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Seekers: The Winds of Change
After an assassination attempt that could lead to an all-out war, Tyras and Oren, two young Seekers of the Argan Empire, are each given secret missions in an attempt to thwart the coming chaos. Both tasks require the Seekers to venture through the war-torn continent of Tiarna where the young men face mortal danger, horrible monsters, and hostile groups – all challenges Seekers are trained to combat. Luckily, the two Seekers also find guidance, friendship, and romance along the way. However, powerful and mysterious forces are conspiring behind the scenes and both Tyras and Oren will have to overcome a host of obstacles, including their own inner demons, in order to maintain a glimmer of hope for success. With war imminent and the unknown ahead, will the Seekers triumph, or will they be swallowed by the turbulent, relentless Winds of Change?
Set in a new, masterfully created high fantasy world, Seekers: The Winds of Change is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faisal.
Set in a new, masterfully created high fantasy world, Seekers: The Winds of Change is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faisal.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 12, 2022
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September 8, 2023
I read this book for Team Bookborn as part of phase one of SPFBO9. As such, my rating will be withheld until my semi-finalist is announced.
* You can find my full video review here: https://youtu.be/HAklrst87YY *
Seekers: The Winds of Change is a young adult, action-adventure fantasy, but it’s definitely one that adult readers can enjoy in equal measures.
We follow two key storylines that are each driven by a seeker, Tyras for one and Oren the other. These two friends manage to thwart an assassination attempt on their sovereign, and following this, the sovereign sends them out on two very different, but equally challenging and dangerous missions.
Oren is to track down the assassin, and find out who they were working for, and why they wanted the sovereign dead, while Tyras is to seek out an ancient and powerful artefact called the conduit.
The sovereigns here are rulers, but they are more than that—although we don’t really get too far into what exactly that means. Tyras and Oren work for the Sovereign of Wisdom, who is an eight-feet-tall, armour-clad, owl-masked demi-god of sorts, and he has brother and sister sovereigns who we get to see and hear a little about as well.
The seekers are essentially glorified treasure hunters. Their main job is to track down and retrieve artefacts and put them into safekeeping in the empire’s archive. I don’t think there’s really an explanation of why they do this, beyond keeping powerful items out of the hands of those who would use them to cause harm.
Both of these elements are quite interesting, and have good potential. I get the impression that we’ll learn more about the sovereigns in future books in the series, whereas we learn plenty about the seekers in this one. As relic hunters, you get to see them take on cunning adversaries, monsters, traps and more. The opening scene of the book, and its desert setting that we revisit later, would have looked right at home in an Indiana Jones-type movie, and there are plenty more scenes like that as the story progresses.
The character work here is mostly pretty good. It’s maybe a little unusual having two characters who are so close to each other but spend a good portion of the book apart. So instead of the close relationship they already have, we get to see both of them form relationships with others. I like the interactions within these two groups of characters, and for the most part, it’s all very natural, including when there’s some romance involved.
There’s no insta-love here, it’s a gradual, essentially enemies-to-lovers type of romance, and it’s nice to see how this starts to play on the characters’ motivations, without actually becoming a huge aspect of the book itself.
The worldbuilding is also good, although as I mention, I feel it will really start to pay off in the next book in the series, where I expect to see more of the sovereigns. There are monsters and magical items here that are well-integrated into the story, and you also get to learn a bit about both the geography and the history of the world.
I like how there are undercurrents of animosity between people of different nations, or at least those who fought in wars between them. Again, there’s a natural feel to how this is handled, although it is also, in places, a hurdle that is easily jumped.
The story overall is very well-paced, leaning towards the faster part of the scale, which is something that definitely works for me. I really enjoyed the two story arcs and how the chapters, for the most part, alternated between Tyras and Oren so you were never too far away from what was happening on the other side of the map.
There were a couple of things that I didn’t like as much. Although I quite liked all of the characters, I didn’t like the names of some of them, or rather, one particular family where you have the brothers Aries and Leo, and their sister Andromeda. That sort of naming convention is just a personal thing that I’m not much a fan of in fantasy.
This being a fantasy novel, there are deaths, and there are some grievous injuries, and where a character might be treated for their wounds, and maybe spend some time unconscious while their friends care for them, any injuries are generally quickly forgotten afterwards. There appear to be no lasting effects, so long as the character survives the battle.
The main thing that bugged me though, was the amount of thinking the main characters did. On the one hand it’s a way to get (literally) inside the head of the character, but on the other hand, it was just too much for me, and a lot of the time, it didn’t feel very natural either. There were a few occasions where we would get Tyras’ or Oren’s thoughts mid-battle, for instance, and it just felt inconsistent with what was going on. They are fighting for their lives, but thinking in full sentences, with no urgency, and not seeming to focus on the task at hand.
Outside of that though, I found very little to complain about. If you want a fun fantasy adventure, likeable characters, and good accessible writing that you can just breeze through, I definitely recommend giving Seekers a try.
* You can find my full video review here: https://youtu.be/HAklrst87YY *
Seekers: The Winds of Change is a young adult, action-adventure fantasy, but it’s definitely one that adult readers can enjoy in equal measures.
We follow two key storylines that are each driven by a seeker, Tyras for one and Oren the other. These two friends manage to thwart an assassination attempt on their sovereign, and following this, the sovereign sends them out on two very different, but equally challenging and dangerous missions.
Oren is to track down the assassin, and find out who they were working for, and why they wanted the sovereign dead, while Tyras is to seek out an ancient and powerful artefact called the conduit.
The sovereigns here are rulers, but they are more than that—although we don’t really get too far into what exactly that means. Tyras and Oren work for the Sovereign of Wisdom, who is an eight-feet-tall, armour-clad, owl-masked demi-god of sorts, and he has brother and sister sovereigns who we get to see and hear a little about as well.
The seekers are essentially glorified treasure hunters. Their main job is to track down and retrieve artefacts and put them into safekeeping in the empire’s archive. I don’t think there’s really an explanation of why they do this, beyond keeping powerful items out of the hands of those who would use them to cause harm.
Both of these elements are quite interesting, and have good potential. I get the impression that we’ll learn more about the sovereigns in future books in the series, whereas we learn plenty about the seekers in this one. As relic hunters, you get to see them take on cunning adversaries, monsters, traps and more. The opening scene of the book, and its desert setting that we revisit later, would have looked right at home in an Indiana Jones-type movie, and there are plenty more scenes like that as the story progresses.
The character work here is mostly pretty good. It’s maybe a little unusual having two characters who are so close to each other but spend a good portion of the book apart. So instead of the close relationship they already have, we get to see both of them form relationships with others. I like the interactions within these two groups of characters, and for the most part, it’s all very natural, including when there’s some romance involved.
There’s no insta-love here, it’s a gradual, essentially enemies-to-lovers type of romance, and it’s nice to see how this starts to play on the characters’ motivations, without actually becoming a huge aspect of the book itself.
The worldbuilding is also good, although as I mention, I feel it will really start to pay off in the next book in the series, where I expect to see more of the sovereigns. There are monsters and magical items here that are well-integrated into the story, and you also get to learn a bit about both the geography and the history of the world.
I like how there are undercurrents of animosity between people of different nations, or at least those who fought in wars between them. Again, there’s a natural feel to how this is handled, although it is also, in places, a hurdle that is easily jumped.
The story overall is very well-paced, leaning towards the faster part of the scale, which is something that definitely works for me. I really enjoyed the two story arcs and how the chapters, for the most part, alternated between Tyras and Oren so you were never too far away from what was happening on the other side of the map.
There were a couple of things that I didn’t like as much. Although I quite liked all of the characters, I didn’t like the names of some of them, or rather, one particular family where you have the brothers Aries and Leo, and their sister Andromeda. That sort of naming convention is just a personal thing that I’m not much a fan of in fantasy.
This being a fantasy novel, there are deaths, and there are some grievous injuries, and where a character might be treated for their wounds, and maybe spend some time unconscious while their friends care for them, any injuries are generally quickly forgotten afterwards. There appear to be no lasting effects, so long as the character survives the battle.
The main thing that bugged me though, was the amount of thinking the main characters did. On the one hand it’s a way to get (literally) inside the head of the character, but on the other hand, it was just too much for me, and a lot of the time, it didn’t feel very natural either. There were a few occasions where we would get Tyras’ or Oren’s thoughts mid-battle, for instance, and it just felt inconsistent with what was going on. They are fighting for their lives, but thinking in full sentences, with no urgency, and not seeming to focus on the task at hand.
Outside of that though, I found very little to complain about. If you want a fun fantasy adventure, likeable characters, and good accessible writing that you can just breeze through, I definitely recommend giving Seekers a try.
September 21, 2022
an entertaining debut novel
This adventurous fantasy debut novel is a solid, good read. There are two main characters, Tyras and Oren, who are fast friends. They are Seekers, who are sent out into the world by the king to find invaluable artifacts. They get caught up in a wider conspiracy. Each must do something for the king, and so they set off on divergent paths. We meet some other good characters. I especially like Squall and Mobius, but then what happens with them surprises me. The two female leads are strong characters. With Yata and Serena there is a romantic subplot that slowly grows into a bigger part of the story. There are some good battles too. Who knows who is safe and who will die? And I must mention monsters! There are some creepy, gross creatures that these groups encounter.
Despite these positive aspects to the book, I have misgivings with the prose chosen to convey a lot of character feelings and actions. Some descriptions just were awkward phrases or words that didn’t fit in with these dark age times. Because of some writing choices, I was pulled out of the narrative. But as the story progressed, things got better.
Because there are some surprises of characters’ fates at the end, and this opens up some interesting possibilities to develop in the second book.
This adventurous fantasy debut novel is a solid, good read. There are two main characters, Tyras and Oren, who are fast friends. They are Seekers, who are sent out into the world by the king to find invaluable artifacts. They get caught up in a wider conspiracy. Each must do something for the king, and so they set off on divergent paths. We meet some other good characters. I especially like Squall and Mobius, but then what happens with them surprises me. The two female leads are strong characters. With Yata and Serena there is a romantic subplot that slowly grows into a bigger part of the story. There are some good battles too. Who knows who is safe and who will die? And I must mention monsters! There are some creepy, gross creatures that these groups encounter.
Despite these positive aspects to the book, I have misgivings with the prose chosen to convey a lot of character feelings and actions. Some descriptions just were awkward phrases or words that didn’t fit in with these dark age times. Because of some writing choices, I was pulled out of the narrative. But as the story progressed, things got better.
Because there are some surprises of characters’ fates at the end, and this opens up some interesting possibilities to develop in the second book.
November 16, 2022
4/5 Stars
A debut author to keep on your radar. Seekers: The Winds of Change is a self-published YA Fantasy that follows Oren and Tyras as they set off on secret missions to prevent all-out war.
Oren and Tyras are Seekers, specially trained in combat, acrobatics, and tactics. They are devoted to their Sovereign, Lunaris, and are trained to acquire lost Artifacts and return them to the Archive for safe keeping. After an assassination attempt on Lunaris’ life, they manage to save him but the assassin escapes in the process. Thus they are each sent on a secret mission. Oren must capture the assassin, and Tyras must locate an artifact and return it to the Archive.
Faced with terrible creatures, the unknown and enemies lurking around every turn they must navigate the dangers to complete their missions. While they also find friendship, guidance and romance along the way, the Winds of Change are relentless.
This was a fun and action packed read that invested me in the characters and their relationships early on. Not only with Oren and Tyras but also the side cast, as we’re treated to diverse set of characters. With a multi POV story, we get a variety of perspectives from across this world as the characters travel to complete their missions.
Troy Knowlton did a good job at capturing young love and developing the characters across a variety of relationships. He also successfully creates impactful scenes with the characters, while crafting a compelling story. With intrigue, politics, and the missions at hand, I often found myself trying to guess what would happen next.
The world-building felt natural to the story and gives you a deeper history than expected. With a 300-year waring history, multiple lands/cultures across the world of Tiarna and those who live long lives, there was lots to explore. There was also a variety of terrifying monsters that left me both horrified and captivated.
The pacing was medium to fast and does a great job at balancing the action with intrigue. The story quickly pulls you into action and builds characters you can’t help but feel for.
I was also pleasantly surprised to find artwork of the characters within the eBook as I read.
While there are areas I would have liked to see better developed early in the story, this did not take away from my enjoyment of it and the writing got progressively better as I read.
You’ll find action both with bombs and weapons in close combat, adventure, quests, self-discovery, high-stakes, monsters, memorable and unlikable characters. A great read for any YA fantasy readers out there.
I’m eager to continue the series and watch Troy Knowlton’s growth as an author.
A debut author to keep on your radar. Seekers: The Winds of Change is a self-published YA Fantasy that follows Oren and Tyras as they set off on secret missions to prevent all-out war.
Oren and Tyras are Seekers, specially trained in combat, acrobatics, and tactics. They are devoted to their Sovereign, Lunaris, and are trained to acquire lost Artifacts and return them to the Archive for safe keeping. After an assassination attempt on Lunaris’ life, they manage to save him but the assassin escapes in the process. Thus they are each sent on a secret mission. Oren must capture the assassin, and Tyras must locate an artifact and return it to the Archive.
Faced with terrible creatures, the unknown and enemies lurking around every turn they must navigate the dangers to complete their missions. While they also find friendship, guidance and romance along the way, the Winds of Change are relentless.
This was a fun and action packed read that invested me in the characters and their relationships early on. Not only with Oren and Tyras but also the side cast, as we’re treated to diverse set of characters. With a multi POV story, we get a variety of perspectives from across this world as the characters travel to complete their missions.
Troy Knowlton did a good job at capturing young love and developing the characters across a variety of relationships. He also successfully creates impactful scenes with the characters, while crafting a compelling story. With intrigue, politics, and the missions at hand, I often found myself trying to guess what would happen next.
The world-building felt natural to the story and gives you a deeper history than expected. With a 300-year waring history, multiple lands/cultures across the world of Tiarna and those who live long lives, there was lots to explore. There was also a variety of terrifying monsters that left me both horrified and captivated.
The pacing was medium to fast and does a great job at balancing the action with intrigue. The story quickly pulls you into action and builds characters you can’t help but feel for.
I was also pleasantly surprised to find artwork of the characters within the eBook as I read.
While there are areas I would have liked to see better developed early in the story, this did not take away from my enjoyment of it and the writing got progressively better as I read.
You’ll find action both with bombs and weapons in close combat, adventure, quests, self-discovery, high-stakes, monsters, memorable and unlikable characters. A great read for any YA fantasy readers out there.
I’m eager to continue the series and watch Troy Knowlton’s growth as an author.
November 11, 2022
I edited the rating to 4 stars because I’ve been talking about this book every day since I finished it, I keep hinting to the author how much I’d love to read the ARC of the second book - the more I talk about it, the more I love it.
If you're someone who follows my reviews or my YouTube channel, you already know I'm a bit of an odd duck. Time to learn another weird thing I love: finding a new author's debut novel where I get to literally watch the author's potential grow throughout the story.
Just like I know the main characters of SEEKERS: THE WINDS OF CHANGE will continue to grow and develop in the future books of this series, I feel like I'll get to continue to watch Troy Knowlton expand his horizons of his creativity and writing capability. Look, I'll be honest - I want to be that girl that gets to say "I've been following his career ever since he published his first book!" LOL!
Enough of that, let's talk about the beginning of the adventures that await in SEEKERS: THE WINDS OF CHANGE.
Things are set into motion with an assassination attempt on Lunaris, the Sovereign of Wisdom, in the Archive located in the city of Arga. Two Seekers, Oren and Tyras, foil the assassin and save Lunaris's life, but the assassin manages to escape in the process. To discover who is behind this attempt, Oren is sent to hunt down the assassin. Tyras is sent after the "Conduit" - some sort of artifact, which is what a Seeker's main purpose is - they're specialized tools of the empire sent to find artifacts to be placed in the Archive.
The two friends split ways on their respective assignments and what follows is so much fun: adventures, magic, monsters, betrayal, love, friendship, found family, mystery, danger, fighting, sarcasm, humor - it really has it all!
Of the two plotlines, Oren is my favorite. Tyras falls for a noble, Serana, and most of his story ends up being about his puppy love. Tyras and Serana - we've all had friends like these growing up: they look at each other with those big eyes, they see no wrong in each other, kiss every chance they get - it's cute, but gets on your nerves at the same time. Oren himself had a squirt of a crush in his storyline, but it was a small part and probably why I liked it more - more action and adventure! Oren also introduced me to the Asteris brothers, whom I adored. Now that I think about it, my other favorite character came from Tyras's story - so my favorites were all secondary characters.
The monsters our friends encounter were ones I would not EVER want to find myself face to face with, so kudos to Knowlton for making me squint through those scenes. I don't think I've seen the last of those dratted sewer-dwelling ones, either. I got a bad feeling about those...especially the big one, lol!
I really enjoyed watching Knowlton's writing get progressively better as I read this story. He had some beautiful descriptions of scenery that I could picture and he had some really great character moments that tugged on my emotions and fall in love with them. (Except for Tyras and Serana, I wanted to poke my eyes out at those two lovesick fools, but honestly they were written EXACTLY how so many people their age act the first time they fell in love, so that's not a knock!) I got tickled because there were a lot of comparisons to the ocean and its tides in the first 9 chapters, I was wondering if the author lived near the ocean or if that was a favorite vacation spot. One minor critique is these characters recovered way too quickly - they suffered some serious injuries and would be up and fighting again a page or two later. I kept thinking I would learn Seekers had some healing capability or some such, but that never came. Not a big deal, like I said, I like when this happens because I can see the amazing imagination and potential of this author - I know this will get better as we go. You know what though? I bet readers on the younger side won't blink an eye at the fast heals because that's really how it happened in stories and video games growing up, pop a heal pot or roll some dice and you're good to go.
TLDR it's a good start to a new series, as well as a new career. I think younger readers as well as more mature readers would find this book a great introduction to fantasy or those looking for a good action and adventure quest story.
I'll be jumping into the next book into the series as soon as it's available!
In the spirit of full disclosure, the author did provide me with a physical copy of this book for review consideration.
If you're someone who follows my reviews or my YouTube channel, you already know I'm a bit of an odd duck. Time to learn another weird thing I love: finding a new author's debut novel where I get to literally watch the author's potential grow throughout the story.
Just like I know the main characters of SEEKERS: THE WINDS OF CHANGE will continue to grow and develop in the future books of this series, I feel like I'll get to continue to watch Troy Knowlton expand his horizons of his creativity and writing capability. Look, I'll be honest - I want to be that girl that gets to say "I've been following his career ever since he published his first book!" LOL!
Enough of that, let's talk about the beginning of the adventures that await in SEEKERS: THE WINDS OF CHANGE.
"There's no greater political threat than someone whom the masses adore. Someone who listens and understands their plight."
Things are set into motion with an assassination attempt on Lunaris, the Sovereign of Wisdom, in the Archive located in the city of Arga. Two Seekers, Oren and Tyras, foil the assassin and save Lunaris's life, but the assassin manages to escape in the process. To discover who is behind this attempt, Oren is sent to hunt down the assassin. Tyras is sent after the "Conduit" - some sort of artifact, which is what a Seeker's main purpose is - they're specialized tools of the empire sent to find artifacts to be placed in the Archive.
The two friends split ways on their respective assignments and what follows is so much fun: adventures, magic, monsters, betrayal, love, friendship, found family, mystery, danger, fighting, sarcasm, humor - it really has it all!
Of the two plotlines, Oren is my favorite. Tyras falls for a noble, Serana, and most of his story ends up being about his puppy love. Tyras and Serana - we've all had friends like these growing up: they look at each other with those big eyes, they see no wrong in each other, kiss every chance they get - it's cute, but gets on your nerves at the same time. Oren himself had a squirt of a crush in his storyline, but it was a small part and probably why I liked it more - more action and adventure! Oren also introduced me to the Asteris brothers, whom I adored. Now that I think about it, my other favorite character came from Tyras's story - so my favorites were all secondary characters.
The monsters our friends encounter were ones I would not EVER want to find myself face to face with, so kudos to Knowlton for making me squint through those scenes. I don't think I've seen the last of those dratted sewer-dwelling ones, either. I got a bad feeling about those...especially the big one, lol!
I really enjoyed watching Knowlton's writing get progressively better as I read this story. He had some beautiful descriptions of scenery that I could picture and he had some really great character moments that tugged on my emotions and fall in love with them. (Except for Tyras and Serana, I wanted to poke my eyes out at those two lovesick fools, but honestly they were written EXACTLY how so many people their age act the first time they fell in love, so that's not a knock!) I got tickled because there were a lot of comparisons to the ocean and its tides in the first 9 chapters, I was wondering if the author lived near the ocean or if that was a favorite vacation spot. One minor critique is these characters recovered way too quickly - they suffered some serious injuries and would be up and fighting again a page or two later. I kept thinking I would learn Seekers had some healing capability or some such, but that never came. Not a big deal, like I said, I like when this happens because I can see the amazing imagination and potential of this author - I know this will get better as we go. You know what though? I bet readers on the younger side won't blink an eye at the fast heals because that's really how it happened in stories and video games growing up, pop a heal pot or roll some dice and you're good to go.
TLDR it's a good start to a new series, as well as a new career. I think younger readers as well as more mature readers would find this book a great introduction to fantasy or those looking for a good action and adventure quest story.
I'll be jumping into the next book into the series as soon as it's available!
In the spirit of full disclosure, the author did provide me with a physical copy of this book for review consideration.
June 2, 2022
Tldr: A sparkling debut from a very promising author, Mr Troy Knowlton. This book POPS in all the best ways. Incredibly meaningful relationships between the characters, an twisting conspiracy, and an Indiana Jones style fantasy, all set within a mesmerising world full of diverse landscapes and peoples. The emotions hit well for the most part, Troy knowing exactly when to push on, or to hold back, and the stakes of impending war are sufficiently high for a novel on the borderline of YA and adult fantasy. If you are a fan of adventure style fantasy novels, this will be an assuredly entertaining read.
4.25/5*
**************************************************
After an assassination attempt that could lead to an all-out war, Tyras and Oren, two young Seekers of the Argan Empire, are each given secret missions in an attempt to thwart the coming chaos. Both tasks require the Seekers to venture through the war-torn continent of Tiarna where the young men face mortal danger, horrible monsters, and hostile groups – all challenges Seekers are trained to combat. Luckily, the two Seekers also find guidance, friendship, and romance along the way. However, powerful and mysterious forces are conspiring behind the scenes and both Tyras and Oren will have to overcome a host of obstacles, including their own inner demons, in order to maintain a glimmer of hope for success. With war imminent and the unknown ahead, will the Seekers triumph, or will they be swallowed by the turbulent, relentless Winds of Change?
Set in a new, masterfully created high fantasy world, Seekers: The Winds of Change is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faisal.
**************************************************
Thanks to Troy for sharing this via netgalley and sending me a physical copy for review!
I had an absolute whale of a time with this book, happily continuing my streak of reading a bunch of fantastic fantasy this year. I am so glad I took a chance on this novel, which was in the ‘read now’ section on Netgalley which tends to be a little hit or miss. Luckily this was a total hit! I have been reading a lot of beefy high epic fantasy books recently, and this was a lovely breather whilst still maintaining an intriguing plot and high enough stakes to hook me.
This novel really harkens back to the old adventure serials that inspired Indiana Jones, with a touch of Arabian nights or books like the Stardust Thief. We follow two adolescent characters, Tyras and Oren who work as ‘seekers’ for the empire of Arga Essentially, they are treasure hunters for this empire, and our story kicks off with a thrilling assassination attempt, setting our two young heroes on a path to unmask a conspiracy and find a mysterious artifact known as the conduit before the world is set on the path to war. The continent of Tiarna was previously at war, but peace has lasted for the last 50, war could have devastating consequences. Along the way we meet an motley crew of characters who form two sets of ‘found families’.
My favourite character would probably be an old man by the name of Squall. Squall’s relationship with Tyras as a mentor like figure is truly the heart of this novel. We are introduced to their escapades in the first pages of the novel, and they truly bring us in with a bang of humour and action. It instantly got me excited to carry on further, and their relationship was so so wholesome, whilst their banter provided a lot of fantastic comedic relief. Personally I really enjoyed the humour in this novel, it felt a very silly British style of humour, definitely appealing to the YA audience, but as an 22 year old I definitely had many cackles throughout the book.
As a whole, Troy’s character work is really a promising start from a debut author. We actually get relatively deep quite quickly, with Squall and Tyras being where a lot of it comes from. However each character truly gets their arc wthin the book. Tyras struggles with anxiety, with the weight of responsibility upon him, whilst his best friend Oren struggles with identity aside from being in the shadow of Tyras. We also have some beautiful romances blossom, and Troy is particularly good at straddling the line between cheesy and TMI to provide a sparkle of love sprinkled throughout the novel. Some of the best scenes for me were fireside/night sky talks, talks of hopes and dreams, fears and anxieties, all things teenagers go through. One of my other favourite characters was Ameel, protector of the lady Serana, herself a multi-faceted character. Ameel was a constant companion, and his story had some really tender moments due to a certain very welcome part of his character which I won’t spoil here.
In Oren’s story we follow a semi typical band of thieves style crew, with some fellow seekers and a would be assassin joining forces to get to the bottom of the rotten heart of corruption within Argan. Yata was a really fascinating character with a lot of depth to her, and Troy uses her to explore the concept of trauma and revenge on a person, are they truly free or trapped forever. Leo was an absolutely uproaring character, always one for a snarky little quip and I much appreciated the release of tension in some of the sequences. Some sequences were particularly tense and quite bloody for a novel aimed at YA, and this is down to Troy’s prose which is just as evocative as the character work. Within are some truly striking sentences, some of which I’ll include here since I actually remembered to take some quotes this time, although these are more some really impactful quotes that I resonated with.
- "We must use brief moments of true happiness to act like lighthouses, guiding us through the oceans of misery with their warm brilliance."
- " Reality’s knife is too sharp, and it cuts too deep."
Whilst it’s nothing as extravagant as say Janny Wurts’ or Patrick Rothfuss’ prose, it really suits the tone and audience of the novel. Scenes set within the desert were particularly atmospheric and my favourite part of the book was probably the middle sequence of the novel set within the desert of Tiarna.
The plot was a fantastic idea, encapsulating aspects of adventure, fantasy, even a little bit of horror with some of the monsters. One thing is for sure, you won’t be bored with this book, whether it’s the pulse pounding action sequences, or the laugh out loud comedic relief moments, or the tender character sequences. Whilst for the most part this was a positive, I felt that the pacing did slip slightly in the second half, where it sped towards the end and I missed some of the more intimate moments from earlier within the novel. The unveiled story itself had a few twists which did surprise me, but overall I think that the conspiracy was a little underdeveloped and the villainous reveals towards the end a little rushed. This is a 335 page novel, but I think it could’ve done with maybe 400 pages just to flesh out the conspiracy and villains a little further.
Themes of racism, trauma, anxiety and prejudice within the novel are a much welcome addition, deepening this novel beyond a typical YA. I really appreciated all the effort Troy put in to increase his representation within the novel and he is to be commended for this.
Overall I really really enjoyed this book immensely. It’s a lot of fun, and that’s what reading is all about. The pace is fast, exciting, a lot of richness to the world and characters, heart and humour. This is not a high stakes universe ending 10 book epic series, but it is a heartwarming, entertaining fantasy adventure with lots and lots of potential, definitely one to read as a palate cleanser and keep an eye out for SPFBO9 in 2023!
Thanks for staying with me through the review!
4.25/5*
**************************************************
After an assassination attempt that could lead to an all-out war, Tyras and Oren, two young Seekers of the Argan Empire, are each given secret missions in an attempt to thwart the coming chaos. Both tasks require the Seekers to venture through the war-torn continent of Tiarna where the young men face mortal danger, horrible monsters, and hostile groups – all challenges Seekers are trained to combat. Luckily, the two Seekers also find guidance, friendship, and romance along the way. However, powerful and mysterious forces are conspiring behind the scenes and both Tyras and Oren will have to overcome a host of obstacles, including their own inner demons, in order to maintain a glimmer of hope for success. With war imminent and the unknown ahead, will the Seekers triumph, or will they be swallowed by the turbulent, relentless Winds of Change?
Set in a new, masterfully created high fantasy world, Seekers: The Winds of Change is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faisal.
**************************************************
Thanks to Troy for sharing this via netgalley and sending me a physical copy for review!
I had an absolute whale of a time with this book, happily continuing my streak of reading a bunch of fantastic fantasy this year. I am so glad I took a chance on this novel, which was in the ‘read now’ section on Netgalley which tends to be a little hit or miss. Luckily this was a total hit! I have been reading a lot of beefy high epic fantasy books recently, and this was a lovely breather whilst still maintaining an intriguing plot and high enough stakes to hook me.
This novel really harkens back to the old adventure serials that inspired Indiana Jones, with a touch of Arabian nights or books like the Stardust Thief. We follow two adolescent characters, Tyras and Oren who work as ‘seekers’ for the empire of Arga Essentially, they are treasure hunters for this empire, and our story kicks off with a thrilling assassination attempt, setting our two young heroes on a path to unmask a conspiracy and find a mysterious artifact known as the conduit before the world is set on the path to war. The continent of Tiarna was previously at war, but peace has lasted for the last 50, war could have devastating consequences. Along the way we meet an motley crew of characters who form two sets of ‘found families’.
My favourite character would probably be an old man by the name of Squall. Squall’s relationship with Tyras as a mentor like figure is truly the heart of this novel. We are introduced to their escapades in the first pages of the novel, and they truly bring us in with a bang of humour and action. It instantly got me excited to carry on further, and their relationship was so so wholesome, whilst their banter provided a lot of fantastic comedic relief. Personally I really enjoyed the humour in this novel, it felt a very silly British style of humour, definitely appealing to the YA audience, but as an 22 year old I definitely had many cackles throughout the book.
As a whole, Troy’s character work is really a promising start from a debut author. We actually get relatively deep quite quickly, with Squall and Tyras being where a lot of it comes from. However each character truly gets their arc wthin the book. Tyras struggles with anxiety, with the weight of responsibility upon him, whilst his best friend Oren struggles with identity aside from being in the shadow of Tyras. We also have some beautiful romances blossom, and Troy is particularly good at straddling the line between cheesy and TMI to provide a sparkle of love sprinkled throughout the novel. Some of the best scenes for me were fireside/night sky talks, talks of hopes and dreams, fears and anxieties, all things teenagers go through. One of my other favourite characters was Ameel, protector of the lady Serana, herself a multi-faceted character. Ameel was a constant companion, and his story had some really tender moments due to a certain very welcome part of his character which I won’t spoil here.
In Oren’s story we follow a semi typical band of thieves style crew, with some fellow seekers and a would be assassin joining forces to get to the bottom of the rotten heart of corruption within Argan. Yata was a really fascinating character with a lot of depth to her, and Troy uses her to explore the concept of trauma and revenge on a person, are they truly free or trapped forever. Leo was an absolutely uproaring character, always one for a snarky little quip and I much appreciated the release of tension in some of the sequences. Some sequences were particularly tense and quite bloody for a novel aimed at YA, and this is down to Troy’s prose which is just as evocative as the character work. Within are some truly striking sentences, some of which I’ll include here since I actually remembered to take some quotes this time, although these are more some really impactful quotes that I resonated with.
- "We must use brief moments of true happiness to act like lighthouses, guiding us through the oceans of misery with their warm brilliance."
- " Reality’s knife is too sharp, and it cuts too deep."
Whilst it’s nothing as extravagant as say Janny Wurts’ or Patrick Rothfuss’ prose, it really suits the tone and audience of the novel. Scenes set within the desert were particularly atmospheric and my favourite part of the book was probably the middle sequence of the novel set within the desert of Tiarna.
The plot was a fantastic idea, encapsulating aspects of adventure, fantasy, even a little bit of horror with some of the monsters. One thing is for sure, you won’t be bored with this book, whether it’s the pulse pounding action sequences, or the laugh out loud comedic relief moments, or the tender character sequences. Whilst for the most part this was a positive, I felt that the pacing did slip slightly in the second half, where it sped towards the end and I missed some of the more intimate moments from earlier within the novel. The unveiled story itself had a few twists which did surprise me, but overall I think that the conspiracy was a little underdeveloped and the villainous reveals towards the end a little rushed. This is a 335 page novel, but I think it could’ve done with maybe 400 pages just to flesh out the conspiracy and villains a little further.
Themes of racism, trauma, anxiety and prejudice within the novel are a much welcome addition, deepening this novel beyond a typical YA. I really appreciated all the effort Troy put in to increase his representation within the novel and he is to be commended for this.
Overall I really really enjoyed this book immensely. It’s a lot of fun, and that’s what reading is all about. The pace is fast, exciting, a lot of richness to the world and characters, heart and humour. This is not a high stakes universe ending 10 book epic series, but it is a heartwarming, entertaining fantasy adventure with lots and lots of potential, definitely one to read as a palate cleanser and keep an eye out for SPFBO9 in 2023!
Thanks for staying with me through the review!
April 4, 2023
Do you have those books that you just know you will enjoy when you pick them up, yet you keep not prioritising them? Well, that was Seekers: The Winds of Change for me. And turns out, this fun and engaging fantasy adventure was exactly what I needed at the moment. An atmospheric desert setting, tons of action, webs of conspiracies, monstrous creatures, found family vibes, strong friendships and also a delicious dash of young love! Sounds good, doesn’t it?
This book quite literally kicks off with a bang, which immediately sets the tone for the rest of this action-packed story. Our two main protagonists, novice Seekers Oren and Tyras, are each sent off on their own secret mission after they thwart an assassination attempt on their Sovereign’s life. So, off they go into the dangerous lands of the war-torn continent of Tiarna, where danger lurks around every corner.
My favourite aspect of this book was without a doubt the amusing character dynamics. Initially, I was a bit bummed that Tyras and Oren were separated so early on in the story, but then they both teamed up with some very fun and exciting characters that I instantly came to love. In Tyras’ storyline, my favourite was without a doubt the wonderful Squall, who acts as a sort of mentor figure to Tyras. Their bond was so genuine and heartfelt, I just loved all their interactions. Also, Squall might fall into the ‘wise mentor’ trope, but at points he was also slightly unhinged and I was totally here for it. More bombs, please!
And then in Oren’s storyline, we get immaculate found family vibes as he gathers a ragtag group of characters around him who can help him in completing his mission with their own unique skill sets. The camaraderie, silly banter, endearing bonding moments and even the romantic angst/pining were all incredibly well-written and kept me entertained the entire way through.
I am actually quite surprised and impressed by how quickly Knowlton managed to make me care for these characters. Usually when books have such a frenetic pacing, I struggle to connect to any of the characters, but that wasn’t the case here. Don’t get me wrong, as a character-driven reader I will always favour the more slow-burn and introspective stories, but sometimes it’s also nice to get a break from that and just enjoy going on an epic adventure. You won’t find super deep, complex and nuanced character work here, but sometimes you don’t need that to enjoy a story, you know? To me, these characters all had really distinctive voices and their personalities just leapt off the page. And maybe it also helped that I listened to the audiobook, because the narrator (the brilliant Andrew D. Meredith) really breathed so much life into these characters for me. Either way, I just loved spending time with this cast of (slightly flawed and messy) characters and I can’t wait to see them grow over the course of this series!
There was also an impressive amount of world building woven into this relatively short fantasy novel, and all without it ever feeling like an info dump. It was fun to explore this world alongside these characters as they go on their quests, though I have to admit that I would never want to visit there myself because the monsters they encountered filled me with terror.
I also really enjoyed learning about the various different cultures and the tense political landscape of this world in an organic way through the diverse cast of characters that we follow. There were some surprisingly deep and dark themes of racism, discrimination and prejudice woven into the story that I personally really appreciated. They were all handled with care and nuance, so that added some nice depth to the story!
All in all, I had a really fun time with this book and I can’t wait to explore this world further in future instalments. This was a very promising debut novel and I think it’s going to be a joy to see Knowlton grow as an author over the course of this series.
This might be classified as YA, but I truly think it will appeal to any fantasy reader who is in the mood for a fast-paced adventure with a lot of heart and some darker twists. This is the perfect book to pick up if you are feeling a bit slumpy, because the action-packed plot and amusing characters will keep you engaged from start to finish. I had a blast!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book quite literally kicks off with a bang, which immediately sets the tone for the rest of this action-packed story. Our two main protagonists, novice Seekers Oren and Tyras, are each sent off on their own secret mission after they thwart an assassination attempt on their Sovereign’s life. So, off they go into the dangerous lands of the war-torn continent of Tiarna, where danger lurks around every corner.
My favourite aspect of this book was without a doubt the amusing character dynamics. Initially, I was a bit bummed that Tyras and Oren were separated so early on in the story, but then they both teamed up with some very fun and exciting characters that I instantly came to love. In Tyras’ storyline, my favourite was without a doubt the wonderful Squall, who acts as a sort of mentor figure to Tyras. Their bond was so genuine and heartfelt, I just loved all their interactions. Also, Squall might fall into the ‘wise mentor’ trope, but at points he was also slightly unhinged and I was totally here for it. More bombs, please!
And then in Oren’s storyline, we get immaculate found family vibes as he gathers a ragtag group of characters around him who can help him in completing his mission with their own unique skill sets. The camaraderie, silly banter, endearing bonding moments and even the romantic angst/pining were all incredibly well-written and kept me entertained the entire way through.
I am actually quite surprised and impressed by how quickly Knowlton managed to make me care for these characters. Usually when books have such a frenetic pacing, I struggle to connect to any of the characters, but that wasn’t the case here. Don’t get me wrong, as a character-driven reader I will always favour the more slow-burn and introspective stories, but sometimes it’s also nice to get a break from that and just enjoy going on an epic adventure. You won’t find super deep, complex and nuanced character work here, but sometimes you don’t need that to enjoy a story, you know? To me, these characters all had really distinctive voices and their personalities just leapt off the page. And maybe it also helped that I listened to the audiobook, because the narrator (the brilliant Andrew D. Meredith) really breathed so much life into these characters for me. Either way, I just loved spending time with this cast of (slightly flawed and messy) characters and I can’t wait to see them grow over the course of this series!
There was also an impressive amount of world building woven into this relatively short fantasy novel, and all without it ever feeling like an info dump. It was fun to explore this world alongside these characters as they go on their quests, though I have to admit that I would never want to visit there myself because the monsters they encountered filled me with terror.
I also really enjoyed learning about the various different cultures and the tense political landscape of this world in an organic way through the diverse cast of characters that we follow. There were some surprisingly deep and dark themes of racism, discrimination and prejudice woven into the story that I personally really appreciated. They were all handled with care and nuance, so that added some nice depth to the story!
All in all, I had a really fun time with this book and I can’t wait to explore this world further in future instalments. This was a very promising debut novel and I think it’s going to be a joy to see Knowlton grow as an author over the course of this series.
This might be classified as YA, but I truly think it will appeal to any fantasy reader who is in the mood for a fast-paced adventure with a lot of heart and some darker twists. This is the perfect book to pick up if you are feeling a bit slumpy, because the action-packed plot and amusing characters will keep you engaged from start to finish. I had a blast!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 12, 2022
A wonderful fast-paced debut!
I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
To start off seekers is the kind of fantasy that I love to read. Let me explain it has fantastic character interaction. These characters FEEL like people. They care and they hurt. So much attention to detail has been given to making them feel realistic and multi-faceted.
Knowing that this is the first book in a planned quartet I feel like this series is going straight onto my anticipated reads list.
Oren, Tyras, Serana, Squall, Yata, and the brothers Leo and Aries are such a great cast of characters. I loved exploring the evolution of the relationships within this story. For instance the differences between Leo and Aries. They are very different people with Leo providing much-needed comic relief and Aries being a bit more of a hot head. Then we have the relationships between Tryas and Oren. I feel their friendship and respect for each other as they grow into their roles and go on this journey of self-discovery.
There is a really well-executed romance subplot within the story as well. I love when there is open communication between two respective romantic individuals. YOU WILL NOT FIND THE MISS COMMUNICATION TROPE HERE. Which is something I love seeing in the books I love to read.
HERE THERE BE MONSTERS!!!! when we meet monsters and creepy crawlies for our characters to interact with I am properly freaked out and scared. You will know when you get there. NO THANKS. There is not a lot of this but the impact is there.
The combat sequences here are satisfying and anxiety-inducing as well. Great stuff here no real complaints.
Let's talk about my biggest PRO and my biggest CON because they are one and the same. That is pacing. This book has a frenetic pace it MOVES. Which is great because it really pulls you through the story. HOWEVER, when the combat happens and the protagonist is injured often SEVERELY. Within a couple of pages, they are fine. At times it feels like they are walking off stab and slash wounds, concussions, broken bones, you name it unless it's a killing blow the injury is quickly ignored no matter what the injury may be.
Overall I really enjoyed this entry and look forward to the next book.
I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
To start off seekers is the kind of fantasy that I love to read. Let me explain it has fantastic character interaction. These characters FEEL like people. They care and they hurt. So much attention to detail has been given to making them feel realistic and multi-faceted.
Knowing that this is the first book in a planned quartet I feel like this series is going straight onto my anticipated reads list.
Oren, Tyras, Serana, Squall, Yata, and the brothers Leo and Aries are such a great cast of characters. I loved exploring the evolution of the relationships within this story. For instance the differences between Leo and Aries. They are very different people with Leo providing much-needed comic relief and Aries being a bit more of a hot head. Then we have the relationships between Tryas and Oren. I feel their friendship and respect for each other as they grow into their roles and go on this journey of self-discovery.
There is a really well-executed romance subplot within the story as well. I love when there is open communication between two respective romantic individuals. YOU WILL NOT FIND THE MISS COMMUNICATION TROPE HERE. Which is something I love seeing in the books I love to read.
HERE THERE BE MONSTERS!!!! when we meet monsters and creepy crawlies for our characters to interact with I am properly freaked out and scared. You will know when you get there. NO THANKS. There is not a lot of this but the impact is there.
The combat sequences here are satisfying and anxiety-inducing as well. Great stuff here no real complaints.
Let's talk about my biggest PRO and my biggest CON because they are one and the same. That is pacing. This book has a frenetic pace it MOVES. Which is great because it really pulls you through the story. HOWEVER, when the combat happens and the protagonist is injured often SEVERELY. Within a couple of pages, they are fine. At times it feels like they are walking off stab and slash wounds, concussions, broken bones, you name it unless it's a killing blow the injury is quickly ignored no matter what the injury may be.
Overall I really enjoyed this entry and look forward to the next book.
December 30, 2022
I received a free ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, which I have provided below.
Auspicious young author Troy Knowlton has penned a very fast-paced and highly entertaining YA fantasy read, filled with tons of adventure, humour, and romance, entitled "Seekers: The Winds of Change"!
Knowlton's book takes us to the Argan Empire: a place of beauty, wonder, yet also immense danger. There is also considerable wealth and gain to be found, for those bold enough to seek it. When things are at their bleakest, the mission is fraught with peril, but there's intrinsically valuable booty to be found, that's when the extraordinary talents of the Seekers are required.
An attempt is made on the life of Lunaris, Sovereign of Wisdom, in the city of Arga, at the Imperial Archive, where priceless artifacts collected by the Seekers are stored. This politically motivated assassination is circumvented by the clever and daring intervention of novice seekers Tyras and Oren.
But the failed attempt stirs great unrest, and the assassin gets away. Subterfuge and intrigue are obviously afoot. As a result, war looms in Tiarna, another continent. These events propel our two fledgling Seekers, to do what they do best: uncover who is behind the plot to kill Lunaris, uncover the broader conspiracy linked to that plot, and conjointly recover "The Conduit", another precious relic, for the Empire.
But there are hidden, powerful, and sinister forces conspiring to take down the Seekers before they can accomplish their missions.
The reader will be in for a fun romp with the characters in this book! There is lots of camaraderie, ridiculously silly banter, heart-warming bonding, (often the campfire-side chat variety) plenty of mooning teenage angst and pining between the lovestruck Tyras and Serena (as can be expected in the YA genre), and some real outrageous laugh-out-loud comedic highlights, even amongst all the exhilarating action sequences while our characters fight for their lives. Tyras, Oren, Serena, Squall, Yeta, Aries, and Leo are all very well-drawn characters.
If I was pressed to select a fav, it'd probably be Squall. I have a fondness for the sage mentor-type players in these sorts of books, and Squall is amazing! Ameel is also a standout, and she stole the show on many of the pages where she appeared. Knowlton does a wonderful job of creating riveting, well fleshed-out characters, most of them with hearts of gold, who are not without their warts, that the reader will be rooting for. Additionally, I've always felt that creating authentic young characters demands specialized skill, obviously a skill Knowlton possesses.
The ties of friendship between the characters, found family, identity, belonging, and of course the yearning between Tyren and Serena, are central themes of the novel. No surprises there, considering the YA standpoint from which the novel is written. Refreshingly, Knowlton also adroitly, sensitively, tackles some very mature themes, including racism, mental and emotional concerns such as anxiety, trauma, revenge, and loss.
Among the many strengths of the book, some of which I've already described, this novel lives and dies on the weight of its frenetic action sequences, which are wonderfully written. If you love fast-paced novels, this is your type of book. The heroes battle humans, monsters, and all sorts of opponents, constantly. There is sword swinging, magic wielding, explosions, injuries, death, destruction and overall mayhem in abundance.
The combat scenes are furious, bloody, and readers who crave that sort of action never have to wait long for more, for the next brutal encounter is right around the corner. The monsters are downright scary, the villains are deliciously evil and nasty, and be prepared to have your pulse raised, quickly, in the opening chapters of the book, and to sustain that level of dread and excitement for much of the novel.
Not only does this book read fast because of the pacing, but it's also only around 330 pages, so devourers of the typical voluminous epic fantasy tome (such as I) will be able to plow through this one in no time.
My minor criticism of the books lies with the prose. Occasionally, it is highly atmospheric and evocative, and sometimes quite elegant, with some truly memorable and quotable passages, such as this:
"There's no greater political threat than someone whom the masses adore. Someone who listens and understands their plight."
Yet sometimes the fluidity of the prose felt a bit inconsistent. I don't doubt that this will only get better as Knowlton continues to write more, and I can't wait to read his next book, and relish those improvements.
Overall, Knowlton's storytelling shines, his characterization is very good, and I very much look forward to reading more of his work!
The career of this new author has started with a bang! Fans of coming-of-age, YA fantasy who covet interesting quests, incredible fight scenes, friendship, love, and hope, would do well to pick up "Seekers: The Winds of Change", by Troy Knowlton!
Auspicious young author Troy Knowlton has penned a very fast-paced and highly entertaining YA fantasy read, filled with tons of adventure, humour, and romance, entitled "Seekers: The Winds of Change"!
Knowlton's book takes us to the Argan Empire: a place of beauty, wonder, yet also immense danger. There is also considerable wealth and gain to be found, for those bold enough to seek it. When things are at their bleakest, the mission is fraught with peril, but there's intrinsically valuable booty to be found, that's when the extraordinary talents of the Seekers are required.
An attempt is made on the life of Lunaris, Sovereign of Wisdom, in the city of Arga, at the Imperial Archive, where priceless artifacts collected by the Seekers are stored. This politically motivated assassination is circumvented by the clever and daring intervention of novice seekers Tyras and Oren.
But the failed attempt stirs great unrest, and the assassin gets away. Subterfuge and intrigue are obviously afoot. As a result, war looms in Tiarna, another continent. These events propel our two fledgling Seekers, to do what they do best: uncover who is behind the plot to kill Lunaris, uncover the broader conspiracy linked to that plot, and conjointly recover "The Conduit", another precious relic, for the Empire.
But there are hidden, powerful, and sinister forces conspiring to take down the Seekers before they can accomplish their missions.
The reader will be in for a fun romp with the characters in this book! There is lots of camaraderie, ridiculously silly banter, heart-warming bonding, (often the campfire-side chat variety) plenty of mooning teenage angst and pining between the lovestruck Tyras and Serena (as can be expected in the YA genre), and some real outrageous laugh-out-loud comedic highlights, even amongst all the exhilarating action sequences while our characters fight for their lives. Tyras, Oren, Serena, Squall, Yeta, Aries, and Leo are all very well-drawn characters.
If I was pressed to select a fav, it'd probably be Squall. I have a fondness for the sage mentor-type players in these sorts of books, and Squall is amazing! Ameel is also a standout, and she stole the show on many of the pages where she appeared. Knowlton does a wonderful job of creating riveting, well fleshed-out characters, most of them with hearts of gold, who are not without their warts, that the reader will be rooting for. Additionally, I've always felt that creating authentic young characters demands specialized skill, obviously a skill Knowlton possesses.
The ties of friendship between the characters, found family, identity, belonging, and of course the yearning between Tyren and Serena, are central themes of the novel. No surprises there, considering the YA standpoint from which the novel is written. Refreshingly, Knowlton also adroitly, sensitively, tackles some very mature themes, including racism, mental and emotional concerns such as anxiety, trauma, revenge, and loss.
Among the many strengths of the book, some of which I've already described, this novel lives and dies on the weight of its frenetic action sequences, which are wonderfully written. If you love fast-paced novels, this is your type of book. The heroes battle humans, monsters, and all sorts of opponents, constantly. There is sword swinging, magic wielding, explosions, injuries, death, destruction and overall mayhem in abundance.
The combat scenes are furious, bloody, and readers who crave that sort of action never have to wait long for more, for the next brutal encounter is right around the corner. The monsters are downright scary, the villains are deliciously evil and nasty, and be prepared to have your pulse raised, quickly, in the opening chapters of the book, and to sustain that level of dread and excitement for much of the novel.
Not only does this book read fast because of the pacing, but it's also only around 330 pages, so devourers of the typical voluminous epic fantasy tome (such as I) will be able to plow through this one in no time.
My minor criticism of the books lies with the prose. Occasionally, it is highly atmospheric and evocative, and sometimes quite elegant, with some truly memorable and quotable passages, such as this:
"There's no greater political threat than someone whom the masses adore. Someone who listens and understands their plight."
Yet sometimes the fluidity of the prose felt a bit inconsistent. I don't doubt that this will only get better as Knowlton continues to write more, and I can't wait to read his next book, and relish those improvements.
Overall, Knowlton's storytelling shines, his characterization is very good, and I very much look forward to reading more of his work!
The career of this new author has started with a bang! Fans of coming-of-age, YA fantasy who covet interesting quests, incredible fight scenes, friendship, love, and hope, would do well to pick up "Seekers: The Winds of Change", by Troy Knowlton!
April 9, 2023
This is a fast-paced fun adventure! Highly recommend it for a fast read in between the chunkier fantasy books. The characters are well written, but it is mainly a plot driven book. And sometimes that is exactly what I want.
It has romances, great bromances, found family, weird creatures, politics, explosives,...
I did the immersed reading experience and truly enjoyed it.
It has romances, great bromances, found family, weird creatures, politics, explosives,...
I did the immersed reading experience and truly enjoyed it.
January 15, 2023
Tldr: A sparkling debut from a very promising author, Mr Troy Knowlton. This book POPS in all the best ways. Incredibly meaningful relationships between the characters, an twisting conspiracy, and an Indiana Jones style fantasy, all set within a mesmerising world full of diverse landscapes and peoples. The emotions hit well for the most part, Troy knowing exactly when to push on, or to hold back, and the stakes of impending war are sufficiently high for a novel on the borderline of YA and adult fantasy. If you are a fan of adventure style fantasy novels, this will be an assuredly entertaining read.
4.25/5*
**************************************************
After an assassination attempt that could lead to an all-out war, Tyras and Oren, two young Seekers of the Argan Empire, are each given secret missions in an attempt to thwart the coming chaos. Both tasks require the Seekers to venture through the war-torn continent of Tiarna where the young men face mortal danger, horrible monsters, and hostile groups – all challenges Seekers are trained to combat. Luckily, the two Seekers also find guidance, friendship, and romance along the way. However, powerful and mysterious forces are conspiring behind the scenes and both Tyras and Oren will have to overcome a host of obstacles, including their own inner demons, in order to maintain a glimmer of hope for success. With war imminent and the unknown ahead, will the Seekers triumph, or will they be swallowed by the turbulent, relentless Winds of Change?
Set in a new, masterfully created high fantasy world, Seekers: The Winds of Change is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faisal.
**************************************************
Thanks to Troy for sharing this via netgalley and sending me a physical copy for review!
I had an absolute whale of a time with this book, happily continuing my streak of reading a bunch of fantastic fantasy this year. I am so glad I took a chance on this novel, which was in the ‘read now’ section on Netgalley which tends to be a little hit or miss. Luckily this was a total hit! I have been reading a lot of beefy high epic fantasy books recently, and this was a lovely breather whilst still maintaining an intriguing plot and high enough stakes to hook me.
This novel really harkens back to the old adventure serials that inspired Indiana Jones, with a touch of Arabian nights or books like the Stardust Thief. We follow two adolescent characters, Tyras and Oren who work as ‘seekers’ for the empire of Argan. Essentially, they are treasure hunters for this empire, and our story kicks off with a thrilling assassination attempt, setting our two young heroes on a path to unmask a conspiracy and find a mysterious artifact known as the conduit before the world is set on the path to war. The continent of Tiarna was previously at war, but peace has lasted for the last few hundred years, something that could have devastating consequences. Along the way we meet an motley crew of characters who form two sets of ‘found families’.
My favourite character would probably be an old man by the name of Squall. Squall’s relationship with Tyras as a mentor like figure is truly the heart of this novel. We are introduced to their escapades in the first pages of the novel, and they truly bring us in with a bang of humour and action. It instantly got me excited to carry on further, and their relationship was so so wholesome, whilst their banter provided a lot of fantastic comedic relief. Personally I really enjoyed the humour in this novel, it felt a very silly British style of humour, definitely appealing to the YA audience, but as an 22 year old I definitely had many cackles throughout the book.
As a whole, Troy’s character work is really a promising start from a debut author. We actually get relatively deep quite quickly, with Squall and Tyras being where a lot of it comes from. However each character truly gets their arc wthin the book. Tyras struggles with anxiety, with the weight of responsibility upon him, whilst his best friend Oren struggles with identity aside from being in the shadow of Tyras. We also have some beautiful romances blossom, and Troy is particularly good at straddling the line between cheesy and TMI to provide a sparkle of love sprinkled throughout the novel. Some of the best scenes for me were fireside/night sky talks, talks of hopes and dreams, fears and anxieties, all things teenagers go through. One of my other favourite characters was Ameel, protector of the lady Serana, herself a multi-faceted character. Ameel was a constant companion, and his story had some really tender moments due to a certain very welcome part of his character which I won’t spoil here.
In Oren’s story we follow a semi typical band of thieves style crew, with some fellow seekers and a would be assassin joining forces to get to the bottom of the rotten heart of corruption within Argan. Yata was a really fascinating character with a lot of depth to her, and Troy uses her to explore the concept of trauma and revenge on a person, are they truly free or trapped forever. Leo was an absolutely uproaring character, always one for a snarky little quip and I much appreciated the release of tension in some of the sequences. Some sequences were particularly tense and quite bloody for a novel aimed at YA, and this is down to Troy’s prose which is just as evocative as the character work. Within are some truly striking sentences, some of which I’ll include here since I actually remembered to take some quotes this time, although these are more some really impactful quotes that I resonated with.
- "We must use brief moments of true happiness to act like lighthouses, guiding us through the oceans of misery with their warm brilliance."
- " Reality’s knife is too sharp, and it cuts too deep."
Whilst it’s nothing as extravagant as say Janny Wurts’ or Patrick Rothfuss’ prose, it really suits the tone and audience of the novel. Scenes set within the desert were particularly atmospheric and my favourite part of the book was probably the middle sequence of the novel set within the desert of Tiarna.
The plot was a fantastic idea, encapsulating aspects of adventure, fantasy, even a little bit of horror with some of the monsters. One thing is for sure, you won’t be bored with this book, whether it’s the pulse pounding action sequences, or the laugh out loud comedic relief moments, or the tender character sequences. Whilst for the most part this was a positive, I felt that the pacing did slip slightly in the second half, where it sped towards the end and I missed some of the more intimate moments from earlier within the novel. The unveiled story itself had a few twists which did surprise me, but overall I think that the conspiracy was a little underdeveloped and the villainous reveals towards the end a little rushed. This is a 335 page novel, but I think it could’ve done with maybe 400 pages just to flesh out the conspiracy and villains a little further.
Themes of racism, trauma, anxiety and prejudice within the novel are a much welcome addition, deepening this novel beyond a typical YA. I really appreciated all the effort Troy put in to increase his representation within the novel and he is to be commended for this.
Overall I really really enjoyed this book immensely. It’s a lot of fun, and that’s what reading is all about. The pace is fast, exciting, a lot of richness to the world and characters, heart and humour. This is not a high stakes universe ending 10 book epic series, but it is a heartwarming, entertaining fantasy adventure with lots and lots of potential, definitely one to read as a palate cleanser and keep an eye out for SPFBO9 in 2023!
Thanks for staying with me through the review!
4.25/5*
**************************************************
After an assassination attempt that could lead to an all-out war, Tyras and Oren, two young Seekers of the Argan Empire, are each given secret missions in an attempt to thwart the coming chaos. Both tasks require the Seekers to venture through the war-torn continent of Tiarna where the young men face mortal danger, horrible monsters, and hostile groups – all challenges Seekers are trained to combat. Luckily, the two Seekers also find guidance, friendship, and romance along the way. However, powerful and mysterious forces are conspiring behind the scenes and both Tyras and Oren will have to overcome a host of obstacles, including their own inner demons, in order to maintain a glimmer of hope for success. With war imminent and the unknown ahead, will the Seekers triumph, or will they be swallowed by the turbulent, relentless Winds of Change?
Set in a new, masterfully created high fantasy world, Seekers: The Winds of Change is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faisal.
**************************************************
Thanks to Troy for sharing this via netgalley and sending me a physical copy for review!
I had an absolute whale of a time with this book, happily continuing my streak of reading a bunch of fantastic fantasy this year. I am so glad I took a chance on this novel, which was in the ‘read now’ section on Netgalley which tends to be a little hit or miss. Luckily this was a total hit! I have been reading a lot of beefy high epic fantasy books recently, and this was a lovely breather whilst still maintaining an intriguing plot and high enough stakes to hook me.
This novel really harkens back to the old adventure serials that inspired Indiana Jones, with a touch of Arabian nights or books like the Stardust Thief. We follow two adolescent characters, Tyras and Oren who work as ‘seekers’ for the empire of Argan. Essentially, they are treasure hunters for this empire, and our story kicks off with a thrilling assassination attempt, setting our two young heroes on a path to unmask a conspiracy and find a mysterious artifact known as the conduit before the world is set on the path to war. The continent of Tiarna was previously at war, but peace has lasted for the last few hundred years, something that could have devastating consequences. Along the way we meet an motley crew of characters who form two sets of ‘found families’.
My favourite character would probably be an old man by the name of Squall. Squall’s relationship with Tyras as a mentor like figure is truly the heart of this novel. We are introduced to their escapades in the first pages of the novel, and they truly bring us in with a bang of humour and action. It instantly got me excited to carry on further, and their relationship was so so wholesome, whilst their banter provided a lot of fantastic comedic relief. Personally I really enjoyed the humour in this novel, it felt a very silly British style of humour, definitely appealing to the YA audience, but as an 22 year old I definitely had many cackles throughout the book.
As a whole, Troy’s character work is really a promising start from a debut author. We actually get relatively deep quite quickly, with Squall and Tyras being where a lot of it comes from. However each character truly gets their arc wthin the book. Tyras struggles with anxiety, with the weight of responsibility upon him, whilst his best friend Oren struggles with identity aside from being in the shadow of Tyras. We also have some beautiful romances blossom, and Troy is particularly good at straddling the line between cheesy and TMI to provide a sparkle of love sprinkled throughout the novel. Some of the best scenes for me were fireside/night sky talks, talks of hopes and dreams, fears and anxieties, all things teenagers go through. One of my other favourite characters was Ameel, protector of the lady Serana, herself a multi-faceted character. Ameel was a constant companion, and his story had some really tender moments due to a certain very welcome part of his character which I won’t spoil here.
In Oren’s story we follow a semi typical band of thieves style crew, with some fellow seekers and a would be assassin joining forces to get to the bottom of the rotten heart of corruption within Argan. Yata was a really fascinating character with a lot of depth to her, and Troy uses her to explore the concept of trauma and revenge on a person, are they truly free or trapped forever. Leo was an absolutely uproaring character, always one for a snarky little quip and I much appreciated the release of tension in some of the sequences. Some sequences were particularly tense and quite bloody for a novel aimed at YA, and this is down to Troy’s prose which is just as evocative as the character work. Within are some truly striking sentences, some of which I’ll include here since I actually remembered to take some quotes this time, although these are more some really impactful quotes that I resonated with.
- "We must use brief moments of true happiness to act like lighthouses, guiding us through the oceans of misery with their warm brilliance."
- " Reality’s knife is too sharp, and it cuts too deep."
Whilst it’s nothing as extravagant as say Janny Wurts’ or Patrick Rothfuss’ prose, it really suits the tone and audience of the novel. Scenes set within the desert were particularly atmospheric and my favourite part of the book was probably the middle sequence of the novel set within the desert of Tiarna.
The plot was a fantastic idea, encapsulating aspects of adventure, fantasy, even a little bit of horror with some of the monsters. One thing is for sure, you won’t be bored with this book, whether it’s the pulse pounding action sequences, or the laugh out loud comedic relief moments, or the tender character sequences. Whilst for the most part this was a positive, I felt that the pacing did slip slightly in the second half, where it sped towards the end and I missed some of the more intimate moments from earlier within the novel. The unveiled story itself had a few twists which did surprise me, but overall I think that the conspiracy was a little underdeveloped and the villainous reveals towards the end a little rushed. This is a 335 page novel, but I think it could’ve done with maybe 400 pages just to flesh out the conspiracy and villains a little further.
Themes of racism, trauma, anxiety and prejudice within the novel are a much welcome addition, deepening this novel beyond a typical YA. I really appreciated all the effort Troy put in to increase his representation within the novel and he is to be commended for this.
Overall I really really enjoyed this book immensely. It’s a lot of fun, and that’s what reading is all about. The pace is fast, exciting, a lot of richness to the world and characters, heart and humour. This is not a high stakes universe ending 10 book epic series, but it is a heartwarming, entertaining fantasy adventure with lots and lots of potential, definitely one to read as a palate cleanser and keep an eye out for SPFBO9 in 2023!
Thanks for staying with me through the review!
Read
August 15, 2023I thought this was a really great world with an interesting political structure and wide variety of cultures. I thought the characters were well done and fun to root for. I also thought the love story was a bit convenient for my tastes, but it wasn't enough to pull me out of the story either. I struggled mostly with the narration of the audiobook. The narrator was excellent for voices and telling the story ... only about every sentence there would be an odd pause he would take. It happened so often I started being able to anticipate some of them. That really started throwing me out of the story because I started focusing on that cause it was driving me nuts!
Overall, I would recommend Seekers and I definitely want to see more from this author and world.
Overall, I would recommend Seekers and I definitely want to see more from this author and world.
July 6, 2022
Please see the link below for my full review:
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2022/...
Thank you for taking the time to read my review and always, Happy Reading!! Stay Great!!
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2022/...
Thank you for taking the time to read my review and always, Happy Reading!! Stay Great!!
June 2, 2023
4.5-Star
Like many of my recent reads, Seekers has been on my radar for quite some time. The fact that it was an entry in the SPFBO-9 competition simply gave me another reason to make sure it gets on my TBR. I had it slotted for a couple of months from now originally but I had a few days before May was finished out, so I went ahead and slid it forward.
This was a really fun read! I ended up picking up both a digital ebook and audiobook for this one. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out another author also on my list of want to read was the narrator. The combination of Troy Knowlton's story and narration by Andrew D. Meredith was really entertaining time.
I thought the pacing and flow of Seekers was very smooth. It had a really good mix of ebb and flow. We certainly had plenty of action but also some calming moments to help develop our world and characters. With so many characters in this one, I didn't find myself lost between which group we were following at any given time which is very important to me in reads like this.
The world building was also done well in my humble opinion. We have a nice range of areas, and cultures introduced by Troy in Seekers. I think this is one of the things that helped me keep the adventuring groups separate as though they were both on very important missions what they faced and where were very different from each other along the way.
I think my favorite part of this read was the character development. I certainly found myself connecting with several of these characters and feeling the emotions and growth they went through. As a reader I can't really ask for much more than that with the characters within these stories. I think my two favorite characters were Yata and Ameel and they couldn't be more opposite of each other!
All in all Seekers was a really enjoyable story for me. It just had a very traditional fantasy story with a good sprinkle of the fantastical along the way. I'd recommend this read for just about any fantasy readers. It's a nice short read as well. Very easy to slide into a TBR and enjoy it.
I don't know if this was always intended to be a standalone or if Troy plans to continue this story and world but I'd certainly like to read more about this characters even if that ended up being little short story spin offs of them. Of course I'd rather see a series eventually if that was a possibility! (Update, Troy has let me know he intends the Seeker Saga to be four books!)
Like many of my recent reads, Seekers has been on my radar for quite some time. The fact that it was an entry in the SPFBO-9 competition simply gave me another reason to make sure it gets on my TBR. I had it slotted for a couple of months from now originally but I had a few days before May was finished out, so I went ahead and slid it forward.
This was a really fun read! I ended up picking up both a digital ebook and audiobook for this one. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out another author also on my list of want to read was the narrator. The combination of Troy Knowlton's story and narration by Andrew D. Meredith was really entertaining time.
I thought the pacing and flow of Seekers was very smooth. It had a really good mix of ebb and flow. We certainly had plenty of action but also some calming moments to help develop our world and characters. With so many characters in this one, I didn't find myself lost between which group we were following at any given time which is very important to me in reads like this.
The world building was also done well in my humble opinion. We have a nice range of areas, and cultures introduced by Troy in Seekers. I think this is one of the things that helped me keep the adventuring groups separate as though they were both on very important missions what they faced and where were very different from each other along the way.
I think my favorite part of this read was the character development. I certainly found myself connecting with several of these characters and feeling the emotions and growth they went through. As a reader I can't really ask for much more than that with the characters within these stories. I think my two favorite characters were Yata and Ameel and they couldn't be more opposite of each other!
All in all Seekers was a really enjoyable story for me. It just had a very traditional fantasy story with a good sprinkle of the fantastical along the way. I'd recommend this read for just about any fantasy readers. It's a nice short read as well. Very easy to slide into a TBR and enjoy it.
I don't know if this was always intended to be a standalone or if Troy plans to continue this story and world but I'd certainly like to read more about this characters even if that ended up being little short story spin offs of them. Of course I'd rather see a series eventually if that was a possibility! (Update, Troy has let me know he intends the Seeker Saga to be four books!)
December 16, 2022
With the hope of avoiding war the skilled Seekers are dispatched. Missions filled with magic, monsters & perilous danger. A menacing truth behind a mystery lurks & even they may not survive it.
Fast paced with incredibly detailed action! Unique threatening foes. Absorbing and exciting.
Fast paced with incredibly detailed action! Unique threatening foes. Absorbing and exciting.
April 23, 2023
I’ll right a short review for this exciting adventure of a debut novel. A little bit on the YA fantasy side in terms of sub genres but still very entertaining. A seeker is a guild member tasked with recovering ancient artifacts and keeping them from getting into the wrong hands. Tyras is one such seeker tasked with finding the conduit. Oren is another seeker tasked with uncovering an attempted hit job on the senior member of the guild. Plots and secrets galore will be unveiled and more questions will arise by the time you reach the end. Can’t wait for book 2.
August 4, 2022
This was definitely a solid debut and a strong first book in a series! I loved going between the two different POVs and embarking on two different plot points. The setting was well layered and I really enjoyed the tidbits we got of the lore and the "winds of change."
This wasn't too complicated or dense a read at all; it honestly felt lighthearted and fun to read.
I wasn't too invested in the romance side plots to be honest, but it didn't deterr me from enjoying the book.
I only wish the Battle sequences were a tad bit longer and that the stakes were higher.
I was truly surprised how close I had become to certain characters and how affected I was by certain things that happened to them.
Definitely gonna be continuing this series; I think the author shows great promise and that series can only get even better from here on out.
This wasn't too complicated or dense a read at all; it honestly felt lighthearted and fun to read.
I wasn't too invested in the romance side plots to be honest, but it didn't deterr me from enjoying the book.
I only wish the Battle sequences were a tad bit longer and that the stakes were higher.
I was truly surprised how close I had become to certain characters and how affected I was by certain things that happened to them.
Definitely gonna be continuing this series; I think the author shows great promise and that series can only get even better from here on out.
October 4, 2022
Y’all. This book is so much fun. I’ve been diving into a lot of gothic, ghostly books this spooky season, but this epic fantasy story was the perfect “something different” to fall into. I really loved this book—the world building is gradual (my preference) and not a giant info dump, and the story unfolds through the dual POVs of two best friends on very different (but related) quests. The side characters in this story are amazing, the mystery, adventure, and revelations that ensue absolutely had me hooked.
Read if you like:
-High fantasy, intricate world-building, magic, mystery, everything is not as it seems
-BA female characters, realistic MCs who don’t have it all together even when it appears like they do
-Snarky, sarcastic old men with a gift for blowing things up
-Dual POVs
-Epic quests/impossible odds/unlikely adventures
This is the first book in a new series, and I am legitimately so excited to see where this one goes.
Thanks to RR Booktours and Troy Knowlton for letting me read and review this one!
Read if you like:
-High fantasy, intricate world-building, magic, mystery, everything is not as it seems
-BA female characters, realistic MCs who don’t have it all together even when it appears like they do
-Snarky, sarcastic old men with a gift for blowing things up
-Dual POVs
-Epic quests/impossible odds/unlikely adventures
This is the first book in a new series, and I am legitimately so excited to see where this one goes.
Thanks to RR Booktours and Troy Knowlton for letting me read and review this one!
October 6, 2022
Although this started slow, it really caught my interest at the end of chapter two. I loved the world Knowlton has created, it's well-developed, and I'd love to explore even more of it. Tyras and Oren were great, well-fleshed out characters. I enjoyed the sparse illustrations sprinkled throughout the story, but I would've loved more of them. I would even love to see a Seekers inspired coloring book in the future. The plot itself moved along smoothly once it gained momentum, but the first two chapters were just kind of meh for me, then chapter three grabbed me and before I knew it I was deep into the book. A great fantasy to escape into for hours.
May 26, 2023
3.5 rounded to 4, as my per my scoring spreadsheet.
This book was a good introduction to a new fantasy series. With some excellent characters, a dynamic world and an enjoyable story.
I really enjoyed the dialogue between the characters in this book. The exchanges made me feel like I was part of the conversation and involved in the action. It also helped that the narration was excellent
I felt the story wasn't hugely unique and the main plot lines were similar to some others I've read, but I did appreciate the way the author created a dynamic world , which was believable.
The pacing of this story will really work for those who like quick, action packed novels. For me, it did at times feel a bit frenetic.
I do think this book will land brilliantly for a lot of readers and will hopefully do well in spfbo9
This book was a good introduction to a new fantasy series. With some excellent characters, a dynamic world and an enjoyable story.
I really enjoyed the dialogue between the characters in this book. The exchanges made me feel like I was part of the conversation and involved in the action. It also helped that the narration was excellent
I felt the story wasn't hugely unique and the main plot lines were similar to some others I've read, but I did appreciate the way the author created a dynamic world , which was believable.
The pacing of this story will really work for those who like quick, action packed novels. For me, it did at times feel a bit frenetic.
I do think this book will land brilliantly for a lot of readers and will hopefully do well in spfbo9
July 5, 2023
An action packed debut that hits the ground running.
Seekers: The Winds of Change starts off intriguing, and doesn't really let up. The characters are very likeable, the humor is excellent, the romance is well done, and the mystery and political intrigue will keep you guessing.
This book made me realize that it has been some time since I read a standalone, and that I should read more of them.
I don't know if this will ever be continued, but I feel it wrapped itself up nicely as a story while leaving the door open for possible sequels.
A great start as far as I'm concerned.
A highly recommended read.
Seekers: The Winds of Change starts off intriguing, and doesn't really let up. The characters are very likeable, the humor is excellent, the romance is well done, and the mystery and political intrigue will keep you guessing.
This book made me realize that it has been some time since I read a standalone, and that I should read more of them.
I don't know if this will ever be continued, but I feel it wrapped itself up nicely as a story while leaving the door open for possible sequels.
A great start as far as I'm concerned.
A highly recommended read.
July 29, 2023
I was sent this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was a solid debut fantasy novel. I really liked the world, and how much of it we got to see, but it would be nice to get a bit more detail and depth to the world. There’s quite a bit hinted at, but it’s not really explored yet.
I thought the characters were solid. Oren was probably my favorite, and I found myself a bit more invested in his storyline.
I did lose a bit of interest in the book at about the 65% mark, but I think that’s more due to me not having time to read it than it is the book itself.
It reads really quickly, and is a fun time for sure. I’m looking forward to seeing what Troy Knowlton does next.
This was a solid debut fantasy novel. I really liked the world, and how much of it we got to see, but it would be nice to get a bit more detail and depth to the world. There’s quite a bit hinted at, but it’s not really explored yet.
I thought the characters were solid. Oren was probably my favorite, and I found myself a bit more invested in his storyline.
I did lose a bit of interest in the book at about the 65% mark, but I think that’s more due to me not having time to read it than it is the book itself.
It reads really quickly, and is a fun time for sure. I’m looking forward to seeing what Troy Knowlton does next.
October 5, 2022
Great adventures discovering new places, amazing people and interesting monsters. Quests for artefacts and assassins, all while finding love, losing loved ones and learning we are not all that different from each other.
July 17, 2023
A Story of Friendship
If you are looking for the rare friendship that keeps two people going even when they're miles apart, this heart-warming adventure with colorful, meaningful characters is for you. Containing a quick-paced pair of quests, this book will keep you turning the pages until the surprising finale!
If you are looking for the rare friendship that keeps two people going even when they're miles apart, this heart-warming adventure with colorful, meaningful characters is for you. Containing a quick-paced pair of quests, this book will keep you turning the pages until the surprising finale!
June 27, 2022
I was fortunate to be able to review Troy Knowlton's debut fantasy novel Seekers: The Winds of Change. I've been excited to review this book (no spoilers!) since the moment I finished. No, this is not a deep dive into the lives of Hogwarts quidditch seekers. Instead, the story takes place in the world of Tiarna and follows two seekers: Tyras and Oren. I enjoyed reading about the various locations that Troy crafted within Tiarna; it was not difficult to envision the settings where scenes were unfolding. I have no insight into Troy's plans moving forward, but there certainly seems to be a lot left to explore in Tiarna.
Aside from the world of Tiarna, one of my favorite parts about this book was the pacing. Troy wastes no time kicking off the action, and it keeps moving until the end. If you like fast pacing, you will not be disappointed. The end of each chapter felt like a cliffhanger that kept me hooked, which is likely why I ended up reading this mostly in two sittings. Notably, the pacing was not driven by pure action—there was romance, mystery (what the heck is that pesky conduit?), and betrayals that I never saw coming.
An aspect of Troy's characters that I appreciated was the frequent insights into how anxious they were about their respective tasks. Too often I read about characters tasked with monumental feats that appear completely unphased by the gravity of their mission. Troy's depiction felt more realistic to me—characters expressed anxiety, worry, fear, and dread about their current paths and what might occur in the future. In some instances characters seemed to overcome such anxieties a little too quick, which may have been a function of the fast pacing. I'm eager to see how Troy hones his character development in future works.
Overall, Seekers is a solid 4.5 stars. The lightning pacing of the novel carried into the conclusion, which felt like too quick of an ending for me. But, the good news is that I wanted more of the story. I truly appreciate Troy sharing his work, and I am grateful to have spent time in the world of Tiarna. I would be thrilled to read any future work that delves further into this world.
Aside from the world of Tiarna, one of my favorite parts about this book was the pacing. Troy wastes no time kicking off the action, and it keeps moving until the end. If you like fast pacing, you will not be disappointed. The end of each chapter felt like a cliffhanger that kept me hooked, which is likely why I ended up reading this mostly in two sittings. Notably, the pacing was not driven by pure action—there was romance, mystery (what the heck is that pesky conduit?), and betrayals that I never saw coming.
An aspect of Troy's characters that I appreciated was the frequent insights into how anxious they were about their respective tasks. Too often I read about characters tasked with monumental feats that appear completely unphased by the gravity of their mission. Troy's depiction felt more realistic to me—characters expressed anxiety, worry, fear, and dread about their current paths and what might occur in the future. In some instances characters seemed to overcome such anxieties a little too quick, which may have been a function of the fast pacing. I'm eager to see how Troy hones his character development in future works.
Overall, Seekers is a solid 4.5 stars. The lightning pacing of the novel carried into the conclusion, which felt like too quick of an ending for me. But, the good news is that I wanted more of the story. I truly appreciate Troy sharing his work, and I am grateful to have spent time in the world of Tiarna. I would be thrilled to read any future work that delves further into this world.
September 27, 2022
If you're looking for an adventure story that has twists and turns, killer worms, and hunt for artifacts, this is the book for you. The sands of this world obscure many truths and it's hard to figure out what will happen until the very end. I enjoyed many aspects of Knowlton's world and the desert vibes of many of the towns. The author does a great job of creating lush and dark landscapes. I enjoyed the opening descriptions that really grounded me in the world. Squall and Mobius were some of my favorite characters, alongside Oren and Laverna the Red, surprisingly. The epilogue leaves a whole new world to explore and things to uncover in the next book.
However, I struggled to pin this book down. It says YA and the characters act like teenagers at times although they are first seemed a bit older. I didn't like Tyras as much as I tried. As a senior Seeker, I found him too quick to complain and struggle to do his job at times. His decisions at times didn't make sense and almost gets him and his friends killed. Pretty early on he seems to lose sight of his mission, which didn't seem to quite fit with his job as a Seeker. He and Serana felt a bit entitled at times, which didn't endear me to them. I wanted to see more of Oren, especially his friendship with Tyras, and I felt that their split in the beginning happened too quickly for me to really understand their relationship. While there was some cool lore nuggets buried in this stories, I wanted to know more about the world, the role of the sovereigns, and the conflicts of the different nations. The Seekers especially were interesting to me, but I wanted to know more of their history and besides the two brothers, we don't see many others. I found the dialogue to be too long winded at times and didn't quite fit the mood of scenes, almost like a mix of Shakespeare and a dramatic play (one theory I had was that this was a tale being told to a group and that's why some of the language was embellished the way it was).
The plot twists did surprise me and I was very interested in the epilogue. The deaths at the end did grip my heart and I really felt for Oren at the end.
I rate this a 3.5/4 out of 5
However, I struggled to pin this book down. It says YA and the characters act like teenagers at times although they are first seemed a bit older. I didn't like Tyras as much as I tried. As a senior Seeker, I found him too quick to complain and struggle to do his job at times. His decisions at times didn't make sense and almost gets him and his friends killed. Pretty early on he seems to lose sight of his mission, which didn't seem to quite fit with his job as a Seeker. He and Serana felt a bit entitled at times, which didn't endear me to them. I wanted to see more of Oren, especially his friendship with Tyras, and I felt that their split in the beginning happened too quickly for me to really understand their relationship. While there was some cool lore nuggets buried in this stories, I wanted to know more about the world, the role of the sovereigns, and the conflicts of the different nations. The Seekers especially were interesting to me, but I wanted to know more of their history and besides the two brothers, we don't see many others. I found the dialogue to be too long winded at times and didn't quite fit the mood of scenes, almost like a mix of Shakespeare and a dramatic play (one theory I had was that this was a tale being told to a group and that's why some of the language was embellished the way it was).
The plot twists did surprise me and I was very interested in the epilogue. The deaths at the end did grip my heart and I really felt for Oren at the end.
I rate this a 3.5/4 out of 5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2022
"Are you worried that you'll never wake up?" The cruel Savarian smirked. "That's good. If you were smart, you'd have the same fear each time you slept. When a person no longer fears dying in their sleep, they become easy prey for someone like me."
First and foremost I must thank Troy Knowlton for sending me a physical ARC of this gem of a book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Seekers: The Winds of Change is fun fantasy adventure that will take you on an emotional roller coaster as you follow the two main characters Tyras and Oren (best friends) who are each forced to go off on an epic quest that will ultimately lead them back to each other.
They each have their own set of supporting characters to accompany them on their journey to complete their quest. Honestly, some of the most emotional moments has to do with these characters and I was surprised just how invested I became in each and every one of them.
I think Troy did an excellent job of picking when in the book to bounce back and forth between each journey all while building out a wonderfully world that I could easily visualize in my mind. It is full of friends and foes down every path causing our young heroes to have to choose wisely as their quest and the fate of their friends relies on it.
For a debut novel Troy knocked it out the park and I look forward to seeing where he takes this amazing cast of characters in the next book in the series.
First and foremost I must thank Troy Knowlton for sending me a physical ARC of this gem of a book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Seekers: The Winds of Change is fun fantasy adventure that will take you on an emotional roller coaster as you follow the two main characters Tyras and Oren (best friends) who are each forced to go off on an epic quest that will ultimately lead them back to each other.
They each have their own set of supporting characters to accompany them on their journey to complete their quest. Honestly, some of the most emotional moments has to do with these characters and I was surprised just how invested I became in each and every one of them.
I think Troy did an excellent job of picking when in the book to bounce back and forth between each journey all while building out a wonderfully world that I could easily visualize in my mind. It is full of friends and foes down every path causing our young heroes to have to choose wisely as their quest and the fate of their friends relies on it.
For a debut novel Troy knocked it out the park and I look forward to seeing where he takes this amazing cast of characters in the next book in the series.
June 30, 2022
Wow! Great debut novel from Troy Knowlton. I enjoyed the pacing of the book as well as his development of his characters throughout the story.
The story is about a world on the edge of war or at least that is what someone wants to happen.
Our story begins with a Seeker (Tyra) whose mission to recover artifacts of the Lost Kingdom and bring them back to the Archive at Arga changes not only his path but of those who hold the artifact and some of his closest friends. Oren is a seeker who followed his friend Tyra in path of becoming a seeker but is that really he wants out of life, maybe but maybe not. But after Tyra returns from his mission his master is attacked and Tyra is sent back to the land of his mission to find something call the "conduit" and Oren is sent out seeking the failed assassin for further questioning. Those our adventures truly begin.
We see lost family, enemies to lovers, meek to heroes and other tropes found in fantasy but in a way that makes the story interesting and fun to read. This book is a great beginning fantasy story which is easy for young readers but enjoyable for the more mature readers as well. If you need a quick series but enjoyable story then I recommend this book for you.
The story is about a world on the edge of war or at least that is what someone wants to happen.
Our story begins with a Seeker (Tyra) whose mission to recover artifacts of the Lost Kingdom and bring them back to the Archive at Arga changes not only his path but of those who hold the artifact and some of his closest friends. Oren is a seeker who followed his friend Tyra in path of becoming a seeker but is that really he wants out of life, maybe but maybe not. But after Tyra returns from his mission his master is attacked and Tyra is sent back to the land of his mission to find something call the "conduit" and Oren is sent out seeking the failed assassin for further questioning. Those our adventures truly begin.
We see lost family, enemies to lovers, meek to heroes and other tropes found in fantasy but in a way that makes the story interesting and fun to read. This book is a great beginning fantasy story which is easy for young readers but enjoyable for the more mature readers as well. If you need a quick series but enjoyable story then I recommend this book for you.
June 21, 2022
Thanks to Troy Knowlton and NetGalley for access to the paperback/e-book ARCs.
Seekers: the Winds of Change is a very promising debut novel that straddles the line between Young Adult and Adult Fantasy. Featuring an enjoyable cast of characters, this novel excels at creating impactful and emotional character relationships. Although I would definitely consider this a Young Adult novel, Troy Knowlton wasn't afraid to delve deeper into some more adult and darker tones.
Read for:
- Well developed and interesting characters with meaningful relationships
- High stakes action scenes
- Enjoyable dialogue
- Fresh setting and well-built world
- Exploration of anxiety, trauma, identity issues, and more.
Can't wait for a sequel, and will definitely be picking up a hard-copy upon release.
Seekers: the Winds of Change is a very promising debut novel that straddles the line between Young Adult and Adult Fantasy. Featuring an enjoyable cast of characters, this novel excels at creating impactful and emotional character relationships. Although I would definitely consider this a Young Adult novel, Troy Knowlton wasn't afraid to delve deeper into some more adult and darker tones.
Read for:
- Well developed and interesting characters with meaningful relationships
- High stakes action scenes
- Enjoyable dialogue
- Fresh setting and well-built world
- Exploration of anxiety, trauma, identity issues, and more.
Can't wait for a sequel, and will definitely be picking up a hard-copy upon release.
July 13, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this debut novel, and I’m so glad I got the chance. This book has it all, from humor to an intricate plot that simmers when it needs to and rages like a wildfire when you want it to. Mr. Knowlton put all his heart into this book, and it absolutely shows. A minor complaint was the spacing of the paragraphs threw me until I got the hang of it and just told myself it was a quirk like Cormac McCarthy or e.e. cummings. I’ll be glad to continue giving Troy my time and imagination whenever I see something new of his is on the horizon.
August 7, 2022
Interesting world of varied cultures, young protagonists learning to work together across those cultures
Disclaimer, this was a free goodreads book. The varied cultures are being nicely elaborated, the characters are developing from 18 to 20 year old followers of their own cultures to more experienced people with ties across cultures based on friendships and love. The rulers are still a bit under developed, but are poised to be revealed and developed in future tales. Good coming of age book.
Disclaimer, this was a free goodreads book. The varied cultures are being nicely elaborated, the characters are developing from 18 to 20 year old followers of their own cultures to more experienced people with ties across cultures based on friendships and love. The rulers are still a bit under developed, but are poised to be revealed and developed in future tales. Good coming of age book.
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