The Way of Mathias

by Robert McDermott

A Child-friendly, coming of age, fantasy novella

Mathias, a young man, and a keen farmer, has a peaceful life. One day a ranger called Alexander appears at his parent's house and shows interest in him. The following trouble that ensues causes the death of his parents and all he loves. Mathias sets out on a mission of vengeance against the Emperor that ordered his death. Meeting a redhead along the way called Fayette with a similar purpose, the two of them and Alexander meet many trials along the way.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

119 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2017

About the author

Robert is a Christian author from Northern Ireland. His preferred genres are sci-fi, fantasy, and coming of age stories. These stories usually lean towards both strong male and female lead characters. With no desire for erotica or curse words, the novels are more akin The lion, the witch and the wardrobe rather than Game of Thrones. Always seeking to provoke the reader into deeper thought about human behavior both his fantasy and sci-fi novels broach these subjects.

Reviews

[Toni Kief · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it has action adventure great characters and twists and turns in the plot. There were a couple of typos, but they didn't take away from the strong story. You never know who or what will happen next.

[George Pettus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Story

Well-written,very good character development. Kept the story running along, with a steady pace. Had several Very well disguised turns of plot that were unexpected but made it more interesting. Enjoy this story.

[David Bergsland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, basic story, but the spiritual is missing

The tale gives good basic structure, but the characters show little depth. I never did get really involved with any of the characters. There were no solid relationships. I was amazed when the book simply ended.

[Margo James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revenge is never the answer.

A farm boy watches his family get murdered because one Ranger wants a new Emperor. With a lot of training Mathias is finally ready to fight. But emotions run high and everyone has their own agenda that leads to revenge rather than control. Soon war is raging and both sides are not sure how to win or concede.
The book needs editing. There are plot issues, grammer issues, and lots of confusion.

[Raymond Mathiesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ways of Mathias

Can he be a hero?

This is a story of action and adventure, heroes and battles. Follow the exploits of Mathias as he evolves from a simple farm boy to adventures. Will Mathias ever achieve greatness? Life itself is a an adventure and we all must face challenges. Particularly as young men we must meet the world, what it offers, with all its happiness and sadness. This story is fantasy and reads like myth, but it is a myth that many will enjoy and relate to.

McDermott's story certainly entertained me. The plot has intrigue and surprises, and Mathias is a likable fellow, if a bit naive to begin with. To explain my bias I certainly like fantasy, and also coming of age stories. That said, I am happy to award this story 5 stars.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Way of Mathias, my third read/listen from author Robert McDermott and the third different genre he's written in. I don't restrict myself to a particular genre. I'm a sucker for anything with memorable characters! Narrator Teddy Fahey’s accent in his narration added to the book’s enjoyment. Since I own both the Kindle & Audible versions I was able to follow along while being read to. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. I look forward to the sequel, The Reign of Mathias. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[John Alvord · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't understand why this book averages so high. I did not enjoy it at all, but I did finish it. I'm just glad I didn't pay to read it. Yes, there are some unexpected plot twists, but not enough to compensate for the tortured writing and typos. Some sentences were so convoluted that I had to read them several times to figure out what was being said. I certainly won't be paying to continue the series.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A humble farm boy strives to take over an empire.

The author has penned a swashbuckling saga of conflict and double-dealing as the protagonist and his advisor attempt to gain control of his native land. You'll follow Mathias as he is driven from his home, spends months learning to fight, and makes a deal with men who fail to support him. This tale should appeal to teens and young adults. Recommended.

[Norman Hirschman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this an interesting read. Mathias a man of the land is taken under the arm of Alexander, I Ranger after Mathias's parents are killed by soldier of the Emperor. Mathias is trained to fight and iet up to be the next empeor. This is easier said than done and plans dont always work out the way we want them to. The story continues.

[Deborah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Needs more editing

This kindle version appears to be a draft copy & still has editors marks in red.
They have attempted a narrators overview style of writing but there are a lot of pacing problems so it just quickly jumps from scene to scene. I cannot understand how there are so many 4 & 5 star reviews!
A good outline for a story but needs a lot more work.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mathias witnessed the murder of his family and the destruction of his town. He prepares to be capable to get his revenge and meets others along his journey to seek out the Emperor to kill him. A war is raging and both side are no sure as to the outcome. I can't wait to hear the continuation of Mathias story.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Reading about the trials each of these people endured while following their life destinations was exciting. I would recommend this story for anyone.

[Angel Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story telling. A good story is one that keeps the reader or listener interested and able to envision the story being told. The entire story was perfect. It was as though I was watching events happen as a witness. Well written. I really enjoyed it.

[Linda Hackler · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not riveting. Couldn't finish..


Misspelled words and grammatical errors made this book confusing, while the story line failed to capture my attention.
Characters were superficial.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the storyline is interesting it needs an editor and a proofreader. I almost stopped reading before completing because of repetition and wandering conversations.

[Barbara Keigher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantasy, clean, well written Christian author etc etc. etc. what's not to love!!
I will definitely read the next in the series.