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Chronicles of the Riftlands #1
The Wanderer
After centuries of traveling the continent of Kita and fighting the extradimensional monsters known as Riftspawn, mage Lyuc is tired and ready to back away from the concerns of humanity.
But the world isn’t done with him yet.
While traveling with a merchant caravan, Lyuc encounters Yan, an Unnamed, the lowest caste in society. Though Yan has nothing but his determination and spirit, he reminds Lyuc what passion and desire feel like. While wild magic, a snarky, shapeshifting, genderfluid companion, and the plots of men and monsters seem determined to keep Lyuc from laying down his burden, only Yan’s inimitable spirit tempts him to hang on for another lifetime or so.
All Yan wants is to earn the sponsorship of a guild so he can rise above his station, claim a place in society, and build the family he never had.
After hundreds of years of self-imposed penance, all Lyuc wants is Yan.
If they can survive prejudice, bandits, mercenaries, monsters, and nature itself, they might both get their wish… and maybe even their happily ever after.
But the world isn’t done with him yet.
While traveling with a merchant caravan, Lyuc encounters Yan, an Unnamed, the lowest caste in society. Though Yan has nothing but his determination and spirit, he reminds Lyuc what passion and desire feel like. While wild magic, a snarky, shapeshifting, genderfluid companion, and the plots of men and monsters seem determined to keep Lyuc from laying down his burden, only Yan’s inimitable spirit tempts him to hang on for another lifetime or so.
All Yan wants is to earn the sponsorship of a guild so he can rise above his station, claim a place in society, and build the family he never had.
After hundreds of years of self-imposed penance, all Lyuc wants is Yan.
If they can survive prejudice, bandits, mercenaries, monsters, and nature itself, they might both get their wish… and maybe even their happily ever after.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2018
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January 2, 2020
4 Hearts - Co-review with Adam!
A really intriguing start to a new fantasy series, I quite enjoyed myself with McAllister’s newest creation.
Lyuc is the legendary Wanderer, a 1000+ year old wizard trying to atone for a past mistake that potentially threatened the world’s existence. He and his trusty sidekick Bryn, have been roaming the lands dispatching dangerous beings known as the Riftspawn for centuries and it seems finally, that things are quieting down. Lyuc somewhat apathetically contemplates “retirement” thinking his self appointed obligations are coming to a close, and he goes about his responsibilities half heartedly. However, on a rote trip to the King’s city amongst a traveling contingent, not only does Lyuc find someone who piques his interest for the first time in many many decades, the threat he thought was basically gone resurfaces, indicating that there’s a new evil brewing.
Touching on magic, monsters, different realms, and stark class struggles to keep things interesting, this also excels at romance as Lyuc feels an inexplicable pull towards the unnamed Yan, a non magical member of society who’s basically the lowest member of an unfair ingrained social hierarchy. What starts out as Lyuc standing up for the beleaguered young man on their shared travels, turns into a lovely hurt comfort as he and Yan get to know each other better and better.
Like with all fantasy that I enjoy, there is a bit of not fully understanding what’s what. There’s an air of mystery, not all is revealed and obviously, that’s to keep you coming back for more. What I can tell you is that the legend surrounding Lyuc is definitely a great set up, and the new challenge he and Bryn face will surely test their future plans and resolve. This deftly kept my interest, had a lovely burgeoning romance, and had some nice smexy smex to make it that much better.
Apparently I liked this, and I more than look forward to seeing how McAllister furthers the adventures and dynamic of this newly formed trio!
Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
A really intriguing start to a new fantasy series, I quite enjoyed myself with McAllister’s newest creation.
Lyuc is the legendary Wanderer, a 1000+ year old wizard trying to atone for a past mistake that potentially threatened the world’s existence. He and his trusty sidekick Bryn, have been roaming the lands dispatching dangerous beings known as the Riftspawn for centuries and it seems finally, that things are quieting down. Lyuc somewhat apathetically contemplates “retirement” thinking his self appointed obligations are coming to a close, and he goes about his responsibilities half heartedly. However, on a rote trip to the King’s city amongst a traveling contingent, not only does Lyuc find someone who piques his interest for the first time in many many decades, the threat he thought was basically gone resurfaces, indicating that there’s a new evil brewing.
Touching on magic, monsters, different realms, and stark class struggles to keep things interesting, this also excels at romance as Lyuc feels an inexplicable pull towards the unnamed Yan, a non magical member of society who’s basically the lowest member of an unfair ingrained social hierarchy. What starts out as Lyuc standing up for the beleaguered young man on their shared travels, turns into a lovely hurt comfort as he and Yan get to know each other better and better.
Like with all fantasy that I enjoy, there is a bit of not fully understanding what’s what. There’s an air of mystery, not all is revealed and obviously, that’s to keep you coming back for more. What I can tell you is that the legend surrounding Lyuc is definitely a great set up, and the new challenge he and Bryn face will surely test their future plans and resolve. This deftly kept my interest, had a lovely burgeoning romance, and had some nice smexy smex to make it that much better.
Apparently I liked this, and I more than look forward to seeing how McAllister furthers the adventures and dynamic of this newly formed trio!
Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
July 15, 2019
Overall book rating: 4
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 2.5
I’m giving it a sturdy four. Mostly because it really kept my interest and I see some promising potential for future books.
Lyuc Borovoi is an “old” man, therefore YES, all the grey and the frailty didn’t really ring my bell in the beginning.
BUT (and this is a pretty big but)
The ‘frail” old man isn’t really who you think him to be at the very start. Lyuc the ‘earth witch’ some mistake him for, really is Luycimir the Wanderer. A greatly powerful wizard of over 1000 years, currently spending his time trying to correct his past wrongs.
His past wrongs being a really big whoop-ass disaster.
Lyuc has pretty much cut himself off from his fellow humans. He dwells among them but only for informative purposes. His only friend/confidant is a rift-spawn in horse form – Brynthalon, or Bryn as we get to know him/her/it.
Bryn is pretty epic I have to say. He can shift forms and his personality is really awesome. We know Bryn mainly as Lyuc’s horse but he’s pretty kick-ass when called upon in a fight as well.
Also, I enjoyed the silent conversations between Luyc and Bryn. They really have a special bond.
The story has lots of aspects I enjoyed. The magic being drawn from the earth or energies of humans or animals for one.
The fact that as the book progressed, Lyuc’s grey hair and wrinkles starts to mysteriously disappear. I still don’t know the ‘why’ to this, I’m suspecting it has something to do with Yan but again, not sure.
The turn of events in the current caravan robberies. I'm not saying anything more.
The “nameless” aspect is also really interesting.
Yan is an unnamed and therefore pretty much ‘nothing’ in the eyes of his fellow humans. Until Lyuc. Because to Luyc the mark on a man’s wrist does not make the man. Lyuc sees Yan in a way nobody else does.
Yan is really young, but he has spirit and he’s no wall flower. He really just wants to be part of a family and be claimed so he’s wrist can be marked.
I also enjoyed his journey in the story and even though the story is NOT done, although it’s a pretty solid HFN at the end, I’m not bouncing of the walls because of it.
There is still no sign of a book two but I’m hopeful and I WILL be reading it.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 2.5
I’m giving it a sturdy four. Mostly because it really kept my interest and I see some promising potential for future books.
Lyuc Borovoi is an “old” man, therefore YES, all the grey and the frailty didn’t really ring my bell in the beginning.
BUT (and this is a pretty big but)
The ‘frail” old man isn’t really who you think him to be at the very start. Lyuc the ‘earth witch’ some mistake him for, really is Luycimir the Wanderer. A greatly powerful wizard of over 1000 years, currently spending his time trying to correct his past wrongs.
His past wrongs being a really big whoop-ass disaster.
Lyuc has pretty much cut himself off from his fellow humans. He dwells among them but only for informative purposes. His only friend/confidant is a rift-spawn in horse form – Brynthalon, or Bryn as we get to know him/her/it.
Bryn is pretty epic I have to say. He can shift forms and his personality is really awesome. We know Bryn mainly as Lyuc’s horse but he’s pretty kick-ass when called upon in a fight as well.
Also, I enjoyed the silent conversations between Luyc and Bryn. They really have a special bond.
The story has lots of aspects I enjoyed. The magic being drawn from the earth or energies of humans or animals for one.
The fact that as the book progressed, Lyuc’s grey hair and wrinkles starts to mysteriously disappear. I still don’t know the ‘why’ to this, I’m suspecting it has something to do with Yan but again, not sure.
The turn of events in the current caravan robberies. I'm not saying anything more.
The “nameless” aspect is also really interesting.
Yan is an unnamed and therefore pretty much ‘nothing’ in the eyes of his fellow humans. Until Lyuc. Because to Luyc the mark on a man’s wrist does not make the man. Lyuc sees Yan in a way nobody else does.
Yan is really young, but he has spirit and he’s no wall flower. He really just wants to be part of a family and be claimed so he’s wrist can be marked.
I also enjoyed his journey in the story and even though the story is NOT done, although it’s a pretty solid HFN at the end, I’m not bouncing of the walls because of it.
There is still no sign of a book two but I’m hopeful and I WILL be reading it.
June 17, 2018
Tag team review with R!
4.25 stars
Consider me hooked!
In this series debut, readers are introduced to a fantasy world of magic, monsters, and romance. I love a good fantasy book, and ‘The Wanderer’ definitely delivered.
The author builds the world slowly, with bits and pieces revealed as the story progresses. Even by the end of the book, it was clear that there was still a lot more to discover about the continent of Kita and the people who live there. I’m hoping we get a clearer picture in the next book!
Lyuc is a tired mage who travels across the continent battling “Riftspawn,” otherworldly monsters that escape their dimension to threaten humanity. Lyuc, and his shapeshifting companion Bryn, like to keep low profiles and interact as little as possible with others.
But it becomes difficult to stay aloof when they meet Yan while traveling with a merchant caravan. For the first time in centuries, Lyuc feels a connection to another human.
I was rooting for Yan from the moment he appeared in the book. A member of society’s lowest caste, the Unnamed, Yan hasn’t had the easiest life. But he was so determined to rise above his circumstances, and so pure in heart, that it would be hard not to cheer him on.
Yan feels as drawn to Lyuc as Lyuc is to him. He can’t quite put his finger on it, but he knows there something special about the older man.
The two men meet under less-than-perfect circumstances, and a relationship between defies social mores due to caste differences, but the connection is undeniable. Neither can resist each other for long.
I was swooning at every sweet moment the men shared together. Both had been alone for so long - Lyuc because a self-imposed exile, and Yan because of his station in society. But when they were together, they felt happy and at home.
For Lyuc, Yan becomes a reason to look forward to life again. And for Yan, Lyuc becomes the family he’d always been searching for.
The mystery/action plotline isn’t particularly grand, but it kept me entertained. While there isn’t a cliffhanger, there are some unanswered questions which I assume are setting the stage for the rest of the series.
Overall, I really liked the beginning of what could be an epic fantasy series. The focus of book 1 was on the characters, and I fell in love with them both. I can’t wait to see where Yan and Lyuc, and Bryn, go next!
4.25 stars
Consider me hooked!
In this series debut, readers are introduced to a fantasy world of magic, monsters, and romance. I love a good fantasy book, and ‘The Wanderer’ definitely delivered.
The author builds the world slowly, with bits and pieces revealed as the story progresses. Even by the end of the book, it was clear that there was still a lot more to discover about the continent of Kita and the people who live there. I’m hoping we get a clearer picture in the next book!
Lyuc is a tired mage who travels across the continent battling “Riftspawn,” otherworldly monsters that escape their dimension to threaten humanity. Lyuc, and his shapeshifting companion Bryn, like to keep low profiles and interact as little as possible with others.
But it becomes difficult to stay aloof when they meet Yan while traveling with a merchant caravan. For the first time in centuries, Lyuc feels a connection to another human.
I was rooting for Yan from the moment he appeared in the book. A member of society’s lowest caste, the Unnamed, Yan hasn’t had the easiest life. But he was so determined to rise above his circumstances, and so pure in heart, that it would be hard not to cheer him on.
Yan feels as drawn to Lyuc as Lyuc is to him. He can’t quite put his finger on it, but he knows there something special about the older man.
The two men meet under less-than-perfect circumstances, and a relationship between defies social mores due to caste differences, but the connection is undeniable. Neither can resist each other for long.
I was swooning at every sweet moment the men shared together. Both had been alone for so long - Lyuc because a self-imposed exile, and Yan because of his station in society. But when they were together, they felt happy and at home.
For Lyuc, Yan becomes a reason to look forward to life again. And for Yan, Lyuc becomes the family he’d always been searching for.
The mystery/action plotline isn’t particularly grand, but it kept me entertained. While there isn’t a cliffhanger, there are some unanswered questions which I assume are setting the stage for the rest of the series.
Overall, I really liked the beginning of what could be an epic fantasy series. The focus of book 1 was on the characters, and I fell in love with them both. I can’t wait to see where Yan and Lyuc, and Bryn, go next!
June 12, 2018
4.25 stars
A truly lovely start to this fantasy series. While there were a couple of copyedit errors, overall it was very well written, excellent world building, beautifully drawn characters, and a fascinating storyline. I was drawn in from the beginning, but would like to have experienced more action during their journey. I feel confident there will be plenty of action in future books. It's going to be tough waiting for the next one. Highly recommended to MM romance fantasy fans.
A truly lovely start to this fantasy series. While there were a couple of copyedit errors, overall it was very well written, excellent world building, beautifully drawn characters, and a fascinating storyline. I was drawn in from the beginning, but would like to have experienced more action during their journey. I feel confident there will be plenty of action in future books. It's going to be tough waiting for the next one. Highly recommended to MM romance fantasy fans.
May 1, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
Whew! What a roller coaster The Wanderer was and of the very best kind. A riveting story and wonderful characters make this book an excellent fantasy read.
McAllister has done an amazing job world building here. We’re given enough information to establish a strong sense of time and place without becoming bogged down in excessiveness. Not everything is explained and I can only presume this is intentional as The Wanderer is the first in a series. But readers are never left scrambling to figure out what is happening on page or why. The plot is well defined and makes the book impossible to put down. I don’t think this is because the storyline is so profound, but rather I formed an emotional connection to the characters almost from the start. It was difficult not to and I think this is one of The Wanderer’s real strengths. It makes readers care about its characters in a fundamentally more complex way than most books.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
Whew! What a roller coaster The Wanderer was and of the very best kind. A riveting story and wonderful characters make this book an excellent fantasy read.
McAllister has done an amazing job world building here. We’re given enough information to establish a strong sense of time and place without becoming bogged down in excessiveness. Not everything is explained and I can only presume this is intentional as The Wanderer is the first in a series. But readers are never left scrambling to figure out what is happening on page or why. The plot is well defined and makes the book impossible to put down. I don’t think this is because the storyline is so profound, but rather I formed an emotional connection to the characters almost from the start. It was difficult not to and I think this is one of The Wanderer’s real strengths. It makes readers care about its characters in a fundamentally more complex way than most books.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
June 21, 2018
To be completely honest, there really is not a lot of plot in this book…but I bloody well loved it anyways. Most of the story is about a caravan making the trek from one side of the country to another, and while a lot of background/subplot stuff happens, it doesn’t have a direct impact on the events of this story except for maybe one instance. Mainly this book is the set up for a series, and the events that will transpire over the course of the following books. What you need to know for now is that Lyuc is a really powerful mage on the down-low–and with one hell of a past–and Yan is Nameless servant–basically the lowest caste in his society–who meet when Lyuc prevents a caravan guard from assaulting Yan. They are drawn towards each other, but age, life circumstances, caste, and probably a dozen other things conspire to keep them apart. There is also a shapeshifting horse named Bryn who is everything.
Despite this book feeling very much like a “set-up” story for the coming series, I can’t help but sharing my absolute love for it. If this is any indication of how the whole thing is going to feel/read like, I can’t fucking wait to read the next books.
The author did a fantastic job of creating a world that was real enough to be believable, but also mysterious enough to make you beg for more information about it. You get plenty of hints about backstory for Lyuc, but it knows exactly how many answers it can get away with not telling while also leaving you feeling like you got to know the man. And Yan is certainly less of a cypher than his counterpart, but he made up for that by being relatable in a way a centuries-old wizard of ridiculous power cannot.
I’d also like to say on the “centuries-old wizard” note…I absolutely adore how Lyuc actually feels his age. He feels tired, and simply done with humanity and the world and all its shit. And his relationship with his bestfriend/shapeshifting horse Bryn is just awesome. I love how their conversations come across like they have been having the same arguments, the same jokes, for ages…and how they like it like that. Their friendship feels very worn-in and true.
It also didn’t hurt that Lyuc was old…as in, he didn’t look like a twenty-year-old. He is very much a “Gandalf” type mage. I found the fact that Yan fell for him, despite not looking like your typical Romance Hero, entirely refreshing. And yeah, unfortunately, I can see this turning people off if what they came for was the sex-bod fantasy porn, but the humanity it brought to the characters was worth a thousand glistening abs. To me at least.
In the end I was incredibly pleased with what I got out of this book. Did I wish there was more? Yeah. And the fact this story felt like its job was to set up the characters and future plot arcs for the next books in this series is probably why it didn’t quite eek out a 5 star rating. But at the end of the day I had a blast reading this, and it has me so sold on any and all future books. It was an absolutely lovely fantasy story and if we are lucky a wonderful indicator of what we will have in store as the story progresses.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Despite this book feeling very much like a “set-up” story for the coming series, I can’t help but sharing my absolute love for it. If this is any indication of how the whole thing is going to feel/read like, I can’t fucking wait to read the next books.
The author did a fantastic job of creating a world that was real enough to be believable, but also mysterious enough to make you beg for more information about it. You get plenty of hints about backstory for Lyuc, but it knows exactly how many answers it can get away with not telling while also leaving you feeling like you got to know the man. And Yan is certainly less of a cypher than his counterpart, but he made up for that by being relatable in a way a centuries-old wizard of ridiculous power cannot.
I’d also like to say on the “centuries-old wizard” note…I absolutely adore how Lyuc actually feels his age. He feels tired, and simply done with humanity and the world and all its shit. And his relationship with his bestfriend/shapeshifting horse Bryn is just awesome. I love how their conversations come across like they have been having the same arguments, the same jokes, for ages…and how they like it like that. Their friendship feels very worn-in and true.
It also didn’t hurt that Lyuc was old…as in, he didn’t look like a twenty-year-old. He is very much a “Gandalf” type mage. I found the fact that Yan fell for him, despite not looking like your typical Romance Hero, entirely refreshing. And yeah, unfortunately, I can see this turning people off if what they came for was the sex-bod fantasy porn, but the humanity it brought to the characters was worth a thousand glistening abs. To me at least.
In the end I was incredibly pleased with what I got out of this book. Did I wish there was more? Yeah. And the fact this story felt like its job was to set up the characters and future plot arcs for the next books in this series is probably why it didn’t quite eek out a 5 star rating. But at the end of the day I had a blast reading this, and it has me so sold on any and all future books. It was an absolutely lovely fantasy story and if we are lucky a wonderful indicator of what we will have in store as the story progresses.
4.5 stars
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
June 11, 2018
Nice, solid start to what looks to be an epic fantasy adventure series. I'd grouse a little about the pat (and obvious) ending, but it's clearly just a necessary setup for things to come, so I'll let it slide for now. Looking forward to the next one.
June 20, 2018
Great start to a new series
4 solid ⭐️
Enjoyable start to a new series
I loved Yan as a character. He was so bright and enthusiastic. He didn’t expect anyone to do anything for him and was prepared to work for what he needed. I was glad Lyuc stepped in and gave him a taste of a life where names didn’t matter. Also the relationship between Lyuc and Bryn was well done, friends and allies working together.
I enjoyed the world created by this author and can’t wait to read more from it and see just where the author plans to take us.
4 solid ⭐️
Enjoyable start to a new series
I loved Yan as a character. He was so bright and enthusiastic. He didn’t expect anyone to do anything for him and was prepared to work for what he needed. I was glad Lyuc stepped in and gave him a taste of a life where names didn’t matter. Also the relationship between Lyuc and Bryn was well done, friends and allies working together.
I enjoyed the world created by this author and can’t wait to read more from it and see just where the author plans to take us.
November 12, 2020
I haven't been this enamored with a fantasy world in a while and the Riftlands series caught me up but good.
The characters, the backstory, the worldbuilding, the relationships, just everything flowed and balanced just right. I was so wrapped up in the people, I want to read it again to make sure I don't miss any of the subtlety to the story that I'm sure I breezed through the first time in my rush to know all the things.
Perfectly imperfect characters, those with flaws and mistakes in their history are my favorite and The Wanderer gave me that. It makes for believable people in an unbelievable world. It can't be easy to make a fantasy story relatable, but the author managed that with her characters. Their humor and banter made me forget that I was reading and I got lost in their tale.
I read the second story right after this one and I hope there are more to come.
The characters, the backstory, the worldbuilding, the relationships, just everything flowed and balanced just right. I was so wrapped up in the people, I want to read it again to make sure I don't miss any of the subtlety to the story that I'm sure I breezed through the first time in my rush to know all the things.
Perfectly imperfect characters, those with flaws and mistakes in their history are my favorite and The Wanderer gave me that. It makes for believable people in an unbelievable world. It can't be easy to make a fantasy story relatable, but the author managed that with her characters. Their humor and banter made me forget that I was reading and I got lost in their tale.
I read the second story right after this one and I hope there are more to come.
July 19, 2019
3.75 stars
Although this is a High Fantasy but the story mainly focuses on relationship rather than the background setting. I mean, there's a side plot about thieves and a stone, but I don't feel that it's really the main point.
I liked both Lyuc and Yan enough, although my favorite is Bryn the horse :). I found this story to be lovely -- an old wizard saving a younger Unnamed man and ended up falling in love. I'm looking forward to returning to this universe when The Priest is released in September.
Although this is a High Fantasy but the story mainly focuses on relationship rather than the background setting. I mean, there's a side plot about thieves and a stone, but I don't feel that it's really the main point.
I liked both Lyuc and Yan enough, although my favorite is Bryn the horse :). I found this story to be lovely -- an old wizard saving a younger Unnamed man and ended up falling in love. I'm looking forward to returning to this universe when The Priest is released in September.
May 24, 2018
I have this a try because I saw Sherry had liked it and then I couldn't stop, so that's good. Plotwise, it reads more than a prologue than a complete story, but I loved the characters and the glimpses of the world we got.
July 17, 2018
A wonderful beginning to a new series! The world building was fascinating and written well. I loved that Lyuc, a thousand year old mage with lifetimes of experience fell in love with the young servant Yan. Yan, an Unnamed from the lowest caste in society had an unbreakable spirit despite the unfairness he had to endure. He was a great influence on Lyuc. Bryn, the shape-shifting horse was also a fun part of the story. The arguments and banter between Lyuc and Bryn were from a friendship centuries old. I will definitely continue with the adventures of Lyuc, Yan, and Bryn. My only complaint is that for the price of the book, I wish it had been longer. 4.5 stars
May 20, 2019
Unfortunately, I didn’t feel any chemistry between the MCs.
Yan couldn’t help but think mostly of comforts and other perks that came with Lyuc’s patronage. It is totally understandable considering his position in life, but downplayed his feelings for the wizard.
Lyuc clearly wanted to help the young man out and comfort and protect him from the bullies and poverty. Yet while the protective streak was no small thing, it did not amount, in my opinion, to the big L word.
Bryn, the wizard’s sidekick from a different dimension, is my favorite character :)
For some reason the book seemed longer than the actual page count. There were few lulls, that tended to drag, but overall, not a bad read.
3 stars.
Yan couldn’t help but think mostly of comforts and other perks that came with Lyuc’s patronage. It is totally understandable considering his position in life, but downplayed his feelings for the wizard.
Lyuc clearly wanted to help the young man out and comfort and protect him from the bullies and poverty. Yet while the protective streak was no small thing, it did not amount, in my opinion, to the big L word.
Bryn, the wizard’s sidekick from a different dimension, is my favorite character :)
For some reason the book seemed longer than the actual page count. There were few lulls, that tended to drag, but overall, not a bad read.
3 stars.
May 3, 2018
The opportunity to dive into a new fantasy world, finding out its history and rules, always makes me a very happy reader. This story stars a centuries-old mage, his snarky shapeshifting companion who prefers to appear as a horse, and their mysterious mission to fight extradimensional monsters called Riftspawn. Then there is a complicated society with several castes, a history of battles fought and won, and more than one challenge remaining to be dealt with in the present. Combining these elements with interesting characters and seemingly insurmountable odds made for an excellent action/adventure in an exotic setting, and I enjoyed it from beginning to end.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
January 24, 2019
A very good start to a series I hope will be continued.
I loved young Yan from the start. I'm a sucker for the beaten down. But Yan held a strength I admired. Lyuc was interesting and it was easy to see how Yan fell for him. But if I'm honest Bryn stole the show lol.
I wouldn't really call this a romance even though the ending was sweet. This was more the start of something, both the start of a relationship and the start of a long and perilous journey I really hope I can continue on with them.
I loved young Yan from the start. I'm a sucker for the beaten down. But Yan held a strength I admired. Lyuc was interesting and it was easy to see how Yan fell for him. But if I'm honest Bryn stole the show lol.
I wouldn't really call this a romance even though the ending was sweet. This was more the start of something, both the start of a relationship and the start of a long and perilous journey I really hope I can continue on with them.
March 5, 2019
4.5 stars
This was a sweet story in a well crafted world that I enjoyed from start to finish. I like that we get hints of lore and a bigger story, but the romance between Yan and Lyuc is the main story, and the limited exposition and hints of the grand plot we get are only where those things intersect with Yan and Lyuc's current concerns. Limited POV masterfully done.
The tone and pace are gentle. It is a comforting read. For fans of hurt/comfort and age gap romances, this book is sure to be a treat. I am looking forward to the next installment.
This was a sweet story in a well crafted world that I enjoyed from start to finish. I like that we get hints of lore and a bigger story, but the romance between Yan and Lyuc is the main story, and the limited exposition and hints of the grand plot we get are only where those things intersect with Yan and Lyuc's current concerns. Limited POV masterfully done.
The tone and pace are gentle. It is a comforting read. For fans of hurt/comfort and age gap romances, this book is sure to be a treat. I am looking forward to the next installment.
February 23, 2019
I can't wait for the next one. I loved it.
April 6, 2018
The writing style for this book is approachable and the story draws the reader in. The story provides an interesting mix of characters with a positive dynamic. There are unpleasant characters but these are kept to a minimum and where they are introduced it helps to drive the story forward. Characterisation is strong, each of the players has unique attributes that add to the flow of the plot. Whilst this is true, there are gaps in the reader’s understanding and knowledge, but it is assumed that these will be resolved in later books as the characters come into their own. The world building is similarly interesting and whilst it doesn’t offer anything that is particularly unique, it does enrich the reading experience.
As noted there is an interesting mix of characters. The central three individuals are as different as, I suppose, it is possible to get: an ancient wizard, an outcast youth and a shape-changer from another dimension. Whilst it is inherent to the plot that they are drawn to one another, it is in this that the story lacks some credibility, particularly in terms of the intimacy between the youth and the wizard. It is intimated that the youth has in the past used his favours to survive and believes that sex is probably his only gifts through which he can show his gratitude. This is understandable and more could have been made about the transition from this worldview to true affection. However, there is no real change in personality for the youth, he is just a little too nice. The age difference is not a real issue, particularly as there seems to be a plotline associated with age. The sex is pretty standard but is interesting in that it does put forward that age is not an issue and that erotic feelings do not necessarily wither with age.
There is a good steady pace throughout with plotlines that are not always predictable. A single thread is followed which makes the story easy to understand. Similarly, it is not awash with names and places and as such, the reader can develop familiarity with a core set of characters.
The story ends on a somewhat positive note. There is no cliffhanger but there are plotlines that are left with clear room for development. Similarly, there are characters and associated actions that require some closure. On reflection the whole book feels like a prelude to something much bigger and that this story acts as a set of building blocks. It is to be hoped that this is the case as the tale has clear potential that makes the reader look forward to what is to come.
This review is also published at Gay Book Reviews
As noted there is an interesting mix of characters. The central three individuals are as different as, I suppose, it is possible to get: an ancient wizard, an outcast youth and a shape-changer from another dimension. Whilst it is inherent to the plot that they are drawn to one another, it is in this that the story lacks some credibility, particularly in terms of the intimacy between the youth and the wizard. It is intimated that the youth has in the past used his favours to survive and believes that sex is probably his only gifts through which he can show his gratitude. This is understandable and more could have been made about the transition from this worldview to true affection. However, there is no real change in personality for the youth, he is just a little too nice. The age difference is not a real issue, particularly as there seems to be a plotline associated with age. The sex is pretty standard but is interesting in that it does put forward that age is not an issue and that erotic feelings do not necessarily wither with age.
There is a good steady pace throughout with plotlines that are not always predictable. A single thread is followed which makes the story easy to understand. Similarly, it is not awash with names and places and as such, the reader can develop familiarity with a core set of characters.
The story ends on a somewhat positive note. There is no cliffhanger but there are plotlines that are left with clear room for development. Similarly, there are characters and associated actions that require some closure. On reflection the whole book feels like a prelude to something much bigger and that this story acts as a set of building blocks. It is to be hoped that this is the case as the tale has clear potential that makes the reader look forward to what is to come.
This review is also published at Gay Book Reviews
November 17, 2020
I look forward to book two.
-edit- 11/16/2020
This is my second time reading it. This is such a sweet story and I loved it even reading it a second time! I really enjoyed the characters and their relationship. The second book seems to have been released so I do look forward tok that one.
-edit- 11/16/2020
This is my second time reading it. This is such a sweet story and I loved it even reading it a second time! I really enjoyed the characters and their relationship. The second book seems to have been released so I do look forward tok that one.
June 12, 2018
not for me
I could get into it. i even stop and walked around from it for a day and then came back. Dnf at 30%
I could get into it. i even stop and walked around from it for a day and then came back. Dnf at 30%
October 6, 2019
Book – The Wanderer
Series – Chronicles of the Riftlands, 1
Author – Rowan McAllister
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 200
Cover – Historical, Adorable!
POV – 3rd person, dual POV
Would I read it again – Yes!
Genre – LGBT, Historical, Fantasy, Magic, May/Dec
Content Warning – references and alludes to rape (nothing graphic), off-page beatings, slavery
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
I've been a fan of Rowan McAllister's work ever since I read their Historical Greatest Hits. I've loved everything they ever wrote, since then, and this is no exception. The Wanderer is a great fusion of historical and fantasy, combining romance, magic, and action into a novel that will steal your heart.
~
CHARACTERS
When it comes to characters, the story is centered on the two MC's Lyuc and Yan, as well as Lyuc's horse (bear with me) Bryn.
Bryn is actually a genderfluid other being. Bryn is created from the Rift, a Spawn from another dimension, but far tamer and more human-friendly than any of the others who slip through the Rift and must be hunted by Lyuc and sent back to their own plane. Bryn mostly presents as a horse, but has shapeshifting abilities, and appears as both a male and a female human at times, but is mostly referred to as 'he' when in his horse form.
Lyuc is an ancient wizard, once thought a God, who made a mistake centuries ago and is enduring self-induced penance to try to make up for that. As the creator of the Rift, he hunts the Spawn creatures who come through – often against their will and without any knowledge of the human world or how to survive in it – and sends them safely home. But, he's also a wanderer, travelling as an old man, who does little magic for fear of being caught by the humans who believe him dead. Both the King's witches, the Scholomagie in Samebar, and a secret organisation called the Brotherhood of Harot in Rassa, would cause a war in an attempt to gain the knowledge only Lyuc possesses.
Yan is an Unnamed, or Nameless. He is a child whose parents died or abandoned him and he was never given the mark of a Named – a tattoo on his wrist, to mark him as someone with a family, and the grace of a last name. For this, he's treated like a servant, the lowest caste in existence, and has no ability to refuse a Named anything. Even when that means being beaten, whipped, accused of theft, or forced to perform sexual acts. Yet, Yan's spirit isn't crushed. He's managed to retain a piece of himself, his personality, his anger at the unfairness of his position in the world, even when it gets him into trouble.
~
PLOT
When it comes to the storyline, there is one recurrent theme and that's about Lyuc's past. He's in the human world to make amends for messing it up in the first place, hunting the Spawn and trying to keep the Rift from doing any more harm. He's hopeful – and it's mentioned as discussed frequently throughout – that the Rift is close to closing.
The secondary plot – though it takes more pages than the primary – is that of the romance between Lyuc and Yan. The reason it takes nearly 80% of the plot to explore is because there's a delicate political undercurrent to their communications. With Yan an Unnamed and Lyuc a Named, they have to make sure that any and all public meetings are considered appropriate. At the same time, Lyuc begins the book hopeful that his penance is almost over, that he'll be able to close the Rift and die soon, his job completed. He has no interest in starting something with Yan, no matter how many times the young Unnamed offers.
Part of what I loved so much about the plot was that Yan was the instigator in all things romantic. It started out slowly, with small acts of kindness from Lyuc and appreciation from Yan, then grew into a natural attraction. I worried, at first, that Yan only offered because he thought it was expected of him and because he wanted to repay Lyuc, which made Lyuc's reluctance more than natural and a relief. There was no insta-love, though it was clear they were both attracted to each other, but both had reasons to resist that attraction. The fact that Bryn had to shove them together, more often than not, was a really nice addition to the plotting. It forced Yan and Lyuc into situations where the chemistry was palpable and unavoidable, even if they did keep resisting it. It was a nice change from the urgency in most other stories to get the couple together as soon as possible.
There was no rush. I liked that about the plot. It dealt with small, but important, instances for the first half of the novel, then became more action packed and progressed towards the expected acts in the second half. It meant that the first half allowed us to learn about the characters, to explore who they were and what their goals were – Yan to get a better life, and Lyuc to close the Rift – and to appreciate the slow build of their chemistry and how Bryn fitted into that dynamic. The second half built on that information, adding a layer of complexity that forced Lyuc and Yan to leave the caravan they were travelling with and face the dangers of travelling alone and facing the Spawn.
While the plot is dual POV, Yan doesn't get his POV until Chapter 4. This is due to the fact that he's only introduced through Lyuc's POV and, at first, only in the role of someone that is preyed upon and little more than a servant. It's only when he gets his own POV that we get to see the strength inside of Yan and how he's much more than what society has made him.
The servant/master roles were used in a lovely plot point that brought them together but roles which neither of them were really prepared or willing to play. It was nice to see Lyuc's rejection of the very idea of Named and Unnamed, after all his centuries in the world and all that he'd seen, while trying to help Yan see that not conforming to the Unnamed demands on his personality and behaviour was no bad thing at heart, but that it could get him into trouble in the wider world. Seeing how Lyuc and Yan became better people when with each other was beautiful.
~
OVERALL
I loved the story and the characters, how it all came together and felt like a complete novel as well as the beginning to a series. The characters stole my heart right from the beginning – Lyuc with his weary-of-the-world mentality and Yan because of his feisty nature – and I never really got over it. Through all the action and the Rift plot, I was so engrossed in their relationship that I didn't mind the HFN ending. Though the Rift plot line isn't finished, it was pretty well rounded off for what Lyuc and Yan had experienced so far that it made sense not to rush it. It will continue in the next book and I can't wait to read that.
The inclusion of a Glossary was very helpful, right at the end, for clarifying things, and the fact that it was marked in the Table of Contents meant that I could bookmark it before I started and refer to whenever I wanted to. But, the story was so well explored and the world building well written that I never really needed to use it. Everything was easy to understand as and when it came along within the story.
Were there any down sides? Well, after the Acknowledgments there was a page that said “Map” but there was no actual map. Other than that, I had zero issues with the editing or plot gaps. Exactly the kind of dedication to attention to detail and world building that I've come to expect from McAllister.
~
Favourite Quotes
“Astria of the Southern Lights, thank you for bringing me Lyuc. I promise to do everything in my power to show my gratitude and treasure the gifts you have given me, and to bring offerings every day to your temple in Zehir.”
“He'd done that. He'd made this thousand-year-old gorgeous wizard of immense power care enough to be upset by losing him. He would carry that knowledge with him forever. He could take it out and marvel at it in bad times and good.”
Series – Chronicles of the Riftlands, 1
Author – Rowan McAllister
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 200
Cover – Historical, Adorable!
POV – 3rd person, dual POV
Would I read it again – Yes!
Genre – LGBT, Historical, Fantasy, Magic, May/Dec
Content Warning – references and alludes to rape (nothing graphic), off-page beatings, slavery
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
I've been a fan of Rowan McAllister's work ever since I read their Historical Greatest Hits. I've loved everything they ever wrote, since then, and this is no exception. The Wanderer is a great fusion of historical and fantasy, combining romance, magic, and action into a novel that will steal your heart.
~
CHARACTERS
When it comes to characters, the story is centered on the two MC's Lyuc and Yan, as well as Lyuc's horse (bear with me) Bryn.
Bryn is actually a genderfluid other being. Bryn is created from the Rift, a Spawn from another dimension, but far tamer and more human-friendly than any of the others who slip through the Rift and must be hunted by Lyuc and sent back to their own plane. Bryn mostly presents as a horse, but has shapeshifting abilities, and appears as both a male and a female human at times, but is mostly referred to as 'he' when in his horse form.
Lyuc is an ancient wizard, once thought a God, who made a mistake centuries ago and is enduring self-induced penance to try to make up for that. As the creator of the Rift, he hunts the Spawn creatures who come through – often against their will and without any knowledge of the human world or how to survive in it – and sends them safely home. But, he's also a wanderer, travelling as an old man, who does little magic for fear of being caught by the humans who believe him dead. Both the King's witches, the Scholomagie in Samebar, and a secret organisation called the Brotherhood of Harot in Rassa, would cause a war in an attempt to gain the knowledge only Lyuc possesses.
Yan is an Unnamed, or Nameless. He is a child whose parents died or abandoned him and he was never given the mark of a Named – a tattoo on his wrist, to mark him as someone with a family, and the grace of a last name. For this, he's treated like a servant, the lowest caste in existence, and has no ability to refuse a Named anything. Even when that means being beaten, whipped, accused of theft, or forced to perform sexual acts. Yet, Yan's spirit isn't crushed. He's managed to retain a piece of himself, his personality, his anger at the unfairness of his position in the world, even when it gets him into trouble.
~
PLOT
When it comes to the storyline, there is one recurrent theme and that's about Lyuc's past. He's in the human world to make amends for messing it up in the first place, hunting the Spawn and trying to keep the Rift from doing any more harm. He's hopeful – and it's mentioned as discussed frequently throughout – that the Rift is close to closing.
The secondary plot – though it takes more pages than the primary – is that of the romance between Lyuc and Yan. The reason it takes nearly 80% of the plot to explore is because there's a delicate political undercurrent to their communications. With Yan an Unnamed and Lyuc a Named, they have to make sure that any and all public meetings are considered appropriate. At the same time, Lyuc begins the book hopeful that his penance is almost over, that he'll be able to close the Rift and die soon, his job completed. He has no interest in starting something with Yan, no matter how many times the young Unnamed offers.
Part of what I loved so much about the plot was that Yan was the instigator in all things romantic. It started out slowly, with small acts of kindness from Lyuc and appreciation from Yan, then grew into a natural attraction. I worried, at first, that Yan only offered because he thought it was expected of him and because he wanted to repay Lyuc, which made Lyuc's reluctance more than natural and a relief. There was no insta-love, though it was clear they were both attracted to each other, but both had reasons to resist that attraction. The fact that Bryn had to shove them together, more often than not, was a really nice addition to the plotting. It forced Yan and Lyuc into situations where the chemistry was palpable and unavoidable, even if they did keep resisting it. It was a nice change from the urgency in most other stories to get the couple together as soon as possible.
There was no rush. I liked that about the plot. It dealt with small, but important, instances for the first half of the novel, then became more action packed and progressed towards the expected acts in the second half. It meant that the first half allowed us to learn about the characters, to explore who they were and what their goals were – Yan to get a better life, and Lyuc to close the Rift – and to appreciate the slow build of their chemistry and how Bryn fitted into that dynamic. The second half built on that information, adding a layer of complexity that forced Lyuc and Yan to leave the caravan they were travelling with and face the dangers of travelling alone and facing the Spawn.
While the plot is dual POV, Yan doesn't get his POV until Chapter 4. This is due to the fact that he's only introduced through Lyuc's POV and, at first, only in the role of someone that is preyed upon and little more than a servant. It's only when he gets his own POV that we get to see the strength inside of Yan and how he's much more than what society has made him.
The servant/master roles were used in a lovely plot point that brought them together but roles which neither of them were really prepared or willing to play. It was nice to see Lyuc's rejection of the very idea of Named and Unnamed, after all his centuries in the world and all that he'd seen, while trying to help Yan see that not conforming to the Unnamed demands on his personality and behaviour was no bad thing at heart, but that it could get him into trouble in the wider world. Seeing how Lyuc and Yan became better people when with each other was beautiful.
~
OVERALL
I loved the story and the characters, how it all came together and felt like a complete novel as well as the beginning to a series. The characters stole my heart right from the beginning – Lyuc with his weary-of-the-world mentality and Yan because of his feisty nature – and I never really got over it. Through all the action and the Rift plot, I was so engrossed in their relationship that I didn't mind the HFN ending. Though the Rift plot line isn't finished, it was pretty well rounded off for what Lyuc and Yan had experienced so far that it made sense not to rush it. It will continue in the next book and I can't wait to read that.
The inclusion of a Glossary was very helpful, right at the end, for clarifying things, and the fact that it was marked in the Table of Contents meant that I could bookmark it before I started and refer to whenever I wanted to. But, the story was so well explored and the world building well written that I never really needed to use it. Everything was easy to understand as and when it came along within the story.
Were there any down sides? Well, after the Acknowledgments there was a page that said “Map” but there was no actual map. Other than that, I had zero issues with the editing or plot gaps. Exactly the kind of dedication to attention to detail and world building that I've come to expect from McAllister.
~
Favourite Quotes
“Astria of the Southern Lights, thank you for bringing me Lyuc. I promise to do everything in my power to show my gratitude and treasure the gifts you have given me, and to bring offerings every day to your temple in Zehir.”
“He'd done that. He'd made this thousand-year-old gorgeous wizard of immense power care enough to be upset by losing him. He would carry that knowledge with him forever. He could take it out and marvel at it in bad times and good.”
April 22, 2021
Traveling far from his home after his protector dies, young Unnamed Yan is rescued from certain tortuous pain and death by fellow traveler, Lyuc. Lyuc is a powerful mage who has lived 1000 years on the continent of Kita, fighting to rectify mistakes from the past so that humans can live without threat from a form of life called Spawn who were released from the Rift, after a catastrophic event created a tear in space and time. Rowan McAllister creates a believable world where magic, wizards, Rift spawn and humans co-exist. McAllister's world scenarios depict depressingly typical human prejudice, selfishness, greed, and hypocrisy. But in the context of this society and man's disregard for the lives of other men, true love evolves between an abused young man and a powerful mage considering whether to continue living. There is nothing "pedophilic" about the relationship that grows between the two men, as one Audible/Amazon reviewer wrote. That review almost made me pass up the first book in what I believe will be a really good series. There's depth to Yan's personality, a sense that given the opportunity he'll grow into a good human in full possession of his own power. Yan is not being taken advantage of by an older man. Indeed, Lyuc initially resists any physical relationship, saying he's too old for Yan. Lyuc's actions offer Yan an escape from depravation, misery, and abuse when he pays for Yan's travel in the caravan, feeds and shelters him, and more importantly shows him respect despite the social caste system where an Unnamed is almost an untouchable slave. Yan's resilience , positive spirit, and admiration for the man himself help Lyuc find renewed happiness and purpose in life. There's much more to this world and story than I've written about, including other character's who bring depth and engaging interactions to a novel I thoroughly enjoyed. I sincerely hope the rest of the Chronicles of the Riftlands series will become narrated and show up in the Audible catalog!
July 13, 2019
Spawn? Rifts? Demons coming through rifts? Fear of mages...?
Could...
omg, is this Dragon Age inspired?
Yes, yes, I'm a total happy nerd fan, and I'll totally take this! Where's part 2? Get writing already!
Pacing is a bit of an issue with the last battle, but overall, it's a very cute romance with great characters. Love the May/December-ish thing going on and totally adore Lyuc! And the buildup is so wonderfully executed. :3
The main issue I had wasn't with McAllister's writing but with the narrator Finn Sterling (no stars deducted for a narrator as the authors often don't have much choice in the matter). For the most part, I really enjoyed his narration. Lyuc has this wonderful raspyness, and most character voices are fine... except for Yan. Why, why in the world did Sterling choose that voice for Yan?! It's irritatingly high, more like a bad impression of a woman's voice, or maybe a child. Last thing I want is to hear Lyuc sound like he's a pedophile. Just... why that voice?
That said I'm still on board and will ignore Yan's voice for the story McAllister writes.
Could...
omg, is this Dragon Age inspired?
Yes, yes, I'm a total happy nerd fan, and I'll totally take this! Where's part 2? Get writing already!
Pacing is a bit of an issue with the last battle, but overall, it's a very cute romance with great characters. Love the May/December-ish thing going on and totally adore Lyuc! And the buildup is so wonderfully executed. :3
The main issue I had wasn't with McAllister's writing but with the narrator Finn Sterling (no stars deducted for a narrator as the authors often don't have much choice in the matter). For the most part, I really enjoyed his narration. Lyuc has this wonderful raspyness, and most character voices are fine... except for Yan. Why, why in the world did Sterling choose that voice for Yan?! It's irritatingly high, more like a bad impression of a woman's voice, or maybe a child. Last thing I want is to hear Lyuc sound like he's a pedophile. Just... why that voice?
That said I'm still on board and will ignore Yan's voice for the story McAllister writes.
October 5, 2019
I don't know why did I wait to read this wonderful book since I've preordered it months before the release. But I'm glad that I have waited until "The Priest" came out so I could read them one after another immediately.
I loved the worldbuilding, fantasy settings and escalating sense of impending doom that hunted caravan's travel.
The writing style enchanted me from the first page and held me in thrall until the last one.
I loved the worldbuilding, fantasy settings and escalating sense of impending doom that hunted caravan's travel.
The writing style enchanted me from the first page and held me in thrall until the last one.
December 26, 2021
All the ingredients…
Crusty old wizard meets irrepressible young man, and they fall in love while uncovering a mystery that threatens the world.
Good world building and takes wealth into account: Wizard is a rich guy living as a hermit, able to put his hands on money by virtue of the magic he wields; young guy is poorest class with no resources or family, indentured to the caravan, bringing his own pragmatic worldview to the relationship.
Crusty old wizard meets irrepressible young man, and they fall in love while uncovering a mystery that threatens the world.
Good world building and takes wealth into account: Wizard is a rich guy living as a hermit, able to put his hands on money by virtue of the magic he wields; young guy is poorest class with no resources or family, indentured to the caravan, bringing his own pragmatic worldview to the relationship.
August 5, 2019
DNF at 64%
2.75 stars
It is one of those situations were it's me not the book. I can't get over how a young adult would so much want to get with an oooooold man - that's kiiiiinda gross (I know he is over 1000 years and it's different blah blah blah, but IDC).~
I quite liked some aspects but I can't get over the romance.
2.75 stars
It is one of those situations were it's me not the book. I can't get over how a young adult would so much want to get with an oooooold man - that's kiiiiinda gross (I know he is over 1000 years and it's different blah blah blah, but IDC).~
I quite liked some aspects but I can't get over the romance.
July 28, 2022
I liked the story overall. The beginning was entertaining and the end was fast paced, I felt story dragged a bit in the middle. I listened to audio and didn't care for narrator at all. I would have probably enjoyed this story much more if narrator didn't give such high squeaky voice for Yan and all female characters.
March 28, 2020
This is a wonderful book. I liked the characters, and how they met. The writer has written an imaginative world, using a little fantasy, and magic, and a slight dash of mystery as two people, Lyuc and Yan, fall in love with each other.
May 23, 2018
Sweet, different and just great
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews