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Alliandre Rising
Alliandre must win the Grand Melee, a tournament where every warrior in the realm competes for the title of Grand Champion, earning a knighthood as well, so he can marry his true love. But a rival has entered the scene, intent on ending Alliandre’s dream, and maybe his life. In their climactic confrontation in the Grand Melee, Alliandre must overcome his opponent and his own fiery temper.
- GenresFantasy
427 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 12, 2025
Before I get into my review proper, I feel the need to state that I met the author. He had a party room at a nerd Convention to promote his book so I ordered it. He signed it with a very nice blurb inside, and then hand delivered it to my house! Very cool! So just before the next Convention, I read it, so I could tell him to his face what I thought of it. His first question he asked me was how well I dealt with the typos. I gave him my honest response that it was not very well. He then went to the back of the room and returned with a brand new copy, that had been re-edited, signed it again with a new dedication and gave it to me for free. Then he told me that there was an audiobook version. I told him that I was going to hold my review then, until I could fully absorb the book audibly and without typos. We then stayed up way to late talking and swapping stories while the rest of the Con had long gone to sleep. All of this ingratiated him to me. To the point that, as an aspiring author, I must be as blunt and honest as possible. I also pride myself on giving spoiler free reviews, but I have to admit that this was a bit of a struggle this time around.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The flow is good, the pros are better than average, and the characters are interesting. But that last one brings about an issue, in my opinion.
There are far too many characters and the story is told from too many viewpoints. As soon as you get into the groove with one character, it switches, and you need to start all over. I feel like it would have benefited from a more focused viewpoint. There are characters that are focused on for several pages that don't impact the current story at all. They have no character growth, and are connected to the main characters only via other characters. I have no doubt that their actions will play a role in the final outcome of the series, but without direct interaction, or only brief interaction, it doesn't help this book at all. And I'll be honest, I don't know what would fix that. If they are plot points in the larger scheme of the series, they must be touched on, I just don't know how else to tell it. Maybe a hard restructuring and making one chapter about all the lesser characters actions, explaining how they fit in, but then the overall flow would likely get clunky. I don't have an answer.
The second point I have is a little embarrassing. When I read fantasy books, I tend to gloss over names and ignore them. I know, how dare I? To make matters worse, there are two characters in this book with slightly similar names. One of them is male, the other is female. While reading, my brain was trying to make them into one character which, obviously is not the case. Imagine my extreme confusion when they meet, but don't, early on the first chapter. That's when I stopped, broke down each name to realize they were two different people, and then restarted my reading. Unfortunately, and this is the embarrassing part, I never bothered to check those against the name of the book so even after finishing it the first time, I thought the title was about the female character. Luckily, the audiobook helped out with all of this by using a male and female reader for the different perspectives. I just wish they had a more realized plan of how to do the different voices. Instead, one reader reads a character one way and the other reads them very differently.
I think the last major point that I want to touch on is the end of the book. It resolves one story, but not completely. And I feel like it is a very minor arch as well. The ending of the main plot from the beginning is withheld from the reader. As someone that was enjoying the book, this was extremely frustrating. Usually a device like this is used later in a series. It can be a pretty big turn off to some readers. I even have a friend that refuses to read the second book because the end lacked that payoff, and he liked the book more than I did! Granted, this is only one piece of anecdotal evidence, but it's still shows my overall point: it was frustrating.
So where does this leave me in my opinion of the book? Right where I started. I liked it. I'm glad I read it. I am looking forward to reading the next one. Ultimately, I'm really looking forward to the conclusion of the main story. I don't know that Alliandre is my favorite character in the book, but he's interesting enough that I want to know more. But above all, and I can't stress this enough, the one thing you need to take away from this review is...
Overall, I enjoyed the book. The flow is good, the pros are better than average, and the characters are interesting. But that last one brings about an issue, in my opinion.
There are far too many characters and the story is told from too many viewpoints. As soon as you get into the groove with one character, it switches, and you need to start all over. I feel like it would have benefited from a more focused viewpoint. There are characters that are focused on for several pages that don't impact the current story at all. They have no character growth, and are connected to the main characters only via other characters. I have no doubt that their actions will play a role in the final outcome of the series, but without direct interaction, or only brief interaction, it doesn't help this book at all. And I'll be honest, I don't know what would fix that. If they are plot points in the larger scheme of the series, they must be touched on, I just don't know how else to tell it. Maybe a hard restructuring and making one chapter about all the lesser characters actions, explaining how they fit in, but then the overall flow would likely get clunky. I don't have an answer.
The second point I have is a little embarrassing. When I read fantasy books, I tend to gloss over names and ignore them. I know, how dare I? To make matters worse, there are two characters in this book with slightly similar names. One of them is male, the other is female. While reading, my brain was trying to make them into one character which, obviously is not the case. Imagine my extreme confusion when they meet, but don't, early on the first chapter. That's when I stopped, broke down each name to realize they were two different people, and then restarted my reading. Unfortunately, and this is the embarrassing part, I never bothered to check those against the name of the book so even after finishing it the first time, I thought the title was about the female character. Luckily, the audiobook helped out with all of this by using a male and female reader for the different perspectives. I just wish they had a more realized plan of how to do the different voices. Instead, one reader reads a character one way and the other reads them very differently.
I think the last major point that I want to touch on is the end of the book. It resolves one story, but not completely. And I feel like it is a very minor arch as well. The ending of the main plot from the beginning is withheld from the reader. As someone that was enjoying the book, this was extremely frustrating. Usually a device like this is used later in a series. It can be a pretty big turn off to some readers. I even have a friend that refuses to read the second book because the end lacked that payoff, and he liked the book more than I did! Granted, this is only one piece of anecdotal evidence, but it's still shows my overall point: it was frustrating.
So where does this leave me in my opinion of the book? Right where I started. I liked it. I'm glad I read it. I am looking forward to reading the next one. Ultimately, I'm really looking forward to the conclusion of the main story. I don't know that Alliandre is my favorite character in the book, but he's interesting enough that I want to know more. But above all, and I can't stress this enough, the one thing you need to take away from this review is...
July 29, 2023
One of the biggest things this book introduced was the interactions of a party of mostly-nobility and renowned adventurers and their lifestyle. Many of them are already well-known to many, while a few main protagonists are still chasing their dreams. The book also includes a helpful glossary in the back to help the reader with names, culture, currency, etc. There is a lot of action involved, a good number of laughs, but also a tour of every meal at the inn. (The author draws on his historical experience to bring the flavors of his world to life.) The story spans several days of contests/tournaments at which members of the heroic band are hoping to win prestige. There are suspenseful moments, questionable characters and deeds, and a good amount of action. The story moved along at a good pace.
Multiple plotlines draw the reader in, though as one reaches the end of the book it becomes clear that many story threads will await their resolution farther into the series. The end was rather abrupt for my liking, but I shall definitely pick up the next in the series and see what it holds.
Multiple plotlines draw the reader in, though as one reaches the end of the book it becomes clear that many story threads will await their resolution farther into the series. The end was rather abrupt for my liking, but I shall definitely pick up the next in the series and see what it holds.
September 22, 2022
MUST READ An Incredible Start to The Knights' Trials
Myers does an incredible job building strong and unique characters that are highly memorable. The story builds a deeply interesting and lore filled world which I found I could not get enough of. Alliandre's tale is that of love and battling ones own past circumstances and temper. The ending of the book was absolutely perfect and I can't wait for the next chance that I can dive into this world of knights, magic, and Forest Spirits.
Myers does an incredible job building strong and unique characters that are highly memorable. The story builds a deeply interesting and lore filled world which I found I could not get enough of. Alliandre's tale is that of love and battling ones own past circumstances and temper. The ending of the book was absolutely perfect and I can't wait for the next chance that I can dive into this world of knights, magic, and Forest Spirits.
February 23, 2025
Such a fun adventure! Like reading a dnd adventure while building character backgrounds. Will say some of the names were similar which confused me at times but that could just be me. Left off on a cliff hanger leaving the reader eager to read the next book!
November 2, 2024
3.5/5
This book was hard to get into at first, but as the story progressed, I found myself more and more engrossed in the unraveling world. I think that the info dump that was the first 2-3 chapters could have been spread out, with even some of the information left out and provided later in the story, seeing as this is the first book in a series, however, I believe the author was trying to lay the groundwork for an expansive world.
As for the tone of this book, I'd actually put this in a pseudo "cozy" fantasy. A majority of the story takes place in and around a Tavern, the Aerie, of which I have become quite fond to find myself in while reading. There is small action here and there to keep an interest and to remind the reader of a larger world of events happening. The main cast of characters seem interesting and their banter is enjoyable.
I was not a fan of the couple of menacing side characters, Victor and Mortimer and Beauregard, as I don't quite see what role they're playing yet, but I can only assume they'll play a larger role in following books.
The end of the book was thrilling with a nice cliffhanger leaving me thristy for a book 2 which is great!
Overall, an enjoyable read and definitely has me looking forward to seeing where our Party of Seven will find themselves in the future!
This book was hard to get into at first, but as the story progressed, I found myself more and more engrossed in the unraveling world. I think that the info dump that was the first 2-3 chapters could have been spread out, with even some of the information left out and provided later in the story, seeing as this is the first book in a series, however, I believe the author was trying to lay the groundwork for an expansive world.
As for the tone of this book, I'd actually put this in a pseudo "cozy" fantasy. A majority of the story takes place in and around a Tavern, the Aerie, of which I have become quite fond to find myself in while reading. There is small action here and there to keep an interest and to remind the reader of a larger world of events happening. The main cast of characters seem interesting and their banter is enjoyable.
I was not a fan of the couple of menacing side characters, Victor and Mortimer and Beauregard, as I don't quite see what role they're playing yet, but I can only assume they'll play a larger role in following books.
The end of the book was thrilling with a nice cliffhanger leaving me thristy for a book 2 which is great!
Overall, an enjoyable read and definitely has me looking forward to seeing where our Party of Seven will find themselves in the future!
September 25, 2025
🫶{DM to get featured}🫶
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🌈Post Description: Daniel E. Myers’ Alliandre Rising sweeps readers into a rich fantasy world where destiny, love, and honor collide on the battlefield. At the heart of the tale is Alliandre, a determined young warrior whose dream of marrying his true love hinges on his victory in the Grand Melee—a brutal tournament where the finest fighters from across the realm vie for the title of Grand Champion. Guided by the mysterious power of the ten Forest Spirits, Alliandre must not only contend with fierce rivals but also confront his own fiery temper, a flaw that threatens to cost him everything he holds dear.
Myers combines exhilarating action with emotional depth, crafting a narrative that is both thrilling and heartfelt. The high-stakes duels and rivalries pulse with tension, while the themes of perseverance, loyalty, and self-mastery give the story universal appeal.
Perfect for fans of epic fantasy and heroic quests, this novel promises both adrenaline and heart.
.
👉 Follow: @dan.myers65
.
🫶{DM to get featured}🫶
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✨ Hashtag: #books #bookstagram #book
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🌈Post Description: Daniel E. Myers’ Alliandre Rising sweeps readers into a rich fantasy world where destiny, love, and honor collide on the battlefield. At the heart of the tale is Alliandre, a determined young warrior whose dream of marrying his true love hinges on his victory in the Grand Melee—a brutal tournament where the finest fighters from across the realm vie for the title of Grand Champion. Guided by the mysterious power of the ten Forest Spirits, Alliandre must not only contend with fierce rivals but also confront his own fiery temper, a flaw that threatens to cost him everything he holds dear.
Myers combines exhilarating action with emotional depth, crafting a narrative that is both thrilling and heartfelt. The high-stakes duels and rivalries pulse with tension, while the themes of perseverance, loyalty, and self-mastery give the story universal appeal.
Perfect for fans of epic fantasy and heroic quests, this novel promises both adrenaline and heart.
.
👉 Follow: @dan.myers65
.
🫶{DM to get featured}🫶
.
✨ Hashtag: #books #bookstagram #book
March 3, 2026
I really enjoyed this story because it feels grounded in character rather than just spectacle. The Grand Melee isn’t simply a tournament—it’s Alliandre’s one chance to earn knighthood, validate his years of service, and finally marry Marion. His loyalty to Queen Arielle, who raised him after losing her kingdom, adds emotional weight to his ambition and makes his goal about more than personal glory.
The rivalry with Sir Rodney brings the strongest tension in the book. After Rodney assaults Marion, the conflict becomes deeply personal. The duel between them is intense, especially when Alliandre nearly breaks his promise to Marion and spares Rodney at the last moment. That decision felt like true character growth and reinforced the theme that real nobility comes from restraint, not revenge.
I also appreciated the abrupt ending to the Grand Melee when the city is attacked. It’s frustrating, but intentionally so. Alliandre is denied knighthood again, yet the story makes it clear that honor is earned through action, not titles. Overall, it’s a thoughtful fantasy with strong emotional stakes and a protagonist whose journey feels genuine and compelling.
The rivalry with Sir Rodney brings the strongest tension in the book. After Rodney assaults Marion, the conflict becomes deeply personal. The duel between them is intense, especially when Alliandre nearly breaks his promise to Marion and spares Rodney at the last moment. That decision felt like true character growth and reinforced the theme that real nobility comes from restraint, not revenge.
I also appreciated the abrupt ending to the Grand Melee when the city is attacked. It’s frustrating, but intentionally so. Alliandre is denied knighthood again, yet the story makes it clear that honor is earned through action, not titles. Overall, it’s a thoughtful fantasy with strong emotional stakes and a protagonist whose journey feels genuine and compelling.
March 7, 2024
Book: Alliandre Rising
Author: Daniel Myers
Review:”Alliandre Rising” takes readers on an exhilarating journey as Alliandre strives to triumph in a tournament that holds not just the promise of knighthood but the key to his heart. Faced with a formidable rival and battling his inner demons, Alliandre’s quest for love becomes a thrilling tale of resilience and self-discovery.
Reading this book was like being on the front lines of a captivating battle. The author’s vivid descriptions painted a vibrant picture of each duel, and Alliandre’s internal struggles added depth to the narrative. The pacing was expertly crafted, keeping me eagerly turning pages to witness each dramatic twist unfold.
Alliandre’s journey is not just a quest for victory but a profound exploration of the human spirit. The author skillfully weaves together elements of love and combat, delivering a story that resonates long after the final clash in the Grand Melee. Whether you’re a fan of epic battles or heartfelt tales, this book offers a satisfying and memorable experience.
Author: Daniel Myers
Review:”Alliandre Rising” takes readers on an exhilarating journey as Alliandre strives to triumph in a tournament that holds not just the promise of knighthood but the key to his heart. Faced with a formidable rival and battling his inner demons, Alliandre’s quest for love becomes a thrilling tale of resilience and self-discovery.
Reading this book was like being on the front lines of a captivating battle. The author’s vivid descriptions painted a vibrant picture of each duel, and Alliandre’s internal struggles added depth to the narrative. The pacing was expertly crafted, keeping me eagerly turning pages to witness each dramatic twist unfold.
Alliandre’s journey is not just a quest for victory but a profound exploration of the human spirit. The author skillfully weaves together elements of love and combat, delivering a story that resonates long after the final clash in the Grand Melee. Whether you’re a fan of epic battles or heartfelt tales, this book offers a satisfying and memorable experience.
January 25, 2023
I enjoyed all the characters
It was hard to watch Alliance try so hard to just have Marion and go on with life, but the attack at the end leads into the next book I would guess. I did enjoy the book.
It was hard to watch Alliance try so hard to just have Marion and go on with life, but the attack at the end leads into the next book I would guess. I did enjoy the book.
February 25, 2023
It has been years since I read pure fantasy, and I rarely do high fantasy. But I picked up this debut novel by Daniel Myers and gave it a shot. I very much enjoyed the character development and the buildout of the different realms. Without giving away the end, I can say that I look forward to the next installment to see where the author takes the characters and readers.
Bravo debut!
Bravo debut!
May 15, 2024
Imagine a book that reads like a season of Seinfeld, only it’s set in a fantasy realm. How can you write a story in which stuff is happening and yet nothing is truly happening?
January 9, 2026
I was so enthusiastic for this book and, of course, I didn't have a chance to get on. All-in-all I really enjoyed the book. I'll definitely be reading more by this author.
January 9, 2026
Some very amiable characters. I really liked the main characters. The plot is gripping too.
January 9, 2026
Unquestionably dazzling story! Couldn’t put this book down from start to finish! Unexpected twists and turns throughout which will keep you hooked!
January 9, 2026
It keeps you on the edge of your seat for the duration of your read. It's clear from page one that here an experienced writer is at work.
January 9, 2026
LOVE it! The author has such a dazzling way of keeping you engrossed with words.
January 9, 2026
The story was remarkable, kept me absorbed all throughout.
January 9, 2026
Very fascinating! I am very glad I read it!!
January 9, 2026
I was very impressed. I loved the accurate portrayal of relationships and the characters that felt really real
January 9, 2026
Awesome read. It is a splendid story that I have loved reading. I cannot wait to read the rest. I highly suggest this story to everyone.
January 9, 2026
If not for the grammatical errors I would have rated it 5 stars
December 24, 2023
I did a full review of this book on Youtube:
Full Review: Alliandre Rising
High fantasy with an RPG-esque feel.
Things that worked:
The worldbuilding was interesting and well-thought-out. The author has several unique races that feel fully developed and ready to deploy. The customs and cultures feel thoroughly thought through. I also liked a lot of the RPG elements that were used, like the multi-step magic casting process. Often while I was reading, I found myself reminiscing about old D&D sessions, which was fun.
Things that didn't work:
The characters are over-powered. Their flaws are either non-existent or shallow (we're told they have them, but we never actually see them impact anything). Sometimes the RPG elements detracted from the weight of the consequences (when a potion or healing spell can fix everything, why worry about injury or death?) The writing tends to go into minute detail about everybody's outfits and the food they order every time someone enters a room - that's great, if you like that sort of thing, but I found it repetative and irritating. Fight scenes are both too detailed and not detailed enough; we get a blow-by-blow of nearly every fight, but using terms like "thunder strike", with no explanation of what that means.
Why it's a 2-star:
The story just stops at the end. A lot of huge, sweeping story-lines are opened during the book, world-scale conflicts are introduced, and we get resolution for none of it. The only thing that wraps up is something that feels like a side story. Everything else is left hanging, without even being drawn to a reasonable stopping point. I get introducing a cliffhanger to draw readers to the next book in the series, but this isn't the way to do it.
[This book was sent to me for free in exchange for my fair and honest review.]
Full Review: Alliandre Rising
High fantasy with an RPG-esque feel.
Things that worked:
The worldbuilding was interesting and well-thought-out. The author has several unique races that feel fully developed and ready to deploy. The customs and cultures feel thoroughly thought through. I also liked a lot of the RPG elements that were used, like the multi-step magic casting process. Often while I was reading, I found myself reminiscing about old D&D sessions, which was fun.
Things that didn't work:
The characters are over-powered. Their flaws are either non-existent or shallow (we're told they have them, but we never actually see them impact anything). Sometimes the RPG elements detracted from the weight of the consequences (when a potion or healing spell can fix everything, why worry about injury or death?) The writing tends to go into minute detail about everybody's outfits and the food they order every time someone enters a room - that's great, if you like that sort of thing, but I found it repetative and irritating. Fight scenes are both too detailed and not detailed enough; we get a blow-by-blow of nearly every fight, but using terms like "thunder strike", with no explanation of what that means.
Why it's a 2-star:
The story just stops at the end. A lot of huge, sweeping story-lines are opened during the book, world-scale conflicts are introduced, and we get resolution for none of it. The only thing that wraps up is something that feels like a side story. Everything else is left hanging, without even being drawn to a reasonable stopping point. I get introducing a cliffhanger to draw readers to the next book in the series, but this isn't the way to do it.
[This book was sent to me for free in exchange for my fair and honest review.]
October 6, 2025
It is my book, so I loved it. :-)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews