Storms of Destiny: The Exiles of Boq'urain Book 1    by A. C. Crispin Order:  USA  Can Eos, 2005 (2005) Paperback    Reviewed by Belle Dessler Just when I was beginning to think that recently released epic fantasy novels rehash the same old plot with very minor differences, A. C. Crispin's Storms of Destiny comes along to prove me right. The first book in the Exiles of Boq'urak trilogy tells the story of a demon God bent on destruction and world domination, and the unlikely would-be heroes who must stop him. Thia, a young and devout priestess of Boq'urak, inadvertently stumbles upon a secret ceremony. Unable to look away, she witnesses the God she's worshipped her entire life performing cruel acts on innocent victims. Unable to continue to devote herself to Boq'urak, Thia runs away, pursued by those who would see her dead before she speaks of what she knows. Aided by her ability to detect truth-telling, Thia blends in with other villagers and even carves out a useful niche for herself. As the story progresses, she's joined by other outcasts: Jezzil, a warrior priest marked as a coward for fleeing battle; Khith, a mysterious non-human healer; kidnapped prince Eregard; and Talis, a sullen spy maiden. Although Crispin weaves interesting details into her world building, these few intriguing scenes aren't enough to make up for a slow-moving plot, stilted dialogue and bland characters. It takes too long for the heroes to find one another and get the plot moving. In that time, we're regaled with accounts of intrigue and unlikely bravery, but they don't amount to much in the overall scheme of things. Ultimately, Storms of Destiny lacks the excitement needed to move the story forward and this first Exiles of Boq'urak episode will prove frustrating to fantasy readers who crave a solid adventure. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Fantasy books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews