Tálir, a scavenger with a mystical heritage. Sarina, a brewer with a hidden past.
Two individuals with a shared bond: they must save the world. A thousand years ago, the Old World was destroyed by the Ending. The legendary Maven Knights of order were turned into legends. Now, an ancient malevolence seeks to bring chaos and violence to the New World. Drawn into the conflict, the pair must unite with a band of misfits in an effort to stop the growing threats. Marauding Outlanders, Nanite storms, and countless other dangers await on this quest. But most of all, the mythic powers of the Maven Knights must be rediscovered.
Two heroes. One journey.
"The Maven Knight" is the dual story of Tálir and Sarina, both of whom are thrust into an adventure by differing yet similar reasons. On this heroic journey, both must attempt to solve secrets from their pasts as well as uncover who they will become. "The Maven Knight" opens the doors to an extensive world where all secrets come at a cost.
Matthew Romeo is a warrior poet. He has a healthy obsession with Star Wars, the Stormlight Archive, Cobra Kai, and Halo. When it comes to his career as a writer, he's been inspired by the likes of Frank Herbert, Bandon Sanderson, and Pierce Brown. Pure chaos is the way of his writing style, often flitting between methodical outlining or just winging the story as he goes. Outside of being an author, he works for an international shipping company and is a dad of two cats named Korra and Toph. He spends much of his free time playing Dungeons&Dragons, learning swordsmanship, practicing martial arts, and going clay shooting.
Mr. Romeo reaches out and pulls the reader right into a frenzied chaos with his Sci-Fi/Fantasy, The Maven Knight. Immediately invested in the action, in spite of not even knowing who is good and who is not, the dust settles soon enough to show that we have a small group of prisoners en route to their proper punishment.
Or so Sarina assumes. She groggily awakens to find her hands tied and tethered. A quick glance around shows the strangers surrounding her are similarly bound. Sarina doesn’t remember anything past tending bar at a banquet, but cannot fathom doing anything to get herself into this situation. Sure, she’s keeping a secret, but certainly not worthy of this retribution.
Talir, on the other hand, cannot specifically pinpoint his “crime”, but is oddly not particularly surprised to find himself in this predicament. Perhaps his cherished Maven armor, his last remnant of his father, is providing some comfort.
As the apparent criminals start to size each other up, their convoy is shot down. Soon, six people are stranded in the middle of nowhere with no reason in the world to want to work together. Except their lives may depend on it.
The saga unfolds from two separate points of view. What initially appeared to be a random sampling of ne’er-do-wells, now seems to be a carefully selected group. But to fully figure out the reason each person was chosen, secrets must be spilled and certain actions will require sincere apologies if there is to be any hope for survival.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books, with huge thanks for the signed Review Copy.
When a party goes awry and Imperials ransack a village for ancient armor, a brewer, a scavenger, and group of arrested misfits must team up to find a mythical land and uncover secrets left by an ancient order now corrupted.
OH how I loved this book! I fell out of love for sci-fi, probably once Disney bought Star Wars, but The Maven Knight brought me back into it. While there are elements of Star Wars, they feel more like homages to the franchise because of the original plot and characters. Romeo is such a talented writer that there wasn’t a single scene or location I couldn’t picture clearly in my head. I absolutely loved the characters, each one having their unique personalities, and he does an excellent job reminding us that they’re still human. There’s no almighty Rey being perfect at whatever she does even though she’s never tried it. His characters mess up, miss, and struggle like a normal person would. I pride myself in predicting plot twists, but there were more than a few times Romeo had me going “Oh! Didn’t see that coming.” The fight scenes are incredible, action packed, and kept me on the edge of my seat, especially when I thought the battle was over. I could not stop reading towards the end.
If you, like me, fell out of love for sci-fi because of poor writing, Mary Sue characters, and unoriginality then I highly recommend The Maven Knight as a breath of fresh air by a writer who does the genre right. And for those not into sci-fi, I still recommend it because of how wonderfully written it is with elements of fantasy and action adventure; it appeals to multiple readers’ tastes.
I absolutely cannot wait to read the next books in the series!
