Fezariu's Epiphany [Paperback]

David M. Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 11, 2012

12-year-old Fezariu thought his mother died when he was little, but when his beloved stepfather dies the boy discovers she is alive and well - and working at the most famous brothel in all of Elenchera. When she cruelly rejects him it's more than he can bear, and he runs away to join a band of ruthless soldiers for hire. The Merelax Mercenaries will fight for anyone who can pay them, no matter the justice of the cause.
 
Fezariu grows up among the soldiers and becomes one of them. He thinks his time with the mercenaries has hardened him. But a campaign in his old home town pushes him too far, and he discovers what really happened to his mother. Maybe there are some things money shouldn't buy... and maybe it's time Fezariu took his revenge.

Editorial Reviews

Review

There are many plot twists and turns in this masterfully written book chronicling the life of a mercenary named Fezariu. Fezariu's Epiphany is a fantasy work on a grand scale in which you enter an imaginatively drawn world filled with many lands and spanning great periods of time.

   Jason Sullivan - Different Outcomes and author of The Dark Yergall 

When a reader that normally does not like fantasy novels set in world with unknown names falls in love with a book from that genre, then you know the author did a spectacular job of bringing their story to life for all to enjoy. 

   Talina Perkins - Bookin' It Reviews/Night Owl Reviews

   Night Owl Reviews "Top pick" 

You can almost smell the filth and corruption that permeates Clarendon, a true cesspool of a city. This is a story of how a boy grows into being a man and accepting his faults and redeeming his failures. I recommend it.

   William Bentrim - Azure Dwarf and author of The Adventures of Hardy Belch

From the Back Cover

What if the demons you're fleeing are the ones you carry with you?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 386 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (April 11, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1456500597
• ISBN-13: 978-1456500597
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 4.9 x 7.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,360,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Brown could be considered a fantasy fanatic, especially since he has spent the last 10 years developing a 47,000-year history for his fictional world of Elenchera. When converting his obsession into literary form, David commits himself to a rigorous writing and editing process before his work can meet his approval. Combined with the critical eye of his wife and a BA Hons in History and English, David's dedication leads him to his goal of inspiring readers through heartfelt stories and characters.

Although David is inspired primarily by fantasy fiction, he also finds his muse in the form of anime, world cinema, history, and biographies. His own books, Fezariu's Epiphany and A World Apart, and the in-progress Ansel's Remorse and The Stars Beneath the Parapets combine aspects from worlds both old and new into compelling tales of a world not soon forgotten. David himself certainly does not lack a spirit of adventure; in fact, he left his job in 2007 in order to spend a month travelling. Second only to meeting and marrying his wife, David counts this as one of the most amazing experiences of his life.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A quite rich treat July 31, 2011

By L.E.Olteano - Butterfly-o-meter Books

Format:Paperback

Fezariu's Epiphany is supposed to be fantasy; I'm saying "it's supposed to be" because while reading it, it doesn't really feel like anything else but true-story, if from older times perhaps.
It kicks off somewhat slow, with a richly put together `historical tour' of the world, then introduces the characters gently, in a paced but charming manner. I'd say the pace picks up later, giving the story a lead-in/lead-out sort of feeling, making me remember those tales on vinyl I used to listen to when I was a child. There was a distinctive sound they made, just before the words started and right after all of them had been uttered, a soft, gentle warning. Well, reading Fezariu's Epiphany I had that same feeling, as if that rich sound that I deeply loved had both introduced me to the tale, and helped me part with it when it was over.

I felt a surprisingly intense connection to some of the characters; I tend to like/dislike, (or crush upon *rolls eyes*) more then actually care about characters, but in this case, Jessamine and Alycea got glued to my heart somehow and they refused to be parted from it. Fezariu was harder for me to connect with, I'm not sure why; I was very much so interested in what happened to and with him, but more for someone else's benefit (like his mother's, for instance) then for his own, I'm not sure why.

I really liked the structure of the novel, the way the prologue and epilogue hugged it all together, the way the plot line was followed, the pace, everything about it. The world created by David M. Brown is nothing short of fascinating, in a fairytale like sort of way, but at the same time giving you the distinct sensation it's all quite real.... It's a very interesting mix of worlds and words; you'll also find some intriguing choices, as far as town names go, characters as well.

As far as writing goes, I find this to be a quite rich treat; descriptive, with something of a demure charm, the "language" of the novel is one of universal beauty and proper delight, leaning perhaps more toward the conservative written word, more of the "old-school" good writing. As much as I appreciate that style, I sometimes find it also tempers the pace of the plot, quells tensions that might have urged you to become more emotionally involved in the action itself. Of course, such things are always a matter of personal taste.
The tone is pleasurably mellow, enough so that delicate issues, such as use and abuse, tyranny and cruelty, are really easy to cope with; this is not an aggressive read, by any means, and I find that deeply comforting.

I really did enjoy this read, I found it a perfect fit for my somewhat moody, almost gloomy Sunday afternoon mood; I felt often transported to my childhood, and the tales I loved at that time, something not a lot of reads manage to pull off, and something I deeply enjoy - it's that sens of wonder, of hidden magic that Fezariu's Epiphany stirred within me.
I wasn't ragingly enthusiastic, and I attribute that to my personal mood at the time of reading, and to the mellow-inducing, melancholy-rising effect David M. Brown `s writing had on me.

I strongly recommend this to anyone that enjoys fantasy, good writing, charming tales and rich content with lighter, non-shocking imagery. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lose yourself in the world of Elenchera January 1, 2012

By wistfulskimmie - Wistfulskimmies Book Reviews Blog

Format:Kindle Edition

This is the story of Fezariu, a young man born to a prostitute - who believes his mother died when he was 12. When his beloved stepfather is killed, he finds out that his mother is still alive and working in a famous brothel. After her rejection of him he goes and joins the Merelax Mercenaries. He rises through the ranks until he takes an assignment that brings him back to his old home town. There he takes stock of his life and finds out the truth about why his mother rejected him. on learning this he decides to exact a terrible revenge.

I started this with a little trepidation as I am not a gigantic fan of fantasy novels. I am so glad I did though - I was sucked in straight away. It wasn't overly 'fantastical' but there were enough different races and worlds, all beautifully described, to keep me interested. I had no trouble picturing any of the descriptions. Poor Fezariu has seen so much sadness in his short life that he thinks a mercenary life is best for him as he cannot get close to anyone there. he does however become friends with three other recruits. The story is told mostly from Fezariu's point of view but occasionally changes as the story dictates, for example at his birth and in his letters to his stepsister. This was a good idea as it kept the story fresh. The ending was fantastic, and I had a tear in my eye.

I have nothing but praise for this, and I hope the author has more to come.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy At Its Best! August 26, 2011

By Jason Sullivan

Format:Paperback

There are many plot twists and turns in this masterfully written book chronicling the life of a mercenary named Fezariu. Fezariu's Epiphany is a fantasy work on a grand scale in which you enter an imaginatively drawn world filled with many lands and spanning great periods of time. Within this landscape, Fezariu becomes a mercenary to try to escape the painful contingencies of his birth. As he forges ahead, gaining glory as a mercenary, he begins to realize that putting together the pieces of his past is the most difficult and important battle he will ever face.

Fezariu's Epiphany is a great read. It has many surprises. The author, David M. Brown, has thoughtfully crafted a many tiered adventure exploring in a compelling, and often nail-biting manner, questions of family legacy, life direction, morality and destiny. Each character in Fezariu's Epiphany plays an important role in helping Fezariu find his way, sometimes as a warrior (there are some great battle scenes), and sometimes as a friend. In the end Fezariu discovers that these relationships are where his loyalty ultimately rests and that they are the key to slaying the difficult emotions from his past.

I highly recommend this book and eagerly await the next in the series. My favorite character is Tessera!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I Fell In Love! August 1, 2011

By Anastasia Pergakis

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I must say, I fell in love with this book. At first, I wondered why the book started before the hero of the story was even born, in his Mother's POV, but as I continued to read I realized that without those first few chapters from the Mother, I don't think I would've felt as connected with her or Fezariu. David handled the passage of time rather well as we follow Fezariu's life as he grows up. Through the use of letters the hero writes to his childhood friend, we get a full few of what is happening to him without the scenes dragging on. It was a unique feature that I don't see often - and even then it's usually not done well. David, pulled it off perfectly! Also, I feel that having the passage of time expressed in the form of letters from Fezariu, allowed me to connect with his friend - her loss, her missing him, etc. It was great to be able to connect emotionally with so many characters in this book, instead of just the hero.

Now, before people that know me scream at me - yes, I know I've said before that I'm not a fan of most fantasy novels as they are crowded with flowery words that take away from the plot. Well, David doesn't do that - and if he did, the plot itself was so amazing, I didn't notice!

Fezariu's life is affected by the White Oak, a famous brothel in Clarendon - indirectly. As a small boy, he decides he's cursed - after his mother's disappearance and his step-father's death. He runs away to the Meralax Mercenaries before anyone else he cares about gets hurt. He devotes himself completely to the mercenaries, throwing himself into the dangerous missions without hesitation. Fezariu just wanted to forget his past - and be rid of his curse. But he couldn't risk ever being close to anyone.... Fezariu eventually realizes he has to face his past in order to be free of his curse.

This book is just great all the way around. I think honestly, my only disappointment is not seeing a map of Elenchera at the beginning of the book. However, the details about the world and the locations were clear enough in the that I knew where everyone was. I'm such a visual person though, it would have been a nice touch to actually have a map. Read more ›