TW// there are mentions of abuse and suicide within this novel.

This was a wild ride, and an incredible debut novel. We are introduced to two best friends and fellow seekers Tyras, and Oren, who take up missions to collect artifacts of the past for the archive of Agra. After an assassination attempt on Lunaris, Tyras's mentor and the Argan sovereign of wisdom by the 'Death crow' both Tyras and Oren are sent on separate, important tasks to discover who is behind this assassination attempt. Throughout their separate journeys, unlikely friends are made, love blossoms, battles are fought and secrets and truth are uncovered.

I really enjoyed diving into this world, it was really creative and immersive with it's own maps and illustrations which is something I particularly love in fantasy books. It has dual POV's which is also fun, seeing from both Tyras's and Oren's point of views as they go through their own journeys and encounter various different unique and complex characters along the way.

I found the characters, even the side ones were really well developed, they all seemed to have various layers to them, and I just found their varied personalities really endearing, refreshing and exciting to read about. They all seemed really witty and they were just so well written. I definitely got Dumbledore vibes from Lunaris, the way he was able to stay completely calm even in the face of immediate and life threatening danger towards him. The only thing I found didn't sit as well with me was the character's convictions to their choices and their roles. I found that sometimes they'd suddenly change their exterior personality around another character which didn't seem to really gel with they way they were originally portrayed. I understand that their personality changes throughout with all they face and all the experiences they go through, but sometimes it was just a quick change that didn't seem to have much merit or backing behind it.

It does touch on some really important topics though, which I found really engaging and well written. It touches on grief and how all consuming and overwhelming it can be, as well as anxiety, racism, and the pain and gut wrenching hurt that comes along with being betrayed, particularly by someone you revered highly.

Lastly but certainly not least, THE TWISTS!! my god the twists really threw me for a loop. I'm usually someone who can guess twists pretty early on in the book, but some of the ones here I did not expect at all! They were so well written, definitely kept me on edge and thoroughly entertained.

Overall, this was just such a fun, engaging, tense and entertaining read, and an amazing debut novel filled with lots of witty, interesting and complex characters and amazing world building. I can't wait to see what Troy cooks up next, and I'll definitely be picking up the next book in this series.

Unfortunately I did not mesh with the writing style of this book. I found the beginning of the book very info dumpy - there was a lot of information about the world crammed into the first few chapters and the journey felt like a list of places and names. The writing itself is overly descriptive and I found this quite frustrating. However the plot and characters themselves have potential. I enjoyed the relationships formed between the characters who were engaging and likeable. The plot was interesting and I I did find myself wanting to pick up the book to see where the story was headed but unfortunately the overly descriptive writing kept pulling me out of the story.

Thank you for the opportunity to read "Seekers", even though the book didn't prove to be for me .Below is my Goodreads review (no rating provided):

"Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get past the first chapter of Seekers due to the writing style that proved to be a deal breaker for me, but which can probably be put down to the fact that this is a self-published debut novel.

If you’re not deterred by stylistic errors, cliché similes (“She squinted at the outer circle of tents and saw the shape of a figure moving across them, like a predator circling its prey.”), repetitive sentence structure or clumsy descriptions (“His pale skin reflected the orange tint of the torch fire, and his messy brown hair poked out from under the blue hood of his cloak. His deep blue eyes shimmered in the flickering firelight, giving off a slight luminescence of their own.”), you may enjoy this story as much as the other reviewers have."

Thank you to the author and publisher for giving me this free digital ARC. My review is voluntary.

I wanted to like thus book. Epic fantasy is one of my favorite genres and the synopsis seemed promising. Unfortunately, from the beginning, I had problems with some if the writing choices. The opening scene should have been a dramatic and suspenseful intro. Instead, the descriptions were flat and sometimes contradictory.

I could have forgiven that, but the next problem proved to be a pet peeve of mine: inelegant variation. (If there is a grammatical term to describe this technique, I don't recall it.) In essence, inelegant variation is a technique employed in an apparent attempt to avoid repeating a character's name or pronouns. For example, calling the character the Seeker or the Savarian instead of their name or he/him. When overused, it can actually make the text more confusing by inadvertently making a scene appear to have more characters than the author intended and sometimes forcing the reader to reread for clarity.

Even that might not have been a proverbial dealbreaker if the other aspects of the story had been strong. However, the main characters were not interesting enough nor distinct enough to hold my interest, the pacing was uneven and the plot choices puzzled me. I spent more time wondering why the author made various choices and contemplating how the story could have been improved than I did actually reading.

So, I gave this 2 stars and cannot recommend this story. Please keep in mind that the published version may be different than the advanced reader copy that I read and reviewed.

Warning of possible spoiler?

I struggled with this one. It just couldn’t keep my interest and I found that I just didn’t care, and eventually I just lost track of what was going on.

There are some excellent points to flag though. Troy is excellent at setting scenes, and letting the reader see what he is envisioning, I was truly immersed in his world.

However, I found the writing style was not for me personally, and I was frustrated with how it seemed “jumpy” sometimes, like it needed a bit filling in? For example, a character travels days home, arrives, stops an attack but not before there are wounded people who he knows very well, but then one just stands up and sends him off on a mission and he leaves back to where he’s just arrived from. All within minutes - I feel I needed a bit more filling in - maybe it was implied that they went to get seen to, they had dinner, wine, caught up and then he left?

I did find some of it incredibly cheesy, but that’s me, I’m a sarcastic Brit and cheese does not go down well with me, though others I’m sure won’t even notice it or love it.

So, overall, this was just not for me, however, the scene setting - absolutely bang on perfect, This is a debut novel and I will keep an eye out for future releases after this series has ended.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review

"Are you worried that you'll never wake up?" The cruel Savarian smirked. "That's good. If you were smart, you'd have the same fear each time you slept. When a person no longer fears dying in their sleep, they become easy prey for someone like me."

First and foremost I must thank Troy Knowlton for providing me with an ARC of this gem of a book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Seekers: The Winds of Change is fun fantasy adventure that will take you on an emotional roller coaster as you follow the two main characters Tyras and Oren (best friends) who are each forced to go off on an epic quest that will ultimately lead them back to each other.

They each have their own set of supporting characters to accompany them on their journey to complete their quest. Honestly some of the most emotional moments has to do with these characters and I was surprised just how invested I became in each and every one of them.

I think Troy did an excellent job of picking when in the book to bounce back and fourth between each journey all while building out a wonderfully world that I could easily visualize in my mind. It's full of friends and foes down every path causing our young heroes to have to choose wisely as their quest and the fate of their friends relies on it.

For a debut novel Troy knocked it out the park and I look forward to seeing where he takes this amazing cast of characters in the next book in the series.

Thanks to Troy Knowlton and Netgalley for access to the paperback/e-book ARCs.

Seekers: the Winds of Change is a very promising debut novel that straddles the line between Young Adult and Adult Fantasy. Featuring an enjoyable cast of characters, this novel excels at creating impactful and emotional character relationships. Although I would definitely consider this a Young Adult novel, Troy Knowlton wasn't afraid to delve deeper into some more adult and darker tones.

Read for:
- Well developed and interesting characters with meaningful relationships
- High stakes action scenes
- Enjoyable dialogue
- Fresh setting and well-built world
- Exploration of anxiety, trauma, identity issues, and more.

Can't wait for a sequel, and will definitely be picking up a hard-copy upon release.

Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me to receive an ARC of this wonderful story.

This fantasy adventure book is a wonderful story to get young readers interested and invested in this genre. Once you finish the Seekers you feel rewarded. The world-building is impeccable. Most times when it comes to young adult fantasy something is always missing but in the Seekers. It does not do that. The fight scenes kept me immersed in the story and made me want more. Plus there is magic!!!! Troy Knowlton, thank you for writing the Seekers and pulling me out of a reading slump. This is a story that a lot of Young-adult fantasy readers will love.

I had the opportunity to read this via NetGalley - Thank you for allowing the use of NetGalley to get an advanced read of this beautiful book.

A heart-warming fantasy adventure that feels like old school adventures. This young adult epic fantasy would be a great opportunity for people to adventure into the realms of epic fantasy without getting lost in the chaos that some of the bigger, longer universe settings have. This will not be a 13 book long series but the journey will be just as rewarding for those who dare to delve.

What to expect

Breath-taking world building
Organic dynamics
Amazing conversations - the banter is awesome in places
Fight sequences that make you hold your breath
Magic!

The cultures and the world in this book feel real and actually lived in, which is unique in most books these days, sometimes books can feel like the culture around the characters never fits but with Seekers it is natural and it feels complete and relevant!

Troy has an amazing eye for detail and for a reader's experience that really helps build the picture and keep the imagination interested, and as you read on you find yourself caught up in all the twists, plots and hooks that Troy created with Seekers.

I would recommend this to other readers of YA Fantasy.

Tldr: A sparkling debut from a very promising author, Mr Troy Knowlton. This book POPS in all the best ways. Incredibly meaningful relationships between the characters, an twisting conspiracy, and an Indiana Jones style fantasy, all set within a mesmerising world full of diverse landscapes and peoples. The emotions hit well for the most part, Troy knowing exactly when to push on, or to hold back, and the stakes of impending war are sufficiently high for a novel on the borderline of YA and adult fantasy. If you are a fan of adventure style fantasy novels, this will be an assuredly entertaining read.

4.25/5*

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After an assassination attempt that could lead to an all-out war, Tyras and Oren, two young Seekers of the Argan Empire, are each given secret missions in an attempt to thwart the coming chaos. Both tasks require the Seekers to venture through the war-torn continent of Tiarna where the young men face mortal danger, horrible monsters, and hostile groups – all challenges Seekers are trained to combat. Luckily, the two Seekers also find guidance, friendship, and romance along the way. However, powerful and mysterious forces are conspiring behind the scenes and both Tyras and Oren will have to overcome a host of obstacles, including their own inner demons, in order to maintain a glimmer of hope for success. With war imminent and the unknown ahead, will the Seekers triumph, or will they be swallowed by the turbulent, relentless Winds of Change?
Set in a new, masterfully created high fantasy world, Seekers: The Winds of Change is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faisal.


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Thanks to Troy for sharing this via netgalley and sending me a physical copy for review!


I had an absolute whale of a time with this book, happily continuing my streak of reading a bunch of fantastic fantasy this year. I am so glad I took a chance on this novel, which was in the ‘read now’ section on Netgalley which tends to be a little hit or miss. Luckily this was a total hit! I have been reading a lot of beefy high epic fantasy books recently, and this was a lovely breather whilst still maintaining an intriguing plot and high enough stakes to hook me.

This novel really harkens back to the old adventure serials that inspired Indiana Jones, with a touch of Arabian nights or books like the Stardust Thief. We follow two adolescent characters, Tyras and Oren who work as ‘seekers’ for the empire of Argan. Essentially, they are treasure hunters for this empire, and our story kicks off with a thrilling assassination attempt, setting our two young heroes on a path to unmask a conspiracy and find a mysterious artifact known as the conduit before the world is set on the path to war. The continent of Tiarna was previously at war, but peace has lasted for the last few hundred years, something that could have devastating consequences. Along the way we meet an motley crew of characters who form two sets of ‘found families’.

My favourite character would probably be an old man by the name of Squall. Squall’s relationship with Tyras as a mentor like figure is truly the heart of this novel. We are introduced to their escapades in the first pages of the novel, and they truly bring us in with a bang of humour and action. It instantly got me excited to carry on further, and their relationship was so so wholesome, whilst their banter provided a lot of fantastic comedic relief. Personally I really enjoyed the humour in this novel, it felt a very silly British style of humour, definitely appealing to the YA audience, but as an 22 year old I definitely had many cackles throughout the book.

As a whole, Troy’s character work is really a promising start from a debut author. We actually get relatively deep quite quickly, with Squall and Tyras being where a lot of it comes from. However each character truly gets their arc wthin the book. Tyras struggles with anxiety, with the weight of responsibility upon him, whilst his best friend Oren struggles with identity aside from being in the shadow of Tyras. We also have some beautiful romances blossom, and Troy is particularly good at straddling the line between cheesy and TMI to provide a sparkle of love sprinkled throughout the novel. Some of the best scenes for me were fireside/night sky talks, talks of hopes and dreams, fears and anxieties, all things teenagers go through. One of my other favourite characters was Ameel, protector of the lady Serana, herself a multi-faceted character. Ameel was a constant companion, and his story had some really tender moments due to a certain very welcome part of his character which I won’t spoil here.

In Oren’s story we follow a semi typical band of thieves style crew, with some fellow seekers and a would be assassin joining forces to get to the bottom of the rotten heart of corruption within Argan. Yata was a really fascinating character with a lot of depth to her, and Troy uses her to explore the concept of trauma and revenge on a person, are they truly free or trapped forever. Leo was an absolutely uproaring character, always one for a snarky little quip and I much appreciated the release of tension in some of the sequences. Some sequences were particularly tense and quite bloody for a novel aimed at YA, and this is down to Troy’s prose which is just as evocative as the character work. Within are some truly striking sentences, some of which I’ll include here since I actually remembered to take some quotes this time, although these are more some really impactful quotes that I resonated with.


- "We must use brief moments of true happiness to act like lighthouses, guiding us through the oceans of misery with their warm brilliance."

- " Reality’s knife is too sharp, and it cuts too deep."


Whilst it’s nothing as extravagant as say Janny Wurts’ or Patrick Rothfuss’ prose, it really suits the tone and audience of the novel. Scenes set within the desert were particularly atmospheric and my favourite part of the book was probably the middle sequence of the novel set within the desert of Tiarna.

The plot was a fantastic idea, encapsulating aspects of adventure, fantasy, even a little bit of horror with some of the monsters. One thing is for sure, you won’t be bored with this book, whether it’s the pulse pounding action sequences, or the laugh out loud comedic relief moments, or the tender character sequences. Whilst for the most part this was a positive, I felt that the pacing did slip slightly in the second half, where it sped towards the end and I missed some of the more intimate moments from earlier within the novel. The unveiled story itself had a few twists which did surprise me, but overall I think that the conspiracy was a little underdeveloped and the villainous reveals towards the end a little rushed. This is a 335 page novel, but I think it could’ve done with maybe 400 pages just to flesh out the conspiracy and villains a little further.

Themes of racism, trauma, anxiety and prejudice within the novel are a much welcome addition, deepening this novel beyond a typical YA. I really appreciated all the effort Troy put in to increase his representation within the novel and he is to be commended for this.

Overall I really really enjoyed this book immensely. It’s a lot of fun, and that’s what reading is all about. The pace is fast, exciting, a lot of richness to the world and characters, heart and humour. This is not a high stakes universe ending 10 book epic series, but it is a heartwarming, entertaining fantasy adventure with lots and lots of potential, definitely one to read as a palate cleanser and keep an eye out for SPFBO9 in 2023!

Thanks for staying with me through the review!

Seekers was an overall good story that I enjoyed reading. I did have to kinda push through in the beginning but I’m glad I did. I kind of had trouble with how this book was written (I thought some of the paragraphs and inner monologues were relatively long). However, I liked the characters and thought the story was interesting!

Seekers was a thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish. Author Troy Knowlton crafts a detailed, imaginative world that is easy to get caught up in with interesting and believable characters who are easy to care about. The action sequences are fast-paced and frenetic. I really enjoyed how the protagonists were formidable, yet fragile warriors who were competent, yet also susceptible to harm. It really made the danger feel real, as if anything could happen to them. Tyras and Oren’s story was a thrilling read throughout. Would wholeheartedly recommend to fantasy lovers!

good, but i think it had lacked in something?

i was excited to get through this book when I read the sinopse, and after I read it, i've been uma conclusion that it wasn't what i expected. But it's good