Winner of the 2016 Independent Author book of the year award for ‘Outstanding Fantasy’, semi-finalist in the Kindle Book Awards and given five stars by Readers’ favorite Darrienia has been referred to as “epic fantasy at its best”It is said that the past always returns to haunt you. Yet some forgotten pasts have whispered names and a debt for collection. Dangerous curiosities stir a hidden … a hidden darkness, one that patiently waits to seize control.
The subtle periphery between dream and reality is in peril and those chosen must face the evil behind this looming disaster. But lurking in the shadows, guiding their hand, lies the true threat and a hidden agenda.
Will they discover the truth in time? Or will those who should be heroes, become nothing more than the pawns of evil?
10% author royalties will be donated to the DMWS
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Darrienia by K J Simmill
Simmill has a vivid imagination and writes in a way that draws the reader in to a complex, dark and enjoyable story.
Zoella is a young woman with no memory of her past. Events force her and some friends to go on a journey with a warrior called Elly, who is well aware of Zoella´s past and who she really is, but cannot disclose it.
The author´s imagination and writing skill really brought the story alive as the group travel between their own world and the dream world called Darrienia.
I found the character of Elly fascinating. She has to think on her feet and seems to grow in maturity as she overcomes the challenges which Darrienia throws at the travellers.
Not wanting to give away any spoilers, I can only say that this is an intriguing story which shouldn´t be missed.
Darrienia by K J Simmill is a tour de force in the epic fantasy genre, the result of great world building and storytelling. I enjoyed the medieval flavour, the sorcery and magic. Simmill makes full use of the fantasy tropes and laces the narrative with a satisfying mix of Greek mythology and herbal lore.
Gripping, slow-paced and utterly absorbing, Darrienia is a novel to get lost in. The author adopts a carefully measured approach to character development. There is much depth to the narrative too, the result of gentle probing into motives, evident in the reflective passages.
Filled with adventure and satisfying plot twists that will keep you hooked till the end, Darrienia is a gem in the fantasy genre, suitable for teens and adults.
Darrienia is lengthy and complex, especially the backstory, so much that early on I felt like I was reading a sequel, but as this is book one, clearly that wasn’t the case. The key characters are also complex, each with an alter-ego, and this complexity of characters is the highlight of Darrienia. In particular I liked the key antagonist. Here, less was more.
Darrienia is a story that unfolds slowly, with enough surprises to keep a reader’s interest. Fantasy is not my normal genre but I have read more fantasy over recent times. This is the first time I tried an epic fantasy, if there is such a thing officially, and I’m glad I did.
You may think you know about the world of Greek mythology, but this book will make you think again. It’s not so much about the gods and goddesses themselves, but some of them have their role in the story. Enter the world of dreams, where the Oneiroi keep watch of dreamers. It’s here, Zoella and her friends must traverse on their quest, a place where dreams are reality and people can die. But are her friends real or foes? The plot is complex, the characters well developed, and the world building phenomenal. You’ll get caught up in their dangerous adventures as you follow along with them. Will they all make it out alive? Read on to find out.
Great read with unique characters. I appreciated that the characters were three-dimensional which is a rare treat now days. Always struggled to put it down when I needed to go to sleep. A+ all around.
Darrienia is actually the second book by this amazing author that I’ve delved into and have enjoyed thoroughly. This epic first chapter in the Forgotten Legacies series is lengthy enough to be challenging, but engrossing. It’s time-consuming, yet captivating with characters, creatures and plot twists that kept me rapidly turning pages. The classic good vs. evil story has an intriguing twist in that the heroine inhabits both sides of the coin. Simmill has created a legendary realm that sweeps readers into another time and place, yet it is familiar enough to also generate a strong connection with the characters.
My only concern is that it is quite lengthy for a YA target market, but it delivers with both barrels if you’re committed enough to keep reading!
Richly told, well woven tale in a nicely laid out world
It has been some time since I’ve read a fantasy novel that immersed me in the world as effectively as this. The author has brought a sense of world building to this effort that was a pleasure to experience. The characters are well fleshed out as they traverse their journies through this well thought out an executed novel. Use of flashbacks and visions reach back into characters’ backgrounds for snippets of information that add a richness to their experiences.
KJ has written an effective and engrossing piece of fantasy. Well executed. It was well worth losing myself in and I’d highly recommend the adventure to fantasy fans.