The Destined Road

by J.M. Testa

Much of Vostheloren’s history is lost. The formerly united realms of men, elves, and dwarves have retreated to separate corners of the world, deeply suspicious of one another. Most remember only war, fear, and a darkness, known as the “horizon of storms,” that bloomed across the seas. Thousands of years have passed since the shadow first appeared, but now the evil, once thought vanquished, lies in wait, threatening to destroy all who challenge it.

Tagwen Braithe, newly ascended queen of Yeacralas, the southern realm of men, has taken up the throne after the death of her father. She knows little of her world’s tumultuous past and even less about how to fill her father’s shoes. Many consider her title unearned, so when she answers an urgent call from a neighboring kingdom, she considers it her chance to prove her mettle to the people she is sworn to protect. But as she discovers, her journey will be the beginning of the world’s darkening end and she will be forced to embark on an odyssey that will take her beyond the call of duty and reveal her true destiny.

Genres: Fantasy

Paperback

First published August 15, 2024

About the author

J.M. Testa is a weaver of fantastical tales. Inspired by answering the question: "What does it mean to be?" Testa brings passion for storytelling and exploration of the human condition to the page.

Drawing from influences wherever a spark can be found, Testa's works are reminiscent of a favored song, video game, artwork, or book that brings the reader into a familiar comfort; holding their hand through the storm.

Her debut trilogy, "The Instruments of Fate," is a fresh take on the genre of classic epic fantasy; exploring the familiar noblebright story arc through the lens of navigating self worth, mental health, and belonging. The first two books of the trilogy are available now to read for FREE at jtesta.com.

She resides in the Midwest with her best friend, her beloved cat, and the softest husky in the world.

Reviews

[Audrie Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Destined Road by J.M. Testa

This is the first installment of the high fantasy, low magic series The Instruments of Fate. It reads like classic fantasy and has very intricate settings, political systems, cultures, and histories that come into play as we follow Tagwen on her quest.

+Some Things I Loved+

The settings were so vivid! I have been yearning to live by the sea since chapter one!

LGBTQ+ rep that is not pandering or sexualized. The relationships are real, and not the character's special defining trait.

Tagwen does not know how to really be a queen and command others to fight for her, she is always the first one to jump into the fray.

Tagwen and Breccan! I love their friendship! It is so effortless. (they are also my OTP and if they don't kiss by the end of this series I will be writing a very strongly worded letter)

Good vs Evil and EPIC Battles!

The pronunciation guide in the back!

THE ENDING! OMG! I was screaming.

[eclecticbychoicereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had a great strike with my high fantasy reads this year, and The Destined Road continues on that path. Testa has written a book that will appeal to all of us Tolkien and/or Martin fans. The Destined Road is a high fantasy, low magic story with rich lore, immaculate world-building, lovely characters, and an epic quest to satiate our fantasy palate.

What I loved about the story was the deep connection we formed with the leading characters. We were there to learn and grow with them, uncovering stories and mysteries together. This made me feel like a part of the group. And it all starts when newly appointed Queen Tagwen Braithe is delivered a strange missive that will set the epic journey and the whole set of events in motion.

I loved the story of a queen learning to adapt to her new role and the world around her, the story of a strong and supportive female friendship, and the mix of quests, banter and humour.

The book ends on a thrilling cliffhanger, leaving us all on the edge of our seats. I can't wait to see where the story will go from here.
This was the perfect introduction to a high fantasy trilogy, and I am so happy I got the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Destined Road will gift you
- classic high fantasy with 2 POVs
- elves, dwarves, humans
- rich lore and immersive world-building
- epic encounters
- ancient darkness
- masterfully crafted characters
- female friendship
- LGBTQ+ rep
and so much more!

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this classic low magic, high fantasy, epic, I think this book checked all of my boxes as to what a good adventure needs.

I love that the entire cast of characters were memorable. Side characters and even side side characters that barely showed up, all effectively made an impact.

The overall story was great. I don’t want to spoil anything. But it was fun trying to figure things out and when the several big reveals happened my heart was racing! I had such big emotions while reading this.

I really enjoyed the way the world building was written. There was a lot of history that was forgotten or hidden over time. So our main character and the reader are learning everything throughout the entire book rather than a bunch of historical exposition in the front of the book. This made the entire experience very immersive.

Be ready for a cliffhanger. Book 2 is an absolute must and I cannot wait till 2025. Testa is a brilliant writer. If you like Tolkien, George RR Martin, Michael J Sullivan, Pierce Brown even, I think you should give this debut indie a chance. I think this series has some serious potential to be something great.

[Kaitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“May the guidance of the sea follow you where you tread.” -The Destined Road

Still settling into the unfamiliar role of leader after her father’s death, Queen Tagwen Braithe is delivered a strange missive that starts her upon a quest across the country of Vostheloren in search of answers. What she believes to be a short expedition with a small company of men turns into an epic journey that uncovers secrets believed to be legend and an ancient evil that threatens to destroy and corrupt everything within it’s grasp.

This story is incredibly well written and abundantly rich in lore and world building. It is an epic high fantasy adventure done in a style reminiscent of Lord Of The Rings-with nods to the classic fantasy tropes that Tolkien made popular-while being wholly unique in the creation of an entirely new world filled with beautifully developed languages, memorable characters, and meaningful interactions. I also appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation and the focus on female main characters. I love to see that in this type of fantasy.

I found Tagwen to be an enjoyable protagonist in the way she was coming to terms with her role as Queen and what that meant for the world changing decisions she had to make along the way. I appreciate characters who are incredibly strong and capable, but also struggle with fear and doubt between those moments.

Breccan (Tagwen’s best friend and captain) was definitely one of my favorite characters. Their friendship was beautifully written (love to see strong women supporting each other) and I especially loved her snarky attitude and dry humor.

The rest of the supporting characters were well developed and I found myself becoming attached to quite a few of them as the story progressed. The book is dual POV, but doesn’t shift right away, so I had fun trying to guess who the other narrator would be and ended up really looking forward to the parts of the story that followed them.

I think this is an Incredible start to a trilogy that’s definitely going to be a classic in the high fantasy genre in the future. I was on the edge of my seat for the last 10% of the story, but I do have to warn that it does end on one hell of a cliffhanger! It was SO GOOD and I can’t wait for what the second book has in store for these heroes.

A special thank you to J.M. Testa for allowing me to read an early copy of this book.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5!
The Destined Road is an epic, high fantasy novel. Reminds the reader of LoTR and "the fellowship". A perhaps predictable grouping of humans, elves, and a token dwarf unite in a battle to save their land from an evil foe. I love this classic fantasy "trope" that brings together an ensemble of characters and find it to be very well done in this book.

Tagwen is the MC, new queen of her land. She gets summoned to a council, an urgent call for all neighboring human lands to gather. She's fun to read as she's battling with her new role and coming into her own as the book progresses. Her best friend and captain, Breccan, is ever by Tagwen's side and is bad ass hype-woman. Their friendship is a highlight of the book as they embark on adventures and quests.

There is a surprising second POV (that I won't spoil). It comes in later and at a GREAT time. It did confuse me for moment but once I got my bearings, I was hooked again. The second POV is 100% edge of your seat urgency. I raced through the book anyway, but even more so towards the end.

I love the immersive writing style that has me feeling like I'm in this fantasy world. I really enjoyed the pacing of this one also. The story moves along very quickly, which you think might leave gaps in detail, but no. The author writes in such a way that you get every detail you need while also truly feeling the urgency of the quest. To really grasp the concepts of a new world (& language!) and not get at all bored in the process, for me is the sign of a great fantasy book!

This one ends on a wonderful cliffhanger! I will definitely be continuing and eagerly await book 2!

[E bookwyvern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book has been recommended to me for months by some of my closest book besties, and it did not disappoint. This is an epic fantasy Tolkien-esque story that took me on the craziest adventure and I loved every second. I read the second half in one evening because I could NOT put it down!

Tagwen is such a strong and noble FMC (she’s also in her late twenties, which we love). She is very wise and empathetic, and strives to do what is right. The side characters are so lovable and memorable, and I cackled several times at the banter and bickering between them.

I absolutely love when a fantasy book has strong world building, and this book has some of the best world building and writing I’ve encountered in a long time! I felt completely immersed in the world and imagined that I was part of this epic quest myself! The Elven language and culture was such a unique part of the story, and I loved it!

The last half of this book was nonstop action and and adventure, and the end has left me beyond desperate for answers. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves high fantasy!

[booksandcoffeewithjordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, WOW.

I haven’t read a classic fantasy in an extremely long time but this one was truly inspiring phenomenal. I fell in love with the characters easily. The MC, Tagwen, was just so admirable and her best friend/Captain, Breccan, was the ultimate side character. She was funny and a badass and I just loved her so much.

This story was just absolutely enthralling and I found it hard to put the book down. I wanted more every time but never wanted it to end. I loved following along on Tagwens journey and being introduced to new magic and beings that I haven’t read about before. I felt all the emotions while reading this. Tears were shed and genuine laughs were shared.

I am genuinely so freaking excited for book 2 and 3 and anything else Jess writes.

[drusilla duke · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

This was my first time reading a high fantasy book and I loved every moment. It took me quite a while to get into the worldbuilding, but once I did it was so easy to imagine the world. I loved how descriptive and easy the writing was to read. The characters within the book have their personalities which I enjoyed reading. The plot was intriguing and kept me on my toes as I wanted to know what would happen next. The book ends on a cliffhanger so I can't wait for the next part, to know what happens next.

Thank you too J.M. Testa for giving me a free copy in return for an honest review.

[K Daza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc Review

Thank you for giving me the chance to read the destined bond. I had been hoping to read your book since I first came across your dedication to Tolkiens LOTR on my instagram feed. The Destined Bond delivers on the fantasy action I seek in anything that brings me back to being a kid. The world and characters met have brought me so many ideas for my future games of DND. You can expect me getting my hands on a physical copy come release day 🙏🏼

[Anthonia Umoh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Destined Road reminded me of what it feels like to get lost in a high fantasy universe. I’m so proud to have been chosen as one of the Arc readers for this book. I felt like I was taking an adventure in another fantasy realm and I never wanted it to end.

