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On Dark Shores #1
On Dark Shores: The Lady
Trapped in fear and poverty after the death of her parents, the thief Nereia will go to desperate lengths to protect her beautiful younger sister from the brutality of Copeland the moneylender. No-one has dared to attempt escape before; the whole of Scarlock trembles in his grasp. Only Nereia’s cunning and some unlooked-for help give her hope....
In a country still recovering from war, events are stirring, and the little harbour-town will not remain obscure for long; but in Scarlock, right now, Mr Copeland is coming to call - and this time he's not taking no for an answer....
In a country still recovering from war, events are stirring, and the little harbour-town will not remain obscure for long; but in Scarlock, right now, Mr Copeland is coming to call - and this time he's not taking no for an answer....
- GenresFantasy
152 pages, ebook
First published March 10, 2011
2 people are currently reading
243 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Clement
28 books46 followersJ.A. Clement lives near London with her partner and a lunatic lurcher puppy with a predilection for watering cans. She writes her fantasy series whenever she can, mostly in her lunch hour (which probably explains the excessive number of bacon sandwiches that have to be edited out later). Her "To-Write" list is as big as your "To-Read" list (and covers several genres, but she just needs to finish this series first...)
***For a free ebook of The Locket, sign up to her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/WLfLH***
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She's happy to be contacted by readers via email at jaclement [dot] ondarkshores [at] gmail [dot] com. She is happy to answer any questions she can without spoilers, and does love a good gossip with fellow bookworms. You have been warned...
***For a free ebook of The Locket, sign up to her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/WLfLH***
or follow her on Bookbub at
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-a-c...
She's happy to be contacted by readers via email at jaclement [dot] ondarkshores [at] gmail [dot] com. She is happy to answer any questions she can without spoilers, and does love a good gossip with fellow bookworms. You have been warned...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 11, 2011
A small town is plunged into oppression single-handedly by a nasty piece of work. A long-ago wealthy child is now forced to live in squalor while trying to raise and protect her younger sister. A drug addict doing all the wrong things for the right reasons.
These are only some of the characters you will encounter when you enter this little town. The main focal point of the town is not known for its beauty, it is known for its short skirts and ample bosoms. This quaint little port town is also being held under the thumb of a tyrant who has no problem sicking his bodyguard on anyone who doesn't or is not able to pay back money loaned out.
Nereia is, unfortunately, this tyrants niece, but if you think that gains her pr her sister, Mary, any type of leniency, you would be way off the mark. Not only does this not help these two sisters, Nereia seems to get treated worse for the relationship. Her uncle is constantly trying to force her to work in the brothel, which she refuses to do. She puts her life at risk every night as a thief to keep her and her sister fed and out of his clutches. But his claws reach farther than she ever thought possible, and death may come to Nereia anyhow, and her pocketbook no heavier for the trouble.
I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series, I must know what happens next. While I am waiting on the next installment, I would say it was one of my biggest irritants about the book. I felt that we had no closure to anything that was started in this book. While I know this is the first of a series, the readers need some sort of closure on at least one of the plot lines that are going on in this book. Unfortunately, none of the ends were tied up...leaving me to wonder what happened with everything.
What I did love about this book was the many plot lines that were woven in with one another. This is a very complex story being told in a short novella. I am intrigued to see how she will tie up the story to make them all fit, and what else she has in store for us.
The characterization in the book is done beautifully. We hate who we are supposed to hate, and let me tell you, if I ever would get a hold of the one we are supposed to hate in this story, there would definitely be police reports filed. I wanna beat the tarnation outta this man!! So, yes, we hate those we are supposed to hate, and are interested in all of the other characters that have been introduced. For being a shorter book, I would say this was very well done. I have seen longer books that had not been able to accomplish the same thing.
Anyone with a great imagination will be able to vividly bring up the horrific details that are brought up in this book. While this isn't a gruesome book, there are some elements in it that would be noteworthy in a horror flick. All I cam say is...Poor, poor Emma. The great thing about books though, is that you can make the details as clean or R-rated as you would like. Add in the smells, drips, and stains if you wish, or keep it a bit more sterile, but either way, you will still get a picture of the trauma happening.
I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something a bit different than the run-of-the-mill book. This book actually takes me back to my younger years when I read more adventure books. There is no paranormal aspects to it, just all action and some adventure. Pay attention to the details as you go, or the web JA Clement weaves for you may be missing a few strands, and you will need to be aware of them all in order to grasp the concepts.
These are only some of the characters you will encounter when you enter this little town. The main focal point of the town is not known for its beauty, it is known for its short skirts and ample bosoms. This quaint little port town is also being held under the thumb of a tyrant who has no problem sicking his bodyguard on anyone who doesn't or is not able to pay back money loaned out.
Nereia is, unfortunately, this tyrants niece, but if you think that gains her pr her sister, Mary, any type of leniency, you would be way off the mark. Not only does this not help these two sisters, Nereia seems to get treated worse for the relationship. Her uncle is constantly trying to force her to work in the brothel, which she refuses to do. She puts her life at risk every night as a thief to keep her and her sister fed and out of his clutches. But his claws reach farther than she ever thought possible, and death may come to Nereia anyhow, and her pocketbook no heavier for the trouble.
I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series, I must know what happens next. While I am waiting on the next installment, I would say it was one of my biggest irritants about the book. I felt that we had no closure to anything that was started in this book. While I know this is the first of a series, the readers need some sort of closure on at least one of the plot lines that are going on in this book. Unfortunately, none of the ends were tied up...leaving me to wonder what happened with everything.
What I did love about this book was the many plot lines that were woven in with one another. This is a very complex story being told in a short novella. I am intrigued to see how she will tie up the story to make them all fit, and what else she has in store for us.
The characterization in the book is done beautifully. We hate who we are supposed to hate, and let me tell you, if I ever would get a hold of the one we are supposed to hate in this story, there would definitely be police reports filed. I wanna beat the tarnation outta this man!! So, yes, we hate those we are supposed to hate, and are interested in all of the other characters that have been introduced. For being a shorter book, I would say this was very well done. I have seen longer books that had not been able to accomplish the same thing.
Anyone with a great imagination will be able to vividly bring up the horrific details that are brought up in this book. While this isn't a gruesome book, there are some elements in it that would be noteworthy in a horror flick. All I cam say is...Poor, poor Emma. The great thing about books though, is that you can make the details as clean or R-rated as you would like. Add in the smells, drips, and stains if you wish, or keep it a bit more sterile, but either way, you will still get a picture of the trauma happening.
I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something a bit different than the run-of-the-mill book. This book actually takes me back to my younger years when I read more adventure books. There is no paranormal aspects to it, just all action and some adventure. Pay attention to the details as you go, or the web JA Clement weaves for you may be missing a few strands, and you will need to be aware of them all in order to grasp the concepts.
July 28, 2011
This novella is very short and appears to be the beginning of a longer piece of work currently being written. It read like an introduction to a story and a rather large cast of characters and didn’t turn out to be very satisfying all on its own and it ended extremely abruptly. The prose is often beautifully written and almost has a dream-like feel to it which I loved and I see a lot of promise here with a little tweaking and expansion, especially when it comes to the characters and their plight. The bones of the story are solid but it jumps around too quickly to get to know any of the characters on more than a surface level and it left me confused far too often for my liking. The chapters are super short and just when I was getting into a characters point of view the story shifted to one of the many other characters. Basically, there was too much going on for me to keep up and it was difficult to root for anyone because I didn’t get to spend enough time with them to feel much of anything at all. Terrible things happen but most of it occurs off-screen and the reader is left with only the surface aftermath. I’m the type of reader who prefers to be in on the action, experiencing the emotions along with the characters, no matter how horrifying they may be. I just felt left out here and longing for more.
Basically the story is about the inhabitants of Scarlock who are firmly under the thumb of a greedy money lender named Copeland. Nereia became a thief when her parents died and Copeland took possession of everything they owned. Her only other option was to become a prostitute. Either way, nearly everything she owns is tithed to Copeland and he keeps increasing the tithe. Nereia fears that now that her younger sister Mary is old enough, she will be forced into prostitution. Nereia will do most anything to save her innocent sister and Copeland uses that fact against her and a gritty adventure ensues when Nereia rebels. Many other characters are introduced, many are interesting enough but as I said the focus is just too scattered to become fully invested in any of them. In the end I found the story too cluttered to fall into and it was a bit of a struggle to finish. In the end, it all feels like trying to recall a hazy dream.
Basically the story is about the inhabitants of Scarlock who are firmly under the thumb of a greedy money lender named Copeland. Nereia became a thief when her parents died and Copeland took possession of everything they owned. Her only other option was to become a prostitute. Either way, nearly everything she owns is tithed to Copeland and he keeps increasing the tithe. Nereia fears that now that her younger sister Mary is old enough, she will be forced into prostitution. Nereia will do most anything to save her innocent sister and Copeland uses that fact against her and a gritty adventure ensues when Nereia rebels. Many other characters are introduced, many are interesting enough but as I said the focus is just too scattered to become fully invested in any of them. In the end I found the story too cluttered to fall into and it was a bit of a struggle to finish. In the end, it all feels like trying to recall a hazy dream.
August 23, 2015
This is the first part of a much longer story. It is an introduction.
That is really the long and the short of it. This part introduces several characters, several story arcs and lots of competing themes.
It's hard to say if the reader really gets to know any of the characters well in this part, it's over too quickly and there's so much going on, you really can't get a good grasp on any of them.
I imagine that the subsequent parts, of which we're told there will be at least two of, should allow for the reader to get more detail and greater character understanding.
I noticed no typos or issues.
If you want to start a twisting and turning story, try picking up this one. I will be reading the next part!
That is really the long and the short of it. This part introduces several characters, several story arcs and lots of competing themes.
It's hard to say if the reader really gets to know any of the characters well in this part, it's over too quickly and there's so much going on, you really can't get a good grasp on any of them.
I imagine that the subsequent parts, of which we're told there will be at least two of, should allow for the reader to get more detail and greater character understanding.
I noticed no typos or issues.
If you want to start a twisting and turning story, try picking up this one. I will be reading the next part!
May 6, 2011
When I was offered this book for review I was a little hesitant as I don't think of myself as a fantasy fan. However when I thought about it I do read a bit of fantasy and sci fi, so agreed to review it with the author being aware it wasn't one of my usual genres. Once again opening my mind to something different has paid dividends though.
The harbour town of Scarlock is a virtual prison for its inhabitants, who are controlled by the moneylender Copeland.Those who get on the wrong side of him have to deal with his enforcer come bodyguard Blakey. Nereia is related to Copeland but this means nothing, she has had to become a master thief to support herself and protect her sister. However change is afoot and while Copeland starts losing control others are asserting themselves. Elsewhere the Mother of the Shantari, "guard and guide to her people", has to find The Lady and stop anything happening to her.
The majority of the action occurs in Scarlock, which has a faintly Dickensian feel about it, with its taverns and brothel, and the moneylender whose sharp practices trap the people in a cycle of poverty. I was captivated by Nereia's story and the way she remained determined to protect her younger sister despite the consequences to herself. I wanted to keep reading to see where the tale was going to go. I also found myself questioning whether Blakey was a bad person, inflicting violence under the guise of just doing his job, or himself a victim.
The role of the Mother of Shantari remains a bit of a mystery, no doubt to be addressed in future books in the series. She and the dark shore of the title provide the real fantasy element, and I was pleased to find I really enjoyed that aspect of the book and wanted a little more of it, rather than being put off by it. This is a dark and, in places, violent story that sets up what looks to be a grand epic.
While this book does set up a lot of threads to be picked up in the next one, and introduce a lot of characters I expect we will learn more about in future, I did feel that end was a little too abrupt and I felt a bit disappointed that I'd reached the end at that particular point. I need the next book in the series to be available pronto so I can pick up the threads again! This is a book that has been released after a decent edit and proof-reading, which always pleases me and I don't recall noting any typo's. That and the attractive cover make for a polished end product.
This is a great debut novel for J A Clement. The second book is one I'll be keeping an eye out for & I'm definitely going to have to reconsider what genres I say I enjoy in future.
The harbour town of Scarlock is a virtual prison for its inhabitants, who are controlled by the moneylender Copeland.Those who get on the wrong side of him have to deal with his enforcer come bodyguard Blakey. Nereia is related to Copeland but this means nothing, she has had to become a master thief to support herself and protect her sister. However change is afoot and while Copeland starts losing control others are asserting themselves. Elsewhere the Mother of the Shantari, "guard and guide to her people", has to find The Lady and stop anything happening to her.
The majority of the action occurs in Scarlock, which has a faintly Dickensian feel about it, with its taverns and brothel, and the moneylender whose sharp practices trap the people in a cycle of poverty. I was captivated by Nereia's story and the way she remained determined to protect her younger sister despite the consequences to herself. I wanted to keep reading to see where the tale was going to go. I also found myself questioning whether Blakey was a bad person, inflicting violence under the guise of just doing his job, or himself a victim.
The role of the Mother of Shantari remains a bit of a mystery, no doubt to be addressed in future books in the series. She and the dark shore of the title provide the real fantasy element, and I was pleased to find I really enjoyed that aspect of the book and wanted a little more of it, rather than being put off by it. This is a dark and, in places, violent story that sets up what looks to be a grand epic.
While this book does set up a lot of threads to be picked up in the next one, and introduce a lot of characters I expect we will learn more about in future, I did feel that end was a little too abrupt and I felt a bit disappointed that I'd reached the end at that particular point. I need the next book in the series to be available pronto so I can pick up the threads again! This is a book that has been released after a decent edit and proof-reading, which always pleases me and I don't recall noting any typo's. That and the attractive cover make for a polished end product.
This is a great debut novel for J A Clement. The second book is one I'll be keeping an eye out for & I'm definitely going to have to reconsider what genres I say I enjoy in future.
July 1, 2011
"On Dark Shores: The Lady" is a three part series that begins by introducing us to the thief, Nereia, and her much younger sister, Mary. They live in Scarlock, a tiny Harbor town dominated by a weasel of man named Copeland. Nothing gets past him, and the inhabitants of Scarlock live in fear of him and his bodyguard, a prior boxer named Blakey who spends his days roughing up the poor and unlucky who are unable to pay their debts.
Nereia and Mary are cousins of Copeland, but unless you had read that little bit of information you wouldn't believe it by the way he treats them. Nereia is driven to steal and give what meager treasures she finds to Copeland in order to keep herself from being made to work in his brothel, and save her sister from a similar fate. Although forced to live a life she would not have chosen given the chance, Nereia is one of the only characters we meet in "On Dark Shores: The Lady" with enough courage to stand up to Copeland and fight back. Unfortunately that fighting back gets her, and Mary, in more trouble than any one person deserves.
I really enjoyed J.A. Clement's debut novel. At first confused by the opening chapter, I eventually understood where she was going with her story and looked forward to turning each page. I was so engrossed in the novel that I found myself getting angry when I had completed it! There was a dark and eerie element in the story and I kept finding myself caught up within the web of words that Clement wove around her characters. I can't wait to read the second part of the series and find out who exactly the Mother of the Shantar is and what her role in Nereia's life will be. I also look forward to seeing Copeland get what he deserves but as I am not the author I can only hope that she finds a way of putting him in his place!
*Note: I received an ecopy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
http://historicallyyoursbookreviews.b...
Nereia and Mary are cousins of Copeland, but unless you had read that little bit of information you wouldn't believe it by the way he treats them. Nereia is driven to steal and give what meager treasures she finds to Copeland in order to keep herself from being made to work in his brothel, and save her sister from a similar fate. Although forced to live a life she would not have chosen given the chance, Nereia is one of the only characters we meet in "On Dark Shores: The Lady" with enough courage to stand up to Copeland and fight back. Unfortunately that fighting back gets her, and Mary, in more trouble than any one person deserves.
I really enjoyed J.A. Clement's debut novel. At first confused by the opening chapter, I eventually understood where she was going with her story and looked forward to turning each page. I was so engrossed in the novel that I found myself getting angry when I had completed it! There was a dark and eerie element in the story and I kept finding myself caught up within the web of words that Clement wove around her characters. I can't wait to read the second part of the series and find out who exactly the Mother of the Shantar is and what her role in Nereia's life will be. I also look forward to seeing Copeland get what he deserves but as I am not the author I can only hope that she finds a way of putting him in his place!
*Note: I received an ecopy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
http://historicallyyoursbookreviews.b...
April 16, 2012
It took a little while to get into J.A. Clement’s On Dark Shores, the Lady, even though I’d already read the prequel, Parallels. But perhaps I was looking for too many parallels between the stories. Characters do reappear, but the story's set later and the future's more important than the past. The evil Copeland's still ruling the port town of Scarlock and Nereia, the thief, works for him, trying to keep her younger sister safe and fed. Boxer Blakey wounds people in his master's name but might be a much deeper character than he seems. Mickel deals with the outside world. Sailors man the ships and enjoy the brothels. And hope is hard to find.
Despite its darkness, this story’s infused with the promise of something more. Mysteries lurk on the edge of revelation as Nereia and her sister make a bid for freedom. The author spares nothing in portraying the cruelties and hardships of life, but adds a pleasing human kindness and the promise of more. I was just sorry the novella finished before the “more” was revealed, giving this reader a feeling of having read only part of something really good. I hope there’ll be a sequel soon, but I guess I wish I’d held off reading until the sequel was there.
The story’s highly recommended—just a pity it’s incomplete. More please!
Disclosure: I was lucky enough to get a free ecopy from the author in a promotion. Now I’ll just have to look out for more. These characters demand it.
Despite its darkness, this story’s infused with the promise of something more. Mysteries lurk on the edge of revelation as Nereia and her sister make a bid for freedom. The author spares nothing in portraying the cruelties and hardships of life, but adds a pleasing human kindness and the promise of more. I was just sorry the novella finished before the “more” was revealed, giving this reader a feeling of having read only part of something really good. I hope there’ll be a sequel soon, but I guess I wish I’d held off reading until the sequel was there.
The story’s highly recommended—just a pity it’s incomplete. More please!
Disclosure: I was lucky enough to get a free ecopy from the author in a promotion. Now I’ll just have to look out for more. These characters demand it.
July 15, 2011
I was delighted by this story. Although I was a bit confused at first, I figured out what was going on and enjoyed it very much. This story has a fantasy flair in which the protagonist gets more than her fair share of hard blows. The author does a wonderful job of delving into human nature, and we get a big dish in of the evil of some in the antagonist. I gave this book four stars and recommend this book.
May 25, 2011
***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***
On Dark Shores: The Lady is an odd little story of the town of Scarlock and it's many battered residents trying to make their way though life. They live in a land that's apparently in the middle of some sort of war between the Shantari and the Mardon which I think are neighboring races but could be just neighboring countries. It's not really completely clarified within the text itself.
The biggest issue with this story is that even though it's part of what will be a series of books it doesn't have it's own individual story arc. It is the beginning of what looks like it will be an amazing story but just that, the beginning. You have the build of getting to know each character, learning the plan of the villain and learning individual character motives which is great, but it's leading to something that even at the end you aren't sure what. Don't get me wrong, the story shows promise, but this looks like it's one of those books where it's best to wait to have all the pieces before you read it. When you reach the end it's much the case of what happens now? From what I've read it's my personal opinion that this story might have been better served as a really long book similar to the Historian in length than to have been broken up into individual pieces to what I believe is going to end up being a trilogy.
The beginning is a little hard to get into because it opens jumping from dream to dream in what seems like random characters and tends to leave you a little confused. From there you get a a short introduction to the Mother of the Shantari, but it doesn't really give a full explanation of what she does, who she really is. Yes we know she protects her people and that she has some gifted abilities to do so. We learn that there's something out there called the Dark Waters that's a danger somehow to the people but it's still a bit confusing. I think this scene would have better been served with a bit more background. I realize that some explanations were provided within a glossary at the back of the book, but most readers, myself included never look at glossaries or appendages unless there's no other choice. It's too reminiscent of school. Also a part of this scene included the daughter telling her mother what she should do, and to me that was a little realistic. It was only one line and then the interlude faded back to the norm of the mother being that all-knowing and the daughter asking the questions, but it's a bit jarring. Also the narrative style voice at the beginning leaves the reader at a bit of a distance wondering if you're really going to be able to connect to the characters. That being said the opening still has an interesting flow to it. Clement's words are almost like poetry as she opens this book, and it's almost reminiscent of I'd say and Irish lilting lullaby in flow.
Once you've passed the opening you start to get a real introduction the characters. You root for poor Nereia, an orphan uprooted from her home and mistreated by her awful cousin, while she struggles through dangers trying to protect her young sister Mary from the harsh truths of their life. You wish that Blakley would get a backbone and save the entire town from Copeland instead hiding in his drugs and booze while following his cruel employers orders. And you grow more and more curious about just what Mickel is doing in Scarlock because it's made very clear there's more to Mickel than meets the eye. Toward the end you even have a growing respect for the Madam. The last portion of the story introduces a few new characters, but the story doesn't have the opportunity to delve enough into those for you to really understand what role they're going to play in this book series. You have the idea it's going to be a pivotal role, but you can't be sure without having more to read.
It does take a little bit to find that connection to the character but once you find that spot the characters are there, in your face and raw. You can't help but connect to them. There are a few odd scenes of skeletons and beaches in small section of the story but as of yet those don't exactly make sense. Honestly I think I'll have a much better understanding when the next section of this story is released. Hopefully it won't be something we have to wait too long for because I finished the book feeling like a little kid whose mother had just come in and taken away their book in the good part and said it's time for bed. So then the kid can't sleep tossing and turning as they wonder what happens next. It's the opening of what could really be a phenomenal series, however it doesn't have enough of it's own story arc to hold as a single title in my personal opinion. However I still appreciate the experience the author has gifted with by giving me this story to read and review.
On Dark Shores: The Lady is an odd little story of the town of Scarlock and it's many battered residents trying to make their way though life. They live in a land that's apparently in the middle of some sort of war between the Shantari and the Mardon which I think are neighboring races but could be just neighboring countries. It's not really completely clarified within the text itself.
The biggest issue with this story is that even though it's part of what will be a series of books it doesn't have it's own individual story arc. It is the beginning of what looks like it will be an amazing story but just that, the beginning. You have the build of getting to know each character, learning the plan of the villain and learning individual character motives which is great, but it's leading to something that even at the end you aren't sure what. Don't get me wrong, the story shows promise, but this looks like it's one of those books where it's best to wait to have all the pieces before you read it. When you reach the end it's much the case of what happens now? From what I've read it's my personal opinion that this story might have been better served as a really long book similar to the Historian in length than to have been broken up into individual pieces to what I believe is going to end up being a trilogy.
The beginning is a little hard to get into because it opens jumping from dream to dream in what seems like random characters and tends to leave you a little confused. From there you get a a short introduction to the Mother of the Shantari, but it doesn't really give a full explanation of what she does, who she really is. Yes we know she protects her people and that she has some gifted abilities to do so. We learn that there's something out there called the Dark Waters that's a danger somehow to the people but it's still a bit confusing. I think this scene would have better been served with a bit more background. I realize that some explanations were provided within a glossary at the back of the book, but most readers, myself included never look at glossaries or appendages unless there's no other choice. It's too reminiscent of school. Also a part of this scene included the daughter telling her mother what she should do, and to me that was a little realistic. It was only one line and then the interlude faded back to the norm of the mother being that all-knowing and the daughter asking the questions, but it's a bit jarring. Also the narrative style voice at the beginning leaves the reader at a bit of a distance wondering if you're really going to be able to connect to the characters. That being said the opening still has an interesting flow to it. Clement's words are almost like poetry as she opens this book, and it's almost reminiscent of I'd say and Irish lilting lullaby in flow.
Once you've passed the opening you start to get a real introduction the characters. You root for poor Nereia, an orphan uprooted from her home and mistreated by her awful cousin, while she struggles through dangers trying to protect her young sister Mary from the harsh truths of their life. You wish that Blakley would get a backbone and save the entire town from Copeland instead hiding in his drugs and booze while following his cruel employers orders. And you grow more and more curious about just what Mickel is doing in Scarlock because it's made very clear there's more to Mickel than meets the eye. Toward the end you even have a growing respect for the Madam. The last portion of the story introduces a few new characters, but the story doesn't have the opportunity to delve enough into those for you to really understand what role they're going to play in this book series. You have the idea it's going to be a pivotal role, but you can't be sure without having more to read.
It does take a little bit to find that connection to the character but once you find that spot the characters are there, in your face and raw. You can't help but connect to them. There are a few odd scenes of skeletons and beaches in small section of the story but as of yet those don't exactly make sense. Honestly I think I'll have a much better understanding when the next section of this story is released. Hopefully it won't be something we have to wait too long for because I finished the book feeling like a little kid whose mother had just come in and taken away their book in the good part and said it's time for bed. So then the kid can't sleep tossing and turning as they wonder what happens next. It's the opening of what could really be a phenomenal series, however it doesn't have enough of it's own story arc to hold as a single title in my personal opinion. However I still appreciate the experience the author has gifted with by giving me this story to read and review.
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May 25, 2011Check out my review In Creative Reviews Group!
Merged review:
Title: On Dark Shores: The Lady
Author: JA Clement
Publisher: Weasel Green Press March 2011
AISN: B004S7JCYG
Format: E-book (Paperback, coming soon)
In the tiny harbor town of Scarlock, the residents are dominated by fear. They live in trepidation of when the next visit from Copeland, the town moneylender, will come. Copeland takes pride in the fact that he ‘runs’ the town and is increasingly demanding in the money and goods he collects. Blakey is Copeland’s bodyguard and the man that does all the dirty work around town-such as beating people up when they don’t pay on time.
In order to pay Copeland’s demands for money, Nereia has chosen the life of a pick pocket. In order to protect her sister, Nereia must get bolder every time she steals. Unfortunately, Copeland has decided he has a new way for Nereia to pay her debts, and this way means that Nereia must sacrifice not only her pride and honor but her body and soul. To save herself and her sister Nereia, must make some tough choices and change her life forever.
Let me start out this review by talking about the cover. It is gorgeous! I love the shades of blue and the images. There is something still and eerily beautiful about it. I could sit and look at the cover image for an hour and never be bored.
On Dark Shores: The Lady is a quick read that introduces you into the small town of Scarlock and to the people who live there. It gives you the beginning of what I think will be quite the tale!
Nereia is a very strong character that I admired quite often throughout the book. This woman has a real backbone! She was the only person that was ever confident enough to stand up to Copeland even a little bit. Sure, she had to do what he demanded, but at least she told him how unhappy she was about it while she was doing it. Everything she did was to protect her young, innocent sister, Mary, who she tried desperately to keep away from Copeland. It was touching to me how she could go out by day, square her shoulders and steal and be quick lipped with anyone who challenged her but then go home to their very modest home and be soft and kind to her sister.
Copleand was another character that I found fascinating. I have to say, I didn’t like him (and you probably won’t either-considering the heinous things he does against people), but I was drawn to figure out why he was so controlling, uncaring and without conscious. It was almost as if he had two people living inside of him. There was personality number one, who wanted power and money, but needed Blakey to be the enforcer. Then there was personality number two who was sick and very violent. Copeland tried to maintain a very tight control over himself, so it was personality number one that we often saw….but then sometime number two would come out, and boy was it ugly!!
Blakey was a washed up boxer with a shoulder injury who seemed to have no problem doing Copleand’s bidding…at least that’s what the reader thinks at first. He is a character that probably should have been unlikable, yet, I liked him. Getting to know him, the reader gets to see another side of him-the more human side. This Blakey fellow might actually be my favorite character of the book.
While the characters in this story were very good and always managed to evoke a strong reaction from me I have to say that while reading this book I was sometimes confused. I had a hard time following the beginning, and I still am not quite clear on what the Shantari’s role is in any of this. There are a lot of characters in this story, and I have yet to discover exactly what role each of them play. However, JA Clement did include a glossary of names and terminology at the end of the book. It did help to understand a few things, and I wished I had the glossary at the beginning of the book and not the end.
This reviewer has it on good authority (it was in the back of the book-hehehe) that two more “On Dark Shores” books are in the editing stages with plenty more to come. In these future books I am sure that the things I am left wondering about will be answered, and I will be left saying, Ahh -Hah!
Review is written by Cambria Hebert
Merged review:
Title: On Dark Shores: The Lady
Author: JA Clement
Publisher: Weasel Green Press March 2011
AISN: B004S7JCYG
Format: E-book (Paperback, coming soon)
In the tiny harbor town of Scarlock, the residents are dominated by fear. They live in trepidation of when the next visit from Copeland, the town moneylender, will come. Copeland takes pride in the fact that he ‘runs’ the town and is increasingly demanding in the money and goods he collects. Blakey is Copeland’s bodyguard and the man that does all the dirty work around town-such as beating people up when they don’t pay on time.
In order to pay Copeland’s demands for money, Nereia has chosen the life of a pick pocket. In order to protect her sister, Nereia must get bolder every time she steals. Unfortunately, Copeland has decided he has a new way for Nereia to pay her debts, and this way means that Nereia must sacrifice not only her pride and honor but her body and soul. To save herself and her sister Nereia, must make some tough choices and change her life forever.
Let me start out this review by talking about the cover. It is gorgeous! I love the shades of blue and the images. There is something still and eerily beautiful about it. I could sit and look at the cover image for an hour and never be bored.
On Dark Shores: The Lady is a quick read that introduces you into the small town of Scarlock and to the people who live there. It gives you the beginning of what I think will be quite the tale!
Nereia is a very strong character that I admired quite often throughout the book. This woman has a real backbone! She was the only person that was ever confident enough to stand up to Copeland even a little bit. Sure, she had to do what he demanded, but at least she told him how unhappy she was about it while she was doing it. Everything she did was to protect her young, innocent sister, Mary, who she tried desperately to keep away from Copeland. It was touching to me how she could go out by day, square her shoulders and steal and be quick lipped with anyone who challenged her but then go home to their very modest home and be soft and kind to her sister.
Copleand was another character that I found fascinating. I have to say, I didn’t like him (and you probably won’t either-considering the heinous things he does against people), but I was drawn to figure out why he was so controlling, uncaring and without conscious. It was almost as if he had two people living inside of him. There was personality number one, who wanted power and money, but needed Blakey to be the enforcer. Then there was personality number two who was sick and very violent. Copeland tried to maintain a very tight control over himself, so it was personality number one that we often saw….but then sometime number two would come out, and boy was it ugly!!
Blakey was a washed up boxer with a shoulder injury who seemed to have no problem doing Copleand’s bidding…at least that’s what the reader thinks at first. He is a character that probably should have been unlikable, yet, I liked him. Getting to know him, the reader gets to see another side of him-the more human side. This Blakey fellow might actually be my favorite character of the book.
While the characters in this story were very good and always managed to evoke a strong reaction from me I have to say that while reading this book I was sometimes confused. I had a hard time following the beginning, and I still am not quite clear on what the Shantari’s role is in any of this. There are a lot of characters in this story, and I have yet to discover exactly what role each of them play. However, JA Clement did include a glossary of names and terminology at the end of the book. It did help to understand a few things, and I wished I had the glossary at the beginning of the book and not the end.
This reviewer has it on good authority (it was in the back of the book-hehehe) that two more “On Dark Shores” books are in the editing stages with plenty more to come. In these future books I am sure that the things I am left wondering about will be answered, and I will be left saying, Ahh -Hah!
Review is written by Cambria Hebert
July 27, 2011
Ahh, where to begin? Let me start by saying that this book is of a genre that wouldn’t usually be my first choice. Or second. Probably not even third. Then let me carry on to say that I am SO glad to have been offered the chance to read it, as On Dark Shores: The Lady is some of the best writing I have come across in a long time. It’s one of those books that has me enviously thinking “why can’t I write like that? It’s not fair!” every other sentence.
Author J.A. Clements has the knack of pulling the reader right along with the flow of the story. She takes the approach of frequent cuts between scenes, shifting the reader’s attention between characters, without ever losing focus on the central plot. I read this book with a constant nagging feeling of “just a couple more pages then I SWEAR I’ll put it down for the night” that somehow had me awake and still reading ’til dawn because I couldn’t quite bear to stop yet. There might be something wrong with me, though. It sounds like the inhabitants of the town of Scarlock aren’t exactly living overly happy or fulfilling lives under the thumb of the unpleasant Copeland, but somehow the author’s description of the place made me want to go there, rent myself a little stone hovel, wander the cobbled alleys and generally assimilate!
…. All of which leads me to the only minor thing I can fault this book on, and that is the fact that the author cruelly and heartlessly left me hanging. I got to the end of The Lady and felt a bit like I’d just finished a chapter in the most amazing epic novel when a mugger came up and snatched the thing out of my unsuspecting hands. Now I’m left feeling all bereft and longing for my next fix of the little world that Clement has dreamed up and so eloquently put down in words. There’s a difference, though - a BIG one! - between being left feeling dissatisfied and being left hungry for more. On Dark Shores: The Lady definitely has the latter effect, and in closing I’d just like to say one thing. J.A. Clement, I firmly believe you have this story all mapped out in your head, and I get the feeling it might be a long one (I do hope so). So, if you’d just be so kind as to give up all unnecessary extraneous distractions such as eating, sleeping, bathing and suchlike, and get down to the important business of writing and editing the rest of the On Dark Shores series, I would be pathetically grateful. At this point I’m quite desperate to find out what happens next, and I’m not ashamed to beg! Thanks much.
In short? Yes, you should read this.
Author J.A. Clements has the knack of pulling the reader right along with the flow of the story. She takes the approach of frequent cuts between scenes, shifting the reader’s attention between characters, without ever losing focus on the central plot. I read this book with a constant nagging feeling of “just a couple more pages then I SWEAR I’ll put it down for the night” that somehow had me awake and still reading ’til dawn because I couldn’t quite bear to stop yet. There might be something wrong with me, though. It sounds like the inhabitants of the town of Scarlock aren’t exactly living overly happy or fulfilling lives under the thumb of the unpleasant Copeland, but somehow the author’s description of the place made me want to go there, rent myself a little stone hovel, wander the cobbled alleys and generally assimilate!
…. All of which leads me to the only minor thing I can fault this book on, and that is the fact that the author cruelly and heartlessly left me hanging. I got to the end of The Lady and felt a bit like I’d just finished a chapter in the most amazing epic novel when a mugger came up and snatched the thing out of my unsuspecting hands. Now I’m left feeling all bereft and longing for my next fix of the little world that Clement has dreamed up and so eloquently put down in words. There’s a difference, though - a BIG one! - between being left feeling dissatisfied and being left hungry for more. On Dark Shores: The Lady definitely has the latter effect, and in closing I’d just like to say one thing. J.A. Clement, I firmly believe you have this story all mapped out in your head, and I get the feeling it might be a long one (I do hope so). So, if you’d just be so kind as to give up all unnecessary extraneous distractions such as eating, sleeping, bathing and suchlike, and get down to the important business of writing and editing the rest of the On Dark Shores series, I would be pathetically grateful. At this point I’m quite desperate to find out what happens next, and I’m not ashamed to beg! Thanks much.
In short? Yes, you should read this.
July 16, 2011
A dark, gripping novella...
Without realizing it, I'm discovering myself a fan of novellas. Short stories with wonderfully created worlds and disctinct characters that are very easily imagineable. On Dark Shores is such a novella.
This story is set in a grimy little town where it is ruled mercilessly by the moneylender, Copeland. He and his bodyguard, Blakely, keep the villagers cowering with fear, extorting money and doling out beatings on a daily basis. There are two sisters, and one has been forced to become a thief, being a distant relative to Copeland himself. When the older sister realizes she'll be unable to protect the younger any longer, she determines it is time to try and escape from the clutches of her cousin.
There's clearly more going on with the townfolk than they let on. The bodyguard, Blakely, used to be a boxer, and has the power to eliminate the moneylender's grip over the town, but instead chooses to hide his emotions in booze and drugs. There's the barkeep, Mickel, who was formerly a medic, I think, and is forced to resume his old profession as the town doctor is afraid to cross Copeland.
I won't go into any other details here lest I inadvertently give away a spoiler. Let me just say, instead, that I enjoyed the story. The writing was smooth and flawless in execution. I had no problems imagining I was skulking around in the dark streets of Scarlock. This isn't a story for the faint of heart. There's gruesome scenes of torture and murder and of unspeakable acts of cruelty. On the plus side, the scenes are so well written that you're glued to the pages waiting to see what happens next, much like you would do if you saw an train wreck: you know you should look away, but you find yourself transfixed to the scene. Like that. :)
There were a few critiques that I could find. Again, without giving anything away, the skeleton scene. I'm not sure where that came from, but I was confused about why it was there. I think I see where the author was going with it, but just thought it was odd and not really fitting with the rest of the story. I feel as though the story was cut off abruptly, but I'll take that as a good sign, as I'm clearly intersted in learning what happens next, when Karma will finally catch up to those who need it, and what the fate of the older sister is.
Ms. Clement, nicely done! I'll definitely pick up the next in the series when it's released!
Without realizing it, I'm discovering myself a fan of novellas. Short stories with wonderfully created worlds and disctinct characters that are very easily imagineable. On Dark Shores is such a novella.
This story is set in a grimy little town where it is ruled mercilessly by the moneylender, Copeland. He and his bodyguard, Blakely, keep the villagers cowering with fear, extorting money and doling out beatings on a daily basis. There are two sisters, and one has been forced to become a thief, being a distant relative to Copeland himself. When the older sister realizes she'll be unable to protect the younger any longer, she determines it is time to try and escape from the clutches of her cousin.
There's clearly more going on with the townfolk than they let on. The bodyguard, Blakely, used to be a boxer, and has the power to eliminate the moneylender's grip over the town, but instead chooses to hide his emotions in booze and drugs. There's the barkeep, Mickel, who was formerly a medic, I think, and is forced to resume his old profession as the town doctor is afraid to cross Copeland.
I won't go into any other details here lest I inadvertently give away a spoiler. Let me just say, instead, that I enjoyed the story. The writing was smooth and flawless in execution. I had no problems imagining I was skulking around in the dark streets of Scarlock. This isn't a story for the faint of heart. There's gruesome scenes of torture and murder and of unspeakable acts of cruelty. On the plus side, the scenes are so well written that you're glued to the pages waiting to see what happens next, much like you would do if you saw an train wreck: you know you should look away, but you find yourself transfixed to the scene. Like that. :)
There were a few critiques that I could find. Again, without giving anything away, the skeleton scene. I'm not sure where that came from, but I was confused about why it was there. I think I see where the author was going with it, but just thought it was odd and not really fitting with the rest of the story. I feel as though the story was cut off abruptly, but I'll take that as a good sign, as I'm clearly intersted in learning what happens next, when Karma will finally catch up to those who need it, and what the fate of the older sister is.
Ms. Clement, nicely done! I'll definitely pick up the next in the series when it's released!
August 16, 2011
This book takes place, mostly, in the town of Scarlock. We are drawn into the story with Nereia, a young girl whose main concern is to protect her younger sister from Copeland, the money lender who owns the town. They are trapped but they plan to escape. Meanwhile, far away, the Shantari are looking for 'the lady' who they must guard and protect. A group of adventurers arrive in Scarlock and a merchant, who is watching the events surrounding Nereia unfold with a growing sense of unease, turns out to know them. Strange ghostly figures appear on the beach and we discover that there is more to Blakey, Copeland's tame thug, than meets the eye.
As it is the first of a series there are quite a few threads to establish in a fairly short time. However, despite the need to jump around I did not find it confusing to follow. We mostly stick with Nereia and her sister in this book but their situation is not resolved leaving this reader, at any rate, eagerly anticipating the next installment.
The writing style is seriously accomplished; shades of LeGuin and with a nod to Orczy in places; a splendid and pleasingly bizarre combo.
It's a lyrical and thoughtful style but that doesn't slow down the pace of the narrative. It's also very dark in places but not gory, the reader is left to imagine the details in.
The standard of production is excellent, no typos as far as I could see, an appealing cover and a very professional feel.
Any criticisms? Only one. I am likely to be talking complete cobblers here but for some reason I'm under the impression that On Dark Shores is the length Young Adult books are supposed' to be if you ask a publisher or an agent. Writing a debut book that way is, undeniably, a smart move for an author. However, in this case, I think it might have benefited from being a bit longer. Just to give us readers more time to gel with the characters. So, I have to take half a star off for that and give it 4.5 stars. Except that Amazon won't let me do that so I'm going to give it five.
Definitely recommended. An impressive debut and some top notch writing. It isn't the kind of style I usually go for but it drew me in and I really want to read the next one. So, J A Clement. Please hurry up with book 2.
As it is the first of a series there are quite a few threads to establish in a fairly short time. However, despite the need to jump around I did not find it confusing to follow. We mostly stick with Nereia and her sister in this book but their situation is not resolved leaving this reader, at any rate, eagerly anticipating the next installment.
The writing style is seriously accomplished; shades of LeGuin and with a nod to Orczy in places; a splendid and pleasingly bizarre combo.
It's a lyrical and thoughtful style but that doesn't slow down the pace of the narrative. It's also very dark in places but not gory, the reader is left to imagine the details in.
The standard of production is excellent, no typos as far as I could see, an appealing cover and a very professional feel.
Any criticisms? Only one. I am likely to be talking complete cobblers here but for some reason I'm under the impression that On Dark Shores is the length Young Adult books are supposed' to be if you ask a publisher or an agent. Writing a debut book that way is, undeniably, a smart move for an author. However, in this case, I think it might have benefited from being a bit longer. Just to give us readers more time to gel with the characters. So, I have to take half a star off for that and give it 4.5 stars. Except that Amazon won't let me do that so I'm going to give it five.
Definitely recommended. An impressive debut and some top notch writing. It isn't the kind of style I usually go for but it drew me in and I really want to read the next one. So, J A Clement. Please hurry up with book 2.
August 7, 2011
On Dark Shores The Lady by J.A. Clement
Jules Rating: 5 stars
The first couple chapters of On Dark Shores had me sratching my head, I couldn't figure out where the book was taking me. Then it found its rythym. This book is haunting, dark and leaves you wanting more, and more. Some parts of the book gave me chills with my hair standing on end... I can't wait for the next books to follow.
On Dark Shore takes place in the town of Scarlock, which is being held hostage in fear of the moneylender Copeland, and his bodygaurd Blakey. Copeland is an awful, evil, vile, ruthless man, words can not describe how horrible he is to the people of Scarlock. He runs a thieving ring and a brothel, which he gets the money, and leaves very little to the people that work for him to live on, along with getting a cut from all business in town. He also harvests and processes Sea Angel jellfish, which he makes into a drug called Angel Feathers. Blakey is an ex-boxer , who doles out the beating per Copeland's orders. You start off really not liking Blakey for what he does to the towns people. Then you find out how much he hates Copeland, and hates having to carry out his orders. He is not what he seems to be.... I kinda like him. Nereia is a thief for Copeland, and not by choice. She does this to protect her much younger sister Mary . Nereia is very strong, smart and tough, She is the only one in town that is couragous enough to stand up to Copeland, which always gets her beaten. He has grand plans for her... that I can't go into.
Their are lots of charcters in this book, and story lines, which I'm sure will be explained in upcoming books. J.A. Clements does a wonderful job writing. You feel the terror, anger, and how helplessness of the town inhabitants . I love the fact you know what is going on inside each of the characters head. The book ends and your so wrapped up in the story and emotional, you can't believe the book is done.
I'm ready for the next book please !!
~Jules
June 16, 2011
I loved this book! It had all the appeal of a novel of historical fiction, but a bit of fantasy is also thrown into the mix. It’s the first in a series of three I do believe. I will most definitely be getting the next two novels to read and review. I loved the characters and their stories. The evil Copeland is a great antagonist, and the grip he has on the fictional town of Scarlock is intense. His “muscle man” Blakey grows as a character in the novel, and at the end it’s hinted that there is much more to his story than meets the eye.
I adored the main character Nereia. She is a woman who is full of strength and determination, and I cannot wait to find out more of her story. Her fight to protect her sister is admirable, and it’s obvious that their story is going to be a mainstay throughout the series. Vansel is another great character that the reader is able to learn more about as the first book goes on. He comes across as a roguish character with a good heart. However, he does seek vengeance for the murder of his father.
I believe this is going to be a great series of books, and I am definitely looking forward to the other books. I am looking forward to see where the story line with “The Mother” of the Shantari people, the book begins with her going on a dangerous journey, but then she is rarely mentioned again throughout the book.
I honestly wish the book had been a lot longer! It was a pretty quick read, and I would have loved to keep reading and learning about the characters and the different cities and lands that the story takes place in. Obviously I would recommend this book to anyone.
I definitely give this book 5 out of 5 stars!
I adored the main character Nereia. She is a woman who is full of strength and determination, and I cannot wait to find out more of her story. Her fight to protect her sister is admirable, and it’s obvious that their story is going to be a mainstay throughout the series. Vansel is another great character that the reader is able to learn more about as the first book goes on. He comes across as a roguish character with a good heart. However, he does seek vengeance for the murder of his father.
I believe this is going to be a great series of books, and I am definitely looking forward to the other books. I am looking forward to see where the story line with “The Mother” of the Shantari people, the book begins with her going on a dangerous journey, but then she is rarely mentioned again throughout the book.
I honestly wish the book had been a lot longer! It was a pretty quick read, and I would have loved to keep reading and learning about the characters and the different cities and lands that the story takes place in. Obviously I would recommend this book to anyone.
I definitely give this book 5 out of 5 stars!
July 14, 2011
I have to start out by saying, this is an incredible novella and I hope Clement writes many, many more stories in this world. It is a dark world, a somewhat grim place, and there are threads and branches to this story that are barely touched in this initial entrance to the world – but there is no doubt that it is going to be a crazy ride, and one with which any dark fantasy fan will fall in love.
I can’t think of a way to summarize the plot very well without giving away large bunches of information, as this is a novella, which means it is not terribly long. We are briefly introduced to the Shantari, whose Mother (leader) begins a mysterious quest based upon dreams she is having. We spend a great deal of time in Scarlock, a dirty and depressing town that is firmly under the thumb of the rich and malicious moneylender, Copeland. We meet Nereia – a thief, forced to steal to pay Copeland a tithe, although she is a distant cousin – and her sister, Mary. They were left in Copeland’s care after their parents’ deaths at sea. We also meet various denizens of the town – prostitutes and smugglers and sailors and fences, almost all of whom have some secret they are keeping to themselves. We witness a most unusual birth from the waves of the Dark Sea. The amount of plot that Clement has managed to pour into such a short story is amazing, and a sign of a true talent. I, for one, am looking forward very eagerly to seeing more of these stories. You should definitely get this novella, and anything else Clement has written if this is any indication of quality – trust me, you will not be sorry!
I can’t think of a way to summarize the plot very well without giving away large bunches of information, as this is a novella, which means it is not terribly long. We are briefly introduced to the Shantari, whose Mother (leader) begins a mysterious quest based upon dreams she is having. We spend a great deal of time in Scarlock, a dirty and depressing town that is firmly under the thumb of the rich and malicious moneylender, Copeland. We meet Nereia – a thief, forced to steal to pay Copeland a tithe, although she is a distant cousin – and her sister, Mary. They were left in Copeland’s care after their parents’ deaths at sea. We also meet various denizens of the town – prostitutes and smugglers and sailors and fences, almost all of whom have some secret they are keeping to themselves. We witness a most unusual birth from the waves of the Dark Sea. The amount of plot that Clement has managed to pour into such a short story is amazing, and a sign of a true talent. I, for one, am looking forward very eagerly to seeing more of these stories. You should definitely get this novella, and anything else Clement has written if this is any indication of quality – trust me, you will not be sorry!
July 30, 2012
Excerpted from the full review:
"Reading the expository opening paragraphs of ‘On Dark Shores 1: The Lady’ prompted my best hopes for a gracefully constructed and fertilely imagined creative landscape. In these lines, we are introduced to the cast’s main players not by name, but through their dreams, all of which are uneasy, tempest-tossed. Tidings are being washed ashore which will bode ill, we are given to understand, and this hinting at future upheaval is admirably conveyed through Clement’s subtle associations of geographical tumult with individual distress. It is evident that we are reading the work of someone who enjoys implementing literary ornamentation, someone who is mindful of the importance of strongly crafted situations, and equally worthy characters to populate them.
That being established, however, the novel lacks a certain evenness of successful storytelling. There are beautiful, glowing passages, to be sure, but there are also areas which appear to have missed a similar application of consistent, dedicated layering. Much of the novel’s narration is dependent on third-person accounts of events, which provides the writer with a broad canvas for perspectives. Given the number of personages to whose inner thoughts we are privy, the potential richness available from multiple non-omniscient narrative seems only hinted at in promising glimpses, without ever truly being deeply sustained."
You can continue reading my full review of On Dark Shores:The Lady at Novel Niche.
"Reading the expository opening paragraphs of ‘On Dark Shores 1: The Lady’ prompted my best hopes for a gracefully constructed and fertilely imagined creative landscape. In these lines, we are introduced to the cast’s main players not by name, but through their dreams, all of which are uneasy, tempest-tossed. Tidings are being washed ashore which will bode ill, we are given to understand, and this hinting at future upheaval is admirably conveyed through Clement’s subtle associations of geographical tumult with individual distress. It is evident that we are reading the work of someone who enjoys implementing literary ornamentation, someone who is mindful of the importance of strongly crafted situations, and equally worthy characters to populate them.
That being established, however, the novel lacks a certain evenness of successful storytelling. There are beautiful, glowing passages, to be sure, but there are also areas which appear to have missed a similar application of consistent, dedicated layering. Much of the novel’s narration is dependent on third-person accounts of events, which provides the writer with a broad canvas for perspectives. Given the number of personages to whose inner thoughts we are privy, the potential richness available from multiple non-omniscient narrative seems only hinted at in promising glimpses, without ever truly being deeply sustained."
You can continue reading my full review of On Dark Shores:The Lady at Novel Niche.
August 7, 2011
On Dark Shores: The Lady by JA Clement is an enthralling page-turner and I adored the book. The marvellous story sucked me in from page one and the way the author weaves her narrative elements together, I believe she may be the literary child of Charles Dickens and Ursula K. le Guin.
Sometimes you find a book that is such a delight to read, you don’t want to pry your eyes away from the page; On Dark Shores: The Lady is such a book. You fall in this world of fantasy from the first word, swept along by a wave of mystery, struggle, fear and appealingly genuine characters. The author serves you a world you can almost smell and taste and hear, where people act from hidden motives, spite, desperation, honour, duty and even cruelty. There is an entrancing spell woven from every fibre, with characters scheming revenge or thievery, manipulating for their own ends, fighting to escape and survive. But still, a certain thread of hope or fate winds a subtle touch through the book to elevate any grim or bleak ambience, giving the plot a radiating spark.
The only bad thing about this novel is that it ended too soon, but as it is the first in a series I can look forward to more. The end left tantalising questions still pending and I’m salivating to read the next instalment. Lucky for me, there was a sneak peek at the next part tucked away at the end of the book.
On Dark Shores: The Lady is one of the best fantasy books I’ve read in a while, and I recommend you beg, borrow or buy this book. You won’t be disappointed.
Sometimes you find a book that is such a delight to read, you don’t want to pry your eyes away from the page; On Dark Shores: The Lady is such a book. You fall in this world of fantasy from the first word, swept along by a wave of mystery, struggle, fear and appealingly genuine characters. The author serves you a world you can almost smell and taste and hear, where people act from hidden motives, spite, desperation, honour, duty and even cruelty. There is an entrancing spell woven from every fibre, with characters scheming revenge or thievery, manipulating for their own ends, fighting to escape and survive. But still, a certain thread of hope or fate winds a subtle touch through the book to elevate any grim or bleak ambience, giving the plot a radiating spark.
The only bad thing about this novel is that it ended too soon, but as it is the first in a series I can look forward to more. The end left tantalising questions still pending and I’m salivating to read the next instalment. Lucky for me, there was a sneak peek at the next part tucked away at the end of the book.
On Dark Shores: The Lady is one of the best fantasy books I’ve read in a while, and I recommend you beg, borrow or buy this book. You won’t be disappointed.
May 3, 2012
"Copeland had already taken eleven years of her life, and there was no getting that back; but Nereia was damned if she’d let him have her sister."
Change is stirring in Scarlock...
For the last eleven years, Nereia has been Copeland's thief, stealing trinkets for him instead of going to work in the whorehouse, to protect her younger sister, Mary, from his clutches. But Copeland's reach in Scarlock is far and his ambitions are vast. Bent on getting Nereia to take on a new thieving scheme, Copeland leans on the chink in Nereia's armor - Mary. Now they must run or go along with his plan. And no one has ever escaped before...
Blakey's career as a boxer is over. He finds himself fighting a new type of opponent - whores and shopkeepers and anyone else who owes Copeland. But something changes the night he goes after Nereia and Mary. And he's not the only one interested in the girls' escape.
Beautifully written, with flowing prose and vivid descriptions, On Dark Shores: The Lady sets up the dynamic of the town of Scarlock and its inhabitants. While the Mother of Shantari doesn't really appear in this book, the reader is left with the expectation of finding out her role in later books in the series. The complexity of the characters is slowly revealed, as shown best by Blakey.
While there is no real closure, the plot and character lines are masterfully woven, setting up what is sure to be an excellent series. Dark and mysterious, with a touch of fantasy added to the mix, On Dark Shores leaves the reader wanting more, and not simply because it is short.
Change is stirring in Scarlock...
For the last eleven years, Nereia has been Copeland's thief, stealing trinkets for him instead of going to work in the whorehouse, to protect her younger sister, Mary, from his clutches. But Copeland's reach in Scarlock is far and his ambitions are vast. Bent on getting Nereia to take on a new thieving scheme, Copeland leans on the chink in Nereia's armor - Mary. Now they must run or go along with his plan. And no one has ever escaped before...
Blakey's career as a boxer is over. He finds himself fighting a new type of opponent - whores and shopkeepers and anyone else who owes Copeland. But something changes the night he goes after Nereia and Mary. And he's not the only one interested in the girls' escape.
Beautifully written, with flowing prose and vivid descriptions, On Dark Shores: The Lady sets up the dynamic of the town of Scarlock and its inhabitants. While the Mother of Shantari doesn't really appear in this book, the reader is left with the expectation of finding out her role in later books in the series. The complexity of the characters is slowly revealed, as shown best by Blakey.
While there is no real closure, the plot and character lines are masterfully woven, setting up what is sure to be an excellent series. Dark and mysterious, with a touch of fantasy added to the mix, On Dark Shores leaves the reader wanting more, and not simply because it is short.
May 22, 2012
Scarlock is a dark, gloomy town in a country still struggling to sort out its history. The town may look sleepy, but there’s a lot going on and most of it not good. Like most of the inhabitants, Nereia is desperate to get out of the clutches of Mr. Copeland, the thug who runs the place. Unlike everyone else, Nereia is willing to risk the unthinkable: escape.
This is a beautifully told story, gripping and with a number of threads twisting through it. The characters are all rich and deep. Even the bad guys are not left as flat creatures but have their own story to tell. The town also has a life to it, and the story reads like a historical fiction, but with fantastical elements thrown in. Fortunately for me, I had #2 on hand, so as soon as I finished #1, I immediately jumped into #2. Otherwise, I think I would have been very frustrated with the ending of #1, as it just left me waiting for more. In fact, it really feels like #1 and #2 should be in one book. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys dark, epic, realistic fantasies.
This is a beautifully told story, gripping and with a number of threads twisting through it. The characters are all rich and deep. Even the bad guys are not left as flat creatures but have their own story to tell. The town also has a life to it, and the story reads like a historical fiction, but with fantastical elements thrown in. Fortunately for me, I had #2 on hand, so as soon as I finished #1, I immediately jumped into #2. Otherwise, I think I would have been very frustrated with the ending of #1, as it just left me waiting for more. In fact, it really feels like #1 and #2 should be in one book. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys dark, epic, realistic fantasies.
July 29, 2011
On Dark Shores is a tale that is just that, dark.
J.A. does a wonderful job in her descriptions of weather and scenery so much that I actually almost shivered.
That should say a lot since it is over a 100 where I live.
She gives such life to her characters that I could see them as real people and found myself even feeling their own emotions, even the most awful of villains!
Her main character in this book is a very headstrong and stubborn girl by the name of Nereia.
She will do anything possible to save her innocent little sister Mary, including swallowing her own pride and giving into the horribly oppressive and vicious Copeland who is in short, the town dictator.
I found this book to be an engaging read.
On Dark Shores is a tale of mystery, intrigue and despair.
The suspenseful ending will leave you with a ray of hope and excitement to get your hands on the second installment.
J.A. does a wonderful job in her descriptions of weather and scenery so much that I actually almost shivered.
That should say a lot since it is over a 100 where I live.
She gives such life to her characters that I could see them as real people and found myself even feeling their own emotions, even the most awful of villains!
Her main character in this book is a very headstrong and stubborn girl by the name of Nereia.
She will do anything possible to save her innocent little sister Mary, including swallowing her own pride and giving into the horribly oppressive and vicious Copeland who is in short, the town dictator.
I found this book to be an engaging read.
On Dark Shores is a tale of mystery, intrigue and despair.
The suspenseful ending will leave you with a ray of hope and excitement to get your hands on the second installment.
September 26, 2012
Despite its darkness, this story’s infused with the promise of something more. Mysteries lurk on the edge of revelation as Nereia and her sister make a bid for freedom. The author spares nothing in portraying the cruelties and hardships of life, but adds a pleasing human kindness and the promise of more. I was just sorry the novella finished before the “more” was revealed, giving this reader a feeling of having read only part of something really good. I hope there’ll be a sequel soon, but I guess I wish I’d held off reading until the sequel was there.
July 12, 2011
Have you ever been driving along listening to the radio when your favorite song comes on? You crank the volume and start singing along at the top of your lungs…then your route takes you under a series of power lines, and the reception goes spotty. That’s how I felt while reading this book; moments of absolute delight mixed with moments of complete frustration...
Full review on Dark Side of the Covers blog.
Full review on Dark Side of the Covers blog.
September 20, 2011
I intended on reading a couple of chapters of this book before bed just to get me started, but ended up reading the whole thing in a sitting. I was initially confused by the first chapter but the plot soon became clear and made sense. I could feel the emotions very clearly, desperation and fear in particular. The writer portrayed the images and feelings very well, I have to say I was very impressed. I Look forward to now reading the next book and continuing this journey.
August 1, 2011
I liked the book. It kept me interested, although there was absolutely no conclustion to anything in this book... hopefully the next one comes out soon otherwise I may not remember everything. I was a little confused with the skeleton part, I wasn't sure if that part was real or not because this didn't seem like a paranormal book by any means. I recommend it.
February 18, 2013
This book is not for the faint of heart as it describes torture, murder and other darkness. It is gritty and at times obscure but a brilliant read. My only complaint is that it is a novella so it was over before it began for me, but I did enjoy it so not a complete loss!
March 3, 2012
"On Dark Shores: The Lady" by J.A. Clement is a relatively short fantasy novel that forms the first part in her "On Dark Shores" series of novels. The story is mainly based around the town of Scarlock which is controlled by a tyrannical money lender named Copeland. In the town lives Nereia, a young woman who has become a thief after her family died and Copeland gave her a choice to either steal or become a prostitute. When Copeland threatens Nereia's younger sister, she realises that she needs to do something now before it is too late. And so, a dangerous and rather violent adventure results as Nereia and her sister attempt to escape from Scarlock and the control of Copeland.
The first comment I need to make is that whilst this is a reasonably enjoyable novel, it really didn't feel very satisfying as an individual story. The ending was a little bit sudden and the whole book just came across as being a vehicle to introduce the reader to a large cast of characters and an overarching plot. If the next book was already available to read then it maybe wouldn't have been so bad, but as it currently isn't, I feel like I have read the first few chapters in a novel and then just had to stop.
However, the heart of the story being told is actually pretty solid and there does seem to be a lot of interesting and engaging plot lines that are intermingled quite nicely with each other. I will admit however that some of the sub-plots did leave me quite confused and in particular I still don't really understand what was going on in the first chapter. Luckily there was enough in the core of the story to keep me reading and I am just hoping that some of the more mysterious sections will be explained in the future books.
In regards to the characters, there is quite a variety of them and I did enjoy the way in which the author swapped between them which enabled me to experience the events from various different points of view. However, the usual issue I see with short novels or novellas is glaringly obvious in that none of the characters seem to have been developed to their full potential. There are some superb building blocks there for future development in the coming novels and I think that Nereia has all the hallmarks of what could be a great heroine but at the moment it just feels like we are just getting a sneak peek.
A little niggle I did have with the characters was in relation to section of the story where one of the characters seems to descend into a form of madness. The issue I had with this was that it came across as just being a cheap way for a character to act in a way that they normally wouldn't have done. I had been appreciating how the main characters and secondary characters were being used up to that point and just felt a little bit let down by this.
Overall, this was a rather interesting fantasy novel although it was a little bit flawed by seemingly be used more as a set up for future books than as a story in its own right. Personally, I was able to look past that though due to the interesting and varied characters and the promise of what looks like a rather enjoyable and complex overall plot. I really am looking forward to see how everything is going to fits together in the end and this alone will probably make sure I pick up the sequel when it is released.
The first comment I need to make is that whilst this is a reasonably enjoyable novel, it really didn't feel very satisfying as an individual story. The ending was a little bit sudden and the whole book just came across as being a vehicle to introduce the reader to a large cast of characters and an overarching plot. If the next book was already available to read then it maybe wouldn't have been so bad, but as it currently isn't, I feel like I have read the first few chapters in a novel and then just had to stop.
However, the heart of the story being told is actually pretty solid and there does seem to be a lot of interesting and engaging plot lines that are intermingled quite nicely with each other. I will admit however that some of the sub-plots did leave me quite confused and in particular I still don't really understand what was going on in the first chapter. Luckily there was enough in the core of the story to keep me reading and I am just hoping that some of the more mysterious sections will be explained in the future books.
In regards to the characters, there is quite a variety of them and I did enjoy the way in which the author swapped between them which enabled me to experience the events from various different points of view. However, the usual issue I see with short novels or novellas is glaringly obvious in that none of the characters seem to have been developed to their full potential. There are some superb building blocks there for future development in the coming novels and I think that Nereia has all the hallmarks of what could be a great heroine but at the moment it just feels like we are just getting a sneak peek.
A little niggle I did have with the characters was in relation to section of the story where one of the characters seems to descend into a form of madness. The issue I had with this was that it came across as just being a cheap way for a character to act in a way that they normally wouldn't have done. I had been appreciating how the main characters and secondary characters were being used up to that point and just felt a little bit let down by this.
Overall, this was a rather interesting fantasy novel although it was a little bit flawed by seemingly be used more as a set up for future books than as a story in its own right. Personally, I was able to look past that though due to the interesting and varied characters and the promise of what looks like a rather enjoyable and complex overall plot. I really am looking forward to see how everything is going to fits together in the end and this alone will probably make sure I pick up the sequel when it is released.
August 14, 2012
It's really hard to know what to say about this one. It starts well, with a truly atmospheric couple of chapters, but then the reader is dumped into a generic fantasy town with a generic fantasy villain and a generic fantasy situation - you know the sort of thing, there's this bad guy who runs the pickpockets, the brothels, the drugs trade, and our orphaned heroine is forced to be a thief in order to avoid a Fate Worse Than Death (ie working in the brothel). But why? Is there no honest work she can do? In the whole town, is there only one person who's prepared to give her work? If she lived there before, how come she doesn't know anyone else? Sorry, it makes no sense to me. And when she defies the bad guy, she discovers that actually there are worse things than working in a brothel. This part was quite hard to read, in fact.
Then there's the writing style. There are a lot of characters (which is fine) but the author chooses to head-hop from one to another with gay abandon, which simply gets confusing. This makes the story lose all focus, since we’re just getting used to one character and it’s on to the next. It's very difficult to develop a rapport with any of them when we jump in and out of heads so rapidly. The whole effect was made worse in the version I read because there were no gaps between one point of view and the next, not even a blank line or two (stars or some such would have worked better). [Edit: this seems to be a problem only with the Kindle for PC app; the formatting is fine on the Android app and the Kindle.]
This is not to say that the book is bad, it really isn't. The opening is terrific, and there are some really interesting things going on behind the scenes - Copeland's loss of memory, for instance, what's that all about? Blakey and Mickel have intriguing backgrounds that I would definitely like to know more about. And there are moments when the writing is wonderful. There are no typos and no creative grammar or spelling. But for me it was ruined by the trite and unoriginal nature of the story - thieves, whores, an unbelievable premise for the heroine, bad decisions all round - and a confusing approach to telling the story. And there was no real resolution here, this book is just setup for the next. For those who aren't bothered by any of that, there's an interesting and dramatic story in here, with the promise of some intriguing reveals in future books, but it just didn't work for me. I've given it two stars because at least I finished it (although I skimmed the second half), but it came very close to being an outright DNF.
Then there's the writing style. There are a lot of characters (which is fine) but the author chooses to head-hop from one to another with gay abandon, which simply gets confusing. This makes the story lose all focus, since we’re just getting used to one character and it’s on to the next. It's very difficult to develop a rapport with any of them when we jump in and out of heads so rapidly. The whole effect was made worse in the version I read because there were no gaps between one point of view and the next, not even a blank line or two (stars or some such would have worked better). [Edit: this seems to be a problem only with the Kindle for PC app; the formatting is fine on the Android app and the Kindle.]
This is not to say that the book is bad, it really isn't. The opening is terrific, and there are some really interesting things going on behind the scenes - Copeland's loss of memory, for instance, what's that all about? Blakey and Mickel have intriguing backgrounds that I would definitely like to know more about. And there are moments when the writing is wonderful. There are no typos and no creative grammar or spelling. But for me it was ruined by the trite and unoriginal nature of the story - thieves, whores, an unbelievable premise for the heroine, bad decisions all round - and a confusing approach to telling the story. And there was no real resolution here, this book is just setup for the next. For those who aren't bothered by any of that, there's an interesting and dramatic story in here, with the promise of some intriguing reveals in future books, but it just didn't work for me. I've given it two stars because at least I finished it (although I skimmed the second half), but it came very close to being an outright DNF.
December 31, 2011
** For the full review please check out www.read2review.com **
This was my introduction to the On Dark Shores series by JA Clements. In this book we come across Nereia and Mary. We also come across Copeland, Blakey and Mickel the group who control the town of Skarlock.
At first the story is very hard to follow as it shifts all over the place and the chapters are quite long, there were 6 chapters for 96 pages. After years of abuse Nereia and Mary try to run away but get found and brutally beaten by Copeland and his gang. Mickel and Blakey change greatly through the book.
There is a lot going on in this book and I found myself having to re-read a few times to work out what was going on. Also the first chapter confused me as the first characters we meet aren’t featured anywhere else in the book; if they are I have completely missed them.
This book is part of a series and I would really like to give the second book a try as although I found myself getting lost I think there is more to the story and I feel that if I read the second book many things will be put into place and I may have better understanding of the first book.
I would give On Dark Shores: The Lady 4/5
**Read More At: http://read2review.com/our-reviews/j/...
This was my introduction to the On Dark Shores series by JA Clements. In this book we come across Nereia and Mary. We also come across Copeland, Blakey and Mickel the group who control the town of Skarlock.
At first the story is very hard to follow as it shifts all over the place and the chapters are quite long, there were 6 chapters for 96 pages. After years of abuse Nereia and Mary try to run away but get found and brutally beaten by Copeland and his gang. Mickel and Blakey change greatly through the book.
There is a lot going on in this book and I found myself having to re-read a few times to work out what was going on. Also the first chapter confused me as the first characters we meet aren’t featured anywhere else in the book; if they are I have completely missed them.
This book is part of a series and I would really like to give the second book a try as although I found myself getting lost I think there is more to the story and I feel that if I read the second book many things will be put into place and I may have better understanding of the first book.
I would give On Dark Shores: The Lady 4/5
**Read More At: http://read2review.com/our-reviews/j/...
March 22, 2013
On Dark Shores was a book that I might not have even noticed when looking on goodreads or amazon if it wasn't for the fact that it was offered as a freebie at the time. Is now? I haven't a clue.
This book was great from the start, and it kept me turning the pages, or rather swiping my finger across the screen.There are so many characters and we the reader have been fed tidbits of things regarding them. But not their full tales, a thing that hope is resolved in the next books because I have so many questions. It's a hard book to rate and review, at least for me. Because of the fact that is obviously an intro to the series.
I do have a slight complaint, well other then it being too short. It just ended, my kindle told me I have at least 8% left so I thought something was going to get resolved, but nope. I am now left wondering why such and such happened. And not only did it just end, it was well pretty much in mid action of one the characters, gah.
So I'm going to go with 3.5 stars, I may comeback and re-rate/review things when I read the rest of the books and have those questions answered.
This book was great from the start, and it kept me turning the pages, or rather swiping my finger across the screen.There are so many characters and we the reader have been fed tidbits of things regarding them. But not their full tales, a thing that hope is resolved in the next books because I have so many questions. It's a hard book to rate and review, at least for me. Because of the fact that is obviously an intro to the series.
I do have a slight complaint, well other then it being too short. It just ended, my kindle told me I have at least 8% left so I thought something was going to get resolved, but nope. I am now left wondering why such and such happened. And not only did it just end, it was well pretty much in mid action of one the characters, gah.
So I'm going to go with 3.5 stars, I may comeback and re-rate/review things when I read the rest of the books and have those questions answered.
October 17, 2013
This was one of my DSOA selections back in March 2013.
I'm not sure what I was expecting with this one, as I've never read anything by this Author before, but was very nicely surprised by the content.
It seemed to have two very distinctive styles within the whole body of work, but they are nice juxtapositions, and worked really well together.
As a prelude to a series, it is clearly pays off, and I am not itching to to read the rest of this well paced Novella with excellent characterisations and writing. There is a great textural feel to it towards the darkness of Copeland to the inherent goodness and light of Nereia and her Sister Mary.
4 stars from me - I highly recommend you give it a whirl.
As far as Errors/Bug Bears were concerned, there weren't any, which is always the sign of an excellently delivered product, giving not only good storylines but value for money.
You can also see the Review of this book on my Blog, Post Number #388 in October 2013
I'm not sure what I was expecting with this one, as I've never read anything by this Author before, but was very nicely surprised by the content.
It seemed to have two very distinctive styles within the whole body of work, but they are nice juxtapositions, and worked really well together.
As a prelude to a series, it is clearly pays off, and I am not itching to to read the rest of this well paced Novella with excellent characterisations and writing. There is a great textural feel to it towards the darkness of Copeland to the inherent goodness and light of Nereia and her Sister Mary.
4 stars from me - I highly recommend you give it a whirl.
As far as Errors/Bug Bears were concerned, there weren't any, which is always the sign of an excellently delivered product, giving not only good storylines but value for money.
You can also see the Review of this book on my Blog, Post Number #388 in October 2013
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