The Banished Lands

The Banished Lands #1

by Benjamin Mester

A kingdom in danger. The old world is gone and barely even histories remain. But something from that time is returning. The closing lines of a farewell poem, written centuries ago by the last great king of the old world, might prove to be more than they seem:

The world and all its light shall fade;
I'll stay with her beneath the shade
And wait until the world's remade...

Something is creeping at the fringes of the world. Is it just the talk of frightened villagers? Or is it something more? Join us in this entirely new fantasy world. The Banished Lands combines the best of epic fantasy, fairy tale, mythology, poetry, romance and mystery. If you love a good old-fashioned story, The Banished Lands will deliver on your expectations.

A mysterious fog blankets the forest just outside the town of Suriya. A dark plot unfolds as Durian and his friends discover ties between a strange wanderer and the warlike barbarian kingdom far to the north. Are the mysterious things happening in the forest a prelude to invasion? What happens next will propel Durian and his friends into the middle of an unsolved riddle a dozen centuries in the making. This book is safe for kids of all ages.

Genres: Fantasy

382 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 6, 2015

About the author

Roamer of woodlands and seasides. Crafter of worlds and happy endings. Gemologist by trade. Best job in the world!

Some view reading as an escape. I view it more as a longing to find your best life...to be wrapped up in epic circumstances and dream about a life greater than the drudgery of day to day living. These are the people I hope read my books!!

For all those readers out there who haven't yet fallen in love with poetry, I'm doing a video walk through of some of my favorite poems. Check out the first couple down below. I promise you'll get something out of it.

Reviews

[Virginia Winfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t read a lot of fantasy books but I am glad I read this one. I really enjoyed reading about this land and the people in it. This story has a lot of twists and turns throughout. I look forward to reading the other books in this series. I need to know what is going to happen next. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[RACHEL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discover a new world as you set off on an adventure with three youth that find themselves part of an epic quest with the whole world at stake.

My copy was a gift through Goodreads First Reads.

[LAURA J HELFEN · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book showed up on a suggested list and something in the description must have spoken to me since I downloaded it to my Kindle and started to read it. The beginning was a bit slow. I wondered to myself "this isn't my kind of story; why am I reading it?". It reminded me of a Lord Of The Rings type of story...a group of friends on a quest to rid their world of coming evil. I've never read LOTR and had to force myself to finish The Hobbit! Definitely not my genre.
Yet, with The Banished Lands, I had no problems picking it up each time to read a bit more. I would remind myself that I hated leaving a book unfinished and it didn't mean I had to read the 2nd or 3rd books. But, once the action started I didn't want to put it down.
When book 1 was done I immediately downloaded the other two and finished them one right after the other. Now I'm waiting for book 4 and am looking forward to rereading the first three again before starting the new one.

[Jeanette Fallon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy. Adventure. A tale of Durian and friends seeking for answers. Can they discover the truth?

One line struck me - Durian had "a longing to live his life to the full and find his true purpose- to do heroic deeds and make his life matter." I often questioned my life while I was employed as a juvenile probation officer. Did I make a difference? Did it matter? Did I help anyone?

Well written book that was intense and thought provoking.

I received this free from Celebrate Lit to review.

About the Book
The Banished Land
Book Title:The Banished Lands, book one in The Banished Lands Series
Author:Benjamin Mester
Genre: Fantasy
Release date: May, 2015

A kingdom in danger. A prophecy that will change everything. But will they understand it in time? The old world is gone, and barely even histories remain. But something from that time is returning. The closing lines of a farewell poem, written centuries ago by the last great king of the age to his slain wife, might be more than just a poem:
The world and all its light shall fade,
I’ll stay with her beneath the shade
And wait until the world’s remade…

Join us in this epic fantasy adventure as three friends plunge into the great mystery of their age, twelve centuries in the making. A mysterious fog blankets the forest just outside the sleepy town of Suriya. A dark plot unfolds as Durian and his friends discover ties between a strange wanderer and the warlike barbarian kingdom far to the north. Are the mysterious things happening in the forest a prelude to invasion? What happens next will propel Durian and his curious friends into the middle of the oldest riddle in the history of their kingdom, a dozen centuries old.

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author
Ben MesterBenjamin Mester is a novelist and poet. He fell in love with the written word and beauty of language at a young age, marvelling at the way a story can transport a person, enveloping their whole mind and heart as they dive into new places and grand adventures. A lover of nature, Mester has spent the whole of his adult life immersed in the study of poetry, often wandering the woodlands of northern Minnesota or the beaches of California.
If asked about his writing, he would say his overarching goal is to inspire people to live with greater passion, often quoting one of his favorite Proverbs, 14:8: The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways.How often do we stop to give thought to our ways, asking ourselves why we live the way we do? What does it mean to live to the full? How can I love more deeply? Mester hopes his writing will build a longing in his readers, that his stories inspire them to want more for their lives than the mediocrity of good enough we so often settle for.

Guest Post from Ben
I’ve always loved that enthralling feeling of adventure and mystery that comes when you dive into a brand new world. My greatest motivation for The Banished Lands was to create a world of rich lore and history, but not overburden the reader with backstory. In The Banished Lands series, we enter a fractured world with a forgotten history. But hints of it remain through a set of poems that speak of the old world and cryptic events which brought an end to that age.

I love the idea of characters living normal, mundane lives, suddenly thrust into an ancient struggle they didn’t even know was raging. I love the fantasy genre because it isn’t ashamed of the classic archetypes – the epic struggle of good and evil, heroics, and everything that often gets the label cliché. Using these archetypes in ways that haven’t been done before was my real motivation for writing The Banished Lands series. The way this series combines poetry, lore and mystery is something unique in the fantasy genre.

When writing this first book, I often sat back and wondered to myself, What would it be like to live in a world with a shrouded past? We often take modern life for granted – the whole wealth of human knowledge at our fingertips. But what would it be like to live in a world where the only history was cryptic poetry telling of a time when the world was a wildly different place? And what if, somehow, those ancient poems that no one really understands seem to be the only thing that really explains the dark things creeping forward from the fringes of the world? Welcome to The Banished Lands!
Blog Stops
Texas Book-aholic, August 2
Two Points of Interest, August 3
Blogging With Carol, August 4
Mary Hake, August 4
Inklings and Notions, August 5
A Rup Life, August 6
proud to be an autism mom, August 7
Bibliophile Reviews, August 7
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 8
Janices book reviews, August 9
Jeanette’s Thoughts, August 10
Carpe Diem, August 11
A Baker’s Perspective, August 12
Books, Books, and More Books., August 13
Multifarious, August 14
Bigreadersite, August 14
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, August 15
The Mimosa Blossom, August 15
Giveaway
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To celebrate his tour, Benjamin is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d1c7/the-b...

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new author to me and I'm glad that I was given the chance to read this book. It is not like the usual genre I read, but I love that it expanded a new genre to me. The writing is awesome and when the poetry is placed in the story, I savored every moment. The author has created a world like no other. As I traveled with Durin and his friends, my curiosity piqued. Where was the story going to take me? What mysteries would be discovered?

I loved the title of the book and I thought this described it perfectly, " If something had returned from there, it should not have happened in secret," It was powerful to read that the land was watched over and nothing would ever return. So I began to wonder, what was so evil that was causing so much concern? This is when I really started to allow the author to take me to where the story was. I walked beside Durian and others and was on guard at every noise I heard. The writing is good and was easy to feel myself transported to the lands. The group encounters dangerous creatures along the way that would make me scream and run the other way.

I loved the determination of the characters and they seemed to draw strength from each other. It made me think how we should hold each other up when we struggle.This beautiful castle is ruled by a great and powerful man. Guards surround him and he is hesitant to believe that danger lurks nearby. Will he listen to Pallin who has great power? The quest is on to find where King Euthor buried his wife. The story kept me glued to my chair as I read how Pallin and others were faced with enemies. Their purpose was to regain their powers. Would they achieve that before war breaks out? Malfur is a fierce enemy and will do anything to win. I liked him because I thought he was a perfect example of how power can cause you to turn against family and friends. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. This is a fantasy type book, but within the story lies many messages of hope, courage and strength.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Banished Lands", book one in"The Banished Lands Series" by Benjamin Meester is a genre that I wouldn't have picked up from the library but since I am a member of a group that reads books, I read it and it held my attention and I wanted to see what was causing three friends living their normal life to be entered into a life that was filled with danger and suspense.

I admit at times I wanted to skip ahead and read the ending, because the book was almost 400 pages long. I was thinking I don't have to read all the battles described in the book, but I am glad I didn't give into my thoughts because if I would have I would have missed the best parts of the story.

I loved the ending but it left me wanting to read the remaining books in the series.

I would recommend this books to anyone that likes fantasy and likes long reads. If you want a love story, then this isn't the book for you even though there was one in the generations before this book was written, which is talked about in a poem which might be not just a poem but something else.

I was given a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These are my own opinions.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Banished Lands is a fantasy novel by author Benjamin Mester. Durian is the good, right arm man. He is of average height and build, with hair the color of hazelnut. His parents died years ago leaving him sole proprietor of his father’s business.

As this book is meaty it is better to devour it slowly. However, I think a good reader as young as age nine would enjoy and understand this novel.

The story is one of good versus evil. Will the good come out on top? I think it would make an excellent book club choice.

A quote that really spoke to me is, “I feel like a grain of sand on the seashore. The world is a much bigger, darker place than I had ever imagined. I feel helpless.” (pg# 168)

Disclaimer: I received this novel complimentary the author, and the ebook complimentary Celebrate Lit, and was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Carol Keen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brand new to me author, and a series that I've just fallen for. This book is packed with details and characters. It's very involved, and reasonably compelling. The parts that are slower are the build-up for the rest of the series or the scenes. When the action starts, it doesn't stop. I'd love to read the other books in this series. From the fight between good and evil to a quest that must be fulfilled, to poetry and prophecy, once you start this journey you will not want to leave it. It has an ability to suck you in and leave you wanting more.

My copy came from Celebrate Lit. My thoughts and opinions are my own. I have left this review of my own volition and purchased a copy of this book as well.

[Jennifer J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyrically and beautifully written. An extraordinary story that fully engages the reader in the mystery, suspense and adventure found within. This talented author has created an exceptional fantasy world wherein the characters are vividly brought to life as they discover their history is different than they believed, and now face dangers both known and unknown. An excellent read, especially captivating when read aloud as the listeners hang on every word of this enthralling tale!

Yes, I have charmed by The Banished Lands – an amazing feat for this reader who doesn’t typically favor the fantasy genre! I am now looking forward to enjoying the continuation of this series!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. A favorable review was not required, no compensation was received, and all views expressed are my own.

[Lisa Rupertus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot of action. If you like Lord of the Rings - then this book will totally appeal to you. While the story is different it has that epic story quality. The author took his time laying the story while not revealing all or too much too fast. He described the characters and the surroundings so well that you can see the entire seen. This book is also completely appropriate for children as there is no adult material. Just two quick kisses but nothing heavy. I really appreciate that as a mom of teens who often look for books they feel comfortable reading. What is also special is it is part of a series - which means there is more to read. (I love series!)

*I received this book for review - as always all opinions are my own.

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this is a genre that can become stagnant, many of the stories can start to sound similar to others and lose their individuality but this not the case of this novel. I felt an appreciation for the author’s creativity and plot line, he did a nice job of keeping his work original. I really liked the poetry that was in this novel, as someone who enjoys poetry this was bonus points to enjoying this novel.

Full Review: https://bibliophile.reviews/book-revi...

[Janice Sisemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Banished lands

The writing was easy reading and had good flow. To me Fantasy is hard to understand, it is not my thing to read. I do believe that ones that like Fantasy will enjoy this book. The book is part of a series and does seem like a continuation. I would recommend have the other books in the series to have ready to read. I am not sure what it would take to write a book like this but I would think would take some research on writing it. I did enjoy the two brothers in it and the adventures they had. I received an complementary copy of the book from Celebrate Lit, I was not required to write an positive review.

[Debra Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging Story

Very well written story. Interesting weaving of legend that lead to great truth and solving of centuries old poetry which leads to good triumphing over evil.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book to read! If you like fantasy type book this one will pull you in. Well written story plot! And well put together, you can easily escape the world with this book!

[Jessica Straker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhh

It's good. I didn't realize I was at the end and om ready to keep reading. Very well written and the action was nail biting.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was enjoyable to read. It contained a great adventure and was missing language and stuff that I would rather not read. I recommend this book for some enjoyable reading. 🙂👍

[teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jumps off the pages

This isn't usual my type of book but when I read a few pages I was intrigued and hooked. From an ancient land much history had been lost but some remembered. The last was important to make it thru these times and into the future.

[Benjamin Mester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've got to agree with the bulk of the reviewers and go with four stars for this one because it's the weakest of the series. Books two and three don't deal with as much of the setup, and are thus more gripping from start to finish. A lot of buildup in this book, starting slow, as others have mentioned, but quickly picking up and not slowing down. The lore and backstory of this book are unique, as you'll find once you dive in. Quite an interesting world, which continues to surprise even me!

[Florence Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Epic Fantasy … The first thing I think of when I think of epic fantasy is Tolkien. I have to admire anyone who is willing to step into those foot prints. Benjamin Mester has begun a great quest in the first of his Banished Lands series.

When I first tried to read The Hobbit, it was very difficult to get into. I quit before all the dwarves even got into Bilbo’s little hobbit house. (But I was MUCH younger, like 7th or 8th grade at the time.) My older brother taught me something that has stuck with me through the “thick and thin” of reading a book: The first chapters sometimes can be very boring. Just get through them and usually the book gets good. I have applied that rule many times. Another little lesson I’m learning about the start of a long story is from my husband. Oftentimes, when he starts a new videogame (like Zelda), if the game permits, he goes through and gathers all the tools and equipment that he needs (what he calls the boring part), and then he does the actual quests. Banished Lands starts out a bit mundane, slow, lazy. I’m not insulting the author, because in his guest post for Celebrate Lit, he states that himself: “I love the idea of characters living normal, mundane lives….” Yet, he interjects enough mystery into the beginning, to get you thinking and wondering. Like my husband gathering his tools and equipment to play the quest, Benjamin Mester (and many other Epic Fantasy writers) gather the “cast”, the tools, the premise and the mystery in the beginning of the story, and then we move on to the quest, with the remainder of the mystery unfolding.

There were some cool and even disturbing elements in the natural environment, such as rock that pulls living things into itself and holds them captive, for good. And some people being gifted with the ability to speak to inanimate objects, like weapons, and have them do their bidding.

There were times it was slow, apart from the beginning. The traveling parts were a bit long and “draggy”. And the battle scenes were a bit too long for me (that’s just a “me” thing – no reflection on the writing). To be honest, even Tolkien had slow parts (counsel meetings and long history “lessons”).

This is a really nice start for an epic series.

DISCLAIMER: I received this book as a gift. The opinions I express are provided without obligation for a positive review. I receive no compensation for the review, other than a really good read.

[Mary Hake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sweeping saga of a kingdom in peril would be considered speculative fiction. There are magical elements and characters with extraordinary powers, but most of the dramatic story involves “ordinary” men trying to help protect and save their city and the land they live in. They journey far and experience many adventures while fighting against evil. The tale intrigues, but the text often tells rather than shows with action and richer language. I did enjoy the book even though it’s not my usual genre, but wished for stronger writing and fewer textual errors. I think the author has great potential to develop his craft since he knows how to develop a compelling story and story world. The characters did make me care about them and their future, and I would like to know what happens next and how the foreshadowed events will come to pass. One other odd thing, this book did not have a copyright page or publisher listed and the numbering began inside the front cover. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A prophecy old as time promises that a kingdom will be in grave danger. When the old world has disappeared and only the history of the events remain, will Durian and his friends be able to solve the mystery? Durian and his friends travel across mystic lands and meet a wide array of friends and foes. Will they be able to outwit the mysterious force that is chasing them?


I thought the novel was an action-packed and thrilling fantasy read. It reminds me a bit of "The Hobbit", especially with Durian and friends who have no fighting experience but, they try to battle the evil forces. I enjoyed the fact that the book used a poem to create a puzzle that could help prevent evil from taking over. The novel is the first book in the series and I appreciated that it didn't leave us on a cliffhanger. However, the ending point left readers wanting to read the rest of the series.


**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

[Jessica Baker (A Baker's Perspective) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was full of fun, mystery and adventure. It was my first time reading a book by this author, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect at first. I was pleasantly surprised, although I will admit it did take me a little bit to get into the story line. About a third of the way through it picked up for me, and I was glad I stuck with it. I have slowly started reading more fantasy books, here and there really, and I find that they really let me use my imagination. It was nice to read a book that was different, not your typical love story (which is what I read most of the time. You see strength, courage, and characters who don’t give up hope. I loved the message of the story, and I am sure this will not be the last time I read something by Mr. Mester.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Alicia Beck · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Review
The Banished Lands is the first book in a series. This story seemed very slow to get going and dragged on quite a bit. This story is a fantasy type book . Plenty of mystery in this story. Durian and his friends are trying to solve a mystery. They become involved in a fight between good and evil. The added poetry was a nice touch to this story. The author did good with writing with lots of descriptions. When reading about the old man's walking stick you could just picture seeing it with all of the description. Disclaimer: I was given a complimentary copy of this book but all thoughts and opinions are my own honest ones.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at 44%. This is meh, and I’m not in the mood for meh. Slow, derivative and doesn’t make a huge amount of sense if you think about it for more than a few seconds (the whole thing is triggered because some young men decide to abandon their livelihoods and creepily follow a random stranger for no reason). Not bad, just 400 pages of extruded sub-LOTR fantasy product.

[Margaret Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange book. I had trouble reading it because it seemed like the characters had no depth. I also had problems reconciling the size of the world with travel times between places. The plot is quite deep and I'm hoping the author will correct some of these defects in the sequels.

[Debra H. Wruble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastical

Well written story about keepers of the wind battling for the powers to control all the kingdom's in the land.

[Suz Mordsith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got past the sampler and brought the book and then lost total interest.
It just didn't capture me.
I didn't feel like I cared where the characters were the characters were going.

[Biswanath Banerjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Durian’s attention was fixed to the old man for quite some time.
At first glance-he was a simple man-gathered to witness the thrill and joy of the annual sports Surya-but Durian’s mind was diverted from the games to the old man-again and again.
It seems that the old man was mind is somewhere else-not in the games. He was from the far off land-clearly written in his stature, his appearances, and his dresses-even in his walking stick-ornately decorated.
And it must have cost him money and strength to come to the venue of the annual sports-he must be an avid sports lover-but he was not at all enjoying the sports.
What mystery is shrouded in his presence in the games?

Full review at
https://jayasreesown.wordpress.com/20...