Hul's Gate

The Atherum Revilations, Book 2

By: M.W. Smith

Narrated by: Elizabeth Turner

Fate is cruel, and Axel of Valen knows it too well. His mentor, Orvan, is dead—sacrificed in a desperate bid to stop the rising tide of darkness. But the world does not pause for grief. Axel’s brother, Akel, has sworn allegiance to the enigmatic wizard Zammex, whose fiery domain of Hurai is home to demon overlords, Loduri raiders, and exiled human refugees. As Akel steps further into the shadows, the line between lost and irredeemable begins to blur.

Armed with the ancient blade Worldbreaker, Axel embarks on a perilous journey to reach Hurai before his brother is consumed entirely. But he will not walk alone. At his side stand two unlikely allies—one, a fierce warrior bound to the Light, the other, a masked figure shrouded in mystery.

As the horrors of Hul’s Gate loom, Axel must ask himself: is it still possible to save his brother, or is Akel already beyond his reach?

©2025 M.W. Smith (P)2025 M.W. Smith

Unique Sci-Fi World with a Familiar Spark

I received a free copy of Hul's Gate by M. W. Smith in exchange for an honest review, and I’m giving it 3 stars.

The story offers a familiar yet intriguing sci-fi premise, set in a unique world that sparks curiosity. The characters are decently developed, with enough depth to keep the narrative moving. The narrator’s pleasant voice adds charm to the listening experience, though frequent mispronunciations of words were distracting and disrupted the immersion. The plot feels uneven, with some sections dragging and others rushing through pivotal moments, which breaks the story’s flow. While there are flashes of exciting action and creative world-building. I will say the ending was a thrilling surprise I did not see coming. Overall, Hul's Gate is a decent listen, particularly for younger sci-fi fans or those new to the genre. It didn’t fully captivate me, but it’s worth checking out if you enjoy sci-fi adventures with a unique setting, even if it falls short of its full potential.

Fantastic

Hul’s Gate by M. W. Smith is an excellent action adventure fantasy. Elizabeth Turner did an incredible job with the narration. Hul’s Gate is the second book in The Atherum Revilations series. The story is entertaining, interesting, action packed, engaging, enjoyable, and thrilling. Well our heroes has stop the darkness for now but it came at a high cost. Axel’s brother has gone to the dark side. Axel wants to save him but is it too late? I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Decent teenager and YA Fantasy

This is good follow up to the first book. The narrator did a much better job with this book than the first which made more enjoyable. This fantasy series is a good series for teenagers and young adults starting their journey in fantasy reading. it's a good take of brothers and how decisions can greatly change lives. The details provided help the reader imagine a great setting in the imagination for the characters to play out the story in. I would recommend this book.