Awakenings: The Racial War Saga: Book 1

Fuming with rage and bitterness six friends band together to avenge the destruction of a small human settlement. Through sheer determination and stoic resolve they succeed, though at what cost? Because of their actions, one of them will fall to the enemy and Velthanjantle, the demonic avatar of Kargonis is resurrected. Though weak, the demon breaks free to reign havoc once again upon the world. Fifteen years later, the demon is fully healed and searching for the mysterious Three Chains of Gold; three relics from the War of the Gods which when united will bring about new balance among the Greater Realms. If Velthanjantle is able to find the chains the dark god could be free once more to walk among mortals and foil the decree set in place at the culmination of the War of the Gods by Ravina Estarra, the Goddess of Time. It falls on those who released the demon to gather their forces and train their armies and guilds to stop the end of the world. Together or separated, six mortals must set in motion the events necessary to save Reality from ultimate doom. From demonic plots and greedy dragons to hardened assassins and pious priests, the demon Velthanjantle quickly becomes the least of their problems.

A. J. O'Connell was born and raised in Clearwater, Florida then moved to Anchorage, Alaska for his senior year of high school. From there, A. J. joined the Air Force to see the world. Athletic at a young age he played football and baseball, joined the wresttling team and even studied martial arts. Despite his extracurricular activities he enjoyed many weekends indulging in marathon role-playing adventures with friends. At age 14, A. J. began designing a role-playing game and world of his own which quickly replaced the classics he and his friends occupied their time with. Gradually the world fleshed out, the races evolved, the high intensity adventure and martial combat became the mainstay of their action packed adventures and the rules of magic within Reality solidified. Finally at age 33 his wife convinced him to write a book, and during his third deployment to Iraq in 2007/8, A. J. did just that. His first book Awakenings is a fantasy novel based in the Realm of Reality where two worlds have come together as one. The magical races such as elves, dwarves, feline fialt, dog-like marichoa, aquatic merlochs and the mighty drakes born on the world called Bastion begin a fearsome struggle against the jealous humans of Citadel. The humans, who were not allowed to know of magic or the gods grew despondent and have begun an invasion to conquer not only the lesser races of Reality, but to defeat the gods themselves. A. J. enjoys high-powered, 'Monty Haul' epic creations which make the characters seem super human with their natural and not-so-natural abilities, weapons and talents. Welcome to a new world, the First World in existence . . . welcome to A. J. O'Connell's world.