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The Windshine Chronicles #2
There Will Be One
For generations, Windshine has chronicled the exploits of young men on quests to become heroes. Most suffered brutal deaths, and distrust of the Dark Elf grew until rogue officials offer sixteen-year-old archer, Woo Jin, the chance to eliminate her. If he succeeds, they will name him hero. If he fails, he can never return home.In the company of musicians, veterans, and the wielder of the glyph blade, Woo Jin sails from Jeju to the mainland. Their quest— to evacuate Goseong, the village of children, from the devastated borderlands of South and North Hanguk. Unbeknownst to Woo Jin’s companions, he studies Windshine for weaknesses even as he wonders what evil lurks in the Dark Elf.Reaching the village, the companions encounter a fierce horde of northern soldiers. Battling to survive, Woo Jin spots the perfect opportunity to fulfill his mission, but will he assassinate the Dark Elf to become a hero?
146 pages, Paperback
Published April 25, 2020
3 people want to read
About the author
Todd Sullivan
33 books39 followersTodd Sullivan attended his first serious writing class in 1995 at Stanford University. Between 1997 and 2002, he participated in the National Book Foundation's 10 day summer writing retreats. In 2006, he graduated with a Bachelors in English with Concentrations in Creative Writing from Georgia State University. He moved to New York that same year, and received a Masters of Fine Arts from Queens College in Flushing, New York in 2009. Todd moved to Jeju, South Korea, where he taught English in the public school system for five years. He currently lives in Seoul, and is studying the Korean language at Yonsei University. He is also working on a speculative fiction/urban horror novel that takes place in Korea.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 17, 2020
Loved it! 🐲🐉
My only complaint: It was too short. I want more!
The second book in the Windshine Chronicles is a perfect blend of Korean culture and fantasy that brims with action, heart, and betrayal. For the semi-short page count, the story of THERE WILL BE ONE is amazingly engaging and enamors with graceful writing that harmonizes the integrity of martial arts on to paper with concise restraint. Beautiful preservation of intangible cultural heritage fused with fantastical elements.
“You must become a hero while you are young, for it will not happen when you are old.”
Woo Jin, age 16, from JeJu Island is trained in honorable combat and sent, like so many other young men before him and other generations before that, to the Seoraksan Mountains. But something will be different on this mission apart from the common goal. He has been assigned a secret task, to assassinate the Dark Elf, Windshine, who has accompanied so many others into battle. Not only will Woo Jin’s life depend on it, but that of his father as well. “…failure would lead in the death of them both”.
As he travels to meet up with other young men going on the mission, he gets to meet the foreigner (Dark Elf) for the first time and is at first glance struck by her strange appearance. How could he kill such a strange and beautiful creature? But he holds his course and sets out with the others on their travels north to save children and women from the onslaught of the child-God of the North.
“Today, y0u set forth from Jeju as nameless warriors. When you return, you will be that much closer to being named heroes!”
However, his won’t be easy. There are dragons in the mountains patroling, so these missions are deadly and lots of blood has been shed there over time. When Woo Jin realizes that another young man/quester his age has a connection to the Dark Elf and speaks her tongue, he has to decide if he can trust and rely on him or not.
On the border between North and South Hanguk, the group will have to evacuate all the children as fast as possible. The reason for that is that northern soldiers kidnap young girls to bring them into their country.
As the factions clash, the group of young men has to rely on each other in combat. When Woo Jin falls quickly for a brave young woman in the village, it poses a distraction from the goal and he has to decide where his loyalties lie.
Will Woo Jin and the other questers make it out alive and save the village?
***
Just as good as the first novel, perhaps a bit speedier in pace, this was a great read. I loved the atmosphere and cultural aspects that shone through in the market places and along the travels through the Korean landscape. The characters were easy to connect with and the novel contained a great balance of action and intrigue.
I enjoyed being swept up in this world of myths and fantasy and was surprised at the reach of it all. Lots of components and circumstances were packed into this story without overbearing it.
A swift and excellent read I highly recommend. As well as the first one.
Cheers!
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you.
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
My only complaint: It was too short. I want more!
The second book in the Windshine Chronicles is a perfect blend of Korean culture and fantasy that brims with action, heart, and betrayal. For the semi-short page count, the story of THERE WILL BE ONE is amazingly engaging and enamors with graceful writing that harmonizes the integrity of martial arts on to paper with concise restraint. Beautiful preservation of intangible cultural heritage fused with fantastical elements.
“You must become a hero while you are young, for it will not happen when you are old.”
Woo Jin, age 16, from JeJu Island is trained in honorable combat and sent, like so many other young men before him and other generations before that, to the Seoraksan Mountains. But something will be different on this mission apart from the common goal. He has been assigned a secret task, to assassinate the Dark Elf, Windshine, who has accompanied so many others into battle. Not only will Woo Jin’s life depend on it, but that of his father as well. “…failure would lead in the death of them both”.
As he travels to meet up with other young men going on the mission, he gets to meet the foreigner (Dark Elf) for the first time and is at first glance struck by her strange appearance. How could he kill such a strange and beautiful creature? But he holds his course and sets out with the others on their travels north to save children and women from the onslaught of the child-God of the North.
“Today, y0u set forth from Jeju as nameless warriors. When you return, you will be that much closer to being named heroes!”
However, his won’t be easy. There are dragons in the mountains patroling, so these missions are deadly and lots of blood has been shed there over time. When Woo Jin realizes that another young man/quester his age has a connection to the Dark Elf and speaks her tongue, he has to decide if he can trust and rely on him or not.
On the border between North and South Hanguk, the group will have to evacuate all the children as fast as possible. The reason for that is that northern soldiers kidnap young girls to bring them into their country.
As the factions clash, the group of young men has to rely on each other in combat. When Woo Jin falls quickly for a brave young woman in the village, it poses a distraction from the goal and he has to decide where his loyalties lie.
Will Woo Jin and the other questers make it out alive and save the village?
***
Just as good as the first novel, perhaps a bit speedier in pace, this was a great read. I loved the atmosphere and cultural aspects that shone through in the market places and along the travels through the Korean landscape. The characters were easy to connect with and the novel contained a great balance of action and intrigue.
I enjoyed being swept up in this world of myths and fantasy and was surprised at the reach of it all. Lots of components and circumstances were packed into this story without overbearing it.
A swift and excellent read I highly recommend. As well as the first one.
Cheers!
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you.
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
September 27, 2020
After sixteen year old Woo Jin, who has been trained to kill opponents in honorable combat, was gifted a bow and pyeonjeons (short arrows) coated with poison by the Official Yeo, he must journey out of Jeju Island to kill the Dark Elf with his assigned companions on his side.
‘There Will Be One’ was a strong follow-up from ‘Hollow Men’ in the ‘The Windshine Chronicles’ series. It’s quite obvious the author has great talent in writing an impressive cast of diverse characters that all have unique personalities and traits. They don’t sound like they all have the same voice which can easily make or break a novel for me. Moreso, there was a great blend of action and adventure in the plot which really shined through and helped further engross me in the read.
All in all, I’m looking forward to what other adventures our destined hero, Woo Jin, has in store.
June 3, 2020
Another great adventure!
I really enjoyed this book, perhaps even more than the first. The action at the last third of the book was great and really got my attention! I couldn't put it down! Once again the author has created a great mix of quest fantasy amd martial arts into something unique. Highly recommend this book!
I really enjoyed this book, perhaps even more than the first. The action at the last third of the book was great and really got my attention! I couldn't put it down! Once again the author has created a great mix of quest fantasy amd martial arts into something unique. Highly recommend this book!
May 7, 2020
I loved this book! As a big fan of XianXia/WuXia (martial arts fantasy) dramas, I absolutely loved seeing what this genre looks like in a Korean setting. Sullivan’s understanding of Korean culture shines through in simple details from aspects of daily life to the generational influences of filial piety. His protagonist is so well written that you find yourself rooting for him, even though you know he’s been sent to assassinate Windshine. I look forward to the rest of the series.
September 28, 2022
A massive thank you to Todd Sullivan for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I reviewed the first book in the ‘Windshine Chronicles’ last month, see my post here. Todd is a master at creating a Korean-inspired fantasy world with sharp characters. This book follows a different protagonist but still includes the elf Windshine and the hero Ha Jun, as a continuation of the series thread. This time Windshine is threatened with assassination. The government asks Woo Jin to assassinate her with poisoned arrows, as readers we have built a previous warmth towards Windshine in book one and therefore, rally against her impending death, wanting to read on to find out if she is fated to die.
I liked how conflicted Woo Jin was about his task, having to weigh his family’s expectations for glory, his desires to be famed and his moral conscience. Woo Jin is sent out on a quest with seven other men to rescue women and children from a village, as normal Windshine is to accompany them to record their heroic deeds or deaths. Woo Jin is left wondering who else knows about his mission within a mission, does he carry the secret of assassination alone? The stakes feel higher in this book than in the first as not only must they still face a monstrous enemy but they also face conspiracy, murder and betrayal from within their quest group.
Ha Jun from book one is along the men completing the quest with Woo Jin which fills the reader with hope that Ha Jun won’t let anything happen to Windshine after bonding with her during his first quest. Woo Jin quickly becomes suspicious of their bond and watches them closely. Ha Jun tells Woo Jin that to be successful on dangerous quests they need to stick together as a group, we get the ominous feeling as readers that this quest will be just as deadly as the last. I like how Todd is not afraid to kill off characters, proving how difficult the quests are and how rare it is for a hero to be forged from the madness.
Todd is a master at writing battle scenes. I liked the introduction of musicians and their magical impact on the battle in this book. They use their drums and flutes to imbue their companions with clarity, focus, and confidence, some form of psycho-manipulation magic. I liked how the spread of Christianity is handled when the quest group arrives at the village to discover they have a cross and have been visited by missionaries. Religion is portrayed as the villagers’ source of hope keeping them alive until help could arrive. The conflict between the soldiers’ beliefs and the villagers’ beliefs could cost them their lives. The final battle scene is epic and includes my favourite magical creature – a dragon. Will Woo Jin be successful in his secret mission? Will they be able to save the children from the fiery breath of a dragon?
Todd continues to wow with this series, packed full of action, pace, magic, danger, and fantastic landscapes. I can’t wait to read the final installment.
I reviewed the first book in the ‘Windshine Chronicles’ last month, see my post here. Todd is a master at creating a Korean-inspired fantasy world with sharp characters. This book follows a different protagonist but still includes the elf Windshine and the hero Ha Jun, as a continuation of the series thread. This time Windshine is threatened with assassination. The government asks Woo Jin to assassinate her with poisoned arrows, as readers we have built a previous warmth towards Windshine in book one and therefore, rally against her impending death, wanting to read on to find out if she is fated to die.
I liked how conflicted Woo Jin was about his task, having to weigh his family’s expectations for glory, his desires to be famed and his moral conscience. Woo Jin is sent out on a quest with seven other men to rescue women and children from a village, as normal Windshine is to accompany them to record their heroic deeds or deaths. Woo Jin is left wondering who else knows about his mission within a mission, does he carry the secret of assassination alone? The stakes feel higher in this book than in the first as not only must they still face a monstrous enemy but they also face conspiracy, murder and betrayal from within their quest group.
Ha Jun from book one is along the men completing the quest with Woo Jin which fills the reader with hope that Ha Jun won’t let anything happen to Windshine after bonding with her during his first quest. Woo Jin quickly becomes suspicious of their bond and watches them closely. Ha Jun tells Woo Jin that to be successful on dangerous quests they need to stick together as a group, we get the ominous feeling as readers that this quest will be just as deadly as the last. I like how Todd is not afraid to kill off characters, proving how difficult the quests are and how rare it is for a hero to be forged from the madness.
Todd is a master at writing battle scenes. I liked the introduction of musicians and their magical impact on the battle in this book. They use their drums and flutes to imbue their companions with clarity, focus, and confidence, some form of psycho-manipulation magic. I liked how the spread of Christianity is handled when the quest group arrives at the village to discover they have a cross and have been visited by missionaries. Religion is portrayed as the villagers’ source of hope keeping them alive until help could arrive. The conflict between the soldiers’ beliefs and the villagers’ beliefs could cost them their lives. The final battle scene is epic and includes my favourite magical creature – a dragon. Will Woo Jin be successful in his secret mission? Will they be able to save the children from the fiery breath of a dragon?
Todd continues to wow with this series, packed full of action, pace, magic, danger, and fantastic landscapes. I can’t wait to read the final installment.
April 14, 2022
Loving this series so far!
It reminds me of Lord of the Rings in the way the soldiers are out to save their land (and also gain some glory for themselves).
I love that this is based in South Korea but brings in some magical elements as well. The characters are fun to watch evolve and follow their attempts to become heroes.
I also love how this addresses western religion moving into the country and how it's received (and not received) and how it affects the story (a lot).
This was very entertaining and fun to read and I am SO GLAD there is another one because these always end too fast and leave me wanting more!
It reminds me of Lord of the Rings in the way the soldiers are out to save their land (and also gain some glory for themselves).
I love that this is based in South Korea but brings in some magical elements as well. The characters are fun to watch evolve and follow their attempts to become heroes.
I also love how this addresses western religion moving into the country and how it's received (and not received) and how it affects the story (a lot).
This was very entertaining and fun to read and I am SO GLAD there is another one because these always end too fast and leave me wanting more!
October 8, 2020
I read Book 1 of The Windshine Chronicles and honestly could not wait to read Book 2. What would happen to the mysterious Dark Elk that records the journey of the young heroes? If you like adventure, this book delivers deadly dragons, enchanted swords, heroic teen boys on a quest to save a village and endless excitement. And of course, the thing I was waiting for: a touch of tragic romance. Don't miss it.
January 8, 2025
The book was okay, 3.5 at best. The last 45-50 pages were the most interesting and I honestly thought it would take a darker turn. I assumed Ji Su was possessed because of her faith to Hana-nim and she would turn on the party once the North Hanguk soldiers came, especially with how sudden Woo Jin's urge to be with her felt like magic of all sorts. Overall, it was alright.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2022
Before I get into this review, I would like to say a massive thank you to Todd for kindly sending me a physical copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
There Will Be One takes place just a few months after Hollow Men, following our protagonist, Woo Jin, on his quest to become a hero. He sets off with seven other companions to liberate the village of Goseong, which sits between the borders of North and South Hanguk. The catch? He has secretly been assigned another mission - to eliminate Windshine... And if he fails his family will pay the price.
One of my favourite parts of There Will Be One was definitely seeing more of Ha Jun. After the ending of Hollow Men, I was really curious to see where he wound up, and I was definitely surprised to see him going on another quest. That being said, I really liked seeing more of him in the sequel, as he was a very likeable character and probably my favourite from the whole series.
I also really liked the sense of friendship in this book. Much like the first, the friendship in There Will Be One was really strong, and I loved the bond the companions all shared (particularly as the majority of them were strangers before the quest actually began). I really liked the way they all looked out for each other as well as how much respect they all held for each other. It made the ending that much more bittersweet!
The Korean aspects were something else I really enjoyed. I found the book's setting of South Korea really interesting, and I loved the way Sullivan incorporated different aspects of it into the book. One really great example of this was when they were travelling to Goseong and passing through all the different forests and villages. It definitely made me want to visit South Korea one day!
I also really liked how much action this book had. The final third or so of the book was brimming with action and surprises and I found myself whizzing through it, waiting to see what would happen next. There were sacrifices and even a dragon, which definitely kept things interesting!
However, what I didn't like as much was actually Woo Jin himself. Although I liked him and emphasized with him in the first half of the book, I really didn't like him in the second half, and I thought he was much too concerned with Ji Su, and capturing her attention. I just generally thought she brought out a really bad side to him and I wasn't a fan of his actions (or thoughts, for that matter) surrounding her, although I know some people would like this romance aspect, so that may just be personal preference.
Overall, I would recommend There Will Be One to anyone who enjoyed Hollow Men, as it was nice seeing more of Ha Jun. I would also recommend the series as a whole to any fan of fantasy, as it's very easy to get into and a great addition to the genre!
There Will Be One takes place just a few months after Hollow Men, following our protagonist, Woo Jin, on his quest to become a hero. He sets off with seven other companions to liberate the village of Goseong, which sits between the borders of North and South Hanguk. The catch? He has secretly been assigned another mission - to eliminate Windshine... And if he fails his family will pay the price.
One of my favourite parts of There Will Be One was definitely seeing more of Ha Jun. After the ending of Hollow Men, I was really curious to see where he wound up, and I was definitely surprised to see him going on another quest. That being said, I really liked seeing more of him in the sequel, as he was a very likeable character and probably my favourite from the whole series.
I also really liked the sense of friendship in this book. Much like the first, the friendship in There Will Be One was really strong, and I loved the bond the companions all shared (particularly as the majority of them were strangers before the quest actually began). I really liked the way they all looked out for each other as well as how much respect they all held for each other. It made the ending that much more bittersweet!
The Korean aspects were something else I really enjoyed. I found the book's setting of South Korea really interesting, and I loved the way Sullivan incorporated different aspects of it into the book. One really great example of this was when they were travelling to Goseong and passing through all the different forests and villages. It definitely made me want to visit South Korea one day!
I also really liked how much action this book had. The final third or so of the book was brimming with action and surprises and I found myself whizzing through it, waiting to see what would happen next. There were sacrifices and even a dragon, which definitely kept things interesting!
However, what I didn't like as much was actually Woo Jin himself. Although I liked him and emphasized with him in the first half of the book, I really didn't like him in the second half, and I thought he was much too concerned with Ji Su, and capturing her attention. I just generally thought she brought out a really bad side to him and I wasn't a fan of his actions (or thoughts, for that matter) surrounding her, although I know some people would like this romance aspect, so that may just be personal preference.
Overall, I would recommend There Will Be One to anyone who enjoyed Hollow Men, as it was nice seeing more of Ha Jun. I would also recommend the series as a whole to any fan of fantasy, as it's very easy to get into and a great addition to the genre!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews