The Dawning of a New Age (Tales of Atlantis #1)
by D.M. White
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: March 20, 2022
Format: eARC (Review Copy Courtesy of Author)
Publisher: D. White Publishing (Self Published by Author)
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: March 20, 2022
Format: eARC (Review Copy Courtesy of Author)
Publisher: D. White Publishing (Self Published by Author)
*Please note - this post contains affiliate links, from which we may earn a commission (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase
D.M. White’s The Dawning of a New Age, the first book in the Tales of Atlantis series is a new fantasy tale that promises a look into the elusive and mysterious lost civilization of Atlantis. Alfred and Shep thought they would simply be competing in an ocean rowing competition; strenuous to be sure, but not anything out of the ordinary. When things go wrong and they end up washing ashore after a storm, they quickly realize that they are out of their depth and in an incredibly dangerous situation. Will they be able to escape the island that’s straight out of myth and legend, or will they be pulled under?
I love the premise of this book - I jumped on the opportunity to read and review it when the author reached out to me with a review request. Despite pulling some inspiration from Greek mythology, it's an original concept and an original take on the source material. That’s such a rarity in fantasy novels nowadays, so in my mind, that was a definite positive of the book. I do think the blurb was a bit ‘spoilery’ and gave too much away (thereby making the plotline incredibly predictable) but that wasn’t enough to impact my enjoyment of the book by itself.
The characters and storyline were a highlight. It's always cool when characters are known primarily by a title (The Grandmaster in Thor: Ragnarok and The Butcher in the Diablo video game franchise are two examples that immediately come to mind). In my experience, it creates an element of mystery, as audience members get to piece together whether the character is solely defined by that role or if they have more depth and nuance to them (either case has its merits). Thankfully, two of Mr. White’s characters (The Paymaster and the Botanist) lived up to the gravitas of their titles; you’ll have to read the book to find out what grouping they fall into!
My main issue with the book was mainly in the worldbuilding. Worldbuilding is always one of my favorite parts of fantasy books, and I really, really wanted to love it, given how heavily things are influenced by Greek Mythology. It’s obvious that the author did his homework when picking his references - it’s super fun for a Greek mythology nerd like me to get to see some less common names like Hestia pop up in books (the inspiration for which never gets enough appreciation in my opinion). Sadly, the worldbuilding was unclear at best the majority of the time. For example, the book takes place partially in a present-day version of our world, and the other part is set in Atlantis. There was no clear line between the two for me while reading, and I had issues being able to picture what the author was trying to describe. My enjoyment of the book was negatively impacted as a result and I was left unable to give the book a full five stars.
Overall, this was a solid debut from D.M. White. Given that this is the first installment in the Tales of Atlantis series, I’m curious to see where he will go with the storyline in future books. I would recommend this book to fantasy readers, especially those who enjoy books influenced by mythology and laced with political intrigue. With regards to audience level, I would categorize The Dawning of a New Age as an adult fantasy book. There are some slightly graphic scenes in the book that prevent me from being able to widely recommend it to a young adult level audience (I would, however, recommend it to some more mature young adult readers on an individual case-by-case basis).
Thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Dawning of a New Age immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own, and not influenced in any way.
About the Book
Atlantis. Some think it is just an old story. Others believe the island is buried beneath the sea, its secrets lost for eternity. For millennia, countless have searched for it, but no one has come close to uncovering the truth. Until now.
When rowers Alfred and Shep become separated and wash up on a strange island following a deadly storm, little do they know what they have uncovered. As they learn about their new home and its inhabitants, they find themselves trapped amongst a civilisation lost in time. Unable to communicate, they have no idea where they are or the danger they are in. Yet, the island is enchanting and advanced beyond explanation, and as myth becomes reality thoughts of escaping soon disappear.
Meanwhile, the mysterious and manipulative Paymaster is using the high lord's death, an old prophecy, and the arrival of the newcomers as pawns in his deadly game. A game that will leave Alfred and Shep fighting for survival, and the islanders on the brink of civil war. In his way stands Aliz, a skilful and determined warrior on the run, and Hestia, the high lord's daughter who will stop at nothing to claim her title as the first high lady of Atlantis.
As events unfold, a further threat lurks Below. Only the man of no name and a young baker have encountered the unnatural creatures that live in the shadows. Only they know what is about to be unleashed.
Forget everything you think you know about Atlantis. It's time to prepare for the wave.
When rowers Alfred and Shep become separated and wash up on a strange island following a deadly storm, little do they know what they have uncovered. As they learn about their new home and its inhabitants, they find themselves trapped amongst a civilisation lost in time. Unable to communicate, they have no idea where they are or the danger they are in. Yet, the island is enchanting and advanced beyond explanation, and as myth becomes reality thoughts of escaping soon disappear.
Meanwhile, the mysterious and manipulative Paymaster is using the high lord's death, an old prophecy, and the arrival of the newcomers as pawns in his deadly game. A game that will leave Alfred and Shep fighting for survival, and the islanders on the brink of civil war. In his way stands Aliz, a skilful and determined warrior on the run, and Hestia, the high lord's daughter who will stop at nothing to claim her title as the first high lady of Atlantis.
As events unfold, a further threat lurks Below. Only the man of no name and a young baker have encountered the unnatural creatures that live in the shadows. Only they know what is about to be unleashed.
Forget everything you think you know about Atlantis. It's time to prepare for the wave.
About the Author
No comments:
Post a Comment
I would love to hear your thoughts! Post your comments here.
Be sure to check back again later, as I do make an effort to reply to comments.