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The Hero Always Wins #1
The Hero Always Wins
The knight's oath is barely off Darcy's tongue, and already the world is collapsing around him. As the demon hordes of Angra-Jyn slaughter their way toward the city, betrayal amongst the knights' own ranks threatens to destroy them before they can even make their stand.
But the blood of a hero flows in Darcy's veins. He will not be discouraged by the war he is losing. He will not be dissuaded by the traitorous assassin who continues to strike in the night. He will not give up, even as friends start to doubt him and sanity begins to slip beyond his grasp. Why? Because victory is his destiny.
Because he is the hero, and the hero always wins.
But the blood of a hero flows in Darcy's veins. He will not be discouraged by the war he is losing. He will not be dissuaded by the traitorous assassin who continues to strike in the night. He will not give up, even as friends start to doubt him and sanity begins to slip beyond his grasp. Why? Because victory is his destiny.
Because he is the hero, and the hero always wins.
Nook
First published June 22, 2011
6 people are currently reading
313 people want to read
About the author
Robert Eaton
2 books59 followersRobert Eaton lives in Upstate New York, where the definition of summer is two months of bad sledding. He loves heavy metal, whether it is blasting from his radio, clanging in his gym, or rattling on the armored bodies of the characters he writes.
Robert Eaton is a proud member of the Genre Underground
Robert Eaton is a proud member of the Genre Underground
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 26, 2013
Review from the wife.
There's some fun bait-and-switch storytelling that the wife enjoyed, but she found herself annoyed with editing errors, and modern colloquial slang. The modern elements(dress sizes, high-heeled shoes in fashion in an otherwise warrior oriented society) didn't seem to mesh well for her.
She enjoyed the humorous tone of the beginning, and was tickled when it morphed into something darker, but she didn't find any of the characters to be especially compelling, and elements of the culture did not seem fully realized. She felt that the author didn't actually consider WHY those people would develop the society they had, and it just made it feel less real. She thought it had potential, but mentioned that it could have used another draft or two to smooth transitions, weed out editing errors, and connect the dots between events a little more thoroughly. She never felt that the threads of the cultures and characters really came together in an organic way. Something happened... Then something else happened... Then something happened after that. No real links or causes, or connections to the characters. Her word for the overall story and worldbuilding was "unfinished."
She thought the deviance from expectation in the plotting was well done, and it had an engaging concept, though, and is looking forward to seeing more of the author's work, though she hopes he polishes it up more.
There's some fun bait-and-switch storytelling that the wife enjoyed, but she found herself annoyed with editing errors, and modern colloquial slang. The modern elements(dress sizes, high-heeled shoes in fashion in an otherwise warrior oriented society) didn't seem to mesh well for her.
She enjoyed the humorous tone of the beginning, and was tickled when it morphed into something darker, but she didn't find any of the characters to be especially compelling, and elements of the culture did not seem fully realized. She felt that the author didn't actually consider WHY those people would develop the society they had, and it just made it feel less real. She thought it had potential, but mentioned that it could have used another draft or two to smooth transitions, weed out editing errors, and connect the dots between events a little more thoroughly. She never felt that the threads of the cultures and characters really came together in an organic way. Something happened... Then something else happened... Then something happened after that. No real links or causes, or connections to the characters. Her word for the overall story and worldbuilding was "unfinished."
She thought the deviance from expectation in the plotting was well done, and it had an engaging concept, though, and is looking forward to seeing more of the author's work, though she hopes he polishes it up more.
December 21, 2011
I found Robert Eaton on Twitter and was intrigued by the description of his fantasy novel The Hero Always Wins. “Think Lord of the Rings, minus the songs and hobbits.”
I picked up a copy of it, settled back and started to read. I was caught up in the story within a page or two, firmly ensnared in Eaton’s fantasy world. I’m not going to write a detailed synopsis of the book, as I don’t want to give anything away. There are so many twists and turns to the story, some so unexpected I had to go back and reread pages just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. The story is well written, with very compelling characters. The blooming love story between Darcy and Brianna is touching, a trifle infuriating at times as Brianna wrestles with a tormented past. The interplay between Carys and Arabella is subtle and covers a multitude of relationship changes as their friendship grows. Many scenes are so descriptive and evocative; I actually caught myself holding my breath on more than one occasion waiting to see what happened next.
This story covers all that is good in the fantasy genre – lots of fast paced action, swords, sorcery, a dash of romance, humor, and a hero willing to sacrifice himself for what he believes in, all set in a fantasy world surrounded by the magic of Leorht. I will eagerly be awaiting the sequel!
I picked up a copy of it, settled back and started to read. I was caught up in the story within a page or two, firmly ensnared in Eaton’s fantasy world. I’m not going to write a detailed synopsis of the book, as I don’t want to give anything away. There are so many twists and turns to the story, some so unexpected I had to go back and reread pages just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. The story is well written, with very compelling characters. The blooming love story between Darcy and Brianna is touching, a trifle infuriating at times as Brianna wrestles with a tormented past. The interplay between Carys and Arabella is subtle and covers a multitude of relationship changes as their friendship grows. Many scenes are so descriptive and evocative; I actually caught myself holding my breath on more than one occasion waiting to see what happened next.
This story covers all that is good in the fantasy genre – lots of fast paced action, swords, sorcery, a dash of romance, humor, and a hero willing to sacrifice himself for what he believes in, all set in a fantasy world surrounded by the magic of Leorht. I will eagerly be awaiting the sequel!
November 12, 2015
This book is awesome. It's fun. It's exciting. It's a perfect blend of traditional fantasy mixed with modern sensibilities.
Robert Eaton unfolds THE HERO ALWAYS WINS brilliantly. He teases out the story, giving just the right information at the right time so that when the big secrets are revealed, I found myself blinking in surprise, somewhat ashamed that I didn't pick up on the twists and turns. He gives the reader all the information needed to predict many of these swerves ahead of time, but does so deftly and subtly within the narrative that they come as a shock.
I really can't give out any details about the story arch, because that will ruin the surprises for you. I will say this: I was fully invested in pretty much every character on both sides of the conflict. Eaton does a great ob of painting both protagonists and antagonists in such a light that it's easy to identify and sympathize with them all.
Is it a perfect book? No. But then, I believe there are no perfect books. Most of my minor, and I repeat VERY minor, issues that I had with THE HERO ALWAYS WINS are due to my own tastes so I won't go into them.
Get this book. Get lost in the adventure. See if you can figure out what's going on ahead of time. If you do, you payed closer attention than I did.
Robert Eaton unfolds THE HERO ALWAYS WINS brilliantly. He teases out the story, giving just the right information at the right time so that when the big secrets are revealed, I found myself blinking in surprise, somewhat ashamed that I didn't pick up on the twists and turns. He gives the reader all the information needed to predict many of these swerves ahead of time, but does so deftly and subtly within the narrative that they come as a shock.
I really can't give out any details about the story arch, because that will ruin the surprises for you. I will say this: I was fully invested in pretty much every character on both sides of the conflict. Eaton does a great ob of painting both protagonists and antagonists in such a light that it's easy to identify and sympathize with them all.
Is it a perfect book? No. But then, I believe there are no perfect books. Most of my minor, and I repeat VERY minor, issues that I had with THE HERO ALWAYS WINS are due to my own tastes so I won't go into them.
Get this book. Get lost in the adventure. See if you can figure out what's going on ahead of time. If you do, you payed closer attention than I did.
December 19, 2011
Robert Eaton’s first dip into the writing world has come up aces! The Hero Always Wins is a wonderful fantasy tale that brings to mind many of the epic tales that we have seen on the shelves with a major difference. Eaton’s story deftly weaves magic, horror and fantasy into a outstanding story that immediately pulls the reader in and holds you until the very last word. There are so many twists and turns that help to keep the story engaging and keeps the reader on their mental toes!
Our hero, Darcy, is a new knight and longs to save his lands and people. The frustration he feels at being able to help everyone is palpitate and his struggles as he adjusts to his role as The Hero. The mystery intertwined within the story only serves to make the reading more enjoyable. I was completely hooked and I eagerly await the next installment in the series. This novel is a great first book from an up and coming author. I highly recommend it for anyone who is a fan of great fantasy.
Our hero, Darcy, is a new knight and longs to save his lands and people. The frustration he feels at being able to help everyone is palpitate and his struggles as he adjusts to his role as The Hero. The mystery intertwined within the story only serves to make the reading more enjoyable. I was completely hooked and I eagerly await the next installment in the series. This novel is a great first book from an up and coming author. I highly recommend it for anyone who is a fan of great fantasy.
March 20, 2013
I must confess that I was expecting something completely different based on the title. "The Hero Always Wins" sounded (to me) like the perfect title for a snarky and humorous fantasy send-up, and the cover art (at first glance) adds to that impression.
Instead, it turned out to be the kind of Endless-Fantasy-Series story that I've been avoiding for years. So to be fair, I must say up front that this is NOT my kind of book, and I feel a little snookered by false impressions into having read it. Maybe I should have read the reviews a little more carefully!
The Good:
The magic of this fantasy universe is quite intriguing (enough so, I was able to get through the book instead of completely giving up on it). Some of the characters (especially the hapless Darcy) are complex enough to be interesting. And for an apparently self-published book, the editing errors are very minor.
The Bad:
The universe itself isn't sufficiently elaborated on. Between horses, armor, and swords on the one hand, and a modernly large city, tuxedos, and standard women's dress sizes on the other, I had a difficult time forming a picture in my head of what this place looks and feels like. Why are goods sent overland through dangerous territory instead of shipped across the sea? Then there's the fact that the two main female characters seem remarkably clueless, considering their backgrounds. I won't spoil the "big reveal" (which I predicted well in advance), but I found it hard to believe that a woman who had grown up in the kind of household Arabella did would be so utterly unaware of the realities of being female. (Then again, this book was written by a man.)
Ultimately, this story seems to exist primarily for the sake of grueling battle scenes that result in horrible injuries, strung like bloody beads on a standard fantasy plotline that has only an intriguing magic system to make it sparkle. Not a bad book for the right audience, but not my cup of tea.
August 5, 2011
I am a huge fan of stories that take me along for the ride. I like larger than life characters, feats of derring do, magic, passion. They make for a great time. When I started reading "The Hero Always Wins" I half expected a tongue in cheek take on the Fantasy Genre. What I got was something decidedly more serious, at times dark and sad but an impressive effort nonetheless.
Robert Eaton, a self described rock and wrestling fan opens his novel with a bang, taking the reader right into the heart of the action. The novel is a sweeping story with a wide variety of characters - some of them prototypical fantasy characters like Lord Niall Lionne and his son Darcy and others, like Brianna, the woman in red, the female Knight Carys and Arabella Dorian that are cut from a slightly different cloth.
Using a basic good versus evil motif (the Knights of the Citadel pitted against the Heathens and deadly Warlocks) Eaton takes the reader on a wild ride with rampaging warlocks, hordes of heathens and a cast of seeming thousands. The combat scenes stood out in particular for me because they reminded me of R.A. Salvatore. Detailed and visceral would be the best way to describe it. The Hero Always Wins is a fun first effort into what promises to be a wide, wild world.
Being that this is an independently produced novel there are a few grammatical issues at the beginning and the first act has a lot of characters and unfamiliar customs to get used to. But I found that as the story progressed I was drawn into and even found a few interesting twists that kept me guessing.
All in all I can honestly say that I really enjoyed the story and you definitely get your money's worth. I am eagerly anticipating the next story in the series and I think Robert Eaton is an author I will look forward to reading for some time to come.
Robert Eaton, a self described rock and wrestling fan opens his novel with a bang, taking the reader right into the heart of the action. The novel is a sweeping story with a wide variety of characters - some of them prototypical fantasy characters like Lord Niall Lionne and his son Darcy and others, like Brianna, the woman in red, the female Knight Carys and Arabella Dorian that are cut from a slightly different cloth.
Using a basic good versus evil motif (the Knights of the Citadel pitted against the Heathens and deadly Warlocks) Eaton takes the reader on a wild ride with rampaging warlocks, hordes of heathens and a cast of seeming thousands. The combat scenes stood out in particular for me because they reminded me of R.A. Salvatore. Detailed and visceral would be the best way to describe it. The Hero Always Wins is a fun first effort into what promises to be a wide, wild world.
Being that this is an independently produced novel there are a few grammatical issues at the beginning and the first act has a lot of characters and unfamiliar customs to get used to. But I found that as the story progressed I was drawn into and even found a few interesting twists that kept me guessing.
All in all I can honestly say that I really enjoyed the story and you definitely get your money's worth. I am eagerly anticipating the next story in the series and I think Robert Eaton is an author I will look forward to reading for some time to come.
April 8, 2012
Review of The Hero Always Wins by Robert Eaton
Never judge a book by its cover or by a really quick glance; initially the cover of Hero Always Wins reminded me of a romance novel, which is why it languished so long on the reading list. Oh, how wrong I was.
It was the perfect book to start my spring break reading fest. It keep me engaged while cuddled beneath the covers. Just what the doctor order, rest and recuperation with a side of adventure.
The tale begins with a young, prideful knight engaging in battle. He charges into battle, kills the warlock and saves the maiden (plus a crazy old man) by going against orders. He carries a sword inscribed with the word - Hero and while his deeds are heroic, they can also be foolish like getting drunk more than once and letting those who depend on him down. It is the beginning of the archetypical hero's journey where the hero's pride gets knocked down and he learns to be a man. The only question is what kind of man. Darcy is faced with tracking down the traitor who killed his father. The same man who is now wrecking havoc on his home city by leaving a trail of bodies.
The path to his destiny is twisted and filled with innovative turns, making this anything the typical hero with a sword gets the girl and saves the day adventure.
Eaton creates a world that invites his readers; there are a few idiosyncrasies in his world that at first threw me. Not far mine you, but enough to know that there were holes in his world. They aren't significant and one moves past them into the adventure. Eaton weaves a fantastic tale not to be missed.
This is Eaton's first novel and with the way he ended it, readers will be begging for more.
Never judge a book by its cover or by a really quick glance; initially the cover of Hero Always Wins reminded me of a romance novel, which is why it languished so long on the reading list. Oh, how wrong I was.
It was the perfect book to start my spring break reading fest. It keep me engaged while cuddled beneath the covers. Just what the doctor order, rest and recuperation with a side of adventure.
The tale begins with a young, prideful knight engaging in battle. He charges into battle, kills the warlock and saves the maiden (plus a crazy old man) by going against orders. He carries a sword inscribed with the word - Hero and while his deeds are heroic, they can also be foolish like getting drunk more than once and letting those who depend on him down. It is the beginning of the archetypical hero's journey where the hero's pride gets knocked down and he learns to be a man. The only question is what kind of man. Darcy is faced with tracking down the traitor who killed his father. The same man who is now wrecking havoc on his home city by leaving a trail of bodies.
The path to his destiny is twisted and filled with innovative turns, making this anything the typical hero with a sword gets the girl and saves the day adventure.
Eaton creates a world that invites his readers; there are a few idiosyncrasies in his world that at first threw me. Not far mine you, but enough to know that there were holes in his world. They aren't significant and one moves past them into the adventure. Eaton weaves a fantastic tale not to be missed.
This is Eaton's first novel and with the way he ended it, readers will be begging for more.
September 27, 2011
What can I say, but to start off by saying they don't call it epic fantasy just for the hell of it. I grew up on Tolkien. My bed time stories when I was young were 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings'. Fantasy is and always will be my favorite genre, so when I met Robert Eaton on Twitter, I was excited. Another fantasy writer! I quickly downloaded his book and finally got to it about three months later.
'The Hero Always Wins' is fantastic. It has warlocks, knights, wyrms, healers, magic... if you want it, it's in there. What I absolutely loved was the twist. I can't go into it because it will give away a big part of the story, but let me tell you this: when I finally realized what was happening, my jaw dropped, and I swore out loud, which earned me a raised eyebrow from my husband.
Eaton's characters are real. Their range of emotion is fantastic... you never end a scene wondering how that particular character has handled it emotionally. The discriptions of the lanscapes and places are phenomenal.
This book is Robert's debut novel... and I never would have guessed it had I not known. A lot of debut novels (mine included) seem to have that 'I'm getting comfortable with my author skin' feel to them. 'The Hero Always Wins' doesn't. It starts off well written and it ends well written.
So, do I recommend this book? Obviously! This one gets five stars from me.
All that's left to say, really, is Robert, when's your next novel coming out?
'The Hero Always Wins' is fantastic. It has warlocks, knights, wyrms, healers, magic... if you want it, it's in there. What I absolutely loved was the twist. I can't go into it because it will give away a big part of the story, but let me tell you this: when I finally realized what was happening, my jaw dropped, and I swore out loud, which earned me a raised eyebrow from my husband.
Eaton's characters are real. Their range of emotion is fantastic... you never end a scene wondering how that particular character has handled it emotionally. The discriptions of the lanscapes and places are phenomenal.
This book is Robert's debut novel... and I never would have guessed it had I not known. A lot of debut novels (mine included) seem to have that 'I'm getting comfortable with my author skin' feel to them. 'The Hero Always Wins' doesn't. It starts off well written and it ends well written.
So, do I recommend this book? Obviously! This one gets five stars from me.
All that's left to say, really, is Robert, when's your next novel coming out?
March 27, 2013
This was not the story I was expecting when I started it. I was rooting for Darcy, the knightly hero. I wasn't sure what to think of Arabella when she was introduced. And Brianna? This book is full of weird twists and turns and reversals that I didn't see coming.
If you're expecting the usual D&D campaign crossed with something sort of like the Shannara books, you're going to be disappointed. If you're looking for something very different but still high fantasy, this is a great read. I don't want to say too much, because I hate when people spoil the surprises for me and I don't want to spoil it for you. Just take my word that this is a fun twist on the old stereotypes.
I found a lot of typos and misused words in my version, so if that really bothers you as a reader, don't read the book. The violence got more than a little graphic at times, but not in a gory way, it felt more like a superhero battle where even though they were destroying buildings and smashing mountains, no one really got hurt. The book also has a few detailed sex scenes, but they came across almost boring, mostly because the viewpoint character was bored. Her inner dialogue was almost funny in those scenes. I'm not sure if the author was writing a comedy or not. Either way, I really enjoyed the story, although I want to strangle him for the last scene. Is there a book two or not? (It's a little bit of a teaser.)
4.5 stars, PG-13 for violence and some sex
If you're expecting the usual D&D campaign crossed with something sort of like the Shannara books, you're going to be disappointed. If you're looking for something very different but still high fantasy, this is a great read. I don't want to say too much, because I hate when people spoil the surprises for me and I don't want to spoil it for you. Just take my word that this is a fun twist on the old stereotypes.
I found a lot of typos and misused words in my version, so if that really bothers you as a reader, don't read the book. The violence got more than a little graphic at times, but not in a gory way, it felt more like a superhero battle where even though they were destroying buildings and smashing mountains, no one really got hurt. The book also has a few detailed sex scenes, but they came across almost boring, mostly because the viewpoint character was bored. Her inner dialogue was almost funny in those scenes. I'm not sure if the author was writing a comedy or not. Either way, I really enjoyed the story, although I want to strangle him for the last scene. Is there a book two or not? (It's a little bit of a teaser.)
4.5 stars, PG-13 for violence and some sex
January 1, 2012
The Hero Always Wins
Author:Robert Eaton
Published By:
Date Published:
Pages:224
Recommended Age: 14+
Reviewed By: Gerald L. Black www.sentientsword.blogspot.com
Rating: 4
Purchased from Amazon for Kindle
Summary:
The Knights of Leohrt are an order devoted to protecting the people from Warlocks and the Heathenlands. When his father is killed, Darcy Lionne becomes champion of the order, although he is still very weak in power. A series of murders involving the knights lead him to find the source of the evil. The evil he finds, however is of a most unexpected sort.
Gerald L. Black's Thoughts:
The story was well written with action scenes from the beginning all the way through. The characters are fairly cliched, but you want to root for them nonetheless. Overall the flow of the plot was smooth and was free from many typos and other grammatical errors. The plot twists have you wondering at the outcome throughout. The story has shades of Conan with a military flair and a different take on magic use. Overall, it was an enthralling read.
Parents:
Language: AThe language is mild
Adult Content: Some sexual content and adult situations
Violence: Bloody violence.
Author:Robert Eaton
Published By:
Date Published:
Pages:224
Recommended Age: 14+
Reviewed By: Gerald L. Black www.sentientsword.blogspot.com
Rating: 4
Purchased from Amazon for Kindle
Summary:
The Knights of Leohrt are an order devoted to protecting the people from Warlocks and the Heathenlands. When his father is killed, Darcy Lionne becomes champion of the order, although he is still very weak in power. A series of murders involving the knights lead him to find the source of the evil. The evil he finds, however is of a most unexpected sort.
Gerald L. Black's Thoughts:
The story was well written with action scenes from the beginning all the way through. The characters are fairly cliched, but you want to root for them nonetheless. Overall the flow of the plot was smooth and was free from many typos and other grammatical errors. The plot twists have you wondering at the outcome throughout. The story has shades of Conan with a military flair and a different take on magic use. Overall, it was an enthralling read.
Parents:
Language: AThe language is mild
Adult Content: Some sexual content and adult situations
Violence: Bloody violence.
August 16, 2011
With a name like The Hero Always Wins, I went into it expecting a predictable adventure. Nothing could be further from the truth. From the first, page Eaton grabs your attention with a world that seems familiar and welcoming but, never the less, keeps you guessing at every turn. I can't remember a book that was harder to anticipate without using non sequitur curve balls.
It was quite a ride. I laughed out loud, and even read a few parts peering out from between my fingers. Eaton paints his characters with vivid detail, makes you care about them, and then makes it clear that none of them are safe.
His setting is remarkable. You feel instantly at home, yet it is full of new and exciting people and magic. He fulfilled one requirement I look for in magic, in that he set up rules for how it worked that were easy to grasp, and then worked within those bounds to have the characters solve their problems.
I would recommend this book to any fan of fantasy, and I would love to read more about this world and characters.
It was quite a ride. I laughed out loud, and even read a few parts peering out from between my fingers. Eaton paints his characters with vivid detail, makes you care about them, and then makes it clear that none of them are safe.
His setting is remarkable. You feel instantly at home, yet it is full of new and exciting people and magic. He fulfilled one requirement I look for in magic, in that he set up rules for how it worked that were easy to grasp, and then worked within those bounds to have the characters solve their problems.
I would recommend this book to any fan of fantasy, and I would love to read more about this world and characters.
October 11, 2011
Was enticed into trying this book out and am delighted I was. Had it on my 'to read' list, but jumped the gun and went ahead and moved it to the head of the line.
A debut novel and a wild ride. Lots of twists and turns and the unexpected. Well written from beginning to end and far from predictable, I highly recommend The Hero Always Wins. A great high fantasy told with vivid realism, humor and suspense.
Eaton's characters are indeed likeable, sketched with detail and as another reviewer mentioned, none of them are safe. His setting was so real it drew me in immediately as he took the time to clearly define the rules of his magical world and then kept his characters and their actions within those boundaries adding to the realism of the tale.
Love fantasy? Then this is a book you don't want to pass up. Download a sample now. Believe me, you're going to want to finish the book - oh, heck, just pay the .99 and enjoy!
A debut novel and a wild ride. Lots of twists and turns and the unexpected. Well written from beginning to end and far from predictable, I highly recommend The Hero Always Wins. A great high fantasy told with vivid realism, humor and suspense.
Eaton's characters are indeed likeable, sketched with detail and as another reviewer mentioned, none of them are safe. His setting was so real it drew me in immediately as he took the time to clearly define the rules of his magical world and then kept his characters and their actions within those boundaries adding to the realism of the tale.
Love fantasy? Then this is a book you don't want to pass up. Download a sample now. Believe me, you're going to want to finish the book - oh, heck, just pay the .99 and enjoy!
December 8, 2011
I picked up this book not knowing what to expect but I was so very pleasantly surprised by The Hero Always Wins. This book has everything a reader could want from an epic fantasy; fantastic characters, adventure, magic, and a brilliant plot twist.
I love to connect with the characters in a book and Robert Eaton sure did deliver. These are characters I want to travel with and explore with, and, of course, cheer for. His world is believable and engrossing. I loved being along for the ride and really do hope that the second book is not far away.
I love to connect with the characters in a book and Robert Eaton sure did deliver. These are characters I want to travel with and explore with, and, of course, cheer for. His world is believable and engrossing. I loved being along for the ride and really do hope that the second book is not far away.
September 11, 2011
Robert Eaton has created a rich, imaginative, colorful fantasy world. "The Hero Always Wins" surprised me in the good sense, and that doesn't happen very often. As a huge fantasy fan, I particularly enjoyed the clever, delicate, unpredictable balance between good & evil. Above all else, the descrpitive scenes are terrific. Robert Eaton is a real writer.
December 29, 2011
This book begins with a race to assist a caravan from a band of Heathens and from there it is a non-stop adventure of overwhelming proportions. Robert Eaton has spun a tale in which a reader can fall helplessly and be unable to come up for air. This book is a must read from the word "go". Go and buy it, now! Seriously, it's a great read!!! Enjoy.
September 21, 2012
This is a pretty fast paced read; it starts off with great action of the swords-and-sorcery flavor and did not fall into any of the stereotypes I expected. The magic system feels unique, the characters are very colourful, and there are some delicious plot twists that caught me completely by surprise. I quite enjoyed it. Looking forward to more.
October 19, 2011
Another surprisingly good read.
Interesting characters, magic, action unexpected twists and turns. What can you expect more from a fantasy novel.
I look forward to read the next book because it ended with a kind of cliff hanger.
Interesting characters, magic, action unexpected twists and turns. What can you expect more from a fantasy novel.
I look forward to read the next book because it ended with a kind of cliff hanger.
January 12, 2012
Fantastic read! I am looking forward to reading more!
November 7, 2014
This book made me so mad. SO mad. At around the halfway mark I was all set to go out and buy the next one in the series, and recommended it to quite a few people on here to boot. If only I could take it all back!
"And what is the cause of this rage?" you might be wondering to yourself. It is, as usual, the FREAKING EDITING. The story-line is really good, and I'm someone who rarely enjoys fantasy any more. There's a solid blend of characters who are clearly differentiated, there's a great magic and social system, and it's all-round fairly lovable. Except for that one gaping plot hole, that is.
But the editing. I would be embarrassed to own this book in physical copy, that's how bad it is. It's not quite at the level of "could of would of", but it's not far off. For the first half of the book it's not awful - maybe 1-3 mistakes per page. By the end however it's more like 5-10, and it was driving me up the freaking wall. I wasn't at all surprised to read that the author had recruited free assistance from family and internet randoms.
Tl;dr: this book needs a professional editor, and then it could be at the standard of traditionally-published fantasy novels. However, after seeing the quality take a serious dive, I will no longer be purchasing the second book. Story 4/5; editing 2/5.
"And what is the cause of this rage?" you might be wondering to yourself. It is, as usual, the FREAKING EDITING. The story-line is really good, and I'm someone who rarely enjoys fantasy any more. There's a solid blend of characters who are clearly differentiated, there's a great magic and social system, and it's all-round fairly lovable. Except for that one gaping plot hole, that is.
But the editing. I would be embarrassed to own this book in physical copy, that's how bad it is. It's not quite at the level of "could of would of", but it's not far off. For the first half of the book it's not awful - maybe 1-3 mistakes per page. By the end however it's more like 5-10, and it was driving me up the freaking wall. I wasn't at all surprised to read that the author had recruited free assistance from family and internet randoms.
Tl;dr: this book needs a professional editor, and then it could be at the standard of traditionally-published fantasy novels. However, after seeing the quality take a serious dive, I will no longer be purchasing the second book. Story 4/5; editing 2/5.
October 27, 2013
This is a fun book (a great value for the price), and the author shows a lot of potential, certainly in the realm of ideas. The magic system is one of the most imaginative, yet simple, systems I've read of late. There is a lot that can be done with the concept. However, the execution of the ideas could have used a little more polish through beta-readers and another pass by an editor, perhaps. Some of the world-building could have been expanded a bit, or expanded in less expositional ways (the chapters describing the past of Kale Dorian, in particular, while interesting and obviously well thought out, interrupted the flow of the plot, for me.)
Robert Eaton has his flashes of brilliance and his ups-and downs throughout, but for a first-time author without the resources of a major publishing house, I think he should be proud of his work. The Hero Always Wins is a mostly entertaining read with a pretty satisfying story arc (and teaser for the sequel).
The potential is here, I'll check in with the sequel when it comes out to see how it goes.
Robert Eaton has his flashes of brilliance and his ups-and downs throughout, but for a first-time author without the resources of a major publishing house, I think he should be proud of his work. The Hero Always Wins is a mostly entertaining read with a pretty satisfying story arc (and teaser for the sequel).
The potential is here, I'll check in with the sequel when it comes out to see how it goes.
May 25, 2013
This book started out pretty entertaining and then they returned to the Citadel. It wasn't until Bordertown that the story became interesting again. Arabella was so whiny until the last couple of chapters, which is when I finally started to like her. Darcy and his struggle was incredibly over-the-top that I found the bulk of the book quite tedious. I never got distracted by pop culture references; I didn't even notice any to be honest. What did distract me was the astounding amount of physical damage to Darcy, caused by his own hand and by others' that was beyond belief. If the next book is ever free, then I might read it just because I want to know what happens after the cliff-hanger ending. But, I won't be spending any money on it.
January 5, 2014
This is not a light-hearted novel or a romance. In fact, the story is actually pretty dark. It is definitely a page turner, and the author throws in plenty of twists, constantly keeping the reader on their toes. The book was exciting the whole way through, and it was interesting to read a book that addresses the issue of the "perfect hero who always overcomes evil to save the day." Eaton's novel is far more realistic, and reflects the uncertainty of the everyday.
The book had a few typos, and there were also a few inconsistencies with its medieval setting. There was also VERY little world building, and I would love to see a sequel that addresses this lapse. If you can overlook these things you will be in for an enjoyable read. 3.5 stars.
The book had a few typos, and there were also a few inconsistencies with its medieval setting. There was also VERY little world building, and I would love to see a sequel that addresses this lapse. If you can overlook these things you will be in for an enjoyable read. 3.5 stars.
May 12, 2013
So with out giving too much away I can say I really enjoyed it with some different characters than you'd normally expect in a fantasy and nothing happening quite the way I though it would. With characters you feel for both good and bad.
The only bad thing is that just as I was really getting in to it, the book ended. I look forward to the next book in the series.
The only bad thing is that just as I was really getting in to it, the book ended. I look forward to the next book in the series.
February 1, 2015
Very interesting characters and magic system.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and the setting.
One thing I really like about Robert's writing is the story isn't predictable.
There are so many writers that are so formulaic that you know what's coming next. Robert isn't one of those people.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and the setting.
One thing I really like about Robert's writing is the story isn't predictable.
There are so many writers that are so formulaic that you know what's coming next. Robert isn't one of those people.
April 7, 2014
Full review to follow
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