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Beyond the Red Mountains
Kelvin and Elizabeth grew up in different places, both taught that they were the only people to survive the Dark Days—but they start to question this when they begin to hear strange tales that suggest otherwise.
When fate brings them together it creates more questions than answers…Will Kelvin get enough answers in time to help free his home from the evil man who rules it? He hopes that following his ancient map to the last resting place of the mysterious fourth Founder of Triopolis will reveal the information he seeks.
When an accident forces Elizabeth to flee with Kelvin, they are set on a path that will lead him home. During their journey, they will discover an ancient race of people who have unbelievable powers over the natural world—and they learn how to fight off the evil that threatens their world.
When fate brings them together it creates more questions than answers…Will Kelvin get enough answers in time to help free his home from the evil man who rules it? He hopes that following his ancient map to the last resting place of the mysterious fourth Founder of Triopolis will reveal the information he seeks.
When an accident forces Elizabeth to flee with Kelvin, they are set on a path that will lead him home. During their journey, they will discover an ancient race of people who have unbelievable powers over the natural world—and they learn how to fight off the evil that threatens their world.
350 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2014
About the author
Greg Johnson
2 books79 followersGreg Johnson is a graduate of Michigan State University and works in sales. He was inspired to write by watching his young stepson make the transition from a boy to a young adult. As his stepson asked questions, experienced new emotions, and began to develop stronger relationships with friends, Greg thought a story would be a good supplement to the lessons he and his wife were already teaching. The story became Beyond the Red Mountains. Greg lives in Chicago with his wife Jean, stepson Brice and their cat Leo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 10, 2016
Kelvin has lived all his life in the city of Triopolis, a peaceful place between the mountains and the sea. After all there are no other towns or civilisations on the planet, not since the Dark Days when everything changed.
Kelvin's first clue that all might not be as he has been taught when he discovers an old book warning about a mysterious figure called Luther who seems to have been carefully erased from the history of Triopolis. And it is clear that he is not the only one who is aware of secrets.
Elizabeth is the princess of Westville, the centre of a civilisation that has conquered every other city in the world - there are not many. She is locked in a loveless and arranged marriage but is determined to find some way out.
When fate brings Kelvin and Elizabeth together they realise there is a lot more going on than the elders of either city would have them believe. Before long they are on the run, desperately trying to save themselves and their cities from dark forces. They have allies and enemies, but telling one from the other is only half the battle...
Beyond the Red Mountains is a fantasy novel that is of epic proportions but avoids all the tropes and cliches of 'epic' fantasy. There isn't really a great quest, there isn't a dark lord threatening all of existence. All of the characters seem very real and all have their own reasons for their actions, whether these are with or against the main protagonists.
There are many twists and turns and the story doesn't let itself get too bogged down in long conversations or descriptions, letting the story unfold to reveal the narrative and the history. Not every decision Kelvin and Elizabeth make is the right one, but it is always made with the best intentions. The characterisation really does stand out, with a lot of care taken to make the characters believable. I was particularly struck by one of the characters who are opposed to Kelvin and Elizabeth but the reader ends up feeling enormous sympathy for.
There is a (perhaps inevitable) romantic connection between Kelvin and Elizabeth but this is well played and unfolds very realistically and is never overplayed or overstated. Some of the keepers of ancient wisdom they meet are perhaps a little to forthcoming about forbidden knowledge but this means the story doesn't slow but can take the next step so this can be forgiven.
The prose is very simple, clearly aimed at a young adult audience, although some of the themes and scenes are perhaps not for the very young end of the spectrum. As an introduction to lengthy fantasy tales this works very well though. The ending is a real cliff hanger and definitely makes me want to read the sequel.
There were a few more spelling mistakes and incorrect (or plain missing) words in the eBook version I read but this wasn't really a problem, it was always clear what was intended.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wanted to tackle a human-scale epic fantasy novel with a difference, one that cared about all of its characters, even the ones nominally pitched against the 'heroes'.
Kelvin's first clue that all might not be as he has been taught when he discovers an old book warning about a mysterious figure called Luther who seems to have been carefully erased from the history of Triopolis. And it is clear that he is not the only one who is aware of secrets.
Elizabeth is the princess of Westville, the centre of a civilisation that has conquered every other city in the world - there are not many. She is locked in a loveless and arranged marriage but is determined to find some way out.
When fate brings Kelvin and Elizabeth together they realise there is a lot more going on than the elders of either city would have them believe. Before long they are on the run, desperately trying to save themselves and their cities from dark forces. They have allies and enemies, but telling one from the other is only half the battle...
Beyond the Red Mountains is a fantasy novel that is of epic proportions but avoids all the tropes and cliches of 'epic' fantasy. There isn't really a great quest, there isn't a dark lord threatening all of existence. All of the characters seem very real and all have their own reasons for their actions, whether these are with or against the main protagonists.
There are many twists and turns and the story doesn't let itself get too bogged down in long conversations or descriptions, letting the story unfold to reveal the narrative and the history. Not every decision Kelvin and Elizabeth make is the right one, but it is always made with the best intentions. The characterisation really does stand out, with a lot of care taken to make the characters believable. I was particularly struck by one of the characters who are opposed to Kelvin and Elizabeth but the reader ends up feeling enormous sympathy for.
There is a (perhaps inevitable) romantic connection between Kelvin and Elizabeth but this is well played and unfolds very realistically and is never overplayed or overstated. Some of the keepers of ancient wisdom they meet are perhaps a little to forthcoming about forbidden knowledge but this means the story doesn't slow but can take the next step so this can be forgiven.
The prose is very simple, clearly aimed at a young adult audience, although some of the themes and scenes are perhaps not for the very young end of the spectrum. As an introduction to lengthy fantasy tales this works very well though. The ending is a real cliff hanger and definitely makes me want to read the sequel.
There were a few more spelling mistakes and incorrect (or plain missing) words in the eBook version I read but this wasn't really a problem, it was always clear what was intended.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wanted to tackle a human-scale epic fantasy novel with a difference, one that cared about all of its characters, even the ones nominally pitched against the 'heroes'.
February 18, 2017
Author: Greg Johnston
Title: Beyond The Red Mountains
Genre: Fiction, Adventure Stories and Action, Contemporary Fiction, Science Fiction and fantasy, Coming of Age, Fantasy, Epic, Contemporary,
Synopsis: Kelvin and Elizabeth grew up in different places, both taught that they were the only people to survive the Dark Days—but they start to question this when they begin to hear strange tales that suggest otherwise. When fate brings them together it creates more questions than answers…Will Kelvin get enough answers in time to help free his home from the evil man who rules it? He hopes that following his ancient map to the last resting place of the mysterious fourth Founder of Triopolis will reveal the information he seeks.When an accident forces Elizabeth to flee with Kelvin, they are set on a path that will lead him home. During their journey, they will discover an ancient race of people who have unbelievable powers over the natural world—and they learn how to fight off the evil that threatens their world.
Review: Really good book and it was easy to get into and l highly recommended this book to anybody and I was sent this book for review and l would tell people that you should step outside your comfort zone with books because it's good to add more authors and genres to your reading portfolio even if you don't read books like this and it was a real enjoyable storyline. l have fall in love with this book and l am sad l have finished reading it and l would read it again and still have the same view on the story and it was hard to put down once l started reading it and l would love to read more of this storyline and more from this author.l was sad to read that kelvin's best friend and business partner Henry died and his father was murdered and l was glad to read that kelvin's dad did not blame him for his brother death that his mind was being controlled by this evil man the bishop and l was glad to read that Luther helped Elizabeth and kelvin after they helped him.
About the author: Greg Johnson is a graduate of Michigan State University and works in sales. He was inspired to write by watching his young stepson make the transition from a boy to a young adult. As his stepson asked questions, experienced new emotions, and began to develop stronger relationships with friends, Greg thought a story would be a good supplement to the lessons he and his wife were already teaching. The story became Beyond the Red Mountains. Greg lives in Chicago with his wife Jean, stepson Brice and their cat Leo. This author is very nice
Edition: Paperback and Kindle
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Title: Beyond The Red Mountains
Genre: Fiction, Adventure Stories and Action, Contemporary Fiction, Science Fiction and fantasy, Coming of Age, Fantasy, Epic, Contemporary,
Synopsis: Kelvin and Elizabeth grew up in different places, both taught that they were the only people to survive the Dark Days—but they start to question this when they begin to hear strange tales that suggest otherwise. When fate brings them together it creates more questions than answers…Will Kelvin get enough answers in time to help free his home from the evil man who rules it? He hopes that following his ancient map to the last resting place of the mysterious fourth Founder of Triopolis will reveal the information he seeks.When an accident forces Elizabeth to flee with Kelvin, they are set on a path that will lead him home. During their journey, they will discover an ancient race of people who have unbelievable powers over the natural world—and they learn how to fight off the evil that threatens their world.
Review: Really good book and it was easy to get into and l highly recommended this book to anybody and I was sent this book for review and l would tell people that you should step outside your comfort zone with books because it's good to add more authors and genres to your reading portfolio even if you don't read books like this and it was a real enjoyable storyline. l have fall in love with this book and l am sad l have finished reading it and l would read it again and still have the same view on the story and it was hard to put down once l started reading it and l would love to read more of this storyline and more from this author.l was sad to read that kelvin's best friend and business partner Henry died and his father was murdered and l was glad to read that kelvin's dad did not blame him for his brother death that his mind was being controlled by this evil man the bishop and l was glad to read that Luther helped Elizabeth and kelvin after they helped him.
About the author: Greg Johnson is a graduate of Michigan State University and works in sales. He was inspired to write by watching his young stepson make the transition from a boy to a young adult. As his stepson asked questions, experienced new emotions, and began to develop stronger relationships with friends, Greg thought a story would be a good supplement to the lessons he and his wife were already teaching. The story became Beyond the Red Mountains. Greg lives in Chicago with his wife Jean, stepson Brice and their cat Leo. This author is very nice
Edition: Paperback and Kindle
Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2017
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in any way and the thoughts expressed are my own.
This fantasy book’s blurb described Elizabeth and Kelvin, who grew up in two different places and are drawn together by fate. Though it was clear they were in two separate places it was confusing exactly where they were in relation to each other. Over the chapters, it was clear that each lived in a city on either side of a great range of volcanos and thought they were the only people left in the world. It became confusing who lived in which city, especially since they weren’t the main characters in many of the chapters.
For the majority of the chapters, we followed Henry, the Princess’ hand maiden, the Prince and even the King. Pov was switched even between paragraphs. It was frustrating as if the author couldn’t decide who he wanted as the point of view. It appeared that he was using omniscient third-person pov, but I found it didn’t work well and instead became confusing.
These excessive povs meant that we witnessed many unnecessary scenes which made the story very slow. We knew everything that was happening and plotted by the characters. Though this may work for some people, I personally hate it. I didn’t need to know absolutely everything. I would rather the twists and turns of discovering things as the story continues.
In the beginning, we were swamped with several info-dumps on the cities’ history. Though some of it was relevant, we could have easily gone without. It’s clear the author has created a complex world, but these info-dumps could have done with some extreme editing and rewriting.
The Prince’s secret was clichéd, but it made Elizabeth’s situation a little more interesting. It also raised the potential for conflict within the royal family and allowed us to learn more about why Elizabeth married the Prince, if not for love. The twist with her background made her storyline more intriguing and offered a connection between her and the other city. (I won’t go into detail since it is a slight spoiler)
Everyone was quite emotionless, for example, Elizabeth was very clinical about her husband’s secret while she and Kelvin were cold about the death of their friends. They seemed to shrug it off without a care and continue on. Surely losing a friend, especially one who dies before your eyes, would slow you down a bit with your thoughts returning to them for months, even years.
In this world, there are people known as Enlightened, who know the ins and outs of the world which gives them certain abilities similar to magic. Some are born Enlightened, with natural abilities, while others can become Enlightened through years of intense study. They are outlawed everywhere and those trying to become one will be punished. I like this concept, it gave your average person a chance to become more if they simply put it the work. Of course, there’s the possibility that an evil person could use this to gain power which made it seem more realistic, not everyone uses knowledge for good. Many fantasy stories have people born with abilities, so you’re either gifted or not, so sad too bad. This opportunity for normal people was interesting and enjoyable.
It drove me crazy that the character’ always spoke the obvious, like ‘oh look there’s a chair’ even though this was already described by the author and was clear to anyone there. If someone said the sky was blue you’d think them weird, yet everyone did this. It made me want to shake them! It made the characters appear stupid and naïve, especially Elizabeth and Kelvin. They were so thick when anyone went against them or tricked them and had stated it amongst themselves repeatedly even when they were both there at the time. Yet even as they stated this it, it was emotionless, coming off as a weak attempt at dialogue which didn’t provide anything and made this slow story even slower.
It’s clear the author has created a complex world, but the actual book was slow and frustrating. It was a struggle to finish this novel and I give it 2/5.
This fantasy book’s blurb described Elizabeth and Kelvin, who grew up in two different places and are drawn together by fate. Though it was clear they were in two separate places it was confusing exactly where they were in relation to each other. Over the chapters, it was clear that each lived in a city on either side of a great range of volcanos and thought they were the only people left in the world. It became confusing who lived in which city, especially since they weren’t the main characters in many of the chapters.
For the majority of the chapters, we followed Henry, the Princess’ hand maiden, the Prince and even the King. Pov was switched even between paragraphs. It was frustrating as if the author couldn’t decide who he wanted as the point of view. It appeared that he was using omniscient third-person pov, but I found it didn’t work well and instead became confusing.
These excessive povs meant that we witnessed many unnecessary scenes which made the story very slow. We knew everything that was happening and plotted by the characters. Though this may work for some people, I personally hate it. I didn’t need to know absolutely everything. I would rather the twists and turns of discovering things as the story continues.
In the beginning, we were swamped with several info-dumps on the cities’ history. Though some of it was relevant, we could have easily gone without. It’s clear the author has created a complex world, but these info-dumps could have done with some extreme editing and rewriting.
The Prince’s secret was clichéd, but it made Elizabeth’s situation a little more interesting. It also raised the potential for conflict within the royal family and allowed us to learn more about why Elizabeth married the Prince, if not for love. The twist with her background made her storyline more intriguing and offered a connection between her and the other city. (I won’t go into detail since it is a slight spoiler)
Everyone was quite emotionless, for example, Elizabeth was very clinical about her husband’s secret while she and Kelvin were cold about the death of their friends. They seemed to shrug it off without a care and continue on. Surely losing a friend, especially one who dies before your eyes, would slow you down a bit with your thoughts returning to them for months, even years.
In this world, there are people known as Enlightened, who know the ins and outs of the world which gives them certain abilities similar to magic. Some are born Enlightened, with natural abilities, while others can become Enlightened through years of intense study. They are outlawed everywhere and those trying to become one will be punished. I like this concept, it gave your average person a chance to become more if they simply put it the work. Of course, there’s the possibility that an evil person could use this to gain power which made it seem more realistic, not everyone uses knowledge for good. Many fantasy stories have people born with abilities, so you’re either gifted or not, so sad too bad. This opportunity for normal people was interesting and enjoyable.
It drove me crazy that the character’ always spoke the obvious, like ‘oh look there’s a chair’ even though this was already described by the author and was clear to anyone there. If someone said the sky was blue you’d think them weird, yet everyone did this. It made me want to shake them! It made the characters appear stupid and naïve, especially Elizabeth and Kelvin. They were so thick when anyone went against them or tricked them and had stated it amongst themselves repeatedly even when they were both there at the time. Yet even as they stated this it, it was emotionless, coming off as a weak attempt at dialogue which didn’t provide anything and made this slow story even slower.
It’s clear the author has created a complex world, but the actual book was slow and frustrating. It was a struggle to finish this novel and I give it 2/5.
Read
May 19, 2015Read this review from Deanna Francis of Windy City Reviews: tinyurl.com/l7yygx4
Gregory A. Johnson. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, March 29, 2014, Trade Paperback and Kindle, 512 pages.
Reviewed by Deanna Frances.
Beyond the Red Mountains by Gregory A. Johnson is a fictional fantasy adventure novel that follows the lives of two different protagonists that eventually meet and blend their stories into a captivating tale of adventure, friendship, and love.
The novel begins by telling the story of a young man named Kelvin Drake, whose father’s political superiority in the city of Triopolis seems to always overshadow every part of Kelvin’s life. While working for his father in the town hall, Kelvin finds an old journal that unleashes his curiosity of the “Dark Ages” of the past; a time where sorcery and war wiped away every other civilization in existence, as far as the citizens of Triopolis know.
The story then switches view to another city named Westville, where the young and beautiful noblewoman Elizabeth has just married into the royal family, even though she recently discovered that her new husband’s biggest secret will never allow her to live a normal and happy life. Knowing her fate only makes Elizabeth long for excitement and adventure.
When Kelvin leaves his father’s employment to become a fisherman with his closest friend Henry, he believes that he and his friend can possibly uncover the dark secrets of Triopolis’ past, but soon after discovering the first clues, they are swept away in their boat by the sea waters in a wild storm that takes them to a place they never knew existed, Westville.
When Kelvin, Henry, and Elizabeth meet, they begin to realize that the elders in both of their cities have kept secrets from them that could possibly release another dark age of war and violence. With the guidance of the kind high priest, the three form a pact of friendship and begin to search for the knowledge that may save them all.
Beyond the Red Mountains is a novel that I couldn’t stop reading. Being a huge fan of adventure stories, I was immediately captivated by Johnson’s story. Although the first passages of Elizabeth’s story had me very confused at first, I was quickly able to understand how Johnson’s first novel was meant to be told.
I really enjoyed that there were two different protagonists in the story that had their own separate strengths. At first, I thought that the story would be strictly told from a third person point-of-view centered on Kelvin, but the addition of Elizabeth’s story added depth to the novel.
I was also impressed by Johnson’s ability to create deep relationships between multiple characters that readers would never expect. After discovering that other cities do exist, the characters also discover that there are relationships amongst themselves that they would have never known if they’d never met.
Johnson was adequately able to create a novel for a large variety of readers. I would recommend this novel for any fans of fantasy, adventure, or romance novels. I will be waiting to read more from Gregory A. Johnson.
Gregory A. Johnson. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, March 29, 2014, Trade Paperback and Kindle, 512 pages.
Reviewed by Deanna Frances.
Beyond the Red Mountains by Gregory A. Johnson is a fictional fantasy adventure novel that follows the lives of two different protagonists that eventually meet and blend their stories into a captivating tale of adventure, friendship, and love.
The novel begins by telling the story of a young man named Kelvin Drake, whose father’s political superiority in the city of Triopolis seems to always overshadow every part of Kelvin’s life. While working for his father in the town hall, Kelvin finds an old journal that unleashes his curiosity of the “Dark Ages” of the past; a time where sorcery and war wiped away every other civilization in existence, as far as the citizens of Triopolis know.
The story then switches view to another city named Westville, where the young and beautiful noblewoman Elizabeth has just married into the royal family, even though she recently discovered that her new husband’s biggest secret will never allow her to live a normal and happy life. Knowing her fate only makes Elizabeth long for excitement and adventure.
When Kelvin leaves his father’s employment to become a fisherman with his closest friend Henry, he believes that he and his friend can possibly uncover the dark secrets of Triopolis’ past, but soon after discovering the first clues, they are swept away in their boat by the sea waters in a wild storm that takes them to a place they never knew existed, Westville.
When Kelvin, Henry, and Elizabeth meet, they begin to realize that the elders in both of their cities have kept secrets from them that could possibly release another dark age of war and violence. With the guidance of the kind high priest, the three form a pact of friendship and begin to search for the knowledge that may save them all.
Beyond the Red Mountains is a novel that I couldn’t stop reading. Being a huge fan of adventure stories, I was immediately captivated by Johnson’s story. Although the first passages of Elizabeth’s story had me very confused at first, I was quickly able to understand how Johnson’s first novel was meant to be told.
I really enjoyed that there were two different protagonists in the story that had their own separate strengths. At first, I thought that the story would be strictly told from a third person point-of-view centered on Kelvin, but the addition of Elizabeth’s story added depth to the novel.
I was also impressed by Johnson’s ability to create deep relationships between multiple characters that readers would never expect. After discovering that other cities do exist, the characters also discover that there are relationships amongst themselves that they would have never known if they’d never met.
Johnson was adequately able to create a novel for a large variety of readers. I would recommend this novel for any fans of fantasy, adventure, or romance novels. I will be waiting to read more from Gregory A. Johnson.
March 22, 2016
A book that combines both adventure and fantasy by creating a story about men and women, who are living in a time after the downfall of modern technology. Humankind has rebuilt itself by the gifts of two groups, which control the behavior of the remaining population. Gods are believed to have walked among humans in the past and to have created a massive kingdom. Outside the kingdom is a world of chaos and destruction. Citizens are taught that the land is filled with savage beasts that live off of lost humans and other smaller animals. It is better to stay in the controlled environment of the kingdom than to be killed. Little do the people know that the outside world is not as savage as they believe? Instead it is a place that has other communities and another kingdom. It is a place where wild creatures roam, but have also been tamed to a degree. Gods are not gods and people are not whom they seem. There is drama amongst the royalty and deceit amongst the ton. The very foundation of the kingdom is false and a small trickle of truth is starting leak into the eyes of the people.
This was a wonderful book to explore. Although it took me a while to read it, I have to say that it was due to personal issues and not in any way related to the story. I absolutely loved the story line and thought it was well written. I enjoyed how the author had the concept of restarting civilization after a great disaster. It would be interesting to see how society would recreate itself and to see how people would redefine what a god figure would be. I found it interesting how people recreated faith and learned that it is the simple truth of things that set people free. I found the characters enjoyable and also liked the twist in sexual identity that was given to one of the characters. I thought this was really different and also realistic. I also liked how the author showed the difficulty that this brought into a marriage and a friendship. However, the author demonstrated how people can come together to reconcile their differences. Overall this book was very good and I highly recommend it. I must thank the author for the book and Goodreads, since this book was won in a giveaway. It has been a nice distraction while I have been in the process of going through an unwanted, but necessary divorce.
This was a wonderful book to explore. Although it took me a while to read it, I have to say that it was due to personal issues and not in any way related to the story. I absolutely loved the story line and thought it was well written. I enjoyed how the author had the concept of restarting civilization after a great disaster. It would be interesting to see how society would recreate itself and to see how people would redefine what a god figure would be. I found it interesting how people recreated faith and learned that it is the simple truth of things that set people free. I found the characters enjoyable and also liked the twist in sexual identity that was given to one of the characters. I thought this was really different and also realistic. I also liked how the author showed the difficulty that this brought into a marriage and a friendship. However, the author demonstrated how people can come together to reconcile their differences. Overall this book was very good and I highly recommend it. I must thank the author for the book and Goodreads, since this book was won in a giveaway. It has been a nice distraction while I have been in the process of going through an unwanted, but necessary divorce.
May 9, 2019
I won this book on a Goodreads giveaway.
I think the only thing I enjoyed about this book was the cover. The cover is absolutely gorgeous; however, I wish the story was just as extravagant. One reason why I disliked this book so much was the constant change in point of view. There are SO many POV's that it makes it difficult to get back into the story once you figure out who is really thinking this or that. I wish there were less. The book would have been much better if it were limited to only two or three character's thoughts and actions. The different POV's made it impossible to think for yourself and pinpoint who was betraying who. A lot of the times, I thought the writing was redundant or blatantly obvious by overexplaining things that did nothing to progress the story. Moving away from that, I did find a few grammatical mistakes, such as spelling, commas, and even using the wrong character's name. The mistakes were minor but were throughout the book, which really irritated me. The scenes were coincidental and easily foreseen, at least that's how they felt to me. They also moved quickly without spending too much time on the fluff. Also, the dialogue didn't flow. It was often used to transition to the next little tidbit. I really think the book would have more potential if it kept the readers guessing. Overall, I was really intrigued by the concept and was really curious how now one knew/remembered/ventured out to seek new lands.
I think the only thing I enjoyed about this book was the cover. The cover is absolutely gorgeous; however, I wish the story was just as extravagant. One reason why I disliked this book so much was the constant change in point of view. There are SO many POV's that it makes it difficult to get back into the story once you figure out who is really thinking this or that. I wish there were less. The book would have been much better if it were limited to only two or three character's thoughts and actions. The different POV's made it impossible to think for yourself and pinpoint who was betraying who. A lot of the times, I thought the writing was redundant or blatantly obvious by overexplaining things that did nothing to progress the story. Moving away from that, I did find a few grammatical mistakes, such as spelling, commas, and even using the wrong character's name. The mistakes were minor but were throughout the book, which really irritated me. The scenes were coincidental and easily foreseen, at least that's how they felt to me. They also moved quickly without spending too much time on the fluff. Also, the dialogue didn't flow. It was often used to transition to the next little tidbit. I really think the book would have more potential if it kept the readers guessing. Overall, I was really intrigued by the concept and was really curious how now one knew/remembered/ventured out to seek new lands.
January 3, 2016
5 STARS Two towns, each thinking it is the only civilization, find there are others on their planet.
Amazingly involved and developed characters. Left on a cliff hanger, will Kelvin find and rescue Elizabeth from Luther's evil clutches? Can't wait to read the next book. Thanks to goodreads for the ARC
Amazingly involved and developed characters. Left on a cliff hanger, will Kelvin find and rescue Elizabeth from Luther's evil clutches? Can't wait to read the next book. Thanks to goodreads for the ARC
August 15, 2015
Goodreads win. Will read and review once received.
The cover of this book is absolutely beautiful. THe book was a well story. I would recommend it to anyone. I loved all the twists and turns throoughout the book. Can't wait to read more from this author.
The cover of this book is absolutely beautiful. THe book was a well story. I would recommend it to anyone. I loved all the twists and turns throoughout the book. Can't wait to read more from this author.
October 16, 2015
This book has, in my opinion, a very unique writing style. I like how the book starts by introducing each character with small details about their personality, and I especially like how the story takes off.
June 6, 2016
Kelvin, a fisherman,lived his whole life in the city of Triopolis, a peaceful place between the mountains and the sea. The people of Triplolis think they are the only civilization on the planet.
Kelvin's first clue that all might not be as he's been taught when he discovers an old book warning about a mysterious figure called Luther who seems to have been carefully erased from the history of Triopolis, but there are others who are aware of these secrets.
Elizabeth, princess of Westville is locked in a loveless and arranged marriage, but is determined to find some way out. Her city, one of the few on the planet, has conquered any other city that has posed a threat.
When fate brings Kelvin and Elizabeth together they realize there's a lot more going on than the elders of either city would have them believe. Before long they are on the run, desperately trying to save themselves and their cities from dark forces in both cities. They have allies and enemies, but telling one from the other is only half the battle...
Beyond the Red Mountains is an epic fantasy novel that avoids the cliches of 'epic' fantasy. While there is certainly a quest,there isn't a darkness threatening all of existence. It seemed that all the characters were well developed having their own reasons for their actions in support of or against the main protagonists.
There are many twists and turns and the story doesn't let itself get too bogged down in long naritive, letting the story unfold natually. Not every decision Kelvin and Elizabeth make is the right one, but it is always made with the best intentions. Even the secondary characters were well developed and believable.
The romantic connection between Kelvin and Elizabeth is not overplayed and unfolds very naturally and is not overstated. The prose is this story is very simple, aimed at a young adult audience, although some of the themes and scenes would seem to contradict this. As an introduction to lengthy fantasy tales this works very well though. The ending is a real cliff hanger and definitely makes me want to read the sequel.
I won a copy of this book and would certainly recommend it to anyone who wanted to tackle a an epic fantasy novel with a twist.
Jack Murphy
Kelvin's first clue that all might not be as he's been taught when he discovers an old book warning about a mysterious figure called Luther who seems to have been carefully erased from the history of Triopolis, but there are others who are aware of these secrets.
Elizabeth, princess of Westville is locked in a loveless and arranged marriage, but is determined to find some way out. Her city, one of the few on the planet, has conquered any other city that has posed a threat.
When fate brings Kelvin and Elizabeth together they realize there's a lot more going on than the elders of either city would have them believe. Before long they are on the run, desperately trying to save themselves and their cities from dark forces in both cities. They have allies and enemies, but telling one from the other is only half the battle...
Beyond the Red Mountains is an epic fantasy novel that avoids the cliches of 'epic' fantasy. While there is certainly a quest,there isn't a darkness threatening all of existence. It seemed that all the characters were well developed having their own reasons for their actions in support of or against the main protagonists.
There are many twists and turns and the story doesn't let itself get too bogged down in long naritive, letting the story unfold natually. Not every decision Kelvin and Elizabeth make is the right one, but it is always made with the best intentions. Even the secondary characters were well developed and believable.
The romantic connection between Kelvin and Elizabeth is not overplayed and unfolds very naturally and is not overstated. The prose is this story is very simple, aimed at a young adult audience, although some of the themes and scenes would seem to contradict this. As an introduction to lengthy fantasy tales this works very well though. The ending is a real cliff hanger and definitely makes me want to read the sequel.
I won a copy of this book and would certainly recommend it to anyone who wanted to tackle a an epic fantasy novel with a twist.
Jack Murphy
October 10, 2019
Author: Greg Johnson
Title: Beyond The Red Mountains
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult
Synopsis: Kelvin and Elizabeth grew up in different places, both taught they were the only people to survive the dark days but they start to question this when they begin to hear strange tales that suggest otherwise. When fate brings them together it creates more questions than answers. Will Kelvin get enough answers in time to help free his home from the evil man who rules it? He hopes that following his ancient map to the last resting place of the mysterious fourth founder of Triopolis will reveal the information he seeks. When an accident forces Elizabeth to flee with Kelvin, they are set on a path that will lead him home. During their journey, they will discover an ancient race of people who have unbelievable powers over the natural world - and they learn how to fight off the evil that threatens their world.
Review: I would like to thank Greg Johnson for sending me a copy of this book. I am glad to have this book as a part of my ever-growing book collection. When I read the synopsis for this book I became very intrigued in the plot and could not wait to jump into this book. This book was as exciting and gripping as I expected so it's safe to say that this book does not disappoint. When I first started to read this book I was a little worried that I would not enjoy it but I'm glad that this was not the case. Even though I found the start of the book a little slow, I stuck with it and the more I read the more I got lost in the pages and I ended up loving this book. After this book I am excited to invest in other books by Greg Johnson as I have a feeling that they will be as good as this one if not better. I would highly recommend this book to any avid reader with an interest in fantasy and young adult novels. I am certain that this book will be able to capture the attention of any reader who picks up this book.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Title: Beyond The Red Mountains
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult
Synopsis: Kelvin and Elizabeth grew up in different places, both taught they were the only people to survive the dark days but they start to question this when they begin to hear strange tales that suggest otherwise. When fate brings them together it creates more questions than answers. Will Kelvin get enough answers in time to help free his home from the evil man who rules it? He hopes that following his ancient map to the last resting place of the mysterious fourth founder of Triopolis will reveal the information he seeks. When an accident forces Elizabeth to flee with Kelvin, they are set on a path that will lead him home. During their journey, they will discover an ancient race of people who have unbelievable powers over the natural world - and they learn how to fight off the evil that threatens their world.
Review: I would like to thank Greg Johnson for sending me a copy of this book. I am glad to have this book as a part of my ever-growing book collection. When I read the synopsis for this book I became very intrigued in the plot and could not wait to jump into this book. This book was as exciting and gripping as I expected so it's safe to say that this book does not disappoint. When I first started to read this book I was a little worried that I would not enjoy it but I'm glad that this was not the case. Even though I found the start of the book a little slow, I stuck with it and the more I read the more I got lost in the pages and I ended up loving this book. After this book I am excited to invest in other books by Greg Johnson as I have a feeling that they will be as good as this one if not better. I would highly recommend this book to any avid reader with an interest in fantasy and young adult novels. I am certain that this book will be able to capture the attention of any reader who picks up this book.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
December 12, 2016
Prince Richard had asked Elizabeth to marry him as he slipped the ring on her finger.
She was now Princess of Westville.
Fast forward, what did Elizabeth suspect of Richard’s & Albert Karlson’s (wealthy cloth merchant, Squire) rendezvous?
Lord Edward Rosser (Captain King’s Army, Head of the Kings Guard) questioned Jacob about it also.
Kelvin Drake, & Henry Walker (40+, Francis’ son) were fishing & had met in Triopolis.
What where Lord Rosser & Henry fighting about?
How did the Red Mountains get its name?
Who were the 3 chasers (Alemon blood), Borin, Lucan & Owen supposed to bring in for questioning?
What happened to Elizabeth?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great movie, an animated cartoon, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued? A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; MakingConnections; Autographed; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
She was now Princess of Westville.
Fast forward, what did Elizabeth suspect of Richard’s & Albert Karlson’s (wealthy cloth merchant, Squire) rendezvous?
Lord Edward Rosser (Captain King’s Army, Head of the Kings Guard) questioned Jacob about it also.
Kelvin Drake, & Henry Walker (40+, Francis’ son) were fishing & had met in Triopolis.
What where Lord Rosser & Henry fighting about?
How did the Red Mountains get its name?
Who were the 3 chasers (Alemon blood), Borin, Lucan & Owen supposed to bring in for questioning?
What happened to Elizabeth?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great movie, an animated cartoon, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued? A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; MakingConnections; Autographed; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
March 15, 2017
I felt terrible it took me so long to read this book. I got it just as I found out I was pregnant and basically became semi narcoleptic for 9 months. I didn't want to blame the story for my inability to focus.
There are good characters and the idea is interesting. Some of the events were enjoyable and I liked the world... but that said even after waiting until my son was born to continue reading this, I still had trouble focusing on the story and continue reading.
I also had no idea when I signed up to read this or during my reading that this would be part of a series. I really dislike starting a series unless I know thats what it is. It's a personal flaw but I have little to no patience to wait for the books to be written... I often end up driving the story out of my head and forget to even bother with follow ups sooo... grrr.
I hate to give this a bad review. I truly think others will enjoy it more than I. So 3 stars from me!
There are good characters and the idea is interesting. Some of the events were enjoyable and I liked the world... but that said even after waiting until my son was born to continue reading this, I still had trouble focusing on the story and continue reading.
I also had no idea when I signed up to read this or during my reading that this would be part of a series. I really dislike starting a series unless I know thats what it is. It's a personal flaw but I have little to no patience to wait for the books to be written... I often end up driving the story out of my head and forget to even bother with follow ups sooo... grrr.
I hate to give this a bad review. I truly think others will enjoy it more than I. So 3 stars from me!
November 26, 2016
I really like this book, it is very well written and has a story that keeps my interest. It is set in a fantasy world that continues to have twists and turns as the book goes on. The places the characters encounter in the story are all unique and governed differently, which gives the world variety. There were definitely a few surprises I didn't expect, leaving me dying to know what happens next. It is like a mystery, and as you learn more about the world, the more questions and mysteries arise. The two main characters are lovable and interesting, and manage to survive many dangers. The ending leaves you with a huge cliffhanger, so hopefully the next book comes soon.
April 14, 2016
I won this in a giveaway, so thank you to everyone who made that possible.
I was pleasantly surprised when I opened my new book to see that the author has signed and personalized it. What a cool guy.
I will admit, this book and I had a rocky start. There was info dumping and some telling, not showing. It got better when the two MCs meet. The plot and action pick up and we meet lots of different characters along the way. There were twists and deaths that I did NOT see coming. And beware, there was a cliffhanger! GRRRR CURSE YOU CLIFFHANGERS!
I was pleasantly surprised when I opened my new book to see that the author has signed and personalized it. What a cool guy.
I will admit, this book and I had a rocky start. There was info dumping and some telling, not showing. It got better when the two MCs meet. The plot and action pick up and we meet lots of different characters along the way. There were twists and deaths that I did NOT see coming. And beware, there was a cliffhanger! GRRRR CURSE YOU CLIFFHANGERS!
October 14, 2022
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway!
First off, I have to send a HUGE thank you to Greg Johnson for personalizing my book. It makes the experience reading the book that much more personal for me.
This is amazing. I really liked the characters and the plot of the story. The way that it ended makes me think that there is going to be a sequel and if so I am DYING to read it.
For My Full Review Click The Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfVLo...
First off, I have to send a HUGE thank you to Greg Johnson for personalizing my book. It makes the experience reading the book that much more personal for me.
This is amazing. I really liked the characters and the plot of the story. The way that it ended makes me think that there is going to be a sequel and if so I am DYING to read it.
For My Full Review Click The Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfVLo...
April 23, 2017
Goodreads giveaway.
I loved the adventure in this book. I loved that it wasn't focused on a single character there where different perspectives and that made the book interesting. I could not put down the book it was fascinating to live in that world. I think the closest era that this book can be associated with is the dark ages (Medieval period). Seclusion from outsiders and distrust of foreigners that sort of thing. I highly recommend this book if you like adventure and magic. RECOMMENDED.
I loved the adventure in this book. I loved that it wasn't focused on a single character there where different perspectives and that made the book interesting. I could not put down the book it was fascinating to live in that world. I think the closest era that this book can be associated with is the dark ages (Medieval period). Seclusion from outsiders and distrust of foreigners that sort of thing. I highly recommend this book if you like adventure and magic. RECOMMENDED.
May 19, 2016
I won this book in exchange for a honest review &... I loved this book! It is everything an adventure book should be! My only critique is that this book is more of a YA book & the gay lover may be a little much for young readers. Also it isolates you from a whole group of people who do not believe in this life style. Other than that it was a fantastic read & I can't wait to read the next one!
November 11, 2015
This is a great book for middle school kids. I enjoyed reading it and enjoyed the creativeness of a new world. I love fantasy so it was a fun read.
May 3, 2016
Excellent writing a superb fictional read
July 2, 2016
I enjoyed this book very much. I would read it at work and while in bed, it was great. Made my day.
December 3, 2017
I got this book through a Goodreads Giveaways and it was excellent. I am looking forward to getting the next book in the series. I loved the character development and anything fantasy with some adventure is perfect for me to read. I actually handed it over to my teen as think a teen would like this book also!
October 17, 2022
DNF ch. 3
March 9, 2016
I received this book from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review...
When I received this book in the mail, I immediately started reading it. I have a large collection of books that I have won from Goodreads First Reads, and I try to read the ones I have received first. I couldn't help but start this book ahead of the dozen (or so) other books that I have waiting for me. I have to admit, the cover of this book is beautiful and intrigued me greatly. The brief description on that back also captured my interest.
That being said... this book left me greatly disappointed and bored. The characters were not convincing, the storyline did not flow together smoothly and wasn't organized at all, and the plot (though a very good plot) felt weak and bland. It was very confusing and difficult to follow the multiple characters that the author loosely threw into the story. It was all over the place, bouncing from one person's point-of-view to another, making it hard to keep up with and follow the storyline. I became easily frustrated and had to re-read several sections just trying to understand what the hell was currently happening or which character (out of the dozens) the author was focusing on at the moment. The author should've just stayed with two (at the most three) different characters perspective, instead of everyone inside and outside of the kingdom.
The dialog and details were messy. The author put more effort into describing who-looked-like-what (even the character who had very little to do with the plot) instead of getting the story up and going, or thickening the plot, or making the mystery more exciting. The descriptions started to feel repetitive and were bland.
Another very irritating flaw was how the author took a "pause" from the present era to describe something that had happened in the recent past (for example: the murder of a Lord that would benefit another Lord in receiving the wine tax income). Though explaining what had happened to who in the past would've been beneficial to understand the current present, the author did a poor job doing these "flashbacks" and left you confused on when it actually occurred. Many times I was questioning myself... "What a second? Did that just happened now, or did it happen last week, month, yesterday?" He does a very poor job writing in past tense and made this book a sloppy mess that was all over the place.
The book could've been a great read, but there was so many things I strongly disliked about his writing style that it was hard for me to enjoy any of it.
When I received this book in the mail, I immediately started reading it. I have a large collection of books that I have won from Goodreads First Reads, and I try to read the ones I have received first. I couldn't help but start this book ahead of the dozen (or so) other books that I have waiting for me. I have to admit, the cover of this book is beautiful and intrigued me greatly. The brief description on that back also captured my interest.
That being said... this book left me greatly disappointed and bored. The characters were not convincing, the storyline did not flow together smoothly and wasn't organized at all, and the plot (though a very good plot) felt weak and bland. It was very confusing and difficult to follow the multiple characters that the author loosely threw into the story. It was all over the place, bouncing from one person's point-of-view to another, making it hard to keep up with and follow the storyline. I became easily frustrated and had to re-read several sections just trying to understand what the hell was currently happening or which character (out of the dozens) the author was focusing on at the moment. The author should've just stayed with two (at the most three) different characters perspective, instead of everyone inside and outside of the kingdom.
The dialog and details were messy. The author put more effort into describing who-looked-like-what (even the character who had very little to do with the plot) instead of getting the story up and going, or thickening the plot, or making the mystery more exciting. The descriptions started to feel repetitive and were bland.
Another very irritating flaw was how the author took a "pause" from the present era to describe something that had happened in the recent past (for example: the murder of a Lord that would benefit another Lord in receiving the wine tax income). Though explaining what had happened to who in the past would've been beneficial to understand the current present, the author did a poor job doing these "flashbacks" and left you confused on when it actually occurred. Many times I was questioning myself... "What a second? Did that just happened now, or did it happen last week, month, yesterday?" He does a very poor job writing in past tense and made this book a sloppy mess that was all over the place.
The book could've been a great read, but there was so many things I strongly disliked about his writing style that it was hard for me to enjoy any of it.
October 13, 2019
**OBTAINED: Goodreads Giveaway**
Beyond the Red Mountains, by Greg Johnson, was a very unique fantasy story with plenty of excitement, well thought out characters, and a fascinating plot. Here is how the book blurb describes it.
"Kelvin and Elizabeth grew up in different places, both taught that they were the only people to survive the Dark Days—but they start to question this when they begin to hear strange tales that suggest otherwise.
When fate brings them together it creates more questions than answers…Will Kelvin get enough answers in time to help free his home from the evil man who rules it? He hopes that following his ancient map to the last resting place of the mysterious fourth Founder of Triopolis will reveal the information he seeks.
When an accident forces Elizabeth to flee with Kelvin, they are set on a path that will lead him home. During their journey, they will discover an ancient race of people who have unbelievable powers over the natural world—and they learn how to fight off the evil that threatens their world." -Book Blurb
The writing, though aimed primarily towards young adults, was pretty decent. However, the story pacing felt rather slow, and I felt this had something to do with the multiple POV’s. In some ways I felt there were too many details, which again, hindered pacing. Other than that, the story was really interesting, really unique.
Overall, this was a very good read.
[OFFICIAL RATING: 4 STARS]
[NOTE: The Author was kind enough to sign my edition. Many thanks!]
Beyond the Red Mountains, by Greg Johnson, was a very unique fantasy story with plenty of excitement, well thought out characters, and a fascinating plot. Here is how the book blurb describes it.
"Kelvin and Elizabeth grew up in different places, both taught that they were the only people to survive the Dark Days—but they start to question this when they begin to hear strange tales that suggest otherwise.
When fate brings them together it creates more questions than answers…Will Kelvin get enough answers in time to help free his home from the evil man who rules it? He hopes that following his ancient map to the last resting place of the mysterious fourth Founder of Triopolis will reveal the information he seeks.
When an accident forces Elizabeth to flee with Kelvin, they are set on a path that will lead him home. During their journey, they will discover an ancient race of people who have unbelievable powers over the natural world—and they learn how to fight off the evil that threatens their world." -Book Blurb
The writing, though aimed primarily towards young adults, was pretty decent. However, the story pacing felt rather slow, and I felt this had something to do with the multiple POV’s. In some ways I felt there were too many details, which again, hindered pacing. Other than that, the story was really interesting, really unique.
Overall, this was a very good read.
[OFFICIAL RATING: 4 STARS]
[NOTE: The Author was kind enough to sign my edition. Many thanks!]
October 13, 2019
**OBTAINED: Goodreads Giveaway**
Beyond the Red Mountains, by Greg Johnson, was a very unique fantasy story with plenty of excitement, well thought out characters, and a fascinating plot. Here is how the book blurb describes it.
"Kelvin and Elizabeth grew up in different places, both taught that they were the only people to survive the Dark Days—but they start to question this when they begin to hear strange tales that suggest otherwise.
When fate brings them together it creates more questions than answers…Will Kelvin get enough answers in time to help free his home from the evil man who rules it? He hopes that following his ancient map to the last resting place of the mysterious fourth Founder of Triopolis will reveal the information he seeks.
When an accident forces Elizabeth to flee with Kelvin, they are set on a path that will lead him home. During their journey, they will discover an ancient race of people who have unbelievable powers over the natural world—and they learn how to fight off the evil that threatens their world." -Book Blurb
The writing, though aimed primarily towards young adults, was pretty decent. However, the story pacing felt rather slow, and I felt this had something to do with the multiple POV’s. In some ways I felt there were too many details, which again, hindered pacing. Other than that, the story was really interesting, really unique.
Overall, this was a very good read.
[OFFICIAL RATING: 4 STARS]
[NOTE: The Author was kind enough to sign my edition. Many thanks!]
Beyond the Red Mountains, by Greg Johnson, was a very unique fantasy story with plenty of excitement, well thought out characters, and a fascinating plot. Here is how the book blurb describes it.
"Kelvin and Elizabeth grew up in different places, both taught that they were the only people to survive the Dark Days—but they start to question this when they begin to hear strange tales that suggest otherwise.
When fate brings them together it creates more questions than answers…Will Kelvin get enough answers in time to help free his home from the evil man who rules it? He hopes that following his ancient map to the last resting place of the mysterious fourth Founder of Triopolis will reveal the information he seeks.
When an accident forces Elizabeth to flee with Kelvin, they are set on a path that will lead him home. During their journey, they will discover an ancient race of people who have unbelievable powers over the natural world—and they learn how to fight off the evil that threatens their world." -Book Blurb
The writing, though aimed primarily towards young adults, was pretty decent. However, the story pacing felt rather slow, and I felt this had something to do with the multiple POV’s. In some ways I felt there were too many details, which again, hindered pacing. Other than that, the story was really interesting, really unique.
Overall, this was a very good read.
[OFFICIAL RATING: 4 STARS]
[NOTE: The Author was kind enough to sign my edition. Many thanks!]
June 12, 2016
I won this book from Goodreads/author in exchange for an honest review. I was excited to have received and won this book. The cover is really cool and the description matches what I normally read. Unfortunately, this book was very boring. I could not get into it. I picked it up and put it back every few pages. It just drags on for me and the characters aren't very likeable. This one isn't for me.
June 24, 2016
This book is fantastic, a real page turner.
It's always a risk to read a new author, but finding a new favorite is worth it!
The book is well written, the story is well rounded, and has lots of twists and turns. I found myself having a hard time putting it down....I read the whole thing on a return flight from Europe!
It's always a risk to read a new author, but finding a new favorite is worth it!
The book is well written, the story is well rounded, and has lots of twists and turns. I found myself having a hard time putting it down....I read the whole thing on a return flight from Europe!
December 31, 2015
I received this book free through Goodreads First Reads.
This was an OK book. The first part of the book was hard to get through, but after the first 75-100 it got better. I like how it alternated between the different point-of-views.
This was an OK book. The first part of the book was hard to get through, but after the first 75-100 it got better. I like how it alternated between the different point-of-views.
Want to read
July 31, 2017I just received my Giveaway copy in the mail (fast delivery!!!) so I will do a full review after I read the book. :)
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