Book Review: Legends Reborn

The Light of Epertase:
Legends Reborn

By:  Douglas R. Brown

Publisher:  Rhemalda Publishing

Publish Date:  August 2011

Format:  ARC

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  1st book in The Light of Epertase series

Recommendation:  If you like your classic feeling fantasy with the magic and wild creatures with the war sitting at their doorstep.  Do pick it up.  Easy fantasy world to read.

Book Synopsis:
Since the dawn of time, the Light of Epertase has determined when the throne was to be passed from elder to heir.  For more than a thousand years, the Light's decision had never been challenged...

Until now.

When a ruthless army advances on Epertase, The Light determines that corrupt King Elijah is no longer fit to rule - his daughter, Princess Alina, is the kingdom's only hope for salvation.

And then evil men violently abduct her.  Epertase's fall appears inevitable.

But all is not lost, for Alina has a secret lover lurking in the outer mountains; a long-banished warrior willing to bring down armies and King Elijah himself to save her.  His name is Rasi and he prepares for blood.

Deadly men plan to sacrifice Alina for The Light of Epertase that lives with in her soul.  Rasi plans to kill all who try.  The kingdom's fate hangs in the balance.

First Sentence:
The year was Matthew 1012.  Rasi sat on the edge of his bed with his palms pressed against his temples.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Rasi a loyal soldier to the king and loving husband and father-to-be who suffers nightmares of his bloody war memories who's life changes drastically when he leaves the celebration of the Prince's advancement and promotion by way of a shortcut to get home to his soon to be angry wife.  Rasi awakes to find his tongue removed and tried, found guilty of murder for the woman he tried to save.  Sentenced to death by way of rashta, a large wolf like beast with seven tentacles on it's back.  Rasi escapes and learns of the ill fate brought down on his pregnant wife, and swears the corrupt King Elijah will pay with his life.  Rasi hides in the forest and lives out life there waiting... Eight years later Rasi saves Princess Alina when her and her fiance are in the woods to late.  Grateful and finding a friend, Princess Alina visits Rasi through the years, and through these visits Princess Alina and Rasi fall in love.  Then a blood thirsty people come by sea looking to kill and take all the black blood in the ground from Epertase for their machinery.  At the same time the signs are appearing that The Light has chosen to pass soon, from King Elijah to Princess Alina, and someone is desperate to take advantage of the weak moment when The Light can be stolen.

This sounds like a lot going on in this book.  And there are but it all flows together nicely.  We meet the main characters in the beginning and take a quick journey with them through the tough parts of their lives as they come in contact with each other.  This span of 12 years happens quickly in the beginning, setting up the characters to where we need them to be and how they all met and react to each other.  When Alina is captured we start to learn about the contact with this blood thirsty mechanical race of people determined to kill off the current residents of Eperase and take it for themselves.

The chapters are shorter ones, so they are easy to read a quick section when you are on the go or can read for five minutes.

To me we have the feel of the classic fantasy feel along with a few new twists to the abilities present in the characters.  I enjoyed this one for that feel.  I like my fantasy and the different takes on the characters and creatures present.  The abilities coming together in a group:
     ~ mind speak which is present in one very special person
     ~ people with a liquid metal on their skin that can be hard metal when hit
     ~ people who use machinery and oil in a time where horses are still used
     ~ creatures are dangerous and deadly large and new ones to us ~ including the ones on Rasi's back.
     ~ a touch of magic force
     ~ and we have our rising magician here too

As you read through the book you realize there are a few Legends coming to shine at the surface and they are nothing like the pretty boys you may think of. They are tough and ugly. But even as mean as they can be, they have the biggest hearts for their home and the ones they love. I think one of my favorites is Simcane.  I have to say when I saw that cover I was really curious what kind of people I would be meeting here.  But quickly in the beginning I learned of Rasi and those tentacles on his back.  I found I enjoyed learning about him.


We get to see through different views and different sides in this book.  Though most of it is focused around a few characters we do get to see the opposing side from time to time.  Which is nice as we get a feel for those characters and people as well with what is going on around the world.  With war laying on the outskirts of Epertase we are anxious to get the Princess's kidnapping resolved in time for the war we are sliding into.  I feel we get a close to the book, but there is still more to come.  I'm curious to see where the next book goes.

Very nice fantasy read here.  Easy to read and understand with all that is happening.  I'm very curious to see where the trilogy goes and ends.
Book 2 ~ A Kingdom's Fall - due out Fall 2012
Book 3 ~ The Rise of Cridon - due out Fall 2013

I would suggest this fantasy read to those who enjoy fantasy books.  It's easy and quick to read through.

I received this book for an honest review from the publisher.

This book qualifies for the Speculative Fiction Challange hosted by Floor to Ceiling Books.