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Chronicles of Ealiron #1
The Hunter's Rede
Lorth of Ostarin is a hunter of men. Lawless, solitary and obscure, he is trained in magic and its inherent order. This uneasy combination of pitilessness and structure has made him the highest paid assassin in the land. It is also about to throw his life into chaos.
The trouble begins when Lorth returns home from a long absence to find his old haunts compromised by a cruel, upstart warlord who has invaded the realm and pushed it to the brink of war. Lorth’s cavalier attempt to elude a political sandpit quickly deteriorates into a series of skirmishes that he negotiates with a sword and a reckless penchant for using magic against the rules. He flees with a price on his head; but no angry warlords, wizards, foreign aristocrats or spooky apparitions can rattle him from the dark stability of his profession—until he is captured and condemned to execution by a formidable wizard who serves the old powers.
In his quest to prove his innocence and loyalty to the realm, Lorth discovers the value of his conflict between war and wizardry. But his quest turns bloody when love for a priestess and a will to avenge his homeland drives him to infiltrate an enemy occupation bent on domination and a blatant disregard for the forces of magic. This brings him to his greatest test, where he must surrender to the darkness of his nature to become a hunter unlike anything he has ever known.
Third edition
Includes a map and a glossary.
The trouble begins when Lorth returns home from a long absence to find his old haunts compromised by a cruel, upstart warlord who has invaded the realm and pushed it to the brink of war. Lorth’s cavalier attempt to elude a political sandpit quickly deteriorates into a series of skirmishes that he negotiates with a sword and a reckless penchant for using magic against the rules. He flees with a price on his head; but no angry warlords, wizards, foreign aristocrats or spooky apparitions can rattle him from the dark stability of his profession—until he is captured and condemned to execution by a formidable wizard who serves the old powers.
In his quest to prove his innocence and loyalty to the realm, Lorth discovers the value of his conflict between war and wizardry. But his quest turns bloody when love for a priestess and a will to avenge his homeland drives him to infiltrate an enemy occupation bent on domination and a blatant disregard for the forces of magic. This brings him to his greatest test, where he must surrender to the darkness of his nature to become a hunter unlike anything he has ever known.
Third edition
Includes a map and a glossary.
316 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2011
73 people are currently reading
1005 people want to read
About the author
F.T. McKinstry
16 books179 followersF.T. McKinstry hails from the northwoods of New England, and is an avid reader, artist, and musichead. When she was a kid, a passion for speculative fiction, mythology, and fairytales lured her into the idea of writing high fantasy. Well, the path through that spooky forest was long indeed and fraught with monsters, tragedies, and detours. She got into computers, and read lots and lots of books. But eventually she found her way…with the help of many cats and some right tormented protagonists.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 22, 2022
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
An assassin is summoned back to his homeland, where he screws up and leaves with a price on his head. The only way to prove his loyalty is to become a more efficient killer, but then he falls in love with a priestess, making this more difficult.
Way too much talk about the scar on his neck.
An assassin is summoned back to his homeland, where he screws up and leaves with a price on his head. The only way to prove his loyalty is to become a more efficient killer, but then he falls in love with a priestess, making this more difficult.
Way too much talk about the scar on his neck.
November 18, 2014
This is really an engaging story. The words truly come alive under the skillful hand of Ms. McKinstry. It is a very vivid read with some incredible imagery - "his heart limping with futile sentiment".
This is a complex story where you live and breathe Lorth's journey: the hunter's rede; the wizardry; the magic; the use of the mind - to see the future, enter others' thoughts, to communicate; his assassin lifestyle; his journey to really discover not only who he is but where he belongs. Lorth is someone you can tell has lived a solitary life, he doesn't really take into account others in the things he does. He is often in trouble and being chased by someone. He's a likeable character even though at times he was a bit pigheaded and self-centered. He was definitely someone I could easily envision and actually felt like I knew him and understood him and his actions. All of the characters were really well done and believable.
There are a lot of characters, a lot going on but it is a story that you need to keep reading. All is pulled together and you will understand who all the characters are and the roll they play. A compelling read.
This is a complex story where you live and breathe Lorth's journey: the hunter's rede; the wizardry; the magic; the use of the mind - to see the future, enter others' thoughts, to communicate; his assassin lifestyle; his journey to really discover not only who he is but where he belongs. Lorth is someone you can tell has lived a solitary life, he doesn't really take into account others in the things he does. He is often in trouble and being chased by someone. He's a likeable character even though at times he was a bit pigheaded and self-centered. He was definitely someone I could easily envision and actually felt like I knew him and understood him and his actions. All of the characters were really well done and believable.
There are a lot of characters, a lot going on but it is a story that you need to keep reading. All is pulled together and you will understand who all the characters are and the roll they play. A compelling read.
September 21, 2012
I haven't read this genre in a long time. I'm so glad this is the book that lured me back. I was thoroughly engrossed in it and had a hard time putting it down at times. I'd never heard of F.T. McKinstry when I got this book but think she is a very good writer. I'm looking forward to reading book #2 plus anything else she's written.
June 25, 2018
The Hunter's Rede by F.T. McKinstry is the first installment in the Chronicles of Ealiron about a hunter named Lorth and his the quest he finds himself on.
Plot 4/5: There was a major twist that I wasn't expecting.
Characters 4/5: The characters are pretty fleshed out. I found myself liking Lorth very much.
World building 4/5: There are different places and races which enhanced the story.
Pacing 3/5: The pacing was steady, but dragged with wordy descriptions.
Writing 4/5: The writing is good with very few typos.
Overall: 3.8
Won in a Goodreads giveaway, and also purchased on Amazon (not realizing it was the same book).
Plot 4/5: There was a major twist that I wasn't expecting.
Characters 4/5: The characters are pretty fleshed out. I found myself liking Lorth very much.
World building 4/5: There are different places and races which enhanced the story.
Pacing 3/5: The pacing was steady, but dragged with wordy descriptions.
Writing 4/5: The writing is good with very few typos.
Overall: 3.8
Won in a Goodreads giveaway, and also purchased on Amazon (not realizing it was the same book).
September 26, 2016
The Hunters’ Rede, Book One of The Chronicles of Ealiron, offers an absorbing look into the psyche of a hired assassin with limited but well-disciplined magical powers. Making his way through kingdoms at war and encountering treachery, grief, comradeship and love, he begins to understand that he must move beyond his allegiance to the rules of the Hunter’s Rede which have served him so well for so long.
Sometimes the creation of an entirely new fantasy or alien world, with all its history and complexities, presents problems for the reader struggling to make sense of all this new input. Not so this novel. There is no clumsy, heavy exposition, and the straight chronological narrative, all focusing on the point of view of the main character Lorth, leads you easily through setting up the world in your mind. It would really have strained this narrative to have to undergo flashbacks to other characters’ point of view, other times and places; the straight chronology centered in one character provides a strong backbone for this book. A detailed but not overlong glossary at the end of the book also helps nail this world down.
It’s as if Lorth is visiting various solidly-delineated theater sets upon which the actors emerge. These settings have an emotional resonance that ground you in the narrative. The story itself is fast-moving action; when Lorth muses about the magical realm and his role in it, his ruminations dovetail well with the story, never slowing it down. The book also deals with the problem of magic and what limitations it may or should have. For instance, if a given wizard has too much power and can always win by wrinkling his nose like Samantha in Bewitched, what’s the point of any novel dealing with magic? Wizards and other magicians in this novel definitely have limitations.
The Hunter’s Rede itself is a set of rules or advice for assassins like Lorth; it’s detailed and is brought to bear on Lorth’s consciousness at crucial points, but you don’t have to memorize the rules. They just unfold and make sense at the right time.
Lorth is fascinating in that he doesn’t possess infinite magical power, just enough for his needs as a skilled assassin. He’s a sort of a junior varsity magician who can make mistakes and act impulsively, and finds himself in all sorts of trouble as he flees from his pursuers and must use his excellent hunter’s reflexes to cope. Yet it’s gradually revealed that he has unique and unruly wizard capabilities that he needs to come to terms with, and that he has a major role to play in this world.
The author has a great ability to tap into modes of magical or shamanistic thinking and make them come concretely alive. Various power modes unfolding in Lorth’s mind often strike the reader with uncanny force. A major strength of this novel is the sense-drenched depiction of internal psychic events.
I am much looking forward to the next volume in the series, The Gray Isles.
Michael D. Smith
Sometimes the creation of an entirely new fantasy or alien world, with all its history and complexities, presents problems for the reader struggling to make sense of all this new input. Not so this novel. There is no clumsy, heavy exposition, and the straight chronological narrative, all focusing on the point of view of the main character Lorth, leads you easily through setting up the world in your mind. It would really have strained this narrative to have to undergo flashbacks to other characters’ point of view, other times and places; the straight chronology centered in one character provides a strong backbone for this book. A detailed but not overlong glossary at the end of the book also helps nail this world down.
It’s as if Lorth is visiting various solidly-delineated theater sets upon which the actors emerge. These settings have an emotional resonance that ground you in the narrative. The story itself is fast-moving action; when Lorth muses about the magical realm and his role in it, his ruminations dovetail well with the story, never slowing it down. The book also deals with the problem of magic and what limitations it may or should have. For instance, if a given wizard has too much power and can always win by wrinkling his nose like Samantha in Bewitched, what’s the point of any novel dealing with magic? Wizards and other magicians in this novel definitely have limitations.
The Hunter’s Rede itself is a set of rules or advice for assassins like Lorth; it’s detailed and is brought to bear on Lorth’s consciousness at crucial points, but you don’t have to memorize the rules. They just unfold and make sense at the right time.
Lorth is fascinating in that he doesn’t possess infinite magical power, just enough for his needs as a skilled assassin. He’s a sort of a junior varsity magician who can make mistakes and act impulsively, and finds himself in all sorts of trouble as he flees from his pursuers and must use his excellent hunter’s reflexes to cope. Yet it’s gradually revealed that he has unique and unruly wizard capabilities that he needs to come to terms with, and that he has a major role to play in this world.
The author has a great ability to tap into modes of magical or shamanistic thinking and make them come concretely alive. Various power modes unfolding in Lorth’s mind often strike the reader with uncanny force. A major strength of this novel is the sense-drenched depiction of internal psychic events.
I am much looking forward to the next volume in the series, The Gray Isles.
Michael D. Smith
November 23, 2013
Lorth is a hunter, but not the kind you would generally think of. Instead of hunting animals, he hunts men. He is a hired assassin, trained to adhere to the rede (the assassin’s code). Returning to his homeland, he finds the land in a state of turmoil.
There is a vast, well-developed world within these pages. There are different kingdoms and a rich history for each of them. There is plenty of description on each page, allowing me to picture the landscapes and events as they pass.
The start to this story is a bit slow, but it does not disappoint. The first few chapters contain long descriptions as well as very long sentences. I wasn’t sure what was going on for the first couple of chapters, but finally the action drew me in. There is plenty of excitement, and it held my attention well until the end.
Lorth is an interesting character. I was given lots of glimpses inside his head, which allowed me to see just what was going on. He sticks to his own code, and he never seems to waver. His responses to certain events are believable and stay true to his character without becoming predictable.
There is an abundance of magic throughout the story. As a magic fan, I appreciate that. It took a while for me to figure out who certain groups were and whether they possessed magical abilities, but that is probably only due to there being quite a bit to learn about this fantasy world. There is no information dump, and you learn more about the world as you follow Lorth’s journey.
I can’t go without mentioning the animals of this story, and Lorth’s special affinity for cats. I enjoyed his ability to communicate with them, and that he finds help among his animal companions.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There is a vast, well-developed world within these pages. There are different kingdoms and a rich history for each of them. There is plenty of description on each page, allowing me to picture the landscapes and events as they pass.
The start to this story is a bit slow, but it does not disappoint. The first few chapters contain long descriptions as well as very long sentences. I wasn’t sure what was going on for the first couple of chapters, but finally the action drew me in. There is plenty of excitement, and it held my attention well until the end.
Lorth is an interesting character. I was given lots of glimpses inside his head, which allowed me to see just what was going on. He sticks to his own code, and he never seems to waver. His responses to certain events are believable and stay true to his character without becoming predictable.
There is an abundance of magic throughout the story. As a magic fan, I appreciate that. It took a while for me to figure out who certain groups were and whether they possessed magical abilities, but that is probably only due to there being quite a bit to learn about this fantasy world. There is no information dump, and you learn more about the world as you follow Lorth’s journey.
I can’t go without mentioning the animals of this story, and Lorth’s special affinity for cats. I enjoyed his ability to communicate with them, and that he finds help among his animal companions.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2021
There is a lot to like about this high fantasy offering, and I had fun following the protagonist as he gets in and out of trouble. Having said that, I found the world building a bit of a mish-mash, with deep jungle a few days ride from the cold snow-capped mountains, etc. More importantly, I found it impossible to work out the various countries and their leaders from the text alone - which I was forced to do because I read it on a Kobo reader and the map provided is too dense and complex to read on a small screen. So, my problem in a way, but I think fantasy writers need to be cognizant of this problem when they publish.
Setting aside, my other problem was with the lead character. An assassin-for-hire is already a tough thing to get the reader invested in, but by and large the author manages that OK. But the fact he is both a great fighter AND a magician didn't really fly for me. He keeps insisting he's not really a wizard and just knows a few tricks. But those tricks smack of pretty advanced magic to me, and serve, more than once, to get him out of a serious jam. Stretched my credulity a bit too far.
So a decent offering, but I hope the sequels are a bit more tightly written.
Setting aside, my other problem was with the lead character. An assassin-for-hire is already a tough thing to get the reader invested in, but by and large the author manages that OK. But the fact he is both a great fighter AND a magician didn't really fly for me. He keeps insisting he's not really a wizard and just knows a few tricks. But those tricks smack of pretty advanced magic to me, and serve, more than once, to get him out of a serious jam. Stretched my credulity a bit too far.
So a decent offering, but I hope the sequels are a bit more tightly written.
March 26, 2013
*I was given this book free for a fair review*
The Hunter's Rede is a fast paced book about Lorth; an assassin. He lives his life by The Hunter's Rede, rules/codes for an assassin. As the story unfolds you learn that Lorth has enough magical power to either save himself or get himself into trouble. He was never classically trained.
Lorth is summoned to the North for proctection. Protection for what? From who? The message is breif, but enough that he know he must go and NOW! As he travels he realizes, how long he's been gone. The people and land have changed. New wizards have moved into places they shouldn't have been. Places where he was once welcomed are now locked down to him. He has to make his way alone. This story has everything; love, war, and political turmoil.
The world F.T. McKinstry creates is magical and well detailed. She creates the base for us, then our imagination takes over and creates the rest. I am anxious to start book 2 in this series!
The Hunter's Rede is a fast paced book about Lorth; an assassin. He lives his life by The Hunter's Rede, rules/codes for an assassin. As the story unfolds you learn that Lorth has enough magical power to either save himself or get himself into trouble. He was never classically trained.
Lorth is summoned to the North for proctection. Protection for what? From who? The message is breif, but enough that he know he must go and NOW! As he travels he realizes, how long he's been gone. The people and land have changed. New wizards have moved into places they shouldn't have been. Places where he was once welcomed are now locked down to him. He has to make his way alone. This story has everything; love, war, and political turmoil.
The world F.T. McKinstry creates is magical and well detailed. She creates the base for us, then our imagination takes over and creates the rest. I am anxious to start book 2 in this series!
August 6, 2012
What really draws you into this novel is the author's voice. Her unique writing style really brings the world to life. It's reminiscent of Michael Moorcock in his Elric saga.
Great novel -- looking forward to more in the series. In the meantime, I'll check out some of her other works.
Great novel -- looking forward to more in the series. In the meantime, I'll check out some of her other works.
August 24, 2012
Excellent book. Not your typical fantasy story. Assassin / warrior / wizard. Magic system is different. Good characterizations, compelling story. Loner finds purpose - okay so not too different than others. Enjoyed the book, will pick up the others and flag the author as a must read.
January 19, 2021
There is something intrinsically magical about exploring the worlds of books, regardless of whether or not they actually have magic themselves. I think anyone with the desire to create a world from the ground up, building cultures and languages, pasts for characters and religions, all of it is highly impressive and reminds me of first exploring the world of Middle Earth. In the case of F.T. McKinstry’s The Hunter’s Rede (and subsequent books, though I will only talk about the first one here) the level of intricacy and completeness is really quite fascinating. To be able to dive into a world with such depth and with characters who both reflect and transcend real life, is a wonderful thing indeed.
1. Thoughts on the plot
This first book in the series follows Lorth, an assassin in a land that is not his own, as he is called back home and faces the consequences of his decisions, and the scheming of the world around him. While he is not a wizard, he has many of the same talents, and these talents get him into rather a lot of trouble. He must unravel a plot by an invading army and gets caught up in two murders which have been laid at his feet. To make matters worse, it seems as though the gods themselves are involved.
This story is one of those that weaves together individual threads to create something magnificent. I really enjoyed seeing the pieces come to light and the final picture revealed, especially in light of the worldbuilding. I think the plot plays a variation on a theme of reluctant hero returning to face his past, and while I am generally fond of such stories, this one seems to transcend many of the one’s I’ve read in the past to stand on the level of some of the greats.
2. Thoughts on the characters
As far as heros go, Lorth is probably one of my favourite. He is a slightly-grumpy lone wolf sort who chafes at arbitrary rules placed on him, but also has a very firm sense of doing things that do not violate the dictates of his god, the Old One. Lorth is, I think one of the better developed characters I’ve read in a long while and I find his many facets fascinating. He manages to convey all the traits of a real person such that he jumps off the page when reading him. This book is the perfect introduction to him, and the subsequent books really flesh him out, though he doesn’t actually need it.
The other characters in this story are equally three dimensional. They go about their lives as people with true desires and motivations, with no need to explain their actions beyond a reasonable level. The characters have mystery and they have purpose, and I really like them all. Though, I will admit that Lorth, Eaglin and Leda are most certainly my favourites.
3. Favourite part
Ooh, this is a really hard thing to choose, since I really did like this entire book. I think perhaps, if i had to choose my favourite bit, I would say that the confrontation between Lorth and Eaglin probably rises to the surface. Not because I like seeing our protagonist in such dire straits, but because it displayed his personality in the most perfect sense. His and Eaglin’s I think. The potential for things to be much worse was definitely high, but Lorth turns it into something more or less par for the course, without rolling over and giving up. Eventually Eaglin admits his mistake, but even that really makes the scene what it is.
I can’t actually say a whole lot more than that because of spoilers, but it is the sort of thing that evokes a great deal of sympathy for the characters.
4. Critique
Honestly, I think the only critique I have is to do with the various geographies involve. Mostly, I had a hard time following some of the names of places, but that doesn’t actually have much to do with the book, since a map was provided, but my own brain being completely incapable of determining anything remotely close to a direction. So, it’s not really a critique and more of a comment on my own brain being severely navigationally challenged. I did like the names of all the places, though. Very fun, from a linguistic perspective.
Overall, I would say that The Hunter’s Rede is probably one of my most favourite fantasy novels of all time, which is saying something because I have read rather a lot of fantasy novels. The language, the characters, the plot, it is all really wonderful and I am likely to be reading them again, and again, and again. Excellent book!
1. Thoughts on the plot
This first book in the series follows Lorth, an assassin in a land that is not his own, as he is called back home and faces the consequences of his decisions, and the scheming of the world around him. While he is not a wizard, he has many of the same talents, and these talents get him into rather a lot of trouble. He must unravel a plot by an invading army and gets caught up in two murders which have been laid at his feet. To make matters worse, it seems as though the gods themselves are involved.
This story is one of those that weaves together individual threads to create something magnificent. I really enjoyed seeing the pieces come to light and the final picture revealed, especially in light of the worldbuilding. I think the plot plays a variation on a theme of reluctant hero returning to face his past, and while I am generally fond of such stories, this one seems to transcend many of the one’s I’ve read in the past to stand on the level of some of the greats.
2. Thoughts on the characters
As far as heros go, Lorth is probably one of my favourite. He is a slightly-grumpy lone wolf sort who chafes at arbitrary rules placed on him, but also has a very firm sense of doing things that do not violate the dictates of his god, the Old One. Lorth is, I think one of the better developed characters I’ve read in a long while and I find his many facets fascinating. He manages to convey all the traits of a real person such that he jumps off the page when reading him. This book is the perfect introduction to him, and the subsequent books really flesh him out, though he doesn’t actually need it.
The other characters in this story are equally three dimensional. They go about their lives as people with true desires and motivations, with no need to explain their actions beyond a reasonable level. The characters have mystery and they have purpose, and I really like them all. Though, I will admit that Lorth, Eaglin and Leda are most certainly my favourites.
3. Favourite part
Ooh, this is a really hard thing to choose, since I really did like this entire book. I think perhaps, if i had to choose my favourite bit, I would say that the confrontation between Lorth and Eaglin probably rises to the surface. Not because I like seeing our protagonist in such dire straits, but because it displayed his personality in the most perfect sense. His and Eaglin’s I think. The potential for things to be much worse was definitely high, but Lorth turns it into something more or less par for the course, without rolling over and giving up. Eventually Eaglin admits his mistake, but even that really makes the scene what it is.
I can’t actually say a whole lot more than that because of spoilers, but it is the sort of thing that evokes a great deal of sympathy for the characters.
4. Critique
Honestly, I think the only critique I have is to do with the various geographies involve. Mostly, I had a hard time following some of the names of places, but that doesn’t actually have much to do with the book, since a map was provided, but my own brain being completely incapable of determining anything remotely close to a direction. So, it’s not really a critique and more of a comment on my own brain being severely navigationally challenged. I did like the names of all the places, though. Very fun, from a linguistic perspective.
Overall, I would say that The Hunter’s Rede is probably one of my most favourite fantasy novels of all time, which is saying something because I have read rather a lot of fantasy novels. The language, the characters, the plot, it is all really wonderful and I am likely to be reading them again, and again, and again. Excellent book!
September 3, 2022
Despite my fears that the promise of the cover blurb might be too good to be true, The Hunter's Rede turned out to be one of those old-school pulp fantasy tales that hits all the right notes. F.T. McKinstry has built an interesting world here, with a fascinating system of magic, and put an interesting protagonist at the forefront. It takes a long while before Lorth makes that transition from protagonist to hero, but that's a large part of the story's charm.
Lorth is a great character, reminiscent of such pulp heroes as Conan, Elric, and Fafhrd. He's a self-serving loner, with an utter disregard for rules, and a recklessness borne of the legends that have grown around him. That's not so say he's a bad guy, just a selfish, pragmatic, amoral man with a somewhat distasteful job to do . . . which he happens to do very well. Like his predecessors, Lorth is also a man of deep-rooted passions, with loyalties that are sometimes short-lived, but no less significant for it.
The story here is well-told, moving along at a brisk pace. For such a short book - more a novella than a proper novel - there's a surprising amount of political intrigue and developing relationships to carry the story along. We're fed background details as we go, with no awkward moments of exposition, and no extended flashbacks to pull us from the main thread of the narrative. Like I said earlier, the system of magic is quite intriguing, but also smartly limited, keeping the overall story grounded in intelligent resolutions, as opposed to exaggerated games of one-upmanship.
While this first book works well as a self-contained story, there's more than enough potential left unexplored for subsequent instalments in the further Chronicles of Ealiron.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Lorth is a great character, reminiscent of such pulp heroes as Conan, Elric, and Fafhrd. He's a self-serving loner, with an utter disregard for rules, and a recklessness borne of the legends that have grown around him. That's not so say he's a bad guy, just a selfish, pragmatic, amoral man with a somewhat distasteful job to do . . . which he happens to do very well. Like his predecessors, Lorth is also a man of deep-rooted passions, with loyalties that are sometimes short-lived, but no less significant for it.
The story here is well-told, moving along at a brisk pace. For such a short book - more a novella than a proper novel - there's a surprising amount of political intrigue and developing relationships to carry the story along. We're fed background details as we go, with no awkward moments of exposition, and no extended flashbacks to pull us from the main thread of the narrative. Like I said earlier, the system of magic is quite intriguing, but also smartly limited, keeping the overall story grounded in intelligent resolutions, as opposed to exaggerated games of one-upmanship.
While this first book works well as a self-contained story, there's more than enough potential left unexplored for subsequent instalments in the further Chronicles of Ealiron.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
June 3, 2021
A seemingly unflappable and indestructible assassin, Loth of Ostarin returns to his homeland only to be captured and condemned to death. A stroke of luck allows for his escape and now he is set on his quest for redemption and absolution. First in a series, this book is a tale of bravery, loyalty, betrayal and more.
I liked the story, even with the slow pacing, the worldbuilding was well done and it was easy to get caught up in the story. Little details were fleshed out and brought the world to life.
I liked the story, even with the slow pacing, the worldbuilding was well done and it was easy to get caught up in the story. Little details were fleshed out and brought the world to life.
November 9, 2017
There was so much in this story I loved! Mostly the characters and the world.
I LOVE stories makes me have a lot of respect for the writer F.T. McKinstry for creating such an fascinating world! I'm so looking forward to reading more from F.T. McKinstry.
I LOVE stories makes me have a lot of respect for the writer F.T. McKinstry for creating such an fascinating world! I'm so looking forward to reading more from F.T. McKinstry.
July 10, 2018
Vast. Epic. Poetic.
This book was a pleasure to read and get lost in. Very well written, poetic prose, yet easy to read. Highly developed characters and plot line in a vast, bright world! Highly recommend this book and I can't wait to get into the next one in the series.
This book was a pleasure to read and get lost in. Very well written, poetic prose, yet easy to read. Highly developed characters and plot line in a vast, bright world! Highly recommend this book and I can't wait to get into the next one in the series.
March 19, 2018
I liked the basic story but I felt that it was too wordy in some places. There was just too many long descriptive narratives. I found myself skimming through those parts.
March 5, 2014
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I read this book on the plane ride from here to Texas. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a 5+ hour flight and a trip I hate making. I am not a plane person. Regardless, I had several books with me to keep me occupied on the flight, as well as waiting in airports. Hunter’s Rede was one of them.
To be honest, my first impression of the book wasn’t great. The beginning of the book was extremely slow. There was such an overload of information being thrown at you that it started to just blend together. There wasn’t any dialogue (other than a stray line here or there) for quite a few pages in, I’m going to estimate around twenty to forty, but it seemed like more. When dialogue did come in it was few and far between… with lots of descriptive fillers. There was a lot of description at the beginning of the book as well. So many places, and uniforms, and people were described that I honestly was imagining blobs in the form of faces. It was too much information too fast and it really slowed down the story. If it hadn’t been a book that I was reading for an author I would have just cut my losses and stopped reading there.
Saying that, the book did start to pick up a third of the way through. The main character, Lorth, (an assassin and basically a magician) finds his place within a new kingdom after he comes home to find his hometown to be taken by foreigners and the man who raised him is dead. Life isn’t easy. He has a lot against him and a lot of people aren’t particularly fond of him. In fact, there are a bunch of people demanding his head. Luckily for him, the priestess (their leader), is in love with him.
I just want to make a comment about how the romantic aspect of this story was. I found it incredibly abrupt and fast. He was sick, he slowly gets better, he is lusting after her, he is better and gets cleaned up, she sees him cleaned up and BAM! Sexy scene. I was sitting there like, “What just happened?” Now, it is entirely possible that I missed subtle clues ahead of time, and it is also possible that my bias is based on the fact that I like romances to play out the sexual tension before anything major happens, so I am not going to penalize the book for this area of critique.
Having said that, the romance between the priestess and Lorth helps drive the story further. I loved the tension between Lorth and the Priestess’s son (who is half god and Lorth’s age). I loved the relationships between ALL the characters. I felt that this was the book’s strongest aspect. All the relationships (no matter how small and seeming insignificant) were incredibly realistic and engaging. I lived for the dialogue because, once the dialogue started, it was great and showed so much of Lorth’s character as well as complimenting all the established relationships he had with other people.
Character development was well done. Lorth completely changes, in a good way, throughout the novel. Actually, it’s not so much that he changes, but that he finds out who he really is. His act of mercy in the end of the book truly showed the extent of his growth and his kindness as a human being. It wasn’t only Lorth that changed though, all of the characters that played front and center roles changed with him, accepting him and what he brought into their lives. Development was definitely the second best part of the novel.
Lastly, I want to address the plot. The plot wasn’t bad, in fact, it was quite good. I just felt it was distracted. As more information poured in from the author to the reader, the plot sometimes took a back seat. I understand the difficulties of trying to get all the fantastical information in so the reader knows what is what in a completely different world, but the act of giving the information needed a little bit more finesse and subtlety. Once again, I want to stress that the plot, while distracted, was really interesting and engaging. I didn’t feel like there were any scenes that were completely unnecessary and it was very fluid and appealing. The fight scenes in particular were quite exciting to read.
Overall, there was a lot of excellent aspects of this novel, but its slow start and the tendency for information to be dumped on the reader was what ultimately brought it down rating wise. However, if you like an Arthurian feel to your books, I would definitely say that this one had it! I would recommend it for the patient reader.
I read this book on the plane ride from here to Texas. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a 5+ hour flight and a trip I hate making. I am not a plane person. Regardless, I had several books with me to keep me occupied on the flight, as well as waiting in airports. Hunter’s Rede was one of them.
To be honest, my first impression of the book wasn’t great. The beginning of the book was extremely slow. There was such an overload of information being thrown at you that it started to just blend together. There wasn’t any dialogue (other than a stray line here or there) for quite a few pages in, I’m going to estimate around twenty to forty, but it seemed like more. When dialogue did come in it was few and far between… with lots of descriptive fillers. There was a lot of description at the beginning of the book as well. So many places, and uniforms, and people were described that I honestly was imagining blobs in the form of faces. It was too much information too fast and it really slowed down the story. If it hadn’t been a book that I was reading for an author I would have just cut my losses and stopped reading there.
Saying that, the book did start to pick up a third of the way through. The main character, Lorth, (an assassin and basically a magician) finds his place within a new kingdom after he comes home to find his hometown to be taken by foreigners and the man who raised him is dead. Life isn’t easy. He has a lot against him and a lot of people aren’t particularly fond of him. In fact, there are a bunch of people demanding his head. Luckily for him, the priestess (their leader), is in love with him.
I just want to make a comment about how the romantic aspect of this story was. I found it incredibly abrupt and fast. He was sick, he slowly gets better, he is lusting after her, he is better and gets cleaned up, she sees him cleaned up and BAM! Sexy scene. I was sitting there like, “What just happened?” Now, it is entirely possible that I missed subtle clues ahead of time, and it is also possible that my bias is based on the fact that I like romances to play out the sexual tension before anything major happens, so I am not going to penalize the book for this area of critique.
Having said that, the romance between the priestess and Lorth helps drive the story further. I loved the tension between Lorth and the Priestess’s son (who is half god and Lorth’s age). I loved the relationships between ALL the characters. I felt that this was the book’s strongest aspect. All the relationships (no matter how small and seeming insignificant) were incredibly realistic and engaging. I lived for the dialogue because, once the dialogue started, it was great and showed so much of Lorth’s character as well as complimenting all the established relationships he had with other people.
Character development was well done. Lorth completely changes, in a good way, throughout the novel. Actually, it’s not so much that he changes, but that he finds out who he really is. His act of mercy in the end of the book truly showed the extent of his growth and his kindness as a human being. It wasn’t only Lorth that changed though, all of the characters that played front and center roles changed with him, accepting him and what he brought into their lives. Development was definitely the second best part of the novel.
Lastly, I want to address the plot. The plot wasn’t bad, in fact, it was quite good. I just felt it was distracted. As more information poured in from the author to the reader, the plot sometimes took a back seat. I understand the difficulties of trying to get all the fantastical information in so the reader knows what is what in a completely different world, but the act of giving the information needed a little bit more finesse and subtlety. Once again, I want to stress that the plot, while distracted, was really interesting and engaging. I didn’t feel like there were any scenes that were completely unnecessary and it was very fluid and appealing. The fight scenes in particular were quite exciting to read.
Overall, there was a lot of excellent aspects of this novel, but its slow start and the tendency for information to be dumped on the reader was what ultimately brought it down rating wise. However, if you like an Arthurian feel to your books, I would definitely say that this one had it! I would recommend it for the patient reader.
October 9, 2013
Was an interesting read...took me a bit to actually get into it, the first few chapters confused the hell out of me so I put it down and didn't start it again for a few months...
But once I got passed those first few chapters, the World opened up into a decent story. Lorth is a cool character; outlaw, assassin, wizard. The Hunter's Rede was a nice touch as well - a saying for almost every situation an assassin might come across.
The magic system was confusing at first...eventually I just took it at face value and didn't question what I was reading.
I'll give the 2nd book at a shot - because I want to continue reading about Lorth and I love any book about assassins.
But once I got passed those first few chapters, the World opened up into a decent story. Lorth is a cool character; outlaw, assassin, wizard. The Hunter's Rede was a nice touch as well - a saying for almost every situation an assassin might come across.
The magic system was confusing at first...eventually I just took it at face value and didn't question what I was reading.
I'll give the 2nd book at a shot - because I want to continue reading about Lorth and I love any book about assassins.
October 2, 2012
Awesome story, but I had a bit of trouble understanding the magic system
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