Brilliantly detailed, well written fantasy
925585
Robin Hobb is a great writer. She really captures the essence of her protagonist. She does so in a way that I have rarely if ever seen in a fantasy writer. Even the greats don't quite draw the picture in my mind that Hobb manages to create, detailing the whims of her Fitz. I really enjoyed this part of it.
Of course, the story itself, as can be seen through the fact that there are three books here making a whole piece, is a bit slow in this volume. It builds slowly, following the raising and teaching of Fitz as he grows, only occasionally sending him anywhere of note. If you're looking for a kick in the pants, action-packed fantasy book, you're not quite there yet with this volume, however, you must keep in mind that the story has just begun. This is the beginning and with subsequent books, you'll be able to see the real purpose of Hobb's story.
Definately recommended for fans of rich detail and wonderful characters in a fantasy setting
2458711
D.P. Prior consistently writes high quality, layered, adult fantasy based in the world of Aethir. Husk is a welcome addition to his already detailed and dextrous catalog that includes richly imagined and byzantine world that is often battling between what is thought to be good versus evil, and yet the author finds the humorous side of things in the wildest places. The plot of Husk is like all Prior plots, sophisticated, full of wonder, astonishing, and funny in ironic ways. Jeb the Husk Hunter, finds himself one of the hunted instead of hunting Husks. Things have not been normal for some time, and now it is his turn. This is a very emotionally tortured protagonist, and in fact, many of the characters find that they have led lives of despair, or are totally evil and don't care at all. It is an interesting contrast. With lots of action, a broad range of characters, magic, demons, violence and even a touch of good,old fashioned Christianity, there is so much going on in this story on so many different levels that I found myself reading slower to make sure I could appreciate everything that the author was trying to communicate. You rarely find that in anything but literature these days. Bravo Derek! HUSK is highly recommended and the map is absolutely gorgeous. You may want to get your hands on the Deacon Shader books,Nameless Dwarf as well as all the others while your at it. They all tie together and cross over, so you meet some of the same characters and get new bits of some of the old stories. Highly Recommended too!
4417205
When I started reading I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was a very well written fantasy novel that features a light's character. The relationships throughout the story are interesting. The fantasy aspect of this book is absolutely brilliant. I loved this book and highly recommend it.
2480061
I received a review copy of the Kindle book in exchange for an honest review.  This is the third in the wonderful trilogy of Venn Connell's adventures, with the first and second being Bloodlore and Blightlore. These books are interestingly-plotted, very well written, thoroughly detailed, compelling, and addictive.  Hating spoilers, i won't leave any here, and will simply say that this is a terrific and very satisfying wrap-up of the trilogy.  Everything does not end the easy way, there are many twists and turns, the characters are interesting and well-fleshed-out, and the villains use intriguing and very wicked magic.  I have read fantasy since the 1980s & recognize that a lot of what is out there is a rehashing of several standard plots, complete with use of hackneyed plot devices devised in the early days of fantasy writing.  Ms. Walsh manages to bring new angles, monsters, and details to a beloved genre.  I highly recommend her work in general, and this trilogy specifically.
1287057
In this novel there are monsters with and without magic, a hero who faces an actually believable amount of foes, the fighting scenes are terrific (some even bordering on the "oh, God! That was too brutal!"  It has a share of the erotic, a splended array of characters, and the world that is built is exquisite.
Another top-notch author who truly understands the need to paint a picture as vivid as possible to suck the reader in.  Once you start this, and get into it about 5 chapters or so, you'll be fully hooked.
570479
This is, almost unbelievably, my first foray into the fantasy worlds created by Janet  Morris. I have no idea why these novels passed me by first time around, but I am extremely pleased to have found them now.

First I have to say that the writing is superb. This novel is no lightweight read, crammed as it is full of ation, intrigue, and classical references. I was swept along in the Stepsons' wake as, led by god-cursed Tempus, they leave the sinkhole that is Sanctuary and go up against the sorcerers and witches of Wizardwall.

While I could fault nothing in the book, I found the characterizations, especially, to be mesmerizing. I like my fantasy worlds to be complex, rich in all aspects of life, and this one didn't disappoint, In other novels I have found myself bemoaning the lack of depth in fantasy characters. Not so here! Each one was fully drawn and realized, fleshed out and flawed. I was drawn right in and ensnared, and now I have to read the others in this series!

To read Beyond Sanctuary is to walk with gods and demons, and I just have to do exactly that once more!
3455544
This was my first time reading a V.C. Remus book and I was more than pleasantly surprised by The Dockland Kingslayer. The author has used his creative and very vivid imagination to create a brilliant fantasy world where medieval weapons and ideals and knights in armour sit side by side with railways and machines of various types. Laws, if broken, lead to summary justice being meted out and the innocent are as likely to find themselves at the end of a rope as the guilty. The story follows the trials and tribulation of Alistair, who as a young boy witnesses the execution of his parents, and goes on through the book to develop a strong and likeable personality which gradually turns into a lust for revenge against the ruler of the regime that has ensanred his homeworld, especially after his adoptive family also suffers at the hands of the law. Together with his adoptive brother, he sets out to bring about the fall of the King, the man he holds ultimately responsible for the troubles in his life. Whether he succeeds or not, I will leave for you to discover for yourselves, though I will admit the ending did take me by surprise, another plus for the author. A thoroughly entertaining read, highly recommended.
3285253
Taerak's Void is the first in a four (possibly up to five) book series called Fantastica written by M.R. Mathias. I started out with book 2, Sapphire of Souls, so going back was warmly welcomed. The world in this fantasy series is rich in mythology, characters, and creatures. I am in awe at what elaborate and unique things have come out of the mind of Mathias.

Fans of fantasy and science fiction, dragons and trolls, and everything in between will be captivated by Taerak's Void. This is full of adventure as the reader follows Braxton through the unbelievable things he must experience here. The word I keep coming back to is sweeping. Everything about the plot, setting, and characters is broad yet defined perfectly. All of the information you need to feel fully immersed is given without the bad aftertaste of info-dump. Mathias is a very talented fantasy author and Taerak's Void is just the right set-up for Sapphire of Souls, which is book two.
2706577
Jesse Duckworths A Song of Betrayal is a fun fantasy read, and excellent introduction to the world of Harren.  There is excellent depth and breadth in a world that clearly has a history and characters that live and breathe on the page.

Duckworth tells the story of Weylin, and through him we start to understand the race called Balauri, and their rich, divided history.  Weylin has somehow fallen from grace and been banished from his homeland in disgrace.  But Weylin, a Balauri who had only been second to the queen, isn't content to simply live his life.  He has a plan, though one that is very thin, and he has started to collect allies like Falk, a fellow outcast.

A Song of Betrayal provides a well-developed world in which the action of the plot takes place.  Duckworth includes bits of historical text, and wonderful songs reminiscent of those found in Lord of the Rings to provide layers of depth.  The characters are caught up in both their own past and the history of their world, which is a delight to learn about.

Duckworth does an excellent job creating a believable world and living characters in a dangerous and thrilling world.  One of my favorite sequence of chapters included the ships crew that Weylin and Falk travel with as they journey to find other allies, where they fight the sea, storms, and great monsters.  The writing is crisp, clean and the plot moves along at a wonderful pace.

While the book is a bit on the short side (which left me wanting more), and Duckworth relies on some classic fantasy tropes, the entire effort is well-crafted and the story holds together beautifully.  A Song of Betrayal sets up the world of Harren, the flawed and believable characters that inhabit it, and a plot wrapped around the desires of those characters.  Duckworth is more than just a capable storyteller.  Hes very enthusiastic about his writing, and the reader will definitely feel that intensity coming off the page.
4310658
I absolutely loved this brilliant piece of work.  For one let me tell you that this was the first time I read one of Mr. Salvatore's books and I was absolutely blown away by the amount of detail and depth there is in this  book.  The characters are all unique in their own way and the descriptions  are all very real and vivid.  My favorite character would be Drizzt all the  way.  He has very real feelings and you feel how trapped he is in the drow  world of Menzoberranzan.  His dark kin are ruthless in their pursuit of  their dark desires and Drizzt can't comprehend how evil they are.  I would  highly recommend this book to any fantasy reader out there who enjoys a  good adventure packed book with deep characters.
2139207
Sabriel is a dark fantasy about a young woman who can fight the 'dead.' These dead can vary from animated corpses to dangerous firy spirits and roam the 'Old Kingdom,' an ancient land of magic. She uses a set of bells, much like a necromancer, but her aim is to send them back to Death, which is described wonderfully. The book is of the old-fashioned quest-type (which I like best) and Sabriel sets out across the Old Kingdom battling spirits and meeting new friends along the way. This was the first Garth Nix book I ever read and I loved it so much I immediately read all the rest. The world-building is fantastic and the characters (especially Mogget) very enjoyable. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, not just young adults.
2420059
I rarely order a book without first skimming through it, but the editorial reviews of Tucker O'Doyle generated enough curiosity for me to order it here from Amazon.  Boy am I glad I did! This book does fantasy well, and presents it in such a way that regardless of whether you are a child or an adult, you will find yourself immersed in the story.

The plot starts out a bit like Harry Potter, in that a regular young boy doesn't realize his importance.  But the plot develops much quicker and takes the reader along into a magical kingdom with a power struggle of races is raging based on the color of the scattered crystals.

The characters are awesome (Curious O'Doyle is my favorite) and the descriptions are wonderful.  This book series is going to be huge!
3572418
The Plains of Kallanash is a very well written, multi genre type book that combines fantasy with more than a touch of romance.  I read this book using my Kindle Unlimited subscription and am glad I did.

What I liked most about this book is the very clear prose and writing style.  The world building is complex and detailed including elements of culture, sociology and religion.  The characters are three dimensional and well fleshed out and finally the overall story is intriguing while the plot is sound and I felt very comfortable reading at the pace the writer set.

What could be challenging for the reader are the many characters and keeping track of them, the romantic elements also may not be appreciated by say, a die hard sword and sorcery reader as this book focuses on relationships as much as conflict, not to mention the polyamorous aspects and finally, it's a larger book and requires an investment of time to complete.  All of which may, or may not, be perceived by the reader as positives or negatives.

For myself, I felt this a worthy debut effort and am looking forward to reading The Fire Mages next.  I would recommend this book, especially if you like complex stories and world settings.
4330629
E. W. Scott has masterfully crafted this book.  The Eight Boulders Realm is a world complete with interesting characters, unique monsters, a rich history, differing cultures and even politics.  The different realms flaunt different beliefs and religions, which adds to the personal conflicts and family drama.

The book is a fairly quick read.  It has plenty of detail, but does not linger so as to be tedious.  Multiple stories are woven, converging somewhat later in the book.  This creates suspense that will keep you reading.  Details are also delightfully held back and revealed along the way.  Before reading this book, I never had a favorite simile; E. W. Scott has fixed this :)

The worst thing about this book is that it is the first in a series, and the others haven't been written yet!  But that means there will be more fantastic books to read as they are written and published.
927028
Of all the Kindle First books I've read, this is my favorite so far and I eagerly await the next installments. The story itself makes a good read and the two protagonists are engaging and likeable. But what really set this book apart is the richly detailed, painstakingly constructed world the author created. Moreover, the details of this world are revealed in a that's almost aggravating tantalizing: the author doesn't just explain everything up front but gradually pulls the curtain back on different aspects of it over the course of the book. You read about historical events mentioned in passing in the same way Alec Guinness' Obi Wan Kenobi mentions the Clone Wars - something in the past that is such a part of this world's present that EVERYONE knows about it, aside from us readers who need to piece it together. Frankly the world in which the novel is set is a work of art in its own right.

This genre is far from my normal reading but I found this book thoroughly engrossing and immensely entertaining. If you're even just curious about fantasy I think you'll probably like it too.
1709178
Bujold's venture into dark fantasy is very successful; this book is fully enclosed, with a well wrapped up story and it does not threaten to be on of these 20 plus volume cycles that run our of steam by volume 3, but it is an engrossing and very stylish novel. Setting the action in a parallel universe, on Renaissance Earth where magic is not only commonly used, but codified with guild rules, allows her to bring very strange elements to what would otherwise be a rather simple story.
The main character is a headstrong girl, and her and other people and demons in this story are fleshed out (rotting in pieces a bit) really well. This is action driven tale, but the story of daughter's revenge and quest to save her father's soul, no less, is well designed, with emotional resonance. There is black magic, necromancy and black humour, and this is a beautifully designed world, filled with fascinating details. Also, apart from the Earthsea cycle, I don't know many other fantasy novels where the main protagonist has such lovingly described dark skin, and exotic looks, but that's just a nice bonus. This is a real fantasy treat, not as sophisticated as Bujold's main stream sci-fi work, especially the Vorkosigan series, but it's a nice detour.
1871880
This is a tremendous, well-imagined work, its prose readable but elegant, its characters vivid. Its a multi-layered story, with interlude chapters for backstory on the main characters, centering on eda, needed because of the considerable mystery of their identities, including eda herself, growing up rough as a street wren and yet finds even she is not what she thought she was. The story is never confusing, never drags even in 600 pages, and immerses the reader.

The setting  the city of Sharakhai and the surrounding deserts  is a fantasy setting that vaguely evokes that of old Arabia or Persia, but only vaguely. This setting is in a place with two moons, in which the gods and the supernatural of Sharakhai seem to have real force, in which women can be elite warriors and pit fighters in the arena. Its a place in which trade ships (and pirates) sail on desert sands, and do so plausibly for any reader familiar with sailing. Many of Sharakhai's details -- spices, foods, class distinctions, mannerisms -- are familiar to us in name and texture, just enough for us to identify with this world. In some ways this book evokes Dune more than a typical medieval fantasy  the book is that superb.

eda is a bold but complex, and compelling character, and the strong relationship she has with her mother, an equally-strong protagonist, is central to this story. Shes a character worth following through these many pages and into the sequels to come.

Strongest recommendation.