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The Unfettered Child
Her tribe is shattered. Her parents are gone.
When eight-year-old Samara faces the capture of her tribe, an unimaginable power awakens within her. Even as this magic threatens to consume her, a disembodied voice intervenes, offering guidance and helping her control these newfound abilities.
Meanwhile, Samara’s father chases his wife’s captors across an unfamiliar terrain. But can Orin find his wife in time to save her? Will Samara learn to control her power and reunite with her family? And who is the mysterious entity traveling with her?
When eight-year-old Samara faces the capture of her tribe, an unimaginable power awakens within her. Even as this magic threatens to consume her, a disembodied voice intervenes, offering guidance and helping her control these newfound abilities.
Meanwhile, Samara’s father chases his wife’s captors across an unfamiliar terrain. But can Orin find his wife in time to save her? Will Samara learn to control her power and reunite with her family? And who is the mysterious entity traveling with her?
414 pages, ebook
First published August 28, 2019
24 people are currently reading
339 people want to read
About the author
Michael C. Sahd
3 books155 followersMichael C. Sahd grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico. From a young age, he read voraciously, particularly in the fields of fantasy and science fiction. Shortly after becoming a teenager, he learned to play and enjoy fantasy games such as Dungeons and Dragons. At around the same time, he began writing stories and D&D campaigns of his own.
As an adult, Michael attended the College of Santa Fe, studying in the fields of English and literature. During this time, he honed his writing skills and expanded his writing portfolio. Although he has completed numerous short stories, Assassin Marked represents his debut published work. Most recently, he published his first full-length fantasy novel, The Unfettered Child.
Currently, Michael lives with his wife and four children in a small town in Texas, where he is working on writing the next installment of The DuFonte Chronicles.
As an adult, Michael attended the College of Santa Fe, studying in the fields of English and literature. During this time, he honed his writing skills and expanded his writing portfolio. Although he has completed numerous short stories, Assassin Marked represents his debut published work. Most recently, he published his first full-length fantasy novel, The Unfettered Child.
Currently, Michael lives with his wife and four children in a small town in Texas, where he is working on writing the next installment of The DuFonte Chronicles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 21, 2019
The Unfettered Child is a very character-driven fantasy, without the masses of world-building I usually love in my fantasy novels. Despite this, the lack of world-building more than works for this story. The limited knowledge we have reflects the limited knowledge the characters have, sucking us right into the story.
Within the story, there are all the necessities of a good fantasy novel. From the magic to the conflict, The Unfettered Child ticks of countless fantasy boxes. It’s a story that gives a lot, ensuring you’ll be hooked throughout. You find yourself turning the pages, desperate to see how everything comes together, and the way the book ends will certainly leave you fulfilled. It’s unexpected, but it’s fulfilling.
As much as I enjoyed The Unfettered Child, I did find myself at a bit of a distance from it. I enjoyed watching the way things developed, but I never felt the connection with the characters that I had hoped to. The stories were fun to watch, I loved the way everything tied together, but I never quite fell in love with them in the way I had hoped.
Overall, The Unfettered Child is more than worth reading if you’re a fantasy fan. It gives what fantasy readers love whilst offering a unique read, ensuring readers will be back for more of the author’s work.
Within the story, there are all the necessities of a good fantasy novel. From the magic to the conflict, The Unfettered Child ticks of countless fantasy boxes. It’s a story that gives a lot, ensuring you’ll be hooked throughout. You find yourself turning the pages, desperate to see how everything comes together, and the way the book ends will certainly leave you fulfilled. It’s unexpected, but it’s fulfilling.
As much as I enjoyed The Unfettered Child, I did find myself at a bit of a distance from it. I enjoyed watching the way things developed, but I never felt the connection with the characters that I had hoped to. The stories were fun to watch, I loved the way everything tied together, but I never quite fell in love with them in the way I had hoped.
Overall, The Unfettered Child is more than worth reading if you’re a fantasy fan. It gives what fantasy readers love whilst offering a unique read, ensuring readers will be back for more of the author’s work.
November 21, 2020
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
Readers of my blog will know that I don’t tend to read fantasy. I read this genre more frequently when I was younger so I think this is something I have grown out of. However, Sahd’s blurb was intriguing enough that I felt like I had to break tradition and give this a whirl.
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
Readers of my blog will know that I don’t tend to read fantasy. I read this genre more frequently when I was younger so I think this is something I have grown out of. However, Sahd’s blurb was intriguing enough that I felt like I had to break tradition and give this a whirl.
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
October 2, 2019
This book had an interesting story, and a decent plot line. I think it had a lot of potential, but I struggled to connect with the characters. I like that the lead character was a young child, but it really took some effort for me to finish it. I'm not sure if maybe the writing style just wasn't for me, but in the end, I felt that the book fell a little flat.
I won this book in a giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
I won this book in a giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2019
The story starts with a battle between elven mage and human lich and one magic spirit being freed and another being bound.
Samara died at birth but due to magic lived, she's part a nomadic tribe. When she was eight years old, elves came to kidnap and enslave her people, as the tragedy unfolds, Samara's terror releases a power she has no control over, killing all within her path.
The trapped mage Illtud reaches out to Samara helping her to learn to control her new powers but he has his own agenda, wanting her power for his own, while she only wishes to reunite with her mother and father. Meanwhile, Nikolai, Zayra and her father are all searching for her for their own reasons.
An interesting tale of a young girl enjoying the wonders of magic, fighting the horrors of losing control and learning her mentor may not be the benevolent guardian he portrays himself to be on one hand, while watching her father's agonizing search for her, and Zayra's plotting and changes as everyone converges together.
I received an ARC copy and am voluntarily leaving a review. If you like my reviews I hope you will follow my blog. https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/
Samara died at birth but due to magic lived, she's part a nomadic tribe. When she was eight years old, elves came to kidnap and enslave her people, as the tragedy unfolds, Samara's terror releases a power she has no control over, killing all within her path.
The trapped mage Illtud reaches out to Samara helping her to learn to control her new powers but he has his own agenda, wanting her power for his own, while she only wishes to reunite with her mother and father. Meanwhile, Nikolai, Zayra and her father are all searching for her for their own reasons.
An interesting tale of a young girl enjoying the wonders of magic, fighting the horrors of losing control and learning her mentor may not be the benevolent guardian he portrays himself to be on one hand, while watching her father's agonizing search for her, and Zayra's plotting and changes as everyone converges together.
I received an ARC copy and am voluntarily leaving a review. If you like my reviews I hope you will follow my blog. https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2020
This book has one simple problem: I can’t put it down.
When I’m in class, I know that if I open up my kindle, I’m gonna miss the whole lecture and instead answer my test questions with doodles of magical girls traveling fantastical lands alongside a traveling circus, or elves battling heatedly with awesome tribal barbarians. Recommend to anyone who could use a good fantasy adventure to lift them from their daily routine into a realm of magic and heroes.
When I’m in class, I know that if I open up my kindle, I’m gonna miss the whole lecture and instead answer my test questions with doodles of magical girls traveling fantastical lands alongside a traveling circus, or elves battling heatedly with awesome tribal barbarians. Recommend to anyone who could use a good fantasy adventure to lift them from their daily routine into a realm of magic and heroes.
July 27, 2019
Rating: ★★★★✬ (4.5/5 Stars)
Title: The Unfettered Child
Author(s): Michael C. Sahd
Character(s):
― Samara: Mage, 8 years old, Black, Blue Eyed
― Orin: Blacksmith, Black
Setting: ―
Tag(s): Fantasy, Magic
Content Rating: R
POV: Third Person
Smexy Level: Subtle
Favorite Quote(s):
― “To still be alive when everyone else is dead. To be free, but to have nothing left.”
Overall Opinion:
Let’s start off by saying how astonished I was by how quick I was immersed with this novel and how easily I was absorbed in the fantasy world that the author was able to create. From page one it was very apparent how engaging the storyline was and needless to say I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to catch a glimpse of Samara journey to find her parents while dealing with an unwanted gift and Orin deadly rescue mission to save his beloved from the treacherous elves. Moreso I loved how the plot didn’t just focus on one character and each had their own story to tell which was emphasized by the author unique, detailed writing and ideal writing style. I will definitely be back for more and I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next.
July 7, 2019
I don't read fantasy that often but it seems the few I've been reading lately have been really good. The unfettered child was really good! It is about a young girl finding out that she has powers that she can't quite handle. Every time I read a fantasy book like this it always makes me miss playing world of warcraft since the have similar characters. The book is very well written and grabbed my attention the entire way through. I will be rereading this one!
December 24, 2019
I haven't read any concept like The Unfettered Child and highly enjoyed this unique magical story! I also liked the addition of Elves and their mischievous nature. I liked this unique approach to having a young child hold so much power. It was fascinating to watch her brain struggle to understand what she could do and the ramifications of her actions when she lost control of her magic.
I was amazed at how Samara was portrayed accurately to her age with emotional breakdowns. She also obtained a strong sense of moral beliefs and showed a massive amount of guilt that only a pure, innocent child could have. I felt bad for her struggle to overcome gullibility and traumatic memories. This much power caused quite the emotional turmoil in her, and my eyes teared up by the end of the book. Speaking of the end of the book, it was astonishing and I was totally shocked at the ending!
You can read this review and more at https://pagesforthoughts.blogspot.com...
I was amazed at how Samara was portrayed accurately to her age with emotional breakdowns. She also obtained a strong sense of moral beliefs and showed a massive amount of guilt that only a pure, innocent child could have. I felt bad for her struggle to overcome gullibility and traumatic memories. This much power caused quite the emotional turmoil in her, and my eyes teared up by the end of the book. Speaking of the end of the book, it was astonishing and I was totally shocked at the ending!
You can read this review and more at https://pagesforthoughts.blogspot.com...
August 17, 2019
The opening was intriguing with talking skeletons, evil elves, and a rivalry for the ages. After introducing us to the history, readers are moved forward at a very quick pace. The Unfettered Child switches POV each time the plot needs to barrel forward which is nice if you are wondering what the villains are up to but it also makes it difficult to get to know the characters. I didn’t feel attached to any of the characters. Each of the characters was driven solely by emotion rather than employing a bit of caution and strategy to "not get dead". Samara’s Dad, Orin, in particular, has the peculiar brand of boar rage that makes every time he leaves a camp seem like a suicide mission.
Now, it may be because I have a young daughter, but I found it particularly distressing to have an 8/9 year old traipsing about unsupervised with just a lunatic in a gem to guide her. Sahd truly convinced me that I was reading about an eight-year-old and it was disturbing to watch her play with magic and being manipulated by that twit in the gem.
One of the few times I didn’t struggle with the story post-prologue was after the entrance of the Kahliji. I loved the concept of a diverse, nomadic tribe (for lack of a better term) moving about performing and trading with different communities. Though I will say, I kept reading their name as Khajiit every time they mentioned trading I thought “Khajiit has wares”.
Ultimately, this was a well-written book but I found myself greedy and wanting more which is a testament to Sahd’s writing ability. I would love to read more about this world that he has created. I don’t know if I would pick up another book that features these core characters, although you better believe I am here for Kahliji story.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
**Full Review is available on Dream Come Review (17AUG2019)
Now, it may be because I have a young daughter, but I found it particularly distressing to have an 8/9 year old traipsing about unsupervised with just a lunatic in a gem to guide her. Sahd truly convinced me that I was reading about an eight-year-old and it was disturbing to watch her play with magic and being manipulated by that twit in the gem.
One of the few times I didn’t struggle with the story post-prologue was after the entrance of the Kahliji. I loved the concept of a diverse, nomadic tribe (for lack of a better term) moving about performing and trading with different communities. Though I will say, I kept reading their name as Khajiit every time they mentioned trading I thought “Khajiit has wares”.
Ultimately, this was a well-written book but I found myself greedy and wanting more which is a testament to Sahd’s writing ability. I would love to read more about this world that he has created. I don’t know if I would pick up another book that features these core characters, although you better believe I am here for Kahliji story.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
**Full Review is available on Dream Come Review (17AUG2019)
November 16, 2019
Orin had risked everything, his position as chief, the respect of his peers, even the favour of the spirits when he returned with a healer to save the life of his wife and unborn child. The task had seemed impossible, and a stillbirth had devastated him. He begged, pleaded, for Samara to do something, and she did. Breath returned to his daughter, but life was not the only thing drawn into her. Named after her saviour, Orin's daughter, Samara, is apprenticed by the shaman, but when elves kidnap her mother it becomes apparent she is more than meets the eye. The power she holds is terrifying, fortunately, just as she unlocks her devastating potential a mentor, heard only as a voice calling within her mind, finds her. Alone and afraid, she has nowhere to turn, she commits herself to rescuing her mother, and this voice promises to guide her, but can it be trusted, or does it harbour its own agenda?
The Unfettered Child by Michael C. Sahd is a wonderful addition to the fantasy genre. Written in the third-person perspective, mainly focusing on Orin and Samara, ensures you are drawn into the story from multiple perspectives, allowing you to fully appreciate the story and its complexities. I found the characters well-developed, interesting and brilliantly portrayed. I was hooked on this from the first chapter to the last, eagerly turning each page to uncover the fate in store for the characters I so quickly became invested in. I enjoyed the world-building, lore, mythology, magic system, and incorporation of different belief structures. Action, heartbreak, and manipulation drive on the intriguing plot as you wonder what will be the final outcome of a journey started with tragedy.
The Unfettered Child by Michael C. Sahd is a wonderful addition to the fantasy genre. Written in the third-person perspective, mainly focusing on Orin and Samara, ensures you are drawn into the story from multiple perspectives, allowing you to fully appreciate the story and its complexities. I found the characters well-developed, interesting and brilliantly portrayed. I was hooked on this from the first chapter to the last, eagerly turning each page to uncover the fate in store for the characters I so quickly became invested in. I enjoyed the world-building, lore, mythology, magic system, and incorporation of different belief structures. Action, heartbreak, and manipulation drive on the intriguing plot as you wonder what will be the final outcome of a journey started with tragedy.
January 27, 2020
The Unfettered Child, while it may seem like a totally generic fantasy, is actually quite unique, at least in my eyes – the writing is splendid and vividly evocative, and the magic system and its implications will remain with me for a long time to come. If anything, though, there were points at which it was difficult to follow the plot, and I couldn’t really connect with many of the characters.
Full RTC today or tomorrow.
Full RTC today or tomorrow.
September 26, 2020
THE UNFETTERED CHILD is a fascinating read packed with magic, elves, and memorable characters.
After her mother is captured by elves, young Samara travel across a vivid, colorful, imaginary landscape, guided by an internal voice, which both enlightens and frightens. She is taught to release an inner power, and she must do so to save her tribe and rescue her mother. Samara is one you grow to adore and root for.
It's both a great YA novel and adult dark fantasy. It is said, "A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children isn't a good children's story in the slightest." Well, that is certainly true with THE UNFETTERED CHILD. The novel says a lot about family values and love. Author Michael C. Sahd has a great knack for story-telling, weaving in a diverse cast of characters with many plot surprises. Frankly, the book was addicting.
After her mother is captured by elves, young Samara travel across a vivid, colorful, imaginary landscape, guided by an internal voice, which both enlightens and frightens. She is taught to release an inner power, and she must do so to save her tribe and rescue her mother. Samara is one you grow to adore and root for.
It's both a great YA novel and adult dark fantasy. It is said, "A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children isn't a good children's story in the slightest." Well, that is certainly true with THE UNFETTERED CHILD. The novel says a lot about family values and love. Author Michael C. Sahd has a great knack for story-telling, weaving in a diverse cast of characters with many plot surprises. Frankly, the book was addicting.
August 23, 2022
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This is a wonderful Fantasy story.
Although a bit gory in places, the characters really come to life.
An adventure that will keep you turning the pages.
This is a wonderful Fantasy story.
Although a bit gory in places, the characters really come to life.
An adventure that will keep you turning the pages.
August 13, 2019
The story about an eight-year-old Samara, who together with her parents and tribe, follow a nomadic existence. One day, all the women went for an expedition Natalia, mother of Samara took her with them. When all women worked, Samara drifted away to play with her cousin Karena. Sometime after she left, elves attacked and kidnapped all women. Even if Karena hid Samara panicked and got noticed by elves. Without her knowledge, she unlocked the magic she was gifted. She had no control over it and attacked all her surroundings. She was the only one who was left behind. She returned to her tribe and explained what happened to her father and grandmother except for the part with her magic. She was afraid of it and blamed elves.
Soon her secret was revealed when the elves attacked again. She had to run and leave everything behind. She didn’t leave alone. The voice in her head that appeared together with her magic turns out to be a spirit called Illtud hidden in the gem she had always with her in the shape of a knife. He promised her to teach her everything about magic and how to control it. He became his friend as he was the only one who took care of her. He gained her trust and led her to the camp of elves where he was supposed to wait for her parents for her.
I have so much to say about this book. It was the first time I read a book from the kid and surprisingly I enjoyed it even more than from her father Orin or Nikolai. Samara is very sensitive but also very strong at her age. She went through a lot and with each her step new obstacles appeared on her way. Her only dream was to be again with her loving parents. Her story is tragic, and she deserved much more than she got. This leads us to her ‘friend’ Illtud. If you want to read the book without my spoilers, stop reading right now.
(Warning: Spoilers)
Illtud is a two-faced liar who just cares about himself and his revenge. She did everything to gain the trust of Samara just to get control over her. He used powerful words like ‘I love you’, ‘I care about you’ and ‘I am your friend’ just to put a knife in her back at the end. I honestly never hated a villain as much as I hate him. He made even me believe he is good in this book. Next, to all violence in the book, I thought he would bring peace between the elves and humans, but I was wrong. It was all just a lie.
I highly recommend this book to all people that love fantasy world. This story is full of magic, elves, unconditional love and a beautiful bond between a father and daughter. The Unfettered Child is now available for pre-order on Amazon and will be released in e-book and paperback form on August 28, 2019.
Soon her secret was revealed when the elves attacked again. She had to run and leave everything behind. She didn’t leave alone. The voice in her head that appeared together with her magic turns out to be a spirit called Illtud hidden in the gem she had always with her in the shape of a knife. He promised her to teach her everything about magic and how to control it. He became his friend as he was the only one who took care of her. He gained her trust and led her to the camp of elves where he was supposed to wait for her parents for her.
I have so much to say about this book. It was the first time I read a book from the kid and surprisingly I enjoyed it even more than from her father Orin or Nikolai. Samara is very sensitive but also very strong at her age. She went through a lot and with each her step new obstacles appeared on her way. Her only dream was to be again with her loving parents. Her story is tragic, and she deserved much more than she got. This leads us to her ‘friend’ Illtud. If you want to read the book without my spoilers, stop reading right now.
(Warning: Spoilers)
Illtud is a two-faced liar who just cares about himself and his revenge. She did everything to gain the trust of Samara just to get control over her. He used powerful words like ‘I love you’, ‘I care about you’ and ‘I am your friend’ just to put a knife in her back at the end. I honestly never hated a villain as much as I hate him. He made even me believe he is good in this book. Next, to all violence in the book, I thought he would bring peace between the elves and humans, but I was wrong. It was all just a lie.
I highly recommend this book to all people that love fantasy world. This story is full of magic, elves, unconditional love and a beautiful bond between a father and daughter. The Unfettered Child is now available for pre-order on Amazon and will be released in e-book and paperback form on August 28, 2019.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2019
Samara was born under auspicious circumstances, and 8 years later, her tribe finds itself under attack. They have something the elves want, only they're not aware of that. The elves take the women harvesting for two reasons, a bargaining chip and to work as slaves. The tribe is no match for the elves. Samara, frustrated and scared, unleashes something, a power beyond imagination, and a power beyond her control.
Upon realizing that he's lost a good portion of his tribe, and clueless to his daughter Samara's power, Orin sets out to find his wife and take down the elves who destroyed their grounds. What ensues is a quest to fight, to understand, and to reconnect family members.
While a fantasy novel involving magic, this book centers a lot around the characters, their desire to reconnect with their lost family members, and in Orin's case, his quest to find his wife and take down the elves. He's a very angry character, who is hot-headed and quick to act. He's incredibly skilled when it comes to fighting and he's ruled by his anger and his family. I thought what we learned of the elves had a lot of potential, especially with the way things finished out. I also especially liked the Khaliji, traveling performers that Samara traveled with, namely Varisha and Omar (and wouldn't mind seeing them in another book).
This was a fun story with many elements of various magic. It was a unique fantasy that had a young girl at its center, and Sahd made it work. Samara was incredibly powerful, and once grown out of the whims of a child, could be the force to be reckoned with. The only thing I questioned was when he wrote that Sigmia had one more task, but we never found out what that was. I initially agreed to read The Unfettered Child because my niece shares our main character's name, and I'm so glad I agreed because this turned into such a pleasant surprise.
Upon realizing that he's lost a good portion of his tribe, and clueless to his daughter Samara's power, Orin sets out to find his wife and take down the elves who destroyed their grounds. What ensues is a quest to fight, to understand, and to reconnect family members.
While a fantasy novel involving magic, this book centers a lot around the characters, their desire to reconnect with their lost family members, and in Orin's case, his quest to find his wife and take down the elves. He's a very angry character, who is hot-headed and quick to act. He's incredibly skilled when it comes to fighting and he's ruled by his anger and his family. I thought what we learned of the elves had a lot of potential, especially with the way things finished out. I also especially liked the Khaliji, traveling performers that Samara traveled with, namely Varisha and Omar (and wouldn't mind seeing them in another book).
This was a fun story with many elements of various magic. It was a unique fantasy that had a young girl at its center, and Sahd made it work. Samara was incredibly powerful, and once grown out of the whims of a child, could be the force to be reckoned with. The only thing I questioned was when he wrote that Sigmia had one more task, but we never found out what that was. I initially agreed to read The Unfettered Child because my niece shares our main character's name, and I'm so glad I agreed because this turned into such a pleasant surprise.
July 28, 2019
3.5/5
This had a bit of essence of Dune to it as far as writing style went and I loved that. Sahd gives us an intriguing world, and he casually gives us world-building without going too deeply and this works for the purpose of this story which at its heart is about a few characters and the connections they have, with each other and with magic in some way.
Young Samara was a good protagonist, I wish I would have connected more to her, I did feel there was a lack of connection between myself as the reader and the characters, which was unfortunate as the rest of the novel is really great.
The elves are super intriguing and I feel like it was nice to have them shown in a different light. (Not that I don't love my LotR elves, but it doesn't hurt to have some variety!)
Orin was the one I felt most sympathetic toward but at times I felt it was perhaps him who had magic considering how he survived compared to others who seemed to fall down dead from a 1/3 of the things he did. Still, he was a good character and I enjoyed reading about him almost more than I did Samara.
Overall there's some fantastic ideas and some great talent peeking through this novel, it's going to be exciting to see his novels grow because I have no doubt he'll grow in his writing and would definitely read more of his books.
The author gave me an eBook of this in exchange for my honest review.
This had a bit of essence of Dune to it as far as writing style went and I loved that. Sahd gives us an intriguing world, and he casually gives us world-building without going too deeply and this works for the purpose of this story which at its heart is about a few characters and the connections they have, with each other and with magic in some way.
Young Samara was a good protagonist, I wish I would have connected more to her, I did feel there was a lack of connection between myself as the reader and the characters, which was unfortunate as the rest of the novel is really great.
The elves are super intriguing and I feel like it was nice to have them shown in a different light. (Not that I don't love my LotR elves, but it doesn't hurt to have some variety!)
Orin was the one I felt most sympathetic toward but at times I felt it was perhaps him who had magic considering how he survived compared to others who seemed to fall down dead from a 1/3 of the things he did. Still, he was a good character and I enjoyed reading about him almost more than I did Samara.
Overall there's some fantastic ideas and some great talent peeking through this novel, it's going to be exciting to see his novels grow because I have no doubt he'll grow in his writing and would definitely read more of his books.
The author gave me an eBook of this in exchange for my honest review.
August 23, 2019
Samara may only be 8, but powerful magic rests in her body. It is peaceful, until the women of her tribe are captured and elves invade and begin to slaughter her people. Thinking herself the only survivor, and with no memory of what she did, she sets out to try to find her mother. She is guided by a voice in her head that instructs her in magic and guides her way. Meanwhile, Samara’s father, Orin, survived the slaughter as he had already set out in search for his wife. With the only remaining son of the tribe’s leader at his side, they track the elves who took the women. But the elves have dark intentions, as does the voice in Samara’s head.
I really wanted to love this book. It has a tribal element I haven’t encountered in fantasy before, seemingly drawing from Native American cultures. The story flowed well with the characters and plot working together to tell a coherent story of one family and one tribe seeking reunification above all else. I was also intrigued by the lead character being a young child. Usually, I only see that age in children’s books, but this is not a children’s book. Unfortunately, while all the elements for a great fantasy were there, they fell just a little short.
The world was intriguing. I loved the tribal aspects, and could almost believe Samara’s people were out on the plains of North America instead of a fantasy world. It was well-imagined, but the places outside of that locale felt a little lacking. There were the standard forest, beach, and towns, but nothing really stood out to me. Interestingly, Sahd seemingly drew inspiration from not just Native American cultures, but also European, Russian, and the Roma cultures. It was a fascinating mix, but could have used more development. Instead of adding richness to the world and story with depth and history, it felt more like it was laid over the story for the sake of adding a bit of color, but I struggled with seeing how it really impacted the story.
Similarly, I enjoyed the characters, but they, too, could have used more development. I liked that Samara was the lead character. The story worked because it’s primarily from the viewpoint of a young child. However, she was very one note. Even though she’s a child, I expected her to grow and mature as the lead character. Sadly, that didn’t happen. Instead, I felt she cried a bit too much just to get out of tough situations. I loved Orin, though. He felt real, just like a husband and father who had lost his family. He was strong and stable, and I believed him. The elves as a whole were wonderfully manipulative and really added color and complexity to the story. Overall, they were fantastic, and probably the best parts of the story.
The one thing that really bothered me, though, was the writing. It felt very plain and very straightforward with lots of repetition. Word choices and sentence structures lacked complexity, even when the story wasn’t being told from Samara’s perspective. When it came to her, I could forgive it a little, but, when the narration was from the perspective of an older character, I expected a little more maturity. However much it made the narrative consistent, it also made it a little difficult to follow and remember whose perspective the story was currently being told from. It was almost as though every character came from the same history and perspective, making the narrative a little monotonous.
As a whole, this isn’t a bad story. It’s interesting and different with an intriguing world and generally enjoyable characters. It hits the right notes in fantasy with a fantastical world, elves, and magic. At the same time, it lacks polish, depth, and development. This has the potential to be a rich story, but I feel like much of it was sacrificed for the sake of telling the story in a simple way. Not great, but not terrible, though the mix of cultures and the strong tribal elements was a nice touch.
Thank you so much to the author, Michael C. Sahd, for a free e-copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
I really wanted to love this book. It has a tribal element I haven’t encountered in fantasy before, seemingly drawing from Native American cultures. The story flowed well with the characters and plot working together to tell a coherent story of one family and one tribe seeking reunification above all else. I was also intrigued by the lead character being a young child. Usually, I only see that age in children’s books, but this is not a children’s book. Unfortunately, while all the elements for a great fantasy were there, they fell just a little short.
The world was intriguing. I loved the tribal aspects, and could almost believe Samara’s people were out on the plains of North America instead of a fantasy world. It was well-imagined, but the places outside of that locale felt a little lacking. There were the standard forest, beach, and towns, but nothing really stood out to me. Interestingly, Sahd seemingly drew inspiration from not just Native American cultures, but also European, Russian, and the Roma cultures. It was a fascinating mix, but could have used more development. Instead of adding richness to the world and story with depth and history, it felt more like it was laid over the story for the sake of adding a bit of color, but I struggled with seeing how it really impacted the story.
Similarly, I enjoyed the characters, but they, too, could have used more development. I liked that Samara was the lead character. The story worked because it’s primarily from the viewpoint of a young child. However, she was very one note. Even though she’s a child, I expected her to grow and mature as the lead character. Sadly, that didn’t happen. Instead, I felt she cried a bit too much just to get out of tough situations. I loved Orin, though. He felt real, just like a husband and father who had lost his family. He was strong and stable, and I believed him. The elves as a whole were wonderfully manipulative and really added color and complexity to the story. Overall, they were fantastic, and probably the best parts of the story.
The one thing that really bothered me, though, was the writing. It felt very plain and very straightforward with lots of repetition. Word choices and sentence structures lacked complexity, even when the story wasn’t being told from Samara’s perspective. When it came to her, I could forgive it a little, but, when the narration was from the perspective of an older character, I expected a little more maturity. However much it made the narrative consistent, it also made it a little difficult to follow and remember whose perspective the story was currently being told from. It was almost as though every character came from the same history and perspective, making the narrative a little monotonous.
As a whole, this isn’t a bad story. It’s interesting and different with an intriguing world and generally enjoyable characters. It hits the right notes in fantasy with a fantastical world, elves, and magic. At the same time, it lacks polish, depth, and development. This has the potential to be a rich story, but I feel like much of it was sacrificed for the sake of telling the story in a simple way. Not great, but not terrible, though the mix of cultures and the strong tribal elements was a nice touch.
Thank you so much to the author, Michael C. Sahd, for a free e-copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 8, 2020
*Before I begin this review, I would just like to quickly say that I forgive the author for nearly making me cry towards the end of the book. You nearly had me there!*
Moving on from that moment.....
The novel follows the journey of Samara, an eight-year-old girl who finds herself possessing ‘unimaginable power’ after an attack on her tribe. She becomes separated from her father Orin who is desperately trying to find his wife who, during the attack, was enslaved by elves. Adding a little bit of intrigue to the story, Samara begins to hear a voice in her head claiming that it can help. Is this voice a friend or foe?
