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By Ways Unseen
The Provinces are falling. From the south, the immortal Knights of Galessern raid. From the north, the trees of the Kalen Woods have awoken, and are hungry for their second city. And from the east, Haydren Loren flees a childhood bully whose hate is now fully grown, and capable of murdering his way to becoming the Earl.Haydren might find safety in the west. Or, he may find himself suddenly forced on a suicidal face and defeat Lasserain, the strongest mage history has ever seen.His quest is joined by a medley of friends foolish enough to think they might Geoffrey, a former knight of Rinc Na who betrayed his country and friends, and now seeks forgiveness through this final, desperate act; Sarah, a sorceress who will do anything to prove she is worthy; and Pladt, the famed archer whose only wish is to travel as far and wide as his name.The God of All only knows the ways they must go - He, and a voice in Haydren’s head that is constantly growing louder.Insanity. Capture. Death. All roads seem doomed for failure. But they must quickly choose a path, for Lasserain’s full fury is descending, and no one else has been able to stop it.
- GenresFantasy
397 pages, Paperback
Published July 9, 2018
13 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Dydek
14 books56 followersDaniel Dydek is a multi-genre author with his sweeping epic fantasy series The Triumvirs, and his supernatural suspense series, Spirit Wind, has already garnered two Finalist awards from Realm Makers. Besides writing, he also enjoys a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, mountain biking, reading, coffee shops, book stores, and Durango Colorado. He lives in Canton Ohio with his wife and son and two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 29, 2018
By Ways Unseen is a LOTR-esque high fantasy adventure that I quite enjoyed. There was a new and interesting use of magic, a good dose of fantastical creatures (some of which I haven’t seen in a novel before), and a quartet of characters that grew together through thick and thin. “And who are these characters?” you ask. Well...
• Haydren: The Main Character. The Hero. The guy who has the most growing to do. Honestly, he could be a little irritating at times, but aren’t we all? I appreciated that Dydek put a character out there that wasn’t always likable. I also enjoyed his character arc, as regarding the God of All.
• Geoffery: While we’re talking character archetypes, we can’t forget the Mentor. But he wasn’t always right, and I loved how his backstory was revealed as the plot progressed. There was a very good reason he believed what he believed, and I liked that he wasn’t right “just because,” as some mentor characters are apt to be.
• Pladt: *tosses actual archetypes out the window* This li’l character was the Cinnamon Roll in my unofficial official opinion. It didn’t take long for Pladt to become one of my favorites, and he provided some much-needed comic relief. I kept grinning whenever he was on the page.
• Sarah: The… Sorceress? She provided the female element to the story, and on the whole, I rather liked her. The only thing that somewhat bothered me was how she seemed inclined to buckle under pressure—but on the whole she carried herself with dignity, without coming across harsh—and that’s something sorely lacking in today’s stories.
Another thing I enjoyed was the creatures, and the enormous scope of the world. The creatures were a pretty eclectic mix (kobolds, and gremlins, and dragons oh my!), and the huge scope of the story put me in mind of The Lord of the Rings. Granted, I was soon lost with all the directions being given, but that’s probably just me, since I'm notoriously bad at geography.
I also liked how the magic was handled. I can’t say I’ve seen magic done that way before, and thought it was a unique twist.
As for content, the book is pretty clean, aside from a little drinking, non-gory violence, a trip hiding in the back of a wagon with cadavers, (yikes), orphans were mentioned to usually be the product of prostitution, a scene where a woman was asked whether she had begun her “women’s custom,” and another where an extremely bad-tempered not-morning person threatened to castrate the person that woke him up.
All told, By Ways Unseen tells a familiar tale about good vs. evil, and making tough choices. The characters weren’t perfect, and some elements of the storytelling felt a little uneven, but it was a good book in the end.
• Haydren: The Main Character. The Hero. The guy who has the most growing to do. Honestly, he could be a little irritating at times, but aren’t we all? I appreciated that Dydek put a character out there that wasn’t always likable. I also enjoyed his character arc, as regarding the God of All.
• Geoffery: While we’re talking character archetypes, we can’t forget the Mentor. But he wasn’t always right, and I loved how his backstory was revealed as the plot progressed. There was a very good reason he believed what he believed, and I liked that he wasn’t right “just because,” as some mentor characters are apt to be.
• Pladt: *tosses actual archetypes out the window* This li’l character was the Cinnamon Roll in my unofficial official opinion. It didn’t take long for Pladt to become one of my favorites, and he provided some much-needed comic relief. I kept grinning whenever he was on the page.
• Sarah: The… Sorceress? She provided the female element to the story, and on the whole, I rather liked her. The only thing that somewhat bothered me was how she seemed inclined to buckle under pressure—but on the whole she carried herself with dignity, without coming across harsh—and that’s something sorely lacking in today’s stories.
Another thing I enjoyed was the creatures, and the enormous scope of the world. The creatures were a pretty eclectic mix (kobolds, and gremlins, and dragons oh my!), and the huge scope of the story put me in mind of The Lord of the Rings. Granted, I was soon lost with all the directions being given, but that’s probably just me, since I'm notoriously bad at geography.
I also liked how the magic was handled. I can’t say I’ve seen magic done that way before, and thought it was a unique twist.
As for content, the book is pretty clean, aside from a little drinking, non-gory violence, a trip hiding in the back of a wagon with cadavers, (yikes), orphans were mentioned to usually be the product of prostitution, a scene where a woman was asked whether she had begun her “women’s custom,” and another where an extremely bad-tempered not-morning person threatened to castrate the person that woke him up.
All told, By Ways Unseen tells a familiar tale about good vs. evil, and making tough choices. The characters weren’t perfect, and some elements of the storytelling felt a little uneven, but it was a good book in the end.
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December 17, 2020I feel like I'm not a good person to get a review from regarding this book. It's not really my taste in books, so I did struggle to get through it and actually ended up skipping a lot. There are a few places that stand out as a bit more enjoyable to me. Particularly the very beginning, while getting to know the MC. And later in the book while they are traveling through a forest.
This is a good book for people who enjoy straight up fantasy with clear inspiration from fantasy book that have come before it. It's also not particularly character focused and not strong plot-wise, this book focuses more on playing around with theological concepts in a fictional setting and combining and remixing fantasy tropes.
If that sounds interesting for you, this series is already well underway so it's worth picking up.
This is a good book for people who enjoy straight up fantasy with clear inspiration from fantasy book that have come before it. It's also not particularly character focused and not strong plot-wise, this book focuses more on playing around with theological concepts in a fictional setting and combining and remixing fantasy tropes.
If that sounds interesting for you, this series is already well underway so it's worth picking up.
April 18, 2023
Two dragons show up in this book
This story was quite entertaining, even if I was a bit confused about what was going on for a while. The world has a deep history of which we only catch glimpses as Haydren and his companions trek across the countryside in this medieval fantasy. There's magic, monsters, and sword fighting amid soul-searching conversations. The characters don't always see eye to eye, but they band together as friends, and the overarching message is one of mercy. Christian values are clearly communicated. No need to worry about cussing or naughty scenes; this book is clean and appropriate for teens. I'm curious to find out more about the Triumvirate in the sequel.
This story was quite entertaining, even if I was a bit confused about what was going on for a while. The world has a deep history of which we only catch glimpses as Haydren and his companions trek across the countryside in this medieval fantasy. There's magic, monsters, and sword fighting amid soul-searching conversations. The characters don't always see eye to eye, but they band together as friends, and the overarching message is one of mercy. Christian values are clearly communicated. No need to worry about cussing or naughty scenes; this book is clean and appropriate for teens. I'm curious to find out more about the Triumvirate in the sequel.
July 25, 2018
I really wanted to like this book. It sounded interesting when I saw it on Netgalley, so I jumped at the chance to read it. That was my first mistake. I'm a fast reader, can chew out a few books a week, but this felt like I was plodding along, like Haydren and Co when they stuck in that darn forest.
What was wrong with it, you say? Well...
1. The characters weren't just dull, they were irritating. The main cast involved three surly teenagers, one of whom was 70, and a cantankerous god-bothering old warrior. Their motivations to put their lives on the line were thin at best, and I'm somewhat surprised they didn't kill each other first. The dialogue was strange, and it irked me no end that the author felt the urge to add that they were being wry, glib, angry etc, There was the occasional burst of caustic wit that rose me from my slumber to laugh half-heartedly. though. The closest we come to an interesting character is the cardboard cutout Earl who inspires Haydren to begin his quest.
2. The writing was weird. In the interest of sounding erudite (I assume), the wording of sentences broke up the pace of the "action" and hampered the flow of the writing. This isn't just this author, this is almost a pandemic. Saying "Jim absconded to the rear of the great wooden denizen of the forest to cleanse is excrement expulsion port may not be wrong, but I'd rather read, Jim went behind the big tree and took a shit." Seriously, people.
3. I kind of liked the idea of Haydren railing against his perceived destiny and the pesky God of All Things controlling everything. This seemed to a key to the idea behind the book, but it was somewhat overlooked. Or I dozed through it.
4. Every creature you've ever read in a fantasy book was there. Every race was there, or mentioned. I don't mind tropes, but your story has to be awesome to get away with it. Sadly it was not.
What was wrong with it, you say? Well...
1. The characters weren't just dull, they were irritating. The main cast involved three surly teenagers, one of whom was 70, and a cantankerous god-bothering old warrior. Their motivations to put their lives on the line were thin at best, and I'm somewhat surprised they didn't kill each other first. The dialogue was strange, and it irked me no end that the author felt the urge to add that they were being wry, glib, angry etc, There was the occasional burst of caustic wit that rose me from my slumber to laugh half-heartedly. though. The closest we come to an interesting character is the cardboard cutout Earl who inspires Haydren to begin his quest.
2. The writing was weird. In the interest of sounding erudite (I assume), the wording of sentences broke up the pace of the "action" and hampered the flow of the writing. This isn't just this author, this is almost a pandemic. Saying "Jim absconded to the rear of the great wooden denizen of the forest to cleanse is excrement expulsion port may not be wrong, but I'd rather read, Jim went behind the big tree and took a shit." Seriously, people.
3. I kind of liked the idea of Haydren railing against his perceived destiny and the pesky God of All Things controlling everything. This seemed to a key to the idea behind the book, but it was somewhat overlooked. Or I dozed through it.
4. Every creature you've ever read in a fantasy book was there. Every race was there, or mentioned. I don't mind tropes, but your story has to be awesome to get away with it. Sadly it was not.
September 26, 2018
Received in exchange for a honest review.
This is a highly adventurous and character growth ya version of Lord of the Rings with some twists. We have mages and evil that comes from many sides. It isn’t a ring or precious that drives some to the master but the greed of power.
Here the best friends do not go off on adventure together because we have a turn of events that prevents this. We have strangers band together for similar reasons. Strangers who learn about themselves and each other on this journey into the unknown. They fight evil and figure out their station and place in life. They defy expectations and discover friendship, loyalty and family. They grow and mature but mostly they work together to stop evil.
Haydren does the most growth. For he starts out a wee bit selfish and arrogant. He learns to understand others and respect them. He sees that everyone has strengths and weaknesses and when working together and trusting others you learn more and are stronger. He learns patience, kindness, to listen and let others in. I love the beginning for him where he finds an unexpected ally. I love his adopted family and how he figures out what love and acceptance is in the end and shows them this. His demons both within and on the outside are dark and tough to crack but he does and it is a alluring adventure that draws you in as he fights Lasserain and shows us strength in growing and friendship and trust and how as he learns to respect others and their strengths he becomes more powerful and kinder.
Geoffrey and Sarah both are trying to prove themselves as well but in different ways. Their lessons and growth are different too. For Geoffrey he must find forgiveness within and see that he isn’t a bad person. He is smart and strong. Skillful and kind. Sarah must learn not to reach for more than what she is meant to have. That power of magic isn’t always good but can be dark, dangerous and addictive. Geoffrey helps teach her this as does Haydren with his wariness of magic. She helps when it is needed but magic is a addiction and when yielded you want more power and to be able to yield more powerful magic. Pladt learns to find his voice and where he belongs in the world. HE was the most balanced of them all for he was just out to stop bad from spreading.
The group begins as strangers and becomes more as they face dark challenges and help one another survive and grow. A great intriguing and alluring story from beginning to end. Truly keeps you in the moment as you follow these strangers face different versions of evil as they learn and grow and become friends and trust one another and come to the battle against Lasserain which has you cheering for them to win.
This is a highly adventurous and character growth ya version of Lord of the Rings with some twists. We have mages and evil that comes from many sides. It isn’t a ring or precious that drives some to the master but the greed of power.
Here the best friends do not go off on adventure together because we have a turn of events that prevents this. We have strangers band together for similar reasons. Strangers who learn about themselves and each other on this journey into the unknown. They fight evil and figure out their station and place in life. They defy expectations and discover friendship, loyalty and family. They grow and mature but mostly they work together to stop evil.
Haydren does the most growth. For he starts out a wee bit selfish and arrogant. He learns to understand others and respect them. He sees that everyone has strengths and weaknesses and when working together and trusting others you learn more and are stronger. He learns patience, kindness, to listen and let others in. I love the beginning for him where he finds an unexpected ally. I love his adopted family and how he figures out what love and acceptance is in the end and shows them this. His demons both within and on the outside are dark and tough to crack but he does and it is a alluring adventure that draws you in as he fights Lasserain and shows us strength in growing and friendship and trust and how as he learns to respect others and their strengths he becomes more powerful and kinder.
Geoffrey and Sarah both are trying to prove themselves as well but in different ways. Their lessons and growth are different too. For Geoffrey he must find forgiveness within and see that he isn’t a bad person. He is smart and strong. Skillful and kind. Sarah must learn not to reach for more than what she is meant to have. That power of magic isn’t always good but can be dark, dangerous and addictive. Geoffrey helps teach her this as does Haydren with his wariness of magic. She helps when it is needed but magic is a addiction and when yielded you want more power and to be able to yield more powerful magic. Pladt learns to find his voice and where he belongs in the world. HE was the most balanced of them all for he was just out to stop bad from spreading.
The group begins as strangers and becomes more as they face dark challenges and help one another survive and grow. A great intriguing and alluring story from beginning to end. Truly keeps you in the moment as you follow these strangers face different versions of evil as they learn and grow and become friends and trust one another and come to the battle against Lasserain which has you cheering for them to win.
July 29, 2018
This is an imaginative fantasy/adventure. Daniel Dydek has really raised the level of fantasy with this novel. There are so many aspects that show a great level of creativity. I liked that the main characters had their flaws but redeeming qualities as well. A wonderful take on fate and the way our choices and actions affect our lives.
dnf
September 13, 2018I gave this a chapter, but it just didn't hold my interest by then. It seems like the sort of thing I would have been happy to read in my early teens. I've just gotten a lot pickier about things like writing style since then.
July 31, 2018
I liked the diversity and originality of this novel.
Believeable and Relatable characters really help to captivate the reader and get them invested in the happenings of this story.
I really enjoyed the pacing and how it was steady throughout. It is fast paced and doesn’t let up and didn’t have moments that dragged. It made for a fast and furious read.
Believeable and Relatable characters really help to captivate the reader and get them invested in the happenings of this story.
I really enjoyed the pacing and how it was steady throughout. It is fast paced and doesn’t let up and didn’t have moments that dragged. It made for a fast and furious read.
September 23, 2018
Daniel Dydek has written a descriptive novel that does a great job of pulling the reader into the world he has created.
The flow of the novel was well executed and everything as far as pacing went felt smooth.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters both primary and secondary. They all felt like they had their own purpose and had depth that made me care about them.
A wonderful Fantasy novel!
The flow of the novel was well executed and everything as far as pacing went felt smooth.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters both primary and secondary. They all felt like they had their own purpose and had depth that made me care about them.
A wonderful Fantasy novel!
August 23, 2018
This one is a pretty solid fantasy adventure, the kind you could come up with after a few bottles of Mountain Dew and lots of hours of Dungeons & Dragons.
It certainly scratches the sword-and-sorcery itch. It's got all the required fantasy stuff, with an unexpectedly good smattering of relationship drama.
Give it a shot, preferably with some 20-sided dice nearby. I'm anxious to see what the author whips up next.
It certainly scratches the sword-and-sorcery itch. It's got all the required fantasy stuff, with an unexpectedly good smattering of relationship drama.
Give it a shot, preferably with some 20-sided dice nearby. I'm anxious to see what the author whips up next.
June 6, 2023
This book was rather slow going. It had a few nuggets of humor and wisdom that
made it worth reading though.
made it worth reading though.
November 23, 2024
I had a ton of fun revisiting this book in anticipation of book four coming spring 2024. There’s quite a few things I didn’t pick up on the first time I read through and there’s even more that hits so differently after the shocking reveal in book three, The One Known. I can’t wait to see what happens as events line up across each new installment!
Haydren and company endure a long grueling journey that tests their character and challenges their weaknesses. If you enjoy classic quest fantasy or coming of age stories you’ll appreciate this series starter.
Haydren and company endure a long grueling journey that tests their character and challenges their weaknesses. If you enjoy classic quest fantasy or coming of age stories you’ll appreciate this series starter.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews