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The Summoner
The Kingdom of Veridia stands on the edge destruction. Can its hero of legend save it?
Prince Aris wants nothing to do with life at court. All he wants, is to leave his duties behind and sail away with Freya. But his brother, the King has other plans.
Kael has a dream of uniting all of the feuding tribes of the forest under his one glorious banner. Powered by prophecy and his own savage ambition he sets out on a daring raid against the northern kingdom.
To the far north, in the ruins of the once great Kingdom of Emberfell, an evil awakens upon the slopes of the Volcano Pyrepeak.
The Dark One rises, and with him even darker creatures. Can Aris do what he must, before it's too late?
Prince Aris wants nothing to do with life at court. All he wants, is to leave his duties behind and sail away with Freya. But his brother, the King has other plans.
Kael has a dream of uniting all of the feuding tribes of the forest under his one glorious banner. Powered by prophecy and his own savage ambition he sets out on a daring raid against the northern kingdom.
To the far north, in the ruins of the once great Kingdom of Emberfell, an evil awakens upon the slopes of the Volcano Pyrepeak.
The Dark One rises, and with him even darker creatures. Can Aris do what he must, before it's too late?
302 pages, Paperback
Published June 2, 2025
10 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 9, 2025
I can’t even review this properly without spoilers. Slow starter but it becomes obvious as to why.. this book is basically setting the scene for the next 3 books and I have a feeling they’re going to be full of adventure, rapid emotion changes and all the excitement. I can’t wait for book 2!
November 9, 2025
I came across The Summoner on a tiktok live, admittedly I don’t typically stop scrolling for book promotions but the cover of this book caught my eye! Once I heard the author describe the premise, I was hooked! I am so glad I stopped scrolling, this book is one heck of an adventure!
The characters in The Summoner are a joy to spend time with, we get multiple POVs which keep the story moving. I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I loved the female characters POVs (it can be tricky sometimes reading a female character written by a male, but Callum absolutely smashed it), Freya and Zahara quickly became my favourite characters! There definitely is a “bad guy” in this book, but I actually have found it very hard to not root for them, I definitely have complicated feelings on how I’d love for the rest of the series to play out, so I’m looking forward to seeing where Callum takes it!
Get your pitchforks ready.. but I typically skim read most battles in a lot of books because I find them tedious at times (I know I know don’t judge), but the author done a fantastic job at captivating me through those pages and having me fret for my favourite characters!
I really enjoyed the magic system, it’s unlike anything I’ve come across before. I’m so excited to see where the author goes with it in future books! We see more of this in the authors recent novella “The Last True Dagger Dancer of Nadus”, which I can’t recommend enough, but it definitely deserves its own review so you’ll have to go looking for that.
In a very familiar and comforting way, this book follows the traditional adventure fantasy vibes. I’m usually more of a romantasy girlie myself, but The Summoner’s plot progresses with ease and I really can’t wait to see what’s to come in the remainder of this series! Especially after that exciting ending!
Finding this book on a tiktok live led me to find the best little community. I recommend checking out this author on there and popping in to say hi during the tiktok lives and getting your hands on a signed copy as I have a feeling Callum Rushworth will be a future household name!
The characters in The Summoner are a joy to spend time with, we get multiple POVs which keep the story moving. I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I loved the female characters POVs (it can be tricky sometimes reading a female character written by a male, but Callum absolutely smashed it), Freya and Zahara quickly became my favourite characters! There definitely is a “bad guy” in this book, but I actually have found it very hard to not root for them, I definitely have complicated feelings on how I’d love for the rest of the series to play out, so I’m looking forward to seeing where Callum takes it!
Get your pitchforks ready.. but I typically skim read most battles in a lot of books because I find them tedious at times (I know I know don’t judge), but the author done a fantastic job at captivating me through those pages and having me fret for my favourite characters!
I really enjoyed the magic system, it’s unlike anything I’ve come across before. I’m so excited to see where the author goes with it in future books! We see more of this in the authors recent novella “The Last True Dagger Dancer of Nadus”, which I can’t recommend enough, but it definitely deserves its own review so you’ll have to go looking for that.
In a very familiar and comforting way, this book follows the traditional adventure fantasy vibes. I’m usually more of a romantasy girlie myself, but The Summoner’s plot progresses with ease and I really can’t wait to see what’s to come in the remainder of this series! Especially after that exciting ending!
Finding this book on a tiktok live led me to find the best little community. I recommend checking out this author on there and popping in to say hi during the tiktok lives and getting your hands on a signed copy as I have a feeling Callum Rushworth will be a future household name!
September 22, 2025
I came across this new author promoting his book on TikTok live and instantly liked the premise he was talking about. (Would also like to add that he seems so genuinely passionate about his book and was lovely enough to sign it live when I purchased it)For a first novel, it is very strong and an exciting start to what could be a great series. The magic system and the world are very well built with a cool history interwoven. The tale of rescue with our group of mismatched heroes is a common trope but done well here. My biggest gripe was my lack of attachment to the characters. I feel like I was more invested in the overall plot and direction the world is going in rather than the cast of main characters.
Overall, Ienjoyed this read and as a first novel, I am very impressed and will definitely be reading any future instalments!
Overall, Ienjoyed this read and as a first novel, I am very impressed and will definitely be reading any future instalments!
September 17, 2025
A great fantasy debut that paves the way for a new, fresh sword and sorcery series.
I'll admit it, I don't read much fantasy these days. I find most fantasy novels bloated and usually lose interest when I see how long they are.
The Summoner is a great mix of fast paced action, building its world brick by brick for future novels in the series.
Great work, Callum. Looking forward to seeing what comes next!
I'll admit it, I don't read much fantasy these days. I find most fantasy novels bloated and usually lose interest when I see how long they are.
The Summoner is a great mix of fast paced action, building its world brick by brick for future novels in the series.
Great work, Callum. Looking forward to seeing what comes next!
June 4, 2025
A coming-of-age epic fantasy adventure that feels like a classic! This book had me hooked from the first page. That prologue is so gripping, the volcano setting is incredibly eerie and cool.
But we need to talk about the characters. In this book, we have likeable characters that we can root for. It feels refreshing. These characters feel like real people, in that they are flawed like every human is. We have morally grey individuals, who struggle to decipher right from wrong. Then we have a companionship squad whose motives all align them into the same quest, but for different reasons. The humour and banter within this squad is perfectly paced and appropriate, without taking away the emotional impact of the main storyline.
I loved this book so much. I felt so connected to each POV character, in particular our main guy Aris. Seeing the depths of his mind is so thought-provoking. This books follows Aris as he experiences battles, companionship, PTSD representation, separation from his wife, and going through grief.
This is an action-packed fantasy novel with a perfect balance of world-building, character depth and pacing. I can’t wait for the next instalment in the series!
But we need to talk about the characters. In this book, we have likeable characters that we can root for. It feels refreshing. These characters feel like real people, in that they are flawed like every human is. We have morally grey individuals, who struggle to decipher right from wrong. Then we have a companionship squad whose motives all align them into the same quest, but for different reasons. The humour and banter within this squad is perfectly paced and appropriate, without taking away the emotional impact of the main storyline.
I loved this book so much. I felt so connected to each POV character, in particular our main guy Aris. Seeing the depths of his mind is so thought-provoking. This books follows Aris as he experiences battles, companionship, PTSD representation, separation from his wife, and going through grief.
This is an action-packed fantasy novel with a perfect balance of world-building, character depth and pacing. I can’t wait for the next instalment in the series!
September 7, 2025
Amazing story! Somewhere between Game of Thrones and World of Warcraft?! Got very invested in the characters early in the book. Loved the multiple story lines going on that were all converging to what feels like one epic point! Can’t wait for the next installment!
July 11, 2025
Callum’s debut novel set in Veridia is a great start to what is a promising series to come.
If you like fantasy, folklore and magic that’s fast paced this book is for you.
The world building was well described, although I read this on kindle and so couldn’t easily flick between chapter and world map, that’s more about my technical skills that the kindle version!
Without spoilers my favourite characters were Aris and Kael. I knew that I wanted to pick a side, but they were both so well written I couldn’t.
I would have liked to have more of the wider characters developed further, but then I guess that’s the point of a series. That said, I enjoyed the twist about the thing that was found and had warnings against it - once you’ve read it, this bit will make sense.
The biggest down point for me at the time of writing this review is that only book 1 is complete. I’m impatient, so I want the next book written already.
Well done Callum on an excellent debut novel and I look forward to seeing what else you bring to the Veridian table.
If you like fantasy, folklore and magic that’s fast paced this book is for you.
The world building was well described, although I read this on kindle and so couldn’t easily flick between chapter and world map, that’s more about my technical skills that the kindle version!
Without spoilers my favourite characters were Aris and Kael. I knew that I wanted to pick a side, but they were both so well written I couldn’t.
I would have liked to have more of the wider characters developed further, but then I guess that’s the point of a series. That said, I enjoyed the twist about the thing that was found and had warnings against it - once you’ve read it, this bit will make sense.
The biggest down point for me at the time of writing this review is that only book 1 is complete. I’m impatient, so I want the next book written already.
Well done Callum on an excellent debut novel and I look forward to seeing what else you bring to the Veridian table.
August 28, 2025
10 out of 10 experience. Incredible characters and incredible journey and story is like Games of thrones by George and lord of the ring and Sarah J Maas throne of glass. Please check out this incredible book now and support India author. I highly recommend everyone reads this book now. Fantasy fan this incredible book is calling you now. Enjoy!
August 18, 2025
this is an excellent debut novel! I really enjoyed the storyline! I wish there had been a bit more description of the characters physical attributes but other than that, I loved it!
December 1, 2025
Found this book for 99p which was a great price. The purple color looked great and I wanted to give it a try. As a big fan of game of thrones this was actually quite good for a what seems to be debut book. Hoping this is the start to another great series
August 24, 2025
Not edited. Story didn't go anywhere. Info dump after info dump. There was little to no character progression. Were you supposed to like any of the characters? They were about as deep as a puddle. Why any of the story happens...is still a mystery to me. Plot lines were never finished, and then the book just ended. I cannot recommend this book. I do not understand the 4 star rating it has.
July 30, 2025
A excellent debut novel here. At its core this is a classic feel fantasy, with a quest, a merry band of mixed ragtag people laced with magic, conspiracy, promise of future events that are sure to shift the fabric of the story on its head. The characters are all unique, diverse and well written you have someone for everyone and some are only really just beginning in this book as they are highlighted but not the main focus.
All in all the story wrapped up perfectly with a really fun and engaging ending setting up for the next three books with a phenomenal after story except. You will find yourself addicted to the world and rooting for characters you didn't expect. I think the emotional connection will come in the following novels now you have established a relationship with them in this book but overall for a debut, a first book written as well, this was fantastic.
Give it a read, it will suprise you.
All in all the story wrapped up perfectly with a really fun and engaging ending setting up for the next three books with a phenomenal after story except. You will find yourself addicted to the world and rooting for characters you didn't expect. I think the emotional connection will come in the following novels now you have established a relationship with them in this book but overall for a debut, a first book written as well, this was fantastic.
Give it a read, it will suprise you.
July 15, 2025
This is the kind of book I want to champion. There’s a classic feel to it; epic quest, reluctant heroes, glimmers of ancient magic and whispered lore. The ambition is clear from page one, and the world feels like it wants to be lived in. Aris and his companions grow on you as the story unfolds, and there’s real weight behind some of the emotional beats; grief, duty, fear, the toll of conflict.
But I have to be honest: the experience of reading this was uneven.
The biggest challenge for me was the point of view. The story is written in third-person, but it doesn’t always stay grounded in a single character’s perspective. At times it zooms out to explain things the character couldn’t know, then suddenly snaps back into their head. For example, there’s a moment where Kael observes that “hope had drained from her eyes,” and the narration immediately tells us what that meant to him, rather than letting us feel it. A more immersive approach might look like:
Her eyes didn’t fall—they just… went still. Kael saw it too late. That small, bright thing in her had gone out, and now she was only waiting.
That’s not about flowery language, it’s more emotional anchoring. Let us see what the character sees, feel what they feel. The current narration sometimes tells us what to think, and in doing so, flattens what could be very affecting moments.
The dialogue also needs tightening. It often swings between overly formal and jarringly modern. One character says something like, “You are my anchor in a world of uncertainty,” and while that sentiment is lovely, it doesn’t quite feel lived-in.
There’s also a tendency toward exposition in dialogue; characters explaining world lore or their backstories to each other in ways that don’t feel organic. That kind of thing can work, but it needs to feel like part of the scene, not a pause in the story to deliver information.
The prose itself has moments of promise, but it reads like it’s still in draft form. Phrasing is sometimes redundant or slightly clunky, for instance, a line like “He was tired of the niceties, which he rarely if ever wanted to have,” could be pared down to something like: “He was done playing nice. Had been for years.” More concise, more voice.
Despite the critique, I don’t want to sound dismissive; there are genuinely strong foundations here, and moments that shine. The companionship between the main characters grows in a way that feels earned, with some lovely quiet beats woven in. There’s also emotional nuance in the depiction of trauma; Aris’s moments of introspection and emotional withdrawal, in particular, are handled with sensitivity and care. You can tell the author wanted to explore the long-term effects of loss and violence without turning them into spectacle.
If anything, I found myself wishing for more. More texture in the worldbuilding, more time with side characters beyond their function in the plot, and more clarity behind the larger stakes. But honestly, that’s a good problem to have, because it means I was invested. I wanted to stay in this world longer. I wanted to care about these people even more deeply.
To be clear: this book isn’t bad. It’s simply early. It reads like a debut with potential, one that could absolutely flourish with a stronger editorial hand. And for readers who love the classic rhythm of a small band of heroes trying to save something sacred, it’s a fun ride.
I’ll be curious to see what this author does next, because there’s a lot here to build on. If the prose and POV tighten up, and the emotional beats are allowed to land without over-explaining, this could grow into a really special series.
Final thoughts: not flawless, but full of promise. A solid fantasy adventure with a good heart and an earnest voice. I’d recommend it to readers who value character-driven quests and don’t mind a few rough edges on the way.
But I have to be honest: the experience of reading this was uneven.
The biggest challenge for me was the point of view. The story is written in third-person, but it doesn’t always stay grounded in a single character’s perspective. At times it zooms out to explain things the character couldn’t know, then suddenly snaps back into their head. For example, there’s a moment where Kael observes that “hope had drained from her eyes,” and the narration immediately tells us what that meant to him, rather than letting us feel it. A more immersive approach might look like:
Her eyes didn’t fall—they just… went still. Kael saw it too late. That small, bright thing in her had gone out, and now she was only waiting.
That’s not about flowery language, it’s more emotional anchoring. Let us see what the character sees, feel what they feel. The current narration sometimes tells us what to think, and in doing so, flattens what could be very affecting moments.
The dialogue also needs tightening. It often swings between overly formal and jarringly modern. One character says something like, “You are my anchor in a world of uncertainty,” and while that sentiment is lovely, it doesn’t quite feel lived-in.
There’s also a tendency toward exposition in dialogue; characters explaining world lore or their backstories to each other in ways that don’t feel organic. That kind of thing can work, but it needs to feel like part of the scene, not a pause in the story to deliver information.
The prose itself has moments of promise, but it reads like it’s still in draft form. Phrasing is sometimes redundant or slightly clunky, for instance, a line like “He was tired of the niceties, which he rarely if ever wanted to have,” could be pared down to something like: “He was done playing nice. Had been for years.” More concise, more voice.
Despite the critique, I don’t want to sound dismissive; there are genuinely strong foundations here, and moments that shine. The companionship between the main characters grows in a way that feels earned, with some lovely quiet beats woven in. There’s also emotional nuance in the depiction of trauma; Aris’s moments of introspection and emotional withdrawal, in particular, are handled with sensitivity and care. You can tell the author wanted to explore the long-term effects of loss and violence without turning them into spectacle.
If anything, I found myself wishing for more. More texture in the worldbuilding, more time with side characters beyond their function in the plot, and more clarity behind the larger stakes. But honestly, that’s a good problem to have, because it means I was invested. I wanted to stay in this world longer. I wanted to care about these people even more deeply.
To be clear: this book isn’t bad. It’s simply early. It reads like a debut with potential, one that could absolutely flourish with a stronger editorial hand. And for readers who love the classic rhythm of a small band of heroes trying to save something sacred, it’s a fun ride.
I’ll be curious to see what this author does next, because there’s a lot here to build on. If the prose and POV tighten up, and the emotional beats are allowed to land without over-explaining, this could grow into a really special series.
Final thoughts: not flawless, but full of promise. A solid fantasy adventure with a good heart and an earnest voice. I’d recommend it to readers who value character-driven quests and don’t mind a few rough edges on the way.
August 17, 2025
A great debut book following the MMC Aris & his travelling companions. As these reluctant heroes travel on their quest you come across folklore & magic giving the plotline more depth. Whilst the characters bring the emotional intensity as they deal with loss/grief, fear & many a conflict.
For me personally I do struggle with books that are written in the 3rd POV, which is why it took me longer to read this book than normal. I also did start off with the physical copy, but my eyesight is not what it used to be & couldn't get used to the font so I switched to KU which was a lot better for my aging eyes! However, this will not be the same for everyone, so I would expect others to have a much more enjoyable experience of the story.
As with most fantasy books there is a lot of world building, which like in most series it's down to the author laying down the 'foundations' of the new world. A couple of times it did feel like there were copious amounts of descriptive dialogue, but I'm gathering this will probably become evident as to the reasoning for it in future books of the series?
Overall I enjoyed the book, & would love to see more character development in the next instalment as that is usually when I start making a connection with characters.
For me personally I do struggle with books that are written in the 3rd POV, which is why it took me longer to read this book than normal. I also did start off with the physical copy, but my eyesight is not what it used to be & couldn't get used to the font so I switched to KU which was a lot better for my aging eyes! However, this will not be the same for everyone, so I would expect others to have a much more enjoyable experience of the story.
As with most fantasy books there is a lot of world building, which like in most series it's down to the author laying down the 'foundations' of the new world. A couple of times it did feel like there were copious amounts of descriptive dialogue, but I'm gathering this will probably become evident as to the reasoning for it in future books of the series?
Overall I enjoyed the book, & would love to see more character development in the next instalment as that is usually when I start making a connection with characters.
November 9, 2025
The Summoner - Callum Rushworth
Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5
The Summoner is the first book I have started and finished since July, and oh boy was it a good read.
I didn't get through it as quickly as I would have liked but when I really sat down and concentrated on it I couldn't read it fast enough!
For a small-ish novel it was full of action and fast paced! The multiple povs from the hero and antagonist perspectives, plus a couple other side characters, made this a really interesting read. Aris' determination to keep going after everything he faced had me on the edge of my seat while reading. I found myself rooting for Kael at one point too, from his perspective he really was trying to connect the tribes and make a better life for them all, even if he was a total brute!
The little snippet in the epilogue has got me impatiently waiting for the next book!
4.5/5 stars purely because I wish it was longer 🤣 The world building, character building and relationships between the characters in this book were truly brilliant and I cant wait to read Callums novella!
Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5
The Summoner is the first book I have started and finished since July, and oh boy was it a good read.
I didn't get through it as quickly as I would have liked but when I really sat down and concentrated on it I couldn't read it fast enough!
For a small-ish novel it was full of action and fast paced! The multiple povs from the hero and antagonist perspectives, plus a couple other side characters, made this a really interesting read. Aris' determination to keep going after everything he faced had me on the edge of my seat while reading. I found myself rooting for Kael at one point too, from his perspective he really was trying to connect the tribes and make a better life for them all, even if he was a total brute!
The little snippet in the epilogue has got me impatiently waiting for the next book!
4.5/5 stars purely because I wish it was longer 🤣 The world building, character building and relationships between the characters in this book were truly brilliant and I cant wait to read Callums novella!
September 17, 2025
The Summoner is an exciting fantasy full of prophecy, danger, and political intrigue. Prince Aris makes a great reluctant hero, torn between duty and freedom, and the rising darkness kept me hooked.
Some parts felt a bit rushed, but overall it a gripping adventure of classic fantasy.
I purchased this book after seeing Callum on TikTok Live one evening, and liked what he had to say about his book. It was definitely worth the purchase.
@ThatWriterRushy - Give Callum a follow.
(It took me a little while to finish Callum's book as I had a few ARC's to get through first. But i thoroughly enjoyed reading The Summoner)
Some parts felt a bit rushed, but overall it a gripping adventure of classic fantasy.
I purchased this book after seeing Callum on TikTok Live one evening, and liked what he had to say about his book. It was definitely worth the purchase.
@ThatWriterRushy - Give Callum a follow.
(It took me a little while to finish Callum's book as I had a few ARC's to get through first. But i thoroughly enjoyed reading The Summoner)
September 4, 2025
This book has not been edited, the characters have no depth, it’s a rip off of Game of Thrones and pretty much every other fantasy book and trope out there. The grammar and spelling mistakes are so confusing and there is pretty much non stop info dumps throughout. A lot more time needed to go into the prep work behind this book. Was an editor hired? I’d genuinely like to know.
A massive shame. Hopefully the next books in the series improve on this admittedly shoddy start.
A massive shame. Hopefully the next books in the series improve on this admittedly shoddy start.
September 20, 2025
I listened to the audiobook of this, and found it gripping from start to finish. It's a brilliant high fantasy quest in the classic style, in a well-fleshed out world with plenty of backstory and political intrigue. By the time it got to the final confrontation I was really rooting for Aris and his band of adventurers. The narrator did a great job too. Highly recommended.
November 9, 2025
Very much enjoyed reading this book i come across Callum on TikTok and decided to take a chance on buying both his books it was definitely worth it loved the story and plot and would recommend this book to fantasy readers look forward to the next ones.
November 26, 2025
I really enjoyed this book.
The author does a great job of relaying both emotions and the real and bleakness of a world recovering from war.
The characters feel alive and you want to know what happens next and there are enough twists, turns and questions to keep you turning to the next page.
Being the first part of a series it sets up the next books well and I will be purchasing when released.
The author does a great job of relaying both emotions and the real and bleakness of a world recovering from war.
The characters feel alive and you want to know what happens next and there are enough twists, turns and questions to keep you turning to the next page.
Being the first part of a series it sets up the next books well and I will be purchasing when released.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews