Primeval Origins : Paths of Anguish

Primeval Origins Saga #1

by B.A. Vonsik

FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE we were never meant to discover!

A NEW KIND OF SCIENCE FANTASY SERIES WINNING 45 AWARDS • An award-winning epic story 65 million years in the making... Where Jurassic Park meets Stargate in a fierce world more dangerous than Lord of the Rings!

"Book [series] should definitely be made into a movie." Ellie Midwood, USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author.

"So exceptionally written... this [science fantasy] series is destined to be recognized as a classic." Award-Winning Reader Views Review

Myths and Legends...
… Just fables and fantasies for those taught to scoff at them, as I was when a graduate student in the sciences; scorn and ridicule the forbidden. Myths are just... myths. Legends are just... legends. Relentlessly declared as academic and professional “truths.”

Then, I discovered different…
… In a South American dig where my life went upside down after finding what should not be with what we thought we knew so much about. My consciousness, my Light, plunged through a maelstrom bound to those in our undiscovered history.

I witnessed through the eyes of ancient warriors, Rogaan and others, a wondrous human civilization of old… First Man, brutal beasts, deadly dinosaurs, and ancient gods of myth… Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and more… in what the modern Hopi, Mayan, Hindu and others’ beliefs brand as our First World-Age.

An age deep in blood and conflict born of mighty gods and First Man, both covetous of true powers and self-motivations, loosing upon their world… tyrannies, force-energies... majiks, and abominations affronting Creation. Sealing the fates of the age, sword-messengers, warrior angels, risen new to bring forth the Harbinger of Creation's Judgments, slayers of civilizations... both men and gods, the Dreaded Horsemen.

I am bound to them… In the here and now, standing at the precipice at the end of mankind's Fourth World-Age. I fear what is to come from their burdens... the Horsemen of Prophecy. And yet, I have hope for what follows. As our ancients did in tablets of clay and the emerald crystal tablet teaching us our undiscovered past, I Nikki, now share these epics with you before the sounding of the trumpets.

Nichol Ricks
Witnessing Herald to Fulfilling Prophecies

AWARDS and HONORS
Primeval Origins Epic Saga
Book 0 - The Harbinger of Judgments (1 Award) Series Reader Magnet
Book 1 - Paths of Anguish (14 Awards)
Book 2 - Light of Honor (11 Awards)
Book 3 - Rise of Serpents (19 Awards)
Book 4 - To be released soon

A great read for Young Adults / YAs and all ages!

Primeval Origins: Paths of Anguish (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Series Bk 1)
Winner of 14 Awards
Winner - Young Adult, 2014/2015 Reader Views Literary Awards
Finalist - Fantasy, Readers Favorite 2016 Book Awards
Finalist - Fantasy, 2016 International Book Awards
Distinguished Favorite - Epic Fantasy, 2017 Independent Press Awards
Winner - Fantasy, 2017 New York City Big Book Awards
Winner - Science Fantasy - Winter 2018 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, National Association of Book Entrepreneurs (NABE)
Winner (Silver) - 2021 Literary Titan Book Awards
Finalist – Action/Adventure 2022 Book of the Year Award, Independent Author Network
Finalist - 2024 Four Seasons Book Awards (Winter Edition)
2023 & 2024 Global Book Awards:
Finalist – Multiple Categories (2023 & 2024)
Winner (Silver) – Epic Fantasy (2023)
Winner (Gold) – Coming of Age Fantasy (2024)
Winner (Gold) – Action & Adventure - Fantasy (2024)

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Epic Fantasy, Christian Fantasy, Thriller, Christian

311 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2014

About the author

B.A. Vonsik is a 44 times Multiple Award-Winning Science Fantasy Author and creator of the Primeval Origins® Universe and Primeval Origins® Epic Saga where our ancient myths and legends meet modern science, technology, and discovery coming to life in the pages of epic stories.

Primeval Origins®... A story 65 million years in the making where Jurassic Park meets Stargate SG1!

A story 65 million years in the making where Jurassic Park meets Stargate SG1!

Primeval Origins® Epic Saga series - 45 awards and honors.
- Primeval Origins: Paths of Anguish (#1) - 14 Awards
- Primeval Origins: Light of Honor (#2) - 11 Awards
- Primeval Origins: Rise of Serpents (#3) - 19 Awards
- Primeval Origins: Book #4 is in-works [Title to be announced in 2025!]
- Primeval Origins: The Harbinger of Judgments - 1 Award [Fan-only short-story at the BAVonsik author website - Available NOW!]
- Primeval Origins: Winds of Prophecy - U.S.S. SPARTAN is in the works [Book #1 in this Epic Sci-Fi series to be released soon!]

B.A. Vonsik is a 1985 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and flew as an USAF Special Operator aviator in missions world-wide during the Cold War, Panama, and Gulf War before transitioning to an adventurous 25-year career as a systems engineer in Lockheed Martin. While architecting advanced simulators and training systems for the US DoD and allies around the world, B.A. Vonsik spent his “off time” creating and detailing the worlds of Primeval Origins®. His insatiable curiosity as to why so many of our myths and legends, from so many cultures which never interacted with each other, are so very similar, B.A. learned of our human origins not taught to us in school…our undiscovered history. Now retired from Lockheed Martin after a highly successful career as a principal systems engineer, B.A. Vonsik is focusing on his writing and storytelling.

Armed with 40+ years of research and knowledge into our...
• Accepted Human History,
• Ancient Alien Theory,
• Undiscovered History,
• Ufology,
• Mythologies and Legends,
• - Sumerian
• - Egyptian
• - Greek
• - Norse
• - Eastern
• - Olmec
• - Mayan
• - Aztec
• - Native American Traditions
• - African Tribal Traditions
• - Aboriginal Traditions
• - Many Others
• Sciences…
• - Archeology
• - Paleontology
• - Geology
• - Oceanography
• - Climatology and Weather
• - Modern and Future Engineering Technologies
• - Metaphysical studies
• Our World Religions as written in the...
• - Tanakh
• - Torah
• - Holy Bible
• - Quran
• - Hindu Vedic texts.

B.A. Vonsik reveals our mind-bending human story in his multiple award-winning science fantasy Primeval Origins® Epic Saga, answering the question, “What if all of our myths and legends are true?”

Learn more about B.A. Vonsik, his books, stories, and game in the works at
http://www.bavonsik.com

Great insights are to be gained to the background research into the Primeval Origins® Epic Saga, story development news, the ancient lexicon (based on the Sumerian language) and encyclopedia, the research blog, and much more, visit the website at http://www.primevalorigins.com.
Register for free to gain access to the Ebon Circle Archives. The website contains all the information in the story that you just can't stuff into the books.

If you love Science Fiction, Epic Fantasy, or LitRPG, you'll love the Primeval Origins® Epic Saga.

Also visit the Primeval Origins Facebook page and publisher's websites. The websites are loaded with news and additional information about B.A. Vonsik and the Primeval Origins® Epic Saga.

http://www.facebook.com/primevalorigins
http://www.celestialfurypublishing.com
http://www.outskirtspress.com/primeva...

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ancient history comes to life at a paleontological dig when the discovery of the well-preserved skeletal remains of a dinosaur is discovered with what appears to be cleanly severed breaks in several bones. An unusual sword is found that defies the test of time, made from an unusual material that baffles the minds of those at the site. How could man be alive in the time of dinosaurs? History will be rocked back on its heels and this could be the greatest mystery to be solved, ever! When a large chasm is opened in the ground, a young Dig assistant, falls through, and like Alice falling into the rabbit hole, Nikki is transported into a strange and often brutal world eons old, and relives the experiences of a young warrior/hunter-in-training determined to prove he is a man, finding his own path in the world. As this primitive, yet organized group survives through an organized hierarchy; corruption and political machinations threaten the fiber of their existence and young Rogaan learns that life is much darker and more complicated than he could have imagined. He is forced to grow up quickly when his once sheltered world becomes a living nightmare he never knew could exist.

Primeval Origins: Paths of Anguish by Brett Vonsik has all the trappings of an epic historical fantasy in the making, with the potential to gain a cult following of this genre’s avid fans. Told in rich detail that alters its pace as a scene requires, every emotion comes to life as Rogaan feels fear and insecurity as well as triumph, anger and the self confidence that blossoms in the hearts and minds of the youthful.

After the intricate world building, this tales settles in nicely and the reader is transported into another fascinating world that is difficult to say good bye to. This isn’t a race to the finish type of read, this is a tale to live in the moment with each character, to see the value and loyalty of friendship, the bitterness of competition, as well as an in-depth look at a fresh take on crossing the barriers of time to “see” the story an ancient set of bones can conjure. Are you looking for something to test the boundaries of your imagination, with the feel of a wonderful tapestry depicting a magical tale? Primeval Origins: Paths of Anguish will do that and more! Brett Vonsik’s passion for his work shines through in this one and an author with passion is one to follow.

I received a copy from Brett Vonsik in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date: March 19, 2014
Publisher: Celestial Fury Publishing
ISBN-10: 0578138611
ISBN-13: 978-0578138619
Genre: Fantasy
Hardcover: 304 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

[Moony (Captain Mischief) MeowPoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not for me, it was uinteresting and boring.
I really wanted to like it, because it sounds sort of epic. But it fell flat.
2.5 stars.

I got this eARC from Netgalley

[Liquid Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

I typically do not read high fantasy, so my views may be strikingly different than one whom reads the genre often. I read a vast amount of Sci-Fi though, and the book premise sounded interesting. I found the epilogue quite disjointed; akin to a hard turn after having just sped up.

The story is interesting, but descriptors get repetitive and I found myself skimming through sections to get back into dialogue and movement. There is very little dialect dialogue, of which I was grateful. However, it all comes from Pax, which I can only assume is to make him stand out from the other characters, as well as his best friend Rogaan; the latter being caught in a deadly, personal tug-of-war of unknown origins.

The story begins in current times, but is mainly spent in the lands of dinosaur-esq past where hunters/gathers are making great progress in creating sustainable civilizations. Here, we are introduced to the main body of characters and get to know the tight friendship between Rogaan and Pax and the formers crush on Pax's sister.

Initially faced with coming-of-age in his father's home, Rogaan sets out on a Hunt for the first time to impress the warriors he hopes to join. He and Pax look after one another and end up fleeing from the magistrate in turn of events not spelled out by the author. It is that mystery and journey that fills the majority of the book.

Where I believe Vonsik does a capable job of painting the scenes and characters, I found some descriptors becoming monotonous. After every run it is hands on knees and trying not to sick-up, for example. Got it. Good to go.

In sum, it is an entertaining read. I believe any reader will walk away with a sense of understanding the landscape and differing characters. There is more going on than Rogaan knows, and Book 1 leaves the story hanging for the next installment. Personally, I prefer a story to have an understood conclusion and leave the door open for the next in the set, which I don't feel this book did.

For me, I'd rate this about a 3.7. The pace (less lengthy descriptions) flowed well. The characters are interesting and the undercurrent themes of the book is rather interesting. I'm not confident that I would invest the time to continue the story, but again, I typically don't read this type of fantasy.

Book provided by author for review

[Grampy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite.

“Primeval Origins: Paths of Anguish” by Brett Vonsik is, I fervently hope, volume 1 of at least a trilogy. Vonsik begins “Primeval Origins” on a Bolivian archaeological dig, where the fossilized skeleton of the largest known example of a prehistoric carnivore on Earth has been found. But something is amiss.

Unnaturally linear cuts appear on several rib bones. Inexplicably, the massive skull of the predator has been penetrated by a sword, which still remains in place! In short order several unhappy events occur, wreaking havoc on the team of scientists. Thus ends the prologue. We do not encounter these folks again, until the epilogue.

Between those two accounts, we are transported to a fascinating world in which a somewhat primitive civilization coexists with large, dangerous animals freely roaming the Wilds. Many of these animals, if not all, seem to be dinosaurs.

The bulk of the book is spent watching over the shoulders of the residents of this world, as they battle monstrous carnivores and corrupt government officials. You will join young Rogaan on his quest to save his father and his best friends’ parents. The tale is more than riveting; it will transfix you.

“Primeval Origins” features a meticulously detailed world, crafted wholly from the author’s imagination. The society inhabiting the world is painstakingly described, and altogether convincing in its many dealings.

Vonsik has created a world full of intrigue, danger, magic and heroism. His scrupulous attention to seemingly innocuous detail has yielded a rich tapestry of believable realism on his unnamed planet, perfectly suited to hosting the account of Rogaan’s pursuit.

“Primeval Origins” will get into your blood, and you will not want to put it down before reaching the final page. Then, you will feel a bit of panic as you realize you must wait until Vonsik completes the sequel, before you can learn the fates of the various players in this saga.

“Primeval Origins” is, in a word, outstanding. I urge all interested parties to purchase and read this mesmerizing story, and then post your reviews, so we can encourage the author to continue writing sequels to this engaging tale.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story begins with a dig in South America with Nikki, a graduate student, bored and unhappy with the way her life is going. She is called from her tent to a find at the dig where a new dinosaur species has been found. But Nikki falls into the pit and suffers an injury that sends her back in time living as Rogaan, who lives in the Cretaceous period. Everything she knew is wrong, as she discovers humans lived with the dinosaurs, had advanced tools and weapons, and a very layered social hierarchy.

Rogaan is a young half-Tellen living in a society that looks down on Tellens. He wants to join the Hunters as they go out into the wilds to hunt for meat to take back to the village, but this turns into more than just a hunt as he learns how to survive in the wilds, experiences strange physical symptoms when under stress, and faces treachery on the hunt. The story follows Rogaan, his friend Pax, and Pax’s sister Suhd (who Rogaan has a crush on). It is a coming of age story set in an era that is experiencing a sharp change in the politics of their world. Life becomes much more difficult for Rogan and his friends as Rogaan is suddenly wanted by authorities, dead or alive and Rogaan’s father, along with Pax’s parents, are arrested to carted off to be judged and punished.

Brett Vonsik has created a detailed world full of strange, dangerous animals, lush vegetation, and political and magical intrigue. The unique names give some indication of the animals; featherwings are birdlike, snapjaws seem similar to crocodiles, but most types of animals are unique to this world. The descriptions of plants, flowers and trees are rich in detail, not only their physical appearance but also the scents and touch of many plants.

I struggled a little with the terminology as Mr. Vonsik creates a new and different world. Not only the names of plants and animals, but also the classes of individuals by race, age, social station and jobs are all foreign names.

[Paul (Life In The Slow Lane) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Paths of Anguish? Well I know I felt pretty anguished.

The idea is pretty good...tracking the lives of a few hapless individuals who happen to be part of a hitherto unknown bunch of peeps living in the Cretaceous/Jurassic period. For some reason it starts off in modern times with a couple of archaeologists discovering a fossilized sword stuck in a fossilized T-Rex's (well something like a T-Rex) noggin. Then ... we seem to be somewhere else... WTF!

The plot is like a dropped pie. The writing is average. The author seems fixated on the sense of smell. Apparently dino crap, people waste and poor personal hygiene make the Cretaceous period a pretty pungent era- as evidenced by the author's continual, and annoying, use of the phrase "xxx wrinkled his/her nose" at some smell or another (used 20 times at least). The descriptions of characters and places are way, way too detailed. REF (Reading Enjoyment Factor) is pretty low...I had to force myself to finish it. Oh..and about the finish - a crazy ending that doesn't tie up loose ends - or make me want to read part 2 of the Saga.

It could have been so much more.

[David Stubbings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Primeval Origins:Paths of Anguish is a fantasy novel, and whilst it is reasonably well-paced escapism, it is a nightmare, both apparently intentionally and on several fronts unintentionally as far as this reviewer is concerned.
When the principal character falls into a coma under rather unbelievable circumstances she is transported into a nightmare of a world as one of two rather wet characters. It is also a readers nightmare with the use of a great many invented strange names and undefined terms which are very confusing. Why fantasy authors feel compelled to make-up so many weird names and to introduce more throughout the book for English speaking personnel, is beyond my comprehension.
In fact the whole concept of this book s beyond my comprehension, but I suppose there are out there those who enjoy books of this genre

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been a fan of SciFi/Fantasy novels for over 20 years, and reading this book reminded me that there are still plenty of unique and amazing stories out there to tell. It reads like one of the classic fantasy novels already. Paths of Anguish was a refreshing new look at ancient human history mixed with magic, science, religion, politics, and...dinosaurs. Excellent. Can't wait for the second book to be released and to see where things go from here.

[Sarai Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a twist of interesting flavors. I have to admit, I didn't really understand the beginning part and thought to story could have done without it. A current time archaeology dig that unearths some interestingly substantially historical evidence that could change everything we knew about the past. The we change settings and we are in the past, where dinosaurs are a real threat to the human population. I really enjoyed the second story line where are two young companions are doing their best to bring honor to their families, but of course there is always that one asshole who makes trouble for them. I also imagined that this old world is the stinkiest thing ever. The main character is always scrunching his nose or describing how smelly his surroundings are. I thought it was cute though. Maybe he has a nose like I do, that smells everything and that's all he can think about, lol.

This was a fun read that was quick. Took me an afternoon to get through. Four stars for Paths of Anguish and five stars for the vivid smells I imagined.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

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[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free via Goodreads Giveaways.

So, first off - Arggggghhhh! Cliffhanger!

Beautiful cover, and was happy to receive this book. Dove right into it once it arrived and after the initial pages at the archaeology dig and finding that portion of the story annoying, the main story swiftly swept me up. I thoroughly enjoyed the alternate history, and do wish there might have been descriptions of the wildlife and what they actually were, possibly as a glossary at the end. It was fun trying to figure out what the wildlife was by the authors descriptions as early "man" might view them.

Overall, I found the story to be fast paced, and engrossing, and look forward to the next book and how it proceeds from there.

Cross-posted to Amazon.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was confused until the end about the way the book started but I think the final chapter gave me a clue. White Gold Wielder? The rest of the book is a rousing good story. Characterization is excellent. However, I felt like slapping the hero in the face a number of times and telling him quit being so dense.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't often read sci fi or fantasy, but the more I read these genres, the more I am enjoying. An interesting story and whilst I rarely write what a story is about, I do recommend. I am hoping to read book 2 soon.

I won this book in the Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

[Bruce Layman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primeval Anguish, the first book in Brett Vonsik's Primeval Origins series, was a compelling and enjoyable read. It had well-developed characters and gave a hint of the mysteries that will surely be revealed in future sequels. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

[Smith]

This story is very adicctive.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not stop reading this book and the amount of captivation this book brought through every page you turned. Traveling back in times centuries and centuries back and ahead fighting for survival Nikki and Rogaan went through really set the scene of the apocalypse to bring terror to all. While reading I was getting a lot of Jupiter Ascending vibes in how Jupiter was whisked away by the guardian warrior into a whole new realm but this time its a new realm back in time. This book left my body shaking of excitement filled with magic and adventure unlike anything I read before. i also appreciated the real-life adult humor B.A. Vonsik incorporated in the characters with this scientific/fantasy story-line. Despite there being some chapters and pages I had to read over multiple times to understand due to sentence structure and lines all over the place but, once I got into the story I could not stop reading to the point that when I finished I wanted the story to continue. That is why I was ecstatic to learn that this is book one of the Paths of Anguish series and I am eager to read on and see what happens to Nikki and her quest of survival.

An extravagant sci-fi adventure filled with magic and fantasy that is sure to please any reader's craving for excitement. This book deserves 5 stars.

[Tawny Molina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primeval Origins: Paths of Anguish by V.A. Vonsik is the first book in the Primeval Origins series. Nikki young woman working towards her degree in college assists on an archeology site in South America when she and her peers stumble across evidence of a primeval civilization that is far more advanced than anyone thought possible for that point in time. This modern-day prologue then leads into the Primeval story itself where we leave the story of Nikki and focus on the adventures of Rogaan as he survives the trial and conflicts of a complicated society plagued by deceit and intrigue in a time before recorded history.

So admittedly when you read the concept of this young adult novel series it’s a bit jarring. A political intrigue adventure story back in the time of dinosaurs? It is certainly an original concept, and one that is well pulled together and in a fantastic story. V.A. Vonsik does a wonderful job of building us a world that takes place before the time of man. The world and the various creatures in it are exciting to read about, and how the characters interact and have named the creatures of the world are primitive but make fantastic sense for the setting. If you are fond of creative adventure stories I strongly suggest you pick up this book.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

B.A. Vonsik's Paths of Anguish is the type of book that will pleasantly surprise you with its ability to straddle the lines of both fantasy and sci-fi at the same time. Having spent countless hours trying to find a novel that would satisfy my desire for something new and unique, I came across Primeval Origins: Paths of Anguish. A book that not only lived up to my expectations of being nothing short of amazing but is also a book in which I found myself becoming emotionally involved in Nikki’s and Will’s journey. His ability to maintain my attention and keep my page turning long past the point I wanted to be reading. It's time to go to bed I'd tell myself before finding myself reading another chapter into the wee hours of the morning. This idea that someone leaving in the distant future could be plunged into the life and memories of someone from millions of years before is so fascinating to me. Vonsiks worldbuilding is on point and I’m looking forward to reading book 2 and continuing their journey. Additionally, Vonsik manages to intertwine a sweet coming of age story into the book almost without you even noticing. Enjoyed the read. Looking forward to more.

[Lily A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Paths of Anguish" is a YA fantasy/ Sci-fi novel and the first in the series "Primeval Origins" by author B.A. Vonsik whose creative storytelling defies the creative limitations of any set genre.
Nikki and Rogan are two protagonists living in two different lifetimes but their paths cross unexpectedly to shape the destiny of humankind. Here, biopunk elements blend with genetics, myths, and mysticism and the result is a remarkable tapestry worth turning the pages. Bonsik's book is strong on atmosphere and the nuanced construction of two flawed protagonists alongside other well-fleshed-out characters manages to give this book an elevated aura.
Perhaps the most significant win in this novel is its prose which is concise and cinematic. The action scenes are neat and deftly orchestrated and manage to keep the reader glued. Overall, this was one text that took me on a rollicking adventure, and teenage and adult readers alike will welcome this inexpensive edition of a literary benchmark.

[TM · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if you read a novel set at the time of Noah's flood. But what if the novel was closely linked to events in revelations? Primeval Origins: Paths of Anguish is that book.
What starts out as a coming of age story for Rogaan becomes a nightmare adventure where his father and many that he cares for are in danger.
I believe this novel serves as something of a giant and thrilling prologue to the series.
The imagination is brilliant, and I cannot wait to read the next installment.

[Catherine Edgar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Myths, legends and old wives tales show human fascination with where we come from. Primeval Origin drew me in like a moth to a flame. More importantly, it delivers! The book kept me reading until I read the end, with an amazing feeling of satisfaction. Great job, Mr. Vonsik.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kat M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun fantasy novel, I really enjoyed reading this one. The characters were interesting and I loved the world that was built.

[Iben · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book from the Goodreads Giveaway program.

The main person in this book is Rogaan, he wants to be special kind of hunter/protector, a Kiuri’Ner, of his village, his father doesn’t like this and wants him to choose a different path. The book opens when Rogaan and his friend Pax goes on a hunt with the Kiuri’Ner to, among other things, impress them.

For me the plot of this book never really solidified. Was is meant to be a showdown between Rogaan and his father? A hunt? An escape? A rescue? Somehow the book, which pagewise isn’t that long, tried to do too much, and none of the plotlines had a chance to become something before it changed completely. Because of this I never got invested in the book or the charecters.

I didn't care for the relationship between Rogaan and Pax. Rogaan was very full of himself and his internal monologue was not very trusting or forgiving of Pax, I believe there was in fact a place in the book where he thinks that the only things he would trust Pax to do is entering and escaping from somewhere, but in everything else he would want to keep an eye on him. I find that a very strange attitude to your apparent only friend, who was actually very capable.

I also didn’t care for the writing. Too much time is spent on dull descriptions, which gives the book a very slow start. Pax and his sister are the only ones in the book with different accents, this is never explained, so I am forced to conclude this is because of their lower social standing, which Rogaans internal monologue at times makes painfully clear. But one of my biggest issues were the many made-up words. Both for animals (which was just plain unnessecary as the animals where described as quite normal animals like mosquitoes and crocodiles) and groups of people, among others. This was confusing, didn’t add anything and really bogged down the reading.

So to sum up, I didn’t get the point the book was trying to make. The only reason it gets two stars is the prologue, which for me did have some potential, but I sadly never found the connection to the rest of the book. I wouldn’t recommend it.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Goodreads First Reads copy*

I'm of two minds with this story. I really enjoy the idea of mixing humans in with dinosaurs to figure out how they may co-exist. It went back and forth between completely believable to somewhat dubious. Still, the pacing of the story was good. Starting the story in an archeological/ paleontological dig, though I was left wondering what, if anything, that really had to do with the story. Most of the story involved the past, with the dinosaurs. The story is really about the formerly unknown humans living in the distant past. Transporting them to the future felt a bit forced just to add length to the story.

I did find some redundancy in the story. Not only did the author repeat words and phrases multiple times, but he seemed to say the same thing in multiple ways. It wasn't horrible, but it was certainly noticeable.

My main problem with the story was the characters. The main protagonist seemed very whiney to me. I understand he was supposed to be young, and inexperienced, but it seemed overdone. His best friend was completely annoying. At times he was whiney. Other times he was snarky. Some of his described expressions made me want to smack him.

Then, there was the protagonist's main love interest, who coincidentally was the sister of his best friend. This seems to be too common to me. She also drove me mad. The description of a girl who is solely dependent upon her looks and the help of a strong man was aggravating. Furthermore, the protagonist's inability to think of anything other than this girl and touching her or holding her or kissing her whenever she is near was infuriating.

Overall, I did enjoy the story and would recommend it to anyone searching for some originality in a story. It did make me get the second book in the series to see how the story develops. Hopefully, the characters will be developed further, with growth and depth in their abilities.

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

** I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

This book was not at all what I expected from the synopsis.

I expected to follow Nikki, an archeology grad student who makes an unprecedented find while on a dig site in South America. Little did I know, she would only feature in the prologue and epilogue. I assume her story gets picked up in the sequel to this book, but who knows at this point.

Instead, a time skip and a hop and we are introduced to Rogaan and Pax. Best friends, who live in an unidentified ancient time during which big, nasty beasties run about and attack folk, each other, and whatever else they fancy. I'm still on board for the story at this point. Unfortunately, there was just really awkward pacing, some odd inconsistencies, and a disproportionate amount of time describing physical aspects of the setting rather than truly world-building or developing characters. I had to force myself to finish the book, and will not be tuning in to find out more.

Ultimately, some really cool concepts and some really wonky execution leave me feeling disappointed and disgruntled. Perhaps this one just wasn't for me, and I hope other people are able to enjoy it better than I did.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book hinted at what the story may be. The first hundred pages were about a hunt where the main character had symptoms that were never explained. He was afraid of everything and often anxious and nauseous. A large portion of the book was about traveling quickly to get away from several beings that may or may not mean to harm him. Bookending this in the Prologue and Epilogue was a modern day person who witnessed some portion of the fight at the end of the story that was in a different time. Her boss, who may or may not have her best interests in mind, does not want her to talk to the mysterious other people who want answers when she comes out of her coma.

A lot of things happen repeatedly, often using the same phrases, perhaps for emphasis. I understand that this is part of a series, but ideas were hinted at with no conclusions. I kept reading because I thought I'd find out why some of it happened, but I didn't. Maybe the copy I was given (even though it said second edition) was really just an early version made to give an impression of what it would be and not the award winning version?

I received this book in a goodreads giveaway.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has everything I want in a book, but is set in so much pre-description for the second book that it falls a little flat. The foreshadowing is stiffly heavy-handed so as to make it feel like the book trawls along and you're waiting in eternity for the action to progress. The author points out that a particular character is suspicious a dozen times before anything happens, that you have no choice but to predict the path the story will take. The setting, plot, and action are perfect - let's hope the second book capitalizes.

[Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
This is the first book of a trilogy and it was amazing experience. It's original and unusual to see a fantasy setting inspired by the era of dinosaurs, but also adding some level of originality in flora and fauna, the culture and language of the characters, so you can truly feel you're in a different world.
I loved the dynamic between them all, especially Roaan and Pax. Will definitely read next books of the saga!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea behind "Primeval Origins: Paths of Anguish" seemed very interesting to me. It sounded like a very promising plot, but unfortunately, it did not quite deliver what I expected. The description said that Nikki (I really liked her) would find herself plunged into the memories of a prehistoric young man. You do get the story of Rogaan, but I did not feel Nikki's presence anywhere within his story. I feel like Nikki could completely be erased from book 1 and nobody would notice - which is disappointing and should not be the case for someone who is supposedly one of the main characters.

The main part of the book is about Rogaan and his hunt that feels a lot longer than it actually is, and then about his next quest. It all never really becomes clear what the main overarching purpose of the whole story is. What I really missed is a strong and likeable main character. By that, I do not mean physically strong, but strong in a way that engages me as a reader and makes me care. Rogaan could have died, I would not have cared. What is the flaw that he needs to overcome? What is his real hero's journey? What is his nausea about?

I thought it would be interesting to read about a world in which humans and dinosaurs exist at the same time, but somehow I missed the sense of real danger for these old settlements. Why were they never truly worried about being trampled into the dust by a T-Rex or any other bigger dinosaur rampaging through their settlement? I feel like I learned a lot more about how the places smell (the author REALLY seems to love describing smells, stenches, and the wrinkling of noses) than about the interaction between humans and dinosaurs. There also were a lot of descriptions of locations, sometimes it read more like a guide for tourists than a novel.

I did read the book from beginning to the end, always hoping that there'd be something Nikki related soon, i.e. I expected there to be more time-jumps in the story. I feel the book would be much better if some passages were shortened because readers like to use their imagination.

All in all, it was okay to read, but I had expected something very different.

[Kathrin Spinnler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primeval Origins: Path of Anguish by B. A. Vonsik is a sci-fi novel that focuses on two main characters. Nikki lives in the 2080s, and she is a graduate student taking part in a dig in South America. When her team stumbles on a mysterious blue-steel sword, she gets plunged into memories of a young boy living 65 million years ago.

Rogaan joins a hunt, hoping to prove himself capable enough to join the warriors of his day. He conceals a weapon his father has forbidden him to take and, upon the hunting party’s return to town, draws the attention of the authorities.

Will Rogaan and his friends survive being chased by an assassin? And will they be able to free their imprisoned family members?

I enjoyed the first instalment of Primeval Origins. It is well-written and engaging throughout, and it’s easy to empathize with the characters. I liked the fact that the fantasy aspects of the world were explained well, but some of the descriptions read a bit slowly and broke up the action. I also would have liked to learn more about Nikki’s story, which only came up at the beginning and very briefly at the end.

Despite this, I thought the story was excellent and captivating. It will appeal to lovers of fantasy and young adults looking to dive into a completely different world.

[Aashna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway. The story didn’t match what I expected from the description at all. Nikki, one of the supposed main characters only appears in the prologue and epilogue when the description makes it seem like she is part of the story in a larger capability. In reality the story is mostly about Rogaan and Pax, who live in a time before. I found their story to be very slow. There’s a lot of description, which is nice but doesn’t really move the story along. I also didn’t understand where the story was trying to go as there were a lot of pieces but nothing really coalesced for me. Maybe the story picks up in the sequels but I’m not planning on reading them since this one didn’t resonate with me.