A Legacy of Violence
When Stiva and her twin brother, Chandris, inherit the troubled throne of Aris, the populace grows uneasy, and with good reason. The twins, estranged for years after a bitter feud, are very different. Stiva takes after their mother, a Reonih bard from the primal mushroom forests of distant Shadri, while Chandris favors their father, a hardened warlord, commander of the mighty Selin army.
A King’s Thirst For Power
Faced with enemies on all sides and the rising threat of war, the twins vow to put their discord behind them and unite to protect Aris. But Chandris wants more than survival; he dreams of empire, and is determined to lift Aris out of its post-technological dark age. He will stop at nothing to achieve that goal, and has no qualms about reawakening an ancient, deadly technology to do it.
A Land Divided
By delving into forbidden science and forgotten dark arts, Chandris breaks a longstanding treaty with the Reonih and incites civil war. He also unleashes an ancient, unearthly threat; the bloodthirsty, elemental Zhur. As alliances fracture and warfare threatens to engulf the land, Stiva must fight not only to save the Reonih from her brother’s lust for power, but protect herself from the Zhurlord that is haunting her.
REVIEWS
“This book has all the elements of fantasy that I enjoy, and more: a historical and fantastical kingdom with mysterious creatures and powers. It reminded me of Game of Thrones except that it also included witchcraft elements. Having recently developed an interest in all things Wicca and witchcraft related, this was a delightful surprise. I have rarely stumbled upon books that contain divination tools etc as an important part of the story so it hooked me in straight away. The author has created a completely new fantasy world unlike any other and I felt very drawn to it. “- Celine’s Book Corner
“The author has created a uniquely original world, full of intrigue and terrors that rival GOT.” – Amazon Review
“I’ve dreamt his dreams, the visions he sees. The burning lands, the corpses, the crying dirty orphans sleeping in pig hovels.”
I found an author who writes and story builds at the same level of greatness as George R.R. Martin, Brandon Sanderson, and Brent Weeks, among a few others at the top of my favorite authors list.
Dawn is and includes…
• An epic fantasy on a strange planet
• Remnants of ancient and deadly human technology, now forbidden
• A new king who throws away tradition in his quest for more power
• Dark arts, wars, and civil war
But that’s just a simplistic representation of a story you will enjoy from start to finish. Dawn is a masterclass in worldbuilding, plot, interesting characters, and storytelling that will keep you guessing and coming back for more.
I loved this book from the very first page. I was reading on the couch, my wife next to me, and I looked at her and said, “This author can WRITE.” That’s not an everyday reaction I have, and I have read thousands of books.
Stiva and Chandris are heirs to a throne and although they are twins, they couldn’t be more different in personality and how they rule. They both are trying to save their kingdom from enemies all around, and from within. Don’t you just love a story that is more complex than a simple hero’s journey? That’s this book. There’s a lot going on.
Dawn was a great find, and I think you’ll agree. I’m at a loss as to why more fantasy fans haven’t discovered this book and author, at least from what I can tell on the web. Dawn was published in 2018 and it’s clear there is so much more story to tell. Well done, Morgan Sylvia.
Morgan Sylvia 