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Scriber
Disgraced scholar Dennon Lark only wants to be left alone in his self-imposed exile—an exile that ends when a rebel army wielding impossible powers launches a series of brutal attacks on villages across the Kingsland.
Forced from his home, Dennon is drawn back into a world he wants nothing to do with. His research into the kingdom's lost past—the very research that sent him into hiding—may hold the answers to a great many questions about the rebels. Questions about their shadowy motives; about their mysterious abilities; and about their ever-increasing numbers, constantly bolstered by those thought killed in their attacks. And only the King's infamous warrior niece Bryndine Errynson and her company of female soldiers trust him enough to help him find the truth before the rebels burn the Kingsland to the ground.
Following a trail of historical clues across the kingdom and pursued by forces they don't fully understand, Dennon and Bryndine may be the realm's only hope. But in order to preserve the Kingsland's future, they must first uncover its long forgotten past.
Forced from his home, Dennon is drawn back into a world he wants nothing to do with. His research into the kingdom's lost past—the very research that sent him into hiding—may hold the answers to a great many questions about the rebels. Questions about their shadowy motives; about their mysterious abilities; and about their ever-increasing numbers, constantly bolstered by those thought killed in their attacks. And only the King's infamous warrior niece Bryndine Errynson and her company of female soldiers trust him enough to help him find the truth before the rebels burn the Kingsland to the ground.
Following a trail of historical clues across the kingdom and pursued by forces they don't fully understand, Dennon and Bryndine may be the realm's only hope. But in order to preserve the Kingsland's future, they must first uncover its long forgotten past.
373 pages, Paperback
First published September 23, 2011
143 people are currently reading
1925 people want to read
About the author
Ben S. Dobson
9 books185 followersBen S. Dobson is Canadian writer who has achieved nothing of consequence. Many people like him anyway. This is inexplicable.
When he isn't writing fantasy novels, he can be found enjoying many fine, geeky activities. These include playing Dungeons and Dragons, watching Studio Ghibli movies, and playing video games (as long as they have a good storyline and require little to no skill).
You can email him at bensdobson@bensdobson.com, or find him online at these places:
Website: http://bensdobson.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bensdobson
When he isn't writing fantasy novels, he can be found enjoying many fine, geeky activities. These include playing Dungeons and Dragons, watching Studio Ghibli movies, and playing video games (as long as they have a good storyline and require little to no skill).
You can email him at bensdobson@bensdobson.com, or find him online at these places:
Website: http://bensdobson.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bensdobson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
December 17, 2011
Scriber might be my favorite fantasy book. It's not dense like Erikson or Martin, but it has the two things I always look for and rarely find together: great writing with great storytelling.
The best thing about Scriber is the telling of the tale through the voice of the incredibly flawed scholar Dennon Lark. This is first person epic fantasy, and first person is not easy to pull off, even harder when the lead character is a self-hating wimp. But it works. Brilliantly. One reason it works is because it makes sense that Dennon would be telling you a story since he is a historian--first person often feels artificial, but not this time--and because Dennon's humility helps us root for him. And if you're not sure at first, keep reading. You might find the author stumbling a little bit here and there (or not at all), but if you do, don't worry and just keep reading.
Scriber isn't "high fantasy." No dragons (though the characters curse by saying "Damn it to the Dragon!"), no elves, no magical swords. There are wonderful fantastic elements, though, mostly related to a mysterious semi-undead enemy and nature spirits. The story is unconventional in many ways, but it also sticks to some tried and true fantasy tropes (big heroine, big stakes)--in just the right balance of being both different and familiar. The setting feels medieval and the author writes that flavor well. And it's a true standalone story and a fast read (in the good way).
The story features the scriber and a large band of female soldiers. One of the few issues I had with the book was the abundance of characters in that troop. The women were referred to by first name only and, especially early on, I sometimes had a hard time telling them apart and remembering who was who. Another reviewer recently wrote that this wasn't a problem for him, so that could just be me. I have to say that Sylla was my least favorite; she was believable enough but still a bit one-dimensional, but at least she played a good role. Also, I have to say this: Orya for the win. I loved Orya.
The book has two major characters, Dennon Lark and Bryndine Errynson, the leader of the company of female soldiers. No one else gets fleshed out as much as these two. The one limitation I wish hadn't been in the book is that we never got deep into Bryn's head--because the book was written in first person from Dennon's point of view. Bryndine is a memorable, noble character and so easy to root for. I started playing a paladin in a D&D campaign recently and I had to resist the urge to name the character Bryndine (she's really inspiring). On the flip side, though she was very human, she also had few flaws and she never felt quite as real to me as Dennon did. But that's mostly understandable considering the first person pov. Still, I can't help wondering how great it would've been to be able to take a peek inside the mind of Bryndine.
One of my favorite scenes in the book was a meeting between Bryn and Dennon when they first opened up to each other about their vulnerabilities and soon laughed at them--just a beautiful scene full of believable humanity. This is where I think the author's gift for characterization really shone through.
The story is heavy on dialogue, maybe a little too much for my taste, but at least the dialogue was great. The plot sometimes moves forward in ways that are a little too convenient, but I never cared to nitpick because I was having too much fun. The pacing was excellent, although somewhere around the three-quarters point I though it sped up a little too much (after the big return)--this was the only part of the book that felt out of place with the rest, in my opinion. I thought the fight scenes were good, not great, but this isn't a book about fight scenes.
This is a book about a man struggling against the shame of his past and trying to uncover lost truths about his world's history. It's a book about a colorful band of women warriors. It's a book about a heroine as noble as any you've read. It's full of great worldbuilding, heaps of mystery, and mature, skillful writing. And it finishes with a great crescendo.
As a horribly picky reader, I almost never find books that come this close to being perfect for me. That's one of the reasons why I became a writer myself, because I wanted to at least try to take readers on the kind of journey that I want authors to guide me through, the kind of ride Ben Dobson just led me on. I've talked to Ben some since I started reading his book, but I didn't know him before I picked up Scriber for free in the kindle store.
I just want to be clear in saying that although Ben and I are both independent authors writing in the same genre, and although I only write reviews for the rare books that I love, this review has nothing to do with a prior relationship with the author (we had none, even though he had already read my book and I didn't know it) and everything to do with me loving this outstanding book and wanting to recommend this book to everyone. So this is just a guy named Moses, telling it on the mountain:
I've never found a free or cheap ebook as good as this one. It's fantastic, and I'm so glad to have found a new favorite author. Ben, thanks for a great story told well. And sorry to be selfish, but I really hope you write more books as great as this one.
The best thing about Scriber is the telling of the tale through the voice of the incredibly flawed scholar Dennon Lark. This is first person epic fantasy, and first person is not easy to pull off, even harder when the lead character is a self-hating wimp. But it works. Brilliantly. One reason it works is because it makes sense that Dennon would be telling you a story since he is a historian--first person often feels artificial, but not this time--and because Dennon's humility helps us root for him. And if you're not sure at first, keep reading. You might find the author stumbling a little bit here and there (or not at all), but if you do, don't worry and just keep reading.
Scriber isn't "high fantasy." No dragons (though the characters curse by saying "Damn it to the Dragon!"), no elves, no magical swords. There are wonderful fantastic elements, though, mostly related to a mysterious semi-undead enemy and nature spirits. The story is unconventional in many ways, but it also sticks to some tried and true fantasy tropes (big heroine, big stakes)--in just the right balance of being both different and familiar. The setting feels medieval and the author writes that flavor well. And it's a true standalone story and a fast read (in the good way).
The story features the scriber and a large band of female soldiers. One of the few issues I had with the book was the abundance of characters in that troop. The women were referred to by first name only and, especially early on, I sometimes had a hard time telling them apart and remembering who was who. Another reviewer recently wrote that this wasn't a problem for him, so that could just be me. I have to say that Sylla was my least favorite; she was believable enough but still a bit one-dimensional, but at least she played a good role. Also, I have to say this: Orya for the win. I loved Orya.
The book has two major characters, Dennon Lark and Bryndine Errynson, the leader of the company of female soldiers. No one else gets fleshed out as much as these two. The one limitation I wish hadn't been in the book is that we never got deep into Bryn's head--because the book was written in first person from Dennon's point of view. Bryndine is a memorable, noble character and so easy to root for. I started playing a paladin in a D&D campaign recently and I had to resist the urge to name the character Bryndine (she's really inspiring). On the flip side, though she was very human, she also had few flaws and she never felt quite as real to me as Dennon did. But that's mostly understandable considering the first person pov. Still, I can't help wondering how great it would've been to be able to take a peek inside the mind of Bryndine.
One of my favorite scenes in the book was a meeting between Bryn and Dennon when they first opened up to each other about their vulnerabilities and soon laughed at them--just a beautiful scene full of believable humanity. This is where I think the author's gift for characterization really shone through.
The story is heavy on dialogue, maybe a little too much for my taste, but at least the dialogue was great. The plot sometimes moves forward in ways that are a little too convenient, but I never cared to nitpick because I was having too much fun. The pacing was excellent, although somewhere around the three-quarters point I though it sped up a little too much (after the big return)--this was the only part of the book that felt out of place with the rest, in my opinion. I thought the fight scenes were good, not great, but this isn't a book about fight scenes.
This is a book about a man struggling against the shame of his past and trying to uncover lost truths about his world's history. It's a book about a colorful band of women warriors. It's a book about a heroine as noble as any you've read. It's full of great worldbuilding, heaps of mystery, and mature, skillful writing. And it finishes with a great crescendo.
As a horribly picky reader, I almost never find books that come this close to being perfect for me. That's one of the reasons why I became a writer myself, because I wanted to at least try to take readers on the kind of journey that I want authors to guide me through, the kind of ride Ben Dobson just led me on. I've talked to Ben some since I started reading his book, but I didn't know him before I picked up Scriber for free in the kindle store.
I just want to be clear in saying that although Ben and I are both independent authors writing in the same genre, and although I only write reviews for the rare books that I love, this review has nothing to do with a prior relationship with the author (we had none, even though he had already read my book and I didn't know it) and everything to do with me loving this outstanding book and wanting to recommend this book to everyone. So this is just a guy named Moses, telling it on the mountain:
I've never found a free or cheap ebook as good as this one. It's fantastic, and I'm so glad to have found a new favorite author. Ben, thanks for a great story told well. And sorry to be selfish, but I really hope you write more books as great as this one.
July 8, 2015
Very nice read, steady and entertaining, 3.5 stars. This is a classic fantasy story, with a quest, mysteries, ancient powers, lore and debates on morality and redemption. The plot is linear and well-done, the prose is flowing and very apt. The best features are the worldbuilding and the characters, scriber Dennon and captain Bryndine with her company of warrior women. There is a feeling of Dungeons and Dragons, and I wasn't surprised to see in the author's bio that he likes to play the game; I think he managed to infuse all the most engaging aspects of such inspiration into the story.
I always like to read about unlikely heroes, particularly the bookwormish types, and it is paramount they stay true to character, I mean, you cannot expect a real scholar to become a kickass warrior in a heartbeat -if ever- right? Scribers are supposed to record and preserve history, not to forge it. That's the case with Dennon here, he is a normal man, a talented historian, neither unpleasant nor overly-charming. Burdened by the fear of a past mistake and caught up in an dire threat to the kingdom, as he develops he stays himself, he faces perils and reinvents but within his limits, what’s more, his very (understandable) cowardice may not be a detrimental flaw after all. I particularly liked the Sword&Sorcery feel coupled with very little sorcery and a scholar, it was actually a surprise. Of course, I loved the theme of knowledge and books explored in the story, too.
The characters and their world are introduced gradually and properly, with the protagonist-narrator telling about his current straits and his surroundings, enough to understand and raise curiosity but never too much at once. There are nice descriptions, not overly elaborate but to the point to imagine where the action is set.
Each chapter starts with a paragraph from the scriber’s journal or from his treatises about the past history of the realm. This was a simple and straight way to flesh out the context without cluttering. The religion is part of the story too, particularly the religious beliefs which enforce conventions and prejudices in the kingdom.
The story is well-paced and the characters sensible, no one portrayed here is too stupid to be alive or has a labyrinthine personality, the no-nonsense attitude of most of the good and evil guys alike actually proved a welcomed distraction from other similar books. Since the onset it was clear the author was not going to embark in difficult storytelling or a complex plot, but he meant business in what he was showing, there are several interesting turns and he kept true to his course. I value a clear direction above all, along of course with a pleasant and entertaining story.
It adds to the thrill that the whole group of protagonists is essentially a company of outcasts, shunned by the very people they seek to help. They embark on a treasure hunt to uncover the ancient knowledge which may be their only hope to understand the peril the realm is facing. Delightful little puzzles dot the way, and it’s very interesting to see the shifting dynamics of the inevitable team work. During the tale I wondered how a scholar could endure weeks of forced march and horse rides without a scrape, or how the women could carry so much gear with ease but as I read, only minor details were overlooked and nothing of importance was not properly explained or far-fetched.
The story never lags. There are no sparks of originality or anything truly unique, yet all the elements of the book are so undeniably nice and studied that I truly enjoyed the result, and I’m very happy I’ve picked it up among the many of the genre. I would have liked a map though. The narrator's recounting made up for this absence, but still. It gets a bit cheesy in the second half but I have to say, better to read about goodwill than hopeless humanity. I appreciated the ending a lot, it was not meant to be unpredictable, given the prologue and the way Dobson ratchets up the tension, but there is still a surprise in store and I truly enjoyed the tale from start to end.
I always like to read about unlikely heroes, particularly the bookwormish types, and it is paramount they stay true to character, I mean, you cannot expect a real scholar to become a kickass warrior in a heartbeat -if ever- right? Scribers are supposed to record and preserve history, not to forge it. That's the case with Dennon here, he is a normal man, a talented historian, neither unpleasant nor overly-charming. Burdened by the fear of a past mistake and caught up in an dire threat to the kingdom, as he develops he stays himself, he faces perils and reinvents but within his limits, what’s more, his very (understandable) cowardice may not be a detrimental flaw after all. I particularly liked the Sword&Sorcery feel coupled with very little sorcery and a scholar, it was actually a surprise. Of course, I loved the theme of knowledge and books explored in the story, too.
The characters and their world are introduced gradually and properly, with the protagonist-narrator telling about his current straits and his surroundings, enough to understand and raise curiosity but never too much at once. There are nice descriptions, not overly elaborate but to the point to imagine where the action is set.
Each chapter starts with a paragraph from the scriber’s journal or from his treatises about the past history of the realm. This was a simple and straight way to flesh out the context without cluttering. The religion is part of the story too, particularly the religious beliefs which enforce conventions and prejudices in the kingdom.
The story is well-paced and the characters sensible, no one portrayed here is too stupid to be alive or has a labyrinthine personality, the no-nonsense attitude of most of the good and evil guys alike actually proved a welcomed distraction from other similar books. Since the onset it was clear the author was not going to embark in difficult storytelling or a complex plot, but he meant business in what he was showing, there are several interesting turns and he kept true to his course. I value a clear direction above all, along of course with a pleasant and entertaining story.
It adds to the thrill that the whole group of protagonists is essentially a company of outcasts, shunned by the very people they seek to help. They embark on a treasure hunt to uncover the ancient knowledge which may be their only hope to understand the peril the realm is facing. Delightful little puzzles dot the way, and it’s very interesting to see the shifting dynamics of the inevitable team work. During the tale I wondered how a scholar could endure weeks of forced march and horse rides without a scrape, or how the women could carry so much gear with ease but as I read, only minor details were overlooked and nothing of importance was not properly explained or far-fetched.
The story never lags. There are no sparks of originality or anything truly unique, yet all the elements of the book are so undeniably nice and studied that I truly enjoyed the result, and I’m very happy I’ve picked it up among the many of the genre. I would have liked a map though. The narrator's recounting made up for this absence, but still. It gets a bit cheesy in the second half but I have to say, better to read about goodwill than hopeless humanity. I appreciated the ending a lot, it was not meant to be unpredictable, given the prologue and the way Dobson ratchets up the tension, but there is still a surprise in store and I truly enjoyed the tale from start to end.
January 12, 2012
This new writer is one to watch.His characters are unique, consistent, and interesting. He manages to show the personal progression and growth of the main character the way an individual finds self discovery - slowly and naturally over the course of the journey - rather than beating the reader over the head with it. The story itself is compelling making it hard to put down. His fantasy setting is well constructed and introduced in a slow and easy manner so as to avoid long descriptive passages that serve no purpose other than to provide a setting.
On a sidenote - few fantasy/sci-fi writers have female characters with great depth. Even those who have main characters that are female, I find the feminist in me troubled by how they are depicted, especially in their relationships with others. If you are looking for books to encourage young girls to read and see something admirable in the female characters, this is an excellent find. Dobson's story directly addresses perceptions of women, especially when they choose to go against gender expectations, and does it masterfully. It is rare indeed for me not find a novel's treatment of gender problematic.
On a sidenote - few fantasy/sci-fi writers have female characters with great depth. Even those who have main characters that are female, I find the feminist in me troubled by how they are depicted, especially in their relationships with others. If you are looking for books to encourage young girls to read and see something admirable in the female characters, this is an excellent find. Dobson's story directly addresses perceptions of women, especially when they choose to go against gender expectations, and does it masterfully. It is rare indeed for me not find a novel's treatment of gender problematic.
February 5, 2025
Scriber was a such a fun read! The book was buried under my mountainous TBR, only to be excavated by a very specific GR challenge task of purple book with gold lettering - I have unearthed so many good reads due to GR challenges - why I love them so much I guess.
Scriber mixes some tree spirit zombie possessions with a scholar who flew a bit too close to the sun and has been nursing his pain in the shade of a small and simple village, then blends in a noble warrior who had the misfortune to have been born female, and you have the makings of a delicious story.
The book takes off quickly, with Dennon Lark being judgey and lashing out at others, as those who hate themselves often do. Dennon is telling the story in first person, and it really works here as I was able to see him grow from a scaredy cat about life in general - scared but unable to let go of his belief in the power of history- into someone who stands up for his friends, and what he knows to be right. Dennon is pulled out of his self-imposed exile by the glorious Bryndine, who he of course initially hates, as her character makes him feel so small and ignoble - which he totally was at the beginning. Her moral compass illuminates how far off course he has wandered.
Bryndine is a great character - a little Lancelot, a dash of Brienne of Tarth, imposing in size and character - she isn't perfect, but she is strong and learns from her mistakes. Following her are a crew of women similarly told by society to keep to the traditional female roles, but who also eschew those confining precepts like their leader. Dennon, also aided by his mentor at the university, joins forces with Bryndine and her cohort on a quest to find the Archives hidden by a civilization that died hundreds of years ago, as they are the key to saving the kingdom from the current threat.
I love that even after everything Dennon goes through, finding himself again, he still remains pretty curmudgeonly (I kept picturing him as a late 50s early 60s man, but he's actually early 30s I think) - I cracked up when he thinks to himself "If the citizens of the Kingsland were saved too, it was lucky for them, but honestly, I couldn’t have cared less." lol This book speaks to the importance of preserving the truth about our history, painful and ugly though it may be at times. A good lesson for these dark days.
Scriber mixes some tree spirit zombie possessions with a scholar who flew a bit too close to the sun and has been nursing his pain in the shade of a small and simple village, then blends in a noble warrior who had the misfortune to have been born female, and you have the makings of a delicious story.
The book takes off quickly, with Dennon Lark being judgey and lashing out at others, as those who hate themselves often do. Dennon is telling the story in first person, and it really works here as I was able to see him grow from a scaredy cat about life in general - scared but unable to let go of his belief in the power of history- into someone who stands up for his friends, and what he knows to be right. Dennon is pulled out of his self-imposed exile by the glorious Bryndine, who he of course initially hates, as her character makes him feel so small and ignoble - which he totally was at the beginning. Her moral compass illuminates how far off course he has wandered.
Bryndine is a great character - a little Lancelot, a dash of Brienne of Tarth, imposing in size and character - she isn't perfect, but she is strong and learns from her mistakes. Following her are a crew of women similarly told by society to keep to the traditional female roles, but who also eschew those confining precepts like their leader. Dennon, also aided by his mentor at the university, joins forces with Bryndine and her cohort on a quest to find the Archives hidden by a civilization that died hundreds of years ago, as they are the key to saving the kingdom from the current threat.
I love that even after everything Dennon goes through, finding himself again, he still remains pretty curmudgeonly (I kept picturing him as a late 50s early 60s man, but he's actually early 30s I think) - I cracked up when he thinks to himself "If the citizens of the Kingsland were saved too, it was lucky for them, but honestly, I couldn’t have cared less." lol This book speaks to the importance of preserving the truth about our history, painful and ugly though it may be at times. A good lesson for these dark days.
October 7, 2012
What an excellent book! Dobson catches you at page one and literally doesn't let go until the novel's finished. The characterization is splendid, even the secondary characters get quite fleshed out. This is a quest fantasy, but not the typical type with a bad guy in a castle who wants all the power. Instead, the author has used some interesting twists to put kingdoms and nobles in jeopardy. Someone has to save the world, Scriber Dennon and Captain Bryndine Errynson and her all woman army are the only hope for the land. There is magic afoot, but no one understands it, because hundreds of years ago all the books were burned in something called the Forgetting. Now they need to find a clue to what's going on. Towns are burning. People are dying. Crops are being destroyed and Nobles are going insane. What's a girl to do? If it continues, the world will be overrun and all hope will be lost.
The hunt for clues and answers takes Scribe Dennon and the army across countries, continents and islands in search of the answer to the mystery. Over time, the characters slowly change from normal people to true heroes as their quest leads them into danger where they risk their lives time and time again. You get to love these characters as you read the book and when you lose one its tragic. I especially loved Bryndine as seen through Dennon's eyes, she's like a hero out of legend. During the two private talks they have it shows that Bryndine is actually human - though a good human nonetheless. I also loved Dennon who in spite of his trauma and low self esteem turns out to be a hero, even though he would never admit it.
This book has a tight plot, good pacing and creative evil and magic. Dobson doesn't rely on the classic fantasy tropes to bolster his story, instead he sticks to great ideas and solid storytelling to create an excellent book that's amongst the best that I've read this year.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy. I also think that anyone who enjoys a good mystery would enjoy this well. Think of it as a mystery with a different context. Anyway, buy the book - it's worth it.
The hunt for clues and answers takes Scribe Dennon and the army across countries, continents and islands in search of the answer to the mystery. Over time, the characters slowly change from normal people to true heroes as their quest leads them into danger where they risk their lives time and time again. You get to love these characters as you read the book and when you lose one its tragic. I especially loved Bryndine as seen through Dennon's eyes, she's like a hero out of legend. During the two private talks they have it shows that Bryndine is actually human - though a good human nonetheless. I also loved Dennon who in spite of his trauma and low self esteem turns out to be a hero, even though he would never admit it.
This book has a tight plot, good pacing and creative evil and magic. Dobson doesn't rely on the classic fantasy tropes to bolster his story, instead he sticks to great ideas and solid storytelling to create an excellent book that's amongst the best that I've read this year.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy. I also think that anyone who enjoys a good mystery would enjoy this well. Think of it as a mystery with a different context. Anyway, buy the book - it's worth it.
March 26, 2021
It's because of books like Scriber that I love fantasy.
It has everything I like in a good story: excellent writing, rhythm, great worldbuilding, ancient mysteries to be solved, magic and most of all heroes.
I know that it's probably a little out of fashion now that grimdark is the trend and there is no longer distinction between good and evil, but it's really good to read of characters which are good and fight against not only evil, but also ignorance and prejudices.
Sometimes it's refreshing to read their stories and admire that they act not for self interest, but because they believe in honour and because it's just the right thing to do.
If I have to describe this book in one word, I would say that it's inspiring, especially because the main character is not Druss the legend, but a normal man, one of us.
Besides, when several times and especially at the end of the book you have misty eyes, you can't give less than 5 stars.
Thank you Mr. Dobson for this gem.
It has everything I like in a good story: excellent writing, rhythm, great worldbuilding, ancient mysteries to be solved, magic and most of all heroes.
I know that it's probably a little out of fashion now that grimdark is the trend and there is no longer distinction between good and evil, but it's really good to read of characters which are good and fight against not only evil, but also ignorance and prejudices.
Sometimes it's refreshing to read their stories and admire that they act not for self interest, but because they believe in honour and because it's just the right thing to do.
If I have to describe this book in one word, I would say that it's inspiring, especially because the main character is not Druss the legend, but a normal man, one of us.
Besides, when several times and especially at the end of the book you have misty eyes, you can't give less than 5 stars.
Thank you Mr. Dobson for this gem.
October 5, 2012
Not many books can divert me from my usual reading pattern of "read a chapter on my Kindle, then move on to the next book in rotation." When I came close to the end of this one, I had to keep reading. Even fewer books make me cry, especially in a public place, but I was swallowing tears at the climax. If you like memorable characters, high adventure, and well-written battle scenes, this is a book for you. I have given to a writer friend who has trouble with battle scenes so she can see how what it looks like when it is done well. Dobson is a gifted storyteller, and I was constantly on edge wanting to know what would happen next.
June 24, 2013
This is the joy of downloading Kindle freebies. Occasionally I'll find a wonderful author who's a talented writer and gifted storyteller. This is a terrific book. It makes me remember why I read epic fantasy for so many years.
The character development is outstanding. The book is told in the first person narrative of Dennon Lark. He starts out as whiny, self-involved, irritating, and obnoxious. Yet, as the story progresses, he begins to grow, and become a better person. Since the story is told from Dennon's perspective, his growth is slow, noticeable, and believable. The heroine, Bryndine Errynson, starts out as somewhat inscrutable. She's the king's niece, and all she wants is to be a soldier. Alternately hated and ridiculed by the people she wishes to serve, she forms her own all-female military company. As the story progresses, we come to see the person beneath her unflappable exterior, to her deeper self. And I came to truly adore and admire her.
The book, while on the surface a story about a kingdom under siege, deals with very profound issues, as the best epic fantasy always does. Issues of honor, loyalty, and what a government owes its people. The book also looks at the mistakes a country tends to repeat, until there are at least some people willing to look at the problem in a different way. Further, people who initially seem ignorant and self-serving, turn out to be heroes, and vice-versa. This book keeps unveiling layer after layer.
This is clearly a five star book, so why did I only give it four stars? While I believe each author must be judged solely on his or her merits, Ben Dobson is clearly in the same league with the acknowledged masters of epic fantasy. However, like many of them, he uses a plot device for which I always remove a star (and which I will explain shortly as a spoiler). So my reason is personal plot preference, not the skill of the author. Make no mistake. He is a master.
The character development is outstanding. The book is told in the first person narrative of Dennon Lark. He starts out as whiny, self-involved, irritating, and obnoxious. Yet, as the story progresses, he begins to grow, and become a better person. Since the story is told from Dennon's perspective, his growth is slow, noticeable, and believable. The heroine, Bryndine Errynson, starts out as somewhat inscrutable. She's the king's niece, and all she wants is to be a soldier. Alternately hated and ridiculed by the people she wishes to serve, she forms her own all-female military company. As the story progresses, we come to see the person beneath her unflappable exterior, to her deeper self. And I came to truly adore and admire her.
The book, while on the surface a story about a kingdom under siege, deals with very profound issues, as the best epic fantasy always does. Issues of honor, loyalty, and what a government owes its people. The book also looks at the mistakes a country tends to repeat, until there are at least some people willing to look at the problem in a different way. Further, people who initially seem ignorant and self-serving, turn out to be heroes, and vice-versa. This book keeps unveiling layer after layer.
This is clearly a five star book, so why did I only give it four stars? While I believe each author must be judged solely on his or her merits, Ben Dobson is clearly in the same league with the acknowledged masters of epic fantasy. However, like many of them, he uses a plot device for which I always remove a star (and which I will explain shortly as a spoiler). So my reason is personal plot preference, not the skill of the author. Make no mistake. He is a master.
February 5, 2020
Early on, I didn't know this was going to be a 5-star book for me. It started out good, and it got better and better. In the first, oh I don't know, half maybe? There were some moments where the author dragged out the "revelations" and you knew what was happening long before the main character figured it out. So, when it got to the big "reveal" for those things, it wasn't an "aha!" moment, it was more like -- yeah, I figured that's what it was as soon as it was first brought up, I'm glad we can move on now...
But those moments were few and far between and all but disappeared in the latter half of the book. I found that I could not stop reading and I brought my Kindle to work and found excuses to walk places for lunch by myself that were far away so I'd have an excuse to read more of it in the middle of the day. The world and characters were realistic and engaging. Given that there were a lot of secondary characters that stayed with us for quite some time, the author did a good job of giving them each their "role" without being cardboard cutouts.
I think what I loved most about the book was the main character, the scriber Dennon Lark, and his foil, Bryndine. Both of these characters were flawed and real, and as a reader our opinion of each of them slowly shifts throughout the whole book. You don't realize you're being prodded to change your mind as you're reading, but by the end your views of both characters have completely changed through the course of events.
Part of the intrigue, too, is having an unreliable narrator in the scriber. Not that he's a liar, but his views and judgments of others (and himself) cloud the events and make us judge him and others through his eyes. Then as you read more, you see where his judgements come from and can start to piece out the truth when you realize you've been as hard on him as he's been on himself, for reasons that may not be fair.
Hard to explain without giving it away, but I don't want to give away spoilers. I found this book through the Kindle lending library and I'm very happy I did.
But those moments were few and far between and all but disappeared in the latter half of the book. I found that I could not stop reading and I brought my Kindle to work and found excuses to walk places for lunch by myself that were far away so I'd have an excuse to read more of it in the middle of the day. The world and characters were realistic and engaging. Given that there were a lot of secondary characters that stayed with us for quite some time, the author did a good job of giving them each their "role" without being cardboard cutouts.
I think what I loved most about the book was the main character, the scriber Dennon Lark, and his foil, Bryndine. Both of these characters were flawed and real, and as a reader our opinion of each of them slowly shifts throughout the whole book. You don't realize you're being prodded to change your mind as you're reading, but by the end your views of both characters have completely changed through the course of events.
Part of the intrigue, too, is having an unreliable narrator in the scriber. Not that he's a liar, but his views and judgments of others (and himself) cloud the events and make us judge him and others through his eyes. Then as you read more, you see where his judgements come from and can start to piece out the truth when you realize you've been as hard on him as he's been on himself, for reasons that may not be fair.
Hard to explain without giving it away, but I don't want to give away spoilers. I found this book through the Kindle lending library and I'm very happy I did.
October 8, 2011
Scriber is, at its heart, a story about the value of history. The description of the book does it justice, so I will not repeat a basic summary in this review. The wrapping for the historical theme is an epic/heroic fantasy, filled with legends, monsters, betrayals, unexpected allies and true heroism.
The cast of characters, including the reluctant Dennon Lark, the stoic Bryndine Errynson, and her company of female warriors, is both charming and engaging. The fact that I can remember many of their names even though I finished reading it two days ago is a testament to just how strongly these characters come across.
The world itself reminds me of the history of Great Britain, with enough fantasy elements and well thought-out and intriguing world-building to truly pull you in. Being a fantasy world creator and fanatic myself, Mr. Dobson has truly created something wonderful here, and I hope he intends to visit it again. The history of his world is riveting, full of intrigue and danger, and is one of the more believable fantasy settings I have had the pleasure to come across.
The story has enough twists and turns to keep any lover of fantasy, problem-solving or discovery fascinated. It has almost a treasure-hunt vibe, and Dobson is not afraid to make the moments count and raise the stakes. Discoveries in the plot are well-timed, with nothing seeming rushed, and true surprises coming out of the shadows.
I really can’t describe in text how much I liked this book. The independent author community should welcome this new writer with open arms, because he will be lending credit to our movement for years to come.
Final Score: 5 out of 5. Buy and read this book – and do it now.
The cast of characters, including the reluctant Dennon Lark, the stoic Bryndine Errynson, and her company of female warriors, is both charming and engaging. The fact that I can remember many of their names even though I finished reading it two days ago is a testament to just how strongly these characters come across.
The world itself reminds me of the history of Great Britain, with enough fantasy elements and well thought-out and intriguing world-building to truly pull you in. Being a fantasy world creator and fanatic myself, Mr. Dobson has truly created something wonderful here, and I hope he intends to visit it again. The history of his world is riveting, full of intrigue and danger, and is one of the more believable fantasy settings I have had the pleasure to come across.
The story has enough twists and turns to keep any lover of fantasy, problem-solving or discovery fascinated. It has almost a treasure-hunt vibe, and Dobson is not afraid to make the moments count and raise the stakes. Discoveries in the plot are well-timed, with nothing seeming rushed, and true surprises coming out of the shadows.
I really can’t describe in text how much I liked this book. The independent author community should welcome this new writer with open arms, because he will be lending credit to our movement for years to come.
Final Score: 5 out of 5. Buy and read this book – and do it now.
October 12, 2011
Ben S. Dobson's Scriber lured me in with its promise of an academic's adventure tale, which it handsomely delivered. Scriber recounts the story of Dennon Lark, a disgraced scholar of history, as he joins with a group of military women, who are shunned and belittled, to stop a serious assault on the kingdom. There are two major mysteries to solve - how the attackers, called the burners, manage to appear and disappear, seemingly by magic; and the reasons behind their attacks. This leads the band through a dangerous landscape, in search of discovering answers thought long lost.
The main characters in the novel are well fleshed out and their descriptions are part of the story, moving it forward rather than wallowing or padding it. The women are strong and memorable without being made ridiculous or mythic. Scriber is well written, not bogged down with jargon or stilted language, and with little waste or over-padding to obfuscate the tale. This lends itself well to the pacing of the story, which flowed well and, again, was not impeded; the author's focus remained fixed on the telling of the tale.
I haven't many criticisms to make about Scriber - it's well written and paced - other than that in places it feels a bit overly sentimental, and the ending was predictable (though the story getting there was not). I would have liked more background on the various events and figures from the realm's history, and a little more on the religion, though these are not necessary to the story.
Scriber is a treasure hunt, a historical-mystery with a touch of horror, and a love-letter to all those who promote truth and understanding, and seek their own path despite difficulties. An excellent fantasy novel, and a particularly superb beacon in the indie fantasy sphere. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and recommend it to any who are looking for a stand-alone fantasy novel in the scholars and swords genre*.
Review copy supplied by the author as part of Librarything's Member Giveaway program.
*I may be making up a new genre there.
The main characters in the novel are well fleshed out and their descriptions are part of the story, moving it forward rather than wallowing or padding it. The women are strong and memorable without being made ridiculous or mythic. Scriber is well written, not bogged down with jargon or stilted language, and with little waste or over-padding to obfuscate the tale. This lends itself well to the pacing of the story, which flowed well and, again, was not impeded; the author's focus remained fixed on the telling of the tale.
I haven't many criticisms to make about Scriber - it's well written and paced - other than that in places it feels a bit overly sentimental, and the ending was predictable (though the story getting there was not). I would have liked more background on the various events and figures from the realm's history, and a little more on the religion, though these are not necessary to the story.
Scriber is a treasure hunt, a historical-mystery with a touch of horror, and a love-letter to all those who promote truth and understanding, and seek their own path despite difficulties. An excellent fantasy novel, and a particularly superb beacon in the indie fantasy sphere. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and recommend it to any who are looking for a stand-alone fantasy novel in the scholars and swords genre*.
Review copy supplied by the author as part of Librarything's Member Giveaway program.
*I may be making up a new genre there.
December 3, 2012
Brilliant, Brilliant, brilliant! Scriber had everything an epic tale of magic, romance, tragedy, adventure and the never-ending quest for knowledge could possibly ever need to sear itself upon my cerebral cortex!
Scriber made me at first detest Dennon, he seemed weak and cowardly, but slowly, as the book progressed I came to appreciate his doubting ways and razor sharp mind. Dennon wasn't a fake character, I felt connected to him by his realistic reactions to the story. He questioned himself, blamed himself and most importantly, finally believed in himself.
Bryndine was a fantastic leading lady, who despite everything going against her showed an immense amount of courage and strength of will. She did not play the victim, she did not bat her eyelids at the white knights hoping to be rescued, but she was a strong, robust and brilliant role model for all the women in the book. She was not the conventional leading lady either, with her Norse goddess looks and Viking strength and build, she may not cater to all men's tastes, but in my eyes, she was perfect for this role!
Dennon and Bryndine were surrounded by an all-star cast of supporting characters who added a fullness and warmth to the whole tale. Some of them paying the price, others helping to shape the main characters to become all they needed to be for the story.
The most fascinating aspect of this story, would have to be about the Scribers, the Burning and the Forgetting. I loved how this important point was mixed into this brilliant tale. Do not believe everything you read, history can be skewed by those who write it for their own benefits, constantly persue the quest for truth and knowledge and remember, Scribers never forget!
NOTE: I receieved a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review
Scriber made me at first detest Dennon, he seemed weak and cowardly, but slowly, as the book progressed I came to appreciate his doubting ways and razor sharp mind. Dennon wasn't a fake character, I felt connected to him by his realistic reactions to the story. He questioned himself, blamed himself and most importantly, finally believed in himself.
Bryndine was a fantastic leading lady, who despite everything going against her showed an immense amount of courage and strength of will. She did not play the victim, she did not bat her eyelids at the white knights hoping to be rescued, but she was a strong, robust and brilliant role model for all the women in the book. She was not the conventional leading lady either, with her Norse goddess looks and Viking strength and build, she may not cater to all men's tastes, but in my eyes, she was perfect for this role!
Dennon and Bryndine were surrounded by an all-star cast of supporting characters who added a fullness and warmth to the whole tale. Some of them paying the price, others helping to shape the main characters to become all they needed to be for the story.
The most fascinating aspect of this story, would have to be about the Scribers, the Burning and the Forgetting. I loved how this important point was mixed into this brilliant tale. Do not believe everything you read, history can be skewed by those who write it for their own benefits, constantly persue the quest for truth and knowledge and remember, Scribers never forget!
NOTE: I receieved a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review
April 2, 2012
It is so satisfying to read an indie book that is this good! While there were small things that bugged me a little, overall it was a compelling and interesting tale that kept me turning virtual pages into the wee hours.
Here's what was good:
Great main characters. The lead, Dennon Lark, is a flawed, arrogant ass who sulks a lot, but is somehow still quite likable. He's got a lot of baggage that he can't get past, but he finds eventual inspiration in his near polar opposite, a warrior woman named Bryndine.
Speaking of Bryndine, she was an excellent character and a good foil to Lark. Where he was verbose and complainy, she was stoic and decisive. She was also enormous--over 7 feet tall, and while I found it hard to buy initially, I eventually accepted it and interweaved it into my schema for the story. She also kicked a lot of ass, which is always a good thing.
The company of badass woman. Yeah, nothing like a bunch of woman who kick a lot of ass. They were tougher than any of the men, but it was also quite believable and enjoyable to see them take action.
The overall plot. It was relatively simple and straightforward, but meaty enough to keep the story moving forward. It was such a relief to find a quasi-epic fantasy self contained in one book. I truly tire of the multi volume epics that are unnecessarily drawn out. The length of this one felt just right.
My only complaint--and it's a small one--was that the 'mystery' of what was happening seemed so simple to me, and yet the brilliant main character took forever to figure it out. I'm not good at guessing mysteries, so the fact that I did leads me to believe lots of other readers would, as well. Not a huge deal because of the other good stuff in the book, but I would have liked to have more of a surprise.
Highly recommended, and heads and shoulders above most other indie books I've read.
Here's what was good:
Great main characters. The lead, Dennon Lark, is a flawed, arrogant ass who sulks a lot, but is somehow still quite likable. He's got a lot of baggage that he can't get past, but he finds eventual inspiration in his near polar opposite, a warrior woman named Bryndine.
Speaking of Bryndine, she was an excellent character and a good foil to Lark. Where he was verbose and complainy, she was stoic and decisive. She was also enormous--over 7 feet tall, and while I found it hard to buy initially, I eventually accepted it and interweaved it into my schema for the story. She also kicked a lot of ass, which is always a good thing.
The company of badass woman. Yeah, nothing like a bunch of woman who kick a lot of ass. They were tougher than any of the men, but it was also quite believable and enjoyable to see them take action.
The overall plot. It was relatively simple and straightforward, but meaty enough to keep the story moving forward. It was such a relief to find a quasi-epic fantasy self contained in one book. I truly tire of the multi volume epics that are unnecessarily drawn out. The length of this one felt just right.
My only complaint--and it's a small one--was that the 'mystery' of what was happening seemed so simple to me, and yet the brilliant main character took forever to figure it out. I'm not good at guessing mysteries, so the fact that I did leads me to believe lots of other readers would, as well. Not a huge deal because of the other good stuff in the book, but I would have liked to have more of a surprise.
Highly recommended, and heads and shoulders above most other indie books I've read.
March 19, 2024
I wish Goodreads and Amazon.com would go to a ten-star rating system. That would provide more shades of meaning, more subtlety, and the ability to differentiate between an excellent book and a masterful one. In such an expanded system, this book would be one of the few that earned a ten-star rating from this reviewer.
From the opening pages, Ben Dobson displays a rare command of voice and style, elements too often forgotten, misunderstood, or ignored by many authors, particularly independent ones. But these are precisely the writing elements that elevate a book to a ten-star review. By the second page, I was hooked; by the third, I knew I was in good, safe hands. A writer capable of drawing me so deeply into his world and characters, drawing me in so quickly, would not be a writer who disappointed.
And he didn't. I will not describe the book. Read it. Scriber deserves far more attention than it's getting.
Write more, Mr. Dobson.
From the opening pages, Ben Dobson displays a rare command of voice and style, elements too often forgotten, misunderstood, or ignored by many authors, particularly independent ones. But these are precisely the writing elements that elevate a book to a ten-star review. By the second page, I was hooked; by the third, I knew I was in good, safe hands. A writer capable of drawing me so deeply into his world and characters, drawing me in so quickly, would not be a writer who disappointed.
And he didn't. I will not describe the book. Read it. Scriber deserves far more attention than it's getting.
Write more, Mr. Dobson.
May 30, 2018
As good as my first read.
Highly recommended.
********************************************************************************
What an excellent book !! Such a great writing, such a great storytelling.
"Scriber" is the story of a quest. The quest of a lost knowledge. A knowledge that , if recovered, could save them all. But a knowledge that will also uncover deeply burried lies.
Scriber Dennon Lark (who is the one who tells the story) relunctantly (he is a coward...or so he thinks) agrees to "lead" the quest and will be helped by a bunch of women (great and deep characters) among which is the Lady Bryndine (niece to the King and a warrior).
I just don't know what to say about this book, really. I couldn't possibly do it justice. I can only strongly recommend this read.
Highly recommended.
********************************************************************************
What an excellent book !! Such a great writing, such a great storytelling.
"Scriber" is the story of a quest. The quest of a lost knowledge. A knowledge that , if recovered, could save them all. But a knowledge that will also uncover deeply burried lies.
Scriber Dennon Lark (who is the one who tells the story) relunctantly (he is a coward...or so he thinks) agrees to "lead" the quest and will be helped by a bunch of women (great and deep characters) among which is the Lady Bryndine (niece to the King and a warrior).
I just don't know what to say about this book, really. I couldn't possibly do it justice. I can only strongly recommend this read.
October 24, 2012
I absolutely loved this book, it's one of my favorite books I've read this year. The characters are really unique, the story is great, the world building is extensive & very original, and I loved Ben Dobson's writing style. This is one more Indie/Self-Published book that I've loved as much or more than most books I've read that were published by the big-six. Again though, I kind of feel bad that I paid so little for such an amazing book, but the author has definitely earned a fan that will buy anything he puts out.
The story is very well crafted in Scriber, with many different aspects that really drove the reader forward. I will say though, that there were a few annoyances, mainly that the main character took much longer to ascertain multiple facets of the enemy (when I almost immediately knew in general what they were) and a little bit of an overuse of having the main character black out during the big battles. I loved how there were multiple different goals for the characters to accomplish, along with the main goal of defeating The Burnt. There were some great adventure aspects to the story where they were searching for the Lost Archives, but there were also some strong epic fantasy parts, where the fate of the world (or at least their country) is on the edge of a sword. I will admit that tears were shed while reading this book, especially during the end. I also really enjoyed that this is a standalone novel, though there are potentially some adventures that could be explored if the author wished. I love long fantasy series, but a standalone book where the story has a definitive beginning middle and end, with all of the plot lines tied in perfect knot was refreshing.
The characters in this book are also very different from the norm. The main character, Scriber Dennon, is a very intelligent but very weak hero. He's an introvert with a convoluted past that he's been hiding from for years at the start of the book. At times he can be unlikeable, but perhaps because I related to his character, I really enjoyed being inside his head. He also goes through some excellent character development, where spending so much time on the road with a group of strong women brings him out of his shell, and he's definitely changed by the end of the book, though he is still the same person. The group of warrior women is very well done, but because their are almost twenty of them at the beginning, you can tell around half of them are cannon fodder. The reader doesn't learn too much about many of them, but this does make sense as Dennon is an introvert, and he wouldn't be very close to all of the women. Still, the ones whose personality and past are explored, turn out to be great unique characters. The stand out of course is Bryndine, the leader of the group standing at almost eight feet tall who swings a great-sword one handed and is the niece of the King. What she's gone through in this world provides a great back story, and I loved how she almost shows no outward expression, but she is still filled with emotion that the read and Dennon every once in awhile get to see. There are also many different roles the other women play, the ribald joker, the intelligent woman (that was too poor to become a Scriber but is taken under the wing of Dennon), the love interest (which was done surprisingly well, it didn't feel forced), and the bitch (who is this way because she loves Bryndine and thinks Dennon poses a threat to her safety). For the villains, there weren't any really strong ones, as they are generally either just people with miss-held beliefs/opinions, or people under the control of the Burnt Hive-Mind. I kind of liked that though, as it created some great moments where all of the people they are fighting for and risking/losing their lives absolutely hate them.
The writing style here has an amazing flow, and I would constantly find myself blasting through the book faster than I really wanted to because I couldn't stop reading. The narrative is first-person in the present, but it has the framework of a future Scriber reading the journals of Scriber Dennon. Personally I found all of the intro journal pieces at the beginning of the chapters to be slightly detrimental to my immersion. There were multiple times where the few paragraphs would essentially outline or roughly foreshadow what would happen in the chapter. The worst instance of this was near the end, where right before the end of the battle the journal entry essentially tells the reader that at least three of the companions would die and they would succeed in saving the world. On their own, the entries were enjoyable, but I kind of wished that I had skipped over all of these sections. However, the epilogue was very effective in tieing up all of the loose ends, though a little mystery could have been nice. I only noticed one spelling error, and overall this was a very well formatted book, especially for a self-published novel.
The world building and history of Scriber was very well done, and it had some very interesting aspects. I also enjoyed how it the reveal of the world building was a slow-burn, there really wasn't any sort of info dump at the beginning of the book. The rest of this paragraph will be slightly spoilery, so if you want to go into the book with a fresh mind, you might want to skip it. The Gods in this world (it isn't definitive if they exist or not) are called the Mother and the Father, to create the world they split their realms into Heaven and Earth, never to be together again. Their first child was the Dragon, whose realm is the Sea, and acts as the lord of the underworld. Their second child were the Wyd (or something like that) who are tree spirits and have power over nature. Their third child were the Humans, these were the God's favorite children, and at the beginning of their creation they were giants, but over time they have become normal size (except for some with the royal bloodline like Bryndine). Humanity split, with half becoming nomads/barbarians, and the other half becoming the Elovians, who under the guidance of the Wyd had powerful magical gifts and were one with nature. The two tribes of humans fought a long and brutal war, but the strong warriors defeated the Elovian people. The barbarians then began the great burning, where the forests (containing the bodies of the Wyd) were burned to make way for the growth of civilization. As the years went by, the Burnt trees of the Wyd regrew, and they sought vengence on human society. They used their power over nature and their ability to possess animals or recently dead humans to create The Forgetting. A really interesting concept, where all of the books were burned and the possessed King declared reading and writing against the law. Due to the heroic efforts of the Prince at the time, some of the most important books from the Archives were saved & hidden, and the vengeance of the Burnt was halted for a couple centuries (present time in the book). Two decades or so after The Forgetting, the King realized the folly of his predecessors, and created the Order of Scribers to find and protect history no matter the cost. These Scribers are essentially Doctors specializing in various fields like Medicine, History, Politics, the Arts, Sciences, etc, though every one that earns the pin (featured on the cover) must have a certain mastery in all of them. The magic in this world is a little handwavy, but essentially the Wyd & humans with the gift can speak to nature and cause certain unnatural effects of the world, like earthquakes, lightning, blizzards, and heavy fog. They can also possess living beings without souls, like dead humans and animals. When they are possessed they almost resemble Zombies, though they are more of the Voodoo variety than the Undead. The possessed are very hard to kill, with many near fatal wounds never bleeding, until enough damage is done to destroy the body. If you can tell by everything I just wrote, I really enjoyed the world building, and wanted to organize everything I learned about the word here. There are some more parts of the world building and history that would be very spoilery, so they were mostly avoided.
So in the end, I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to any Fantasy fan. Don't let the cover and the fact it's Self-Published turn you away, it is just as good as any book on the Bestseller list. At 99 cents, there's no reason not to buy and read this book.
The story is very well crafted in Scriber, with many different aspects that really drove the reader forward. I will say though, that there were a few annoyances, mainly that the main character took much longer to ascertain multiple facets of the enemy (when I almost immediately knew in general what they were) and a little bit of an overuse of having the main character black out during the big battles. I loved how there were multiple different goals for the characters to accomplish, along with the main goal of defeating The Burnt. There were some great adventure aspects to the story where they were searching for the Lost Archives, but there were also some strong epic fantasy parts, where the fate of the world (or at least their country) is on the edge of a sword. I will admit that tears were shed while reading this book, especially during the end. I also really enjoyed that this is a standalone novel, though there are potentially some adventures that could be explored if the author wished. I love long fantasy series, but a standalone book where the story has a definitive beginning middle and end, with all of the plot lines tied in perfect knot was refreshing.
The characters in this book are also very different from the norm. The main character, Scriber Dennon, is a very intelligent but very weak hero. He's an introvert with a convoluted past that he's been hiding from for years at the start of the book. At times he can be unlikeable, but perhaps because I related to his character, I really enjoyed being inside his head. He also goes through some excellent character development, where spending so much time on the road with a group of strong women brings him out of his shell, and he's definitely changed by the end of the book, though he is still the same person. The group of warrior women is very well done, but because their are almost twenty of them at the beginning, you can tell around half of them are cannon fodder. The reader doesn't learn too much about many of them, but this does make sense as Dennon is an introvert, and he wouldn't be very close to all of the women. Still, the ones whose personality and past are explored, turn out to be great unique characters. The stand out of course is Bryndine, the leader of the group standing at almost eight feet tall who swings a great-sword one handed and is the niece of the King. What she's gone through in this world provides a great back story, and I loved how she almost shows no outward expression, but she is still filled with emotion that the read and Dennon every once in awhile get to see. There are also many different roles the other women play, the ribald joker, the intelligent woman (that was too poor to become a Scriber but is taken under the wing of Dennon), the love interest (which was done surprisingly well, it didn't feel forced), and the bitch (who is this way because she loves Bryndine and thinks Dennon poses a threat to her safety). For the villains, there weren't any really strong ones, as they are generally either just people with miss-held beliefs/opinions, or people under the control of the Burnt Hive-Mind. I kind of liked that though, as it created some great moments where all of the people they are fighting for and risking/losing their lives absolutely hate them.
The writing style here has an amazing flow, and I would constantly find myself blasting through the book faster than I really wanted to because I couldn't stop reading. The narrative is first-person in the present, but it has the framework of a future Scriber reading the journals of Scriber Dennon. Personally I found all of the intro journal pieces at the beginning of the chapters to be slightly detrimental to my immersion. There were multiple times where the few paragraphs would essentially outline or roughly foreshadow what would happen in the chapter. The worst instance of this was near the end, where right before the end of the battle the journal entry essentially tells the reader that at least three of the companions would die and they would succeed in saving the world. On their own, the entries were enjoyable, but I kind of wished that I had skipped over all of these sections. However, the epilogue was very effective in tieing up all of the loose ends, though a little mystery could have been nice. I only noticed one spelling error, and overall this was a very well formatted book, especially for a self-published novel.
The world building and history of Scriber was very well done, and it had some very interesting aspects. I also enjoyed how it the reveal of the world building was a slow-burn, there really wasn't any sort of info dump at the beginning of the book. The rest of this paragraph will be slightly spoilery, so if you want to go into the book with a fresh mind, you might want to skip it. The Gods in this world (it isn't definitive if they exist or not) are called the Mother and the Father, to create the world they split their realms into Heaven and Earth, never to be together again. Their first child was the Dragon, whose realm is the Sea, and acts as the lord of the underworld. Their second child were the Wyd (or something like that) who are tree spirits and have power over nature. Their third child were the Humans, these were the God's favorite children, and at the beginning of their creation they were giants, but over time they have become normal size (except for some with the royal bloodline like Bryndine). Humanity split, with half becoming nomads/barbarians, and the other half becoming the Elovians, who under the guidance of the Wyd had powerful magical gifts and were one with nature. The two tribes of humans fought a long and brutal war, but the strong warriors defeated the Elovian people. The barbarians then began the great burning, where the forests (containing the bodies of the Wyd) were burned to make way for the growth of civilization. As the years went by, the Burnt trees of the Wyd regrew, and they sought vengence on human society. They used their power over nature and their ability to possess animals or recently dead humans to create The Forgetting. A really interesting concept, where all of the books were burned and the possessed King declared reading and writing against the law. Due to the heroic efforts of the Prince at the time, some of the most important books from the Archives were saved & hidden, and the vengeance of the Burnt was halted for a couple centuries (present time in the book). Two decades or so after The Forgetting, the King realized the folly of his predecessors, and created the Order of Scribers to find and protect history no matter the cost. These Scribers are essentially Doctors specializing in various fields like Medicine, History, Politics, the Arts, Sciences, etc, though every one that earns the pin (featured on the cover) must have a certain mastery in all of them. The magic in this world is a little handwavy, but essentially the Wyd & humans with the gift can speak to nature and cause certain unnatural effects of the world, like earthquakes, lightning, blizzards, and heavy fog. They can also possess living beings without souls, like dead humans and animals. When they are possessed they almost resemble Zombies, though they are more of the Voodoo variety than the Undead. The possessed are very hard to kill, with many near fatal wounds never bleeding, until enough damage is done to destroy the body. If you can tell by everything I just wrote, I really enjoyed the world building, and wanted to organize everything I learned about the word here. There are some more parts of the world building and history that would be very spoilery, so they were mostly avoided.
So in the end, I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to any Fantasy fan. Don't let the cover and the fact it's Self-Published turn you away, it is just as good as any book on the Bestseller list. At 99 cents, there's no reason not to buy and read this book.
October 23, 2017
A special surprise
This is the best sword and sorcery tale that I've ever read. It let me picture what real men and women living through those settings might feel and think and see. I had a similar revelation watching "The thirteenth warrior" , my favorite Antonio Banderas film.
No spoilers but there are scenes aplenty for most readers to find at least a couple of places that demand tears. If you're not a fan of sword and sorcery, read this as an example of the best. If you have ever been, this book will earn a place in your library.
This is the best sword and sorcery tale that I've ever read. It let me picture what real men and women living through those settings might feel and think and see. I had a similar revelation watching "The thirteenth warrior" , my favorite Antonio Banderas film.
No spoilers but there are scenes aplenty for most readers to find at least a couple of places that demand tears. If you're not a fan of sword and sorcery, read this as an example of the best. If you have ever been, this book will earn a place in your library.
October 30, 2017
I have read so many books in my life but there are very few that have left a mark on me like this.
The book is itself a life. We live a life of a historian. We see the work of the historian. We see how our history might itself have been misstated. This book gives our life a purpose.
What i didn't like is that the book has so less ratings and reviews on goodreads.. I am lucky to have stumbled upon this. If I have it my way, I will ask every reader to give this book a try and judge themselves
Recommended to everyone who likes mystery and fantasy.
The book is itself a life. We live a life of a historian. We see the work of the historian. We see how our history might itself have been misstated. This book gives our life a purpose.
What i didn't like is that the book has so less ratings and reviews on goodreads.. I am lucky to have stumbled upon this. If I have it my way, I will ask every reader to give this book a try and judge themselves
Recommended to everyone who likes mystery and fantasy.
July 9, 2016
Wow, this was really a very good book. I can imagine people might be a bit hesitant to start a self-published book, because there are quite a few that do not deserve to be published, but in this case you needn't worry. This book would be worth a lot more than the €0.85 that I now paid for it.
The best about the book was definitely the characters. Not only are they very well-drawn and show believable and realistic development, they are also unusual in that the main character is a withdrawn and someone timid scholar, accompanied by a group of tough, well-trained, professional female soldiers. Although their world does not appreciate women fighting, Scriber (the book, not the character) treats them with respect. Not once are they diminished for the fact that they are (fighting) women. And, I'm glad to say, the same goes for the scholar. In some of the reviews he is called cowardly. I do not really agree. I would say emotionally deeply scarred and healthily cautious. However, due to the immense bravery of the women's captain, Bryndine, he manages to grow beyond that. But he does not become a soldier in any way, and he does not become someone who jumps into danger, which would be unnatural for him. His relationship with the women is amazingly natural, and so is the way it develops. At first, not all of them get along, but mutual respect and friendship grows slowly. All of this is very well done, with a surprising depth to it. The issues the characters struggle with are very real and in their dealing with it, they never grow beyond their natural potential, never become something they were not to begin with.
The story itself does not have as much depth to it, having only a single storyline which is not overly complicated. Within a quarter of the book, I had strong suspicions about the origins of the Burners, and I was right. It didn't disturb me at all, though, because the story was told well. I liked the flow of information, introducing us to the world gradually. Dennon's voice was appealing, and I liked the little bits of his journal and books that were given at the beginning of each chapter. The world itself was attractive as well, a good stage for the story that is playing out.
I think if Dobson at some point manages to put some more intricacy in his books, they will be amazing. As it is, Scriber is very good. Based on the overall experience and on the characters I would give this 4 stars. Add to that the end of the book, with the extra insights in Bryndine's character and the discussion she has with Dennon about guilt, and I have to raise that to 4.5 stars. And on strength of pure enthusiasm, I'll round that upwards to 5.
The best about the book was definitely the characters. Not only are they very well-drawn and show believable and realistic development, they are also unusual in that the main character is a withdrawn and someone timid scholar, accompanied by a group of tough, well-trained, professional female soldiers. Although their world does not appreciate women fighting, Scriber (the book, not the character) treats them with respect. Not once are they diminished for the fact that they are (fighting) women. And, I'm glad to say, the same goes for the scholar. In some of the reviews he is called cowardly. I do not really agree. I would say emotionally deeply scarred and healthily cautious. However, due to the immense bravery of the women's captain, Bryndine, he manages to grow beyond that. But he does not become a soldier in any way, and he does not become someone who jumps into danger, which would be unnatural for him. His relationship with the women is amazingly natural, and so is the way it develops. At first, not all of them get along, but mutual respect and friendship grows slowly. All of this is very well done, with a surprising depth to it. The issues the characters struggle with are very real and in their dealing with it, they never grow beyond their natural potential, never become something they were not to begin with.
The story itself does not have as much depth to it, having only a single storyline which is not overly complicated. Within a quarter of the book, I had strong suspicions about the origins of the Burners, and I was right. It didn't disturb me at all, though, because the story was told well. I liked the flow of information, introducing us to the world gradually. Dennon's voice was appealing, and I liked the little bits of his journal and books that were given at the beginning of each chapter. The world itself was attractive as well, a good stage for the story that is playing out.
I think if Dobson at some point manages to put some more intricacy in his books, they will be amazing. As it is, Scriber is very good. Based on the overall experience and on the characters I would give this 4 stars. Add to that the end of the book, with the extra insights in Bryndine's character and the discussion she has with Dennon about guilt, and I have to raise that to 4.5 stars. And on strength of pure enthusiasm, I'll round that upwards to 5.
June 26, 2017
Fantasy novels that focus on friendships between women are rare, but even rarer are fantasy novels that feature strong friendships between men and women. I'm not talking "friendships" that are chock full of Unresolved Sexual Tension (TV Tropes), or scenarios in which one "friend" is hopelessly in love with the other but can't seem to break out of the "Friend Zone." One can usually find plenty of those. I'm talking honest-to-God FRIENDSHIPS between male and female characters, relationships characterized by cameraderie, admiration, and loyalty. Too many writers seem to concur with Billy Crystal's character in "When Harry Met Sally," that such friendships can't really exist.
Thankfully, Ben S. Dobson does not share that view. If you're looking for a work that places male/female friendship at its very heart, here it is. It's also unusual in that all but one of the male protagonist's important relationships are with female characters. And what women they are! The male protagonist is a scholar, a man of thought rather than action (and, when we first meet him, distinctly unlikeable), who finds himself surrounded by a motley group of female soldiers, each of whom has a distinct personality, a welcome break from the cookie-cutter approach many authors seem to take when creating women warriors. As he comes to like and respect them -- and even unbends enough to fall in love with one of them -- he becomes a better, wiser, stronger human being.
While his evolution is the story's focus, the female lead, Bryndine, is its most fascinating figure, an enigmatic but highly honorable woman, both literally and figuratively larger than life. She is NOT the hero's love interest, but she turns out to be, without question, the most important person not only in his life, but in the life of her country.
And yet... that ending. Oh, that ending. I was enjoying the ride, Mr. Dobson, but did you really have to do that? Sentence not just one, but two of your most sympathetic creations to tragic and untimely ends within the last 80%? Maybe it could have ended no other way, but darn it, darn it, darn it.
Still, a good book, and one of the Kindle reads I've enjoyed most this year. Any fantasy novel that focuses not only on male/female friendship but also on the importance of scholarship to the life of a country is a welcome read.
Thankfully, Ben S. Dobson does not share that view. If you're looking for a work that places male/female friendship at its very heart, here it is. It's also unusual in that all but one of the male protagonist's important relationships are with female characters. And what women they are! The male protagonist is a scholar, a man of thought rather than action (and, when we first meet him, distinctly unlikeable), who finds himself surrounded by a motley group of female soldiers, each of whom has a distinct personality, a welcome break from the cookie-cutter approach many authors seem to take when creating women warriors. As he comes to like and respect them -- and even unbends enough to fall in love with one of them -- he becomes a better, wiser, stronger human being.
While his evolution is the story's focus, the female lead, Bryndine, is its most fascinating figure, an enigmatic but highly honorable woman, both literally and figuratively larger than life. She is NOT the hero's love interest, but she turns out to be, without question, the most important person not only in his life, but in the life of her country.
And yet... that ending. Oh, that ending. I was enjoying the ride, Mr. Dobson, but did you really have to do that? Sentence not just one, but two of your most sympathetic creations to tragic and untimely ends within the last 80%? Maybe it could have ended no other way, but darn it, darn it, darn it.
Still, a good book, and one of the Kindle reads I've enjoyed most this year. Any fantasy novel that focuses not only on male/female friendship but also on the importance of scholarship to the life of a country is a welcome read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2013
I'll begin by saying that this book gave me pause on multiple occasions in the early pages. I felt myself get frustrated almost right off the bat, then felt my frustration grow. To begin, the book itself is introduced with a young woman one hundred years after the events of the book. We read two pages or so before we are pulled away from her and into the past. I was annoyed by this introduction: by giving me a character that I can begin to sink into, that I can feel in the weave of the story... and then removing her completely and giving me... Dennon Lark, the most annoying awful protagonist. He rubbed me wrong from the very beginning, and I resented it. Still, I decided to push through, to see if it would improve.
And it did.
Did Lark continue to frustrate me? Yes, but he got quite a bit better. I know the author wanted us to follow this man on his transition from ass to... not-an-ass, but still. I just didn't have fun with the former. And though I loved the story itself, that detracted a bit for the first... quarter or so of my reading.
That being said, once Lark did begin to improve, I had a lot more fun with the book. The story felt both old and fresh at once, with strands of myth woven into the history Lark and his comrades were living. I'm a big sucker for mythology and religion, so... that didn't hurt my enjoyment of this book at all.
As for Lark's companions, I really enjoyed most of them too. There were a few that felt a bit two-dimensional, whose motivations were too easy, to worn at the edges from overuse, but for the most part, I felt that the women with whom he kept company were strong, flawed, 3-dimensional individuals who lived and breathed. I enjoyed reading about them quite a bit.
That being said, from time to time both the plot and the characters felt too... easy, too predictable. I was able to predict a lot of what happened in the book, things like who would live and who would die, or even the whole overarching plot, the whodunit if you will.
But even through that predictability, it somehow... worked for me. I really enjoyed it, and I'll read more from the author to boot.
And it did.
Did Lark continue to frustrate me? Yes, but he got quite a bit better. I know the author wanted us to follow this man on his transition from ass to... not-an-ass, but still. I just didn't have fun with the former. And though I loved the story itself, that detracted a bit for the first... quarter or so of my reading.
That being said, once Lark did begin to improve, I had a lot more fun with the book. The story felt both old and fresh at once, with strands of myth woven into the history Lark and his comrades were living. I'm a big sucker for mythology and religion, so... that didn't hurt my enjoyment of this book at all.
As for Lark's companions, I really enjoyed most of them too. There were a few that felt a bit two-dimensional, whose motivations were too easy, to worn at the edges from overuse, but for the most part, I felt that the women with whom he kept company were strong, flawed, 3-dimensional individuals who lived and breathed. I enjoyed reading about them quite a bit.
That being said, from time to time both the plot and the characters felt too... easy, too predictable. I was able to predict a lot of what happened in the book, things like who would live and who would die, or even the whole overarching plot, the whodunit if you will.
But even through that predictability, it somehow... worked for me. I really enjoyed it, and I'll read more from the author to boot.
July 21, 2013
I really had a hard time rating this. I think I went into this with the wrong concept of what will happen and it took me a little while to realize I was wrong. I think mainly because I read romance mostly, I had that in my head but really this is a fantasy story.
First off know this: there isn't a hero and heroine here, there is a man and 20 warrior women. This is an epic story of a writer who just wants to hide away from everyone but gets dragged into a war of the world. He whines and complains and gives up way too easily, but he's smart and once he opens up, in touch with his feelings. Had he been a woman he would have been the perfect romance heroine, but then I kept thinking that of the women as men... I don't know what that says about me, I don't think I've ever read a story where they switched so obviously like this and I don't think I ever got comfortable with that aspect... and again I think it's because I'm so used to reading books with a romantic element rather than a straight fantasy.
The group of women warriors are not just tough women, they are women who are built and fight like men. They follow their Captain anywhere and everywhere, and seeing that our Scriber slowly learns to open up to them and respect them. I connected with these women along with our protagonist so when he was happy with them I was happy and when he was sad, I was sad
I have to say the fantasy world here was so interesting I am sure that's what kept me reading. I knew from the very beginning who the rebels were and the little clues here and there seemed obvious to me, but I think that's because I don't live in their world (so they don't know about Harry's magic wand or the LotR's Ents lol). I love reading stories that deal with epic battles and adventure and this one hit all my sweet spots. I may havta re-read this now that I know how to get in the right mind-set. I think if it wasn't for such a severe gender-swap thing that happened I woulda 5 starred it even though the Scriber drove me nuts lol. I will def keep an eye out for this author tho!
First off know this: there isn't a hero and heroine here, there is a man and 20 warrior women. This is an epic story of a writer who just wants to hide away from everyone but gets dragged into a war of the world. He whines and complains and gives up way too easily, but he's smart and once he opens up, in touch with his feelings. Had he been a woman he would have been the perfect romance heroine, but then I kept thinking that of the women as men... I don't know what that says about me, I don't think I've ever read a story where they switched so obviously like this and I don't think I ever got comfortable with that aspect... and again I think it's because I'm so used to reading books with a romantic element rather than a straight fantasy.
The group of women warriors are not just tough women, they are women who are built and fight like men. They follow their Captain anywhere and everywhere, and seeing that our Scriber slowly learns to open up to them and respect them. I connected with these women along with our protagonist so when he was happy with them I was happy and when he was sad, I was sad
I have to say the fantasy world here was so interesting I am sure that's what kept me reading. I knew from the very beginning who the rebels were and the little clues here and there seemed obvious to me, but I think that's because I don't live in their world (so they don't know about Harry's magic wand or the LotR's Ents lol). I love reading stories that deal with epic battles and adventure and this one hit all my sweet spots. I may havta re-read this now that I know how to get in the right mind-set. I think if it wasn't for such a severe gender-swap thing that happened I woulda 5 starred it even though the Scriber drove me nuts lol. I will def keep an eye out for this author tho!
April 22, 2012
Anyone who has played the Myst series on their computer has some idea of what it is like to read Scriber. The beauty of the world before you, one that is almost exactly the same, yet somewhat different from what you know, with a hint of fantasy thrown in and a need to focus on the written word are the real elements that charge your mind as you read. Knowledge in this world is power and while writing things don't make them happen as they do in the Myst series, the struggle to find what was once lost reminds one of searching the worlds in hopes of finding some clue to the next step in the journey.
This is an ancient-style world of kings and their armies who travel by horseback, but the people are not lost in their education. Schooling is important, or it was before a certain part in history where learning (and books) were banned. Scribes have survived this time and have knowledge of healing, history and warfare. Their word is almost as much a part of the law as the king's and the telling of this story through the eyes of one famous Scriber makes the tale so real to the heart that it is as if everything unfolds right before your eyes, in true, three dimensional visions.
If I was to worry about anything, it was that the main character was slightly too centered on all of his faults, but that was easily outweighed by the trueness of all of the characters to each other and to their situations. The light fantasy left me craving more of the history of this land, desperately clinging to what was said in an attempt to draw out every last bit of knowledge to complete everything that could not be told in one book. This is as it should be, something to make a Scriber proud.
Note: Though this book was a free gift from the author, the content of my review was in no way influenced by the gifting. The book speaks for itself and my review would have been worded just this way even if I'd gone out and bought it. I also give bonus points for Text To Speech enabling on Kindle format.... but that also wasn't a factor in the above review.
This is an ancient-style world of kings and their armies who travel by horseback, but the people are not lost in their education. Schooling is important, or it was before a certain part in history where learning (and books) were banned. Scribes have survived this time and have knowledge of healing, history and warfare. Their word is almost as much a part of the law as the king's and the telling of this story through the eyes of one famous Scriber makes the tale so real to the heart that it is as if everything unfolds right before your eyes, in true, three dimensional visions.
If I was to worry about anything, it was that the main character was slightly too centered on all of his faults, but that was easily outweighed by the trueness of all of the characters to each other and to their situations. The light fantasy left me craving more of the history of this land, desperately clinging to what was said in an attempt to draw out every last bit of knowledge to complete everything that could not be told in one book. This is as it should be, something to make a Scriber proud.
Note: Though this book was a free gift from the author, the content of my review was in no way influenced by the gifting. The book speaks for itself and my review would have been worded just this way even if I'd gone out and bought it. I also give bonus points for Text To Speech enabling on Kindle format.... but that also wasn't a factor in the above review.
August 5, 2012
This was a somewhat typical quest fantasy novel. However, the author does a great job creating a storyline and characters that are vibrant. The characters have depth and their motivations are not obviously stated. There are many strong female characters and their struggle in a medieval type of world is well-represented. The Quest keeps you on the edge of your seat and you really want to find out what happens. The bookend chapters are also great and surprising, which really emphasizes history and remembrance, as the Scribers strive for. There is also a lot of good/evil in human beings shown and the balance of that and doing the right thing is, with opposition from even yourself is well represented.
I did find the main character somewhat irritating, but his lack of innate, question-less courage, and how he grows in the book is really well=done.
Great book!
I did find the main character somewhat irritating, but his lack of innate, question-less courage, and how he grows in the book is really well=done.
Great book!
March 21, 2014
I found this book through Goodreads as a recommendation to those liking my book, Wretched of Muirwood. i have to say, the algorithm was correct and I did enjoy it. It was clean, had an intriguing mystery to it, and had a great Virtus plot. My favorite character was the narrator, the Scriber, and loved his attitude, his cowardice, and how he changed throughout the story. A great find by another indie author. Well done, Ben!
January 9, 2014
This book is really good. I had read the reviews, but I hadn't expected it to be so good. The story itself is well written and interesting, but the characters, oh, the characters... I felt that these people I was reading about had truly lived, somewhere, sometime.
And that last line... it killed me, but in a good way (if that makes any sense).
And that last line... it killed me, but in a good way (if that makes any sense).
September 27, 2014
Had actual tears rolling down my face reading the end of this.
February 2, 2018
It's been a long time since I've enjoyed reading a fantasy this much and felt emotionally moved by it by the end. It hit the things I like in a fantasy and didn't hit the things I hate. Good characterization, good world building, great narration, no dominating romances, no explicit language or sex, no teen cringe.
It's good writing. It's good storytelling.
I had a lot of thoughts about the book concerning feminism, deontology vs. utilitarianism, loyalty and duty, cowardice and bravery, roles of religion (in fantasy and reality), and what shapes the truth, but I think if I truly wanted to discuss those things in a review, it would spoil too much, and I think the best reading experiences for this book is spoiler free.
That's what tips a book for 5 stars for me. If it left me thinking or moved by the end. And I had a lot of reflective thoughts.
It's good writing. It's good storytelling.
I had a lot of thoughts about the book concerning feminism, deontology vs. utilitarianism, loyalty and duty, cowardice and bravery, roles of religion (in fantasy and reality), and what shapes the truth, but I think if I truly wanted to discuss those things in a review, it would spoil too much, and I think the best reading experiences for this book is spoiler free.
That's what tips a book for 5 stars for me. If it left me thinking or moved by the end. And I had a lot of reflective thoughts.
February 24, 2018
I don't often write reviews, but some books demand it and this is one of them.
Many authors write stories of heroes and their great deeds, but few rise to the level that make a cynical and jaded person like myself feel moved by the tale.
I will give no spoilers, but I urge you to read and decide for yourself. The world and characters are so well developed that I was shocked to find that this is a relatively new author, especially one who seems not to be well known YET...
I will also add that even though I hate books turned movies for they often fail to do the book justice, I hope that this becomes a movie one day. Scriber would be perfect for the big screen...
Many authors write stories of heroes and their great deeds, but few rise to the level that make a cynical and jaded person like myself feel moved by the tale.
I will give no spoilers, but I urge you to read and decide for yourself. The world and characters are so well developed that I was shocked to find that this is a relatively new author, especially one who seems not to be well known YET...
I will also add that even though I hate books turned movies for they often fail to do the book justice, I hope that this becomes a movie one day. Scriber would be perfect for the big screen...
May 23, 2022
If I could write,...
...I could merely hope that my story would be as excellent as this one. I have read practically every day of my life (not an exaggeration), and I have read many wonderful books. However, "Scriber" has soared to the top of those books. I wasn't sure for the first couple of chapters. I thought they were kinda boring. I am so glad I kept going.
It has a taut, well-crafted plot and intricate characters. I should warn you. Have plenty of tissues ready for the final chapters. You will need them. Expect to cry; expect to smile; expect to raise a victorious fist.
Enjoy!
...I could merely hope that my story would be as excellent as this one. I have read practically every day of my life (not an exaggeration), and I have read many wonderful books. However, "Scriber" has soared to the top of those books. I wasn't sure for the first couple of chapters. I thought they were kinda boring. I am so glad I kept going.
It has a taut, well-crafted plot and intricate characters. I should warn you. Have plenty of tissues ready for the final chapters. You will need them. Expect to cry; expect to smile; expect to raise a victorious fist.
Enjoy!
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