Whispers In The Dark

by Jordan Frost

Darkness has eclipsed the empire of Midori under the tyranny of an ancient and ruthless sorcerer named Kane. But within the sorcerer’s shadow, a new dawn waits on the horizon.

Jensen Grooms hates the life of an imperial soldier, but like most gifted in Midori under Kane’s rule, he is left with no other choice. Everything changes the day he meets a condescending mage named Solana Hamilton. Tasked with transporting Solana to the capital city to face execution, Jensen’s world is thrown off balance when his commander attempts to murder him in his sleep.

Fearing for his life, Jensen chooses to flee north with Solana where he discovers not only the reason behind the attack but a secret that could potentially alter the fate of the empire forever.

ebook

First published September 2, 2018

About the author

Jordan Frost is a freelance writer who lives in Grand Haven, Michigan with her family. She is an avid roleplayer and gamer whose background includes several transformative novels. Her current series and planned future series were born from characters and worlds created during a two-year long interactive story that started as a tabletop RPG.

Reviews

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whispers in the Dark, by Jordan Frost is an engaging fantasy tale with a broad cast of powerful characters. The frightening world and those characters felt fully fleshed out and real, some of them very hard to like, but adding to the realism overall.
I was impressed from the opening pages, since I'm a sucker for a map key as part of the story. I was also drawn in by the atmospheric, descriptive writing which I always prefer, even though in this case I think it made the book a bit long.
I'd recommend this book to fantasy lovers and those who like a grittier YA tale. There were some scenes of promiscuous young teens that I found personally disturbing and took away from the story for me. But otherwise very well written and enjoyable.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was book 1 of fantasy series. The story went thus. Jensen was a harvester who was transporting mage Solana to the capital city for her execution. Suddenly, his commander attacked him in his sleep, and Jensen had to kill him and escape with Solana to the north of the kingdom, which was under the rule of Lord Kane. A secret revealed along the journey had him thinking about the fate of the empire. A thief Boone and pirate Garrett had their own sweet parts to play adding to the subplot and the mystery of the land, along with Solana's sister Miriana.

Jordan Frost has written a well developed, lovingly detailed story where every character was beautifully etched and the emotions between them were wonderfully displayed. There were a lot of other characters and politics at play, but my eyes kept drifting to Solana and Jensen. I loved the chemistry between them, it was alive and throbbing. Their dialogues had the right amount of humor, they kept me smiling as I read their parts. I wished both would confess their love for each other.

This world was cutthroat and the action scenes were amazing. The fight with the orcs were fun. Witches, ogres, giants, elves were almost commonplace with scary magical forest. Poisons were around the corner, and food had to be carefully eaten. Spells and swords found their way into the prose. Many such things made this book a wonderful read.

Then came my niggles. The book had many, many characters, and I had a difficult time keeping them in order. Different POV had me scampering about trying to understand it all. I just wished it were an easier read for me.

But Solana and Jensen made the book a delight. I loved everything about them. A complete fan is what you can call me.

[Cyana Scriptora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this adult fantasy novel. The characters were all diverse and well developed. The world was intriguing. It utilizes the multiple perspective view which I love and does a really good job switching those views in an organized way so everything flows nicely. The dialogue is clever and funny. It is a great novel for any fantasy lover. It will keep you on your toes with the mystery, and of course that ever consuming question, which characters are going to intersect and how is everyone related? The pacing is also really great.

[Sarah 🌺 Books in Their Natural Habitat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whispers in the Dark by Jordan Frost is that fantasy book you didn’t know you wanted. Think smashing together a medieval feel with some magic, piracy and some LOTR type enemies. Jensen was a soldier… except he may be more than that. He’s discovered some secrets that may change how things are ruled. On the other hand, Solana has it good and everyone does her bidding until she becomes a sacrifice and her future is unknown. There’s Boone – he’s a thief. His thievery may in part change things too. You’ll meet Garrett too. He’s not your average pirate – there’s much more to him than meets the eye. It all comes down to Lord Kane’s rule though; everyone has their part in what is brewing.

There are so many beautiful yet brokenly strong people in this book. I loved being a part of all of these character’s journeys as they physically and mentally fought there way as they traveled toward their destiny. Plus, it doesn’t help that a bunch of them sound like gorgeous, drool-worthy people!

Four stars from me here since I got lost a few times with the pure amount of characters involved, but a solid book nonetheless. I’m definitely keep an eye out for book 2 in 2019!

[Denna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent start to a fantasy series!!!

Jensen Grooms is a Harvester. He’s transporting a sacrificial charge Solana to the imperial capital city when his commanding officer attacks him in the middle of the night. Jensen is forced to kill the man to save his own life. With Solana, he flees north to escape the backlash of his actions. Along the way, he learns the reason behind his commander’s attack and a secret that will change his life and the fate of the empire forever.

In the imperial capital, Solana's former lover Titus searches for a way to escape the prison of the seminary to locate the key to end the reign of the empire's long-standing steward, Lord Kane, while a thief named Boone combs the northern lands for someone who can interpret a dead prophet's journal.

This story is long, but it held my interest from start to end. We are following along several different threads concerning Jensen, Solana and Titus, among others, but we can see how they are all connected. I never felt as though I were lost anywhere along the line. Description and dialogue are great, and action scenes brought a vivid picture to mind. Some of what was done had me cringing, but it’s part of what makes a great story. There are a few details I didn’t care for, such as Jensen thinking of himself as the Harvester when we are in their point of view. It had me confused a few times until I grew used to it. Relatively minor complaints overall and I’m happy to give this story by Jordan Frost five stars.

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whispers in the Dark by Jordan Frost is the first book that I have read by this author and I enjoyed it IMMENSELY. This is a fantasy novel that I would classify as both epic and dark. The characters are engaging, and the storyline is well told.
The author introduces us to a variety of characters and gradually each of their paths crosses one by one in different ways. We learn of an evil that rules the land, but few to none are truly aware of the immensity of this danger that rules them. This evil is taunted by a prophet that his end lies with a true heir to the throne so he sets out to destroy any and all who carry the true ruling bloodline. With each character and line, I was drawn deeper and deeper into the story. I simply wanted to know more! I HAD to know more!!
There are moments and scenes that will break your heart and fill your eyes with unshed tears. There are moments of where your heart will swell with excitement at what could be, but things do go the way that we might hope for them, too. I have to admit that one of my favorite scenes in this story involves a pear. I literally laughed out loud so hard. I absolutely loved it.
There honestly isn't anything that I don't like about this book. When I first started reading I was disappointed we didn't get more background on certain characters. Don't be like me!! Just wait! It all comes together! I promise! Be patient! It's worth the wait! As I read deeper I learned why and I must admit it ended up adding to my enjoyment of the story. The story became hard to put down the deeper I went so just read! There were moments of where I hoped that help would come for some, but it didn't. While this broke my heart for certain characters, I appreciated the author because while this story is fantasy it gives it a nice touch of reality...not everyone makes it.
At the end of the day...this book is fantastic and I am eagerly anticipating the next book in this series. This book is a must-read for fantasy lovers and one you HAVE to add to your library. I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. Job well done to the author! Looking forward to the next book in this series!

[Ali Seegar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whispers in the Dark is one of those books that is so involved with characters, plots and sub-plots you need a guide to keep track. Saying that, Frost has taken time to create a believable world full of pirates, witches, wardens, healers, harvesters and a very evil leader, Lord Kane to name but a few of the characters you’ll meet along the way. Frost’s imagination shines throughout the book, as does her prose and there is some beautifully descriptive writing that draws you into the scene.

The book is full of twists along the way as the characters draw nearer to their common destination and, in doing so, to each other. I particularly liked the interaction between Jensen and Solana, especially when she was being unbearable to him, and I felt these two characters were particularly well rounded.

If you like epic fantasy, this is definitely worth a read, and book 2 should be on its way soon.

[Lucretia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderfully rich start to a fantasy series. I love a character driven tale so the amount of POVs was fantastic as it gave me several fully fleshed heroes/heroines to pick from. Jensen ended up being my favorite, though the pirate captain was a close second. Jensen earned bonus points for not thrashing Solana when she was being extra insufferable. The life of the mages, their wardens, harvesters etc and the way they all came at it from different perspectives made the world even deeper. All of the threads had plenty of action and intrigue that held me until the end. I do hope the next part will be available soon as I would love to see how things play out in this fascinating world.

[Tamira Thayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Whispers in the Dark! It’s the first book in a long time that I didn’t want to put down; I knew there wasn’t a sequel yet, so I was bummed before it even ended!

Multiple threads of the storyline start in different places, and we’ve yet to see how they all weave together, but there are hints and clues by the end of this wonderful first book in the series. I had a little bit of a hard time figuring out and remembering the names of the different actors, but as I went along It all made more sense.

The author writes very well, and crafts a tale that kept me drawn in and eager for more. I’m waiting for the next book in the series, for sure! Well done.

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enter the land of Midori, a corrupt empire ruled by an evil sorcerer in Jordan Frost’s Whispers in the Dark. Imperial soldier Jensen is just trying to survive such a brutal place when he’s tasked with transporting sorcerer Solana. In transit, Jensen is attacked by his own commander leading him and Solana on a quest brimming with secrets and action. Whispers in the Dark built a cool world and had great twists, but it was the back and forth and the bond that grew between Jensen and Solana that was the best part for me! Looking forward to seeing what the sequel has in store!

[Hazel Marie Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loves how Mrs. Frost delved into the world of Witchcraft and then took you on an adventure of self discovery with her main characters. Her characters were able to overcome their trails and face new trails. I recommend this as a read.

[The Endless Unread · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic read that will transport you to another world. I adored the world building throughout this entire book and I could easily visit this exciting new world. A really enchanting read.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book and well written. I didn't realize when I started reading it that it is part of a series so I didn't complete the book. The plot revolves around many characters and in the beginning it can be overwhelming. Once you get accustomed to the characters it gets easier to read

[Tristen Kozinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating 3.5

While I enjoyed Whispers in the Dark, it is one of those books where my primary thoughts are mostly criticisms and somewhat conflict with my overall enjoyment of the book. Regardless, here we go...

My main qualm is that I didn't connect with the majority of the characters. I struggled to finish Boone's, Titus', Mattox and Garret's chapters, and only really grew invested in Jensen and Solana when they paired up (fairly early in the narrative). I liked Gabrielle instantly, though she takes a while to appear in the story. This resulted in a significant urge to skim through any chapter not focused on Gabrielle, Solana or Jensen. Garett's best chapter(s) was when (Redacted for spoilers) died and he gained real, emotional agency I could empathize with. I believe that is the root of my disinterest in the other characters, they themselves lacked intense emotional investment in whatever endeavor they were attempting. This is exacerbated by the fact that they lacked someone or something to express chemistry with; Jensen and Solana are constantly interacting and changing in their interactions as they feel one another out and adapt. Yes, the others interact with other people, but their relationships lack the traction Solana and Jensen have. Garret and Miriana tend to get along, Boone and Sithig get along, even Titus and that one scholar (whose names escapes me ATM) get along. This dampers the story not only because it makes their interactions less interesting, but it removes the opportunity for them to express their personalities in a meaningful way. But when the characters are allowed to express themselves (Jensen, Solana and Gabrielle) they are excellent and very enjoyable.
I have two other minor criticisms. First, I found the magic systems rather ambiguous; the author would label a particular individual a cryomancer, or a pyromancer (indicating an innate, specific talent), but then display them utilizing other spells. They further complicate the matter by indicating certain magic types incur privileges, (healing and negation) which doesn't work if mages can choose the magic they practice. (A related, but ancillary criticism is that the fantasy races felt a little generic and included mostly for name recognition. The Author mention orcs, ogres, werewolves, elves etc and that is the extent of the world-building provided for them, which results in their presence not truly enrichening the narrative or world.)
Finally, the author used the same conceit in all three potential romances (redacted for spoilers) namely that they all believe the other member disinterested, and misinterpret their actions or dialogue to supplement that belief. This both diminishes character interaction and waxes repetitive.
There's also the fact that almost every main male character suffered from patriarchal abuse, which made me wonder if it actually an attempt at symmetry rather than an oversight. nothing comes of that in this book, but it might result in the sequel(s).
One of the fantasy elements that does land very well and the various Witches and the way they alter the world.
In conclusion, Whispers in the Dark's strongest suit are its characters when they're allowed to interact in meaningful ways, and there is a strong story behind the, it just takes a while for it to capture the reader.

[Lyat Conyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is the first in a series and one that I truly look forward to continuing. The story has many different story lines to follow, but the novel never felt confusing or convoluted. Jensen is the story line that seems to stand out amongst the others and we watch as he discovers his role in this epic journey. Jensen is tasked to guide an unruly mage to her sacrificial death to honor the corrupt Lord Kane. We meet plenty of other supporting characters that have very involved character developments which make the reader fall in love with every single character we meet.
I have plenty of favorite parts of this novel, but two things that I really enjoy are the fantasy elements and character developments. This story is chock-full of fantastical elements such as magic, orcs, heroes and villains. We are introduced to some characters that are cliché at first, but the read will be surprised at the kind of unique and original changes they experience throughout the novel. For example, we meet Garrett, a very stereotypical pirate, but as the novel progresses, the reader discovers that he has more complex characteristics such as being a literary lover and a bit of a romantic. It is fun and unpredictable to read the choices that these characters make throughout their tale.
There is not really anything bad that presents itself clearly in this novel. The characters’ roles are very intentional, the plot is driven and focused, and the pacing is great. It took a while to discover who the story is about because we meet so many characters. This is not a bad thing, but it is something that I like to know about each novel I read because this is the character that should have the most growth and development. Since this is a series, it is something that I will look for in the next novel.
Whispers in the Dark is an exciting first novel, and I look forward to the next installments. Jordan Frost is a natural storyteller that bypasses overly descriptive language to allow for fully developed characters. If you are a fantasy lover, you will enjoy this book!

[Jacci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whispers in the dark is an epic tale of incredible imagination! The author carefully crafts many different characters heading toward the same goal from different perspectives. It took me a while to understand who all of them were but I was glad I keep reading as eventually, they all become distinguished from each other with their own goals and personalities, and there are threads that tie them together. Unfortunately, you won't find out where it leads in book one, you'll have to tune in for the next book or two to see what happens, but, I'm sure it will be worth the wait.
If you love ogres, witches, werewolves, intrigue, and adventure, you'll love this book.

[J. Conrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome dark epic fantasy!
This was a well-written, dark, epic fantasy novel that pulls you in. I found it really interesting how there is an evil which rules the land, and the characters have a certain idea of this, but none of them really know the extent of it. I enjoyed the dynamic between the characters, especially Jensen and Solana. Solana had a pretty good life until she was chosen to be a sacrifice, and Jensen as a Harvester is supposed to escort her to her death. Geez, talk about a bad day. Sometimes I thought things were going to go in a certain direction and usually I wasn’t right! Mostly I wound up getting thrown a curve which was hard to take at first, but necessary, and kept the story moving and very interesting. The overall plot was entertaining and there was great description throughout. A worthy read with great characters.

[Daniel Norrish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful walk through a world of magic, lust and duty. This novel displays a depth of setting, as well as character, and anyone who loves being totally absorbed in a narrative should read it.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Disclaimer* I was financially compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and not influenced by the author and/or its affiliates in any way.

Whispers in the Dark by Jordan Frost is a world where people contradicts the stereotypical labels for everyone. Those who are supposed to be good are actually bad and those who are supposed to be bad are good. Jensen Grooms is a soldier known as a Harvester and when he is forced to kill his commanding officer, it left him on the run with the sacrifice, Solana, who the group was transporting to Lord Kane who holds the reign for the empire. Along the way, he starts to feel and see that something has gone amiss among the empire. Somewhere not so far in the distance is a thief named Boone who tries to find a way to translate a journal that can end Lord Kane which was written by a dead prophet. His first task is to find a witch who may hold the key to unlocking the secret. With little time on hand, everyone is racing against time to either find a way to survive or to end the reign of the mighty Lord Kane.

My favourite thing from this book was the characters, although, there were quite a few characters I grew fond of, Jensen and Boone were my favourites because of their personality the author gave them. Jensen is a soldier and usually, in books, the stereotypical soldier or warrior are usually brave and proud, but Jensen is caring and honourable amongst his fellow soldiers who are all egoistic and arrogant. Boone is also my favourite because he is a thief and usually you expect them to be the bad guy but in fact, he is trying to complete a task which will most likely benefit many people.

For full review: sammiereadsbook.wordpress.com/2019/02...

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing character development. An emotional rollercoaster ride. A must read for fantasy lovers.

[Jordan Frost]

Editorial Review for WHISPERS IN THE DARK (Previously published as A CROWN IN THE DARK) from Julie Sara Porter, Bookworm Reviews

The Link to the review can be found here: Julie Sara Porter, Bookworm Reviews


“Jordan Frost is not a recognizable name in the world of epic fantasy, but her first novel, A Crown in the Dark should prove to be a good first step.

The world of Midori (a very pretty name. It’s a common Japanese female name that means “Green.” The significance is not yet known.) is ruled by Lord Kane, a tyrannical elven sorcerer. Periodically, he demands the world's best mages come to him as sacrifices. (The outcome is every bit as unpleasant as you can imagine.) The only thing that can stop him is a prophecy in which a child, born of illegitimate blood of the deceased royal family, will conquer him and restore the throne. Various characters set out to either find the missing heir or to escape from Kane’s prison and avoid recapture.


The plot is a typical one found in these type of genres where a group of rebels seek to overthrow a tyrant. That's not a bad thing. Interestingly enough, I am reading Hero With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell which discusses archetypes. A Crown in the Dark is an example of the Heroic Journey in which the characters receive the Call to Action (Find the Heir), are given the Tasks and Commands along the way (Search for the Witch, Go Through the Dark Woods), and so on. It's an archetypal journey and this book is no exception. However, the characters are brilliant and make this journey an amazing albeit familiar one.

Various characters have their own agendas as they travel through the land searching for the heir and avoiding Kane and his goons. Boone, a roguish thief is assigned to deliver information to a witch who will also point him in the heir’s direction. He uses both his clever wiles and the muscles of a large kind barbarian that he meets along the way to avoid trouble.

Titus, a healer is ordered by Kane's guards to search the vast library for any potential leads on the heir. He is fascinating as he debates the task he is ordered to perform and the disdain that he has for Kane. He acts with both hatred at the tyrant and fear of losing his head.

Some of the most interesting characters are two couples that circumstances force to travel together. Jensen, one of Kane's former guards escapes from prison with Solana, a haughty mage and potential sacrifice. Much of the humor is found between this odd couple trying to one-up each other with Solana’s intelligence and studies of magic competing against Jensen’s fighting skills and ability to use weapons that can detect and remove magic. Often Jensen uses a light-hearted approach by flirting with Solana or joking about their circumstances which Solana will bite back with an eye roll and a sarcastic response. (Usually, she will retort, “There's something wrong with you.”)They become closer as the book goes along. It is unclear by the end of the book whether they become lovers, (though Jensen develops romantic feelings for Solana, revelations in the plot prevent him from expressing them.), but they already show that they make a good team of friends who are occasionally at each other's throats.


The other interesting couple are Garret Draig, a pirate captain and Miriana, a mage and Solana's twin sister. Miriana isn't as feisty as her sister. In fact she lived a very isolated life in which she read novels and dreamed of a life of adventure and romance with Gerard, the heroic captain of her books. She is rescued by Garrett en route to being offered as a sacrifice to Kane. While Garrett is a nice guy who wants to protect Miriana, the boorish sometimes chauvinistic captain is hardly the romantic hero of her dreams. In fact, Garrett mocks this romantic portrayal which was actually written by a friend of his. It is a very clever meta moment in which a character pokes fun at the tropes in fantasy and romance in a book that is a tribute to them. It is as though Frost enjoys playing in a fantasy world but doesn't mind mocking the logistics inside it.

The action moves along briskly and some questions are answered (including a potential identity for the missing heir), but more are raised and enough suspense is created for the Reader to look forward to the next book and what else Frost has to offer.”

[Entrada Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in the New Dawn’s Light series draws you in and leaves you wanting more. Jordan Frost has created a fantasy world that you can immerse yourself in.

Whispers in the Dark won’t have any problems keeping your attention. There is plenty of action, intrigue and suspense. You also have to keep up with several characters’ plotlines. This could be confusing, but Jordan Frost has made it easy to keep everything straight.

Her writing is descriptive and keeps the story flowing. Readers will also be captivated by the unlikely heroes. Jensen, Titus, Solana and the others all have noticeable flaws. It is these flaws that help them succeed in their adventures.

Some of the writing might be disturbing to sensitive readers. It can be graphic, violent and the characters’ thoughts are not always pleasant. However, this is also what helps make Whispers in the Dark a great story. Readers already know that the heroes are pirates, Harvesters, and sorcerers. Without their dark characteristics they would not be believable.

Readers will definitely see some of Jordan Frost’s previous experience with roleplaying games. This is evident along with some of the Tolkien inspired villains. Readers won’t feel like they are rereading old characters, only that the book has a sense of familiarity. This is comforting when the story takes a dark turn.

Whispers in the Dark is not a happy, lighthearted story. Instead it is full of struggles and character realizations. Some discover that they can be better than they thought, while others delve deeper into their dark side. Be prepared for twists and turns, Whispers in the Dark will keep readers turning the pages as fast as they can.

The book starts with a quote that grabs readers’ attention: “Out of the darkness, a new leader shall arise to gain dominion over all the land.” Starting off with Jensen and Solana, the other primary characters each make their entrance from there. While each character has his or her own storyline to follow, readers will find themselves early on wondering who will finally supplant Kane as Midori’s ruler.

This could easily be the next favorite fantasy series. It is geared more for adults but this is mainly due to its length and occasional violent content. Otherwise, the first book has everything readers look for. The plot is exciting and moves at a fast pace. The characters are well defined, along with the world they live in. We can only hope that the next book in the series doesn’t take long to hit the shelves.

Whether you are looking for a new fantasy author or want something a little familiar, Jordan Frost’s Whispers in the Dark delivers. It is a strong start to what seems to be a fascinating and exciting new fantasy series.