Every character in this book has very pretty names. I’m in love with the female lead. She is strong, fearless and witty. My favourite quote has to be, “Sometimes the land does not favor those who were born for the seas.”

This book has immersed me in its universe and I simply cannot wait any longer for book two. Highly recommend.

[Tyler Robarge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freakin Beautiful

[Adyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor of being an ARC reader for this author. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to share my deepest adoration for this book!

The Destined Road can be best described as a cozy yet intense fantasy. It’s action packed with a classic charm familiar to a Tolkien novel. It was effortless to lose myself in the artful story telling and well crafted world building. I was truly captivated by the strong female lead, fantastical characters, and the perfectly timed information reveals.

If you’re looking for a book to evoke to urge to mount your horse, grab your sword, and set on a journey with your most trusted knights- this is the book for you!

Without a doubt, I will be patiently waiting to see what happens next in book two.

[Jennifer MD Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am leaving this review as a proud ARC reader.

What I Always Loved
In all chapters, beginning to end, this book has amazing characters. In a publishing world where we're pushing for people to either subvert all expectations or follow hollow tropes, this author has re-discovered my much preferred style of character writing: making you fall in love with archetypes all over again. This book has the loving and courageous leader, the witty and quick-acting warrior, the sturdy dwarf, the graceful elf, the mad king, the grey wizard. You know these characters, but written by Ms. Testa's pen, they become as fresh, inspiring, and charismatic as the time you learned of them. Give me Tagwen Braithe and Breccan any day.

Also, bonus points for having gender egalitarianism without drawing dramatic attention to it. Women are soldiers and leaders and no one does the whole, "Women with swords? How unconventional!" thing. We're introduced to a gay man and couple very early on and no one makes a big deal of it.

The writing is, in many places, cinematic. This book is BEGGING for a visual adaptation, whether graphic novel, film, or television. But until that day, Ms. Testa's writing made gorgeous settings and heart-thumping action scenes spring to life. Visualization is, again, aided by the familiarity with the genre - the rocky sturdiness of dwarven mines, the graceful elf forest, the coastal harbor kingdom. But it never feels stale or lifeless.

Where I Was Struggling
The book reads like a smoothly edited transcript of a D&D campaign where everyone takes their roles seriously and doesn't try to do anything whacky (so no D&D campaign I've ever been in). And several story beats are more than a little reflective of the Tolkein vein of fantasy. While I fell in love with Tagwen and her companions quickly, I wasn't being prompted to pick up the book as powerfully as I think the author would have hoped in the first act.

Where it Got Me Back Again
I'm keeping this spoiler-free because I have no complaints. Act Two knew what it needed to do to raise the stakes, and the ending punched me in the gut. Literally, I read the last paragraph, turned the page and realized the book was over, realized I needed the sequel now, and the book went up a whole star for me.

In Summary
I thought this book was going to be three stars for me until I got to act two. The first half had me invested, but casually. Readers familiar with high fantasy will recognize the Tolkein-esque story beats and culture, and while nothing rose to the level of plagiarism, I spent the first half mistakenly believing that I would struggle to find this book memorable when I was done because it fell so in line with the genre. I'm so happy to say Act Two dramatically changed my point of view with a cliffhanger ending that left me raving to my spouse about what I had read. I loved the characters all throughout and would happily use this book as an example of what people love, find comforting, and find exhilarating in fantasy.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to J.M Testa for the gifted copy.


I had the opportunity to win a signed, gifted copy of The Destined Road, and to be honest, I’m glad I did! I was far from disappointed. This is a high fantasy novel with queens, old rivalries, and world ending threats. What surprised me was the tone, less exaggerated than I expected and more reflective. Queen Tagwen isn’t a hero yet, she’s just out here trying to survive her own doubts, responsibilities, and fears, and that’s what makes her so relatable. The worldbuilding includes your classic characters, elves, dwarves, and humans with grudges—but they’re handled in a way that feels grounded and real. The pacing is definitely slow at first, but the deeper you get, the more invested you become. This book isn’t just about fantasy, it’s more raw and personal than that.

[Smart J. Hopewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not even out yet, but lets me real, J.M Testa is a phenomenal writer.✨✨

She's been hard at work writing The Destined Road for a long time, so if you are wanting to read her book? Then I'd suggest picking it up once it's released. You won't be disappointed.

This is an author who actually takes time to connects with people, makes you feel welcomed, and supports the living daylights out of your creative projects as well! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

You must buy it!

[Stephanie Babych · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I started reading this book, I felt like I was along for the journey, and grew attached to the main characters. The book was a great, high fantasy novel with all the action, politics, and intrigue that you could expect. I appreciated the real emotions felt with the characters throughout the book.

An overall great start to this series, and the cliff-hanger ending has you waiting impatiently for the release of the next book.

[Nina F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book!
As a LOTR fan, I really enjoyed this. While the setup was maybe a little too reminiscent of the classic to begin with, it found its footingalong the way and resulted in a powerful story of its own.

*I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

[Christopher Allbee · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

4.75 stars