Darkshine

Darkshine #1

by R.D. Vallier

AWARDS:
*B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree
*2016 National Indie Excellence Awards, Fantasy Finalist
*2016 The Wishing Shelf Book Awards-Red Ribbon Winner
*2017 Readers' Favorite Honorable Mention in Urban Fantasy
*2017 Kindle Book Award, Semi-Finalist

Miriam always knew something wasn’t quite right with her life, but it isn’t until a clash with the supernatural that she discovers her entire existence is built upon lies. Now two magical beings are promising the truth. One problem: Only one version is correct and each insists the other will bring her destruction.

When Miriam discovers secrets that can destroy her husband’s political campaign, she finds the strength to escape his abuse and seek her true and magical birthright. But he refuses to lose his wife so easily, and will hunt her down to assure his secrets are never exposed.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction, Fae

277 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 21, 2016

About the author

The highlight of R.D. Vallier’s award-winning career was when her 6th grade teacher threatened to call CPS over a story about a runaway and a magical wolf. She avoided government capture, but continued creating dark tales in secret. Now she’s living the cliche as a storyteller in the remote wilderness, handcrafting an off-grid homestead with straw and mud and whatever she scrounges from the landfill. She holds degrees in wildlife management and hard knocks, only feels at home on the road, and believes humanity illuminates the most brilliantly during darkness.

Dark Ember, Book 2 in the Darkshine series, is now available!

You can peek into her life at www.rdvallier.com

Reviews

[gj indieBRAG · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are proud to announce that DARKSHINE by R.D. Vallier is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells a reader that this book is well worth their time and money!

[Porch Swing Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC of Darkshine by R.D. Vallier in exchange for an honest review.

Darkshine by R.D. Vallier is the first book in the Darkshine series.

Darkshine is an exquisite fantasy novel. From the very beginning, Darkshine grasped my attention and had me begging for more. R.D. Vallier's writing flows smoothly throughout the entire novel. The details and imagery that are included in Darkshine made me feel like I was right in the middle of all the action with Miriam, Orin, and Delano.

I really enjoyed how Darkshine is a fantasy novel that revolves around adults and, likewise, is a more mature fantasy story. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series! I actually wanted to start it immediately after I finished Darkshine, but unfortunately it doesn't come out until next year....

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from LoP.

This was an interesting book. I was sucked it from the beginning and right away didn't like Sam. Miriam went through quite an adventure and it was great seeing her gain inner strength. I liked Delano instantly, he just seemed gentle and caring. Orin, I was suspicious of BC you could tell he wasn't telling her Everything and became angry when Miriam questioned him. I ended up feeling bad for him in the end since everything he knew was a lie. As for trusting spiders, um no. I've held moths in my hand before and they just sat there. spiders I'm terrified of, maybe this is why lol. Miriam made the right choice in the end going with Delano, I would like to find out how her journey goes in the next book.

Thank you for letting me read your book:)

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, earthy, roller coaster ride of a story whose theme has never been more relevant than it is right now.

Can't wait for the next one.

[Angela's Booked · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won’t go into the details of what was wrong with this book because I don’t have the time, but it’s safe to say that it was literally everything.

[Lori Mahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway and really didn't know what to expect, but I was really pleasantly surprised. I couldn't put the book down! I usually don't get into too many fantasy books, but this one had such great characters that I found myself hanging onto every word. R.D Vallier really has a gift with fluid writing and character enrichment. Throwing in a couple of really whopping surprise twists threw me for a loop, but it made it so much fun to read. I look forward to reading more by R.D. Vallier because I just became a new fan.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reeeeeally loved this book. Want more of it. I hated to stop reading because of work or dinner making. Liked how Miriam grew with every thing that happened. And i think she can grow even more to outcome the strong woman she actually is. A story with twists♡ Made me enjoy it very very much. Ready for Book#2 ♡♡♡♡

[JanEyre9 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish we could award half stars because Darkshine really deserves a 3.5. I will admit I did not love it but I did find myself wondering about the characters and looking forward to returning to them. The plot is quick paced and ever moving forward which lays down a thrilling baseline. The characters are interesting and well developed, though I wanted more out of their growth and interactions. Luckily this is only the first book of a series so I know there is more to come! The main character, Miriam, takes one hell of a journey of discovery and, as a sucker for faeries and magic, it was so much fun to read. It’s not all sunshine and roses, far from it, but it is always exciting to lose yourself in a new world. I wanted more of that however, more questions asked and answered about the faerie world, but later developments in the book explain why this isn’t freely given. I found myself frustrated with Miriam at times at her meekness with Sam, especially after she has the cleansing and felt stronger to face him. I wanted so badly for her to be more assertive and to find her inner strength. But whenever I felt annoyed the author would subtly remind us of why Miriam is who she is – she was emotionally and mentally (perhaps also physically, I wasn’t sure) abused my her alcoholic, mean mother who kicker her out at 18 and has gone her entire life having the voice of failure ringing in her brain. She found solace and escape with her husband who not only doesn’t respect or appreciate her but cheats on her and acts annoyed that she deemed to discover it. The woman is a mess and her weakness at times actually seems realistic and relatable. The author did a great job at reminding us of where Miriam comes from and how hard it can be so shed the negative ways we see ourselves. My favorite part of this book was trying to figure out which side is good and which side is bad. Miriam has a huge choice to make, the lightness or faeries or the eternal night of darklings, Orin or Delano, and I liked that it wasn’t simple or straightforward. There are still many questions to be answered and I will definitely be picking up the 2nd book when it comes out to continue with Miriam down the path of understanding.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the author through LoP in exchange for an honest review.

Miriam always felt like an outsider. Her mother hates her, people are wary of her, and she never fit in anywhere. Even her long stale marriage to her high school sweetheart didn’t pan out. He has little interest in her other than bad talking her and ignoring her in favor of his career. She’s lonely, tired, and has low self-esteem. However, Miriam’s life changes forever when she finds out that the reason she never fit in is because she’s a changeling living in the human world. She now has to make a choice between three completely different worlds as she embarks on a whirlwind adventure that allows her to find herself.

R.D. Vallier has created such a wonderful series opener that immediately sucked me in. One of the things that I like about this story is that Miriam is so relatable to anyone who has low self-esteem. It is also relatable to anyone who has ever felt like they were on the outside looking in at any point of their life. I understood why Miriam felt so stuck in what seemed like a safe relationship even though it was really tearing her apart. As she’s thrust into the supernatural world, she finds herself confused. Who is telling her the truth? Who is good and who is evil? As the story progresses, it becomes clear that all is not what it seems. She has a difficult choice ahead of her and becomes faced with choosing what is easy or what is right.

The characters are absolutely fascinating. Nature has chosen sides just like Miriam must choose, and we see them communicating with various characters throughout the story. Orin and Delano are both suspicious characters in their own way. Orin paints a beautiful tale that seems too good to be true while Delano is the mysterious bad boy who is not what he seems. The many characters they meet long their adventures are neat and memorable, and I found myself hoping that the world will eventually see Sam’s manipulative ways. It’s an excellent story that I highly recommend!

[Catherine Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fairy, bad fairy: but which is which?

Friendless and estranged from her family, Miriam has always felt an outsider, different from everyone else. The only person she has is her husband, and she’s not so sure about him. So when she’s told magic exists, that she’s really a changeling and not human at all, it doesn’t take much to convince her to leave her old life behind. Problem is, there are two fairies, as different as night and day, with different versions of the truth. Who should she trust?

I found the start a little slow to get going, but good writing and well-developed characters kept me turning the pages, and once the plot is established it kicks along nicely. The fairies here aren’t the twinkly-magic-flying-little-people variety, they’re humans but prettier, with magic, from an alternate world.

Overall: an engaging story, very readable and entertaining throughout.

Though labelled as Book 1 and with clear series potential, this reads well as a standalone story.

Expect sexual references.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this copy as a giveaway prize through Goodreads. All opinions given are strictly my own.

First of all I want to say wow! what an incredible book. This book is so beautifully written I found myself literally unable to put it down. I have never read a book that had so much to offer. I loved the whole good verses evil idea and then the question starts coming up as to the way we automatically perceive things and how it warps what we thing is good verses evil. Oh gosh you guys have to read this book if you havent. I will be picking up anything that RD Vallier writes. The style this novel was written is so effortless for us as the reader to zoom through it with the ability to retain all of the information given along the way. I never found myself having to read and reread a sentence because I didnt understand what it was supposed to mean or to try to find the hiddend intent behind the words. I could literally go on and on about this novel. I have never been so happy to win a Goodreads giveaway in my life! So great, please pick this one up...I promise it will not disappoint!

[TDCbookreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book literally took me by surprise, going into this book I honestly thought it was just going to be about some ass hat of a husband. That itself drew me in by the way! I love reading paranormal and the Fey, so when I found out this book was both I was thrilled. This book doesn't delve too much into the story line, but it does make you anxious for the second book. There were so many things unsaid that I actually looked on Amazon for the second book.

Miriam is literally the "slave" of her husband, he doesn't take her to work or let her use the vehicle, in which she has to walk several miles to work and also along the way do grocery shopping. I was completely disgusted for how her husband treated her. Her mother or "mother" has made her so low in self esteem, that I actually hoped she would go up to her and smack her where it hurts.

This book was very well done and I can't wait for the second book :)

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darkshine is a first novel and, I thought, very well done. The characters were believable, the backstory sad but planned out to meet the main story so all made sense.

The worst part of being adopted is not knowing you are. (Trust me, I know this one!) Miriam is married to a total ass who thinks nothing of treating her like a scullery maid unless there is a camera around. His parents seems to feel the same way and, since she was tossed aside by her mother at an early age; poor Miriam doesn't have a lot of self-esteem. Until.......

Christmas Dinner is a disaster, her husband is screaming, his family is frowning so Miriam grows some and leaves. In the middle of the night. In pajamas. She hops a train and learns a lot about herself she had never imagined.

I truly enjoyed this book as I believe you will, too.

[Terrible Timy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extended review can be read here: https://starlitbook.com/2018/03/19/da...

Interesting story with great characters. I like how evil and good mixes up in their personalities. There are some unexpected twists and it's full of action. I think people can easily relate to Miriam's situation. Usually I am not really fond of female characters, however I can symphatize with her and root for her to find the right answer for her questions.
As for me, the most interesting was the Realm, which reminded me how communism worked (and still works in some countries). It was given back perfectly. I'm waiting for the next book and wonder what will happen to Miriam, Delano (he was my favorit by the way), Orin and the others.

[Caryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read all year. Characters so nasty I found myself hating them out loud. I loved the way it kept me guessing and trying to figure out what was good or evil. Highly recommend!!!

[Cindar Harrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars -

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It has a great premise and new take on fairies.

First, the problems:

The first line, and really the whole first chapter, did very little to draw me in. The book takes quite a while to get going and I felt the first several chapters were overwritten. The writing isn't bad, but could benefit from tightening. The repetitive use of 'dark' and its derivatives got old pretty quickly, many of the opening analogies made little sense to me, and really I felt like it was trying too hard to be creepy. Then various phrases are used over and over throughout the book becoming monotonous.

By chapter 7 I was wondering when the actual story would start. The terrible emotional abuse of her husband and in-laws got really, really old. They are horrible people who don't like her. I got it. Move on. I wanted her to take action or something more exciting to happen besides some strange wildlife activity.

It is not until chapter 10 that she takes action and starts thinking for herself, and even then, the Big Bad that you keep hearing about doesn't show up until chapter 14.

After that, things picked up and drew me in. The overall pace improved and the plot unfolded. The only other complaint I had was that one of the main characters, and the only one tied to the book's namesake, disappeared for quite a while.

The good stuff:

I won't go into too much detail here as I don't want to give away any spoilers.

The rest of the book went smoothly with little to no issues and made up for the beginning.

Characters were interesting and well described. The magic had a different feel to it. Worldbuilding was interwoven into the story nicely. I was pleased with how the story developed and the ending. Although this is book one, it did have a satisfying ending that gave me a sense of closure. There is a clear direction for the sequel, but the main conflicts were tied up neatly.

I would certainly recommend this book. Despite the rocky start, this was an enjoyable read with plenty of conflict and action. I intend to read the next installment.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ramona Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a unique approach on faeries! The author has a nice flow in her story, keeping the pace just right. Her writing style is pleasant. The plot of this story is unique to faeries, at least for the ones I have read to date. I always appreciate when an author finds a new angle or uniqueness to shows us the world of the paranormal.

Miriam is a very likable character, true to her heart and wants to please everyone else, but eventually wakes up and realizes that she did nothing wrong. She is a different kind of heroine, growing throughout the story. Her sensitivity is what makes her strong, and not weak like some want her to believe. Delano is a good addition to the story and really adds depth to the story. Orin appears to be a leming, just saying yes to what the authorities tell him. It was pleasant to find he has a heart and will stop the yes saying when his morals are conflicted. He has the heart at the right spot, just needs more guidance on what to believe and what not to.

I really enjoyed this book and hope the next one will come out soon.

I have received this book from the author for an honest review. (LoP, Lovers of Paranormal)

[Tanya Prasad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written interesting book.
Miriam feels like a lost soul. She couldn't be a perfect daughter nor a perfect wife. Who is she ? What's her purpose ?
One fine day things just change for her. She is met with talking birds and spiders who are her protectors. Are fairies real ? Is there actually a world outside the one Miriam lives in ? Will she ever fit in ?
I connected to Miriam easily. From the very start the book sucks you in. I felt pity on the way she kept underestimating herself. How she could never feel she was enough for anyone.
I felt like clobbering Sam. He was such a pig. Delano is mysterious, dark and sexy. Orin is the opposite. Who should Miriam trust ? The author keeps you guessing till the end.
Their connection between Miriam and Delano feels real and I was rooting for them.
Eagerly waiting for the next part.
Recommended for an interesting light read !
PS - I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Koolaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the author through LoP in exchange for an honest review.

I finally got into this book when she left Sam. Thank God I could not get my hand around his neck. My wife would have killed him by the 3rd page (lol).

It was nice to find out the different thoughts about the same place just because you grew up on different sides. Sorta like the countries we live in. I guess everyone can get brainwashed into a way of thinking by being around the same thoughts of people. Just glad that Miriam had both points of view at the same time to finally make her decision.

Orin was the gullible one it seems and Delano had his head on straight. I can not wait to see where R.D. Vallier will take us in the next installment.

[Daleine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darkshine would have been a really good book if not for the rough language. Darkshine is the story of a young housewife who is mentally abused. When suddenly her life is turned upside down. She learns that her husband is having an affair with a man and that she is told that she is a changling. Two magical beings are trying to tell her about who she really is. However, they are telling two different stories. If she goes with the wrong one it will lead to her destruction. I put this book down many times because of language but admit that I read to the end because I needed to know who she chose. I will not read the others because of language.

[Audiobookreviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book with a request for an unbiased and honest review. NOTE: This author received an IndieBRAG Medallion for this book.

Everyone loves fairy tales, especially when they are caught in a situation that keeps them from experiencing life on their terms.

“Fairy tales had taunted my imagination throughout my childhood. They made me believe anything was possible, from talking animals to granted wishes to flying carpets and candy homes. But as I aged, those adults who had seduced my imagination with these tales ripped them away.”

Such was the life of Miriam, the wife of Sam and mother of none. Miriam led a quiet, unassuming life being ruled by her husband, Sam and the demeaning voice of her long gone mother which kept her in line. Of course her in-laws weren’t much better and for fifteen years, Miriam was a dutiful wife … then came the Chickadee, spiders and moths … then Orin and Delano. Then the truth!

Miriam is thrust into a world that she had only known as fairytales and her decisions turn deadly. Will she survive? Who can she trust? Who is good and who is evil? Sometimes, the light and the darkness are not what they seem …

R.D. Vallier tells a wonderful story that takes several twists and turns while keeping the readers on the edge of their chairs. Well written, the storyline flowed smoothly as the plot moved forward. Character development was strong and clear. R.D. clearly created characters and a plot that readers connected with from beginning to end.

R.D.’s descriptions and dialogs were fantastic with clear imagery. She touches something inside each of us who believes in fairytales – fairies, gnomes, giants, talking creatures and more. This is a fun book that will keep you reading from beginning to end and wanting to learn about Miriam’s next adventure!

R.D. is an accomplished writer; a wordsmith of fantasy that captivates her readers completely. This is a wonderful book! WordsAPlenty gives this delightful book and author a five-star rating for its engaging style and creativity for bringing fairytales to life in an enjoyable and exciting manner.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Darkshine
Author: R. D. Vallier
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 17
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 5/10
Of the 17 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
9 thought the cover was good or excellent.
17 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
8 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
‘Exciting, dark and tons happening. Just too slow to get going. The cover also needs a little work to really pull the reader in. Also, it looks like a cover for YA. I liked the story, and the characters developed well.’ Mae reader, aged 32
‘I liked the fact it was fantasy but with a backdrop of domestic abuse. Very original. The beginning just needs a little more punch.’ Female reader, aged 52
‘The cover’s all wrong for this book. It’s too young for the story. The writing style is, generally, excellent. Yes, it’s a bit slow in the first six or so chapters but the language is beautiful; in fact, character and setting description is probably this author’s most powerful tool.’ Male reader, aged 55
‘Slow start ten it picks up. I was thoroughly enthralled by the end. I will read the next.’ Female reader, aged 29

To Sum It Up:
‘A captivating, often chilling tale. A Red Ribbon winner and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Ari Ovalle · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I signed up for a read-for-review through a group, here, on Goodreads. The Author provided an ecopy, I read the book, and here is my review.*

Darkshine, in it's own neat way, blew me away. The reason was because we're dealing with Faeries. This is for Adults, (go away little teenagers, or come to the dark side, lol pun intended.) with adult themes and adult situations. Our main character is a Changeling not too shocking when we're dealing with Faeries though. But what is shocking was this chick realizes this halfway through her life. She's already living a mundane life. She's got a husband, who is a bit of a misogynistic, creepy, cop-loser. Truly, I am repulsed. She accepts her life his 'normal'. There's a saying that comes to mind, "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." Yea, only certain events happen that throws all that out of the window and she's trusted into a world where a.) She's got to survive. Easier said than done. b.) She's constantly trying to figure out the truth in all those garbled lies. c.)She's got to find out who she is, all by herself. This book is adventurous, magical, and downright neat. I can honestly say that I have never read a book like this. Or in other words, I cannot compare it to anything else I've read. It's unique and it's truly a blessing from the Book Gods when you come across a book like this because all I want is more.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply enthralling.

Miriam is stuck in a life where she feels she doesn't quite fit. Her mother despises her. Her husband is emotionally abusive. Her In-laws constantly berate her. On Christmas Eve when she gets the shocking realization of finding that her husband is cheating on her, she snaps, and jumps a train. Soon she learns the reason why she has never felt that she fit in. She's a Changeling. A Faerie swapped with a human child. Now she has to get back to the Faerie Realm to learn about her true life. What will her true fate be?

This book did a great job of bringing my emotions out. The treatment Miriam receives throughout the book from her family and even Orin, her faerie guide, was infuriating to me. It didn't exactly have a "happy ending", but in a way that makes me want to read the series even more. Because I want that happy ending for Miriam and I won't be happy till she gets it.

*I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. The review is my own honest opinion.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You Goodreads. I won this as a giveaway and it wasn't really along my usual style of reading until I started it. As a twist on the "I don't fit in this world", Miriam is torn on trusting a dream she aches for in a life that means acceptance as she's out of step with those around her. R.D Vallier uses two opposites in Orin and Delano and Miriam has to choose between the life they offer. She finds though that all that glitters is not gold.
This story follows how propaganda influences our perspective and choices, "Instinct versus impulse" as the author states. Her instinct was on target but thought because her heart was involved it was faulty.
Superb writing. I'm already on the next book as I'm hooked.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read fairytale fiction books, so it was quite a surprise for me to not just read the book but also capture my attention and love so quickly!!
I love how the idea of good vs bad is questioned in the book. At one point I found myself not being able to decide which side I'm on, simply because the events are unpredictable, which is AMAZING. Unpredictable books are diamonds.
Miriam transversed the line between submissive and rebellious in such a beautiful way.
I was honored to obtain an early review copy in exchange for a review.

[Amy Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leaves the reader wondering

It's not a typical story about good and evil, truth and lies, and that's what brings this story together. I liked the plot and how the characters were involved with each other. Miriam had a lot self-esteem issues, but that's what gives her a more depth of character. She is one of those characters that the reader can just relate to, but there are times when she is a little annoying, too much self-doubt, but it works for her and the story. A very well written story and I look forward to reading more by Vallier.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a free copy in return for an honest review.
I was intrigued from the start. The main character was portrayed differently than others I have read, which isn't a bad thing. She's insecure and relatable but that doesn't mean she's weak or helpless. Light or dark? I kept reading to find out. Lastly, I might be in the minority on this but I love short chapters.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 stars

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miriam has spent her entire life in one loveless abusive relationship or another, growing up with a mother who hates her and blames her for all the failings in her life and then when she is grown with her verbally abusive husband. One day on her way home from work she gives some carrot cake to a chickadee who tells her that she is special and should be careful of the darkness and that a guide would be coming to help her soon. At first she can't believe it but she so wishes it to be true because it would explain so much of the grief in her life, her feelings of never belonging and being different. When Miriam finds out that her husband is having an affair with a younger man on Christmas eve at her mother-in-laws house, she flees from the constant abuse and betrayal and impulsively jump on a train. The first time the train stops Miriam jumps off and finds herself in the middle of nowhere near a cave in the woods where she meets Delano a darkling who is a fairy who has voluntarily given up the light and lives only in the darkness. The darkling's protect the earth and are the enemy of the light fairies who he says have become evil and only wish to use earth for her riches. Orin is a light fairy who has been sent to bring Miriam to the fairy realm. He tells her all about the beauty and goodness of his realm and soon Miriam begins to trust Orin and agrees to go with him ignoring her growing feelings for Delano. When Orin and Miriam get to the border of the fairy lands Miriam goes through the process of getting the wings of an earth healer wings tattooed on her back and Orin is promoted to retriever a special position where he will bring back changelings like Miriam which requires his tattoo to be altered to a different design. it is after the ceremony that Miriam discover to her horror that the wings she received are those of a lowly mine worker and that all Delano had told her was truth. Orin tries to save Miriam by letting her escape and is whipped ruining his new tattoo and making them both outlaws of the realm hen they do escape. With no other option left to him Orin joins the resistance and Mariam free to finally give in to the feelings she has for Delano and the dark magic growing inside her. I look forward to reading the next book in the Darkshine series to find out what happens to Miriam, Delano and Orin and the war between the light and dark fairies. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and I'm glad to recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy, action, adventure and romance.