Nikalys and his sister Kenders have grown up living a peaceful life in the small village of Yellow Mud. On a blistering hot day, brother and sister head to the lake for a swim. There, they witness a mysterious stranger send forth a massive, living wave that swallows their village. Believing they are the sole survivors, the two strike out on their own, hoping to discover why their home and family have been destroyed. They must make their way through a countryside where magic is outlawed while struggling with the revelation that one of them can “weave the Strands.” Through their travels, they discover that their simple life was an illusion. An epic, divine struggle has been underway for ages, and Nikalys and Kenders are at the center of it. Ancient, powerful forces have sought them since before their birth and hunt them to this day. Some wish to eliminate the threat they pose while others want to help the pair fulfill a destiny of which they are unaware. Myths and legends come to life, whisking the pair along a grand journey neither could have imagined possible.
Progeny (The Children of the White Lions)
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
R.T. Kaelin grew up in Cincinnati and now resides in Columbus, Ohio with his beautiful wife and the two best kids ever. For years, he worked in information technology, but felt there was something more waiting for him. He always had an active imagination, so one day he decided to do something with it. R.T. Kaelin's son and daughter are too young to grasp it fully, but they are the reason he writes. His favorite place in the world is any barely-occupied, tucked-away corner of Tuscany.
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More About the Author
R.T. Kaelin: is a loving husband, father of two wonderful children, and a lifelong resident of Ohio, currently living in Columbus. After graduating from college, for the first twelve years of his career he has worked as a software engineer. While writing for a local Columbus gaming group, it was suggested he try his hand at writing something more prodigious. Encouraged, he committed to the undertaking, and wrote, Progeny, the first volume in the Children of the White Lions series. The book has garnered critical acclaim, drawing comparisons to the giants of the genre, and has fostered an ever-growing fan base. As he edits the second in the series, he also is working on the Terrene Chronicles, a number of short stories that take place prior to the events in Progeny.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By Rowan Reader
Format:Paperback
This review is for the updated version of Progeny. The copy was provided by the author in exchange for editing and critical review.
It is obvious from the start that Kaelin has made great strides in his writing ability. The level of craftsmanship he shows, while well above average throughout, is really shown to his advantage in the new Prologue, and in the climactic sequences of the ending. These advantages also enhance the story he has to tell. I have to say - it's a good story so far!
Now, this is a set-up novel. Fantasy readers familiar with Sanderson's The Way of Kings will know what I mean. There's a great flow of story, and a very compelling character arc throughout, but at the end, you're looking at a last few pages, knowing that even though everything will resolve satisfactorily, there's a whole lot more story coming down the pike. It's a lovely feeling, and one that is a tricky balance to maintain. I'm happy to say that in my opinion, Kaelin balances quite well, leaving the reader, not with a cliffhanger, but with an open invitation to peer around the next bend in the road, beckoning us onwards.
The world created here is vast, with the impression of solid history and distinct races (no stereotypical orcs or elves here, which is a refreshing change) with just the right touch of cultural difference to make each place distinct. That touch is seen with the characters as well. Often in a multi-viewpoint novel, the characters all blend together, or are so dissimilar that you're left wondering how they even manage to stand each other. Progeny has a deft touch. Family members bicker and quarrel in that insular and protective manner every sibling knows so well, fatherly characters are given reasons to feel paternal or authoritarian, and even the baddies are given a compelling touch of humanity.
Finally, there's the quality of the mood. Here is an tale in the mode of Tolkien, and a world in the mold of Narnia. I don't mean that it's epic, nor that the worldbuilding is stellar, nor that the characters are beautiful archetypes (although Kaelin does his best to reach those heights, and succeeds amazingly) - no, I mean that when I was still in kindergarten, my parents read to me from Narnia and from the Hobbit, and by the time I was 7, I was working through The Lord of the Rings. There wasn't any grotesque gore to skip over, no terrible sex or violence "onscreen" that I needed to be protected from. Evil existed, but it was alluded to, not celebrated. Progeny has that same tone to it - I can very easily see a family sitting around a mother or father, or older sibling, clustered around their e-reader of choice, listening in as the Tale of the Blessed Siblings continues night after night. That's something that I think every fantasy fan (especially as we get to having kids of our own to infect with our taste in books) can appreciate.
It is obvious from the start that Kaelin has made great strides in his writing ability. The level of craftsmanship he shows, while well above average throughout, is really shown to his advantage in the new Prologue, and in the climactic sequences of the ending. These advantages also enhance the story he has to tell. I have to say - it's a good story so far!
Now, this is a set-up novel. Fantasy readers familiar with Sanderson's The Way of Kings will know what I mean. There's a great flow of story, and a very compelling character arc throughout, but at the end, you're looking at a last few pages, knowing that even though everything will resolve satisfactorily, there's a whole lot more story coming down the pike. It's a lovely feeling, and one that is a tricky balance to maintain. I'm happy to say that in my opinion, Kaelin balances quite well, leaving the reader, not with a cliffhanger, but with an open invitation to peer around the next bend in the road, beckoning us onwards.
The world created here is vast, with the impression of solid history and distinct races (no stereotypical orcs or elves here, which is a refreshing change) with just the right touch of cultural difference to make each place distinct. That touch is seen with the characters as well. Often in a multi-viewpoint novel, the characters all blend together, or are so dissimilar that you're left wondering how they even manage to stand each other. Progeny has a deft touch. Family members bicker and quarrel in that insular and protective manner every sibling knows so well, fatherly characters are given reasons to feel paternal or authoritarian, and even the baddies are given a compelling touch of humanity.
Finally, there's the quality of the mood. Here is an tale in the mode of Tolkien, and a world in the mold of Narnia. I don't mean that it's epic, nor that the worldbuilding is stellar, nor that the characters are beautiful archetypes (although Kaelin does his best to reach those heights, and succeeds amazingly) - no, I mean that when I was still in kindergarten, my parents read to me from Narnia and from the Hobbit, and by the time I was 7, I was working through The Lord of the Rings. There wasn't any grotesque gore to skip over, no terrible sex or violence "onscreen" that I needed to be protected from. Evil existed, but it was alluded to, not celebrated. Progeny has that same tone to it - I can very easily see a family sitting around a mother or father, or older sibling, clustered around their e-reader of choice, listening in as the Tale of the Blessed Siblings continues night after night. That's something that I think every fantasy fan (especially as we get to having kids of our own to infect with our taste in books) can appreciate.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Lewis
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Progeny is a story about a pair of children destined to thwart an evil god's attempt to plunge the world into chaos. They are the Children (IE Progeny) of the White Lions, who in ages past were the chosen champions of the gods, empowered to restore balance to the world.
The children, Nikalys and Kenders, have inherited their parent's gifts, and it seems they will even surpass them, given time. But the evil gods know this and have designs of their own for the siblings...namely death.
For starters, I was somewhere around 35% complete with the book before it actually got interesting enough for me to care about what was happening to the characters. 35%!!! If I didn't like the author (from my brief interactions with him on twitter) then I definitely would have never gotten as far into the book as I did. Likely I would have went 'UGH' somewhere after the first couple of chapters and shelved it / deleted it from my Kindle.
The book does pick up from there, and although there is plenty wrong there is also plenty right. One example is the magic system, known in this world as The Strands, of which there are different colors which represent the different flavors (Air Earth Water Fire Charge Void Life Will Soul)of magic. It was an interesting take to say the least....most mages can only touch one to three different colors.
I found myself caring more for a side character than I did for the two titular progeny (his introduction is when the book actually got interesting for me), and there is plenty of dreg in the novel that slows down the story. I also found myself rolling my eyes at a lot of the dialogue between the different characters....I get that this is a made-up medieval setting but still...if I read someone say 'Truly' one more time I might have to unleash the dragon, haha.
In the end, I gave it three stars because it was a good read. Not awesome. Not great. But not bad either. If you can get through the first third of the book then you'll be invested enough to see it through to the end.
The children, Nikalys and Kenders, have inherited their parent's gifts, and it seems they will even surpass them, given time. But the evil gods know this and have designs of their own for the siblings...namely death.
For starters, I was somewhere around 35% complete with the book before it actually got interesting enough for me to care about what was happening to the characters. 35%!!! If I didn't like the author (from my brief interactions with him on twitter) then I definitely would have never gotten as far into the book as I did. Likely I would have went 'UGH' somewhere after the first couple of chapters and shelved it / deleted it from my Kindle.
The book does pick up from there, and although there is plenty wrong there is also plenty right. One example is the magic system, known in this world as The Strands, of which there are different colors which represent the different flavors (Air Earth Water Fire Charge Void Life Will Soul)of magic. It was an interesting take to say the least....most mages can only touch one to three different colors.
I found myself caring more for a side character than I did for the two titular progeny (his introduction is when the book actually got interesting for me), and there is plenty of dreg in the novel that slows down the story. I also found myself rolling my eyes at a lot of the dialogue between the different characters....I get that this is a made-up medieval setting but still...if I read someone say 'Truly' one more time I might have to unleash the dragon, haha.
In the end, I gave it three stars because it was a good read. Not awesome. Not great. But not bad either. If you can get through the first third of the book then you'll be invested enough to see it through to the end.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Uriah Otting
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first heard about this book when it was listed as a giveaway. As an avid devourer of fantasy books I signed up to win and didn't think much of it beyond that. I was surprised when the author contacted me a few days later and invited me to join a forumn about the group where we could ask questions and discuss the book. I could tell that this was an autor who was passionate about his story and wanted it to succeed. This piqued my curiosity and I went and read the intro to the story. I could tell then that he author had good reason to be enthusiastic, this was not your run of the mill fantasy. I crossed my fingers to win a copy but knew that if I didn't, I would purchase one on my own, which I ended up doing.
The world presented in Progeny is an evocative mix of the normal and the supernatural. I found myself easily slipping into the world and capable of seeing it as they did. The settings are imaginative yet grounded in the possible. The people of this world are "people" instead of falling into racial stereotypes. The characters are visibly but not fatally flawed(in a good way), giving them depth and evoking emotion. All this combines to present a recognizable world in an extraordinary setting.
A couple of the things I like most in the book are the magic system and the sense of history. The magic is understandable but also invisible. You see people using it but your imagination must fill in the details. While parts of the language may remind of other books, the use is obviously original. The history and interplay between nationalities and nations is also rich and well executed. Part of me can't decide wether I would rather see the next book or a prequel. The sense of history is not only apparent in exposition but also in the settings and interplay.
The book is well written. The first couple of chapters are the roughest but then it falls into an easy rythem. It was a pleasure to read. I won't give any spoilers here but he plot does twist at times. The development of the characters is obvious and real as are their relationships.
I hope we do not need to wait long to see another installment in this series.
The world presented in Progeny is an evocative mix of the normal and the supernatural. I found myself easily slipping into the world and capable of seeing it as they did. The settings are imaginative yet grounded in the possible. The people of this world are "people" instead of falling into racial stereotypes. The characters are visibly but not fatally flawed(in a good way), giving them depth and evoking emotion. All this combines to present a recognizable world in an extraordinary setting.
A couple of the things I like most in the book are the magic system and the sense of history. The magic is understandable but also invisible. You see people using it but your imagination must fill in the details. While parts of the language may remind of other books, the use is obviously original. The history and interplay between nationalities and nations is also rich and well executed. Part of me can't decide wether I would rather see the next book or a prequel. The sense of history is not only apparent in exposition but also in the settings and interplay.
The book is well written. The first couple of chapters are the roughest but then it falls into an easy rythem. It was a pleasure to read. I won't give any spoilers here but he plot does twist at times. The development of the characters is obvious and real as are their relationships.
I hope we do not need to wait long to see another installment in this series.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic story
What a great story! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing was great, the characters well developed...both good and bad. Read more
Published 26 days ago by dj
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review
This book also deserves a five stars. I loved it. It kept me on edge the whole time! It's for all ages and everyone should sooo totalllllyyyy read this book. Awesomeness!!!!! <3
Published 1 month ago by Wanda L. Cason
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great read, very enthralling ---> 4.5 stars
This book is really a 4.5 star book.
For being R.T.'s first novel, I found it to be similar to Tolkien and Jordan. From the start, I found myself drawn into the story. Read more
For being R.T.'s first novel, I found it to be similar to Tolkien and Jordan. From the start, I found myself drawn into the story. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Buzz Clore
4.0 out of 5 stars
First book in series - the best of the two
I enjoyed this story and the characters, it was an easy read and I did read the second book in the series, which really seemed to slow down a great deal more then the first book. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tammy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing 1st book.
I came across this book after searching through amazon for a new exciting read. After finishing book 2 of the King Killer Chronicles, I assumed it was going to be hard to find... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Marc Bartel
2.0 out of 5 stars
I couldn't finish it.
I started reading and enjoyed the story, but eventually I just could not go on. The characters started to grate on my senses and their dialogue was just too unrefined. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Oranges
5.0 out of 5 stars
A unique fantasy world
It was pretty refreshing to read a fantasy book that isn't standard dwarves, elves, orcs, etc. Karlin created his own world that sucked me in, and I can't wait to read the next... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Adam
5.0 out of 5 stars
Progeny
Utterly outstanding - good character development, especially Nikalys - highly recommended - on to the Prophecy and hopefully the completion of this trilogy.
Published 2 months ago by Jim Curtin
2.0 out of 5 stars
Borning
This book was borning. I was looking for somethin in the line of the Lord of the rings and it came up flat..sorry
Published 3 months ago by lisa miller
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entertained!
Read the bookfor free on the Kindle Lending library and I really enjoyed it. The forward by the author and the story itself won me over to such an extent that I purchased a copy... Read more
Published 3 months ago by randomdirection
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