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Legends of Karac Tor #4
The Ravaged Realm
With the Nine Worlds facing a judgment of fire, Karac Tor stands on the brink of civil war and despair. A true prophet must be found, but he’s lost...somewhere in North America.
Determined to fight for the land, Arthur and Corus take their case all the way to the White Abbey, hoping to receive a blessing for their efforts. But time is of the essence, and Cassock, having delivered the deceptive gift of the Lost Oracle to the High Synod, has cleverly begun sowing the Devourer’s lies and confusion into the fabric of the Three Holy Orders. Has the sacred Book of Law really been expanded, or annulled? And if the Nine Gifts are to be abandoned, does the White Abbey finally reign supreme above all others?
Gabe, dramatically increasing his power to communicate with animals, ventures into the forbidding Highlands to find and rescue Flogg from the dreaded Stone Moot. Little does he understand the series of events this will unleash. Meanwhile, Arthur, refusing to play politics, discover that a small army has been secretly waiting for him to finally take charge. Setting out to make trouble for Kr’Nunos, Arthur and Corus finally confront the strange, beastly Ravers that are wreaking havoc across the land. Driven by enemies within and without, the Royal Kingdom of Karac Tor is swiftly unravelling, standing on the brink of civil war.
Meanwhile, back on earth, Reggie, Odessa and her children find themselves thrown across the Nine Worlds on a desperate quest to find and rescue the mysterious Lost Prophet, a great bird whose legendary power is woven into the history of our own world. Forced into hiding among the Native tribes of pre-Columbian America, Rianor is the last messenger and signal-bearer, whose final cry will usher in the War of Swords, and hopefully, summon Aion to return and save his people. But first they must find him and free him, before the Devourer brings ruin to all.
Determined to fight for the land, Arthur and Corus take their case all the way to the White Abbey, hoping to receive a blessing for their efforts. But time is of the essence, and Cassock, having delivered the deceptive gift of the Lost Oracle to the High Synod, has cleverly begun sowing the Devourer’s lies and confusion into the fabric of the Three Holy Orders. Has the sacred Book of Law really been expanded, or annulled? And if the Nine Gifts are to be abandoned, does the White Abbey finally reign supreme above all others?
Gabe, dramatically increasing his power to communicate with animals, ventures into the forbidding Highlands to find and rescue Flogg from the dreaded Stone Moot. Little does he understand the series of events this will unleash. Meanwhile, Arthur, refusing to play politics, discover that a small army has been secretly waiting for him to finally take charge. Setting out to make trouble for Kr’Nunos, Arthur and Corus finally confront the strange, beastly Ravers that are wreaking havoc across the land. Driven by enemies within and without, the Royal Kingdom of Karac Tor is swiftly unravelling, standing on the brink of civil war.
Meanwhile, back on earth, Reggie, Odessa and her children find themselves thrown across the Nine Worlds on a desperate quest to find and rescue the mysterious Lost Prophet, a great bird whose legendary power is woven into the history of our own world. Forced into hiding among the Native tribes of pre-Columbian America, Rianor is the last messenger and signal-bearer, whose final cry will usher in the War of Swords, and hopefully, summon Aion to return and save his people. But first they must find him and free him, before the Devourer brings ruin to all.
512 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2012
1 person is currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
D. Barkley Briggs
19 books38 followersDean "D. Barkley" Briggs is happily married to Jeanie, the proud father of eight grown children and two grandchildren. A New Covenant storyteller, Dean loves the magical power of words. He dreams, prophecies and prays across the world, speaking and preaching on the great story of God. His novels include two medical thrillers, The God Spot, and The Most Important Little Boy in the World, and the acclaimed, 5-part YA fantasy series, The Legends of Karac Tor. He also has number of non-fiction works, including Ekklesia Rising and The Jesus Fast, co-authored with Lou Engle. A new novel, The Withering Tree, is soon to be released.
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DeanBriggs.com |
Facebook/Twitter @ DBarkleyBriggs
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DeanBriggs.com |
Facebook/Twitter @ DBarkleyBriggs
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 6, 2013
In this, the penultimate volume in the Legends of Karac Tor series, Briggs has brought the sweep of his story to a point that places a great deal of pressure on him to finish the series in grand style in the next volume. The tension is screwed to a twanging tautness, and I'm holding my breath, just hoping this series ends as well as it has gone so far.
The prose as always is a pleasure to read. The level of the language used changes effectively based on the character's perspective. When the story being told is of the four teenage boys, the language is very American and authentic to the way teen guys talk and think. When the story shifts to Arthur or Corus, the prose is elevated and sometimes even soaring.
I'm impressed at the number of character perspectives the author uses, while managing to make us care about what happens to all those characters.
If you haven't read the previous books in this series, go back and read them first! If you have, you won't be disappointed with this volume. An excellent story for teen guys, but also for thirty- and forty- and fifty-somethings or anyone who longs for a place in a story bigger than oneself.
The prose as always is a pleasure to read. The level of the language used changes effectively based on the character's perspective. When the story being told is of the four teenage boys, the language is very American and authentic to the way teen guys talk and think. When the story shifts to Arthur or Corus, the prose is elevated and sometimes even soaring.
I'm impressed at the number of character perspectives the author uses, while managing to make us care about what happens to all those characters.
If you haven't read the previous books in this series, go back and read them first! If you have, you won't be disappointed with this volume. An excellent story for teen guys, but also for thirty- and forty- and fifty-somethings or anyone who longs for a place in a story bigger than oneself.
July 7, 2013
D. Barkley Briggs in his new book, “The Ravaged Realm” Book Four in the Legends Of Karac Tor series published by Living Ink Books returns us to the lives of the Barlow brothers and Karac Tor.
From the back cover: ”Secrets lost, secrets found. Eight plus one, Hel unbound.”
In the aftermath of the The Song Of Unmaking, a new and terrible breed of evil has begun ravaging Bitterland and Greenland. Arthur makes a bold bid for the crown in hopes of finally arming the Hidden Lands against the Devourer’s dark plans. But Kr’Nunos has taken no chances, sowing seeds of an insidious deception into the fragile unity of the Three Abbeys. Karac Tor shall be attacked from without and defiled from within. Meanwhile, Gabe goes on a daring rescue mission deep into the exotic Highlands, but what he finds there will cost him more than he knows.
Yet a still larger tale is unfolding, as Karac Tor is only one of the interconnected Nine Worlds. Long ago, the famed Lost Prophet fled between worlds, only to become enmeshed in the legends of ancient native America, biding its time until it was safe to return. Centuries have now passed, and plans have gone awry. It’s up to Reggie, Odessa and her children to piece together clues on Earth. Can the final oracle be released in time?
We are rocketing along to the conclusion of The Legends of Karac Tor as this is the fourth book in a five book series and this series has been quite a ride. Up until now the books have been terrific but, I must say, with ”The Ravaged Realm” Mr. Briggs has given us his best work yet. Karac Tor is full of invading forces trying to take over the land already occupied. The Barlow brothers have the ability to move from our reality to the land of Karac Tor and they are there to use their special powers, only available to them there, to help defend and defeat these forces. Mr. Briggs has used mythology as a background for these stories but the real background is the Christian element that is running throughout the narrative. The whole series is outstanding, each book delivers more excitement than the last and each one provides so much to think about and dwell upon. I recommend this series highly and am looking forward to the next one.
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and business professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where it is available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Living Ink Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: ”Secrets lost, secrets found. Eight plus one, Hel unbound.”
In the aftermath of the The Song Of Unmaking, a new and terrible breed of evil has begun ravaging Bitterland and Greenland. Arthur makes a bold bid for the crown in hopes of finally arming the Hidden Lands against the Devourer’s dark plans. But Kr’Nunos has taken no chances, sowing seeds of an insidious deception into the fragile unity of the Three Abbeys. Karac Tor shall be attacked from without and defiled from within. Meanwhile, Gabe goes on a daring rescue mission deep into the exotic Highlands, but what he finds there will cost him more than he knows.
Yet a still larger tale is unfolding, as Karac Tor is only one of the interconnected Nine Worlds. Long ago, the famed Lost Prophet fled between worlds, only to become enmeshed in the legends of ancient native America, biding its time until it was safe to return. Centuries have now passed, and plans have gone awry. It’s up to Reggie, Odessa and her children to piece together clues on Earth. Can the final oracle be released in time?
We are rocketing along to the conclusion of The Legends of Karac Tor as this is the fourth book in a five book series and this series has been quite a ride. Up until now the books have been terrific but, I must say, with ”The Ravaged Realm” Mr. Briggs has given us his best work yet. Karac Tor is full of invading forces trying to take over the land already occupied. The Barlow brothers have the ability to move from our reality to the land of Karac Tor and they are there to use their special powers, only available to them there, to help defend and defeat these forces. Mr. Briggs has used mythology as a background for these stories but the real background is the Christian element that is running throughout the narrative. The whole series is outstanding, each book delivers more excitement than the last and each one provides so much to think about and dwell upon. I recommend this series highly and am looking forward to the next one.
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and business professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where it is available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Living Ink Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
June 29, 2013
I have truly enjoyed this series of young adult fiction. It is in the "Chronicles of Narnia" tradition with a gate to an alternate world, adventures and possible death in that new world and an epic quest to save it. It also cross-pollinates with Arthurian legend as we meet the great king who crosses worlds as well as Lancelot and Gwenivere. Sadly, it has not found a large following, perhaps since it is from a Christian publisher rather than a secular one who could promote it more widely as did Lewis's publisher. If you have preteen and teen boys who like adventure, this is a wonderful series.
December 4, 2017
This was not my favorite book of the series. I adore Karac Tor, so spending so much time away from it was a little disappointing. However, I'm beyond excited to read The War of Swords!
(Like Christian fantasy and sci-fi? Check out longer book reviews and more at thebookhoundchristianspecfic.blogspot.com)
(Like Christian fantasy and sci-fi? Check out longer book reviews and more at thebookhoundchristianspecfic.blogspot.com)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews