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The Landkist Saga #1
Valley of Embers
For hundreds of years, the flame-wielding Embers have been the last line of defense against the nightmare creatures from the World Apart, but the attacks are getting worse. Kole Reyna guards Last Lake from the terrors of the night, but he fears for his people’s future.
When Kole is wounded by a demon unlike any they have seen before, the Emberfolk believe it is a sign of an ancient enemy returned, a powerful Sage known as the Eastern Dark.
Kole has never trusted in prophecy, but with his people hanging on the precipice, he reluctantly agrees to lead the Valley’s greatest warriors in a last desperate bid for survival. Together, they will risk everything in search of a former ally long-thought dead, and whether Kole trusts him or not, he may be the only one capable of saving them.
When Kole is wounded by a demon unlike any they have seen before, the Emberfolk believe it is a sign of an ancient enemy returned, a powerful Sage known as the Eastern Dark.
Kole has never trusted in prophecy, but with his people hanging on the precipice, he reluctantly agrees to lead the Valley’s greatest warriors in a last desperate bid for survival. Together, they will risk everything in search of a former ally long-thought dead, and whether Kole trusts him or not, he may be the only one capable of saving them.
434 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2016
853 people are currently reading
2325 people want to read
About the author
Steven Kelliher
15 books198 followersSteven is a fighter-turned-writer who resides in the Boston area. A former sports and entertainment writer, he now focuses exclusively on his true passion: epic action fantasy and sci-fi. He wishes all disputes were still settled with a friendly game of hand-to-hand combat, is a fan of awesome things, and tries to write books he’d want to read.
He hopes you like them.
He hopes you like them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
July 19, 2017
*** 4 ***
I see so much potential in this series! Have in mind, this is the debut novel for a new author in the Fantasy genre, and in those I always look for the seeds of something beautiful to come. In the Valley of Embers, there is plenty that promises very good things to come. However, as every first novel, this one had some bumps in the road, mostly having to do with editing and stylistics, but I believe that this will be easily overcome in the future. The important part is, there is a vast imagination and the desire to tell a story, which introduces us to the world of the Emberfolk.
Originally from the Desert Lands, the Emberfolk had been driven into the Valley under the leadership of the The White Crest Sage, Sages being the powerful Wizards of this world, and the Ember King, supposedly to protect them from the war among the Six Sages, of whom most powerful is The Eastern Dark. Not so much in raw power, but he has fond a way to control the access of creatures from the World Apart, something like a Hell dimension the way I understand it, through cracks which occur in the real world. Those creatures carry the taint of darkness, which once take over a person, s/he becomes just a mindless slave of the Eastern Dark.
"..."When the World Apart drifted close enough to touch during the Dark Months, they made their way in through whatever seams they could find. It was not the Dark Kind the Emberfolk had fled when their king led them out of the desert a century and more ago; it was one who spoke to them, commanded them. He was one of the Six—the one all Emberfolk grew up fearing, and the one Kole most wanted to meet."..."
From the first chapter we are thrown into the reality the Emberfolk have to deal with daily during the Dark Months, when the sun barely touches the earth. I myself love being thrown into the action and sorting out everything as I go, but I can see how some might have a bit of a harder time orienting themselves into such baptism by fire. Obviously, a hundred years ago or so, when the people from the Desert came to live in the Valley, they were met by peoples who already lived there and who felt invaded. Those were the People of the Valley Faey and the Riverborn. After some armed clashes, a truce of a sort has been reached and the different peoples have settled in their villages, and through the peaceful years between them, having a common enemy, some intermixing has occurred.
Depending on their background, the people of the Valley have among them those who are born with elemental talents, gifts from the Earth. The Faey have abilities that have to do with Seeing and Healing, the Rockbled are the ones who have strength and the sturdy endurance of the mountains where they come from, and the Desert people carry in their blood the ability to control Fire and act as conduit for heat and flame, making them a very potent offensive weapon. However, since moving to the fertile lands on the Lake, the Emberfolk have diluted the gift, and at present there are only 9 Embers left in this settlement... Kole Reyna is the third youngest of them and he is our main protagonist. He is in his early twenties and the loss of his mother has left him deeply suspicious of their supposed guardian, the White Crest Sage. He is deeply skeptical and even flirts with the idea that this Sage has not only abandoned, but has turned against them. This, and the unusually aggressive strike of Dark Kind, sends him and some of his friends on a quest to meet with the fabled protector and find out for themselves.
"...“But I doubt if it wasn’t exactly what he wanted you to see. Just as I doubt if the White Crest was ever on our side in the first place. Just as I doubt if his dark adversary, whom we have not heard from since our king fled the desert like a whipped dog, would challenge one as powerful as he.”..."
So, this is the world we enter straight away, dark and tortured, grieving for opportunities lost, for home abandoned, seeing nothing but hopelessness and destruction in its future... And who can blame them, when powers equal of those of g-ds use regular folk as kindling for their fires and the faiths of nations are just part of their game for power. What is good, what is bad, and would you recognize one or the other, when they wear the faces of a friend. What is all of it all about? Why do the randomness of circumstances save one person and erase the existence of another?? What drives us to make choices and how do we handle the responsibility??? All of those questions haunt our protagonists, and some of them find the price for their mistakes very difficult to bare...
"...“It’s time we took control of our destiny rather than waiting for the ghost of a dead king to point us in the wrong direction.”..."
On the road for answers, we are immersed in the history and traditions of the People of the Valley, as well as root for them while constantly battling for their right of survival. The fight scenes are awesome and gave us some deeper understanding of some of our characters, but I wish we had gotten more of those glimpses into their personalities. I understand that this was pitch-battle and the action left little time for in-debt introductions, but I will say that G. Cook and S. Erikson are very good at using even the littlest interactions in moments like that to give a fuller picture of who the characters are. Nevertheless, this is a very compelling story in the tradition of the Epic Quest Fantasy and I am looking forward to the next books, as well as the development of this new author.
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you find what you Need in the pages of a Good Book!!!
I see so much potential in this series! Have in mind, this is the debut novel for a new author in the Fantasy genre, and in those I always look for the seeds of something beautiful to come. In the Valley of Embers, there is plenty that promises very good things to come. However, as every first novel, this one had some bumps in the road, mostly having to do with editing and stylistics, but I believe that this will be easily overcome in the future. The important part is, there is a vast imagination and the desire to tell a story, which introduces us to the world of the Emberfolk.
Originally from the Desert Lands, the Emberfolk had been driven into the Valley under the leadership of the The White Crest Sage, Sages being the powerful Wizards of this world, and the Ember King, supposedly to protect them from the war among the Six Sages, of whom most powerful is The Eastern Dark. Not so much in raw power, but he has fond a way to control the access of creatures from the World Apart, something like a Hell dimension the way I understand it, through cracks which occur in the real world. Those creatures carry the taint of darkness, which once take over a person, s/he becomes just a mindless slave of the Eastern Dark.
"..."When the World Apart drifted close enough to touch during the Dark Months, they made their way in through whatever seams they could find. It was not the Dark Kind the Emberfolk had fled when their king led them out of the desert a century and more ago; it was one who spoke to them, commanded them. He was one of the Six—the one all Emberfolk grew up fearing, and the one Kole most wanted to meet."..."
From the first chapter we are thrown into the reality the Emberfolk have to deal with daily during the Dark Months, when the sun barely touches the earth. I myself love being thrown into the action and sorting out everything as I go, but I can see how some might have a bit of a harder time orienting themselves into such baptism by fire. Obviously, a hundred years ago or so, when the people from the Desert came to live in the Valley, they were met by peoples who already lived there and who felt invaded. Those were the People of the Valley Faey and the Riverborn. After some armed clashes, a truce of a sort has been reached and the different peoples have settled in their villages, and through the peaceful years between them, having a common enemy, some intermixing has occurred.
Depending on their background, the people of the Valley have among them those who are born with elemental talents, gifts from the Earth. The Faey have abilities that have to do with Seeing and Healing, the Rockbled are the ones who have strength and the sturdy endurance of the mountains where they come from, and the Desert people carry in their blood the ability to control Fire and act as conduit for heat and flame, making them a very potent offensive weapon. However, since moving to the fertile lands on the Lake, the Emberfolk have diluted the gift, and at present there are only 9 Embers left in this settlement... Kole Reyna is the third youngest of them and he is our main protagonist. He is in his early twenties and the loss of his mother has left him deeply suspicious of their supposed guardian, the White Crest Sage. He is deeply skeptical and even flirts with the idea that this Sage has not only abandoned, but has turned against them. This, and the unusually aggressive strike of Dark Kind, sends him and some of his friends on a quest to meet with the fabled protector and find out for themselves.
"...“But I doubt if it wasn’t exactly what he wanted you to see. Just as I doubt if the White Crest was ever on our side in the first place. Just as I doubt if his dark adversary, whom we have not heard from since our king fled the desert like a whipped dog, would challenge one as powerful as he.”..."
