Review by Vkaur -- Heroes of Atlantis by Ryan Carriere

Vkaur · Post by **Vkaur** » 23 May 2021, 04:49

[Following is a volunteer review of "Heroes of Atlantis" by Ryan Carriere.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Heroes of Atlantis: Legend of the Dragon Runes by Ryan Carriere is a two-part fantasy that traverses the adventures of two outsiders entering worlds different to their own. Roeg, brought into a Clan as a baby, is mocked for his distinguished features and hand disability. To earn respect, he must demonstrate his capabilities as a hunter, which the Clan doubts. Undeterred, and with support from his friends, he aims to participate in The Great Hunt to prove his worth.
Sephonei, suddenly shipped away from familiar surroundings, is forced to train - inadequately - to enter a dangerous mission as a rune hunter. Inexperienced, she joins two other rune hunters, one of whom taunts her and deems her a lost cause. Both protagonists seek to defy the odds on their ability to survive.

Immediately striking here is Carriere's empowering notion of the "unlikely hero(ine)" who withstands tides of mockery and wills to venture into risky territory in spite of their limitations. The protagonists must learn to play to their hidden strengths, for their outer appearances are preconceived as a form of weakness. Seemingly inspired by the notion that there is more to a person than meets the eye, this story unravels the protagonists' journeys of self-discovery and ultimately survival. The companions of the two protagonists relieve some of the tension through humorous dialogues, giving the novel a lighthearted appeal. Charming illustrations are presented throughout the book to enhance its accessibility to younger readers. Since Roeg and Sephonei lead two separate journeys in the first part of this novel, chapters focused on one protagonist are subsequently proceeded by the other, and so on. Carriere executes this effectively without confusion, ultimately providing a "mirror overview" of the struggles and action taking place with each protagonist as the story proceeds. Structured in this way, the narratives remained intriguing and entertaining throughout.

Occasionally the plot felt stale at times and seemed to lack substance. For example, very little information about the world itself was conveyed, such as an historical mapping of Atlantis. I would remark that such an addition would've improved the tale further because it would complement the missions undertaken by Roeg and Sephonei and even side characters. An account is made, however, of some of the different types of characters that exist and the dangerous encounters likely to be had with them. While taunting of the characters featured necessarily throughout and felt repetitive, it was not boring.

Carriere brings the charm of this fantasy tale to the fore with its diverse characters, funny dialogues, and magic. There were only a few errors to note, thus it appears to be professionally edited. While the plot nudges towards an intriguing direction, a little more substance would've added further depth to the story. An effective execution could've entailed conversations on the history of Atlantis, or some discovered lore, while maintaining its simplicity. Accordingly, I would rate this first part 3 out of 4 stars.

While Carriere's Heroes of Atlantis appears to be written with the young adult in mind, readers of fantasy would enjoy this. It is a light read and accessible to many. There are a few minor details of violence, though not elaborate.

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Heroes of Atlantis
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Emily_Jen · Post by **Emily_Jen** » 09 Jul 2021, 08:56

I would definitely enjoy this novel. A is a two-part fantasy that traverses the adventures of two outsiders entering worlds different to their own. I can't wait to read through their encounter in another world. Thanks for the review.