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The Runewar Saga #0.5
An Omen in the Snow
Yonik is no stranger to adversity. With a tragic and bloody past, he’s come out the other side nearly whole, only to endure five years of rigorous training as a priest. Now, he’s close to being inducted as a full priest to the Gods of the Wild.
But one final rite of passage remains. And though the vision quest before Yonik does not seem difficult, it will change the trajectory of his life and foretell the fate of not only his people, but his entire world...
But one final rite of passage remains. And though the vision quest before Yonik does not seem difficult, it will change the trajectory of his life and foretell the fate of not only his people, but his entire world...
- GenresFantasy
ebook
112 people want to read
About the author
J.D.L. Rosell
40 books519 followers***ANNOUNCEMENT: Shadow of Legends, Book 1 in the Dragonforged Saga, is funding now on Kickstarter! Look it up to read more about your favorite characters from Legend of Tal.***
J.D.L. Rosell was swept away on a journey when he stepped foot outside his door and into The Hobbit. He hasn't stopped wandering since.
In his writing, he tries to recapture the wonder, adventure, and poignancy that captivated him as a child. His explorations have taken him to worlds set in over twenty novels and six series, which include Dragonforged, Ranger of the Titan Wilds, Legend of Tal, The Runewar Saga, and The Famine Cycle.
When he's not off on a quest, Rosell enjoys his newfound hobby of archery and older pastimes of hiking and landscape photography. But every hobbit returns home, and if you step softly and mind the potatoes, you may glimpse him curled up with his wife and two cats, Zelda and Abenthy, reading a good book or replaying his favorite video games.
* * * * *
Books by J.D.L. Rosell:
DRAGONFORGED
1. Shadow of Legends (Late 2026 release)
RANGER OF THE TITAN WILDS
1. The Last Ranger
2. The First Ancestor
3. The Hidden Guardian
4. The Wilds Exile
5. The Titan Revenant (March 2026 release)
LEGEND OF TAL
1. A King's Bargain
2. A Queen's Command
3. An Emperor's Gamble
4. A God's Plea
A Battle Between Blood (Novella)
THE RUNEWAR SAGA
1. The Throne of Ice & Ash
2. The Crown of Fire & Fury
3. The Stone of Iron & Omen
Book 4 TBA
THE FAMINE CYCLE - Available as a complete box set
1. Whispers of Ruin
2. Echoes of Chaos
3. Requiem of Silence
Secret Seller (Prequel)
The Phantom Heist (Novella)
GODSLAYER RISING - Available as a complete box set
1. Catalyst
2. Champion
3. Heretic
J.D.L. Rosell was swept away on a journey when he stepped foot outside his door and into The Hobbit. He hasn't stopped wandering since.
In his writing, he tries to recapture the wonder, adventure, and poignancy that captivated him as a child. His explorations have taken him to worlds set in over twenty novels and six series, which include Dragonforged, Ranger of the Titan Wilds, Legend of Tal, The Runewar Saga, and The Famine Cycle.
When he's not off on a quest, Rosell enjoys his newfound hobby of archery and older pastimes of hiking and landscape photography. But every hobbit returns home, and if you step softly and mind the potatoes, you may glimpse him curled up with his wife and two cats, Zelda and Abenthy, reading a good book or replaying his favorite video games.
* * * * *
Books by J.D.L. Rosell:
DRAGONFORGED
1. Shadow of Legends (Late 2026 release)
RANGER OF THE TITAN WILDS
1. The Last Ranger
2. The First Ancestor
3. The Hidden Guardian
4. The Wilds Exile
5. The Titan Revenant (March 2026 release)
LEGEND OF TAL
1. A King's Bargain
2. A Queen's Command
3. An Emperor's Gamble
4. A God's Plea
A Battle Between Blood (Novella)
THE RUNEWAR SAGA
1. The Throne of Ice & Ash
2. The Crown of Fire & Fury
3. The Stone of Iron & Omen
Book 4 TBA
THE FAMINE CYCLE - Available as a complete box set
1. Whispers of Ruin
2. Echoes of Chaos
3. Requiem of Silence
Secret Seller (Prequel)
The Phantom Heist (Novella)
GODSLAYER RISING - Available as a complete box set
1. Catalyst
2. Champion
3. Heretic
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 22, 2021
I was already excited about The Rune War Saga and was eagerly waiting for book 1 to be released. Then I proceeded to follow J.D.L on Facebook and check out his website. Then I discovered the books section chronicling all the books he has written and will be in the near future. In that section he offers a few books for free. This was one of them.
I immediately dove right in an devoured it. Like magic the pages seemed to turn themselves until there were no more to be turned. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat I was I was suspended above it. Time stood still as I realized I would have to wait until book 1 came out to continue the journey.
It sounds weird to say, but reading the words “BEGIN THE SAGA - READ BOOK 1...” made me homesick. J.D.L. I have already bought my ticket and will return home to the Runewar Saga on release day.
- NightScribe
I immediately dove right in an devoured it. Like magic the pages seemed to turn themselves until there were no more to be turned. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat I was I was suspended above it. Time stood still as I realized I would have to wait until book 1 came out to continue the journey.
It sounds weird to say, but reading the words “BEGIN THE SAGA - READ BOOK 1...” made me homesick. J.D.L. I have already bought my ticket and will return home to the Runewar Saga on release day.
- NightScribe
July 10, 2021
"An Omen in the Snow" is a short story about a priest-to-be meditating in the woods, searching for his calling. Frustrated by his lack of progress, he goes for a walk to clear his head and finds what he's been looking for. The question is: will he live to understand the meaning or will it kill him? An entertaining and action-packed intro to The Runewar Saga.
December 27, 2023
A tense and thrilling journey of loss, revenge, enlightenment and wonder! Having already read "The Runewar Saga" I had no issue understanding the journey Yonik was embarking on and the Norse Mythology magic involved...and found myself loving this even more for it!
As a short prequel Novella to the main Saga, Rosell immediately starts us with the heart wrenching loss Yonik experiences to inevitably set him on his journey to become a priest of Skoll, a gothi. The trials he must overcome to attain his goal, send him deep into the wilds of the teeth and commune with the steam...khnuum. Visions in this hallucinogenic state guide him on the journey, and ultimately test his very resilience! Coming face to face with a test beyond any normal hunter could survive, Yonik must endure and prove himself to the Gods, and solidify his new journey forward.
Filled with magical Norse filled mythology, amazingly detailed environment, deep heartbreaking love, loss and tense action that has you clearing this short story with the speed of a hunters arrow...Rosell has us wanting nothing more than to completely disregard our TBR's and keep going into "The Runewar Saga"!
Beautiful introduction to this Norse story, grab your furs, battle axe and bow...the khnuum steam will test your mind and body! 🔥📚🍻
As a short prequel Novella to the main Saga, Rosell immediately starts us with the heart wrenching loss Yonik experiences to inevitably set him on his journey to become a priest of Skoll, a gothi. The trials he must overcome to attain his goal, send him deep into the wilds of the teeth and commune with the steam...khnuum. Visions in this hallucinogenic state guide him on the journey, and ultimately test his very resilience! Coming face to face with a test beyond any normal hunter could survive, Yonik must endure and prove himself to the Gods, and solidify his new journey forward.
Filled with magical Norse filled mythology, amazingly detailed environment, deep heartbreaking love, loss and tense action that has you clearing this short story with the speed of a hunters arrow...Rosell has us wanting nothing more than to completely disregard our TBR's and keep going into "The Runewar Saga"!
Beautiful introduction to this Norse story, grab your furs, battle axe and bow...the khnuum steam will test your mind and body! 🔥📚🍻
September 4, 2021
A cracking little tale from the The Runewar Saga, Yonik has been training the last five years to become a gothi, a preist to the Gods of the wild, but during his meditation, his visions are being disturbed by the memories of his wife and children, he decides to go for a walk to clear his head, when leads him to a vision of a stag with antlers on fire, he follows and it leads to his calling, a great bear has decimated 5 warriors, he must take on what no warrior has ever done and take down a monster, fantastic little tale, so looking forward to reading the series, highly recommend....😁
October 15, 2021
A good short story should introduce you to a book and make you want to read more about it. This one does exactly that. As someone who dreams of writing intense conflict-filled scenes and fails most of the time, the hunt in this short story was very good. It takes you through a range of very vivid visions and emotions, culminating in resigned acceptance of one's fate.
P.S. Isn't the book cover beautiful, it is what pulled me to read the story.
P.S. Isn't the book cover beautiful, it is what pulled me to read the story.
April 20, 2022
An Omen in the Snow (The Runewar Saga Prequel), my fourth read from author J.D.L. Rosell, an author I'd wanted to read for since I got The Throne of Ice and Ash (Book 1 of The Runewar Saga, An Epic Fantasy Series) back in October of 2021. Well written & enjoyable. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
November 13, 2021
Makes you want to read more.
Yonik is six days into his vision quest when he leaves his tent and sees what he is questing. With this short story as a start the series 'The Runewar Saga' should be great.
Yonik is six days into his vision quest when he leaves his tent and sees what he is questing. With this short story as a start the series 'The Runewar Saga' should be great.
December 16, 2022
As this is a 16-page prologue chapter to Rosell's The Runewar Saga, a series i have seen before but haven't read
.. yet!
Spoiler free:
I loved the setup of this book: a haunted man trying to distance himself from his past while accepting the future (plus who doesn't love norse mythology inspired fantasy!). Sadly, I didn't find myself connecting too much to the brief story we got, though this totally could be due to it being only 16 pages. I definitely expect the world will be delved into in much greater detail in later instalments. But as it stands, the characters' motivations and the morality the world is presented with feel a bit confusing to me.
The prose itself has a clear and unique potential I'd love to see more of. Some of the descriptions for scenes, especially the more fantastical elements, were dripping with awe-inspiring visuals. Just imagining the scene Rosell describes makes me wish to paint it!
Overall, I enjoyed the chapter and could definitely see someone who loves norse Mythology in fantasy, loving his work even more!
.. yet!
Spoiler free:
I loved the setup of this book: a haunted man trying to distance himself from his past while accepting the future (plus who doesn't love norse mythology inspired fantasy!). Sadly, I didn't find myself connecting too much to the brief story we got, though this totally could be due to it being only 16 pages. I definitely expect the world will be delved into in much greater detail in later instalments. But as it stands, the characters' motivations and the morality the world is presented with feel a bit confusing to me.
The prose itself has a clear and unique potential I'd love to see more of. Some of the descriptions for scenes, especially the more fantastical elements, were dripping with awe-inspiring visuals. Just imagining the scene Rosell describes makes me wish to paint it!
Overall, I enjoyed the chapter and could definitely see someone who loves norse Mythology in fantasy, loving his work even more!
August 1, 2023
We meet Yonik in the final stage to becoming a Priest, sitting in the cold snowy wilderness, trying to bring on the Vision, his calling. After days without success, emotional from his memories of wife and kids, he goes for a walk, only to come upon his Land calling, not in a meditative way but while fighting the most feared bear in the land. And the vision is of a war to come and his role in protecting the land. In a span of a chapter (as this was a bite size story), you are introduced to the MC, learn of his past, his strength, and without a doubt pulled in and propelled to read on.
May 21, 2023
Great story to show the development of Yonik and how he came to be who he is in the main story. I read it before the first book and enjoyed it but I think I would have enjoyed it better after the first book.
October 23, 2023
Great short story providing a little history of our favorite gothi, Yonik!
December 24, 2023
Not a bad little short story. Heavily inspired by Norse myth. I wonder how deeply it will play into the series.
February 10, 2024
Thank you, J. D. Rosell
A action-packed prequel to a larger story. The priest takes his last walk, questioning which path he should walk. I liked it.
Dark Fantasy
A action-packed prequel to a larger story. The priest takes his last walk, questioning which path he should walk. I liked it.
Dark Fantasy
March 5, 2024
Super wee Nigella and a nice appetiser for the series
February 17, 2022
Great short story and telling how Yonik became a gothi and what became of his visions. Spotting a Stag with blazing antlers and trying to follow it but comes upon a great bear which he needs to defeat. Very intense at times. and gives you and ideal what the following books will lead up to.
October 22, 2021
A strange story which leaves the reader wondering if Yonik was motivated by the Gods, or just bored. Or maybe it was the drugs in the steam?
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews