Heirs of Prophecy

The Prophecies #2

by M.A. Rothman

The Riverton family had been enjoying a simple summer vacation when, through a fluke of nature, they found themselves in a strange new land. The Riverton brothers quickly realize that in this world, they have gained unusual powers. Powers that their parents fear will attract the attention of Azazel himself - the merciless wizard who brutally controls this world. The two brothers soon learn that an ancient prophecy has finally been initiated by their arrival in Trimoria. As the heirs of this prophecy, they are destined to lead the armies of men, dwarves, elves, and even a misfit ogre against the prophesied demon horde. Only one thing stands in their way. The evil wizard who has learned of their presence, and has sent assassins to wipe them from existence.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Science Fiction Fantasy

332 pages, Hardcover

First published March 20, 2012

About the author

USA TODAY bestselling author, M.A. Rothman, is one of the most unlikely novelists you'll ever meet. He's an engineer first and foremost, with a background in the sciences, and somehow or another, this writing habit of his has turned into a bit more than just a run-of-the-mill hobby.

He primarily writes stories that focus on two things: technology and international intrigue. This writing tends to span the genres of science fiction, techno-thriller, and mainstream thrillers.

When not writing, he enjoys cooking, learning about new technology, travel, and spending time with his family.

Reviews

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of fantasy will enjoy this new series from Michael Rothman. Packed with adventure, plenty of fantasy elements, and an age appropriate romance, readers of all ages will enjoy this new magical journey into a land unlike any other.

For the Riverton family, a fun summer vacation to AZ sounded like the perfect retreat from their beautiful home in the Pacific Northwest. Little did they know their trip would forever change their lives, as they are transported to a magical land unlike anything they ever imagined. It's here upon their arrival in a land full of magic, mythical beings, and danger do they learn their boys's arrivals had long been foretold in an ancient prophecy. In fulfilling their destiny, Aaron and Ryan both inherit strong magical abilities. In land where those who possess magic are banned/killed, both boys learn to grow up fast and quickly learn how to harness their new found abilities.

I really enjoyed the fantasy element of this book, and the adventure this family goes on. While this story follows the brothers, I liked that the story focused on the family and their new friends. I love that strong family bond that the Riverton's have, and how they're all in this together. The boys themselves are fun characters to read about, and I liked how they both embrace their difference, as well and learn to work together. Another think I liked about this book is the fact this story spans the course of two years, leading up into the second book in this series. There's also a cast of lively characters whom I enjoyed meeting as well.

What I had a hard time with is the story's pacing, and the length of the book. Don't get me wrong, I love a big book, but I feel that any book, whether it's fantasy, adventure, romance etc. is over 200 pages it needs to keep a good pace in order for the reader me to stay engaged with the story line. This book being 369 pages lost my interest a few times. There were times I felt the pacing was very slow, and other times I felt there were a few too many overly descriptive scenes that took me out of the story, vs keeping me hooked with it. I appreciated what the author was trying to do, but for me personally it didn't hook me enough to love the story, though overall I felt like it was still a good read.

If you're looking for a good, clean cut fantasy loaded with adventure, a close knit family, magic and a touch of romance I'd recommend picking this book up

[Vidya-Book Driven Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beautiful family of Rivertons - Dad Jared, Mom Aubrey and sons Ryan and Aaron - had planned to enjoy their summer vacation in Arizona (their father's 'surprise' place to the family). When they were camping in Arizona, by some unexpected accident that none of them understands, they land in a strange land called Trimoria. As soon as the family arrives there, they each seem to have gained some magical powers, which they didn't yet realize. Soon, they were given shelter by the town's Protector, Throll, in his house. Throll and his family become very close to the Rivertons.

In between all this, there is a evil Wizard, Azazel, who has been living in Trimoria for five centuries and have killed all the wizards, as soon as they are born. If Azazel knows about the Rivertons' magical powers, will they be Azazel's next target? Oh yeah, to make it even better, there is also a prophecy concerning the Rivertons family. According to the prophecy, the boys Ryan and Aaron, will bring all the magical population together and beat the evil out of the land. How is this going to be possible, when there is such a grave danger ahead?

A middle-grade fresh and simple fantasy read! There is nothing special about this book, but that's what makes it feel good. Its simple and light, just ready to be enjoyed by children.

It was fun reading the snippets in the title of each chapter about how a major character felt about their life at that time. It was new and I was looking forward to read them, everytime I start with a new chapter.

The only problem I had with this novel was, it became predictable after some time. But, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the novel..I thoroughly did.

If you want a simple middle-grade read with no big drama, I would readily recommend this book to you.

"Narnia" meets "Percy Jackson".. in a more gentler and slower pace!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me of The Pendragon Adventures Series, Gregor the Overlander, and the Mother-Earth Series. I just adore MG adventure, fantasy books! Seriously, one of my favourite genres. This book had it all, magic, powers, dwarves, elves, and many more! Oh, I recently watched Lord of the Rings movies and I really felt this had aspects of LotR (more on this later).

What I love the most about the book was that it involved the whole family and not just the children (yes! Mother, and father!) I had never read a book where it included the whole family in the adventure. It was very interesting to see the parents react to the magical powers. The Riverton family was interesting. I really loved how the characters weren't perfect. I found a lot of main characters in MG were always perfect in one way or another. The brothers felt jealousy and difficulties. I really felt for them. They grew throughout the novel and I really, really felt they learnt some morals (I might be having a Naruto moment, be right back.) The Lancaster were the cutest, sweetest family ever! Think of the perfect fantasy family, yeah, that was them. When the families teamed up, it was like the perfect combination. Furthermore, they joined forces with dwarves, elves and ogres (this really reminded me of the Mother-Earth Series by Alan Tucker but also LotR).

Heirs of Prophecy was action-packed, and fast-paced. There was friendship, adventure, and love. I definitely recommend this book to fans of MG fantasy!

And yes! The book was told in a third person point of view so it covered very angle. :) It is my favourite point of view. Love, love, love!

[JenBsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was included in the AudiblePlus catalog, books 1&2 being a combo (still just 14+ hours for both books). I'd listened to book 1 and liked it, and basically went onto book 2 because it was right there (really, it just kept playing). Book 1 ended with Arabelle finally meeting the blue-eyed boy of her visions. Book 2 ... the history of the blue-eyed boy.

I really wasn't expecting it. Book 2 starts out contemporary in the U.S., a normal family of four taking a vacation (I mean, a two-month vacation, a vacation that Dad has planned without telling his wife or two boys anything about it ... not sure about that) and then blam /// they poof into the fantasy land of book 1. Ryan (the blue-eyed boy) is just 14, and I think we assume he's closer to Arabelle's age (of 17) when they meet, so this is some years prior.

I think I've always had a bit of a thing for a "normal" person or family to get sucked into some crazy situation like this. I remember the "Otherworld" TV series in the 80s (and family of four goes to alternate Earths) and Sliders (four friends end up in alternate timelines). It turns out, they all have some sort of powers now in this fantasy world. They meet up with some friends and form a life. Eventually there is the scene we already saw in book 1, where Arabelle's father brings her for healing. She's not a main character in this book, but does appear more than that repeat scene. The family is apparently part of a prophecy, as is an ogre (book one had a side story of a dwarf who could shift shapes, this book it's the ogre). We also get glimpses of the bad guys and their plans.

When I came to review, I found I had this book noted as "Kindle Cloud" ... and I do have the kindle copy, although I can't see when I "purchased" it (I'm sure it was a freebie I grabbed).

There was an author's note at the end - read by the author - which I appreciated. It's always a bit weird to hear an authors note read in first person by the same narrator. Even if the author isn't as talented audibly, I actually appreciate hearing it in their own voice. I really like hearing his history and notes.

The next set of books is NOT included in Plus ... and I had a credit I had to use up so, I bought the next set (it's Audible Only, which makes me more likely to buy. I'm happy to use my library if they have the book there).

[AP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very subjective personal opinion;
I liked the first book a lot more than this one. This one had promise but it just let me down in the end.
I was hoping for a continuation of the story of the characters from that book rather than another "book 1" and the introduction of a new set of characters, which is probably the real main characters of the combined series. (I began this series in blind because it was a free listen on audible and I wouldn't mind a nice, chill and easy listen in between other books!)
I also hoped for a bit of a better tie in with book one. That said, I don't think I'll finish up the series as I ended up having several pet-peeves. Like how parenting was done without a second thought. I'm pretty sure most parents wouldn't just give the go ahead to make their kids soldiers, especially not when they are not from that world at all and are basically stranded there. Why aren't they ever once wondering about how to get home or discussing going home? That would be what most people would normally think of for a long while before they settle in and accept it might not be possible. Then the view of women seemed somehow to be downgraded from book one in this one. In book one it seemed less "hostile" or how to put it, despite it was obvious Arabelle was breaking with traditions and the cultural norm of her world. Book one left me with the impression this series would cater to everyone rather than boys primarily which is the impression I was left with after book 2. In book 2 it seems to me that women should be in the kitchen mainly/only look after the family or be healers... And that's when the female characters are mentioned.
Arabelle seems almost nonexistent and is only briefly present/mentioned to make the tie in from book one. After that she's gone for the rest of the book more or less.
Also, personally I would say this is definitely more of a middle-grade series than a YA series by the way it's written.
I feel a bit let down by this because I was hoping for something akin to Fablehaven which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

[Nazish Ahmed (Nazish Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

To view the full post and other reviews, click here Prophecies: Book 1 Heirs of Prophecy by Michael A. Rothman



Gore: No, just a few dead bodies, but nothing gory or creepy.
Magic: Yes
Romance: Not much, just kissing on the cheek, basically it's cute since Aaron is only 12 and Ryan is 14 years old

Action: 4 stars
Pacing: 3 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Cover: 4 stars


When I first heard of this series, it was a few months ago, I had some expectations about this book, but when I read and finished it, it ended up being different than I expected. I can't figure out if that's a good thing or if it's a bad thing.


While the Riverton's were on their summer vacation in Arizona, something big happened, they had no idea that their lives would change forever than, they are transported to a strange new world called Trimoria, where almost everything is different from what they are used to. This is where mythical beings and magic are reality, they also gain strong magical powers. Instead of trying to find a way to get back home, they end up living there with another family. There is a prophecy that says that the boys will lead armies of people, dwarves, and elves against a demon horde. They only have one problem and that is the self proclaimed king of Trimoria, who is also an evil wizard, I mean, he kills babies, how much more evil can someone get?

In the first few chapters I wasn't sure how I felt about any of the characters, but later on some of them grew on me. I like that the family is very close, you don't see that often in young adult and new adult novels, so that was nice. This is actually one of the few times where death is included in a children's story, you don't see that much these days, since dark stuff like that gets suger coated because people think that kids can't handle it. I was 11 or 12 when I first watched the 2003 version of TMNT and I was disappointed that there was no blood to make some of the scenes more realistic, etc. So, I liked that there is a little bit of death in this book, whoa, that makes me sound like a bit of a psycho, which I'm not by the way. The Riverton family has an interesting adventure in Trimoria. It was fun reading about some of the characters and learning about them, like the main characters, the Riverton boys, it felt like the whole family were the main characters and not just the boys. I also enjoyed many of the other characters as well. This story focuses on the family and their new friends, so it's a story about friendship and adjusting to a whole new world.

While I enjoyed this book, I did have a few problems with it. The pacing was a bit slow at times and that lost my interest a few times. There are some books that are over 3000 pages and they keep me entertained throughout, in those cases I don't mind the book being long, bu in this case it didn't work out so well.

Another problem I had with this book is that I feel like it was a bit sexist, I don't mean in Trimoria, because Trimoria is supposed to be old style where all females cook and clean while the guys work, but what I mean is that they keep saying that boys eat a lot, that is true, but some girls eat a lot too, like me, it's true, I eat more than the average person yet I'm not fat because I have a good metabolism. They also don't let the girls fight even though Sloane is really good at archery. Throll doesn't have powers yet he got to fight, although he does have lots of experience, but it would have been nice to see a girl that grew up there be a rebel and want to learn to fight, yes, Sloane does archery and keeps it a secret from her mom, but I feel like that wasn't enough. Another thing is many of the decisions are decided by the fathers, shouldn't the moms and dads consult with each other before making big decisions? Because that's what my parents do, although my dad usually says, "ask your mom". I know that this is a boys story, but so Fullmetal Alchemist and Bleach, yet they have some awesome kickbutt females. I didn't mind this too much, since this is what the author wanted the world to be like, but it did bother me a bit.
And also, Aubrey (Ryan and Aaron's mom complained a lot in the beginning. Unlike her, I love learning about swords and archery, especially katanas (samurai swords), ever since I started watching Bleach which was 5.5 years ago, I ended up wanting to learn everything about swords, still, I don't think there's anything wrong with a girl wanting to learn about swords, although I don't mind if people think it's weird.

Other than that, I still enjoyed the story and it is a good read. I will be reading the sequel, I'm curious about what will happen to the characters next, especially after what happened on the last page.

I liked the older cover better, I like this one too, but the guy I'm assuming is Ryan, his face makes him look way older.

Overall, I enjoyed this book.
Heirs of Prophecy is adventurous, entertaining, has interesting and fun characters, and has a bit of romance in it that is appropriate for the age group. If you love a good middle grade fantasy, then you will love this book.

[Rashide · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book 1 was as if written by a teenager with adult help this though bk2 was as if written by a 12 yr old. I ever the optimist and very stubborn so stayed with this until the end then as they say spoiler alert the author describes how these books came into being as he told these stories to his kids under 10

I’ve previously proofread loads of books to read to my children when they were young as such this would have been ideal

[A S · Rating 4 out of 5]

weaker than first book

It’s worth reading and I liked about 75 pages of the Rivertons and Throll’s family, but this just kept going on and on. No antagonists or any exciting conflicts for about 200 or more pages. Got really boring. Still a worthwhile read if you liked the first book.

[Ed And · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong story with lots of whoof.

This story was fun to read. The main characters were learning about their special magical powers and more.

We were presented with elves (good and not so good) and dwarves. The armies of the three ns

[Brad Searing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not expecting that. I love the connection between the real world and the fantasy world. The experiments the family does using their earthly knowledge and their beliefs of the fantasy world from home.

[Mandz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book a little dry and I kept wondering when arabell and Grisham were coming back into the story to link back in with the first book more solidly. Not much really happened to hold my attention.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Authors note at end was cute and made the 2.5 book rise to a 3
The story is good. It’s just some big jarring out of the story occurs when human reactions to events happens. The story kept me going on despite this jarring so maybe it’s better than a 2.5.

[ListenAbleAudioUK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starts a little slow, but so worth it

[Maree · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just awful.

[Chapter by Chapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read for the whole family, Heirs of Prophecy by Michael A. Rothman will open up the imagination of young and old(er) alike! Think Journey to the Centre of the Universe meets World of Warcraft (kinda sorta). Oh ya, I said that.

The story follows the Riverton family as they embark on a family vacation and find themselves somehow transported to another world, called Trimoria. It is here that they learn that they are all part of a vital part to the Prophecy of the First Protector that will help them fight the evil and the demon horde which are fast approaching.

As an adult, I found the book to be very entertaining although there were parts that I had trouble grasping. For example, the Riverton family were pretty quick to accept that they were no longer going home. The knowledge of having magical abilities seemed to almost not phase them, and the need to now live like back in the pioneer days was completely fine and dandy…but I guess “do as the Romans do”! There are others, but to bring them up may cause some spoilery issues. Though when seen through the eyes of a younger generation, these points may not even trigger so much as a blip on their radars.

The cast of characters are loveable and have personalities all of their own! I’m not only talking about the Riverton family themselves (Brothers Ryan and Aaron, father – Jared, and mother – Aubrey) … I’m talking about all the other characters that get introduced into this novel! There’s Throll, the protector of Aubgherle who, with the help of his family, aids the Rivertons in finding a place and home in this new land, an ogre (YES OGRE!) named Ohaobbok who I just absolutely adored! We’ve got elves and dwarves, and let’s not forget the evil sorcerer himself, Azazal.

Just how evil is Azazel? Well, let’s see. He took it upon himself to rid the world of any other wizards/sorcerers so that he would be the only one. He gave the orders to kill children who are potential wizards, as well as anyone who gets in the way. Of course he would have some other lackeys do the dirty work for him, but when push comes to shove, he would be more than happy to deliver the killing blow.

The world created by author, Michael A. Rothman is one that is completely magical. The interactions that we see between the characters are delightful and some parts are very endearing. True to any YA read, we do encounter the topic of bullying all thanks to Slug (aka Sling) and his crew of thugs, Dominic and Kendrick. Just how much of a bully are these boys? You’ll have to read the book to find out, but rest assured that someone from this crew plays a big part in how things go down!

An adventure like no other, Heirs of Prophecy is a read that will take you on a trip you won’t soon forget.

[Carrie Ardoin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Riverton family is taking a summer-long vacation. Dad Jared is being very mysterious about their destination, but sons Ryan and Arron are excited...their mom Aubrey, not so much. But when their camping trip in Arizona goes wrong, they end up in a land that seems to be from another time--no cars, airplanes...and they have ogres and gnomes!

Luckily the Rivertons are taken in by the kindly Lancaster family, and they soon come to love the simple, hard working life they lead on the family's farm. The Riverton family has one issue though--when they stepped into this strange land, they gained magical powers...healing, superstrength, and the ability to control lightning. Unfortunately for them, the evil wizard who rules the land is determined that he should be the only magical person...so he sets out to destroy them. The Rivertons and Lancasters must band together to defeat the evil that threatens both their families.

I LOOOOOVED this book! It was a totally fresh take on the fantasy genre, but there were elements that reminded me of some of my favorite books--Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings seemed to be influences on this author.

Every member of both the Riverton and Lancaster families was totally awesome and likable. But, that didn't mean they were perfect. Brothers Ryan and Aaron both struggled with jealousy issues and each thinking the other was his father's favorite. Throll Lancaster and his wife Gwen were so sweet and kind, and their daughter Sloane, though 11, was kick-ass and not afraid of anything.

It was so cool to see a story that featured a whole family, rather than just the kids, going through an adventure. The story was told in thrid person, which allowed the reader to get the full scope on what all the characters were doing. I loved seeing the modern Riverton kids (and parents for that matter) coming into their magical powers.

The book had just enough action to keep an older reader like me entertained, but it was not too scary, which is nice for middle grade readers. There were battle scenes but not a lot of blood and gore. There are some mentions of dead bodies and people being incinerated, so if you have a younger reader you should watch out for that.

Heirs of Prophecy was simply magical, and I couldn't read it fast enough. I would recommend this book to fantasy fans of any age.

[Chrystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with the Riverton family and their new found friends of Trimoria. This middle grade book is filled with exciting action, lots of adventure, friendships being forged and even little hints of love. It reminds me of a combination of Harry Potter meets Lord of the Rings.

The Riverton's were somehow transferred to Tirmoria without knowing why or how they even got there. They learned that things were much different in their new surroundings and adapted quickly to all the changes happening to them - including finding out that they were now stronger than before or had magical abilities. Most people would be shocked by this, but the Riverton's take it all in stride and try their best to fit in. After finding out that they are part of a destiny that is bigger than anything they could have dreamed of, they work their hardest to use their new found abilities for the greater good.

During this time the Riverton's and the Lancaster's, the family that has taken them in, have forged an unshakable friendship. They become one fierce group when called upon to battle the evil wizard, Azazel. Though they are few in number, they make up for it with intelligence, magical abilities and sheer brute force. Ryan and Aaron both face different dilemmas in the story and learn quite a few morals along the way.

Throughout the novel, the families make friends with ogres, elves and dwarves alike and create one strong group to battle the upcoming evil forces that are looming just ahead. I think this grouping of the different races is amazing and it brings the groups together who would otherwise have either ignored one another or fought amongst themselves.

My favourite characters have to be the ogre named Ohaobbok, who only eats veggies; Silver the household cat that has come along for the magical journey and is not a gigantic swamp cat; and Sloane, the Protector-General's daguther, as I think there is more to her than we first see.

I am eager to jump into the second book, Tools of Prophecy, in the series to see what happens next with my favourite characters. This series is great for middle grade, young adult and adult as all age groups will find something to enjoy within the pages of this book. I highly suggest it to families who read together as it is quite and exciting read and gets your imagination going.

[Gaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heirs of Prophecy is a well developed quest novel for middle grade and young adult readers. Rothman introduces us to the Riverton family with sons Ryan and Aaron. Their father Jared has a love for the simple (rough!) outdoor life. He takes the family to the wilderness of southern Arizona to camp, canoe, fish, and forage. The two boys share their father's fondness for survival skills, which proves useful when through some freak accident the Rivertons suddenly find themselves in a strange and different world.

As the family makes sense of their surroundings, the boys discover that they have new abilities. Ryan discovers that he can channel magic while his younger brother Aaron has incredible physical strength. While thrilled with these developments, the Rivertons are careful not to show their new abilities. The new world is less technologically advanced and their survival skills serve them in good stead.

The family chances upon a powerful stranger named Throll who serves as a ranger and mayor of sorts for the district. Somehow Throll senses their difference but is willing to help the Rivertons adapt to the new world, find their bearings, and hide their "otherness". We learn that despite living in very different worlds, Throll's family and the Rivertons share much in common - such as a sense of fairness, a desire for individual freedom, and a willingness to risk everything for the chance of a better place.

Ryan and Aaron seem to have a special place in Trimoria - their arrival and future are foretold in prophecies and in dreams. It's with humor, excitement, and grace that they accept their unique strengths, the allies that they make, and the responsibilities that fall to them.

Michael Rothman is careful to explore the points of view of the two brothers as they learn about their new powers and explore the strange world of Trimoria. Reading Heirs of Prophecy, I was acutely aware of the wholesomeness of the story and the language. This didn't detract from the power of the story or likability of the characters. I would recommend Heirs of Prophecy to younger readers that are developing a taste for fantasy novels and stories of quests and knights.

ISBN-10: 0985169702 - Paperback $9.99
Publisher: M & S Publishing, L.L.C. (April 3, 2012), 380 pages.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher and TLC Book Tours.

[Kathleen (Kat) Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through a fluke of nature, the Riverton Family is transported to the strange new world of Trimoria, where two young brothers gain unusual powers.

An ancient prophecy foretells that they must lead armies of men, dwarves, and elves against a demon horde. One thing stands in their way: the evil wizard Azazel, whose brutal warriors are sworn to seek and destroy them. (rear cover synopsis).

This excerpt from the back of the book doesn’t do enough justice to describe the story of the Riverton’s and how Ryan and Aaron discover their unusual gifts talents (magical powers). They have to learn how to grow both of the talents that they have while keeping away from Azazel’s private army looking for strangers. Throll, who is the ranger and protector of Aubgherle discovers the Riverton family just coming out of the mists and decides to take them in seeing how they are unfamiliar with the territory and how out of place they seem.

Little does Throll know that he has just discovered the prophecy of the younger brothers without even knowing who they are. Together with his wife Gwen, and daughter Sloan, the Lancaster family soon befriends the Riverton’s to stay with them while they sort out a good place to hide them. Jarod, the father soon becomes the towns blacksmith with help from Throll. Will the prophecy come about? And what of this Ogre who cannot eat meat have to do with the coming of the prophecy? Read the Heirs of Prophecy by Michael A. Rothman to be whirled away form your troubles into a land of magic and mystery!

I received Heirs of Prophecy compliments of TLC Book Tours for my honest review. This the first book in this series, with the second book slated to be on the shelves in July. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars!! A great read with an even better cast of characters!! I loved reading this book and would recommend to all who love mystery, fiction and Christian Fiction. The First Protector has several direct connections with our lord Jesus Christ and how he comes back for his people. Thank you so much for this book to read and review!! If you have a young adult or middle schooler who loves action adventure stories, then I know you will absolutely LOVE this one!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up Heirs of Prophecy on a whim one day, and two hours later I was done with the book. Let me say, before anything else, that Michael A. Rothman can most definitely tell a story! The Riverton family is one of the sweetest groups of people that I've ever met. Aaron, Ryan and their parents face a lot in this book, but they deal with it as a family. If you're looking for a wholesome read that will still draw in your young reader, this is it!

Aaron and Ryan are definitely great protagonists. They each have their own distinct personalities, but at the same time play off one another beautifully. Their banter made me giggle, a lot. Rothman makes sure to show the story from both boys' points of view. It's so much fun to see them grow into their powers, and try to uncover why they are so special in the first place. These boys are true to the age that they are. Underneath the bickering, and the occasional jealousy, they love one another a lot. When things get right down to it, they'll be there to support one another. Thank you so much Mr. Rothman, for writing believable young people. It made me smile.

In terms of plot line, the story moves at a great pace. There is always just enough action to keep things moving along smoothly. My one complaint, and this is likely because I'm an older reader, was that I really wanted more of Trimoria itself. I'm a big fantasy reader. I love sweeping worlds and descriptive writing. There was a lot of that here, but not enough to really draw me into the world that Aaron and Ryan were exploring. Again, I'm sure it has a lot to do with the reader base this book is aimed at. It didn't detract that much from my enjoyment of the overall story. This family definitely steals the show anyhow!

At the end of the day I truly enjoyed reading Heirs of Prophecy. I'm so glad to finally see a fantasy book that is tailored to middle grade readers, and yet still completely holds the attention of older readers too. The Riverton family has a special place in my heart now and I cannot wait to see more of them! Wherever these young boys go next, I'll be there.

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review copy received from the author in exchange for an honest review. Find more reviews at The Reflections of a Bookworm

What worked: I love the premise. Seriously, a new land with ogres, elves and dwarves sounded right up my street after a contemporary binge! I really enjoyed the world building and getting to know all of these intriguing characters with their new way of life. The Rivertons definitely have to take time to adjust to the differences and it was fun to see Rothman weave the story together.

What irked: I'll hold my hands up and say the vast majority of books I read are in 1st person but I can quite happily mix it up and my enjoyment won't be disrupted. Unfortunately with Heirs of Prophecy the 3rd person omniscient narrator just felt too formal and that stopped me from truly connecting with the story. Considering that the Riverton family are from our time, they all slip into a more fantastical way of speaking pretty much straight away.

Another irk was that when the Riverton family are transported to the land of Trimoria, it felt like everything was just too fast. They accepted they were in a magical land too quickly and they mastered their powers just as fast. Come on guys, if everything you thought was make believe is suddenly very real and you've been taken from your home/friends/lifestyle, surely you'd be in shock or denial for a few days. Right?

Going back to the narrator, I couldn't relate to the characters at all. I wanted to feel their feelings, I wanted to fight in battles alongside them but when Character A kills Minor Character 1 and doesn't even bat an eyelid it just doesn't ring true with me.

Recommended to: Overall, there was a lot of promise with Heirs of Prophecy but when it came to pulling it off, I felt that the story lacked a great deal. I would give Heirs of Prophecy... ***2 Stars - This book is ok, I suppose, but I won't read it again.***

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Riverton's are your typical family. Brother's Ryan age fourteen and Aaron 12 are excited but curious about the two month vacation that their dad Jared has planned for them. The one thing they do know is that there cat Silver will be going along with them. When they finally arrive at their destination, in Arizona, their mother Aubrey is less than excited to learn that the first part of their vacation is going to be spent camping and exploring caves. Their vacation quickly shifts when something strange happens that has them landing in another world, called Trimoria. The family quickly learns that they have special powers in this strange new land, and it's a good thing they do because there is an evil wizard who wants to get rid of them.
"Heirs Of Prophecy" was a book that I just couldn't put down. I found myself immediately pulled into the lives of the Riverton's and couldn't wait to see what adventures awaited them. I really enjoyed the family feel of this story,and thought the characters of Aaron and Ryan were great.Sure there was some sibling rivalry between the two but for me that really made the story seem more realistic. The authors descriptions really captured my imagination, allowing me to visualize the scenes he was describing. I could easily envision and got a bit of a chuckle at Silver the cat being super-sized!

Overall, a very well written story, where the plot not only moves along at a fast pace, but provides enough action to keep it interesting made this book a very quick read. A good clean read, geared toward tweens, and teens but with enough appeal that anyone who enjoys fantasy will certainly enjoy it as well. A wonderful first book in what promises to be an exciting new series. Highly recommended!

[Unabridged Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heirs of Prophecy by Michael A. Rothman is an imaginative beginning to what I suspect will be a great series. The Riverton family goes on vacation to Arizona, only to find themselves in a new land called Trimoria. Trimoria is a land under the control of the dark wizard, and resembles the Dark Ages. There is no technology or indoor plumbing. The young boys, Aaron and Ryan Riverton soon realize they gained abilities in Trimoria that they did not have before. This makes them a threat for the ruling king and wizard Azazel.

This book starts with many details about the new world, and a lot of world building. The world building ties into the actions of the main characters later in the book. I liked the amazing world that Michael Rothman created and I can only imagine that the world building is going to be even better in the second book, Tools of Prophecy. Sometimes in Fantasy, the world created can be too over the top, or underdeveloped, but that is not the case in the Prophecy Series.

Ryan and Aaron are very young when they discover they are part of a prophecy and meant to lead the battle against the demon hordes in the distant future. Even though the boys are young they accept the responsibility and they start training right away. As the action in the book builds, and the story starts to end it left me wanting more. I was so wrapped up in the story of Heirs of Prophecy that when it ended, I immediately started Tools of Prophecy, because I was not ready to leave Trimoria behind just yet.

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review**

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at: http://aurorareviews.blogspot.com/201...

Heirs of Prophecy is a fun, action-packed book that's appropriate for all ages. Truthfully, it's been a while since I've read a middle grade book, so I wasn't sure it would hold my attention. It did that and more. I completely enjoyed it!

It starts off a little slowly with the Riverton family packing for vacation, but once they take their little unscheduled side trip to the land of Trimoria, things certainly pick up! The author's done a fine job of showing us the land and its people clearly, with each character being unique. I enjoyed the family interactions, with the boys being boys and the parents actually parenting! While I think the boys acted a bit older than their chronological ages, that may have been in part due to the circumstances. Certainly the tween and teen boys from a hundred years ago or more acted with more maturity than those of today. And the Riverton brothers are thrust into a world where they're required to grow up quickly.

There's no shortage of conflict here, either. From a bully in the town, to ogres and a crazy, powerful wizard, we're kept on a roller coaster of excitment. I'll admit, once I was done reading this, I shared it with my thirteen year old daughter, and she gobbled it up and asked for more.

I highly recommend this book for both kids of any age (there aren't any truly terrifying parts that would scare younger children) and for adults who have a love of fun, innocent fantasy. It certainly appealed to all of those in my household. I'm betting it would do the same in yours.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I think Heirs of Prophecy is an enjoyable book that MG readers will love. I think it’s a bit young – simplistic and predictable – for the YA crowd, but it’s still a fun adventure. The descriptions are good, making it easy to visualize while reading.

The characters could use more depth – especially the Riverton family. We learn a lot more about the locals in Trimoria and the history thereof. We don’t really know much about the pre-Trimoria Rivertons. The idea of anyone from nowadays simply accepting being transported to a different world, one that’s reminiscent of Medieval days, as easily as this family is hard for me to accept. There’s little mention of home, little remembering of what they’ve left behind. Didn’t they have friends? Extended family? It just seemed that they were initially confused about finding themselves in this new world, but quickly dismissed that – and all thoughts of home. I could see embracing it initially, but they’re apparently planning on staying there forever. They’re making plans that span out for years. Sure, they’re the family of prophecy, but to accept that so easily with no thoughts of home … I just don’t buy it. Maybe if we knew more about the Rivertons at home it would be easier to swallow.

Despite my issues with the characters, I was able to ignore that and enjoy the adventure. Things work out easily, quickly, and with few wrinkles. That’s why I think this is more MG and less YA. I am looking forward to reading Tools of Prophecy to see how things play out.

[melissa1lbr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things I Liked:
The book has an interesting plot - the family that accidentally ends up in a strange world, complete with magic powers. I love the device of following strange paths to new worlds, like the Chronicles of Narnia or Beyonders, and this is along those same lines. The fantasy world is complex and interesting, if not unique, and has plenty of cool creatures and odd characters - and, of course, an evil wizard. I was especially fascinated at the inclusion of Ryan and Aaron's parents in the adventure - it seems there are very rarely good, present parents in fantasy stories, but they are here in this one and quite good. Definitely a unique trait in MG fantasy books.

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit, I was put off a few times with the writing. Sometimes the way things are described just seemed awkward. And I had a hard time imagining the family wouldn't even think about getting home, instead they settled completely into their new life in a strange place. It just didn't seem realistic at all and left me feeling like the first part of the book, about their life before, was not important. It's not as compelling or interesting as many fantasy books (especially the read-alikes), but it will still be fun for those who love a good adventure story - and especially fans of blacksmithing (there's a LOT of time spent describing the making of swords, etc.).
Full review at One Librarian's Book Reviews.

[Books Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Riverton family is suddenly transported to the land of Trimoria, their lives were utterly changed. Not only is the way of living there completely different, but the members of the family gain strange and unusual powers.

They must learn quickly to master their powers and the ways of the world they now occupy, because they have set a prophecy into play and will soon be leading an army against an evil, merciless wizard.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The plot was good, was well paced and had a good ending (even if it did leave us with a bit of a cliff hanger). It was filled with love and caring between family and friends, but also with strife and conflict, both between the local villagers and with the wizard and his envoy.

I can't say I have any particular part that was my favorite, because I liked it all! I admit, the beginning is a bit slow, but it doesn't take much time at all before the pace quickens and then seldom stops. The author does a great job with description, and I could really "see" Trimoria and its inhabitants in my mind.

I couldn't wait to read book two when I finished this one and really hope there will be a third book in the series. I'm not ready to leave Trimoria any time soon.

I'd recommend this book to kids of nearly any age who love fantasy. This would make a good "read aloud" book for the younger ones, and the older kids will love to read this one on their own (and then share it with their parents). It truly is a book for all ages.

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I would like to Thank AToMR Tours for allowing me to read and review this book for the blog tour. I have to say I am a HUGE fan of middle school books. Anything to get my sons attention gets my attention. We both read this together and he really enjoyed it as much as I did.

This story is about the Riverton Family who decides to take a summer vacation with the family. Only on their way there they are detoured to another place actually another land named Trimoria. Trimoria is beautiful and the brothers soon realize they have powers in this world they do not have at home. Their parents explain to them that it is their destiny to help the people of Trimoria.

The only thing is in Trimoria the boys will meet an evil wizarrd who wants their powers. The boys will have to fight him and his evil minions to save Trimoria. As the boys meet a town and fight him off they soon realize the wizards minions want to capture them to bring them back to the wizard so he can steal their powers. What will The Riverton Boys do? Will they be able to fight off the evil wizarrd? Will they ever get back home?

I loved this book because it was clean and family oriented and full of action. Right from the very first page there is action and it leads through out the book. This is a must read for anyone who wants to enjoy a fun filled adventure full of wizards, ogres, and more!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading Heirs of Prophecy by Michael A. Rothman, and it's a wonderful fantasy adventure. I liked the Rivertons right away and thought their family dynamics seemed realistic. It would certainly be a lot easier being stranded in a strange land with your whole family! The pace of the story is excellent. The author created a magical new world with creatures that I could easily picture and a storyline that I thought about when I wasn’t reading. Whenever magic is involved- anything can happen! I loved learning about the characters’ special powers and watching them discover how to control these new gifts. It was great to see the way the Rivertons changed both together and independently in their new home. I liked the way they adjusted to living in a time period that seemed so old fashioned, but in a way they seemed less stressed and happier. I think that this book would be great for kids in grades 4-8. Anyone that likes a fantasy story will fall into the pages of this wonderful book and go on an adventure that will stay with them after they turn the last page. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Tools of the Prophecy because I can’t wait to see what happens next!