What do you think?
Wrath of Olympus #1
Fate Weaver
Every thousand years, a tower of unimaginable power appears in the mortal realm. It's said that whoever claims the throne inside will have the power to change the world in their image. This time, the tower appears at a moment when the gods find themselves locked in their own realms; their essence fading from the world. With the gods no longer in control, humanity finds themselves locked in a battle of survival with the hordes of monsters the tower has called to it. When all seems lost, three heroes stumble upon an ancient power that may just give them the strength they need to survive the onslaught and claim the power of the tower for themselves.
287 pages, Paperback
Published November 18, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 21, 2020
*Disclaimer: I consider author Brian Tripp to be a friend and have known him for several years*
I enjoyed this book, mostly because of the effort put into the characters and their dynamics. Often when it comes to comparable books in the self-published fantasy YA space, the emotional stakes and the shifts in character dynamics are not explored very well, or even in the slightest.
But here, especially in the first half of the book, all three main viewpoint characters have emotional landscapes that are nicely developed, and while these threads are somewhat lost in the 2nd half as the author Brian Tripp pushes towards the big climactic battles, I appreciate that the characters are not just the bland self-inserts that so often populate self-published fantasy/isekai/litRPG books. I did become invested in the characters and wanted to know how their stories developed.
Even the minor characters have nice interactions that emerge organically because of who they are - sometimes hilariously so, and sometimes with a surprising poignancy.
The scenes are well-described and vivid as well - the author isn't content to just describe a scene in a pedestrian way, but uses all of the senses, as well as character actions and quirks, to flesh it out.
But all of this is not to say that there aren't any problems. As I indicated, the pacing is too fast in the 2nd half, as the author seemed to be driving the plot towards a definite endpoint, but rushed the character development because of that. There's a feeling, common to many early-career fantasy novels, that the author had a bullet list of character moments and epic moments that he wanted to hit, and shortchanged the later character development to reach these points.
There are many distracting punctuation mistakes, particularly missing commas and question marks. The author also leans on some idiosyncratic language a bit too much. I'll leave it to you to discover the details, but I'll say this: watch out for their eyebrows.
Overall, Fate Weaver is a first novel that rises above other first-time self-published fantasy books due to strong characterization, and in that context, it deserves 4 stars. I'd even say it's better than something like Sufficiently Advanced Magic because of this. Brian Tripp is a first-time storyteller with an uncommon amount of potential, and I'm looking forward to reading his other books.
I enjoyed this book, mostly because of the effort put into the characters and their dynamics. Often when it comes to comparable books in the self-published fantasy YA space, the emotional stakes and the shifts in character dynamics are not explored very well, or even in the slightest.
But here, especially in the first half of the book, all three main viewpoint characters have emotional landscapes that are nicely developed, and while these threads are somewhat lost in the 2nd half as the author Brian Tripp pushes towards the big climactic battles, I appreciate that the characters are not just the bland self-inserts that so often populate self-published fantasy/isekai/litRPG books. I did become invested in the characters and wanted to know how their stories developed.
Even the minor characters have nice interactions that emerge organically because of who they are - sometimes hilariously so, and sometimes with a surprising poignancy.
The scenes are well-described and vivid as well - the author isn't content to just describe a scene in a pedestrian way, but uses all of the senses, as well as character actions and quirks, to flesh it out.
But all of this is not to say that there aren't any problems. As I indicated, the pacing is too fast in the 2nd half, as the author seemed to be driving the plot towards a definite endpoint, but rushed the character development because of that. There's a feeling, common to many early-career fantasy novels, that the author had a bullet list of character moments and epic moments that he wanted to hit, and shortchanged the later character development to reach these points.
There are many distracting punctuation mistakes, particularly missing commas and question marks. The author also leans on some idiosyncratic language a bit too much. I'll leave it to you to discover the details, but I'll say this: watch out for their eyebrows.
Overall, Fate Weaver is a first novel that rises above other first-time self-published fantasy books due to strong characterization, and in that context, it deserves 4 stars. I'd even say it's better than something like Sufficiently Advanced Magic because of this. Brian Tripp is a first-time storyteller with an uncommon amount of potential, and I'm looking forward to reading his other books.
April 22, 2021
Fate Weaver, while at its first glance, revolves around Greek Mythology, is far more than that. Our protagonists, Ashe, Quinn, and Levy set out on a journey that they believe is their "fate" to achieve. From very early on it is clear that Tripp wants you to understand and relate to each of these characters uniquely. I found myself cheering for them (even when they did things that were... morally abhorent) and wanting to see them grow and do better.
The overall plot is interesting in itself and while there are nods and bits of Greek Mythos within, the true story is original and creative- so much so that I think the Greek stuff could easily be replaced with the author's own mythos and creations. (Though it need not be, but there is something to be said about taking something that has been written to h*ll and back and still finding a way to make it your own!)
A great tower appears in the world and whoever sits upon the throne gains great power. But the tower attracts monsters and the danger in approaching in it is massive. The humans who have been oppressed by the Gods for eons wish to take the throne and change their fate. Early on it is made abundantly clear that neither side has control nor the right to the throne.
Quinn and Levy shine particularly bright in this story. I found myself wishing for Levy to grow and change in ways that his character was not ready to yet (still you cheer for him!) and watching Quinn change from a child to an adult is an absolute delight. Ashelia, while interesting in her own right, doesn't shine quite as bright but serves an incredible importance to the plot and is likable, as are all the protagonists. I won't post much about that because I wish to keep this spoiler free but either way, it's worth reading.
It's important to remember that with self-published novels especially, that the work is done usually in its entirety by the author. There were some editing errors here and there but never so much so that they took me away from the story in any way. I'm proud of Tripp as an indie author. Even throughout the novel, his voice evolves, changes, and grows. I can't wait to read the second book and I highly recommend that everyone give this a read! Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
The overall plot is interesting in itself and while there are nods and bits of Greek Mythos within, the true story is original and creative- so much so that I think the Greek stuff could easily be replaced with the author's own mythos and creations. (Though it need not be, but there is something to be said about taking something that has been written to h*ll and back and still finding a way to make it your own!)
A great tower appears in the world and whoever sits upon the throne gains great power. But the tower attracts monsters and the danger in approaching in it is massive. The humans who have been oppressed by the Gods for eons wish to take the throne and change their fate. Early on it is made abundantly clear that neither side has control nor the right to the throne.
Quinn and Levy shine particularly bright in this story. I found myself wishing for Levy to grow and change in ways that his character was not ready to yet (still you cheer for him!) and watching Quinn change from a child to an adult is an absolute delight. Ashelia, while interesting in her own right, doesn't shine quite as bright but serves an incredible importance to the plot and is likable, as are all the protagonists. I won't post much about that because I wish to keep this spoiler free but either way, it's worth reading.
It's important to remember that with self-published novels especially, that the work is done usually in its entirety by the author. There were some editing errors here and there but never so much so that they took me away from the story in any way. I'm proud of Tripp as an indie author. Even throughout the novel, his voice evolves, changes, and grows. I can't wait to read the second book and I highly recommend that everyone give this a read! Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
November 30, 2020
Once I started reading this novel, I did not want to put it down! Fate Weaver hooked me in with its unique protagonists and overall story full of action, adventure, and even a bit of mystery. Brian Tripp did an excellent job of making the characters relatable as they faced their own internal conflicts (guilt, pride, jealousy, etc.). The rotation of the protagonists' perspectives each chapter was also something that kept me engrossed. I'm really looking forward to seeing what's to come next in this series.
November 25, 2020
Engrossing!!
Wonderful complex characters, great story and fine writing. I enjoyed every page of this book and can't wait to read the next one by this author. What a terrific start to a series.
