The Heir of Ariad - Pre-launch: Book One

by Niki Florica

The Skies seem a strange place to die of thirst. But three years of drought and twenty beneath the phantom king who designed it have brought all of Ariad, even the Rain Realm, to its knees. Kyrian would be proud to die among Skyads. The weight of his father’s legacy and the secrets of the past have forced him to carve a place among his people at the price of his own sweat and blood. Ariad is withering, and Kyrian knows it. But no one can fetch the Rains against the tyrant’s will, and no one but the Creator who has vanished into legend can kill an invisible king. But there are forces at work beyond Kyrian’s knowledge. A powerful, masterful Will. Suddenly, there is blood on his hands. The Skies are filled with enemies, and the only way to escape a dark end is to flee the clouds forever. But there in the Lands waits a powerful prophecy, along with a powerful weapon, and suddenly as Ariad withers to dust, all hope may rest with the one young mortal who fled his home a fugitive, and must return to it a king.

408 pages, Paperback

Published June 11, 2019

Reviews

[Raechel Lenore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite the fantasy novel! I was very impressed with the writing talent shown, and the complexity of the whole story.For me, it was a bit of a heavier read that took a while to get through, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment at all. The Heir of Ariad is an excellent story with a well-crafted fantasy world. I loved all the symbolism that pointed to the Biblical accounts of both Moses and David. The verses included at the beginning of most of the chapters was an excellent addition.The characters are all so well-formed, and easy to relate to and understand. When you pick up this book, you are embarking on an adventure as you journey right along side Kyrian and his new discovery. There was one particular character that I was extremely impressed with - the Robin. His character was one that was complicated, and easy to hate at first. But his whole....journey has been amazing to see, and I am very hopeful we get to see more of him in this series!Be prepared to want the sequel! That ending only begs to be continued!!

[Patrick Bateman · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read only the first few chapters before deciding that I could no longer waste my time. Each chapter spoils its own contents by citing passages from Moses' story in the bible. I suspect that this is written this way in order to retell the story of Moses in a new way, however, I find that to be terribly uncreative-I've already read that story once and hopefully will never need to do that again. In conclusion the 'The Heir of Ariad' is extremely unoriginal, which is a terrible shame given the potential talent of a young writer such as Niki. I hope that this series comes to a halt, for the sake of sparing the good trees that could ultimately be put to better use.

I understand that this review can come off as highly critical, though I'm sure that the people reading this can come to understand the importance of honesty. If you've managed to read this far Niki, I would like to give some constructive feedback to end off my review; try to create characters who are more flawed, evil, and hopeless. I know Kyrian killed someone in the beginning but that was only because Moses also killed someone in the bible-which is your source material. What I'm trying to say is, everyone in the real world struggles with terrible thoughts, actions, and repeating habits. Some of which can certainly be uncomfortable to write/read about-but that's what makes it all the more real. Anyhow, I know this review sounds rather harsh, but I am giving honest feedback and I hope you can appreciate that.

[Brent Florica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story! The world of Ariad pulls you in chapter by chapter as you follow Kyrian through his journey.
The hero's arc reflects the Biblical story of Moses in several aspects, but other characters are blends of Biblical figures as well. The world of Ariad is beautifully fleshed out, with just enough details included in each chapter to keep you begging for the answers to the questions that come up.
This is book one in a series, so there is much still to be revealed, but there is certainly enough information included in The Heir of Ariad to have me salivating for the sequel!
I love how the characters are flawed, and relatable, and even the villain has a past beyond the surface evil. Also, the themes of redemption, forgiveness, hope, and courage are beautifully depicted.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good adventure with powerful truth!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an imaginative and beautiful retelling of Moses in the book of Exodus! The prose is beautifully descriptive without being overwhelming. Some scenes sucked me in emotionally and showed Kyrian's character so well that I re-read them. I enjoyed the character development and world-building especially. Fantasy is not my typical genre, however, I highly recommend The Heir of Ariad!!

[H.A. Pruitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very imaginative story that takes place in a fantastic, well developed world. The characters were good, but they could have been a little more distinct.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy.