What do you think?
Rate this book
Beyond The Mark: Ashes of the Hero
Flynn, a once-revered hero of his homeland, awakens after five years of forced slumber only to find himself branded as the infamous "Marked Wraith," a fugitive accused of crimes he doesn’t remember committing. The world he left behind has changed dramatically, filled with new alliances, forbidden magic, and treacherous enemies who want him dead. Alone and hunted, Flynn must uncover the truth behind his lost years, confront those who betrayed him, and find a way to clear his name.
His path crosses with Orion, a mysterious mage looking for her next big score. Reluctantly drawn together, Flynn and Orion must learn to trust one another while facing both their inner demons and the physical dangers lurking in a world filled with deceit and hidden agendas. From blood-soaked battlefields to enigmatic manors harboring dark secrets, the duo must harness forbidden powers to stand a chance against Victor, the ruthless council leader whose ambitions threaten everything Flynn once stood for.
Filled with heart-pounding action, morally complex characters, and a dash of dark humor, Beyond The Mark is a tale of redemption, betrayal, and the fight for freedom in a world where loyalty is fleeting, and the truth can be as deadly as the lies.
Perfect for fans of dark fantasy, anti-heroes, and high-stakes adventure.
Will Flynn reclaim his lost honor, or will the darkness within consume him? Find out in Beyond The Mark, a gripping debut that’s sure to leave you breathless!
His path crosses with Orion, a mysterious mage looking for her next big score. Reluctantly drawn together, Flynn and Orion must learn to trust one another while facing both their inner demons and the physical dangers lurking in a world filled with deceit and hidden agendas. From blood-soaked battlefields to enigmatic manors harboring dark secrets, the duo must harness forbidden powers to stand a chance against Victor, the ruthless council leader whose ambitions threaten everything Flynn once stood for.
Filled with heart-pounding action, morally complex characters, and a dash of dark humor, Beyond The Mark is a tale of redemption, betrayal, and the fight for freedom in a world where loyalty is fleeting, and the truth can be as deadly as the lies.
Perfect for fans of dark fantasy, anti-heroes, and high-stakes adventure.
Will Flynn reclaim his lost honor, or will the darkness within consume him? Find out in Beyond The Mark, a gripping debut that’s sure to leave you breathless!
337 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 6, 2024
33 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 29, 2024
This was cr@p, it reads like it was written by a 12 year old, it was formulaic, plodding, predictable, even the names that the author gave characters were childish: Flynn. Orion.
After reading the first few pages it was clear that the short story is cr@p, and going to the end of the story and reading back a few pages, I saw that it did not improve.
After reading the first few pages it was clear that the short story is cr@p, and going to the end of the story and reading back a few pages, I saw that it did not improve.
December 11, 2024
This is really good!
I'm usually not a fantasy fan. This was well written and not confusing. I like when writers toss in humor too...
I'm usually not a fantasy fan. This was well written and not confusing. I like when writers toss in humor too...
March 7, 2025
I enjoyed this different take on magic and heroes. Flynn, the "Hero", appears in the story having been unconscious for five years. He's totally at sea on what's been happening since he blacked out. He's found by Orion, the female captain of a fishing boat, in a barrel brought in by her nets.
She knows enough of the history to inform Flynn that he's a wanted criminal, supposedly the mastermind of a criminal gang. That would be difficult for him since he was asleep for all those years. He was the designated Hero and we'd first met him battling a dark mage. Then he wakes up vaguely recalling his friends who were his fellow heroes. They have all disappeared as far as he knows.
Orion takes pity on him and says she'll bring him to the city of the mages to clear his name (he couldn't be the criminal everyone believed him to be).
The rest of the book follows Flynn and Orion on Flynn's road to discovery of who, what, when, why, and all those other questions he has.
So, the good part is following Flynn's slowly dawning self-discovery and that he was also a magic user, but of dark magic. Another problem to be solved.
The book is an interesting take on magic (each person has a particular skill or skills). I like the hero because he's not heroic, just a confused young man who needs help discovering himself. I like Orion because she's competent and willing to help Flynn in his journey.
No more plot from me. I don't like reviews that tell the whole story. Write your own book if you want, but leave this author's book to him.
Good job, Kevin Gallant. I'll be looking for the continuing story of Flynn and Orion, and the addition of another strong woman with magic and fighting skills, Gemini.
She knows enough of the history to inform Flynn that he's a wanted criminal, supposedly the mastermind of a criminal gang. That would be difficult for him since he was asleep for all those years. He was the designated Hero and we'd first met him battling a dark mage. Then he wakes up vaguely recalling his friends who were his fellow heroes. They have all disappeared as far as he knows.
Orion takes pity on him and says she'll bring him to the city of the mages to clear his name (he couldn't be the criminal everyone believed him to be).
The rest of the book follows Flynn and Orion on Flynn's road to discovery of who, what, when, why, and all those other questions he has.
So, the good part is following Flynn's slowly dawning self-discovery and that he was also a magic user, but of dark magic. Another problem to be solved.
The book is an interesting take on magic (each person has a particular skill or skills). I like the hero because he's not heroic, just a confused young man who needs help discovering himself. I like Orion because she's competent and willing to help Flynn in his journey.
No more plot from me. I don't like reviews that tell the whole story. Write your own book if you want, but leave this author's book to him.
Good job, Kevin Gallant. I'll be looking for the continuing story of Flynn and Orion, and the addition of another strong woman with magic and fighting skills, Gemini.
January 1, 2025
Ended up being unable to finish it.
It's a pretty basic Fantasy Story in general, doesn't take any real risks or do anything new and while I'm not one to say you always need to reinvent the wheel while making stories like this what I read was so formulaic I didn't feel a need to continue.
Some passages were very strange as well with wording and pacing that seemed odd given the context. I'm unsure if the author used ChatGP or some other generative AI for the writing, but some passages feel like they might have. If not that, then it feels like I'm reading a middle draft that still needed some more edits and changes before getting to the Final Draft. A few pages had Orion suddenly be referred to with male pronouns, despite being a girl, for instance.
Characters felt a bit bland, but I saw potential in where they were headed at the very least. I liked some of the interactions between Flynn and Orion and thought they had the potential of an interesting dynamic, but it always stopped short before getting anywhere.
If you want something simple and not needing to think about, then this book might be up your alley. But there are better books out there with simple stories like it if that's what you want.
It's a pretty basic Fantasy Story in general, doesn't take any real risks or do anything new and while I'm not one to say you always need to reinvent the wheel while making stories like this what I read was so formulaic I didn't feel a need to continue.
Some passages were very strange as well with wording and pacing that seemed odd given the context. I'm unsure if the author used ChatGP or some other generative AI for the writing, but some passages feel like they might have. If not that, then it feels like I'm reading a middle draft that still needed some more edits and changes before getting to the Final Draft. A few pages had Orion suddenly be referred to with male pronouns, despite being a girl, for instance.
Characters felt a bit bland, but I saw potential in where they were headed at the very least. I liked some of the interactions between Flynn and Orion and thought they had the potential of an interesting dynamic, but it always stopped short before getting anywhere.
If you want something simple and not needing to think about, then this book might be up your alley. But there are better books out there with simple stories like it if that's what you want.
January 10, 2025
A truly amazing, beautiful and wondrous novel and story, created to inspire, entertain readers with an ever changing perspective and sense of awe, a world created where change constantly taking your emotions on a rollercoaster.
Kevin Galiant has created a great first ever novel, which will make you feel, hope, anger, sadness and more.
His world building, and character development are flawless as can be seen here in this book, there are a few things that make this an easy read, however, it is a magnificent piece and first step in this journey.
He’s going to settle on his style in time, and will only improve his own focus, the only problem for my myself is that the cover art is not up to the standards of the industry and it’s causing the book to lack its shine and sparkle, as it could have done far better.
Saying that as a first time author and writer publishing his work, he had exceeded all expectations of what could be achieved by his own standards alone, he’s definitely not an author to be missed, as great things are coming from him in the future.
One of the best, unique works for 2025, glad to have been given the opportunity to read it.
Thanks Kevin.
Kevin Galiant has created a great first ever novel, which will make you feel, hope, anger, sadness and more.
His world building, and character development are flawless as can be seen here in this book, there are a few things that make this an easy read, however, it is a magnificent piece and first step in this journey.
He’s going to settle on his style in time, and will only improve his own focus, the only problem for my myself is that the cover art is not up to the standards of the industry and it’s causing the book to lack its shine and sparkle, as it could have done far better.
Saying that as a first time author and writer publishing his work, he had exceeded all expectations of what could be achieved by his own standards alone, he’s definitely not an author to be missed, as great things are coming from him in the future.
One of the best, unique works for 2025, glad to have been given the opportunity to read it.
Thanks Kevin.
April 13, 2025
This is a fantasy series that has some great elements. The characters of Flynn, Orion, Gemini, and even Victor, are well written and the dynamic with Flynn and Orion is solid.
Flynn, with no memory of the last several years finds out that he's the most wanted fugitive in the land, instead of the hero he had been. The story starts off with the events prior to Flynn's missing time. Then jumps to when he's found.
The journey Flynn and Orion take to try to find out answers, and clear his name, is the heart of your fantasy story.
The pacing is good, the story moves at a good pace and there is plenty of action. The plot and characters are engaging.
The story style and narrative flow felt a little choppy, especially in the first half of the book, but it fell into more of a natural rhythm by the last half. All the elements are there, it just needed a little polishing.
Bottom line, I did enjoy this and I would absolutely read the next book, not just to get answers, but because the story says the characters were enjoyable.
Flynn, with no memory of the last several years finds out that he's the most wanted fugitive in the land, instead of the hero he had been. The story starts off with the events prior to Flynn's missing time. Then jumps to when he's found.
The journey Flynn and Orion take to try to find out answers, and clear his name, is the heart of your fantasy story.
The pacing is good, the story moves at a good pace and there is plenty of action. The plot and characters are engaging.
The story style and narrative flow felt a little choppy, especially in the first half of the book, but it fell into more of a natural rhythm by the last half. All the elements are there, it just needed a little polishing.
Bottom line, I did enjoy this and I would absolutely read the next book, not just to get answers, but because the story says the characters were enjoyable.
January 6, 2025
I was excited about this book! Found the author on bluesky and love supporting indie authors, that being said, this book was disappointing. It was my first read for 2025 and I'm sad to say I dnfd it. I was a chapter & a half in. I literally could not get past the lack of editing, the repetitive writing style, & the way it didn't seem to flow together. I'm all for time jumps, but when you don't even acknowledge that's what's happening, it throws you.
I can't speak on the AI claims, but I can say for sure it did not seem like an editor/proofreader was a part of this process at all. The story was not ready to be called a final draft. The world itself doesn't make any sense either. Are they in some ancient times? Are they in modern times?
Also, how does one lock a ship up before they go? Seriously
I can't speak on the AI claims, but I can say for sure it did not seem like an editor/proofreader was a part of this process at all. The story was not ready to be called a final draft. The world itself doesn't make any sense either. Are they in some ancient times? Are they in modern times?
Also, how does one lock a ship up before they go? Seriously
December 28, 2024
suspenseful Fantasy
This was a very entertaining story, from the first page I felt apart of the story. I couldn’t put it down for I needed to know what came next. At time there was so much action it was hard to follow the characters and the story. If you are a die hard fantasy lover you will enjoy this story. I have high hopes for this author; his editing needs a little polishing, there were points the story was hard to follow. It was a very poignant thought provoking story. Good luck.
This was a very entertaining story, from the first page I felt apart of the story. I couldn’t put it down for I needed to know what came next. At time there was so much action it was hard to follow the characters and the story. If you are a die hard fantasy lover you will enjoy this story. I have high hopes for this author; his editing needs a little polishing, there were points the story was hard to follow. It was a very poignant thought provoking story. Good luck.
January 15, 2025
I loved this story, However, I actually rated it as 3.5. I hope there is a second one coming! There is plenty this book left unsaid, and a whole new journey left to go on with these characters. Although I found myself asking a lot of questions that were never answered or explained fully. I loved the side characters, however their descriptions were sometimes repetitive, a certain one called "almost childlike" too many times in a short period. I'd like to see more of these characters, and where the story goes from here, hopefully having the questions I had answered!! ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2025
I struggled with this book, and have chosen not to finish. I have a sense that there is a gem of a story tucked away somewhere but awkward delivery and erratic pacing made it hard to enjoy. Ultimately there are too many books on my TBR list to persist with something that isn’t bringing joy.
I tend to agree with other reviewers, either the author has relied too heavily on ChatGPT (or similar) or published a draft that needed further editing.
I wouldn’t recommend this edition to others.
I tend to agree with other reviewers, either the author has relied too heavily on ChatGPT (or similar) or published a draft that needed further editing.
I wouldn’t recommend this edition to others.
January 9, 2025
A decent story line, and a good first book for the author. I’d have love to have seen the characters develop more complex relationships and see them tested more.
I’m excited to see if the world gets more fleshed out as the series continues.
I’m excited to see if the world gets more fleshed out as the series continues.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.