The Aielund Saga is a series of books written by author and artist Stephen Nowland. I first learned of him through a computer game called Neverwinter Nights. It has a toolset that allows us to tell our stories through game modules using their game engine. The Aielund Saga is a high-rated, award winning series of modules made by Stephen. He's turned them into books that are even better.
You can find the module that includes the story for both of these books here: NWN Module
My reviews of the first two books are here: Book Review: Books 1 & 2 of the Aielund Saga
One of my favorite things about these books is that the author paints his covers. Beautiful artistry. :)
Book 3, Ruins of Legend
Description:
Aspiring adventurers
Aiden Wainwright and Pacian Savidge are tasked with tracking down an obscure
relic, said to be capable of banishing the Kingdom's greatest enemy once and
for all. But the two friends are at odds over Pacian's dire actions and their comrades
are forced to choose sides as they scour the land for the lost artefact.
Lots of adventure in this one. The adventures split into two and the author does an excellent job of making you want to know what's happening in one thread while he switches to another. As a result, you have to read quickly to get back to it! Then you want to get back to the other thread.
One of the author's strengths is in making the characters seem real. Aiden is a jack of all trades sort of character who the reader wants to succeed. Pacian is a definite anti-hero, but the reader wants him to do the dirty work and enjoys it when he does. The supporting characters all have distinct and enjoyable personalities.
Quests lead them in separate directions in an attempt to find an artifact to save the kingdom. The locations they travel to are easy to imagine without being over-described. Enemies and other characters they meet along the way are just as colorful and diverse as the primary characters.
Surprising events lead to an unexpected conclusion to this story and more questions to be answered in the next. The characters must find new resolve against despair and danger. It sets up the next one excellently.
As with the other books, the dialogue has humor scattered throughout, the battle scenes are vivid and intense. If you enjoy rousing, epic adventures, this is an excellent series for you.
Book 4, Legacies of Fire and Steel
Description:
With Fairloch safe
from the villains who sought to wrest power from the royal family, the
resources of the city are diverted to a last-ditch effort to find a way to stop
their implacable foe. Slow progress toward a solution is being made, until the
immortal engine of destruction prematurely breaks free of its century-old
prison and embarks upon a single-minded quest for domination of the land.
With the countryside
awash with deserters and brigands fleeing the onslaught, Aiden Wainwright and
his companions must face down old enemies and forge new alliances to aid the
beleaguered country in the impending clash against their relentless enemy. But
before they confront it, Aiden must learn the answer to a question of singular
importance: How do you kill that which cannot be killed?
You can get it at Amazon
or Smashwords
Review
"Legacies of Fire and Steel" is the culmination of the events in the first three books. The world is on the brink of destruction from an indomitable enemy that has no human emotion or mercy for fate of others. Aiden and Pacian are back together, along with newcomers while others have left, some in tragic circumstances. New characters fill the vacancies nicely along with the core. A few from books past also make appearances.
Dark happenings have had difficult effects on the characters. Past events weigh heavily on some members while others have become stronger in spite of them. The author weaves the different threads of each individual with a deftness that Fate would envy.
Moral dilemmas and the quandaries of what is right and what is wrong are considered and argued by the characters. This is one of my favorite things to do as a writer. I like having characters discuss issues and their feelings about it, even argue about it. It's an excellent way at looking at problems. I've learned a great deal from writing such things, and throughout my life by reading such things. I find a good book to be one that makes you a little smarter just by reading it.
These conflicts could very well doom the mission and the very fate of the world. Various entities our heroes meet along the way have their own agendas and goals to follow that prevent the quest from carrying on.
Then of course there are dragons, sandstorms, barbarians, armies, giant bad guys without weaknesses, priests, criminals and countless others who would like to interfere with the saving of the world.
Do they save the world? Hmmmm . . . With Stephen's books you never know . . .
About the Author
I am often astonished by the sheer amount of ideas that go through my head. I have tasked myself to grab hold of as many as I can, weave them into stories, shaping them to my will, and like, writing them down, because people can't read thoughts.
I spent over fifteen years dealing with poor health, including chronic fatigue syndrome (a symptom of other stuff, but annoying nonetheless) which gave me ample time for thinking, but slowed me down in the way of actually writing.
My first novel was actually done back in aught three, but I didn't care for that sort of thing at the time, so I scrapped it and started writing a new story for Neverwinter Nights, that RPG video game thing you may or may not have heard of.
The story was so successful (filled with rich, creamy character development) that I lamented that only people playing the game would ever see it. In 2009, with my health improving, I resolved to novelize the stories I'd written, in addition to developing the world in which they exist, for fun and profit.
Thus was my first novel conceived, and lo, it was published online, for the enjoyment of all! The saga will be five books in total, with another 4-5 books after that as a second saga that's in the pipeline.
Oh, I also paint. Expect to see more cover art with each title, probably becoming more technically sophisticated each time.
Disclaimer
I have decided to review books that I enjoy. I am an avid reader of fantasy, so most of them will be in that genre. I'm not taking any requests, just reading what catches my eyes. You'll find that most of these are from Indie Authors. The way I figure it, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, Alan Dean Foster and Piers Anthony (my favorite authors) already have enough reviews, but Indies could always use a few more.
It is important to note here that while I am a writer, I am doing these reviews as a reader. I also know a number of the authors I will be reviewing. This is not an exchange of reviews, nor have I been solicited by those authors to write the review. If I don't like a book, I won't review it.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
