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The Whisper Prince #1
Fairmist
The Debt of the Blessed
Within the Thiaran Empire, citizens put on jeweled masks and turn away from those who are taken. As long as one child is sacrificed each month to the Slinks and nobody interferes, their society will thrive.
But seventeen-year-old Grei’s mind is alive with treason, and he plunges into the heart of a prophecy that will drive the Slinks back to their fiery dimension. All he must do is travel to the capitol city and sacrifice one last innocent.
As Grei wrestles with the prophecy and battles those who would kill him, he hurtles toward his final decision: save the empire, or save his own soul.
Within the Thiaran Empire, citizens put on jeweled masks and turn away from those who are taken. As long as one child is sacrificed each month to the Slinks and nobody interferes, their society will thrive.
But seventeen-year-old Grei’s mind is alive with treason, and he plunges into the heart of a prophecy that will drive the Slinks back to their fiery dimension. All he must do is travel to the capitol city and sacrifice one last innocent.
As Grei wrestles with the prophecy and battles those who would kill him, he hurtles toward his final decision: save the empire, or save his own soul.
- GenresFantasy
412 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2015
9 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
Todd Fahnestock
47 books81 followersTODD FAHNESTOCK is a fantasy/sci-fi author of the bestselling Tower of the Four, Threadweavers and The Whisper Prince series. He was a winner of the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age, a finalist for the Colorado Book Award in 2021 for Tower of the Four: The Champions Academy, and a finalist in the Colorado Authors League Writing Awards for the past two years, for Charlie Fiction and The Undying Man. His passions are fantasy and his quirky, fun-loving family. When he’s not writing, he teaches taekwondo, swaps middle grade humor with his son, plays Ticket to Ride with his wife, scribes modern slang from his daughter and goes on morning walks with Galahad the Weimaraner. Visit Todd at www.toddfahnestock.com.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 26, 2015
A good book makes you think, and a day after reading Todd Fahnestock’s Fairmist, I am still pondering the parables in this engaging story. The characters are the kind you miss when the story ends, the curve-ball plot causes you to question who is on the right side of good and the fantastical settings become pictures in your mind’s eye. Read this book.
February 27, 2015
Fairmist, first book of a series, is an action packed adventure set in an emotionally rich fantasy world where passion can be as deadly as a blade and actions have unseen consequences. The pace of the book is as tightly choreographed as any Ringblade dance, each part faster than the one before. The Ringblades are part sisterhood, part terror police who train through dance. This reader wanted more scenes involving them and by the end of the book you may feel as though you had been dancing with them - out of breath and already anticipating the next book.
John P.
John P.
December 28, 2022
Where do I start? This book blew me away! It has all that I love in a story: amazing world-building, compelling characters that slowly reveal more of their personality, unexpected twists, and a splash of romance. It gets a bit dark at some point but that’s me (I don’t like grim, the reality is more than enough!) but overall it’s a great story with a gripping narrative.
It’s the kind of book we bookworms say to ourselves, “One more chapter, and that’s it.”
Imagine a world where humans need to sacrifice one young every month to keep the peace with the alien invaders. People look elsewhere and are submissive to avoid being slaughtered. What is one killing every month if that killing helps keep the peace?
But some aren't fine with this and they will stir the pot. I don't want to give any spoilers but if you love characters that aren't one-sided and getting lost in the narrative, give this a go.
This author is becoming one of my favorites in fantasy.
It’s the kind of book we bookworms say to ourselves, “One more chapter, and that’s it.”
Imagine a world where humans need to sacrifice one young every month to keep the peace with the alien invaders. People look elsewhere and are submissive to avoid being slaughtered. What is one killing every month if that killing helps keep the peace?
But some aren't fine with this and they will stir the pot. I don't want to give any spoilers but if you love characters that aren't one-sided and getting lost in the narrative, give this a go.
This author is becoming one of my favorites in fantasy.
June 23, 2023
FAIRMIST by Todd Fahnestock takes place in an empire with a dark burden: sacrificing one child every month to the mysterious Slinks. The first sacrifice, a princess of this empire, might not be gone forever, and the Debt of the Blessed might not be what it seems.
What I Loved: Super interesting premise! I loved the mythological inspiration. The worldbuilding is great, and the somber tone of the book was very affecting. I thought Adora was a great protagonist, and particularly enjoyed how different her relationships with various other characters were, making the read very dynamic.
What I Didn't: I felt like the Slinks were underdeveloped as a threat--they were super interesting conceptually, but I never quite "got" the sense of danger they were supposed to be presenting.
What I Loved: Super interesting premise! I loved the mythological inspiration. The worldbuilding is great, and the somber tone of the book was very affecting. I thought Adora was a great protagonist, and particularly enjoyed how different her relationships with various other characters were, making the read very dynamic.
What I Didn't: I felt like the Slinks were underdeveloped as a threat--they were super interesting conceptually, but I never quite "got" the sense of danger they were supposed to be presenting.
January 29, 2024
A marvelous story written to capture your imagination. The characters act and feel like people one would like to meet. The world it is set in is well described and thought out. The situations and their dangers move the reader along with them. Mr. Fahnestock takes you on a great journey! Let yourself be free to fly along on the ride!
July 1, 2017
Page turner with inventive twists and turns
Loved this book - I devoured it in about three days. Fairmist is a magical world and the book does a great job bringing you in to its lore. Very much looking forward to sequels!
Loved this book - I devoured it in about three days. Fairmist is a magical world and the book does a great job bringing you in to its lore. Very much looking forward to sequels!
December 20, 2015
Epic. If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be epic.
We start out with a prologue full of action and consequences. Even so early on we get to meet the slinks and see some of the repercussions the slink war has had on the world. Just because people work for the empire, serve the emperor, does not mean they are happy with how things have turned out and the jobs they are expected to perform. And the prologue makes that obvious.
Told from multiple points of view, each person has a unique voice. Some of them only have one chapter, while Grei and Adora have chapters filling most of the book. But some of the lesser characters make the book what it is. It wouldn't be the same if they were told from another POV.
The world building here is excellent. At first, I had a lot of questions. I was introduced to a new world and wasn't sure exactly what was what. But over the course of the book most of my questions were answered. Except, of course, the plot ones. Because authors are mean and like to leave a cliffhanger at the end. But the world with the slinks as beasts and the Faia as magical creatures was so richly detailed. I almost pictured the Faia as faeries. And I loved how we got to see so much of the power of the Whisper Prince and even some of the slink powers.
There is a slight love triangle, but nothing that bothered me.
I'm not so sure that I would consider this YA. But if you like detailed fantasy with rich worlds, this is for you.
Overall
I really enjoyed this. Recommended to fantasy fans everywhere. I will probably be picking up others of Fahnestock's works soon.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and that in no way sways my opinion of this book.
We start out with a prologue full of action and consequences. Even so early on we get to meet the slinks and see some of the repercussions the slink war has had on the world. Just because people work for the empire, serve the emperor, does not mean they are happy with how things have turned out and the jobs they are expected to perform. And the prologue makes that obvious.
Told from multiple points of view, each person has a unique voice. Some of them only have one chapter, while Grei and Adora have chapters filling most of the book. But some of the lesser characters make the book what it is. It wouldn't be the same if they were told from another POV.
The world building here is excellent. At first, I had a lot of questions. I was introduced to a new world and wasn't sure exactly what was what. But over the course of the book most of my questions were answered. Except, of course, the plot ones. Because authors are mean and like to leave a cliffhanger at the end. But the world with the slinks as beasts and the Faia as magical creatures was so richly detailed. I almost pictured the Faia as faeries. And I loved how we got to see so much of the power of the Whisper Prince and even some of the slink powers.
There is a slight love triangle, but nothing that bothered me.
I'm not so sure that I would consider this YA. But if you like detailed fantasy with rich worlds, this is for you.
