Wielder's Awakening: Wielder Trilogy: Book One

When I picked up this book, I was a little skeptical. I am not big into fantasies. I am very big into classical books that use the story to teach a powerful message like "Little Women," "Return of the Native," "Pride and Prejudice," etc.(I also like a little bit of romance in books) I was pleasantly surprised by this book. While presenting an exciting and thrilling story, it also took the time to stand for some important morals. Although Traven is young and discovering who he is, he is conscientious and makes good choices. He sets a good example for young and old readers, making him someone that readers can respect. I was also pleased that there was some good clean romance in this novel. Not too much but just enough to keep the female romantics interested...just the what I like. There were parts that kept me on my toes and breathing heavy. Other parts were a little slower but enjoyable. I am not big into action and fighting scenes but the parts in it were necessary to keep the story going so that wasn't so bad. Overall I thought it was a good novel and I am glad that I read it. Looking forward to the sequel!

This book is not unenjoyable. And I'd really like to stress that. If you're looking for a quick, fun read, this book delivers. There are, however, a few major flaws you have to be willing to accept.First, the writing style is not very developed, with narration and dialogue both consistently wooden. If this is a problem at all, this book is not for you.Beyond the flavor of the words themselves, usage of characters and plot lines is very uneven. At least twice, we are introduced to sizable supporting casts which are then dropped from the story without ever serving any purpose, and for one of those, a central strand of the story just stops, never to be seen again.**Spoilers from here down.**This part is just to give details on my second point above.We spend two, maybe three, chapters setting up characters in a merchant caravan, especially the leader Meritza. Then they all die, mostly offstage, and are completely forgotten. We don't spend long enough with the caravan to really care about the characters, but we do spend longer than necessary for a group that's just going to be killed off with no emotional impact, again especially on Meritza. There is an entire chapter of the book dedicated to setting up her character, then she dies offstage twenty pages later. During that same period, there's half a chapter about Traven getting a good deal on a quality sword, which he then loses during his first fight before he ever even learns how to use it. During the fight where the merchant caravan is wiped out, there is much to do made of Traven spotting the bandits further out than even the best sighted guard could hope to, but it never matters because the entire group is killed anyway. This entire sequence could have been replaced with Traven directly leaving Kavar with Blaize and nothing would be lost, except that Traven would have to find the might stone sword somewhere else, perhaps in the cave at the end of the book, since none of its properties actually matter until the beginning of the second book.The next part with Traven and Blaize on the road alone is the best part of the book, but then we go the merchant academy for more wasted time. Up to their arrival in Calyn, the entire book is focused on Traven attending the merchant academy. When he actually gets there, he has lunch, fights with a bully, fights with the bully again, and is expelled. In between, it is stipulated that he did well in his classes and seemed to make a good friend. But none of this matters because throughout the entire trilogy, there is never anything that depends on skills he learned at the merchant academy, and we never see or hear from the friend again. The entire purpose of the merchant academy is for Traven to be worried about one of the students recognizing him so that he cuts through the room with Kalista. This could have been accomplished in identical fashion with some unfriendly officer had he just directly joined the army.Replacing these two detours with the suggested or similar changes would probably give the book a fourth star.

Let me start this review by saying that I am giving this book four stars when I really believe it deserves three and a half stars not simply because Amazon won't simply let me rate it that way, but because of the price, just 99 cents at the time of this review. While this isn't the best book I've read from Kindle Direct Publishing, it also isn't certainly the worse. Christensen has created an interesting world and while it rest a little too heavily on fantasy convention for me, mostly in regards to character development, the story is all his own and while it is easy to pick out where a character fits in regards to Joseph Campbell's The Hero With a Thousand Faces/Star Wars that doesn't make us care about the characters any less. It does however lead to so much foreshadowing that this book can seem a little predicable.That being said however it is a steal at 99 cents so I recommend you give it a try, especially if you are a major fan of high fantasy and Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time because it shares a great deal of tone with that style. I know personally that I will be giving book 2 a try.

I began this book with some apprehension. I have recently developed a taste for Christian fantasy books. This book is a fantasy, though not Christian I read Christian books because I dislike reading the smut (language and crude love scenes) found in many, if not MOST, secular novels. I took a chance here and I must say, I'm GLAD I DID!I like action and suspense, love a good fight scene, desire a little bit of a love story, developed characters, and a carefully woven story. I like books with unlikely heroes-- the type who don't know the power they wield. I shy away from the stories with loads of ridiculous magic and warriors on dragon-back. This book had some reviews that were less than flattering, as well. I am wary of first time authors because of the tendency toward droning.I don't think Traven's untapped powers are meant to be a secret from the reader. They are hinted at throughout the book though Traven does not seem to realize what he is even at the end. The way the author unraveled the story was masterful. Some reviewers complained of lulls in the story. If there were lulls, I failed to take notice of them. I think the book was spectacularly written. Enough details were given so that you could really see what the author envisioned-- you could smell what Traven smelled, you could feel the emotions of the princess-- however, not to the point that it dragged the story into a slow pace. It was full of suspense and intrigue. I can't wait to see what the author has to deliver in the next installment. The only fault with this book is that I have to wait so long to find out what happens next.One of my favorite series I have ever read is Jill Williamson's Blood of the Kings (By Darkness hid). I think that this series will find a place alongside it-- it is THAT good.

This is a very plain writing style, short sentences, does not hold my interest very long, younger readers may like it

I enjoy boks with good lovable characters which have overwhelming power. The problem with this is the combinations doesn't work well and one destroys the other. However this trilogy is different. IT has suceeded where other failed and managed to create this awesome, lovable yet flawed character. He begins as a naive nobody but with talent and ambition. Then he moves up in the world, builds his power until he is unstoppable. But he is still human. He is flawed and can make mistakes. He has issues and is sometimes beaten and he grows. His powers are great but not unlimited. His skills are awe-inspiring however he is ocassioanly out done. And finally the Romance is not wishywashy and pathetic but complicated and a point of great concern for him and his interest.That being said I wish the world they were in was expanded so I could learn about the countries and history which exist and there is a sad lack of legends and folk-tale. The world is average in my opinion however I simply loved everything else.

Maybe you're thinking of buying this book based on the good star rating and reviews. Please just leave this page now and be grateful you've missed a bullet.If you're still reading then let me say this book is just awful. Everything is completely clichéd, the characters laughable and the story lacks any logic. The worst and most teeth grindingly irritating thing is that it reads as if written by a 13 year old (obviously American) boy to be read by an 8 year old.Don't waste your time or money.

I have to admit I let price guide me when choosing this book. But when I started I quickly found my self engaged with the story. Yes, it was simple but I'm a sucker for the classic story line of likeable boy thrust into a life he didn't expect. Hidden talents emerge along with a magical sword. Classic. It has none of the complexity you get from a "Wizards first rule" but the formula is the same. Don't know about the step up in price for the second.

The grammar is terrible. The editing is none existing and the writing is third rate. Sorry to be so rudely blunt but it's true. This is the equivalent of a 16 year old`s English homework. Save your money!