Shattering the Ley (#1)
Erenthrall—sprawling city of light and magic, whose streets are packed with traders from a dozen lands and whose buildings and towers are grown and shaped in the space of a day. At the heart of the city is the Nexus, the hub of the ley line system that powers Erenthrall and links the city and the Baronial plains to the rest of the continent and the world beyond. The Prime Wielders control the Nexus with secrecy and lies, but it is the Baron who controls the Wielders and the rest of the Baronies through a web of brutal intimidation enforced by his bloodthirsty guardsmen and unnatural assassins.
When the rebel Kormanley seek to destroy the ley system and the Baron’s chokehold on the continent, two people find themselves caught in the chaos that sweeps through Erenthrall and threatens the entire world: Kara Tremain, a young Wielder coming into her power, who discovers the forbidden truth behind the magic that powers the ley lines, and Alan Garrett, a recruit in the Baron’s guard, who learns that the city holds more mysteries and more danger than he could possibly have imagined…and who holds a secret within himself that could mean Erenthrall’s destruction…or its salvation.
Reviews
“Palmatier exploits an active imagination to good effect, with characters who develop along with the story […] plenty of tension and excitement. Fantasy regulars looking for a fresh series with real bite should find it worth a try.”
“Palmatier lets the story build slowly, introducing a sprawling cast and fascinating setting, before explosively upsetting the status quo. This initial installment feels like build up for the rest of the story, but still delivers a compelling adventure.”
“Palmatier takes familiar ideas of ley lines and magic wielders but gives them fresh life in this rich fantasy world.”
“There is some really good writing here with a wonderfully unique premise.”I Smell Sheep
“SHATTERING THE LEY is the first book in a promising new series by Joshua Palmatier. While the cover of this hardcover edition tells us immediately that this is A Fantasy Novel, the setting blends magic and technology in a unique creation.”Book Spot Central
“This is an entertaining work of second-world fantasy in a creative and detailed setting with well-written action scenes.”Triple Cities Carousel
“This is a great opening act as Joshua Palmatier creates an intriguing world that deploys magic as the key source of energy. Using the ideological global warming debate (to include ambitious political deniers and militant willing to die environmentalists) as the starting premise, SHATTERING THE LEY is a strong cautionary fantasy.”Harriet Klausner