On the eve of war, a prince whose fate is sealed by his past and a boy haunted by a past he cannot escape must deliver the Stone of Salvation to unlock the only weapon that can destroy the impending evil. With the threat of war on the horizon, the last hope for long-standing peace lies with the Order, an alliance of warriors from the surrounding free countries, an Elf and a hapless Wizard. Led by a prince whose fate is sealed by his past and a boy haunted by a past he cannot escape, they must deliver the Stone of Salvation to unlock the only weapon that can destroy the impending evil. Pursued by enemy soldiers and four dark emissaries, they embark on an incredible adventure. Trapped and outnumbered, an unlikely ally comes to their aid - the last surviving warrior, a messenger from a war-ravaged land far to the east. A journey fraught with many dangers, they must fight their own fears and doubts to keep hope alive.      Excerpt For excerpts, book reviews, TV/newspaper interviews and more, please check the official Imago website: www.imagobooks.ca

Professional Reviews
Evelyn Philip - Chairman, Friends of the Library, Langley Authors Collection, Langley, BC, Canada
Wow! I have just finished reading Imago Book Two, Tales from the East and I think it is marvelous. These two books, Imago Book One, Tales from the West and its sequel are the only fantasy books I have ever read to the end! I have tried, but these caught my imagination.
You have such an imagination to come up with these ideas! Your style is so lucid, the reader has no difficulty seeing the scenes, the people, the action. The last few pages are like fireworks, one surprise after the other. Well done, indeed. My congratulations! No wonder the film companies want to make it into a film. It directs itself. I enjoyed the adventure, and await the next one.
Evelyn Philip - Chairman, Friends of the Library, Langley Authors Collection Langley, BC, Canada

Phillip Legare, North American Black Belt Hall of Fame Inductee
I haven't read fantasy in a number of years, although it used to be a favorite of mine. When I heard that one of my senior black belt students was writing a novel about a mythical world full of wizards, elves, noble warriors, evil demons, AND a race of Japanese-like shadow warriors, I just had to read it.
I read the first book with lightning speed. I was totally mesmerized by the story line: Good versus evil, the depth of the characters and their development, and the excellent description of this world they live in called Imago. I had no troubles following the story itself or the main characters, their language, culture and history.
There were many twists and turns of the plot to keep me guessing what was going to happen next.
As a senior practitioner of an arcane Japanese martial art, I was also fascinated by the fight choreography that the author crafted. It was refreshing to see true waza (techniques) being used by the characters. The fact that they were easily recognizable waza from the art that I train in made it delightful. I was especially happy to see an honest to goodness woman warrior/heroine! Something that should be more highlighted in this world of ours. Congratulations to the author! You have a winner with this book! I can't wait for Book Two!

Lisa Sutherland, Fleetwood Writers Group
L.T. Suzuki has crafted a clever and fascinating story that transports the reader into a mythical land of humans, elves, wizards and warriors, pitting good against evil. Elves and humans are united, despite their differences, to fight a common enemy. Imago Book One: Tales from the West appeals to a broad audience as it blends fantasy and action with some private moments that would make any romance reader blush.
One might initially think that this is a tale of a boy who yearns to become a man, and the adventures he encounters during a quest with his mentors. Instead, the focus is on the members of the Order, and the camaraderie that develops. Ms. Suzuki’s Imago, brings together a group of characters on an adventure and draws you into their warring world with descriptive and savage fighting scenes.
The unexpected heroine of the story is Nayla; a diminutive warrior who has overcome obstacles of prejudice and abuse. Her strong personality and fighting abilities are as unique as her bloodlines. She has proven herself as a respected leader in an exclusively male hierarchy and uses her small stature and gender to disguise the lethal skills she has acquired.
A key driving force behind Nayla’s career choice appears to be the abuse she endured at the hands of Lord Dahlon, her father. One of the characters describes Dahlon as being “wise and having great compassion for others”. The word “others”, has a double meaning as his sympathy does not extend to his own daughter.
At the conclusion of Book One, we are left wondering what the history is behind Nayla and Dahlon’s relationship, and what lays ahead for the comrades on the next leg of their journey. It is an excellent read, and Book Two is highly anticipated!

Reader Reviews for "Imago Book One: Tales From the West"

Reviewed by Paul Judges	8/1/2009
Your book deserves to be a great success, L.T.

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