The Riverton family had been enjoying a simple summer vacation when, through a fluke of nature, they found themselves in a strange new land.
The Riverton brothers quickly realize that in this world, they have gained unusual powers. Powers that their parents fear will attract the attention of Azazel himself - the merciless wizard who brutally controls this world.
The two brothers soon learn that an ancient prophecy has finally been initiated by their arrival in Trimoria. As the heirs of this prophecy, they are destined to lead the armies of men, dwarves, elves, and even a misfit ogre against the prophesied demon horde.
Only one thing stands in their way.
The evil wizard who has learned of their presence, and has sent assassins to wipe them from existence.
{"itemData":[{"priceBreaksMAP":null,"buyingPrice":9.99,"ASIN":"0985169702","isPreorder":0},{"priceBreaksMAP":null,"buyingPrice":9.99,"ASIN":"0985169753","isPreorder":0}],"shippingId":"0985169702::BZ04%2Fcaht6CQK2Umn9a6d24MHBcREl4rYsD%2Fhf0lZ92mYPAqL7MJ%2BFoQJvOrEpa%2FUHd9QyPJxt7hHa4uCkMuqma8CTdTHpKvjfR96ccBSYpgbB%2FHnhfbEg%3D%3D,0985169753::HuKmRSXWUnwqv%2B6qGAPNaVXNZ4KUXxu2Vf3PjyTiDE%2B%2F%2FCNsEzJNPe0K71LDY6Kijij3q5vQMmQ5glF%2BPeCHOkrOMUy7z2D9ysDeWYNMQc7R4wsNg7JJdw%3D%3D","sprites":{"addToWishlist":["wl_one","wl_two","wl_three"],"addToCart":["s_addToCart","s_addBothToCart","s_add3ToCart"],"preorder":["s_preorderThis","s_preorderBoth","s_preorderAll3"]},"currenyCode":"USD","shippingDetails":{"xy":"availability"},"tags":["x","y","z"],"strings":{"showDetails":"Show details","addToWishlist":["add to wishlist","Add both to Wish List","Add all three to Wish List"],"shippingError":"An error occurred, please try again","differentAvailability":"One of these items ships sooner than the other.","preorder":["Pre-order this item","Pre-order both items","Pre-order all three items"],"addToCart":["Add to Cart","Add both to Cart","Add all three to Cart"],"showDetailsDefault":"Show availability and shipping details","priceLabel":["Price:","Price for both:","Price for all three:"],"hideDetailsDefault":"Hide availability and shipping details","hideDetails":"Hide details"}}
"Rothman's language and description are preciseand well-tuned to an adolescent readership...a fair, heroic fantasy for the school-age demographic."
- Kirkus Reviews
"There is a sweetness and light to this novel that often seems missing in modern fantasy. I think that a wise reader will recognize that this is something the world needs, and has been waiting for."
- David Farland, New York Times Bestselling Fantasy Author
"As an educator with a love for children and adolescent books, I found myself very interested in this book. There are so very few books that both adults and adolescents can enjoy and relate to. I'm glad to say this book is one of those few books." - Barbara Greenwald, Retired NYC Elementary School Teacher
"Let me say, before anything else, that Michael A. Rothman can most definitely tell a story! The Riverton family is one of the sweetest groups of people that I've ever met. Aaron, Ryan and their parents face a lot in this book, but they deal with it as a family. If you're looking for a wholesome read that will still draw in your young reader, this is it!"
- Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile
Product Details
Paperback: 380 pages
Publisher: M & S Publishing, L.L.C. (April 3, 2012)
I've been writing throughout my career as an engineer, however my writing had been relegated to technical books and technical magazine articles. Heck, you might even find a couple of those musty tomes still for sale if you look hard enough.
With my foray into epic fantasy, I've shed the shackles of technical writing and created novels that I hope will be attractive to a much wider audience.
I've always admired truly epic tales. You know the ones I mean. The book you crack open, wander through and utterly get immersed in. The story takes you on twists and turns you never expected, run into dead-ends that make you wheel your arms backward to prevent you from falling into an endless abyss. By the time you reach what you think is the end, you've read hundreds of pages and realize the end is really only the beginning of the story.
You close the book and wonder out loud. "Do I have the next book? Is it out yet?"
My goal with HEIRS OF PROPHECY was to make a story that would allow a younger audience access to such a tale. Since I despised waiting forever for the next part of the story, I didn't leave readers suspended for too long. The next book, TOOLS OF PROPHECY, came out soon afterwards. Â
As to my other writing activities, I've completed two as of yet unreleased novels in the Prophecies series, and they are scheduled to be released as soon as - well, as soon as the paperwork on them is complete, and the lawyers nod their heads up and down.
I hope you enjoy the novels and I can't wait for the other titles to finally arrive in other people's hands. Realize that these two books are only the beginning, and after reading them, I hope you become invested in the world that is Trimoria just like I am.
Oh - one more thing. My wife thinks I'm nuts, but I've already outlined another epic fantasy series, set in the modern world. Some might call it urban fantasy, I simply call it fun. I'll update my BIO when things become more real on that or I have other things to announce.
In the meantime, if you want to see my ramblings, I lurk at the following social media portals:
Twitter - @MichaelARothman Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/MichaelARothman Blog - http://michaelarothman.com/
Ok I'll be honest. When I first got this book I wasn't sure I was going to like it. And when I first started reading it I still wasn't sure. I really kept waiting for something to happen to the parents or for their to be a huge divide between them and when it didn't happen I was kinda left lost! Stupid I know but it does show what my expectations are for middle grade lit sometimes! But once I started to get further into the story I really started to enjoy it!!
As the story starts out there are several strands of events happening separate from each other. At first I struggled keeping them all in order in my mind, but that didn't last long. Immediately my mind was working on figuring out how all these strands would start to come together in the story and how they could affect each other. I was cool to actually watch it play out. And by the end they seamlessly came together as a full story. I'm always amazed when authors can pull that off!
Ok about the plot. I loved the concept of a family being transported to a time and place they didn't know. Haven't we all thought of that happening??? Especially to a land where magic is real!! And how this played out was good. I did thought, think they adjusted a bit too quickly. I think for most of us we'd be a bit more freaked out. They just accepted it and jumped right in. I could put this aside and just enjoy the story. As the story came to a head with all the strands of stories coming together, the action was great and I was fully engaged. I really wanted to see how this family worked together to succeed! There were also times that there was great detail in how things like the smithwork was done that I wasn't interested in. I'm the kind of reader that skips parts like that, so I did and it really didn't affect my enjoyment of the plot.
The characters were good. The author used 3rd person and would change who the narrator was telling the story from. So at one point we might be hearing about Aaron and what he's thinking and doing, but they it would switch to his brother. At first I had to get use to this, but I ended up really liking it because I got to know each character really well. It also allowed me to care about each character and see how they grew throughout the story. For example Aaron was more timid at the start of the story, and I could really see how he changed. This was true for many of the characters. I did also like the role the parents played in the story and in the lives of the boys. They weren't just these side characters. They had a strong role and were solidly part of the boys' lives. It was a great thing to see! Beyond all that I liked the side characters especially ones that don't exist in our world.
I do have to say one thing about the cover of the book. Ryan is suppose to be 14 in the book and Aaron 12. When I look at the cover that is not at all what I see. The boys look much much younger. When trying to get some of my boy students to read this book I'm going to have to convince them of the main characters' ages.
Final Thought: Great action, nice plot and love that it shows families can work together! Best stick-with-you image: The sad home life of the ogre Ohaobbok Best for readers who: Like new worlds Best for ages: 9-13
For the Guys? YES! Strong boy characters that really step up and do the right thing!
I loved this book. It's for young kids so it was pretty easy to read. I don't know why I wasn't so into fantasy when I was younger, but I'm glad that these days the young 'uns have so many awesome reading options, including books like the Percy Jackson series and of course this one. I love books that really get people to use their imagination!
I enjoyed this book. The world building is marvelous and easy to follow. I also like the fact that the characters are one family experiencing the magic and adventure together. I already have a copy of the next book, Tools of Prophecy, and I'm excited to read it. I'm thinking of passing on these books to my young niece and nephew. :)
*I received a review copy from the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review.
They were on vacation and their Dad wasn't telling anyone where they were going, he just said it would be fun. His first stop is to explore a cave. Mom and the kids aren't as enthused as he is, but they all play along. What his Dad hasn't planned was to fall through a portal into another world...
The family finds themselves in a misty woods that resembles nothing they are familiar with. The animals and fruits and unrecognizable. They don't know if they are in friendly or enemy lands. And, for some reason, Ryan's hands now flash a bit of electricity. More changes are coming...
This is story written for young adults and has everything you could imagine in a good fantasy story in it. A wicked wizard, an evil queen, elves, dwarves, ogres, and even more odd characters permeate this story. The family is found by the Protector of the region and he takes them home with them. He knows he must hide them and not let their ignorance of the present culture show they don't belong. Anyone who doesn't belong dies. Even some of the ones that do belong die.
This is a world full of conflicts, strange powers, and a prophecy that somehow seems to be coming together. The story is fast paced, exciting and all the characters are facing challenges. The family has powers they didn't know existed and they are part of the prophecy.
Why not settle in a comfortable chair and fall through the portal with this family? It's an adventure you won't forget...
