The Winds of Change

The Elements of Time, Book 1

De: Sam Paisley

Narrado por: Scott Fleming

First was the realm of eternity. From the darkness came forth light, and the realm of eternity gave birth to the realm of the living. That is how the cycle began. This is the word of Elevation.

Destiny, personal responsibility, what the future holds—common concerns for anyone graduating high school. But usually not because of a cosmic war between timeless beings where you’re the central player.

As the end of school quickly approaches, and Cooper Bailey watches his perfect world slip away, his only concern is savouring every last minute of his high school career. For his best friend, Reid Patterson, graduation is a doorway to the future, where his discipline and focus will finally allow him to meet his true potential. When a mysterious mirror-masked man begs for their help to stop a dangerous heretic, Cooper and Reid find themselves thrust into unknown worlds, wrestling with a destiny as old as time itself. As the truths about their roles in the universe unfold, and enemies disguise themselves as allies, their only hope is to trust each other—and learn fast! Far from home and in mortal peril, Cooper and Reid attempt to hone their newfound abilities and come to grips with their purpose for being.

Inspired by classic and modern science fiction and fantasy, and drawing upon timeless themes of destiny and personal responsibility, The Elements of Time is a series written for anyone who loves an escape into a rich and deep world. Enjoy the first entry into this award winning new science-fantasy series!

©2023 Sam Paisley (P)2024 Sam Paisley

Talk about a fantastic debut novel.

“First was the realm of eternity. From the darkness came forth light, and the realm of eternity gave birth to the realm of the living. That is how the cycle began. This is the word of Elevation.”

Don’t settle for another predictable novel. Sam Paisley’s debut, The Winds of Change is destined to be a breakout success. Paisley takes you on a heartwarming coming-of-age story filled with emotional rollercoasters. Simply put, Paisley's debut is anything but forgettable.

Warning for readers who typically skip prologues, don't skip this one! Paisley's Prologue explodes onto the scene, leaving you shell shocked as you move on to Chapter 1. It's packed with clever foreshadowing, so make sure you pay close attention.

We kick things off in what feels like a typical small town as we get to know our two main protagonists, Cooper and Reid. These two best friends are the embodiment of opposites attract. Cooper is a star athlete and thrives in the spotlight. While Reid is the bookworm who finds solace in the library's quiet corners. If you enjoy a good bromance, then you will love the dynamic between these two. Their effortless banter resonates with the same easy familiarity I share with my own friends, drawing you into their world from the get-go.

“Ugh. You’re such a dork sometimes, you know that?” Cooper said. “Yes, but a dork with a magic stone,” Reid taunted.

The Elements of Time: The Winds of Change by Sam Paisley
But Paisley's exceptional character work doesn't stop there. This debut portal fantasy thrives with the use of multiple POVs. It's clear he meticulously planned each character arc, resulting in a story where everyone feels natural. None of the interactions feel rushed or forced, a remarkable feat considering the blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements. As a character-driven reader like myself, I can promise you'll be captivated by Paisley's interconnected cast.

Unlike most authors who are content with crafting a single world, Paisley boldly builds not only multiple worlds but also explores alternative dimensions. This opens The Elements of Time trilogy to endless possibilities, further fueling readers speculation as they eagerly await the next installment. World-building and dimension-hopping become the backdrop for Cooper and Reid as they encounter new members of the cast as they enter "The Trials". It's here that they'll embark on a journey of self-discovery, awakening to their true destiny. The need to hone their fighting skills becomes paramount for survival. To avoid spoilers, I won't reveal too much about the actual trials. However I will say, if readers look closely they will find clever foreshadowing hinting at future developments within the book and the series.

“You’re not even worthy enough to be Prolia initiates, and now your lives are in danger.”

Tropes are an aspect of fantasy that readers either love or hate, and Paisley took on a large number of them. However, for a good majority of them, I feel like he managed to put a bit of a unique twist on each, truly making them his own. I’m especially a fan of coming-of-age, found family, and mentor-apprentice tropes in general, and he tackled each of these with ease.

One of my favorite parts of the story arc is when Cooper and Reid are separated for a bit for some one-on-one training with their mentors. Growing up as a child of the 80's, this mentor-apprentice dynamic always reminds me most of Mr. Miyagi and Daniel-San from the classic film 'The Karate Kid.' I can't think of a better example of a mentor-apprentice dynamic and I felt a strong sense of it as these two spent their time training, and honestly I loved every minute of it. More importantly though, Paisley once again showcased his writing skills and took the time to slow the story down. He ensured the training aspect of the character arc had the room it needed to develop naturally. So many authors fall short here, with characters going from zero to hero in a blink. Thankfully, that wasn't the case here, and I truly appreciate his attention to detail.

If I haven’t sold you on the book yet, maybe the magic system will. Remember how I told you earlier that Paisley likes to take normal tropes and put his own twist on them? Well, his elemental magic system is a prime example of this. While it leverages the traditional elements, it does so via these adorable little creatures called “Spreeta” that require a symbiosis bond with the one who is going to wield the magic. I think I've said enough without revealing too much, as I don’t want to spoil anything, but I promise you this approach is not something you see in fantasy every day.

“The Keepers are beings of pure time, but they have an equal and opposite: beings of pure space. The Spatial Elementals, fire, air, water and earth, are the building blocks of our universe.”

When it's all said and done, "The Winds of Change" by Sam Paisley is one hell of a debut novel with damn near perfect pacing between excitement and build-up, all while sprinkling in just enough foreshadowing to keep you on your toes from start to finish. Don't let the YA label fool you; this book is just as much for adults as it is for teens. Some of the deeper hidden meanings within the story, I believe, will resonate with readers and leave the truths revealed living rent-free in the reader's mind for years to come.

An Outstanding Debut

A refreshing story of friendship that doesn’t bow to the conventional expectations of a chosen one narrative. The author authentically captures the essence of youth, the uncertainty, confidence, and hope all getting mashed into one big stew of emotion. All while giving us a magical world of gods, mysteries and ancient bonds.

A Wonderful Start!

This story stars two Teenagers who find themselves at the center of an intergalactic war between factions! This one is for fans of Toonami and Progression fantasy! Do not let the slow build stop you from listening to this book!

Smart, imaginative, and totally immersive

I bought this book on Audible before I realized it was 24 hours of listening. I thought, oh well, I’ll just listen to the first couple of hours…13 hours later, I was so immersed in the story, I knew I’d have to see it through to the end. I’m glad I did. Great story. Great characters. Great world to dive into. I’m jealous that you get to read it for the first time. You’ll love it.

An epic sci-fantasy adventure packed to the brim of fun.

A behemoth of a story that whisks you away from high school drama and to an expansive universe full of elemental magic, ancient gods, cute but powerful furball creatures, and MORE!

Narrator also delivered an excellent performance bringing the story and large cast to life.

Also, that ending though…WTF?! Great twist that I honestly did not see coming.

Full review to be posted on FanFiAddict!

Fantastic World Building and a Well Planned Twist

I want to start by thanking the author for kindly sending me a review copy of The Winds of Change. While I may not be the target audience for this book, I can absolutely see its appeal, especially for early to mid-teen boys who enjoy fast-paced adventure stories with strong world-building.

Going in blind, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I immediately picked up strong Percy Jackson vibes—fans of mythic adventures with a modern twist will likely feel right at home. The strongest aspect of the book is its world-building, which feels both unique and well thought out. The setting and lore are expertly woven into the narrative, making it one of the novel’s standout features.

While I wasn’t fully invested in the main characters, Cooper and Reid, as "chosen ones" (they didn’t seem particularly exceptional in a way that justified their roles), the supporting cast was compelling and, at times, even more interesting. The subplots had excellent pacing and payoff, keeping me engaged throughout. However, the primary plot didn’t quite have the same sense of urgency, and I sometimes felt more like I was being told the story rather than experiencing it alongside the characters. This made it harder for me to connect emotionally with their journey.

That said, the twist was brilliantly executed—just enough foreshadowing to make me suspect but never fully certain until the big reveal. The book is undeniably imaginative, and despite my minor critiques, I appreciate the creativity and effort that went into crafting this adventure.

Overall, The Winds of Change is a solid read with an intriguing world, well-paced subplots, and a great twist. While it didn’t fully resonate with me, I think its target audience will find plenty to love. I’m rating it 3.5 stars, rounded up, and I look forward to seeing what Sam Paisley writes next!

A phenomenal start to what is going to be a top-tier adventure.

Did I really just read a debut?

The Winds of Change is a phenomenal start to what is going to be a top-tier adventure. The careful detail of the plot and worldbuilding was on a level I have rarely seen in the first book of a series. Packed with mystery, intrigue, edge-of-your-seat action, and heartfelt emotional moments, I’m struggling to find what this book didn’t have.

Admittedly, it was a slow start for me. I don’t know if it was the YA vibe of the early portions throwing me off, as that’s not my typical reading material, or if it was just too much at the start with too few answers being offered regarding what was happening, but I did have to push through the early segments for a bit. However, once it changed, it really changed!

The set pieces of gods, master senseis, Padawan-like soldiers, one badass antihero, and two kids from Earth in way over their heads; once it all started coming together, it fit beautifully, and the story flowed like no other. The ending was terrific, one of the best I’ve ever read. The author clearly put a lot of time and detail into the backdrops of his worlds and mythology, and while by the end, I feel fulfilled in what I was given, I’m now craving to learn so much more.

This book is perfect for fans of The Last Airbender, Stargate, Star Wars, or any sci-fi story of a similar ilk. While I think it will thrive with a YA audience, it should also do just fine with adult readers. I cannot recommend this one enough. Go and give it a chance. You won’t be disappointed!

Action adventure fantasy coming of age story

The Winds of Change by Sam Paisley is an epic, action adventure, fantasy coming of age story with tyrannical gods and nuanced character dynamics.

The core of this story is the friendship and character work of Cooper and Reid, our two MCs, and it is something the book succeeds in. The friendship between the two feels natural and earned, allowing for their disparate personalities to both conflict with and compliment each other, and put each other on display. The character’s themselves sit awkwardly (in a good way) in the opening stages of maturation, permitting both mistakes and character growth. There are times when the writing can be a bit too straightforward or simplistic, or the action/adventure vibes of the plots can undercut some rather dark and serious character themes. An example of these being two sub-character narratives that would have made for some very complex dynamics that are instead dealt with rather bluntly and without much interaction from Reid or Cooper. These narratives remain interesting, but don’t affect the plot or Reid or Cooper as much as they could have.

The book’s second strength is probably the entire background plot, which I just found interesting; from the false gods, to conflict between Pax’s actions and internal dialogue and manipulations, and more besides. The various character and narrative dynamics occurring on and off screen are fun, creating a nuanced and compelling setting without depending on huge amounts of info dumping (though there is a little, as it is a fantasy book.) Some of the ancillary scenes, those featuring the more antagonistic Keepers, can feel unnecessary, but they’re relatively rare.

The action and adventure elements of the story were a mixed bag for me. Some are fun and visually or conceptually neat, such as a scene where a character has to leap through a field of rocketing boulders and the like, and others just failed to interest me. There’s a rather significant portion of the story dedicated to training, and there’s some readers that just won’t appeal to. I enjoyed this section, but I also tend to like watching protagonists grow and improve.

The prose is generally solid, but can struggle to convey the author’s desired impact at times.

As a whole, The Winds of Change is a solid action adventure fantasy with interesting sub-themes, and a compelling relationship between its two leads.