Many die along the Trail, but to embark on such a magical adventure and behold its ultimate treasures, all shall be gladly risked.
Every three years it arrives--The Kings' Caravan to the legendary city of Atlantea. From the far reaches of the Seven Empires of Pan-Earth, men travel from Avalonia--the sole gateway into the realm of the Magical Lands for the year-long journey along a path created by the ancient Titans themselves.
It is a journey like no other through unimaginable dangers, both mortal and magical, of men and monsters, by day and night--all to reach the limitless riches of the magic kingdom of Atlantea. Only under the protection of the Four Kings--the Kings' Caravan--is such a journey possible. Or is it?
A new alliance forms under the stranger known as Traveler as the most fantastic and deadliest adventure of all time, this fable quest, Through Titan's Trail begins!
This is the first book of the epic fantasy adventure Fabled Quest Chronicles.
Austin Dragon is the author of the new military sci-fi Planet Tamers series, epic fantasy Fabled Quest Chronicles, the sci-fi detective Liquid Cool series, the international epic After Eden Series, and the classic Sleepy Hollow Horrors. He is currently working on new books and series in science fiction, fantasy, and classic horror!
He is a native New Yorker, but has called Los Angeles, California home for the last twenty years. Words to describe him, in no particular order: U.S. Army, English teacher, one-time resident of Paris, political junkie, movie buff, Fortune 500 corporate recruiter, renaissance man, dreamer.
This is an epic proportion story! The Universe building is unique. The characters are superbly described, the story is so compelling and intrinsically realistic! I couldn’t help myself become immersed in getting together the mightiest caravan ever seen or heard, the struggles entailed, the magic and evil spells trying to stop their advance. A perfect, creative plot. Loving the series already!
Through Titan’s Trail is an epic high fantasy series by author Austin Dragon following a peculiar group of people set on the journey of their lifetime where many go but none return.
The story introduces a mysterious person calling himself the ‘Traveller’ and his dog companion who have the important task of gathering a skilful group of people to join the King’s Caravan - a special gathering organised every three years that takes its participants on a dangerous quest from the human realm to long forgotten lands of the Fae where evil lurks in the dark and hinders their journey at every stop. The group has to find a way to survive this dangerous journey and reach the land of Atlantea filled with magic and riches.
I thoroughly enjoyed Through Titan’s Trail - the fantasy elements combined with the medieval setting were great and I loved Austin’s introduction of fantastic creatures and magic. The first book sets up the story for our characters and we gradually discover more details about the quest and their individual journeys. There are some great action scenes and villains you come to despise. My favourite stories to read are about impossible quests with extremely high stakes and reluctant allies all tied together by impeccable world building which is introduced one step at a time so it does not overwhelm the reader! I found the intrigue and action very well balanced just perfect to my liking.
Book one of the saga leaves you with impending questions which I am eager to find out in the next instalments. It is more than certain that the journey has more to bring and I’m curious to see what happens next in the Fabled Quest Chronicles.
It’s a story perfect for fans of Realm Breaker, The Shadow of What Was Lost and Lord of the Rings. Highly recommend!
Thank you to the author and Bookstagrammers.com for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Compelling, well written, extremely enjoyable fantasy read.
Totally immersive fantasy with superbly rendered. characters.
An eclectic group, especially the Traveler and his dog, gather to join the Kings' Caravan on its triennial journey from the lands of man to the mystical Fae land of Atlantea.
Evil versus good, magic and mystery, battles and intrigue. Had me absolutely absorbed from the opening page to the last. More please. Now.
I found this book to be extremely interesting after reading the synopsis, I love everything that involves fae, mythical beings, royalties, and adventure. The book defines the characters very well, they seem to have a very defined purpose to being put in the book. There are a lot of curious questions that are answered and explained very well. Through Titan’s Trail is the first book of The Fabled Chronicles. I have read a lot of other epic fantasy books and I understand that there’s a lot of world building, history telling, character introductions and foreshadowing happening in the first book. Honestly though I found it hard to understand what was happening in this book, I’ve written this first part of the my review after hitting the 50% mark on kindle. Up until now, the adventure has not really begun. A lot of the explanations to curious questions that were answered in the first 10% of the book were just repeated in the last chapter I’ve read. I’m honestly getting really impatient hehe. The synopsis was interesting as I’ve mentioned earlier yes and it did mention that there’s an alliance forming but I didn’t realize that the alliance forming mentioned in the synopsis meant the first half of the book was dedicated to it without them actually embarking on the journey “through Titan’s trail”. Up to this point, all the journey they did was move from one castle to another and mainly staying in their camps and talking about their journey and whatever mystery lies ahead, and the new members of their alliance venerating the main character for his supposed knowledge of the lands they’re about to pass through. ~ Just finished the book. The real journey stared at around 70-75%. Can’t say much, aside from them marching and encountering some curious beings and places. The book will probably be redeemed in the next book but I don’t think I’ll read it. In conclusion, the book is slow paced. The plot is good but I felt like nothing is really going on aside from them looking for people to join their party and Lady Aylen being annoying. The characters are well defined and their personalities are true to their descriptions which is really good. It may be interesting to other people so do give it a try if you love reading about people forming alliances and defining their positions in a marching party, as well as a lot of story telling/warnings about what they may encounter in their journey. The book involves magical beings like shapeshifters, faeries, griffins and ogres.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Through Titan’s Trail by Austin Dragon is a perfect example of why I absolutely LOVE fantasy! This is the first in The Fabled Quest Chronicles, and you can be sure I will be reading the rest of this series! I loved this book so much!
Austin Dragon’s world building is impeccable! I love the way the creatures and the magic system were mixed into the story. This is the perfect escape book for when you’re looking to forget the real world. And I love how the details are scattered throughout, rather than info dumped. It helped the story flow very well.
I loved getting to know the characters and can’t wait to continue getting to know them in the rest of the series. The action is fantastic and I love how high stakes the quest was!
Through Titan’s Trail was a FANTASTIC read and I absolutely recommend checking this one out!
Thank you to R&R Book Tours for the free review copy and tour invite. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
Through Titan's Trail - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
The mysterious Traveler and his alien shape-shifter 'dog' are returning to the Magic Lands' city of Atlantea, via the eponymous Titan's Trail, in this amazing new series from the Mage of Fantasy, Austin Dragon.
Fans of epic fantasy adventures such as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter will thrill to this tale of sorcerers, fae, ogres, princesses, elves, griffins, hippogriffs and royal Kings - both good and evil - among a pantheon of wonderful characters and events that will take your breath away - and make you sleep with one eye open.
Traveler and his companions, major-domo/caravan manager Mr Hobbs, Lady Aylen and her mystic maid and companion Gwyness, Mr Quillen the boy scribe, Pangolin the Berserker warrior and his men, Mr Estus the swordsmith, King Aereth the benevolent and spoiled Prince Reinborne and his unfortunate warriors form the Titan's Caravan, along the path which is littered with treachery and heartbreak at every turn.
Who will survive the journey through Titan's Trail? Make haste to your nearest Olde Booke Shoppe and there remain until you fulfill your quest to get your copy and tell all your friends - and may good fortune ever attend you brave Venturer!
This is a wonderful adventure in world building. There is a surprise around every corner and through every portal. The classic journey toward a quest traveled with fascinating characters and non-stop encounters with adversaries along the way is what will keep you reading. I came to the final page where the author gave us a respite from the hectic last chapter and suddenly, there was no more. The promise of another sequel waiting, I was eager to grab it so I could continue on the path traveled thus far. This is an exciting novel and I loved it the further I got into the story. The characters are astounding in their unique ways. I loved The Traveler guiding the caravan and his dog companion who is sometimes much more than a dog. This is good stuff and, if you love an adventure, I enthusiastically recommend it.
First time reading Austin Dragon. Loved it! Definitely on my list of favorite writers. About to date myself, but I imagined Errol Flynn or even young Burt Lancaster as the Traveler character. Thank you for your amazing talent, Mr. Dragon. On to the next book.......
This story telling has an old feel to it which I like very much. Feels like the Drizzt Do'Urden tales, but not as dark and funnier too. The "dog" steals the show. I'm liking the hero very much and the rest of the cadre of adventurers- starting the next book now.
A dangerous quest for riches beyond imagining, but only if you can get there and back safely.
The Caravan, a trip taken by men of all ages and stations in life, is not taken lightly. Those who have gone on this trip have never returned. But this does not put off the valiant or desperate few. Every three years The Caravan is held, and men take the walk into the unknown. This is a year long journey, through unimaginable dangers; mental, physical, and magical. Through the lands of man, and on through the fabled lands of the Fae.
A group comes together consisting of many types of men, a couple of Royals, a pair of regal Ladies, a berserker, and a very interesting man who calls himself Traveler. He brings along his wolf like dog as his companion.
This group of interesting individuals will follow a treacherous path through known and unknown places to try to reach their destination: Atlantea. Said to contain untold riches for those who make this most perilous of journeys.
This was a very interesting story, filled with desperate battles and magic; sometimes both at once. There are fantastical creatures and incredible places described in the story, and the characters have a rough time of it in their long trip. I loved the different aspects of the terrain and would have loved to know more about the places they travelled through.
I thoroughly enjoyed the magical aspect to this story. I like a bit of myth and magic, and this book clearly fit the bill in that respect. The magical battles were well described and full of drama. My favourite aspect of that was after the Caravan managed to cross a terrifying bridge. What followed was fantastic and dramatic! The magic was impressive in what it accomplished.
The characters were reasonably well written but I think more could have been done to flesh them out to a fuller extent.
The dialogue was ok but quite a few times I was confused as to why a character would say or do something without any real explanation, for example; characters would seem to laugh at things without explanation as to why? This made reading this book a little bit confusing for me.
The plot was good but could have used some better explanations as to why certain things were taking place. Too much was left unexplained during the story for my liking. I would have preferred a little more clarity as to what was essentially going on with a few of the main characters. There comes a point when things can be a bit too mysterious for the reader to follow what is happening. I think I reached that point a few times in the reading of this book. I was saddened when the book ended without the explanations for a few things being given. For instance, where does Traveler go each time he disappears? And why does he keep disappearing without explanation half the time. Personally I can understand the need for mystery in the book, but not to such a large extent. The mysteries kept on overlapping and growing with too much left unexplained for me to comfortably follow what was going on.
But that's just my opinion.
All in all I thought the book was ok, except for those things.
Through Titan's Trail is a fantastic start to a fun new fantasy world and adventure. I've come to love Austin Dragon's stories, partly because he doesn't just stick to a genre, but he blends elements and makes it his own. You'll find that with this series as well. It's different from the other genres I've read from him (After Eden series and the Liquid Cool series). Through Titan's Trail conjured up similar thoughts and feelings to the Lord of the Rings series. I'm not saying this is the next Lord of the Rings, though. I grow tired of every fantasy series being labelled the next Lord of the Rings. This series, while feeling similar in ways, also isn't afraid to do it's own thing and as such, it should be measured in it's own light.
The story and characters are really interesting. There's a lot of mystery all the way through the book as you learn new information about each character a little at a time. This helps the story to stay fresh as it leads you along. Traveler is an excellent character and my favorite of the series. Of course that includes his faithful companion who is ferociously protective of his master. The villains are ruthless and your dislike of them is well earned. As I already mentioned, Austin likes to make a genre his own and that is evident in some of the character/creatures you meet on this journey. There are familiar fantasy story elements and creatures, but also some new takes on those or new ones entirely.
As I've come to expect from an Austin Dragon story, this one is told excellently. I always enjoy the way the author weaves a story together and his take on the fantasy genre is no exception. The characters are well written with heroes you want to root for and villains you want to root against. There's enough new here to keep the fantasy genre fresh as the author does a great job of world building in this new adventure without giving away all of the secrets up front. There are revelations to be discovered and some more mysteries to solve.
This book is the first part of a series and does not hide that.The book ends with a satisfying conclusion that I would not call a cliffhanger, but it's obvious the adventure is not over and it continues in the next book. I cannot wait to see what's in store next and will be back for the next book when it's released. This book was a satisfying length. Not so long as the Lord of the Rings series, but long enough to get immersed in the journey. I think it's the right size to pick up and read through a good fantasy adventure over a weekend. I'll be anxiously awaiting book 2!
My first time reading this author and I have to admit his name caught my eye, so how was I to resist? Well, I didn't, hence... So it starts off like a fairytale, seriously, the first sentence is "Once Upon a Time" but with the promise of violence, death and danger, you know you're in for a Grimm-esque tale.
It started out fairly neutral, a group of people, each with their own motivation and reason, want to travel to the magical Realm. To do so they need to pass through Titan's Trail, fraught with unknown dangers, where few have made it, alive. They need to join a caravan, one with warriors who might give them a chance of survival. Why would anyone put their life on the line to traverse the Titan's Trail? Why for gold and fortune naturally. Hobbs is one who hopes to make it, having lost his noble standing, he's destitute, hungry and desperate. His fortune looks set to change when he encounters a strange man with an even stranger dog, but whether it's for the better remains to be seen. At least he now has warm clothes, proper meals and s purpose once more. The Traveller is an enigma, he's more, he knows things, has seen things, has even been through the Trail and lived to tell the tale. His was a character who kept me guessing, who IS he, WHAT his motives are and what the ultimate goal is. I loved his "dog", so dedicated to him and "other"
Betrayal, treachery and survival are the order of the day. There's a bit of everything in this book, magic, swordmanship, magical creatures, sorcerers, strong, interesting characters who are built on and expanded. I found the beginning interesting, I wanted to discover more but about a third in, I was getting a bit frustrated, for every two steps forward, I felt as though I was blown one step back. Much of the same with very little advancement in the tale. I would have liked to see more development of these great characters, more true interactions, their goals were aligned but I felt something missing. It's an interesting concept, an interesting plot and the Traveller and his Dog fascinating but I couldn't wrap my head around why he'd need so many with him when he's already made the journey. There's also a cool berserker I would have liked to see more explanation of, the Princess and her maid too. Having said all that, there was enough for me to want to finish the book but whether I'll read the next one, hmm, I'm not certain
Through Titan's Trail is a very fun, unique fantasy adventure, and a very satisfying read in general. Like many fantasy stories, it involves a long journey fraught with danger, but it comes with its own twist. The main characters are planning to follow the Kings' Caravan, a caravan that leaves the Lands of Man for Fae-Land once every three years, but the Kings' Caravan is not what it is fabled to be, and neither are the kings that run it.
Throughout the story, the main characters face a lot of setbacks and end up in a lot of bad situations, but they overcome them, often cleverly, sometimes amusingly, and always epically. Swordsmanship and magic ability combine in this adventure, and each character has a special skill set that enhances the entire group.
The characters are my favorite part of the story. There is Hobbs, a kind soul who joins the enigmatic Traveler and his dog and soon becomes responsible for picking men to join their group following the Caravan as well as overseeing their camp in general. There is Pangolin the Berserker, a fierce warrior who protects their group. There is the mysterious Lady Aylen and Gwyness her maid, whose intelligence and magical abilities save the others on more than one occasion. There is Estus, who takes care of the group's weapons, and Quillen, a writer who is tasked with recording the deaths of their men. And there is Traveler, a healer who was tired of people coming to him wounded and so became a warrior to stop the people who hurt them. He is a wise guide to the group, as well as a million other things. And his dog is one of my favorite characters. He is a shapeshifter with a fierce protectiveness toward his human (and eventually, humans), and is also very playful with Traveler.
The story is full of twists and turns, action, and humor. There is also a refreshing sense of justice and innate value of innocent life that I don't often see in books (or any other kind of story, for that matter). Traveler's view of everyone as being equal, whether they are royals or servants, is also a great element of this story. And without giving too much away, the villains in this story are killed, something that I seldom see in stories and very much appreciate in this one. If you enjoy the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and are looking for an action-packed fantasy adventure with great characters, clever situations, and a healthy dose of humor, you'll enjoy this story.
The Caravan, a journey undertaken by men of different ages and backgrounds, is not to be taken lightly. Those who embarked on this journey never returned. However, this does not deter the brave or desperate few. Every three years, The Caravan takes place, and men bravely go on a journey into the unknown. This is a year-long trip filled with mental, physical, and magical risks. Through the lands of men, and then into the Fae's mythical regions. A group of men, including several Royals, a pair of royal Ladies, a berserker, and a very strange man known only as Traveler, gathers. As a companion, he brings his wolf-like dog. Such a voyage is only conceivable under the protection of the Four Kings - the Kings' Caravan. Is that the case?
Well-written, although a little sluggish in the beginning owing to the introduction of the key characters. You'll be captivated after you've immersed yourself in the tale, the action and adventure, and the universe, and not even Titan will be able to pull you away. The Universe is a one-of-a-kind structure. Around every corner and through every doorway, there is a surprise waiting to be discovered. What will keep you reading is the typical quest path with interesting characters and non-stop clashes with opponents along the road. The characters are brilliantly depicted, and the tale is engrossing and realistic. The fantastic conflicts were vividly depicted and filled with suspense. The part where the Caravan manages to cross a frightening bridge was my favorite part. What happened next was incredible and spectacular! In terms of what it did, the magic was astounding.
Battles and intrigue, good vs evil, magic, and mystery I enjoyed The Traveler's role as caravan leader and his canine friend, who is sometimes much more than a dog. This was a fascinating narrative, full of fierce fights and magic, often both at the same time. In the narrative, amazing animals and beautiful locales are portrayed, and the travelers have a difficult time on their lengthy journey. I was fascinated by the many elements of the topography and would have liked to learn more about the locations they visited. I'm excited about the future volumes in the series.
This is the first book in a completed epic fantasy series. The sixth and final book came out earlier this year, so now you do not have to wait for the next installment of the story. I have ben reading a lot of ongoing stories this year and I didn’t realize how much I missed just being able to pick up the next one without having to wait for at least a year. I enjoyed that this series is broken down into smaller chunks, this book was under 300 pages, and I have to say that was a nice change from picking up 500+ pages for epic fantasy.
Maybe because of its size but there was no info dumping in this story. You learned with the characters. The descriptions were top notch, I had no issues following along where they were at on the caravan path. This story has a medieval feel to it and I have to admit that I find myself really enjoying that setting.
I think that the pacing was really good. It wasn’t too slow or battle after battle, there was such a good mix. Which kept me more engaged than if it was one fight after another. This is a character-driven story that focuses on the man who calls himself Traveler and his dog. From the little you learn in this book about Traveler a lot of things just do not add up. He can’t be as old/young as he looks and still have done the things that he says. Clearly, he had done those things or else he wouldn’t have the knowledge that he has. Just waiting for the pieces so I can put the puzzle together of who he is keeps me wanting more. Then you have his dog that is not a dog.
I was originally sold on reading this book based on the cover and thankfully this time I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed the story, and I cannot wait to pick up the next installment of the story.
A fantastic land full of magic and creatures only known from legends, a place where only you get to by joining the King’s Caravan. Everyone wants to join but no one returns, at least that’s what everyone believes! This is where the story of our mysterious and interesting male lead “Traveler” appears, cause he has been to Faë Land and returned but now he wants to go back with his own Caravan.
This story is extraordinary! The use of the language, the way it’s written, the magical creatures, like centaurs or hippogriffs, and all the descriptions are simply perfection! Battles, barbaric kings and lies but also trust, faith and a journey like no other.
This book surprised me in a positive way, it’s very different from what I’m used to but extremely intriguing! The characters are strong, capable and ready for battle but also loyal and intelligent. I highly recommend this book, specially to those who like fantasy, amazing plot twists, adventure and a magical story!
Loved this. Something a wee bit different from the usual from Austin Dragon. Not that there is much of a 'usual' as he tries his hand at most genres.
Well-written, although a tiny bit slow to start due to the introduction of the main characters. Once the readers get right in to the story, the action and adventure, and the world, you'll be hooked, and not even Titan could drag you away. You'll meet some kind of everything here - honest, you will.
This is another success, in my humble opinion, and I'm looking forward to the next books very much indeed. I was given an ecopy which I voluntarily read and reviewed. Any opinions are my own.
Excellent Epic Fantasy! My favorite kind of Fantasy. And this tale meets all my preferences. I believe a good tale has you hooked by the end of the first chapter and this story checks that box. And I was hooked by the characters. The world building is first rate. But it's the characters that makes me want to continue this journey because I must know what happens! There's a portion of the book where a snobby character gets put in their place and I must read that part over and over for 10 minutes. It is so well written I just couldn't move on right away. I definitely recommend this book to any Lover of epic fantasy or if you just love a good Tale.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book is a brilliant telling with amazing imagination of a new place, a new time, new people and new creatures that will captivate you and have you begging to read more. It did this to me! The plot is truly evil and I’m guessing I’ve only read part of it. On the other side are the good guys and they are a special lot of people with their own talents and traits that unfold and become obvious as the trek proceeds. I cannot praise this book high enough, it is highly entertaining, humorous and breathtaking. A must read.
I agreed to read this book and review it, even though full-on fantasy like this isn't my usual cup of tea. Whilst there are a couple of places that I found a little slow, overall it's an excellent story. Full of intrigue, adventure, battles with men and beasts, encounters with all kinds of magical incidents and environments, it's definitely a book that fantasy lovers will enjoy, and I'm looking forward to reading book two to find out what happens next! NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
A journey through to the magical lands... but first let us start with the caravan the wends it's way through the human world to get there. Here we meet many interesting characters and how they deal with treachery of the kings caravan. Growing through adversity we find a select crew of individuals who band together and end stronger in every way than they were before. Finally meet Traveller and realise here is one who can lead them through all adversity to become the heroes needed to tackle Titans trail.
This is a fantastic epic fantasy novel that will have you coming back for more. Prepare to embark on a journey into a fantasy world of where death lurks from the very beginning and is like a shadowy follower that never lets you out of it's sight. A group of travelers wishes to make the epic crossing across country to reach the lands of the fae, but the journey is one that promises to be rife with treachery, magic, danger, and surprises. If you enjoy epic fantasy novels then this book is a must-read. I can't wait to read book two!
A bit different genre from AD but his skill still shows as i was soon caught up in the story. His main character Traveller is a great piece of work Mysterious yet appealing and the other adventurers were great as the trail demands a constant stream of new people with many an unknown hazard to be faced with multiple adversaries and mysteries to be defeated. Wasn't too sure but I'm now a fan of this series and plan on keeping a close eye out for book 2
Austin Dragon wrote a magnificent saga starting with the King's Caravan which travels Through Titan's Trail to a land of magic and mystery. Participants are attacked by creatures from the air and vicious fighters on the ground. Will they make the difficult journey Through Titan's Trail or become another corpse on the side of the road?
Through Titan's Trail is the first novel in the Fabled Quest Chronicles series. I like that the characters are introduced slowly in the beginning so you have a good understanding of who each one is and how they relate to the group before they embark on the trail. If you like fast-paced adventure fantasy novels, then Through Titan's Trail is for you!
This book was freaking amazing! Man was I surprised how good it was. The story is excellent. The characters are well done. The amount of different kinds of creatures and magic was great. The book itself is well written and easy to follow along. I don’t have one bad thing to say about it. I’m excited to buy the next book and see where the story goes!
The book at times is odd but you are kept wondering what will happen and that will keep you reading and enjoying the book. The author keeps you wondering what they going to due next, that is what makes this book worth while.
I don’t know why I haven’t heard of this author until recently. His writing is terrific! The characters are well developed and the world created is awesome. This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I look forward to reading the others in this series.
I liked the way the author built tension from the beginning and developed the characters. I thought the fantasy parts were too extreme and didn't help the plot much.