ODE: The Scion of Nerikan

by Richard Sweitzer

The old stories were true!
Ancient tales speak of the fabled Nerikan Prison where fearful creatures were once locked away. These were thought to be simply fantastic stories, but centuries later the lost prison has been found and its last living captive has escaped!
A massive and hateful beast has been unleashed unto the world and is once again rampaging towns and hillsides. What it seeks, no one knows, but what it finds is a little girl who is not afraid. And the bold child has one simple request of the monster: to help her find her home.
An ode to timeless fantasy stories of long ago The Scion of Nerikan is an adventure that redefines family and friendship on an epic scale.

Genres: Fantasy

398 pages, Paperback

Published February 13, 2023

About the author

Check out a sample chapter read on YouTube

https://youtu.be/LzDs3BZ3-XY

https://www.facebook.com/rgsweitzer

Reviews

[Kristin Lim Storyteller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books that have very intriguing beginnings and good endings. But this book WENT BEYOND THIS! I found the characters compelling and the twists surprising yet refreshing. Initially, I thought the story would revolve around only on the monster and the young girl Olen. But instead, I was introduced to so many other characters that somehow became just as impactful as the main characters. My favorite is the old man Edwin the Observer in Chapter One who was so funny in the face of death.

The worlds and cultures described here felt so real; it almost felt like I was just trailing behind the characters as the events unfolded. Morever, the story is written on such a way that the struggles of the characters here made me think of real people and how I myself might respond to different circumstances. This is really a beautiful story with so many rich layers. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!

(In case you're wondering if this is a book that younger readers like teenagers can enjoy...hmm...there are adult themes here. And the writer does not shy away from showing what evil is capable of so there are violent scenes but they are not done in a gory detailed way. Also, there is only one curse word in the entire book. And there are brief mentions of physical intimacy. So it will depend on what you're comfortable with letting your kids read. But for me, there were also many themes here that can lead to meaningful conversations with older kids. At the risk of a mini spoiler, this is a quote from the book that really echoed deep in my heart: "When one can only love perfection, one loves nothing at all.")

[Michaela Gereau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay 3.8/5 if I could. Honestly it’s really hard for me to rate. Not my normal cup of tea but I REALLY did enjoy it :)

“Clouds rolled in from the mountain tops, leaving the sky, starless and black. Hidden insects buzzed and chirped in voices many times greater than their size”

I’ll never hear crickets or cicadas the same again.

“You came back for me, Baboo, and you didn’t even know me. Why should I have to find them?” (BYE CRYING).

Can’t blame my girl Olen for looking up to
Bakku as not only a friend but father figure.
The first real man to be kind yet supposedly a
“monster”.

“This was why he had stayed in this world, the sensations of life. Of living, not just being. And she had reminded him of another sensation, one of his very distant past. It was a sensation saved for parents in this world, a special gift they received while expecting none. The gift was the unashamed closeness of an embrace that can only come from a child. He still felt her arms on his neck, holding him, needing him, asking him to stay” (FRICK. BYE SOBBING.)

“When one can only love perfection, one loves nothing at all”.

NOW Ms. Philippa - GIRL WHY. Out of all the men,
Koertig was the probably worst.

Yes, Janus Brynn was a bad guy for sure but KOERTIG IS
DEAD TO ME.

“What is a story without an end? Just a series of events that lose their connections. Days far removed from their past. When life’s arc flatten and the horizon becomes ever distant, life loses its preciousness”. (Edwin my guy <3)

[Stacy B · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

This was a book full of adventure, fantasy, magic, friendship, creatures...etc.
There was definitely some uniqueness to the story.
I definitely enjoyed this one.

Would consider it to be YA, but don't let that deter you.

[Jeffrey Thouron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a swell and refreshing book! I loved Olen and I loved the duo of Edwin & Marko. It was like the adventure fantasy of Tolkien mixed with the adventure fun of Jules Verne. I can't wait to read another book in this world.

I haven't neglected my sleep for reading in so long! This book made me do it. (My wife even confiscated the book for a few days so that I would stop staying up so late!)

[Ashlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally let the stars do the talking, but this book deserves more. I couldn’t stop telling people how much I loved the world building. It was phenomenal. I looked forward to each chance I got to sit down and get lost with the characters in their adventures. It’s what I love about this genre.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should get a one-star review for the chaos it caused in my daily life. I am behind on everything on my to-do list because I chose to read it instead. I am sleep-deprived because I couldn't put it down and stayed awake until 2am it finish it (and I have small children who rise early). If you feel like neglecting your daily life for a bit, by all means pick it up! The world-building is lovely and rich, the characters are varied and compelling, and the story keeps you guessing as it divvies out its secrets one crumb at a time. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even if I regret the aftermath.

[Erika Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book! I am not typically a fantasy reader, but decided to try it anyway. I'm glad I did. It was well-written and because of that, I could picture each setting that the characters were in very easily, right down to the smallest of details. I fell in love with the characters and honestly, I didn't want the book to end. There are some themes in the book that made me reflect on some things in my own life. If you want an engaging story to get lost in, I highly recommend choosing this one!

[Sara Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautifully written, I loved it. The characters were complex and vivid, I felt like I got to know almost every one of them. The beginning was slow, but the build up was well worth it. A stunning adventure, highly recommend.

[fred a. buchholz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. I am not a book reader, but this is GOOD.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like world building this story is for you. No character is wasted and time and passion are put forth to build the visuals, feeling, and atmosphere for you. That being said I would give it a 3.5 stars as the timeline seems rushed and can become jumbled at times which removes the reader from this brightly crafted setting.

[Amy]

Shelving it for the time being around page 70

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Met the Author & enjoyed both him & his writting. Looking forwar to a new " adventure"....

[Sara Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Magic, love, war. This brings together the world of magic with the human world. And takes the reader thru the struggles of love and when to hold on and when to let go.

[Behindthemask91 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is delightful. It feels very different to what I usually read, but I couldn't put my finger on it for the longest time. I finally realized that it does not have world-ending stakes, rather focusing on more "mundane" problems and exploring the different relationships between the characters. It still has just enough stakes to keep you interested at all times, and it leaves more room for the nuances between the good and the evil. I think it captures very well which relationships are worth pursuing, even if it hurts and which are not. It also show-cases how supposedly "good" motives can twist into something ugly. All in all an awesome read! I just didn't give it 5 stars, because the end sequence is a little messy.

[Amy Holterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story takes ahold of you and doesn’t let you go. Characters that make you laugh, cry, and think. A storyline that keeps you intrigued while weaving a setting that is as gorgeous as it is dangerous. The theme of wanting to belong is one we can all relate to and this book does not disappoint. Looking forward to the sequel! Pick up your copy today!

[Joebs See · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has made me hooked back into reading. I didn't want to put this reading material down till I finished. Good thing I had the ebook version too, kept reading while on my commute to work even during my breaks. The characters were all inspiring good or bad they may be. Specially the twist in chapter........
Nopes.. Not giving that away 😜. Time to give this book a chance.

[Patrick S · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this book is so good and deserves way more attention! Vividly written, but not at the expense of pacing, with enticing, eclectic characters and an page-turning plot, I'm loving it. I'm particularly liking the intuitive element to one of the characters, don't want to put any spoilers out there so won't mention more, but can't wait to see how the rest of the book unfolds! (currently on chapter 29)

[Michel Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Bought it twice.

[Dale R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read!! Couldn’t put it down!!

[Lee Herschberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

It made me laugh it made me cry! I lost a lot of sleep staying up late into the night reading! Great book!

[Taryn Riley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got 30% in and just couldn’t do it anymore it’s just way too much information and too many different characters just boring 🥱