Legend of the Quill

The Prophet’s Tale

by Astra Crompton

Only one can save us . . . but he’s been dead for eight hundred years.

The prophet Bimear Sasharr has just foreseen the destruction of his homeland—and the Great Mage who could save his people is dead. Only Sasharr can resurrect the Great Mage but, to do so, he’ll have to locate and decipher the mage’s ancient Quill.

An undefeated conqueror is storming across the Uncrossable Ocean to colonize their lands for the glory of his king and the salvation of his soul. If he finds the Quill first, nothing can stand in his way.

Now Sasharr must undertake a gruelling quest to retrieve the lost artifact—all while battling his own psychic gifts—to resurrect the greatest power the world has ever known.

Legend of the Quill is book one of The Prophet’s Tale trilogy.

Genres: Fantasy

443 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main word I can say is WOW.

This book was amazing. The writing was beautifully done. The way it flowed, and the wording used. It felt elegant.

The characters felt so real and well-rounded. They were believable. Especially the main character. The depth given to him was wonderful.

The world building in this book is also really well-done. It's a different take on some of the more common things I see in fantasy, and I really enjoyed that. It's a nice break from the regular fantasy novels I read, and it was refreshing to read something different.

I enjoyed the switching of POV, and I really liked getting to see things from the antagonist's POV as well. It made it more interesting to me.

I also adored the little illustrations at each chapter heading. It felt like it really added something to it, and I found myself looking forward to seeing them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC to review.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to extend a very large thank you to the author for providing an ARC for review. There may be some spoilers present in this review.

With vivid worldbuilding and strong character development, this truly is a perfect balance between character and world-driven story. The main protagonist, Sasharr, presents as a real living and breathing individual, struggling with the reality that is his path forward. How Sasharr feels both empowered and lost within his own life at times feels identical in many ways to the human experience that many of us are exposed to in our own lives. The outside POVs allow for further insight into the world that Sasharr is trying to save and create contextual clues into the extremes to which he is subjected.

Juxtaposed as a savior in his own world, Kigäli, the main antagonist, presents as Sasharr's complement and opposite. In many ways that Sasharr struggles with his own destiny, Kigäli takes the reins but struggles with the justification in some moments for how far he is willing to go. There is an intricate exposure of faith vs action, as a "the ends justify the means" dilemma that the reader is subjected to within Kigäli's mission.

The development of both journeys is created through the use of tropes, flipped on their head as I have never seen. A group of rag tag heroes struggling through the world around them, balanced between nature, politics, and their own familial conflicts. Crompton paints a tale so well rounded, I could barely put the book down.

This novel is rich with entrancing races and unique, never seen before cultural experiences. While the world building is advanced and there is so much to understand of each race explored, every character presents as a necessary building block to the adventure that is Sasharr's journey. To perhaps a fault, the details developed across the whole book can be overwhelming, but Crompton paces a story lasting years into easily understandable and well integrated bite-sized pieces. Call backs occur in numerous instances, only solidifying the captivating world of Ul-Zaorith.

A story of advanced magic and the extreme measures one must take to save the only world they know, Legend of the Quill will stand as one of my favorite novels and most unique reads. I greatly look forward to the sequel.

[Lizardley]

DNFed at 27% because I just can't take this anymore.

This was really not good at all. The plot is... I honestly don't know how to describe it. I've been telling people that I've been reading this book, and when they ask me to say what it's about, I've been struggling. It's weird, because on the one hand, this is a simple story about a guy charged with a task by destiny. On the other hand, I barely know what he's trying to do, and I did think he was the Great Mage for a while. I want to talk about characters who aren't Sasharr when describing the plot, somewhat out of spite because he's the only character mentioned on the blurb, but no one else is really worth mentioning. Every character is incredibly flat and doesn't really act like a person. This is perhaps most egregious in Sasharr, our protagonist and perhaps the least interesting character in the novel, considering that he periodically is taken over by a spirit to talk through him and advance the plot. He has so little agency, and his lack of agency isn't handled in an interesting way. Can someone tell me why Sasharr decided to leave home without telling his family? I'm genuinely curious. He did not need to do that, seemed very cut-up that he was doing it, but to my knowledge and understanding, there was absolutely no reason he needed to do that.

The worldbuilding is far too convoluted and complicated for its own good. Crompton tends to introduce a lot of concepts and names all at once. Towards the beginning of the novel, I was inclined to try to remember these, but once they got to the city with the king and some guy began listing the different orders of knights, I could feel my brain shutting off. Additionally, some of the world building details are so insane that it pulled me out of the story entirely. Why is the sky randomly mentioned to be purple? Why has this medieval European flavored society not discovered iron? What? The fact that Crompton writes campaign settings for TTRPGs makes a lot of sense, because all of this feels emblematic of someone writing a book set in the world that they've made for a TTRPG game, but they aren't particularly good at writing a book.

Let's briefly touch on the frankly baffling racial politics of this novel, because there were some moments that made me incredibly uncomfortable. Everything about the Briandynians was very weird. Why on earth was Sasharr vaguely sexually attracted to both Briandynians that he met during the novel, including one that he just rescued from being sex trafficked for a pedophile? What does this add to the story? The constant sexualization of these people by Sasharr's internal monologue really isn't the insightful commentary that it seems to think it is. Kägali having features often associated with POC, having "red" skin, and being described as a "brute" and in similar terms is lazy and plays into stereotypes about non-white men being monstrous. I could tolerate the world building and characters (barely), but this was where I drew the line. The scene with Kholjaiyin in particular was almost my final straw.

To put it lightly, I do not recommend. I am not providing a star rating because I did not finish the book, but I would not give it a high one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Enrichment Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Astra Crompton and Victory Editing for providing me with an ARC of this fantastic book!


This book was absolutely stunning. Crompton had me gripped from the very first page, wanting to get further into the story and explore more of the world.

It was a seamless blend of fantasy and adventure, balanced out with heartwarming and relatable characters.


Crompton's writing style is immersive and enchanting. The vivid descriptions of landscapes and magic really bring the story to life and make it easy for the reader to feel involved. 


The story has multiple POVs following a diverse selection of characters. This means that not only do we get a very comprehensive insight into the main character Sasharr's reasonings and beliefs, we also get this understanding for the antagonist, Kigäli, as well. 

Whilst I found it very easy to relate to Sasharr and his struggle with embracing his destiny, I also really loved having the insight and understanding of the antagonists actions and interpretations as well! 

The multiple POVs is such a great addition to the story as it enables the reader to truly appreciate the thoughts, feelings and intentions behind the actions of the characters.


Sasharr in particular was relatable in a very real way. He didn't have conviction or believe in himself. He questioned himself; his choices; the world around him and the prophecy in general. When Sasharr was frustrated, it was easy to see why. When he acted bravely, we were treated to a very realistic "could I have approached that differently" processing period afterwords. 


Crompton also, thoughtfully, provided a list of trigger warnings at the start of the book which is always so appreciated as it allows readers to be aware of what to expect going in. 


Legend of the Quill beautifully conveys powerful themes of friendship; loyalty; and self-discovery. It's a tale that I know will leave a lasting impact until the next installment. Crompton has done marvellously with this novel, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Whether you're a longtime fan of fantasy or new to the genre, Legend of the Quill is a must-read that promises an unforgettable journey.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good! Excellent, gritty fantasy writing. A great introductory book to the world of Ul-Zaorith, featuring hours of fantastic goodness. No elves or dwarves here, just brand new races, each with their own unique and rich culture.

[Ember · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author who provided me with an Arc copy through NetGalley!

While I rated this a 5, I would say that if I could provide ratings in decimals, I'd likely give this a 4.7 or 4.8. It was so close to being perfect for me. This may contain vague spoilers.

Summarized Pros:
• Breathes life back into old and overdone tropes with unexpected twists; feels fresh and new
• Extremely well written characters; reader feels a full spectrum of emotions without feeling forced
• Good character development
• Immersive world-building
• Gives content warnings
• Challenges the concepts of good vs evil, contrasting social & cultural expectations, and more
• Pacing is good; the parts that had less action or weren't as dialogue heavy still felt compelling
• Not your typical "Chosen One" or "Prophecy" story

Unlike many people who review books, I am not an avid reader. It's not that I dislike books, but rather that with my inability to create images in my head, it is very easy for me to become bored or distracted when trying to read a book. I almost never finish books, and if I do it's over the course of months or the better part of a year. Not days.

Such was not the case with Legend of the Quill. I actually found myself trying to sneak in further reading during times when I should have been doing anything but.

The MC, Sasharr, isn't your typical protagonist and that's part of what makes me like him so much. He's believable and real. Instead of being the kind of character a lot of people wish they could BE—someone bold, daring, edgy, seductive, etc—Sasharr is instead someone many of us can already see a piece of ourselves in. He is anxious and uncertain; resilient and brave; at times awkward and naive. He feels the injustices of the world deeply and is dismayed by complacency. He cares about others, and he gives so much of himself. Certainly far more than he ought to, even though he knows the cost is his own well-being.

The two biggest things I like about this book is that it's self-aware, but also the writing is done in such a way that any confusion or mixed feelings we have about what's happening is mirrored by the characters. This is very much a story about "the journey", and in a world where everyone wants swift gratification and constant action, this book finds a way to slow things down without becoming boring.

When the MC has been travelling for the better part of a year, you feel as though you have been travelling with him. When you feel like you're not getting where you want to go fast enough, the MC is lamenting the same frustrations. The author has managed to achieve, rather artfully, a shared expression between reader and author (at least for me). I am not bothered by the slightly slower pace of the journey because it doesn't READ like a slow story with how it enraptures you like a spell. Every moment has a purpose. You feel and experience things with the characters instead of simply being told what you should be feeling.

My biggest pet peeve in books is staying in the POV of someone I disagree with strongly and dislike as a character. It happens a lot. The way many characters are written these days inevitably leads to me disengaging or being thrown out of the story. It leaves me feeling frustrated with the protagonist more often than not. While I understand some people dislike multi-POV books, with how different each character is and how well-rounded the cast is, I think this is probably one of the biggest strengths of the book. I enjoy seeing inside their heads, to see the motivations, how they are perceived by the rest of the cast. Because I am not trapped inside one POV the entire time, I have the freedom to agree or disagree with the choices being made by the individuals we're following in that moment without fear of things becoming stale or tiresome.

Alongside Sasharr I grieve for the life he can never have, feel empathy for all the things he must give up, and can appreciate the urgency and fraying temper as the timer begins to run out. With Kigäli—our main antagonist—I can feel his drive, experience the focused and strategic nature with which he operates, but I am also given the chance to see inside his mind to find that maybe, just maybe, there is hope for him yet. I suppose we'll find out in the books ahead.

I can't express enough how refreshingly different this story reads. All other books lately have felt very formulaic, but I genuinely never knew what would happen next or what twists might occur. Everything felt organic and exciting. I so often guess what will happen next, usually right from the outset. But this isn't your typical prophecy story, and I'm glad for it.

I can't way for the Battle of Heroes, and I hope many other readers will take a chance on this book and learn to love the world the same way I came to love it.

As for any cons, they mostly come from personal preference and wishing for a bit more clarity on how certain things worked in the world, but I understand how doing so would take away from the story by weighing it down with too much explanation. Lucky for me, there's a big ol' glossary in the back of the book that goes over language translations and provides further definitions for things.

[Witchy Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

If high fantasy, with multiple characters, settings, and POVs that are covered in great detail is your thing, then this is the book for you. Unfortunately, it isn't what I was hoping for, but I can admit that this might be more of a me thing. I also had a hard time getting through this, both for the things I'm about to mention and the length. Fully willing to admit it was partly because of my ADHD.

I think this is a great story that is overly written. The book managed to make me feel that where the book begins was simultaneously too early and too late into the story. Let me explain.

The MC has a voice in his head and has visions that set him apart as an outcast in his small community. When we see the interaction between him and the voice in his head for the first time you wouldn't know that he has lived with this voice in his head and had this ability since he was a young child. The voice speaks as if it has just appeared and he has pretty much zero control of his ability. It's made clear the voice is there to teach him control, but if that is the case why does it appear that he knows nothing as a young adult? He then receives a magical pendant that confirms he is the chosen prophet who will bring about the resurrection of the great mage by seeking the quill (I honestly love this narrative choice for the story and it is why I wanted to read it).

It is made clear that the pendant is almost a living thing and directs the MC where he needs to go. If that is the case, I have to wonder what the point of having the voice in his head appear prior to him getting the gem is needed. I personally think it would have worked better to have the voice appear when he received the gem. Solidifying the gem as a living magical thing and fixing the plot hole of him still being an amateur at his abilities. I also had a hard time relating to the MC because there were too many moments where his immaturity about his situation clashed against the scope of what he was meant to do. There is a way to present this well and I know it could've been done better.

We then switch POVs to other characters. One is the antagonist. I was not a fan of getting his POV, not because I think he is a bad character, but because it removed the tension from finding out he is the villain. The moment the MC and the villain meet in the dungeons carried a lot of weight that was lost when I had already been in this guy's head. Not knowing what he was thinking would have made that scene infinitely better in my opinion. I think keeping a certain mystery around the antagonist would have elevated that character immensely for me.

I did enjoy the deeper interactions between the characters. Those were the highlights of the book and I wish the story had focused more on the intimate moments versus the sprawling epicness of the journey. Honestly, it's those intimate moments that saved the book for me and it's why I'm rating it as I am. I think those scenes were well-written and needed to be showcased more. I understand that this was meant to be this epic high fantasy, but that's not what ultimately drew my interest.

I do not think this needed to be as long as it was. When those character moments weren't happening it became increasingly difficult to get through as my mind would become overwhelmed with all the terminology and lore that was being thrown at me. This happened A LOT and never seemed to stop. I think making the story more concise and focusing more on the characterization, while tightening the lore around the characters would have served it well.

However, I would probably still recommend this book if you are a high fantasy lover. I can admit that this is a genre I normally wouldn't seek out. But this sounded interesting and I wanted to give it a go to see if it would be a different experience. Sad to say it wasn't.

[Bo Tozer · Rating 5 out of 5]

You start reading Legend of the Quill with exactly 0% knowledge about this universe. The animals and people might remind you of others, but the world is quite unique. It gives you about 3 chapters to settle in, until you're whisked away on the adventure of a lifetime.
This reader wasn't expecting the amount of character depth each character would be given, or the kind of lush and deep lore the author seamlessly integrates into the chapters. By Chapter 7 or 8, I thought I knew where the story was going, and then it took a turn and the character I thought was going to be a staple in the book ended up... not being there anymore. This is when I just couldn't put the book down.
The antagonist has his own chapters, and the reader is given quite a deep dive into their intentions and exactly what victory means to him. The conflicts he has are akin to that of the main protagonist and that just adds fuel to the fire of needing to see where this whole thing is going. He's brutal, but it makes sense that he doesn't like the people of that land, they aren't his people. His entire fleet was destroyed and he's the only one who can carry out his King's decree.
The protagonist is quite a complex character, especially given his prophetic nature. Just when you think you understand his gifts, they betray him or leave him stranded. Just when you think he's learned, he's taken by surprise by something. His personality comes off as a bit bland, but it's easily outweighed by how his path is constantly interrupted by one thing or another. You start realizing if he was anyone else, he wouldn't be as composed as he was, you start believing in him as slowly as he starts believing in himself.
The author takes careful measure to include the classic "Yes, but" and "No, and" formula of fantasy to their story's advantage. You're always left guessing how a conflict or part of the book will go, only to be surprisingly sobered by just how different in ends up being, or how much more screwed over Sasharr ends up. Parts of the story, or conclusions to character arcs end up being quite satisfying, despite the emotional rollercoaster they might have endured.
I found it a breath of fresh air in this day and age of countless general YA adventure stories out there. Astra Crompton has a bright future in this field, and I can't wait to get my grubby eyes on more of their books and the sequel!
Thank you for reading.

[Meaghan Bedford · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Reader Review, thank you Astra Crompton for a copy of Legend of the Quill.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
This was an absolutely stunning and incredible read. Legend of the Quill is the epitome of high fantasy, a beautiful magical world that’s so well rounded and developed. I had such an easy time envisioning the story and believing each piece of it. The different cultures, the magic, the creatures - they are all so well written and complex.
I had no idea what to expect going into this book and I was swept away immediately with the story. Having multiple perspectives kept the plot engaging and allowed the world to be immersive and descriptive, while also allowing the reader to “see both sides”. I found the different races to be so well thought out, they had distinct cultures and beliefs with unique histories that were engaging in their own way.
No doubt about it, this was a high fantasy novel, though not for everyone and the trigger warnings are absolutely essential and appreciated. I wouldn’t describe it as having “spice” but there are many mature themes and disturbing scenes. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to everyone, however for other fantasy lovers this is a stunning read. Legend of the Quill is so well written, so beautifully descriptive and captivating, I loved every moment of it.

[Chapter Chirp (Jessica)]

ARC Review-
“Legend of the Quill” is a high fantasy tale that takes place in Ul-Zaorith, a world intricately crafted with many lands, races, languages, Gods, Goddesses, and also forms of magic. Our main character, Bimear Sasharr, is a young Fudorian man who throughout the story tangos with his destiny as the Ibalgen (savior/hero) and completing the legend of the quill. His main antagonist, Kigäli Ebarät, a Speritanian man is resolved to complete the will of his Goddess at any cost including destroying anyone or anything who tries to get in his way. I love a good underdog story which to me this was, as Sasharr was just a seemingly “average” young man. Throughout the story though, the reader meets many eccentric and fascinating side characters who in one way or another help build the story to its climax. To me, the secondary characters were my favorite as they really added so much depth to the story. The story started off a little slow for me but that’s kind of to be expected in a high fantasy story as the author is laying the groundwork, background, etc., but once the story picked up I was really drawn in to what was going to happen next. I will be checking out book two and look forward to it.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

To fans of rich world-building, characters with depth, and enthralling adventures; this one is for you. The book starts off with Bimear Sasharr, a young man from a small village with a gift that ostracizes him from the rest of the villagers. Due to a fate that he is unable to avoid, he sets off on a journey to fulfill his duty as the prophet of an ancient prophecy. Astra Crompton has a wonderful way of weaving an intricate story that you have no choice but to become invested in the plot, places, and the characters. There were times where I felt that the time skips were a bit abrupt, but I understand how such a long journey needed to be condensed as to avoid long chapters of traveling with little story progression. With all the characters having such distinct personalities, it is difficult to not take an interest in any of them. Each has a compelling backstory, told with rich narrative. I enjoyed this book dearly, and I eagerly await the next book in the series! Thank you to Astra Crompton, the publisher, and NetGalley for sending me this book to review.

[ech0reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for kindly giving me an ARC for review.

This was a really fascinating read. The world-building was expertly done and I really enoyed how the book threw you into the narrative and then expected you to keep up - it left me not knowing where the book was going to go next and I found that really engaging. The multiple character points of view were really well done, but I did find them a little bit overwhelming at times, although this is just a personal preference. All the characters drew you into their stories and I found that I had to keep reading to see where the story was going next.

Thank you to the author for putting content warnings at the start - this is sometimes overlooked but is incredibly helpful in preparing the reader for what's going to happen. Overall, a really gripping read.

[Cas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings around, this book, the writing is at once both beautiful and convoluted, the world intricate but bordered on being too intricate, too much to understand,. The first 20% or so seemed to just drag on and on, not really going anywhere, repeating the same info of world building over and over. Apart from that, it was generally ok, I enjoyed my time.

[Wren Handman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author who provided me with an Arc copy!

This is a very fun fantasy book is the vein of Tolkein and Robert Jordan. If you enjoy a chosen one set on an epic quest to save the world from ancient evil, Legend of the Quill takes that trope and does some really interesting things with it. Very detailed world-building and a lot of interesting and unique races and characters.

[Ashley Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely unique, deep, clever story that is unlike anything I've read before. Immersive world-building and complex character arcs/development. The style is very different from what I'm used to but Legend of the Quill is a beautiful story.

[D. Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read in an epic world with much more to come. The characters pull you in and feel real, while the scope of the world is clearly the work of elegance and attention to detail.

[Dana Trevino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book.

From the moment I started reading, I was drawn to the world and the intricate plot. The protagonist, Bimear is a compelling character whose journey to save his homeland is inspiriting as well as heartbreaking. I loved how this was written with multiple points of view allowing me to connect with various characters and their personal struggles.
The world building is exceptional, allowing me to immersive myself into this world. The twists and turns in the plot were unexpected and kept me guessing until the very end.
Overall, this is a must-read for fantasy lovers who enjoy complex characters and a well-crafted story. I can't wait to dive into the next book in the series!