There Will Be One

For generations, Windshine has chronicled the exploits of young men on quests to become heroes. Most suffered brutal deaths, and distrust of the Dark Elf grew until rogue officials offer sixteen-year-old archer, Woo Jin, the chance to eliminate her. If he succeeds, they will name him hero. If he fails, he can never return home.

In the company of musicians, veterans, and the wielder of the glyph blade, Woo Jin sails from Jeju to the mainland. Their quest— to evacuate Goseong, the village of children, from the devastated borderlands of South and North Hanguk. Unbeknownst to Woo Jin’s companions, he studies Windshine for weaknesses even as he wonders what evil lurks in the Dark Elf.Reaching the village, the companions encounter a fierce horde of northern soldiers.

Battling to survive, Woo Jin spots the perfect opportunity to fulfill his mission, but will he assassinate the Dark Elf to become a hero? 

Title: There Will Be One

Author: Todd Sullivan

Genre: Fantasy

Hardcover:  146 pages

Publication Date: 04/25/2020

Publisher: Mocha Memoirs Press

Language: English

ISBN: 0999852299

ISBN-13: 9780999852293

My Review

The second book in the Windshine Chronicles is a perfect blend of Korean culture and fantasy that brims with action, heart, and betrayal. For the semi-short page count, the story of THERE WILL BE ONE is amazingly engaging and enamors with graceful writing that harmonizes the integrity of martial arts on to paper with concise restraint. Beautiful preservation of intangible cultural heritage fused with fantastical elements.

“You must become a hero while you are young, for it will not happen when you are old.”

Woo Jin, age 16, from JeJu Island is trained in honorable combat and sent, like so many other young men before him and other generations before that, to the Seoraksan Mountains. But something will be different on this mission apart from the common goal. He has been assigned a secret task, to assassinate the Dark Elf, Windshine, who has accompanied so many others into battle. Not only will Woo Jin’s life depend on it, but that of his father as well. “…failure would lead in the death of them both”.

As he travels to meet up with other young men going on the mission, he gets to meet the foreigner (Dark Elf) for the first time and is at first glance struck by her strange appearance. How could he kill such a strange and beautiful creature? But he holds his course and sets out with the others on their travels north to save children and women from the onslaught of the child-God of the North.

“Today, y0u set forth from Jeju as nameless warriors.

When you return, you will be that much closer to being named heroes!”

However, his won’t be easy. There are dragons in the mountains patroling, so these missions are deadly and lots of blood has been shed there over time. When Woo Jin realizes that another young man/quester his age has a connection to the Dark Elf and speaks her tongue, he has to decide if he can trust and rely on him or not.

Picture : Wikipedia, by Himasaram,

Dragon made out of bamboo on display by Hangang-no near Samgakji subway station, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea. Celebrating Yongsan's 124th anniversary. Note: Yongsan literally means "Dragon Mountain" hence the dragon symbolism.

On the border between North and South Hanguk, the group will have to evacuate all the children as fast as possible. The reason for that is that northern soldiers kidnap young girls to bring them into their country.

As the factions clash, the group of young men has to rely on each other in combat. When Woo Jin falls quickly for a brave young woman in the village, it poses a distraction from the goal and he has to decide where his loyalties lie.

Will Woo Jin and the other questers make it out alive and save the village?

***

Just as good as the first novel, perhaps a bit speedier in pace, this was a great read. I loved the atmosphere and cultural aspects that shone through in the market places and along the travels through the Korean landscape. The characters were easy to connect with and the novel contained a great balance of action and intrigue.


I enjoyed being swept up in this world of myths and fantasy and was surprised at the reach of it all. Lots of components and circumstances were packed into this story without overbearing it.

A swift and excellent read I highly recommend. As well as the first one.

Cheers!

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

All opinions are my own.

Thank you!