About the Book
Book: Wolf Soldier
Author: James R. Hannibal
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release date: October 26, 2021
The fate of the Dragon Lands are at play.
The knights of the Lightraider Order disappeared nearly two generations past. Now, the Keledan have withdrawn behind their barriers, and the Dragon Lands of bordering Tanelethar are overrun with dark oppression. The people are living in disobedience to the Rescuer who freed them long ago.
A shepherd boy, Connor Enarian, and four young initiates rekindle the fires of the Lightraider Order in the hope of striking out across the mountains into Tanelethar to destroy a portal and stop an impending invasion.
Once in the Dragon Lands, Connor learns that the key to success lies with a missing Lightraider spy and his lifelong companion, a talking silver wolf. Can Connor and his friends find the spy before the portal grows too large to destroy? Or will a local young woman—or Connor’s own family history—betray them?
The dangers and secrets of Tanelethar test both trust and loyalty, and to save his homeland, Connor may have to sacrifice his innermost dreams.
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Review:
Connar Enarian leaves his quiet life as a shepherd to train as a Lightraider with four other hopeful initiates in hopes of quelling the evil threatening their lands.
The first in an adventurous new series, it introduces the main characters and the fantastical world they are fighting to protect. Well done world building immersed me in the world quickly, as well as the subtle, but distinct use of language to further set apart the setting. I liked learning about the world that they lived in, and enjoyed getting to know Connor and his companions as they prepare for the battle to come.
Overall, an intriguing new fantasy series, I'm excited to see where it will go next. I think that the author did a great job with world building and presenting strong themes of faith in a kind of allegorical way. At first I will admit that the different terms for relatives were a little disorienting, but later on I got used to them and it added to the culture of the world building. A great book for fans of classic epic fantasy, with goblins, orcs, and dragons.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About the Author
Former stealth pilot James R. Hannibal is no stranger to secrets and adventure. He has been shot at, locked up by surface to air missiles, has hunted insurgents with drones, and was once chased by an armed terrorist down a winding German road. James is the Carol Award winning author of the Clandestine Service series and a three-time winner of the Silver Falchion Award for Juvenile Fiction for his Section 13 series.
More from James
Wolf Soldier: Origins
Did you know Wolf Soldier is set in a fantasy world created for a 1980s tabletop game? DragonRaid was an “adventure learning system” designed by Navigators author Dick Wulf. It used elements of choose-your-adventure stories and roleplaying games to teach Scripture memory and application. The game immersed players in the fantasy world of EdenAgain, where their hero characters applied Scripture to solve puzzles and battle “dark creatures.” Using God’s word in these allegorical challenges engaged the mind to increase understanding and retention.
I was one of the DragonRaid’s teenage fans. But the game vanished after only three years, buried by a ranting televangelist who created a campaign against it in a failed attempt to distract the world from his nefarious activities. Even worse, when the game vanished, it left us all on a cliffhanger—The Moonbridge Raid Campaign, Part One of Three.
Years later, with budding teens of my own, I sought out an old boxed set. When we ran out of the original stories, I wrote some of my own, and after playing these new stories with my little group, I sent them to the man who’d sold me the box. He sent them on to Dick Wulf, the original creator of the game.
Long story short: Dick, who had been given only a short time to live, asked me to take over the fantasy world and carry the game forward under the banner Lightraiders, including the task of novelizing the world.
That’s where Wolf Soldier came from. And I’m so excited to see where the characters and the Lightraider Order will take us. Dick went home to Heaven on July 6, 2021, but you can find the encouragement of his foreword inside Wolf Soldier.
By the way, I didn’t forget about the cliffhanger. Before turning in the novel, I completed Parts Two and Three of the Moonbridge Raid Campaign using drafts Dick Wulf wrote. Funded by a donor, our burgeoning Lightraiders game company matched the grand style of the original 1980s adventure guidebook, maps and all. Whew! What a relief to finally scratch that 35-year itch!
Blog Stops
Inklings and notions, October 30
Simple Harvest Reads, October 30 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 31
Blogging with Carol, October 31
deb’s Book Review, November 1
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 2
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 3
Texas Book-aholic, November 4
Artistic Nobody, November 4 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
For Him and My Family, November 5
Guild Master, November 5
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, November 6
The Meanderings of a Bookworm, November 6
Rebecca Tews, November 7
Through the Fire Blogs, November 7
Locks, Hooks and Books, November 8
Labor Not in Vain, November 8
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, November 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 10
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 10
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 11
By the Book, November 12
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, November 12
Giveaway
To celebrate his tour, James is giving away the grand prize package of a signed Wolf Soldier Limited Edition Hardcover, Starlots Gem Dice 7-Color Set (Hand-Inked), and a $100 Amazon Gift Card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/12b85/wolf-soldier-celebration-tour-giveaway
This one sounds fantastic!!
ReplyDeleteJames, I enjoyed following the tour and learning about your book, which sounds like an incredible read for me and I am looking forward to reading it...I also really like the cover! Thanks for sharing it with me and I hope the tour was a success! Congrats on the release of Wolf Soldier and good luck with your book! Thanks for sharing your review with me Labor Not In Vain! Have a magical holiday season!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like an excellent read. Nice cover.
ReplyDelete