| Title | : | The Bone Sword |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0982743726 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780982743720 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 226 |
| Publication | : | First published October 21, 2010 |
The Bone Sword Reviews
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I don’t normally summarize books in my reviews, but I feel like doing something different this time. This review, is about to get real.
The story starts with Malik, our hero, walking into a bar. The record skips. (There is no record, this is set in mid-evil wherever. And most of my summary didn’t actually happen, but it’s my review and I do what I want. So shut it.) He sits down and orders an Irish Car Bomb. Some fool in the back starts talking $h!-, Malik’s like, “What!”
Homeboy is big and scary. He’s like, “I’m of noble blood, distantly. But still, bow down Yo! I’m big and scary!”
The record starts playing again. It’s this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69Z8kW...
Malik jacks him up, shotguns a 6-pack, then walks out like Rambo flexin on dudes as he leaves. Oh, and he’s now on the run from the law.
He eventually gets the crap beat out of him, arrested, locked in a wagon with two heretics, twins, who have the ability to heal. That have been branded witches due to their powers. They heal Malik in transit.
They get inside that castle walls, they see the pillars erected to burn them, they get scared. Well Malik doesn’t, cuz he’s kinda like a ninja. The wagon doors open and out spills liquid death to the beat of this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p-rFe...
Needless to say they escape, flee into the woods, but they’re tracked by ninja like assassins in all black leather badass outfits similar to what KISS wears on stage. Malik knows they’re being trailed, but he also realizes if they keep running in the cold with no rest, the twins will die. So he stops, tells them to set up camp where the fire can be seen for miles around, and slips into the darkness. Waiting for ninja dudes to start creepin. He spots the ninjas in black metal attire hours later, pulls out a boom box and plays this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6wtrC...
All the ninjas start crip walkin to the fresh ass beat. Malik sees his opportunity, yells “WESTSYYYYDE!” and kills them all.
As Malik and the kids hide out in the woods for the winter, the “Pope” is on a rampage to find them. He doesn’t like that the twins can heal, it challenges his religious authority. So with the help of his ninja dudes he’s going town to town, cutting off right hands like an African death squad. The peasants in the meantime are getting sick of this crap, and the seeds of rebellion are being planted.
Malik and the twins get wind of this when some of the military from a town that defied the papal authority come stumbling into their winter camp, searching for “The Healer”. They decide to water the seeds of rebellion and set out to kill the “Pope” and his band of ninja dudes.
Our heroes descend on the town where “Evil Pope” is conducting his newfound love of torture. Some OG tells them what building he’s in, so they set the place on fire. Malik busts out his ghetto blaster, plays this song,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddkE7F... and challenges the “Pope” to a dance off.
A dance off to the death. He naturally wins and serves the “Pope” so hard he pops and locks his face off. Literally, the “Pope” gets decapitated.
News of the crew’s feat spreads like herpes simplex 10. As the crew marches through the projects of the kingdom on their way back to the castle, masses quickly swell the ranks and the crew grows into a gang. Throughout the projects, mofos are pissed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb6amH...
The newly formed peasant army approaches the castle after a few days of marching. Outside the castle walls there is a quiet restlessness. The castle gate opens, only the HNIC walks out to greet the advancing army. Malik, knows this dude. It’s not the Feudal Lord who caused this whole mess in the first place. No, HNIC killed his ass for being a jagoff. Instead, Malik faces the man who trained him to be the stone killer he is today. His Pops.
Pops is like, “Bitch what?”
All Malik can hear is this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKxVhM...
They agree to fight at dawn, in “The Labyrinth”. Malik, pleased with himself for giving his army a night’s sleep before the attack retreats into the woods, alone. He has to prepare himself for the Luke v.s. Darth fight in the morning.
At dawn, the two killers, Father and Son, begin their duel in the garden that is the labyrinth. A beautiful place to die. Midway into the duel, Malik’s army attacks. His Father, surprised by the attack, realizes he is not there to lead his troops in battle. He is stuck here with his Son, fighting for his life. The screaming sounds of war, death and the “Ghetto Boys” fills the soundscape.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX-7Bl... -
The Bone Sword tells the story of Malik, a sort of rogue guardsman/mercenary whose been on the run for far too long. He's resigned to the fact that he's a killer, until he meets a pair of blond siblings, Noah and Jasmine, under rather strange circumstances. Jasmine is a healer, but beyond healing Malik's ravaged body she heals his spirit, and gives him something to live for.
When we first meet Malik, member of the Camden Guard and bearer of a bone sword, he seems like an old, battle-hardened soldier, but we figure out that he's really quite a young man (unless my figuring is way off). However, he is world-weary and stricken with a fever that he'd just as soon let take him. Then he stumbles into a tavern and kills the Earl's cousin in mostly self-defense, and becomes a fugitive. Once captured, riddled with wounds and fever, he's dumped in a cart and hauled off toward his execution.
However, he was dumped in a cart alongside Noah and Jasmine, also sentenced to die because Jasmine is a healer and therefore an aberration against the church. They were captured after Jasmine used her gift to save their father. Jasmine heals Malik, a daring escape ensues, and the healer becomes the figurehead of a peasant uprising against the corrupt nobility.
All in all, I liked The Bone Sword. It's got some incredibly awful villains, and really, what fun is it without the bad guys? Jasmine and Noah also mature remarkably during their time with Malik. Also, the writer's style is pared-down and unique, and I don't mean unique as a euphemism for bad. Everything flows well, and I especially like how he handled the fight scenes. I do wish it was a bit longer, with more character development, but for all I know the writer's leaving that for the sequel. I give it 3 1/2 stars. -
What a fantastically imagined book that was! I can't even begin to express my amazement at Rhein's fabulous world and character building. This book is so action packed, so entertaining and fun to read, you will be BLOWN AWAY.
Malik is one of the most likable characters I have ever met in literature. Intriguing, strong, brave, totally bad-ass - he's just the kind of hero you want to see in a clear-cut fantasy adventures!
The plot line itself isn't overly complex, but it also doesn't aspire to be anything more than pure thrill-ride, filled with sword fights, medieval sceneries and evil villains. And trust me, sometimes it's all it takes to make a greatly enjoyable read!
I would recommend this book to all fans of fantasy and adventure books! You will not be disappointed :) -
I won a copy of this book through Goodread's Giveaways.
I enjoyed this book. I felt it started a little slow but once I got into it, I didn't want to stop.
The story centers around Noah, Jasmine and Malik. Noah and Jasmine are twins. Jasmine is able to heal people and is labeled evil by the Bishop. She and her brother were saved from death by Malik. Malik struggles with his past and how to be a good person.
I enjoyed the struggle between good and evil, even though sometimes the lines may have seemed a little blurred.
I enjoyed this story and would love to see another story about these characters. -
The Bone Sword is a intense and fun ride through a cleverly crafted fantasy world. You can't help but root for Malik at every turn. I recommend buying Walter Rhein's The Bone Sword for anyone who wants to have an action-packed adventure.
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That is a tough debut novel with a lot of action and thoughtful passages.
I would have given 4.5 stars but that is not possible.
Read my
full review over at Edi's Book Lighthouse. -
I won this one from a Goodreads giveaway. :D ...good story, well-written. If you like Japanese samurai type movies, you'll probably like this story. A lone warrior challenges an evil empire to protect two orphans; can you beat a plot like that? Non-stop action throughout the book.
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Miscony is a dark world.
With murder-crazy dictators like Father Ivory and the Earl controlling the Nightshades, a scary force of soldiers, Miscony really can't be any other way. It's a world where a loving family gets punished simply because one of the children have a 'demonic ability' to heal and refused to just watch their father die, a world that does not seek compromise unless by force.
Malik is, in a sense, Miscony personified. Right from the start, he's terribly ill, a loner with dark secrets, and, in spite of his best efforts, unable to participate in a barroom brawl that sets off a series of life changing events for himself and those in Miscony. Like Malik, Miscony is in need of healing and separation from its dark secrets and neverending violence. One could say it is fate, or Lightbringer finally coming forth, that pairs those children from above with Malik.
A wagon trip that should've been their death becomes their vehicle of escape. As Malik and the children run from the corrupted leaders, they gather a force of wronged citizens more than willing to fight for what they've lost. On the other side, Malik's ruthless former Captain takes charge, and the battle to begin a new age becomes even more personal. The question is not only, "Can the people of Miscony be freed?" but also, "Can Malik face and defeat his inner demons, the very same inner demons that plague Miscony as a whole?"
By page 44, the two upcoming paragraphs with qoutation marks are exactly how I felt about 'The Bone Sword':
"Four thoughts have consistently and honestly popped up in my mind. 1.) This is violent, and I like violent, so yay! 2.) Such beautiful description and pacing! I'm enjoying this. 3.) Hm. Maybe my opinion has been tainted by reading some reviews of his book before this, but he DOES have quite a few adverbs, and the evil characters do seem to just be evil without being multifaceted, save for Malik who isn't really evil so much as...well, I can't think of the word right now. 4.) I've noticed some sentences that seem like run-ons and qoutation marks in the wrong direction, but this hardly matters to the story.
"I don't think Walter wrote this with the intention for us to analyze his characters and settings and symbolism. So far, I think 'The Bone Sword' is closest to storytelling in its purest form, and that's also a good thing. Sometimes, I just like to be told a good, fun, action-packed story and not the analysis."
I'd been enjoying the story, with its brevity and wonderful fighting scenes and clear-cut dialogue, from the get-go. However, I began to emotionally identify on page 81. I even bookmarked the page! The words, "He started running. He hadn't stopped for nearly ten years," really rang in my heart. Sure, Walter could have literally meant that Malik had never stopped running, but I saw that as meaning, 'Malik, still lost and confused, didn't know HOW to stop running from himself and his demons.' After that, I looked at Malik differently. He became more than some loner protagonist and moved into the realm of real.
Walter is a master at pacing. His short sentences, the way he shows time passing when characters are sneaking about, the way he shows the methodology behind fighting when Malik is in battle...it all leads to an entertaining tale. While I wish I could've seen more of the big battle at the end, and I was a bit confused about some things concerning Malik's former Captain (this may have been a result of me reading too fast in that silly way I always do when a book gets fun and intense and action-packed), I still smiled at the end before I closed the book.
If you want pure storytelling, lots of action, and brevity, please give 'The Bone Sword' a read!
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My name is Tiffany Cole, and I'm a book reviewer for Suspense Magazine, a contributor for the Best Damn Creative Writing Blog (BDCWB) and the admin of Triple R, a book reviewing site. I am also an aspiring young writer. Savior of the Damned, the supernatural/dark urban fantasy novel I've been writing and editing for five years, is currently undergoing its 6th revision for what will hopefully be a successful full manuscript submission to the wonderful publishing house that requested one. You can find me in many places:
[email protected]
http://www.fuisti.blogspot.com/ {Triple R: Read, Rate, Review}
http://www.tiffanyrambles.blogspot.com
http://www.suspensemagazine.com/
http://www.rhemalda.com/public_forum/
http://www.bestdamncreativewritingblo...
http://www.tinyurl.com/27x9sdz {My Facebook} -
The Bone Sword, a novel by Walter Rhein, published by Rhemalda Publishing
I cannot recall the last time I was happier to be finished a book. The Bone Sword was donated to the monthly pool of titles which are handed out to Goodreads subscribers and as such I felt it my duty to give the book a fair read and an honest assessment afterwards. What I will not do is nit-pick at the author. Writing is challenging enough without also having to deal with often nasty critiques from readers of questionable skill themselves. What I will do is let the writing and editing speak for themselves and allow the reader of this report decide whether they wish to acquire a copy.
The editing was provided by a team at the publishing house and as such I expected better. At its very worst, editing provides correction of the obvious mistakes – too instead of to, Father Ivory instead of father Ivory, there instead of their. If a bit more involved, editors might insure proper word usage by definition – imperious instead of impervious for instance. A good editor might also track whether doors had been opened and if so, whether they then had been closed following that. It can make a difference later in a chapter. A good editor will insure a scene is physically do-able. A character who has angrily grabbed another character’s neck should not be able to step forward angrily toward the first person only a moment later. Finally, editors should save a writer from his or her own bad habits. It is here that the team at Rhemalda failed Mr. Rhein to the greatest degree. You decide.
“For a moment, it was as if their world had been returned to them. It was a joyful moment that lasted an eternal minute. The three of them were sobbing and laughing and holding each other tightly, all their fears forgotten in an endless expression…” A further eight “minutes” or “moments” followed in the same scene.
“…the hot blood, sticky and scalding…”
“Before him was the meticulously tended green field that surrounded Castle Miscony. For nearly three hundred yards, there was not a piece of vegetation that would have reached higher than a man’s ankle.” … “Look at the greensward, the Miscony grounds are renowned for their beauty.”
“Rats were a problem…But even at seven, Malik was bigger than they were…”
“His features were flaccid and focused.”
“Jasmine seemed to hesitate.”
“Suddenly, Oberon’s eyes erupted.”
“He then lifted the quill and set the sharpened end to a piece of parchment.”
“The rocks of the dungeon were hard”
“You say the Nightshades are in town?” Malik interrupted, directing his query at the old man.
“Yes, they’ve taken up residence in a small cottage just north of here,’ the man replied. Pg 131
“The old man neared the building. He had said it had been a communal hall before the Nightshades had come. It was the finest structure in all of Pinehill.” Pg 135
“Noah tried to be strong, he felt his will brake…”
“Malik’s blood ran like ice water through his veins. His fingers burned, the tips suddenly went numb.”
“The idle talk of the watchmen drifted off sharply.”
“All his senses were on the edge of a blade.”
And finally, just because I have begun to feel defeated all over again, I offer this final example which is scattered over seven or so pages with paragraphs in between. You will get the picture.
“Fourteen, Malik counted in his mind, not bothering to verify the kill.
Fourteen…still too many but getting better.
Thirteen.
Malik smiled.
Lucky thirteen.
Kills?
Two
“Ten,” Malik said out loud this time.
Ten, he thought to himself…Ten enemies, maybe less, maybe only eight or nine if that blast took down a couple.
Eight or nine…
Ten, he thought again.
Maybe nine.
Or eight.
Nine, Malik counted slipping into the vacated hole.
Or eight.
Or seven if he was lucky.
Eight
Or seven.
Or six remained.
Six, thought Malik.
Or five, or four.
He smiled.
Those were the kinds of odds he could manage. -
Book Review: The Bone Sword by Walter Rhein—3 stars
Disclaimer: I received a free e-copy of this book for the review.
Warning: There are spoilers and hints of spoilers in this review.
Bone Sword is a fantasy novel focusing on two children and a swordsman. The swordsman, named Malik, is something of an antihero who is on the run from his powerful mentor in an elite guard. Malik manages to also anger the local nobility and church leadership as he tries to find a place where he can sell his skills with the sword. The two children are local peasants. Jasmine and Noah start the story tending to their sick father; when Jasmine heals him using her divine powers, she comes to the notice of the local priesthood. They see her abilities as a threat to their rule. When Malik and the two children are caught up in the same prison, they help each other to escape—but soon their plans take them further than that.
The Bone Sword is a fun fantasy story with well-actualized characters. The world is well-defined with clear rules about how magic works in the world. It’s a fairly low powered world, with only two people possessing magical abilities. As I mentioned, the characters are very strongly defined, particularly the three main characters. Malik, Jasmine and Noah in particular are three-dimensional characters. Malik’s flashbacks do a good job of establishing the PC, setting up the final confrontation nicely. The book is written in a style that is engaging and easy to read.
My issues with the book/story revolve around the choices that the characters make. The story has a very definite plot and it achieves that story even when it maybe shouldn’t. The best example of this is when a character is deemed to be worthy of ruling for reasons that aren’t really supported. The character hasn’t proven that they’re worthy to rule but it’s remarked that the person is worthy and several people swear fealty before they’ve proven their worth. Characters also make foolish decisions—all of the villains are either overconfident or mad. The good guys make some foolhardy blunders from which they have to be rescued.
However, I should emphasize that I still enjoyed the story. The story is tight and stays on focus, and even if that sometimes feels forced, it means that the story doesn’t deviate from its course or wander into unnecessary arcs. The final scenes come together well in the end, drawing on elements throughout the story to reach the emotionally satisfying conclusion. I would recommend this book for a fun fantasy adventure. -
Malik, a rouge swordsman fleeing his past, wants nothing more than to live a life of anonymity. Yet a fateful decision causes him to run afoul a wicked ruler and his fanatical priest. In the process he assumes the role of protector and mentor to a young brother and sister with unusual gifts that threaten the power the Earl and his priest cling to so desperately.
The Bone Sword by Walter Rhein is an exciting story that pairs a jaded, flawed warrior with naïve youth as they confront darkness disguised as light. The story is much more than fancy sword play (although the fight scenes are done very well). The story takes place amongst an oppressed society, where the people are too afraid to stand against a despotic leader. Rhein tackles the perversion of religion, wherein the priest who claims to represent the “Lightbringer” condemns all who disagree or stand in his way in order to elevate himself and to satisfy his own perverse desires. Father Ivory is a character that you quickly come to loathe, which is indicative of Rhein’s ability to create strong characters that evoke an emotional response.
I appreciated learning Malik’s back story as the tale progressed; the hardened man that first appears is not a callous killer, but is someone who’s entire life has been shaped by circumstances outside his control. Malik is disillusioned by the terrible lies and events of his past, yet through a chance encounter he finds new purpose and hope once more. He is the embodiment of a true warrior; he wields his sword with deadly purpose, but carries the burden of each life taken, weighing down his very soul.
The Bone Sword by Walter Rhein is a stirring tale of adventure that intelligently deals with the themes of manipulation, oppression, zealotry and sacrifice while delivering a solid cast of characters and a plot that keeps you engaged from beginning to end.
- Travis Ludvigson, author of The Nephilim Chronicles (Yare’ Darkness Bound and Iron Song) -
I want to be honest:
The book was not that bad, but related to some others it can not keep up.
I was always able to feel myself into all of the characters and the story had some really nice ideas. The story of Malik, the protagonist, and its time at the Camden Guard is brilliant, but its that kind of story I would have liked to read all the time. Why are the interesting fighting scenes always that short? The main fight... *poff... over without any highlights.
Why are there so many dumb clichés?
Why is the story always that predictable and nearly without any surprise, or better: important surprise. Almost the whole time I was foretelling to myself what is about to happen in upcoming the storyline.
What was happening at the final fight? I just now something about a glow and *boom everything is meant to be over... I don't get it.
Why are there no real tragic scenes by letting one of the beloved characters die for example?
There are so many unused opportunities in this book and last but not least this leads to 2 start for me. But two stars are not so bad, its intermediate and easy to read.
Rhemalda was so kind to provide this book to me via a Giveaway:
http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
For this I want to say: Thank you very much! I am looking forward to read the next book of
Walter Rhein and hoping for more interesting ideas. This time with more of the good stuff. :-) -
I read The Bone Sword by Walter Rhein as a favor to the man and found it to overall be a pleasant experience. The book is a rollicking, fast-paced adventure with pretty interesting characters, a familiar yet intriguing world and some nice fantastical elements.
The good elements of this book included a back story that was revealed at a solid pace, action scenes that really get into the battles, speedy pacing and prose that is generally well-crafted and that at times flows with real magic.
A few issues I would raise include a heightened melodrama that at times felt forced or silly, but overall was effective due to its consistency. I think the antagonists, the Earl and Oberon, had some prescience that was a little over the top, in that they seemed to make a pretty big leap in expecting Malik to raise an army.
Also the dialogue is stilted at times; the kids don't sound like kids very much. This is to be more or less expected, since kids in this type of world are forced to grow up quickly, but they still sound a little too refined.
Also, I am still unsure as to why the grown men were so eager to swear allegiance to an untested young woman.
Given those issues, the book in interesting, zips along at a quick pace, and entertains quite effectively. Recommended. -
The Bone Sword is a fun, action-packed adventure that follows a tough-as-nails warrior named Malik and a brother and sister team who are on the run from the evil Father Ivory. When I say evil, I mean torturing and lopping off hands and heads evil. A word of caution, this isn’t a story for the squeamish. The sister, Jasmine, has the ability to heal people which, as you can imagine, is blasphemy to self-proclaimed religious types such as Father Ivory.
If, when reading a book, the number one goal is to be entertained, then Walter has succeeded. You often hear people say that they couldn’t put a book down but that doesn’t make it any less true. I enjoyed the characters and the action and the pacing to a point I found myself constantly saying one more chapter before I went off to bed. As such, I would be happy to recommend Walter’s book to anyone looking for a fast-paced fantasy novel.
If what I’ve heard about a sequel is true, we can expect more from Walter’s fantasy mind which will have me first in the figurative line to preorder. Good work, Walter and good luck with the release. -
The Bone Sword by Walter Rhein follows Malik, a disgraced/runaway Camden's Guard (an elite military unit) and Noah and Jasmine, two kids one of which has the amazing power to heal. The character progression is a very strong point of this book. As Noah and Jasmine have no practical experience they show a lot of growth as they travel and learn. Malik, being an established warrior, has his history revealed through his memories and stories.
Father Ivory plays as a truly horrific villain. His lust for power and inability to deal with anything that he vaguely sees as a challenge to his authority combined with the fact that he is losing his mind make for a scary figure.
Overall the story had a good flow keeping me involved. There were some plot elements that were pretty familiar, including what could have been a kind of big reveal toward the end of the book. If you are a fan of traditional fantasy novels, especially ones that have lots of hand to hand combat this could be a good book for you.
Review copy provided by the author. -
"The Bone Sword" is an exciting, action-packed book by Walter Rhein. Malik, a weakened warrior, stumbles into a barroom one night looking for warmth and rest. Instead, he finds himself in a fight against nobility, spirituality, and ultimately his own inner demons. After his skirmish with a cousin of the Earl, Malik crosses paths with twin brother and sister that hold the magical power to health the sick and wounded.
This book takes place in a medieval fantasy world, but unlike many stories taking place in similar settings, the reader is not bogged down with endless details of the world itself. Instead, this book focuses on the characters and each action they must take. The action scenes are well written, putting the reader right next to Malik, Noah, and the other characters as they struggle for freedom. Anyone who like fantasy and sword fighting action will want to give this book a try.
*Reviewer received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads -
This is a fantasy novel of two depths. On the surface it is a well crafted and straightforward adventure tale utilising oppression as its theme. The perpetrators? One delightfully petulant Earl, and a deliciously malevolent priest. Add in two idealistic youngsters – one with healing powers – and a rather confused swordsman with a complicated past, and you have a great read, a fast moving page turner.
Yet look a bit deeper and you’ll find subtle insights into the characters’ minds and morality which add a richness to the novel’s tone. The three main protagonists – Malik, Noah and Jasmine – are complex and inspiring characters who make some unusual decisions. It is this quality of surprise, along with the free flowing prose, which lifts The Bone Sword out of the ordinary. Read it on any level – you’ll enjoy it! -
The Bone Sword is a straightforward fantasy novel, which was at times predictable but was nonetheless a very enjoyable read. Considering the length of the book, which is only 232 pages, and the amount of information the author had to squeeze in, the story was fast-paced but very-well written.
I found Malik’s background the most intriguing and would actually have liked to have the Camden Guardsmen’s’ play a bigger part in the story, seeing as they seem to have a reputation for being great fighters. However, as a debut novel, it was certainly well done and I don’t have much to criticize.
I would recommend this book to readers looking for a clear-cut, action-packed fantasy story, but if, like me, you prefer books with a more intricate plot that requires some effort to unravel, then you probably won’t be completely satisfied.
Note: I won a review copy from First Reads. -
Someone once told me that it is a bad idea to read books from bad authors because it will negatively affect the way you write. When you pick up Walter Rhein's book "The Bone Sword" ... that is not something you have to worry about. From beginning to end, "The Bone Sword" is well written. Rhein wields metaphors brilliantly and demonstrates his mastery of the craft. He sprinkles his action with gore that I never felt was overdone and he unfolds a story about a solitary warrior named Malik. This is one of those books that maybe you have never seen on a shelf or possibly ever heard of...however, I believe, if you give it a chance, you will embark on an enjoyable journey through the lands of Miscony.
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Malik one of the Elite Camden Gaurds. Tained swordsman, trained suriver, trained to handle an situation untill he finds hiself in a country he knows nothing of. Charged with murder and fated to die by burning at the stake. Fate intervines putting him in the same hold as Noah and his twin sister Jasmine. Newly orphaned and charged with witchery they too must burn at the stake. Fleeing with his new charges proves easy, but when an Earl gone mad sends a man of the cloth to retrieve the trio things begin to heat up.
This book is exciting from beginning to end. I look forward to reading more of the authors works
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The cover did not due the book justice, but we all know not to judge a book by it's cover!
The story started quickly and let a fast pace all throughout. It was pretty violent in some areas, but could be seen as realistic for the time.
I love stories of a strong warrior defending the innocent and having "tag-a-longs" who can hinder him at times. This made for a great storyline.
I would recommend this book for anyone who likes medieval stories with a strong female.
This was a Goodreads ARC Giveaway. -
I would not recommend this book to anyone. Within the first chapter the protagonist commits cold blooded murder because he's being bullied. Not a hero i want to read about, thanks. I admit that as far as the protagonist could tell the guy was a slime ball, but I believe 1) the punishment should fit the crime (of which crime the protagonist had no proof other than his own speculation), and 2) honor! Is it at all honorable to kill a man in cold blood? There are MUCH better ways to propel a plot than cold blooded murder!
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I won this on goodreads and I found this book to be a fairly fast read. It's a fantasy set during the medieval times with castles, an evil Earl, a strong warrior who possess "The Bone Sword", and a girl who holds the power to heal, and many other unique characters. My personal favorite was "Malik", but that might be obvious for those having read the book. The only complaint I have is that I found there were too many fighting scenes. Now, I do enjoy the medieval era, and I know it comes with sword fighting and what not, but for me it was too much of the book.
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I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.
Although this book was formulaic, I enjoyed it. The writing is good, and the POVs of the main characters are described well. The fight descriptions are good, and it was easy to visualize the action. The villains were pretty cookie cutter and their motivations were standard (evil church, dumb nobility, etc.), but the good writing and the entertaining and interesting main characters made up for it. I read this book in one night, and it was a fun read. I recommend it to any fantasy fan (teen or adult) who wants a short entertaining read! -
I'm reviewing this for free as a Goodreads First Read book.
Man that was bad. Grammar/editing was awful awful awful, and there was a lot of basic mistakes that good critical feedback would have solved. I have a feeling that what the author was writing would have worked far better in a more graphic medium. Only made it 3 chapters in before I gave up. -
I wasn’t a huge fan of this book. It’s a pleasant enough story; I just didn’t get sucked into like I usually do with a good book. It might be geared more to a younger reader than me might be the problem. I felt like I never really got to know the characters, nor particularly care about them. I thought it could have used more detail to “flesh out” the story.
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Won the book in one of the giveaways!
It was OK. I would have preferred something more adult.
Don't get me wrong. There is plenty of violence. Just no characters.
Also, the timing is all wrong. One day its summer, several days later, its winter.
Not sure who the target audience is for this book. I suspect I am not a member of that set. -
What a fun novel for tweens! Great action and a fun story. It's not too brutal and it's good for both boys and girls.
This book is now being lent to my friend and after that will go to my local "Friends of the Library" to be sold in order to help support my town's library. -
I hated this book. The writing was atrocious. The main character was repulsive and extremely prejudice against everyone he met. He thought he was better than everyone else and had no morals. I couldn't even finish the book because I disliked it so much.
