What do you think?
Rate this book
Tales of the Lorekeepers #1
L'Envol du Dragon Rouge
Samuel Osmond ouvrit les yeux dans un monde dont il avait toujours rêvé, où les légendes étaient plus que des histoires fantaisistes et les héros fabuleux combattaient des adversaires à glacer le sang. Dans sa main, il tenait les dés mystérieux qui l’avaient transporté ici, dans ce monde nommé Metverold. Il se souvenait d’avoir lancé les dés dans sa chambre, et de la lumière écarlate qui l’avait engloutit, mais il ne savait pas pourquoi il avait été transporté dans cet endroit. Heureusement, il rencontrera bientôt Angéline, une fata qui a pour tâche d’aider Samuel à comprendre son nouveau rôle de Gardien de Légendes.
Mais Metverold est un monde brutal, et Samuel constate rapidement le danger dans lequel il se trouve. Dissimulé parmi l’armée du roi Vortigern, en fuite devant les envahisseurs saxons, Samuel doit retrouver un sorcier noir qui menace de changer l’histoire, avant qu’une force datant d’une époque antérieure soit relâchée sur Dinas Ffaraon. Et qui est ce garçon qui semble en savoir beaucoup plus qu’il le devrait normalement ? Pourrait-il être la clé ?
Découvrez l’histoire qui a captivé les lecteurs à travers le monde entier, et joignez-vous à Samuel dans ses aventures au cœur de contrées mythiques et dans des batailles aux côtés de héros légendaires.
Mais Metverold est un monde brutal, et Samuel constate rapidement le danger dans lequel il se trouve. Dissimulé parmi l’armée du roi Vortigern, en fuite devant les envahisseurs saxons, Samuel doit retrouver un sorcier noir qui menace de changer l’histoire, avant qu’une force datant d’une époque antérieure soit relâchée sur Dinas Ffaraon. Et qui est ce garçon qui semble en savoir beaucoup plus qu’il le devrait normalement ? Pourrait-il être la clé ?
Découvrez l’histoire qui a captivé les lecteurs à travers le monde entier, et joignez-vous à Samuel dans ses aventures au cœur de contrées mythiques et dans des batailles aux côtés de héros légendaires.
ebook
First published February 6, 2012
20 people are currently reading
583 people want to read
About the author
Martin Rouillard
22 books9 followersMartin Rouillard is the author of the best-selling series Tales of the Lorekeepers, which includes Rise of the Red Dragon (2012), The Giants of Albion (2013), and The Last Prince of Troy (2014). The first books in the series have been among the best-selling ebooks in France since publication, making their way into the Top 100 on Amazon France and other retailers. The series will include three more books, to be published over the next few years.
Martin is passionate about writing, and is also an avid student of mythology and its impact on the history of our world. He believes the legends of our past have forged who we are today. Without those tales, our world would be very different. With the Tales of the Lorekeepers series, Martin aims to entertain his readers, and also to introduce them to legends they may not know, but that have shaped the world in which we live in one way or another.
Martin is French-Canadian, and writes in both French and English. He lives near Quebec City, in Quebec, Canada. With a background in business management, self-publishing was a natural fit for him. When Martin is not writing, promoting his books, or helping new authors publish their work, he enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
Martin is passionate about writing, and is also an avid student of mythology and its impact on the history of our world. He believes the legends of our past have forged who we are today. Without those tales, our world would be very different. With the Tales of the Lorekeepers series, Martin aims to entertain his readers, and also to introduce them to legends they may not know, but that have shaped the world in which we live in one way or another.
Martin is French-Canadian, and writes in both French and English. He lives near Quebec City, in Quebec, Canada. With a background in business management, self-publishing was a natural fit for him. When Martin is not writing, promoting his books, or helping new authors publish their work, he enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 16, 2012
Lorekeepers, teleportation, legendary characters... You can't beat that!
As an official reviewer from IndieBookBlogger.blogspot.com, I was given a copy of this book to read/review at my leisure. However, I had the book read in only a couple of sittings.
First and foremost, since I have written a couple of novels about characters teleporting from one place to another, this book struck a few chords with storylines I'm very familiar with. Settling down, I began to read about the adventures of a teenager, Samuel, and his adventures following the purchase of a unique set of dice found at a hobby store. As luck would have it, he's instantly transported off to another time and another world, where he awakens to discover he's been chosen/selected/drafted to become a Lorekeeper, someone whose job it is to make sure pieces of history continue to "flow" as it should lest it screw something up farther down the line.
I don't believe in giving away any parts of the story when doing a review, so if you're looking for spoilers then you won't find them here. This book reminded me of an old sci-fi/fantasy series way back in the 80s called the Voyagers, where this man and boy travel around to various periods in time and give history a push in the right direction.
I enjoyed seeing Samuel progress from nerdy boy who liked to play video games, participate in medieval reenactments, etc., to a young man responsible for his own welfare and protecting his new friends. One of my favorite parts about this book was when he finally put two and two together and he realized just who he was protecting and what "story" he had to protect as well.
I have a few critiques with this book. Minor, I'll grant you, but enough to make me notice it. There were a few places in the book where there was a wrong tense of a verb, or a singular form of a word when it should have been plural. I usually overlook one or two, 'cause no one's perfect, but I didn't notice several. Again, nothing major. The biggest problem I had, and again, it was minor, was the fata (read the book to learn what that is!) kept oftentimes referred to Samuel as "Sammy", which I wouldn't think would be in character for her. Then she'd return to talking in a formal manner and it'd be back to "Samuel".
But, since you can see I still rated this 5 stars, it did nothing to deter from the overall enjoyment of the book. Great job, Mr. Rouillard. I get the impression a sequel or two might be in the works. I certainly hope so! I'll pick up a copy if you ever do release one!
As an official reviewer from IndieBookBlogger.blogspot.com, I was given a copy of this book to read/review at my leisure. However, I had the book read in only a couple of sittings.
First and foremost, since I have written a couple of novels about characters teleporting from one place to another, this book struck a few chords with storylines I'm very familiar with. Settling down, I began to read about the adventures of a teenager, Samuel, and his adventures following the purchase of a unique set of dice found at a hobby store. As luck would have it, he's instantly transported off to another time and another world, where he awakens to discover he's been chosen/selected/drafted to become a Lorekeeper, someone whose job it is to make sure pieces of history continue to "flow" as it should lest it screw something up farther down the line.
I don't believe in giving away any parts of the story when doing a review, so if you're looking for spoilers then you won't find them here. This book reminded me of an old sci-fi/fantasy series way back in the 80s called the Voyagers, where this man and boy travel around to various periods in time and give history a push in the right direction.
I enjoyed seeing Samuel progress from nerdy boy who liked to play video games, participate in medieval reenactments, etc., to a young man responsible for his own welfare and protecting his new friends. One of my favorite parts about this book was when he finally put two and two together and he realized just who he was protecting and what "story" he had to protect as well.
I have a few critiques with this book. Minor, I'll grant you, but enough to make me notice it. There were a few places in the book where there was a wrong tense of a verb, or a singular form of a word when it should have been plural. I usually overlook one or two, 'cause no one's perfect, but I didn't notice several. Again, nothing major. The biggest problem I had, and again, it was minor, was the fata (read the book to learn what that is!) kept oftentimes referred to Samuel as "Sammy", which I wouldn't think would be in character for her. Then she'd return to talking in a formal manner and it'd be back to "Samuel".
But, since you can see I still rated this 5 stars, it did nothing to deter from the overall enjoyment of the book. Great job, Mr. Rouillard. I get the impression a sequel or two might be in the works. I certainly hope so! I'll pick up a copy if you ever do release one!
June 3, 2012
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Annabell
I have always been in love with a good mythological story. There are just so many that are dark and twisted and enchanting. Rise of the Red Dragon, the first installment in the Tales of the Lorekeepers series, explores storytelling of myths and legends in a fun and exciting way.
Samuel has just turned fourteen years old and as a gift his parents take him to his favorite store to go on a shopping spree worth two hundred dollars. Samuel happens upon a set of white dice he likes the look of and decides to buy them. He soon discovers the dice are not simply for decoration, they hold powerful and ancient magic, throwing Samuel back into a world of myth. Samuel has to navigate the world he travels to with the help of a fata, or fairy, named Angeline who quickly informs Samuel that he is a Lorekeeper and his job is protect the mythological stories he loves so much. But it won’t be an easy task. Samuel has to not only survive an impending war, keep his identity hidden and somehow find a way back home; he also has to find a way to take down an evil sorcerer determined to destroy the mythological story and the power behind it. Let the sword fighting begin!
Samuel was a sweet and charming hero. He starts off as a fumbling fourteen year old boy who manages to survive more on luck than actual talent and grows into a strong, courageous young man. He fights hard to protect the new friends he has come to love, especially when he finds out the truth as to why protecting the mythological story he was sent to is so important! He has a kind heart and is a such a nerd, it’s cute.
Angeline, the fata or fairy, was pretty funny and absentminded at times. Uther, Ambrosius, and Kaleb were great characters. Each noble, brave, and strong. Mallory was my favorite character out of the book. He is wise, rough around the edges, and loyal. He carries himself with strength and stands for what is right even if it means he has to sacrifice his life. I enjoyed his bond with Samuel. They grew from mistrusting soldiers to brothers.
There are only a few things that bothered me about the book. There were , at times, where the dialogue switched between being formal and elegant to casual and ‘present time’. It made the pacing come off choppy at times. The narration was also rough at times because it came off too ‘grown up’ throughout the progression of the story which also happened with the dialogue. There were many instances where Samuel sounded much older than fourteen which took away from the young adult feel to his character.
Rise of the Red Dragon starts off at a steady pace gradually building into intense action with swords, lethal dragons, and evil sorcerers.
If you’re a person who enjoys a good take on an aged old myth, then you will have fun reading, Rise of the Red Dragon!
http://openbooksociety.com/article/ri...
I have always been in love with a good mythological story. There are just so many that are dark and twisted and enchanting. Rise of the Red Dragon, the first installment in the Tales of the Lorekeepers series, explores storytelling of myths and legends in a fun and exciting way.
Samuel has just turned fourteen years old and as a gift his parents take him to his favorite store to go on a shopping spree worth two hundred dollars. Samuel happens upon a set of white dice he likes the look of and decides to buy them. He soon discovers the dice are not simply for decoration, they hold powerful and ancient magic, throwing Samuel back into a world of myth. Samuel has to navigate the world he travels to with the help of a fata, or fairy, named Angeline who quickly informs Samuel that he is a Lorekeeper and his job is protect the mythological stories he loves so much. But it won’t be an easy task. Samuel has to not only survive an impending war, keep his identity hidden and somehow find a way back home; he also has to find a way to take down an evil sorcerer determined to destroy the mythological story and the power behind it. Let the sword fighting begin!
Samuel was a sweet and charming hero. He starts off as a fumbling fourteen year old boy who manages to survive more on luck than actual talent and grows into a strong, courageous young man. He fights hard to protect the new friends he has come to love, especially when he finds out the truth as to why protecting the mythological story he was sent to is so important! He has a kind heart and is a such a nerd, it’s cute.
Angeline, the fata or fairy, was pretty funny and absentminded at times. Uther, Ambrosius, and Kaleb were great characters. Each noble, brave, and strong. Mallory was my favorite character out of the book. He is wise, rough around the edges, and loyal. He carries himself with strength and stands for what is right even if it means he has to sacrifice his life. I enjoyed his bond with Samuel. They grew from mistrusting soldiers to brothers.
There are only a few things that bothered me about the book. There were , at times, where the dialogue switched between being formal and elegant to casual and ‘present time’. It made the pacing come off choppy at times. The narration was also rough at times because it came off too ‘grown up’ throughout the progression of the story which also happened with the dialogue. There were many instances where Samuel sounded much older than fourteen which took away from the young adult feel to his character.
Rise of the Red Dragon starts off at a steady pace gradually building into intense action with swords, lethal dragons, and evil sorcerers.
If you’re a person who enjoys a good take on an aged old myth, then you will have fun reading, Rise of the Red Dragon!
http://openbooksociety.com/article/ri...
June 25, 2012
4.5 stars
Rise of the Red Dragon is a very entertaining story focusing on an Arthurian story arc. The premise of the story is a bit unique while still being somewhat familiar. When a young man, Samuel, gets some money for his birthday he heads to his favorite store for RPGs and LARPing gear. While perusing the shelves he sees what looks like a very authentic set of white bone dice that he feels amazingly drawn to. When he purchases them and takes them home he begins to believe there is something very special about them, his theory is proven when the dice begin to glow and suddenly he is transported to another world. When he wakes up he finds he has a fairy who is in charge of his education on his new role as a Lorekeeper. He learns that he has been transported to a world that is based on the legends of our world that play out over and over again. There are two forces constantly battling, one to change these stories and therefore change the real world, and the other to keep everything the same.
There were a few flaws in the book, but nothing that is really going to subtract from overall enjoyment of the read. The first thing is because this book is translated from French there are a few places where there are some typos and grammatical errors. Nothing that comes off as stilted and confusing, but just enough to put a slight stutter in the flow. The only other thing that struck me as a little off was a bit of the story in the middle. It felt a little slow and I was a little bit distracted.
There were many positives in this book so I'll just hit the big ones. First off was Samuel. I liked him as a character a lot. It's nice to see a kid who is willing to stand up for his less popular friends, I know that it's really not a rare thing in this kind of story but Samuel was really done well. The concept of Lorekeepers is also fantastic. Although this book featured Sam dealing with an Arthurian myth there is pretty much no limit to where Martin can take these stories. The second book is due out later this year and I am really looking forward to seeing what myth is dealt with next (I'm hoping for some Norse mythology personally). Finally the secondary characters really helped seemed to add some depth to the story as well. The friends that Sam makes while in the other world are some great people and I enjoyed their interactions.
This book was a very fun read and I'm impressed that it is from a first time author. Hopefully the series will continue to grow and Martin will grow with it. For fantasy fans highschool age and up should find this book extremely appealing.
Rise of the Red Dragon is a very entertaining story focusing on an Arthurian story arc. The premise of the story is a bit unique while still being somewhat familiar. When a young man, Samuel, gets some money for his birthday he heads to his favorite store for RPGs and LARPing gear. While perusing the shelves he sees what looks like a very authentic set of white bone dice that he feels amazingly drawn to. When he purchases them and takes them home he begins to believe there is something very special about them, his theory is proven when the dice begin to glow and suddenly he is transported to another world. When he wakes up he finds he has a fairy who is in charge of his education on his new role as a Lorekeeper. He learns that he has been transported to a world that is based on the legends of our world that play out over and over again. There are two forces constantly battling, one to change these stories and therefore change the real world, and the other to keep everything the same.
There were a few flaws in the book, but nothing that is really going to subtract from overall enjoyment of the read. The first thing is because this book is translated from French there are a few places where there are some typos and grammatical errors. Nothing that comes off as stilted and confusing, but just enough to put a slight stutter in the flow. The only other thing that struck me as a little off was a bit of the story in the middle. It felt a little slow and I was a little bit distracted.
There were many positives in this book so I'll just hit the big ones. First off was Samuel. I liked him as a character a lot. It's nice to see a kid who is willing to stand up for his less popular friends, I know that it's really not a rare thing in this kind of story but Samuel was really done well. The concept of Lorekeepers is also fantastic. Although this book featured Sam dealing with an Arthurian myth there is pretty much no limit to where Martin can take these stories. The second book is due out later this year and I am really looking forward to seeing what myth is dealt with next (I'm hoping for some Norse mythology personally). Finally the secondary characters really helped seemed to add some depth to the story as well. The friends that Sam makes while in the other world are some great people and I enjoyed their interactions.
This book was a very fun read and I'm impressed that it is from a first time author. Hopefully the series will continue to grow and Martin will grow with it. For fantasy fans highschool age and up should find this book extremely appealing.
June 18, 2012
I think that Rise of the Red Dragon is a very good and interesting book to read. It caught my attention from the beginning to the end, and had many funny moments where I found myself laughing along with the characters.
It was interesting to see how the relationship between Samuel and Malloy grew in the book. I generally liked all the characters introduced in the book like Ambrosius and Myrrdin as well as the evil characters of the book like the Yfel man. The dice transported Samuel into another world full of violence and war and and made him a Lorekeeper. Samuel grows up during the book and in the war from a schoolboy and accepts his responsibilities. Samuel made me wish I had a pair of those dice!
I think another interesting thing in the book is the mythology bhind the story and the historical events that are masterfully described and incorporated in the flow of the book events. It made me want to read more about Medieval English Mythology and Arthurian legends and especially about Vortigern and Ambrosius, two characters that I knew very little about.
I recommend to people to read this book. It is a very enjoyable read. I will definitely read the second book of the series.
It was interesting to see how the relationship between Samuel and Malloy grew in the book. I generally liked all the characters introduced in the book like Ambrosius and Myrrdin as well as the evil characters of the book like the Yfel man. The dice transported Samuel into another world full of violence and war and and made him a Lorekeeper. Samuel grows up during the book and in the war from a schoolboy and accepts his responsibilities. Samuel made me wish I had a pair of those dice!
I think another interesting thing in the book is the mythology bhind the story and the historical events that are masterfully described and incorporated in the flow of the book events. It made me want to read more about Medieval English Mythology and Arthurian legends and especially about Vortigern and Ambrosius, two characters that I knew very little about.
I recommend to people to read this book. It is a very enjoyable read. I will definitely read the second book of the series.
June 23, 2012
Okay for a freebie in iBooks. A few typos and grammatical snaffoos (there/their/they're). Plot sequences are a bit rough and the dialogue often isn't realistic or believable (doesn't match the time period where the story takes place). Very interesting concept for a series, if a bit elementary. I'll read the next one just to see if the author shows progress as a writer and researcher.
Decent read if you're stuck in an airport or subway and only have your iPhone handy.
Decent read if you're stuck in an airport or subway and only have your iPhone handy.
June 18, 2013
Warning: there are no plot spoilers in this review, but there are some "atmosphere spoilers."
The best part of this story is the imaginative, inventive use of the Arthurian legends. From what little I know of them, the bits of legend were used accurately, yet originally, and there are all sorts of unexpected twists. The description of the land makes me wonder where the Lady of the Lake will figure into future books. We meet Merlin as a child, we meet Uther as a supportive brother to the true king of the land. We follow Samuel, a teen-aged gamer and the hero of the tale, as he goes from our world into a world of legend where good and evil are reduced, respectively, to maintaining or disrupting history/myth.
I really liked the elements of the story and the tale itself, I felt the characters were sympathetic, although not terribly deep, and the climax battle scene was really unique. But I had trouble buying the Lorekeeper angle and the mythological base of the other world, and there were places the writing bogged down with a few paragraphs that made me roll my eyes and put the book down for several hours because they were just too sappy. There are few typos, but they were jarring enough to disrupt my flow. I saw one reviewer say it was a book translated from the French, so that may explain it.
More than the typos, though, the book felt like it needed the eyes of an editor. There were a couple of places people had knowledge they shouldn’t have, or maybe it was unclear whose perspective the narration was from. I was worried that the fata expressed the moral of the story: “There is always a way… You will find it… if you truly wish it,” but maybe I misread that and it was intended to say more about the fata’s personality than about the main idea of the story. Either way, that’s a great trope from classic fantasy, but it teaches our young people that if they fail, it’s their fault and they’re now unworthy. It seems too simple a moral for the scope of the story, and I want to see our young people taught that courage and moral choices even in the face of failure matter more than some flashy victory.
But I give the book four stars for the originality, the imagination, the inventiveness, and the apparent accuracy of the research into the Arthurian legends. It’s hard to do a story everyone has heard 1000 times and make it interesting, but this author succeeds in that. And the execution isn’t at all bad. It could be a superb book with some editing help.
The best part of this story is the imaginative, inventive use of the Arthurian legends. From what little I know of them, the bits of legend were used accurately, yet originally, and there are all sorts of unexpected twists. The description of the land makes me wonder where the Lady of the Lake will figure into future books. We meet Merlin as a child, we meet Uther as a supportive brother to the true king of the land. We follow Samuel, a teen-aged gamer and the hero of the tale, as he goes from our world into a world of legend where good and evil are reduced, respectively, to maintaining or disrupting history/myth.
I really liked the elements of the story and the tale itself, I felt the characters were sympathetic, although not terribly deep, and the climax battle scene was really unique. But I had trouble buying the Lorekeeper angle and the mythological base of the other world, and there were places the writing bogged down with a few paragraphs that made me roll my eyes and put the book down for several hours because they were just too sappy. There are few typos, but they were jarring enough to disrupt my flow. I saw one reviewer say it was a book translated from the French, so that may explain it.
More than the typos, though, the book felt like it needed the eyes of an editor. There were a couple of places people had knowledge they shouldn’t have, or maybe it was unclear whose perspective the narration was from. I was worried that the fata expressed the moral of the story: “There is always a way… You will find it… if you truly wish it,” but maybe I misread that and it was intended to say more about the fata’s personality than about the main idea of the story. Either way, that’s a great trope from classic fantasy, but it teaches our young people that if they fail, it’s their fault and they’re now unworthy. It seems too simple a moral for the scope of the story, and I want to see our young people taught that courage and moral choices even in the face of failure matter more than some flashy victory.
But I give the book four stars for the originality, the imagination, the inventiveness, and the apparent accuracy of the research into the Arthurian legends. It’s hard to do a story everyone has heard 1000 times and make it interesting, but this author succeeds in that. And the execution isn’t at all bad. It could be a superb book with some editing help.
August 31, 2013
(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways).
(This review may contain spoilers).
This wasn't technically the book I won, but I received it along with book two, so I guess it kind of counts.
As I've probably said many times before, I like myths and legends. So this book was quite a good one for me to read. I actually liked Samuel, as well as many of the supporting characters. Malloy was probably one of my favourites, as well as 'the fatherless boy' and Uther and his brother (the book's upstairs and I can't remember the spellings of some of the characters' names).
There were several moments in the book that actually made me laugh. I also really liked Angeline and the way she acted and responded to the situations. I thought she and Samuel bounced quite well off each other.
I don't think it worked too well for Samuel to suddenly be able to fight really well, though his instructor being Aragorn was one of the things that made me laugh. Still, I would have found it more interesting if he'd had to learn and train properly to fight and had to rely on his wits to save him in certain situations.
Another thing that I'm not quite sure I understood was... well, what was the whole point? According to Angeline, the myths played out over and over again. Unless they were going back to the original first myth, then surely the myth would simply play out the way it was supposed to the next time round?
I liked the fact that Samuel was into roleplaying before he entered Metverold - and also the way he used the tale of Romeo and Juliet for his 'back story'. There were certain things that happened that did come across as quite realistic, even though the whole sword fighting thing actually didn't.
I liked the fact that Samuel could 'link' with the animals. I also thought that the fight at the end worked really well - Samuel's inexperience showed against someone with the same abilities, but who had more time to hone them.
I've already started reading the second book and I'm sure I'll enjoy that one just as much as this one.
(This review may contain spoilers).
This wasn't technically the book I won, but I received it along with book two, so I guess it kind of counts.
As I've probably said many times before, I like myths and legends. So this book was quite a good one for me to read. I actually liked Samuel, as well as many of the supporting characters. Malloy was probably one of my favourites, as well as 'the fatherless boy' and Uther and his brother (the book's upstairs and I can't remember the spellings of some of the characters' names).
There were several moments in the book that actually made me laugh. I also really liked Angeline and the way she acted and responded to the situations. I thought she and Samuel bounced quite well off each other.
I don't think it worked too well for Samuel to suddenly be able to fight really well, though his instructor being Aragorn was one of the things that made me laugh. Still, I would have found it more interesting if he'd had to learn and train properly to fight and had to rely on his wits to save him in certain situations.
Another thing that I'm not quite sure I understood was... well, what was the whole point? According to Angeline, the myths played out over and over again. Unless they were going back to the original first myth, then surely the myth would simply play out the way it was supposed to the next time round?
I liked the fact that Samuel was into roleplaying before he entered Metverold - and also the way he used the tale of Romeo and Juliet for his 'back story'. There were certain things that happened that did come across as quite realistic, even though the whole sword fighting thing actually didn't.
I liked the fact that Samuel could 'link' with the animals. I also thought that the fight at the end worked really well - Samuel's inexperience showed against someone with the same abilities, but who had more time to hone them.
I've already started reading the second book and I'm sure I'll enjoy that one just as much as this one.
September 6, 2013
I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
The book “Rise of the Red Dragon” is a tale of a young man who has been transported from his comfortable life of D & D playing and LARPing into the dangerous world of our legends.
As you start the book it feels like it is moving a bit slowly. The characters aren’t being developed and the plot feels stagnant. It was in this moment that I was a little worried for this book. Luckily for me the young man was finally transported and the story began in earnest.
Once you pass the first bit the book moves at a much faster pace. You begin to care about characters and wonder about the world that they are in. The author does a good job in talking about the legends we all know and love in a new light, but the best part is he manages to stay fairly true to the original work as well.
If you are looking for a fast fantasy read that has some good action, but not much adult content this would be a good choice for you. Another good point is that while this book is part of a series you can read this book as a standalone novel since future books may be set in the same legend or a completely different one.
If you want an epic fantasy series with many different side stories you are looking in the wrong place, but this book with its one story line is a good choice for a quick weekend read.
The book “Rise of the Red Dragon” is a tale of a young man who has been transported from his comfortable life of D & D playing and LARPing into the dangerous world of our legends.
As you start the book it feels like it is moving a bit slowly. The characters aren’t being developed and the plot feels stagnant. It was in this moment that I was a little worried for this book. Luckily for me the young man was finally transported and the story began in earnest.
Once you pass the first bit the book moves at a much faster pace. You begin to care about characters and wonder about the world that they are in. The author does a good job in talking about the legends we all know and love in a new light, but the best part is he manages to stay fairly true to the original work as well.
If you are looking for a fast fantasy read that has some good action, but not much adult content this would be a good choice for you. Another good point is that while this book is part of a series you can read this book as a standalone novel since future books may be set in the same legend or a completely different one.
If you want an epic fantasy series with many different side stories you are looking in the wrong place, but this book with its one story line is a good choice for a quick weekend read.
July 24, 2012
This book had a rather slow start, but picked up the pace once it got into the legend proper.
The book is based around an interesting concept (saving legends from forces that would interfere with the story). This book, in particular, focuses on Arthurian legend. It nicely fleshed out much of the legend when Myrddin is introduced and the events surrounding his itroduction.
My biggest problem with it is that it almost seems that the secondary characters are more important than the protagonist. They were certainly more well developed when it comes to personalities. I found myself looking forward to the parts that did not include Samuel because I found him uninteresting at best.
Received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads
The book is based around an interesting concept (saving legends from forces that would interfere with the story). This book, in particular, focuses on Arthurian legend. It nicely fleshed out much of the legend when Myrddin is introduced and the events surrounding his itroduction.
My biggest problem with it is that it almost seems that the secondary characters are more important than the protagonist. They were certainly more well developed when it comes to personalities. I found myself looking forward to the parts that did not include Samuel because I found him uninteresting at best.
Received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads
August 29, 2012
This book moves quickly.
It is well written, the action moves the story at a brisk pace.
The main character is very likable and his "problems" are realistic, although it is a fantasy
book.
I like the way the author weaves in myth without giving away too much of the story...allowing the reader to figure out what the main character is supposed to accomplish at the same rate
the Character figures it out.
I read that there is a 2nd book in the series, coming the fall of 2012.
I look forward to reading it.
One more thing, sometimes when one reads a book that takes place in two different times or worlds,
one world is more "filled out" and interesting than the other world. In this book, I think both worlds are done well and characters in both are likable and interesting.
It is well written, the action moves the story at a brisk pace.
The main character is very likable and his "problems" are realistic, although it is a fantasy
book.
I like the way the author weaves in myth without giving away too much of the story...allowing the reader to figure out what the main character is supposed to accomplish at the same rate
the Character figures it out.
I read that there is a 2nd book in the series, coming the fall of 2012.
I look forward to reading it.
One more thing, sometimes when one reads a book that takes place in two different times or worlds,
one world is more "filled out" and interesting than the other world. In this book, I think both worlds are done well and characters in both are likable and interesting.
September 2, 2013
Received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Took me a while to get around to reading this, then wondered why i waited so long.While the cover and title are true to the book i felt it was a bit of a spoiler in its own right, might have been better leaving this as more of a surprise and concentrated more on the saxon angle as they take up more of the middle of the book.
But overall i really enjoyed this as an opener for a series, sword and sorcery, time travel, dragons, Arthurian legend, can't wait for the next episode, to hopefully find out more about what happened next, or will we get a completely new adventure? Either way i am there!
Took me a while to get around to reading this, then wondered why i waited so long.While the cover and title are true to the book i felt it was a bit of a spoiler in its own right, might have been better leaving this as more of a surprise and concentrated more on the saxon angle as they take up more of the middle of the book.
But overall i really enjoyed this as an opener for a series, sword and sorcery, time travel, dragons, Arthurian legend, can't wait for the next episode, to hopefully find out more about what happened next, or will we get a completely new adventure? Either way i am there!
October 4, 2012
I found this book to be intriguing and a quick read. The story was slow to start, and the main character, at first I found a bit annoying, but the story picked up the pace once it moved to the legend and the main character also improved. I enjoyed the book and the idea behind it was great. The idea of an ordinary person being transported to another world to watch over ancient legends to make sure they play out correctly. It was entertaining, and a great way to start a series by using an Arthurian legend. Made for a nice light read that made time fly easily as traveled.
June 19, 2013
Second time proved to be the charm with this story, meaning I started this one once before but put it aside when I couldn't get into it then. But it intrigued me sufficiently to earn a second chance, and this time I read it in one sitting. Clever story, lots of rousing action, and I'm a sucker for both dragon books and intelligent retellings of the Authurian legends. Despite some grammatical lapses and irritating verb goofs, this book qualifies all around. Four strong stars.
August 2, 2012
Excellent story and it was unique in the way it was told. Love the fact that it is like the pre-story to another excellent story. (don't want to say too much to avoid spoilers). Definatly looking forward to more like this and hope this is a series.
June 2, 2013
Loved every second. Fantastic. Can't wait for more. Perfect for fantasy lovers. I usually don't read books with a male protagonist, but i am glad I did. Couldn't put it down. A wonderful book that i recommend to anyone who likes fantasy. :)
tbr-later
November 5, 201520 November 2014: $0.00 FREE on Kindle
November 21, 2013
A good book for a teen looking for a book of adventure/time travel.
June 30, 2016
Great action/adventure book, putting a new introduction to the Arthur and Merlin legend.
January 10, 2024
Un de mes livres d'enfance préféré, j'y pense encore souvent!
August 8, 2012
I have always been in love with a good mythological story. There are just so many that are dark and twisted and enchanting. Rise of the Red Dragon, the first installment in the Tales of the Lorekeepers, explores storytelling of myths and legends in a fun and exciting way.
Samuel has just turned fourteen years old and as a gift his parents take him to his favorite store to go on a shopping spree worth two hundred dollars. Samuel happens upon a set of white dice he likes the look of and decides to buy them. He soon discovers the dice are not simply for decoration, they hold powerful and ancient magic, throwing Samuel back into a world of myth. Samuel has to navigate the world he travels to with the help of a fata, or fairy, named Angeline who quickly informs to Samuel that he is a Lorekeeper and his job is protect the mythological stories he loves so much. But it won’t be an easy task. Samuel has to not only survive an impending war, keep his identity hidden and somehow find a way back home; he also has to find a way to take down an evil sorcerer determined to destroy the mythological story and the power behind it. Let the sword fighting begin!
Samuel was a sweet and charming hero. He starts off as a fumbling fourteen year old boy who manages to survive more on luck than actual talent and grows into a strong, courageous young man. He fights hard to protect the new friends he has come to love, especially when he finds out the truth as to why protecting the mythological story he was sent to is so important! He has a kind heart and is a such a nerd, it’s cute.
Angeline, the fata or fairy, was pretty funny and absentminded at times. Uther, Ambrosius, and Kaleb were great characters. Each noble, brave, and strong. Malloy was my favorite character out of the book. He is wise, rough around the edges, and loyal. He carries himself with strength and stands for what is right even if it means he has to sacrifice his life. I enjoyed his bond with Samuel. They grew from mistrusting soldiers to brothers.
There are only a few things that bothered me about the book. There were , at times, where the dialogue switched between being formal and elegant to casual and ‘present time’. It made the pacing come off choppy at times. The narration was also rough at times because it came off too ‘grown up’ throughout the progression of the story which also happened with the dialogue. There were many instances where Samuel sounded much older than fourteen which took away from the young adult feel to his character.
Rise of the Red Dragon starts off at a steady pace gradually building into intense action with swords, lethal dragons, and evil sorcerers.
If you’re a person who enjoys a good take on an aged old myth, then you will have fun reading, Rise of the Red Dragon!
Samuel has just turned fourteen years old and as a gift his parents take him to his favorite store to go on a shopping spree worth two hundred dollars. Samuel happens upon a set of white dice he likes the look of and decides to buy them. He soon discovers the dice are not simply for decoration, they hold powerful and ancient magic, throwing Samuel back into a world of myth. Samuel has to navigate the world he travels to with the help of a fata, or fairy, named Angeline who quickly informs to Samuel that he is a Lorekeeper and his job is protect the mythological stories he loves so much. But it won’t be an easy task. Samuel has to not only survive an impending war, keep his identity hidden and somehow find a way back home; he also has to find a way to take down an evil sorcerer determined to destroy the mythological story and the power behind it. Let the sword fighting begin!
Samuel was a sweet and charming hero. He starts off as a fumbling fourteen year old boy who manages to survive more on luck than actual talent and grows into a strong, courageous young man. He fights hard to protect the new friends he has come to love, especially when he finds out the truth as to why protecting the mythological story he was sent to is so important! He has a kind heart and is a such a nerd, it’s cute.
Angeline, the fata or fairy, was pretty funny and absentminded at times. Uther, Ambrosius, and Kaleb were great characters. Each noble, brave, and strong. Malloy was my favorite character out of the book. He is wise, rough around the edges, and loyal. He carries himself with strength and stands for what is right even if it means he has to sacrifice his life. I enjoyed his bond with Samuel. They grew from mistrusting soldiers to brothers.
There are only a few things that bothered me about the book. There were , at times, where the dialogue switched between being formal and elegant to casual and ‘present time’. It made the pacing come off choppy at times. The narration was also rough at times because it came off too ‘grown up’ throughout the progression of the story which also happened with the dialogue. There were many instances where Samuel sounded much older than fourteen which took away from the young adult feel to his character.
Rise of the Red Dragon starts off at a steady pace gradually building into intense action with swords, lethal dragons, and evil sorcerers.
If you’re a person who enjoys a good take on an aged old myth, then you will have fun reading, Rise of the Red Dragon!
May 26, 2016
The premise of this story was rather good. A teenager, who's heavy into roleplaying and cosplay, buys a pair of (unbeknownst to him at the time) magical dice, and gets transported to a fantasy world.
Once there, he discovers that he has been chosen as a "Lorekeeper", and his job is to make sure that the legend in which he now finds himself goes off without a hitch.
The legend, in this particular case, is the Arthurian Legend, and having recently read Shadowland: A Tale From The Dark Ages by C.M. Gray, it was pretty fresh in my mind. Nothing in this book contradicted the events in Shadowland either, so it actually felt (although that's obviously not what was intended) sort of like a sequel to that book.
So far so good. The writing isn't perfect - a few typos and grammar issues - but I can live with it, and the pacing's nice.
About two-thirds of the way through, though, it starts to get very drawn out, and there are many pages devoted to nothing in particular, or a lot of backstory. Typically, when I get to around 70% through a book, I tend to read it faster, wanting to find out what happens in the end. Not so with this book. It probably took me longer to get from 70% to 100% than it did to get from 0% to 50%.
The chapters start getting longer - far too long to read in a single setting, and the events they describe, I feel could be described in half the time.
I saw another review here on Goodreads, complaining that the language also often doesn't fit the era. I found that too, on occasion, but it wasn't bad enough to be distracting. The language of the narration is very modern, as are the thoughts and words of the protagonist, but that's to be expected, because he's from the modern era. Every once in a while, though, something that one of the "native" characters says doesn't quite ring true, but as I say, it's not too bad.
I think this is a great concept, and I'll probably take a look at the second book in the series, to see if the pacing improves, and to find out what legend the Lorekeeper has to protect next.
Once there, he discovers that he has been chosen as a "Lorekeeper", and his job is to make sure that the legend in which he now finds himself goes off without a hitch.
The legend, in this particular case, is the Arthurian Legend, and having recently read Shadowland: A Tale From The Dark Ages by C.M. Gray, it was pretty fresh in my mind. Nothing in this book contradicted the events in Shadowland either, so it actually felt (although that's obviously not what was intended) sort of like a sequel to that book.
So far so good. The writing isn't perfect - a few typos and grammar issues - but I can live with it, and the pacing's nice.
About two-thirds of the way through, though, it starts to get very drawn out, and there are many pages devoted to nothing in particular, or a lot of backstory. Typically, when I get to around 70% through a book, I tend to read it faster, wanting to find out what happens in the end. Not so with this book. It probably took me longer to get from 70% to 100% than it did to get from 0% to 50%.
The chapters start getting longer - far too long to read in a single setting, and the events they describe, I feel could be described in half the time.
I saw another review here on Goodreads, complaining that the language also often doesn't fit the era. I found that too, on occasion, but it wasn't bad enough to be distracting. The language of the narration is very modern, as are the thoughts and words of the protagonist, but that's to be expected, because he's from the modern era. Every once in a while, though, something that one of the "native" characters says doesn't quite ring true, but as I say, it's not too bad.
I think this is a great concept, and I'll probably take a look at the second book in the series, to see if the pacing improves, and to find out what legend the Lorekeeper has to protect next.
September 16, 2016
Petit livre sympathique, Les Gardiens de Légendes m’a fait passer un excellent moment malgré un début de lecture un peu compliqué.
Samuel est un garçon charmant qui achète une paire de dés dans un magasin de jeux et se retrouve propulsé dans Metverold, un monde parallèle où les légendes se répètent inlassablement malgré les tentatives de l’Yfel d’interférer dans leur déroulement.
Dans cet univers étrange, il est aidé par sa fata Angeline et se rend compte qu’il est tombé dans une histoire qu’il connaît déjà, où Vortigern, roi des Bretons, aidé de son conseiller Morghan, doit repousser les envahisseurs saxons.
Les fans de légendes arthuriennes doivent l’avoir compris, on se trouve dans ses prémices, à une époque où Merlin est encore un enfant et a besoin d’aide.
Pour le sauver, Samuel va devoir partir à l’aventure en compagnie d’une troupe de guerriers.
Si Malloy, son ami, est bien développé et est rapidement devenu un personnage que j’ai beaucoup aimé, ce n’est pas vraiment le cas des quatre autres qui manquent de profondeur. Kaleb, Darroch, Atwood et Freston ne semblent être là que pour faire le nombre, ce qui est quand même un peu dommage.
J’ai d’ailleurs attendu un bon moment que Freston dévoile sa vraie nature car je le trouvais louche, mais ce n’est jamais venu !
Heureusement, ça ne nuit pas à l’histoire qui est soutenue par un personnage principal qui réussit à évier pas mal de clichés malgré ses supers pouvoirs.
Il y a bien quelques maladresses dans le style, mais pour un livre auto-édité, c’est très enthousiasmant et prometteur, avec en plus des retournements de situation assez surprenants.
Samuel est un garçon charmant qui achète une paire de dés dans un magasin de jeux et se retrouve propulsé dans Metverold, un monde parallèle où les légendes se répètent inlassablement malgré les tentatives de l’Yfel d’interférer dans leur déroulement.
Dans cet univers étrange, il est aidé par sa fata Angeline et se rend compte qu’il est tombé dans une histoire qu’il connaît déjà, où Vortigern, roi des Bretons, aidé de son conseiller Morghan, doit repousser les envahisseurs saxons.
Les fans de légendes arthuriennes doivent l’avoir compris, on se trouve dans ses prémices, à une époque où Merlin est encore un enfant et a besoin d’aide.
Pour le sauver, Samuel va devoir partir à l’aventure en compagnie d’une troupe de guerriers.
Si Malloy, son ami, est bien développé et est rapidement devenu un personnage que j’ai beaucoup aimé, ce n’est pas vraiment le cas des quatre autres qui manquent de profondeur. Kaleb, Darroch, Atwood et Freston ne semblent être là que pour faire le nombre, ce qui est quand même un peu dommage.
J’ai d’ailleurs attendu un bon moment que Freston dévoile sa vraie nature car je le trouvais louche, mais ce n’est jamais venu !
Heureusement, ça ne nuit pas à l’histoire qui est soutenue par un personnage principal qui réussit à évier pas mal de clichés malgré ses supers pouvoirs.
Il y a bien quelques maladresses dans le style, mais pour un livre auto-édité, c’est très enthousiasmant et prometteur, avec en plus des retournements de situation assez surprenants.
January 23, 2017
I usually like fantasy and this was #1 of a saga but for some reason I didn't pursue the "lore keepers". The "hero", Samuel Osmond finds himself in the world called Metverold where there is danger all around, a Briton King Vortiger, on the run from Saxon invaders, and Samuel must find a dark sorcerer who threatens to change his story before a force from a early time is unleashed Maybe it was just my mood as the storyline sounds like something I'd enjoy more...but I didn't, so just three stars. .
April 24, 2013
I found the main character quite interesting, and the story seemed to move at a decent pace.
June 11, 2013
Great story for a young boy to read.
April 28, 2017
Passionné de GN et de jeux de rôles, Samuel se rend avec son meilleur ami dans leur QG, boutique destinée aux mondes merveilleux qu'ils aiment tant, afin de dépenser sa bourse d'anniversaire comme il se doit. Tandis que son copain tente par tous les moyens de lui faire acheter une arbalète, l'intérêt de Samuel se porte sur une paire de dés blancs vierges paraissant anciens. Bien entendu, il ignore leur pouvoir jusqu'à ce que ceux-ci se mettent à rougeoyer et à l'envoyer dans une époque révolue, celle qu'il aime tant reconstituer en costume.
Malgré une écriture parfois douteuse et de très nombreuses fautes (en tout cas dans la version numérique), ce premier tome des Gardiens de Légendes est un roman jeunesse plutôt appréciable, essentiellement grâce à ses personnages attachants et ses quelques scènes qui portent à sourire.
L'auteur s'est inspiré de la légende de Y Ddraig Goch, le dragon rouge symbole du pays de Galles bien avant avant l'arrivée d'Arthur, permettant ainsi une plongée sans prise de tête dans la matière de Bretagne, à l'époque où Merlin n'était encore qu'un enfant et Uther Pendragon, non assis sur le trône qui lui revenait.
Malgré une écriture parfois douteuse et de très nombreuses fautes (en tout cas dans la version numérique), ce premier tome des Gardiens de Légendes est un roman jeunesse plutôt appréciable, essentiellement grâce à ses personnages attachants et ses quelques scènes qui portent à sourire.
L'auteur s'est inspiré de la légende de Y Ddraig Goch, le dragon rouge symbole du pays de Galles bien avant avant l'arrivée d'Arthur, permettant ainsi une plongée sans prise de tête dans la matière de Bretagne, à l'époque où Merlin n'était encore qu'un enfant et Uther Pendragon, non assis sur le trône qui lui revenait.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews