Dragons, Heroes and Wizards

Lost Covenant by Ari Marmell | Young Adult Fantasy | Book Review

2015-10-19T12:30:00.000-04:00

This third YA novel starring the young thief Widdershins combines the angst and vulnerability of any teenage girl with the high action of the best fantasy adventures. *source* Pyr

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Book Source: Contest Winner

Young Adult Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

In the midst of all of her angst and high adventure, Shins learns a valuable lesson.Geographic cures do not work; you always carry your problems with you...And then find new ones.

The Basics

Worldbuilding: As Widdershin's attempts to run away from her nightmares, we get to view some different types of landscapes. First up is Lourveaux, the home of the Basilica of the Waking Choir, the seat of power for the Hollowed Pact of 147 gods. And as Widdershins observes, it is much like Davillon only richer and more pretentious.

Next up is the ostentatious estate of the aristocratic House of Delacourt, ruled over by a no nonsense, extremely protective matriarch.

From there her adventures take her to Aubier, which Shins describes as either a town bloated to the size of a small city or a small city that nostalgically called itself a town. Either way she wasn't very impressed. Not that much impresses our dear thief or her god.

Magic: There isn't much in the way of "new" magic in this tale of horror, adventure and mayhem. There are some things going on that nobody can explain and the source makes for an interesting switch. Plus there is always Olgun, Widdershin's personal god, who often grants her some amazing abilities that are just plain fun to watch.

New Characters:

Cyrille Delacourt is a distant relative of Alexandre Delacourt, Widdershin's deceased adoptive father and mentor. Young, naive and hopelessly enamoured of Widdershins.
Jourdain, guard captain for Cyrille's large dysfunction family.
Ivon Maline, leader of the Thousand Crows, the top gang of thieves in Aubier, a town near the Delacourt estate.
Fingerbone, Ivon's insane sidekick.
Lazare Carnot, head of Carnot House. Rivals to House of Delacourt.
Jose Tremont, slippery and not just a little creepy, servant of the Carnot family.
Rosselin Veroche, Reeve of Aubier and my favorite (though relatively minor) new character.

Again there are also some familiar faces from previous books. Strange doings are going on in Davillon and Robin plus the various members of the Finder's Guild, all play a role.

And of course, there are plenty of other characters, both major and minor. Some of which I'm not going to mention. You'll have to read the book to see who else pops up.

My Synopsis

The Story: After wandering the countryside for 6 months, Widdershins finds herself heading to Lourveaux to visit the tomb of her friend, William de Laurent, deceased archbishop of Chevareaux, in a desperate search for solace.

But Shins can't even find peace in a cemetery. She is found by the archbishop's former assistant and it appears that once again, the church needs Widdershin's help.

To make matters worse, there also appear to be people who are after Shins herself! But how did they know to watch for her in Lourveaux when she didn't even know she was going to visit there herself? And why is anybody looking for her in the first place?

The search for answers will spin Widdershins straight into another adventure of epic proportion.

Meanwhile, something sinister is going on in Davillion, Shin's hometown, and the friends that she abandoned in her grief are in serious danger.

My Opinions

Thoughts: There are two storylines going on here but they are so distinctly different that there is no problem in following them both. The confusing part (atleast for me) is that there really started out being three, only one was pretty much dropped before it even got started.

Yeah I know. Kinda cryptic. But I don't want to give away too many plot details. Just suffice it to say don't be surprised when the story takes off in one direction, takes a left turn and never circles back around.

There is also a cliffhanger ending to this tale so it could be that the circle will be completed that way. I can't wait and find out.

Those two things aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! What a perfect Halloween read. Flawless mix of humor, adventure, horror and teen angst. There are thrills, chills, betrayal and sinister plots. There are twists, turns and switchbacks which will leave you breathless. That is if you have any breath left after laughing until it hurts.

There are characters to love, characters to hate, characters to feel sympathy for and through it all, events that keep you endlessly entertained.

Even the writing itself is entertaining. Ari Marmell paints wonderful pictures with his words. The horror is horrible and leaves nothing to the imagination. The scene descriptions are flawless. And he allows Widdershin's to put her unique perspective on every vista. Not sure if there is a stronger word for immersive but if there is, it would describe this book.

Favorite Scene

""Hey Cyrille."

The resulting sound wasn't quite a squawk, wasn't quite a yelp, wasn't quite a gasp. As best as she could describe it, it sounded like an angry chicken slapping a puppy with a fish.

"Could you repeat that?" Widdershins asked. "Define it? Possibly spell it for me?"

Conclusion

Summary: If you are into the Halloween spirit and like a dose of chilling horror in your fantasy, I can't think of a better series. Like Halloween it is full of both humor and villains. High adventure and danger lurks around every corner. You'll experience daring escapes and close calls. Insanity and cold logic. And in the background, the most dysfunctional family I've ever had the pleasure to dislike.

Now if you will excuse me, I must go read the fourth Widdershin's adventure, Covenant's End. There is a promise of more horror, danger and mayhem to come and I can't wait to see what is going to jump out of its pages and scare the pajamas off of me. In between giggles of course.

Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links

Author: Ari Marmell
Cover Art: Jason Chan
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Sword and Sorcery
Content: Magic, Gods, Mystery, Horror
ISBN 13: 9781616148119
ASIN: B00DACWB02
Publisher: Pyr (December 3, 2013)
Print Length: 280 pages
Kindle: Lost Covenant: A Widdershins Adventure
Interactive List of Dragon Books
What Should I Read Next?
Rating: 5/5 Stars

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Young Adult Fantasy Review of Lost Covenant by Ari Marmell - Reviewed by Mulluane on October 19 2015 - Rating: 5 of 5

False Covenant by Ari Marmell | Young Adult Fantasy | Book Review

2015-06-26T14:30:00.000-04:00

They claim, the oldest storytellers, that there is truth in legends. However, even they don't expect those legends to start creeping down walls and murdering innocents. But it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that Widdershins will find herself and her personal god Olgun caught up in a mystery straight out of nightmare.

Blurb might contain spoilers, toggle to view. ( Toggle may not function in email and some feed readers.)

Book Source: Contest Winner

Young Adult Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

So much for Widdershins trying to live a normal life.Not that having a god riding around in your head could be considered normal....

The Basics

Worldbuilding: I love the French Renaissance influence with hoop skirts and elaborate wigs for the ladies and for the men, vests, hose and tricorne hats. The city guards carry bash bangs (flintlocks with butts are made of bronze and not wood), but swords, daggers and rapiers are still the norm.

The political/secular climate however, is very much changed from what it was six months ago. The Church of Davillon is in disfavor with the mother church. Merchants are "encouraged" by the church to trade elsewhere, resulting in an economic disaster. The populace has distanced itself; church services are taking place in front of largely empty pews. The aristocrats are holding their money close, which adds fuel to the fire. The contentment which once fueled a vibrant economy has vanished. Mistrust runs rampant. Tempers run hot. Despair and fear become the norm.

And into the midst of all this instability creeps a horror straight out of legend and nobody is safe.

Magic: This time around there is more dark magic in play. And, with horrific consequences. Who would have thought that a little ancient spell, granted one not sanctioned by the church, but essentially harmless, would have led to such a nightmare.

New Characters:

Bishop Sicard is an interesting character faced with a unique problem. He is the newly appointed Bishop of a city in distress. And he believes that it is his job to fix things, by any means possible.
Evard is a mysterious stranger will impeccable manners, and a desire for Widdershin's head on a platter.
Igraine Vernado, high priestess of the Shrouded God, patron god of the Thieves Guild (more commonly known as the Finder's Guild.) She knows that something is not quite right about Widdershins, and she is determined to figure out what.
Iruoch. Sorry, can't tell you about him. Nope... not doing it. You'll have to read the book!
Remy, the new taskmaster of the Finder's guild. He is much nicer than the last one and one of my favorite characters.
Simon Beaupre aka Squirrel, thief, thug and nowhere near as good as he thinks he is. Hard to feel much sympathy for the guy until he gets mixed up in something that is way over his head.

There are also some familiar faces from book one. Robin plays a much larger role. Both Renard the foppish thief and Major Julien Bouniard develop a deeper relationship with Widdershins. And lets not forget Olgun.

Plus there are plenty of other characters, both major and minor. There just isn't enough room to list them all.

My Synopsis

The Story: Poor Shins tries so hard to be "normal." Unfortunately for Shin's sake, trouble always seems to find her. And not just ordinary trouble --though she gets into plenty of that too-- no, the trouble I'm talking about is supernatural.

To complicate matters, the aura of distrust that has blanketed Davillon has wrapped itself around Widdershins too. Nobody trusts her; not the guard, not the church and not the Finders Guild. And yet, Shins must bring these three institutions together in order to save the city from a deadly threat.

But, if anybody can do it, Widdershins can. She is an expert at "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with BS."

My Opinions

Thoughts: This series (and book) maybe categorized as YA but it certainly pushes that envelope. Marmell's history in writing horror shines brightly in this novel. Some of the violence is graphic to say the least and Widdershins may be in her teens but, outside of her naivety in regards to romance, she sure doesn't come across as a teen.

Fortunately, there is only a hint of romance, which actually endears me to the book. That alone makes this tale a refreshing change from most of the mature YA I've read in the past. I am continually amazed by this series!

As promised, there is no more time jumping. Nothing extreme that is. There is a bit of backwards and forwards as the spotlight changes between characters. But those jumps can be measured in days instead of years.

Favorite Phrase

Once again I had a favorite phrase. I'm not going to quote the entire thing, just the part where I almost spewed soda out my nose.

To put things into perspective; Widdershins is presently using her persona of Madeleine Valois, a beautiful young aristocrat who is attending a fete but in reality she is casing the manor for her next theft. She is approached by a woman who wants to grouse about how shabby things have become.

Madeleine--who wanted nothing more than to sigh and walk away, or perhaps smack the woman on the back of the head so hard that her eyes would sprout hair--instead pontificated about how right she was...

OMG I about died. I was not expecting the sentence to go in that direction and I got a sudden visual of what the poor woman would look like with hairy eyeballs. I'm still giggling.

Conclusion

Summary: Combining humor with horror has got to be a daunting task but Ari Marmell makes it look easy. Then he builds on that by adding in a liberal dose of tragedy, a dash of heroics, a quest for answers and the loyalty of good friends. The end result is a recipe for late nights and missed meals. Oh and a sore gut from laughing followed by a fight against tears.

This book was a rollercoaster ride of emotions with no hints of what to expect over the next rise and I loved every minute of it. Even the sad parts.

I do suggest reading these books in order. This is more a series of individual adventures as opposed to your typical epic saga which is one continuous story, but there is backstory you can only get from the previous book.

Highly recommended!

Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links

Author: Ari Marmell
Cover Art: Jason Chan
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Sword and Sorcery
Content: Magic, Gods, Mystery, Horror
ISBN 13: 9781616146214
ASIN: B00C4B2KCE
Publisher: Pyr (June 05, 2012)
Print Length: 281 pages
Kindle: False Covenant (Widdershins Adventure Book 2)
Interactive List of Dragon Books
What Should I Read Next?
Rating: 5/5 Stars

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Young Adult Fantasy Review of False Covenant by Ari Marmell - Reviewed by Mulluane on June 26 2015 - Rating: 5 of 5

Thief's Covenant by Ari Marmell | Young Adult Fantasy | Book Review

2015-05-19T16:00:00.000-04:00

Olgun is a god who has lost all of his worshipers except one... a young lady turned thief. In desperation Olgun makes a deal. He will inhabit young Widdershins and help her in her nefarious endeavors and she in turn will keep him from fading away into nothingness...

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Book Source: Contest Winner

Young Adult Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

But, is it a match made in heaven or a match made in hell? Only time will tell...

The Basics

Worldbuilding: This novel has a strong late French Renaissance influence with flintlocks and blunderbuss mixing in with swords and knives. However, there are a few key differences.

For one thing, this world has a unique religious backed society. Sometime in this world's past, 147 of the strongest gods decided to band together and form a pact. Overseen by the High Church, every city, every noble house, every guild and organization is represented by a single god.

This system has some interesting consequences. For example, the City Guard is limited in their efforts against the Thieves Guild. Why? Because each has its own god and those gods will not allow one organization to have more power over the other.

Magic: With the exception of Widdershins, who is host to her very own god, magic or powers are not something that is commonplace. Various members of the church may be granted powers from the gods and gods can grant or withhold good fortune from their patrons, but as a rule, the "common" man has no magical powers at his/her command.

In addition, the relationship between god and worshiper is symbiotic. Gods get their power from the number of worshipers they have and in turn, worshipers receive small favors like good luck in trading or increased yields for their crops.

Atleast that is how it is supposed to work...

Characters:

Widdershins, aka Shins aka Adrienne Satti aka Madeleine Valois is our main protagonist. She is a complicated girl to say the least! She has gone from poor but content to homeless and miserable to rich and pampered and finally, to thief.

Olgun is a displaced northern god who has nearly lost all of his worshipers... twice. Now he occupies a place in the mind of his last devotee, Widdershins.

Genevieve, tavern owner and Widdershins' best friend. She is both confidant and when needed, a mother figure.

Robin, waitress, barkeep and loyal employee of Genevieve, she is a complicated character who constantly surprised me.

Major Julien Bouniard, city guard, handsome, charming and ruthless when he needs to be. His profession often puts him at odds with Widdershins, sometimes seriously and other times with a dose of humor.

Renard Lambert, dandy, expert swordsman, fellow thief and staunch ally. Renard seems shallow on the surface but has depths that might surprise you.

There is a plethora of other characters, both important and minor. The ones listed stood out the most for me.

My Synopsis

The Story: This tale is part coming of age and part mystery with a liberal dose of fun and adventure. It is also very much an urban fantasy in that it all takes place inside a big city with the occasional foray into the surrounding countryside.

Widdershins definition: Counterclockwise

The gist of the story is that there is a malevolent force trying to upset the balance of the Hallowed Pact and only Widdershins and her sidekick are in a position to root out this evil and get justice for the past.

Told in third person, Widdershins is the main focus but not the only one. At any time the focus may shift to one of the characters listed above or a character who is important to that part of the story. The result is a well rounded tale relayed by a diverse range of personalities.

This is also a dialog heavy story -- which I love -- that shows us most of what we need to know through the observations of both major and minor players. And, there are characters of every type. Evil, compassionate, witty, wise, loyal, greedy, power hungry and innocent. Each brings something valuable to the story, regardless of their relative importance as a whole.

However, there is one person missing from the narration. Olgun the God never speaks. He mainly communicates through emotes and emotions. Widdershins has learned to interpret impressions such as a shrug, a grin, or a grimace and she can feel a wave of sympathy or a flash of humor. No actual words are ever spoken. Well, not by Olgun. Widdershins has plenty to say to him and most of it is just plain hilarious!

My Opinions

Thoughts: I don't read alot of Young Adult so I am delightfully surprised when I find a book that is obviously aimed at a more mature young adult. Or atleast a more advanced one. If the reason why you dislike YA in general revolves around the way the vocabulary is dumbed down, you will be pleasantly surprised by this novel.

I also loved the descriptive nature of this book. At times scenes are described in what can only be called lyrical phrases. At other times the descriptions are just plain fun... and sometimes, just plain funny. For example...

Widdershins's eyes looked as though they might pop from their sockets and careen across the table like billiard balls.

And don't get me started on the dialog. Let's just say I'd burst out with a startled chuckle ever so often and leave it at that...

Aside from vocabulary, there are several other reasons this book might be more appropriate for mature teens but can certainly be enjoyed by most adults. For one, there is a fair amount of descriptive violence, gut wrenching tragedy and realistic portrayals of the seedy underlife you commonly find in big cities.

It is also a book that can be a bit difficult to follow.

Yes folks, as much as I loved this story it has one almost fatal flaw. It jumps time... frequently. You MUST, and I can not stress this enough, must pay attention to the chapter headings. Each heading tells you exactly when the following scenes take place. If you fail to do so I can almost guarantee that you will get lost and confused.

Conclusion: Time jumping aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Widdershins has the same type of sarcastic humor that I do and she isn't afraid to use it. Even when it could -- and does -- make matters worse. The beautifully crafted descriptions, the well written dialog, the flawless mix of horror and humor, all made for a delightful experience.

The conclusion itself is solid and to my pleasure, complete. There is plenty of reason to continue following the adventures of Widdershins and her companion, but this mystery is finished. And with one of those twists I kicked myself for not predicting earlier. Never ceases to entertain me when a mystery is resolved is such a way that it feels like a no brainer. Only obviously I have no brain because I sure didn't figure it out.

I'm looking forward to book two. For one thing, I want to know if the time jumping continues now that the back story is complete. We shall see...

Irregardless this is one for the reread shelf. Especially when I'm in the mood for a smartass, kickass heroine!

Already read the book? Please share your own opinion in the comments below!

Young Adult Fantasy Review of Thief's Covenant by Ari Marmell - Reviewed by Mulluane on May 16 2015 - Rating: 4 of 5

Empire Trilogy by Raymond E. Feist, Janny Wurts | Epic Fantasy Series Summary

2015-04-11T16:00:00.000-04:00

It was a life that she never wanted. But it was a responsibility that she couldn't ignore. Mara, newly made Lady of the Acoma, must navigate ruthless politics, crafty spies, deadly assassins and ruthless opponents in order to save her House from complete annihilation.

Epic Fantasy Series Summary by Mulluane

This saga is set in a world that reminds me of feudal Japan. A world where honor is everything and the dishonored commit ritual suicide by falling on their swords. Internal politics provide the conflict, black magicians provide the magic and Mara fits the mold of reluctant heroine to a tee...

♦ The Story. The series follows the life of a young girl literally minutes from pledging her life to a temple. That is before she receives word that she is the sole surviving heir to the House Acoma and therefore its Ruling Lady.

The series chronicles her struggles, her tragedies and her triumphs through multiple marriages, numerous brushes with death, and several children. Having not been trained as heir, Mara must learn and learn quickly how to navigate the deadly Game of Council. Fortunately, she is surrounded by loyal soldiers and one irascible servant. With their help, she learns to survive but it is her own ability to think outside of the box that leads to her victories.

♦ The Magic. Magic in this world rests solely in the hands of the Black Magicians. Anyone found to have power is removed from their family, required to cut all family ties and must promise to dedicate their abilities to the "good of the empire."

Obedience to the Magicians is unquestioning. They are extremely powerful, greatly feared and mysteriously reclusive. A Magician's word is law and not even the Emperor can gainsay them.

♦ Character or Plot? Without a doubt this is a character-driven story. Mara grabs you from the first page and holds you to the last. The secondary characters are colorful and often temporary, but none of them ever take over the POV. This is all Mara, all the time.

The plot on the other hand, keeps things moving steadily along and it too varies widely. You have adventure, travel scenes, home life, and trade wars. There is plenty of action in the form of assassins, spies, blood feuds and foreign battles. There is romance and intrigue, alien creatures and defiant slaves, uneasy alliances and unexpected allies, a divine emperor and conniving mages.

Trust me, this story is never boring!

♦ Conclusion. This series will keep you entertained as you suffer when Mara suffers and cheer when Mara triumphs. And you will miss her once the series is done.

♦ Individual Reviews ♦
Daughter of the Empire ~ Servant of the Empire ~ Mistress of the Empire
(Additional Info)

Author: Raymond E. Feist
Author: Janny Wurts

Genre: Epic Fantasy
Content: Political Intrigue, Magicians, Strong Female Lead
Series: Riftwar Saga: Empire Trilogy
Publisher: Random House
Source: Personal Copies
Amazon Affiliate Links: Daughter of the Empire ~ Servant of the Empire ~ Mistress of the Empire
Cover Art: Don Maitz
All are available in Kindle
See individual reviews for more information.
More Great Epic Fantasy Series

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Epic Fantasy Series Summary of Empire Trilogy by Raymond E. Feist, Janny Wurts - Reviewed by Mulluane - on April 11 2015- Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Daughter of the Empire (Riftwar Cycle: The Empire Trilogy 1) by Raymond E. Feist, Janny Wurts

2015-03-23T14:00:00.000-04:00

Looking for a change from your typical European Medieval setting? How about a new world with a strong eastern style culture. A world where honor is everything and disgrace means falling on your sword. A world where the game of politics determines which Great Houses survive and which are destroyed forever.

Blurb might contain spoilers, toggle to view. ( Toggle may not function in email and some feed readers.)

Book Source: Personal Copy

Epic Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

This story has always been one of my all time favorites; worthy of the occasional reread. When I saw it mentioned on a blog recently, I knew instantly it was time to visit with Mara again...

♦ My Thoughts. One important thing to note. There are some who say you really should read the Riftwar Saga first. I have but it was eons ago and I remember very little. I also can't find the books in my book pile. Likely I loaned them out or I would have reviewed those first, but...

I don't really believe reading those first is vital. Helpful, yes, vital? No. This is a totally different story in a completely new viewpoint. The main thing you need to know is that there are magical rifts between two worlds. On one side is the Empire of Kelewan, where this story takes place. On the other is side is Midkemia which the Empire is trying, without much success, to subjugate.

But the war itself plays but a bit part in this drama. The main story here is about a young 17 year old girl, only seconds from dedicating her life to a temple, who suddenly finds herself a Ruling Lady. On her tiny shoulders rests the responsibility of both her family name and its very survival.

♦ What I Liked. This book is a prime example of backstabbing politics. Fortunes rise and houses fall, all depending on a House's ability to play the Great Game. There are allies and enemies, blood feuds and annihilation. There are black magicians who are a law unto themselves. At the top of the food chain sits a merciless Warlord. And from behind the scenes the god-chosen Emperor rules them all.

RT: The Empire Trilogy is a priceless mix of deadly politics, paid assassins, and talented spy masters. via @mulluane

To classify Mara, Ruling Lady of the Acoma, as a reluctant heroine would be understating things. Snatched from her life in a peaceful temple and thrust into the responsibilities of saving her House from total annihilation, any other girl would have curled up in a ball and wept.

But not our Mara! This poor girl, because of the strict traditions defining honor, is not even allowed to weep over the loss of her beloved father and brother. To do so would be to show weakness. So for a solid week she must show no emotion, no pain, no fear. Only once she arrives home and performs the funeral rites can she give into her grief. Talk about hooking the reader!

Unfortunately, her one show of emotion is cut short and the untried young girl must immediately dive head first into the churning waters of murky politics and an uncertain future. And she does just that. I read on in awe as she makes mistakes, recovers and finds ways to turn her misfortunes into triumphs.

It was a joy to watch.

I could continue babbling about flawless pacing, rich worldbuilding, thorough character development, incredible detail and deep immersion. But, I'll spare you. Suffice it to say there are reasons why I have read this series over and over again.

♦ What I didn't like. Normally I would use this space to discuss what I disliked about the book. However, this time I have nothing to say. The book is as close to flawless as anything I have ever read.

So, I'll discuss what I didn't like about this world and its inhabitants!

I hated Mara's future husband. As was intended.

I was fascinated and yet repelled by the system of honor. To die with honor was always preferred over living in shame. I abhorred the practices of servitude and slavery. Especially slavery. In this world slaves have NO options.

This is a society that believes in reincarnation. If you are a slave, you earned it by living a shameful previous life. Once a slave, always a slave. To rise above that station would offend the gods.

Same with servants, though they can rise to positions of responsibility. However, they can never rise above their station.

And yet, regardless of their stations, any member of a House, from the lowest to the highest, will willingly give up their lives --without hesitation-- for their Master/Mistress. Believing that to do so insures they are reborn in a higher position on the wheel of life.

Told you the culture was rich and full of detail!

♦ Conclusion. There was a unique phenomenon which occurred each day as it came time to pick up the book and start reading. I would grin and say (to myself of course) "Yes! It is time to spend some time with Mara." It was literally the highlight of my day. It has also engineered a desire in me to replace and read the Riftwar Saga. Not because I need to in order to enjoy this trilogy, but because I know that that series is just as good.

Now if you'll forgive me; it is time for me to go spend some more quality time with Mara!

Already read the book? Please share your own opinion!

Epic Fantasy Review of Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist, Janny Wurts - Reviewed by Mulluane on February 03 2015 - Rating: 5 of 5

Servant of the Empire (Riftwar Cycle: The Empire Trilogy 2) by Raymond E. Feist, Janny Wurts

2015-03-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

Love Fantasy with cut throat politics? A strong female lead? A touch of forbidden love? Alien races? All powerful magicians? Well this edition of the Empire Trilogy has all that and more!

Blurb might contain spoilers, toggle to view. ( Toggle may not function in email and some feed readers.)

Book Source: Personal Copy

Science Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

Mara has proven herself to be much more than a young priestess wannabe. Much to everybody's surprise. she turns the game of council on its collective heads. But her success comes with a cost. Mara is now embroiled in a blood feud against a powerful house. One that could result in her death and the death of her family name...

But Mara is surrounded by not only her brave warriors and loyal advisors; she has mastered the art of thinking outside the box. And the entire realm is wondering what she is going to do next...

♦ What I Liked. Mara keeps developing as a character. She makes mistakes, she challenges tradition and she learns along the way.

This book introduces a new character. A Midkemian slave who intrigues Mara with his lack of humility, his defiance of his enslavement and his irreverent sense of humor. Empire slaves know their "place." A slave is born as such in punishment for sins incurred during his/her past life. Once a slave, always a slave. Best they can hope for is to atone for their past lives by exhibiting unquestioning obedience to their masters so they might receive a higher station in the next.

The barbarians of Midkemia however have different beliefs. To them, slaves have but one duty. To defy and escape. Something no empire slave would ever dream of doing.

RT: The Empire Trilogy explores how tradition blurs the lines between right and wrong. via @mulluane

Mara, against the advice of her advisors, decides she wants to understand this barbaric behavior so she begins to befriend one of the Midkemia slaves. What she learns will shake the very foundation of all of her beliefs.

Watching this process was engrossing. The relationship between mistress and slave sets up a unique opportunity to explore the very depths of each society and its system of beliefs. Along the way Mara finds out that her world has become stagnant and that maybe, just maybe, living by a strict code of honor isn't everything she was raised to believe.

♦ What I didn't like. As much as I loved the interaction between Mara and the barbarian Kevin, I found myself questioning the relationship.

Granted, Mara is well known for flouting tradition, but to develop a romance between mistress and slave should never have happened. This wasn't a situation of pushing boundaries, this relationship torn them down and threw them away.

And nobody, not even her enemies, used this relationship against her. Not even when it was discovered that he was a noble in his own land. Nobles were not taken prisoner, they were put to death. But at no point was this information ever acted upon, or even used as a threat. Made no sense.

The other inconsistency that nagged at me was how easily Keven forgot his fellow slaves. He is busy living it up in the main house while they toil in the fields. Ever so often he "remembers" them and pays a visit but for the most part, it is like they don't exist.

For a seemingly caring and compassionate individual, this was totally out of character. I am not sure I could sleep at night if my "friends" were suffering while I lived in opulent luxury. Love may be blind but it should never be THAT blind!

♦ Conclusion. Flaws aside, I still treasured the time I spent with Mara each day. Intelligent, resourceful and willing to embrace alien concepts, her transformation from girl to woman was a joy to watch. Mara is a study in contradiction. One minute she can be warm, caring, full of love and laughter and the next, she is cold, calculating and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Even if her heart breaks in the process.

And she isn't done yet! I'm looking forward to seeing what Mara gets up to next.

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Epic Fantasy Review of Servant of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist, Janny Wurts - Reviewed by Mulluane on March 3 2015 - Rating: 4 of 5

Mistress of the Empire (Riftwar Cycle: The Empire Trilogy 3) by Raymond E. Feist, Janny Wurts

2015-02-03T14:00:00.001-05:00

What do you do when it feels like no matter what good you accomplish, the whole world wants your head on a platter? Well if you are Mara, Lady of the Acoma, you fight that much harder!

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Book Source: Personal Copy

Science Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

Of all the books in this trilogy, this is the most tragic, and the most triumphant. If Mara thought she had weathered some storms before, they were only a stiff breeze compared to what is going to hit her now...

♦ My Thoughts. And, it isn't like the poor woman doesn't have enough on her plate. The assassin's guild has placed a contract on her head, she has to find ways to outfox her competitor's spies, and she has been labeled as a danger to the Black Magicians.

However, a personal tragedy will almost break her. Question is, will she let it bring her down or will she rise from the ashes of her heart. Only time will tell.

♦ What I Liked. I love it when authors throw everything but the kitchen sink at their main character. I can imagine them staying up late at night plotting and planning horrible things to torture Mara with. And they not only succeeded, they caught me by surprise.

RT: The Empire Trilogy asks the question; can one woman change centuries of stagnant tradition? via @mulluane

But you can't chronicle a person's rise unless you first make them fall. The harder the fall, the better the storyline. Her dilemma is made even more realistic (and more sympathetic) by the fact that Mara understandably falls all to pieces. So far in this series she has made mistakes, learned some hard lessons but nothing has prepared her for this level of angst.

And the hits keep on coming. Before it is all over you will wonder just how this woman manages to get out of bed in the morning. Fortunately, giving up is not Mara's style. She may lose sight of her goal for a time, but she will always get up, brush herself off, lock down her grief and forage straight ahead. Woe to anyone who stands in her way!

Well, I'm not going to tell you what happens of course but I will tell you that I LOVED the ending! I'm a sucker for a book that makes me grin long after I've read the last page.

This was one of those books. 'Nuff said....

♦ What I didn't like. Once again I am having a hard time coming up with anything I didn't like. Rarely have I read a book so well written that I ended up with no gripes or questions left.

Well, guess what! I have no gripes or questions left. Everything was answered. Every storyline was explored and concluded. And honestly, I'm actually pretty upset by this.

The problem is that there will be no more Mara. Her story, the stories of her staunch allies -- and of her enemies -- are all wrapped up in nice neat bows. Now I am going to have to find somebody else to spend my evenings with. Sigh...

Makes me sad. I loved them all, I even loved to hate her opponents and I hate to say goodbye.

Granted, there are LOTS of stories which take place in the worlds of Midkemia and Kelewan but none quite like this one. My proverbial hat is off to the team of Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts.

♦ Conclusion. If you want to read about a unique world, love cutthroat politics, enjoy coming of age stories that follow a heroine up to her middle years, stories that come full circle but aren't afraid to kill off key players; oh my the list goes on...

How about I just say this. READ THIS BOOK and SERIES!

Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links

Author: Raymond E. Feist
Author: Janny Wurts

Genre: Epic Fantasy
Content: Magic, Politics, War
ISBN-10: 0553561189
ISBN-13: 9780553561180
Publisher: Bantam (April 1, 1993)
Paperback: 676 pages
Cover Design: Don Maitz
My Rating: 5/5 StarsAmazon: US ~ Canada ~ UK
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Epic Fantasy Review of Mistress of the Empire (Riftwar Cycle: The Empire Trilogy 3) by Raymond E. Feist, Janny Wurts - Reviewed by Mulluane on March 23 2015 - Rating: 5 of 5

Shatterwing (Dragon Wine 1) by Donna Maree Hanson | Science Fantasy Book Review

2015-01-13T13:00:00.000-05:00

A moon shatters and a world is plunged into chaos as falling chunks of the moon destroy entire cities. Dragons appear. From where noone knows, but they are linked somehow to mankind's survival. Meanwhile a young vintner/prisoner/slave may hold the key to the planet's salvation -- but only if she learns how to use her powers in time.

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Book Source: Author/Publisher

Science Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

Shatterwing is a unique blend of secondary world with both magic and evidence of lost technology. Plus it has dragons. The mix reminds me a bit of Pern only these dragons are not the nice variety. On this world, humans are on their list of food sources...

♦ My Thoughts. This is also an apocalyptic world which is an unusual read for me. Note I said apocalyptic and not post-apocalyptic. The apocalypse on this world is still ongoing and I get the impression it is far from over.

Now there is a reason why I normally avoid dystopian books. They depress the heck out of me. Oddly, this one did not have the normal depressing effect. Not sure if it was because this is obviously not our world so it allowed me to keep my distance or because it has dragons. Personally, I'm leaning towards the dragon theory. Give me dragons and I can ignore a lot...

♦ What I Liked. There are several distinct storylines in this tale and they all intertwine. There is the story and backstory of Salinda and Brill. They start off together, but eventually their storylines will split. There is the mysterious story of Nils, who has awoken from a sleep which spanned generations only to discover that he is the last of his race. Eventually his storyline will merge with another's.

And that is only Part One. Part Two is even more interesting.

RT: Shatterwing is a unique blend of secondary world, magic and lost technology. Plus it has dragons! via @mulluane

In Part Two we meet the Skywatchers who hold powers that frankly caught me offguard. Plus we meet another young lady whose fate may be just as important as Salinda's. Again storylines will split apart, merge back together or intertwine with previous storylines. Reminded me of the Spirograph I spent hours playing with as a child. Loops within loops and no end in sight.

My favorite part of all was the survivability of the characters. This is a harsh, cruel, apocalyptic world full of brutality, uncertainty and death. But the players in this drama are survivors, not victims. Do they suffer from self doubt and helplessness at times? Of course. Do they still pick themselves up, brush themselves off and forge ahead? Yes, yes they do. Giving up is easy. The mark of a true hero is getting back up after being beaten, broken and demoralized. This story does not lack in true heroes.

♦ What I didn't like. This is definitely one of those books where you'll need the sequel on hand. It ends in a major cliffhanger. Several really. So far there are mysteries galore with barely a hint much less an answer. The writing could have been a bit tighter. There were too many repetitions of core information to suit me. Not a deal breaker but worth a star demotion. I hate it when my dogs look at me funny while I rant -- out loud -- "Hey! We know this already, lets get to the good stuff..."

Kind of like my readers do while reading my reviews...

There is also a huge amount of violence and a lot of it comes in the form of rape and torture. In this case, it did not bother me because the brutality fit the degradation of the world in general and the treatment of slaves in particular. This is not a pretty world and to pretend otherwise would be misleading.

In my opinion, the rape, torture, verbal and emotional abuse may be commonplace, but they are handled well. They are only as detailed as they need to be. They are not used for shock value. Instead abuse plays an active role only when it shapes the character in question. However, the abundance of rape and torture will bother some people. If you are someone who is easily offended by heavy doses of brutality, it will not take you long to DNF this book.

♦ Conclusion. This is a plot-driven story. The characters, while either admirable in their tenacity or horrible in their cruelty, are not the main focus. This book's greatest draw lies in its ability to make almost every aspect a deep mystery. With every page you turn you get another piece of the story but no answers. It is a giant puzzle and I loved almost every minute of it. Almost. I would have liked something, anything, conclusive, but since I have the sequel in hand, I'm not too worried. The answers I seek will be revealed in book two and I'm really looking forward to them.

Librarything 4/5
Amazon: 3.5/5
(8 customer Reviews)
What Should I Read Next?
Kindle: Shatterwing: Dragon Wine 1
Print editions are only available as "print on demand."
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My Review of Skywatcher (Dragon Wine 2)

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Science Fantasy Review of Shatterwing (Dragon Wine 1) by Donna Maree Hanson
Reviewed by Mulluane on December 01 2014
Rating: 4 of 5

Skywatcher (Dragon Wine 2) by Donna Maree Hanson | Science Fantasy Book Review

2014-12-01T16:45:00.000-05:00

This tale builds and grows. Dragons prowl the skies. An unexpected romance develops. A heart is destroyed. Meanwhile the shattered moon keeps bombarding this world with fiery fragments and the only people who can save them all, are now under siege.

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Book Source: Publisher/Author

Science Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

The story picks up right where Shatterwing left off and follows the same winding path. Individual storylines merge, split, then merge again. The tension ramps up as the evil Inspector destroys everything in his path. Usually in the most horrible way possible.

♦ My Thoughts. It took me far too long to review this and I apologize. Between the holidays and reviews with deadlines that I chose to honor, it fell through the cracks. I want to state, for the record, that the delay had nothing to do with the quality of this book.

As we pick up where book one left off, the Inspector is searching for Salinda in the belief that he can take her power as his own. A power that she is barely able to control. Nils, the last of his race, continues his search for dragons while the skywatchers pool their strength to destroy the largest fragment yet. One that will do unbelievable damage if it strikes the surface.

♦ What I Liked. This story puts me into a role of not only a reader but an explorer. A situation that I found priceless. This is an intriguing world with an almost extinct technological race who once lived hidden underground. A race that even the oldest folklore does not mention. There are Dragons. Only no one knows where they came from. And there is a symbiotic relationship between the dragons and the humans that nobody understands. Or even realizes.

RT: Dragon Wine Duo is a blend of secondary world with magic and lost technology. Plus it has dragons! via @mulluane

When I wasn't exploring the underground city and the mystery of what happened to the people there; I was exploring towns, mountains, valleys and... a Skywatch tower. This is a world of secrets and exploring all the possible answers was a lot of fun.

I also liked the ramp up in tension as the danger switches from general to more specific. As the danger coalesced, I enjoyed watching the characters adapt to the ever changing situations. On this planet you either adapt or you die. And sometimes you die anyway.

♦ What I didn't like. The conclusion ties up this chapter of the story. It ends not so much in a cliffhanger as in a surprising revelation.

The problem lies in the nature of that revelation and the desire it engineers to learn more. Much more.

Now this is in no way the author's fault. If anything, it is an indication of her ability to draw her audience into the story. Now here comes the real conundrum. There "might" be a third book. I assume getting a book deal for book three depends on the popularity of this duology.

Hence the following plea:

Please read these books.... I REALLY want to read the next installment. There are so many things I have yet to learn about this planet and I don't want the journey to end!

♦ Conclusion. As I mentioned in my review of Shatterwing, this is a plot driven story. The characters are varied, intriguing and fun to watch, but I did feel like an observer throughout. I hated the villain with a passion, but I never bonded to the other players of this drama.

And I didn't need to. I was heavily invested in the story. It had mystery, adventure, love, loyalty, tragedy and loss. The dangers felt real. The violence was brutal. The tragedies were heartbreaking. The dogged perseverance of the survivors was inspiring. The dragons were truly frightening. And I can't say enough bad things about the Inspector. Then we have the conclusion. Boy I never saw that coming...

Well worth a read!

Librarything 3/5
Amazon: 3.7/5
(3 customer Reviews) Skywatcher: Dragon Wine 2
Print editions are only available as "print on demand."
Interactive List of Dragon Books
What Should I Read Next?
My Review of Shatterwing (Dragon Wine 1)

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Note: I will not be doing a summary post since it is my belief and hope that this series is not complete. In the event that it continues I'll review the sequel(s) and then tie the reviews together!

Science Fantasy Review of Skywatcher by Donna Maree Hanson
Reviewed by Mulluane on January 12 2015
Rating: 4 of 5

Dragon Jousters by Mercedes Lackey | Epic Fantasy Series Summary

2014-11-12T17:00:00.000-05:00

♥ Mini Review ♥

Dragon Jousters is a unique series set against a backdrop of dark magic, war and slavery. Crafted with strong Egyptian influences, it is also a world where dragons fly the skies and man enslaves them. That is until a lone Jouster discovers that there is a better way....

Epic Fantasy Series Review by Mulluane

♦ The Story. If I had to choose a word that describes this series best, that word would be "discovery." Every book explores a different part of the world. Each book chronicles the journeys of the protagonists from teen to adult. And each book builds upon Mercedes Lackey's beautiful dragons.

The dragons are the key. If there was ever a story that centered on dragons it is this one. These are lovingly depicted realistic dragons. They themselves are not telepathic. They do not breath fire. They are not magical. They are not even tamed or controlled easily. It takes patience, back-breaking, trust-building, time-consuming --work.

This series made me fall in love with dragons all over again.

♦ What I Liked. The first two books were priceless. Rich with meticulous world building, sympathetic characters and unique dragons. I found myself frequently singing the book lover's refrain. "Just one more chapter, just one more chapter!"

This series starts out as a coming-of-age tale. It is almost a rags to riches story, but not quite. More like, life takes a turn for the better with the potential of more to come. Book two adds in a strong female lead, a new type of dragon, more detailed world building and a chance to see the war from both sides.

I also liked the fact that in this series, there are few easy answers. It is a tale which definitely trumpets the virtues of hard work and self sacrifice. There is magic. The black magic coming at a terrible cost, the good magic having benign uses like predicting earthquakes and communicating to animals.

Said communication is awkward at best since it centers around basic emotions from the animal in response to projected images and strong emotions from the mage. Helpful but as is typical in the series, not an easy answer.

♦ What I didn't like. This series had so much potential. There is a core story of good versus evil, in true epic fantasy style. There is a refreshing change of venue that provides a nice break from your typical medieval type fantasy.

Unfortunately, despite a strong start, I struggled through the latter half of the series. By book three the writing became too formulaic and frankly, boring. (The story, not the dragons!) Fortunately, the ending pulled the bacon out of the fire just before it crisped and burned. It was a close thing. I almost didn't finish book four.

The main problem was, I lost connection over time. There was also a nagging feeling that I was only getting part of the story. I'd have certain expectations about story development, based on preceding events and the blurb, only to close the book thinking I must have missed something. What I was missing may have been there. Even now I'm not sure.

I'm afraid that my loss of connection with the characters, and my single minded focus on everything dragon, simply made the rest of the story fade into obscurity. Long and short of it was, I lost interest. In the war, in the characters, in the magic and even in the world building.

The good news is, and without giving out any detail, there is actually more to the story than I was being told and it made for a surprising ending. I am glad now that I didn't give up, but I feel it would have been better if there had been some kind of slow build up to the conclusion instead of a sudden, and somewhat rushed, unexpected chain of events.

♦ Conclusion. I can not, in all fairness, rate this series based on how wonderful the dragons are. They were a solid five, but the story was a level three rollercoaster ride of extremely good to extremely boring and everything in between. I go into a bit more detail in the individual reviews, but here it is in a nutshell.

Book One, rocked! Book Two was a close second. Book Three is where I lost my empathy with the characters and the plot started sprouting holes like swiss cheese. Book Four was more of the same until the final battle where some exciting events and unexpected drama takes place.

My best advice is as follows.

If you want to read about some of the most credible dragons I've ever seen, I highly recommend this series. If you are intrigued by an epic fantasy set in an Egyptian type landscape, I suggest reading at least the first 2 books. If at that point you are deeply invested in both the characters and the main plot, by all means move on to the second two books. I'm glad I did. The ending was definitely worth it.

Ultimately I consider this series as a must read for any diehard dragon fan, even if you only read one or two of the books.

♦ Individual Reviews ♦
Joust #1 ~ Alta #2 ~ Sanctuary #3 ~ Aerie #4
(Additional Info)

Author: Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Content: Dragons, Coming of Age, Magic, War

Series: Dragon Jousters

Publisher: Penguin

Source: Personal Copies

Amazon Affiliate Links
Buy: Joust ~ Alta ~ Sanctuary ~ Aerie

Cover Art: Jody A. Lee

Author's Web Presence:
Webpage ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Blog

All are available in Kindle
See individual reviews for more information.

More Great Epic Fantasy Series

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Epic Fantasy Series Summary of Dragon Jousters by Mercedes Lackey - Reviewed by Mulluane - on November 12, 2014- Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Joust (The Dragon Jousters #1) by Mercedes Lackey | Epic Fantasy | Book Review

2014-11-03T15:30:00.000-05:00

♥ Mini Review ♥

Dragon Jousters is a must read for every dragon fan. It has everything. Dragons, dragonriders, coming of age, sympathetic characters, interesting worldbuilding, friendship and hope. This is the type of fantasy that, as a teen, made me fall head over heels in love with the genre.

Epic Fantasy Review by Mulluane

♦ The Story. Vetch is a serf. The lowest of the low. A hapless victim of war between Tia and Alta, Vetch has watched his father killed, his farm sold and his family divided. Serfs, unlike slaves, are tied to the land. The very land that was seized by their enslavers. Because they are tied to the land they must be kept alive, but that is their only right. Best most serfs can expect is minimal shelter, scraps of food and endless hard labor.

But Vetch has a dream. One that has kept him going from day to miserable day. He has formulated a curse. A curse which will make his owner rue the day he bought a piece of Vetch's family farm and inherited Vetch in the process. A curse which will manifest in a way that Vetch never imagined.

♦ What I Liked. It only took me 2-3 pages to fall under this story's spell. Immediately we are introduced to a harsh desert environment, a young, abused serf and his cruel master. All the ingredients needed to bond with the main character are described in living color. Told in first person, you identify easily with Vetch, a child who has lost everything to war. His home, his family and his freedom, all gone. His situation is tragic, his living conditions abysmal and yet, he maintains a spark of defiance and exhibits a determined will to survive. What is not to love! This is the type of read that I've been looking for. Characters I can cheer for. Dragons to love. Triumph over adversity. And even though I do not believe this was young adult marketed, young adults will love this tale too. It has a strong coming of age element, a strong protagonist and a easy to follow storyline.

The worldbuilding is interesting. On the one hand, you may find some similarities with ancient cultures. There is an unmistakable Egyptian feel to this world. But Mercedes Lackey has added an element that Egypt never had. She added dragons and dragon riders. The resulting combination was priceless. Not since I read the Pern series have I encountered such wonderful, glorious dragons. I'm loving every minute of this tale. Granted there are a lot of not so nice dragons too but they just add a needed balance to the plot.

♦ My Thoughts. You might have noticed that I skipped the "What I Didn't Like" section altogether. There is a reason for that. I can't think of anything.

The pace was perfect, which is surprising because 99% of the story takes place in a single location. There will be changes of scenery later in the series but for now, we watch and experience everything through Vetch's eyes and Vetch is not free to go anywhere.

Now you might think this would be boring. It takes a certain talent to pull off first person while keeping the reader engaged. Let me reassure you on this point. This is first person done extremely well. At no time did I feel the need of multiple POV's. Everything you need to know is handled by engaging dialog and astute observations. Engagement won't be your problem. Your problem will be putting the book down.

♦ Conclusion. If you are a fan of dragons, like coming of age stories, in the mood for a lighter summer type read and enjoy a character you can really get behind, you'll love this book. I've seen this series recommended to lovers of McCaffrey's Pern series and so far I have to agree. I love a book that makes me feel good after I've read the last page and this one fit that bill. This book also reminds me strongly of why I started following Mercedes Lackey to begin with. I loved her Valdemar series immensely and this tale is following in the same footsteps. Great read and great fun.

♦ Additional Reviews ♦

Series Summary ~ Alta #2 ~ Sanctuary #3 ~ Aerie #4
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links

Librarything 3.86/5

Amazon: 4.2/5
(90 customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: Joust: Joust #1 (Dragon Jousters)

Audible: No

Buy Book: Books-A-Million ~ AbeBooks

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Joust (The Dragon Jousters #1) by Mercedes Lackey | Epic Fantasy | Book Review
Reviewed by Mulluane on September 08 2014
Rating: 5 of 5

Alta (Dragon Jousters #2) by Mercedes Lackey | Epic Fantasy | Book Review

2014-10-06T16:00:00.000-04:00

♥ Mini Review ♥

The story of Vetch has now become the story of Kiron, Son of Kiron. No longer is he Vetch the serf or even Vetch the dragon boy. To be accepted by the people of his birth he must go through a rebirth of self. He must become Kiron the Jouster not just outwardly, but inwardly as well. And this is not as easy as it might sound.

Epic Fantasy Review by Mulluane

♦ My Thoughts. This book starts out with some travel, but the majority of the story will take place in a new city. This time around we get to view things from the other side of the war. The Alta side. At a basic level, the Altan Jousters are no different than their opponents on the Tia side of the border. Both train, ride and drug wild dragons. Each is trying to protect their border and each is only following orders in a war whose cause has been lost to the ages. The beauty is in the details. The different methods used, the differences in religion and political makeup, even the difference in the landscape, all add depth to the overall story.

This is not meant to devalue the travel sequence. The initial travel between Tia and Alta held its own fascination. Kiron is guided by the Bedu, a wandering solitary people of which little is known. The system of travel, the glimpses of yet another diverse culture and the nuggets of wisdom Kiron gleans along the way made for an engrossing read and a great start to this tale.

Needless to say, between the strong characterization and the intricate cultural worldbuilding, I found plenty of material to keep me firmly engaged. Even though sometimes there appears -- on the surface -- to be little more going on besides the endless routine of caring for and training dragons, below the surface there was enough drama, suspense, mystery and danger to keep the story moving right along.

It was very well done.

♦ What I Liked. Better to ask "Where do I start?"

Vetch aka Kiron has no idea what type of reception he is going to receive from his homeland. Keeping in mind that he is still very much a child, Kiron is justifiably worried and very insecure. Watching him grow and develop into a young man was a delight all onto itself. This time there is a whole new group dynamic involved. Enter Aket-ten, a spirited young lady who is a priestess in training with a gift of speech with animals. Both her and her brother introduce Kiron to a type of life he has only seen from afar. That of the wealthy elite.

That is not the only drastic change our hero will encounter. The political makeup, the magic system, the religions, the traditions, the climate and even the introduction of a new type of dragon will astound and confuse him. It will be alot for a boy on the cusp of manhood to absorb but Kiron is up to the task. Rapidly changing circumstances are something life has taught him to deal with, and overall he does a pretty good job. I know it kept me busy and I was only reading about it!

In many ways this book is similar to book one. Book one introduced us to Tia with its mix of desert, floodplain, and unique culture. Book two does the same, but the focus shifts to a swampy delta and a more tropical setting. Kiron is a bit older too, so there is more of a mature vibe, but not really much of one. In some ways this kid had to grow up way too fast while in others he is a babe in the woods. It was fun to watch.

The major difference between the two books was a substantial ramp up in the tension and drama. There is a horrifying twist as Kiron finds out that the war between Tia and Alta has a sinister purpose. And this discovery will put them all, jousters, dragons and inhabitants alike, in mortal danger.

♦ What I didn't like. There were a few things that bugged me in this book. First was the convenient way that Kiron ended up exactly where he needed to be, in the company of just the right people to guarantee his acceptance. It was a bit of a letdown really. There was this big buildup of angst, worry and trepidation over how or if he was going to convince the Alta dragon jousters that he deserved a place in their company. The solution was dramatic, but resolved to easily for my tastes. But it is not like poor Kiron is going to lack for challenges to overcome. I guess he deserved a freebie.

My other gripe is more important. It concerns the blurb. The totally incorrect blurb. I'm not going to quote it here because I am going to advise that you not read it at all. I know that they are a necessary evil, but I swear sometimes I hate the darn things. If you read it, ignore it, if you haven't read it, don't. It will give you the wrong idea about what is really going on.

Enough said.

♦ Conclusion. So far this series is a great joy for me. Interesting cultures, bonded dragons, strong leading characters, opposing views of the same war and a bit of mystery thrown in for good measure. There is a promise of a budding romance, some heroic deeds, and an epic fight of good versus evil. What is not to love? This book/series maybe a bit too simplistic for some, but the way I look at things, it is often the simple things that make us smile the widest.

Now if you'll excuse me, I am off to see what kind of trouble Kiron and Aket-ten get into next.

♦ Additional Reviews ♦

Series Summary ~ Joust #1 ~ Sanctuary #3 ~ Aerie #4Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links

Librarything 3.87/5

Amazon: 4.1/5
(50 customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: Alta: Joust #2 (Dragon Jousters)

Audible: No

Buy Book: AbeBooks ~ Books-A-Million

Book Depository

Amazon: US ~ Canada ~ UK

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Alta (The Dragon Jousters #2) by Mercedes Lackey | Epic Fantasy | Book Review
Reviewed by Mulluane on September 15 2014
Rating: 5 of 5

Sanctuary (Dragon Jousters 3) by Mercedes Lackey: Epic Fantasy Book Review

2014-09-15T15:30:00.000-04:00

♥ Mini Review ♥

Sanctuary. A place of refuge and safety for both dragons and riders. But soon it will become much more. It will become a new home to former residents of both countries, Alta and Tia, as they flee an evil which feeds on death.

Epic Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

♦ My Thoughts. I guess I am getting less observant in my old(er) age. It took me three books to realize that a formula is being used here. Book one Vetch, later known as Kiron, begins a new life. Book 2, Vetch now Kiron begins a new life. Book three, Kiron begins a new life. But that isn't all. Book one, there is a rescue/escape. Book two there is a rescue/escape.

Quess what is in book three?

Now normally, this realization would not bother me. I am used to formula writing. David and Leigh Eddings did it. Piers Anthony still does it. However, those books also contained humor in one form or another. Make me laugh and I don't care if the same basic story is told three times, I'm still going to be entertained. Unfortunately, there is little to laugh about in this world. Occasionally there is a playful jab and some of the normal teasing you might find in any group of close companions, but that is a rare occurrence at best. In this case, the predictability made it hard for me to get through the book.

♦ What I Liked. Formatic writing presents me with a unique challenge. How to coach my likes in such a way that it doesn't sound like a repeat of the last two reviews. I could discuss specific content, but I avoid doing that to prevent any accidental spoilers. I could gush over the dragons, but I have already done that too and this book didn't really add anything special to their awesomeness. Suffice it to say that everything I loved about the dragons, characters and relationships in books one and two, I also enjoyed here. And even though the worldbuilding was lackluster compared to the lovingly rendered details of Alta and Tia, there is an interesting aura of mystery about Sanctuary itself.

♦ What I didn't like. Aside from the repetitive nature of the storytelling, this installment suffered from middle book syndrome. The novelty of the dragons has worn off and the events that take place were easy to predict. Kiron doesn't develop appreciatively. If anything he takes a back seat to Ari, the new King. Sanctuary itself isn't very exciting or even interesting. The possible romance between Kiron and Aket-ten stalls and few inroads are made towards reclaiming their homelands. This is a stepping stone book that does little to progress the story, but much in creating a bridge towards book four. Not unusual in a multi-book series, but a disappointment regardless.

And again I found the blurb to be misleading but maybe I just don't see the story in the same light as the author.

♦ Conclusion. This wasn't a great book, but it was still a good one. It was also a necessary installment in the series. Events that take place in and involving Sanctuary are a setup for the conclusion of this story. A conclusion that promises to be truly epic.

♦ Additional Reviews ♦

Series Summary ~ Joust #1 ~ Alta #2 ~ Aerie #4
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links

Librarything 3.72/5

Amazon: 4.5/5
(38 customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: Sanctuary: Joust #3 (Dragon Jousters)

Audible: No

Buy Book: Books-A-Million ~ AbeBooks

Book Depository

Amazon: US ~ Canada ~ UK

Already read the book? Please share your own opinion!

Epic Fantasy Review of Sanctuary (Dragon Jousters #3) by Mercedes Lackey
Reviewed by Mulluane on October 6 2014
Rating: 3 of 5

Aerie (Dragon Jousters #4) by Mercedes Lackey | Epic Fantasy | Book Review

2014-09-08T12:00:00.000-04:00

♥ Mini Review ♥

There is a great evil stalking the land. An evil that far exceeds that of the Magi who were merely its pawns. An evil that was myth but now has become all too real. Now a question just begs to be asked. Will the jousters and their dragons prove strong enough to defeat this new threat?

Epic Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

♦ My Thoughts. Now I know why this series felt like it had way more questions than answers. I never got the feeling that the war was finished and the people of Alta and Tia were truly free. And I was right. I also came to another conclusion. The focus was never on the war or even the characters. The events that took place in Alta, Tia and Sanctuary were simply a backdrop for those wonderful, beautiful, talented, and extremely lovable, dragons.

Ah what marvelous dragons they are too. Mercedes Lackey took her expertise in falconry, combined it with her love of animals and created what I consider to be the most honest dragons I've ever seen. They are not magical. They are not even mystical. They don't talk and they don't breathe fire. They are simply intelligent, really large, exceptionally colorful lizards, who fly and hunt like birds of prey. The remainder of the story was simply background noise as she focused on building up her beloved creations.

♦ What I Liked. This book takes a sharp right turn into new territory with a speed that sent me reeling. I'll admit it. I did not see where this series was going. I had pretty much given up on it going anywhere.

Boy was I wrong.

What happens at the end makes for a much stronger conclusion than I had hoped for.

♦ What I didn't like. Despite the strong finish and several surprising twists, this story just plods along at the beginning. Again there was a change in location. Again there was a process of settling in and creating new homes. Lets see if I can elaborate a bit without tripping over the spoiler line.

Book one started out strong with Vetch as a sympathetic character. Tia was a vibrant land teeming with culture and tradition. Plenty to learn and experience. Book two lost a lot of the bond with Vetch/Kiron but the introduction of Aket-ten as a strong female lead helped to make up for that. Again we got to explore a new culture and as a bonus got to compare it to Tia.

Then we come to book three. Now the story centers around Sanctuary, an abandoned city of unknown origin out in the middle of the desert. This place has no culture. There were a few discoveries of interesting architecture, but still fairly boring compared to Tia and Alta's rich heritage. Even worse, I found myself completely uninterested in Kiron and Aket-ten.

Book four moves on to Aerie, which sadly is just as uninteresting as Sanctuary. Nobody has any idea what purpose this place served so again, no history and no culture. Fortunately the fumbling around and trying to make this new home livable doesn't last too long. The action kicks into high gear and the story becomes fascinating again.

♦ Conclusion. I actually put this book down several times as I just couldn't get behind the slow process of relocation for the fourth time. I'm glad I finally pushed through to the end. The conclusion was strong and decisive; not to mention a complete surprise. Not Mercedes Lackey's best, but the dragons were priceless.

I am having a hard time rating this one. The first half was at most a three (average) but the conclusion ramped things up to a five (awesome). Best thing I can do is split the difference and go with four (good but not great.) Definitely an awesome take on dragons even if the story, in my opinion, was pretty weak prior to the surprise ending.

♦ Additional Reviews ♦

Series Summary ~ Joust #1 ~ Alta #2 ~ Sanctuary #3
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links

Librarything 3.72/5

Amazon: 3.6/5
(49 customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: Aerie: Book Four of the Dragon Jousters

Audible: No

Buy Book: Books-A-Million ~ AbeBooks

Book Depository

Amazon: US ~ Canada ~ UK

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Epic Fantasy Review of Aerie (Dragon Jousters #4) by Mercedes Lackey
Reviewed by Mulluane on November 3 2014
Rating: 4 of 5

Magister Trilogy by C.S. Friedman | Epic Fantasy | Series Summary

2014-08-28T20:00:00.000-04:00

Feast of Souls ~ Wings of Wrath ~ Legacy of Kings(Amazon Affiliate Links)
♥ Mini Review ♥

At the end of her bestselling Coldfire Trilogy, C.S. Friedman challenged readers to imagine what a world would be like if sorcery required the ultimate sacrifice–that of life itself. This series attempts to answer that question, in vivid detail.

Epic Fantasy Series Review by Mulluane

♦ The Story. There are four distinct groups that make up this tale. There are the immortal Magisters. Dark, mysterious, elite; they rule this world from behind the scenes. There is the royal family of the High Kingdom; the king slowly descending into madness. There are northern people of Skandir, also call lyr; who are destined to defeat a great evil. And even further north lies the Wrath. A magical wall which keeps back a race of demonic creatures which can devour a person's very soul. Add to those a plethora of other groups. You have the Free States, ruled by a shrewd queen, the witches who pay for each act of magic with their very lifeforce, the warring Alkali and the Penitent monks. All together they combine to play out a truly epic drama in a world where the lines are blurred between good and evil.

♦ What I Liked. This is one of those series which sticks with you long after you've read the last page. You question, you ponder and then you pick sides. That is before C.S. Friedman takes everything you think you know and turns it all upside down.

Then the process starts over only to hit yet another twist that makes you revise your opinion again. And again. And again.

Even several weeks after finishing this series, I'm still not sure exactly how I feel about some of the characters in this saga and more importantly, their choices. But the amazing part, in my mind, is the fact that I'm still thinking about them. Now if that isn't the mark of a good series, I am not sure what is!

♦ What I didn't like. There are a couple of things I didn't like about this series. One involves the series itself but in an unusual twist for me, the other is how it was marketed.

Lets start with the series.

Everything I loved about the characters also led to some discrepancies I felt uncomfortable with. Some of the choices they made did not feel logical or natural. Sometimes it was a lack of motivation behind a choice, other times I felt the choice fell well outside of the person's innate personality. I can go along with alot as long as I understand the reasoning behind it. But... That may be all part of the story. Impossible situations calling for impossible choices. All I know is that I went "Wait, what!?!" a few too many times for my comfort. Of course I'm still analyzing those choices so logical, natural or not, they made an impact.

My second gripe is a new one for me. Atleast as far as I can remember. I have a HUGE problem with the blurbs. On one hand, the information insures that you will know you are in for an intriguing dark tale. On the other hand, they give out so much information that it takes all the fun out of some of the best plot twists. My advice, if you can, avoid reading the blurbs, and that includes the back covers. That way each twist will be more of a surprise.

Meanwhile I'll keep trying to hide blurbs behind a toggle so those of you that want them, can choose to check them out and those of you that don't, can avoid them altogether. Granted I haven't found a toggle that works in every venue mainly because email and some feed readers strip the "onclick" command. But I do try.

♦ Conclusion. Likely not a series for just anybody. For one thing, you have to be willing to forgo heroes/heroines who win your heart. Might happen briefly, but then they die or change drastically in some way. This is also not a series for the faint of heart. This world is one of the darkest I've ever experienced. I'll put it this way. I had more sympathy for the Souleaters than I had for almost any of the characters. Almost, there were a few who had their admirable moments but not many and not for long. Definitely not a light read.

However, it is a great series for people who like exploring deep moral dilemmas Nothing is static, nothing is exactly as it seems. There is plenty of action, adventure, risk taking, love, loss and betrayal. The politics are murky and that is using a nice term for it. The characters are flawed and seldom improve. Some even go from bad to worse, or even good to bad to horrible. There is just no telling what will happen next but trust me on one thing. Expect nothing, be ready for anything.

The writing is tight, the worldbuilding is brilliant and the issues explored are deeply complicated. If you want a series that will keep you on your toes, this one will sure fit the bill.

♦ Individual Reviews ♦
Feast of Souls #1 ~ Wings of Wrath #2 ~ Legacy of Kings #3
(Additional Info)

Author: C. S. Friedman

Genre: Epic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy

Content: Witchcraft, Sorcery, Dark Magic

Series: Magister Trilogy

Publisher: Penguin

Source: Personal Copies

Cover Art: John Jude Palencar

Author's Web Presence:
Webpage ~ Facebook ~ Forum ~ Blog

All are available in Kindle and Audible
See individual reviews for more information.

More Great Epic Fantasy Series

Already read the book? Please add your own rating!

Epic Fantasy Series Summary of Magister Trilogy by C.S. Friedman - Reviewed by Mulluane - on August 28, 2014- Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Feast of Souls (Magister Trilogy #1) by C.S. Friedman

2014-07-31T11:30:00.000-04:00

♦ Mini Review ♦

What price would you pay to work magic? How about obtain virtual immortality? Is there a price that is too high? This book and series asks those questions and so many more. This is a tale that will make you ask yourself "Could I pay the price?"

Epic Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

♦ The Story. This tale follows several main characters as it winds its way through harsh realities, impending destruction and personal tragedies. There are arrogant, immortal sorcerers, gentle witches and a royal family that is self destructing. There is an ancient threat, once thought to be destroyed or atleast contained, making a reappearance. There is also an ancient race of Protectors who supposedly contain the ability to defeat the rising threat, if only they knew exactly what that ability is.

♦ What I Liked. Alot. There are several strong female leads; always a plus for me. There are few clear cut answers but a ton of questions. There are backstabbing politics, personal agendas, and a bored group of immortals (all men) who will do anything just to find something new to experience. Not easy when you have lived for hundreds of years. These ancient sorcerers are finding out that the old adage "be careful what you wish for" has some interesting consequences.

There are loads of conflict, main characters who may or may not survive until the end of the book, plus plenty of action, adventure and mystery. There are characters to get behind, even as you question their choices. There are characters to hate, characters to pity and characters you'll wish you hadn't become so fond of. And questions. Always questions.

The worldbuilding is dark and creepy. The politics murky. The choices impossible. Survival is uncertain at best. The pace is often relentless; usually only slowing long enough to let you acclimate to new surroundings. And then there was the ending. It threw in a priceless twist plus the promise of more twists to come. Fortunately I have the whole series in hand so the cliffhanger aspect didn't bother me. I'm jumping right into book two with both feet.

♦ What I didn't like. Umm.... scratches head... I didn't really have time to find anything wrong. This book literally never stops. I didn't like putting it down. Does that count?

Some folks may have a problem with how "busy" this book is with so many plots, subplots and characters -- not to mention countries -- to keep track of. I personally had no problem following the action or the jumps in POV. Multiple POVs did lead to a bit of a disconnection with some of the characters, but not all. The whole experience was an interesting marriage of plot driven and character driven elements; each with varying degrees of importance.

But not to worry. There is a remedy. Just devote quality time to this book. Have a family member drop by your reading chair ever so often to shove a drink or sandwich in your hand and you'll be OK.

♦ My Thoughts. Now this is what I call dark epic fantasy that doesn't feel the need to go overboard. The violence that you experience is true to the world. Granted there is plenty of violence in the form of rape, child abuse, murder, insanity and the usual disdain of women you find in a patriarchal society -- but it all fits. The choices made are often a matter of trying to pick the lesser of two evils. Characters develop depending on their individual situations, good, bad or ugly. Nothing feels forced or added in for shock value. There are choices made that end up being terribly wrong, regardless of good intentions -- or bad. There are choices made with total disregard for the consequences to others. And there is everything in between.

♦ Conclusion. Are you fond of "what if" stories that will plop you right down in the middle of a scenario that can't help but make you wonder what you would do? Do you enjoy dark tempered by shades of gray but without any profanity or random violence that serves no purpose? Do you want characters who grow, or devolve, according to their circumstances? Do you love strong female leads, characters you can detest and dragon like creatures that are evil personified? If so you will love this book!

♥ Additional Reviews ♥

Series Summary ~ Wings of Wrath #2 ~ Legacy of Kings #3
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links

Librarything 3.89/5

Amazon: 4.0/5
(64 customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: Feast of Souls: Book One of the Magister Trilogy

Audible: Yes

Buy Book: Books-A-Million ~ Abebooks

Book Depository

Amazon: US ~ Canada ~ UK

Already read the book? Please share your own opinion!

Epic Fantasy Review of Feast of Souls (Magister Trilogy #1) by C.S. Friedman
Reviewed by Mulluane on July 31 2014
Rating: 5 of 5

Wings of Wrath (Magister Trilogy #2) by C.S. Friedman

2014-07-14T13:00:00.000-04:00

♦ Mini Review ♦

There is a certain beauty to an Epic Fantasy when things go from bad to worse. Especially when you don't really believe such a thing is possible. No subject is taboo. Moral dilemmas are explored in exacting detail and nobody is safe from scrutiny.

Epic Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

♦ What I Liked. This story is incredibly proficient at making me long for answers while being very afraid I'm not going to like them. And to make matters worse? When I do get answers they lead to... yep, you guessed it. More questions! It is a good thing that I'm a lady on the outside because if anybody could hear the profanity the inside of my brain is spewing, they sure wouldn't think so.

There is every type character imaginable in this story. Evil, arrogant, immoral, heroic, tragic, complacent, greedy, generous, pious and power-hungry. The "bad" guys show glimpses of compassion, the "good" guys show moments of poor judgement. Even those evil soul-eating dragons aren't all evil. They are simply beasts following their natures. They aren't the cruel ones here. Dangerous yes. Intentionally, no. I even felt so sorry for one that I almost cried. It is their keepers who are the evil ones. And yet... Even those have understandable motives.

Note: Understanding and agreeing with motives or actions is not the same thing. However I love it when things/people are not evil only for evil's sake. Instead, they just make horrible choices in their quest for survival or even revenge.

♦ What I didn't like. One of the main characters is a monk turned king. Now he is every bit as complicated a character as all the rest, but some aspects of his story didn't ring true. First of all, his religion believes that by doing penance for the "evils" of the world, they will placate the "god" so he never releases the soul-eating dragons on mankind again. A practice that obviously failed. Secondly, when it is discovered that a long held belief (prejudice) against a certain race on this world was completely false, they simply changed their doctrine. Meanwhile the monk turned king just takes all this on the chin with barely a murmur of protest.

Now here is my problem. History has shown us, and shown us often, that religions do not change their inherent beliefs without a fight. It is not unusual for this to result in a debate that takes centuries to resolve. They do not however just rewrite doctrine. To make matters worse, our monk turned king seems to waver between the tenants of his beliefs and his duties as king, depending on his mood or the necessities of the plot. If the story requires him to throw his beliefs out the window, he does so without hesitation. He may offer up some token of remorse, but it is just that, a token. It has no believable meaning. He swears certain things will not take place, then allows them to continue with his full knowledge and non interference. The word hypocrite comes to mind.

♦ My Thoughts. For the most part, I think the handling of religion is done very well. There are multiple "crisis of faith" instances that were very believable. It is only when it came to the monk turned king that I suffered my own crisis of belief. I didn't expect the marriage of the two to be easy. Far from it. But I think I expected the transition from devout monk of a penance based religion to supreme ruler to exhibit more angst and less capitulation.

However, this was far, far from a deal breaker. Could be very possible that this is all by a design I just don't see the why of it yet. Could go the other way too. It may not mean anything in the long run. I'll just have to wait and see.

♦ Conclusion. No second book syndrome here. I'm beginning to think that authors have listened to us reviewers/readers and made a concerted effort to keep the action and pace high throughout the series. The character development is off the charts. The worldbuilding is exquisite and oh so dark. The twists, turns and complete reversals will keep you on your toes. If the third book follows suit, I have a feeling the end will surprise the heck out of me. We'll just have to wait and see!

♥ Additional Reviews ♥

Series Summary ~ Feast of Souls #1 ~ Legacy of Kings #3
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links

Librarything 3.76/5

Amazon: 4.2/5
(39 customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: Wings of Wrath: Book Two of the Magister Trilogy

Audible: Yes

Buy Book: Books-A-Million ~ AbeBooks

Book Depository

Amazon: US ~ Canada ~ UK

Already read the book? Please share your own opinion!

Epic Fantasy Review of Wings of Wrath (Magister Trilogy #2) by C.S. Friedman
Reviewed by Mulluane on July 14 2014
Rating: 5 of 5

Legacy of Kings (Magister Trilogy #3) by C.S. Friedman | Epic Fantasy

2014-06-27T12:30:00.000-04:00

♦ Mini Review ♦

To save the world the last Souleater Queen must be killed. A daunting task and by no means a certain one. Fortunately we might just have the right mix of heroes and heroines to do the job. If they can all somehow manage to get along.

Epic Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

♦ What I Liked. I love a series with a solid ending. Plotlines were resolved in ways I had not expected. A nagging inconsistency was partially answered. Pretty much nothing happened as I had envisioned it. Which is a good thing. The core of what happened didn't surprise me, but some of the paths those resolutions took did. I was delighted.

And the ending did not feel rushed either. This was somewhat of a pleasant surprise too. I've been stuck in a rut of rushed endings lately. Rushed endings always leave me feeling like the book/series is incomplete or the author is too focused on laying groundwork for another trilogy; or meeting a deadline. This ending felt solid to me with subtle groundwork laid in case she decides to write about this world later. There were a few events that were resolved almost too easy, but they were only events. They were not what the heart and soul of this novel was about. The main focus was personal growth, personal agendas, personal sacrifice and personal demons and all those resolved to my satisfaction.

♦ What I didn't like. I never completely understood the magister's power. There is a revelation that takes place at some point in the story (not saying what or when) but it took a system of magic I thought I understood and made it into something I didn't understand at all. Not so much HOW it worked but how it was passed along from the original Magister.

But, it was not a deal breaker and maybe I'm too picky. There are many books that never explain the magic system and I still enjoyed them. In this case, the revelation I'm referring to added enormously to the story. It gave it an added depth and sense of drama. But it also puts a glaring hole in the overall system. I think I may have over analyzed things, but it just nagged at me.

♦ Extra Thoughts. I still didn't like how the Penitent monk/king picks and chooses what tenets of his faith he'll betray, honor or protect. But that very well may be the point. I can't say I'd do any better in his situation. After all, he didn't ask to be King. Besides, I don't think his religion made much sense once certain pieces of information came to light. That had to have shaken at least some of his loyalty. Irregardless, you shouldn't just pick and choose which tenets are convenient and which don't fit your agenda. However not liking it, and saying it didn't add depth to the story, are not the same thing. It was all part of the deep exploration of a wide range of moral dilemmas.

Speaking of moral dilemmas, those dilemmas are what I believe led to some of the less than enthusiastic reviews of this book. I loved them. I loved the challenges they presented. I enjoyed the premises. I loved watching as the characters worked through or with their demons. The actual events -- the war between mankind and the Souleaters -- was background noise to me. I never doubted that the world would be saved in the end. I had plenty of doubts about who would survive, adapt or be forever changed in the process. The other roadblock is that these are not likable characters. They are not meant to be. They are self centered, cruel, arrogant, greedy, conflicted and deeply flawed. This is not a fairy tale. If anything, these people are far too human.

♦ Conclusion. If you like dark fantasy that really makes you think; heroes and antiheroes, deep moral dilemmas, strong women leads plus a totally new take on vampires and dragons, then this book/series will be a good fit. If you prefer the focus to be on action and adventure, you'll find some of each but likely not enough to satisfy. If you want stellar heroes to root for and a clearly defined line between good and evil, you won't like this series at all. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed this conclusion to the series, but I concede that it might not suit some tastes.

♥ Additional Reviews ♥

Series Summary ~ Feast of Souls #1 ~ Wings of Wrath #2
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links

Librarything 3.82/5

Amazon: 4.5/5
(42 customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: Legacy of Kings: Book Three of the Magister Trilogy

Audible: Yes

Buy Book: Books-A-Million ~ AbeBooks

Book Depository

Amazon: US ~ Canada ~ UK

Already read the book? Please share your own opinion!

Epic Fantasy Review of Legacy of Kings (Magister Trilogy #3) by C.S. Friedman
Reviewed by Mulluane on June 27 2014
Rating: 5 of 5

The Outcast Chronicles by Rowena Cory Daniells ~ Series Summary

2014-05-29T15:45:00.000-04:00

Book Source: Author in exchange for an honest review

Besieged ~ Exile ~ Sanctuary(Amazon Affiliate Links)
♥ Mini Review ♥

This is classic Epic Fantasy at its finest. There are forces of pure evil locked away on a separate plane; waiting for the unwary to provide them with a meal. There is magic and mayhem. Dirty politics and personal agendas. Prejudice and jealousy. But there is also love, loyalty and friendship. Nothing is simple and nothing comes easily. This entire story is full to the brim with a host of struggles resulting in outcomes both tragic and triumphant.

Epic Fantasy Series Review by Mulluane

♦ The Story. This tale revolves around three distinct peoples. On top are the self proclaimed "True-Men." This group is comprised of those who have no magical powers but fear and yes, even hate those who do. The next tier are the T'En. They are the mystics with powers that range from healing to killing the fierce predators of the upper plane. But for all their power, they are few in number. As a result they use the True-Men's fear of their powers to hold their hatred at bay. The third tier is the Half-Bloods. They normally have no magic of their own but do possess an affinity for magic that allows a T'En to bond with them to enhance their own power. Because of this ability the Malaunje, as they are called by the T'en, are protected and cherished while at the same time reviled and despised by the True-Men.

But lets dig a bit deeper into this massive scenario. Afterall it is epic fantasy. The True-Men have the types of problems you might expect. There are opportunists jockeying for position within the court. There are religious factions who are always grabbing for more power. And there is a King who is trying to keep his followers loyal through fear and intimidation.

The T'En too have internal problems. They are divided into Sisterhoods and Brotherhoods. Both are operating under an uneasy truce; each faction distrusting and fearing the other. To make things even more difficult, the different Brotherhoods are constantly fighting amongst themselves. Theirs is a world of strength and stature. Defeat the leaders of a weaker Brotherhood and you absorb that brotherhood into your own. Definitely a survival of the fittest scenario.

This is a dark, tragic world where babies are given up at birth if they are either Half-Bloods or T'En; much to the heartbreak of their unfortunate mothers. And to make things even more interesting, anyone, including full blooded True-Men, can give birth to a T'En or Half-Blood child. It is also a blood thirsty world with cutthroat politics, gender bias, racial discrimination, murder, rape, torture and betrayal. But good lurks in the corners just waiting for its chance to right the wrongs and fight against injustice.

♦ What I Liked. It would be easier to explain what I didn't like. But we will get to that later. Being the huge fangirl of true epic fantasy that I am, I loved this series. I have read far too many so called epics lately that to my mind, were not epic fantasy at all. It was a pleasant change to read something that was truly epic in every sense of the word.

This is, in my opinion, a plot driven story and I enjoyed it as such. The characters were interesting, occasionally fascinating, but I never bonded with any of them. Didn't have time. This story raced along at full speed. Book one alone covered about 20-30 years. Even so there were a few who stood out and those were also the ones who developed the most. At no time could you describe this saga as "static." Everything moved, changed, evolved or devolved. Paths to success failed at the last second. Betrayals suffered the same fate. Or.... either might succeed but with a twist that nobody could have predicted. I'll hang my head and admit that I caught myself using a profanity or twelve when events unexpectedly turned on their heads. However if a scheme actually worked, I wasn't expecting that either so those left me speechless.

♦ What I didn't like. I had a few problems. Annoyances really. I go into depth on those in the individual reviews but to recap I had to overcome a language barrier and a learning curve in book one and I vehemently disliked the ending of book three. Enough to cost it a star even though the book itself was excellent. We all have our pet peeves and I'm afraid the ending of book three nailed one of mine.

But...

This is one of those cases where, even though books 1 and 3 got 4 stars, I am giving the series as a whole a 5 star rating. The sum of the total is more than its individual parts. This really is an excellent epic fantasy.

♦ Conclusion. There is a challenge in reading true epic fantasy. You have to keep on your toes and really pay attention to the details. Epic fantasy tends to be multilayered, complicated, huge in scope with a massive amount of vital players and important storylines. When it is done well -- as this was -- it is a priceless experience. An exceptional epic fantasy should make you think, question and ponder your own views, prejudices and vices. It should make you shudder in horror and feel fortunate not to live in such a place under such harsh circumstances. It doesn't need to be character-driven if what you feel is sympathy for an entire race or races; combined with the hope that things will improve for the good guys and get worse for the bad.

This, for me, was a true Epic Fantasy. Highly recommended!

♦ Individual Reviews ♦
Besieged #1 ~ Exile #2 ~ Sanctuary #3
(Additional Info)

Author: Rowena Cory Daniells

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Content: Magical Gifts, Parallel World, Politics, Conflict

Series: The Outcast Chronicles

Publishers: Solaris

Source: Author in exchange for an honest review

Cover Art: Clint Langley

Author's Web Presence:
Webpage ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

All are available in Kindle
See individual reviews for more information.

More Great Epic Fantasy Series

Already read the book? Please add your own rating!

Epic Fantasy Series Summary of The Outcast Chronicles by Rowena Cory Daniells - Reviewed by Mulluane - on May 29, 2014- Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Besieged by Rowena Cory Daniells (Outcast Chronicles: Book One)

2014-05-14T23:55:00.000-04:00

♥ Mini Review ♥

Prejudice, betrayal, jealousy, ambition and endless scheming fill all 672 pages of this truly epic fantasy. If you love a complicated multi-tiered magic system, a fully realized secondary world, secrets, personal agendas, and a multitude of racial issues, this story has all that and so much more.

Epic Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

♦ The Story. Oh my. How do I describe this tale? There is so much of it it defies a simple explanation. But for you dear reader, I'll give it a shot.

Lets start with the basic makeup of this world. At the core there are three main races. The mystics, the non gifted (humans with no mystical powers) and the half-bloods.

The mystics consist of sisterhoods and brotherhoods, both laboring under an uneasy truce. To make things even more interesting, the brotherhoods are not only at odds with the sisterhoods. They are feuding with each other. The non-gifted have the usual divisions of class, religion, social status, wealth and power. In the background there is also a group of foreign scholars but they play a distant role at best. Oh, and if that isn't enough, there is a parallel plane filled with power hungry monsters.

With me so far? Well hold on, it gets even better. Almost every division hates, fears or distrusts the others. The end result is a tale full to the brim with tons of conflict. The majority motivated by political, religious, cultural, gender biased, racial and/or personal ambitions. Add to the mix a touch of greed, a bit of revenge, a few doses of misguided loyalty, then stir in some lies and you have a recipe for disaster.

♦ What I Liked. I enjoyed the complexity. The political, religious, gender and racial divisions intrigued me. The backstabbing, conniving, and secret agendas all kept me glued to the pages. The pace was fast, tense and flowed without effort. It was like being a fly on the wall watching the events as they unfold.

Another thing I loved were the twists and backflips. It was like watching a bunch of gymnasts -- on steroids. Loyalties flip, then flip again. The balance of power shifts constantly. Fortunes rise and fall. Sometimes things change for the better and other times for the worse, but almost always in ways you didn't see coming.

There is no question, this is true epic fantasy.

♦ What I didn't like. There was, for me, a huge learning curve. The severity is going to depend (I think) on whether you've read Rowena Cory Daniells' earlier T'En trilogy, Fall of Fair Isle. It takes place in the same world but is set many years later. If so, you are already familiar with some of the main structure. Unfortunately I haven't read that series so I had to learn everything from scratch.

First you have the various levels within each society. The brotherhoods, sisterhoods, political and religious factions each have their own circles and hierarchies. Add in the various cultural, social and magical components and you end up with alot to learn.

However, the main problem for me lay with the terms used by each race. For example, the non-gifted call themselves True-Men but the Mystics call them Mieren. The True-Men call the half-bloods either half-bloods or Wyrds. But, the mystic race calls them Malaunje. The mystics themselves are T'En but are also referred to as Wyrds, depending on who is doing the talking. Finally, the half-bloods use all of the various terms. Then you have rare births of individuals with special powers. There are completely different names for each of those those. Confused yet? I was.

I struggled the most with the different races all having individual names for each other. For awhile there I kept getting pulled out of the story while I figured out which race the text was referring to. Granted the names Mieren and Malaunje look completely different in the context of this review. However when thrown at you in a fast paced action story, the difference isn't so obvious. To make matters worse, I am still not sure I understand the full meaning of every term used. Especially the ones that indicate an individual has some kind of special power.

In my opinion this book needs a glossary but perseverance works almost as well :)

♦ My Thoughts. This is not a book to read before bedtime. Especially if you have trouble shutting off your mind as I do. It is also not a book you need to read if you have alot of distractions going on around you. Trust me, it will demand your full attention. The bathtub with a "Do not disturb" sign on the door might work. Just don't forget to get out before the water cools and you catch pneumonia because you have forgotten where you are. Oh and a treadmill would be perfect! Unfortunately you'll likely need new soles on your shoes afterwards. Especially if you run at the same pace as this saga.

There is alot of violence, rape, hate crimes, torture, tragedy and hardship. And when I say alot, I mean 20-30 years worth packed into one book. But it isn't all bad. There are some good folks too. Individuals who wish to better their world, or atleast their race's place within it. There is even a bit of romance amongst the chaos.

♦ Conclusion. I'm really liking this series so far. I am also seriously impressed. Rowena Cory Daniells covered a full generation of schemes, plots and power struggles. Build an entire fully realized world. Plus did all this without me once skimming back through chapters for reminders of what is going on. It is nothing short of amazing. The only thing that gets sacrificed along the way is intimacy with the characters. There are characters you will develop some feelings for but on the whole this is definitely a plot-driven story.

If you love dark, harsh, complicated worlds. Plenty of politics, ambition and greed. Lots of backstabbing, vow breaking, betrayal and strife, this book sure fits the bill.

♦ Additional Reviews ♦

Series Summary ~ Book Two ~ Book Three
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links

Librarything 4.38/5

Amazon: 5.0/5
(3 customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: Besieged (The Outcast Chronicles)

Audible: No

Buy Book: Books-A-Million ~ AbeBooks

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Epic Fantasy Review of Besieged by Rowena Cory Daniells - Reviewed by Mulluane - on May 14, 2014- Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Exile by Rowena Cory Daniells (Outcast Chronicles: Book Two)

2014-05-05T20:30:00.000-04:00

♥ Mini Review ♥

If there was a word that described a complex, complicated, intense, nail-biting, leg swinging, edge of your seat, dramatic, action filled story filled with omg moments... I'd use it. Instead you'll have to be content with the above run on sentence. {Grins}

Epic Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

♦ What I Liked. I could just say everything but that would make for a boring review so let us see if I can elaborate without too much gushing and spoiling.

Politics: Everything I love and more. The greedy, angry, vengeful, power hungry players in this drama are dangerous, conniving and ruthless. Balancing them are the selfless, protective, loyal folks who want nothing more than to preserve the greater good.

Cultural diversity: Plenty of that too. The rich, the poor, the magical, the mystical and the mundane. Each culture has its own set of rules, rituals, customs and their own view on the world. Some are content, some feel helpless to affect change, while others realize change is possible by taking small steps. Others flat out rebel. And as I indicated in my first review, prejudice, jealousy and flat out hatred run rammant. Plus there is a fair amount of gender bias thrown in to spice things up a bit.

Action/Adventure: As with most culturally diverse societies there is constant conflict and often out and out war. There are rebels, spies, double agents, factions within factions; all waiting for their chance to turn the tide. There is murder, rape, poison, ambush, lies and betrayals. You know the evil villains are evil but they still surprise you with the lengths they will go to get what they want. You know the heroic people are heroic but the depth of their sacrifices will surprise you also. But the best of all is the smart folks who know when to move forward and when to stand still, even when what is going on secretly breaks their heart. With all of this going on, it is impossible to tell what will happen next.

That wasn't too gushy was it? I hope not because I think I may have pulled something in the process of restraining myself!

♦ What I didn't like. With familiarity some empathy with the characters is going to develop. I personally would have liked a bit more. I also realize that when you have a huge cast of characters involved in complex, multilayered situations, character development is a distant concern at best. Instead of spending time shifting through thoughts and feelings in search of motivations, you find them instead in bits and pieces of the character's history. This leads to alot of "ah ha!" moments which can be fun all on their own. Not a major complaint and not enough to deduct a star. More of a heads up for character-driven purists. You will like, hate, feel sympathy or feel indifferent but I doubt you'll love any of these characters. Which is a good thing because alot of them have a habit of ending up dead.

♦ My Thoughts. My reading tastes are in some ways, pretty narrow. I prefer series, I prefer epic, high, or sword and sorcery. Within those categories I become more lenient. I adore character-driven fantasy. I love political intrigue. I enjoy action/adventure. I'll tolerate romance as long as it is not the main focus. I even enjoy military fantasy though I may not understand it completely.

On worldbuilding I'm kinda weird. I'm not visual. Descriptions of architecture, landscapes, clothing, furnishings etc. are fairly lost on me. On the other hand, religious, political, social, and cultural descriptions I soak up like a sponge.

Where I am going with all this is I think that the worldbuilding here was just about perfect. At no time did I flip pages impatiently looking for "the story" to continue. I did get the impression that there were some beautiful, lovingly rendered settings throughout the book. I am just not wired to appreciate them. For the those who love meticulous detail, I think you will enjoy what you find.

♦ Conclusion. I am on a roll. This is yet another book which does NOT suffer from middle book syndrome. If anything it flowed so much better than Besieged because the learning curve has been conquered. Epic Fantasy lovers everywhere really should give this series a try. I can't imagine that book three is going to be anything except better.

♦ Additional Reviews ♦

Series Summary ~ Book One ~ Book Three
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links

Librarything 4.5/5

Amazon: 4.5/5
(4 customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: Exile (The Outcast Chronicles)

Audible: No

Buy Book: Books-A-Million ~ AbeBooks

Book Depository

Amazon: US ~ Canada ~ UK

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Epic Fantasy Review of Exile by Rowena Cory Daniells - Reviewed by Mulluane - on May 05, 2014- Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Sanctuary by Rowena Cory Daniells (Outcast Chronicles: Book Three)

2014-04-21T23:59:00.000-04:00

♥ Mini Review ♥

If you want to know what my definition of true Epic Fantasy entails; this book/series is a prime example. Nothing is simple, there are no easy answers, and don't get too attached to the characters. There is no telling who will or will not survive.

Epic Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

♦ What I Liked. I had a strong feeling at the conclusion of Exile that I was going to love Sanctuary and I was right. In some ways this book was better than the first two books combined. It wasn't perfect mind you. But you can ask anybody in this household and they will tell you I literally disappeared from this world every time I opened its pages.

Juggling this much information is hard sometimes but for the most part I had very little trouble keeping up. There are some really clever players in this drama and they kept me on my toes. I wavered between "omg, what else can go wrong" to "omg, what a great solution!"

The issues explored are deep and varied. The pace marched to a rhythm of 2 steps forward, followed by one or more steps back. Progress is made but the means are often tragic or at the very least, painful. And as with almost any civilization, change is fought against every step of the way.

The whole process was a joy to read.

♦ What I didn't like. I wasn't entirely happy with the ending. It had too much of a "to be continued" feel to it. To make matters worse, I am not sure -- this being a prequel -- if there is going to be a continuation of this story or it was designed to tie into the first series, Fall of Fair Isle. I doubt that it is though. I haven't read the first series but it is my understanding that it takes place well into the future. The cliffhanger I am referring to suggests something more imminent.

Now before you misunderstand me on this, the book did conclude most of the major conflicts; effectively ending this chapter of the character's lives. It was only the very end that felt like a segway into a whole new series. Granted one I very much want to read but it is bad enough when book one and two within a trilogy end in a cliffhanger. For a concluding volume to do so makes me alittle angry. If I loved the series I don't need a hook to read the next one. I'm going to do it because I love the author's style. The whole reason why I read entire series at one time is so I don't have to put up with cliffhangers! Grrrrr.

♦ Conclusion. As long as I shove my annoyance over the ending aside, I have to say this was the strongest of the three books. I can't help but admire a writer who so perfectly juggles the lives of so many people all while dealing with a myriad of social, racial, cultural and gender related issues. This is true Epic Fantasy all the way from beginning to end. Highly recommended.

♦ Additional Reviews ♦

Series Summary ~ Book One ~ Book Two
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links

Librarything 4.5/5

Amazon: 3.9/5
(8 customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: Sanctuary (The Outcast Chronicles)

Audible: No

Buy Book: Books-A-Million ~ AbeBooks

Book Depository

Amazon: US ~ Canada ~ UK

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Epic Fantasy Review of Sanctuary by Rowena Cory Daniells (Outcast Chronicles: Book Three) - Reviewed by Mulluane - on April 21, 2014- Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Rain Wilds Chronicles by Robin Hobb ~ Series Summary

2014-04-14T21:30:00.000-04:00

Dragon Keeper ~ Dragon Haven ~ City of Dragons ~ Blood of Dragons (Amazon Affiliate Links)
♥ Mini Review ♥

Dragons, Dragons and more... Dragons! Add in a plethora of character-driven adventure, coming-of-age, romance, betrayal and survival stories and you get plenty of classic Robin Hobb.

Epic Fantasy Series Review by Mulluane

♦ The Story. This is the continuation of a storyline started in the Liveships Trilogy. It answers the question: "What happened to the poorly hatched dragons?" All were hatched with deformities of some kind, both mental and physical. None of them can fly, hunt or even clearly remember the ancestral memories they should have been born with. And the dragon Tintaglia, once thought to be the last of her kind, has abandoned them. It is a tragic situation and one that has to be remedied before they all expire or the Rain Wilders simply run out of food to feed them.

♦ What I Liked. I love character-driven fiction. I like seeing worlds through the eyes of the characters. I enjoy riding around in their heads as they work through joy, despair, love and loss. I don't want to know that a character did a thing without knowing the internal motivation, good or bad. This, for me, creates total immersion. As I read character-driven fantasy I get the chance, for just a little while, to be that person (or dragon.) This is something you almost never get from a movie and the reason why I prefer books.

Get the idea that this is a character-driven series? Well you would be right and not only that, this is character-driven fantasy at its very best.

♦ What I didn't like. Looking back over the series, now that I've read the whole thing, it has become abundantly clear as to how uneven the pace was. The first 2 books are all character development and very little action. The second two books were by comparison, almost too heavy on the action, politics, adventure and conflict. It was like reading two separate but related duologies. Book one was so slow even I gave it a four and I never give 4s to Robin Hobb!

♦ My Thoughts. For those of you considering this series I'll run it down for you thus:

Action/adventure lovers will need to be patient. You will have to muddle through two books of character development before you get to the "good" stuff.

For those of us who enjoy both, This series is just about perfect. (Raises hand)

For pure character loving folks, the first two will be priceless while the last two will seem rushed but are still great reads.

And for dragon lovers it is all good because... well... Dragons!

I'd also like to make a couple of reading order clarifications because this entire saga is confusing to those of you who haven't explored this author and this world.

There are are 4 subseries set in the The Realm of the Elderlings. All take place in the same world but in different countries. The Farseer trilogy was published first. Farseer and the third trilogy, Tawny Man, share a storyline. (And she is writing a brand new trilogy that continues this storyline too! Squeals!!!)

The Liveship trilogy, which was published second, shares a storyline with the Rain Wilds Chronicles. There is one main character crossover between the two sets but that character's role is vastly different in Liveships than it is in Farseer/Tawny Man and they don't appear at all in Rain Wilds.

♦ My Advice. I highly suggest reading Liveships prior to reading Rain Wilds. It is possible to enjoy Rain Wilds on its own but I really don't advise it. Getting the whole story is much better. On the other hand, since Farseer and Tawny Man are set in a different country, they are not as vital but will add more depth if you chose to read them first. Personally I recommend doing so for their own sake. In my opinion the entire Realm of the Elderlings series should be a staple of any character-driven fantasy lover's bookcase.

♦ Conclusion. This is a series that I was actually hoping for long before it was ever published. I ~~wanted~~ needed to know what happened to the poor crippled dragons. I wanted to see more of the Rain Wilders and their culture. And I wanted to know what happened to the original dragons and Elderlings.

I got all of that and so much more. And the ending, oh my heavens it was as perfect as they come. I was grinning for hours afterwards. I can't recommend this series enough. Just like the three series before this one, I will be reading it over and over and over again for years to come.

♦ Individual Reviews ♦
Dragon Keepers #1 ~ Dragon Haven #2 ~ City of Dragons #3 ~ Blood of Dragons #4
(Additional Info)

Author: Robin Hobb

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Content: Dragons!

Series: Rain Wilds Chronicles

Publishers: Harper Voyager

Source: Personal and Publisher Copies

Cover Art: Steve Stone and Jackie Morris
(Depending on edition)

Author's Web Presence:
Webpage ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ My Space ~ Livejournal

All are available in Kindle and Audible
See individual reviews for more information.

More Great Epic Fantasy Series

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Epic Fantasy Series Summary of Rain Wilds Chronicles by Robin Hobb - Reviewed by Mulluane - on April 14, 2014- Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb (Rain Wilds Chronicles: Book One)

2014-04-07T13:00:00.000-04:00

♥ Mini Review ♥

Dragon Keeper continues a storyline started in Robin Hobb's Liveship Trilogy. It asks the question, what happened to the remnants of the dragon population? The answer isn't pretty but it is a great setup for a story of survival against impossible odds.

Epic Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

♦ My Thoughts. First of all, do not expect a story on the same level as Liveships or Farseer because you will be disappointed. This is probably the best advice I have ever given. Far too many people go into this tale expecting perfection, not getting it, and completely missing the fact that this is a very good story. There is nothing wrong with good. Expecting an author to write 5 star, exceptional, award winning fantasy every single time is not only unreasonable, it is not very likely. So my thought is, as long as you don't expect it to be something it is not, you won't end up frustrated by what it is.

My second thought is that this is not a story to read without reading Liveships first. Even though there are scenes that try to give you enough info to grasp what is going on but they don't quite succeed. They were enough to remind me of certain points I had forgotten but for somebody new to this world I don't believe they would be nearly enough. But hey! I could tell you worse things than read the Liveship Trilogy first. That trilogy rocks!

My third thought is the need for a clarification of the main subject of this story. On the surface it is about dragons but what I took away from it was wonderful characters. Yes the dragons play a major role. Yes they are as individual as the characters. But I didn't feel like they were the main focus of this tale. Granted the dragons are a very close second but my gut says they will be taking center stage later in the series. Instead this book focuses mainly on the young keepers and their older escorts and guides. Not a bad thing since people is what Robin Hobb does so well but if you were hoping on all dragons all the time, that isn't quite going to happen.

♦ What I Liked. This tale is part adventure, part coming of age, part romance, part discovery of self (for the adults.) Discovery of self and coming of age is something Robin Hobb excels at in her characters. She pushes the players in this drama well outside of their comfort zones and presents them with challenges that force them to acknowledge their faults and shortcomings. And you take this journey with them, every painful step of the way. It spoke to my character loving heart. Sometimes you want to hug them. Mostly you want to scream, smack, shake and knock them upside the head for missing the obvious and making really bad choices. Of course you also want to cheer when they finally "get it."

I also loved those selfish, arrogant, self-absorbed dragons. They too have a rough road to travel. They can no longer fly, kill for themselves, or even remember all of the things they should have known at birth. Some are truly pathetic, have no ancestral memories at all, can't even remember their own names and are so badly deformed they can barely function. However none of this stops the stronger dragons from viewing humans as beneath them, of little worth other than servants to their every whim. In other words, they are definitely dragons at heart, despite all of their handicaps.

My other favorite part of this tale is the various group dynamics. You have the harmony of the crew of the escort barge. There is the constant struggle for leadership and survival among the dragon keepers. There are the conundrums involved in a group of dragons, normally very solitary creatures, having to work together towards a common goal. There are secrets, lies and betrayals, all adding delightful spice to the journey.

♦ What I didn't like. This book is really slow. I think mainly due to the info dumps contained within the huge amount of time the characters spend replaying their past histories. Some people may not see it that way. They believe there are no info dumps at all but unfortunately I disagree. Every time someone examines events from their "old" life (events that happened before this journey began) those memories contain important backstory, in vivid detail. Granted comparing the past to the present is an integral part of "discovery of self" but the amount of meticulous detail slows things down. I am hoping that this book has successfully covered all the backstory needed and book two can now focus on moving quickly forward.

♦ Conclusion. Best way to sum up this tale is by calling it a series of journeys. At the core is the slow, tortuous travel up a shallow, uncharted, acid filled river, in search of a home for the dragons which may not even exist. Then you have the journey into adulthood by the young keepers, each fighting to prove their worth in a world which considers them worthless. There are the personal journeys of discovery. And those revelations are never very pleasant. Almost nobody, including the dragons, remains unchanged, and some of those changes may surprise you. And the best part? These journeys are just beginning. I predict that many transformations still lie ahead.

♥ Additional Reviews ♥

Series Summary ~ Book Two ~ Book Three ~ Book Four
Ratings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links

Librarything Rating 3.84/5

Amazon Rating 3.9 out of 5 stars
(282 Customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Goodreads Choice Nominee for Fantasy (2010)

Kindle: Dragon Keeper (Rain Wilds Chronicles, Vol. 1)

Audible: Available Here

Buy Book: BAM ~ AbeBooks

Book Depository

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Epic Fantasy Book Review of Dragon Keeper (Rain Wilds Chronicles: Book One) by Robin Hobb - Reviewed by Mulluane - on March 14, 2014- Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb (The Rain Wilds Chronicles: Book Two)

2014-03-31T20:30:00.000-04:00

Centuries had passed since dragons last roamed the war-torn world of the Rain Wild River. But as peace once again settled upon the land, a lost generation of sea serpents—ancient, half-starved, and weary—returned to cocoon, certain that they would be reborn as the beautiful and powerful dragons of legend. But their arduous journey exacted a heavy toll, and the proud serpents emerged as sickly, half-formed beasts, unable to fly or hunt . . . or thrive. For years now they have been trapped on a swampy riverbank between forest and river, hungry and barely alive, reliant on humans to provide for them.

With their survival at stake, fifteen dragons—among them the wise golden Mercor, the haughty and dazzling silver-blue queen Sintara, and the delicate copper beauty Relpda—have set off on a dangerous trek into the unknown, up the Rain Wild River, in hopes of rediscovering the ancient Elderling city of Kelsingra, the lost haven for dragons and Elderlings alike. The dragons are accompanied by a disparate group of human keepers, rejects from Rain Wild society. They, too, yearn to find Kelsingra and create a home of their own, one in which they may make their own rules and decide their own fate. But is Kelsingra real or merely a fragment of a glorified past buried deep in the dragons' shared memories? No map exists to guide them, and the noble creatures find their ancient recollections of little use in a land changed by generations of flooding and seismic chaos.

As the dragons, the humans—including the strong and defiant Rain Wild girl Thymara; the wealthy dragon scholar and Trader's wife, Alise; and her companion, the urbane Sedric—and their magical supply barge, captained by the gruff Leftrin, forge their way ever deeper into uncharted wilderness, human and beast alike discover they are changing in mysterious and dangerous ways. While the bonds between them solidify, starvation, flashfloods, and predators will imperil them all. But dragons and humans soon learn that the most savage threats come from within their own company . . . and not all of them may survive.

*Blurb source Harper Voyager*

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♥ Mini Review ♥

Dragon Haven takes all that was good in Dragon Keeper and ramps things up a notch. More character development, more conflict and more action. If you liked book one, you'll like this book even better.

Epic Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane

♦ My Thoughts. This is a series that is signature Robin Hobb. There is sporadic action, a few thrills, chills, catastrophes and plenty of conflict but mainly it is about characters. Each is distinctly individual and while some share common backgrounds, each experienced those backgrounds in vastly different ways. The dragons too are as unique as their keepers. They are arrogant, wise, self-serving, insecure, quick to anger, loving, cruel, affectionate, in a word, complex. Only one really takes center stage, ie we get to ride inside of her head on occasion, but we "see" enough of the rest to get a feel for their personalities.

Robin Hobb also uses this story as a platform to explore prejudices of all kinds. There is alot of class bias, and gender bias. You have dragons who believe they are superior to humans (and often each other.) But they are not much different from the wealthy Traders who pretty much look down on everybody and everything. You have former slaves who were promised a place within the Rain Wilds society as "equals." A promise that was well intended but far from kept. You have the Rain Wilders themselves who are "marked" over time by their harsh environment. The more heavily marked they are, the less they are accepted, and sometimes resort to veiling their disfigured faces in an act of self defense. And there is worse. A child who is born already drastically affected is usually killed at birth. There is also sexual bias. Same sex relationships are not considered acceptable behavior among the more elite trader and merchant classes and must be hidden at all cost. Fortunately this doesn't seem to be a huge issue with the so called "outcasts". Funny how that works... And while there are plenty of strong female leads both with and without positions of power, there are still plenty of people who have definite ideas as to what constitutes a woman's "place" in society.

The range and complexity of the societies and the characters who live within them makes for a fascinating exploration into human (and dragon) nature.

♦ What I Liked. I am hands down, a lover of character-driven fantasy. I've always been fascinated with the why behind how people think, feel, act and react. I want it to be ugly when it needs to be, endearing at times and tragic at others. And I want development. It can be forwards, backwards or even sideways but as long as the characters change in some way, I am happy.

Suffice it to say, I am very happy.

And the changes are not all internal. All of the main characters are changing physically. Some of the changes are due to environmental factors, some to the rigors of survival, some are induced by the dragons and some are due to the natural process of growing up. And the environment? It goes through some major changes too. No I'm not going to elaborate. That would be "tellin."

♦ What I didn't like. Well, it is not so much what I didn't like but more like what I know some people won't like. There is more action than there was in Dragon Keeper but overall the pace is still fairly slow. Now this is both a good and a bad thing depending on how you look at it. For rollicking non-stop action fans, this is a bad thing and you'll likely be bored to tears. For character development loving fans, this is close to perfect. For me it makes little difference. I try to enjoy a book for what it is. If it is a tense, edge of your seat action adventure, I'm all in. If it is a slow journey to nowhere that allows for copious amounts of time inside the characters' heads, I'm all for that too. All depends on the reader's tastes or even mood.

I do have one little nitpicking annoyance. I can't for the life of me figure out why this series is labeled Epic Fantasy. It is secondary world and there is magic though I would consider it to be peripheral at best but there is no world wide conflict of good versus evil. There are some bad people who do bad things but only a few. The journey upriver could easily be called epic but it is only part of the story. Plenty of things are going on in other cities and some even in other countries. I am not sure what it is exactly but the personal nature of the stories combined with dragons, liveships, serpents and elderlings makes it feel closer to High Fantasy to me. Sadly I guess high fantasy conjures up visions of tired old tropes so you rarely see it used anymore. Doesn't really matter much in the overall scheme of things. A good book is a good book, no matter how you "label" it. It just bothers me as a reviewer because I feel like calling it epic fantasy gives readers a misguided impression of what to expect.

♦ Conclusion. If you read my last review (you DID read it right?) you might recall that I called that book a series of journeys. Well this one is a series of changes. Some are gradual, some are drastic and some are even fatal. Everything changes. The characters, the dragons, the scenery and even the odds of survival are changed, several times and in some fascinating ways. Because I am such a fierce lover of deeply emotional character driven fantasy, this rates as another 5 stars for me. It is going on my reread shelf to be savored time and time again.

♥ Additional Reviews ♥

Series Summary ~ Book One ~ Book Three ~ Book FourRatings, Reviews, Similar Reads, Buy Books, Affiliate Links

Librarything Rating 3.98/5

Amazon Rating 4.2 out of 5 stars
(220 Customer Reviews)

What Should I Read Next?

Kindle: Dragon Haven (Rain Wilds Chronicles, Vol. 2)

Audible: Available Here

Buy Book: Books-A-Million ~ AbeBooks

Book Depository

Amazon: US ~ Canada ~ UK

Already read the book? Please add your own rating!

Epic Fantasy Book Review of Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb (The Rain Wilds Chronicles: Book Two) - Reviewed by Mulluane - on March 23, 2014- Rating: 5 of 5 Stars