The Other Way

Passage to Dawn #2

by Derrick Smythe

The award-winning series continues in Book 2, The Other Way!

The Empire continues to lay waste to all who stand in their way…

Kibure’s captors can teach him to control his magic, but such training is not given freely. And not everyone who offers help means well. Will Kibure become the wizard he needs to be in time to fulfill the destiny set out before him?

Meanwhile, Prince Aynward is framed for the worst of crimes: patricide and kingslaying. His sister, Dagmara, determines to help him escape judgment, but how many must die in order to keep Aynward from the gallows? Their journey reunites them with old friends and brings Dagmara face to face with the legendary creatures known as Lumales, but is she worthy to ride? And what happens when the Kingdom is overrun by the Empire and their sorcerers?

Don't miss the second installment in an epic fantasy series abounding with unexpected heroes, betrayal, magic, and non-stop adventure. This series will continue to be enjoyed by fans of Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan, Michael J. Sullivan, Edward W. Robertson, and Michael Wisehart.

Genres: Fantasy, Collections, Young Adult

674 pages, Hardcover

Published March 7, 2025

About the author

Derrick Smythe has been fascinated with all things elvish, dwarvish, and magical since his days of running through the woods with sharpened sticks in defense of whatever fortification he and his brothers had built that summer. After consuming nearly every fantasy book he could find, he was driven to begin work on one of his own. When he isn’t dreaming up new stories, he can be spotted hiking the Adirondack Mountains or traveling the world. He currently resides near his hometown in upstate New York with his enchanting wife, ethereal daughters, and his faithful-if-neurotic Australian Shepherd, Magnus.

Derrick's debut novel, The Other Magic, has been an Amazon bestseller in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The second book in the Passage to Dawn series titled, The Other Way, released in November of 2021 as a #1 Bestselling New Release.

Smythe has also penned two stand-alone prequels,  To Earn the Sash​​​​​​​ (2020), and another #1 Bestselling New Release,  To Wield a Plague (2022).

Work continues on the next installment in the Passage to Dawn.

Awards for The Other Magic:
Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, Winner (2020)
Global Book Award, Winner (2020)
Global Ebook Award, Runner-up (2020)
Independent Publisher Book Award, Runner-up (2020)
National Indie Excellence Award, Finalist (2020)
Indies Today Award, Finalist (2020)
Wishing Shelf Book Award, Finalist (2020)
Kindle Book Award, Semi-Finalist (2020)
Reader's Favorite, Honorable Mention (2020)
Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award, Finalist (2019)
B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree

Contact:
Email: author@derricksmythe.com
Website: https://derricksmythe.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/DerrickSmythe.Author

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Reviews

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars.
WARNING: There will be spoilers from The Other Magic, Passage to Dawn #1

“Welcome to the spiritual realm, the reflection, if you will; it is called many things by many people…We begin her because using magic is safe here…and you don’t need to be able to summon magic in order to manipulate the world around you in this place; we call this the other way…” Derrick Smythe, The Other Way

The Other Way is the second book in The Passage to Dawn series. Derrick Smyth continues this epic fantasy series immediately after the events of The Other Magic. The Other Way is an action and magic filled ride from start to finish, as we follow the adventures of Kibure, Sindri, Aynward, and Grobennar. In addition, we also get to know Aynward’s sister, Dagmara, who we briefly met in The Other Magic, and his friend from university, Kyllean. The Other Magic set the scene for the reader, introduced the characters, the magic system, and the world of Dorea. As with The Other Magic, The Other Way is beautifully told. In addition to being an excellent epic fantasy, it explores the themes of bonds of family, friendship, and trust. Mr. Smythe takes these seemingly unrelated characters and weaves a story that brings them all closer to war with the Lugienese people, led by the God-king, Magog. The pacing was excellent as was the narrative. As with The Other Magic, chapters focused on each of the various characters, which allows the reader a subversive interaction with the character. It is never confusing having the story constructed in this manner. In fact, I found it an excellent choice. As we read about each character’s experiences, we know that they are drawing closer together, and the anticipation expertly builds throughout the book. Mr. Smythe writes very realistic action scenes, with plenty of twists and turns. The magic system is unlike others I have read, and is explored deeper, as Kibure learns “the other way”. The character development continues brilliantly and it advances the story beautifully. This book takes off from the first page and never lets up in action, character development, magic, and weaving a tale of twists and turns. The Other Way is a brilliant second entry into this series and I highly recommend it.

We know that Kibure has been taken by a group of women, the She’yar, who believe he is the one to fulfill a prophecy to open a magical artifact, “the seed,” and bring about the downfall of Magog. They take him to their hidden city, Purgemon, to be sure he is the one prophesized to bring down the empire. Kibure still does not know the extent of his power, and they must train him. He is still finding not only his magical strength, but his personal strength. Kibure is still hesitant to speak his mind and does not fully trust the She’yar, yet there are breakthroughs when he does. These were wonderful moments and it makes the reader all the more drawn to him. I loved that he was learning to use his powers, but I really liked the moments where he found the fortitude to defend himself verbally.

“Kibure sat with his back leaning against the pedestal of his nemesis: the seed. He had long since exhausted his mental faculties for the day…And so he sat alone doubting his purpose, and everything else.” Derrick Smythe, The Other Way

At the end of The Other Magic, Aynward had been accused of killing his father. Knowing he is not guilty, Dagmara helps Aynward. What ensues is a game of cat and mouse, with Ayward and Dagmara as the mice. Given the circumstances, Aynward’s character has evolved from the fairly obnoxious young man he was. He would never have survived if not for the smart and daring plans of Dagmara. I love strong female protagonists, and Dagmara is certainly one of the best. It was great to get her added perspective in this story. It shows the bonds of family, love, and also trust. For all his sarcasm and carefree manner, Dagmara knows Aynward would never kill their father. She plays a very important role in this story. Without giving away spoilers, Dagmara becomes who she always wanted to be. I look forward to seeing what is in store for Aynward and Dagamara in the next book.

Kyllean’s perspective was also a welcome addition to the book. I enjoyed his character in The Other Magic and having him in the book with chapter perspectives was wonderful. Kyllean is a Tal-Don, from the same kingdom as Aynward. They bond with and ride Lumale, which I can best describe as part dragon, part Gryphon, with 2 legs and a spiked tail. They are the kingdom’s warriors. His training and the Lumale are part of an incredible action sequence in the book. As with the previous book, Mr. Smythe’s action scenes are so well done, and certainly keeps the reader in suspense.

“Staring out toward the east, Kyllean watched the shrinking form of Evra and her Lumale, along with three others flying about, practicing aerial acrobatics in preparation for the coming war. Kyllean was glad that at least someone had been claimed. They were going to need every advantage they could get.” Derrick Smythe, The Other Way

We still get the perspective of both Sindri and Grobennar. Sindri has grown since The Other Magic. Sindri wanted to stay in the city to fight the Klerosi priests, since she did not believe she would ever find Kibure. Realizing the folly to stay and fight a losing battle, she embarks on a journey to find him. This trek to find him is fraught with danger. Sindri no longer wants to find Kibure to use him, but she truly cares for him. While I found her morally ambiguous in the first book, here she realizes Kibure is her friend and risks her life to save him. Grobennar is still, well, Grobennar. No moral ambiguity here, he’s still bad. He is doing everything in his power to please Magog and once again gain his favor as the highest priest, as he once was. Grobennar’s arc takes a very surprising turn; one that I never could have anticipated. Mr. Smythe is excellent at leading the reader in a direction and then completely surprising us.

The magic system in this book was further explored mainly through Kibure’s training. The Other Way, where the he trains with a She’yar master, is a spiritual realm that is a reflection of the real world. It is here he trains in both magic and fighting. He must first master his magic in this realm. If he cannot, he could harness to much magic and unwittingly threaten the lives of others. As established in the first book, the more magic that is used, it taps into bone mass. Using too much can kill the wielder. Using magic is draining and rest is needed afterwards to replenish the body. We also see a form of magic used by the Tal-Don and Lumales. Lumales choose their riders and a bond develops. The rider and Lumale also use magic. It is different from what Kibure does, but it is still a unique magic system. Grobennar explores ways in which he can use his magic to further his goals. However, his use is always cruel and without regard to whom he uses it on.

As with The Other Magic, the pacing and prose of The Other Way is so well done. The characters did not stagnate, but developed further in this book. They have grown and learned, and matured. Even Grobennar has grown worse! The book is superbly written; the characters, the worlds; the magic systems; and the action. The narrative of chapters being told in the perspective of various characters moves the story along well and is never confusing. It allows the reader to really know the characters and what drives them. The addition of narratives from Dagmara and Kyllean are an important part of the story as we see how they fit in to the tapestry that Mr. Smythe is weaving. These characters are coming to the same point in time; to fight the Lugienese Empire and kill the God King, Magog.

“She sighed heavily and weighed her words. “I’m not sure. My gut tells me to run as far away from here as possible, but my heart tells me I can do something that may help stop the Lugienese, then…”
Kyllean shook his head and cursed under his breath. “Duty. Responsibility. I’m beginning to think those might be the worse communicable diseases known to man, or woman.” Derrick Smythe, The Other Way


Overall Thoughts
As the second book in this debut epic fantasy, The Other Way by Derrick Smythe, continues to build a unique story. The character development continues to be first rate. Each character, and not just the main protagonists, are richly developed. The She’yar were a very interesting group, but I don’t want to give too much away. Suffice to say they truly believe in Kibure, but train him hard for the task he must face. The addition of Dagamara and Kyllean as perspective characters serves several purposes. They are important to the coming war. However, I felt it drove home the theme of family and friendship. Dagmara believes her brother, risking her life to save him. Although Kyllean does serve the kingdom that Aynward’s family rules, they are above all friends. These bonds are tested throughout the book and beautifully told. The world building was greatly improved with the addition of the spiritual realm, the other way, and the city of Purgemon. In addition, we are taken to see where the Lumale’s nest and the Tal-Don train, giving the reader more insight into Dorea. The magic system itself didn’t change in terms of wielding too much magic pulls strength from the bones, making the user vulnerable to literally falling apart. Once again, the prose is beautiful and paints vivid descriptions of the characters and what they encounter. The chapters are told from multiple points of view, but are weaving together the wonderful fantasy that is building to a war with Magog. Is Kibure really the one prophesized? How will the others finally fit in to this puzzle? The Other Way was a great read from start to finish and I highly recommend it. I eagerly await the next book.
Full review on my website: https://bookandnatureprofessor.com/20...
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[James Harwood-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A desperate nation. A prophesied hope. A royal on the run. A desperate search. All while the God King extends his reach, terror & brutality.
Epic rich & immersive. Incredible action & great new POVs. Some pretty awesome creatures too! Excellent 2nd entry.

[Theresa Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betrayal, Intrigue, Plot Twists

Book 2 – The Other Way – continues to deliver what I loved about Book 1 – The Other Magic. It’s well written, the storyline is well thought out and it has characters that you come to love, others you despise, others you fear. In The Other Way, those feelings get stronger as you root harder for your friends and develop a deeper distrust and loathing for the other forces at work.

As the fate of Dorea hangs in the balance, a slave boy, a reckless prince, a disgraced priestess, a reluctant warrior and a few magic wielders who sense the worst is about to happen, all forge their own paths to knowledge in separate ways and in separate kingdoms. But will it be enough? There are so few spread so far apart to fight the mighty Lugienese, who are forming a battle plan to dominate the remaining kingdoms.

In the first battle (Book 1), the Lugienese steam-rolled into Brinkwell, leaving very few alive as they claimed the land for their blood-thirsty God-King Magog. Surely the other kingdoms won’t stand a chance, especially as the deviousness of the Lugienese comes to light.

Just when you think you’ve figured out what will happen next, Smythe’s well-planned plot takes you down a path you didn’t see coming. In this installment, several of the main characters continue their coming-of-age story, guided by wise older mages who help them develop and control their magical powers. These mages are waging a war strategy of their own, and one can only anticipate the upcoming epic battle that certainly on the horizon. Along the way there is royal betrayal, spies in unlikely places, trickery and surprising allies and allegiances.

This is definitely an epic saga – like Book 1, it is long, though I found this to be an asset. The saving grace is Smythe’s mastery of storytelling. You are pulled into this fantasy realm and its characters. It’s hard to put the book down.

Unlike some series, I highly recommend starting with Book 1. It’s time well spent. This is a series that will draw you in, even though some say it takes quite a few chapters to get there. Once you land in this fantasy world, you will want to stay there for many uninterrupted hours as you join the battle to save Kibure, Aynward, Sindri, their friends and the kingdoms.Derrick SmytheThe Other Way

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary:
Derrick is a talented author who does many things right, but this second installment is guilty of sins that commonly plague the genre.

And for context, I gave The Other Magic (Passage to Dawn #1) five stars, so I want to reiterate Derrick's talent.

Pros:
* Great prose. Derrick is talented at writing actions scenes, describing esoteric concepts (in regard to magic in particular) vividly with metaphors/analogies, and conveying characters' emotions.
* Strong story and setting concept: Derrick's concept for the Passage to Dawn series is unique in several ways. It's familiar enough to satisfy fans of the genre, without an over-reliance on tropes. So it's sufficiently divergent and fresh.
* Grobennar's and Rajuban's rivalry.
* Jaween, Magog, and Kibure. Very interesting characters. Magog and Jaween in particular have strong voices and personalities.

Cons:
Middle-Itis: This book suffers from a nasty case of middle-itis. The first half is boring, with little of consequence happening. It consists almost entirely of
1. Traveling;
2. Training.
Epic fantasy authors in general agonize me with these two uses of pages.
I understand that they want to show training as a set-up for future pay-offs, but at some point the cost outweighs the benefit. Authors have an obligations to convey that information in a way that's either more entertaining or more concise. Several character perspectives in this book suffer from these two purposes. Unfortunately, it constitutes most of the book.

Fake Danger: Fantasy authors have concluded that they can make their characters' long, inconsequential traveling sequences entertaining by conveying a fake sense of danger (many authors do this). So the characters are chased from one location to another, ostensibly almost dying or getting captured at each step. This becomes transparent and tiresome. I started just skimming the battle scenes altogether, because they had no tension to me thanks to their transparent futility. Even if someone likes battle scenes, there is diminishing returns.

Over-reliance on prophecies to drive plot and character motivations. At some point, it seemed like a lazy contrivance to drive the characters and plot in the direction the author wanted.

Predictability. When one recognizes the writing patterns above, much of the story becomes predictable. I won't list examples because of spoilers.

The only perspectives I thought were interesting were Kibure's and Grobennar's because they broke from this pattern to some degree. Whenever the author diverged from that writing framework (traveling and training), his writing was interesting, because I didn't know where the author was taking the developments. This difference is very instructive about what makes writing effective or not.

I expect the third book will be better, because there will be real stakes.

[Timothy Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other Way continues the fine story begun in The Other Magic. Escaped Slave is back and learning more about the different style magic the false clerics claim comes from The Dark Lord. Aynward, the prince, returns from his studies to face framed murder charges of his father the king. He escapes with his sister's aid, making both enemy's of the state. Grobennar, Magog the evil god-king's second-in-command, is demoted and faces off against the new lead cleric of Magog. This book introduces flying dragon-like creatures with spiked tails who are like airborne heavy calvary. The book left me wondering how all these character stories might tie up in the upcoming book

Once again, Derrick Smythe expands the ever-growing world details making it deeper and richer in scope. The story is well thought out and kept my attention throughout. It was well worth the wait after The Other Magic ended.

I received a copy of The Other Way in exchange for a truthful review. And, I was really glad I did because I had the opportunity to read The Other Way weeks that much sooner. Great story yet again. Now, I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Davida De · Rating 5 out of 5]

Derrick Smythe has done it again! The first book was good. The second book is great! No spoilers in this review, because you need to read this book yourself.

He has crafted a world full of magic, politics, strong characters and complex politics- all the requirements for an outstanding Fantasy series. This second book in the series continues the saga of war between countries, Gods and other beings who are rather less than perfect, and strong men and women who come together, or separate while undertaking tasks , almost always with magic underlying their actions. The character development is outstanding, and the author manages to convey the inner conflicts and changing motivations of the various people in a way that makes it compelling to read. There is a brief synopsis of the first book at the beginning of the second book which is needed as it was a while since I had read the first book, so it is possible to read this book without having read the first. However I bet you will find you want to go back and read the first one anyway.

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first novel I have read by Derrick Smythe. I was totally enthralled. The novel has a slightly different tangent than most paranormals. This is a kingdom where only the clerics are permitted to practice magic. Our protagonist Kiburne, in the heat of anger pulls back his fist and hits the slave master, knocking him down, Somehow, he used an inner power unknownst to him and placed himself in unbelievable danger. He is to be stripped of his powers, but the priestess hired to strip him of his powers chooses to help him escape. Will they survive? Great book! It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. The world building is detailed and imaginative. This novel has strong, well-developed characters and an interesting story line that keeps you turning the pages. I recommend this book and would read more books by this author. I gave this honest, voluntary review after being given a free copy of the book.

[Kendall Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smythe furthers the story in a thrilling continuation of excitement, plot twists and exceptional characterization. This book is a worthy successor to the first volume, and answers some questions while setting the stage for the next instalment. Symthe’s world building, character development, and plot complexities are second to none in the genre. The writing will cement Smythe among the greats in fantasy literature, while further building his fan base with stories like this. First rate, A1, 5*****, - all are applicable to this book, and it’s not to be missed!!! I can’t wait for the next instalment in this series! A totally satisfying read on every level!

[Greg Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read! One of the things I enjoyed about this book is the it doesn't read like a typical 2nd book of a series--where non-stop backstory takes center stage and no plot advancement. This book not only pushed the lead characters forward, but provided enough plot twists that I felt excited to see what was next for the characters. The nuanced characters are great and it isn't easy to tell good/evil. The character that brings the most smiles and laughs tends to a gemstone one of the lead characters carries. The gemstone might be his only friend as it craves delicious mayhem.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Empire continues to lay waste to all who stand in their way.
Kibure’s captors can teach him to control his magic, but such training is not given freely. And not everyone who offers help means well. Will Kibure become the wizard he needs to be in time to fulfill the destiny before him?
What will happen when the kindom is overun ?
Who will survive ?
A magical ,fantastic journey in a intricate world that you will become a part of till the end.

[Catherine]

You didn't have to kill the aunt.

I will say that I've enjoyed your books so far, but you're about to lose a reader. You didn't have to kill the aunt. I've already stopped reading one author because he killed off a vital animal character in the second book of a series he wrote. I'm not even finished reading your second book, and I'm ticked enough to write this as a review. And I don't usually write them.

[Carol Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A roller coaster! So many of the pieces are moving into position … I could not put this down. So many characters are starting to reach their potential … Kibure, Sindri … Will Aynward manage to prove his innocence? And then there are Grobennar’s schemes to regain his position … Plot twists abound! Can’t wait for the next book. I received a free copy of this book, with no obligation.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!!

This is a fantastic continuation in the Passage to Dawn series! It continued right where The Other Magic left off. It has everything that you could expect from a great fantasy world. It explored more deeply the magic of this realm that is an original take on magic users.

I loved this book and am (im)patiently waiting for more to come!!

[geoff western · Rating 5 out of 5]

Were is the next one

This book surpasses the first book and l am really f" "" """ d of that the next book is not available,if you are into fantasy then I recommend these book,I have a feeling author is into the occult his magic parts off story are very close to how to how the world works,but that is my opinion,but on a normal worldbassis,these books are brilliant sherlock

[Dan Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

HARD READ

I find that his stories become more fragmented. There is far more detail, particularly about various battles that make the read tiresome at times. As a reader I also would appreciate a few positive outcomes along the way. Too many words with too few wins. Will finish the story but won’t return for others.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book with likeable characters (arguably too many POVs but that’s personal preference). It follows on nicely from the first book and keeps the plot moving whilst piling on detail to the threads mentioned in the first novel. Characters gain depth and grow in satisfying ways and that world as whole starts ramping up for war.

[Scott B Stillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever and original series continues..

Well written and easy to read, this story not only fleshes out “the good guys”, but spends a lot of time on the “bad guy” characters. This is a two edged sword, as I find I am not as motivated when reading about the villains, but it does add a lot of depth to the storyline. Overall, a hard book to put down.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a little slow at the beginning , but picked up rather quickly thereafter. We were introduced to new characters and plots. There was a lot of action and magic. A LOT of magic :)!! It was easy to read and a great book. I can’t wait to see what’s next!

[Randall Paul Petri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other Way

A great continuation of the first novel! Meeting the characters again and following their trials as the story unfolds is a worthy read!
Thanks for the previous book’s summary as it has been some time since reading it. Cannot wait for more!

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slightly slower than the first book but this is a building book, relaying more of the world's history and mechanics. New character's stories become primary in this novel. I am thrilled to find that more is forthcoming. I was not ready to be done with Kibure and Sindri in particular.

[Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book but was disappointed that book #3 was not yet available. I promised myself that I would not start a series until it was complete but so much for promises.
Enjoyed the story line. Very creative and energetic.

[Mary T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be able to give more than five stars.

So much happens when the world starts to crumble that it seems all will be lost. Never fear the next book should prove to be extremely good tying up all the loose ends.

[Jacquie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow burn

These books are a tedious build to the last 80% where it picks up speed and actually answers questions in the story. I don't like half the characters, so reading their portion is very much a chore. I think I'll stop here with this series.

[Carole Eshenbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

fan tastic 10

This has been the best book to read. Totally enjoyed the well developed characters, that stayed true to their personalities. This story has twist turns and not sure what side everyone is on fighting evil.

[Bruce Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The adventure continues

Book Two starts with the momentum of Book One at such a pace that I couldn't put it down. I read late into the night, but I did need to eat and get SOME sleep. Looking forward to the next one.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging fantasy world full of magic

I liked this book a lot. The characters are good and the plot is interesting. The world building is really good. I only give 5 stars for books that people will be reading many years hence. So 4 is a good rating for me.

[Siddy Dike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another exciting series

I sincerely can’t wait to read the next time in this series. I have a hard time putting my book down to even rest.

[Richard Chandler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could be good

Interesting book. Would of rated it higher if I had the last book, but I don’t so I’m disappointed, maybe next time

[Shaun Burrier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Story

Interesting story. I'll be curious to see how it ends. It has some nice touches with divergences from classic fantasy Canon

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had known there was going to be a book 3.