The Helot — John Edgell

If you are a fantasy fiction lover, you will find The Helot an enchanting read. It is the first book in author John Edgell's Accidental Hero series. Confronted with death or dungeon Tor must prove himself. Tor is a gentle, kindhearted miffit -- a race distantly related to hobbits -- who finds himself shipwrecked on the shores of an unknown realm inhabited by dwarves, elves, bakru, and a sage or two. Although he has been christened a helot (servant) by Baruch, Lord of Realms, he wonders why he was sent to this strange realm. Meanwhile, desiring to rule the realm and make Baruch suffer, the Tarnished Seraph determines to destroy the helot. As a result, Tor is drawn into unsought adventures fraught with danger. Struggling with fear, weakness and inadequacy, he becomes one of the accidental heroes of this series. We often think of heroes as exceptional god-like men of renown. More often, heroes are the little people of life who make the sacrifice to do what needs to be done in the face of the daunting challenges of life. Most heroes are “accidental heroes.” They have no intention of being a hero, and they are not in pursuit of fame. However, in the face of a just cause they are inadvertently faced with “fight or flight,” and while many would choose flight, the hero chooses fight, the sacrifice of self-interest for the good of others. Such is our hero in The Helot. Dragged from the surf on the shores of an unfamiliar realm, when thrust into unsought perils of danger and death, Tor grapples with weakness, failings and fear. He is the prey of diabolic fiends, stands face to face with the fiery eyes and steaming nostrils of a fire-breathing dragon, encounters the Praise Maker while in his search for Vin Bethia, an enchanted wine, and his mettle and endurance are tested by a magical worm. A fantasy fiction lover commented: “The Helot is Christian fantasy fiction at its best! A page-turner… Faced with impossible odds, Tor's faith, courage, and endearing character somehow encourage us to face our own life struggles in similar fashion. “Human” in his fears, you see a very down to earth super-hero in unlikely form.” Another fantasy fiction lover commented: “A mix of fantasy and yet Godly tenets throughout, this book entertains, inspires, and touches your heart in unexpected ways. John Edgell is a masterful story-teller with a superb gift of language and creative genius. He places you into his imaginary worlds where all things are possible.” Another writes: “It is well written and an enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to reading more books in the series and seeing what adventures Tor will go on next. If you're a fan of Fantasy [fantasy fiction lover], or if you are looking for something fun and different to read then this is a great book for you, I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.” Almost every fantasy fiction lover is looking for a new read, an innovative and mind-engaging author with a fresh approach to writing fantasy fiction. This author writes a broad spectrum of fantasy books, from medieval fantasy to pirate fantasy, from fairytales to allegories, and from fun anthologies to pirate fantasies. John is a prolific writer with an incredible imagination. He has written more than thirty books including his numerous Quick Read Books and several epic length books. So, fantasy fiction lover, let The Helot take you on a new and fascinating journey into a world of reality wrapped in the garb of fantasy.