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Rise of Shadow - Reign of Light #1
Road of a Paragon
Kaldon’s true identity is unknown by even those closest to him. Secrets enshroud him; he is far more than he seems. Rumours abound throughout the land of Agadin as the Dominion of Shadow is waging war on the Kingdom of Light. Dark creatures manifest, slaying and terrifying citizens while warriors on both sides of this epic war rise up. Kaldon must decide who he will be. Will he be one who cowers or will he embrace his destiny and lift his blade?
338 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2020
4 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 4, 2026
I liked the story, but I found the writing choppy, which made it hard to stay engrossed in the book.
August 22, 2020
This book is amazing. I am typically not the biggest fan of fantasy, but this book gripped me. The story was compelling, the characters were well established, and the world that L.R. Created was beautiful. One of the things that made this book stand out from other Fiction novels that I’ve read was how the author was able to weave some incredible teachings/encouragements into the conversations existing between characters. It made me read the book a little slower to digest some of the truths that are so brilliantly exposited upon. Pick up this book and get transported into the world of Agadin - and be surprised by how it speaks into your own world!
September 6, 2020
This book is maybe the best fantasy novel I’ve read, though to be fair I have read maybe ten to twenty fantasy novels.
The world of this story is enormous. The amount of lore delivered in this book is astounding. By the time you are done you know a bit of the history of the world. There is over 4,000 years of history. Obviously, we don’t get an exhaustive history of the world, but the history we do get let’s us know it.
The characters in the book feel like real people. They have flaws and fight to overcome them. To the point that the characters we don’t see the flaws of we believe that they are there, just not relevant to this story.
The main character is deeply flawed, as a proper character should be. The side characters have the proper amount of skills to complement the lead, yet none of them overshadow the importance of the lead character.
The real story of this novel isn’t the battle between Shadow and light, but in the lead character’s mission of self discovery.
I am disappointed in the lack of a Kindle edition, but it is worth a spot on my physical bookshelf non the less.
The world of this story is enormous. The amount of lore delivered in this book is astounding. By the time you are done you know a bit of the history of the world. There is over 4,000 years of history. Obviously, we don’t get an exhaustive history of the world, but the history we do get let’s us know it.
The characters in the book feel like real people. They have flaws and fight to overcome them. To the point that the characters we don’t see the flaws of we believe that they are there, just not relevant to this story.
The main character is deeply flawed, as a proper character should be. The side characters have the proper amount of skills to complement the lead, yet none of them overshadow the importance of the lead character.
The real story of this novel isn’t the battle between Shadow and light, but in the lead character’s mission of self discovery.
I am disappointed in the lack of a Kindle edition, but it is worth a spot on my physical bookshelf non the less.
January 19, 2021
In the first chapter, I was challenged by “The calling over your life is far too precious to be sold in exchange for the approval of others. Your destiny was never fashioned to fit within the parameters of other people ‘s expectations of who you should be. For some, greatness is merely a distraction people dream about in order to escape their reality. The truth is that to walk in greatness is a choice...”
L.R.Knight beautifully tells a tale of someone finding their identity. I enjoyed the characters, and the mystery that needs to get unraveled. There were many truths in the pages of that book, as well as enough fantasy to inspire and delight. I am truly looking forward to the next book in the series!
L.R.Knight beautifully tells a tale of someone finding their identity. I enjoyed the characters, and the mystery that needs to get unraveled. There were many truths in the pages of that book, as well as enough fantasy to inspire and delight. I am truly looking forward to the next book in the series!
October 24, 2020
A classic genre - fantasy - the Chosen One has to confront his identity issues in order to fulfil his potential and calling. Predictably, it follows the Hero's Journey. The writing is a little stilted and stiff initially.
Don't let any of that stop you from picking the book up. It's a thoroughly enjoyable read. Easy to read; interesting enough to pick it up again after a quick break to make tea. I got through it in a day. You can too.
But along the way I was reminded about life and death and the purpose of being, and the eternal battle between good and evil, and how we as humans are all called to choose.
Don't let any of that stop you from picking the book up. It's a thoroughly enjoyable read. Easy to read; interesting enough to pick it up again after a quick break to make tea. I got through it in a day. You can too.
But along the way I was reminded about life and death and the purpose of being, and the eternal battle between good and evil, and how we as humans are all called to choose.
May 22, 2025
Enjoyable Quest about Identity and Truth
Kaldon lost his mother at the age of thirteen and never really knew his birth father - he is a famous man, a warrior and hero, and though Kaldon watched Dolan from afar, he only learned about him through the talk of the common folk and books. After his death, Kaldon is thrust into a scheme all the while coming to grips with who he is, and what his birthright entails.
Plot and ideas are great. You can tell this is an author's first work, the author put a lot of work into world building but sometimes the sentences feel like the author wants us to know how to feel, so we're told, a lot. In general, it's a decent novel I just would have pushed the prose a little harder.
Kaldon lost his mother at the age of thirteen and never really knew his birth father - he is a famous man, a warrior and hero, and though Kaldon watched Dolan from afar, he only learned about him through the talk of the common folk and books. After his death, Kaldon is thrust into a scheme all the while coming to grips with who he is, and what his birthright entails.
Plot and ideas are great. You can tell this is an author's first work, the author put a lot of work into world building but sometimes the sentences feel like the author wants us to know how to feel, so we're told, a lot. In general, it's a decent novel I just would have pushed the prose a little harder.
December 29, 2020
A riveting story filled with character and attention to detail. I cannot wait for the release of the second book!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews