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Pendulum #1
The Pilgrims: A Novel
The a powerful first installment in an epic fantasy series by critically acclaimed Will Elliott.
Eric Albright is a twenty-six-year-old journalist living in London. That is to say he would be a journalist if he got off his backside. But this luckless slacker isn't all bad―he has a soft spot for his sometimes friend Stuart Casey, the homeless old drunk who mostly lives under the railway bridge near his flat. Eric is willing to let his life just drift by…until the day a small red door appears on the graffiti-covered wall of the bridge, and a gang of strange-looking people―Eric's pretty sure one of them is a giant―dash out of the door and rob the nearby newsagent. From that day on Eric and Case haunt the arch, waiting for the door to reappear.
When it does, both Eric and Case choose to go through…to the land of Levaal. A place where a mountain-sized dragon with the powers of a god lies sleeping beneath a great white castle. In the castle the sinister Lord Vous rules with an iron fist, and the Project, designed to effect his transformation into an immortal spirit, nears completion. But Vous's growing madness is close to consuming him, together with his fear of an imaginary being named Shadow. And soon Eric may lend substance to that fear. An impossibly vast wall divides Levall, and no one has ever seen what lies beyond. Eric and Casey are called Pilgrims, and may have powers that no one in either world yet understands, and soon the wall may be broken. What will enter from the other side?
Eric Albright is a twenty-six-year-old journalist living in London. That is to say he would be a journalist if he got off his backside. But this luckless slacker isn't all bad―he has a soft spot for his sometimes friend Stuart Casey, the homeless old drunk who mostly lives under the railway bridge near his flat. Eric is willing to let his life just drift by…until the day a small red door appears on the graffiti-covered wall of the bridge, and a gang of strange-looking people―Eric's pretty sure one of them is a giant―dash out of the door and rob the nearby newsagent. From that day on Eric and Case haunt the arch, waiting for the door to reappear.
When it does, both Eric and Case choose to go through…to the land of Levaal. A place where a mountain-sized dragon with the powers of a god lies sleeping beneath a great white castle. In the castle the sinister Lord Vous rules with an iron fist, and the Project, designed to effect his transformation into an immortal spirit, nears completion. But Vous's growing madness is close to consuming him, together with his fear of an imaginary being named Shadow. And soon Eric may lend substance to that fear. An impossibly vast wall divides Levall, and no one has ever seen what lies beyond. Eric and Casey are called Pilgrims, and may have powers that no one in either world yet understands, and soon the wall may be broken. What will enter from the other side?
464 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2010
19 people are currently reading
1321 people want to read
About the author
Will Elliott
36 books161 followersWill Elliott (born 1979) is an Australian fiction writer who lives in Brisbane, Queensland.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
June 12, 2014
**I received a free copy of The Pilgrims from Tor in exchange for an honest review.**
Ah, the fantasy quest novel. Been a while since we've bumped into each other, but, damn, we used to have some good times when I was a teenager. I swear you haven't changed a bit since the last time I ran into you. So, anything new with you? No, not really? Still just rambling off down the road to adventure, eh? Meet a mage or two, maybe some stone giants, a few angels? Choose some ordinary schmuck to save the world from an omnipotent evil overlord hellbent on world domination? So, nothing new in your bag of tricks? Well, it was good seeing you . . . maybe we can meet up again sometime and you can tell me the same predictable tale. No, no--don't call me, I'll call you. Take care now! Buh-bye.
Yeah, I'm a little jaded when it comes to the fantasy quest. Granted, I cut my teeth on this genre, so folks who are new to fantasy may enjoy this tale far more than I did. The only way I enjoy this type of novel these days is if it's a new, inventive twist on the standard journey through a world that is not our own. Unfortunately, The Pilgrims by Will Elliott never rises above the formulaic presentation of an unlikely hero going on an unlikely adventure.
Eric Albright and his homeless friend, Case, find themselves in a strange world after opening a door that appears on a London bridge. In this new world, Eric and Case have the instant ability to both understand and speak the languages of all its denizens. Joining a merry band of rebels against Vous, the man who would be a god, Eric and Case meander without much purpose, encounter all of the aforementioned creatures and then some, and do little to endear themselves to the reader. Eric becomes convinced that he's meant to be a savior--though does little to prove it other than occasionally picturing himself as Batman. While the fantasy world created by Elliott has some intriguing elements, they fail to stand out when surrounded by so many cliches. The characters themselves are also flat, especially Eric, who seems so at ease with this strange place and his role in it that the narrative loses the tension created by a character confused by and at odds with his new surroundings.
Another strike The Pilgrims has against it is the "door between worlds" trope. I've mentioned in other reviews that I usually find this to be a charmless, hackneyed plot device. I despise The Wizard of Oz, Chronicles of Narnia, and Alice in Wonderland. The only time it has worked for me is in Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere and in the movie Labyrinth (and that probably has more to do with David Bowie in tight pants than anything else
. . .). So when our hero, Eric Albright, opens a door between our world and that of Levaal without immediately find a well-endowed Bowie on the other side, well, you can imagine my disappointment.
And, finally, the third strike: The Pilgrims is a standard quest novel that for, inexplicable reasons, has been split into a trilogy. Here's what I hate about series quests: the first book will be all "a questing we will go, a questing we will go, no resolution, yo, a questing we will go"; the second book will continue in the same vein until the last 50 pages when, wtf, you mean shit's going to start happening now?; and the last book, if one makes it that far, might actually be fairly decent. But the reader has to drag ass through the first two books before there's any payoff in sight. I don't like to be toyed with thus.
So, if you're new to fantasy, you might want to give The Pilgrims a whirl, but fantasy veterans need not apply.
Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder and at Shelf Inflicted
Ah, the fantasy quest novel. Been a while since we've bumped into each other, but, damn, we used to have some good times when I was a teenager. I swear you haven't changed a bit since the last time I ran into you. So, anything new with you? No, not really? Still just rambling off down the road to adventure, eh? Meet a mage or two, maybe some stone giants, a few angels? Choose some ordinary schmuck to save the world from an omnipotent evil overlord hellbent on world domination? So, nothing new in your bag of tricks? Well, it was good seeing you . . . maybe we can meet up again sometime and you can tell me the same predictable tale. No, no--don't call me, I'll call you. Take care now! Buh-bye.
Yeah, I'm a little jaded when it comes to the fantasy quest. Granted, I cut my teeth on this genre, so folks who are new to fantasy may enjoy this tale far more than I did. The only way I enjoy this type of novel these days is if it's a new, inventive twist on the standard journey through a world that is not our own. Unfortunately, The Pilgrims by Will Elliott never rises above the formulaic presentation of an unlikely hero going on an unlikely adventure.
Eric Albright and his homeless friend, Case, find themselves in a strange world after opening a door that appears on a London bridge. In this new world, Eric and Case have the instant ability to both understand and speak the languages of all its denizens. Joining a merry band of rebels against Vous, the man who would be a god, Eric and Case meander without much purpose, encounter all of the aforementioned creatures and then some, and do little to endear themselves to the reader. Eric becomes convinced that he's meant to be a savior--though does little to prove it other than occasionally picturing himself as Batman. While the fantasy world created by Elliott has some intriguing elements, they fail to stand out when surrounded by so many cliches. The characters themselves are also flat, especially Eric, who seems so at ease with this strange place and his role in it that the narrative loses the tension created by a character confused by and at odds with his new surroundings.
Another strike The Pilgrims has against it is the "door between worlds" trope. I've mentioned in other reviews that I usually find this to be a charmless, hackneyed plot device. I despise The Wizard of Oz, Chronicles of Narnia, and Alice in Wonderland. The only time it has worked for me is in Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere and in the movie Labyrinth (and that probably has more to do with David Bowie in tight pants than anything else
. . .). So when our hero, Eric Albright, opens a door between our world and that of Levaal without immediately find a well-endowed Bowie on the other side, well, you can imagine my disappointment.
And, finally, the third strike: The Pilgrims is a standard quest novel that for, inexplicable reasons, has been split into a trilogy. Here's what I hate about series quests: the first book will be all "a questing we will go, a questing we will go, no resolution, yo, a questing we will go"; the second book will continue in the same vein until the last 50 pages when, wtf, you mean shit's going to start happening now?; and the last book, if one makes it that far, might actually be fairly decent. But the reader has to drag ass through the first two books before there's any payoff in sight. I don't like to be toyed with thus.
So, if you're new to fantasy, you might want to give The Pilgrims a whirl, but fantasy veterans need not apply.
Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder and at Shelf Inflicted
July 26, 2014
"The point isn't about good guys and bad guys, it's about surviving."
This book...was really quite amazing! I fell in love with it because of the gorgeous cover (I know I'm shallow when it comes to book covers, so sue me) and fell even more in love with it while reading it!
It's fantasy, and set mostly in a fantasy world, but it felt so REAL to me. All of the characters, even the bad guys, had a side to them that you grew to like and even empathize with. The worldbuilding was nothing short of fantastic. I was really impressed with the characterization also.
This is a wonderful book that I would recommend to any fan of the fantasy genre!
This book...was really quite amazing! I fell in love with it because of the gorgeous cover (I know I'm shallow when it comes to book covers, so sue me) and fell even more in love with it while reading it!
It's fantasy, and set mostly in a fantasy world, but it felt so REAL to me. All of the characters, even the bad guys, had a side to them that you grew to like and even empathize with. The worldbuilding was nothing short of fantastic. I was really impressed with the characterization also.
This is a wonderful book that I would recommend to any fan of the fantasy genre!
February 26, 2011
An author that needs no introduction, Will Elliot burst into the mainstream from relative obscurity after winning the ABC manuscript award with The Pilo Family Circus. It was a novel of disturbing ideas and grisly images that took on a life of its own, breathing fresh blood into our literary scene and showcasing that young Australian talent could mix it with the big guns on a world stage. With Pilgrims, Elliot shifts gears in a largely new direction, moving into the invented world genre and trying to explode its conventions from within.
From experience, I think there comes a time in a speculative writer’s life when they think: now is the time to do my ‘otherworld’ book. Be it a dominion, realm, dimension, or simply world – it seems ingrained that this be accomplished as a kind of Magnum Opus or literary Jupiter that dwarfs all other novels, novellas, or short stories. And there is nothing wrong with this. Although it took an eternity, King himself achieved this milestone with The Dark Tower books. Numerous other authors have made it a staple: Clive Barker’s descriptions of wonderlands that sit just adjacent to us are like a guide for every intrepid writer who feels the need to describe some otherland. This hybrid of dark fantasy and horror is now well-mapped … the challenge is to find something unique and powerful to add to the fray. For the most part, Will Elliot does succeed with Pilgrims, book one of the Pendulum trilogy.
Eric Albright (a protagonist with shades of Elliot I suspect), has discovered a small red door underneath a train bridge near his home. His wingman in the unearthing is Stuart Case, a homeless alcoholic who accompanies Eric through the door into Levaal … the adjacent realm next to ours brimming with magic and all the ingredients we have come to expect from fantasy. We are on familiar ground, and Eric knows it. More than once he voices the opinion that because he is from our world, then he must be its savoir. Both Eric and Case become part of a quest that is fragmentary in the details but mainly about survival. A numerous and varied cast is introduced, and readers will see creatures of staggeringly various descriptions populate the world of Levaal. There are War Mages, flying Invia, Gods and Great Spirits. There are those that are free, and those that are not … as the current resident of the Castle, Vous, has turned this beacon of magic into a house of malign purpose with the hopes of ascending to Godhood.
Pilgrims as a book reflects journey. The kind of book, perhaps, that’s perfect for ones own voyage. For some peculiar reason I found myself digging into this narrative always when I was on the move: traffic light intersections, bus trips, and even on one occasion when hiking through the woods. At times it can be stagnant; the action and mysteries of a type encountered in many other fictitious worlds before. The language feels familiar and intimate, however – the Australian voice homely. Above all, Will Elliot wants to take us to his Narnia and the world of his childhood. Although a far cry from his debut novel and not inhabiting the same territory, Pilgrims nevertheless acts as a worthy successor.
The story continues in Shadow and concludes in book three Dragon.
From experience, I think there comes a time in a speculative writer’s life when they think: now is the time to do my ‘otherworld’ book. Be it a dominion, realm, dimension, or simply world – it seems ingrained that this be accomplished as a kind of Magnum Opus or literary Jupiter that dwarfs all other novels, novellas, or short stories. And there is nothing wrong with this. Although it took an eternity, King himself achieved this milestone with The Dark Tower books. Numerous other authors have made it a staple: Clive Barker’s descriptions of wonderlands that sit just adjacent to us are like a guide for every intrepid writer who feels the need to describe some otherland. This hybrid of dark fantasy and horror is now well-mapped … the challenge is to find something unique and powerful to add to the fray. For the most part, Will Elliot does succeed with Pilgrims, book one of the Pendulum trilogy.
Eric Albright (a protagonist with shades of Elliot I suspect), has discovered a small red door underneath a train bridge near his home. His wingman in the unearthing is Stuart Case, a homeless alcoholic who accompanies Eric through the door into Levaal … the adjacent realm next to ours brimming with magic and all the ingredients we have come to expect from fantasy. We are on familiar ground, and Eric knows it. More than once he voices the opinion that because he is from our world, then he must be its savoir. Both Eric and Case become part of a quest that is fragmentary in the details but mainly about survival. A numerous and varied cast is introduced, and readers will see creatures of staggeringly various descriptions populate the world of Levaal. There are War Mages, flying Invia, Gods and Great Spirits. There are those that are free, and those that are not … as the current resident of the Castle, Vous, has turned this beacon of magic into a house of malign purpose with the hopes of ascending to Godhood.
Pilgrims as a book reflects journey. The kind of book, perhaps, that’s perfect for ones own voyage. For some peculiar reason I found myself digging into this narrative always when I was on the move: traffic light intersections, bus trips, and even on one occasion when hiking through the woods. At times it can be stagnant; the action and mysteries of a type encountered in many other fictitious worlds before. The language feels familiar and intimate, however – the Australian voice homely. Above all, Will Elliot wants to take us to his Narnia and the world of his childhood. Although a far cry from his debut novel and not inhabiting the same territory, Pilgrims nevertheless acts as a worthy successor.
The story continues in Shadow and concludes in book three Dragon.
April 21, 2014
I received a copy of The Pilgrims by Will Elliott from Tor McMillan free to review - thank you, guys! It tells the story of journalist Eric Albright and Stuart Casey, a homeless drunk, who stumble across a hidden door which leads them to the fantastical world of Levaal. Naturally, there is an evil overlord they have to defeat. As can be inferred from the ages of the protagonists, this is more adult contemporary fantasy than young adult. The language and attitudes of the two main characters is more mature than that of your average Twilight or Mortal Instruments. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing.
First off, I need to be totally honest and say I was unable to finish this book. I started it at least a couple of times, and even bought it on Kindle as I find hardback books bulky and awkward to read now after several years of Kindling. Yet, I was unable to get beyond the first third of the story. Now, I don’t believe this is a reflection on the story or the author; just that I, personally, was unable to relate to the characters enough to become involved in their adventure. it may even be that I was simply not in the mood for the tale that was being woven. There was a lot I enjoyed about the book, but not quite enough to keep me reading, unfortunately. It could be I’ll return to it later.
What i liked
The worldbuilding. Elliott has crafted a vivid and fascinating world in Levaal. From what I read I felt there were some interesting seeds sown for future developments. I believe this is the first book in a planned trilogy.
Language as skill. I was intrigued by the fact that Eric’s and Case’s key strength (in this first third at least) was that, as Otherworlders, they have the ability to understand each language spoken in Levaal as if it were their native language. This applies even to magically encrypted speech. The local resistance is quick to see what an advantage that could give them and I enjoyed what I read of their adventures in spying.
Genre-savvy protagonist. It always makes me smile when the protagonist is aware of fantasy tropes and expects his/her adventure to follow similar lines. I loved that Eric was all “oh yeah, I know how this works: someone from my world falls into a fantastical realm, so that person must be the prophesied Saviour. Point me in the direction of the evil overlord.” I didn’t read far enough to learn whether or not Elliott will turn this on its head, but it could be fun to find out.
What I didn’t like
The main characters. For me, personally, I could not engage with either Eric or Case. I found nothing about them that struck a chord with me. However, that’s not to say they’re not interesting characters. They just didn’t pull me into their story.
Despite the fact that I was unable to finish the book, I feel that was very much a personal thing. I certainly wouldn’t discourage anyone else from reading it; just because it wasn’t for me doesn’t mean you mightn’t think it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.
I gave The Pilgrims three stars out of five.
First off, I need to be totally honest and say I was unable to finish this book. I started it at least a couple of times, and even bought it on Kindle as I find hardback books bulky and awkward to read now after several years of Kindling. Yet, I was unable to get beyond the first third of the story. Now, I don’t believe this is a reflection on the story or the author; just that I, personally, was unable to relate to the characters enough to become involved in their adventure. it may even be that I was simply not in the mood for the tale that was being woven. There was a lot I enjoyed about the book, but not quite enough to keep me reading, unfortunately. It could be I’ll return to it later.
What i liked
The worldbuilding. Elliott has crafted a vivid and fascinating world in Levaal. From what I read I felt there were some interesting seeds sown for future developments. I believe this is the first book in a planned trilogy.
Language as skill. I was intrigued by the fact that Eric’s and Case’s key strength (in this first third at least) was that, as Otherworlders, they have the ability to understand each language spoken in Levaal as if it were their native language. This applies even to magically encrypted speech. The local resistance is quick to see what an advantage that could give them and I enjoyed what I read of their adventures in spying.
Genre-savvy protagonist. It always makes me smile when the protagonist is aware of fantasy tropes and expects his/her adventure to follow similar lines. I loved that Eric was all “oh yeah, I know how this works: someone from my world falls into a fantastical realm, so that person must be the prophesied Saviour. Point me in the direction of the evil overlord.” I didn’t read far enough to learn whether or not Elliott will turn this on its head, but it could be fun to find out.
What I didn’t like
The main characters. For me, personally, I could not engage with either Eric or Case. I found nothing about them that struck a chord with me. However, that’s not to say they’re not interesting characters. They just didn’t pull me into their story.
Despite the fact that I was unable to finish the book, I feel that was very much a personal thing. I certainly wouldn’t discourage anyone else from reading it; just because it wasn’t for me doesn’t mean you mightn’t think it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.
I gave The Pilgrims three stars out of five.
August 1, 2014
Mon avis en Français
My English review
The synopsis immediately intrigued me when I saw it. Indeed, here the author presents us a strange mix of characters from our world and fantasy characters. You can imagine that the confrontation will be brutal. I was so curious to see how it would be conducted.
Eric and Casey are two men who let themselves be led through life without really having a goal. When one day a door appears under a bridge, they were immediately intrigued, especially when people come through wanting to rob the newsagent. Strange, is not it? When the door reappears later, Eric and Case do not hesitate to embark on a new adventure, hoping to finally experience something new. Beginning their quest each on their side, they will realize that this world is filled with many dangers they didn’t know about. Indeed, they will both have to adapt to the characters, magic, creatures and plots. But Case and Eric, by their start, will have quite differing views on the events and different confidence to the characters who seem strangely interested in their survival. This world reserves them many surprises, women who might make them succumb, a sleeping dragon that everyone talks about, a lord who wishes to become a god and a wall that some want to maintain while others want to destroy to see what coexists behind.
I enjoyed following these two characters who are very different from each other and see how they were able to adapt to a world they do not know at all about. Their dialogue, their actions, their clothes are strange for this place yet they may well decide that they would like both to stay and live a new life. However, even though I loved the two main characters, I had a little more trouble with all the secondary characters. By cons I have to say that the world was well created and the creatures that are present are fascinating and it was very interesting to discover everything. The adventures of our two characters are just beginning and I’m sure there will be many more. Many things are initiated here and I’m curious enough to see what will happen afterwards.
It was a good novel even if it is true that I may be expecting a little more about the story. However I must admit that the mix of two genres as the author presents it here is undeniably original and I took pleasure in discovering everything.
My English review
The synopsis immediately intrigued me when I saw it. Indeed, here the author presents us a strange mix of characters from our world and fantasy characters. You can imagine that the confrontation will be brutal. I was so curious to see how it would be conducted.
Eric and Casey are two men who let themselves be led through life without really having a goal. When one day a door appears under a bridge, they were immediately intrigued, especially when people come through wanting to rob the newsagent. Strange, is not it? When the door reappears later, Eric and Case do not hesitate to embark on a new adventure, hoping to finally experience something new. Beginning their quest each on their side, they will realize that this world is filled with many dangers they didn’t know about. Indeed, they will both have to adapt to the characters, magic, creatures and plots. But Case and Eric, by their start, will have quite differing views on the events and different confidence to the characters who seem strangely interested in their survival. This world reserves them many surprises, women who might make them succumb, a sleeping dragon that everyone talks about, a lord who wishes to become a god and a wall that some want to maintain while others want to destroy to see what coexists behind.
I enjoyed following these two characters who are very different from each other and see how they were able to adapt to a world they do not know at all about. Their dialogue, their actions, their clothes are strange for this place yet they may well decide that they would like both to stay and live a new life. However, even though I loved the two main characters, I had a little more trouble with all the secondary characters. By cons I have to say that the world was well created and the creatures that are present are fascinating and it was very interesting to discover everything. The adventures of our two characters are just beginning and I’m sure there will be many more. Many things are initiated here and I’m curious enough to see what will happen afterwards.
It was a good novel even if it is true that I may be expecting a little more about the story. However I must admit that the mix of two genres as the author presents it here is undeniably original and I took pleasure in discovering everything.
May 22, 2014
When I was reading this book and my friend, Josh, asked me to describe this book I said, "It's not really that well written and I don't think it's that interesting" I spent most of this book trying to be excited about it. The plot, the setting, and a few of the characters were interesting, but I found the writing style and lack of character development seemed to hurt it. It just seemed like it was thrown together, and not really developed.
January 15, 2024
Will Elliott's prose is phenomenal, and he's able to craft such an intriguing world. The scen s are vivid without being overloaded with descriptions and everything piece of this world that Elliott has made has been thought out and fleshed out, leaving you full emersed in the world of Levaal. I had a hard time putting this book down.
The member's of the Mayors' Command were wonderfully fleshed out, all different yet likeable on some level. I could read book after book about these characters. The main character, Eric and Case though.. not so much. Eric falls so heavy into the 'Everyman' character trope that he has no personality. We truly no nothing about Eric beyond a few surface level details, and his character's drive for a majority of the book is lusting over the only female member of the Mayors' Command, Siel. Case on the other hand does have a well defined personality, but it's just not a good one. His character is frustrating and annoying, and judging by his dwindling inclusion as the book goes on I can only assume that Will Elliott felt the same until last minute he seemed to remember that Case is a main character too.
None of the characters grew any throughout the book, They are the same from start to finish.
But desp not being a character driven book, there are a few scenes in the book that make the travelling band of hero's seem so much more real, and the I loved. especially when they are staying at Faul's House, being warrior at rest and taking the dragon scales together. Small moments like that really help flesh out the characters. I truly hope I get to see more of that throughout the series
The member's of the Mayors' Command were wonderfully fleshed out, all different yet likeable on some level. I could read book after book about these characters. The main character, Eric and Case though.. not so much. Eric falls so heavy into the 'Everyman' character trope that he has no personality. We truly no nothing about Eric beyond a few surface level details, and his character's drive for a majority of the book is lusting over the only female member of the Mayors' Command, Siel. Case on the other hand does have a well defined personality, but it's just not a good one. His character is frustrating and annoying, and judging by his dwindling inclusion as the book goes on I can only assume that Will Elliott felt the same until last minute he seemed to remember that Case is a main character too.
None of the characters grew any throughout the book, They are the same from start to finish.
But desp not being a character driven book, there are a few scenes in the book that make the travelling band of hero's seem so much more real, and the I loved. especially when they are staying at Faul's House, being warrior at rest and taking the dragon scales together. Small moments like that really help flesh out the characters. I truly hope I get to see more of that throughout the series
May 19, 2020
I picked this up at a Dollar Tree and thought I'd give it a try. As fantasy, it was interesting - a throwback to sci-fi/fantasy conceits of the mid-20th century, which often featured protagonists from our world finding a magical doorway of some kind (in this case, a literal door) to another world. A couple of men from London find their way to a world called Levaal, which it seems is not even a proper world at all, but rather a liminal space between worlds somehow, though most of Levaal's inhabitants do not seem to know this. Our protagonists have an advantage, a handgun they've brought through into a world with no firearms. They encounter strange fantasy races, an even stranger alien culture (magic seems mostly forbidden, because some guy has taken all the magic in a bid to make himself a god - what they call a Great Spirit -but some people and races have magic anyway, or something). The book plunged deep into machinations of a war, but it seemed there would not be enough time to sort it all out, and it's true - it ends in the middle of things, with no resolution, which I found frustrating (yes, there were 2 sequels, making it a trilogy, but I'm not sure I care to hunt them down). All in all, an average book that did not thrill me, but was of fairly good writing.
October 14, 2014
originally posted at: http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2014...
I have been reading a lot of Urban Fantasy and Science Fiction lately and I was really craving for an epic fantasy story, so when I went through my books that I still have up for review and I came across this book. It quickly reminded me of a one of my favourite series ever: The Dark Tower by Stephen King. Where you have a group embark on a quest in a world mixed with fantasy and contemporary and science fiction influences so without any further ado I jumped at it. The Pilgrims offered a very unique and interesting reading experience but just as like The Dark Tower books, you do have to be open to read some new and bold idea's, this isn't your average fantasy, it's a great cross over and offers an interesting start.
The story of The Pilgrims picks up with the focus on two protagonists, they are by far the most likely of heroes to be honest. Meet Eric Albright, a would be journalist, he has the ambitions but is just to lazy to bother really, also meet his homeless friend Stuart Casey or Case. Case is a homeless guy and addicted to alcohol. What Eric and Case like to do is play a game of chess once in a while and just this one time when they are having a match a small red door appears out of nowhere and some otherworldly creature emerge just to raid a small kiosk. Not having any idea just what the heck was going on, if it was a alcohol induced dream or some such they wait for the door to reappear again... When it does they have one moments to decide just what to do... When they appear on the other side, they are in a land known as Levaal and find themselves in the midst of an ongoing struggle. There is an evil overlord, Vous, who wants nothing more than to become immortal and rule all the land of Levaal. Now as Eric and Case make their way through Levaal they get picked up or rather recruited by a group of people who fight against the oppression of Vous, the Friend and Lord. This is where the questing part kicks in as Eric, Case and there company set off to stop Vous, but in their quest they have to overcome some hurdles. Plus they encounter as not-natives to Velaal some weird stuff, that has only appeared in fantasy books for them and now have become a reality.
With my almost single genre reading over the last few weeks I really enjoyed the story that Will Elliott told in The Pilgrims, for me it's these kind of crossover stories that offer a refreshing view upon some of the more grounded genres. And yes it did remind me of my favorite, yes not one of my favorites, but my favorite series The Dark Tower and that should say a lot. Of course the scale is not directly one on one but there is a very nice attempt in showing a big world that is readily available for exploration. What I always find important when showing a fantasy world mixed with the real world is to have several changes occur gradually or that you have to grow in the world, because our technology is completely absent there and Eric and Case do have to grow into the land of Velaal, getting to understand just what they are presented with. An enjoyable story in all.
As for the characters of the book, the focus is really on Eric and Case. I liked their different personalities besides the often used hero kind of guys or girls. Eric and Case are by far the types of persons you would normally associate with being saviors, though, considering the circumstances Eric does see himself as an hero and he comes up with plenty a reference towards perhaps his favourite superhero Batman and considering the circumstances he is in, this selfmade hero might be closest linked to himself. Case is perhaps a bit worse off in his character than Eric, talking about the background here. Case is a homeless alcoholic. However with coming into a new world, everything is reset and Case as well as Eric get a fresh start, that they, in my opinion, do try to get the most out of.
However I do have one small matter to say about the characters is all, the premise of both Case and Eric were great to read about but I missed a strong narration to truly involve the reader and suck him into the story. The characters were fun to read about but I just missed that spark of connection. But you know if you look back at the story there were so many new ideas introduced that it just might have fallen unwillingly tot he background and what isn't there yet, might still come.
One part that I really like when it comes down to fantasy books is magic be it Epic or Urban inspired. In The Pilgrims, Will Elliott more than ones mentions just how dangerous magic is and that when it is overused will cook the user from the inside out. This in the back of your mind and several deadly players of this magic on the opposite side of Eric and Case readily put the story in the right mood of good guy vs. bad nefarious evil overlord guy. On top of this you have also other "supernatural" creatures like the Invia, the War Mages, Gods and embodied Great Spirits that further build a grande epic fantasy premise surrounding the story of The Pilgrims.
With The Pilgrims, Will Elliott has written a refreshing and very exciting genre crossover between urban and epic fantasy, that very closely reminded me of my favorite series of all time. These books fall in the category of either you love them or you hate them, but The Pilgrims for me to be honest fall precisely in between. I do have some mixed feelings about the setup of the story. Don't get me wrong I totally loved the whole world of Levaal the strangeness yet also approachable setting, the realistic feeling of the world and of course some unlikely heroes turned heroes. But my main bugger is that I miss the strong narration that readily decides when and where the story progresses or where it is called to a halt to recapture some events. As I already mentioned this could be due to the fact that Will Elliott does introduce many new things in this first book, which could have drawn the focus away, so hopefully, what isn't might still come. If this issue is fixed Will Elliott is definitely on the right route to an great series.
I have been reading a lot of Urban Fantasy and Science Fiction lately and I was really craving for an epic fantasy story, so when I went through my books that I still have up for review and I came across this book. It quickly reminded me of a one of my favourite series ever: The Dark Tower by Stephen King. Where you have a group embark on a quest in a world mixed with fantasy and contemporary and science fiction influences so without any further ado I jumped at it. The Pilgrims offered a very unique and interesting reading experience but just as like The Dark Tower books, you do have to be open to read some new and bold idea's, this isn't your average fantasy, it's a great cross over and offers an interesting start.
The story of The Pilgrims picks up with the focus on two protagonists, they are by far the most likely of heroes to be honest. Meet Eric Albright, a would be journalist, he has the ambitions but is just to lazy to bother really, also meet his homeless friend Stuart Casey or Case. Case is a homeless guy and addicted to alcohol. What Eric and Case like to do is play a game of chess once in a while and just this one time when they are having a match a small red door appears out of nowhere and some otherworldly creature emerge just to raid a small kiosk. Not having any idea just what the heck was going on, if it was a alcohol induced dream or some such they wait for the door to reappear again... When it does they have one moments to decide just what to do... When they appear on the other side, they are in a land known as Levaal and find themselves in the midst of an ongoing struggle. There is an evil overlord, Vous, who wants nothing more than to become immortal and rule all the land of Levaal. Now as Eric and Case make their way through Levaal they get picked up or rather recruited by a group of people who fight against the oppression of Vous, the Friend and Lord. This is where the questing part kicks in as Eric, Case and there company set off to stop Vous, but in their quest they have to overcome some hurdles. Plus they encounter as not-natives to Velaal some weird stuff, that has only appeared in fantasy books for them and now have become a reality.
With my almost single genre reading over the last few weeks I really enjoyed the story that Will Elliott told in The Pilgrims, for me it's these kind of crossover stories that offer a refreshing view upon some of the more grounded genres. And yes it did remind me of my favorite, yes not one of my favorites, but my favorite series The Dark Tower and that should say a lot. Of course the scale is not directly one on one but there is a very nice attempt in showing a big world that is readily available for exploration. What I always find important when showing a fantasy world mixed with the real world is to have several changes occur gradually or that you have to grow in the world, because our technology is completely absent there and Eric and Case do have to grow into the land of Velaal, getting to understand just what they are presented with. An enjoyable story in all.
As for the characters of the book, the focus is really on Eric and Case. I liked their different personalities besides the often used hero kind of guys or girls. Eric and Case are by far the types of persons you would normally associate with being saviors, though, considering the circumstances Eric does see himself as an hero and he comes up with plenty a reference towards perhaps his favourite superhero Batman and considering the circumstances he is in, this selfmade hero might be closest linked to himself. Case is perhaps a bit worse off in his character than Eric, talking about the background here. Case is a homeless alcoholic. However with coming into a new world, everything is reset and Case as well as Eric get a fresh start, that they, in my opinion, do try to get the most out of.
However I do have one small matter to say about the characters is all, the premise of both Case and Eric were great to read about but I missed a strong narration to truly involve the reader and suck him into the story. The characters were fun to read about but I just missed that spark of connection. But you know if you look back at the story there were so many new ideas introduced that it just might have fallen unwillingly tot he background and what isn't there yet, might still come.
One part that I really like when it comes down to fantasy books is magic be it Epic or Urban inspired. In The Pilgrims, Will Elliott more than ones mentions just how dangerous magic is and that when it is overused will cook the user from the inside out. This in the back of your mind and several deadly players of this magic on the opposite side of Eric and Case readily put the story in the right mood of good guy vs. bad nefarious evil overlord guy. On top of this you have also other "supernatural" creatures like the Invia, the War Mages, Gods and embodied Great Spirits that further build a grande epic fantasy premise surrounding the story of The Pilgrims.
With The Pilgrims, Will Elliott has written a refreshing and very exciting genre crossover between urban and epic fantasy, that very closely reminded me of my favorite series of all time. These books fall in the category of either you love them or you hate them, but The Pilgrims for me to be honest fall precisely in between. I do have some mixed feelings about the setup of the story. Don't get me wrong I totally loved the whole world of Levaal the strangeness yet also approachable setting, the realistic feeling of the world and of course some unlikely heroes turned heroes. But my main bugger is that I miss the strong narration that readily decides when and where the story progresses or where it is called to a halt to recapture some events. As I already mentioned this could be due to the fact that Will Elliott does introduce many new things in this first book, which could have drawn the focus away, so hopefully, what isn't might still come. If this issue is fixed Will Elliott is definitely on the right route to an great series.
May 21, 2017
Kind of disappointing; I picked this up because a portal fantasy sounded like a fun thing to read, but it just didn't work for me. Standard fantasy world with an evil overlord, a grubby resistance, scattered monsters and demi-humans, casual sexism, and a 'hero' with a 'destiny.' Most damningly, there was no sense of wonder -- despite the occasional interesting idea or evocative scene, I never felt impressed or awed by the world... and what's the point of a portal fantasy that can't even do that?
June 4, 2017
Alice in Wonderland meets magical high fantasy in a world that doesn't seem quiet like a real world. Gods, dragons, magic, a drunk and a lost soul in the 21st century. What could go wrong? This story leads the reader on a merry romp through this land behind the door. Like watching a chess match unfold the winner is never apparent till the very end. Definitely will be looking for the next book.
August 10, 2017
The beginning of this was book was confusing and not at all interesting. I put it down and read a few other books, but I did go back and finish it so my OCD would shut up. I'm glad I did, because about 1/3 to 1/2 way in, it got really good. I finished this last night at about 2 am, and now I want the next book asap.
November 15, 2018
I wanted to like this book so bad. Homeless man and friend find magical world hiding behind a door! Wow!
But....
This book is slow. And, honestly, didn’t take me anywhere magical. Don’t waste your time. I’m not even sure where this book came from. It showed up on my pile, but...meh.
But....
This book is slow. And, honestly, didn’t take me anywhere magical. Don’t waste your time. I’m not even sure where this book came from. It showed up on my pile, but...meh.
March 22, 2019
Ugh. Not a single likable character, plenty of misogyny, mysterious monsters and not-quite riddles, and an overly-complex plot(s) that presumably is supposed to lure us into the rest of the series...nope, not for me.
December 31, 2019
A unique and surreal take on the "Chosen One" trope. Can be a bit too impenetrable for its own good sometimes but I'd give it the full five stars if the way the author writes about women didn't creep me out so much. The world building and concept were solid enough to keep me reading to the end.
March 15, 2017
Published 2010. An interesting read with imaginative ingredients.
May 13, 2020
I got to page 147. My impression was....random episodes and imagery. Details but no flow. Haphazard. Hodgepodge of ideas.
June 27, 2021
Violent, funny, intriguing world-building, I’m looking forward to the next book (I ordered it about halfway through the first).
September 19, 2021
Isekai: The novel
September 22, 2021
I enjoyed reading this book I hope to read more like it
February 3, 2024
This was an easy read. I love fantasy set in other worlds with good character building and to wonder what comes next. Greatly imaginative full of folklore, creatures and mythical themes
May 15, 2015
See full review @ The Indigo Quill
I can be accused of judging a book based on the genre it’s from. Fantasy is one of those genres for me. Apart from a few exceptions and classics, fantasy is one of those genres that is littered with busty elves and all powerful Gandalf knock-off wizards and talking dragons acting out one trope after another with shameless regularity. The beauty of The Pilgrims by Will Elliott is that he uses a lot of the same set pieces that make up trashy dime-a-dozen fantasy, but his vision and imagination make it seem like this is the first book I have ever read with wizards and talking dragons.
The scope of the world he invents and the depth of the characters immediately draws you in to the story. As expansive and detailed as the characters and setting are, Elliott never fails to keep you tightly focused on the individual details of the world and the personalities of the characters without getting bogged down with colorful and drawn-out descriptions. Most fantasy novels use pretty much the same system of magic, and it almost always ends up getting overblown and ruining the plot in one way or another. One of the greatest pieces of praise I can give Elliott is that his system of magic and casting is all his own. Some of the finer elements as to its mechanics aren’t revealed until the second and third books (yes it’s a part of a trilogy), but from the beginning you can tell it is something different than what you are used to reading about.
The plot revolves around a young, normal man named Eric and his homeless, alcoholic friend Case. They find a door to another world and when they enter (with little more than a handgun that Case pilfered) they come to realize they may have been a bit too hasty jumping into a world very different from their own. They find themselves in a world of magic and unbelievable beauty juxtaposed by remarkable cruelty. Their arrival comes at a time of upheaval and civil war in the land of Levaal. In no time at all they are forced to fight for their lives in a war that is not their own. Eric and Case try to find their feet but find themselves at the center of everything. From homicidal mages to horrifying creatures, a mad king to hidden foes, they have their work cut out for them before things even get really dark. It pains me to give such an incomplete description, but any more could steal the journey away from any would-be readers.
I will just go ahead and say that this is one of the best books I have read all year (aside from the second book in the series that I’m currently reading). It isn't an intricately wrought Pulitzer contender, or a classic work of literature. The Pilgrims is, quite simply, an enjoyable, well thought-out, interesting story.
I am saddened to hear that Will Elliott has distanced himself from the series after the completion of the trilogy. He has said that it isn’t the type of fiction that he should be writing and I can totally see where he’s coming from. His other works are of a deeper and more personal timbre and I can understand him feeling that his evocative voice is wasted on this brand of fiction but what might be his gain is certainly a loss for the genre. I found myself being really drawn into caring for the characters and what happens to them. The world and the setting are equally intriguing and interesting. I never once felt that I was being sentenced to sitting through yet another ”Portal to a fantasy realm”, “fish out of water” carbon copy. The story felt fresh, gritty and real without losing the sense of fantasy and adventure that you expect from a fantasy novel.
The only criticism I can really give stems from the fact that this trilogy so far (again I am still on the second book, Shadow) seems like it is one long book cut into three parts almost arbitrarily.The ending of The Pilgrims doesn’t resolve as much as I would have hoped before picking up right where it left off in Shadow. Normally this wouldn’t be such a bad thing, but the second two books are increasingly hard to find in the U.S., especially in E-book format (legally). I would hope that wouldn’t turn anyone away from giving it a try though, because The Pilgrims and The Pendulum Trilogy this far are extremely worthwhile reads for any sci-fi, fantasy, or general fiction fan. Younger readers should avoid, because of some very adult content and violence. This shouldn’t be a follow up to Lord of the Rings as a bedtime story. When the kids are asleep, put on your wizard cap and your reading lamp and read yourself a bedtime story you’ll enjoy.
I can be accused of judging a book based on the genre it’s from. Fantasy is one of those genres for me. Apart from a few exceptions and classics, fantasy is one of those genres that is littered with busty elves and all powerful Gandalf knock-off wizards and talking dragons acting out one trope after another with shameless regularity. The beauty of The Pilgrims by Will Elliott is that he uses a lot of the same set pieces that make up trashy dime-a-dozen fantasy, but his vision and imagination make it seem like this is the first book I have ever read with wizards and talking dragons.
The scope of the world he invents and the depth of the characters immediately draws you in to the story. As expansive and detailed as the characters and setting are, Elliott never fails to keep you tightly focused on the individual details of the world and the personalities of the characters without getting bogged down with colorful and drawn-out descriptions. Most fantasy novels use pretty much the same system of magic, and it almost always ends up getting overblown and ruining the plot in one way or another. One of the greatest pieces of praise I can give Elliott is that his system of magic and casting is all his own. Some of the finer elements as to its mechanics aren’t revealed until the second and third books (yes it’s a part of a trilogy), but from the beginning you can tell it is something different than what you are used to reading about.
The plot revolves around a young, normal man named Eric and his homeless, alcoholic friend Case. They find a door to another world and when they enter (with little more than a handgun that Case pilfered) they come to realize they may have been a bit too hasty jumping into a world very different from their own. They find themselves in a world of magic and unbelievable beauty juxtaposed by remarkable cruelty. Their arrival comes at a time of upheaval and civil war in the land of Levaal. In no time at all they are forced to fight for their lives in a war that is not their own. Eric and Case try to find their feet but find themselves at the center of everything. From homicidal mages to horrifying creatures, a mad king to hidden foes, they have their work cut out for them before things even get really dark. It pains me to give such an incomplete description, but any more could steal the journey away from any would-be readers.
I will just go ahead and say that this is one of the best books I have read all year (aside from the second book in the series that I’m currently reading). It isn't an intricately wrought Pulitzer contender, or a classic work of literature. The Pilgrims is, quite simply, an enjoyable, well thought-out, interesting story.
I am saddened to hear that Will Elliott has distanced himself from the series after the completion of the trilogy. He has said that it isn’t the type of fiction that he should be writing and I can totally see where he’s coming from. His other works are of a deeper and more personal timbre and I can understand him feeling that his evocative voice is wasted on this brand of fiction but what might be his gain is certainly a loss for the genre. I found myself being really drawn into caring for the characters and what happens to them. The world and the setting are equally intriguing and interesting. I never once felt that I was being sentenced to sitting through yet another ”Portal to a fantasy realm”, “fish out of water” carbon copy. The story felt fresh, gritty and real without losing the sense of fantasy and adventure that you expect from a fantasy novel.
The only criticism I can really give stems from the fact that this trilogy so far (again I am still on the second book, Shadow) seems like it is one long book cut into three parts almost arbitrarily.The ending of The Pilgrims doesn’t resolve as much as I would have hoped before picking up right where it left off in Shadow. Normally this wouldn’t be such a bad thing, but the second two books are increasingly hard to find in the U.S., especially in E-book format (legally). I would hope that wouldn’t turn anyone away from giving it a try though, because The Pilgrims and The Pendulum Trilogy this far are extremely worthwhile reads for any sci-fi, fantasy, or general fiction fan. Younger readers should avoid, because of some very adult content and violence. This shouldn’t be a follow up to Lord of the Rings as a bedtime story. When the kids are asleep, put on your wizard cap and your reading lamp and read yourself a bedtime story you’ll enjoy.
October 9, 2016
Did not finish. Was super excited for a new portal fantasy, but this one... meh. Few female characters, and basically the first main one to appear that didn't die immediately threw herself at the main protagonist for no discernible reason.
March 11, 2017
If you ever wished for a hidden world just out of reach of our own, this book is for you. What starts off as a familiar story of "real" people traveling to a fairy tale world quickly takes a dark turn. Our heroes soon find themselves in over their heads because sometimes what's good and what's right isn't always the same thing.
November 17, 2017
The Pilgrims is the second book by Will Elliott and the first in the Pendulum trilogy. It follows Eric (a down on his luck journalist) and Case (an old vagrant that Eric befriends) who discover that a small door under a bridge leads to a different world.
The story follows them as they travel across this new land of Levaal and encounters various inhabitants - human and other races. There has been a war simmering between The Castle - ruled by the (not to beat about the bush) insane Vous - and a coalition of still-free cities governed by their respective mayors. Eric and Case arrive just as the war is about to become a full battle, and it's clear that this is not a coincidence.
I'm always wary of fantasy books where people cross from this world into the world of the writer's imagination, it always seems like a bit of a fanboy's wet dream and sometimes it isn't handled well and leaves a lot of holes. Elliott does adequately well in addressing these - Eric (at least) does not cross by accident, the magic that brings them to the world allows them to speak the correct language and so on. Elliott also wisely immediately plunges the antagonists into action, revealing the wonders of Levaal rather than letting them frolic on some untouched green hillside.
The other notable deviation from this being any sort of wish fulfillment fantasy is that Levaal actually isn't very.... nice. Danger, intrigue and double dealing abound. Vous could be nominally labelled as the 'bad guy' but it's clearly described that he is doing what are bad things for what he considers the right reasons. There are no 'dark lords' here and by the same token the 'good guys' really aren't particularly good.
Eric and Case are not spared from this. Neither is a paragon of virtue, Eric has some distinct character flaws, which are made very clear to him by other characters and perhaps at least some of the arc of the trilogy will be Eric becoming a 'better' person. Case has served time in prison for murder and is an alcoholic, the latter fact makes him behave erratically at best.
The inhabitants of Levaal do not deviate far from stock fantasy races, but all are unique and the world does seem to fit together and work quite well as a 'real' place, I did like the mechanism of how the magic worked and its limitations. Elliott has really put some thought into this.
The writing is hard to find fault with; the descriptive passages have real atmosphere, the dialogue is sharp and always in keeping with the characters, which in themselves are complex and nobody is represented as a cipher or standard trope. The story is engaging and moves at a terrific pace, covering a lot of ground (both metaphorically and across Levaal).
The ending is a real cliff hanger with a sting in the tail and it will be interesting to see where the story goes in the next volume, Shadow.
Highly recommended, though not for younger readers due to explicit sexual references.
The story follows them as they travel across this new land of Levaal and encounters various inhabitants - human and other races. There has been a war simmering between The Castle - ruled by the (not to beat about the bush) insane Vous - and a coalition of still-free cities governed by their respective mayors. Eric and Case arrive just as the war is about to become a full battle, and it's clear that this is not a coincidence.
I'm always wary of fantasy books where people cross from this world into the world of the writer's imagination, it always seems like a bit of a fanboy's wet dream and sometimes it isn't handled well and leaves a lot of holes. Elliott does adequately well in addressing these - Eric (at least) does not cross by accident, the magic that brings them to the world allows them to speak the correct language and so on. Elliott also wisely immediately plunges the antagonists into action, revealing the wonders of Levaal rather than letting them frolic on some untouched green hillside.
The other notable deviation from this being any sort of wish fulfillment fantasy is that Levaal actually isn't very.... nice. Danger, intrigue and double dealing abound. Vous could be nominally labelled as the 'bad guy' but it's clearly described that he is doing what are bad things for what he considers the right reasons. There are no 'dark lords' here and by the same token the 'good guys' really aren't particularly good.
Eric and Case are not spared from this. Neither is a paragon of virtue, Eric has some distinct character flaws, which are made very clear to him by other characters and perhaps at least some of the arc of the trilogy will be Eric becoming a 'better' person. Case has served time in prison for murder and is an alcoholic, the latter fact makes him behave erratically at best.
The inhabitants of Levaal do not deviate far from stock fantasy races, but all are unique and the world does seem to fit together and work quite well as a 'real' place, I did like the mechanism of how the magic worked and its limitations. Elliott has really put some thought into this.
The writing is hard to find fault with; the descriptive passages have real atmosphere, the dialogue is sharp and always in keeping with the characters, which in themselves are complex and nobody is represented as a cipher or standard trope. The story is engaging and moves at a terrific pace, covering a lot of ground (both metaphorically and across Levaal).
The ending is a real cliff hanger with a sting in the tail and it will be interesting to see where the story goes in the next volume, Shadow.
Highly recommended, though not for younger readers due to explicit sexual references.
September 11, 2014
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
Review brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Fantasy all the way. The writing was vivid, descriptive and dynamic and for that I am grateful. The story seemed to drag occasionally, but if one perseveres….you get to the end.
Vous….definitely an odd character. Especially the section where he describes the five whom he murdered with their spirits living within or around his mirror, that was actually creepy. His goal is to rise to the rank of a god…in his mad way.
Eric is your run of the mill character; he does not stand out in any way. Once he crosses into Levaal, he seems to get more backbone and character. Case is a homeless drunk living by the portal to Levaal. He also enters through the door, trying to follow Eric. Case seems to come alive as a character for me as the story continues. At first, the two “Otherworlders” are separated and the story begins detailing their separate journey until they meet up again. I must say that Case’s journey was certainly more interesting…keeping my reading interest.
If I had to choose, I would say I found the Invia most intriguing of all the characters. Though Loup, the magician was entertaining.
I read this book until the end ……..thinking, I want to LOVE it. Unfortunately, I just barely liked it. I just did not seem to gel with the story or the characters. However, I did enjoy the writing. If fantasy is your genre, give this book a try.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Review brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Fantasy all the way. The writing was vivid, descriptive and dynamic and for that I am grateful. The story seemed to drag occasionally, but if one perseveres….you get to the end.
Vous….definitely an odd character. Especially the section where he describes the five whom he murdered with their spirits living within or around his mirror, that was actually creepy. His goal is to rise to the rank of a god…in his mad way.
Eric is your run of the mill character; he does not stand out in any way. Once he crosses into Levaal, he seems to get more backbone and character. Case is a homeless drunk living by the portal to Levaal. He also enters through the door, trying to follow Eric. Case seems to come alive as a character for me as the story continues. At first, the two “Otherworlders” are separated and the story begins detailing their separate journey until they meet up again. I must say that Case’s journey was certainly more interesting…keeping my reading interest.
If I had to choose, I would say I found the Invia most intriguing of all the characters. Though Loup, the magician was entertaining.
I read this book until the end ……..thinking, I want to LOVE it. Unfortunately, I just barely liked it. I just did not seem to gel with the story or the characters. However, I did enjoy the writing. If fantasy is your genre, give this book a try.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
May 7, 2014
This book, although slow at first, really picked up the last 200 pages and totally surprised me. Wizard of Oz like, this brand new world was, you could tell very thought out, tangent, real, described and written beautiful. Elliot's talent also, as an award winning illustrator and designer, I loved how descriptive Elliot was from everything from the types of grass in his new world, to the beards on the War Mages. He had my imagination running throughout this whole book, and he also had me wanting to sit down and illustrate, ink, and paint his characters for him. I cannot wait to read the next novel, and loved Elliot's character development as well. From Anfen the leader, to Siel, the brooding, quiet archer. And I could go on, Elliot gives you enough magicians, warriors, dragons, angels(of sort), and more keep coming as you read.
If there are those who give this book less than 4 stars, I feel their imagination is either non-existent, or broken, because this book was almost total imagination driven.
Being a comic book artist, the funniest part of the book was when Eric, the hero, tells them he is BATMAN, and even uses BATMAN's stories to tell them what a hero he is...LOL classic!!!
Yes...there is violence and blood galore, which might have turned people away, but it's war.
I truly hope Elliot keeps writing this series for a while, I really enjoyed it.
If there are those who give this book less than 4 stars, I feel their imagination is either non-existent, or broken, because this book was almost total imagination driven.
Being a comic book artist, the funniest part of the book was when Eric, the hero, tells them he is BATMAN, and even uses BATMAN's stories to tell them what a hero he is...LOL classic!!!
Yes...there is violence and blood galore, which might have turned people away, but it's war.
I truly hope Elliot keeps writing this series for a while, I really enjoyed it.
September 25, 2014
Will Elliott's “The Pilgrims” (Tor, $26.99, 437 pages) is the first of a promising trilogy (though you have to dig deep into the book jacket to figure that out before spending your $30). The setup drops two New Yorkers into a strange world of magic and terror, and the reader has to try to figure things out along with the young journalist and homeless alcoholic as they wind up in the middle of a complex political and cosmological situation.
The two protagonists get caught in the struggle between a massive powerful city and a group of smaller independent cities, while ducking angelic messengers from caged dragons above a sunless sky, magicians, giantesses and their own weaknesses. In addition, there’s an invasion from beyond a wall called the World’s End and references to a Shadow that presumably will be explained in the future volumes.
Elliott does an excellent job juggling all these various plot lines while introducing characters who develop complexity as the narrative rolls on. I’m on board for book two, but Elliott has set himself a tall task to make the payoff match the setup.
The two protagonists get caught in the struggle between a massive powerful city and a group of smaller independent cities, while ducking angelic messengers from caged dragons above a sunless sky, magicians, giantesses and their own weaknesses. In addition, there’s an invasion from beyond a wall called the World’s End and references to a Shadow that presumably will be explained in the future volumes.
Elliott does an excellent job juggling all these various plot lines while introducing characters who develop complexity as the narrative rolls on. I’m on board for book two, but Elliott has set himself a tall task to make the payoff match the setup.
June 6, 2015
I am tired beyond words of the epic fantasy quasi-medieval worlds with kings, dragons, thrones, etc...The enduring popularity of the Tolkienesque formula is a socio-cultural puzzle but when I read for pleasure I just want to find myself in a strange world that won't be a recycling of the Idiot's Guide to the Middle Ages with some dubious magic thrown in. I thought the Pendulum Trilogy would be such a quirky, offbeat quest fantasy. I read the first part and was disappointed. It was quirky all right but the world seemed TOO strange, with new rules popping up on every page and little inner logic. The characters were unsympathetic and/or forgettable and there were too many of them. I now read the second part (Shadow) and while my criticism still stands I found myself unaccountably liking it. Perhaps it is the unusual topology of the world of Levaal that attracts me (after all, I wrote a book about impossible topologies). Perhaps it is moments of vivid, almost dream-like description. In any case I'm now looking forward to reading the third part which,nor some reason,now not available on Kindle. Perhaps I'll change my opinion - but I hope I won't.
January 21, 2011
I picked this one up, not usually a sci-fi/fantasy kinda gal, purely because I've met the author a few times. Overall I did enjoy the book on the whole and I'm intrigued to see what happens in the next part (unfortunately this won't be until next year). The story did drag in a few parts but I'm not sure if this is because I don't usually read this style or because it actually dig drag but in saying that the whole idea of Levaal was a completely new idea to me. We've all heard of doorways leading into other worlds, but Levaal is a link between worlds - it's no planet, it has no sun, it has 2 impenetrable walls at either end, etc etc. Some of the native residents (and not so native as we find out) were really well done, like the war mages, the invia, and the tormentors and really got the imagination going with the latter actually going as far to scare me everytime they were spotted. And I do love that Eric is a bit of a Batman obsessed loser who decides that as the newcomer to the world it's his job to become the hero and save everything.
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