P.H. Solomon's Reviews > The Bow of Destiny

This is not my review since I am the author. Instead, I'm just sharing additional 5-star reviews from elsewhere:

New 5 Star rating from a reviewer on NetGalley:
"Wow. The characters are larger than life in this. You could almost expect them to climb out of the pages, I'm not even kidding (and promise I'm more sane than Athson at the beginning).. This story is very well-written. It certainly leaves you desperately wanting more. There's a good thing there are more books, though I can hardly contain my excitement for the next one. Another awesome author has made it onto my reading list. Do yourself a favor if you love fantasy and adventures. Give this a read. Comes highly recommended."

This is not a rating per se but it is a nice compliment from my Twitter feed: "I like your style Elmore Leonard would've read this No clutter Good description"

These are the latest reviews posted on Amazon:
5-stars from Victor
Destiny can be... inconvenient, but is always unavoidable.
Without any spoilers, I can only say that the author was wise in his choices. The characters are multi-dimensional, yet true to the tone of the epic fantasy in progress. You will find yourself spending far too much time reading this one, and neglecting other things. But in the end you'll have had a ride in a world of magic, and more. The journey to.... but that's a spoiler, so all I'll say is that one can almost see the trail, and fear the Trolls.

5-stars from Over the Rainbow:
If You Enjoy Tolkien, You'll Enjoy This Novel
Trolls, goblins, wizards, elves, giants, and dragons, oh my! The Bow of Destiny is a classic fantasy story full of fantastical creatures, magic, quests, and adventure...and just a smattering of romance. If you enjoy Tolkien, you'll enjoy this novel. That being said, this is only the first book in the series, so be prepared for some threads to be left hanging. If you're someone who wants to read the whole story in one go, you might want to wait for the series to be finished before starting this book. Overall, however, it was a fun read that moved fast enough to keep me engaged but had enough depth that I cared about the characters. Five stars.

Here's a newer 5-star review from Amazon (Malikai):
The writing style is great, really enjoyed reading this book. Couldn't put it down. OK...so book 2?

"The Bow of Destiny is book one in the epic fantasy series The Bow of Hart Saga by author P.H. Solomon. The book follows a protagonist by the name of Athson. Athson is a very haunted and uncertain individual. His tragic and sad upbringing not only takes a toll on his overall personality and character, but also on his sense of reality. He can't be certain what is real and what is not....well, except for all the terrifying trolls and creatures that hunt him. That is the only certainty in his life. When a mysterious bow comes into his world, what is he to believe? Is this something that has the power to change his life and allow something good to finally happen to him or is this just another illusion, destined to bring him down further.

I found this book to be a very entertaining and interesting read. I think fans of The Lord of the Rings and other epic fantasy reads will find a lot to like here. Athson reminded me of Aragorn at times (which is a very good thing), and Solomon creates a rich and descriptive world for readers to immerse themselves in. The premise in my opinion was unique, complex and riveting all at the same time. I was really rooting for Athson to find himself and discover a happier life, leaving his haunting past where it belongs - in the past. The cover is great too. I think it really encompasses the story as well as the fantasy genre. I would recommend The Bow of Destiny to all fans of epic adventure and fantasy genres. I am really looking forward to continuing the adventure in book two!"

Reviewed by Charity Tober for Readers' Favorite - 5 Stars

"After ten years of suffering through the memories of the troll attack that destroyed his village and left everyone but him dead, Athson discovers that there may be more to his fits and nightmares than he and his friend Gweld, the elf, realize. P.H. Solomon takes you through the trials and tribulations Athson experiences as he is set on a course of action to find a family heirloom that he doesn't even know is from his own family.

In The Bow of Destiny: The Bow of Hart Saga Book 1, Athson teams up with the Withling Hastra, a remnant of an ancient race, a princess from another kingdom searching for her place in life, a giant sentenced to help others, and some dwarves to try to find the famous Bow of Hart that Athson's father hid many years earlier. Fighting trolls and the evil Corgren, servant to the Dragon Lord Magdronu, the group experiences setbacks and obstacles at almost every turn. With each person holding a little something about themselves back from the group, will it be possible for them to work together to actually solve the problem and defeat the evil menace?

Intense action, strong characters, and a life or death quest combine to make The Bow of Destiny: The Bow of Hart Saga Book 1 a true fantasy epic. P.H. Solomon writes with energy and emotion so you are easily caught up in not only Athson's quest, but the reasons that have brought all the characters together. Well done! I truly enjoyed reading the story and can't wait for more. This is an excellent first volume for a series that promises to deliver true reading pleasure. This is a book that should do very well."

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite - 5 Stars

"The Bow of Destiny by P.H. Solomon is a fantasy adventure that begins with our hero reliving the moment when he lost his parents during an attack. Memories of Corgren, trolls, and being told to run. He awakens from the fit, and realizes that he had forgotten his medicine; soul-ease. He recalled visiting Eagle's Aerie, Zelma the Withling, and receiving the package containing the letter and the bow string that accompanied it as part of his inheritance. Raised by the elves to be a ranger, Athson and his best friend, Gweld, are attacked by trolls. They get separated while escaping with the help of a giant named Ralda. The group finally makes it to Harky's Post, where Athson meets Limbreth, and Hastra the Withling. Someone has stolen her book, and it is tied to the prophesy of his inheritance and the Bow of Destiny."


"P.H. Solomon has a talent that most literary agents refer to as spinning a yarn. As the story began, it seemed to me at the time to be a little too wordy, but that thought quickly faded as I began to appreciate his talent for vividly describing everything from Athson's strengths and weaknesses to the beginning of a romance. Mr. Solomon's characters are well developed, and although they can't seem to be honest with each other, they know that they are in for the long haul, through thick and thin. Having to go through the hardships of random attacks, trading posts being destroyed, and other delays, they become a cohesive unit. The dwarves, having adopted the sword maiden Limbreth as one of their own, are teaching her about their ways. The Bow of Destiny is the first book of The Bow of Hart Saga and, as the chase nears its end, events begin to happen that leave the reader champing at the bit for more. Bravo, Mr. Solomon!"

Reviewed by Stephen Fisher for Readers' Favorite, 5 Stars