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| Source: Gift/No Review Requested
| Author: David Burrows
| Genre: Epic / High Fantasy
| ISBN-10: 1450506801
| ISBN-13: 9781450506809
| Content: Demons, Sorcery, Heroes
| Publisher: CreateSpace (February 2, 2010)
| Cover Art and Design: Phillip McDonnall
| Paperback: 170 pages
| Sample Chapters
| Rating: 3 Stars
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What do you get when you combine a bored Prince, a mysterious stranger, a secretive sorcerer, a vanished mythical race of magic users, marauding demons and a prophecy? Why an adventure of course! Add in the promise that there will be dragons and you also get an intrigued Mulluane.
Epic Fantasy Book Review by Mulluane
♦ My Thoughts. I seem to be breaking alot of my own rules lately. Since this trilogy was a gift I suppose I can be forgiven, this time. In this instance the rule I am breaking involves the fact that this trilogy is self published, which I normally steer away from. However, in addition to being given to me, with no strings attached, I've seen some really positive reviews. So I decided that ever so often, rules were made to be broken. Not that I plan to make a habit of it or anything but surely it is ok, just this once...
That being said and before I jump into this review, let me give you a bit of background. Before I started this blog I went on my own adventure. I decided that I wanted to write a book. So I went out and bought books on writing. Lots of them. I soon discovered that I had no talent, which wasn't a huge surprise, but you never know until you try. I did however learn a few things about writing. One of the things I learned had to do with "telling" as opposed to "showing." More on that in a few minutes.
♦ What I liked. As a first book in a trilogy, this novel took a traditional route. And boy was there plenty to cover in 170 pages. The major players in this book had to slowly come together, form a group, and set off on a quest. The mythology, various landscapes plus other bits and pieces of worldbuilding needed to take place so the reader could acclimate to this new world. An abundance of familiar tropes were used but unlike some, tropes used intelligently do not bother me in the slightest. But then I still read and reread all of David Eddings' early books and they don't come any tropier. (Is that a word? If not it should be...) All in all I was impressed with how much story took place.
♦ What I did not like. In my opinion, this book suffered a bit from too much "telling". Now in case that term has little meaning for you, it basically goes like this.
Soandso unsaddled his horse, wiped it down, gave it a feed bag then went to gather firewood. With the firewood Soandso made a fire, cooked the rabbit he had shot earlier, then proceeded to eat everything but the bones. After cleaning up he went to the creek, filled his water bags, banked the fire and went to sleep.The narrator tells us everything that the protagonist does. We see nothing through the eyes or thoughts of the character himself. The upside of this is alot of info crammed into 3 sentences. The downside is we do not form any kind of bond with the protagonist. Hard to feel anything for him unless we feel what he feels and experience how he sees things. (Note, I made up the example. You won't find that scene in the book.)
Now please don't get me wrong. I am not saying there is no showing. I did get a good feel for the individual natures of the characters. I am just saying that I think the story would have been deeper and more personal if there had been less telling and more showing.
♦ The Conclusion. Not bad. Definitely interesting enough to make me want to continue. There was only a hint of dragons but enough of one to lead me to believe there will be much more. Overall a good setup for what I am hoping will be a good old fashioned fantasy romp. Tune in next week and I'll share what I think of book two!
Series Summary ~ Book Two ~ Book Three
Librarything 3.61/5 Amazon 4.2/5 (5 Customer Reviews) What Should I Read Next? |
Kindle: Legacy of the Eldric (Prophecy of the Kings)
Audible: No Buy Book: AbeBooks - BAM Book Depository Amazon: US - Canada - UK |
Epic High Fantasy Book Review of Legacy of the Eldric (Prophecy of the Kings: Book 1) by David Burrows
- Reviewed by
Mulluane
- on
October 29 2013
- Rating:
of 5 Stars
Thanks for the very kind review. I am hoping book 2 will grab your attention - definitely more on dragons!! I am glad you broke your rule. David
ReplyDeleteWas my pleasure, literally. The last time I was this happy about a Self Pub/Indie book it was Michael J. Sullivan's Crown Conspiracy And we know where he went from there.
ReplyDeleteI see a bright path before you grasshopper....
I'm curious about this series. It does sound intriguing. {Smile}
ReplyDeleteAnne Elizabeth Baldwin
Soon. I'm running a bit behind. Fighting off some kind of flu bug.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
I hope you get better, soon, Mulluane. Being sick is no fun, and no help when you're trying to keep up a blog. {Sympathetic Smile}
ReplyDeleteAnne Elizabeth Baldwin
Thanks Mulluane and best wishes for getting rid of the flu bug. Grasshopper :)
ReplyDeleteI am really more of a cricket. I stay up all night, I am really annoying and impossible to find. But thanks!
ReplyDelete