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Compendium of Light, Dark & Shadow #1
In Siege of Daylight
In Siege of Daylight: Book One of Light, Dark & Shadow is an epic fantasy with richly developed characters and a strong debut for a promising new series. Calvraign, the hero of the tale, is an apprentice to the king’s bard. His studies are filled with prophecy, romance, mythic enemies, and magic, and he contents himself with such fantasies until the day that he is suddenly called to the capital city. His best friend Callagh, the most skilled huntress in their village, senses something isn’t right with Calvraign’s hasty summons and follows him. Her instincts prove true, as his arrival throws the king’s court into chaos, and the two are abruptly torn from their simple country life and plunged into the real-life version of Calvraign’s tales.
A dead wizard’s menacing prophecy reveals that an all-encompassing dark magic has already been loosed upon the world, and there is only one way to stop it. Calvraign and Callagh must protect the life of the crown prince, Hiruld, at all costs. They are forced to contend with the realities of the king’s court – a constantly shifting web of intrigue, romance, and carefully executed maneuvers hidden behind the glittering façade of royal life – while simultaneously battling dark forces to keep Hiruld alive. Calvraign must find a way to ensure that all is not lost and that evil cannot triumph for all eternity. And Callagh must keep him alive long enough to do it….
A dead wizard’s menacing prophecy reveals that an all-encompassing dark magic has already been loosed upon the world, and there is only one way to stop it. Calvraign and Callagh must protect the life of the crown prince, Hiruld, at all costs. They are forced to contend with the realities of the king’s court – a constantly shifting web of intrigue, romance, and carefully executed maneuvers hidden behind the glittering façade of royal life – while simultaneously battling dark forces to keep Hiruld alive. Calvraign must find a way to ensure that all is not lost and that evil cannot triumph for all eternity. And Callagh must keep him alive long enough to do it….
618 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2013
7 people are currently reading
470 people want to read
About the author
Gregory S. Close
1 book56 followersGregory S. Close has lived on both coasts of the United States (and that wholesome corn-fed part in-between) as well as Dundalk, Ireland and the tiny islands of the Kwajalein Atoll. Greg loves travelling and sampling the native cultures, foods, customs, and beers of the world.
Greg lives in California and works at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where they successfully achieved the first fusion ignition event shortly after hiring him. Likely, due to his expertise in HR/Benefits.
(gsclose on r/fantasy)
Greg lives in California and works at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where they successfully achieved the first fusion ignition event shortly after hiring him. Likely, due to his expertise in HR/Benefits.
(gsclose on r/fantasy)
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 3, 2014
This book is pure epic fantasy, and the cast of characters is huge. In this case, this is a great thing because you get to experience the world from the point of view of all the different races and factions involved in the plot (with the exception of the Cave Manti and a few other fantastically whimsical creatures). It is refreshing to read a "chosen one" story that doesn't particularly or exclusively follow the chosen one. The POV changes to wherever the story flows. This really brought the world alive for me, and also helped to keep my interest piqued. However, the breadth of the novel is so big that it takes a few chapters to get a feel for the world and how the story flows. If this puts you off at first stick with it, because you will quickly become immersed in the world Close has brought to life. This book has definitely not yet garnered the attention that it deserves, so please, if you are thinking about reading it, bump it to the top of your list! I can't wait to read the next book in the series, and can not give this book enough praise!
October 11, 2013
In Siege of Daylight is the fantasy debut of author Gregory S. Close.
This book is the epic-est of epic fantasy. Full stop. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a door-stopper like this one, and even longer since I’ve enjoyed one half as much.
Some books work on the strength of their world-building. Others falter when it comes to the world, but pull you through on the strength of the characters alone. Others may have a stirring plot that carries from beginning to end, with a masterful weaving of threads throughout. I am glad to say that Greg Close succeeds on all three accounts, something much easier to say than to do. His characterization is strong, his world-building simply staggering, and the story itself is brilliant. Though at times, due to its immense length, I found myself wondering whether a certain point-of-view was entirely necessary, the end pulled them all together and left me with an understanding that yes, indeed, they are all necessary.
In the past few decades, many fantasy writers seem to be plying their trade with a certain sense of secret shame and/or irony. Perhaps the most famous work in fantasy right now is George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire (thanks in large part to its HBO adaptation), which is a thorough deconstruction of the fantasy tropes introduced by Tolkien and carried like buckets of water by the following generations, slowly slopping their meaning and wonder over the sides as they labor beneath the weight of the grandfather of fantasy.
Greg Close takes precisely the opposite tack. His story runs directly into the face of the fantasy tropes that we’ve been reading for years, and instead of shrinking from them, he embraces them without irony, incorporating them into his world. Instead of being shackled to the norms of fantasy, he bends them to his own purposes, allowing things to feel simultaneously familiar and new. This story contains many of the things we all expect to see in the most cliche fantasy: a young prince with a destiny, a star-struck backwoods boy, knights and kings, mysterious elves, dwarves beneath the mountains, and more–and yet there is enough new imagination here to make these creaking and aged tropes feel young again.
This is a lofty comparison indeed, but In Siege of Daylight works for many of the same reasons that Star Wars: A New Hope does. At their core they are both the Hero’s Journey, but they each contain enough real wonder, enough heart and strength in storytelling that, as a fantasy fan, it may feel like you’re reading about things that you know like the back of your hand for the very first time.
This book is the epic-est of epic fantasy. Full stop. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a door-stopper like this one, and even longer since I’ve enjoyed one half as much.
Some books work on the strength of their world-building. Others falter when it comes to the world, but pull you through on the strength of the characters alone. Others may have a stirring plot that carries from beginning to end, with a masterful weaving of threads throughout. I am glad to say that Greg Close succeeds on all three accounts, something much easier to say than to do. His characterization is strong, his world-building simply staggering, and the story itself is brilliant. Though at times, due to its immense length, I found myself wondering whether a certain point-of-view was entirely necessary, the end pulled them all together and left me with an understanding that yes, indeed, they are all necessary.
In the past few decades, many fantasy writers seem to be plying their trade with a certain sense of secret shame and/or irony. Perhaps the most famous work in fantasy right now is George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire (thanks in large part to its HBO adaptation), which is a thorough deconstruction of the fantasy tropes introduced by Tolkien and carried like buckets of water by the following generations, slowly slopping their meaning and wonder over the sides as they labor beneath the weight of the grandfather of fantasy.
Greg Close takes precisely the opposite tack. His story runs directly into the face of the fantasy tropes that we’ve been reading for years, and instead of shrinking from them, he embraces them without irony, incorporating them into his world. Instead of being shackled to the norms of fantasy, he bends them to his own purposes, allowing things to feel simultaneously familiar and new. This story contains many of the things we all expect to see in the most cliche fantasy: a young prince with a destiny, a star-struck backwoods boy, knights and kings, mysterious elves, dwarves beneath the mountains, and more–and yet there is enough new imagination here to make these creaking and aged tropes feel young again.
This is a lofty comparison indeed, but In Siege of Daylight works for many of the same reasons that Star Wars: A New Hope does. At their core they are both the Hero’s Journey, but they each contain enough real wonder, enough heart and strength in storytelling that, as a fantasy fan, it may feel like you’re reading about things that you know like the back of your hand for the very first time.
April 17, 2015
Are you a fan of traditional fantasy? In Seige 0f Daylight delivers a sweeping fantasy tale full of adventure, prophecy, and intrigue. Author Gregory S. Close translates many of the familiar tropes into his own breed of characters—characters with flavor and rich backgrounds in a setting that is comfortable, but not too familiar.
His pacing is spot-on, and his prose provides some lovely scenes. If there's one thing that interrupted the read, it would be the naming conventions. Close veers from horrendous, unpronounceable, apostrophe-ridden monikers to French (what?) names without missing a beat. Many of the characters and creatures share names so similar that they confuse.
If you can ignore that, a compelling prologue catapults the reader into the first chapter, where the young protagonist makes his debut. I wanted to slap him several times, but that's a good thing; a young apprentice who knows everything, can do everything, and doesn't demonstrate his actual youth is difficult to believe. Calvraign may be a quick study, but he's also victim to a mercurial temper and a teenage sense of invincibility.
The other figures introduced in this story are equally well developed — no cardboard cut-outs here. Aside from the names, the other races are introduced without the baggage of an info dump, yet they flow into the tale smoothly, and still leave room for surprises.
The plot unwinds at a good pace, displaying contrasting cultures, veiled histories, and surprise reveals. While the territory is familiar, Close does a fine job of keeping it from being cliché. In spite of the number of character views, he’s kept them in balance and done it in a way that coaxes the reader to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. He is clearly a storyteller worth watching.
His pacing is spot-on, and his prose provides some lovely scenes. If there's one thing that interrupted the read, it would be the naming conventions. Close veers from horrendous, unpronounceable, apostrophe-ridden monikers to French (what?) names without missing a beat. Many of the characters and creatures share names so similar that they confuse.
If you can ignore that, a compelling prologue catapults the reader into the first chapter, where the young protagonist makes his debut. I wanted to slap him several times, but that's a good thing; a young apprentice who knows everything, can do everything, and doesn't demonstrate his actual youth is difficult to believe. Calvraign may be a quick study, but he's also victim to a mercurial temper and a teenage sense of invincibility.
The other figures introduced in this story are equally well developed — no cardboard cut-outs here. Aside from the names, the other races are introduced without the baggage of an info dump, yet they flow into the tale smoothly, and still leave room for surprises.
The plot unwinds at a good pace, displaying contrasting cultures, veiled histories, and surprise reveals. While the territory is familiar, Close does a fine job of keeping it from being cliché. In spite of the number of character views, he’s kept them in balance and done it in a way that coaxes the reader to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. He is clearly a storyteller worth watching.
September 21, 2016
A very deep fantasy tale set in a boundless world that is as complex as the story. The story itself is a typical fantasy tale about us vs them, but throw in interesting evil aspects, complex array of racial feuds, and multiple POV (and by multiple I mean a lot), makes this story original and gripping. All the characters are interesting and the writing allows you to see this complex world from different eyes. This part is helpful as the reader is thrown into the world and essentially has to figure things out about the world as they go along. There are many new words and geographical locations that are not explained, but the reader will understand them (loosely) with time. The author writes in a way of "showing, not telling" which I fully appreciate and brings a sense of realism in this fantasy world. The ending has a fantastic climax, but no where near ends the story. It is clear just by how massive the world is that the story itself is going to take a while to tell. Overall I really enjoyed the book and will look forward to future installments.
January 31, 2014
In Siege of Daylight by Gregory S. Close, the first book in The Compendium of Light, Dark & Shadow, tells a slow moving epic of the fight between light and darkness, full of mysteries and a lot going on behind the scenes. This book is the introduction into a vast world with scores of unique races, gods, and factions. The story follows a big cast of characters; from the apprentice bard that gets tangled up into the mess, to the intelligent and politically attuned heiress, and the grizzled veteran haunted by his past. Many more characters and groups have their part in this play, often shrouded in mystery.
While I generally enjoyed the story, it took me much longer to read this book than is common for me. I can normally read even a big fantasy books in 3 days to a week, depending on how much time I have (and how much the story grips me). This took me a lot longer, especially because the middle section moved too slow even for my tastes. I like slow stories that take their time to introduce and develop their world and characters, but some parts in this book seemed not to move at all. This feeling was enhanced by the lack of interest in some of the POV-characters and their part in the story. I especially felt the protagonist, the apprentice to a famous bard (and much more besides), didn't get enough time in the spotlight.
The POV-characters are generally interesting, but a bit less would have been more in this instance. Part of the story doesn't really move forward, mostly consumed by discussions about war and the characters on losing ground against the powerful pro-war faction. Another problem was the POV of the antagonist. While I liked to have such a view, the POV of the antagonist consumed too much time at the beginning of the book and it felt like it gave too much away that wasn't known to any of the other characters, killing some interesting surprises.
I'll have to continue with surprise and predictability, because a big mystery of the book is basically given away in the very beginning of the book. I simply had to wait until it was made "official" as the surprise of the ending. I think this was foreshadowing done wrong. If it had been introduced to the readers' thoughts about how the story might develop in small doses and over time it could have been great, but to give it away so freely so early on didn't work for me.
While the worldbuilding is extensive and will probably continue to grow in later books, this had one negative aspect on the story in the form of words. If you read fantasy as much as me, you know that a part of worldbuilding lies in the languages and in inventing words and phrases. Sadly, many of the words introduced in this story are jumbles of random letters that are hard to read and remember. Accessibility is an important part to introduce readers to a new world and culture, but this book makes the story harder to access and follow. Some of the words are even very similar to others, without giving the reader a distinct difference between their meaning. This made it harder for me to follow the story at times, especially when it was related to the magic.
The magic system is not unique, but not generic either. I can't really say much about it yet, because there's simply not much known at this point. They simply do magic, but it's exhausting and stuff, and fortunately limited. But you can see that there is much behind the magic, a whole lot we don't understand yet, and that can make things confusing.
The story itself is good. The pace picks up after the slump in the middle and the story goes for a spurt towards the ending. Most of the POV-characters are well done and interesting to follow. If you plan to pick this book up I'll encourage you, but only if you like slow moving epics. There is action here, and rather good one too, but only at times breaking the unhurried pace.
I'm still undecided whether or not to pick up the next book, but I'll definitely keep an eye out for it. If the author can speed up the pace a fraction and give the reader some more insight into the story and the world, I think this series could shape up to something very interesting.
While I generally enjoyed the story, it took me much longer to read this book than is common for me. I can normally read even a big fantasy books in 3 days to a week, depending on how much time I have (and how much the story grips me). This took me a lot longer, especially because the middle section moved too slow even for my tastes. I like slow stories that take their time to introduce and develop their world and characters, but some parts in this book seemed not to move at all. This feeling was enhanced by the lack of interest in some of the POV-characters and their part in the story. I especially felt the protagonist, the apprentice to a famous bard (and much more besides), didn't get enough time in the spotlight.
The POV-characters are generally interesting, but a bit less would have been more in this instance. Part of the story doesn't really move forward, mostly consumed by discussions about war and the characters on losing ground against the powerful pro-war faction. Another problem was the POV of the antagonist. While I liked to have such a view, the POV of the antagonist consumed too much time at the beginning of the book and it felt like it gave too much away that wasn't known to any of the other characters, killing some interesting surprises.
I'll have to continue with surprise and predictability, because a big mystery of the book is basically given away in the very beginning of the book. I simply had to wait until it was made "official" as the surprise of the ending. I think this was foreshadowing done wrong. If it had been introduced to the readers' thoughts about how the story might develop in small doses and over time it could have been great, but to give it away so freely so early on didn't work for me.
While the worldbuilding is extensive and will probably continue to grow in later books, this had one negative aspect on the story in the form of words. If you read fantasy as much as me, you know that a part of worldbuilding lies in the languages and in inventing words and phrases. Sadly, many of the words introduced in this story are jumbles of random letters that are hard to read and remember. Accessibility is an important part to introduce readers to a new world and culture, but this book makes the story harder to access and follow. Some of the words are even very similar to others, without giving the reader a distinct difference between their meaning. This made it harder for me to follow the story at times, especially when it was related to the magic.
The magic system is not unique, but not generic either. I can't really say much about it yet, because there's simply not much known at this point. They simply do magic, but it's exhausting and stuff, and fortunately limited. But you can see that there is much behind the magic, a whole lot we don't understand yet, and that can make things confusing.
The story itself is good. The pace picks up after the slump in the middle and the story goes for a spurt towards the ending. Most of the POV-characters are well done and interesting to follow. If you plan to pick this book up I'll encourage you, but only if you like slow moving epics. There is action here, and rather good one too, but only at times breaking the unhurried pace.
I'm still undecided whether or not to pick up the next book, but I'll definitely keep an eye out for it. If the author can speed up the pace a fraction and give the reader some more insight into the story and the world, I think this series could shape up to something very interesting.
October 8, 2013
Gregory's S. Close's debut novel In Siege of Daylight is a lengthy but well-crafted addition to the dark fantasy genre.
Wait. Let's stop here for a second.
Placing In Siege of Daylight in the dark fantasy genre - or any sub-genre therein - cheapens the story's spirit. Then what category does it belong in? Epic Fantasy? High Fantasy? Sword and Sorcery? Ask twenty readers and get ten different answers. The unique aspects embedded in Gregory's story hearken a new type of fantasy: the kind where the author isn't afraid to take his time and weave the story according to his own preference, no matter the pacing or the page-count. The payoff is worth it.
In three months I may forget 40% of the storyline embedded in Siege of Daylight, but I will remember the emotional highs and visual strengths for a very long period. I will remember the sweeping bitter frost landscapes, the plunging darkness from which no hope lingered and powerful forces with cruel blades called their home. I will remember when Calvraign strummed his field harp for King Guillaume, and when the king wept and trembled alone, or Osrith's and Aeolil's brief but heart-racing encounters. The romantic tension between them pulsed with forlorn regret.
The cast of characters is large, the names, places and races even larger. A glossary would help the reader keep track of the who's and what's and where's, so maybe this is something the author will consider going forward. Early on I found it difficult to maintain focus on the story when so much terminology was being doled out. As the story progresses we are introduced to more points of view which seemed to take the spotlight off Calvraign, our apprentice bard turned hero of the King. His part of the story - obviously crucial - became overshadowed at times, and I restrained myself from skimming ahead until he resurfaced. Nothing bad against the novel's length, the pacing and intricate details of the story mirrors my own. Calvraign stood out as the unique character in this rich and the wondrous world. A bard's apprentice thrust into adventure and conflict. I wanted to read more about Calvraign, and less about his female companion Callagh, but that's just me wanting more of a great thing.
Clocking in at 608 pages In Siege of Daylight is not a quick-fix fantasy romp for kids or adults with a list of books to power through before the weekend. Gregory's Close will not hit you over the head with a rubber mallet in chapter one and disguise it as "luring in the reader ". He will, however, introduce you to a world he took great patience to manifest. A world worth losing yourself in.
Wait. Let's stop here for a second.
Placing In Siege of Daylight in the dark fantasy genre - or any sub-genre therein - cheapens the story's spirit. Then what category does it belong in? Epic Fantasy? High Fantasy? Sword and Sorcery? Ask twenty readers and get ten different answers. The unique aspects embedded in Gregory's story hearken a new type of fantasy: the kind where the author isn't afraid to take his time and weave the story according to his own preference, no matter the pacing or the page-count. The payoff is worth it.
In three months I may forget 40% of the storyline embedded in Siege of Daylight, but I will remember the emotional highs and visual strengths for a very long period. I will remember the sweeping bitter frost landscapes, the plunging darkness from which no hope lingered and powerful forces with cruel blades called their home. I will remember when Calvraign strummed his field harp for King Guillaume, and when the king wept and trembled alone, or Osrith's and Aeolil's brief but heart-racing encounters. The romantic tension between them pulsed with forlorn regret.
The cast of characters is large, the names, places and races even larger. A glossary would help the reader keep track of the who's and what's and where's, so maybe this is something the author will consider going forward. Early on I found it difficult to maintain focus on the story when so much terminology was being doled out. As the story progresses we are introduced to more points of view which seemed to take the spotlight off Calvraign, our apprentice bard turned hero of the King. His part of the story - obviously crucial - became overshadowed at times, and I restrained myself from skimming ahead until he resurfaced. Nothing bad against the novel's length, the pacing and intricate details of the story mirrors my own. Calvraign stood out as the unique character in this rich and the wondrous world. A bard's apprentice thrust into adventure and conflict. I wanted to read more about Calvraign, and less about his female companion Callagh, but that's just me wanting more of a great thing.
Clocking in at 608 pages In Siege of Daylight is not a quick-fix fantasy romp for kids or adults with a list of books to power through before the weekend. Gregory's Close will not hit you over the head with a rubber mallet in chapter one and disguise it as "luring in the reader ". He will, however, introduce you to a world he took great patience to manifest. A world worth losing yourself in.
August 31, 2014
"You might enjoy "In Siege of Daylight" if you are a fan of epic fantasy told from multiple viewpoints, with action wedged in-between a dash of politics, revenge and ancient magic seeping in around the edges of everyday life."
That's what Gregory Close, the writer of this behemoth of a book would want you to believe.
He's also absolutely correct.
In Siege of Daylight as has been previously mentioned is huge. It's a proper old-school fantasy tome, and as writer Christopher Kellen noticed, it doesn't shirk from that label in the slightest.
So why only three stars? Well that's less easy to explain, as to most readers this is a clear 4 or 5 star book and rightly so. Unfortunately for Greg he decided that the culture of the book's protagonist should approximate my own. A purloined mixture of Scots/Ulster Scots/Irish that makes for difficult reading for someone that's immersed in said culture every waking moment of the day.
Greg's biography tells you that he lived in Dundalk, which is about as close to living in Northern Ireland as you can get without actually living there. The culture of this town has no doubt influenced his work, but his American roots betray him in his execution.
So while the fault here doesn't particularly lie with Gregory Close, the jarring representation of a people so familiar to me in a world so alien made for some difficult reading.
Character-wise, Close could use some lessons from J.S. Morin, who writes a similar style of fantasy. With the multiple viewpoints I was at times confused as to who was doing what, and I felt that characters needed their actions to betray their intentions better than the expository dialogue. The nomenclature didn't help either, and its attempts to convey an alien world only served to stifle my understanding.
It takes a while to get going, but when it hits its stride it's a solid piece of work, so perseverance is a must through the first few chapters that are low on exposition and high on awkward names.
These are all minor quibbles of course, as the bulk of this high fantasy is comparable to the works that came before it. Close could happily sit alongside the likes of Feist and Eddings and Williams and so on without any shame. Unfortunately it's a genre that has gone out of vogue somewhat, otherwise this man would most certainly be published by now.
That's what Gregory Close, the writer of this behemoth of a book would want you to believe.
He's also absolutely correct.
In Siege of Daylight as has been previously mentioned is huge. It's a proper old-school fantasy tome, and as writer Christopher Kellen noticed, it doesn't shirk from that label in the slightest.
So why only three stars? Well that's less easy to explain, as to most readers this is a clear 4 or 5 star book and rightly so. Unfortunately for Greg he decided that the culture of the book's protagonist should approximate my own. A purloined mixture of Scots/Ulster Scots/Irish that makes for difficult reading for someone that's immersed in said culture every waking moment of the day.
Greg's biography tells you that he lived in Dundalk, which is about as close to living in Northern Ireland as you can get without actually living there. The culture of this town has no doubt influenced his work, but his American roots betray him in his execution.
So while the fault here doesn't particularly lie with Gregory Close, the jarring representation of a people so familiar to me in a world so alien made for some difficult reading.
Character-wise, Close could use some lessons from J.S. Morin, who writes a similar style of fantasy. With the multiple viewpoints I was at times confused as to who was doing what, and I felt that characters needed their actions to betray their intentions better than the expository dialogue. The nomenclature didn't help either, and its attempts to convey an alien world only served to stifle my understanding.
It takes a while to get going, but when it hits its stride it's a solid piece of work, so perseverance is a must through the first few chapters that are low on exposition and high on awkward names.
These are all minor quibbles of course, as the bulk of this high fantasy is comparable to the works that came before it. Close could happily sit alongside the likes of Feist and Eddings and Williams and so on without any shame. Unfortunately it's a genre that has gone out of vogue somewhat, otherwise this man would most certainly be published by now.
Read
May 7, 2013If you’re a fan of RA Salvatore’s fantasy brawling and fascinating cultures, and you want a double dose in a six-hundred-page epic, try In Siege of Daylight by Gregory S. Close.
Among the cast of characters, Osrith charmed me with his brutality. This resilient warrior lead chapters with good viscera-yanking fun. Those who prefer spine-severing mayhem may enjoy Bloodhawk’s perspective even more.
“He knew anger and hatred all too well. They had made a meal of him long ago.”
Not to say that the novel is unadulterated battle frenzy. The world is fleshed out of glowing imagination. Gregory S. Close has populated his lands with new races, both savage and ethereal. He created a hrummish language, and I was touched by an intricate ritual of burial, with a raven at last carrying away the spirit.
Calvraign, the hero of the tale, is an apprentice to the King’s bard. The lessons on insults were my favorite. His culture carried a whiff of Gaelic. His friend Callagh is a strong female character, her courage forged of adamantine and her mind the sharpest weapon of those she carries. She will need all of them and more if she is to survive the novel’s antagonist.
The Pale Man has his cursed sword, he has a name bristling with vowels, and he has craftiness to back up his ambitions.
“I seek your end no more than I would seek that of a toothless old lion hiding in the back of his cave.”
Among the cast of characters, Osrith charmed me with his brutality. This resilient warrior lead chapters with good viscera-yanking fun. Those who prefer spine-severing mayhem may enjoy Bloodhawk’s perspective even more.
“He knew anger and hatred all too well. They had made a meal of him long ago.”
Not to say that the novel is unadulterated battle frenzy. The world is fleshed out of glowing imagination. Gregory S. Close has populated his lands with new races, both savage and ethereal. He created a hrummish language, and I was touched by an intricate ritual of burial, with a raven at last carrying away the spirit.
Calvraign, the hero of the tale, is an apprentice to the King’s bard. The lessons on insults were my favorite. His culture carried a whiff of Gaelic. His friend Callagh is a strong female character, her courage forged of adamantine and her mind the sharpest weapon of those she carries. She will need all of them and more if she is to survive the novel’s antagonist.
The Pale Man has his cursed sword, he has a name bristling with vowels, and he has craftiness to back up his ambitions.
“I seek your end no more than I would seek that of a toothless old lion hiding in the back of his cave.”
November 23, 2014
This was a wonderful read! My favorite thing was the interaction between the characters...superbly done! Though I did have slight trouble keeping up with some the "who's who" with some of the characters (though not the main ones). World building was excellent. And I found myself checking the percentage from 90% on, hoping I would get answers (which I did to some, others I'll have to wait for the next installment). Well written and well edited. I definitely recommend this book for fantasy lovers and am looking forward to the next installment!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
***I generally do reviews for Amazon so my stars tend to reflect amazon's rating system:
1 star: hate it
2 stars: did not like it
3 stars: it was okay
4 stars: I liked it
5 stars: I loved it
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
***I generally do reviews for Amazon so my stars tend to reflect amazon's rating system:
1 star: hate it
2 stars: did not like it
3 stars: it was okay
4 stars: I liked it
5 stars: I loved it
August 7, 2013
EPIC, in every sense of the word. A superb fantasy on par with the works of Robert Jordan, Tad Williams etc. The story and characters are very well developed. A definite must read for anyone who enjoys a dark fantasy where the victory of the light over the dark is anything but assured. Be prepared to be transported from the edge of your seat into the battles between the heroes of the light as they fight to stave off the overwhelming march of evil and the coming of the Darkening. I received this book as part of a goodreads.com giveaway after waiting to win for years. I am so thankful that this was the book I won and I eagerly look forward to book 2.
December 12, 2014
I had a hard time getting interested in the plot(s) of In Siege of Daylight. The first third of the book jumped from one perspective to another, and there were lots of characters with weird names to keep straight. After a while, it all started to pull together and make sense. I even started rooting for some of the characters. The ending was abrupt, but not unusually so for the start of a series. Gregory S. Close has given us the beginning of a potentially fascinating fantasy world. I'm left intrigued enough to want to know what happens next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it.
September 14, 2013
I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.
This book is huge, 600 pages long.
It is a great fantasy adventure story with lots of likeable characters.
If you love fantasy, magical or adventure stories you'll enjoy this.
This book is huge, 600 pages long.
It is a great fantasy adventure story with lots of likeable characters.
If you love fantasy, magical or adventure stories you'll enjoy this.
August 7, 2013
Perhaps this is a known fact, perhaps not. But for those who relish every moment of epic fantasy and realize how hard it is to find works that actually deliver, this book is a treasure.
I am looking forward to the next instalment!
I am looking forward to the next instalment!
October 13, 2013
can't wait for the next installment!
August 22, 2013
Disclaimer: I received this book through the Goodreads First Readers program.
Ok. I'm sorry, but I have to label this as DNF. But I promise, I will do my best to revisit it in the future.
Ok. I'm sorry, but I have to label this as DNF. But I promise, I will do my best to revisit it in the future.
Read
June 4, 2013I won't try to summarize the plot, that's taken care of in the book description, and it would be a bit disingenious to rant and rave about my own book, so I've copied/pasted the review from one of my beta-readers (posted on Amazon.com):
"Great entralling story
Despite the many stories already told in the epic fantasy genre, I found In Siege of Daylight to be unique and exciting, with a great cast of believable characters. The balance between action, intrigue, world-building, character development, and plot was appropriate. Can't wait for Book 2!" N. Lee (5.8.13)
AND, here's the Clarion ForeWord Review (4/5 Stars):
Clarion Review
SCIENCE FICTION
In Siege of Daylight: Book One in the Compendium of Light, Dark & Shadow
Gregory S. Close
Four Stars (out of Five)
It is no mean feat to craft a fantasy world that is different, familiar, interesting, and fresh.
Gregory S. Close has done that and more with In Siege of Daylight: Book One in the
Compendium of Light, Dark & Shadow, a weighty and daunting tome, but one worth delving
into.
The author notes in his acknowledgments that he lived in Ireland for a time. So it is no
surprise that the landscape, language, and literary tradition of the Gael have more than just
seeped into Close’s writing. In Siege of Daylight is infused with Gaelic and Celtic sights and
sounds, and not just because of the flood of tongue-curling names like Ilnymhorrim, Dieavaul,
Calvraign, and Dwynleigsh (respectively, a sword, the villain, a hero, and a castle).
The very land of Providayne, in which the fantasy is set, drips with all things Irish, from
the woodland magic of faeries to the prominence given to bards, around a pair of whom one of
the three main threads of the story is woven. The other principal story lines involve a quest by a
mercenary captain and his medical companion (a talking female “lizardman”), and a military
campaign centered around one of the Raogmyztsanogg, or “dread forest watchers” (rangers in
whose veins runs the blood of a magical folk who can command the trees and vines to fight). All
three paths pit these heroes against the requisite evil wizard and his army of dringli, hrumm, and
graomwrnokk warriors.
As with many evil dark lords in fantasy, this one wields a mighty magic device, a
blade—but not just any blade. As one minor character warns, “The sword of the Guhddan-kinne
does not simply send you beyond the Veil with a mortal blow! This blade cuts so deep it sunders
the strings that hold your soul and binds you to ages of bloody torment at the service of the Dark
God!” That mouthful is screeched by a character of whom Close, poking fun at himself as a
writer and at the genre, notes, “as a priest, she had somehow managed to spit all that out in one
breath with the proper inflection.”
The prose here is rich and lyrical. Yet when he gets too serious or pompous, Close is
quick to take it all down a notch, such as when he has his otherwise gloriously noble ranger hero
literally caught with his breeches down.
Close’s writing, however, is not perfect. The Gaelic and guttural names often confuse
and overwhelm the eye and the ear. Many of his terms are not described, and he leaves it to the
reader to puzzle out whether his characters are cursing at a creature, praying to a god, or sighing
over a local delicacy. Close also vastly overuses italics and is inconsistent in their use
(sometimes the italics represent thoughts, yet other times a character will deliver one line of
dialogue in italics and another in normal print, often on the same page or even in the same
paragraph).
These criticisms aside, In Siege of Daylight is engaging, engrossing, and entertaining.
- Mark McLaughlin
"Great entralling story
Despite the many stories already told in the epic fantasy genre, I found In Siege of Daylight to be unique and exciting, with a great cast of believable characters. The balance between action, intrigue, world-building, character development, and plot was appropriate. Can't wait for Book 2!" N. Lee (5.8.13)
AND, here's the Clarion ForeWord Review (4/5 Stars):
Clarion Review
SCIENCE FICTION
In Siege of Daylight: Book One in the Compendium of Light, Dark & Shadow
Gregory S. Close
Four Stars (out of Five)
It is no mean feat to craft a fantasy world that is different, familiar, interesting, and fresh.
Gregory S. Close has done that and more with In Siege of Daylight: Book One in the
Compendium of Light, Dark & Shadow, a weighty and daunting tome, but one worth delving
into.
The author notes in his acknowledgments that he lived in Ireland for a time. So it is no
surprise that the landscape, language, and literary tradition of the Gael have more than just
seeped into Close’s writing. In Siege of Daylight is infused with Gaelic and Celtic sights and
sounds, and not just because of the flood of tongue-curling names like Ilnymhorrim, Dieavaul,
Calvraign, and Dwynleigsh (respectively, a sword, the villain, a hero, and a castle).
The very land of Providayne, in which the fantasy is set, drips with all things Irish, from
the woodland magic of faeries to the prominence given to bards, around a pair of whom one of
the three main threads of the story is woven. The other principal story lines involve a quest by a
mercenary captain and his medical companion (a talking female “lizardman”), and a military
campaign centered around one of the Raogmyztsanogg, or “dread forest watchers” (rangers in
whose veins runs the blood of a magical folk who can command the trees and vines to fight). All
three paths pit these heroes against the requisite evil wizard and his army of dringli, hrumm, and
graomwrnokk warriors.
As with many evil dark lords in fantasy, this one wields a mighty magic device, a
blade—but not just any blade. As one minor character warns, “The sword of the Guhddan-kinne
does not simply send you beyond the Veil with a mortal blow! This blade cuts so deep it sunders
the strings that hold your soul and binds you to ages of bloody torment at the service of the Dark
God!” That mouthful is screeched by a character of whom Close, poking fun at himself as a
writer and at the genre, notes, “as a priest, she had somehow managed to spit all that out in one
breath with the proper inflection.”
The prose here is rich and lyrical. Yet when he gets too serious or pompous, Close is
quick to take it all down a notch, such as when he has his otherwise gloriously noble ranger hero
literally caught with his breeches down.
Close’s writing, however, is not perfect. The Gaelic and guttural names often confuse
and overwhelm the eye and the ear. Many of his terms are not described, and he leaves it to the
reader to puzzle out whether his characters are cursing at a creature, praying to a god, or sighing
over a local delicacy. Close also vastly overuses italics and is inconsistent in their use
(sometimes the italics represent thoughts, yet other times a character will deliver one line of
dialogue in italics and another in normal print, often on the same page or even in the same
paragraph).
These criticisms aside, In Siege of Daylight is engaging, engrossing, and entertaining.
- Mark McLaughlin
Read
May 4, 2015You might enjoy "In Siege of Daylight" if you are a fan of epic fantasy told from multiple viewpoints, with action wedged in-between a dash of politics, revenge and ancient magic seeping in around the edges of everyday life.
AND, here's the Clarion ForeWord Review (4/5 Stars):
Clarion Review
SCIENCE FICTION
In Siege of Daylight: Book One in the Compendium of Light, Dark & Shadow
Gregory S. Close
Four Stars (out of Five)
It is no mean feat to craft a fantasy world that is different, familiar, interesting, and fresh.
Gregory S. Close has done that and more with In Siege of Daylight: Book One in the
Compendium of Light, Dark & Shadow, a weighty and daunting tome, but one worth delving
into.
The author notes in his acknowledgments that he lived in Ireland for a time. So it is no
surprise that the landscape, language, and literary tradition of the Gael have more than just
seeped into Close’s writing. In Siege of Daylight is infused with Gaelic and Celtic sights and
sounds, and not just because of the flood of tongue-curling names like Ilnymhorrim, Dieavaul,
Calvraign, and Dwynleigsh (respectively, a sword, the villain, a hero, and a castle).
The very land of Providayne, in which the fantasy is set, drips with all things Irish, from
the woodland magic of faeries to the prominence given to bards, around a pair of whom one of
the three main threads of the story is woven. The other principal story lines involve a quest by a
mercenary captain and his medical companion (a talking female “lizardman”), and a military
campaign centered around one of the Raogmyztsanogg, or “dread forest watchers” (rangers in
whose veins runs the blood of a magical folk who can command the trees and vines to fight). All
three paths pit these heroes against the requisite evil wizard and his army of dringli, hrumm, and
graomwrnokk warriors.
As with many evil dark lords in fantasy, this one wields a mighty magic device, a
blade—but not just any blade. As one minor character warns, “The sword of the Guhddan-kinne
does not simply send you beyond the Veil with a mortal blow! This blade cuts so deep it sunders
the strings that hold your soul and binds you to ages of bloody torment at the service of the Dark
God!” That mouthful is screeched by a character of whom Close, poking fun at himself as a
writer and at the genre, notes, “as a priest, she had somehow managed to spit all that out in one
breath with the proper inflection.”
The prose here is rich and lyrical. Yet when he gets too serious or pompous, Close is
quick to take it all down a notch, such as when he has his otherwise gloriously noble ranger hero
literally caught with his breeches down.
Close’s writing, however, is not perfect. The Gaelic and guttural names often confuse
and overwhelm the eye and the ear. Many of his terms are not described, and he leaves it to the
reader to puzzle out whether his characters are cursing at a creature, praying to a god, or sighing
over a local delicacy. Close also vastly overuses italics and is inconsistent in their use
(sometimes the italics represent thoughts, yet other times a character will deliver one line of
dialogue in italics and another in normal print, often on the same page or even in the same
paragraph).
These criticisms aside, In Siege of Daylight is engaging, engrossing, and entertaining.
- Mark McLaughlin
AND, here's the Clarion ForeWord Review (4/5 Stars):
Clarion Review
SCIENCE FICTION
In Siege of Daylight: Book One in the Compendium of Light, Dark & Shadow
Gregory S. Close
Four Stars (out of Five)
It is no mean feat to craft a fantasy world that is different, familiar, interesting, and fresh.
Gregory S. Close has done that and more with In Siege of Daylight: Book One in the
Compendium of Light, Dark & Shadow, a weighty and daunting tome, but one worth delving
into.
The author notes in his acknowledgments that he lived in Ireland for a time. So it is no
surprise that the landscape, language, and literary tradition of the Gael have more than just
seeped into Close’s writing. In Siege of Daylight is infused with Gaelic and Celtic sights and
sounds, and not just because of the flood of tongue-curling names like Ilnymhorrim, Dieavaul,
Calvraign, and Dwynleigsh (respectively, a sword, the villain, a hero, and a castle).
The very land of Providayne, in which the fantasy is set, drips with all things Irish, from
the woodland magic of faeries to the prominence given to bards, around a pair of whom one of
the three main threads of the story is woven. The other principal story lines involve a quest by a
mercenary captain and his medical companion (a talking female “lizardman”), and a military
campaign centered around one of the Raogmyztsanogg, or “dread forest watchers” (rangers in
whose veins runs the blood of a magical folk who can command the trees and vines to fight). All
three paths pit these heroes against the requisite evil wizard and his army of dringli, hrumm, and
graomwrnokk warriors.
As with many evil dark lords in fantasy, this one wields a mighty magic device, a
blade—but not just any blade. As one minor character warns, “The sword of the Guhddan-kinne
does not simply send you beyond the Veil with a mortal blow! This blade cuts so deep it sunders
the strings that hold your soul and binds you to ages of bloody torment at the service of the Dark
God!” That mouthful is screeched by a character of whom Close, poking fun at himself as a
writer and at the genre, notes, “as a priest, she had somehow managed to spit all that out in one
breath with the proper inflection.”
The prose here is rich and lyrical. Yet when he gets too serious or pompous, Close is
quick to take it all down a notch, such as when he has his otherwise gloriously noble ranger hero
literally caught with his breeches down.
Close’s writing, however, is not perfect. The Gaelic and guttural names often confuse
and overwhelm the eye and the ear. Many of his terms are not described, and he leaves it to the
reader to puzzle out whether his characters are cursing at a creature, praying to a god, or sighing
over a local delicacy. Close also vastly overuses italics and is inconsistent in their use
(sometimes the italics represent thoughts, yet other times a character will deliver one line of
dialogue in italics and another in normal print, often on the same page or even in the same
paragraph).
These criticisms aside, In Siege of Daylight is engaging, engrossing, and entertaining.
- Mark McLaughlin
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews