Legend of the Quill
The Prophet's Tale: Book 1
A folkloric quest story that’s fleshed out by a bevy of intriguing magical complications, Legend of The Quill opens an exciting fantasy series.
In Astra Crompton’s series-opening fantasy novel Legend of the Quill, a farm boy is destined to help save the lands of the Western continent from a conqueror.
Sasharr is a reclusive, dreamy boy who may be a prophet. He hears whispered old tales; he has a strange gift for knowing when storms will come. The other villagers treat him with suspicion, and his mother, who lost her adventuresome brother, worries about his future. A fortune teller and a glowing pendant containing the power of Dendeehn change his path, sending him on a significant quest: “Destiny … had already claimed him.” Along the way, he makes friends who are destined to fight by his side, learns magic and swordsmanship, visits foreign places, and has visions of what was and what is yet to come.
This is a folkloric story that’s fleshed out by a bevy of characters and magical complications. A wide range of cultures are represented across the book, too, and their legends are treated with appropriate gravity. Each land has a distinctive way of life: the Briandynians, for example, have long life spans and turn into crystal as they age; it’s considered an honor to craft weapons from said crystal. By contrast, the Fudorians have no unusual gifts, though they seem far more adaptable than other beings. Two moons hang over the world and its strange plants and creatures, which include the arduor, shimmering creatures with long-horned heads that are much like yaks in their morphology and use.
The book follows as Sasharr comes into his own while mastering his powers, gaining confidence and taking on more responsibilities while maintaining his caring, compassionate core. At first, it moves slowly to establish its background, but grand events build all the while, foreshadowing the challenges that Sasharr will face. Meanwhile, his companions—including strong Obalose, the sensible caretaker of his group, and witty, anxious Korindrihn, a royal bandit and Sasharr’s LGBTQ+ love interest—are also fleshed out in detail. Still, though the book balances its mysteries, adventures, and romance elements well, its central romance leads to some delayed action in the middle of the book. Later, new characters are added, and there’s a showdown leading into the exciting finale.
Legend of the Quill is a captivating fantasy novel that follows a quest set in a rich and fascinating world.
Reviewed by
M. W. Merritt
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
