Gift of the Shaper (Highglade #1) by D.L. Jennings
Publisher: Indigo River Publishing
Publication Date: April 18, 2019 (First published November 7, 2018)
Format: Paperback, 456 Pages
Genre: Fantasy / Epic
POV Style: Multi
Map Included: Yes – Essential
🚑 Fantasy Triage Score: 6 / 10 — 🩹 Outpatient Care
🧾 Patient Intake Summary
For thousands of years, the Breaker of the Dawn has been locked away in the ethereal plane of the Otherworld. Now, a young blacksmith’s apprentice finds himself trapped in a war between the noble Athrani, a subset of humanity gifted with the ability to transmute matter, and the malevolent and powerful Khyth, who seek to free the ancient god from his prison.
When his father, Olson, is kidnapped, Thornton Woods and his childhood friend, Miera, must leave their small village of Highglade to find him. On their way, they are joined by Ynara and Kethras, cat-like humanoids called Kienari, who use their skills as hunter/trackers to follow Olson’s trail. When it comes to light that one among them possesses the key to the Breaker’s release, Thornton and his friends must defy the might of the Khyth as armies on both sides collide in pursuit of the ultimate prize.
Gift of the Shaper chronicles the epic struggle between the existing forces of good and evil, with both sides vying for control of the key that unlocks the Otherworld. The very powers of creation and destruction hang in the balance, and only a heroic effort by Thornton and Miera, backed by the power of the Athrani, can possibly stop the Khyth from unleashing ruin — and the Breaker — upon their world.
🦴 Musculoskeletal System — Worldbuilding
- Diagnosis: 4 — Reinforced Structure
Clinical Notes:
Gives Arthurian vibes, with blacksmiths, forges, horses and cart for transport. In this world there are Breakers and Shapers, which are magical powers that were given to them from the Breaker of the Dawn, and the Shaper of Ages. The people of the Kyth use Breaking, and are seen as villains in the world, while the Athrani use Shaping, and are seen as more of the good. Additionally, because of the way Shaping is passed down, if one parent is not an Athrani, the child with be born with separate eyes, making them as a half-blood, which result in them essentially being shunned by full-blooded Athrani. And also, importantly, the Breaker of the Dawn was sealed away in the Otherworld by the Shaper of Ages.
🫀 Cardiovascular System — Characters
- Diagnosis: 3 — Tachycardia
Clinical Notes:
Being an epic fantasy there are a lot of characters, and a lot of POV characters. And as the story goes on, the number of characters increase, and so does of POV count. The main character seems to Thorton, he is young blacksmith, and son to Olsen, another blacksmith. Then their is also Miera, childhood friend on Olson, who sees Olson and Thorton her family. Quickly as the story progresses, we meet Ynara and Kethras, which are these cat and human-like beings. Then shorly after we meet some of the main Kyth characters.
⚡ Endocrine System — Plot
- Diagnosis: 3 — Euthyroid
Clinical Notes:
Olson goes off to the big city to deliver some chains that him and father have forged this morning, and for the trip into town, his long-time childhood friend, Miera, joins him. Things start off normal enough, until Olson delivers his chains to the buyer, and gives off sketchy vibes. Shortly after Miera is kidnapped. It is then up to Olsen and the two Kienari to track her down. At the same time, we also learn that the Kyth, as always, are trying to free the Breaker of the Dawn, however this time, it appears that they may have ability to do so. What starts out a search for his friend Meira, lands Thorton smack dab in the middle of a war between the Athrani and Kyth.
🧬 Genetics — Magic System
- Diagnosis: 3 — Tachycardia
Clinical Notes:
The two magics in the world are called Shaping and Breaking. Shaping is to create one thing from another, image creating creating an open door out of the solid brick wall in front of you by rearranging the bricks. While Breaking would create an open door by destroying the bricks. They both essentially have the power to create the same outcome, but the means by which they do that, is actually polar opposite. How they use this power, the rules, limitations, training, etc., is not addressed. However, based on the how the story ends, it gives the feeling that will be a big focus in the next novel.
🫁 Respiratory System — Climax
- Diagnosis: 3 — Status Asthmatic
Clinical Notes:
There is one big emotional hit at the end, a decent twist at the end too.
💊 Prescription
Recommended For:
- Good verse evil
- Simple, fun fantasy
- Worldbuilding
- Map and Appendix!
📝 Long-Term Prognosis
Closing thoughts:
The main selling point for me was the world building. I totally loved learning about the Arthrani and Kyth, and the history of about Breaker and Shaper.
Another aspected I loved was D.L.’s story telling. Each chapter, is entitle based on where we are on the map. Additionally, how we change POV character is fairly unique. I didn’t count, but I want to say there is probably somewhere between 10-15 POV characters(?), which sounds like a lot, and could be confusing, but it not. For example: the books starts with Thortons POV, and eventually we meet the Keinari, so as they travel together, instead of Thorton the whole time, we will get Ynara and Kethras, and then when of them go off and meet a new character, when they new story line continues, will get a POV from them instead. We are not just getting new characters, from new places on the map, and withe a new story each. It starts from one point, as the story branches from that point, we meet a new characters, then get their POV. While at towards, multiple characters are different points of the map, with different objects, it is a very easy to follow along because of how the story is told.
Overall, it gives light-versus-dark, and nothing jumped out to me as super unqiue. However, simple, fun fantasy is great thing! I think this would be a good “beginner fantasy” novel. If you want complex politics, this is not for you. But if your in the mood for some good simple fantasy, I think you would enjoy this.
For me, I enjoyed the world, and will be continuing with series, and have high hopes for how book 2 will be.
📊 Fantasy / Science Fiction Lab Results
| System | Diagnosis |
|---|---|
| 🦴 Musculoskeletal (Worldbuilding) | 4 — Reinforced Structure |
| 🫀 Cardiovascular (Character) | 3 — Tachycardia |
| ⚡ Endocrine (Plot) | 3 — Euthyroid |
| 🧬 Genetics (Magic System) | 3 — Tachycardia |
| 🫁 (Respiratory) Climax | 3 — Status Asthmatic |
Reading Difficulty Diagnosis: 3 / 5 — Moderate Cognitive Load
Map Dependence: Essential
Commitment Level: 🧾 Short Series (3 books)
Plan: Continue with series
Final Diagnosis: 3 — Healthy
– DJ, Bookworm MD
