What do you think?
Rate this book
Penta Ka Wa #1
The Dark Gift
An Adventure of Magic, Blood, and Power
He was forged in battle, broken by fate, and reborn with power Kinthur has never seen.
Penta was once a Horseman of great renown, some would say legendary. In his twilight years, he longed for nothing more than quiet days and golden sunsets with his beloved wife.
But peace is a fragile thing.
When sudden violence rips her away, Penta is left broken… and reborn. Cursed as an unwilling vampire, he must learn to survive in a world that no longer feels like his own.
Set in a land teeming with magic, myths, and monstrous forces, Penta’s journey takes him across strange realms and dangerous encounters with creatures of both light and shadow. As he battles the enemies outside and the growing hunger within, he must find a way to reconcile the hero he was with the power he’s becoming.
He was forged in battle, broken by fate, and reborn with power Kinthur has never seen.
Penta was once a Horseman of great renown, some would say legendary. In his twilight years, he longed for nothing more than quiet days and golden sunsets with his beloved wife.
But peace is a fragile thing.
When sudden violence rips her away, Penta is left broken… and reborn. Cursed as an unwilling vampire, he must learn to survive in a world that no longer feels like his own.
Set in a land teeming with magic, myths, and monstrous forces, Penta’s journey takes him across strange realms and dangerous encounters with creatures of both light and shadow. As he battles the enemies outside and the growing hunger within, he must find a way to reconcile the hero he was with the power he’s becoming.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 16, 2019
170 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Trevor Jones
9 books12 followersI was born dead, but I didn't let that stop me and scored a second life, thanks to the sorcery magic of modern medicine.
As a pre-teen I died a couple more times, but like our family cat, I refused death's invitation to shuffle off my mortal coil and continued on the bizarre journey that humans call 'life'.
When I was a young adult I fell in love with tales and storytellers and decided that would be my path, long and winding though it was.
I left my homeland and made a new one, time and again, much like the protagonists of so many bardic yarns.
I now live in the jungles of Costa Rica and send my tales along the invisible webs of the wide world to be heard, read and enjoyed by others.
Won't you sit down for a moment and hear a tale of adventure and wonder?
if you're interested, please follow me over on Bookbub and stay aware of the latest sales and discounts
@trevorbeltanejones
As a pre-teen I died a couple more times, but like our family cat, I refused death's invitation to shuffle off my mortal coil and continued on the bizarre journey that humans call 'life'.
When I was a young adult I fell in love with tales and storytellers and decided that would be my path, long and winding though it was.
I left my homeland and made a new one, time and again, much like the protagonists of so many bardic yarns.
I now live in the jungles of Costa Rica and send my tales along the invisible webs of the wide world to be heard, read and enjoyed by others.
Won't you sit down for a moment and hear a tale of adventure and wonder?
if you're interested, please follow me over on Bookbub and stay aware of the latest sales and discounts
@trevorbeltanejones
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 26, 2019
This is a lavish fantasy vampire story. Jones does a great job describing the scenes and characters. The story is intriguing and fun. I enjoyed the breadth of characters. I listened to the audiobook edition of this title. The narrator's characterizations and exposition lent much to the world-building. Great read.
October 16, 2023
The narrative style is a bit dry and detached, which was concerning at first, however, that style did not detract from the story, which is high adventure, captivating, and thrilling. This read much like an AD&D game, and the cast of characters was interesting and well-rounded. I'm interested to see how this author's style will develop in the next book. There was a little bit of smut, a lot of gore, a big hunk of hand-to-hand combat, and an interesting world that I wanted to explore. I would have liked to have more descriptions of the landscape and the history. Very compelling story!
September 14, 2021
Great book
Ok when I started this book I was unprepared! Wow it was refreshing to read about a vampire in fantasy. Very well written, just when you think the author is going to start dragging nope.....I really liked this book and think you will enjoy.
Ok when I started this book I was unprepared! Wow it was refreshing to read about a vampire in fantasy. Very well written, just when you think the author is going to start dragging nope.....I really liked this book and think you will enjoy.
September 16, 2019
This book is an awesome beginning to the series. I loved this book. I wonder where the author will take the story from here.
November 25, 2019
More please!
WOW! That was a great read! Not my usual genre and yet I really enjoyed it and look forward to meeting Penta again!
WOW! That was a great read! Not my usual genre and yet I really enjoyed it and look forward to meeting Penta again!
December 8, 2025
An Adventure of Magic, Blood, and Power is an absolutely gripping read from start to finish. What begins as the story of a seasoned warrior longing for peace quickly transforms into a powerful tale of loss, transformation, and survival. Penta is a phenomenal protagonist once a legendary Horseman, now forced to confront a new existence he never asked for. His emotional depth makes him easy to root for, and his struggle to reconcile who he was with what he’s becoming is one of the book’s strongest elements.
The worldbuilding is rich without ever feeling overwhelming. Magic, myth, and monstrous creatures fill the land of Kinthur, and every encounter feels purposeful and vivid. The author balances intense action with atmospheric storytelling, creating a world that feels alive, dangerous, and full of mystery.
What really stands out is the emotional weight behind the fantasy. Penta’s grief, rage, and reluctant rebirth as a vampire give the story a grounded heart that elevates it beyond typical dark fantasy. The pacing is tight, the stakes are real, and the inner conflict is just as compelling as the external battles.
If you love character-driven fantasy with sharp writing, immersive lore, and a protagonist worth following to the end, this book is an easy recommendation. A fantastic start to what promises to be an unforgettable adventure.
The worldbuilding is rich without ever feeling overwhelming. Magic, myth, and monstrous creatures fill the land of Kinthur, and every encounter feels purposeful and vivid. The author balances intense action with atmospheric storytelling, creating a world that feels alive, dangerous, and full of mystery.
What really stands out is the emotional weight behind the fantasy. Penta’s grief, rage, and reluctant rebirth as a vampire give the story a grounded heart that elevates it beyond typical dark fantasy. The pacing is tight, the stakes are real, and the inner conflict is just as compelling as the external battles.
If you love character-driven fantasy with sharp writing, immersive lore, and a protagonist worth following to the end, this book is an easy recommendation. A fantastic start to what promises to be an unforgettable adventure.
June 28, 2020
Well written with believable characters
Probably the best vampire story I have ever read. I am not fond of these tales and often them formularic. This one is different.Seeing things from the standpoint of a good man fighting to maintain his own humanity is something new for me. I cannot help but cheer him on as he rids the world of men so evil that there is no name for them but monster. It also brings to mind the line about the abyss also looking into you. Perhaps he will find a spell or talisman that will help rid him of the memories the evil ones leave in him. I look forward to his further adventures.
Probably the best vampire story I have ever read. I am not fond of these tales and often them formularic. This one is different.Seeing things from the standpoint of a good man fighting to maintain his own humanity is something new for me. I cannot help but cheer him on as he rids the world of men so evil that there is no name for them but monster. It also brings to mind the line about the abyss also looking into you. Perhaps he will find a spell or talisman that will help rid him of the memories the evil ones leave in him. I look forward to his further adventures.
December 17, 2025
Wasn't sure about this book initially, even after a few pages, but I'm very glad I stuck with it. A very different take on a Vampire tale. I quickly 'liked' Penta and rooted for him all through these books (I'm halfway through book 3). Not overly gory, not too mystical/magical and you find yourself believing in the characters.
Very enjoyable series of reads and I will bear this author in mind going forward.
Very enjoyable series of reads and I will bear this author in mind going forward.
June 23, 2025
Let me just start by saying that this was an extremely well written book. As somebody that loves vampires and vampire lore, this was a very interesting take on being a vampire especially at an old age. What an incredibly unique story! There was humor, action, intrigue, and so much more. For anyone that loves high fantasy, this is a wonderful book to read.
November 3, 2025
A most unusual take on the vampire trope
Set in a medieval fantasy world. A vampire who has a will of iron and can fight his hunger to a stalemate. A very well told story. I am looking forward to the next book of the series.
Set in a medieval fantasy world. A vampire who has a will of iron and can fight his hunger to a stalemate. A very well told story. I am looking forward to the next book of the series.
November 24, 2025
Finally! A great new story!
This unexpected story was a wonderful surprise and i read the whole book in two sittings. The main character is an amazingly fresh hero-of a sort-and is one I will love reading about in the next book.
This unexpected story was a wonderful surprise and i read the whole book in two sittings. The main character is an amazingly fresh hero-of a sort-and is one I will love reading about in the next book.
August 18, 2022
It was an interesting read. I liked the main character but felt a lot of the adventures were repetitive.
July 17, 2023
I didn't quite realize what this was when I picked it up, but it was fairly decent.
January 23, 2026
Worth Reading
An interesting tale of a vampire that I had never heard before! Can’t wait to read the next one. The Dark Gift is a Gift!
An interesting tale of a vampire that I had never heard before! Can’t wait to read the next one. The Dark Gift is a Gift!
February 5, 2026
Good story
A good story. I'll be reading the next book in the series. The writing was good and the character development was interesting.
A good story. I'll be reading the next book in the series. The writing was good and the character development was interesting.
May 5, 2021
Phenomenal introduction to this world through one of it's most complex and interesting characters. There's a hint of the larger world within this very focused story that makes me want to read so much more.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews