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Tempest: Epic of Faölan
Enter Jarlith. Overlooking the sea, Jarlith spots an armada of foreign ships approaching the coast of his village. As soon as Jarlith sees the red sails on the ships, he knows who they are—the enemy. At that exact moment, the tempest begins. Lightning crackles, splitting the stormy skies overhead, as a deadly mix of rain and fire begin falling. Out on the rough seas, waves beat against the approaching enemy ships, but Jarlith understands that no natural force will stop the invading armada. It will be up to Jarlith to save his people. Realizing this compels Jarlith to enlist with the Jakurian guard and unite with an estranged kingdom across the lands of Faölan. Together, they will have a fighting chance of liberating the capital city of Jakuri from this invasion.
Hallis is a forest dweller, and feels a connection to all life around him. But when his best friend, Sapphire, is kidnapped by the invaders, he is forced to leave the solitary life he knew amongst his elfish folk, and venture forth to rescue her. The journey is rife with battles, tricksters, centaurs, giants, and other monsters that Hallis has never before encountered. Soon he is swept up with a roving band of centaurs who are relentless in their aim to re-establish solidarity between tribes and unify all of the species throughout Faölan.
The two stories intertwine and conclude in an epic tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance as Jarlith and Hallis come together to liberate the capital. This stand-alone novel is an action-packed fantasy, full of new creatures, magical abilities, warfare, and intrigue that will leave you wanting more and eager to dive into Book Two of the Epic of Faölan series.
Hallis is a forest dweller, and feels a connection to all life around him. But when his best friend, Sapphire, is kidnapped by the invaders, he is forced to leave the solitary life he knew amongst his elfish folk, and venture forth to rescue her. The journey is rife with battles, tricksters, centaurs, giants, and other monsters that Hallis has never before encountered. Soon he is swept up with a roving band of centaurs who are relentless in their aim to re-establish solidarity between tribes and unify all of the species throughout Faölan.
The two stories intertwine and conclude in an epic tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance as Jarlith and Hallis come together to liberate the capital. This stand-alone novel is an action-packed fantasy, full of new creatures, magical abilities, warfare, and intrigue that will leave you wanting more and eager to dive into Book Two of the Epic of Faölan series.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 9, 2022
10 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 28, 2022
If you want an action packed, non-stop fantasy look no further.
We follow Jarlith, a young elf who knows very little about where he comes from or who he is as he grew up surrounded by humans. When an enemy fleet of ships comes to attack the sleepy town where Jarlith resides, he finds himself caught up in a bigger plot than he could ever imagine.
Ok lets talk characters. My biased favorites are of course: the animals. There is a wolfhound with three tails named Alaska who is pure perfection and a batzel named Echo. There is also a panthera and a freaking unicorn. Each of these animals plays their own perfect role in the story and I loved this inclusion. If you want a massive cast of characters then this is the book for you. Besides Jarlith, we also follow the crew of the ship that he escapes on, and the many other characters that join them on their journeys. There's separate stories that come together, converge, and then come back together once again at the end.
My absolute favorite trope in this book was the magical competition (shocker I know). I lived for the high stakes plot points that are throughout the book. There is truly never in a moment in the book when I felt bored or that the pace needed to pick up.
Overall this book so action-packed and so fun with such a large variety of fantastical elements and characters.
We follow Jarlith, a young elf who knows very little about where he comes from or who he is as he grew up surrounded by humans. When an enemy fleet of ships comes to attack the sleepy town where Jarlith resides, he finds himself caught up in a bigger plot than he could ever imagine.
Ok lets talk characters. My biased favorites are of course: the animals. There is a wolfhound with three tails named Alaska who is pure perfection and a batzel named Echo. There is also a panthera and a freaking unicorn. Each of these animals plays their own perfect role in the story and I loved this inclusion. If you want a massive cast of characters then this is the book for you. Besides Jarlith, we also follow the crew of the ship that he escapes on, and the many other characters that join them on their journeys. There's separate stories that come together, converge, and then come back together once again at the end.
My absolute favorite trope in this book was the magical competition (shocker I know). I lived for the high stakes plot points that are throughout the book. There is truly never in a moment in the book when I felt bored or that the pace needed to pick up.
Overall this book so action-packed and so fun with such a large variety of fantastical elements and characters.
May 9, 2022
In the ancient world of Faölan, a curious young elf named Jarlith spots a fleet of enemy ships approaching the lands he was born and raised in. Instantly, he knows these invaders could bring about the end of life as he’s always known it… If they reach the shores. No sooner than Jarlith turns to run for help, a tempest begins raining down fireballs that could prove to be as deadly as the enemy invaders charging towards the land. This vivid, nail-biting scene kicks off Nicholas Redmon’s epic YA novel, Tempest, and the imagery and action does not let up until you reach the end of this fascinating, humorous, and cleverly-relatable story. The characters and otherworldly settings that Redmon has created in this novel will satisfy every fantasy & fairy tale genre craving you have—he REALLY knows the tropes and how to play with this genre!—and yet, his storytelling and plot twists are unique, surprising, and sure to keep you on your toes! I really enjoyed this novel, and I appreciated that the story was complete by the end and can therefore “stand alone” and yet I’m hooked and cannot wait to read the second book in this series! I highly recommend Tempest, especially if fantasy YA is your favorite!
April 20, 2022
Action Packed from the very beginning!
I was totally swept away from the very start of this tale. There is just so much going on! This is the type of story you need to read over again, just to make sure you didn't miss anything!
The fate of all of Faolan rest on the shoulders of two young men who have no idea who or what they really are. All seems hopeful, then all seems lost, and I wont even know what happens until I've read the whole series! I was gifted an advanced copy of this tale for my honest opinion and it truly and honestly blew me away!
This is a great read!
I was totally swept away from the very start of this tale. There is just so much going on! This is the type of story you need to read over again, just to make sure you didn't miss anything!
The fate of all of Faolan rest on the shoulders of two young men who have no idea who or what they really are. All seems hopeful, then all seems lost, and I wont even know what happens until I've read the whole series! I was gifted an advanced copy of this tale for my honest opinion and it truly and honestly blew me away!
This is a great read!
June 2, 2022
This is an action fantasy tale that is fun to read and a completely unique world. The author takes what has been known with magical creatures like elves and makes them something new, with tails, magical gifts, subspecies, and different skin colors. If you want an entertaining read, enjoy battles, and a story you can’t put down, look no further!
December 18, 2025
Tempest: Epic of Faölan delivers exactly what epic fantasy readers crave: scale, momentum, and a richly imagined world alive with danger and magic.
From the opening image of red-sailed ships cutting through a lightning-torn sea, Nicholas Redmon establishes stakes that never let up. Jarlith’s arc from coastal villager to warrior uniting fractured kingdoms anchors the story with urgency and purpose. His choices feel earned, driven by loyalty and sacrifice rather than destiny alone.
Hallis’s storyline provides a compelling counterbalance. Rooted in nature and emotional connection, his journey through unfamiliar lands alongside centaurs, giants, and other creatures adds heart to the novel’s relentless action. His motivation to rescue Sapphire grounds the epic scope in something deeply personal.
What stands out most is Faölan itself. The world feels vast without being overwhelming, populated by distinct cultures, species, and political tensions that enrich every conflict. When the two narrative threads finally converge, the payoff is satisfying and powerful, reinforcing themes of unity, friendship, and the cost of freedom.
An action-packed standalone that reads like the opening movement of a much larger saga, Tempest is ideal for fans of traditional epic fantasy who want immersive adventure with emotional weight and it leaves readers eager for what comes next.
From the opening image of red-sailed ships cutting through a lightning-torn sea, Nicholas Redmon establishes stakes that never let up. Jarlith’s arc from coastal villager to warrior uniting fractured kingdoms anchors the story with urgency and purpose. His choices feel earned, driven by loyalty and sacrifice rather than destiny alone.
Hallis’s storyline provides a compelling counterbalance. Rooted in nature and emotional connection, his journey through unfamiliar lands alongside centaurs, giants, and other creatures adds heart to the novel’s relentless action. His motivation to rescue Sapphire grounds the epic scope in something deeply personal.
What stands out most is Faölan itself. The world feels vast without being overwhelming, populated by distinct cultures, species, and political tensions that enrich every conflict. When the two narrative threads finally converge, the payoff is satisfying and powerful, reinforcing themes of unity, friendship, and the cost of freedom.
An action-packed standalone that reads like the opening movement of a much larger saga, Tempest is ideal for fans of traditional epic fantasy who want immersive adventure with emotional weight and it leaves readers eager for what comes next.
May 14, 2022
"Drama! Romance! Bloodshed!" Tempest, the first book of the Epic of Faölan, has it all.
Forced to flee from his homeland due to a thread of epic proportions (rains of fire included), Jarlith, one of the protagonists, embarks on a quest that checks all the boxes of a Hero's Journey; he pines for his lost home and for his family, yet duty compels him forward as he learns more about himself and the world. And what a world, my friends. Faölan brims with life and mysteries, and we're thrown face-first into it as Jarlith has to race against time to help his homeland. Alongside him we meet all sorts of different peoples, cultures and customs, and Tempest leaves nothing to be desired as it brings its own twists to the genre.
But it doesn't end there. Jarlith's story is only half of Tempest, and we also follow on the shoes of Hallis, who has his own journey to follow, and his is just as fraught with peril as Jarlith's, but even darker. And as the two protagonists journey to their inevitable meeting, the story walks to an epic conclusion that makes Tempest work both as a standalone and as the first in an epic, which is fortunately the case.
For those looking for a brand new Epic Fantasy to devour, look no further. You've found it.
Forced to flee from his homeland due to a thread of epic proportions (rains of fire included), Jarlith, one of the protagonists, embarks on a quest that checks all the boxes of a Hero's Journey; he pines for his lost home and for his family, yet duty compels him forward as he learns more about himself and the world. And what a world, my friends. Faölan brims with life and mysteries, and we're thrown face-first into it as Jarlith has to race against time to help his homeland. Alongside him we meet all sorts of different peoples, cultures and customs, and Tempest leaves nothing to be desired as it brings its own twists to the genre.
But it doesn't end there. Jarlith's story is only half of Tempest, and we also follow on the shoes of Hallis, who has his own journey to follow, and his is just as fraught with peril as Jarlith's, but even darker. And as the two protagonists journey to their inevitable meeting, the story walks to an epic conclusion that makes Tempest work both as a standalone and as the first in an epic, which is fortunately the case.
For those looking for a brand new Epic Fantasy to devour, look no further. You've found it.
July 10, 2022
Tempest was a fun read! I enjoyed following Jarlith, Emma, and Hallis as they navigated their way through their own personal journeys and growing politics. This book excels in worldbuilding and creative takes on its fantasy races; and is full of adventure.
August 20, 2022
Did not like the change in what was the traditional definition of elves, etc. I found story lines confusing at times. Just not my type of story.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews