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Weapons of Power #1
The Silver Portal
They aren’t the chosen ones.
Only the remnants of resistance remain, and as a desperate last resort, a group of wizards concocted a powerful spell. The magic went terribly wrong, and now only five misfit youths stand between a dark ruler and total domination.
Instead of the weapons of power going to the five chosen warriors, they ended up in the hands of an aspiring adventurer, a reluctant warrior, a street rat, a conflicted pacifist, and a pampered noblegirl. Separated by a continent and pursued by magic-wielding clerics, the young weaponbearers must find each other—but first they must find themselves.
An epic coming of age fantasy bursting with magic and adventure, The Silver Portal is the first book in the Weapons of Power trilogy. Set in a richly drawn world with an intricate magic system, The Silver Portal will delight lovers of page-turning sword and sorcery fantasy.
Only the remnants of resistance remain, and as a desperate last resort, a group of wizards concocted a powerful spell. The magic went terribly wrong, and now only five misfit youths stand between a dark ruler and total domination.
Instead of the weapons of power going to the five chosen warriors, they ended up in the hands of an aspiring adventurer, a reluctant warrior, a street rat, a conflicted pacifist, and a pampered noblegirl. Separated by a continent and pursued by magic-wielding clerics, the young weaponbearers must find each other—but first they must find themselves.
An epic coming of age fantasy bursting with magic and adventure, The Silver Portal is the first book in the Weapons of Power trilogy. Set in a richly drawn world with an intricate magic system, The Silver Portal will delight lovers of page-turning sword and sorcery fantasy.
- GenresFantasyComing Of Age
ebook
Published August 9, 2016
24 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
David J. Normoyle
25 books57 followersDavid was born in Australia, but moved to Ireland at an early age. The early globe crossing must have gone to his head, as he has since backpacked through and lived in numerous countries. He grew up on a farm as the eldest of nine unruly siblings, but since his escape, he prefers city living. His electronic engineering degree is currently gathering dust while he tries new and strange pursuits such as novel writing.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 31, 2016
What kept this book strongly powering on was the fact we’re dealing with 5 important characters instead of one MC. The plot was good and solid as well but the characters get the main spotlight here… They were all from different walks of life, were all unique and were dealing with their own set of inner turmoils. Apart from Lukin…
Lukin is the aspiring adventurer with a sense of humor and need for adrenaline. And beer, and women. He comes across a ring that gives him the ability to read thoughts. Always full of energy and always happy when coming across a tavern and a pretty lady, the boy is full of rusty charm.
Twig is the street rat girl, or rain people as she calls herself. Having to fight rats for a scrap of food, one night she comes across a sword that gives the speed and the power to show Takers their place. She becomes a bit of a vigilante but having lived most of her life in solitude, does she realize what is and isn’t right? It’s a lesson she must learn the hard way.
Suma is the pampered noblegirl, daughter of a Duke about to be married off to another vile-looking Duke. She respects her father, but after having found the battleaxe and having failed at the attempt at showing her father she could be more than just be married off, she learns a horrible truth and finds herself on the road, alone and not so noble anymore…
Simeon is a conflicted pacifist who shuns the ways of his people and instead of choosing a weapon as is required of him, finds and holds onto a wooden staff he found. A calm and very approachable Simeon has trouble finding his magic… until it matters the most…
Mortlebee is a reluctant warrior from the mountains where the Kale’s scrolls teach the way of a peaceful life and to always walk away from confrontation, yet Mortlebee ends up taking a life after finding the magical bow and gets sent off by his father.
All these characters have their own unique story as they travel the road after having been bonded to their own weapons of power until they finally meet each other and learn the purpose of their newly found weapons and the role they are to play. The whole story has humor, but also wisdom and quite a number of underlying questions and thoughts that should make any reader stop and ponder on for a while. Full of adventure and strong solid plot.
My rating: 4 **** – the writing was good, the pace was OK, decent cast of characters and the fantasy was interesting. The characters are a rather young bunch so even though there are hints at ‘lingering looks’ towards the opposite sex and some action scenes which give a blood drenched mental image, there is no outright/extreme scenes and no foul language, not really. A lot of potential for a mindblowing Book 2 in the series for sure.
Lukin is the aspiring adventurer with a sense of humor and need for adrenaline. And beer, and women. He comes across a ring that gives him the ability to read thoughts. Always full of energy and always happy when coming across a tavern and a pretty lady, the boy is full of rusty charm.
Twig is the street rat girl, or rain people as she calls herself. Having to fight rats for a scrap of food, one night she comes across a sword that gives the speed and the power to show Takers their place. She becomes a bit of a vigilante but having lived most of her life in solitude, does she realize what is and isn’t right? It’s a lesson she must learn the hard way.
Suma is the pampered noblegirl, daughter of a Duke about to be married off to another vile-looking Duke. She respects her father, but after having found the battleaxe and having failed at the attempt at showing her father she could be more than just be married off, she learns a horrible truth and finds herself on the road, alone and not so noble anymore…
Simeon is a conflicted pacifist who shuns the ways of his people and instead of choosing a weapon as is required of him, finds and holds onto a wooden staff he found. A calm and very approachable Simeon has trouble finding his magic… until it matters the most…
Mortlebee is a reluctant warrior from the mountains where the Kale’s scrolls teach the way of a peaceful life and to always walk away from confrontation, yet Mortlebee ends up taking a life after finding the magical bow and gets sent off by his father.
All these characters have their own unique story as they travel the road after having been bonded to their own weapons of power until they finally meet each other and learn the purpose of their newly found weapons and the role they are to play. The whole story has humor, but also wisdom and quite a number of underlying questions and thoughts that should make any reader stop and ponder on for a while. Full of adventure and strong solid plot.
My rating: 4 **** – the writing was good, the pace was OK, decent cast of characters and the fantasy was interesting. The characters are a rather young bunch so even though there are hints at ‘lingering looks’ towards the opposite sex and some action scenes which give a blood drenched mental image, there is no outright/extreme scenes and no foul language, not really. A lot of potential for a mindblowing Book 2 in the series for sure.
August 9, 2016
I received a free digital advanced reading copy of this book from the author in return for a review. The following is my honest opinion on this book:
When a spell is cast to create the Weapons of Power something goes wrong. The weapons, infused with magical powers, do not end up in the hands of their intended warriors but are spread across a continent and found by five very different youths. Possessing the weapons gives each of them mage powers. But will these powers do them any good?
‘The Silver Portal’ is the first in the Weapons of Power trilogy. It’s an amazing fantasy that I couldn’t put down. We’re introduced to the story of each of the separate teens involved. Each chapter starts with a small icon such as a sword or a staff and this lets you know straight away who this story is about or from what viewpoint. This makes reading a story from five points of view very easy through the later chapters and I got sucked right into reading this from chapter one.
Each of the misfit teens is very different and live in five different parts of the world called Mageles. There is a handy map at the start of the book, and one available on the author’s own website too of the world of Mageles which does help you get the sense of where the characters are going. Although their stories all start apart and the teens only meet some time later, the chapters are never too long to forget what’s happening to the others.
This is a fantasy story and in a typical fantasy setting, with magic, mages, swords, taverns, etc but populated by people rather than magical creatures. I’m not going to spoil the story but this is explained further in the book. There is a lot of tense action and even some humour in this fantasy novel, I couldn’t stop reading this book, every chapter is really well written and the action keeps happening.
The book is focused on the five teenagers and is called a coming-of-age fantasy book, so very suited to the teen market, but many adults will also enjoy this book due to the interesting characters, some more mature than others, and the adventure they go on together. I really liked the character of Lukin, especially the sense of humour he tries to throw into every situation. Despite being teenagers and having some good humorous moments these characters do deal with some darker issues too.
The ending of the book is a bit abrupt. While there’s a satisfying outcome to the immediate storyline this does end on a slight cliff-hanger which may annoy some but also makes you want to read the next book in the series.
There is some violence in this book. Nothing is overly graphic but blood and descriptions of killings and death will certainly make this unsuitable for younger ages. There isn’t much swearing only rare use of the s word and I like the way a made up word has been used to represent frequent stronger swearing which makes reading this much more enjoyable for those who don’t like profanity in books.
Overall this is an amazing book. I received an advanced reading copy and I’m already hooked and can’t wait for the next book in the trilogy!
When a spell is cast to create the Weapons of Power something goes wrong. The weapons, infused with magical powers, do not end up in the hands of their intended warriors but are spread across a continent and found by five very different youths. Possessing the weapons gives each of them mage powers. But will these powers do them any good?
‘The Silver Portal’ is the first in the Weapons of Power trilogy. It’s an amazing fantasy that I couldn’t put down. We’re introduced to the story of each of the separate teens involved. Each chapter starts with a small icon such as a sword or a staff and this lets you know straight away who this story is about or from what viewpoint. This makes reading a story from five points of view very easy through the later chapters and I got sucked right into reading this from chapter one.
Each of the misfit teens is very different and live in five different parts of the world called Mageles. There is a handy map at the start of the book, and one available on the author’s own website too of the world of Mageles which does help you get the sense of where the characters are going. Although their stories all start apart and the teens only meet some time later, the chapters are never too long to forget what’s happening to the others.
This is a fantasy story and in a typical fantasy setting, with magic, mages, swords, taverns, etc but populated by people rather than magical creatures. I’m not going to spoil the story but this is explained further in the book. There is a lot of tense action and even some humour in this fantasy novel, I couldn’t stop reading this book, every chapter is really well written and the action keeps happening.
The book is focused on the five teenagers and is called a coming-of-age fantasy book, so very suited to the teen market, but many adults will also enjoy this book due to the interesting characters, some more mature than others, and the adventure they go on together. I really liked the character of Lukin, especially the sense of humour he tries to throw into every situation. Despite being teenagers and having some good humorous moments these characters do deal with some darker issues too.
The ending of the book is a bit abrupt. While there’s a satisfying outcome to the immediate storyline this does end on a slight cliff-hanger which may annoy some but also makes you want to read the next book in the series.
There is some violence in this book. Nothing is overly graphic but blood and descriptions of killings and death will certainly make this unsuitable for younger ages. There isn’t much swearing only rare use of the s word and I like the way a made up word has been used to represent frequent stronger swearing which makes reading this much more enjoyable for those who don’t like profanity in books.
Overall this is an amazing book. I received an advanced reading copy and I’m already hooked and can’t wait for the next book in the trilogy!
August 10, 2016
Five weapons of power. Magic gone wrong, and instead of five trained warriors bonding to the weapons, five disparate young people from across the land become the weapons-bearers. Magically linked to the weapons, each must learn its powers and its responsibilities, evade those who want to use them for ill, and find each other across a wide and dangerous land.
David J. Normoyle's book The Silver Portal, the first book in a planned series, introduces us to the five protagonists: street urchin Twig; would-be-adventurer Lukin; noble Suma; Mortlebee, outcast from his religious community, and rebellious Simeon. Each character stands as individuals; each has their own difficulties with their unexpected weapons. Struggles with trust, ethics, personal convictions and the expectations of upbringing are central to each character's growth and development through the story, but not in a heavy-handed or preachy way. Instead, these dilemmas are an integral part of the story, handled for the most part deftly and naturally.
The writing is competent and fluid, and at the right level of difficulty for the young-adult target audience. Readers are introduced to the history, politics and magic of the world in a gradual manner, often learning along with the characters. Although in a couple of places I found myself wishing for a deeper understanding of the history, enough is given to flesh out the story and the motivations of characters.
I found the plot a bit rushed towards the end, given the fairly slow development of during most of the book. But as part of a series, the pacing may be less uneven when the book is read as an introduction to the world and the characters rather than a stand-alone story. Overall, 4 stars, for a worthy addition to young-adult fantasy.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
David J. Normoyle's book The Silver Portal, the first book in a planned series, introduces us to the five protagonists: street urchin Twig; would-be-adventurer Lukin; noble Suma; Mortlebee, outcast from his religious community, and rebellious Simeon. Each character stands as individuals; each has their own difficulties with their unexpected weapons. Struggles with trust, ethics, personal convictions and the expectations of upbringing are central to each character's growth and development through the story, but not in a heavy-handed or preachy way. Instead, these dilemmas are an integral part of the story, handled for the most part deftly and naturally.
The writing is competent and fluid, and at the right level of difficulty for the young-adult target audience. Readers are introduced to the history, politics and magic of the world in a gradual manner, often learning along with the characters. Although in a couple of places I found myself wishing for a deeper understanding of the history, enough is given to flesh out the story and the motivations of characters.
I found the plot a bit rushed towards the end, given the fairly slow development of during most of the book. But as part of a series, the pacing may be less uneven when the book is read as an introduction to the world and the characters rather than a stand-alone story. Overall, 4 stars, for a worthy addition to young-adult fantasy.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2016
This tale is a nice coming of age fantasy aimed perfectly towards the young adult market.
So this book follows the five chosen warriors.. why they were chosen we don’t truly know.. was it a mistake or is there more to these five than we might think.
Where this book really ticked the boxes for me was with the writing itself. Too many times I see a plot dumbed down too much.. This one didn’t feel like that. While the plot isn’t too complex it was nice to see it just didn’t follow a straight line.. it jumped from one person’s perspective to another and they each have their own tale rather than just one collective group tale.
The five main characters themselves are pretty interesting with their own individuality and backstory. I really enjoyed the supporting cast too.. the idea of some people possessing magic and others not, the possible conflict this could force is an idea I really like.
I have to admit I didn’t really make too many note on this one, I was too busy enjoying the tale which is fast paced at times but very enjoyable
David J. Normoyle has left a lot of space for this team to grow and I’d be interested to see how this series plays out
Honest opinion, this book is perfectly written for the young adult. Each of the characters is young and you can see they have some growing up to do and if the series does well its readers will grow up with them
There’s a little violence, nothing too bad or graphic but it will be interesting to see how this changes if the five get the chance to use their weapons of power more.
Good plot, Good characters and plenty of space for the series to grow means it hits the right spot with me
So this book follows the five chosen warriors.. why they were chosen we don’t truly know.. was it a mistake or is there more to these five than we might think.
Where this book really ticked the boxes for me was with the writing itself. Too many times I see a plot dumbed down too much.. This one didn’t feel like that. While the plot isn’t too complex it was nice to see it just didn’t follow a straight line.. it jumped from one person’s perspective to another and they each have their own tale rather than just one collective group tale.
The five main characters themselves are pretty interesting with their own individuality and backstory. I really enjoyed the supporting cast too.. the idea of some people possessing magic and others not, the possible conflict this could force is an idea I really like.
I have to admit I didn’t really make too many note on this one, I was too busy enjoying the tale which is fast paced at times but very enjoyable
David J. Normoyle has left a lot of space for this team to grow and I’d be interested to see how this series plays out
Honest opinion, this book is perfectly written for the young adult. Each of the characters is young and you can see they have some growing up to do and if the series does well its readers will grow up with them
There’s a little violence, nothing too bad or graphic but it will be interesting to see how this changes if the five get the chance to use their weapons of power more.
Good plot, Good characters and plenty of space for the series to grow means it hits the right spot with me
August 8, 2016
I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. If you wish to read the entire review, please visit my blog, Of Books and Pen!
Final Thoughts:
I suggest this book to any young reader, especially for those who feel like they don’t quite fit in. They may just connect with one, or more, of the main heroes and really gain something by reading about their trials. For any reader trying to get into the fantasy genre, this is a good book to start out with. It isn’t hardcore fantasy, but it’s a good book in the genre to get first-time readers’ feet wet, so to speak. The story isn’t really complicated, it’s pretty straight forward, and will be easy for those not familiar with the genre to follow along. For any fantasy lover, this story may be a lot of fun to read. It’s nothing like Game of Thrones, but it’s a fun fantasy that tells a story through every main characters’ perspective. The world building is also pretty impressive for being brief, and Mageles is definitely an interest world to read about.
If any reader isn’t comfortable with strong religious themes, especially themes that involve questioning established religion, this book may not be for them. While none of the mentioned religions are like the major religions of the world, they may make some religious readers uncomfortable. In this book only one religion’s ideology is delved into some. However, the actions of the other religion may disturb some readers to the point of not continuing.
Rating:
3.5/5
The Silver Portal was a story that I wasn’t quite expecting. There was a lot of set up, which is understandable when you have five different characters trying to come together. The flow of the story is pretty good for most of the story until it reaches the final conflict. For me, things at the end happened to quickly and it threw me of a little. I wouldn’t say that the plot was weak, this story has a really good plot, but it felt a little rushed by the end. Some readers may pick up on it like I did, but others might not, really it depends on the reader. Overall, The Silver Portal is a soft fantasy with a solid story and it was enjoyable to read. The ending was probably my least favorite part of the book, just because it’s so abrupt and there were too many threads left loose. I understand that this is the first book of a trilogy, but I felt like the ending kind of forces readers to continue with the story, which isn’t normally something that I enjoy in a book series. With that said, I am looking forward to reading the next book to see how our young heroes grow and develop, and to read more of the world that the author built for them.
If the last bit of the story didn’t feel rushed or if the ending wasn’t so abrupt, I would have given this book a 4 out of 5, because it really is a good story so far. However, those two things really threw me off and left me a little unsettled.
Final Thoughts:
I suggest this book to any young reader, especially for those who feel like they don’t quite fit in. They may just connect with one, or more, of the main heroes and really gain something by reading about their trials. For any reader trying to get into the fantasy genre, this is a good book to start out with. It isn’t hardcore fantasy, but it’s a good book in the genre to get first-time readers’ feet wet, so to speak. The story isn’t really complicated, it’s pretty straight forward, and will be easy for those not familiar with the genre to follow along. For any fantasy lover, this story may be a lot of fun to read. It’s nothing like Game of Thrones, but it’s a fun fantasy that tells a story through every main characters’ perspective. The world building is also pretty impressive for being brief, and Mageles is definitely an interest world to read about.
If any reader isn’t comfortable with strong religious themes, especially themes that involve questioning established religion, this book may not be for them. While none of the mentioned religions are like the major religions of the world, they may make some religious readers uncomfortable. In this book only one religion’s ideology is delved into some. However, the actions of the other religion may disturb some readers to the point of not continuing.
Rating:
3.5/5
The Silver Portal was a story that I wasn’t quite expecting. There was a lot of set up, which is understandable when you have five different characters trying to come together. The flow of the story is pretty good for most of the story until it reaches the final conflict. For me, things at the end happened to quickly and it threw me of a little. I wouldn’t say that the plot was weak, this story has a really good plot, but it felt a little rushed by the end. Some readers may pick up on it like I did, but others might not, really it depends on the reader. Overall, The Silver Portal is a soft fantasy with a solid story and it was enjoyable to read. The ending was probably my least favorite part of the book, just because it’s so abrupt and there were too many threads left loose. I understand that this is the first book of a trilogy, but I felt like the ending kind of forces readers to continue with the story, which isn’t normally something that I enjoy in a book series. With that said, I am looking forward to reading the next book to see how our young heroes grow and develop, and to read more of the world that the author built for them.
If the last bit of the story didn’t feel rushed or if the ending wasn’t so abrupt, I would have given this book a 4 out of 5, because it really is a good story so far. However, those two things really threw me off and left me a little unsettled.
September 5, 2016
This book was interesting for me. Five warriors, 5 weapons of power. The author creates a great adventure and story. I was pulled into the story and let through a wonderful book. I enjoyed the different characters and I enjoyed finding out what the powers were. I think it was a good time for me with a new author. * I received this book in exchange for an honest review*
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews