Journey of Seven Circles by Russel Pike

Kryn Darien stands at the cusp of reaching his goal, which he has pursued for over seven centuries. Once a humble and devout Soul Warden, Kryn promised his brother his soul would be in paradise after he died in the Oceanic Conflict. But when he confronts a wizard who had been killing travelers through a curse, he is confronted with a magical mirror that shows him a vision of his brother in anguish. He is granted a boon for his service to the church and is granted a visit to the Gardens of Eternity to search for his brother's soul. But Kryn has a latent magical aptitude, and the magic mirror has blessed him with visions. When he realizes, thanks to these visions, that the likeness of his brother in the Gardens of Eternity is not real, he sets out to discover the truth about the Seraphs and magic. In his quest, he learns about the true nature of the Seraphs, and the lies the church has been propagating. Alone and hiding, he learns magic and becomes a powerful wizard with one goal. Save the souls of those he loves. But to do this, he might have to destroy the world as he knows it and maybe kill himself in the process. Journey of Seven Circles by Russell Pike is spell bounding fantasy that will complement any fantasy lover's library.

 

Russel Pike has written an epic novel that speaks to the heart of man. Discovering that what you believe to be true and gives you hope is the lies of powerful entities who do not care about those they prey on creates a furtive and suspenseful background. Kryn Darien is a compassionate and loyal man, and this theme of compassion threads throughout the novel and is the basis for Kryn's quest. He sacrifices himself, his life dreams, and his true love to destroy those who call themselves gods and bring to the people he loved and served a true destination for their hopes of peace after death. The novel takes a hard look at the effect of disillusionment on a truly devout and honest person, how doubt and suspicion run through to a person's core, and corrupt relationships. The novel is written in an easy-to-read and follow manner, revealing pieces of the story at a pace that keeps the action flowing and the reader engaged. Truth be told, I was becoming anxious to the end as there were few pages left and still so much story that needed to be told. But Russel is an exquisite wordsmith and does not disappoint. Journey of Seven Circles is a captivating and binding read.