King Elijah would kill his own daughter to keep his throne. Rasi would kill everyone to save her.
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.
When 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 within her soul. Rasi plans to kill all who try. The kingdom's fate hangs in the balance.
Professional Reviews
Harriet Klausner
In Matthew 1012, Epertase warrior Rasi is filled with regret and sorrow for the atrocities he committed under the guise of war though he tries to rationalize he was only following orders of his commander Prince Elijah. Epertase desperately conceals from his pregnant wife his despair and guilt he feels from his combat experience.
Rasi joins a celebration honoring Prince Elijah as the Light of Epertase shines on him. When he feels he can properly leave the coronation, Rasi heads home. He intercedes in an attempted rape but the hooligans kill the women. Authorities blame Rasi for the homicide and cut out his tongue and dump him into a pit to fight the rashta; shockingly he kills the beast. However the tentacles from the rashta discharge into his back. Over the next seven years he hides in the shadows until five years ago a woman began traveling with him.
The Teks invade Epertase and Lithia to take the oil they need to run their machines. Their superior firepower leads to many massacres. Although few know it in beleaguered Epertase, Rasi is the only hope but that is contingent on Princess Alina replacing her corrupt father King Elijah on the throne. Others prefer sacrificing the royal daughter to the Light of Epertase.
This action-packed military fantasy is a strong tale that hooks the audience from the onset and never loosens that grip until the final confrontation. The Epertase world is established on solid footing in the first few chapters; once the foundation is anchored, the story line turns into an extremely fast-paced read. Though the plot goes down the path readers will expect Douglas R. Brown provides an entertaining gripping thriller that is difficult to put down.
Bookblogger
Legends Reborn is the first book published by Douglas Brown and it is a fantastic piece of work. He tells the story of Rasi, a soldier who has been framed and fallen into disgrace. While living the life of a hermit Rasi happens to meet Alina, the princess, and they fall in love. This love must be kept secret as Rasi's life is forfeit if the king ever finds out where he is hiding. Both Rasi and Alina are well crafted characters, but I truly enjoyed Simcane. Simcane is a mercenary who loves his country but hates his King. A man with a reputation for ferocity in battle tainted by rumors of treason.
The Light of Epertase is a very cool way for the rule of a kingdom to be controlled. It is almost like divine mandate having a physical manifestation. If a ruler proves that they are no longer worthy the light leaves them and they are no longer in control. This leads to Alina being kidnapped by people who have diabolical plans involving the heir to the light. Rasi of course is willing to do whatever it takes, no matter the cost to himself to ensure the safety of his love.
This book has many unique qualities and is an amazing offering from a first time author. My biggest regret is that I will have to wait another year to get to read the next installment. Everything a fan of fantasy could ask for can be found in this book. The battles are epic, the plot fantastic, the magic unique, and the characters are amazing. This book should be on your TBR list for sure.
Obsessive Bibliophile
"The year was Matthew 1012."
With these simple words, the author, Douglas R. Brown, draws us into the story, shows us this is a world we've never seen before and immerses us in it.
Rasi, a warrior of Epertase, is filled with remorse for the killing he did during the recent war. He tries to hide this from his pregnant wife, but she can tell something is bothering him. While celebrating the promotion of Prince Elijah, who has commanded Rasi's group during the wars, Rasi is snubbed by the prince repeatedly. When Rasi can finally get away, he takes a shortcut that ends up causing him to intercept the rape and beating of a young woman - he is, however, outnumbered and unable to prevent her murder.
Rasi is blamed for this atrocity - his tongue cut out so he can't defend himself or tell the truth - and put into a pit with a rashta, a fierce beast. Using his indomitable will, however, Rasi just manages to kill the rashta, although he fears he is dying himself. As he passes out, he sees the tentacles from the rashta's back disengage themselves ... and come for him. When he awakens, they have fully attached themselves to his back. And with his new tentacles (or straps, as he calls them), the new phase of his life of banishment begins.
After 12 years in hiding, the last five lightened by the occasional presence of a young woman (whose name I won't mention to avoid additional spoilers!) with whom Rasi has fallen in love (and she with him), the Teks come. A race that uses machines, they take over other lands in order to drain the oil from the ground and the resources from the land to fuel their own empire. Despite overtures of peace from both Epertase and it's neighboring country Lithia, the Teks slaughter their way across the country in a seemingly unbeatable wave of death, their machines, firearms and cannons granting them an incredible advantage that no amount of courage seems able to overcome.
Will Epertase be able to stand against the might of the Teks? Will Rasi be able to re-integrate into society? Or will Epertase fall and Rasi with it? Read the book to find out!
Overall this was a really terrific book - although the initial chapters might be considered a bit slow by some readers, I felt they were appropriate to provide the information and background on the characters needed to set up for a trilogy. By the time the Teks reach Epertase, the action is all anyone could possibly want. Fans of fantasy, military fantasy/science fiction and action/adventure stories should all enjoy this book. The next book in this series - "A Kingdom's Fall" - is due on shelves fall 2012. The final book in the trilogy, "The Rise of Cridon," is scheduled to be released in fall 2013. I, for one, am really looking forward to seeing where this story goes.
Danielle and Nina are rescued from their wicked step-mother by Emma the Yellow Dream Train who takes them on adventures. When Nina learns she has the ability to speak to animals, Emma and the other trains teach her how to use it.
Olive the Green Dream Train invites Danielle and Nina to come with her to plant special trees that can heal the atmosphere better than other trees can. A mysterious angel guides them, and the Dark Phantom tries to mess everything up again.
