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The Warriors of Bhrea #1
The Lost King
She’s trapped on another world. With a strange voice in her head. What will it take to get back to Earth?
Lauren Strauss wanted a normal life, but fate had another idea in mind. Plagued by bizarre dreams and questions about her family’s past, Lauren hopes the day of her college graduation will lead to her getting answers...
When she’s caught up in a violent attack that rocks downtown Chicago, her mother arms her with a mysterious amulet which she will soon realize has a mind of its own. Tearing her from Earth and dropping her in an alien place, it abandons Lauren and leaves her to navigate this new world by herself.
She will do anything to return home. But can she?
Lauren Strauss wanted a normal life, but fate had another idea in mind. Plagued by bizarre dreams and questions about her family’s past, Lauren hopes the day of her college graduation will lead to her getting answers...
When she’s caught up in a violent attack that rocks downtown Chicago, her mother arms her with a mysterious amulet which she will soon realize has a mind of its own. Tearing her from Earth and dropping her in an alien place, it abandons Lauren and leaves her to navigate this new world by herself.
She will do anything to return home. But can she?
- GenresFantasy
486 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2020
22 people are currently reading
443 people want to read
About the author
T.M. Kohl
6 books38 followersT. M. Kohl’s passion is writing fantastic stories with unique worlds, cultures, and languages. Every day, her worlds grow a little bigger as she learns and gets inspired. Her current works include the epic portal fantasy series, The Warriors of Bhrea. When not writing, she enjoys hiking, playing the piano, and cuddling her cat Loki. Visit her website at www.tmkohl.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 7, 2022
Outstanding world-building.
THE LOST KING is an absolutely addictive fantasy told in rich detail. Lauren Strauss has always been curious about her mother Karen’s past. She’s been very secretive, about the amulet she wears, about the sword she can’t talk about. She has no idea her mother Karen is part of a magical order of elemental mages and came from another planet, that after an attack on the temple where she was training, her leader ordered her to safeguard an important relic, and that now they are both in danger.
In a twist of fate, Lauren survives a similar attack on earth and is sent back to the world her mother came from, and must adapt to life on Bhrea, learning to fight, learning the language, learning cultural practices. The worldbuilding was exceptionally, painstakingly done. I loved the level of detail. I enjoyed the characters on both worlds and liked the way the story was constructed so that bits and pieces of Lauren’s past that she believed were once lost to her… might not be so lost after all once she gets to Bhrea. I highly enjoyed seeing Lauren practice medicine in a bows and arrows level tech world with only the contents of her purse. 😊 I particularly liked the scene where Vaddin is sitting Lauren down with Bhrean wine to talk and she winds up bewitching the Bhreans with the secret powers of the i-phone, LOL. I enjoyed scenes with both Val and Vaddin and the hints that maybe there could be a romance or possible love triangle on the horizon in future books. I’m definitely looking forward to book two!
THE LOST KING is an absolutely addictive fantasy told in rich detail. Lauren Strauss has always been curious about her mother Karen’s past. She’s been very secretive, about the amulet she wears, about the sword she can’t talk about. She has no idea her mother Karen is part of a magical order of elemental mages and came from another planet, that after an attack on the temple where she was training, her leader ordered her to safeguard an important relic, and that now they are both in danger.
In a twist of fate, Lauren survives a similar attack on earth and is sent back to the world her mother came from, and must adapt to life on Bhrea, learning to fight, learning the language, learning cultural practices. The worldbuilding was exceptionally, painstakingly done. I loved the level of detail. I enjoyed the characters on both worlds and liked the way the story was constructed so that bits and pieces of Lauren’s past that she believed were once lost to her… might not be so lost after all once she gets to Bhrea. I highly enjoyed seeing Lauren practice medicine in a bows and arrows level tech world with only the contents of her purse. 😊 I particularly liked the scene where Vaddin is sitting Lauren down with Bhrean wine to talk and she winds up bewitching the Bhreans with the secret powers of the i-phone, LOL. I enjoyed scenes with both Val and Vaddin and the hints that maybe there could be a romance or possible love triangle on the horizon in future books. I’m definitely looking forward to book two!
May 20, 2022
What an enjoyable ride! The Lost King is an incredible story and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Bhrea alongside Lauren as she was taken from our world into a unique fantasy world.
The world-building in this book was amazing. I loved the descriptions of the setting, language (the glossary is super cool!), and especially clothing. It never felt like an info dump because we were given the information naturally, as Lauren learned more about the new world she found herself in.
Lauren is super easy to root for and I liked her from the beginning, and there are definite possibilities for a romance in future books. I'm eager to see what happens!
Overall this is an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it to all fans of epic fantasy!!
The world-building in this book was amazing. I loved the descriptions of the setting, language (the glossary is super cool!), and especially clothing. It never felt like an info dump because we were given the information naturally, as Lauren learned more about the new world she found herself in.
Lauren is super easy to root for and I liked her from the beginning, and there are definite possibilities for a romance in future books. I'm eager to see what happens!
Overall this is an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it to all fans of epic fantasy!!
July 29, 2020
Favorite fantasy novel read this year!
What an exciting ride this book is! I enjoyed the characters and so glad the author choose to show more than one POV. It added much more depth to the story. The chemistry between Lauren and Val was perfect. I'm so glad they were not written to fall in love at first sight
The world building is phenomenal. There is a magic system, culture, laws, races, religions, etc. It is all very well laid out with no info dumping to bog down the reader.
I also liked that the elements were tweaked a bit. Not your typical water, air, earth, fire. The addition of the night sect is really fascinating!
A lot of times with books, even if they are part of a series, I am satisfied after reading one, but with this book, I want more!
I very much enjoyed this read and would recommend to any fantasy lover!
What an exciting ride this book is! I enjoyed the characters and so glad the author choose to show more than one POV. It added much more depth to the story. The chemistry between Lauren and Val was perfect. I'm so glad they were not written to fall in love at first sight
The world building is phenomenal. There is a magic system, culture, laws, races, religions, etc. It is all very well laid out with no info dumping to bog down the reader.
I also liked that the elements were tweaked a bit. Not your typical water, air, earth, fire. The addition of the night sect is really fascinating!
A lot of times with books, even if they are part of a series, I am satisfied after reading one, but with this book, I want more!
I very much enjoyed this read and would recommend to any fantasy lover!
April 23, 2023
This book was amazing! The world. The magic. The characters. The relationships. I loved the ending and the fights. The training sessions. Lauren and Val great MC's and their relationship is amazing. A few really good twists I didn't see coming. It gave me serious Avatar: The Laat Airbender vibes. I absolutely loved it. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
April 30, 2022
Great start to a series
I very much enjoyed this story. It was fun to read, and I look forward to reading more about Lauren, Val, Vadin, and all the other characters. Would definitely recommend this book.
I very much enjoyed this story. It was fun to read, and I look forward to reading more about Lauren, Val, Vadin, and all the other characters. Would definitely recommend this book.
May 26, 2020
Lovers of Avatar: The Legend of Aang will love this new fantasy novel by T. M. Kohl. The world-building is detailed and it had a lot of interesting customs, beliefs, and fashion unique to the world of Bhrea. The magic system is actually interesting. There's a reason and explanation on how the elements are manifested and controlled by the Juntas—select warriors who can wield fire, earth, water, air, and light. There's another category and those are the night warriors and no, it doesn't involve manipulating literal darkness.
Okay, let's talk plot.
The plot is simple. Once Lauren found herself in this strange new world, she would do anything to get back home but doing so won't be quite simple. She met a man named Val who took her in and helped her settle in this foreign world.
Val is an earth warrior, meaning he can manipulate rocks and the like in combat. I really like Val as a character because his personality matches the element he's trying to wield; he's tough, quiet, stoic, and a man of few words. At the same time, he's also respectful, dutiful, and surprisingly has a sense of humor. His character has great depth especially the burden he has to carry as the eldest of his family. I really love his dynamic with Vadin, his brother, who also happens to be a Junta as well. How they throw brotherly banters while still showing that they care about each other. Another one is Valora, Val's sickly little sister and in the book, you can really see how Val acts such a caring big brother to her. I wish I could see more of Valora though…
As for Lauren, well, she's a great heroine. She tries hard and wants to be useful to the people around her and I like the ship tease she had with Val! She aspires to be a nurse and there was one scene where Lauren had to treat Val's injuries and yeah, the chemistry was sparking for me! Val is like my personal hero and someone I aspire to be if I ever get my act together!
If you're looking for a nurse who can hold her own battles, then Lauren is that girl. She's a complex heroine with wide ranges of emotion without looking like a whiner and to me, she's as realistic as you can get when it comes to female main characters.
All in all, a great book and would totally recommend it for high fantasy lovers!
Okay, let's talk plot.
The plot is simple. Once Lauren found herself in this strange new world, she would do anything to get back home but doing so won't be quite simple. She met a man named Val who took her in and helped her settle in this foreign world.
Val is an earth warrior, meaning he can manipulate rocks and the like in combat. I really like Val as a character because his personality matches the element he's trying to wield; he's tough, quiet, stoic, and a man of few words. At the same time, he's also respectful, dutiful, and surprisingly has a sense of humor. His character has great depth especially the burden he has to carry as the eldest of his family. I really love his dynamic with Vadin, his brother, who also happens to be a Junta as well. How they throw brotherly banters while still showing that they care about each other. Another one is Valora, Val's sickly little sister and in the book, you can really see how Val acts such a caring big brother to her. I wish I could see more of Valora though…
As for Lauren, well, she's a great heroine. She tries hard and wants to be useful to the people around her and I like the ship tease she had with Val! She aspires to be a nurse and there was one scene where Lauren had to treat Val's injuries and yeah, the chemistry was sparking for me! Val is like my personal hero and someone I aspire to be if I ever get my act together!
If you're looking for a nurse who can hold her own battles, then Lauren is that girl. She's a complex heroine with wide ranges of emotion without looking like a whiner and to me, she's as realistic as you can get when it comes to female main characters.
All in all, a great book and would totally recommend it for high fantasy lovers!
July 20, 2020
When I started this book, I thought it'd be an ordinary YA adventure novel like many. But it wasn't, in a good way.
The plot is, of course, similar to other alternate-world YA adventure fantasy novels, but the execution is impeccable. It's on a whole new level. If you want to read a good novel in this genre, then this is surely the right one.
I've been longing to read modern stories with as much depth, beautiful vocabulary, mythological and cultural allusions, as the old classics had. This book gave it all to me. I've enjoyed every bit of it.
Finding out that it was the author's debut novel gave me a whole new shock. Tons of research and work has been spent on this novel, one can easily tell. Kudos to T.M. Kohl for this masterpiece.
Impatiently waiting for the second book!
The plot is, of course, similar to other alternate-world YA adventure fantasy novels, but the execution is impeccable. It's on a whole new level. If you want to read a good novel in this genre, then this is surely the right one.
I've been longing to read modern stories with as much depth, beautiful vocabulary, mythological and cultural allusions, as the old classics had. This book gave it all to me. I've enjoyed every bit of it.
Finding out that it was the author's debut novel gave me a whole new shock. Tons of research and work has been spent on this novel, one can easily tell. Kudos to T.M. Kohl for this masterpiece.
Impatiently waiting for the second book!
June 30, 2020
The Warriors of Bhrea was an unexpected, exciting fantasy read from a budding new author. It blends traditional fantasy themes, mixing in diverse cultures, rich world-building, and vivid descriptions. The action starts early on and will have you flipping the pages. The character growth and development separates this book from most in this genre and I look forward to continuing the series.
February 17, 2021
What an absolutely fantastic fantasy this was! Wow. I seriously LOVED this book, and am tempted to dive immediately into the second, despite the long list of books waiting for me on my TBR list. The world Kohl crafts in this story is beautifully built, and her characters are delightful. Our main heroine, Lauren, is a strong, capable woman who handles her circumstances as best she can. Still, she has her vulnerable side, which makes her relatable and keeps you rooting for her to succeed. While the main focus of the story in on the amulet and Lauren's potential as a night warrior (not to mention the missing king), there's a tantalizing thread of slow burn romance woven through the story. Personally, I'd love to see a bit of a love triangle in the book 2, but that may just be my wishful thinking. I guess I'll just have to read it and find out. And believe me, I will most certainly be reading it. As should anyone with a love for epic fantasy. HIGHLY recommend.
July 10, 2020
So good!
I really enjoyed reading this book, the characters were so real! I found my self invested in what happened, the hopes and fears, the uncertainty. Everything flowed so naturally. The storyline was epic and i just had to keep reading to find out what happens next. I appreciated the key in the end to help with pronunciations and definitions of the language. Well done!
I really enjoyed reading this book, the characters were so real! I found my self invested in what happened, the hopes and fears, the uncertainty. Everything flowed so naturally. The storyline was epic and i just had to keep reading to find out what happens next. I appreciated the key in the end to help with pronunciations and definitions of the language. Well done!
July 5, 2020
Fun new Fantasy series
This was an entertaining read. I really like the world and characters the author has thought up. Great new series.
This was an entertaining read. I really like the world and characters the author has thought up. Great new series.
September 23, 2022
This is a story about a girl who doesn’t know where she belongs. Her mother was transported to Earth from another realm called Bhrea when she was just 19 years old and wasn’t able to find her way back. Her mom settled down, had a kid (her), and they’d been living a fairly standard Earth life until one day they didn’t. She was on her way to her college graduation when her car was attacked, there was an explosion, what sounded like gunfire, and one thing led to another and she ends up portalled back to this land called Bhrea which is full of magic and mayhem.
In this land of Bhrea there are kings and queens, bows and arrows, people ride on horseback etc. It looks and feels a lot like Earth but isn’t, there are two moons and people can move water with their minds and other elemental magics. It turns out she’s a long lost descendant of nobles and she’s got to learn how to master her magic or risk being a hazard to everyone including herself.
So, I had a couple issues, one of which was the pacing. Her mother’s story and her story are more or less the same, and at first we see her mother’s story as if it was a prologue. She was with her mentor when she was killed and a large part of why things went wrong was because her mentor kept her in the dark and didn’t tell her what was going on. Well, she just repeats this with her own daughter, telling her nothing about what was going on until it lands in their laps. Because of that, the beginning 20% felt repetitive and maybe it would have been better to just cut the mother’s story altogether and start with the daughter since she’s the MC anyway, figure out some other way to work in her mother’s backstory because it makes it feel like I’m starting the book all over again when attention shifts to the Lauren.
The other issue I had was not the world itself but how it was delivered. At the very start within the first chapter there is info dumping between characters, a history lesson and world building lesson. What’s more is that one character says “you know I know this” or something to that effect, indicating there’s really no reason other than for the reader��s benefit this information is being offered, and I just prefer it given to me in other ways than exposition if it can be helped.
The characters are likable, if a bit naïve. I did feel she acted just a bit younger than she was. Nursing is a tough job and you’ve got to have a bit more grit and forethought than what she was showing to make it, but she was still young, just green out of college. When she gets to Bhrea there’s another POV that’s introduced, the prince named Vohl and he’s likeable enough as well. He’s kind of hesitant to be king, a little unsure of himself, and her mother’s advice to her before she was whisked away was to find him even if she doesn’t understand why.
So one of the better aspects of the world building was the difficulty bridging the language gap. I hate it when it’s just like oh yes, by magic I now know your language, or worse yet, not addressing it. When people portal through to another world there best be a really good explanation if characters can instantly communicate. She had a lot of difficulty learning how to speak Corvet (ph.) which is the language spoken among the Bhreans. I don’t know how it’s spelled since I audiobooked, but I kept thinking of the cars…. I wish there was as much time and thought put into all aspects of the world building as there was into this portion.
The writing and pacing were both fine, although the dialogue did stray from what I’d feel is natural a couple times here and there, mostly when the infodumps came into play. It’s not a long book, my biggest issue with the pacing was the feeling of resetting when the story went from focus on her mother to focus on her, Lauren. This is ultimately a cut but I think people who enjoy romance and portal fantasy could get a kick out of it.
In this land of Bhrea there are kings and queens, bows and arrows, people ride on horseback etc. It looks and feels a lot like Earth but isn’t, there are two moons and people can move water with their minds and other elemental magics. It turns out she’s a long lost descendant of nobles and she’s got to learn how to master her magic or risk being a hazard to everyone including herself.
So, I had a couple issues, one of which was the pacing. Her mother’s story and her story are more or less the same, and at first we see her mother’s story as if it was a prologue. She was with her mentor when she was killed and a large part of why things went wrong was because her mentor kept her in the dark and didn’t tell her what was going on. Well, she just repeats this with her own daughter, telling her nothing about what was going on until it lands in their laps. Because of that, the beginning 20% felt repetitive and maybe it would have been better to just cut the mother’s story altogether and start with the daughter since she’s the MC anyway, figure out some other way to work in her mother’s backstory because it makes it feel like I’m starting the book all over again when attention shifts to the Lauren.
The other issue I had was not the world itself but how it was delivered. At the very start within the first chapter there is info dumping between characters, a history lesson and world building lesson. What’s more is that one character says “you know I know this” or something to that effect, indicating there’s really no reason other than for the reader��s benefit this information is being offered, and I just prefer it given to me in other ways than exposition if it can be helped.
The characters are likable, if a bit naïve. I did feel she acted just a bit younger than she was. Nursing is a tough job and you’ve got to have a bit more grit and forethought than what she was showing to make it, but she was still young, just green out of college. When she gets to Bhrea there’s another POV that’s introduced, the prince named Vohl and he’s likeable enough as well. He’s kind of hesitant to be king, a little unsure of himself, and her mother’s advice to her before she was whisked away was to find him even if she doesn’t understand why.
So one of the better aspects of the world building was the difficulty bridging the language gap. I hate it when it’s just like oh yes, by magic I now know your language, or worse yet, not addressing it. When people portal through to another world there best be a really good explanation if characters can instantly communicate. She had a lot of difficulty learning how to speak Corvet (ph.) which is the language spoken among the Bhreans. I don’t know how it’s spelled since I audiobooked, but I kept thinking of the cars…. I wish there was as much time and thought put into all aspects of the world building as there was into this portion.
The writing and pacing were both fine, although the dialogue did stray from what I’d feel is natural a couple times here and there, mostly when the infodumps came into play. It’s not a long book, my biggest issue with the pacing was the feeling of resetting when the story went from focus on her mother to focus on her, Lauren. This is ultimately a cut but I think people who enjoy romance and portal fantasy could get a kick out of it.
January 6, 2023
This entertaining porthole fantasy begins with a fast-paced prologue in the world of Bhrea. It introduces us to a young warrior named Keren. She narrowly escapes assassination and an amulet transports her to earth. Years later (only a chapter away), we catch up with Keren’s daughter, Lauren, a nursing graduate.
Circumstances soon conspire in such a way that Lauren is made aware of her Bhrean heritage. She is teleported to her mother’s world. We join her on an epic journey through this brutal, medieval society.
I thought it was super that Lauren is a nursing graduate. That profession deserves more representation. In a place lacking modern medicine, her skillset comes in handy on several occasions. . If you are a fan of elemental magic, you will likely love the scenes involving Junta warriors here.
In Bhrea, Lauren encounters some valuable allies. Attriminda (such a pretty name) serves as her quiet but honest confidant. I also enjoyed the complimentary personalities of the two royal brothers who play important roles in the story, beyond being princes. I won't say more about the others so as not to spoil some surprises.
The worldbuilding is truly excellent. Much attention to detail is put into the cultures of Bhrea and its neighbours. This information is delivered gradually, in a way that isn’t too exposition-heavy. A glossary provides translations for the Korvet words featured throughout the book.
The threads come together in the dramatic final act. The ending satisfies while providing a springboard into the next book. The Lost King offers a firm foundation for what looks to be a thrilling series.
May 4, 2022
If you're looking for fantasy with a different spin, check this book out. Kohl weaves an interesting and intricate tale between two worlds -- ours and a fantasy realm. We meet main character Lauren Strauss, who just wants to lead a normal life, despite her mother's mysterious past and her father's untimely death. We soon learn all is not what it seems when Lauren is ripped away from our world and finds herself in what we would call a fantasy land. Kohl is an excellent writer. Her scene-setting is extraordinary and her world-building is top-notch. Enjoyed this one a lot!
February 24, 2022
I love it! I'm excited to see what happens in the next book!
June 4, 2021
I am a sucker for otherworld stories, but it’s been a while since I’ve seen such depth of world-building. The main character Lauren’s life is turned upside down when she’s thrust into the world of Bhrea. A world full of richness and wonder, various cultures, exotic foods, and even a whole other language to learn. It was clear from start to finish the author took great lengths to flesh the world out and help the reader feel a part of it. Also to help the story along are engaging characters, from the strong and capable Lauren, to the stalwart but earnest Val, and many others. The interactions between characters felt poignant and meaningful, leading to a heart-wrenching climax, but ending with hope for the future.
May 26, 2020
Yay - an exciting new author and series to follow! The Warriors of Bhrea: The Lost King is a fantasy unfolding in another world that at times feels so true it’s like medieval historical fiction, but filled with mysterious events, unique customs, and special abilities. I found it easy to disappear into the story. Loads of adventure, mystery, emotion, drama, comedy – all while moving the storyline along quite nicely throughout (especially could NOT put it down for the last third of the book). I enjoyed watching the relationships evolve throughout the story. The scene setting is excellent – I could see, hear, and smell (yes smell!) this new world.
My favorite parts were the vivid festival preparations, Lauren’s internal conversations, her communication with a particular ... thing (remaining nameless to not spoil the fun), the later dramatic conflicts, and getting to know an irritable character I grew to admire. 5 stars is rare, but this is definitely better than a 4 so I’m rounding up. 4.6 stars and highly recommended. Looking forward to the second book!
My favorite parts were the vivid festival preparations, Lauren’s internal conversations, her communication with a particular ... thing (remaining nameless to not spoil the fun), the later dramatic conflicts, and getting to know an irritable character I grew to admire. 5 stars is rare, but this is definitely better than a 4 so I’m rounding up. 4.6 stars and highly recommended. Looking forward to the second book!
June 16, 2021
This is a wonderful fantasy book by a new author making her debut! I was increasingly drawn in by the storyline, which includes journeys between worlds--one of which is a delightful approximation of real-life medieval kingdoms, but with their own customs, languages, and people. The plot is well fleshed out, and the characters are well developed, with stories that will draw you in and touch your heart. There is the ever-present battle between good and evil, which is told with imagination and includes extraordinary perception on the part of the main character. I definitely recommend this book to lovers of fantasy, and to those who enjoy historical settings!
May 21, 2020
Engaging fantasy novel. The main character, Lauren, is relatable—her internal comments provide some smiles as she tries to cope with the life-changing experiences she has. The world in which most of the story takes place is fully realized, along with its own language—but that language is not a barrier for the reader. Since I don't want to unknowingly provide spoilers, I will just say to give this a read!
September 2, 2020
Two words collide.
When a girl on earth suddenly finds herself somewhere else, she is confused and lost. But soon she becomes a warrior of her new world. This is an exciting experience. This book will be a read you will enjoy and not want to put down.
When a girl on earth suddenly finds herself somewhere else, she is confused and lost. But soon she becomes a warrior of her new world. This is an exciting experience. This book will be a read you will enjoy and not want to put down.
December 3, 2021
This book caught my eye with its cover art- it turns out the book is as engaging as its cover and I really enjoyed it.
STORY: This is a portal fantasy, where we follow Lauren Strauss, a just-qualified nurse who during the trip to her graduation is thrown into another world against her will. She now has to navigate an alien land alone, and discovers she has rare magic power that will entangle her into deeper problems.
The prologue chapter threw me off quite a bit as it's not really what the blurb has you expecting, but it makes sense as you read on. In all honestly I'd say it wasn't needed as the information could have been revealed in-story but this is just a minor thing.
The pacing is generally okay but for me the fight scenes especially at the end were far too long- this made them drag on and I did skip several paragraphs of description as it did spoil the urgency of situations a little.
The third act also feels very rushed and last minute, as while there is good build up, the actual reveal has little relevance to this and I would have liked some more hints toward the antagonist as it would have come as more of a shock.
CHARACTERS: Lauren makes a strong protagonist though she does fall a little into the 'strong female' cliche at times- I really liked how she's a nurse on Earth but this skill is rapidly ditched for warrior training which disappointed me, especially given that her magic power is mind-based not combat based. It would also have contrasted her mother given that she was a powerful warrior too and made her stand out just a bit more.
The brothers were well-written and distinctive enough in personality but their names were a bit too similar for me and it took a while before I could know who was who. I did like their differing perspectives and also how their relationship with Lauren develops.
I also like how it's through the character interaction that Lauren learns about Bhrea- it really makes the setting come alive and you don't have to read pages of boring info dumping, the author absolutely nailed this in execution and I was very impressed!
The antagonist is perhaps the weakest link here as next to nothing is revealed until the third act- some more hints would have made this a bit stronger for me.
SETTING/ VOICE: Bhrea is a well thought out world with incredible depth and it feels like a real place. I particularly liked how through Lauren we learn the language and customs. Character voices aren't hugely distinct given this is 3rd person but you can clearly tell who is the lead character for each chapter and there's no head hopping. The POV also sticks to important or main characters which I greatly appreciate as a huge pet peeve I have with epic fantasy is that everyone gets a POV which breaks my investment.
PRESENTATION: The cover is stunning with original artwork and a distinctive title. The book itself is well formatted and I think I just caught one added indentation paragraph towards the end.
OVERALL: I thoroughly enjoyed this portal fantasy with its rich lore, world and magic. It gives off an ATLA/ Vision of Escaflowne vibe with some video game influences thrown in as well which I loved. Highly recommended for fans of epic fantasy who love delving into deep worlds and with a fun cast of characters.
STORY: This is a portal fantasy, where we follow Lauren Strauss, a just-qualified nurse who during the trip to her graduation is thrown into another world against her will. She now has to navigate an alien land alone, and discovers she has rare magic power that will entangle her into deeper problems.
The prologue chapter threw me off quite a bit as it's not really what the blurb has you expecting, but it makes sense as you read on. In all honestly I'd say it wasn't needed as the information could have been revealed in-story but this is just a minor thing.
The pacing is generally okay but for me the fight scenes especially at the end were far too long- this made them drag on and I did skip several paragraphs of description as it did spoil the urgency of situations a little.
The third act also feels very rushed and last minute, as while there is good build up, the actual reveal has little relevance to this and I would have liked some more hints toward the antagonist as it would have come as more of a shock.
CHARACTERS: Lauren makes a strong protagonist though she does fall a little into the 'strong female' cliche at times- I really liked how she's a nurse on Earth but this skill is rapidly ditched for warrior training which disappointed me, especially given that her magic power is mind-based not combat based. It would also have contrasted her mother given that she was a powerful warrior too and made her stand out just a bit more.
The brothers were well-written and distinctive enough in personality but their names were a bit too similar for me and it took a while before I could know who was who. I did like their differing perspectives and also how their relationship with Lauren develops.
I also like how it's through the character interaction that Lauren learns about Bhrea- it really makes the setting come alive and you don't have to read pages of boring info dumping, the author absolutely nailed this in execution and I was very impressed!
The antagonist is perhaps the weakest link here as next to nothing is revealed until the third act- some more hints would have made this a bit stronger for me.
SETTING/ VOICE: Bhrea is a well thought out world with incredible depth and it feels like a real place. I particularly liked how through Lauren we learn the language and customs. Character voices aren't hugely distinct given this is 3rd person but you can clearly tell who is the lead character for each chapter and there's no head hopping. The POV also sticks to important or main characters which I greatly appreciate as a huge pet peeve I have with epic fantasy is that everyone gets a POV which breaks my investment.
PRESENTATION: The cover is stunning with original artwork and a distinctive title. The book itself is well formatted and I think I just caught one added indentation paragraph towards the end.
OVERALL: I thoroughly enjoyed this portal fantasy with its rich lore, world and magic. It gives off an ATLA/ Vision of Escaflowne vibe with some video game influences thrown in as well which I loved. Highly recommended for fans of epic fantasy who love delving into deep worlds and with a fun cast of characters.
July 12, 2022
Warriors of Bhrea: The Lost King is an incredible first installment of a fantasy series by T.M. Kohl. While a lengthy book, it never once feels like it. From the very first page, tidbits of mystery are masterfully laid like breadcrumbs to follow, and they unravel through the pages tantalizing bit by tantalizing bit. Mixed in with the mystery is plenty of action and emotional beats and character growth, all of which create a smooth, easy reading flow.
The worldbuilding in this book is by far its strongest feature. Bhrea is fully fleshed out with its own political hierarchy, detailed customs (I particularly enjoyed the use of scents to send messages to others about one’s personality/wants), and the author even invented a new language (the glossary is next-level impressive). The world the author weaves is wholly immersive so a reader can truly feel as if they were transported to an entirely different place, which is precisely what happens to the protagonist, Lauren.
Lauren, a soon-to-be college graduate with a boyfriend she loves, loses everything she knew when a powerful amulet passed down from her mother transports her to Bhrea to save her life. Little did Lauren know, her mother was a warrior of Bhrea, and she’d been transported to Earth long ago by the same amulet. Her mother was a powerul Junta with magic abilities, and as it turns out, Lauren inherited magic too. She’s a quick study and while she struggles with her new lot in life, she never comes off as whiny or weak. She determinedly learns an entirely new way of life, tries to master rare abilities that are sometimes frightening, and deals with burgeoning feelings for the reluctant prince Val, who longs to solve the mystery of what happened to his father.
Val is also a great character. He’s honorable and kind, with a sense of humor Lauren has a knack for pulling out of him. He’s weighed down by responsibility, not just as the prince, but also as an older brother. His brotherly banter with Vadin were some of my favorite moments, and his care for his sister Valora endeared him as my favorite character.
While I would’ve love a little more romance between Lauren and Val, there is definitely room for it to grow as the series goes on, and there is so much more to explore in this fascinating world and more mysteries to solve. If you enjoy elemental magic and kung fu, like Avatar the Last Airbender, you are sure to love this story. I definitely recommend and will be picking up the rest of the series.
The worldbuilding in this book is by far its strongest feature. Bhrea is fully fleshed out with its own political hierarchy, detailed customs (I particularly enjoyed the use of scents to send messages to others about one’s personality/wants), and the author even invented a new language (the glossary is next-level impressive). The world the author weaves is wholly immersive so a reader can truly feel as if they were transported to an entirely different place, which is precisely what happens to the protagonist, Lauren.
Lauren, a soon-to-be college graduate with a boyfriend she loves, loses everything she knew when a powerful amulet passed down from her mother transports her to Bhrea to save her life. Little did Lauren know, her mother was a warrior of Bhrea, and she’d been transported to Earth long ago by the same amulet. Her mother was a powerul Junta with magic abilities, and as it turns out, Lauren inherited magic too. She’s a quick study and while she struggles with her new lot in life, she never comes off as whiny or weak. She determinedly learns an entirely new way of life, tries to master rare abilities that are sometimes frightening, and deals with burgeoning feelings for the reluctant prince Val, who longs to solve the mystery of what happened to his father.
Val is also a great character. He’s honorable and kind, with a sense of humor Lauren has a knack for pulling out of him. He’s weighed down by responsibility, not just as the prince, but also as an older brother. His brotherly banter with Vadin were some of my favorite moments, and his care for his sister Valora endeared him as my favorite character.
While I would’ve love a little more romance between Lauren and Val, there is definitely room for it to grow as the series goes on, and there is so much more to explore in this fascinating world and more mysteries to solve. If you enjoy elemental magic and kung fu, like Avatar the Last Airbender, you are sure to love this story. I definitely recommend and will be picking up the rest of the series.
August 28, 2023
The Lost King (The Warriors of Bhrea #1) is a fantastic portal fantasy, following Lauren Strauss in this new world that she finds herself in. We open with a prologue that kind of turns my expectations on its head and then come to Lauren who is shown to have an interesting connection to the new world in which she finds herself.
The word here, ‘world’, is a good bridge for something I want to mention as a source of endless fascination for me with this book. The world-building here is seriously rich. It’s just fantastic. The settings, the language, the clothes, hairstyles… all that! I found that extremely interesting. And the language, indeed! Featuring glimpses into its own language system, which are incorporated in small doses to the story. (There’s also a glossary included). Fascinating.
Something I want to indeed commend is the language barrier between Lauren and the world in which she finds herself. It takes time and effort for Lauren to be able to communicate to a satisfactory degree. I liked that touch of realism – no instant ‘hey, I speak your language now’, never mind them all speaking the same language.
Lauren herself is a pretty easy MC to like. Through her, we get to experience and explore diverse cultures. She makes the acquaintance/friendship of some easy to like other characters, too. I think there’s a hint of romance brewing as well, which is somewhat complicated by… some things.
I very much enjoyed this first foray into Bhrea, which seems like a world of great depth and history. I already got all the rest of the books in the series, too, and am interested in seeing how it continues.
The word here, ‘world’, is a good bridge for something I want to mention as a source of endless fascination for me with this book. The world-building here is seriously rich. It’s just fantastic. The settings, the language, the clothes, hairstyles… all that! I found that extremely interesting. And the language, indeed! Featuring glimpses into its own language system, which are incorporated in small doses to the story. (There’s also a glossary included). Fascinating.
Something I want to indeed commend is the language barrier between Lauren and the world in which she finds herself. It takes time and effort for Lauren to be able to communicate to a satisfactory degree. I liked that touch of realism – no instant ‘hey, I speak your language now’, never mind them all speaking the same language.
Lauren herself is a pretty easy MC to like. Through her, we get to experience and explore diverse cultures. She makes the acquaintance/friendship of some easy to like other characters, too. I think there’s a hint of romance brewing as well, which is somewhat complicated by… some things.
I very much enjoyed this first foray into Bhrea, which seems like a world of great depth and history. I already got all the rest of the books in the series, too, and am interested in seeing how it continues.
July 13, 2022
Author Tabby Kohl has put together an engaging Portal Fantasy with a strong element of Romance and a bit of YA vibe. Her world-building is meticulous and believable. “Lost King” includes its own language with in-story words that are reasonably easy to follow by context. Young Lauren has just received her nursing degree and is preparing to settle down to a life of suburban bliss. A car crash, a moment of danger, a mysterious amulet, and zam! She’s whisked off to the world of Bhrea. Rescued by a dashing young man, Lauren must learn the languages and customs of her new life. In the process, she discovers her own hidden powers, but are they enough?
I’ll admit, I almost DNF’d this one after the first chapter. However, having just abandoned an earlier read, I stuck with “Lost King,” and now I’m glad I did. It took a while to establish a main character, some motivation, and a (rather vague) sinister antagonist cabal. After that, Author Kohl pulled it all together and gave us a fast and entertaining story.
If you enjoy romance tropes in your read (beautiful young protagonist; hunky, but sullen royal prince; his extrovert, musician brother…also hunky), an immersive fantasy world, spiffy magical warriors, and a slam-bang, blow-it-up ending, then “The Warriors of Bhrea – The Lost King” may be just the book for you. Oh, and bonus, it’s first in a series. Revisit Lauren in Book 2, “The Master of Night” and find out if she can untangle her love life and defeat a sinister threat to the world of Bhrea, maybe even to her home world of Earth.
I’ll admit, I almost DNF’d this one after the first chapter. However, having just abandoned an earlier read, I stuck with “Lost King,” and now I’m glad I did. It took a while to establish a main character, some motivation, and a (rather vague) sinister antagonist cabal. After that, Author Kohl pulled it all together and gave us a fast and entertaining story.
If you enjoy romance tropes in your read (beautiful young protagonist; hunky, but sullen royal prince; his extrovert, musician brother…also hunky), an immersive fantasy world, spiffy magical warriors, and a slam-bang, blow-it-up ending, then “The Warriors of Bhrea – The Lost King” may be just the book for you. Oh, and bonus, it’s first in a series. Revisit Lauren in Book 2, “The Master of Night” and find out if she can untangle her love life and defeat a sinister threat to the world of Bhrea, maybe even to her home world of Earth.
May 16, 2025
The first book in this series as well as the first book published by this author gets off to a strong start, hitting us with plenty of action and worldbuilding exposition early. The worldbuilding is one of the strongest aspects here; despite obviously taking some beats from Avatar the Last Airbender (which is unfortunately unavoidable at this point if you do anything involving elements like fire and water and so forth, but at least this one has an extra element -- night/darkness), it still stands out due to Kohl creating her own language and world for this series. The characters are all likable too and easy to root for.
The biggest issue is that after establishing a fast pace for the first half, the book slows down a lot and focuses on character development -- which isn't a bad thing in of itself, but the problem is the story barely moves forward at all during this point, for 100-150 pages in a 475-page book.
The good news is that the story recovers itself pretty well during the final act, which includes a good plot twist. And there's not much else to complain about beyond that, though some of the modern anachronisms that are occasionally thrown into the narration feel goofy at times ("damn straight", for example).
Some rough edges here and there, but overall a strong first effort for an author's first published work. It's certainly enough for me to want the read the rest of the series.
The biggest issue is that after establishing a fast pace for the first half, the book slows down a lot and focuses on character development -- which isn't a bad thing in of itself, but the problem is the story barely moves forward at all during this point, for 100-150 pages in a 475-page book.
The good news is that the story recovers itself pretty well during the final act, which includes a good plot twist. And there's not much else to complain about beyond that, though some of the modern anachronisms that are occasionally thrown into the narration feel goofy at times ("damn straight", for example).
Some rough edges here and there, but overall a strong first effort for an author's first published work. It's certainly enough for me to want the read the rest of the series.
July 21, 2020
The Warriors of Bhrea is an action-packed fantasy novel that gripped me from the beginning. The novel starts with Keren, a Junta warrior in the Kingdom of Bhrea. She’s skilled in fighting and also has magical abilities. After her mentor is killed, Keren is transported to Earth, where a man named John Strauss finds her. Soon after, the story jumps ahead in time and focuses on the journey of Lauren Strauss, Keren and John’s daughter. Lauren doesn’t know too much about her mother’s past. That ignorance doesn’t last for long. Soon after a tragedy, Lauren is teleported to Bhrea, her mother’s home. Little does she know the adventure she’s about to have.
I won’t summarize more of the tale because that will give away certain fun surprises, but suffice it to say, I loved how mystery after mystery was revealed as I turned the Kindle pages. The pace of the story is one of its strengths. The book started with a bang, and the action kept coming. The author’s worldbuilding is also excellent. I could visualize Bhrea in vivid detail. This book says it’s a part 1, so I look forward to more installments in this series.
I won’t summarize more of the tale because that will give away certain fun surprises, but suffice it to say, I loved how mystery after mystery was revealed as I turned the Kindle pages. The pace of the story is one of its strengths. The book started with a bang, and the action kept coming. The author’s worldbuilding is also excellent. I could visualize Bhrea in vivid detail. This book says it’s a part 1, so I look forward to more installments in this series.
August 9, 2022
always feel just a little bit claustrophobic in these kinds of stories where ordinary characters are transported to alien worlds and have no way of ever returning home (and does home even exist anymore and is everything and everyone lost?), but Kohl keeps the adventure moving and though loss is a big theme overall, young Lauren connects with another part of her family she never knew.
And despite the worlds-threatening evil that abounds and the foreignness of her new life (and the voice in her head), she finds great friendship and support ~ and her own place within a shared destiny. Kohl creates a deep, rich culture replete with its own customs and languages which Lauren must learn to navigate, but never gets bogged in the worldbuilding--with a finale set piece that tonally and visually feels straight out of the best kind of action-adventure blockbusters.
The coda once the dust has settled promises more intrigues from a villain so evil, mysterious, and seemingly indestructable, she gives ol' Palpatine a run for the money.
And despite the worlds-threatening evil that abounds and the foreignness of her new life (and the voice in her head), she finds great friendship and support ~ and her own place within a shared destiny. Kohl creates a deep, rich culture replete with its own customs and languages which Lauren must learn to navigate, but never gets bogged in the worldbuilding--with a finale set piece that tonally and visually feels straight out of the best kind of action-adventure blockbusters.
The coda once the dust has settled promises more intrigues from a villain so evil, mysterious, and seemingly indestructable, she gives ol' Palpatine a run for the money.
October 8, 2022
The Lost King (Warriors of Bhrea)
Very interesting take on the woman thrown from her world and into a fantasy one because it starts off the vice versa for her mother. I won't spoil it but swapping worlds plays into the story. Also, I enjoy seeing a character learn their new surroundings.
The new language was done very well in my opinion and wasn't hard to assume the meaning of words. It also helps that there's a dictionary at the end of the book just in case.
I also really like how Kohl depicts the various characters dealing with their own personal losses. From the main character, Lauren, to some of the minor characters, there's an interesting contrast and similarities of coping mechanisms.
World building is a fav of mine and this book doesn't fail to impress with the new, unique ideas. I loved the impressive ways that fantasy was made into something new and even the whole politics surrounding a royal family didn't bog the story down.
All in all, a great book. Highly recommend
Very interesting take on the woman thrown from her world and into a fantasy one because it starts off the vice versa for her mother. I won't spoil it but swapping worlds plays into the story. Also, I enjoy seeing a character learn their new surroundings.
The new language was done very well in my opinion and wasn't hard to assume the meaning of words. It also helps that there's a dictionary at the end of the book just in case.
I also really like how Kohl depicts the various characters dealing with their own personal losses. From the main character, Lauren, to some of the minor characters, there's an interesting contrast and similarities of coping mechanisms.
World building is a fav of mine and this book doesn't fail to impress with the new, unique ideas. I loved the impressive ways that fantasy was made into something new and even the whole politics surrounding a royal family didn't bog the story down.
All in all, a great book. Highly recommend
December 13, 2020
What was really great about this book was that, although it was easy to read and compellingly told, with some features you could tick off against fantasy tropes, the characters and setting were rounded and complex. The kingdom of Bhrea seems like a decent place at first, but the apparently willing servants are slaves taken from their families as children and neighbouring regions are coerced into alliances. The rulers appear to have everything, but they're forced into strategic marriages for the good of the kingdom. Lauren, the main character, is brave and determined to do the right thing, but she's also convincingly overwhelmed by finding herself in a different world. I liked that it took a while for her to learn the language and then begin to piece together what was happening: because events were the stuff of legend in Bhrea, there was no convenient guide waiting to explain exactly what her role was going to be.
A fabulous story. I'm looking forward to reading the second book.
A fabulous story. I'm looking forward to reading the second book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2022
I’d give The Lost King 3.75 stars. I was really into the story and wanted to keep following the characters as they slowly unravel the mysteries of their world. While I thought some of the characters felt a little two-dimensional (including Val, one of the two main POVs), I’m guessing we may get more insight into their psychological makeup in the remainder of the trilogy.
In contrast, the portrayal of Lauren - the female protagonist and (what feels like) the main POV - is done really well in how it shows both her strength and vulnerability, her yearning to go back to her old world as well as determination to help her new friends in the kingdom of Bhrea.
The budding romance between the protagonists is very slow burning. Their dialogues get fairly awkward at times, which I felt was mostly intentional on the part of the author, though possibly not in all cases.
Overall, I think the book might benefit from some minor editing (which is understandable, being self-published), but that doesn’t take away from me being hooked and wanting to jump into book 2 shortly.
In contrast, the portrayal of Lauren - the female protagonist and (what feels like) the main POV - is done really well in how it shows both her strength and vulnerability, her yearning to go back to her old world as well as determination to help her new friends in the kingdom of Bhrea.
The budding romance between the protagonists is very slow burning. Their dialogues get fairly awkward at times, which I felt was mostly intentional on the part of the author, though possibly not in all cases.
Overall, I think the book might benefit from some minor editing (which is understandable, being self-published), but that doesn’t take away from me being hooked and wanting to jump into book 2 shortly.
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