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Gateways to Alissia #3
The World Awakening
"The World Awakening is a great conclusion to what is a very readable and highly enjoyable series. Characters that are more than the sum of their parts, a world that has so much to offer, and a story that races along apace – the Gateways to Alissia books have it all." -- SFFworld
Quinn Bradley has learned to use the magic of another world. And that world is in danger.
Having decided to betray CASE Global, he can finally reveal his origins to the Enclave and warn them about the company’s imminent invasion. Even if it means alienating Jillaine…and allying with someone he’s always considered his adversary.
But war makes for strange bedfellows, and uniting Alissians against such a powerful enemy will require ancient enmities—as well as more recent antagonisms—to be set aside. The future of their pristine world depends on it.
As Quinn searches for a way to turn the tide, his former CASE Global squad-mates face difficult decisions of their own. For some, it’s a matter of what they’re willing to do to get home. For others, it’s deciding whether they want to go home at all.
Continuing the exciting adventures from The Rogue Retrieval and The Island Deception, The World Awakening is the spellbinding conclusion to the Gateways to Alissia fantasy series from Dan Koboldt.
Quinn Bradley has learned to use the magic of another world. And that world is in danger.
Having decided to betray CASE Global, he can finally reveal his origins to the Enclave and warn them about the company’s imminent invasion. Even if it means alienating Jillaine…and allying with someone he’s always considered his adversary.
But war makes for strange bedfellows, and uniting Alissians against such a powerful enemy will require ancient enmities—as well as more recent antagonisms—to be set aside. The future of their pristine world depends on it.
As Quinn searches for a way to turn the tide, his former CASE Global squad-mates face difficult decisions of their own. For some, it’s a matter of what they’re willing to do to get home. For others, it’s deciding whether they want to go home at all.
Continuing the exciting adventures from The Rogue Retrieval and The Island Deception, The World Awakening is the spellbinding conclusion to the Gateways to Alissia fantasy series from Dan Koboldt.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2018
13 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Dan Koboldt
28 books370 followersDan Koboldt is a genetics researcher who has co-authored more than 90 publications in Nature, Science, the New England Journal of Medicine, and other journals. Every fall, he disappears into the woods to pursue whitetail deer with bow and arrow. He lives with his wife and three children in Ohio, where the deer take their revenge by eating all of the plants in his backyard.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 13, 2018
Quinn is at it again in the 3rd and final book of the Gateways to Alissia series. (If you haven't already, it's a good idea to read The Rogue Retrieval (Gateways to Alissia #1) and The Island Deception (Gateways to Alissia #2) first.)
Alissia has never been in more danger from the gateway linking their world with Earth's, and it's time to start choosing a side. Logan is still following orders, Quinn's gone native, and it's all coming down to a fight to see which world will prevail.
This book struck all the right chords for me. I found myself torn between Logan and Quinn's goals, enjoying getting to know Richard Holt a little better, and delighting to see the magic play a bigger part in the whole story.
Plus, we meet the Tukalu warriors.
My only complaint
The war takes a toll on the characters, and it would have been nice to better understand where the gateway came from and why. But everything ties up fairly neatly, and I finished the story with a sense of satisfaction and plenty of warm fuzzies.
An entertaining, thrilling, and humorous fantasy for anyone who loves tech as much as they love magic.
If you love this series, you might also enjoy Dragon's Trail
Alissia has never been in more danger from the gateway linking their world with Earth's, and it's time to start choosing a side. Logan is still following orders, Quinn's gone native, and it's all coming down to a fight to see which world will prevail.
This book struck all the right chords for me. I found myself torn between Logan and Quinn's goals, enjoying getting to know Richard Holt a little better, and delighting to see the magic play a bigger part in the whole story.
Plus, we meet the Tukalu warriors.
My only complaint
The war takes a toll on the characters, and it would have been nice to better understand where the gateway came from and why. But everything ties up fairly neatly, and I finished the story with a sense of satisfaction and plenty of warm fuzzies.
An entertaining, thrilling, and humorous fantasy for anyone who loves tech as much as they love magic.
If you love this series, you might also enjoy Dragon's Trail
February 13, 2018
The problem with third books in a trilogy, especially when the second one came out about a year ago, is the fact that as much as you really liked the earlier books, suddenly you're thrown into a world that you have vague memories of.
The World Awakening starts in the middle of the action. Honestly, I feel the book loses part of its impact for this sole reason--I had to backtrack a little and skim through parts of The Island Deception to figure out what was happening so that I could move forward. It was rather more jarring between The World Awakening and The Island Deception than between The Island Deception and The Rogue Retrieval, primarily because Rogue has its own complete arc, whilst Island doesn't.
Other than that, Koboldt does a great job tying up all the loose ends he managed to scatter throughout The Island Deception. There're betrayal and secrets galore, but each player is slowly making his stand. Quinn stands with Alissia and Kiara with the Company, but Logan's and Mendez's loyalties are getting muddied.
I loved the interplay between Veena Chaudri and Richard Holt--where everything was confusing and muddled in book 2, things are finally getting clearer here. Veena is smart, conniving at times, but a brilliant negotiator, and you get a front seat view to see how she blossoms into the new role she's created for herself.
The Tukalu are a wonderful addition to the world and Quinn, oh Quinn. You'd think he'd learn not to flirt with dangerous people by now... especially when his grip on magic is still unstable.
Anyways, The World Awakening is a satisfying end to the Gates to Alissia trilogy (is it a trilogy or will there be more? If there's more, I'd rather like a spin-off on Veena, or maybe Relling, because so many questions).
Note: I received a copy for review via Edelweiss
The World Awakening starts in the middle of the action. Honestly, I feel the book loses part of its impact for this sole reason--I had to backtrack a little and skim through parts of The Island Deception to figure out what was happening so that I could move forward. It was rather more jarring between The World Awakening and The Island Deception than between The Island Deception and The Rogue Retrieval, primarily because Rogue has its own complete arc, whilst Island doesn't.
Other than that, Koboldt does a great job tying up all the loose ends he managed to scatter throughout The Island Deception. There're betrayal and secrets galore, but each player is slowly making his stand. Quinn stands with Alissia and Kiara with the Company, but Logan's and Mendez's loyalties are getting muddied.
I loved the interplay between Veena Chaudri and Richard Holt--where everything was confusing and muddled in book 2, things are finally getting clearer here. Veena is smart, conniving at times, but a brilliant negotiator, and you get a front seat view to see how she blossoms into the new role she's created for herself.
The Tukalu are a wonderful addition to the world and Quinn, oh Quinn. You'd think he'd learn not to flirt with dangerous people by now... especially when his grip on magic is still unstable.
Anyways, The World Awakening is a satisfying end to the Gates to Alissia trilogy (is it a trilogy or will there be more? If there's more, I'd rather like a spin-off on Veena, or maybe Relling, because so many questions).
Note: I received a copy for review via Edelweiss
February 14, 2018
TL;DR: The World Awakening is a satisfying conclusion to the Gateways to Alissia trilogy. I’m sad to see it go but had fun while in country. Highly recommended.
Endings are always a mixed blessing. We get answers, but we have to leave. Some series, I’ve put off reading the final books because I want to stay in the world a little longer. Some, I have to return to. What began in The Rogue Retrieval and escalated in The Island Deception comes to a boil in The World Awakening, and it was an ending to savor. Dan Koboldt’s Alissia trilogy wraps up in the excellent The World Awakening. Quinn’s journey from Las Vegas through a portal to the medieval world of Alissia is complete, and I’m sad to see it go.
Reviewing later books in series is difficult without spoilers. So, this is the warning, if you haven’t read The Rogue Retrieval or The Island Deception – and you should – you have been warned.
From book one and on, it’s been clear that Alissia is a place to be protected. Quinn, as he’s grown from stage to real magician has come to see Alissia as a better place than our world. In book three, we see the culmination of his quest. He is in a much different place at the start of this book than when we first met him in The Rogue Retrieval. Quinn has been exposed to a mind-boggling reality, and he’s worked his way from team member to a leader in his own right.
The World Awakening begins an unspecified amount of time after The Island Deception. CASE is shipping forces into Alissia for a showdown with ex-operative Richard Holt. The team is fractured, and the mission keeps changing. The battle for the pristine world of Alissia is set to begin. But the story is character focused, and we follow the team to meet new and old friends. Quinn and co set forth to protect the world, and by the end of the novel, we learn who really is protecting Alissia.
As with the first two novels, The World Awakening covers a lot of geography. Customs and locations change to give the story world depth. Dan built a strong setting for the novels, and our view of it expands again. There are battles, rescues, and a good amount of sailing. Magic, smart mules, and wine. We get history and the secret of the portal itself. Sadly, we also get goodbyes. Not everyone who starts the journey with us makes it to the end. In this novel, the bad guys are treated with compassion and shown to be complex people, not simple enemies for the sake of needing an antagonist. In short, Dan has given us a world to care about.
I’ve been thinking about the world of Alissia since the finish of the novel. In its own way, it’s a series about environmentalism. Richard Holt’s fight to preserve the world of Alissia from the encroaching capitalism of CASE. I liked how even though the people of Alissia are less technologically advanced, the heroes never look at them as anything less than human. The question becomes, are they being exploited to help our world or simply for profit? By the time the cover is closed, that question is answered by the heroes.
The character of Richard Holt is an intriguing one. The first book sets him up as the big bad for the series, but as the story progresses, the roles aren’t so clear. In this final installment, we get answers to the Holt question. For me, the backstory – the reason – that he did what he did came a little too fast. It could have been set up in earlier books, or maybe the earlier setup was just too subtle for me. We’re given reason to believe that he’ll be a dictator as he assumes a very authoritarian role as Valteroni Prime, but at the same time, he excels at delegation. Whiles he is without a doubt the brains behind his operation, he is not the prime mover of his own plans. Pun intended. With the Enclave, we are shown that democracy exists in Alissia, but Holt chose a strong executive power country for his base of operations. What does that say about him? Was it a choice of ego or ease?
Some of the backstory was too rushed in this novel and would have been smoother if set up in the earlier books. The origins of the portal between our world and theirs makes sense. It was the only inevitable explanation, but the circumstances of its creation could have been hinted at in book two. Its origins brought up more questions about the world that I would love to have answered. The portal’s backstory is intriguing. While I would like to know some answers, not knowing gave it a feeling of verisimilitude. There are some mysteries that are lost to time, and as much as we’d like answers, we’re not going to get them.
The World Awakening is a satisfying end to a fun trilogy. It delivers on the promises of the first two books, and though it ends well, it doesn’t spare us, or the characters, harm. Saying goodbye is difficult. For three books, we got to experience the pleasure of the pristine world of Alissia. I, for one, am going to miss it.
Endings are always a mixed blessing. We get answers, but we have to leave. Some series, I’ve put off reading the final books because I want to stay in the world a little longer. Some, I have to return to. What began in The Rogue Retrieval and escalated in The Island Deception comes to a boil in The World Awakening, and it was an ending to savor. Dan Koboldt’s Alissia trilogy wraps up in the excellent The World Awakening. Quinn’s journey from Las Vegas through a portal to the medieval world of Alissia is complete, and I’m sad to see it go.
Reviewing later books in series is difficult without spoilers. So, this is the warning, if you haven’t read The Rogue Retrieval or The Island Deception – and you should – you have been warned.
From book one and on, it’s been clear that Alissia is a place to be protected. Quinn, as he’s grown from stage to real magician has come to see Alissia as a better place than our world. In book three, we see the culmination of his quest. He is in a much different place at the start of this book than when we first met him in The Rogue Retrieval. Quinn has been exposed to a mind-boggling reality, and he’s worked his way from team member to a leader in his own right.
The World Awakening begins an unspecified amount of time after The Island Deception. CASE is shipping forces into Alissia for a showdown with ex-operative Richard Holt. The team is fractured, and the mission keeps changing. The battle for the pristine world of Alissia is set to begin. But the story is character focused, and we follow the team to meet new and old friends. Quinn and co set forth to protect the world, and by the end of the novel, we learn who really is protecting Alissia.
As with the first two novels, The World Awakening covers a lot of geography. Customs and locations change to give the story world depth. Dan built a strong setting for the novels, and our view of it expands again. There are battles, rescues, and a good amount of sailing. Magic, smart mules, and wine. We get history and the secret of the portal itself. Sadly, we also get goodbyes. Not everyone who starts the journey with us makes it to the end. In this novel, the bad guys are treated with compassion and shown to be complex people, not simple enemies for the sake of needing an antagonist. In short, Dan has given us a world to care about.
I’ve been thinking about the world of Alissia since the finish of the novel. In its own way, it’s a series about environmentalism. Richard Holt’s fight to preserve the world of Alissia from the encroaching capitalism of CASE. I liked how even though the people of Alissia are less technologically advanced, the heroes never look at them as anything less than human. The question becomes, are they being exploited to help our world or simply for profit? By the time the cover is closed, that question is answered by the heroes.
The character of Richard Holt is an intriguing one. The first book sets him up as the big bad for the series, but as the story progresses, the roles aren’t so clear. In this final installment, we get answers to the Holt question. For me, the backstory – the reason – that he did what he did came a little too fast. It could have been set up in earlier books, or maybe the earlier setup was just too subtle for me. We’re given reason to believe that he’ll be a dictator as he assumes a very authoritarian role as Valteroni Prime, but at the same time, he excels at delegation. Whiles he is without a doubt the brains behind his operation, he is not the prime mover of his own plans. Pun intended. With the Enclave, we are shown that democracy exists in Alissia, but Holt chose a strong executive power country for his base of operations. What does that say about him? Was it a choice of ego or ease?
Some of the backstory was too rushed in this novel and would have been smoother if set up in the earlier books. The origins of the portal between our world and theirs makes sense. It was the only inevitable explanation, but the circumstances of its creation could have been hinted at in book two. Its origins brought up more questions about the world that I would love to have answered. The portal’s backstory is intriguing. While I would like to know some answers, not knowing gave it a feeling of verisimilitude. There are some mysteries that are lost to time, and as much as we’d like answers, we’re not going to get them.
The World Awakening is a satisfying end to a fun trilogy. It delivers on the promises of the first two books, and though it ends well, it doesn’t spare us, or the characters, harm. Saying goodbye is difficult. For three books, we got to experience the pleasure of the pristine world of Alissia. I, for one, am going to miss it.
February 14, 2018
The third and final book in the Gateways to Alissia fantasy series. I got an eARC from the publisher. Thanks!
A small amount of time has passed since the end of the previous book, the Island Deception. The stage magician Quinn Bradley is enjoying his new-found real magical talents and has left the magicians’ island, Enclave, with Jillaine whom Quinn is hoping to get to know a lot better. They’re looking for Jillaine’s father and Jillaine has saved Quinn a couple of times already. Still, she’s keeping him at an arm’s length. But when Quinn stumbles upon a bounty hunter who is looking for him and realizes that he’s got a bounty on his head, Quinn and Jillaine decide they need to find out who is behind it. Jillaine is the daughter of Moric who’s one of the most powerful magicians in Alissia and who doesn’t approve of Quinn’s relationship with her.
Meanwhile, CASE Global’s soldiers Logan and Mendez are trying to find a way to get close to Valteroni Prime who is the ruler of Valteron, one of the biggest countries in this world. The Prime is also Richard Holt, a former CASE Global employee, a very intelligent and charismatic man who has defected to Alissia. The soldiers have an order to assassinate him when they can get close enough. Logan’s orders are getting increasingly violent towards anyone who might stand in the company’s way and he’s very uncomfortable with that. However, the company has taken Logan’s wife and children hostage to guarantee Logan’s continued loyalty. Also, he’s wondering if he can trust Mendez to help him get his family back. But first, they need to steal a Valteroni ship in order to get to Holt.
At the end of the previous book, anthropologist Veena Chaudri was taken captive by a Valteroni admiral. However, she has agreed to join Richard Holt and work against CASE Global. Now, she’s Holt’s ambassador, using her vast knowledge of the world to try to get some allies. Unfortunately, the only people left whom she can persuade to join Holt’s army are people who have been hostile to Valteron for generations.
Still, Holt, and Veena, know that the company will be coming to get him… and to make war in this world where the company’s technology should give them a great advantage. They need to be prepared and the rest of the characters need to choose their side.
A World Awakening is an exciting and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. It has three POV characters (Quinn, Veena, and Logan) who are friends but now are pitted, essentially, against each other. They all have their own problems.
The secondary characters are interesting. I particularly liked Sella, the acerbic magic user whose idea of teaching magic is to put the student in as much danger as possible. The smart mules are also very entertaining and I enjoyed the introduction of the Tukalu warriors. However, I would have wanted to know more about Lieutenant Kiara and her sister.
To me, this book felt less light-hearted because CASE Global considers itself at war with Alissia and tries to take it over through violence. Quinn worries about this. Even Logan is somewhat disturbed because of the orders he gets to just eliminate innocent bystanders. In the previous books, we got hints that the company could be quite ruthless but now it’s clear. Unfortunately, that made some of the ending a bit strange to me. It’s also more focused on fighting than the previous books which makes it less unique than the previous books. (Although I have to admit that fantasy books focusing on naval battles aren’t that common, either.)
Otherwise, I again thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters and the humor were great, and the ending even had a couple of surprises. It’s an excellent ending which doesn’t leave plot threads hanging.
A small amount of time has passed since the end of the previous book, the Island Deception. The stage magician Quinn Bradley is enjoying his new-found real magical talents and has left the magicians’ island, Enclave, with Jillaine whom Quinn is hoping to get to know a lot better. They’re looking for Jillaine’s father and Jillaine has saved Quinn a couple of times already. Still, she’s keeping him at an arm’s length. But when Quinn stumbles upon a bounty hunter who is looking for him and realizes that he’s got a bounty on his head, Quinn and Jillaine decide they need to find out who is behind it. Jillaine is the daughter of Moric who’s one of the most powerful magicians in Alissia and who doesn’t approve of Quinn’s relationship with her.
Meanwhile, CASE Global’s soldiers Logan and Mendez are trying to find a way to get close to Valteroni Prime who is the ruler of Valteron, one of the biggest countries in this world. The Prime is also Richard Holt, a former CASE Global employee, a very intelligent and charismatic man who has defected to Alissia. The soldiers have an order to assassinate him when they can get close enough. Logan’s orders are getting increasingly violent towards anyone who might stand in the company’s way and he’s very uncomfortable with that. However, the company has taken Logan’s wife and children hostage to guarantee Logan’s continued loyalty. Also, he’s wondering if he can trust Mendez to help him get his family back. But first, they need to steal a Valteroni ship in order to get to Holt.
At the end of the previous book, anthropologist Veena Chaudri was taken captive by a Valteroni admiral. However, she has agreed to join Richard Holt and work against CASE Global. Now, she’s Holt’s ambassador, using her vast knowledge of the world to try to get some allies. Unfortunately, the only people left whom she can persuade to join Holt’s army are people who have been hostile to Valteron for generations.
Still, Holt, and Veena, know that the company will be coming to get him… and to make war in this world where the company’s technology should give them a great advantage. They need to be prepared and the rest of the characters need to choose their side.
A World Awakening is an exciting and satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. It has three POV characters (Quinn, Veena, and Logan) who are friends but now are pitted, essentially, against each other. They all have their own problems.
The secondary characters are interesting. I particularly liked Sella, the acerbic magic user whose idea of teaching magic is to put the student in as much danger as possible. The smart mules are also very entertaining and I enjoyed the introduction of the Tukalu warriors. However, I would have wanted to know more about Lieutenant Kiara and her sister.
To me, this book felt less light-hearted because CASE Global considers itself at war with Alissia and tries to take it over through violence. Quinn worries about this. Even Logan is somewhat disturbed because of the orders he gets to just eliminate innocent bystanders. In the previous books, we got hints that the company could be quite ruthless but now it’s clear. Unfortunately, that made some of the ending a bit strange to me. It’s also more focused on fighting than the previous books which makes it less unique than the previous books. (Although I have to admit that fantasy books focusing on naval battles aren’t that common, either.)
Otherwise, I again thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters and the humor were great, and the ending even had a couple of surprises. It’s an excellent ending which doesn’t leave plot threads hanging.
April 13, 2018
Originally published at Reading Reality
Now that we are at the third book of the trilogy, I still see the Gateways to Alissia as a blend of S.M. Stirling’s Conquistador with L.E. Modesitt’s Imager Portfolio. And as far as I’m concerned, those are marvelous places to start. I probably read Conquistador at least ten years ago, and it still sticks in my memory, while the Imager Portfolio is one of my favorite epic fantasy series and I’m happy to say that it is still ongoing and still fantastic.
Both Gateways to Alissia and Conquistador are a particular type of epic fantasy – the portal fantasy. In both cases, there is a literal portal that connects our world to the fantasy world, in this case, Alissia. And for those who are currently watching the TV series The Magicians, based on Lev Grossman’s book of the same title, let’s just say there’s more than a bit of a resemblance between Fillory and Alissia, even if there is no magical college on our side of the gate.
The two mega-corporations on Earth that are aware of the portal both see Alissia as an unspoiled and undeveloped world just waiting to be plundered by the oh-so-beneficent technocrats on Earth. And it might happen. It’s certainly in danger of happening.
But the story in The World Awakening is the story of Alissia fighting back – with more than a bit of help from a surprising number of people from our Earth who are not willing to stand idly by while Alissia gets raped and plundered. No matter what it takes to stop CASE Global and Raptor Tech from conquering Alissia with what they are certain are superior armaments.
But like all conquerors since time immemorial – the further the supply lines are stretched, the easier it is to break them.
And Alissia isn’t nearly as outmatched as they thought – with a little help from its friends – no matter what they might think of each other.
Escape Rating A-: The World Awakening is a marvelous conclusion to this trilogy, and as the concluding volume it is very much the wrong place to start. If you like portal fantasy, or stories of people from our Earth finding themselves in places where magic works, or even just want a rollicking good story, start with the first book, The Rogue Retrieval, where you can be introduced to our trouble-magnet anti-hero, the stage magician Quinn Bradley, as he comes to Alissia to discover that magic is real after all, and that he can perform it – and not merely perform.
By this point in the story, we have seen the team that Quinn originally trained with flung to the four corners of Alissia, and we have watched their perspectives change and their allegiances shift, particularly in the case of Quinn himself.
He’s come a long way from the reluctantly recruited stage magician. I’m still not totally sure he’s grown up, but his horizons have certainly expanded, as has is view of both Alissia and Earth. His transformation is a big chunk of what drives the story, and his expanding viewpoint pulls the reader along with him.
But Gateways to Alissia is a big story with a lot of players and a lot going on. I envy those of you who will begin the story now, when it is complete. It has been a year since I read the second book in the saga, The Island Deception, and it takes a bit for the reader to get back up to speed. It’s certainly well worth that effort. The World Awakening is a terrific story, and it brings the saga of Alissia to a fantastic, resounding and satisfying conclusion. And I enjoyed every step of the journey – although I’m happy not to have had to trudge through the snow myself!
Now that we are at the third book of the trilogy, I still see the Gateways to Alissia as a blend of S.M. Stirling’s Conquistador with L.E. Modesitt’s Imager Portfolio. And as far as I’m concerned, those are marvelous places to start. I probably read Conquistador at least ten years ago, and it still sticks in my memory, while the Imager Portfolio is one of my favorite epic fantasy series and I’m happy to say that it is still ongoing and still fantastic.
Both Gateways to Alissia and Conquistador are a particular type of epic fantasy – the portal fantasy. In both cases, there is a literal portal that connects our world to the fantasy world, in this case, Alissia. And for those who are currently watching the TV series The Magicians, based on Lev Grossman’s book of the same title, let’s just say there’s more than a bit of a resemblance between Fillory and Alissia, even if there is no magical college on our side of the gate.
The two mega-corporations on Earth that are aware of the portal both see Alissia as an unspoiled and undeveloped world just waiting to be plundered by the oh-so-beneficent technocrats on Earth. And it might happen. It’s certainly in danger of happening.
But the story in The World Awakening is the story of Alissia fighting back – with more than a bit of help from a surprising number of people from our Earth who are not willing to stand idly by while Alissia gets raped and plundered. No matter what it takes to stop CASE Global and Raptor Tech from conquering Alissia with what they are certain are superior armaments.
But like all conquerors since time immemorial – the further the supply lines are stretched, the easier it is to break them.
And Alissia isn’t nearly as outmatched as they thought – with a little help from its friends – no matter what they might think of each other.
Escape Rating A-: The World Awakening is a marvelous conclusion to this trilogy, and as the concluding volume it is very much the wrong place to start. If you like portal fantasy, or stories of people from our Earth finding themselves in places where magic works, or even just want a rollicking good story, start with the first book, The Rogue Retrieval, where you can be introduced to our trouble-magnet anti-hero, the stage magician Quinn Bradley, as he comes to Alissia to discover that magic is real after all, and that he can perform it – and not merely perform.
By this point in the story, we have seen the team that Quinn originally trained with flung to the four corners of Alissia, and we have watched their perspectives change and their allegiances shift, particularly in the case of Quinn himself.
He’s come a long way from the reluctantly recruited stage magician. I’m still not totally sure he’s grown up, but his horizons have certainly expanded, as has is view of both Alissia and Earth. His transformation is a big chunk of what drives the story, and his expanding viewpoint pulls the reader along with him.
But Gateways to Alissia is a big story with a lot of players and a lot going on. I envy those of you who will begin the story now, when it is complete. It has been a year since I read the second book in the saga, The Island Deception, and it takes a bit for the reader to get back up to speed. It’s certainly well worth that effort. The World Awakening is a terrific story, and it brings the saga of Alissia to a fantastic, resounding and satisfying conclusion. And I enjoyed every step of the journey – although I’m happy not to have had to trudge through the snow myself!
February 18, 2019
This series of books was well worth the read. A slow start with a unique take on the " gateway to another world" standard fantasy in the first book.
A great second book with a little more character development and plot twists..and a happy climactic ending in the third.
Overall though, I get the feeling the author had other irons on the fire while finishing this.
The first book felt unfinished and really only reads well if you read it back to back into the 2nd...maybe he was under pressure to finish the first one and get it onto the presses.
The third book feels a bit rushed into 'here is your happy ending...neatly killing off or exiling any troublesome characters. I do agree with the authors postscript that it needed to be a story in three parts..I just think that the first two books felt like part one..and the third book feels like a rushed parts two and three. The rise and fall of Richard Holt, tyrant, would have been a good third book...instead they just reveal him as an average good guy and kill him off early to end it.
Good, but probably won't reread. It does make me want to read his other efforts to see if they have more meat on the bones than this series.
..and again to really enjoy the series you need to not look at the obvious flaws in the plot.
They are
1: A corporation finds a whole world to exploit with exclusive rights..and spends billions of dollars and 15 years...wait for it..setting up a spy network and studying it...yep that's all they do for 15 years.
2: Once they do decide to invade, they stick to a policy of handicapping themselves trying to ' blend in' .While they take advantage of modern light alloys and materials and radio communication, they still limit themselves to swords, crossbows, and trebuchets?
3: Richard Holt , one of the main plot drivers, is always one step ahead of everyone, in the background pulling strings, and we get the feeling he might be a very complex character who might still flip to the dark side...and then he reveals himself as an average stupid good guy and gets killed.
A great second book with a little more character development and plot twists..and a happy climactic ending in the third.
Overall though, I get the feeling the author had other irons on the fire while finishing this.
The first book felt unfinished and really only reads well if you read it back to back into the 2nd...maybe he was under pressure to finish the first one and get it onto the presses.
The third book feels a bit rushed into 'here is your happy ending...neatly killing off or exiling any troublesome characters. I do agree with the authors postscript that it needed to be a story in three parts..I just think that the first two books felt like part one..and the third book feels like a rushed parts two and three. The rise and fall of Richard Holt, tyrant, would have been a good third book...instead they just reveal him as an average good guy and kill him off early to end it.
Good, but probably won't reread. It does make me want to read his other efforts to see if they have more meat on the bones than this series.
..and again to really enjoy the series you need to not look at the obvious flaws in the plot.
They are
1: A corporation finds a whole world to exploit with exclusive rights..and spends billions of dollars and 15 years...wait for it..setting up a spy network and studying it...yep that's all they do for 15 years.
2: Once they do decide to invade, they stick to a policy of handicapping themselves trying to ' blend in' .While they take advantage of modern light alloys and materials and radio communication, they still limit themselves to swords, crossbows, and trebuchets?
3: Richard Holt , one of the main plot drivers, is always one step ahead of everyone, in the background pulling strings, and we get the feeling he might be a very complex character who might still flip to the dark side...and then he reveals himself as an average stupid good guy and gets killed.
December 2, 2018
This series was kind of a mix of military action and portal fantasy. I didn't much care for all the action, and the basic wasn't super unique, but the world still pulled at me. I had to know how it would end.
As for the characters, I didn't connect deeply with any single character, but on the other hand, after reading though to the end, I've come away with a better understanding of their personalities.
My favorite was Quinn, who had the whole mystical magician persona - the type who always has another trick up his sleeve. I didn't love his relationship with Jillaine, it felt like she kept playing hard to get for no good reason. I think that was overdone, and it ruined her character. Aside from that, what I really appreciated was that everyone who defected or chose to stay with the evil corporation trying to take over an alien world, all had good, well thought out considerations that fit with and enhanced their characters. Some were threatened, others were deceived, and others made the choices for themselves. But they all had really good reasons, and I appreciated them all.
I think it ended well, considering the players who died, so survived, and who ended up on which side. This series was a little too military focuses for my liking, but I enjoyed the world building - all the customs, people, and magic.
As for the characters, I didn't connect deeply with any single character, but on the other hand, after reading though to the end, I've come away with a better understanding of their personalities.
My favorite was Quinn, who had the whole mystical magician persona - the type who always has another trick up his sleeve. I didn't love his relationship with Jillaine, it felt like she kept playing hard to get for no good reason. I think that was overdone, and it ruined her character. Aside from that, what I really appreciated was that everyone who defected or chose to stay with the evil corporation trying to take over an alien world, all had good, well thought out considerations that fit with and enhanced their characters. Some were threatened, others were deceived, and others made the choices for themselves. But they all had really good reasons, and I appreciated them all.
I think it ended well, considering the players who died, so survived, and who ended up on which side. This series was a little too military focuses for my liking, but I enjoyed the world building - all the customs, people, and magic.
February 13, 2018
I’m so sad… because this series is over! The world building was excellent, and I loved getting to know the characters, especially Quinn, who was flawed and makes mistakes, yet is so fun to root for. I love how everyone had depth and dimensions, including the antagonist. This was such a satisfying ending, yet leaves enough to the imagination where I wish I could know even more about Alissia; but I think that’s what great SFF does — you want to jump into the pages and have a look around yourself.
September 16, 2018
The series right from the start has been old wine in new bottle - with inspirations from a bunch of prior set ups but the key to the series has been the charm of lead character and the easy narrative flow
Given the concluding entry, the stakes do escalate but the series does go in a diff way even as the locals fight back against the technological superior interlopers, with the help of a couple of aces in their back pocket and Bradley’s competence and luck
Interesting series with a kind of predictable ending in some ways and diff in others. Worth a read for sure
Given the concluding entry, the stakes do escalate but the series does go in a diff way even as the locals fight back against the technological superior interlopers, with the help of a couple of aces in their back pocket and Bradley’s competence and luck
Interesting series with a kind of predictable ending in some ways and diff in others. Worth a read for sure
April 18, 2019
What would you do if you could choose to live in a medieval world with magic or the mundane world? This book doesn't seriously ask that question. I mean there's no indoor plumbing, long distances are covered by horse or donkey, and you can't order books online!
Anyway, this is the third in the series in which a company in the mundane world has found an entrance to a world with magic and has promptly decided to squeeze as much profit from it as it can. The cast of characters is large and mostly fun. The plot is engaging and different.
Anyway, this is the third in the series in which a company in the mundane world has found an entrance to a world with magic and has promptly decided to squeeze as much profit from it as it can. The cast of characters is large and mostly fun. The plot is engaging and different.
February 19, 2018
A perfectly-ended series, Dan's managed to tidy everything up without losing any pacing. A cracking series from start to finish, with enough new to make it feel original and fresh. Highly recommended.
August 19, 2025
A satisfying, but rapidly tied up end to the trilogy. Perhaps not everything panned out as I expected, but I feel the plot behind the book, those who go native in an alien world, and those who simply cannot leave their orders behind was well handled. Go team Alissia!
July 27, 2018
This was a very satisfying conclusion to a trilogy. And great surprises along the way
June 6, 2018
The World Awakening is the finale to Dan Koboldt’s Gateways to Alissia trilogy, which started with The Rogue Retrieval and continued with The Island Deception. The third book always has the biggest task in any trilogy – it needs to deliver a grand yet satisfying conclusion to the series, all the while tying up any loose ends floating about. Fortunately Koboldt manages to hit almost all the right notes as our time on Alissia comes to a close…
With the groundwork laid in the previous novels, and events left in a very precarious position at the end of The Island Deception with the Alissian portal now at the centre of a CASE Global beachhead, The World Awakening wastes no time in getting straight to the nitty gritty.
The initial group sent though with Quinn – Logan, Kira, Mendez, and Chaudri – are now separated, for good or ill. Quinn is travelling, having placed his loyalty firmly in the corner of the Enclave and its magicians; Logan and Mendez are together and still following CASE Global’s orders through Kira as and when they check in via communications; Kira, meanwhile, is busy planning and preparing for a full scale incursion to take out Richard Holt, defector and Valerian Prime; and Veena Chaudri finds herself with Holt, and working towards strengthening Valeria’s position before the inevitable hostilities.
It’s easy to see where events are going in The World Awakening, though how they get there is the meat of the story. It’s also somewhat surprising to see a clearly superior force in CASE Global not utilising all at their disposal. The technology ban is still (mostly) in effect, but the communication link between all forces spread through Alissia is their main strength against Holt and his allies. With some manoeuvring on the part of Holt and Chaudri we see some much-needed cooperation between the nations of Alissia, though the true reason behind such concessions is still kept relatively quiet, only those needing to know given all the information. It is, however, refreshing to see the truth come out to at least some of the natives, and this itself leads to a very interesting reveal…
Ultimately, a story can succeed or not based on its characters, and Kobodlt absolutely nails them here. Quinn is his ever-charming (at least to his mind) self, and his growth as a true magician continues nicely, while his interactions with members of both Holt’s inner circle and the Enclave’s members is refreshing. Logan is perhaps my favourite here though, his struggle with questionable orders always coming through despite his devotion and loyalty to CASE Global. Mendez, Chaudri, and Kira are much as they were in previous novels, though Kira’s obsession with the goal gradually grows to the point of clearly hindering her effectiveness. There’s a lot to like about all the secondary and minor characters too, and it certainly left me wanting more from them despite their short page time.
That brings me to my only real issue once I’d finished: I wanted more. Not necessarily more stories in this setting (though I’d happily devour them), but more detail and examination during these events. I wanted to know more of the cultures outside of Valeria, of the dynamic across the whole of Alissia, but the nature of this series means it is tightly focused on what is needed, not always giving more of what is wanted.
The World Awakening is a great conclusion to what is a very readable and highly enjoyable series. Characters that are more than the sum of their parts, a world that has so much to offer, and a story that races along apace – the Gateways to Alissia books have it all. Not perfect, but such fun and enjoyable reads. Recommended.
With the groundwork laid in the previous novels, and events left in a very precarious position at the end of The Island Deception with the Alissian portal now at the centre of a CASE Global beachhead, The World Awakening wastes no time in getting straight to the nitty gritty.
The initial group sent though with Quinn – Logan, Kira, Mendez, and Chaudri – are now separated, for good or ill. Quinn is travelling, having placed his loyalty firmly in the corner of the Enclave and its magicians; Logan and Mendez are together and still following CASE Global’s orders through Kira as and when they check in via communications; Kira, meanwhile, is busy planning and preparing for a full scale incursion to take out Richard Holt, defector and Valerian Prime; and Veena Chaudri finds herself with Holt, and working towards strengthening Valeria’s position before the inevitable hostilities.
It’s easy to see where events are going in The World Awakening, though how they get there is the meat of the story. It’s also somewhat surprising to see a clearly superior force in CASE Global not utilising all at their disposal. The technology ban is still (mostly) in effect, but the communication link between all forces spread through Alissia is their main strength against Holt and his allies. With some manoeuvring on the part of Holt and Chaudri we see some much-needed cooperation between the nations of Alissia, though the true reason behind such concessions is still kept relatively quiet, only those needing to know given all the information. It is, however, refreshing to see the truth come out to at least some of the natives, and this itself leads to a very interesting reveal…
Ultimately, a story can succeed or not based on its characters, and Kobodlt absolutely nails them here. Quinn is his ever-charming (at least to his mind) self, and his growth as a true magician continues nicely, while his interactions with members of both Holt’s inner circle and the Enclave’s members is refreshing. Logan is perhaps my favourite here though, his struggle with questionable orders always coming through despite his devotion and loyalty to CASE Global. Mendez, Chaudri, and Kira are much as they were in previous novels, though Kira’s obsession with the goal gradually grows to the point of clearly hindering her effectiveness. There’s a lot to like about all the secondary and minor characters too, and it certainly left me wanting more from them despite their short page time.
That brings me to my only real issue once I’d finished: I wanted more. Not necessarily more stories in this setting (though I’d happily devour them), but more detail and examination during these events. I wanted to know more of the cultures outside of Valeria, of the dynamic across the whole of Alissia, but the nature of this series means it is tightly focused on what is needed, not always giving more of what is wanted.
The World Awakening is a great conclusion to what is a very readable and highly enjoyable series. Characters that are more than the sum of their parts, a world that has so much to offer, and a story that races along apace – the Gateways to Alissia books have it all. Not perfect, but such fun and enjoyable reads. Recommended.
September 23, 2024
I read the first two books in this series pretty much back-to-back and then it took me a couple of years to read this final third novel.
Maybe it was the time apart, but this book didn't entertain me as much as the first two did. I have a soft spot for Portal Fantasy, so maybe I was willing to overlook some of the things in those first two books that I couldn't in this one.
The characters and world were both pretty interesting, but man did this book feel rushed. Everything just happens really fast, and characters are redeemed or killed quickly so that everything can be tied up in a nice little bow at the end. Again, maybe this is because I took too long of a break between books.
Regardless, the series as a whole was pretty fun and I don't regret reading them.
Maybe it was the time apart, but this book didn't entertain me as much as the first two did. I have a soft spot for Portal Fantasy, so maybe I was willing to overlook some of the things in those first two books that I couldn't in this one.
The characters and world were both pretty interesting, but man did this book feel rushed. Everything just happens really fast, and characters are redeemed or killed quickly so that everything can be tied up in a nice little bow at the end. Again, maybe this is because I took too long of a break between books.
Regardless, the series as a whole was pretty fun and I don't regret reading them.
March 3, 2018
The World Awakening is the third (and hopefully not final novel) in the Gateways to Alissia by Dan Koboldt. Koboldt draws the reader into the world of Alissia though his likable characters and provides you with a healthy mix of modern tech alongside the ingenuity of a medieval society that's hell-bent on protecting its way of life from outside invaders. (Oh! and there's magic too!) Highly Recommended!
Royce Sears
Royce Sears
May 23, 2023
So I finished the trilogy. And it was … ok.
The main character was so solid in the first book. Then the second book added more characters.
This book concludes the tale for all of them neatly and quickly. But I just didn’t care about the side characters that sucked up so many pages.
It’s a fast read and not too deep. For a passing distraction, this is ok. But if you’re looking for rich characters or a surprising and thick plot, you’ll probably be disappointed.
The main character was so solid in the first book. Then the second book added more characters.
This book concludes the tale for all of them neatly and quickly. But I just didn’t care about the side characters that sucked up so many pages.
It’s a fast read and not too deep. For a passing distraction, this is ok. But if you’re looking for rich characters or a surprising and thick plot, you’ll probably be disappointed.
February 21, 2018
World Awakening is Just Plain Fun
Dan Koboldt is a storyteller. He pulls you through his books with evocative writing, well formed characters, and a style that reminds you that reading can and should be fun. The downside is that I inhale his books, come up for air and sadly realize that now I have to wait for another.
Dan Koboldt is a storyteller. He pulls you through his books with evocative writing, well formed characters, and a style that reminds you that reading can and should be fun. The downside is that I inhale his books, come up for air and sadly realize that now I have to wait for another.
February 13, 2018
A heck of an ending.
Oh, I don't want to be done with this world. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this series, and would love to know how things shake out in the aftermath. The characters and world building were great. I hope to see more from this author.
Oh, I don't want to be done with this world. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this series, and would love to know how things shake out in the aftermath. The characters and world building were great. I hope to see more from this author.
April 19, 2020
Amazing story with interesting switches. A pity that it is only a trilogy....
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