Ahren (Italian Edition): Il tredicesimo paladino, Vol. 1

Der 13. Paladin #1

by Torsten Weitze, Riccardo Ricobello (Narrator), Serena Tardioli - traduttore

Con un padre alcolizzato e violento e angariato dai giovani del villaggio, Ahren non riesce a credere alla sua fortuna quando, durante la prova annuale, viene scelto come discepolo da Falk, il ramingo. Da lui impara a tirare con l'arco e a combattere contro le creature delle tenebre, finché il giorno della cerimonia di primavera accade qualcosa di quando Ahren tocca la pietra degli Dèi, si scatena un lampo accecante. Poco dopo compare un mago scontroso che spinge Falk e Ahren ad allontanarsi dal loro villaggio, perché qualcosa di malvagio sta per risvegliarsi. Insieme ai compagni, il giovane discepolo intraprende un viaggio pericoloso verso Sempreverde, il regno degli elfi, per chiedere il loro aiuto. Ma il tempo stringe, perché COLUI CHE SOGGIOGA ha messo gli occhi su Ahren e farà di tutto per distruggerlo.

Lasciatevi trasportare nel fantastico mondo di Jorath con Ahren (Il tredicesimo paladino, Vol. 1). Per tutti i fan de Il Signore degli Anelli di J. R. R. Tolkien e della Saga di Belgariad di David Eddings. Un romanzo dell'autore di bestseller Torsten Weitze, letto da Riccardo Ricobello.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Young Adult, Fiction, High Fantasy, Adventure, Magic

Audible Audio

First published February 19, 2017

About the author

I was born in Krefeld, Germany in 1976 and still live there under the caring eyes of my wife and two Norwegian Forest cats. Originally a publishing salesman, I couldn't resist the lure of writing, and after over a dozen years of playing the gamemaster in pen-and-paper groups, not to mention reading hundreds of fantasy novels, I decided to finally try to write a story myself that I thought might be worth telling. And so my novel Ahren was published in Germany, the first in the best-selling series The 13th Paladin.

When I am not creating new worlds and stories, I like to relax by playing pen-and-paper and story rich video games, reading or binging on TV series. I also practise Jiu Jitsu and the art of handling ancient Japanese weapons like the Katana or the Bo Staff.

Reviews

[feafeny · Rating 2 out of 5]

INTRODUCING: THE BOOK GIRL! full size

Anyway, lets GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tell me, does this remind you of anything?

Ahren can hardly believe his luck. His normal life consists of being beaten up by his drunkard father or bullied by the village lads. But at the annual suitability tests for apprenticeships, the young boy finds himself selected by Falk, the guardian of the forest, to be his apprentice and his world is turned upside down.

[Every fantasy ever?]

With Ahren: The 13th Paladin, Torsten Weitze seeks to answer the age-old question: How generic can a high fantasy novel be? One week ago, I would have said it's impossible to be more derivative than Eragon. I was naïve and wrong. Ahren […] is borderline satire, with every high fantasy trope in existence intact. A story, like a computer program would've written it. Ahren's father is a raging loser-alcoholic and his mother died in childbirth. Guess whom his father is blaming for her death. His name starts with A and ends with Hren. Ahren tames a wolf. Do you think it's extraordinarily big and clever? Obviously, duh. There are also dwarves and elves in this novel and behave and look like Lord of the Rings-creatures. I think Ahren: The 13th Paladin might be an elaborate joke.

Second biggest offence is the god-awful pacing and a 350-page novel with no substance or content. The plot has no villain. The main antagonist Ahren has to face and fight is a featherless crow. The book ends without any resolution because there was nothing to resolve. Not even a cliff-hanger or a dun-dun-dun ending, just a pathetic nothingness after a vague "Let's go to X in the next book maybe". This is not how you hook an audience.

I don't always agree with the Goodreads-Community and that's fine, but people who are rating Ahren: The 13th Paladin five stars are clearly paid off or friends with the author. This book has not a single shred of originality. It's obvious nerd-bait from page one and the plot has nothing resembling a dramatic curve: The entire book is exposition, nothing else. Also, Torsten Weitze clearly doesn't understand what an epilogue is and how to use it. An epilogue is not "just another chapter". What the f-

Do not read this.

[Royal · Rating 1 out of 5]

A multitude of niggling problems
DNF @80%
It's not very often that I find a book on the precipice of being a good popcorn fantasy. Books usually either annoy me early one with one or two massive flaws or I'm able to ignore it's small faults and enjoy the experience. Ahren doesn't fall into either category and instead wore me down through a multitude of annoying little faults (hence why I made it so far in).

Just to make something clear, the second half of the book is where most of the problems began cropping up.

Information Dumping
If you wanted a spoiler free summary of the second half of this book here it is: Falk and Ahren go sight-seeing. They go from place to place and our oblivious protagonist is enlightened by paragraphs upon paragraphs of lore. It honestly felt like Mr. Weitze had sat me down and then started lecturing me about his "grand" fantasy setting. I wanted to read a story not a fantasy history textbook.

Worthless Protagonist
I really don't like it when author's cop-out and write a generic main character so that the readers can self-insert themselves. I get that a complex character is hard to easily relate to but starting with a clean slate isn't the right answer as an author. If Ahren was bread, he'd be white bread. There's just nothing memorable about his character and thus no special reason for him to be "chosen". He is led by the nose from scene to scene and nothing he actually does impacts the plot at all! In fact, he does nothing to be worthy of Falk's attention and was simply chosen because his mentor felt was sorry for him. I'm guessing that he gets more agency later on, but if I can't see a spark of that in the first book then I'm not going to slog through the others just to get to it. That's on the author.

Poor Prose and Grammar
Let's begin with the writing. It's not terrible, it's not good, it's just ordinary bad and it makes sense that this is a translation. There are misspelled or missing words, punctuation (full stops and speech marks primarily) that are missing as well and a scattering of sentences that just don't make sense.

Overall it does have good characters with more personality than most of the fantasy fare these days and events are paced at an interesting and fast pace. However, after reading through 80% of the book and finding no reprieve from the above problems, I can't help but slam this book closed.

[Mark S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tantalizing story

I couldn't put this book down. It's beautifully written and has a realism to it. The description of the places, the struggles and risks that the characters take don't just seem like a fairytale. It's not a fast pace, high action book, but it's not slow either.

I love that it's a clean book (no sensual scenes), and it still grasps your attention. I gave it 4 stars because their are a few translation issues (minor grammar issues) and the paragraphs are long. Yet, these things don't distract from the story.

Well worth the read. I'm on to book 2.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a random suggestion by Kindle. I needed something to read and thought "Why not?"
I am so glad I did. I had initially grabbed it, then read something else before starting it.. what a mistake, I could have read this even sooner!
The storyline grabbed me and reeled me in from the first pages. It then held on tight, not letting go for a moment.
This is one of those books I struggled with, and by struggle I mean I fought to keep my eyes open far past my normal bedtime because I did not want to stop reading.
The characters are all well developed, the world itself is interesting and unique.
Everything about this book is engaging, and I could not download the second book fast enough.
It's a teen coming of age story, but not like what you normally see.. it is certainly not, to me, aimed at kids, although I think many might enjoy it.

[Bine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gute Fantasy-Geschichte mit spannenden Ideen und Charakteren, die man schnell ins Herz schließt. Vor allen Dingen die verschiedenen Wesen des Waldes konnten mir Vergnügen bereiten. Ich habe mich immer darüber gefreut, ein neues kennenzulernen. An sich haben wir hier das bekannte Personal von Magiern, Waldläufern, Elfen und Zwergen, und doch hatte ich nicht das Gefühl etwas zu hören, was ich so schon kannte. Ich mochte es außerdem, dass die Geschichte sich Zeit genommen hat und nicht sofort zur großen Action geprescht ist - dabei hat sie es auch noch geschafft, nicht langweilig zu sein. Ich bin gespannt, ob sich das über die vielen Teile, die diese Reihe hat, fortsetzen wird. Etwas traurig macht mich, dass ich immer mal wieder das Gefühl hatte, ein weiterer Lektoratsdurchlauf wäre nötig gewesen. Zu Orthografie kann ich nichts sagen, da ich das Hörbuch gehört habe, aber mir sind einige Wortwiederholungen, Füllwörter und unnötig komplizierte Satzkonstruktionen aufgefallen. Außerdem: Wenn etwas Epilog heißt, sollte es auch ein Epilog sein und nicht einfach ein letztes Kapitel. Aber auch hier bin ich gespannt, ob sich das in den kommenden Teilen verbessert. Auf die bin ich in jedem Fall gespannt!

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Ahren," the 1st book of Torsten Weitze's "13th Paladin" series, is a captivating entry into the world of epic fantasy, brought to life through the compelling narration of Gildart Jackson. This audiobook, published in 2020, quickly establishes itself as a commendable blend of traditional fantasy elements with a fresh narrative perspective.

At its core, "Ahren" is a coming-of-age story set in a richly imagined world where magic and myth intertwine with the harsh realities of human life. The protagonist, Ahren, begins his journey from a bleak existence marked by the cruelty of his alcoholic father and the scorn of his peers. His life takes an unexpected turn when he is chosen by Falk, the guardian of the forest, as an apprentice. This selection is not just a change of fate but a plunge into a life filled with archery, combat against the Dark Ones, and the discovery of his own latent powers.

Weitze's storytelling is particularly strong in character development. Ahren's evolution from a downtrodden boy to someone wrestling with newfound responsibilities and the complexities of heroism is both poignant and relatable. His mentor, Falk, is not the typical omniscient guide but is painted with his own set of flaws, adding depth to their relationship. The addition of a cantankerous wizard further enriches this trio, offering both comic relief and critical insights into the world they inhabit.

The narrative is structured around several key events, including the dramatic moment at the Spring Ceremony where Ahren's touch illuminates the Stone of the Gods, marking him as someone extraordinary. This event sets the stage for a perilous journey to the elfish kingdom of Evergreen, driven by the urgency to combat an awakening evil. The world-building here is exquisite, with Weitze painting vivid landscapes and cultures that feel both otherworldly and intimately human.

Gildart Jackson's narration deserves special mention. His voice brings a dynamic range to the story, from the youthful enthusiasm of Ahren to the gruff wisdom of Falk. Jackson's ability to convey emotion through tone and pacing enhances the storytelling, making the audiobook a particularly immersive experience. His performance adds layers to characters, making the listener feel connected to their struggles and triumphs.

The plot weaves together elements of adventure, friendship, and the classic battle between good and evil. However, what sets "Ahren" apart is its exploration of moral ambiguity and the personal growth of its characters amidst these larger-than-life events.

Overall, "Ahren" is not just a story about a boy becoming a hero; it's a tale about understanding one's place in a complex world, the weight of destiny, and the power of choice. It's a commendable start to a series that promises even more depth and excitement in subsequent books.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read!

[Awen Eibner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahrens Leben scheint verpfuscht, ehe er bei der Lehrlingsprüfung vom Waldläufer Falk aufgenommen wird. Es scheint, als ob es ab jetzt nur noch bergauf gehen würde, als er einen verbannten Gott weckt – und prompt in einem Konflikt steckt, der vor siebenhundert Jahren pausiert wurde.

Mal wieder gräme ich mich, denn die orthographischen Fehler sind eindeutig zu viele, um sie nicht in die Wertung miteinzubeziehen. Kommata, Groß-/Kleinschreibung, Genitivbildung von Namen wie „Likis“, Satzzeichen, Platzzeichen – ein Korrektor wäre hier dringend nötig gewesen.

