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Dante, the prophesied heir to the Merlin, excels through the ranks at the Round Table Academy. Having successfully completed The Test of Ostra, Dante now finds himself as the lead recruit. And, he has won the affections of his childhood sweetheart, Sylvia. Things couldn't be any better. Or so they would seem.

Senator Herod Antipaz plots relentlessly. And, his machinations doesn't stop at eliminating the Brotherhood. He schemes to drive a wedge between the people of Gilleon, the recruits in the Round Table Academy, as well as Merlin and his knights.

With deep seated corruption at the highest levels of government, Gilleon needs Merlin now more than ever. Otherwise, the approaching darkness could spell disaster for all.

Not only must Merlin protect his country from Herod's clutches, but he must also address his internal troubles. A secret from Merlin's past may expose him and destroy his reputation. He readies himself for an imminent quest: a journey that will decide Gilleon's fate and have far reaching implications for his successor and his mortal enemy, Herod. But it just might be his undoing as well.

183 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2020

21 people are currently reading
19 people want to read

About the author

Rory D. Nelson

14 books33 followers
When I was growing up, I never had aspirations of writing. Even as an adult, I never longed to write the great American novel. I believed I simply didn’t have the patience for it, though I had good writing skills. I worked hard to get into college, but once I was there I did little in the way of furthering my academic career and nothing in terms of building any future career. My greatest achievement in four years in college was successfully building a bong out of a hand held vacuum cleaner.

Like many college dropouts, I bounced aimlessly from job to job. I was a roofer, a fast food fry cook, a framer, a bouncer, cashier, housecleaner and even a would-be actor. Nothing enriched my soul or brought me any closer to happiness. I yearned for something more. I just didn’t know what it was.

In 1995, I reached a low point in my life. Fresh out of jail from a recent burglary conviction, I found myself homeless, unable to afford even the basic necessities and was forced to move back home to Idaho. I did regain some self-respect and finally got on my feet and once again became completely self-sufficient; but I was still pretty miserable.

I moved back to LA again in 1996 and after a number of unsavory and unsatisfying pursuits, I moved to Sacramento in 1999 to be with my then girlfriend, whom I later married. Like many couples, the illusion of true love obscured in a cloud of compatibility and chemistry eventually dissipated and reality set in. We divorced amicably enough.

By my late thirties, a relentless story had been steadily gnawing its way into my head in the form of dreams. An elaborate, rich, diverse character haunted me, begging me to give him life. Finally, I did just that. I began to write. The very first book I wrote of the character was not great and it was panned at a couple of writing conferences I attended.

Before I even got to the end of that book, the prequel to this amazing saga began to take on life. I knew I had to write it from the beginning. The story evolved as I wrote and continued to delve deeper into this world. This series is a labor of love and I hope you find the world as enthralling as I do.

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5 stars
22 (56%)
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12 (30%)
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4 (10%)
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1 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Lana.
2,780 reviews59 followers
June 23, 2020
Herod Antipaz, the corrupt senator of Lycenea, and his sorceress wife known as Chastity but is in fact no one but Morgana, are still plotting against the Brotherhood and trying their utmost to turn the people against the knights, and against themselves. Dante, Merlin's recruit has been doing very well in his training and has been appointed lead of his crew, he has also gained the love of Sylvia, the girl he was courting, and was preparing to take the next step to gain his knighthood, Dante thought things could not get any better but trouble came at him where he least expected it. Merlin on the other hand has someone from his past who needs his help, but going on this dangerous quest could bring his past to the surface, and could end the people's and the brotherhood's trust in him. However, Merlin was never one to turn his back on a friend so he is preparing to set off on the quest which could either save their world or bring disaster down on his head. Caius, the bastard son of Herod is still doing his best to gain his father's love and be accepted as his son whilst Herod is still using him for his evil machinations and both Caius and Maximus, find themselves embroiled in deep trouble on the eve of the Adventeen festivities. I really think that this is the most powerful book so far in this series and have enjoyed reading it very much. Can the brotherhood stand strong when one of their own has gone against all they believe in, and can Dante rid himself of his anger and his need for vengeance? I am waiting in anticipation to read the next book to find out.
Profile Image for Kaye.
7,177 reviews70 followers
July 6, 2020
ONE SENSATIONAL THRILL RIDE!!!
Thrilling! Rory doesn't hesitate to lay it all on the line, throwing caution to the wind and turning back, with this thrilling spin delivering this action packed hard hitting nail-biting nerve racking bombshell, blasting this baby to life spectacularly. Shenanigans, escapades and havoc run amuck, broadcasting the drama, deception, intrigue, turmoil, betrayal, animosity, danger, mounting suspense and intense situations along with a boatload of chaos while dodging destruction, you have one block busting experience. Carrying the load and bearing the burden, delivering one pulse racing, heart pounding, adrenaline pumping, page flipping dynamo, wrapping this jewel up sleek, shiny and tight. Obliterating the lines and shattering boundaries, limitations are amplified and exploited, riding the current and breaking waves, kicking this gem into overdrive, slamming it into a frenzy with far-reaching impacts. The characters are complex and genuine with traits and qualities that add depth and diversity, with enough flaws to relate, transforming into 100% on point realistic personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and depictions creating an elaborate backdrop that's so vividly descriptive it's like your transported to ground zero with them. Incredible job Rory, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
Profile Image for Tashia Jennings.
160 reviews10 followers
July 13, 2020
Rory D. Nelson brings it again and again in his latest addition to his Brotherhood of Merlin series. The Lustful Sorrows has everything I have come to expect from the arthur and more. Along with the graphic battles with incredible descriptive action (the author is truly gifted with his imagination and the written word) you encounter scenes of a very sexual nature that only adds more excitement to the mix. Romance (sex) amongst all the violence definitely was a huge bonus to me. Love the romance in this book. Between all the wonderful twists and turns, all the challenges Dante and the others go through, the internal and external struggles, and everything in between this book does not disappoint in anyway for me. This series keeps getting better and better with each book. With each book I love discovering how the plot unfolds, how each character develops and evolves, and how the story still holds my undivided attention from start to finish leaving me craving more. Highly recommend.
Profile Image for Pat.
1,319 reviews
June 13, 2020
I received a copy of this book for a review. I have not read the previous books in the series. They may have made more sense of the incidents detailed here, since there wasn't actually a plot but more a series of confrontations. I had a hard time differentiating the characters, too (As in, was that the good bad guy or the bad good guy, or someone else entirely?) More editing and proofreading would have been helpful, and may appear in the final version. A disappointment.
Profile Image for Joscelyn Smith.
2,304 reviews17 followers
July 4, 2020
Dante thought everything was smooth sailing but he should have been looking for the other shoe to drop because it was steel-toed with hop nails for that extra pain factor and Merlin's past has come back to bite him in the backside. Their trials and adventures are another wonderful addition to this highly entertaining series.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*
Profile Image for Mitch Faden.
23 reviews
May 26, 2020
Rory Nelson is one exciting author that I look forward to reading his books when they come out. This one is no exception. Another awesome tale of The Merlin! Dante and characters come alive as I read his books. I can imagine being there and experiencing all the action! A must read!
Profile Image for Anne Richardson.
1,274 reviews2 followers
May 30, 2020
What an amazing read loved it . Merlin and the rest of the characters bring this story alive. Couldn’t put it down.
A new author to me but this book encourages me to download more of this authors work.
Voluntary reviewed this book .
Profile Image for Rusty Williams.
4 reviews
November 10, 2020
Good book

Really good book. Had me totally enthralled from the very beginning. Disappointed by the way it ended. But can't wait for the next one.
566 reviews5 followers
July 15, 2020
A story with lots of action, bloodshed and intrigue. The characters are well developed as is the storyline.
I enjoyed the story and found it hard to put down. I haven't read any of the previous books but will be doing so , as I think my understanding of the story and characters would be improved by knowing what happened before.
I received an ARC copy of this book and this is my honest and freely given review
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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