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The Sun and the Raven #1
Rise of the Forgotten Sun
All I ever wanted was to see the world and maybe discover an ancient civilization or two. A life of scholarly solitude and adventure was more than enough for me. I never wanted to play politics. I never wanted to get married. I most certainly never dreamed of becoming a god.
Yet when I ventured into the depths of the Soulless Desert, I found... something- a power so ancient it has been forgotten by mankind. That day unleashed a chain of events that, once started, cannot be stopped.
It is the Rise of the Forgotten Sun.
It is the beginning of the end.
Yet when I ventured into the depths of the Soulless Desert, I found... something- a power so ancient it has been forgotten by mankind. That day unleashed a chain of events that, once started, cannot be stopped.
It is the Rise of the Forgotten Sun.
It is the beginning of the end.
456 pages, Paperback
Published October 19, 2017
304 people are currently reading
266 people want to read
About the author
Jon Monson
10 books25 followersJon Monson started writing after finishing grad school – the first time in his adult life that he found himself with any amount of free time. When he’s not crafting stories, he enjoys exploring his adopted home in Idaho, where he lives with his wife and daughters. Until he fulfills his dream of writing full-time somewhere in Portugal, he spends his days working as an accountant. To see more from Jon, check out JonMonson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 26, 2022
I absolutely loved the world that Jon created in this book! I was intrigued about the story from the beginning, and I can't wait to dig into the rest of the series as soon as I can.
May 30, 2023
This YA novel does a good job of spinning an action and adventure tale with magical elements. There is a rhythm and feel that is familiar and yet - some interesting developments and surprises. This managed to feel fresh to me. A great beginning for a solid series.
Own on Kindle
Own on Kindle
May 24, 2019
Pleasant read.
January 7, 2019
The Rise of the Forgotten Sun is the first book in Jon Monson’s, The Transcendence Saga. The story is of a young man, Prince Aydiin Oosman who loves to journey off on adventures rather than being caught up in the political ramifications expected of him as a Prince of his nation, Salatia. Sent on a mission to capture his rogue uncle who has been robbing Aydiin’s father, the Sultan, a mysterious stranger slips a coin into Aydiin’s pouch as the Prince is distracted.
Capturing his uncle, he imprisons him, holding him in a small way station awaiting transport to Maradon, the capital city, for execution. Aydiin’s best friend Barrick is awaiting the Prince at the way station. Examining the coin, they realize it's a treasure map leading them to a location in the Soulless desert, a place no one typically returns from. Intrigued by yet another adventure, Aydiin leaves his uncle in the jail while he and Barrick go treasure hunting. After a week of finding nothing, they are nearing the end of their water and food, which would mean ultimate disaster. Tossing the coin into the desert in anger, it suddenly opens a magical entrance to a submerged tower aptly called, The Lost Tower. Finding a great stone of the Divines, (Gods), in the tower, it immediately dissolves into Aydiin’s body when he touches it, beginning an unexpected adventure of a lifetime.
In the mean time, while Aydiin is off on his adventure, his uncle escapes and Aydiin returns home to a very angry father. Expecting to punish Aydiin, his father arranges a marriage for him, sending him off to another country. Barrick joins Aydiin on his trip and the two decide to skip out on the marriage and head to a monastery that can explain what happened to Aydiin in the desert. As their ship lands in the new country, Aydiin is immediately spotted by his future fiance and is instantly mesmerized by her beauty. Delaying the trip to the monastery, Aydiin becomes caught up in his new life until he is captured one evening. Having survived two previous unexplained attempts on his life before leaving Salatia, this is really disconcerting. Byanca of the House Cavour, his intended wife, seeks help to find and rescue him and does so, starting the big adventure of the book.
The story is engaging, and keeps the readers interest. It does contain numerous editing and grammatical errors which slows the pace occasionally. The romance between Aydiin and Byanca seems somewhat superficial. They act more like pals hanging out than potential husband and wife. Although portrayed as a prim socialite, Byanca is a strong hard headed woman that has no qualms about taking the lead in their romance, even though Aydiin is becoming god like with his growing powers. It is a bit confusing.
The book ends with a segue into the next one. That as well is a bit confusing because this is book 1 of the Transcendence Saga, but the second book is called the Impending Night, book 2 of the Sun and Raven series. Mr. Monson should clear that up if this will be an ongoing series to avoid further confusion from readers. I would recommend this book, as overall it is an enjoyable read.
Capturing his uncle, he imprisons him, holding him in a small way station awaiting transport to Maradon, the capital city, for execution. Aydiin’s best friend Barrick is awaiting the Prince at the way station. Examining the coin, they realize it's a treasure map leading them to a location in the Soulless desert, a place no one typically returns from. Intrigued by yet another adventure, Aydiin leaves his uncle in the jail while he and Barrick go treasure hunting. After a week of finding nothing, they are nearing the end of their water and food, which would mean ultimate disaster. Tossing the coin into the desert in anger, it suddenly opens a magical entrance to a submerged tower aptly called, The Lost Tower. Finding a great stone of the Divines, (Gods), in the tower, it immediately dissolves into Aydiin’s body when he touches it, beginning an unexpected adventure of a lifetime.
In the mean time, while Aydiin is off on his adventure, his uncle escapes and Aydiin returns home to a very angry father. Expecting to punish Aydiin, his father arranges a marriage for him, sending him off to another country. Barrick joins Aydiin on his trip and the two decide to skip out on the marriage and head to a monastery that can explain what happened to Aydiin in the desert. As their ship lands in the new country, Aydiin is immediately spotted by his future fiance and is instantly mesmerized by her beauty. Delaying the trip to the monastery, Aydiin becomes caught up in his new life until he is captured one evening. Having survived two previous unexplained attempts on his life before leaving Salatia, this is really disconcerting. Byanca of the House Cavour, his intended wife, seeks help to find and rescue him and does so, starting the big adventure of the book.
The story is engaging, and keeps the readers interest. It does contain numerous editing and grammatical errors which slows the pace occasionally. The romance between Aydiin and Byanca seems somewhat superficial. They act more like pals hanging out than potential husband and wife. Although portrayed as a prim socialite, Byanca is a strong hard headed woman that has no qualms about taking the lead in their romance, even though Aydiin is becoming god like with his growing powers. It is a bit confusing.
The book ends with a segue into the next one. That as well is a bit confusing because this is book 1 of the Transcendence Saga, but the second book is called the Impending Night, book 2 of the Sun and Raven series. Mr. Monson should clear that up if this will be an ongoing series to avoid further confusion from readers. I would recommend this book, as overall it is an enjoyable read.
August 15, 2022
Rise of the Forgotten Sun is the first in a desert-inspired fantasy series. I've enjoyed quite a few of these this summer (The Purple Prince and Seven Lives Saved stand out as examples) and I was curious whether this book would feel unique. I think Monson does a very thoughtful job of incorporating this setting, especially with unique touches like the kertons, dinosaur like beasts that add color to the setting. Particularly nicely done was the incorporation of the book's main setting with other parts of the world, such as the Venice-like city the latter half of the book takes place in. It's a thoughtfully constructed world.
This first book is the story of Aydiin, a young prince who sets out to explore the world and his place in it beyond his destiny as his brother's heir. I really enjoyed his relationship with Byanca, who is maybe my favorite character. She subverts a lot of the tropes that tend to arise whenever there's an arranged marriage plot, and I liked the way their relationship developed in spite of the external circumstances.
This first book is the story of Aydiin, a young prince who sets out to explore the world and his place in it beyond his destiny as his brother's heir. I really enjoyed his relationship with Byanca, who is maybe my favorite character. She subverts a lot of the tropes that tend to arise whenever there's an arranged marriage plot, and I liked the way their relationship developed in spite of the external circumstances.
June 8, 2020
Fun adventure
This book caught my interest from the start and kept me interested throughout. Though it is full of things I have read a lot--magical powers, political intrigue, fighting, monsters, nail-biting escapes, romance, and strange beasts--they are seamlessly woven together into a unique, fast-moving tale.
I especially enjoyed the powerful, telekinetic, scary, royal kerton, which one must be careful to approach but still loves his rider, Prince Aydiin. I want a kerton!
I enjoyed the exciting twists and turns. Exactly who is your friend and who is your enemy? Who is trying to kill the second in line to the throne and why?
I appreciate the lack of offensive language, sex, and glorified graphic violence.
I plan to buy the next book and get more answers and adventure.
This book caught my interest from the start and kept me interested throughout. Though it is full of things I have read a lot--magical powers, political intrigue, fighting, monsters, nail-biting escapes, romance, and strange beasts--they are seamlessly woven together into a unique, fast-moving tale.
I especially enjoyed the powerful, telekinetic, scary, royal kerton, which one must be careful to approach but still loves his rider, Prince Aydiin. I want a kerton!
I enjoyed the exciting twists and turns. Exactly who is your friend and who is your enemy? Who is trying to kill the second in line to the throne and why?
I appreciate the lack of offensive language, sex, and glorified graphic violence.
I plan to buy the next book and get more answers and adventure.
April 13, 2020
I picked this up for a book challenge category and the premise sounded intriguing. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
I enjoyed the characters. Aydiin reminded me a bit of The Prince from Prince of Persia, always looking for adventure that gets him in trouble. There were a lot of twists and turns that kept you guessing. I think the only issue I'd have is with all the twists it kind of made stuff feel like it came out of nowhere, but don't let it deter you. The pace was fast moving, so I never really got bored in one part. I would highly recommend this book.
I enjoyed the characters. Aydiin reminded me a bit of The Prince from Prince of Persia, always looking for adventure that gets him in trouble. There were a lot of twists and turns that kept you guessing. I think the only issue I'd have is with all the twists it kind of made stuff feel like it came out of nowhere, but don't let it deter you. The pace was fast moving, so I never really got bored in one part. I would highly recommend this book.
December 31, 2021
This is a great adventure story that meshes magical fantasy with an industrial revolution. I was surprised at the unexpected environment, something I hadn't seen before in a YA magical fantasy. It gave the story a fresh feel that helps it stand apart from other stories in the genre.
It can be a little difficult to follow at times, if only because the characters and events are so complex. The characters are easy to connect with and care about and the world building is exquisitely done.
It is definitely exciting and fun and will keep you eagerly reading well past bedtime.
It can be a little difficult to follow at times, if only because the characters and events are so complex. The characters are easy to connect with and care about and the world building is exquisitely done.
It is definitely exciting and fun and will keep you eagerly reading well past bedtime.
August 1, 2018
I really enjoyed this fantasy adventure. There were surprises, glimpses of love stories and an intricate world. Detailed description and action flow were great. Switching points of view also helped move the story along. A few typos sometimes stood out, and the love stories were a bit unrealistically founded on insta-love, but I enjoyed this story and its intricacies. I want to read book 2!
November 20, 2018
Really quite good!
Rather fresh and well put together with only a few derivative elements that I recognized. While a continuing story there is no blatant cliffhanger at the end, just an invitation to took forward to the next installment. Strong female characters, and a strangely weak male lead. I am eagerly anticipating book 2 in "The Sun and the Raven" series.
Rather fresh and well put together with only a few derivative elements that I recognized. While a continuing story there is no blatant cliffhanger at the end, just an invitation to took forward to the next installment. Strong female characters, and a strangely weak male lead. I am eagerly anticipating book 2 in "The Sun and the Raven" series.
September 22, 2021
Just average
This story was interesting and entertaining at times. However, there were so many things that made no sense in the storytelling that it was difficult to read at times. There were also large leaps in time in the story when the readers really needed the content filled in between. I feel like this story and author both have potential but need more polishing.
This story was interesting and entertaining at times. However, there were so many things that made no sense in the storytelling that it was difficult to read at times. There were also large leaps in time in the story when the readers really needed the content filled in between. I feel like this story and author both have potential but need more polishing.
December 31, 2018
Exciting
This book is exciting, engaging, and filled with adventure. I recommend that the reader grab a snack and something to drink, then settle down for a good long time . You won't be able to put this one down.
This book is exciting, engaging, and filled with adventure. I recommend that the reader grab a snack and something to drink, then settle down for a good long time . You won't be able to put this one down.
January 24, 2020
2 stars
Slogged my way through this story. Started strong, then lost me and confused me. It is a cliffhanger. Not enough action involving the giant lizard. Will not read anymore by this author.
Slogged my way through this story. Started strong, then lost me and confused me. It is a cliffhanger. Not enough action involving the giant lizard. Will not read anymore by this author.
April 5, 2020
Powerfully Fanciful
Tale of magical hierarchy and the resulting wars for dominance. Romantic liaison that was not to be denied. The struggle for the win is a glorious one and full of spectacular exhibitions.
Tale of magical hierarchy and the resulting wars for dominance. Romantic liaison that was not to be denied. The struggle for the win is a glorious one and full of spectacular exhibitions.
August 16, 2018
This was a fantastic read! Great story line, wonderful characters, and adventure that kept me hooked from the beginning. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!
February 3, 2019
I liked it. I shall read the next one.
February 23, 2019
Unique read
Interesting storyline with twists and turns as treachery abounds while lives are intertwined throughout the kingdoms as gods try to resume.
Interesting storyline with twists and turns as treachery abounds while lives are intertwined throughout the kingdoms as gods try to resume.
December 28, 2019
🏆 2019 Fantasy Winner!
April 27, 2020
Surprising
I didn't expect to like the book as much as I did. Great story like Aladin. Now can't wait for next book.
I didn't expect to like the book as much as I did. Great story like Aladin. Now can't wait for next book.
November 9, 2020
Loved it
March 17, 2019
Very nice light read.
Can't wait till next book in series.
Can't wait till next book in series.
June 23, 2021
Love this story! It has a fast-paced, exciting storyline, great dialogue, and well-developed characters and relationships. I also really appreciate the unique gifts/powers that certain groups of people have. It also has a little bit of a steampunk vibe in addition to being an epic fantasy, which makes it all the more fun to read.
February 22, 2022
I was completely surprised by how very good this book was.
I like stories that move right along, have engaging supporting characters and a protagonist who is not perfect. This book has all that and more !
Do not miss the opportunity to be drawn in by this story, you won't be disappointed.
I like stories that move right along, have engaging supporting characters and a protagonist who is not perfect. This book has all that and more !
Do not miss the opportunity to be drawn in by this story, you won't be disappointed.
July 30, 2020
I was overjoyed to find well-polished writing, likable characters, and an engaging adventure in the very first chapter. That level of polish varied throughout the rest of the book, but overall I really liked Rise of the Forgotten Sun.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews