I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
As the Queen of the Elves fights to protect her daughter, the growing threat of a powerful and ancient enemy forces a princess to find an ancient dragon in an attempt to thwart a dangerous plot in author Richard H. Stephens’s “Dragon Sect: Highcliff Guardians Epic Fantasy Series”, the latest book in the Soul Forge Universe series.
The Synopsis
The Dragon Witch Wraith has returned.
With the Grim Duke in his place, and a tentative pact with the wizard’s guild, the Queen of the Elves’ only real concern is for her rebellious daughter. Or so she is led to believe.
Buoyed by the news of unrest in the land’s largest city of Urdanya, Duke Orlythe’s new wizard attempts to convince him that a path to the coveted Willow Throne lies within reach of someone bold enough to seize the opportunity.
The return of the Dragon Witch Wraith prompts the ailing high wizard to find a way to thwart his arch nemesis before everything South March has fought for is lost.
Oblivious to the dangers of the world, Princess Ouderling sets out on a quest to locate an ancient dragon, in a desperate attempt to save her mother from an inevitable fate.
Should she fail, the Grim Duke will ascend the throne.
The Review
The author did a fantastic job of continuing the amazing world-building that he established in the first book of this epic fantasy series. The almost artistic approach to the writing and imagery the author conjures through this storytelling does a great job of playing to the reader’s imagination. The action felt very balanced with the storytelling itself and made for a well-rounded read.
The thing that really was great to see in this book was the author’s ability to capture the magic and epic fantasy elements of the story, (elves, dwarves, dragons, etc), with the more gritty and heartfelt emotional character development that was found in George R.R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones” series. The mythos and gravitas of the dangers faced in this novel were so captivating because of the creativity of the fantasy genre elements and the emotional pull the characters had on the readers.
The Verdict
Engaging, heart-pounding, and brilliant in its approach, author Richard H. Stephens’s “Dragon Sect: Highcliff Guardians Epic Fantasy Series” is a must-read epic fantasy novel and the perfect next chapter in the Soul Forge Universe series. The entertaining story and mythos of this world and the emotional pull of the characters will have readers invested, as will the shocking final pages that will have readers hanging off of the author’s every word. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Born in Simcoe, Ontario, in 1965, I began writing circa 1974; a bored child looking for something to while away the long, summertime days. My penchant for reading The Hardy Boys led to an inspiration one sweltering summer afternoon when my best friend and I thought, “Hey, we could write one of those.” And so, I did.
As my reading horizons broadened, so did my writing. Star Wars inspired me to write a 600-page novel about outer space that caught the attention of a special teacher, Mr. Woodley, who encouraged me to keep writing.
A trip to a local book store saw the proprietor introduce me to Stephen R. Donaldson and Terry Brooks. My writing life was forever changed.
At 17, I left high school to join the working world to support my first son. For the next twenty-two years I worked as a shipper at a local bakery. At the age of 36, I went back to high school to complete my education. After graduating with honours at the age of thirty-nine, I became a member of our local Police Service, and worked for 12 years in the provincial court system.
In early 2017, I resigned from the Police Service to pursue my love of writing full-time. With the help and support of my lovely wife Caroline and our 5 children, I have now realized my boyhood dream.
https://www.richardhstephens.com/
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