The Lord of Dreams
The Lord of Dreams, is a gorgeously written tale about a girl who finds herself transported into Fairyland, tasked with rescuing a prisoner hidden deep in the sparkling, dangerous world of the Fae.
Unlike so many books where the fae are very human, in Brightley’s book they are foreign, magical creatures that live in a world that is so different than our own – a world where time and distance isn’t quite as important as things like intentions and dreams.
The story is filled with wonder, beautiful but menacing creatures, and always shadowed by the mesmerizing Lord of Dreams.
The King’s Sword (Erdemen Honor I)
…the heart and soul of the universe the author has created in the Erdemen Honor Series breaths refreshing life into a genre that has recently become cynical and vulgar. …Kemen Sendoa is the mentor any martial arts student or young entrepreneur wishes he had growing up. He’s an Arthurian Mr. Miyagi, and getting an entire story from his inner monologue is riveting and vivid…. so unexpectedly wonderful.
I loved it…. …The fight scenes were incredibly well done. Brief and sharp and clear as a knife, every one had me hooked and wishing for more by the time it was over.
-Alexis on Goodreads
Kemen is very well developed and voiced, without coming across as perfect: he has flaws and regrets, with a tinge of bitterness all making him more human and relatable. The character of Hakan was less likable, but did show growth and development as the story progressed, despite his many flaws. C.J. Brightley has a talent for developing characters that retain a sense of relatable humanity, even in worlds and situations that are far removed from those readers know. Interesting to me was the inclusion of some ‘less desirable’ traits of humanity: racism, sexism, factions, war and even poverty: these helped to ground the setting in the familiar even as the lush descriptions of landscapes and places gave it a unique and singular feel.
-Gaele Hince of I Am, Indeed
an engaging and self-depreciating style… well worth reading
-Iola of ChristianReads
A Cold Wind (Erdemen Honor II)
I can’t believe I read it in one sitting! Yes, it is that good.
I’ll definitely be recommending this series to my friends, and looking around for more of it.
– Alexis on Goodreads
Honor’s Heir (Erdemen Honor III)
Fantasy at its finest, something different for those that discover it.
Best read of 2015. Belongs on every fiction reader’s bookshelf, and if you are an author, you should do it like this.
Things Unseen (A Long-Forgotten Song I)
I loved every page of it
This book is not an allegorical fantasy such as the Narnia books, nor is it the preachy sort of book that can only be appreciated if you share a Christian worldview. … It has the sort of applicability that one might find in a series like Lord of the Rings, where the author’s world view is implicit rather than overt. If the reader happens to share that worldview, then that will add a deeper, richer level of enjoyment to the story. If not, it’s still a well-written fantasy story.
I liked the author’s treatment of the Fae in this novel. Unlike most fantasy non-humans, Brightley’s Fae come across as truly alien despite their human-like appearance. Forget Tinkerbell; these Fae are more like the sidhe of Celtic folklore. I loved the interactions and communication struggles stemming from the cultural differences between the Fae and humankind. The story’s human protagonist is extremely curious and impetuous–two traits which quickly land her in trouble. … The society is unsettling; I am old enough to realize how mutable memories can be, and how even supposedly well-known “facts” can seemingly change over time depending on a society’s collectively shifting point of view. The magic in this story feels inherent to the story world. It’s not “bippity boppety boo” magic, nor is it drawn from an outside source, but it’s part of the natural laws of that world.
This is an incredible start to a new series that I already can tell I won’t want to end. C.J. Brightley masterfully blends fantasy with an urban dystopia into a story that will leave you turning pages to the detriment of whatever else you’re meant to be doing.
–Elizabeth Maddrey, author
A fast-paced book that kept me turning pages till after midnight. Absolutely worth reading.The world that C.J. Brightley has built seamlessly combines reality with fantasy, is populated with human and fantasy characters, and plugged with problems with which we all can connect.
The very first pages put the reader in the middle of a conflict that will start the heroine on a journey where she and those around her will risk their lives, meet others, human and not so human, and find out things that will force them to question their core beliefs.
Additional fun for the history lovers: same as in Game of Thrones, try to figure out historical parallels
–lmn
The Dragon’s Tongue (A Long-Forgotten Song II)
I’ve been waiting anxiously for this since I finished Things Unseen and it doesn’t disappoint. Picking up right where book one ends, The Dragon’s Tongue is a satisfying continuation of the story of Aria and Owen. It beautifully blends in a strong discussion of God’s sovereignty and apologetics with a fast moving plot and deep , relatable characters. Book 3 can’t get here soon enough.
–Elizabeth Maddrey, author
Hurry with Book 3!!! I finished the book within days and loved every page. This one picks up right where the first left off seamlessly. I was thrilled to have some of the blanks filled about the past and questions answered about the Fae. Her imaginative story kept me engaged through the whole book and once again I was sad to reach the last page. I am very much looking forward to the third book now!! Please hurry! 🙂
A Fairy King (Fairy King I)
by the end, you won’t be able to stop the smile or the happy sigh for the brief time you spent with these two characters.
–Elizabeth Maddrey, author