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THE FALLEN: Volume One of the Book of Souls Saga
Lalitha’s father, King Lestri has been killed, but before the traitors captured her, she managed to escape from the royal palace with the Book of Souls, a magical artifact that contains an ancient power. Transported by the Book to a strange and unfamiliar land, Lalitha must enlist the aid of a group of damaged ex-soldiers to try and get her home and reclaim her birthright.
Captain Tom McAllister and his team of ex-bomb disposal experts find themselves drawn into an epic adventure and, in order to help Lalitha, they will be forced to battle foes both familiar and extraordinary. Tom and his team will be tested beyond the limits of their experience as they travel across a foreign land and fight against the powers of tyranny.
Their adventure will leave nothing unchanged…
Captain Tom McAllister and his team of ex-bomb disposal experts find themselves drawn into an epic adventure and, in order to help Lalitha, they will be forced to battle foes both familiar and extraordinary. Tom and his team will be tested beyond the limits of their experience as they travel across a foreign land and fight against the powers of tyranny.
Their adventure will leave nothing unchanged…
443 pages, Paperback
Published January 31, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 9, 2024
The Fallen is a great chunk of a book with an interesting premise. What would happen if a team of modern soldiers from Earth suddenly found themselves in a medieval serfdom world? This is exactly what happens to Captain Tom McAllister and his loyal band when he finds a mysterious and strangely dressed woman in the street outside his home and tries to help her. Learning she is a princess fleeing from would-be assassins who have already murdered her father, Tom enlists the aid of his team.
Discharged from the army after an operation goes sideways resulting in Tom losing his arm, the team have been drifting through civilian life trying (and mostly failing) to create new lives for themselves. It doesn’t take much to persuade them to follow the princess back through the portal to her world and then the fun begins.
Aside from the fact they have weapons never before encountered in this world, it is the attitude and behaviour of the team that draws attention. I especially liked it when Alexandra drinks a hardened riverboat captain under the table and rises bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morning, whilst he is decidedly the worse for wear.
Although a large book it is a quick and easy read. The writing is quite simplistic and I couldn’t help thinking that The Fallen would be a perfect book to draw a reluctant male reader into the wonderful world of books. Despite the mostly fantasy setting, there is a gritty realism to it that would appeal to most men. There’s no girly romance (well, there is, but it’s slight and dealt with in a roughty toughty blokey way, so that’s all right), no overblown world-building and no pages of florid description. This is a book that gets the job done as efficiently as possible.
It's also a book about friendship and teamwork, about having your buddy’s back and working together for the good of the group. There are old friendships and new ones and ultimately friendships betrayed and lost. There’s also a great twist in the tale that opens up the story for an engaging sequel. Overall, this is a cracking tale that well deserves my 5 stars.
Discharged from the army after an operation goes sideways resulting in Tom losing his arm, the team have been drifting through civilian life trying (and mostly failing) to create new lives for themselves. It doesn’t take much to persuade them to follow the princess back through the portal to her world and then the fun begins.
Aside from the fact they have weapons never before encountered in this world, it is the attitude and behaviour of the team that draws attention. I especially liked it when Alexandra drinks a hardened riverboat captain under the table and rises bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morning, whilst he is decidedly the worse for wear.
Although a large book it is a quick and easy read. The writing is quite simplistic and I couldn’t help thinking that The Fallen would be a perfect book to draw a reluctant male reader into the wonderful world of books. Despite the mostly fantasy setting, there is a gritty realism to it that would appeal to most men. There’s no girly romance (well, there is, but it’s slight and dealt with in a roughty toughty blokey way, so that’s all right), no overblown world-building and no pages of florid description. This is a book that gets the job done as efficiently as possible.
It's also a book about friendship and teamwork, about having your buddy’s back and working together for the good of the group. There are old friendships and new ones and ultimately friendships betrayed and lost. There’s also a great twist in the tale that opens up the story for an engaging sequel. Overall, this is a cracking tale that well deserves my 5 stars.
December 24, 2024
I really enjoyed the premise of this; a woman from an alternate fantastical reality arrives in modern times and ends up transporting a group of ex-soldiers to her world. It felt like a first-contact kind of situation. I like the moral issues this poses, with the risk of modern weapons of destruction landing in a medieval-type setting.
Each member of the group was well-established with unique personalities. I thrived off the bond and banter between them, buoying them through their quest-like adventure. One character was so bloody annoying in the way they threatened the dynamic, a testament to the connection I'd developed through the narrative with the group, becoming protective of them, and how the author had built out the situation.
It was a really great fast-paced read with detailed action scenes that were so immersive. I wasn't sure I'd like the military elements but this added to the camaraderie of the characters. There were some great twists at the end that surprised me and I'm looking forward to book 2!
Each member of the group was well-established with unique personalities. I thrived off the bond and banter between them, buoying them through their quest-like adventure. One character was so bloody annoying in the way they threatened the dynamic, a testament to the connection I'd developed through the narrative with the group, becoming protective of them, and how the author had built out the situation.
It was a really great fast-paced read with detailed action scenes that were so immersive. I wasn't sure I'd like the military elements but this added to the camaraderie of the characters. There were some great twists at the end that surprised me and I'm looking forward to book 2!
February 19, 2021
Absolutely incredible. So well written you can hardly believe that it's a debut. All of the character development felt genuine and grounded in reality. The world building of zakastra was beautiful. All round a fantastic book with plenty of fantasy for the nerds and plenty of action to keep you turning the pages.
I like to think of myself as fairly well versed when it comes to fantasy novels and this is genuinely one of my favourites in the past few years, a truely unique idea, executed perfectly.
Don't think I can praise this book enough, I can't wait for the next one!
I like to think of myself as fairly well versed when it comes to fantasy novels and this is genuinely one of my favourites in the past few years, a truely unique idea, executed perfectly.
Don't think I can praise this book enough, I can't wait for the next one!
February 21, 2021
A very compelling story. I loved the struggles of the group facing the challenges of a different world. The humour mixed with the dangers makes the read both light hearted and devastating along their journey to Zakastra. I am looking forward to the next one!!!!
June 18, 2021
New King.
Wow this story is about as good as they get,an absolute cracker.Mr Ashbury has done great service to fantasy,and has completely refreshed fantasy. Well done Mr Ashbury all now the new king is here.
Wow this story is about as good as they get,an absolute cracker.Mr Ashbury has done great service to fantasy,and has completely refreshed fantasy. Well done Mr Ashbury all now the new king is here.
February 11, 2021
New Author killing it
Absolutely brilliant book. For a debut just jaw dropping. So many twists and turns. It’s a bit like John Grisham meets Dianna Gabaldon.
Absolutely brilliant book. For a debut just jaw dropping. So many twists and turns. It’s a bit like John Grisham meets Dianna Gabaldon.
March 6, 2021
Brilliantly written book that transports you to a distant land and carries you along with the characters on their travels and adventures. Can't wait for the next book in the trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews