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Stone War Chronicles #1
Windcatcher
The Stone King rises and he wants his dragon!
Far away from home, under the command of his brother, Raylan and his squad must retrieve an ancient relic stolen from their kingdom’s trading partner—the Tiankong Empire.
Traveling deep into unknown enemy territory to complete their mission, Raylan learns that the ancient relic holds unexpected life; a creature buried in legends. But life is not always easy and neither is starting it, even if you are blessed with wings and claws.
Unable to fly and with their enemies closing in, the newly-hatched Galirras will have to put his trust in Raylan and his friends as they desperately search for a safe way home. Danger lurks around every corner: Warriors larger than any man, predators stalking them through the night and soldiers determined to hunt them down.
Their group has little choice, except to keep moving; strategically plotting and fighting their way back to those awaiting their return. But will they make it? After all, the Stone King is ruthless and he wants his dragon...
Far away from home, under the command of his brother, Raylan and his squad must retrieve an ancient relic stolen from their kingdom’s trading partner—the Tiankong Empire.
Traveling deep into unknown enemy territory to complete their mission, Raylan learns that the ancient relic holds unexpected life; a creature buried in legends. But life is not always easy and neither is starting it, even if you are blessed with wings and claws.
Unable to fly and with their enemies closing in, the newly-hatched Galirras will have to put his trust in Raylan and his friends as they desperately search for a safe way home. Danger lurks around every corner: Warriors larger than any man, predators stalking them through the night and soldiers determined to hunt them down.
Their group has little choice, except to keep moving; strategically plotting and fighting their way back to those awaiting their return. But will they make it? After all, the Stone King is ruthless and he wants his dragon...
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2015
54 people are currently reading
2197 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Norfield
8 books73 followers
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A.J. Norfield lives with his loving wife, and two rascals of children, on land, but below sea level. For several years he worked as a falconer; training and flying the likes of owls, eagles and other types of birds of prey. He holds a black belt in aikido and dabbled in the art of archery more than once. He’s a big fan of Japanese RPGs, and anime, and will often play the swordfighter in any type of game. That way his own katana can safely stay on his wall, so no one accidentally loses a finger, or hand.
A.J. Norfield devoured the books of Anne McCaffrey, Terry Goodkind and Naomi Novik—to name only a few of many—which in turn inspired him to create his own 'Stone War Chronicles' series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 21, 2016
Prepare to leave the mundane world behind and set out on a quest to retrieve a stolen, ancient relic. Follow along as author A.J. Norfield deftly builds his world, one filled with ominous beasts, treachery and danger at every turn as they bring back the relic only to discover that ancient myths and legends are true and that this relic is the bearer of a life long thought gone from the face of the world. The relic? A dragon egg, its hidden prize? A dragon, long thought extinct.
Now a young fledgling, Galirras finds growing up while on the run to be as difficult as it is to those who protect him, but because of him, this tale becomes an epic journey and a desperate battle for life and the safety of home. Heroes will die, the battles are brutal, and the villains spare nothing in their pleasure of torture, humiliation and pain.
Windcatcher is what epic fantasy should be, filled with action and edge of your seat tension along with heartbreaking moments, moments of simple smiles as a dragon comes of age and assumes the role of warrior alongside his saviors. A.J. Norfield has told his tale in true to fantasy style, overlooking and describing each scene with clarity and just the right amount of detail. Feel the winds, the heat of battle, the arduous journey and watch as time goes by, hour by hour, mile by mile. Endure each battle, the sacrifices made and understand just how evil and small-minded people can be. Face it, humans are flawed and never is that more obvious than when good battles evil and evil remains slightly veiled.
Whether you are an intense epic fantasy fan or just trying some out, this is good place to start, with a few twists that may surprise you as this author’s strength of writing boldly pounds out a memorable tale…
I received this copy from A.J. Norfield in exchange for my honest review.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Series: Stone War Chronicles - Book 1
Publisher: LowSea Publishing; 2 edition (October 29, 2015)
Publication Date: October 29, 2015
ISBN: 9082494515
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 333 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Now a young fledgling, Galirras finds growing up while on the run to be as difficult as it is to those who protect him, but because of him, this tale becomes an epic journey and a desperate battle for life and the safety of home. Heroes will die, the battles are brutal, and the villains spare nothing in their pleasure of torture, humiliation and pain.
Windcatcher is what epic fantasy should be, filled with action and edge of your seat tension along with heartbreaking moments, moments of simple smiles as a dragon comes of age and assumes the role of warrior alongside his saviors. A.J. Norfield has told his tale in true to fantasy style, overlooking and describing each scene with clarity and just the right amount of detail. Feel the winds, the heat of battle, the arduous journey and watch as time goes by, hour by hour, mile by mile. Endure each battle, the sacrifices made and understand just how evil and small-minded people can be. Face it, humans are flawed and never is that more obvious than when good battles evil and evil remains slightly veiled.
Whether you are an intense epic fantasy fan or just trying some out, this is good place to start, with a few twists that may surprise you as this author’s strength of writing boldly pounds out a memorable tale…
I received this copy from A.J. Norfield in exchange for my honest review.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Series: Stone War Chronicles - Book 1
Publisher: LowSea Publishing; 2 edition (October 29, 2015)
Publication Date: October 29, 2015
ISBN: 9082494515
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 333 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
May 6, 2017
Many of my friends love fantasy, and thanks to them, I was introduced to the genre, its rules and some of its creatures. This is why I agreed to review WindCatcher. That and the fact the author gave me the image of my dog and myself on an epic adventure through dangerous lands! Who could resist to the idea?
I can't say the opening doesn't know how to grab your attention! I was not expecting anything in particular so when the action started before I reached the 5% mark, I was surprised but interested. The author brilliantly combined enough mystery and fighting to tickle my interest from the start, and believe me, fighting scenes often leave me dead cold so he did a great job!
Fastforward some time later and you're with a squad trying to get a stolen object back (Yes, I'm being vague on purpose, as usual!) I felt the beginning dragged a little too much for me as we alternated between battles, world-building and the introduction of characters, but when I finally started to remember who was who and doing what, I found myself caught in the game. I am aware this is a rule of fantasy: to get the reader invested in the world and story while avoiding info-dumping and giving them enough action to satisfy their appetite! Quite a task, if you ask me! Still, there were enough descriptions to make me travel to places the wuss I am would rather not set foot in, and enough blood so I would make a list of who had had the worst death. It was very fun!
But what I thought would be a light read, with a couple of entertaining parts, soon became much more intricate as we dived into the heart of the story. No Throne of Glass syndrome here, the plot is skillfully handled, every character has a mission and a point, there is no confusion, and there is an actual storyline that makes sense!
With the relic as the center of the story, you get to understand the balance of the team as they make progress in their journey and even with fairly sketchy information, you grab enough to know Winter is coming this is no holiday. Raylan and his brother, leader of the team, have a complicity and reflect a natural brotherly feeling I was happy to see, as a touch of normality in a story I knew would bring me enough surprises. You also get to meet the team... Some members for longer than others. I have to mention it because I wasn't prepared for it and I suffered for those poor lads. But the team spirit is here, along with the skills of trained soldiers, the bravery you hope to find in the better men, and the camaraderie you need to face the world. Only Jack Bauer can survive and do it all alone.
Suddenly things get real and what was just a mysterious and only barely discussed ancient object turns into a giant surprise. Not so giant at first. I do remember his first scene reminding me of the very famous Game of Thrones one, but kinder. While the show's ancient and supposedly dead dragons gave me the creeps and scared the hell out of me, this “relic” felt different and you cannot help connect with it thanks to a very descriptive and clever writing of the meeting of a lifetime. I felt for it instantly, and so did Raylan. I found the development of their relationship well-executed, and I admit I wish I could have the same friend at home! I am going to offend people but I couldn't help thinking Raylan and Galliras the dragon were adorably cute. Yes, a dragon can be cute. Cute and a wonderful way to look at human beings and how they function and what they do. I only wished the “meeting” would have happened slightly sooner as I was starting to wonder about its utility at all in the story.
I do not want to delve into the plot and reveal more than I should but I guarantee you blood, treason, battles and sacrifice. I promise you action, creatures, hidden agendas, and pages filled with enemies and the wonders of an unknown and not so welcoming world. I vouch for an epic fantasy story that won't just check off the usual items you're looking for, but offer you a glimpse of a bond from another world, and the pledge for darker days to come.
Windcatcher is the powerful first installment in a promising series. It took me by surprise, made me fly to a different continent and reality, and offered me a wonderful reading time. I cannot wait to follow Raylan and Galirras in their next adventure!
May 15, 2023
A huge thanks to A.J. Norfield for the e-book and special thanks for your patience in waiting for this review.
I seem to have stumbled onto more than a few raise-your-baby-Dragon stories lately.
Anyway, this was a nice surprise. Windcatcher is a good fun story, that has an adventure coming-of-age feel but with some definite darker themes - starting with a nasty piece of work bad guy, Corza, who isn’t even the baddest bad guy of them, but a minion of the Stone King.I am not sure if the Stone King gained that great name from his overall nasty countenance… I mean, this guy has his own set of creepy guards called the Darkened (Their mouths are sewn shut and if that wasn’t enough to make you pause, they have tattooed their faces to look like skulls, as well) or the fact that he has a stone hand but either way, he’s not a nice guy at all.
So, it all begins with the Stone King stealing a relic from a monastery the Wutao Mountains.
Raylan as part of the special recon squad- led by his brother Gavin, are on a mission with an emissary from Tiankong (Xi’lao) to retrieve this stolen artefact, and as these things go – nothing is quite what they expect. First of all, the relic, is in fact an egg. A very large one. And secondly, the Stone King has already through his General, put in motion the steps that would start the hatching of this egg for his own nefarious plans.
*
The world of Windcatcher feels very large and had a few nice ideas- the tree people community, while not exactly new to fantasy did some different things with the rappel packs and also the reasons, they were living in trees instead of the ground- which I will leave for you to discover.
I really liked the combination of in-world creatures and the man-made dangers. The creatures made the world feel dangerous and like a place that the likelihood of a dragon hatching would be possible. The man-made dangers, were terror-inspiring; the Ghol’ms statues were so cool, but I especially loved the stone wolves.
I really liked that it wasn’t an easy road to their destination, and they faced obstacles and big losses, along the way.
*
The story has some great action-packed sequences as Raylan and company flee from their pursuers. I think these were all so well-done. It’s not easy to write that kind of action without losing focus and weighing it down in details. It’s the fast-paced and the edge-of-your-seat kind of stuff that I love so much.I really enjoyed the cart chase and crash, because it reminded of the old western movies I grew-up on. But the race to the bridge had to have been the most nail-biting moment for me.
*
As I said above there is a slight coming-of-age feel to the story. But that has more to do with Galirras- the dragon than it does with Raylan and company. Galirras is like a child at first. He has only known the generosity of the people taking care of him, but soon finds not everyone is as kind.
Though Rayland is travelling with his brother and company and we are involved with them- Rayland is our main focus. Again more because of Galirras, who has bonded to him. As the story progresses the attention is more on their bond, and Galirras, learning and growing. I guess you could say it has that classic “boy and his dog” feel to it- like Old Yeller… that might be a bad example, I assure you the dragon lives in the end.
*
TLDR:
Windcatcher feels like the classic fantasy I grew up on. It’s full-on adventure with fun hair-raising moments but it’s the friendship between a young man and is dragon that really give this story its heart.
I seem to have stumbled onto more than a few raise-your-baby-Dragon stories lately.
Anyway, this was a nice surprise. Windcatcher is a good fun story, that has an adventure coming-of-age feel but with some definite darker themes - starting with a nasty piece of work bad guy, Corza, who isn’t even the baddest bad guy of them, but a minion of the Stone King.I am not sure if the Stone King gained that great name from his overall nasty countenance… I mean, this guy has his own set of creepy guards called the Darkened (Their mouths are sewn shut and if that wasn’t enough to make you pause, they have tattooed their faces to look like skulls, as well) or the fact that he has a stone hand but either way, he’s not a nice guy at all.
So, it all begins with the Stone King stealing a relic from a monastery the Wutao Mountains.
Raylan as part of the special recon squad- led by his brother Gavin, are on a mission with an emissary from Tiankong (Xi’lao) to retrieve this stolen artefact, and as these things go – nothing is quite what they expect. First of all, the relic, is in fact an egg. A very large one. And secondly, the Stone King has already through his General, put in motion the steps that would start the hatching of this egg for his own nefarious plans.
*
The world of Windcatcher feels very large and had a few nice ideas- the tree people community, while not exactly new to fantasy did some different things with the rappel packs and also the reasons, they were living in trees instead of the ground- which I will leave for you to discover.
I really liked the combination of in-world creatures and the man-made dangers. The creatures made the world feel dangerous and like a place that the likelihood of a dragon hatching would be possible. The man-made dangers, were terror-inspiring; the Ghol’ms statues were so cool, but I especially loved the stone wolves.
I really liked that it wasn’t an easy road to their destination, and they faced obstacles and big losses, along the way.
*
The story has some great action-packed sequences as Raylan and company flee from their pursuers. I think these were all so well-done. It’s not easy to write that kind of action without losing focus and weighing it down in details. It’s the fast-paced and the edge-of-your-seat kind of stuff that I love so much.I really enjoyed the cart chase and crash, because it reminded of the old western movies I grew-up on. But the race to the bridge had to have been the most nail-biting moment for me.
*
As I said above there is a slight coming-of-age feel to the story. But that has more to do with Galirras- the dragon than it does with Raylan and company. Galirras is like a child at first. He has only known the generosity of the people taking care of him, but soon finds not everyone is as kind.
Though Rayland is travelling with his brother and company and we are involved with them- Rayland is our main focus. Again more because of Galirras, who has bonded to him. As the story progresses the attention is more on their bond, and Galirras, learning and growing. I guess you could say it has that classic “boy and his dog” feel to it- like Old Yeller… that might be a bad example, I assure you the dragon lives in the end.
*
TLDR:
Windcatcher feels like the classic fantasy I grew up on. It’s full-on adventure with fun hair-raising moments but it’s the friendship between a young man and is dragon that really give this story its heart.
March 30, 2016
This book was one action packed moment after the next and that is no lie!
We begin the story with a wonderful prologue which gives insight to the importance of the main focus of this tale, which is an ancient relic. It is protected within a monastery and hidden away, until something horrible happens and it is stolen.
Once we hit the first chapter we meet Raylan, who is a soldier beneath his older brother Gavin's command. We are introduced to them at length, which allows us to become invested in them. After this we meet several other supporting characters, too.
Soon, they are part of a mission to extract an ancient relic that must be protected and return to the monastery at all costs. Except, when said stone-like relic is found and Raylan is drawn to it, it begins to react oddly to him. It softens and then the unexpected happens...
A dragon hatches.
There was action before and a story before, but once the dragon is hatched things really kick up into high gear. For a while I found it a touch difficult to really submerse myself into the book and that is not because the story lacks detail or action, but I felt at times that there was too much action and then not enough world building, not enough political intrigue or further insight on the other side. Then, I stopped reading and mulled over my thoughts for a while, this is an action-adventure-fantasy tale about a dragon and soldiers... The writing is good, the characters interesting, so what if it's just action? That was my thought and I stand by it. For me, yes, I absolutely wish there was more of the aforementioned, but you know what? This was still a good story.
There is peril after peril and just when you think there will be a calm, think again. There is action until the very last page. So, if you're looking for adventure and action, check this book out. There is another on the way, too!
3.5 stars
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We begin the story with a wonderful prologue which gives insight to the importance of the main focus of this tale, which is an ancient relic. It is protected within a monastery and hidden away, until something horrible happens and it is stolen.
Once we hit the first chapter we meet Raylan, who is a soldier beneath his older brother Gavin's command. We are introduced to them at length, which allows us to become invested in them. After this we meet several other supporting characters, too.
Soon, they are part of a mission to extract an ancient relic that must be protected and return to the monastery at all costs. Except, when said stone-like relic is found and Raylan is drawn to it, it begins to react oddly to him. It softens and then the unexpected happens...
A dragon hatches.
There was action before and a story before, but once the dragon is hatched things really kick up into high gear. For a while I found it a touch difficult to really submerse myself into the book and that is not because the story lacks detail or action, but I felt at times that there was too much action and then not enough world building, not enough political intrigue or further insight on the other side. Then, I stopped reading and mulled over my thoughts for a while, this is an action-adventure-fantasy tale about a dragon and soldiers... The writing is good, the characters interesting, so what if it's just action? That was my thought and I stand by it. For me, yes, I absolutely wish there was more of the aforementioned, but you know what? This was still a good story.
There is peril after peril and just when you think there will be a calm, think again. There is action until the very last page. So, if you're looking for adventure and action, check this book out. There is another on the way, too!
3.5 stars
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August 15, 2016
Sadly I had to DNF this one 15% in. I like looking for hidden gems and have done really well with books that at the time didn't have a lot of reviews but the ones which were out there were all high. Dawn of Wonder and Second Cataclysm being two of the better successes. I hadn't read anything featuring dragons in a while and the book description and review dragged me in. Sadly it just read like a paper I would write for English Lit and I couldn't power my way through.
August 8, 2018
Well holy freaking moly, batman! What an intense and epic journey I've just been part of! I was approached by A.J. Norfield who offered to send me a free copy of his book, in exchange for my honest review. When I saw on Goodreads, that readers compared this book, to the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini, even this romance fanatic couldn't say no to some epic fantasy. And I'm not sorry I did!
I'll be honest and say that the first 30% did drag for me, and I was ready to give up on more occasions than I can count. Why? Because I felt like the entire world was being thrown at me. It felt like we kept being introduced to new people, beings and places - without proper connecting with the ones I had already been introduced to. However, as soon as I hit that magic 30% mark, it became a real struggle for me to put the book down.
The relic Raylan and his group is set out to retrieve turns out to be a dragon egg, and when the dragon hatch from its shell, this story goes from (in my opinion) boring to epic at a seriously quick pace. The bond between Raylan and his dragon, Galirras, is nothing short of fantastic. In fact it almost puts that of Eragon and Sophia to shame!
How freaking cute is this little dragon?
As Galirras comes of age, both he and Raylan learns many things from each other. By having to teach Galirras, there's things Raylan all of a sudden also sees in a new light.
But while being busy learning, our heroes are still on the run. Trying to find their way back home, whilst constantly being followed by the Stone Kings followers. One particularly nasty follower seems to have made it personal, when we learn of his intentions of capturing Galirras for himself.
This is only the first book in the Stone War Chronicles, and at some point I'll have to read the others. I really need to find out what happens with our group of heroes.
I'll be honest and say that the first 30% did drag for me, and I was ready to give up on more occasions than I can count. Why? Because I felt like the entire world was being thrown at me. It felt like we kept being introduced to new people, beings and places - without proper connecting with the ones I had already been introduced to. However, as soon as I hit that magic 30% mark, it became a real struggle for me to put the book down.
The relic Raylan and his group is set out to retrieve turns out to be a dragon egg, and when the dragon hatch from its shell, this story goes from (in my opinion) boring to epic at a seriously quick pace. The bond between Raylan and his dragon, Galirras, is nothing short of fantastic. In fact it almost puts that of Eragon and Sophia to shame!
As Galirras tore up the rabbit and fed on his very first, self-made kill, Raylan swore that he saw a grin on the dragon’s face. He had not seen many big predators feed after a kill, and he was slightly taken aback by the gory scene and the ferociousness of Galirras’ eating.
Misinterpreting Raylan’s stare, somewhat, Galirras looked at him.
“Do you want some? You can have a leg, if you want.”
Raylan chuckled.
“No, thanks. It’s all yours. That was an excellent kill, so enjoy it. I’ll eat something back at the camp.”
How freaking cute is this little dragon?
As Galirras comes of age, both he and Raylan learns many things from each other. By having to teach Galirras, there's things Raylan all of a sudden also sees in a new light.
But while being busy learning, our heroes are still on the run. Trying to find their way back home, whilst constantly being followed by the Stone Kings followers. One particularly nasty follower seems to have made it personal, when we learn of his intentions of capturing Galirras for himself.
This is only the first book in the Stone War Chronicles, and at some point I'll have to read the others. I really need to find out what happens with our group of heroes.
Have you read these books? Or any other epic fantasy stories? Do you love dragons as much as I do? Let's have a chat on my blog!
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June 8, 2019
2.5/5
This review is a part of TBRindr initiated by Weatherwax Report. I received a copy of this book in exchange to an honest review.
Windcatcher, as described by Norfield, is Eragon meets Avatar: The Last Airbender. It is an apt description as it follows a story of dragons with air/wind imageries taking the central theme.
Raylan is a soldier on a mission to retrieve a stolen dragon egg. Teamed with his older brother and a group of midweight personnels, they must retrieve the egg and return to Kingdom of Aeterra before it falls to the hands of evil Stone King.
In its heart, this book is a classic epic fantasy, and it comes with the common tropes. While the story itself is fairly solid, the Eragonesque format of storytelling along with the tropes didn't work for me. From the generic medieval European setting, quirky naming convention (names like Kevhin, Stephen, Sebastian, and ghol'm broke my immersion), anachronistic diction (salvo and speed gear), cartoonishly evil villains, to predictable plot.
The book also ends in a cliffhanger with unresolved plot. A common thing for a first book in the series, but it left me wanting for more satisfying climax and conclusion.
On the flipside, Norfield succeeded in delivering a solid story with decently compelling characters. For action buffs out there, his combat scenes are also vivid and detailed. There are some interesting bits of worldbuilding as well, especially regarding certain tree dwellers and creation of golems.
Conclusion
With classic story structure and tropes, Windcatcher is unfortunately not exactly my cup of tea. However, I can see this book as a comfort read for people who crave something classic, action-heavy, and solid with dragons. If you dig medieval European setting, dragons, and wind elemental, I'd encourage you to give it a try.
This review is a part of TBRindr initiated by Weatherwax Report. I received a copy of this book in exchange to an honest review.
Windcatcher, as described by Norfield, is Eragon meets Avatar: The Last Airbender. It is an apt description as it follows a story of dragons with air/wind imageries taking the central theme.
Raylan is a soldier on a mission to retrieve a stolen dragon egg. Teamed with his older brother and a group of midweight personnels, they must retrieve the egg and return to Kingdom of Aeterra before it falls to the hands of evil Stone King.
In its heart, this book is a classic epic fantasy, and it comes with the common tropes. While the story itself is fairly solid, the Eragonesque format of storytelling along with the tropes didn't work for me. From the generic medieval European setting, quirky naming convention (names like Kevhin, Stephen, Sebastian, and ghol'm broke my immersion), anachronistic diction (salvo and speed gear), cartoonishly evil villains, to predictable plot.
The book also ends in a cliffhanger with unresolved plot. A common thing for a first book in the series, but it left me wanting for more satisfying climax and conclusion.
On the flipside, Norfield succeeded in delivering a solid story with decently compelling characters. For action buffs out there, his combat scenes are also vivid and detailed. There are some interesting bits of worldbuilding as well, especially regarding certain tree dwellers and creation of golems.
Conclusion
With classic story structure and tropes, Windcatcher is unfortunately not exactly my cup of tea. However, I can see this book as a comfort read for people who crave something classic, action-heavy, and solid with dragons. If you dig medieval European setting, dragons, and wind elemental, I'd encourage you to give it a try.
July 24, 2016
The Windcatcher is a must-read for dragon-lovers of all ages, and while I have not read enough similar Fantasy books about dragons to compare, I feel confident that The Windcatcher is up there with the best of its kind. The author’s skill in describing action scenes is particularly impressive, and there is a good balance of personal relationships, good and bad human nature, and a satisfying amount of escapism in the form of the dragon and the Stone King with his minions.
One of the aspects I found most appealing in this story is the bond between Raylan and the newly-hatched dragon, whose kind was believed extinct. They share telepathic communication, which can certainly be a life-saver at times! There is also a deeper look at Raylan’s relationship with his older brother, which I enjoyed.
The setting in a fantasy world is described well, without too many details or fantastic elements, making it easier for the reader’s imagination to follow closely. Raylan and his group are fleeing from a formidable enemy across various terrains, first with a large egg that they must protect, and then with a young dragon when he hatches. As he grows, he develops his talent for manipulating air and wind – hence the Windcatcher.
The book is rather long, as befits epic Dragon Fantasy books, and as such, it is not a riveting page-turner, but rather puts emphasis on developing the fantasy world in the reader’s imagination.
This first book ends at a high point with a reminder that there are darker and more sinister things ahead, so the reader will be looking forward to Book 2 in this delightful dragon Fantasy.
One of the aspects I found most appealing in this story is the bond between Raylan and the newly-hatched dragon, whose kind was believed extinct. They share telepathic communication, which can certainly be a life-saver at times! There is also a deeper look at Raylan’s relationship with his older brother, which I enjoyed.
The setting in a fantasy world is described well, without too many details or fantastic elements, making it easier for the reader’s imagination to follow closely. Raylan and his group are fleeing from a formidable enemy across various terrains, first with a large egg that they must protect, and then with a young dragon when he hatches. As he grows, he develops his talent for manipulating air and wind – hence the Windcatcher.
The book is rather long, as befits epic Dragon Fantasy books, and as such, it is not a riveting page-turner, but rather puts emphasis on developing the fantasy world in the reader’s imagination.
This first book ends at a high point with a reminder that there are darker and more sinister things ahead, so the reader will be looking forward to Book 2 in this delightful dragon Fantasy.
May 29, 2016
This is the most epic debut novel that I’ve read in a long, long while. This novel starts with a bang and keeps on going the whole way through. Norfield’s active writing style fits perfectly with the tale at hand. His voice flows and morphs to highlight the current events of the tale while always remaining enchanting. Norfield pens intricate and vivid action sequences without being too gory then switches to picturesque travelling scenes that were absolutely breathtaking.
I love the history and mythology that Norfield developed for this tale. It is part of the action and magic of the tale. Readers visit a variety of different lands and meet many different peoples throughout this novel. Each is unique and captivating in their own way. The world that Norfield develops has a definite Oriental feel to it while also remaining completely unique.
Intricate world building is second only to the phenomenal character development in this novel. Norfield develops individuals gradually, as if you were actually meeting and travelling with them. I also enjoyed how Gallirras was developed as an individual, right down to the different types of wind magic that he employs.
This is not a ‘fluffy’ read but is definitely a novel well worth reading. It’s going on my re-read shelf and I can’t wait to delve further into the series and this author’s hypnotizing writing.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
I love the history and mythology that Norfield developed for this tale. It is part of the action and magic of the tale. Readers visit a variety of different lands and meet many different peoples throughout this novel. Each is unique and captivating in their own way. The world that Norfield develops has a definite Oriental feel to it while also remaining completely unique.
Intricate world building is second only to the phenomenal character development in this novel. Norfield develops individuals gradually, as if you were actually meeting and travelling with them. I also enjoyed how Gallirras was developed as an individual, right down to the different types of wind magic that he employs.
This is not a ‘fluffy’ read but is definitely a novel well worth reading. It’s going on my re-read shelf and I can’t wait to delve further into the series and this author’s hypnotizing writing.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2023
This review contains spoiler!
Okay people, paint me impressed. I'm not that much familiar with dragons, but as far as my experience goes, this book was a pretty good one. I loved how Galirras grew up during the story, how much he learned about himself and the world. And that he used air instead of fire. I loved the forest settlement too, where people walked on trees. I would have been frightened to do so, but the concept is awesome!
The characters were well built, the pace was good, there wasn't a moment where I felt bored. I'm looking forward to read the next installment in this series. And damn the author for killing Gavin. That one hurt... Not that I wasn't surprised, someone was bound to die sooner or later besides those who already fell at the beginning, but still. Why Gavin???
All in all, I can't say a bad thing about this, and believe me, I am pretty critical. The only thing I could say is this book could have used another round of proof reading. But that's it.
Okay people, paint me impressed. I'm not that much familiar with dragons, but as far as my experience goes, this book was a pretty good one. I loved how Galirras grew up during the story, how much he learned about himself and the world. And that he used air instead of fire. I loved the forest settlement too, where people walked on trees. I would have been frightened to do so, but the concept is awesome!
The characters were well built, the pace was good, there wasn't a moment where I felt bored. I'm looking forward to read the next installment in this series. And damn the author for killing Gavin. That one hurt... Not that I wasn't surprised, someone was bound to die sooner or later besides those who already fell at the beginning, but still. Why Gavin???
All in all, I can't say a bad thing about this, and believe me, I am pretty critical. The only thing I could say is this book could have used another round of proof reading. But that's it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2016
Beginning a journey should always be this rewarding!
I knew that this was a work in progress, book two wasn't event started when I read Windcatcher, but at the close of book one I was wishing I had book two already downloaded!
This fantasy epic takes you through a land apart from reality but one familiar enough that you are not confused or left to wander in story for story's sake. This action is fast and engaging throughout and this iteration of 'dragon myth' is one of the best and most thought out I have ever read. You care about the characters and their quest, and you will very likely wish that you had found a dragon egg in your day to day life. Be prepared to be transported!
I knew that this was a work in progress, book two wasn't event started when I read Windcatcher, but at the close of book one I was wishing I had book two already downloaded!
This fantasy epic takes you through a land apart from reality but one familiar enough that you are not confused or left to wander in story for story's sake. This action is fast and engaging throughout and this iteration of 'dragon myth' is one of the best and most thought out I have ever read. You care about the characters and their quest, and you will very likely wish that you had found a dragon egg in your day to day life. Be prepared to be transported!
May 13, 2016
It started out a bit slow but the pace picked up very quickly and then was nonstop. Once Galirras was introduced it reminded me a little of Eragon, though everyone adjusted better to Galirras than they did to Saphira. The world building was vivid and well done. I had no trouble picturing their world in my mind. I loved the descriptions of them climbing and the sand creatures. The bad guys were very bad. I was a little surprised at how bad they were. Usually the things they do get glossed over or are made PG 13 but these bad guys were done well. I hope karma gets them in the end.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2016
Gripping, Action Packed, Twists, Intricate, Engaging, Memorable & Unique! An Exciting Read! I Loved It!
May 30, 2016
This book has parts that are extremely exciting, and where it's not exciting it's at least interesting. The author is inventive in his creation of evil and good creatures. The only reason this is four stars instead of five is that the author gives wolves a bad name in his treatment of them. As a person from Alaska, I object to wolves being depicted as menacing animals. In real life they have never attacked and killed a human being (at least not in North America). Even though this is a fantasy, it gives readers a warped distortion of the animals. This book was so good, otherwise, that if I could I would give it four and a half stars for being quite a gripping novel. The author has done his research (except for the wolves). The ending leaves the reader wanting to read more.
February 20, 2016
I surprisingly really enjoyed this book. It was a recommendation from a friend, which doesn't often work out, which is why I was surprised. It started off a bit slow in the beginning, which is understandable as the author had to present this new world for us, but once it got going, I had trouble putting it down! I would have finished the book sooner if I didn't have a six-month-old baby. ;)
What a great adventure story, with lots of action! I really connected with the characters, especially Raylan and his brother, and I was sad when the story was over. I can't wait for the next installment in the series!
What a great adventure story, with lots of action! I really connected with the characters, especially Raylan and his brother, and I was sad when the story was over. I can't wait for the next installment in the series!
November 9, 2015
What a great start - excited to see more books in the series. Watching the dragon grow is wonderful and the scope of the adventure increases page by page.
The author does a fine job of getting you invested in the characters and their story, then takes your breath away as they face peril after peril. Part of why you'll love the characters is how they manage to overcome obstacles in clever ways.
The only bad thing is the wait for the next book in the story.
The author does a fine job of getting you invested in the characters and their story, then takes your breath away as they face peril after peril. Part of why you'll love the characters is how they manage to overcome obstacles in clever ways.
The only bad thing is the wait for the next book in the story.
November 9, 2018
Norfield places the classic war story of a small squad trapped behind enemy lines in an interesting fantasy world, then mixes in his own version of dragons.
When an ancient relic is stolen from the Tiankong Empire, Aeterra’s long-term trading partner, it is politically expedient to have Aeterra recover it for them. Accompanied by a Tiankong monk, Raylan and his unit penetrate the territory of the Stone King. However, when they successfully catch up with the thieves, they discover the artefact is a dragon’s egg on the verge of hatching. Their attempts to find a safe route home are further complicated when they realise the artefact was taken at the order of one of the Stone King’s highest generals; a man who will use the full resources of his nation to recover it.
This novel is written in a medium-to-distant third person voice that switches between several characters. Although, this style will be familiar to—and potentially even preferred by—readers of classic fantasy, it results in a higher level of exposition than occurs in close third person or first person narratives, especially in the opening chapters, so might seem dry to some readers.
Where these transitions between character viewpoints occur within a chapter they are not marked by a clear break in the text; however, the first sentence of a new viewpoint gives a clear indication of the change. Further, each section features a significant chunk of events. As such, while some readers might experience an instant of uncertainty following a few of the shifts, the narrative feels layered rather than jumpy.
The plot is formed of three major threads: the unit’s attempts to reach safety, the issues caused by a newly hatched dragon, and the broader consequences of the plot by the Stone King and his generals. Norfield skilfully weaves these together, using each to both complicate and advance each of the others. This both allows lulls in one thread without losing overall tension and adds to the sense of actions having consequences beyond the immediate problem that underpins a plausible epic narrative.
This sense of tension and scale is further supported by the visceral nature of Norfield’s magic system. While the actual brutality occurs off page, so is abstract enough that it does not move this book into horror, the practice clearly requires a defiance of the usual order.
Raylan is a well-crafted primary protagonist. His background in sailing rather than soldiering provides a believable balance between accepting the need for process and not instinctively obeying the chain of command. This mix is further complicated by his squad leader also being his older brother, an immediately recognisable relationship of which Norfield takes full advantage.
Galirras, the dragon, is similarly well-written. Possessed of a mindset fitting for a flying lizard with no previous human contact, but also intelligent and mentally bonded to Raylan, his viewpoint is both alien enough to seem realistic and familiar enough to remain accessible.
High General Setra, main antagonist of the novel, is almost the stereotype of evil general; however, the nuances of his character are sufficient to make him still fell individual.
The supporting cast are a suitable combination of recognisable epic fantasy tropes and individual characteristics, making them interesting without drowning the epic sweep of the narrative.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking fantasy with a world-affecting plot and interesting characters.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
When an ancient relic is stolen from the Tiankong Empire, Aeterra’s long-term trading partner, it is politically expedient to have Aeterra recover it for them. Accompanied by a Tiankong monk, Raylan and his unit penetrate the territory of the Stone King. However, when they successfully catch up with the thieves, they discover the artefact is a dragon’s egg on the verge of hatching. Their attempts to find a safe route home are further complicated when they realise the artefact was taken at the order of one of the Stone King’s highest generals; a man who will use the full resources of his nation to recover it.
This novel is written in a medium-to-distant third person voice that switches between several characters. Although, this style will be familiar to—and potentially even preferred by—readers of classic fantasy, it results in a higher level of exposition than occurs in close third person or first person narratives, especially in the opening chapters, so might seem dry to some readers.
Where these transitions between character viewpoints occur within a chapter they are not marked by a clear break in the text; however, the first sentence of a new viewpoint gives a clear indication of the change. Further, each section features a significant chunk of events. As such, while some readers might experience an instant of uncertainty following a few of the shifts, the narrative feels layered rather than jumpy.
The plot is formed of three major threads: the unit’s attempts to reach safety, the issues caused by a newly hatched dragon, and the broader consequences of the plot by the Stone King and his generals. Norfield skilfully weaves these together, using each to both complicate and advance each of the others. This both allows lulls in one thread without losing overall tension and adds to the sense of actions having consequences beyond the immediate problem that underpins a plausible epic narrative.
This sense of tension and scale is further supported by the visceral nature of Norfield’s magic system. While the actual brutality occurs off page, so is abstract enough that it does not move this book into horror, the practice clearly requires a defiance of the usual order.
Raylan is a well-crafted primary protagonist. His background in sailing rather than soldiering provides a believable balance between accepting the need for process and not instinctively obeying the chain of command. This mix is further complicated by his squad leader also being his older brother, an immediately recognisable relationship of which Norfield takes full advantage.
Galirras, the dragon, is similarly well-written. Possessed of a mindset fitting for a flying lizard with no previous human contact, but also intelligent and mentally bonded to Raylan, his viewpoint is both alien enough to seem realistic and familiar enough to remain accessible.
High General Setra, main antagonist of the novel, is almost the stereotype of evil general; however, the nuances of his character are sufficient to make him still fell individual.
The supporting cast are a suitable combination of recognisable epic fantasy tropes and individual characteristics, making them interesting without drowning the epic sweep of the narrative.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking fantasy with a world-affecting plot and interesting characters.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
April 25, 2018
Windcatcher is Book I of the Stone War Chronicles.
I’m a big fan of epic fantasy novels and this one ticks all the boxes and more.
The story is written well with a decent page count and the perfect amount of detail when it’s needed. The pace of the book is perfect for all types of readers in my opinion..it’s slow enough for new readers to get immersed in Norfield’s world without be overwhelmed but for the more avid readers it moves fast enough to keep the story flowing well and has the build-up you’ll want to keep you engrossed.
So the story follows Raylan. Raylan is a member of an elite team headed by his brother Gavin tasked to take back a stolen relic after an attack on the Tiankong Empire by an unknown force.
From the outset of the book you are totally hooked in wondering who this evil force are and what their plans are.
The author packs a lot into this tale and it’s riveting..sorcery brings to life warriors stronger and taller than Raylan could ever imagine and at times it looks like our heroes will never find a way to win or even escape with their lives.
Hope appears in the form of Galirras…I try to keep my reviews spoiler free so I won’t give too much away but if you go back to the book blurb you’ll see this line “a creature buried in legends”.. that’s as much as I’ll say. :)
Something I enjoyed even more than the plot were the characters, each is given time to develop when possible as we go along instead of just feeling like they have been thrown in to make up the numbers and to provide cannon fodder for the author.
This book brings you everything you need in a fantasy book. It has a great plot developing and I’m looking forward to reading book 2 which I’ve already purchased.
I’m a big fan of epic fantasy novels and this one ticks all the boxes and more.
The story is written well with a decent page count and the perfect amount of detail when it’s needed. The pace of the book is perfect for all types of readers in my opinion..it’s slow enough for new readers to get immersed in Norfield’s world without be overwhelmed but for the more avid readers it moves fast enough to keep the story flowing well and has the build-up you’ll want to keep you engrossed.
So the story follows Raylan. Raylan is a member of an elite team headed by his brother Gavin tasked to take back a stolen relic after an attack on the Tiankong Empire by an unknown force.
From the outset of the book you are totally hooked in wondering who this evil force are and what their plans are.
The author packs a lot into this tale and it’s riveting..sorcery brings to life warriors stronger and taller than Raylan could ever imagine and at times it looks like our heroes will never find a way to win or even escape with their lives.
Hope appears in the form of Galirras…I try to keep my reviews spoiler free so I won’t give too much away but if you go back to the book blurb you’ll see this line “a creature buried in legends”.. that’s as much as I’ll say. :)
Something I enjoyed even more than the plot were the characters, each is given time to develop when possible as we go along instead of just feeling like they have been thrown in to make up the numbers and to provide cannon fodder for the author.
This book brings you everything you need in a fantasy book. It has a great plot developing and I’m looking forward to reading book 2 which I’ve already purchased.
April 23, 2020
ONE ACTION PACKED ADVENTURE!!!
Holy hellda! Norfield unleashes one non-stop, action packed, hard hitting, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, page flipping dynamo, delivering a brilliantly composed bombshell, displaying an impressive storyline and gripping plot, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. Satisfaction rocks this jewel, bringing it home with such intensity and precision, riding roughshod and imparting one block busting delight, thrusting this gem to life spectacularly. A multitude of horrendous trials and formidable tribulations, exposing the shocking twists and wicked turns, putting our characters through their paces, testing them in ways they could have never anticipated. Anarchy, escapades and havoc run amuck, kicking this bad boy into a raging tempest, blasting it into a tailspin with a mind-blowing culmination. Rousting the drama, turmoil, intrigue, underlying threats, danger, spiraling suspense and nailbiting situations along with a boatload of trouble while dodging bedlem, you have one mind-blowing adventure. The characters, banter, dialogue, interactions, charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, blend and flow, transforming into genuinely charismatic personalities. The scenes are written with such realism, impressive talent and unique insight, blasts this sparkling jewel to life, making the storyline pop. Awesome job Norfield, thanks for sharing this little treasures with us.
Holy hellda! Norfield unleashes one non-stop, action packed, hard hitting, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, page flipping dynamo, delivering a brilliantly composed bombshell, displaying an impressive storyline and gripping plot, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. Satisfaction rocks this jewel, bringing it home with such intensity and precision, riding roughshod and imparting one block busting delight, thrusting this gem to life spectacularly. A multitude of horrendous trials and formidable tribulations, exposing the shocking twists and wicked turns, putting our characters through their paces, testing them in ways they could have never anticipated. Anarchy, escapades and havoc run amuck, kicking this bad boy into a raging tempest, blasting it into a tailspin with a mind-blowing culmination. Rousting the drama, turmoil, intrigue, underlying threats, danger, spiraling suspense and nailbiting situations along with a boatload of trouble while dodging bedlem, you have one mind-blowing adventure. The characters, banter, dialogue, interactions, charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, blend and flow, transforming into genuinely charismatic personalities. The scenes are written with such realism, impressive talent and unique insight, blasts this sparkling jewel to life, making the storyline pop. Awesome job Norfield, thanks for sharing this little treasures with us.
June 28, 2017
Very enjoyable read!
This was a fun read, and I enjoyed the characters a great deal. Loves the sweet dragon and his companion Raylan, and of course, found myself rooting for them against the evil Corza. I took away a star only because there were several errors that need to be cleaned up. I'm definitely planning to read Book II.
This was a fun read, and I enjoyed the characters a great deal. Loves the sweet dragon and his companion Raylan, and of course, found myself rooting for them against the evil Corza. I took away a star only because there were several errors that need to be cleaned up. I'm definitely planning to read Book II.
July 17, 2020
Adventure of every page.
I loved the dragon, Gilarras. And how he grow up between the adventures of his chosen one. And how he learned to be a dragon, that has amazing abilities.
I loved the dragon, Gilarras. And how he grow up between the adventures of his chosen one. And how he learned to be a dragon, that has amazing abilities.
May 18, 2016
I love fantasy novels involving dragons and enjoyed Windcatcher, the first book in the Stone War Chronicles, by A.J. Norfield. Windcatcher is an old-fashioned (in the best sense) traditional fantasy dragon novel. A small squad of soldiers travels deep into enemy territory in an attempt to retrieve a treasure stolen from their kingdom’s ally. The treasure turns out to be something thought to exist only in legends – a dragon egg. He hatches, bonds with one of the soldiers, and becomes an ally in their fight against the enemy.
First person narrators are all the rage these days, and I’m tired of them. I’m especially tired of unreliable first person narrators. Give me a good old omniscient third person narrator any day. It was refreshing to read Windcatcher from that standpoint – it reads like a throwback fantasy novel.
Windcatcher starts slowly, but I recognize that one has to take the time to do some world building in a long fantasy series. Once the dragon, Galirras, hatches and joins the cast of characters, things really take off.
The author is also a fan of traditional fantasy, and it shows. Sometimes the story is derivative. For example, on page 300 I could hear the Wilhelm scream used in many blockbusters, including The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, in this sentence: “The soldier disappeared from sight with a high-pitched scream.” But since the book is well written and well plotted, I can forgive the occasional lapse into cliché.
One way in which the book is not quite traditional is that the author does attempt to work in some diversity. For example, there is a “same gender” couple in the small troop, and the human tells the dragon, “Unfortunately, same gender lovers are heavily frowned upon by some. You often hear about such people being ridiculed, beaten up, or worse. They’re ignorant and small-minded people that do those things. I mean, who gave them the right to judge how others should feel?” (p. 159 of the ebook)
I do wish the Evil Bad Guy had a little more depth. He is pretty much a stereotypical, one dimensional fantasy villain. I’d like some explanation as to why he is evil and what motivates him. I was surprised by a violent episode that occurred at the end of chapter 13. It seemed extreme compared to the tone of the rest of the book, and its only point seemed to be “hey, this guy is really evil!” Perhaps we will learn more in the second book.
Book one definitely does not stand alone. It stops in the middle of the story, and I’m ready for book two. If you like immersive traditional fantasy novels, especially those involving dragons, I recommend Windcatcher.
I was given a free digital copy of Windcatcher by the author in exchange for an honest review.
First person narrators are all the rage these days, and I’m tired of them. I’m especially tired of unreliable first person narrators. Give me a good old omniscient third person narrator any day. It was refreshing to read Windcatcher from that standpoint – it reads like a throwback fantasy novel.
Windcatcher starts slowly, but I recognize that one has to take the time to do some world building in a long fantasy series. Once the dragon, Galirras, hatches and joins the cast of characters, things really take off.
The author is also a fan of traditional fantasy, and it shows. Sometimes the story is derivative. For example, on page 300 I could hear the Wilhelm scream used in many blockbusters, including The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, in this sentence: “The soldier disappeared from sight with a high-pitched scream.” But since the book is well written and well plotted, I can forgive the occasional lapse into cliché.
One way in which the book is not quite traditional is that the author does attempt to work in some diversity. For example, there is a “same gender” couple in the small troop, and the human tells the dragon, “Unfortunately, same gender lovers are heavily frowned upon by some. You often hear about such people being ridiculed, beaten up, or worse. They’re ignorant and small-minded people that do those things. I mean, who gave them the right to judge how others should feel?” (p. 159 of the ebook)
I do wish the Evil Bad Guy had a little more depth. He is pretty much a stereotypical, one dimensional fantasy villain. I’d like some explanation as to why he is evil and what motivates him. I was surprised by a violent episode that occurred at the end of chapter 13. It seemed extreme compared to the tone of the rest of the book, and its only point seemed to be “hey, this guy is really evil!” Perhaps we will learn more in the second book.
Book one definitely does not stand alone. It stops in the middle of the story, and I’m ready for book two. If you like immersive traditional fantasy novels, especially those involving dragons, I recommend Windcatcher.
I was given a free digital copy of Windcatcher by the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2018
Windcatcher Book 1 of the Stone War Chronicles by A.J. Norfield.
This is a very entertaining story of an egg, a man, and a tyrant wanting to steal something that isn't his.
When foreign soldiers invade a monastery that houses the most sacred relic of an old empire, taking it, the Emperor sends out an emissary to the neighboring kingdom of Aeterra asking for help to get it back.
Raylan and his older brother Gavin, along with a small troop of men, are dispatched to intercept the thieves and retrieve the relic, which they manage to do after a nasty fight against some very inhuman creatures. But once they defeat the enemy and go back to the wagon transporting the relic, they find it gone! After a thorough search, it's found hidden in the back of a cave, but when breaking the lock to get into the chest, Raylan finds it full of hot embers and rocks upon which is nesting the biggest egg he's ever seen!
It's when he puts his hand on it that he gets a shock, though. There's something alive inside it! And as he touches the egg, he can feel the creature butting against his hand and even following his hand around, as he rests it on different parts of the shell. Not only that but he suddenly feels an instinctive protectiveness towards it, wanting to keep it safe.
But the Stone King has sent out a troop of men to recover the egg again after it was taken back, he's not pleased that his High General Corza Setra has somehow managed to lose the egg he went to such great pains to acquire. He sends Corza back out to recover it again, but this time, the troop is under High General Koltar Wayler's command. The King tells Koltar to watch over Corza and make sure that there are no mishaps this time.
But, it seems that Corza has his own plans for world domination too, and that includes stealing the Stone King's acquisition for himself to use. The enemy manages to catch up with our hero's and attack causing chaos to both sides with more unworldly beasts as lives are lost. But it's when the wagon overturns upsetting the relic and throwing it out of the chest to tumble headfirst down a hill straight into a tree stump, that things start to get weird!
The Egg shatters into pieces as a young newborn dragon is brought into the world with a bump!
But will it survive? Is it strong enough? It's a long journey back home, and Corza is on their heels all the way, so will any of them make it?
This is a brilliant book that I highly recommend reading. It was so good that I immediately went back to the beginning and re-read it all over again!
The next book in the Stone War Chronicles is called Wavebreaker and should also be out sometime this year.
This is a very entertaining story of an egg, a man, and a tyrant wanting to steal something that isn't his.
When foreign soldiers invade a monastery that houses the most sacred relic of an old empire, taking it, the Emperor sends out an emissary to the neighboring kingdom of Aeterra asking for help to get it back.
Raylan and his older brother Gavin, along with a small troop of men, are dispatched to intercept the thieves and retrieve the relic, which they manage to do after a nasty fight against some very inhuman creatures. But once they defeat the enemy and go back to the wagon transporting the relic, they find it gone! After a thorough search, it's found hidden in the back of a cave, but when breaking the lock to get into the chest, Raylan finds it full of hot embers and rocks upon which is nesting the biggest egg he's ever seen!
It's when he puts his hand on it that he gets a shock, though. There's something alive inside it! And as he touches the egg, he can feel the creature butting against his hand and even following his hand around, as he rests it on different parts of the shell. Not only that but he suddenly feels an instinctive protectiveness towards it, wanting to keep it safe.
But the Stone King has sent out a troop of men to recover the egg again after it was taken back, he's not pleased that his High General Corza Setra has somehow managed to lose the egg he went to such great pains to acquire. He sends Corza back out to recover it again, but this time, the troop is under High General Koltar Wayler's command. The King tells Koltar to watch over Corza and make sure that there are no mishaps this time.
But, it seems that Corza has his own plans for world domination too, and that includes stealing the Stone King's acquisition for himself to use. The enemy manages to catch up with our hero's and attack causing chaos to both sides with more unworldly beasts as lives are lost. But it's when the wagon overturns upsetting the relic and throwing it out of the chest to tumble headfirst down a hill straight into a tree stump, that things start to get weird!
The Egg shatters into pieces as a young newborn dragon is brought into the world with a bump!
But will it survive? Is it strong enough? It's a long journey back home, and Corza is on their heels all the way, so will any of them make it?
This is a brilliant book that I highly recommend reading. It was so good that I immediately went back to the beginning and re-read it all over again!
The next book in the Stone War Chronicles is called Wavebreaker and should also be out sometime this year.
September 3, 2018
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 out of 5
A great first book. Reminiscent of Eragon and the Temeraire series, Norfield has introduced me to world I can't wait to further immerse myself into. This book was hard to put down, from start to finish he had my attention.
Some of the dialogue seemed staged or clunky at times and there was some over explaining of plans and characters thought processes, which I tend to see in YA books. Without that my rating would have been 5/5
I look forward to seeing what more will come from this author as he continues to grow and develop his writing.
4.5 out of 5
A great first book. Reminiscent of Eragon and the Temeraire series, Norfield has introduced me to world I can't wait to further immerse myself into. This book was hard to put down, from start to finish he had my attention.
Some of the dialogue seemed staged or clunky at times and there was some over explaining of plans and characters thought processes, which I tend to see in YA books. Without that my rating would have been 5/5
I look forward to seeing what more will come from this author as he continues to grow and develop his writing.
May 15, 2016
a fast paced adventure story. a team is sent to retrieve a stolen object. part of the team are two brothers Gavin and raylan. I loved the interaction and sibling rivalry between the brothers. the team are deep in enemy territory when they find the missing object, a dragon egg, the ONLY dragon egg. the dragonet gilarris is immensely appealing as a character. he bonds with raylan and they can communicate telepathically.
not since the dragon books of the late Anne McCaffrey have I been so drawn to a dragon. the team have many adventures making new friends. no spoilers so you need to read it yourself. meanwhile, I want a dragon!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
not since the dragon books of the late Anne McCaffrey have I been so drawn to a dragon. the team have many adventures making new friends. no spoilers so you need to read it yourself. meanwhile, I want a dragon!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
September 17, 2018
1.5/5
386 pages| LowSea Publishing| Fantasy
The digest: a slow-paced novel which unfortunately didn’t live up to the hype.
Another negative review I’m afraid. TLDR: story is unoriginal and lacks distinguishing features. Could be a good YA read but anyone expecting much more than that will be disappointed.
Windcatcher is the first novel in a series (The Stone War Chronicles) which focuses on a young male protagonist as he befriends a dragon, never really too sure of what is going on or how he is able to achieve what he does. Sound familiar? That is because Windcatcher doesn’t seek to subvert the usual genre norms but in fact employ them to create a… mishmash novel.
Evil general trying to subvert the ruler’s word? Check. Simplified worldbuilding with too little info for anything much to have an impact? Check. A cast of characters I don’t really care about due to their lack of individuality? Check and check. Unfortunately, this novel plays on too many over-familiar fantasy tropes without the great pay off at the end (or consistent quality throughout) to keep me interested.
What did I like about this book? There are a couple of interesting examples of in-world technology which were rather well-executed and really did add to the overall story, and there is one solid use of magic/ magical being which really interested me. The problem with both of these (but especially the latter) is how little part overall they play – the magical creature should (I feel) have played a much more fundamental role in the story due to how much it is focused on during the earlier passages.
Furthermore, there is a fair amount of intrigue at the very start and very end of the novel, where I really did not know what was going to happen. The beginning, in particular, had me hooked and ready to dive into a new epic fantasy setting. Sadly, that isn’t what followed.
Perhaps the most disappointing thing about Windcatcher was how the main body of the novel departed from the opening pages so much. These scenes focus on an Asian-inspired monastery which is home to a magical artefact of sorts and has heaps of intrigue – who are the good guys in this situation? The winners? Why is this all happening now? A very promising start (at least as far as the narrative is concerned) followed by a rather basic and predictable remainder. During the brief time spent with the monks, I was truly engaged with (if a little confused by) the plot.
The characters were all a bit too bland for my liking and lacked even the most basic of personality traits. When the odd one had something untoward happen to them, I struggled to care at all. The events of the story were stretched too thin over the cast, and I feel like the author would have benefitted from cutting his rag-tag squad in half. The main character and his dragon (the presence of which is not a real spoiler) have a weird connection from the off and it jarred the flow of the story massively. I felt like this instant relationship was cheap and relied on the reader just accepting the novel’s words on face value, something I struggled with here. The cast are just not memorable, so much so that from the past five books I have read, it is the characters of Windcatcher which I remember the least, even though it was by far the longest.
The worldbuilding left a lot to be desired, with familiar geography and dragon-related lore (given to the reader just at the right time for everything to make sense – again poor literary technique) again lacking any unique sense of self. There is nothing at all to separate this storyworld from any other that I have read, and I am not too sure how some reviews disagree with this. I understand that everyone has their own opinions, but comparing this work to something original like Tolkien, satirical like Pratchett, or even well-executed like Sanderson demonstrates how this book is lacking. To improve in this aspect, I would advise the author to spend more time developing the world’s history in his own mind before trying to paint such a broad canvas as he does here. Of course, no author needs to do as much work as Tolkien, but I am a firm believer that the better an author knows his world, the easier it is for him (or her) to convey the importance of the plot to the reader. The author seems to have half thought out his world and wants to convey as much of this limited information as possible as exposition, and it really slowed down the overall pacing.
Speaking of writing style, the continued forced exposition was matched with over-explained fight scenes where it feels as if every movement is being described – another jarring aspect. Furthermore, there are a fair few examples of ‘as luck would have it’ or ‘luckily [insert action which benefits the protagonist]’ etc. – the writing style reinforces a sense of passivity on behalf of the core team. There is suddenly a good thing happening to them, or a character has re-appeared as if by magic, or the dragon saves the day etc. I can often see the effect that the author is trying to pull off, but often the execution is less than satisfactory.
Will I be recommending this novel or reading its sequels? Probably not. For me, the narrative never really proved why it was worth my time – never did it make me laugh or cry, never was I really interested in what was going on. It’s a shame as I do enjoy reading about dragons and traditional fantasy setups, but here I was just left feeling as if the author needed at least one more re-write and edit before publishing the story. 1.5/5 rounded to 2 on Goodreads.
For more reviews, have a look at my blog: aperturereads.wordpress.com
386 pages| LowSea Publishing| Fantasy
The digest: a slow-paced novel which unfortunately didn’t live up to the hype.
Another negative review I’m afraid. TLDR: story is unoriginal and lacks distinguishing features. Could be a good YA read but anyone expecting much more than that will be disappointed.
Windcatcher is the first novel in a series (The Stone War Chronicles) which focuses on a young male protagonist as he befriends a dragon, never really too sure of what is going on or how he is able to achieve what he does. Sound familiar? That is because Windcatcher doesn’t seek to subvert the usual genre norms but in fact employ them to create a… mishmash novel.
Evil general trying to subvert the ruler’s word? Check. Simplified worldbuilding with too little info for anything much to have an impact? Check. A cast of characters I don’t really care about due to their lack of individuality? Check and check. Unfortunately, this novel plays on too many over-familiar fantasy tropes without the great pay off at the end (or consistent quality throughout) to keep me interested.
What did I like about this book? There are a couple of interesting examples of in-world technology which were rather well-executed and really did add to the overall story, and there is one solid use of magic/ magical being which really interested me. The problem with both of these (but especially the latter) is how little part overall they play – the magical creature should (I feel) have played a much more fundamental role in the story due to how much it is focused on during the earlier passages.
Furthermore, there is a fair amount of intrigue at the very start and very end of the novel, where I really did not know what was going to happen. The beginning, in particular, had me hooked and ready to dive into a new epic fantasy setting. Sadly, that isn’t what followed.
Perhaps the most disappointing thing about Windcatcher was how the main body of the novel departed from the opening pages so much. These scenes focus on an Asian-inspired monastery which is home to a magical artefact of sorts and has heaps of intrigue – who are the good guys in this situation? The winners? Why is this all happening now? A very promising start (at least as far as the narrative is concerned) followed by a rather basic and predictable remainder. During the brief time spent with the monks, I was truly engaged with (if a little confused by) the plot.
The characters were all a bit too bland for my liking and lacked even the most basic of personality traits. When the odd one had something untoward happen to them, I struggled to care at all. The events of the story were stretched too thin over the cast, and I feel like the author would have benefitted from cutting his rag-tag squad in half. The main character and his dragon (the presence of which is not a real spoiler) have a weird connection from the off and it jarred the flow of the story massively. I felt like this instant relationship was cheap and relied on the reader just accepting the novel’s words on face value, something I struggled with here. The cast are just not memorable, so much so that from the past five books I have read, it is the characters of Windcatcher which I remember the least, even though it was by far the longest.
The worldbuilding left a lot to be desired, with familiar geography and dragon-related lore (given to the reader just at the right time for everything to make sense – again poor literary technique) again lacking any unique sense of self. There is nothing at all to separate this storyworld from any other that I have read, and I am not too sure how some reviews disagree with this. I understand that everyone has their own opinions, but comparing this work to something original like Tolkien, satirical like Pratchett, or even well-executed like Sanderson demonstrates how this book is lacking. To improve in this aspect, I would advise the author to spend more time developing the world’s history in his own mind before trying to paint such a broad canvas as he does here. Of course, no author needs to do as much work as Tolkien, but I am a firm believer that the better an author knows his world, the easier it is for him (or her) to convey the importance of the plot to the reader. The author seems to have half thought out his world and wants to convey as much of this limited information as possible as exposition, and it really slowed down the overall pacing.
Speaking of writing style, the continued forced exposition was matched with over-explained fight scenes where it feels as if every movement is being described – another jarring aspect. Furthermore, there are a fair few examples of ‘as luck would have it’ or ‘luckily [insert action which benefits the protagonist]’ etc. – the writing style reinforces a sense of passivity on behalf of the core team. There is suddenly a good thing happening to them, or a character has re-appeared as if by magic, or the dragon saves the day etc. I can often see the effect that the author is trying to pull off, but often the execution is less than satisfactory.
Will I be recommending this novel or reading its sequels? Probably not. For me, the narrative never really proved why it was worth my time – never did it make me laugh or cry, never was I really interested in what was going on. It’s a shame as I do enjoy reading about dragons and traditional fantasy setups, but here I was just left feeling as if the author needed at least one more re-write and edit before publishing the story. 1.5/5 rounded to 2 on Goodreads.
For more reviews, have a look at my blog: aperturereads.wordpress.com
July 3, 2016
I have to admit when I started this book, I wasn't sure about it. But after the first few chapters, I was hooked. The characters were so well done, and the action was nonstop to the last page, literally. I actually found myself holding my breath several times and once when the characters were in danger, I found myself pleading they would be OK. All I have to say is if you like well-drawn characters you are going to root for, give this book a shot. I can't wait for the next in this series. It needs to come as soon as possible!
January 27, 2019
Well, this was such a refreshing read! At first I wasn’t sure what to make of it, I thought it would be another fantasy story with a lot of dudes battling each other and a rather grim outlook. And while it did have a lot of dudes battling (and at least one lady), it was a pretty heart-felt epic fantasy about a guy and his dragon. Don’t get me wrong, there’s some grim parts as well, but the overall tone becomes pretty hopeful partway into the story.
I loved the way the book started off, right away we’re thrust into the world and learn that there are some pretty bad folks out there. This first opening bit was very well written with quite an emotional impact. This really set the stage for things to come.
From there we’re taken to a band of warriors sent on a mission from their king along with a foreign dignitary (of sorts) to help their allies retrieve an precious relic that was taken from them. Right away we learn what kind of fighters our heroes are, how they are methodical and like to use strategy, which I appreciated (I love when folks use actual strategy instead of just running headlong into battle without a plan!) Their band is on the smaller side and eventually we’ll get to know all of the group, but it’s Raylan, a sailor turned soldier, and his older brother Gavin, the leader of the group, who we spend the most time with. I do appreciate that we get to know the side characters eventually as well not only because it made you care about what happened to them, but it made for richer storytelling overall.
Several encounters between our group and the antagonists make for some first rate action scenes as our characters are first on retrieval duty and then fleeing while the enemy has them boxed in and is hot on their heels. I appreciated the cinematic quality of a few of these sections–one when they’re fleeing over a bridge that crosses a deep ravine/gorge, and the final encounter I found especially engaging. The action kept the pace of the story going well, but I also appreciated the more leisurely parts of the story where we got to spend time getting to know our characters.
Once the dragon shows up in the story is where things really went from good to great for me. The relationship between Raylan and Galirras was my favorite part of the book. Raylan has to teach the young dragon all sorts of things while also looking out for his well-being. Not only is the dragon a national treasure, but he’s a living being and possibly the last of his kind. That’s a lot of pressure! Galirras is like a little kid at times, and shows an acute sense of awareness at others. He’s very much his own character, not a treasure to be given to someone. He eventually becomes a huge asset to the party and a great friend as well. The interactions between the dragon and the humans brought some much needed lightness to the story.
As for criticisms, only a couple small detractors and nothing that took too much away from the overall experience of the story for me where the good far outweighed any of the bad. There was a little bit too much exposition here and there, but not so much it was overwhelming, only wish the info could have been conveyed in a less exposition-y way. Also, regarding the villains–I appreciated seeing things from their POV’s but I think that sometimes they were shown to be evil in a way that felt a little too on the nose and didn’t bring anything fresh to the table. That being said, this is probably a personal preference and it’s a very minor thing overall. Generally I did like the bad guys, especially as the each seem to have their own agenda. It’s like layers of bad guys. It’s bad guys all the way down.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to continuing on to the next book. 4/5 stars.
I loved the way the book started off, right away we’re thrust into the world and learn that there are some pretty bad folks out there. This first opening bit was very well written with quite an emotional impact. This really set the stage for things to come.
From there we’re taken to a band of warriors sent on a mission from their king along with a foreign dignitary (of sorts) to help their allies retrieve an precious relic that was taken from them. Right away we learn what kind of fighters our heroes are, how they are methodical and like to use strategy, which I appreciated (I love when folks use actual strategy instead of just running headlong into battle without a plan!) Their band is on the smaller side and eventually we’ll get to know all of the group, but it’s Raylan, a sailor turned soldier, and his older brother Gavin, the leader of the group, who we spend the most time with. I do appreciate that we get to know the side characters eventually as well not only because it made you care about what happened to them, but it made for richer storytelling overall.
Several encounters between our group and the antagonists make for some first rate action scenes as our characters are first on retrieval duty and then fleeing while the enemy has them boxed in and is hot on their heels. I appreciated the cinematic quality of a few of these sections–one when they’re fleeing over a bridge that crosses a deep ravine/gorge, and the final encounter I found especially engaging. The action kept the pace of the story going well, but I also appreciated the more leisurely parts of the story where we got to spend time getting to know our characters.
Once the dragon shows up in the story is where things really went from good to great for me. The relationship between Raylan and Galirras was my favorite part of the book. Raylan has to teach the young dragon all sorts of things while also looking out for his well-being. Not only is the dragon a national treasure, but he’s a living being and possibly the last of his kind. That’s a lot of pressure! Galirras is like a little kid at times, and shows an acute sense of awareness at others. He’s very much his own character, not a treasure to be given to someone. He eventually becomes a huge asset to the party and a great friend as well. The interactions between the dragon and the humans brought some much needed lightness to the story.
As for criticisms, only a couple small detractors and nothing that took too much away from the overall experience of the story for me where the good far outweighed any of the bad. There was a little bit too much exposition here and there, but not so much it was overwhelming, only wish the info could have been conveyed in a less exposition-y way. Also, regarding the villains–I appreciated seeing things from their POV’s but I think that sometimes they were shown to be evil in a way that felt a little too on the nose and didn’t bring anything fresh to the table. That being said, this is probably a personal preference and it’s a very minor thing overall. Generally I did like the bad guys, especially as the each seem to have their own agenda. It’s like layers of bad guys. It’s bad guys all the way down.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to continuing on to the next book. 4/5 stars.
July 31, 2025
3.25⭐️ while there were many things that made this book less than perfect, it was still quite the intriguing read. it appears as though it took me over two and a half months to read, but i stopped it early on to read other books first before returning to it about a week ago or less.
i’m going to start with the things i did like about this book: it was action-packed, i was constantly left wanting to find out more. i loved the connection with the dragon and getting to learn alongside the characters about Galliras and where he comes from. in some ways, parts of the book was predictable but i enjoy books like that i think.
now for the not so great parts. i loved the characters within the book! i was left wanting to know the backstories of each of them, though much is left unsaid. the characterization in the story appears lacking. the only characters i felt i was able to connect with were raylan and the dragon, and sebastian somewhat too. i believe most of the characters could have had interesting stories or growth if explored a bit further but they all, including the main characters, felt quite two-dimensional. maybe this was related to the third person omniscient perspective? i’m not sure. i know this book was indie-published, so i understand all the copy errors being missed and there wasn’t much in terms of formal editing, but there was an abundant amount of simple errors throughout the book. while it didn’t make reading this harder, it definitely was a little distracting. the last thing is how the writing didn’t allow much in terms of story immersion. it was a lot of telling rather than showing [“show, don’t tell.”] which made me not realize what was happening fully at times, specifically during the times of fighting. it seems like the story was focused more on the adventure and the characters and not so much the action even though its frequent and vital. though i believe ALL of these could have been easily fixed with an editor!
all that said, i still really enjoyed the journey this book brought me on! eventually i would like to read the rest of the series, but i’m going to have to put this on the back burner for now.
i’m going to start with the things i did like about this book: it was action-packed, i was constantly left wanting to find out more. i loved the connection with the dragon and getting to learn alongside the characters about Galliras and where he comes from. in some ways, parts of the book was predictable but i enjoy books like that i think.
now for the not so great parts. i loved the characters within the book! i was left wanting to know the backstories of each of them, though much is left unsaid. the characterization in the story appears lacking. the only characters i felt i was able to connect with were raylan and the dragon, and sebastian somewhat too. i believe most of the characters could have had interesting stories or growth if explored a bit further but they all, including the main characters, felt quite two-dimensional. maybe this was related to the third person omniscient perspective? i’m not sure. i know this book was indie-published, so i understand all the copy errors being missed and there wasn’t much in terms of formal editing, but there was an abundant amount of simple errors throughout the book. while it didn’t make reading this harder, it definitely was a little distracting. the last thing is how the writing didn’t allow much in terms of story immersion. it was a lot of telling rather than showing [“show, don’t tell.”] which made me not realize what was happening fully at times, specifically during the times of fighting. it seems like the story was focused more on the adventure and the characters and not so much the action even though its frequent and vital. though i believe ALL of these could have been easily fixed with an editor!
all that said, i still really enjoyed the journey this book brought me on! eventually i would like to read the rest of the series, but i’m going to have to put this on the back burner for now.
August 15, 2018
*Disclaimer* I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this book.
This is the opening book in a large epic fantasy story with dragons which really should be completely my wheelhouse but I found the experience jarring and tedious at the same time.
My main issue that I just could not get past was the author trying to world build with a ridiculous amount of exposition shoe horned into the plot. I understand that Norfield has this entire world stuck in his head and feels the need to get every aspect of what he can see, and has constructed, onto the page but as a lover of epic fantasy I found this amateurish and off putting. Which was unfortunate because there were 2 really interesting events happening at the start of this book that normally I would have been enthralled by but for the constant interruptions to explain back story of characters, lay out of country side and political musterings between waring factions. All of these elements can be left till later when the reader has a) remembered the names of the characters and b) invested emotionally in those characters.
My secondary issue was the lengthy/wordy descriptions for EVERYTHING. We get a blow by blow list of the scratches everyone got in a battle with the enemy... big injuries and deaths only and that can be done in the action sequence please.
I really think if this had just got into the action/ main plot and left the world building to happen organically I think this would be a great book as the elements are all there but buried in to many words for words sake and exposition I would have really enjoyed it but unfortunately it was and I could not bring myself to keep going.
I really wanted to like this book.
This is the opening book in a large epic fantasy story with dragons which really should be completely my wheelhouse but I found the experience jarring and tedious at the same time.
My main issue that I just could not get past was the author trying to world build with a ridiculous amount of exposition shoe horned into the plot. I understand that Norfield has this entire world stuck in his head and feels the need to get every aspect of what he can see, and has constructed, onto the page but as a lover of epic fantasy I found this amateurish and off putting. Which was unfortunate because there were 2 really interesting events happening at the start of this book that normally I would have been enthralled by but for the constant interruptions to explain back story of characters, lay out of country side and political musterings between waring factions. All of these elements can be left till later when the reader has a) remembered the names of the characters and b) invested emotionally in those characters.
My secondary issue was the lengthy/wordy descriptions for EVERYTHING. We get a blow by blow list of the scratches everyone got in a battle with the enemy... big injuries and deaths only and that can be done in the action sequence please.
I really think if this had just got into the action/ main plot and left the world building to happen organically I think this would be a great book as the elements are all there but buried in to many words for words sake and exposition I would have really enjoyed it but unfortunately it was and I could not bring myself to keep going.
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