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The Firstborn
In Shadovia they say that the darkness whispers the secrets of the dead. From this darkness, a terrible secret is revealed to Prince Leif, and threatens to destroy all Shadovia.
The secret? A twin sister, whose death, at birth, his father ordered because of a terrible prophecy. A prophecy which foresaw Shadovia's destruction at the hands of a demon child born of the Queen.
But in a Kingdom as dark as Shadovia, Fate would not allow the prophecy to be avoided so easily, and the mercy of one man spared the little princess and secreted her away.
Intervening again, eighteen years later, Fate ensures that Prince Leif learns of his sister. Tormented by the knowledge of a sister he never knew, Leif seeks out his long-lost sister to prevent the prophecy's fulfillment.
But, in the darkness of the coming storm, who is to say which child is the demon? Even Leif starts to wonder which child will bring the destruction.
The secret? A twin sister, whose death, at birth, his father ordered because of a terrible prophecy. A prophecy which foresaw Shadovia's destruction at the hands of a demon child born of the Queen.
But in a Kingdom as dark as Shadovia, Fate would not allow the prophecy to be avoided so easily, and the mercy of one man spared the little princess and secreted her away.
Intervening again, eighteen years later, Fate ensures that Prince Leif learns of his sister. Tormented by the knowledge of a sister he never knew, Leif seeks out his long-lost sister to prevent the prophecy's fulfillment.
But, in the darkness of the coming storm, who is to say which child is the demon? Even Leif starts to wonder which child will bring the destruction.
462 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2018
About the author
V.C. Boldick
4 books21 followersI grew up in a little village in a quiet corner of Alberta and my first love was reading. I loved how a simple book could teleport me for hours at a time to magical places. I loved reading and devoured books. I remember when my parents would drive to the city I would beg to be allowed to buy more than one book.
They taught me about the importance of hard work, so I put my heart and soul in every novel I write, “if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right,” is what my dad always said. I took those words to heart and I am always trying to perfect my writing.
I no longer live in a little village but my love of reading has only grown, my shelves are lined with books and I have notebooks filled with ideas for novels I hope to one day write.
Outside of writing, I enjoy cosplaying, drawing, painting and spending time with friends and family.
They taught me about the importance of hard work, so I put my heart and soul in every novel I write, “if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right,” is what my dad always said. I took those words to heart and I am always trying to perfect my writing.
I no longer live in a little village but my love of reading has only grown, my shelves are lined with books and I have notebooks filled with ideas for novels I hope to one day write.
Outside of writing, I enjoy cosplaying, drawing, painting and spending time with friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 20, 2019
Gifted this book by the author via Voracious Readers. What an enthralling story and a cliffhanger ending! Must read the next offering by this talented author.
May 6, 2019
This novel is an enjoyable read, overall.
The world-building, character development, and pacing of the story are all well executed. The author has created several different cultures in the fictional universe that are in fairly close geographical proximity. and, while they have much in common, they are also unique. The author has not neglected to build in a spiritual component to the cultures in this universe (when this is overlooked, it is a pet peeve of mine).
There are elements that I thought could have been improved:
- Leif is rather insufferable, and remains so throughout the book. I would have liked to see him grow and mature in more concrete ways. (I think we were told about some changes, but I'd rather have been shown them).
- The female characters are generally underdeveloped. While there was an obvious attempt made to make them more than simpering supporting characters, I felt that there were missed opportunities to make them more - more fleshed-out, more instrumental to the driving of the plot, etc.
- The political intrigue angle came across as too generalised for me - I think there could have been more tension as far as these relationships are concerned (show, don't tell again), and I think that stronger, more realised characters would have improved the emotional impact of some of the political machinations.
- It's a small thing, but "homely" and "nonplussed" were both incorrectly used. (Admittedly, nonplussed is fast becoming its own antonym, but I stalwartly refuse to jump on that bandwagon). And, while I'm on the topic of me being nitpicky, some of the character names bothered me. (This world seems to be largely based on medieval Western European cultures, so some of the names really jumped out as being inconsistent. It would make more sense to choose a language family to associate with each country, and be careful to choose character names that sound like they belong the language family assigned to their home country).
To me, this novel - and series - has a lot of potential. This particular installment was a fairly easy read, it definitely held my attention, but it also left me wishing that it had delivered more.
Without spoiling it, I thought the ending was brilliant - totally on point!
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
The world-building, character development, and pacing of the story are all well executed. The author has created several different cultures in the fictional universe that are in fairly close geographical proximity. and, while they have much in common, they are also unique. The author has not neglected to build in a spiritual component to the cultures in this universe (when this is overlooked, it is a pet peeve of mine).
There are elements that I thought could have been improved:
- Leif is rather insufferable, and remains so throughout the book. I would have liked to see him grow and mature in more concrete ways. (I think we were told about some changes, but I'd rather have been shown them).
- The female characters are generally underdeveloped. While there was an obvious attempt made to make them more than simpering supporting characters, I felt that there were missed opportunities to make them more - more fleshed-out, more instrumental to the driving of the plot, etc.
- The political intrigue angle came across as too generalised for me - I think there could have been more tension as far as these relationships are concerned (show, don't tell again), and I think that stronger, more realised characters would have improved the emotional impact of some of the political machinations.
- It's a small thing, but "homely" and "nonplussed" were both incorrectly used. (Admittedly, nonplussed is fast becoming its own antonym, but I stalwartly refuse to jump on that bandwagon). And, while I'm on the topic of me being nitpicky, some of the character names bothered me. (This world seems to be largely based on medieval Western European cultures, so some of the names really jumped out as being inconsistent. It would make more sense to choose a language family to associate with each country, and be careful to choose character names that sound like they belong the language family assigned to their home country).
To me, this novel - and series - has a lot of potential. This particular installment was a fairly easy read, it definitely held my attention, but it also left me wishing that it had delivered more.
Without spoiling it, I thought the ending was brilliant - totally on point!
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
December 3, 2019
I was given the opportunity to review this book through Booktasters; thank you so much for the opportunity!
The Firstborn focuses on the character Leif, a crown prince who lost everything as a child and originally embarks on quest for revenge with his two friends: Brenyan Vracca and Senke Dievelle. After Leif is sent away from his kingdom in a hurry, he finds out that he's a twin of a lost sister and must use the power of magique and political delegation to seek truths that were kept away from him ever since he was a child. Despite believing he's prepared for anything, Leif isn't ready for the torrent of troubles he's swept into throughout the entirety of the story.
Boldick's world-building and characterization are on point. There's several moments where the characters make me laugh, and - at the same time - none of them are "perfect" (despite some believing such). Each of them carries their own flaws, burdens, and purpose, which can often be hard to find in many books that I've flipped through before.
The book left me with a lot of questions, but those were mostly involving what became of some of the characters originally introduced. There were times where I wondered why a character would show up, though there were moments where these questions were answered by a scene change or the emergence of another plot point.
Overall I thought the book was engaging, but had problems with focus. I feel this focus lies on the imbalance between the characters, the world-building, and the overall plot progression. I loved all three, but found that there was sometimes too much to the point where it would overshadow the plot. I would often find myself so lost and engaged in the characters, that the story either didn't matter to me or I simply forgot why the characters were in a place in the first place. I would definitely flip back to recall what's been going on, but there were some points where it was still kind of bumpy.
Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it to my friends. I feel like one can learn a lot about how to flesh out characters through Boldick's writing, as well as how to keep a story entertaining.
The Firstborn focuses on the character Leif, a crown prince who lost everything as a child and originally embarks on quest for revenge with his two friends: Brenyan Vracca and Senke Dievelle. After Leif is sent away from his kingdom in a hurry, he finds out that he's a twin of a lost sister and must use the power of magique and political delegation to seek truths that were kept away from him ever since he was a child. Despite believing he's prepared for anything, Leif isn't ready for the torrent of troubles he's swept into throughout the entirety of the story.
Boldick's world-building and characterization are on point. There's several moments where the characters make me laugh, and - at the same time - none of them are "perfect" (despite some believing such). Each of them carries their own flaws, burdens, and purpose, which can often be hard to find in many books that I've flipped through before.
The book left me with a lot of questions, but those were mostly involving what became of some of the characters originally introduced. There were times where I wondered why a character would show up, though there were moments where these questions were answered by a scene change or the emergence of another plot point.
Overall I thought the book was engaging, but had problems with focus. I feel this focus lies on the imbalance between the characters, the world-building, and the overall plot progression. I loved all three, but found that there was sometimes too much to the point where it would overshadow the plot. I would often find myself so lost and engaged in the characters, that the story either didn't matter to me or I simply forgot why the characters were in a place in the first place. I would definitely flip back to recall what's been going on, but there were some points where it was still kind of bumpy.
Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it to my friends. I feel like one can learn a lot about how to flesh out characters through Boldick's writing, as well as how to keep a story entertaining.
November 15, 2019
After reading this story, my life will not be the same.
Being born as the prince can be tough, but Leif is a different story. From the very start of the book is his life followed by pain from terrible lose and desperate wish to be loved. To have a family you can turn to, in case of trouble. A lot of times he found himself in life-threatening situations, which made him more suspicious and more anxious about his whole existence.
Being too damaged to think clearly and with darkness suffocating him, Leif is sent away and together with manservants and knights in hope to find an answer, to obey Regencies' orders. Far from home, Leif found out his unknown family. But even in the times of happiness darkness found a way into the calmness and peace of his heart.
His kingdom is falling apart and he cannot return. Internal conflict, in this case, is ultimately visible for everyone in his surroundings, which makes them think about his vulnerability. Prince doubts his decisions, overthinking and making himself a light target for his enemies. But it's understandable, my empathy towards him grew exponentially high after every chapter and at the very end of the book, I thought he maybe... but this is a spoiler... will take his throne back. Unfortunately, the end became very dramatical and it was followed by gargantuan-like cliffhanger which gives you no other choice than beg for mercy aka *BOOK 2*
Great job, Mrs Boldick.
P.S.: Brenyan became my ultimate crush.
P.S.2: I wish you all happy reading without emotional breakdowns- don't be me.
Being born as the prince can be tough, but Leif is a different story. From the very start of the book is his life followed by pain from terrible lose and desperate wish to be loved. To have a family you can turn to, in case of trouble. A lot of times he found himself in life-threatening situations, which made him more suspicious and more anxious about his whole existence.
Being too damaged to think clearly and with darkness suffocating him, Leif is sent away and together with manservants and knights in hope to find an answer, to obey Regencies' orders. Far from home, Leif found out his unknown family. But even in the times of happiness darkness found a way into the calmness and peace of his heart.
His kingdom is falling apart and he cannot return. Internal conflict, in this case, is ultimately visible for everyone in his surroundings, which makes them think about his vulnerability. Prince doubts his decisions, overthinking and making himself a light target for his enemies. But it's understandable, my empathy towards him grew exponentially high after every chapter and at the very end of the book, I thought he maybe... but this is a spoiler... will take his throne back. Unfortunately, the end became very dramatical and it was followed by gargantuan-like cliffhanger which gives you no other choice than beg for mercy aka *BOOK 2*
Great job, Mrs Boldick.
P.S.: Brenyan became my ultimate crush.
P.S.2: I wish you all happy reading without emotional breakdowns- don't be me.
November 14, 2019
I received the Firstborn via @BookTasters and it is an engrossing read. The world that the author has created seems so real . The story starts with the birth of royal twins - A brother and a sister, where the sister is to be killed by her father, the King due to a prophecy and also the mother doesn't survive the childbirth.
The prince grows up not knowing about his sister though very much loved by his father and stepmother and half brother. But all this changes on his eleventh birthday when he loses everything he holds dear. How the prince grows up, tries to be a strong and able king amidst betrayal and lies and also learns some shocking and unbelievable secrets.
How he tries to overcome al his obstacles, regain all that he has lost and try to solve the mystery of his father's secret and revenge the betrayal makes for an interesting read. Since this book is part of a series it ends on edgy cliffhanger and that sure is frustrating but makes one eager for the next part to know the fate of the kingdom and its heirs.
Though the story is interesting there are too many events happening and many characters converging as the prince makes new alliances and friends when he is jolted out of the sheltered existence that makes it difficult to track but maybe the sequels will make the justification. Though this is a world of magique it is as unique as the spelling and doesn't seem a copy of any known stories. the plot keeps you entertained .
The prince grows up not knowing about his sister though very much loved by his father and stepmother and half brother. But all this changes on his eleventh birthday when he loses everything he holds dear. How the prince grows up, tries to be a strong and able king amidst betrayal and lies and also learns some shocking and unbelievable secrets.
How he tries to overcome al his obstacles, regain all that he has lost and try to solve the mystery of his father's secret and revenge the betrayal makes for an interesting read. Since this book is part of a series it ends on edgy cliffhanger and that sure is frustrating but makes one eager for the next part to know the fate of the kingdom and its heirs.
Though the story is interesting there are too many events happening and many characters converging as the prince makes new alliances and friends when he is jolted out of the sheltered existence that makes it difficult to track but maybe the sequels will make the justification. Though this is a world of magique it is as unique as the spelling and doesn't seem a copy of any known stories. the plot keeps you entertained .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2019
This book had me hooked from start to finish. As the story progresses the reader is faced with the right amount of questions that are answered the correct time. I loved the world of magic, spirit beasts, kings and knights.
What amazed me the most was how the author managed to create a world of magic and at the same time develop the protagonist, Prince Leif, so realistically. We follow the Prince’s life from the moment he was just a kid to adulthood.
As a child, he faces problems such as his father’s absence in important events of his life, like his birthday. He has to deal with a “boring” teacher, his frustration when his best friend, Brenyan, bests him in battles and his need to develop his special abilities.
The moment he turned from a child into a young man is evident. He lost his enthusiasm and faith towards his “god” and believed more in those who had proven themselves to him. He has to live up to his title and save his kingdom and his people. Most of all he has to learn and cope with the betrayal of those closest to him.
The ending was great and unexpected. The cliffhanger certainly succeeds in leaving me with the need to read the second book of this amazing story. Congratulations to the author!
What amazed me the most was how the author managed to create a world of magic and at the same time develop the protagonist, Prince Leif, so realistically. We follow the Prince’s life from the moment he was just a kid to adulthood.
As a child, he faces problems such as his father’s absence in important events of his life, like his birthday. He has to deal with a “boring” teacher, his frustration when his best friend, Brenyan, bests him in battles and his need to develop his special abilities.
The moment he turned from a child into a young man is evident. He lost his enthusiasm and faith towards his “god” and believed more in those who had proven themselves to him. He has to live up to his title and save his kingdom and his people. Most of all he has to learn and cope with the betrayal of those closest to him.
The ending was great and unexpected. The cliffhanger certainly succeeds in leaving me with the need to read the second book of this amazing story. Congratulations to the author!
April 22, 2019
As Leif’s mother lay dying in childbirth, his twin sister is taken away to be killed at the behest of a seer. Leif’s father, the crown king of Lunaria dies unexpectedly leaving his son waiting for his 19th birthday to ascend the throne. Sadly things take a turn for the worse as Leif fights for the throne, his people and what’s left of his family.
This book is so captivating that I could not stop reading it. A fantasy world of beasts, magic and mayhem!! The writer does a remarkable job at creating such a spectacular world and unforgettable characters. The storyline kept me on the edge of my seat with enough twists that had me begging for more. I was terribly disappointed when I reached the ending as I wanted to stay in that world forever. I’ve assuaged myself with the knowledge that there will be more books in the future. Five stars!!
This book is so captivating that I could not stop reading it. A fantasy world of beasts, magic and mayhem!! The writer does a remarkable job at creating such a spectacular world and unforgettable characters. The storyline kept me on the edge of my seat with enough twists that had me begging for more. I was terribly disappointed when I reached the ending as I wanted to stay in that world forever. I’ve assuaged myself with the knowledge that there will be more books in the future. Five stars!!
March 11, 2019
This book had me hooked from the first to the last page. The characters feel real and the pacing of the story is spot on. We follow Prince Leif from his early childhood to adulthood. He is not perfect, makes mistakes but I found that is part of what makes him endearing as the main character. I also loved Jazybell; a feisty young woman who wants to have her own army - I would have liked to have seen more of her though. Another element that I really liked is that as a reader you are following the story as it happens and however there are elements of the plot that keep you guessing (no spoilers here).
The ending was brilliant if a little frustrating - I will absolutely have to read the second book.
The ending was brilliant if a little frustrating - I will absolutely have to read the second book.
October 22, 2019
I received this book from the author via Booktasters. So, firstly, I would like to thank them for it. It is the first book of a series.
I found the book to be very engrossing for the first 40% of it. I could've easily finished reading it in 3 days or less had the pace of the story in the latter half been maintained in the same way as the first half. Nevertheless, it's a really good storyline and I kept coming back to the book to continue reading. Narration can be a little tighter, but I'm not complaining. The plot makes for a good series. Would I follow up on this series? Maybe not. But I'd love to read other work from the author because I found her writing rather fun and light to read. It's a great book to recommend to people who are new to the hobby of reading.
I found the book to be very engrossing for the first 40% of it. I could've easily finished reading it in 3 days or less had the pace of the story in the latter half been maintained in the same way as the first half. Nevertheless, it's a really good storyline and I kept coming back to the book to continue reading. Narration can be a little tighter, but I'm not complaining. The plot makes for a good series. Would I follow up on this series? Maybe not. But I'd love to read other work from the author because I found her writing rather fun and light to read. It's a great book to recommend to people who are new to the hobby of reading.
November 19, 2019
I was gifted this book by the author. it was a great read and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. There were parts of the book where I wanted to beg the author to add more information, to not cut it short but then you read on and you get the information you want and more. The end of the book, well let's just say the end of the book definitely had me wanting to read the next book, if there is a next book. I will definitely keep an eye out for it because I want to read what happens next, I want to continue the story. I felt as if I was a part of the characters their lives their stores and their adventures. this book is well written and I definitely recommend it if you like adventures in fantasy style books. I can't wait to see what else this author has to offer.
September 11, 2019
What a compelling first novel!
The plot and characters were all well developed with lots of growth throughout the novel. I both love and hate a cliffhanger so I'm excited to read the second book and see what's in store for the characters who survived. There are a million possibilities and I can't wait to find out!
Setting is a critical component to any good fantasy novel. V.C. Boldick has created a rich world with a unique and well-defined set of rules. I'm curious where future books will take us and what secrets lie in wait to be discovered.
Overall an excellent novel that I would highly recommend!
The plot and characters were all well developed with lots of growth throughout the novel. I both love and hate a cliffhanger so I'm excited to read the second book and see what's in store for the characters who survived. There are a million possibilities and I can't wait to find out!
Setting is a critical component to any good fantasy novel. V.C. Boldick has created a rich world with a unique and well-defined set of rules. I'm curious where future books will take us and what secrets lie in wait to be discovered.
Overall an excellent novel that I would highly recommend!
November 26, 2019
Firstborn is a fantasy novel about Leif the prince of shadovia. It is based on Leif's struggles as a prince. The battles Leif fights both in his mind and in the outside world. And in his battles there are some who stand with him and there are some who betray him.
The book is really quite good. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The beginning and the ending are quite fast paced and eventful. I really liked the way the novel ended. I personally think that every fantasy lover will like this book .
The book is really quite good. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The beginning and the ending are quite fast paced and eventful. I really liked the way the novel ended. I personally think that every fantasy lover will like this book .
April 19, 2019
Well written, well paced, and well done! This book had me hooked from the beginning. Following along with Leif as he grows through and in spite of everything life throws at him is inspiring. It is so easy to really feel for him and with him. Whatever will happen next?
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only*
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only*
November 11, 2019
The first born is an outstanding excellence in retelling the medieval heretical deconstructions of divinity.
The author has not hidden the mysteries that do demodulate child occultism.
The author has not hidden the mysteries that do demodulate child occultism.
June 26, 2019
I haven't read a fantasy novel in 20 plus years. I will admit, it is not my thing. But the character development and the detail of the different lands in this book are out of this world and the plot twists are right up there with Michael Connelley.
You will not be disappointed, V.C. Boldick has a gift and I hope she is here to stay.
You will not be disappointed, V.C. Boldick has a gift and I hope she is here to stay.
March 4, 2019
this fast-moving book kept me turning the pages with interesting characters and fast-moving dialogue.
Read the first chapters free on Amazon and you'll see for yourself.
Read the first chapters free on Amazon and you'll see for yourself.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews