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The Herezoth Series #Book 1
The Crimson League
What would YOU do if you were seventeen, a woodworker's daughter, and your kingdom's sorcerer-dictator was determined to see you dead?
Join Kora Porteg in the kingdom of Herezoth as she aids her homeland's organized resistance. Opposing the sorcerer who slew the royal family, Kora soon discovers she's a sorceress herself, as well as the unwitting subject of an old and often mocked legend. Though she accepts she can have no place in Herezoth after civil war should end, she fights alongside the usurper’s sister, a thief, a scholar, two telekinetic brothers, and other members of the group that calls itself the Crimson League. As their prospects deteriorate, the League has no choice but to make a final stand against its foe and the army that supports him.
“The Crimson League” is the first in a trilogy of novels about Herezoth and its magicked inhabitants, as they struggle to make names for themselves, or simply to survive, against prejudice and evil.
Join Kora Porteg in the kingdom of Herezoth as she aids her homeland's organized resistance. Opposing the sorcerer who slew the royal family, Kora soon discovers she's a sorceress herself, as well as the unwitting subject of an old and often mocked legend. Though she accepts she can have no place in Herezoth after civil war should end, she fights alongside the usurper’s sister, a thief, a scholar, two telekinetic brothers, and other members of the group that calls itself the Crimson League. As their prospects deteriorate, the League has no choice but to make a final stand against its foe and the army that supports him.
“The Crimson League” is the first in a trilogy of novels about Herezoth and its magicked inhabitants, as they struggle to make names for themselves, or simply to survive, against prejudice and evil.
Kindle Edition
First published April 16, 2012
14 people are currently reading
546 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Grefer
8 books37 followersVictoria is a New Orleans girl, born and raised, with an appreciation for the charm of the Deep South. She has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and English and a master’s degree in Spanish literature, all from the University of Alabama. She started college as a journalism major and worked a year as a staff reporter for the Alabama student newspaper, “The Crimson White.” That experience that helped her realize, once and for all, that her love for writing lay with fiction. She started enrolling in creative writing classes the following semester.
From the age of six, Victoria dreamed of becoming a novelist, and her writing career began in the third grade with a series of stories about herself and her friends solving mysteries. In high school she fell in love with the fantasy genre, and started writing fantasy as an undergraduate student. She currently resides in Chicago, IL, where she spends her free time promoting “The Crimson League.” She is a doctoral student at the University of Chicago, where she teaches Spanish and hopes to write a dissertation that links contemporary fantasy literature with the picaresque novel of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
From the age of six, Victoria dreamed of becoming a novelist, and her writing career began in the third grade with a series of stories about herself and her friends solving mysteries. In high school she fell in love with the fantasy genre, and started writing fantasy as an undergraduate student. She currently resides in Chicago, IL, where she spends her free time promoting “The Crimson League.” She is a doctoral student at the University of Chicago, where she teaches Spanish and hopes to write a dissertation that links contemporary fantasy literature with the picaresque novel of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 20, 2013
I absolutely loved this book. It took me a while to get into it, and I wasn't sure if I would like it at first. The style put me off a little in the beginning, but I really grew to appreciate it. Lately I've been reading fantasy with more subtle magic, so the more overt magic style here took me a while to get used to, but it was really well developed, including boundaries and methods, and by the end I could practically have been casting spells myself. I also liked the incantations used for spells, which were pronounceable and memorable, with a clear Spanish influence.
The book presents a lot of characters all at once when its protagonist, seventeen-year-old Kora Porteg, becomes involved with the resistance movement called the Crimson League. It's hard to clearly develop that many characters so that by the end the reader understands and cares about all of them, but the author manages to do just that.
Kora is the sole point-of-view character, although with magic she's able to slip into the point-of-view of other characters briefly, but this allows for a lot of development of her personality. I loved Kora for her faults and for her strengths, and she carried me with her through her emotions of fear, anger, love, despair, and happiness.
Speaking of despair... a lot of characters die. Three of the deaths in particular just killed me, because I loved them and the manner of their death was so shocking and terrible. But although there are deaths and plenty of violence, it's never gory or gratuitous.
A lot of stories about resistance movements or rebellions are romanticized, making them clean and tidy. There's none of that here. I had no trouble suspending my disbelief for the magical aspects when it was supported on such a realistic and human story. The characters act like real people, even the faceless mobs. The repercussions and costs of actions are never played down.
Although this book is the first in a trilogy, it tells a story that wraps up within the novel. I will definitely be picking up the sequels, even though this part of the story is over.
The book presents a lot of characters all at once when its protagonist, seventeen-year-old Kora Porteg, becomes involved with the resistance movement called the Crimson League. It's hard to clearly develop that many characters so that by the end the reader understands and cares about all of them, but the author manages to do just that.
Kora is the sole point-of-view character, although with magic she's able to slip into the point-of-view of other characters briefly, but this allows for a lot of development of her personality. I loved Kora for her faults and for her strengths, and she carried me with her through her emotions of fear, anger, love, despair, and happiness.
Speaking of despair... a lot of characters die. Three of the deaths in particular just killed me, because I loved them and the manner of their death was so shocking and terrible. But although there are deaths and plenty of violence, it's never gory or gratuitous.
A lot of stories about resistance movements or rebellions are romanticized, making them clean and tidy. There's none of that here. I had no trouble suspending my disbelief for the magical aspects when it was supported on such a realistic and human story. The characters act like real people, even the faceless mobs. The repercussions and costs of actions are never played down.
Although this book is the first in a trilogy, it tells a story that wraps up within the novel. I will definitely be picking up the sequels, even though this part of the story is over.
May 28, 2012
I really enjoyed The Crimson League. The story line was fastpaced and riveting. The world the author created was believable and I could picture it clearly. The struggles and oppression of the people in this world was brilliantly written and I could easily feel outrage at their plight.
The main character was extremely likeable and I was drawn into her struggle easily. The character discriptions were a bit vague but I like it that way. I enjoy creating a picture in my mind but you may find it frustrating if you prefer a picture painted for you.
The antagonist was strangely honourable even though he was extremely sadistic and that made him even more sinister in my eyes. He was easy to hate.
There were parts of the story I would really have enjoyed seeing more of and the ending felt a little rushed but then again that might just be because I didn't want the story to end.
I was dissapointed that there was no "happy ever after" ending and the romance was a bit underplayed. But then again it would have detracted from the main storyline.
I would highly recommend this book.
The main character was extremely likeable and I was drawn into her struggle easily. The character discriptions were a bit vague but I like it that way. I enjoy creating a picture in my mind but you may find it frustrating if you prefer a picture painted for you.
The antagonist was strangely honourable even though he was extremely sadistic and that made him even more sinister in my eyes. He was easy to hate.
There were parts of the story I would really have enjoyed seeing more of and the ending felt a little rushed but then again that might just be because I didn't want the story to end.
I was dissapointed that there was no "happy ever after" ending and the romance was a bit underplayed. But then again it would have detracted from the main storyline.
I would highly recommend this book.
January 9, 2013
Review posted on my blog: http://www.meganblogs.com/the-crimson...
September 8, 2012
Too many coincidences & abrupt character changes rather than believable development.
May 31, 2023
Book: The Crimson League: The Fight for Hope
Author: Victoria Grefer
Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank, Archangel Ink, for reaching out to see if I would be interested in reviewing the second edition of this book.
In this one, we follow Kora, who has just learned that she is a sorceress and must learn how to control her powers. This is an old group and she finds herself being made fun of. She has to prove herself and finds that it is not always easy. On top of that, she is helping in the resistance and trying to save her kingdom despite knowing that this new world will not have a place for her. She finds herself paired with the most unlikely people, who are known as the Crimson League. Things are not going well for the Crimson League and they know they must act now-even if it ends up costing them everything that they know.
Let me tell you, this is what I am looking for in a fantasy novel. We have a very unlikely group of characters who have been paired together and they must overthrow the crown. We have a main character who has recently discovered that she has these magical powers and must learn how to master them. I don’t know if anyone else feels the same way, but this setup never gets old. If this is what I am looking for in a fantasy novel, then why the three-star rating? While the setup itself is great, I found the whole execution to be rather underdeveloped. I know that this is young adult fantasy and I don’t read as much YA as I used. I would have liked to have the stakes raised a little higher. The stakes are very high and our characters are going through very difficult things, but it never felt like that. It felt as if the character was just going through the motions. There was this sense of someone not making it out or everything not being okay. The important sequences were just there. I do think the author was trying to do too much for one book. The book should have focused on Kora’s training.
The author does have the bones of an amazing book. I can see it. The writing could have stood a little bit more detail. There were times that the author was telling and not showing, which does tend to happen in fantasy. However, it was over the top. She told us how the characters were feeling instead of letting their actions tell us. Now, if anyone has read my writing, then you know that I love deep dives into what the characters are thinking and love to include those thoughts. I am not against this by any means. However, telling us that so and so was calm or upset does not work. You have to find a way to pull the reader completely into the scene.
The characters need some work. Again, the bones of great characters are there, but it doesn’t come out the best. I did have a very difficult time remembering who is who and what they were supposed to be doing. This comes back to us being told and not shown. When you write characters, you have to give readers the chance to form a bond with them. You have to give us those little character moments that feel like a waste of time, but end up having a huge impact on how readers relate to them. Backstories, day-to-day life, and jokes are just a few ways to not only form bonds but add some depth to the characters. The characters’ actions don’t make sense either. There is no why behind what they are doing or attempting to do. This could have been explained by adding a backstory or giving us a deeper look into the situation. There is just a little something missing to bring out what is there.
I know you are probably tired of me saying this, but the bones of a great story are here. I can see it and I can see the author’s potential. I believe that everything needs to be developed just a little bit more to put it over the edge.
The second edition of this book comes out on June 15, 2023.
Author: Victoria Grefer
Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank, Archangel Ink, for reaching out to see if I would be interested in reviewing the second edition of this book.
In this one, we follow Kora, who has just learned that she is a sorceress and must learn how to control her powers. This is an old group and she finds herself being made fun of. She has to prove herself and finds that it is not always easy. On top of that, she is helping in the resistance and trying to save her kingdom despite knowing that this new world will not have a place for her. She finds herself paired with the most unlikely people, who are known as the Crimson League. Things are not going well for the Crimson League and they know they must act now-even if it ends up costing them everything that they know.
Let me tell you, this is what I am looking for in a fantasy novel. We have a very unlikely group of characters who have been paired together and they must overthrow the crown. We have a main character who has recently discovered that she has these magical powers and must learn how to master them. I don’t know if anyone else feels the same way, but this setup never gets old. If this is what I am looking for in a fantasy novel, then why the three-star rating? While the setup itself is great, I found the whole execution to be rather underdeveloped. I know that this is young adult fantasy and I don’t read as much YA as I used. I would have liked to have the stakes raised a little higher. The stakes are very high and our characters are going through very difficult things, but it never felt like that. It felt as if the character was just going through the motions. There was this sense of someone not making it out or everything not being okay. The important sequences were just there. I do think the author was trying to do too much for one book. The book should have focused on Kora’s training.
The author does have the bones of an amazing book. I can see it. The writing could have stood a little bit more detail. There were times that the author was telling and not showing, which does tend to happen in fantasy. However, it was over the top. She told us how the characters were feeling instead of letting their actions tell us. Now, if anyone has read my writing, then you know that I love deep dives into what the characters are thinking and love to include those thoughts. I am not against this by any means. However, telling us that so and so was calm or upset does not work. You have to find a way to pull the reader completely into the scene.
The characters need some work. Again, the bones of great characters are there, but it doesn’t come out the best. I did have a very difficult time remembering who is who and what they were supposed to be doing. This comes back to us being told and not shown. When you write characters, you have to give readers the chance to form a bond with them. You have to give us those little character moments that feel like a waste of time, but end up having a huge impact on how readers relate to them. Backstories, day-to-day life, and jokes are just a few ways to not only form bonds but add some depth to the characters. The characters’ actions don’t make sense either. There is no why behind what they are doing or attempting to do. This could have been explained by adding a backstory or giving us a deeper look into the situation. There is just a little something missing to bring out what is there.
I know you are probably tired of me saying this, but the bones of a great story are here. I can see it and I can see the author’s potential. I believe that everything needs to be developed just a little bit more to put it over the edge.
The second edition of this book comes out on June 15, 2023.
June 27, 2020
This review is based on a copy I currently hold, any subsequent revision may result in a different review.
I’m telling you; when I say I think this book is boring. There lies the main problem. The story is told in the third person, not shown. We need to be immersed in the scene. What happens? What do the characters see, hear, feel? The reader needs to see how the character develops and overcomes problems.
This leads to my second problem; the lack of plot and credibility gap. I realize in Zalski and Malzin we have a usurper who has taken the throne and the Crimson League are there to restore it. Menikas and Lanokas, the two princes, are the leaders of the League, but they appear to govern more by consensus than leadership or drive. This makes the plot lurch from one skirmish to the next, with the deciding battle at the end.
Kora is the protagonist referred to as the marked one of legend. When a ruby mysteriously shatters part of it is embedded in her forehead. This endows her with the powers of a sorceress or at least the catalyst for discovering her powers. This seems a little incredulous and perhaps a birthmark would have been more believable. There also seems to be no reason why she should be the chosen one. Laskenay is the other sorceress in the League, sister of the antagonist Zalski. She is the natural choice when it comes to training and development of Kora’s abilities. This should be a natural focal point for conflict and development of both characters.
I understand that the genre is action-adventure, YA fantasy, but there should still be a strong element of characterization. We have those with magic and those without, which is good, but outside of this what else distinguishes each of the characters? Kora’s inner problem is accepting she is the marked one. It can be argued that by learning to use her magic she overcomes this problem. The external problem is the kingdom has been taken forcibly by Zalski. Yet this somehow doesn’t feel like her fight, it is as if she is being taken along for the ride. There could be an element of social injustice if the people are oppressed, but this does not come through strongly enough as a theme. As the antagonist, how did Zalski come to prominence? It appears he was an advisor to the king, but what made him suddenly want to seize power? Was he mistreated? Does he have delusions of grandeur? There is a hint of this in his idea to establish a magic school, presumably to support his own power base, but again there are more questions than answers. I understand readers will argue that we are given some of the backstories to the characters, which is good, but there needs to be a development in some of the characters, sometimes referred to as character arcs.
The ending is satisfying in the sense of good triumphing over evil. It leaves open the development of Zacrys story and even that of his children, but how we got there is more luck than design. I think the book needs a lot more explanation and detail to enable the reader to fully connect with the text.
I’m telling you; when I say I think this book is boring. There lies the main problem. The story is told in the third person, not shown. We need to be immersed in the scene. What happens? What do the characters see, hear, feel? The reader needs to see how the character develops and overcomes problems.
This leads to my second problem; the lack of plot and credibility gap. I realize in Zalski and Malzin we have a usurper who has taken the throne and the Crimson League are there to restore it. Menikas and Lanokas, the two princes, are the leaders of the League, but they appear to govern more by consensus than leadership or drive. This makes the plot lurch from one skirmish to the next, with the deciding battle at the end.
Kora is the protagonist referred to as the marked one of legend. When a ruby mysteriously shatters part of it is embedded in her forehead. This endows her with the powers of a sorceress or at least the catalyst for discovering her powers. This seems a little incredulous and perhaps a birthmark would have been more believable. There also seems to be no reason why she should be the chosen one. Laskenay is the other sorceress in the League, sister of the antagonist Zalski. She is the natural choice when it comes to training and development of Kora’s abilities. This should be a natural focal point for conflict and development of both characters.
I understand that the genre is action-adventure, YA fantasy, but there should still be a strong element of characterization. We have those with magic and those without, which is good, but outside of this what else distinguishes each of the characters? Kora’s inner problem is accepting she is the marked one. It can be argued that by learning to use her magic she overcomes this problem. The external problem is the kingdom has been taken forcibly by Zalski. Yet this somehow doesn’t feel like her fight, it is as if she is being taken along for the ride. There could be an element of social injustice if the people are oppressed, but this does not come through strongly enough as a theme. As the antagonist, how did Zalski come to prominence? It appears he was an advisor to the king, but what made him suddenly want to seize power? Was he mistreated? Does he have delusions of grandeur? There is a hint of this in his idea to establish a magic school, presumably to support his own power base, but again there are more questions than answers. I understand readers will argue that we are given some of the backstories to the characters, which is good, but there needs to be a development in some of the characters, sometimes referred to as character arcs.
The ending is satisfying in the sense of good triumphing over evil. It leaves open the development of Zacrys story and even that of his children, but how we got there is more luck than design. I think the book needs a lot more explanation and detail to enable the reader to fully connect with the text.
September 3, 2023
I was pleasantly surprised by the genre-mashing of dystopian fiction and epic fantasy, which was a thing I did not know I wanted until now.
Even though this is geared toward a YA audience, I loved that the plot went into intricate details of how a coup would arise and subsequently fall. The fact that it did not patronize the readers with an overly simplistic account respects their intelligence, something lacking in a lot of YA fiction.
The genre staples are present - the chosen one, marked for greatness, comes into her own in the hour of need. This isn't a bad thing - you either love it or hate it.
But then there is some needed subversion. The protagonist doesn't just come in and fix everything with her newly found magic - she makes many believable mistakes. Not only that, but much anguish is caused by her trying her hardest and still failing. Not only did this resonate with me, but I believe it will encourage young readers not to give up when the world pushes back on their ideals.
Moreover, a firm moral compass is stressed repeatedly, which is a needed breath of fresh air in a genre that frequently promotes an "ends justifies the means" mentality. It reminds readers that the choices we make and the values we uphold are crucial, even in the most challenging of circumstances.
In essence, this novel masterfully blends genres, offers a compelling narrative, and delivers valuable life lessons, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read for both its intended audience and beyond. It not only entertains but also challenges readers to reflect on the complexities of human nature and the importance of unwavering principles in a world that frequently tests them.
Even though this is geared toward a YA audience, I loved that the plot went into intricate details of how a coup would arise and subsequently fall. The fact that it did not patronize the readers with an overly simplistic account respects their intelligence, something lacking in a lot of YA fiction.
The genre staples are present - the chosen one, marked for greatness, comes into her own in the hour of need. This isn't a bad thing - you either love it or hate it.
But then there is some needed subversion. The protagonist doesn't just come in and fix everything with her newly found magic - she makes many believable mistakes. Not only that, but much anguish is caused by her trying her hardest and still failing. Not only did this resonate with me, but I believe it will encourage young readers not to give up when the world pushes back on their ideals.
Moreover, a firm moral compass is stressed repeatedly, which is a needed breath of fresh air in a genre that frequently promotes an "ends justifies the means" mentality. It reminds readers that the choices we make and the values we uphold are crucial, even in the most challenging of circumstances.
In essence, this novel masterfully blends genres, offers a compelling narrative, and delivers valuable life lessons, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read for both its intended audience and beyond. It not only entertains but also challenges readers to reflect on the complexities of human nature and the importance of unwavering principles in a world that frequently tests them.
October 9, 2019
A kingdom ruled with an iron fist
This trilogy compilation was great! No cliffhangers and the sneak peak takes you into a tale beyond the story that was covered. Worthy of any avid reader's time.
This trilogy compilation was great! No cliffhangers and the sneak peak takes you into a tale beyond the story that was covered. Worthy of any avid reader's time.
January 17, 2024
A good book but just a bit long for my tastes. Some of the names sounded similar so it was hard to remember and took me out of the story. Kinda sad about the ending but it’s a good story. Just wished it were two books.
February 29, 2024
A satisfying tale of magic and political resistance to dictatorship. There is a dreadful cost to victory, and some lovely characters die. But in the end, good triumphs over evil, and what more can you want in a fantasy?
November 27, 2013
THE CRIMSON LEAGUE
November 26, 2013
Review of THE CRIMSON LEAGUE, by Victoria Grefer
A comprehensive report by John Adams Theibert Jr.
Introduction:
In writing this review of THE CRIMSON LEAGUE, by Victoria Grefer, as with any review I do, I will be referring to each star of the five-star rating system as individual elements of the story. Each star is divided into two parts, of which each part can receive half a star. The five elements of storytelling (as I see them) are: idea, plot, characters, setting, and theme. Idea is divided into the parts: hook and world, plot is divided into the parts: conflict and climax, characters is divided into the parts: development and dimension, setting is divided into the parts: scenes and senses, theme is divided into the parts: lesson and epiphany. As this is not a critique, I will not go into much detail, not only to ward off spoilers, but also for brevity’s sake. In the case that there is a half star attached to the rating I will use the conclusion section as the tie breaker. The conclusion section will consist of style and grammar. I will give + ½ star for a good rating in this section and -½ star for a poor rating in this section. Style consists of the parts logic and pacing. Grammar consists of the parts sentence structure and word usage.
Review: 2/5 stars [ **--- ]
The idea of this story is divided in to the parts hook and world: the story did not have a hook. It started out in chapter one with the main character reading a bedtime story to a child. The child did not have any importance in the story other than being the main characters brother. The world of the story was rather simplistic. There were those that could not use magic and those that could use magic. Those that could not use magic hated magic users and vice versa. Stars for the hook: 0.0 stars. Stars for the world: 0.0 stars. Total stars for the idea (hook and world) 0.0 stars.
The plot of the story is divided into the parts conflict and climax: There was a reasonable level of conflict in the story between the antagonists and protagonists, although, the conflict was sometimes undermined by inexplicable chivalrous behavior from the antagonists. However, the climax of the story was rather more anti climactic. The entire premise of the story completely relied on the indomitable nature of the main character which foreshadows the climax accurately in undermined its effectiveness. Stars for the conflict: 0.5 stars. Stars for the climax: 0.0 stars. Total stars for the plot (conflict and climax) 0.5 stars.
The characters of the story are divided into the parts development and dimension: the characters of this story were fully rendered and realized realistic archetypal individuals with full immersive personalities, back stories, and richly developed relationships. The characters of the story also transcended their initial characteristics and grew beyond them through various dialogue based interplay until finally reaching their ultimate state and becoming nicely three dimensional. Stars for development: 0.5 stars. Stars for dimensions 0.5 stars. Total stars for the characters (development and dimensions) 1.0 stars.
The setting of the story is divided into the part scenes and senses: the scenes of the story were hastily described, however, near the end of the book the scenes were described in slightly more vivid detail, nevertheless, they did not rise to the level of descriptive detail that would engender inspiration. There were not many senses used in the description of scenes and if they were used it was sparsely and briefly. Stars for scenes 0.0. Stars for senses 0.0 stars. Total stars for the setting (scenes and senses) 0.0 stars.
The theme of the story is divided into the parts lesson and the epiphany: there was a lesson within the context of the idea of the story that magic can bring tragedy inasmuch as it can bring happiness and prosperity. There did not seem to be any epiphany within the story, no great insight in to how a society that is comprised mostly of those that despise magic users could ever come to peace with the use of magic. Stars for the lesson: 0.5 stars. stars for the epiphany: 0.0 stars. Total stars for the theme (lesson and epiphany) 0.5 stars.
In conclusion this story was very heavily weighted towards a character driven novel. It did not richly incorporate the other aspects of writing. It played lip service to most of them and only occasionally hit the mark. The story in terms of grammar and style could use some work yet it was not distracting. Total stars for the story 2.0 stars
November 26, 2013
Review of THE CRIMSON LEAGUE, by Victoria Grefer
A comprehensive report by John Adams Theibert Jr.
Introduction:
In writing this review of THE CRIMSON LEAGUE, by Victoria Grefer, as with any review I do, I will be referring to each star of the five-star rating system as individual elements of the story. Each star is divided into two parts, of which each part can receive half a star. The five elements of storytelling (as I see them) are: idea, plot, characters, setting, and theme. Idea is divided into the parts: hook and world, plot is divided into the parts: conflict and climax, characters is divided into the parts: development and dimension, setting is divided into the parts: scenes and senses, theme is divided into the parts: lesson and epiphany. As this is not a critique, I will not go into much detail, not only to ward off spoilers, but also for brevity’s sake. In the case that there is a half star attached to the rating I will use the conclusion section as the tie breaker. The conclusion section will consist of style and grammar. I will give + ½ star for a good rating in this section and -½ star for a poor rating in this section. Style consists of the parts logic and pacing. Grammar consists of the parts sentence structure and word usage.
Review: 2/5 stars [ **--- ]
The idea of this story is divided in to the parts hook and world: the story did not have a hook. It started out in chapter one with the main character reading a bedtime story to a child. The child did not have any importance in the story other than being the main characters brother. The world of the story was rather simplistic. There were those that could not use magic and those that could use magic. Those that could not use magic hated magic users and vice versa. Stars for the hook: 0.0 stars. Stars for the world: 0.0 stars. Total stars for the idea (hook and world) 0.0 stars.
The plot of the story is divided into the parts conflict and climax: There was a reasonable level of conflict in the story between the antagonists and protagonists, although, the conflict was sometimes undermined by inexplicable chivalrous behavior from the antagonists. However, the climax of the story was rather more anti climactic. The entire premise of the story completely relied on the indomitable nature of the main character which foreshadows the climax accurately in undermined its effectiveness. Stars for the conflict: 0.5 stars. Stars for the climax: 0.0 stars. Total stars for the plot (conflict and climax) 0.5 stars.
The characters of the story are divided into the parts development and dimension: the characters of this story were fully rendered and realized realistic archetypal individuals with full immersive personalities, back stories, and richly developed relationships. The characters of the story also transcended their initial characteristics and grew beyond them through various dialogue based interplay until finally reaching their ultimate state and becoming nicely three dimensional. Stars for development: 0.5 stars. Stars for dimensions 0.5 stars. Total stars for the characters (development and dimensions) 1.0 stars.
The setting of the story is divided into the part scenes and senses: the scenes of the story were hastily described, however, near the end of the book the scenes were described in slightly more vivid detail, nevertheless, they did not rise to the level of descriptive detail that would engender inspiration. There were not many senses used in the description of scenes and if they were used it was sparsely and briefly. Stars for scenes 0.0. Stars for senses 0.0 stars. Total stars for the setting (scenes and senses) 0.0 stars.
The theme of the story is divided into the parts lesson and the epiphany: there was a lesson within the context of the idea of the story that magic can bring tragedy inasmuch as it can bring happiness and prosperity. There did not seem to be any epiphany within the story, no great insight in to how a society that is comprised mostly of those that despise magic users could ever come to peace with the use of magic. Stars for the lesson: 0.5 stars. stars for the epiphany: 0.0 stars. Total stars for the theme (lesson and epiphany) 0.5 stars.
In conclusion this story was very heavily weighted towards a character driven novel. It did not richly incorporate the other aspects of writing. It played lip service to most of them and only occasionally hit the mark. The story in terms of grammar and style could use some work yet it was not distracting. Total stars for the story 2.0 stars
November 11, 2012
I’m a sucker for fantasy novels with sorcerers and sorceresses as POV characters. In The Crimson League, the POV character is the sorceress Kora, but because of magic we are made privy to what is happening with other characters, including some that are miles away from Kora, without losing Kora as the POV character. This is genius on the part of the author.
When I read how magic works in the world of this novel, I wondered if the author would be able to pull it off in a manner that would allow for the continued suspension of disbelief. Those who practice magic can cast spells as quickly as they can speak the words, if they are able to focus properly. Spouting off three spells in immediate succession, within a matter of seconds, is possible in this world. That makes for quite a different story from one in which spells require rituals or material components or at least a minute or two of focusing, gesturing, and chanting. It’s not easy to interrupt the casting of a spell. About all you can do to defend yourself is put up a shield in the split second before the spell effect strikes you. So you can imagine that conflicts involving magic are deadly, and the author does not hold back in this regard. Characters that I cared about were slain, some within view of the POV character and others not, and so the reader is made privy to the details of some of these deaths and not others.
In a review of The Crimson League that I read elsewhere, a reviewer didn’t like the character of Menikas. I did. Menikas always tried to do what was right, and not just for himself. He saved Kora’s life, but she didn’t appreciate it and refused to make peace with him. I’m confident that if I had been in the same situation, I’d have done the same thing Menikas did. Because of the way magic worked in the world, with it being so easy to fire off a spell with but a word, and in a situation where Kora would have been outmatched by enemies who had magic, she would more than likely have been killed if she had tried to do what she wanted, which Menikas stopped her from doing. She blamed him for what happened after that to some of her friends, but realistically if she had intervened when she wanted she would have been unable to prevent the outcome anyway.
The situation with Menikas, a “good” character who acted in a manner he thought honorable and which another “good” character thought was deplorable, is just one example of the complex natures of the characters in this novel. Even the antagonist in this novel has some redeemable qualities, including the ability to love someone other than himself.
I never have time to read a book of this length through from beginning to end without putting it down multiple times, so I appreciated the breaks where I could put the book down. But I must also add that I could not put the book down once I had read 70% of it. I had to finish it then, and stayed up way too late, until the wee hours of the next morning, so I could finish without putting it down. I wanted to put it down and get some sleep, but I always found myself starting the next chapter just to see how things were going, and then I had to finish the chapter.
This is not epic, save-the-world fantasy fiction, and it’s not urban fantasy, but it has elements of both. There’s a touch of romance, some underground crawls and above-ground treks and a lot of hiding out in cities, an ample supply of adventure and misadventure, sword and sorcery conflicts, trolls, and complex characters. It’s my kind of fantasy tale.
So, yes, I loved the book. I’ll be reading the other books in the trilogy. I was able to obtain this book as a free download, but I’ll pay for the next two, because I want to support this author. I’ll publish some of my own fantasy novels some day, and hope they are on par with The Crimson League.
When I read how magic works in the world of this novel, I wondered if the author would be able to pull it off in a manner that would allow for the continued suspension of disbelief. Those who practice magic can cast spells as quickly as they can speak the words, if they are able to focus properly. Spouting off three spells in immediate succession, within a matter of seconds, is possible in this world. That makes for quite a different story from one in which spells require rituals or material components or at least a minute or two of focusing, gesturing, and chanting. It’s not easy to interrupt the casting of a spell. About all you can do to defend yourself is put up a shield in the split second before the spell effect strikes you. So you can imagine that conflicts involving magic are deadly, and the author does not hold back in this regard. Characters that I cared about were slain, some within view of the POV character and others not, and so the reader is made privy to the details of some of these deaths and not others.
In a review of The Crimson League that I read elsewhere, a reviewer didn’t like the character of Menikas. I did. Menikas always tried to do what was right, and not just for himself. He saved Kora’s life, but she didn’t appreciate it and refused to make peace with him. I’m confident that if I had been in the same situation, I’d have done the same thing Menikas did. Because of the way magic worked in the world, with it being so easy to fire off a spell with but a word, and in a situation where Kora would have been outmatched by enemies who had magic, she would more than likely have been killed if she had tried to do what she wanted, which Menikas stopped her from doing. She blamed him for what happened after that to some of her friends, but realistically if she had intervened when she wanted she would have been unable to prevent the outcome anyway.
The situation with Menikas, a “good” character who acted in a manner he thought honorable and which another “good” character thought was deplorable, is just one example of the complex natures of the characters in this novel. Even the antagonist in this novel has some redeemable qualities, including the ability to love someone other than himself.
I never have time to read a book of this length through from beginning to end without putting it down multiple times, so I appreciated the breaks where I could put the book down. But I must also add that I could not put the book down once I had read 70% of it. I had to finish it then, and stayed up way too late, until the wee hours of the next morning, so I could finish without putting it down. I wanted to put it down and get some sleep, but I always found myself starting the next chapter just to see how things were going, and then I had to finish the chapter.
This is not epic, save-the-world fantasy fiction, and it’s not urban fantasy, but it has elements of both. There’s a touch of romance, some underground crawls and above-ground treks and a lot of hiding out in cities, an ample supply of adventure and misadventure, sword and sorcery conflicts, trolls, and complex characters. It’s my kind of fantasy tale.
So, yes, I loved the book. I’ll be reading the other books in the trilogy. I was able to obtain this book as a free download, but I’ll pay for the next two, because I want to support this author. I’ll publish some of my own fantasy novels some day, and hope they are on par with The Crimson League.
August 12, 2016
*SPOILER ALERT*
First, this is actually two books in one, so you get your money’s worth. The world is finely crafted and most of the characters stand out as individuals instead of words on a page. Many of the events are fast-paced with there being little filler between them. Every chapter has a purpose for either the main plot or a subplot. I especially liked how a certain character’s death was handled and its effect on the survivors. It really helped lock in the bad guys as dangerous villains instead of being all talk. Speaking of the bad guys, I loved how Zalski and felt he was one of the strongest written characters. There was a sinister charisma to him that I enjoyed. It really made him stand out from an evil king who simply wanted power and would hold it by short-sighted might. By the end of the first book, I was excited to see where things would go.
Then came the second book and I felt like the author’s evil twin took over. Things begin going downhill for the heroes very quickly. Massive character deaths with many of them being ‘off camera’ and quite a few that felt stretched for shock value. It got to the point where I no longer cared if someone died. This feeling was increased by the flimsy plans and sometimes ridiculous actions of the characters. They seemed so smart and cunning in book one, but the moment they received a massive blow from Zalski, they fell apart. By the middle of book two, the Crimson League was truly no more and I was left wondering what else could go wrong. Every victory was met with such a brutal rebuttal that knocked them back that I began to think Zalski was supposed to win.
Let’s mention Zalski here because I loved him as an antagonist until he entered a bizarre James Bond villain mindset. This character was amazing throughout the entire book, except for this one flaw. Through the ‘off camera’ actions of some supporting characters, Zalski gets everything he needs for his plan. Now he can torture a League member indefinitely and read their thoughts to crush them. Yet, what’s the point? The Crimson League has lost its resources, half its core members, its headquarters, its very foundation, and has become a band of desperate rebels with a borderline death wish. They’re broken and could be effortlessly mopped up, but he continues on with this plan, which brings about his downfall. It wasn’t even a poetic downfall, but something that could have been easily avoided and came off oddly anti-climactic.
While I’m talking about characters, I hated Menakis in the second book. I think he is one of the big reasons that everything fell apart and I don't know why he caused such problems. In the first book, he was kind of background and seemed to be a calm, collected guy. He was a thinker or so I believed. In the second book, he’s a jerk that barks orders, insults Kora, and single-handedly causes the dissolution of the Crimson League. Even after he’s left the group, the damage has been done. I truly blame him for plunging the book into a really depressing limp to the final battle.
Here’s the thing: I loved the world, most of the characters, the magic system, the writing is near-flawless, and I was so into this story. It just seemed that the second book was designed to undo all progress of the first book and turn the heroes from positive, hope-filled rebels to a band of people with nothing left to lose. I would still recommend the book, but warn that you're in for a sudden, dark downward spiral for the last half
First, this is actually two books in one, so you get your money’s worth. The world is finely crafted and most of the characters stand out as individuals instead of words on a page. Many of the events are fast-paced with there being little filler between them. Every chapter has a purpose for either the main plot or a subplot. I especially liked how a certain character’s death was handled and its effect on the survivors. It really helped lock in the bad guys as dangerous villains instead of being all talk. Speaking of the bad guys, I loved how Zalski and felt he was one of the strongest written characters. There was a sinister charisma to him that I enjoyed. It really made him stand out from an evil king who simply wanted power and would hold it by short-sighted might. By the end of the first book, I was excited to see where things would go.
Then came the second book and I felt like the author’s evil twin took over. Things begin going downhill for the heroes very quickly. Massive character deaths with many of them being ‘off camera’ and quite a few that felt stretched for shock value. It got to the point where I no longer cared if someone died. This feeling was increased by the flimsy plans and sometimes ridiculous actions of the characters. They seemed so smart and cunning in book one, but the moment they received a massive blow from Zalski, they fell apart. By the middle of book two, the Crimson League was truly no more and I was left wondering what else could go wrong. Every victory was met with such a brutal rebuttal that knocked them back that I began to think Zalski was supposed to win.
Let’s mention Zalski here because I loved him as an antagonist until he entered a bizarre James Bond villain mindset. This character was amazing throughout the entire book, except for this one flaw. Through the ‘off camera’ actions of some supporting characters, Zalski gets everything he needs for his plan. Now he can torture a League member indefinitely and read their thoughts to crush them. Yet, what’s the point? The Crimson League has lost its resources, half its core members, its headquarters, its very foundation, and has become a band of desperate rebels with a borderline death wish. They’re broken and could be effortlessly mopped up, but he continues on with this plan, which brings about his downfall. It wasn’t even a poetic downfall, but something that could have been easily avoided and came off oddly anti-climactic.
While I’m talking about characters, I hated Menakis in the second book. I think he is one of the big reasons that everything fell apart and I don't know why he caused such problems. In the first book, he was kind of background and seemed to be a calm, collected guy. He was a thinker or so I believed. In the second book, he’s a jerk that barks orders, insults Kora, and single-handedly causes the dissolution of the Crimson League. Even after he’s left the group, the damage has been done. I truly blame him for plunging the book into a really depressing limp to the final battle.
Here’s the thing: I loved the world, most of the characters, the magic system, the writing is near-flawless, and I was so into this story. It just seemed that the second book was designed to undo all progress of the first book and turn the heroes from positive, hope-filled rebels to a band of people with nothing left to lose. I would still recommend the book, but warn that you're in for a sudden, dark downward spiral for the last half
July 21, 2013
Eleven-year-old Zakry is intensely curious about the world, asking questions, and even listening by the window of a tavern to eavesdrop on men's talk.
When he is harshly punished at school for disputing the revised official history, his protective sister, seventeen-year-old Kora, complains bitterly. But in the second year of a sorcerer usurper's rule, men are tortured for questioning authority, and Zakry risks putting his family in danger.
This is the first novel in the Herezoth trilogy.
Telling of the rate of tax appears to be an appeal to prejudice - a disreputable use of drama. Although we are (eventually) shown the salient evidence of the ensuing poverty and desperate overwork of Kora and her mother, I'm left curious about the state of the country and its history. As the story develops, shades of grey emerge - some of the ancien regime who were unhappy that magic was suppressed welcome a new pro-magic regime.
I don't find the nobles entirely plausible. While license should be given for an author to create a fictional world which is different from familiar times and places, if characters appear to conform to "human nature", some inferences can be drawn.
The depicted society is paternalistic and hierarchical. There are sizeable cities. People in a privileged role tend to be arrogant and insensitive to the lower social orders - despite mixing of social classes this isn't depicted. Nobles would have servants and wouldn't participate in front-line missions. If women (nobles) are active in front-line missions, why aren't there women soldiers or commanders?
But in comparisons to familiar societies, magic is a confounding factor - if reports of the sorcerer usurper are true there is at least one real live sorcerer; a public high-status figure unlike credible societies known to historians.
In a low technology society, magic can substitute for technology. Just as technology (e.g. washing machines) does away with the need for domestic servants; magic can be employed to accomplish chores as ubiquitously depicted in wizard's apprentice scenes e.g. Faust, Mary Poppins.
Nevertheless, in the story there is a widespread prejudice against sorcerers - nobody could dare to use sorcery openly, so meals must be cooked, fires must be built, clothes must be washed, floors must be scrubbed, high windows must be cleaned without the use of levitation...
The author announced a giveaway offer in an online forum. I applied and received a free e-book.
March 2, 2013
I enjoyed this book, although I do admit I have mixed feelings toward it. I definitely enjoyed the magic system presented in the book — shouting magic words and making awesome things happen is a hallmark of the fantasy genre. I loved the villain, Zalski. I thought he was suave, and clever, and weirdly honourable despite him being totally evil, and if he hadn’t killed so many people I would have wanted him to succeed and become supreme dictator. His motives are very real, very complex, and he was all around a great antagonist. Kora (the protagonist) was feisty, which I liked, and by the end of it she was doing pretty much whatever she wanted, and to heck with anyone who got in the way. I wish more female protagonists were like this! And there were some really excellent scenes that I’ll remember for years to come.
Now for the things I didn’t like so much. This one is purely personal taste, but I would have liked more romance in the book. Romance is brought up a few times, but it never felt … real for me. More like it was added as an afterthought. I’m sure it wasn’t, of course, but that’s what I took away from it. The other thing that struck me as a bit odd was that, when reading the book, I kept reaching the end of conflicts and thinking, “This pretty much wraps up the current plot arc, this must be the end of the book”. Except then I would look at my little progress bar at the bottom of my eReader and discover I was barely 25% through the book. I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that the plot is very undulating. Instead of having a slowly building rising action, it kind of goes lull, dramatic moment, lull, dramatic moment, lull, etc. Things got a bit more intense when people started dying off like flies, but overall … I don’t know, I feel like this novel could have been split into two books, and then the author could have added more character development or something to flesh out the world more.
In conclusion, The Crimson League was a fairly slow yet entertaining read in the tradition of classic swords and sorcery fantasy.
Now for the things I didn’t like so much. This one is purely personal taste, but I would have liked more romance in the book. Romance is brought up a few times, but it never felt … real for me. More like it was added as an afterthought. I’m sure it wasn’t, of course, but that’s what I took away from it. The other thing that struck me as a bit odd was that, when reading the book, I kept reaching the end of conflicts and thinking, “This pretty much wraps up the current plot arc, this must be the end of the book”. Except then I would look at my little progress bar at the bottom of my eReader and discover I was barely 25% through the book. I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that the plot is very undulating. Instead of having a slowly building rising action, it kind of goes lull, dramatic moment, lull, dramatic moment, lull, etc. Things got a bit more intense when people started dying off like flies, but overall … I don’t know, I feel like this novel could have been split into two books, and then the author could have added more character development or something to flesh out the world more.
In conclusion, The Crimson League was a fairly slow yet entertaining read in the tradition of classic swords and sorcery fantasy.
April 2, 2013
The Crimson League opens in a rather grim world where a sorcerer has killed the members of the ruling family and taken control. He uses his magic to exact revenge on the population for opposing magic and those who wield it. The citizens, taxed to poverty, begin to rebel with the aid of The Crimson League. Kora, the main protagonist, discovers she is The Marked One during a journey to a village to trade on the black market. Rescued from capture - or worse - by members of The Crimson League, Kora joins the resistance movement.
The book follows Kora’s adventures as she grows into her own power as a sorceress and details the lives and relationships that affect her and her world’s very existence. Interspersed throughout are surprises and twists that will keep the reader wondering what will happen next. As usual, I will not give away the story or be a spoiler, but I really enjoyed this one. It is a bit long, especially as the first book of a series, but well worth it.
The writing, plot, and character development were topnotch. I loved the way Victoria Grefer created a world that I could relate to and yet still wondered if such a place could truly exist. She also wove some contemporary vocabulary into the story, which further allowed me to connect with the story.
I really liked this book and I like the way Victoria Grefer set up the second book of the series in the epilogue. Again, I won’t give it away, but read this one!! Well Done Victoria Grefer!!
My rating: 4.5 Stars!!!
The book follows Kora’s adventures as she grows into her own power as a sorceress and details the lives and relationships that affect her and her world’s very existence. Interspersed throughout are surprises and twists that will keep the reader wondering what will happen next. As usual, I will not give away the story or be a spoiler, but I really enjoyed this one. It is a bit long, especially as the first book of a series, but well worth it.
The writing, plot, and character development were topnotch. I loved the way Victoria Grefer created a world that I could relate to and yet still wondered if such a place could truly exist. She also wove some contemporary vocabulary into the story, which further allowed me to connect with the story.
I really liked this book and I like the way Victoria Grefer set up the second book of the series in the epilogue. Again, I won’t give it away, but read this one!! Well Done Victoria Grefer!!
My rating: 4.5 Stars!!!
November 13, 2014
I must start by saying I'm not a vivid Fantasy reader.
But to Witness Kora and the Crimson League (a ka-tet in their own right) on their quest to remove the evil dictator of the kingdom Herezoth and reinstate the rightful King was an overall enjoyable reading experience to me.
The characters (good or bad) are well described and believable in their emotions and resulting actions. Some twists and turns sustain the pace of the story quite well.
The ending is not the happiest of all as the heroes suffer some terrible losses. But it's an ending, almost without any loose threads, so you don't have to read the sequel (albeit you should and I will certainly do).
I'm a fan of epilogues and this book gives us even two. One is set 10 years in the future (of the main story's events), and the other one a whopping 400 years!
What puzzles me is the number 445 at the end of each chapter. I wonder if this is just a formatting glitch or if it has a deeper meaning that escapes me. UPDATE: The author confirms that this was just a glitch, which is removed in the current Kindle edition.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
But to Witness Kora and the Crimson League (a ka-tet in their own right) on their quest to remove the evil dictator of the kingdom Herezoth and reinstate the rightful King was an overall enjoyable reading experience to me.
The characters (good or bad) are well described and believable in their emotions and resulting actions. Some twists and turns sustain the pace of the story quite well.
The ending is not the happiest of all as the heroes suffer some terrible losses. But it's an ending, almost without any loose threads, so you don't have to read the sequel (albeit you should and I will certainly do).
I'm a fan of epilogues and this book gives us even two. One is set 10 years in the future (of the main story's events), and the other one a whopping 400 years!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
March 25, 2013
When deciding to read this book, I chose it completely at random out of a selection of Kindle books I'd been collecting over the past few months and adding to my "to-read" list. Within the first chapter or two, I began to see realize that perhaps this random choice was a very good one. By the fourth chapter, I was thrilled! I really enjoyed this book more than I could have imagined!
The author created an entire world rich with its own landscapes, characters, and histories. This tale comes to life with each and every chapter and takes you, the reader, on a journey that unfolds in time with the characters. It feels like you are taking each step with them, maybe like you are watching them as if the tale is a movie unfolding as you go in perfect unison? The twists and turns will get you each time and right when you think you know what's going on something will happen (sometimes so suddenly you r mouth will almost literally hit the floor) to make you have to rethink what you were thinking in the first place!
All in all, I really enjoyed this book so much more than I had imagined I would when I first downloaded it. I am really looking forward to the next one (and the one after that as well). I would really recommend this book!
The author created an entire world rich with its own landscapes, characters, and histories. This tale comes to life with each and every chapter and takes you, the reader, on a journey that unfolds in time with the characters. It feels like you are taking each step with them, maybe like you are watching them as if the tale is a movie unfolding as you go in perfect unison? The twists and turns will get you each time and right when you think you know what's going on something will happen (sometimes so suddenly you r mouth will almost literally hit the floor) to make you have to rethink what you were thinking in the first place!
All in all, I really enjoyed this book so much more than I had imagined I would when I first downloaded it. I am really looking forward to the next one (and the one after that as well). I would really recommend this book!
June 10, 2013
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The action kept things moving very quickly, but really picked up in the 2nd half. That is when this became one of those "really must put this down and go to sleep now, oh, maybe just a few more pages..." kind of books.
I do have a couple of criticisms though.
1. I did have a bit of trouble following all of the characters involved so while it pained me to see the league numbers dwindle, it actually allowed me to enjoy the book more with less characters being focused on.
2. The line about waiting for the men to chop wood at the campsite really irked me and felt soooo out of place. These are women of the resistance! They are strong and tough! Surely, they can lift and ax and chop some wood.
The ending was just right though, even if not was I was hoping for.
Good work, Ms. Grefer! I will be adding the follow ups to my TBR list.
I do have a couple of criticisms though.
1. I did have a bit of trouble following all of the characters involved so while it pained me to see the league numbers dwindle, it actually allowed me to enjoy the book more with less characters being focused on.
2. The line about waiting for the men to chop wood at the campsite really irked me and felt soooo out of place. These are women of the resistance! They are strong and tough! Surely, they can lift and ax and chop some wood.
The ending was just right though, even if not was I was hoping for.
Good work, Ms. Grefer! I will be adding the follow ups to my TBR list.
January 27, 2013
This was an excellent book. If I were to compare I would say it is close to Hunger Games. It is a different world one that has magical humans and nonmagical humans against each other. There is a man who has taken over the kingdom who is torturing people and a group called the Crimson League that has decided to rise up against him in order to restore order to the kingdom and place the rightful King in his place. The characters are amazing and really tug at your heart strings. The book didn't end the way I wanted it to but I loved for that. All in All I would recommend this book to anyone.
November 1, 2012
I really enjoyed this book and found it difficult to put down. The characters are interesting and well rounded and plenty happens to keep it moving. It is pretty well written. I especially appreciated that it is complete. It seems like so many of the fantasies I read these days end with cliff-hangers, but this one is entire and complete in one volume. Worth the read.
March 6, 2013
Ugh. I tried so hard to like this book, but neither the characters nor the plot were compelling. You know it's lousy when you get all the way to the SECOND epilogue at the end of a very long book and just quit. It sounds like a silly thing, but all of the characters names were so awkward that they never flowed smoothly even in my head -- made it harder to feel comfortable with them.
June 13, 2013
This was such an easy book to pick up and become absorbed in. The plot was good and kept you on your toes.
I loved the descriptions and characters, they were believable.
Lovely writing style with a good balance of thought, descriptions and conversations.
I enjoyed the epilogues too.
For young teens or adults a great read.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy.
I loved the descriptions and characters, they were believable.
Lovely writing style with a good balance of thought, descriptions and conversations.
I enjoyed the epilogues too.
For young teens or adults a great read.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy.
Read
November 19, 2012UGGH.
November 29, 2012
Boring as hell!!! Put down due to sheer boredom.
November 18, 2013
Complex story with lots of good characters. Very enjoyable read
April 21, 2016
Some places were confusing or didn't go into too much detail like I wished but I liked it overall.
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