Long ago, a war took place against the Gods. The gods were cruel and controlling and decided the fate of the world on a whim. The Gods had created the guardians, but quickly, their creation turned against them after realizing how cruel the Gods truly were. Offering their aid after the elf and man created an alliance to oppose the Gods. Through this alliance, the guardians, elves, and men created the Nacusti.

Zakolor a 17-year-old boy is as ordinary as they come. He is unathletic, has no magic to claim, and is destined to take over his father's smithy. Regardless of the areas he lacks every year he continues to go to the scout's "test" in the hope that he will be noticed and asked to join the war. This year a noble has taken the place of the usual scout. The noble is searching for someone lost long ago whose destiny is to fight back the darkness that is starting to take over and kill all life in its wake. He is looking for the last living Nacusti and he is not the only one. After a chaotic night, Zakolor is thrown into a world he could have only dreamed of. The only problem? Everyone wants him and the enemy will stop at nothing to have him.

J.R. Douglas did a fantastic job creating a beautiful, detailed world riddled with mystery and powerful magic. Zakolor may be young, but he has decided to take on a huge responsibility. He wants to become powerful and lead an adventurous life. His ancestors may have hidden from the war, but he chose to be different wanting to be on the front line, confronting evil and the darkness killing magic in its path.

I enjoyed reading Zakolor and diving into the world of magic, mystery, power, and secrets. I am excited to continue the story in J.R. Douglas's second book The Black Caladrius.

This book reads like the very best kind of Dungeons and Dragons adventure.

A likeable but clueless hero, creative magic, ongoing world-building, unique pantheon and forces of evil.

And action-packed! Several times, my brain thought, well that was a nat20!

"I'm following a hunch. Thinking, likke you said I should."

Zak is just such a great character. This is a true bildungsroman, and Zak's journey was such an immersive odyssey.

"I think I know how to save Kal, but I can't do it alone."

Zakolor is the first installment in the Nacusti Chronicles by J. R. Doughlas.

The writing style was quite different than what I was used to but it did not stop me from loving the book! The book was quite unique in its own way and I loved Zakolor's character! The dialogues and monologues were well versed and the plot took a turn in the first few chapters.

Overall, it's an enjoyable read!

Thank you so much to the publishers and netgalley.
This was an enjoyable read for me, however I found it repetitive and predictable.
I find hard to stay interested in a story when I don't bond with the main characters and that's what happened here.
It also required a bit more of world building for me so I could be fully immersed!
Nonetheless, I think this is a solid start to a series which has left me intrigued to see what comes next.

Review: This was a good short read. "So why you no give 5 stars!?" Zak. Plane and simple. As a MC, he reeked of hesitation laden with guilt throughout the story. His instances of action were always mired in anger which then flip-flopped back into guilt. Fuuug. Zak was not complex enough to carry the story line but thank goodness to the supporting cast for bailing him out.

It is intimated rather briefly that Sorwin has a hankering for some beef yet thankfully the author does not delve too deep into the gay. Zak has an immeadiate and lasting mage-boner for Olivia, which makes no sense as well.

Besides the YA bent (which is inescapable in Fantasy) this had grounded magic and interesting beings. A solid 4 stars.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

4.2/5

The premise is fine, though not very original. Overall, I found the story to go by way too fast. For example, the revelation about Zakolor being adopted just had no emotional impact because it just went by so fast. Later on there's likewise moments that are supposed to be emotional, but they're over and done with so quickly that leaves no impact. Additionally, the first 2 or 3 chapters have some very clunky world-building, with Zakolor just suddenly dropping a paragraph of explanation about the political system. It stands out as world-building and thus ruins any immersion that might have been established previously.
What I liked about the book was the final fight and the friendship between Zakolor and Kalbick. The fight actually felt like it had immediate and emotional stakes, in a way that the rest of the story didn't.

I will say that this book did grab my imagination with the action between the characters and the magic that happens a lot. The characters are intriguing. Sorwin reads as a strong male god. Thank you to the writer for that. Zak, I have questions about. I know that he’s using this time to grow, but I don’t know at the end I’m not sure if his growing process hindered the closure of the book at the end. I couldn’t connect with the story or the characters.

I love it! I am a fan of J. R. R. Tolkien, so when I come across a book rich in descriptions and with a meticulously crafted world, I'm always ready to dive in. Douglas essentially does this: he weaves an immersive narrative around a few main characters and crafts a plot filled with action and adventure that can't be underestimated. He tells the story in the third person, creating a narrative that captivates the reader with sensitive characters, each with easily distinguishable traits. At the same time, he ensures there are always twists and surprising events to keep the reader's attention high.

One of the aspects I loved most about this novel is the writing style, which is so clear and crisp, with vivid descriptions of places, spells, and characters. Everything is summarized within specific behaviors, occupies a portion of the plot, and is fundamental to making the entire plot structure perfectly understandable.

I find that the amount of suspense, the worldbuilding that has been imagined and brought to life on paper, the ability to tell the story in a dynamic and engaging way, and the active, dynamic, and well-rounded characters make this first book of the saga a must-read.


A full and detailed review will be published on my blog (https://medium.com/@inabookhole) on Tuesday, July 9th. I will talk about it soon on my Instagram profile (@inabookhole), and the review is already available on Goodreads.

Personally, I do not believe I like third-person reads. However, it was not just the perspective that did it for me. I decided to DNF this book for now; I can not finish it without skipping pages. This book lacks a lot of world-building, and for me, that is really important; I like to know what the world around my character looks like when they are riding down the path together; what does it look like? Is it a narrow path with trees along the side or just an open field? It just needs some details. This book also does a lot of telling rather than showing, leading to very little build-up and causing the beginning of the book to feel almost rushed. Just take a moment to stretch out the scenes and give them more personality. I also want more descriptions of characters that help me picture them; the descriptions have tended to be a bit bland. The book does a fantastic job describing the mental processes of magic use and has created a unique storyline I have never heard of before.

If you like sci-fi fantasy then you’ll enjoy this read! It’s one full of adventure and figuring out one’s truth. Good read!

3.75 rounded up

This was a really fun debut. Characters were enjoyable enough, though the time spent with anyone besides Zak felt a little rushed. And sometimes the pacing was a bit off, but I’m still very excited to continue the series.

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley

I did not end up finishing this book. Although the premise was promising and I felt like the characters had a lot of potential, I struggled to connect with them as well as the world they inhabited. For instance, it didn't seem like characters could consistently tell when someone was using magic or not, even those who were magic-users themselves. This, combined with some confused motives for some of the main characters, put me off as I was constantly second-guessing my own thoughts about what was happening in each scene.

I really enjoyed how this book started out. Starts with a bang and it’s very interesting. But not enough happens from 20%-57% to keep my attention. Which is why I ended up DNFong at this point

This book has a start like Attack On Titan and the hero journey path in the vein of Harry Potter and Superman. Although the story keeps a good pace I didn’t think the magic explained seemed all that interesting. I also had difficulty with the side characters. They could have been more fleshed out. There wasn’t much of the story that felt new or different for other stories. For a first book I would say it was decent. Still, I think the story needs more development to stand out in the sea of books that feature a teen boy learning to wield power.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

I am a big fan of 'show dont tell' in stories. It can really immerse a reader in a story but unfortunately Zakalor tells a lot without much showing.

The bones if the story have the potential for a great book, but a lot of small things threw me off of this book. Some descriptions like "dangerous custody" when Zak's best friend was just abducted by a former general turned dark side just seemed odd, and there were several weird phrases and illogical (to me) ones. After finding out he was adopted as a baby he started saying that his adoptive parents weren't his "natural parents", and that just rubbed me the wrong way, because then I read them as being unnatural. I can't possibly know what it's like, but later on saying he's an orphan makes him seem ungrateful for the life his parents, in all but blood, provided for him. Also, three different precious stones throughout the story are descriped with "an impossible array/variation of colours", and that is just annoying to my logical mind because theres a limited amount of colours on the colour spectrum. I have more examples, of small things that prevented me from truly getting into the story. I did have a few laughs at some of the descriptions, because constipation came to mind when Zak's teacher had a "severe but quizzical" expression on his face.

The scene on the ship made my eyes roll, since I can't fathom how a 15 year veteran sailor could possibly run around on deck, swinging a sword around while out at sea. I know the situation was used to showcase Zak using his magic, but if the situation had been different, like fx it had been a storm breaking ropes instead of a swinging sword, the show of magic would have been more impressive since it would have been a fight against mother nature instead of consequences of incompetence.

The magic system was interesting, but could have been more fleshed out, since I got confused, when I thought i had figured out the system, but then a situation would arise and I was left feeling I had misunderstood or overlooked something.

I liked the characters but they could have used some of that "show dont tell". It made them feel shallow that we got to know them through Zak's observations and conversations. Seeing their personalities through actions would've made them more well-rounded. At least we got some of that with the changing character POVs.

I always love a world map so I can see where the story unfolds, and get a feel of this distinctive world so thumbs up for that.

An editor with a thesaurus would have done wonders for this book and could have made it great.

Despite its compelling premise, Zakolor was not for me. I struggled with the predictable story line so I lost interest a lot. I am the person that reads a books in either one sitting or if I struggle it will take me weeks. This book was a pick up start put down and repeat cycle. The book needed a bit more build up and flushing out as the pacing remained odd, hindering my ability to fully immerse myself in the narrative. Though it had its moments, ultimately, Zakolor fell short of expectations. and into the DNF pile.

Hold onto your hats, folks, because J.R. Douglas has concocted a literary potion that's part magic, part heart, and all-around delightful! From the moment I cracked open "Zakolor: Nacusti Chronicles Volume I," I was smitten like a kid in a candy store.

Picture this: Zakolor, our plucky hero, discovers his inner Gandalf when his buddy Kal gets snatched instead of him. Cue a fantastical romp through a world teeming with spells, sorcerers, and creatures with names like they jumped straight out of a whimsy dictionary.

Douglas is a sorcerer of storytelling, weaving a tapestry of rich world-building that's so vibrant, you'll swear you can smell the pemberry juice. And oh, the characters! From the wise Archmagus Tansil Windover to the mischievous Shadoweres, each name rings like a note in a symphony of whimsy.

As Zakolor embarks on his quest to save his friend and maybe the world while he's at it, the plot gallops along like a runaway unicorn, filled with more twists and turns than a roller coaster made of spaghetti.

But fear not, dear reader, for amidst the action and adventure, Douglas sprinkles humor and heart like confetti. No foul language or gross-out moments here—just good, clean, fantastical fun!

And let's talk about Douglas's writing prowess! His descriptions are so vivid, you'll feel like you've stepped into the pages and joined Zakolor on his merry escapade. And that final line? Let's just say it hit me like a magical bolt and had me gasping loud enough to wake the neighborhood!

In conclusion, "Zakolor: Nacusti Chronicles Volume I" is a spellbinding debut that's sure to charm readers of all ages. So, if you're in need of an enchanting escape into a world where the fantastical meets the heartwarming, grab a copy and prepare for a journey you won't soon forget!

posted on goodreads & amazon canada

thank you Netgalley & Firepost Press for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚𖥔˚⋆.˚

okayy, this one definitely took me a while to get fully immersed and it's not because the story was lacking but more so the way it's written is different from what i'm used to! which isn't a bad thing but rather i actually really enjoyed it! (if you've ever read litrpg's - it has a similar writing prose/style - if that's not your cup of tea, you may not enjoy this one as much. i just recently got into the genre so i rlly enjoyed this one).

I loved Zakolor! his character was well developed and well written and I really enjoyed getting his internal monologues. He was also such a relatable character! he's literally living my dreams LOL!

to not get to spoilery- but this story goes by quick!! J. R. Douglas does not play around, only like 12-15 pages in and we get quite a massive turn of events and that's honestly what kept me hooked. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series (੭˃ᴗ˂)੭

also the names in this book? absolutely stunning. honestly takes me back to older fantasy books with those rlly unique names (like Clairise??? beautiful!! wouldn't know how to pronounce tho LOL)

Loved the plot of the book but something was off in it. I don't really know what it was but while I was reading it, It felt weird.

Let me begin by saying thanks & that I enjoyed this book for its different flavor of fantasy than I have been reading lately.

The story was a considerably safe fantasy, that would appeal to the middle school & young teenage group. It progressed swiftly & was a very quick read.

Zak & Kals friendship drives the story almost the entire book, as it's a central impetus for Zaks decisions. It's not the only one but definitely outshines most of the other reasons.

The story provides alot of action, with tamer sword & sorcery.. The story while engaging and interesting to lean, is an often used story type: coming of age, unknown ancestry, power beyond imagination, perilous journey to grow into his powers to save someone close or the world.

Not to be misunderstood -- I enjoyed the book, the world, the magerius and good and evil counterparts, but don't assume this is a whole new type of story, groundbreaking in its ideas...

What this story does do, it does well...leave it at that and move in


Would recommend