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Gift of the Shaper

D.L. Jennings (Goodreads Author)

4.10 · Rating details · 67 ratings · 26 reviews

For thousands of years, the Breaker of the Dawn has been locked away in the ethereal plane of the Otherworld. Now, a young blacksmith’s apprentice finds himself trapped in a war between the noble Athrani, a subset of humanity gifted with the ability to transmute matter, and the malevolent and powerful Khyth, who seek to free the ancient god from his prison.

When his father ...more

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Paperback, 456 pages

Published February 7th 2018 by Indigo River

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· 67 ratings · 26 reviews

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Apr 11, 2018 Lizzy rated it it was amazing

This book is so great! It takes you into a fantasy world and just sucks you right in. It builds up in the first half, and is nail biting action in the second half. I finished the book and immediately wanted to know what happens next!

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Jul 26, 2018 Shāla rated it it was amazing

What an amazing book! I loved all the fun characters and their individual personalities. There were so many twists that kept me on my toes the whole time. Escaping into a new world is one of my favorite past times. I can’t wait for book two!!

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Aug 13, 2018 Christopher Schmitz rated it it was amazing

D.L. Jennings uses tight language and well-paced action to move his hero, Thornton Woods, along on his quest to save his father in Gift of the Shaper.
This is very much a coming of age tale as Thornton comes into his own, alongside his friend Miera, at the beginning of the book. But Thornton is not a stranger to hardship, as the son of a blacksmith.
Jennings’ world is fraught with peril and his writing reminds me somewhat of Robert Jordan. The lands of Derenar and Gal’Dorok likewise have original ...more

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Aug 15, 2018 Carmen rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-books-2018

I found the town of Annoch quite interesting and got the idea that there was tension in the Breaker world. As the story went on, it got more and more interesting. I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Feb 18, 2018 Jonathan rated it it was amazing

Amazing book!!! Was a bit skeptical to be honest but am really glad I picked it up. It has a great pace to it with plenty of twists and turns and a fresh look at a new fantasy world. It’ll have a place on my shelf for sure and I look forward to reading it again. Highly recommend!

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Sep 09, 2018 Jack rated it liked it

[Disclosure: I personally know the author. Our relationship has no bearing on this review.]

Gift of the Shaper is a good debut by a new, independent author. I am not an avid fantasy reader but I am familiar with major titles in the genre, along with the genre's tropes and clichés.

The good: Jennings takes the story in directions you don't always expect it to go. He handles a-b-c-d plots and weaves them together quite well. His tale has a good magic system while the lore is well-woven, and easy to ...more

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Nov 03, 2018 Reader Views rated it really liked it

Reviewed by Skyler Boudreau for Reader Views (11/18)

“Gift of the Shaper” is the first in an epic fantasy series following the struggle between two different magical orders as they fight for control of a key that will grant them access to the mysterious Otherworld, where they draw their magic from.

Author D. L. Jennings makes excellent use of the multiple narrators in this debut novel. Each one adds a fresh flavor to the narrative, keeping readers actively engaged with their individual plotlines. Reviewed by Skyler Boudreau for Reader Views (11/18)

“Gift of the Shaper” is the first in an epic fantasy series following the struggle between two different magical orders as they fight for control of a key that will grant them access to the mysterious Otherworld, where they draw their magic from.

Author D. L. Jennings makes excellent use of the multiple narrators in this debut novel. Each one adds a fresh flavor to the narrative, keeping readers actively engaged with their individual plotlines. By the end of the novel, Jennings has skillfully woven them all together in a single, spectacular battle.

Some narrators came off much stronger than others. There were times when the main character, a young blacksmith named Thorton Woods, seemed like more of a side character. While his early chapters are interesting, by the last third of the novel it seemed that his plot line had wrapped up. With the exception of providing a starting point for the main plot, I felt that his character could have been explored at a deeper level. Readers don’t learn much about him after his initial introduction until a plot twist near the end.

“Gift of the Shaper” is more plot-driven than character-driven, but for me there were a few missed opportunities for character development, particularly with Thorton and the antagonists, that could have served the story well.

One of the strongest elements of “Gift of the Shaper” is the magic system. This novel is fast-paced and action-packed, something that is only accentuated by the abilities the characters possess. Two brands of magic are put face to face during this adventure: Shaping and Breaking. Shaping is the power to transmute matter into different forms and is practiced by an ancient race called the Athrani. Breaking is similar but has some limitations the latter doesn’t. It’s used as a weapon of the antagonists; a race called the Khyth who warred with the Athrani long before “Gift of the Shaper” takes place. When both sides clash, it’s interesting to see how each style of magic interacts with the other.

“Gift of the Shaper” is a fun, entertaining debut novel that ends with a bang. With such a strong start, the rest of D. L. Jennings’ first series will definitely be something to look out for! ...more

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Oct 01, 2018 W. Boutwell rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

Confession: Fantasy is not my forte. After Lord of the Rings, I kinda got out of the hobbit. The Gift has much the same feel as LOTR without any of the Orc/Elf/Ent/Dwarf / Hobbit characters. Jennings has created a cogent new universe with characters that are novel, not only in their physical habitus but their emotional makeup. The story is riveting and the unfolding of a new world even more fascinating.
The viewpoint shifts from protagonists to antagonists; you get into everyone's head at one tim ...more

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Aug 17, 2018 Jen rated it it was amazing

I finished the book about 10 minutes ago, and I’ve already sent my recommendation to four friends who I know love fantasy. This isn’t my preferred genre, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I actually canceled plans for after work to finish it, because I had to make myself put it down to sleep the night before.

I’m admittedly frustrated with the ending of the book, but that’s only because I need there to be more. The story isn’t done, so the sequel had better be out soon.

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Sep 10, 2018 Amy Shannon rated it really liked it

Intriguing

Gift of the Shaper was a very interesting fantasy slash mythical book, as it has a feel of Greek mythology. The characters were very well developed and had a great depth to them. This was full of adventure and twists. The plot was smooth and just the right pace, so much that you would want to read quickly but then slow down to savor the story. There was the right balance of light versus darkness within the story. I look forward to reading more by this new author.

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Dec 26, 2018 Barb rated it it was amazing

A real page turner.

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Dec 09, 2019 Danielle rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy-epic-sword-sorcerery, audiobooks

A solid 4 stars.

I bought this book from the author, who signed it. We met on Instagram. Our friendship does not in any way affect the review I am about to give.

This book was a very good start, but an obvious beginning to those who have been reading in the SFF genre for a long time. It gave off serious "Eragon" vibes, which is to be expected from a brand new indie author. Overall, I felt the story and structure of the novel to be good. The pacing was okay. The characterization was good. The narra A solid 4 stars.

I bought this book from the author, who signed it. We met on Instagram. Our friendship does not in any way affect the review I am about to give.

This book was a very good start, but an obvious beginning to those who have been reading in the SFF genre for a long time. It gave off serious "Eragon" vibes, which is to be expected from a brand new indie author. Overall, I felt the story and structure of the novel to be good. The pacing was okay. The characterization was good. The narration was excellent. The only poor quality was the diction. This novel reads at a YA level and has no serious content to grant it an adult reading level, meaning it can be read at any age.

I will start off with the qualms I had with the novel.
1. The pacing was very odd as things seemed to happen much faster than other novels in the same genre. There was little to no buildup for any event and the non-action sequences seemed to have the same pacing as the action sequences. This clears up and is easier to follow at around the halfway mark in the novel.
2. There are far too many similes and metaphors for the novel and the diction is very simplistic. This can easily be fixed with a good editor and reading more adult fantasy. Unless the author wants to stick with the YA group, then only the editor would be required. It made for fast reading and for little attention to be paid to the events of the novel. This annoyed me as I am very fond of info-dumps and detail. There was little of either in the novel as it was instead: dialogue and character-heavy.
3. The novel is a bit predictable and average. The expectations I had along the way were rarely subverted and the characters fit nicely into their roles. This is not a bad thing, especially for a debut novel! This is just a little bit under my expectations for the author.

Now I will say some things I found wonderful about the story.
1. The magic system is not totally unique but is explained and implemented in a unique and refreshing way. It reminds me very strongly of the bending in Avatar: The Last Airbender but with a gray-on-gray morality that I have come to expect from other dark fantasies. It is charming and ideal for the story. Any editing to the novel should not be done to change the magic system.
2. The narration is amazing. Flat out. The author narrates his own book on the Audible edition. It is superb. I counted at least 6 different accents which made the story charming and made the characters easier to identify. If you don't buy the physical copy, definitely get the audiobook.
3. There is heart here. Even though the world appears small and the characters/plot predictable, there is heart in every word and you can feel it. This book and its series have the potential to be the next "Eragon" and to be loved and cherished by fans, especially younger ones.

Overall, the novel is a solid 4 stars. It is an amazing first attempt and I look forward to seeing what the author does next. Though it does not warrant a re-read, I would gladly listen to the novel again. I suggest the author get into some voice work, pronto. Excellent job. ...more

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Sep 12, 2020 Paige Green rated it liked it

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author and form R&R Book Tours. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Gift of the Shaper

Author: D.L. Jennings

Book Series: Highglade Series Book 1

Rating: 3.5/5

Recommended For...: fantasy lovers, ya readers

Publication Date: February 7, 2018

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, kidnapping, gore, war)

Publisher: Indigo River

Pages: 456

Synopsis: For thousands of years, the Breaker of the Dawn has been locked away in the ethereal plane of the Otherwor ...more

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Jul 27, 2020 Rutuja Ramteke rated it really liked it

🌻When I started this book, I wasn't really aware of where it would take me, not in terms of plot but in terms of adventure, I had no clue that I would end in some dangerous yet extremely adventurous situations with the lead characters. The book follows a story of Olson who is kidnapped and Thornton Woods and his childhood friend, Miera, must leave their small village of Highglade to find him. On their way, they are joined by Ynara and Kethras, cat-like humanoids called Kienari, who use their ski ...more

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Jul 29, 2020 Uru Patel rated it it was amazing

Written Review Of "Gift Of The Shaper: Book One Of The HIGHGLADE Series" By D. L. Jennings

Publisher : Indigo River Publishing
Pages : 458
Available On : Amazon

Its An Amazing Story And At The Core Its A Story Of Good Vs Evil. Author Has Narrated This Story Very Nicely.

The Start Is Little Slow But Slow Steadily The Story Developed Nicely So Just Kept Going For Few Chapters. The Characters Are Also Developed Properly And Every Character In A Story Has A Purpose. It Doesn't Seem Like They Are Just In ...more

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Sep 04, 2020 Audriza Banerjee rated it liked it

The world was elaborate but I found myself getting confused very frequently. The map was really nice. It took me a lot of time to finish the book. Chapters like Chapter 4 was not my favourite and I was confused as to what the consistent pattern of the author because it was not a smooth ride. I liked the plot, the multiple points of view were great. Initially, the book was very slow, it took a while for the book to get the pace to get picked up. I really like dregs and underdogs, so I did enjoy t ...more

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Jul 30, 2020 Nony rated it it was amazing

Gift of the Shaper is the first book in the HIGHGLADE series written by the author D.L. Jennings. It is the debut work of the author.

The main characters are Olson, his son Thornton Woods and Thornton's childhood friend Miera. Olson got kidnapped. Thornton and Miera went in search for Olson. Ynara and Kethras joined them on the way to help Thornton in finding Olson. This adventurous journey to find Olson is not that easy. Grab a copy of this book and read the story to know will Thornton be succe ...more

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Feb 08, 2019 Ashley Maestas rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 28, 2019 Destiny Bridwell rated it it was amazing

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I got a copy of this from the author and once I had my hands on it I had to read and then re-read to get the whole experience of this epic adventure. The characters are wonderful and have strong personalities of their own. The whole world just unfolds before you and the twists and turns keep coming and keeping the reader on their toes. It is a story that you biting your nails to see what happens next. That is what I want. To get my ha ...more

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Nov 27, 2018 jeanne jennings rated it it was amazing

This is an excellent debut novel. The characters are well drawn & the battle scenes are vivid, due to the fact that they are based on the author's own experience as a combat veteran. The ending left me wanting more, so it's great that a sequel is in the works. ...more

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Sep 23, 2018 Jason Hebert rated it liked it

This was an interesting debut novel. While it was a little slow to get started, the story picked up and kept me engaged, though the pacing felt somewhat uneven. I hope D.L Jennings continues writing, as I am interested in seeing his talents develop.

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Mar 04, 2019 Susie rated it really liked it

I bought this book and I would buy it again. Fantasy is not my usual genre, but maybe I will check out some more. This was a well-paced adventure that I finished in one sitting. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. ...more

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Nov 20, 2018 Cayenne Ross rated it did not like it

Awful!!!

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Aug 07, 2020 Hugh Davis rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Enjoyable!

If you like Lord of The Rings, you will like this series. Pure escapism and I cannot recommend it enough.

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Jul 17, 2020 Sonam Shukla rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The book is quite similar to the Lord Of Rings, but it still manages to stand apart. There are certain books that is stay within you forever, and the gift shaper is one such book. This work has the potential to become a best seller it just requires good marketing! Anyways, talking about the storyline, Gift of the Shaper chronicles the epic struggle between the existing forces of good and evil, with both sides vying for control of the key that unlocks the Otherworld. The very powers of creation a ...more

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Mar 13, 2019 Matt Atkins rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Brilliant story, vivid imagination, and great prose!

Excellent storyline, and the author went to great pains to bring the characters to life. The style is clean and compelling, and a great read overall. When you weave in the author's background it is even more fascinating! ...more

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