A well written epic fantasy
925810
I read a lot of fantasy, and The Cycle of Arawn held my attention throughout. Good character development and plot kept me reading late into the night. The friendship and rapport between the main characters of Dante and Blays was especially well written. Give it a read if you love fantasy.
1604740
I really enjoyed this book.

I used to read a lot of epic fantasy, but haven't read any in ages because I felt like everything I picked up I'd already read 1000 times before, and hadn't seen anything original in a while.

I read Augur, the author's short story collection (which included a prequel and an extract from Heartwood) and thought it was great, so I decided to give the novel a go.

I loved it.

Yes, it's long, but it's not arduous. The action starts right at the beginning and continues until the end. There is no padding, it's all story, and whilst there are several different people on several different quests it is all linked together well and easy to follow.

The characters were all well-rounded and not clich - no cartoon damsels in distress, shiny perfect heroes or one-dimensional villains. There are plenty of strong female characters, including knights and leaders, and the supporting cast were more than just cannon fodder to fall along the way.

Although there is a central character, Chonrad, there are several others who also stand out or steal the show completely (I can't point out my personal favourites without too many spoilers). I like books that explore more than just a single point of view, and I thought the character and relationship development in Heartwood were both done really well. The author understands that neither things nor people are simply black and white or good and bad, and there is plenty of internal conflict within the character's heads as well as the battles themselves.

I loved the concepts of the Arbor, the Elementals, and how they interacted. The world is beautifully envisaged and easy to engage with. The book doesn't follow your classic fantasy-by-numbers, and it was nice to be surprised and to not be able to guess what's going to happen on the next page all the time. The ending was good and didn't disappoint.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and I would happily recommend Heartwood to anyone.
4343726
Perhaps the best epic fantasy I have ever read. There is a smattering of criticism that the protagonists in this book are a band of women, so if you don't believe women can be capable this might not be your cup of tea. In this series the women are as involved as the men. Setting aside any question of male chauvinism, the story is well written and a great adventure. If you have liked the rest of this world that Michael J. Sullivan has created, you will love this story too. The characters in this book are a natural extension of book 1 of this series. I assume that you can realize that even though Persephone didn't appear until the second chapter of the first book, she is still the primary character, not Raithe. The author and I disagree on that literary device. This story centers around the quest of a band of women from the dahl which occurs while the humans are gathering and selecting a warlord. Their adventure is as grand as Bilbo Baggins'. If you can enjoy a strong female protagonist this story is a must read.
589606
The Way of Kings is a fantasy epic that has become one of my favorite books.  It contains an ingenuitive system of magic and a very believable cast of characters.  The suspense and plot twists are subtle and quite believable, but the book makes it difficult to put down because what happens next is so much of a mystery.  It is a fairly unpredictable yet easily plausible fantasy book.  One of Brandon Sanderson's best works in my opinion, and I have read almost all of his books. Be aware that it is VERY difficult to put down.
1474778
The Cloudstone Key by Darren T. Patrick is an amazing epic fantasy, and a really good debut novel. It tells the story of Karsen Morgate, a young man who is entrusted with the mission to take this carving called the Ennae of which he knows little about, to a person he has never met, and is soon to discover that he is getting into deeper trouble than he expected. So we get to accompany him in his first adventure ever, and discover this astonishing world which raises more questions that just suck you into the story. This is the first book in a series, so of course we don't get this questions answered, but I definitely am waiting to learn more about this story.

I really appreciate a book that can transport and submerge you into a whole new and different world; but that is also very tricky because there's always the risk that this world doesn't fit together in a consistent and logical manner. However, this is not the case, because Darren did in fact take care of every single detail in order to make the world of Tholann plausible and believable. I really enjoyed the detail in Darren's description of this magical place. You could almost see it and I could feel I was there alongside with the characters. Tholann appeared to be like this ancient world, full of history and tradition; they had their own expressions, currency and culture, and it was filled with different races and species. Although, at first, it was a little bit hard to absorb all the new information in order to understand this new world. I especially liked the fact that Tholann's people depended or functioned around nine agates which where themed, meaning that each of them had their own purpose. Of course, since the book is the first of a series, we only get to learn about four of them, but I'm looking forward to uncovering the mystery behind the others.

The plot is well structured and well paced, although I have to admit that for me it started a little bit slow, but past chapter one the story gets more interesting and engaging as it develops. It has a good amount of mystery and suspense, mixed with a touch of epic adventure.

What I liked the most about the characters is that they were so different from each other. First we have Karsen, a young man with a secret passion for adventure, adventures which he hadn't got the chance to have, until his father dies, his half-brother kills a young woman, and he is forced to leave the only home he has ever known to complete a mission he has been entrusted with, and of which he knows little about. He is very cautious, curious, respectful, and has a thirst for knowledge. Then, we have the Jhikquae, which I loved. They are a race of giant women who are in charge of maintaining the equilibrium in Silanokitt forest. They had this elfish vibe, but I thought they were a really original species. Finally, we have Bestah, a Sky-Touched boy, who I thought was really annoying at first; was it really that hard to give straightforward answers? But in the end he turned out to be ok, a really sweet boy.

To sum it up. I totally recommend this book to anyone who loves to get a peek into new worlds and have a taste for adventures. Good job Darren!

*Note: I recieved a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion was not biased in any way by this fact.
903027
Assassin's Curse is the first installment in an epic fantasy series about two female witches, twins whose destiny is bound up in prophecy. The story opens when the twins are just babies; their mother and father are slain by the head of a witch coven that wants to control the fate of the twins herself.

Enter our unlikely hero, Jeda, an assassin with questionable morals. He has been assigned by the assassin's guild to find and kill the mother, who is already nearly dead, and bring the twins back alive.  The mother, also a witch, bonds him to the twins magically so that he is compelled to keep them safe and secure.

Jeda takes the twins, flees the city. At this point the coven, the twin's grandmother and, by extension, the assassin's guild (the grandmother took out the contract to find and return the babies in the first place) are all hunting for Jeda and the twins... and the plot is set.

This is an excellent story with a great deal of depth to the plot. So many novels fall flat when there are so many characters involved in a complex storyline, but this one manages to hold it together.

There could be more emphasis on the flow, in the writing itself. There is a great deal of repetition of words, which makes some of the description and dialogue fall a bit flat, especially when read out loud.

I enjoyed the characters, but I did not feel like I ever really got know them personally; I only knew what was happening to them. I did not feel myself invested in them as people, only in their plight. Ironically, it was the 'cameo appearance' characters that I felt most attached to; Miriam - the mother of the twins, Clara - the bread girl the wagon.

This is definitely an adult fantasy. There is a lot of unexpected shock value; lots of profanity (a lot), rape, torture, murder. Most of it revolves around the actions of Mave, the story's main villain, but some of it is very nasty, something that is normally toned down for books of this genre. With that being said, I believe that it actually added to the story. This will set this story apart from the multitude of other epic fantasies out there. I know there will be some who will be disgusted by some of the things that happen - if you're that kind of person, this isn't the book for you.

All in all, I enjoyed Assassin's Curse and would recommend it to any serious fantasy reader. Due to the strong plot and the way the story has been lined up and left to be finished, I feel confident that the second book in the series will be just as good or better.

I give Assassin's Curse, Book One of the Witch Stone Prophecy a solid 3.75 out of 5 stars.
4307303
This book is an epic (and heroic) fantasy, a genre I like very much. Though I won't try to compare this book to the masters, it has a depth of history and a magic system that is really strong.  I was very impressed and happily surprised.

The characters in this book are well written, and have a lot of history, which (besides making for great, deep characters) is required due to all the sub-plotting and conspiratorial stuff that is happening in the back ground.  The conflict in the book between characters is also powerful, because of the relationships between them.  Honor and Duty are difficult values to adhere to when they come in conflict with love and affection.  I think that the characters are very much the strong point of the novel.

This may sound a little tired, but I particularly enjoy strong female leadsat least female leads that aren't stereotypical (or basically male leads with a gender change). Some authors find it difficult to thread that needle after decades of the industrys familiar male leads and established norms for them.  This author has done a good job with Sullyan. But, I also cant forget to mention her myriad companionsthey too have a depth of character that is admirable. All of these characters are enhanced throughout the story by well-written conflict, both small and epic.

My only real criticism is that the story started out a little slow for me.  Being a big fan of action stories, I often look for a rapid introduction to action and conflict in fantasy novels.  This one took a while longer to build than I might have liked. Once it got thereno complaints at all.  And, I think much of it may have been necessary to build the backstory for this rich novel.

Overall, I thought that this was a good read. I liked the setting, the characters and the overall story.  Im very happy I read it.
3351156
TL;DR> A true Epic Fantasy, with all the strengths and barriers that represents, "In Siege of Daylight" will reward your time with an intricate plot, interesting characters, an immersive world, and all the swordplay & magic you could want.

If you like sprawling, multi-character epic fantasy, "In Siege of Daylight" belongs on your shelf (whether of the physical or digital variety). Author Gregory S. Close manages to take many of the traditional elements we're familiar with and combine them in new, interesting ways for something that's refreshingly original. He accomplishes this partly through giving pretty much everything a different name than we're accustomed to, which has the effect of making it all seem very specific to this time and place, and partly through smart plotting and pacing.

I grew fond of the characters he gives us, from the irascible and foul-tempered man at arms to the pleasant main protagonist. Each stands out on his or her own, clearly drawn and easy to remember.

Where I think the book shines the most, however, is in the presentation of some of the characters from non-human races. Each is given enough flavor and time to give the reader the feeling of a vast history without overwhelming with details. Each had their own unique aspects that set them apart, and because we have to feel our way towards how they might map to traditional races, we have time to take them as they are and not as our preconceptions might want them to be. From the underkin to the aulden and more, you get a distinct impression for each that you really appreciate.

Thankfully, no kin were tossed at any point, an approach it would be nice to see in some of our filmed high fantasies.

Although occasionally the prose became a bit more purple than I personally prefer, overall the writing is exceptionally strong and definitely the equal or better than the vast majority of books published by the big houses. And while the naming conventions ultimately have a great payoff in terms of letting the world be its own creation, the first third to half of the book can be a struggle of sifting through unfamiliar pronunciations and definitions. As usually happens with epic stories like this (think "Dragonriders of Pern" or "Dune"), however, ultimately you get to a point where the terms are comfortable, becoming their own complete entities so your brain can relax into the story. I found the second half of the book riveting, and for the first time in a long time I stayed up well into the night to finish.

If you're one of those people (like me!) who sometimes wrestles with the decision of whether or not to buy an independently-published novel, set your mind at ease and click the purchase button for "In Siege of Daylight". You'll be rewarded with a rich, satisfying, thoroughly professional novel that will leave you eager to read the next installment.
3910260
I had never read anything written by this author before so I wasn't sure what kind of fantasy he writes.  After reading this book, I am not only looking forward to the next book in the series but would also read his earlier books.  The good news for other new readers like me is that the author says at the beginning of the book that no knowledge of either The Riyria Chronicles or The Riyria Revelations is necessary to read this and that there are no spoilers in this book for the earlier series.  I apprecited that a lot.

I am certain that the scope of the story will expand over the series, but this is epic fantasy on a personal level.  The world he has created contains several different races/types of beings.  The Rhune seem more like "regular" humans but the Fhrey, though also humanoid, are so much superior in advancement that the Rhune believe they are gods.  Even among the Fhrey, there are several different tribes, one of which has magical abilities.  In addition there are giants, goblins, and Dherg (though we don't meet any Dherg in this book).

The story is told at a personal level with Raith, a Rhune from Dureya, the people of one village from another Rhune tribe, and a handful of Fhrey.  Events unfold at this micro level that set up epic conflicts to come.  I really enjoyed this kind of story telling.  The reader learns about this world while reading about specific people in that world and their lives. What starts as Raith and his father having an unexpected encounter with one Fhrey builds and expands until it pulls in the wider world.

So you won't get epic battles with armies against armies in this book.  Instead you get one-on-one battles, one of which was pretty epic itself, and really well-crafted characters you will like and want to see what happens next to them.  I am really looking forward to reading the rest of this series to see how it builds and continues.
1146392
It is an interesting fantasy with many fantasy ingredients, adversity and adventure.
This story is better written than Arena One by the same author. The characters and scenes unfold in a more natural manner. I found the sudden change to a new character a bit strange at first and felt the the story left too many loose ends, some of the characters were unnecessary for this book, they could have been introduced in the next.
But I enjoyed the read. It was entertaining and I will look out for the sequel.
2431602
A stellar addition to one of the great fantasy trilogy's out there. This guy will be writing successfully for a long time. He captures human emotion, and draws you into the characters in a way I have never experienced quite so intensely.
1351843
An epic adventure, this book is the first half of the story. The characters are well written and the plot twists were interesting. At times I wished for a little more of what was happening in other areas, but I enjoyed the story.
3347270
Young adult fantasy writers of today often shy away from the complicated, Old World, epic writing introduced to readers as a genre with Lord of the Rings. Alison Croggon, however, has captured my full attention in this stunning, post-Tolkien, fantasy that does draw elements from Middle Earth, but twists them uniquely to create something wholly different and equally as enthralling. The similarities are evident; Croggon's Hulls bear an amazing resemblance to the renowned Ring Wraiths, and there are only a certain number of ways you can convey an epic good-versus-evil fantasy battle sequence. However, when you put the similarities aside and focus solely on Croggon's abilities as a fantasy novelist, you find yourself fully engrossed in the captivating tale relayed in the Pellinor series.

Book 2, The Riddle, left us wondering what was to become of Maerad and Cadvan, and Book 3, The Crow opened with Hem-- and continued to track his exploits. That said, it was an immense relief to get back to Maerad's story and the opening battle of Innail does not fall shy of the appropriate amount action for a story line this epic. The novel's center is almost primarily devoted to Hem and his rather unfortunate trials-- a risky move for the plot, considering the weight and anticipation surrounding Maerad's quest--which, although they are entertaining, should not be as much a focal point of the book as they are.

Croggon tries very hard to make this novel deeper than the others, and achieves this somewhat with pages of Maerad's emotional and mental struggles with herself, her powers, and everyone who tries to get into her head. The absence of dialogue is pleasant and poetic, and Croggon uses her talents as a poet to their full extent in clever passages, songs, and snippets of Bardic lore.

The novel satisfies the major plot elements of its predecessors, but leaves the reader, without a doubt, wanting more. We have only been with Maerad for a year of her life, after all, and the ways of Bards seem only touched upon in this four-book series. Hopefully we will hear more about the Seven Kingdoms in the future, an I personally cannot wait for more writers to step out from under Tolkien's shadow and explore this genre further.
3230754
The Dark Season Saga: The Final Harvest by  Yehya H. Safwat tells a wide-ranging, epic story of the struggle for the fantasy world Talor, and of Nymtha, who's thrown into the heart of this war.

The battle for Talor is suspenseful and engaging. Sometimes I really did worry about the world's future, instead of just assuming the good guys would win and evil would be vanquished. There's something about the heightened language in this novel that keeps readers wondering if it might just be a dramatic tragedy instead.

Like any fantasy novel, there's a stunning amount of new vocabulary. The author has invented all kinds of new personal names, cities, countries, tribes and orders, holidays and festivals, and so forth. The sheer number of fantasy proper nouns can be a little confusing to readers, especially keeping track of which groups are allied (Temporarily? Long term?), and which factions are against each other in this sweeping epic.

I liked the worldbuilding, and found the use of unique holidays and customs particularly well done. But I still found myself having to flip back to check on who the Order of Eon is or what Talor's Plea is. There's a map at the front and an appendix in the back with the world's history.

But stick with it for character growth and development. The character development is the strongest aspect of this novel. Sure, there's an epic plot, but libraries (and Amazon) are filled with epic fantasy sagas. It's the character development, especially for our protagonist Nymtha, that really stands out. Nymtha's personal choices and personal growth that made this novel work for me. We don't just see heroes being brave in the battles The Dark Season Saga: The Final Harvest, we're moved by seeing one man's actions and choices at the heart of this conflict.
451989
Great epic fantasy! I really enjoyed this read. I think there is a little bit of something for everyone. Politics, action, adventure and even a little bit of romance. I am looking forward to the next installment already.
1267013
Very well written and translated.  The author found a gem with his translator as - with the exception of a few turns of phrases which reveal the authors background - it is nearly impossible to tell that the book was not originally written in English.  As for the story, telling the tale of a real world MMORPG power gamer is rife with potential literary pitfalls and possibilities for triteness... all of which the author avoids with epic skill.  The protagonists are believable, likable, and show great character growth throughout the story.  The story line walks the fine line of providing regular doses of the epic feeling of a great loot haul while not allowing the story to become boring from unbalanced character growth.  Even when the gods of the story literally come down and solve a problem for the main character the author avoids the grown worthy Deus Ex Machina that are so common in recent fantasy series.  Worth a read by anyone who likes fantasy, sci-fi, or has ever played an RPG.
4356172
This third and last volume in the series delivers more of the same epic fantasy that made the first two volumes so enjoyable. The book is the longest of the three, but is a quick and satisfying read. It's nice that books published as a series come out in such quick succession these days and if you are looking to sink your teeth into an action-packed trilogy of the high fantasy/ AD&D flavor, you could do much, much worse than this memorable series.

As usual, layers of the core mystery (who, or what is Donovan!) are revealed gradually and often unexpectedly. All is made clear with this, the author does not leave you wondering. The other major characters (especially Amanda and Gavin) also have much more revealed about what makes them tick, and with Amanda there is major character development that really endears the her to the reader. There is also, as usual, a good dose of humor, and the back and forth between the Drynn, and between the other characters, can be both amusing and touching. There are a good number of new characters and monsters by the way, including some AD&D- class heavy hitters, but also some (if I may say) crazy-ass inventions from the author. I won't give this away.

Also, as with the last installation, there are some tremendous set-pieces, and intense action surrounding them. And one of the things I liked best was that there were a lot of nice surprises with both the plot and with the characters. The book reaches a frenzied climax, with much death and destruction, but things don't always happen as you might expect.

I highly recommend reading these books in order. The first volume takes place on Earth, and is a bit of a white-knuckled ride. The last two take place on the otherworld of Theia, and that's where the reader is plunged into a fully realized fantasy world and an epic story that grabs you and doesn't let go.