The Boy and the Peddler of Death

The Tale of Onora, Book 1

By: Dylan Saccoccio

Narrated by: Joel Froomkin

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?

At the core of this tale is a love story that spans a lifetime, wrapped in a gritty, epic, real man's fantasy that anyone can sink his or her teeth into. It is a beacon of truth in an enslaved world suffering from moral relativism and willful ignorance in the presence of knowledge.

For the mature fans of Harry Potter, A Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Elder Scrolls, Legend of Zelda, Guild Wars, World of Warcraft, Fable, and Dragon Age, The Tale of Onora follows the journey of a young orphan after his village is destroyed and he is forced to grow up in a dangerous world. As he navigates through different walks of life, he begins to uncover a conspiracy as to why his village was destroyed. Before he can put the pieces together, his fate is sealed by a terrible war. In the storm of chaos that follows, his actions turn him into a legendary hero. The more renowned he gets, the closer the source of evil is drawn to him. The more he fights for the truth, the more of an outlaw he becomes.

In Book 1, a boy at the brink of adulthood travels beyond the ruins of an ancient elven city, to The Crown of The World in the far north. It is there where he meets his father for the first time, in search of the answers and reasons his mother refuses to discuss. At the risk of his life, he learns that finding the truth requires knowing The Tale of Onora.

©2014 Dylan Michael Saccoccio (P)2015 Dylan Michael Saccoccio

Not your typical fairy story.

Overall I enjoyed this book a lot. It certainly is has a 'message' and that social drive is the backbone of the entire plot... it's kind of like a morality tale for modern day. There are fantastical characters introduced that I found intriguing and show lots of room for further development. If you have ever read "Les Miserables", there are sections where Victor Hugo deviates from his story to focus heavily on social commentary... It doesn't lessen the reader's interest in the characters or the story, but it's something that you have to get used to. I think the writer shows a great deal of promise... He is very poetic, perhaps sometimes going a bit overboard with description, but he has built a fascinating, well detailed alternate world for his characters. I'm sure this book isn't for everyone, but I think a lot of people who give it a try will find it beautiful and passionately drawn. The narration is excellent - the book is dense with characters and regions, and he does a strong job not only delineating these, but giving each character a true individual sense. I think it really helps the story come off the page, particularly in places where the narrative is at the fore. I will definitely look out for book 2.

Poetic, thrilling and thought provoking.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes - I would. To the right kind of listener. This isn't just pulp fiction... the author has very strong philosophical views that are woven beautifully through the story like a tapestry. It's like a Lord of the Rings type world with incredibly rich imagery and a morality tale structure.

What other book might you compare The Boy and the Peddler of Death to and why?

I think it's would really appeal to readers who like the Hobbit or Game of Thrones... but the book really plays on multiple levels. It reminded me of the George Bernard Shaw in it's use of narrative to really hold a mirror up to our own societal values and complacency. It's some of the richest and most poetic writing i've read in a long time. The author has a totally unique voice... I think it will captivate many.

Which character – as performed by Joel Froomkin – was your favorite?

the narrator brings a vast range to all the characters... it's very much like the Roy Dotrice Game of Thrones treatment... broad, clear characters with individuality and great theatricality. I think my favorite character was a fairy named Dani... she's kind of bad-ass. With a huge array of characters and fantastical creatures, his narration really helped keep a clear sense in my mind of who was speaking and their journey through the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It's not a long read... there are a couple sections that focus on world-building and tone, rather than dialogue... and I liked being able to take the time to absorb those.

Any additional comments?

It's a very impressive piece of writing... I'm very interested to see how this series grows and develops. You certainly become invested in the overall arc of the characters - but there isn't any kind of cheap cliffhanger at the end. The story is a very satisfying appetizer for what i'm sure will be an arresting complete journey.