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Thurmond's Saga: Being a Recounting of How a Young Peasant Lad Sought Renown as a Slayer of Fell Beasts
He’s not what you would call an experienced killer, but young Thurmond has a dream—to join the Brotherhood of Underground Adventurers, an elite group of warriors dedicated to slaying goblins, vampires, and all manner of unsavory supernatural creatures.
And despite his initial rejection, Thurmond isn’t ready to give up just yet. Ever determined, he sets out to gain skills and experience in the crime-hardened medieval trade city of Gorgonholm in hopes of leaving his life of poverty behind.
When he comes across a map to a mysterious goblin treasure, it finally seems like his luck is about to change. Along with his new friends, Sarah, Roscoe, and Torgul, each in some way an outcast, Thurmond embarks on his first big adventure—and gains the attention of some powerful new enemies along the way.
And despite his initial rejection, Thurmond isn’t ready to give up just yet. Ever determined, he sets out to gain skills and experience in the crime-hardened medieval trade city of Gorgonholm in hopes of leaving his life of poverty behind.
When he comes across a map to a mysterious goblin treasure, it finally seems like his luck is about to change. Along with his new friends, Sarah, Roscoe, and Torgul, each in some way an outcast, Thurmond embarks on his first big adventure—and gains the attention of some powerful new enemies along the way.
- GenresFantasyHigh Fantasy
504 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2015
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522 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 24, 2015
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway back in October. I was excited to read this book because medieval fantasy is my favorite genre and I was not disappointed.
I thought this book was an interesting and good first novel from an independent writer/publisher. I think with an editor this book could become an excellent work of fiction. Mr. Mackenzie is historian, scholar and teacher of literature, and his knowledge of medieval history and culture shines through in his writing. The entire book I felt like I was in a medieval world and I really enjoyed the cast of characters. The antagonists especially made me laugh with their temper tantrums, stupidity and mannerisms. There was also quite a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor in this book that I also enjoyed. The battle scenes were also some of my favorite parts of the book! My only qualms with this book is that the writing felt a little dense at times. I could easily see this book turning into a series and I would like to see what other supernatural creatures exist in Thurmond's world aside from goblins and imps. If Mr. MacKenzie does decide to publish more books with Thurmond and the other adventurers I would definitely pick it up!
Also, I would like to thank the author for signing my copy and including a personal, handwritten note! That was very nice of you and it made my day when I received the book!
I thought this book was an interesting and good first novel from an independent writer/publisher. I think with an editor this book could become an excellent work of fiction. Mr. Mackenzie is historian, scholar and teacher of literature, and his knowledge of medieval history and culture shines through in his writing. The entire book I felt like I was in a medieval world and I really enjoyed the cast of characters. The antagonists especially made me laugh with their temper tantrums, stupidity and mannerisms. There was also quite a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor in this book that I also enjoyed. The battle scenes were also some of my favorite parts of the book! My only qualms with this book is that the writing felt a little dense at times. I could easily see this book turning into a series and I would like to see what other supernatural creatures exist in Thurmond's world aside from goblins and imps. If Mr. MacKenzie does decide to publish more books with Thurmond and the other adventurers I would definitely pick it up!
Also, I would like to thank the author for signing my copy and including a personal, handwritten note! That was very nice of you and it made my day when I received the book!
May 14, 2021
I was given a free copy of Thurmond’s Saga by Robert John MacKenzie (author), BooksGoSocial (publisher), and et Galley to provide an honest review. Thurmond’s Saga is the first book in the Chronicles of the Medieval Underworld series with Contessa of the Red Contessa (book #2) and Battle of Gorgonholm (book #3) are also available.
This review will spoiler free.
I would characterize Thurmond’s Saga as high fantasy or epic fantasy because there is a quest to find treasure as a major thrust of the story.
I found the world-building to be familiar and typical medieval settings and served the story and the characters and did not find them to be distracting.
The magic system is also familiar and did not find it to be distracting. A character is a novice mage who is trying to learn magic on her own. She learns by reading, studying, and memorizing spells from spell books.
The strongest part of this novel are the characters. The main character is a runaway apprentice who arrives in a large city and wants to join an organization of adventurers. Mr. MacKenzie does an admirable job of creating a main character that is three-dimensional, developed, engaging, interesting, and who I wanted to root for and see be successful. The three major minor characters of the novice mage and the two seasoned adventurers and each of them is unique, has something to do that adds another layer to the story, and very engaging.
What I also appreciated about the characters is each of the villains is unique, has his or her own character arc, and quite believable.
Another strength of the story is the plot which I found to be interesting, and each chapter kept the story propelling forward. I did find some parts of the middle to be a sluggish, but I was never taken out of the story, and really enjoyed the ending.
I would recommend Thurmond’s Saga to any reader who enjoys a story about quest that features standard fantasy tropes (such as dwarves, goblins, dungeon crawls, and treasure) but is written in such a way that is engaging with interesting characters and story.
I rate Thurmond’s Saga 4 stars.
I would like to thank Robert John Mackenzie, BooksGoSocial, and Netgalley for the free arc.
This review will spoiler free.
I would characterize Thurmond’s Saga as high fantasy or epic fantasy because there is a quest to find treasure as a major thrust of the story.
I found the world-building to be familiar and typical medieval settings and served the story and the characters and did not find them to be distracting.
The magic system is also familiar and did not find it to be distracting. A character is a novice mage who is trying to learn magic on her own. She learns by reading, studying, and memorizing spells from spell books.
The strongest part of this novel are the characters. The main character is a runaway apprentice who arrives in a large city and wants to join an organization of adventurers. Mr. MacKenzie does an admirable job of creating a main character that is three-dimensional, developed, engaging, interesting, and who I wanted to root for and see be successful. The three major minor characters of the novice mage and the two seasoned adventurers and each of them is unique, has something to do that adds another layer to the story, and very engaging.
What I also appreciated about the characters is each of the villains is unique, has his or her own character arc, and quite believable.
Another strength of the story is the plot which I found to be interesting, and each chapter kept the story propelling forward. I did find some parts of the middle to be a sluggish, but I was never taken out of the story, and really enjoyed the ending.
I would recommend Thurmond’s Saga to any reader who enjoys a story about quest that features standard fantasy tropes (such as dwarves, goblins, dungeon crawls, and treasure) but is written in such a way that is engaging with interesting characters and story.
I rate Thurmond’s Saga 4 stars.
I would like to thank Robert John Mackenzie, BooksGoSocial, and Netgalley for the free arc.
August 2, 2021
First off, the storyline was great, the characters were awesome, and adventuring they went. Thurmond, Sarah, Roscoe, Torgul, and the other adventurers, had an exhilarating time of it. What was most hilarious was the way they went about it, blundering their way through this treasure hunt, filled with misdeed, betrayal, greed, and the unexpected. This book was engrossing, well-written, entertaining, exciting, hilarious, and an all-out fun read.
April 4, 2021
I want to thank NetGalley and the author for kindly providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here expressed, however, are my own.
Thurmond's Saga is a fun, in places hilarious coming-of-age fantasy book, with our young hero Thurmond, who desperately wants to be one of the famous group of adventurers, growing up and coming into his own, while everybody around him exploits his greenness and naivete with great comical effect. When he finds a map that leads the way to a secret treasure, how could he resist? He brings together a band to tackle the adventure - only to find that they are not the only ones looking for this particularly treasure.
MacKenzie is clearly widely read and draws on a wide field of background texts, both from fantasy and outside of it. Fans of David Eddings will feel just at home as fans of Norse mythology (the Dwarf's saga had me in tears, it was such a great imitation), Kings of the Wyld or even The Three Musketeers.
What didn't quite work for me was the pacing, which in places felt a little too drawn out for this kind of story; but tastes differ and you may well feel differently about it.
Thurmond's Saga is a fun, in places hilarious coming-of-age fantasy book, with our young hero Thurmond, who desperately wants to be one of the famous group of adventurers, growing up and coming into his own, while everybody around him exploits his greenness and naivete with great comical effect. When he finds a map that leads the way to a secret treasure, how could he resist? He brings together a band to tackle the adventure - only to find that they are not the only ones looking for this particularly treasure.
MacKenzie is clearly widely read and draws on a wide field of background texts, both from fantasy and outside of it. Fans of David Eddings will feel just at home as fans of Norse mythology (the Dwarf's saga had me in tears, it was such a great imitation), Kings of the Wyld or even The Three Musketeers.
What didn't quite work for me was the pacing, which in places felt a little too drawn out for this kind of story; but tastes differ and you may well feel differently about it.
June 25, 2021
This is one of the best books I've read all year! There are so many things to praise about this work.
I love how the author incorporates the lore of the world without slowing down the narrative. This is done in several different ways throughout the book – Thurmond compares what he’s doing to the Labors of Aurelius and we get a little bit of lore there, other times Torgul recites a few stanzas from the sagas of his ancestors. There are several instances of this that really add to the depth and interest of the world and helps to ground the reader in the setting. Similarly, the author included a bit that explained the existing humanoid races in the world as well as their general relations with each other, which helps to define the parameters and expectations of the setting.
The characters were well-written with varied backgrounds and personalities. They all had their flaws and strengths, and the author did an excellent job portraying these in a way that made the characters feel realistic and relatable. It was also written in third person omniscient which was AWESOME, because the reader got to see the inner-thoughts and motivations of all characters, which granted insight into not only the characters, but the way the world worked.
The last chapter was perfect – it was made up of short sections that tied up random loose ends that occurred throughout the story. This chapter included some really clever things and was well done, ending the story in a satisfactory manner while still setting it up for the next book. There were a handful of typos and errors throughout the work, but they didn’t necessarily detract from the work.
Overall, I absolutely loved this work and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy books. I will definitely be reading more from this author!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love how the author incorporates the lore of the world without slowing down the narrative. This is done in several different ways throughout the book – Thurmond compares what he’s doing to the Labors of Aurelius and we get a little bit of lore there, other times Torgul recites a few stanzas from the sagas of his ancestors. There are several instances of this that really add to the depth and interest of the world and helps to ground the reader in the setting. Similarly, the author included a bit that explained the existing humanoid races in the world as well as their general relations with each other, which helps to define the parameters and expectations of the setting.
The characters were well-written with varied backgrounds and personalities. They all had their flaws and strengths, and the author did an excellent job portraying these in a way that made the characters feel realistic and relatable. It was also written in third person omniscient which was AWESOME, because the reader got to see the inner-thoughts and motivations of all characters, which granted insight into not only the characters, but the way the world worked.
The last chapter was perfect – it was made up of short sections that tied up random loose ends that occurred throughout the story. This chapter included some really clever things and was well done, ending the story in a satisfactory manner while still setting it up for the next book. There were a handful of typos and errors throughout the work, but they didn’t necessarily detract from the work.
Overall, I absolutely loved this work and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy books. I will definitely be reading more from this author!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 14, 2021
The plot in this book was at most predictable. I had such a hard time reading it I almost gave up. I couldn’t, in all honesty, give this book anything above a two-star. I just finished reading it, and I like to talk about the plot, character arc, characterization, structure, style, and POV.
However, I don’t know where to start.
Please use a real-life proofreader next time.
The story had a good pace at the start, but it was a sprint towards the end. There is no set number of words in a book. You can write as many words as you need to tell your story and make your book sound complete instead of a "Usain Bolt race to the finish line."
One thing I didn’t understand was, why make the nobility bastards? That part made no sense since, in traditional nobility, titles are inherited by legitimate sons. When you are writing, you need to stick to some rules, or at least if you are going to break the rules, you must specify why you made the changes and how the new rules apply. How would the titles of nobility be inherited?
I had to jump over some parts of the books because of the clunky language. The author may have mentioned something about the inheritance rules, but I doubt it; since I was careful with the parts, I skipped.
Writing fantasy is not just making shite up. You need to give us a little bit of background. Worldbuilding is as important as the plot in a fantasy story. The goblins in this story are inherently evil, but why? What is the story behind it? Why the animosity? Okay, they are evil, but why? Are they the right-hand monsters of the devil? I needed more info about the goblins.
So, this book was lathered like butter and Vaseline of sheer luck and happenstance. The main character just happened to be at the right place at the right time. He didn’t make things happened. He just went with the flow of his good luck.
I YA readers will like this book, but please do some re-writes and have a proofreader look at the manuscript.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
However, I don’t know where to start.
Please use a real-life proofreader next time.
The story had a good pace at the start, but it was a sprint towards the end. There is no set number of words in a book. You can write as many words as you need to tell your story and make your book sound complete instead of a "Usain Bolt race to the finish line."
One thing I didn’t understand was, why make the nobility bastards? That part made no sense since, in traditional nobility, titles are inherited by legitimate sons. When you are writing, you need to stick to some rules, or at least if you are going to break the rules, you must specify why you made the changes and how the new rules apply. How would the titles of nobility be inherited?
I had to jump over some parts of the books because of the clunky language. The author may have mentioned something about the inheritance rules, but I doubt it; since I was careful with the parts, I skipped.
Writing fantasy is not just making shite up. You need to give us a little bit of background. Worldbuilding is as important as the plot in a fantasy story. The goblins in this story are inherently evil, but why? What is the story behind it? Why the animosity? Okay, they are evil, but why? Are they the right-hand monsters of the devil? I needed more info about the goblins.
So, this book was lathered like butter and Vaseline of sheer luck and happenstance. The main character just happened to be at the right place at the right time. He didn’t make things happened. He just went with the flow of his good luck.
I YA readers will like this book, but please do some re-writes and have a proofreader look at the manuscript.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 20, 2025
Never finished because three chapters in I was already sick of the coarse language of the narrator. The overall humor had potential, but I could tell it could go downhill very easily.
Really written for readers with coarser tastes. Action oriented and not much chance of character arc, which is a fave of mine. The humor served as evidence that there probably wouldn't be much growth or serious change in the characters. The writing was more plot oriented and humor at the expense of character and setting. This is intended as a fantasy bit of entertainment that doesn't really care about much of anything.
I just finished reading a Beth Brower trilogy and this simply can't compare.
Others may enjoy it immensely. Great. But it is not for me.
Lora: you waited a long time for this book so please read this review again in a few years when you wonder if you read it. It's not to your taste and also a crude waste of time. I need stuff that doesn't drag me down.
Really written for readers with coarser tastes. Action oriented and not much chance of character arc, which is a fave of mine. The humor served as evidence that there probably wouldn't be much growth or serious change in the characters. The writing was more plot oriented and humor at the expense of character and setting. This is intended as a fantasy bit of entertainment that doesn't really care about much of anything.
I just finished reading a Beth Brower trilogy and this simply can't compare.
Others may enjoy it immensely. Great. But it is not for me.
Lora: you waited a long time for this book so please read this review again in a few years when you wonder if you read it. It's not to your taste and also a crude waste of time. I need stuff that doesn't drag me down.
April 12, 2021
I wavered between three and four stars. It's mostly OK, but the plot is overly reliant on coincidence and luck for my taste. Near the end, it looks like the author is setting up a whole lot more book, then he seems to realize that he needs to finish it and just wraps up all the remaining plot threads, some in not particularly likely ways.
He should definitely get someone other than his kids to copy edit it before publication. Someone whose vocabulary is better than his, and who checks carefully for homonyms - just because spellcheck says that there's a word spelled that way doesn't mean it's the word you meant.
The setting is a gritty, more-than-usually-realistic medieval fantasy world. There's a high body count, the nobility are bastards and the peasantry can't really win, and goblins and their like are uncomplicatedly evil, rightful targets for violence and looting because they engage in so much... violence and looting. Plus they're ugly, and uncultured, and don't look like us.
It's more or less a D&D slashfest, with the low-level main characters overpowered by design and thrown a ridiculous amount of luck so that they can survive the adventure and come out of it more-or-less triumphant. It's not without its charm and humour, and the protagonist learns some good life lessons, but overall, for me it was less than successful.
I received a review copy via Netgalley.
He should definitely get someone other than his kids to copy edit it before publication. Someone whose vocabulary is better than his, and who checks carefully for homonyms - just because spellcheck says that there's a word spelled that way doesn't mean it's the word you meant.
The setting is a gritty, more-than-usually-realistic medieval fantasy world. There's a high body count, the nobility are bastards and the peasantry can't really win, and goblins and their like are uncomplicatedly evil, rightful targets for violence and looting because they engage in so much... violence and looting. Plus they're ugly, and uncultured, and don't look like us.
It's more or less a D&D slashfest, with the low-level main characters overpowered by design and thrown a ridiculous amount of luck so that they can survive the adventure and come out of it more-or-less triumphant. It's not without its charm and humour, and the protagonist learns some good life lessons, but overall, for me it was less than successful.
I received a review copy via Netgalley.
March 24, 2021
Thurmond's Saga is a fun, fast-paced fantasy adventure set in medieval times. It is a great coming of age story for both the main protagonist, Thurmond, and one of his companions, Sarah. The detail of the world-building and structure of the story are easy to follow and understand. While the main villains came off a bit flat, I definitely recommend this adventure to people who enjoy fantasy, magic, and the medieval world. Therefore, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
See my full review here: https://biblionerdreflections.wordpre...
See my full review here: https://biblionerdreflections.wordpre...
August 24, 2022
When I ordered this novel, which is a first in a series, I was expecting a tale along the lines of The Fellowship of the Ring.
However, I was pleasantly surprised that this novel surpasses the first Tolkien novel
in regards to the character development and the continuous "movement" of the story line as to how it so fluidly relates the protagonist, Thurmond, and the comrades he bonds with during their adventure.
Woodland creatures and magic play an integral part in this very entertaining quest of "treasure".
However, I was pleasantly surprised that this novel surpasses the first Tolkien novel
in regards to the character development and the continuous "movement" of the story line as to how it so fluidly relates the protagonist, Thurmond, and the comrades he bonds with during their adventure.
Woodland creatures and magic play an integral part in this very entertaining quest of "treasure".
January 28, 2026
A solid, character-driven fantasy adventure with a humble beginning. Thurmond isn’t a flawless hero, which makes his journey into danger and ambition feel grounded and relatable. The world of Gorgonholm is gritty and interesting, and the friendships between the outcast companions add heart to the story. If you enjoy classic quest-style fantasy with steady growth and believable stakes, this book is worth picking up.
July 12, 2021
This was an pretty good read. Lots of different plots, failed assassination attempts, new found friends and enemies, and unexpected obstacles. In the end will the good guys win or will evil prevail.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 8, 2021
This book falls right into my comfort zone with medieval fantasy. Had a great time and can't wait to see more adventures from the author.
February 17, 2021
I've won this book in one of Goodreads giveaways... And what a deal! Although physically a bit uncomfortable to carry it with me on my commute, I have enjoyed every minute of it!
I have found the characters a bit flat. Nonetheless, the story captivated me. Medieval worlds are my guilty pleasure and I can't avoid to immerse myself on them at every occasion possible.
I'll be waiting to see if there's any continuation to Thurmond's adventure. I'll sure be up to it!
I have found the characters a bit flat. Nonetheless, the story captivated me. Medieval worlds are my guilty pleasure and I can't avoid to immerse myself on them at every occasion possible.
I'll be waiting to see if there's any continuation to Thurmond's adventure. I'll sure be up to it!
February 9, 2017
My girlfriend had this author as her high school English teacher and recommended this to me. I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait for the sequels. The book is engaging and interesting, it allows for not only good entertainment but brilliant learning too as it is very historically accurate when it comes to armour and weaponry. I loved this book and would recommend it to anybody with a sense of adventure.
April 13, 2018
I've won this book in one of Goodreads giveaways... And what a deal! Although physically a bit uncomfortable to carry it with me on my commute, I have enjoyed every minute of it!
I have found the characters a bit flat. Nonetheless, the story captivated me. Medieval worlds are my guilty pleasure and I can't avoid to immerse myself on them at every occasion possible.
I'll be waiting to see if there's any continuation to Thurmond's adventure. I'll sure be up to it!
I have found the characters a bit flat. Nonetheless, the story captivated me. Medieval worlds are my guilty pleasure and I can't avoid to immerse myself on them at every occasion possible.
I'll be waiting to see if there's any continuation to Thurmond's adventure. I'll sure be up to it!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews