Book Review: Broken Promises by Stavros Saristavros

Title: Broken Promises (A Fateful Force Adventure)

Author: Stavros Saristavros
Genre: Fantasy - Adventure - Dungeons & Dragons
Publisher: Stavros Saristavros - Copyright 2023
Publication Date: May 16, 2023
Read: April 12-15, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a digital advance reader copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Publisher: Street gangs, corrupt merchants, and a powerful thieves guild. What could go wrong? 

Fighting orcs and hobgoblins on the frontier has seasoned Akke, but her return to the city of her birth could prove just as challenging. 

In a race against time to rescue an old friend, Akke and Ailuros land in the middle of a brewing gang war, where a person’s safety must be bargained for with more than just gold. 

But Akke must be careful what she promises and to whom, for dangers lurk everywhere. Some of them harder to see than others.

Review: Broken Promises takes place in the aftermath of the events detailed in The Tome of Syyx and follows Akke--a half-elf--and her friend Ailuros--a panthor--as they return to Akke's hometown to fulfill a promise she made long ago. Once again, Saristavros has created a rich, vibrant setting and intriguing characters that make you want to join their adventures and even settle in at the tavern to share a pint.

While Akke doesn't think for a moment that making good on her promise will be easy, she and Ailuros soon learn that things aren't the same as they were when Akke left town...and yet very little has truly changed. Street gangs still rule the night and certain parts of town within the confines of an uneasy truce. However, when that truce is shattered, Akke and Ailuros find themselves in the middle of a brewing turf war, and more than a few old enemies are looking to exact a pound of flesh from the half-elf. Time isn't on the friends' side as they race to find the one Akke had promised to protect so long ago, keep themselves and new friends alive, and maybe stop a gang war that will tear the city apart.

Crisp writing, strong character development, and a vivid world are the trademarks I've come to expect from Saristavros, and Broken Promises is no exception. Anyone who loves fantasy adventure filled with magic, swashbuckling, and a good dose of humor will love The Fateful Force book series and side adventures. 

Book Review: The Tome of Syyx by Stavros Saristavros

Title: The Tome of Syyx (The Fateful Force Series, Book 1)

Author: Stavros Saristavros
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Self-published - Copyright 2022
Publication Date: April 1, 2022
Read: Sept. 13-Oct. 19, 2022
Disclaimer: Author requested a review and sent a free paperback copy. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Publisher: Ancient evils stir. Deals must be brokered. But who can be trusted?  

On the fringes of civilization, the town of Sanctuary embarks on a mission to legitimize its existence and that of its monstrous inhabitants. 

Under the Leadership of its Mysterious Lord, four young adventurers set out from the town on a dangerous mission into the Wild Moor. 

But they discover that armies of orcs and hobgoblins are far from the only threats to the Free Cities of the frontier. Ancient evils stir, dragons are rumored to once again fly, and an imprisoned god returns to plague the world. 

Unlikely alliances must be forged and rivalries put aside. But not all Friends are what they seem…

Review: Fantasy is my first love among all genres. From childhood, I've loved stories of valiant heroes, epic evilness, and fantastical lands populated by denizens who may or may not be human. Throw in a dragon (or two) and an ancient death god, and you've got The Tome of Syyx by debut author Stavros Saristavros. You've also go the beginnings of one helluva a great
series.

(One item I'd like to mention before continuing with my review, Saristavros gives thanks in his Acknowledgements to a few people, including his wife, for providing time and inspiration for the book through Dungeons and Dragons campaigns. I'm a huge D&D fan and have been playing since I was ten. I can definitely see the D&D-inpsired elements in The Tome of Syyx, and I love them! Yes, I totally geeked out over the D&D elements. And, yes, the fact that the book arrived signed and with an inscription only made me geek out even harder. What can I say? I'm a dork. Now, on with the review...)

The Tome of Syyx opens with an epic battle, and Saristavros's writing paints a clear picture of the events to the point I could smell the smoke from the fires, hears the battle cries of the combatants, and taste the acridness of....well, I probably shouldn't mention that because potential spoilers. Let's just say, I was completely in the moment while reading the prologue.

The writing continued to paint vivd pictures throughout the book. Never did I feel as though I was a reader scanning words on a page. I felt as though I was in the scene with the characters, taking part in battles, sharing drinks in taverns, celebrating victories, and commiserating losses. Multiple points of view give depth to the story and keeps the reader on their mental toes wondering who can be trusted, how will the story end, and most importantly, when will book two be released because by the end of The Tome of Syyx you'll be so invested in the characters and world you'll want to keep reading and reading and reading and... You get the idea.

The Tome of Syyx is an emotional rollercoaster interspersed with high-stakes battles, intrigue, and a cast of lovable characters. I can't wait to see what the next installment will bring.