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World of Linaria #1
Moroda
‘If one dragon burned the city of Niversai to the ground in a single night, how would we fare if a hundred besieged our world?’
Moroda’s life is thrown into turmoil after she is publicly arrested—her city is destroyed and she narrowly escapes the chaos on a sky pirate’s airship. But she finds no salvation outside the blackened city walls; a vigilante from an exiled race has left a trail of destruction everywhere his growing army has travelled. With compulsion at his fingertips, he strengthens his hold over Linaria’s people by stealing the power of dragons. It’s only a matter of time before she, too, is forced to submit.
With war nipping at her heels and danger lurking in her companions and adversaries, Moroda must quickly learn about herself, her world, and the dragons so intent on reducing it all to ash.
Moroda’s life is thrown into turmoil after she is publicly arrested—her city is destroyed and she narrowly escapes the chaos on a sky pirate’s airship. But she finds no salvation outside the blackened city walls; a vigilante from an exiled race has left a trail of destruction everywhere his growing army has travelled. With compulsion at his fingertips, he strengthens his hold over Linaria’s people by stealing the power of dragons. It’s only a matter of time before she, too, is forced to submit.
With war nipping at her heels and danger lurking in her companions and adversaries, Moroda must quickly learn about herself, her world, and the dragons so intent on reducing it all to ash.
Paperback
First published May 1, 2017
84 people are currently reading
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About the author
L.L. MacRae
12 books520 followersHello fellow book dragon! Thank you for visiting my author page. :)
I'm a British fantasy author of character-driven stories and epic adventure.
My books contain dragons, bucket-loads of magic, less conventional characters, and are typically fun and hopeful.
I live in a tiny village in the English countryside, have a degree in Psychology, and was a professional copywriter before going full-time as an author—swapping corporate copy for magic and dragons.
Physical copies of my books are available exclusively through my website (or The Broken Binding) and never on Amazon. All paperbacks can be signed/lined/dated and ship internationally: https://llmacrae.com/shop
Book one in my Dragon Spirits Trilogy, The Iron Crown, was a finalist in SPFBO7, and my debut novel, Moroda, was a semi-finalist in SPFBO4. Two of my short stories have also appeared in anthologies.
If you'd like to support me directly, Patreon is the best option! You'll receive weekly updates, behind-the-scenes posts, author essays, and free eBooks/audiobooks as I publish them: https://www.patreon.com/llmacrae
If you send a friend request and we don't have any similar interests or books in common, I'll probably decline. Feel free to follow me, though!
Please don't send me book recommendations or invitations to join groups.
Best wishes and happy reading,
Lauren
I'm a British fantasy author of character-driven stories and epic adventure.
My books contain dragons, bucket-loads of magic, less conventional characters, and are typically fun and hopeful.
I live in a tiny village in the English countryside, have a degree in Psychology, and was a professional copywriter before going full-time as an author—swapping corporate copy for magic and dragons.
Physical copies of my books are available exclusively through my website (or The Broken Binding) and never on Amazon. All paperbacks can be signed/lined/dated and ship internationally: https://llmacrae.com/shop
Book one in my Dragon Spirits Trilogy, The Iron Crown, was a finalist in SPFBO7, and my debut novel, Moroda, was a semi-finalist in SPFBO4. Two of my short stories have also appeared in anthologies.
If you'd like to support me directly, Patreon is the best option! You'll receive weekly updates, behind-the-scenes posts, author essays, and free eBooks/audiobooks as I publish them: https://www.patreon.com/llmacrae
If you send a friend request and we don't have any similar interests or books in common, I'll probably decline. Feel free to follow me, though!
Please don't send me book recommendations or invitations to join groups.
Best wishes and happy reading,
Lauren
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
February 23, 2019
My first buddy read with TL, and wow, was it a good one! I'm so happy I was able to share such an amazing reading experience with her! :)
And now it’s time for another one of my trademarked…
”Book, you have the right to a speedy trial” reviews!
THE DEFENSE
- “Book, do you swear to tell an awesome story, the whole awesome story, and nothing but an awesome story?”
You know you’re in for a fun ride when the action literally begins on page 1! Once a member of a rich family (known as “Goldstones” in this world), Moroda finds herself thrown in prison simply for speaking her mind. Before she even has time to process what happened, her cell becomes a very dangerous place for her to be in when she realizes she’s sharing it with a notorious sky pirate and a ruthless killer. But it soon becomes apparent that nowhere in the world of Linaria is safe anymore after a dragon suddenly goes on a violent rampage, leaving a city in ruins and its people in devastation. In trying to discover why the once peaceful dragons have now turned against a world that has always revered them, Moroda finds herself thrust into a massive conspiracy and targeted by a growing army of aggressors. Now, to prevent an impeding war, Moroda and her band of allies must delve into the sins of their world’s past in order to ensure that Linaria has a future.
While the main storyline itself is an intriguing one, there is so much more going on! I don’t want to get into details, as it’s better to experience these plot developments firsthand, but there are many subplots and backstories woven into the main one. Every major character has their own agenda, some of which are occasionally at odds with the very people they travel with. And because there are so many plot threads being explored, this made for a rich reading experience. Some moments are sweet, others are shocking. I laughed many times and yes, even choked back tears at other ones. This novel is heartwarming at some points and heartbreaking at others. Exciting, entertaining, devastating, and inspiring, this novel is many things. In fact, the only thing the book never was is boring!
- “Please bring in your character witnesses!”
As captivating as Moroda’s adventure is, the people who accompany her in her journey are even more fascinating. They all have their own distinct voices and add so much personality to the story. There’s Eryn, Moroda’s feisty younger sister who insists “she should have been the older one”, and as formidable as she is at times, it’s hard to disagree with her. There’s stoic Palom and impulsive Anahrik, a pair of blacksmiths and weapons traders whose friendship is one of the bright points of the story. Sapora, an outright chilling assassin who often seems like he poses a far greater threat to the others than the enemies who are actually hunting them. Morgen, an Imperial guard who has a sense of nobility which leaves him horrified to be working with this group of outlaws. And Kohl, a battle-scarred warrior with quite possibly the coolest profession ever… that’s right, he’s an accountant, just like me! Okay, just kidding, he's not really an accountant (as awesome as that would be), he’s actually a dragon hunter… but one day I’ll get my wish for an epic fantasy novel starring a badass warrior accountant!
(I don’t know why some people think us accountants are nerdy, that simply isn’t true! Just look at how cool and adventurous these accountants are!)
Normally with such an eclectic group of supporting players, I’d say it was hard to pick a favorite, but that wasn’t the case this time. As interesting as all the characters mentioned above are, they couldn’t hold a candle (and wouldn’t dare hold a sword) to sassy sky-pirate Amarah. Armed with a sharp scythe and an even sharper tongue, Amarah not only steals as much treasure as she can store on her airship Khanna, she also stole my heart! Her wise cracks often brought some comedic relief as the dramatic events unfolded. I loved how strong and outspoken she was, but also that she did have a more compassionate side, which is seen when she and Moroda begin to form mutual respect for each other. I was very happy to see that a future book in the World of Linaria series is set to star Amarah, and I loved this character so much, even though her book isn’t due to come out for at least a few months, I already want to give it five stars!
- “Will the defendant please rise?”
With such a strong supporting cast, there’s always a danger that they could overshadow the star character. Fortunately, Moroda is more than capable of rising to the task of leading this story. Sometimes revealing the backstory of a fantasy world can feel forced, as it can appear that the characters are discussing things they should already be aware of. However, in this tale, seeing the world through the eyes of Moroda make for an excellent narrative device. As a Goldstone (Oh, how I love that term being used for the wealthy…how is it I’ve never seen any fantasy novel use that term before?!), Moroda had led a rather sheltered life, so it made perfect sense that she needed to learn more about her world’s history and cultures. I also appreciated how real she felt at times. While Moroda starts out with a strong spirit, she doesn’t instantly know how to wield a sword or a magical spell. In addition to learning about her world, she has to learn about herself as she progresses throughout her journey. I loved the sequences where Moroda had to train in order to learn various arts. The fact that she sometimes stumbles and has to push herself harder made her that much more admirable. True, there were characters here I sometimes found more entertaining (*cough* AMARAH *cough*), but Moroda remained the one I still cared about the most. Amiable, benevolent, and formidable, Moroda is an excellent example of someone who isn’t a born hero, she makes herself into one.
- “Let the record show, the world of Linaria has no legal precedent, it’s much too unique!”
There are three things I look for in a fantasy novel. A compelling story, interesting characters, and rich world-building. I’m happy to report that this novel does indeed feature the full trifecta! One thing that really struck me was how unique this world was. I’ve read books with dragons soaring the skies before, but this was the only one I’ve read where phoenixes seek out and trail those dragons. I also enjoyed the magic system as well, particularly the way it would flow through music at times. There are so many elements that are explored, from the history and abilities of the various people of Linaria (some of whom can even shapeshift into different animals), right down to the intricate details like the significance of the color of the gems some of them wear. L.L. McNeil describes all of this in such an energetic and clear fashion, I truly felt immersed in this world. The only thing more magical than the world of Linaria is the writing style of the author bringing it to life!
THE PROSECUTION
- “Is the person who attacked your castle in the courtroom today?”
While Moroda and her companions get many moments to shine, the villains aren’t so lucky. It’s not that the villains aren’t interesting, in fact, they’re absolutely mesmerizing when they do step into the spotlight. The problem is that they get so little time in said spotlight. Even the main antagonist’s motivation and backstory are actually told by someone else, rather than letting us experience it through the villain's own eyes or words. In those very rare moments where big bad Aciel and his chief general Jato do appear on the page, they are deliciously fun to read about, which makes it all the more disappointing that we don’t get to see more of them.
- “The dragons will take a short recess now.”
Although the second half of the novel flows very well, the pacing is a bit off in the first half. The book opens up very strong with the title heroine struggling to get out of jail, and the next few chapters race from one thrilling action sequence to the next. However, when the adventuring party reaches the town of Berel, it’s here that the action ceases for a while and the world’s culture and history are explored. While I did still find these sections fascinating, it seemed like the story would have flowed better if the action and world-building sections had been mixed together more. Fortunately, this gets rectified as the second half of the novel is more cohesive.
THE VERDICT
- “We the jury find the book… ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!
“Moroda” may be the first novel by L.L. McNeil, but she already writes with the talent and imagination of a seasoned veteran. With its rich world, compelling storyline, and unforgettable characters, this book is a reminder of why I’m so grateful to GoodReads for introducing me to books like this. A must-read for any fans of the fantasy genre. But be warned, L.L. McNeil is such a gifted writer, she can really pull at your heartstrings at times, so make sure you have some tissues ready as you read this. Maybe one or two… boxes, I mean!
(Do amazing fantasy novelists like L.L. McNeil also own stock in tissue companies? Is that why they’re so good at make their readers feel such strong emotions? What do you mean I sound like a conspiracy nut?! You wouldn’t say that unless... you were one of THEM!!!)
And now it’s time for another one of my trademarked…
”Book, you have the right to a speedy trial” reviews!
THE DEFENSE
- “Book, do you swear to tell an awesome story, the whole awesome story, and nothing but an awesome story?”
You know you’re in for a fun ride when the action literally begins on page 1! Once a member of a rich family (known as “Goldstones” in this world), Moroda finds herself thrown in prison simply for speaking her mind. Before she even has time to process what happened, her cell becomes a very dangerous place for her to be in when she realizes she’s sharing it with a notorious sky pirate and a ruthless killer. But it soon becomes apparent that nowhere in the world of Linaria is safe anymore after a dragon suddenly goes on a violent rampage, leaving a city in ruins and its people in devastation. In trying to discover why the once peaceful dragons have now turned against a world that has always revered them, Moroda finds herself thrust into a massive conspiracy and targeted by a growing army of aggressors. Now, to prevent an impeding war, Moroda and her band of allies must delve into the sins of their world’s past in order to ensure that Linaria has a future.
While the main storyline itself is an intriguing one, there is so much more going on! I don’t want to get into details, as it’s better to experience these plot developments firsthand, but there are many subplots and backstories woven into the main one. Every major character has their own agenda, some of which are occasionally at odds with the very people they travel with. And because there are so many plot threads being explored, this made for a rich reading experience. Some moments are sweet, others are shocking. I laughed many times and yes, even choked back tears at other ones. This novel is heartwarming at some points and heartbreaking at others. Exciting, entertaining, devastating, and inspiring, this novel is many things. In fact, the only thing the book never was is boring!
- “Please bring in your character witnesses!”
As captivating as Moroda’s adventure is, the people who accompany her in her journey are even more fascinating. They all have their own distinct voices and add so much personality to the story. There’s Eryn, Moroda’s feisty younger sister who insists “she should have been the older one”, and as formidable as she is at times, it’s hard to disagree with her. There’s stoic Palom and impulsive Anahrik, a pair of blacksmiths and weapons traders whose friendship is one of the bright points of the story. Sapora, an outright chilling assassin who often seems like he poses a far greater threat to the others than the enemies who are actually hunting them. Morgen, an Imperial guard who has a sense of nobility which leaves him horrified to be working with this group of outlaws. And Kohl, a battle-scarred warrior with quite possibly the coolest profession ever… that’s right, he’s an accountant, just like me! Okay, just kidding, he's not really an accountant (as awesome as that would be), he’s actually a dragon hunter… but one day I’ll get my wish for an epic fantasy novel starring a badass warrior accountant!
(I don’t know why some people think us accountants are nerdy, that simply isn’t true! Just look at how cool and adventurous these accountants are!)
Normally with such an eclectic group of supporting players, I’d say it was hard to pick a favorite, but that wasn’t the case this time. As interesting as all the characters mentioned above are, they couldn’t hold a candle (and wouldn’t dare hold a sword) to sassy sky-pirate Amarah. Armed with a sharp scythe and an even sharper tongue, Amarah not only steals as much treasure as she can store on her airship Khanna, she also stole my heart! Her wise cracks often brought some comedic relief as the dramatic events unfolded. I loved how strong and outspoken she was, but also that she did have a more compassionate side, which is seen when she and Moroda begin to form mutual respect for each other. I was very happy to see that a future book in the World of Linaria series is set to star Amarah, and I loved this character so much, even though her book isn’t due to come out for at least a few months, I already want to give it five stars!
- “Will the defendant please rise?”
With such a strong supporting cast, there’s always a danger that they could overshadow the star character. Fortunately, Moroda is more than capable of rising to the task of leading this story. Sometimes revealing the backstory of a fantasy world can feel forced, as it can appear that the characters are discussing things they should already be aware of. However, in this tale, seeing the world through the eyes of Moroda make for an excellent narrative device. As a Goldstone (Oh, how I love that term being used for the wealthy…how is it I’ve never seen any fantasy novel use that term before?!), Moroda had led a rather sheltered life, so it made perfect sense that she needed to learn more about her world’s history and cultures. I also appreciated how real she felt at times. While Moroda starts out with a strong spirit, she doesn’t instantly know how to wield a sword or a magical spell. In addition to learning about her world, she has to learn about herself as she progresses throughout her journey. I loved the sequences where Moroda had to train in order to learn various arts. The fact that she sometimes stumbles and has to push herself harder made her that much more admirable. True, there were characters here I sometimes found more entertaining (*cough* AMARAH *cough*), but Moroda remained the one I still cared about the most. Amiable, benevolent, and formidable, Moroda is an excellent example of someone who isn’t a born hero, she makes herself into one.
- “Let the record show, the world of Linaria has no legal precedent, it’s much too unique!”
There are three things I look for in a fantasy novel. A compelling story, interesting characters, and rich world-building. I’m happy to report that this novel does indeed feature the full trifecta! One thing that really struck me was how unique this world was. I’ve read books with dragons soaring the skies before, but this was the only one I’ve read where phoenixes seek out and trail those dragons. I also enjoyed the magic system as well, particularly the way it would flow through music at times. There are so many elements that are explored, from the history and abilities of the various people of Linaria (some of whom can even shapeshift into different animals), right down to the intricate details like the significance of the color of the gems some of them wear. L.L. McNeil describes all of this in such an energetic and clear fashion, I truly felt immersed in this world. The only thing more magical than the world of Linaria is the writing style of the author bringing it to life!
THE PROSECUTION
- “Is the person who attacked your castle in the courtroom today?”
While Moroda and her companions get many moments to shine, the villains aren’t so lucky. It’s not that the villains aren’t interesting, in fact, they’re absolutely mesmerizing when they do step into the spotlight. The problem is that they get so little time in said spotlight. Even the main antagonist’s motivation and backstory are actually told by someone else, rather than letting us experience it through the villain's own eyes or words. In those very rare moments where big bad Aciel and his chief general Jato do appear on the page, they are deliciously fun to read about, which makes it all the more disappointing that we don’t get to see more of them.
- “The dragons will take a short recess now.”
Although the second half of the novel flows very well, the pacing is a bit off in the first half. The book opens up very strong with the title heroine struggling to get out of jail, and the next few chapters race from one thrilling action sequence to the next. However, when the adventuring party reaches the town of Berel, it’s here that the action ceases for a while and the world’s culture and history are explored. While I did still find these sections fascinating, it seemed like the story would have flowed better if the action and world-building sections had been mixed together more. Fortunately, this gets rectified as the second half of the novel is more cohesive.
THE VERDICT
- “We the jury find the book… ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!
“Moroda” may be the first novel by L.L. McNeil, but she already writes with the talent and imagination of a seasoned veteran. With its rich world, compelling storyline, and unforgettable characters, this book is a reminder of why I’m so grateful to GoodReads for introducing me to books like this. A must-read for any fans of the fantasy genre. But be warned, L.L. McNeil is such a gifted writer, she can really pull at your heartstrings at times, so make sure you have some tissues ready as you read this. Maybe one or two… boxes, I mean!
(Do amazing fantasy novelists like L.L. McNeil also own stock in tissue companies? Is that why they’re so good at make their readers feel such strong emotions? What do you mean I sound like a conspiracy nut?! You wouldn’t say that unless... you were one of THEM!!!)
January 7, 2021
4.5 Stars ⭐️
I freaking loved it!! I loved the characters. This is strictly character driven so if you want world building, go find another book. I look forward to continuing the series.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
I freaking loved it!! I loved the characters. This is strictly character driven so if you want world building, go find another book. I look forward to continuing the series.
'From dragon-flame begun, from dragon-flame undone. In the end, everything burns.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
September 10, 2017
"From dragon-flame begun, from dragon-flame undone ... In the end, everything burns
THIS BOOK IS GOOD NEWS for any fans of dragons, sky pirates and warring fantasy worlds because Moroda, the first book in an upcoming six-book series has all three
Moroda is a high-fantasy novel set in Linaria - a world populated by various species of people, where dragons are revered as Gods and war is stirring.
It follows Moroda, a young girl who, along with her sister, is thrown into an unlikely alliance with a sky pirate called Amarah and a dragon-killer called Kohl after Moroda's city is attacked and destroyed by a dragon. Moroda sets out with her new friends to discover the truth behind dragons and to hopefully prevent the war being stirred up by Aciel - the leader of the Arillian people. She is joined by others - Itallan traders Anahrik and Palom, as well as Sapora - one of the dreaded and hated Varkain. Together this rag-tag team will travel across the world to try and protect the peace and save their people.
Moroda held her breath and it was suddenly on top of them -- a dragon of immense size. It had deep, silvery-blue scaled and black thorns, and it's wings blotted out the sky
Moroda is set firmly in the high-fantasy bracket. It definitely gave me some Eragon/The Inheritance Cycle vibes, mixed with a little Game of Thrones and Tolkien elements. The world is very expansive - with different 'races' of human-type people co-existing and battling for control. Itallans and Varkains are shape-shifters, who can turn themselves into animals at will. The Arillian's are a species with wings and the ability to perform magic.
The huge world, with so many different and fantastical characters and places was a massive highlight for me, and anyone who likes non-human type characters in their fantasy. The only drawback was that in parts I was confused over which species was which. I definitely think some sort of glossary like many high-fantasy books have could have been useful.
But the fantasy world was a really great place to read about and fall into when you pick this up. The inclusion of dragons - and the magic that comes from them, as well as phoenixes, sky ships and pirates.
THINGS I LIKED ABOUT MORODA
■ as mentioned, the world. I really liked Linaria as a fantasy setting and all the elements that came along with it.
■ the way magic and the dragons interacted. Dragons play a big role in this story and the history of the world and since I love dragons I loved that. Plus the sequel looks set to include much more about the dragons
■ Good mix of characters. I liked that each character had a unique voice and arc which they grow through. I really liked Moroda's arc, but loved Sapora's character most.
■ Inclusion of swearing! I don't know why but I love swearing in books
■ NO ROMANCE. Yes you read that right people, no annoying romantic sub-plot distracting everyone from the task at hand. Sooo refreshing.
■ The theming was well done and consistent throughout the story. I really think the ending fit in with the discussions being had throughout the book and I liked that the dragons are non-stereotypical in that the older ones are pacifist.
■ REALLY liked the action scenes, especially the first few ones and the ones at the end. You've got cities burning, air races, airship heists, battles for the crown and dragon riding to look forward to. I really loved the action sequences they were a big highlight when they came along.
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE AS MUCH
■ As mentioned, the worldbuilding can be a little blurry at times - not so much because I think it's poorly written but just because I think the world is so expansive and outlandish it can get confusing. So you definitely have to be paying attention - a 'dense' read for people who aren't used to high fantasy.
■ The book was dialogue-heavy and I know some people really like that, but personally I like more prose so it was hard for me to get through at times.
■ The reasons behind the angst between different races of people was a little unclear at times. The reasons as to why people hate the Varkains so much or why the Arrillian are shunned was a little unclear to me. I would have liked more explanation here.
THINGS IM LOOKING FORWARD TO
I will definitely be continuing on with this series! I'm hooked on the world and characters and can't wait to see more of them when the second title - which I believe will be called Palom - is released.
I am definitely looking forward to more Sapora - he was my favourite character because I found him so interesting and where he's positioned now in the book has great potential for book 2.
Also looking forward to see Moroda's arc continue and find out what her decisions mean for her.
Hoping to see much more of Isa and Morgern
CONCLUSION
I went into Moroda with the expectation of Dragons and Pirates - I got that and much more to boot. Linaria is a fantastic high fantasy world, filled with exciting and unique creatures and characters who really burst from the page. Moroda takes a unique and fresh angle on many fantasy tropes, like dragons and war and creates them into something new and exciting. Great action sequences, a large rag-tag cast who are a lot of fun and complex worldbuiling I really think if you're a fan of high fantasy you'd enjoy Moroda!
A big THANKYOU to L.L McNeil for providing me with a free paperback version of Moroda in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
July 30, 2017
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
Moroda is L.L. McNeil's self published, High Fantasy debut following a ragtag group of adventurers on a mission to change the tide of a racially charged war before it consumes the lasting peace Linaria has come to know.
The standout element of this book for me is the writing style. McNeil has a lot of raw talent as a writer & I find myself incredibly engaged with how she chose to tell the story of Moroda. I especially enjoy the action & combat sequences, as I am clearly able to imagine what is happening.
Another high point of this novel is the ensemble of characters - each of the major races involved in the war are represented in the main cast & I really appreciate having the opportunity to form a relationship with them outside the context of their part in the overarching conflict.
Plus, I'm almost always a sucker for mixed bag group of people from a variety of different backgrounds coming together under the threat of necessity. I swear, it's like the magical school trope for me. Princes & peasants, thieves & businessmen, aristocracy & guards. It creates an array of interactions that make me feel warm & fuzzy inside.
ALSO. DRAGONS.
Like, do I need to say more??
The lore of the dragons in the world of Linaria has me intrigued. Dragons are considered equivalent to gods for many races on this continent, and harness powers through the dragon stones in their bodies which also serves as their life source. The dragons are a factor of complexity for the plot, presenting as morally ambiguous toward our heroes & their quest.
Despite the elements I fancied, I have to say I wanted a little bit more from this story.
There were a couple moments where I felt as though I was seeing a sketch with some missing details.
In particular, I would've loved a bit more of a focus on the world building aspect. Linaria is packed full of interesting races & magic, but I don't feel as though I thoroughly comprehend the layout of the world. Motivations are hinted at but not always explained to my satisfaction.
My other criticism for this novel is that the main characters were not evenly characterized. I got a detailed picture of Moroda because the story is mostly told with her perspective in mind, and Palom & Amarah made a solid impression on me, but I didn't feel myself connecting as much to Sapora, Anahrik, Eryn, or Morgen. Especially with Eryn, as Moroda's younger sister, she felt like an extension of Moroda instead of being her own person.
With some characters it was more "tell" than "show" & at times the dialogue didn't quite differentiate enough between characters.
Overall though, this is a great debut & I'm interested to see where the story will go from here.
McNeil isn't afraid to tell the story she wants to tell & in a sea of books with shoehorned romances & unrealistic survivals, it was refreshing to read a book like this one!
This review and other reviews of mine can be found on Book Nest!
***I received a copy of Moroda from the author in exchange for an honest review. Special thank you to L.L. McNeil for this opportunity!***
Moroda is L.L. McNeil's self published, High Fantasy debut following a ragtag group of adventurers on a mission to change the tide of a racially charged war before it consumes the lasting peace Linaria has come to know.
The standout element of this book for me is the writing style. McNeil has a lot of raw talent as a writer & I find myself incredibly engaged with how she chose to tell the story of Moroda. I especially enjoy the action & combat sequences, as I am clearly able to imagine what is happening.
Another high point of this novel is the ensemble of characters - each of the major races involved in the war are represented in the main cast & I really appreciate having the opportunity to form a relationship with them outside the context of their part in the overarching conflict.
Plus, I'm almost always a sucker for mixed bag group of people from a variety of different backgrounds coming together under the threat of necessity. I swear, it's like the magical school trope for me. Princes & peasants, thieves & businessmen, aristocracy & guards. It creates an array of interactions that make me feel warm & fuzzy inside.
ALSO. DRAGONS.
Like, do I need to say more??
The lore of the dragons in the world of Linaria has me intrigued. Dragons are considered equivalent to gods for many races on this continent, and harness powers through the dragon stones in their bodies which also serves as their life source. The dragons are a factor of complexity for the plot, presenting as morally ambiguous toward our heroes & their quest.
Despite the elements I fancied, I have to say I wanted a little bit more from this story.
There were a couple moments where I felt as though I was seeing a sketch with some missing details.
In particular, I would've loved a bit more of a focus on the world building aspect. Linaria is packed full of interesting races & magic, but I don't feel as though I thoroughly comprehend the layout of the world. Motivations are hinted at but not always explained to my satisfaction.
My other criticism for this novel is that the main characters were not evenly characterized. I got a detailed picture of Moroda because the story is mostly told with her perspective in mind, and Palom & Amarah made a solid impression on me, but I didn't feel myself connecting as much to Sapora, Anahrik, Eryn, or Morgen. Especially with Eryn, as Moroda's younger sister, she felt like an extension of Moroda instead of being her own person.
With some characters it was more "tell" than "show" & at times the dialogue didn't quite differentiate enough between characters.
Overall though, this is a great debut & I'm interested to see where the story will go from here.
McNeil isn't afraid to tell the story she wants to tell & in a sea of books with shoehorned romances & unrealistic survivals, it was refreshing to read a book like this one!
This review and other reviews of mine can be found on Book Nest!
***I received a copy of Moroda from the author in exchange for an honest review. Special thank you to L.L. McNeil for this opportunity!***
June 7, 2018
Buddyread with David . I kind/sorta/definitely left him in the dust here haha... #sorrynotsorry Will link his review when he is finished :) In the meantime, check out his profile :)
UPDATE: David's review here
---
~*~Book slump could not defeat Moroda and gang!~*~
(I think this was a help in me staying on the edge of the book slump pit and helping me start to crawl out)
This was mentioned to me by David when we were looking for a buddyread to try together (I also saw it on a friend's Amazon wishlist as well) and since it had been awhile for me with a good Fantasy novel...
The world building and characters are very well done here... the magic system as well is layered and complex (I could read a whole book devoted to Linaria's history,the dragons, and the magic).
Everyone I loved but Sapora and Amarah were my top favorites.. neither are perfect, willing to do what they can to survive and stick to what they believe in.
Sapora made some decisions that I wasn't comfortable with, but you can see why he did what he did... crafty bastard too, owns up to it all.
Amarah had many scars in her past (sounds cliche, whoops) and probably some great tales to tell. I loved that she wasn't a one note lady and had a deeper side to her as well.
Moroda and Eryn: loved the bond they had as sisters. A few times they got on my nerves but, not to repeat myself, I could understand why. Not sure if I would have been ,more like Moroda or Eryn on this adventure... or how I would reacted to certain plot points. *bites lip for spoilers*
Morgen: Side note: Shipped him with Eryn at first *sheepish* Good guy, caught up in something he hadn't planned for but did his best in whatever happened.
Palom and Anahrik: Fascinating culture they have, and the history of how their animals are picked... their bond was amazing as well. The protectiveness and dedication of both warmed my heart.
*Out of all of them, I felt like we got to know Morgen, Isa, and Anahrik the least though*
Kohl: He was full of surprises at a few points. A few times I didn't know what to think of him especially after His actions after redeemed him somewhat, but I don't blame a certain character for his anger afterwards.
Topeko: A steady calming influence whenever he appeared. His wisdom felt true and not forced on you. A good man through and through. This could make a character boring but the author did well in avoiding this :). Would love a story on his and Amarah's relationship.
Isa: brief appearance but loved her:)
The action/fight scenes were done well and had me flipping through as fast as I could without my eyes skipping ahead (who hasn't had that problem at one point?) and a few moments had me tearing up and wanting to HulkSmash.... someone. Points for that :)
The villain Aciel... (how have youins been pronouncing it? My brain has been saying it as Aah-Cee-El) was interesting but it felt to me... like there wasn't enough of a presence to him in the book. His actions did cause a ripple throughout the story and when he was there he was definitely PRESENT (for lack of a better term) but I would liked more time focused on him... ya know? I feel like I should have more afraid pr disconcerted by him/what he was doing and trying to do.
Not the best description but hard to put it exactly the way I'm thinking.
Kohl described him best near the end... I won't spoil it for you here.
The battle was exciting in parts but on the whole... not rushed but close. Not that I was expecting a LOTR style battle ala how Peter Jackson shot it in the movies. Just expected... more?
This had me tearing up
All in all, enjoyed this very much! Would love to see where things go from here... I can't imagine which direction this will go in (mean that in the best way possible) so this will be exciting.
----
David and I had fun fancasting for this... we differed on a few so his may be different for mine if he puts his list up (and we had a funny typo for the ones character's name hehe).
Here's mine:
Moroda (Demi Lovato)
Eryn (Emmy Rossum)
Amarah (Eva Green)
Morgen (Logan Lerman)
Sapora (Jai Courtney)
Ryan Reynolds (Anahrik)
Isa (Jennifer Lawrence)
Palom(Idris Elba)
Topeko (John Rhys-Davies)
Kohl
Aciel (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau)
Jato (Emilia Clarke)
UPDATE: David's review here
---
~*~Book slump could not defeat Moroda and gang!~*~
(I think this was a help in me staying on the edge of the book slump pit and helping me start to crawl out)
This was mentioned to me by David when we were looking for a buddyread to try together (I also saw it on a friend's Amazon wishlist as well) and since it had been awhile for me with a good Fantasy novel...
The world building and characters are very well done here... the magic system as well is layered and complex (I could read a whole book devoted to Linaria's history,the dragons, and the magic).
Everyone I loved but Sapora and Amarah were my top favorites.. neither are perfect, willing to do what they can to survive and stick to what they believe in.
Sapora made some decisions that I wasn't comfortable with, but you can see why he did what he did... crafty bastard too, owns up to it all.
Amarah had many scars in her past (sounds cliche, whoops) and probably some great tales to tell. I loved that she wasn't a one note lady and had a deeper side to her as well.
Moroda and Eryn: loved the bond they had as sisters. A few times they got on my nerves but, not to repeat myself, I could understand why. Not sure if I would have been ,more like Moroda or Eryn on this adventure... or how I would reacted to certain plot points. *bites lip for spoilers*
Morgen: Side note: Shipped him with Eryn at first *sheepish* Good guy, caught up in something he hadn't planned for but did his best in whatever happened.
Palom and Anahrik: Fascinating culture they have, and the history of how their animals are picked... their bond was amazing as well. The protectiveness and dedication of both warmed my heart.
*Out of all of them, I felt like we got to know Morgen, Isa, and Anahrik the least though*
Kohl: He was full of surprises at a few points. A few times I didn't know what to think of him especially after His actions after redeemed him somewhat, but I don't blame a certain character for his anger afterwards.
Topeko: A steady calming influence whenever he appeared. His wisdom felt true and not forced on you. A good man through and through. This could make a character boring but the author did well in avoiding this :). Would love a story on his and Amarah's relationship.
Isa: brief appearance but loved her:)
The action/fight scenes were done well and had me flipping through as fast as I could without my eyes skipping ahead (who hasn't had that problem at one point?) and a few moments had me tearing up and wanting to HulkSmash.... someone. Points for that :)
The villain Aciel... (how have youins been pronouncing it? My brain has been saying it as Aah-Cee-El) was interesting but it felt to me... like there wasn't enough of a presence to him in the book. His actions did cause a ripple throughout the story and when he was there he was definitely PRESENT (for lack of a better term) but I would liked more time focused on him... ya know? I feel like I should have more afraid pr disconcerted by him/what he was doing and trying to do.
Not the best description but hard to put it exactly the way I'm thinking.
Kohl described him best near the end... I won't spoil it for you here.
The battle was exciting in parts but on the whole... not rushed but close. Not that I was expecting a LOTR style battle ala how Peter Jackson shot it in the movies. Just expected... more?
This had me tearing up
All in all, enjoyed this very much! Would love to see where things go from here... I can't imagine which direction this will go in (mean that in the best way possible) so this will be exciting.
----
David and I had fun fancasting for this... we differed on a few so his may be different for mine if he puts his list up (and we had a funny typo for the ones character's name hehe).
Here's mine:
Moroda (Demi Lovato) Eryn (Emmy Rossum) Amarah (Eva Green) Morgen (Logan Lerman) Sapora (Jai Courtney) Ryan Reynolds (Anahrik) Isa (Jennifer Lawrence) Palom(Idris Elba) Topeko (John Rhys-Davies) Kohl Aciel (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) Jato (Emilia Clarke)
December 20, 2019
4.25 amazing stars!
From the gorgeous cover to the world created in this fantastic novel, I have fallen for the cast of characters, the vivid settings, the unique magic system/sources of power and of course the DRAGONS!!! Yeah, I've fallen pretty hard for it. To say that my experience reading this novel was engrossing is a slight understatement to the actual film that went on in my mind. Although mostly in fantasy novels do I experience this motion from the written word into action, it was an effortless and beautiful venture, harrowing in dangerous moments and narrow in escapes, throbbing of the heart and all...not to be missed.
Moroda, the main character in this novel, finds herself in a prison cell for speaking her mind and questioning the governing rule publicly. After the death of her father, life hasn't been the same for her and her sister and as it looks like in this first installment of the World of Linaria series, it never will be the same again. Born a Goldstone and in her mid-twenties, she is extremely intelligent and by nature trusts others too easily, speaks her mind too freely and hence, finds herself in a pickle chained and sentenced.
With a ragtag team of characters thrown together by fate, like the sky pirate Amarah who has her eye on the prize of highly precious jewels at all time, and Sapora the shapeshifting Varkain who hungers for blood and power, feared and shunned by most of Linaria, Moroda is able to escape imprisonment thanks to the help of her younger sister Eryn.
Much to the dismay of the handsome, young Imperial Guard Morgen who loses the bunch in the streets, his garnered status does not always agree with his alternate motives albeit the orders given from above. However, his chance to prove himself will catch up with him sooner than later.
Moroda and her sister venture from tavern to markets to other towns and learn of the destruction coming for all of Linaria via the power source of dragons manipulated and exploited by a ruler without remorse. Along their journey, the two sisters are accompanied by more characters met along the way and the story takes on an adventure of thrills, chills and intrigue. This newly formed circle of members thrown together will be tested in loyalty and trust when thrust into exhilarating as well as harrowing situations that change Moroda from a timid mouse into a capable defender of the power source of Linaria. Some of them aren't so lucky, some of them will pay a price.
So, how does Morgen end up fitting into all of this? Will Amarah's drive for riches sabotage the need of the greater people? And how about those shady characters picked up along the way?
One thing is for sure, Moroda is not the same from the time she has escaped that prison cell to the time she is yielding weapons in defense!
....
Airships, gorgeous landscapes, and shapeshifting, backstabbing, clever characters make this novel unputdownable and so likable. The unique backstories and the way the different histories and backgrounds mesh together and build this unique world is amazing. None of the adventures get boring and all of it is uniquely crafted, unlike anything I've ever read. There are allies along the way and new cities to be explored...one more authentic or beautiful than the last. It is amazing. The history of dragons had me wrapped up in amazement and was easily relatable too (I say this because sometimes things become too complicated or tried too hard in novels in my opinion).
I've always wanted to read more books with dragons in them and this was perfect! Though I have a shelf lined up with more fantasy novels that include dragons, I think this one will stay with me for a long time. I loved the idea of gemstones as a power source for dragons.
Moroda was a debut novel as far as I know and a 2018 SPFBO Semi-Finalist, as well as shortlisted for the Best Indie Book Awards 2017 in Fantasy. Comparing the writing to the idea of plot/storyline, I thought that the latter was stronger due to pacing but with the sure promise of strong novels to follow. Take my opinion with a grain of salt though, because I could never write a novel and it will not stop me from reading the next in the series.
The world of Linaria speaks for itself. It is amazing and not to be missed.
I received a digital copy of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you kindly for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
More of my reviews here:
https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/
From the gorgeous cover to the world created in this fantastic novel, I have fallen for the cast of characters, the vivid settings, the unique magic system/sources of power and of course the DRAGONS!!! Yeah, I've fallen pretty hard for it. To say that my experience reading this novel was engrossing is a slight understatement to the actual film that went on in my mind. Although mostly in fantasy novels do I experience this motion from the written word into action, it was an effortless and beautiful venture, harrowing in dangerous moments and narrow in escapes, throbbing of the heart and all...not to be missed.
Moroda, the main character in this novel, finds herself in a prison cell for speaking her mind and questioning the governing rule publicly. After the death of her father, life hasn't been the same for her and her sister and as it looks like in this first installment of the World of Linaria series, it never will be the same again. Born a Goldstone and in her mid-twenties, she is extremely intelligent and by nature trusts others too easily, speaks her mind too freely and hence, finds herself in a pickle chained and sentenced.
With a ragtag team of characters thrown together by fate, like the sky pirate Amarah who has her eye on the prize of highly precious jewels at all time, and Sapora the shapeshifting Varkain who hungers for blood and power, feared and shunned by most of Linaria, Moroda is able to escape imprisonment thanks to the help of her younger sister Eryn.
Much to the dismay of the handsome, young Imperial Guard Morgen who loses the bunch in the streets, his garnered status does not always agree with his alternate motives albeit the orders given from above. However, his chance to prove himself will catch up with him sooner than later.
Moroda and her sister venture from tavern to markets to other towns and learn of the destruction coming for all of Linaria via the power source of dragons manipulated and exploited by a ruler without remorse. Along their journey, the two sisters are accompanied by more characters met along the way and the story takes on an adventure of thrills, chills and intrigue. This newly formed circle of members thrown together will be tested in loyalty and trust when thrust into exhilarating as well as harrowing situations that change Moroda from a timid mouse into a capable defender of the power source of Linaria. Some of them aren't so lucky, some of them will pay a price.
So, how does Morgen end up fitting into all of this? Will Amarah's drive for riches sabotage the need of the greater people? And how about those shady characters picked up along the way?
One thing is for sure, Moroda is not the same from the time she has escaped that prison cell to the time she is yielding weapons in defense!
....
Airships, gorgeous landscapes, and shapeshifting, backstabbing, clever characters make this novel unputdownable and so likable. The unique backstories and the way the different histories and backgrounds mesh together and build this unique world is amazing. None of the adventures get boring and all of it is uniquely crafted, unlike anything I've ever read. There are allies along the way and new cities to be explored...one more authentic or beautiful than the last. It is amazing. The history of dragons had me wrapped up in amazement and was easily relatable too (I say this because sometimes things become too complicated or tried too hard in novels in my opinion).
I've always wanted to read more books with dragons in them and this was perfect! Though I have a shelf lined up with more fantasy novels that include dragons, I think this one will stay with me for a long time. I loved the idea of gemstones as a power source for dragons.
Moroda was a debut novel as far as I know and a 2018 SPFBO Semi-Finalist, as well as shortlisted for the Best Indie Book Awards 2017 in Fantasy. Comparing the writing to the idea of plot/storyline, I thought that the latter was stronger due to pacing but with the sure promise of strong novels to follow. Take my opinion with a grain of salt though, because I could never write a novel and it will not stop me from reading the next in the series.
The world of Linaria speaks for itself. It is amazing and not to be missed.
I received a digital copy of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you kindly for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
More of my reviews here:
https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/
August 1, 2017
The book starts out with a jail break! The main character, Moroda, has been jailed and been told she's going to be beheaded for defying a foreign noble and publicly disagreeing with him while he was making an announcement. She's been put in jail with two others, Amarah and Sapora. Amarah is a sky pirate and Sapora is a part of a race called the Vakarian which are feared and second class citizens through much of the world. They are a humanoid species with sharp teeth and a reputation for bloodshed and uncivil behavior, often called "snakes" because their species can shape shift into various kinds of snakes.
One of the central plots to the book is figuring out why dragons are fucking shit up - after the jail break a dragon comes to the city of Nerversai and is on the attack. What's cool about this world though is that it's not normal for a dragon to go ape shit and start burning things, most of the time they are rather indifferent to people unless provoked, like someone stealing their eggs. The main characters are on a quest to figure out why the dragons behavior is changing and if there's anything they can do to stop it.
There's also a political upheaval with the Arallian race trying to take over the world with this creepy leader that has some kind of magic in the power of his voice, kind of like mind control.
The lore, cultures and history of this world are very well realized, many times a debut novel will have a smaller scope but this one gives us a bunch of different cities, with different races of humanoids with different powers, and it follows a bunch of different characters as well.
Some quick character impressions I had after the first 100 pages:
Moroda: main character, generally a good person freeing the Varkarian from jail even though she was afraid of him, speaks her mind and has a sense of adventure
Eryn: Morodas younger sister, more conservative and cautious but usually in good spirits
Amorah: kind of a bitch, sky pirate, survivor, distrusts multiple ethnicities - kinda racist.
Morgen: 22 year old city watchmen, average joe just trying to do his job, but worried with the increasing amount of orders he disagrees with, fears he won't be able to behead someone he doesn't think deserves it
Sapora: unknown motivations, seems to like messing with people and has no issues with violence. When his character first appeared he was covered in blood and chained to a wall. Vakarian.
Khol: dragon hunter, part of the Arallian race, unknown if he can be trusted, kind of a broody fellow.
Anahrik - an Ittallan shapeshifter, weapons merchant, turns into a hawk.
There are different kinds of magic in this book, my favorite was the Samolen magic which uses music and crystals. When the characters arrive in their city it's night time and there's music being played through the city which heals, the city has different colored torches burning over the doorways of houses and it created a very cool atmosphere.
The Itallan shapeshifting magic follows some general rules - each family has a distinct "form" they will take like cats or birds, but the individuals spirit/soul will determine which kind of cat or bird the person will become. Anahrik comes from a family of birds, he also loves speed and racing so he transforms into a hawk.
I think the pacing was overall well done, it didn't drag too much and in general there was a lot going on. I think the world was internally consistent and also pretty expansive, multiple cities were explored and there was lore and culture to go along with those cities so they all felt distinct and realized.
Audience:
People who like a lot of magic in their books, you know right away in this book you're reading fantasy
People who like a bit of steam punk, there are air ships and sky pirates
People who like shape shifting, dragons, and various non human races
People who don't mind reading an unpolished work, although I really liked this book it is noticeable that it's a debut novel and can be rough around the edges.
People who like a lot of characters
http://weatherwaxreport.blog
One of the central plots to the book is figuring out why dragons are fucking shit up - after the jail break a dragon comes to the city of Nerversai and is on the attack. What's cool about this world though is that it's not normal for a dragon to go ape shit and start burning things, most of the time they are rather indifferent to people unless provoked, like someone stealing their eggs. The main characters are on a quest to figure out why the dragons behavior is changing and if there's anything they can do to stop it.
There's also a political upheaval with the Arallian race trying to take over the world with this creepy leader that has some kind of magic in the power of his voice, kind of like mind control.
The lore, cultures and history of this world are very well realized, many times a debut novel will have a smaller scope but this one gives us a bunch of different cities, with different races of humanoids with different powers, and it follows a bunch of different characters as well.
Some quick character impressions I had after the first 100 pages:
Moroda: main character, generally a good person freeing the Varkarian from jail even though she was afraid of him, speaks her mind and has a sense of adventure
Eryn: Morodas younger sister, more conservative and cautious but usually in good spirits
Amorah: kind of a bitch, sky pirate, survivor, distrusts multiple ethnicities - kinda racist.
Morgen: 22 year old city watchmen, average joe just trying to do his job, but worried with the increasing amount of orders he disagrees with, fears he won't be able to behead someone he doesn't think deserves it
Sapora: unknown motivations, seems to like messing with people and has no issues with violence. When his character first appeared he was covered in blood and chained to a wall. Vakarian.
Khol: dragon hunter, part of the Arallian race, unknown if he can be trusted, kind of a broody fellow.
Anahrik - an Ittallan shapeshifter, weapons merchant, turns into a hawk.
There are different kinds of magic in this book, my favorite was the Samolen magic which uses music and crystals. When the characters arrive in their city it's night time and there's music being played through the city which heals, the city has different colored torches burning over the doorways of houses and it created a very cool atmosphere.
The Itallan shapeshifting magic follows some general rules - each family has a distinct "form" they will take like cats or birds, but the individuals spirit/soul will determine which kind of cat or bird the person will become. Anahrik comes from a family of birds, he also loves speed and racing so he transforms into a hawk.
I think the pacing was overall well done, it didn't drag too much and in general there was a lot going on. I think the world was internally consistent and also pretty expansive, multiple cities were explored and there was lore and culture to go along with those cities so they all felt distinct and realized.
Audience:
People who like a lot of magic in their books, you know right away in this book you're reading fantasy
People who like a bit of steam punk, there are air ships and sky pirates
People who like shape shifting, dragons, and various non human races
People who don't mind reading an unpolished work, although I really liked this book it is noticeable that it's a debut novel and can be rough around the edges.
People who like a lot of characters
http://weatherwaxreport.blog
July 9, 2017
Moroda is the first installment in L.L. McNeil's World of Linaria series and her debut as an author.
Moroda and her sister Eryn are from a wealthy family that has fallen from grace. Right in the beginning Eryn is breaking out Moroda out of prison and the reader gets thrown into a story of sky pirates, dragon lore and fast-paced shapeshifter fights.
Soon a party has been formed and a threat turns up that could shake the foundation of the world of Linaria.
The first thing you're going to realize about Moroda is how fast-paced not only the fights, but also the story-telling is. This makes the book a page-turner, but also made me wish for some more time in certain places or in developing the characters and their relations.
In the way the story is told you can see the author's urge and hunger to bring her narrative to us readers.
What really impressed me were a lot of unique elements. L.L. McNeil creates some really unique fantasy races and has a gift for inventing memorable places and settings.
She also knows her tropes very well and likes to play with the readers' expectations.
This makes for a very non-traditional read that still is rooted in classic ideas of fantasy.
As someone whose main incentive in reading is to encounter a sense of wonder, Moroda is a delight in imagination. I'm really looking forward to return to the World of Linaria and see what new surprises await me there.
Moroda and her sister Eryn are from a wealthy family that has fallen from grace. Right in the beginning Eryn is breaking out Moroda out of prison and the reader gets thrown into a story of sky pirates, dragon lore and fast-paced shapeshifter fights.
Soon a party has been formed and a threat turns up that could shake the foundation of the world of Linaria.
The first thing you're going to realize about Moroda is how fast-paced not only the fights, but also the story-telling is. This makes the book a page-turner, but also made me wish for some more time in certain places or in developing the characters and their relations.
In the way the story is told you can see the author's urge and hunger to bring her narrative to us readers.
What really impressed me were a lot of unique elements. L.L. McNeil creates some really unique fantasy races and has a gift for inventing memorable places and settings.
She also knows her tropes very well and likes to play with the readers' expectations.
This makes for a very non-traditional read that still is rooted in classic ideas of fantasy.
As someone whose main incentive in reading is to encounter a sense of wonder, Moroda is a delight in imagination. I'm really looking forward to return to the World of Linaria and see what new surprises await me there.
March 24, 2019
(dnf at 41%)
will no one rid me of this turbulent reading slump
will no one rid me of this turbulent reading slump
June 20, 2022
L.L. Macrea is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!!! I am excited to dive into more of the World of Linaria. The characters are complex and the stakes are high. This is now the second book that I have read from this author and I have thoroughly enjoyed both experiences. She is able to write complex characters that jump off the page and come alive for me.
Here in Moroda, we are greeted by the threat of Aciel a member of a race of magical beings with the ability to control the weather. Aciel is a suitably terrifying threat because he also has the power of completion and can subvert the will of mass amounts of people and bring them to his cause to fight his war of revenge.
Instead of a titular hero who rises up to fight the great evil we are instead treated to a ragtag band of characters who have nothing in common and who do NOT get along. They struggle against each other and all want different things and through that struggle, grow to understand and respect each other.
I have said it before and I will keep on saying it Macrea has a gift for injecting and nailing the human element of a story.
Let's talk about the awesome parts of this book. WE have airships and TERRIFYING Dragons. There is magic and shape-shifted magical being. We are also treated to magical weapons that are both unique and just flat-out cool. I really enjoyed pretty much all of the magical elements here.
My biggest con is also a pro. Because things happen so fast if you are not paying attention important story moments such as character deaths, battle results or story elements can easily be missed. The reason this isn't a full con is that it is presented to the reader in a realistic way. We as people do not always see the important moments in life and neither do our characters. This can be a tad bit jarring but also adds a sense of realism to the story as well.
Overall my rating is a 4.5/5 I am happy to say that this is the 100th book I have read this year and It was a pleasure to read. I also have a video review coming out as well so keep your eyes peeled!
Here in Moroda, we are greeted by the threat of Aciel a member of a race of magical beings with the ability to control the weather. Aciel is a suitably terrifying threat because he also has the power of completion and can subvert the will of mass amounts of people and bring them to his cause to fight his war of revenge.
Instead of a titular hero who rises up to fight the great evil we are instead treated to a ragtag band of characters who have nothing in common and who do NOT get along. They struggle against each other and all want different things and through that struggle, grow to understand and respect each other.
I have said it before and I will keep on saying it Macrea has a gift for injecting and nailing the human element of a story.
Let's talk about the awesome parts of this book. WE have airships and TERRIFYING Dragons. There is magic and shape-shifted magical being. We are also treated to magical weapons that are both unique and just flat-out cool. I really enjoyed pretty much all of the magical elements here.
My biggest con is also a pro. Because things happen so fast if you are not paying attention important story moments such as character deaths, battle results or story elements can easily be missed. The reason this isn't a full con is that it is presented to the reader in a realistic way. We as people do not always see the important moments in life and neither do our characters. This can be a tad bit jarring but also adds a sense of realism to the story as well.
Overall my rating is a 4.5/5 I am happy to say that this is the 100th book I have read this year and It was a pleasure to read. I also have a video review coming out as well so keep your eyes peeled!
July 14, 2022
2022: The second edition has just been released, and I've read it, and it's wonderful. If you've had your eye on this one, don't hesitate, it's a brilliant read.
Nov. 2018: Just announced as a semi-finalist of SPFBO4.
I received an ARC of the paperback from the author in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 Stars.
Moroda is L.L. MacRae's debut novel and I was excited when I found out that it's an epic fantasy with a female protagonist and dragons. Who doesn't love dragons?
It's an easy read, but quickly turns into a gripping story about a young woman who sets out to save her world, Linaria, from a war. On her journey she meets a varied bunch of characters. They all feel authentic and have interesting pasts and promising futures.
The world building is creative, yet straightforward making this a good book for someone who does not usually read fantasy and might shy away from the sheer complexity of some of the epic fantasy books out there. The different races in Linaria are fresh and well imagined and I especially hope to see more about the Varkain in the sequels.
The first chapter sets everything up nicely and is certainly intriguing but Moroda is young and reluctant, even a bit shy at first and it takes a few chapters before her character fully blossoms and starts kicking ass.
L.L. MacRae has created several strong female characters, but the one I enjoyed most was Amarah the sky pirate with her airship. The book also has an interesting villain and some compelling morally grey characters I found myself rooting for halfway through.
I would recommend Moroda to anyone who is looking for a new twist in epic fantasy with a character driven plot and dragons.
Nov. 2018: Just announced as a semi-finalist of SPFBO4.
I received an ARC of the paperback from the author in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 Stars.
Moroda is L.L. MacRae's debut novel and I was excited when I found out that it's an epic fantasy with a female protagonist and dragons. Who doesn't love dragons?
It's an easy read, but quickly turns into a gripping story about a young woman who sets out to save her world, Linaria, from a war. On her journey she meets a varied bunch of characters. They all feel authentic and have interesting pasts and promising futures.
The world building is creative, yet straightforward making this a good book for someone who does not usually read fantasy and might shy away from the sheer complexity of some of the epic fantasy books out there. The different races in Linaria are fresh and well imagined and I especially hope to see more about the Varkain in the sequels.
The first chapter sets everything up nicely and is certainly intriguing but Moroda is young and reluctant, even a bit shy at first and it takes a few chapters before her character fully blossoms and starts kicking ass.
L.L. MacRae has created several strong female characters, but the one I enjoyed most was Amarah the sky pirate with her airship. The book also has an interesting villain and some compelling morally grey characters I found myself rooting for halfway through.
I would recommend Moroda to anyone who is looking for a new twist in epic fantasy with a character driven plot and dragons.
July 8, 2018
Moroda is the debut novel of author L.L. McNeil, who kindly provided me with a copy of her book in exchange for a review.
Moroda is the first of six books in the World of Linaria series, set in a big world full of dragons, sky ships and magic. In this first installment, Moroda and her sister Eryn have recently lost their luxurious titles as Goldstones following the death of their father. When a dragon attacks their city under the compulsion of a man called Aciel, they team up with a sky pirate, Amarah, as well as with a miscellaneous band of other characters in order to stop him from waging war on Linaria.
The most exciting thing about this novel is the world building. The world is populated by cities rich with different cultures and races/species, stretching out across a large geographical expanse, putting it right up there in scope with other epic fantasies. Although a minimal part of the story in comparison to the dragon element, the sky pirates and ships helps set it apart from most fantasy. It reminded me at times of Treasure Planet in this way.
This is a great start for a self-published debut author, with the potential to be turned into a great series. Personally, I think it feels a little bit unpolished. Typos and some awkward grammatical instances aside, the story structure could benefit from some tightening up, and there is still some character work that could be done to better engross the reader in the narrative.
On the author's page, L.L. McNeil says that Amarah is her favourite character, and I'm in the same boat there. The sky pirate has style and attitude! Palom and Anahrik are weapon smiths who can shape shift into tigers and falcons and are just cool in general. Sapora is the mysteriously dangerous Varkain. These characters are more interesting than Moroda, the protagonist, who switches between being a wallflower and making brash and foolish decisions. Her motivation for doing things seems to mostly be driven by a "why not?" mentality, which works in the beginning but wears thin as the novel progresses. I am curious about why, if most fond of Amarah, the author didn't make her the protagonist? Unless each novel will have a different protagonist, which I would be up for! (Update: The author has informed me that this is the plan!)
I wanted to see Moroda's relationships with the other characters develop more as well, as I can't really figure out why some of their attitudes towards each other change when they do. At many points throughout the story, Moroda internally raises questions and curiosities about the others that she never asks out loud, usually because she doesn't want to offend, is afraid, or too tired. This works to show that Moroda is shy and observant, but as a result the reader doesn't get to know about the other characters either. It can be challenging to read a story where the main narrator is aware that she has no talents, and constantly voices this, while being surrounded by fascinating individuals that a reader would much rather hear about. I like sister relationships in books in place of romance, which this book has, but Eryn felt completely unnecessary to the story, as she seems to mostly be used as a plot device to motivate Moroda's actions.
I would be curious to read future installments in the series with different narrators, if that is the intent, as I found Sapora and Amarah's few chapters to be really strong! Amarah has a past of being the underdog but is now independent and a total badass. Like a true pirate, she is driven by money and love for her ship, but has a soft spot here and there. Often times throughout this novel I wanted to know what she was thinking. As for Sapora, the Varkain as a race seem to have a sinister history full of cultural lore that I would really like to explore. Overall, there is a lot of bigotry towards him from the other characters that doesn't paint them in a likeable light, but it moves the story forward and keeps things interesting. The dynamic between he and Amarah creates an interestingly tense dynamic among the party.
My only other thought is that this might serve a YA audience as well. The characters are adults, Moroda being somewhere near her mid-twenties if I recall correctly, but I think fans of YA would fantasy enjoy this!
L.L. McNeil should be proud of the result of this inspired debut, and I look forward to following her writing career.
Moroda is the first of six books in the World of Linaria series, set in a big world full of dragons, sky ships and magic. In this first installment, Moroda and her sister Eryn have recently lost their luxurious titles as Goldstones following the death of their father. When a dragon attacks their city under the compulsion of a man called Aciel, they team up with a sky pirate, Amarah, as well as with a miscellaneous band of other characters in order to stop him from waging war on Linaria.
The most exciting thing about this novel is the world building. The world is populated by cities rich with different cultures and races/species, stretching out across a large geographical expanse, putting it right up there in scope with other epic fantasies. Although a minimal part of the story in comparison to the dragon element, the sky pirates and ships helps set it apart from most fantasy. It reminded me at times of Treasure Planet in this way.
This is a great start for a self-published debut author, with the potential to be turned into a great series. Personally, I think it feels a little bit unpolished. Typos and some awkward grammatical instances aside, the story structure could benefit from some tightening up, and there is still some character work that could be done to better engross the reader in the narrative.
On the author's page, L.L. McNeil says that Amarah is her favourite character, and I'm in the same boat there. The sky pirate has style and attitude! Palom and Anahrik are weapon smiths who can shape shift into tigers and falcons and are just cool in general. Sapora is the mysteriously dangerous Varkain. These characters are more interesting than Moroda, the protagonist, who switches between being a wallflower and making brash and foolish decisions. Her motivation for doing things seems to mostly be driven by a "why not?" mentality, which works in the beginning but wears thin as the novel progresses. I am curious about why, if most fond of Amarah, the author didn't make her the protagonist? Unless each novel will have a different protagonist, which I would be up for! (Update: The author has informed me that this is the plan!)
I wanted to see Moroda's relationships with the other characters develop more as well, as I can't really figure out why some of their attitudes towards each other change when they do. At many points throughout the story, Moroda internally raises questions and curiosities about the others that she never asks out loud, usually because she doesn't want to offend, is afraid, or too tired. This works to show that Moroda is shy and observant, but as a result the reader doesn't get to know about the other characters either. It can be challenging to read a story where the main narrator is aware that she has no talents, and constantly voices this, while being surrounded by fascinating individuals that a reader would much rather hear about. I like sister relationships in books in place of romance, which this book has, but Eryn felt completely unnecessary to the story, as she seems to mostly be used as a plot device to motivate Moroda's actions.
I would be curious to read future installments in the series with different narrators, if that is the intent, as I found Sapora and Amarah's few chapters to be really strong! Amarah has a past of being the underdog but is now independent and a total badass. Like a true pirate, she is driven by money and love for her ship, but has a soft spot here and there. Often times throughout this novel I wanted to know what she was thinking. As for Sapora, the Varkain as a race seem to have a sinister history full of cultural lore that I would really like to explore. Overall, there is a lot of bigotry towards him from the other characters that doesn't paint them in a likeable light, but it moves the story forward and keeps things interesting. The dynamic between he and Amarah creates an interestingly tense dynamic among the party.
My only other thought is that this might serve a YA audience as well. The characters are adults, Moroda being somewhere near her mid-twenties if I recall correctly, but I think fans of YA would fantasy enjoy this!
L.L. McNeil should be proud of the result of this inspired debut, and I look forward to following her writing career.
July 25, 2019
3-stars. This would have got 4-stars if the version I read had not required editing.
This is the author's debut novel. There's plenty to like about this book. There are good ideas, battles, a female lead character and Dragons! What's not to like about that?
This could be read as a standalone though there is lots of scope for continuing story-lines. Airships, Dragons, floating cities and characters who can metamorphosis into giant snakes, tigers and flying Dragon-men. There's so much potential for this to turn into an epic fantasy series, IMO.
The different types of people that populate this world are at odds with one another. The snake-people are the thieves and assassins who are not well-liked. The cat-tiger-people are at odds with the dragon-men and women and there are the relatively ordinary people like Moroda stuck in the middle.
The Dragons are a dying race. The Arillians, (dragon-men) are Dragon-slayers and hunt them for their heart-soul-stones in order to gain power over their enemies. (This does bear a certain resemblance to The Stormlight Archive for this reason alone).
Moroda is a selfless, kind and compassionate lead character who will do whatever she can to stop the peoples of this world from tearing each other apart in a non-stop war.
I will recommend you read this book, though I would caution you that if you read one of the older copies (like I did) that it does require editing. Aside from that give it a go! Also, there is a 2nd book called 'Palom' that I hope to read in the future.
Good luck to the author L.L.McNeil with her future works.
Thanks for reading.
This is the author's debut novel. There's plenty to like about this book. There are good ideas, battles, a female lead character and Dragons! What's not to like about that?
This could be read as a standalone though there is lots of scope for continuing story-lines. Airships, Dragons, floating cities and characters who can metamorphosis into giant snakes, tigers and flying Dragon-men. There's so much potential for this to turn into an epic fantasy series, IMO.
The different types of people that populate this world are at odds with one another. The snake-people are the thieves and assassins who are not well-liked. The cat-tiger-people are at odds with the dragon-men and women and there are the relatively ordinary people like Moroda stuck in the middle.
The Dragons are a dying race. The Arillians, (dragon-men) are Dragon-slayers and hunt them for their heart-soul-stones in order to gain power over their enemies. (This does bear a certain resemblance to The Stormlight Archive for this reason alone).
Moroda is a selfless, kind and compassionate lead character who will do whatever she can to stop the peoples of this world from tearing each other apart in a non-stop war.
I will recommend you read this book, though I would caution you that if you read one of the older copies (like I did) that it does require editing. Aside from that give it a go! Also, there is a 2nd book called 'Palom' that I hope to read in the future.
Good luck to the author L.L.McNeil with her future works.
Thanks for reading.
August 21, 2017
If you like fantasy novels Moroda will be right up your street, as it provides all the features you would expect.
It is set in what we would recognise as Medieval times and starts with an unexpected journey of adventure by a diverse band of characters, including those that transform into animals and others that can fly. The book also has mountains, cave dwellers, dragons, and of course lots of magic taught by the typical wise old professor.
Seen primarily from the perspective of the lead character, the story follows all too familiar themes taking her from her privileged home through strange lands and several dangerous adventures to a finale that closes this story, but which leaves just enough loose ends for the following five volumes.
However, while there is nothing wrong with following an established formula, a book has to offer something new or unexpected, and in opinion this book did not do that.
McNeil is a competent writer who produces text that is easy to read, but for me, the lack of originality made the whole thing a bit hard going.
Hopefully there are some livelier storylines in the rest of her series. Unfortunately, I can only award this book three stars.
Reviewed by Clive on www.whisperingstories.com
It is set in what we would recognise as Medieval times and starts with an unexpected journey of adventure by a diverse band of characters, including those that transform into animals and others that can fly. The book also has mountains, cave dwellers, dragons, and of course lots of magic taught by the typical wise old professor.
Seen primarily from the perspective of the lead character, the story follows all too familiar themes taking her from her privileged home through strange lands and several dangerous adventures to a finale that closes this story, but which leaves just enough loose ends for the following five volumes.
However, while there is nothing wrong with following an established formula, a book has to offer something new or unexpected, and in opinion this book did not do that.
McNeil is a competent writer who produces text that is easy to read, but for me, the lack of originality made the whole thing a bit hard going.
Hopefully there are some livelier storylines in the rest of her series. Unfortunately, I can only award this book three stars.
Reviewed by Clive on www.whisperingstories.com
February 28, 2018
I loved this book and cannot wait to continue the series to learn more about each character and their stories, as well as the fantastical world. This book was a fantastic first novel in the world of Linaria series. The writing and concept hooked me from the start, I read this so fast, cause I just couldn’t put it down. The characters were well developed and likeable, and their story was full of twists and turns.
If you enjoy fantasy novels, full of dragons, sky pirates and battles, with some heartfelt moments then you really will love this book!
If you enjoy fantasy novels, full of dragons, sky pirates and battles, with some heartfelt moments then you really will love this book!
July 23, 2017
*This is a book I was sent by the author for review*
Moroda is the debut fantasy from L. L. McNeil and it was a story I very much enjoyed. It's definitely got roots in classic fantasy and you can see some troupes being played with by the author, but it's original and fresh and filled with promise.
