'Writing for me is not about speeling, grammar or punctuation – that’s why we have editors.... No, writing for me is the ability to capture a story and put it in words.' - Fantasy Muse

Sunday 31 August 2014

The Lost Prince

My review of The Lost Prince by C.T. Hill


Front Cover




Synopsis

Three decades ago the realm bled. Today, the Lost Prince lives. 
Kareth is a legend, a mythical hero; a brigand who just so happens to be the Prince of Panthos, the realm the Silent King destroyed three decades ago. Kareth is real, he is alive, and he is looking for vengeance.  
The only problem is that the Silent King, Kareth's mortal enemy, happens to be his father.

My Take On It


The book primarily focuses on two main characters; Selene, a simple barmaid and Kareth, the lost Prince. The story follows the pair as they evade the capture of the Silent King and his soldiers. There's also a backdrop of revenge and betrayal which adds a layer of depth to the storyline. The characterisation was done fairly well and the two main characters had distinct personalities.

The story continuously alternates between flashbacks and the present. And if you've read my previous posts then you'd know how much I hate flashbacks but the author did a good job in keeping me interested - enough that I actually read those chapters instead of glimpsing through them. 

This book may be self-published but it didn't suffer at all from the stigma attached to such books. It was articulately written, with the words flowing so effortlessly that I finished it within a day. The action scenes were so well done that I got a clear picture at what was happening and the pace of the story never allowed my mind to wander.

Conclusion


At no point did the story feel clumsy, and it goes without saying that - with its fantastic looking cover and its polished writing - this book can easily hold its own against published books.


Out of 10 Stars


7 Stars


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Buy it here:


Sunday 10 August 2014

Merek's Ascendance

Merek's Ascendance by Andrew Lashway.


Front Cover







Synopsis


Merek has spent his entire life breaking his back on his parents' farm. They're angry, ignorant, and abusive, and one day Merek realizes that if he doesn't escape he'll be trapped forever. He has to escape, but that's easier said than done. And once he's on his own, he'll face bigger challenges than he ever could have imagined. 
He has to find find food and shelter and survive encounters with bears and poachers... 
But more dangerous still is the local weather, characterized by sudden intense storms, flying rocks, and floods. Merek's skills are pushed to the limit when he stumbles across Thorald, the crown prince of Wentana, badly injured and in possession of sensitive diplomatic information.  
Merek finds himself en route to the capital city, where he is caught up in a whirlwind of political conflict, treachery, training, intrigue, and romance.  
Countless adventures await... and his ability to adapt (and survive) will be pushed to the limit.

My Review


I was in the mood for something a bit more conventional and Merek's Ascendance caught my eye. The novel follows Merek a 17yr old teenager who lives a wretched life on a farm with parents that physically and mentally torment him. After having had enough he finally musters enough courage to run away once and for all. The story then unfolds as an illiterate farm-boy who eventually becomes a knight. 

The story is nothing new and I can't recall how many times I've read something in a similar vein but unlike a majority of those books, this is well written. The author creates a well structured novel that flows nicely - sentences were not disjointed and the dialogue didn't feel clumsy. However, I did find the prose was a touch too rudimentary for me and it's clear that the book is aimed at more of a younger audience.

This is a self-published book and does suffer from the occasional mistake but nothing to annoy you too greatly.


Conclusion


This is your standard pauper-to-prince type novel and is accompanied with the usual cliches like how the protagonist tries something new and masters it within the next chapter and how everything seems to fall nicely in place but I wouldn't let that discourage you from a well written book. Its just that I would have liked it if it was more intricate, more complex.

This book is perfect for teenagers or parents reading to their children or even for those who want to revisit a good ol' fashioned coming of age story.


Out of 10 Stars:


6 Stars


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Buy it here: