THE HEIR APPARENT
Orb Of Zorn #1
by
John Gorman
Fantasy
Independently Published
Publication Date: May 24, 2023
Page count: 308 pages
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SYNOPSIS:
When Elcon is heard reciting a cantrip in the magic-averse village of Walsz, he is put through a trial by ordeal. Plunged into the Nom River, he barely survives the swim. Leaving behind the angry mob on the shore, he then runs away from home. Out on his own for the first time in his young life, he meets a stranger who gifts him with a stone that has mystical powers. Accompanied by the mage, Dras, the young apprentice goes on a quest to save the world from the return of the Shadowlord.
A classic epic fantasy adventure with swords, sorcery, orcs, elves, and outcasts. The first book of the Orb of Zorn Trilogy. Grab a cloak and join the quest.
Review
5 stars!
With its elaborate backstory and vibrant world-building,
I felt like I was right there with the characters.
The Heir Apparent, the first book in author John
Gorman’s new high fantasy series, Orb of Zorn, takes a minute to lay the
groundwork for the story’s setting, but then the action takes off, and you realize
the buildup was worth every bit of it. The writing is so visual it feels made
to become a movie.
The author deftly juggles several disparate groups of
companions, seemingly unrelated at first, but gradually it becomes clear they
are all moving toward a similar goal, to thwart the reemergence of the evil
Shadowlord. The story of each set of companions is compelling, and I would be hard-pressed
to single out a favorite; I liked them all and look forward to what comes next
in their stories.
In addition to great world-building, an exciting plot in
constant forward motion, and characters that quickly mattered, the author injected
quite a bit of humor into the dialogue. I also enjoyed the creative character
and place names, such as Horst Smidwick, Flettsdorf, and the two orc brothers,
Borg and Brig. Besides the orcs, Gorman populates his world with a variety of
fantastic creatures like elves, trolls, kobolds, and some I can’t even name. It’s been
a while since I’ve read and enjoyed a classic fantasy so much, and I will be following
this author to be notified of the next book in this series.
I recommend THE HEIR APPARENT to readers of high fantasy and
classic quest stories.
About the Author
Still a rogue at heart, John has spent most of his life making stuff up,
mainly to fill in the gaps of an otherwise untidy CV. He’s taught
tennis, sold wine, hustled a few chess games, and babysat for numerous scaly
and furry creatures. His stories, essays, and articles have appeared in over
50 journals worldwide. He’s the author of the humorous fantasy books
The Acolyte And The Amulet and Beyond The Vicious Vortex (Nebilon Series).
He lives with his wife and daughter.
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