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The Bow of Hart Saga #1
The Bow of Destiny
Haunted by his past. Hunted in the present. Uncertain what is real.
Athson has seen things that aren't there and suffered fits since being tragically orphaned as a child at the hands of trolls and Corgren the wizard. When a strange will mentioning a mysterious bow comes into his possession, he's not sure it's real. But the trolls that soon pursue him are all too real and dangerous. And what's worse, these raiders serve Corgren and his master, the hidden dragon, Magdronu, who are responsible for the destruction of his childhood home. Athson is drawn into a quest for the concealed Bow of Hart by the mystic Withling, Hastra, but Athson isn't always sure what's real and who his enemies are. With Corgren and Magdronu involved, Athson must face not only frequent danger but his grasp on reality and the reasons behind his tragic past.
Athson has seen things that aren't there and suffered fits since being tragically orphaned as a child at the hands of trolls and Corgren the wizard. When a strange will mentioning a mysterious bow comes into his possession, he's not sure it's real. But the trolls that soon pursue him are all too real and dangerous. And what's worse, these raiders serve Corgren and his master, the hidden dragon, Magdronu, who are responsible for the destruction of his childhood home. Athson is drawn into a quest for the concealed Bow of Hart by the mystic Withling, Hastra, but Athson isn't always sure what's real and who his enemies are. With Corgren and Magdronu involved, Athson must face not only frequent danger but his grasp on reality and the reasons behind his tragic past.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2015
483 people are currently reading
603 people want to read
About the author
P.H. Solomon
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I'm P. H. Solomon and I write fantasy where the elements may sound familiar, but the story doesn't follow the same old script. My debut book, The Bow of Destiny, was recently named 2016 Book of the Year by Fantasia Reviews. I released my second book, An Arrow Against the Wind in April 2017 (also nominated as Fantasia Reviews 2017 Book of the Year). My third book, The White Arrow, was released October 3, 2017. I'm also a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). Join me on Facebook and my website, Archer's Aim, where I'm most active! For a FREE book from P. H. Solomon, follow this link: SolomonFREE. You can also join my fan group here on Goodreads. But first read on about my latest release...
Bound to prophecy, his destiny balanced on an arrow’s tip. The White Arrow concludes Athson's quest for The Bow of Hart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
August 25, 2016
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.
P.H. Solomon’s book was one I initially overlooked last year. However, after being introduced to it through a blog tour, then enjoying Mr. Solomon’s two prequel short stories, I was intrigued enough to want to see where he was going with this story and hoping it would be exactly what the doctor ordered to satisfy my classic fantasy craving. And while I had a few issues with the narrative, overall, it was a very solid debut with room to grow into a fan favorite.
As the tale begins, we are introduced to Athson; a young man haunted by a tragic past. His family lost to him in a horrible massacre. His trauma from the experience a lingering curse, one which cripples him with psychotic episodes where his dead family appears to him, speaks to him, and he answers them. The past and the present inseparable to his mind. And though the elves Heth and Cireena lovingly reared him, and though his close friend and fellow ranger Gweld always is there for him, it is only the potion dubbed Soul's-ease which stops Athson’s fits from completely overwhelming him.
On this occasion, our young ranger is on a solo scouting mission when he realizes he has left the ranger station without his potion. The phantasms quickly materializing before his eyes, demanding answers, offering advice, and refusing to leave him be. So when an unknown visitor comes to Athson’s campsite, he isn’t quite sure if this person is real or imagined. But when a package is left for him and it turns out to be very real, Athson is amazed by how the bow string and message inside changes his whole life!
Not knowing exactly what to expect from The Bow of Destiny, I have to say it was a pleasant surprise. Definitely, it is a traditional quest-type tale with lots of traveling, introduction of new characters, and the inevitable formation of a quest group — with all the personal dynamics which go along with strangers coming together to accomplish a mission. But Mr. Solomon has put his own unique twist on this sort of epic fantasy, which causes Bow to stand apart from other stories of its kind.
The main strength of this narrative is the unique character of Athson. His psychotic episodes, where he interacts with apparitions from his past after missing a few doses of Soul's-ease, are exceedingly well crafted. The very realistic look at a person attempting to live a normal life while dealing with a mental health issue quite refreshing. Athson is no chosen one or superhuman by any account. Yes, he has a mission, a quest, but his time is spent dealing with his personal issues. If he doesn’t take his potion at the correct times his “fits” begin again, but real life gets in the way of him always managing his medication properly: he is running for his life, dealing with horrendous events, or just hopes that this time when he stops the visions will finally disappear forever.All of it making our protagonist uniquely human and exceedingly compelling.
Mr. Solomon also does an excellent job of juggling all the narrative elements without allowing any one of them to overwhelm the others. There is lots of world building going on throughout, numerous background lore about people, places, and things. The environment around our characters is described in loving detail; atmosphere created. Emotions are conveyed, feelings shared, and motives shaped. And while all of this is going on, the journey itself races along from adventure to adventure, as Mr. Solomon never takes his foot off the accelerator for long, keeping this fantasy racing toward its conclusion.
The only complaints I had with the novel revolved around certain story telling devices Mr. Solomon used. For instance, there are frequent changes in point-of-view characters throughout the narrative. These shifts sudden, jarring at times. No break in the narrative to alert you that a new character is at the helm. Many times, I would not realize a new character was speaking until later in the scene, something which did bother me. Also, the way certain people would appear in the story, be built up as important, then totally disappear for chapters at the time (other than their name being mentioned) did bother me. I enjoy becoming emotionally engaged with characters — even minor characters — so to have new faces pique my interest then vanish was a bit of a letdown for me personally.
All in all, The Bow of Destiny was a good book, which set the table for an interesting story going forward. I can see many readers thoroughly enjoying this fast-paced, quest narrative with its flawed main character in Athson; it definitely is a mixture of the classic fantasy past with new ideas mixed in. And look at that cover, guys. You have to admit that is one of the best fantasy covers you’ve seen lately.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
P.H. Solomon’s book was one I initially overlooked last year. However, after being introduced to it through a blog tour, then enjoying Mr. Solomon’s two prequel short stories, I was intrigued enough to want to see where he was going with this story and hoping it would be exactly what the doctor ordered to satisfy my classic fantasy craving. And while I had a few issues with the narrative, overall, it was a very solid debut with room to grow into a fan favorite.
As the tale begins, we are introduced to Athson; a young man haunted by a tragic past. His family lost to him in a horrible massacre. His trauma from the experience a lingering curse, one which cripples him with psychotic episodes where his dead family appears to him, speaks to him, and he answers them. The past and the present inseparable to his mind. And though the elves Heth and Cireena lovingly reared him, and though his close friend and fellow ranger Gweld always is there for him, it is only the potion dubbed Soul's-ease which stops Athson’s fits from completely overwhelming him.
On this occasion, our young ranger is on a solo scouting mission when he realizes he has left the ranger station without his potion. The phantasms quickly materializing before his eyes, demanding answers, offering advice, and refusing to leave him be. So when an unknown visitor comes to Athson’s campsite, he isn’t quite sure if this person is real or imagined. But when a package is left for him and it turns out to be very real, Athson is amazed by how the bow string and message inside changes his whole life!
Not knowing exactly what to expect from The Bow of Destiny, I have to say it was a pleasant surprise. Definitely, it is a traditional quest-type tale with lots of traveling, introduction of new characters, and the inevitable formation of a quest group — with all the personal dynamics which go along with strangers coming together to accomplish a mission. But Mr. Solomon has put his own unique twist on this sort of epic fantasy, which causes Bow to stand apart from other stories of its kind.
The main strength of this narrative is the unique character of Athson. His psychotic episodes, where he interacts with apparitions from his past after missing a few doses of Soul's-ease, are exceedingly well crafted. The very realistic look at a person attempting to live a normal life while dealing with a mental health issue quite refreshing. Athson is no chosen one or superhuman by any account. Yes, he has a mission, a quest, but his time is spent dealing with his personal issues. If he doesn’t take his potion at the correct times his “fits” begin again, but real life gets in the way of him always managing his medication properly: he is running for his life, dealing with horrendous events, or just hopes that this time when he stops the visions will finally disappear forever.All of it making our protagonist uniquely human and exceedingly compelling.
Mr. Solomon also does an excellent job of juggling all the narrative elements without allowing any one of them to overwhelm the others. There is lots of world building going on throughout, numerous background lore about people, places, and things. The environment around our characters is described in loving detail; atmosphere created. Emotions are conveyed, feelings shared, and motives shaped. And while all of this is going on, the journey itself races along from adventure to adventure, as Mr. Solomon never takes his foot off the accelerator for long, keeping this fantasy racing toward its conclusion.
The only complaints I had with the novel revolved around certain story telling devices Mr. Solomon used. For instance, there are frequent changes in point-of-view characters throughout the narrative. These shifts sudden, jarring at times. No break in the narrative to alert you that a new character is at the helm. Many times, I would not realize a new character was speaking until later in the scene, something which did bother me. Also, the way certain people would appear in the story, be built up as important, then totally disappear for chapters at the time (other than their name being mentioned) did bother me. I enjoy becoming emotionally engaged with characters — even minor characters — so to have new faces pique my interest then vanish was a bit of a letdown for me personally.
All in all, The Bow of Destiny was a good book, which set the table for an interesting story going forward. I can see many readers thoroughly enjoying this fast-paced, quest narrative with its flawed main character in Athson; it definitely is a mixture of the classic fantasy past with new ideas mixed in. And look at that cover, guys. You have to admit that is one of the best fantasy covers you’ve seen lately.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
February 1, 2018
This is not my review since I am the author. Instead, I'm just sharing additional 5-star reviews from elsewhere:
New 5 Star rating from a reviewer on NetGalley:
"Wow. The characters are larger than life in this. You could almost expect them to climb out of the pages, I'm not even kidding (and promise I'm more sane than Athson at the beginning).. This story is very well-written. It certainly leaves you desperately wanting more. There's a good thing there are more books, though I can hardly contain my excitement for the next one. Another awesome author has made it onto my reading list. Do yourself a favor if you love fantasy and adventures. Give this a read. Comes highly recommended."
This is not a rating per se but it is a nice compliment from my Twitter feed: "I like your style Elmore Leonard would've read this No clutter Good description"
These are the latest reviews posted on Amazon:
5-stars from Victor
Destiny can be... inconvenient, but is always unavoidable.
Without any spoilers, I can only say that the author was wise in his choices. The characters are multi-dimensional, yet true to the tone of the epic fantasy in progress. You will find yourself spending far too much time reading this one, and neglecting other things. But in the end you'll have had a ride in a world of magic, and more. The journey to.... but that's a spoiler, so all I'll say is that one can almost see the trail, and fear the Trolls.
5-stars from Over the Rainbow:
If You Enjoy Tolkien, You'll Enjoy This Novel
Trolls, goblins, wizards, elves, giants, and dragons, oh my! The Bow of Destiny is a classic fantasy story full of fantastical creatures, magic, quests, and adventure...and just a smattering of romance. If you enjoy Tolkien, you'll enjoy this novel. That being said, this is only the first book in the series, so be prepared for some threads to be left hanging. If you're someone who wants to read the whole story in one go, you might want to wait for the series to be finished before starting this book. Overall, however, it was a fun read that moved fast enough to keep me engaged but had enough depth that I cared about the characters. Five stars.
Here's a newer 5-star review from Amazon (Malikai):
The writing style is great, really enjoyed reading this book. Couldn't put it down. OK...so book 2?
"The Bow of Destiny is book one in the epic fantasy series The Bow of Hart Saga by author P.H. Solomon. The book follows a protagonist by the name of Athson. Athson is a very haunted and uncertain individual. His tragic and sad upbringing not only takes a toll on his overall personality and character, but also on his sense of reality. He can't be certain what is real and what is not....well, except for all the terrifying trolls and creatures that hunt him. That is the only certainty in his life. When a mysterious bow comes into his world, what is he to believe? Is this something that has the power to change his life and allow something good to finally happen to him or is this just another illusion, destined to bring him down further.
I found this book to be a very entertaining and interesting read. I think fans of The Lord of the Rings and other epic fantasy reads will find a lot to like here. Athson reminded me of Aragorn at times (which is a very good thing), and Solomon creates a rich and descriptive world for readers to immerse themselves in. The premise in my opinion was unique, complex and riveting all at the same time. I was really rooting for Athson to find himself and discover a happier life, leaving his haunting past where it belongs - in the past. The cover is great too. I think it really encompasses the story as well as the fantasy genre. I would recommend The Bow of Destiny to all fans of epic adventure and fantasy genres. I am really looking forward to continuing the adventure in book two!"
Reviewed by Charity Tober for Readers' Favorite - 5 Stars
"After ten years of suffering through the memories of the troll attack that destroyed his village and left everyone but him dead, Athson discovers that there may be more to his fits and nightmares than he and his friend Gweld, the elf, realize. P.H. Solomon takes you through the trials and tribulations Athson experiences as he is set on a course of action to find a family heirloom that he doesn't even know is from his own family.
In The Bow of Destiny: The Bow of Hart Saga Book 1, Athson teams up with the Withling Hastra, a remnant of an ancient race, a princess from another kingdom searching for her place in life, a giant sentenced to help others, and some dwarves to try to find the famous Bow of Hart that Athson's father hid many years earlier. Fighting trolls and the evil Corgren, servant to the Dragon Lord Magdronu, the group experiences setbacks and obstacles at almost every turn. With each person holding a little something about themselves back from the group, will it be possible for them to work together to actually solve the problem and defeat the evil menace?
Intense action, strong characters, and a life or death quest combine to make The Bow of Destiny: The Bow of Hart Saga Book 1 a true fantasy epic. P.H. Solomon writes with energy and emotion so you are easily caught up in not only Athson's quest, but the reasons that have brought all the characters together. Well done! I truly enjoyed reading the story and can't wait for more. This is an excellent first volume for a series that promises to deliver true reading pleasure. This is a book that should do very well."
Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite - 5 Stars
"The Bow of Destiny by P.H. Solomon is a fantasy adventure that begins with our hero reliving the moment when he lost his parents during an attack. Memories of Corgren, trolls, and being told to run. He awakens from the fit, and realizes that he had forgotten his medicine; soul-ease. He recalled visiting Eagle's Aerie, Zelma the Withling, and receiving the package containing the letter and the bow string that accompanied it as part of his inheritance. Raised by the elves to be a ranger, Athson and his best friend, Gweld, are attacked by trolls. They get separated while escaping with the help of a giant named Ralda. The group finally makes it to Harky's Post, where Athson meets Limbreth, and Hastra the Withling. Someone has stolen her book, and it is tied to the prophesy of his inheritance and the Bow of Destiny."
"P.H. Solomon has a talent that most literary agents refer to as spinning a yarn. As the story began, it seemed to me at the time to be a little too wordy, but that thought quickly faded as I began to appreciate his talent for vividly describing everything from Athson's strengths and weaknesses to the beginning of a romance. Mr. Solomon's characters are well developed, and although they can't seem to be honest with each other, they know that they are in for the long haul, through thick and thin. Having to go through the hardships of random attacks, trading posts being destroyed, and other delays, they become a cohesive unit. The dwarves, having adopted the sword maiden Limbreth as one of their own, are teaching her about their ways. The Bow of Destiny is the first book of The Bow of Hart Saga and, as the chase nears its end, events begin to happen that leave the reader champing at the bit for more. Bravo, Mr. Solomon!"
Reviewed by Stephen Fisher for Readers' Favorite, 5 Stars
New 5 Star rating from a reviewer on NetGalley:
"Wow. The characters are larger than life in this. You could almost expect them to climb out of the pages, I'm not even kidding (and promise I'm more sane than Athson at the beginning).. This story is very well-written. It certainly leaves you desperately wanting more. There's a good thing there are more books, though I can hardly contain my excitement for the next one. Another awesome author has made it onto my reading list. Do yourself a favor if you love fantasy and adventures. Give this a read. Comes highly recommended."
This is not a rating per se but it is a nice compliment from my Twitter feed: "I like your style Elmore Leonard would've read this No clutter Good description"
These are the latest reviews posted on Amazon:
5-stars from Victor
Destiny can be... inconvenient, but is always unavoidable.
Without any spoilers, I can only say that the author was wise in his choices. The characters are multi-dimensional, yet true to the tone of the epic fantasy in progress. You will find yourself spending far too much time reading this one, and neglecting other things. But in the end you'll have had a ride in a world of magic, and more. The journey to.... but that's a spoiler, so all I'll say is that one can almost see the trail, and fear the Trolls.
