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Legends of the Tri-Gard #1

Prophecy of Darkness

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Only magic can save them from what is coming, but first, it must be reclaimed.

Twenty years ago, war devastated Dreach. Bloody and cruel, it ravaged the realm and stripped magic from Dreach-Sciene.
Without magic, there is no hope. No life. For Prince Trystan Renauld, there is no choice. As his people starve, his enemy prepares for a final showdown that will decide the fate of the realm.

Without magical power, he and his people will lose everything. Even with it, they may fail.

Against a backdrop of prophecy, curses, and forbidden love, Trystan must reunite the legendary Tri-Gard, keepers of the magic, and find the power he’s always believed was a fairy tale: magic, the very foundation of life. With both sides preparing for battle, it’s a race against time—and against the kind of darkness that can destroy them all.

Unknown Binding

First published October 20, 2017

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Michelle Bryan

33 books221 followers

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5 stars
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54 (28%)
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24 (12%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
Profile Image for Dianne.
6,817 reviews633 followers
January 26, 2018
Prophecies, curses, forbidden love, dying lands and stolen magic. Two authors come together to give us a dark fantasy romance and have doubled their WOW Power! Michelle Bryan and Michelle Lynn’s PROPHECY OF DARKNESS is a tale of survival for a dying realm and the quest for one young prince to give his all for one last chance at restoring the magic that was stolen twenty years before. To do so he must learn to believe in the magic he never saw, and reunite the Tri-Gard, the keepers of magic who hold the power to return prosperity and life to his world before they are finally decimated by an ancient and evil enemy.

What Trystan never expected was to lose his heart to a beautiful stranger who could very well be the weapon that brings him down.

Travel on a perilous journey, battle the unknown forces that block their way, discover the trials of finding the Tri-Gard and feel the well-timed moments of humor and heart color this tale in vivid shades of fantasy as a prince and a princess find new inner strengths and love in a world where magic means life and traitors hide in plain sight.

Two authors, engaging story, seamlessly mesmerizing from start to an ending that will leave you breathless.

I received a complimentary copy of Fire and Fantasy from C.K. Dawn. This book is part of that anthology!

Series: Legends of The Tri-Gard - Book 1
Paperback: 262 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 13, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1974549372
ISBN-13: 978-1974549375
Genre: Fantasy
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Profile Image for Patrick Hodges.
Author 48 books122 followers
October 2, 2017
Having read both Michelle Bryan's and Michelle Lynn's previous works, and enjoyed all of them immensely, I was tantalized by the prospect of having them team up to write a fantasy series. I played a game with myself, trying to determine if a certain passage was written by one Michelle or the other.

Honestly? I lost that game. Both writers are so good, and their styles flow together so seamlessly, that I couldn't tell where one Michelle left off and the other began. The characters, as expected, had depth and relatability, the world they inhabited was well fleshed out, and I especially loved the way the tension continued to build, making me turn page after page until I hit the last one.

The worst part about this book is now I have to wait for Part Two!

Well done, Michelles! This book is truly a big ol' feather in both your caps!
Profile Image for G.K. DeRosa.
Author 83 books1,528 followers
September 20, 2017
I couldn't not put this book down! The authors pull you into the fantasy world of Dreach from page one. There's a diverse cast of characters each with a unique voice and intriguing backstory. The Prince and Princess along with their friends are on a journey to save their magic-devoid kingdom but with traitorous dukes, an evil king and treachery everywhere, it proves to be quite a daunting task. I loved the back and forth between Davi and Rissa and I totally ship them. Which leads me to the shocking ending... what?! I won't give it away but it left me totally slack-jawed. I greatly recommend this to fans of Game of Thrones and I can't wait for the next one!
Profile Image for Kelly Clare.
Author 67 books3,245 followers
November 16, 2017
Blissfully lost in this epic journey from the first page
228 reviews26 followers
April 14, 2018
That ending........
description

The best way I could describe this book would be, a spin-off or a retelling of Merlin.

This book reminded me of Merlin, one of my all-time favorite TV shows, except it wasn't exactly that. A lot of the main plots that make up the show Merlin are reversed and used in this book.

In Merlin, magic was banned and thought to be almost instinct. Although a few of the main characters believed that the return of magic would be a good thing, the King would kill anyone who attempts to do anything related to magic. In Prophecy of Darkness, the return of magic to the king is something that is vital for the Kingdom to flourish, fixing all of the problems.

Both stories carry the prophecy of having a commoner being by the side of the Princes as they attempt to save their kingdoms and return magic back to the lands. Even the clique of characters had a lot of personal trait similarities. but it is all jumbled up and given to different characters. And although I would have been satisfied with reading this as a Merlin Retelling, this story is so much more than that.

The magical world is simple, yet fascinating. From backstories to things that are happening in the present, the world building kept me hooked. But what I loved the most was the characters. The emotional struggles were so real, that sometimes I forgot I was reading a fictional book. The character I loved the most is Davi, and the character that I sympathized with the most is Lorelai.

What amazed me was how this book was written by two authors, yet there weren't any conflicting writing styles. Their voices blended as one, leading for the book to be perfectly executed.

I am not going to lie, that ending broke my heart. I can't wait to read the sequel, and hopefully, things get better in that book.


I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Bethany.
Author 22 books98 followers
August 24, 2017
When Trystan is named Toha, he becomes the protector of the realm instead of the ordinary prince. Because of this responsibility, Trystan realizes that he has to be the one to save the realm from war and starvation. Without magic, the crops aren't growing like they should and war is raging. The solution to their problems is to restore the Tri-Gard.

Trystan sets off with his sister Rissa and his best friend Davion. On their journey, they discover Lady Alixa who has escaped from her treacherous father. With her insistence, Alixa accompanies them as they continue on with their quest.

I absolutely loved the fantasy element that both Michelle Lynn and Michelle Bryan deliver. I loved the romance between Trystan and Alixa and then, Rissa and Davion. Davion has to be my favorite character because of his wit and charm, but a princess has to marry a prince, which leaves a hole between Rissa and Davion.

All I have to say is that these two authors did an excellent job at developing characters that you fall in love with and want to route for. They also create a world that you hope to see pull through. This story has a Game of Thrones feel and I am eagerly awaiting the second one!
Profile Image for Gina Azzi.
Author 70 books819 followers
January 24, 2018
Prophecy of Darkness by M. Lynn and Michelle Bryan is a captivating, entertaining, and exciting adventure! The authors have created a riveting tale with interesting, complicated, and sympathetic characters that take the reader on a journey with many unexpected twists and turns.

Trystan, son of the King, is determined to reunite the magical Tri-gard in order to restore magic to his realm and provide for his people. Joining him on his quest are his best friend Davi, his sister Rissa, and the daughter of a traitor who keeps Trystan on his toes. While this band of misfits encounters many perils, they also manage to maintain their humor, form friendships, and fall in love.

Just when success seems possible, a capture occurs – leading to the biggest and most unexpected plot twist of all! I am anxiously awaiting the release of the next book. As someone who does not often read fantasy, Prophecy of Darkness surpassed all of my expectations and kept me glued to my chair, devouring the pages well into the night. I feel so invested in these characters and can’t wait to see what book 2 has in store for them.
Profile Image for L.J. Higgins.
Author 25 books46 followers
December 27, 2017
As a fan of their previous works, when I heard Michelle Bryan and Michelle Lynn had teamed up to write a fantasy series I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. It didn’t disappoint!
In a kingdom without magic, Prince Trystan’s people are devastated by famine and extreme weather and he fears that the whispers of a dark force brewing could be the beginning of the end of his kingdom. That is, if he can’t revive magic.
Although he’s unsure if magic is even real, he knows finding it is his only chance to save his people.
Prophecy of Darkness introduces us to the world of Dreach-Sciene in great detail while revealing the history of magic, how it was lost, and what must be done to recover it.
With an array of interesting characters, light humour, strong females, seamless storytelling and a dash of magic, I highly recommend you pick up the first book in the Legends of the Tri-Guard series.
Profile Image for Natasha Clark-French.
211 reviews3 followers
January 9, 2018
This was a great book and a strong start to a series. I loved the characters, the storyline, and the imagery. I did remove a star because there was some dialogue that wasn't authentic to the scene or the characters. I particularly disliked the "special snowflake" dialogue. It pulled me right out if the story but thankfully it's good enough that I was able continue reading and only wasted a couple minutes steaming over it. I will absolutely be continuing this series asap.

*I volunteered to read and honestly review an ARC of this book*
234 reviews
December 30, 2017
Firstly, if you hate cliffhangers, wait for more.

I found this story easy to get into and, once it dragged you in, you were hooked until the end.

Sort of good kingdom and bad kingdom but wee twists and turns keep you guessing AND the ending.....WOW, was so not expecting that!!

A few laughs and some serious parts, even sad!

I really liked this and can't wait for more!
Profile Image for Carole Rae.
1,619 reviews42 followers
January 19, 2020
I honestly can't remember how/why I got this from Amazon. Was it a freebie? Can't remember, but it has been collecting virtual dust on my shelf. Time to dust it off and read it!


The story takes place in Dreach-Sciene where the magic has been gone for 20 years. The land is withering away. A war is threatening to break out. The only hope to return the magic to the land is through Prince Trystan. With the help of his friend and his sister, they take off to save the land. First, they must reunite the Tri-Gard who are the keepers of magic.


This was pretty fun. The world is interesting and I feel bad that all the magic is gone and everything is slowly withering away.


The beginning took foreverrrrrrrrrrrr, but it was setting up our characters and world. I just wanted more action and adventure. I'm sure book 2 will have more of that now that everything is established and in motion.


I liked the sister and Davi. Trystan...meh so far. I'm sure he'll get better as we go along. *fingers crossed*


That poor king! D: Can't say why, but poor guy.


Not really sure how I feel about the romance aspect. It didn't take over the plot, thank goodness, but I feel like it was forced and cliche. Maybe I'll feel different later.


OoooOOOoo that cliff hanger ending. Not cool. But it makes me curious to check out book 2.


Overall, I liked this more than I thought I would. However, it did take me a while to warm up to the story and get hooked. I am curious about book 2. Someday maybe. I'll give this 3 stars.
Profile Image for Emily Wilson.
47 reviews6 followers
May 17, 2018
For this review, I read Prophecy of Darkness by M. Lynn and Michelle Bryan. This is a fantasy novel about two kingdoms destined to clash- prophecies, curses, sacrifices, and betrayals—there’s a lot going on. A prince rises to the occasion when he learns that his kingdom is dying; the land lost its magic, and the people are starving. With the odds stacked against him and the party, they will face trials and tribulations and heartbreak.

            I’m going, to be honest, overall, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. But I had a couple of issues with this novel.

Tropes about Prophecies and “Chosen Ones.” They are extremely tiring and I couldn’t help to find it very unoriginal.
Inaccurate speech. Some of the dialogue was very modern and unbelievable. While the date or era isn’t specific, I still felt that the authors try to make the dialogues a little less contemporary.
Otherwise, this was a pleasing read! I’m definitely going to read the sequel that will hopefully be out soon enough!

I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of epic fantasies.

Thank you NetGalley and Weaponry CoOp for this awesome opportunity!
Profile Image for debturk1970_bookvibes.
1,857 reviews18 followers
August 7, 2018
Thoroughly Gripping!!👍
(Read using Kindle Unlimited)

This is quite an intricate tale about two warring realms. One no longer has magic but the other does and unfortunately it's King has nothing but a thirst for power, an enjoyment of inflicting pain & a deep desire to seek revenge against the woman he loved that spurned him - Oh but she died in childbirth 20years ago so he figures crushing her husband, the other realms King and her two children will do - after all he's been torturing her Father for all of those 20 years so it's time others suffered too!!!😳😳but

This is a story of love, family, betrayal, murder & an epic journey to restore magic to their realm before King Calis invades or starvation kills their people 😢 Prince Trystan, his bestfriend & Second in Command Davi, Princess Rissa, Lady Alixa plus Avery their top sword Master & Edric one of Alixa's oldest friends, have succeeded in finding & gaining the agreement of the first of the Tri-Gard to restore the magic they ripped from their earth 20 years prior ... Now they must locate & convince the second. They know where the third is - King Calis has him in his dungeons!!!😳😢

A thoroughly enjoyable read!!!👍

Debbie, 1970, UK
Profile Image for Laura Metz.
421 reviews29 followers
March 28, 2018
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was fantastic, Incredible, alluring, and fantasy at its best. I loved all of the characters in this book and I cant even fathom waiting for the next book to find out what happens. I hope Ri will be able to find her happiness once again and Trystan will be an amazing king. Loved it.
Profile Image for Lady The Owls.
389 reviews1 follower
September 30, 2017
Started slow for me and was kind of hard till I got pass chapter 1. Things picked up and boy was it exciting. Lots of action, deception and deceit happens in the story. It is well worth the time to sit and read it. You will be entertained and taken to a time that never was...
Profile Image for Crystal.
1,258 reviews8 followers
February 22, 2018
A strong prince, his loyal best friend, a stubborn princess and a quest to save a kingdom what more could you ask for?? It's all right here in a wonderful tale that I just couldn't put down. I love Trystan, Rissa and Davi! I can't wait for the next book to find out what happens next. I cried and laughed reading this.
Profile Image for Lia.
89 reviews36 followers
March 14, 2018
I was given an arc of Prophecy of Darkness, and it's really a captivating fantasy. I love fantasy books and this story that happen in a realm of kings and princesses is no different.
One doesn't know his past and his thrust into a family he isn't sure if he belong. Another has a conection to the earth her family doesn't quite believe in. The third is given high honors but doesn't know what to do with the power, in a cause to restore something he doesn't believe in. We have betrayals no one hoped for, a father that doesn't listen to the heart of this children, and two sides of magic fighting against one another, with the light side looking like its loosing. And a dead person that is brought to life again, in an unexpected turn of event.
I do wish it had a bit more action, but the action it had, had me gripping my kindle hoping for a good result. The authors did a good job witth he character development, where we get to know them and how they feel, and I hope the second book continues that development.
I can't wait to read it! :)
Profile Image for Neicy Lane.
191 reviews
March 21, 2018
One of the best books I’ve read in a while. Impatiently waiting on the next book.
776 reviews2 followers
February 19, 2018
I have to admit I don’t usually read historical thrillers but I’m glad I read this one. Again a slow burner with an ending you don’t see coming. My must read list is getting bigger and bigger. Highly recommended must read.
10 reviews
February 20, 2018
Great book

Full of action, magic, swords and a little romance what more could you want?
Except the next book. I can't wait
Profile Image for Tera Comer.
2,136 reviews48 followers
September 2, 2018
This is the first book that I have read by either author and I am glad that I chose to read this book. I could not put the book down. The diverse characters and unique world building gives this dark fantasy romance a double bang for you buck you could say. I love how there is more than one strong female character in this book and that they do not back down. I totally can not wait to see what happens in the next book!!!
170 reviews3 followers
March 7, 2018
This is the first book I’ve read by these authors, but I’m sure it won’t be the last. You will find magic, love, tragedy, honesty, betrayal, humor, death, and more. Lorelai, a seer, prophesied to Prince Trystan that “Someone you love will die because of you. Someone you love will sacrifice their life for yours. Someone you love will forsake your name. Death. Sacrifice. Betrayal. A curse of kings.” Who will die? Is there more than one interpretation of this prophecy? There are so many wonderful characters in this story—some very good and some evil. One of my favorites is Briggs, a member of the Tri-Gard. He is sometimes funny, even if his sense of humor isn’t always appreciated by others. With the unexpected surprise ending of this story, I can hardly wait for the next book to see what more can happen to my favorite characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes strong heroes and heroines, mixed with magic. I received an advance reader copy of this book and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Kat.
183 reviews32 followers
March 16, 2018
Fast paced with such likeable characters. You can’t help but get sucked into the realm. A realm stripped of magic and a band of “misfits” trying to salvage their land. And that cliffhanger! I can’t wait to read what happens next.
Profile Image for Tamaran.
33 reviews6 followers
February 6, 2018
Wonderful!

I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I do in fact I love it, this isn't your normal good kind bad king this is a story a well written story and I can't wait to find out more
Profile Image for The Mysterious Reader.
3,589 reviews66 followers
March 2, 2018
There is much to love about M. Lynn and Michelle Bryan’s Prophecy of Darkness (Legends of the Tri-Gard Book 1). Action and adventure, intrigue and betrayal. Magic. Romance. Mostly though I loved it because of it’s wonderful characters. Really the whole cast of them are perfectly crafted, but the four key characters, Trystan, his sister Rissa, Alixa and Davion (Davi), are what puts this book ahead of others. It’s a pleasure seeing them interact with the world - and most importantly, with each other. It was a pleasure reading this book.

Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Krystal.
213 reviews
January 30, 2018
Loved it!!! Everything from the plot to characters to the landscape was brought to life. This wonderful tale will transport you on a rich adventure & leave you wanting more. Trystan, Davion, Rissa, & those they picked up along the way must risk it all to save a dying kingdom. With little hope of success they will give it all to succeed.

I voluntarily agreed to review this book, and was given an Advanced Reader Copy to do so.
Profile Image for Jennifer Lil'n  Dunski.
1,522 reviews15 followers
February 26, 2018
**I received a ARC and am giving an honest review**

This is the first book I've read by either author and I'm simply blown away! It has a great story line, fantastic characters and background. Action, magic, wow moments, a dash of romance, some comedy to keep it lively, betrayal.

This story is intense and pulls you right into the mix. I was so enthralled, I was up most of the night reading this! It's truly an incredible book and I can't wait for #2!
Profile Image for Lillian.
1,085 reviews68 followers
November 20, 2017
I received an eARC of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

I had the pleasure of beta reading Prophecy of Darkness back in May and I am so excited to finally be able to share it with you 😀 Prophecy of Darkness by Michelle Bryan, M. Lynn is an exciting, new fantasy about a land whose magic is gone. Without magic, the kingdom of Dreach-Sciene is dying, nothing grows, famine looms and rebellions are beginning to pop up. Their only hope is a prophecy that talks about the legendary Tri-Gard, reuniting them and bringing magic back to the land.

So the beginning of this book has a bit of a slow pace as the authors set the stage and develop the world. However it picks up quickly and I found that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! Prince Trystan was an easy character to like. His transition from spoiled prince to Toha is one that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. You have a prince who isn’t ready to take on the responsibility of the kingdom, yet he dons the new title without hesitation, ready to face the darkness and save his people.

In addition to Trystan though are his friends and sister. Rissa is probably my favorite character of the book. She’s a force to be reckoned with and I dare anyone to try and stop her. She’s the princess and expected to act as such, yet she reminds me a little of Merida from Disney’s Brave. She’s not the typical princess, she wants to fight beside her brother against the oncoming darkness instead of sit back at the palace. Her insistence in being trained along side her brother and Davion means she is capable of defending herself and she is a better shot than both the boys.

Trystan along with his sister, best friend Davion, and Lady Alixa begin the long journey to find the Tri-Gard and stop the dark from rising. Their journey is filled with perils and adventure, but also hardship. The journey acts as an eye opener for Trystan and Rissa. They see for the first time what their people in the villages are facing and become even more determined to find the legendary Tri-Gard, despite not believing in magic (at least Trystan doesn’t).

Full of action and adventure, entangled romance, and betrayal, Prophecy of Darkness is one of my favorite reads of the year. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys epic fantasy, Throne of Glass or A Game of Thrones. It doesn’t disappoint!
16.7k reviews155 followers
January 28, 2018
i got an arc copy and i want to review
they need to regain the art of magic if they are to survive but those who had been able to use them have been hidden for years even before he was born. he will go on the hunt to find them as they need help now. a great read
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