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Heirs of Destiny #1
Trial of Stone
A kingdom of death. A war for power and profit. Young heroes caught in the crossfire.Apprentice thief Kodyn expected hardships along his journey to return a kidnapped girl to her father. Harsh deserts and cutthroat bandits, certainly—all risks of the mission—but his criminal training never prepared him to be dragged into a shadowy battle for power in Shalandra, the City of the Dead.
Polite smiles hide sharp knives. In the gloom of golden spires carved from mountain stone, currents of corruption and vice run deep. Priests of the god of death rule with an iron fist, imposing a caste system that elevates some to a life of privilege and condemns others to filth and squalor.
Fighting at Kodyn’s side is Aisha, a fierce warrior from the north with the mystical ability to speak to the dead. Together, the companions must go to war to save Shalandra from the power-hungry clerics and their army of thieves, thugs, blood cultists, and assassins.
The fate of a nation rests on their shoulders—are these young heroes strong enough to seize their destiny?
Trial of Stone is the first in the gripping, heart-pounding Heirs of Destiny series. Get ready for a thrill ride on epic fantasy’s darker side, perfect for fans of A.C. Cobble, Jeff Wheeler, and Robin Hobb.
Click now if you love action, intrigue, and heroic deeds that will set your heart racing!
"If you like intricate world-building, vivid descriptions that transport you to another place, and heart-pounding, visceral fight scenes, then Heirs of Destiny is your book!" – A.C. Cobble, author of Benjamin Ashwood
"A masterfully woven story with wonderfully imagined characters you will not soon forget!" -- Stevie Collier, Author of The Dark Assassin Trilogy
In the Heirs of Destiny of Stone (Book 1)Crucible of Fortune (Book 2)Storm of Chaos (Book 3)Secrets of Blood (Book 4)Ascension of Death (Book 5)AND Renegade Apprentice (Book 6) <--Evren’s Prequel Novella
Polite smiles hide sharp knives. In the gloom of golden spires carved from mountain stone, currents of corruption and vice run deep. Priests of the god of death rule with an iron fist, imposing a caste system that elevates some to a life of privilege and condemns others to filth and squalor.
Fighting at Kodyn’s side is Aisha, a fierce warrior from the north with the mystical ability to speak to the dead. Together, the companions must go to war to save Shalandra from the power-hungry clerics and their army of thieves, thugs, blood cultists, and assassins.
The fate of a nation rests on their shoulders—are these young heroes strong enough to seize their destiny?
Trial of Stone is the first in the gripping, heart-pounding Heirs of Destiny series. Get ready for a thrill ride on epic fantasy’s darker side, perfect for fans of A.C. Cobble, Jeff Wheeler, and Robin Hobb.
Click now if you love action, intrigue, and heroic deeds that will set your heart racing!
"If you like intricate world-building, vivid descriptions that transport you to another place, and heart-pounding, visceral fight scenes, then Heirs of Destiny is your book!" – A.C. Cobble, author of Benjamin Ashwood
"A masterfully woven story with wonderfully imagined characters you will not soon forget!" -- Stevie Collier, Author of The Dark Assassin Trilogy
In the Heirs of Destiny of Stone (Book 1)Crucible of Fortune (Book 2)Storm of Chaos (Book 3)Secrets of Blood (Book 4)Ascension of Death (Book 5)AND Renegade Apprentice (Book 6) <--Evren’s Prequel Novella
518 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2019
387 people are currently reading
453 people want to read
About the author
Andy Peloquin
89 books1,289 followersI am, first and foremost, a storyteller and an artist--words are my palette. Fantasy is my genre of choice, and I love to explore the darker side of human nature through the filter of fantasy heroes, villains, and everything in between. I'm also a freelance writer, a book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people and spend hours talking about my fascination for the worlds I encounter in the pages of fantasy novels.
Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle--it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!
Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle--it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 8, 2019
5 young heroes, one with magical abilities, one warrior in training, one is a thief, one hears voices of the dead,one has a mission of his own...and they must protect the one who must not be taken. Exciting, thrilling, intriguing! The characters are unforgettable! This is a very good book!
January 7, 2019
What a great beginning to a new series. The world building is awesome and you can bond with the characters. You will escape into another world for st least a little while, making your day, or night, better. I am moving immediately to book two, can't stop now!
February 14, 2019
Trial Of Stone , The debut in a new 5 book series by the ever prolific Andy Peloquin is the perfect novel for fans of multi POV epic fantasy in the vein of Sanderson, and John Gwynne. It tells the stories of Issa, Evren, Kodyn, and Aisha, who each have very different missions, but as the story progresses , become more and more intertwined as the thief, the assassin and the aspiring Keeper’s Blade’s quests bring them together in a dangerous web of intrigue and deception.
While set in the same world as both of Peloquin’s other series, Hero Of Darkness, and Queen of Thieves, there is no need to have completed those series to enjoy this one. Peloquin gives us enough background about Evren and Hailen’s relationship with The Hunter, and Kodyn’s relationship with Ilanna, that readers won’t feel lost. They will, however, likely want to go back and find out more about Peloquin’s wonderfully fleshed out world.
Much of the novel takes place in Shalandra , a city, corruptly governed by priests of the God of Death, where people are segregated in to “castes” , some elevated to near royal status, while others are relegated to subservience with the inability to ever rise in status. It’s the perfect setting for the type of conflict the novel presents, where even those with the best of intentions often struggle to trust those that would be their closest allies.
Being book one in a hugely ambitious series, there is quite a lot of setup here. We learn extensively about each of the POVs, their backgrounds and their individual quests. Alliances are formed, and intensity builds. Aisha, Kodyn’s friend who accompanies him on his mission, is particularly significant as she is able to interact with the dead, which is really the first use of magic in the novel. The side characters are also written in to storylines in a way that almost ensures that they will be developed and integrated more in future books.
Peloquin writes excellent complex plots, but at his core is a character based author. Through a great deal of interaction, and some inner monologue, he makes us care about his characters, their struggles and their conquests. He manages the difficult task of bringing a sense of urgency to each one of his story beats, and unlike his individually centred other series his challenge of maintaining interest with each POV is masterfully accomplished. There are a number of truly emotional moments in this novel.
What’s amazing about Trial Of Stone, perhaps above anything else is the complexity of the world, it’s systems of government, the beautiful descriptive prose, and the fact that this is the type of novel
that takes many authors 5 years to write. Andy Peloquin has become one of my favorite authors. His prolificacy never hinders the quality of his work, and he sets a very high benchmark for self published Fantasy. I will be devouring this series quickly, with more detailed reviews as it goes on and I look forward to what Andy offers us next.
While set in the same world as both of Peloquin’s other series, Hero Of Darkness, and Queen of Thieves, there is no need to have completed those series to enjoy this one. Peloquin gives us enough background about Evren and Hailen’s relationship with The Hunter, and Kodyn’s relationship with Ilanna, that readers won’t feel lost. They will, however, likely want to go back and find out more about Peloquin’s wonderfully fleshed out world.
Much of the novel takes place in Shalandra , a city, corruptly governed by priests of the God of Death, where people are segregated in to “castes” , some elevated to near royal status, while others are relegated to subservience with the inability to ever rise in status. It’s the perfect setting for the type of conflict the novel presents, where even those with the best of intentions often struggle to trust those that would be their closest allies.
Being book one in a hugely ambitious series, there is quite a lot of setup here. We learn extensively about each of the POVs, their backgrounds and their individual quests. Alliances are formed, and intensity builds. Aisha, Kodyn’s friend who accompanies him on his mission, is particularly significant as she is able to interact with the dead, which is really the first use of magic in the novel. The side characters are also written in to storylines in a way that almost ensures that they will be developed and integrated more in future books.
Peloquin writes excellent complex plots, but at his core is a character based author. Through a great deal of interaction, and some inner monologue, he makes us care about his characters, their struggles and their conquests. He manages the difficult task of bringing a sense of urgency to each one of his story beats, and unlike his individually centred other series his challenge of maintaining interest with each POV is masterfully accomplished. There are a number of truly emotional moments in this novel.
What’s amazing about Trial Of Stone, perhaps above anything else is the complexity of the world, it’s systems of government, the beautiful descriptive prose, and the fact that this is the type of novel
that takes many authors 5 years to write. Andy Peloquin has become one of my favorite authors. His prolificacy never hinders the quality of his work, and he sets a very high benchmark for self published Fantasy. I will be devouring this series quickly, with more detailed reviews as it goes on and I look forward to what Andy offers us next.
June 10, 2023
Five teen heroes.
One with magical abilities. One warrior trainee. One smart thief. One hears the voices of the dead with the danger of madness ever lurking. One who takes a secretive mission of his own. What binds them together is Lady Briana, a young girl who must be returned to her father in the City of Dead, whom they must protect.
This is the type of book I would whole-heartedly recommend to my brothers (aged 15 and 16).
It’s fast-paced, has fantastic battle scenes, light world-building with caste systems and city politics vying for power, a young cast, and extremely light romance (very juvenile).
If I could compare it to a more well-known book, it almost felt like a younger, stepping stone version of Malice by John Gwynne.
I have to commend the narrator of the audiobook - the different accents for the tribes, the gendered differences and inflections, thoroughly absorbing!
Bookstagram
One with magical abilities. One warrior trainee. One smart thief. One hears the voices of the dead with the danger of madness ever lurking. One who takes a secretive mission of his own. What binds them together is Lady Briana, a young girl who must be returned to her father in the City of Dead, whom they must protect.
This is the type of book I would whole-heartedly recommend to my brothers (aged 15 and 16).
It’s fast-paced, has fantastic battle scenes, light world-building with caste systems and city politics vying for power, a young cast, and extremely light romance (very juvenile).
If I could compare it to a more well-known book, it almost felt like a younger, stepping stone version of Malice by John Gwynne.
I have to commend the narrator of the audiobook - the different accents for the tribes, the gendered differences and inflections, thoroughly absorbing!
Bookstagram
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August 17, 2019This book actually reminded me a lot of Sabaa Tahir's EMBER IN THE ASHES, except that I liked it a lot better. Sure, compared to that book it's lighter on romance, ethical quandaries and lyrical prose. Meanwhile, the similarities are distinct but not copycat: we have an oppressive empire based on real history (Egypt instead of Rome), a young hero trying to survive a brutal induction into the autocrat's elite guard corps, other protagonists from the underbelly of a rigid caste system trying hard to pursue their own goals and, along the way, justice. But this book gets higher marks from me for its more detailed and convincing worldbuilding, its breathless action (though the violence is definitely on the hard end of a PG-13 rating), and the fact that despite being convincingly gritty it manages that without constant rape threats :-/
February 28, 2024
Trial of Stone by Andy Peloquin
This is the third book I have read of Andy’s and it’s my favorite of his so far. There were several story lines going on and the way they came together was absolutely incredible! The author has such a way of writing that just pulls you in so deep that there is no way out. I listened to this on audible and the narration was perfect. The honest truth is that it was a forceful action to press pause to do life. Dramatic or not, it was hard to come out of this book once I got sucked in. I finished it in a few days and immediately went to the next book. Finished that and made myself do this review before starting the third. These books in this series are seriously addicting, almost worse than my coffee addiction. And I drank tons of coffee while listening because there is so much action, and oh my gosh through the whole book. It's full of swords, knives, fighting, protecting, training, pushing through and fighting through the pain, becoming a warrior, finding your true self, finding out who you can trust, survival and more, all the things! It’s pure awesomeness at its best!
Oh and I wanted to mention, this mentions the Night Guild which I did read the first book of that series, Child of the Night Guild. But these characters mentioned I believe are in the second book and maybe the third too, I’m not sure. So I would recommend reading those books first. Having only read the 1st book though, did help me a lot though in having a clue what they were referring to. It also mentions the Hunter which I haven’t read any of his books but I know who he is because I follow Andy on social media and I’ve seen his books about the Hunter in Darkblade.
*This is darker fantasy but definitely not as dark as his other books .
This is the third book I have read of Andy’s and it’s my favorite of his so far. There were several story lines going on and the way they came together was absolutely incredible! The author has such a way of writing that just pulls you in so deep that there is no way out. I listened to this on audible and the narration was perfect. The honest truth is that it was a forceful action to press pause to do life. Dramatic or not, it was hard to come out of this book once I got sucked in. I finished it in a few days and immediately went to the next book. Finished that and made myself do this review before starting the third. These books in this series are seriously addicting, almost worse than my coffee addiction. And I drank tons of coffee while listening because there is so much action, and oh my gosh through the whole book. It's full of swords, knives, fighting, protecting, training, pushing through and fighting through the pain, becoming a warrior, finding your true self, finding out who you can trust, survival and more, all the things! It’s pure awesomeness at its best!
Oh and I wanted to mention, this mentions the Night Guild which I did read the first book of that series, Child of the Night Guild. But these characters mentioned I believe are in the second book and maybe the third too, I’m not sure. So I would recommend reading those books first. Having only read the 1st book though, did help me a lot though in having a clue what they were referring to. It also mentions the Hunter which I haven’t read any of his books but I know who he is because I follow Andy on social media and I’ve seen his books about the Hunter in Darkblade.
*This is darker fantasy but definitely not as dark as his other books .
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May 10, 2024My favourite book of Andy's so far!
The writing is just as good as his other better known works, but the theme is not as dark and the main characters are less evil. And there's still all the action intrigue and excitement—if not more because the characters are fallible.
I love that it's set in the same world as his other work, and there are some call-backs to his famous character, The Hunter.
The protagonists each have a mission they consider vital and are not only great characters but each perspective helps to flesh out the complex (and fascinating) world of the stone city where most of the action happens.
The writing is just as good as his other better known works, but the theme is not as dark and the main characters are less evil. And there's still all the action intrigue and excitement—if not more because the characters are fallible.
I love that it's set in the same world as his other work, and there are some call-backs to his famous character, The Hunter.
The protagonists each have a mission they consider vital and are not only great characters but each perspective helps to flesh out the complex (and fascinating) world of the stone city where most of the action happens.
Want to read
November 23, 2024FanFiAddict Indie Author book sale weekend Nov 23-25
August 17, 2019
Five young warriors, each with a mission. The setting is Shelandria, City of the Dead and hometown for one of the young warriors. The other four arrive in Shelandria in pairs to complete their separate missions. The tale is told from pov of mainly Issa, Kodyn, Aisha and Evran and these are in a concurrent time frame which I found a little confusing at times until I had the story line more firmly in my mind. Plenty of action, great world-building and some very interesting characters. This is an author I will definitely be reading more of.
March 25, 2019
Pick this up and read it, you will not regret it. Good characters and story that you'll enjoy. Good Reading Everyone!
December 27, 2018
I wanted to know more about the young people in the Queen of Thieves and Hero of Darkness series (Evren, Kodyn, Hailen, Aisha...) and this new series is about them. Excellent!
January 22, 2019
What do you do when you are the son of the best thief in the night guild and want to come out from under her shadow. You along with your best friend decide to help a young woman get back to her father . Koydn along with his best friend Aisha help bring Briana home to Shalandra, the city of the Dead . Where things aren't what they seem . Corruption runs the city and there is a class divide where the wealthy are cruel and the lower caste are living in squalor . They are thrown into the middle of what seems to be a war between the castes . With the help of his best friend Aisha and her warrior fierceness they will jump into the middle of a war that they might not be able to win .
This is an epic book with so many characters but the main characters are so very well written and complex . Koydn is a strong young man who is trying to find himself . Sometimes he is a hotheaded young man who wants to do every thing for himself and keep everyone safe . You will love him and want him to do well and keep everyone safe . He is young and wants to get out of his mothers shadow and become his own man. His best friend Aisha is a fierce warrior , she will kick your butt and hand it to you in about three moves . She has been through a lot and has come through the other side . Taken in by the Night Guild , she grew up training to be the best at what she does . You will love her so much , I will say she is my favourite character through out the series . She is strong and also can talk with the dead which we find out all about in this book . We also meet some new characters Briana is the young woman that Koydn and Aisha help make it home . To me she is a character that you will have to get use to . One moment she is strong and the next she is like a little scared kitten . It took me a bit to get use to her ,but she did grow on me . We also meet Evren and Hailen from the Dark blade series . They are on their way to Shalandra for their own quest . Also we will meet Issa a young Shalandraite who will blow your mind not going to say any more about he This is a big book and once you start reading you will not and can not put it down . The story will take you on an epic journey into a world of fantasy . The author takes us on such a roller coaster ride , there are twists and turns that will keep the pages turning way into the night . When is started this book it was like coming home to a cast of characters that you want to know and take care of . The author builds a world that will amaze you . The caste system he has set up takes you from the poorest of the poor to the richest and shows the difference of what money and power can do . When you start this book be prepared not to move for most of the day, have a warm blanket and a good cup of tea cause you will not put this book down until you are finished . The story will have you entertained and you will fall in love with the characters . It is the best of both series . So if you liked the Darkblade series and the night guild series , you will love this series I am going to say its stands alone on its own merits but it also has the best of both series . So check it out and you will not be disappointed . r cause you have to read the book to find out more about all the characters .
This is an epic book with so many characters but the main characters are so very well written and complex . Koydn is a strong young man who is trying to find himself . Sometimes he is a hotheaded young man who wants to do every thing for himself and keep everyone safe . You will love him and want him to do well and keep everyone safe . He is young and wants to get out of his mothers shadow and become his own man. His best friend Aisha is a fierce warrior , she will kick your butt and hand it to you in about three moves . She has been through a lot and has come through the other side . Taken in by the Night Guild , she grew up training to be the best at what she does . You will love her so much , I will say she is my favourite character through out the series . She is strong and also can talk with the dead which we find out all about in this book . We also meet some new characters Briana is the young woman that Koydn and Aisha help make it home . To me she is a character that you will have to get use to . One moment she is strong and the next she is like a little scared kitten . It took me a bit to get use to her ,but she did grow on me . We also meet Evren and Hailen from the Dark blade series . They are on their way to Shalandra for their own quest . Also we will meet Issa a young Shalandraite who will blow your mind not going to say any more about he This is a big book and once you start reading you will not and can not put it down . The story will take you on an epic journey into a world of fantasy . The author takes us on such a roller coaster ride , there are twists and turns that will keep the pages turning way into the night . When is started this book it was like coming home to a cast of characters that you want to know and take care of . The author builds a world that will amaze you . The caste system he has set up takes you from the poorest of the poor to the richest and shows the difference of what money and power can do . When you start this book be prepared not to move for most of the day, have a warm blanket and a good cup of tea cause you will not put this book down until you are finished . The story will have you entertained and you will fall in love with the characters . It is the best of both series . So if you liked the Darkblade series and the night guild series , you will love this series I am going to say its stands alone on its own merits but it also has the best of both series . So check it out and you will not be disappointed . r cause you have to read the book to find out more about all the characters .
January 28, 2019
Brace yourself for this heart-pounding, emotionally-charged whirlwind of action! My chest was tight as I read this, to the point it was almost painful because I was so absorbed into this epic masterpiece! Andy Peloquin has taken things to a whole other level. Everything from the magnificent world building, the badass characters with amazing back stories . . . it just sucked me right in to a world of awesomeness. Every chapter ended with such a tease, I couldn’t put it down!
The moment I read the last word, I made a sound that had the entire break room turning to me and asking what was wrong.
"It's over . . ."
I saw the percentage dwindling away, I knew it was about to end . . . and yet, I didn't want it to stop.
Issa, Aisha, and Evren . . . I loved them ALL!! Trial of Stone combines a lot of the things I love most in fantasy books: POVs from a warrior training and thieves , magic, dark plots, and a whirlwind of action. It’s not as dark as his other books, but just as epic, if not more!
This is one of those books that NEEDS to be made into a movie because it would totally crush the box offices!!!
The moment I read the last word, I made a sound that had the entire break room turning to me and asking what was wrong.
"It's over . . ."
I saw the percentage dwindling away, I knew it was about to end . . . and yet, I didn't want it to stop.
Issa, Aisha, and Evren . . . I loved them ALL!! Trial of Stone combines a lot of the things I love most in fantasy books: POVs from a warrior training and thieves , magic, dark plots, and a whirlwind of action. It’s not as dark as his other books, but just as epic, if not more!
This is one of those books that NEEDS to be made into a movie because it would totally crush the box offices!!!
February 6, 2019
This is a page-turner sword and sorcery adventure. The story is rich with descriptions and the fight scenes are superb. I did skim over some of the descriptions, but never the fight scenes! Every chapter moves from one character to the next and most of the chapters end on cliffhangers. It will keep you on the edge of your seat! Make sure you have a weekend to read this book, because you won't want to put it down. I didn't want it to end! At least the first two chapters of Book 2 are included as a sneak peek at the end.
The story follows the lives of several intriguing young adult characters, most of them well trained warriors. They each have their own battles to fight, but there's something bigger at stake and they will need each other to save the realm. All of them end up in Shalandra, the City of the Dead, either by birth or by journey there.
There's 17-year-old Issa from Shalandra who's training to become a Keeper's Blade and who doesn't know anything about her parents. Then there's 17-year-old Evren who is chosen by the Hunter to go on a dangerous mission. His first priority, though, is to protect young Hailen who is the last of his race with magical abilities. Then there's Kodyn and Aisha who are also 17-years-old and who appoint themselves as bodyguards to Briana. Kodyn belongs to the Night Guild and has to prove himself on a mission. Aisha, formerly a trafficking victim, is a lethal fighter and friends with Kodyn. She's also a Spirit Whisperer and carries the burden of hearing the anguished cries of the deceased. Briana, the daughter of the highest-ranking Secret Keepers of Shalandra, was previously kidnapped and is still in danger. The way these youths finally meet up at the end is not how I was expecting.
There are other exciting characters too, like Killian and Hykos. Killian is a blacksmith with spies in the city. He secretly trained Issa for 5 years in many different fighting styles. Hykos chooses to train Issa as a Keeper's Blade, but has to relinquish her training to a man higher up who seems determined to break her. Hykos is handsome and only a couple of years older than Issa. He gives her as much support as he can, because he wants her to succeed.
Shalandra is an awful city with a ruthless caste system that violates basic human rights. The slave trade is also prevalent. There are cultists and criminals gathering in numbers and bored soldiers patrolling the streets. People are harboring anger and resentment against the power hungry. It won't be long before there's a bloody rebellion. What difference can our young heroes make in this volatile time?
I read this book in KU. This is my honest and voluntary review.
The story follows the lives of several intriguing young adult characters, most of them well trained warriors. They each have their own battles to fight, but there's something bigger at stake and they will need each other to save the realm. All of them end up in Shalandra, the City of the Dead, either by birth or by journey there.
There's 17-year-old Issa from Shalandra who's training to become a Keeper's Blade and who doesn't know anything about her parents. Then there's 17-year-old Evren who is chosen by the Hunter to go on a dangerous mission. His first priority, though, is to protect young Hailen who is the last of his race with magical abilities. Then there's Kodyn and Aisha who are also 17-years-old and who appoint themselves as bodyguards to Briana. Kodyn belongs to the Night Guild and has to prove himself on a mission. Aisha, formerly a trafficking victim, is a lethal fighter and friends with Kodyn. She's also a Spirit Whisperer and carries the burden of hearing the anguished cries of the deceased. Briana, the daughter of the highest-ranking Secret Keepers of Shalandra, was previously kidnapped and is still in danger. The way these youths finally meet up at the end is not how I was expecting.
There are other exciting characters too, like Killian and Hykos. Killian is a blacksmith with spies in the city. He secretly trained Issa for 5 years in many different fighting styles. Hykos chooses to train Issa as a Keeper's Blade, but has to relinquish her training to a man higher up who seems determined to break her. Hykos is handsome and only a couple of years older than Issa. He gives her as much support as he can, because he wants her to succeed.
Shalandra is an awful city with a ruthless caste system that violates basic human rights. The slave trade is also prevalent. There are cultists and criminals gathering in numbers and bored soldiers patrolling the streets. People are harboring anger and resentment against the power hungry. It won't be long before there's a bloody rebellion. What difference can our young heroes make in this volatile time?
I read this book in KU. This is my honest and voluntary review.
February 7, 2019
This is a page-turner sword and sorcery adventure. The story is rich with descriptions and the fight scenes are superb. I did skim over some of the descriptions, but never the fight scenes! Every chapter moves from one character to the next and most of the chapters end on cliffhangers. It will keep you on the edge of your seat! Make sure you have a weekend to read this book, because you won't want to put it down. I didn't want it to end! At least the first two chapters of Book 2 are included as a sneak peek at the end.
The story follows the lives of several intriguing young adult characters, most of them well trained warriors. They each have their own battles to fight, but there's something bigger at stake and they will need each other to save the realm. All of them end up in Shalandra, the City of the Dead, either by birth or by journey there.
There's 17-year-old Issa from Shalandra who's training to become a Keeper's Blade and who doesn't know anything about her parents. Then there's 17-year-old Evren who is chosen by the Hunter to go on a dangerous mission. His first priority, though, is to protect young Hailen who is the last of his race with magical abilities. Then there's Kodyn and Aisha who are also 17-years-old and who appoint themselves as bodyguards to Briana. Kodyn belongs to the Night Guild and has to prove himself on a mission. Aisha, formerly a trafficking victim, is a lethal fighter and friends with Kodyn. She's also a Spirit Whisperer and carries the burden of hearing the anguished cries of the deceased. Briana, the daughter of the highest-ranking Secret Keepers of Shalandra, was previously kidnapped and is still in danger. The way these youths finally meet up at the end is not how I was expecting.
There are other exciting characters too, like Killian and Hykos. Killian is a blacksmith with spies in the city. He secretly trained Issa for 5 years in many different fighting styles. Hykos chooses to train Issa as a Keeper's Blade, but has to relinquish her training to a man higher up who seems determined to break her. Hykos is handsome and only a couple of years older than Issa. He gives her as much support as he can, because he wants her to succeed.
Shalandra is an awful city with a ruthless caste system that violates basic human rights. The slave trade is also prevalent. There are cultists and criminals gathering in numbers and bored soldiers patrolling the streets. People are harboring anger and resentment against the power hungry. It won't be long before there's a bloody rebellion. What difference can our young heroes make in this volatile time?
I read this book in KU. This is my honest and voluntary review.
The story follows the lives of several intriguing young adult characters, most of them well trained warriors. They each have their own battles to fight, but there's something bigger at stake and they will need each other to save the realm. All of them end up in Shalandra, the City of the Dead, either by birth or by journey there.
There's 17-year-old Issa from Shalandra who's training to become a Keeper's Blade and who doesn't know anything about her parents. Then there's 17-year-old Evren who is chosen by the Hunter to go on a dangerous mission. His first priority, though, is to protect young Hailen who is the last of his race with magical abilities. Then there's Kodyn and Aisha who are also 17-years-old and who appoint themselves as bodyguards to Briana. Kodyn belongs to the Night Guild and has to prove himself on a mission. Aisha, formerly a trafficking victim, is a lethal fighter and friends with Kodyn. She's also a Spirit Whisperer and carries the burden of hearing the anguished cries of the deceased. Briana, the daughter of the highest-ranking Secret Keepers of Shalandra, was previously kidnapped and is still in danger. The way these youths finally meet up at the end is not how I was expecting.
There are other exciting characters too, like Killian and Hykos. Killian is a blacksmith with spies in the city. He secretly trained Issa for 5 years in many different fighting styles. Hykos chooses to train Issa as a Keeper's Blade, but has to relinquish her training to a man higher up who seems determined to break her. Hykos is handsome and only a couple of years older than Issa. He gives her as much support as he can, because he wants her to succeed.
Shalandra is an awful city with a ruthless caste system that violates basic human rights. The slave trade is also prevalent. There are cultists and criminals gathering in numbers and bored soldiers patrolling the streets. People are harboring anger and resentment against the power hungry. It won't be long before there's a bloody rebellion. What difference can our young heroes make in this volatile time?
I read this book in KU. This is my honest and voluntary review.
July 10, 2020
In the first book of Heirs of Destiny we travel along three threads of our different heroes lives which all finally arrive in Shalandra, the City of the Dead where a strict caste system is in place and where the priests wield the most power even though there is a Pharus who heads the Kingdom and a Head of the military, the Lady of Blades, who is also powerful. Kodyn and Aisha travel towards the city to bring home Lady Brianna who had been kidnapped and was saved by the members of the night guild in Praamis. They also come with their own agendas but are ill prepared for all the corruption they find here. Evren and Hailen also travel towards Shalandra with their own agenda in place and both groups come to steal two of the finest artefacts to be found and treasured in this city. Whilst Issa is a lower caste Shalandrian, who takes the challenge to become one of the blade's, defenders of the city. All three strands of these people's lives are woven in a beautifully intricate tale to give us a whole picture. Destiny has a habit of bringing people together when their lives are bound to one another even when they themselves don't know it. The action in this book is fast paced, the fighting as usual in all Peloquin's books is perfect down to it's finer details and the tension escalates as we live through our character's lives in the city of the dead. Peloquin's descriptions are very vivid whether these be in painting the ambience of the city, the fight scenes and even the weaponry used during these fights and I find these details a pleasure to absorb as they bring the story to life for me. The tale is gripping right from the start and I just cannot wait to go on reading book 2.
April 16, 2019
This was a highly enjoyable read. If I had to compare Peloquin's style of storytelling to anyone, I would say it's Brent Weeks. Not only is the style similar. Peloquin is also at a similar level in the quality of storytelling, and that's high praise because Weeks is one of my favorite authors.
This book follows four main characters, and they all felt fully developed even though it has become apparent to me that there have been previous books about these characters. That's not a problem, though. This book doesn't require you to read any previous books to fall in love with it.
The pacing was always brisk, and I never felt bored while reading it. Toward the end, the action became relentless and had me frantically flipping virtual pages. I love it when an author can do that.
Some people might be scared away by the Young Adult tag in the book description, but that shouldn't be a worry for anyone. This book is great for both younger readers and adults. Like I said, I would compare it to Weeks or possibly The Lies of Locke Lamora. If you're looking for a Young Adult comparison, Six of Crows would be a good one. This gave me some similar feelings. I believe some of the author's book descriptions also compare his novels to Throne of Glass, and I can see that comparison as well, though I will say there's a greater focus on action here, and less of a focus on romance.
Overall, I simply loved this book, and I can't wait to dive into the author's bibliography, which already looks to be quite extensive. I have some good times ahead of me.
Rating: 9.5/10
This book follows four main characters, and they all felt fully developed even though it has become apparent to me that there have been previous books about these characters. That's not a problem, though. This book doesn't require you to read any previous books to fall in love with it.
The pacing was always brisk, and I never felt bored while reading it. Toward the end, the action became relentless and had me frantically flipping virtual pages. I love it when an author can do that.
Some people might be scared away by the Young Adult tag in the book description, but that shouldn't be a worry for anyone. This book is great for both younger readers and adults. Like I said, I would compare it to Weeks or possibly The Lies of Locke Lamora. If you're looking for a Young Adult comparison, Six of Crows would be a good one. This gave me some similar feelings. I believe some of the author's book descriptions also compare his novels to Throne of Glass, and I can see that comparison as well, though I will say there's a greater focus on action here, and less of a focus on romance.
Overall, I simply loved this book, and I can't wait to dive into the author's bibliography, which already looks to be quite extensive. I have some good times ahead of me.
Rating: 9.5/10
June 15, 2022
Totally loved these books so so much. They were really good, packed with action, adventure, mystery - all sorts of super full things that I love to see in books. My only issues were that 1.) Too many protagonists. While Andy Peloquin did an excellent job with telling this story, he had too many main protagonists. It made the story kind of watered down, and didn't really leave much room for villain development and character growth, which I love to see in books. Instead of doing four mains, two would have generally sufficed for the book, one of the reasons I didn't give it a five star. 2.) His romance is. . .sloppy. I'm saying, he's a bad author, he is extremely good. But his romance is lacking. It's like he remembered that there was supposed to be romance in his series at the END. He could could have really built up on the romance, seriously.
Overall, I loved these books, they kept me busy for a week.
I recommend you read them.
Overall, I loved these books, they kept me busy for a week.
I recommend you read them.
November 24, 2023
This is the first book in a series that will cover the actions and experiences of Evren, Hailen, Kodyn, Aisha, and Briana between books five and six of the Darkblade series.
This books weaves the threads of Evren and Hailen, Kodyn, Aisha, and Briana, and a new character Issa together, introducing the readers to the city of the dead, the culture and politics, and the Keeper's Blades. Throughout this novel Mr. Peloquin does what he has done so well in the past, and weave these threads together into a beautiful tapestry of intrigue and death. We are left with questions, heart ache, and anger at the end of the novel. This is coupled with a desire to see the characters triumph by the end of the series and in anticipation of what will happen now that our five young characters have been drawn together.
At this time (24 Nov 2023) This entire series is available on Audible and Kindle Unlimited, and this book is included in the Audible Plus catalog.
This books weaves the threads of Evren and Hailen, Kodyn, Aisha, and Briana, and a new character Issa together, introducing the readers to the city of the dead, the culture and politics, and the Keeper's Blades. Throughout this novel Mr. Peloquin does what he has done so well in the past, and weave these threads together into a beautiful tapestry of intrigue and death. We are left with questions, heart ache, and anger at the end of the novel. This is coupled with a desire to see the characters triumph by the end of the series and in anticipation of what will happen now that our five young characters have been drawn together.
At this time (24 Nov 2023) This entire series is available on Audible and Kindle Unlimited, and this book is included in the Audible Plus catalog.
February 11, 2019
A Painting on Paper
Andy Peloquin kicks off the Heirs of Destiny story ark with a gripping tale of five heroes as they all strive to meet their goals and objectives in a world which is vividly imprinted on to the reader's mind.
Peloquin describes the world of Voramis as a beautiful and almost mystical land with more dark secrets than shadows in the night. The heroes, all with different goals and objectives, strive to succeed in their chosen paths.
As part of an interconnected world, you will have all of the lore necessary explained to you through the book's clever method of writing, with you wanting to read into the stories of others.
This is a series I'll be finishing for sure, with all the books due out before the end of the second quarter of 2019. It is a highly intriguing read that will leave you wondering what happens next.
Andy Peloquin kicks off the Heirs of Destiny story ark with a gripping tale of five heroes as they all strive to meet their goals and objectives in a world which is vividly imprinted on to the reader's mind.
Peloquin describes the world of Voramis as a beautiful and almost mystical land with more dark secrets than shadows in the night. The heroes, all with different goals and objectives, strive to succeed in their chosen paths.
As part of an interconnected world, you will have all of the lore necessary explained to you through the book's clever method of writing, with you wanting to read into the stories of others.
This is a series I'll be finishing for sure, with all the books due out before the end of the second quarter of 2019. It is a highly intriguing read that will leave you wondering what happens next.
February 2, 2019
Wow a fantastic read. A fast action read. That catches you right from the first page, and has you on the edge of your seat. This read never has a dull moment. Kodyn expected hardships along his journey to return a kidnapped girl to her father. They run into alot of diversity. And lots of twists and turns. The Author does a fantastic job with the characters. And the scenery. I was given this book. I Love these reads. You feel like you are living Vicariously through the characters through the book. A Definite must read.
Shauna Joesten
Shauna Joesten
February 15, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It follows the story of 3 different groups at first. There is Issa and the trials she is going through to become a warrior. There is Evren, a thief sent on a secret mission, and his stowaway companion Hailen. Then we also have Kodyn and is friend Aisha who can hear the dead. I think all the main characters are great, but my favorite is Issa. I can't wait to find out where the rest of their story leads.
April 12, 2019
Reading like a youthful mélange of Gemmell and Gormenghast, Peloquin's tale follows a group of desperate, devious and deadly young heroes as they embark on a perilous adventure. The city of Shalandra looms over them, an all-encompassing architectural allegory, while sharp steel flashes in the shadows. This fantasy story is all whispered secrets and furtive rendezvous within a skillfully-realized realm.
May 22, 2019
Heirs
I love that the story carries on in the form of a new generation. If you haven't read the first two series you really do need to. The enjoyment I have gotten from this fantasy tale in its different varieties has been immense. The characters the storylines the lifestyle and the characters personal tales of woe I've loved. Andy Peloquin is a fantastic writer that creates believable world's full of thrill, suspense and life.
I love that the story carries on in the form of a new generation. If you haven't read the first two series you really do need to. The enjoyment I have gotten from this fantasy tale in its different varieties has been immense. The characters the storylines the lifestyle and the characters personal tales of woe I've loved. Andy Peloquin is a fantastic writer that creates believable world's full of thrill, suspense and life.
August 9, 2022
There were many interesting cultures to explore, including religious systems that I'm interested in hearing more about. The characters expressed struggles that are relatable and human, if sometimes they seemed to a bit too perfect - all incredibly well trained in many fields, adepts at their crafts at a relatively young age.
The world and story are interesting enough that I'll definitely be looking for more!
The world and story are interesting enough that I'll definitely be looking for more!
April 22, 2023
3.5/5 is good!
will definitely carry on, but there’s so many POVs to flit between and they never meet so it can feel like 5 different books interspersed with each other at times. very intrigued for the next one though.
the world building is really solid and didn’t feel too infodumpy (even if i still could not tell you any of the castes).
was wild having the narrator give a single character a british accent while everyone else was the same (can’t place it though lmao)
will definitely carry on, but there’s so many POVs to flit between and they never meet so it can feel like 5 different books interspersed with each other at times. very intrigued for the next one though.
the world building is really solid and didn’t feel too infodumpy (even if i still could not tell you any of the castes).
was wild having the narrator give a single character a british accent while everyone else was the same (can’t place it though lmao)
January 29, 2019
This book follows a few main characters, but the way it is written makes it very easy to keep them all separate and yet still see how they all work together also. It may not be real, but it has the theme of hope all the way through in good times and bad times. It also shows what you can do just by believing in yourself.
February 18, 2019
Awesome! Loved it! This story is set in the world of the Queen of Thieves and Hero of Darkness series. It follows several young characters we met in those series plus a young girl trying to become a Keeper’s Blade. Great action and intrigue as the stage is set for, by all appearances, another excellent series.
February 26, 2019
Awesome! Loved it! This story is set in the world of the Queen of Thieves and Hero of Darkness series. It follows several young characters we met in those series plus a young girl trying to become a Keeper’s Blade. Great action and intrigue as the stage is set for, by all appearances, another excellent series.
August 1, 2019
This book takes us to a new place in Einan with a motley crew of teens, who must save the world. Most of the characters are friendly faces and we meet a few new ones. Hailen is my favorite character of this series, but Issa quickly becomes a heart warmer. This series changes the entire landscape of Einan and the future for the Hunter and Aisha.
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