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Unfading Lands #1
The Unfading Lands
A selfish betrayal. Goodness long forgotten. A land with terrifying power. Something sinister is at work in the Land of Unfading Beauty, a land that promises eternal youth and splendor. Something evil. Under the façade of charismatic leader, Lancer, an enemy stalks--taking life and power in the most devious of ways. Prince Edward, the heir to the Northern Kingdom, abandons his family in pursuit of a beautiful woman by venturing into the Land of Unfading Beauty, never to return home. Has Prince Edward been swept away by love, or was it part of a strategic plan? Lancer has high ambitions of destroying the Northern Kingdom and will stop at nothing to acquire its power and strength. A desperate attempt to save the Realm forces Edward's father, King Granton, to call upon the rulers from neighboring kingdoms for help. As the kings and their children unite, relationships are strengthened and loyalties tested, and Edward's younger sister, Elizabeth, rises as a force to be reckoned with. Headstrong, yet pure of heart, this young princess breaks the barriers of her role in order to fight for the safety of her Kingdom. Fierce battles emerge between good and evil and unexpected heroes arise. But it will take courage, unity, and strength to overcome the temptation of darkness. A darkness, invisible to the eye, threatens the safety of them all. Can it be overcome? Can Edward be trusted? Who is the real enemy? What Elizabeth discovers within herself, her kingdom, and her brother, will change the course for the entire Realm and leave one Where does your allegiance lie?
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2015
44 people are currently reading
464 people want to read
About the author
Katharine E. Hamilton
48 books317 followersThanks for reading my books!
I sat here for about five minutes trying to think of something prolific to write, and all I came up with was that first sentence. However, despite it being simple and understated, it's a genuine response. I appreciate all who read and listen to my books. And for those who rate and review it, a special thanks to you.
Happy Reading!
Katharine
All titles written by me:
The Unfading Lands
Darkness Divided
Redemption Rising
Chicago's Best
Montgomery House
Beautiful Fury
The Siblings O'Rifcan Series
Claron
Riley
Layla
Chloe
Murphy
The Adventurous Life of Laura Bell
Susie At Your Service
Sissy and Kat
I sat here for about five minutes trying to think of something prolific to write, and all I came up with was that first sentence. However, despite it being simple and understated, it's a genuine response. I appreciate all who read and listen to my books. And for those who rate and review it, a special thanks to you.
Happy Reading!
Katharine
All titles written by me:
The Unfading Lands
Darkness Divided
Redemption Rising
Chicago's Best
Montgomery House
Beautiful Fury
The Siblings O'Rifcan Series
Claron
Riley
Layla
Chloe
Murphy
The Adventurous Life of Laura Bell
Susie At Your Service
Sissy and Kat
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 3, 2019
This is a great book for lovers of fantasy and sweet romance!
Read full review in the 2019 October issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2019 October issue of InD'tale Magazine.
May 1, 2015
I have to admit this was not the type of book I would have picked up to read, but, boy! I would sorely have missed out if I hadn't. I was dragged in from the first few pages, and found myself unable to put it down until I knew what happened next. The trouble was there was always a next. I just couldn't set it down unfinished, and had to keep going until the very end.
I fell in love with the characters, each and every one of them completely different, yet complimentary to each other. They felt real, and you constantly want to know how they are. Are they ok? Are they managing? Who is hurt? Will they heal? The list just goes on.
There was something happening all the time, you're thrown from one emotion to the next in a heartbeat. You find yourself routing for them, almost urging them on to the next thing with an incessant need to forge a path alongside them.
I thouroughly enjoyed The Unfading Lands, and will surely be looking to read the next in line.
I fell in love with the characters, each and every one of them completely different, yet complimentary to each other. They felt real, and you constantly want to know how they are. Are they ok? Are they managing? Who is hurt? Will they heal? The list just goes on.
There was something happening all the time, you're thrown from one emotion to the next in a heartbeat. You find yourself routing for them, almost urging them on to the next thing with an incessant need to forge a path alongside them.
I thouroughly enjoyed The Unfading Lands, and will surely be looking to read the next in line.
February 20, 2016
You are very quickly transported into the heart & realm of this story. That is credit to the easy flowing writing style of the author. I grew up reading books like this, and in particular I am thinking of the books of Sinead deValera and her wonderful tales of mythical heroes & heroines who lived in ancient mythical kingdoms.
This is a romantic adventure in which two sisters vie to secure and protect their ageing father's kingdom from an existential threat which is quite sinister and is continually encroaching. This is a time of Kings and Princes, but their brother Edward who was heir to this throne has followed his heart and crossed over the sinister boundary into the unfading lands. His decision leaves the destiny of the realm in the hands of his two sisters Alyna & Elizabeth. This a story of two female protagonists living in a man's world who use different strategies to form the strategic alliances needed to strengthen their kingdom and protect their borders. They love each other dearly but are very different in character to each other. Alyna is duty bound to find consorts for herself and her free spirited younger sister. She is looking for strength over love whereas her younger sister isn’t looking for any match at all. Famous last words because you just know that she will fall in love first.
This book series has the makings of an epic story and this book is in itself a lovely clean romantic tale that is a real pleasure to read.
This is a romantic adventure in which two sisters vie to secure and protect their ageing father's kingdom from an existential threat which is quite sinister and is continually encroaching. This is a time of Kings and Princes, but their brother Edward who was heir to this throne has followed his heart and crossed over the sinister boundary into the unfading lands. His decision leaves the destiny of the realm in the hands of his two sisters Alyna & Elizabeth. This a story of two female protagonists living in a man's world who use different strategies to form the strategic alliances needed to strengthen their kingdom and protect their borders. They love each other dearly but are very different in character to each other. Alyna is duty bound to find consorts for herself and her free spirited younger sister. She is looking for strength over love whereas her younger sister isn’t looking for any match at all. Famous last words because you just know that she will fall in love first.
This book series has the makings of an epic story and this book is in itself a lovely clean romantic tale that is a real pleasure to read.
August 11, 2015
I take a lot of risks in my reading choices and this one paid off. There is nothing like finding a surprise under the Christmas tree for me, it’s always better than the present you expected anyway. Katharine Hamilton’s Unfading Lands was just that, a lovely surprise. This is old fashioned story telling executed with a very definite style that I liked. I did struggle initially to slip into the mood of the book but that is entirely because this is not the type of book I would usually ever read to be honest. The fact that I did get sucked in and started to think in the unfamiliar voices of the characters is a testament to the skill of the writer. I never plot spoil but I know that there is clearly a follow up to this book in the offing if not already out I have not yet checked. I say this because I think the ending could let you down slightly if you are not prepared for the fact that there is more to come. That being said, I loved the story and the style of writing. My recommendation is pretty much for all to read, the blurb gives you a good sense of what to expect and really if that attracts you in the first place, you will be delighted with the book itself. A really good book, go pick it up.
May 4, 2016
Wow, what a fantastic read. I decided to give this book a shot on Kindle Unlimited, just hoping it didn't have the pitfalls of the typical fantasy book. Thank the lord it didn't. It has all the fantastical elements - a well crafted and intriguing world, heroes that are honorable and brave, a villain that is just pure evil - without sinking itself with overly descriptive phrases or chucking realism out the window. It's a brilliant fantasy story that reads with the ease of a young adult one. I absolutely loved that.
Edward is the heir to the throne when he throws it all away to go after the love of his life into a land he knows he can never return from. A land that is cloaked in an evil power that keeps people young and healthy forever. It doesn't sound evil, right? To heal. To live forever. But it's the man who controls that power that makes it bad.
Edwards sister, Elizabeth, is back home, trying to help her father, sister, and the other kings and princes keep their kingdom from being overrun. She's found a way to comunicate with her brother and try to take down the evil king from the inside. In her personal life, she's strong willed and stubborn in her vow to not marry someone she doesn't love, thinking that might mean she will never marry at all - until her world is turned upside down.
War is coming. And everyone is going to need to band together to win, knowing even that might not be enough.
Elizabeth is one of the best characters I've read in this genre. She's adventurous, brave, and loved by the people. Even the events that happen near the end that should slow her down, only add more fuel to her fire. I have every bit of faith that she will be able to win this war by the end of the series. I've already started book 2, eager for more.
Edward is the heir to the throne when he throws it all away to go after the love of his life into a land he knows he can never return from. A land that is cloaked in an evil power that keeps people young and healthy forever. It doesn't sound evil, right? To heal. To live forever. But it's the man who controls that power that makes it bad.
Edwards sister, Elizabeth, is back home, trying to help her father, sister, and the other kings and princes keep their kingdom from being overrun. She's found a way to comunicate with her brother and try to take down the evil king from the inside. In her personal life, she's strong willed and stubborn in her vow to not marry someone she doesn't love, thinking that might mean she will never marry at all - until her world is turned upside down.
War is coming. And everyone is going to need to band together to win, knowing even that might not be enough.
Elizabeth is one of the best characters I've read in this genre. She's adventurous, brave, and loved by the people. Even the events that happen near the end that should slow her down, only add more fuel to her fire. I have every bit of faith that she will be able to win this war by the end of the series. I've already started book 2, eager for more.
April 20, 2016
I had no problem in assigning The Unfading Lands five stars. From the beginning Katharine E Hamilton had my attention. It's a magical read but the author explores relationships, love, family and the politics of war. I was entranced with the story, silently begging for the character Edward not to cross the boundary. And when he did I didn't miss one word of the authors narrative.
At one point Edward and his sister converse through letters and I thought Hamilton did an excellent job by moving the story forward by doing this and she kept Edward up to speed with Elizabeth's written words without being repetitive. I am trying to make sense of why I enjoyed this book so much - it's a mixture of great story telling and the authors descriptive writing.
I was held captive by The Unfading Lands and I am eager to read the next in the series. I downloaded the book with my Kindle Unlimited subscription but it's the kind of book you want to keep adorning your bookshelf.
At one point Edward and his sister converse through letters and I thought Hamilton did an excellent job by moving the story forward by doing this and she kept Edward up to speed with Elizabeth's written words without being repetitive. I am trying to make sense of why I enjoyed this book so much - it's a mixture of great story telling and the authors descriptive writing.
I was held captive by The Unfading Lands and I am eager to read the next in the series. I downloaded the book with my Kindle Unlimited subscription but it's the kind of book you want to keep adorning your bookshelf.
September 11, 2015
I started reading and was transported into a land of make-believe. In my ongoing quest to read widely in genre I was delighted to fall under the spell of this talented author. This is a story set in a magical time, in picturesque settings with characters in appropriate costume.
There are easily definable levels of royalty which help to establish the main players. Each character is distinguished by their allegiance, personal traits, beliefs, likes, and dislikes. The story is a tapestry of love, hate, fear, courage, loyalty, treachery, life, death, pain, joy, and the occasional spray of magic dust.
Amidst my praise for this author’s work there was some magic dust that made me sneeze. It’s fantasy, but I was jolted out of my parallel world by occasional use of a modern turn of phrase within dialogue. It wasn’t often, but I was enjoying the story, so let it go.
If, like me, you are the sort of person who believes that sometimes even the good guys get hurt or could die, then this is a story for you. The characters are portrayed well, and I was impressed by the interaction. There was nothing stilted about the idle banter, or the heated argument – it worked. It didn’t strike me at first, but the pace is well held throughout. There were also some neat twists.
I don’t think it does any harm to put our thrillers, paranormal and sci-fi aside sometimes to become cocooned in, and enjoy a right royal fantasy.
There are easily definable levels of royalty which help to establish the main players. Each character is distinguished by their allegiance, personal traits, beliefs, likes, and dislikes. The story is a tapestry of love, hate, fear, courage, loyalty, treachery, life, death, pain, joy, and the occasional spray of magic dust.
Amidst my praise for this author’s work there was some magic dust that made me sneeze. It’s fantasy, but I was jolted out of my parallel world by occasional use of a modern turn of phrase within dialogue. It wasn’t often, but I was enjoying the story, so let it go.
If, like me, you are the sort of person who believes that sometimes even the good guys get hurt or could die, then this is a story for you. The characters are portrayed well, and I was impressed by the interaction. There was nothing stilted about the idle banter, or the heated argument – it worked. It didn’t strike me at first, but the pace is well held throughout. There were also some neat twists.
I don’t think it does any harm to put our thrillers, paranormal and sci-fi aside sometimes to become cocooned in, and enjoy a right royal fantasy.
June 11, 2015
The Unfading Lands is a light-hearted fantasy book that does well in combining elements of danger and adventure with love and family. It sets the stage for a power struggle between a kingdom and the neighbouring Unfading Lands, a place where no one ages and the land is always green, but powered by some very dark forces.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and its world building; the action was never lost in descriptions of hair and corsets. The writing allowed the reader to create a vivid picture of the world and follow the blow-by-blow fighting with precision. I must also commend the author on her ability to understand each character and properly portray their thoughts and point of view - I felt a genuine connection with each new perspective.
All in all I think this is a great start to the series with just the right number of twists and turns and a very unique plot! Thank you for the First Read, I can't wait for the next in the series!
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and its world building; the action was never lost in descriptions of hair and corsets. The writing allowed the reader to create a vivid picture of the world and follow the blow-by-blow fighting with precision. I must also commend the author on her ability to understand each character and properly portray their thoughts and point of view - I felt a genuine connection with each new perspective.
All in all I think this is a great start to the series with just the right number of twists and turns and a very unique plot! Thank you for the First Read, I can't wait for the next in the series!
May 26, 2015
The Unfading Lands is the first book in what promises to be a wonderful fantasy series. Filled with action, mystery, and well developed characters, including some very strong women, The Unfading Lands is an immensely entertaining page turner. Katharine Hamilton did an outstanding job, and I can not wait for the second book.
*I received this book as part of Goodreads Firstreads*
*I received this book as part of Goodreads Firstreads*
March 10, 2018
Katharine E. Hamilton is a wonderful storyteller. The reader is engaged from page one.
There are several key players, including Lancer of the Land of Unfading Beauty, Prince Edward who is the young heir to the Northern Kingdom and Princess Elizabeth. The young princess takes it upon herself to get to fight for her Kingdom when Edward has left.
Thank you GoodReads for the novel.
There are several key players, including Lancer of the Land of Unfading Beauty, Prince Edward who is the young heir to the Northern Kingdom and Princess Elizabeth. The young princess takes it upon herself to get to fight for her Kingdom when Edward has left.
Thank you GoodReads for the novel.
February 17, 2015
The Unfading Lands is an outstanding, easy to read novel. It combines action, love, and fantasy with clever character development along the way. The storyline kept me constantly on the edge of my seat and I cannot wait to read the second book when it's available!
June 12, 2015
This was a fabulous book to read! There was a lot of action, mystery, romance, and great storyline. This book has something for almost every reader. The characters are well developed and relatable. I'm anxiously awaiting the two sequels!
July 3, 2016
Good read
I e joyed this fictional story and am amazed at the attention to detail by the author! Good story line. Some passages were a bit lengthy for me. Great description of the characters and the surprises like the friendship if Elizabeth and Isaac improved the story.
I e joyed this fictional story and am amazed at the attention to detail by the author! Good story line. Some passages were a bit lengthy for me. Great description of the characters and the surprises like the friendship if Elizabeth and Isaac improved the story.
February 17, 2015
Obviously I loved this book, because I wrote it. :) I'm slightly biased. Ha. :) But I hope you guys love it too! Let me know what you think!
February 17, 2015
I absolutely loved it! Intrigue. Romance. Mystery. Looming magical danger. What more could you want in a fantasy novel?
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews