Wolf Soldier

It has been two generations since the Knights of the Lightraider Order disappeared. The Keledan live behind a mountainous barrier created by the Rescuer, which protects them from the dark creatures in Tanelethar, also known as the Dragon Lands.

Connor Enarian, grandson of a Lightraider Knight, lives a quiet life as a shepherd. He receives a letter inviting him to the reopened Lightraider Academy to train as a Knight with twenty other potential initiates. They must pass the entry trial, or the “Intiate’s Quest” to join the Order. Connor is unsure but agrees to seek the lightraiders out when his Mehma (Mother) and Tehpa (Father) are attacked by a fungus-covered Goblin and his Tehpa is injured. The only person who can save him is a lightraider, so he takes Tehpa to find them. But he doesn’t want to become part of the Order.

He meets Teegan and her twin brother Tiran on the road, who have also been invited to train at the Lightraider Academy. The group are attacked, Connor fights the Goblins and and is injured by an arrow. He is saved by Headmaster Jairun of the Order, who also owns the Inn where they recoup. Only four initiates have come. Connor still refuses to train at the Academy. Jairun tells them to accompany them to the fortress to complete Tehpa’s healing treatment. Connor learns that the Order became mystics who were obsessed with the idea that the Rescuer needed their help against the dragons, leading to their destruction.

Tepha begs Connor to return home with him, but Connor sees that he must take up the fight against the dark creatures that threaten their land. He realises that a lone shepherd can stand against darkness. He rejoins the other initiates and Master Jairun. Their journey—training, defeating dark foes, living on faith—becomes their Initiate’s Quest, and they welcomed as initiates of the Lightraider Academy. They burn the fires of Ras Telesar to let everyone know that the Lightraider Order is restored.

The initiates, now “cadets,” are called to cross mountains into Tanelethar and stop the dark invasion. Connor and his friends make it into the Dragon Lands and find a missing Lightraider and a talking silver wolf, Pedrig, that is the key to saving them all. Kara Orso is a seamstress who lives in Tanelethar. Kara, Hal—the lightraider guard—and her brother Liam are attacked by orcs and they tell her to flee. Connor and the other cadets meet Kara, who is now alone. Kara becomes their guide in the Tanelethar.

It’s revealed that Hal is Faelin Enarian—Connor’s grandfather. They fight against the dragon, and Connor believes the other cadets are dead. Kara and Connor use banishing powder against the dragon and orc army. Faelin and Pedrig sacrifice themselves to take down the dragon, all three vanish into a portal. Another portal opens to take Connor and Kara to the Academy. The epilogue hints that the Keledan people must prepare for an oncoming war against darkness.

The Lightraider Academy series is based on a tabletop role-playing game with faith themes, originally developed in the 80s; elements of the setting are similar to other popular game such as Dungeons and Dragons. Readers will enjoy the worldbuilding and fast-paced action. This is an engaging allegorical fantasy for fans of J.R.R.Tolkien and C.S.Lewis.