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Talon of the Unnamed Goddess
Alisha is the newest Talon of the Raptor Clan, mercenaries prized by rulers, nobles, and the wealthy as elite bodyguards. Her skill with a blade and her foresight won her a prized place as a Talon, but unlike other Talons she has a unique magical sigil given to her by an Unnamed Goddess.Alisha's first assignment for the clan is guarding a spoiled young princess. Surrounded by dangerous plots, keeping the girl alive takes all of Alisha's guile. When an attempted coup turns the princess into a queen on the run, Alisha needs every skill she possesses to protect her young charge and to help her find the strength to grow up and reclaim her throne.
234 pages, Paperback
First published July 24, 2009
45 people are currently reading
666 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Tomlin
38 books214 followersJ. R. Tomlin is the author of nineteen historical novels.
She has close ties with Scotland since her father was a native Scot, and she spent substantial time in Edinburgh whilst growing up. Her historical novels are set for the most part in Scotland. Her love of that nation is traced from the stories of the Bruce and Sir James her grandmother read to her when she was small, to hillwalking through the Cairngorms where the granite hills have a gorgeous red glow under the setting sun. Later, her writing was influenced by the work of authors such as Alexander Dumas and Victor Hugo.
When JR isn't writing, she enjoys hiking, playing with her Westie, and killing monsters in computer games. In addition to spending time in Scotland, she has traveled in the US, Europe and the Pacific Rim. She now lives in Oregon.
She has close ties with Scotland since her father was a native Scot, and she spent substantial time in Edinburgh whilst growing up. Her historical novels are set for the most part in Scotland. Her love of that nation is traced from the stories of the Bruce and Sir James her grandmother read to her when she was small, to hillwalking through the Cairngorms where the granite hills have a gorgeous red glow under the setting sun. Later, her writing was influenced by the work of authors such as Alexander Dumas and Victor Hugo.
When JR isn't writing, she enjoys hiking, playing with her Westie, and killing monsters in computer games. In addition to spending time in Scotland, she has traveled in the US, Europe and the Pacific Rim. She now lives in Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 25, 2011
I give the content four stars. I enjoyed this book immensely. In fact, I spent most of my Saturday reading it, which is saying a lot because I generally have a very short attention span. There was a lot to like about it: a beautiful and original fantasy world, a great main character, and a solid plot. But I'd like to detract half a star for the typos. I'm not saying they were on every page. But I accept a maximum of three typos per book without being annoyed; this one had more like thirty.
In the fantasy world of this book, magic is provided by sigils. Each sigil provides its bearer with its corresponding power, which may be related to war, truth, energy, illusion, healing, or charm. Sigils can be purchased in the form of artifacts, but these purchased sigils are weak. A strong sigil, a "living" sigil, is granted by the gods and worn on the body. The main character Aisha is granted none of the well-known six living sigils, but instead, she is granted a lesser known sigil with a unique power. I've read quite a few fantasy books, and I can't say that I recall every encountering a magic system quite like this one. I really enjoyed the originality and beauty of the magic.
It was easy to like the main character, Aisha. She was your classic underdog who made her own way. Yes, the underdog story has been told many times before, but it works, and the authors did a wonderful job making it their own. Aisha survived various trials to become a member of the Raptor Clan, and she did so by learning how to kick butt and by being more clever than those around her. Understandably, she struggled to find a balance between being a woman and being a warrior. The odds were always against her, yet she handled herself with honor while maintaining believable human emotions that made her relatable.
After becoming a member of the Raptor Clan, Aisha was assigned bodyguard duty. As a result, she got swept into a political assassination plot that turned into a war. I found the plot to be solid and focused. Through the entire book, not once did I think to myself that a scene should have been cut. It drew me along, and I didn't want to put the book down.
My primary reservation (and my reason for not giving this book five stars) is that there was a good deal of war strategy stuff going on toward the middle of the book. I've never been fond of geography or social studies, and my eyes glazed over at times as the characters planned their battles. I would, however, completely understand if other readers thought all that war talk was fantastic. It was well-done and suited the story nicely; it just wasn't my thing.
Overall, this was a great read, and I will definitely look out for these authors in the future.
In the fantasy world of this book, magic is provided by sigils. Each sigil provides its bearer with its corresponding power, which may be related to war, truth, energy, illusion, healing, or charm. Sigils can be purchased in the form of artifacts, but these purchased sigils are weak. A strong sigil, a "living" sigil, is granted by the gods and worn on the body. The main character Aisha is granted none of the well-known six living sigils, but instead, she is granted a lesser known sigil with a unique power. I've read quite a few fantasy books, and I can't say that I recall every encountering a magic system quite like this one. I really enjoyed the originality and beauty of the magic.
It was easy to like the main character, Aisha. She was your classic underdog who made her own way. Yes, the underdog story has been told many times before, but it works, and the authors did a wonderful job making it their own. Aisha survived various trials to become a member of the Raptor Clan, and she did so by learning how to kick butt and by being more clever than those around her. Understandably, she struggled to find a balance between being a woman and being a warrior. The odds were always against her, yet she handled herself with honor while maintaining believable human emotions that made her relatable.
After becoming a member of the Raptor Clan, Aisha was assigned bodyguard duty. As a result, she got swept into a political assassination plot that turned into a war. I found the plot to be solid and focused. Through the entire book, not once did I think to myself that a scene should have been cut. It drew me along, and I didn't want to put the book down.
My primary reservation (and my reason for not giving this book five stars) is that there was a good deal of war strategy stuff going on toward the middle of the book. I've never been fond of geography or social studies, and my eyes glazed over at times as the characters planned their battles. I would, however, completely understand if other readers thought all that war talk was fantastic. It was well-done and suited the story nicely; it just wasn't my thing.
Overall, this was a great read, and I will definitely look out for these authors in the future.
July 10, 2016
I rather liked 'Talon of the unnamed Goddess'. It has the type of story I like, about a woman in a men's world (that of a Talon: a bodyguard and warrior). Clearly she’s at a disadvantage, but she also has two advantages: she thinks things through more than her fellow warriors (and her enemies), and she gets chosen by the unnamed goddess. Using those characteristics allows her to protect her charge when her kingdom is taken over by her neighbour. This book is an easy read and definitely has potential.
On a more critical note, the book doesn’t entirely follow through on its potential. The characters are a bit flat. Aisha’s main characteristic is that she wants to be a Talon. Apparently this is because her family got murdered when she was younger and she wanted to take revenge. However, this revenge is not forthcoming. She never even speaks of it. Also, she doesn’t even blink the first time she kills someone, which seems rather unrealistic, and she hardly shows any emotion when fellow Talons are killed. In the end, all we know about Aisha is that she wants to be a Talon and that she comes to like her charge. Which is a pity, since she is clearly an unusual woman, given the fact that she has chosen the Talon life.
All in all, the book could have used more depth for its characters and more background, for instance on what happened during Aisha’s training. The book has potential, but the writer could have done more with it.
On a more critical note, the book doesn’t entirely follow through on its potential. The characters are a bit flat. Aisha’s main characteristic is that she wants to be a Talon. Apparently this is because her family got murdered when she was younger and she wanted to take revenge. However, this revenge is not forthcoming. She never even speaks of it. Also, she doesn’t even blink the first time she kills someone, which seems rather unrealistic, and she hardly shows any emotion when fellow Talons are killed. In the end, all we know about Aisha is that she wants to be a Talon and that she comes to like her charge. Which is a pity, since she is clearly an unusual woman, given the fact that she has chosen the Talon life.
All in all, the book could have used more depth for its characters and more background, for instance on what happened during Aisha’s training. The book has potential, but the writer could have done more with it.
February 25, 2012
Talon of the Unnamed Goddess by J.R.Tomlin and C.R Daems is a fantasy adventure story about Aisha, a young woman who has just completed her training to become an elite warrior of the Raptor Clan. Political assassination, prejudice, friendship, and love are just a few of the obstacles Aisha must face. An excellent tactician, Aisha must help a teenage girl, Rihannon, reclaim the throne of her father after a usurper murdered the rest of her family, an alliance through marriage with an honorable neighboring kingdom seems a good solution for everyone, but that alliance brings another obstacle Aisha did not expect… and dashing young man!
Okay, first of all, I love any book where a girl kicks a**, even more so when it is unexpected. In Aisha’s case, there was a precedent for female warriors, though there are very few who make it through the Talon training. Rihannon’s older sister, who was the heir before she was murdered, had been trained in warfare but Rihannon had not. The world of the Talons and such is well-developed and can be likened to some real world locales if one needs a reference. You learn a good bit about Aisha as the majority of the book is written in first person from Aisha’s perspective, you learn a good bit about Rihannon as well through her association with Aisha. The other main players are there, but you know very little about their histories, which is probably a good thing because learning the life stories of more than a couple characters can easily become overwhelming.
There is a little inconsistency in the perspective, it is mostly written in first person perspective of Aisha, but there are a couple of occasions where the viewpoint shifts to third person limited for Aisha’s love interest … I’ll call him his nickname, Taz, because I am not going to try to write his full name out. Now, I don’t mind stories with multiple viewpoints, I do find it unusual that the style is not consistent between the viewpoints. I wouldn’t say it is necessarily “wrong”, but if I were writing it I would have kept one or the other for both characters.
Another thing I wish the authors would have done is played up the romance between Aisha and Taz a little more. It seemed to progress rather quickly, one scene they see each other and Taz takes notice … then a few chapters later Taz is claiming he is betrothed to Aisha. Aisha is an intelligent and tactical young woman who, even though she has grown up around men, has very little experience in romance. I just think she fell for Taz a little too quickly and too intensely under these circumstances. I think what would have helped is if there was some “rival”, not necessarily someone Aisha had a romantic relationship with past or present, but someone who could be perceived as a rival. Perhap’s Taz’s middle brother or one of the younger Talons. The best romances always have some sort of rival, though they may or may not be seriously considered byt the person being “fought” over: Rhett Butler - Ashley Wilkes, Will Turner- Norrington-Jack Sparrow (o.O!),Mr. Darcy - Mr Wickham (for a bit, anyway), Jace-Simon (from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare), even Jacob-Edward (I hate to say it), Jane Eyre-Blanche Ingram, Kahlan-Cara (“Legend of the Seeker” tv series based on The Sword of Truth books by Terry Brooks) … the list goes on. Maybe I am too much of a hopeless romantic, but there was just seemed to be something missing from the romance.
Okay, first of all, I love any book where a girl kicks a**, even more so when it is unexpected. In Aisha’s case, there was a precedent for female warriors, though there are very few who make it through the Talon training. Rihannon’s older sister, who was the heir before she was murdered, had been trained in warfare but Rihannon had not. The world of the Talons and such is well-developed and can be likened to some real world locales if one needs a reference. You learn a good bit about Aisha as the majority of the book is written in first person from Aisha’s perspective, you learn a good bit about Rihannon as well through her association with Aisha. The other main players are there, but you know very little about their histories, which is probably a good thing because learning the life stories of more than a couple characters can easily become overwhelming.
There is a little inconsistency in the perspective, it is mostly written in first person perspective of Aisha, but there are a couple of occasions where the viewpoint shifts to third person limited for Aisha’s love interest … I’ll call him his nickname, Taz, because I am not going to try to write his full name out. Now, I don’t mind stories with multiple viewpoints, I do find it unusual that the style is not consistent between the viewpoints. I wouldn’t say it is necessarily “wrong”, but if I were writing it I would have kept one or the other for both characters.
Another thing I wish the authors would have done is played up the romance between Aisha and Taz a little more. It seemed to progress rather quickly, one scene they see each other and Taz takes notice … then a few chapters later Taz is claiming he is betrothed to Aisha. Aisha is an intelligent and tactical young woman who, even though she has grown up around men, has very little experience in romance. I just think she fell for Taz a little too quickly and too intensely under these circumstances. I think what would have helped is if there was some “rival”, not necessarily someone Aisha had a romantic relationship with past or present, but someone who could be perceived as a rival. Perhap’s Taz’s middle brother or one of the younger Talons. The best romances always have some sort of rival, though they may or may not be seriously considered byt the person being “fought” over: Rhett Butler - Ashley Wilkes, Will Turner- Norrington-Jack Sparrow (o.O!),Mr. Darcy - Mr Wickham (for a bit, anyway), Jace-Simon (from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare), even Jacob-Edward (I hate to say it), Jane Eyre-Blanche Ingram, Kahlan-Cara (“Legend of the Seeker” tv series based on The Sword of Truth books by Terry Brooks) … the list goes on. Maybe I am too much of a hopeless romantic, but there was just seemed to be something missing from the romance.
June 15, 2015
Ugh, the shoe-horned in romance in the last third or so of the book almost made me stop reading. It was unnecessary, ridiculous, and absolutely did not fit with the character. *annoyed*
Don't get me wrong, the vast majority of books I read are romances or have a romance in them. But then, it is very hard to find any books with female main characters where the author doesn't bow down to convention and add a romance, even if they have to force it into the story. Part of what I have loved about other C.R. Daems books I have read is that the female characters aren't defined by their love lives, they don't NEED a husband (or wife) to fulfill them. There just aren't many (any?) authors out there that seem to grasp the idea that not all woman need to fall in love, and/or get married, and/or have kids to be fulfilled. If you have a male protagonist he can go the whole book with no romance, or have multiple casual lovers, or end up married with kids, but there is an equal likelihood for any of those. Change the protagonist to female and you are almost guaranteed to have her in love, married, and with kids at the end. It's...frustrating.
Beyond the desire to see a happy fulfilled female character without needing to make her a wife and/or mother, was the fact that the romantic relationship was flat and unrealistic. Aisha is only 18, and while she is a very powerful warrior, and obviously very smart, she's also spent most of her life in a very secluded and rustic setting. She's never had an interest in romance before and she and Taj (Taz? wth was his name again?) know absolutely nothing about each other past surface details. They've spent barely any time together and it was always surrounded by other people and while planning a war.
Had they left out the romance I would have give this four stars, but the addition of it pretty much crushed my enjoyment.
Don't get me wrong, the vast majority of books I read are romances or have a romance in them. But then, it is very hard to find any books with female main characters where the author doesn't bow down to convention and add a romance, even if they have to force it into the story. Part of what I have loved about other C.R. Daems books I have read is that the female characters aren't defined by their love lives, they don't NEED a husband (or wife) to fulfill them. There just aren't many (any?) authors out there that seem to grasp the idea that not all woman need to fall in love, and/or get married, and/or have kids to be fulfilled. If you have a male protagonist he can go the whole book with no romance, or have multiple casual lovers, or end up married with kids, but there is an equal likelihood for any of those. Change the protagonist to female and you are almost guaranteed to have her in love, married, and with kids at the end. It's...frustrating.
Beyond the desire to see a happy fulfilled female character without needing to make her a wife and/or mother, was the fact that the romantic relationship was flat and unrealistic. Aisha is only 18, and while she is a very powerful warrior, and obviously very smart, she's also spent most of her life in a very secluded and rustic setting. She's never had an interest in romance before and she and Taj (Taz? wth was his name again?) know absolutely nothing about each other past surface details. They've spent barely any time together and it was always surrounded by other people and while planning a war.
Had they left out the romance I would have give this four stars, but the addition of it pretty much crushed my enjoyment.
February 5, 2012
Aisha recently graduated and became a full-fledged Talon (an assassin/mercenary). Her first assignment is to protect a spoiled princess from assassination attempts. However, the princess has to grow up quickly if she wants to save her kingdom from usurpers. Aisha is talented but she can only do so much...
I really enjoyed this book in the beginning. There was plenty of action and intrigue. Since Aisha isn't the strongest or the fastest, she makes up for it by exploiting the enemy's weakness.I liked her since she has a strong assertive personality and knew exactly what she wanted to do. However, she was the only character that stood out to me. I cared very little for the other characters. It was good to see the princess' character development but I still found her dependency on Aisha pretty annoying. Aisha takes note of it but nothing is ever really done about it. If the princess can't make a decision on her own without looking for Aisha's nod, she won't become a strong monarch.
The last third of the book was a bit disappointing. There was less action and it felt more and more unrealistic. For someone who's been trained to love only her duty, she fell in love hard and fast. There was barely any development in it. It's to the point where it seemed like she gets complimented a few times and then she's all over him.
Pro: Strong heroine, good solid beginning, character development
Con: iffy romance, stereotypical bad guys, last third of the book wasn't as interesting, secondary characters aren't memorable
I would recommend this book to anyone who's not too picky and just wants a good fast read with plenty of action and strategic warfare.
Won in a giveaway in return for an honest review
I really enjoyed this book in the beginning. There was plenty of action and intrigue. Since Aisha isn't the strongest or the fastest, she makes up for it by exploiting the enemy's weakness.I liked her since she has a strong assertive personality and knew exactly what she wanted to do. However, she was the only character that stood out to me. I cared very little for the other characters. It was good to see the princess' character development but I still found her dependency on Aisha pretty annoying. Aisha takes note of it but nothing is ever really done about it. If the princess can't make a decision on her own without looking for Aisha's nod, she won't become a strong monarch.
The last third of the book was a bit disappointing. There was less action and it felt more and more unrealistic. For someone who's been trained to love only her duty, she fell in love hard and fast. There was barely any development in it. It's to the point where it seemed like she gets complimented a few times and then she's all over him.
Pro: Strong heroine, good solid beginning, character development
Con: iffy romance, stereotypical bad guys, last third of the book wasn't as interesting, secondary characters aren't memorable
I would recommend this book to anyone who's not too picky and just wants a good fast read with plenty of action and strategic warfare.
Won in a giveaway in return for an honest review
March 8, 2012
The story of Aisha a young women newly graduated to Talon in the Raptor Clan. The Raptors perform body guarding services for those who contract with them to do so. After graduation Aisha is to guard undercover, as a chaperon, one Rhiannon who has through the death of her mother and brother become the sole heir to the throne. After thwarting one attempt in the castle and saving Rhiannon's life in an attack on father's traveling camp Aisha finds herself alone with her charge searching for help.
They escape to a neighboring kingdom where they learn that nobles from Rhiannon's father's kingdom are taking over reporting that she too had been killed along with her father. This sets Aisha and Rhiannon on the road to revenge and winning back the throne for Rhiannon. Aisha draws up the plan of battle. With the aid of the leader of the kingdom they are in Rhiannon forms a pact and gains fiance and the beginnings of an army.
Through a series of battles they recapture Rhiannon's homeland and restore the throne to her. In the process Aisha wins praise from the Raptor Clan leadership and also finds love. The story boils down to a young women finding her way in a man's world and coming out the winner. A very good and interesting read.
They escape to a neighboring kingdom where they learn that nobles from Rhiannon's father's kingdom are taking over reporting that she too had been killed along with her father. This sets Aisha and Rhiannon on the road to revenge and winning back the throne for Rhiannon. Aisha draws up the plan of battle. With the aid of the leader of the kingdom they are in Rhiannon forms a pact and gains fiance and the beginnings of an army.
Through a series of battles they recapture Rhiannon's homeland and restore the throne to her. In the process Aisha wins praise from the Raptor Clan leadership and also finds love. The story boils down to a young women finding her way in a man's world and coming out the winner. A very good and interesting read.
August 22, 2011
Aisha is the newest Talon of the raptor Clan. She is not the strongest or the fastest but she has learned to use her wits to make up for this. Her first assignment is to protect Rhiannon, princess and heir to the throne. Aisha manages to avert several assassination attempts but can she win a war?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and that has a lot to do with Aisha and her charge, Rhiannon. These are two very strong, independent women, capable of making important decisions on their own, a nice change from all the Twilightesque heroines popping up lately who are incomplete without a man - preferably one who is both dangerous and unattainable.
This is also a fast read with lots of action and a great storyline. So if you are looking for a well-crafted fantasy novel with a strong female lead, this one is definitely for you.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and that has a lot to do with Aisha and her charge, Rhiannon. These are two very strong, independent women, capable of making important decisions on their own, a nice change from all the Twilightesque heroines popping up lately who are incomplete without a man - preferably one who is both dangerous and unattainable.
This is also a fast read with lots of action and a great storyline. So if you are looking for a well-crafted fantasy novel with a strong female lead, this one is definitely for you.
July 27, 2011
i greatly enjoyed the heroine of the book and that she was an independant and smart women. all of
the characters were intriguing and full of depth and vitallity. it was very easy to become emotionally connected to each of the characters and to empathize with them and what they were going through.i was a joy to watch them grow and change and become the people they wanted to be. if you love a book that makes you feel laughter,sadness, angry and all of the other emtions it is that we feel as people then this is the book for you. if this is the type of book that you enjoy then this is the book for you
the characters were intriguing and full of depth and vitallity. it was very easy to become emotionally connected to each of the characters and to empathize with them and what they were going through.i was a joy to watch them grow and change and become the people they wanted to be. if you love a book that makes you feel laughter,sadness, angry and all of the other emtions it is that we feel as people then this is the book for you. if this is the type of book that you enjoy then this is the book for you
November 19, 2012
*I received this for free from Goodreads First Reads*
I found this book EXTREMELY to my liking. The main character is a strong female skilled in the ways of war/fighting/etc and she was awesome. This book isn't predictable, but everything I wanted to happen happened, there was no "why the heck did that have to happen?!" moments =) I felt it was a fast paced book and the author didnt dwell in one area too long. It grabs your attention quickly because action starts happening almost immediately.
I found this book EXTREMELY to my liking. The main character is a strong female skilled in the ways of war/fighting/etc and she was awesome. This book isn't predictable, but everything I wanted to happen happened, there was no "why the heck did that have to happen?!" moments =) I felt it was a fast paced book and the author didnt dwell in one area too long. It grabs your attention quickly because action starts happening almost immediately.
July 9, 2012
I liked this book and the beginning really impressed me. Unfortunately it was a little hard for me to finish. And the love component of this novel...yeah...I could have lived without it. I felt like the author thought a love story had to be thrown in there and just quickly added it in. It was way too rushed and that made it so unbelievable to me.
September 23, 2012
I received this book as a goodreads giveaway.
I have mixed feelings. For me it was just ok. I felt the names of places and characters a little tedious. So it was just difficult for me to maintain the picture in my mind. I would give the sequel a shot if there is one.
I have mixed feelings. For me it was just ok. I felt the names of places and characters a little tedious. So it was just difficult for me to maintain the picture in my mind. I would give the sequel a shot if there is one.
January 18, 2014
Don't think, just read....
that gonna be my advice to whoever read this book. If for one sec you think and analyze this book you're gonna be disappointed. there are many hole in the plot and character.
If you are looking for light reading in 4-5 hours journey maybe you can read this book.
that gonna be my advice to whoever read this book. If for one sec you think and analyze this book you're gonna be disappointed. there are many hole in the plot and character.
If you are looking for light reading in 4-5 hours journey maybe you can read this book.
February 10, 2016
Amazing, epic adventure. Very captivating and hard to put down. A very gripping tale of honor. I loved it!!
May 16, 2013
Errrr .... somewhat like a mathematical shaggy dog story in places, '400 warriors went to this town, while 200 split off to that town.' Not sure which way the smoke blew.
December 13, 2019
Very Enjoyable Story, But...
Someone on the author's team MUST commit to better proofreading.
There are too many misspellings/typos (rogue/rouge and too many others), vestiges of prior layers of revision, and so on.
But if team Daems can get a grip on just one thing, it's how to signal that dialogue/quotation of a single speaker is being carried from the end of one paragraph to the beginning of the next.
The team blows this at every opportunity, a mistake that is not just disruptive to diehard grammar fanatics but actively confusing to average readers: who is talking in the new paragraph, the same speaker or a new one? There's a settled way to signal this. Learn it!
(Pro-Tip: it's NOT the way you've been doing it.)
Someone on the author's team MUST commit to better proofreading.
There are too many misspellings/typos (rogue/rouge and too many others), vestiges of prior layers of revision, and so on.
But if team Daems can get a grip on just one thing, it's how to signal that dialogue/quotation of a single speaker is being carried from the end of one paragraph to the beginning of the next.
The team blows this at every opportunity, a mistake that is not just disruptive to diehard grammar fanatics but actively confusing to average readers: who is talking in the new paragraph, the same speaker or a new one? There's a settled way to signal this. Learn it!
(Pro-Tip: it's NOT the way you've been doing it.)
November 13, 2017
This is actually the second time I've read this book. I like re-reading certain books because you always find things that you missed the first time. I wasn't real happy that the main character got run over toward the end with the whole relationship thing. If it works for you ... never worked for me. I think that the enemy should have had a more spectacular death scene ... like in "Shogun" where the guy gets buried up to his neck and the "peasants" are free to use bamboo sticks to cut off his head. Bloodthirsty much, YES, if you have a good bad guy you should spend a little time on his/her demise. Just say'in. Overall, I loved this book as much the second time as the first.
June 4, 2023
Good read
Good story line. Good characters with depth and personality. Lots of surprises along the way.
I look forward to a sequel.
Good story line. Good characters with depth and personality. Lots of surprises along the way.
I look forward to a sequel.
November 19, 2024
I didn’t know what to expect from this book but it’s definitely worth reading. Fast paced with a lot of action and interesting characters.
August 13, 2012
Please stare at this GIF for a perfectly realistic representation of how I looked when I was reading this book:
In case you're wondering, I do awkwardly smile as I enjoy a book...
Moving on.
I definitely enjoyed this book. If you look at most of my negative reviews I either complain about stupid heroines or heroes, or too much romance for my taste. Talon of the Unnamed Goddess had none of that. Aisha was a no-nonsense heroine who will literally (and quite seriously and mercilessly) kill you if you don't agree or listen to her. There wasn't room for romance in her job, so obviously she avoided it as much as possible. As for her mind, it was one of the sharpest in the novel, and it was not only told, but also shown many, many times, making up for her lack of size or physical power. Her decisions were well calculated and thought through, and her battle tactics took advantage of her opponents' weaknesses. She was a likable and kick-butt heroine overall, showing that the female underdog is totally capable of winning against a stronger male. My only complaint is that she seems almost invincible. Her reason for becoming a Talon is to get revenge for her murdered family, but this set of emotions is rarely seen in the text, and even less so in battle. Moreover, most of the fights she engaged in she easily won, and the ones she was injured in was relatively few. Still, I found that the action she engaged in won over this aspect, and I still enjoyed the story.
I also loved the world in this story. The idea of "sigils" and Aisha's ability to nullify them was both unique and an important part of the story. I was especially intrigued by their usage and the six various types of them. It was beautifully flushed out and original! The Raptor Clan as mercenaries wasn't a new concept to me, although the clan's systems and laws were pretty interesting. The plot also moved relatively quickly, either presenting battles, which I obviously enjoyed because of the action, or battle strategies, which I'm also a fan of. That being said, if battle strategizing or something of the sort does not appeal to you, parts of this book might bore you - a large majority of the second half describes political alliances, assassinations, ploys, and fighting tactics. I for one enjoy those types of things, so it appealed to me.
I also knocked my rating down another half star because of the romance. Aisha fell quite quickly and very strongly for the love interest, and considering her strict training and mindset regarding the rest of the plot, I found Aisha's reactions hard to believe. The plot is also pretty predictable, although the action definitely upped my enjoyment of it.
Overall, Talon of the Unnamed Goddess is an enjoyable high fantasy read, highly recommended for fans of action or high fantasy!
In case you're wondering, I do awkwardly smile as I enjoy a book...
Moving on.
I definitely enjoyed this book. If you look at most of my negative reviews I either complain about stupid heroines or heroes, or too much romance for my taste. Talon of the Unnamed Goddess had none of that. Aisha was a no-nonsense heroine who will literally (and quite seriously and mercilessly) kill you if you don't agree or listen to her. There wasn't room for romance in her job, so obviously she avoided it as much as possible. As for her mind, it was one of the sharpest in the novel, and it was not only told, but also shown many, many times, making up for her lack of size or physical power. Her decisions were well calculated and thought through, and her battle tactics took advantage of her opponents' weaknesses. She was a likable and kick-butt heroine overall, showing that the female underdog is totally capable of winning against a stronger male. My only complaint is that she seems almost invincible. Her reason for becoming a Talon is to get revenge for her murdered family, but this set of emotions is rarely seen in the text, and even less so in battle. Moreover, most of the fights she engaged in she easily won, and the ones she was injured in was relatively few. Still, I found that the action she engaged in won over this aspect, and I still enjoyed the story.
I also loved the world in this story. The idea of "sigils" and Aisha's ability to nullify them was both unique and an important part of the story. I was especially intrigued by their usage and the six various types of them. It was beautifully flushed out and original! The Raptor Clan as mercenaries wasn't a new concept to me, although the clan's systems and laws were pretty interesting. The plot also moved relatively quickly, either presenting battles, which I obviously enjoyed because of the action, or battle strategies, which I'm also a fan of. That being said, if battle strategizing or something of the sort does not appeal to you, parts of this book might bore you - a large majority of the second half describes political alliances, assassinations, ploys, and fighting tactics. I for one enjoy those types of things, so it appealed to me.
I also knocked my rating down another half star because of the romance. Aisha fell quite quickly and very strongly for the love interest, and considering her strict training and mindset regarding the rest of the plot, I found Aisha's reactions hard to believe. The plot is also pretty predictable, although the action definitely upped my enjoyment of it.
Overall, Talon of the Unnamed Goddess is an enjoyable high fantasy read, highly recommended for fans of action or high fantasy!
January 16, 2012
Another book I'd recommend. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did, but it is the type of book a would read again in a few months. The kindle price is only $2.99 and if you are a prime member you can get it free.
Likes:
1 - Aisha. Very good character. I really enjoyed how she was developed and how her relationship evolved with Rhiannon. She was the tough, incredibly intelligent, but still an imperfect character. Exactly what I always hope for in a book like this.
2 - It's odd for me to say this but I liked the incorporation of the strategy and battle scenes. It gave enough detail without being overwhelming and didn't delve too deeply into the history of each point. Normally battle strategy is the type of thing I skim over in a book, but these were still interesting, yet simple, enough for me to actually read and think through.
Dislikes:
1 - There weren't a lot of dislikes, but I would say the whole relationship with Tafadzwa. I liked the idea behind it. But I agree with other readers when this felt really thrown in and unnecessary in how fast it moved. It would have been nice to just hint at something there maybe culminating in a kiss. How it was depicted in the book though was too hurried.
2 - The Eagles under the Fatwa. A small point, but making them all evil I thought was a bit over the top, there could have been much more to that story. The characters made less black and white to give more moral dilemma, conflict, and choices. Since they were evil it was a little too black and white, missing the grey areas.
Great job overall. I am excited to read more books by these authors.
If you enjoyed this, maybe you would like: Emperor's Edge series, Farro and Sulfur... For some reason I like this book lumped with those in my virtual library.
Likes:
1 - Aisha. Very good character. I really enjoyed how she was developed and how her relationship evolved with Rhiannon. She was the tough, incredibly intelligent, but still an imperfect character. Exactly what I always hope for in a book like this.
2 - It's odd for me to say this but I liked the incorporation of the strategy and battle scenes. It gave enough detail without being overwhelming and didn't delve too deeply into the history of each point. Normally battle strategy is the type of thing I skim over in a book, but these were still interesting, yet simple, enough for me to actually read and think through.
Dislikes:
1 - There weren't a lot of dislikes, but I would say the whole relationship with Tafadzwa. I liked the idea behind it. But I agree with other readers when this felt really thrown in and unnecessary in how fast it moved. It would have been nice to just hint at something there maybe culminating in a kiss. How it was depicted in the book though was too hurried.
2 - The Eagles under the Fatwa. A small point, but making them all evil I thought was a bit over the top, there could have been much more to that story. The characters made less black and white to give more moral dilemma, conflict, and choices. Since they were evil it was a little too black and white, missing the grey areas.
Great job overall. I am excited to read more books by these authors.
If you enjoyed this, maybe you would like: Emperor's Edge series, Farro and Sulfur... For some reason I like this book lumped with those in my virtual library.
November 3, 2012
I thought this was a great novel. It was full of action and the plot was well crafted and intriguing enough to keep readers engaged and invested in the story.
This is the story of a young girl who joins a warrior clan after she is orphaned. She basically grows up on the training grounds for the clan; she uses her mind to overcome any physical shortcomings she may have in the challenges she faces. While she has learned the physical aspects of being a Talon, she also develops her mind to help her. It is because of her innate intelligence that she is able to prove herself to be worthy of being Talon.
Aishia's first assignment is to protect a princess and the sole remaining heir to one of the kingdoms. By playing a role, she is able to keep her charge safe and fulfill her contract. As she provides protection, she befriends her charge and ends up teacher her charge much in the way of self-preservation and how to lead. After the current ruler of the land is killed on a trip to visit another kingdom and the princess is forced to run for her life, we see Aishia's true value - it is her intellect that has kept the princess safe and it is also her intellect that will get the princess back on her rightful throne.
I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. The plot was well done and action packed. There were very few let downs from the action in the story. This is definitely a book I would recommend to others.
This is the story of a young girl who joins a warrior clan after she is orphaned. She basically grows up on the training grounds for the clan; she uses her mind to overcome any physical shortcomings she may have in the challenges she faces. While she has learned the physical aspects of being a Talon, she also develops her mind to help her. It is because of her innate intelligence that she is able to prove herself to be worthy of being Talon.
Aishia's first assignment is to protect a princess and the sole remaining heir to one of the kingdoms. By playing a role, she is able to keep her charge safe and fulfill her contract. As she provides protection, she befriends her charge and ends up teacher her charge much in the way of self-preservation and how to lead. After the current ruler of the land is killed on a trip to visit another kingdom and the princess is forced to run for her life, we see Aishia's true value - it is her intellect that has kept the princess safe and it is also her intellect that will get the princess back on her rightful throne.
I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. The plot was well done and action packed. There were very few let downs from the action in the story. This is definitely a book I would recommend to others.
November 19, 2021
Nicely written fantasy with good characters who change across the novel. Female main character.
First paragraphs
CHAPTER ONE
I knelt on the hardwood floor with the other five remaining members of my seventh year aerie. We waited for Master Jiang to speak. He was a thin man, average height with long gray hair and goatee, and the piercing gaze of a deadly bird of prey. I froze when his eyes settled on me for a moment. "You six are what remain of the one hundred and four candidates we admitted seven years ago. You have demonstrated your suitability to be considered for membership into the Raptor Clan through your hard work, adherence to our rules, and by surviving your first four Ordeals," Jiang said, pausing as if considering his next words. "One more Ordeal awaits you. The three who triumph will be allowed to continue training. The other three must leave." I detected no hint of an apology or concern as to where the others would go. Each Ordeal purged half of the remaining students, the clan's method of extracting the best. Ninety students had failed to survive them, and eight were asked to leave because of poor performance in their studies, laziness, or failure to obey the rules. I loved my life as a student, but I hated the Ordeals.
Daems, C. R.; Tomlin, J. R. (2011-06-24). Talon of the Unnamed Goddess, a Fantasy Adventure (Kindle Locations 36-45). . Kindle Edition.
First paragraphs
CHAPTER ONE
I knelt on the hardwood floor with the other five remaining members of my seventh year aerie. We waited for Master Jiang to speak. He was a thin man, average height with long gray hair and goatee, and the piercing gaze of a deadly bird of prey. I froze when his eyes settled on me for a moment. "You six are what remain of the one hundred and four candidates we admitted seven years ago. You have demonstrated your suitability to be considered for membership into the Raptor Clan through your hard work, adherence to our rules, and by surviving your first four Ordeals," Jiang said, pausing as if considering his next words. "One more Ordeal awaits you. The three who triumph will be allowed to continue training. The other three must leave." I detected no hint of an apology or concern as to where the others would go. Each Ordeal purged half of the remaining students, the clan's method of extracting the best. Ninety students had failed to survive them, and eight were asked to leave because of poor performance in their studies, laziness, or failure to obey the rules. I loved my life as a student, but I hated the Ordeals.
Daems, C. R.; Tomlin, J. R. (2011-06-24). Talon of the Unnamed Goddess, a Fantasy Adventure (Kindle Locations 36-45). . Kindle Edition.
March 23, 2012
originally appeared on:Bookshelf Confessions
*I won a free copy of this e-book in a LibraryThing Member Giveaway*
Alisha is the newest Talon of the Raptor Clan, mercenaries prized by rulers, nobles, and the wealthy as elite bodyguards. Like all Talons, she survived five Ordeals and ten years of grueling training.
Alisha is not the strongest mercenary in the Raptor Clan, but she is the craftiest. Only tricking her opponents into underestimating her got her through the long years of Clan training. Those years honed her weapon skills, but not as much as her sharp wits. Even the ability she gets from the rune she was given by the Unknown Goddess depends on her guile.
Her first assignment for the Clan, to guard a young princess, requires all Alisha's skill, wit, and her newly acquired rune to keep the young heir to the kingdom alive.
i haven't finish reading the boo yet... but it's actually a great book..for something new girls are guardians...i guess this story is influence by Japanese Samurai's and their clans... and also with mixture of goddesses, which makes this more thrilling, magical and wonderful.. i would really like to know all about Alisha's journey..so, i guess, i'll keep reading, but for now..here is my partial review...
*I won a free copy of this e-book in a LibraryThing Member Giveaway*
Alisha is the newest Talon of the Raptor Clan, mercenaries prized by rulers, nobles, and the wealthy as elite bodyguards. Like all Talons, she survived five Ordeals and ten years of grueling training.
Alisha is not the strongest mercenary in the Raptor Clan, but she is the craftiest. Only tricking her opponents into underestimating her got her through the long years of Clan training. Those years honed her weapon skills, but not as much as her sharp wits. Even the ability she gets from the rune she was given by the Unknown Goddess depends on her guile.
Her first assignment for the Clan, to guard a young princess, requires all Alisha's skill, wit, and her newly acquired rune to keep the young heir to the kingdom alive.
i haven't finish reading the boo yet... but it's actually a great book..for something new girls are guardians...i guess this story is influence by Japanese Samurai's and their clans... and also with mixture of goddesses, which makes this more thrilling, magical and wonderful.. i would really like to know all about Alisha's journey..so, i guess, i'll keep reading, but for now..here is my partial review...
March 15, 2013
So this story is about Aisha Talon. She is a new Talon which are a type of warrior/assassin and they get some kind of power/magic kind of in the form of sigils. Well Aisha doesn't receive one of them but instead can make any type of sigil not work. We follow Aisha as she graduates the Aerie and gets her first assignment as a bodyguard/chaperon to Rhiannon the heir to a throne.
As the story continues we follow the growth of both Rhiannon as she becomes a young ruler and the growth of Aisha as a Talon who turns advisor and friend. We watch her struggle with the emotions the Talons frown upon and we see her turn into a woman.
This was a very enjoyable story with a little bit of some slow parts as we see battle plans because they are at war. But all in all it is a new story, a refreshing take on the whole underdog tale. It is pretty enjoyable where we can imagine these characters as real people. I would not have been disappointed if I had purchased this book instead of getting it free on Amazon.
As the story continues we follow the growth of both Rhiannon as she becomes a young ruler and the growth of Aisha as a Talon who turns advisor and friend. We watch her struggle with the emotions the Talons frown upon and we see her turn into a woman.
This was a very enjoyable story with a little bit of some slow parts as we see battle plans because they are at war. But all in all it is a new story, a refreshing take on the whole underdog tale. It is pretty enjoyable where we can imagine these characters as real people. I would not have been disappointed if I had purchased this book instead of getting it free on Amazon.
May 12, 2012
Well crafted fantasy with predictable storyline with some interesting twists that kept it individual. Very good characterization, my type of main character, although at times she seemed a little mature for her stated age, despite the training that molded her. I think she might have worked even better as an older woman in some ways.
The romance line seemed a bit forced and extraneous but perhaps made it more interesting for some readers. I found the actual battle scenes a little lacking in effect at times but the situational planning was interesting. Enjoyed the mindset of the main character, which was reasonable given that she survived her arduous training not by being the fastest or the most skilled, but the most intelligent.
The romance line seemed a bit forced and extraneous but perhaps made it more interesting for some readers. I found the actual battle scenes a little lacking in effect at times but the situational planning was interesting. Enjoyed the mindset of the main character, which was reasonable given that she survived her arduous training not by being the fastest or the most skilled, but the most intelligent.
June 23, 2014
The first half of the book was excellent. Aisha's origin story as a Talon and the time when she served as a bodyguard for the princess was mostly well written and developed - although she is kind of a wunderkind
The second part of the book felt like the author had lost her focus. It was less well developed and partially confusing (e.g. Where did this third faction in the war suddenly come from?).
Aisha's role as chief strategist and advisor to the princess was poorly developed and far less believable than her role as a body guard.
Nearly everything in the second part of the book work according to plan and thus the war story was a bit boring.
The "love story" in the last part of the book felt forced and bolted on.
The second part of the book felt like the author had lost her focus. It was less well developed and partially confusing (e.g. Where did this third faction in the war suddenly come from?).
Aisha's role as chief strategist and advisor to the princess was poorly developed and far less believable than her role as a body guard.
Nearly everything in the second part of the book work according to plan and thus the war story was a bit boring.
The "love story" in the last part of the book felt forced and bolted on.
March 6, 2012
High adventure and lots of action make for an enjoyable read and I don't normally like war stories. Aisha Talon, one a few warriors of the Raptor Clan has fought most her life for the honor of being a clan member. Her first mission is as a body guard for the highest lords daughter after the rest of his family has been killed. Aishe and her ward Rhiannon have to run for their lives as Aishe's talents are put to the test. Nice story with strong female heros. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon in the sun.
May 20, 2013
A wonderful female character, strong and intelligent yet still well-rounded and capable of feeling. The rest of the characters are less full and serve often to simply move the plot forward for the purposes of showcasing how amazing the central character is. Add in numerous phrases repeated ad nauseum, a plot that doesn't require much in the way of difficulty to overcome and what's left is a simple story that could have been a whole lot more. Still fun to read though.
April 28, 2015
An extraordinary good book. I enjoyed reading it. It's low rating is due to 1. the ending felt incomplete, a little more detail was needed to sucessfully conclude the story and 2. the whole point of her becoming a talon was to avenge her family and look for her brother and that issue was never addressed. If these two points were addressed, this novel would easily be rated 4 stars, possibly 5 stars.
May 14, 2015
Alan of the Unnamed Goddess by C.R. Daems
This is a hard book to describe, I enjoyed the female warrior, and leader. It almost seemed like I was reading a comic book without the pictures! The characters were interesting but somehow one dimensional. I'm a fan of fantasy so I enjoyed this book. It's an easy book to read, but I felt like the story was unfinished. Hopefully a follow up book to explore the world of Talon!
This is a hard book to describe, I enjoyed the female warrior, and leader. It almost seemed like I was reading a comic book without the pictures! The characters were interesting but somehow one dimensional. I'm a fan of fantasy so I enjoyed this book. It's an easy book to read, but I felt like the story was unfinished. Hopefully a follow up book to explore the world of Talon!
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