In The Unfettered Child the reader is introduced to a world of scheming elves, priestesses, magical beings, and more! The novel is absolutely jam packed with elements that fantasy readers will love. However, Sahd's world would be a good introduction to newcomers to the genre as it exhibits some of the key staples that we all love about fantasy! Considering this, the world of his characters has a uniqueness to it that I found very refreshing with many of the main characters being part of a tribal culture. This sets the novel apart from the bulk of fantasy novels which, whilst they aren’t strictly set in the medieval period, have noticeable resemblances to it.
The story is told from multiple perspectives, giving the story a nice bit of depth and a better understanding of the magical world that Samara finds herself embroiled with. However, I particularly liked the fact that the villains of the story got to share their experience, particularly Zayra who really grew as a character.
The only criticism I have is that I would have liked the novel to be longer. The world that Sahd has created has the potential to grow out of it’s 379 pages. I would have loved a little more world-building.
Moving on from that moment.....
The novel follows the journey of Samara, an eight-year-old girl who finds herself possessing ‘unimaginable power’ after an attack on her tribe. She becomes separated from her father Orin who is desperately trying to find his wife who, during the attack, was enslaved by elves. Adding a little bit of intrigue to the story, Samara begins to hear a voice in her head claiming that it can help. Is this voice a friend or foe?
In The Unfettered Child the reader is introduced to a world of scheming elves, priestesses, magical beings, and more! The novel is absolutely jam packed with elements that fantasy readers will love. However, Sahd's world would be a good introduction to newcomers to the genre as it exhibits some of the key staples that we all love about fantasy! Considering this, the world of his characters has a uniqueness to it that I found very refreshing with many of the main characters being part of a tribal culture. This sets the novel apart from the bulk of fantasy novels which, whilst they aren’t strictly set in the medieval period, have noticeable resemblances to it.
The story is told from multiple perspectives, giving the story a nice bit of depth and a better understanding of the magical world that Samara finds herself embroiled with. However, I particularly liked the fact that the villains of the story got to share their experience, particularly Zayra who really grew as a character.
The only criticism I have is that I would have liked the novel to be longer. The world that Sahd has created has the potential to grow out of it’s 379 pages. I would have loved a little more world-building.
November 1, 2019
Samara is 8 years old when she finds a gem on the ground. Her father puts the gem into the handle of a knife for Samara. Orin, her father was going to give it to her for her next birthday but gives it to her instead of witnessing. Samara is a child bursting with curiosity and love of adventure. She gets permission to go berry picking with the women of the tribe but is given someone to look after her. Suddenly nets fall on top of the women. The elves had done this as they wanted slaves. If Samara and the woman who watched her had been there, they would had been captured too. Sadly, the woman is killed but Samara runs down to her tribe’s encampment warning them about the women being captured. Finally a group of men go to search for the women. Will they find them? Samara has a gift of power that she doesn’t know how to use or control it. Will she learn how to use this power? How?
A novel full of fantasy with different races, magic, secrets and surprises. The story held me with its curiousities and the characters Samara encounters. Samara learns to control her anger which quite a challenge for her.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
A novel full of fantasy with different races, magic, secrets and surprises. The story held me with its curiousities and the characters Samara encounters. Samara learns to control her anger which quite a challenge for her.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
December 14, 2020
Do you like Dungeons & Dragons? The Unfettered Child reads like a D&D campaign, drawing upon barbarians, mages, clerics and liches, woven with some original ideas by the author. The characterisation is on the whole clear, bound by fantasy stereotypes, but liberated by Sahd's imagination. The plot is driven by character motivations and feels mostly believable. At other times, one steps from a sense of realness to feeling as if one is reading some kind of game.
Those who like D&D-based novels will derive most enjoyment from The Unfettered Child. Sahd handles the spells and game mechanics well enough. There are enough original elements to entertain most other fantasy buffs, and make the plot feel fresh and original.
I personally would like to see the D&D concepts of mage's memorising spells, or barbarians raging, made into something more thoughtful and based on Sahd's own magic-world mechanics. Sahd hasn't quite left the womb of his D&D upbringing, and written something wholly original. Saying that, when he shines, he shines brightly, and captures well scenery and characters, though battle scenes seem a little rushed, or perhaps complex.
In all, I enjoyed reading this story, and because of the enjoyment factor, I gave it five stars. The book is a good read for any fantasy lover, but especially to those who are fans of D&D.
Those who like D&D-based novels will derive most enjoyment from The Unfettered Child. Sahd handles the spells and game mechanics well enough. There are enough original elements to entertain most other fantasy buffs, and make the plot feel fresh and original.
I personally would like to see the D&D concepts of mage's memorising spells, or barbarians raging, made into something more thoughtful and based on Sahd's own magic-world mechanics. Sahd hasn't quite left the womb of his D&D upbringing, and written something wholly original. Saying that, when he shines, he shines brightly, and captures well scenery and characters, though battle scenes seem a little rushed, or perhaps complex.
In all, I enjoyed reading this story, and because of the enjoyment factor, I gave it five stars. The book is a good read for any fantasy lover, but especially to those who are fans of D&D.
August 29, 2019
A young girl is caught in a war between Mages and Elves in this fantasy from first time novel writer Michael. When Elves attack her tribe, Samara discovers previously unknown magic powers. Under the uncertain tutelage of a dismebodied Elf, she sets out to chase down the survivors of her tribe.
I'll be honest: I might not have chosen this book for myself, going by the blurb or the first few pages. It doesn't sound like the kind of story I usually like, and it opens in the middle of a story we haven't been told anything about before moving on to Samara. I'm glad I stuck with it, though, as it's an interesting read overall. Samara makes some errors, but she is a literal child, so we can forgive that, and she does learn a little as she goes. The storyline kept me interested, and it's clearly leaving space for a sequel down the line somewhere, without leaving too many threads dangling - a difficult balance!
I'll be honest: I might not have chosen this book for myself, going by the blurb or the first few pages. It doesn't sound like the kind of story I usually like, and it opens in the middle of a story we haven't been told anything about before moving on to Samara. I'm glad I stuck with it, though, as it's an interesting read overall. Samara makes some errors, but she is a literal child, so we can forgive that, and she does learn a little as she goes. The storyline kept me interested, and it's clearly leaving space for a sequel down the line somewhere, without leaving too many threads dangling - a difficult balance!
October 18, 2019
There were times where it seemed as if the story dragged a little bit; though I did appreciate the attention paid to descriptions - even though at times descriptions were a little overdone. With regards to Samara; I liked the piece where she was with the Havallans and with the Khaliji - one world that I would have liked to have been explored more was the land of the Havallans. I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2019
I enjoyed reading this book, was disappointed when it was over. The characters were written well. The storyline was easy to follow. I really enjoyed the outlook of each character and what they brought to the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction fantasy!
July 8, 2021
An interesting tale with an enhanced sense of history, tone and mystery to the world that carries you through the story to the climax.
August 12, 2020
Samara is a very special little girl, but she doesn’t know it. When elves capture many of the women from her tribe, a terrible power awakens, and a disembodied voice takes her as his apprentice to teach her how to harness her unexpected powers. With her tribe destroyed, she sets off to reunite with her mother, who was captured, and her father, who set off earlier on to find his wife, but the voice in her head isn’t completely honest.
I previously reviewed this book at the time of publication at the request of the author. Unfortunately, I felt it was underdeveloped and lacked polish. The author very kindly gifted me the fully edited copy. A while back, I wrote about editing making or breaking a book. Sometimes I can read past it to find a really great story, and sometimes the bad writing really impedes the story. The Unfettered Child the first time around was a victim of the latter, but I’m pleased that the revisions did help me focus on the story more, so I’m pleased to be able to updated my review.
The Characters: Clear and Sad
Initially, I had really loved Orin, Samara’s father, and the elves while feeling a bit annoyed with Samara. I loved that Orin was so strong and acted just as I would expect a father and husband who had lost everything to act. That remained true, but, somehow, I felt he was even more broken and my heart just broke for him because of everything he did and didn’t know. I also still adored the elves. With the revisions, they seemed the least changed, but also more diabolical. Or, perhaps, that’s just because I knew what was coming. Still, I loved how manipulative they were and wished there were more scenes with them, though Illtud, a powerful elf mage, really took the cake.
My biggest issue had been with Samara. Even though she’s eight, I felt her character never seemed to develop and complained she cried too much to get out of difficult situations. While I still felt she cried a little too much, it did think the crying was better placed. Or maybe the writing was just tighter so it felt like it belonged. I was also finally able to see the bits of growth she made. With more complexity to the writing, it was easier to see her as more than just a child.
The Setting: All the Right Fantasy Notes
The world building was one thing I had liked from the ARC. As I mentioned, it had hit all the right notes for fantasy, but it felt a little underdeveloped. Since I have not compared the ARC and this published version, I can’t tell for sure if it changed much, but I felt it was richer. Again, maybe it’s just because the writing was more polished and more descriptive with more complexity to the language and phrases, but I felt more immersed in the world. I loved the indigenous, Russian, European, and gypsy influences. They seemed more connected than they had previously. The religion still escapes me a bit, but there wasn’t really a focus on it. I did like learning about the magic and how it worked in this world. It actually seemed very cumbersome, but some of the things they could do was actually really cool.
The Plot: Centered Around Family
My initial review was clearly written before I switched to this format, so I didn’t actually write much about my thoughts on the story itself. I mentioned it was interesting and cohesive and moved at a good pace, but nothing beyond that. This book does move at a good pace. It’s constantly in motion and things are always happening. I liked that no scene seemed extraneous.
This is really the kind of story that can speak to a family as it’s about families that have been ripped apart. As a mother, I can experience the heartbreak right along with them and also wonder to what ends I would go for my own family. I loved the focus on the family and the power of love and duty.
I will say, though, that there were some inconsistencies, like characters being named out of the blue and a character seemingly vanishing even though I thought she’d be back. But they were just little things that were a bit jarring without knocking me out of the story.
Overall: Enjoyable, Yet Serious
I liked the ARC, but this is much better. The writing is tighter, more descriptive, and more complex. It has a maturity to it that really resonated well with me. I found myself enjoying the characters, world, and story more, so I’m really thankful to the author for sending me this copy. It’s a fun, but serious fantasy.
Thank you so much to the author, Michael C. Sahd, for gifting me this copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
I previously reviewed this book at the time of publication at the request of the author. Unfortunately, I felt it was underdeveloped and lacked polish. The author very kindly gifted me the fully edited copy. A while back, I wrote about editing making or breaking a book. Sometimes I can read past it to find a really great story, and sometimes the bad writing really impedes the story. The Unfettered Child the first time around was a victim of the latter, but I’m pleased that the revisions did help me focus on the story more, so I’m pleased to be able to updated my review.
The Characters: Clear and Sad
Initially, I had really loved Orin, Samara’s father, and the elves while feeling a bit annoyed with Samara. I loved that Orin was so strong and acted just as I would expect a father and husband who had lost everything to act. That remained true, but, somehow, I felt he was even more broken and my heart just broke for him because of everything he did and didn’t know. I also still adored the elves. With the revisions, they seemed the least changed, but also more diabolical. Or, perhaps, that’s just because I knew what was coming. Still, I loved how manipulative they were and wished there were more scenes with them, though Illtud, a powerful elf mage, really took the cake.
My biggest issue had been with Samara. Even though she’s eight, I felt her character never seemed to develop and complained she cried too much to get out of difficult situations. While I still felt she cried a little too much, it did think the crying was better placed. Or maybe the writing was just tighter so it felt like it belonged. I was also finally able to see the bits of growth she made. With more complexity to the writing, it was easier to see her as more than just a child.
The Setting: All the Right Fantasy Notes
The world building was one thing I had liked from the ARC. As I mentioned, it had hit all the right notes for fantasy, but it felt a little underdeveloped. Since I have not compared the ARC and this published version, I can’t tell for sure if it changed much, but I felt it was richer. Again, maybe it’s just because the writing was more polished and more descriptive with more complexity to the language and phrases, but I felt more immersed in the world. I loved the indigenous, Russian, European, and gypsy influences. They seemed more connected than they had previously. The religion still escapes me a bit, but there wasn’t really a focus on it. I did like learning about the magic and how it worked in this world. It actually seemed very cumbersome, but some of the things they could do was actually really cool.
The Plot: Centered Around Family
My initial review was clearly written before I switched to this format, so I didn’t actually write much about my thoughts on the story itself. I mentioned it was interesting and cohesive and moved at a good pace, but nothing beyond that. This book does move at a good pace. It’s constantly in motion and things are always happening. I liked that no scene seemed extraneous.
This is really the kind of story that can speak to a family as it’s about families that have been ripped apart. As a mother, I can experience the heartbreak right along with them and also wonder to what ends I would go for my own family. I loved the focus on the family and the power of love and duty.
I will say, though, that there were some inconsistencies, like characters being named out of the blue and a character seemingly vanishing even though I thought she’d be back. But they were just little things that were a bit jarring without knocking me out of the story.
Overall: Enjoyable, Yet Serious
I liked the ARC, but this is much better. The writing is tighter, more descriptive, and more complex. It has a maturity to it that really resonated well with me. I found myself enjoying the characters, world, and story more, so I’m really thankful to the author for sending me this copy. It’s a fun, but serious fantasy.
Thank you so much to the author, Michael C. Sahd, for gifting me this copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 14, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Unfettered Child
Author: Michael C. Sahd
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Fantasy
Publication Date: August 28, 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (magic, slavery, violence, gore)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 414
Synopsis: When eight-year-old Samara faces the capture of her tribe, an unimaginable power awakens within her. Even as this magic threatens to consume her, a disembodied voice intervenes, offering guidance and helping her control these newfound abilities.
Meanwhile, Samara’s father chases his wife’s captors across an unfamiliar terrain. But can Orin find his wife in time to save her? Will Samara learn to control her power and reunite with her family? And who is the mysterious entity traveling with her?
Review: Overall the book is really good. The book had great world building and it had an interesting plot. The book was from the viewpoint of a child, but was probably a bit more adult than middle grade.
However, I didn’t connect with the characters at all and I didn’t feel like they were very well developed. The book was also really long, I think longer than what it should have been, and the pacing was very slow for me.
Verdict: It was a good book.
Book: The Unfettered Child
Author: Michael C. Sahd
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Fantasy
Publication Date: August 28, 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (magic, slavery, violence, gore)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 414
Synopsis: When eight-year-old Samara faces the capture of her tribe, an unimaginable power awakens within her. Even as this magic threatens to consume her, a disembodied voice intervenes, offering guidance and helping her control these newfound abilities.
Meanwhile, Samara’s father chases his wife’s captors across an unfamiliar terrain. But can Orin find his wife in time to save her? Will Samara learn to control her power and reunite with her family? And who is the mysterious entity traveling with her?
Review: Overall the book is really good. The book had great world building and it had an interesting plot. The book was from the viewpoint of a child, but was probably a bit more adult than middle grade.
However, I didn’t connect with the characters at all and I didn’t feel like they were very well developed. The book was also really long, I think longer than what it should have been, and the pacing was very slow for me.
Verdict: It was a good book.
April 24, 2020
The story of an eight-year-old Samara coping with her tribe being captured and unearthed powers. I think the author did a good job of character development. I could feel the anger that the leader and Samara's father felt during the aftermath of the battle with their enemy. I also enjoyed watching Samara come into her own. The author introduces us to many characters, as well as a few languages. You will need to pay attention to the many moving pieces here. I also noticed that there wasn't a lot of "world" building. This is strictly driven by the characters Sahd created, which works. The story moved quickly, with moments of violence, but it all worked well together as long as you could keep up and keep the "Who's who?" straight. Overall, if you like a dark fantasy story with a few sprinkles of violence this is for you.
August 6, 2019
I had no idea what I was expecting when I began reading this book but I did enjoy the book.
Overall, I thought the book began well. The beginning was face paced, intense and it gets the reader hooked quickly. I thought the middle bit of the book was not as face paced and for me, at times, felt repetitive with Samara destroying.
Throughout the book the fathers story and Samara's stories are told. There was a lot of build up and I found myself routing for Samara and her father. I was a little bit disappointed that the meeting of the two stories was so brief at the end.
For a full review visit:
https://wonderlandbooks.home.blog/201...
Overall, I thought the book began well. The beginning was face paced, intense and it gets the reader hooked quickly. I thought the middle bit of the book was not as face paced and for me, at times, felt repetitive with Samara destroying.
Throughout the book the fathers story and Samara's stories are told. There was a lot of build up and I found myself routing for Samara and her father. I was a little bit disappointed that the meeting of the two stories was so brief at the end.
For a full review visit:
https://wonderlandbooks.home.blog/201...
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this novel in return for a honest review. This in no way has affected my review of the book.
August 28, 2019
Grand Fantasy
Sahd pens a grand story in The Unfettered Child. The genre is fantasy, but the feeling of the story feels almost real. Samara is a great character with a lot of depth, and she's just a child. She has these powers that she is trying to figure out how to use and how to not let them lose control. I enjoyed this story, and entering Samara's world. This is the first book of Sahd's that I've read, but I really enjoyed the story. It's not just about powers but about survival and even inner turmoil. It was very well-written, and well-told. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Sahd pens a grand story in The Unfettered Child. The genre is fantasy, but the feeling of the story feels almost real. Samara is a great character with a lot of depth, and she's just a child. She has these powers that she is trying to figure out how to use and how to not let them lose control. I enjoyed this story, and entering Samara's world. This is the first book of Sahd's that I've read, but I really enjoyed the story. It's not just about powers but about survival and even inner turmoil. It was very well-written, and well-told. I look forward to reading more by this author.
did-not-finish
August 20, 2019Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault & Extreme Violence
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I made it to the 53% mark and I'm going to have to DNF. This book is extremely violent and when paired with sexual assault it became too much for me to read.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I made it to the 53% mark and I'm going to have to DNF. This book is extremely violent and when paired with sexual assault it became too much for me to read.
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