The Lotus and the Gathering Storm

The Eagle and Heart Trilogy

By: W. Dale Jordan

Narrated by: Keval Shah

High Prince Altair could not be happier. His engagement to his lover, Prince Whelan of the Realm of Waters, is finally official, and though his reign from the Throne of Night is never easy, he has finally become comfortable ruling the Elvish Kingdoms of Avalon.

If only that peace could last...

Assassination attempts and bands of thieves soon plague the realm, and on the horizon, an even greater threat looms that will bring challenges unlike anything Avalon has faced in recent memory.

Buried secrets will rise to the surface, and their relationship will be tested as Altair and Whelan race to save Avalon while challenging its traditions.

Is the lotus more powerful than the gathering storm? Only time will tell.

Note: This audiobook contains some mature content.

©2020 Waylon Jordan (P)2020 Waylon Jordan

Wow!! Just wow!

I was absolutely blown away by this fantasy novel! This was my first experience with Jordan’s writing and it certainly won’t be my last! The writing was phenomenal and almost poetic at times. The characters were all so well-developed and didn’t fit into the typical fantasy tropes one would expect which was a breath of fresh air. His world building ability was up there with many of the great fantasy writers. I wasn’t expecting the cliff hanger ending but then I remembered this is part one of a trilogy. I am so excited to check out the next chapter of the Eagle and Heart trilogy as well as Jordan’s other works. I know he dips his toes in horror as well which is my genre of choice. The only minor issue I had was with the narration of the audiobook and not the writing. Some of the character voices the narrator tried pulling off tended to take me out of the story. His normal reading voice was excellent but when he tried doing deep voices it almost sounded comical. Overall he did a great job and my complaint was minimal and didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the story. I highly recommend this epic fantasy to any fans of the genre and for anyone who wants to read something that steers clear of the typical trope-laden fantasy.

Brilliant marriage of performer and text

I’d read this book before so was looking forward to revisiting in an audio edition (with the added benefit to know whether I pronounced all the names right?!) and couldn’t recommend this version more. Keval Shah brings such weight and intensity to his performance that I found myself truly enjoying the piece all over again. Shah does great by the scheming villains but really captures the atmosphere of Jordan’s dreamlike eroticism as well.

This narrator has much potential! He will go far!

W. Dale Jordan's 'The Lotus and The Gathering Storm' is incredible and the narrator lends a feel and beauty to the work that is astounding! He is a novice but he has such potential. Give notice to it around the two-hour mark of the audiobook as he hits his stride. He begins to emerge himself in the story and starts feeling it and it is a wonderful tale of the elves of Avalon. The cover art selection is every bit as beautiful as the story of Prince Altair and his consort, Prince Whelan! Full of lovely sights and rich beauty, Jordan crafts a story that feels as old as time, where I opened the book, are walked right into the world of gorgeous elves and magical creatures. Where intrigue, romance, and adventure abound. This is not some rehash of J. R. R. Tolkien. This writer has made a story all his own that is a delight to all the senses, honestly. I could 'see' the colors, 'feel' the water, and 'experience' the love, joy, and anger. As I read, I was so grateful I was beginning the journey--that there would be two additional books to this tale. Keep your eyes on this writer, folks! He's going places! It is my sincerest hope that the writer will stick with this narrator. They belong together!

A great story with a matching narrator!

This story is a great read if you're looking for an LGBTQ+ romance story mixed with adventure. Jordan's story based in the mythical realm of Avalon combined with a fierce love story between two elven princes, Altair and Whelan, is a great foundation for Keval Shah's narration. Shah's voice has a smooth and soothing quality which is perfect for a romance setting. When I put my earbuds on to listen, it feels like someone whispering in my ear (in a good way). In a very complimentary way, Shah's narration combined with Jordan's storytelling brings together a great audiobook well worth anybody's time.