Unleashed

by Travis Kuffel

Divine Magic ... Endless War ... Vengeful Giants

Darkness has hung over Ganden longer than most can remember. Where ethereal magic once flowed from the voice of a divine creator, realms now clash in eternal strife, ignorant of the forces stirring in the shadows. Young warrior Cadel defies his orders to spare a thief's life, igniting a chain of events that thrusts him into the heart of a brewing cataclysm.

As long-buried secrets awaken, Cadel must forge uneasy alliances with outcasts, rebels, and enigmatic Weavers of Hadrek—the long-forgotten mystical art that once flowed through the foundations of Ganden itself.

Racing against time to prevent a fragile covenant between the realms from shattering, he uncovers a destiny intertwined with ancient powers, giants, and the fragile threads of mercy, where one wrong choice could doom Ganden forever or herald its awakening.

Genres: Fantasy

430 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2026

About the author

The spirit of adventure has always compelled Travis to search for the next mountaintop view or another river to jump into for the perfect fishing hole. Cruising on a motorcycle along country roads or cresting the ocean’s waves, there’s always something worth searching for. Travis was raised about as blue-collar as it gets, getting a homeschool education while working in his grandfather’s New England sawmill from an extremely young age; every lesson he’s learned has left a tapestry of scars across his hands and reveals itself through the passion in his heart. These days, when he isn't climbing trees and running a residential tree service, he's serving in his local church, playing music somewhere, or out on another quest with his wife of over twenty-five years and their five kids.

That same zeal Travis has for experiencing the thrills of life flows into his Tales of Ganden books. Time might be short in such a busy life, but who needs sleep when the characters need their stories written?

Travis originally published his hard-charging debut novel, Unleashed as an indie author, but soon signed on with the traditional publisher, Jumpmaster Press and re-released Unleashed under their imprint. Travis drags his readers right into the pages and through the perilous realm of Ganden. Keep an eye out for the next two books in the Baksa series, as everything leads up to the Shadow War Saga, another three-book arc already deep in development.

Now go grab a book and start reading!

Reviews

[Karen Mazzaferri]

Travis Kuffle has masterfully built a world and characters that you can immerse yourself in. I loved the two main characters and some of the secondary characters as well. I particularly enjoyed all the realm hopping as they traveled from one place to another.
My only thing was, I kept putting the book down and coming back to it. I was and did find it interesting, but I found it slow in some places. All in all it was a really good fantasy tale that many fantasy readers will immerse themselves into.
I would like to thank #netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read #unleashed

[Lorewarden]

I enjoyed this debut novel by fantasy author Travis Kuffel despite some rough edges, which honestly aren't that big a deal. The author established a realm of many kingdoms, each having its own culture and mores, with the "baksa," a sort of wandering knight order, keeping things peaceful. Although there clear good guys and bad guys, even the bad guys have some depth and elicit some empathy on the part of the reader, which isn't always easy to do..

If there's one rough edge that distracts, though, it's the main character, baksa hero Cadel. He's just too perfect. He's the best fighter, and the strongest baksa, but he's also the most stealthy and can sneak around shadows and take down 10 enemies with his bare hands despite the enemies having night vision. He hates killing people, so he can perfectly disable everyone with his bare hands despite the enemies trying to kill him. He's read every strategy treatise, and his soul is so pure he can change a bad guy into a good guy just by talking to him. Everyone loves him, and the only complaint people have about him is literally his commanding officer calling him TOO humble. It's a bit silly how perfect he is, and I have a feeling the author is working toward an in-universe explanation to this that will come out in later novels in the series.

Anyway, this is worth the read regardless. I guess I just like my heroes having a weakness or two, or what fun is it to watch him win?

[Sue]

Gear up, fantasy fanatics! Unleashed is like a wild ride on a dragon – full of twists, turns, and enough epic battles to make even Gandalf jealous. Picture this: Cadel, a hulking warrior with a heart of gold, stumbles into a hot mess involving thieves, ancient powers, and a chase that makes 'Fast and Furious' look like a Sunday stroll. It's a realm-hopping extravaganza from the Lobana Forest to the Niph'al Swamps, and you better believe it's a rollercoaster of mythical proportions. The characters are as fierce as a dragon's breath, and the world-building is so immersive, you'll feel the sand between your toes in Midbaros and the jungle humidity of Tamayar. But what really had me hooked? The stakes, my friends. With war on the horizon and Hadrek's power waking up like a grumpy giant, Cadel is about to be unleashed, and you don't want to miss it. So, grab your swords, wizard staff, or whatever floats your fantasy boat – 'cause Ganden is calling, and Unleashed is the answer you've been waiting for!

[Meg]

I received a free digital copy of this book from Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.

Let me begin by saying, if you are into fantasy adventures then you will likely find something for you in this book. From fights to kind-hearted warriors to ancient powers to destiny, this book will take you on a journey from start to finish and it ticks all the boxes for an epic fantasy adventure. Kuffel is clearly passionate about the story he is telling, and cares deeply for the characters; he is also quite talented at ensuring emotion is translated onto the page. Unfortunately, even with those positives, I cannot give this book five stars based on my experience.

Unleashed nearly lost me in the beginning. In the first two paragraphs there is a lot of unnecessary and flowery text explaining a character's appearance; in the first chapters were are introduced to so many named characters I had a hard time keeping them straight; throughout the whole story there are unfamiliar terms that come with little context up front to allow us to understand entirely what the words mean. I don't root for the main character of Cadel - his first scene in the book, in which he encounters a thief, has an interesting setup, but once he acts, he almost feels contradictory.

And the line in the synopsis "forced to transport the thief to Arukah Prison" is purely misleading as he is not forced to go on that journey at all.

From the synopsis of this story, it sounded perfect for the stories I read, and I wanted to enjoy it more than I did, but I have to conclude that despite the genre, and the fact I adore stories with quest plotlines, this story is not for me. If you too are a fan of fantasy adventures and quests across realms, then I think you may find something in this story; aside from the flowery prose up front (which does improve drastically as the book progresses), it is well written, it just failed to capture the attention of this reader.

[Kaycie Apprey]

** 4.5 stars rounded up ** 🤗

one act of mercy starts an adventure like none other in this incredible high fantasy novel.

This was such a wonderful read and I truly enjoyed it from start to finish.

We’re taken on an epic journey through the land of Ganden with our main character, Cadel, a Baksa Ranger who chooses to defy orders in order to save the life of a thief. From that moment on, the story unfolds into a sweeping fantasy adventure full of danger, loyalty, and unexpected turns.

I was really impressed with the depth of the world-building in this book. The story is intricate and layered, and so many of the questions I had while reading were eventually answered as everything came together.

As a Christian reader, I especially appreciated that this is a clean fantasy novel — no spice, minimal language, and strong redemptive themes woven throughout the story.

While I appreciated the focus on adventure, I wouldn’t have minded a small romance element mixed in. This one leans very much into epic adventure fantasy, but I’m hopeful we might see a bit of romance develop in the sequel!

Overall, I was incredibly impressed with this story and can’t wait to return to Ganden and spend more time with these characters.

final rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️

✨ this book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review ✨

[Abigail L.]

Unleashed is a fantasy adventure that drew me in from the first page and didn't let go until the final word. The story revolves around Cadel, a formidable warrior thrust into a world of elite fighters, ancient powers, and destiny. His encounter with a young thief sets off a chain reaction, sending them on a perilous journey across the diverse realms of Ganden. Taking readers from the Midbaros Desert to the jungle realm of Tamayar, this book creates a tapestry of epic proportions. What captivated me the most was the seamless blend of character development, intricate world-building, and a plot filled with twists and turns. As Cadel grapples with his choices and the long-dormant power of Hadrek awakens, the stakes are raised, and the threat of war looms. Unleashed is a great read that immerses you in a fantasy world where every decision shapes the fate of the realms.

[Mark]

Wow, this was fantastic! What an extremely exciting story. I am so glad I chose this book to read. The blurb had sounded exciting but it was nothing compared to the real story. It just blew me away. I was completely enthralled, I couldn't put it down, well, I did have to put it down once but my body was screaming for sleep. Traitorous body! After that there was no stopping me 'til I finished. This was epic and I am so totally glad that this is a series and there will be another book. Yeah!! To the author, Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow! Amazing things going on in that head of yours. I'll say it one more time, WOW! Totally impressed.

[Victoria Trout]

How differences ripple…

This story emphasizes the difference one person can make. The ripples flow out in all directions in ways no one anticipates. This is the first installment of this new fantasy series, and it is well worth reading. It is a lengthy read, but I love epic-length stories. I usually wait until there is more than one released in a series, but this was worth taking the jump into a new series. Am I bummed the next book is not available? Yes. But I’m not sorry I read it now instead of later. Now I can savor this story while waiting for the next installment.

[Stephanie Marrero-Wilson]

This has been an incredible journey of trust and anxiety all tied with a bow of faith. I have had to pause and process so many times while reading this book simply because it is THAT GOOD! It leaves you incredibly reflective on aspects of your own life as you embark on so many battles with these characters. I'm so excited for the next book and cannot wait to hear what Cadel is doing next, and how his perspective on Yaqol is impacted! Love Love LOVE!

[Readers House]

Unleashed sounds like an exciting fantasy adventure filled with magic, warriors, ancient secrets, and high-stakes conflict. Cadel’s decision to spare a thief sets up a compelling journey, while the world of Ganden offers plenty to discuss. A strong choice for readers who enjoy epic fantasy, magic, adventure, and complex characters.

[Sherry McCarthy]

DNF. Made it to page 54 and just couldn’t get invested. To many weird names, and killed off a lot of characters in the beginning, including the horse!