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Dreaded King #1
A Son Rises
Yaspur the Hard, Grand High Pumba of the Rocks, has overthrown the world. He rules behind a puppet king who usurped the throne twelve long years ago, murdering the entire royal family. Or did he? Astor Meagan, the last surviving knight, knows Yaspur is looking for something. Could it be a bigger secret than anyone has ever guessed? A chance to right the kingdom and restore a world is handed to Astor Meagan and his knife-wielding daughter. But never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined a dirty, peace-spouting, vegetarian farmer would become the pivotal point in the vast game of politics and intrigue happening on their planet’s surface.
Translated from original language by Arthur A. Simpson, and here follows his description of the second volume:
There are some stories that are hard to explain, especially when they are told by several people. It is difficult to condense Charlie Biggton’s changes in life (from a small-time dreadlocked farmer, to a homeless wander, and then…well, and then to a place he never wanted) into just a few words. It is even harder to explain Corinth Meagan’s experiences, watching the weak vegetarian farmer becoming a Christian leader. I suppose the only one that is fairly easy to explain is Astor Meagan’s business in the matter. As a practical missionary soldier, his job is keeping Corinth and Charlie alive and their eyes focused on God’s goals as they find themselves racing for their lives across the world. Not our world, you understand, but the planet somewhere off in our wide universe where these texts were written. How they fell into my hands is, of course, another story.
Translated from original language by Arthur A. Simpson, and here follows his description of the second volume:
There are some stories that are hard to explain, especially when they are told by several people. It is difficult to condense Charlie Biggton’s changes in life (from a small-time dreadlocked farmer, to a homeless wander, and then…well, and then to a place he never wanted) into just a few words. It is even harder to explain Corinth Meagan’s experiences, watching the weak vegetarian farmer becoming a Christian leader. I suppose the only one that is fairly easy to explain is Astor Meagan’s business in the matter. As a practical missionary soldier, his job is keeping Corinth and Charlie alive and their eyes focused on God’s goals as they find themselves racing for their lives across the world. Not our world, you understand, but the planet somewhere off in our wide universe where these texts were written. How they fell into my hands is, of course, another story.
- GenresFantasy
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2015
1 person is currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Gruben
14 books14 followersI have always been entranced by a 'good read' and can be found curled up reading or creating a book whenever I have a spare moment. What draws me to a book is usually simple interest in a fun tale. But what makes me love a book is the design of its content, where the ideas presented are trying to lead their readers. I have always been fascinated by the written word, philosophical reasoning, and good stories of bravery and honor. I found it all and more in the Bible, and strive to let its influence deluge all my writing.
If you are reading this, it means you are a fellow bookworm. Welcome! I know you could be reading a good story instead of a long explanation of myself, so let me keep this brief. I live in the middle of Texas, and grew up mostly in a dusty town in the southern New Mexican desert. (Yes, New Mexico is a part of the United States, and no, I am not a missionary, and yes, you can drink the water.) It is my delight and privilege to be a housewife to a wonderful man, mother to our little boy, an editor at Seasoned Words Editing, and an Earl Gray connoisseur. Another of my constant activities is trying to keep our dogs, Beatrice, Lynette, Buddy, and Biscuit, from terrorizing the house and neighborhood with their determination to be always underfoot and hungry. (The work of a dog lover is never done.) When not writing, reading, chasing children or dogs, I can be found baking, hiking, or possibly broad sword fighting with my older brother. If you want a fuller explanation of me, go and read Psalm 30. The heart and purpose of my life can be found there, especially in the last two verses.
Enjoy my profile (I hope), and be sure to check out my books. I love to hear feedback, good and bad, so don't be shy to tell me what you think of my work. And keep watching! You never know when the writing itch will hit and another book will fly from my laptop into your hands.
If you are reading this, it means you are a fellow bookworm. Welcome! I know you could be reading a good story instead of a long explanation of myself, so let me keep this brief. I live in the middle of Texas, and grew up mostly in a dusty town in the southern New Mexican desert. (Yes, New Mexico is a part of the United States, and no, I am not a missionary, and yes, you can drink the water.) It is my delight and privilege to be a housewife to a wonderful man, mother to our little boy, an editor at Seasoned Words Editing, and an Earl Gray connoisseur. Another of my constant activities is trying to keep our dogs, Beatrice, Lynette, Buddy, and Biscuit, from terrorizing the house and neighborhood with their determination to be always underfoot and hungry. (The work of a dog lover is never done.) When not writing, reading, chasing children or dogs, I can be found baking, hiking, or possibly broad sword fighting with my older brother. If you want a fuller explanation of me, go and read Psalm 30. The heart and purpose of my life can be found there, especially in the last two verses.
Enjoy my profile (I hope), and be sure to check out my books. I love to hear feedback, good and bad, so don't be shy to tell me what you think of my work. And keep watching! You never know when the writing itch will hit and another book will fly from my laptop into your hands.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 6, 2015
This is a fun, rollicking adventure set on a different planet, but with people one can still relate to. A fun, clean, Christian fantasy book!!
January 15, 2019
Dreaded King: A Son Rises has all of the elements of a perfect fantasy: dragons, some unique fantastical beasts, and a creative world setting with its own regions and cultures and people groups. While few can contest with Tolkien's Middle Earth, I recognized a lot of the same thoughtful and intricate world building techniques applied by the author to Planistah making the depth of the world one of this series's strong points. From myth and lore to food and customs, every detail pulled me into the world further and contributed to the story. There is a unique, almost sci-fi element to the story as well. While the setting throughout the book is decidedly fantasy, space travel is the cause of Planistah's population, and it is frequently referenced as part of their planet's history and the origin of certain beliefs and customs. This sci-fi element is presented most heavily in the introduction which is very different from the rest of the book. So if you start there, don't be misled.
The character development was gradual enough to feel realistic and still moved quickly enough to be interesting. This is another area where I feel like the author did exceptionally well. The three main characters were likable and relatable, and their personalities complemented each other well.
The plot moved at a decent pace somewhere between the Narnia books and Lord of the Rings. Very intense, suspenseful action scenes were evenly spaced throughout with longer narrative and a few more relaxed character interactions filling in between. The point of view is pretty evenly split between the three main characters (formatted in a way that is very easy to follow), and we get a lot of the internal dialogue as the characters process the things that are happening and consider their actions.
The premise that this populace is the result of space travel from our own planet allowed for this fantasy world to have the same God as the Christian God on Earth instead of an allegorical equivalent like most other Christian Fantasy. It's an interesting twist that allowed the author to present Christian truths much more openly. This wasn't a problem for the vast majority of the book because the main focus was on truths pretty universally accepted by all Christians, but there were a few cases here and there that touched subjects that have some differing views within the Church. I personally prefer an allegory that is more cryptic for this reason - different views can more easily be overlooked if they're knit into another belief system that only mirrors Christianity and not presented openly as Christian truths. That is personal preference though, and I'm sure many people appreciate this aspect of the Dreaded King series. It certainly didn't get in the way of enjoying the story for me, either.
The prose was good and I didn't notice any obvious errors. There were a few times I felt like the flow was lost or a more modern or archaic term was used which didn't quite fit the rest of the text, but I can only say this because there WAS a well-established flow and a general theme to the word choice. It made for an overall enjoyable read.
Lastly, I wouldn't quite say the ending was a cliffhanger per se, we at least leave the characters in a relatively safe, comfortable place (thank goodness), but there is MUCH to be resolved in the following books. So be sure you have the next in the series ready before you finish! I'm looking forward to reading more and finding out what happens next.
The character development was gradual enough to feel realistic and still moved quickly enough to be interesting. This is another area where I feel like the author did exceptionally well. The three main characters were likable and relatable, and their personalities complemented each other well.
The plot moved at a decent pace somewhere between the Narnia books and Lord of the Rings. Very intense, suspenseful action scenes were evenly spaced throughout with longer narrative and a few more relaxed character interactions filling in between. The point of view is pretty evenly split between the three main characters (formatted in a way that is very easy to follow), and we get a lot of the internal dialogue as the characters process the things that are happening and consider their actions.
The premise that this populace is the result of space travel from our own planet allowed for this fantasy world to have the same God as the Christian God on Earth instead of an allegorical equivalent like most other Christian Fantasy. It's an interesting twist that allowed the author to present Christian truths much more openly. This wasn't a problem for the vast majority of the book because the main focus was on truths pretty universally accepted by all Christians, but there were a few cases here and there that touched subjects that have some differing views within the Church. I personally prefer an allegory that is more cryptic for this reason - different views can more easily be overlooked if they're knit into another belief system that only mirrors Christianity and not presented openly as Christian truths. That is personal preference though, and I'm sure many people appreciate this aspect of the Dreaded King series. It certainly didn't get in the way of enjoying the story for me, either.
The prose was good and I didn't notice any obvious errors. There were a few times I felt like the flow was lost or a more modern or archaic term was used which didn't quite fit the rest of the text, but I can only say this because there WAS a well-established flow and a general theme to the word choice. It made for an overall enjoyable read.
Lastly, I wouldn't quite say the ending was a cliffhanger per se, we at least leave the characters in a relatively safe, comfortable place (thank goodness), but there is MUCH to be resolved in the following books. So be sure you have the next in the series ready before you finish! I'm looking forward to reading more and finding out what happens next.
September 1, 2017
Lovable characters, exciting adventures, an interesting premise, and cool settings! Plus some mouth watering food descriptions!
January 18, 2025
In Venezuela in 1912, A. Arthur Simpson and his friend find a heavy silvery box in a crater. A. Arthur brings the box to his home in Massachusetts and finds that it contains journals, drawings, and other artifacts from a planet called Planistah...apparently settled by ancient humans who traveled from earth in a spaceship before the Great Flood.
For me, it is then no wonder that our Jesus Christ also came to the humans on Planistah (just as Jesus though, as Christ is a Greek word) to save them.
A. Arthur provides footnotes (very stream of consciousness, which becomes distracting) and a glossary as he pieces together journal entries from Charlie (20), Meagan (a former knight's surname), and Corinth (19, Meagan's daughter). Charlie seems much older at first, especially when he first stumbles across the Meagans as a starved farmer whose farm has been burned by dragons. The three come together to uncover a plot from an antagonistic group who learn a secret before our protagonists do.
Because A. Arthur gives the story as literally translated as possible, the phonetic spelling of things made me feel like I was slogging through parts of the story. I wanted to continue but also needed breaks.
I love learning about Meagan's past, the past of the world, and the possibility of a plague that the people of the planet evolved from but may still be contained in the area of the first ship. I love learning about Charlie's past and seeing his growth.
I don't like that Meagan doesn't think Charlie is a man's man as a vegetarian. AND that by simply saying "God said we can eat meat" (with proof in their Scriptures) and having Charlie repeat the word "meat," Charlie just accepts meat is good. It's weird and unrealistic.
As parts of the mystery are known, other parts are given. The storytelling is done very well and never left me frustrated at having too much at once. It's a great balance!
For me, it is then no wonder that our Jesus Christ also came to the humans on Planistah (just as Jesus though, as Christ is a Greek word) to save them.
A. Arthur provides footnotes (very stream of consciousness, which becomes distracting) and a glossary as he pieces together journal entries from Charlie (20), Meagan (a former knight's surname), and Corinth (19, Meagan's daughter). Charlie seems much older at first, especially when he first stumbles across the Meagans as a starved farmer whose farm has been burned by dragons. The three come together to uncover a plot from an antagonistic group who learn a secret before our protagonists do.
Because A. Arthur gives the story as literally translated as possible, the phonetic spelling of things made me feel like I was slogging through parts of the story. I wanted to continue but also needed breaks.
I love learning about Meagan's past, the past of the world, and the possibility of a plague that the people of the planet evolved from but may still be contained in the area of the first ship. I love learning about Charlie's past and seeing his growth.
I don't like that Meagan doesn't think Charlie is a man's man as a vegetarian. AND that by simply saying "God said we can eat meat" (with proof in their Scriptures) and having Charlie repeat the word "meat," Charlie just accepts meat is good. It's weird and unrealistic.
As parts of the mystery are known, other parts are given. The storytelling is done very well and never left me frustrated at having too much at once. It's a great balance!
July 29, 2017
Possibly one of the best books I've read from the author. What a fun read!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews