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The Soul Forge Saga #1
Soul Forge
Scorned by an ungrateful kingdom, unfairly blaming him for the demise of their beloved queen, Silurian Mintaka decides he can't fight for his kingdom anymore. To re-enter the hostile fray of his peers would probably end up with him killing them all.
An old man reaches through his darkness, convincing him the people's need outweighs his loathing of them. Befriending a few eccentric characters along the way, Silurian faces a whirlwind of drastic choices, that once made, may lead to the deaths of those he is entrusted to protect.
Embarking upon the greatest journey of their lives, they travel the uncharted waters of the Niad Ocean—not across, but beneath, on a fool's errand to recover the lost enchantment of his fabled blade.
An old man reaches through his darkness, convincing him the people's need outweighs his loathing of them. Befriending a few eccentric characters along the way, Silurian faces a whirlwind of drastic choices, that once made, may lead to the deaths of those he is entrusted to protect.
Embarking upon the greatest journey of their lives, they travel the uncharted waters of the Niad Ocean—not across, but beneath, on a fool's errand to recover the lost enchantment of his fabled blade.
- GenresFantasy
422 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 21, 2018
41 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Richard H. Stephens
23 books139 followersBorn in Simcoe, Ontario, in 1965, I began writing circa 1974; a bored child looking for something to while away the long, summertime days. My penchant for reading The Hardy Boys led to an inspiration one sweltering summer afternoon when my best friend and I thought, "Hey, we could write one of those." And so, I did.
As my reading horizons broadened, so did my writing. Star Wars inspired me to write a 600-page novel about outer space that caught the attention of a special teacher, Mr. Woodley, who encouraged me to keep writing.
A trip to a local book store saw the proprietor introduce me to Stephen R. Donaldson and Terry Brooks. My writing life was forever changed.
At 17, I left high school to join the working world to support my first son. For the next twenty-two years I worked as a shipper at a local bakery. At the age of 36, I went back to high school to complete my education. After graduating with honours at the age of thirty-nine, I became a member of our local Police Service, and worked for 12 years in the provincial court system.
In early 2017, I resigned from the Police Service to pursue my love of writing full-time. With the help and support of my lovely wife Caroline and our 5 children, I have now realized my boyhood dream.
As my reading horizons broadened, so did my writing. Star Wars inspired me to write a 600-page novel about outer space that caught the attention of a special teacher, Mr. Woodley, who encouraged me to keep writing.
A trip to a local book store saw the proprietor introduce me to Stephen R. Donaldson and Terry Brooks. My writing life was forever changed.
At 17, I left high school to join the working world to support my first son. For the next twenty-two years I worked as a shipper at a local bakery. At the age of 36, I went back to high school to complete my education. After graduating with honours at the age of thirty-nine, I became a member of our local Police Service, and worked for 12 years in the provincial court system.
In early 2017, I resigned from the Police Service to pursue my love of writing full-time. With the help and support of my lovely wife Caroline and our 5 children, I have now realized my boyhood dream.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 19 reviews
September 15, 2018
Richard Stephens is an author with an addictive imagination. You become part of the adventure. You will most definitely love this book.
December 9, 2019
This book is a decent length and took me a while to read (which is a god thing). It flows well, keeps the story moving and has interesting characters. I have read ‘hero’ books before where the hero is the chosen champion or is a reluctant hero who comes through at the end, but this one is slightly different. Here the ‘heroes’ have retired and are not only reluctant to ‘save the day’ again, but nobody, even themselves, believe they are capable of doing so.
There are hints about what happened in the past without going into too much detail. It leaves enough to the imagination to make you hope that a prequel will be written.
I have no idea where the story is going to go from here, but I look forward to finding out
There are hints about what happened in the past without going into too much detail. It leaves enough to the imagination to make you hope that a prequel will be written.
I have no idea where the story is going to go from here, but I look forward to finding out
June 9, 2019
Fantasy at it's finest!
I give Soul Forge five stars. I fell in love with the world, the characters and the story. I will definitely be purchasing the rest of the series. The only problem with this book is that it came to an end when I would have liked it to keep going. Looking forward to continuing the adventure in the next book and visiting my favorite characters. What a wonderful story! Keep up the great work!!!!!
I give Soul Forge five stars. I fell in love with the world, the characters and the story. I will definitely be purchasing the rest of the series. The only problem with this book is that it came to an end when I would have liked it to keep going. Looking forward to continuing the adventure in the next book and visiting my favorite characters. What a wonderful story! Keep up the great work!!!!!
September 1, 2018
WOW! I got lost in this fresh new fantasy saga! As a lover of the fantasy genre, this book was packed with action, adventure, and mystical creatures. The book takes you through many twists and turns and I completely lost track of time! If you enjoy Terry Brooks or Tolkien, you will be sure to enjoy this one. I can’t wait for book 2 of the saga to come out!
April 30, 2019
The author puts together a remarkably detailed and complete world, and draws you into the story through developing a rich tapestry of complex characters. Many of the characters are full of complex emotions and motives, and there's plenty of action to go around too. A great start to a bold new fantasy series, with more than a touch of darkness at its heart.
February 17, 2019
Siliuran Mintaka was once a great warrior for his kingdom, but after the brutal murders of his family he spends nearly two decades in hiding fueling a vicious bitterness inside him with alcohol. One day a messenger named Alhera arrives at his home with a request from a high council to go on a quest to put an end to a ruthless warlord who is destroying their country. Siliuran is in no frame of mind or physical shape to be doing any quests, but he does go propelled by the desire to punish those responsible for killing his family. Along his journey he faces great perils and hardships and the author does a great job of keeping the action going along throughout the story. The world building is excellent and the many characters that popped up throughout the story are unique and well fleshed out. Anyone who is a fan of fantasy would love this story and be anxious to go on and read the next in the series.
December 24, 2018
Review for “Soul Forge” by Richard H. Stephens:
It’s the first book from the “Soul Forge Saga” series written by the bestseller author, Richard H. Stephens. The story follows Silurian Mintaka, a warrior who has to travel to the mystic Soul Forge to retrieve the Sacred Sword Voil’s lost powers. Along the way, he makes friends and enemies and he meets old friends and foes. Will they manage to pursue the quest and save Zephyr or will Helleden destroy everything and everyone?
Mr. Stephens attracts his readers through his unique writing style which reminds us of the old medieval stories, legends and even fairy tales. The world he created reflects a little bit of the real world in which we live in since there are sadness, hatred and obstacles (some even dangerous) all around us. The readers will also learn that in a chaotic world there is hope, light, faith and a pinch of happiness if one’s able to find them.
Adventure, wizards, magic, betrayal, romance, courageous deeds, fantastic beasts, kings, queens, knights and much more can be found on every page one reads. Virtues like friendship, loyalty, patience, faith, hope, courage, forgiveness, intelligence, determination and a strong will are the key to survive in Mr. Stephens’ world.
Not only that the story reminds the readers of Tolkien’s world, but it also resembles Dante’s “Divine Comedy”, mostly the “Inferno” in which Silurian can be considered as Dante while Alhena represents both Virgil and Beatrice since he’s the voice of reason to the knight and gives him a reason to fight for. Helleden and his minions represent the portrait of the fallen and damned.
There are some things which make reference to Greek mythology such as the Under Realm (Hades’ kingdom), the Gerrymander (it’s similar to the boat with which Charon takes the departed souls to the Underworld), Olmar (the ferryman Charon), Sadyra (Artemis, goddess of the hunt, forests, moon and archery) etc.
One of Silurian’s friends, Rook is the image of the skilled archer who is also naive at times. He’s also the medieval version of Robinson Crusoe because he managed to get adjusted into the Wilds and befriended the creatures dwelling there.
Saros and Seafarer represent the deities since they offer advice and guidance to both Silurian and Rook till their own deaths. White and dark magic are present almost everywhere in the story. One may consider it a roller coaster and an obstacle course which only those brave, smart and strong enough like Silurian and his crew are able to try them.
The former king’s champion is the image of courage, wits and strength since he displays even supernatural powers during the journey into the Under Realm and he resists many temptations. Due to the horrible experiences from his past, Silurian has moments of vulnerability although he tries to hide them from others. However, the knight seems to feel sympathy for the poor and the people who prove themselves worthy of his trust like in Bregens’ case. He has good leadership and swordsmanship skills and thinks quickly of a solution to get out from sticky situations.
Alhena represents wisdom and is proof that one can be strong despite his or her age. He’s sociable, caring, friendly, playful, well-mannered, and polite since he addresses Silurian with “Sire”, a good teacher and he can be childish at times. He’s like a grandfather figure to the knight and can be called a savior because he resurrected Silurian’s soul and managed to make him get over his self-loathing. The elder is also similar to Gandalf from Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”.
Sadyra and Pollard represent the ability to display both brains and brawn and can be considered skilled fighters since they survived the ordeal from the Under Realm. Another character that represents courage even in critical moments is Thorr. The captain is loyal and both caring and serious to his crew and anyone around him.
White versus black (it’s about magic), warm versus cold colors, light versus darkness, day versus night, good versus evil, loyalty versus betrayal, bravery versus cowardice, past versus present, hell versus heaven, religion versus mythology, reality versus fantasy, brains versus brawn can be found within the novel. Not only that the readers will be enchanted by the various descriptions of the characters and landscapes, but they will also feel joy, sadness, suspense and fear on every page they read.
“Appearances can be deceiving” and “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” are the perfect sayings for this book. Mr. Stephens teaches the readers valuable lessons like survival, the power of one’s faith and mind, the importance of true friends and to have a goal in life.
Along with J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian, J. K. Rowling, Richard H. Stephens revolutionized fantasy literature through his writing style and the world which he created out of pure imagination. The Master of Fantasy is the perfect name for the Canadian author whose novel can be considered modern version of legends, medieval stories, mythology, and fairy tales and of Dante’s “Divine Comedy”, of course.
I also want to mention that the author added a pinch of Dickensian touch to the story as well because he portrayed the social classes, the characters’ lifestyles etc.
I recommend this book to readers 12+ because there are some scenes which are either a little scary or the young readers cannot understand them.
Thank you so much for the fantastic dream and temporary escape from reality which your masterpiece allows the readers to “journey into”, Mr. Stephens!
It’s the first book from the “Soul Forge Saga” series written by the bestseller author, Richard H. Stephens. The story follows Silurian Mintaka, a warrior who has to travel to the mystic Soul Forge to retrieve the Sacred Sword Voil’s lost powers. Along the way, he makes friends and enemies and he meets old friends and foes. Will they manage to pursue the quest and save Zephyr or will Helleden destroy everything and everyone?
Mr. Stephens attracts his readers through his unique writing style which reminds us of the old medieval stories, legends and even fairy tales. The world he created reflects a little bit of the real world in which we live in since there are sadness, hatred and obstacles (some even dangerous) all around us. The readers will also learn that in a chaotic world there is hope, light, faith and a pinch of happiness if one’s able to find them.
Adventure, wizards, magic, betrayal, romance, courageous deeds, fantastic beasts, kings, queens, knights and much more can be found on every page one reads. Virtues like friendship, loyalty, patience, faith, hope, courage, forgiveness, intelligence, determination and a strong will are the key to survive in Mr. Stephens’ world.
Not only that the story reminds the readers of Tolkien’s world, but it also resembles Dante’s “Divine Comedy”, mostly the “Inferno” in which Silurian can be considered as Dante while Alhena represents both Virgil and Beatrice since he’s the voice of reason to the knight and gives him a reason to fight for. Helleden and his minions represent the portrait of the fallen and damned.
There are some things which make reference to Greek mythology such as the Under Realm (Hades’ kingdom), the Gerrymander (it’s similar to the boat with which Charon takes the departed souls to the Underworld), Olmar (the ferryman Charon), Sadyra (Artemis, goddess of the hunt, forests, moon and archery) etc.
One of Silurian’s friends, Rook is the image of the skilled archer who is also naive at times. He’s also the medieval version of Robinson Crusoe because he managed to get adjusted into the Wilds and befriended the creatures dwelling there.
Saros and Seafarer represent the deities since they offer advice and guidance to both Silurian and Rook till their own deaths. White and dark magic are present almost everywhere in the story. One may consider it a roller coaster and an obstacle course which only those brave, smart and strong enough like Silurian and his crew are able to try them.
The former king’s champion is the image of courage, wits and strength since he displays even supernatural powers during the journey into the Under Realm and he resists many temptations. Due to the horrible experiences from his past, Silurian has moments of vulnerability although he tries to hide them from others. However, the knight seems to feel sympathy for the poor and the people who prove themselves worthy of his trust like in Bregens’ case. He has good leadership and swordsmanship skills and thinks quickly of a solution to get out from sticky situations.
Alhena represents wisdom and is proof that one can be strong despite his or her age. He’s sociable, caring, friendly, playful, well-mannered, and polite since he addresses Silurian with “Sire”, a good teacher and he can be childish at times. He’s like a grandfather figure to the knight and can be called a savior because he resurrected Silurian’s soul and managed to make him get over his self-loathing. The elder is also similar to Gandalf from Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”.
Sadyra and Pollard represent the ability to display both brains and brawn and can be considered skilled fighters since they survived the ordeal from the Under Realm. Another character that represents courage even in critical moments is Thorr. The captain is loyal and both caring and serious to his crew and anyone around him.
White versus black (it’s about magic), warm versus cold colors, light versus darkness, day versus night, good versus evil, loyalty versus betrayal, bravery versus cowardice, past versus present, hell versus heaven, religion versus mythology, reality versus fantasy, brains versus brawn can be found within the novel. Not only that the readers will be enchanted by the various descriptions of the characters and landscapes, but they will also feel joy, sadness, suspense and fear on every page they read.
“Appearances can be deceiving” and “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” are the perfect sayings for this book. Mr. Stephens teaches the readers valuable lessons like survival, the power of one’s faith and mind, the importance of true friends and to have a goal in life.
Along with J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian, J. K. Rowling, Richard H. Stephens revolutionized fantasy literature through his writing style and the world which he created out of pure imagination. The Master of Fantasy is the perfect name for the Canadian author whose novel can be considered modern version of legends, medieval stories, mythology, and fairy tales and of Dante’s “Divine Comedy”, of course.
I also want to mention that the author added a pinch of Dickensian touch to the story as well because he portrayed the social classes, the characters’ lifestyles etc.
I recommend this book to readers 12+ because there are some scenes which are either a little scary or the young readers cannot understand them.
Thank you so much for the fantastic dream and temporary escape from reality which your masterpiece allows the readers to “journey into”, Mr. Stephens!
November 19, 2018
Review for “Soul Forge” by Richard H. Stephens:
The Soul Forge Saga is a series of fantasy novels written by Canadian author Richard H. Stephens. The main plot of the story is Siluarian’s journey through different perilous worlds to save his kingdom and avenge his family. Demons, dark wizards, mythical creatures, mystical realms, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, adventures, fantastic beasts and much more are present in the books.
Mr. Stephens can be considered a reincarnation of J. R. R. Tolkien due to his writing style and way to bring back to life myths, legends, classical fantasy and fairy tales. Faith, hope, challenges and bravery can be found on every page. The readers will find Mr. Stephens’ books as a way to escape from reality and take a trip into the world of brave knights, kings, queens, wizards, mythical creatures.
Along with J. R. R. Tolkien, J. K. Rowling, Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian, Mr. Stephens revolutionized fantasy literature through the world which he created. The Master of Fantasy is the perfect name for the Canadian author.
I recommend this book series to readers 12+ because there are some scenes which young readers cannot understand.
The Soul Forge Saga is a series of fantasy novels written by Canadian author Richard H. Stephens. The main plot of the story is Siluarian’s journey through different perilous worlds to save his kingdom and avenge his family. Demons, dark wizards, mythical creatures, mystical realms, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, adventures, fantastic beasts and much more are present in the books.
Mr. Stephens can be considered a reincarnation of J. R. R. Tolkien due to his writing style and way to bring back to life myths, legends, classical fantasy and fairy tales. Faith, hope, challenges and bravery can be found on every page. The readers will find Mr. Stephens’ books as a way to escape from reality and take a trip into the world of brave knights, kings, queens, wizards, mythical creatures.
Along with J. R. R. Tolkien, J. K. Rowling, Sophie Audouin-Mamikonian, Mr. Stephens revolutionized fantasy literature through the world which he created. The Master of Fantasy is the perfect name for the Canadian author.
I recommend this book series to readers 12+ because there are some scenes which young readers cannot understand.
February 19, 2022
Nicely Done . . .
Silurian Mintaka, once a heroic figure, is now a defeated drunken man, wrapped up in the agony of losing his family who were viciously killed. So when a messenger arrives and he is asked to accept a quest to protect the people from an enemy, he is not in the best condition to respond. But with the opportunity to finally enact his long-awaited vengeance on the one who killed his family, he takes up the challenge and prepares himself to meet his destiny.
The author then builds the world for the reader, expertly bringing alive the landscape, creatures, and the characters we will meet along the way. Grab your copy and see whether Silurian can become the hero again and restore his honor. Can he protect the people? Will he find justice at last?
Silurian Mintaka, once a heroic figure, is now a defeated drunken man, wrapped up in the agony of losing his family who were viciously killed. So when a messenger arrives and he is asked to accept a quest to protect the people from an enemy, he is not in the best condition to respond. But with the opportunity to finally enact his long-awaited vengeance on the one who killed his family, he takes up the challenge and prepares himself to meet his destiny.
The author then builds the world for the reader, expertly bringing alive the landscape, creatures, and the characters we will meet along the way. Grab your copy and see whether Silurian can become the hero again and restore his honor. Can he protect the people? Will he find justice at last?
March 30, 2019
Soul Forge opens the door to a world that is so carefully constructed that the unbelievable and fantastical become completely real. Silurian, Rook and Alhena are imperfect yet worthy heroes and Helleden is a truly evil antagonist that makes the battle of good and evil both urgent and intense. This is an epic work that will keep you on the edge of your seat and totally engaged from start to finish. Excellent world-building, wonderful characters and a meaningful plot make Soul Forge a winner in every respect.
February 22, 2021
The introduction to the soul forge saga sets the stage for a series that rapidly builds on the back of this foundational piece. Richard is a natural storyteller, I found his writing style eloquent yet equally simplistic. All of the human senses and full range of emotions were experienced throughout.
I'm not remotely exaggerating when I say, this book was great, BUT the follow up novels kept building to even higher levels.
Enjoy the ride, I did!
I'm not remotely exaggerating when I say, this book was great, BUT the follow up novels kept building to even higher levels.
Enjoy the ride, I did!
March 7, 2019
This was a great read. I really enjoyed the story and character development and the twist with the ending was good as well. The story flows well and can really get that emotional buy into the characters. Onto book 2 now.
March 24, 2019
Grand and epic
In the same vein as Tolkien, woven in a very intricate universe, the author brings us into a quest to defeat darkness.
What I especially liked his vision of the hero, from bringing him from a broken man to one growing into an interesting character. Definitely for fantasy lovers.
In the same vein as Tolkien, woven in a very intricate universe, the author brings us into a quest to defeat darkness.
What I especially liked his vision of the hero, from bringing him from a broken man to one growing into an interesting character. Definitely for fantasy lovers.
April 21, 2020
Not typically a fan of fantasy books, but I enjoyed the strong storytelling and well-drawn characters in this one. The author is especially skilled at creating evocative settings, and I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.
January 31, 2021
This is a great book to read. I can't wait to read the next one in the series. I highly recommend this series and now on to the next book in the series. Richard H. Stephens has now a must read author on my list.
March 9, 2019
I literally read this beside a roaring fireplace - it was a perfect setting - both the dancing flames and Stephens' words kept me warm and cozy on one of the last cold nights of winter. I am not a huge fan of epic fantasy - there are only a handful of authors I have found that can pull it off without more than a few dull spots. Soul Forge put Richards among my top ten favourites for the genre!
I love the visual swords used as breaks - a perfect added touch... Sacred sword and all :). The song near the midway point was also a treat, as were subsequent verses! Ditto for the bonus pictures.
At times I felt as if I was reading a well played chess game as it unfolded (characters might have aided in that - Rook - Queen - King) The end of the beginning is the perfect line and most fitting. I will be reading more by this talented author.
On a side note... I nominate this book for best skyline & cloud descriptions!
I love the visual swords used as breaks - a perfect added touch... Sacred sword and all :). The song near the midway point was also a treat, as were subsequent verses! Ditto for the bonus pictures.
At times I felt as if I was reading a well played chess game as it unfolded (characters might have aided in that - Rook - Queen - King) The end of the beginning is the perfect line and most fitting. I will be reading more by this talented author.
On a side note... I nominate this book for best skyline & cloud descriptions!
January 6, 2019
A well-woven fantasy story of Silurian Mintaka, a man whose family were murdered, leaving him a shadow of his former self. When he hears a name from his distant past, a sorcerer he thought slain on the battlefield, has returned, he rises up from the ashes and embarks on a quest to exact revenge on his family's killers. Mystical locations and weird and wonderful creatures abound in this fantastic novel. I found the author's ability to paint a vivid scene to be compelling and drew me in. I would highly recommend reading this book if you enjoy a darn good fantasy quest story!
February 25, 2019
Fasts-paced epic fantasy!
I loved this story right from the start. It begins with Silurian as a broken man, drinking to numb himself from the pain he feels from his family being viciously slaughtered. When he receives a message to go on a quest to vanquish an enemy of the country and hears someone’s name who he thought long dead, this sets things in motion as he accepts the mission. Silurian will do anything to get revenge on those who killed his family. I loved the vivid descriptions of settings, people and emotions, and the demons the character faces, both actual beasts and his own mental ones. This had a fast pace much like a thriller novel which I found refreshing in this genre. And the world the author created was amazing.
I loved this story right from the start. It begins with Silurian as a broken man, drinking to numb himself from the pain he feels from his family being viciously slaughtered. When he receives a message to go on a quest to vanquish an enemy of the country and hears someone’s name who he thought long dead, this sets things in motion as he accepts the mission. Silurian will do anything to get revenge on those who killed his family. I loved the vivid descriptions of settings, people and emotions, and the demons the character faces, both actual beasts and his own mental ones. This had a fast pace much like a thriller novel which I found refreshing in this genre. And the world the author created was amazing.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 19 reviews