Book 1: The Flight to Bericea (The Summoned Ones) by Darryl A. Woods

From Goodreads

The Bericean army was in Malabrim for the ninth straight fighting season. Over the past 9 years, Zybaro, the leader of a small band of unknowns, had evolved from his days as a minor usurper of a tiny kingdom. Now, almost the entire country of Malabrim was under Zybaro's control, and his army was large enough to easily challenge Bericea's army. Still, Bericea continued its raids into Malabrim, hoping to stem Zybaro's methodical progress and thwart his tyrannical means of control. Zybaro had seized village after village, forcing anyone capable of joining his army and enslaving all who remained in deplorable working conditions to supply his army.

This latest conflict with Zybaro had pushed General Darnon to a decision, one he had resisted making for over a year. Though he still held grave reservations about the Prophecies, he was willing to support the clerics who would attempt the summoning. The details of the ritual had recently been discovered in an ancient tome. The clerics were confident they could bring forth the Summoned Ones of Prophecy, those mysterious beings who would aid Bericea in its time of greatest need.

Darnon also had concerns about the location of the summoning. It would have to take place farther into Malabrim than they had ventured in many years. And even if the ritual was effective, it would be a great challenge to get the Summoned Ones safely back to Bericea, in addition to the soldiers sent to protect them. However, Darnon felt that morale was so low, if they survived this battle, he owed his troops the hope the summoning ritual could bring.

Join the soldiers of Bericea and the Summoned Ones through a life-or-death struggle. The Summoned Ones was made up of a small college aged group of friends from a small Kentucky town near the Daniel Boone National Forrest, who find themselves somehow brought to a chaotic world through magic. Their epic journey will push the Summoned beyond the limits of their endurance. This unlikely group will discover many truths about themselves and experience another world beyond their imagination.

My thoughts

My thanks to Emma of Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to take part in the blog tour for this book.

I gave this a 3.5 stars or 7/10.

This is the first in a series known as The Summoned Ones.  As the group of  friends known as the Summoned Ones leave our world and find themselves in a different world to the one that they are used to, they have to come to terms with a new and unusual environment that is similar to one that they would be reading about in a fantasy novel. They find themselves in the thick of it, as the different sides in the kingdom that they have arrived in are at war against one another in an attempt to break free from an oppressive and ruthless leader known as Zybaro. 

Journey to a world where music has a huge importance on what happens, a world where fantasy and unusual creatures are the norm. Welcome to the fantasy kingdom of Malabrim and all that is happening to it and the people who live there. As the armies of Bericea and the good people try to overcome the evil that lies within it's borders.

Will the group be able to cope in their new environment and will they live up to the expectations of the inhabitants of the world that they find themselves in? 

This is a fantasy story that engages the reader and takes them away from real life. It lets your imagination run free, as the adventure that the Summoned Ones find themselves on evolves in front of your eyes. This story sets the scene nicely for the subsequent stories and the future lives of the Summoned Ones and their new found friends.

This was an interesting read that takes you away from the world that we live in. In my opinion one that fans of Lord of the Rings and similar stories would enjoy. I look forward to reading the next one in the series to see where the Author takes us on this journey.