Schade nur, dass keiner hinzugezogen wurde, denn ansonsten hat „Ahren“ viel zu bieten. Der Schreibstil weist eine Tendenz zu längeren Sätzen auf, reißt mit seinen Gefühlsbeschreibungen nicht nur in einen Lesefluss, sondern den Leser vollends mit, die Umgebungsbeschreibungen zaubern mit wundersamer Regelmäßigkeit Bilder und Atmosphäre in den eigenen Kopf und die Handlungen werden bis auf wenige Ausnahmen flüssig beschrieben. Es gibt genau einen Satz GEBRÜLLE und einzelne Stilblüten oder schlecht gewählte Wörter, ansonsten kann ich mich nicht beschweren.

Die Handlung ist nicht besonders vorhersehbar, da auch Ahren nicht weiß, wohin es gehen soll und wieso, und es gibt mehrere größere Überraschungen. Dennoch lassen sich einzelne Szenen ein paar Zeilen zuvor erschreckend genau vorhersagen. Es gibt überdies ein paar Ungereimtheiten, denen aber positive Aspekte wie die sehr glaubhaft geschilderte Ausbildung Ahrens gegenüberstehen.

Die Charaktere sind gut durchdacht, vielschichtig und ich hatte keine Probleme damit, mit ihnen mitzufiebern. Im weiteren Verlauf der Reihe würde ich mir wünschen, dass mehr auf Selsena und den, der zwingt eingegangen wird, da gerade bei den beiden noch einiges herausgeholt werden könnte, aber auch sie sind keineswegs abschreckende Beispiele einer Figurenzeichnung.

Die Elfen wirken besonders uninspiriert, aber auch bei ihnen gibt es einige Variationen und die Hintergründe sind mir so noch nie untergekommen – ich hoffe, dass sich dasselbe nach Band zwei über die Zwerge wird sagen lassen, denn bisher wurden hier kaum Wagnisse eingegangen. Die nicht unbedingt gut verborgenen Moralen der Geschichte sind alles andere als schädlich und meinetwegen könnte Torsten Weitze gerne noch etwas mehr in die Philosophien hinter diesen eintauchen.

Zusammenfassend ist „Ahren“ ein hervorragendes Beispiel dafür, dass man auch aus einem altbekannten Stoff etwas Schönes und Eigenes schaffen kann, denn viele der Elemente sind keineswegs neu, sondern wurden teilweise so oft ge- und missbraucht, dass sie sonst leicht auf der Liste mit den Kritikpunkten landen. Torsten Weitze versteht es, seine eigene Geschichte aus ihnen zu spinnen, diese mit interessanten Charakteren und einem angenehmen Schreibstil auszustatten und sich so wenige Schlamperein zu leisten, dass es mir geradezu leidtut, einen Stern aufgrund der Orthographie abziehen zu müssen.
Daher mein Fazit: Die Geschichte ist es allemal wert, gelesen zu werden. Das nächste Mal aber bitte, bitte, bitte mit Korrektorat, damit ich die verdiente Zahl an Sternen vergeben kann.

Eine ausführlichere Rezension folgt auf meinem Blog: https://www.aweneibner.at

[KayDee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahren is a very like able character. It’s an enjoyable story building of Ahren’s character. His companions are memorable. I like the wizard the most and he is nothing like what I anticipated.

I enjoy Wietze perspective of the Elves which is a change from many previous books I have read. I love the green sea, the pillars and all the dangers that come with it. It’s a fresh world building which bring me to my conflict on this book…

The beginning of the story line is very similar to The Ranger Apprentice by John Flanagan, very similar. The parallels between this story and Lord of the Rings is evident as well. I feel this story is 1/3 John Flanagan, 1/3 J.R. Tolkien and 1/3 Torsten Wietze. Which is sad because on his own he can come up with some great world building.

I wish I had a pet wolf!

[Fred Tyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and will continue this series. It wasn't a top 5, like the last one I read. Yet, it was still a very enjoyable read. We don't want bad things to happen to the good characters, but when it does it builds a sense of comradery between the reader and the characters involved (as long as they survive). I still feel close to the characters, but they feel a little bit like super heroes, too. In any case, it isn't a bad read. I am distracted at the moment as I want to continue the series, but have a rule that I have to leave a review for a book after reading it.

