18 High/Epic Young Adult Fantasy Books with a Male Protagonist

Where are all the young adult fantasy books with one male lead?

YA fantasy has largely skewed towards romantasy in recent years. Nothing wrong with that, but it means that boys who loved reading in elementary school may have difficulty finding books now that they’re in middle or high school (of course boys and men can enjoy stories about female leads, but there’s nothing wrong with preferring to read about your own gender). Male protagonists are as common in adult fantasy as they’ve always been, but jumping straight from Percy Jackson to Game of Thrones would be quite a shock.

Young adult books not only feature younger characters (generally between 12-17), but also an accessible writing style and fast pacing. They’re easy for kids (and tired adult brains) to read. I wouldn’t want to come home after work and pick up Steven Erikson, but I do look for books more mature than Ranger’s Apprentice.

Note: a lot of people DO list Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, and Ranger’s Apprentice as YA since the main characters fall within the 12-17 age range (I highly recommend all those series!). However, the simpler writing style, at least at the start of each series, is much more in line with middle grade books. Style separates genres just as much as character ages. After all, Game of Thrones includes children as point-of-view characters, but is certainly not YA because of both R-rated content and the dense writing style.

So I searched Goodreads, Amazon bestseller lists, review blogs, and recommendations on sub-reddits to compile a list of exciting, classic-feeling YA fantasy books with 1 male lead (I’ve read half of these myself). I hope you find some great reads!

Prefer other sub-genres of fantasy (urban, superhero, etc.)? Find part 2 here!

This article contains affiliate links – I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

1. Eragon by Christopher Paolini

When fifteen-year-old Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.

Overnight his simple life is shattered, and, gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power. Now his choices could save—or destroy—the Empire.

2. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Eugenides, the queen’s thief, can steal anything—or so he says. When his boasting lands him in prison and the king’s magus invites him on a quest to steal a legendary object, he’s in no position to refuse. The magus thinks he has the right tool for the job, but Gen has plans of his own…

3. The Will of the Many by James Islington

I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilized society in allowing my strength, my drive and my focus—what they call Will—to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do.

To survive, though, I will still have to rise through the Catenan Academy’s ranks. Because if I cannot, then those who want to control me, who know my real name, will no longer have any use for me.

4. Dragon Blood by Mary Beesley

Twin brothers separated at birth and raised as enemies… Neither brother feels they belong. Cal is human, fighting against becoming a beastly Draco Sang. Ferth yearns to push back his humanity and transform into a worthy Draco warrior.

Before ever meeting in open battle, Ferth is sent to kill Cal. Then he discovers they are brothers.

5. Free the Darkness by Kel Kade

Raised and trained in seclusion at a secret fortress on the edge of the northern wilds of the Kingdom of Ashai, a young warrior called Rezkin is unexpectedly thrust into the outworld when a terrible battle destroys all that he knows.

With no understanding of his life’s purpose and armed with masterful weapons mysteriously bestowed upon him by a dead king, Rezkin must travel across Ashai to find the one man who may hold the clues to his very existence.

6. The House of Fire by B.K. Cook

Rangers Apprentice meets Hunter x Hunter.

Ward is a Crumb, a low born servant to the nobles of Alcorn. He was never meant to be anything more than a field hand. He definitely was never meant to wield the power of Ilamantium. Fate had other plans.

Chosen at the Affinity Ceremony and sent to train at The House of Fire, he must fight every step of the way.

Read my review here!

7. Powers of the Six (Emissary of Light 1) by Kristal Shaff

Six rare powers govern the land of Adamah. Possessing one demands entrance to the king’s army. To refuse means death. When seventeen-year-old Nolan Trividar witnesses the transformation of his brother from kind to cruel after entering the king’s army, he vows never to follow the same path.

Read my review here!

8. The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi

In the City of Lies, they cut out your tongue when you turn thirteen, to appease the terrifying Ajungo Empire and make sure it continues sending water. Tutu will be thirteen in three days, but his parched mother won’t last that long. So Tutu goes to his oba and makes a deal: she provides water for his mother, and in exchange he will travel out into the desert and bring back water for the city.

9. The Broken Heir by Jasper Alden

On his sixteenth birthday, Talen is given a magical birthright that forever changes his life—the ability to glimpse possible futures.

When his family is slaughtered by a powerful sorcerer only known as the Golden Fool, Talen is sold into slavery and forced into the fighting pits.

To seek vengeance, first, he must escape the pits, using his wits and his magical gift.

10. Amok by Anna Tan

All Putera Mikal wants is to gain the Amok Strength, the supernatural power granted by Kudus to the Mahan royal family. No matter how religiously Mikal keeps his vows, Kudus still denies him the Strength—whilst his father, Sultan Simson, flaunts the Strength despite his blatant defiance of the Temple and the priests’ visions of coming doom.

Then the prophecies come true. Taken captive, Mikal must find a way to liberate his people and restore his throne in Maha—and the key to this is the Amok Strength.

11. A Star so Bound and Broken by Yakira Goldsberry

Jorrin has only five days to find his missing friend. But it won’t be easy to find a lost star in the dangerous city of Bash-al Feret, ruled by Rahim Padishah, the immortal ruler who hungers for stardust. His reckless search brands him a slave and brings with it a fatal consequence: the stars he fought so desperately to protect are now within the padishah’s grasp.

Nouri Shah lost his brother long ago. But when he discovers that Rakhshan is alive and their father has finally hunted him down, Nouri must face the past that he’s run from for years.

12. Dawn of Wonder (The Wakening 1) by Johnathan Renshaw

When a high-ranking officer gallops into the quiet Mistyvales, he brings a warning that shakes the countryfolk to their roots. But for Aedan, a scruffy young adventurer with veins full of fire and a head full of ideas, this officer is not what he seems.

The events that follow propel Aedan on a journey that only the foolhardy or desperate would risk, leading him to the gates of the nation’s royal academy – a whole world of secrets in itself.

13. Of Blood and Fire (The Bound and the Broken 1) by Ryan Cahill


In the remote villages of southern Epheria, still reeling from the tragic loss of his brother, Calen Bryer prepares for The Proving – a test of courage and skill that not all survive.

But when three strangers arrive in the village of Milltown, with a secret they are willing to die for, Calen’s world is ripped from under him and he is thrust headfirst into a war that has been raging for centuries.

14. The Eyes of the Dragon by Steven King

Once, in a kingdom called Delain, there was a king with two sons…

​Thus begins a sprawling fantasy of dark magic and the struggle for absolute power that utterly transforms the destinies of two brothers born into royalty. Through this enthralling masterpiece of mythical adventure, intrigue, and terror, you will thrill to this unforgettable narrative filled with relentless, wicked enchantment, and the most terrible of secrets…

15. Banished (Street Rats of Aramoor 1) by Michael Wisehart

Desperate to become the youngest warrior of his clan, Ayrion will stop at nothing to reach his goal, not even the one thing all Upakans fear… Magic. However, when a fatal accident forces him to flee, Ayrion barters passage aboard the only ship willing to take one of his kind – A Cursed Ship.

Ayrion sets sail for the royal city of Aramoor in hopes of making a name for himself. Little does he know how deadly those streets can be.

16. Master Assassins (Fire Sacraments 1) by Robert V.S. Redick

Kandri Hinjuman was never meant to be a soldier. His brother Mektu was never meant for this world. Rivals since childhood, they are drafted into a horrific war led by a madwoman-Prophet.

When the brothers’ simmering feud explodes into violence, and holy blood is spilled, Kandri and Mektu are taken for contract killers and must flee for their lives—to the one place where they can hope to disappear: the sprawling desert known as the Land that Eats Men.

17. Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee

16-year-old Jun dreams of proving his worth as a warrior in the elite Guardian’s Tournament, held every 6 years to entrust the magical Scroll of Heaven to a new protector. Jun hopes that a win will restore his father’s pride—righting a mistake that caused their banishment from his home, mother, and twin brother.

But Jun’s father strictly forbids him from participating, for he is not breathmarked, born with a patch of dragon scales and special abilities, like his twin. So Jun stows away with Chang and his daughter, Ren, performers on their way to the capital.

18. Dragon Prince (The Last Free Dragon 1) by Jada Fisher

Kashir has lived his whole life in the shadow of his older brother who is now the king. When the young prince saves a dragon in distress, it appears he has finally done something to help his brother and his kingdom.

He soon learns that the power of a dragon is something not to be trifled with. Or controlled. Will the dragon help Kashir become the prince he has always hoped to be, or will it destroy everything he sought to protect?

Find More YA Fantasy with a Male Protagonist

If you’re looking to build your own TBR list, here’s the trick: these types of books are NOT marketed as YA. They’re usually tagged as “coming of age fantasy adventure,” and sometimes as “teen,” so use those search parameters instead. You can also search for “new adult” or “college” fantasy books, which feature characters aged 18-20s, a similarly quick-paced writing style, and a PG-13 rating (though generally with more sexual content than YA).

Right now, indie houses publish more books about boys going on adventures than big traditional presses do, since romantasy sells better. So you’ll have a better chance finding this sort of book on Kindle Unlimited than at your local bookstore.

Please comment below with your recommendations so I can keep expanding this list! Happy reading!

P.S. I’m working on similar lists for sci-fi, dystopian, progression fantasy, and more, so subscribe if you’d like to be notified when those go live!


Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about writing and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…

4 Mini Reviews of Enchanting Christian Fantasy Books (YA & Middle Grade)

Guest post by David Justiss

I’m a fantasy writer and hope to soon publish my first middle grade fantasy story! My brand of fantasy is not high fantasy, nor urban fantasy – I take more influence from fairy tales and mythology. Here are 4 mini reviews of enchanting fantasy tales (by Christian authors) which have inspired me.

  1. Book Review: An Echo of the Fae by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt
  2. Book Review: The Story Peddler by Lindsay A. Franklin
  3. Book Review: Heart of the Curiosity by H.L. Burke
  4. Book Review: Eternal, Everywhere, With You by Sherry Rossman

Book Review: An Echo of the Fae by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt

Rating: 5 stars!

I love the style and voice of this story. It reminds me of fairy tales or fantasy stories I read and loved as a kid. It feels like it was written a long time ago, which is perfect for a fairy tale. The other book I could compare it to is The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald, as both have the feeling of a fairy story.

One time, I did a survey meant for authors asking what was the most important parts of the story, with the multiple choices of (a) plot, (b) characters, or (c) other. I answered with (c) – that the most important part of a story is the tone and feelings it conveys to the reader. I’m bringing this up now because this story conveys so well the kind of adventurous wonder that a fairy tale is supposed to give a reader.

The only little criticism I think of is that Echo really seemed younger that thirteen years old, but that’s hardly a problem when the story is otherwise so good.

Book Review: The Story Peddler by Lindsay A. Franklin

Rating: 5 stars!

I loved it, and can’t wait to read book two!

Looking forward to finding out why Gareth was the way he was. I loved Braith. She was in such a precarious situation, and I was struck by her boldness in every scene she’s in. The other characters are pretty cool too.

I love the theme too. It’s kind of a similar theme as Fahrenheit 451, but I like this kind of story way better than futuristic dystopian stuff. The feel of the story is very different. I’ll go for a hopeful story over a depressing or disturbing one any day.

Book Review: Heart of the Curiosity by H.L. Burke

Rating: 5 stars!

I beta-read this and loved it, so I had to get the finished version.

There comes a point in a lot of good books, usually somewhere around half or 2/3 of the way through, where the book becomes very hard to put down. Unfortunately, this point came after 1am both times I read this book, so I was up late…

I like the theater. Pretty much any setting with a maze-like system of hallways and secret passages can make for a fun story setting. And of course, I love the snail circus (I recently read and watched Coraline which I suspect is where the inspiration for the snail circus came from. loved that story too.)

Yes, I cried (both times) going through those tough parts to read. Leo is easy to relate to with her feeling unlovable and wondering what she’s good for.

Book Review: Eternal, Everywhere, With You by Sherry Rossman

Rating: 5 stars!

Something good about independently published books is that you get stylistic elements which don’t pass with a major publisher. (It’s a bit of a shame that you very rarely find books with this kind of unique style from major publishers.) Sherry Rossman has a poetic writing style which has a habit of leaving out details which are (usually) easily filled in by the reader’s brain. Sometimes it takes a minute to figure out what’s going on. This isn’t always a bad thing, and in this story, I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all. You do have to trust the next page to tell you just enough to get the story and the feelings, but it works well here.

There’s some weird timey wimey stuff that reminded me both of N. D. Wilson’s Outlaws of Time trilogy, and of Madeline L’Engle’s stories. I loved it.

About David Justiss

Find more reviews of books by Realm Makers authors on David Justiss’ Goodreads page.

Or find old posts on his blog: https://lightingliramor.wordpress.com/


Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…

3 Mini Reviews of Christian Sci-Fi and Urban Fantasy Books

Guest Post by Ted Atchley

Hi, I’m Ted Atchely, a geek who loves Jesus, and a professional computer programmer. Whether it’s crafting code or weaving tales, I’m always writing. I’ve been influenced by science fiction and fantasy written by fellow Christian authors, and am excited to share 3 mini reviews of my favorites!

  1. Book Review: Mercury on Guard by Steve Rzasa
  2. Book Review: Rogue Pursuit by B.L. Dean
  3. Book Review: Steal Fire From the Gods by Clint Hall
  4. Ted Atchley’s Debut Sci-Fi Novel: The Key to Reality

Book Review: Mercury on Guard by Steve Rzasa

Rating: 5/5 stars!

If you enjoy urban fantasy stories with snarky heroes slaying otherworldly beasts, then I give you my strongest recommendation to check out Mercury On Guard. This story has a lighter feel than The Dresden Files with less death and destruction, but similar stark and a bunch of monster fighting.

I’m normally a slow reader, but the pages simply melted away. The description pulls you into the action and the setting. Sometimes it feels like Mercury’s narration even breaks the fourth wall.

The characters are each distinct and feel like real people. They have their issues, but you are rooting for them the whole way. The twists catch you off guard in all the best ways, always cranking up the stakes. The story has a satisfying ending, but also leaves room for further adventures.

If this were a movie, it would probably be PG-13. There’s no adult language that I remember. No adult “situations.” There is plenty of violence, but it was never gratuitous, gory or stomach turning. A minor character consumes alcohol.

I look forward to delving into the rest of the Mercury series and Mr. Rzasa’s other works.

Book Review: Rogue Pursuit by B.L. Dean

Rating: 5/5 stars!

If you like Space Opera, you should definitely check this one out. It has great characters, creative worldbuilding, and plenty of conflict and tension on every page.

I loved how the author used color theory in the dynamics of how the wormholes work in this world. Each planet we visit is unique, with a fresh spin on familiar themes. It feels new, yet familiar.

Tai and Perrin are both well written with varying and conflicting goals and objectives. Their dynamic plus a great balance of micro and macro stakes makes for a rich and enjoyable story. I’m looking forward to seeing more of them in future books by Dean. Even the side characters are memorable and I would love to see them starring in their own spinoffs in the future.

This was a fast read, and one of my favorite reads of the year so far. I’ve already purchased the next book in the series.

Book Review: Steal Fire From the Gods by Clint Hall

Rating: 4/5 Stars

I enjoyed the story and it kept me engaged to the end. It was a fun and creative adventure. The characters are fully dimensional and relatable. This is a great science fantasy book–a blending of science fiction and fantasy that goes together like chocolate and peanut butter.

This book kept me on my toes. The story never went in the direction I thought it was going to go. The “curse your sudden, yet inevitable betrayal” moment, I never saw coming.

The book did leave me with some questions, both about the magic system, but also about the main character. There seems to be a conflict introduced in the opening chapter that I felt could have had a clearer resolution. But these questions never detracted from the enjoyment of the story.

I’m a little bummed this was a standalone. While I look forward to future works from Mr. Hall, I do hope at some point, he will decide to revisit this world and these characters.

Ted Atchley’s Debut Sci-Fi Novel: The Key to Reality

If these books sound interesting, I invite you to try my debut sci-fi novel, The Key to Reality. It tells the story of a “white hat” hacker who attempts to strike a work / life balance and fails so cataclysmically it breaks the fabric of space-time.

Or get the short story prequel, “Finding the Key,” for free when you subscribe to my newsletter. Fourteen-year-old Brandon has bounced from foster home to foster home since losing his mother. All he wants to do is reclaim a part of his old life and return to the apartment he shared with her. But the old neighborhood has changed much since Brandon last lived there, and a nasty gang runs the streets. His search won’t just be for a place to call home, but for his very survival.

About Ted Atchley

Ted lives in beautiful Charleston, SC with his wife, children, and two cats.

When he’s not writing or reading, he enjoys schooling his kids at Smash Bros, and Mario Kart, as every geeky dad should.

Check out his work at https://tedatchley.com/.


Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…

3 Mini Reviews of Fantasy Books with OP Magic Users – Available on Kindle Unlimited

Every reader has their “happy place,” returning to the same kind of story with similar tropes for the pure fun of it. I love books with over-powered magic users, spies and assassins, evil immortal kings, and groups/schools of mages with a system of leveling-up their powers. So here are mini* reviews of 3 quick-read fantasy books I enjoyed on Kindle Unlimited!

*I tend to write long, highly organized reviews, so these are casual/mini for me, but not suuuper short.

  1. Book Review: Powers of the Six by Kristal Shaff
  2. Book Review: The House of Fire by B.K. Cook
  3. Book Review: Rise of the Shadow Mage by Haddock James

Book Review: Powers of the Six by Kristal Shaff

Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

Nolan has hidden his gift of Accuracy to avoid the King’s compulsory draft of magic users. But when his lord captures the leader of a group of runaway mages, his comfortable life as a scribe is uprooted. He, the rebel General, and several new recruits escape, starting a journey to uncover the secrets behind the King’s centuries-long rule and the magical undead who plague their land.

Book Review

This was a pleasantly surprising find! I was looking for pure entertainment and I love books about societies of magic users, especially when there’s an element of oppression involved. The main character, Nolan, is a young man, but refreshingly different from many hot-headed heroes. He starts out as a scribe, hiding his magical ability to avoid being drafted. He’s clever, cool-headed, compassionate, and untrained in martial prowess. I deeply related to his greatest desire – to heal the rift in his relationship with his brother and save him from the life he was forced to live.  

We get POV from a couple other characters too, including a more shounen-esque hot-headed male hero who Nolan pulls out of trouble. He annoyed me at first but grew on me as their friendship developed. I also loved the leader of the rebels they join, who’s an empath and former General to the King. It’s rare to see a military leader that’s depicted with more internal than external strength. 

Nolan gathers quite a bit of magical power as the story progresses. It was fun to watch him level up, though it happened a bit fast. I would have enjoyed seeing him test and develop his abilities more, maybe attempting some practice missions before we get to the big showdown.  

Content warning: The villain is known for sexually assaulting both male and female characters. The rapes happen off-screen but are an important part of the character arcs for two characters. I actually found this element one of the most compelling elements of the book and thought the discussion of how different people react to trauma was well-handled. 

The ending was wrapped up a bit too neatly for me. I thought the conflict might last over at least a couple books. This was a quickly paced book, taking place over only a few weeks’ time. If more of the conflicts had been left open, I would have wanted to continue the series. As it was, I didn’t feel a need to pick up the next one, though I really enjoyed it. 

Don’t judge it by its cover! 

Book Review: The House of Fire by B.K. Cook

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Synopsis

Born to a life of drudgery and forced labor, Ward becomes the first commoner to every test positive for magic at his coming of age ceremony. Claimed by the elite military mages, he begins training for a life of protecting his country against the magical beasts who haunt their borders. But as he uncovers lies about the past, the true enemy becomes unclear.

Book Review

This book has one of the best training sequences I’ve read in a while! What a great origin story. Our hero Ward starts out as a peasant, essentially a slave, and to everyone’s shock, becomes the first commoner to ever manifest magic. Two types, at that. He and the other initiates set out at a run towards their secret training grounds (reminiscent of the Hunter x Hunter trials!) and spend months learning strategy, spy craft, hunting and tracking, swordplay, and more. High stakes “you fail one task and you’re out for good” vibe.  

There’s some satisfying character development here, with Ward having to overcome his hatred of the aristocracy that’s mistreated him his whole life, and the aristocrats around him slowly coming to accept and look up to him. 

There’s a mystery lurking in the background regarding the founding of their country, the motives of their immortal King and founder, and the source of the magically deformed beasts they are sworn to protect their country from. I enjoyed learning more as the story progressed, including information about Ward’s parents and the source of all magic.  

I didn’t feel much of an urge to continue the story, as it verged more into “the prophesized one who’ll save the world” territory, and I had been enjoying his story for the small-scale missions and close character dynamics. I might go back to it if the mood strikes, as there’s definitely more of a mystery to unravel around several characters! 

Book Review: Rise of the Shadow Mage by Haddock James

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Synopsis

Orphaned and poor, Robert’s luck changes when he saves the second prince’s life. Chosen as the prince’s personal vassal, Robert is educated and then sent to train with a group of brutal assassins, developing his magic in secret. But after foiling the eldest prince’s murderous plans, and placing the second prince on the throne, Robert runs off to start life as a businessman. Despite his newfound success and freedom, he can’t turn his back when a new threat nearly crushes their kingdom.

Book Review

This was a fun book to read in a night, but the main character was OP to the point of being flat. He had no weaknesses, made no mistakes, had no difficulty overcoming any of his problems, and picked up skills with little to no effort. His magic was extremely powerful but had no side effects or limitations. He could use magic seemingly endlessly, and he only got a headache and had to rest from exhaustion once. That would have been a good limitation to add, but it wasn’t consistent, even when he started using his magic more heavily. 

He picks up skills in such quick succession that we don’t get to enjoy them before he moves on to the next one. There is also an overuse of exposition as the author summarizes each stage of development. He doesn’t have to work at developing his magic. It all seems to come naturally, and suddenly he can kill hundreds of people back-to-back with magic without breaking a sweat. 

He doesn’t have any character flaws, which makes for kind of boring dynamics. He’s smart, physically and magically talented, kind, generous, and good at business. Money falls into his hands, a gorgeous, talented girl falls into his lap, and everyone seems to like him. That’s all awesome, but it’d be more realistic and interesting if he had any flaws that he had to overcome. As it is, there was no character development here. 

His magic is cool, but the fights are a letdown because no one stands a chance against him. If at least one of the enemy mages put up a good fight, and gave us a dramatic showdown, the ending would have felt more earned. Also, he spent years studying under the best spies on the continent, then immediately discovers magical items that allow him to disguise himself perfectly, so never needs his skills. What’s the point then? 

Still, I loved the leveling up feel, the details of how he grows his business, and the humor of how he deals with his enemies, coming across as almost a trickster mage at points. I also enjoyed his kindness – his past doesn’t turn him into a brooding grimdark character. A brain candy read for those who love progression fantasy Webtoons!


Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…

Book Review: Traitor Son by Melissa J. Cave

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Traitor Son is a slow burn military fantasy romance with a satisfying civilization-building thread and a touching, relationship-focused ending. However, it ends rather abruptly without resolving any of the plot problems. The second book is scheduled to release only 6 months after the first, so I’m guessing it was split for the sake of length, and is really one story.

Synopsis

The Emperor slaughtered Remin’s family as traitors, and he wants Remin dead too, assigning him the impossible task of retaking the Andelin Valley from sorcerous invaders. But after 7 years of warfare, Remin triumphs and returns to claim his prize: the Emperor’s daughter as his wife. But the treacherous Emperor hands him a scrawny, neglected, illegitimate girl instead of the Princess Remin expected.

Ophele, who has spent her life hiding in the library from the abusive nobles who call her ward, is terrified by the new husband forced upon her. But an unexpected spark grows between them as they travel to the Andelin and begin to build the capital of Remin’s new duchy. As demonic creatures, summoned by Remin’s defeated enemies, plague the town, Remin and Ophele must decide whether or not to trust each other and face their problems with a united front.

Characters – 4/5 Stars

This is a character-driven story, based around Ophele and Remin and how they must overcome the abuse and traumas they’ve experienced in order to build a new city and life together. Basically her father, the Emperor, has ruined both their lives. Ophele is shy, sweet, and a total bookworm. It’s fun seeing her gain confidence over the course of the story and apply her book smarts to the efforts of building their new city. She’s the opposite of a morning person, which leads to many jokes I personally appreciated immensely.

Remin was a bit less interesting to me – he’s a brooding giant of a man, surly but loved by his men, distrustful and paranoid about the Emperor’s plots on his life (with good reason). He fits squarely into the “strong, silent type” who gets softened up by the girl. I felt more attached to all of his knights, who are very well developed side characters.

Plot – 3/5 Stars

This plot feels almost identical to Under the Oak Tree, and I don’t know how much of a coincidence that is. After the couple gets married and travels to Remin’s new duchy, most of the book focuses on the minutiae of how they’re planning the town (which I love – leveling up vibe!) and defending it from demons summoned by the former occupants Remin recently defeated. Otherwise, the plot centers on their relationship, or lack thereof. There’s a lot of back and forth about Remin liking Ophele but thinking she’s going to kill him on behalf of the Emperor, and acting like a total brute toward her. Then Ophele sits around feeling terrible about herself, and the misunderstanding drags on despite them both actually liking each other.

This felt rather repetitive and miserable in the second half of the book. However, Remin’s behavior is clearly shown as problematic and the conclusion centers around how they resolve the conflict in their relationship. It was a satisfying ending, except that nothing came of the Emperor’s plots. It felt rather like Chekhov’s gun – a setup that didn’t deliver. But I’m deferring judgement because I really think that this was one story split into 2 books – I’ll definitely read the second!

Worldbuilding – 3/5 Stars

Fun, but nothing super special. They have a Renaissance-level society. I think the best part of the worldbuilding was all the accurate details about the process of planning a civilization from the ground up – infrastructure, labor, moving supplies, planning for sponsoring of the arts. All of this was clearly well researched and I loved seeing the characters achieve each new step in their goals! There’s definitely more to learn about the magic system of both the Emperor’s bloodline and the sorcerers who’ve been summoning the demons. But that was all setup, leaving mostly questions.

Writing – 4/5 Stars

Pretty good – nothing gorgeous, but clear to read and not bloated. I feel like it got better as the book went on! The first few chapters had a lot of passive voice, but I stopped noticing that as I read. I might not have guessed this was a debut – it’s well organized and enjoyable to read.

Content

There are 3 sexually explicit scenes in this book between the married couple. I almost wondered if someone else wrote these scenes because of how flowery the erotic parts are – I couldn’t help but laugh. But there’s good emotional content there too.

The rest of the book reads PG-13.

I received a free advance review copy from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

You can buy a copy of Traitor Son by Melissa J. Cave on Amazon when it releases on November 1st!

The Problem with Multiple Point of View Characters – Part 1: Harder to Hook Readers

By Caylah Coffeen

You have to do much more work to get a reader invested

With every major point of view character, authors must check off all the same boxes: establish the status quo, show the individual’s wants and needs, give readers a reason to root for them, and spark off their story with an inciting incident.

With only one POV character, authors can achieve many of these benchmarks within the first few chapters. This period of time is vital to securing reader interest. If you can’t catch them within this time, most readers will not continue.

But with each new POV, authors wipe all their own efforts away by resetting the reader’s emotional slate clean and starting all over again. I may be interested at the end of an opening chapter, but suddenly I’m faced with another stranger that vies for my investment.

Then a third. God forbid 4 or more. It could take an hour to get back to the first character, at which point all the emotional tension has faded and I have to restart in my efforts to connect with them.

Publishers may think multiple POVs offer more likelihood to get readers invested. After all, odds are a reader will like at least one of them. But I think of it the other way around.

Imagine talking to a talented salesperson. They really rope you in, know their stuff, and get you excited. You’re almost convinced about the purchase. But then they add on another product, again nearly persuading you. But then they start talking about a third one! And you have to make a decision on all three purchases at once? That’s overwhelming.

you have to “sell” Readers on all your characters at once

Consider also how your friends and family respond when you talk about your story. Do you know the glazed look they get in their eyes or the uncertain tone in their voice when you start packing on too much information?

You’ve probably learned to share about just one element or character at a time. But a new reader is like these friends – hesitant to try your story and only willing to invest so much time into making up their mind.

The more POV characters you employ, the higher the chance a reader will get worn out before you even reach your inciting incident. After all, you’re yanking their emotions around between many different people and locations, and it will take much longer to reach the “exciting” events which really kick off the story.

Alternatively, one character may have a riveting introduction, while another has a lackluster one. A reader may decide that it’d be too frustrating to go back and forth between one character they love, and one they find uninteresting, and put the book down. I’ve done this before.

Writing Tips for Multiple POV’s

Considering how many published books feature multiple POVs in the market these days, you may not think this will pose much of a problem. After all, clearly many readers are willing to give these books a try, and some even seek them out specifically. Preferences vary, but it is still important to keep in mind that the opening of your book is the most vital time in which to hook a reader.

Read, read, read! Have you read Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, and Ken Liu? They are some of the most popular writers who employ multiple POVs. Was it hard for you to get into these books? When did you lose interest, and what hooked you again? These are the types of elements to emulate or avoid in your own work.

Some authors choose to write multiple chapters back to back from one POV before switching to another. This gives readers more time to become attached to them. Others write shorter chapters but switch POV more often.

Also, remember to rely on your beta readers. It’s hard, but necessary to ask, “are you interested in all of these characters, or did you lose interest in my book because of the large cast?” Sometimes the right decision is to cut a point of view character or introduce them later in the story once readers are more solidly sold on your story.

How many POVs do you utilize in your book? How did you choose to introduce them?


Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…

Book Review: Virtuous Sons by Y.B. Striker

By Caylah Coffeen

Rating: 5/5 stars!

Virtuous Sons is a delightfully original Greco-Roman buddy story that thrills with its snarky dialogue, unusual action scenes, and deeply loyal characters.

Snapshot:

Griffin and Sol, young Greek and Roman patricians respectively, defy their elders and fates, running off to the city of Olympia to attain greater power and make their mark on the larger world. Faced with political upheaval at the center of the Greek world, demons on the Western front, and their own losses and regrets, Griffin and Sol fight alongside each other with wit and audacity on their virtuous path to fame and glory.

Characters: 5/5

This story is all about two reckless, ambitious, smack-talking young men called Griffin and Sol. They’re the best warriors of their generation and they know it. As a result, they’re unbelievably audacious, delighted in the equal competition each presents to the other, and at times completely and excellently ridiculous. I laughed so much while reading this story. They’re like oil and water and rib each other constantly. Griffin is cavalier, spoiled, restless, and desperately thirsty for a fight worthy of him. Sol is depressed, rigidly disciplined, aloof, and quietly confident in his own superiority.

They’re arrogant and violent, yes, but not unintelligent or too foolish (though I know a certain philosopher who’d loudly disagree). They’re sharp, strategic, passionately loyal, with a talent for drawing others to them. It’s really quite a delightful dance watching these two. And it’s not just fun and games either – they aren’t afraid to touch on deeper topics such as grief, fear, trust in the face of lies, and more. Their journey is rich.

Cool side characters too, but the dynamic duo steals the show. Except, we have our eyes on you Damon Aetos, for all the good it’ll do.

Story: 5/5

This plot isn’t what I expected from the blurb, and it’s all the better for it. The description made it sound like a quest story, with two young men wandering around killing monsters and climbing a mountain – a plot you may very well expect from a Greek myth about a demigod or other talented hero. I don’t like quest stories much, and based on the blurb alone, I wouldn’t have picked up this book myself (it was a birthday present). To my delight, this was a character piece which evolved into political (& action) fantasy.

The entirety of the story takes place in 2 Greek city states and the characters run around kicking hornets nests for the heck of it while seeking to prove their prowess to themselves and each other. As they stretch themselves in such a furnace, we learn more and more about their families, pasts, traumas, and dreams – and of course enjoy as they bond (beat each other up and talk trash). The discussions and situation are more “mature” than I initially expected. Navigating a political hellscape takes a lot more brains and nuance than traveling from point A to point B killing monsters. I hope other readers aren’t misled by the blurb, but are willing to give this quite unique story a try.

That said, the plot did rather jump all over the place. These characters don’t really have a plan, so most of what they did felt incredibly random. It seemed like the author was making up a lot of it as he went along (this was published first as a web novel). At times it felt like I was suddenly reading a different book from the one I’d picked up. Sometimes, this is enjoyable as it leaves readers feeling continuously surprised, and I think it works because of who these characters are. But reader expectations are important, and if not for loving these characters so much, it might have been a bit too much of both whiplash and meandering. But not all books need a tightly woven series of events to be great – and you bet there is a master plan deep in the background…

Worldbuilding: 5/5

The author has clearly steeped himself in classical literature. It goes beyond his use of Greek and Roman words or his accurate inclusion of popular philosophies and trends of the time – he gets it. After a certain threshold of absorbing a culture’s art, myths, history, and literature, a person begins to intuitively understand what makes that culture tick. Their fears, desires, aspirations, jokes, and more. It’s a delight to encounter a book so immersed in the classical mindset.

But Striker doesn’t stop there. He presents an alternate version of Mediterranean history – the gods are dead and their names have slipped from the minds of men. And what did you just say about Rome? He also weaves in an alternate magic system based upon the Chinese concept of chi cultivation. He incorporates the popular tropes of progression fantasy perfectly into the realm of Greco-Roman heroes. Because demigods and Roman legionnaires would absolutely love the concept of leveling up! And so do we.

Writing: 4/5

The place this book shines most is in the dialogue. Witty exchanges, perversely convoluted (aka Greek) discussions, and lots of hilarious B.S.-ing and grandstanding by our two endearingly reckless protagonists. However, almost every single chapter begins with an exposition dump, which grows rather tiresome. The prose is written well enough, though it can feel a bit dense at times. And it slows down the pacing when, despite the exciting shenanigans of the previous chapter, the next one almost always steps back with an omniscient voice to explain some element of history or culture. But the action scenes and emotional moments are presented and punctuated exceptionally well.

This story alternates between Griffin and Sol’s perspectives, but they’re both written in first person, which led me to experience quite some confusion when switching chapters. Their voices are incredibly distinct – everything from their manner of speech to attitude and energy – but it’s still mentally difficult to change who “I” is when reading, even when each chapter title names the POV. It didn’t help that I tore through this book in 2 days, so perhaps I just didn’t give myself enough time to mentally shift from one character to the other.

Impact: 5/5

It’s been a long time since I had so much fun reading a story! I went and devoured the next two books in the series immediately after finishing this one. I am ALWAYS on the hunt for stories about rivals and blood brothers, but it’s a strangely difficult itch to satisfy. My sister searched for ages to find a book for me for my birthday, and she is rightfully smug to have gotten it so right! These two, Striker absolutely nailed on the head. I light up talking about them. Now I’ve gotten my mother to read it out loud to my father and youngest siblings back home, and I Facetime in to listen to them all chuckle. I’m in withdrawal waiting for the fourth book! I miss Griffin and Sol!

In the end, there could only be one word to describe that unique quality. That special characteristic that allowed a man chained and robbed of all control of his life to lunge fearlessly at a far stronger opponent.
To disdain me with his eyes and strike my face with his clenched fists.
“The audacity!” I exclaimed in purest joy, and I struck him right back.

Y.B. Striker, Virtuous Sons

Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…

Now Featuring Book REVIEWS!

We’re excited to announce that our blog will now feature book reviews! We love supporting authors, and aside from buying their books, that’s the best way to do so!

There are infinite books in the world, a deliciously guilt-inducing amount piled up on our TBR lists, and more than we could possibly ever read in our lives… sigh, bookworm problems.

Unfortunately, this means we have to be selective about what we can review. So we will review our own curated list of books (that backlog though…) and accept requests for the following:

Science fiction, fantasy, and mythic and fairy (re)tellings…

  • With themes of faith or by Christian authors
  • By authors (particularly indie) located in the Southeastern US
  • With beautifully artful prose (e.x. Roger Zelazny, Madeline Miller)
  • Inspired by nonwestern places, people, and mythos
  • Anything that matches our manuscript wishlist!

These genres are open to interpretation. We’re all about genre-blending! However, we do not review apocalyptic or horror SFF or erotica.

You may request a review for your own book, on behalf of an author you like, or submit a review you’ve written yourself if it matches the above themes.

Head over to our book review page for more detailed guidelines and to submit a request.

Looking forward to reading your delightful stories!


Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.

I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!

Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…