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The Realm of Areon #1
Genesis of War
A medieval Norse fantasy with a flavor of Marvel’s X-Men comes to life in an all-new epic series from R.T. Cole.
Genesis of War is the first installment of the Realm of Areon book pentalogy, and was a Top 10 Finalist within the Fantasy category at the 2018 Author Elite Awards!
SUMMARY
A man with royalty in his blood has waited to prove himself...
A self-proclaimed sorcerer has waited patiently for vengeance...
In a land of giant wolves, mind readers, and elementals, it is only a matter of time before their paths collide.
But what will be left of the realm when that day finally comes?.
Genesis of War is the first installment of the Realm of Areon book pentalogy, and was a Top 10 Finalist within the Fantasy category at the 2018 Author Elite Awards!
SUMMARY
A man with royalty in his blood has waited to prove himself...
A self-proclaimed sorcerer has waited patiently for vengeance...
In a land of giant wolves, mind readers, and elementals, it is only a matter of time before their paths collide.
But what will be left of the realm when that day finally comes?.
- GenresFantasy
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2018
13 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
R.T. Cole
3 books9 followersR.T. Cole is a fiction writer and the author of THE REALM OF AREON series. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and son.
He has been a fan of fantasy since the days of Willow, Conan the Barbarian, and The Princess Bride. When he was a teenager, he saw The Fellowship of the Ring in theaters; After that, he knew that he wanted to write epic stories and turn them into books for a new generation of fantasy fans. R.T. now spends his days working to bring life to his own worlds.
He grew up reading science fiction & fantasy, from Star Wars to Harry Potter, and writing fan-fiction Transformers stories. He was, and still is, a gamer that prefers RPGs for their intricate plots and detailed magic systems. If there's ever time left in the day, he can also be found reading the latest issue of DC's The Flash.
He has been a fan of fantasy since the days of Willow, Conan the Barbarian, and The Princess Bride. When he was a teenager, he saw The Fellowship of the Ring in theaters; After that, he knew that he wanted to write epic stories and turn them into books for a new generation of fantasy fans. R.T. now spends his days working to bring life to his own worlds.
He grew up reading science fiction & fantasy, from Star Wars to Harry Potter, and writing fan-fiction Transformers stories. He was, and still is, a gamer that prefers RPGs for their intricate plots and detailed magic systems. If there's ever time left in the day, he can also be found reading the latest issue of DC's The Flash.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 28, 2018
I loved this book! It was an engrossing and riveting adventure that I didn't want to end.
I'd recommend it to anyone who likes medieval fantasy and magic, especially fans of Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings, though GENESIS OF WAR brings its own originality to the table. (I've read so many fantasy books that were similar, so it was a relief to find something different.)
There might be a few spoilers ahead, so be warned:
-It starts off with a bang (or a decapitation, I should say.) I was immediately interested in the story, and hated Kelbain with a passion (but in a good way! I love an epic villain.)
-Rudi was my favorite character! He's such a kindhearted person. He just wanted to belong and play a role, and I think we can all relate to that.
-Ashra was also a favorite of mine. Girl power for the win!
-Dirce's Illusionist abilities were really cool. (I wish I could convince men to do my bidding.)
-Speaking of Dirce's power, the magic system was really layered and unique. The Sages in the book were badass, especially Draven and his Evolutionary skill. (I laughed when Dirce wasn't able to use her Reader powers on him.)
-Zane's death was pretty shocking! I didn't think his father would kill his own son.
-I really admired the writing style. The words flowed beautifully and were so descriptive that I felt like I could see the world inside my mind. (Also: the map in the book was gorgeous, and helped with the immersion and understanding of Areon.)
In conclusion, GENESIS OF WAR was a fantastic read. I desperately need to know what will happen to the Palidor brothers and the fate of Andemar's deal with King Cyrus. Also, I want to see more of the Mystical Artifacts! They sound so intriguing.
I can't wait for the next book in the series!
I'd recommend it to anyone who likes medieval fantasy and magic, especially fans of Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings, though GENESIS OF WAR brings its own originality to the table. (I've read so many fantasy books that were similar, so it was a relief to find something different.)
There might be a few spoilers ahead, so be warned:
-It starts off with a bang (or a decapitation, I should say.) I was immediately interested in the story, and hated Kelbain with a passion (but in a good way! I love an epic villain.)
-Rudi was my favorite character! He's such a kindhearted person. He just wanted to belong and play a role, and I think we can all relate to that.
-Ashra was also a favorite of mine. Girl power for the win!
-Dirce's Illusionist abilities were really cool. (I wish I could convince men to do my bidding.)
-Speaking of Dirce's power, the magic system was really layered and unique. The Sages in the book were badass, especially Draven and his Evolutionary skill. (I laughed when Dirce wasn't able to use her Reader powers on him.)
-Zane's death was pretty shocking! I didn't think his father would kill his own son.
-I really admired the writing style. The words flowed beautifully and were so descriptive that I felt like I could see the world inside my mind. (Also: the map in the book was gorgeous, and helped with the immersion and understanding of Areon.)
In conclusion, GENESIS OF WAR was a fantastic read. I desperately need to know what will happen to the Palidor brothers and the fate of Andemar's deal with King Cyrus. Also, I want to see more of the Mystical Artifacts! They sound so intriguing.
I can't wait for the next book in the series!
July 3, 2018
This book has some good bones that could definitely be expanded upon. I couldn’t give this book a higher rating, because there was so much meat left on the above mentioned bones.
The book was too short, and I felt the “resolution” rushed. Having said that, I’ll read the rest in the series as they are made available.
The book was too short, and I felt the “resolution” rushed. Having said that, I’ll read the rest in the series as they are made available.
March 1, 2019
Great first book of a series
I haven't read fantasy in a while, but Genesis of War reminds me of a cross between R.A. Salvatore and Tolkien. I was glad to have picked this up and am looking forward to book 2 of the Realm of Areon series.
I haven't read fantasy in a while, but Genesis of War reminds me of a cross between R.A. Salvatore and Tolkien. I was glad to have picked this up and am looking forward to book 2 of the Realm of Areon series.
October 15, 2021
Interesting fantasy novel with magic, fast-paced action, secrets, friends on a mission, betrayals, politics and everything else you would expect in a fantasy novel.
Kelbain is trying to become King and raise his dead father from the grave, while others try to unite several houses in order to oppose him. What I liked is that there are several interesting characters and the book focuses on each of their storylines. There is no real good and bad guy here as most are a little bit morally gray which also gives the reader a basic understanding of the antagonists in this novel. In my opinion this gives the plot a little more depth.
In general I liked the premise of these books (it's a series and I read book 1 and 2 back-to-back) the world is interesting enough, the characters and different houses as well, yet the writing style was not for me. It was too simple, for example what could have been an epic fight scene got reduced to maybe 2 sentences. This did not help me as a reader to really get into the story, also the dialogue was stilted and didn't seem to flow naturally.
So I am a bit on the fence about this one, I did enjoy the plot and want to know how the events will turn out, but the writing style issues change my rating from a 4 to 3 stars.
***An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. ***
Kelbain is trying to become King and raise his dead father from the grave, while others try to unite several houses in order to oppose him. What I liked is that there are several interesting characters and the book focuses on each of their storylines. There is no real good and bad guy here as most are a little bit morally gray which also gives the reader a basic understanding of the antagonists in this novel. In my opinion this gives the plot a little more depth.
In general I liked the premise of these books (it's a series and I read book 1 and 2 back-to-back) the world is interesting enough, the characters and different houses as well, yet the writing style was not for me. It was too simple, for example what could have been an epic fight scene got reduced to maybe 2 sentences. This did not help me as a reader to really get into the story, also the dialogue was stilted and didn't seem to flow naturally.
So I am a bit on the fence about this one, I did enjoy the plot and want to know how the events will turn out, but the writing style issues change my rating from a 4 to 3 stars.
***An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. ***
August 10, 2021
Genesis of War (The Realm of Areon Book 1)
As the story unfolds you are introduced to the son of a long-dead demon and his name is Kelbain. His first act is murdering a King and claiming his throne for his own. However, he is not fulfilled through with just the one crown and has big ambitions to start a war for all of them. This will make him as the ultimate victor in his mind.
In a different kingdom three Prince's, Andemar, Thasus, and Rudi, are about to be given tasks that will challenge them but more importantly could save the free world from tyranny and untold deaths. Prince Andemar stays home to advise and train others. He soon comes to the realization that being left at home is not necessarily the easy option. Rudi, the youngest of the three, wants to prove he is worthy of the corwn and gathers his friends for what could be a great adventure. Thasus, the most dangerous of the three, travels North to face inhospitable conditions knowing he might not survive, but he has his own dark secrets.
Rudi and his band of friends got me very excited as the trope of would-be warriors gets into various altercations. Thasus surprised and entertained me the most with his special abilities many would either fear or seek to control. Andemar was also intriguing in his own way with him quietly dealing with his own issues, and some things may not be as they seem.
In most books like this, you know who the heroes are and who are the villains. I am very pleased to see that R.T. Cole gave the reader morally grey characters to fish out of the story. It makes Genesis of War a very well-rounded and balanced read. As a reader, you might feel that you know which characters have magic but as this first chapter of this series closes there are surprises to be found.
If you're into shows like Game of Thrones, movies like Willow and Lord of the Rings, and playing D&D is your thing then this book is defiantly a reader's must. The writing is fantastic and the story unfolds as a fantasy genre book should. With fully developed characters, and a story that kept you trying to see where it was going I couldn’t put the book down. It made me feel like I was with each character for every step of their journey. I truly can not wait for the second installment in this series.
This review was made possible by a copy provided to me by NetGalley.
As the story unfolds you are introduced to the son of a long-dead demon and his name is Kelbain. His first act is murdering a King and claiming his throne for his own. However, he is not fulfilled through with just the one crown and has big ambitions to start a war for all of them. This will make him as the ultimate victor in his mind.
In a different kingdom three Prince's, Andemar, Thasus, and Rudi, are about to be given tasks that will challenge them but more importantly could save the free world from tyranny and untold deaths. Prince Andemar stays home to advise and train others. He soon comes to the realization that being left at home is not necessarily the easy option. Rudi, the youngest of the three, wants to prove he is worthy of the corwn and gathers his friends for what could be a great adventure. Thasus, the most dangerous of the three, travels North to face inhospitable conditions knowing he might not survive, but he has his own dark secrets.
Rudi and his band of friends got me very excited as the trope of would-be warriors gets into various altercations. Thasus surprised and entertained me the most with his special abilities many would either fear or seek to control. Andemar was also intriguing in his own way with him quietly dealing with his own issues, and some things may not be as they seem.
In most books like this, you know who the heroes are and who are the villains. I am very pleased to see that R.T. Cole gave the reader morally grey characters to fish out of the story. It makes Genesis of War a very well-rounded and balanced read. As a reader, you might feel that you know which characters have magic but as this first chapter of this series closes there are surprises to be found.
If you're into shows like Game of Thrones, movies like Willow and Lord of the Rings, and playing D&D is your thing then this book is defiantly a reader's must. The writing is fantastic and the story unfolds as a fantasy genre book should. With fully developed characters, and a story that kept you trying to see where it was going I couldn’t put the book down. It made me feel like I was with each character for every step of their journey. I truly can not wait for the second installment in this series.
This review was made possible by a copy provided to me by NetGalley.
August 4, 2021
This story begins with Kelbain, the son of a long dead Demon murdering a King and taking his throne. Kelbain is not content though with just the one crown and has big ambitions to start a war with himself as the ultimate victor.
In a different Court three Prince's are about to be given tasks that will challenge them but more importantly could save the free world from tyranny and untold deaths. Prince Andemar stays home to advise and train others but being left at home is not necessarily the easy option. The most dangerous of the three Thasus, travels North to face inhospitable conditions knowing he might not survive but he has his own secrets. Rudi, the youngest gathers his friends for what could be a great adventure and finally the chance to prove his worth !
I thoroughly enjoyed this what is almost an ensemble piece as the story flitted between characters giving insight into not just the trials and tribulations of these characters but also motives. We get quite a picture of Kelbain and his family but its still a shock when the author throws the unexpected into the works. I liked that we got to see the various magical abilities at work but boy there are thoroughly nasty people here who deserve all they get but my lips are sealed !
I think many readers will enjoy Rudi and his cohorts as they get involved in various altercations . However for this reader it was the indomitable, lusty Thasus who surprised and entertained me the most. He is a Sage with abilities many would either fear or seek to control. This isn't just an adventure story though because back home Andemar is quietly dealing with his own issues but what really is the truth ?
Of course no good fantasy is complete without a well written villain and here the author decided to give his readers very morally grey characters and luckily we spent a lot of time with them which really made this feel well rounded and balanced. No spoilers here but initially we might feel that we know which characters have magic but as this ends there are surprises galore ! Perhaps a little shorter than I expected but with the next book already lined up on my kindle there are no complaints here.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
In a different Court three Prince's are about to be given tasks that will challenge them but more importantly could save the free world from tyranny and untold deaths. Prince Andemar stays home to advise and train others but being left at home is not necessarily the easy option. The most dangerous of the three Thasus, travels North to face inhospitable conditions knowing he might not survive but he has his own secrets. Rudi, the youngest gathers his friends for what could be a great adventure and finally the chance to prove his worth !
I thoroughly enjoyed this what is almost an ensemble piece as the story flitted between characters giving insight into not just the trials and tribulations of these characters but also motives. We get quite a picture of Kelbain and his family but its still a shock when the author throws the unexpected into the works. I liked that we got to see the various magical abilities at work but boy there are thoroughly nasty people here who deserve all they get but my lips are sealed !
I think many readers will enjoy Rudi and his cohorts as they get involved in various altercations . However for this reader it was the indomitable, lusty Thasus who surprised and entertained me the most. He is a Sage with abilities many would either fear or seek to control. This isn't just an adventure story though because back home Andemar is quietly dealing with his own issues but what really is the truth ?
Of course no good fantasy is complete without a well written villain and here the author decided to give his readers very morally grey characters and luckily we spent a lot of time with them which really made this feel well rounded and balanced. No spoilers here but initially we might feel that we know which characters have magic but as this ends there are surprises galore ! Perhaps a little shorter than I expected but with the next book already lined up on my kindle there are no complaints here.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
February 6, 2022
Book Rating: ★★★.5 (3.5 / 5 stars)
A war is brewing. Kingdoms are divided. And lives are in danger.
With the vengeful Kelbain rising to power and overtaking the west, brothers Thasus, Andemar, and Rudimere are sent out on separate quests to gather friends, while fighting enemies. Yet little do they know that Kelbain has an internal war brewing, with disdain growing from his son, secrets coming to light from his soon-to-be wife Dirce, and trust growing fragile. Can the three brothers stop the brewing storm before lives are lost? Or is it already too late?
A traditional high fantasy tale with battles, high stakes, and magic, Genesis of War takes us on an adventure. Fast paced, readers will get to see the world right away, and learn the struggles without having to turn the next page. While Rudimere is set up to be the hero, without a doubt I was drawn into Dirce’s plight. Her ending shocked me…although, I do wish there was a bit more build up (more on that below).
While some readers will love this fast paced energy of the story, to me…I needed more. I felt like I was reading the outline to some long epic fantasy, and while I can appreciate why the author made it more fast paced (to make it more accessible to those daunted by the longer novels), I think it needed a little bit more. Dirce’s evolution came with an abrupt twist, and the battle that ensued happened far too fast, considering the depths of the climax. In addition, the pace damaged the overall worldbuilding. More build up was needed to really make the story succeed…at least in my opinion.
This book did cause me to have a revelation about my own reading preferences. Fundamentally, I should have loved this book. The plot was great, the characters had unique plights, and the darkness loomed. But…I realized something was lacking for me, and it was this: I am a character motivated reader. A plot can be amazing (as this one was), but if I don’t get a chance to sit with the characters and feel their emotions, the story doesn’t resonate the same way. This is no fault of the author, just a personal preference I identified while reading.
Overall though, I will eventually pick up Book 2 in the series, as I am inspired enough to find out what happens next. If you enjoy fast-paced high fantasy, with battles and magic…check out Genesis of War. I think you’ll enjoy it.
A war is brewing. Kingdoms are divided. And lives are in danger.
With the vengeful Kelbain rising to power and overtaking the west, brothers Thasus, Andemar, and Rudimere are sent out on separate quests to gather friends, while fighting enemies. Yet little do they know that Kelbain has an internal war brewing, with disdain growing from his son, secrets coming to light from his soon-to-be wife Dirce, and trust growing fragile. Can the three brothers stop the brewing storm before lives are lost? Or is it already too late?
A traditional high fantasy tale with battles, high stakes, and magic, Genesis of War takes us on an adventure. Fast paced, readers will get to see the world right away, and learn the struggles without having to turn the next page. While Rudimere is set up to be the hero, without a doubt I was drawn into Dirce’s plight. Her ending shocked me…although, I do wish there was a bit more build up (more on that below).
While some readers will love this fast paced energy of the story, to me…I needed more. I felt like I was reading the outline to some long epic fantasy, and while I can appreciate why the author made it more fast paced (to make it more accessible to those daunted by the longer novels), I think it needed a little bit more. Dirce’s evolution came with an abrupt twist, and the battle that ensued happened far too fast, considering the depths of the climax. In addition, the pace damaged the overall worldbuilding. More build up was needed to really make the story succeed…at least in my opinion.
This book did cause me to have a revelation about my own reading preferences. Fundamentally, I should have loved this book. The plot was great, the characters had unique plights, and the darkness loomed. But…I realized something was lacking for me, and it was this: I am a character motivated reader. A plot can be amazing (as this one was), but if I don’t get a chance to sit with the characters and feel their emotions, the story doesn’t resonate the same way. This is no fault of the author, just a personal preference I identified while reading.
Overall though, I will eventually pick up Book 2 in the series, as I am inspired enough to find out what happens next. If you enjoy fast-paced high fantasy, with battles and magic…check out Genesis of War. I think you’ll enjoy it.
July 23, 2021
Received as a review copy from NetGalley, this is an honest review. Such a brilliant journey... how this story opens with the confrontation of Prastor and Kelbain was not was a spectacular in execution but it sets the tone that delivers a whirlwind of heated battles, haunting secrets and characters that are a lovely shade of morally gray. Highly recommended.
July 23, 2021
Received as a review copy from NetGalley, this is an honest review. Such a brilliant journey... how this story opens with the confrontation of Prastor and Kelbain was not was a spectacular in execution but it sets the tone that delivers a whirlwind of heated battles, haunting secrets and characters that are a lovely shade of morally gray. Highly recommended.
November 2, 2021
I love the way myth and legend collided in this book. The beginning of a war between sages and the kings of the realm leads to discoveries that throw some for a loop. I can't wait for the next installment to find out what happens next in their journies.
March 29, 2022
This a a solid [plot driven] read with an interesting spread of characters and good world building. The story opens with treachery in the “West” as the [nearly immortal] son of a vanquished sorcerer makes his move to claim the throne. This sets into motion the King of the East and his three scion (Thasus, Andemar and Rudimere) as they maneuver to secure allies in the North and South, knowing that they are next on the hit parade. Although we do see some character drama, there really isn’t much development for any of the MCs. And while there are a few twists and turns along the way, the story pretty much unfolds predictably. In this first book, we really only see the West and some of the North (and its perpetual winter and feuding Lords). Presumable we will see the South in the next installment. Magic within the world is attributed to “Sages” and as a result of past abuse are not well looked upon. The appendix in the back gives a good summary, but it was not hard to figure it out in the story from the context … and so we have Illusionists, Foreseers, Evolutionaries and Sorcerers. I really liked the author’s take on this. And while the writing isn’t likely to knock you socks off, the author did manage to avoid most of the mistakes that drive me up a wall to the point where I start taking away stars … so I am rounded up to 4 here (and reading the sequel on kindle unlimited).
The series is available on KindleUnlimited. I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#GenesisOfWar #NetGalley #KindleUnlimited
The series is available on KindleUnlimited. I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#GenesisOfWar #NetGalley #KindleUnlimited
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews