I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A young Goth warrior must fight to secure freedom for his people in author Les Jauron’s “Wallia’s Quest Book 1: Beyond the Donaws.”

The Synopsis

“My name is Wallia, and I am a Goth.” With these words, Wallia begins the story of his forty-year quest for freedom from Roma and a homeland for his people. In this first book of the series, Wallia is a determined teenager eager to make his mark as the son of Athanaric, the pagan leader of the Goths.

When the Romans attack his people, Wallia goes to war with his father and distinguishes himself by his bravery. But then, in defiance of his father, Wallia becomes a Christian. Disowned by Athanaric, Wallia flees to his father’s rival, a Christian named Fritigern. As Wallia grows from a boy into a man, he quickly becomes one of Fritigern’s most trusted retainers and is at his patron’s side during the Goths’ unsuccessful war against the savage Huns.

After the Goths are driven from their homes by the Huns, Fritigern is forced to ask the Romans for sanctuary. Although Fritigern and his people are initially accepted by the Romans, the Goths are mistreated by corrupt Roman officials and forced into rebellion. In the war that follows, Wallia again distinguishes himself by his military skill, judgement, and bravery.

Although Fritigern now treats Wallia like a son, Fritigern’s actual son, Eriulf, sees Wallia as a threat and does everything he can to eliminate his rival. The story then devolves into a shifting web of alliances, intrigues, battles, and tragedies as Wallia does his best to support Fritigern but is undermined by Eriulf at every turn. Eventually, rejected by his patron, Wallia must make a series of difficult choices to maintain his honor and help his people to gain the freedom and permanent home they so desperately need.

The Review

This was such a rich and compelling historical fiction read. The author did an incredible job of offering detailed and fascinating insight into an era of Roman history that highlighted the struggles tribes and other cultures, such as the Goths, faced as they assimilated into the Roman Empire. The author’s powerful imagery transported readers to the period, and the level of detail made the narrative feel authentic and engaging at once.

The character development and rich history were the two cornerstones of this book. The protagonist was complex, sparing no details, as the first-person perspective gave the story an almost introspective, thoughtful tone. The complicated family drama of Wallia’s upbringing, as well as the complex political and military allegiances and betrayals he had to navigate as he rose through the ranks of his people and the Roman Empire, all spoke to the character’s sense of honor and duty. The historical detail that explored this time period was astounding, and the balance between history and fictional narrative was perfect in this story.

The Verdict

Visceral, compelling, and engaging, author Les Jauron’s “Wallia’s Quest Book 1: Beyond the Donaws” is a must-read historical fiction novel. The twists and turns in Wallia’s personal story, the dynamic historical setting that came alive on the page with intrigue, the conflicted nature of Wallia as a character, and the harrowing ending will give readers a reason to eagerly return for the next entry in this fantastic series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Les Jauron is a West Point graduate, a retired Army officer, and a retired college administrator. He has two graduate degrees – a Master’s in Military Arts and Sciences from the School for Advanced Military Studies, and a Master’s in Business Administration from Oklahoma City University.

Les has always been fascinated by history, organizational leadership, politics, military affairs, and rocks. He’s always been fascinated by the ancient world and, particularly, late antiquity.  The reason for this fascination is because that world did much to shape our world today.  During that time, the Roman Empire dealt with many of the same issues we are experiencing in our modern world — immigration, great disparities of wealth, the interplay between Christianity and government, and a toxic political environment that causes politicians to leverage fear of “the other” to gain and maintain power.  

Les and his wife, Zoela, lived in their motor home for four years after Les retired for the second time and traveled extensively through the western United States. After ending their RV odyssey, Les and Zoela settled for a few years in Clarkdale, Arizona before moving to Chico California to be closer to their three children and nine grandchildren.

During their wanderings, Les grew to love red rocks and exploring slot canyons, hoo-doos, arches and natural bridges, and ancient petroglyphs and pictographs. After settling in Arizona, he began collecting rocks of every sort — which are now strewn throughout the house and the backyard. Recently, Les and Zoela moved to Chico, California to be nearer to their three children and nine grandchildren. 

But writing is Les’ greatest passion. He uses fiction as his medium to entertain, to educate, provoke thought, challenge assumptions, and inspire change.

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