The Peace of Freysdal

by Michael Richards

Freysdal is a peculiar place for more reasons than one. Besides manufacturing radiant items for non-Light-Twisters, it's also the only place in Thadren where thralls and freemen work side by side. Jaren knows that he's no more than a small piece in the effort to overthrow Thralldom, but he's comfortable with that role. That comfort is shattered, though, when he learns that he can control radiant energy. Now, instead working to be reunited with his sisters, Jaren must resist the burden that drives Light-Twisters to cruelty and survive an abusive radiance instructor long enough to figure out who's trying to kill Freysdal's founder. The stress ramps up with growing rumors of an impending attack on Freysdal, and Jaren must decide whether he's willing to give up the Peace of Freysdal and become the Sword that defends it.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

361 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2023

About the author

Michael Richards is an engineer in the United States Air Force with a Ph.D. in Energy Science. He was born in Texas but has lived in 10 states, 6 countries, 3 continents, 4 planets, and 2 galaxies. While there's no place like home--because no place is home--he's always happiest around his magical wife and five mischievous children. He's currently stationed in downtown Tokyo, Japan, where his assignment is to find and fund top quantum science researchers in Asia. He likes growing beards (when on leave...), smashing atoms, and making cheese; but not at the same time. He loves squeezing stories out of the diverse experiences he's had.

Reviews

[Shea]

The Peace of Fresydal is a Young Adult Fantasy debut by author Michael Richards. The main character, Jaren, discovers that he is a Light-Twister. He can either let the Light-Twisting corrupt his mind, or he can use it to protect his family and friends. 

What I enjoyed: The plot is fast-paced from the very first page. The characters are concerned with right and wrong, and they cherish their family and friends above all. The magic system was unique and based on nuclear radiation. 

Other thoughts: I would have liked a little more world-building to understand what Freysdal is like, and how the magic system really works. 

Overall, this was a great debut by Michael Richards! This is a great book for Middle Grade/YA readers who enjoy coming of age fantasy with a unique magic system. 

This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for my honest review. 

Content Rating 4.5/5: There is some brief violence but it is not descriptive.

[Reader Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Satisfying Ending.

I enjoyed reading, Peace Of Freysdal. I was refreshing to enter a new world. One that was well crafted I love reading, coming of age stories. Especially, ones where they have to go through all the normal teenage stuff, angst, love, conflict, leaving behind childhood and then discovering some new talents and abilities.
I also thought that the magic system was brilliant. Developing a magic system that is distinct is a pretty fair effort.
So here we have Jaren, newly arrived in Freysdal after an accident, having to fit in with a foster family and being reunited with his sisters. He is throw in at the deep end to learn how his new ability works. He undergoes some high intensity training. Soon to find himself using his ability almost straight away. Jaren finds he is in the middle of conspiracies, intrigue and a mystery to solve.
I have no hesitation to recommend, Peace of Freysdal, to any fantasy fiction reader. I enjoyed it.

[Jamedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally on JamReads

The Peace of Freysdal is the first novel in the young adult fantasy series Light Twister, the debut book of Michael Richards. A story that follows Jaren, a thrall in Freysdal, one of the few places in the world where freemen and thralls (basically slaves) works side by side, and who discovers by accident that he's able to control Radiance, and become a Light Twister.

However, from the start, we have a main character who is young and struggling, as the myths around Light Twisters imply that he might succumb to corruption; soon, we discover that reality is not always white or black, but a complex shade of grey. This new ability seems as an opportunity to help those that live in Freysdal, and a way to preserve this place where Thralldom is not existent.
In the style of coming of ages stories, we will have a young hero, who is destined to do great things, but who firstly needs to be trained in using his powers; a process that will eat a good chunk of the book, introducing us to the nuances of the magic system, a quite original one based on nuclear radiation (I think it's the first time I see this kind of base).

I found refreshing the figure of Jaren, as instead of trying to avoid his new responsibilities, he just accepts them; even when the training becomes especially hard. He fits so well the hero role; and honestly, I ended liking him.
The rest of the cast might not be too memorable, but they are good complements to an interesting world where the spotlight will be centered on Jaren.

Despite the pacing in the first half might be slow to my taste, it acts as our introduction to accelerate it in the second half, and to introduce plenty of action scenes, which are cruder than I expected, but nonetheless, really impressive. Once Jaren is able to use his power, things escalate quickly.

In general, I think this is a great novel if you like YA coming of age stories, with hard magic systems and a main hero in the spotlight. Overall, solid debut from Michael Richards.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

After accidently finding out that Jaren is a Light-Twister, he is tasked with trying to help the city of Freysdal be rid of Thralldom, or slavery, once and for all by honing his skills both physically, mentally, and magically.

As this was categorized for as Young Adult Fiction, I find it would be a great introduction to kids and teens just dipping their toes into the fantasy genre. A slow burn coming of age that started with a majority of the story dedicated to Jaren learning his skills and making connections to the other characters. The second half of the story picks up the pace a little more with more action-packed scenes. While the ending felt a little rushed to me, personally (I’m used to much much longer novels!), it did wrap up the story quite nicely and left enough of a cliffhanger to imply there will be a sequel.

A couple of things I didn’t love:

- Magic was a little tough to understand at first; took me quite a few chapters to catch on.
- Didn’t feel overly connected with any one character, good or bad.

This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for my honest review. These thoughts are my own.

[The Book Bunch (Sam) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Peace of Freysdal is about a slave boy who despite his wishes can control the forces of the world. Will the power turn him into something twisted or can he hold on to the goodness inside him while still being the weapon he needs to be?...

I really do recommend you go preorder this one if you like books like stormlight archive or any fantasy books that focus on the training and development of the main character and their powers.

Really looking forward to seeing where this series goes.

[Christina Pilkington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jaren knows he’s lucky to be living in Freysdal, the only place in Thadren where thralls and freedmen work together. He’s working to help overthrow thralldom, but he never thought he’d be doing it as a Light-Twister, a person who can control radiant energy. Now, he’s at the forefront of the fight, and he’s scared it’s going to change who he is, since Light-Twisters can be come warped by their power. As Jaren trains, the pressure rises, knowing he may be the best person to protect Freysdal and discover who wants to destroy the city.

Jaren’s an interesting character to follow. We get to follow his journey from first learning about his Light-Twister abilities, to watching him train, to seeing him go on adventures and face danger, and even have a few crushes! I enjoyed watching him work through his feelings and coming to terms with his new identity.

There were quite a few interesting side characters, too. My favorites were Tobie, Joans, and Lesarra. We don’t learn a lot about these characters, but they’re interesting and mysterious enough to make me want to pick up the sequel to learn even more about them.

The magic system was by far my favorite part of the story! It’s Intricate and complex but well explained. I’ve never seen a magic system quite like this one before where it incorporates a lot of physics elements. If you like a rules-based magic system, this is one you’ll want to check out!

The writing itself felt a bit clunky at times, especially for the first third, which is really my only complaint. The magic system is well described and easy to imagine, but the writing is pretty bare bones. I would have preferred a more descriptive style.

I’m not a big YA reader anymore, but The Peace of Freysdal really surprised me with its depth of the main character and unique and well constructed magic system. I think fans of Brandon Sanderson would enjoy this book.

*Thanks to the author for the #gifted copy for review

[Zana · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author reached out to me on insta and asked me if I'd like to read and review his YA fantasy arc. I love supporting indie authors, so ofc I couldn't refuse!

Overall, I loved that the magic system is really unique. At the very end, the author talked about how the magic is based on his science background and you can clearly tell that he took the time to really figure out its nuances.

I love the MC, Jaren. He's a perfect Middle Grade/very young YA character. (Although I think he could've been aged down from 15 to maybe 12 or 13.) His character arc really shows his growth from a traumatized thrall who's extremely wary of light-twisting (aka magic) to the archetypal MG/YA hero.

I like how his relationships with the other characters are realistic. His attitude towards his foster brother is antagonistic at first, but it eventually develops into friendship and brotherhood. He has so many complicated feelings towards his instructor/mentor, Joans, that anyone can (partially) relate to. His relationships with his sisters are another example of how the author excels with characterization and character growth.

Unfortunately though, it's difficult for me to give this novel a high rating. The novel needs several more passes with a copy editor and a proofreader.

There were grammatical mistakes that took me out of the story numerous times to the point where I thought about DNF the book. The dialogue is really awkward and clunky due to the lack of contractions, which made conversations sound and feel unnatural. All of these issues made me wonder if I received an early draft instead of a proper arc.

The writing itself is just... Not my thing. Even though this is MG/young YA, young readers still deserve a well-written novel. As it stands, I can't really recommend this.

Thank you to Lodestone Books and NetGalley for this arc.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So a little while ago the very kind @michaelrichardsauthor found me via my Meh Monday reviews and asked me if I would like to read his upcoming YA fantasy cuz he thought it would be funny to see my meh review of his book.

Well I'm sorry Michael, you failed to make your story bad so I can't give it a meh review 🤣

The Peace of Freysdal follows young Jaren who just wants to do his job and hopefully one day be able to get his sisters back from their enslavement.
While he was delivering a message an experiment goes horribly wrong and everyone was severely injured except him.
Turns out he can control Radience and that he is to become the weapon of Freysdal. But first he has to learn how to control this magic all while keeping it a secret cuz there are people who would rather kill him then let him be used by someone else.
Can he master this new Light-Twisting ability or will his new found power burn him from the inside out?

This was very Sanderson esk.
The magic system is very different and complex and honestly went over my head but I still mostly followed 😅

I really enjoyed the characters but especially Jaren. I really liked that he wasn't a whiney teenager that just "wants to be a normal kid". No. He accepts his new found roll because he knows it will keep his city and family safe.

Again somethings went over my head but I'm kinda dumb when it comes to keeping track of somethings so I just accept things and continue on with the story😅

I would love to see this adapted into a cartoon in a kinda Avatar the Last Airbender style show. Like it's technically for kids but adults can enjoy it too.

4/5⭐

Thank you so much to the author for sending this my way!💚

The Peace of Freysdal will be available August 1st 2023

[Lissi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gifted copy in exchange for an honest review:

■ It was awesome to dive into a completely new fantasy world, although I must say that I was a bit overwhelmed at the beginning and I would have appreciated some more information, especially about how the society in this book works. Maybe this was why it took me a few chapters to get into the story. At the same time, the pacing in the first half of the book was a tad slow to me, but it quickly picked up in the second half.

■ I love a book where the main character has to learn to control powers he didn’t even know he had and gradually becomes better at using them. In a way, this could also be described as a coming-of-age story.

■ What’s really cool is that Michael took the time and effort to write an 80+ page primer on twisting light, so essentially a light-twister guide! It includes a map of the world, a glossary, and more information about how the magic system works and does make a lot of things in this book a bit clearer.

■ So, if you’re a fan of YA fantasy and are looking for a well-crafted, intriguing, and unique magic system, The Peace of Freysdal could be worth checking out!

My rating: 3.5 - 4 ⭐️

[John Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a lot of fantasy or sci-fi, magic or abilities can often be really vague. While understandably describing the extent and capabilities of imaginary abilities can be difficult, I find that leaving the extent of a character's abilities not properly explained can detract from the story. I think this in part because if the audience does not fully understand what the heroes can or cannot do, they will always expect the hero to have the capability to defeat whatever danger comes at them, making it so the audience cannot truly embrace the danger or challenge of certain situations. On the other hand, if the audience has a clear fleshed understanding of the 'magic' of the world, then they can truly understand how powerful a new villain might be, or how futile a situation is. In this way, we know what the heroes can or cannot do, and can truly understand the dangers are in because we know the extent of their abilities. This is a really long and arduous way of saying that I like that you have a more scientific approach to your magic. I know that trying to explain this system to the reader can be really difficult, but I find that it can really feel rewarding as a reader. One thing I think that could make this slightly better is maybe some visuals. A lot of people, including me, find difficult concepts easier to understand if it comes with visuals. I think that if there were some tables, of the different types of sources, or even the uses when different sources are combined, would really help.

Another thing I noticed that your book spends a lot of time on, is the inner monologue of the main character Jaren. This is made more interesting, by the fact that Jaren has multiple 'minds' or 'streams of thought'. It makes it so that how Jaren thinks and feels about himself and his surroundings, cannot be made crystal clear. It also helps with the depth of relationships in your book. We can see every muddled thought and emotion Jared has with everyone, and it makes his relationships, especially with characters like Joan, seem more real. I think this also adds to the story since the world is clearly twisted by Jaren's perspective. As the reader, we can make some guesses or disagree with Jaren on certain points, but it definitely feels like as the reader we are sitting in Jaren's head seeing the world through his eyes. When I read the Peace of Fresdal, I could feel the difference that we were not just reading the story unfold from an unemotional narrator's perspective, but from an actual thinking and reasoning person with emotions, and this inner monologue was what I think added to this experience the most.

However, I wish the story was a lot longer. I think that if certain parts of the story were slower, and you had more time to fully develop them, it would help. The first half of the book I think could have used a bit more, but the second half of the book felt around the right size. I think this mainly comes down to fulfilling the arc of each relationship. I noticed that with certain characters, while Jaren had complex and compelling relationships with them, they felt rushed. I felt that characters like Kehvun, Maullie, and even Jaren's family, had some interactions with Jaren that were missing. As a reader, I didn't have time to fully get to know each character that maybe Jaren did 'off-screen'. I do not know how flexible the length of the book was for you, but I think that is the biggest thing holding the story back.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

"𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦."

The Peace of Freysdal is a YA fantasy series starter about one young man’s discovery of his own doomed power. Jaren is a thrall (essentially a slave) in Freysdal, the only place in Thadren where thralls are treated as freemen. Its wealthy founder established this “Peace of Freysdal” and hopes to spread its goal of ending Thralldom to the rest of Thadren. But not all people are as accepting of this Peace, so when Jaren discovers his ability to control radiance/“light-twisting”, he joins the fight to protect his benefactor against assassins and become a Sword of Freysdal despite light-twisting’s corrupting potential.

Although this is marketed as YA, I wouldn’t actually consider this YA. It’s straight up epic fantasy, just with a young protagonist (like Jim Butcher’s Furies of Calderon which I think is a good comparison). Given that I had no idea Jaren was 15 until it was mentioned halfway through the book (unless I missed it earlier), it never clocked as for younger audiences to me. I liked Jaren’s voice and his internal struggle with his newly discovered power and his own hatred of Thralldom after all that he has experienced in the past (hence my surprise at his young age). The story was compelling, steadily paced, and did not lack for action or heart.

I also liked that this had close to a hard magic system and that it took the time to explain the mechanics of its (quite novel) radiation-based magic. The battle scenes were more brutal than I was expecting, but it was certainly descriptive and evocative. I probably could have used more explaining (I don’t mind exposition dumps) at the beginning. It took awhile for me to get the concepts, world, and the different players/sides on the board. Because this is a series opener, there was quite a few plot threads and additions that feel underdeveloped still (or even felt out of place), but I trust that it’ll make sense in future installments.

The Peace of Freysdal is a great fantasy series opener and a sharp debut novel.

*The author sent me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lauren Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Been working on giving this one a shot, But there is no world introduction in this book. It just jumps right in with the main character who is a Thrall. We also have no clue about how the society works. Or the magic system. So I have no idea what is going on, why it's ( some mystical weirdness) working like that, or why he suddenly is apprenticed to the head wizard like person. This lack of background makes it impossible to even figure out where the plot is going. This is going to be a DNF for me. Thank you for the ARC, sorry this review is negative but it is honest.

[Damien Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give the Peace of Freysdal a 3.5 rounded up to 4.

I was fortunate enough to receive an e-book of The Peace of Freysdal by the author, Michael Richards.

The Peace of Freysdal follows Jaren as he studies to become a Light Twister, under his mentor Joans, and attempts to protect his home of Freysdal from threats both inside and out.

I enjoyed this book, following along Jaren's story, but there were some issues I had with it along the way.
Pacing: The pacing was quite slow. Not much happens for a lot of the book and when it does, it ends quickly too. Eventually when the story got rolling it was too little too late.
Consequences: There aren't many consequences throughout the book. Characters make choices or events happen, but it doesn't have any lasting impact and everything is resolved rather quickly or easily.
Characters: Most of the characters fall a little flat for me. Apart from 2 they were undeveloped and I struggled to connect with them.

But there were some things I did enjoy about it too!
Magic System: The magic system here is really enjoyable as a hard magic system and has more of a science-y feel to it. I could visualise it clearly and was fascinated by how it worked. When it was used in action scenes it was certainly cool to follow along, even if it did feel overpowered at times.
Joans: Jaren's difficult and borderline abusive mentor Joans is the most interesting character for me. Morally gray and with his own story and an air of mystery that surrounds him, I enjoyed every scene he was in.
Found Family Theme: The major theme I felt was the found family. Michael Richards has brought us a very close knit, cobbled together family, with interesting dynamics and challenges but ultimately they support and rely on one another.
Easy to read: The book is short, the chapters are short and Michael Richards has a way of writing that makes everything fly by. I breezed through multiple chapters at a time.

I'm certainly looking forward to what's next in store with Jaren, learning magic and where Michael Richards takes it.


If you're looking for a YA Fantasy with a strong magic system, found family theme, and easy to read story then I can recommend The Peace of Freysdal.

Music Recommendation: Velour by Darius.

[Bethany Button · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Peace of Freysdal" is a captivating young adult fantasy novel that introduces readers to the enchanting world of Freysdal, where magic, politics, and the fight against oppression converge. The story follows the journey of Jaren, a young protagonist who discovers his latent magical abilities and becomes entangled in a dangerous quest to liberate his city from the clutches of Thralldom.

The book's strength lies in its ability to engage younger readers who are new to the fantasy genre. The gradual development of the plot allows for a well-paced coming-of-age story, where Jaren navigates the challenges of honing his magical skills while forging connections with other characters. This slow burn approach provides a solid foundation for readers to grow alongside the protagonist, making it an ideal introduction to the genre.

As the story progresses, the pace picks up, leading to more action-packed scenes that add excitement and tension to the narrative. The author's ability to create suspense keeps readers invested, eager to discover how Jaren's journey unfolds. The book's ending, while slightly rushed for some readers, manages to provide a satisfying conclusion while hinting at potential sequels, leaving readers intrigued and eager for more.

While the book has several positive aspects, there are a few areas that could have been improved. The initial understanding of the magic system might pose some difficulty for readers, requiring a few chapters to fully grasp its intricacies. Additionally, the character development could have been further strengthened to enhance emotional connections with the characters. However, given the target audience and the book's focus on plot and action, these shortcomings do not detract significantly from the overall reading experience.

In summary, "The Peace of Freysdal" is an engaging young adult fantasy that successfully introduces readers to a world of magic, adventure, and the fight against oppression. With its well-paced plot, gradual character development, and hints of a broader story to come, the book holds great potential for young readers venturing into the fantasy genre. Despite some challenges in understanding the magic system and fostering emotional connections, the book remains an enjoyable read that sets the stage for future sequels.

[Kaitlin Lanham (Read with Kaitlin) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantasy is a newish thing for me. I haven't read this genre in a long time but I haven't had a reason to not read it.

Michael Richards caught my attention right from the get fo. I liked his style of writing. He has a great voice.

I liked the idea of the magic system, but if I hadn't understood it better before reading it, I may have been quite lost. Diving deeper into the magic system would have been helpful.

This story starts off with a bang, quite literally. It picks up and you can get sucked into the story so fast.

Enjoyed seeing this get published. Can't wait to see what else Michael Richards does.

[Monica (readbymoni) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Peace of Freysdal is an impressive debut novel following Jaren, a thrall/slave, who discovers that he can control energy (referred to as Radiance: heat, cold, force, light, and bio). He undergoes training that pushes him to his limits, with the goal of becoming a weapon to end Thralldom in their land.

This was an extremely well-crafted fantasy novel that introduces a new world with a unique and complex magic system. It was interesting to see how the Light-Twisters controlled radiance and produced stunning effects, especially when applied to fighting scenes or even daily life. I found Jaren’s relationship with his family delightful and endearing - I liked Kehvun and Tobie a lot! The story was compelling and explored unique concepts, but the highlight was the magic system inspired by nuclear physics and radioactive energy. The magic might be a little challenging to grasp, but I like how it is gradually revealed the further you get into the story. In addition, the author also provides a separate primer that you can download from his website that further explains how radiance and Light-Twisting works - I thought the glossary was particularly helpful. Overall this was a solid, fast-paced and well-written fantasy novel bursting with potential, and I’m definitely looking forward to the sequels!

Huge thanks to the author @michaelrichardsauthor for sending me a copy of his debut novel!

“He was a bar of glowing, hot iron being forged into a weapon for Hairth to wield. Yes, Hairth would wield it righteously, but no one ever thought of how the heating, pounding, quenching, and grinding felt to the sword.”

[Joey, The Dragon Reread · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Peace of Freysdal is a great debut novel from Michael Richards. This is an action packed story of intrigue and discovery with a hard magic system a la Sanderson. 

Richards throws you immediately into the complex, rich world of Thadren. A wealthy entrepreneur, Hairth, has created the city of Freysdal where the community has an almost religious fervor focusing on the goal of saving an enslaved population--Thralls--from the horrors of Thralldom. Jaren is a Thrall with a painful backstory who accidentally discovers that he has the ability to draw energy or radiance from different objects or sources and then use that energy as a Light-Twister. There are complexities and nuances as he develops in his abilities that I'll leave for you to read about.

This is an ambitious debut novel with lots of potential. The writing is solid, especially for a first novel. It's obvious that Richards has spent time developing the world of Thadren. There are many references to cultural groups outside of the main story line that give the world a multidimensional feel that I hope he continues to develop over subsequent books. He writes a really engaging action sequence and some painful, traumatic backstories to demonstrate the horrors associated with Thralldom.

The magic system took me a while to settle into. It was a little difficult for me to visualize at first, but by about the half way mark, it just started making sense to me. I think I just needed to sit with it long enough. The story is all told through Jaren's POV, and so you really feel like you're learning along with him. So, if you feel yourself getting confused or frustrated with the magic system, my recommendation is patience and I think you'll find it clicking pretty quickly.

Overall, a very solid debut novel from Richards that has left me excited to read the next Light-Twister novel and explore more of Thadren! Well worth the read!

[Mythical Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a review copy from the author, in exchange for an honest review!*

Actual rating 2.75-3/5⭐. This book is a bit of an uneven offering. But it packs a strong punch to close out, and sets the foundation for some interesting stories going forward.

The first 40% or so I found kind of just treaded water. Thing *happen* but it also felt a bit like nothing of too strong of importance was occuring outside of training/learning about the magic system. There is a lot of repetition (necessary though, I think now on reflection). As a result I unfortunately would rate this portion of the novel 1.75/5⭐

The following 15-20% I found to be a big step up in engagement as we get some forward momentum and kick starting more elaborate world building. I would rate this portion 2.75-3/5⭐

The final 40-45% of the novel took me no time at all to get through. It was highly engaging, and really showcased a well thought out magic system and different set of factions (of which we are only just scratching the surface, no doubt). I am rating this segment of the book 4.25/5⭐

So, assuming you have read the synopsis, I am going to touch on what is mentioned there and talk about some story broad strokes or characterization, but this is going to be spoiler free otherwise.

Our main POV character Jaren was okay/good. I found him not thinking through things to be grating, but enjoyed his good nature, and felt his motivations to ring true. I was told by the author, and you can see in the book details above here, that this book is YA. Maybe because of Jaren being young and going through a bit of a coming of age story that is true. But I think that this book defies classification in the conventional sense. I felt the romance aspects of this book (which there isn't much but .. kinda?) Were more towards middle grade both the way it is presented, and the literal language used by the characters. But the action skews much more mature, especially in the back half of the book. I personally felt that this was more new adult/NA. This is aside from the fact that the magic system is essentially nuclear physics. I would say that qualifies as an adult fantasy oriented magic system.. But perhaps I am selling YA readers short on their magic system complexity. So again, not in a positive or negative way do I say that this defies age-classification. Just my two cents, as I thought often during my read about this!

Other characters didn't feel like we got to connect with them much. Whether that is time spent with, or just how they are used to propel the plot, I am not sure. But Jaren's mentor, Joans, was probably the most interesting one IMO. He is absolutely the most intriguing and stole every scene he was in. He is primarily a bit of a dick early on, but in a few ways he reminded me a lot of Severus Snape. There are interesting aspects to some others, like they have a perfect recollection memory, or are seemingly clairvoyant, but not much time is given to elaborate on these ones. The only character I disliked was Kehvun honestly. Also the antagonist at the end reminded me so much of a Scooby Doo villain.

This book lives and dies by its magic system. Your enjoyment of it will probably hang off of this too. A lot of reviews on here say that the magic system is hard to follow or difficult, and I don't want to outright disagree (it is complex) but I think the author did a really admirable job of logically building up how the system works. It is absolute a hard, science-based magic system to radiant energy. The Brandon Sanderson influences are very real. But I was fascinated by how the different types of radiance (heat, cold, light, bio, and force) could be utilized. The complexity really ramps up when talking about their interactions with each other.

Jaren being a new learner is both helpful and a bit yawn inducing. He needs constant repetition of the basics. And as a result we read about globs, folding, light, heat, cold over and over again. Later on the force vectors were a cool addition with fascinating applications, but also tricky to fully illustrate. Don't even get me started on the amount of minds/streams of thought/quantity... But I appreciated other light twisters more advanced explanations (yet almost simplified, with the context that we know by that point) to go along with Jaren's more rudimentary thought process.

I don't want to make this review a novella in itself to read, so I will finish with the world building. Which goes hand in hand with a map. I was disappointed when I first started reading this that there was no map, but sometimes that's just the way it is. Partway through reading this, the author posted on his Instagram that he was working on one (and subsequently released it) which was music to my ears! This is now available in a companion novella with more info on the world/magic system which I am reading now actually.

During the back half of the book I referenced the map for every single new locale or group of people mentioned, and it is a bit unfortunate that the map came after as there are some inconsistencies (but not totally egregious either). I am happy that there is a map now, and a fairly high quality one to boot, but hope it is added to the start of the next book whenever that comes out.

Continuing on with world building, there isn't a whole lot that we learn, but we do get hints throughout of a much bigger world (now reflected by the map). We really only spend our time in one tiny corner of this world. But I really appreciated that the travel from on region to another takes quite a while. Weeks and months. Unfortunately when we are exploring the world via a trip around mid book, that is a bit of a microcosms on my thoughts of the book as a whole: the start has interesting aspects, but can be repetitive and not connect too much with the additional characters on this journey. In contrast, the return sojourn you connect much better with the individuals characters, and the plot and action are quite a bit more engaging and nuanced. I don't want to say more for spoilers. But I do look forward to more of this world and how the light twisters factor in to it.

[Down Legends and Lore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Peace of Freysdal by Michael Richards is a Light Twister Novel set in a fantasy world with a pretty extensive magic system.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, not expecting too much from it since it was considered a young adult novel. The book really flowed through the chapters, never leaving the main characters' POV (except for the prologue) and never really feeling like it dragged on or had unnecessary chapters.

The battle scenes were definitely my favorite part of the novel, reminded me a lot of some video games I used to play and still do. As for the magic system, you can tell Michael Richards put a lot of time into it as well as being passionate about energy (he is afterall an engineer with a PhD in Energy Science). He also has a nice companion that helps explain the magic system as well.

If you like Sanderson's Stormlight Archives, thrown in some Raymond E. Feists' Magicians Apprentice, and some of Karen Miller's Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series I highly recommend The Peace of Freysdal.

I'm looking forward to more novels in the Light Twister series.

Ps. This book was given to me by the author for me to review voluntarily. All thoughts and views are my own.

[Books And Chocaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. That in no way affects my opinion.

This was a great YA story. I would highly recommend if you have a tween or young teen who is wanting to get into the genre. Akin to Eragon in approachability but with a norse setting.

While I don't read my YA anymore, I am always keeping an eye out for this kind of book. The kind that will introduce my kids to the genre when they're ready. It has an accessible writing style, easy to follow concepts and some well-loved trappings and tropes of the genre.

The norse setting, coupled with a distinctive magic system, a relatively small cast of characters and rich world building that won't feel overwhelming, I think this did exactly what it set out to do.

While this isn't one I think seasoned fantasy readers would find to be the most unique story, I think it serves its purpose well for its intended audience.

I look forward to continuing the series.

[Jess Crowl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Peace of Freysdal is an enjoyable book where you get to watch the transformation and growth of the main character as he learns to control powers he didn’t even know he had. As he studies with an old volatile mentor you find yourself going from extreme dislike of his mentor to understanding and then back again to dislike. An interesting world that I look forward to spending more time in!!!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for all audiences! I liked the combination of fantasy and adventure as the main character, Jaren, discovers new things about himself and learns to develop his skills. Likable characters and also dislikable characters, as stories need both bad guys and good guys. MR creates a vivid world with entertaining characters and an intriguing storyline. Looking forward to Jaren’s next adventure!

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this debut medieval fantasy book by Mr. Richards. As the book is recently published, it seems most reviews are advanced reader copy/freebie readers. I actually bought the book with my own money!

The book starts rapidly with a fast-paced, action-focused prologue. I loved the prologue and how it quickly pulled me into the world. I like the unique Light-Twisting magic system and its impacts on the human psyche. Also unique is that Light-Twisting can be controlled via fantastical means as well as through science. However, at the current level of technology in this world, the science side is very rare and doesn't work nearly as well as the magical side of Light-Twisting. Given Mr. Richard's Ph.D., I wonder if he'll lean more into the science side in future novels.

From reading the back of the book and other blurbs online, I wasn't sure what the term "Peace of Freysdal" meant, but after reading this book, I love the re-occurring theme of how a community can create an environment of peace for its members.

This story is told from the Third Person Limited point of view, focused on Jaren. For me personally, this is much preferred to the constant switching to multiple characters, multiple stories, and disjointed narratives that are more common in adult fantasy novels. The author does employ frequently seen plot archetypes for YA novels - such as the orphan and the voyage and return. I find their use in this novel entirely appropriate and well-written.

The natural world in this novel is similar to our own - no dragons, unicorns, dwarves, elves, etc. often found in fantasy settings. Characters have depth and experience life much the same way people in the real world do. Some topics that give depth include: family relationships, dealing with elderly parents with dementia, bad teachers, gaining friendships, YA-level romantic feelings and awkward interactions, and dealing with traumatic life experiences (both as they happen and from the character's past). The plot and world were very cohesive and realistic.

This is an interesting fantasy setting, and I want to read more novels set in this world. So much could be covered - I don't want to spoil anything - but a few major items in the novel are left unresolved/unexplained that would be great topics for a sequel/prequel/novel set in the same world.

As this book is intended to be geared towards Young Adults, there are a few items that may be concerning for parents getting this book for their youth. While "Young Adult" is a vague term, in my mind, I consider the core of potential readers to be teen-aged (13 - 19). Being much older than that, I often read YA books as they are typically faster-paced, have less gratuitous sex, swearing, violence, etc. I think it would be great if GoodReads or some other reader community could create a rating system for novels. However, as that doesn't exist, here are two items I think worth sharing:

One of the book's main topics deals with slavery ('thrall' in Freysdal). As seen in many cultures around the world, those who are slaves are often treated poorly. This book touches lightly, but tastefully in my mind, on these topics. No detailed graphic descriptions of abuse are present, though it does happen frequently outside Freysdal.

The other topic that may concern some YA readers or YA parents is the amount of violence in the story. As described in the summary on the back of the book, attacks on Freysdal are a major plot point of the novel. I feel the level of violence is excessive for younger YA readers but fine for older YA readers.

[Vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite things about bookstagram is that I get the opportunity to discover a lot of amazing books by Indie authors.

When I read the premise to The Peace of Freysdal, I was immediately interested. A coming-of-age story with a new well developed magic system? Count me in! And I have to say, I was not disappointed.

The magic system is really unique. The author mentioned (in the afterword if memory serves me right) how the magic is based on his science background. It’s a complex system, no doubt, and I for one, would have loved if it was explained in more depth within the book. I completely understand that this might not be the case for every reader and hence this being very challenging for the author, as it means some readers want to understand the details of the magic system, but at the same time it has to be explained in a “simple” and understandable way. Fortunately, for those of us who like understanding complex magic systems, even if it melts our brains, a Preface on Light Twisting (and a map) can be found in the author’s webpage.

We accompany Jaren, a thrall (essentially a slave) who just wants to do his best at his job so that, one day, he can get his sisters back from their enslavement. By accident, he discovers that he is a Light-Twister and can control radiant energy. From there onwards, we follow him on this journey to become the weapon of Freysdal, get rid of Thralldom (slavery) and protect those he loves.

I loved Jaren’s growth throughout the story, but what actually made this book shine for me was his relationships with the people around him: The re-connecting to his sisters, the entire antagonistic attitude towards his foster brother at the beginning, his opinions of Joans, the evolution of the relationship with his foster family in general and his faith in Hairth.

I was a bit confused with the rating of this book as YA. While the main protagonist is quite young and sometimes acts like it, the rest of the book reads as a more adult epic fantasy because of the complex magic system, the thralldom topic which (in my opinion) lacks a more extensive explanation when the target is YAs and Jaren’s life experience (which sometimes reads as that of a much older character).

My only complain about The Peace of Freysdal was that some parts of the story felt rushed. While I loved the development of Jaren’s relationships with his sisters and his foster family, I felt like in some points the story seemed to miss some depth or details. I even went back once or twice in order to make sure I had not missed any interaction between the characters or an explanation.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the fact that the author shares a preface explaining the magic system actually made me like this book a lot more.

*An ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review*

[Scott | Scottsforayintofiction · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review - The Peace of Freysdal

Rating 6.5/10 ⭐️

Firstly let me start by thanking Michael for kindly sending me a copy of his book.

The Peace of Freysdal is a YA fantasy story from the perspective of young Jaren.

Jaren is a thrall with a difficult start to life, however, when we encounter Jaren when he is living in Freysdal, a peaceful town which treats thralls kindly.

Freysdal is the only place where freedman and thralls work side by side.

However, nowhere is really peaceful and after Jaren learns that he is a light-twister, peace will be harder to come by.

A light-twister is someone with the magical ability to manipulate light and he must learn to master this power to join the fight and protect his family, town and more importantly his owner.

The magic itself is a great concept, any magic system around light is always a must read for me.

I liked learning about the magic as Jaren goes through his training, however, I found a number of times, I was a little confused. I suspect this is more a me problem than the book but I just didn’t find the magic easy to understand.

As I’ve already spoken about Jaren is the main focus of the story, however I didn’t find him to be a character I was particularly invested in.

To be honest I found some of the side characters more interesting than Jaren, Tobie and Ella to name a few. I’m hoping we get more background details about them in future books.

Another area I felt didn’t work for me was the pacing. This book spent so much of the middle section giving us so much detail on the magic and little snippets of story that when we got close to the end, I felt it all got a little rushed.

The best part of this book by far is the heavy action, I love an action heavy stories and this is what definitely saved this book for me, without it, the overall rating would’ve been significantly lower.

I feel this is a book that had plenty of promise but didn’t quite deliver for me however, If you love science based magic with plenty of action, this if probably the book for you.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

By: Michael Richards
Rating: 4/5

I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

I thought this book was a great YA fantasy book for someone who doesn’t know if they like that genre.

I liked this book but at the same time I thought there were some parts that were missing from it.

I really liked coming of age and finding oneself in this book. I thought the magic system was interesting, but I had a hard time understanding it. I also felt that there was an overall feeling of what is going on in the book and not really understanding the Light-Twister system that well at first but after getting through some of the book it did start making some sense to me. I do have to say that this magic/light-twister system was very unique, and I did enjoy getting to know the characters throughout the book. I thought the plot was well done for being a debut. I liked the author’s way of using words and the flow was overall done well, there were a few times I had a hard time understanding though. However, I liked his writing style. I liked the action and the questioning/wondering what is going to happen next for the characters was what I liked the most.

The characters were easy to relate to in some parts, but overall, I did have a hard time connecting with them. I did enjoy getting to know Jaren a little more as the book went on and getting to see his character growth throughout the book. I did enjoy getting to see how he treated his foster family and his siblings that were living there. I felt that with Jaren he had a lot of feelings about the sudden change in his life and having to learn about himself and what he can do now was relatable. I know with any teen, heck even adults, we are still learning about ourselves. What we like, what we want, who we like and so forth.

I can’t wait to see what else this author will come up with.

I want to thank Michael Richards for the opportunity to review this book.

[Edgar Duran · Rating 4 out of 5]

For complete transparency, the author reached out to me to see if I was interested in providing an ARC review. As is obvious, I accepted, but these are completely my own honest thoughts.

It starts off with a prologue that follows a character (no spoilers) and sets into motion what I assume are relevant to the entire series. I would say that the prologue was okay, but it wasn’t my favorite part at all. Sure, it drew me into the story and sure, it was exciting, but there was something missing from it for me, but not enough that would stop me from reading. I probably was just tired reading it and didn’t get the full opportunity to resonate. However, once it got started with the main story, it got a lot better for me. I should note that when the information from the Prologue came back, I smiled to myself at remembering it. Overall, I give it a 4 because of the characters, the world building that peaked my interest, and the magic system.

The magic system in this book is complex, but a large part is the main character (Jaren) learning how to use it, so I could follow along. From my understanding, it is inspired by Nuclear Physics and radiation, which is really cool and brings up a lot of questions about the magic system and its effect on the user. I found it very fun and engaging to read and I’m excited to read the Primer on Twisting Light soon to better understand this complicated system!

I did enjoy the characters and many of the character interactions in general, so that was definitely a plus. The main character is very interesting and the world building is pretty well done, though there’s more that I’m sure will show up in future books. There were moments when the character did get annoying, but at the end of the day aren't we all just a little bit annoying?

Lastly, the ending was satisfying. Endings can really make or break something for me, so it was great to feel a sense of completion while leaving things open enough for more to come.

[Graham | The Wulvers Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Peace of Freysdal is marketed as a YA fantasy series by author Michael Richards and this was a great debut novel.

Freysdal is a peculiar place for more reasons than one. Besides manufacturing radiant items for non-Light-Twisters, it's also the only place in Thadren where thralls and freemen work side by side. Jaren knows that he's no more than a small piece in the effort to overthrow Thralldom, but he's comfortable with that role. That comfort is shattered, though, when he learns that he can control radiant energy. Now, instead working to be reunited with his sisters, Jaren must resist the burden that drives Light-Twisters to cruelty and survive an abusive radiance instructor long enough to figure out who's trying to kill Freysdal's founder. The stress ramps up with growing rumors of an impending attack on Freysdal, and Jaren must decide whether he's willing to give up the Peace of Freysdal and become the Sword that defends it.

This was a novel that held my attention throughout, where magic and politics and oppression take the forefront. Jaren, our young proganist, discovers he has magical abilities and typically gets caught up in a quest of liberation for Thralldom.

This was engaging and will appeal to young adult and epic fantasy readers alike. I enjoyed the development of the plot, it felt like a coming-of-age story filled with great characteres and a satisfying conclusion. The pace itself was action-packed and tension-filled and Richards was able to have us invested with each page. The magic was well-described, albeit at times confusing, and there were parts that could have been developed on. The ending itself did feel slightly rushed but it was a successful building-block for Richards and i'm excited to see more.

This is a great start for Richards and an interesting novel. I'm hoping there are more to add to the adventure.

[Adrianna | cozycraftyreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young adult fantasy book with character! The world building and magic systems different than others I’ve read, and I really enjoyed it.

When Jaren realizes that he can control radiant energy, his whole life turns upside down. Living in the city of Freysdal where thralls and freemen work together, very different than the the rest of the land, he works to help keep the city’s founder safe. And, further, to discover who is behind the attacks on the city. As he develops his newly found abilities, he works for the best of the city and to help those he cares for.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. I never know what to expect with fantasy series. There are so many things that they can do with them. Especially high fantasy. A new magic system to discover. New lands, cultural/political systems, and even characters to figure out. With this one, it was fun learning about it all. And to watch Jaren grow in his skills.

It was a pleasantly clean, high fantasy story, geared for young adults. Definitely gave some David Eddings and Robert Jordan vibes, to an extent. But it really was its own original story.

It did take me a while to understand/grasp the magic system. And to figure out how the land functioned. But once I did, it really was easy to follow. The use of radiance is just something I had to wrap my brain around. I do appreciate the uniqueness of it, though.

It was a good start to the series, and I’m excited to see where the sequel will go!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from the author. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

[Ine · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received an advanced review copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review*

When Jaren discovers his new magical powers, he must train to become a Light-Twister and be the new protector of Freysdal.

This is a YA fantasy novel with a unique magic system that's reminescent of Brandon Sanderson's magic systems.

Unfortunately, I found it was really difficult to understand how this particular magic system works. It was all very confusing as there wasn't explained much (I gained a bit more understanding when reading the author's note/acknowledgments but by then I had already finished the book).

There was very little exposition overall. We're thrown into the story - and just like with the magic system - little is explained. I still have no idea how the society of Freysdall works and who Hairth's enemies are. Another example: The thralls in Freysdal wear all kinds of different colored "seggs" and the colors of these clothes are mentioned a lot. They are of importance but I have no idea what the colors mean to these people (I believe it's some kind of rank?)

I think the novel would have been easier to follow if it had been a bit longer because then there would have been more room for worldbuilding and character relationship developments.

I did like Jaren's character. He felt a bit younger than he was (15, if I remember correctly) so maybe this is a good book for middle graders starting out in the fantasy genre.