Lost Gods and Forgotten Cities by Amanda M. Lyons

Lost Gods and Forgotten Cities Reviews

• 
  Laura Kitchell

  As is usual in an anthology of this type, you’ll find fantasy tales ranging from fairytale to sword and sorcery – serious, comical, epic adventure, and maybe a little love. This collection showcases works from some true masters as well as some still learning the craft of writing, so expect varying degrees of quality. Read further for my brief review on each story.
  
  GERARD by Kristen Kitchell
  An epic poem of Gerard’s joining in Beowulf’s ranks, this work is an utter delight. Ms. Kitchell has masterfully captured the style and flavor of the original Beowulf, down to scintillating swordfare and amusing alliteration. 5 stars
  
  NIGHT OF THE LUNIACS by Toneye Eyenot
  A gruesome werewolf horror, beautifully depicted and graphic in detail. Fair warning to sensitive readers that there are disturbing elements. There are a few grammar issues, but not enough to affect the pleasure of this read. 5 stars
  
  TO CAPTURE A PRINCESS by Dona Fox
  Fine storytelling with images that will stay with you and an old-world fairytale flare. You’ll enjoy the twists. I’d have like to see better attention to grammar on this story. 4 stars
  
  THE QUEST FOR THE GOLDEN HAMMER OF DELGARD by Roy C. Booth and Brian Woods
  The dwares are charming, and the story is everything you want from this genre; though length limitation forbade the kind of conflict that makes a work like this edge-of-your-seat. Overlooking the rudimentary style and passive voice, this is a fun fantasy adventure. 4 stars
  
  THE GRAND MISTAKE, OR THE IMPORTANCE OF READING DIRECTIONS by Sam Reese
  Funny, extremely entertaining, and so well-written that Mr. Reese grabs hold of you, yanks you into this comic escapade of barbarian vs troll, and doesn’t let you go until you finish the story. 5 stars
  
  THE PHOENIX BURNS by Kat Doughty
  A sprawling, delightful story that reads like a flavorful historical and propels you into suspense in its paranormal elements. Ms. Doughty achieves a remarkable character arc for the length of story she provides. Here is a master wordsmith. 5 stars
  
  MERCY by Edward P. Cardillo
  Well-written and character-driven, Mr. Cardillo’s story, Mercy, is a painting in words. You are dropped into the winter-ravaged forest to experience this world with the Indian-brave-like hero, Arok. His tribe is on the run in ancient and forbidden territory, and his decisions are what save his people. 5 stars
  
  DEVOURED AND SLAYED by Essel Pratt
  A pagan spin on Medieval fantasy and written in a stilted omniscient point of view, Mr. Pratt takes you on a somewhat traditional knight’s quest but with twists in the success that will leave you breathless. This is another work that needed a bit more attention to grammar. 4 ½ stars
  
  VOYAGE OF THE FIREWALKER by Richard Ramsey
  A swashbuckling tale of pirates and a Firemaster of The Order of Firewalkers, Voyage of the Firewalker is an action-packed teaser. I say teaser because Mr. Ramsey never shows us what it means to be a Firewalker, and the ending gives you a taste for more. 5 stars
  
  ED THE RED AND THE BATTLE OF MICKELCAERN by Charie D. La Marr
  La Marr has a way with humor in this tongue-in-cheek farce where a Norse god ridicules a sect of druids in an effort to rescue the people the pagans plan to kill in ritual sacrifice. Prepare to giggle and guffaw. 5 stars
  
  THE AMBASSADOR by Brian Barr
  An interesting view on the nature of war and the manipulations of monarchs, this story carries a Jonathan Swift flavor. Barr is a storyteller with an interesting style. There are errors in writing and formatting, however. 4 stars
  
  THE RITE OF SEROTH by William Bove
  A tale of prophesy and magic, The Rite of Seroth is a fantasy that fell short of its potential. I struggled with Mr. Bove’s style, feeling as though his wording led me in a circle around his ideas rather than on a straight path. This story also had enough spelling, grammar, and tense errors to interfere with my enjoyment of the story. The hero is a jellyfish character, swept along in this tale by external influences and having no depth or purpose within himself. 2 stars
  
  SHE WALKS WITH ME by Amanda Lyons
  Wow. Ms. Lyons takes you on an introspective journey of life with a self-appointed warrior heroine through the perspective of her scribe historian. In a few pages you experience the scribe’s life, from childhood to death as an old man, but are not left feeling rushed or unsatisfied. A spectacular offer by a talented author. 5 stars
  
  OBSIDIAN QUEEN, DIAMOND KNIGHT by Roy C. Booth and Chad Michaels
  These skilled storytellers present you with a tale of classic good vs evil. A knight in literally shining armor, magic, and epic battles for supreme power make for an edge-of-your-seat story. 5 stars
  
  THE WOLF LORD by Justin Hunter
  Mr. Hunter is a beautiful writer, and this werewolf story is hewn from the best words. Grammar mistakes within dialogue tags and failures to break paragraphs between characters made for some confusion; but overall, the story is edgy and captivating. 4 stars
  
  NO TIME FOR SORCERERS by Sam Reese and Melissa McDannell
  A fun jaunt of bored mercenaries against a ridiculous spellmaker, this one is sure to make you laugh. I would have liked to see a few more well-placed commas, but the oversight in grammar doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the story. 5 stars
  Lost Gods and Forgotten Cities