Patricia Hamill's Blog: I read too much! - Posts Tagged "epic-fantasy"

Askari: Child of Muralia Book I by Mikko Azul

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


An epic fantasy with a conflicted hero.

Askari follows Cedron on his quest to retrieve powerful stones and a staff that will allow him to save the world from demonic hoardes, forever defeat Laylur the demon sealed away in the earth, and heal Muralia the earth mother. But Cedron is an unlikely hero for his world. As a half-breed (or technically as a quadrupal-breed), his people and those of the other races fear and loathe him. His own father, Regent of Askari, sent him into exile with his Uncle Roven when he was only a kid to protect him from his own people when they learn that his Shaeli blood has manifested into magical powers. Not even the Shaeli accept him. They consider him an abomination from the moment they learn of his existence and, hoping to prevent the unleashing of a powerful monster on the world, plan to destroy him if he should ever become too powerful.

In tandem with Cedron's story is Raika's adventure. Raika is a Sumari, a Shaeli warrior, who discovers that her people's powerful leaders have been corrupted by demons, demons who should be securely contained. But Muralia is weakening and their prison is, too. So, she sets off to find the prophesied Child of Muralia, her cousin Cedron, who may be the only being strong enough to set things right. In the process of escaping her own people, she slays a Guardian and forfeits her life in their eyes. All she has left is her quest, and she refuses to fail it.

What I love about this story is the smooth, realistic interplay between the characters, the well-thought out and well-woven plot, and the beautiful images that the descriptions bring to mind. This is one of those books that stays with you for a long time and draws you deep into the story such that the end is bittersweet. I also love how the story is unpredictable, even with what I mention in this review and the description of the book provided by the author, you're in for surprises, twists and shocks throughout.

On the other hand, it takes a while for the book to ramp up to the hook and during that time it's lore overload. I had trouble keeping all the exotic creatures, plants and foods straight in my mind as they were introduced at lightening speed in the early chapters. Later on, some of the lore finally stuck and no longer distracted me from the story. I think the descriptions of Lord Shumar and his three moon daughters are excessive. Again, this is most distracting in the early chapters before the story takes off.

Overall, this is an outstanding, well-written and entertaining fantasy. The pace is quick and the plot engaging. And the characters are likeable and ring true: very well developed.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, magic and coming of age adventures.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating or my review.



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The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Two Towers is the second book in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy, The Lord of the Rings. The story picks up right after the Fellowship tasked with destroying Sauron's One Ring parts ways for good.

First up, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli set out to rescue Merry and Pippin, who were taken by the orcs of Saruman at the end of the previous book. Running for three days, they encounter Eomer of the Rohirim (or Riders of Rohan) who inform them that the orcs have been slain and no hobbits spotted. In return for a promise to return them, the three companions borrow three riderless horses to complete their journey to Fangorn Forrest hoping against all odds that Merry and Pippen live.

Meanwhile, Merry and Pippin are in the clutches of the evil orcs of Saruman and are dismayed when they are joined by orcs from Mordor. They rest on the edge of a knife as the two factions argue and posture for control of the valuable hobbits, not to mention the occasional reminder that the orcs wouldn't mind finding out what roast hobbit tastes like. Despite their predicament, one of them drops tokens along the way for their friends to find and when the Riders attack, manage a narrow escape, only to meat the mysterious Treebeard (whose official name is Fangorn). Their story and the actions of Saruman inflame the normally mellow ent and they go to war.

This half of the book continues with the two parties embroiled in their separate battles against the forces of Saruman the White.

The second half of the book returns the story to Frodo and Sam shortly after they slip away from the Fellowship. They quickly realize they have no idea how to get to Mordor, and even if they do, they have little chance of reaching it let alone making their way past its borders. Soon evidence of pursuit arises and Frodo and Sam suspect Gollum has picked up their trail. Sam captures Gollum shortly afterwards, earning his eternal hatred, but Frodo convinces the miserable creature to join with them and show them the way into Mordor.

Later, the trio meet Boromir's brother, Faramir of Gondor. Faramir cautions them against trusting their guide but ultimately allows them to continue their journey into darkness.

Throughout the second half of the book, my favorite element is the rising duality of Gollum's personality: Smeagol vs. Gollum. Gollum, an obsessed and devious creature who craves The Ring like a fish craves water, and Smeagol, starved for love and almost remembering the person he used to be before the ring. Pledging loyalty on the precious, Smeagol fawns upon Frodo while Sam looks on suspiciously, but Gollum refuses to be forgotten and slowly corrupts the nearly redeemed Smeagol.

The story is action packed, the characters fascinating and larger than life and the battles intense, but one of the things that always makes me think is the title, The Two Towers. Which two towers? Based on the cover of my movie tie-in edition, the answer is simple: Orthanc (Saruman's tower in Isengard) and Barad-dur (Sauron's tower in Mordor). The two play a huge part in the first half of the book as Saruman makes a play for power by sending his orcs after the hobbits and when that fails by sending his hordes to attack the Riders of Rohan. At the close of the battle, the eye of Sauron is drawn to Pippin through Saruman's orb, setting off the push into Gondor featured in The Return of the King.

However, the second half of the book focuses on two different towers: Minus Tirith and Minus Morgul. Minus Tirith guards the lands of men from the might of Mordor. Minus Morgul, its twin, guards the pass into Mordor and is home to the dreaded King of the Ringwraiths. As Frodo and Sam near Minus Morgul and the secret way that Gollum leads them towards, the two towers, light and dark, are compared and contrasted and the tragic history of Minus Morgul is revealed.

The rich world of Middle Earth, the intricately woven history, and the struggles and victories of the shattered Fellowship are the epitome of epic fantasy. Tolkien is a master of his art.



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The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Riveting conclusion of epic proportions...

Return of the King begins with the Gondor story line where The Two Towers leaves off. Sauron's eye is focused on the city and his forces are gathering for a final strike. Ringwraiths, men, ogres, orcs and trolls are on the move. In Gondor, Faramir struggles to gain the acceptance of his father, Denethor. The young hobbit, Pippin, swears fealty to Denethor on a whim and soon finds himself garbed as a soldier of Minus Tirith. As Denethor loses his grasp on reality, Pippin must decide whether to stay true to his oath or true to his conscious.

Likewise, Merry has sworn his services to the King of Rohan. But the King, unlike Denethor, does not want his small vassal in harms way and decides to leave him behind. His plight is noticed by another who would also fight, despite being told to stay behind, and the two join up and follow together, a decision that just might mean the difference between victory and defeat in the final battle.

Meanwhile, Sam and Frodo continue their desperate journey into Mordor. Frodo grows ever weaker under the weight of the Ring and the eye of the Dark Lord. Sam, for loyalty and love of his Master, gives up his portion of the rations and carries Frodo, at some points literally, towards the final goal. Soon, they realize that this mission will likely be the end of them, even if they succeed in destroying the ring.

I absolutely love The Return of the King. The world is beautifully described, the emotions of love, fear and loyalty are expertly derived, and the story is exciting. The final scene at Mount Doom is one of the most exciting conclusions of any book I've ever read (though about 100 pages of wrap-up remain at that point).

To be balanced, I must admit that the story gets a bit wordy (or a lot wordy, depending on your point of view). Also, I don't care for the poems and songs that the characters sometimes break into, though they are easy to skim past. Luckily, this final installment in the trilogy seems to go light on the poetry.

Unlike others, I won't denounce the movie. I think it's an excellent way to enjoy the story, especially for those with neither the time nor the patience to tackle this classic story. I will say that folks who only see the movie will miss out on the hobbits' epic return to the Shire and the associated battle that the movie skipped.

All in all, The Lord of the Rings is truly an epic fantasy, and for some, like me, it is the gateway to a lifelong love of the genre.



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The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Epic fantasy in a believable world.

Ok, let's start off with this. I am not trying to convince anyone that this is the best book ever. I've noticed several all or nothing reviews that say either this is absolutely the best or absolutely the worst book they've ever read. That being said, The Eye of the World is one of my favorite books. That it's just a jumping off point for the epic Wheel of Time series is just a bonus. Here's why I love it.

One, it's huge. Yes, that's right, I love it because it's huge. I read way too fast, and even a massive book like this doesn't take me much time to devour, but it does take enough time that I get to enjoy the story for a couple of weeks, and since I know there's 13 more books, I don't have that end of story remorse that the end of a good book sometimes generates.

Two, it's written in plain English, not flowery psuedo-fantasy speak. I like a good fanstasy book that tells the story without trying to prove the extent of the author's vocabulary. This is not to say Robert Jordan's vocabulary is lacking, I'm just saying that he doesn't purposefully pick large words to prove that he knows them. I believe this makes the story easier to enjoy, especially in the wee hours of the morning when you simply must find out what happens next, but are losing your grasp on the conscious world.

Three, the characters are diverse, believable and well-developed. I love the main character, Rand, and his two best friends, Perrin and Mat. They are each uniquely portrayed, though they are each haunted by dreams sent by the Dark One, their paths begin to diverge from early in the story. Rand faces a dark future as savior/destroyer of the world. An ancient affinity to wolves arises in Perrin, who wants nothing to do with it. And Mat is corrupted by an evil artifact and is subject to ever-growing suspicion and fear.

Meanwhile, the stories of the women in the group are given their fair share of the action. Moraine, the Aes Sedai who arrived in Emonds Field just in time to help Rand, Mat and Perrin escape, is on a quest that might cause her to lose everything, but she's willing to see it through because the alternative could mean the end of the world. Egwene and Nynaeve, young women from Rand's hometown, unlike the boys, intentionally decide to join the group as they travel to Tar Valon: Egwene because she's in love with Rand, and later because she learns she has the spark to weild the power; Nynaeve because she distrusts Moraine and wants to take the boys and Egwene back to Emonds Field where they belong, and, like Egwene, she discovers she can channel and, when her initial plans are foiled, decides to use that ability to take revenge on the Aes Sedai.

Three, I love the interplay between the men and women. The three boys each are under the illusion that one or both of the others are better at talking to or understanding girls. Rand and Egwene, who always assumed they'd marry, find themselves drawn farther and farther apart, but can't help but be jealous of the attentions of others. And Lan and Nynaeve, both strong willed and proud, find themselves drawn to each other, though such a relationship is unlikely to blossom in the face of Lan's history and his bond as a warder to Moraine.

Four, I love coming of age and coming into powers stories. It's always fun to discover new things about a character as he or she does, and there's plenty of that going around in The Eye of the World. Besides that, some of the changes aren't necessarily good, which is different from most stories. For example, Rand shows some inklings of power, but men who can channel all go mad and destroy everything and everyone around them. And I love how the young people are all kind of drawn into the drama and trouble of the times, so they are dealing with the normal parts of growing up (such as love and leaving home for the first time) as well as the crazy things going on in their world (such as the Dark One threatening to escape from his prison and darkfriends trying to kill or capture them at every turn).

Finally, this a story that can be read and re-read and enjoyed each time. I have read this book multiple times and will read it again. Each time I do, I am reminded why it drew me in the first time and I notice things I've missed or didn't recognize as important the first time around. This is a story that has graced my bookshelf for over a decade, as evidenced by the cover that is no longer attached and the sections of book that try to escape while I'm reading it (I really should get a new copy).

On the other hand, there are similarities between this book, The Lord of the Rings , Eragon, and The Sword of Truth, so those who tend to focus on such things in a negative light might find this a distraction. However, in my opinion, The Eye of the World and the Wheel of Time series are unique in the fantasy world, and I do not agree with the poorly chosen quote on the cover of the book that says this story completes the world that Tolkein created. This story is not set in Middle Earth. There are no orcs or Sauron. There are no elves. Then again, there is magic. There is strife and the hint of an epic showdown yet to come. There is the theme of leaving home as a young man to save the world, or perhaps destroy it. There is love. There is danger. But in my opinion the world and the characters in The Wheel of Time are unique and fully fleshed out in their own right.

Overall, I love this book and the series that follows. I've read it over a dozen times and will likely read it again. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy epic fantasy, complex/multiple plotlines and main characters, and multi-book stories.

If you start and decide to finish this series, you'll likely be occupied by it for several months or more. The good thing is, the series is now complete, so when you get to the end, you'll actually reach the end. I haven't read the last book, so I don't know how it goes. In fact, I'm rereading the whole thing now so that I can read the last one. I've done this each time a new one in the series comes out, so this is kind of bittersweet for me.



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The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Fantastic second installment in Robert Jordan's epic fantasy series, The Wheel of Time.

For this series, I reread all the books each time a new one is released (and sometimes for no reason at all), so I can say I've read this quite a few times over the last decade. Guess what, it's still an awesome read, even more so because I now recognize the scope of Robert Jordan's planning and forshadowing. You won't find any plot holes in this story. Even the most inane tidbit of lore or history seems to have a place in the greater scheme of things. Min's readings are much more meaningful than they seemed in the first couple of readings. All the random seeming symbols, including the ones she doesn't understand, are quite revealing to one who's read most of the other books. I can already see that I'll have to read these through again even after finishing the last book.


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The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A fantastic read, previously rated 4 stars, I had to up it to 5 after this go through.

Let me start by saying I love this series. Ok, now that that's out of the way, let me tell you why I love The Dragon Reborn. For me, there are three main draws: Mat gets interesting, Perrin gets wolfish, and Elayne, Nynaeve and Egwene get into trouble. Oh, and don't even let me get started on the Aiel. Love the Aiel!


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The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Love this book. Mat is awesome. Perrin is great in this one, but later gets kind of lame. Same with Faile. Nynaeve is quite the firecracker.

The Rising Shadow is a crossroads in the Wheel of Time series. All the heroes of the story start in Tear, just after Rand's epic taking of the Stone of Tear and Callandor, but they don't stay there long. Having three Ta'vern in one place attracts a new horror into their midst, bubbles of evil. I've got to say, they are pretty scary and well done as a way to kick the main characters into action.

Rand plays a big part in this book. His growing fatalism and obsession with the Prophecies of the Dragon make him difficult to be around, and even his closest friends begin to suspect that the madness that inevitably destroys all men who can channel has already taken hold of him. Still, those who follow him, particularly the Aiel, take this in stride and hope that at least they might be spared the worst of it. Moiraine hopes to keep him alive long enough for him to survive the last battle. Matt hopes to keep him same long enough to get himself away from the epicenter of whatever Rand's insanity might spawn.

Nynaeve and Elayne continue in their efforts to track down the Black Ajah, this time traveling to Tanchico. I really enjoyed their storyline in this one. We spend a lot more time in Nynaeve's head, and I find her to be quite fascinating. She plays at being tough, and she is, but she's got some hurdles to jump. She's worth following as she grows. This is the first book where I'd use the word 'awesome' to describe Nynaeve.

Elayne's a bit flaky in this one, but I still enjoy her in this one. She's more of a supporting character, though. Her story isn't exactly central to any of the plots, though she plays a role in them along Nynaeve's side.

Perrin and Faile, along with Loial, go off to protect the Two Rivers from Fain and the Whitecloaks. Their relationship is quite entertaining and I love the way Faile keeps nudging Perrin into leadership roles against his will. The way all his old friends and even those older than him begin to take direction from him, along with how he rises to the occassion, is great. I love the reluctant hero, and Perrin makes a great one in this story. Of course, in later books, I get a little sick of him and Faile, but for now, they're great.

Matt really starts to get interesting in this book. He's a rogue, but a likeable one. His sole desire is to get away from Rand and all the madness that surrounds him. He doesn't seem to realize that he too has a huge target on his back. The Forsaken are just as interested in destroying Matt as they are Rand, but unlike with Rand, they have no reason to try to keep him alive or turn him to the shadow. I think Matt's better off near Rand and all the Aiel. Anyway, Matt's one of my favorite characters in this series. I never get tired of him or his antics.

Egwene is also just starting to become more interesting in her own right, but there's more to her in future books in the series. I recommend keeping a close eye on her when you read these stories. She's much more than just Rand's ex-love interest.

Overall, I enjoyed this book just as much as the first several times I've read it. I recommend The Wheel of Time series who love detailed world building, epic fantasy, really long reads, and a story that can keep you busy for over a year (if you read them all). As someone who reads very quickly, the length of the Wheel of Time books is a draw for me. However, if you like your stories to be quick and to the point, you may not be up for this series. It takes its time in everything.



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The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book is forever taking...but I still love it.

The Fires of Heaven (Wheel of Time #5) continues the story of the build up to the end of the world. The two major story lines in this installment are Rand's pursuit of the rogue Aiel that are following Couladin and Nynaeve's ongoing conflict with Moghedian. Of course, the number of characters featured in these two divergent tales is quite overwhelming, so I won't go into details here.

So here's what I like most about this story. First off, Matt becomes awesome in this book (against his will, but awesome nonetheless). I've always loved Matt's character in these books, and this is the tipping point for him. I also enjoy Nynaeve's trials and her feud with Moghedian. She's always been so overconfident, having become Wisdom of her village at a very young age, but certain events in this story really seem to put her in her place, paving the way for her to perhaps become a better, more likable person. This is a very important book for both Matt and Nynaeve.

Now, down to what I don't like. First off, ugh, I don't like the chase after the rogue Aiel. The images it brings to mind, what they find in the towns the Aiel have passed through, are horrific. That's part of it. Another part of it is the growing arrogance of Rand. Sure, he's found himself in a leadership position he didn't want, and he's a target for the Chosen and the Dark One's other minions, but still, that's no excuse for abandoning your core values. There are glimmers of his former goodness coming through, but his dubious sanity and growing mistrust and tendency to use those closest to him are deplorable. I recognize that it is necessary for his development to descend into darkness, but that doesn't mean I have to like the trip.

Finally, this book took me forever to get through this time around. Some of it is slow going, on top of the book being massive. The first half was such, and I almost considered dropping the book and jumping to the last in the series (I've read this one almost a dozen times, so I could have gotten away with it). The second half of the book was much more interesting and fast-paced, mostly due to the growing intrigue, the battles, and of course Matt's and Nynaeve's shining moments. That makes me feel better about my decision to stick it out.

I'm ready and excited to jump into book 6, but the ultimate goal is to finally make it to the last book in the series, which my husband assures me is one hundred percent worth slogging through all the books leading up to it. So, I will continue.

As for my recommendations, I definitely do recommend this series as a whole, though this isn't one of my favorite installments. I would say if you've gotten this far and have enjoyed the story up to this point, keep going. It will keep you busy for a while, but it's the journey that's the value in a work this massive. Keep in mind that The Wheel of Time is effectively one enormous novel. It's meant to be read in order and in its entirety, and that's what I recommend doing. Fans of epic fantasy, political intrigue, battles, and good vs. evil might like this series. Of course, if you had trouble getting into the first few books, I doubt that you'll fare much better with this one.




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Aranya by Marc Secchia

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Magic, technology and lots of humor.

Aranya is the story of a young princess who must face a terrible fate. In the Island-World, one country has been systematically taking over island countries, and now it is Aranya of Immadia's turn. Her father wisely decides to surrender rather than face the sure slaughter of his entire kingdom, but Aranya must pay the price. She becomes yet another hostage of the Sylakian Empire. Her entire life to be locked away in a tower with other royal hostages, like herself. Then again, there is the magic and dreams of a black dragon.

There are so many things I love about this story. It was easy to fall into this world, to be engrossed and absorbed by it. I loved the dirigibles, the cloudscape that separates the islands, the technology (and lack thereof), and, of course, the magic. Everything comes together so well and so naturally, even in such a large body of work.

I am a big fan of the epic fantasy genre, and I definitely feel this one counts, but unlike some in that category, this one doesn't plod on or focus too much on details. Yes, there are details and there are elements of history and political intrigue, like in any good epic fantasy, but they are sprinkled in only when needed and in efficient packages that don't detract from the action. And, yes, there is quite a lot of action. I found it incredibly difficult to put this book down, though it's size made that necessary.

I also loved the witty banter between the characters and the way relationships developed. Then again, some of the banter lost me. There were at times too many comebacks, and I didn't always realize immediately why the characters thought them funny. Most of this abated by the end of the book. I think upon another reading, I'd probably get more of the jokes. Still, what I got, I loved. I also liked the nicknames. I won't go into those for fear of spoilers.

Overall, this is epic fantasy at its finest. I think that even folks who are intimidated by long stories might find this one manageable because of its quick pace, action focus, and compelling plot line. As the first book in the series, it ends with more story left to tell, but not in a cliffhanger. I do want to read the next, but I feel like I can wait for it. I highly recommend this to those who enjoy fantasy, particularly of the epic variety. This is definitely one of my favorites this year.

I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest non-reciprocal review.




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Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Alright, somehow I almost forgot to review this one properly. This isn't my most favorite of the Wheel of Time books, but I still love it, though while reading I tend to swap between liking and disliking it. For example, I particularly dislike what happens to Rand in this one, but I love the way Jordan handles his descent into madness. I dislike what the Aes Sedai do to Egwene (or at least why), but I love how she handles it. I think the bickering is a bit over the top, but it's also amusing to me.

Lots of folks seem to dislike how the women in this story behave, and they're right to do so. They are egotistical; they are disrespectful to each other and particularly to men; and they are petty. They are also strong. They persevere. They grow and try to be better. In other words, they are human, and that's interesting.

Just like in previous installments, this is a massive book. I am glad I have it in paperback because it helps to be able to see how much is left. I got to a point where I thought I was done and still had 200 pages left. That's normal for Wheel of Time books.

Overall, I love this book and this series. I recommend the series to folks who love epic fantasy, including all the detail and description the genre tends to have. However, if you haven't enjoyed the series up to this point, I don't think there's much chance you'll like this book. Then again, if you've made it this far, why not finish?




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