The Halostone--which holds the soul of LORD FEROX, a twisted, dark sorcerer--has been lost for centuries . . .
If found, the only person who can release him is JEN LANCASTER, the only living descendant of the sorceress who trapped LORD FEROX all those years ago . . .
But she must be sacrificed.
To survive, JEN must go on the run with a banished sorcerer, control her new magical powers as she makes friends and foes alike, and learn about her family's true heritage just as her life becomes increasingly more complicated and dangerous.
I read this after seeing the author's promotion on Tik Tok.
The things I liked: I really like the concept of this book, it's super solid. There are twists and turns, and obviously, the author has a really clear direction in his mind of where the story is going to go and the conclusion that he has for where these books end up. The main character is likable, I like that there does not seem to be any kind of "falling in love with the mentor" kinds of vibes - cause I do like it when we can see platonic mentorships.
What I thought could be better: There are a LOT of perspectives telling this story, and sometimes they shift very quickly. This I found confusing and kind of took me out of the story a little. It also felt rushed at the end of the book. I really don't like when books end on a cliffhanger in the middle of the action (but that's a personal pet peeve.).
“Magic is all around us—we just have to choose to see it.”
Heritage truly captivated me from the description and the author’s comparison to some of my favorite filmed media alone. I am not a huge huge fan of reading fantasy, however, I was locked into this one.
Jennifer suddenly finds out she is magic and has the ability to master all five kinds of magic?? Uh sign me up because I eat that up.
This book took little time setting up the stakes and the plot. From the beginning, we delved right into it and went straight to the meat. I will say, it was slow during a lot of the world building parts, but I think that is just the nature of the genre. Man, was I captivated by the different realms. I felt like I was being transported into the book and it was beautiful.
I think this is a love or a hate for people. The narration jumps between multiple perspectives often. I looove that and it made this story feel, dare I say, cinematic. I could picture scenes being cut off or when music would transition to a different perspective. I loved this flow and it made my reading journey very enjoyable.
I really enjoyed the main villain of the story and he had some lines that had me gagged. A lot of the side characters made me really interested in this story. I kind of wish Jen was bad at one thing. Maybe I really enjoy a flawed and messy lead, but Jen was still such a joy to read through her eyes.
The plot twists went crazy. The reveals. The battles. Love! I felt a good found family starting to form and cant wait to see their connection grow even more. I am truly excited to read the sequel to see what else will unfold!
I really enjoyed this read it was upbeat and fun with enough stakes to inspire intrigue. There's a twist at the end where I shut the book and stared off into the distance for a while it was epic. It's hard to find wholesome, well written adult fantasy so definitely give it a read!
This book was fantastic! I found the author, Greg Heal, on Instagram. He’s an indie author who advertises his books SO WELL!
This was everything I was expecting it to be! Clean, YA fantasy with clear inspiration from all of the classic adventure novels. As I was reading, I was thinking about how perfect this series would be for a young family to sit and read together. Can’t wait to dive into Crusade next!
I applaud the indie author for pulling through on writing his book, but it's poorly written and the book really badly needed beta readers and an editor to be salvaged. I read the whole book, and despite the book ending abruptly on an unsatisfactory cliffhanger meant to pull you in for the next book... I will simply not be reading book 2.
Edit: The author also promotes his book using AI generated images, something I'm personally against. Had I known that beforehand I wouldn't have read the book at all.
There are so many times when I was completely taken aback by the author's stubborn word choices, it pulled me right out of the book every time. For example, the magical fantasy sorcery underground battles being encapsulated by… Plexiglas™ brand plastic. Or a distinctly non-human creature repeatedly being described as “the cannibal” for wanting to munch on a human - which is a different species. Mr author sir, do you even know what cannibalism is…? And that’s not even mentioning the many plot holes.
Jen is 21, but acts around 9 years old both in the way she talks and her level of maturity. Her mentor Victor is old enough to be her dad and also treats her, a legally grown adult woman, as if she’s about 9 years old. For example, he is genuinely impressed that Jen knows the word “alchemist”. At the age of 21. The book simply treats young adult women as if they’re little kids.
The thing that put me off the most, by far, is that I can only describe these two people’s relationship as “accidentally inappropriate”. I do not think it was intended by the author at all (if it was - that makes it far worse!) but that it instead just shows that he really truly needed that editor to set the writing straight. These two are accidentally flirting with each other through the whole book, non-stop. I cannot describe it as anything else than flirting - they barely even “talk” to each other, instead they just “giggle” or “chuckle”. They constantly wink at each other, they hug and physically touch all the time, the book repeatedly puts emphasis on them hugging each other's waists tight and how safe that makes them feel. How much they trust each other, how Jen longs for Victor's adult supervision at all times when he’s gone for even 5 minutes. Because as we all know adult women need men to babysit them at all times…? Oh, and all this is after they first met just a few days ago - and Victor had actually secretly stalked Jen her whole life prior to that. Bizarre dynamic.
A solid female-lead ya fantasy filled with dragons, magic and adventure.
On the night of her 21st birthday, Jen Smith is betrayed by her boyfriend and thrust into a world of sorcery as she discovers she is the answer to a thousand year old prophecy.
Some interesting and unexpected twists, will most likely want to read the next book when it comes out. Loved the found family and Skarmor in particular.
Only issue I had with the book was that some of the short POV changes mid-chapter made the scene feel a tad disjointed as I was being thrown around. However, there was important information given during these that justified the majority of them.
I couldn’t put it down! It was an exciting adventure with new magic and the creative ways the characters use it. You get to read not only from the good character perspective but also the evil characters too! My imagination ran wild with the authors description of fight scenes, characters, and locations. I recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy.
Absolutely loved the story! Highly recommend for those that love fantasy, sorcery, adventure, and suspense. I couldn’t put the book down. Great writing and character development.
Holy man do I have whiplash!! I found this author through YouTube and the general premise of this book intrigued me. So, being the book addict I am, I bought up the available books from Amazon and started reading them. I made it through the prologue and chapter one before I realized that I was going to be in for a roller coaster of a journey. I also want to touch on the cover—it is VERY pretty, it is very cool, and it is eye catching with the complimentary colours!! That being said, do not read further if you with to remain unspoiled; there is quite a bit to unpack.
The prologue is set 1,500 years before the main story’s events and it gives us a look into what is at stake—and Lord Ferox definitely gives Lord Voldemort vibes. That said, chapter one cuts to present day and our main protagonist’s birthday. I love Jen; she is relatable, and her actions and reactions are understandable and human. She definitely has her flaws. It definitely took her a good portion of the book to face her pyrophobia (understandably so).
I also loved Victor. Vic was definitely refreshing given the trope I’ve seen of “mentor and mentee are in love but it’s on the forbidden side.” He definitely gave father-figure vibes and I’m all for it. I was also surprised that he is Jen’s uncle!
Gavin was another character that I am fond of and I cannot wait to see more of him—ESPECIALLY SINCE HE IS THE LIGHT BRINGER!! I was genuinely surprised that Heal went the route he did since the main protagonist is usually the “chosen one/prophesied saviour.” I also wanted Gavin and Jen to be a couple or at least good friends—I am a bit of a hopeless romantic. 😅
I didn’t expect Charles to pop up—I am not joking when I say that my stepfather and sisters came home one evening to hear me yelling “WHAT THE HECK?! HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!!” from the living room upstairs. (I hope he is alive because I want more father-daughter scenes.)
Aaaaand then there’s Malcom…. I loved him until I didn’t. And then it was a love-hate relationship from there. He gives me Anakin Skywalker vibes and I’m all for it!! I wasn’t necessarily surprised by the revelation that he was in love with Jen. That said, there were several moments where I wanted to reach through the pages and give the man a hug—he genuinely needs a hug (and maybe a therapist) especially after chapter 9.
Draconex is terrifying and he gives Palpatine. He is the reason why Malcom was swayed to become a Dark Watcher. I was scared for the protagonists (and Malcom) because Draconex holds more than his fair share of power. I am honestly curious about his revulsion to being called “Orin.” Is it because he just wants to be an all-powerful Sith Lord and not the classmate Victor remembers him as? But I feel like there is something more because he seems REALLY disgusted with his given name.
As for the magic system. I liked how it was grounded within sciences. Terramancy is heavily grounded in the sciences, but I mostly saw that it was based in chemistry. I don’t see a lot of magic systems based around science, so this was interesting to see but also easy to grasp.
Yikes, this review is long… *shrugs* I’m going to make it a bit longer. I also loved the plot—the action, character development, and world building were nicely balanced, and those plot twists were definitely ones that caught me off guard.
In conclusion: “Heritage” is a strong opener to an indie fantasy series by Gregory Heal. Everything is well-balanced as well as thought out down to the letter. I don’t often feel bad for antagonists, but Malcom is one I sympathize with. Everything is a breath of fresh air and I don’t know how this isn’t more popular. Very well done and I couldn’t put this book down—my biology teacher is calling me out for reading this in class because I could not put this down. On to “Crusade”!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Heritage -The Sky Jewel Legacy Book 1 Gregory Heal
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Review
I've never read a book without romance in so long my last non romantic fiction must've been when I was in highschool I guess but Gregory Heal showed me that I can still love a book that doesn't have romance(Thank you Gregory for making me love a fantasy without romance) When I saw a reel about this book on Instagram I was SUPER intrigued by the description the author gave for this book and immediately finished my current read to start this book and I wasn't disappointed because this book has so much to offer!!
Our protagonist is Jen Lancaster who is thrust into the world of magic after her 21 birthday by the betrayal of her boyfriend and she's saved by Victor Huxley who shows her the ropes and reveals who she truly is and tells her of her legacy. Dark forces unite and conspire to find the ring of Lancaster and the Halostone, Malcom is trained harder than ever before to be of use to Lord Draconex and Jen is trained to take on the legacy of a Lancaster and since she's an Omnimancer she has to train in all elements! She has the weight of the world on her shoulders and life becomes more and more complicated as it goes on, Will she step up and fill in the shoes that bore such heavy responsibility? Will she find the Halostone in time and stop the evil trying to conquer the land?
This book is so well written the penmanship of the author is astounding and this being his debut is even fascinating and made me want to start book 2 immediately (I might've already borrowed a copy on KU) the plot is very intricately woven and nothing is predictable and you'll only know whatever the author wants you to know, the characters are sweet and lovable but at the same time they also have their flaws and quirks, the cover of the book will definitely spark intrigue and make the reader pick it up even without knowing about the blurb and the blurb just helps seal the deal for commitment to the series😉 anyways I'll head over to read book 2 and you guys can march over and grab yourself a copy of book 1
Super fun! I reached a certain point in the book where the action was so exciting I couldn’t put it down. I also have to start the next one immediately!! (Which was AMAZING! Read Crusade!!)
I love the world he’s built. It’s incredible and imaginative and so fun! World building was thorough and I always have a hard time getting through world building. But I know these main characters well now and I appreciate that! I really can’t wait to get to know the supporting characters more.
Jen seems, too perfect? Hoping to see more flaws next book. Overall she’s very likable and relatable. Enjoy her a lot.
I LOVE dragons and they were sparse to me so I 1000% wanted more dragons. I’m hoping for more in the next book.
I read a lot so I often can predict things but I enjoyed them all being right. Probably some good fun surprises for a lot of readers. Didn’t see Mira and Gavin coming and I felt that gut punch for poor Jen.
I had a hard time with the villain. I can’t put my finger on why. Not menacing enough? I don’t fear him. He seems easily defeated to me. Malcom seems very whiny Anakin to me, but hey he becomes one of the most powerful so maybe that’ll play out!
I enjoy the trading off of perspectives. Enables us to cover so much more of the story. Perspective shift mid chapter was a bit jarring. I loved it switching with chapters, but mid chapter threw me.
Lastly, how is Jen’s best friend not worried about her? I need some follow up about that haha
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book was a fun, light read. Gregory Heal, the author, promoted it as marketable to those fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. I thought that was spot on. I went in expecting YA fiction and that’s exactly what was delivered.
That being said there were some rather startling themes that somewhat took me out of the world, namely: imprisonment and related parties mindset on said characters being imprisoned. I found these to be rather incongruous, and made the MC somewhat difficult to connect with. As well as torture and blood consumption. None of these things drastically impact the enjoyability of the book for me personally, but could present as triggers for others.
I thoroughly enjoyed the world the Heal has created and the tie-ins of Arthurian lore, I thought it was a really creative spin on a classic tale.
The plot was a bit predictable, with the twists and turns being just a bit too telegraphed for my taste which also tended to bring my mind out of the world just a bit. This was mostly negated by the relationships fostered by the MC. While not, necessarily, realistic standards by which we form relationships or exchange conversation with one another, I found it to be absolutely delightful. I caught myself smiling at interactions on the page, and sometimes even chuckling at some of the banter. Going to show that sometimes a book just needs to be fun, and comforting. And this one, beyond a shadow of a doubt, is! I’d definitely recommend.
saw the authors social and decided to get it for my son. he in turn, gave it to me and said "read this." I'll admit, fantasy is not my genre, but what else do you do when your kid wants you to read a book?! it was a snowstorm but definitely picked up. A few twists I didnt see coming and lots of action. overall, a solid YA that can be enjoyed by all people, really.
Cussing... zero! Violence .... yes, its very much good vs evil but no gore Magic ..... yes, used for both good and evil Romance ..... Minimal. in the first chapter Jen is with her boyfriend (I think they're kissing but cant remember) and he ends up being the bad guy. Another section she has a crush. It goes no further than that.
Other important details, Jen is adopted but also finds some of her birth family. strong roles for both men and women, character building and growth present.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I think I'm going to DNF this one. One, the writing is rather choppy and confusing, making it near impossible to immerse in this world. Two, while Jen and Malcolm might be older MCs than most in ya, they are very immature and throw tantrums at weird times. Lastly, I found it odd that this author is a Christian but he uses the "big bang" as the origin for this world. I could have dealt with complaint 2, but 3 threw me off my groove🕺 and 1 ruined it for me
One of the best modern fantasy books. This book is on par with Harry Potter and the Riordan Verse series. I really loved the way you write your characters and their stories. Definitely a well deserved 5 stars.
The concept is truely amazing and original. Although the world building could be more advanced, it is definitely one of the best worlds released in the 2020s.
Heritage is an amazing story with great world building and relatable characters. It’s fast paced and fun! There is also zero spice, which I appreciated so much. Definitely recommend!
The story was captivating, the magic system was cool, and, this doesn’t usually get me, the quality of the paper was really good.
The writing was more on the middle grade to young adult side, which removed some of the urgency from the “action” scenes. In my opinion, the ending was a little rushed. There was a lot happening and the pacing felt a little off, but overall it was an enjoyable book.
In some ways predictable, but a good read nonetheless. Perfect to dive into a new, exciting world that can take you away from ours. I love the fantasy and creativity of this book, made it easy to envelope yourself in.
Loved it! Has all the elements I love. Great battles scenes too. Loved Skamor! Wish I had one haha. Can’t wait for part 2 to come out. Have to know what happens next!!
I'm sad to make this 3 stars, I would love this to be better. Very fun, love the concepts, but just awful writing. I think this is his first series? If so, makes sense.
My main two problems: the writing and the protagonist, Jen.
I couldn't handle the cringy over the top reactions and character movements that were unnecessary. For example, why are people winking and joking and always trying to find levity in the same way in every situation whether it's prison or a walk by the lake. Why is Jen constantly touching (hugs, pats on the shoulder, grabbing arms, nudges) her mentor (who turns out to be her uncle)? The arc and the way these two are written (instant connection, can talk to him over anyone else, wants to share special events with him first) is honestly how I would expect her relationship with a love interest to be. There will be a childish tone of voice in serious scenes on the good guys side, and then there will be some darker sections with torture and some disgusting scenes on the bad guys side.
And Jen. Oh boy. The most Mary Sue of Mary Sues I've ever read. She's instantly loved by all. Everyone wants to do everything for her. The griffin instantly falls in love and is loyal to her. She is extremely talented at the magic and can do/learn whatever she needs with a few weeks of training (when it takes others years). Her instincts are incredible and just get her out of trouble. Random forest creature helps her survive an unsurvivable forest like a disney princess. Et cetera. One plot problem that bothered me also was how they made it a big deal initially that her being a Lancaster is a secret, but also it's thrown around to multiple people without any fanfare and at the end, the entire sorcerer community is just told without any explanation as to why it's not needed to be a secret anymore.
Also "Sesquimillenial Jubilee" just sounds kinda ridiculous.
Many tropes are squished in here as well as some original ideas, and I think with some more polishing, it would've been something more interesting that I would've wanted to keep reading more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I learned about this series on YouTube, saw that the author was self promoting and publishing and that the series itself was clean, fantasy, dragons, magical academia, adventure... it was a LOT of things that I desperately wanted as someone who prefers NOT to read spicy books if I can. Right now there is just so much romantacy being touted that it's hard to find a good series or even book that is fantasy without spice.
Not so with the Sky Jewel Legacy.
Coming off the Cosmere universe of Brandon Sanderson this was my first book (after 32 in a row of one author) and the change in writing perspective and style was jarring at first, but after only a chapter I was wildly sucked into the magic of the world. Not only was the world-building very unique, the magic system itself was one I have never seen or read anywhere else. The series had twists and turns that were unexpected and welcome! The characters were ones that made you love them the moment they were introduced and it honestly felt like you were a part of their world. You get to read for several perspectives, which is something I really enjoy, and if you hate predictable? This series is for you.
At the time of writing only two of the three books are out and I am on a cliff-hanging waiting for Destiny to come out. The series and its author are engaging, fun, relaxing and definitely worth your time if you love clean fantasy!
(I am not sponsored or affiliated with the author and I was not paid for my review, nor was I given free books to write it. This series is JUST THAT GOOD.)
WOW this book was great. I came across it after seeing the author’s promotions on yt, and I decided to read it (aka put it on my summer TBR and pick it up literally a day later) and I was immediately captivated by 1. It having the vibe of one of my childhood books (PJO), 2. No spice!! I’ll read a book with spice but I won’t really enjoy that part, and 3. The way the magic works! I love how the author connected science and magic in a way that made sense. (Plus, dragons). My original guess on the spy (because let’s be real, there’s always someone who’s a spy) was Grand Mystra Cindergray, since he was acting a bit suspicious, but by the last 50 pages I was convinced it was either him or Simone, and at least I was right on that last one! It was also really fun sharing my thoughts so far on yt with the author! Back to the story, the characters were AWESOME. From the minute I met h, I loved both Heph and Gavin, and when I tell you I was BEGGING for them to live, I MEAN IT. Plus, Jen and Vic have such a wholesome friendship, along with Mira (I seem to like the characters named Mira, case in point Violet’s sister from Fourth Wing). I love all the lore in the world, and I can’t wait to continue with Crusade! You can really see the love put in this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
🍓 Clean story, romance is a side plot, a few kisses 💬 Mild, a few uses of "hell" "ass" ❗Death, violence, severe injuries, drinking (by adult characters, mainly one side character), past loss & grief, sorcery (used for good or evil), terrible villan . My thoughts: I had so much fun reading this book! It was light and imaginative with lots of magical places, persons and other things to explore, while having one of the most ruthless villans I've ever read about! I appreciated the fact that the main characters were adults saving the world (instead of teenagers). It was a really nice change from other YA fantasy books out there 😊 I really enjoyed the first volume of The Sky Jewel Legacy and I am very glad to have the whole trilogy! Now I can jump straight into the next book! Can't wait to join Jen on more fantastical adventures! ✨🤩
Gregory Heal’s Heritage brings a strong, intriguing premise that hooks you from the start. The concept has so much potential, with an underlying storyline that feels rich and full of possibilities. However, as the story unfolds, it seems rushed, leaving you wanting more depth and detail. Key aspects, like character development and world-building, feel skimmed over, which makes it hard to fully connect with the story. With more attention to pacing and expansion of these elements, Heritage could have been truly impactful. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read, though somewhat underdeveloped—solid 3 out of 5 stars.
With elements drawn from Avatar: The Last Airbender, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, plus dragons (!!!), Heritage takes the reader on a journey that accelerates as you get deeper into the story. The pacing keeps you engaged, the action pulls you in, and the characters find their own places in your heart. I found myself having to force myself to read slower toward the end since I was skipping lines...I needed to know what was going to happen. As soon as I finished it, I immediately bought the next book, Crusade. I. Need. Answers! Clean read, no spice, maybe two instances of a minor curse word (butt's replacement, to be specific). Highly recommend!
I saw the author promoting his book on IG with some TikTok trends. I figured I'd give it a read.
Overall it was alright. The world building was good and had some interesting concepts. The main characters were relatable and likable.
You can definitely see the influences on this book (Harry Potter and Avatar the Last Airbender) but there are plenty of original pieces that draw your attention away from those influences.
Some of the perspective shifts mid chapter were jarring but not enough to pull you out of the story.
Hey all who read this book! Wanted to hop on and say that I appreciate everyone's opinion and I am glad that this story has resonated with a lot of you. Please know that I am working hard to publish the sequel to HERITAGE, and it would mean the world to me if you can share this book with your friends and family. Reviews also help self-published authors, so if you can write one on here as well as on Amazon, I will be eternally grateful.
Thank you again, and get ready for another amazing adventure in Book 2, officially titled CRUSADE.
I ordered the first two books in the series and finished the first one in just a day and a half—I couldn’t put it down! Heritage had me hooked by the end of the first chapter, but I’ll leave out the details for those who want to experience it for themselves. The writing is phenomenal, and I love how the story unfolds through multiple characters' perspectives, giving you a full and rich view of the plot. I’m so excited to dive into the next book! Plus, I’m beyond thrilled to have gotten signed copies—I’m already a huge fan!