The deadliest blades are not made of steel . . . When Jaks almost kills a fellow soldier with his lightning magic, he must tread the fearful path of the electromancer. Control the magic and he will be the first in a generation. But fail, he will be spurned, an outcast.
When the brutal king of Voros invades the land with axe warriors, skyships and dragons, Jaks joins a quest with his battlemage master to train his powers and find potent artifacts that could halt the rampaging enemy.
On a perilous journey through dangerous lands, they are joined by a sharp-eyed ranger, a lethal assassin, and a mysterious foreigner with unworldly weapons.
However, nothing is simple when Jaks’ mightiest adversary is much nearer than he knows.
J.T. Moy once had serious jobs before realizing no matter how much he dabbled in other people’s lives, he couldn’t turn them into lightning mages or dragon-fighting warriors. He now brings heroic characters to life in epic stories. Living in Auckland, New Zealand with his wife and children, he enjoys video games, archery, and sea monkeys.
Action, danger, relationships, and mystery, this book has it all wrapped in the perfect fantasy package, and on a side note, I have to confess I really loved the old school fantasy book cover. It really adds to the charm of a perfectly presented fantasy.
Scion of Lightning is now one of my favourite fantasy books. For starters, I love books like this, so I was thrilled when I got the book. But it turned down even better than I thought it would. I couldn't stop reading, so I finished it in two days. I am kind of sad that I already read all of it.
Lots of action and a really captivating story that still keeps me thinking about it! So many interesting characters and things going on. The world where this is set is definitely fantasy with dragons, sword fighting and magic. But into that world, a wounded stranger appears and turns out shes stranded from an advanced society. The technology from her destroyed ship could help save the kingdom from an invasion. WOn't give anymore away but was so intriguing!...
Some of the descriptions of fighting were a bit more brutal than I expected, but at least not unnecessarily violent.
J T Moy , a debut author, breaks on to the Epic Fantasy Adventure scene with a unique new story line, characters that come to life on the page, and action that kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. I was disappointed that I have to wait for book 2. I wanted to keep reading. An excellent read!!!
In a world of battle mages and dragons, the young man Jaks discovers a rare but wild power within himself.
However, that power is not what defines him. Throttled by terror in his memories and fear of the future, Jaks is almost cowardly and just a boy in many ways. He is out of his depth at the beginning of the book, overwhelmed by the expectation that he must fight, kill, or even die at the whim of the king. He is driven by fear and guilt, but also by love and duty. Join the young "Scion of Lightning" as he touches that bright inner essence that sears and destroys.
This book is well-paced, taking you on a personal journey with Jaks, the middle child in a family of gifted mages. Unaware of his rare gift until he accidentally hurts someone in a confrontation, Jaks believes himself to be cowardly, weak, and untalented. The path to confidence is not an easy one for him, riddled with mistakes and regrets, but that is what makes him so relatable. J. T. Moy does an excellent job of conveying Jaks's struggle while moving the plot forward to a precipice that leads to the second book "Blade of Lightning." You will get your fill of multiple forms of magic, dragons and frostbears, and a kingdom on the cusp of invasion.
I recommend this book for new adult readers who enjoy a coming-of-age story with a magic-filled environment and recognition of the true evils in the world. Minor content warning for violence and reference to sexual violence and its effects on characters.
The book was great very intense and captivating. Lots of different types of magical powers. The Characters were greatly written to match their character in the story. Even though Jaks is struggling with his powers I think after he see how the outcome of his sister Vixanna if she recovers will soon realize that he will be needed for what’s to come. Lots of different beast and creatures to enlighten the story.
A great epic story full of intrique and adventure. Zaks emotional insecurities are felt throughout the story. He feels that he doesn't fit anywhere irregardless of his potential greatness learning to control his magic. He has a deep fear of his father and commitment to protect his sister. The interactions between the characters leave you wanting to read what will happen next. Will read the next book in this series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed this and it was a different read for me. I liked the concept of magic used here and the multiple POVs really provided insight to all the characters. This was well written and I’ll definitely read the sequel when it comes out. A bit graphic at times but this book sure does make you think what holds for our future down the line here on Earth. Jaks and Meila remind me of Eragon and Arya - which kinda irked me a bit. I like the hope that Jaks has an MC. Also I feel like there should be some trigger warnings as well in this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a great read of a action packed fantasy adventure with moral questioning (good vs bad). What should you do with great power - use it for good or bad? I enjoyed this book and recommend it although may not be for everyone as it is not a typical power hungry hero.
Scion of Lightening is a fun and exciting first look into the world of the Stormcrafter chronicles. Fantasy merges with Science Fiction as interplanetary travel and magic collide.
The story follows Jaks, a conscript, and his family, both estranged and otherwise. His story intertwines with Meila’s, a stranded traveler from distant space, who has to keep her real reasons for being on their planet a secret.
With an impending invasion, scheming on all sides, and magic and science working in tandem in one universe, Scion of Lightening will keep you captivated and have you on the edge of your seat.
Each character has flaws and strengths of their own, and Moy has done an excellent job creating villains you can really root against. The descriptive imagery of this expansive new world ties everything together. Can genuinely say I’m excited to read book 2!
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved this. I've been looking for a good fantasy read, and that's exactly what I got with this book. The magic system was awesome and I loved all the different abilities and the way they were described. All the different creatures were an unexpected treat and I loved reading about them (especially the dragons.) It took me a bit to get invested in the plot but when I got hooked I couldn't stop reading. It was wonderful!
Poor Jaks..He just doesn't seem to be able to make the cut… Until… I am an Honest ARC reviewer this one will shock you ,it's an electrifying bit of Fantasy with just the right touch of Magic,Battles,And Aliens.. Woops I didn't actually mean Aliens did I ??? (no Spoilers Here ) I would like to recommend this book for the Awesome World / Character Building. The Characters come to life in your mind as the story-line grabs you and takes you into the World J. T. MOY creates.
Overall: Overall this was a fantastic debut novel for J.T. Moy and I will be buying the sequel to find out the rest of the story. I loved the fact that the story was a mix of magic and tech, with both adding value to the story line and back story.
Plot (5/5): The plot of Scion of lightning is the superstar of the book. From the moment I started, to the final page, I thoroughly enjoyed the story of the book. The main character, Jaks, is on a journey and JT takes us with him. It is not only well thought out, but also well executed. Without having read the second book yet I feel like the story has been set up well to throw us into the action. I have also loved the sprinkling of Meila's/Earth's back story. If we don't get the full story of this then I really hope J.T. writes a spin off book/series about it. I am not yet sure of the purpose of the abuse arc at this point in time, but feel like we may get the answer in book 2. If not, this is probably the one part of the story that added shock without substance (besides perhaps guilt on Jak's part).
Worldbuilding (4/5): Okay, so I probably have some high standards around world building and detail. That said, the world was well written and the magic system well executed but probably had a few minor thinks that irked me. Firstly, Meila can do a tonne of really cool stuff with her cybertronics but we only hear about it when it is needed to progress the story, almost like she has forgotten that she has these abilities until it is absolutely necessary. I think one of the great parts of the worldbuilding was the animals of the world. In addition to the regular, boring earthly equivalents there are some great new beasts plus a smattering of several varietals of dragons.
Characters (3/5): I think the character depth is the one area that I noticed was a little underwhelming, although less around the main male character (Jaks) and more around the female characters. It didn't ruin the book but it made me want to know more about these characters. Karisa - She gets a really hard go at life. She is abused by someone who should have protected her, and ignored by the person who could have protected her. Her character felt the most flat and underdeveloped. I understand that people with trauma can internalise things, and that some people are simply strong emotionally but she acted almost unaffected. Meila - Meila doesn't show emotion at the death of a character near the end of the book that really should have been a bigger deal.
Writing Style (5/5): This book was written very, very well. The language was consistent, coherent and well edited. The only real error I picked up was when a spider was referred to as poisonous, rather than venomous; although it could be both... we take spiders seriously here in Australia.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I would like to wholeheartedly thank J.T. for taking me on this journey.
My thanks to Booksirens for sending me a ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a tough book to review. I have a lot of mixed thoughts. Firstly I really like the premise of this book. I found it compelling and thought provoking. In fact I have never before read a book like this, so this was a new experience. However for all the potential this book had, I can't help but feel like it fell well short of it's potential. Firstly, I fell like the world building could have been done so, so much better. The world (which should have felt magical and interesting) felt rather flat and lifeless, which was a real shame. I feel more detailed description of places and people are needed in order to help draw the reader in, and make such magical places come to life. My main criticisms however stem from the main character. I did not like him in the least. I honestly don't really understand his role in the story. In my opinion he actually did very little, and spent most of the book wasting his, and the readers time. I would have felt completely happy if he was not in the story at all. In the end, I finished the book feeling ambivalent. On the one had I absolutely love the concept of this book. It has all the necessary components to be an amazing start to a series. I just feel like the author focused on all the wrong things. Instead of wasting time on a main character who in my opinion does not advance the plot, he should have focused on Meila and her story, which I found much more interesting and compelling. In the end I gave this book 3 stars. I would be interested in reading the next book in the hopes that the author either refocuses the story on the overarching plot rather than a main character who seems to do very little, or else gives Jaks a much more prominent role to play in how the story unfolds.
Scion of Lightning by JT Moy is a book that i have some mixed thoughts on. This is the story of Jaks, a newfound electromancer who almost kills a fellow soldier with his magic. He is thrust into a world with political conflicts and battles filled with magic before setting off on a dangerous journey in an attempt to stop invaders but who is Jaks adversary and why is this new magic so important?
The premise of the book was really interesting and compelling and i'm always one for when an author attempts a new story that is just filled with potential. I do feel that with all this potential, it wasn't pushed far enough to then become as thought-provoking as it could have been. The world-building was also something that I was interested to know more about but felt flat when it could have been filled with lore. I'm usually a fan of intricate details that bring the stories to life and that may have been what was missing. Character-wise, Jaks was just fine but there were times that his role wasn't fully understood. There were far more interesting characters that were more profound and really strong additions to the story and it's meaning than the supposed main character.
I thought this book was good but it lacked the original magic that makes a fantasy story truly special. It has the right foundation to be a brilliant series if utilised correctly. I hope that the next addition is more focussed to the plot. Multiple POVs work well in fantasy when they are contributing and that's the main take from this.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’m only 100 or so pages in and the only character I have even the slightest interest in is off on deployment. MC is pitiful. Dreadfully so. From what I’ve seen in the other reviews, he’s like this the ENTIRE BOOK. Harry Potter had a grown man trying to kill him as a baby, lost both parents, and grew up in an abusive household, but never once has he looked this pitiful. And he was a child!! There’s no way I can keep reading this knowing there’s ZERO character development. We want to read stories of those who grow past their trauma; ones who work on healing those old wounds, and strive to make the world a better place. Not some guy who is afraid of caterpillars and wont stand up for himself or his family. Gets one extra star for writing style, otherwise this is an easy 1 star in my opinion. Can’t in good conscience recommend this one.
I really loved this book. It captured me right from the start, moves along at a good pace, and has a fascinating overall premise, magic/technology systems, and a deep and interesting world design. I love the way the author builds the world around you as the story progresses, rather than stopping the action to describe wildlife or civic history in great detail.
The characters are well built and believable, with very human flaws. I'd have to confess that I didn't really love the main character - not that he's badly written, more that he's a victim and spends much of the book lacking a sense of agency. But that may be intentional, and it'll be interested to see how he develops throughout the series.
A really impressive piece of writing, and well worth a read - either for the interesting and novel fantasy concepts, or just as a well-paced fantasy title.
Great story, great plot and A+ for introducing me to something new. For that I applaud you!
I liked this story, but I did not love it for these reasons alone:
World building is everything to me! So I struggle with books that don’t go into detail in any point of the story that helps me to feel like I am there with the characters. I had a really difficult time liking the main character Jaks. He lacked substance and a solid role in this book. The story could have been about anyone- why not put him in the middle of more things and make the plot work with him.
I appreciated the uniqueness of this story and the relationships being built. I just think there could be more detail in the sequel.
Scion of Lightning is Book 1 The Stormcrafter Chronicles by J T May. Jaks Rauhalik is the son of a General. But, he is failing in the required two years of military service. When Baden, a bully, attacks Jaks, through fear, he summons lightning. Jaks is sent to the Academy to train his lightning, called electromancy, when King Voros attacks the country. This begins an interesting fantasy. Jaks, whose conscious does not like killing people, against the need of his country. Book 2 will be a continuation from book 1 and it should be good. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Honestly this book had a good starting premise and I was fine with the main couple of characters. The issue I have with the book is the constant sexual abuse alluded to in the sisters chapters. It is her entire story arc and that is not why I come to read fantasy books. Conflict is good to have in books but that one specific conflict has never sat well with me as I read a book so I found that I could not enjoy reading this book. If you like the darker parts of fantasy however you might actually enjoy this book because it does have some good characters and plot but it just had some stuff I could not overlook.
Magic and Action aplenty in this unusual fantasy novel. The characters are well written, however I felt the world building could have been a bit more.
Then ending fell a bit flat for me. It left a lot to be imagined (I am sure it will be addressed in the next in the series) but I felt it just leaves you in a lurch.
I enjoyed this authors writing style for the most part and would like to read the next installment just to see where he takes this tale.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Jaks life changes one day during a routine Conscript mission when he stumbles upon a other worldly being Meila. Meila's life changes when she ends up marooned on a world filled with magic, mythical creatures, kings and war raging psychopaths. I did like that this story did jump in the deep end of magical worlds and conflicts. I forgot that "epic adventures" do take a very long time to get to action or the point of the story because each chapter is dedicated to building the greater world around the character, if that makes sense. I would recommend fans of stuff like "Lord of the Rings" and "Game of thrones". Trigger warning there is so far two really messed up things that happened to members of Jaks family. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.