Godfire: The Orchard of Dreams, Book 1 (Five Star Science Fiction & Fantasy) [Hardcover]

Tim Waggoner (Author)

Book Description

Series: Five Star Science Fiction & Fantasy | Publication Date: July 2006

At the beginning of this fantasy from horror writer TIm Waggoner, everyone in the country of Athymar suddenly falls asleep. On awakening, most people have gained a minor magical ability (e.g., one man can change his eye color). "The Change" has a more significant effect on others, including Tarian Ambrus, a former soldier. Tarian is now a healer, but he can no longer hold a weapon. Tarian's wife, Lowri, suffers an even more unpleasant change. For Lowri's sake, Tarian. his son, Phelan, a royal wizard, a priestess-adviser to the queen of Athymar and an Eyslk (an elf type) go on a quest to find the source of the magic and somehow reverse it.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the start of this workmanlike fantasy from horror writer Waggoner (Pandora Drive), everyone in the country of Athymar suddenly falls asleep. On awakening, most people have gained a minor magical ability (e.g., one man can change his eye color). "The Change" has a more significant effect on others, including Tarian Ambrus, a former soldier. Tarian is now a healer, but he can no longer hold a weapon. Tarian's wife, Lowri, suffers an even more unpleasant change. For Lowri's sake, Tarian and his son, Phelan, join a quest to find the source of the magic and a way to stop it. The group, which grows to include a royal wizard, a priestess-adviser to the queen of Athymar and an Eyslk (an elf type), trots along its merry way as if its members were heading for a picnic in the park. Hopefully, the action will ramp up in the second book. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 339 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (ME); 1 edition (July 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594144451
• ISBN-13: 978-1594144455
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,199,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I write fantasy and horror for both adults and young readers. I also teach creative writing at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, December 26, 2007

By 

Nina Matthews (Cleveland, Oh) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Godfire: The Orchard of Dreams, Book 1 (Five Star Science Fiction & Fantasy) (Hardcover)

I picked this book up cause it has a cool cover and the first few pages kept me intrigued. The book is very strange in its overall story line, but at the same time, its rather derived. I enjoyed it nonetheless, its no great work or fiction but it was a fairly fun read.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fantastic quest fantasy, July 21, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Godfire: The Orchard of Dreams, Book 1 (Five Star Science Fiction & Fantasy) (Hardcover)

When the Change happens, every man, woman, and child possesses one magical power and some are transformed into other creatures. The people of Athymar don't know what caused the Change but Tarian is determined to find a way to reverse the effects of it on his wife Lowri who was transformed into a flying demon like creature. He and his son Phelan travel to the city of Pendara in the hopes of finding a wizard who can transform Lowri back into the woman he loves instead of the creature who hates him.

In Pendara, Tarian applies his newfound healing powers to the injuries of the dying queen. He, Phelan, and warrior woman Danya of the city watch are invited into the castle by the wizard Cyn. There they meet with the priestess Saeth who was attending the queen and the Esylken warrior Ashur Dal. The Esylken wants Tarian to come to his village in Greenmark Forest to meet with the Timeless Ones, the spirits of the Esylken dead. They asked Ashur specifically to bring him and the queen wants the entire group to go to Hearts Wound to find out what happened in the last battle between Light and Darkness. On their way to the Esylken village, they make a brief detour to a city besieged by demons to kill them and close the rip between the realms. When they finally reach Vallanora, Tarian meets with the Timeless Ones who send his group on a quest in which he is to play a major role in the world's salvation or destruction.

GODFIRE BOOK 1: THE ORCHARD OF DREAMS is a fantastic quest fantasy filled with lots of action and magical battles. The group embarking on the quest consists of fully developed characters with distinct personalities. Readers will like all of them for different reasons but the focal point of Tim Waggoner's terrific fantasy is Tarian who through no fault of his own is granted a great power and an even greater responsibility.

Harriet Klausner