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The Sylvan Chronicles #3
The Raptor of the Highlands
Light dances with dark, green fire burns in the night, hopes and dreams follow the wind, to fall in black or white.
The prophecy spoke of Thomas Kestrel: outcast, lord, sorcerer, warrior, and perhaps savior of the Kingdoms — if he survives.
In The Raptor of the Highlands, the third book in The Sylvan Chronicles, Thomas realizes more fully the devastation of his people. Imprisoned but not defeated, he befriends Oso, a Highlander who helps him escape the mines. Clashing with the High King’s reivers and destroying their prison, he and Oso begin to infuse hope once more in the people of his homeland.
The prophecy spoke of Thomas Kestrel: outcast, lord, sorcerer, warrior, and perhaps savior of the Kingdoms — if he survives.
In The Raptor of the Highlands, the third book in The Sylvan Chronicles, Thomas realizes more fully the devastation of his people. Imprisoned but not defeated, he befriends Oso, a Highlander who helps him escape the mines. Clashing with the High King’s reivers and destroying their prison, he and Oso begin to infuse hope once more in the people of his homeland.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 23, 2019
755 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Peter Wacht
41 books140 followersGrowing up in New York when I was a kid, I used to haunt the science fiction and fantasy bookstore in Yonkers, searching for the epic fantasy stories that I loved to read. When I exhausted all my options, I started writing my own stories, never realizing that one day I would publish them.
As you read my stories, you’ll notice certain themes and I like to carry them over from one book to the next. I always include adventure, humor, a few twists, a bunch of fights (magic and steel), and a little romance, along with a few good monsters. But for me it always starts with engaging characters. Because without characters who grow and change as they seek to overcome the challenges placed before them, as they seek to move forward, the story can’t move forward.
In particular, I like to focus on the reluctant hero, a man or a woman not seeking glory, but rather seeking to help others and challenge the evil plaguing the world – a world that I’ve created, The Realms of the Talent and the Curse. They need to learn how to believe in themselves before they can do what’s demanded of them. A personal journey that all of us experience, often more than once in our lifetimes, from lack of belief to belief in the self.
To learn more, check out the Amazon series pages for my current epic fantasy series -- The Sylvan Chronicles, The Tales of Caledonia, and The Tales of the Territories -- and my first foray into urban fantasy, The Fallen Knight Series. (Many of the books in these series have been or are Amazon #1 Bestsellers in various categories as well as #1 New Releases.)
And to download a free story, or join my newsletter for the latest news and releases, visit https://peterwachtbooks.com
As you read my stories, you’ll notice certain themes and I like to carry them over from one book to the next. I always include adventure, humor, a few twists, a bunch of fights (magic and steel), and a little romance, along with a few good monsters. But for me it always starts with engaging characters. Because without characters who grow and change as they seek to overcome the challenges placed before them, as they seek to move forward, the story can’t move forward.
In particular, I like to focus on the reluctant hero, a man or a woman not seeking glory, but rather seeking to help others and challenge the evil plaguing the world – a world that I’ve created, The Realms of the Talent and the Curse. They need to learn how to believe in themselves before they can do what’s demanded of them. A personal journey that all of us experience, often more than once in our lifetimes, from lack of belief to belief in the self.
To learn more, check out the Amazon series pages for my current epic fantasy series -- The Sylvan Chronicles, The Tales of Caledonia, and The Tales of the Territories -- and my first foray into urban fantasy, The Fallen Knight Series. (Many of the books in these series have been or are Amazon #1 Bestsellers in various categories as well as #1 New Releases.)
And to download a free story, or join my newsletter for the latest news and releases, visit https://peterwachtbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
April 5, 2020
Emotional rollercoaster. I know that a five star rating is a lot ,but if you read this books you have no choice but to acknowledge the brilliance of the author. From the beginning the characters have been so engaging,and the plot of the stories have been seamless in their composition. Anyone who loves a good read will love this books,but if you are a fantasy reader welcome to the best read of the year. You are welcome😉😏
To read the three books so far it has only taken me 24 hour's and that was because I needed sleep. So worth it.
To read the three books so far it has only taken me 24 hour's and that was because I needed sleep. So worth it.
October 22, 2021
Frustrating to like the story and setting but be completely incapable of putting up with the writing. This author says the same thing 5 different ways. Least efficient story telling I've ever seen. He will drag out what should be half a page of story telling into 5 pages. Where one author may say, "The dagger was insufficient to kill the monster" This author would say "The dagger was a blade much shorter than a sword. While a sword could be capable of killing creatures, including ones the size of this monster, a dagger would be insufficient. A dagger could not pierce the thick skin of this monster. Therefore, he wished he had a sword, rather than this short, pitiful, old, rusty dagger. Because of his current weapon situation, he did not like his chances at winning this fight. It is likely he would not win this fight because of his shorter weapon and the monster's thick skin. He really wished he had a sword." Queue POV switch to someone else in the same exact scene where he will re-describe it all gain. Unreadable.
None of this mentions the authors focus on the dumbest disputes between family members. You know in books how authors will not walk you through an entire 30 pager script of an argument between characters? Not this book. We see the whole thing, and the argument doesn't progress/evolve, they just reiterate the same points over and over.
None of this mentions the authors focus on the dumbest disputes between family members. You know in books how authors will not walk you through an entire 30 pager script of an argument between characters? Not this book. We see the whole thing, and the argument doesn't progress/evolve, they just reiterate the same points over and over.
October 18, 2020
Totally enjoyed
I have read the first three of your books. I am 71 years young and I am enjoying your books. They move quickly and smoothly. The characters are wonderful. This is my first time reading your books. You are a wonderful writer and I am now going to begin book number four. Keep writting.
I have read the first three of your books. I am 71 years young and I am enjoying your books. They move quickly and smoothly. The characters are wonderful. This is my first time reading your books. You are a wonderful writer and I am now going to begin book number four. Keep writting.
September 14, 2020
Slavery is never a thing decent humans do to one another
Thomas is now more than casually (if Thomas had ever had the capacity to be casual about it in the first place) aware of the evil of slavery. An institution that in real life has happened throughout our history as a fallen human race, people have enslaved others like and different from them. In the abstract, it is foul enough as it is (more foul still is that anyone defends it). Up close and personal, it's far worse, especially if you are the slave.
Thomas has been aiding his people in various ways, usually from the shadows, delivering them from the creatures of the Dark Lord and aiding them in escaping capture any time that he can. But despite his skill, Murphy and his law catch up to Thomas and give him a first hand taste not only of slavery but also of torture, cruelty, and greed.
Killeran, the vain and greedy regent of the Highlands after the betrayal and defeat of the Kestrels and the Lord of the Highlands, is skimming off the top of what he sends from the rich mines of the Highlands to the High King Rodric. This necessitates increasing forays by his Rievers into the highlands looking for more slaves to worknhis mines, where the Marchers often outwit and outfight them, or seem to melt into the woods and disappear. When Rodric's messenger comes and demands more ores faster, Killleran demands help - and gets the soulless Warlocks to aid the Reivers. Because of the Warlocks and their numbers, alone, Thomas is no match for them, and using the Talent will allow them to detect him, so he relies on stealth. In a stroke of bad luck, he's discovered, but at least he and a newfound friend, Oso, manage to get the rest of the captives away.
Read his tactics, his plans, his fight to get his people free, and see what happens in this next chapter of the story of Thomas Keldragan Kestrel, Sylvan Warrior amd Lord of the Highlands, his new friend, and check in on the beautiful girl that often occupies his dreams. Meanwhile, I'm off to read the next book in the series.
Thomas is now more than casually (if Thomas had ever had the capacity to be casual about it in the first place) aware of the evil of slavery. An institution that in real life has happened throughout our history as a fallen human race, people have enslaved others like and different from them. In the abstract, it is foul enough as it is (more foul still is that anyone defends it). Up close and personal, it's far worse, especially if you are the slave.
Thomas has been aiding his people in various ways, usually from the shadows, delivering them from the creatures of the Dark Lord and aiding them in escaping capture any time that he can. But despite his skill, Murphy and his law catch up to Thomas and give him a first hand taste not only of slavery but also of torture, cruelty, and greed.
Killeran, the vain and greedy regent of the Highlands after the betrayal and defeat of the Kestrels and the Lord of the Highlands, is skimming off the top of what he sends from the rich mines of the Highlands to the High King Rodric. This necessitates increasing forays by his Rievers into the highlands looking for more slaves to worknhis mines, where the Marchers often outwit and outfight them, or seem to melt into the woods and disappear. When Rodric's messenger comes and demands more ores faster, Killleran demands help - and gets the soulless Warlocks to aid the Reivers. Because of the Warlocks and their numbers, alone, Thomas is no match for them, and using the Talent will allow them to detect him, so he relies on stealth. In a stroke of bad luck, he's discovered, but at least he and a newfound friend, Oso, manage to get the rest of the captives away.
Read his tactics, his plans, his fight to get his people free, and see what happens in this next chapter of the story of Thomas Keldragan Kestrel, Sylvan Warrior amd Lord of the Highlands, his new friend, and check in on the beautiful girl that often occupies his dreams. Meanwhile, I'm off to read the next book in the series.
February 9, 2021
The best book of the series yet.
Honestly the third person omniscient story was going to get a four star rating, because, like the previous two books, it doesn't really feel like a full story in and of itself, but rather a snippet of a much larger story. My favorite book series all have books that feel both a part of a larger world as well as telling stories in and of themselves. What earned this an extra star was the pacing and writing that did pull me in. There was a few editing errors where someone's name was supposed to be put in place but was missing and such but otherwise the story itself flowed very well.
One aspect of the world is the consistency of it. While there was some continuity issues I think with the second book I don't feel as much as in this book. There was a questionable part but again overall it connected well and flowed in such a way that I wasn't pulled out of the story. To be honest with you at the climax of book 1 I actually fell asleep taking a nap before waking up and finishing it. That's not to say that the work was at fault but it wasn't captivating enough to keep me awake at the time. at the same time it was entertaining enough to pull me in when I return to it.
That's a lot of wishy-washy feelings for a five-star book, and I'm not going to deny that it's probably my lowest five star I can give lol. something about it called to me though and pulled me through in such a way that I felt it was deserved. I still think the series itself is largely a Kindle unlimited only series for me as I'm not a big fan of the style of writing where you take one big story and chop it up in small little pieces. It was a fast read and hopefully he's a sign of things to come for the rest of the series.
the third offering is appropriate young adults and above and perfect for those that like a fast fantasy with some decent world building and good characters.
Honestly the third person omniscient story was going to get a four star rating, because, like the previous two books, it doesn't really feel like a full story in and of itself, but rather a snippet of a much larger story. My favorite book series all have books that feel both a part of a larger world as well as telling stories in and of themselves. What earned this an extra star was the pacing and writing that did pull me in. There was a few editing errors where someone's name was supposed to be put in place but was missing and such but otherwise the story itself flowed very well.
One aspect of the world is the consistency of it. While there was some continuity issues I think with the second book I don't feel as much as in this book. There was a questionable part but again overall it connected well and flowed in such a way that I wasn't pulled out of the story. To be honest with you at the climax of book 1 I actually fell asleep taking a nap before waking up and finishing it. That's not to say that the work was at fault but it wasn't captivating enough to keep me awake at the time. at the same time it was entertaining enough to pull me in when I return to it.
That's a lot of wishy-washy feelings for a five-star book, and I'm not going to deny that it's probably my lowest five star I can give lol. something about it called to me though and pulled me through in such a way that I felt it was deserved. I still think the series itself is largely a Kindle unlimited only series for me as I'm not a big fan of the style of writing where you take one big story and chop it up in small little pieces. It was a fast read and hopefully he's a sign of things to come for the rest of the series.
the third offering is appropriate young adults and above and perfect for those that like a fast fantasy with some decent world building and good characters.
June 2, 2024
All I can say is WTH! So many questions. Spoilers are everywhere here. I have closed this book and am reluctant to pick it back up again. At the end of Sylvan's, we have a Sylvan warrior with a wolf familiar. He is given a golden amulet that can, "Never be removed while you are still alive." and a pledge that if you are ever in trouble this amulet will bring us to you for aid. Then while hunting his favorite prey, dark things, is dragged into a fight and captured. Where is the wolf? Why is he, or his senses, not available to Thomas? Where is the aid promised by the Sylvan? How is it that Thomas is captured made a slave tortured and beaten and nobody notices a gold amulet around his neck? Don't you think they would have tried to remove it? I understand that Thomas needs this journey to reconnect to the highlanders but this seems very poor writing. So again WTH?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2021
I have read the first 3 books of the Sylvan chronicles and have enjoyed everyone. The story grabs you and keeps you wanting more. This is the first time I have read any of your books and once I am through with this series I will look for more. You are a captivating story teller. I am starting book 4 in this series as soon as I finish this review. Keep the stories coming I look forward to them. Thank you.
February 21, 2021
Decently written, poorly presented.
The books aren't bad, so far they're actually pretty good, but they're just so damn short. Of the three I've read so far, not one is more than two hundred pages. If the first three had been gathered into a single volume, presented as a single book, I think this series would have been a lot more popular.
The books aren't bad, so far they're actually pretty good, but they're just so damn short. Of the three I've read so far, not one is more than two hundred pages. If the first three had been gathered into a single volume, presented as a single book, I think this series would have been a lot more popular.
May 31, 2021
Great Hero
Good solid story if a little predictable. The main character is well thought out and planned. The writing is good if basic for most readers. The internal thoughts of the characters could be a little more evolved. If you are looking for an easy quick read this is it. Also a great starter series for young adults.
Good solid story if a little predictable. The main character is well thought out and planned. The writing is good if basic for most readers. The internal thoughts of the characters could be a little more evolved. If you are looking for an easy quick read this is it. Also a great starter series for young adults.
May 22, 2025
Peter Wacht is a great storyteller.
This 3rd book was filled with constant excitement to the point that I kept wanting to read on and not put it down. My favorite out of the 3 so far.
Thomas and Oso were a great duo together.
I am hoping that the rest of this series will be just as good as this book.
This 3rd book was filled with constant excitement to the point that I kept wanting to read on and not put it down. My favorite out of the 3 so far.
Thomas and Oso were a great duo together.
I am hoping that the rest of this series will be just as good as this book.
May 19, 2020
This is a different and unique story, with strong/lovable characters who battle evil trying to save the people of their lands. Thomas is the main character who you'll be rooting for through out the series. Great Reading Everyone!
June 8, 2020
That’s more like it.
Book 1 was a 5 star beginning. Book 2 was a 3 star snoozer. But, book 3 was a return to the action and excellence of the series introduction. Looking forward to book 4. Thanks for an excellent “chronicle”.
Book 1 was a 5 star beginning. Book 2 was a 3 star snoozer. But, book 3 was a return to the action and excellence of the series introduction. Looking forward to book 4. Thanks for an excellent “chronicle”.
August 2, 2020
Thomas gets a new name:The Raptor. He now fights for his people.
The Dark Lord knows the prophesy had begun. Thomas is building a following as he saves more Hilanders and the girl of his dreams.
The Dark Lord knows the prophesy had begun. Thomas is building a following as he saves more Hilanders and the girl of his dreams.
August 4, 2020
Raptor
Getting into trouble is a right of passage for all youth in the cusp of adulthood. Thomas took it to a whole new level. Though his escape from trouble was epic! Oso is awesome. Hope to see more of him in next book! Yay for girl fights, or girls learning to fight!
Getting into trouble is a right of passage for all youth in the cusp of adulthood. Thomas took it to a whole new level. Though his escape from trouble was epic! Oso is awesome. Hope to see more of him in next book! Yay for girl fights, or girls learning to fight!
August 23, 2020
Nice novelet
I enjoyed your short story very much. The additional character development was well done. I like both adventures the Raptor was able to go on. Thank you. I look for to your next instalment.
I enjoyed your short story very much. The additional character development was well done. I like both adventures the Raptor was able to go on. Thank you. I look for to your next instalment.
October 12, 2020
Good series
Nice easy reading. Really good description and characters. The classic good versus evil. Very enjoyable read. I do keep on just reading another chapter. Then another then another.....
Nice easy reading. Really good description and characters. The classic good versus evil. Very enjoyable read. I do keep on just reading another chapter. Then another then another.....
May 10, 2021
A short story..not a book
Wow....pretty good story but only 170 pages...this isn't a book it's a short story. Almost like the author broke a larger bok down to sell more books. Disappointing
Wow....pretty good story but only 170 pages...this isn't a book it's a short story. Almost like the author broke a larger bok down to sell more books. Disappointing
April 29, 2022
exceptional and full of action with strong characters
I really liked all the great literary words used to Provide the descriptions of emotions as well as the atmosphere and environment within the story
I really liked all the great literary words used to Provide the descriptions of emotions as well as the atmosphere and environment within the story
March 29, 2020
Wow
Hard to put down. I really have enjoyed reading about the adventures of the raptor. Can’t wait until he takes his place in the Highlands.
Hard to put down. I really have enjoyed reading about the adventures of the raptor. Can’t wait until he takes his place in the Highlands.
April 25, 2020
Interesting Story and Strong Characters
The series offers an interesting plot with good characters that the reader can invest in. The story moves at a good pace.
The series offers an interesting plot with good characters that the reader can invest in. The story moves at a good pace.
April 25, 2020
Very good book
I would recommend this series to all teens. It clearly explains the discipline one must develop in growing to adulthood.
I would recommend this series to all teens. It clearly explains the discipline one must develop in growing to adulthood.
May 15, 2020
Great Read...my only complaint is that the story is too short.
May 28, 2020
Exciting
This third book is moving the story a long. It is well written, exciting, coming of age and just scratched the surface as what is to come. Great story
This third book is moving the story a long. It is well written, exciting, coming of age and just scratched the surface as what is to come. Great story
June 8, 2020
Each book seems better than the last
Great tale Can’t put the book down till I finished Lots of action. Great build up. Every chapter is exciting.
Well on to the next one.
Great tale Can’t put the book down till I finished Lots of action. Great build up. Every chapter is exciting.
Well on to the next one.
June 15, 2020
I love the series and can't wait for the next one to come out.
July 30, 2020
This whole series was REALLY good.
August 2, 2020
Great Fast Read
I had a hard time putting this one down, you don't for the hero and boo the bad guys. I loved this book I can not wait to read the rest of the series.😀
I had a hard time putting this one down, you don't for the hero and boo the bad guys. I loved this book I can not wait to read the rest of the series.😀
August 7, 2020
Great story
Really enjoying the series, great characters, very interesting world created, looking forward to see what the next book brings forward
Really enjoying the series, great characters, very interesting world created, looking forward to see what the next book brings forward
November 1, 2020
This series is a winner well written and a great story just started the 4th book
December 9, 2020
Redeemed
I really don't understand the reason some authors feel that their heroes have to GIVE themselves up for torture. I would skip the 1st 80 or so pages
I really don't understand the reason some authors feel that their heroes have to GIVE themselves up for torture. I would skip the 1st 80 or so pages
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews