Hilt's Pride: The Bowl of Souls: Book 1.5

The Bowl of Souls #1.5

by Trevor H. Cooley

Sir Hilt is forced to delay an urgent mission when he sees a lone woman climbing a dangerous mountain. She refuses his help but when Hilt discovers that the prophet was the one that told her to climb to the mountain's peak, Hilt realizes that it is his duty to accompany her. What dangers lie in their way? What reasons did the prophet have for bringing them together? Will all their plans be derailed by Hilt's Pride? Hilt's Pride is a 130 page novella. The events in Hilt's Pride take place just after Hilt leaves Justan at the Training School part way through Bowl of Souls: Book One. The events herein set up important events in book Four and Five. Still, this is a stand alone story and can be read apart from or along with the rest of the series. This story contains no spoilers to the rest of the series, but contains a lot of information that enhances the backgrounds of several characters including revealing previously untold information about Jhonate's past and the history of her people. The Bowl of Souls series: Book One: Eye of the Moonrat Book 1.5: Hilt's Pride Book Two: Messenger of the Dark Prophet Book Three: Hunt of the Bandham Book Four: The War of Stardeon Book Five: Mother of the Moonrat (Upcoming 2013)

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Magic, Amazon, Epic, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

136 pages, Paperback

First published December 14, 2012

About the author

I was born in South Carolina and have lived all around the United states. Utah, New Mexico, Michigan and Tennessee.

I started reading novels in second grade and my love of Fantasy started with Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain series. I couldn't get enough, continued with David Eddings, Tolkein, Robert Jordan. All I wanted was to become a published writer.

The characters and concepts that eventually became the Bowl of Souls series started in my teens. I wrote short stories, kept notebooks full of ideas, and generally dreamed about my world constantly. There were several attempts at starting a novel over the years.

Not long after I was married, my wife told me to stop talking about the story and write it down. Here I am, many years and rewrites and submissions and rejection letters later taking the plunge into self publishing.

The Bowl of Souls Series:

THE MOONRAT SAGA
1. Eye of the Moonrat
2. Messenger of the Dark Prophet
3. Hunt of the Bandham
1.5. Hilt's Pride
4. War of Stardeon
5. Mother of the Moonrat

THE JHARRO GROVE SAGA
1. Tarah Woodblade
2. Protector of the Grove
3. Ogre Apprentice
4. The Troll King
5. Priestess of War
6. Behemoth (2017)

THE DARK PROPHET SAGA
1. Sir Edge (Upcoming)

TALLOW JONES
1. Tallow Jones: Wizard Detective (Fall 2017)

NOOSE JUMPERS
1. Noose Jumpers: A Mythological Western
2. (Upcoming)
I currently live in Idaho with my wife and four children.

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is really book 1.5

Hilt's Pride by Trevor H. Cooley and I believe it is really book 1.5. It is to be read before book 4 in the Bowl of Souls series. It has Hilt saving a gal climbing a mountain, but that ends up to be a strange story. They both end up going up the mountain. Later they are joined by Hilt's friend an elf. They battle multiple creatures, elements, and memories on the way up but bond and grow too! Great story!!!

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read Eye of the Moonrat I thought the MCs arrogance and luck would abate with time. Reading this book, I once again am forced to endure an arrogant MC who only survives due to the author's machinations. I'm not sure this series, which is otherwise quite good, can survive when almost every character sounds like an arrogant, opinionated, entitled, spoiled teenager, most of whom are TSTL and only survive because the Author's willingness to use improbable coincidences to keep them alive.

[Amanda Kern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to see what happens next. I know that this is a stand alone. We learn some important stuff though. Like about Justan bow. We also learned being named is not always a picnic. I can not but hope that the characters introduced in this book will be in some way brought back in the future book. I will be waiting on pins and needles for his next book. Do you know what is the down side of being a "named" warrior? Read this book and find out.

[Christy Beal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story about Sir Hilt answers a few questions about the larger world that the main stories do not cover, and explores Sir Hilt and a few other characters that certainly deserve more time in the series. Well worth the read if you are enjoying The Bowl of Souls series.

[Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Good Tale

Here's a nice appetizer for folks wanting to learn a bit more about Hilt and the world he lives in. It also gives us Beth before we see her later in the series. A nice read: recommended

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written!! Intriguing and the characters were easy to like and root for. Well done!!

[Michael Leffel · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, in case no one else said it, I want this novelette to turn into its own series!!!!

this was awesome and the thought of not getting more Hilte, is no good! I want more!!!!!!!!!

[John Keyser · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pride of Hilt

This was a interesting look into Hilt's character. He didn't have much to to say in "Eye of the Moon Rat".

[DoodlePanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little side story about how Hilt and Beth met. I would definitely recommend you read this if you are reading the Bowl of Souls series! :D

[Michael Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very interested in the character of Hilt when he first appeared in the main storyline, but here we really get to see him in greater depth and detail. He is like a paladin of old. A tough but honorable warrior of heroic stature, who finds himself in the oddest of circumstances: defending a "maiden" who has no wish to be defended, saved or in any other way bothered. She's a unique character herself; definitely not your card-board cut-out "damsel in distress." She's got more moxie, determination and grit than a grizzled Academy veteran, and more pent-up hostility even than a certain dwarf we all know who shall remain unnamed (but whose name may start with "L"). The interaction between the two is highly enjoyable, and watching a hero like Hilt put out by her unusual reaction to his chivalry is just one of the unique elements that make this novella wonderful.

While this story is not absolutely necessary in order to enjoy Trevor H. Cooley's 4th novel ("War of Stardeon"), I highly recommend it, as it fleshes out characters you will see in that novel..

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but entertaining

I enjoyed this tale. I'm reading these books in their exact order - not the order in which they were written. Having said that, I really enjoyed getting to know some of the characters that had smaller roles in Eye of the Moonrat. I fully enjoyed all the character development, which is really what the plot is about. The conclusion to the story is a little contrived as is the relationship it relates to, but how often are we blown away by plot? Or storyline? It's a little difficult to be incredibly original these days, isn't it?

I think I enjoyed Yntri Yni the most out of everyone. I wish there would have been more follow up on the female leads special talent.

Overall, I definitely recommend it. There's a lot of originality in this series despite an uninspiring plot line. Enjoy!

[Jackie B. - Death by Tsundoku · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm glad I read this when I did-- in between books 3 and 4. I thought it was adequate at best. The characters weren't interesting at all. I only finished it so I could continue through to the next books. After being introduced to Hilt in the first book, I was excited to learn more about him. However, I felt like a lot of the character "development" was forced. And overall the characters interactions together made each character less likable. It was hard to like any of them with the opinions of the others always forced in there.

Overall, I'm just glad I didn't read this last. It would have left a bad taste in my mouth.

[Lyndsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure why the author felt like this *needed* to be read (except perhaps for the money?)

We do get a little bit more of Jhonate's history, which is welcome since she was such a secret and we learn about Justan's bow, but...

It's a cute story and doesn't take long to read. Maybe down the line it'll have more meaning?

[Nicola Hawkes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my least favourite of the first few books in the series. It was just a bit cloying, and felt like a bit of an afterthought. I'm not sure we really needed to know how Hilt and Beth met, and the parallel spiritual and physical battles at the end were a bit OTT. But I liked Yntri.

[Dawn Striegel · Rating 3 out of 5]

great little short story!

[Bill Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holt's Pride

Wow a short novelette that like a volume. Outstanding tale with wonderful intertwining of characters subplots from the main six or seven book "Bowl of Winds".

[Mary Holbert · Rating 2 out of 5]

For some reason, I just can't like Beth. Hilt was good in the first book but Beth, ugh. Pretty sure I'd have to punch her if she started the listening thing.

[Brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

No where near as good as the first three.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an entertaining and satisfying novella. It was great to learn more about Hilt & Yntri and Beth was a great new character!

[Garth Vader · Rating 2 out of 5]

All three characters are so annoying I had hoped they would all die.

[Scott Wozniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is full of fun and banter. A mighty soldier runs across a woman on a strange quest. His sense of duty compels him to help, despite her protests. And the end of the quest surprises them both.

[Samara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilt's Pride is slow moving at first, and then it's over. It leaves you wanting more, but there isn't much to the story or the characters.

I enjoyed the book, but it's not what I expected.

This is the first book that I've read of the series, so I'm sure it will make more sense after I read more it. I hope so at least.