A brilliant book… Finely crafted, vivid, and memorable.
Cole delivers an exciting fantasy, with plenty of sharp turns, vicious battles, exhilarating chases, and daring escapades in his debut. ReckNor, the irrational and somewhat insane god of the seas and skies, hasn’t called a paladin for ages. So, when he choses Krell to become a paladin, people are concerned, especially who have both power and wealth. Krell, after all, is an uneducated nobody with a stubborn streak. Thrust into a life of magic and monsters, Krell finds his path crossing with an unlikely group of heroes, including a wizard, an orc, a dwarf, and a priest. Together, they set out on several quests, with a simple goal in mind: achieving both wealth and glory while slaying monsters on their way. Cole weaves together an inventive tale of magical intrigue, held together by his young protagonist’s keen introspections as he uses his deep-seated faith and inner strength to weasel his way out of danger time and again. It’s easy to become fully immersed in the story: Cole’s meticulous attention to detail yields an extraordinarily rich picture of his fantasy world’s politics, history, and magic culture, where paladins are nothing but trouble, known notoriously for upsetting the balance of power, to the detriment of any who don’t worship their deity. The narration is remarkably smooth, immersing readers in the characters’ inner world, although the storytelling is sometimes complicated by Cole’s fascination with heavy philosophy. The charm lies in Cole’s deft characterizations, especially the way he portrays Krell’s innate faith in ReckNor’s guidance. Shaped by the extraordinary high-stake problems he confronts on his way, Krell makes for a credibly realized hero. He is audacious and endearing, and the secondary cast is equally compelling. Cole packs plenty of emotion into this winding plot as Krell struggles to do the right thing. The third-person omniscient narrative voice focuses mainly on Krell while devoting time to many other stock characters, including the antagonists. There’s plenty of magic and action, plus authentically rendered fantasy settings. The plot and the pacing are more in keeping with traditional fantasy tales, and the novel’s framework is built around life and destiny, with Krell and the group’s quest taking the center stage. Cole smoothly shifts between several complex plotlines, building the action to a satisfying conclusion. While fully satisfying, the ending leaves ample scope for further embellishment. Fantasy readers will delight in this winding adventure and look forward to more of Cole’s work.
Beginning of Arrogance
Bryan Cole
Tellwell Talent
Pub date June 30, 2022
ISBN 978-0228868675
Price $24.99 (USD) Hardcover, $13.99 Paperback, $4.99 Kindle edition