Wonderful complex characters, great story and fine writing. I enjoyed every page of this book and can't wait to read the next one by this author. What a terrific start to a series.
November 24, 2020
So, first emotional impression was that this was a FUN book to read. You know you have those books where as you read them you think "I'm having a really good time!" That's what I got from this one, especially the first half.
I love a story that starts right in the action, and Fate Weaver plants you right in the middle of a series of trials with characters you barely know and so you are able to learn about them through the choices they make. It was a great way to introduce the world.
The writing style strikes a good balance between description and action that carries the story forward and kept my interest, although it did start to feel a bit rushed in the second half of the book. It became more telling than showing and was a bit repetitive in places, usually during a perspective shift.
The weakest part of the book would probably be the character development. The three main characters each started out in a category, which is pretty typical especially in YA, but I would have liked to see them break out of their boxes more. I expected major events to affect them in a significant way but they never really moved beyond where they started. I wasn't particularly enamored with any of them but I'm hoping they will be able to develop more as the series continues.
Overall this is a really good first novel and I look forward to seeing more!
I love a story that starts right in the action, and Fate Weaver plants you right in the middle of a series of trials with characters you barely know and so you are able to learn about them through the choices they make. It was a great way to introduce the world.
The writing style strikes a good balance between description and action that carries the story forward and kept my interest, although it did start to feel a bit rushed in the second half of the book. It became more telling than showing and was a bit repetitive in places, usually during a perspective shift.
The weakest part of the book would probably be the character development. The three main characters each started out in a category, which is pretty typical especially in YA, but I would have liked to see them break out of their boxes more. I expected major events to affect them in a significant way but they never really moved beyond where they started. I wasn't particularly enamored with any of them but I'm hoping they will be able to develop more as the series continues.
Overall this is a really good first novel and I look forward to seeing more!
January 24, 2021
This book kept me on the edge of my seat with every turn of the page, and I would recommend it to everyone! I don't have a huge fascination with Greek mythology, but now I do and have been looking up various gods and creates that were mentioned. Besides that, that three main characters were such an amazing trio (even after the end of part one's events!), and I have come to love them so dang much! The dialogue throughout was also amazing. There were times when I would get giddy, or even laugh out loud. It all just felt right and natural, which is a true gift! During the last 30 pages I was becoming very vocal with all that was happening. I couldn't control myself. Everything was leading to this crescendo that was perfect to end the first book of this series. Just wow. When I finished it, I closed it, placed my hand on the cover, and said to my friend, "10 out of 10. This was amazing."
I am so excited for book two!
I am so excited for book two!
November 29, 2022
Great Fantasy Epic for Percy Jackson fans!
Loved the action, badass characters, and mythology! This was fun to read and as a huge Percy Jackson fan, was so happy to pick up a book with similar vibes. Characters were excellent and well-developed as well. Highly recommend for fantasy fans!
Loved the action, badass characters, and mythology! This was fun to read and as a huge Percy Jackson fan, was so happy to pick up a book with similar vibes. Characters were excellent and well-developed as well. Highly recommend for fantasy fans!
July 26, 2024
i have always been interested in greek mythology and the lore behind it all, this author has done so much research to ensure the book is as accurate as possible and it is phenomenal!! i was sucked in from the beginning with twists and turns on every page. by far my favorite part was watching the characters grow from children to strong and shining adults. cheering them on every chapter and watching them go above and beyond to achieve their goals. an absolute amazing read and will recommend to anyone of every age. beautifully written, i can’t wait for more!
August 2, 2023
fascinating read!
Once I started reading, I found that I couldn’t stop! I’m intrigued to see where this story leads in the future.
Once I started reading, I found that I couldn’t stop! I’m intrigued to see where this story leads in the future.
September 15, 2024
Lots of action, but not overwhelming. Consistently kept me wanting more and more after every Chapter!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews