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Gates of Eden: The Druid Legacy #1
Elijah Wadsworth and the Druid's Dance
"Would my death save the world? Possibly. But I would never have the courage to die for the world. I would only have courage enough to die for her..."
Elijah Wadsworth lost his parents and twin sister in what he thought was little more than a tragic accident. But five years later, when Elijah begins manifesting strange abilities--which he neither understands nor can control--he discovers his family has been at the center of a cosmic battle for centuries... and his family's death was likely no accident at all. A mysterious "girl in black" with dark, magical abilities pursues him, hoping to lure him to her cause. After coming into possession of a mystical stone, which transports Elijah into his deceased father’s ancient memories, Elijah and his closest friends must discover the source of his power together lest his newfound abilities drain his very soul, and open up our world to the blight of Samhuinn. When a girl he loves, however, is threatened he must make a choice to either save her by joining the sorceress, the "girl in black," or save the world.
Elijah Wadsworth and the Druid’s Dance is the first book in a modern fantasy that features a thrilling journey into the world of Celtic mythology, shocking plot twists, compelling characters, and an unlikely hero.
If you liked the cynical wit of Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden in the Dresden Files, the love triangle in Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight, or the magical worlds Lev Grossman’s The Magicians and Orson Scott Card’s The Lost Gate in The Mither Mages Trilogy then you will love Theophilus Monroe’s new contemporary fantasy. With an enthralling romance, a compelling adventure, and a magical journey into the world of Celtic myth (including an encounter with an eccentric wizard from Arthurian lore), Monroe’s highly anticipated follow-up series to Druidess has something for everyone.
Elijah Wadsworth lost his parents and twin sister in what he thought was little more than a tragic accident. But five years later, when Elijah begins manifesting strange abilities--which he neither understands nor can control--he discovers his family has been at the center of a cosmic battle for centuries... and his family's death was likely no accident at all. A mysterious "girl in black" with dark, magical abilities pursues him, hoping to lure him to her cause. After coming into possession of a mystical stone, which transports Elijah into his deceased father’s ancient memories, Elijah and his closest friends must discover the source of his power together lest his newfound abilities drain his very soul, and open up our world to the blight of Samhuinn. When a girl he loves, however, is threatened he must make a choice to either save her by joining the sorceress, the "girl in black," or save the world.
Elijah Wadsworth and the Druid’s Dance is the first book in a modern fantasy that features a thrilling journey into the world of Celtic mythology, shocking plot twists, compelling characters, and an unlikely hero.
If you liked the cynical wit of Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden in the Dresden Files, the love triangle in Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight, or the magical worlds Lev Grossman’s The Magicians and Orson Scott Card’s The Lost Gate in The Mither Mages Trilogy then you will love Theophilus Monroe’s new contemporary fantasy. With an enthralling romance, a compelling adventure, and a magical journey into the world of Celtic myth (including an encounter with an eccentric wizard from Arthurian lore), Monroe’s highly anticipated follow-up series to Druidess has something for everyone.
- GenresFantasy
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2018
94 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Theophilus Monroe
157 books291 followersTheophilus Monroe is a fantasy author with a knack for real-life characters whose supernatural experiences speak to the pangs of ordinary life. After earning his Ph.D. in Theology, he decided that academic treatises that no one will read (beyond other academics) was a dull way to spend his life. So, he began using his background in religious studies to create new worlds and forms of magic-informed by religious myths, ancient and modern-that would intrigue readers, inspire imaginations, and speak to real-world problems in fantastical ways.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 12, 2020
Wow, this book flows with so much meaning. You will not want to put it down. Elija has turned eighteen and his world is being turned upside down. He is going to go through so much suspense, action, the unbelievable, fighting with himself, and figuring out what I lays ahead for him? Don’t worry you might mad, upset, get frustrated, but you will also be brought to tears. There are not many authors that can write the way Theophilus Monroe, I’ve read the Gates of Eden: The Voodoo Legacy to book 4 and now this first book in Gates of Eden: The Druid Legacy.
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.
March 24, 2024
Elijah Wadsworth had lost his parents and twin sister Lily in a house fire, then he was adopted by Tyler's parents and he became like a brother to him. The boys were close to a friend called Emilie, and Elijah always thought he would marry her someday, however things took a different turn to what all of them expected during their last year in high school. For one thing Joni came into his life and they became inseparable. Elijah came into his own on his eighteenth birthday and he got quite a few surprises when he met Myrrdin, the gatekeeper wizard and discovered the tree of life in Annwn, his parents role in protecting this, and a stone of memories left for him by his dead father. He also discovered that there was a dark place close to Annwn called Samhuinn which had the wayward tree as opposed to the tree of life, and this was a place dominated by the Morrigan. It was she who had killed his family, and who was now after using his magical powers which were growing for Samhuinn. However Elijah was steadfast, and no matter what he would always do anything including give up his life for those he loved. He was also adamant on getting revenge on the evil Morrigan who had deprived him of all he loved. I loved this first book full of magic, and the beauty of Annwn, the Ozarks and the shire, the loyalty and love shared by the friends who in turn all got roles in order to help Elijah carry out his own role. They became his bard and ovate and never gave up on him. This is a book of hope and I am dying to go on reading book 2 as the surprise at the end of the book needs to be made sense of!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2022
I'll be honest, while I love the chance to delve into druidic lore, and this book provides some very interesting elements about the druids, I found this book to be a little disappointing. I am not much of a Joni fan, thus not a big fan of the whole Joni and Elijah pairing. It just seemed all too convenient and I truly felt for Emeliee and the way she was treated. As someone who has been friends with Tyler and Elijah their entire lives, I felt like she was disrespected in some ways but that the author tried to make up for this at the end, but it fell short. So far, even for a young adult series, I find the main characters to be a little immature. I also felt the ending to be a little rushed considering how long it took to get to that point. Basically, something monumental happens and it is rushed through with a few more chapters and all of the sudden comes the epilogue. Maybe continuing in the series, my perceptions of the characters will change. I will continue with the series because I do enjoy the druid parts of the story.
May 20, 2022
The way Theophilus Monroe writes is captivating from the beginning and you just want to keep reading and reading and not stop. It is both descriptive and has great world building (important for a fantasy) but also is interesting and is filled with mystery/suspense throughout. Need I say more? There is just no way that you can find the right spot to set the book down, but you just have to - no way you can read it in one setting, unless you pull an all nighter and then you still want to keep reading as you know there's more to the story than the author has let us know. And once I reached the end I desperately wanted the next novel in the collection. How long would I have to hold my breath before I can get my hands on the next novel in the series? I so wanted more!! Honestly the ending of this particular segment was absolutely amazing! Be prepared the ending is going to totally throws you for a twist!
September 10, 2023
Druid's Dance by Theophilus Monroe is book 1 in Gates of Eden:Druid Legacy. Great book by Theo. I definitely enjoy reading his books and recommend. In this book Five years after Elijah Wadsworth lost his parents and his twin sister in what he thought was a tragic accident he begins manifesting strange abilities and discovers his family has been the center of a cosmic battle for centuries and his family's death was likely no accident. Also a mysterious girl in black with dark abilities pursues him hoping to lure him to her cause. After coming into possession of a mystical stone that transports him into his deceased father's ancient memories, he and his closest friends must discover the source of his power so his abilities don't drain his soul and open up our world to the blight of Samhuinn. When a girl he loves is threatened he must make a choice of saving her by joining the sorceress(the girl in black) or save the world.
April 5, 2024
Extremely YA
2.5 stars.
I had high hopes for this but this is quintessential YA in the best and worst ways.
Likeable but shallow characters - check. Good pacing and very easy to read - check.
Decent idea but not very well executed - check.
Horribly cringey and unnecessary love triangle - check.
Juvenile humor - check.
The character of Joni (one of the heroines) is irritating.
The whole time travel thing for a major character feels forced.
The book also suffers from being the first book of a series and is tasked with setting up the story.
Overall it was a very ok book, always threatening to turn out great but never reaching those heights.
I may try the next book next year. Hopefully it gets better.
2.5 stars.
I had high hopes for this but this is quintessential YA in the best and worst ways.
Likeable but shallow characters - check. Good pacing and very easy to read - check.
Decent idea but not very well executed - check.
Horribly cringey and unnecessary love triangle - check.
Juvenile humor - check.
The character of Joni (one of the heroines) is irritating.
The whole time travel thing for a major character feels forced.
The book also suffers from being the first book of a series and is tasked with setting up the story.
Overall it was a very ok book, always threatening to turn out great but never reaching those heights.
I may try the next book next year. Hopefully it gets better.
