be quite hurried and slightly confusing. The writing style was more telling than showing. On the other hand, I was actually really interested in Thom’s normal life, for example, his work in the urgent care center. This story was originally written in Dutch, so some English translations also just did not fit quite right.

Overall, this is a very magical story that feels like a fairytale, with some really cute and adorable characters, but it just didn’t manage to capture my interest fully.
Profile Image for Cynthia.
128 reviews4 followers
August 1, 2025
Read: paperback
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review:
First of all: thank you C&R Publishing for gifting me a copy of this book to review! I really enjoyed my time in Rhodinya. That brings me to my review of this book.
This story takes place in a fantasy world, named Rhodinya, where Thom, our MMC, stumbles upon in his sleep. Guided by magical creatures, he needs to complete a task in order to save this magical place. But as Thom gets sucked into this world completely, that task doesn't appear to be as easy as it seems. We meet a lot of characters along the way, each of them with their own unique personality, which I really liked. We see a bunch of different magical creatures as well. While reading this book, I truly felt like I was a part of Rhodinya.
I do think this book is more for older children/teenagers than for adults. The dialogues are quite basic and simple, as well as most descriptions. I would have loved to see more depth in that. Also, some main events were written matter-of-factly without any further emotions attached to it. One sentence and then done. I hope the author will go into more depth there as well in the next book, because it made certain plot changes feel plain and made me connect less with the characters. The ending is a cliffhanger, so I'm curious to know what will happen in the second book.

The sketches at the and of each chapter were lovely, they gave a good impression of a lot of the creatures from the book.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and really like the world of Rhodinya.
Profile Image for Megan Cassidy.
48 reviews3 followers
July 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for R. G. Nabwaltik’s Rhodinya ~ Seeking Balance (Book 1)

I was so honoured to be asked to read and review this lovely fairytale story!

As always, I’ll start by stating this is my personal opinion, and yours may differ from my own.

This story bought back so many nostalgic feelings, it was like walking back into the 80’s and experiencing magic and fantasy for the first time again. I can easily imagine this story being made into film in the same style as the likes of the neverending story, or the dark crystal.

The world building was fantastic! It has portal magic to a new land that is full of brand new fantastical creatures, complete with found family and friends, a quest, and an evil entity!

It was a true fairytale, no spice, but pure in the love it showed within the different relationships between the characters. I loved how well written each character was, and how they grew and developed with each other.

And i definitely want to meet a Drunola.. I loved these little creatures the most! And I need to read book two to find out what happens to them and to Thom.

I love discovering new fantasy lands with new kinds of magic to explore, and this ticked all the boxes for me in those areas! Thank you so much for giving me that chance to read your wonderful story!
Profile Image for Melissa.
191 reviews22 followers
October 17, 2025
I really enjoyed this YA Fantasy!

In the book we follow Thom who lives in our world. After hearing voices he ends up in the magical land of Rhodinya.

However he is seen as some evil power, and is hunted and captured. We learn about the world of Rhodinya, and its inhabitants through his eyes. So many magical beings live in this beautifully described land! What's also fun is that after each chapter there is a drawing, so you get to know how these magical beings look like!

Thom eventually get captured by the royal family and here he learns more about the people who are also shifters. The royal family is capturing children and people with this gift to help them transform, but it's also in their own advantage because they are trying to build an army to fight against other threats.

Eventually Thom convinces some of the children of the royal family that he is nog evil person and that he is actually there to help them. They help him escape and they go on a magical adventure together while being hunted.

The book ends on a cliffhanger (litterally), so I'm very curious to see how this story is going to continue!

It's very YA so be beware of that, even though Thom is 20 years old. Also there are some lessons intertwined with the story. Like how you are not supposed to eat so much food and candy all the time even though it's available. But all in all it's an enjoyable adventure into a magical world.
Profile Image for Rahzariya.
2 reviews
June 7, 2025
Loved it!
I absolutely loved this book. It is intelligently and beautifully written, and the story is original. The characters are sincere and touch your heart. Rhodinya is definitely a great first volume of an epic adventure, and the ending left me eager for more. What sets this book apart from many others, in my opinion, is that you can read it again and again, still enjoy it just as much, and maybe even discover new things. For me, it was a magical reading experience, one I think everyone should have.
1 review
May 22, 2025
Rhodinya- Seeking Balance is a wonderful book. I’ve read the Dutch version as well, and I was curious to see how the English translation had turned out. In my experience, translated works often fall short, but this one is beautifully done. It retains the tone, the emotional depth, and even the humor, along with cultural nuance. If you weren’t told this was a translation, you’d likely never guess. It’s that good, perhaps even better than the original. The book is written in an engaging style that captures your attention from the very beginning. The storytelling is immersive, pulling you into a magical world. The author’s ability to bring characters to life is truly remarkable. You connect with them, sharing their thoughts, struggles, and inner journeys. Everything feels authentic and relatable. As the narrative unfolds, each chapter reveals new thematic layers, leaving you reflecting on it long after the book ends. Though the setting is fantasy, its resonant and beautifully original story makes it highly recommended for anyone!
1 review
May 26, 2025
An echo, born from a medley of voices, carved its way through the air. Bouncing off the walls, it resonated through the room, causing a slight vibration in Thom’s eardrums…

When I read this first sentence, I knew this was going to be a special read. To conceive an entire world is one thing, but to breathe life into that creatively imagined world and to fill it with new creatures and characters that make us care, and maybe even for a moment believe they exist, is a promise of something greater. Rhodinya is a magical book, and I think everyone should read this, because it offers both a joyful reading experience and substance. Can’t wait for the second part!
Profile Image for Marlenybooks .
146 reviews3 followers
June 16, 2025
𝗕𝗼𝗲𝗸𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗲: 𝗥𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝘆𝗮 – 𝗢𝗽 𝘇𝗼𝗲𝗸 𝗻𝗮𝗮𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘂𝗿: 𝗥.𝗚. 𝗡𝗮𝗯𝘄𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗸
𝗕𝗲𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4,5 sterren
Waarom deze score: Wat een prachtig fantasierijk YA-verhaal met een goede boodschap, sterke thema's en een zorgvuldig uitgewerkte plot. Een geweldig debuut dat smaakt naar meer.

𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
Het verhaal van Rhodinya – Op zoek naar balans neemt je mee in een rijke fantasywereld vol bijzondere wezens, krachtige boodschappen en diepgaande personages. Centraal staat Thom, die onverwacht opgeroepen wordt om hulp te bieden en zo in een groots avontuur belandt. De roman onderzoekt thema’s als eerlijkheid, luisteren naar je hart, delen, en tevreden zijn met wat je hebt – allemaal verweven in een meeslepende reis waarin balans essentieel is. De wereld van Rhodinya is levendig, geloofwaardig en beeldend neergezet, wat zorgt voor een sterke leeservaring.

Schrijfstijl:
De stijl is beeldend, gedetailleerd en helder. Ondanks de alwetende verteller voel je een sterke betrokkenheid bij de personages, mede dankzij hun unieke stemgeluid en duidelijke karaktereigenschappen. De schrijfstijl past perfect bij het genre en versterkt de sfeer van het verhaal.

Verhaallijn:
Het boek start direct spannend en meeslepend met Thom die wordt geroepen om hulp – je zit er meteen in. De pacing is goed in balans; de langere hoofdstukken voelen logisch aan binnen de structuur. Het verhaal blijft boeien, bevat een cliffhanger, en nodigt uit tot doorlezen.

Karakterontwikkeling:
Elk personage heeft een eigen gezicht en stem, wat het verhaal overzichtelijk houdt ondanks de vele personages. Hun ontwikkeling is voelbaar en geloofwaardig, waardoor je gemakkelijk met hen meeleeft.

Thema’s en boodschap:
De rode draad is duidelijk en krachtig: wees eerlijk, deel met anderen, luister naar je hart, en wees tevreden met wat je hebt. Deze thema’s worden op een natuurlijke en diepgaande manier verweven in de verhaallijn.

Emotionele impact:
Het verhaal roept betrokkenheid op. Je voelt nieuwsgierigheid, verwondering en soms spanning. De visuele elementen, zoals de illustraties aan het eind van de hoofdstukken, versterken de emotionele beleving van elk moment.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻
• De visuele aankleding (kleurkaarten, illustraties, sprayed edges), de beeldende schrijfstijl, en de goed uitgewerkte personages zijn grote pluspunten.
• De originele fantasywezens zijn overtuigend neergezet. Bovendien is het boek zowel in de Engelse als Nederlandse editie taalkundig sterk.
• Unieke wereld, die rijkelijk en beeldend neergezet wordt

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗲
Een betoverend en sterk debuut dat doet denken aan klassieke YA-fantasy. Dit boek is absoluut een aanrader voor liefhebbers van fantasie met betekenisvolle thema’s en een meeslepend plot. Perfect voor de YA-doelgroep én de volwassen lezer die op zoek is naar een rijke, gelaagde wereld.

𝗟𝗲𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴
De illustraties en opmaak maken het boek tot een visueel feestje, en de verhaallijn hield me geboeid tot de laatste bladzijde. De thema’s resoneren lang na het omslaan van de laatste pagina. Ik kan niet wachten op deel twee.

Ik heb dit boek als recensie-exemplaar gelezen, dit is mijn persoonlijke mening.
Profile Image for Harsh Tyagi.
938 reviews21 followers
August 21, 2025
When Thom finds himself in the beautiful but insane world of Rhodinya everything changes immediately. A land once full of peace, now lays in the brink of despair as a darkness creeps into every corner. He discovers, with shock, that he has played an unknowing role in the threat consuming it. Along with his unique allies, Thom sets out on a journey to confront dangerous forces in the land as well as his own demons, in order to restore balance. Each step becomes a battle, each choice becomes a test of courage.

This brilliantly written book offers a world brimming with wonder, danger, and hope. Its landscapes feel vast and alive, and the journey is bejewled with mystery and heart. The story carries us through friendships, and discoveries that feel magical and deeply human. The book leaves a lasting sense of connection.

The story carries us into another reality. The descriptions breathe life into every character and the setting. The language is rich and the storyline is addictive. I found myself turning page after page once I got into the setting. The author knows an amazing way of weaving imagery. It almost feels like watching a brilliant movie.

This book made me think why stories matter so much, especially in today's world. This story took me far from home yet felt strangely familiar. The author's craft is beautiful and the imagination is boundless. The balance between beauty and tension is masterfully curated. One can sense his quiet determination to give the reader not just an adventure but an experience. Rhodinya feels alive.
Profile Image for daphne.
382 reviews14 followers
Read
July 1, 2025
“𝐑𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.”

Ik mocht een tijdje terug een super leuk pakket ontvangen met dit prachtig boek & leuke goodies 💌

Zelf bleek het boek niet helemaal mijn ding te zijn - maar hij was wel super goed uitgewerkt met een origineel magiesysteem. Ook bevat het boek bij ieder hoofdstuk een supermooie tekening wat het voor mij makkelijker maakte om de verschillende scenes in te kunnen beelden. Ik raad hem zeker aan als je houdt van parallelle universums & unieke magiesystemen. Ik ben heel benieuwd hoe het verhaal verder zal gaan na de plot twist op het einde!

the vibes ™:
- parallel universum (Rhodinya vs. onze wereld)
- found family
- leuke wezentjes
- … minder leuke wezentjes
- origineel magiesysteem
Profile Image for Devika.
710 reviews19 followers
August 9, 2025
Rhodinya - Seeking balance is the first book in the Rhodinya series by R.G. Nabwiltik. To be honest, both the cover and synopsis didn't really got my attention right away however I was kind off curious about the story. What will this book bring? And will the storyline be more promising than the synopsis shows?

I didn't really know what to expect diving into this story. The synopsis somehow made me think it would be a bit of a fantasy philosophical book, but this book isn't that at all. I would say Rhodinya - Seeking balance is a true fantasy.

Check out my full review on my blog Boekensteeg
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