The Ikalreev Prophecies

Book 1 of the Verdunmull series

Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
444 Pages
Reviewed on 12/18/2019
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by K.J. Simmill for Readers' Favorite

Jared A. Zakarian's The Ikalreev Prophecies is the first book in the Verdunmull series. Faolan's first memory was of the faces of his parents. Not his real parents since they, like his past, had been long forgotten. His new parents were elves, and he had been trained to be a scout, but the events he saw placed him in the path of a much larger destiny, one so large it had once been told in a prophecy that the fate of the world would hang in the balance. New creatures, a race against time, and a battle for survival are about to begin as key players of the prophecy of old are revealed. But what future will come to pass, and can that which was written be altered?

The Ikalreev Prophecies by Jared A. Zakarian is an epic fantasy adventure. Monsters, dragons, elves, and dwarves; what more could a fantasy fan ask for except perhaps cursed angels and ancient prophecies? Within this intriguing and ambitious plot, you will find action, adventure, and no small amount of lore, myth, and legends. Great world building draws the reader in, and the developed and diverse characters keep them entertained. In parts, this reminded me of Witcher, with fantastic beasts, epic struggles, and rising stakes. I enjoyed watching the plot unfold, questioning motives, alignments, and loyalties. The writing style flows smoothly and keeps you invested. Danger, chaos, escalating odds, and a fight for survival will keep you hooked on this epic tale from beginning to end.

K.C. Finn

Verdunmull: The Ikalreev Prophecies is a work of epic fantasy fiction penned by author Jared A. Zakarian, and it forms the opening novel of the Verdunmull Series. The series title refers to the land in which the action takes place, which is a high fantasy construct filled with the popular creatures and races like elves, dwarves, dragons and sorcerers. In this world of magic, good and evil both lurk, and the heavens are filled with angels ready to fall, just as darkness rises from below. As the prophecies of darkness begin to take hold, the people of Verdunmull must undertake an epic journey to survive and overturn their fate.

Author Jared A. Zakarian has worked very hard to develop an excellent and fully rounded world in this opening novel to the Verdunmull Series. Epic fantasy fans who are expecting a long and involved series with many concepts, characters, prophecies, twists and turns can rest assured that this opening novel sets up a lot of exciting promises to be fulfilled in the future, with an author who has a fully immersive handle on their world. I liked how all the concepts made sense with one another, and the narrative style makes it easy to understand these ideas, but also offers rich descriptions of the people and places to give the work a truly cinematic feel. Overall, Verdunmull: The Ikalreev Prophecies is an excellent and immersive work that shows much promise for the future of its author: a highly recommended fantasy read.

Samantha Gregory

The Ikalreev Prophecies: Book 1 of the Verdunmull series by Jared A. Zakarian is the story of an ancient prophecy written by a race called the Ikalreev. They saw darkness and monsters and were so scared of it that they vanished. Razbijen is an angel who falls from Heaven during a war. He loses his abilities and becomes mortal. The prophecy did speak of angels descending from heaven, so it was foretold. The world is plunged into chaos. What do you do when all these immortal beings start fighting each other? On top of that, there are cataclysmic events like earthquakes to contend with, and it looks like the end is coming ... and coming fast.

The story was well written and while there was a lot of information and characters, the author keeps the story simple and it moved at a good pace. The maps at the beginning helped with setting the scene for me as a reader. Jared A. Zakarian has written an epic fantasy tale in The Ikalreev Prophecies: Book 1 of the Verdunmull series. Prophecies are tricky subjects because they never turn out how you think and how can you know if they are true or not? That is the question in this story. I liked all the different supernatural beings in the book and how they were all affected by the events unfolding. I think it fits well into the epic fantasy genre and I would recommend it to fans of the genre and books like Game of Thrones.

Ruffina Oserio

The Ikalreev Prophecies is the first book in the Verdunmull epic fantasy series by Jared A. Zakarian. I love stories in which ancient magic or deeply hidden and forgotten secrets or myths become a reality, and this fantasy offers much. The truth has been concealed in The Ikalreev Prophecies, written by the ancient Ikalreev race many years ago. They have become a legend. Or so everyone thought. But things are about to change and the prophecy fulfilled, and the place is unlikely Verdunmull. Mythical creatures that have been asleep are about to be awakened, the veil is about to be lifted, and the darkness will rise. The hope of light is in the hands of a select few, but can they stop evil from breaking the seal and unleashing the darkness?

Angels and demons, mythical creatures, and characters with magic clash in a battle of immortals that will shake the very roots of Verdunmull. The story features the struggle between good and evil, light and darkness. Jared A. Zakarian's voice is masterly, confident, reflecting the mind of a skilled storyteller. The imagery is exceptional and while the narrative takes place in an imaginary world, the setting is so well-written that it feels real to the reader, as though they were seeing the places in their mind's eye. The Ikalreev Prophecies is an enthralling opening for a series that will surely excite readers. It is packed with action and unexpected moments that move the plot forward. It would take many more words to describe the conflict which drives the story and determines the strength of this narrative.

Romuald Dzemo

The Ikalreev Prophecies is the first book in Verdunmull by Jared A. Zakarian is a highly imaginative story with strong biblical allusions and a world filled with magic, a conflict of the supernaturals. An ancient prophecy is about to be fulfilled and the clash of powerful beings about to take place. The balance is shaken and the immortals are about to break the veil. If the seal opens, the black spring will burst forth. Only the five can stop the Initiate from opening the seals, but do they have the fight in them? Verdunmull is about to witness the deadliest battle ever, their world infested with all kinds of creatures, fallen angels, the cursed, elves, dwarves, dragons, and more.

This is a cunningly plotted epic fantasy with a well-imagined world that is exciting to explore; filled with magic and the kind of imagery akin to the visions in the Book of Revelation. While this is an ingeniously imagined story, it has strong spiritual hints, mimicking the story of the fall of the angels. But what gives it strength is the proverbial conflict between good and evil, so skillfully handled. The story is conflict-driven and Jared A. Zakarian creates a world that has many surprises for readers, inspiring fear, and building excitement. The characters are phenomenal, a mix of mortals and magical creatures, caught up in a conflict that shakes the very foundations of a universe. With vivid imagery, a crisp and gorgeous plot, and plot twists, the author has readers following the suspenseful tale from page to page. Gripping and evocative.