HOLIDAY SALE!! $10.29 (reg $17.99) A courageous orphan. An ancient evil. A mysterious medallion. In the village of Laan, Zodak endures a bleak life of misery at the hands of his hateful cousins and aunt. His steadfast uncle Ardon is his only anchor. When a water sprite arrives, speaking of destiny and an epic journey that awaits, Zodak struggles to grasp how an adventure with goblins, krikkis, and dwarves could ever be his story. But when his uncle falls in a kidnapping plot and entrusts Zodak with a mysterious medallion, Zodak flees into a vast, unknown world. Seeking answers about his past and the medallion he carries, Zodak finds himself drawn to the magnificent city Uth Becca. In his journey, he unearths a clandestine order, a corrupt Magistrate, and a sinister plot that threatens humanity’s very existence. A great evil awakens. Dark hordes are on the march. In a world desperate for a hero, can an outcast be enough? Get swept away in an epic fantasy adventure with an unlikely hero on the edge of manhood, world-building reminiscent of Brandon Sanderson, and a protagonist who must decide whether to fight for truth, even if it costs him everything. ★★★★★ (From Literary Titan) "Max Moyer's Zodak: The Last Shielder , the first in the Tempest Rising series, follows a teenage orphan, Zodak, who grows up in a cruel household where he's treated like a curse. But something stirs in the shadows of the world—a hint of destiny, magic, and ancient prophecy. When a water sprite calls his name and beckons him toward a greater purpose, Zodak's quiet, harsh life begins to unravel. What starts as a simple, grounded coming-of-age tale soon reveals a broader mythos full of forgotten magic, ancient books, secret lineages, and the deep, thrumming power of belief and identity in a broken world. The writing is fluid and vivid, making the world feel dirty, real, and magical at the same time. Moyer does a brilliant job of pulling readers into Zodak's narrow, painful life, so much so that I found myself wincing at every insult and rooting for his small moments of rebellion. The prose is clean but emotionally rich, with bursts of beauty that feel earned rather than forced. What hit me hardest was the aching loneliness in Zodak's voice—the way he yearns for love, belonging, and meaning in a world that treats him like an afterthought. It's not just a fantasy story, it's a story about being seen. The book doesn't lean too hard into tropes. There's prophecy, yes, but also doubt. There's magic, but it's quiet, hidden, uncertain. The characters feel alive, especially the complex ones—like Alana, Zodak's cousin, who starts cruel but unfolds in a way that's strangely touching. I'll admit, some parts were slow, especially early scenes where the abuse piled on so thick I wanted to yell at the pages. But that pain pays off later, making Zodak's small victories feel like revolutions. And the moment he realizes his story has power? That got me. Zodak: The Last Shielder is about truth, pain, and the quiet force of imagination when it's all you've got. It's about choosing to believe in something bigger when the world tells you not to. I'd recommend this book to fans of grounded, character-driven fantasy with a slow build and emotional punch. Especially to teens who feel like outcasts, writers who write in secret, or anyone who's ever hoped for a better world in the silence of their room. If you're a fan of Brandon Sanderson's world-building, Patrick Rothfuss's lyrical prose, or the emotional depth and quiet magic of Lois Lowry, then you'll really enjoy Zodak: The Last Shielder ." -Literary Titan