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Harbinger
(Northern Fire #1)
by
Rulla, Dealer of Fates, has seen fit to bestow Her blessing on four babes - Cairn, Lars, Lora and Thay - for they are all born on the same night to different mothers. None of the folk of the Darnok clan have ever heard of such a thing. The birthing is made even stranger yet, for once they are safely delivered, the village seeress falls into a trance and chants a verse that
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Start your review of Harbinger (Northern Fire #1)
From the start, this novel throws us head-first into a rich realm of gods and Nordic men and women. I can feel the cold, the furs, and the tradition. It was almost overwhelming, evoking the feel of an Icelandic epic of men and deeds without necessarily providing us with any kind of depth. And after the fact of reading the novel, I find that it was okay. I did scratch my head and wonder what I was getting myself into, however.
Further into the text, things smooth out nicely, focusing more on the f ...more
Further into the text, things smooth out nicely, focusing more on the f ...more
Classic epic fantasy with a number of the usual clichés - four babes born the same special night in one small town, prophecies in poems, and uniquely named weapons with one of them, an elaborately designed long sword, Harbinger, being the title to the book. If anything disappointed me, it was the first chapter where the author decides to name a host of places, gods, historical events and half the people in town! My advise to a reader would be to skim past all those names (in other words, don't t
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What would a nordic saga really look, from the POV of real protagonists? This book is the answer. Ian McKinley delivers a world full of passion, of tangible adventure and danger, of characters lost and found through friendship and hardships. Fantastic realism is a new, more adult take on fantasy, that serves as a bridge for fantasy and historical fiction lovers.
My rating is more based on personal bias. I liked more Gallows Gem of Prallyn for the mediterranean quality of its setting, that for me ...more
My rating is more based on personal bias. I liked more Gallows Gem of Prallyn for the mediterranean quality of its setting, that for me ...more
well-researched and full of rich detail, Harbinger has stuck with me in the year since I had the pleasure to Beta Read it. McKinley has written a compelling coming of age story with some truly wonderful elements of adventure, myth, and a few surprising twists and turns. Recommended for those who enjoy historical fantasy in the vein of Miles Cameron's Red Knight.
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A compelling adventure in the old Norse tradition with a gradual change of perspective. Very Enjoyable.
review to follow
New Brunswick's resident writer of fantastic realism, Ian H. McKinley, has just released Harbinger, Book 1 of the Northern Fire series. It is firmly rooted in Nordic myth and legend, a time of swords, spears, axes, bow and arrow and fearless sea raiders that pillage enemy villages along the coasts and fjords of the Northlands.
Four Children of Destiny
Four children are born in the village on Darknight (the winter solstice) marking them as special and destined for greatness, according to the villag ...more
Four Children of Destiny
Four children are born in the village on Darknight (the winter solstice) marking them as special and destined for greatness, according to the villag ...more
wow! this book is a gem. I'm usually not a big fan of sea stories. I get lost in the technical language related with boats so unless the story is soo compelling that what happens to the boat and how the boat behaves or how the characters navigate in the boat and with the boat, I usually don`t like those stories. But, Ian in his first novel, has described the scene of a pirate ship attacking a merchant ship in such a matter that this first chapter in the Gallows Gem of Prallyn is probably my all
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The review of the printing proofs has come to an end, for good or ill!
Well, my rating is obviously biased, but with that admission out of the way, can you blame someone for thinking that their creative energies over several years have turned out well?
A couple of observations: I have read each and every part of this book so many times that I no longer know what it's like to come across for the first time. Also, it's only existed as an entity separate from The Winter Wars (to come) for a relativel ...more
Well, my rating is obviously biased, but with that admission out of the way, can you blame someone for thinking that their creative energies over several years have turned out well?
A couple of observations: I have read each and every part of this book so many times that I no longer know what it's like to come across for the first time. Also, it's only existed as an entity separate from The Winter Wars (to come) for a relativel ...more
Imagine preparing for something your entire life, only to have it swept away in an instant. The saga of Lora, Thay, Cairn and Lars' struggle to survive in a hostile land weaves traditional fantasy elements - destiny, heroism - with empathy and gritty realism. Not only the central characters, but everyone depicted has depth, complexity, and a unique voice. There are no hordes of faceless foes here throwing themselves forward to be slaughtered, no global struggle subjugating everyone to a single n
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A brilliant story of friendship and adventure.
I really enjoyed this book, the second McKinley novel I have read. In this novel, he sends four friends on a treacherous journey through an achingly beautiful landscape in a tale of friendship and discovery. With skillful storytelling he weaves exciting sword fights, loss, humor, poetry and more in this thoroughly enjoyable piece.
I really enjoyed this book, the second McKinley novel I have read. In this novel, he sends four friends on a treacherous journey through an achingly beautiful landscape in a tale of friendship and discovery. With skillful storytelling he weaves exciting sword fights, loss, humor, poetry and more in this thoroughly enjoyable piece.
"This is a terrific novel by a talented storyteller. I was captivated from the first page. I am anxious for Book 2 and hope to be first in line when it becomes available."
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3.5 stars. Review to come!
Engaging page-turner with compelling characters in a harsh and fantastic setting. Can't wait for the sequel to continue the adventure.
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| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book Blogger Review | 1 | 1 | Feb 20, 2017 05:09AM |
Ian McKinley, a Writers' Federation of New Brunswick "Prélude Emerging Writer" at the 2016 Frye Festival (Atlantic Canada's largest literary event), writes Fantastic Realism, fantasy in which alignments and/or collisions of human interests and values drive the narrative rather than clashes of pure good against ultimate evil. He released his second novel, Harbinger, Book One of Northern Fire, in Ap
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