“It is what it is. You’re caught in the flow of existence and fate, but you get to decide if you enjoy it or not. It’s the only choice you have at this moment. Maybe it’s the only choice you ever really had.”
The author, Kent Wayne grew up in the US. After high school, he joined the military for ten years, got out, went to school, and started writing. He enjoys dogs, philosophy and tower defence games. He is influenced by writers such as Stephen King and comic book artist Brian Michael Bendis. His works include ‘Echo ,’ ‘Musings ,’ ‘Kor’Thank: Barbarian Valley Girl ’ and ‘The Unbound Realm, Volumes 1 and 2 .’
‘Weapons of Old’ is the sequel to ‘A Door into Evermoor.’ When Jon Dough and Erany return to Evermoor after what feels like only two days in the Earth realm, they find that a full year has passed in Evermoor. A shadow still looms over Evermoor, cast by the tyrannical White-Veiled Queen, Lyderea, who is taxing people’s auras, stealing the very essence of who they are. What follows is a sprawling quest that weaves through surreal landscapes, alternate dimensions, and heart-wrenching moral decisions. We’re talking pirate legions, magical swords, dryad strongholds, ancient golems, and simulated tests that blur the line between illusion and reality. Alongside familiar faces, Ren, Nyanti, Elier, Gyrax, and Lucky — Jon is forced to confront not only monsters and magic, but himself. He’s not a perfect hero. He makes mistakes. He lets people down. He wonders aloud whether he chose this path… or if it chose him.
Much like the first book, Weapons of Old is deeply layered. Beneath the magic and monsters, Jon keeps asking: Is this really what I wanted when I longed for ‘Something different?’ Kent Wayne proves again that he’s not writing fantasy for the sake of escapism. He’s writing it to explore what we fear, what we desire, and what it really means to choose our path — or be chosen by it.
It’s a refreshing take on the “chosen one” trope. Rather than lean into it, Wayne deconstructs it, filling the journey with questions about identity, fate, and freedom. From bizarre new creatures to epic battles, it is a tale that is as thoughtful as it is thrilling — all without ever giving his hero an easy way out. Jon isn’t sure he wants to be the Prophesized Traveler, yet that mantle clings to him.
The relationship between Jon and Erany (his half-elf girlfriend) anchors this book beautifully. Their romance is believable, imperfect, and refreshingly grounded in real emotion. They laugh, argue, struggle — but at the heart of it, they’re a team. Their journey through an alternate dimension is one of the book’s most surreal and quietly affecting segments.
And let’s not forget the cast of supporting characters. There’s Roffy, the ogre with a detective’s mind and a sword in his brain — a tragic yet strangely noble figure. And Lucky, the fast-talking thief with a cynic’s heart, whose arc delivers one of the story’s most emotional payoffs.
As Jon navigates Evermoor, he often compares it to the world of ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ poking fun at the absurdities of fantasy even as he’s living through them. These self-aware nods to genre fiction serve both as comic relief and as genuine meditations on why we seek fantasy in the first place. It’s not just about swords and spells but also poignant moments of personal transformation and soulful contemplation.
Wayne mixes absurdist comedy with epic fantasy. The novel’s greatest strength lies in how it blends high fantasy with psychological depth, pairing sword fights with soul-searching questions about fate and free will. The narrative voice can be characterised as witty, unfiltered, and deeply human. The book might appeal not only to fantasy lovers, but also to readers of psychological fiction or metaphysical thrillers.
At times, the novel’s vast ambition threatens to overshadow its emotional core. While the imaginative world-building and relentless pacing are a strength, at times the narrative becomes dense with characters and references. Somewhere in the middle, you tend to look for a bit more clarity or tighter cohesion between the high-concept ideas and the core plot. But if you enjoy bold ideas and a touch of chaos in your fantasy, this just makes the ride so much more fun.
One of the most likeable elements of the book is how deeply human Jon feels, despite the fantastical setting. His struggles with self-doubt, his search for meaning, and his honest emotional responses—especially when faced with failure or unexpected twists—ground the story in a relatable emotional core. Add to that the chemistry between him and Erany, the humor sprinkled through the dialogues, and the loyal, unpredictable band of companions, and you have a world that feels as emotionally rich as it is imaginatively grand.
This fantastical tale is available on Amazon and Kindle. Go and check it out. If you want to know more about the author, you can follow him on Facebook , Twitter , and Goodreads . He also has his own website named dirtyscifibuddha.com
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