Rune of the Apprentice (The Rune Chronicles #1)
by Jamison Stone

In a world where magic, technology, and nature have merged, the few who can control Runes hold dominance over all of creation. All believe that Aleksi, a sixteen-year-old orphan, was blessed to be born with a Rune embedded in his palm, but that’s only because they don’t know the truth―Aleksi’s Rune is so powerful it’s killing him.

Asura, a brutal emperor who uses Runes to conquer entire continents, will stop at nothing to kill Aleksi and claim the boy’s power for his own. With Aleksi’s Rune burning its way through his body and assassins hunting his every step, his survival depends on discerning ally from enemy and learning to tame the competing forces of light and dark within.

With the burden of his rune haunting his days and the prophetic whispers of a young captive priestess illuminating his nights, Aleksi will be able to unravel the mysteries of his past, rescue the girl in his dreams, and challenge the most powerful warlord the world has ever known only if the one thing keeping him alive―his Rune―does not kill him first.

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Review

Rating: 4 stars

*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoyed reading Rune of the Apprentice which is the first novel in The Rune Chronicles series. The story follows young apprentice Aleksi who was born with a rune on his palm; a rune that will grant him with a vast power, if it doesn’t end up killing him first.

The world building in Rune of the Apprentice is excellent. The author has gone to a lot of trouble and taken much time to craft his universe and all the characters within it. Page by page you are immediately drawn into the world of Terra. Aleksi’s development as a character was subtle and natural as the novel progressed. I liked the supporting cast a lot and the friendships that were forged between the characters. The action scenes flow well and keep you on the edge of your seat.

To sum up, Rune of the Apprentice is a wonderfully descriptive and well-crafted read with many carefully thought-out and developed characters. The plot itself is very engaging and a natural page-turner. I look forward to reading the second novel in the series.