So, this is the world we enter straight away, dark and tortured, grieving for opportunities lost, for home abandoned, seeing nothing but hopelessness and destruction in its future... And who can blame them, when powers equal of those of g-ds use regular folk as kindling for their fires and the faiths of nations are just part of their game for power. What is good, what is bad, and would you recognize one or the other, when they wear the faces of a friend. What is all of it all about? Why do the randomness of circumstances save one person and erase the existence of another?? What drives us to make choices and how do we handle the responsibility??? All of those questions haunt our protagonists, and some of them find the price for their mistakes very difficult to bare...
"...“It’s time we took control of our destiny rather than waiting for the ghost of a dead king to point us in the wrong direction.”..."
On the road for answers, we are immersed in the history and traditions of the People of the Valley, as well as root for them while constantly battling for their right of survival. The fight scenes are awesome and gave us some deeper understanding of some of our characters, but I wish we had gotten more of those glimpses into their personalities. I understand that this was pitch-battle and the action left little time for in-debt introductions, but I will say that G. Cook and S. Erikson are very good at using even the littlest interactions in moments like that to give a fuller picture of who the characters are. Nevertheless, this is a very compelling story in the tradition of the Epic Quest Fantasy and I am looking forward to the next books, as well as the development of this new author.
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you find what you Need in the pages of a Good Book!!!
August 30, 2016
I did receive this for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated are my own. So I'm going to do this similar to how I do my video reviews. I'm still going to do a video review, so you guys just get it early. I'm going to go through my pros and then cons. You can already see my rating.
Pros:
First and foremost, I loved the world of The Valley. Learning about the different peoples and their different ideas about the world was fascinating. All the Landkist were so cool, and I'll go into more detail about them in my video which will be linked down below when it goes up. I liked that Steven Kelliher took the time to really think out seasons and environments in this series and how that would determine a lot of how the characters would act and interact. Most of all, there is practically no info dumping at all, so you had to build the world in your mind yourself based on the characters' thoughts and words. It was a breath of fresh air after reading so many books that spend the first 100-200 pages laying out the entire world for you. In relation to all this, I can see so much promise for the rest of the series. I cannot wait to see how he will expand the Ember's world, and I can't wait to meet more characters and learn about some of the other cultures. Another pro is a personal one. I love fast-paced, plot-driven stories, and this was definitely one. After I got my grasp on the world concepts, I flew through the story. Not like a Faeykin, but pretty close. If you like action packed books, this is for you.
Cons:
Where there wasn't info-dumping for the world building, I think the characterization for most of the characters could have been subtler. You're told how most of them are where I think it could have been shown by noticing facial expressions or body language. Dialogue could have also been utilized for this, but you get a brief character description usually when you meet someone. There were some errors scattered throughout, but they were small. It would say "chucked" instead of "chuckled" or "here" instead of "her." And lastly, the author doesn't really set up scenes very much, and so I would be thrown off when a part of scenery gets pointed out that I didn't know was there. You know how most authors describe a room when the character first walks? The color of the curtains or the staircase leading up to some unknown location off the the right? That doesn't happen in this book which could be a reflection of the characters' lack of observations but slightly confusing nonetheless.
So overall, I really enjoyed myself while experiencing this novel. The pros were super strong for me, and so I'm stoked to read the second book when it's released. I want to learn as much about this world and the sages as I can! 4 Stars!
Pros:
First and foremost, I loved the world of The Valley. Learning about the different peoples and their different ideas about the world was fascinating. All the Landkist were so cool, and I'll go into more detail about them in my video which will be linked down below when it goes up. I liked that Steven Kelliher took the time to really think out seasons and environments in this series and how that would determine a lot of how the characters would act and interact. Most of all, there is practically no info dumping at all, so you had to build the world in your mind yourself based on the characters' thoughts and words. It was a breath of fresh air after reading so many books that spend the first 100-200 pages laying out the entire world for you. In relation to all this, I can see so much promise for the rest of the series. I cannot wait to see how he will expand the Ember's world, and I can't wait to meet more characters and learn about some of the other cultures. Another pro is a personal one. I love fast-paced, plot-driven stories, and this was definitely one. After I got my grasp on the world concepts, I flew through the story. Not like a Faeykin, but pretty close. If you like action packed books, this is for you.
Cons:
Where there wasn't info-dumping for the world building, I think the characterization for most of the characters could have been subtler. You're told how most of them are where I think it could have been shown by noticing facial expressions or body language. Dialogue could have also been utilized for this, but you get a brief character description usually when you meet someone. There were some errors scattered throughout, but they were small. It would say "chucked" instead of "chuckled" or "here" instead of "her." And lastly, the author doesn't really set up scenes very much, and so I would be thrown off when a part of scenery gets pointed out that I didn't know was there. You know how most authors describe a room when the character first walks? The color of the curtains or the staircase leading up to some unknown location off the the right? That doesn't happen in this book which could be a reflection of the characters' lack of observations but slightly confusing nonetheless.
So overall, I really enjoyed myself while experiencing this novel. The pros were super strong for me, and so I'm stoked to read the second book when it's released. I want to learn as much about this world and the sages as I can! 4 Stars!
May 29, 2017
* I was sent this book for free from the author in exchange for a review *
This is book one in a new fantasy series which I am eager to keep up with. The series has very strong vibes of works like Peter V Brett and his Demon Cycle books, becuase this story focuses on a world where humans and demon-like dreadful monsters have to continually fight one another for survival. The World Apart is a place of horrors and every now and then some of these monsters manage to creep through and ambush the humans. Luckily the Valley of people we're following is home to a few of the remaining Embers, people who can burn like fire and have magical gifts of their own to help them fight off the monsters. Sadly, there's very few Embers left, and when one of their brightest is attacked in the forests by a monster unseen for many years, it's time to act...
What I really enjoyed about this was that it felt fun and exciting right from page one and I actually read this entire book in just one day becuase I was so immersed into the story. I definitely think it's a book that will excite and enchant readers who love writers like Brett and Sanderson, and I think it feels fresh and unique too.
The characters are mainly Kole, our Ember, and Linn, a woman who is eager to help her people and find someone else who might be able to step in. They're good friends and brave warriors and they each go on their own journey to try and help the people of the Valley. I do think we could have developed the characters more than we did, but I hope that as this is a series book number two will continue to expand upon them.
Overall a definitely fun story and book I'd highly recommend. 4*s overall :)
This is book one in a new fantasy series which I am eager to keep up with. The series has very strong vibes of works like Peter V Brett and his Demon Cycle books, becuase this story focuses on a world where humans and demon-like dreadful monsters have to continually fight one another for survival. The World Apart is a place of horrors and every now and then some of these monsters manage to creep through and ambush the humans. Luckily the Valley of people we're following is home to a few of the remaining Embers, people who can burn like fire and have magical gifts of their own to help them fight off the monsters. Sadly, there's very few Embers left, and when one of their brightest is attacked in the forests by a monster unseen for many years, it's time to act...
What I really enjoyed about this was that it felt fun and exciting right from page one and I actually read this entire book in just one day becuase I was so immersed into the story. I definitely think it's a book that will excite and enchant readers who love writers like Brett and Sanderson, and I think it feels fresh and unique too.
The characters are mainly Kole, our Ember, and Linn, a woman who is eager to help her people and find someone else who might be able to step in. They're good friends and brave warriors and they each go on their own journey to try and help the people of the Valley. I do think we could have developed the characters more than we did, but I hope that as this is a series book number two will continue to expand upon them.
Overall a definitely fun story and book I'd highly recommend. 4*s overall :)
January 27, 2020
The night is dark and full of terrors, especially for the besieged inhabitants of the Valley of Embers. Only a handful of walled towns remain as the last bastions against the night, and the dwindling population of Emberfolk struggle to defend their secluded homes from the Dark Kind.
Valley of Embers is a solid debut and an engaging start to what promises to be a truly epic series. Kelliher’s action scenes are great, his settings are vivid and varied, and his characters are heroic in every sense of the word. In nearly every scene, layered worldbuilding and rich lore are woven in amongst exciting combat and breathtaking – almost cinematic – visuals; as a lover of fantasy and all things epic, I’m eager to experience more of the Landkist Saga.
Valley of Embers is a solid debut and an engaging start to what promises to be a truly epic series. Kelliher’s action scenes are great, his settings are vivid and varied, and his characters are heroic in every sense of the word. In nearly every scene, layered worldbuilding and rich lore are woven in amongst exciting combat and breathtaking – almost cinematic – visuals; as a lover of fantasy and all things epic, I’m eager to experience more of the Landkist Saga.
Want to read
November 6, 2017➽ Nov. 6, 2017: to celebrate the release of book 3 in this series, the first two instalments are only 99 cents each!!
This is all Michael McClung's fault, by the way. He said "old school epic fantasy with lickable covers" and I said "bloody shrimping fish resist this I cannot."
This is all Michael McClung's fault, by the way. He said "old school epic fantasy with lickable covers" and I said "bloody shrimping fish resist this I cannot."
June 18, 2017
This book throws us right into the action, the first scene of the book is a battle with some pretty insane monsters. So if you're looking for a book that starts out with a bang, you will want to pick this up. The monsters are pretty intense, tentacle crazyness coming out of the forest and attacking the city.
This book is one that drops you into a fully realized world and it's a lot of info to absorb in the beginning. So when you start this book give yourself a bit of time to get into it. This isn't one where if you have a spare 15 - 20 minutes to start it and get into it - give yourself at least a half an hour to really immerse yourself in it and absorb it before you put it down.
Don't let that daunt you though, it doesn't take too long to get into it, and once you've got it down it's easy to follow. The magic system is well thought out and consistent. This is a story about fire mages of sorts, the Embers have a natural ability to weild fire magic and it's really cool. I've always had a thing for fire mages and so this book had a lot of appeal to me.
Evil is coming back "The Eastern Dark" who had driven the Embers out of the original home is returning. He's a powerful and evil "sage" of sorts and if he's left undefeated he will rule the world of Landkist. The demons that are running rampant and wreaking havoc in this world aren't actually from Landkist - they are from "The World Apart" invading Landkist. The Embers need the help of the "White Crest" to defeat the onslaught of evil - but the problem is no one knows where he is. So, our main characters set out to go find him - and really this is where everything starts to go down.
The world building in this book was really well done, I felt immersed in the world, it was believable and well organized.
The main characters are Linn and Kole - I think Linn is my favorite. She's a take no shit kind of person and can take care of herself. I always enjoy those sorts of characters.
If you're a person who likes plot driven or action driven books you'll really like this one, there are plenty of action and battle scenes throughout the book. There are a few major battles that get a ton of screne time and mixed with the magic system in this book it makes for a lot of fun.
I was pretty impressed this is a debut novel and I'll absolutely read the second in the series. I'm looking forward to what happens next. It's pretty clear this author has a lot of potential and talent!
I also enjoyed the fact that this didn't leave us on a cliff hanger. The plot points are mostly resolved, but it does leave room to keep exploring the world and characters, I'll be reading the sequel here soon and posting a review on that. I'm hoping for another Michael J Sullivan where each book just gets better :)
Oh, and the cover art is pretty awesome :D
http://weatherwaxreport.blog for more reviews!
This book is one that drops you into a fully realized world and it's a lot of info to absorb in the beginning. So when you start this book give yourself a bit of time to get into it. This isn't one where if you have a spare 15 - 20 minutes to start it and get into it - give yourself at least a half an hour to really immerse yourself in it and absorb it before you put it down.
Don't let that daunt you though, it doesn't take too long to get into it, and once you've got it down it's easy to follow. The magic system is well thought out and consistent. This is a story about fire mages of sorts, the Embers have a natural ability to weild fire magic and it's really cool. I've always had a thing for fire mages and so this book had a lot of appeal to me.
Evil is coming back "The Eastern Dark" who had driven the Embers out of the original home is returning. He's a powerful and evil "sage" of sorts and if he's left undefeated he will rule the world of Landkist. The demons that are running rampant and wreaking havoc in this world aren't actually from Landkist - they are from "The World Apart" invading Landkist. The Embers need the help of the "White Crest" to defeat the onslaught of evil - but the problem is no one knows where he is. So, our main characters set out to go find him - and really this is where everything starts to go down.
The world building in this book was really well done, I felt immersed in the world, it was believable and well organized.
The main characters are Linn and Kole - I think Linn is my favorite. She's a take no shit kind of person and can take care of herself. I always enjoy those sorts of characters.
If you're a person who likes plot driven or action driven books you'll really like this one, there are plenty of action and battle scenes throughout the book. There are a few major battles that get a ton of screne time and mixed with the magic system in this book it makes for a lot of fun.
I was pretty impressed this is a debut novel and I'll absolutely read the second in the series. I'm looking forward to what happens next. It's pretty clear this author has a lot of potential and talent!
I also enjoyed the fact that this didn't leave us on a cliff hanger. The plot points are mostly resolved, but it does leave room to keep exploring the world and characters, I'll be reading the sequel here soon and posting a review on that. I'm hoping for another Michael J Sullivan where each book just gets better :)
Oh, and the cover art is pretty awesome :D
http://weatherwaxreport.blog for more reviews!
February 12, 2017
In my opinion, Valley of Embers is a dream-like epic fantasy tale not to be missed, a chilling vision of high fantasy horrors and delights that will have you cheering on the heroes and fearing for their lives. It’s crafted with great ingenuity, skill and care. In my mind, Kelliher’s style is an intriguing combination of Tolkien, Donaldson and Abercrombie, mixed and seasoned for a flavor all its own. I can’t wait to see what Kelliher comes up with next, not just with the story, but as his mastery of word craft continues to mature.
My ridiculously long complete review and why I liked it so much on MightyThorJRS blog
My ridiculously long complete review and why I liked it so much on MightyThorJRS blog
January 2, 2018
I listened to this epic fantasy on Audible and was not disappointed.
Strong world building, combat scenes, adventure, magic and characters. Incredibly visual, but with enough 'down moments' during the adventure to make those fast, action-packed moments pop.
If you love the thought of magic wielding warriors, who harness elemental energies and wield them through their weapons, you'll love this.
This superheroes in a medieval setting. Hot blooded - literally - men and women standing up against an unstoppable foe of demons and altered beasts and humans alike. Betrayals, twists and turns, it's got it all.
Read it! I'm certainly looking forward to the rest of the series.
Strong world building, combat scenes, adventure, magic and characters. Incredibly visual, but with enough 'down moments' during the adventure to make those fast, action-packed moments pop.
If you love the thought of magic wielding warriors, who harness elemental energies and wield them through their weapons, you'll love this.
This superheroes in a medieval setting. Hot blooded - literally - men and women standing up against an unstoppable foe of demons and altered beasts and humans alike. Betrayals, twists and turns, it's got it all.
Read it! I'm certainly looking forward to the rest of the series.
May 6, 2017
This is a really interesting debut.
It took a bit to actually take off - the first 20% felt more like an introduction and worlduilding, but the 80% rest of the book really picked up the pace and had me hooked.
I enjoyed the magic, liked the characters and was intrigued by the plot - that only showed itself bit by bit and therefore kept up the mystery. The idea of Landkist, who have different powers was something I haven't read before, and the amount of fire and rocks being flung around was a lot of fun! The different POVs and locations kept the suspense high, as you wanted to know what happened to all the different characters, and not just the one you were reading about at that moment.
There was a bit much info dumped into dialogues, that made them feel a bit stilted at times.
Also for my personal taste some of the action scenes were to "chaotic" - not in the actual fighting, but in the telling.
The writing itself was quite fluent, but some shortened sentences felt off to me - though they were correct. I guess I am a stickler for "proper" sentences, not just right ones. ;) It was only a few though, so not a big deal.
All in all it was a really enjoyable fantasy adventure that finally had more magic in it again - I miss that in a lot of current books! 3,5 stars
It took a bit to actually take off - the first 20% felt more like an introduction and worlduilding, but the 80% rest of the book really picked up the pace and had me hooked.
I enjoyed the magic, liked the characters and was intrigued by the plot - that only showed itself bit by bit and therefore kept up the mystery. The idea of Landkist, who have different powers was something I haven't read before, and the amount of fire and rocks being flung around was a lot of fun! The different POVs and locations kept the suspense high, as you wanted to know what happened to all the different characters, and not just the one you were reading about at that moment.
There was a bit much info dumped into dialogues, that made them feel a bit stilted at times.
Also for my personal taste some of the action scenes were to "chaotic" - not in the actual fighting, but in the telling.
The writing itself was quite fluent, but some shortened sentences felt off to me - though they were correct. I guess I am a stickler for "proper" sentences, not just right ones. ;) It was only a few though, so not a big deal.
All in all it was a really enjoyable fantasy adventure that finally had more magic in it again - I miss that in a lot of current books! 3,5 stars
February 1, 2020
So, what if Gandalf was evil? This has been a topic which has been touched upon by a number of books. The First Law Trilogy managed to do it in a delightfully interesting way. However, Valley of Embers isn't a Medieval fantasy story nor does it bear anything but a superficial resemblance to the Lord of the Rings. Instead, it actually reminds me more of Princess Mononoke with a dash of The Legend of Zelda and Avatar: The Last Airbender. It's the story of a protagonist who bitterly resents (actually outright hates) the wise old wizard who protects his people as well as the cosmic struggle he tries to involve his people in.
The Valley is a place full of individuals called Embers who possess the power of natural fire magic. They're not alone among elemental magicians but rule as well as hold the strongest position because, well, fire is a damn useful talent for warriors. The Valley is protected by the White Crest Sage who keeps them ostensibly safe from the Eastern Dark. New monsters have invaded, though, and Kole's group goes to seek the mysteriously absent White Crest. However, while most wish to recruit the ancient wizard, Kole harbors a different desire: to kill the man he blames for his mother's death.
If I were to put my literary criticism hat on, the book has a lot of metaphor which can be summarized as a discussion of religion. The White Cresh is a figure who is attributed much benevolence and trust but many terrible things happen despite his supposed protection. Rationalizations are made for the figure even as others stew in what they see as oppression brought about in his name. Kole's anger at times seems justifiable but the book doesn't provide easy answers as many of his beliefs about the Sage are driven by his own desire to have someone to blame for his problems--much the same as others try to attribute good to the Sage.
Valley of Embers is full of action from start to finish with many encounters with the dark-tainted forces. These foes are, for the most part, about as one-dimensional evil as Tolkien orcs or zombies. However, that doesn't mean the book is lacking in moral ambiguity. Indeed, much of the book's "point" is that people who see the world in Black and White are not only wrong from egregiously so. This is the kind of lesson I could see more of in fantasy. Taking the typical conflict and expanding on it so things are more complex was a welcome element for sure.
Kole is a somewhat likable hero but there's also times I wanted to slap him across the face. His determination to kill the White Crest is built around the most specious and self-serving of reasons but he also displays great courage in the many battles his people have against the Dark. I look forward to seeing how his character matures as he does get several good reality checks. The fact a lot of his beliefs are as unquestioned as the other Valley people's beliefs are in the Sage is also a bit of hypocrisy which doesn't go noticed by the author. I'm pleased to say despite Kole's troublesome nature that there are other characters who have really entertaining personalities.
My favorite scene from the book is a quiet one in-between the fighting where a veteran Ember talks about why he doesn't use his fire powers to make his camp fires. It's a rather touching and horrifying story which shows the author has a more mature grasp of war than those who just throw endless hordes of fantasy communists at the protagonists ala Terry Goodkind. There's also quite a bit of world-building for the setting despite it taking in a small contained valley.
In conclusion, Valley of Embers is a great little fantasy novel. Lots of action, some interesting characters, and actually an interesting theme about both elevating humans to gods as well as unquestioned obediance.
9/10
The Valley is a place full of individuals called Embers who possess the power of natural fire magic. They're not alone among elemental magicians but rule as well as hold the strongest position because, well, fire is a damn useful talent for warriors. The Valley is protected by the White Crest Sage who keeps them ostensibly safe from the Eastern Dark. New monsters have invaded, though, and Kole's group goes to seek the mysteriously absent White Crest. However, while most wish to recruit the ancient wizard, Kole harbors a different desire: to kill the man he blames for his mother's death.
If I were to put my literary criticism hat on, the book has a lot of metaphor which can be summarized as a discussion of religion. The White Cresh is a figure who is attributed much benevolence and trust but many terrible things happen despite his supposed protection. Rationalizations are made for the figure even as others stew in what they see as oppression brought about in his name. Kole's anger at times seems justifiable but the book doesn't provide easy answers as many of his beliefs about the Sage are driven by his own desire to have someone to blame for his problems--much the same as others try to attribute good to the Sage.
Valley of Embers is full of action from start to finish with many encounters with the dark-tainted forces. These foes are, for the most part, about as one-dimensional evil as Tolkien orcs or zombies. However, that doesn't mean the book is lacking in moral ambiguity. Indeed, much of the book's "point" is that people who see the world in Black and White are not only wrong from egregiously so. This is the kind of lesson I could see more of in fantasy. Taking the typical conflict and expanding on it so things are more complex was a welcome element for sure.
Kole is a somewhat likable hero but there's also times I wanted to slap him across the face. His determination to kill the White Crest is built around the most specious and self-serving of reasons but he also displays great courage in the many battles his people have against the Dark. I look forward to seeing how his character matures as he does get several good reality checks. The fact a lot of his beliefs are as unquestioned as the other Valley people's beliefs are in the Sage is also a bit of hypocrisy which doesn't go noticed by the author. I'm pleased to say despite Kole's troublesome nature that there are other characters who have really entertaining personalities.
My favorite scene from the book is a quiet one in-between the fighting where a veteran Ember talks about why he doesn't use his fire powers to make his camp fires. It's a rather touching and horrifying story which shows the author has a more mature grasp of war than those who just throw endless hordes of fantasy communists at the protagonists ala Terry Goodkind. There's also quite a bit of world-building for the setting despite it taking in a small contained valley.
In conclusion, Valley of Embers is a great little fantasy novel. Lots of action, some interesting characters, and actually an interesting theme about both elevating humans to gods as well as unquestioned obediance.
9/10
August 14, 2016
Every once in a while, a new voice ringing in the halls of fantasy sends the fantasy community in to watch out and look at this mode! This is exactly what happened when a chap I became friendly with on Twitter announced he was publishing a novel and a fantasy novel at that! Steven Kelliher is the author of the Valley of Embers: Volume 1 of the Landkist saga. Below is the synopsis of this fantastic novel!
For hundreds of years, the flame-wielding Embers have been the last line of defense against the nightmare creatures from the World Apart, but the attacks are getting worse. Kole Reyna guards Last Lake from the terrors of the night, but he fears for his people’s future.
When Kole is wounded by a demon unlike any they have seen before, the Emberfolk believe it is a sign of an ancient enemy returned, a powerful Sage known as the Eastern Dark.
Kole has never trusted in prophecy, but with his people hanging on the precipice, he reluctantly agrees to lead the Valley’s greatest warriors in a last desperate bid for survival. Together, they will risk everything in search of a former ally long-thought dead, and whether Kole trusts him or not, he may be the only one capable of saving them.
This is arguably one of the most well written fantasy novels that I have had the pleasure of reading, I will point out that I was given a free review copy of this and this is my honest review. I was totally blown over by this novel, it is a wonderfully original novel, a tale of exile and survival and one of the most intriguing magic systems in a fantasy novel. One of the greatest strengths of this novel is the continuity, the chapters are well paced as is the writing and allows the reader to stay well within the world, allowing for some clever world building. Speaking of world building, hats of to Steven for not info dumping us and easing the reader in to an intriguing fantasy world that even don't really understand.
Steven has also created some wonderful characters as well, the character of Kole is wonderful and it is thrilling to join on the epic journey that he undertakes. Steven takes a familiar trait withing fantasy i.e a character not so sure of themselves and re writes the rule book with some awesome results. My only negative is that there is not any more of this great story for me to enjoy! Steven! Please write more!
I would urge anyone reading this to pick up a copy of Valley of Embers and immerse yourselves in a new, intriguing fantasy world, you will not regret it!
For hundreds of years, the flame-wielding Embers have been the last line of defense against the nightmare creatures from the World Apart, but the attacks are getting worse. Kole Reyna guards Last Lake from the terrors of the night, but he fears for his people’s future.
When Kole is wounded by a demon unlike any they have seen before, the Emberfolk believe it is a sign of an ancient enemy returned, a powerful Sage known as the Eastern Dark.
Kole has never trusted in prophecy, but with his people hanging on the precipice, he reluctantly agrees to lead the Valley’s greatest warriors in a last desperate bid for survival. Together, they will risk everything in search of a former ally long-thought dead, and whether Kole trusts him or not, he may be the only one capable of saving them.
This is arguably one of the most well written fantasy novels that I have had the pleasure of reading, I will point out that I was given a free review copy of this and this is my honest review. I was totally blown over by this novel, it is a wonderfully original novel, a tale of exile and survival and one of the most intriguing magic systems in a fantasy novel. One of the greatest strengths of this novel is the continuity, the chapters are well paced as is the writing and allows the reader to stay well within the world, allowing for some clever world building. Speaking of world building, hats of to Steven for not info dumping us and easing the reader in to an intriguing fantasy world that even don't really understand.
Steven has also created some wonderful characters as well, the character of Kole is wonderful and it is thrilling to join on the epic journey that he undertakes. Steven takes a familiar trait withing fantasy i.e a character not so sure of themselves and re writes the rule book with some awesome results. My only negative is that there is not any more of this great story for me to enjoy! Steven! Please write more!
I would urge anyone reading this to pick up a copy of Valley of Embers and immerse yourselves in a new, intriguing fantasy world, you will not regret it!
September 8, 2017
Valley of Embers was recommended to me on r/fantasy. People around there seem genuinely thrilled by it. Was the hype justified?
Not really.
Once upon a time, there was a community that lived in the desert. Some of them had the power to control fire. They were called Embers and they have been the last line of defense against the nightmare creatures from the World Apart. When evil came, King of Embers leads his people to the Valley that was supposed to guarantee them safety. If it worked out, there would be no book, so obviously things went wrong. The Ember King and the White Crest –a Sage – left the Valley to tear down the evil nad while doing so they blocked the passage out of the Valley.
Fast forward few generations and we meet Kole Rayna – an Ember who has little faith in Sages, prophecies and legends. As the story progresses his beliefs stop to matter as he needs to help others fight the Night Lord.
Apart from Kole, there are other important characters, namely Linn, Baas, Iyana, Ninyeva. We learn more about them throughout the story. However, we don’t learn enough to make me care for any of them. It’s rather plot oriented story and characters serve the author to lead the reader through story arcs.
It’s actually difficult to explain the plot and all the twists without drawing complicated diagrams and hundreds of words. Let me just say it’s not really a straightforward and clear story. It’s more like an overly complicated set of puzzles that don't reveal anything thrilling. I found it difficult to get into the book and, truth be told, I never really succeeded. There were moments I enjoyed, there were good ideas and nice descriptions. There was also a lot of info – dumping, slow and unexciting world – building. The pacing was uneven, some chapters didn’t resolve anything. They just made the plot more confusing. If you enjoy patchworks, you may approve this kind of narration. Personally, I find it tiring.
As mentioned above I didn’t make friends with any of the characters. They all seem moderately convincing. The relationships between them lack emotions, there’s not a lot of character development, there’s little insight into protagonists minds. One example is the relationship between Kole and his father Karin. The bond between them is unnoticeable, and their interactions are rather distant. Sure, it may be rooted in Kole’s backstory (his mother death) but we don’t learn more about it.
And that’s a problem because when I can’t relate to at least one of characters, even the best story won’t be enough to keep me connected and engaged.
The prose is poetic and rich and some of the descriptions are excellent (places, Dark Kind, magic spells). It complements well the scenery and story arcs. While it works well for places, it doesn’t work that well in battle descriptions. Some of them are slow. It’s subjective and you may well enjoy this slow-motion effect. I didn’t. It’s especially evident In final Wight. They talk, they fight, I look at the watch and await the end impatiently.
Overall, I believe this book will appeal to many readers. For me, it was lacking some linear direction and better, clearer, structure. At times the things were way too slow and I had a hard time getting into the story. Actually, in order to appreciate events more, you would do well to have a pen while reading it and writing down who is who and what does it mean in this world.
The world is undoubtedly creative and I like the idea of Embers, Dark Kind threat and some of the twists. What puts me off though are characters that lack, well, character.
I won’t be reaching for the sequel but I think it’s a book worth trying. If you look for a book with complex lore, intriguing magic/power system and nice poetic descriptions, chances are you’ll enjoy Valley of Embers. Bear in mind that it may take some time to engage you and there’s a risk it won’t succeed.
Not really.
Once upon a time, there was a community that lived in the desert. Some of them had the power to control fire. They were called Embers and they have been the last line of defense against the nightmare creatures from the World Apart. When evil came, King of Embers leads his people to the Valley that was supposed to guarantee them safety. If it worked out, there would be no book, so obviously things went wrong. The Ember King and the White Crest –a Sage – left the Valley to tear down the evil nad while doing so they blocked the passage out of the Valley.
Fast forward few generations and we meet Kole Rayna – an Ember who has little faith in Sages, prophecies and legends. As the story progresses his beliefs stop to matter as he needs to help others fight the Night Lord.
Apart from Kole, there are other important characters, namely Linn, Baas, Iyana, Ninyeva. We learn more about them throughout the story. However, we don’t learn enough to make me care for any of them. It’s rather plot oriented story and characters serve the author to lead the reader through story arcs.
It’s actually difficult to explain the plot and all the twists without drawing complicated diagrams and hundreds of words. Let me just say it’s not really a straightforward and clear story. It’s more like an overly complicated set of puzzles that don't reveal anything thrilling. I found it difficult to get into the book and, truth be told, I never really succeeded. There were moments I enjoyed, there were good ideas and nice descriptions. There was also a lot of info – dumping, slow and unexciting world – building. The pacing was uneven, some chapters didn’t resolve anything. They just made the plot more confusing. If you enjoy patchworks, you may approve this kind of narration. Personally, I find it tiring.
As mentioned above I didn’t make friends with any of the characters. They all seem moderately convincing. The relationships between them lack emotions, there’s not a lot of character development, there’s little insight into protagonists minds. One example is the relationship between Kole and his father Karin. The bond between them is unnoticeable, and their interactions are rather distant. Sure, it may be rooted in Kole’s backstory (his mother death) but we don’t learn more about it.
And that’s a problem because when I can’t relate to at least one of characters, even the best story won’t be enough to keep me connected and engaged.
The prose is poetic and rich and some of the descriptions are excellent (places, Dark Kind, magic spells). It complements well the scenery and story arcs. While it works well for places, it doesn’t work that well in battle descriptions. Some of them are slow. It’s subjective and you may well enjoy this slow-motion effect. I didn’t. It’s especially evident In final Wight. They talk, they fight, I look at the watch and await the end impatiently.
Overall, I believe this book will appeal to many readers. For me, it was lacking some linear direction and better, clearer, structure. At times the things were way too slow and I had a hard time getting into the story. Actually, in order to appreciate events more, you would do well to have a pen while reading it and writing down who is who and what does it mean in this world.
The world is undoubtedly creative and I like the idea of Embers, Dark Kind threat and some of the twists. What puts me off though are characters that lack, well, character.
I won’t be reaching for the sequel but I think it’s a book worth trying. If you look for a book with complex lore, intriguing magic/power system and nice poetic descriptions, chances are you’ll enjoy Valley of Embers. Bear in mind that it may take some time to engage you and there’s a risk it won’t succeed.
May 25, 2017
In a world where a gifted few are the last hope for survival, the Embers, gifted wielders of flame, guard against the onslaught of the dark evil. One such guard waivers in his belief in an ancient prophecy and his ability to protect his people from the creatures of the night. Kole has seen what no other has, he has experienced the pain inflicted by a fabled demon from the past, and now he is asked to lead the fight against this creature, the Eastern Dark.
His warriors need help from another force from the past, a being Kole holds no love for or belief in, but these are desperate times and if there is a chance of finding their greatest ally, he must…
Journey into epic fantasy with Steven Kelliher’s VALLEY OF EMBERS and enter a world of vast proportions, vivid details and an atmosphere that feels shrouded in a cloud of mystery, fear and ominous evil. Discover the history of this world told throughout this tale as it begins to breathe with a life of its own as characters come alive, become dimensional and carry both the greatness and flaws of reality. Witness an original tale of magic, survival and be part of the quest to defeat evil. From an action-packed start that dives into the meat of this tale, feel the pull of every page as you fall deeper and deeper away from reality!
Steven Kelliher spares nothing in creating his universe with rich detail throughout. Once you enter, you will be forever changed, hooked and wanting more from both this talented author and this continuing, amazing saga.
I received this copy from author Steven Kelliher in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Landkist Saga - Book 1
Publisher: Steven Kelliher (August 12, 2016)
Publication Date: August 12, 2016
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 440 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
His warriors need help from another force from the past, a being Kole holds no love for or belief in, but these are desperate times and if there is a chance of finding their greatest ally, he must…
Journey into epic fantasy with Steven Kelliher’s VALLEY OF EMBERS and enter a world of vast proportions, vivid details and an atmosphere that feels shrouded in a cloud of mystery, fear and ominous evil. Discover the history of this world told throughout this tale as it begins to breathe with a life of its own as characters come alive, become dimensional and carry both the greatness and flaws of reality. Witness an original tale of magic, survival and be part of the quest to defeat evil. From an action-packed start that dives into the meat of this tale, feel the pull of every page as you fall deeper and deeper away from reality!
Steven Kelliher spares nothing in creating his universe with rich detail throughout. Once you enter, you will be forever changed, hooked and wanting more from both this talented author and this continuing, amazing saga.
I received this copy from author Steven Kelliher in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Landkist Saga - Book 1
Publisher: Steven Kelliher (August 12, 2016)
Publication Date: August 12, 2016
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 440 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
February 6, 2017
An ambitious, sprawling tale. The beginning was intriguing though a bit frustrating, not knowing the source of the conflict and the players. But we're all looking to gain purchase at the beginning of every story.
Steven Kelliher is obviously a genre fan. VALLEY OF EMBERS in part feels like an homage to many classic fantasy tales. Some characters, plot points and aspects of the magic system are reminiscent of other fantasy tales. Even the naming convention adopted harkens back to older stories. Occasionally, however, the homage crossed over to derivative territory, making it feel like an amalgamation or regurgitation of something you've read before.
What I liked best was the framework of the story creating uncertainty by questioning long-accepted history and a beloved hero thereof, possibly toppling a savior from the pedestal. It ratchets up tension, pits people you think on the same side against each other, resulting in a complex maze of opposition from within and without.
The action sequences are exciting, fought over various landscapes, with a variety of skill and weapons on display. Some battles though tended to wax dramatic which would have been fine had we been sufficiently invested in some of the fighters. Unfortunately, for some of them, we were still lingering in the stage between introduction and familiarity and sympathy. In the same manner, some dialogue did not quite flow or was overwrought and the same heavy-handedness was sometimes employed in delivering the history of the world and their current predicament.
This has the framework for a great story and memorable characters, but it is not quite there yet. For one, it needs editing and proofreading. There were typos and careless substitution of homonyms, eg. roll and role, teeming and teaming. There were too many such errors to overlook.
The classes of gifted people are not entirely distinguished from each other, the extent of their abilities not always evident or fully explained. Some seem to overlap or are interchangeable. Some of the magic is elemental as signaled by the term 'Landkist' but I'm not quite sure I have a full grasp of the magic system.
On my wishlist for this story is further development of the backstory that was hinted upon. What is revealed is intriguing and promises to be complex and engaging and I want more of it. I suspect it will make me feel more invested in the stakes. Similarly, I want more information about the sages--their motivation, powers, history. Oftentimes, the best way to prop up main characters is to level up their opposition. I need more than just symbols of evil. Rather, I require formidable opponents who are more than a sinister name or title, or capricious, unreasonable foes to be vanquished. A reasonable villain whose impetus can be understood, even agreed with, can be terrifying. This was partly delivered in the last 12% of the novel but it feels rushed and overloaded. It might have been better to at least drop hints or raise the questions throughout, in various stages of the development of the story and the characters.
While my interest and excitement for this debut may have been muted by a seemingly harsh review, I do emphasize that I am interested and I am excited to see how the story proceeds and where it leads the characters.
Steven Kelliher is obviously a genre fan. VALLEY OF EMBERS in part feels like an homage to many classic fantasy tales. Some characters, plot points and aspects of the magic system are reminiscent of other fantasy tales. Even the naming convention adopted harkens back to older stories. Occasionally, however, the homage crossed over to derivative territory, making it feel like an amalgamation or regurgitation of something you've read before.
What I liked best was the framework of the story creating uncertainty by questioning long-accepted history and a beloved hero thereof, possibly toppling a savior from the pedestal. It ratchets up tension, pits people you think on the same side against each other, resulting in a complex maze of opposition from within and without.
The action sequences are exciting, fought over various landscapes, with a variety of skill and weapons on display. Some battles though tended to wax dramatic which would have been fine had we been sufficiently invested in some of the fighters. Unfortunately, for some of them, we were still lingering in the stage between introduction and familiarity and sympathy. In the same manner, some dialogue did not quite flow or was overwrought and the same heavy-handedness was sometimes employed in delivering the history of the world and their current predicament.
This has the framework for a great story and memorable characters, but it is not quite there yet. For one, it needs editing and proofreading. There were typos and careless substitution of homonyms, eg. roll and role, teeming and teaming. There were too many such errors to overlook.
The classes of gifted people are not entirely distinguished from each other, the extent of their abilities not always evident or fully explained. Some seem to overlap or are interchangeable. Some of the magic is elemental as signaled by the term 'Landkist' but I'm not quite sure I have a full grasp of the magic system.
On my wishlist for this story is further development of the backstory that was hinted upon. What is revealed is intriguing and promises to be complex and engaging and I want more of it. I suspect it will make me feel more invested in the stakes. Similarly, I want more information about the sages--their motivation, powers, history. Oftentimes, the best way to prop up main characters is to level up their opposition. I need more than just symbols of evil. Rather, I require formidable opponents who are more than a sinister name or title, or capricious, unreasonable foes to be vanquished. A reasonable villain whose impetus can be understood, even agreed with, can be terrifying. This was partly delivered in the last 12% of the novel but it feels rushed and overloaded. It might have been better to at least drop hints or raise the questions throughout, in various stages of the development of the story and the characters.
While my interest and excitement for this debut may have been muted by a seemingly harsh review, I do emphasize that I am interested and I am excited to see how the story proceeds and where it leads the characters.
February 19, 2018
I wanted to like this one, but a lot of it didn't "click" for me. I struggled with the early part of the novel, with the world seeming opaque, and found myself unable to differentiate between the characters apart from the lead, Kole. Luckily there was some real imagination in the background of the world and the magic system, and this kept me going. The last 25% really picked up, but unfortunately didn't totally make up for the slow start in my view.
December 18, 2016
Valley of Embers by Steven Kelliher is a great fantasy novel with lots of action, adventure, mystery, intrigue, creatures to give you nightmares, and more. It's a story of hope, heroes, demon-like creatures, and a band of people determined to save their people. There is never a dull moment in this book! Magic, mayhem, and fantasy fills this rich plot, well developed characters, and the scary world the author weaves for us. Great job! I received this book for a honest review.
March 2, 2017
(A bigger, prettier version of this review is here, on my blog.)
I’m actually a little embarrassed at how long this book took me to read. Not by any fault of the story or author, but my spare time this last month or so has been taken up by an alarming amount of non-reading activities (I will be honest with you, this is mostly code for ‘I’ve been playing too many video games,’ but I have also been painting and redecorating my house. I swear I’m sort of productive sometimes!).
This story opens almost immediately into a fight with a demon that has come out of the forest, writhing in horrible squiggly demon tentacles that sounded, more or less like a certain squiggly demon from Princess Mononoke. This is not a bad thing. There’s something to be said about your favorite things (fantasy novels) being inspired by your other favorite things (Ghibli movies). I’m totally on board with that.
It took a little while for me to get into the story, because there is a *lot* going on and a lot of information to be absorbed right in the beginning. We’ve got Kole, who is a Landkist. Landkist seems to be this world’s word for magic user. There are different kinds of Landkist. One for each of the elements, it seems. So, the label makes sense. Embers are the type that wield fire magic. So, they’re kind of like fire mages (actually more like fire benders, if you know what I mean). With me so far? There’s a lot to remember. It’s not super complicated though, once you remember the basics, and it’s well thought out. There’s a lot of development happening in the first 1/4 or so of the book and it was a little heavy at times. I think I mostly got the gist though. My biggest difficulty here was that sometimes characters are referred to by their surname, and sometimes their given name, and right at the beginning, when you don’t know who the hell everyone is yet… that’s confusing sometimes. I don’t think I ever really got a good feel for some of the background characters because of this.
The demons that plague the valley where the Embers live are from the World Apart, and the Embers are all that are protecting their town from them. When Kole fights the squiggly demon, he senses something that seems familiar to him, from back when his mother was killed. He thinks that this is no ordinary demon. The village elders say that this must be the return of the Eastern Dark, an evil Sage. The Embers used to live in the desert, until the Eastern Dark drove them out. The king of the Embers and the White Crest (a good Sage) went and defeated him. Now, the Eastern Dark is coming back and they need the White Crest’s help again… but nobody knows where he is. So, Kole’s bestie Linn puts together a team of the town’s greatest defenders, and they all go off to try and find The White Crest. And our real adventure begins!
I rather liked Kole and Linn. Actually a whole lot. Especially Linn. She was sassy and didn’t take anyone’s shit. Loved her. There was plenty of action throughout the book and it was well described and gave me a good feel for what was happening. The magic system was well thought out and made sense for the most part. There were a few twists and turns in the story that I didn’t see coming, and a nice, satisfying non-cliffhangery ending that leaves lots of room for further exploration in this world.
I’m excited to see where this series goes. Looking forward to the next one! I am down for more Ember action.
I’m actually a little embarrassed at how long this book took me to read. Not by any fault of the story or author, but my spare time this last month or so has been taken up by an alarming amount of non-reading activities (I will be honest with you, this is mostly code for ‘I’ve been playing too many video games,’ but I have also been painting and redecorating my house. I swear I’m sort of productive sometimes!).
This story opens almost immediately into a fight with a demon that has come out of the forest, writhing in horrible squiggly demon tentacles that sounded, more or less like a certain squiggly demon from Princess Mononoke. This is not a bad thing. There’s something to be said about your favorite things (fantasy novels) being inspired by your other favorite things (Ghibli movies). I’m totally on board with that.
It took a little while for me to get into the story, because there is a *lot* going on and a lot of information to be absorbed right in the beginning. We’ve got Kole, who is a Landkist. Landkist seems to be this world’s word for magic user. There are different kinds of Landkist. One for each of the elements, it seems. So, the label makes sense. Embers are the type that wield fire magic. So, they’re kind of like fire mages (actually more like fire benders, if you know what I mean). With me so far? There’s a lot to remember. It’s not super complicated though, once you remember the basics, and it’s well thought out. There’s a lot of development happening in the first 1/4 or so of the book and it was a little heavy at times. I think I mostly got the gist though. My biggest difficulty here was that sometimes characters are referred to by their surname, and sometimes their given name, and right at the beginning, when you don’t know who the hell everyone is yet… that’s confusing sometimes. I don’t think I ever really got a good feel for some of the background characters because of this.
The demons that plague the valley where the Embers live are from the World Apart, and the Embers are all that are protecting their town from them. When Kole fights the squiggly demon, he senses something that seems familiar to him, from back when his mother was killed. He thinks that this is no ordinary demon. The village elders say that this must be the return of the Eastern Dark, an evil Sage. The Embers used to live in the desert, until the Eastern Dark drove them out. The king of the Embers and the White Crest (a good Sage) went and defeated him. Now, the Eastern Dark is coming back and they need the White Crest’s help again… but nobody knows where he is. So, Kole’s bestie Linn puts together a team of the town’s greatest defenders, and they all go off to try and find The White Crest. And our real adventure begins!
I rather liked Kole and Linn. Actually a whole lot. Especially Linn. She was sassy and didn’t take anyone’s shit. Loved her. There was plenty of action throughout the book and it was well described and gave me a good feel for what was happening. The magic system was well thought out and made sense for the most part. There were a few twists and turns in the story that I didn’t see coming, and a nice, satisfying non-cliffhangery ending that leaves lots of room for further exploration in this world.
I’m excited to see where this series goes. Looking forward to the next one! I am down for more Ember action.
March 16, 2018
3.5*
This is a tough one for me to review because I can't quite put my finger on what didn't work for me. What *did* work was the world-building and the magic, and the prose overall was good. The writing style relies heavily on figurative language, which gives the tone of the book this sort of mystical, ethereal quality, which I liked. I really enjoyed the magical powers of the characters; the embers, in particular, are a cool concept. In fact, I would've enjoyed even more exploration of how their powers affect their lives. The fact that the embers will literally steam in the midst of a rainstorm is ridiculously cool and evocative, so I wanted more detail in terms of what it's like living with fire coursing through one's body.
I also enjoyed the idea that the people of the valley are really exiles from a desert civilization, and that most of them have no memory or experience of anything but the valley. So they have these stories of the past, but people question the truth of those stories. It's an intriguing idea, a good set-up for a story where the characters seek to discover the truth of what really happened.
But I really struggled to finish this one. I started it in May and didn't finish until August. For a fiction book, that's a long time for me to spend reading. Perhaps I struggled because I never really made a connection with any of the characters. The *ideas* in the book are cool, but I think on an emotional level, things fell a little flat for me. I wasn't invested in Kole or his quest, or in the supporting characters (many of whom I had trouble distinguishing from each other, and all of whom I had trouble picturing -- with the exception of the big guy, Baas Taldis, and that is mostly due to his being described as a big, hulking warrior). In my own writing, I know I struggle with creating characters that readers can become emotionally invested in, so I'm no expert in how to achieve this emotional connection, but in Valley of Embers, I just couldn't bring myself to care about the characters. Something was keeping me at a distance.
(The one exception to this was actually the old wise-woman, Ninyeva. For some reason, I could really feel for her. Her burdens, her feelings of helplessness at times, her memory of times past, her desire to save her people but her fear of what they had to face -- all of that connected with me. Unfortunately, her story is only a small piece of the overall book and it gets overshadowed by Kole and the others as the story builds to its climax.)
I will say that the ideas are fun and creative, the prose is good, and the overall plot is interesting. Also, there are some really well-done action scenes (in fact, the book has a lot of action, for those who are looking for a more action-packed fantasy). Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with the characters, and therefore I struggled to keep reading. I almost bumped this one up to a four-star rating because of the world-building and magic, but without that connection -- that emotional hook with the characters -- I just can't honestly say I loved this one.
This is a tough one for me to review because I can't quite put my finger on what didn't work for me. What *did* work was the world-building and the magic, and the prose overall was good. The writing style relies heavily on figurative language, which gives the tone of the book this sort of mystical, ethereal quality, which I liked. I really enjoyed the magical powers of the characters; the embers, in particular, are a cool concept. In fact, I would've enjoyed even more exploration of how their powers affect their lives. The fact that the embers will literally steam in the midst of a rainstorm is ridiculously cool and evocative, so I wanted more detail in terms of what it's like living with fire coursing through one's body.
I also enjoyed the idea that the people of the valley are really exiles from a desert civilization, and that most of them have no memory or experience of anything but the valley. So they have these stories of the past, but people question the truth of those stories. It's an intriguing idea, a good set-up for a story where the characters seek to discover the truth of what really happened.
But I really struggled to finish this one. I started it in May and didn't finish until August. For a fiction book, that's a long time for me to spend reading. Perhaps I struggled because I never really made a connection with any of the characters. The *ideas* in the book are cool, but I think on an emotional level, things fell a little flat for me. I wasn't invested in Kole or his quest, or in the supporting characters (many of whom I had trouble distinguishing from each other, and all of whom I had trouble picturing -- with the exception of the big guy, Baas Taldis, and that is mostly due to his being described as a big, hulking warrior). In my own writing, I know I struggle with creating characters that readers can become emotionally invested in, so I'm no expert in how to achieve this emotional connection, but in Valley of Embers, I just couldn't bring myself to care about the characters. Something was keeping me at a distance.
(The one exception to this was actually the old wise-woman, Ninyeva. For some reason, I could really feel for her. Her burdens, her feelings of helplessness at times, her memory of times past, her desire to save her people but her fear of what they had to face -- all of that connected with me. Unfortunately, her story is only a small piece of the overall book and it gets overshadowed by Kole and the others as the story builds to its climax.)
I will say that the ideas are fun and creative, the prose is good, and the overall plot is interesting. Also, there are some really well-done action scenes (in fact, the book has a lot of action, for those who are looking for a more action-packed fantasy). Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with the characters, and therefore I struggled to keep reading. I almost bumped this one up to a four-star rating because of the world-building and magic, but without that connection -- that emotional hook with the characters -- I just can't honestly say I loved this one.
dnf
March 14, 2017DNF @ 30% because:
- slow start even though with tons of action scenes... strange that, but I just didn't get captured...
- I felt disengaged from all the action because I felt disengaged from characters, thus not interested..
- nothing really, truly happened up to the 30% mark, so slightly bored...
- 'It's me, not you, dear Book'.
The above is based purely on personal preference and I don't feel it's fair to rate. I could have kept reading... I'm sure there's interesting stuff to happen yet (based on reviews from others) but in this case, me and the book are breaking up. Sorry.
- slow start even though with tons of action scenes... strange that, but I just didn't get captured...
- I felt disengaged from all the action because I felt disengaged from characters, thus not interested..
- nothing really, truly happened up to the 30% mark, so slightly bored...
- 'It's me, not you, dear Book'.
The above is based purely on personal preference and I don't feel it's fair to rate. I could have kept reading... I'm sure there's interesting stuff to happen yet (based on reviews from others) but in this case, me and the book are breaking up. Sorry.
April 14, 2017
An ambitious debut, full of interesting concepts and characters, plenty of action, and lots of lore. Not always the easiest journey, keeping track of countless characters while absorbing the refreshing novelty of the world - more like an Anime setting than most traditional Western fantasies - can be a challenge, but in the end it's one worth undertaking.
May 23, 2017
Interesting and complex story told beautifully
I will write a more comprehensive review soon but for now I will say this is a great story and I am happy that I have an EARC of book 2 so I don't have to wait
I will write a more comprehensive review soon but for now I will say this is a great story and I am happy that I have an EARC of book 2 so I don't have to wait
August 19, 2016
I absolutely love this book. The world building and character development is really good and you get sucked in real quick
November 26, 2016
A well paced read by a debut author - I reviewed it more fully on my blogspot
http://tomunro.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08...
http://tomunro.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08...
July 8, 2017
I enjoyed the world-building and the concept of The Landkist. The Embers with their ability to harness the power of fire were particularly intriguing, and the author did a great job of making them feel real.
The book opens with an action scene that sets the stage for the conflicts to come, and introduces us to a few of the book's major characters. After this initial scene, the first third of the book revolves around various characters arguing over what just happened, what it portends, and what should be done about it. While this does create a certain amount of plot tension, I came away with the sense that a few brief scenes could have conveyed the ideas and tension without slowing the plot.
The supernatural forces of evil are an interesting and varied lot, but I sometimes had trouble keeping them straight: The White Crest, Dark Kind, Eastern Dark, Sage, Sentinels, Night Lords. By the end of the book I was starting to get a handle on it, and readers who go on to read the sequel will begin with a better grasp, having sorted it out in book one. There are also a lot of human characters, which is typical in epic fantasy.
I always appreciate fantasy novels set in original, complex worlds, and the author has clearly put a lot of thought into creating the world of The Landkist.
The book opens with an action scene that sets the stage for the conflicts to come, and introduces us to a few of the book's major characters. After this initial scene, the first third of the book revolves around various characters arguing over what just happened, what it portends, and what should be done about it. While this does create a certain amount of plot tension, I came away with the sense that a few brief scenes could have conveyed the ideas and tension without slowing the plot.
The supernatural forces of evil are an interesting and varied lot, but I sometimes had trouble keeping them straight: The White Crest, Dark Kind, Eastern Dark, Sage, Sentinels, Night Lords. By the end of the book I was starting to get a handle on it, and readers who go on to read the sequel will begin with a better grasp, having sorted it out in book one. There are also a lot of human characters, which is typical in epic fantasy.
I always appreciate fantasy novels set in original, complex worlds, and the author has clearly put a lot of thought into creating the world of The Landkist.
March 8, 2021
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
I went in to this book, skeptically not knowing anything of this author, but I love fantasy so jumped in. Good decision on my part cause Wow, what a story to sink your teeth into.
The first 13%, was almost overwhelming with background on the world, and introduction to an abundance of characters; made my head spin and was wondering if I'd be able to keep up. By 17% in, I was hooked, I wanted to know more about this world being invaded by new intelligent creatures and why.
The conflict has centered around warring gods, Sages they are called. One in particular, The White Crest protected Kole's people. Now, he's either dead or in seclusion for some unknown reason, when a new threat or maybe a rejuvenated old threat comes calling. The Embers, persons gifted with inner fire that lights their fighting blades, have been protection for many years; now their numbers are few and the enemy, The Dark Kind is growing bolder and more abundant in power.
A journey for help and answers, maybe vengeance for one ensues, leaving the reader with quite an adventure.
For fantasy lovers, this story has it all; good verses evil, a quest for truth, epic battles, seers and sorcery, magic, creatures of nightmare and the heroes to root for. It's also grim, for death makes it's appearance to friend as well as foe, and getting attached to these characters is unavoidable.
I'm looking forward to following the series, hoping book two keeps up with this wonderful start.
I went in to this book, skeptically not knowing anything of this author, but I love fantasy so jumped in. Good decision on my part cause Wow, what a story to sink your teeth into.
The first 13%, was almost overwhelming with background on the world, and introduction to an abundance of characters; made my head spin and was wondering if I'd be able to keep up. By 17% in, I was hooked, I wanted to know more about this world being invaded by new intelligent creatures and why.
The conflict has centered around warring gods, Sages they are called. One in particular, The White Crest protected Kole's people. Now, he's either dead or in seclusion for some unknown reason, when a new threat or maybe a rejuvenated old threat comes calling. The Embers, persons gifted with inner fire that lights their fighting blades, have been protection for many years; now their numbers are few and the enemy, The Dark Kind is growing bolder and more abundant in power.
A journey for help and answers, maybe vengeance for one ensues, leaving the reader with quite an adventure.
For fantasy lovers, this story has it all; good verses evil, a quest for truth, epic battles, seers and sorcery, magic, creatures of nightmare and the heroes to root for. It's also grim, for death makes it's appearance to friend as well as foe, and getting attached to these characters is unavoidable.
I'm looking forward to following the series, hoping book two keeps up with this wonderful start.
January 30, 2018
Absolute genius
I loved this book, every word was inspiring, and the different kinds of landkist was genius, making me wish that I could be part of that universe and be one of the embers. The control showed by all landkist was amazing, and it goes to show the difference our emotions can have on it.
I loved this book, every word was inspiring, and the different kinds of landkist was genius, making me wish that I could be part of that universe and be one of the embers. The control showed by all landkist was amazing, and it goes to show the difference our emotions can have on it.
May 15, 2017
One hundred years ago, the Emberfolk of the high desert were ushered into the Valley for protection by their King, and a Sage known as the White Crest. The Ember King's people were meant to be shielded from the World Apart and their ultimate enemy, the Eastern Dark, but as time wears on, attacks by the Dark Kind increase in frequency and ferocity while the number of Embers, those who can absorb and wield fire as a weapon, dwindle. When Kole Reyna survives an attack the likes of which none have seen before, he begins to question both his people's place in the Valley, and the narrative repeated about the role of the White Crest as protector. His questions ignite his peers, and they all set off to find their own answers as a darkness awakens in the Valley.
Epic fantasy is one of my favorite genres; the bones that make up stories belonging to that genre are easily recognized here, but the flesh upon those bones is what makes this story its own. The worldbuilding is detailed and distinct. The way Emberfolk identify with their geographical surroundings is reminiscent of Melina Marchetta's Lumatere Chronicles. I confess to being initially confused about Embers, the Faey, the Rockbled and Landkist in general; as I read further, the differences between these gifted groups of individuals was explained in depth so I understood what made them each unique. The writing comes across as carefully crafted, but the pacing is uneven in places. The premise of attacks occurring at night, and what it means to live in a society that expects these attacks in the darkness is similar to Peter V. Brett's Demon Cycle, and Benedict Patrick's They Mostly Come Out At Night, but I didn't find Valley of Embers to be derivative at all. It is set apart as its own story, taking much different twists and turns to reach its conclusion.
I'm looking forward to continuing the series with The Emerald Blade!
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book to me in exchange for an honest review.
Epic fantasy is one of my favorite genres; the bones that make up stories belonging to that genre are easily recognized here, but the flesh upon those bones is what makes this story its own. The worldbuilding is detailed and distinct. The way Emberfolk identify with their geographical surroundings is reminiscent of Melina Marchetta's Lumatere Chronicles. I confess to being initially confused about Embers, the Faey, the Rockbled and Landkist in general; as I read further, the differences between these gifted groups of individuals was explained in depth so I understood what made them each unique. The writing comes across as carefully crafted, but the pacing is uneven in places. The premise of attacks occurring at night, and what it means to live in a society that expects these attacks in the darkness is similar to Peter V. Brett's Demon Cycle, and Benedict Patrick's They Mostly Come Out At Night, but I didn't find Valley of Embers to be derivative at all. It is set apart as its own story, taking much different twists and turns to reach its conclusion.
I'm looking forward to continuing the series with The Emerald Blade!
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book to me in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2016
I was given an ARC from Steven in exchange for this review.
Okay, so first things first. I owe an apology to the man himself for taking so long. It's taken me a lot longer to read this than I had originally expected. So, if you're reading this, sorry Steven.
TO THE BOOK!
Valley of Embers is an ambitious debut novel. A lot of epic fantasy debuts tend to fall a bit flat due to either too little or too much in regards to the balance between the protagonists and the world itself. When building a vast landscape for the players to move across, sometimes the writers will forget to make the characters worthy of all the space.
Kelliher doesn't have this issue. The rise and fall of action helps pull the characters across the vivid landscape. And there is plenty of action. This is probably one of the strongest points of this novel. The magic in this universe allows for interesting and, at times, complex fight sequences, and the author really knows how to write them.
The characters are complex, but not obnoxiously so, but they're still approachable. At times the motivations of the characters can be a little trope-ish, and this becomes slightly problematic, but overall the characters are genuine. I can only see this getting better going further into the series.
As for the setting itself, Kelliher did an overall good job at avoiding the great info-dump approach to world building, for the most part. The beginning of the book sets up the world through immediate action, but some of the details dropped in during these passages are a bit confusing to grasp while so much is going on. There are also a couple of conversations that serve as info dumps, but again, such is the nature of epic fantasy at times. Kelliher does a good job at keeping the details as just that, details and not the story.
Overall, this is a great start to Kelliher's career. I can see the Landkist Saga going far as a debut series, and it's worth your time is you're looking for solid epic fantasy.
Okay, so first things first. I owe an apology to the man himself for taking so long. It's taken me a lot longer to read this than I had originally expected. So, if you're reading this, sorry Steven.
TO THE BOOK!
Valley of Embers is an ambitious debut novel. A lot of epic fantasy debuts tend to fall a bit flat due to either too little or too much in regards to the balance between the protagonists and the world itself. When building a vast landscape for the players to move across, sometimes the writers will forget to make the characters worthy of all the space.
Kelliher doesn't have this issue. The rise and fall of action helps pull the characters across the vivid landscape. And there is plenty of action. This is probably one of the strongest points of this novel. The magic in this universe allows for interesting and, at times, complex fight sequences, and the author really knows how to write them.
The characters are complex, but not obnoxiously so, but they're still approachable. At times the motivations of the characters can be a little trope-ish, and this becomes slightly problematic, but overall the characters are genuine. I can only see this getting better going further into the series.
As for the setting itself, Kelliher did an overall good job at avoiding the great info-dump approach to world building, for the most part. The beginning of the book sets up the world through immediate action, but some of the details dropped in during these passages are a bit confusing to grasp while so much is going on. There are also a couple of conversations that serve as info dumps, but again, such is the nature of epic fantasy at times. Kelliher does a good job at keeping the details as just that, details and not the story.
Overall, this is a great start to Kelliher's career. I can see the Landkist Saga going far as a debut series, and it's worth your time is you're looking for solid epic fantasy.
March 5, 2019
Valley of Embers is a very ambitious debut, with a distinct military feel, and epic plot. We follow several perspectives on the front line, holding the barrier between civilization and the encroaching Dark Kind that has pushed them to the very edge of the world. The Embers have been on guard since well before most of the current generation, and it seems likely the only end they will see is their own destruction. The White Crest and the Eastern Dark are opposing sages who used to be the leading icon of each side of the battle in this part of the world, have become somewhat of myths in long absence, so the elders fall to infighting as to whether they ever existed, whether the White Crest has betrayed them, or the two are different sides of the same coin. Under this unrest, the assaults suddenly increase, evils rarely seen are on the rise, and this may be the end of Landkist civilization.
The writing over all is solid and polished, in particular the fights, scene setting, and weather descriptions are fantastic. The world building is pretty dense, the first half I was feeling a little overwhelmed while we learn about the world setting, the types of magic, multiple POV characters the internal hierarchy of the people and hierarchy of monsters - each with different names/terminology - however I never really felt like I got a solid grasp over all on how exactly magic worked (Embers have internal fire magic, Faey are healers) or what the defining characteristics of each title on the hierarchy were. I'm gathering we clarify a lot more in the 2nd book, but it seems like those elements could have been a fair bit more concise here and then built on later instead. With this heavy world building, I also was left feeling none of the characters really had lives, which may actually be intentional as their whole life is fighting so that the civilians can have lives, the only down time they get is recovery, but we really didn't see any of the internal struggle for them of living that reality either.
In general a really positive reading experience even though I'm not big on epic fantasy, I found it to be a solid debut with some very strong elements. I feel the writing really found a focus and voice in the last 20% that bodes very well for the next book.
The writing over all is solid and polished, in particular the fights, scene setting, and weather descriptions are fantastic. The world building is pretty dense, the first half I was feeling a little overwhelmed while we learn about the world setting, the types of magic, multiple POV characters the internal hierarchy of the people and hierarchy of monsters - each with different names/terminology - however I never really felt like I got a solid grasp over all on how exactly magic worked (Embers have internal fire magic, Faey are healers) or what the defining characteristics of each title on the hierarchy were. I'm gathering we clarify a lot more in the 2nd book, but it seems like those elements could have been a fair bit more concise here and then built on later instead. With this heavy world building, I also was left feeling none of the characters really had lives, which may actually be intentional as their whole life is fighting so that the civilians can have lives, the only down time they get is recovery, but we really didn't see any of the internal struggle for them of living that reality either.
In general a really positive reading experience even though I'm not big on epic fantasy, I found it to be a solid debut with some very strong elements. I feel the writing really found a focus and voice in the last 20% that bodes very well for the next book.
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