The Journeyer and the Pilgrimage for the Origin of Magic

by Benjamin T. Dudley

"The Journeyer and the Pilgrimage for the Origin of Magic" chronicles the adventures of Gai Laguna and his trusty dragon ally, Gimchi. Their mission, given by their sensei, is no less than to find the origin of magic itself, a force potent enough to combat the destructive power of Nae, who has torn a void in the sky. Their path is guided by ancient bonfire stories that lead them towards primordial essences of extreme magical potency. However, gathering these essences is not without peril or ethical quandaries. Through their struggles and triumphs, Gai learns to embody the purpose and meaning of each essence.

Throughout their journey, they commune with the spirits of fallen champions in the hero's graveyard, discover magical weapons that sprout from the earth, and converse with deities that can raise entire cities into the air. Meanwhile, their world teeters on the brink of oblivion as Nae's sky void devours more of Arkadia's history and people. Can Gai and Gimchi harness the origin of magic in time to save their world from an apocalyptic fate? Embark on this journey of courage, wisdom, and magical discovery to find out.

Genres: Fantasy

350 pages, Paperback

Published November 30, 2023

About the author

Born in 1982, Benjamin T. Dudley is a North Carolina native with a rich academic background, holding degrees in Economics, Philosophy, and Composition, Rhetoric, and Creative Writing. Now residing in Tianjin, China, he leverages his diverse knowledge and global experiences to inform his storytelling. Currently, he imparts his writing expertise to students at Hebei University through its partnership with the University of Arizona, while also engaging in travel-blogging. His life's journeys, both literal and academic, shine through his writing, creating rich, immersive narratives.

Reviews

[AJA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure how I came across this but it was a very lucky find!

Hope the author gets the chance to write the sequel

[C.E. Case · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantasy for a new generation, incorporating AI and cyberpunk ideas into the traditional rangers and wizards and airships and swordfights that the genre thrives on. Goddesses permeate the book. Storytelling is a central feature. Which piece of oral history leads to the truth? What's been distorted by time and bias? When data is deleted from the world, what traces remain?

The tale is fast-paced and easy to read. There are well-designed set pieces. The diverse characters are fun. I won't spoil the origin of magic.

I am friends with Benjamin Dudley and yes, that colors my review. I had a good time reading and I hope you do too.

[Paula Garofalo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow Gai through many wonders of this fantasy world with his trusty comic relief sidekick and mini dragon, Gimchi. Hopefully in future books we’ll find out who really pissed off woman gone wrong. Wait till you meet siren Natare. More Gimchi please!

[Shea Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I want to thank the author and publisher for the Goodreads Giveaway.

The book is a really good fantasy book. The world building was fantastic! I really liked Timeless and the different sectors. I did have a hard time getting into the book in the first few chapters, and some parts were a little hard for me to get through. It's a pretty solid book, though, and i hope there will be more, especially with a lot of Gimchi!!!

[Christin McDowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

To preface this review I feel I should mention that I don't usually read fantasy as a genre and so there may be aspects of the book I don't fully appreciate. I was immediately drawn into the story by the intriguing first chapter where the reader is introduced to the hero, Gai. Although initially confused by certain aspects of the setting, I was drawn in by the mysterious exchange between Gai and a young girl in that first chapter, and the pace of the plot. The world-building and pacing of the plot continue at a steady clip as the reader is introduced to character after character in subsequent chapters. By about midway into the book I realized that although confused by some points, I had to know what happened! Gimchi, a sidekick dragon character who is really much more than a sidekick, provides just the right amount of levity and, dare I say it--cuteness! The book concludes dramatically and in ways I would not have ever predicted and although I feel that Gai's character didn't develop as much as I would have liked, I'm sucked into his plight and deep questioning nature just enough to eagerly await the release of the next installment.

[Mike]

Didn't get far in this before the language defeated me. It's one of those where the author is going for high-flown but doesn't have the chops for it, and occasionally drops a clanging colloquialism like "ass" in the middle of the attempted eloquence.

My spidey-sense always goes off these days when I read that an author has a degree in creative writing; whatever they teach in creative writing class, it's not basic mechanics like punctuating dialog or avoiding comma splices, clearly; based on the examples I've seen, maybe it's to attempt to write books that you don't yet have the experience to pull off.

Plus, there's a prophecy (a negative for me) from a character who is on drugs (big negative) who is apparently 10 years old (huge negative, when paired with the drug use), and it's post-apocalyptic (that's another negative).

Other people liked it; you may too. I did not.

[Ritchie Dudley · Rating 5 out of 5]

You only have to read a few lines into this book and you will feel the pull as you are sucked into an epic journey through an unknown universe. The vivid detail simply transports you to the fantastical world of Gai who travels to piece together the knowledge left by the ancients in order to save the everything that is known from a competing selections of fates; one of which is only known as the void. Like the smashing together of deep lore of J.R.R. Tolkien and the ever mysterious universes of the Final Fantasy game series, this book compels you travel to an unforeseen destination, all the while peppering the experience with tales of lore and quips from your fellow travelers. If I had another day off, I would have finished the book in one sitting!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are writers rising and falling on the ever-changing landscape of fictional novels. Myriads of readers sludge through their books but never finish the journey because the stories never go anywhere. Dudley’s book, The Journeyman and the Pilgrimage, is not such a book. You better strap on your seatbelt and tightened it up fast because you’re in for a ride when you jump into his book. Twists and turns, ups and downs will spin your head as you follow Gai’s journey through time and space. It’s a sci-fi blow your mind book. I know it because I’ve read it through from start to finish.

S. Kusel

[Daniel Stefan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic！I am not usually drawn to fantasy, but this book had gripped from first page to last. The world building is layered and unfolds in exciting ways. My favorite aspect of Dudley's writing is the way he does action and fight scenes- they are so well done that I could picture everything! There are quite a few parts where I literally gasped out loud! Gai and Gimchi are compelling protagonists to take us through this world. I'm looking forward to the next book!

[Thus Kvothe The Raven]

In some parts of this book, the author does a really good job. In other parts, not so much. The interactions between characters go well. I think the descriptions of the characters actions in those parts is at least intriguing. In the descriptions of other parts of the book, especially as it pertains to the background, not so much. This book just wasn’t for me. Thanks to the publisher via NetGalley

[Josh Medlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read Benjamin's previous novel twice, and I was excited to dig into this. I'm only a couple dozen pages into the eBook but Origin of Magic is already gripping me, can't wait to get deeper into it and to get the paperback version to share with friends.

[David Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this! It takes you on an enthralling journey through a wonderful fantasy world. It includes elements of some of my favorite fantasy universes. The characters are engaging, and the world building is incredible. I can’t wait for book 2.

[Olivia Yinuo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is not overly long to read, one chapter of it unveiled me to this world full of magic and surprises, can't wait to see where the adventure is taking us next!

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mixture of Anime and Chinese story telling about the battle between good and evil, with a touch of irreverence.

[Joreynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though not my usual genre, I found this book quite interesting and well-written. I got to know the characters and enjoyed their light-hearted humor injected throughout their serious mission to save their world. I am looking forward to the next book to find out if Gai can keep Nae from inflicting even more damage on the world.
I especially liked the character of Gimchi and am curious to see how he (hopefully) makes it back to Gai and partners again with him to battle the evil Nae.

[Vanessa Krauss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reminded me a bit of Traveler In Black with its 60s/70s fantasy/scifi aesthetic and the traveling to collect stories. This book is however a collect-a-thon for the magical macguffins to help stop the very real and immediate world threat. Do not let that description turn you off from reading this book. It is an incredible piece of dynamic world building; rich and wonderous. The stakes build, and the ending is promising and grandiose with a great sense of narrative direction.

The author made a modern and beautiful tribute to the heyday of its genres. Pleasure to read, and I'm glad I did.