Lost in Nightwalk

Accidental Sorcerers #5

by Larry Kollar

Lord Darin is pursuing Sura. The Web is pursuing Bailar and Mik. Still, they continue teaching combat magic to sorcerers in Koyr and the Northern Reach.

Training for conflict in the Goblin fastness, soldiers and mages start using Nightwalk, the vast maze under Ak’Koyr, for war games. Fleeing an assassination attempt, the sorcerers find themselves lost. Now the problem isn’t Lord Darin or The Web—it’s getting out.

The fifth Accidental Sorcerers story pits Sura, Bailar, and Mik against the most dangerous foe yet—can they prevail?

Genres: Fantasy

ebook

First published November 30, 2014

About the author

Larry Kollar lives in north Georgia, surrounded by kudzu, trees, and in-laws. His day job involves writing user manuals — some of which may have been fiction, but not by intent. He has had short fictional works published in the Hogglepot Journal and the Were-Traveler. His first novel, White Pickups, is available, with more to come. For more of his strange fiction, and even stranger reality, visit his blog.

Reviews

[Teresa Carrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fifth book of a very good YA fantasy series. I loved the first in the series and have enjoyed reading each of the sequels. Both characterization and world building are quite well done.

In addition to the usual mix of magic, blades, bad guys, and a few monsters, this book includes something rarely seen in fantasy : symptoms of PTSD after a particularly nasty adventure, and no instant magical fix for it. I am looking forward to the sixth book.

This review was based on a free eARC from the author. I paid for the first four volumes myself.

[Ronna Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consistent with drama and quirky scenes

The author is continuing to dramatize scenes of importance and includes scenes that are quirky. The heroes are put to even greater challenges that are reminiscent of a warriors battles.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt this one stumbled a bit compared to the others in the series, and as is so often the case, the problem is one of protagonism.

The characters have two problems, two people coming after them, who, at one point, join forces. This looks bad. However, the resolution doesn't come from the main characters' actions, but from an unforeshadowed change of heart by one of the antagonists, who kills the other and then gets killed defending the heroes.

What it does do well is setting up a PTSD issue for one of the young protagonists, to be dealt with in the next volume.

It's a nod to a D&D dungeon adventure, too; the series has been getting a little closer to D&D as it goes along, with a cleric who can heal being added to the cast.

[Pranesh Sreekantan · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok