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The Splintered Crown: A Tankards and Heroes Novel
A medieval fantasy with a party of adventurers all ready to make a name for themselves and earn some gold.Tankards and Heroes is set in the city of Kortufan, where spies, assassins, mercenaries, arms dealers, rebels, smugglers, and informants do dirty deals dirt cheap.The Poxy Dragon is a rough bar outside the worst part of the medieval Silk Road. It takes serious courage just to walk into the place, not only from its reputation but because of the rough clientele, questionable food, awful beer, and abysmal hygiene. Lots of taverns in Kortufan are home to ruffians and illegal dealings, but the Poxy Dragon is the proving ground for heroes - with a cemetery out back for the ones who don’t make the cut.Lady Leota, the resident demigoddess at the Poxy Dragon, sends would-be heroes to different realms on quests. Once committed, there is no turning back, and if they want their reward, every party member must return through the portal – dead or alive.
- GenresFantasy
198 pages, Paperback
Published April 25, 2019
About the author
Larry N. Martin
46 books192 followersLarry N. Martin is coauthor, with Gail Z. Martin, of the Spells, Salt, & Steel series, the Storm & Fury Adventure series, and the Jake Desmet Adventure series, among other books.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 29, 2019
An epic fantasy that captivates and enchants from the opening page to the closing scene.
This is the type of storytelling that captivated me as a child, that started my love of reading.
Our little band of misfit mercenaries has hit on hard times. They just need one last hurrah so they can settle down away from the law, the hunters in search of a bounty, the overall craziness. When an opportunity is presented to them they take it.
What follows is truly an epic adventure that transports the reader into a realm of magic, mystery, and mischief.
I am torn as to who my favorite character is. Each one was so well crafted and brought their own unique touch to the story line.
Martin created a bewitching universe that easily transports the reader to another realm.
The copy I read was comp and this was a new author for me - One that I now added to my must-read list of favorites.
If you enjoy a full-length tale that enchants and entertains look no further!
This is the type of storytelling that captivated me as a child, that started my love of reading.
Our little band of misfit mercenaries has hit on hard times. They just need one last hurrah so they can settle down away from the law, the hunters in search of a bounty, the overall craziness. When an opportunity is presented to them they take it.
What follows is truly an epic adventure that transports the reader into a realm of magic, mystery, and mischief.
I am torn as to who my favorite character is. Each one was so well crafted and brought their own unique touch to the story line.
Martin created a bewitching universe that easily transports the reader to another realm.
The copy I read was comp and this was a new author for me - One that I now added to my must-read list of favorites.
If you enjoy a full-length tale that enchants and entertains look no further!
October 13, 2019
I enjoyed the set up for this story, and its world. It’s a neat idea having a tavern and heroes going on quests as a continuing thread throughout this new series. Although this story is about one particular quest and its heroes, the story also takes breaks from the main action to show life within the tavern, and the character who populate it. The Poxy Dragon is a wonderful name for a tavern, and having the quest start and end there bookends the action very nicely.
The characterisation is fabulous. I was quickly drawn into the story which is told from the perspective of the very different characters. I liked that each character does take a turn in POV, as it gave insight and backstory for them and in the way they perceived the others. I enjoyed reading Tom’s perception of the questing heroes too. I loved the family vibe between Kieron, Mitchell, and their friends, and the description of them as a mismatched pack, and family by choice. The banter and conversations felt like family. I’ve always been a fan of flawed heroes, so this story and these characters appealed to me on several levels.
The world felt very real and was wonderfully detailed with a rich history, and easy to visualise. I liked that having abilities came with a price, like Maylyn tiring after healing someone, and others suffering from headaches. I also liked that they were all from different backgrounds, genders and sexualities with a shifter, half-elf, mage, healer, medium, and a human in the mix. Often in fantasy stories the human is at a disadvantage because of having no magic, so I loved that this flipped that so that in some of the scenarios they came up against, Kieron had the advantage because he was human. I also liked the point the story makes that those born into wealth and power doesn’t always have the freedom to be who they want to be.
I thought the quest itself was very clever with some of the things they encountered on the way, how they had to work out getting around and through the traps, and that a part of the quest is designed for each of them and their fears and skillset. I particularly liked the bridge, and Lady Brewer’s Tavern.
I’d recommend this story to readers who enjoy quest stories with flawed heroes, fabulous world building, and a story with plenty of twists and turn.
The characterisation is fabulous. I was quickly drawn into the story which is told from the perspective of the very different characters. I liked that each character does take a turn in POV, as it gave insight and backstory for them and in the way they perceived the others. I enjoyed reading Tom’s perception of the questing heroes too. I loved the family vibe between Kieron, Mitchell, and their friends, and the description of them as a mismatched pack, and family by choice. The banter and conversations felt like family. I’ve always been a fan of flawed heroes, so this story and these characters appealed to me on several levels.
The world felt very real and was wonderfully detailed with a rich history, and easy to visualise. I liked that having abilities came with a price, like Maylyn tiring after healing someone, and others suffering from headaches. I also liked that they were all from different backgrounds, genders and sexualities with a shifter, half-elf, mage, healer, medium, and a human in the mix. Often in fantasy stories the human is at a disadvantage because of having no magic, so I loved that this flipped that so that in some of the scenarios they came up against, Kieron had the advantage because he was human. I also liked the point the story makes that those born into wealth and power doesn’t always have the freedom to be who they want to be.
I thought the quest itself was very clever with some of the things they encountered on the way, how they had to work out getting around and through the traps, and that a part of the quest is designed for each of them and their fears and skillset. I particularly liked the bridge, and Lady Brewer’s Tavern.
I’d recommend this story to readers who enjoy quest stories with flawed heroes, fabulous world building, and a story with plenty of twists and turn.
September 3, 2022
A party of adventurers in an unknown land of ghosts, on a quest for a legendary artifact, backed by the divine intervention of a mysterious demigoddess. Stop me if you've heard this one before, because you have, but that's precisely the point. Much of the appeal of The Splintered Crown is that the story is so familiar, a throwback to the classic quest adventures of the 70s and magical fantasy of the 80s.
Larry N. Martin offers up plenty of action and adventure, magic and mayhem, in a story driven along by a memorable band of adventurers. The framing device of The Poxy Dragon is a nice touch, opening a wealth of storytelling possibilities within the world of Tankards and Heroes, with Lady Leota sending would-be-heroes and adventurers through her magical portal.
This time out, those adventurers include a mage, a half-elf, a thief, a wolf-shifter, and a healer - all of them broken, damaged, or alienated in some way. Declan, the broken mage who doubts his own ability to lead the team, is an interesting character. He's a bit cold and flat, but nevertheless intriguing. It was Malyn, though, the androgynous healer who can commune with the dead, who captivated me. With his personality, his backstory, and his powers, he could easily carry a story on his own, pulling the team together.
There are some great settings here, from haunted forests to cursed monasteries, and the lychgates where they shelter are fascinating little places. It's an episodic kind of tale, with each adventure centered around obtaining some tool, artifact, or treasure. It all seems a little coincidental or convenient at first, but as revelations about Lady Leota and her role come to light, it all begins to make sense. If there were any flaw to the story, it would be that the characters never really felt as if they were in danger, but nobody ever really expects the heroes to die, so that's a minor quibble.
Hopefully, The Splintered Crown is not the last we'll see of the world of Tankards and Heroes, even if does mean a new cast of adventurers next time out.
https://femledfantasy.home.blog/2019/...
Larry N. Martin offers up plenty of action and adventure, magic and mayhem, in a story driven along by a memorable band of adventurers. The framing device of The Poxy Dragon is a nice touch, opening a wealth of storytelling possibilities within the world of Tankards and Heroes, with Lady Leota sending would-be-heroes and adventurers through her magical portal.
This time out, those adventurers include a mage, a half-elf, a thief, a wolf-shifter, and a healer - all of them broken, damaged, or alienated in some way. Declan, the broken mage who doubts his own ability to lead the team, is an interesting character. He's a bit cold and flat, but nevertheless intriguing. It was Malyn, though, the androgynous healer who can commune with the dead, who captivated me. With his personality, his backstory, and his powers, he could easily carry a story on his own, pulling the team together.
There are some great settings here, from haunted forests to cursed monasteries, and the lychgates where they shelter are fascinating little places. It's an episodic kind of tale, with each adventure centered around obtaining some tool, artifact, or treasure. It all seems a little coincidental or convenient at first, but as revelations about Lady Leota and her role come to light, it all begins to make sense. If there were any flaw to the story, it would be that the characters never really felt as if they were in danger, but nobody ever really expects the heroes to die, so that's a minor quibble.
Hopefully, The Splintered Crown is not the last we'll see of the world of Tankards and Heroes, even if does mean a new cast of adventurers next time out.
https://femledfantasy.home.blog/2019/...
July 26, 2019
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
3.5 stars
I like the cast of characters in this story. The questers are not a team of heroes, but rather a group of friends after the prize for finishing the quest so they can escape the city. I liked the way we find out more about each of them as the story progressed and how such different characters have come together as a sort of chosen family. There was a real dedication between the characters. But I felt like something was missing in the story. I'm not sure what exactly was missing in this story, but the world-building could certainly have used a bit more depth and at times the quest seemed almost too easy (things kept falling into place for the team). Still it was good story as a whole.
3.5 stars
I like the cast of characters in this story. The questers are not a team of heroes, but rather a group of friends after the prize for finishing the quest so they can escape the city. I liked the way we find out more about each of them as the story progressed and how such different characters have come together as a sort of chosen family. There was a real dedication between the characters. But I felt like something was missing in the story. I'm not sure what exactly was missing in this story, but the world-building could certainly have used a bit more depth and at times the quest seemed almost too easy (things kept falling into place for the team). Still it was good story as a whole.
July 24, 2019
We nerd types have all read some of the Forgotten Realms and Dungeons and Dragons books and have gotten used to their formula of writing. Most of those books are interchangeable - just change the names of the characters and cities and you have a new adventure. Larry Martin managed to write a novel that has the same epic feel without completely following the rules of those epics. While the quest is still the same, his characters are deeper, more weighty, more real. That takes this novel out of the realm of "usual" and makes it "need to follow". Keep this up, Mr. Martin - where is book 2?
I received this book from Hidden Gems and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received this book from Hidden Gems and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 11, 2023
I was surprised by how much I liked this fantasy. I say that only because it has not a single bit of romance in it, and the cover shows an angry-looking dude shouting. I picked it up in anticipation of being on a panel with the author at a fantasy con.
The basic premise is there’s a rundown pub with a “resident demigoddess” who hangs out and sends would-be heroes on quests through a magic portal. Five down-on-their-luck friends decide to try it so they can hopefully succeed on the quest and win the money to buy a farm in the country where they can live in peace. They are given a quest with a series of tasks, which of course involves each of them growing/learning. (And, they seem somewhat aware that “this is how quests work.”)
Objectively, I can see that the plot (based on random tasks) is sort of contrived, but I just loved how this book felt. I can’t figure out what about it worked so well for me. But I was picking it up to keep reading every time I had five minutes all weekend. While there is some fighting/danger, it felt cozy to me because each task ends and they leave it behind, and as they journey (with a map), they are able to spend the night in “lychgates” at cemeteries that offer protection. The lychgates felt so cozy! Plus they have a sack that magically churns out the standard questing fare of bread, cheese, dried fruit, and cured meat.
The basic premise is there’s a rundown pub with a “resident demigoddess” who hangs out and sends would-be heroes on quests through a magic portal. Five down-on-their-luck friends decide to try it so they can hopefully succeed on the quest and win the money to buy a farm in the country where they can live in peace. They are given a quest with a series of tasks, which of course involves each of them growing/learning. (And, they seem somewhat aware that “this is how quests work.”)
Objectively, I can see that the plot (based on random tasks) is sort of contrived, but I just loved how this book felt. I can’t figure out what about it worked so well for me. But I was picking it up to keep reading every time I had five minutes all weekend. While there is some fighting/danger, it felt cozy to me because each task ends and they leave it behind, and as they journey (with a map), they are able to spend the night in “lychgates” at cemeteries that offer protection. The lychgates felt so cozy! Plus they have a sack that magically churns out the standard questing fare of bread, cheese, dried fruit, and cured meat.
July 24, 2019
I received a free copy of this book and the review is entirely voluntary.
A well-written story with a few minor problems. The characters weren't two dimensional, but there wasn't enough to really make me feel invested in their survival. This may be in part due to the plot, that while interesting and well-paced, never made me feel the heroes were in any real danger.
All in all a respectable debut novel that makes me look forward to his future work as there's a lot of potential here.
A well-written story with a few minor problems. The characters weren't two dimensional, but there wasn't enough to really make me feel invested in their survival. This may be in part due to the plot, that while interesting and well-paced, never made me feel the heroes were in any real danger.
All in all a respectable debut novel that makes me look forward to his future work as there's a lot of potential here.
July 24, 2019
I absolutely loved "The Splintered Crown"! It's a fun slice of fantasy with some really great characters (watch out for Elsie!) and a lively plot. I wouldn't mind spending an hour or two at the "Poxy Dragon" myself...
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy.
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy.
August 16, 2025
19. I managed to get a fair way through but could not find the energy to try to complete. A bog standard journey of misfits with a common goal type
Of
Story. I have read quite a few of these and I’m afraid they have been much better. (And don’t forget the Demi-goddess with a hidden agenda. )
Of
Story. I have read quite a few of these and I’m afraid they have been much better. (And don’t forget the Demi-goddess with a hidden agenda. )
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews