Search for the Lost Kingdom

Eldohr Adventures #1

by T.L. Wood, Jordan Benoit (Illustrator)

Welcome to the mysterious world of Eldohr, where the land is vast and colorful. This world was once reigned by two royal kingdoms who were friends and allies. Castlegrove to the north, Greengate to the south. A terrible dragon, Alibastizor, has destroyed all dreams of these kingdoms ruling together in harmony. By casting the wicked Zilemstone spell, Alibastizor has kidnapped the beautiful Princess Zara Shadenbrooke. The princess has a special power, and the dragon means to make it his. All hope lies with Elrick Darkmoore. With the help of the wise Oracle, and the alluring Elequene, Elrick must overcome his selfish nature, risking everything to reclaim his kingdom and rescue Princess Zara. The best ever INDIE BOOK BLOWOUT! To celebrate this exciting event, I've reduced the price on my book to only $.99! MAKE THIS YOUR merriest Christmas ever! To score dozens of FANTASTIC indie books for only $.99, visit indiebookblowout.com. While you're there, register to win a brand new Kindle and up to $100 in gift cards (entry form on the site).

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure, Dragons

190 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2010

About the author

I was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. I moved to Texas in the sweltering summer of 2000, where I now reside with my husband and son. My creative writing and artistic abilities began at an early age, as I gained experience in technical theater and script writing. Later on, these skills, combined with my passion for poetry, and paved the way for numerous short stories, one for which I won an award.

The tale of Eldohr Adventures started off as a bedtime story for my daughter when she was young child around 5 years old. I would her tell the story a little each night, stopping at a really exciting part to keep her imagination soaring. She was so eager about hearing the story; she would get her nightly chores done each night and ask to go to bed early so we would have more time for story telling, which worked out really great for me, because what parent doesn’t want their child to ask to go to bed early?

I had originally envisioned illustrating the artwork for the book and turning it into a charming children’s faerytale with several different interactive endings so the child could chose the way the story would end. But as my children got older, and the story continued to grow, the world of Eldohr evolved into something much larger, turning them into the young adult fantasy fiction series they are today.

With Search for the Lost Kingdom, the saga of Eldohr begins. I hope you as the reader, enjoy the journey as much as I have.

Reviews

[Marty Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a time ago, a mother began telling her daughter a bedtime story. The daughter enjoyed the story so much that her mother began adding to the tale. The story grew and grew and eventually was transformed into this first book of Eldohr Adventures.

Will this book be interesting to everybody? Possibly not, but if you're a kid at heart or have kids who enjoy being read to then Search for the Lost Kingdom is the book for you.

When you enter this world that contains such places as the Valley of Beauty, the Forest of Enchantment, and Blood Mountain, you won't be able to help becoming immersed in this story of gallant families, heroic kings (although not heroic at first), evil dragons, and a princess-in-distress.

While the plot isn't complicated ( it is a fairy tale, after all), it isn't simplistic or lacking in detail, either. The characters are written well, the action is nicely balanced throughout the whole story, and the fairy tale aspect never overwhelms the story; nicely avoiding the risk of making the book too "cute".

There is no foul language, no sex, and the violence is bloodless. However, there is a sense of wonder, magic, and adventure that will remind you of the first time you entered the fantastical world of Beauty and the Beast, or Snow White, or even How to Train Your Dragon.

I don't have kids, but will be holding onto this book for bedtime stories if that particular time ever comes. In the meantime, I'll probably open the book every now and then when I'd like to re-visit my own childhood...and I'm looking forward to continuing the adventure with Quest for Windsoar (Eldohr Adventures, Book Two)

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before receiving this book as a winner of a Goodreads First Reads giveaway I read the information on T.L. Woods' Goodreads page and found that the story of Eldohr began as a bedtime story for the authors' daughter. With that information in mind I began to read and must say I was not disappointed. As the story progressed I found myself making a mental list of those who would love to hear this tale.

Eldohr Adventures is truly an adventure. There are kingdoms, Trolls, Dragons, an Oracle, a pegasus, a handsome prince, a greedy headmaster and a princess who needs to be saved. The story is fast paced and I found it easy to lose myself in the storyline. Every few pages I would read something reminiscent of the stories I had heard as a child, or had told my children, and the comfort of familiarity pushed me further into my comfy chair until duty forced my hand to put the book down and wait for another allotted window of time.

I look forward to experiencing the next part of the Eldohr Adventures.

[Dellani Oakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Eldohr Adventures – Search for the Lost Kingdom” by T.L. Wood is a wonderfully crafted, stirring adventure for young readers.

Eldohr is a land of myth and magic where kings and queens reign and dragons soar, terrorizing the countryside. Because of these dragons, Princess Zara of Castlegrove and Prince Elrick of Greengate, lose their parents.

The magic of the dreaded dragon, Alibastizor, is formidable. He captures Princess Zara and it is up to the selfish Prince Elrick to save her.

With the help of magical creatures, and his own sharp wits, Prince Elrick finds Princess Zara and saves her from Alibastazor's clutches.

“Search for the Lost Kingdom” is a thrilling read for children and adults. The pictures Wood paints with her words are vibrant and colorful. The story brings the reader into the world of Eldohr where anything is possible.

I greatly enjoyed “Eldohr Adventures – Search for the Lost Kingdom” and look forward to the next book in the series, “Quest for Windsoar.”

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you enter this world that contains such places as the Valley of Beauty, the Forest of Enchantment, and Blood Mountain, you won't be able to help becoming immersed in this story of gallant families, heroic kings (although not heroic at first), evil dragons, and a princess-in-distress. While the plot isn't complicated (it is a fairy tale, after all), its doesn't lack in detail, either. The characters are well written, the action is nicely balanced throughout the whole story, & the fairy tale aspect never overwhelms the story; nicely avoiding the risk of making the book too "cute".

If you haven't had the pleasure of reading this book yet....you should!
Personally, I can't wait for Book #2.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this in a first-reads contest, and it was really good. I had a little bit of a tough time at the beginning. The tone of the story was a bit odd, and the writing style was not what I was expecting, but then I realized that it was written in the style of a "bedtime story" and in that respect, it was wonderfully done. It would be the perfect book for a child, and I'm looking forward to sharing the story with Devin when he gets a little older. The only complaint I have was that the story seemed to end rather abruptly, and it seems that it is incomplete without the next book. How will the story end?

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book on the first reads give away. From the description it sounded like a fun fantasy type book, which is one of the genres I enjoy.

I was pleasantly surprised with the story. Anyone who likes to read about a prince who rescues a princess from an evil dragon will enjoy this. It is easy to read and has a clean story line. My children would enjoy reading this too. I hope the next book in the series will restore the prince to his kingdom, release the spell on his parents and the princesses kingdom. I can't wait until the next one comes out.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very interesting read. The author has a vivid imagination that takes you to a world of magic and wonder. It has enough in it for the adult and just enough magic for the child, or maybe the child in all of us! I will be waiting to see if we find Windsoar and if he is reunited with Elequene. What about the lost prince, the princess, will they find their kingdoms? I must find out!

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from GoodReads and let my 10 year old daughter read it after me. (She'll be reviewing it too.) After the first chapter where the author had to set up the place and characters, it really took off. This started out as a bedtime story to her daughter and I could see where you could take a chapter each night to read to your children. It's good though, and I enjoyed it.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elrick Darkmoore, the Prince of Greengate, the southern kingdom of Eldohr, is not a nice man – he is cruel and tyrannical, seeking only to gain more power and things. He was not always this way – due to the machinations of the cruel dragon Alibastizor, his parents disappeared when he was young; his headmaster, a nasty fellow, told him they had left because he was a disappointment to them, and turned Elrick the way he is today. However, when Alibastizor steals away the Princess Zara Shadenbrooke of Castlegrove, the northern kingdom, in order to take control of her special powers, Elrick is charged by the spell of a faery and the words of the Great Oracle to change his ways, and to prove this by saving Zara. Can he find a way to free Zara from the cruel Alibastizor? Can he change his ways and be a better person?

Written for fairly young readers, the story will likely be appealing to the age bracket for which it is created. I, personally, didn’t like it that much – there were parts that I found appealing, but overall I felt it “talked down” too much to the reader; however, looking at it from the point of view of the reader for whom it is meant, I think it would fulfill its purpose and be entertaining. If you have young readers, you may find this book to be useful in getting them to continue their reading and learning.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love a story about a dragon, a handsome prince, and a princess in distress? Eldohr Adventures: Search for the Lost Kingdom delivers. Full of breath-taking descriptions, fearless-fight-to-the-death battles, and mystical, magical creatures, this is the tale of Prince Eldrick, handsome, yet lonely and bitter after the disappearance of his beloved parents. The adventures have readers on the edge of their seats wondering (yet, believing and hoping) their hero comes through and saves the princess and unlocks all the evil spells the nasty dragon, Alibastizor has wrought throughout the peaceful kingdoms of Castlegrove and Greengate. With the help of a kindly, gentle Oracle named Fortugahr and a beautiful winged pegasus, Elequene, Prince Eldrick finds his strength through love, friendship, and magic. A heroic rescue in the most fantastic sense.

I'm hoping there's a sequel...please?

Thank you to T.L. Wood, Hobbes End Publishing LLC, and Goodreads-Firstreads for this book.

[Kristie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My sister won this book in as a firstreads and passed it along to me. As long as you think of this as a bedtime story you would read to a kid, it was really good. I thought it was a little bit unbelievable how Elrick was supposed to be an evil tyrant, but as soon as a fairy put a curse on him and forced him to go on a quest, he was immediately thoughtful and respectful towards everyone. I would have liked to see that new personality evolve throughout the story, rather than have it be a snap change. It also seemed to end rather abruptly; to get a real sense of closure I guess you have to read the next book.

[Neil Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant book that is a perfect read for adult and child alike. It paints a wonderful, yet believable fantasy world with characters that will live with the reader for years.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, but once you finish this book the wait for the next one becomes something to get excited about.
Forget Narnia and Hogwarts ... this is the universe to get excited about!!!!!!

[Mary]

I won Eldohr Adventures: Search for the Lost Kingdom from First Reads. I look forward to reading it now that it's arrived. While I haven't had time to do more than look the book over I did notice the beautiful dragon illustration on the cover page. If the writing is as good, this will be a treat. I'll update later.

[Kayla]

Just started, love it already

[Sydnee Surridge]

Just won this book.

[Dee Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story, but too short. Sometime longwinded. Daughter loved it.

[shinfu]

Looks like a good book to read

[Talitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rather enjoyed this one. My kids are currently reading it and seem to also be enjoying. Kudos to the author!

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastically written! A brilliant story! I just cannot believe that I won this great book through Goodreads.com!!!!!!! I won this book on Goodreads.com.

[Manicarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic read!!!!!!

[Jairus Reddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a nice wholesome fantasy story that brought me back to my roots of fantasy. Recommend this for children or any fan of basic fantasy. I recently went back and re-read it (as we are currently working on book 2) and remembered the reasons I fell in love with the story when it was submitted to me. It has all the elements of traditional fantasy with it's own unique twists that make it different then most traditional fantasy novels.

[Dorsi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this story from Goodreads, thank you! Good children's fairy tale although it left me hanging just a bit. I suppose that's where book 2 comes in. This story is a very easy read, not deep at all.

[Nathan Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It can be read by readers of all ages. Eldohr's style is concise, giving you a clear picture of the world and its inhabitants. Wood is very talented at describing what is in her mind. Its very creative. I can't wait to read the next installment!

[Mandy]

I won this book via Goodreads First Reads!

[Gina]

Looks like a great book!

[Christy Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not written in a way that is enjoyable to read to your self, but something a child might like to be read to them.

[Eric Glazier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very easy read. Geared for a younger reader. Definite potential for novals.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

The publisher suggested this book to me. I'll say I was quite impressed. The writing is meant for a young reader, and my daughter is eight. We read it together and absolutely loved it.

What impressed me more was the editing. Most indie authors can't afford good editors, but it seems this author has a good one. the cover is brilliant!

Overall, a wonderful story. I'm hooked.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did it! I finally read this book! And... well..... I was left wanting something. I think I wanted more? I definitely wanted to be about 25 years younger. But I suspect that my problem with this book stems from its origins as a bedtime story. It reads like a bedtime story that Mom made up on the fly and wrote down word-for-word, and ta-da! now it's published. But what works when telling a story orally doesn't always work when writing it down. I wanted more character development, and more nuance in those characters' growth and changing emotions/personalities, and more detail about how magic works in this world, and more world-building in general.... I just wanted more.

Wood started with a pretty good premise, but IMHO, she stopped after the first draft. (Okay, maybe the second.) I seem to recall a lot of telling going on, and it all just happened so fast. I read this in three days, and with everything that happened in this book and my work schedule, it should have been more like three weeks. And speaking of time and everything that happened in this book: I think the timeline should have spanned more than three days. I'm thinking three weeks might be more appropriate. A three-week period allows a little more time for characters to learn/struggle with difficult jobs, like learning magic and telepathy. Because who learns telepathy in just one morning, really? Just sayin'.

And what was up with Alabastizor? He's supposed to be a dragon, but he keeps doing things with his hands and giving Zara his elbow to escort her. Is he a shape-shifter with a human form? Because that's what he felt like to me. And I think that would make him more interesting and potentially scarier. Ooo, or if he used to be human but changed shape because of... something in his backstory (got stuck, got cursed, karmic result of using magic for ill, got hit with an enemy spell, one of his spells backfired, picked dragon-shape intentionally because it's more badass than a person-shape.... Take your pick/make up your own.), but because he used to be human his dragony self has all these human behaviors like rubbing hands/forepaws/foreclaws together and stuff.

Anyway, I'm falling asleep, so there's your review. To Wood, I say: Good start, but keep going! To readers, I say: Not worth it if you're out of the target demographic. I will not be pursuing there rest of the series. If you're in the target demographic, why are you reading this grumpy-ol'-lady review? Go do something young.

[Ionia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this book in the first ten pages. One thing I will mention before I begin my review, is that this book is fantasy intended for children. It is not quite meant for the older end of the YA audience. This was originally part of a bedtime story the author told her daughter, and somehow that made it seem even more special that she chose to share it with all of us.

I have noticed a couple of reviews that mentioned the use of fantasy characters that are common to the genre, but I have to say, that is one of the things that made me love this. Eldohr is like the ultimate combination of childhood fairytale and fantasy all rolled into one book. Where many authors have tried to make the fantasy world new and exciting, this book accomplished the same thing in a more traditional manner.

As a mother, I loved this. I would share this book with any child quite comfortably. There is nothing in the writing that you would be afraid to read to a child of any age. The magic this author creates through her writing is the kind that even I, as an adult could not help but be enthralled with.

The story is interesting, the characters are individuals and the dialogue was always appropriate for the theme of the story and for the genre. If you have been looking for a special fantasy book to share with your kids or grand kids or just enjoy reading it yourself, this is a book that has my full support. I have already read book two as well, and I am really anticipating the rest of the series.

T.L. Wood is clearly very good at what she does.