In Floyd’s village, turning eighteen means one thing: you’re out.

Sent into the world on his “Journey,” he’s supposed to come back a man, bearing epic stories to tell by the hearth. Except Floyd thinks the whole tradition is stupid, reckless, and borderline homicidal. And he’s not wrong.

Armed with zero wilderness skills and a stubborn sense of sarcasm, he’s cold, wet, lost... and about to become easy prey for press-gangs and worse.

Enter Faux: a beautiful, dangerous, shape-shifting elf who claims she’s there to keep him alive. She can turn invisible, conjure anything she wants, and read his every thought. She also has her own agenda, and one kiss from her can make a man hers forever.

Together, they’ll outwit slavers, bargain with seductive White Ladies, traverse enchanted forests, and ride a ship halfway around the world in search of a destiny Floyd never asked for. Along the way, he’ll discover love, betrayal, magic, and a simple truth he can’t escape: leaving a boy and returning a man means paying a price he may not be ready for.

The Journey is an irreverent, bawdy, and heartfelt coming-of-age fantasy filled with adventure, humor, and a reluctant hero you can’t help but root for. Perfect for fans of The Princess Bride, Discworld, and classic quest fantasies with a clever twist.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

★★★★★ “A fascinating tale of a young man’s coming of age adventure. In Floyd’s village when you are 18 you are sent out to go have adventures and to collect stories to bring back to the village. You aren’t allowed to come back until you have several year’s worth. We follow Floyd as he learns the ways of the world and a bit about women, too. He has many fascinating adventures along the way and Faux teaches him how to read and write and Floyd starts seriously thinking of becoming a writer. I found this story quite enjoyable and I think you will too!” —Amazon review

★★★★★ “An inspiring coming of age tale. Our hero lives in a village that has their young men leave town and explore the world for two years. When they come back they’re expected to share their stories. There’s a whole lot of adventure stuffed into one book. Rain and Anthony give us as much bang for our buck as possible. There’s a cameo, for book lovers, that is fun. You won’t regret adding this one to your reading list.” —Amazon review

★★★★★ “This was a breath of fresh air for me. I was getting sick and tired of reading books with a little too much info on bedroom antics, so when I received an ARC for this, I was content to curl up on a cushion with my coffee and dive in. It’s a whimsical tale of teenage angst and laziness, but also coming-of-age self awareness and learning. If you just want to drift off into a magical fairy tale without the drama of lust and greed, then this is the one for you. Way to go, JR & Piers! Another great one!” —Amazon review

★★★★★ “This journey is well worth taking! This was a fascinating story, full of adventure, magic, double entendres and winning characters. Piers Anthony and J.R. Rain are masterful writers and make an excellent team. The story flows seamlessly and keeps the reader engaged and compelled to read on. I recommend you join Floyd and his remarkable companions as he makes his journey of self discovery and arrive at his satisfying destination.” —Amazon review

★★★★★ “This was an excellent book. They characters were so secretive, yet straight forward at the same time. Floyd’s adventures throughout the book are enlightening and delightful. It is a story of growth and coming into your own as a person and a man. Building confidence in one’s self all through the book.” —Amazon review

★★★★★ “Piers Anthony and J.R. Rain make an excellent team!” —Amazon review

★★★★★ “I much preferred the Lilliputians in this book to those in Gulliver’s Travels. It was great escapism reading.” —Amazon review