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Ancient Dreams #4
Crisis of Faith
Reconciling two divergent faiths to a single goddess is much more difficult when the conference begins with an assassination attempt.
As her followers have to deal with the multiple unknown attackers which are assaulting them, Tyria finds her hands tied by divine law and her struggle to decide who she is, and who she should be. Further, the mystery of blank spots in her memories raises more questions for the goddess. Fortunately, she is not alone in her journey.
The mortals followers of Tyria’s faith find themselves embroiled in a war with roots far in the past, and which may have consequences for the future as well. A single tug at Fate’s tangled skein could have consequences that none of them anticipated, not even Tyria’s hidden enemies.
As her followers have to deal with the multiple unknown attackers which are assaulting them, Tyria finds her hands tied by divine law and her struggle to decide who she is, and who she should be. Further, the mystery of blank spots in her memories raises more questions for the goddess. Fortunately, she is not alone in her journey.
The mortals followers of Tyria’s faith find themselves embroiled in a war with roots far in the past, and which may have consequences for the future as well. A single tug at Fate’s tangled skein could have consequences that none of them anticipated, not even Tyria’s hidden enemies.
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First published November 1, 2019
110 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Medrano
47 books308 followersI was born in October, 1985. Not much of my history would likely be of interest, but I grew up primarily in Utah, a land of ultra-conservative people, and yet oddly open to Science Fiction and Fantasy.
I started trying to write in high school. That didn't go well, and I mostly lost the spark for a long time, only rarely finishing writing a story, as most of my inspiration instead went into tabletop role-playing games, like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. In the process I developed a possibly unhealthy obsession with elves and succubi. If I ever write a story without either, it's probably Science Fiction...and there are even odds that someone will body-mod themselves to look like an elf. Trying to be honest here.
My writing tends to focus on the relationships between characters, though it may not seem like it at times. The stories in the background are just that, a backdrop for the development of the characters and situation. I try to fully think them through, but it's not always the case.
Anyway, not much more to be said. I'm an oddball, and I know it. I'm also somewhat stunned at the success my work has attained thus far, and am trying not to panic over it.
I started trying to write in high school. That didn't go well, and I mostly lost the spark for a long time, only rarely finishing writing a story, as most of my inspiration instead went into tabletop role-playing games, like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. In the process I developed a possibly unhealthy obsession with elves and succubi. If I ever write a story without either, it's probably Science Fiction...and there are even odds that someone will body-mod themselves to look like an elf. Trying to be honest here.
My writing tends to focus on the relationships between characters, though it may not seem like it at times. The stories in the background are just that, a backdrop for the development of the characters and situation. I try to fully think them through, but it's not always the case.
Anyway, not much more to be said. I'm an oddball, and I know it. I'm also somewhat stunned at the success my work has attained thus far, and am trying not to panic over it.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 14, 2020
Will there be a new release pertaining to the cliffhanger at the end of this series ? As you did imply that the empress was starting her quest to exact her revenge on the twins !
I deeply hope you will !
I deeply hope you will !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2022
Hope there's a sequel
So I enjoyed the book, it's a good continuation however there's a lot of loose ends, with the eternal Empress, with Wenris and of course with Sistia herself.
So I enjoyed the book, it's a good continuation however there's a lot of loose ends, with the eternal Empress, with Wenris and of course with Sistia herself.
April 9, 2020
I was genuinely surprised to find out that a new book had been written in this series. While I had thought that there was so much more that could be done with the setting, and felt a desire for the story to continue, I genuinely held no hope that it would. Finding out that the series was not over was great news, and this book did not disappoint. As all plot threads of the original trilogy aside from the long term ramifications of events were tied off satisfyingly (Which is largely why I thought the series was over). This book spent it's entire length focusing on opening up new plot threads to explore going forward, making the book feel like a completely new beginning, except with no time spent characterizing the main cast or their immediate surroundings, as that has already been done in the first three books. In the end this book feels like a mere appetizer for was is to come and I could not be more excited.
August 18, 2021
A solid continuation of the story
Halls of Power was indeed meant to be the final book, but there were a lot of loose ends and I guess I wasn't the only one who didn't want to say good bye to these characters.
Crisis of Faith is an interesting book. It deals with consequences. The survivors of the war have to pick up the pieces they didn't break and deal with the outcome of choices they didn't make. I find that very interesting although maybe not as exciting, but oddly satisfying.
This book flows smoothly from book three like it was plotted from the start and the feel of the world and characters is consistent and comfortably familiar.
Halls of Power was indeed meant to be the final book, but there were a lot of loose ends and I guess I wasn't the only one who didn't want to say good bye to these characters.
Crisis of Faith is an interesting book. It deals with consequences. The survivors of the war have to pick up the pieces they didn't break and deal with the outcome of choices they didn't make. I find that very interesting although maybe not as exciting, but oddly satisfying.
This book flows smoothly from book three like it was plotted from the start and the feel of the world and characters is consistent and comfortably familiar.
August 16, 2020
Fantastic
You are the best writer of dungeons I have ever read. Trust me l have read a bunch of them and they basically sucked rotten eggs. I'm going to have to read Sting & Song next. I really liked that dragon lady and the demon ruiners. And there is another dungeon! Maybe we will get to see it too.
You are the best writer of dungeons I have ever read. Trust me l have read a bunch of them and they basically sucked rotten eggs. I'm going to have to read Sting & Song next. I really liked that dragon lady and the demon ruiners. And there is another dungeon! Maybe we will get to see it too.
May 11, 2024
Stunning
The whole series was a pleasure to read. The images it gave me will last forever the writing was so good.
The whole series was a pleasure to read. The images it gave me will last forever the writing was so good.
January 16, 2020
Good book will read again, especially if there is a sequel. I honestly was initially worried about reading this book as I was not quite certain how it would read with such a finality from the end of the Ancient Dreams. I needn't have worried. The story was fairly solid.
There were a few surprises that I wasn't expecting, as well as some things I was suspecting. All in all a good book. Will read again.
There were a few surprises that I wasn't expecting, as well as some things I was suspecting. All in all a good book. Will read again.
November 28, 2019
5 out of five stars if you aren't a Desa Iceheart fan
5 out of 6 stars if you are a Desa Iceheart fan and you're half way convinced the author is never going to let us see what a GRANDMASTER©®™ ice mage who's spent years inside of a dungeon is capable of. Seriously four books, technically five, and everyone has gotten a moment of supreme glory, but the author insists on treat Desa like this franchises Luigi. >.<
The story that doesn't mention Desa is pretty good to, there's some shenanigans about the two churches (spoiler warning for the title of the book), and other side characters, with the notable exception of Desa, get fleshed out and explored.
In all seriousness if you liked the first three books, liked the world and are okay with a story that distances itself from the main protagonists of the original trilogy, you'll like this. If you want to spend more time with Phynis and the polycule, you'll get to do that but they're definitely not the focus of the story anymore. The author definitely and this is worth the buy.
5 out of 6 stars if you are a Desa Iceheart fan and you're half way convinced the author is never going to let us see what a GRANDMASTER©®™ ice mage who's spent years inside of a dungeon is capable of. Seriously four books, technically five, and everyone has gotten a moment of supreme glory, but the author insists on treat Desa like this franchises Luigi. >.<
The story that doesn't mention Desa is pretty good to, there's some shenanigans about the two churches (spoiler warning for the title of the book), and other side characters, with the notable exception of Desa, get fleshed out and explored.
In all seriousness if you liked the first three books, liked the world and are okay with a story that distances itself from the main protagonists of the original trilogy, you'll like this. If you want to spend more time with Phynis and the polycule, you'll get to do that but they're definitely not the focus of the story anymore. The author definitely and this is worth the buy.
November 5, 2019
Always enjoy this author
I always enjoy this author. This story seemed a little scattered but all the characters were really fun and was very interested in the new form the goddess took and the direction Diane and wenris took.
Curious to where things are going to go from here.
I always enjoy this author. This story seemed a little scattered but all the characters were really fun and was very interested in the new form the goddess took and the direction Diane and wenris took.
Curious to where things are going to go from here.
November 5, 2019
Excellent followup
This is an excellent follow-up to a series I greatly enjoyed. As Mr Medrano says hi s writing has evolved quite a bit since he first started this series and it shows. He still manages to get back the feel of the women we know and love so much.
This is an excellent follow-up to a series I greatly enjoyed. As Mr Medrano says hi s writing has evolved quite a bit since he first started this series and it shows. He still manages to get back the feel of the women we know and love so much.
November 7, 2019
Enjoyable revisit
Was fun to revisit characters of Ancient Dreams.
Looking forward to further stories in the realm.
Only negative was the antagonist plot. Did not find reading the machinations of the villains added anything to the story beyond word count.
Was fun to revisit characters of Ancient Dreams.
Looking forward to further stories in the realm.
Only negative was the antagonist plot. Did not find reading the machinations of the villains added anything to the story beyond word count.
November 9, 2019
As enjoyable as always
I've throughly enjoyed Benjamin's books since I picked up Halls of Power just after it was released. The mix of high fantasy/litRPG elements was very captivating, throw in excellent characters and an intriging plot - voilà you have an instant hit! 😁
I've throughly enjoyed Benjamin's books since I picked up Halls of Power just after it was released. The mix of high fantasy/litRPG elements was very captivating, throw in excellent characters and an intriging plot - voilà you have an instant hit! 😁
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews