REVIEW by Trish: Call of the Herald (The Dawning of Power Trilgogy #1) by Brian Rathbone (@brianrathbone)

Echoes of the ancients’ power are distant memories, tattered and faded by the passage of eons, but that is about to change. A new dawn has arrived. Latent abilities, harbored in mankind’s deepest fibers, wait to be unleashed. Ancient evils awaken, and old fears ignite the fires of war. When a Catrin Volker, a teenage horse trainer, inadvertently fulfills the prophecy of the destroyer, she becomes the most feared and hunted person on all of Godsland. With the help of her friends, she must convince the world that she wants only peace.

Call of the Herald
by Brian Rathbone

Series:
The Dawning of Power Trilogy #1

Genre:
Young Adult
Epic Fantasy

Publisher:
White Wolf Press, LLC

Publication Date:
August 17, 2010

Catrin is a girl caught up in events beyond her control. Her simple existence as a farmer’s daughter and a student at the local school is uprooted when she defends herself with a power she never suspected she had. A power granted by the mysterious Istra and its companion comets, which are fast approaching the world of Godsland and bringing with it an age of power and strife.

As fantasies go, this one’s pretty good. I always enjoy a good coming into powers story, and this one was no disappointment. I also found the rapport between Catrin and her companions natural and entertaining. The relationships are believable. Unlike many books in this genre, I didn’t notice any love interests forming. It’s purely a fantasy adventure.

Then again, there was a point where something happens that basically throws away the emotional investment I was feeling in Catrin’s companions. I can’t go into details, but it was a bit disheartening. Still, it was well-executed and fit into the story.

As for the action and the pacing, this story does both exceedingly well. There’s an excellent balance between the action and the non-action scenes. I also like the revelation of Catrin’s growing powers, though it did seem at times that she was learning them a bit too readily and easily, particularly near the end.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. I would recommend it to folks who enjoy fantasy with a good mix of action and banter.

The review copy of Call of the Herald was purchased by the reviewer.

ABOUT BRIAN RATHBONE
A former horse trainer and computer programmer, Brian Rathbone used his old world knowledge and love of fantasy fiction to create The World of Godsland fantasy series, which begins with The Dawning of Power trilogy.