Gift of the Shaper: Book One of the HIGHGLADE Series

by D.L. Jennings

Overview

"An exceptional series opener ..." - Kirkus Reviews

Armies will clash and gods will die...

For thousands of years, the Breaker of the Dawn has been locked away in the ethereal plane of the Otherworld. Now, a young blacksmith's apprentice finds himself trapped in a war between the noble Athrani, a subset of humanity gifted with the ability to transmute matter, and the malevolent and powerful Khyth, who seek to free the ancient god from his prison. Gift of the Shaper chronicles the epic struggle between the existing forces of good and evil, with both sides vying for control of the key that unlocks the Otherworld. The very powers of creation and destruction hang in the balance, and only a heroic effort can possibly stop the Khyth from unleashing ruin upon their world.

"...a rollicking good read that is for the fantasy fiction lover in all of us. ... packed full of adventure, action, suspense, and horror. ...akin to the classics of fantasy fiction from Tolkien and modern-day George RR Martin." -Seattle Book Review

"The Highglade series is nothing short of pure wonder. This is what fantasy should be. D.L. Jennings has created a rich, layered world that readers will love to get lost in. A must read for any fan of fantasy." - Luke Newman, Amazon bestseller, and author of the LEGENDARY series.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781948080071
Publisher:	Indigo River Publishing
Publication date:	02/07/2018
Series:	Highglade Series , #1
Pages:	458
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.14(d)

About the Author

David "D. L." Jennings is a fourteen-year veteran of the United States Air Force and Air Force Special Operations Command. Deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan as well as several countries in Africa, he finished writing his debut novel, Gift of the Shaper while serving on his ninth combat tour.

After separating in 2018, he spends his time reading and writing epic fantasy, traveling, listening to '90s punk, and bemoaning being an Ohio sports fan.

Editorial Reviews

"Jennings is an incredible writer. Any reader who loves to be engrossed in an elaborate plot will enjoy his novel."

-San Francisco Book review

"...an exceptional story, which grabbed my attention from the beginning and held it until the very end."
-Feathered Quill

"Packed full of adventure, action, and suspense. The characters are many, but the story moves in a steady pace. The writing is akin to the classics of fantasy fiction from Tolkien and modern-day George RR Martin."
-Seattle Book Review

"Jennings uses seamless world-building like [Robert] Jordan and [Brandon] Sanderson. The language elements are beautiful and consistent and the Otherworld is much greater and larger than the slice that we are treated to."
-Author Christopher D. Schmitz

"Each [character] adds a fresh flavor to the narrative, keeping readers actively engaged with their individual plotlines. By the end of the novel, Jennings has skillfully woven them all together in a single, spectacular battle."

-Reader Views

"Gift of the Shaper was executed wonderfully ... it was difficult for me to believe that it was a debut book for the author."

- Manhattan Book review

From the Publisher

2020-04-18
In this debut fantasy, humans and other beings try to prevent the release of an imprisoned god who could destroy the world.

Young blacksmith Thornton Woods works with his father, Olson, in the village of Highglade. While traveling to the town of Lusk, Thornton and his friend (and possible romantic interest) Miera Mi’An face a trio of assailants. There’s another attack on the way home, but this time, the two receive assistance from Kethras and his sister, Ynara, who are Kienari—stealthy, catlike creatures. The attackers are Khyth, capable of Breaking, which consists of manipulating energy. They’ve unmistakably targeted Miera, and the others cannot prevent her eventual capture. As Ynara goes after Miera, Thornton and Kethras track the now-missing Olson and his apparent abductors. It’s soon evident the Khyth are determined to liberate the Breaker, a world creator imprisoned in the enigmatic Otherworld. Thornton and the others hope to stop the Khyth, as the Breaker’s release would be catastrophic, and fortunately, they’re not alone in their fight. The Khyth’s mortal enemies are the Athrani, who received the gift of Shaping from the Shaper of Ages, one of the goddesses who chained the Breaker in the Otherworld. Jennings writes in a plain language that benefits his epic series opener. For example, atypical fantasy creatures, like the Kienari or the Gwarái, a beast that feeds on the blood of Shapers, are well defined. And notwithstanding the plethora of characters, motivations are distinct and consistent (for example, the Khyth are fixated on freeing the Breaker). The drawback to the story’s hefty cast is the ever shifting narrative perspectives. There is no discernible protagonist, as every character’s role, including Thornton’s and Miera’s, seems to be a supporting one. Regardless, the steady action entails an exhilarating battle, a glimpse of the Otherworld, and a clear setup for the sequel.

An exceptional series opener with memorable characters and simple but enticing worldbuilding.

Kirkus Reviews