June 30, 2020
Very good book!
Very good book! Story moves along quite well (a tad christian preachy in the middle for this Buddhist, but not bad). The characters are in their final year of HS so there is some teenage angst and hormones going on as is to be expected. Once I began it I just didn’t want to put it down. Well written (a few typos and misused words but nothing distracting) good story line, well fleshed out characters, and takes place in Missouri — being a lifelong Missourian now living in Arizona that was a pleasant surprise. Then end of the book says more in the series in coming in Sept 2020, So I’m looking forward to it coming out. I really recommend this book! Enjoy!
Very good book! Story moves along quite well (a tad christian preachy in the middle for this Buddhist, but not bad). The characters are in their final year of HS so there is some teenage angst and hormones going on as is to be expected. Once I began it I just didn’t want to put it down. Well written (a few typos and misused words but nothing distracting) good story line, well fleshed out characters, and takes place in Missouri — being a lifelong Missourian now living in Arizona that was a pleasant surprise. Then end of the book says more in the series in coming in Sept 2020, So I’m looking forward to it coming out. I really recommend this book! Enjoy!
July 31, 2019
I was happily surprised by how wonderful this book was! I will definitely continue to follow this author and Highly recommend others to read this story too. Enjoyed the main characters and the visions of the world ages ago as well as this book is set in this world now a days!
January 12, 2021
Fantasy and legend
What an interesting story combining fantasy and legends. I agreed with the comment about humans place with other animals. Being human I could not understand why his only thought about money was to buy a fancy car, not help any of the people in his life.
What an interesting story combining fantasy and legends. I agreed with the comment about humans place with other animals. Being human I could not understand why his only thought about money was to buy a fancy car, not help any of the people in his life.
February 1, 2023
The first couple of pages had me concerned, there was a lot thrown at me that I didn’t understand. But once you got past that, to the main character, this book was just a fantastic read! I understood those first couple pages by the end. Enjoyable read!
May 27, 2019
I loved this story! It's original, well thought out, and engaging. I read the entire book in 4 hours, and I still want more. It had christian themes, but in a subtle, organic way. Very, very good.
April 11, 2022
Druid’s Dance
An excellent introduction into some fascinating characters as well as new takes on some old legends, too!
Enjoy the dance!
An excellent introduction into some fascinating characters as well as new takes on some old legends, too!
Enjoy the dance!
August 4, 2023
Very fun to read. I couldn't put it down, I had to find out what happened next !!!
August 11, 2023
Geat book
Take a few teenagers mix in magic and you get a wild ride! Join a new Druid, bard and Ovid on an adventure while learning their powers.
Take a few teenagers mix in magic and you get a wild ride! Join a new Druid, bard and Ovid on an adventure while learning their powers.
January 14, 2024
I enjoyed this.
Probably should have read this one first rather than Mercy, Cain Hailey and Annabelle.
Probably should have read this one first rather than Mercy, Cain Hailey and Annabelle.
April 28, 2024
This spin on an old tale was amazing. I absolutely loved the humor and banter between characters. This twists and turns came unexpectedly. I very much enjoyed this read!
August 14, 2021
Totally unputdownable, bring on book 2!!
Another amazing book by Theo, I loved everything...the characters are so real and the knowledge and background about the Druids and their beliefs is incredible!! There is so much thought and effort gone into this storyline and I really can't wait to read book 2.
Another amazing book by Theo, I loved everything...the characters are so real and the knowledge and background about the Druids and their beliefs is incredible!! There is so much thought and effort gone into this storyline and I really can't wait to read book 2.
July 3, 2022
Druid's Dance: An Arthurian Modern Fantasy (Gates of Eden: The Druid Legacy Book 1), my twenty-fifth read from author Theophilus Monroe. Now this is what I'm used to from Theophilus Monroe. Well written & enjoyable read. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. William Turbett's narration added to the enjoyment of the book and is superior to his work in Rise of the Morrigan: The Queen of Samhuinn: An Epic in Fantasy Mythology. I look forward to my next read from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
June 28, 2020
“Druid’s Dance” by Theophilus Monroe, the first book in the upcoming “Gates of Eden: The Druid Legacy” Trilogy, blends elements of classic Celtic mythology, with contemporary YA fantasy into an unusual tale of lost and endurance, that brings the “coming of age” trope to a new level.
Elijah is the sole survivor of the fire that killed his whole family when he was barely a child. Years later Elijah has become a capable young man about to graduate high school and become a legal adult, and with adulthood Elijah also receives his surprising inheritance.
Elijah is the heir of some centuries-old-lineage of wizards that have been fighting the creatures of lore for ages. As his powers begin to wake, some hard facts come to light (his family death, was not accident), and a mysterious girl (Celtic fans would recognize her immediately 😊) follows him relentlessly trying to gain his support in the upcoming battle to save the world, until Elijah is forced to make a choice, with appalling consequences.
The story is very interesting, fast-moving when the action demands it and offering a much more moderate pace in the portions of the tale that explore Elijah’s past and character in more dept. Elijah himself is an unusual hero and a welcomed MC, that allows us for once to witness the process of teens maturing into adults from a male point of view. A well written story, with unseen situations and twists, that offers adventure, romance, magical bits and fantasy all nicely wrapped into a fully enjoyable book cover to cover.
Elijah is the sole survivor of the fire that killed his whole family when he was barely a child. Years later Elijah has become a capable young man about to graduate high school and become a legal adult, and with adulthood Elijah also receives his surprising inheritance.
Elijah is the heir of some centuries-old-lineage of wizards that have been fighting the creatures of lore for ages. As his powers begin to wake, some hard facts come to light (his family death, was not accident), and a mysterious girl (Celtic fans would recognize her immediately 😊) follows him relentlessly trying to gain his support in the upcoming battle to save the world, until Elijah is forced to make a choice, with appalling consequences.
The story is very interesting, fast-moving when the action demands it and offering a much more moderate pace in the portions of the tale that explore Elijah’s past and character in more dept. Elijah himself is an unusual hero and a welcomed MC, that allows us for once to witness the process of teens maturing into adults from a male point of view. A well written story, with unseen situations and twists, that offers adventure, romance, magical bits and fantasy all nicely wrapped into a fully enjoyable book cover to cover.
July 9, 2020
*spoilers*
I really loved this book. It was really fun to read and I enjoyed every last bit of it. This book is really good for many reasons. Firstly there is a lot of great character development in this book, it shows and explains every bit on how they do basically everything which I really love For example, though Elijah was born with great power as he is half Dryad hey could not wild it perfectly from the start, he needed practice, lots of help and he needed to take risks when using allot of his power. Secondly everything is explained. There is so much explanations in this book which explain how things are to be. In some books like the recent Voodoo academy things weren't explained the best and I didn't know what was going on as I could have but in this book everything was explained and I knew exactly what was going on. Thirdly things are shown rather then told which makes it so I can picture everything in my head making a great movie in my head of what was going on. This book has a lot of great action and fantasy aspects which really bring the book to life, there are great fight scenes and when Elijah was learning about magic it felt like I was learning everything with him and Joni. This book is really great and I have nothing bad to say about it though I did remember near the start of the book there was a spelling error though I can't remember what out exactly were it is. I loved this book and it is definitely one of my favorites.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really loved this book. It was really fun to read and I enjoyed every last bit of it. This book is really good for many reasons. Firstly there is a lot of great character development in this book, it shows and explains every bit on how they do basically everything which I really love For example, though Elijah was born with great power as he is half Dryad hey could not wild it perfectly from the start, he needed practice, lots of help and he needed to take risks when using allot of his power. Secondly everything is explained. There is so much explanations in this book which explain how things are to be. In some books like the recent Voodoo academy things weren't explained the best and I didn't know what was going on as I could have but in this book everything was explained and I knew exactly what was going on. Thirdly things are shown rather then told which makes it so I can picture everything in my head making a great movie in my head of what was going on. This book has a lot of great action and fantasy aspects which really bring the book to life, there are great fight scenes and when Elijah was learning about magic it felt like I was learning everything with him and Joni. This book is really great and I have nothing bad to say about it though I did remember near the start of the book there was a spelling error though I can't remember what out exactly were it is. I loved this book and it is definitely one of my favorites.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2020
ONE THRILLING MYSTICAL JOURNEY!!!
Freaking awesome! Theophilus delivers all the mystical, mystique and magic that sets the pace for this sensational, action packed, hard hitting, nail-biting, page flipping dynamo, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. A surging vortex chocked full of fervent events and enticing circumstances, thrusts those swirling emotions into play, hooking you from the start and reeling you in for the duration. Braided, bound and tightly woven, showcasing the rocketing ups and agonizing downs, grounding in it's simplicity and awe-inspiring in it's depth, drawing our characters closer than they could have ever anticipated. Lines blur and boundaries crossed, limitations are stretched and manipulated, booting this bad boy into overdrive, slamming it into a tailspin with an intoxicating culmination. Toss in drama, intrigue, revelations, secrets, adversity, mounting suspense and unnerving situations along with a boatload of danger, you have one mind-blowing experience. The characters are complex and genuine with traits and qualities that add depth and realism that blend and flow, transforming into amazing personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and descriptions that feel as though you were transported to ground zero with them. Fantastic job Theophilus, thanks for sharing this lil' fella with us.
Freaking awesome! Theophilus delivers all the mystical, mystique and magic that sets the pace for this sensational, action packed, hard hitting, nail-biting, page flipping dynamo, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. A surging vortex chocked full of fervent events and enticing circumstances, thrusts those swirling emotions into play, hooking you from the start and reeling you in for the duration. Braided, bound and tightly woven, showcasing the rocketing ups and agonizing downs, grounding in it's simplicity and awe-inspiring in it's depth, drawing our characters closer than they could have ever anticipated. Lines blur and boundaries crossed, limitations are stretched and manipulated, booting this bad boy into overdrive, slamming it into a tailspin with an intoxicating culmination. Toss in drama, intrigue, revelations, secrets, adversity, mounting suspense and unnerving situations along with a boatload of danger, you have one mind-blowing experience. The characters are complex and genuine with traits and qualities that add depth and realism that blend and flow, transforming into amazing personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and descriptions that feel as though you were transported to ground zero with them. Fantastic job Theophilus, thanks for sharing this lil' fella with us.
December 18, 2019
Very enjoyable
s I’d love to, I don’t have the financial muscle of one of New York’s big-five publishers. I can’t take out full page ads in the newspaper, or put up posters at the major bookstores.
s I’d love to, I don’t have the financial muscle of one of New York’s big-five publishers. I can’t take out full page ads in the newspaper, or put up posters at the major bookstores.
July 31, 2020
Modern Arthurian Fantasy
While fantasy isn't my go-to read, I do enjoy a few authors, and I'm always on the lookout for new authors and series. This series certainly has promise. The author pulls you right into the story with a dramatic and tragic event in the young hero's life. I thought the pacing was a little off at times. Sometimes, a lot was happening, while at others, I felt like I was waiting for something interesting to happen. But, overall, I still enjoyed the story. I nearly always enjoy a spin on Arthurian tales and characters, especially if there are druids! I look forward to seeing what will happen in the next book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
While fantasy isn't my go-to read, I do enjoy a few authors, and I'm always on the lookout for new authors and series. This series certainly has promise. The author pulls you right into the story with a dramatic and tragic event in the young hero's life. I thought the pacing was a little off at times. Sometimes, a lot was happening, while at others, I felt like I was waiting for something interesting to happen. But, overall, I still enjoyed the story. I nearly always enjoy a spin on Arthurian tales and characters, especially if there are druids! I look forward to seeing what will happen in the next book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
July 9, 2020
I loved this story! The character development was everything I've come to expect from Mr. Monroe - complex, involved, and realistic! Same with the story world. I love Merlin stories and I love Druid books, so what's not to like with this book? :) I can't wait for the next book in the series due out this fall and highly recommend this book to anyone that is interested in the Merlin mythos or Druid mythology. Fantasy lovers can't go wrong with Mr. Monroe's works!
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.
July 6, 2020
Elijah is a senior in high school and upon his 18th birthday he realizes he has magic. With the help of his friends and new love interest he navigates the strange things coming his way including a girl in black. Mr. Monroe is a fantastic storyteller. He brings the reader into the world he creates and makes you feel like you are standing beside them. An excellent read. I volunteered to read this book via Booksprout.
July 13, 2020
Druid's Dance by Theophilus Monroe is a wonderful story that I have read. This is book number one in this wonderful start to a brand new series that I am so hooked on. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about fantasy.
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.
July 10, 2020
I love this book! It is amazing and I loved each minute. This book was another great unique read from this author. This book does not disappoint!!
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.
July 26, 2020
This is a fabulous read I really enjoyed the characters and the story dynamic and cannt wait to see what the next book brings!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews