Terra Kaffe - Shop now
Add Prime to get Fast, Free delivery
Amazon prime logo
Buy new:
$14.99
FREE delivery Wednesday, March 5 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$14.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Wednesday, March 5 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Monday, March 3. Order within 8 hrs 36 mins.
In Stock
$$14.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$14.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$5.60
This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See more of our deals. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See more of our deals. See less
$3.99 delivery March 11 - 12. Details
Only 2 left in stock - order soon.
$$14.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$14.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Ships from and sold by awesomebooksusa.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

In Search of Gods and Heroes Paperback – January 4, 2015

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 28 ratings

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$14.99","priceAmount":14.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"LbgGDjAJ7OBJ59ivqIdgc9%2Fo58sN73VHjdrAf%2FpESOe7Y3tFJ593pYmScZKRhuR9xp9jNWW3XwloEq2Q8mj1Glhdb5H8tL5D48fuOEK4SVWvwOe%2BHbaZWGXRt64do3iAGtz52wxlWrcIdXPcOzHH2g%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$5.60","priceAmount":5.60,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"5","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"60","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"LbgGDjAJ7OBJ59ivqIdgc9%2Fo58sN73VHZc95PAoG%2FiAflUq63Badd33wyqPI%2BUTRmBP%2FwHwMjdZsWRfd2FPcecz4hpSiV3EryxfpyDbArMIKifX9IYP4VWZnA0WqtH26GJEr55rOmd%2BepGlTU2qha12bVss0bk7juP2UmcL%2F%2BJvbdvlU4%2BFM8C55ECfevDHx","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Buried in the scriptures of Ibea lies a story of rivalry, betrayal, stolen love, and the bitter division of the gods into two factions. This rift forced the lesser deities to pledge their divine loyalty either to the shining Eternal Kingdom or the darkness of the Underworld. When a demon sneaks into the mortal world and murders an innocent girl to get to her sister Chaeli, all pretence of peace between the gods is shattered. For Chaeli is no ordinary mortal, she is a demi-goddess, in hiding for centuries, even from herself. But there are two divine brothers who may have fathered her, and the fate of Ibea rests on the source of her blood. Chaeli embarks on a journey that tests her heart, her courage, and her humanity. Her only guides are a man who died a thousand years ago in the Dragon Wars, a former assassin for the Underworld, and a changeling who prefers the form of a cat. The lives of many others – the hideously scarred Anya and her gaoler; the enigmatic and cruel Captain Kerne; the dissolute Prince Dal; and gentle seer Hana – all become entwined. The gods will once more walk the mortal plane spreading love, luck, disease, and despair as they prepare for the final, inevitable battle. In Search of Gods and Heroes, Book One of Children of Nalowyn, is a true epic of sweeping proportions which becomes progressively darker as the baser side of human nature is explored, the failings and ambitions of the gods is revealed, and lines between sensuality and sadism, love and lust are blurred.
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Smith shows great potential in this tale that opens with death and demons and propels us rapidly into divine conflict.' - Mark Lawrence, author of The Broken Empire Series 'A smartly written, coming of age tale.' - A.J Dalton

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kristell Ink; Illustrated edition (January 4, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 420 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1909845337
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1909845336
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 1.05 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 28 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Sammy H.K Smith
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Sammy H.K Smith is the author of ‘In Search of Gods and Heroes’ and has contributed stories to the anthologies ‘The Nun and Dragon’ and ‘The Book of Angels’. She lives and works as a police detective in Oxfordshire, specialising in domestic and sex abuse and also co-owns Grimbold Books and runs the imprint Kristell Ink. When she isn’t working or publishing, she studies part time with the Open University and works on her own writing projects, all whilst looking after her gorgeous son and 12 cats and 2 dogs. Her husband is a very patient man.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
28 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2016
    This was a treat to read. For me it was like having my first taste of ice cream. I have not read a novel about gods like this one. So, this is my first time larking about through the pages, going along with the characters on their quests. Essentially, it is a quest for good over evil. The characters are so finely written, they seem very much alive indeed. They have all been described in other posts and the plot massaged so that I don't feel I should say any more about that. I feel it should be for the next reader to discover the way of the story. There are many characters and it becomes a delight to stay connected with the one you are currently reading and then switch to another. It's never boring on that account. The action moves along at a sprightly clip and kept me from sleep for several nights. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Search For Gods And Heroes. I need more and hope to discover that there will be a sequel or that there is one already just waiting out there for me to savor.

    Sammy H K Smith is simply an excellent story teller. I admire her work and hope one day to be as well tuned to the craft as she is. Thank you, Sammy for writing such an entertaining novel. I am happy I had the privilege to read it.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2018
    Thank you to the author, Sammy H.K. Smith, for gifting me with a copy of In Search of Gods and Heroes through a common connection. All opinions expressed are my own.

    Before I say anything else, let me tell you I spent a good hour agonizing over this book and what to rate it. I've never felt constrained by my rating system before but I definitely do now! I'm just so conflicted. On one hand, the complexity that this author built up in 420 pages is astounding but on the other, there are clear areas of improvement kept this from perfection. If you couldn't tell, I have a lot to say about this book so strap in!

    1. The characters. This is the area that I was most conflicted by. There is a healthy cast of characters that each have their own feelings and perspective. I loved getting to hear from each of the characters and their interactions are spot on. The issue I had, though, is the lack of backstory. It's hinted at (and briefly explained) in various portions of the novel in a broad, sweeping sense, but not on a personal note which kept the character's themselves feeling slightly vague and shadowy. The characters were anything but flat (Nathan especially!) but they are very murky which really bothered me.

    2. The romance. I'm not sure how I feel about this. There's a very clear love square defined by about the first third of the book (and by love square I mean three guys interested in one girl). I'm very much not a fan of love triangles that are done in the wrong way but if they raise good questions for the characters, then I'm all for it. In this book, I don't see that happening very much (the two closest guys are both doing the typical 'I want to love you but I'll corrupt your soul/I swore an oath of protection and not love' deal which isn't very valuable. There is a question of lineage brought into play, though, that makes it more valuable for the MC (Chaeli). So overall, the romance is a meh for me.

    3. The setting/world. I have a complicated relationship with this aspect as well. While the world is lush and rich, it isn't terribly well-defined, like the characters. There's a map in the beginning which was truly appreciated but I do wish there was a little more of an introductory period or a bit of help from the internal dialogue of the characters to explain some things (like the orientation of the different countries and which ones were countries and which ones were just cities and what land forms are where; that sort of thing). It's all included in the map, but it's nice to be reminded of these things now and again so you don't have to keep flipping back to the map. This is entirely personal preference but I'm kind of an impatient reader. Despite this, I think the world-building is the author's strength in this novel.

    4. The POV's. This is one of my favorite parts of the book (along with the world building). We are given so many different perspectives that reveal our unreliable narrators and their personal lenses that they see the world through. The perspectives aren't labeled but you're able to figure out who is speaking within a paragraph. The voices are distinct although some of the character vagueness does carry over. Mostly, I enjoyed how many angles of the story we were able to see. I'll talk about this in the next section, but it also helped move the plot along and keep the tension up. If you just saw the story through only a few of the perspectives, the plot wouldn't be as engaging because there is so much happening behind the scenes. The book is slightly political which means there's plenty of backstage maneuvering.

    5. The plot. And last but not least, the plot. As I said above, once you get past the halfway point, the urgency seems to die down from a couple of the POV's but it picks up in others which keeps it going. There's the typical action plotline, the political plotline, the romance plotline, the godly plotline, and the list goes on and on. The author does a stellar job of keeping them all in balance and weaving them together so you don't get too overwhelmed and everything ties together nicely. You have to use a little brain power and surmising but take it from someone who enjoys mysteries on a regular basis: it isn't too hard to keep up and any inferences you make are carefully guided by the actions of the characters. It may not seem like the author is leading you in a certain direction until you realize that you ended up exactly where she wanted you to be. I admit, it sounds strange, but it's exactly what mystery writers do when they write their endings.

    The Final Verdict:
    While I do have a complicated relationship with this book, the plot, POV's, and world-building are stand-outs with their complexity and finesse. I do wish the characters and the overall orientation of the world were a bit more defined.
    3.5 stars
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2015
    The sorceress, Sammy, with each turned page is pulling you deeper into her spell. Her characters are well defined and some are liked, while others are diabolical. An even flow of action sets the pacing—this one scene made me laugh,
    “Good to see you, Adders! Dragons are going to help then, eh?” The cat stood and stretched.
    “Yes, a female hatchling will be joining us soon to fly us to Linder.”
    “Female, eh?” Sheiva’s interest was sparked. “Didn’t think the old lizard would send one of his ladies.”
    “Apparently she is the closest, and the fastest flyer in this region, although I have been warned she can be a handful.”
    “All dragons are a handful, the females are just a little more…fiery,” The fae snickered at his own joke.
    I am looking forward to the next book in this thrilling series.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2016
    Wonderful book and it was very hard to put down. Will be getting more books by this author in the future.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2015
    Good read not much into short stories though
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2015
    Loved it. Fun to read.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2014
    This book ticks all the boxes for me. The plot is intricate and has many twists and side threads. The characters, whether human or divine are not black and white but many shades in between. Something that brings each and every one of them into vivid life. So many books have bad characters who have no redeeming features, or good characters who don't have a hair out of place, but not so here. The settings are well developed, adding a deep richness to the narrative.

    So, what is the book about? Chaeli, who thought she was an ordinary girl before she lost all her family, now finds she is a demi-god and either the daughter of the Prince of the Eternal Kingdom, or the Prince of the Underworld. Both are fighting for her, but not everyone plays fairly. On her shoulders rests the outcome of a war between the two princely brothers and to help her decision she has three companions. Adley is a crusader, an champion of the Eternal Kingdom, who is in love with her and shouldn't be. Nathan is a former assassin affiliated to the Underworld who is trying to break free and also is enthralled by Chaeli. The third is a shapeshifting fae, normally appearing in the form of a talking cat and one of my favorite characters.

    Other people are tied up in the outcome and have their part to play. How all this ties together will be revealed on reading the book. Very highly recommended.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • sjhigbee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent epic fantasy
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 13, 2015
    This is a classical epic fantasy, complete with many of the themes and conventions you’d expect. The protagonist is pleasingly complex and the evident latent power she possesses but doesn’t yet really understand or properly know was well handled. I also liked her edges. While she is harried and on the run, reliant on the kindness of strangers, it doesn’t mean she is overly submissive or biddable – or stridently, unbelievably stroppy either. It’s a balance harder to achieve than Smith makes it look. In fact, the writing is accomplished and smooth.

    Triangular relationships are difficult to pull off, without the woman in the middle looking like a conniving flirt and Smith has the two heroes falling in love with Chaeli. However, I really like how she sets up the relationships, where gods get involved, using mortals in their power struggles. It’s a nifty way of setting up a situation that causes plenty of ongoing tension and heartache and certainly had me very much caring about the outcome. It’s a familiar theme that runs through much epic Fantasy and yet Smith’s character-led approach makes her take on this engrossing and readable.

    World-building is always crucial in this genre, and it can be something of a stumbling block for me. While I always enjoy a detailed, believable world, I do end up skimming pages of description – not so with In Search of Gods and Heroes. Smith’s depiction of the cut-throat atmosphere of court, a city where everyone is frightened and subdued, and the initial calm freedom of the academic atmosphere of Lindor gives a wide-ranging backdrop to her ongoing adventure, providing a vivid and complex world.

    As you may have gathered, I really enjoyed this one. Any niggles? Well, it’s more of an observation and something of a risk. While Smith sets a number of plotlines running, by the end of the first book – and it’s a reasonably hefty read at 400+ pages – there is no resolution to any of the ongoing stories. For some reason I’m still not able to fathom, I found I was fairly relaxed about this. Perhaps it’s because halfway through the book I promised myself that I’d dive into the next book as soon as I can. But if you really mind about having a payoff by the end of a book, then be warned, In Search of Gods and Heroes is very much the start of a series.

    This sub-genre isn’t an automatic favourite of mine – I’ve trudged through far too many over-written, long-winded tomes with nothing fresh or original to say. But after reading a book of this calibre, I also know why I haven’t given up on it. And if you’re a fan of Kate Elliott’s Crown of Stars series, Glenda Larke, Elspeth Cooper and Helen Lowe, and you haven’t yet had the pleasure, go look and track this one down. You’ll be thanking me if you do.
  • Mr. C. Horner
    4.0 out of 5 stars Love and Other Demons
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 4, 2017
    When a demon forces his way into Chaeli's home and kills her sister, Chaeli is thrown into a new world where nothing is as it first appears. A world where living gods stalk the land, playing out their games of spite and malice, where alliances are uncertain and shifting, and where her own mysterious heritage makes her a pawn in a deadly game of good vs evil. Can she trust an Underworld assassin, a dead man, or a changeling who prefers the form of a cat?

    Sammy HK Smith's debut novel is a tightly-paced coming-of-age story set in a world where the living gods bicker and play politics just like earthly men. Ibea is a richly characterised world, full of broken seers, scarred herbalists, mysterious librarians, spies and counter-spies. Everyone, including the gods, plays to their own agenda, and the way Smith has weaved deception and counter-deception is skillful. The reader is never sure who to trust; even Chaeli, or the innocent seer Hanna, or quiet, scarred Anya, have their own secrets and desires that may set them at odds with both their companions and, sometimes, with themselves. And because of this conflict the story heads towards some dark places as it twists and tangles. In some places it's unsettling - Captain Kerne's abuse of both Anya and Hanna is disturbing, but although the story is bleak, it's not without hope. Guardian Adley is pure of heart, a beacon of good in a dark world, as is conflicted Nathan who struggles to do the right thing by and for Chaeli.

    It's a shame there hasn't yet been a sequel published, as the story is left on a number of cliffhangers and with plenty of questions left open. Recommended for those who like their fantasy on the dark side.
  • Ana
    5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly Fabulous Fantasy.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2014
    I am a huge fantasy fan, however I am also very picky about my epic fantasy; I find a lot of it needlessly long-winded, overly descriptive, two dimensional characters, cliched heroes, irritating in its insistence on filling out the space between actual events with drawn out journeys that do nothing but slow the pace.... you get the idea.

    This book, IS NOTHING LIKE THAT.

    This book, is FABULOUS.

    While we are plunged from the start into a fairly standard fantasy setup with gods and humans, demons and various other creatures wandering about, it is soon very apparent that there is nothing run of the mill about this particular plot. For starters, Chaeli is a heroine who is both believable in her motives and human in her actions. She is fallible, yet still follow-able. I am unsure if I found this to be the case because I am a woman and found her to be - as a female character - very relateable, or whether she is just a very relatable character. It's possible that male readers might find her to be less likable, but I don't believe that to be the case - there are numerous fantasy stories in which the protagonists is a male, and I find myself fully capable of investing in them and willing following through through to the end of the narrative. In Chaeli's case however it wasn't only her character who was so likeable, for she is backed up by several colourful secondary characters (my favourite being Sheiva).

    Pacing is good throughout the novel. The opening sequence immediately plunges us into the action and, really, it doesn't let up much from that point until the climax. There is the odd bit where it slows down to allow for other aspects of plot and character development to come in, but this isn't a bad thing - books can't be all action all the time, the trick is knowing when the reader needs a bit of a breather, and making sure that breather isn't too long. Smith does this well for the most part, and her worldbuilding throughout is excellent. There are definite nods to classical mythology throughout, but not so much that it detracts from the unique creations of the author herself.

    All in all I would recommend this to any fans of high fantasy, specifically those centering around the cosmic balance between gods and men. I am thoroughly looking forward to the next installment!
  • Georgia Cook
    5.0 out of 5 stars I could not put this book down!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 25, 2017
    I could not put this book down! An absolutely great read.

    All the characters are easy to engage with and I particularly love the Gods. Every character is well though out and their lives really do capture your imagination! I felt their every emotion and to be honest, can't quite decide whose side I would be on!

    The storyline is so refreshing and not your typical fantasy/ magical one.

    I seriously would read this book again and again. The only thing I didn't like? That the book came to an end. I hope to the Gods number 2 comes soon!
  • J. Saunders
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping stuff!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 17, 2016
    This is a gripping tale, I couldn't put it down once I'd started. I had an attachment to the characters from their first introductions. I would recommend this book, and I look forward to reading more of this author's work!