Reviewed: May 10th, 2022
Released: May 9th, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy
There will be no victory here for anyone but those who thirst for blood.
Forced to choose between his mother’s life and his own exile, Dwapek embarks upon a journey wrought with trials no ordinary Renzik could hope to survive. Relics of legend, plagues of old, and monsters of unthinkable dread all collide in this epic fantasy adventure as a weapon capable of destroying an entire people is set to be unleashed.
Companion novel to Passage of Dawn series.
Helen’s thoughts: 4/5
An easy to read fantasy story about a young renzik called Dwapek who falls afoul of more bad luck that you would think possible. The gods are against him and the thought that he is about to die passes through his head on a regular basis. Great worldbuilding sets the scene, and Dwapek is a sympathetic character if a little repetitive. Targon is mysterious and intriguing, and I want to know more. A consistent magic system sets the scene for the main books in the series.
Considering his injuries over multiple incidents, Dwapek does seem to recover rather quick; if it is magic that is healing him, then that isn’t made clear. I am interested to read more and to see where Dwapek fits in the bigger tale as I understand he is a side character and Smythe was giving him his own story.
I received a Hidden Gems ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
About the author:
Derrick Smythe has been fascinated with all things elvish, dwarvish, and magical since his days of running through the woods with sharpened sticks in defense of whatever fortification he and his brothers had built that summer. After consuming nearly every fantasy book he could find, he was driven to begin work on one of his own. When he isn’t dreaming up new stories, he can be spotted hiking the Adirondack Mountains or traveling the world. He currently resides near his hometown in upstate New York with his enchanting wife, three ethereal daughters, and his faithful-if-neurotic Australian Shepherd, Magnus.
Derrick’s debut novel, THE OTHER MAGIC, is the Amazon bestselling first installment in the epic fantasy series, Passage to Dawn. The second book in the series titled, THE OTHER WAY, released in November of 2021 as a #1 Bestselling New Release in four Amazon categories.
Smythe has also penned a stand-alone companion story, TO EARN THE SASH, which released in November of 2020 while another companion story titled, TO WIELD A PLAGUE, is set to release in May of 2022. These are prequel stories that do not require prior knowledge of the series, though they do feature characters from the main series.
Work continues on the next installment in the Passage to Dawn.
Purchase via Amazon
Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback
Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback
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If you enjoy fantasybooks then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
Helen Garraway 