Swords of Aerides by Rob Dorsey takes us back into a familiar world with characters who struggle just like we do in life. Prince Darus of Avinon must come of age while facing seemingly insurmountable odds. Can Prince Darus overcome scary beasts? An army of rebels who have one prime directive and that is to destroy Avinon? Can he rise above all of the evils he comes across, remain good, and still manage to find love? These questions and more are answered for the reader who dives into this saga.

Once again, I find myself jumping in and enjoying a science fiction read full of characters that I have grown to love, in a setting that is both familiar and new to me. I truly am overjoyed that I got to read another fantastic story by Rob Dorsey. This is science fiction for everyone; a book that - if you ask me - even defies genres in some ways because it is also an adventure, a romance, and just epic overall. Darus is the kind of character you root for from the moment you meet him; he is good and brave and all things heroic. That doesn't mean he is perfect, and for me it is the moments where you see some of the flaws that are truly the best. I don't want to give spoilers away, but this is truly another exceptional work in this series.

If you haven't read anything in the series yet, you can start here, or you can start at the beginning - either way I highly recommend you start reading. Dive in and feel the same excitement I do with a great cast of characters. Watch how a young Crown Prince knows those who serve him so well that he understands how a middle ranked young officer like Skola can handle a delicate and important task. Best of all, discover some of the strange places where love can be found.

Swords of Aerides is the first book in the Darus of Aerides Pentalogy by Rob Dorsey, an epic fantasy with elements of sci-fi, set on a planet called Aerides. It is the coming of age story of Prince Darus of Avinon and the perils and challenges he has to face on his path to greatness. Watch as he faces dangerous creatures, difficult situations, and a rebellion that is designed to stop him at all cost. Most importantly, it is interesting to watch as he grows in strength and learns to trust in his instincts while he explores love. Does he have what it takes for a destiny as huge as his?

There is a lot to love in this novel. First off, I was enticed by the glorious, exciting writing. Rob Dorsey is the owner of words, a master craftsman of exquisite prose with spellbinding descriptions. Behold the image he offers of one of the characters, allowing the reader to see her just the way he imagined her: “But far from being coarse or brutish, Zurah displayed the powerful grace of a trained dancer with a walk that reminded many of a stalking female voorcat.” The characters are also very interesting and they evolve in a setting that is strangely familiar, thanks to the author’s storytelling skills. He creates a setting that easily comes to the minds of readers, a place they’d love to visit. Swords of Aerides is conflict-driven and readers will love how the characters evolve through the conflict. Well-paced and beautifully-written, this one is an exciting gift to fans of epic fantasy.

Swords of Aerides by Rob Dorsey is the story of a prince who has had it rough, but he is not giving in, not now, not ever. Prince Darus is a fair prince and, as he is rising to power and position in Avinon, he faces challenges that are far more difficult than what he had expected. There is evil around him that he had no idea he would have to combat, but this is not it. He has to confront some unforeseen challenges like beasts that cannot be tamed.

But the real threat is a tyrant leader of a rebellious army, someone who is hell bent on destroying Avinon, and he is not going to stop until he has control of everything and Darus loses it all. However, Darus finds something that brings him solace in trying times. He found love, even when he was not expecting it, but he found her. She becomes his guiding light and his safe place when he is down. But can love give him the strength to fight all the forces against him?

This novel is not for the faint of heart, but it is definitely worth reading. The story is intense, action packed, and unfiltered. If you are not used to graphic violence, then you need to be prepared, but there isn’t too much of it. Darus is a cool, calm and level-headed character; he thinks before he acts and that is what I really appreciated about him. His character was the perfect ruler and his relationships with his people were spot on. I really enjoyed this novel and the overall setting of the story. I really loved it!

Swords of Aerides by Rob Dorsey is a science fiction novel that would appeal most to a mixed audience made up of mature young adults and adults who enjoy stories that take place on different planets and do not mind implied sexual situations and violence. Prince Darus of Avinon is forced to face off against the evils of his planet Aerides as his position rises in his home of Avinon. Avinon faces more threats than ever before and only Prince Darus can hope to stand against the mad tyrant who wishes to destroy his home. Can Prince Darus of Avinon overcome the odds and save his home, or will his name become a mere footnote in history?

Swords of Aerides by Rob Dorsey was an enjoyable coming of age story that took place in a unique environment. The author’s decision to create a brand new planet as the setting for this story was inspired, and Rob Dorsey did a spectacular job in creating such a vibrant and unique environment with his words. I loved the fact that the cover showed some of the characters from the book, as it allowed me to know exactly what they looked like! Prince Darus of Avinon was by far my favorite character. I really enjoyed watching him develop into the person he was meant to be. The fact that his character grew with each adversity he faced made him seem more real, and his development felt natural. Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book and I can only hope the author decides to write a follow up!

Swords of Aerides is the first book in a series called The Darus of Aerides Pentalogy. It is 367 pages long. I like this first book. I liked it enough to keep reading. This will be huge and I am going to be optimistic. Some series like Dune or the Honor Harington books just become better as we learn more and more about the characters. I believe that’s going to be the case with this series and Darus. After all, he is going to have to grow into his role and it is a big role. We are getting a look at the main character well before he has accomplished any of the great things we know are coming, so there is a certain amount of expectation and excitement.

I like Rob Dorsey’s writing style. It is a mixture of action and science fiction that I find very appealing. A lot of writers can’t get it right, but Mr. Dorsey hits the nail right on the head as far as I’m concerned. There is some of everything in Swords of Aerides. The science is there, the action is there. There is politics, infighting, and of course, life and personal growth. I like Darus. I like his friends and family. The characters make more than an impression in the time they get. I like the plot. It is a tried and true one. I like the setting. Science fiction was my first literary love. But most of all, I like how Rob Dorsey writes.