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Amnar #1
Amnar: The Execution
At the heart of an ancient civilisation, a nightmare is brewing. Chosen to become the next leader of Amnar's greatest warriors, Arist is hated by almost everybody. Manipulative and hungry for power, she has started a campaign that will bring the entire civilisation to its knees. Her trick? She will use its own laws to do it.
Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2010
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 4, 2010
Recommended by a friend on Twitter, The Execution counted as my first tentative steps into I J Black's world of Amnar, and it didn't disappoint. Originally intending to read just a few pages while waiting for the washing machine to finish its cycle, I found myself on the couch a few hours later with the damp clothes still inside the drum and a finished book in front of me.
Right from the off, Black's strong character development shines through as we're taken on a tour-de-force of the ancient society in which a brewing political maelstrom is about to shockingly explode, and introduced to what I assume will be the main protagonists of the Amnar series (indeed, a lot is left open for future works, but not in such a way that it feels forced). The social and professional hierarchies of Amnari way of life are rigid and complex, but never confusing; it all seems to fit together very well. Black's world and its colourful inhabitants come across as very natural and believable, and as such it makes for compelling page-turning from the first to the last.
It's actually nice to see an original, interesting and robust fantasy setting for once. Too often we're asked to go that extra mile and suspend plausibility when it comes to a world, its characters and the associated plot lines because their authors see things in their creations that they can't quite actualise in their writing. Not here though. The Execution flows perfectly and feels good, like that old comfortable pair of slippers you have. You know the ones I mean. They're snug, they're warm and they just FIT. You'll sink into this strange, alien world and feel like you belong. Like you've been there from the start. The only trouble is that once you've put your slippers on, you don't want to take them off again, and full credit to the author for that. The idiom "hook, line and sinker" has never been more apt. I'm caught like a little fish, and I want more.
You know, I only meant to write a short paragraph in this little box, and I've digressed to the point of waffling about comfortable footwear. Maybe that's the point; I've not been enthused enough to write a review about anything in a long time. The Execution is a cracking read that I simply couldn't put down. I'd advise it to anyone, but especially to those like myself that read a lot of fiction and feel that many authors are just going through the motions these days, and are in need of something fresh. I'm genuinely looking forward to reading The Inheritor.
Right from the off, Black's strong character development shines through as we're taken on a tour-de-force of the ancient society in which a brewing political maelstrom is about to shockingly explode, and introduced to what I assume will be the main protagonists of the Amnar series (indeed, a lot is left open for future works, but not in such a way that it feels forced). The social and professional hierarchies of Amnari way of life are rigid and complex, but never confusing; it all seems to fit together very well. Black's world and its colourful inhabitants come across as very natural and believable, and as such it makes for compelling page-turning from the first to the last.
It's actually nice to see an original, interesting and robust fantasy setting for once. Too often we're asked to go that extra mile and suspend plausibility when it comes to a world, its characters and the associated plot lines because their authors see things in their creations that they can't quite actualise in their writing. Not here though. The Execution flows perfectly and feels good, like that old comfortable pair of slippers you have. You know the ones I mean. They're snug, they're warm and they just FIT. You'll sink into this strange, alien world and feel like you belong. Like you've been there from the start. The only trouble is that once you've put your slippers on, you don't want to take them off again, and full credit to the author for that. The idiom "hook, line and sinker" has never been more apt. I'm caught like a little fish, and I want more.
You know, I only meant to write a short paragraph in this little box, and I've digressed to the point of waffling about comfortable footwear. Maybe that's the point; I've not been enthused enough to write a review about anything in a long time. The Execution is a cracking read that I simply couldn't put down. I'd advise it to anyone, but especially to those like myself that read a lot of fiction and feel that many authors are just going through the motions these days, and are in need of something fresh. I'm genuinely looking forward to reading The Inheritor.
November 5, 2010
I first discovered Amnar and Ms. Black about 2 years ago, when the previous version of this story was being released as podcasts. I was instantly hooked, and eagerly awaited each new installment of the story.
Now the podcasts have stopped, but in exchange we Amnar fans can finally have a hard copy of the book that we've been following for quite some time now, during its various incarnations.
Amnar is fascinating from the first time you step into it. It's an amazing, incredibly well-developed world that puts you in mind of the worlds of Tolkien, Raymond Feist, and Robert Jordan (not surprising, since the author holds a Doctorate in geography.)
The characters are completely real to life, and you truly care what happens to them. And the story is well-paced, giving unwinding just enough of the plot at just the right times so as to keep you fully engaged through the breathless climax, and really sorry to turn that last page.
Now the podcasts have stopped, but in exchange we Amnar fans can finally have a hard copy of the book that we've been following for quite some time now, during its various incarnations.
Amnar is fascinating from the first time you step into it. It's an amazing, incredibly well-developed world that puts you in mind of the worlds of Tolkien, Raymond Feist, and Robert Jordan (not surprising, since the author holds a Doctorate in geography.)
The characters are completely real to life, and you truly care what happens to them. And the story is well-paced, giving unwinding just enough of the plot at just the right times so as to keep you fully engaged through the breathless climax, and really sorry to turn that last page.
June 10, 2011
Interesting world, but it 'reads' like the second in the series, not the first. Could do with some more description of the physical set up, and a better idea of the world Io *thought* she grew up in.
October 25, 2010
Reviewed on my Blog: http://www.waltinpa.com/2010/10/24/bo...
January 12, 2011
Excellent story, I had a difficult time putting it down to go make dinner.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews