The Riddler's Gift (Tales of the Lifesong, #1)

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The Riddler's Gift (Tales of the Lifesong #1)

by Greg Hamerton (Goodreads Author)

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 154 ratings · 40 reviews

In a time when the world was ravaged by chaos, one kingdom remains; ordered, isolated, protected. Then Tabitha Serannon awakens an ancient power and the world begins to change.

She is hunted for her talent. The Shadowcasters whisper in her ears as their evil closes around her. Soon the Riddler walks beside her, but is he on her side?

She has a moment to learn the magic befor...more

643 pages

Published (first published June 1st 2007)

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Mar 19, 2010 Lu (Sugar & Snark) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, won

My Rating:

7/10

My Take:

I won this book, and I'm so glad I did!

Tabitha Serannon has a hidden power, but to access this she needs to go through many trials and tribulations to discover her inner strength. With the help of an unlikely friend, she has to find her way. Darkness stands in the path she must follow, but so does love.

This book was really gripping and one I did not want to end! It was extremely hard to put down and when I finally did, I could not stop thinking about it!

I cannot wait for t...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Laura Howard rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really give this 4.5 - there are a lot of "amazing" moments. I have this on my list to get the next book. I don't think I can add much that I haven't already seen in the other reviews, but here are my personal takes:

I felt the book told me enough of a complete story that I didn't feel I had to grab up the next immediately. It wasn't actually until the end that I realized there was a lead-in during the beginning which give me an idea of the bigger story. It went from broad to focused very comfo...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Melody Armstrong rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club-read

What were the main themes of the book? I think that the main themes are self-discovery and personal strength.

Describe 2 different settings or locations. One - "The distance in his voice drove the tears into her eyes before she could resist them. The precipice loomed before her." Is seeing really believing or does it merely gives us the chance to face our fears instead of running away?

Two - “It’s not something which telling shall ease, but it’s a burden nonetheless, and it must be told, for you...more

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May 29, 2012 Sleepydormouse rated it 3 of 5 stars

As I started the book several things jarred, town names like Flowerton just felt a little bit Enid Blyton, the story felt rather a lot like one I had read before (Rhapsody:Child of Blood, by Elizabeth Haydon - a singer who has to always tell the truth and works magic with her music). Also there were times when during reading I would suddenly be told things like the heroine, Tabitha, was lying in snow, but there had been little reference to the snow before, making me feel a bit like I was walking...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Bob & Eliza Richardson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club-read

Cover - The cover fits the story and I liked it very much.

Formatting / Appearance - There were no issues at all and I especially liked the font that was used for the chapter titles. Very detailed and it seems very little has missed this author's eye.

Content - First Tale of the Lifesong is an appropriate title because Tabitha appears to be singing for her very life. My book club members and I did notice that Tabitha appears to be the central character, but isn't quite the central point of the st...more

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Mar 31, 2012 TC rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi

I get lots of requests to review fantasy books and I decline more than I accept, but this one piqued my interest. This is a long book, approximately 650 pages, and could fairly be described as a fantasy epic. The author has created a kingdom with it's own lore and history, and pits the Lightgifters against the Shadowcasters. With the dark on the verge of obtaining the upper hand Tabitha becomes crucial to the survival of Eyri.

While the story is primarily one of good versus evil there is also ro...more I get lots of requests to review fantasy books and I decline more than I accept, but this one piqued my interest. This is a long book, approximately 650 pages, and could fairly be described as a fantasy epic. The author has created a kingdom with it's own lore and history, and pits the Lightgifters against the Shadowcasters. With the dark on the verge of obtaining the upper hand Tabitha becomes crucial to the survival of Eyri.

While the story is primarily one of good versus evil there is also romance as she finds herself drawn to the Swordmaster Garyll Glavenor. She's young, innocent and in need of protecting and he is the rugged law keeper, devoted to his role. I found things to like about both of them, but really enjoyed the character of the title, the Riddler. He offers Tabitha cryptic guidance but his allegiances are unclear. He is a quirky character with plenty of mystery and magic about him. There are a number of other characters of importance to the tale and the story unfolds from a number of perspectives.

I enjoyed the level of detail in the world the author has created, and read on to discover whether the dark forces would triumph. However I found this book almost disheartening long. When I felt like I was well into the story I realised I had hardly made a dent and at times, wondering how much more could possibly happen before a final encounter, found my attention drifting. However unlike other books I have read recently, where I felt like an editor and could easily have suggested cuts to improve it, I didn't feel like there was a lot of unnecessary description or redundant scenes. Possibly the fault is mine, with so much going on recently having an effect on my concentration. There were certainly plenty of switches from joy to danger and vice versa, with twists and turns and a gradual building of the information available to inform the reader which kept me going.

The author uses the English language to good effect, using some wonderful vocabulary without it feeling like he was trying use unusual words just to impress, which I always appreciate. I found it well written and if there were typos I didn't notice them. I would like to see where the series is going so would definitely like to read the second book.(less)

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Jan 18, 2013 Ravina Andrea Kurian rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love it when authors create a world of their own and take readers along for the ride. In this book readers are introduced to the Kingdom of Eyri.

Don't be fooled by its length, it's way more than 600 pages and you will expect the story to drag, but it doesn't. Every page offers a little excitement.

I would have liked for Tabitha's character to have been more developed. I felt like she and her actions weren't explained as much.

Would I recommend this read? Oh yes, definitely.

Overall assessment:
Con...more

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Mar 30, 2013 Andrew rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm in two minds about this book. I love the main storyline and how it's set in a world that's on the brink of annihilation. I enjoyed learning about the wizards and their magic, and the evil characters really worked for me. I can't remember the last time I read a book where the evil characters were so good at being bad!

The main let down for me though was Tabitha. Rarely has a main character in a book infuriated me as much or as often as she. It seemed like she just wandered from one situation t...more

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Dec 11, 2010 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The wizards believed in Order but then one defied the rest and brought Chaos, threatening to destroy the world. One sanctuary remains, a safe haven where one special person can develop the magic that might save them. When Tabitha Serannon takes a ring that isn't hers and sings an ancient song, she releases a power that she doesn't understand and cannot control. Will she learn to balance the Light and the Dark before it is too late? Or will the entire realm fall under the rule of the Darkmaster a...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Eero rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: free-ebook, kindle

I am vacillating between 3 and 4 stars. This was a very readable fantasy, even though it started with a long exposition which might not have been necessary. Perhaps it would have been better to start with the characters and then fill in the background in smaller doses.

Also I was sort of hoping it would turn out to be a sort of Clarke's Law type of thing, but it didn't go there, although the magic had a bit of a "scientific" flavour. Maybe that wouldn't have worked anyway. The characters could ha...more

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Aug 20, 2012 jD rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2_kindle_own, 2012, 2012_5-stars, fantasy_adventure_worldbuilding, different-and-strange, fantasy_myths

Perfect except for the partical ending. Not a cliffhanger but an ending that desperately needs an epilogue. My only crique.

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Feb 02, 2011 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fantasy readers

Recommended to Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress by: The author Greg Hamerton

Shelves: owned-copy, read-the-season-inverno, favorites, magic, wizard-warlock-sorcerer, musical-story, heroine-i-loved, hero-i-loved, interesting-magic-system, good-versus-evil, not-romance-but-has-love-story, epic-fantasy

When I read a really good book, it's hard to write a review, because my words don't measure up to what I have read as an example of good writing. But, I do my best. Let me make it clear that I'm hardly a critical scholar when it comes to fantasy. Before I added this to my epic fantasy shelf, I checked out the definition of epic fantasy. As I read the description of epic fantasy elements, I ticked off a mental checklist, and this book fits all the descriptions of epic fantasy. Of course, as I sai...more

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Apr 03, 2012 Tom Coakley rated it 4 of 5 stars

The author is so word heavy and slow in development that I almost quit the book around 150 pages in. Around 300 pages in I knew I would finish, but figured I would slam it a bit in review. I am so glad I stuck it out as this was a really great concept. The plot is actually a plot within a plot, very creative and thought out.

I do recommend the book, but it really should have been about 150 pages shorter than it is. Rather than just say something lasts a long time the author will actually describ...more

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Nov 29, 2010 Manny rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who like heroic fantasy and aren't too fussy about style

Shelves: parody-homage, science-fiction, too-sexy-for-maiden-aunts, command-performance

That night, Tabitha had a strange dream. She was on a long, winding road high in the Zunskar Mountains when she came to a little tavern. The inn-keeper welcomed her and gave her good meat and drink, which she was grateful of, for she had travelled far. When she had eaten and drunk her fill, he asked her if she was Tabitha Serannon, the singer.

"I am," she replied shyly. She had still not become used to her new fame.

"Then there is someone here that I think you will want to meet," said the inn-keep...more That night, Tabitha had a strange dream. She was on a long, winding road high in the Zunskar Mountains when she came to a little tavern. The inn-keeper welcomed her and gave her good meat and drink, which she was grateful of, for she had travelled far. When she had eaten and drunk her fill, he asked her if she was Tabitha Serannon, the singer.

"I am," she replied shyly. She had still not become used to her new fame.

"Then there is someone here that I think you will want to meet," said the inn-keeper. And he introduced her to another of the guests, a little man with a long beard and lively, piercing eyes. He reminded her in a way of Twardy Zarost, the Riddler. There was something alien about him, as though he came from another world. The man said his name quickly, but it was noisy and Tabitha failed to catch it, only that it began with a T.

"I am also a singer and story-teller," said the man. "As two members of the same profession, our host says we will have much to talk about. Pray sing to me of your world."

Tabitha had drunk a glass of the Dwarrow-wine, which she rarely did in real life, but in her dream this made her merry, and she wished to show the stranger what a fine singer she was. She stood up without further ado, and she sang of Eyri, of the white Dovecote and its Lightgifters, and of the Amberlake with Stormhaven sitting in its midst. And she sang of terrible things, of Ravenscroft and its Master, and of the mad Shadowcaster who dared to summon the Morgloth. But somehow none of the song came out the way she saw it in her mind, Light and Dark mixed in a beautiful pattern, and she was disappointed in herself.

Then the stranger took the floor and began to sing of a place she had never heard of, called Middle Earth, and of a quest to destroy a Ring of Power, that was both like and unlike Tabitha's Ring. And she listened spellbound as he sang of Lórien and its Elves, of the Lonely Mountain and its Dwarves, of Orthanc and Minas Tirith and the Nazgûl and their Dark Lord Sauron and his ultimate downfall at the hands of Frodo and Gandalf. Every name shone like a jewel, and soon as she heard it she saw the thing it named before her. She gasped in wonder.

When the stranger had finished, she turned to him with shining eyes.

"You must have some very powerful spell," she said, "to create the names in your story. Please tell me what it is called, and help me to learn it too."

The stranger bowed low to her. "It is the simplest and the hardest spell in the world," he said. "And its name is Etymology."
(less)

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Sep 24, 2010 Elondel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

Life isn't fair. When one takes the time to think things over, he can come up with a thousand ways to illustrate this. One of them should be that Greg Hamerton isn't a well known author of fantasy literature, cause he sure deserves to be.
I discovered Hamerton with a little bit of luck. I stumbled upon the Fantasy Book Critic-blog and right around that time, they published a very positive review of his second book. Triggered by that and the positive comments on the first, I purchased both books o...more Life isn't fair. When one takes the time to think things over, he can come up with a thousand ways to illustrate this. One of them should be that Greg Hamerton isn't a well known author of fantasy literature, cause he sure deserves to be.
I discovered Hamerton with a little bit of luck. I stumbled upon the Fantasy Book Critic-blog and right around that time, they published a very positive review of his second book. Triggered by that and the positive comments on the first, I purchased both books on Hamerton's site. Something I don't regret at all.

The premise of the book fits the tried and true epic fantasy-recipe. Darkness ahead and beyond and the faith of it all lays in the hand of a little girl who's discovering her powers on the go.
Everything aboard for another epic rehash it seems, but Hamerton handels these ingredients very well and instead of rehashing he is refreshing.

For one, the novel is fast-paced. Little words are wasted on the big descriptions. The setting is translated into words, but only as much as necessary, which is quite a relief cause you never find yourself gaping at a full page dedicated to the beautiful flower with the bright red petals in the mistcovered field where the sheeps are waiting for... You get the picture.
This is also reflected in the buildup of the novel. After a preface, the story kicks in what a bang and tension is never really lowered after that.
The writing skills of Hamerton are alse really fluid and captivating.

The plot is your typical epic fantasy, but there is something to it. Hamerton worked out this magicsystem consisting of axis, Sprites, Motes, song,... which gives everything a vivid touch and prevents the story from moving towards the ovious because of its limits.
Other things, such as the conclusion whole wizardfinding quest, is quite obvious halfway through the book. Whether it was intended or not, it's only a minor issue (if it is an issue at all) for everything that happens around it, is superb. Around page 450, tension rises dramatically as everything seems to fall apart and every step towards the light is countered by an even bigger step towards darkness. Right down till the last couple of pages, things are looking very bad and you can't but savour it all.

The characters are fleshed out very well. You'll love Tabitha and you'll love to hate the baddoers here. Apart from the obviously good and bad, there are these gray characters who's loyalty isn't clear and might influence the good...

An impressive fantasy debut that left me longing for more. Greg Hamerton is definately a name to watch!(less)

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Jun 27, 2012 Dave Wagner rated it 5 of 5 stars

Other than 'The Heroes', by Joe Abercrombie, this book (The Riddler's Gift) by Greg Hamerton is the most enjoyable fantasy book I've read in the past year. That includes noteworthy books by the likes of GRR Martin, Pat Rothfuss, Peter Brett, KJ Parker, John Scalzi, Brandon Sanderson, etc. All of them. I'm belaboring this to let you know that I am not saying this lightly, or off-the-cuff.

The Riddler's Gift has many character types and fantasy tropes that one would expect from a (shall we say) "tr...more Other than 'The Heroes', by Joe Abercrombie, this book (The Riddler's Gift) by Greg Hamerton is the most enjoyable fantasy book I've read in the past year. That includes noteworthy books by the likes of GRR Martin, Pat Rothfuss, Peter Brett, KJ Parker, John Scalzi, Brandon Sanderson, etc. All of them. I'm belaboring this to let you know that I am not saying this lightly, or off-the-cuff.

The Riddler's Gift has many character types and fantasy tropes that one would expect from a (shall we say) "traditional" fantasy tale. A council of wizards, an "apprentice" over her head and swept up in an adventure, a noble master-swordsman, a wandering sage, an evil Lord and his unstable, cruel henchman, bent on world dominion, a magical trinket, and impending doom. Nothing too original here - so what's so special?

1) The Characters: The author does a fantastic job (pardon the pun) of crafting rich, complex characters. They lend themselves to shades of grey that are unexpected and yet feel oddly natural. You expect the heroine Tabitha Serannon to remain naive and good-at-heart, in spite of her trials, but as she accesses magic that is well-beyond her experience and expectation, it impacts her, changes her, in ways that catch you off guard. In fact, I can't think of a single main character, good or evil, that doesn't go through some level of transformation, or that isn't blind-sided by an unforeseen event (or series of events) that forces them to course-correct. It is all deftly handled, and thoroughly entertaining to read.

2) The Action: The story moves along at a brisk, occasionally break-neck speed. Let me qualify that for a moment: Once the storylines and characters are established, it takes off. It takes a bit to get rolling, but nowhere near as long as other books I've read in this genre. Give it a couple short chapters to hook you, and then buckle up.

3) The Dialog: Of course, on one hand I mean the spoken interactions between characters, but I'm also talking about the internal dialog that the characters have with themselves, as they wrestle with events and decisions that they've made, and assimilate the repercussions of their actions. The general themes of "good vs evil" and of "compromising with your moral code" are relatively-well worn paths, true, but that doesn't mean they can't be handled effectively anymore. Greg Hamerton wrings a lot of marrow out of those old bones, and I caught myself several times pausing while I was reading to contemplate what a character had just said. In fact, at the beginning of each chapter, there are these wonderful little proverbs (if you will) that are attributed to a certain character that always made me think -- and always ended up announcing what was to happen in the chapter, as though the chapter was the answer to the riddle that prefaced it. I loved those little touches.

4) The Craft: The book is well-crafted, solidly-written, and carries with it an intelligence and playfulness that was refreshing. Full of wonderful moments, unexpected events, humor and weight. Being the author's first book (in the series, anyway), I don't know whether this is the result of scads of polishing time and revising, or if it is a true indication of the talent and skill that will be evident in all of his books... you know how follow-up books can be. The first volume gets all of the blood, sweat, tears, polish, agonizing, tweaking, etc... and if/when it's a success, the second volume is expected quickly, and in order to hit some arbitrary deadline, subsequent volumes hit the shelves feeling unpolished and rushed and blah, lacking the spark that the initial volume was able to attain. Hey, I understand completely - the same can be said of music albums... a decade goes into a debut album, all the best songs from over the years sifted and hand-selected and polished to perfection in hopes that the album will take off and be a hit... then when it is, a new album is expected straight away, so dive back into the studio and crank something out!

All that to say, I have purchased the next book in the series, Second Sight, and will see for myself how it holds up.

Now, wait a minute, yes The Riddler's Gift is part of a planned trilogy. However, the story arc in the book is wonderfully complete, in and of itself. The blistering climax is thoroughly satisfying - and while there is an avenue left open to take things to the next level, by no means do you need to wait for the trilogy to finish before reading this book. It works very well as a stand-alone title, well worthy of your attention.

I have to be honest here - initially, I wasn't expecting much from this book. I mean, it was among the .99 cent fantasy books on holiday special on Amazon, with all the self-published and/or "unknown" authors - Kindle-stuffing, so to speak. When I bought the book in December, I saw that it had a few reviews, but that it's average rating was close to 5 stars, and figured, after skimming the reviews, I'd pull the trigger and buy it. Hey, for a buck, it was minimal risk. So I went into the read with an open mind, but not expecting to be blown away. But as I finished reading the book, and set it down, the first word that came to mind was "magnificent." And after having let it stew for a couple days, I believe I shall stand by my initial assessment. The Riddler's Gift is a magnificent book.

Summary: 5/5 A wonderful ride, terrifically-realized characters (if not wholly original), excellent dialog and action, and plenty of food for thought.(less)

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Nov 28, 2012 PaulineMRoss rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-fantasy, price-cheap, self-pub, 4-star

At first glance, this is a very traditional fantasy story about a magic ring which slips away from its evil owner at a critical moment, and finds its way into the hands of the most unlikely person imaginable. There’s a benign wizard acting as mentor and guide, there’s an evil wizard spreading darkness over the land, with the help of some evil minions, and there’s a collection of good guys uniting to defeat evil. You might think you’ve read something with a plot not a million miles from this one...more At first glance, this is a very traditional fantasy story about a magic ring which slips away from its evil owner at a critical moment, and finds its way into the hands of the most unlikely person imaginable. There’s a benign wizard acting as mentor and guide, there’s an evil wizard spreading darkness over the land, with the help of some evil minions, and there’s a collection of good guys uniting to defeat evil. You might think you’ve read something with a plot not a million miles from this one before. But not so fast; this book is proof of the theory that even the oldest and most overworked tale can be infused with new life in the hands of a good storyteller.

The plot isn’t really as unoriginal as I made out. Tabitha is the teenage girl who ends up with the magic ring, but she uses it to sing the Lifesong, the music that (somehow) triggers or even transcends the magic in this world. Ashley is an apprentice Lifegifter (or mage) who finds himself with the convenient ability to read thoughts. Garyll is the Swordmaster (chief warrior and law enforcer), and also love interest for Tabitha. The Riddler is the good wizard, there to help Tabitha. Kirjath Arkell is one of the minions. And although there are good guys and bad guys, things aren’t at all as clearcut as is usual in this type of fantasy.

The worldbuilding has been quite carefully done. The setting, Eyri, is rather small, being no more than two to three days riding from one side to the other, but there’s a reason behind that, and hopefully a later installment will see the story expand into the outside world. One grumble: there is a point where some of these external places are mentioned, with a string of incomprehensible names like Lûk and Jho-down and lots more, in the worst kind of infodump. Fortunately this is brief. The setting is the usual pre-industrial-revolution affair - a rather idyllic and twee collection of villages filled with more or less honest, upright citizens. The author has made efforts to avoid the standard generic fantasy template for his settlements, so each one has some distinguishing characteristic. Russel, for instance, is an artists’ colony, with houses built on stilts. While these distinctions seem a little artificial, it’s better than every place being the same as all the others.

The magic system is very nice. There are three ‘axes’ of magic: the axis of darkness and light, that of energy and matter, and that of order and chaos. I liked the way that it’s necessary to keep the opposing forces in balance, which leads to some very elegant methods of keeping the heroine and the villain apart until the right moment. The Lightgifters (mages who use the magic of light to heal and uplift the spirits) call upon sprites to power their spells, which are charged each morning by a communal song. There are also Darkcasters, who control a dark equivalent to sprites, known as motes, and spread gloom and despair. This all works rather nicely.

The characters fall neatly onto the good or bad side of the equation, and although sometimes it’s not immediately clear which side a character is on, ultimately it’s a black or white distinction, there really aren’t too many shades of grey here. What’s even more depressing is that so many of the characters are quite passive. Tabitha and Ashley, the two youngest, are essentially pushed around by circumstance and the machinations of other characters, and when it appears as if they might drift into the wrong place or make a mistake, someone more competent comes along to rescue them. If that fails, then they just happen to realise what they ought to do - Tabitha by way of her magic ring, and Ashley by virtue of his oh-so-convenient ability to hear thoughts, although not all thoughts, you understand, just certain key thoughts. Even Garyll the Swordmaster with his named sword (Felltang, since you ask) who strides around fearlessly as the epitome of well-honed manly virtue, imparts backbone into his weaker subordinates, and accosts the bad guys in stern brook-no-nonsense tones, is pushed here and there by the schemes and devices of others. Meanwhile Kirjath the evil minion and his boss the Big Bad are running rings round everyone, and the Riddler - well, OK, the Riddler is actually interesting. He has a certain complexity, for a start, and isn’t a straightforwardly good or bad character, although he does tend to turn up at crucial moments to rescue poor Tabitha from yet another tricky situation.

The romance - no, on second thoughts, don’t get me started on the romance. Putting Garyll of the Manly Virtues together with Tabitha the Meek and throwing in a few burning glances and shivering touches does not a romance make. I’d rather an author skip that part of the story altogether than make such a ham-fisted effort, especially since a large part of it is just about motivation. Tabitha’s in danger, so Garyll must ride heroically to her rescue or Sacrifice All for her sake. But there is one interesting aspect in the apparent equating of sex with the dark side. The good guys go for romantic dinners and in moments of excitement hold hands or exchange chaste kisses. Even thinking about sex pushes them over to the dark side (apparently). Then they make very questionable decisions because they’re in love. The bad guys, on the other hand, indulge in wildly passionate sex while casting spells of extraordinary power (which sounds like a lot more fun, actually). But maybe I’m just overthinking this.

I liked the writing style, and although there are a lot of point of view characters, the author uses them to good effect to drive the story forward. I enjoyed the little 'riddle' at the start of every chapter, too. But this is a huge book. I’m a fast reader but it took me forever to get through it. In a sense, this is a strong point, because the story is detailed enough to sustain it, and there's very little filler. There are a few places where scenes dragged on a bit too long, and some questionable motivations, where the plot was pushing characters along, but most of it felt necessary. Nevertheless, I found myself tiring of it more than once, especially during the more horrifically graphic torture scenes or the multitude of depressing oh-no-the-bad-guys-are-too-powerful moments.

There was one major irritant to me and that was Tabitha’s complete inability to work out what she needed to do. I wouldn’t say she was stupid, exactly, just very, very slow on the uptake. Even when the Riddler led her step by step, she never seemed to make the necessary jump until it was blindingly obvious. It was quite painful sometimes. I enjoy a story where the author drops enough clues for the reader to work things out a moment or two before the protagonist does, but not when it happens ten chapters before and I find myself muttering: ‘Come on, it’s so obvious!’. I wanted to slap her upside the head sometimes.

The ending was suitably dramatic, and the last few chapters flew by with all the usual swings and reversals, one or two not terribly surprising reveals, and a satisfying, if slightly overwrought, conclusion at both the overarching plot level and the human level. For those who like a straightforward traditional fantasy, with clearcut heroes and villains, a battle between good and evil, and a young innocent discovering amazing powers, this is an excellent example. It's very well written, with a large cast of characters who are well drawn and memorable, and a clever and elegant magic system (and bonus points for the very ingenious use of mathematical principles; any author combining magic with möbius bands has my vote). I found it just a little too predictable for my taste, and I look for a bit more complexity in my characters, but that's personal preference, and the solid ending and neat magic system make it a good four stars.(less)

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Nov 20, 2010 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: series-to-finish

Wow, what a plot! The main character, Tabitha Serannon is a charming young girl, a tavern singer with an amazing voice and a Truthsayer with aspirations of becoming a Lightgifter and healer like her mother, but then she hears the Lifesong and her whole life changes. Suddenly we are thrown into this magical world of Dark and Light fighting to rule the Kingdom of Eyri. Tabitha has to find the wizard who owns the magical ring she bears as she becomes aware of it's and her own capabilities and the p...more

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Feb 12, 2010 Sam rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, fantasy

Won this in the GR giveaways and my god I'm glad I did. Hamerton is well on his way to creating a fantasy series that could very well rival Tolkien in it's skill and imagination (and I don't make that comparison lightly, I can tell you). He has the dry wit and humour, moments of heart-warming tenderness and the magic, mystery and that little bit of mayhem that made Tolkien the world's first and greatest fantasy writer, and Hamerton is definitely following in those footsteps.

The story starts in O...more Won this in the GR giveaways and my god I'm glad I did. Hamerton is well on his way to creating a fantasy series that could very well rival Tolkien in it's skill and imagination (and I don't make that comparison lightly, I can tell you). He has the dry wit and humour, moments of heart-warming tenderness and the magic, mystery and that little bit of mayhem that made Tolkien the world's first and greatest fantasy writer, and Hamerton is definitely following in those footsteps.

The story starts in Oldenworld, which is being ravaged by Chaos and the Sorcerer Ametheus. The Gyre, a group of seven wizards, create the olde worlde domain of Eyri protected by a very strong shield of magic which keeps Chaos out. Within this protected land a slow simmering battle between the King and the Lightgifters on one side and Cabal the Darkmaster and his Shadowcasters on the other begins to take hold. In doing so a young Truthsayer and Singer, Tabitha Serannon, is caught up when she stands up to a Shadowcaster intent on kidnapping a local child.

As the story continues Tabitha finds herself on the path to the Wizard and she must follow the path of both the Dark and the Light to obtain her goal. Helping in this task is the Riddler, an enigmatic and delightful character who can only speak the truth, but only in rhyme. Tabitha is also aided by Glavenor, the King's Swordmaster (head of the Swords, Eyri's Army), who saves her from the Shadowcaster and she in turn saves him from something worse.

This is an absolute epic fantasy story but once it grabs you, it is impossible to put down. Hamerton develops each of his characters perfectly and really makes you feel for them and get involved in the story whole-heartedly. At one point I was that engrossed I was muttering rather loudly that Tabitha couldn't see what was right in front of her (it was very frustrating I must say, but a huge relief when she finally got it). The story does develop at a slower pace than usual but this fits the tale perfectly and unknown to you drags you deeper and deeper into the story (hence my comparison to Tolkien, very much of a similar style).

The detail Hamerton puts into his writing is fantastic, throughout the book you feel like you are there in Eyri and beyond, watching events unfold and feeling everything the characters do. You feel love and hate, joy and despair, victory and defeat and everything in between. A brilliant start to what is bound to be a brilliant series, I cannot wait until the second installment is out...in fact I'm really not sure if I can wait to find out where Tabitha, Glavenor and Eyri itself goes next...I need to know now!(less)

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Nov 16, 2008 Liviu rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-fantasy, 2008_release_read, review_fbc, t2_recommended_2008, series_dropped

Excellent fantasy debut set in an alternate Earthlike domain called Eyri which was isolated and hidden with strong magic from the rest of the planet by a cabal of 8 wizards called the Gyre.

The Gyre is facing the most powerful Chaos wizard ever Ametheus who brought destruction and misery to the rest of the planet, but they are not strong enough to fight him directly.

Setting up Eyri and introducing a magical artifact and an wizard observer/adviser, they hope to nurture new wizard blood away fro...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Beth Erwin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This book gets off to a slow start, but very quickly you become engaged in young Tabitha's struggles. I was ultimately glad the story was so long, as it gave time for the characters to develop and the plot to twist a bit. The addition of the Riddler make the story! In the tried adn true method for fantasy novels, the heroine gets suspicious looking 'help' from a shad and often hard to find character who shows up when trouble is at it's peak.

I really enjoyed this book, and am hoping there is a s...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Shelley rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have some mixed feelings. The story was compelling and enjoyable to read- lots going on, but it was predictable as well. I just never really loved the Characters enough to invest myself. They were likeable, or dis-likeable( the evil ones) but were very average in the personality department. I am not a fan of torture and rape, which was a recurring theme. Having said that, I will probably read the next book just to see where he takes the story.

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Feb 27, 2012 Scott Bickford rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Something feels off to me as the story progresses. The heroine failed to capture my adoration, the characters felt like their stories couldn't keep up with the plot. It really kept this book from becoming a "You must read this!" recommendation for me.

It isn't bad...but it isn't good either in my opinion.

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Dec 07, 2012 Millie Burns rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the Riddler's Gift very much. A classic good versus evil fantasy, with a high amount of tension that kept me turning pages. Well drawn world, and powerful imagery, what's not to like. I'm looking forward to reading more about Tabitha and The Riddler.

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Mar 08, 2009 Weepingbeauty rated it 3 of 5 stars

Magic and music from this Cape Town author. This is the first in the Lifesong cycle. Good to find South African fantasy authors. However, he is a fan of Terry Brookes, and i got irritated at times when i realised where the story threads came from.

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Feb 28, 2012 Eileen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this world of the Riddler - and really looking forward to the sequels. It is a fantasy world that made sense because of the skill of the writer, and the "lifesong" music of the Riddler world touched the "music" we have in this world.

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May 02, 2011 Nikki rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, fantasy

I got this through the goodreads giveaways, oh-so-long-ago. I've been meaning to get round to it for, literally, years. I read a section ages ago, and then never picked it up again, which should perhaps be indicative. So, I'm going to confess: I've never finished reading this, and I don't think I'm going to. I've read enough fantasy in my life that I'm quite cynical about it, and you'll have to give me something newer and fresher than the plot/characters in this book to keep me happy (most of th...more

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Jan 17, 2010 Taekwondodo rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Young Adults interested in magic

Shelves: first-reads, favorites

I won this book through a first-reads giveaway.

Although I technically finished it today it would probably be more accurate to say I finished it last night! Damn you Hamerton, I need my sleep! During the final, climactic battle I literally could not put it down. A spellbinding (pun intended) read, if a little sticky at parts. Not one I would have read normally but I'm glad I did.

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Apr 25, 2013 Jesslyn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: z2012-kindle-reads, cat-series-ongoing, cat-epic-fantasy, reviewed

EDIT: Free for Kindle users (4/25/13)

I really disliked the Swordmaster and couldn't feel any type of sympathy for him. I also felt that too much power was given to the Dark side without a valid balance on the Light. Thus the 4 start rating, which in my mind is really a 4.5.

This is epic fantasy with some nice twists. There is NOT a cliffhanger, and the 2nd book has been published.

Note to Kindle users, you can borrow these books for free if you have a Prime account. I started the 1st book for free...more

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Sep 03, 2010 Viloshani Matadin rated it 5 of 5 stars

I simply loved the story. My heart really went out to the Sword Masterwho was forced to choose between duty and love. Simply fantastic!

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The Free Book Cha...: The Riddler's Gift, by Greg Hamerton	2	14	Nov 08, 2012 06:47pm
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About Greg Hamerton

I'm an outdoor enthusiast and have been an active paraglider pilot since 1992. I find it essential to get away from the office on the weekends, and you can't get much farther away than high above the ground, looking down at the mountain peak beneath your toes.

My primary school was artistic. We made up stories. We painted things. We acted out Norse Mythology. It was great, and it's probably the rea...more

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Second Sight (Tales of the Lifesong, #2)

Fresh Air Site Guide: Paragliding And Hanggliding In South Africa

Beyond The Invisible: Flying From Fear To Freedom

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