I am a big fan of fantasy and this one is just up my alley: magic, adventure, perilous journey,.. the works. Kind and well loved king, Curillian, accepted an invite for a tournament located in Oron Amular, a hidden place known only to a select few. And to find this place is the first part of the challenge. So together with his trusted Captain of the Royal Guards, Lancoir, and a few other soldiers, King Curillian set out for his best (and final) adventure yet. Along the way, they met an unlikely companion, Roujeark, who will lead them to Oron Amular. But not every journey is quick, easy and straightforward but just the same, the author did a great job building this world, as well as the characters’ journey and their backstories. This is the first book of a trilogy and the author ended this book with a sense of urgency (in a good way) that encourages the reader to grab the next one in the series asap. Which is why, it’s great to know that this is a completed trilogy and I for one am looking forward reading the next one.

This book is absolutely fantastic! Prepare to be transported into a world of magic and mystery, of adventure and emotion. Book 1 of the Oron Amular trilogy takes us on the long journey to the mountain of high magic. We meet amazing people and visit incredible places along the way, and are totally sucked in to the fictional world of Astrom. Author Michael J Harvey has created new races for this world, new languages, and there's even a Map to guide you through the landscape. Beautifully put together and an excellent first book.

This, book 1 in the Oron Amular trilogy, held me captivated after a rather slow start, albeit beautifully written. I always feel with fantasy, the challenge is to build the fantasy world whilst also engaging us in a central character; and I didn't feel fully engaged with the principal characters until well into the book. Nevertheless all the archetypes of the fantasy journey are here, and the author's descriptions of the landscape through which the travellers pass are outstanding. There are several extended scenes of extreme threat and physical peril which are very exciting to read. I began to feel a strong sense of identification with the journey and with the characters of Curillian the king of Maristonia, and Roujeark, his faithful ally, gifted young magician and indispensable companion on the journey, who has special powers and a unique connection with Prelan, whom we might call the Supreme Spirit of this narrative. The book ends on a fantastic cliffhanger, and I think we can see parallels in our life journeys here. Onto the next book in the trilogy, which is called 'Rite of Passage.'