The Conquest Trilogy, The Quest For Freedom
The Conquest Trilogy, The Quest For Freedom
Paperback
Affer was once a peaceful planet, until a war broke out between its six inhabiting species. The humans, who were once the mightiest force on Affer, were massacred in droves, and the ones who survived the onslaught were reduced to mere slaves. The five other species divided the humans amongst themselves and returned to their respective kingdoms.
The years passed, turning into decades and centuries, without any change. Eventually, the humans had accepted their fate as slaves. All except one. Four hundred and seventy-three years later, Fletcher Rush starts his journey to free his kind...and conquer the planet.
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Professional Reviews
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Review by Frank Mutuma for Readers' Favorite
The Quest for Freedom by Matthew Devitt is wonderfully written,
and once you start reading, there is no putting it down. The writing
is engaging and filled with well-crafted dialogue that brings the
story and the characters to life. I loved the themes explored,
including perseverance, determination, and the power of
consistency. The plot flows seamlessly, leaving no room for
confusion. The author ensured all the events were vividly described,
which helped create a mental picture of what was happening.
Readers will also appreciate the amazing narration, which adds to
the overall beauty of the work. This thought-provoking work also
got me thinking about how underestimating one's enemies can be
catastrophic. This was an excellent read, and I look forward to the
second book in the series. -
Review by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
Matthew Devitt’s imaginative epic fantasy took me by surprise in
many ways. The world-building is unique and spectacular, where
different species coexist with each other, and I enjoyed the distinct
cultures, politics, and dynamics in the various cities. The narrative
begins with a background story of Affer's history and quickly follows
Fletcher, who has spent eleven years crafting weapons for his
demon overlords while secretly working on a plan for revenge.
Characterization is also stellar in The Quest For Freedom, and my
favorite characters were Fletcher, of course, and his quick-witted
friend Ji. Tor is a gentle giant whose strength is matched only by his
sense of justice, and it was fun following him as well. Crystal is a
survivor who is as haunted as she is deadly. The conflict is cleverly
explored, and I enjoyed how the fight for freedom is depicted as
costly. Fletcher’s struggle for independence has the potential not
only to topple kingdoms but also to destroy humanity. You’ll love
the excellent prose, the complex characters, the quick pacing, and
the relentless drama. For me, it was an immersive tale. -
Review by K. C. Finn for Indies Today
With a flair for imaginative wordplay that brings a story world to life, Matthew D. Devitt has penned an epic, imaginative start to a bold new sci-fi trilogy in The Quest For Freedom. Fletcher Rush is a powerful, defiant protagonist you can’t help but root for, thanks to some very relatable dialogue and description. This characterization is only part of this novel’s magic formula for sci-fi success. The skillful development extends into an equally realistic setting, and the author’s world-building on Affer is rich, layered, and utterly immersive, laying great groundwork for the many strands of the plot. The compelling mix of planetary politics, interspecies conflict, and personal determination moves along at a natural pace and balances context, detail, and action well so that there is never a dull moment. The blockbuster action scenes cut in sharply, but there are also deeper themes of freedom and resilience to explore, and a truly harrowing portrayal of humanity’s fall and the spark of rebellion that inevitably follows is totally believable. An expansive opening that promises more high stakes, sharp twists, and dramatic confrontations to come, The Quest For Freedom is a must-read for fans of science fiction epics who love rebellion against impossible odds.

Map of Affer
Affer is inhabited by six different species: humans, elves, hybrids, the dammed, demons, and angels. The stunning fantasy planet is home to the Yoxtoll Forest, where the trees tower above you by hundreds of feet. A brutal Tundra lies to the North-West, where the demons live. An endless sea of mountains lay to the East of them. Crossing the Grasslands of the once mighty human kingdom, the Arrgon Desert sits, where the bloodthirsty hybrids dwell. To the West are the elves in the mist of the forest. Lastly, the angel's capital city, Piltin, is the sole city on Zenton island. The grand, imposing city takes up a large part of the island and rivals the human capital, Admont, in its prime.

Humans
Humans have lived as slaves for four hundred seventy-three years. But Fletcher Rush is working on changing that. Breaking free from enslavment and amassing an army Fletcher leads mankind on the frontlines. The species that were once the most powerful on Affer shall rise back up, and with Fletcher leading them, nothing can stand in there way.

Angels
The angels are the most powerful species on Affer, and their fighting prowess and majestic cities attest to that. They aren't as large as demons, but they have greater strength and intelligence than they do. The average height for an angel is six feet tall, but some are close to eight feet. Their wings come in three different colors: red, white, and black. Some angels are born with two pairs of wings, and only King Xancore has ever been born with three pairs of each color. Additionally, they also have horns. Lastly, all angles are blind and rely on echolocation.

Demons
The demons live in the North-West of Affer, which becomes brutally cold in the winter. The demons themselves have extremely thick skin and an exoskeleton that covers their collarbones, sternum, knuckles, and spine. Their bones, horns, and blood are all dark black, and they average six and a half feet tall. The elite demons reach eight to nine feet tall and have strength that is superior to the angels. However, elite demons are very rare, and less than one percent are born with elite genetics.

The Dammed
The dammed inhabit the Yoxtoll Forest, and are those who have been deemed unworthy to enter Hell or Heaven. Given a choice by the seven divine gatekeepers, they could spend eternity in Limbo or try their hand at life once more. However, this time they would be born as the dammed. Waking up in Lundgen, the graveyard were all the dammed awake, they now have one hundred years to live.
Their appearance is deceiving, looking to be frail, with ghostly white skin, thinning hair, and solid blue eyes. Although they aren't as strong as angels and demons, their strength is on par with that of humans.

Hybrids
Hybrids dwell in the scorching hot Arrgon desert. Long ago, before the Great War, they were comprised of humans, angels, elves, and demons (the dammed can't reproduce). But after the human kingdom fell, they massacred all hybrids with human blood and made a law executing any hybrid that was part human. Even though many of them have a mix of demon and/or angel blood running in their veins, they aren't as strong or smart as the purebloods.

Elves
The elves are the weakest species on Affer, and for good reason. After the Great War, they took their share of slaves and settled down. Since elves live, on average, for seven hundred fifty years, it takes a long time for them to grow into adulthood. Which, in turn, means that very few are born every year, and because of that, they tend to stay out of war. After so many years of peace, they have become a shell of their former selves and an easy target for the rebellion to attack.