I thought you might like to hear about AIA Publishing’s latest release The Golden Codex by William Sandberg. It’s a metaphysical fantasy in the epic or high-fantasy genre. See details below including my full review of the book.
Description
At his father’s urging, a teenage boy finds himself working in an antique store while learning arcane skills and knowledge from the owner. While exploring the basement, he unintentionally converts a black coal from the dawn of creation into a mutating manuscript engraved on gold. When a much-feared magus finds out, the boy’s mentor destroys the manuscript and casts it into gold ingots to prevent the magus from accessing the knowledge it contains. But the boy receives a psychic image of the text and becomes a carrier of the golden codex.
The magus, keen to have the knowledge for himself, enslaves the boy in another realm, where he discovers that resistance, even valiantly fought beside a company of champions, is no match for the powerful master. To escape the realm he must enter a deadly contest that promises freedom for the winner and death for the vanquished.
“The Golden Codex by William Sandberg is a life’s journey tale that follows Piers as he develops
and hones his skills, and discovers the power he holds within, as he prepares for a fateful final confrontation with the powers that be of the Ordinath. An intricate weaving of the real, the modern, with the fantasy universe from which the powers that motivate the Ordinath originate. Sandberg’s universe is totally believable; even the ‘magical’ elements are credible. Characters are easy to identify and empathize with.” Charles Ray. Reviewer for Awesome IndiesBooks.
“As well as having all the exciting elements we expect in a good fantasy, The Golden Codex has a deep metaphysical vision that is fascinating and gripping. It’s a rare work, something very special in the style of epic fantasy, but it’s not for everyone. If you’re looking for a light read, this isn’t it.
“The world Sandburg has created is complex but consistent in its parameters and well drawn. The words for aspects of the world are not easy to remember or pronounce, but if you don’t try to pronounce them, it’s not a problem. You may find it takes a while to get into, but stick with it, because this is the beginning of a series that might be quite a ride.
“The story is unpredictable, I really had no idea where it might go next, and the central character is a kind of old-soul in a young body. He grows up fast though – he has to once plunged into a different reality – so it’s also a coming of age novel.
“If you like metaphysical fantasy and weighty epic fantasy, then this is a book you’ll enjoy.” Tahlia Newland, editor.
About the Author
William Sandberg is a Canadian writer enchanted from early years onward by stories bound to other worlds, fantasies and hidden realities that crystalize to a transpersonal reality. While focussed daily on the usual career concretions, he always shaved off some time for “the story” that he would one day ink in. He studied surrealist and fantasy writing with Michael Bullock for several years in Vancouver, and that propelled him into an odyssey of decades where the shores of perception and dream drift and mingle. Enriched yet unfulfilled, he broke away and returned to “the story.” The fragment called The Golden Codexis how it starts.