5-stars from Over the Rainbow:
If You Enjoy Tolkien, You'll Enjoy This Novel
Trolls, goblins, wizards, elves, giants, and dragons, oh my! The Bow of Destiny is a classic fantasy story full of fantastical creatures, magic, quests, and adventure...and just a smattering of romance. If you enjoy Tolkien, you'll enjoy this novel. That being said, this is only the first book in the series, so be prepared for some threads to be left hanging. If you're someone who wants to read the whole story in one go, you might want to wait for the series to be finished before starting this book. Overall, however, it was a fun read that moved fast enough to keep me engaged but had enough depth that I cared about the characters. Five stars.
Here's a newer 5-star review from Amazon (Malikai):
The writing style is great, really enjoyed reading this book. Couldn't put it down. OK...so book 2?
"The Bow of Destiny is book one in the epic fantasy series The Bow of Hart Saga by author P.H. Solomon. The book follows a protagonist by the name of Athson. Athson is a very haunted and uncertain individual. His tragic and sad upbringing not only takes a toll on his overall personality and character, but also on his sense of reality. He can't be certain what is real and what is not....well, except for all the terrifying trolls and creatures that hunt him. That is the only certainty in his life. When a mysterious bow comes into his world, what is he to believe? Is this something that has the power to change his life and allow something good to finally happen to him or is this just another illusion, destined to bring him down further.
I found this book to be a very entertaining and interesting read. I think fans of The Lord of the Rings and other epic fantasy reads will find a lot to like here. Athson reminded me of Aragorn at times (which is a very good thing), and Solomon creates a rich and descriptive world for readers to immerse themselves in. The premise in my opinion was unique, complex and riveting all at the same time. I was really rooting for Athson to find himself and discover a happier life, leaving his haunting past where it belongs - in the past. The cover is great too. I think it really encompasses the story as well as the fantasy genre. I would recommend The Bow of Destiny to all fans of epic adventure and fantasy genres. I am really looking forward to continuing the adventure in book two!"
Reviewed by Charity Tober for Readers' Favorite - 5 Stars
"After ten years of suffering through the memories of the troll attack that destroyed his village and left everyone but him dead, Athson discovers that there may be more to his fits and nightmares than he and his friend Gweld, the elf, realize. P.H. Solomon takes you through the trials and tribulations Athson experiences as he is set on a course of action to find a family heirloom that he doesn't even know is from his own family.
In The Bow of Destiny: The Bow of Hart Saga Book 1, Athson teams up with the Withling Hastra, a remnant of an ancient race, a princess from another kingdom searching for her place in life, a giant sentenced to help others, and some dwarves to try to find the famous Bow of Hart that Athson's father hid many years earlier. Fighting trolls and the evil Corgren, servant to the Dragon Lord Magdronu, the group experiences setbacks and obstacles at almost every turn. With each person holding a little something about themselves back from the group, will it be possible for them to work together to actually solve the problem and defeat the evil menace?
Intense action, strong characters, and a life or death quest combine to make The Bow of Destiny: The Bow of Hart Saga Book 1 a true fantasy epic. P.H. Solomon writes with energy and emotion so you are easily caught up in not only Athson's quest, but the reasons that have brought all the characters together. Well done! I truly enjoyed reading the story and can't wait for more. This is an excellent first volume for a series that promises to deliver true reading pleasure. This is a book that should do very well."
Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite - 5 Stars
"The Bow of Destiny by P.H. Solomon is a fantasy adventure that begins with our hero reliving the moment when he lost his parents during an attack. Memories of Corgren, trolls, and being told to run. He awakens from the fit, and realizes that he had forgotten his medicine; soul-ease. He recalled visiting Eagle's Aerie, Zelma the Withling, and receiving the package containing the letter and the bow string that accompanied it as part of his inheritance. Raised by the elves to be a ranger, Athson and his best friend, Gweld, are attacked by trolls. They get separated while escaping with the help of a giant named Ralda. The group finally makes it to Harky's Post, where Athson meets Limbreth, and Hastra the Withling. Someone has stolen her book, and it is tied to the prophesy of his inheritance and the Bow of Destiny."
"P.H. Solomon has a talent that most literary agents refer to as spinning a yarn. As the story began, it seemed to me at the time to be a little too wordy, but that thought quickly faded as I began to appreciate his talent for vividly describing everything from Athson's strengths and weaknesses to the beginning of a romance. Mr. Solomon's characters are well developed, and although they can't seem to be honest with each other, they know that they are in for the long haul, through thick and thin. Having to go through the hardships of random attacks, trading posts being destroyed, and other delays, they become a cohesive unit. The dwarves, having adopted the sword maiden Limbreth as one of their own, are teaching her about their ways. The Bow of Destiny is the first book of The Bow of Hart Saga and, as the chase nears its end, events begin to happen that leave the reader champing at the bit for more. Bravo, Mr. Solomon!"
Reviewed by Stephen Fisher for Readers' Favorite, 5 Stars
August 21, 2016
I'd been hearing good things about this book and after following the author's blog, I figured why not give this one a go. Unfortunately I was rather disappointed. The biggest let down for me was the writing style. I found it very difficult to engage with at times. Particularly at the start, where it seemed to jump point of view mid-paragraph without much notice. Too many pronouns were often thrown around making it difficult to tell what applied to whom. There were also a lot of unnecessary descriptions that threw off the flow. Countless times characters would scratch their chin, rub their eyes, sigh, slap their thigh. Why? Who knows, because it never really added anything other than dead words. It was unnecessary and frustrating at times. On top of that there were a lot of paragraphs, thrown in seemingly at random, with a character's thoughts on something that was completely unrelated to the current action. These all made for a slow and laborious read.
The characters were engaging and unique, the story really plodded along at the beginning and I wasn't too interested in what was happening. It did pick up at a few points, but I found the actual ended a really anti-climax - all the building tension for about three pages of action and an abrupt end! Whilst the epilogue was interesting, it won't be enough to get me to continue this series.
The characters were engaging and unique, the story really plodded along at the beginning and I wasn't too interested in what was happening. It did pick up at a few points, but I found the actual ended a really anti-climax - all the building tension for about three pages of action and an abrupt end! Whilst the epilogue was interesting, it won't be enough to get me to continue this series.
December 15, 2018
It’s been a while since I’ve read a fantasy novel and this book reminded me of everything I’ve been missing. A great plot, strong characters, cryptic visions, a quest, adventure, and magic. The writing is polished, the scenes vivid, and the pacing perfect for keeping the reader flipping pages. Truly, an epic fantasy novel with twists and turns aplenty.
The author’s world is populated by humans, elves, dwarves, giants and trolls (among others), and he does a great job of giving each race its own history and distinctive traits, effortlessly transporting the reader to a mesmerizing realm.
What really engages me in a novel, however, is my attachment to the characters. From hero, Athson, to the band of adventurers that gathers around him, I was not disappointed. I especially like the handling of Athson’s growing relationship with Limbreth, and also the way he interacted with the withling, Hastra. Even after finishing this book, the characters are still dancing around in my head, the sign of a fantastic journey.
One of the best fantasy books I’ve read, I highly recommend The Bow of Destiny, and eagerly look forward to the next in the series. Let the adventure continue!
The author’s world is populated by humans, elves, dwarves, giants and trolls (among others), and he does a great job of giving each race its own history and distinctive traits, effortlessly transporting the reader to a mesmerizing realm.
What really engages me in a novel, however, is my attachment to the characters. From hero, Athson, to the band of adventurers that gathers around him, I was not disappointed. I especially like the handling of Athson’s growing relationship with Limbreth, and also the way he interacted with the withling, Hastra. Even after finishing this book, the characters are still dancing around in my head, the sign of a fantastic journey.
One of the best fantasy books I’ve read, I highly recommend The Bow of Destiny, and eagerly look forward to the next in the series. Let the adventure continue!
April 8, 2017
Fantasy at its Finest
I’ve never written a fantasy story, but I love to read the genre. There’s something about being transported to a different realm where various creatures live in unfamiliar habitats, food and currency are foreign to me, and (almost always) there’s an epic quest.
P. H. Solomon’s THE BOW OF DESTINY fulfills everything I look for in a fantasy and more.
This is the story of Athson, son of Ath, who was raised by elves when his parents were violently killed by trolls and an evil wizard. That sounds like a story in and of itself, but it’s only the backstory to this wonderful tale.
Athson is such a relatable character—which is saying something, because in the beginning of the novel, it’s not even clear that he’s sane. He’s having visions of dead people and dogs, and he needs medicine to keep his fits under control. But it’s this vulnerability—and the unreliability of his narration—that makes him such a compelling character. When he is given “the inheritance” and told to seek the bow destined for him, you can really feel his confusion and distress. Masterfully done.
Athson has two journeys in one—his personal journey regarding the bow and his group’s journey to find the Withing’s stolen book. What’s a Withing? Well, I don’t want to give too much away, but Hastra is powerful and revered and Athson doesn’t trust her. There are secrets kept on both sides, secrets that could have disastrous implications.
Of all the characters we meet on his journey, I’m particularly fond of the giant Ralda. He is brave, kind, fearless, and tortured by tragedy in his past. All of the characters were well-developed and easy to relate to, but I could read volumes of Ralda’s story.
If the novel wasn’t exciting enough, the epilogue blew me away. It was totally unexpected, and I can’t wait to read the next installment.
Solomon hit the ground running with the first novel in the series. I highly recommend it.
I’ve never written a fantasy story, but I love to read the genre. There’s something about being transported to a different realm where various creatures live in unfamiliar habitats, food and currency are foreign to me, and (almost always) there’s an epic quest.
P. H. Solomon’s THE BOW OF DESTINY fulfills everything I look for in a fantasy and more.
This is the story of Athson, son of Ath, who was raised by elves when his parents were violently killed by trolls and an evil wizard. That sounds like a story in and of itself, but it’s only the backstory to this wonderful tale.
Athson is such a relatable character—which is saying something, because in the beginning of the novel, it’s not even clear that he’s sane. He’s having visions of dead people and dogs, and he needs medicine to keep his fits under control. But it’s this vulnerability—and the unreliability of his narration—that makes him such a compelling character. When he is given “the inheritance” and told to seek the bow destined for him, you can really feel his confusion and distress. Masterfully done.
Athson has two journeys in one—his personal journey regarding the bow and his group’s journey to find the Withing’s stolen book. What’s a Withing? Well, I don’t want to give too much away, but Hastra is powerful and revered and Athson doesn’t trust her. There are secrets kept on both sides, secrets that could have disastrous implications.
Of all the characters we meet on his journey, I’m particularly fond of the giant Ralda. He is brave, kind, fearless, and tortured by tragedy in his past. All of the characters were well-developed and easy to relate to, but I could read volumes of Ralda’s story.
If the novel wasn’t exciting enough, the epilogue blew me away. It was totally unexpected, and I can’t wait to read the next installment.
Solomon hit the ground running with the first novel in the series. I highly recommend it.
August 14, 2016
good story
I was very hooked for the first third. Then the book slowed down (two conflicts were resolved that I thought were over too easily). Then the last bit felt disconnected. We had a bunch of small conflicts with the trolls but no real climax. It felt like scrambling around in the dark without accomplishing anything.
The last couple pages were shocking and sad.
I wanted to see Athson struggle more with his fits and seeing things, but it never caused any problems. Oh, take a potion and a magic sword and you're good? I wanted to see him questioning his own eyes and persevering despite difficulties.
Limbreth and Athson came together too easily, and they were too comfortable around each other considering the secrets both were keeping from each other.
There was a bit too much time between each chapter. We'd get conflict! and then 2 or 3 weeks off. Conflict again! and another two or three weeks off. I wanted to see a building of layered problems and conflicts all come together in the same time and place. It's possible to do that without rushing. At least by the end it was more like one or two days between conflicts.
I was very hooked for the first third. Then the book slowed down (two conflicts were resolved that I thought were over too easily). Then the last bit felt disconnected. We had a bunch of small conflicts with the trolls but no real climax. It felt like scrambling around in the dark without accomplishing anything.
The last couple pages were shocking and sad.
I wanted to see Athson struggle more with his fits and seeing things, but it never caused any problems. Oh, take a potion and a magic sword and you're good? I wanted to see him questioning his own eyes and persevering despite difficulties.
Limbreth and Athson came together too easily, and they were too comfortable around each other considering the secrets both were keeping from each other.
There was a bit too much time between each chapter. We'd get conflict! and then 2 or 3 weeks off. Conflict again! and another two or three weeks off. I wanted to see a building of layered problems and conflicts all come together in the same time and place. It's possible to do that without rushing. At least by the end it was more like one or two days between conflicts.
May 22, 2024
This was a good fantasy, lots of action sequences and plenty of characters to like, however the writing style wasn't for me. I still enjoyed the story but I don't know that I'll continue the series. Depends on my mood. This reads like a strange cross between the Eye of the World and the Lord of the Rings. 3.5 ⭐
January 22, 2018
The idea of the series looks interesting but the characters... God, is Athson a moron! Ok, I can understand him being plagued by his past - after all PTSD is something even fantasy characters may suffer from, but his mindset and behavior is not that of a 20 years old, hardened-by-life man. He behaves either like a 4 years old having a temper tantrum, or like a 14 years old teenager plagued by uncertainty - its really annoying! And the other "suffering" characters are really no better!
I gave it 2 stars, hoping it will get better in the next two books, otherwise the series would be a waste of time!
I gave it 2 stars, hoping it will get better in the next two books, otherwise the series would be a waste of time!
October 5, 2016
This is a classic fantasy book. If you love quest stories this book it definitely for you. The descriptions are very good and the majority of the characters are well developed. The plot is well developed and the plot twist at the end will get you. Can't wait for the second book to come out
October 26, 2016
Great read
I really enjoyed the book and was very disappointed when it ended. I am looking forward to the next one in the series.
I really enjoyed the book and was very disappointed when it ended. I am looking forward to the next one in the series.
February 11, 2018
This book didn't take long to get me hooked. While I can indeed understand the quiver of some reviewers that disliked the dour personalities of the heros, I kind of like a change where we don't have the token class clown and the brooding teenager that makes stupid decisions. This novel seems to be written for an older audience (no sex and the worst swearing you'll read here is when Athson yells "dragon balls!").
The premise begins with a confusing note. We soon meet Athson, a human ranger that is in his early 20's that was adopted and raised by elves and protects the forest wilds of a rural elf nation called Auguron. We soon discover that he seems to suffer from schizophrenia from a young age and is starting to see visions from his violent past that haunt him that he titles fits. Trying to gripe with fleeting reality, he curses to himself while his pheasant dinner roasts on a spit that he forgot an elven medicine that prevents the visions known as Souls's-Ease.
When the fit ends, he sees a familiar hallucination in the distance, a transluscent dog that nobody else can see that he calls Spark. The dog is oddly enough my favorite character from the book. He just shows up at odd moments and occasionally helps Athson during his quest. Maybe he isn't a figment of his imagination afterall...
Athson ends up sleeping against a tree and sees a haunting vision of his imminent future, albeit he hasn't realized it at the time. A powerful mage that is behind the murder of his family and destruction of his village, a powerful dragon looming in the distance, a beautiful woman shrouded in silver that rides a mare in the night, a noble family symbol of ten tints of deer with a drawn bow and arrow... He then wakes up to see a mysterious box with a bowstring and a lingering voice telling him that this gift is his prized inheritance. I wished the author had made this dream both shorter and more concise because this scene is super important in the story but the dream drags on for a long time. You don't know Athson very well in the first chapter and you're also unsure if his hallucinations will linger all of the time. Much to my dismay, I loved the scene when he sees weird stuff and tries to hide it even from his witty elf friend Gweld that always tries to remind him to take his head medicine. The book needs more scenes where he has a hard time figuring out what is real or not.
In a way I like Gweld despite his serious demeanor. He's loyal, talented and doesn't overtly annoy me. I am still unsure what a Witherling is, I think it's like a sort of witch or warlock that everyone revers. The witherling Hastra convinces Athson's boss to force him to accompany her on an unwanted quest to recover a prized sorcery book that was stolen by the henchmen of the evil wizard Corgren that is behind the massacre of his home village. During the entire novel Athson suspects Hastra is up to no good by hiding vital information from him but the old hag sort of grows on him. Accompanying Athson, Gweld, Hastra, a friendly giant with a troubled past named Rastra and two trustworthy dwarven warriors is a mysterious woman named Lilireth who starts to harbor feelings for the troubled young man. Could she be the woman of his dream?
When Athson's boss Sarneth grudgingly returns his father's prized sword that has been blessed with a powerful magic in the hopes he doesn't seek revenge, he continuously fights over himself whether this cursed bowstring that appeared in his belongings without notice is real or a figment of his insanity. Sometimes it's there, sometimes it's gone. Gweld has good intentions in keeping his malady at bay but perhaps this quest to find the truth about his troubled past might heal him once and for all.
The book has tension in the sense that Athson hates Hastra's arrogance and believes she bullied his boss into forcing this unwanted mission upon him. He just wants to mourn the recent murder of his adoptive elven parents and continue living his quiet life as always. Dammit, just leave the poor kid alone! But alas, characters arguing at eachother does keep a story interesting. Maybe Athson should just try to enjoy life for a change and realize Lilireth is drooling over him.
Are there faults in this novel? Yes, I do agree the POVs can be a bit confusing and some parts of the endless trips in the forest dragged on for way too long. The book could have flowed better if 50 pages of filler travel had been removed. I would have rewritten the super important dream Athson had at the first chapter, shorten it or cut the scenes over the span of several chapters to entice the reader to pay closer attention to its importance in the story.
However, the book clearly kept my interest and I'm glad that the sequels are available via KU. I'll definitely read them sometime.
The premise begins with a confusing note. We soon meet Athson, a human ranger that is in his early 20's that was adopted and raised by elves and protects the forest wilds of a rural elf nation called Auguron. We soon discover that he seems to suffer from schizophrenia from a young age and is starting to see visions from his violent past that haunt him that he titles fits. Trying to gripe with fleeting reality, he curses to himself while his pheasant dinner roasts on a spit that he forgot an elven medicine that prevents the visions known as Souls's-Ease.
When the fit ends, he sees a familiar hallucination in the distance, a transluscent dog that nobody else can see that he calls Spark. The dog is oddly enough my favorite character from the book. He just shows up at odd moments and occasionally helps Athson during his quest. Maybe he isn't a figment of his imagination afterall...
Athson ends up sleeping against a tree and sees a haunting vision of his imminent future, albeit he hasn't realized it at the time. A powerful mage that is behind the murder of his family and destruction of his village, a powerful dragon looming in the distance, a beautiful woman shrouded in silver that rides a mare in the night, a noble family symbol of ten tints of deer with a drawn bow and arrow... He then wakes up to see a mysterious box with a bowstring and a lingering voice telling him that this gift is his prized inheritance. I wished the author had made this dream both shorter and more concise because this scene is super important in the story but the dream drags on for a long time. You don't know Athson very well in the first chapter and you're also unsure if his hallucinations will linger all of the time. Much to my dismay, I loved the scene when he sees weird stuff and tries to hide it even from his witty elf friend Gweld that always tries to remind him to take his head medicine. The book needs more scenes where he has a hard time figuring out what is real or not.
In a way I like Gweld despite his serious demeanor. He's loyal, talented and doesn't overtly annoy me. I am still unsure what a Witherling is, I think it's like a sort of witch or warlock that everyone revers. The witherling Hastra convinces Athson's boss to force him to accompany her on an unwanted quest to recover a prized sorcery book that was stolen by the henchmen of the evil wizard Corgren that is behind the massacre of his home village. During the entire novel Athson suspects Hastra is up to no good by hiding vital information from him but the old hag sort of grows on him. Accompanying Athson, Gweld, Hastra, a friendly giant with a troubled past named Rastra and two trustworthy dwarven warriors is a mysterious woman named Lilireth who starts to harbor feelings for the troubled young man. Could she be the woman of his dream?
When Athson's boss Sarneth grudgingly returns his father's prized sword that has been blessed with a powerful magic in the hopes he doesn't seek revenge, he continuously fights over himself whether this cursed bowstring that appeared in his belongings without notice is real or a figment of his insanity. Sometimes it's there, sometimes it's gone. Gweld has good intentions in keeping his malady at bay but perhaps this quest to find the truth about his troubled past might heal him once and for all.
The book has tension in the sense that Athson hates Hastra's arrogance and believes she bullied his boss into forcing this unwanted mission upon him. He just wants to mourn the recent murder of his adoptive elven parents and continue living his quiet life as always. Dammit, just leave the poor kid alone! But alas, characters arguing at eachother does keep a story interesting. Maybe Athson should just try to enjoy life for a change and realize Lilireth is drooling over him.
Are there faults in this novel? Yes, I do agree the POVs can be a bit confusing and some parts of the endless trips in the forest dragged on for way too long. The book could have flowed better if 50 pages of filler travel had been removed. I would have rewritten the super important dream Athson had at the first chapter, shorten it or cut the scenes over the span of several chapters to entice the reader to pay closer attention to its importance in the story.
However, the book clearly kept my interest and I'm glad that the sequels are available via KU. I'll definitely read them sometime.
April 23, 2017
Epic adventure!
This is the beginning of an epic adventure (think Lord of the Rings) with none of the characters in this group without an amazing past or secret (or both) trying to stay alive and defeat evil. Throw in lots of unexpected twists and a spark of young love, and you have quite a tale! I was not required to write a review for this free book.
This is the beginning of an epic adventure (think Lord of the Rings) with none of the characters in this group without an amazing past or secret (or both) trying to stay alive and defeat evil. Throw in lots of unexpected twists and a spark of young love, and you have quite a tale! I was not required to write a review for this free book.
February 13, 2016
First off, let me say this book has one of the most absolutely gorgeous covers out there! I was drawn to the story because of the cover for sure, which I can’t always say (or always use to judge). And the blurb is really good too. I’m drawn into the challenges Athson faces and emotionally invested around the time I read “tragically orphaned as a child.” P.H. Solomon gets points for both of those right off the bat.
I loved the fact that the main character in Bow of Destiny is basically suffering from PTSD. I crave a fantasy novel that delves into the impacts of a violent world (like most fantasy stories)! This was another aspect that caught my eye in the blurb and got me to buy the book. And it works. I can’t think of many fantasy books I’ve read where the main character needs to take medicine daily, and often, realistically, forgets to between all the events occurring and the very human tendency to ignore problems when you feel fine – even if the problems you are ignoring makes you see things that aren’t there. Or are. Maybe…
Other things I liked: The premise is a different twist from other fantasy stories I’ve read. Here the main character is a human adopted into elvin society. This gives the elves, who are often portrayed as elitists in most fantasy, a warmth and acceptance, which was great. The setting and journey are also quite good. Not every day is sunny. There are problems on the road and setbacks. The rangers work as a team. There is a lot here that harkens to traditional fantasy of trolls, ogres, and dragons without falling into a cliched trap of knights and castles. This is a journey story and the travelers race at a fast pace with light gear and supplies. I always love a fresh take on traditions and this book offers that.
Things I think needed work: This is P.H. Solomon’s debut novel and I think it shows a lot of promise for him as an author, but there are a few flaws. There is a lot of description of expressed emotions: sighs, bunching brows, etc without telling why. And sometimes I just didn’t know, and wanted to, why the character was feeling … something. But I wasn’t sure what.
There were also a few chapters I completely lost track of and forgot about a character who was on the journey with Atheson. I really wish these sections had been more developed and that the friend was included. Otherwise, why bring him along? And considering the book’s ending, he is important.
That is, I think, the biggest failing and it is a small one: there are opportunities when I could have become a lot more involved in either characters or the setting, but most were missed. Which resulted in a lackadaisical reaction when a twist or solution suddenly presented itself. This could have been big things, like a character on the journey being virtually invisible at times, and small, like using a bat whistle common to the cave system they were traveling through for days, but never having seen or mentioned any bats making the whistle feel forced rather than a natural part of the world.
It is really for this reason that I’m giving Bow of Destiny 4 stars. It was really a fun read and holds lots of promise with its fresh take on traditional fantasy!
I loved the fact that the main character in Bow of Destiny is basically suffering from PTSD. I crave a fantasy novel that delves into the impacts of a violent world (like most fantasy stories)! This was another aspect that caught my eye in the blurb and got me to buy the book. And it works. I can’t think of many fantasy books I’ve read where the main character needs to take medicine daily, and often, realistically, forgets to between all the events occurring and the very human tendency to ignore problems when you feel fine – even if the problems you are ignoring makes you see things that aren’t there. Or are. Maybe…
Other things I liked: The premise is a different twist from other fantasy stories I’ve read. Here the main character is a human adopted into elvin society. This gives the elves, who are often portrayed as elitists in most fantasy, a warmth and acceptance, which was great. The setting and journey are also quite good. Not every day is sunny. There are problems on the road and setbacks. The rangers work as a team. There is a lot here that harkens to traditional fantasy of trolls, ogres, and dragons without falling into a cliched trap of knights and castles. This is a journey story and the travelers race at a fast pace with light gear and supplies. I always love a fresh take on traditions and this book offers that.