The world of Linera is ruled by different Princes and Princesses in differing parts of the land. There are some parts where the wealthy live in prosperity, some where the poor are abandoned, some caves where the last Dragons dwell and cities filled with new wonders. We follow our band of characters to a few of these place in this novel, but I have no doubt that there is plenty more to come and to see in future books in the series.
Moroda and her sister Eryn are closer than ever now that their father has died and their fortune has left them. When the story opens we meet Moroda in jail alongside a sky-pirate and a mysterious, silent and terrifying cell-mate. The three of them are broken out of jail by Eryn amidst confusion in the town when a Dragon swoops past and mayhem erupts.
What I really enjoyed about this book was the fun and fast-pacing of the story, it felt like the whole way through we were being compelled along and wanting to discover how our 'heroes' could save the day and the land from the rather ominous nemesis, Aciel, and his stolen brainwashing powers.
The story itself is just the beginning, I have a feeling there is a lot more of this world still to uncover and I hope to see the return of some of the characters we've come to know over the course of this book. I am very intrigued about the journey this world needs to take to get back on track, and I think this is an author to watch out for as her story continues to unfold. I gave this a solid 3.5*s overall.
Moroda is the debut fantasy from L. L. McNeil and it was a story I very much enjoyed. It's definitely got roots in classic fantasy and you can see some troupes being played with by the author, but it's original and fresh and filled with promise.
The world of Linera is ruled by different Princes and Princesses in differing parts of the land. There are some parts where the wealthy live in prosperity, some where the poor are abandoned, some caves where the last Dragons dwell and cities filled with new wonders. We follow our band of characters to a few of these place in this novel, but I have no doubt that there is plenty more to come and to see in future books in the series.
Moroda and her sister Eryn are closer than ever now that their father has died and their fortune has left them. When the story opens we meet Moroda in jail alongside a sky-pirate and a mysterious, silent and terrifying cell-mate. The three of them are broken out of jail by Eryn amidst confusion in the town when a Dragon swoops past and mayhem erupts.
What I really enjoyed about this book was the fun and fast-pacing of the story, it felt like the whole way through we were being compelled along and wanting to discover how our 'heroes' could save the day and the land from the rather ominous nemesis, Aciel, and his stolen brainwashing powers.
The story itself is just the beginning, I have a feeling there is a lot more of this world still to uncover and I hope to see the return of some of the characters we've come to know over the course of this book. I am very intrigued about the journey this world needs to take to get back on track, and I think this is an author to watch out for as her story continues to unfold. I gave this a solid 3.5*s overall.
May 11, 2023
* You can find my full video review here: https://youtu.be/9fxJZDrVe8s *
I’ve now read three of L.L. MacRae’s novels, plus a novella, and I’ve had a great time immersing myself in her writing. Moroda is the first book in the World of Linaria series and it’s very different to the Dragon Spirits series, but there are some great similarities in terms of the writing craft.
From the title, you might think that this is a first-person, or at least single-point-of-view, novel, but you would be wrong. The story focuses on a group of companions, who are specifically companions and not friends, and the POV chapters are shared among these characters, giving you ample time to get to know each of them.
Although Moroda is the main character of this opening novel, as it focuses on her development, the other characters are not just along for the ride. They are all well fleshed out and, in many cases, complex. There is a good range of very different peoples in this world, and they are well-represented in our core group of characters.
You have Ittallans, Arillians, Varkain, and Goldstones and what I like about this, is that we’re not explicitly told what any of these terms mean when they are first introduced. But it’s done in a way that you don’t need that detail right there, right then. The terms are brought up naturally, and in the context they appear, you can clearly grasp what, or at least roughly what, they relate to.
Without giving any spoilers on what characteristics individual characters may have, this world has a race of shapeshifters who attune to a certain creature, and another race of winged people who have varying degrees of weather-based powers. I like how we get to see all of these and more, but without it ever feeling like the core group of characters was specifically picked to have at least one of every different type of person.
Also in this world, there are dragons, because it wouldn’t be an L.L. MacRae novel without them. Here, the dragons are both huge and terrible, and there’s no holding back on demonstrating their awesome power. Indeed, a dragon attack serves as the catalyst for the story we have here, and it’s tense and brutal and the fast pace of storytelling given over to it barely lets up until the end of the book.
I really liked this early introduction to the world, and how it shapes the story, opening up new avenues for our characters, and bringing them together with a common goal despite the clear animosity some of them have for the others. The revelations are nicely introduced as the story moves forwards, so there’s a real sense of learning what’s going on as the characters do, and it’s an effective way of building the intrigue and the danger facing the world, rather than having it all thrown at you early on.
This is one of those books that seems to have everything, there’s just so much to see in this world, but none of it is overdone, none of it feels like it’s there just for show. It’s a well-crafted world and then we have a well-crafted story set within it.
I’ve read a bunch of books recently that have airships in them, and they feature quite heavily here. Like everything else, they just seem a natural part of the world. Everything fits in in a way that is believable, and with the airships themselves, I like how we get to see more of the inner workings of them, we see air-to-air combat, and we see a great fleet of airships, including giant warships that are big enough to fit smaller airships inside them. It’s a small but interesting facet of the worldbuilding that I rather enjoyed.
Although magic plays a big part in the overall story, it also feels a bit understated. The story is more about the characters and their journey, although magic is definitely a part of that journey for some of them. I like the idea behind what we have here, and probably my only real criticism of the magic seen is the apparent speed at which it can be mastered. Some of what we see here almost came out of nowhere, but it still didn’t feel too out of place for the story, and it’s definitely something that was necessary.
I’m definitely excited to see where the story takes us next, especially after that ending, and the good news is there’s plenty of story for me to look forward to.
I’ve now read three of L.L. MacRae’s novels, plus a novella, and I’ve had a great time immersing myself in her writing. Moroda is the first book in the World of Linaria series and it’s very different to the Dragon Spirits series, but there are some great similarities in terms of the writing craft.
From the title, you might think that this is a first-person, or at least single-point-of-view, novel, but you would be wrong. The story focuses on a group of companions, who are specifically companions and not friends, and the POV chapters are shared among these characters, giving you ample time to get to know each of them.
Although Moroda is the main character of this opening novel, as it focuses on her development, the other characters are not just along for the ride. They are all well fleshed out and, in many cases, complex. There is a good range of very different peoples in this world, and they are well-represented in our core group of characters.
You have Ittallans, Arillians, Varkain, and Goldstones and what I like about this, is that we’re not explicitly told what any of these terms mean when they are first introduced. But it’s done in a way that you don’t need that detail right there, right then. The terms are brought up naturally, and in the context they appear, you can clearly grasp what, or at least roughly what, they relate to.
Without giving any spoilers on what characteristics individual characters may have, this world has a race of shapeshifters who attune to a certain creature, and another race of winged people who have varying degrees of weather-based powers. I like how we get to see all of these and more, but without it ever feeling like the core group of characters was specifically picked to have at least one of every different type of person.
Also in this world, there are dragons, because it wouldn’t be an L.L. MacRae novel without them. Here, the dragons are both huge and terrible, and there’s no holding back on demonstrating their awesome power. Indeed, a dragon attack serves as the catalyst for the story we have here, and it’s tense and brutal and the fast pace of storytelling given over to it barely lets up until the end of the book.
I really liked this early introduction to the world, and how it shapes the story, opening up new avenues for our characters, and bringing them together with a common goal despite the clear animosity some of them have for the others. The revelations are nicely introduced as the story moves forwards, so there’s a real sense of learning what’s going on as the characters do, and it’s an effective way of building the intrigue and the danger facing the world, rather than having it all thrown at you early on.
This is one of those books that seems to have everything, there’s just so much to see in this world, but none of it is overdone, none of it feels like it’s there just for show. It’s a well-crafted world and then we have a well-crafted story set within it.
I’ve read a bunch of books recently that have airships in them, and they feature quite heavily here. Like everything else, they just seem a natural part of the world. Everything fits in in a way that is believable, and with the airships themselves, I like how we get to see more of the inner workings of them, we see air-to-air combat, and we see a great fleet of airships, including giant warships that are big enough to fit smaller airships inside them. It’s a small but interesting facet of the worldbuilding that I rather enjoyed.
Although magic plays a big part in the overall story, it also feels a bit understated. The story is more about the characters and their journey, although magic is definitely a part of that journey for some of them. I like the idea behind what we have here, and probably my only real criticism of the magic seen is the apparent speed at which it can be mastered. Some of what we see here almost came out of nowhere, but it still didn’t feel too out of place for the story, and it’s definitely something that was necessary.
I’m definitely excited to see where the story takes us next, especially after that ending, and the good news is there’s plenty of story for me to look forward to.
May 27, 2017
4 stars
I was pretty much sold on this book the moment the author described it as princes, dragons and sky pirates. Moroda is a young woman thrown into a jail cell after speaking out against an Arillian Lord who seems to have her people in thrall. Normally quiet and unassuming, Moroda is forced into an unlikely alliance with a Sky Pirate named Amarah when a dragon attacks the city. The slaying of the usually peaceful dragon by a mysterious Arillian hunter and the realisation that the creature may have been under a similar thrall to the people of the town, sends Moroda, and a motley crew of fellow travellers, across continents in search of answers.
'Moroda' was a classic fantasy novel in almost every respect, from the wide range of magical races to the dragons and in depth consideration of personal values and morals. Our protagonist Moroda, and indeed the dragons within book, are advocates of nonviolent methods of conflict resolution. Indeed, the whole premise of the book seems to be that war between humanoids is pretty much meaningless in the face of the damage that we wreak on our environment and our world. What use is an end to war, when the destruction we've wrought with kill us all anyway? The question raised at the very end of the story seems almost to be 'do these people even deserve the world that they live in?'
One of my favourite parts of the novel was the dragon lore. We have a world where the souls of dragons are the source of almost all magical power, to the extent that the oldest Sevastos dragons are pretty much worshipped as gods and creators. Phoenixes are found in greater numbers near the largest dragons, attracted to their heat and power, and phoenix feathers can be used to scry for their location.
Alongside the dragons there are several humanoid fantasy species. Arillians are winged beings with a strange magic of their own; the Varkain are grey skinned creatures that can transform into venomous snakes and the Ittallans are also shapeshifters, though more humanoid in appearance.
One thing that I've heard recently from some of my friends is how eager they are for a fantasy series that doesn't focus on romance. 'Moroda' was entirely romance free, and whilst I personally prefer a love subplot, I can totally see why that would be a selling point for many people!
I was also impressed with the ending, it really made sense with the tone of the rest of the novel, focusing on non-violence and sacrifice. I'm interested to see where the rest of the series goes from this, who of the characters will be the focus and, to be honest, whether any of them with even survive! It's been a long time since I've been unable to predict where a series will go and it's honestly quite exciting to be able to say that!
The not-so-good:
It's only a small thing but during the reading experience I really felt as if we needed a map. I was having trouble working out where people were going and what they were doing. Ironically, I rarely actually look at maps in books, but I felt myself turning the page to go and look for one a couple of times whilst reading this. Something to consider for future books in the series maybe!
The other small criticism I have is that the book felt very dialogue heavy. The thing with dialogue is that I like it fleeting and to try and mirror actual speech as much as possible, otherwise I end up skimming it. Pretty much every explanation in this book took place via speech and I wondered whether it would have been better explained via an internal voice recap, a letter or some other method, to allow the speech to be more playful and less ponderous.
Conclusion
It's been a while since I read a pure adventure fantasy and it was really refreshing to do so. Dragons, soul magic and sky pirates all combine into a rollicking start to what looks to be an interesting series. I look forward to seeing where the next book takes what is left of our motley crew!
Many thanks to L. L McNeil for a free copy in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Review Originally posted at Moon Magister Reviews.
I was pretty much sold on this book the moment the author described it as princes, dragons and sky pirates. Moroda is a young woman thrown into a jail cell after speaking out against an Arillian Lord who seems to have her people in thrall. Normally quiet and unassuming, Moroda is forced into an unlikely alliance with a Sky Pirate named Amarah when a dragon attacks the city. The slaying of the usually peaceful dragon by a mysterious Arillian hunter and the realisation that the creature may have been under a similar thrall to the people of the town, sends Moroda, and a motley crew of fellow travellers, across continents in search of answers.
'Moroda' was a classic fantasy novel in almost every respect, from the wide range of magical races to the dragons and in depth consideration of personal values and morals. Our protagonist Moroda, and indeed the dragons within book, are advocates of nonviolent methods of conflict resolution. Indeed, the whole premise of the book seems to be that war between humanoids is pretty much meaningless in the face of the damage that we wreak on our environment and our world. What use is an end to war, when the destruction we've wrought with kill us all anyway? The question raised at the very end of the story seems almost to be 'do these people even deserve the world that they live in?'
One of my favourite parts of the novel was the dragon lore. We have a world where the souls of dragons are the source of almost all magical power, to the extent that the oldest Sevastos dragons are pretty much worshipped as gods and creators. Phoenixes are found in greater numbers near the largest dragons, attracted to their heat and power, and phoenix feathers can be used to scry for their location.
Alongside the dragons there are several humanoid fantasy species. Arillians are winged beings with a strange magic of their own; the Varkain are grey skinned creatures that can transform into venomous snakes and the Ittallans are also shapeshifters, though more humanoid in appearance.
One thing that I've heard recently from some of my friends is how eager they are for a fantasy series that doesn't focus on romance. 'Moroda' was entirely romance free, and whilst I personally prefer a love subplot, I can totally see why that would be a selling point for many people!
I was also impressed with the ending, it really made sense with the tone of the rest of the novel, focusing on non-violence and sacrifice. I'm interested to see where the rest of the series goes from this, who of the characters will be the focus and, to be honest, whether any of them with even survive! It's been a long time since I've been unable to predict where a series will go and it's honestly quite exciting to be able to say that!
The not-so-good:
It's only a small thing but during the reading experience I really felt as if we needed a map. I was having trouble working out where people were going and what they were doing. Ironically, I rarely actually look at maps in books, but I felt myself turning the page to go and look for one a couple of times whilst reading this. Something to consider for future books in the series maybe!
The other small criticism I have is that the book felt very dialogue heavy. The thing with dialogue is that I like it fleeting and to try and mirror actual speech as much as possible, otherwise I end up skimming it. Pretty much every explanation in this book took place via speech and I wondered whether it would have been better explained via an internal voice recap, a letter or some other method, to allow the speech to be more playful and less ponderous.
Conclusion
It's been a while since I read a pure adventure fantasy and it was really refreshing to do so. Dragons, soul magic and sky pirates all combine into a rollicking start to what looks to be an interesting series. I look forward to seeing where the next book takes what is left of our motley crew!
Many thanks to L. L McNeil for a free copy in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Review Originally posted at Moon Magister Reviews.
January 29, 2020
*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Moroda is a swords and sorcery epic fantasy, featuring a pacifist main character. But just because she prefers to do no harm, that doesn’t mean Moroda is a pushover… quite the opposite.
The story begins with Moroda in jail for being the only person who dared to speak up against an illustrious visitor to the city. This act of defiance is just the start of an entirely new path for the young Goldsmith who, used to a life of comfort and complacency, has to find her inner strength to deal with sky pirates, shapeshifters and dragons.
This first book in the World of Linaria series sets the scene. building up the people and places of the world and explaining the rules of the magic, but the author achieves all of this whilst simultaneously providing plenty of action and suspense, and planting the seeds for an intriguing wider series-plot too.
There are quite a few central characters here, as Moroda gathers a team of allies (or enemies of her enemies) together. Each character is distinct and well-developed, and I would definitely read the rest of the series just to find out what happens to them all. There are a few unique non-human races: Ittallans (can shapeshift into animal forms); Arillians (winged and with control of the elements) and Varkain (snakelike, with poison, speed and camouflage abilities). We meet representatives from all of them in this book, and find out some of the prejudices and misconceptions about them, but it is clear that the world (and its people) are a lot more complex than Moroda previously imagined, and it appears she may have plenty more surprises ahead of her.
I really enjoyed this book and can recommend it to fellow epic fantasy fans looking for a new dragons-and-magic series to get stuck into!
Confused, Moroda glanced back to Amarah and back to the corner, squinting in the darkness as she tried to make out what Amarah could see.
Her heart began to race again when she spotted the silhouette of another person sat in the shadows. Had someone else been there all the time and she hadn’t noticed? How could that have happened?
She had been locked up almost an hour.
– L.L. McNeil, Moroda
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
Moroda is a swords and sorcery epic fantasy, featuring a pacifist main character. But just because she prefers to do no harm, that doesn’t mean Moroda is a pushover… quite the opposite.
The story begins with Moroda in jail for being the only person who dared to speak up against an illustrious visitor to the city. This act of defiance is just the start of an entirely new path for the young Goldsmith who, used to a life of comfort and complacency, has to find her inner strength to deal with sky pirates, shapeshifters and dragons.
This first book in the World of Linaria series sets the scene. building up the people and places of the world and explaining the rules of the magic, but the author achieves all of this whilst simultaneously providing plenty of action and suspense, and planting the seeds for an intriguing wider series-plot too.
There are quite a few central characters here, as Moroda gathers a team of allies (or enemies of her enemies) together. Each character is distinct and well-developed, and I would definitely read the rest of the series just to find out what happens to them all. There are a few unique non-human races: Ittallans (can shapeshift into animal forms); Arillians (winged and with control of the elements) and Varkain (snakelike, with poison, speed and camouflage abilities). We meet representatives from all of them in this book, and find out some of the prejudices and misconceptions about them, but it is clear that the world (and its people) are a lot more complex than Moroda previously imagined, and it appears she may have plenty more surprises ahead of her.
I really enjoyed this book and can recommend it to fellow epic fantasy fans looking for a new dragons-and-magic series to get stuck into!
Confused, Moroda glanced back to Amarah and back to the corner, squinting in the darkness as she tried to make out what Amarah could see.
Her heart began to race again when she spotted the silhouette of another person sat in the shadows. Had someone else been there all the time and she hadn’t noticed? How could that have happened?
She had been locked up almost an hour.
– L.L. McNeil, Moroda
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
July 22, 2018
I picked this up as an audio book because it’s narrated by one of my favourite people (the gorgeous Georgie Leonard) and I remembered her saying how much she enjoyed it while she was recording it.
I am SO glad I did! I really enjoyed it and I might not have come across it otherwise.
The world of Linaria is quite complex, and I like that we learn bits as we go along and that there’s still more we don’t know. I also like our rag tag bunch of heroes.
My favourite is Amarah! Awesome female sky pirate badass! 💙 I also liked the main character, Moroda, and the interactions between the two. Moroda and Amarah have such different backgrounds, and yet while not always agreeing, they manage to form a respect for each other and look out for each other. I like that Moroda is brave and wants to help her country, despite everything that happens to her, and despite the fact that she’s not a fighter.
Aciel is an excellent bad guy! Moroda’s fear of him comes through really well, and his power makes him a tough guy to beat.
The rest of the crew were a little up and down - I loved Eryn at the start of the book, but found her a little weak willed the rest of the time; I really liked the two Itallans, but Palom was a bit single minded at the end (though with reason!), though I loved the shape shifting and their lore behind it; I actually really liked Sapora - love a good morally grey character, and his and Isa’s relationship was awesome; and Kohl and Morgen faded a little into the background for me, even though Kohl has quite a bit going on.
My main niggle was the pace near the end - it ends so suddenly! I know that’s because it’s not over and it’s also to set up book 2 (which I am DEFINITELY reading) but it was SO sudden I was convinced I’d missed something. Though I do absolutely love that McNeil had the courage to end it the way she did despite it being super sad.
The other thing I want to mention is the deaths in the book. I’m not going to spoil, but there are a couple that felt very sudden, and despite there being reaction to it, it was just “oh X died” and it didn’t hit home the way I wanted it to. However, that’s pretty minor in the scheme of things, and I felt the grief was really well written.
I also want to talk about the DRAGONS. Because dragons are awesome, and I super loved the lore about these ones. I am really looking forward to seeing how that plays out in the next book, given the foreshadowing. They are fab in this book - it gives a good flavour of their power, and what you can use it for.
It’s a great fantasy book (and currently free of a pesky romance sub plot 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻) and I’d definitely recommend it to other fantasy lovers.
I am SO glad I did! I really enjoyed it and I might not have come across it otherwise.
The world of Linaria is quite complex, and I like that we learn bits as we go along and that there’s still more we don’t know. I also like our rag tag bunch of heroes.
My favourite is Amarah! Awesome female sky pirate badass! 💙 I also liked the main character, Moroda, and the interactions between the two. Moroda and Amarah have such different backgrounds, and yet while not always agreeing, they manage to form a respect for each other and look out for each other. I like that Moroda is brave and wants to help her country, despite everything that happens to her, and despite the fact that she’s not a fighter.
Aciel is an excellent bad guy! Moroda’s fear of him comes through really well, and his power makes him a tough guy to beat.
The rest of the crew were a little up and down - I loved Eryn at the start of the book, but found her a little weak willed the rest of the time; I really liked the two Itallans, but Palom was a bit single minded at the end (though with reason!), though I loved the shape shifting and their lore behind it; I actually really liked Sapora - love a good morally grey character, and his and Isa’s relationship was awesome; and Kohl and Morgen faded a little into the background for me, even though Kohl has quite a bit going on.
My main niggle was the pace near the end - it ends so suddenly! I know that’s because it’s not over and it’s also to set up book 2 (which I am DEFINITELY reading) but it was SO sudden I was convinced I’d missed something. Though I do absolutely love that McNeil had the courage to end it the way she did despite it being super sad.
The other thing I want to mention is the deaths in the book. I’m not going to spoil, but there are a couple that felt very sudden, and despite there being reaction to it, it was just “oh X died” and it didn’t hit home the way I wanted it to. However, that’s pretty minor in the scheme of things, and I felt the grief was really well written.
I also want to talk about the DRAGONS. Because dragons are awesome, and I super loved the lore about these ones. I am really looking forward to seeing how that plays out in the next book, given the foreshadowing. They are fab in this book - it gives a good flavour of their power, and what you can use it for.
It’s a great fantasy book (and currently free of a pesky romance sub plot 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻) and I’d definitely recommend it to other fantasy lovers.
September 19, 2018
Moroda is an impressive debut. It is filled with a world of things to learn, characters to become attached to and just the right amount left out to keep you wanting more. Roll on book two!
Moroda may be the name of one of the characters within, but this book feels like it has many protagonists to get to know. Initially however it starts with her; Moroda is thrown in a cell with some dodgy characters she'd rather not be mixed up with, and sprung free by her sister. So unfolds a story of escape, entwined with multiple other characters along the way, but it becomes so much bigger than that.
Dragons, dragon slayers, shape shifters, cool sky pirates (you'll find out for yourself what this is) and an epic adventure might seem like a lot to take in. But actually the world building, whilst highly fantastical and delightful, is very straightforward and easy to follow. There's nothing stuffy or lengthy about this narrative. Equally, each character has enough back story to make you feel like they have been well fleshed out, which also helps to keep track of who is who - I usually struggle with a large cast of characters because I just can't remember them all; not in this book.
Definitely give this debut novel a go - it's addictive, highly imaginative and just plain fun to read.
This book was provided to me from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Moroda may be the name of one of the characters within, but this book feels like it has many protagonists to get to know. Initially however it starts with her; Moroda is thrown in a cell with some dodgy characters she'd rather not be mixed up with, and sprung free by her sister. So unfolds a story of escape, entwined with multiple other characters along the way, but it becomes so much bigger than that.
Dragons, dragon slayers, shape shifters, cool sky pirates (you'll find out for yourself what this is) and an epic adventure might seem like a lot to take in. But actually the world building, whilst highly fantastical and delightful, is very straightforward and easy to follow. There's nothing stuffy or lengthy about this narrative. Equally, each character has enough back story to make you feel like they have been well fleshed out, which also helps to keep track of who is who - I usually struggle with a large cast of characters because I just can't remember them all; not in this book.
Definitely give this debut novel a go - it's addictive, highly imaginative and just plain fun to read.
This book was provided to me from the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2022
I am convinced MacRae can do no wrong and she has my full confidence when it comes to fantasy and dragons. I mean, there’s a reason two of her books have been either a semi-finalist or finalist in the Self Published Fantasy Blog-Off competition.
If I had to pinpoint what stands out to me when it comes to MacRae’s work, I would choose the worldbuilding and her ability to make a 500-page book read like a 300-page book. I read Moroda in less than 24 hours, and it didn’t even occur to me until after I read the last page that the story was over 500 pages long. The fluid pacing paired with a strong, character-driven plot made this story incredibly easy to read. Even though this is high/epic fantasy, I would recommend this in a heartbeat to new fantasy readers. The story is far from simplistic, but it is very accessible and easy to follow. The explanation of the different races and how they fit into the world is woven into the story with ease and avoids complicating the main storyline.
The worldbuilding in Moroda is very similar to that found in The Iron Crown. It has a large scope that is revealed to the readers through the characters as they progress on their journey. Even after 500 pages, I still feel like there is much to see within Linaria and the locations traveled/explored are just scratching the surface. Many races aid in creating a world rich in differing cultures, history, and traditions. The Ittalans and Varkains have a human-like appearance but can also shapeshift into animals. The Arillians have wings and magical capabilities that control the weather. Dragons are revered and are considered to be the source of all life and magic. There are also mages that study extensively to hone their craft but live a life of peace and neutrality within Linaria. And this is just from book one! I can only imagine what is to come as the series progresses.
The story follows a band of the most unlikely allies: Goldstone (a term used for the rich and posh) sisters, a thieving sky pirate, a murderous snake, two shapeshifting weapon traders, a winged dragon hunter, and an Imperial guard. Just typing out that combination of people makes me laugh. Any book that includes unlikely alliances, major trust issues, and bickering is automatically gold in my book. I loved how each character had their own motive and none were too keen on sharing it with the others. The combination of morally grey, morally driven, and morally blind made for a humorous read. Palom, a shapeshifting blacksmith/weapons trader, was my favorite character. He is basically a giant teddy bear, and I wanted to hug him several times throughout the book. Amarah, the sky pirate, comes in second because she’s just so sassy and refuses to keep her mouth shut. I loved how she was in it for the money for the entire book. There was no questioning her motives or who she was. I hope to see more of her and Palom’s backstory in the next book. Honorable mention goes to Sapora, the snake shapeshifter, for being mysterious and conniving until the very end. I need more of him. STAT.
Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. There’s action to keep you on your toes, heartbreaking moments that will have you reaching for tissues, and just enough kept hidden to have you wanting more. I’ve already purchased a copy of the second book, Palom (My favorite character?! This series and I were meant to be!), and can’t wait to see what happens next. Moroda is perfect for summertime reading, as it can easily be picked up and down. But I’m willing to bet you’ll have just as hard of a time putting it down as I did.
I highly recommend this book for fans of: dragons, non-human characters, character-driven plots, unlikely alliances and heroes, magic, swords & scythes vs. magic users, and worldbuilding rich in culture and history.
If I had to pinpoint what stands out to me when it comes to MacRae’s work, I would choose the worldbuilding and her ability to make a 500-page book read like a 300-page book. I read Moroda in less than 24 hours, and it didn’t even occur to me until after I read the last page that the story was over 500 pages long. The fluid pacing paired with a strong, character-driven plot made this story incredibly easy to read. Even though this is high/epic fantasy, I would recommend this in a heartbeat to new fantasy readers. The story is far from simplistic, but it is very accessible and easy to follow. The explanation of the different races and how they fit into the world is woven into the story with ease and avoids complicating the main storyline.
The worldbuilding in Moroda is very similar to that found in The Iron Crown. It has a large scope that is revealed to the readers through the characters as they progress on their journey. Even after 500 pages, I still feel like there is much to see within Linaria and the locations traveled/explored are just scratching the surface. Many races aid in creating a world rich in differing cultures, history, and traditions. The Ittalans and Varkains have a human-like appearance but can also shapeshift into animals. The Arillians have wings and magical capabilities that control the weather. Dragons are revered and are considered to be the source of all life and magic. There are also mages that study extensively to hone their craft but live a life of peace and neutrality within Linaria. And this is just from book one! I can only imagine what is to come as the series progresses.
The story follows a band of the most unlikely allies: Goldstone (a term used for the rich and posh) sisters, a thieving sky pirate, a murderous snake, two shapeshifting weapon traders, a winged dragon hunter, and an Imperial guard. Just typing out that combination of people makes me laugh. Any book that includes unlikely alliances, major trust issues, and bickering is automatically gold in my book. I loved how each character had their own motive and none were too keen on sharing it with the others. The combination of morally grey, morally driven, and morally blind made for a humorous read. Palom, a shapeshifting blacksmith/weapons trader, was my favorite character. He is basically a giant teddy bear, and I wanted to hug him several times throughout the book. Amarah, the sky pirate, comes in second because she’s just so sassy and refuses to keep her mouth shut. I loved how she was in it for the money for the entire book. There was no questioning her motives or who she was. I hope to see more of her and Palom’s backstory in the next book. Honorable mention goes to Sapora, the snake shapeshifter, for being mysterious and conniving until the very end. I need more of him. STAT.
Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. There’s action to keep you on your toes, heartbreaking moments that will have you reaching for tissues, and just enough kept hidden to have you wanting more. I’ve already purchased a copy of the second book, Palom (My favorite character?! This series and I were meant to be!), and can’t wait to see what happens next. Moroda is perfect for summertime reading, as it can easily be picked up and down. But I’m willing to bet you’ll have just as hard of a time putting it down as I did.
I highly recommend this book for fans of: dragons, non-human characters, character-driven plots, unlikely alliances and heroes, magic, swords & scythes vs. magic users, and worldbuilding rich in culture and history.
August 3, 2023
Great read. Love the everything about this book. Had me hooked from beginning to end. I enjoyed learning about the characters and the world. I’m looking forward to continuing the series.
July 23, 2018
After the death of her father, Moroda's world is in a downward spiral; but soon she ends up the unlikely ally to a sky pirate, a half-beast, and shapeshifters. What started as a simple dragon hunt soon turns into a bigger adventure.
I bought a paperback copy when the author attended a comic con in Doncaster, which was pretty cool.
The story follows Moroda, a young noble woman who loses everything when her father dies. Soon, all she has left is her little sister, and her wits.
Her personal struggle is put into perspective when her city is attacked by a dragon. In a bid to escape the destruction, they end up befriending a couple of weapons-traders, and a sky pirate.
This is an epic road-trip (or sky-trip) adventure, as a bunch of very unlikely allies are thrown together, as they chase answers, safety, and try to escape the villain. It's a story of discovery, and magic, and breaking your own limits. It builds a nice foundation for the rest of the Linaria stories.
It feels original, and an interesting take on the world of fantasy, whilst still feeling familiar.
There's a whole history for Linaria and it's countries, with inevitable battles, and prejudices coming from generations of discord. This is echoed by the tension between the diverse group of people that band together through necessity; but slowly it hints at friendship and (begrudging) respect.
The not-so-good.
Moroda is a side character in the novel with her name on.
She introduces you to the world, and the other characters, and I suppose readers may feel a connection with her, because she's an everywoman. In this book, she is nothing special. She is a passenger, and nothing about her stands out.
It was constantly in the back of my mind - why did this group of skilled people and experienced travellers, allow Moroda and her sister to join them. Sure, they were getting away from the threat of dragon attacks, but there were plenty of quiet villages on the way to drop them off. This wasn't a pleasure cruise, and it's clear they find these little lordling's daughters useless.
Moroda only seems to have a vague interest in travelling to find answers, and her sister Eryn is dead-set against it, at some points, often asking when they are going home.
With the exception of Amarah and Sapora, I found the rest of the cast very samey.
They each had their turn to narrate, but there was nothing in their voice or personality that made them stand out.
The worst was probably Eryn, who is a shadow to Moroda's character. She has no purpose of her own, she's just there to bolster Moroda when needed, or provide a conversational partner so they can discuss certain facts.
I also felt we got told a lot of stuff about these characters and their histories. During their musings and conversations, you get an in-depth background for each of them.
This meant that when tragedy did strike (and it was an awesome move), I wasn't emotionally invested enough for this to hit as hard as it should.
As I said, only Amarah and Sapora stood out for me. They were both opinionated, and vastly different to the rest of the crew. I loved Amarah, and I kind wished this was her story, as that would be so much fun.
Overall, this was a 3.5 out of 5 for me. It's a decent debut, and the series has plenty of promise.
I bought a paperback copy when the author attended a comic con in Doncaster, which was pretty cool.
The story follows Moroda, a young noble woman who loses everything when her father dies. Soon, all she has left is her little sister, and her wits.
Her personal struggle is put into perspective when her city is attacked by a dragon. In a bid to escape the destruction, they end up befriending a couple of weapons-traders, and a sky pirate.
This is an epic road-trip (or sky-trip) adventure, as a bunch of very unlikely allies are thrown together, as they chase answers, safety, and try to escape the villain. It's a story of discovery, and magic, and breaking your own limits. It builds a nice foundation for the rest of the Linaria stories.
It feels original, and an interesting take on the world of fantasy, whilst still feeling familiar.
There's a whole history for Linaria and it's countries, with inevitable battles, and prejudices coming from generations of discord. This is echoed by the tension between the diverse group of people that band together through necessity; but slowly it hints at friendship and (begrudging) respect.
The not-so-good.
Moroda is a side character in the novel with her name on.
She introduces you to the world, and the other characters, and I suppose readers may feel a connection with her, because she's an everywoman. In this book, she is nothing special. She is a passenger, and nothing about her stands out.
It was constantly in the back of my mind - why did this group of skilled people and experienced travellers, allow Moroda and her sister to join them. Sure, they were getting away from the threat of dragon attacks, but there were plenty of quiet villages on the way to drop them off. This wasn't a pleasure cruise, and it's clear they find these little lordling's daughters useless.
Moroda only seems to have a vague interest in travelling to find answers, and her sister Eryn is dead-set against it, at some points, often asking when they are going home.
With the exception of Amarah and Sapora, I found the rest of the cast very samey.
They each had their turn to narrate, but there was nothing in their voice or personality that made them stand out.
The worst was probably Eryn, who is a shadow to Moroda's character. She has no purpose of her own, she's just there to bolster Moroda when needed, or provide a conversational partner so they can discuss certain facts.
I also felt we got told a lot of stuff about these characters and their histories. During their musings and conversations, you get an in-depth background for each of them.
This meant that when tragedy did strike (and it was an awesome move), I wasn't emotionally invested enough for this to hit as hard as it should.
As I said, only Amarah and Sapora stood out for me. They were both opinionated, and vastly different to the rest of the crew. I loved Amarah, and I kind wished this was her story, as that would be so much fun.
Overall, this was a 3.5 out of 5 for me. It's a decent debut, and the series has plenty of promise.
July 11, 2019
I ordered the books from the authors website after a recommendation by a friend - I then listened to the first book on audio and really enjoyed it. Moroda is a really compelling read, with rich world building and thoughtful characters. Even though this books main focus is on the character of Moroda we spend a good amount of time getting to know all of the characters and I definitely had my favourites.
I also loved the Dragons and the magic system, I found it to be quite unique and I am looking forward to exploring that more.
One thing that I felt let this book down a little was the deaths (which seemed a little like a sidenote at one point in the book which was a shame as the characters deserved more I think) and the ending felt very abrupt though this may be set up for book 2 which I am hoping to start reading fairly soon.
Overall though it was a good read and I am looking forward to carrying on with the series.
I also loved the Dragons and the magic system, I found it to be quite unique and I am looking forward to exploring that more.
One thing that I felt let this book down a little was the deaths (which seemed a little like a sidenote at one point in the book which was a shame as the characters deserved more I think) and the ending felt very abrupt though this may be set up for book 2 which I am hoping to start reading fairly soon.
Overall though it was a good read and I am looking forward to carrying on with the series.
August 7, 2017
Like many others princes, dragons and sky pirates sold me - and I really got what I was looking for. The story and the way it was written never failed to entertain me and though from time to time, I yearned for a bit more details regarding some topics and character backgrounds, I enjoyed following Moroda's and all the other's path whole heartedly and look forward for what next to come.
January 9, 2021
This first book of the series is absolutely captivating and provides an imaginative world with a page turning adventure that follows a small group, as the tale unfolds with every page I found myself more and more enveloped! A rare gem in modern times and to top it off there are dragon's to complete this wonderful read
August 4, 2022
4.5 Stars
Moroda by L.L. MacRae is a very enjoyable epic fantasy, with a diverse group of characters thrown together by circumstance and necessity.
MacRae's characters are strong, well developed and complex. I loved the development of Amarah and Sapora particularly. The more morally gray the characters, the better.
The world building is also strong. We are thrown into the action from the first chapter, and we learn about the world, its cultures, magic and politics, through our characters' journey.
The plot itself was easy to follow, but I have some questions along the way. I found that I needed a little more about the stories antagonist, but this was just a minor issue for me and didn't affect my overall enjoyment.
I enjoy being shown a world, learning through its characters' POVs, rather than getting all the info up front. This is something that L.L. MacRae does so well, which I loved in The Iron Crown; I can now see where the foundations were laid.
MacRae's worlds are so richly imagined, having a uniqueness that stands out from the norm. I felt immersed in Linaria, but only enough that the surface has been scratched - credit to the author's ability to show not tell. There is so much more to discover in this world; I will be returning to Linaria soon to continue the adventure.
Moroda by L.L. MacRae is a very enjoyable epic fantasy, with a diverse group of characters thrown together by circumstance and necessity.
MacRae's characters are strong, well developed and complex. I loved the development of Amarah and Sapora particularly. The more morally gray the characters, the better.
The world building is also strong. We are thrown into the action from the first chapter, and we learn about the world, its cultures, magic and politics, through our characters' journey.
The plot itself was easy to follow, but I have some questions along the way. I found that I needed a little more about the stories antagonist, but this was just a minor issue for me and didn't affect my overall enjoyment.
I enjoy being shown a world, learning through its characters' POVs, rather than getting all the info up front. This is something that L.L. MacRae does so well, which I loved in The Iron Crown; I can now see where the foundations were laid.
MacRae's worlds are so richly imagined, having a uniqueness that stands out from the norm. I felt immersed in Linaria, but only enough that the surface has been scratched - credit to the author's ability to show not tell. There is so much more to discover in this world; I will be returning to Linaria soon to continue the adventure.
October 15, 2025
I give it 4 🌟
I loved the fantasy world of Linaria, the dragons played a significant role in the story and history, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The characters were well-developed, each with their own unique voice and growth …
Moroda's ( I’m wondering wasa nod to Frodo’s name) and Sapora's were great.. focus on the main plot. Was great!!
The themes were well-explored and consistent, and the ending felt fitting. The action scenes were thrilling, with memorable moments like city battles, air races, and dragon encounters. Overall, it was an engaging and well-crafted story.
I didn’t care too much for the narrator, but the a personal issue!
I loved the fantasy world of Linaria, the dragons played a significant role in the story and history, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The characters were well-developed, each with their own unique voice and growth …
Moroda's ( I’m wondering wasa nod to Frodo’s name) and Sapora's were great.. focus on the main plot. Was great!!
The themes were well-explored and consistent, and the ending felt fitting. The action scenes were thrilling, with memorable moments like city battles, air races, and dragon encounters. Overall, it was an engaging and well-crafted story.
I didn’t care too much for the narrator, but the a personal issue!
Want to read
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