[Sugarpop · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es fühlt sich die ganze Teit an, als müsste etwas kommen, aber es kommt nie was und dann ist das Buch zu Ende. Wie ein Tutorial in einem Fantasygame. Man merkt richtig, dass das Ganze als Anfang einer Reihe geschrieben wurde, weil ohne Folgebände lässt sich das nicht lesen. Die Geschichte ist auch sehr oberflächlich und klappert hauptsächlich eine Checkliste ab, ohne die Charaktere tiefgehender zu entwickeln.

Witzig finde ich vor allem, dass der Hauptcharakter einen Wolf zähmt und der Wolf am ende die Lösung zu jedem Problem ist.

[Kris Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apprentice

I love apprentice books and this one doesn't disappoint. It actually takes it to another level when adding a big bad and quest. Can't go wrong with a quest.

[Svenja Doubek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toller Auftakt einer 13bändigen Reihe. Einige Leser kritisieren das Ahren zu sehr "die komplett klassische Heldenreise" und "0815 Fantasy" sei. Das stimmt zwar, stört mich aber nicht da es sehr gut gemacht ist. Die Charaktere wachsen einem sehr schnell ans Herz ohne zu glatt/perfekt zu sein. Die Welt und die Kreaturen haben mir sehr gut gefallen und ich freu mich darauf mit Ahren sein Schicksal zu erfüllen....
...In 13!!! Bänden 😅, what a commitment

[Jesper Schmidt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahren, The 13th Paladin by Torsten Weitze is an epic fantasy novel that tells the story of a young man named Ahren, who discovers that he is the chosen one and must become a paladin to fight against evil forces. The book is set in a richly imagined world full of magic and fantastical creatures.

One of the biggest flaws of the book is that the story feels like a video game, with Ahren leveling up in a very predictable and uninteresting way. Each time he gains a new ability, it feels like a checkbox that needs to be ticked off before he can move on to the next level. There's no sense of true growth or struggle, and the process becomes monotonous after a while.

Additionally, the pacing of the book can be slow, and some of the plot twists are predictable, making the story feel formulaic at times. The world-building, while imaginative, can also be overwhelming, with an excessive amount of exposition that slows down the narrative. Some readers may find themselves skimming through these sections to get back to the action.

Despite these flaws, the book still has some enjoyable moments, particularly in its action scenes. The author does an excellent job of creating a likable protagonist in Ahren, and the supporting characters are well-drawn and add depth to the story. However, there are too many instances where the book falls into tropes that are all too familiar to fans of the fantasy genre.

Overall, while Ahren has its merits, it falls short of being a truly memorable work of fantasy fiction. I would give it a three out of five stars.

[Haylie Yeats · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when a book just hits the spot and comes into your life right when you needed it? That was this book for me. I think I loved it more because I crossed paths with it at just the right time. The characters and the world really grew on me throughout and I’m now quite attached and can’t wait to read more. A great start to a big epic fantasy quest.

If you like your fantasy to be a bit more romantasy and YA-ish then this might not be for you. It’s definitely more high fantasy but with a warmth to it that resonated with me throughout.

[George Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first foray into a lengthy series,
I'm excited to see what the next entries hold

[LauraBlueberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

જ⁀➴ preview:
Ahren, first book in The 13th Paladin, follows a bullied village boy who lives with his violent, alcoholic father until his life changes when the ranger Falk chooses him as an apprentice. Training in archery and fighting Dark Ones gives Ahren his first real purpose, but during the Spring Ceremony he touches the Stone of the Gods and it lights up for the first time ever, marking him as someone tied to an ancient power. Soon a grumpy wizard appears, dark forces begin to stir, and Ahren is driven into a dangerous journey toward the elven realm of Evergreen, hunted by a mysterious evil known only as “He Who Compels.”

📚 Plot: There is not a lot of plot in this first book which is not a bad thing by any means. We get to know the different characters, some backstory and I guess in the end of the first book the party that is going to be the main group in the next books is complete. There are some fights, some travelling and thats it.
✎ᝰ. Writing: I enjoyed the writing. I just flew through this book. The pacing was good and the scenes weren't dragged.
🌳Worldbuidling: There was little to none which isn't really bad. Ahren's world is a lot like any other fantasy world out there except for the Dark Ones, the Paladins and the war that took place many years before Ahren was even born. Elves live in the trees not on the ground. So no news here.
💫♥️ Emotional Impact: I liked the characters a lot and how they grew over the course of the story. I especially liked how Ahren was not satisfied when he never got to know what was going on. He is a strong young MC which I liked a lot.
༄˖°.☕️ Enjoyment: I was in a kind of reading slump when I picked up this book... It had sat in my library for years, untouched. And I really hadn't high expectations so I was surprised when I was pulled into the story right from the beginning. I will read the next book soon.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the book follows the typical tropes alot of these fantasy books do, Oddball boy has bad life, shows there's more to him than his weak outer frame, wise old man takes him in and teaches him and he is discovered to be part of a prophecy.

Though personally it threw enough curves that made it refreshing. I first thought he would be a boy ousted from the village but the villagers for the most part are friendly towards him. The typical brute of a bully I expected some revenge arc but the bully eventually apologises and befriends Ahren.

The priest of the village that I initially thought would be a zealot and tyrant, was actually genuinely kind and fostered a kind community.

The characters interact well and more than once I found myself chuckling at some of the humorous moments.

The fact that there's no overarching villain at first, and with many more books left, I initially think that it's simply a book that's fostering the main characters origins and training.

Where I think it's harsh giving this 1 or 2 stars like some have, as I don't think it's in that ball park, at most I'd say it's a good 3 and a half stars at LEAST.

It was enjoyable, and just different enough to keep me going to the next.

[Jan Mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of a long series of sword and sorcery fantasies following a young boy with hidden talents and powerful friends. The audiobook was narrated excellently by Gildart Jackson. Nothing groundbreaking, but a pleasant story. One must continue the series after a rather abrupt ending, but I knew that going in.

Similar:
The Wolf of the North by Duncan M. Hamilton
Sword in the Storm by David Gemmell
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan (Ranger's Apprentice series)

[Eric Partridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of adventure series, I would recommend this series for you. It feels very fantastical and similar to LoTR in a world building sense.

It’s the story of a teenage boy who despite all odds, manages to escape a rough home life and find a person willing to mentor and mold him into a man. He overcomes self doubt, bullying, fear, and all other trials a child might on the path to adulthood. It’s a good first book, and while some parts were long winded, the story is setting up a larger setting to dive into later.

I recommend you get it on audible for English speakers, the paperbacks are mostly in German so unless Sprechen Sie Deutsch, you are gonna need the English audio book.

[Laurenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die Geschichte war für mich sehr fesselnd, weshalb ich dieses Buch nun auch schon so relativ schnell gelesen habe. Vor allem sieht man bei den Charakteren eine schöne Charakter Entwicklung.
Man hatte an keinem Punkt das Gefühl, dass es zu langatmig war oder dergleichen.
Durch die sehr plastischen Worte und Beschreibungen habe ich mich immer wieder in den Orten wiedergefunden, die gerade erzählt wurden.
Wer lange Buchreihen mag, ist hier sicherlich gut aufgehoben. Habe direkt nach dem beenden dieses Buches den zweiten Teil angefangen.

[Kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would best describe this as a cosy fantasy story, and it was refreshing.
*No over the top complex storylines
* No smut (let alone over the top unrealistic crap to sell a book)

im not sure if this is a YA book but I would very much let my son read this.

[Justine Tinúviël · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mir gefällt besonders, dass der Fokus auf den Beziehungen und Gefühlen liegt. Fesselnde Geschichte, ich kann nicht aufhören.

[Redfeather · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Aeneas · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are nearly no women in the story and only one of them actually have agency... And that one is a sentient animal.
Would be ok if it was a plot point, part of the story, but it's just the order of things in this book.

Too bad, world building and most life lessons are quite good, but the equality stuff is a deal breaker for me.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wholesome YA hero's journey story. Found it based on the recommendation from a friend and enjoyed it a lot.

audiobook narrator was good!

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but there are twelve more of them and, instead of not sleeping for the next two weeks so I can consume the entire series, I kinda just don't care?

[Sydney Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I read the whole series twice and every time I read it I notice something new. it’s an amazing start to the series and I really like it! I will say it uses a lot of describing words and I think that may be because it was originally in German so the translation is a bit different, If you notice something off that’s probably why. I kinda ignore that because over all I really like the book, I really enjoy Ahren’s character and the plot line is very creative. I know a some people will tell you not to read it but I would try it. I also acknowledge that it starts of like a lot of other books but it is very different and if you enjoy reading or trying new things, I think you would like it!

[Stefan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ursprünglich auf Deutsch geschrieben, natürlich auf Deutsch gelesen. Noch nie davon gehört gehabt, und zu Weihnachten geschenkt bekommen.
Wie es mir gefallen hat fragst du dich?

Direkt den nächsten Teil bestellt :D

Gutes Worldbuilding, eigene Story, zwar ähnlich von den Geschöpfen wie andere Werke durch Menschen, Elfen und Zwerge; aber außer den Bezeichnungen kann man sie nicht für Geschöpfe eines anderen Werkes halten: wirklich eigene Schöpfung mit einzigartigen Charakteristiken. Und auch, wenn paar Stellen sich 08-15 anfühlen, ist ed trotzdem neu und angenehm zum lesen! The over-arching-plot is auch sehr spannend, hoffentlich erfahre ich hier bald mehr!
Und das größte Plus: zum ersten Mal seit Langem, dass der Hauptcharakter wirklich eine ausführliche und lang dauernde Ausbildung IM Buch erhält, und nicht einfach ein Naturtalent ist.

[Jack Mast · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how sometimes you get a recommendation that has more glaze than a Krispy Kreme, and it makes you question whether the book or whatever could possibly live up to that level of hype? And then, a few chapters in, you realize that the rec was good, but the kind of good where you read it once and maybe return to it in a decade but not before then. So disappointing. But then, once you finish the book, you check out the similar titles carousel and see one that looks hype, so—you figure—why not give this other one a look-see? And then—wonders of wonder and miracle of miracles—this other random book turns out to surpass even the glaze received by the first rec! Y’all know that feeling? No? Well, let me recommend what is only the best book I have ever read this past week (shoutout Carlos Eire for the legendary quote). I am only barely exaggerating when I say that discovering The Thirteenth Paladin by the German author Torston Weitze might be the most memorable happening for me in this merry month of May, 2026, and I say this knowing that I will be walking across a stage in two days to commemorate four years of study. Right now, Ahren, the saga of the Thirteen Paladins and their fight against the Adversary—“He Who Forces”—and the groups travel across the known world are delighting me as much or more than graduating college.
Now, to be real, there is every possibility that I will return to Ahren in a year or less only to find out that the second reading is worse than the first. I may discover that the saga does not live up to the first book. However, part way through book 2, The Naming, I have no reason to think that Weitze (pronounced “VIE-tsuh”) will not maintain his form throughout The Thirteenth Paladin. Furthermore, I think I know why this series has been this delightful. I cannot count how many times I have laughed at unexpectedly delightful trivialities even while a battle is raging and the little group is getting swamped by Dark Ones. This is why The thirteenth Paladin has been rejuvenating and why I am counting on the whole saga matching the first book, and it is also why I do not doubt that the second and third read-throughs will be just as good if not better than the first. To me, the measure of an excellent book is not how serious it is, how deep and moving it is, or even how much you can specifically learn from it. The measure of a book that is excellently written rather than well written to me is whether one can return to it time and again without getting tired, without losing the resonance and relatability that first attracted, delighted, and harmonized with oneself. This is prophecy and not yet experienced, but I have high hopes for this saga. Let me explain why this saga is different.
When the Fellowship of the Ring reached Lothlorien, the elf Haldir told the discouraged group who had just lost their advisor, guide, and friend, “The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.” This is something that has lain heavily on me recently. I love epic fantasy. I love the world-shattering battles between forces of darkness and the alliances of light; I love the story of the few battling heavy odds and a foe of almost god-like status. But all too often the battle seems to overshadow all the goodness in the world. All too often the champions of freedom are consumed by the heavy, immanent doom lying over the world, and they do not stop to smell the flowers.
This is something that pervades the “real world” as well as the annals of high fantasy and a thing which I relate to deeply and push back against whenever I can. On a personal note, 6 years ago my life went from a place of seeming optimal success to absolute and unending darkness. The last clear image that I have of a world with sight is staring at the road in front of me from the cab of a behemoth, feeling like I was on top of the world. I could see the road of my life stretching before me in all the ends which I had been working toward and hoping for throughout the last dozen years fitting into place just as surely as the actual road I was navigating. My next clear memory is waking up in a blacked-out hospital room hearing the voice of my mom without being able to see her. Only, the room was not blacked out; my light was blacked out. John Milton once said, “When I consider how my light is spent, ‘ere half my days in this dark world and wide…” but I had not even reached a quarter of my days. Aristotle says that sight is the king of the senses, and mine has gone out. Six years later, I am no less blinded, but I strive to be a light regardless. I know as well as anyone that life can be bloody uncomfortable and painful. I know what unending darkness is, because I have walked in it and been surrounded by it for six long years. Yet, I also know what joy is. I know what it is to stare down a dark tunnel of doubts, difficulties, and deep depression and nevertheless be attracted by the light at the end of that dark tunnel. I know what it is to embrace the light when it comes so that you have strength for the darkness. I also know One who sweated drops of blood as He stared into the face of absolute evil—evil which was utterly alien to His nature—and, knowing the greater joy set before Him, endured the shame and bore the pain. This One also declared that in this world we would find trouble, but He had given us His peace. I know the value of seeking out that peace through finding joy wherever you are. And, as Haldir said, that peace is heightened when set in the contrast of the night.
Back to fantasy—this most excellent of mediums for depicting the struggle of life and for allegorizing the common experiences of humanity—this is a lesson that Tolkien mastered so well but has been oft forgotten by those who feebly carry his torch. Never lose sight of the light because of the darkness around it. Never be so focused on conquering evil and darkness that you forget what you are fighting for. As Samwise Gamgee—that humble philosopher—said, "There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo… and it's worth fighting for." To clarify, I am not saying that modern epic fantasy completely lacks this, but, in my experience, it does tend to be under-appreciated. That said, Torston Weitze does this as well as anyone I have read. He does not follow Tolkien’s script of islands of tranquil beauty in the sea of turmoil, such as Rivendell or Lothlorien. Rather, Weitze has mastered the art of slipping in trivial delights and hidden joys. As my other favorite author says through the voice of Elizabeth Bennett, “For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?” Tolkien steps back from the action to enjoy a moment of beauty and tranquility in between bouts of furious onslaught or dedicated striving. Austen quietly observes the world and delights in the absurdities that are practiced in seriousness on every side. Weitze seems to embrace Austen’s philosophy while placing it in the cataclysmic struggle against preternatural darkness that is the special purview of epic fantasy. I cannot put words to how he does this exactly, but, as I said earlier, even in the heat of battle there is some trivial detail, some absurdity or quirk of Ahren, his companions, or his wolf Culhen that make one laugh out loud at the unexpected humor.
If another recommendation is needed, let me say this: Ahren does not have action on every page, but it flaming doesn’t matter. I cannot recall the last time I was so delighted to read a book where the pace made absolutely no difference to my enjoyment. (Actually, I kind of can, but making that comparison is taboo among sincere fantasy readers, and for good reason.)
I have not given actual exposition of the plot, the characters, or anything else that normally fills a review like this, but that is what the other reviews are for. This is something that seemingly was not being talked about enough. But it is what has made this the best read of 2026 so far for me, and I do not say that lightly.