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Tolagon #1
Tolagon
The Oro system, ravaged by generations of war and oppressively ruled by the hammer of a mechanical force created to save them, is at the boiling point between extinction and rebellion.
Now a new hero arises twenty years after the fall of the legendary Tolagons. Raised in secrecy among noble equine warriors of Troika, Crix's tranquil life is shattered when a mysterious woman (Kerriah) crashes nearby in a black ship that materializes out of thin air. His journey begins after he gives in to an irresistible urge to locate the ship in the forbidden boglands of Drisal.
Little does Crix know that using the hidden power within him—the blue orb of the Tolagons—to aid Kerriah’s rescue will set off a chain of events. The Marcks, a brutal mechanized force, are alerted and hot on their trail.
As they struggle to escape the clutches of the relentless Marcks, Crix discovers there’s a hidden menace controlling everything. Their only hope of survival is to find the remaining lost orbs, though he soon realizes it will cost him everything.
Joined by Krath, the salty war veteran from the watery moon of Thale, and a budding romance with Kerriah, will he learn to harness his long-suppressed power and become the Tolagon they desperately need, or will the forces of darkness prevail?
Discover the gripping tale of hidden powers, treacherous alliances, and a young hero's quest for truth in Gregory Benson's thrilling debut novel, Tolagon. Brace yourself for an unforgettable adventure that will leave you hungry for more.
Now a new hero arises twenty years after the fall of the legendary Tolagons. Raised in secrecy among noble equine warriors of Troika, Crix's tranquil life is shattered when a mysterious woman (Kerriah) crashes nearby in a black ship that materializes out of thin air. His journey begins after he gives in to an irresistible urge to locate the ship in the forbidden boglands of Drisal.
Little does Crix know that using the hidden power within him—the blue orb of the Tolagons—to aid Kerriah’s rescue will set off a chain of events. The Marcks, a brutal mechanized force, are alerted and hot on their trail.
As they struggle to escape the clutches of the relentless Marcks, Crix discovers there’s a hidden menace controlling everything. Their only hope of survival is to find the remaining lost orbs, though he soon realizes it will cost him everything.
Joined by Krath, the salty war veteran from the watery moon of Thale, and a budding romance with Kerriah, will he learn to harness his long-suppressed power and become the Tolagon they desperately need, or will the forces of darkness prevail?
Discover the gripping tale of hidden powers, treacherous alliances, and a young hero's quest for truth in Gregory Benson's thrilling debut novel, Tolagon. Brace yourself for an unforgettable adventure that will leave you hungry for more.
- GenresScience Fiction
ebook
First published November 1, 2019
27 people are currently reading
389 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Benson
3 books10 followersGregory Benson grew up in the Midwest and married his high school sweetheart, Dawn. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis and works in the technology field.
Author of the Tolagon series, his writing is fast-paced, with intricate world-building, and deep characters.
Gregory enjoys adventures traveling with his wife Dawn and son Luke, as well as sword fighting, pinball, and of course, writing sci-fi/fantasy.
Author of the Tolagon series, his writing is fast-paced, with intricate world-building, and deep characters.
Gregory enjoys adventures traveling with his wife Dawn and son Luke, as well as sword fighting, pinball, and of course, writing sci-fi/fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 27, 2021
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via the author.
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION ***
Tolagon is a sci-fi, space opera style novel and the first book in the series.
Crix is an orphan who possesses extreme power and is the last in the Tolagon species. He befriends Karriah and Krath as they escape Zearic and his small army of robots called Marcks.
This book offers much action, adventure, magic as well as politics, humour and friendship mixed together to form a fast paced but enjoyable listen!
I really liked the three main characters and look forward to learning more about each characters back stories going forward. Krath was funny in places and I really warmed to Crix and Karriah and their slow budding relationship although Krath so far is my favourite by far.
I really enjoyed the narrators voices while narrating this story and found them unique and enjoyable for an audio book.
If you enjoy sci-fi, fantasy or space operas - this book is definitely for you!
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION ***
Tolagon is a sci-fi, space opera style novel and the first book in the series.
Crix is an orphan who possesses extreme power and is the last in the Tolagon species. He befriends Karriah and Krath as they escape Zearic and his small army of robots called Marcks.
This book offers much action, adventure, magic as well as politics, humour and friendship mixed together to form a fast paced but enjoyable listen!
I really liked the three main characters and look forward to learning more about each characters back stories going forward. Krath was funny in places and I really warmed to Crix and Karriah and their slow budding relationship although Krath so far is my favourite by far.
I really enjoyed the narrators voices while narrating this story and found them unique and enjoyable for an audio book.
If you enjoy sci-fi, fantasy or space operas - this book is definitely for you!
November 19, 2019
Crix Embertook is alone in the galaxy. Orphaned by the devastating Thraxon War, Crix has been raised by the kindly Haflinger, among the equine Andorians on planet Troika. As the lone Mendac (human) in the community, he is an outsider. He has carried a blue orb of Cyos within him all of his life, his one lasting legacy from his father.
With the orb, he is the last of a long line of Tolagons and possesses immense power that he can never use. If Crix uses the orb, its unique energy signature will alert the evil forces that seek to harness its power for their nefarious purposes. The treacherous Zearic, evil overlord of the Sinstar Corporation and the tire power behind the robotic Marcks, lusts for the power of the orb to perfect his bid for interstellar control.
Crix's life of quiet seclusion is disrupted with the discovery of a crashed experimental spacecraft. Crix answers destiny's call by drawing on the power of the orb to rescue the downed craft's pilot. With the beautiful, enigmatic Mendac woman, Kerriah, and the thick skinned Hydorian, Krath, Crix must escape the clutches of the Marcks before they destroy him and the planet he calls home. He must also master his powers or his else they will destroy him too.
When I began reading this book, it reminded me of a science fiction roleplay scenario, which is both good and bad in its execution. There's a lot of world building thrown at you immediately. Species, organizations, planets, ship classes and for some, there is little to no definition to what these words mean so you are lost in the lack of a glossary. You can feel there's been a lot of thought and consideration into making this expansive lore and Benson just can't wait to show you.
As a result, some terms are explained briefly while others are used repeatedly without more context to understand what they mean. If there was a baseline understanding going in or maybe a detailed wiki or pictures, this wouldn't be as problematic.
I felt like I lost something in the specific jargon. But once I got past the opening prologue and the beginning of the quest, things moved more easily. The narrative flows okay with random bouts of world exposition or backstory tripping it up. But as a first novel in a series that is trying to tell you as much as possible about the setting, I do get it.
Some of the dialogue felt ripped out of an old space opera but that might have been the desired effect. Overall, Tolagon: Age of the Marcks felt like an update to Doc Smith's Lensmen. The set up for the character introductions and some of the descriptions especially brought made me think of Lensmen. The orbs of Cyos are passed from one host to the next and become a part of them- Tolagons are made not born. With the orb, a Tolagon can perform miraculous feats- increase strength, speed, shoot energy bolts and allow levitation all dependant on the color of the orb they possess.
Tolagon is a title for an organization of beings that are joined with these mysterious orbs. We don't learn much about them in this first novel. We do learn a great deal about the Andorians and the Marcks but we are only teased with Kerriah's and the Tolagons' history.
I recommend Tolagon: Age of the Marcks for anyone looking for a modern interpretation of golden age sci-fi adventures. We have monstrous alien insects, maniacal mad scientists, evil plots to take over the Galaxy, killer robots and a hero just beginning to learn what his destiny is. The fate of the Galaxy is in Crix's inexperienced but motivated hands.
With the orb, he is the last of a long line of Tolagons and possesses immense power that he can never use. If Crix uses the orb, its unique energy signature will alert the evil forces that seek to harness its power for their nefarious purposes. The treacherous Zearic, evil overlord of the Sinstar Corporation and the tire power behind the robotic Marcks, lusts for the power of the orb to perfect his bid for interstellar control.
Crix's life of quiet seclusion is disrupted with the discovery of a crashed experimental spacecraft. Crix answers destiny's call by drawing on the power of the orb to rescue the downed craft's pilot. With the beautiful, enigmatic Mendac woman, Kerriah, and the thick skinned Hydorian, Krath, Crix must escape the clutches of the Marcks before they destroy him and the planet he calls home. He must also master his powers or his else they will destroy him too.
When I began reading this book, it reminded me of a science fiction roleplay scenario, which is both good and bad in its execution. There's a lot of world building thrown at you immediately. Species, organizations, planets, ship classes and for some, there is little to no definition to what these words mean so you are lost in the lack of a glossary. You can feel there's been a lot of thought and consideration into making this expansive lore and Benson just can't wait to show you.
As a result, some terms are explained briefly while others are used repeatedly without more context to understand what they mean. If there was a baseline understanding going in or maybe a detailed wiki or pictures, this wouldn't be as problematic.
I felt like I lost something in the specific jargon. But once I got past the opening prologue and the beginning of the quest, things moved more easily. The narrative flows okay with random bouts of world exposition or backstory tripping it up. But as a first novel in a series that is trying to tell you as much as possible about the setting, I do get it.
Some of the dialogue felt ripped out of an old space opera but that might have been the desired effect. Overall, Tolagon: Age of the Marcks felt like an update to Doc Smith's Lensmen. The set up for the character introductions and some of the descriptions especially brought made me think of Lensmen. The orbs of Cyos are passed from one host to the next and become a part of them- Tolagons are made not born. With the orb, a Tolagon can perform miraculous feats- increase strength, speed, shoot energy bolts and allow levitation all dependant on the color of the orb they possess.
Tolagon is a title for an organization of beings that are joined with these mysterious orbs. We don't learn much about them in this first novel. We do learn a great deal about the Andorians and the Marcks but we are only teased with Kerriah's and the Tolagons' history.
I recommend Tolagon: Age of the Marcks for anyone looking for a modern interpretation of golden age sci-fi adventures. We have monstrous alien insects, maniacal mad scientists, evil plots to take over the Galaxy, killer robots and a hero just beginning to learn what his destiny is. The fate of the Galaxy is in Crix's inexperienced but motivated hands.
May 22, 2021
I have started getting into sci-fi recently and some have been hit and miss. I really enjoyed the story in this book. The characters are well developed and the plot has adventure action and magic. The only issue I had was the reader on audible. His style of reading made it difficult to stay engaged with the story. I know he was reading multiple roles and trying to mimic the speaker but it got to be too much at times
I received a free copy on audible from the author for an honest review
I received a free copy on audible from the author for an honest review
November 4, 2023
Tolagon: Book One of the Tolagon Series (I’ve also seen it labeled as: Age of the Marcks, although my copy was not...) by Gregory Benson. The author very graciously sent me a link to a free audible download for a review. This was a cool scifi novel, with both superhero-like orb generated powers, and robotic militia. The world building was on a grand scale, with both past and present mentioned, and even some in-world mythology gone into as well. I do wish we saw more of the orb power, that it was better described, but alas that is always what you get with the first in a series...this is the rise of the reemergence of the orb, a coming of age story for a new Tolagon. My main gripe or negative for this was the audio production, although top level quality, there were featured voices that I found to be distracting, that would take me entirely out of the story when I heard them. Therefore, if you grab this book definitely grab a physical or Ebook rather than audio cause there’s definitely stuff going on here worth reading! If I move onto book two (which has one of the coolest looking covers ever), it will definitely be physical. [AND now I can, and shall AND DID] Personally a 3/5* for me when coupled with the audio. Thanks again to the author.
June 30, 2021
Okay, just to get this out of the way, I received a free copy of the audiobook by Gregory Benson. He said, "Do you want to listen to this audiobook and write something about it?". So, I said "Okay!"
I must say I enjoyed this audiobook, It has that kind of popcorn feel about it. That is not to say it is a bad book or anything like that, but it is one of those light books where you breathe, sit back and just go with the flow of the story.
The story centres around our hero, Crix.
Crix feels different from those around him, mainly because he is. He is a lone human in an alien environment. He has been raised by his guardian Hafllinger amongst the equine race of Andors, a species of equine inhabitants of the planet Troika.
Not only that, he is a Tolagon, and has an orb inside him that gives him extraordinary powers.
However, evil forces are afoot, and one day as he is out walking he sees an unidentified craft crash land. Now Crix is a bit of a curious lad and decides that he needs to investigate and makes his way over the dangerous terrain to the crash site to investigate and discovers that the pilot, a Mendac girl called Kerriah is alive and well, and that she might need a little bit of help getting out of her crashed spaceship.
He is subsequently thrown headlong into an adventure that will take him further than he has ever been before, running from the might of the evil empire of the Marcks, stumbling on ancient gods, and becoming embroiled in a prison break on a prison planet.
This book was an enjoyable read, especially as we are thrown straight into the adventure, and it keeps the pace at full tilt until the end.
I found that one the things that helped were that I didn't have to think too hard about this book and that I just went from one dangerously life-threatening situation to the next without much in between. It has a fun-filled action-packed plot that drags you along with its flow.
If I thought about it a little bit, there were some small fissures in the gloss of the story, but I thought what the heck. let the story wash over you and just go with it. And with that, all restraints thrown off, I enjoyed this audiobook
The book is narrated by Gabriel Micheals who does a pretty good job of bringing the characters to life and injecting some verve into the story. He has such a good vocal range that gives definition and personality to each character. I was able to follow th narrative of the story and didn't get lost in the action. So, on the whole, got to say that I quite liked this and will definitely be seeking out the sequel.
I must say I enjoyed this audiobook, It has that kind of popcorn feel about it. That is not to say it is a bad book or anything like that, but it is one of those light books where you breathe, sit back and just go with the flow of the story.
The story centres around our hero, Crix.
Crix feels different from those around him, mainly because he is. He is a lone human in an alien environment. He has been raised by his guardian Hafllinger amongst the equine race of Andors, a species of equine inhabitants of the planet Troika.
Not only that, he is a Tolagon, and has an orb inside him that gives him extraordinary powers.
However, evil forces are afoot, and one day as he is out walking he sees an unidentified craft crash land. Now Crix is a bit of a curious lad and decides that he needs to investigate and makes his way over the dangerous terrain to the crash site to investigate and discovers that the pilot, a Mendac girl called Kerriah is alive and well, and that she might need a little bit of help getting out of her crashed spaceship.
He is subsequently thrown headlong into an adventure that will take him further than he has ever been before, running from the might of the evil empire of the Marcks, stumbling on ancient gods, and becoming embroiled in a prison break on a prison planet.
This book was an enjoyable read, especially as we are thrown straight into the adventure, and it keeps the pace at full tilt until the end.
I found that one the things that helped were that I didn't have to think too hard about this book and that I just went from one dangerously life-threatening situation to the next without much in between. It has a fun-filled action-packed plot that drags you along with its flow.
If I thought about it a little bit, there were some small fissures in the gloss of the story, but I thought what the heck. let the story wash over you and just go with it. And with that, all restraints thrown off, I enjoyed this audiobook
The book is narrated by Gabriel Micheals who does a pretty good job of bringing the characters to life and injecting some verve into the story. He has such a good vocal range that gives definition and personality to each character. I was able to follow th narrative of the story and didn't get lost in the action. So, on the whole, got to say that I quite liked this and will definitely be seeking out the sequel.
June 30, 2021
I had a fun and unique experience with this book because full disclosure, I received an audiobook review copy from the author and I also purchased an ebook copy myself. So because of that, I alternated between listening to the audiobook and reading the ebook which I have to say, worked beautifully. The narration was solid, I do feel like sometimes narration can be hit or miss for me and this was a hit. The narration kept me engaged and entertained.
In Tolagon we follow Crix Emberook. After losing his parents in the Thraxon war, Crix has grown up on Troika. A lone Mendac among Andorians, he has had a tough time of not quite fitting in coupled with the fact that he is a Tolagon. A bearer and wielder of an orb with great power and living in a time when it is dangerous to be. Events unfold and Crix finds himself being hunted and along the way starts to learn more about his family, his new friends and himself.
I freaking love books that combine Sci Fi and Fantasy elements so this book was alot of fun to read and listen to. I felt like it had nonstop action and some very interesting world building elements that I am excited to have expanded in the next book. I wasn't too invested in the romance in this book, but I do feel like I could be in the next. I found the characters, the villains, the environments, and the lore all intriguing. I can't wait to see more of Crix, Krath and most of all, Creedith. I think he has the potential to be my favorite character here. I am also interested in Kerriah's story. I honestly feel like we just dipped our toes into the events transpiring in this world. This very much feels like the introduction to a massive story. We get some character back story, some lore...and I think the author has laid a good foundation that can be built up so much. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Planning on reading the next book in July.
In Tolagon we follow Crix Emberook. After losing his parents in the Thraxon war, Crix has grown up on Troika. A lone Mendac among Andorians, he has had a tough time of not quite fitting in coupled with the fact that he is a Tolagon. A bearer and wielder of an orb with great power and living in a time when it is dangerous to be. Events unfold and Crix finds himself being hunted and along the way starts to learn more about his family, his new friends and himself.
I freaking love books that combine Sci Fi and Fantasy elements so this book was alot of fun to read and listen to. I felt like it had nonstop action and some very interesting world building elements that I am excited to have expanded in the next book. I wasn't too invested in the romance in this book, but I do feel like I could be in the next. I found the characters, the villains, the environments, and the lore all intriguing. I can't wait to see more of Crix, Krath and most of all, Creedith. I think he has the potential to be my favorite character here. I am also interested in Kerriah's story. I honestly feel like we just dipped our toes into the events transpiring in this world. This very much feels like the introduction to a massive story. We get some character back story, some lore...and I think the author has laid a good foundation that can be built up so much. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Planning on reading the next book in July.
September 29, 2023
I was gifted this book by the author, but the review is my own honest opinion.
What an action packed adventure this has been! From the get go, you're thrown into a wild ride that doesn't stop until the end. It was so fun learning about all the alien races, the conflicts going on, the lore, and the fascinating worlds! The cast of characters you encounter are so diverse and lovable (and hate-able for the villains, though even the villains were diverse and fascinating characters).
Because it's so action packed, it does move fast. Giving you conflict, resolving the conflict, giving you more conflict, rinse and repeat. I don't mind that though, it keeps you on the edge of your seat while you wonder what will happen next. It did slow down there in the middle to info dump you a bit, which kind of dragged for me, but I understand the necessity of the info dumping to understand backstory.
If you're a fan of space operas, I would definitely recommend this series! And this is me saying that after only reading the first book. I have the other two books of the series, that I will be eagerly cracking open so I can continue to read this epic adventure. As a warning, it -is- a continuous adventure. That means there is a pause and a "to be continued" at the end of this book. Thankfully it didn't land on a massive cliffhanger, or else I would gripe more about this. Now, time for book two so I can see what's next for this group!
What an action packed adventure this has been! From the get go, you're thrown into a wild ride that doesn't stop until the end. It was so fun learning about all the alien races, the conflicts going on, the lore, and the fascinating worlds! The cast of characters you encounter are so diverse and lovable (and hate-able for the villains, though even the villains were diverse and fascinating characters).
Because it's so action packed, it does move fast. Giving you conflict, resolving the conflict, giving you more conflict, rinse and repeat. I don't mind that though, it keeps you on the edge of your seat while you wonder what will happen next. It did slow down there in the middle to info dump you a bit, which kind of dragged for me, but I understand the necessity of the info dumping to understand backstory.
If you're a fan of space operas, I would definitely recommend this series! And this is me saying that after only reading the first book. I have the other two books of the series, that I will be eagerly cracking open so I can continue to read this epic adventure. As a warning, it -is- a continuous adventure. That means there is a pause and a "to be continued" at the end of this book. Thankfully it didn't land on a massive cliffhanger, or else I would gripe more about this. Now, time for book two so I can see what's next for this group!
September 22, 2021
Sci-fi isn’t normally my jam. But I have been reading more of it this year. The author of Tolagon reached out to me asking if I’d read/listen to and review his book. I’m so glad that I did! This book was such an enjoyable ride.
At first, I was lost, but I stayed with it and everything came together. There was a lot of unfamiliar jargon that I had to get hold of. Spaceships, other planetary descriptions, and the weaponry were just foreign to me. Once I got into the story, all of the unfamiliarity left me. I was just reading a good story about a group of people trying to save their planet as well as learn how to use their gifts to aid in that purpose.
Why do characters do something that they say they know that they shouldn’t? Crix does this in the first chapter. Right away he is ignoring his gut when he knows he should listen. It’s maddening sometimes. And, the dominoes fall from there.
I really enjoy the team that is brought together by unusual circumstances. Kerriah and Krath join up with Crix to somehow try to save the world. I think Kerriah has secrets yet to be told. I don’t know if I completely trust her yet. At any rate, she sure has caught Crix’s eye.
Krath is my favorite character. He makes me laugh out loud. He seems like he would’ve been the fun uncle that took you places you probably shouldn’t be going. He’s rough and gruff. He’s strange. But, he got into my heart. He’s just a well-thought-out character. And, after reading it, the story wouldn’t have been the same without him.
The action was intense. The villains are perfect...you will hate them. The story moves very quickly but not in a bad way. It has a good pace, which leads the reader to feeling the intensity and urgency of those scenes.
As for the audiobook, I had a rough time, to be honest. I think the narrator did the voices of Krath and the robots very well. The others sounded so similar to me that if I hadn’t been reading along with the ebook at the same time, I would’ve been lost a little. Maybe it was a technological thing, but when I increased the speed (I normally listen to audiobooks at 1.75x.), quite a bit of the narration was too fast to keep up with. This was especially true in some of the battle scenes. Again, if I hadn’t been reading along also, I would’ve had to slow the speed back down. Overall, the audiobook was good but not one I would buy.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading book 2, The Queen of Protocol. Both books are available now, with a third in the works.
I gave this book 4 stars and recommend it to fans of sci-fi/fantasy, space stories, and dystopia. (I purchased the ebook myself.)
I gave the audiobook, which I was gifted in exchange for an honest review, 3 stars. I would recommend reading the book while listening to this audiobook.
At first, I was lost, but I stayed with it and everything came together. There was a lot of unfamiliar jargon that I had to get hold of. Spaceships, other planetary descriptions, and the weaponry were just foreign to me. Once I got into the story, all of the unfamiliarity left me. I was just reading a good story about a group of people trying to save their planet as well as learn how to use their gifts to aid in that purpose.
Why do characters do something that they say they know that they shouldn’t? Crix does this in the first chapter. Right away he is ignoring his gut when he knows he should listen. It’s maddening sometimes. And, the dominoes fall from there.
I really enjoy the team that is brought together by unusual circumstances. Kerriah and Krath join up with Crix to somehow try to save the world. I think Kerriah has secrets yet to be told. I don’t know if I completely trust her yet. At any rate, she sure has caught Crix’s eye.
Krath is my favorite character. He makes me laugh out loud. He seems like he would’ve been the fun uncle that took you places you probably shouldn’t be going. He’s rough and gruff. He’s strange. But, he got into my heart. He’s just a well-thought-out character. And, after reading it, the story wouldn’t have been the same without him.
The action was intense. The villains are perfect...you will hate them. The story moves very quickly but not in a bad way. It has a good pace, which leads the reader to feeling the intensity and urgency of those scenes.
As for the audiobook, I had a rough time, to be honest. I think the narrator did the voices of Krath and the robots very well. The others sounded so similar to me that if I hadn’t been reading along with the ebook at the same time, I would’ve been lost a little. Maybe it was a technological thing, but when I increased the speed (I normally listen to audiobooks at 1.75x.), quite a bit of the narration was too fast to keep up with. This was especially true in some of the battle scenes. Again, if I hadn’t been reading along also, I would’ve had to slow the speed back down. Overall, the audiobook was good but not one I would buy.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading book 2, The Queen of Protocol. Both books are available now, with a third in the works.
I gave this book 4 stars and recommend it to fans of sci-fi/fantasy, space stories, and dystopia. (I purchased the ebook myself.)
I gave the audiobook, which I was gifted in exchange for an honest review, 3 stars. I would recommend reading the book while listening to this audiobook.
June 10, 2021
Tolagon is the first book in the Tolagon series and is a space-opera sci-fi novel with elements of fantasy. In this story we follow Crix an orphan and the last Tolagon who possesses the blue orb, a source of extreme power. The majority of the book follows a trio consisting of Crix, Karriah and Krath as they escape a force of robots called the Marcks which are controlled by the power-hungry, would-be tyrant Zearic and are alerted to the orb’s power should it be used.
I listened to the audiobook version of Tolagon and enjoyed the adventure. It was quite difficult to get into in the beginning because of the use of jargon specific to this world and the sheer amount of worldbuilding that happens. However, the worldbuilding was one part of the book that I really appreciated, there was a lot of it, from the political system, the races, the monsters/robots and the magic that were present within this world. I think this book would have benefitted from being longer, to further explain and describe the elements of this vast world in more detail.
The narrator of the audiobook is Gabriel Michael, and I felt that the narration portions were overacted and should have been toned down. However, I personally loved the voices that were done for all of the characters, and this made it such an enjoyable audiobook. The unique voices really helped me to connect with the characters and know more about their personality, particularly Krath. He is a wonderful character, who made me chuckle multiple times and ended up being my favourite. I did really like Crix as the protagonist; He was a humble and focused character, and I genuinely felt like he cared for others. Some of the dialogue between Crix and Karriah felt a little cheesy and I didn’t feel any strong emotional connection to their relationship (however, this may be built on further in book two).
I had a lot of fun listening to Tolagon and would recommend it to fans of space-opera sci-fi novels, who like stories with adventure, strong characters, humour and LOTS of worldbuilding. Also, if you are like me and like narrators who go above and beyond with voicing different characters and added effects, I’d recommend checking out the audiobook on audible. I can’t wait to listen to book 2.
Thank you to the Author, Gregory Benson for providing me with the Tolagon audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
I listened to the audiobook version of Tolagon and enjoyed the adventure. It was quite difficult to get into in the beginning because of the use of jargon specific to this world and the sheer amount of worldbuilding that happens. However, the worldbuilding was one part of the book that I really appreciated, there was a lot of it, from the political system, the races, the monsters/robots and the magic that were present within this world. I think this book would have benefitted from being longer, to further explain and describe the elements of this vast world in more detail.
The narrator of the audiobook is Gabriel Michael, and I felt that the narration portions were overacted and should have been toned down. However, I personally loved the voices that were done for all of the characters, and this made it such an enjoyable audiobook. The unique voices really helped me to connect with the characters and know more about their personality, particularly Krath. He is a wonderful character, who made me chuckle multiple times and ended up being my favourite. I did really like Crix as the protagonist; He was a humble and focused character, and I genuinely felt like he cared for others. Some of the dialogue between Crix and Karriah felt a little cheesy and I didn’t feel any strong emotional connection to their relationship (however, this may be built on further in book two).
I had a lot of fun listening to Tolagon and would recommend it to fans of space-opera sci-fi novels, who like stories with adventure, strong characters, humour and LOTS of worldbuilding. Also, if you are like me and like narrators who go above and beyond with voicing different characters and added effects, I’d recommend checking out the audiobook on audible. I can’t wait to listen to book 2.
Thank you to the Author, Gregory Benson for providing me with the Tolagon audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2023
Tolagon written by the author Gregory Benson is the first installment in the Tolagon Book Series. The main character of the story is Crix. Once, he heard a distant thump that told him about the ship that crashed into the boglands.
He felt a strong pull to investigate the strange ship. The problem is that the ship has crashed into Drisal which is both forbidden and dangerous. The blue orb that is hidden within Crix was calling him to duty. Since Crix was a child, he has suppressed the power of the blue orb and kept it hidden from others. When he reached Drisal, he didn't want to meet any resident Monoglades.
When Crix powered the ship through his orb, his eyes fell on a beautiful woman pilot. On seeing her, his heart skipped a couple of beats. Read the story to know more about the romance between Kerriah and Crix. What will happen when Crix meets Krath, a war veteran.
The story is interesting and it kept me on the edge of my seat. The writing style of the author is nice and the cover photo is eye-catching. This story takes the readers on the rollercoaster ride full of adventures. I enjoyed every bit of this book. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
He felt a strong pull to investigate the strange ship. The problem is that the ship has crashed into Drisal which is both forbidden and dangerous. The blue orb that is hidden within Crix was calling him to duty. Since Crix was a child, he has suppressed the power of the blue orb and kept it hidden from others. When he reached Drisal, he didn't want to meet any resident Monoglades.
When Crix powered the ship through his orb, his eyes fell on a beautiful woman pilot. On seeing her, his heart skipped a couple of beats. Read the story to know more about the romance between Kerriah and Crix. What will happen when Crix meets Krath, a war veteran.
The story is interesting and it kept me on the edge of my seat. The writing style of the author is nice and the cover photo is eye-catching. This story takes the readers on the rollercoaster ride full of adventures. I enjoyed every bit of this book. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
May 5, 2021
A free book from Voracious Readers thank you
Galactic wars destroying races with only one hope. A baby, holding formidable powers, hidden until circumstances bring his power to the fore.
A fast paced story of Crix, the power weilder, and his companions as they fight to free the worlds.
A great sci-fi story that takes you away into worlds that are imaginative and believable all at once.
An enjoyable read.
Galactic wars destroying races with only one hope. A baby, holding formidable powers, hidden until circumstances bring his power to the fore.
A fast paced story of Crix, the power weilder, and his companions as they fight to free the worlds.
A great sci-fi story that takes you away into worlds that are imaginative and believable all at once.
An enjoyable read.
September 8, 2021
This book was a wild ride with plenty of action and suspense throughout the story. For a Sci-fi book it was the perfect mix of different planets and different species that keep the universe growing. The trio that the story follows are relatable, likable, and funny. The voice actor did a great job making sure you knew who was talking by giving them all a district voice and the writing definitely made that possible. I can't wait to read book two. So awesome!
June 13, 2022
This book was good but it could have been great. The story was entertaining but the first few chapters there are so many people and place names you cant keep it straight. As the story goes in its easier to follow but the writing is bizarre, its almost as if they wrote the story and then went back to add in 3x as much description and used the thesaurus way too much. Without that it would have been excellent.
November 18, 2019
This is a great story of a world that this author pulled from imagination and brought to life through this reader. The characters are well-developed and realistic enough that I became quite attached to them and now I am looking forward to more of this world - in book 2!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 1, 2019
Tolagon: Age of the Marcks is a fascinating story filled with action, adventure and magic. The story captivates you into a world filled with characters you can’t help but love. Crix, Kerriah and Krath will take you on an action packed journey as they fight evil creatures all while learning secrets about each other. The story is an easy and enchanting read once you get past some of the technical business in the prologue. As a sci-fi and fantasy lover this book is a top favorite now and I can’t wait to see what the author has planned in the future.
December 31, 2021
3.5 from me!
As someone who has slowly—and I mean slowly—been creeping into reading sci-fi more, Tolagon by Gregory Benson shed some wonders on me in terms of the genre. The few other books I have read that are sci-fi still had human characters (they focused more on technology/dystopian future), so Tolagon brought a different element of sci-fi that I had yet to be immersed in, and that’s dynamic species that had distinct characteristics. Not to mention there's a robot army and vast worlds set up.... So this was a dive off a high dive into the deep end for me in this genre, truly an exhilarating experience!
The explanation of the technology, species, worlds, and so forth didn’t feel like an info dump to me. Benson was able to break down different elements within Tolagon in a manner that flowed with the story and you can tell a lot of care was put into each element. His use of flashbacks sheds light on a lot as well. Not only that but what he did with the power contained in the orbs is astounding. I still have a lot of questions, but this is only book one in the series, so no worries there!
Crix, the main protagonist, is someone people can easily get behind. He’s someone who is coming into himself and learning about his destiny. He’s a likable character, as are his companions he gains along the way. At some points, I felt like the relationships between characters developed a little too fast, but that is also coming from someone who tends to read books in which relationships are drawn out/not as focused on.
One thing that did throw me off, but this is not on the author at all, is that I listened to the audiobook and the main female character’s voice threw me off. The audiobook is read by a male, so he did try, but it didn’t work for me. If available, I would stick to getting a physical copy, but if you’re someone who won’t be jarred by particular voices, then go for the audio!
Overall, Tolagon has well-developed characters and species, a thoughtful story of someone learning their destiny and navigating the power at their hands, and interesting magic (the orbs). So whether you’re a newbie sci-fi goer like me or a veteran of the genre, you should check out Tolagon by Gregory Benson!
As someone who has slowly—and I mean slowly—been creeping into reading sci-fi more, Tolagon by Gregory Benson shed some wonders on me in terms of the genre. The few other books I have read that are sci-fi still had human characters (they focused more on technology/dystopian future), so Tolagon brought a different element of sci-fi that I had yet to be immersed in, and that’s dynamic species that had distinct characteristics. Not to mention there's a robot army and vast worlds set up.... So this was a dive off a high dive into the deep end for me in this genre, truly an exhilarating experience!
The explanation of the technology, species, worlds, and so forth didn’t feel like an info dump to me. Benson was able to break down different elements within Tolagon in a manner that flowed with the story and you can tell a lot of care was put into each element. His use of flashbacks sheds light on a lot as well. Not only that but what he did with the power contained in the orbs is astounding. I still have a lot of questions, but this is only book one in the series, so no worries there!
Crix, the main protagonist, is someone people can easily get behind. He’s someone who is coming into himself and learning about his destiny. He’s a likable character, as are his companions he gains along the way. At some points, I felt like the relationships between characters developed a little too fast, but that is also coming from someone who tends to read books in which relationships are drawn out/not as focused on.
One thing that did throw me off, but this is not on the author at all, is that I listened to the audiobook and the main female character’s voice threw me off. The audiobook is read by a male, so he did try, but it didn’t work for me. If available, I would stick to getting a physical copy, but if you’re someone who won’t be jarred by particular voices, then go for the audio!
Overall, Tolagon has well-developed characters and species, a thoughtful story of someone learning their destiny and navigating the power at their hands, and interesting magic (the orbs). So whether you’re a newbie sci-fi goer like me or a veteran of the genre, you should check out Tolagon by Gregory Benson!
November 16, 2021
Tolagon! The first book in a sci-fi/space opera series, and the author’s debut novel. I’d like to thank Mr. Benson for providing an audible audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
Expertly narrated by Gabriel Michael, we follow Crix, the last of the Tolagon, who harnesses a blue orb within himself. The other orbs (yellow, green, and red) have been either eliminated or placed in confinement. If Crix uses the orb within himself, he is able to tap into extreme levels of power, but it will also alert the Marcks (a robotic military force) to his location and send them down on him. Zearic, and the Marcks are on the hunt for the orbs in order to have unquestioned control over the system.
Crix crosses path with and befriends Kerriah and Krath, and the trio set out to escape Zearic and his army of Marcks. What ensues is a rollercoaster of a tale, that kept me engaged from beginning to end. The book/audiobook was well paced, and I kept wanting to listen to another chapter to see what was happening to our trio of heroes. The adventure in space was coupled with just enough politics, and world building to have me wanting to know more about this system and its inhabitants, without ever dragging down the narrative.
The author and I have discussed our love of comics, and I can clearly see that in the execution of the story! The Tolagon and power of the orb reminded me of when Kyle Rayner became Ion in the comics. Definitely a must read sci fi novel for fans of the Marvel or DC cosmic sides! I can highly recommend this for fans of sci fi, space fantasy, and sci-fi/fantasy blends.
As for the audiobook itself, Gabriel provides voices for each of our characters, and infuses them with personality and unique character quirks. Very well done performance by the narrator!
Expertly narrated by Gabriel Michael, we follow Crix, the last of the Tolagon, who harnesses a blue orb within himself. The other orbs (yellow, green, and red) have been either eliminated or placed in confinement. If Crix uses the orb within himself, he is able to tap into extreme levels of power, but it will also alert the Marcks (a robotic military force) to his location and send them down on him. Zearic, and the Marcks are on the hunt for the orbs in order to have unquestioned control over the system.
Crix crosses path with and befriends Kerriah and Krath, and the trio set out to escape Zearic and his army of Marcks. What ensues is a rollercoaster of a tale, that kept me engaged from beginning to end. The book/audiobook was well paced, and I kept wanting to listen to another chapter to see what was happening to our trio of heroes. The adventure in space was coupled with just enough politics, and world building to have me wanting to know more about this system and its inhabitants, without ever dragging down the narrative.
The author and I have discussed our love of comics, and I can clearly see that in the execution of the story! The Tolagon and power of the orb reminded me of when Kyle Rayner became Ion in the comics. Definitely a must read sci fi novel for fans of the Marvel or DC cosmic sides! I can highly recommend this for fans of sci fi, space fantasy, and sci-fi/fantasy blends.
As for the audiobook itself, Gabriel provides voices for each of our characters, and infuses them with personality and unique character quirks. Very well done performance by the narrator!
September 7, 2021
It was good! It was a little YA for my reading tastes now, but 15 year old me would have absolutely ate it up. Krath was my favorite character, but the disgruntled vets usually are. I really like the world, and the Marcks were good villains with enough variety to continue to bring new challenges.
Had a very science fiction Harry Potter feel to it.
Review in exchange for free copy of audiobook.
Had a very science fiction Harry Potter feel to it.
Review in exchange for free copy of audiobook.
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