By Maddison Hunter

Cover Blurb:

The Wightblade Chronicles is an original epic fantasy series with deeply woven plots, full of distinctive individuals and descriptive locations. It is set on the world of Terra Nostra with mythical links to another planet via the Portal of the Void. The Time-Glass turns. The Threads of Destiny twist. The Book of Waiting must be found…. Beniamino Carnevale, a young kinsman, is unexpectedly thrust into the wealthy and venerated Academium of Ventorium. Joining a select group in Magical Studies, he discovers that his surname alone can inspire fear. Those who tormented him as a child will now stop at nothing, including mind probing, to prevent him developing his erratic magic. The Academium is not the tranquil place its façade suggests. Evil is brooding, watching, waiting.

The Book Of Waiting (The Wightblade Chronicles Book One) By Author L. Philipp Naughton – Book Review

Beniamino Carnevale, a poor farm lad, is suddenly experiencing a chaotic and dangerous change in his life as he attends the Academium of Ventorium, to join an exclusive group in magical studies. Those who bullied him from young continue their torment to try and stop Beniamino from reaching his fully magical potential. Friendships are tested and strained but also gained as the Academium of Ventorium shows that it is not all that it seems, evil entities are awaiting in the shadows. So will Beniamino handle the torment and obtain his full magical ability?

L. Phillip Naughton’s ‘The Wightblade Chronicles – The Book Of Waiting’ is a fantasy novel following magical and mystical adventures. Recommended for Young Adults due to complex world building and concepts, alongside presentation of the struggles of growing up within friendships and relationships. 

I’d recommend this book for young adults, due to the heavy world building in the book.  L. Phillip Naughton creates an amazing world, full of magical and mystical beings and is genuinely a unique concept explored in great depth, yet I do think this pushes the book into the elder individuals of the young adult genre due to some of the complex dynamics that the world is created on. I award this book 5 stars.

  1. Storytelling and Narrative Quality – (5 Stars)
    • The books captures the attention of the reader straight away. Thrust into a new world of magical design yet with similarities to Earth is so interesting and gripping. As the story develops the reader falls deeper into the amazing storytelling of L. Phillip Naughton, furthering the want to read on. 
  2. Character Development – (5 Stars)
    • The characters development for this book is very well detailed. The journey of the main character, Beniamino, is very insightful as the evidence of real emotions allows the reader to connect with the character.
  3. Educational and Development Value – (4 Stars)
    • The narrative quality of the story allows the reader to understand and engage in dialogue that is advanced and somewhat complex. However this could be difficult for some readers to comprehend. 
  4. Emotional Resonance and Impact – (5 Stars)
    • Portrayal of themes such as friendship, fear, longing and overall struggle encourages the reader to explore empathy for not only the character but also for themselves. 

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