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The Ouiums Journey #1
Hell Broke Loose
When an ancient and powerful witch did the impossible and escaped after an eternity of being tortured in the pits of Hell… he thought his troubles were over.
Soon after Esa’s return to Earth, he quickly discovered that both his magic and the world that he had left behind had changed–and not for the better. Without his innate spellcasting abilities or support from the covens, he had no choice but to forge ahead and hope for the best.
Esa’s chance meeting with Skylar Lee, a dark witch with an incredible power that promises much, is a turning point and awakens within him feelings and changes he cannot easily explain and refuses to subdue. As the 300-year-old witch, who appears to others to be a teenaged boy after his time in Hell stopped his aging process, struggles with emotional turmoil. Esa cannot spot a twin threat to his life and any chance of happiness that he may have with Skylar.
Thegon, the sinister ruler of hell, is not yet done with Esa. Aided by the malevolent Akin Tullo, who will do anything to implement Thegon’s will on Earth, they plan to corrupt the government, conjure demons from the depths, and dominate the realms of men. Can Esa and Skylar stop them, save the future of humanity and their own relationship, as well?
The Ouiums Journey: Hell Broke Loose is the epic first volume of an imaginative and immersive LGBTQ fantasy series that features potent witchcraft, mythical creatures and empowering exploration of new emotions and blossoming relationships in a dark and dangerous world.
Soon after Esa’s return to Earth, he quickly discovered that both his magic and the world that he had left behind had changed–and not for the better. Without his innate spellcasting abilities or support from the covens, he had no choice but to forge ahead and hope for the best.
Esa’s chance meeting with Skylar Lee, a dark witch with an incredible power that promises much, is a turning point and awakens within him feelings and changes he cannot easily explain and refuses to subdue. As the 300-year-old witch, who appears to others to be a teenaged boy after his time in Hell stopped his aging process, struggles with emotional turmoil. Esa cannot spot a twin threat to his life and any chance of happiness that he may have with Skylar.
Thegon, the sinister ruler of hell, is not yet done with Esa. Aided by the malevolent Akin Tullo, who will do anything to implement Thegon’s will on Earth, they plan to corrupt the government, conjure demons from the depths, and dominate the realms of men. Can Esa and Skylar stop them, save the future of humanity and their own relationship, as well?
The Ouiums Journey: Hell Broke Loose is the epic first volume of an imaginative and immersive LGBTQ fantasy series that features potent witchcraft, mythical creatures and empowering exploration of new emotions and blossoming relationships in a dark and dangerous world.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2020
8 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Dylan McClintock
9 books15 followersDylan McClintock is an accomplished writer with a decade of experience refining his craft. His passion for the fantasy genre is evident in his work, which has earned high praise for its captivating characters and intricate worldbuilding.
McClintock's novels, including Hell Broke Loose and The Twilight Flame, have earned wide acclaim from readers and critics alike. He is dedicated to producing engaging and thought-provoking work that resonates with readers around the world.
McClintock's novels, including Hell Broke Loose and The Twilight Flame, have earned wide acclaim from readers and critics alike. He is dedicated to producing engaging and thought-provoking work that resonates with readers around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 15, 2021
It is a intresting book. Full of magic and fantastic creatures. Love the main character and his love interest.
January 1, 2021
The Ouiums Journey is a fantasy thriller that will lead you to the peak of creativity.
The story is set in the enchanted magical world where good is fighting the evil to protect the existence of mankind. Esa Blyth who is escaped from the pits of hell and out from the influence of dark magic. But he was not welcomed by his coven and family. Being an outcast in no time, he is trying to adjust with the normal life while fighting with nightmares and dark power which is trying to take control of him. When he met Skylar Lee, a dark witch everything around him begins to change. He was united with others like him and started to practice his magic peacefully. But Akin, a purist who was attacking this coven now and then started to show his true colors. Akin is now trying to establish the will of Thegon, the powerful God of Hell, in the Earth, by corrupting the government. Will Esa and Skylar able to protect mankind from the mighty power of Thegon?
The story is a perfectly crafted one. The author has carefully structured the story with the dark mystery thriller elements. The chemistry between the protagonists, Esa and Skylar is beautifully expressed throughout the story. Although the story is fast-paced with twists and turns, the author has given space for their passionate love also. Finally, we have a protagonist from the LGBTQ community in this fantasy genre.
What makes this story unique is its human touch. All the main characters possess the incredible power of magic but they all are very human. The power doesn't corrupt their nature. The magic made them more human. That's why they can still differentiate between good and bad and fight for what is right. They have a moral compass and compassion. The story is often shifting between the magical realm and the Earth now and then. This explains why the demons always wants to influence and conquer mankind.
I liked the character, Esa so much. His conflicting personality is very relatable. He possesses a great power, but he is confused and afraid to embrace its possibility. He is pushed to take part in this war. But when he realized that there is no turning back and he has to fight with the dark God for his freedom, he is finally awakened. He conquered all his doubts and fights with full power. The message is clear. We can achieve anything if we conquer our fears and embrace our strengths.
Indeed a beautiful read in the dark fantasy genre.
The story is set in the enchanted magical world where good is fighting the evil to protect the existence of mankind. Esa Blyth who is escaped from the pits of hell and out from the influence of dark magic. But he was not welcomed by his coven and family. Being an outcast in no time, he is trying to adjust with the normal life while fighting with nightmares and dark power which is trying to take control of him. When he met Skylar Lee, a dark witch everything around him begins to change. He was united with others like him and started to practice his magic peacefully. But Akin, a purist who was attacking this coven now and then started to show his true colors. Akin is now trying to establish the will of Thegon, the powerful God of Hell, in the Earth, by corrupting the government. Will Esa and Skylar able to protect mankind from the mighty power of Thegon?
The story is a perfectly crafted one. The author has carefully structured the story with the dark mystery thriller elements. The chemistry between the protagonists, Esa and Skylar is beautifully expressed throughout the story. Although the story is fast-paced with twists and turns, the author has given space for their passionate love also. Finally, we have a protagonist from the LGBTQ community in this fantasy genre.
What makes this story unique is its human touch. All the main characters possess the incredible power of magic but they all are very human. The power doesn't corrupt their nature. The magic made them more human. That's why they can still differentiate between good and bad and fight for what is right. They have a moral compass and compassion. The story is often shifting between the magical realm and the Earth now and then. This explains why the demons always wants to influence and conquer mankind.
I liked the character, Esa so much. His conflicting personality is very relatable. He possesses a great power, but he is confused and afraid to embrace its possibility. He is pushed to take part in this war. But when he realized that there is no turning back and he has to fight with the dark God for his freedom, he is finally awakened. He conquered all his doubts and fights with full power. The message is clear. We can achieve anything if we conquer our fears and embrace our strengths.
Indeed a beautiful read in the dark fantasy genre.
August 19, 2021
This is not my typical type of book but the cover caught my attention so I thought I would give it a try. First off, the world building in this book is amazing! The author held my attention throughout this book…I never felt like I wanted to quit reading! The characters are very relatable and the author does a great job of helping us get to know the characters well…so well in fact that I felt like they were my besties! Esa and Skylar face a great threat from the ruler of hell, Thegon, will they be able to stop him and save the world? I’m not telling!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 14, 2021
I am a huge lover of fantasy fiction, particularly those set in magical worlds and with beautiful covers (just look at it!), so I was sure that I was going to enjoy The Ouiums Journey: Hell Broke Loose from the offset – and how right I was! This thrilling tale of high-stakes adventure and battle between good and evil is sure to be a big hit with readers who want something completely absorbing to take your mind off the current state of the world. Books are, and have always been, the most perfect form of escape for me, and that is exactly what McClintock has created within The Ouiums Jorney – the opportunity to get completely lost in another world for a while. From the first page to the very last this was a delightful, fast-paced fantasy that I really couldn’t tear myself away from, and it definitely deserves a place on your reading list.
If you like your fantasy novels to be full to the brim with action, mystery and romance then you really need look no further – The Ouiums Journey really does have it all. The pacing was spot on for me, fast paced with plenty of twists and turns that will have you gripped throughout set against the backdrop of a beautifully and carefully created fantasy world.
One of the things I loved most about the novel was the absolutely wonderful writing; the book read like a movie to me in places, I could picture each and every scene so vividly in my mind as I read. As a result, the characters felt so real, so much so that I felt a little sad upon finishing the book and having to say goodbye to them! I’m so glad that this is the first instalment in a series, and I eagerly await further novels within this wonderful world that McClintock has created.
Following Esa Blyth and Skylar Lee on their quest was so much fun, they were wonderful protagonists and are so easy to love and warm to. So often in fantasy novels the characters come secondary to the plot and don’t feel particularly well realised or fleshed out, but that wasn’t the case here – they were distinct within their own right, and despite the crazy situations they found themselves in they remained real and relatable to the reader. It was also amazing to see an LGBT relationship, something that is unfortunately quite rare within the genre, included and handled with such thought and care. The chemistry between the two was on point, and I was so happy to see such great representation – again, anther testament to McClintock’s fantastic writing.
An addictive and thrilling fantasy adventure that you truly won’t be able to put down, The Ouiums Journey: Hell Broke Loose cements McClintock as an author to watch within the genre. Highly recommend!
If you like your fantasy novels to be full to the brim with action, mystery and romance then you really need look no further – The Ouiums Journey really does have it all. The pacing was spot on for me, fast paced with plenty of twists and turns that will have you gripped throughout set against the backdrop of a beautifully and carefully created fantasy world.
One of the things I loved most about the novel was the absolutely wonderful writing; the book read like a movie to me in places, I could picture each and every scene so vividly in my mind as I read. As a result, the characters felt so real, so much so that I felt a little sad upon finishing the book and having to say goodbye to them! I’m so glad that this is the first instalment in a series, and I eagerly await further novels within this wonderful world that McClintock has created.
Following Esa Blyth and Skylar Lee on their quest was so much fun, they were wonderful protagonists and are so easy to love and warm to. So often in fantasy novels the characters come secondary to the plot and don’t feel particularly well realised or fleshed out, but that wasn’t the case here – they were distinct within their own right, and despite the crazy situations they found themselves in they remained real and relatable to the reader. It was also amazing to see an LGBT relationship, something that is unfortunately quite rare within the genre, included and handled with such thought and care. The chemistry between the two was on point, and I was so happy to see such great representation – again, anther testament to McClintock’s fantastic writing.
An addictive and thrilling fantasy adventure that you truly won’t be able to put down, The Ouiums Journey: Hell Broke Loose cements McClintock as an author to watch within the genre. Highly recommend!
September 6, 2020
Dylan McClintock created a thrilling fantasy book full of mystery, action and romance. I really liked it! You keep connecting with all the characters which is not easy. It is very hard for an author to create empathy between the reader and the characters, but you can expect it in The Ouiums Journey. Also, have you seen this awesome cover? It screams caution awesome fantasy novel right here.
I recommend The Ouiums Journey as it is a great story with diabolic creatures and magic. Our main characters Esa Blyth and Skylar Lee are fierce and so badass, that I kind of would love to be like them. They have to face a great threat from Thegon who is the ruler of hell. He is your worst nightmare that you could possibly imagine and he is here to rule over men with the help of his fellow demons. Will Esa and Skylar be able to stop him and save the world?
Also, finally we get a LGBT couple in a fantasy book! It is a breath of fresh air and truly something that made be truly happy as someone quite new in this community.
Dylan did a wonderful job describing the many characters personalities and expressions. His writing skills are excellent and to me this book is a must for this summer. You can expect a roller coaster of emotions. Believe me when I tell you that it is addictive.
I recommend The Ouiums Journey as it is a great story with diabolic creatures and magic. Our main characters Esa Blyth and Skylar Lee are fierce and so badass, that I kind of would love to be like them. They have to face a great threat from Thegon who is the ruler of hell. He is your worst nightmare that you could possibly imagine and he is here to rule over men with the help of his fellow demons. Will Esa and Skylar be able to stop him and save the world?
Also, finally we get a LGBT couple in a fantasy book! It is a breath of fresh air and truly something that made be truly happy as someone quite new in this community.
Dylan did a wonderful job describing the many characters personalities and expressions. His writing skills are excellent and to me this book is a must for this summer. You can expect a roller coaster of emotions. Believe me when I tell you that it is addictive.
July 15, 2021
This is not my usual kind of read, but I can say this story stayed with me long after reading it.
The world-building in this story is a really interesting and original one, and I found myself trapped in it from the start.
The pacing of the book was a bit slow at times for me, as it's plagued with detailed descriptions of the places and characters (which is not my cup of tea, but if you're into it, then you'll love the details on this story!!).
The characters are easy to love, and I found them to be intriguing. The romance is sweet, and I completely fell in love with this couple.
Hell Broke Loose is action-packed, and I think it's perfect for those that love big fights and battles that feel almost like an animation.
The world-building in this story is a really interesting and original one, and I found myself trapped in it from the start.
The pacing of the book was a bit slow at times for me, as it's plagued with detailed descriptions of the places and characters (which is not my cup of tea, but if you're into it, then you'll love the details on this story!!).
The characters are easy to love, and I found them to be intriguing. The romance is sweet, and I completely fell in love with this couple.
Hell Broke Loose is action-packed, and I think it's perfect for those that love big fights and battles that feel almost like an animation.
September 7, 2020
The Ouiums Journey: Hell Broke Loose is a unique fiction book by Dylan McClintock that full of magic. Unlike most of the books that I have read, the storyline of this is different. The story is mind absorbing such that I kept on tuning between the pages to see what happened next. I couldn’t afford to keep it aside to take a cup of water. The characters in this story have been perfectly assigned the roles that make it more thrilling. I can’t find works that can best describe the author for he is such skillful and talented. This book is highly recommended to all.
September 6, 2020
Esa Blythe is a unique protagonist that makes readers want to keep turning the page to find out more about his story. With twists and turns along the way, this book kept me hooked from page one to the very end. I loved the pacing, the characterizations, the LGBT representation that was done with thought and care. This story is one that I very much recommend to anyone who loves magic and fantasy, and a dash of romance.
November 7, 2020
There are a lot of things to like about this novel: the world building is super creative, the plot is engrossing, and the characters are complex but still sympathetic. It's a long novel, but it doesn't feel that way-- it's so easy to get caught up in.There's something very compelling about Esa, and the world he inhabits.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 30, 2021
The Ouiums Journey: Hell Broke Loose: is the first novel in the series Witchcraft and Ancient Evil written by Dylan McClintock.This is the first novel I have written by this author. I found his writing to have a crisp dialogue without unnecessary fluff or filler, three dimensional characters that come to life on the pages and a believable storyline made for a quick, entertaining read. While this is a longer novel (500 pages) the writing is so cohesive that it can be all consuming, leaving you not wanting to put it down. I highly recommend this novel. I gave this honest, voluntary review after being given a free copy of the book with no monetary compensation.
July 7, 2021
Thanks to author for giving me the opportunity to read this book.I had an amazing time reading this. It’s a great fantasy thriller. First of all the world build up is awesome. The main protagonist of the story is Esa Blyth. He has got magical powers although at first he was at the influence of dark magic but he escapes from the pits of hell. Then he meets Skylar Lee and suddenly his life changes from then onwards. But he keeps getting nightmares and dreams from his past and it bothers him. Now he just wants to use his magic without being a threat to anyone but Thegon, the powerful God of Hell stands on their path and they have to find a way to save mankind from Thegon and his powers. It’s a very adventurous and thrilling story with lots of twists and turns.All the characters have very strong personalities. I liked how Skylar was a constant support for Esa. Very well crafted chemistry between the two LGBT Characters. The pacing of this book was also perfect.
November 24, 2021
When you have the review all written out, ready to go, but never post it.. Sometimes my own forgetfulness amazes me!
ARC provided by author for honest review!
One could say I enjoy fantasy books, if with enjoying you mean mentally living in it for years after reading it. This book is no exception, if anything, it stands out amongst my other reads in a very positive way! An absolute thrilling read, this book was on my mind even when I should've been studying. The characters have a ton of depth and are exceptionally written, the bonds between them feeling real and honest.
There are some things in the book that could've used a little bit more fleshing out, there's a lot going on at once and this can be a little overwhelming. I hope some of this gets figured out a little in the second book, which I'm excited to read.
Overall a great read if you're into the fantasy genre, would 100% recommend it, but it does sometimes require some concentration to keep up!
ARC provided by author for honest review!
One could say I enjoy fantasy books, if with enjoying you mean mentally living in it for years after reading it. This book is no exception, if anything, it stands out amongst my other reads in a very positive way! An absolute thrilling read, this book was on my mind even when I should've been studying. The characters have a ton of depth and are exceptionally written, the bonds between them feeling real and honest.
There are some things in the book that could've used a little bit more fleshing out, there's a lot going on at once and this can be a little overwhelming. I hope some of this gets figured out a little in the second book, which I'm excited to read.
Overall a great read if you're into the fantasy genre, would 100% recommend it, but it does sometimes require some concentration to keep up!
December 12, 2021
We travel to another dimension where demons, witches, magic and LGBT romance. Action packed drama, mystery, suspense and magic.
Esa fights the dark magic that resides within him. Esa also learns that he is an Ouiums saviour which is rare. Skylar helps Esa conquer his fears. He and Skylar have an unconditional love. Together they can conquer anything.
People are vanishing. The leaders are powered by nature but they are beginning to losing their power.
Thegon the ruler from He!! Akin and his creatures are determined to rule over everyone with the help of Thegon.
A great debut!
Thank you Booksirens and the author for a digital copy. Read and reviewed voluntarily and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own
Esa fights the dark magic that resides within him. Esa also learns that he is an Ouiums saviour which is rare. Skylar helps Esa conquer his fears. He and Skylar have an unconditional love. Together they can conquer anything.
People are vanishing. The leaders are powered by nature but they are beginning to losing their power.
Thegon the ruler from He!! Akin and his creatures are determined to rule over everyone with the help of Thegon.
A great debut!
Thank you Booksirens and the author for a digital copy. Read and reviewed voluntarily and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own
October 22, 2021
ARC kindly provided from the author for an honest review.
This was one hell of a world to tackle for a first novel!
Dragons, Demons, Witches, Gods, magic and an entire world to build around them.
It was obvious this story, these characters and this world were very special to the author and they have put a great deal of time into thinking about building this world and it's story.
I think this novel could have benefited from some more editing to help smooth out the wrinkles, as at times it felt like I was reading through a fog. I was never quite sure how much time had passed between events, 2 hours, 2 days, 2 weeks? It made the flow of events very difficult to follow. The extra editing would have also helped smooth out syntax and information. There were times where characters would mention information/events/powers/names as if we had already been introduced to them and it was something we should already know. But no amount of back tracking through the book did I find where it was first mentioned. It felt like the author had this huge amazing world in their head and was trying to get it all out to us but was forgetting what we the audience already knew and didn't know along the way. I believe a lot of this was due to the author trying to finding their writing style still, which is perfectly normal. And as a result I found that in the last few chapters of the book the author found that style, as it became a much stronger and coherent read. In fact, it was very apparent as many of the issues I had with the first bit of the book seemed to melt away entirely. Something I hope carries nicely into the second instalment of the series.
There was a lot of world, a lot of characters and a lot of events that had to happen in this book that I wish had been a little more fleshed out. I never did really get a sense of how the magic and powers in the world worked. It didn't really take away from the story at all, just for curiosity sake I would have liked to know more about how that worked. I wonder if this book would have done well split into two parts? That way we could have had a little more time learning and living with some of the secondary and tertiary characters. I know I would have liked to have a little more attachment to some as their fates and accomplishments would have been felt a little more throughout the events of the book. Coupled with the plot's timing being so disjointed and so many characters involved I often found myself having to go back to remind myself who some people were or where they came from. As I didn't recognise the name drop or it felt like a character everyone knew intimately just popped up, leaving me wondering where I missed their introduction.
Overall, I can see why so many others have enjoyed this book. I think one day I will give the second book a try as I'm curious what will happen with the characters. Most of my issue with this novel was not the story or characters but with its technical aspects that often took me out of the book , all of which can be fixed with editing, time and future experience. This author will go far in the fantasy writing world as they continue to grow on their writing journey.
This was one hell of a world to tackle for a first novel!
Dragons, Demons, Witches, Gods, magic and an entire world to build around them.
It was obvious this story, these characters and this world were very special to the author and they have put a great deal of time into thinking about building this world and it's story.
I think this novel could have benefited from some more editing to help smooth out the wrinkles, as at times it felt like I was reading through a fog. I was never quite sure how much time had passed between events, 2 hours, 2 days, 2 weeks? It made the flow of events very difficult to follow. The extra editing would have also helped smooth out syntax and information. There were times where characters would mention information/events/powers/names as if we had already been introduced to them and it was something we should already know. But no amount of back tracking through the book did I find where it was first mentioned. It felt like the author had this huge amazing world in their head and was trying to get it all out to us but was forgetting what we the audience already knew and didn't know along the way. I believe a lot of this was due to the author trying to finding their writing style still, which is perfectly normal. And as a result I found that in the last few chapters of the book the author found that style, as it became a much stronger and coherent read. In fact, it was very apparent as many of the issues I had with the first bit of the book seemed to melt away entirely. Something I hope carries nicely into the second instalment of the series.
There was a lot of world, a lot of characters and a lot of events that had to happen in this book that I wish had been a little more fleshed out. I never did really get a sense of how the magic and powers in the world worked. It didn't really take away from the story at all, just for curiosity sake I would have liked to know more about how that worked. I wonder if this book would have done well split into two parts? That way we could have had a little more time learning and living with some of the secondary and tertiary characters. I know I would have liked to have a little more attachment to some as their fates and accomplishments would have been felt a little more throughout the events of the book. Coupled with the plot's timing being so disjointed and so many characters involved I often found myself having to go back to remind myself who some people were or where they came from. As I didn't recognise the name drop or it felt like a character everyone knew intimately just popped up, leaving me wondering where I missed their introduction.
Overall, I can see why so many others have enjoyed this book. I think one day I will give the second book a try as I'm curious what will happen with the characters. Most of my issue with this novel was not the story or characters but with its technical aspects that often took me out of the book , all of which can be fixed with editing, time and future experience. This author will go far in the fantasy writing world as they continue to grow on their writing journey.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews