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Clarion of Destiny #1
Home Lost
"Clarion of Destiny" is the eight volume fantasy tale of Leena, a heroine selected by destiny to combat the greatest challenge her world has ever known. In an epic journey that leads through foreign lands and mysterious realms where demons, monsters, and magic rule, this inexperienced young girl is forced to overcome a protected childhood to face challenges that would crush far more experienced adventurers. With each step she takes, with each passing day, she draws closer to a malevolent force so formidable that it has defeated the mightiest armies and the strongest magic in her world, an evil that could prove too powerful for her developing knowledge and skills to overcome. In Volume 1, "Home Lost," Leena, a sixteen year old half trained hedge witch, is mysteriously selected to receive the Garlan branch, a magical item that has twice saved her world in the far distant past. From the first moment of contact with this talisman, her life is changed. After a solitary journey through a silent and deadly winter forest to seek this honor, she returns to her village. Nervous with the excitement and anticipation, she rushes home only to find the secure and treasured town of her youth deserted and in ruins. Confused and alone Leena has little choice but to set out on a search for her missing friends and family, and to try to discover the reason that the Garlan branch has selected her as its tool.
- GenresFantasy
272 pages, Paperback
First published November 23, 2010
40 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
About the author
Franz S. McLaren
12 books39 followersFranz McLaren was sucked into the world of fantasy at ten-years-old when he read Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. After that, he dived headfirst into the stories of Dr. Seuss, and from then on, the stories of J. R. R. Tolkien, Terry Goodkind, Holly Lisle, J. K. Rowling, and many others that have grown to be a significant part of his life.
Throughout his life, Franz McLaren has traveled extensively, living in forty-eight of the fifty United States, England, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, and vacationed in a host of other nations. After experiencing the fantasies his travels had to offer, Franz has now settled down into manifesting fantasies of his own. He uses his books to share these worlds and adventures with the rest of us. By entering his novels, you enter the part of his mind that forever lives just a bit to the left of reality.
Throughout his life, Franz McLaren has traveled extensively, living in forty-eight of the fifty United States, England, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, and vacationed in a host of other nations. After experiencing the fantasies his travels had to offer, Franz has now settled down into manifesting fantasies of his own. He uses his books to share these worlds and adventures with the rest of us. By entering his novels, you enter the part of his mind that forever lives just a bit to the left of reality.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 16, 2011
HOME LOST By Franz Mclaren
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become increasingly averse to the notion of review the artistic works of others in a public forum of any kind. Thus, it is a pleasant relief when I read a novel that allows me to offer a heart-felt praise for the work under consideration. Home Lost is the initial offering of Mr. Mclaren’s Clarion of Destiny fantasy series and revolves around his young protagonist, Leena, who is a village hedge witch in training. The novel opens as the young girl returns from a trip to the mythically symbolic Garland tree to discover that her home village has been ravaged and her family has gone, alone with most of the other village inhabitants. The opening volume focuses on Leena’s attempt to discover what has befallen her family…a journey that will lead her on an epic quest during which she will unravel the mysteries of her own monumental destiny. I will not delve into specific plot details here, rather I will concentrate on the tone and style of Mr. Mclaren’s writing. I’m not sure if this novel was intended for the consumption of a young adult audience, but Home Lost is a comparatively simply fantasy offering, but many complex fantasy offerings begin this way and evolve as they progress (Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan being a case in point). It is a pleasant and easy read that will not require a detailed score card to keep track of the pantheon of Gods and religions that one would need to wade through Steven Erikson’s Malazan books of the fallen. This relative simplicity does not detract from the fact that this novel is a tremendously pleasing fantasy read that is suited for genre lovers of all ages. What I particularly enjoyed about Mr. Mclaren’s novel is sense of innocence that permeates every page…every sentence of the story…so far removed from the cynicism and vitriol that seems to have infected so much of our literature and indeed, every aspect of life in today’s world. I find myself thinking of this novel in terms of adjective that I have not associated with the fantasy genre in some time…sweet and endearing. Even the resolutions of the story’s many conflicts were often achieved without the obligatory spilling of buckets of blood and mountains of viscera and this demonstrated a creative sensibility that I have seldom seen. From the technical perspective, Mr’ Mclaren’s writing evokes comparison with Terry Goodkind in his use of staccato narrative and the interrogative as a means of exploring a character’s internal thought process in any given situation. This narrative mechanism suits the story quite well.
The most lasting impact of this novel from my perspective is what compells me to give it the highest recommendation…this is a fatasy story that has been written with both innocence and a gentle grace that is as refeshing as it is delightful. If the story is a reflection of the man who penned it, Franz Mclaren is a man who I would personally like to know and whose perspective on both life and literature is all too rare. Excellent and recommended to fantasy lovers of all ages.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become increasingly averse to the notion of review the artistic works of others in a public forum of any kind. Thus, it is a pleasant relief when I read a novel that allows me to offer a heart-felt praise for the work under consideration. Home Lost is the initial offering of Mr. Mclaren’s Clarion of Destiny fantasy series and revolves around his young protagonist, Leena, who is a village hedge witch in training. The novel opens as the young girl returns from a trip to the mythically symbolic Garland tree to discover that her home village has been ravaged and her family has gone, alone with most of the other village inhabitants. The opening volume focuses on Leena’s attempt to discover what has befallen her family…a journey that will lead her on an epic quest during which she will unravel the mysteries of her own monumental destiny. I will not delve into specific plot details here, rather I will concentrate on the tone and style of Mr. Mclaren’s writing. I’m not sure if this novel was intended for the consumption of a young adult audience, but Home Lost is a comparatively simply fantasy offering, but many complex fantasy offerings begin this way and evolve as they progress (Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan being a case in point). It is a pleasant and easy read that will not require a detailed score card to keep track of the pantheon of Gods and religions that one would need to wade through Steven Erikson’s Malazan books of the fallen. This relative simplicity does not detract from the fact that this novel is a tremendously pleasing fantasy read that is suited for genre lovers of all ages. What I particularly enjoyed about Mr. Mclaren’s novel is sense of innocence that permeates every page…every sentence of the story…so far removed from the cynicism and vitriol that seems to have infected so much of our literature and indeed, every aspect of life in today’s world. I find myself thinking of this novel in terms of adjective that I have not associated with the fantasy genre in some time…sweet and endearing. Even the resolutions of the story’s many conflicts were often achieved without the obligatory spilling of buckets of blood and mountains of viscera and this demonstrated a creative sensibility that I have seldom seen. From the technical perspective, Mr’ Mclaren’s writing evokes comparison with Terry Goodkind in his use of staccato narrative and the interrogative as a means of exploring a character’s internal thought process in any given situation. This narrative mechanism suits the story quite well.
The most lasting impact of this novel from my perspective is what compells me to give it the highest recommendation…this is a fatasy story that has been written with both innocence and a gentle grace that is as refeshing as it is delightful. If the story is a reflection of the man who penned it, Franz Mclaren is a man who I would personally like to know and whose perspective on both life and literature is all too rare. Excellent and recommended to fantasy lovers of all ages.
September 7, 2011
A story within a story that kept me turning the pages. It's the story of a young girl, Leena, who finds a magic branch that changes her life forever. She returns to her village to find it destroyed and her parents missing. Her ensuing walkabout the country to find out what and why it happened and to meet the POTUS of her realm, the Grand Wizard, is the rest of the book. She meets two male companions, one of whom, is unreliable and traumatized. The other is a knight and an ambassador, Darius. Darius precedes to tell Leena his story of how he came to be on the road. It's quite an interesting story that sounds like something out of the conquest of the Americas and the German invasion of Russia during WW II. It's a story of deceit and conquest but with a different ending than its real world analogy. In this story Darius stands up to powerful forces to right a wrong to indigenous peoples. We get some resolution on this story. However, Leena's quest does not end with the story. She has a bounty on her head and all who assist her forfeit their property and their well being. Her quest continues in the next volume in the series.
September 13, 2011
This was a great read! The reader is pulled in right from the prologue and can't put it down! The main character, Leena, is chosen by a magical tree to get the Garlan branch: a powerful wand. Thus begins a chain of events that sends Leena on a perilous journey north to find the Great Wizard. Along the way she meets a number of fantastic characters, allies and enemies alike! The characters are all well developed and it is clear that the author put a great deal of thought into the plot and the backstory as well. Leena is still young and untrained and the reader gets to watch her grow and mature as the novel progresses. McLaren paints a beautiful world and the reader can just immerse themselves in it. I felt like I was shivering along with Leena in the cold. Home Lost, the first novel in the Clarion of Destiny series, ended with a satisfying conclusion, but - as any good book in a series does - left the reader wanting more. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to start the next one!
April 28, 2016
Loved this book! A different type of wizard book. I was pulled in rather fast with the story. There were a few spots that were slow, but for most of it I couldnt wait to read what happened next. I will say that I got the second book done in two days.
June 10, 2017
A good easy to read fantasy. Leena is a young hedge witch in training. She has the urge to find the Garlan tree. It is a mythical tree of great magical power, but no one has found it since it granted a branch to the Great Wizard, a thousand years ago. Leena doesn't understand this urge, but sneaks off to the forest one night. She treats it more like an adventure than a serious quest. To her amazement she finds the tree and is rewarded with a branch. Before she can fathom why she was given the branch or what she is supposed to do with such great power, she is attacked by a gigantic raven. Leena survives and heads for home, but finds her village burnt down and most of the people, including her family taken away. From a survivor of another burnt out village she learns that the Great Wizard's troops are responsible and are looking for her. Determined to get her family back, she heads for the Great Wizard's capital. Poor Leena is totally out of her depth, but manages to it hold together. Along the way she has to confront bandits and avoid the Wizard's soldiers. She also teams up with Darius, a young ambassador, returned from an embassy abroad.
January 15, 2018
This book started off seemingly simply but as the book went on it was more in depth than was expected! The protagonist, a young hedge witch in training named Leena , is looking for the fabled Garlan tree to hopefully get a garlan branch. “If legends were correct, it took two things for the Garlan tree to bestow a branch; a time of great turmoil and a worthy hero.” The Garlan tree was legendary and had not offered a branch in known memory. Could the tree offer this 16 year old a chance to be a heroine? She struggles through to find companions and hope. At first she finds a boy named Arvin, who is skeptical of her, but is it Leena who is more skeptical of him? She later meets Darius, an ambassador of Great Wizard, who seems eager to help her or does he have an agenda of his own. She’s gained knowledge of the Great Wizard is looking for her so must she trust this man? Face her fears? Reluctantly she accepts the help but the adventure is just beginning as they have traveled for days and the hope of having a peaceful time of rest is lost when some of the Great Wizard soldiers come to town searching for Leena. Does she escape or does she surrender to save her new friends?
October 26, 2017
I was so pleased with this book and look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series. The storyline is well constructed and the character development is strong. This story deals with innocence, honor, bravery, magic and a very evil wizard. All you need for a good fantasy story. I highly recommend this book.
May 23, 2017
A wonderful book about a young hedge witch and the beginnings of her journey as a witch and I suspect as an adult. Some evil force is out there and is searching for her. It is drawn to her because of the power she is learning to wield. I recommend this book to everyone.
May 22, 2018
Intriguing story withwell developed main characters. Also suspenseful
Well thought out story with well developed main characters. Also some suspenseful sceens. A good mix of action, character development and plot development.
Well thought out story with well developed main characters. Also some suspenseful sceens. A good mix of action, character development and plot development.
May 3, 2015
I'll be honest. I am completely baffled by this book. It starts off really well with Leena following her destiny and accepting the Garlan branch before returning to her decimated village. After that...
Usually such books have a fairly predictable progression, the hero (or heroine in this case) sets off on a quest, meets people along the way, fights a few henchman, challenges the enemy, wins, and proceeds to whatever version of a happy ending the genre demands. Here, not so much. To complicate matters Darius (one of the four people) spent about twenty percent of the book recounting a story that didn't seem to have anything to do with Leena or her situation. It might become important in future books, but I saw no reason for it here. The book consists of Leena traveling. Period. End of story, pun intended.
None of this however is the worst part for me. These are:
1. Leena is The Chosen and is supposed to be a strong hero for the people, but from the moment she leaves her village she just follows one male and then another. She unthinkingly, and one presumes appropriately, hands all decision making over to them. Apparently, despite being the hero she can't be trusted to decide which direction to travel in or even when to stop and eat and she never tries.
2. Darius' story: I don't want to give it away, The whole thing stunk of arrogance and ethnocentrism. I'm really not into that.
The book isn't without highlights. I really liked the idea of the hedge witches. The book was well written. I especially appreciated the prologue and the fact that McLaren was willing to allow his characters to fall to their absolute bottom before providing them with any sort of reprieve. There isn't always a happy ending in life, and even when there is there isn't always an easy road to it available. It and chapter one make me think that if I was willing to read the whole series and then consider the story as a condensed whole I would find a jewel, but I think it would just take too long. People like this book. I'm not trying to say you won't, but it didn't really do too much for me.
Usually such books have a fairly predictable progression, the hero (or heroine in this case) sets off on a quest, meets people along the way, fights a few henchman, challenges the enemy, wins, and proceeds to whatever version of a happy ending the genre demands. Here, not so much. To complicate matters Darius (one of the four people) spent about twenty percent of the book recounting a story that didn't seem to have anything to do with Leena or her situation. It might become important in future books, but I saw no reason for it here. The book consists of Leena traveling. Period. End of story, pun intended.
None of this however is the worst part for me. These are:
1. Leena is The Chosen and is supposed to be a strong hero for the people, but from the moment she leaves her village she just follows one male and then another. She unthinkingly, and one presumes appropriately, hands all decision making over to them. Apparently, despite being the hero she can't be trusted to decide which direction to travel in or even when to stop and eat and she never tries.
2. Darius' story: I don't want to give it away, The whole thing stunk of arrogance and ethnocentrism. I'm really not into that.
The book isn't without highlights. I really liked the idea of the hedge witches. The book was well written. I especially appreciated the prologue and the fact that McLaren was willing to allow his characters to fall to their absolute bottom before providing them with any sort of reprieve. There isn't always a happy ending in life, and even when there is there isn't always an easy road to it available. It and chapter one make me think that if I was willing to read the whole series and then consider the story as a condensed whole I would find a jewel, but I think it would just take too long. People like this book. I'm not trying to say you won't, but it didn't really do too much for me.
February 24, 2017
Interesting book from start to finish.
September 4, 2011
Book Description
Publication Date: April 9, 2011
"Clarion of Destiny" is the eight volume fantasy tale of Leena, a heroine selected by destiny to combat the greatest challenge her world has ever known. In an epic journey that leads through foreign lands and mysterious realms where demons, monsters, and magic rule, this inexperienced young girl is forced to overcome a protected childhood to face challenges that would crush far more experienced adventurers. With each step she takes, with each passing day, she draws closer to a malevolent force so formidable that it has defeated the mightiest armies and the strongest magic in her world, an evil that could prove too powerful for her developing knowledge and skills to overcome. In Volume 1, "Home Lost", Leena, a sixteen year old half trained hedge witch, is mysteriously selected to receive the Garlan branch, a magical item that has twice saved her world in the far distant past. From the first moment of contact with this talisman, her life is changed. After a solitary journey through a silent and deadly winter forest to seek this honor, she returns to her village. Nervous with the excitement and anticipation, she rushes home only to find the secure and treasured town of her youth deserted and in ruins. Confused and alone Leena has little choice but to set out on a search for her missing friends and family, and to try to discover the reason that the Garlan branch has selected her as its tool.
Book one revolves around the story of Leena. The author tells a nice, pleasing fantasy tale. I will read books 2-8 before writing a complete review, but this story was good enough to make me WANT to read books 2-8 in the series.
Publication Date: April 9, 2011
"Clarion of Destiny" is the eight volume fantasy tale of Leena, a heroine selected by destiny to combat the greatest challenge her world has ever known. In an epic journey that leads through foreign lands and mysterious realms where demons, monsters, and magic rule, this inexperienced young girl is forced to overcome a protected childhood to face challenges that would crush far more experienced adventurers. With each step she takes, with each passing day, she draws closer to a malevolent force so formidable that it has defeated the mightiest armies and the strongest magic in her world, an evil that could prove too powerful for her developing knowledge and skills to overcome. In Volume 1, "Home Lost", Leena, a sixteen year old half trained hedge witch, is mysteriously selected to receive the Garlan branch, a magical item that has twice saved her world in the far distant past. From the first moment of contact with this talisman, her life is changed. After a solitary journey through a silent and deadly winter forest to seek this honor, she returns to her village. Nervous with the excitement and anticipation, she rushes home only to find the secure and treasured town of her youth deserted and in ruins. Confused and alone Leena has little choice but to set out on a search for her missing friends and family, and to try to discover the reason that the Garlan branch has selected her as its tool.
Book one revolves around the story of Leena. The author tells a nice, pleasing fantasy tale. I will read books 2-8 before writing a complete review, but this story was good enough to make me WANT to read books 2-8 in the series.
December 5, 2011
This story is built around the pure magical power of the Garlan branch. After a brief glimpse into events that happened a thousand years in the past between Robart who held the Garlan branch and the power-hungry destroyer Halsey who wanted to destroy humans, we are introduced to our heroine, Leena.
Leena is a sixteen-year-old, dark haired, dark eyed beauty who lives a simple life as the daughter of the village hedge witch. As a hedge witch in training, Leena spends her days offering healing but quietly dreams of fame and glory. She stumbles upon the legendary Garlan tree and is gifted a branch--that's when the adventure really begins.
Franz McLaren's words fly smoothly off the page, painting each scene with the deft hand of a master writer. I found myself sinking deeper into my sofa, curling my knees up around my Kindle and chewing my nails with worry for Leena and those around her. I was so wrapped up in this story that by the cliff-hanger ending, I didn't hesitate to buy the next book in the series, To Save Elderon. I just have to know what happens to Leena, Darius, Elke, and Gunnar when they finally get to the Great Wizard.
I love, love, love this book!!
Leena is a sixteen-year-old, dark haired, dark eyed beauty who lives a simple life as the daughter of the village hedge witch. As a hedge witch in training, Leena spends her days offering healing but quietly dreams of fame and glory. She stumbles upon the legendary Garlan tree and is gifted a branch--that's when the adventure really begins.
Franz McLaren's words fly smoothly off the page, painting each scene with the deft hand of a master writer. I found myself sinking deeper into my sofa, curling my knees up around my Kindle and chewing my nails with worry for Leena and those around her. I was so wrapped up in this story that by the cliff-hanger ending, I didn't hesitate to buy the next book in the series, To Save Elderon. I just have to know what happens to Leena, Darius, Elke, and Gunnar when they finally get to the Great Wizard.
I love, love, love this book!!
May 16, 2012
Home Lost is a perfectly paced, incredibly original, and very well written work of fantasy. I had the great pleasure of being given a copy by Franz and, though it took me longer than I care to admit to start it, I read the book from cover to cover this afternoon. Keeping in mind that this is one in a series of eight Franz did an absolutely perfect job of introducing the reader to the characters and lore while still keeping the story light and avoiding the heavy handed prose one usually finds in fantasy epics of this kind. One can not help but become invested in Leena's plight and that of her equally amiable companions. A definite page turner, I can't wait to get my hands on the next one!
March 4, 2011
This book was a freebie on my nook. It is a story of heroine, Leena, and her quest to save her family and country from an evil wizard. The book is clean, no foul language or sex. The story was simple and easy to follow. There are several chapters of first person monologue while Darius tells his story. Those got a little dull. That said, I was curious enough about Leena's fate that I bought the next few books. Fast, easy, simple read.
September 1, 2016
I'm hooked!
October 9, 2014
Good start to a series, nice cliff hanger. Focuses mostly on what I assume is the back story, carefully developing what really seems to be a well told adventure with very strong characters
October 25, 2016
Love this series
January 17, 2019
Very good will read series
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews