Although the writing needs a bit of polishing here and there, I greatly enjoyed this novel. Whiteway's fantasy universe is well-thought-out and the story is engaging. This is a must for fans of sci-fi/fantasy novels! I am looking forward to discovering what will happen to our heroes in the sequel! ( )

This book blew me away! It really is of epic proportions. Right from the beginning of the book you are dropped into this world and immediately drawn into a world of Chandara, Keltar, and more. Normally, this can be a big risk for a science fiction book to just drop in the middle of a planet with 3 moons and animals like a graylessh without a lot description, but it works extremely well. Reading through this story you get caught in the journeys, both mental and physical of all of the characters. It is really gripping! ( )

From the blurb I knew this was going to be an interesting book but I didn’t realise how interested I would become in this novel. I found myself completely absorbed in the Kelanni world.

I did feel that this boom did start out slow as all the various characters were introduced and there various parts to play introduced. However the novel soon picked up pace and I found it a thrilling read.

I found this novel to be really good for a debut author. He managed to suck the readers into this fantasy world and I feel left me wanting more.I thought this book was unique and I feel it is going to be a rewarding series to read for all that have been graced with reading this book.

The characters appear flawless and the reader can really engage with them and their world. I am really looking forward to reading the next installment.

Recommended to readers who enjoy sci-fi/fantasy reads.

This book was received for free by the author all opinions expressed are my own.

This review was first published on http://everybookhasasoul.wordpress.com ( )

In this stunning work of fantasy fiction, we are introduced to a theocratic society and a unique use of the concept of negative matter. In an act of brilliant irony, the Prophet has been using the Kelanni people and money to fund the development of a weapon to annihilate them. One of his top Keltar, an elite soldier, stumbles upon his plan and begins an unwilling journey with four others to save the people she has sworn to protect. With former allies breathing down their necks, they race against the clock to save their people and defeat a false god.

The world of the Kelanni is richly created, from the landscapes and intricate societal rules to the lodestones that power the Prophet's men. Whiteway seamlessly works the necessary explanations into his lyrical prose, allowing one to savor the words and the imagery as well as the plot development. There is an overarching sense of wonder that governs this entirety of this story, no mean feat considering that all is not sunshine and daisies. Perhaps it is related to the balance of intricate description and deliberate vagueness. The latter tactic lends readers the latitude to visualize the Kelanni and various oddly-named organisms as they see fit.

The character development in this novel is sound. Particularly well-executed are the internal conflicts within Shann and Keris; some of the changes fly under the radar unless one is paying particular attention. Their quest is more than a physical journey; it is a period of forced emotional maturation for all involved. And this is just the start.

Unfortunately, there were some mishaps within this novel that I had difficulty overlooking. The first is a paragraph in chapter fourteen dedicated to Shann's first time riding a graylesh. It's a lovely passage, but it directly conflicts with the first page of chapter three, in which she rode a graylesh to Lind. The second, and possibly more subjective complaint is that the Prophet has crossed the supposedly insurmountable barrier facing our heroes more than once, yet they never consider how he may have accomplished this feat. In fact, they openly discuss how no one but Captain Arval has ever successfully crossed the Great Barrier of Storms. Adding this to some wonky use of semicolons and italics, I found myself pausing many times in spite of the riveting storyline.

Book One of this new series was a wonderful fantasy read, and I look forward to continuing with Lyall and company in Book Two.

Hide and Read
(Review copy provided by the author) ( )

As an indie book reviewer, I come across a lot of, um, less than stellar fiction. Then, once in a while, I come across a self-published book like The Sea of Storms and I am reminded of why I do this in the first place. Planet Kelanni has three suns: a white and yellow that move across the sky much like our own Sun, and a large, dim, red sun that never moves, in much the same way as the Earth doesn't when viewed from the Moon. The inhabitants of this planet, though never described in detail, are (presumably) humanoid creatures ruled by a mysterious Prophet and his Keltar emissaries who routinely collect citizens as "tributes," never to be seen again. A young girl named Shann joins two men - Lyall and Alondo - in their quest to overthrow the Prophet and free the tributes. Meanwhile, forbidding Keltar Keris receives shocking information from the strange, somewhat beetle-like creatures known as Chandara, information that turns her world completely upside-down. Woven throughout the drama is a mysterious and precious mineral known as lodestone.

Though the book's title is somewhat misleading - the Sea of Storms is not actually reached until the last few pages - the story itself is quite good. The action is well-paced and the world is solidly constructed. I especially liked that while there were creatures clearly meant to stand in for familiar animals such as dogs and horses, nothing was described in comparison with Earth since, obviously, the Kelanni know nothing of Earth. Shann, Keris, Lyall, and Alondo are engaging characters, easily distinguishable without relying on stereotypes. Oliah came out of left-field, making her relationship with the leads rather unbelievable, but her appearance is so brief I can almost ignore it. The rest of the book is a marvelous trek through a fantastic new world.

I'm glad I was warned in the title that this is not a standalone novel, or I would have been irritated at the cliffhanger ending. As it stands, I'll have to see about getting my hands on the next installment in this promising new fantasy series. ( )