A somewhat dense but ultimately enjoyable questing tale.
An adventurous fantasy series starter that follows a captain and his crew as they search for the fabled Grimstone.
In the year 3203, in the kingdom of Tuscawny, Capt. Zale “The Gale” Murdoch is incredibly close to reaching a level of mastery in his seafaring guild, which would allow him to semiretire. Then the bar for mastery is raised again, so Zale is eager to take on something big—something guaranteed to make him a lot of money. Nobleman Vidimir Tefu has a mission, but it doesn’t seem promising at first; he wishes Zale to hunt down the mysterious and powerful Grimstone, which Zale isn’t even sure exists. Zale’s new healer tells him about the stone’s legendary power—and how Zale’s family name is attached to it, which changes his view of the assignment. After his ship is nearly destroyed by magical fire, he and his crew are forced to set sail earlier than planned, but he’s more determined than ever to find the stone. Then Zale’s semi-estranged teenage daughter, Starlina, is found onboard despite the fact that she loathes the sea; she’s enamored with a member of his colorful crew and ended up on the craft by accident. Her presence adds an unexpected element to what proves to be quite an adventure. Kramer’s introductory installment to a new series is set in another time and another world, and the necessity of describing these things means that the narrative can get bogged down in details of the setting and its history; the introductions of the various crew members, as well as the backstory of the Grimstone, may also overload casual readers. Others, however, will enjoy the feeling of immersion in a complex setting with well-developed characters. Once the search begins in earnest, however, the story moves at a quick, steady pace and becomes more enjoyable to read. The novel also includes maps of relevant places and a diagram of Zale’s ship, both of which prove useful.
A somewhat dense but ultimately enjoyable questing tale.Pub Date: Aug. 11, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-955997-30-0
Page Count: 312
Publisher: Heroes of Time Productions, LLC
Review Posted Online: Dec. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A compelling and skillfully written end to a thrilling fantasy series.
In the final book of Corland’s dark fantasy trilogy, a ragtag band works together to liberate a colony and dethrone tyrants.
A group of spies, thieves, and murderers, united by a common goal of ending the treacherous rule of King Joon of Yusan, regroup after a bloody battle claims the life of one of their own—the banished Yusanian prince, Euyn. However, there’s little time for Mikail, Aeri, Sora, and Royo to mourn. Bounty hunters and assassins are after them, in part because they now possess three of five legendary Relics of the Dragon Lord. Mikail, who’s just found out that he’s the last surviving member of a royal family, wields the Water Scepter of Wei, while Aeri, King Joon’s daughter, holds the Sands of Tim and the Golden Ring of Khitan. The remaining relics—the Flaming Sword of Gaya and the Immortal Crown—remain with King Joon, who’s desperate to have all five to wield a great deal more power. Meanwhile, the cruel Count Seok, who once indentured Sora, has usurped the throne of Yusan. The group has two goals: overthrow the king and liberate the Yusanian colony of Gaya—Mikail’s homeland—so that it can again be a thriving, independent realm. The relics are powerful tools in combat, but using them is adversely affecting Aeri and Mikail’s health. They need allies, but trusting strangers is a dangerous gamble. Corland’s final book in her Broken Blades trilogy is a relentlessly thrilling and action-packed dark fantasy featuring memorable characters, intense battle scenes, romance, and a satisfying conclusion. Alternately narrated by Aeri, Mikail, Sora, Royo, and their long-lost friend, Tiyung, readers benefit from watching the story unfold through the perspectives of each compelling, well-drawn character. The author’s passion for the fantasy genre shines through in the novel’s richly detailed worldbuilding, including vivid descriptions of landscapes and palace layouts, as well as its exploration of magic. Readers will also delight in the sardonic humor sprinkled throughout, as when Mikahil narrates, “Rune thinks he fathered Seok’s son. Truly, the nobility of Yusan has too much time on their hands.”
A compelling and skillfully written end to a thrilling fantasy series.Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9781649379153
Page Count: 512
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Read this for the action-packed plot, not character development or worldbuilding.
On the orders of her mother, a woman goes to dragon-riding school.
Even though her mother is a general in Navarre’s army, 20-year-old Violet Sorrengail was raised by her father to follow his path as a scribe. After his death, though, Violet's mother shocks her by forcing her to enter the elite and deadly dragon rider academy at Basgiath War College. Most students die at the War College: during training sessions, at the hands of their classmates, or by the very dragons they hope to one day be paired with. From Day One, Violet is targeted by her classmates, some because they hate her mother, others because they think she’s too physically frail to succeed. She must survive a daily gauntlet of physical challenges and the deadly attacks of classmates, which she does with the help of secret knowledge handed down by her two older siblings, who'd been students there before her. Violet is at the mercy of the plot rather than being in charge of it, hurtling through one obstacle after another. As a result, the story is action-packed and fast-paced, but Violet is a strange mix of pure competence and total passivity, always managing to come out on the winning side. The book is categorized as romantasy, with Violet pulled between the comforting love she feels from her childhood best friend, Dain Aetos, and the incendiary attraction she feels for family enemy Xaden Riorson. However, the way Dain constantly undermines Violet's abilities and his lack of character development make this an unconvincing storyline. The plots and subplots aren’t well-integrated, with the first half purely focused on Violet’s training, followed by a brief detour for romance, and then a final focus on outside threats.
Read this for the action-packed plot, not character development or worldbuilding.Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9781649374042
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Red Tower
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
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