Things I think needed work: This is P.H. Solomon’s debut novel and I think it shows a lot of promise for him as an author, but there are a few flaws. There is a lot of description of expressed emotions: sighs, bunching brows, etc without telling why. And sometimes I just didn’t know, and wanted to, why the character was feeling … something. But I wasn’t sure what.
There were also a few chapters I completely lost track of and forgot about a character who was on the journey with Atheson. I really wish these sections had been more developed and that the friend was included. Otherwise, why bring him along? And considering the book’s ending, he is important.
That is, I think, the biggest failing and it is a small one: there are opportunities when I could have become a lot more involved in either characters or the setting, but most were missed. Which resulted in a lackadaisical reaction when a twist or solution suddenly presented itself. This could have been big things, like a character on the journey being virtually invisible at times, and small, like using a bat whistle common to the cave system they were traveling through for days, but never having seen or mentioned any bats making the whistle feel forced rather than a natural part of the world.
It is really for this reason that I’m giving Bow of Destiny 4 stars. It was really a fun read and holds lots of promise with its fresh take on traditional fantasy!
November 19, 2015
The Bow of Destiny; The Bow of Hart Saga Book 1
By P. H. Solomon
Athson, son of Ath, has been living with the Elven Rangers since his family was killed along with his whole village 10 years ago. Savage Trolls showed no mercy, and serve a Wizard who is beholding to a vicious Dragon. As a young boy the massacre leaves him with spells in which his dead family appears to him, including his dog, Spark. The elves give him a potion called Soul — Ease which help during his ‘fits,’ and has to be used often but the day he is out hunting Athson leaves it at the Ranger Station. Even though raised by the elves, Heth and Cireena, and helped by his Elven friend, Gweld, the young hunter cannot escape his past even as he marches toward his uncertain future.
Athson wonders why his Captain Sameth never gives him some serious assignments, as if he knows something Athson doesn't remember – something that he should. When visited at his campsite by what might be a Withling, capable of helping or harming, he listens to her strange prophecy of a special Bow. An eagle screams overhead. The huge bird, croons the haggard woman, will ‘guide the heir,’. . . ‘Who suffers in silence for a secret?’ Is this a hideous dream or a memory fit? Athson picks up the package which the cackling woman tosses at him. It contains bow strings and a message which will forever change his life.
Author P H. Solomon’s first book in the ‘The Bow Saga,’ series is a must-read for adult fantasy lovers and YA. One is drawn in immediately in the first few pages. There is some confusion when Solomon switches between memory ‘fits’ and reality — which is magical in itself. This is quickly remedied as the book flows forward at a steady pace, similar to the excellent fantasy series by the late author, David Eddings.
This story has all the elements of good fantasy; elves, sorcerers, a Dragon, and other terrifying creatures, and will appeal to those who love ‘Ranger’ stories. The Bow of Destiny is highly recommended for readers enjoying the fantasy genre as well as those who might want to try out an especially good one.
Micki Peluso
By P. H. Solomon
Athson, son of Ath, has been living with the Elven Rangers since his family was killed along with his whole village 10 years ago. Savage Trolls showed no mercy, and serve a Wizard who is beholding to a vicious Dragon. As a young boy the massacre leaves him with spells in which his dead family appears to him, including his dog, Spark. The elves give him a potion called Soul — Ease which help during his ‘fits,’ and has to be used often but the day he is out hunting Athson leaves it at the Ranger Station. Even though raised by the elves, Heth and Cireena, and helped by his Elven friend, Gweld, the young hunter cannot escape his past even as he marches toward his uncertain future.
Athson wonders why his Captain Sameth never gives him some serious assignments, as if he knows something Athson doesn't remember – something that he should. When visited at his campsite by what might be a Withling, capable of helping or harming, he listens to her strange prophecy of a special Bow. An eagle screams overhead. The huge bird, croons the haggard woman, will ‘guide the heir,’. . . ‘Who suffers in silence for a secret?’ Is this a hideous dream or a memory fit? Athson picks up the package which the cackling woman tosses at him. It contains bow strings and a message which will forever change his life.
Author P H. Solomon’s first book in the ‘The Bow Saga,’ series is a must-read for adult fantasy lovers and YA. One is drawn in immediately in the first few pages. There is some confusion when Solomon switches between memory ‘fits’ and reality — which is magical in itself. This is quickly remedied as the book flows forward at a steady pace, similar to the excellent fantasy series by the late author, David Eddings.
This story has all the elements of good fantasy; elves, sorcerers, a Dragon, and other terrifying creatures, and will appeal to those who love ‘Ranger’ stories. The Bow of Destiny is highly recommended for readers enjoying the fantasy genre as well as those who might want to try out an especially good one.
Micki Peluso
July 2, 2018
After a couple of science fiction books, I'm back to fantasy with The Bow of Destiny (The Bow of Hart Saga Book 1) by P. H. Solomon. This one comes from an Amazon recommendation and I'm glad they recommended it!
Synopsis (from the author): Haunted by his past. Hunted in the present. Uncertain what is real.
This unique epic fantasy will keep you turning pages as Athson discovers his destiny is both inconvenient and unavoidable.
Athson has seen things that aren't there and suffered fits since being tragically orphaned as a child at the hands of trolls and Corgren the mage who serves Magdronu the dragon.
When a strange will mentioning a mysterious bow comes into his possession, Athson's not sure it's real.
But the trolls that soon pursue him are all too real and dangerous. And they serve Corgren and his master, the hidden dragon, Magdronu.
Athson is drawn into a quest for the concealed Bow of Hart by the mystic Withling, Hastra.
But Athson isn't always sure what's real and who his enemies are.
With Corgren and Magdronu involved, Athson faces frequent danger, his grasp on reality, and the reasons behind his tragic past.
What I liked: P. H. Solomon built a cool world! I related to the characters easily and I enjoyed their adventures. The actions scenes entertained me and the hint of romance between Athson and Limbreth added a nice element to the story. Athson and Hastra's uneasy relationship gave an extra bit of intrigue. The antagonists, Corgren and Magdronu, played their parts well and rounded out the story. The Bow of Destiny is a good fantasy book!
What I didn't like: Despite all the good things listed above, there were a couple of things I didn't like. First, Athson's reluctance to accept is destiny was repetitive. Similarly, Limbreth's struggle to tell Athson the truth was repetitive.
Overall impression: The Bow of Destiny (The Bow of Hart Saga Book 1) was a good book with lots to like. Good solid characters, good story, complex relationships, romance, and intrigue all combine for an enjoyable tale. I recommend this one to all fantasy readers!
My rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis (from the author): Haunted by his past. Hunted in the present. Uncertain what is real.
This unique epic fantasy will keep you turning pages as Athson discovers his destiny is both inconvenient and unavoidable.
Athson has seen things that aren't there and suffered fits since being tragically orphaned as a child at the hands of trolls and Corgren the mage who serves Magdronu the dragon.
When a strange will mentioning a mysterious bow comes into his possession, Athson's not sure it's real.
But the trolls that soon pursue him are all too real and dangerous. And they serve Corgren and his master, the hidden dragon, Magdronu.
Athson is drawn into a quest for the concealed Bow of Hart by the mystic Withling, Hastra.
But Athson isn't always sure what's real and who his enemies are.
With Corgren and Magdronu involved, Athson faces frequent danger, his grasp on reality, and the reasons behind his tragic past.
What I liked: P. H. Solomon built a cool world! I related to the characters easily and I enjoyed their adventures. The actions scenes entertained me and the hint of romance between Athson and Limbreth added a nice element to the story. Athson and Hastra's uneasy relationship gave an extra bit of intrigue. The antagonists, Corgren and Magdronu, played their parts well and rounded out the story. The Bow of Destiny is a good fantasy book!
What I didn't like: Despite all the good things listed above, there were a couple of things I didn't like. First, Athson's reluctance to accept is destiny was repetitive. Similarly, Limbreth's struggle to tell Athson the truth was repetitive.
Overall impression: The Bow of Destiny (The Bow of Hart Saga Book 1) was a good book with lots to like. Good solid characters, good story, complex relationships, romance, and intrigue all combine for an enjoyable tale. I recommend this one to all fantasy readers!
My rating: 4 Stars
November 11, 2015
If you love Fantasy stories about Rangers, then this is the book for you! There’s plenty of camping, tracking, hiking, and evading pursuers in the woods. Throughout the first half of the book, you can practically smell the wood-smoke, feel the dew on your pillow, hear the footsteps on pine needles. It’s cool when the heroes’ traveling party uses scouts to stalk ahead, looking for trouble, or where hunting parties take hours or days to track each other down before a vicious fight.
And there’s plenty of troubles to be found here. Athson (the ‘Archer’ hero) and his band of supernatural allies (sorceress, dwarves, and other magical beings) face off against an assortment of strange creatures. Also a variety of challenging landscapes, some of which are cursed. There’s even some classic dungeon crawling in the ‘Troll-Neath,’ which is a phrase I love! I especially liked one action scene involving a bridge that reminded me of Indiana Jones, or the famous Balrog scene in LOTR. My only issue was trying to differentiate between the types of troll hordes that Athson fights. I have fond memories of the terms ‘Bugbear,’ ‘Kobold,’ ‘Goblin,’ and ‘Hobgoblin,’ but I have a hard time picturing what each one of these creatures would look like. On the other hand, some of the other fiends and spells that Athson faces are very chillingly described.
The author writes in a masterful, fluid style, and the pages just roll by. At the same time, I didn’t find myself annoyed or bored by any of the characters, which can be quite a feat (IMO) when it comes to Fantasy stories. A totally enjoyable experience! I look forward to seeing what happens next with these characters.
And there’s plenty of troubles to be found here. Athson (the ‘Archer’ hero) and his band of supernatural allies (sorceress, dwarves, and other magical beings) face off against an assortment of strange creatures. Also a variety of challenging landscapes, some of which are cursed. There’s even some classic dungeon crawling in the ‘Troll-Neath,’ which is a phrase I love! I especially liked one action scene involving a bridge that reminded me of Indiana Jones, or the famous Balrog scene in LOTR. My only issue was trying to differentiate between the types of troll hordes that Athson fights. I have fond memories of the terms ‘Bugbear,’ ‘Kobold,’ ‘Goblin,’ and ‘Hobgoblin,’ but I have a hard time picturing what each one of these creatures would look like. On the other hand, some of the other fiends and spells that Athson faces are very chillingly described.
The author writes in a masterful, fluid style, and the pages just roll by. At the same time, I didn’t find myself annoyed or bored by any of the characters, which can be quite a feat (IMO) when it comes to Fantasy stories. A totally enjoyable experience! I look forward to seeing what happens next with these characters.
October 16, 2015
I’ve been waiting for this since reading the prequels, and it was well worth the wait.
The author kept enough of the story a mystery until the right time while maintaining an engrossing story full of description and heartfelt love and angst. One of the highlights for me was the way the story started off with Athson having some difficulty before gradually moving away from some of the elements. I would say more, but I don’t want to spoil it. Sorry.
The characters were well written and engaging to the point I felt for Athson and wanted him to tell off Hastra through most of the book. Lol. Even Athson’s growing relationship with Limbreth felt right and was a pleasant change from the usual “fall in love at first sight” that’s common in fantasy. Out of all of the characters, Corgren remains one of my favorites, but he was bumped down to second place by the giant Ralda. Ralda’s complexity added an element that was briefly touched on in a couple of scenes and I’m curious to see if his character branches off in his own book or series.
Overall, this has become one of my favorite fantasy books and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
The author kept enough of the story a mystery until the right time while maintaining an engrossing story full of description and heartfelt love and angst. One of the highlights for me was the way the story started off with Athson having some difficulty before gradually moving away from some of the elements. I would say more, but I don’t want to spoil it. Sorry.
The characters were well written and engaging to the point I felt for Athson and wanted him to tell off Hastra through most of the book. Lol. Even Athson’s growing relationship with Limbreth felt right and was a pleasant change from the usual “fall in love at first sight” that’s common in fantasy. Out of all of the characters, Corgren remains one of my favorites, but he was bumped down to second place by the giant Ralda. Ralda’s complexity added an element that was briefly touched on in a couple of scenes and I’m curious to see if his character branches off in his own book or series.
Overall, this has become one of my favorite fantasy books and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
May 22, 2016
This is very much part one of a series, which for me was the worst thing about it. However, Solomon writes with a vigorous imagination and pays attention to atmosphere. The story is ultimately engaging (although too much information is given through Athson's feverish thoughts in the first few pages, which this reader found confusing). There is good tension, and good pace except, perhaps, where there is a little too much camping and watch standing - but Solomon has managed to keep this from becoming excessive. While the language is often attractive, there are a number of errors still present in this edition (Kindle) which could benefit from a professional edit. This book ended on a dreadful cliffhanger with nothing resolved. The Bow of the title never made an appearance, which disappointed me. The book and, I expect, the series, has great potential but suffers from significant flaws. Two and a half stars, rounded up.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest and objective review through a non-reciprocal review programme (Fantasy Book Review).
I received a free copy of this book for an honest and objective review through a non-reciprocal review programme (Fantasy Book Review).
December 2, 2018
This felt like a fun adventure story it reminded me of Lord of the rings but was so different in that the main character has PTSD which I loved and had a tell that his PTSD was starting again when he would see a dog that was not real named Spark. There was something that was just great about a fantasy character who actually had PTSD from the Fantasy violence he endured in his life. This is something you never see in a book. Usually a character goes through a brutal battle or rough childhood and then it just seems to be forgotten after that part of the book goes on.
I took away a star only because it was hard to understand how many people were in a room when people were talking. The way he referenced people in the same paragraph would be different every time making you wonder who was talking. Took me more than a few rereads of a few sections to really understand.
All in all a fun read.
I took away a star only because it was hard to understand how many people were in a room when people were talking. The way he referenced people in the same paragraph would be different every time making you wonder who was talking. Took me more than a few rereads of a few sections to really understand.
All in all a fun read.
December 3, 2015
This is an interesting read. Atheson is an interesting character because he really struggles with what's real and what's not. He's never sure if what he is seeing and hearing are fact or fiction. His medication, when he remembers to take it, seems to help him manage this. In the midst of this he finds himself on a quest that is stopped or threatened by trolls at every corner. And then he has the dark wizard and the dragon to deal with, along with his hallucinations. There is a lot of action and plenty of adventure. There are some light moments, when Atheson meets Lambrith, who is a good addition to his life, who helps a lot, but who also complicates everything. I definitely recommend reading it. It will be interesting to see where the author takes book 2.
January 1, 2017
I found this book to be a very entertaining and interesting read. Athson reminded me of Aragorn at times (which is a very good thing), and Solomon creates a rich and descriptive world for readers to immerse themselves in. The premise in my opinion was unique, complex and riveting all at the same time. I was really rooting for Athson to find himself and discover a happier life, leaving his haunting past where it belongs - in the past. The cover is great too. I think it really encompasses the story as well as the fantasy genre. I would recommend The Bow of Destiny to all fans of epic adventure and fantasy genres. I am really looking forward to continuing the adventure in book two! Great Reading Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 25, 2018
I got a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For a first book in a series, I found it okay. I think the problem was I read it after reading a fantastic fantasy and I was unfairly comparing it.
This book has a good story plot, the characterisation is well developed and the writing was okay. I know that other people really enjoyed the book but it did not capture me.
Overall, I do not regret reading it and I would recommend it.
For a first book in a series, I found it okay. I think the problem was I read it after reading a fantastic fantasy and I was unfairly comparing it.
This book has a good story plot, the characterisation is well developed and the writing was okay. I know that other people really enjoyed the book but it did not capture me.
Overall, I do not regret reading it and I would recommend it.
May 28, 2020
The plot was okay. It was his writing style that I couldn't deal with. It did not work for me . A lot of nonsense sentences. At times I had to reread the sentence to figure out who or what he was talking about. The Goodreads member Hayley says it best in her review. His editor completely failed him.
February 26, 2019
Sorry
The epilogue killed an already irritating story. The hero is such a dope. He comes to conclusions with no basis in fact. The withling behaves normal, so do the dwarves, but the hero and heroine act like they're manics. Won't be reading any more.
The epilogue killed an already irritating story. The hero is such a dope. He comes to conclusions with no basis in fact. The withling behaves normal, so do the dwarves, but the hero and heroine act like they're manics. Won't be reading any more.
October 15, 2016
Too much. Too many dreams- nightmares. Boring
December 14, 2016
Great Read
Pretty Good Reading Can't Wait To Read The Next One Mr Solomon
Would Like To Get For Free On My Kindle Fire
Pretty Good Reading Can't Wait To Read The Next One Mr Solomon
Would Like To Get For Free On My Kindle Fire
April 5, 2017
I was given this as a free copy and was pleasantly surprised.A good solid fantasy novel very much in the vein of Lord of the Rings.
September 1, 2023
Solomon blends classic fantasy with a characterful evocation of how even good people aren’t perfect, creating heroes who don’t simply shrug off the trauma and stress of extreme situations.
Raised by elves after the death of his parents, Athson spends this time patrolling the wilds around a ranger station. On the heels of an encounter with a mysterious figure who claims he is heir to an ancient legacy, he is attacked by what seems the same band of creatures who destroyed his village, tangling his path with others also striving against the band. However, as he has suffered hallucinations since the death of his parents and the package the figure gave him is sometimes missing when he looks for it or appears in his bag after he has left it behind, how can he be sure which bits of the story are real.
Solomon reframes the classic fantasy quest of reluctant chosen one by making the protagonist’s doubt and resistance come from the consequences of skilfully portrayed mental trauma. This provides a potentially greater sense of plausibility to Athson’s turning away from evidence of destiny than is often provided by the stereotypical peasant who turns out to have shocking skills.
However, the rejection of apparent destiny is still a repeated rejection and so might not suit readers who do not enjoy the social and personal struggle of a hero against their destiny.
And it is only a potentially greater plausibility, for Athson is keeping a secret he promised his father never to share that suggests his line are the guardians of an ancient artefact. Thus, his refusal to wholeheartedly engage could seem either seem a powerful evocation of how lingering trauma can overcome even the strongest evidence or a bias that verges on blatant authorial fiat.
Athson is also not the only one keeping a secret from his longstanding and recent companions: almost all of the characters are concealing something significant, sometimes only from their companions but sometimes from the reader as well. Therefore, although this is not a book solely for readers actively seeking the experience of having explanations withheld, readers who dislike the trope of a mentor or guru who withholds answers because it is not the time or some other reason they will not share are quite likely to lose patience quite quickly.
Solomon’s world building, both on narrow and broader scale, is solid, creating a sense of a place with ancient and complex history filled mostly with people who are facing the ordinary issues of life. Thus, while it might irritate some readers, the pervasive habit of not sharing the whole truth is not a trick to cover a shallow story.
Unfortunately, Solomon’s focus on building his own world out of the basic tropes of fantasy rather than automatically conforming to the most common usage might create a cracked note. Rather than use troll in the most famous sense of a large and thuggish creature, he uses it in the more ancient sense of a collective term for several similar non-human races that live outside human civilisation. Therefore, readers who are more affected by having their mental image contradicted, might be jarred out of the story when the trolls who initially pursue Athson are later described as something small rather than huge.
The novel does include a complete arc from inciting incident to resolution of that; however, the broader plot of foiling the antagonists is not significantly advanced, giving the book a strong feel of being part of a series rather than standing alone.
Athson is a solidly crafted protagonist, driven forward by a genuine desire to do the right thing but hampered in that by not knowing who or what he can trust.
His companions, ancient gnomic hermit sage aside, display the same slightly illogical and therefore very plausibly human, muddle of decency and difficulty openly sharing.
The major antagonists are portrayed as having mostly logical but very selfish reasons for their actions, creating an engaging contrast with the protagonist’s core motivations that retains the pervasive sense of keeping secrets even from the closest associates.
The portrayal of the trolls harkens back to the almost-genetically evil creatures of Tolkien and early successors. Whether this adds or detracts will depend on whether a reader has strong feelings on moral relativism in fantasy.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking a story in which characters hold things back in the way most people do, rather than always putting the quest against great evil first.
Raised by elves after the death of his parents, Athson spends this time patrolling the wilds around a ranger station. On the heels of an encounter with a mysterious figure who claims he is heir to an ancient legacy, he is attacked by what seems the same band of creatures who destroyed his village, tangling his path with others also striving against the band. However, as he has suffered hallucinations since the death of his parents and the package the figure gave him is sometimes missing when he looks for it or appears in his bag after he has left it behind, how can he be sure which bits of the story are real.
Solomon reframes the classic fantasy quest of reluctant chosen one by making the protagonist’s doubt and resistance come from the consequences of skilfully portrayed mental trauma. This provides a potentially greater sense of plausibility to Athson’s turning away from evidence of destiny than is often provided by the stereotypical peasant who turns out to have shocking skills.
However, the rejection of apparent destiny is still a repeated rejection and so might not suit readers who do not enjoy the social and personal struggle of a hero against their destiny.
And it is only a potentially greater plausibility, for Athson is keeping a secret he promised his father never to share that suggests his line are the guardians of an ancient artefact. Thus, his refusal to wholeheartedly engage could seem either seem a powerful evocation of how lingering trauma can overcome even the strongest evidence or a bias that verges on blatant authorial fiat.
Athson is also not the only one keeping a secret from his longstanding and recent companions: almost all of the characters are concealing something significant, sometimes only from their companions but sometimes from the reader as well. Therefore, although this is not a book solely for readers actively seeking the experience of having explanations withheld, readers who dislike the trope of a mentor or guru who withholds answers because it is not the time or some other reason they will not share are quite likely to lose patience quite quickly.
Solomon’s world building, both on narrow and broader scale, is solid, creating a sense of a place with ancient and complex history filled mostly with people who are facing the ordinary issues of life. Thus, while it might irritate some readers, the pervasive habit of not sharing the whole truth is not a trick to cover a shallow story.
Unfortunately, Solomon’s focus on building his own world out of the basic tropes of fantasy rather than automatically conforming to the most common usage might create a cracked note. Rather than use troll in the most famous sense of a large and thuggish creature, he uses it in the more ancient sense of a collective term for several similar non-human races that live outside human civilisation. Therefore, readers who are more affected by having their mental image contradicted, might be jarred out of the story when the trolls who initially pursue Athson are later described as something small rather than huge.
The novel does include a complete arc from inciting incident to resolution of that; however, the broader plot of foiling the antagonists is not significantly advanced, giving the book a strong feel of being part of a series rather than standing alone.
Athson is a solidly crafted protagonist, driven forward by a genuine desire to do the right thing but hampered in that by not knowing who or what he can trust.
His companions, ancient gnomic hermit sage aside, display the same slightly illogical and therefore very plausibly human, muddle of decency and difficulty openly sharing.
The major antagonists are portrayed as having mostly logical but very selfish reasons for their actions, creating an engaging contrast with the protagonist’s core motivations that retains the pervasive sense of keeping secrets even from the closest associates.
The portrayal of the trolls harkens back to the almost-genetically evil creatures of Tolkien and early successors. Whether this adds or detracts will depend on whether a reader has strong feelings on moral relativism in fantasy.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking a story in which characters hold things back in the way most people do, rather than always putting the quest against great evil first.
June 13, 2018
This is an epic fantasy the likes of which I haven’t read in years. It grabbed my attention immediately and kept it firmly in its grip. I finished this book in two sittings, which says a lot at somewhere in the region of 350 pages. I got a copy via KU, and would have given a solid 5 stars if not for the many sentences with missing words, as well as hyphens trying to do the job of dashes, all leading to re-reading being needed to make sense of the narrative at those points. Apart from those hiccups, I cannot recommend this book highly enough and am heading for book 2 in the saga. While it is open-ended to lead in to the sequel, it isn’t a cliff-hanger, and I feel that the ending is well rounded and enticing. I’d rate this up there with Guy Gavriel Kay and Tolkien for sure. It looks like this is another author to add to my faves list!
June 25, 2023
This is a thrilling story which shares several aspects with a lot of fantasy stories. So you probably find similarities to "the fellowship of the ring" or any other clasic fantasy you like.
Several people who didn't know each other joined to help one of them to fulfill an almost imposible quest which is the only hope against a great dark power growing and threatening the whole world.
But then there are original points to make this one different. The flaws of the heroes and the long plan of the bad one. Things that nobody else see shouldn't exist, do they? Treason, love and misunderstandings.
Sometimes the characters think too much, and changing points of view can be confusing.
Honestly the story is good enough to look for its end, though I must say reading the two prequels (trading knives and what is needed) helps a lot to understand the general situation.
Several people who didn't know each other joined to help one of them to fulfill an almost imposible quest which is the only hope against a great dark power growing and threatening the whole world.
But then there are original points to make this one different. The flaws of the heroes and the long plan of the bad one. Things that nobody else see shouldn't exist, do they? Treason, love and misunderstandings.
Sometimes the characters think too much, and changing points of view can be confusing.
Honestly the story is good enough to look for its end, though I must say reading the two prequels (trading knives and what is needed) helps a lot to understand the general situation.
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