Overall
I really enjoyed this. Recommended to fantasy fans everywhere. I will probably be picking up others of Fahnestock's works soon.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and that in no way sways my opinion of this book.
March 1, 2020
I haven't read high fantasy on a regular basis for many years, but Fairmist took me right back. The Thiaran Empire is a world as well-crafted as Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar. But something is rotten in Denmark. The Thiarians must sacrifice their children—the Debt of the Blessed—to keep the mysterious, demonic slinks from resuming their war upon the kingdom and slaughtering the people. It's treason to even talk about the Debt, much less question it, but our hero, Grei, is not the type to just let this injustice stand without question, and is therefore known as a troublemaker to both friends and family. His journey from delinquent to getting caught up in a very old prophecy to save the kingdom kept me up late reading more nights than I care to admit. What are the slinks, and why was there a war with them? Who is Adora, really? Is Blevins just a town drunk who talks too loosely about the Debt when in his cups, or someone more sinister? What is the Whisper Prince, and why is he the last great hope of this empire? I just had to know how it all turned out. So, of course, my biggest gripe with this book is that it's part of a trilogy, and not all of my questions were answered. Many of the unanswered ones were hinted at, and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
February 27, 2015
Fairmist, first book of a series, is an action packed adventure set in an emotionally rich fantasy world where passion can be as deadly as a blade and actions have unseen consequences. The pace of the book is as tightly choreographed as any Ringblade dance, each part faster than the one before. The Ringblades are part sisterhood, part terror police who train through dance. This reader wanted more scenes involving them and by the end of the book you may feel as though you had been dancing with them - out of breath and already anticipating the next book.
John P.
John P.
April 13, 2015
Reading Fairmist is like going on a fast-paced adventure to magical places with good friends. The story is at turns exciting, poignant, heartrending, breathtaking, funny, and above all fun. I loved sharing difficult decisions with the badass, sexy, smart Adora, rubbing elbows with Blevins at The Floating Stone, dancing with Ree, and growing wise with my impetuous hero, Grei. The quick dialogue, the powerful villains, and the complex plot kept me turning the pages, but it was my relationships with these characters that made this book difficult to put down and impossible to forget.
April 24, 2015
Let me start with, I wanted to like this book. It was fast paced, engaging, well written. The character adora, and the main character's love for her ruined for me. His constant pining for a girl he barely knew rang false, and made him seem pathetic and she was petty, naive, and unlikable. If i could give it 2.5 stars i would, it balanced out to an average read.
February 29, 2016
Fairmist is a magical land with a serious problem. The slinks are evil creatures that take a child every month in order for the land to prosper. Grei is the reluctant hero who could change everything. A fantasy adventure story that will keep you glued to the page. Well developed characters and a good story. I would recommend it.
October 20, 2015
Fear and Illusion
A true fantasy novel, for readers who enjoyed The Legend of Drizzt. Personally, I loved the mystery littered about in regards to fear and illusion. The ending is gripping and promises a hunt for the last slink. Well done, Todd!
A true fantasy novel, for readers who enjoyed The Legend of Drizzt. Personally, I loved the mystery littered about in regards to fear and illusion. The ending is gripping and promises a hunt for the last slink. Well done, Todd!
Read
February 11, 2018Fairmist by Todd Fahnestock contains all the necessary ingredients for moving Fantasy Fiction. It has a great setting which creates a sense of wonder, great characters with depth including the villians, and a plot and pace which keeps the story moving. The town of Fairmist came alive for me as the characters interacted and moved about the city. I found it hard to not fall in love with both Grei and Adora as they pull you along on an amazing adventure in an amazing land. I also loved the secondary characters including Ree and Blevins. I felt like they each had their own stories that were just as entertaining. Their depth pulled me into the story even more. The plot too kept me turning pages with twists and surprises at every turn. I finished this book in twenty four hours because I couldn't put it down. I had to know how the beloved hero and heroine were going to get out of their next dilemma. I can't wait for the sequel!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews