An epic fantasy worth all the five stars! Thank you, J. Kyle McNeal, for reaching out and giving me access to the novel through NetGalley.

Two young men from different circles have a greater destiny beyond their wildest dreams and hopes. Quint is the son of a powerful religious family and leads a sheltered life, but everything changes with the introduction of the tribes of Dragonborn. When his life is turned upside down, Quint has to lead and advise his people. Will he be able to since he knows very little of his responsibilities? On the opposite side, Whym’s life has always been haunted by poverty, being born in one of the poorest parts of town; he has little hopes for the future. His life changes when he is given the opportunity to become the apprentice of a mysterious figure. Both men will have to face the journey of their lives, forced to go through dangerous geographical and political paths and war, filled with hidden enemies, dangerous lies and glimpses of truth.

I have a lot to write about on this novel. I loved every moment, every page of this story: I was taken into a different world, immersing myself in its history, its complexity, its characters and social life. But allow me to start from the top.

The style of writing is mesmerizing and I truly admire how the author managed to described and give depth to the world of the Lost Lands and its characters without leaving the reader bored or tired of the descriptions. Furthermore, the organized and methodical structure of the novel leaves no space for loose ends, which is the best satisfaction a reader like me could have. It starts with the lightness in the first chapters, thoroughly building up, providing background stories, introducing characters that sooner or later will have an impact in the story. I have this image that the words are like puzzle pieces that come together to create something bigger and beautiful. I got completely absorbed by the words; it was difficult to put the book down.

The characters are just as complex as the reality they live in. I have to be honest and confess that I did have to make a list with the names of the characters and who they were since I did end up forgetting who they were at some point, but that didn’t influence my view of the novel at all. It is an extensive list of characters however and all of them have a distinctive way personality, and they are all very aware of the issues of their society. They have depth and are well-developed; it was easy to connect with them. The way the novel is written gives the reader the opportunity to get to know the characters as individuals and then as a group. I really felt their connection with each other, not only based on their conversations but also their actions.

Overall: beautiful scenarios, unique characters and a thrilling story-line make this a very promising fantasy series! I vividly recommend this novel to all the fans of fantasy that want to live a unique adventure in this wonderful world!

I really like the way the entire story develops around the two characters. Their experiences with others and how they change from just children into warriors are really well told. The beautiful part of fantasy is always the imagined world where the story is happening and it is really beautiful in the book.I wish that stern was not dead. The characters and plots are all ready for action.

"He’d [Stern’d] realized the Council of Truth itself was a paradox – a well-intentioned but flawed idea. No matter how many revisions were made, there could be no single truth – no single answer to accommodate the diversity of the whole realm. My father and ArWhym failed because their goal was reform. This time, the rebellion will disband the Council and devolve power to the regions. The regions wouldn’t rise for reform. They will for freedom."

I am so glad I am finally. done. reading. this. book. It took way longer than it should have. Not entirely the book’s fault, since I had other things going on, but I still wasn’t itching to get back to the world between the pages when I was away. Don’t get me wrong, it was good, just not great.

J. Kyle McNeal’s Birthrights (Book 1 of the Revisions to the Truth Series) tells the story of Whym, who accepts an apprenticeship under the man whose father betrayed his grandfather to the Council of Truth. Along with his master (Stern) and fellow apprentice (Kutan), they go on a dangerous journey to locate the last known Steward, a race who once used to roam the lands but has faded into myth. At the same time, Quint joins the army fighting oat the Fringe, abandoning his religious faith in Bothera. As war creeps closer and plots become more sinister, both Whym and Quint have to figure out their own Truths and where their allegiances will lie in the war.

This book had a very interesting concept. There were sinister plots and hints of magic and races of old that have since faded into myth. Unfortunately, I think it fell short of its potential.

My main problem is that there were so many layers to the book that the overall story became muddled and confusing, at least for me. There were so many characters and plots and places, making it hard to keep everything pinned down mentally. The pacing of the plot was also all over the place. There was not very much buildup of events; instead, things just more-or-less happened and that was that. The characters themselves also weren’t that interesting, and I don’t think their development was entirely believable, either. Often a character’s response to a huge plot twist – e.g. another character’s death – was not believable because they would act like it already happened and really weren’t surprised.

In terms of the writing itself, I will not even mention the author’s aversion to Oxford commas, which was disheartening in and of itself. In addition, some of the language choices were awkward at best, especially when it came to (but not limited by) dialogue. I have highlighted a few examples below.

"Quint hung near the back, watching the stars play peekaboo through the smoke and clouds."

"…the seeker placed a finger over his lips to stop him, then bent close enough he could have licked their faces."

"…saggy bosom…"

But for all its quirks, this was a good start to a new fantasy series. The complexity of this book is something readers will either love or hate; I personally liked it, even though I was often a bit confused, but I feel a lot of the confusion will be clarified in subsequent books. All-in-all, I think this will be an interesting fantasy series, and I look forward to seeing what happens in the sequel, Broken Oaths, which is set to be released next year in 2018.

Thank you to NetGalley and Elevate publishing for an advanced copy of this book, both in paperback and eBook format in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Birthrights is the debut novel by author J. Kyle McNeal. An epic fantasy written in a style similar to that of J.R.R. Tolkien or George R.R. Martin, Birthrights presents a world where secrets rule, corruption is everywhere, and magic has faded to legend.

The novel follows two young men from opposite backgrounds as they come of age and learn to navigate a world on the brink of civil war. Whym, the last heir of a disgraced family, is given the opportunity to leave his humble roots to apprentice to become a seeker. While Quint, the son of a prominent religious figure, shuns his religion to fight against a corrupt government. However, both men soon learn that not everything is as it appears, and the world is not black and white.

Birthrights is an exciting and engrossing read. A book that is hard to put down once the reader is involved. The chapters are rather short, so it is easy to find a stopping point if the reader needs it. However, the timeline of the story is a little difficult to follow. Most sections begin with a marker in turns (years) or moons (months). But time tends to jump forward and backward, especially when switching from Whym’s storyline to Quint’s.

The writing is solid, and it is easy for the reader to become invested in both Whym and Quint’s stories. The secondary characters are likable and intriguing as well; although, as a reader, I found myself slightly disappointed in some of the female plotlines.

Based on Birthrights, the Revisions to the Truth series has a lot of potential and can be a very powerful series.

Two young men, one burdened with the stain of his family’s past, the other the son of a powerful religious leader must accept and grow into the roles life has given them. Will Wyme, the descendant of a disgraced leader be the one to lead the people into their future? Can Quint become the advisor to the dragon people, of whom he knows little? Both young men will be called on to go above and beyond what any could expect from them and they must divine the truth from the lies that are freely tossed all around them. When the dust has settled, where will they stand?
Prepare to fall into another world, place and time where magic and myths from the past will become more than just stories and unlikely heroes must decide where they stand and how far they will go on the stage of life, death and civil war.

BIRTHRIGHTS by J. Kyle McNeal is an epic fantasy lover’s dream! Completely removing us from our world we are transported to a place and time where the citizens fear both the power of their leaders and the unknown beyond their front steps. Feel the grit of the streets, the chilling darkness in the hearts and minds of people in power and follow the tales of two young men destined to become a part of history. Watch as each learns lessons of life from treachery to trust and envision each scene as if you are there, sword in hand as faith is tested and truth is a commodity often obscured by the smoke of thinly veiled lies.

Colorful scenes, unique characters and an intriguing plot make for a firm foundation for a series that is worlds away.

I received this copy from Elevate Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Revisions to the Truth - Book 1
Publisher: Elevate Fiction (June 6, 2017)
Publication Date: June 6, 2017
Genre: Fantasy | Adult
Print Length: 552 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

"Wise men don't just see, they bend the future to their will."

As the first installment in a four-part series, this book takes no attention away from each character and plot detail. This world is dense---and I mean that in a good way. In the first few pages, I could feel that much thought and time had been given to creating this world and developing its depth.

A coming of age tale, the issues each characters face include both young and old readers, but it falls comfortably into the Adult genre as it discusses several topics that require a mature countenance. Sexuality, brutality, war, rape, and other unpleasant topics are prevalent, and I wouldn't recommend this for a younger reader.

The novel reads like an epic fantasy, and draws from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series style. So, if you are a fan of that massive series, this may be another one for you to check out!

There are many characters in this book, with their own specific and influential purpose to the plot throughout the Lost Lands. At times, all of their purposes were perplexing. Written in the perspective of more than one character, we mainly follow the tale of Whym and Quint.

"Two birthrights. I could have been First Lord of the Council of Truth. But thanks to by great-grandfather, I'll be Rat Man of Riverbend."

Whym is a boy who grew up in the poor village, where his father holds the "title" of being the degraded Rat Man. Eager to get away from humiliation and poverty, he accepts an apprenticeship when he comes of age, with a man who is intertwined with his own family's history in ways that are rather unpleasant.

Quint, the high-born son to a powerful religious family in the land, has a rather easy life laid out for him. When he is introduced to the tribes of the Dragonborn, his life plan is derailed as he is forced to reconsider his faith and the foundation of his existence.

In a way, each character is challenged to reconsider everything they know and believe. Everyone has a motive---some for selfish reasons---others for society's gain. But which side, and motive, is right? The consequence of war is death. Can those deaths be recompensed with their willing, or taken, sacrifice?

"Whym thought about the players in this evolving battle over the Lost Land---Lord Fen and the Council, Stern and the resistance, Salazar and the Faerie. There wasn't on side he felt he trusted. They were all hush with secret schemes and hidden agendas."

Seeing how this is a series, not every character's purpose, action, and intent are revealed. Especially with epic fantasies, the reader must be patient in order to grasp the full story, as they journey through the plot with the characters. I am curious to see how the tale will continue in Broken Oaths , scheduled to publish in 2018!

Violence: Quite a bit.
Sexual Content: Quite a bit, including a rape scene.
Vulargity: Some.

3 stars.

"I'm tempered. I'm quenched. But I'm yet to comprehend. What master do I serve?"

A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

A surprising book for me, not usually something I would read but thoroughly enjoyed. Didn't really follow the meaning of the war, except it was to do with what the people thought to be 'True'. Exceptional characters, amazing world building, and beautiful descriptive writing.

This was an extremely solid start to a very promising new fantasy series. Richly detailed, thought-provoking, and highly intriguing, I was very easily pulled into the narrative. Though it took a little while to fully immerse myself in the world and its history—the lore at the heart of every character’s life—once everything was set up, I felt completely absorbed into the words. There was something to find engaging about every moment of the narrative. This is intrinsically a coming of age story, but past that, you begin to see the intricate complexities of not only the characters but the of society they live in.

In this novel, we follow multiple characters’ lives as they weave together into one, captivating picture of the Lost Lands. Primarily, we follow two young men named Whym and Quint. Whym has reached the point of his life where he must begin an apprenticeship, and he is willing to do anything to break away from the poverty of his parents’ lives—even if it means working with a potentially dangerous man who has a past that connects darkly with his own. Quint comes from the most powerful religious family in the Lost Lands, his future laid out solidly before him. But when his long-held faith is ripped from him, he begins a journey to bring the truth to light.

Despite its initial appearance, this is not just a simple tale of two young people coming of age. It is a story about faith and beliefs. About corrupted politics and the inciting of a rebellion. About history and finding out where you fit into that which is being made around you. About discovering the meaning of truth and extracting it from the harshness of deceit. These characters are having their eyes opened to the society they are living in, one where the foundation is deception and the currency is lies.

As in most fantasy novels, there are always some aspects that take a little while to fully grasp. Building up the world, introducing the many characters, laying down the backstory and lore, all take a while to set up and for the reader to become involved in. It took me about a third of the novel before I felt I had truly gotten into things, so the beginning was a bit slow. However, this minor sluggishness in the beginning took the place of a short but massive and confusing information dump. The opening chapters are not fast-paced and packed with action, but are a gradual and meticulous composing of an intricate world.

I was a bit confused toward the start as I began piecing the backstory together but, at the same time, there was never a moment were I did not feel very engaged in the plot. The measured construction of each and every element ended up serving the narrative well. By using this method, McNeal allows the reader to take the time needed to become connected to the story and its expansive cast of characters. He also saves them from the confusion that can come with trying to convey too much information to quickly. As a whole, though the pace might feel slow, it establishes a solid foundation for the reader right from page one.

McNeal did a wonderful job building and growing his various, multi-dimensional characters, as well as giving them each a distinctive voice and personality. They were vivid and very easy to like or dislike, as the case may be. Whether hero or villain, each one was memorable and well-developed, which worked favorably with the regularly shifting perspectives of the narrative. I also highly enjoyed the dynamic and relationships between the various characters—they were very interesting to follow. I was particularly intrigued by the relationship between Whym and Kutan.

I have to admit, there were a few times where it was difficult to remember who a minor character was and what role they had played in previous chapters of the novel. This was due in part to their short appearances, stemming from the frequent jumps in perspective. Another issue that I had character-wise was that I never quite understood the concept of “the Rat-Man”. I also wish that there had been a bit more of a glimpse at some characters’ storylines, but I am hoping this will be rectified over the course of the rest of this series. All-in-all though, these were very small problems for me, and did not detract much from my overall reading experience.

McNeal’s writing in this novel was absolutely spectacular. The scope of this enchanting world that he has created leaves him endless opportunities to spin an absorbing story in his unique voice. I found him to be a brilliant storyteller; the prose was beautiful. His writing flowed incredibly well, and it was very easy to be carried away by his words. This was a strong debut novel, and I believe that he has shown a great talent and will go far in the future.

Overall, I had quite an enjoyable time delving into this tale. Once I began to feel involved in the characters’ lives, I found myself lost among the pages. This novel held so many of the elements that make me love the fantasy genre. I now feel extremely invested in these characters and their futures, so I am highly anticipating the upcoming installments in the series. If you are a fan of high fantasy or, especially, if you are just discovering the genre, this is a series that I would definitely recommend giving a try.

This is definitely a book for fans of epic fantasy.We follow a young boy,and his 2 companions,on their quest to find a mythical figure called "the Stewart".But somewhere in the middle the tension wavers. There are too many storylines,different factions and the story becomes over complicated. Fortunately, the adventure,and tension,picks up again and it ends(at 553 pages no less)with a feeling that one wants to read the second instalment.

4.5 stars.

This is the first book of a 4 book series by Mr. McNeal. Those who know me, know that I read a lot of fantasy, I mean a lot. And it usually takes a very complex universe and well developed characters for me to actually finish a fantasy novel. This book had both. It was very well thought out, had a very unique universe, great backstory (done a la Brandon Sanderson at the top the chapters), complex and well developed characters and great plot. For me, it is something between The Wheel of Time and A Song of Ice and Fire (do not get attached to any characters - they will die).

SPOILERS.

The book is written from multiple POVs with Whym and Quint being the main characters. While the book starts off when both are very young, it does progress into their late young adulthood and grows from YA fantasy to complete adult fantasy. The novel explicitly deals with death, betrayal, sexual content, torture and rape just to name a few. I was pleasantly surprised at the adult motifs of the novel as I was expecting a more of Dawn of Wonder bildungsroman. I really cared for the characters and Mr. McNeal even made me like and understand some of the bad characters in his book. I got a feeling that Mr. McNeal does not create one dimensional bad characters, they are complex and relatable, even if you suppose to dislike them and he devotes a lot of time to create them this way. I really enjoy that.

My only issue with this novel, and why I did not give it 5 stars is the rape. While I understand that rape is something that happens in real life and we are suppose to talk about it and not sweep it under the rug, I felt like that it was too much here. Not only does a female character gets raped, twice, we then stop hearing from her for the rest of the book and I was honestly very upset about that. Her voice is silenced (literally and figuratively). And yes, I understand why (and you will too once you reach the end of the novel), I just feel like it's such a harsh treatment for a female character. There are other ways to make a female character into a badass character, without the rape. Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, Jay Kristoff and Mark Lawrence are just some of the authors who create really badass female characters w/o the need to make them go through rape first. I honestly hope that the next book will redeem itself in this regard.

That being said, I really want to know more about the world and Whym and Quint. Also I would love a POV from Kutan.

Overall 3.0 stars.

Great story, lyrical prose with a detailed worldbuilding. I think this book is a great transition from YA to adult fantasy reads. It offers a good take on some the explore motifs with a good creative execution.

I didn't fall in love with this book due to personal preferences. I like my fantasy more gritty, cynical and realistic. Birthrights is not quite those things... But it can definitely be a great read for someone who is a bit less jaded by the genre.

4 and 1 / 2 stars

This is book one of a four part series, so the left hanging feeling that ended this book is not important. There will be more to the story. The book goes back and forth between the two main characters and does a very good job of discussing the nature of truth and how one goes about seeking their own truth.

This is a wonderful novel from first time author J. Kyle McNeal. It is difficult to understand how a writer could come out with something so well formed on the first attempt.

The story is one of Whym and Quint. Whym tries to avoid the fate of his father when he takes an apprenticeship with a sealer, a kind of bounty hunter. He sets out on a quest to locate a magical creature not even sure if it exists. What he finds are the growing winds of war.

Quint is the son of a powerful religious leader who will inherit his father’s place in the kingdom. But he gives it all up to join an outside group who are battling a corrupt government. He must find it within himself to help save the kingdom from a vicious army of corrupt individuals.

They must decide for themselves what is real and for whom they will stand in the upcoming war. For it seems that war is looming and there is nothing that will stop the inevitability of it.

I want to thank Netgalley and Elevate Publishing/Elevate Fiction for forwarding to me this great debut novel to read.