2 Brian McClellan shorts and Dark lady's chosen by Gail Z Martin

Treachery and blood magic threaten King Martris Drayke's hold on the throne he risked everything to win. As the battle against a traitor lord comes to its final days, war, plague and betrayal bring Margolan to the brink of destruction. Civil war looms in Isencroft. Finally, in Dark Haven, Lord Jonmarc Vahanian has bargained his soul for vengeance as he leads the vayash moru against a dangerous rogue who would usher in a future drenched in blood.

My thoughts:

I did feel like the whole series fell apart for me in this one. I was not interested at all.

Tris spent most of the time in a tent or well outside the tent. His character lacked depth.

Kiara was somewhat better as she tried to navigate the court and people tried to kill her. But honestly even her character was flat and showed nothing.

Jonmarc actually showed some feelings. He did his best to keep the peace between humans and vamps.

Then there was Cam who spend the entire book in a cell and who cares, and his sister Carina who *yawn* did something.

The book took place during a week, and honestly only book 1 showed any real promise. I think it would have been better if book 2-4 would have been 2 books instead of 3.

The book left me disappointed. And too bad that I have the first of the sequel, sigh.

Paperback, 595 pages
Published February 4th 2010 by Solaris
Chronicles of the Necromancer #4
Fantasy
Own

Vlora is an orphan living at a boarding school as a ward of the state. Even at her young age, she already has enemies: the Bulldog Twins, Baron Fendamere, and her own headmistress. When a strange man offers to buy her, Vlora runs away and takes to the roofs above the gunsmithies of Hrusch Avenue. It is there that she meets a boy named Taniel and begins a friendship that will change her life forever. 

My thoughts:

This is the story of how Vlora met Taniel.

I am so bad with reviewing short stories, cos they are short!

Vlora has courage, she wants more. She meets Taniel, and that meeting puts her in the right direction.

I like these shorts, even if I do not have a lot to say at the end. I also think it might even work as a stand alone. But hey do read the series! This is just one of the prequels ;)

 

ebook, 29 pages
Published June 28th 2013
Fantasy
Own

Taniel is a powder mage; a flintlock marksman with the ability to imbibe common black powder to strengthen his mind, body, and senses, as well as shoot over long distances. Sent into short-term exile by his father, he's supposed to see some of the world and cool his head, to learn something besides life in the Adran army. His arrival in exile, however, coincides with the eruption of a bloody new conflict as the colony of Fatrasta rises up against its Kez suppressers. Taniel has certain talents that the Fatrastan militia could very well use, and he just can't help but get involved... 

My thoughts:

It's the story how Taniel met Ka Poel.

Ok so this is a short story, so not a lot will happen. A war is coming, he wants to fight. There is danger, there is Ka Poel. The end.

It takes place before the powder mage trilogy.

A nice short story. Always good being back in this world.

Kindle Edition, 38 pages
Published May 29th 2014
Fantasy
Own

Review: Dark Haven - Gail Z Martin

In Dark Haven, the effects of Jared the Usurper’s reign of terror strike at the stability of the Winter Kingdoms. Undead forces align against Lord Jonmarc Vahanian of Dark Haven in a struggle for power between mortals and the vayash moru. Some among the vayash moru are unhappy that a mortal lord is returning to Dark Haven. 

Jonmarc must win the trust of Dark Haven’s mortal residents while playing a dangerous game of politics with its vayash moru. As everyone keeps reminding him, the last four lords died young. Throughout the Winter Kingdoms, magic has become a dangerous and unpredictable force.

My thoughts:

It was good, but I just feels that it's so light and simple, almost YA like. Sorry YA, I know you can be dark and all that. But, yes but there is a simplicity over this series. Even when someone is dying it's just light. And I am not saying I need bloody and complicated fantasy. I just want it to feel a bit more ...mature. iI feels too YA. 

Our young king and queen worry over the state of the land (is that what makes sound so YA, cos they are young? It hould not be like that). Dark Haven a new lord and some of the "vampires" are not happy. A idiotic lord is trying to sow doubt and cause war. We have conspiracies, war, battles and romantic feelings.

As the book has that simple feel it reads fast and I do want to know what happens next. I fear I will get very angry and hope everyone in the kingdom dies. People are always so stupid when they are scared.

Conclusion:

If you are looking for an easy epic series then this is for you.

Cover

I like it

Series: Chronicles of the Necromancer #3
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 606
Published: 2009 by Solaris
Source own

Review: The Blood King - Gail Z.Martin

In The Blood King, sequel to The Summoner, Tris Drayke races against time to gain the skills he needs to challenge his half-brother Jared for the throne of Margolan and defeat the dark mage Arontala before the Obsidian King can be loosed from the abyss. Pursued by assassins and caught in a dangerous web of intrigue, Tris’ greatest danger is his own magic. The fate of his kingdom, his lady and his soul hang in the balance. 

As Margolan plunges into darkness under the yoke of a tyrant, Tris leads an unlikely insurrection, knowing that if he fails, death will be the least of his worries. Betrayed by the living, Tris finds staunch allies among the dead and undead. As the truce unravels between mortals and vampires, angry ghosts demand their revenge, and the Sisterhood of mages lacks the power to intervene. The battle for the throne of Margolan and the freedom of the Winter Kingdoms rests on Tris Drayke’s magic—and his ability to control the powerful forces aligning against Jared and Arontala. Like a storm on the horizon, war is coming—but can Tris control what has been put into motion, or will his battle for the crown bring a greater darkness?

Series: Chronicles of the Necromancer #2, Genre: Fantasy, Pages: 615, Published: 2008 by Solaris, Source: My own

My thoughts:

I must say that I got confused at the end, not a bad confusion, just surprised because the story ended. Yes the quest was over, the good guys won. But this is a 4 book series? So I quickly did some research and it seems that book 3 is about one of the side characters. Go figure. Though I do not complain, a fantasy "series" that deals with the main issue in 2 books is something I like.

Tris needs to learn about his powers in this book, so that he can fight his evil brother Jared and his mage. And Jared, oh he is bad! He is a psychopath and that poor country under his rule! And of course the evil mage is insane too. So the baddies are really good at being bad, and that is the way is should be. To hate them with a passion. While the good guys are really good. Young Tris trying to cope with being a summoner, Kiera a warrior princess, the healer Carina, the bard Carroway, and Vahanian the mercenery. There are even vampires in this world. But they are good, sure they are undead but the stay close to their families afterwards. Just like the ghosts in this world. Some just linger on.

As the quest ends in this book there are lots of action to be had. A kingdom needs to be saved after all and a throne conquered. All while a few side characters fall in love.

Conclusion:

I enjoyed the story (even if I felt that confusion cos I thought it continued, lol ;) But I was happy to see it wrapped up and I will read the next book as it is about Vahanian who is a merc, smuggler, you name it. I am sure lots will happen there too.

Cover:

Bit creepy

Review: The Summoner - Gail Z.Martin

Series: Chronicles of the Necromancer #1
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 637
Published: 2007
Publisher: Solaris
Source: Bought

The comfortable world of Martris Drayke, second son of King Bricen of Margolan, is shattered when his older half-brother, Jared, and Jared's dark mage, Foor Arontala, kill the king and seize the throne. Tris is the only surviving member of the royal family aside from Jared the traitor. Tris flees with three friends: Soterius, captain of the guard; Carroway, the court's master bard; and Harrtuck, a member of the royal guard. Tris harbors a deep secret. In a land where spirits walk openly and influence the affairs of the living, he suspects he may be the mage heir to the power of his grandmother, Bava K'aa, once the greatest sorceress of her age. Such magic would make Tris a Summoner, the rarest of magic gifts, capable of arbitrating between the living and the dead.

My thoughts:

Another good fantasy book, but then I knew that from the start. It was the kind that I enjoy, a good adventure, friends on the run and wicked bad guys.

I do like this kind of fantasy where the young man (or woman) is on the run or something like that. He dodges bad guys and tries to come to terms with his power. And there are always a good set of side characters. I can't say who my favorite here is cos they all have different things to offer, but I do think I want more of the young captain of the guard. There is magic and new things to discover, and this book has vampires, yes I liked that too. I also liked the aspects of the Goddess that they worship. A good new world, a nice hero, and a world to root for.

And then we have the bad guy, oh bad guy, you silly thing. The bad guy in this one, Jared, thinks he is so big and bad. Little does he know that he is just a puppet. But he is a bad guy, so evil and sadistic. A true creep, and the evil guy behind him. Him I would look out for. Those guys, well stay away from them.

The pages just flew by, it was such an easy book to read. And I know many of you fear books as long as this one but honestly it did not feel that long cos I could read it fast. Some books are just that easy.

Conclusion:

A good start to this series and I do want more. The ending was not a cliffie either so that I am grateful for. Everyone is happy...for now *insert music of doom*

Cover:

It looks a bit better when you see it for real

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Yes, another guestpost ;) What can I say, I like doing them. And yesterday I was over at At home with books and talked about the worst and best of Janet Evanovich