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The Windrider Saga #1
Divine Summons
When Captain Vinyanel Ecleriast, an officer in the elven cavalry, narrowly escapes a devastating reconnaissance mission, he discovers a new calling to establish the first airborne unit of mounted warriors his people have ever known. Joined by an enigmatic half-elven prophetess and a silver dragon, Vinyanel struggles to come to grips with this responsibility, while mourning the recent loss of his unit and only friends.A subversive plot to undo the task Vinyanel’s unit died in accomplishing takes shape, right within the walls of the elven capital city. Only with the prophetess’s help, however irritating she may be, will he unravel the mystery behind the enemy’s plans. Vinyanel barrels headlong into territory where he will need more than a sword and shield to prevail. Only if he can look beyond himself for the strength to defeat his enemies will he survive to answer his divine summons.
152 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
23 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 18, 2018
Stories about reluctant dragon riders? Sign me up! And it was super fun to have a story just about elves!
I really enjoyed Vinyanel's character. He was super grumpy and loyal I probably related to him a bit too much. lol! And I'm totally on his side about being extra grumpy with Veranna and her attempts at training him. She kind of annoyed me, so definitely not my favorite character. Majestrin was awesome. But talking dragons who will quietly encourage their young, headstrong riders are my fav.
Plot was fun and the book ended up being just the right length, I think. Though I'm really interested to see where we go from here. I mean, we've got a "cup of life/summoner of demons" missing and in the hands of bad guys, so that's a problem.
There's plenty of actiony bits packed in, hints of awesome world building, cool magic, and yeah, I'm kind of still loving a book just about elves and dragons. The writing style kind of reminded me of an "older" style high fantasy novel with phrasing and language, but it was fun to get that vibe. Definitely recommended if you like a solid fantasy story with some Christian elements!
*I received a copy of this book from the author for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed Vinyanel's character. He was super grumpy and loyal I probably related to him a bit too much. lol! And I'm totally on his side about being extra grumpy with Veranna and her attempts at training him. She kind of annoyed me, so definitely not my favorite character. Majestrin was awesome. But talking dragons who will quietly encourage their young, headstrong riders are my fav.
Plot was fun and the book ended up being just the right length, I think. Though I'm really interested to see where we go from here. I mean, we've got a "cup of life/summoner of demons" missing and in the hands of bad guys, so that's a problem.
There's plenty of actiony bits packed in, hints of awesome world building, cool magic, and yeah, I'm kind of still loving a book just about elves and dragons. The writing style kind of reminded me of an "older" style high fantasy novel with phrasing and language, but it was fun to get that vibe. Definitely recommended if you like a solid fantasy story with some Christian elements!
*I received a copy of this book from the author for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
April 19, 2019
I REALLY enjoyed the male lead in this story. Elf he may have been, but he was so RICHLY MALE, full of fire, toughness, and sass. I very much related to his saltiness. Also, there is a wonderful and noble dragon who bequeaths much needed wisdom throughout the book.
I do wish we could have seen more development from the side characters, but perhaps that will come in future books.
Content warning: Our hero is a soldier so there is violent battle and some wince-worthy moments. Most notably in the first chapter where we witness a sad horsey death (I do not like sad horsey deaths...)
I do wish we could have seen more development from the side characters, but perhaps that will come in future books.
Content warning: Our hero is a soldier so there is violent battle and some wince-worthy moments. Most notably in the first chapter where we witness a sad horsey death (I do not like sad horsey deaths...)
April 22, 2015
This review won't be exhaustive in the description of the book, as this was more of a rewrite on author Rebecca P. Minor's part. She wanted to edit her books to prepare for future plans as a writer. If one wants to know my impression of the story overall, they can find the review of the story as originally written here.
What I did like about this book was two things. One I would have noticed rereading any book, but the other one was due to the rewrite. The one that I noticed upon rereading was that Vinyanel did have some cause to be angry with Veranna. In the spirit of Japanese tropes and the character Eilonwy in The Chronicles of Prydain, she can be kind of off-putting. Though to be honest, this is still in her favor.
You see, the books are written realistically in terms of the heroes. They all have something bad about them, because we all DO have something bad about us. We are all fallen. The Elves other than Veranna (including Vinyanel, but ironically not the royals or chancellor of war) are racists. They have loathing for Veranna due to her half-elf heritage. This is not fun to watch, but gives some relatibility (not in racism which is evil but in having faults) to them.
How this equates to Veranna still being good is that she STILL is kind and so on. She can be prideful and huffy at times, but that is out of pain at the antagonism of the Elves towards her. She still is nicer than Vinyanel, though.
The thing I noticed was added was a section about the development of Major Gulderaith's romance with her. His kindness and attraction quickly begin to blossom, and it was sweet to show. Veranna is by far my fave character in the series, excepting two instances that are harsh towards another character in the two following books. Even then, she was the better than the other harsh person involved.
I noticed a few typos here and there, but otherwise, the book was a good rewrite in that the story had some holes filled in, and was made more streamlined.
I highly Recommend this, as the story is fun and the beauty of Minor's writing style here easily eclipses the few typos here and there. The characters are awesome too.
Note: I was given a free copy for review digitally by the author. The final edition for Amazon might not have any typos, so if not, ignore that issue herein. Also, this is my honest to goodness opinion herein.
What I did like about this book was two things. One I would have noticed rereading any book, but the other one was due to the rewrite. The one that I noticed upon rereading was that Vinyanel did have some cause to be angry with Veranna. In the spirit of Japanese tropes and the character Eilonwy in The Chronicles of Prydain, she can be kind of off-putting. Though to be honest, this is still in her favor.
You see, the books are written realistically in terms of the heroes. They all have something bad about them, because we all DO have something bad about us. We are all fallen. The Elves other than Veranna (including Vinyanel, but ironically not the royals or chancellor of war) are racists. They have loathing for Veranna due to her half-elf heritage. This is not fun to watch, but gives some relatibility (not in racism which is evil but in having faults) to them.
How this equates to Veranna still being good is that she STILL is kind and so on. She can be prideful and huffy at times, but that is out of pain at the antagonism of the Elves towards her. She still is nicer than Vinyanel, though.
The thing I noticed was added was a section about the development of Major Gulderaith's romance with her. His kindness and attraction quickly begin to blossom, and it was sweet to show. Veranna is by far my fave character in the series, excepting two instances that are harsh towards another character in the two following books. Even then, she was the better than the other harsh person involved.
I noticed a few typos here and there, but otherwise, the book was a good rewrite in that the story had some holes filled in, and was made more streamlined.
I highly Recommend this, as the story is fun and the beauty of Minor's writing style here easily eclipses the few typos here and there. The characters are awesome too.
Note: I was given a free copy for review digitally by the author. The final edition for Amazon might not have any typos, so if not, ignore that issue herein. Also, this is my honest to goodness opinion herein.
May 28, 2025
"Reluctant dragon riders? Sign me up!" was my immediate thought when I delved into Rebecca P. Minor's Divine Summons, and this book absolutely delivered. This is a solid fantasy story that will appeal to anyone looking for a fresh take on classic tropes, especially those who appreciate Christian elements woven into their narratives.
The story centers around Captain Vinyanel Ecleriast, an elven cavalry commander who receives a divine summons from the deity Creo. His mission? To establish a battalion of elven dragon riders to combat the growing menace of the dragonkin and their demonic allies. What follows is a captivating journey as Vinyanel, a skilled warrior, finds himself needing as much spiritual guidance as martial training, placing him under the tutelage of a fascinating half-elf prophetess. Their dynamic, initially marked by bickering, evolves into a compelling partnership as they navigate the perils ahead. I particularly enjoyed the developing bond between Vinyanel and his silver dragon, who quickly becomes more a friend than a mount.
Minor excels at world-building. Her descriptions create a sense of familiar yet fresh places, drawing you into the elven world without overwhelming you. The narrative masterfully conveys a long history of conflict between the elves and their enemies, not through tedious exposition, but by letting us experience the repercussions through the well-developed and believable characters. The pacing is excellent; the story moves along at a quick clip, maintaining a sense of urgency from the very beginning.
While the writing style has an "older" high fantasy feel with its phrasing and language, I found it charming and a fun throwback. My only minor quibbles were that the elves seemed a bit slow to pick up on some rather obvious clues about a spy within their capital, which, for me, was apparent earlier than it was for them. Also, it wasn't until late in the book that I realized Divine Summons serves as an origin story for a character in Minor's broader "Risen Age" series. This didn't detract from my enjoyment, but it's something to be aware of for those who follow her other works.
Divine Summons barrels Vinyanel headlong into territory where a sword and shield simply aren't enough. It's a journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth, where he must look beyond himself to find the strength to answer his divine summons. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves a well-crafted fantasy story with believable characters, engaging world-building, and a hint of divine intervention. It’s a truly soaring start to what promises to be an epic tale!
The story centers around Captain Vinyanel Ecleriast, an elven cavalry commander who receives a divine summons from the deity Creo. His mission? To establish a battalion of elven dragon riders to combat the growing menace of the dragonkin and their demonic allies. What follows is a captivating journey as Vinyanel, a skilled warrior, finds himself needing as much spiritual guidance as martial training, placing him under the tutelage of a fascinating half-elf prophetess. Their dynamic, initially marked by bickering, evolves into a compelling partnership as they navigate the perils ahead. I particularly enjoyed the developing bond between Vinyanel and his silver dragon, who quickly becomes more a friend than a mount.
Minor excels at world-building. Her descriptions create a sense of familiar yet fresh places, drawing you into the elven world without overwhelming you. The narrative masterfully conveys a long history of conflict between the elves and their enemies, not through tedious exposition, but by letting us experience the repercussions through the well-developed and believable characters. The pacing is excellent; the story moves along at a quick clip, maintaining a sense of urgency from the very beginning.
While the writing style has an "older" high fantasy feel with its phrasing and language, I found it charming and a fun throwback. My only minor quibbles were that the elves seemed a bit slow to pick up on some rather obvious clues about a spy within their capital, which, for me, was apparent earlier than it was for them. Also, it wasn't until late in the book that I realized Divine Summons serves as an origin story for a character in Minor's broader "Risen Age" series. This didn't detract from my enjoyment, but it's something to be aware of for those who follow her other works.
Divine Summons barrels Vinyanel headlong into territory where a sword and shield simply aren't enough. It's a journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth, where he must look beyond himself to find the strength to answer his divine summons. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves a well-crafted fantasy story with believable characters, engaging world-building, and a hint of divine intervention. It’s a truly soaring start to what promises to be an epic tale!
September 2, 2024
This was a very unique read for me! It was a short, action-packed fantasy adventure with a pretty sick dragon! It was packed with so much wisdom and biblical parallels which made it feel like one long beautiful parable that taught on humility, having faith when something feels impossible, the importance of prayer and trust that God will come through, etc.
I feel like the story was a quick flyover of what happened and I could have read a detailed 800-page book following this story and still enjoy it. I would have loved more character development for the side characters and more building to the climax. But it was great pacing for the length that it was!
I feel like the story was a quick flyover of what happened and I could have read a detailed 800-page book following this story and still enjoy it. I would have loved more character development for the side characters and more building to the climax. But it was great pacing for the length that it was!
April 25, 2020
What a page-turning, action-packed adventure! I absolutely loved every second of this wild story.
I instantly fell in love with Vinyanel and his impossible personality. He was so relatable and I connected with him instantly.
This book was absolutely filled with action and tension and intrigue. I was hooked from the very first page, and was never let down! This book has all the things I hoped for from a book of elves and warriors and dragons!
I'm a huge fan of this book, and definitely will be reading the sequel! Absolutely recommend.
I instantly fell in love with Vinyanel and his impossible personality. He was so relatable and I connected with him instantly.
This book was absolutely filled with action and tension and intrigue. I was hooked from the very first page, and was never let down! This book has all the things I hoped for from a book of elves and warriors and dragons!
I'm a huge fan of this book, and definitely will be reading the sequel! Absolutely recommend.
August 9, 2025
For this one, the writing style and I didn't agree super well. It was fine, just not something I really loved or would voluntarily continue reading.
February 2, 2014
I asked a friend, and Christian author, what books she would recommend for someone who was eager to read more Christian fantasy or other Christian speculative fiction. She recommended to me a few suggestions, one of which was to try reading the books by author Rebecca Minor. I took her up on the advice, and am glad I did.
In Divine Summons: Book One of The Windrider Saga, Minor has woven a very believable and engrossing character-driven story. The essentials to the story are that there are several different species in the world where this tale occurs, and two of them drive the action. They are the evil “dragon-kin” (which are more humanoid creatures related to the dragons) who worship a demon, and the elves (who seem to be a cross between the elves of J. R. R. Tolkien's middle-earth legendarium, and those of other sources, in that they are highly gifted, but are mortal and do apparently die, albeit after many centuries).
These elves are our heroes, along with a dragon named Majestrin. Unlike his species' smaller, demon-worshiping cousins, full dragons like Majestrin worship the one-true Creator and God, Creo, as do the elves. The story focuses on our dragon and two elves in particular. These are the half-elven prophetess of Creo, Veranna, and the elven warrior, turned dragon-rider or “windrider”, Captain Vinyanel Ecleriast.
After a very strange, not to mention rude and bigoted on Vinyanel's part, initial meeting, he and Veranna begin their time together in defense of the Elven people and the development of Vinyanel's new group of air-borne cavalry. Vinyanel has been chosen to be the founder and first commander of this new aerial arm of his nation's defense force. At least, this is the plan. Before it can be realized, the dragon-kin's aggression and evil ways lead to a mission to save the elves from grave danger. This mission can only succeed, however, if Vinyanel can overcome his prideful dislike of Veranna, and accept not only her tutelage, but also Creo's plan for his life.
This story is right up there with Daughter of Light by Morgan Busse, in terms of quality. While I like Donita K. Paul's books, both Daughter and this Windrider book are of higher quality. That is NOT a slam against Paul, because she is a phenomenal author of whom I am a huge fan. It is to say that she is a tad “in-your-face” with her lessons and aesops, whereas these two women are just as “Christian”, but are much more subtle about with their theological or moral points. Thus, you are not “pulled” from the story, if you will, as you are in Paul's (and some other authors') books. I would compare either Busse or Minor to the quality and skill of secular authors such as the late Robert Jordan and current prolific author Brandon Sanderson.
The only quibble I have is one for which I don't really criticize Minor. That is the lack of very much background information, and of a more detailed knowledge of the customs, peoples, geography, so on, of this fictional world. Normally, this would really grate on my nerves, but in this case, it was understandable. This series was apparently originally released in a serialized format in a magazine. Thus, Minor had to write in such a manner that the movement of the plot for each part was concise, and fit into a certain limited space. That made long stretches of descriptive paragraphs kind of difficult.
Despite the above, I was truly impressed by two factors. First, Minor does a superb job on fleshing out the characters themselves. While you may not find out much about the characters on a large-scale, the conflicts and emotions of the characters in the story proper were made very clear. My other praise is for her prose.
Oh my goodness, this was absolutely beautiful. What Minor lacked in a grounded back-story, she made up for in the elegance of her writing. Not since either Robin McKinley's Beauty or Patricia McKillip's The Riddle-Master Trilogy have I read such a beautifully-written tale. With some of the (again understandable at times) lack of a back-story, I may have may have been confused about what was going on, but I was confused in the midst of really beautifully crafted story-telling.
Minor presents a vivid tale of characters and a world that I hope is more developed in the future. Despite some shortcomings, I truly enjoyed this tale.
Recommended.
In Divine Summons: Book One of The Windrider Saga, Minor has woven a very believable and engrossing character-driven story. The essentials to the story are that there are several different species in the world where this tale occurs, and two of them drive the action. They are the evil “dragon-kin” (which are more humanoid creatures related to the dragons) who worship a demon, and the elves (who seem to be a cross between the elves of J. R. R. Tolkien's middle-earth legendarium, and those of other sources, in that they are highly gifted, but are mortal and do apparently die, albeit after many centuries).
These elves are our heroes, along with a dragon named Majestrin. Unlike his species' smaller, demon-worshiping cousins, full dragons like Majestrin worship the one-true Creator and God, Creo, as do the elves. The story focuses on our dragon and two elves in particular. These are the half-elven prophetess of Creo, Veranna, and the elven warrior, turned dragon-rider or “windrider”, Captain Vinyanel Ecleriast.
After a very strange, not to mention rude and bigoted on Vinyanel's part, initial meeting, he and Veranna begin their time together in defense of the Elven people and the development of Vinyanel's new group of air-borne cavalry. Vinyanel has been chosen to be the founder and first commander of this new aerial arm of his nation's defense force. At least, this is the plan. Before it can be realized, the dragon-kin's aggression and evil ways lead to a mission to save the elves from grave danger. This mission can only succeed, however, if Vinyanel can overcome his prideful dislike of Veranna, and accept not only her tutelage, but also Creo's plan for his life.
This story is right up there with Daughter of Light by Morgan Busse, in terms of quality. While I like Donita K. Paul's books, both Daughter and this Windrider book are of higher quality. That is NOT a slam against Paul, because she is a phenomenal author of whom I am a huge fan. It is to say that she is a tad “in-your-face” with her lessons and aesops, whereas these two women are just as “Christian”, but are much more subtle about with their theological or moral points. Thus, you are not “pulled” from the story, if you will, as you are in Paul's (and some other authors') books. I would compare either Busse or Minor to the quality and skill of secular authors such as the late Robert Jordan and current prolific author Brandon Sanderson.
The only quibble I have is one for which I don't really criticize Minor. That is the lack of very much background information, and of a more detailed knowledge of the customs, peoples, geography, so on, of this fictional world. Normally, this would really grate on my nerves, but in this case, it was understandable. This series was apparently originally released in a serialized format in a magazine. Thus, Minor had to write in such a manner that the movement of the plot for each part was concise, and fit into a certain limited space. That made long stretches of descriptive paragraphs kind of difficult.
Despite the above, I was truly impressed by two factors. First, Minor does a superb job on fleshing out the characters themselves. While you may not find out much about the characters on a large-scale, the conflicts and emotions of the characters in the story proper were made very clear. My other praise is for her prose.
Oh my goodness, this was absolutely beautiful. What Minor lacked in a grounded back-story, she made up for in the elegance of her writing. Not since either Robin McKinley's Beauty or Patricia McKillip's The Riddle-Master Trilogy have I read such a beautifully-written tale. With some of the (again understandable at times) lack of a back-story, I may have may have been confused about what was going on, but I was confused in the midst of really beautifully crafted story-telling.
Minor presents a vivid tale of characters and a world that I hope is more developed in the future. Despite some shortcomings, I truly enjoyed this tale.
Recommended.
June 25, 2019
An incident at the beginning was a little rough for me and I stopped reading for a couple weeks. Once I picked the book up and started reading again, I couldn’t put it down. The story is engaging and fast paced.
I enjoyed Vinyanel’s character more than Veranna. He was brusque and salty, but that made him more relatable as a soldier who has just lost fellow soldiers and friends. Veranna’s superior attitude during her times with Vinyanel were off-putting but … to cut her some slack … it isn’t easy being only a half-elf and shunned by full-blooded elves.
If you are looking for a book with elves and dragons and an interesting plot, check this one out. It has the feel of more classic fantasy.
I enjoyed Vinyanel’s character more than Veranna. He was brusque and salty, but that made him more relatable as a soldier who has just lost fellow soldiers and friends. Veranna’s superior attitude during her times with Vinyanel were off-putting but … to cut her some slack … it isn’t easy being only a half-elf and shunned by full-blooded elves.
If you are looking for a book with elves and dragons and an interesting plot, check this one out. It has the feel of more classic fantasy.
November 10, 2011
Divine Summons is a great read. I first came across this story at Digital Dragon Magazine, but life was just too crazy for me to keep coming back to finish it. So when I heard that it was going to be published in its entirety, I knew I had to get it. It's engaging, fresh and very well written. I love its humor. The main characters are flawed yet have redeeming qualities. The story world has depth, but does not overwhelm you with foreign concepts, words, etc. Looking forward to seeing what happens next! :)
May 29, 2019
Great first book in what is sure to be a great saga!
I'm a sucker for elves and dragons, so this was a gimmie. I loved the main character of Vinyanel as he has to learn to be the first dragon rider! It was a great story that has a potential romance element to it and a faith aspect as well, which was refreshing. The only downside was the book is too short and I wanted to read more! Great book by Mrs. Minor!
Keep 'em coming!
I'm a sucker for elves and dragons, so this was a gimmie. I loved the main character of Vinyanel as he has to learn to be the first dragon rider! It was a great story that has a potential romance element to it and a faith aspect as well, which was refreshing. The only downside was the book is too short and I wanted to read more! Great book by Mrs. Minor!
Keep 'em coming!
February 16, 2021
If I say grumpy elf, do I need to say more? I mean, that's all I needed before diving into this book! Vinyanel is a difficult character for those around him to get along with, which is precisely what made him so much fun to read. I enjoyed his voice, and the story itself is a classic adventure of a seasoned warrior being called to something greater. To ride dragons and wield divine powers against nefarious foemen. Solving mysteries, rescuing damsels — all that good stuff.
December 10, 2019
Hang on to your hats, folks. This is a solid, fast-paced, witty, military fantasy adventure that you won't want to put down.
Divine Summons is the first in a trilogy featuring an elven soldier possessed with a keen sense of duty, a great love of horses, and an acerbic tongue that routinely gets him into trouble. As well seasoned in the military as he is, Vinyanel has a tendency to rush in where angels fear to tread. He pays the price for his decisions more than once but learns essential lessons along the way. As irritating (and irritable) as the MC is, he finds himself in the unenviable position of having to take direction from an even MORE irritating half-elf prophetess. Their crocodilian arch-nemesis, one of the evil dragon-kin, is something of a classic "over the top" villain (who would no doubt twirl his mustache if he had one), but it is through this character that the author's gift for sardonic dialogue really shines. He and Vinyanel could do a salty stand-up routine together--if they weren't trying to bring about one another's demise. Rounding out the main cast is an utterly charming, ice-breathing dragon who is as patient and sensible as his "young windrider" is impulsive and arrogant. Like prophetess Veranna (at once so wise and yet so childish), the reader only gets a glimpse into Majestrin's life before he met Vinyanel. I look forward to seeing dragon and rider molded into the force for good that appears to be their destiny.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was fun, fast-paced, and still managed to be uplifting and meaningful. It was also refreshing to read a story featuring a MALE protagonist that is so thoroughly MALE (and not a picture of perfection hero or so much an anti-hero that there's nothing redeemable about him). Vinyanel is a flawed, believable character that I wanted to know a lot more about because I didn't always quite understand his motives and reactions. I got the sense that there was a great deal more to the character than appears on the pages and I wanted to know what it was! In fact, I would have relished the book being half again as long so that the author might have explored a little more background--of both the characters and the culture. It felt over-edited in places, like sections might have been sacrificed in order to increase the pace and it frustrated me . I don't want info-dumps, but I'm a fiend for integrated worldbuilding, so I'm eager to learn more about the faith of the elves, the origins of the dragon-kin, and the relationship between the elven and human world. I'll be starting the next book tonight, having purchased it (and the third book) promptly upon finishing this one last night. Recommended without hesitation for adults, teens, and mature middle grade looking for a clean fantasy romp seeded with lots of witty dialogue, military precision, some nail-biting moments, and a glorious pay-off.
Divine Summons
Divine Summons is the first in a trilogy featuring an elven soldier possessed with a keen sense of duty, a great love of horses, and an acerbic tongue that routinely gets him into trouble. As well seasoned in the military as he is, Vinyanel has a tendency to rush in where angels fear to tread. He pays the price for his decisions more than once but learns essential lessons along the way. As irritating (and irritable) as the MC is, he finds himself in the unenviable position of having to take direction from an even MORE irritating half-elf prophetess. Their crocodilian arch-nemesis, one of the evil dragon-kin, is something of a classic "over the top" villain (who would no doubt twirl his mustache if he had one), but it is through this character that the author's gift for sardonic dialogue really shines. He and Vinyanel could do a salty stand-up routine together--if they weren't trying to bring about one another's demise. Rounding out the main cast is an utterly charming, ice-breathing dragon who is as patient and sensible as his "young windrider" is impulsive and arrogant. Like prophetess Veranna (at once so wise and yet so childish), the reader only gets a glimpse into Majestrin's life before he met Vinyanel. I look forward to seeing dragon and rider molded into the force for good that appears to be their destiny.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was fun, fast-paced, and still managed to be uplifting and meaningful. It was also refreshing to read a story featuring a MALE protagonist that is so thoroughly MALE (and not a picture of perfection hero or so much an anti-hero that there's nothing redeemable about him). Vinyanel is a flawed, believable character that I wanted to know a lot more about because I didn't always quite understand his motives and reactions. I got the sense that there was a great deal more to the character than appears on the pages and I wanted to know what it was! In fact, I would have relished the book being half again as long so that the author might have explored a little more background--of both the characters and the culture. It felt over-edited in places, like sections might have been sacrificed in order to increase the pace and it frustrated me . I don't want info-dumps, but I'm a fiend for integrated worldbuilding, so I'm eager to learn more about the faith of the elves, the origins of the dragon-kin, and the relationship between the elven and human world. I'll be starting the next book tonight, having purchased it (and the third book) promptly upon finishing this one last night. Recommended without hesitation for adults, teens, and mature middle grade looking for a clean fantasy romp seeded with lots of witty dialogue, military precision, some nail-biting moments, and a glorious pay-off.
Divine Summons
April 1, 2019
Captain Vinyanel Ecleriast, Captain of the elven army of Delsinon, lost his horse in his escape from the dragon-kin and getting a chalice into safe-keeping. As the dragon-kin, a lizard-like half breed, continued their pursuit, Captain Ecleriast met the mysterious half elf-half-human Veranna. She claimed to be a prophetess with a calling for him. Caught between the dragon-kin and a strange half breed, he decided Veranna was the less dangerous option.
She introduced him to Majestrin--the dragon with whom he would train as part of his calling. While grateful for the speedy escape on the back of a dragon, Ecleriast was still skeptical of Veranna and the calling.
Physically trying to recover from battle wounds. Mentally and emotionally trying to recover from the loss of comrades. And now 60 years into soldiering and being asked to sit and be lectured about a book--especially by Veranna. Ecleriast would rather ignore all that and participate in the upcoming tournament, but the king himself denied Ecleriast. When a mystery challenger seems to win at everything, both Ecleriast and Veranna are suspicious.
If you like Lord of the Rings, you should definitely check this out. Elves. And a talking dragon. If a talking dragon doesn’t convinces you I don’t know what will. I will be ordering the next one.
She introduced him to Majestrin--the dragon with whom he would train as part of his calling. While grateful for the speedy escape on the back of a dragon, Ecleriast was still skeptical of Veranna and the calling.
Physically trying to recover from battle wounds. Mentally and emotionally trying to recover from the loss of comrades. And now 60 years into soldiering and being asked to sit and be lectured about a book--especially by Veranna. Ecleriast would rather ignore all that and participate in the upcoming tournament, but the king himself denied Ecleriast. When a mystery challenger seems to win at everything, both Ecleriast and Veranna are suspicious.
If you like Lord of the Rings, you should definitely check this out. Elves. And a talking dragon. If a talking dragon doesn’t convinces you I don’t know what will. I will be ordering the next one.
October 10, 2018
Disclaimer: a copy of this book was provided to me for the purpose of reviewing, due to the author’s re-release of an updated version. I did not read the previous edition of this book.
I enjoyed Divine Summons. The give and take, push/pull of the interactions between Vinyanel and Veranna really developed their character arcs. It felt as though their characters both grew and changed throughout the story, and I look forward to seeing where the next book in the series takes them.
This is not a difficult read. It’s not high fantasy. But it’s good, solid dragon/elf fantasy, nonetheless.
Spoilers ahead: I do have to say that I had to take a breather away from the book fairly early on, for various reasons, the biggest of which was the killing of Vinyanel’s horse. I know that prepared the way for him to become a Windrider, but still. It was pretty rough. That may be because of my personal history with horses more than anything.
The development of the antagonist forces was well crafted. The clear delineation between the good side and the evil side was there, and yet the good characters were complex, flawed, and interesting.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the Windrider Saga.
I enjoyed Divine Summons. The give and take, push/pull of the interactions between Vinyanel and Veranna really developed their character arcs. It felt as though their characters both grew and changed throughout the story, and I look forward to seeing where the next book in the series takes them.
This is not a difficult read. It’s not high fantasy. But it’s good, solid dragon/elf fantasy, nonetheless.
Spoilers ahead: I do have to say that I had to take a breather away from the book fairly early on, for various reasons, the biggest of which was the killing of Vinyanel’s horse. I know that prepared the way for him to become a Windrider, but still. It was pretty rough. That may be because of my personal history with horses more than anything.
The development of the antagonist forces was well crafted. The clear delineation between the good side and the evil side was there, and yet the good characters were complex, flawed, and interesting.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the Windrider Saga.
May 9, 2018
This is a fun fantasy book, and a quick read. The characters pull you along through the story and each and every one of them are characters (in every sense of the word): grumpy, charitable, foolish, wise and noble...and a nasty villain. Well, worth the time.
The main character is the first person narrator of most of the tale, and he's a grouchy elf with a bad attitude about a lot of things. But the author manages to keep him sympathetic. I *want* to like him, even when he's being a jerk. The prophetess grates, but I think she is supposed to. And the villain...well, I won't give any spoilers.
I am NOT a fan of first person narrative, but this story was good enough to make me keep reading, and enjoying.
There were a two or three word choices that jolted me, but otherwise, Ms. Minor did a great job of keeping everything in character and consistent with the setting.
I received an ARC to review.
The main character is the first person narrator of most of the tale, and he's a grouchy elf with a bad attitude about a lot of things. But the author manages to keep him sympathetic. I *want* to like him, even when he's being a jerk. The prophetess grates, but I think she is supposed to. And the villain...well, I won't give any spoilers.
I am NOT a fan of first person narrative, but this story was good enough to make me keep reading, and enjoying.
There were a two or three word choices that jolted me, but otherwise, Ms. Minor did a great job of keeping everything in character and consistent with the setting.
I received an ARC to review.
September 9, 2022
I picked this up because the author owns a book store near me and I had to check it out. It’s pretty traditional high fantasy with Christian undertones. I like the brisk pace and first person narration. I’m not a big fan of doorstopper sized books and appreciate the pulp length and pacing of this first person action focused narrative. I did find the switching from first to third person at points jarring. I think some of the conflict between characters felt contrived and unnecessary. And the Christian analogue in the world felt a bit too on the nose. It has its moments and if you’re in the mood for a fast-paced high fantasy novel this will definitely hit the spot. But I think the voice of the narrator needed just a little more time in the oven, he didn’t feel entirely even or natural at a few points. Everything thing about this book just felt like it needed one more draft to get it right. Curious to see how the rest of series goes.
December 27, 2024
Sufficient set-up to what I hope to be a robust tale
The overall story and world building are interesting. I will read the next book in the series. However, the writing is inconsistent.
The author has an extensive vocabulary, which I appreciate immensely, but sometimes she uses modern colliquialisms which take me out of the story. Also, I don't understand why the main character is written in first person. I do understand why other points of view are second person but I think the flow of the story would have been smoother if all view points were of one type. Other readers may not be bothered by this technique.
This first book felt a bit shallow but I can let it pass because it is setting up the world and story. I hope to find a bit more depth of character and plot in the next, longer books. I do like the three main characters and am interested to know what happens next.
The overall story and world building are interesting. I will read the next book in the series. However, the writing is inconsistent.
The author has an extensive vocabulary, which I appreciate immensely, but sometimes she uses modern colliquialisms which take me out of the story. Also, I don't understand why the main character is written in first person. I do understand why other points of view are second person but I think the flow of the story would have been smoother if all view points were of one type. Other readers may not be bothered by this technique.
This first book felt a bit shallow but I can let it pass because it is setting up the world and story. I hope to find a bit more depth of character and plot in the next, longer books. I do like the three main characters and am interested to know what happens next.
December 12, 2025
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the writing style, 1st person doesn’t quite do it for me, and the shifts to 3rd person are pretty jarring. I enjoyed the main character of Vinyanel though and despite some writing choices I would have preferred be different, his character carries this story, which because it was only a brief 150 pages, I think is still worth the read.
At points the strong Christian undertones make this book read like an extended parable. As a Christian, I don’t mind that! It was fun to find the nuggets of the gospel in every page, but I could see that being frustrating for some readers.
At points the strong Christian undertones make this book read like an extended parable. As a Christian, I don’t mind that! It was fun to find the nuggets of the gospel in every page, but I could see that being frustrating for some readers.
December 11, 2018
I enjoyed the gritty and very personal nature of the style of the book. The main character was active, which is a minority in the Christian fantasy I’ve read.
The only issue I, personally, have is the over-telling of the emotion of the main character. There were descriptions of his feelings before he voices his feelings to the characters around him.
My other issue is that this book was too short. I would love to find out who the Windrider is in the near future.
The only issue I, personally, have is the over-telling of the emotion of the main character. There were descriptions of his feelings before he voices his feelings to the characters around him.
My other issue is that this book was too short. I would love to find out who the Windrider is in the near future.
April 30, 2019
Excellent dragon rider story
This was a wonderful entrance into a new world. I loved the page-turning plot, the vivid characters, and the word choicr that brings the story come to life.
This was a wonderful entrance into a new world. I loved the page-turning plot, the vivid characters, and the word choicr that brings the story come to life.
January 3, 2022
A wonderful book that has plenty of banter, battles, and magic to grasp your attention and keep you on the edge of your seat! The only down side for me was how much of a slow burn it was at the beginning. TW for gruesome details with in the book.
May 12, 2025
This book reads a bit like the bad german fantasy books.
It feels like someone created a world of their own, and then implanted the story: too many names right away, even for unimportant persons or details.
Story pace does pick up though and it ends up being okay.
It feels like someone created a world of their own, and then implanted the story: too many names right away, even for unimportant persons or details.
Story pace does pick up though and it ends up being okay.
September 3, 2018
Will review more later, but I really enjoyed this story and want to read more. I had a bit of trouble getting into it at first, but it picked up. Felt some places could have been fleshed out more.
Want to read
August 26, 2020Elves and dragons in one book? Is this what I need to fill the hole in my heart that was left by the Inheritance cycle?
(read: yes, yes it is)
(read: yes, yes it is)
November 3, 2020
Knights and Dragons
A fascinating story set in a world of knights and jousting with a dragon and some other fantasy elements woven in. An in-depth plot and intriguing characters.
A fascinating story set in a world of knights and jousting with a dragon and some other fantasy elements woven in. An in-depth plot and intriguing characters.
June 3, 2021
An excellent story
Even better the second time through. I highly recommend it as it is very enjoyable especially if you enjoy Christian writing.
Even better the second time through. I highly recommend it as it is very enjoyable especially if you enjoy Christian writing.
June 27, 2022
Fantastic read, really enjoyable. I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series! :)
September 25, 2022
I bought this book after speaking with the owner of a certain bookstore and I LOVED IT. The feel of DND inspiration and the overall writing, FANTASTIC.
October 14, 2024
Sometimes you just need a good, old-fashioned, classic fantasy—this is just that! A well-crafted world, well-crafted characters, and a solid adventure that was exciting to follow!
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