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The Age of Reckoning
The world of Naeisus hangs on the fragile precipice of centuries of war and discord.
The five races–greed in their ravenous eyes–lust after six shards of immense power that, when combined, form the divine Yultah Crystal. With a pure heart and an impulsive attitude, King Areth III of Man embarks on a self-imposed journey to unite Naeisus as it once was. Seeing an opportunity for power, the chaotic captain of the Forsaken, Levana, pulls whatever puppet strings she can grab to turn the tide of the war in her favour.
Meanwhile, widespread tremors from an unknown source plague the land that could signal the return of the legendary Korkrenus… Or something colossal; a shadow of myth, altogether more terrifying than any of the denizens would believe...
The five races–greed in their ravenous eyes–lust after six shards of immense power that, when combined, form the divine Yultah Crystal. With a pure heart and an impulsive attitude, King Areth III of Man embarks on a self-imposed journey to unite Naeisus as it once was. Seeing an opportunity for power, the chaotic captain of the Forsaken, Levana, pulls whatever puppet strings she can grab to turn the tide of the war in her favour.
Meanwhile, widespread tremors from an unknown source plague the land that could signal the return of the legendary Korkrenus… Or something colossal; a shadow of myth, altogether more terrifying than any of the denizens would believe...
885 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2022
7 people are currently reading
878 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Anthony Lay
6 books53 followersThomas is a vibrant video game veteran, astronomy aficionado, and author of the World of Naeisus. Born in 1992 and growing up in the UK with an Italian family, Thomas is filled with the drive and ambition to transform his wild imagination into lore-rich stories that captivate readers.
Thomas attributes his passion and drive to the parenting from his father who sadly passed away in 2007 from pancreatic cancer. This life-changing event at a young age led to a shift that saw Thomas take the reins of his future to make his father proud.
The Age of Reckoning: Volume I won Finalist in the Fiction: Fantasy category of the 2020 International Book Awards despite it being Thomas’ debut novel. His immersive, fast-paced writing style is sure to fill your imagination with a rich universe that you truly feel invested in.
Thomas attributes his passion and drive to the parenting from his father who sadly passed away in 2007 from pancreatic cancer. This life-changing event at a young age led to a shift that saw Thomas take the reins of his future to make his father proud.
The Age of Reckoning: Volume I won Finalist in the Fiction: Fantasy category of the 2020 International Book Awards despite it being Thomas’ debut novel. His immersive, fast-paced writing style is sure to fill your imagination with a rich universe that you truly feel invested in.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 30, 2022
I’m wowed this book it’s truly incredible
If you’re looking for a high fantasy book. With lots of interesting characters and great world building. Stop looking and get this one.
The Age of Reckoning follows characters of different races who live in the world Naeisus. A place where a crystal with unlimited power was shattered into 6 shards. Each with a unique power, and now the reason for a never ending war. A man, who looks up to his ancestor from 1000 years ago dreams of finding peace. Would it be posible to end a 1000 years of hate?
This book has ir all. Action, mystery, politics, betrayal, strong characters. This might me it. All the characters where incredible. All of them were unique, strong and with dept. Lots of epic battles, unexpected plot twists and an incredible narration.
I enjoyed this book a lot! Even if at the beginning it felt a little slow … once the plot set it was impossible to let go.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this masterpiece.
If you’re looking for a high fantasy book. With lots of interesting characters and great world building. Stop looking and get this one.
The Age of Reckoning follows characters of different races who live in the world Naeisus. A place where a crystal with unlimited power was shattered into 6 shards. Each with a unique power, and now the reason for a never ending war. A man, who looks up to his ancestor from 1000 years ago dreams of finding peace. Would it be posible to end a 1000 years of hate?
This book has ir all. Action, mystery, politics, betrayal, strong characters. This might me it. All the characters where incredible. All of them were unique, strong and with dept. Lots of epic battles, unexpected plot twists and an incredible narration.
I enjoyed this book a lot! Even if at the beginning it felt a little slow … once the plot set it was impossible to let go.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this masterpiece.
October 16, 2022
I loved following the unique and vibrant characters as they came to life in this amazing dark fantasy trilogy. Fantastical creatures, some never-before-seem races, violent clashes, magical crystal shards... what more could you ask for?!
Looking forward to delving into future stories with the Naeisus world!
Looking forward to delving into future stories with the Naeisus world!
November 1, 2022
The Age of Reckoning is gripping tale of one man’s vision to unite the land against all odds. This good King's ambition drives him to attempt what is seemingly impossible which will take him and his loyal companions on an epic journey through the mysterious world of Naeisus.
I don’t consider myself a book enthusiast, having only read a handful of books in my lifetime but from the very beginning of this book I was left with a thirst for more, with a feeling similar to that of finishing an episode of Game of Thrones and having to wait an entire week for the next dose.
I was instantly drawn into the world of Naeisus, from the lush forest of Triash to the barren Darklands. The main characters of this story are very well developed, likable and in some cases terrifying. I found myself becoming very attached to them and had many ‘hair standing on end' moments throughout.
Some of the battle scenes are absolutely mind-blowing and incredibly well written, leaving me feeling like I had just participated in the battles myself.
I highly recommend this book, especially if you are fans of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings and Final Fantasy.
I don’t consider myself a book enthusiast, having only read a handful of books in my lifetime but from the very beginning of this book I was left with a thirst for more, with a feeling similar to that of finishing an episode of Game of Thrones and having to wait an entire week for the next dose.
I was instantly drawn into the world of Naeisus, from the lush forest of Triash to the barren Darklands. The main characters of this story are very well developed, likable and in some cases terrifying. I found myself becoming very attached to them and had many ‘hair standing on end' moments throughout.
Some of the battle scenes are absolutely mind-blowing and incredibly well written, leaving me feeling like I had just participated in the battles myself.
I highly recommend this book, especially if you are fans of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings and Final Fantasy.
November 3, 2022
A fantasy-rich novel that will satisfy fantasy fans greatly.
Deep lore, recognizable characters and beautiful world-building.
A must-read if you love fantasy.
Deep lore, recognizable characters and beautiful world-building.
A must-read if you love fantasy.
November 6, 2022
It was granted by Netgalley, an arc of The Age of Reckoning in exchange for my honest opinion.
Naeisus is facing constant disagreement between the 5 races all of them want to rule this world blinded by greed, fighting to gather the 6 shards, their combination will form the Yultah Crystal, but only will be revealed to the one with a pure heart.
King Aerth III ruling the race of man, wants nothing more than unite the races together, ruling with passion and wisdom, but everything around it's changing rapidly I'd very one fighting for power.
The world and races are a bit confusing I wish we had a glossary of some sort, to help us understand better the kingdoms and races, the characters are described enough for us to memorize and distinguish, but the book starts with lots of action almost right away. At the same time, I'm trying to understand the world. Gets a bit overwhelming. I had to pause this book a few times, being packed with information for us to understand.
This is a good book for people that like epic fantasy with tones of world-building and descriptive, I have to say that this is a slow-paced book, and unnecessary descriptive at times. Some situations happened too fast with no elaboration.
The plot's interesting.
Naeisus is facing constant disagreement between the 5 races all of them want to rule this world blinded by greed, fighting to gather the 6 shards, their combination will form the Yultah Crystal, but only will be revealed to the one with a pure heart.
King Aerth III ruling the race of man, wants nothing more than unite the races together, ruling with passion and wisdom, but everything around it's changing rapidly I'd very one fighting for power.
The world and races are a bit confusing I wish we had a glossary of some sort, to help us understand better the kingdoms and races, the characters are described enough for us to memorize and distinguish, but the book starts with lots of action almost right away. At the same time, I'm trying to understand the world. Gets a bit overwhelming. I had to pause this book a few times, being packed with information for us to understand.
This is a good book for people that like epic fantasy with tones of world-building and descriptive, I have to say that this is a slow-paced book, and unnecessary descriptive at times. Some situations happened too fast with no elaboration.
The plot's interesting.
November 1, 2022
Age of Reckoning
by Thomas Anthony Lay
Fantasy, YA(?)
NetGalley ARC
DNF
Five races all want the six shards. The shards each have power but when combined they form the 'divine Yultah Crystal'. King Areth III wants to unite all of the races and the crystal to better them all, not just one.
The blurb sounded really good and being an omnibus, containing the entire series, I couldn't resist this book, but I only made it to 16%. It has the potential to be a great high fantasy, but as is, it follows the A,B,C,D, etc, outline. There are no descriptions or those little details (A1, A2, A3, etc) that pull you into the story. Everything was in a straight line and the mantra of 'we went here, we did this, and suddenly we were back, and we were able to hurry back' was how the story progressed.
And while the characters did have a few descriptions to them, they weren't life-like, they were plain and flat, and I couldn't tell you who was who. And the kids were too 'good', sweet little angels, very unbelievable. And sadly the settings weren't that much better. I have no clue what the 'castle' the 'land' or the 'woods', really looks like, the descriptions are way too vague.
The creatures were creative, but more detail into them, the background of the birds, and how the different races came in to being, would add so much to this book and bring it up a lot higher.
From what I read, the 'battles' weren't graphic so that's why I think it's for young adults, or maybe even younger.
A deep dive into the descriptions and backgrounds would change my rating because this book has a lot of potential with the right guidance, but as is...
2 Stars
by Thomas Anthony Lay
Fantasy, YA(?)
NetGalley ARC
DNF
Five races all want the six shards. The shards each have power but when combined they form the 'divine Yultah Crystal'. King Areth III wants to unite all of the races and the crystal to better them all, not just one.
The blurb sounded really good and being an omnibus, containing the entire series, I couldn't resist this book, but I only made it to 16%. It has the potential to be a great high fantasy, but as is, it follows the A,B,C,D, etc, outline. There are no descriptions or those little details (A1, A2, A3, etc) that pull you into the story. Everything was in a straight line and the mantra of 'we went here, we did this, and suddenly we were back, and we were able to hurry back' was how the story progressed.
And while the characters did have a few descriptions to them, they weren't life-like, they were plain and flat, and I couldn't tell you who was who. And the kids were too 'good', sweet little angels, very unbelievable. And sadly the settings weren't that much better. I have no clue what the 'castle' the 'land' or the 'woods', really looks like, the descriptions are way too vague.
The creatures were creative, but more detail into them, the background of the birds, and how the different races came in to being, would add so much to this book and bring it up a lot higher.
From what I read, the 'battles' weren't graphic so that's why I think it's for young adults, or maybe even younger.
A deep dive into the descriptions and backgrounds would change my rating because this book has a lot of potential with the right guidance, but as is...
2 Stars
December 17, 2022
A combined book of the three parts of the Age of Reckoning.
I liked the the different species in this series was a bit more interesting than the usual fae/human/werewolves mixture with having the earth giants, undead, waterfoxish types and dragons being thrown in the mix and the wolves just being the lycanthrope type rather than weres.
Book one was a lot more of politicing compared to the second two parts were there was a lot more fighting and reveals as to the gems uses and whereabouts.
The writing is very medieval english with the human sector which makes it a little harder to follow but the style changes to more modern as the story progresses.
I did really enjoy the idea of this epic fantasy and did like how the story wound up with some great character progression as well as a thought out world.
I liked the the different species in this series was a bit more interesting than the usual fae/human/werewolves mixture with having the earth giants, undead, waterfoxish types and dragons being thrown in the mix and the wolves just being the lycanthrope type rather than weres.
Book one was a lot more of politicing compared to the second two parts were there was a lot more fighting and reveals as to the gems uses and whereabouts.
The writing is very medieval english with the human sector which makes it a little harder to follow but the style changes to more modern as the story progresses.
I did really enjoy the idea of this epic fantasy and did like how the story wound up with some great character progression as well as a thought out world.
February 4, 2023
This book had a lot of potential. I really liked the idea since it could have been an amazing high fantasy story if the plot and world building were more developed.
I wouldn’t say the writing style is amazing although it is pretty easy to follow.
I think I will pick up the next installment just ‘cause I want to see how everything will play out.
I wouldn’t say the writing style is amazing although it is pretty easy to follow.
I think I will pick up the next installment just ‘cause I want to see how everything will play out.
September 16, 2024
Key highlights: grandeur of an epic fantasy adventure; incredible battle scenes; mystery, politics, action, some romance, some betrayal, rich and bloody history; magic and diverse races.
About me: my favourite genre is currently romantasy - eg the Maasverse, From Blood and Ash, etc. Generally I also like to read YA and books of the fantasy-world. Magic, Fae, etc. Usually female authors.
Bearing in mind this book is FANTASY, with what I would describe as having some minor romance, AND it was written by a male author, I went in with my fingers crossed. I wanted to read more fantasy with great world building. And this is three volumes in one, so the physical copy is quite the tome!
Considering the tonality and writing styles of the books I favour, the writing style took a little getting used to. It reminds me of the feeling of watching the Lord of the Rings - the exaggerated grandeur, the epic fantasy of the valiant quest of Kings and Knights. So think of the moral, kind King who is jolly and refers to everyone as “my good man!” - that kind of character is our good King Areth III. He’s a little hyperbolic and less than subtle. But he’s really likeable. Our more morally grey characters like to drip the end of their sentences in alluring sarcasm - think referring to someone as “my dear.” And so, if that is a style you’re not used to - bear it in mind. But I encourage you to get used to it and not let it stop you because this is the only head’s up I’ll offer you because The Age of Reckoning (Vols 1-3)…
Is *SO* good. The world-building is amazing. The world of Naeisus is deep and rich in its history and has multiple magical races, and the race of Man. You get a the gist of its rich (and bloody) history in the prologue. And despite the depth of world-building, you don’t have to wait for the adventure to begin. It’s done simultaneously, so that you aren’t stationary learning about the history and geography of the realm. You’re always moving and the world-building happens around you as you go.
The characters are great - special shout out to Queen Lucia, Violetwing, Lissy, Levanna and Boris in particular. They are endearing and you care about them and how their story develops. Despite our seemingly endlessly-brave hero types - we also have those who have to overcome fear. And you feel it with them. The fear, the battle to be brave, etc.
But one of the biggest boons of this book is the battle scenes. THOSE are the chapters in particular that had me in bed at 1AM saying “just one more chapter.” They’re just done really well. They’re fast paced, but descriptive and you’re very much engrossed in the action, feeling all the anticipation of the hits and near misses of a raging battle. The moments where you fear all is lost (and very well might be!) and the moments where the unexpected surprises the characters - and the reader - and turns the battle on its head. This is coming from someone who would be highly unlikely to pick a battle as their favourite LoTR scene and so to have me feeling so strongly about these battle scenes is no small feat.
The stories conclusion is very satisfactory. You don’t feel cheated, you don’t feel like any character development is flipped for the benefit of shocking the reader.
This debut novel is not one to be missed. I absolutely gobbled up volumes 2 and 3. I’m sad it’s over. But I’m hearing that there is a sequel 👀…
About me: my favourite genre is currently romantasy - eg the Maasverse, From Blood and Ash, etc. Generally I also like to read YA and books of the fantasy-world. Magic, Fae, etc. Usually female authors.
Bearing in mind this book is FANTASY, with what I would describe as having some minor romance, AND it was written by a male author, I went in with my fingers crossed. I wanted to read more fantasy with great world building. And this is three volumes in one, so the physical copy is quite the tome!
Considering the tonality and writing styles of the books I favour, the writing style took a little getting used to. It reminds me of the feeling of watching the Lord of the Rings - the exaggerated grandeur, the epic fantasy of the valiant quest of Kings and Knights. So think of the moral, kind King who is jolly and refers to everyone as “my good man!” - that kind of character is our good King Areth III. He’s a little hyperbolic and less than subtle. But he’s really likeable. Our more morally grey characters like to drip the end of their sentences in alluring sarcasm - think referring to someone as “my dear.” And so, if that is a style you’re not used to - bear it in mind. But I encourage you to get used to it and not let it stop you because this is the only head’s up I’ll offer you because The Age of Reckoning (Vols 1-3)…
Is *SO* good. The world-building is amazing. The world of Naeisus is deep and rich in its history and has multiple magical races, and the race of Man. You get a the gist of its rich (and bloody) history in the prologue. And despite the depth of world-building, you don’t have to wait for the adventure to begin. It’s done simultaneously, so that you aren’t stationary learning about the history and geography of the realm. You’re always moving and the world-building happens around you as you go.
The characters are great - special shout out to Queen Lucia, Violetwing, Lissy, Levanna and Boris in particular. They are endearing and you care about them and how their story develops. Despite our seemingly endlessly-brave hero types - we also have those who have to overcome fear. And you feel it with them. The fear, the battle to be brave, etc.
But one of the biggest boons of this book is the battle scenes. THOSE are the chapters in particular that had me in bed at 1AM saying “just one more chapter.” They’re just done really well. They’re fast paced, but descriptive and you’re very much engrossed in the action, feeling all the anticipation of the hits and near misses of a raging battle. The moments where you fear all is lost (and very well might be!) and the moments where the unexpected surprises the characters - and the reader - and turns the battle on its head. This is coming from someone who would be highly unlikely to pick a battle as their favourite LoTR scene and so to have me feeling so strongly about these battle scenes is no small feat.
The stories conclusion is very satisfactory. You don’t feel cheated, you don’t feel like any character development is flipped for the benefit of shocking the reader.
This debut novel is not one to be missed. I absolutely gobbled up volumes 2 and 3. I’m sad it’s over. But I’m hearing that there is a sequel 👀…
November 1, 2022
A staple for any dark fantasy collection.
Deep and interesting descriptions, gripping storylines, and interesting and inspiring characters.
Deep and interesting descriptions, gripping storylines, and interesting and inspiring characters.
November 2, 2022
I bought this book thinking it would take up a good chunk of my time but at around 10% I started to realise how derivative it is.
It is unabashedly ripped from classics (LotR, Zelda, Final Fantasy) and when you sniff that, it is hard to ever think away from it.
The writing is GCSE English standard and needs practice, I also think a hard editor would be useful here.
I'm shocked at the five star reviews but I understand friends and family review just to help out, I can only assume that's what these are.
Keep writing but original ideas are needed.
It is unabashedly ripped from classics (LotR, Zelda, Final Fantasy) and when you sniff that, it is hard to ever think away from it.
The writing is GCSE English standard and needs practice, I also think a hard editor would be useful here.
I'm shocked at the five star reviews but I understand friends and family review just to help out, I can only assume that's what these are.
Keep writing but original ideas are needed.
June 30, 2023
Though I tend to enjoy a good political epic, this one just didn’t really grab me. Unfortunately, the book didn’t really hold my attention, and I felt that the female characters had that “I was written by a man” vibe. The idea was fantastic, the execution could have been a bit better. Maybe if this continues into other books, I will read them to see how everything plays out. Though the writing style may have not been for me, I will be buying a copy for my brother who I believe would really enjoy this, and is probably closer to the target audience.
February 1, 2025
I was intimidated by this book and its very chonky size, because my reading focus has been next to nothing lately. I had nothing to worry about, though, because this book refused to not let me read it. From the very first page to the last, it kept me going with wanting to read it. Even sacrificing some very much needed sleep at times to do so.
There is so much to this book that its hard to not love. A wonderful fantasy story that brings with it a lovely, rich world with history and lore that gives you just enough and does not fall into the trap of overdoing it with lore drops.
The characters presented a wide cast of players, and brought some great dynamics to the story.
If you love fantasy, action, some thrillers, and a lot of adventures, highly recommend!
There is so much to this book that its hard to not love. A wonderful fantasy story that brings with it a lovely, rich world with history and lore that gives you just enough and does not fall into the trap of overdoing it with lore drops.
The characters presented a wide cast of players, and brought some great dynamics to the story.
If you love fantasy, action, some thrillers, and a lot of adventures, highly recommend!
November 19, 2022
I do love fantasy, however, I usually don't go for dark fantasy as I tend to use reading as a method of distracting myself from the glooms of the real world. The Age of Reckoning still managed to keep me engaged throughout the entire trilogy as I needed to find out how the story will end. Surprisingly I even enjoyed the battle scenes which usually I can't stand and have skipped in books before.
The writing definitely improves as you progress through the books and the story get more engaging.
The writing definitely improves as you progress through the books and the story get more engaging.
April 13, 2023
This was a DNF for me. I struggled to get through part 1 :( World building and creatures were good but the speech (particularly the way the queen spoke) was grating at times and the whole unfolding of the plot felt rushed.
October 6, 2024
Diving into another world this book offers all that you wish for!
Get ready to mourn characters, spend nights up to finish chapters, feel all the emotions!
A must read if you enjoy Fantasy!
Thank you for creating this world for us!
Get ready to mourn characters, spend nights up to finish chapters, feel all the emotions!
A must read if you enjoy Fantasy!
Thank you for creating this world for us!
October 23, 2024
I am not sure where to start, I was blown away by the attention to detail and love that I could feel that was poured into this book. And it’s a hefty one. Not one to shy away from long novels, I was excited to get reading. Lay combined his three novels into one book, splitting it into volumes which was a big draw for me as I prefer to start series that have at least a couple books out.
I was swept up into the world of Naeisus instantly. This book pulled me out of a huge reading slump, and I even found myself spending an entire day curled up on the couch fully absorbed in what only can be described as a beautiful fantasy world. He created a world that felt all encompassing. I never felt that something was missing, or that elements I look for in fantasy weren’t touched upon, as it has romance, mystery, lore, action, and much more. When I read fantasy, I want to feel like I am there, and Lay did just that.
This story covers the lives of so many, and each character is dynamic and well rounded. You love them and you hate them. I found myself most drawn to a more minor characters story arc, what Lay did with it was a unique twist I hadn’t expected and creating supporting characters that are as interesting and crucial to the storyline is a talent I look for in the books I read.
On the topic of talent, one of Lay’s biggest strengths is his commitment to just go for it. He isn’t afraid to make it hurt, to shock his readers, or leave you shouting at the pages. This is what I look for as a reader. I want to be crying, frustrated, or straight angry. That’s what makes for powerful writing, and I wasn’t disappointed. Another detail I noted as I read was the fight scenes. I don’t always read books with heavy fight scenes, but I enjoyed reading his. Without a repetition of words, and making it feel authentic, I found myself seeking out the next battle scenes.
The Age of Reckoning was a refreshing change of pace, Lay didn’t hold back and delivered an epic reading journey from start to finish. If you’re looking for a fantasy novel that isn’t safe and keeps you thoroughly invested throughout, I highly recommend picking up this book.
I was swept up into the world of Naeisus instantly. This book pulled me out of a huge reading slump, and I even found myself spending an entire day curled up on the couch fully absorbed in what only can be described as a beautiful fantasy world. He created a world that felt all encompassing. I never felt that something was missing, or that elements I look for in fantasy weren’t touched upon, as it has romance, mystery, lore, action, and much more. When I read fantasy, I want to feel like I am there, and Lay did just that.
This story covers the lives of so many, and each character is dynamic and well rounded. You love them and you hate them. I found myself most drawn to a more minor characters story arc, what Lay did with it was a unique twist I hadn’t expected and creating supporting characters that are as interesting and crucial to the storyline is a talent I look for in the books I read.
On the topic of talent, one of Lay’s biggest strengths is his commitment to just go for it. He isn’t afraid to make it hurt, to shock his readers, or leave you shouting at the pages. This is what I look for as a reader. I want to be crying, frustrated, or straight angry. That’s what makes for powerful writing, and I wasn’t disappointed. Another detail I noted as I read was the fight scenes. I don’t always read books with heavy fight scenes, but I enjoyed reading his. Without a repetition of words, and making it feel authentic, I found myself seeking out the next battle scenes.
The Age of Reckoning was a refreshing change of pace, Lay didn’t hold back and delivered an epic reading journey from start to finish. If you’re looking for a fantasy novel that isn’t safe and keeps you thoroughly invested throughout, I highly recommend picking up this book.
November 22, 2024
It's a big book I can say!
I was struggling a bit in the beginning, but the more I read, the more I loved this. The story was just getting better and better the more you read. Especially book 3 was my favorite.
World and races are well described, and the storytelling is amazing.
I can really recommend this book! It was my first fantasy book I have ever read, and I have no regrets at all. :)
I was struggling a bit in the beginning, but the more I read, the more I loved this. The story was just getting better and better the more you read. Especially book 3 was my favorite.
World and races are well described, and the storytelling is amazing.
I can really recommend this book! It was my first fantasy book I have ever read, and I have no regrets at all. :)
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews