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Waymaker: The Pearlsong Refounding Book Two
A troubled loner.
An impossible quest.
How do you save the world
when you can’t even save yourself?
WITH the rediscovery of the legendary Book of Dei'lo, the lines of war have been drawn across the Inherited Lands. Behind their mystically fortified walls, opposing forces are massing for the ultimate conflict, pitting the two languages of power against one another in open battle for the first time. The results of such a war can be nothing short of cataclysmic…
At the focal point of this coming apocalypse stands Gideon Dawning, a troubled loner and stranger to the Lands who has been marked by prophecy as the Waymaker for the Pearl. His charge: to recover a sentient orb of power that has been lost for over 2,000 years, and bring it safely to Wordhaven. If he succeeds, there is a chance he may avert the war and usher in a new Endless Age. But the quest is perilous, and there are many who would see Gideon fail—Sa'lei Lords of staggering power, and their corrupted minions within the Deathland Barrens. Yet an even greater danger lurks within realms Gideon cannot see...where a living evil quietly plots to rend his very soul.
With all the perils that lie before him, Gideon is certain of only this: He must try. For if he cannot find the way to the Pearl, all hope will be lost—not just for the Lands, but for himself.
An impossible quest.
How do you save the world
when you can’t even save yourself?
WITH the rediscovery of the legendary Book of Dei'lo, the lines of war have been drawn across the Inherited Lands. Behind their mystically fortified walls, opposing forces are massing for the ultimate conflict, pitting the two languages of power against one another in open battle for the first time. The results of such a war can be nothing short of cataclysmic…
At the focal point of this coming apocalypse stands Gideon Dawning, a troubled loner and stranger to the Lands who has been marked by prophecy as the Waymaker for the Pearl. His charge: to recover a sentient orb of power that has been lost for over 2,000 years, and bring it safely to Wordhaven. If he succeeds, there is a chance he may avert the war and usher in a new Endless Age. But the quest is perilous, and there are many who would see Gideon fail—Sa'lei Lords of staggering power, and their corrupted minions within the Deathland Barrens. Yet an even greater danger lurks within realms Gideon cannot see...where a living evil quietly plots to rend his very soul.
With all the perils that lie before him, Gideon is certain of only this: He must try. For if he cannot find the way to the Pearl, all hope will be lost—not just for the Lands, but for himself.
384 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2008
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Michael D. Warden
30 books32 followersHi! I'm Michael. I'm the author of The Pearlsong Refounding, an epic fantasy tetralogy that’s taken me a truly epic amount of time to write. :)
In the midst of that decades-long work, I’ve also written several other books and essays—on spirituality, leadership, and personal development. I’ve also written a fair bit of curriculum for both young people and adults, dabbled in poetry, built a successful career as a coach for leaders and teams (PCC, baby!), and even created a training community for men that I’m really proud of (www.thebraveheartmen.com).
These days I divide my time between writing, coaching, and telling stories from the road, where I currently live in my van named Van Gogh.
That’s super eclectic, I know. But, hey, I’ve never been one to live a normal life.
Follow me on instagram (@the.sojournist) and substack (The Sojournist) if you want to follow along on my latest writings and travel adventures.
In the midst of that decades-long work, I’ve also written several other books and essays—on spirituality, leadership, and personal development. I’ve also written a fair bit of curriculum for both young people and adults, dabbled in poetry, built a successful career as a coach for leaders and teams (PCC, baby!), and even created a training community for men that I’m really proud of (www.thebraveheartmen.com).
These days I divide my time between writing, coaching, and telling stories from the road, where I currently live in my van named Van Gogh.
That’s super eclectic, I know. But, hey, I’ve never been one to live a normal life.
Follow me on instagram (@the.sojournist) and substack (The Sojournist) if you want to follow along on my latest writings and travel adventures.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 5, 2025
I am not usually a fantasy reader, but I decided to read this series on a recommendation of a friend and I am officially addicted. I can’t pit the book down and the story won’t leave me. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series. So….read this! It is amazing!
June 26, 2025
So enjoyable I'm having trouble waiting for the last 2 books!
July 16, 2025
This spectacular sequel to Gideon's Dawn is just as amazing as the first. Its stunning storytelling is absolutely addicting and makes you never want to put it down.
August 10, 2025
Waymaker is another fast-paced action/adventure fantasy novel from Michael Warden, a novel that brings us once again into the strange new world of the Inherited Lands where groups of good, armies of evil, and clans who sit in shades of grey all attempt to share one continent as their homeland. There are, once again, many new locations and characters encountered in this sequel, and I find that there are various aspects to this story that I would like to flesh out in particulars. So like my previous review for Gideon's Dawn, I've jotted down some helpful categories to expand my thoughts, and these will serve to show how I felt about various aspects of this novel...
PLOT: This book had more interesting twists and turns since the central character decided to really take on the mantle of his role at the end of the last book. He became a character that decided things for himself, choosing what he felt or knew to be right, instead of just being pulled along for the ride. The rivalry from the other side felt so much more chaotic and frantic as well, with higher stakes for everyone involved.
PACING: This book seemed to move at a slightly slower pace than the previous one. It felt like the characters spent just a little more time with one another, rather than immediately and frantically jumping from one location to the next. This time, there are discussions and planning involved before fights and power struggles break out.
SETTING: Once again, the world is well-described, very vivid and varied. Many, many places that were traveled to in this book were hostile, causing that much more dread and trepidation as the party ventured forward. There was more mystery to the locations and its inhabitants as well.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Gideon, especially, had moments to shine and make great decisions for himself in this book, building much better on his character since the last entry of the series. Many other characters had intriguing aspects built up, but none of their pathways still seem very set or very strongly developed (for many characters, we can't really FEEL why they are bound to this task/journey and why they want to resist or cause strife either).
THEMES: There were many more solid character moments where we had slightly more drawn-out times with some central characters. I feel like I am beginning to see some purposes and motives behind a couple of the characters in this series. It's good to feel more connected to the world through the eyes and feelings of these people. I think Michael has helped us grasp onto a bit more of his world in this novel, for which I am very glad!
TONE: Some characters still put forward only impatience or angst as the journey continues, and not much seems to resolve between characters at times of butting heads. But there was also various descriptions this time around of the incredible good that can come from and hope that waits for those who follow the Pearl, who use the Words of Dei'lo. I found that this brought a certain tone to the story of a hopeful end-goal, a hope for essentially any character who decided to cast off the filth of Sa'lei to grasp onto the glory of the light!
OVERALL ENJOYMENT: I found Waymaker to pull me in to the well-described action sequences and gave me much to think about when some of the grayer cultures were encountered by the main questing party. I think this world with its Words (Dei'lo and Sa'lei) are extremely fascinating, but it at times feels like they are underutilized or not as integrated to the culture as they should realistically be. I am still eager to dive further into this facet of The Pearlsong Refounding as it releases...
In Warden's brick-laying sequel, Waymaker, I found more to latch onto. It still had areas that felt rushed, but there was more time to get to know the characters this time around. Its themes still seem a bit vague, but there was definite direction toward an end-goal, toward protecting something and finding something else. I would have loved to see more characters get fleshed out further in terms of motivations and feelings, etc. but I still felt like, overall, a firmer-established painting with deeper meaning and purpose is being crafted this time.
PLOT: This book had more interesting twists and turns since the central character decided to really take on the mantle of his role at the end of the last book. He became a character that decided things for himself, choosing what he felt or knew to be right, instead of just being pulled along for the ride. The rivalry from the other side felt so much more chaotic and frantic as well, with higher stakes for everyone involved.
PACING: This book seemed to move at a slightly slower pace than the previous one. It felt like the characters spent just a little more time with one another, rather than immediately and frantically jumping from one location to the next. This time, there are discussions and planning involved before fights and power struggles break out.
SETTING: Once again, the world is well-described, very vivid and varied. Many, many places that were traveled to in this book were hostile, causing that much more dread and trepidation as the party ventured forward. There was more mystery to the locations and its inhabitants as well.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Gideon, especially, had moments to shine and make great decisions for himself in this book, building much better on his character since the last entry of the series. Many other characters had intriguing aspects built up, but none of their pathways still seem very set or very strongly developed (for many characters, we can't really FEEL why they are bound to this task/journey and why they want to resist or cause strife either).
THEMES: There were many more solid character moments where we had slightly more drawn-out times with some central characters. I feel like I am beginning to see some purposes and motives behind a couple of the characters in this series. It's good to feel more connected to the world through the eyes and feelings of these people. I think Michael has helped us grasp onto a bit more of his world in this novel, for which I am very glad!
TONE: Some characters still put forward only impatience or angst as the journey continues, and not much seems to resolve between characters at times of butting heads. But there was also various descriptions this time around of the incredible good that can come from and hope that waits for those who follow the Pearl, who use the Words of Dei'lo. I found that this brought a certain tone to the story of a hopeful end-goal, a hope for essentially any character who decided to cast off the filth of Sa'lei to grasp onto the glory of the light!
OVERALL ENJOYMENT: I found Waymaker to pull me in to the well-described action sequences and gave me much to think about when some of the grayer cultures were encountered by the main questing party. I think this world with its Words (Dei'lo and Sa'lei) are extremely fascinating, but it at times feels like they are underutilized or not as integrated to the culture as they should realistically be. I am still eager to dive further into this facet of The Pearlsong Refounding as it releases...
In Warden's brick-laying sequel, Waymaker, I found more to latch onto. It still had areas that felt rushed, but there was more time to get to know the characters this time around. Its themes still seem a bit vague, but there was definite direction toward an end-goal, toward protecting something and finding something else. I would have loved to see more characters get fleshed out further in terms of motivations and feelings, etc. but I still felt like, overall, a firmer-established painting with deeper meaning and purpose is being crafted this time.
August 29, 2025
STUNNING. ENDING. Wow! What a journey.
"Why had he never seen this before? He suddenly felt as if he were standing on the sun. Absolute brilliance. Rapturous awe. And above it all, the gaping gulf of separation between the darkness and the light that should not be, that must be bridged. It all burned him with a pain sweeter than any beauty he hoped to behold in his short, miserable life."
Michael Warden pulls the story of Gideon's Dawn forward with such vivid descriptions that make this reader feel as though I was present there with these fascinating characters on their journey. The struggle between light and darkness drew me in with masterful pacing of storytelling and then a jaw-dropping conclusion that left me hungry for more! Can't wait to read the next installment to continue the journey of The Pearlsong Refounding. I'm sure you will, too! A great page-turner!
"Tell me. What is your purpose here? ...When he finally looked at her again, his smoke-filled eyes were filled with tears. 'Redemption,' he whispered. 'I am here to find redemption.'"
What a fantastic journey! Well-done, Michael Warden!
"Why had he never seen this before? He suddenly felt as if he were standing on the sun. Absolute brilliance. Rapturous awe. And above it all, the gaping gulf of separation between the darkness and the light that should not be, that must be bridged. It all burned him with a pain sweeter than any beauty he hoped to behold in his short, miserable life."
Michael Warden pulls the story of Gideon's Dawn forward with such vivid descriptions that make this reader feel as though I was present there with these fascinating characters on their journey. The struggle between light and darkness drew me in with masterful pacing of storytelling and then a jaw-dropping conclusion that left me hungry for more! Can't wait to read the next installment to continue the journey of The Pearlsong Refounding. I'm sure you will, too! A great page-turner!
"Tell me. What is your purpose here? ...When he finally looked at her again, his smoke-filled eyes were filled with tears. 'Redemption,' he whispered. 'I am here to find redemption.'"
What a fantastic journey! Well-done, Michael Warden!
July 30, 2025
After reading the first book (Gideon's Dawn) of The Pearling Refounding Series, I couldn't wait to dive straight into the next one. the first one had me gripped and wanting nothing else but to continue on. It did not disappoint! The sequel was absolutely AMAZING! With a continued illuminating and ever-expanding story line, the second leaves off where the first ended. The world of the Inherited Lands has truly captured me, and I couldn't be more grateful for having been taken on such a gift of an adventure! Just like the first, the second has left me with little want but to continue on! GREAT STORY, great characters, great lands, truly superb! It will not disappoint! Can't wait to dive into the next one! Highly highly highly recommend! What an adventure!!!!
June 30, 2025
This is the second book in the series (you need to read Gideon's Dawn first) and just like book one I could not put this book down. So often the middle books in a series lack the pace and vibrancy of the first, but not so with Waymaker. It is a masterfully crafted epic. The character growth, the new discoveries, everything about the narrative draws you and in and keeps you turning page after page. And the revelations of the last chapters leave you with so much to think about. I can't wait for the release of the final two books in the series!
July 17, 2025
A gripping sequel, with palpable tension, frustration, and rising potential as Gideon begins to embrace and lean into his role as the mysterious Waymaker. Loving the expanded lore and can't wait to finally read the rest of the series!
September 27, 2025
After book one, Gideon's Dawn, I simply had to press on to find out what happens next. So much happens in book two! I very much enjoyed the character development and felt my self cheering on relationships, friendships, and their adventure together. My favorite aspect of the book is the goodness.
July 26, 2025
This series is EPIC! Buy them all. Read and enjoy. You're welcome.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews