Book Review: Upon the Ashes of Empire

The Ballard Chronicles

The Ballard Chronicles is the sequel of The Aielund Saga books written by author and artist Stephen Nowland. They follow the adventures of Aislin Ballard and companions as they track a powerful villain.

Book 3, Upon the Ashes of Empire

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Apple

Description:

Across frozen mountains and through dark forests, Aislin Ballard and her companions pursue the tyrant who captured their ally and friend into the very heart of enemy territory. Along the way she will face the best and worst of humanity, and astonishing forces which reveal the darkest depths of her soul. But none of this will prepare her for the magnitude of the threat facing this foreign land, as an ancient power, capable of burning entire cities to ash, is unearthed. While she and her companions may be on a mission to save their friend, Aislin finds herself in a unique position to try and save her enemies from themselves.

Review

Easily the best book Stephen L. Nowland has written to this point.  The story draws you in and takes you for the ride without letting go.  The dangers and situations the characters get into are intense and frightening and you're never quite sure if everyone's going to make it.

With each book, Aislin Ballard matures into a more dynamic character and young woman.  She exemplifies determination and optimism not often found.  She continues to excel in this book, however other characters are allowed a chance to shine through.

Jaz's history is filled in when they visit her country.  You learn much more about her including the reason she was in Aislin's country to begin with.  She plays a pivotal role in the plot.  Her wizardry is fun to watch as she explores new things, but her accidental roguish qualities is my favorite aspect.

My favorite character in this book though is Max.  His intelligence and determination to succeed no matter the odds gets the reader's adrenaline going.  His conversations with Madelyn made me chuckle while I admired the wit between the two.  Max and Madelyn made each other better and more interesting.  In fact, I actually found myself looking forward more to their chapters than even Aislin's.

Even Osric has a new villain friend to play with who works with him to create an object that could lead to greater destruction than even he may realize.  I do think the author could have dawdled on these two a bit longer to let us enjoy their despicableness, but I'm sure the heroes didn't mind not having to listen to any more of their crap.

While this book stands out on its own, the history of the countries come into play with surprising references that tie to the prior Aielund Saga bringing greater depth and understanding of the world.  They lay the setting for potential future series and get me excited for what may come.

With most Indie Authors, you have to watch for spelling and grammar issues.  Not so with these books.  They are a professional quality and well edited.  There are no wasted words or scenes.  Everything advances the story in a way that you stop hearing the author's voice.

The Ballard Chronicles follow the events of the Aielund Saga.  However, it is not necessary to read those in order to properly enjoy this series.  It calls to the actions and deeds of the Saga as backstory and fills in only what you need to know to understand events in this one.  This is safe for young adults, with mild fantasy violence.  I highly recommend both the Ballard Chronicles and the Aielund Saga as excellent examples of epic fantasy.

About the Author

Stephen Nowland's Website

I was one of those kids who daydreamed his way through school. All the little adventures I'd concoct in my mind were far more interesting than math or tests or sport. Somehow, I passed the important bits (art and english) and moved on, but always with a creative perspective to my life.

It was around 1992 when the magic of reading really sunk into me, for it was then I discovered fantasy novels. Feist, Salvatore & Eddings showed me worlds that fired my imagination, and from that point on I knew I wanted to write the stories that flitted around the recesses of my imagination.

Unfortunately, I spent most of the next fifteen years dealing with poor health, including resultant chronic fatigue syndrome which interfered with my life immeasurably, but gave me ample time for thought. An abortive attempt to create a story happened around 1996, but I look back on such things as stepping stones on the road to where I wanted to be.

My first complete novel was actually done back in '03, but it was a derivative work based on elements from other stories, something I didn't realise until after I'd written it. The mind can do funny things if you don't keep it on a tight leash! Still, there were some unique points to the story I kept, so I scrapped the rest and began a completely new 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 as the basis for a new fantasy series.

I consider those stories to be merely the first iteration of the saga, for my novels have evolved far beyond the original scope, in terms of detail, plot and character building. Looking back on it now, I can see my style has evolved a very long way from those humble beginnings indeed.

Oh, I also paint. You can expect to see more cover art with each title, 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. (I am friends with Mr. Nowland) 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

Book Review: The Fortress of Gold

The Ballard Chronicles

The Ballard Chronicles is the sequel of The Aielund Saga books written by author and artist Stephen Nowland. They follow the adventures of Aislin Ballard and companions as they track a powerful villain.

Book 2, The Fortress of Gold

Amazon

Smashwords

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Description:

Aislin Ballard and her companions journey south in pursuit of the man behind the assault on her home town. Together, they must cross dangerous desert lands, brave bizarre magic and avoid clashing armies as they travel to the legendary mountain city of Aurumgaard. There, they may find clues to his location, but risk being swept up in regional events beyond their control, culminating in a confrontation that will test their resolve, forcing them to question how much they desire to see their quest through to its ultimate conclusion.

Review

The Ballard Chronicles follow the events of the Aielund Saga.  However, it is not necessary to read those in order to properly enjoy this series.  It calls to the actions and deeds of the Saga as backstory and fills in only what you need to know to understand events in this one.  This is safe for young adults, with mild fantasy violence

Aislin Ballard is one of my favorite characters in any of the thousands of books I've read.  She's strong for a 13yr old girl, but not unrealistically so.  There is exceptional depth of character with the optimism and vulnerability of a young woman.  I think the author nailed the struggle of her youth in an adventuring party perfectly.

One of the things I liked about this book is how Stephen Nowland highlighted the resiliency and determination of human spirit even in the worst of times.  One of the author's strengths, which I've noted in previous reviews is that he allows the women to be strong, but not lose their femininity.  The women occasionally need saving, but no more than the men.  If anything, the men need more saving than the women.

Once character I'd really like to see more of Jaz.  She's an awesome character, my favorite in this series I think, but it felt like her personality wasn't allowed to blossom and show through quite as much in this book.  She did a lot of things, but it seemed largely in the background.  Everyone else in the group shone, especially Madelyn.

I love the steampunk feel of the Kurhain civilization, especially with the muttonchops and mustaches.  Major Maximilian Strauss is a superb character who brings a new dimension to the story.  Switching back and forth between him and Aislin was a perfect touch. It was hard to root for him when his country was the one causing so much trouble for Aislin's group!

I can't wait to see where this group goes.  The hints Stephen Nowland put forward for future books are maddening.  I want to know what happened to ***!  I'm glad *** is back with ***.  I know the Blue Man is going to come back, but will he bring his group with him?.  I'm really worried for ***.

With most Indie Authors, you have to watch for spelling and grammar issues.  Not so with these books.  They are a professional quality and well edited.  There are no wasted words or scenes.  Everything advances the story in a way that you stop hearing the author's voice.

Book 3 is due out soon and I'll review it shortly thereafter!

About the Author

Stephen Nowland's Website

I was one of those kids who daydreamed his way through school. All the little adventures I'd concoct in my mind were far more interesting than math or tests or sport. Somehow, I passed the important bits (art and english) and moved on, but always with a creative perspective to my life.

It was around 1992 when the magic of reading really sunk into me, for it was then I discovered fantasy novels. Feist, Salvatore & Eddings showed me worlds that fired my imagination, and from that point on I knew I wanted to write the stories that flitted around the recesses of my imagination.

Unfortunately, I spent most of the next fifteen years dealing with poor health, including resultant chronic fatigue syndrome which interfered with my life immeasurably, but gave me ample time for thought. An abortive attempt to create a story happened around 1996, but I look back on such things as stepping stones on the road to where I wanted to be.

My first complete novel was actually done back in '03, but it was a derivative work based on elements from other stories, something I didn't realise until after I'd written it. The mind can do funny things if you don't keep it on a tight leash! Still, there were some unique points to the story I kept, so I scrapped the rest and began a completely new 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 as the basis for a new fantasy series.

I consider those stories to be merely the first iteration of the saga, for my novels have evolved far beyond the original scope, in terms of detail, plot and character building. Looking back on it now, I can see my style has evolved a very long way from those humble beginnings indeed.

Oh, I also paint. You can expect to see more cover art with each title, 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. (I am friends with Mr. Nowland, and he even mentioned me in his acknowledgements) 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

Cloudswept, Book 3 of the Wyvern Series

"Cloudswept" is now available!

Book 3 of the Wyvern Series and the 9th book set in the world of Ryallon.  This is a continuation of Pelya's story from the Dralin Series.

Amazon

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Amazon AU

Createspace (Print)

Apple

B&N

Kobo

Smashwords

Book 3 of the Wyvern Series

After banishment from Dralin and expulsion from the Blue Wyverns, Pelya Jornin is now an agent of the Cloudswept Bank charged with recovering valuables. The job allows her to travel the world while keeping her skills sharp. Past failures have led to a vow to travel alone so as not to endanger lives of those she cares about.

When the bank offers her an assignment to rescue one of the mysterious Rojuun, she jumps at the chance to learn more about them. Rumors of Rojuun attempts to enslave the human race have worried her since her first meeting with them in Dralin and more so since her failed mission in the mountains south of Swelth.

The mission takes her deep into the war-torn country of Paruth where women aren’t allowed to wear swords and magic is forbidden. Signs of the Black Scale Guild appear, bringing further intrigue along with grave danger.

Calren has avoided mandatory conscription into his lord’s army for as long as possible, but time is up. Rather than join the endless and futile war, he packs his things and abandons the farm for a life of adventure. But Paruth isn’t the sort of kingdom where deserters are tolerated.

Verna, a Druid wilder than the forest she grew up in, needs to escape heartbreak. She skips down the road to learn more about humans and discover why they try so hard to kill each other.

Pelya seeks answers to events in her past that sent her life spinning. She fears what those answers may bring. More than anything, she worries about the fate of those who would attempt to be her friends. Will her actions get people killed yet again?

The Wyvern Series is a swords-and-sorcery series following the journeys of Pelya Jornin. After leaving Dralin, she travels the world searching out injustices and her purpose in life. Along the way, she makes many friends and even more enemies.

Book Review: Soul Bonds, Book 1 of The Circle of Light Series.

The Circles of Light Series

The Circle of Light Series is an epic fantasy series filled with dragons, magic, adventure and everything wonderful about fantasy.  It is excellent reading for all ages, well written and edited.

Book 1, Soul Bonds

 

Smashwords
Amazon

 

Description:

A young slave girl flees from the Lord who owns her, choosing to die in the mountains rather than become one of his 'pretties'. When that death seems all too likely, she is found by one of the Dragon Kindred and Tika's life takes a twist she could never have imagined in her wildest dreams - or her worst nightmares.

 

You can get it at Amazon
Smashwords
B&N
Kobo

Review

This is the first book in the Circles of Light Series.  It is epic fantasy safe for young adults, though there is mild fantasy violence.  If you're looking for books to keep your interest for lots of reading that may keep you up well past your bedtime, you've found it here.

Tika is a young slave girl with a mysterious past.  After escaping from her slavery to almost certain death, she discovers the fascinating world of dragons.  Those dragons are the best part of the story.  I could tell the author spent a lot of time daydreaming about them and what their existence would be like.

The story begins immediately with Tika's discovery of those dragons.  She forms a bond (thus the title name) with one and her life intertwines with the species from that point on.  You learn about the dragons and about Tika for a chapter or two, giving you the foundation for the rest of the story.

While Tika is the main character, the story that follows is largely about the dragons.  They have personalities as big as they are.  The characters of the dragons are distinct.  It's easy to fall in love with some and dislike others with a passion.  Not surprisingly, they aren't all happy about having a human among them, a fact that becomes pivotal in the events that follow.

Once much of the dragon's story is presented, the plot switches back to Tika, who may be more than just a runaway slave girl.  Tika is a strong and courageous woman without being a Mary Sue.  She's capable and talented, but inexperienced.  There are other strong women in the story whose conversations move the plot forward, rather than focusing on relationships and the such.  Basically, the author avoids the pitfalls that plague so many other strong female leads.

Upon reaching a new destination midway through the book, the rest of the world begins opening up.  The reader gets to meet some of the other races in the world.  It's a fascinating world too with exotic geographies and civilizations that are touched upon without bogging down into mind-numbing world-building.

The villain and some of the evil races are quite easy to dislike.  The villain's personality is well developed and multifaceted rather than being one-dimensional.  There's also a good deal of mystery as to his past.

The ending closes the book well with excitement and suspense.  It leads one to want the next story.  The one negative I found was that it was difficult to keep track of the names on occasion as a few of them sound similar.  But that was resolved as the personalities developed.  Each character is very much their own and their voices are distinct from each other.

One of the things I liked is the mystery involved with every character, who they are and why they are that way.  The author teases the reader with hints, but never fully reveals what the past may hold.  There are stories to develop through the rest of the series.

E.M. Sinclair's writing is daydreamy (yes, that's a word).  You can see the fascination she has in exploring her world with her characters. The book is professional quality and well edited.  I highly recommend for all ages.

About the Author

"From as far back as I can remember, I have always had a feeling that Dragons are real. When you look at a wide sky there is a glimpse from the corner of your eye which must surely be a Dragon whisking past. I always regarded the stories of monstrous fierce Dragons as being completely wrong and I detested stories of St George and his dragon killing tendencies.

 When I was still a small child my grandfather gave me a copy of Kenneth Grahame's The Reluctant Dragon. It made complete sense to me - a Dragon living in a secluded cave, wanting only peace and quiet to write poetry."

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

Book Review: The Akashic Throne, The Aielund Saga Book 6

The Aielund Saga

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
The review of the second two here: Book Review: Books 3 & 4 of the Aielund Saga
And the review of the 5th book is here: Book Review: Upon the Fulcrum of War, The Aielund Saga Book 5

One of my favorite things about these books is that the author paints his covers.  Beautiful artistry. :)

Book 6, The Akashic Throne

Description:

Throughout history, kingdoms have fallen and entire cities have been destroyed under mysterious circumstances, all traces of their existence burned away. Good men are turned into villains, starting wars for seemingly unthinkable reasons. What if you learned these events were not random, and were in fact perpetrated by very real, very tangible tyrants living just beyond the sight of mortals? What if you had a singular opportunity to strike back at these monsters, even if it might cost you your life. Would you take it?

This is the question posed to Aiden Wainwright, former lord of Aielund. Through his actions and those of his companions, he has brought about an uneasy peace in the region, but at a price none of them anticipated. Yet beyond the petty power plays of kings and men lie the puppet masters, watching and manipulating events from behind the scenes, pitting kingdoms against one another for malevolent reasons known only to them. Aiden, wearied from conflict and seeking a more peaceful life, must chose whether to walk away from the only chance at bringing justice to these monsters, or to take up arms for one final battle against an enemy beyond anything he has ever before experienced.

You can get it at Amazon
Smashwords
B&N

Review

This is the final book in the Aielund Saga, one of my favorite fantasy series of all time.  I don't get a lot of time to read much anymore because I spend most of my free time writing, but I still love reading books.  Actually, it's working to support my needy family and sleeping that really interfere.

Epic.  That is the best word to describe the book and the series.  Our heroic adventurers have already saved the world, but in the way of worlds, it refuses to stay saved.  Worlds are very inconsiderate that way.

Aiden, the main character in all the books has become a bit scaly and draconic in appearance in nature.  He's no longer a pawn of kings.  He's now graduated to become a pawn of a wizard.  This is important because he wants to get married at some point and needs practice to be a pawn to his wife. ;)  He's matured a great deal throughout his journeys though and is not quite so foolish as he has been in the past.  There is a constant internal struggle within him that parallels the external struggle the group faces.

Throughout the saga, women have played an equal importance in the story.  This has matured into women who just as confident and empowered as the men, and in some instances, they have their stuff together more than the men do.  Criosa is more than just your typical pretty princess.  She is clever and takes her position as a leader seriously.  Nellise has exuded confidence and leadership throughout the saga, and if not for Aiden, I think she would have been the leader of the band of misfits.  Syana is my favorite in this story.  The strides she makes in understanding herself and those around her is one of the most extraordinary journeys I've read.

Terinus the wizard is an excellent addition to the story.  He is complex and fascinating.  It's difficult to tell what his true nature is going to be though.  Terinus becomes the driving force of this book.

As always, the battles are intense.  It's always a question as to who, if anyone will survive each encounter.  The group gets cool new toys to play with, one of the fun aspects of fantasy.  There are new people for the characters to interact with along the way and new dynamics for the characters' personalities.

Mr. Nowland does an excellent job of wrapping up most the details in this book.  There are a couple of characters that just disappeared, but I have reason to believe they may show up in future series.  We shall see!  The ending is very intense.  Non-stop action for the last few chapters.  I won't tell you what happens, but I will let you know that it's not entirely fair.  In my current mood, that fits perfectly because life hasn't been too fair to me lately.  With my attitude right now, if I had had control of the ending I probably would have taken out the world.  Mr. Nowland's ending is good and right. :)

As with all of Mr. Nowland's 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.

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

Book Review: Upon the Fulcrum of War, The Aielund Saga Book 5

The Aielund Saga

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 And the review of the second two here: Book Review: Books 3 & 4 of the Aielund Saga

One of my favorite things about these books is that the author paints his covers.  Beautiful artistry. :)

Book 5, Upon the Fulcrum of War

Description:

Two years have passed since the narrow victory at Fort Highmarch, and Aiden Wainwright now commands the rebuilt fortress as Baron of Highmarch. But he finds himself helping to perpetuate a war against the neighbouring Kingdom of Tulsone, with no end in sight and a body count climbing ever higher. Two kingdoms, locked in struggle and unable to break free from the decades-long enmity which propels them toward destruction.

Scarred from his experiences, Aiden joins with some of his old companions and attempts to force a peaceful solution to the conflict, all the while convinced the king and his pet wizard have taken the shell of the ancient armour and seek to use it to bring a new era of tyranny to the realm. When the truth is finally revealed, events take an unexpected turn that could bring final devastation to both realms.

 

You can get it at Amazon
Or Smashwords

Review

As it says in the description, this story picks up two years after the 4th book ends.  It is the beginning of a new series in a way, though staring many of the same characters.  Aiden, the main character in all the books is wiser, yet troubled.  He's been working as a pawn . . . errr politician . . . errr baron, running the fortress he helped rescue.  The moment word comes that someone needs help, he blows that popsicle stand and gets back to adventuring as is only proper.

Danger, betrayal, a conspiracy or three, more danger, surprise old friends, new dangerous frenemies, yet more danger, dragons, elves, dwarves and . . . did I mention danger? face our group.

The characters in the story have evolved even more and the interpersonal relationships show an intriguing complexity.  Mr. Nowland weaves the moral conflict of what good and evil truly are as he puts the characters in quandaries that would drive a normal person to madness.  The characters do the best they can to survive, all the while keeping how they truly feel about the author to themselves.

The battles are intense as always and there's no telling who will make it and who won't.  It feels as though the reader is there beside the characters, worrying for their safety.  Even more powerful spells light up the battlefield, taking the imagination to new heights.

As far as criticism, I would have liked to see a new major character thrown in the mix with the adventurers.  I think it could have given everyone a new dynamic to work off of.  Toward the end there was one person that was part of a twist I didn't see coming.  I believe that character will be more prominent in the next book and I look forward to it.

This book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, leaving the reader desperate to get their hands on the next one.  I'm going to be very interested to see how it turns out.

As with all of Mr. Nowland's 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.

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

Book Review: The Dawning of Power Trilogy

 Review of The Dawning of Power Trilogy by Brian Rathbone

This series is available at all online stores, including Smashwords, Amazon, B&N, Kobo and Apple.  I highly recommend it.  There are six books in the series.  The Dawning of Power Trilogy is the first three.

Call of the Herald

Amazon

Description:
Book One of The Dawning of Power trilogy. Echoes of the ancients' power are distant memories, tattered and faded by the passage of eons, but that is about to change. A new dawn has arrived. Latent abilities, harbored in mankind's deepest fibers, wait to be unleashed. Ancient evils awaken, and old fears ignite the fires of war.

My Review:

As an avid reader of fantasy, sometimes it's hard to try someone new rather than re-reading books I love, but I'm so glad I opened this book.

The first character you meet, Catrin, is a strong female lead.  It doesn't take long to get to know who she is.  Other key characters are introduced quickly and fleshed out without taking the reader out of the story.   In fact, it didn't take long for me to get into the story to the point where I didn't want to put it down.

Catrin is a seemingly normal young woman, but the reader soon learns that there's more to her than she or anyone else realizes.  Times are changing (as they tend to do) in the world of Godsland and dire consequences have been prophesied.  Unknown powers find her and she has no idea what to do with them.  Add to that the threat of invasion and people hunting her and you have one stressed out young woman. ;)

The people who surround Catrin are interesting and well developed.  They don't cater to her, but treat her as a real person, which is nice to find.

The adventure and danger are exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat, ready for more.  My biggest complaint about this story was reaching the end and having to wait for the next book to load. ;)

Inherited Danger

Amazon

Description
Book Two of The Dawning of Power trilogy. Catrin leaves her homeland behind as she goes in search of knowledge and peace, unaware that she will face the greatest evil her world has ever known.

My Review:

An excellent sequel. New details and suspense begin to unfold.  New characters are added that are even more likable.  One of the things I like most about fantasy is that the authors always tend to was philosophical.  Catrin explores her senses and how they relate to the world and other life around her.  The concept of powers beyond the mortals and how they relate to supreme being/s really comes through.

There is more adventure and danger at every step of the way.  The world is on the brink of destruction (as most usually are) but it's possibly the mechanizations of mankind that are a greater threat than any supernatural hazard.

Once again, I'm left wanting to start the next book instantly. :)  These books are truly difficult to put down.

Dragon Ore

Amazon

Description
Book Three of The Dawning of Power trilogy. Clinging to life, Catrin Volker struggles to regain her strength as her foes go in search of even greater power. Ancient enemies threaten and forgotten alliances emerge in the exciting conclusion of The Dawning of Power trilogy.

My Review:

Lots of action in this culmination to the trilogy.  I enjoyed the interactions between the characters.  There are strong relationships and friendships throughout.  I've always been a big fan of character driven stories.  I like to get to know the individuals and love/hate them.  Catrin and her friends are definitely likable.

The villain doesn't quite become the archenemy that I expected.  There's not enough of his motivation and personality that comes through.  He seems more of a politician gone power hungry who never delivers on implied evildoer promise in the end.  The other enemies throughout present frequent challenges, with the greatest enemy being nature and power I believe.  The peril to Catrin and friends delivers constant suspense, which makes it difficult to put the book down.

Some of the events that happen around Catrin's home while she's gone are a bit confusing and it takes a bit of concentration to keep up with the myriad of details.  The world created is filled with sweeping vistas and exotic lands that are exciting for the reader to visit.

The ending comes to a satisfying conclusion for this story, but is left open for the next series and a future that promises great adventure.

Overall, this is an excellent fantasy series.  The characters and plot are original.  I definitely recommend giving it a read.

About the Author

Brian Rathbone is a horse trainer turned author and creator of The World of Godsland fantasy series, which includes Call of the Herald, Inherited Danger, Dragon Ore, and Regent (Feral and Regal are forthcoming). He is also the author of the Sam Flock novels, a paranormal adventure series that begins with Lure.

You can find him at Smashwords and Amazon

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.


All my best,

John H. Carroll

Book review: The Book of Deacon Series

 Review of the Book of Deacon Series by Joseph Lallo

This series is available at all online stores, including Smashwords, Amazon, B&N, Kobo and Apple.  I highly recommend it.  There are three books in the series and I've reviewed them each individually.

The Book of Deacon

Description:  The tale of Myranda Celeste, a young woman orphaned by a century long war, and her chance discovery of a fallen soldier's priceless cargo. The find will change her life, sending her on an adventure of soldiers and rebels, wizards and warriors, and beasts both noble and monstrous. Each step will bring her closer to the truth of her potential, of the war, and of the fate of her world.

My Review:

As an avid reader of fantasy, sometimes it's hard to try someone new rather than re-reading books I love, but I'm so glad I opened this book.

It didn't take long to get involved in Myranda's fate. I found myself nerve-wracked by what could happen next and had a hard time putting the book down. The characters Myranda meets are fascinating and easy to like. I feel so bad for Deacon though and hope things work out for him.

My only two criticisms are the lack of chapters, which makes finding my place hard if I swipe up or down on my Kindle instead of sideways, and a few instances of head jumping between characters. These are not enough to truly detract from the story though. :)


The Great Convergence

Description: The second in the Book of Deacon series, The Great Convergence continues the tale of young Myranda Celeste. With fresh knowledge of magic and steadfast resolve to see the end of the war that plagues her land, Myranda sets out to find and unite the five fated heroes, the Chosen. Each new warrior brings her world a step closer to peace, but does she have the strength to survive the trials ahead?

An excellent sequel. Things begin to unfold and the rest of the chosen begin to appear.  The story behind the long war starts to unfold before our eyes. 

Like the first book, the head hopping is a bit disconcerting where the viewpoint switches from one character to the next between paragraphs, but I'm getting used to it. I don't like that the baddies seem invincible and hope that the good guys start to have some successes!


The Battle of Verril

Description: In this, the finale of the Book of Deacon Trilogy, Myranda and the Chosen face their greatest challenges yet. Time is running out, and the Generals are growing desperate. Through victory and defeat, reunion and betrayal, neither the heroes nor their foes will rest until they have seen their task through to the end. The only question is, will it be the end of a war, or the end of times?

The third book is the best and wraps the trilogy up nicely.  Myranda comes into her own and shines.  I like strong heroines.  Myranda holds true to her beliefs throughout all and inspires everyone else.  The build up to the ending is finely crafted.


It does get frustrating when the heroes keep walking into the exact same traps over and over.  I felt like smacking them in the back of the head.  But it's also nice to see villains that are every bit as nasty as they're supposed to be.  By the end, I wanted them all destroyed.


My favorite characters are Ivy, Myn and Deacon.  Lain is a bit too sullen for me and Ether is incredibly foolish for someone who's supposed to have been watching the world since it came into existence.  My absolute favorite is Myranda though.  She's lived a tough life and remains strong and resolute throughout all three stories.  Strong leading women are my favorite. :)


Overall, this is an excellent fantasy series.  The characters and plot are original.  I definitely recommend giving it a read.



About the Author:  Joseph Lallo is a Computer Engineer, as well as editor and chief contributor to Brainlazy.com.

You can find him at Smashwords and Amazon


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.  At no time will I ever accept any form of payment for a review.  When I say that I'm am doing this as a reader, I mean it.  I get nothing in exchange.