"A huge, colorful cast gives this superb fantasy kickoff a hearty boost."

"This opening series installment teems with impressive worldbuilding: Akers introduces the nilands and supporting characters without saturating the narrative in details."

"The kids have striking personalities; energetic 5-year-old Ewan has a distinctive speech impediment (calling someone named Berserker 'Bazooka'), and foolhardy Nachton incessantly complains about being a not-so-active 'Loremaster.'"

"Lewis' sketchy illustrations boldly define myriad individuals..."

"The exciting final act concludes with a worthy cliffhanger."

4 Critiques of Escape from Overtwixt:

"Akers weaves these elements together with a steady pace and an overarching theme that explores tough truths about leadership and the dangers of using evil tools for good deeds, engaging young readers in a compelling adventure that imparts useful life lessons." — Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite, 5.0 out of 5 stars

"...a young adult epic fantasy flavored with a touch of grim adventure, action, and suspense... The plot twists and the urgency accompanying the narration all gave the storyline a high-stakes edge." — Keith Mbuya for Readers' Favorite, 4.8 out of 5 stars

"Escape from Overtwixt by R. L. Akers is a wonderful second installment... The ending is satisfying and cleverly promises more, and I look forward to seeing where the story goes from here." — Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite, 5.0 out of 5 stars

"I found this book engaging not only as a fantasy drama but also as a story filled with lessons about believing in oneself, learning from mistakes, and being a compassionate leader willing to make sacrifices for others. The story delves deeply into the characters' personal struggles and fears on an intimate level." — Luwi Nyakansaila for Readers' Favorite, 4.8 out of 5 stars

"The settings, ranging from the majestic Alabaster City to the ominous Gaoland prison, are meticulously crafted, and I loved the blend of architecture and culture... The descriptive prose conjured up vivid imagery in my mind, and this imaginative work will excite fans of epic fantasy with memorable characters." — Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite, 4.8 out of 5 stars

"Taking its cues most clearly from The Chronicles of Narnia, R.L. Akers's OVERTWIXT is a looser, bouncier, but arguably more mature take on several of the same themes."

"OVERTWIXT boasts a well-imagined world rendered by both clever language and evocative illustrations (including maps of the interconnected landmasses and their bridges)... The worldbuilding is rich but never overwhelming."

"...these components help the novel punch above its weight as successful didactic literature."

Advance Reader praise:

"I am so impressed by the plot, strong characterization, and detailed world you've built here! The characters are so wonderfully familiar, and I love seeing them wrestle with challenges and grow as people." — Whitney, adult advance reader (and high school English teacher!), about the first Overtwixt

"I like that no one actually 'dies.' It's perfect for younger readers but still feels high stakes." And: "What a FANTASTIC ending! This tied everything up perfectly." — Faith, adult advance reader, about Escape from Overtwixt

"I loved the artwork... The morals and themes of family and choosing good friends is done very well is not forced like in other books I have read. Overall, the books were fantastic and were fun to read." — Ben, teen advance reader of Circus of Dagmør and Heroes of Centhule

"I liked the ending. It made me want to jump into the next book." — K.M., young teen advance reader of Circus of Dagmør and Heroes of Centhule

"I really didn't expect to like it because I generally don't get excited about the genre. To my surprise I loved it." — Lois, adult advance reader of the Golden Age trilogy (Circus, Heroes, and King)

"You've so subtly shown what bigotry is — what the caste system looks like — and how mistrustful we can be of 'the other'. Some good life lessons here for young adults (and old adults)." — Ruth, adult advance reader of all 5 novels

"Over the years, many detective characters have joined the ranks of legend, from Sherlock Holmes to Hercule Poirot... Today Gray Gaynes joins the ranks of these legendary figures."

"The first book was a modest masterpiece with a clever solution..."

"... something about the ridiculously gritty covers and author R. L. Akers’s fascination with putting 'gray' in every title really spoke to me. I read the first three chapters on his website and couldn't get it out of my head."

"After an exciting climax, things pick up for an awesome conclusion. Akers pulls a trick that I didn't expect, one that could have easily been disappointing, but keeps it surprising and satisfying." (about Fade to Gray)

"An audacious storyline... More than a few bombshell plot twists..."

"Everything about this novel is polished to a shine, particularly the tightly plotted narrative."

"Powered by a courageous and endearing heroine at world's end, like Ender's Game for the 21st century."

"This impressive debut novel—the first installment of the Gryphens duology—is a highly palatable blend of alien invasion thriller, apocalyptic fiction and military sci-fi."

"Rising sci-fi author R. L. Akers spins a story that appears more real than fiction."

"Akers keeps his storyline constantly fluid by alternating between character scenes filled with everything military (both good and bad), back stories, and subplots that are laced with a bit of romance and comedy amid alien attacks and mysterious figures bent on sabotage."

"IR Verdict: The first book in The Gryphens Duology, PROMETHEUS REBOUND is a fast paced tale of unsuspected twists and turns that is bound to be a favorite among sci-fi readers."

"Akers' fast-paced science fiction thriller is far from boring. In fact, it is a vastly entertaining and engrossing read that is almost impossible to put down."

"Deftly blending elements of the movie "Independence Day" with the pace of Tom Clancy and David Weber's scientific explanations of future technology, Akers has crafted a well-written tale of military science fiction that will keep readers begging for more."

"The amount of actual scientific knowledge and data the book contains is amazing."

"Very well structured, skillful dialog and plot building with amazing character development."

"Any reader who enjoys science fiction or military genre type books won't be disappointed..."