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A Symphony of Shadow and Darkness #1
Upon the Sands
Of the Elvin Realms, the Moon rises highest while the Sands diminish through infighting. The Sun remains undying, burning bright but the Stars dream of outshining all.
As the Fairleaf brothers depart the Realm, both of them fear for the other, for upon the sands, enemies gather as they do across the sea, and back home, the Dead Gods stir, unrest grows in the lands, and far away, Darkness prepares His return.
Eldrian Fairleaf - youngest of the Fairleafs, fierce, loyal, brave... and bitter, abandons all in a rash move to rescue an elvess of soft grace and beauty, an elves prophesised to be the love of his life.
Eldrian crosses the country with murderous intent upon the one who took Alerian Lightchild from her home, from him...
Trone Fairleaf - the eldest son of his father, astute and powerful, leads a diplomatic mission across the seas to the Human Lands, where he faces treachery in his ranks, a hostile Daughter of Alepion who despises his family, and the prospect of never returning home should the mission fail and the Humans betray the alliance.
Alerian Lightchild - a quiet, peaceful, and shy elvess of no particular importance heads off to the enemy lands in a desperate attempt to heal the apparently contaminated Proloss River but is taken prisoner instead by a Sand Elf, the enemy of her people.
While she tries to escape, this Sand Elf begins displaying possessive tendencies towards her, until eventually, he decides he can't hold back any longer - he wants her, and he won't let anyone stop him from having her.
Alanis Malgan Wingflow - heir to the throne, narcissistic, a skilled warrior, has unleashed the Urathins from Moon Leaf, dark sorcerers who it's believed can help win the war and put Alanis's family back in power.
Except he discovers Moon Elves in his lands and an elvess who plagues his mind and his heart daily - Alerian! Alanis wants her, and will stop at nothing in order to have her!
Ramian Starwar - Mindfinder, able to control the minds of animals, has no need for friends, but instead, finds joy and solace in applying himself to study and to achieving the tasks his secret masters have for him - the only problem is, his briefs are being intercepted, and worst of all, Ramian believes they are being intercepted and deciphered by the head of the Order of Nallara, Absiden Singwaters, the Arch Mindfinder.
**This book contains references to many historical atrocities that some may find triggering**
As the Fairleaf brothers depart the Realm, both of them fear for the other, for upon the sands, enemies gather as they do across the sea, and back home, the Dead Gods stir, unrest grows in the lands, and far away, Darkness prepares His return.
Eldrian Fairleaf - youngest of the Fairleafs, fierce, loyal, brave... and bitter, abandons all in a rash move to rescue an elvess of soft grace and beauty, an elves prophesised to be the love of his life.
Eldrian crosses the country with murderous intent upon the one who took Alerian Lightchild from her home, from him...
Trone Fairleaf - the eldest son of his father, astute and powerful, leads a diplomatic mission across the seas to the Human Lands, where he faces treachery in his ranks, a hostile Daughter of Alepion who despises his family, and the prospect of never returning home should the mission fail and the Humans betray the alliance.
Alerian Lightchild - a quiet, peaceful, and shy elvess of no particular importance heads off to the enemy lands in a desperate attempt to heal the apparently contaminated Proloss River but is taken prisoner instead by a Sand Elf, the enemy of her people.
While she tries to escape, this Sand Elf begins displaying possessive tendencies towards her, until eventually, he decides he can't hold back any longer - he wants her, and he won't let anyone stop him from having her.
Alanis Malgan Wingflow - heir to the throne, narcissistic, a skilled warrior, has unleashed the Urathins from Moon Leaf, dark sorcerers who it's believed can help win the war and put Alanis's family back in power.
Except he discovers Moon Elves in his lands and an elvess who plagues his mind and his heart daily - Alerian! Alanis wants her, and will stop at nothing in order to have her!
Ramian Starwar - Mindfinder, able to control the minds of animals, has no need for friends, but instead, finds joy and solace in applying himself to study and to achieving the tasks his secret masters have for him - the only problem is, his briefs are being intercepted, and worst of all, Ramian believes they are being intercepted and deciphered by the head of the Order of Nallara, Absiden Singwaters, the Arch Mindfinder.
**This book contains references to many historical atrocities that some may find triggering**
- GenresFantasy
509 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2021
6 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Forsyth
9 books493 followersJeremy Forsyth is the author of the epic fantasy, Upon the Sands, book 1 of A Symphony of Shadow and Darkness.
He is also the author of The Sun, Moon, Sand, and Star series, a collection of short stories which include The Evening Tide, The Broken Rose, The Missing, The Raven Heiress, The Little Fairleaf and The Other Fairleaf.
To get his books cheaper than you would on Amazon, simply visit www.jeremyforsyth.co.za now!
Become a character in A Symphony of Shadow and Darkness by becoming a patron of Jeremy Forsyth: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=761092...
You can also find him on social media:
Wattpad:
https://www.wattpad.com/user/JeremyFo...
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Jeremy-Forsy...
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jays_andrew...
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/JeremyForsyth6
He is also the author of The Sun, Moon, Sand, and Star series, a collection of short stories which include The Evening Tide, The Broken Rose, The Missing, The Raven Heiress, The Little Fairleaf and The Other Fairleaf.
To get his books cheaper than you would on Amazon, simply visit www.jeremyforsyth.co.za now!
Become a character in A Symphony of Shadow and Darkness by becoming a patron of Jeremy Forsyth: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=761092...
You can also find him on social media:
Wattpad:
https://www.wattpad.com/user/JeremyFo...
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Jeremy-Forsy...
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jays_andrew...
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/JeremyForsyth6
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 16, 2021
What a wonderful read!
I thought this author did a masterful job at crafting such an intricate story that has so many intertwining and interesting facets! I am not surprised at how easily I was pulled into each page, and I am reminded why I have always fostered a deep love for the fantasy genre.
This world is so captivating and the dynamics are so invigorating. This world is also rich with history and culture, and the inventions of the author make it all unique. The characters were skillfully written, and the plot, or should I say, the plots, were exciting! Not to mention the plot twists!!!
I would strongly recommend a book like this to all my GR friends, and will definitely be looking out for new releases from Mr. Forsyth.
I thought this author did a masterful job at crafting such an intricate story that has so many intertwining and interesting facets! I am not surprised at how easily I was pulled into each page, and I am reminded why I have always fostered a deep love for the fantasy genre.
This world is so captivating and the dynamics are so invigorating. This world is also rich with history and culture, and the inventions of the author make it all unique. The characters were skillfully written, and the plot, or should I say, the plots, were exciting! Not to mention the plot twists!!!
I would strongly recommend a book like this to all my GR friends, and will definitely be looking out for new releases from Mr. Forsyth.
June 15, 2021
AROFORADOOOO… get me the next book NOW!!!
If only spells would work, I’d have the next book yesterday. I don’t know how I am to wait until it’s released.
I have no idea where to start with this amazing piece of literature heaven. This was Fantasy at its finest and one must applaud the author for having such rich knowledge and vocabulary and such skillful way of writing despite being so young.
I sincerely congratulate and thank you, Jeremy, for giving me and everyone else that has and will read your books, the opportunity to dive into this incredibly amazing world of yours.
I thank my GR friend Lizzie for recommending the Evening Tide to me 2,5 years ago and was able to follow this intricate journey. Reading the small 5 books preceding this novel is the most ideal way of getting acquainted with the politics, history, geography and characters. Each small book was a series of notes leading to a crescendo, Upon the Sands. The writing style is unique and the stories original. I agree with another GR friend, SonOfYork, who said that ‘Forsyth always brings a new and fresh way of writing fantasy’.
It truly amazes me how Jeremy has managed to create this world with so much detail and in such great depth. All the love and effort he has put shows in every page which has the reader captivated and thirsting for more.
After the adorable and refreshing ‘The Little Fairleaf’, this book fast forwards to when our beloved Fairleaf brothers are Blademasters and the time gap between the two books has you constantly wondering what has happened during then and now since we see obvious changes in both of them.
Eerie situations is one of the elements that are profound in Jeremy’s books and of course, it starts in exactly this manner and prepares the reader for one amazing ride. In the prologue, we meet Alanis Malgan Wingflow of Aminiouse Glare, Warden of the Trees, Blood of the Lost Oblian, Thronemaster and heir to the Black Throne of the Sand Elves. He goes searching for the Urathins, terrifying sorcerer Elves, in the Moon Leaf forest who he wishes to release and use them in war as part of their army. There he comes across depictions formed in an eerie mist, which are glimpses of the future. This is like a treasure hunt where you get hints and clues and you find yourself throughout the book trying to connect each scene to a situation. At first, I thought Alanis seemed interesting and I might come to like Sand Elves, but he was one of those characters that I just wanted to kill. (There was only one chapter in which he was likeable and that was when he punished the Star Elves who were raping an Elvess. During those scenes he was unbelievably skillful, smart and thirsty for vengeance.)
The political situation within Alepion, but also the neighbouring realms, is intense and fragile. Even though Elder Tarranice rules from the Throne, the Seat of the Primes is elected to govern Alepion according to the Anda document. Obviously, there are those who support the former and those who support the latter in a constant game of political power. The Blademasters, who are considered the Third sign of Adonai, the Whispering God, as well as their bladewatchers, are supporters of the Throne since the Elder is also a Blademaster. And far from Alepion, across the sea, the Humans might pose a threat during this fragile peace and friendship with the Moon.
In the story also the Syghters, a group of elvess warriors, are introduced, as well the Unknowwn daughters who are supporters of Sharlanta, the murderer of Higher Arranda’s united-one and who are rogue syghters. And of course, there’s further introduction to the Order of Nallara and the mindfinders and how they can influence the people with their headlines and spying. One of the main concerns of the Arch Mindfinders is the sickness spreading from the Proloss River between the two realms of the Moon and Sand. A group of volunteers is assembled who will have to tread upon the sands to reach the river and help. Part of this group is also a very special elvess, Alerian Lightchild and who is secretly protected by Trone Fairleaf’s bladewatcher Gaulan. Alerian is also in love with the one and only, Eldrian Fairleaf.
In The Little Fairleaf we are left sure of Eldrian and Alanda’s love and between then and now something has happened and we see them, especially Eldrian having an inner fight with his feelings, firstly due to whatever has happened and secondly due to Wanda’s (the Left hand of the Elder) prophesy that Eldrian belongs to another Elvess and who of course is Alerian, this mysterious new elvess who has volunteered to go to the Proloss River. And of course, the debate between the two elvesses begins.
Another interesting character enters the story, Ramian, who is a mindfinder and personally he reminded me of Paraden back in the Missing. He is very weird, rude, but also great at researching. I am still trying to understand though whether he is being possessed by someone as there are times he seems to not be in control of his actions. I don’t know if I’m wrong, but I was thinking about Lardian and there’s also Phanton who seemed to have been reading Ramian’s letters.
And of course, we are introduced to Rasorder Stonepearl, the Presumed Heiress of Lumondear and we learn of the Darkness in the Lumondear Forest and which we get to ‘meet’ at some point and which actually is an Elf. Who is he though? The Black Blade? A sorcerer?
The Solack Volunteers are ambushed by Sand Elves being led by Alanis who seems obsessed with Alerian who he thinks is the Elvess he had seen in one of the mist visions back in Moon Leaf forest. He seems enthralled by her, but he is being terrible to her. The volunteers go through many ordeals and we get to know Alerian and Gaulan the Giant Lemonstar in depth. I liked Gaulan so much and enjoyed all the chapters in which he was included, especially his trek back in the Sands after rescuing Alerian and their conversation about Family and Shame. I must say I was devastated when he was killed by almighty idiot Alanis and it is one of those deaths that I will not forgive the author for. Sorry, Jeremy…
'The Moon is lacking in a simple yet crucial area. Knowledge. We’re happy in Alepion. And who can blame us? The Realm is our home, and we’re safe. But, we’re also complacent, do not know what is out there, even amid the Elvin Realms'
Alerian finds herself once more captured by Alanis the stalker/psychopath, then finally escapes him only to be then be recaptured by Star Elves.
The Star Elves are so different to the Moon, Sun and Sand Elves. Their society is based on matriarchy; they are domesticating animals and are indeed shameless in comparison to the Moon Elves.
It feels like the Moon Elves are somewhere in Medieval Europe, the Star Elves a tribe from the Game of Thrones and the Norrhans blue-eyed samurais. As for the strange cloud above the Desert Gate caused by the power of the Urathins it reminded me of the Eye of Sauron in LoTR 😉 !!
Eldrian escorts Alanda to the Temple where supposedly Alanda is attacked and Eldrian after that is chasing ghosts trying to find the would-be assassin. Later in the story we find out the real target of the attack.
'The illusion of peace, is the cloak of evil.'
Trone on the other hand is sent back to Norrhan (western human lands) along with Mendis, the daughter of Alepion, seeking to renew their friendship and alliance with the humans and the new Heiko. I love both the Fairleaf Brothers and I appreciate their relationship and how much they love and care for each other. It was most fascinating discovering their abilities: Trone’s dream walking and teleportation, and Eldrian’s flame and transformation into what I have no idea yet!!
Eldrian eventually finds out about the attack on the volunteers and Alerian’s abduction. And so, Eldrian’s journey begins. He defies his Elder and pretty much abandons all other obligations in order to find and rescue Alerian. Along the way he changes companions: first Pilatious, a sentinel, then two Lumondear elves, Veilian and Emore, and last Evandis the Syghter. Side note: Veilian Whitesong – I could only think of Tegerian and the Order of the White Whisperers. Simply wondering if it’s a coincidence or if they will reappear.
'He wouldn’t forsake his duty for one not worthy the ensuing consequences.'
Trone’s journey with Mendis to Norrhan was full of adventures, treason, learning, teaching and discoveries. Trone seems to be enjoying teaching Mendis and Mendis is definitely misunderstood and I believe she will play a much bigger role in the upcoming war. Because war will be unavoidable.
When they finally reach Norrhan they meet the Empress and like so many of us reading the books was impressed by the Burning when she first met him and also considered the late Elder, Tarran, a father.
'It is better to never see something so marvelous, if in the end you can never attain it.'
Both the Fairleaf Brother’s journeys uncover places, people, stories even animals that are part of their world. We learn so much about the Elvin Realms and their people and customs and their political affairs that it feels like they are part of actual, real written history.
The last chapters of the book were just WOW. It was a series of plot twists and unbelievable cliffhangers that have blown me away:
• Ramian finding out the true meaning behind the story of Sharlanta and the Syghters through the carvings found on the dead bodies of Unknown daughters.
• Tyane Sunpoint being one of the primary leaders of the Old Way and killing poor Rasorder who had gone ‘missing’. She is sacrificed in a ceremony hoping that once her father would find out it will spark their plans into motion.
• Eldrian and Evandis coming across ‘Amios Skyling’ who supposedly has the gift of foresight and shares some of his visions with Eldrian.
• Eldrian ordering Evandis to continue the journey on her own while he stays back to confront Alanis knowing that he might not survive.
• In Nohhran one of the sentinels travelling with Trone betrays them and attacks the Emperor killing him and we are left not knowing what’s going to happen as battle is about to commence.
• And of course, the death of the White Blade and his bladewatcher, as well as the upcoming arrival of the Lumondears and the Primes for the Giant’s funeral.
• And who was that hooded elvess who appeared out of an air pocket in front of Trone yelling ‘He gave up’? Is it the same elvess Eldrian found hidden in Inomen? Who is she? I have some suspicions, but I feel that I might have missed it somewhere between the pages, so I would love if someone enlightened me on this.
Obviously, many things happen in between the various stories, but one should simply just read the book and find out themselves how worthy it is.
I feel like my thoughts are all over the place and I am struggling to put them in order. I am being bombarded by the various revelations in the book. And all this mumbling is for those who would like to have some more details about the story which will entice them to read not only the novel, but also the other books before this one. I am like a child anticipating to share the new story they read to their friends. I could fill pages upon pages with everything that I have read and everything I so enthusiastically want to share with everyone about this wonderful, powerful masterpiece.
I can’t wait to get the Hard copy of the book to re-read it and finally place it among my favourite books of all time.
P.S. Jeremy, don’t you dare harm the Fairleaf Borthers. I don’t think I could handle it…
If only spells would work, I’d have the next book yesterday. I don’t know how I am to wait until it’s released.
I have no idea where to start with this amazing piece of literature heaven. This was Fantasy at its finest and one must applaud the author for having such rich knowledge and vocabulary and such skillful way of writing despite being so young.
I sincerely congratulate and thank you, Jeremy, for giving me and everyone else that has and will read your books, the opportunity to dive into this incredibly amazing world of yours.
I thank my GR friend Lizzie for recommending the Evening Tide to me 2,5 years ago and was able to follow this intricate journey. Reading the small 5 books preceding this novel is the most ideal way of getting acquainted with the politics, history, geography and characters. Each small book was a series of notes leading to a crescendo, Upon the Sands. The writing style is unique and the stories original. I agree with another GR friend, SonOfYork, who said that ‘Forsyth always brings a new and fresh way of writing fantasy’.
It truly amazes me how Jeremy has managed to create this world with so much detail and in such great depth. All the love and effort he has put shows in every page which has the reader captivated and thirsting for more.
After the adorable and refreshing ‘The Little Fairleaf’, this book fast forwards to when our beloved Fairleaf brothers are Blademasters and the time gap between the two books has you constantly wondering what has happened during then and now since we see obvious changes in both of them.
Eerie situations is one of the elements that are profound in Jeremy’s books and of course, it starts in exactly this manner and prepares the reader for one amazing ride. In the prologue, we meet Alanis Malgan Wingflow of Aminiouse Glare, Warden of the Trees, Blood of the Lost Oblian, Thronemaster and heir to the Black Throne of the Sand Elves. He goes searching for the Urathins, terrifying sorcerer Elves, in the Moon Leaf forest who he wishes to release and use them in war as part of their army. There he comes across depictions formed in an eerie mist, which are glimpses of the future. This is like a treasure hunt where you get hints and clues and you find yourself throughout the book trying to connect each scene to a situation. At first, I thought Alanis seemed interesting and I might come to like Sand Elves, but he was one of those characters that I just wanted to kill. (There was only one chapter in which he was likeable and that was when he punished the Star Elves who were raping an Elvess. During those scenes he was unbelievably skillful, smart and thirsty for vengeance.)
The political situation within Alepion, but also the neighbouring realms, is intense and fragile. Even though Elder Tarranice rules from the Throne, the Seat of the Primes is elected to govern Alepion according to the Anda document. Obviously, there are those who support the former and those who support the latter in a constant game of political power. The Blademasters, who are considered the Third sign of Adonai, the Whispering God, as well as their bladewatchers, are supporters of the Throne since the Elder is also a Blademaster. And far from Alepion, across the sea, the Humans might pose a threat during this fragile peace and friendship with the Moon.
In the story also the Syghters, a group of elvess warriors, are introduced, as well the Unknowwn daughters who are supporters of Sharlanta, the murderer of Higher Arranda’s united-one and who are rogue syghters. And of course, there’s further introduction to the Order of Nallara and the mindfinders and how they can influence the people with their headlines and spying. One of the main concerns of the Arch Mindfinders is the sickness spreading from the Proloss River between the two realms of the Moon and Sand. A group of volunteers is assembled who will have to tread upon the sands to reach the river and help. Part of this group is also a very special elvess, Alerian Lightchild and who is secretly protected by Trone Fairleaf’s bladewatcher Gaulan. Alerian is also in love with the one and only, Eldrian Fairleaf.
In The Little Fairleaf we are left sure of Eldrian and Alanda’s love and between then and now something has happened and we see them, especially Eldrian having an inner fight with his feelings, firstly due to whatever has happened and secondly due to Wanda’s (the Left hand of the Elder) prophesy that Eldrian belongs to another Elvess and who of course is Alerian, this mysterious new elvess who has volunteered to go to the Proloss River. And of course, the debate between the two elvesses begins.
Another interesting character enters the story, Ramian, who is a mindfinder and personally he reminded me of Paraden back in the Missing. He is very weird, rude, but also great at researching. I am still trying to understand though whether he is being possessed by someone as there are times he seems to not be in control of his actions. I don’t know if I’m wrong, but I was thinking about Lardian and there’s also Phanton who seemed to have been reading Ramian’s letters.
And of course, we are introduced to Rasorder Stonepearl, the Presumed Heiress of Lumondear and we learn of the Darkness in the Lumondear Forest and which we get to ‘meet’ at some point and which actually is an Elf. Who is he though? The Black Blade? A sorcerer?
The Solack Volunteers are ambushed by Sand Elves being led by Alanis who seems obsessed with Alerian who he thinks is the Elvess he had seen in one of the mist visions back in Moon Leaf forest. He seems enthralled by her, but he is being terrible to her. The volunteers go through many ordeals and we get to know Alerian and Gaulan the Giant Lemonstar in depth. I liked Gaulan so much and enjoyed all the chapters in which he was included, especially his trek back in the Sands after rescuing Alerian and their conversation about Family and Shame. I must say I was devastated when he was killed by almighty idiot Alanis and it is one of those deaths that I will not forgive the author for. Sorry, Jeremy…
'The Moon is lacking in a simple yet crucial area. Knowledge. We’re happy in Alepion. And who can blame us? The Realm is our home, and we’re safe. But, we’re also complacent, do not know what is out there, even amid the Elvin Realms'
Alerian finds herself once more captured by Alanis the stalker/psychopath, then finally escapes him only to be then be recaptured by Star Elves.
The Star Elves are so different to the Moon, Sun and Sand Elves. Their society is based on matriarchy; they are domesticating animals and are indeed shameless in comparison to the Moon Elves.
It feels like the Moon Elves are somewhere in Medieval Europe, the Star Elves a tribe from the Game of Thrones and the Norrhans blue-eyed samurais. As for the strange cloud above the Desert Gate caused by the power of the Urathins it reminded me of the Eye of Sauron in LoTR 😉 !!
Eldrian escorts Alanda to the Temple where supposedly Alanda is attacked and Eldrian after that is chasing ghosts trying to find the would-be assassin. Later in the story we find out the real target of the attack.
'The illusion of peace, is the cloak of evil.'
Trone on the other hand is sent back to Norrhan (western human lands) along with Mendis, the daughter of Alepion, seeking to renew their friendship and alliance with the humans and the new Heiko. I love both the Fairleaf Brothers and I appreciate their relationship and how much they love and care for each other. It was most fascinating discovering their abilities: Trone’s dream walking and teleportation, and Eldrian’s flame and transformation into what I have no idea yet!!
Eldrian eventually finds out about the attack on the volunteers and Alerian’s abduction. And so, Eldrian’s journey begins. He defies his Elder and pretty much abandons all other obligations in order to find and rescue Alerian. Along the way he changes companions: first Pilatious, a sentinel, then two Lumondear elves, Veilian and Emore, and last Evandis the Syghter. Side note: Veilian Whitesong – I could only think of Tegerian and the Order of the White Whisperers. Simply wondering if it’s a coincidence or if they will reappear.
'He wouldn’t forsake his duty for one not worthy the ensuing consequences.'
Trone’s journey with Mendis to Norrhan was full of adventures, treason, learning, teaching and discoveries. Trone seems to be enjoying teaching Mendis and Mendis is definitely misunderstood and I believe she will play a much bigger role in the upcoming war. Because war will be unavoidable.
When they finally reach Norrhan they meet the Empress and like so many of us reading the books was impressed by the Burning when she first met him and also considered the late Elder, Tarran, a father.
'It is better to never see something so marvelous, if in the end you can never attain it.'
Both the Fairleaf Brother’s journeys uncover places, people, stories even animals that are part of their world. We learn so much about the Elvin Realms and their people and customs and their political affairs that it feels like they are part of actual, real written history.
The last chapters of the book were just WOW. It was a series of plot twists and unbelievable cliffhangers that have blown me away:
• Ramian finding out the true meaning behind the story of Sharlanta and the Syghters through the carvings found on the dead bodies of Unknown daughters.
• Tyane Sunpoint being one of the primary leaders of the Old Way and killing poor Rasorder who had gone ‘missing’. She is sacrificed in a ceremony hoping that once her father would find out it will spark their plans into motion.
• Eldrian and Evandis coming across ‘Amios Skyling’ who supposedly has the gift of foresight and shares some of his visions with Eldrian.
• Eldrian ordering Evandis to continue the journey on her own while he stays back to confront Alanis knowing that he might not survive.
• In Nohhran one of the sentinels travelling with Trone betrays them and attacks the Emperor killing him and we are left not knowing what’s going to happen as battle is about to commence.
• And of course, the death of the White Blade and his bladewatcher, as well as the upcoming arrival of the Lumondears and the Primes for the Giant’s funeral.
• And who was that hooded elvess who appeared out of an air pocket in front of Trone yelling ‘He gave up’? Is it the same elvess Eldrian found hidden in Inomen? Who is she? I have some suspicions, but I feel that I might have missed it somewhere between the pages, so I would love if someone enlightened me on this.
Obviously, many things happen in between the various stories, but one should simply just read the book and find out themselves how worthy it is.
I feel like my thoughts are all over the place and I am struggling to put them in order. I am being bombarded by the various revelations in the book. And all this mumbling is for those who would like to have some more details about the story which will entice them to read not only the novel, but also the other books before this one. I am like a child anticipating to share the new story they read to their friends. I could fill pages upon pages with everything that I have read and everything I so enthusiastically want to share with everyone about this wonderful, powerful masterpiece.
I can’t wait to get the Hard copy of the book to re-read it and finally place it among my favourite books of all time.
P.S. Jeremy, don’t you dare harm the Fairleaf Borthers. I don’t think I could handle it…
February 21, 2022
I had the absolute pleasure of being given the chance to read this book and wow... I am so glad I did !!! Please don't let the length of this book put you off , I normally avoid big books but this was worth reading!
First of all the characters in this book really brings it to life, the way they are described and the setting round them , it makes you feel more depth too the book. The fact that it starts off with a map was a huge bonus for me as who can resist a fantasy book with a map?!
The story progresses quite quickly through the book and the author does an amazing job of building up the suspense in the scene , of keeping you hooked and waiting to see what happens.
First of all the characters in this book really brings it to life, the way they are described and the setting round them , it makes you feel more depth too the book. The fact that it starts off with a map was a huge bonus for me as who can resist a fantasy book with a map?!
The story progresses quite quickly through the book and the author does an amazing job of building up the suspense in the scene , of keeping you hooked and waiting to see what happens.
December 9, 2021
***Out Now***
Of the Elvin Realms, the Moon rises highest while the Sands diminish through infighting. The Sun remains undying, burning bright but the Stars dream of outshining all.
As the Fairleaf brothers depart the Realm, both of them fear for the other, for upon the sands, enemies gather as they do across the sea, and back home, the Dead Gods stir, unrest grows in the lands, and far away, Darkness prepares His return.
For ten years I've been writing the best book I've ever read, and now it's out.
The short stories I've published so far were merely in preparation for Upon the Sands, and each of them sets the stage for an epic of great and fascinating proportions that I am proud to say is my finest work.
Get Upon the Sands now at www.jeremyforsyyth.co.za
Of the Elvin Realms, the Moon rises highest while the Sands diminish through infighting. The Sun remains undying, burning bright but the Stars dream of outshining all.
As the Fairleaf brothers depart the Realm, both of them fear for the other, for upon the sands, enemies gather as they do across the sea, and back home, the Dead Gods stir, unrest grows in the lands, and far away, Darkness prepares His return.
For ten years I've been writing the best book I've ever read, and now it's out.
The short stories I've published so far were merely in preparation for Upon the Sands, and each of them sets the stage for an epic of great and fascinating proportions that I am proud to say is my finest work.
Get Upon the Sands now at www.jeremyforsyyth.co.za
February 21, 2022
Round up to 3.5 stars⭐️
More like upon the emotional rollercoaster of plot twists, elves and fantasy heaven. Oh my moon elves!
Jeremy kindly gifted me a copy of his book and I was quite intrigued by its size, and I can honestly say every paper was used to paint such an intricate and highly original mirage of a land of Elves, Thronemasters, Blademasters, sorcerers, pirates and Adonai to name a few.
I have to say I think I would have fallen into this fantasy world a lot quicker if I read his previous books, especially ‘The Little Fairleaf’ so I had more insight on both the Fairleaf brothers. So I would definitely advise you to pick that book up before this one!⭐️
This is an honest review so honest I shall be. It took me quite sometime to figure out what was going on, you have to understand and appreciate how Jeremy writes. Its descriptive and vivid. There are a lot of political issues and the tension is high. If I had to compare it to another series- I can’t really, its very unique but think in the lines of Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings. This book is like a puzzle and you can’t help but hang onto this ride and collect pieces and see the bigger story behind of the different realms and hierarchies. It is intriguing and full of plot-twists. Bonus that there is even some romantic scenes and I adored it. I’m still deciding who is my favorite character but I’m leaning towards Remy or Eldrian!
Lastly to mention its incredible to have read this book knowing the author is Proudly South African. Local is lekker!
The way this book ends had me already pining for book two! I am barely hanging from this cliff. Guess who will be first-inline for book two🙌🏻
More like upon the emotional rollercoaster of plot twists, elves and fantasy heaven. Oh my moon elves!
Jeremy kindly gifted me a copy of his book and I was quite intrigued by its size, and I can honestly say every paper was used to paint such an intricate and highly original mirage of a land of Elves, Thronemasters, Blademasters, sorcerers, pirates and Adonai to name a few.
I have to say I think I would have fallen into this fantasy world a lot quicker if I read his previous books, especially ‘The Little Fairleaf’ so I had more insight on both the Fairleaf brothers. So I would definitely advise you to pick that book up before this one!⭐️
This is an honest review so honest I shall be. It took me quite sometime to figure out what was going on, you have to understand and appreciate how Jeremy writes. Its descriptive and vivid. There are a lot of political issues and the tension is high. If I had to compare it to another series- I can’t really, its very unique but think in the lines of Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings. This book is like a puzzle and you can’t help but hang onto this ride and collect pieces and see the bigger story behind of the different realms and hierarchies. It is intriguing and full of plot-twists. Bonus that there is even some romantic scenes and I adored it. I’m still deciding who is my favorite character but I’m leaning towards Remy or Eldrian!
Lastly to mention its incredible to have read this book knowing the author is Proudly South African. Local is lekker!
The way this book ends had me already pining for book two! I am barely hanging from this cliff. Guess who will be first-inline for book two🙌🏻
February 24, 2022
Rating :⭐⭐⭐⭐,5/5
Title: Upon the sands
Author: Jeremy Forsyth
Genre: High Fantasy
This is the first book in series.
Synopsis on next slide
Review:
Firstly wow ! The world building is amazing! The author managed to create a world that is so vast yet with every chapter we get a glimpse into every realm and its details that are explained wonderfully well with a writing style that is elegant and rich in vocabulary but not too hard for the average English reader to understand.
The intricate politics that seem to govern this story is so interesting and shrouded in mystery that I found myself constantly trying to uncover the truth along with the characters. I found myself turning back pages to try and connect the dots. This story is incredibly immersive ,making for a fantastic reading experience. That being said, just like most high fantasy books please be prepared for the info dump in the first hundred pages but the prologue had me easily pushing through those hundred pages and the rest was smooth sailing.
One can expect to find:
A magic system that just enhances this story with every chapter.
Some incredible fighting scenes that are made epic when combined with the magic the author has brought to life.
Lots of subtle romance and pinning. I am very interested to find out what happened between Eldrien and Alanda! And can I just say that in "Beware of the sand" Aelious was just saying what we were all thinking - #Tronexmendis !
There's even ships and pirates!
This book has got so much to offer and I fear that saying too much would spoil it.
There are loads of prophecies throughout the book that add to the mysteries of this world and that have got me very excited to find out what is going to happen in the coming books.
Anyone who enjoys the politics of GOT will appreciate this book. Not to mention the Elvin LOTR vibes. I seriously did not realize how much I have been craving an Elvin fantasy book.
Thank you to the Author @jays_andrew for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review !
Please rest assured that these are my own opinions. As a fantasy reader I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend checking it out !
Please do check out his website and other books at : https://www.jeremyforsyth.co.za/
Title: Upon the sands
Author: Jeremy Forsyth
Genre: High Fantasy
This is the first book in series.
Synopsis on next slide
Review:
Firstly wow ! The world building is amazing! The author managed to create a world that is so vast yet with every chapter we get a glimpse into every realm and its details that are explained wonderfully well with a writing style that is elegant and rich in vocabulary but not too hard for the average English reader to understand.
The intricate politics that seem to govern this story is so interesting and shrouded in mystery that I found myself constantly trying to uncover the truth along with the characters. I found myself turning back pages to try and connect the dots. This story is incredibly immersive ,making for a fantastic reading experience. That being said, just like most high fantasy books please be prepared for the info dump in the first hundred pages but the prologue had me easily pushing through those hundred pages and the rest was smooth sailing.
One can expect to find:
A magic system that just enhances this story with every chapter.
Some incredible fighting scenes that are made epic when combined with the magic the author has brought to life.
Lots of subtle romance and pinning. I am very interested to find out what happened between Eldrien and Alanda! And can I just say that in "Beware of the sand" Aelious was just saying what we were all thinking - #Tronexmendis !
There's even ships and pirates!
This book has got so much to offer and I fear that saying too much would spoil it.
There are loads of prophecies throughout the book that add to the mysteries of this world and that have got me very excited to find out what is going to happen in the coming books.
Anyone who enjoys the politics of GOT will appreciate this book. Not to mention the Elvin LOTR vibes. I seriously did not realize how much I have been craving an Elvin fantasy book.
Thank you to the Author @jays_andrew for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review !
Please rest assured that these are my own opinions. As a fantasy reader I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend checking it out !
Please do check out his website and other books at : https://www.jeremyforsyth.co.za/
February 21, 2022
My first impression was Game of Thrones meets Lord of the Rings meets Dungeons and Dragons.
The descriptive writing paints vivid mental images teeming with details.
It was sometimes an assault on the senses but there was no denying each scene was meticulously described making it an immersive journey from line one.
I think a glossary of all the different elves, their kingdoms, alliances, enemies and territories would be a great attachment so we can stay on top of the numerous colourful and intricately written characters.
The PLOT: This is spoiler free!
Firstly. The map is GORGEOUS.
The prologue was the perfect almost eeire start to what gave us snippets of the future, it was honestly so cool to say AH I REMEMBER THAT FROM THE MIST and reference those moments as you read.
Also Forsyth has managed yet again to get me way too emotionally invested into the Fairleaf brothers. My boys. The romantic plot for Eldrian had me SCREAMING.
This book had SO much politics that are seamlessly written into a complex world, full of surprises, thrilling scenes and content that it would make an AMAZING fantasty TV series.
I was absolutely thrilled and honored to recieve my copy of UtS by the author himself! What an amazing human and I cannot WAIT to see what else he has in store for us!
The descriptive writing paints vivid mental images teeming with details.
It was sometimes an assault on the senses but there was no denying each scene was meticulously described making it an immersive journey from line one.
I think a glossary of all the different elves, their kingdoms, alliances, enemies and territories would be a great attachment so we can stay on top of the numerous colourful and intricately written characters.
The PLOT: This is spoiler free!
Firstly. The map is GORGEOUS.
The prologue was the perfect almost eeire start to what gave us snippets of the future, it was honestly so cool to say AH I REMEMBER THAT FROM THE MIST and reference those moments as you read.
Also Forsyth has managed yet again to get me way too emotionally invested into the Fairleaf brothers. My boys. The romantic plot for Eldrian had me SCREAMING.
This book had SO much politics that are seamlessly written into a complex world, full of surprises, thrilling scenes and content that it would make an AMAZING fantasty TV series.
I was absolutely thrilled and honored to recieve my copy of UtS by the author himself! What an amazing human and I cannot WAIT to see what else he has in store for us!
February 21, 2022
DNF
* I was gifted a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review *
In all honesty? I’m sure this is a great book - if you can wade through the excessively flowery writing. I was so lost and unable to push through because of the fact that every single sentence had 5-10 adjectives or adverbs.
The story seems to start in the middle of nowhere and, while I know being lost in the beginning is a fantasy staple, this was too confusing. I was begging for a crumb of context. And when a tiny crumb of context was introduced, I could barely decipher if through all the adjectives.
If you can see past that and get used to the writing style, I’m sure the story is actually good.
* I was gifted a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review *
In all honesty? I’m sure this is a great book - if you can wade through the excessively flowery writing. I was so lost and unable to push through because of the fact that every single sentence had 5-10 adjectives or adverbs.
The story seems to start in the middle of nowhere and, while I know being lost in the beginning is a fantasy staple, this was too confusing. I was begging for a crumb of context. And when a tiny crumb of context was introduced, I could barely decipher if through all the adjectives.
If you can see past that and get used to the writing style, I’m sure the story is actually good.
December 14, 2021
This book got the political intrigue of GOT and the fantastical elements of a Final Fantasy game and honestly, I am not complaining. The world that the author created is exquisite and filled with wonders, places, unique flora and fauna and of course, a lot of danger, secrets, challenges and strange situations that keep the reader constantly trying to connect dots, which made this story a very interesting one.
The story follows the Fairleaf brothers, Eldrian and Trone, in different but connected journeys through the Elvin Realms, uncovering deep secrets of politics and power, traveling and meeting people that impacts the story and change the course of the land’s future with each chapter. As always, I don’t give spoilers in my reviews, but I will mention that I loved some of this characters that joined the brother’s adventures, and I hated others, but everyone of their presences in the plot work in delivering a very rich story that make you connect to it.
I have to say that I haven’t read an epic high fantasy book in a while, so the first 100 pages weren’t an easy read, but once I got into the storyline I enjoyed this book throughly. I do recommend to start with the novellas that came before Upon the Sands, since it would definitely help the reader understand the world, customs and previous situations of the brothers, allowing an easier pass to Upon The Sands. For me, someone that didn’t read the novellas, it was hard to grasp so many names, places and characters that were clearly introduced before, and it was kinda confusing at times.
The author did a great job with the writing style, the vocabulary was rich and elegant, without crossing a line with confusing words. And I, as someone who’s first lenguage is not English, appreciated it a lot.
I am excited for what is coming for the next book, especially with everything that happened in the last chapters and those cliffhanger! Also, as a romantic at heart, I want to know more about the Eldrian/Alanda/Alerian dynamic, oops. And… can someone please kick Alanis in the face? For me?
December 17, 2022
Several of the reviews I have scanned for this book have started with DNF (Did Not Finish).
I would like to mark it with MRA (Must Read Again).
This is the epic story of the lives of many elves. It is set in a world which has been created beautifully, with wonderful descriptions of the surrounds, the buildings, the people. The elven names used are fabulous and I find it helpful that there are family trees in the appendix.
I have read the previous set of books, which was definitely helpful before reading this, although not a prerequisite. It just gives you more of an idea of who is who and some relevance to the story.
I read one review which complained about the ‘flowery writing’. This is an EPIC tale, one set in a completely different world, mainly of elves. The writing is ‘flowery’ if that is the word you want to use, although personally I find it refreshing to read something that has such a fabulous range of vocabulary, that makes you think about what you are reading, that encourages you to take the time to digest, understand and enjoy the story. While I was reading I was actually thinking to myself ‘I want to meet this author, to hold a conversation with them, the intellect, thoughtfulness and wisdom they possess is fascinating’. I think the personality behind the writing is someone I would get along well with.
The amount of planning to create this story is, I feel, immense. The descriptions used to show the battles take you there, I was really in the moment. It is very rare that I am so moved and absorbed in a book and the moment that I actually cry out in shock and horror, but with this I did. There were moments I physically laughed and cried. I would recommend this book to others, but not to those who just want a quick read. This is a book that must be savoured, felt, digested and understood. Take the time. Make the time. As they say, you get out what you put in.
I would like to mark it with MRA (Must Read Again).
This is the epic story of the lives of many elves. It is set in a world which has been created beautifully, with wonderful descriptions of the surrounds, the buildings, the people. The elven names used are fabulous and I find it helpful that there are family trees in the appendix.
I have read the previous set of books, which was definitely helpful before reading this, although not a prerequisite. It just gives you more of an idea of who is who and some relevance to the story.
I read one review which complained about the ‘flowery writing’. This is an EPIC tale, one set in a completely different world, mainly of elves. The writing is ‘flowery’ if that is the word you want to use, although personally I find it refreshing to read something that has such a fabulous range of vocabulary, that makes you think about what you are reading, that encourages you to take the time to digest, understand and enjoy the story. While I was reading I was actually thinking to myself ‘I want to meet this author, to hold a conversation with them, the intellect, thoughtfulness and wisdom they possess is fascinating’. I think the personality behind the writing is someone I would get along well with.
The amount of planning to create this story is, I feel, immense. The descriptions used to show the battles take you there, I was really in the moment. It is very rare that I am so moved and absorbed in a book and the moment that I actually cry out in shock and horror, but with this I did. There were moments I physically laughed and cried. I would recommend this book to others, but not to those who just want a quick read. This is a book that must be savoured, felt, digested and understood. Take the time. Make the time. As they say, you get out what you put in.
August 11, 2022
I enjoyed the story very much. There was a whole lot to be introduced so it took a few chapters for me to get really interested. He gave a lot of descriptive detail on the characters, surroundings, buildings, animals, etc. as the story evolved. It was sometimes too much for me but other times I was pleased for the added details. The storyline kept me interested throughout. I will now look up other books he wrote.
August 3, 2022
Not bad, but not for me. This is definitely a fully immersive, learn a new world kind of thing that I am not willing to commit to right now. Everyone has multiple names and titles, the speech is very formal and stilted, a lot of complicated stuff right away - could definitely be a good adventure for someone with more patience than I’ve got.
February 21, 2022
Upon the sands
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Let me start off by giving the author, @jays_andrew a huge thank you for sending me upon the sands and allowing me to be part of the Blademasters journey!
So I found this book a little bit daunting to start, the blurb didn’t really go into as much detail as I needed. But once I started and got through the first 100 or so pages, I started to grasp the concepts and the politics a lot better and my read became much more enjoyable (as per usual with high fantasy books.)
With each page I turned, it was like trying to fit pieces of a puzzle together. So many questions and secrets that kept me wanting to read more!
I must admit, I found this book extremely descriptive …don’t get me wrong I love world building and the author did a great job but as someone who loses attention easily I could’ve gone for a bit less description! I’m glad to have found some romance in the book ( would’ve liked a bit more in the romance department ). I fell in love with characters in this book, they were all so unique.
There’s a lot of politics behind the Elvin realms which still kind of confuse me so I’m definitely going to have to give it a re-read and try figure it out.
Upon the sands had a handful of plot twist and cliffhangers which made me want to run to book 2! Definitely would recommend if you’re a high fantasy reader.
Check out the authors website for more of his books :) www.jeremyforsyth.co.za
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Let me start off by giving the author, @jays_andrew a huge thank you for sending me upon the sands and allowing me to be part of the Blademasters journey!
So I found this book a little bit daunting to start, the blurb didn’t really go into as much detail as I needed. But once I started and got through the first 100 or so pages, I started to grasp the concepts and the politics a lot better and my read became much more enjoyable (as per usual with high fantasy books.)
With each page I turned, it was like trying to fit pieces of a puzzle together. So many questions and secrets that kept me wanting to read more!
I must admit, I found this book extremely descriptive …don’t get me wrong I love world building and the author did a great job but as someone who loses attention easily I could’ve gone for a bit less description! I’m glad to have found some romance in the book ( would’ve liked a bit more in the romance department ). I fell in love with characters in this book, they were all so unique.
There’s a lot of politics behind the Elvin realms which still kind of confuse me so I’m definitely going to have to give it a re-read and try figure it out.
Upon the sands had a handful of plot twist and cliffhangers which made me want to run to book 2! Definitely would recommend if you’re a high fantasy reader.
Check out the authors website for more of his books :) www.jeremyforsyth.co.za
February 21, 2022
A huge thank you to Jay for sending me this book to review! I could not have asked for a better start to the year.
Let’s start by saying that I finished this book in under a week while busy with work and studying. Every spare minute went into reading. I couldn’t seem to put it down.
Jeremy Forsyth has crafted a truly detailed world with incredible depth. From histories and lore going back to the very beginning to species and subspecies to places so artfully mapped it feels like you could step foot in them.
Like any new book of an in-depth world, at first the countries, rivers, names of elves and elvesses, titles and other terms were difficult to understand. I began making a glossary to help me keep track of names and terms such as Animous Glare, Mindfinders, Signs of Adonai, Order of Nallara etc, but quickly got used to them within a few chapters and it became a second language.
I do think reading Jeremy’s other books and novellas first would get one more acquainted to the world, but Upon The Sands is still a brilliant start for anyone.
Once I was fully engrossed in the book (about 40 pages in), it was all I could think about. No, really. I would sit at work and wonder about moon elves and what would happen next.
The story begins (but is not limited to) the Fairleaf brothers, Blademasters tasked to protect and serve the crown. The reader will undoubtably fall in love with Trone and Eldrian and their courage, strong wills and quick wit, just as I did. If you’re the kind of reader who adores when relationships between siblings are portrayed, as well as secret abilities uncovered like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, you’re going to be obsessed with these brothers.
We also read the POV of Alerian Lightchild, the gentle and naive elvess with a secret special ability embarking on a missionary journey to help with the sickness spreading from the Proloss River. I truly just wanted to rescue poor Alerian throughout the book. I feel like I’ve adopted her as a daughter or little sister at this point.
And then we have Ramy Ramian, the strange Mindfinder whose chapters leave one curious enough to keep picking the book up after it has been put down. Ramian, though not my favorite character, became my personal favorite POV because of his straightforwardness and interest in all the same mysteries in the book I was interested in. Some might not like him, but the man is good at what he does and I like that his room is as messy as mine.
We have other main characters as well, Alanis for one, who I thought I would love based off the prologue but quickly grew to dislike, Mendis Lowvilla Flaramoon, who I now have a crush on, and Gaulan who I would also like to personally adopt.
The plot is a beautifully carved-out thing, moving and turning and joining up in ways I wouldn’t have thought of. The twists at the end of the book absolutely rocked me. If you’ve already read the book, think Tyane, Ramy’s revelation, and of course my dear, dear Gaulan. I’ll refrain from spilling too much lest I spoil anything, because I love a spoiler-free review, but you’ve got to trust me on this.
In a world with mythical creatures and a new approach to magic, different elves split into factions, a government and classic throne ruling alike, assassins and spies and glorious political intrigue, it’s exactly the kind of book to get addicted to.
Many authors tend to borrow ideas from myths, legends and other stories, but Jeremy’s world and plots are entirely unique. At no point while reading this book did I have any idea what was coming next. It left me on the edge of my seat, with questions and more questions, and characters so compelling I felt like pulling them out of the pages to ask what they were hiding. (TELL ME ABOUT THE MYSTERIOUS ELVESS JEREMY. WHO IS SHE?)
To give you an idea, I would compare this book (in terms of creative world-building and originality) to Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of The Rings’. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jeremy came out with his own language/s during the course of this series, haha. That is not to say, though, that it bares any similarity to Tolkien’s. I would safely say the only thing even slightly similar is that they contain a species who call themselves elves.
The originality of Upon The Sands was what gripped me first, as well as the style of writing: unique to other novels read before. If you’re someone who reads YA, adult or high fantasy series, you’ll undoubtably find Jay’s book a breath of fresh air. Upon The Sands is incredibly well-thought-out, fresh while managing to be epic, and unbelievably addicting.
I personally am eagerly awaiting this book to be the next big thing. (The fanart ideas alone are endless!)
Upon The Sands definitely warrants a re-read in a few months and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. For the time being though, I’m contending myself with reading the rest of Jeremy’s novels to better acquaint myself with this magnificent world.
Do yourself a favor and give it a read. I can absolutely promise that you will not regret it.
Let’s start by saying that I finished this book in under a week while busy with work and studying. Every spare minute went into reading. I couldn’t seem to put it down.
Jeremy Forsyth has crafted a truly detailed world with incredible depth. From histories and lore going back to the very beginning to species and subspecies to places so artfully mapped it feels like you could step foot in them.
Like any new book of an in-depth world, at first the countries, rivers, names of elves and elvesses, titles and other terms were difficult to understand. I began making a glossary to help me keep track of names and terms such as Animous Glare, Mindfinders, Signs of Adonai, Order of Nallara etc, but quickly got used to them within a few chapters and it became a second language.
I do think reading Jeremy’s other books and novellas first would get one more acquainted to the world, but Upon The Sands is still a brilliant start for anyone.
Once I was fully engrossed in the book (about 40 pages in), it was all I could think about. No, really. I would sit at work and wonder about moon elves and what would happen next.
The story begins (but is not limited to) the Fairleaf brothers, Blademasters tasked to protect and serve the crown. The reader will undoubtably fall in love with Trone and Eldrian and their courage, strong wills and quick wit, just as I did. If you’re the kind of reader who adores when relationships between siblings are portrayed, as well as secret abilities uncovered like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, you’re going to be obsessed with these brothers.
We also read the POV of Alerian Lightchild, the gentle and naive elvess with a secret special ability embarking on a missionary journey to help with the sickness spreading from the Proloss River. I truly just wanted to rescue poor Alerian throughout the book. I feel like I’ve adopted her as a daughter or little sister at this point.
And then we have Ramy Ramian, the strange Mindfinder whose chapters leave one curious enough to keep picking the book up after it has been put down. Ramian, though not my favorite character, became my personal favorite POV because of his straightforwardness and interest in all the same mysteries in the book I was interested in. Some might not like him, but the man is good at what he does and I like that his room is as messy as mine.
We have other main characters as well, Alanis for one, who I thought I would love based off the prologue but quickly grew to dislike, Mendis Lowvilla Flaramoon, who I now have a crush on, and Gaulan who I would also like to personally adopt.
The plot is a beautifully carved-out thing, moving and turning and joining up in ways I wouldn’t have thought of. The twists at the end of the book absolutely rocked me. If you’ve already read the book, think Tyane, Ramy’s revelation, and of course my dear, dear Gaulan. I’ll refrain from spilling too much lest I spoil anything, because I love a spoiler-free review, but you’ve got to trust me on this.
In a world with mythical creatures and a new approach to magic, different elves split into factions, a government and classic throne ruling alike, assassins and spies and glorious political intrigue, it’s exactly the kind of book to get addicted to.
Many authors tend to borrow ideas from myths, legends and other stories, but Jeremy’s world and plots are entirely unique. At no point while reading this book did I have any idea what was coming next. It left me on the edge of my seat, with questions and more questions, and characters so compelling I felt like pulling them out of the pages to ask what they were hiding. (TELL ME ABOUT THE MYSTERIOUS ELVESS JEREMY. WHO IS SHE?)
To give you an idea, I would compare this book (in terms of creative world-building and originality) to Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of The Rings’. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jeremy came out with his own language/s during the course of this series, haha. That is not to say, though, that it bares any similarity to Tolkien’s. I would safely say the only thing even slightly similar is that they contain a species who call themselves elves.
The originality of Upon The Sands was what gripped me first, as well as the style of writing: unique to other novels read before. If you’re someone who reads YA, adult or high fantasy series, you’ll undoubtably find Jay’s book a breath of fresh air. Upon The Sands is incredibly well-thought-out, fresh while managing to be epic, and unbelievably addicting.
I personally am eagerly awaiting this book to be the next big thing. (The fanart ideas alone are endless!)
Upon The Sands definitely warrants a re-read in a few months and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. For the time being though, I’m contending myself with reading the rest of Jeremy’s novels to better acquaint myself with this magnificent world.
Do yourself a favor and give it a read. I can absolutely promise that you will not regret it.
February 21, 2022
Brilliantly Executed and Enjoyable
Action packed, unexpected twists and an interesting writing style. An engaging read filled with amusing characters that all brought something unique to the story. The author did a wonderful job with the world building and the memorable characters. His web of words are weaved so beautifully that he has painted the scenes so well the reader felt part of every scene.
The story is compelling and the book is packed with great dialogue. For people who find that they do not enjoy reading fantasy, I recommend that they put aside the fact that it's a fantasy novel. Pick up this (it's definitely one you'll enjoy) it's more than fantasy, it's an outstanding character driven drama that just so happens to be set in a fantasy setting.
Set in a fantastical world (The Elivin Realms) we follow the fairleaf brothers traveling deep into the realms uncovering secrets to power and politics... traveling seperate ways but somehow ways that are connected they meet more characters, some agreeable some not, slowly changing the course of things and the future of the lands.
Assassination attempts, world building, rich descriptions, a tad bit of romance, plot twists and unforgiving cliffhangers. This was not just merely another Fantasy.
A huge thank you to the author, as I received a copy in exchange for an honest review, I highly recommend you read the book and/or check out more reads from the author... www.jeremyforsyth.co.za
Action packed, unexpected twists and an interesting writing style. An engaging read filled with amusing characters that all brought something unique to the story. The author did a wonderful job with the world building and the memorable characters. His web of words are weaved so beautifully that he has painted the scenes so well the reader felt part of every scene.
The story is compelling and the book is packed with great dialogue. For people who find that they do not enjoy reading fantasy, I recommend that they put aside the fact that it's a fantasy novel. Pick up this (it's definitely one you'll enjoy) it's more than fantasy, it's an outstanding character driven drama that just so happens to be set in a fantasy setting.
Set in a fantastical world (The Elivin Realms) we follow the fairleaf brothers traveling deep into the realms uncovering secrets to power and politics... traveling seperate ways but somehow ways that are connected they meet more characters, some agreeable some not, slowly changing the course of things and the future of the lands.
Assassination attempts, world building, rich descriptions, a tad bit of romance, plot twists and unforgiving cliffhangers. This was not just merely another Fantasy.
A huge thank you to the author, as I received a copy in exchange for an honest review, I highly recommend you read the book and/or check out more reads from the author... www.jeremyforsyth.co.za
February 22, 2022
4 ⭐️
To start off, I have to say that I totally branched out into a new genre with this one, and ngl. I enjoyed it. The intrigue with the world and its politics wasn't like anything I had ever read before. It took me a while to get through this- and this was no fault of the authors bc my pea brain had to keep going back to reread because I didn't catch it the first time lol.
Once I got into it- it was truly excellent. My South African heart bursts with pride for our local talent 🤍
Thank you to the author for personally delivering this book to me in the middle of a storm- I'm absolutely honored to read your masterpiece 🤍
To start off, I have to say that I totally branched out into a new genre with this one, and ngl. I enjoyed it. The intrigue with the world and its politics wasn't like anything I had ever read before. It took me a while to get through this- and this was no fault of the authors bc my pea brain had to keep going back to reread because I didn't catch it the first time lol.
Once I got into it- it was truly excellent. My South African heart bursts with pride for our local talent 🤍
Thank you to the author for personally delivering this book to me in the middle of a storm- I'm absolutely honored to read your masterpiece 🤍
January 31, 2023
"Upon The Sands" centres on the large and small machinations of the elves of Alepion and further afield.
**MILD SPOILERS**
The fantasy world crafted by Jeremy Forsyth is a breath of fresh air in a genre that has tended to move away from grand themes and more towards teen angst and drama. The authors writes characters that feel real - each with their own histories, ambitions and lives. At the centre are the Moon Elves; in particular, the mysterious, aloof Fairleaf brothers - Eldrian and Trone. But the cast is diverse, and we have the pleasure of viewing the island of Alepion through there eyes. From the refined beauty of the capital Lowvilla, to the tranquil beauty of Dark lake, down to the vast forests skirting the Ollian glades... and further to the desolation of Desert Falls where a diplomatic mission meets with disaster, and sets in motion a chain of events that can only lead to tragedy.
The world building is deep here. The history real. Jeremy shows you the world through the concrete experience of his characters, rather than dump vast swathes of needless information on the reader. By the time you have finished the book you will understand the world of the Moon Elves; but it will be a painting missing key brush strokes. This will leave you with unanswered questions and theories, and you will long for more. Let me rephrase that and call it what it is: Wonder. You will be left with a sense of wonder and the desire to experience it again.
In this the reader can be content. At least four more books are expected in the series, and the story will only become more epic as it moves forward.
A last piece of advice before I end this review. Reader, persevere. You will be dropped, in media res, into a world filled with vast history, in which conspiracies and plots have been set in motion long ago. This can be disconcerting to some, but persevere and you will be rewarded.
I eagerly look forward to the next book in the Symphony.
**MILD SPOILERS**
The fantasy world crafted by Jeremy Forsyth is a breath of fresh air in a genre that has tended to move away from grand themes and more towards teen angst and drama. The authors writes characters that feel real - each with their own histories, ambitions and lives. At the centre are the Moon Elves; in particular, the mysterious, aloof Fairleaf brothers - Eldrian and Trone. But the cast is diverse, and we have the pleasure of viewing the island of Alepion through there eyes. From the refined beauty of the capital Lowvilla, to the tranquil beauty of Dark lake, down to the vast forests skirting the Ollian glades... and further to the desolation of Desert Falls where a diplomatic mission meets with disaster, and sets in motion a chain of events that can only lead to tragedy.
The world building is deep here. The history real. Jeremy shows you the world through the concrete experience of his characters, rather than dump vast swathes of needless information on the reader. By the time you have finished the book you will understand the world of the Moon Elves; but it will be a painting missing key brush strokes. This will leave you with unanswered questions and theories, and you will long for more. Let me rephrase that and call it what it is: Wonder. You will be left with a sense of wonder and the desire to experience it again.
In this the reader can be content. At least four more books are expected in the series, and the story will only become more epic as it moves forward.
A last piece of advice before I end this review. Reader, persevere. You will be dropped, in media res, into a world filled with vast history, in which conspiracies and plots have been set in motion long ago. This can be disconcerting to some, but persevere and you will be rewarded.
I eagerly look forward to the next book in the Symphony.
February 21, 2022
Trigger warnings below
Synopsis:
War is coming.
Alanis Wingflow, heir to the Black Throne, is on a quest to restore his family to their rightful place but his motivations are quickly abandoned when a mysterious elvess appears to him in a vision.
Eldrian Fairleaf, a Blademaster for the royal Flaramoons, must choose between his duty and his personal convictions when Alerian Lightchild, an elvess he cares for, is kidnapped.
Meanwhile, across the sea, peace with the humans is within reach. Trone Fairleaf has been tasked with handling these negotiations. But behind the scenes, dark forces are at work to ensure that war is imminent.
Plot structure
Let me start by saying that I dreaded this entire experience and DNF’d this book after an intense scene that upset me. While the novel has its merits, it needs work.
The lore dump in the second paragraph of the first chapter had me dreading this read. The flow of chapters was inconsistent and there were entire chapters that I felt could have been cut out. Some chapters dragged on, whilst others were cut short. While this may have been done as a means of accomplishing a cliff-hanger, it instead left me disorientated and frustrated. For instance, a defining moment between Eldrian and Alerian is cut mid-conversation. Additionally, Alerian’s POVs are majority concluded with her being knocked unconscious. Towards the end of the novel, I had officially diagnosed her with narcolepsy.
Relationship dynamics
Every relationship felt shallow. There are feelings of love, obsession and hatred which felt unjustified. Eldrian and Alanis’s fixations with Alerian made no sense and had little backing other than the age old “but it was prophesised”.
Characters
At times it felt as though Forsyth lost grips with who his characters were. A prime example would be the lack of individualised vocabulary and thought processes. Majority male characters were always annoyed with something or someone. There were unique moments where I felt the characters shining through, particularly with Eldrian, but these moments were few and far between.
World Building
Forsyth’s ability to world-build is the reason why I gave this novel 2 stars instead of 1. He is capable of constructing unique speech patterns for this race of Elves, as well as depicting a rich in-depth history for the elves. Whilst I don’t necessarily enjoy intense lore dumps, for those of you who do enjoy intricate high fantasy, Forsyth’s writing is for you.
Personal notes
After considering the formal aspects of this novel I’d like to state that this novel is not for everyone. Scenes of intense violence were never contrasted with scenes of intimacy or care, which I feel is essential for a balanced novel. This could have been accomplished as Forsyth had several POVs at his disposal. The consistent suffering of women, either through abuse or rape throughout this novel left me feeling hollow.
I won’t go too much into what upset me personally… I will simply summarise with the fact that if I have to read one more physical description of a female with the word “voluptuous” in it, I’m going to vomit.
Trigger warnings
Descriptive rape scenes
Torture/Abuse
Thank you to Forsyth for gifting me with a physical copy of his works in exchange for an honest review.
If you’re interested in checking out his works you can visit his website at www.jeremyforsyth.co.za . I recommend The Little Fairleaf.
Synopsis:
War is coming.
Alanis Wingflow, heir to the Black Throne, is on a quest to restore his family to their rightful place but his motivations are quickly abandoned when a mysterious elvess appears to him in a vision.
Eldrian Fairleaf, a Blademaster for the royal Flaramoons, must choose between his duty and his personal convictions when Alerian Lightchild, an elvess he cares for, is kidnapped.
Meanwhile, across the sea, peace with the humans is within reach. Trone Fairleaf has been tasked with handling these negotiations. But behind the scenes, dark forces are at work to ensure that war is imminent.
Plot structure
Let me start by saying that I dreaded this entire experience and DNF’d this book after an intense scene that upset me. While the novel has its merits, it needs work.
The lore dump in the second paragraph of the first chapter had me dreading this read. The flow of chapters was inconsistent and there were entire chapters that I felt could have been cut out. Some chapters dragged on, whilst others were cut short. While this may have been done as a means of accomplishing a cliff-hanger, it instead left me disorientated and frustrated. For instance, a defining moment between Eldrian and Alerian is cut mid-conversation. Additionally, Alerian’s POVs are majority concluded with her being knocked unconscious. Towards the end of the novel, I had officially diagnosed her with narcolepsy.
Relationship dynamics
Every relationship felt shallow. There are feelings of love, obsession and hatred which felt unjustified. Eldrian and Alanis’s fixations with Alerian made no sense and had little backing other than the age old “but it was prophesised”.
Characters
At times it felt as though Forsyth lost grips with who his characters were. A prime example would be the lack of individualised vocabulary and thought processes. Majority male characters were always annoyed with something or someone. There were unique moments where I felt the characters shining through, particularly with Eldrian, but these moments were few and far between.
World Building
Forsyth’s ability to world-build is the reason why I gave this novel 2 stars instead of 1. He is capable of constructing unique speech patterns for this race of Elves, as well as depicting a rich in-depth history for the elves. Whilst I don’t necessarily enjoy intense lore dumps, for those of you who do enjoy intricate high fantasy, Forsyth’s writing is for you.
Personal notes
After considering the formal aspects of this novel I’d like to state that this novel is not for everyone. Scenes of intense violence were never contrasted with scenes of intimacy or care, which I feel is essential for a balanced novel. This could have been accomplished as Forsyth had several POVs at his disposal. The consistent suffering of women, either through abuse or rape throughout this novel left me feeling hollow.
I won’t go too much into what upset me personally… I will simply summarise with the fact that if I have to read one more physical description of a female with the word “voluptuous” in it, I’m going to vomit.
Trigger warnings
Descriptive rape scenes
Torture/Abuse
Thank you to Forsyth for gifting me with a physical copy of his works in exchange for an honest review.
If you’re interested in checking out his works you can visit his website at www.jeremyforsyth.co.za . I recommend The Little Fairleaf.
June 27, 2022
DNF
I was gifted this book by the author. I was very excited to support a local author, but this was very tough. At first I thought it was because of my lack of experience with Fantasy novels, but I have been able to read Game of Thrones, The Gilded Ones and other Fantasy novels and they were a breeze to get through.
So what was stopping me with Upon The Sands?
Upon The Sands is supposed to be the first book of the A Symphony of Shadow and Darkness series. but it feels like I've been thrown into a world that has already been established and I'm supposed to catch up to everyone else.
I honestly only was able to read 80 pages of this book. I tried to reread it and give it another chance, but I still feel the same about it and I could not continue.
Am I not supposed to be introduced to the characters? I don't know them from any of the preceding books, so I need more on who they are and the roles that they play. If the preceding books were available in hard copy (as having a visual disability makes it difficult to read soft copies), I would definitely read them to help me gain a wider understanding on the world that Jeremy has created.
Reading this book felt like elevator music, I kept forgetting that I was reading it and then I'd snap out of it and I'd still be stuck on the same page or the same sentence I find myself being introduced to so many characters in one page, that by the time the author introduces the next character, I've already forgotten the first one and what his/her goal/role is in the story.
I was gifted this book by the author. I was very excited to support a local author, but this was very tough. At first I thought it was because of my lack of experience with Fantasy novels, but I have been able to read Game of Thrones, The Gilded Ones and other Fantasy novels and they were a breeze to get through.
So what was stopping me with Upon The Sands?
Upon The Sands is supposed to be the first book of the A Symphony of Shadow and Darkness series. but it feels like I've been thrown into a world that has already been established and I'm supposed to catch up to everyone else.
I honestly only was able to read 80 pages of this book. I tried to reread it and give it another chance, but I still feel the same about it and I could not continue.
Am I not supposed to be introduced to the characters? I don't know them from any of the preceding books, so I need more on who they are and the roles that they play. If the preceding books were available in hard copy (as having a visual disability makes it difficult to read soft copies), I would definitely read them to help me gain a wider understanding on the world that Jeremy has created.
Reading this book felt like elevator music, I kept forgetting that I was reading it and then I'd snap out of it and I'd still be stuck on the same page or the same sentence I find myself being introduced to so many characters in one page, that by the time the author introduces the next character, I've already forgotten the first one and what his/her goal/role is in the story.
January 2, 2024
I finally finished reading the book, and here is my review.
This was honestly a tough read (and not just because of the size of the book). I haven't read any of the authors' other books except "The Little Fairleaf" and "The Other Fairleaf," so I was a bit lost with the meaning of some of the titles, phrases and events that took place before "Upon the Sands". The book also has a strong political foreground, which made it harder for me to follow the story, as I don't particularly like reading about politics. I did, however, like the fantasy theme in the book. It had a medieval feel to the story, as seen with how the elves addressed each other, impressively skilled warrior called "Blademasters" (cool title by the way) and a magical element that had almost anything from casting spells to portals. There were also a few times I really looked forward to reading a characters viewpoint or to what happened next in the storyline. Unfortunately, this was not my favourite fantasy book to read, but I will definitely recommend it to any high fantasy enthusiasts I come across.
A special thanks to the author Jeremy Forsyth for giving me a copy of "Upon The Sands" for my honest review. I wish you luck and a great 2024.
For anyone who is interested in seeing more of his work, just visit his website http://www.jeremyforsyth.co.za/
This was honestly a tough read (and not just because of the size of the book). I haven't read any of the authors' other books except "The Little Fairleaf" and "The Other Fairleaf," so I was a bit lost with the meaning of some of the titles, phrases and events that took place before "Upon the Sands". The book also has a strong political foreground, which made it harder for me to follow the story, as I don't particularly like reading about politics. I did, however, like the fantasy theme in the book. It had a medieval feel to the story, as seen with how the elves addressed each other, impressively skilled warrior called "Blademasters" (cool title by the way) and a magical element that had almost anything from casting spells to portals. There were also a few times I really looked forward to reading a characters viewpoint or to what happened next in the storyline. Unfortunately, this was not my favourite fantasy book to read, but I will definitely recommend it to any high fantasy enthusiasts I come across.
A special thanks to the author Jeremy Forsyth for giving me a copy of "Upon The Sands" for my honest review. I wish you luck and a great 2024.
For anyone who is interested in seeing more of his work, just visit his website http://www.jeremyforsyth.co.za/
February 21, 2022
Thank you to the author for providing a free copy to review!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
The size of this book definitely intimidated me at first but after getting into the world, I was actually quite pleased by having so many pages filled with magic. In addition to writing an incredibly enjoyable story, Forsyth is a master at rich world-building and detailed character creation which is perfect for high fantasy novels. This is definitely a “me-problem” but the details with the political situation sometimes just went over my head and, especially in the first part of the book, I got extremely confused with all the characters at times. Other than that, I have no complaints. Once again, I absolutely adored the characters and loved seeing more of the Fairleaf brothers as I fell completely in love with them in The Little Fairleaf. I highly recommend this book for any fantasy lovers out there and for fellow South Africans, you’d be supporting a local author. As soon as I got used to the world, I could not put this story down and was constantly looking for times in my day to squeeze a chapter or two in. If you’re ready to fall into a rich, expertly crafted Elvish world, be sure to visit www.jeremyforsyth.co.za
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
The size of this book definitely intimidated me at first but after getting into the world, I was actually quite pleased by having so many pages filled with magic. In addition to writing an incredibly enjoyable story, Forsyth is a master at rich world-building and detailed character creation which is perfect for high fantasy novels. This is definitely a “me-problem” but the details with the political situation sometimes just went over my head and, especially in the first part of the book, I got extremely confused with all the characters at times. Other than that, I have no complaints. Once again, I absolutely adored the characters and loved seeing more of the Fairleaf brothers as I fell completely in love with them in The Little Fairleaf. I highly recommend this book for any fantasy lovers out there and for fellow South Africans, you’d be supporting a local author. As soon as I got used to the world, I could not put this story down and was constantly looking for times in my day to squeeze a chapter or two in. If you’re ready to fall into a rich, expertly crafted Elvish world, be sure to visit www.jeremyforsyth.co.za
February 22, 2022
When I opened this book and saw it started with a map, I knew I was going to be in for a good time! I was slightly intimidated by the size of the book, but more than anything, it helped me get back into the habit of reading again simply because the story was so addictive. Forsyth skillfully creates a rich, dense world with individual stories effortlessly woven throughout it. It did have that classic high fantasy moment where there were lots of new names and phrases to get used to within this universe but they were instantly understandable due to the clear context Fortsyth put them in.
I was also instantly attached to the characters within the first couple pages and while I would have probably understood a lot more about the politics of the realm and the people if I had read his other works first, I cannot blame the author for that. The Fairleaf brothers were an immediate favourite of mine and I found myself reading hundreds of pages in one sitting to follow their story. Naturally I was quite fond of The Giant and often found myself smiling at his interactions with other elves. My heart aches for the way his story turned out but that is a testament to the way Forsyth writes his characters - you genuinely care about them from the start of this book until the end and then they remain with you long after the fact.
Filled with beautiful imagery and twists and turns, I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment of this story. I would recommend reading the stories that precede this one if only for clarity on how the world works, who the characters are and what their respective histories are. I will definitely be reading these myself and returning to my well worn and dog-eared copy of Upon the Sands again!
Check it out now on his website www.jeremyforsyth.co.za
I was also instantly attached to the characters within the first couple pages and while I would have probably understood a lot more about the politics of the realm and the people if I had read his other works first, I cannot blame the author for that. The Fairleaf brothers were an immediate favourite of mine and I found myself reading hundreds of pages in one sitting to follow their story. Naturally I was quite fond of The Giant and often found myself smiling at his interactions with other elves. My heart aches for the way his story turned out but that is a testament to the way Forsyth writes his characters - you genuinely care about them from the start of this book until the end and then they remain with you long after the fact.
Filled with beautiful imagery and twists and turns, I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment of this story. I would recommend reading the stories that precede this one if only for clarity on how the world works, who the characters are and what their respective histories are. I will definitely be reading these myself and returning to my well worn and dog-eared copy of Upon the Sands again!
Check it out now on his website www.jeremyforsyth.co.za
August 4, 2023
3.5 🌟
Upon the Sands is a high fantasy, with tons of characters. At over 500 pages, it was wonderfully written with a depth of different cultures and traditions.
I enjoyed the story and the fantasy. We follow a multitude of perspectives across sand, sea, and the land of Alepion. We travel alongside Blademasters, prisoners, and mindfinders. From sand elves to Norrhan, to star elves.
I personally felt like the writing style didn't create enough emotion with the characters as I would have liked. The descriptions often used are the more intellectual type of word, when a more evocative and emotional word would have created more imagination and feelings.
At over 500 pages, I expected more questions that were brought up to have been resolved. I know there's more books to come but we're given more questions than answers! 😩😂 I think it could have been split into two books 😌
I did appreciate reading The Little Fairleaf and The Other Fairleaf beforehand. It really helps you feel acquainted to the world, and helps you look forward to familiar characters 😊
My absolute favourite part was the connection over a campsite fire between a giant Lemonstar and a volunteer.
If you love high fantasy, love warcraft (especially night elves and their invisibility ability at night), and in-depth crafted worlds, this is definitely one for you ✨
I love that the author is South African - Don't forget #localislekker (and I've met him, he's pretty cool)
You can check out his work (and grab some of his books) at www.jeremyforsyth.co.za/shop
Thank you #JeremyForsyth for the signed review copy in exchange for an honest review ✨
Upon the Sands is a high fantasy, with tons of characters. At over 500 pages, it was wonderfully written with a depth of different cultures and traditions.
I enjoyed the story and the fantasy. We follow a multitude of perspectives across sand, sea, and the land of Alepion. We travel alongside Blademasters, prisoners, and mindfinders. From sand elves to Norrhan, to star elves.
I personally felt like the writing style didn't create enough emotion with the characters as I would have liked. The descriptions often used are the more intellectual type of word, when a more evocative and emotional word would have created more imagination and feelings.
At over 500 pages, I expected more questions that were brought up to have been resolved. I know there's more books to come but we're given more questions than answers! 😩😂 I think it could have been split into two books 😌
I did appreciate reading The Little Fairleaf and The Other Fairleaf beforehand. It really helps you feel acquainted to the world, and helps you look forward to familiar characters 😊
My absolute favourite part was the connection over a campsite fire between a giant Lemonstar and a volunteer.
If you love high fantasy, love warcraft (especially night elves and their invisibility ability at night), and in-depth crafted worlds, this is definitely one for you ✨
I love that the author is South African - Don't forget #localislekker (and I've met him, he's pretty cool)
You can check out his work (and grab some of his books) at www.jeremyforsyth.co.za/shop
Thank you #JeremyForsyth for the signed review copy in exchange for an honest review ✨
February 21, 2022
Welcome to my honest review of Upon the Sands by @Jeremy Forsyth
When Jeremy delivered me the book so kindly I decided to dive into it head first with no sense of how I will attempt to tackle this monster of a novel.
To say it was an intimidating read would be an understatement. I actually got a panic attack when I saw the size of this book and my procrastination monkey immediately told me put it to the side and read a few more books that are less intimidating.
I will admit that I wish I decided to read all the short-stories by Jeremy that forms a prequel to the events and character layout of "Upon the Sands" but of course I didn't. Rookie mistake.
So when I finally decided that it is time to pick up and start "Upon the Sands" my anxiety was off the charts and I still had zero clue of what was going on in this world, so I did what any sensible reader would do, to just power through until you understand whats going on. The first part of this novel is so dense with information, characters, drama that I struggled finding a clear plotline at first.
I had a general idea of what was going on and to that I clung for dear life.
As the novel progessed the plot become more clear and the story more interesting.
At the end I did enjoy the novel for what it was... a high fantasy.
Readers that I think will enjoy this book is those that have a soft space for the LOTR and WOT series. This novel is definitely not for the faint of heart and definitely not for YA readers.
You can read more of what others thought of the book by checking out the hastag #jeremyforsyth
Finally if you would like to support this small South African writer on his journey you can read more of his works on www.jeremyforsyth.co.za
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
When Jeremy delivered me the book so kindly I decided to dive into it head first with no sense of how I will attempt to tackle this monster of a novel.
To say it was an intimidating read would be an understatement. I actually got a panic attack when I saw the size of this book and my procrastination monkey immediately told me put it to the side and read a few more books that are less intimidating.
I will admit that I wish I decided to read all the short-stories by Jeremy that forms a prequel to the events and character layout of "Upon the Sands" but of course I didn't. Rookie mistake.
So when I finally decided that it is time to pick up and start "Upon the Sands" my anxiety was off the charts and I still had zero clue of what was going on in this world, so I did what any sensible reader would do, to just power through until you understand whats going on. The first part of this novel is so dense with information, characters, drama that I struggled finding a clear plotline at first.
I had a general idea of what was going on and to that I clung for dear life.
As the novel progessed the plot become more clear and the story more interesting.
At the end I did enjoy the novel for what it was... a high fantasy.
Readers that I think will enjoy this book is those that have a soft space for the LOTR and WOT series. This novel is definitely not for the faint of heart and definitely not for YA readers.
You can read more of what others thought of the book by checking out the hastag #jeremyforsyth
Finally if you would like to support this small South African writer on his journey you can read more of his works on www.jeremyforsyth.co.za
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
February 21, 2022
*The author sent me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
"The dark and dense forest housed a grey, ominous mist"
The Content:
I'm intrigued. The world is intricately developed and we get to see a whole lot of it through our travelling elves and elvesses. The politics keeps you on your toes and the short chapters from various perspectives keeps you interested in all the different narratives (albeit a little confused as well). The magic and lore is detailed and developed as Mindfinders and Blademasters fight their way across the pages and you can really feel a difference in the cultures being portrayed, each drawing on various elements of real-world cultures to help keep that distinction strong. It does take some getting used to though if you haven't read the short stories and this is your first introduction to the world which only started making sense about 50-100 pages in. Some of the character names are also a little similar sounding, so it takes a minute to tell them apart. Once it starts making sense though, it becomes an engaging read.
"Desert Falls was an endless field of blistering gold"
The Style:
I found that there are a lot of copy-editing errors in this text where words are used in the wrong tense or apparent typos have made it to print. The diction used is also a little clunky in places where it feels like verbose language is forced into the text in order to maintain that 'high-fantasy' vibe, sometimes being used in the wrong context or just making the descriptions longer and more confusing than they need to be. Personally, I think that's a big deal when approaching a 500+ page epic. That said, the style is mostly consistent, and you definitely get that 'high-fantasy' vibe in the writing.
"dark shadows crawling down from enormous mountains towards the wharves and beaches below"
Final Thoughts:
I look forward to seeing where this author's journey goes, and to see where the story ends up. I think if I could, I'd go back and read the short stories before reading Upon the Sands, I feel like I would have enjoyed it more and would have gotten into it a lot quicker having already been introduced to the characters and their stories.
Go check out more of Jeremy Forsyth's writing at http://www.jeremyforsyth.co.za/
"The dark and dense forest housed a grey, ominous mist"
The Content:
I'm intrigued. The world is intricately developed and we get to see a whole lot of it through our travelling elves and elvesses. The politics keeps you on your toes and the short chapters from various perspectives keeps you interested in all the different narratives (albeit a little confused as well). The magic and lore is detailed and developed as Mindfinders and Blademasters fight their way across the pages and you can really feel a difference in the cultures being portrayed, each drawing on various elements of real-world cultures to help keep that distinction strong. It does take some getting used to though if you haven't read the short stories and this is your first introduction to the world which only started making sense about 50-100 pages in. Some of the character names are also a little similar sounding, so it takes a minute to tell them apart. Once it starts making sense though, it becomes an engaging read.
"Desert Falls was an endless field of blistering gold"
The Style:
I found that there are a lot of copy-editing errors in this text where words are used in the wrong tense or apparent typos have made it to print. The diction used is also a little clunky in places where it feels like verbose language is forced into the text in order to maintain that 'high-fantasy' vibe, sometimes being used in the wrong context or just making the descriptions longer and more confusing than they need to be. Personally, I think that's a big deal when approaching a 500+ page epic. That said, the style is mostly consistent, and you definitely get that 'high-fantasy' vibe in the writing.
"dark shadows crawling down from enormous mountains towards the wharves and beaches below"
Final Thoughts:
I look forward to seeing where this author's journey goes, and to see where the story ends up. I think if I could, I'd go back and read the short stories before reading Upon the Sands, I feel like I would have enjoyed it more and would have gotten into it a lot quicker having already been introduced to the characters and their stories.
Go check out more of Jeremy Forsyth's writing at http://www.jeremyforsyth.co.za/
February 21, 2022
2.5/5⭐
Of the Elvin Realms, the Moon rises highest while the Sands diminish through infighting. The Sun remains undying, burning bright but the Stars dream of outshining all.
As the Fairleaf brothers depart the Realm, both of them fear for the other, for upon the sands, enemies gather as they do across the sea, and back home, the Dead Gods stir, unrest grows in the lands, and far away, Darkness prepares His return.
Review:
Where to start with this book?
I found myself excited every time I started a new chapter, only to be left frustrated upon reading it through.
I felt lost, almost as if the book was trying a little too hard to create a massive world and the plot just got lost somewhere in between. The book has so much potential and the world Forsyth creates is very intriguing but it all got a bit muddled with too many pointless details that were unnecessary for the current scene, only to completely skip over the best parts of the story like they weren't important at all.
I personally found certain characters frustrating and found it exceedingly difficult to get through any "Ramian" chapters without thinking that the book would be so much better and the story left almost unchanged without him. There were also too many mysteries left unsolved, I'm sure they will unravel in the coming sequels, but when reading through, it gave me more frustration than intrigue when paired with the constant swap of perspectives.
The book left me feeling overwhelmed and frustrated but despite that, there were a few positives. The actual plot, when you look past all the long character descriptions and anti climactic chapter endings, was actually extremely captivating and I feel as if a few elements of the book were changed and the execution slightly altered, it would be a 5 star worthy book.
Having read previous books from this author, unfortunately this installment of the elven realms did not live up to the high expectations I had going into it. I do however recommend fantasy lovers give the book a try and see if the plot can shine through. I also highly recommend giving Forsyth's previous works a read as I could barely put "The Little Fairleaf" down.
If you do wish to try any of these books, you can find them on the author's website:
http://www.jeremyforsyth.co.za
Of the Elvin Realms, the Moon rises highest while the Sands diminish through infighting. The Sun remains undying, burning bright but the Stars dream of outshining all.
As the Fairleaf brothers depart the Realm, both of them fear for the other, for upon the sands, enemies gather as they do across the sea, and back home, the Dead Gods stir, unrest grows in the lands, and far away, Darkness prepares His return.
Review:
Where to start with this book?
I found myself excited every time I started a new chapter, only to be left frustrated upon reading it through.
I felt lost, almost as if the book was trying a little too hard to create a massive world and the plot just got lost somewhere in between. The book has so much potential and the world Forsyth creates is very intriguing but it all got a bit muddled with too many pointless details that were unnecessary for the current scene, only to completely skip over the best parts of the story like they weren't important at all.
I personally found certain characters frustrating and found it exceedingly difficult to get through any "Ramian" chapters without thinking that the book would be so much better and the story left almost unchanged without him. There were also too many mysteries left unsolved, I'm sure they will unravel in the coming sequels, but when reading through, it gave me more frustration than intrigue when paired with the constant swap of perspectives.
The book left me feeling overwhelmed and frustrated but despite that, there were a few positives. The actual plot, when you look past all the long character descriptions and anti climactic chapter endings, was actually extremely captivating and I feel as if a few elements of the book were changed and the execution slightly altered, it would be a 5 star worthy book.
Having read previous books from this author, unfortunately this installment of the elven realms did not live up to the high expectations I had going into it. I do however recommend fantasy lovers give the book a try and see if the plot can shine through. I also highly recommend giving Forsyth's previous works a read as I could barely put "The Little Fairleaf" down.
If you do wish to try any of these books, you can find them on the author's website:
http://www.jeremyforsyth.co.za
February 21, 2022
Helloooo , finally able to post my review
The book is of the fantasy genre which is my first ever read from this genre.The author is local so please check out his website for more his work https://www.jeremyforsyth.co.za/
I like that the author took time to give us the readers thorough detail into each race and how their kingdoms as well as cultures differ.Each character background was meticulously explored and their family trees explained.You could tell which member of family the characters were.
I could possibly see this book adapted as a series or movie and hopefully with minimum changes to the characters and scenes.I enjoyed the reveals and how unexpected most of them were.The ending makes me want to read the next books from the series.
I did however feel that the book was too long and some scenes (fight scene, train of thought of some characters) could have been summarized. I always said that I am not a fan of this writing style however I warming up to it because of this book even though it was hard for me to get into it in the beginning.
There is also just too many characters to keep up with and maybe it’s something I will get used to as expand to different authors and genres.In terms of inclusion I was happy that there was a black Elf but got disappointed when his journey ended so violently and so quickly.I do hope that the author considers more POC in his other books and that the genre in general does the same. #Jeremyforsyth
#mindingmybusinessonebookatatime
The book is of the fantasy genre which is my first ever read from this genre.The author is local so please check out his website for more his work https://www.jeremyforsyth.co.za/
I like that the author took time to give us the readers thorough detail into each race and how their kingdoms as well as cultures differ.Each character background was meticulously explored and their family trees explained.You could tell which member of family the characters were.
I could possibly see this book adapted as a series or movie and hopefully with minimum changes to the characters and scenes.I enjoyed the reveals and how unexpected most of them were.The ending makes me want to read the next books from the series.
I did however feel that the book was too long and some scenes (fight scene, train of thought of some characters) could have been summarized. I always said that I am not a fan of this writing style however I warming up to it because of this book even though it was hard for me to get into it in the beginning.
There is also just too many characters to keep up with and maybe it’s something I will get used to as expand to different authors and genres.In terms of inclusion I was happy that there was a black Elf but got disappointed when his journey ended so violently and so quickly.I do hope that the author considers more POC in his other books and that the genre in general does the same. #Jeremyforsyth
#mindingmybusinessonebookatatime
February 21, 2022
7/10 🌟
My default genre is thrillers but listen, Upon the Sands is set in what has to be the most intricately woven and unique worlds I have ever come across! ✈️ We learn about and follow several elves across the Elvin Realms. 🧝♀️ The only thing more expansive than the lands is the history that explains their now numerous enemies. The strife within Alepion between their Elder monarch and governing Primes soon pales in comparison to the gathering enemy forces that threaten the Moon Elves🌚
The Moon’s own rich history and relationships with the Stars, Sands and Norrhans fascinated me as we saw each party come into play in seemingly unrelated attacks on the Moons. The Moons are on the brink of war and as the story unfolded I could not help but find myself especially worried about the Fairleaf brothers😬 I cannot wait for the next instalment! To see the various forces reveal themselves and Adonai willing, see Trone and Eldrian triumph against what looks like insurmountable odds🥺
Thanks to @jays_andrew for this review copy. You can purchase a copy from http://www.jeremyforsyth.co.za/ ☺️
February 21, 2022
This high fantasy was written with quality as good as Lord of the Rings. Great world-building. Good variety of characters. Definitely recommend to lovers of fantasy!
http://www.jeremyforsyth.co.za - Check his website to get a copy of this book, or any of his other work
http://www.jeremyforsyth.co.za - Check his website to get a copy of this book, or any of his other work
February 21, 2022
Upon The Sands
By Jeremy Forsyth
⭐⭐/5
"... But now the oceans take me, beneath its depths they drag me."
Upon The Sands follows the story of Eldrian and Trone Fairleaf, as they depart the Elvin Realm on seperate journeys, determined to conquer their individual quests. The Fairleaf Brothers were first introduced to readers in The Little Fairleaf as children, whereas in Upon The Sands they are now grown men who hold the title "Blademaster".
I had such high expectations for this novel, as I thoroughly enjoyed two previous titles by the author, but unfortunately I was left feeling disappointed.
Although there were a few parts to the story that I enjoyed, I found the brunt of the novel to be rather frustrating and at times infuriating.
The story was difficult to keep up with due to the multiple POVs and the large numbers of new characters regularly introduced. This resulted in the story not flowing as easily as one would expect.
On the same note, although Forsyth has an incredible way with words and is able to build world and character descriptions both effortlessly and beautifully, I felt as though the book was a bit too drawn out at times which made it difficult to grasp what was being said, as the main ideas of a sentence got lost amongst all the detailed descriptions.
When it comes to suspense created within Upon The Sands, the author did a great job at building scenes up in a fast paced manner that left you wanting to know more. However, at times the suspense technique used was rather frustrating. Understanding that Forsyth possibly had the intention of holding readers in suspense for prolonged periods, its of my personal opinion, that it had the opposite effect as the book went on.
On to trigger warnings: This book depicts scenes of domestic violence and rape. While I do understand the relevance of these topics to the time period that the book is written in, I personally felt as though they could have been dealt with a bit more delicately. Due to the heavy nature and seriousness of these topics, I did not enjoy how casually they were thrown around, as if they are the norm and are of no importance.
In regard to the epilogue, I am left confused. Rather than drawing the book to a close, it introduces new characters and marks the beginning of a new story. While I fully understand that this is intended to make the reader want to grab the next book in the series, I feel as though it succeeds rather in leaving the book unfinished. I am left with many unanswered questions and a feeling of no progression within the story.
No doubt, Forsyth has an incredible imagination and way with imagery, which is why this book had so much potential. Sadly for me, this potential wasn't reached and I was left wanting. So while I did enjoy parts of the story, it unfortunately wasn't for me.
A very big thank you to the author, Jeremy Forsyth, for sending me a physical review copy of Upon The Sands.
If you would like to give Upon The Sands a read, you can find it on the Author's website: http://www.jeremyforsyth.co.za
By Jeremy Forsyth
⭐⭐/5
"... But now the oceans take me, beneath its depths they drag me."
Upon The Sands follows the story of Eldrian and Trone Fairleaf, as they depart the Elvin Realm on seperate journeys, determined to conquer their individual quests. The Fairleaf Brothers were first introduced to readers in The Little Fairleaf as children, whereas in Upon The Sands they are now grown men who hold the title "Blademaster".
I had such high expectations for this novel, as I thoroughly enjoyed two previous titles by the author, but unfortunately I was left feeling disappointed.
Although there were a few parts to the story that I enjoyed, I found the brunt of the novel to be rather frustrating and at times infuriating.
The story was difficult to keep up with due to the multiple POVs and the large numbers of new characters regularly introduced. This resulted in the story not flowing as easily as one would expect.
On the same note, although Forsyth has an incredible way with words and is able to build world and character descriptions both effortlessly and beautifully, I felt as though the book was a bit too drawn out at times which made it difficult to grasp what was being said, as the main ideas of a sentence got lost amongst all the detailed descriptions.
When it comes to suspense created within Upon The Sands, the author did a great job at building scenes up in a fast paced manner that left you wanting to know more. However, at times the suspense technique used was rather frustrating. Understanding that Forsyth possibly had the intention of holding readers in suspense for prolonged periods, its of my personal opinion, that it had the opposite effect as the book went on.
On to trigger warnings: This book depicts scenes of domestic violence and rape. While I do understand the relevance of these topics to the time period that the book is written in, I personally felt as though they could have been dealt with a bit more delicately. Due to the heavy nature and seriousness of these topics, I did not enjoy how casually they were thrown around, as if they are the norm and are of no importance.
In regard to the epilogue, I am left confused. Rather than drawing the book to a close, it introduces new characters and marks the beginning of a new story. While I fully understand that this is intended to make the reader want to grab the next book in the series, I feel as though it succeeds rather in leaving the book unfinished. I am left with many unanswered questions and a feeling of no progression within the story.
No doubt, Forsyth has an incredible imagination and way with imagery, which is why this book had so much potential. Sadly for me, this potential wasn't reached and I was left wanting. So while I did enjoy parts of the story, it unfortunately wasn't for me.
A very big thank you to the author, Jeremy Forsyth, for sending me a physical review copy of Upon The Sands.
If you would like to give Upon The Sands a read, you can find it on the Author's website: http://www.jeremyforsyth.co.za
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