"Talir, a desert-dwelling scavenger with only an antique suit of armour bequeathed by his late father to his name & Sarina, a brewer with a shady past, find themselves thrown together by circumstance. Joined by a strange band of unlikely companions, hunted by a malevolent warrior, aided by a mysterious exile, they embark on a quest to honour the legacy of the Maven Knights, the ancient guardians of peace & justice, & seek out the mythical Providence, said to house the means to save Pan'gea from a coming apocalypse, before the dangerous Remnant Order can obtain the same power to fulfil their dark ambitions... "
The Maven Knight is the first book of a trilogy that is epic science fantasy at its finest, everything the Star Wars sequel trilogy could have been. The characters are well developed, each has their own distinctive voice: his protagonists are flawed - they fumble in battle, they hide secrets from each other, they act on impulse, & they learn & develop from their mistakes & choices. The supporting characters, like the enigmatic Abrax & Vivian, the plucky comic relief of Devin & Vyck, the menacing antagonists of Septem & Centum all flesh the story out so well, & Romeo's worldbuilding is done so well & so vividly you're swept up in the story...
A must read indie novel for fans of Star Wars, Dune & science fantasy in general, a book I will always recommend... Now, onto The Ones of Aster (where things only get better... 😁)
It had been a while since I read a sci-fi book, so it was fun diving into this one this month for a book club. The author does an excellent job creating a world that is both believable, and yet, outlandish. The descriptions of the setting pulled me right in!
The author also provided a very large cast of characters (my favorite reluctant type!) each character had a unique personality on the page and made me want to know more about them. Sometimes I did find that their motivations were slightly unbelievable, especially when it came to dialogue with one another, but it didn’t detour me from enjoying the story. Each of these reluctant characters needed to grow and evolve to accomplish their mission at the end of the book. So it turned out to be very much a heroes journey.
If you’re a fan of sci fi, flawed characters, and other stories like Star Wars and Dune, I think you’ll like this book :)
'The Maven Knight' was my first dive into sci-fi, and it was a real thrill ride! I loved how the novel opens with so much action and mystery, throwing up so many questions - both for the readers and for the characters. I felt immediately invested in the main characters, especially Sarina and Talir. Getting to see the cast of characters overcome their struggles and form bonds of friendship and cameraderie was so rewarding! The story was fresh and exhilerating, the action sequences heart-pounding and gripping. The world Matthew Romeo has built is so complex and fascinating, with so much yet to be explored. I am so excited to read 'The Maven Knight: Ones of Aster'! A must-read for sci-fi fans.
'The Maven Knight' is my first dabble in sci-fi for a long while, and was a welcome break from the types of novels I usually read. We follow Tálir, Sarina, and their merry group of misfits as they search for a mythical land, unlock the power of ancient armour, avoid a political coup, and outrun a sinister order...
This book is an action packed adventure. Danger is everywhere: if it's not the cannabalistic outcasts, it's the literal storm of flesh-eating robots. The breadth of environments our characters journeyed through - ranging from barren deserts to sprawling cities - were diverse and unique, and truly made the continent feel large and vast. While the relationships between the characters were a slow start for me, by the end I really felt the camaraderie within the group, with the portrayal of trust and sacrifice delivering their fair share of emotional moments.
I highly recommend The Maven Knight to anyone who enjoys both the Sci-fi and Fantasy genres, especially if you're a fan of Star Wars (the original, of course).
You immediately get sucked into this sci-fi DnD world. The characters, Talir and Sarina, are so well developed that you root for them through everything. I also liked how well built up and descriptive the side characters are as well!
This book was a cross between Star Wars and a DnD campaign. It also reminded me of the Last Shadow Knight. It had a lot of Star Wars vibes, which I appreciated. The idea of the Maven Knights is really cool. My favorite character was Abrax. The chapters were short enough to keep the story moving and the action was colorful. The cliffhanger at the end makes me want to know how the story will progress in book two. The main things that knocked the rating down for me was the worldbuilding and some of the character development. I wanted to know more about the political structure and religion of the world, along with the Maven Knights' place in the world and how the societies are set up. To me, there wasn't enough background about the Insurgents and their struggle. Some of the characters didn't feel developed enough and their motivations for doing things weren't always clear, specifically with Talir. I found it strange that after his town is attacked and some of his friends are killed that he never thinks about them again or what happened. I felt like his personality changed suddenly from when he's first introduced and when he meets Abrax. Sarina was cool to me, but I wanted to know more about her past. If you are a fan of Star Wars or fast-paced sci-fi stories, you'll like this book.
While sci-fi is rarely my preference, Maven Knight is a thoroughly enjoyable tale. This is a character-driven story, and the technology takes a back seat while still feeling detailed enough to have a clear image in mind.
Oh, those characters, though. How maddening their decisions could be, but that’s a sign of a great character. If you don’t care about them, the choices they make wouldn’t resonate so much (“You thundering dumbass,” kept popping to mind, thanks to wise old Abrax).
The action scenes are also particularly well done. That climactic battle... wow. It played out in mind clear as if it was on screen.
There were some typographical errors that disrupted my immersion in the story at times, but not enough to prevent me from enjoying. On to Maven Knight: Ones of Aster. I desperately need to see what’s next for Sarina and company.
The Maven Knight is a fast-paced, action-packed blend of sci-fi and fantasy that kept me turning pages from start to finish. The adventure and quest elements are thoroughly enjoyable, and there's a strong thread of mystery woven throughout that adds to the tension in all the right ways.
One of the book's standout features is its immersive world-building. From the very beginning, you're transported into a rich, well-crafted setting that feels vivid and alive. It’s the kind of world you can easily lose yourself in.
My only critique is that some of the character development felt a little forced at times—it didn’t always flow as naturally as the rest of the narrative. That said, it didn’t detract too much from the overall experience.
If you're a fan of genre-bending stories full of intrigue, action, and expansive worlds, The Maven Knight is a great pick. Solid 4 stars from me!
Such an amazing book! A friend had recommended it to me and I gave it a shot! Sci-fi isn't my usual go-to genre however I loved every second of this book! There was romance, adventure, and comedy. The characters and story are super well written and definitely had me reacting in real life to what was going on in the story at the time! I even called up said friend and we talked about it... squealing, laughing, crying and discussing theories about what is to come!! Can't wait to read the next two books (which are already ordered 😁)
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The writing style took me some getting used to at first, but once it clicked, I really enjoyed this. The action scenes were well written, and I felt the characters had a lot of depth. I especially enjoyed the dynamic between Abrax and Tálir I found relatable. I did feel the pacing was inconsistent at times. However, the story is entertaining, and I would definitely read more in this series and from this author.
This action packed sci fi fantasy was so good that I’m glad there’s more in the series! The characters are so well defined and unique in their own way. The story is very well written and detailed. Highly recommend!
Epic worlds, ancient orders, and tech like you've never seen it before. Matthew Romeo's debut has everything I love in a sci-fi novel. I was fascinated by the suits and powers of the Maven Knights, and I'm excited to follow Talir's journey as he grows in discipline and strength. I didn't connect to the other main character, Sarina, and I almost wished the book had been written entirely in Talir's point of view...that's how much I loved him as a character! The group dynamics of the little band of rebels was really well done, and I look forward to reading more of their adventures in the next two books.
I am just recently absorbing myself in the scifi genre and am loving it. This amazing world of Pangea that Romeo created brings both scifi and realistic elements together to give the story a futuristic feel that also makes the character's situations more relatable to the reader. It was a perfect balance of action and nifty tec with natural elements of the world. Also, I loved the characters so much. All of them were so different from one another yet they had the feel of a family. I cried along with them as they faced their hardships and loss. I cheered with them in victories.This story has intriguing implications of magic and lots of action packed scenes. I cant wait to read more about the Maven Knights and the realm Romeo has created.
The Maven Knight is a fun, exhilarating ride through an interesting Sci-Fi world and loaded with interesting characters. Romeo manages to blend a magic system based on martial arts into science fiction seamlessly, creating intrigue about what limits it has and does an excellent job of showing progression through this.
The greatest strength for Maven Knight is its characters, even just beyond the two POVs, Sarina and Talir. The entire cast is well-developed and stands on their own. Even characters that seem like they should just fit the same archetype do not, as Romeo does a good job of showing differences that, while small on initial glance, lead to an avalanche of development later.
Progression really is the name of the game here; while we’re thrust into the political machinations early on, the curtain is pulled back much more on what’s really going on and what’s truly at stake for our characters.
Romeo does not rely on tropes or Sci-Fi tendencies to get you through this story. For much of the story I thought we would see something similar to the hero’s journey but to my pleasant surprise that was not the case.
I gobbled the book up after the halfway point, as the excitement and energy hits a 10 and does not stop.
The only issues I had are hardly anything to do with the story at all. The dialogue is stiff at times and characters speak a bit odd, but those moments are far and few between and don’t at all impact their personality or growth. It’s a nitpick, if anything.
In the end I felt like I had the wind taken out of me and needed the second book right away. There’s so much to what Romeo has built and he’s created an amazing crew of characters you truly come to care for by the end.
If you’re a fan of Star Wars or stories similar to fantasy in the Sci-Fi genre, don’t miss out on this one!
A fresh new look into a Star Wars/ Dune sci-fi experience. The author does a great job creating the plot imagery, in each setting along with building characters you grow to enjoy reading about. A great clean exciting read I looked forward to reading each day.
This book was an enjoyable read. It could definitely be improved with some professional editing. The world building seemed a little sloppy. Character development and story held its own. I will be reading the rest of the series expecting this new author to continue to get better.
I ran across this author on TikTok, and he seemed so excited about this book, I had to check it out.
The story was a little slow for my taste at the beginning of the book, and I found myself absolutely hating one of the main characters that I was supposed to be rooting for. I even considered reaching out to the author and letting them know I was not going to be able to finish this book. I decided to push through so I could give an honest opinion on the whole story and not just a small sample. I am so glad I did.
The story is fueled by political intrigue, stuffed with concepts reminiscent of Green Lanterns from the comics, not the movie, Star Wars, and the setting for an RPG by Monte Cook Games called Numenera.
The dual POV in this is not something I had read a lot of before now, and I feel that may have been a huge influence on my distaste for one of the characters. Sarina felt so repetitive and whiny that she took me out of the narrative more times than I would care to admit until I looked deeper and understood that this was just her and how she perceived the situations around her. She came into her own once she opened up and let the ragtag group she was running with beyond her mistrust.
Talir was interesting and more like the characters I am used to in the stories I have written and read. I love a good life lesson where a character learns why they need to calm down and how their actions affect everyone around them.
Anyway, after I made it past the 45% mark in the book, I could not put it down. Seeing how the characters grew through the tensions helped drive the story. The plot was engrossing, even if a little predictable. The passing slows down a bit when Talir is doing his training, but it is a good vehicle to develop the Maven Knight lore.
Had I given up, I would have rated this book 2 stars and robbed myself of an immersive found family style story that makes you want more. I will be recommending this book to many people in the future.
This was such a fun first book in this sci-fi series! I loved the world-building, the magical armor, and the spunky cast of characters. The book is dual POV, following Talir (a scavenger) and Sarina (a city girl with a mysterious, yet pertinent past).
When Talir's village is raided by a nefarious order, he uses his late father's special armor to defend his friends, but when he's kidnapped for his actions, he must work with a band of prisoner misfits (including Sarina) to escape and uncover the heritage behind his armor.
Talir and Sarina, though their circumstances, are forced to work together, and the adventures they go on are harrowing and compelling!
If you're a fan of Star Wars, definitely give this book a try. It's a slow build, but the payoff with the narrative is SO worth it. The ending had me on the edge of my seat, and I'll be eagerly anticipating picking up the next book in the series.
We have dual POVs and a group of new characters that the author has developed SO WONDERFULLY! The world he has built and described is phenomenal and I am so here for it! We see all of our characters grow, not just our main narrators Tálir and Sarina. One thing that really helped me was that I listened to the prequel prior to reading this and was able to pronounce things easier because that can be a big hang up for me when it comes to fantasy and such. I'm definitely hooked and I hope book 2 picks up where book 1 left off and I have some dots I'm trying to connect and I don't know if I'm connecting them properly.
I took a chance to read from an independent author, and I do not regret it. The book isn't perfect of course, but the writing, the story, and the character-development really put you in a chokehold and stop you from putting the book down. I will be continuing this series!
The two main characters are distinguished and stand out amongst the rest of the cast. Romeo does a good job of world building, and creating a balance of epic fantasy, adventure, and sci fi.