The Renegade Within

FireWall #1

by Mark Johnson

She committed an unspeakable act. Her quest for redemption will pit her against rising evil...

Terese dreams of ascending to the highest ranks of the Seekers. But if they discover her role in a forbidden experiment that massacred hundreds, she'll suffer punishment and exile. With the suspicious eyes of her superiors watching closely, she pursues the four survivors before they can spread their infection and implicate Terese in the crime.

Torn from her daughter and plagued by guilt, she journeys across desolate lands where the undead run and foul magic hangs heavy in the air. But as she closes in on her prey, Terese discovers something far more sinister at work. And the secrets she unearths throw her devotion to the Order into doubt.Will Terese betray her vows to bring a brutal conspiracy to light before more innocent victims die?

Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2021

Reviews

[Alyssia Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Renegade Within is a stunning little fantasy tale that packs an impressive punch for the page count and I was hooked and enthralled from beginning to end. Throwing you straight into the world with little fanfare or build-up, I can see why some reviewers were left a little confused to begin with. There are a lot of terms and references that are only explained and built up into a world that makes sense in later pages, leaving you grasping to begin with.

That didn't phase me as much as it did some reviewers though and by the time I was a few chapters in, I was immerged in this complex and fascinating world. There's an awful lot to love here with fantastically drawn and strong characters, a deep and interesting world and an action filled narrative that is fast paced, yet full of intrigue and suspense. I loved how Terese continually evaluates herself and her actions through the asides as she thinks about how she would explain what's going on to her daughter. There's quite a lot of journeying depicted in the book and yet this didn't slow the pace down at all.

All in all, this is a stunning fantasy debut that deserves a whole lot more hype than it seems to have received. It's a stunningly well written military fantasy following a narrative of deceit, secrets and corruption. I've immediately grapped the next one on Kindle Unlimited as I really need to see where it goes next!

[Christine Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m torn between a good review and a bad review on this book. 3.5 stars ⭐️
At first I was very confused where this story was going and what world I was in. However the MC is near perfection. Her strong will to do what is right but also doing what she can to figure her career until she can make it home to her daughter.
Had I seen the glossary bear the back I would probably have enjoyed this book throughly. There is a lack of the world building that most novels of the military/ religious genre tend to over do. I may continue onto the next book in the series but likely not right away.

[Jeff]

I received this book for free in return for an honest review.

Sadly, this is currently on my DNF shelf. I wouldn’t normally give a review for a DNF book but given the implied covenant that I would do so, here is my temporary review.

It isn’t necessarily that it’s a bad book. I don’t know if it is or isn’t. I just couldn’t get into it. Part of the problem is the world building didn’t give me anything to grab on to as a point of reference. It wasn’t your typical medieval world but was something different but within that difference there was nothing that gave me solid ground on which to view the events.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Steven Erickson’s Malayan is a similar difficulty and it is an amazing series. It just makes it hard to get into.

I haven’t given up on this book and hope to finally read it by the end of the summer.

Hopefully this will be a temporary review.

[C. Borden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting concept involving energy and chaos in a world that uses tech but is also afraid of tech. Terese, the MC, progresses well and is dynamic as she tries to hold to a faith that has been wholly corrupted. Good read!

[Sara Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Renegade Within is a military-esque fantasy. The main character, Therese, is a part of the government/military/religious hierarchy, which is part of the complication of her identity. She pursued this line of work out of a passion for truth and good, like the knights of old, but over time succumbed to the temptation of working for the next promotion and to make her father proud. Still, when she discovered that her organization was participating in a greater evil than anything she had imagined, she decided that she would have to take them down from the inside.

The book is a bit slow at the beginning and a bit confusing as the character descriptions and ranks were all new. This has been noted by other reviewers. I think it would help to have the glossary at the beginning of the book or perhaps identify unknown terms and places in the text, but once you get used to the new data, it's an intriguing story of power structures. It asks questions such as can one person make a difference? Are the gods listening and do they care or have they left humans on their own? And who can be trusted? It's a fantastic beginning to what promises to be an original, epic tale.

I received a free copy from the author and have reviewed it willingly.

[Beba Andric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up as an ARC and I read it in less than a day! All appears to be going well for Terese, as she performs her duties as Head Seeker. All she ever wanted was to be the best Seeker, following in her famous father's footsteps. She already is the youngest Head Seeker, and together with her team, identifies and neutalises dark energy or chaos. But she quickly learns that events transpire that don't make sense and she sets out to discover the truth. However, the truth she does uncover is far worse than anything she could possibly have imagined! She realises that everything she has been told is a lie and puts her very belief in the Seekers into dispute. Those who were supposed to uphold the highest standards are the very one with nefarious agendas and she is horrified at her discovery. What started as her duty to fight and control chaos, for the good of all, until she could return to her daughter, has Terese going out of her way to try end the evil she encounters. With unexpected help, she manages to achieve what she set out to do, but in doing so, she has now become a Renegade. An imaginative plot, awesome characters and world building! Looking forward to book 2. Great read!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Tiffany Shearn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review. This novel is the first in a series, and as expected, it does not wrap up all plot aspects. This nicely sets up interest in the second book in the series. The main character in The Renegade Within is an officer in the special forces for the gods who became Polis in this world. She finds herself embroiled in some dangerous intrigue and has to make difficult choices along the way.

The magic of the world is very original and interesting to read about, with the different energies and the way the gods have become the cities people live in. This all plays into the larger plot, and the author does a great job of setting up layers of intrigue the characters must find their way through in both this book and the broader series. It leaves you wondering what she will discover next.

My only negative about this book is it felt like I was dropped into the story about 4 chapters into the plot and wishing for a little more exposition at the start. It would have helped me learn the language of the world easier as well as get to know Terese as a person sooner.

Overall, I am giving four stars for the well-crafted world and intriguing plot, leaving off one star for the limited introductory piece.

[Mattie Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terese had been born to be a Seeker. The plot in this epic fantasy unfolds fantastically and is easy to follow and read. Terese is a character that I could identify with and believe in, so her adventures kept me turning pages throughout Book One of the Firewall series.

The world building in this book is awesome. I am not usually a reader of epic fantasy, so I was concerned that I would immediately get confused or uninterested. The author includes a glossary of terms at the end of the book which is extremely helpful to someone like myself.

[Potential spoiler alert in next paragraph]
All of the supporting cast did well in their roles as well. The Jools character does kind of confuse me. She seemed to have a lot of skill and talents for being described as such an airhead in Terese’s mind. It was conflicting, and unfortunately it also helped me to easily foresee her playing a part in the overall plot as she was constantly referred to as gullible person with little sense. But it was just a small flaw in my mind.

Overall this is a great read for anyone, but would be perfect for any fans of epic fantasy. I have no doubts Johnson will be successful in his career and with all of his future titles if they are as unique, interesting, and well-written as this one was.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received a free ARC from Book Sirens and am leaving a voluntary review**
First off, I left the three stars because it is a good book. The MC, Terese is strong-willed, uncompromising and determined to right the wrong that she did. She is working within a corrupt quasi-military organization and searching the country for four renegades. Sounds like quite the interesting book, right? That's what I thought too. Read the blurb, got all excited, started reading...BAM! It is everything I HATE about a Tom Clancy novel. This book was NOT for me. I was bored to tears.

However, there are millions of people who love Tom Clancy novels and so I am sure there are people who will love this one. In fact, if you scroll through the other reviews, you will find those people. It was just not me. The book is not bad though...let me reiterate. It is just not my thing and I did not enjoy it. But, I can look past that and also tell you it is still a good book.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be a bit dry of a read but still a decent story.

So I thought that there would be a bit more action but still enjoyed the story. It is the kind that takes me longer because it seems very detail oriented more along the lines of someone working behind the scenes; which is technically true of Terese but she takes most of the book to really get there.

Terese has a complicated past and has learned that she was mislead on a project that she was part of. She is sent to cover up her groups involvement and those that she leads on this mission have only the information that she provides to them. Terese keeps coming across things that don't make sense which makes her question everything she has done for several years. The more she uncovers the more she realizes that she wants to make things right and prevent anyone else from making her same mistakes.

By the end of the book I was wanting to be able to continue to the next one.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started off reading this story and it quite a few chapters before I really understood what some of the terms meant. It made for the beginning of the story a bit confusing. But as things progressed some of the terms started to become clearer. This also had the really picking up. There was also a lot more action. It is a very intriguing story with interesting characters that have great personalities. When I reached the end I see there is a glossary of terms. This made the rest of the terms I didn’t have a clear picture of much clearer. I recommend using the glossary while reading the story as it will make it so much easier on certain levels. The writing was well written and did draw you in. It does end in a fantastic cliffhanger that makes you so want to read the book in the series. It is definitely a very interesting story that needs to be read.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started off reading this story and it quite a few chapters before I really understood what some of the terms meant. It made for the beginning of the story a bit confusing. But as things progressed some of the terms started to become clearer. This also had the really picking up. There was also a lot more action. It is a very intriguing story with interesting characters that have great personalities. When I reached the end I see there is a glossary of terms. This made the rest of the terms I didn’t have a clear picture of much clearer. I recommend using the glossary while reading the story as it will make it so much easier on certain levels. The writing was well written and did draw you in. It does end in a fantastic cliffhanger that makes you so want to read the book in the series. It is definitely a very interesting story that needs to be read.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book for free and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed this as a first book in a new series. The main character was built over the course of the novel, as were details of the world itself. I fully expected going in that there would be plot points that not be resolved by the end given that this is Book 1 of 4 and the ending did not disappoint. The MC had enough depth--both strengths and flaws--to make me want to pick up Book 2 and continue with this series as it goes.
I would have loved to see a little more on the world-building side to get a bit more of an idea of the backgrounds and ideologies of the different Polis, but there was enough information given through the course of the novel to let me imagine some of the details for myself. The magic system was intriguing and overall, I really had fun reading this one. 4.7 out 5.

[Adena Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for non-stop action thoughtlessly rolling along, this is not the book for you. This is more cerebral than most epic-style fantasy so it starts off slowly. What makes this book particularly interesting for me is the way Terese evaluates herself, her motives and her actions to re-discover her vocation, despite the disapproval and obstructions from her superiors. This paladin re-connects with her gods and her purpose to act as she believes right, regardless of the cost. Terese has a lot in common with Paksenarrion (of Elizabeth Moon's Deed of Paksenarrion) and Ayleth (of Sylvia Mercedes' The Venatrix Chronicles). I wonder what trials Terese will face and how she will deal with them.

I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Matthew W Seniff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the first in a series. While this book has some great action it seems mostly concerned with creating a suitable stage to enact the plot upon. The characters are slowly built by their actions and beliefs. It’s like a jigsaw being put together without the picture on the box. This is a good thing as it feels very natural and personal to the reader. The action when it comes is designed for a reason,it drives the plot forward. All this subtlety creates a book that pulls you in to it’s world and almost makes you a part of it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I recommend it to all readers willing to put in a bit of effort to be repaid by a great tale.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[A Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this work - the concept was original and interesting and the characters were well-written. There were a lot of new concepts and words introduced quickly in the first few chapters, which was a little overwhelming at first, but it became easy to keep track of things as you got more into the book. I wish there had been a little more context for the world and its parameters early on (e.g. fantasy? post-apocalyptic? etc.) just to make it easier to sink into the story. There were some typos/errors throughout the work, but nothing major.
Overall a solid read with an awesome ending - I look forward to reading the next book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[M. Vess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had read the Table of Contents more closely and realized there is a glossary at the end of the book. I felt confused by so many new terms in the first few chapters and would have referred to it often. Even so, the worldbuilding was pretty cool. The religious/military style hierarchy fed into the tension well. I really liked the main character and her inner struggle with wanting to advance her career but also wanting to do what’s right. (I was given a free copy of the book and this is my honest review)

[Christinaraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and the series it started. It mixed fantasy, mystery, military, and ancient history/gods together to deliver a story that was interesting and unique. The story starts out slow yet also with a bang as a mystery or two slowly builds and I tried to figure out what was really going on and how it all fit together. Characters are both good and bad but very human and flawed and relatable. Enjoyed trying to figure it all out and who really was the good and bad guys sometimes.

[Kath Deans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps a little confusing at the start, once you got used to the names of things this story took off at speed, catapulting the reader across realms and into difficult situations as the plot unwinds and the reader works out whom to trust and who is the real face of evil.
The first in the series I look forward to continuing this gripping tale.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a real hard time with this book and I think it’s because I really didn’t understand the plot. I had trouble trying to figure out what the heck was going on. It was too futuristic and too Sci-Fi for me, very little fantasy.

I received this book from BookSirens and I’m volunteering to leave my review

[Olivia Marie Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, nice and easy to read. Things were a little confusing at times, but overall, a decent book.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Very happy I grabbed a copy of this book! This author did a very impressive job bringing these characters to life and setting them onto this unique for me storyline. Very visually satisfying prose. My impatience had me wanting to tell a character or two to quit contemplating and get moving! I have next book marked on calendar! All my reviews are always voluntarily written.

[Aizlynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting book. The technology is based on electricity and various "energies." The evolution of the MC, Terese, is great to watch as she moves away from duty to oath to duty to the gods and people. The distinction between the two is explored through her realizations of the differences between doing what is right and what looks right. Well written and well edited.

[Yazarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darkly descriptive

Love the atmosphere this author creates in his writing, the attention to detail really makes you feel like your right there among them!

[Mik Wasiak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am an Honest ARC reviewer. it is good 1st book i like the story it makes me want to read book 2