What do you think?
Rate this book
The Empowered Ones #1
The First Fear
The Supreme rules the world.
For centuries the Supreme has reigned with an iron fist. The people are slaves to her whim and at the mercy of her followers who revere her as their goddess. Using a supernatural ability, known as the 'Power' she is able to channel emotions and convert them into superhuman abilities.
Some Resist.
Not all live their lives in servitude. A few rare people also possess the Power and try to fight. These Empowered Ones are hunted mercilessly by the Supreme and her servants, for she knows the threat they pose to her will. None has dared to challenge her outright. That is until now.
Elian, a young boy living at the edge of the Imperium discovers he too possesses the Power with devastating consequences for both himself and the girl he loves. On the run, they encounter a ragtag band of resistance fighters called the Liberators. Among their ranks are others with the gift and their leader Vavius who believes that the key to overthrowing the Supreme lies in the ruins of the ravaged lands of the once mighty Kingdom of Aeranyth.
Pursued and hunted for their gifts by the sinister First Fear and the Hollowed, the world's fate rests in the hands of the Empowered Ones.
For centuries the Supreme has reigned with an iron fist. The people are slaves to her whim and at the mercy of her followers who revere her as their goddess. Using a supernatural ability, known as the 'Power' she is able to channel emotions and convert them into superhuman abilities.
Some Resist.
Not all live their lives in servitude. A few rare people also possess the Power and try to fight. These Empowered Ones are hunted mercilessly by the Supreme and her servants, for she knows the threat they pose to her will. None has dared to challenge her outright. That is until now.
Elian, a young boy living at the edge of the Imperium discovers he too possesses the Power with devastating consequences for both himself and the girl he loves. On the run, they encounter a ragtag band of resistance fighters called the Liberators. Among their ranks are others with the gift and their leader Vavius who believes that the key to overthrowing the Supreme lies in the ruins of the ravaged lands of the once mighty Kingdom of Aeranyth.
Pursued and hunted for their gifts by the sinister First Fear and the Hollowed, the world's fate rests in the hands of the Empowered Ones.
- GenresFantasy
355 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2018
33 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
M.S. Olney
24 books135 followersMatthew Olney lives in Worcester with his wife Chloe. By day, he works as a copywriter, but at night he writes novels.
Sign up to my newsletter via -
https://emailoctopus.com/lists/56af72...
Sign up to my newsletter via -
https://emailoctopus.com/lists/56af72...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 10, 2018
*This is one of the #SPFBO entries for this year*
I picked this one up and I wasn't sure what to make of it. From outward appearances I really like the cover and it sounded like it would be my kind of book, but I also have read a book b y this author previously (for last year's #SPFBO competition) and I found that one wasn't to my taste. I am pleased to say that I did finish this book and I enjoyed it too, and I think it's certainly an improvement over the first book I read by this author. With that being said, I did still struggle with a few areas and I will go into detail about them below...
This is the story of Elian, a young village boy who is best friends with Lizella and doesn't really have too many grand plans of great adventure. He's a stereotypical character, to be sure, but this is not a bad thing when it's done well and I think the story starts off with a lot of drama and excitement to draw the reader in.
As time goes on we follow Elian and he unlocks some hidden powers within himself, revealing his Empowered One qualities. He has many new talents which he never had before, and he has to learn what they are and how to use them before the Hollowed (evil servants of the Supreme) hunt him down.
The magic of this book is based on emotions so Anger will allow an Empowered One strength, Anticipation will allow them to anticipate things and predict attacks. We have Fear which adds speed and Joy which is healing power. Positivity is to do with mind manipulation and there are more too. All of these powers are laid out at the back of my Kindle copy (which is a little irritating as I would have liked to have it at the front to refer back to whilst reading), and they are pretty interesting as methods for magic becuase honing and learning them takes control.
Overall, my biggest peeve with this book was the spelling which is definitely in need of some work. There were a lot of instances of the author using the wrong spelling of words...e.g. 'Here' instead of 'Hear' and 'Bare' instead of 'Bear'. This is definitely something that can be fixed with a more thorough proofread through and it's probably something that bothers me more than most becuase in my day-job I am an editor, but it's still worth flagging up as it did happen a fair amount.
The story in general is a fun one, if possessing of some predictable tropes and moments. I think there is certainly a fun magic system at play here, but personally the characters felt a little but simplistic at times and I would have liked to really get to know them a bit more before we were thrown into the action of the opening scenes.
In the end I gave this a solid 3*s overall which is 6/10 and I think many reader would enjoy it.
I picked this one up and I wasn't sure what to make of it. From outward appearances I really like the cover and it sounded like it would be my kind of book, but I also have read a book b y this author previously (for last year's #SPFBO competition) and I found that one wasn't to my taste. I am pleased to say that I did finish this book and I enjoyed it too, and I think it's certainly an improvement over the first book I read by this author. With that being said, I did still struggle with a few areas and I will go into detail about them below...
This is the story of Elian, a young village boy who is best friends with Lizella and doesn't really have too many grand plans of great adventure. He's a stereotypical character, to be sure, but this is not a bad thing when it's done well and I think the story starts off with a lot of drama and excitement to draw the reader in.
As time goes on we follow Elian and he unlocks some hidden powers within himself, revealing his Empowered One qualities. He has many new talents which he never had before, and he has to learn what they are and how to use them before the Hollowed (evil servants of the Supreme) hunt him down.
The magic of this book is based on emotions so Anger will allow an Empowered One strength, Anticipation will allow them to anticipate things and predict attacks. We have Fear which adds speed and Joy which is healing power. Positivity is to do with mind manipulation and there are more too. All of these powers are laid out at the back of my Kindle copy (which is a little irritating as I would have liked to have it at the front to refer back to whilst reading), and they are pretty interesting as methods for magic becuase honing and learning them takes control.
Overall, my biggest peeve with this book was the spelling which is definitely in need of some work. There were a lot of instances of the author using the wrong spelling of words...e.g. 'Here' instead of 'Hear' and 'Bare' instead of 'Bear'. This is definitely something that can be fixed with a more thorough proofread through and it's probably something that bothers me more than most becuase in my day-job I am an editor, but it's still worth flagging up as it did happen a fair amount.
The story in general is a fun one, if possessing of some predictable tropes and moments. I think there is certainly a fun magic system at play here, but personally the characters felt a little but simplistic at times and I would have liked to really get to know them a bit more before we were thrown into the action of the opening scenes.
In the end I gave this a solid 3*s overall which is 6/10 and I think many reader would enjoy it.
January 13, 2023
THE FIRST FEAR by M.S Olney is the first volume of The Empowered Ones. It is a dark and interesting fantasy story that I very much enjoyed for its classic qualities. A bit of Ancient Rome, a bit of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and a bit of Star Wars. Our protagonists find themselves hunted by a vast and powerful empire that wishes to stamp out those individuals who possess magic. A young man who discovers this quality about himself is the only hope. There's a reason this story keeps working and M.S. Olney puts his own delightful spin on it.
In this case, our young man in question is Elan. He and his best friend Lizella are serfs that are legally distinct from slaves in that they are bonded but not chattel. The teenagers find themselves with no protection against the children of slaves, though, that feel like they can take out their frustrations within impunity on those the law doesn't have any reason to protect. Elan's parents try to get him to keep his head down but he thinks a dose of humiliation will teach his bullies a lesson. Which, honestly, is his first mistake.
A deadly prank goes horribly wrong and Elan's powers awaken in a way that would do Professor Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Mutants credit. Unfortunately, this brings down the wrath of the Supreme (the Empress) and her Hollowed. They serve as the Darth Vaders of the Supreme and are incredibly effective and scary enemies. A good hero is only as good as the villain and the author manages to make some genuinely frightening ones.
The magic system is well-developed to the world and possessed of good origins, limitations, and effects on the civilization. You can understand why the Supreme feels threatened by any individuals who possess sorcery other than her but it's not so overpowered as to make it so our protagonist invincible to any problems he might face.
One element I feel odd about praising is also how the slave economy of the empire functions. A lot of how economics functions in fantasy settings get hand-waved and isn't necessarily salient anyway. However, the culture of slavery and how it is handled in the setting is an interesting bit of world-building and goes a long way to establishing what pieces of garbage the Supreme and her cohorts are.
In conclusion, I think The First Fear is a pretty good classic fantasy novel. Despite its handling of slavery and threats, its not especially dark and is a nice classic tale of good versus evil. The protagonists are scrappy, the world-building is well-done, and the enemies are hateable. Good for fans of Sanderson and stories like Dragonlance Chronicles.
In this case, our young man in question is Elan. He and his best friend Lizella are serfs that are legally distinct from slaves in that they are bonded but not chattel. The teenagers find themselves with no protection against the children of slaves, though, that feel like they can take out their frustrations within impunity on those the law doesn't have any reason to protect. Elan's parents try to get him to keep his head down but he thinks a dose of humiliation will teach his bullies a lesson. Which, honestly, is his first mistake.
A deadly prank goes horribly wrong and Elan's powers awaken in a way that would do Professor Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Mutants credit. Unfortunately, this brings down the wrath of the Supreme (the Empress) and her Hollowed. They serve as the Darth Vaders of the Supreme and are incredibly effective and scary enemies. A good hero is only as good as the villain and the author manages to make some genuinely frightening ones.
The magic system is well-developed to the world and possessed of good origins, limitations, and effects on the civilization. You can understand why the Supreme feels threatened by any individuals who possess sorcery other than her but it's not so overpowered as to make it so our protagonist invincible to any problems he might face.
One element I feel odd about praising is also how the slave economy of the empire functions. A lot of how economics functions in fantasy settings get hand-waved and isn't necessarily salient anyway. However, the culture of slavery and how it is handled in the setting is an interesting bit of world-building and goes a long way to establishing what pieces of garbage the Supreme and her cohorts are.
In conclusion, I think The First Fear is a pretty good classic fantasy novel. Despite its handling of slavery and threats, its not especially dark and is a nice classic tale of good versus evil. The protagonists are scrappy, the world-building is well-done, and the enemies are hateable. Good for fans of Sanderson and stories like Dragonlance Chronicles.
March 10, 2020
I honestly just got this because it was a pretty cheap buy from amazon and was hitting a dry spell of decent fantasy books to obsess over but I actually ended up really really really enjoying this. A surprisingly decent read hat has a break with cliches. Strong female characters and all around good cast of characters and development.
It reminds me a lot of Mistborn, the birth of a revolution fighting against an almighty tyrant. Except the characters and their relationships are slightly more gritty which really appealed to me. I found the magic system to be really enjoyable where each power is fuelled by a different emotion, people are born with the ability to use one or a rare few whom can access all of them.
Eagerly awaiting the sequel :)
It reminds me a lot of Mistborn, the birth of a revolution fighting against an almighty tyrant. Except the characters and their relationships are slightly more gritty which really appealed to me. I found the magic system to be really enjoyable where each power is fuelled by a different emotion, people are born with the ability to use one or a rare few whom can access all of them.
Eagerly awaiting the sequel :)
May 2, 2019
Wow I wasn't expecting this book to be so good!
Set in a world where a female tyrant has ruled for centuries with a death grip on the imperium, everyone with a spark of magic is ruthlessly hunted less they become a threat. Ellias is the central character who is in love with his childhood friend Lizella (a badass female lead). Separated from each other and hunted by twisted empowered ones Ellias must train and grow to learn to use his powers while Lizella falls in with a resistance movement and their 'dashing' young leader.
Very strong male and female characters who travel and grow and develop into characters who take on a life of their own, it a really good grounding for the first book in the series.
Highly recommended for people who love fantasy.
Set in a world where a female tyrant has ruled for centuries with a death grip on the imperium, everyone with a spark of magic is ruthlessly hunted less they become a threat. Ellias is the central character who is in love with his childhood friend Lizella (a badass female lead). Separated from each other and hunted by twisted empowered ones Ellias must train and grow to learn to use his powers while Lizella falls in with a resistance movement and their 'dashing' young leader.
Very strong male and female characters who travel and grow and develop into characters who take on a life of their own, it a really good grounding for the first book in the series.
Highly recommended for people who love fantasy.
November 22, 2019
This is an enthralling tale. Epic and yet a real feel to the characters. A fantasy with suspense to keep you turning the pages and holding your breath. There is also a twist or two I did not see coming.
July 20, 2019
This is one of those books I got an early peak at, but was so overbooked I just didn't get a chance to finish it. When the audio book released, I knew I had to give it a listen. Its a good thing I did, because this was a story worth hearing. Taking a lot of the tropes of the last 20 years, the author takes bits of them, mixes them up in a blender, and makes them his own unique thing.
PLOT SUMMARY
In a totalitarian empire, ruled for the last 300 years by the all powerful ruler, known as the Supreme, any dissent is dealt with in a draconian manner. The empire is basically a slave empire, with the vast majority of the population being slaves to the various nobles, who treat the slaves mercilessly to be able to afford the Empress's tribute. Life is cheap, and this is the society Elian was born into. Elian is the son of a serf carpenter, meaning he is free, within limitations. As a small kid, even at 15, he is picked on by the bigger kids of his village. He is often protected from the beatings by his best friend, Lizella.
After a prank as revenge against the bigger boys goes horribly wrong, Elian and Lizella end up on the run from the Supreme's enforcers when Elian develops powers in the stress dealing with the prank's aftermath, which draws the Supreme's forces after them. Now on the run, Elian and Lizella escape, only to foolishly be captured by slavers. Lizella faces life in a pleasure house, while Elian can look forward to a quick death in the gladiator pits, neither a fate they'd wish on anyone.
While on the road to the slave market, the slave train is attacked by rebels, and Lizella is freed. Escaping with the rebels, she goes with them back to their camp, only to end up on the run again after they are attacked. Elian is still captured, though, and ends up sold to a gladiator troop. He ends up training to be sword fodder, but his emerging powers, based around emotions creating different effects, means he doesn't die as expected. It turns out Elian is a rarity known as an Emergent, which means he can use more than one emotion to create magic effects. as opposed to a gifted, who can only use one emotion.
This all leads to a great confrontation down the road, as the rebels manage to take the city and the Supreme brings her forces to bear. She sends her head enforcer, the dreaded Hollow known as the First Fear, after Elian, as the Supreme's army attacks the rebel fortifications. This climactic battle leads to revelations about who and what Elian is, as well is who is behind the rebellion and the potential to defeat the Supreme.
CHARACTERS AND WORLDBUILDING
While there is very strong worldbuilding in this book, characters are it's real strength. The main characters are well written, with strengths and flaws, giving them fully formed personalities. Elian and Lizella get the most attention, being the main characters, but even the secondary characters are given fully formed personalities, with their own triumphs, flaws and motivations. The villains fit within the world they are created in, with motivations and actions that fit the narrative.
The world building is quite intense and detailed. A slave empire, it is a harrowing life for the inhabitants. The magic system , and its rarity, is quite creative. The magic being created through the use of emotion to create specific effects, with varying levels of power depending on the emotional severity, can result in some wildly creative scenes. The struggle against the oppressive system, and the mystery behind it, is also intriguing.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This is one of those stories that hook you from the outset. Using tropes in a creative way isn't always easy, but the author manages it nicely. Fans of Brandon Sanderson should especially enjoy this story, as will fans of dark, gritty fantasy. It will be interesting to see where the story goes from this point.
PLOT SUMMARY
In a totalitarian empire, ruled for the last 300 years by the all powerful ruler, known as the Supreme, any dissent is dealt with in a draconian manner. The empire is basically a slave empire, with the vast majority of the population being slaves to the various nobles, who treat the slaves mercilessly to be able to afford the Empress's tribute. Life is cheap, and this is the society Elian was born into. Elian is the son of a serf carpenter, meaning he is free, within limitations. As a small kid, even at 15, he is picked on by the bigger kids of his village. He is often protected from the beatings by his best friend, Lizella.
After a prank as revenge against the bigger boys goes horribly wrong, Elian and Lizella end up on the run from the Supreme's enforcers when Elian develops powers in the stress dealing with the prank's aftermath, which draws the Supreme's forces after them. Now on the run, Elian and Lizella escape, only to foolishly be captured by slavers. Lizella faces life in a pleasure house, while Elian can look forward to a quick death in the gladiator pits, neither a fate they'd wish on anyone.
While on the road to the slave market, the slave train is attacked by rebels, and Lizella is freed. Escaping with the rebels, she goes with them back to their camp, only to end up on the run again after they are attacked. Elian is still captured, though, and ends up sold to a gladiator troop. He ends up training to be sword fodder, but his emerging powers, based around emotions creating different effects, means he doesn't die as expected. It turns out Elian is a rarity known as an Emergent, which means he can use more than one emotion to create magic effects. as opposed to a gifted, who can only use one emotion.
This all leads to a great confrontation down the road, as the rebels manage to take the city and the Supreme brings her forces to bear. She sends her head enforcer, the dreaded Hollow known as the First Fear, after Elian, as the Supreme's army attacks the rebel fortifications. This climactic battle leads to revelations about who and what Elian is, as well is who is behind the rebellion and the potential to defeat the Supreme.
CHARACTERS AND WORLDBUILDING
While there is very strong worldbuilding in this book, characters are it's real strength. The main characters are well written, with strengths and flaws, giving them fully formed personalities. Elian and Lizella get the most attention, being the main characters, but even the secondary characters are given fully formed personalities, with their own triumphs, flaws and motivations. The villains fit within the world they are created in, with motivations and actions that fit the narrative.
The world building is quite intense and detailed. A slave empire, it is a harrowing life for the inhabitants. The magic system , and its rarity, is quite creative. The magic being created through the use of emotion to create specific effects, with varying levels of power depending on the emotional severity, can result in some wildly creative scenes. The struggle against the oppressive system, and the mystery behind it, is also intriguing.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This is one of those stories that hook you from the outset. Using tropes in a creative way isn't always easy, but the author manages it nicely. Fans of Brandon Sanderson should especially enjoy this story, as will fans of dark, gritty fantasy. It will be interesting to see where the story goes from this point.
March 6, 2020
The First Fear... i did not know what to expect. I got in touch with this book by a adio giveaway. I am still new to adio (and still need to listen to this one, hopefully one day soon). After the adio giveaway I got curious. It was fantasy, i like fantasy. The blurb was interesting. The cover... hell yeah that is a pretty cover. And Matthew Olney is a very friendly writer who helped me get my way in the adio.
So i bought the ebook too and left it for 7 months on my TBR pile. Dear people on Goodread, do not make the mistake I made by putting this book on the TBR. This book needs to be read!
From the first page I got sucked into the story and did not want to put it down. The characters are believable and well written. There is a unique and very interesting magic system. The worldbuilding is just spot on, not to much and not to litte and the storyline was something new and interesting that I have not seen before (maybe it will be out there in some form, but then they have a tough competition in this book).
The only problem now is that we have to wait for part 2!
So i bought the ebook too and left it for 7 months on my TBR pile. Dear people on Goodread, do not make the mistake I made by putting this book on the TBR. This book needs to be read!
From the first page I got sucked into the story and did not want to put it down. The characters are believable and well written. There is a unique and very interesting magic system. The worldbuilding is just spot on, not to much and not to litte and the storyline was something new and interesting that I have not seen before (maybe it will be out there in some form, but then they have a tough competition in this book).
The only problem now is that we have to wait for part 2!
July 31, 2021
An epic story that had me hooked from the start. A female tyrant, what a change. A read well written story.
Read
August 8, 2021This is a good story. Interesting characters, good story line, and a mac system that is unique. The magic is based on emotions. Each emotions provides its own power. Other than the Incredible Hulk who is tranformed by anger, I've never seen a similar magic system. The powers provided by each emotion are well thought out and logical. The fight scenes are well described. If you like fantasy, this is the book for you.
August 24, 2021
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 August 2021
The Supreme rules over everyone, rich, poor, military. She seems unapproachable, and undefeatable.
There are characters in the story with unusual powers. These powers enable them to survive amongst all the evil that surrounds them, but it is hard to imagine they would ever overcome it. One day they are aware of a new power awakening. This is Elian, a central character who has no idea what is happening to him, until he receives some guidance from like minded individuals.
Although these powers are something that we mortals have no access to they do not make these individuals unbelievable. They are just like us in most ways, fearful, angry, joyful, sad, brave, tearful. This make them very easy to follow in their quest to save their kind, defeating those who terrorise the residents of their lands.
Elian draws the reader into his world as he learns how his powers can be used, how he can help in this horrendous battle. He is still learning, so his own fears show through clearly. Can he overcome this evil, can he survive against such huge odds?
The narrative is great, drawing the reader into battle, facing overwhelming odds, creatures unknown to normal man.
A twist right at the end is completely unexpected . Fantastic read.
The Supreme rules over everyone, rich, poor, military. She seems unapproachable, and undefeatable.
There are characters in the story with unusual powers. These powers enable them to survive amongst all the evil that surrounds them, but it is hard to imagine they would ever overcome it. One day they are aware of a new power awakening. This is Elian, a central character who has no idea what is happening to him, until he receives some guidance from like minded individuals.
Although these powers are something that we mortals have no access to they do not make these individuals unbelievable. They are just like us in most ways, fearful, angry, joyful, sad, brave, tearful. This make them very easy to follow in their quest to save their kind, defeating those who terrorise the residents of their lands.
Elian draws the reader into his world as he learns how his powers can be used, how he can help in this horrendous battle. He is still learning, so his own fears show through clearly. Can he overcome this evil, can he survive against such huge odds?
The narrative is great, drawing the reader into battle, facing overwhelming odds, creatures unknown to normal man.
A twist right at the end is completely unexpected . Fantastic read.
April 22, 2019
The First Fear is a gripping, action packed tale sure to entertain not just Fantasy fans, but anyone who enjoys a well thought out story.
I'd heard good things about the First Fear before I decided to purchase it, but I had no idea it would be a roller-coaster of a tale. The overall story is a unique spin on some tried and tested themes, which make it feel both nostalgic and intriguing at the same time.
The author's world building is spectacular, creating an Industrial-era empire and blending it beautifully with the malevolent power of the Supreme pitted against The Empowered Ones and their Gifted allies.
The characters (warts and all) are realistic and Mr. Olney does an amazing job of developing them throughout the story. The pacing is excellent too; the author gives just enough information to develop a scene without over-explaining everything. The action sequences are stylish and slick with plenty of twists and turns.
Overall, this was a fantastic read and I look forward to diving into the next book.
I'd heard good things about the First Fear before I decided to purchase it, but I had no idea it would be a roller-coaster of a tale. The overall story is a unique spin on some tried and tested themes, which make it feel both nostalgic and intriguing at the same time.
The author's world building is spectacular, creating an Industrial-era empire and blending it beautifully with the malevolent power of the Supreme pitted against The Empowered Ones and their Gifted allies.
The characters (warts and all) are realistic and Mr. Olney does an amazing job of developing them throughout the story. The pacing is excellent too; the author gives just enough information to develop a scene without over-explaining everything. The action sequences are stylish and slick with plenty of twists and turns.
Overall, this was a fantastic read and I look forward to diving into the next book.
June 8, 2020
An enjoyable read but a little two-dimensional for my preference. The magic system, built on emotions, is very well-thought-out/unique and the character's journey is also epic but I wanted to feel more invested or immersed, and I just couldn't get there. Nevertheless, I did finish the book and I would certainly recommend it because other readers will undoubtedly love it. There's loads of room for the plot and characters to expand and I suspect the series will be a hit, but unfortunately, it didn't really become a page-turner for me. Finally, I'd just like to mention that I didn't think there were any grammatical issues with the book. I noticed others mentioning this, but the sentences flowed and I was not hung up on any misspelt words. Overall, think this book deserved a four-star even if it wasn't really for me. I can see how much work and effort has gone into this indie book and it is a well-executed and solid construct.
January 27, 2019
I initially thought that it going to another trope filled clone of the typical coming of age fantasy story. I was also getting a lot of Mistborn vibes. As the story progressed, i was glad to find out that it managed to surprise me multiple times and it is very much its own story.
I am very impressed with the book. I really liked the magic system and combat it went from a possible solid 3 stars by the middle of the book to a definite 4 star rating due to the final act of the book. I have read a lot of fantasy books and i rarely write reviews in addition to star ratings. That alone is and endorsement. Looking forward to the next book and i am going to give Heir to the Sundered a try as well.
I am very impressed with the book. I really liked the magic system and combat it went from a possible solid 3 stars by the middle of the book to a definite 4 star rating due to the final act of the book. I have read a lot of fantasy books and i rarely write reviews in addition to star ratings. That alone is and endorsement. Looking forward to the next book and i am going to give Heir to the Sundered a try as well.
June 20, 2018
An excellent first book in the series. The exposition was kept to a minimum, the characters were realistic and relatable, the concept of emotions as powers was unique and refreshing, the plot follows several existing tropes and it did so well, and the technical ability of the author was solid as always. Was very happy to get an advanced copy and would heartily recommend it to readers who are fans of books like the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson.
July 18, 2019
Overall rating: 4.5
I very much enjoyed the originality this author brought with these characters. The setting was very clear and precise. The hallowed ones gave my minds eye nightmares! There is a lot to absorb with this tale, making me feel that I need to do a read over just to make sure I caught every nuance. I don’t know the definition of a high fantasy, but I feel this is a stand out read worthy of recommending. All of my reviews are always voluntarily written.
I very much enjoyed the originality this author brought with these characters. The setting was very clear and precise. The hallowed ones gave my minds eye nightmares! There is a lot to absorb with this tale, making me feel that I need to do a read over just to make sure I caught every nuance. I don’t know the definition of a high fantasy, but I feel this is a stand out read worthy of recommending. All of my reviews are always voluntarily written.
August 19, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel...fast-paced and quite a bit happened in a short space of time...I for one appreciate plot advancement as opposed to significant character development, but that's not to say that these characters were flat; in fact many of them grew and became multi-faceted...I look forward to more revelations and action in the rest of this series...
July 17, 2019
I enjoyed listening to this story and am interested in finding out what happens next.
July 3, 2021
This was a great read. A bit modern to what I usually read, with muskets, pistols, grenades, but that doesn't take away the intrigue that is throughout the entire book. Great characters that a quick growth for some. Interesting magic system, world-building is grand
December 2, 2018
The First Fear is definitely a fantasy which is trying to replicate the feel of a high fantasy. It almost gets there, but I feel it fell slightly short and that feeling is the reason for the four out of five rather than five out of five. The reason I felt like it fell short is, I read it over a month ago (got bogged down between then and now to write a review) and am having a hard time remembering a lot of the story. I feel a high fantasy would have been more memorable than that.
It is a very good story, however, and leaves quite a bit open for books to follow, which I am hoping will be better than the first.
But please do not take my word for it, and give the book a try, completely worth it.
It is a very good story, however, and leaves quite a bit open for books to follow, which I am hoping will be better than the first.
But please do not take my word for it, and give the book a try, completely worth it.
January 29, 2019
The story itself was interesting, but the constant errors and lack of commas were unbearable. With a lot of editing and more clarification on the setting, which was kind of all over the place, this could be a good read.
October 28, 2019
What a ride!
If you love fantasy, this book is for you. I'm very picky about fantasy books. This one was different in the best way. Loved how thre magic worked, loved our hero, Elian, can't wait to read more! I have so many questions about what happens next.
If you love fantasy, this book is for you. I'm very picky about fantasy books. This one was different in the best way. Loved how thre magic worked, loved our hero, Elian, can't wait to read more! I have so many questions about what happens next.
January 17, 2020
Absolutely fantastic book that draws the reader in from the very beginning.
I am looking forward to the sequel!
For any fans of Game of Thrones, The First Law Books or Star Wars this NEEDS to be your next book!
It is like a Mark Lawrence novel but far, far, superior.
I am looking forward to the sequel!
For any fans of Game of Thrones, The First Law Books or Star Wars this NEEDS to be your next book!
It is like a Mark Lawrence novel but far, far, superior.
August 6, 2024
The First Fear is the first book of The Empowered Ones series. It centres around Elian, a young farm boy who, after a run-in with some local bullies, finds out he has powers he could never have imagined. But this also puts him in danger, as there are creatures out there hunting people like him - Empowered Ones. The Hollowed, as they are called, are evil, eye-less and nightmarish beings. Working under the Supreme, they will do anything to catch poor Elian and his friends.
But a resistance movement is gaining ground, hoping to thwart the Supreme (the ruler of the realm) and her feared Hollowed.
The First Fear contains many classic tropes, but it feels fresh, and I quite enjoyed it, with its diverse set of characters and unique magic system. I loved how emotions were the basis of how the Empowered can harness their magical abilities and what the different emotions would result in whenever used.
Note: I listened to this on audio, and I have to say the narrator let the story down at times. He had a bit of a monotonous tone, even as the action picked up, and I noticed some recording/production-related issues throughout the book.
Nevertheless, The First Fear is a solid read, and I recommend it to any epic fantasy fans out there!
But a resistance movement is gaining ground, hoping to thwart the Supreme (the ruler of the realm) and her feared Hollowed.
The First Fear contains many classic tropes, but it feels fresh, and I quite enjoyed it, with its diverse set of characters and unique magic system. I loved how emotions were the basis of how the Empowered can harness their magical abilities and what the different emotions would result in whenever used.
Note: I listened to this on audio, and I have to say the narrator let the story down at times. He had a bit of a monotonous tone, even as the action picked up, and I noticed some recording/production-related issues throughout the book.
Nevertheless, The First Fear is a solid read, and I recommend it to any epic fantasy fans out there!
June 25, 2019
review to follow.
September 26, 2024
What a great surprise this book was.
September 13, 2025
Great book
October 26, 2019
Great story
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was engaging and the characters are well thought out. The world building is remarkable. The reason for 3 stars is the spelling and grammatical mistakes. Which there are many.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was engaging and the characters are well thought out. The world building is remarkable. The reason for 3 stars is the spelling and grammatical mistakes. Which there are many.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews