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Scar of the Downers (The Scar of the Downers Book 1)
by
Branded on the slaves in the Northern Reaches beyond Ungstah, the scar marks each one as a Downer. It is who they are. There is no escaping this world. Still, strange things are stirring.
Two foreigners ride through the Northern Reaches on a secret mission. An unknown cloaked figure wanders the streets of the dark city of Ungstah. What they want no one can be sure, but it ...more
Two foreigners ride through the Northern Reaches on a secret mission. An unknown cloaked figure wanders the streets of the dark city of Ungstah. What they want no one can be sure, but it ...more
Kindle Edition, 274 pages
Published
February 27th 2015
by WiDo Publishing
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Start your review of Scar of the Downers (The Scar of the Downers Book 1)


***** 5 Cranky Stars *****
Friends, Andevin and Forden are on their way to Ungstah on a mission for Andevin's father. On their way they are ambushed and killed.

Ungstah is the city of fire and smoke, ruled over by the Gaunt King who is manipulated by the Voice behind the throne and an ancient wicked witch.

Downers are people who are branded like cattle and owned by masters who treat them worse than dogs. Rik and Jak are two of these Downers and the central characters of this tale.

This book is peop ...more

For a first book in a series it was a very interesting and adventurous beginning. I really loved Crik, and Jak and how protective Crik is of Jax.
The reason I only gave the book 4/5 is because I am trying to get use to all of the different individuals that are in this book. Other character that is very interesting is Aniel, I am not going to say what part she plays in the book.
I loved how the book ended, and I am already reading the second book and I am really loving it so far.
I received this b ...more
The reason I only gave the book 4/5 is because I am trying to get use to all of the different individuals that are in this book. Other character that is very interesting is Aniel, I am not going to say what part she plays in the book.
I loved how the book ended, and I am already reading the second book and I am really loving it so far.
I received this b ...more

Scar of the Downers is the second book of Scott Keen’s remarkable series. In the city of Ungstah, Crik, a Downer, marked by his scar as a slave, works hard to protect his young companion, Jak. Together they serve a cruel master, Kilvar, scavenging stolen merchandise and enduring a life of privation. At night, terrifying phantoms roam the streets, searching out unwary victims and dealing a vicious death to those unlucky enough to wander into their path.
Meanwhile, a dutiful father, Talorc, learns ...more

Holy World Building Batman! What an epic story set in a fantastic magical realm. In case you can't tell, this is my first of Scott Keen's books... but it won't be my last. I loved learning about all of the different people, the individuals and their stories. This book read well as a standalone although it is not. Now I need to go back to read what I have missed! If you are a fantasy reader who loves epic stories on a grand scale about freedom and justice and just being inherently good then do no
...more

Crik and Jak are Downers, children branded with the mark of slavery and trapped in the oppressive city of Ungstah. Their master, Kilvar, owns a grungy shop where the boys are forced to work during the day selling stolen merchandise; in the evenings they scavenge for food. As long as they’re home by dusk they’re safe from the Ash Kings, phantom beings released each night from the smoky pit in the center of the city, beings that roam the streets in search of victims doomed to a searing, charred de
...more

Mar 02, 2015
Elizabeth Keen
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorite-fantasies
By the time I got to the last chapters of Scar of the Downers, I was whizzing through it, I couldn't put it down without knowing what would happen. No spoilers, but you won't be disappointed! When the book starts, the stakes are laid out - there's a caste of people who are the slaves (or Downers), and there's a movement brewing to free them. Mostly the story follows Crik and Jak, two Downers who live in the city of Ungstah and have a brother-type relationship because they are both owned by Kilva
...more

Not for me.
Perhaps Keen decided to divide the story the way he did solely because this is the first book in a series, but I felt that the transitions between the varying parts of the story were at times awkwardly done. It's possibly to switch PoV among several characters who are vast distances apart without jarring readers. It's possible to carve new pieces of the plot puzzle without letting the reader forget the shapes of the other pieces. I didn't feel either happened during several of the tra ...more
Perhaps Keen decided to divide the story the way he did solely because this is the first book in a series, but I felt that the transitions between the varying parts of the story were at times awkwardly done. It's possibly to switch PoV among several characters who are vast distances apart without jarring readers. It's possible to carve new pieces of the plot puzzle without letting the reader forget the shapes of the other pieces. I didn't feel either happened during several of the tra ...more

[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.]
To call this unique and original would hardly do it justice. In Scar of the Downers Scott Keen brings readers a well-developed and rich world with a storied past, a challenging present, and a potentially changing future. It is very easy to become immersed in this story due to Keen's descriptive writing, smooth flow of plot, and character development. And there are certainly enough twists and turns here ...more
To call this unique and original would hardly do it justice. In Scar of the Downers Scott Keen brings readers a well-developed and rich world with a storied past, a challenging present, and a potentially changing future. It is very easy to become immersed in this story due to Keen's descriptive writing, smooth flow of plot, and character development. And there are certainly enough twists and turns here ...more

Scar of the Downers is an interesting new fantasy book. It is full of survival, strength, growth, trust, and the fight for freedom. It involves the Downers being treated like slaves, barely ever being fed and always having to do as their master asks. They are treated so poorly and cruelly, but then they have help and suddenly everything is looking brighter. It’s about friendship and trust and it’s a tale written to make scared characters a little braver, a littler more trusting, and a lot more
...more

I received an autographed copy of this book from the Goodreads Giveaways. There was even a personal note from the author which was really nice!
I enjoyed this book. The author does well to describe his fantasy world to us, describing the history of the land. The plot itself was interesting and I look forward to reading the sequel to find out what happens to these characters and the land. However I did have a few qualms with the book. The writing style had a few too many unnecessary commas for my ...more
I enjoyed this book. The author does well to describe his fantasy world to us, describing the history of the land. The plot itself was interesting and I look forward to reading the sequel to find out what happens to these characters and the land. However I did have a few qualms with the book. The writing style had a few too many unnecessary commas for my ...more

Being born into slavery is something that I will never understand. The author has taken a lifestyle completely foreign to us and shows us the grit, the dirt and the pure emotion of living this way.
As you read about Crik you see that he is just trying to survive and this costs him dearly.
I can't imagine having to leave behind the terrors of the life you know, for the unknown terrors of life that wants to end you.
When you read this book you will learn things about the characters that will endear t ...more
As you read about Crik you see that he is just trying to survive and this costs him dearly.
I can't imagine having to leave behind the terrors of the life you know, for the unknown terrors of life that wants to end you.
When you read this book you will learn things about the characters that will endear t ...more

I consider myself an avid Science Fiction reader, with such authors as Tolkien, Card, Adams, Zahn, and Allston in my library. Keen is going to be the next fixture.
I picked up this treasure at a local bookstore. I was concerned at first that the book was geared more towards adolescents, but it gripped me from the beginning, and its ease of reading only added to it's allure. Each chapter was more thrilling than the next, pulling me through the pages with sword fights and suspense.
I can't wait to r ...more
I picked up this treasure at a local bookstore. I was concerned at first that the book was geared more towards adolescents, but it gripped me from the beginning, and its ease of reading only added to it's allure. Each chapter was more thrilling than the next, pulling me through the pages with sword fights and suspense.
I can't wait to r ...more

I think there is too much going on in this book. Too many characters being introduced at random times that don't really fit the story, many talked about in passing after an introduction worthy of a big character. Honestly, if I hadn't promised a friend that I would read the book, I would have put it down in the second chapter.
...more
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