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Valcoria: Children of the Crystal Star
History repeats itself like a song. The verses may vary, but the melody is always the same. The eastern empire of Aukasia has a new leader, a man who means to bring war to all the land. Yet, even in all his bloody ambition, he does not realize that he is but the puppet of a greater evil. Only the Kalyra - The Children of the Crystal Star - can stand against what's coming. Only they can protect the world of Valcoria from the mad hatred of the fallen god, Aedar. A new verse of the song has begun. The last verse..
- GenresFantasy
Paperback
Published April 17, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 4, 2016
I finished reading "Valcoria" five days ago and have spent those days and night considering just how to write this review. I received it as a winner of a Goodreads Giveaway. I started out giving this a three star rating due to technical problems but have decided to give it four stars for the solid writing of a complex epic style story and for characters who all had foibles and an ending that didn't quite tie-up everyone's story in neat little knots (though it was close).
I found the storyline to be complicated but well thought out. I was jolted about the introduction of technology in this fantasy at first but the explanation fit and seemed plausible for the world King has developed.
I only have two big concerns, the first is the more than a dozen point of view characters. Believe me when I say I understand the desire of the author to have that many points of view (my first book started out with thirteen)but the process I went through to cut it down to five proved to be one of the best things I did for my book. I learned how to write better by using only those five characters. I think "Valcoria" could be even better if the story wasn't jumping from character to character - sometimes two or three points of view per page as they were 'simultaneous' in the action. Luckily King did separate each point of view appropriately.
My second concern is the number of misses in the editing, particularly toward the end where a character's name is misspelled. There were incomplete sentences, missing punctuation which made ideas difficult to understand, and line formatting errors that just plain bothered me. Some sentences seemed to have undergone editing but had not been rechecked to see if they read right or smoothly. I started out keeping track of each hiccough in the text but quickly decided that would take up too much time and I was interested in the actual story so I tried not to fuss too much and continued to read.
The world King has constructed is meaty and has lots to offer a reader. The characters are well drawn and believable, especially Sitrell and Yuiv. I can see more than four or five possibilities of other books to come from this world and I hope King does continue. However, I would suggest to use a maximum of five points of view in each of those to lessen some confusion. Perhaps even considering rewriting "Valcoria" with only five as well. Just a suggestion, Jason.
An especially nice and unique touch was the little story at the top of each chapter as it connected the past to the present in this fantasy. With each chapter I tried to figure out if they would hint at more than just the overall story and I often returned to reread them once I finished the chapter. The end was a satisfying tie-up of that loose end and I look forward to reading more.
I found the storyline to be complicated but well thought out. I was jolted about the introduction of technology in this fantasy at first but the explanation fit and seemed plausible for the world King has developed.
I only have two big concerns, the first is the more than a dozen point of view characters. Believe me when I say I understand the desire of the author to have that many points of view (my first book started out with thirteen)but the process I went through to cut it down to five proved to be one of the best things I did for my book. I learned how to write better by using only those five characters. I think "Valcoria" could be even better if the story wasn't jumping from character to character - sometimes two or three points of view per page as they were 'simultaneous' in the action. Luckily King did separate each point of view appropriately.
My second concern is the number of misses in the editing, particularly toward the end where a character's name is misspelled. There were incomplete sentences, missing punctuation which made ideas difficult to understand, and line formatting errors that just plain bothered me. Some sentences seemed to have undergone editing but had not been rechecked to see if they read right or smoothly. I started out keeping track of each hiccough in the text but quickly decided that would take up too much time and I was interested in the actual story so I tried not to fuss too much and continued to read.
The world King has constructed is meaty and has lots to offer a reader. The characters are well drawn and believable, especially Sitrell and Yuiv. I can see more than four or five possibilities of other books to come from this world and I hope King does continue. However, I would suggest to use a maximum of five points of view in each of those to lessen some confusion. Perhaps even considering rewriting "Valcoria" with only five as well. Just a suggestion, Jason.
An especially nice and unique touch was the little story at the top of each chapter as it connected the past to the present in this fantasy. With each chapter I tried to figure out if they would hint at more than just the overall story and I often returned to reread them once I finished the chapter. The end was a satisfying tie-up of that loose end and I look forward to reading more.
November 26, 2014
I first read “Crown of Darkness,” a short story prequel to Valcoria published on the Curiosity Quills website. It was a wonderful short story, beautifully written, with heart-wrenching characters and an intriguing world where magic and technology are cleverly entwined. I requested an ARC in advance of the April re-release of Valcoria in exchange for an honest review. I lament that it has taken me so many months to finish the book and write this review, because it really is a wonderful read!
This story has an epic feel, with a lot of characters and a rich, complex plot. In Jason’s universe, Medieval magic and advanced fantasy technology drive a classic battle between the forces of good and evil. The fates of the various Valcorian kingdoms of mankind are at stake.
My favorite character was Yuiv. He started at the lowest point in almost every way, and grew the most in every way over the course of the story. It was wonderful to watch him learn and grow stronger morally, and in particular to journey with him as he discovered supernatural powers for good that he never knew he had. Great character.
Interesting plot. The magic-technology combination was extremely creative. There was action, romance, suspense. Great storytelling. I highly recommend this book to fantasy readers.
This story has an epic feel, with a lot of characters and a rich, complex plot. In Jason’s universe, Medieval magic and advanced fantasy technology drive a classic battle between the forces of good and evil. The fates of the various Valcorian kingdoms of mankind are at stake.
My favorite character was Yuiv. He started at the lowest point in almost every way, and grew the most in every way over the course of the story. It was wonderful to watch him learn and grow stronger morally, and in particular to journey with him as he discovered supernatural powers for good that he never knew he had. Great character.
Interesting plot. The magic-technology combination was extremely creative. There was action, romance, suspense. Great storytelling. I highly recommend this book to fantasy readers.
August 12, 2016
I enjoyed reading this book even with the minor issues I noticed. The writing is solid but could use some editing in a few places for a better reading experience. This ties in with the plot, which is actually good just a bit too slow in places. The characters feel well fleshed out and have good development through the book. Overall this is a solid fantasy well worth the read and a good start by this author. I received an evaluation copy in exchange for my honest unpaid opinion.
September 26, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed Jason King's writing style. I enjoyed how Jason King gave the reader so many different point of views. I understand how it could get confusing for some but I rather enjoyed it, and it kept me entertained. The storyline and the characters were all well thought out. I enjoyed this read a lot. Well done Mr. King!
September 6, 2014
Though at first I found it somewhat difficult to get into, I ended up really loving this book and its story line. The characters were really amazing and were human enough to really connect with. My only complaint was that the story-line was a bit disconnected. Overall, can't wait for the next one!
July 21, 2015
I loved this book! It's like an amazing mashup of Lord of the Rings and The Wheel of Time series. If you love epic fantasy-- you need to read this book!
May 3, 2014
Jason King's Valcoria immerses the reader in a well-thought out, deep world with a rich history. A personal irk of mine is when technology creeps into a fantasy work. More often than not, it turns me off. In Valcoria, however, King combines elements of an ancient ruined civilization (technology) in a way that does not feel 'tacked on' as it so often does. Also, there are no elves, dragons, dwarves or any overt "wizards" - so the emergence of technology does not feel out of place.
The characters are conflicted, many are torn between loyalty to duty and their own desire, some between courage and cowardice, others between family and power, and all struck me as believable. Throughout the book, chapter headings tease with a tale of a fallen ruler as they reveal the history of the world. There was no "magic" in the traditional fantasy sense, instead a sense of mysticism based on manipulating the energy of one's soul (Jia) channeled in one of a number of ways (healing, boosting strength/speed, teleportation) depending on which lineage a person descended from.
King's narrative alternates from one character to another to show the story from multiple angles and brings us closer to all of the major characters. Occasionally I found it irksome to shift to another character's perspective, but I think that was due to me wanting to get back to (and find out what happened) with a previous character. Some are more complex (Yuiv) than others (Lorta - who at times can be archetypical), but I enjoyed the portrayals and found the characters well done.
Overall, between the effort put into crafting the world and its pantheon, and the storytelling, Valcoria is a worthy addition to any bookshelf.
The characters are conflicted, many are torn between loyalty to duty and their own desire, some between courage and cowardice, others between family and power, and all struck me as believable. Throughout the book, chapter headings tease with a tale of a fallen ruler as they reveal the history of the world. There was no "magic" in the traditional fantasy sense, instead a sense of mysticism based on manipulating the energy of one's soul (Jia) channeled in one of a number of ways (healing, boosting strength/speed, teleportation) depending on which lineage a person descended from.
King's narrative alternates from one character to another to show the story from multiple angles and brings us closer to all of the major characters. Occasionally I found it irksome to shift to another character's perspective, but I think that was due to me wanting to get back to (and find out what happened) with a previous character. Some are more complex (Yuiv) than others (Lorta - who at times can be archetypical), but I enjoyed the portrayals and found the characters well done.
Overall, between the effort put into crafting the world and its pantheon, and the storytelling, Valcoria is a worthy addition to any bookshelf.
June 2, 2014
(I received a free copy of this book, from Curiosity Quills Press, in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
I really did like this book. There are a few that can draw me in from the first couple of sentences and this was definitely one of those books.
I really liked Yuiv and Sitrell in particular. Sitrell was a fantasy hero I could really get behind and he came across as really well-rounded, with a lot of depth.
The little snippets at the beginning of each chapter really intrigued me, though it wasn't until towards the end of the book that I realised how they were linked to the general plot of the book.
I particularly liked the world that was created in this book. The different kinds of abilities made a lot of sense and it was interesting to see the different peoples that populated the world. I thought it was really good how the two peoples had good and bad members, rather than one of the peoples being purely good or purely evil. The bad characters also had strong motives for what they were doing, which is always a plus.
I felt that Yuiv was the character who went through the most growth. I was able to empathise with him during the course of the book and I really liked his relationships with Sitrell and Tyra.
Etai was also an intriguing character, even though I didn't see a lot of him. It would be really good to see more of him in later books.
I did think that this book was really well-written with intriguing, well-rounded characters. I would recommend this as a good book to read if you like fantasy. I will definitely be checking out other books by this author in the near future.
(This review may contain spoilers).
I really did like this book. There are a few that can draw me in from the first couple of sentences and this was definitely one of those books.
I really liked Yuiv and Sitrell in particular. Sitrell was a fantasy hero I could really get behind and he came across as really well-rounded, with a lot of depth.
The little snippets at the beginning of each chapter really intrigued me, though it wasn't until towards the end of the book that I realised how they were linked to the general plot of the book.
I particularly liked the world that was created in this book. The different kinds of abilities made a lot of sense and it was interesting to see the different peoples that populated the world. I thought it was really good how the two peoples had good and bad members, rather than one of the peoples being purely good or purely evil. The bad characters also had strong motives for what they were doing, which is always a plus.
I felt that Yuiv was the character who went through the most growth. I was able to empathise with him during the course of the book and I really liked his relationships with Sitrell and Tyra.
Etai was also an intriguing character, even though I didn't see a lot of him. It would be really good to see more of him in later books.
I did think that this book was really well-written with intriguing, well-rounded characters. I would recommend this as a good book to read if you like fantasy. I will definitely be checking out other books by this author in the near future.
May 8, 2012
I have to admit my bad on this one. I’ve had it FOREVER and had it on a shelf and promptly forgot about it. Yeesh. Bad on me. My goal is to not leave books that long, especially ones that the author took the time to send me, so my very sincere apologies to Jason King.
I think the story has loads of potential, as does King as an author. I enjoyed the premise quite a lot, which is that the land has a new leader, who is apparently hell-bent on ruining his country. Not a very smart guy, trying to ruin everything he’s worked to gain… Poor guy though. He’s just in the clutches of someone even worse and he doesn’t know it.
I though the characters were quite well-done and for the most part, people that were relatable. Plot-wise, it was a little slow in parts, but that’s not generally a huge deal. Some stories need a little slow in there.
I did have a little trouble following sometimes. The POV changed a lot, and you know how I really don’t like that all that much. It can be done superbly (Under the Never Sky, for example), but I didn’t think this one quite met the mark.
For being a self-published book, Valcoria was remarkably free of errors and things that normally make me run screaming. From what I understand, Jason’s wife does his editing. She deserves a prize, because she’s done a fantastic job. Kudos, Mrs. King!
Overall, while I enjoyed the story, the alternating POV was a little too much for me. I’m giving this one a ‘Hmmm’ rating.
I think the story has loads of potential, as does King as an author. I enjoyed the premise quite a lot, which is that the land has a new leader, who is apparently hell-bent on ruining his country. Not a very smart guy, trying to ruin everything he’s worked to gain… Poor guy though. He’s just in the clutches of someone even worse and he doesn’t know it.
I though the characters were quite well-done and for the most part, people that were relatable. Plot-wise, it was a little slow in parts, but that’s not generally a huge deal. Some stories need a little slow in there.
I did have a little trouble following sometimes. The POV changed a lot, and you know how I really don’t like that all that much. It can be done superbly (Under the Never Sky, for example), but I didn’t think this one quite met the mark.
For being a self-published book, Valcoria was remarkably free of errors and things that normally make me run screaming. From what I understand, Jason’s wife does his editing. She deserves a prize, because she’s done a fantastic job. Kudos, Mrs. King!
Overall, while I enjoyed the story, the alternating POV was a little too much for me. I’m giving this one a ‘Hmmm’ rating.
April 23, 2014
Jason King has a true gift with words!
His descriptive passages are so well written I felt like I was living the scene!
A GREAT BOOK!
War has always been and will forever be as long as man is hungry for power.
And so it is with "the eastern empire of Aukasia" and the new leader.
But there will always be those who fight with all of their soul to battle against the evil that prevails.
There are also, unfortunately, those who get caught up in the fever to only feel anguish of what they have done and then spend their lives trying to make recompense.
This book has ALL of the above!
Now add in a magic crown, magic weapons, kings, queens, battle generals, soldiers, and a promised generation and it brings the story to a whole new level.
"Only the Kalyra - The Children of the Crystal Star - can stand against what's coming."
"Only they can protect the world of Valcoria."
PERFECT FOR LOVERS OF FANTASY AND A GOOD BATTLE!
His descriptive passages are so well written I felt like I was living the scene!
A GREAT BOOK!
War has always been and will forever be as long as man is hungry for power.
And so it is with "the eastern empire of Aukasia" and the new leader.
But there will always be those who fight with all of their soul to battle against the evil that prevails.
There are also, unfortunately, those who get caught up in the fever to only feel anguish of what they have done and then spend their lives trying to make recompense.
This book has ALL of the above!
Now add in a magic crown, magic weapons, kings, queens, battle generals, soldiers, and a promised generation and it brings the story to a whole new level.
"Only the Kalyra - The Children of the Crystal Star - can stand against what's coming."
"Only they can protect the world of Valcoria."
PERFECT FOR LOVERS OF FANTASY AND A GOOD BATTLE!
August 16, 2011
This book is really good! The characters are well-written and fleshed out. The action scenes are very well done and contain plenty of action. The author takes a bold step and writes the story with forteen different points of view and does it very well. The points of view adds flavor that most books do not have. The book is great, with the right amount of calm scenes as well as the action scenes spaced out. It's a masterpiece in its own right. I have not read books much better than this one and so I recommend this book to any reader that wants a nice afternoon read and is looking for an action novel!
April 9, 2013
This book was an amazing tale told through multiple points of view. Each of the main characters has their own personal back story to attach the reader to each of them. This book connects the reader to the story through plot twists, detailed action scenes, character development. The author presented his story in such a way to keep the readers interested in the story and to look forward to a sequel. Author Jason King and his debut novel deserves a 5 star rating for his hard work and talent. I recommend this book to any fantasy/science fiction fans out there.
May 29, 2014
4 Stars!
The author was nice enough to provide me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I think that this was a very good book. I loved the imagery presented throughout the text. The author is great at writing interesting characters and a fast-moving story line that keeps you interested. I really enjoyed the little headers before each chapter that told a story within itself. I think the book's best parts were the vulnerable scenes including Yuiv, who was my favorite character. All in all, this was an interesting and original story.
The author was nice enough to provide me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I think that this was a very good book. I loved the imagery presented throughout the text. The author is great at writing interesting characters and a fast-moving story line that keeps you interested. I really enjoyed the little headers before each chapter that told a story within itself. I think the book's best parts were the vulnerable scenes including Yuiv, who was my favorite character. All in all, this was an interesting and original story.
October 13, 2011
Valcoria - My favorite fantasy book of 2011". I took longer than usual to finish this book but I must say I have just become Jason King's #1 fan. I loved Valcoria. The plot, the action scene, the interaction between the characters; the flow of the story, the treason & adventure, is what makes Valcoria a great story. I am looking forward to reading more of his work.
October 2, 2011
This was an amazing book! There is a lot of action a little romance and keeps you reading til the end. I really enjoyed reading this book and I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading fantasy books.
September 23, 2013
Valcoria by Jason King is an excellent offering from a first time author. Starting in a futuristic setting with a man that has seemingly lost his mind and become a tyrant. His wife manages to bring him back to himself, but at great cost to them both.
From there the book seemingly flies in a totally different direction and the tie ins to the opening scene come slowly. I did actually really enjoy the slow revelation of what had happened in the opening scene as well as learning what it really led to.
I honestly didn't know what to think when I started reading this book. I had expected a bit more of the traditional epic fantasy and it started out very differently. It didn't take too long to get more into what I was expecting. The characters, though fairly numerous, are well written. The changing perspective can get a little confusing at times until you get a real grasp on them. The incorporation of the advanced technology into a traditional fantasy setting worked out very well. The magic system was also pretty unique and I enjoyed learning about it.
I'll be sure to look into more from this author in the future.
Review copy provided by the author.
From there the book seemingly flies in a totally different direction and the tie ins to the opening scene come slowly. I did actually really enjoy the slow revelation of what had happened in the opening scene as well as learning what it really led to.
I honestly didn't know what to think when I started reading this book. I had expected a bit more of the traditional epic fantasy and it started out very differently. It didn't take too long to get more into what I was expecting. The characters, though fairly numerous, are well written. The changing perspective can get a little confusing at times until you get a real grasp on them. The incorporation of the advanced technology into a traditional fantasy setting worked out very well. The magic system was also pretty unique and I enjoyed learning about it.
I'll be sure to look into more from this author in the future.
Review copy provided by the author.
January 29, 2018
I love a good science fiction/fantasy novel! You should read Valcoria, if you do as well! I wasn't to sure what this book was all about but the more I read, I loved it! My favorite character is Yuiv, I'm rooting for him! He's an orphan turned thief, and now holds one of the biggest secrets. He has a chance for redemption in the form of a wounded solider but does he seek redemption. This book has so many great parts, the character development is my favorite, Jason has a way of making you wanting to kick a few characters in the butt! Did I mention there was action, love, and death?? These make for great plot twists, definitely give this book a read! Also read the sequel! * I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Curiosity Quills Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.*
January 5, 2016
A complex interwoven world of magic, technology and fantasy, I really enjoy Valcoria. Jason King brings a new twist on the epic fantasy by adding advanced technology to a fantasy world full or interesting characters and civilizations. It grabs hold of you from the very start and takes you on an intense journey. The author really develops his characters and fleshes them out with such realism. My favorite characters were Sitrell and Yuiv. I enjoyed seeing how they interacted and their relationship unfolds as a rather unlikely pair. Hacik Larden is impossible not love to hate as the conniving villain, so well written and natural in his evil, power hungry ways. From start to finish it was a very well written, thought out adventure.
January 15, 2016
I've read a few of Jason King's other book, but this one is definitely my favorite. I love how distinct each character is and that as each one makes a decision it doesn't feel out of place. One thing that I really liked is that not everyone gets a "happily ever after" ending, but it's easy to see how each person's actions and decisions led them to the ending they got. Another thing that I liked is that although there are hints at possible sequels, it does well as a stand alone.
It is a book intended for a slightly older audience, so I wouldn't recommend it for a kid's read, but I enjoyed it much more than I expected to.
It is a book intended for a slightly older audience, so I wouldn't recommend it for a kid's read, but I enjoyed it much more than I expected to.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews