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Dragon Sect: Highcliff Guardians Epic Fantasy Series
"Until the Grim Duke wrests the crown from my dying fingers, the wizard must heed my call."
~Khae Wys, Queen of the Elves
The Dragon Witch Wraith has returned.
With the Grim Duke in his place, and a tentative pact with the wizard’s guild, the Queen of the Elves’ only real concern is for her rebellious daughter. Or so she is led to believe.
Buoyed by the news of unrest in the land’s largest city of Urdanya, Duke Orlythe’s new wizard attempts to convince him that a path to the coveted Willow Throne lies within reach of someone bold enough to seize the opportunity.
The return of the Dragon Witch Wraith prompts the ailing high wizard to find a way to thwart his arch nemesis before everything South March has fought for is lost.
Oblivious to the dangers of the world, Princess Ouderling sets out on a quest to locate an ancient dragon, in a desperate attempt to save her mother from an inevitable fate.
Should she fail, the Grim Duke will ascend the throne.
~Khae Wys, Queen of the Elves
The Dragon Witch Wraith has returned.
With the Grim Duke in his place, and a tentative pact with the wizard’s guild, the Queen of the Elves’ only real concern is for her rebellious daughter. Or so she is led to believe.
Buoyed by the news of unrest in the land’s largest city of Urdanya, Duke Orlythe’s new wizard attempts to convince him that a path to the coveted Willow Throne lies within reach of someone bold enough to seize the opportunity.
The return of the Dragon Witch Wraith prompts the ailing high wizard to find a way to thwart his arch nemesis before everything South March has fought for is lost.
Oblivious to the dangers of the world, Princess Ouderling sets out on a quest to locate an ancient dragon, in a desperate attempt to save her mother from an inevitable fate.
Should she fail, the Grim Duke will ascend the throne.
605 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 17, 2021
8 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Richard H. Stephens
23 books139 followersBorn in Simcoe, Ontario, in 1965, I began writing circa 1974; a bored child looking for something to while away the long, summertime days. My penchant for reading The Hardy Boys led to an inspiration one sweltering summer afternoon when my best friend and I thought, "Hey, we could write one of those." And so, I did.
As my reading horizons broadened, so did my writing. Star Wars inspired me to write a 600-page novel about outer space that caught the attention of a special teacher, Mr. Woodley, who encouraged me to keep writing.
A trip to a local book store saw the proprietor introduce me to Stephen R. Donaldson and Terry Brooks. My writing life was forever changed.
At 17, I left high school to join the working world to support my first son. For the next twenty-two years I worked as a shipper at a local bakery. At the age of 36, I went back to high school to complete my education. After graduating with honours at the age of thirty-nine, I became a member of our local Police Service, and worked for 12 years in the provincial court system.
In early 2017, I resigned from the Police Service to pursue my love of writing full-time. With the help and support of my lovely wife Caroline and our 5 children, I have now realized my boyhood dream.
As my reading horizons broadened, so did my writing. Star Wars inspired me to write a 600-page novel about outer space that caught the attention of a special teacher, Mr. Woodley, who encouraged me to keep writing.
A trip to a local book store saw the proprietor introduce me to Stephen R. Donaldson and Terry Brooks. My writing life was forever changed.
At 17, I left high school to join the working world to support my first son. For the next twenty-two years I worked as a shipper at a local bakery. At the age of 36, I went back to high school to complete my education. After graduating with honours at the age of thirty-nine, I became a member of our local Police Service, and worked for 12 years in the provincial court system.
In early 2017, I resigned from the Police Service to pursue my love of writing full-time. With the help and support of my lovely wife Caroline and our 5 children, I have now realized my boyhood dream.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 6, 2022
One terrific fantasy tale – sheer magic!
Canadian author Richard H. Stephens has served with the Police Service, the provincial court system, and now devotes his time to his first love – writing. He writes epic fantasies in series – LEGENDS OF THE LURKER (three volumes), SOUL FORGE SAGA (three volumes), BANEBRIDGE COMPANION (three volumes, and HIGH CLIFF GUARDIANS of which DRAGON SECT is Book 2. His books are directed toward the Teen and Young Adult audience.
For those who have not read book 1, Richard has explained ‘the story of the rise of the clandestine society of Windwalkers – a sect of elves who devote their lives to protect powerful sources of magic – a magic so strong that should it fall into the wrong hands, it would spell the end of South March and the lands beyond.’ He includes artworks in the book that enhance the reading experience – as does the colorful quality of prose – “Braen Wys looked up from where he read under the flickering glow of a solitary candle. Something wasn’t right. He gazed around his spacious sleeping quarters in search of the cause of the disturbance. Other than the storm raging outside the bay window beside him, he was met with tomblike silence. As was to be expected. High in the western wing of Urdanya Castle, he wasn’t likely to hear anything in the middle of the night, besides the movement of the Sea Guard patrolling the grand hallways outside his royal chambers… The only thing he could attribute to the unmistakable sense of foreboding gripping him was that his mother, Princess Odyne, was probably dabbling with her dark magic again…’ The fantasy potion opens!
As with the initial volume, the story is lengthy, but appropriately so to cover the realm of action: ‘The Dragon Witch Wraith has returned. With the Grim Duke in his place, and a tentative pact with the wizard’s guild, the Queen of the Elves’ only real concern is for her rebellious daughter. Or so she is led to believe. Buoyed by the news of unrest in the land’s largest city of Urdanya, Duke Orlythe’s new wizard attempts to convince him that a path to the coveted Willow Throne lies within reach of someone bold enough to seize the opportunity. The return of the Dragon Witch Wraith prompts the ailing high wizard to find a way to thwart his arch nemesis before everything South March has fought for is lost. Oblivious to the dangers of the world, Princess Ouderling sets out on a quest to locate an ancient dragon, in a desperate attempt to save her mother from an inevitable fate. Should she fail, the Grim Duke will ascend the throne.’
Well written and rich in imagery and imagination, this second volume of his series makes good on the promise to provide rich fantasy tales to take us away from the conundrums of the day and provide a fine escape. Recommended.
Canadian author Richard H. Stephens has served with the Police Service, the provincial court system, and now devotes his time to his first love – writing. He writes epic fantasies in series – LEGENDS OF THE LURKER (three volumes), SOUL FORGE SAGA (three volumes), BANEBRIDGE COMPANION (three volumes, and HIGH CLIFF GUARDIANS of which DRAGON SECT is Book 2. His books are directed toward the Teen and Young Adult audience.
For those who have not read book 1, Richard has explained ‘the story of the rise of the clandestine society of Windwalkers – a sect of elves who devote their lives to protect powerful sources of magic – a magic so strong that should it fall into the wrong hands, it would spell the end of South March and the lands beyond.’ He includes artworks in the book that enhance the reading experience – as does the colorful quality of prose – “Braen Wys looked up from where he read under the flickering glow of a solitary candle. Something wasn’t right. He gazed around his spacious sleeping quarters in search of the cause of the disturbance. Other than the storm raging outside the bay window beside him, he was met with tomblike silence. As was to be expected. High in the western wing of Urdanya Castle, he wasn’t likely to hear anything in the middle of the night, besides the movement of the Sea Guard patrolling the grand hallways outside his royal chambers… The only thing he could attribute to the unmistakable sense of foreboding gripping him was that his mother, Princess Odyne, was probably dabbling with her dark magic again…’ The fantasy potion opens!
As with the initial volume, the story is lengthy, but appropriately so to cover the realm of action: ‘The Dragon Witch Wraith has returned. With the Grim Duke in his place, and a tentative pact with the wizard’s guild, the Queen of the Elves’ only real concern is for her rebellious daughter. Or so she is led to believe. Buoyed by the news of unrest in the land’s largest city of Urdanya, Duke Orlythe’s new wizard attempts to convince him that a path to the coveted Willow Throne lies within reach of someone bold enough to seize the opportunity. The return of the Dragon Witch Wraith prompts the ailing high wizard to find a way to thwart his arch nemesis before everything South March has fought for is lost. Oblivious to the dangers of the world, Princess Ouderling sets out on a quest to locate an ancient dragon, in a desperate attempt to save her mother from an inevitable fate. Should she fail, the Grim Duke will ascend the throne.’
Well written and rich in imagery and imagination, this second volume of his series makes good on the promise to provide rich fantasy tales to take us away from the conundrums of the day and provide a fine escape. Recommended.
May 24, 2022
The Review
The author did a fantastic job of continuing the amazing world-building that he established in the first book of this epic fantasy series. The almost artistic approach to the writing and imagery the author conjures through this storytelling does a great job of playing to the reader’s imagination. The action felt very balanced with the storytelling itself and made for a well-rounded read.
The thing that really was great to see in this book was the author’s ability to capture the magic and epic fantasy elements of the story, (elves, dwarves, dragons, etc), with the more gritty and heartfelt emotional character development that was found in George R.R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones” series. The mythos and gravitas of the dangers faced in this novel were so captivating because of the creativity of the fantasy genre elements and the emotional pull the characters had on the readers.
The Verdict
Engaging, heart-pounding, and brilliant in its approach, author Richard H. Stephens’s “Dragon Sect: Highcliff Guardians Epic Fantasy Series” is a must-read epic fantasy novel and the perfect next chapter in the Soul Forge Universe series. The entertaining story and mythos of this world and the emotional pull of the characters will have readers invested, as will the shocking final pages that will have readers hanging off of the author's every word.
The author did a fantastic job of continuing the amazing world-building that he established in the first book of this epic fantasy series. The almost artistic approach to the writing and imagery the author conjures through this storytelling does a great job of playing to the reader’s imagination. The action felt very balanced with the storytelling itself and made for a well-rounded read.
The thing that really was great to see in this book was the author’s ability to capture the magic and epic fantasy elements of the story, (elves, dwarves, dragons, etc), with the more gritty and heartfelt emotional character development that was found in George R.R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones” series. The mythos and gravitas of the dangers faced in this novel were so captivating because of the creativity of the fantasy genre elements and the emotional pull the characters had on the readers.
The Verdict
Engaging, heart-pounding, and brilliant in its approach, author Richard H. Stephens’s “Dragon Sect: Highcliff Guardians Epic Fantasy Series” is a must-read epic fantasy novel and the perfect next chapter in the Soul Forge Universe series. The entertaining story and mythos of this world and the emotional pull of the characters will have readers invested, as will the shocking final pages that will have readers hanging off of the author's every word.
July 29, 2025
Dragon Sect ups the stakes in a big way. Right from the opening line (which gave me chills, honestly), this book sets a tone of desperation and defiance. The return of the Dragon Witch Wraith brings serious tension, and I loved how the narrative threads wove together from political scheming in Urdanya to a princess sneaking off on a dragon-hunting quest.
Khae Wys is a standout character regal, calculating, but clearly haunted by what’s to come. And her daughter, Princess Ouderling, is the heart of this story. She’s young, bold, a little naïve, but incredibly determined. Her storyline felt like a classic fantasy coming-of-age arc, but with modern emotional depth.
Stephens is so good at crafting layered villains, too. The Grim Duke and his power-hungry wizard are deliciously manipulative without becoming cartoonish. And the setting? Lush, detailed, and full of magic I could practically feel the ancient power pulsing in the forests and mountains.
If you enjoy high fantasy with strong female leads, political drama, ancient magic, and of course, dragons, Dragon Sect is a must-read. There’s a real Game of Thrones-meets-Dragonlance feel here, and I’m so here for it. Can’t wait to see where the Highcliff Guardians go next.
Khae Wys is a standout character regal, calculating, but clearly haunted by what’s to come. And her daughter, Princess Ouderling, is the heart of this story. She’s young, bold, a little naïve, but incredibly determined. Her storyline felt like a classic fantasy coming-of-age arc, but with modern emotional depth.
Stephens is so good at crafting layered villains, too. The Grim Duke and his power-hungry wizard are deliciously manipulative without becoming cartoonish. And the setting? Lush, detailed, and full of magic I could practically feel the ancient power pulsing in the forests and mountains.
If you enjoy high fantasy with strong female leads, political drama, ancient magic, and of course, dragons, Dragon Sect is a must-read. There’s a real Game of Thrones-meets-Dragonlance feel here, and I’m so here for it. Can’t wait to see where the Highcliff Guardians go next.
May 6, 2023
Dragon Sect: Highcliff Guardians Epic Fantasy series by Richard H. Stephens
5 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Another great Elf/Dragon fantasy story. The great descriptive writing made me feel I was apart of the Soul Forge universe. I want to be a dragon rider lol. Love the excitement of the war for the throne, and seeing Ouderling grow into the Elf she is meant to be. Can't wait to see where this journey goes!!
**the last 100 pages had my emotions on overdrive!!
5 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Another great Elf/Dragon fantasy story. The great descriptive writing made me feel I was apart of the Soul Forge universe. I want to be a dragon rider lol. Love the excitement of the war for the throne, and seeing Ouderling grow into the Elf she is meant to be. Can't wait to see where this journey goes!!
**the last 100 pages had my emotions on overdrive!!
January 7, 2024
What a great book to start 2024 off!
Although slow in some areas, it definitely set the tone of eagerness to see what will happen in book 3.
I love that this author rotates between characters between chapters. It really helps to get a proper feel for each character and their storyline. It always comes together wonderfully.
Excited to start the 3rd book!
Although slow in some areas, it definitely set the tone of eagerness to see what will happen in book 3.
I love that this author rotates between characters between chapters. It really helps to get a proper feel for each character and their storyline. It always comes together wonderfully.
Excited to start the 3rd book!
December 13, 2022
I love this author. If you haven't read his books you need to. The stories are not overly complicated and easy to follow but also grab your interest the whole time. I couldn't put it down and was even tearing up a bit in the end. Can't wait to start Windwalker.
January 6, 2023
The Highcliff Guardians series so far is one the best I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Dragon Sect, Book 2, kept me on the edge of my seat. I like how the story follows multiple characters and plot lines. I can't wait to read Book 3 in the series.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews