Daniel Welsh was born different—and to Daniel, to be different means to be alone. But what if he’s wrong?
Born an albino with a photographic memory, Daniel Welsh never expected to fit in. Yet, when he is approached by Trinity—a young girl who definitely isn’t human—she reveals a whole new world
where he might just belong. Ariest is a place where his features aren’t a disability or the mark of a freak, but rather a trait of powerful mages born of human-faerie unions. His father is a renowned war hero and swordsman, his mother is a human doctor, and that makes him a powerful mage that’ll tip the scales. Magic is real—and so is the threat it brings.
Trinity and her father, a battle mage, aren’t the only ones to have discovered Daniel and his gifts hidden in the human realm.
The Shade have awakened.
Enemies to the fae realm long thought dead have been lying in wait for their moment to strike.
Young mages like Daniel are the perfect morsel for their starving appetites and they start their killing spree without delay with the nearest unsuspecting mage boy. Daniel cannot sit idly by while
monsters take innocent lives, so he will embrace a destiny he is only just beginning to understand... even if it means losing a life that’s finally worth living.
I'm delighted to be taking part in the publication day push for Birth of the Mortokai (The First Chronicle of Daniel Welsh) by D.G. Palmer today. Many thanks to the author and to Rachel Gilbey of Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me and for my advance digital copy of the novel.
Daniel has always stood out as different; his albinism has meant he has long been a target for bullies but when he makes friends with fellow student, Trinity Evergreen, his life changes beyond anything he could ever have imagined. Birth of the Mortokai is the first book in the Daniel Welsh Chronicles but although there is a some world-building here, the plot is still fairly fast-moving for the most part and Daniel very quickly learns - and accepts - that magic is real.
This YA fantasy tells the familiar story of a chosen one finding out they have hitherto undiscovered powers but the strong, likeable characters and vivid descriptions ensure it is a really engaging tale throughout.
Trinity and Daniel seem to be the perfect match for one another and there are hints that their relationship may develop into something more. However, the clever introduction of Finn adds some intriguing spice to the mix as she is also interested in him. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how this plays out in future books in the series and am thrilled that both young women are strong and principled meaning it really isn’t obvious what will happen in the future. The addition of the attention-seekingTristan to the foursome works too; his skills, personality and courage justify his flashy confidence.
The realm of Ariest is brilliantly described and I particularly enjoyed the mix of known fantasy elements such as kelpies and selkies with new faces such as the incredibly loud Bellowers and the underwater dwelling Undine.
Any good fantasy novel needs an antagonist and here the danger comes in the form of the sinister Shade. These chilling entities are are sort of cross between vampires and Dementors and drain the essence from their unfortunate victims. There is more to them than this, however, and for me, the strongest part of the story comes when Daniel finds himself in what would seem to be a hopeless situation after a terrifying encounter with the Shade.
I was really impressed with Birth of the Mortokai; it might tread a well-worn path but it does so with considerable charm and I will definitely be reading any further books in the series. I’m especially fascinated by the inclusion of a corridor featuring doors into more realms - what fantasy fan could resist that?!
Birth of the Mortokai can be purchased from the following;
Kobo
Amazon UK
Amazon US
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About the Author
Currently residing in London, England, D.G. Palmer writes in the Spec Fiction genre, using his imagination to create vivid worlds and captivating characters. An avid reader and player of video games, in the past, he was part of table top roleplaying groups
where he nurtured his storytelling by penning several story arcs.
Feel free to follow him on Facebook, Goodreads and Instagram. If you wish to receive updates about his latest books, event dates and other exclusive news, sign up to The World of D.G. Palmer and enter his mind. He warns it can be a mess sometimes, so make sure you wipe your feet on the way out – you never know what you might take with you.
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