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The Stormcaller (Twilight Reign Series #1) by Tom Lloyd β€” book cover

The Stormcaller (Twilight Reign Series #1)

by Tom Lloyd
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Overview

In a land ruled by prophecy and the whims of gods, a young man finds himself at the heart of a war he barely understands, wielding powers he may never be able to control.
Isak is a white-eye, born bigger, more charismatic, and more powerful than normal men. But with that power comes an unpredictable temper and an inner rage he cannot always hide. Brought up as a wagon-brat, feared and despised by those around him, he dreams of a place in the army and a chance to live his own life. But when the call comes, it isn’t to be a soldier, for the gods have other plans for the intemperate teenager: Isak has been chosen as heir-elect to the brooding Lord Bahl, the white-eye Lord of the Farlan.
The white-eyes were created by the gods to bring order out of chaos, for their magnetic charm and formidable strength makes them natural leaders of men. Lord Bahl is typical of the breed: he inspires and oppresses those around him in equal measure. He can be brusque and impatient, a difficult mentor for a boy every bit as volatile as he is.
But now is the time for the forging of empires. With mounting envy and malice, the men who would themselves be kings watch Isak, chosen by gods as flawed as the humans who serve them, as he is shaped and molded to fulfill the prophecies that circle him like scavenger birds. Divine fury and mortal strife is about to spill over and paint the world with blood.
The Stormcaller is the first book in a powerful new series that combines inspired world-building, epoch-shattering battles, and high emotion to dazzling effect.

Synopsis

In a land ruled by prophecy and the whims of gods, a young man finds himself at the heart of a war he barely understands, wielding powers he may never be able to control.

Isak is a white-eye, born bigger, more charismatic, and more powerful than normal men. But with that power comes an unpredictable temper and an inner rage he cannot always hide. Brought up as a wagon-brat, feared and despised by those around him, he dreams of a place in the army and a chance to live his own life. But when the call comes, it isn't to be a soldier, for the gods have other plans for the intemperate teenager: Isak has been chosen as heir-elect to the brooding Lord Bahl, the white-eye Lord of the Farlan.

The white-eyes were created by the gods to bring order out of chaos, for their magnetic charm and formidable strength makes them natural leaders of men. Lord Bahl is typical of the breed: he inspires and oppresses those around him in equal measure. He can be brusque and impatient, a difficult mentor for a boy every bit as volatile as he is.

But now is the time for the forging of empires. With mounting envy and malice, the men who would themselves be kings watch Isak, chosen by gods as flawed as the humans who serve them, as he is shaped and molded to fulfill the prophecies that circle him like scavenger birds. Divine fury and mortal strife is about to spill over and paint the world with blood.

The Stormcaller is the first book in a powerful new series that combines inspired world-building, epoch-shattering battles, and high emotion to dazzling effect.

Publishers Weekly

British literary agent Lloyd begins this dense and involved sword and sorcery debut by introducing Isak, a penniless young man with no fixed home who serves as a slave to his resentful, unhappy father. Worse, Isak is a white-eye, born with distinctive eyes, a large frame, unusual strength and an exceedingly quick temper. Isak's world changes in an instant when Aracnan, an immortal sorcerer, tries to offer Isak a mysterious scroll. Within a day, Isak has become heir to Lord Bahl of Farlan, and he learns that he is a nascent mage and the focus of a thousand-year-old prophecy. Whether Isak is willing or able to fulfill that prophecy is just the beginning of this tale. Lloyd pours enough testosterone into his high fantasy to power past a few inconsistencies, creating a fine start to a reported five-book series. (Nov.)

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author, Tom Lloyd

Tom Lloyd was born in 1979 in Berkshire. After a degree in International Relations he went straight into publishing where he still works. He never received the memo about suitable jobs for writers and consequently has never been a kitchen-hand, hospital porter, pigeon hunter, or secret agent. He lives in South London, isn't one of those authors who gives a damn about the history of the font used in his books and only believes in forms of exercise that allow him to hit something.

Reviews

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Editorials

Publishers Weekly

British literary agent Lloyd begins this dense and involved sword and sorcery debut by introducing Isak, a penniless young man with no fixed home who serves as a slave to his resentful, unhappy father. Worse, Isak is a white-eye, born with distinctive eyes, a large frame, unusual strength and an exceedingly quick temper. Isak's world changes in an instant when Aracnan, an immortal sorcerer, tries to offer Isak a mysterious scroll. Within a day, Isak has become heir to Lord Bahl of Farlan, and he learns that he is a nascent mage and the focus of a thousand-year-old prophecy. Whether Isak is willing or able to fulfill that prophecy is just the beginning of this tale. Lloyd pours enough testosterone into his high fantasy to power past a few inconsistencies, creating a fine start to a reported five-book series. (Nov.)

Copyright Β© Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Children's Literature - Mary Ashcliffe and Thad Ashcliffe

This generic high fantasy is not as rich or as well developed as the usual fantasy of this type. The setting, characters, and plot all contain adequate elements. The characters are not really memorable or outstanding. The main character and those like him are divinely imbued but the religious and metaphysical implications are not fully delved intoβ€”why the characters are what they are is not as important as it should be. The conflicts are externally directed by big bad villains who are trying to destroy or take over. As far as setting goes, some interesting elements are not quite as developed as they could or should beβ€”world-building details were completed through exposition. Some of the setting elements are incomplete. The intricacies and "whys" are not there, which means the vibrancy and richness of the classics of this genre are not there. While there is an occasional minor twist or tweak to the elements of the book, this book is not unique and is at times somewhat predictable. Although the publisher does not rank this book as a young adult book, the main character is a teen and the book is full of teenage angst; indeed, the main character and those like him are "naturally" angry. Main character Isak is the least sympathetic character, as he is undoubtedly meant to be. Conflict and violence are major parts of the plot. The main character has, by fortune of divine imbuement, great powers thrust upon him. These powers demand more from him than non-endowed members of his age group. And his powers and their concomitant anger engender distrust in the general population, thereby isolating him. But almost nothing is resolved in this book since it is the first of a trilogy. Thereader who does not appreciate high fantasy and knows nothing of the hero's journey will not find this book of interest. Reviewer: Mary Ashcliffe and Thad Ashcliffe

Book Details

Published
October 1, 2008
Publisher
Prometheus Books
Pages
450
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9781591026938

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