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Travis grew up in Reno, NV (where he raised and sold pigs), went to Oklahoma Christian University (where he broke his collarbone in a misguided Parkour attempt), married an electrical engineer (who puts him to shame in ping-pong), got his master's degree from Stanford (where he and his bike were hit by a car), and now does R&D for Nikon in the San Francisco bay area. His short stories have been appeared in Abyss and Apex, Bards and Sages Quarterly, Stupefying Stories, Punchnel's, Kids 'Magination, and Liquid Imagination. His debut novel, THANE, was published in June 2014, and KING'S TABLE, the sequel and conclusion of the 2-book series, was published in February 2015.
Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
In Thane (Everknot Duet, Book 1) by Travis Daniel Bow, a young man named Timothy and his half-brother Robert are captured and forcefully conscripted by the Huctans into a secret army. An introvert and somewhat meek by nature, Timothy finds the courage to revolt when Selena, a Thane, helps them escape. They join the rebel group of Botani people that do whatever they can against the Huctans.
As the first book from the Everknot adventure series, the world building – even if it’s quite sparse – is akin to the medieval era and free from ethereal civilizations, tech or whatnot, which is surprisingly fresh and a good respite for a fantasy fan like me. There’s no grand magic system here, but a world of espionage, military and combat skills. Revolution and emancipation are the backbones for the plot, along with deception, courage and hope.
The story tempo ranges from slow to rushed in certain parts. That said, the pacing as a whole is generally good. The element of intrigue is sufficient to keep readers engaged, and Bow shows his skill in terms of characterization, which is solid enough to make readers invest in the protagonists. Each character has a plausible personality. I admired Robert, who is more cautious of the people that he encounters and has natural leadership skills. On the other hand, I connected more to Timothy, who’s trying to break out from his timid nature and become a savior instead of Robert’s shadow. Overall, this is a good debut for the series.
