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The Tome Of Haren
With no Keeper for over one hundred years, the nation of Narean is vulnerable.
When a legend claims Aeidor will become the next Keeper, he must leave his life behind to join the hero of old, The Huntsman. But, before he can claim his place as Keeper of Narean he must join a group of rag-tag heroes in search for the mythical Tome of Haren. A book of magic that has the power to shift the tide in a war brewing.
On his harrowing journey he must endure horrors, visit marvellous wonders, and delve deep within a cursed city where death lies in wait. However, they are not the only ones seeking the Tome. Feral mercenaries, called Blooders, have been hired to retrieve the Tome for their dark master.
As time runs out, truths are revealed, and his enemies close in around him, Aeidor must retrieve the Tome before his enemies or else all is lost...
The beginning of a brand new Epic Dark Fantasy story.
When a legend claims Aeidor will become the next Keeper, he must leave his life behind to join the hero of old, The Huntsman. But, before he can claim his place as Keeper of Narean he must join a group of rag-tag heroes in search for the mythical Tome of Haren. A book of magic that has the power to shift the tide in a war brewing.
On his harrowing journey he must endure horrors, visit marvellous wonders, and delve deep within a cursed city where death lies in wait. However, they are not the only ones seeking the Tome. Feral mercenaries, called Blooders, have been hired to retrieve the Tome for their dark master.
As time runs out, truths are revealed, and his enemies close in around him, Aeidor must retrieve the Tome before his enemies or else all is lost...
The beginning of a brand new Epic Dark Fantasy story.
706 pages, Paperback
Published April 30, 2025
4 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Damien Francis
1 book17 followersDamien is an Australian author living in Canberra. He has had a love and passion for writing, reading, and telling stories since he discovered the joy of escaping into fantastical worlds from a young age.
He considers his faith, family and friends to be the most important things in the world and strives hard to honour all three.
When he’s not writing, he can be found enjoying a wide variety of film, television shows, music, and video games.
He considers his faith, family and friends to be the most important things in the world and strives hard to honour all three.
When he’s not writing, he can be found enjoying a wide variety of film, television shows, music, and video games.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 22, 2023
Full text review: https://jamreads.com/reviews/the-tome...
Interview: https://jamreads.com/interviews/some-...
The Tome of Haren is the debut novel from the Aussie writer Damien Francis. It is a dark-epic fantasy adventure, told using a multiple POV, allowing us to see at the same time the story of Aeidor and his journey with a group of legendary adventurers in order to recover the mythical Tome of Haren, while we are also spectators of the different paths followed by his orphanage mates, and how war is becoming a reality over Narean.
Aeidor, our main character, suddenly gets recruited from his orphanage by Cailad, a legendary hero, who claims he might be the legendary Keeper, a figure that appears when Narean is under a threat. Being somebody that is not really appreciated there, Aeidor accepts Cailad's offer; starting a journey together with a group of adventurers, names that could be considered legendary.
Aeidor definitely is not a hero when he's taken by Cailad, but he works and trains as much as possible to meet the expectations he has of the figure of a Keeper. He progresses with the journey, in a really natural way, more due to the situations they face, than because of the training itself.
The group that makes this journey in order to search for the Tome is a motley crew, of supposed legends, that once we get to know more about them, the more their flaws get exposed; we get to see how they act under pressure and how in reality they are no more than exceptional humans.
This quest looking for the Tome of Haren, while being a classic trope of fantasy, is really well used by the author to show different situations and to portray his love for classical/horror fantasy; being an excellent tour of difficulties that our group has to overcome. I would like to give a special shoutout to my favourite part, the catacombs, as it is a show of how atmospherical horror can be done, which I really enjoyed.
And as you can have noticed, we haven't yet talked of the rest of the POVs. While the quest and Aeidor's progression take a great part in the plot, we also get to see how the princess has to deal with the difficulties attached to leading the country, showing the political tension that is associated with leadership elections.
We also get to see how Tal and Lylla, who were mates with Aeidor in the orphanage, get to progress and choose each one their paths, which will cross sometimes each other.
The Tome of Haren is a great dark fantasy novel, that takes a classical fantasy trope and gives it another layer of complexity. I can certainly say that I would like to return to Narea at some point and see how the events are progressing, because the end was the perfect set-up for a sequel.
Interview: https://jamreads.com/interviews/some-...
The Tome of Haren is the debut novel from the Aussie writer Damien Francis. It is a dark-epic fantasy adventure, told using a multiple POV, allowing us to see at the same time the story of Aeidor and his journey with a group of legendary adventurers in order to recover the mythical Tome of Haren, while we are also spectators of the different paths followed by his orphanage mates, and how war is becoming a reality over Narean.
Aeidor, our main character, suddenly gets recruited from his orphanage by Cailad, a legendary hero, who claims he might be the legendary Keeper, a figure that appears when Narean is under a threat. Being somebody that is not really appreciated there, Aeidor accepts Cailad's offer; starting a journey together with a group of adventurers, names that could be considered legendary.
Aeidor definitely is not a hero when he's taken by Cailad, but he works and trains as much as possible to meet the expectations he has of the figure of a Keeper. He progresses with the journey, in a really natural way, more due to the situations they face, than because of the training itself.
The group that makes this journey in order to search for the Tome is a motley crew, of supposed legends, that once we get to know more about them, the more their flaws get exposed; we get to see how they act under pressure and how in reality they are no more than exceptional humans.
This quest looking for the Tome of Haren, while being a classic trope of fantasy, is really well used by the author to show different situations and to portray his love for classical/horror fantasy; being an excellent tour of difficulties that our group has to overcome. I would like to give a special shoutout to my favourite part, the catacombs, as it is a show of how atmospherical horror can be done, which I really enjoyed.
And as you can have noticed, we haven't yet talked of the rest of the POVs. While the quest and Aeidor's progression take a great part in the plot, we also get to see how the princess has to deal with the difficulties attached to leading the country, showing the political tension that is associated with leadership elections.
We also get to see how Tal and Lylla, who were mates with Aeidor in the orphanage, get to progress and choose each one their paths, which will cross sometimes each other.
The Tome of Haren is a great dark fantasy novel, that takes a classical fantasy trope and gives it another layer of complexity. I can certainly say that I would like to return to Narea at some point and see how the events are progressing, because the end was the perfect set-up for a sequel.
July 30, 2023
Book Review - The Tome of Haren
When you’re not feeling your current read it’s time to set it aside and try something different.
When Damien reached out for me to try his book, I was a little hesitant at first but after read the synopsis that quickly changed.
From the off you get the classic fantasy feel and a story you just know you will get absorbed into.
A child of lower class upbringing will become the saviour.
Does that sound like something you would enjoy reading, for me, absolutely.
The Tome of Heren is told from multiple POVs with Aeidor being the main protagonist.
Aeidor is a young man growing up in an orphanage with very little prospects going for him. Then one day he meets the Huntsman, a champion from legend and is offered the chance of an apprenticeship.
Along side Aeidor we get the POV’s of his closest friends Tal, Hessa and Lylla.
Tal is a young man intent on joining the military like his dad but something inside him may prevent that from happening.
Hessa is training to become a healer that is until she starts hear voices from another world.
Lylla is a tough young women desperate to become an elite bodyguard like her parents.
Along side the POV from Aeidor and his friends we also get a POV from Eiylin, the princess of Narean. Eiylin has to navigate some political turmoil.
Probably one of my favourite POV is that of Iacor. Iacor is a young captain from the enemy army. Although seen from the POV of the enemy, I just found him really interesting and wanted him to do well.
Shows the mark of a writer when they can get you invested in the “bad” side.
Aeidor as the saviour of the Narean people is sent on a journey to find a powerful magic book with a rag tag group of warrior for company.
On this journey Aeidor has to deal with blood thirsty mercenaries, mysterious lands and cursed cities.
If you’re like me and love an adventure story with a heap of travelling then you will enjoy this story.
Action can make or break a book, an author can have a great story and characters but fail on delivering the action, this will significantly hamper my enjoyment.
Luckily for me this was not the case in this book, Damien delivered some stellar action throughout this book. The final fight with the Blooders was a great example.
Whenever I read a new fantasy book I’m always hopeful of that book containing Dragons, some may say Dragons are overused in fantasy books, not me.
We do get a small snippet of a Dragon in this book and I’m hopeful we will see more Dragons in later instalments of this series.
If I had one small critique for this book would be some long chapters, if you’re a night time reader like me, long chapters are not great, I had to stop mid chapter on a number of occasions.
Having said this, there are plenty of short shape chapters, particularly towards the end of the book, so you could argue they offset.
I know this series is planned to be huge and I’m so excited to see where the story goes from here in book 2.
If you love epic fantasy with plenty of action, complex characters and political intrigue, I would highly recommend you pick up this book.
More readers need to give this book a chance I can promise you won’t regret it.
Rating 8.5/10 ⭐️
When you’re not feeling your current read it’s time to set it aside and try something different.
When Damien reached out for me to try his book, I was a little hesitant at first but after read the synopsis that quickly changed.
From the off you get the classic fantasy feel and a story you just know you will get absorbed into.
A child of lower class upbringing will become the saviour.
Does that sound like something you would enjoy reading, for me, absolutely.
The Tome of Heren is told from multiple POVs with Aeidor being the main protagonist.
Aeidor is a young man growing up in an orphanage with very little prospects going for him. Then one day he meets the Huntsman, a champion from legend and is offered the chance of an apprenticeship.
Along side Aeidor we get the POV’s of his closest friends Tal, Hessa and Lylla.
Tal is a young man intent on joining the military like his dad but something inside him may prevent that from happening.
Hessa is training to become a healer that is until she starts hear voices from another world.
Lylla is a tough young women desperate to become an elite bodyguard like her parents.
Along side the POV from Aeidor and his friends we also get a POV from Eiylin, the princess of Narean. Eiylin has to navigate some political turmoil.
Probably one of my favourite POV is that of Iacor. Iacor is a young captain from the enemy army. Although seen from the POV of the enemy, I just found him really interesting and wanted him to do well.
Shows the mark of a writer when they can get you invested in the “bad” side.
Aeidor as the saviour of the Narean people is sent on a journey to find a powerful magic book with a rag tag group of warrior for company.
On this journey Aeidor has to deal with blood thirsty mercenaries, mysterious lands and cursed cities.
If you’re like me and love an adventure story with a heap of travelling then you will enjoy this story.
Action can make or break a book, an author can have a great story and characters but fail on delivering the action, this will significantly hamper my enjoyment.
Luckily for me this was not the case in this book, Damien delivered some stellar action throughout this book. The final fight with the Blooders was a great example.
Whenever I read a new fantasy book I’m always hopeful of that book containing Dragons, some may say Dragons are overused in fantasy books, not me.
We do get a small snippet of a Dragon in this book and I’m hopeful we will see more Dragons in later instalments of this series.
If I had one small critique for this book would be some long chapters, if you’re a night time reader like me, long chapters are not great, I had to stop mid chapter on a number of occasions.
Having said this, there are plenty of short shape chapters, particularly towards the end of the book, so you could argue they offset.
I know this series is planned to be huge and I’m so excited to see where the story goes from here in book 2.
If you love epic fantasy with plenty of action, complex characters and political intrigue, I would highly recommend you pick up this book.
More readers need to give this book a chance I can promise you won’t regret it.
Rating 8.5/10 ⭐️
November 12, 2023
Full review to come. This book was my focus for literally almost three months and I need to lie down and process that fact that I completed it, and am now sad because it’s over. Wtf am I supposed to read now while I wait for the next installment??
🌟UPDATED FULL REVIEW BELOW🌟
Synopsis: The Nation of Narean has war approaching its doorstep and its chosen protectors, The Keepers, haven't been seen for over 150 years. Aeidor, an orphan since birth, is just scraping by in the slum district of the Nation’s capital city, Demres. One day a champion of legend appears and claims Aeidor is marked to be the next Keeper of Narean. Joined by other powerful heroes the group sets off to locate the long lost artifact, The Tome of Haren, which has the ability to tip the upcoming war in the holders favor. However, Aeidor and the company aren't the only ones after the Tome. Dark forces trail their every move and are willing to put the entire Nation to the torch to secure the fabled artifact. Limits are tested, boundaries pushed, and secrets revealed as darkness lurks around every corner. A true classic dark fantasy for lovers of Tolkien, Sanderson, Jordan, and Martin.
Buckle in, this review is probably going to be the longest review I have composed to date. I purchased TToH on a whim after seeing the author's profile come up on my X feed describing their book as dark fantasy. As a dark fantasy fan, let me say I vastly underestimated what I was getting myself into. As I mentioned in my initial post book finished haze of a micro review, this book will grab you by the throat and never let go. If anything, it will just squeeze tighter and throttle you as the action keeps piling up.
This book took me almost three months to finish, as the text was on the smaller side and my legally blind eyes could only read so much under that type of strain. I want to stress that this is of no fault to Damien, who after hearing I was struggling, was extremely generous to send me a digital copy of the book so I could read it on my Kindle and increase the font size. He even cracked the joke of sending his reader magnifying glasses along with the book.
I also want to state that while this book is a dark fantasy, it’s more of the “cleaner” side in terms of explicit sexual content and swearing. There is nothing wrong with this, and it is honestly not needed as the prose and writing are already highly engaging. However, blood and gore, violence, torture, murder, and trauma are on the table and Damien does a excellent job of incorporating it into his story. Without spoilers, there is a specific character that, in all rational thinking, you shouldn't be rooting for but they had such a tragic story I actually felt for them. Not a lot of writers have been able to make me feel that way about that specific type of character. There are also many descriptions of death in this book that I have now added to my “Ways I Don’t Want To Go” list because they make my skin crawl.
General Plot: Like all good slow burn fantasies, you need to give TToH at least 100-150 pages to set the tone, build the characters (as there are multiple POV’s), explain the history and lore, and let the beginning events feel natural. Damien does an excellent job of this and allows his story to flow at a natural pace. If time jumps do need to happen, they are kept to a minimum, are small (days or weeks at the most), and add to the plot of the story instead of trying to advance it.
Once we have a general idea of the world building, our characters set out on their journey for the Tome. Here is where the pace picks up and things honestly get stressful. This book is labeled as a dark fantasy for a reason and once you hit THAT section of the book it's almost like you don't have time to take a breath, relax, or let your guard down.
Characters: This book has multiple POV’s. It would take pages for me to summarize what I liked about each character, so I will just hit on two main points that resonated with me through the entire book.
The first concept that I love about Damien’s writing style, that can be hit and miss with many fantasy authors, is the ability to write characters in a logical sense. Some fantasy stories you read might have a young protagonist that is in their teens, have a tragic event or backstort, and happen to already be a master swordsman/military leader/magician/etc. TToH has characters that, well, kind of suck at what they do in the beginning. This is so refreshing to read, as some of our younger characters have so much to learn, grow, and overcome before they can even think of becoming a formidable opponent. This aspect allows the book to feel more realistic and makes our characters' goals more exciting when they are achieved.
The second concept that I enjoyed is that none of our characters are “invincible”, nobody is immortal, and anyone can slip up. It provides an extremely sobering experience. Again, I have read many fantasy and science fiction books where some of the characters are untouchable and immensely overpowered that it takes away from the story. That does not happen in TToH and I love how it adds a new level of dread and stress into the story.
Overall: This book was fantastic. It is absolutely going on my “all time favorites shelf” on Goodreads, and the trophy self in my personal office. As vain as it sounds, I don’t have any cons for this book. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it, from the prose to the full journey, and can’t wait for the next installment of The Keeper Chronicles, and the (hopeful) return of one of my favorite side characters!
🌟UPDATED FULL REVIEW BELOW🌟
Synopsis: The Nation of Narean has war approaching its doorstep and its chosen protectors, The Keepers, haven't been seen for over 150 years. Aeidor, an orphan since birth, is just scraping by in the slum district of the Nation’s capital city, Demres. One day a champion of legend appears and claims Aeidor is marked to be the next Keeper of Narean. Joined by other powerful heroes the group sets off to locate the long lost artifact, The Tome of Haren, which has the ability to tip the upcoming war in the holders favor. However, Aeidor and the company aren't the only ones after the Tome. Dark forces trail their every move and are willing to put the entire Nation to the torch to secure the fabled artifact. Limits are tested, boundaries pushed, and secrets revealed as darkness lurks around every corner. A true classic dark fantasy for lovers of Tolkien, Sanderson, Jordan, and Martin.
Buckle in, this review is probably going to be the longest review I have composed to date. I purchased TToH on a whim after seeing the author's profile come up on my X feed describing their book as dark fantasy. As a dark fantasy fan, let me say I vastly underestimated what I was getting myself into. As I mentioned in my initial post book finished haze of a micro review, this book will grab you by the throat and never let go. If anything, it will just squeeze tighter and throttle you as the action keeps piling up.
This book took me almost three months to finish, as the text was on the smaller side and my legally blind eyes could only read so much under that type of strain. I want to stress that this is of no fault to Damien, who after hearing I was struggling, was extremely generous to send me a digital copy of the book so I could read it on my Kindle and increase the font size. He even cracked the joke of sending his reader magnifying glasses along with the book.
I also want to state that while this book is a dark fantasy, it’s more of the “cleaner” side in terms of explicit sexual content and swearing. There is nothing wrong with this, and it is honestly not needed as the prose and writing are already highly engaging. However, blood and gore, violence, torture, murder, and trauma are on the table and Damien does a excellent job of incorporating it into his story. Without spoilers, there is a specific character that, in all rational thinking, you shouldn't be rooting for but they had such a tragic story I actually felt for them. Not a lot of writers have been able to make me feel that way about that specific type of character. There are also many descriptions of death in this book that I have now added to my “Ways I Don’t Want To Go” list because they make my skin crawl.
General Plot: Like all good slow burn fantasies, you need to give TToH at least 100-150 pages to set the tone, build the characters (as there are multiple POV’s), explain the history and lore, and let the beginning events feel natural. Damien does an excellent job of this and allows his story to flow at a natural pace. If time jumps do need to happen, they are kept to a minimum, are small (days or weeks at the most), and add to the plot of the story instead of trying to advance it.
Once we have a general idea of the world building, our characters set out on their journey for the Tome. Here is where the pace picks up and things honestly get stressful. This book is labeled as a dark fantasy for a reason and once you hit THAT section of the book it's almost like you don't have time to take a breath, relax, or let your guard down.
Characters: This book has multiple POV’s. It would take pages for me to summarize what I liked about each character, so I will just hit on two main points that resonated with me through the entire book.
The first concept that I love about Damien’s writing style, that can be hit and miss with many fantasy authors, is the ability to write characters in a logical sense. Some fantasy stories you read might have a young protagonist that is in their teens, have a tragic event or backstort, and happen to already be a master swordsman/military leader/magician/etc. TToH has characters that, well, kind of suck at what they do in the beginning. This is so refreshing to read, as some of our younger characters have so much to learn, grow, and overcome before they can even think of becoming a formidable opponent. This aspect allows the book to feel more realistic and makes our characters' goals more exciting when they are achieved.
The second concept that I enjoyed is that none of our characters are “invincible”, nobody is immortal, and anyone can slip up. It provides an extremely sobering experience. Again, I have read many fantasy and science fiction books where some of the characters are untouchable and immensely overpowered that it takes away from the story. That does not happen in TToH and I love how it adds a new level of dread and stress into the story.
Overall: This book was fantastic. It is absolutely going on my “all time favorites shelf” on Goodreads, and the trophy self in my personal office. As vain as it sounds, I don’t have any cons for this book. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it, from the prose to the full journey, and can’t wait for the next installment of The Keeper Chronicles, and the (hopeful) return of one of my favorite side characters!
June 3, 2024
I've had my eye on The Tome of Haren for a while now, so when I saw space on the Indiebooktours event, I jumped in feet first. I admit, I went in blind and I definitely wasn't expecting the journey I've just been on! It is an Epic fantasy, with the emphasis on the epic and coming-of-age elements. But it is so much more. For a start, this is one hell of a chonker (Amazon has the Kindle version listed at just over a 1000 pages) but the plot rattles along at a good pace. It's a story about a journey; literally, mentally and metaphysically. It has various elements that all blend into one whole. And most of all, it's a bloody good story!
There are plenty of tropes found within these pages but that is not an issue for me when they are done well. The plot revolves around the country of Narean, which is under threat from a new power in a rivalling country. Our group of heroes must find a powerful artefact to prevent it falling into the enemies hands. Cue the journey and cue some outstanding worldbuilding. The worldbuilding certainly prevents the plot from going stale at certain points. The areas of interest are well imagined and lovingly described without being too flowery. The plot might not be the most original one around but there are elements that keep it fresh.
The characters are also well-fleshed out. Again, we see some familiar tropes, including the master and apprentice scenario, and there are some lovely nods to other successful epics in the genre. One thing that might be too much for some is the amount of POV we have here. I think there are six main POV here, although there may be more. It might seem overwhelming but the sections are labelled with the name and each POV has it's own distinct flavour. I felt it was easy to follow. There are also countless other characters but, again, they are easy to keep track of. To be honest, with a book this size, what do you expect? Four of the main POV (Aeidor, Hessa, Lylla and Tal) are orphans and childhood friends. The story mostly follows their lives over a short period and Aeidor could be said to be the main POV of the main POV. It might sound confusing but I promise it all makes sense when you read it. Aeidor is a personal favourite - even through he goes through some pretty hefty trials, he still emerges as a sweet and thoughtful young man. Combined with the Eiylin, Princess of the realm, and Iacor, an enemy soldier, the main POV provide the backbone of the story. However, there is a lot going on and a thing this author seems to love is secrets. There are tons of them here and some of the reveals had me gasping.
The Tome of Haren is one of those frustratingly difficult books to review without revealing plot spoilers. As I've said, there is a lot going on with mysterious artefacts, even more mysterious characters, side plots, side quests, assassination attempts, ambushes, creepy environments, dirty politics and much much more. However, I don't like spoilers so most of that won't be touched on here. It should all be really too much but I think it works, mainly due to the length allowing the author to have free rein here. Yes, some of it could have been cut and some of the passages may be unnecessary but, if like me, you get caught up in it, you won't want it to end. Luckily for me, this seems to be only the beginning and I can't wait to see more secrets come tumbling into the light in future instalments.
TLDR: a chonker of an epic fantasy with multiple POV and some outstanding worldbuilding.
There are plenty of tropes found within these pages but that is not an issue for me when they are done well. The plot revolves around the country of Narean, which is under threat from a new power in a rivalling country. Our group of heroes must find a powerful artefact to prevent it falling into the enemies hands. Cue the journey and cue some outstanding worldbuilding. The worldbuilding certainly prevents the plot from going stale at certain points. The areas of interest are well imagined and lovingly described without being too flowery. The plot might not be the most original one around but there are elements that keep it fresh.
The characters are also well-fleshed out. Again, we see some familiar tropes, including the master and apprentice scenario, and there are some lovely nods to other successful epics in the genre. One thing that might be too much for some is the amount of POV we have here. I think there are six main POV here, although there may be more. It might seem overwhelming but the sections are labelled with the name and each POV has it's own distinct flavour. I felt it was easy to follow. There are also countless other characters but, again, they are easy to keep track of. To be honest, with a book this size, what do you expect? Four of the main POV (Aeidor, Hessa, Lylla and Tal) are orphans and childhood friends. The story mostly follows their lives over a short period and Aeidor could be said to be the main POV of the main POV. It might sound confusing but I promise it all makes sense when you read it. Aeidor is a personal favourite - even through he goes through some pretty hefty trials, he still emerges as a sweet and thoughtful young man. Combined with the Eiylin, Princess of the realm, and Iacor, an enemy soldier, the main POV provide the backbone of the story. However, there is a lot going on and a thing this author seems to love is secrets. There are tons of them here and some of the reveals had me gasping.
The Tome of Haren is one of those frustratingly difficult books to review without revealing plot spoilers. As I've said, there is a lot going on with mysterious artefacts, even more mysterious characters, side plots, side quests, assassination attempts, ambushes, creepy environments, dirty politics and much much more. However, I don't like spoilers so most of that won't be touched on here. It should all be really too much but I think it works, mainly due to the length allowing the author to have free rein here. Yes, some of it could have been cut and some of the passages may be unnecessary but, if like me, you get caught up in it, you won't want it to end. Luckily for me, this seems to be only the beginning and I can't wait to see more secrets come tumbling into the light in future instalments.
TLDR: a chonker of an epic fantasy with multiple POV and some outstanding worldbuilding.
September 24, 2025
This is a chonker book. And what a chonker!
Damien asked me if I could read and review his book, so he sent me an eBook, all he asked me is to be honest and straightforward in my review. And so, here we go.
First and foremost I'm going to reveal that I was a little doubtful about the whole "Dark" descriptor used "The Tome of Haren: An Epic Dark Fantasy Series: The Keeper Chronicles Book 1" - I am not too keen on Dark when it's the first or second descriptor. But the reality is that either my threshold for "dark" is too high, or "Dark" isn't perhaps the second descriptor in this story. I told Damien, Dark should be 4th or 5th descriptor, after Epic, Classic and Modern and perhaps Noble.
The book has some dark elements, that is accurate, but in my opinion those elements are vastly outclassed or outmatched or superseded by the noble and positive elements of it.
Those noble and positive elements are mostly brought by the main characters, and now I'll explain why.
The Tome of Haren is a story about The Chosen One, Aeidor, and his coming of age, his story from orphan into Defender of Narean (the Kingdom he's part of). The way we go about it is the modern aspect of the story, Damien crafted a character that feels and grows very organically, while also keeping him rooted in his core tenets.
His mentor, Cailad is a man of unknown age, and whose story we only get the barest of glimpses, but those are enough to firmly place him high in the list of mentors worth following.
The other members of the cast are all charming, interesting and you really find yourself engaged in their own personal stories and tribulations.
Hessa and Lylla are perhaps the characters that surprised me most with their development and I cannot wait to see more of their growth and their change into the following books.
It's really hard to talk about this massive book without spoiling what I found are its most salient aspects. But I'd say one of those is the subversion of tropes and the other being the doubling-down on those tropes. Confusing, right?
No, not really, because Damien makes all of that feel natural and not forced.
The Worldbuilding is incredible, and that in part explains the massive size of this book, as Damien told me, "Go big or go home". He certainly went big.
For a book of this size, a debut novel, you'd think 1k pages will have slow and spots where it drags. But the reality is that I never found it dragging or slow. There are intimate moments, there are character development moments, action and story moments, all of it constructed with great skill and balance and care for the story AND the reader.
You'll find yourself reading page after page after page. My average page reads in normal books is about 100, Tome of Haren had me reading 200 and 250 pages per day (time permitting, of course).
Damien's prose is a perfect fit for this book. It's not deep and elaborate, it's easy to follow and easy to concentrate on the story instead of simply marveling at his usage of fancy words and turns of phrases.
A 1k-page book can get draggy with ampulose prose. And his prose also works well with young POVs. Can't have orphanage level runts speaking or thinking Shakespearean-level prose. 🤣
Good prose doesn't always relate to a fancy usage of words and verbose styles. I judge prose for the kind of needs it has to serve.
The Tome of Haren is an Epic Story, steeped in classic elements but with a modern voice and structure. It feeds into the noble archetypes embodied by the main characters. These characters stave off the encroaching darkness and the enemies outside and within.
If you enjoy grand, epic, sweeping stories, told in a modern voice and style, then The Tome of Haren is your book. Be prepared to be sequestered into a grand conflict, full of magic and action.
4.7 ⭐️
Damien asked me if I could read and review his book, so he sent me an eBook, all he asked me is to be honest and straightforward in my review. And so, here we go.
First and foremost I'm going to reveal that I was a little doubtful about the whole "Dark" descriptor used "The Tome of Haren: An Epic Dark Fantasy Series: The Keeper Chronicles Book 1" - I am not too keen on Dark when it's the first or second descriptor. But the reality is that either my threshold for "dark" is too high, or "Dark" isn't perhaps the second descriptor in this story. I told Damien, Dark should be 4th or 5th descriptor, after Epic, Classic and Modern and perhaps Noble.
The book has some dark elements, that is accurate, but in my opinion those elements are vastly outclassed or outmatched or superseded by the noble and positive elements of it.
Those noble and positive elements are mostly brought by the main characters, and now I'll explain why.
The Tome of Haren is a story about The Chosen One, Aeidor, and his coming of age, his story from orphan into Defender of Narean (the Kingdom he's part of). The way we go about it is the modern aspect of the story, Damien crafted a character that feels and grows very organically, while also keeping him rooted in his core tenets.
His mentor, Cailad is a man of unknown age, and whose story we only get the barest of glimpses, but those are enough to firmly place him high in the list of mentors worth following.
The other members of the cast are all charming, interesting and you really find yourself engaged in their own personal stories and tribulations.
Hessa and Lylla are perhaps the characters that surprised me most with their development and I cannot wait to see more of their growth and their change into the following books.
It's really hard to talk about this massive book without spoiling what I found are its most salient aspects. But I'd say one of those is the subversion of tropes and the other being the doubling-down on those tropes. Confusing, right?
No, not really, because Damien makes all of that feel natural and not forced.
The Worldbuilding is incredible, and that in part explains the massive size of this book, as Damien told me, "Go big or go home". He certainly went big.
For a book of this size, a debut novel, you'd think 1k pages will have slow and spots where it drags. But the reality is that I never found it dragging or slow. There are intimate moments, there are character development moments, action and story moments, all of it constructed with great skill and balance and care for the story AND the reader.
You'll find yourself reading page after page after page. My average page reads in normal books is about 100, Tome of Haren had me reading 200 and 250 pages per day (time permitting, of course).
Damien's prose is a perfect fit for this book. It's not deep and elaborate, it's easy to follow and easy to concentrate on the story instead of simply marveling at his usage of fancy words and turns of phrases.
A 1k-page book can get draggy with ampulose prose. And his prose also works well with young POVs. Can't have orphanage level runts speaking or thinking Shakespearean-level prose. 🤣
Good prose doesn't always relate to a fancy usage of words and verbose styles. I judge prose for the kind of needs it has to serve.
The Tome of Haren is an Epic Story, steeped in classic elements but with a modern voice and structure. It feeds into the noble archetypes embodied by the main characters. These characters stave off the encroaching darkness and the enemies outside and within.
If you enjoy grand, epic, sweeping stories, told in a modern voice and style, then The Tome of Haren is your book. Be prepared to be sequestered into a grand conflict, full of magic and action.
4.7 ⭐️
August 3, 2023
Damien was kind enough to give me a copy of the Tome of Haren to review.
The Tome of Haren is an epic story that follows a group of friends pulled apart by destiny–each to their own exciting, and at times terrifying, adventures that will shape the future of their nation (and, probably, their world).
The book features multiple POVs and several story lines. It felt like I was getting to read four, maybe more, solidly developed stories, each with their own subplots interwoven. Most of the main characters were well developed and distinctive. They each had their own agendas, struggles, twists and character arcs. Nothing ever felt easy for them, but I got to cheer them on as they succeeded and feel the frustration when they failed.
About 1/3 of the way through the book I realized something startling: I never felt annoyed when the next chapter I read switched to another character's story. Often in multiple POV stories, there is one character whose story I enjoy better than the others, and when I am forced to switch to another character's story I feel annoyed. With the Tome of Haren, instead, I felt like, "Oh yeah! I've been waiting to know what happened next with this guy/gal."
The story hits so many of the fantasy highlights in a single book. We get to encounter a warrior, a wizard, a healer, a spiritualist, royalty, orphans, a dragon, assassins, horse people, forest people, a damned village, an evil valley with hell spawn, and so much more. While that by itself is cool, what’s particularly great is that none of it felt contrived–every encounter was well incorporated into the story.
With all that said, there were a few things that made the book a little less enjoyable than it could have been. We all have different tastes, but the “voice” in which the story was written sometimes distracted me from the actual story–this was more so at the beginning of the book and much less noticeable by the end.
Another, related item, was that the formatting sometimes failed to carry its weight. It’s not something you typically notice until it’s missing, and then you get confused as the story seems to jump ahead without clear indication. Typically, you expect an extra line or marker to indicate shifts like that. I found this, like the voice, however, became less of a distraction the further I read.
Overall, these are fairly minor complaints considering the vastness of the story. If you’re looking for an epic fantasy, with some dark elements, multiple POVs, that hits all the fantasy highlights, you should check out Damien Francis’ The Tome of Haren!
The Tome of Haren is an epic story that follows a group of friends pulled apart by destiny–each to their own exciting, and at times terrifying, adventures that will shape the future of their nation (and, probably, their world).
The book features multiple POVs and several story lines. It felt like I was getting to read four, maybe more, solidly developed stories, each with their own subplots interwoven. Most of the main characters were well developed and distinctive. They each had their own agendas, struggles, twists and character arcs. Nothing ever felt easy for them, but I got to cheer them on as they succeeded and feel the frustration when they failed.
About 1/3 of the way through the book I realized something startling: I never felt annoyed when the next chapter I read switched to another character's story. Often in multiple POV stories, there is one character whose story I enjoy better than the others, and when I am forced to switch to another character's story I feel annoyed. With the Tome of Haren, instead, I felt like, "Oh yeah! I've been waiting to know what happened next with this guy/gal."
The story hits so many of the fantasy highlights in a single book. We get to encounter a warrior, a wizard, a healer, a spiritualist, royalty, orphans, a dragon, assassins, horse people, forest people, a damned village, an evil valley with hell spawn, and so much more. While that by itself is cool, what’s particularly great is that none of it felt contrived–every encounter was well incorporated into the story.
With all that said, there were a few things that made the book a little less enjoyable than it could have been. We all have different tastes, but the “voice” in which the story was written sometimes distracted me from the actual story–this was more so at the beginning of the book and much less noticeable by the end.
Another, related item, was that the formatting sometimes failed to carry its weight. It’s not something you typically notice until it’s missing, and then you get confused as the story seems to jump ahead without clear indication. Typically, you expect an extra line or marker to indicate shifts like that. I found this, like the voice, however, became less of a distraction the further I read.
Overall, these are fairly minor complaints considering the vastness of the story. If you’re looking for an epic fantasy, with some dark elements, multiple POVs, that hits all the fantasy highlights, you should check out Damien Francis’ The Tome of Haren!
March 24, 2025
War is looming over Narean like a darkness you never seen, assasins and enemies are hunting in the shadows. After 150 years, the keeper is finally on his way.
The Tomb of Haren is a powerful story that you can see that Damien has putten a lot of love into. It gets better and better with each chapter, and drawing you in and keeps you warm. Not because it's cozy, because it's not. It's as dark and terrifying as you can get it, and it's so well crafted that it for sure doesn't feel like it's his first book.
We follow mostly Aeidor, an orphan servant, barely a young man, and is tracked down by a champion and told he's the first keeper in the last 150 years. Leaving behind the orphanage, he's going on a highly dangerous adventure that should surely kill him to find the lost artifact.
You also have a few other povs like the princess, Lylla, and Hessa, which is overwhelmed by the politics, treats, and a plot that is setting its course in the palace.
So with the palace also as a main point in this book, it's not only focusing about the traveling of our young Aeidor, but it's also very heavy with the politics parts of the world, the last year I been very lucky to have find books with great political backgrounds and this is one of them. As I find politics to be a bit on the slower side, but with this one, it's really exciting, and I can't wait to read more of it in the future books.
When starting a new series, i always keep my expectations low even if they book sounds like a fantastic read. And i would say that this book blew my mind away because this was a fantastic introduction to what I think will be a big and awesome world. It's gonna be an 8 book series, so I hope it's gonna be a big world.
I must say that Damien did a fabulous job on the female characters, i think this might be one of the best book when it comes to female character as i sometimes find other books with them as a pov to be less interesting or overly annoying. But not here. Feels like he was thinking *f... this! No females here are gonna have a break* and just slap them with whatever the world brings. And i loved it!
But due to this is also found Aeidor the main pov to be less interesting after reading their pov's, but after about 25% his story started to get a better pacing and I enjoyed it alot after then, and his a favorite for now.
I'm gonna be honest at one point in the story I was a bit worried that the book would be to long as the ebook is abit over 1000 pages, since it's the first book in his series. But he had so much cool stuff happening here with different types of characters and their type of stories and lore building that it wasn't to long anymore. Also a big pluss that he had 82 chapters, so each one was the perfect size for me.
The lore is incredibly deep and masterfully made, and I want more of it.
As with every 1 book in the series, i can see how much potential this can get with the big world, adventure, characters and magic system.
For yeah even if it's a five star read the characters are still young and could sometimes need a chill pill.
But looking back to the start, they have really grown alot, and I can't wait for the next book.
If you love dark epic fantasy then this i highly recommend you read this and it also have a fantastic magic system.
The Tomb of Haren is a powerful story that you can see that Damien has putten a lot of love into. It gets better and better with each chapter, and drawing you in and keeps you warm. Not because it's cozy, because it's not. It's as dark and terrifying as you can get it, and it's so well crafted that it for sure doesn't feel like it's his first book.
We follow mostly Aeidor, an orphan servant, barely a young man, and is tracked down by a champion and told he's the first keeper in the last 150 years. Leaving behind the orphanage, he's going on a highly dangerous adventure that should surely kill him to find the lost artifact.
You also have a few other povs like the princess, Lylla, and Hessa, which is overwhelmed by the politics, treats, and a plot that is setting its course in the palace.
So with the palace also as a main point in this book, it's not only focusing about the traveling of our young Aeidor, but it's also very heavy with the politics parts of the world, the last year I been very lucky to have find books with great political backgrounds and this is one of them. As I find politics to be a bit on the slower side, but with this one, it's really exciting, and I can't wait to read more of it in the future books.
When starting a new series, i always keep my expectations low even if they book sounds like a fantastic read. And i would say that this book blew my mind away because this was a fantastic introduction to what I think will be a big and awesome world. It's gonna be an 8 book series, so I hope it's gonna be a big world.
I must say that Damien did a fabulous job on the female characters, i think this might be one of the best book when it comes to female character as i sometimes find other books with them as a pov to be less interesting or overly annoying. But not here. Feels like he was thinking *f... this! No females here are gonna have a break* and just slap them with whatever the world brings. And i loved it!
But due to this is also found Aeidor the main pov to be less interesting after reading their pov's, but after about 25% his story started to get a better pacing and I enjoyed it alot after then, and his a favorite for now.
I'm gonna be honest at one point in the story I was a bit worried that the book would be to long as the ebook is abit over 1000 pages, since it's the first book in his series. But he had so much cool stuff happening here with different types of characters and their type of stories and lore building that it wasn't to long anymore. Also a big pluss that he had 82 chapters, so each one was the perfect size for me.
The lore is incredibly deep and masterfully made, and I want more of it.
As with every 1 book in the series, i can see how much potential this can get with the big world, adventure, characters and magic system.
For yeah even if it's a five star read the characters are still young and could sometimes need a chill pill.
But looking back to the start, they have really grown alot, and I can't wait for the next book.
If you love dark epic fantasy then this i highly recommend you read this and it also have a fantastic magic system.
April 28, 2023
Full disclosure, I know Damien, but I decided to purchase his book when I knew the following three things: his name, that he plays DND, and that he wrote this book.
It is a bit of a spin out to know an author, I have never had the opportunity to thank an author for writing something that has delivered many hours of entertainment, relatable characters, and terrifying situations. I enjoyed how uncomfortable saying thank you made him feel!
On to the actual review!
I fell in love with these characters, the cultures they inhabit, and their struggles. There are some really well fleshed out environments: Demres (capital city of Narean) a multi-layered city, where each layer offers unique environs and residents. The temporary, ever changing, tent city of the Sandrelen. The living tree city of the Ravens (my favourite), with their life force in tune with the environment they live in. Each of these places with their own cultures, even the Blooders had some incredible depth and, in their own way, honour.
This world that Damien has built brick, by highly detailed brick, is easily in my top 10, and if I'm being honest probably one of my top 5, fantasy worlds. It is easily my favourite dark fantasy, admittedly, I haven't read a lot of dark fantasy. But of that short list of maybe 6 books, this is my favourite.
There were times that I felt super uncomfortable, at the edge of my seat, unable to put the book down. There were at least 4 nights that I ended up staying up well past 1:00am because I had to reach safety. It could be a paragraph break, or end of a chapter, but even then, it didn't mean safety. I love that Damien, like some of my favourite authors, is not afraid to get very descriptive in the action sequences. Some of the best, most brutal, and viscerally detailed action. The Blooders, the invaders, the Vale (buy yourself some pull-ups), all of it. I could literally feel my pulse rise, my body gross tense, and jittery with the surge of adrenaline as I could imagine so clearly what these bad-ass characters (in some cases fledgling bad-ass characters) were contending with. I sit here starting to feel that same surge as I revisit my thoughts on it.
The action alone is going to keep me coming back to this book. There are only a couple of series or individual books that I have read more than the one time; Robert Jordan's 'The Wheel of Time' (literally just finished my fourth re-read of the whole series) and Ramond E Feist's 'Magician' (and the ...of the Empire trilogy). I can gladly say that I will be adding this book (and the series that it is the dawning of) to that very short, high calibre, list.
Don't get me wrong, this book isn't perfect, there are errors. I don't want to come across as a blinded by friendship person that gives a glowing review that ignores the ugly truth. I will say that some of the errors are the due to the editor, which is still very much on Damien. But to his credit, he has already got a revised edition coming soon. I'd also say some of the errors are likely vestiges of the very early days of this labour of love. Damien has been writing this book since he was a kid, in some of my university essays, which are tiny fractions of this scale have had as many errors in spelling, or forgetting to delete summary sentences, or forgetting to double check for run-on sentences (of which this is my favourite). The mistakes in the Tome of Haren are not what I remember, it is the carefully crafted world, the road building, pavement laying, for the saga that is still to come.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Give it a red hot go, get your hands dirty, have fun, I know I did.
It is a bit of a spin out to know an author, I have never had the opportunity to thank an author for writing something that has delivered many hours of entertainment, relatable characters, and terrifying situations. I enjoyed how uncomfortable saying thank you made him feel!
On to the actual review!
I fell in love with these characters, the cultures they inhabit, and their struggles. There are some really well fleshed out environments: Demres (capital city of Narean) a multi-layered city, where each layer offers unique environs and residents. The temporary, ever changing, tent city of the Sandrelen. The living tree city of the Ravens (my favourite), with their life force in tune with the environment they live in. Each of these places with their own cultures, even the Blooders had some incredible depth and, in their own way, honour.
This world that Damien has built brick, by highly detailed brick, is easily in my top 10, and if I'm being honest probably one of my top 5, fantasy worlds. It is easily my favourite dark fantasy, admittedly, I haven't read a lot of dark fantasy. But of that short list of maybe 6 books, this is my favourite.
There were times that I felt super uncomfortable, at the edge of my seat, unable to put the book down. There were at least 4 nights that I ended up staying up well past 1:00am because I had to reach safety. It could be a paragraph break, or end of a chapter, but even then, it didn't mean safety. I love that Damien, like some of my favourite authors, is not afraid to get very descriptive in the action sequences. Some of the best, most brutal, and viscerally detailed action. The Blooders, the invaders, the Vale (buy yourself some pull-ups), all of it. I could literally feel my pulse rise, my body gross tense, and jittery with the surge of adrenaline as I could imagine so clearly what these bad-ass characters (in some cases fledgling bad-ass characters) were contending with. I sit here starting to feel that same surge as I revisit my thoughts on it.
The action alone is going to keep me coming back to this book. There are only a couple of series or individual books that I have read more than the one time; Robert Jordan's 'The Wheel of Time' (literally just finished my fourth re-read of the whole series) and Ramond E Feist's 'Magician' (and the ...of the Empire trilogy). I can gladly say that I will be adding this book (and the series that it is the dawning of) to that very short, high calibre, list.
Don't get me wrong, this book isn't perfect, there are errors. I don't want to come across as a blinded by friendship person that gives a glowing review that ignores the ugly truth. I will say that some of the errors are the due to the editor, which is still very much on Damien. But to his credit, he has already got a revised edition coming soon. I'd also say some of the errors are likely vestiges of the very early days of this labour of love. Damien has been writing this book since he was a kid, in some of my university essays, which are tiny fractions of this scale have had as many errors in spelling, or forgetting to delete summary sentences, or forgetting to double check for run-on sentences (of which this is my favourite). The mistakes in the Tome of Haren are not what I remember, it is the carefully crafted world, the road building, pavement laying, for the saga that is still to come.
I cannot recommend this book enough. Give it a red hot go, get your hands dirty, have fun, I know I did.
February 2, 2023
Full Review at http://www.roastedbookreviews.com/rev...
There is a passion-filled beating heart behind the characters and story of The Tome of Haren that’s infectious. It's clearly a labor of love with tons of subtle and not-so-subtle hints and nods to other classic books and creative works. Francis displays a monumental level of detail for his craft. It shows on every page throughout this dark and epic fantasy behemoth. The entire story is endearing to me, despite the issues I have with its editing. This book came out of nowhere and surprised me with how much it resonated with me. I really appreciate writers like Damien Francis. An author that swings for the fences right off the bat with a debut novel leaving no stone unturned. If this is his methodology going forward, I'm certainly onboard. Stand up and take notice, this book deserves much more attention than it's receiving. I may now be buying a physical copy as well because who doesn't want a tome on their shelf? I recommend The Tome of Haren by Damien Francis.
There is a passion-filled beating heart behind the characters and story of The Tome of Haren that’s infectious. It's clearly a labor of love with tons of subtle and not-so-subtle hints and nods to other classic books and creative works. Francis displays a monumental level of detail for his craft. It shows on every page throughout this dark and epic fantasy behemoth. The entire story is endearing to me, despite the issues I have with its editing. This book came out of nowhere and surprised me with how much it resonated with me. I really appreciate writers like Damien Francis. An author that swings for the fences right off the bat with a debut novel leaving no stone unturned. If this is his methodology going forward, I'm certainly onboard. Stand up and take notice, this book deserves much more attention than it's receiving. I may now be buying a physical copy as well because who doesn't want a tome on their shelf? I recommend The Tome of Haren by Damien Francis.
August 2, 2023
As an aside I Know this Author personally and I bought this book to support him.
In saying that I went into this book with no expectations that it would be worth reading, or that I would find my friends hard work so gripping.
If you like fantasy novels, this is worth a read. If you like books with multiple POVs this is worth a read.
As someone who reads slowly, this book had me reading every night, constantly wanting to know the happenings of the portrayed characters. I was gripped by the battle scenes, felt moments of devastation, felt moments of fear, and of happiness. I felt what these characters went through.
This book is well written, well thought out, and a excellent beginning to a saga of books. There is not one moment I didn’t want to continue reading, and I cannot wait to find out what happens in following books.
In saying that I went into this book with no expectations that it would be worth reading, or that I would find my friends hard work so gripping.
If you like fantasy novels, this is worth a read. If you like books with multiple POVs this is worth a read.
As someone who reads slowly, this book had me reading every night, constantly wanting to know the happenings of the portrayed characters. I was gripped by the battle scenes, felt moments of devastation, felt moments of fear, and of happiness. I felt what these characters went through.
This book is well written, well thought out, and a excellent beginning to a saga of books. There is not one moment I didn’t want to continue reading, and I cannot wait to find out what happens in following books.
December 1, 2022
The Tome of Haren is a familiar but fresh fantasy adventure pitting a heroic band of adventurers and a young apprentice against the dark horrors of a brutal world gearing up for war. We get to see the world through the eyes of this young apprentice as they too experience it for the first time. As a fan of fantasy I found reading it to feel like coming home to other loved series such as the Rangers Apprentice and the Lord of the Rings but it didn’t feel like it borrowed or copied. Once the plot really got underway it was distractingly good and I can’t wait for Damien to write the sequel.
June 2, 2024
I was intrigued by the blur of this book to a point I was excited to be able to read this book. I loved Aeidor as a character he seemed that he had to go through many challenges throughout the book, which developed him as a character very nicly. Even though he had these challenges he manged to get through them, which developed him as a character. The way in which the the storyline and plot line developed through the book. I didn't want to put the book down as soon as I started reading the book. It gripped my attention from the start. I enjoyed the authors writing style very much. And am looking forward to reading more of his works in the future.
January 17, 2023
Watching Damien work so hard to produce this work of art was entirely worth the wait. This story is captivating, a thrilling ride from start to finish. The characters are intriguing, with complex stories, and I can not wait to see how their journeys unfold and what the coming books have in store for all of the characters.
January 7, 2024
Such a fantastic read! This book is full of adventure, the characters are so well written and there such nuance and detail given to every character, hero and villain alike. The horror element to this book really pulls the story up a level from the regular fantasy adventure novel. Well worth a read you won’t be able to put it down.
April 5, 2024
An adventure reminiscent of early Stephen Lawhead
February 27, 2023
The Tome of Haren is a classic hero's journey tale with some twists. There are many classic characteristics of Fantasy mixed with other genres that made me feel like I was going through a multidimensional experience.
I really enjoyed the characters. Experiencing their relationships with each other, their quirks, and their own personal journeys throughout the course of the story was a wild ride. There were a few moments where the editing could have been better, but I would chalk that up to the fact that I read a first edition. The ending was fantastic and the characters go on amazing journeys. Both literally and figuratively. By the time you reach the end, you really feel like you went on it with them.
If you're into Fantasty and/or adventure, pick up this book.
I really enjoyed the characters. Experiencing their relationships with each other, their quirks, and their own personal journeys throughout the course of the story was a wild ride. There were a few moments where the editing could have been better, but I would chalk that up to the fact that I read a first edition. The ending was fantastic and the characters go on amazing journeys. Both literally and figuratively. By the time you reach the end, you really feel like you went on it with them.
If you're into Fantasty and/or adventure, pick up this book.
October 2, 2023
Fantastic read that sets up the start to what should be a classic fantasy epic. Both the characters and world are built in a way that shows real depth. I can’t wait to see what happens next
September 10, 2025
Growing up in the seventies and eighties, I was drawn into fantasy through great series like The Belgariad, Dragonlance, and The Wheel of Time. One thing those classics all had in common was their focus on a group of heroes. While a single protagonist might carry the story, it was the supporting cast that gave the adventure real heart. You became invested in each character’s fate — you knew that Tanis, Garion and Rand would be safe, but their companions were never guaranteed survival. I still remember the pain of Sturm Brightblade’s death in Dragons of Winter Night; I cried for days.
It’s been a long time since a cast of characters has gripped me with that same level of concern for their safety — until I read The Tome of Haren.
This is a mammoth book, weighing in at over a thousand pages. It could easily have been split into smaller novels. Multiple points of view are explored, though the story largely unfolds through Aeidor. He and his friends are orphans on the cusp of leaving the orphanage to begin their adult lives. Each has a clear path forward — except for Aeidor. That changes when legendary hero Cailad chooses him as an apprentice.
Aeidor is young, inexperienced, and still in training when he is thrust into a dangerous quest to recover the fabled Tome of Haren. The Tome may be the only hope of saving his homeland from invasion, and so a fellowship of legendary heroes is formed to undertake the perilous journey.
It’s here that the book truly shines. The group of companions is varied, with clashing personalities and complementary abilities, and you quickly become invested in their fates. The dangers they face feel real, and the sense that anyone could fall keeps the tension high. Their victories feel earned, their struggles believable, and their conversations often bring moments of humour or poignancy that balance the darker tones of the story.
The narrative also branches beyond the quest. We see how Aeidor’s fellow orphans fare as they pursue their chosen careers, each subplot woven seamlessly into the overarching tale. The effect reminded me of The Wheel of Time, where individual journeys develop separately but inevitably converge in an epic confrontation with evil. What I especially admired was how naturally these side stories flowed; they never felt like interruptions but rather enriched the world and made the stakes feel even larger.
The worldbuilding is rich and detailed, the characters feel authentic, and the threat of death hangs palpably over every page. Francis writes with a confidence and clarity that is rare for a debut — his prose is accessible yet vivid, and he knows how to balance description with action so the pace never drags for long. For a first novel, this is an astonishing achievement. The Tome of Haren rekindled my love for fantasy — something no mainstream release has managed to do in years. I could not put it down, and I am eagerly awaiting the next instalment.
There is really nothing negative to say about this book, except that it is a bit too long. It takes commitment to read a novel of this size, especially when the first hundred pages are spent setting the stage through multiple POVs. But believe me, the perseverance pays off — it’s a cracker.
It’s been a long time since a cast of characters has gripped me with that same level of concern for their safety — until I read The Tome of Haren.
This is a mammoth book, weighing in at over a thousand pages. It could easily have been split into smaller novels. Multiple points of view are explored, though the story largely unfolds through Aeidor. He and his friends are orphans on the cusp of leaving the orphanage to begin their adult lives. Each has a clear path forward — except for Aeidor. That changes when legendary hero Cailad chooses him as an apprentice.
Aeidor is young, inexperienced, and still in training when he is thrust into a dangerous quest to recover the fabled Tome of Haren. The Tome may be the only hope of saving his homeland from invasion, and so a fellowship of legendary heroes is formed to undertake the perilous journey.
It’s here that the book truly shines. The group of companions is varied, with clashing personalities and complementary abilities, and you quickly become invested in their fates. The dangers they face feel real, and the sense that anyone could fall keeps the tension high. Their victories feel earned, their struggles believable, and their conversations often bring moments of humour or poignancy that balance the darker tones of the story.
The narrative also branches beyond the quest. We see how Aeidor’s fellow orphans fare as they pursue their chosen careers, each subplot woven seamlessly into the overarching tale. The effect reminded me of The Wheel of Time, where individual journeys develop separately but inevitably converge in an epic confrontation with evil. What I especially admired was how naturally these side stories flowed; they never felt like interruptions but rather enriched the world and made the stakes feel even larger.
The worldbuilding is rich and detailed, the characters feel authentic, and the threat of death hangs palpably over every page. Francis writes with a confidence and clarity that is rare for a debut — his prose is accessible yet vivid, and he knows how to balance description with action so the pace never drags for long. For a first novel, this is an astonishing achievement. The Tome of Haren rekindled my love for fantasy — something no mainstream release has managed to do in years. I could not put it down, and I am eagerly awaiting the next instalment.
There is really nothing negative to say about this book, except that it is a bit too long. It takes commitment to read a novel of this size, especially when the first hundred pages are spent setting the stage through multiple POVs. But believe me, the perseverance pays off — it’s a cracker.
June 17, 2024
Originally posted at
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A quite INCREDIBLE dark, epic fantasy debut which impressively honors the various tropes of the genre, and lives up to its name in more ways than one. And although it is quite the chunk boi in itself, the characters, the plot, the world – everything was excellently done and equally well written. There’s tons of action, tons of politics, tons of drama, and tons of thrills throughout. What more can you ask for? I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you go check it out, and add it to your TBR asap!
A quite INCREDIBLE dark, epic fantasy debut which impressively honors the various tropes of the genre, and lives up to its name in more ways than one. And although it is quite the chunk boi in itself, the characters, the plot, the world – everything was excellently done and equally well written. There’s tons of action, tons of politics, tons of drama, and tons of thrills throughout. What more can you ask for? I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you go check it out, and add it to your TBR asap!
May 8, 2023
(Full review video coming soon)
Thank you author for making me discover your book! Very enjoyable adventure, and a promising start for the rest of the series :)
Thank you author for making me discover your book! Very enjoyable adventure, and a promising start for the rest of the series :)
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