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Shri Moongale #1
The Gate Run: Legends of Shadear
Magic, traps, betrayals, bravery...death. This is the Gate Run. Shri Moongale is ready to enter the Gate Run, a brutal competition organized by the senatai who practice magic in the mystical tower Spike. Reaching that tower, gaining magical training, and being free have been Shri's life-long dreams, but she is a slave of the Pit, forced to work endlessly to feed herself and her loved ones, never able to leave the city. But this is her one chance – the Gate Run. But she doesn't know that there is unknown darkness inside the tower and that the threat of an uprising and war loom above the city. All she cares about is winning and surviving, and she vows to bring freedom for her loved ones after she has become a powerful senatai. But why are so many interested in her? Is there something more about her, that she doesn't even know herself? If Shri ever makes it out alive, she might have a bigger role in the upcoming events than she ever could have imagined. The Gate Run is the first book in the epic fantasy saga of Shri Moongale.
269 pages, ebook
First published February 7, 2018
16 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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June 6, 2018
When writing fantasy, one should attempt to bring something unique to the table. So many worlds have been distilled from Middle Earth, so many plots have been rehashed. That's why I'm always excited to find an author who seems to be channeling something personal, not just a pale clone of some other fantasy world. Don't get me wrong; when we compose, we all include elements of our influences, but weaving them into our own vision: that's the key.
When I opened "The Gate Run", I expected to find an entertaining tale in the YA vein, something akin to "The Mazerunner" mixed with D&D fantasy. What I got was a story that was darker and more sophisticated than I suspected. From the current blurb, one might expect to find the tale of a brave young woman pitted against a gauntlet of obstacles in a race against time that, to the delight of the reader, she is certain to overcome. In truth, the book offers far more depth than that. This comes in the form of character development, political intrigue, and a stark look at what happens when dreams don't match expectations.
As the blurb suggests, Shri Moongale is the central protagonist, a destitute young woman determined to wield magic and use it to do right by the world. But in practice, Shri is just the catalyst to whom all the other characters and interweaving plots are tied. "The Gate Run" tells the story of Ironflare, a troubled city in the kingdom of Aviden. At the city's affluent center stands the ominous Spike Tower, home to the magic-using senatai and their scheming High Master. On the outer edge, locked behind an impenetrable iron wall, suffer the poor citizens, the oppressed and downtrodden, who live as slaves to the whims of the Spike. But there are other senatai in Aviden, and they're not happy to see their cousins getting fat off the backs of the poor. They support Aviden's king, who has lost his patience for slavery and greed. To make matters worse, the slaves are growing restless, and Shri may not be the only one willing to risk her life for freedom. Change looms on the horizon. However, those inside the Spike have different plans.
The city of Ironflare and its inner workings are the setting for "The Gate Run". As for the Monarchy and the wider world of Aviden, Vale wisely keeps them hidden for now, focusing instead on the plight of Ironflare and Shri's rise to prominence. However, Vale teases us with fairy tales and bits of history from outside the city, in addition to introducing an interesting system of magic with a rather personal twist. She all but tells us that the kingdom is much larger than we can see.
The titular "Gate Run" refers to a game offered by the Senatai of the Spike. Victors are allowed to join the ruling class of Ironflare and become magic users themselves. The Run itself is also more involved than I expected, sending participants into a magical world where they're pitted against all four elements, as well as the specter of human weakness. Shri is inwardly transformed as she discovers that the Gate Run is not quite what she --or the reader-- thinks it is.
The story is heavily character-driven. Vale juggles several different perspectives, through which she unravels the city’s political development in conjunction with Shri's adventure. Within those perspectives, she doesn't shy away from the grit of reality. The characters struggle for freedom, for love, and for power; on the way, they must face everything from violence to betrayal to death. Many have their own pasts, their own motivations, and their own relationships to one another. Each of the main players in this book, of which there are at least six (potentially seven), has their own arc. Better yet, the characters are varied and likable. I found myself concerned for the central protagonists, just as I found myself despising the arrogant antagonists and eagerly awaiting their just desserts. That's not to say there are no shades of grey in this story; as we see things from different perspectives, we're invited to ride along with the motivations of different characters, and it's these ventures into the players' minds that show us who they are.
Still, I get the feeling that we're only just meeting the cast, just setting a beginning footstep into Aviden, and that Vale has plenty more surprises up her sleeve. The book reads like a prologue to a greater epic. It's clear that there are more people to meet, more places to see, and more secrets to learn.
Recommended. Looking forward to the next part!
When I opened "The Gate Run", I expected to find an entertaining tale in the YA vein, something akin to "The Mazerunner" mixed with D&D fantasy. What I got was a story that was darker and more sophisticated than I suspected. From the current blurb, one might expect to find the tale of a brave young woman pitted against a gauntlet of obstacles in a race against time that, to the delight of the reader, she is certain to overcome. In truth, the book offers far more depth than that. This comes in the form of character development, political intrigue, and a stark look at what happens when dreams don't match expectations.
As the blurb suggests, Shri Moongale is the central protagonist, a destitute young woman determined to wield magic and use it to do right by the world. But in practice, Shri is just the catalyst to whom all the other characters and interweaving plots are tied. "The Gate Run" tells the story of Ironflare, a troubled city in the kingdom of Aviden. At the city's affluent center stands the ominous Spike Tower, home to the magic-using senatai and their scheming High Master. On the outer edge, locked behind an impenetrable iron wall, suffer the poor citizens, the oppressed and downtrodden, who live as slaves to the whims of the Spike. But there are other senatai in Aviden, and they're not happy to see their cousins getting fat off the backs of the poor. They support Aviden's king, who has lost his patience for slavery and greed. To make matters worse, the slaves are growing restless, and Shri may not be the only one willing to risk her life for freedom. Change looms on the horizon. However, those inside the Spike have different plans.
The city of Ironflare and its inner workings are the setting for "The Gate Run". As for the Monarchy and the wider world of Aviden, Vale wisely keeps them hidden for now, focusing instead on the plight of Ironflare and Shri's rise to prominence. However, Vale teases us with fairy tales and bits of history from outside the city, in addition to introducing an interesting system of magic with a rather personal twist. She all but tells us that the kingdom is much larger than we can see.
The titular "Gate Run" refers to a game offered by the Senatai of the Spike. Victors are allowed to join the ruling class of Ironflare and become magic users themselves. The Run itself is also more involved than I expected, sending participants into a magical world where they're pitted against all four elements, as well as the specter of human weakness. Shri is inwardly transformed as she discovers that the Gate Run is not quite what she --or the reader-- thinks it is.
The story is heavily character-driven. Vale juggles several different perspectives, through which she unravels the city’s political development in conjunction with Shri's adventure. Within those perspectives, she doesn't shy away from the grit of reality. The characters struggle for freedom, for love, and for power; on the way, they must face everything from violence to betrayal to death. Many have their own pasts, their own motivations, and their own relationships to one another. Each of the main players in this book, of which there are at least six (potentially seven), has their own arc. Better yet, the characters are varied and likable. I found myself concerned for the central protagonists, just as I found myself despising the arrogant antagonists and eagerly awaiting their just desserts. That's not to say there are no shades of grey in this story; as we see things from different perspectives, we're invited to ride along with the motivations of different characters, and it's these ventures into the players' minds that show us who they are.
Still, I get the feeling that we're only just meeting the cast, just setting a beginning footstep into Aviden, and that Vale has plenty more surprises up her sleeve. The book reads like a prologue to a greater epic. It's clear that there are more people to meet, more places to see, and more secrets to learn.
Recommended. Looking forward to the next part!
December 1, 2020
Disappointed - DNF pg 175
The main character Shri is only in half the book, other characters appear more often than she does and
Boa - makes things infinitely worse for Shri and is stupid. He doesn’t even help the girl who eavan wanted him to save instead He causes her friends legs to be crushed when her friend helps him escape Shea and his warning is delivered poorly that I wondered if he even cared about his mission.
He then gives Shea an artifact as a bribe to help him save eavan from the high master.
Shea the person who tries to poison him twice arrest him and is cruel and sadistic. Boa should’ve killed her.
Eavan - should’ve helped Shri long ago if she was that important
Anyways disappointed because Shri seems like a great character - she is just not in it enough and Boa was simply a dumb character.
Frustrated
The main character Shri is only in half the book, other characters appear more often than she does and
Boa - makes things infinitely worse for Shri and is stupid. He doesn’t even help the girl who eavan wanted him to save instead He causes her friends legs to be crushed when her friend helps him escape Shea and his warning is delivered poorly that I wondered if he even cared about his mission.
He then gives Shea an artifact as a bribe to help him save eavan from the high master.
Shea the person who tries to poison him twice arrest him and is cruel and sadistic. Boa should’ve killed her.
Eavan - should’ve helped Shri long ago if she was that important
Anyways disappointed because Shri seems like a great character - she is just not in it enough and Boa was simply a dumb character.
Frustrated
April 17, 2018
Interesting premise and I liked the main character and some of the other members of her family. There were some connective words missing and the occasional misuse of a word such as conscious when conscience was the appropriate word. But, aside from light editing needs, overall I found the novel enjoyable and I plan to read the sequel. More world building is needed, but the author gave a good description of the hopelessness and poverty of the main character’s environment.
April 10, 2019
Wow, I was surprised how into this book I became and quickly. The story was phenomenal and the world building was outstanding. I decided to try a few pages and before I knew it I had devoured the entire book. This book flowed so easily I didn't realise I had read the entire thing until I had turned the last page. Wow!! Will definitely be following this author from now on.
May 9, 2018
Fantastic
What a great book. Loved the characters all the way through. A great story with lots of different elements. I would highly recommend can't wait for book 2! Well done!
What a great book. Loved the characters all the way through. A great story with lots of different elements. I would highly recommend can't wait for book 2! Well done!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews