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Relics of Noksonon #1
The Pain Bearer
Some treasures are better left buried.
Godsblighted. That’s what the villagers call her. Even within her family’s protection, Rowan has always known she was different. But now she has the chance to prove that she can protect herself. The chance to prove that different doesn’t mean cursed. Leaving behind the broken promise of her failed magic, Rowan joins her mentor in his search for a Giant’s artifact known as the Grief Draw. But finding it only adds to her problems. Because the ancient Giants were right. This lantern brings pain.
Rowan’s magic might be the barest spark, but it is enough to connect her to Gavyn, a young man trapped inside the lantern after a failed attempt to destroy it. He is suddenly Rowan’s only hope for understanding the lantern before it kills again. And she is his only hope for freedom. With fanatic treasure hunters and power-hungry lords closing in, Rowan and Gavyn must figure out how to use the lantern before someone else sets off the weapon even the Giants feared.
Godsblighted. That’s what the villagers call her. Even within her family’s protection, Rowan has always known she was different. But now she has the chance to prove that she can protect herself. The chance to prove that different doesn’t mean cursed. Leaving behind the broken promise of her failed magic, Rowan joins her mentor in his search for a Giant’s artifact known as the Grief Draw. But finding it only adds to her problems. Because the ancient Giants were right. This lantern brings pain.
Rowan’s magic might be the barest spark, but it is enough to connect her to Gavyn, a young man trapped inside the lantern after a failed attempt to destroy it. He is suddenly Rowan’s only hope for understanding the lantern before it kills again. And she is his only hope for freedom. With fanatic treasure hunters and power-hungry lords closing in, Rowan and Gavyn must figure out how to use the lantern before someone else sets off the weapon even the Giants feared.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2022
3 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Kendra Merritt
24 books81 followersBooks have been Kendra’s escape for as long as she can remember. She used to hide fantasy novels behind her government textbook in high school, and she wrote most of her first novel during a semester of college algebra.
Older and wiser now (but just as nerdy) Kendra writes retellings of fairytales with main characters who have disabilities. If she isn’t writing, she’s reading, and if she isn’t reading, she’s playing video games.
Kendra lives in Denver with her very tall husband, their book loving progeny, and a lazy black monster masquerading as a service dog.
Older and wiser now (but just as nerdy) Kendra writes retellings of fairytales with main characters who have disabilities. If she isn’t writing, she’s reading, and if she isn’t reading, she’s playing video games.
Kendra lives in Denver with her very tall husband, their book loving progeny, and a lazy black monster masquerading as a service dog.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 19, 2022
Kendra Merritt has written the latest book in the Eldros Legacy series which features multiple writers each handling stories based on different continents which are planned to come together at some point in the future to cover an entire planet.
‘The Pain Bearer’ is a very interesting and thoroughly enjoyable book set in the continent of Noksonon about Rowan, a disabled girl who it turns out was fathered by a dwarf which it seems is very relevant, who has some apparently almost worthless magical abilities, and who is immune to an object left behind by a deceased race of giants that kills humans who touch it in a most unpleasant manner and in extremely short order even though it appears to be just a lamp! Trapped within the lamp is a mage who was trying to destroy it.
The baddies all want to get their hands on the lamp, and will go to any lengths to do so. In order to avoid giving it all away I won't say much more.
So far I have loved every book I have read in the Eldros Legacy series, and I highly recommend this one too. If you have not read them yet, check them all out starting with Khyven the Unkillable which was the first. By design you can read the books pretty much in any order, but The Pain Bearer is set on the same continent of Noksonon so Khyven may give you some advance insight into things like Noktums.
Kendra is new to me as an author and this was the first of her works I have read. She is clearly a highly skilled writer and I will definitely be looking into her other output as soon as I can.
I already own many of the other books in the series, but for this one I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy to allow me to proof the book and prepare this objective review. I recommend the book whole heartedly, along with the rest of the series. Go get them!
‘The Pain Bearer’ is a very interesting and thoroughly enjoyable book set in the continent of Noksonon about Rowan, a disabled girl who it turns out was fathered by a dwarf which it seems is very relevant, who has some apparently almost worthless magical abilities, and who is immune to an object left behind by a deceased race of giants that kills humans who touch it in a most unpleasant manner and in extremely short order even though it appears to be just a lamp! Trapped within the lamp is a mage who was trying to destroy it.
The baddies all want to get their hands on the lamp, and will go to any lengths to do so. In order to avoid giving it all away I won't say much more.
So far I have loved every book I have read in the Eldros Legacy series, and I highly recommend this one too. If you have not read them yet, check them all out starting with Khyven the Unkillable which was the first. By design you can read the books pretty much in any order, but The Pain Bearer is set on the same continent of Noksonon so Khyven may give you some advance insight into things like Noktums.
Kendra is new to me as an author and this was the first of her works I have read. She is clearly a highly skilled writer and I will definitely be looking into her other output as soon as I can.
I already own many of the other books in the series, but for this one I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy to allow me to proof the book and prepare this objective review. I recommend the book whole heartedly, along with the rest of the series. Go get them!
September 9, 2024
After reading Khyven the Unkillable I decided, "Heck, let's see what other stories in this world are like!" so I got a eBook copy and started up on it. So the question is: was it worth it? Well, if you enjoyed Khyven, the answer is yes. If you didn't, maybe not.
The structure of the overall world of books the various authors introduce essentially says they're creating multiple continents, and there's a hero on each continent that will rise up and eventually go against ancient foes that are returning: the Giants. There are other books in this world that add a bit more background and help build the world a bit more.
The Pain Bearer takes place on the continent of Noksonon, introduced in "Khyven" and expands some on it. We get to meet more of the peoples that live there, learn a bit more about the long, almost-forgotten history, and build on the little we learned about Giant relics that we learned about in the main series here.
Merritt's work does indeed compliment the main body. The rules of the world are consistent, such that when it seems there's a variation to a rule we find there is in fact a good reason for it. We learn a bit more about the race of Delvers (or Dwarves). The narrative itself is entertaining. Rowan is an interesting character and her development is mostly satisfying. Occasionally it feels as if we're jumping from place to place, but it's never illogical.
Overall, good and entertaining. If you're interested in this world and overall arc, it's a good supplement and worth picking up.
The structure of the overall world of books the various authors introduce essentially says they're creating multiple continents, and there's a hero on each continent that will rise up and eventually go against ancient foes that are returning: the Giants. There are other books in this world that add a bit more background and help build the world a bit more.
The Pain Bearer takes place on the continent of Noksonon, introduced in "Khyven" and expands some on it. We get to meet more of the peoples that live there, learn a bit more about the long, almost-forgotten history, and build on the little we learned about Giant relics that we learned about in the main series here.
Merritt's work does indeed compliment the main body. The rules of the world are consistent, such that when it seems there's a variation to a rule we find there is in fact a good reason for it. We learn a bit more about the race of Delvers (or Dwarves). The narrative itself is entertaining. Rowan is an interesting character and her development is mostly satisfying. Occasionally it feels as if we're jumping from place to place, but it's never illogical.
Overall, good and entertaining. If you're interested in this world and overall arc, it's a good supplement and worth picking up.
October 7, 2022
A wonderful fantasy with a dash of steampunk
This is my ninth book in the Eldros Legacy series, and one of my favorites so far. Its archaeological premise intrigued me, and gave me much to ponder about the role of giants in the upcoming events on this continents and others. Definitely worth the read.
This is my ninth book in the Eldros Legacy series, and one of my favorites so far. Its archaeological premise intrigued me, and gave me much to ponder about the role of giants in the upcoming events on this continents and others. Definitely worth the read.
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November 13, 2022Adventurous fantasy with a determined, self-sacrificing female protagonist.
Merritt takes the story from one challenge to the next, keeping the reader engaged and looking to the next horizon. With challenges and mishaps galore, you're certain to enjoy the trials, tribulations, and victories.
Merritt takes the story from one challenge to the next, keeping the reader engaged and looking to the next horizon. With challenges and mishaps galore, you're certain to enjoy the trials, tribulations, and victories.
December 3, 2023
It was refreshing to read about a strong female lead character that has a disability. The other characters were interesting and the plot was creative. I wish the main character was less self-sacrificing but I’m hoping she comes to her senses in the next book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews