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The Reminiscent Exile #1
Distant Star
For Declan Hale, the Shadowless Arbiter, life has been simple since he ended the Tome Wars and forced a cruel peace in the mythical realms of Forget. Exiled to Earth for his crimes, Declan spends his days managing a small bookshop.
So when a familiar looking corpse appears in the dead of night, spilling his scotch, Declan is less than amused. Especially because the body is his own. Someone--or something--has sent a calling card from the future.
Daring him to confront his monstrous past.
The last time Declan went to war, Ascension City burned and eight million people lost their lives. The Knights and Renegades should have left him alone...
*~*~*~*
An urban fantasy story, the first in a series, that spans worlds, universes, and time. Join Declan as he battles friends, enemies, kings, and the gods themselves in his struggle for redemption.
So when a familiar looking corpse appears in the dead of night, spilling his scotch, Declan is less than amused. Especially because the body is his own. Someone--or something--has sent a calling card from the future.
Daring him to confront his monstrous past.
The last time Declan went to war, Ascension City burned and eight million people lost their lives. The Knights and Renegades should have left him alone...
*~*~*~*
An urban fantasy story, the first in a series, that spans worlds, universes, and time. Join Declan as he battles friends, enemies, kings, and the gods themselves in his struggle for redemption.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2012
52 people are currently reading
537 people want to read
About the author
Joe Ducie
19 books105 followersJoe Ducie (1987-) is a writer from Perth, Western Australia. By day, he charges a toll to cross a bridge he doesn’t own. Yet by night, in a haze of scotch-fuelled insanity, he works tirelessly on an array of stories both short and long. Joe possesses a fierce love of a smooth finish. Under no circumstances should you ask him just what that means.
Joe was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria in November 1987, and currently resides in Perth, Western Australia. He is primarily an author of urban fantasy and science fiction aimed at young adults. His current stories include Distant Star, Upon Crystal Shores, Red vs. Blue, and The Forgetful Library.
Joe attended Edith Cowan University and graduated in 2010 with a Degree of Counterterrorism, Security and Intelligence. He went back, the idiot, and completed post-graduate studies in Security Science in 2011. Joe has also studied Creative and Professional Writing at Curtin University.
When not talking about himself in the third person, Joe enjoys devouring books at an absurdly disgusting rate and sampling fine scotch.
Website: joeducie.net
Twitter: @joeducie
Facebook: /jducie
Joe was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria in November 1987, and currently resides in Perth, Western Australia. He is primarily an author of urban fantasy and science fiction aimed at young adults. His current stories include Distant Star, Upon Crystal Shores, Red vs. Blue, and The Forgetful Library.
Joe attended Edith Cowan University and graduated in 2010 with a Degree of Counterterrorism, Security and Intelligence. He went back, the idiot, and completed post-graduate studies in Security Science in 2011. Joe has also studied Creative and Professional Writing at Curtin University.
When not talking about himself in the third person, Joe enjoys devouring books at an absurdly disgusting rate and sampling fine scotch.
Website: joeducie.net
Twitter: @joeducie
Facebook: /jducie
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
April 22, 2014
I'm so glad this was a borrowed read and not a purchase.
I had just finished the In the Company of Shadows series (Evenfall et al) and was looking for a new series. Since this one started out with a book I could borrow for free, and it had an interesting concept, I thought I'd give it a try.
Basically, the book is about Declan Hale, a wizard of sorts (though they don't call themselves that in this universe) who helped end a major war called The Tome Wars five years ago, but not without great cost, including the death of his lover and his resulting exile.
In this world, there are those who can command Will ("magic") and among other things, use it to "dive" into certain books (books written by those with Will). Dec has spent the last five years of his exile in Perth, Australia, on "True Earth," running a small bookshop and writing his neverending novel while getting drunk off Scotch.
One day, he has an unexpected visit from his dying self who warns him of his impending death. As a result, Dec becomes determined to see if he can undue his fate.
Sounds interesting, right? If only it were so.
The book, for the most part, is incredibly dull, and though the world is obviously very complicated, Distant Star reads more like a book in the middle of a series rather than the first of one. It felt a lot like jumping into the Dresden Files with White Night and trying to make sense of everything, with the author and first-person narrator assuming you know who everyone is and who the various factions are, etc., etc.
It makes for difficult and confusing reading at best, and tedious, boring reading at worst.
I read another reviewer who mentioned this author had been known previously for his fanfiction, and that this novel read, in many ways, like a piece of fanfic in the sense that the narrator/author assume you're already familiar with the world and characters and don't need any explanations, or minimal ones at best.
The problem here is that you never connect to anyone--Dec in particular, despite his first-person narration--which is also problematic for readability. It was impossible to get any kind of sense for Dec's love and loss when we only hear about things secondhand or in bits and pieces. I also didn't feel like Dec's voice/personality was consistent throughout (perhaps this was supposed to be intentional, suggestion he was going insane, but it didn't feel like that to me, just that I never really knew who he was). There are too many characters (what's the point of Sophie and Ethan, for example? Or even Aaron, really, for that matter)? And far too much important story/events are never actually shown in the course of the telling.
Worse, there are a few "twists/surprises" at the end (not one, but several!) that feel unnecessary and gimmicky, and again, I never really got a good sense for who the different sides were and what they were fighting for, and what the Tome Wars were really about, etc., etc.
In the end, this is really just a hot mess, and I won't be continuing the series.
I had just finished the In the Company of Shadows series (Evenfall et al) and was looking for a new series. Since this one started out with a book I could borrow for free, and it had an interesting concept, I thought I'd give it a try.
Basically, the book is about Declan Hale, a wizard of sorts (though they don't call themselves that in this universe) who helped end a major war called The Tome Wars five years ago, but not without great cost, including the death of his lover and his resulting exile.
In this world, there are those who can command Will ("magic") and among other things, use it to "dive" into certain books (books written by those with Will). Dec has spent the last five years of his exile in Perth, Australia, on "True Earth," running a small bookshop and writing his neverending novel while getting drunk off Scotch.
One day, he has an unexpected visit from his dying self who warns him of his impending death. As a result, Dec becomes determined to see if he can undue his fate.
Sounds interesting, right? If only it were so.
The book, for the most part, is incredibly dull, and though the world is obviously very complicated, Distant Star reads more like a book in the middle of a series rather than the first of one. It felt a lot like jumping into the Dresden Files with White Night and trying to make sense of everything, with the author and first-person narrator assuming you know who everyone is and who the various factions are, etc., etc.
It makes for difficult and confusing reading at best, and tedious, boring reading at worst.
I read another reviewer who mentioned this author had been known previously for his fanfiction, and that this novel read, in many ways, like a piece of fanfic in the sense that the narrator/author assume you're already familiar with the world and characters and don't need any explanations, or minimal ones at best.
The problem here is that you never connect to anyone--Dec in particular, despite his first-person narration--which is also problematic for readability. It was impossible to get any kind of sense for Dec's love and loss when we only hear about things secondhand or in bits and pieces. I also didn't feel like Dec's voice/personality was consistent throughout (perhaps this was supposed to be intentional, suggestion he was going insane, but it didn't feel like that to me, just that I never really knew who he was). There are too many characters (what's the point of Sophie and Ethan, for example? Or even Aaron, really, for that matter)? And far too much important story/events are never actually shown in the course of the telling.
Worse, there are a few "twists/surprises" at the end (not one, but several!) that feel unnecessary and gimmicky, and again, I never really got a good sense for who the different sides were and what they were fighting for, and what the Tome Wars were really about, etc., etc.
In the end, this is really just a hot mess, and I won't be continuing the series.
January 28, 2014
Declan Hale finds himself returning to a world he never thought he'd see again after he was exiled. But he has no choice, especially not after he sees himself die - in his favorite grey waistcoat, no less.
It gives a bit of a Jim Butcher Dresden vibe, but a little different. It's not as relatable, to be honest. Whereas Dresden snarks and talks to the reader, Declan is solely a first person novel that doesn't break that fourth barrier.
I know the author more from his fanfiction than his novels, so that might color this review. But I actually think that his writing in this novel is a little lacking perhaps because of his fanfiction background. Instead of developing the characters, Ducie jumps straight into action and past events. We never really get a feel for any of the characters, even though it's in first person. It's like he thinks the reader already knows the characters and only needs to concentrate on the plot and action scenes with initial character scenes (almost like a fanfiction, y'see?).
Even after 80 pages, I still had a hard time delineating all of the different characters. And none of them are particularly lovable or emotion-grabbing. I don't need to love a character, but I better as hell feel something about them, whether it's love or hate or sympathy or genuine annoyance. Instead it just feels like I'm reading about random characters doing things. Flat.
The strength of Ducie's fanfictions was always fast action and witty lines. But in this novel, his weaknesses are clearer and his strengths are slightly diminished because there is a fundamental lacking in foundation of character development.
If you can get past the first 120 pages, the book starts to pick up and Ducie settles into his element. He makes connections and plot twists that you would never expect, but then swear you should have seen it a thousand miles away when you think about all those hidden clues from the beginning.
Meh, it's just that I see a lot of elements taken from his fanfiction within this book. The Eternal Clock, revelations of an antagonist's identity, Atlantis: these are all components that have been transported from a certain fanfiction story. Which is fine because it's his own original work. But a little bit not fine because I actually felt like it was better written in the fanfiction.
It was an okay book. Two stars.
Not really recommended. I'd probably point to Dresden series before I pointed you to this one if you were looking for a scifi/urban fantasy with a male protag.
It gives a bit of a Jim Butcher Dresden vibe, but a little different. It's not as relatable, to be honest. Whereas Dresden snarks and talks to the reader, Declan is solely a first person novel that doesn't break that fourth barrier.
I know the author more from his fanfiction than his novels, so that might color this review. But I actually think that his writing in this novel is a little lacking perhaps because of his fanfiction background. Instead of developing the characters, Ducie jumps straight into action and past events. We never really get a feel for any of the characters, even though it's in first person. It's like he thinks the reader already knows the characters and only needs to concentrate on the plot and action scenes with initial character scenes (almost like a fanfiction, y'see?).
Even after 80 pages, I still had a hard time delineating all of the different characters. And none of them are particularly lovable or emotion-grabbing. I don't need to love a character, but I better as hell feel something about them, whether it's love or hate or sympathy or genuine annoyance. Instead it just feels like I'm reading about random characters doing things. Flat.
The strength of Ducie's fanfictions was always fast action and witty lines. But in this novel, his weaknesses are clearer and his strengths are slightly diminished because there is a fundamental lacking in foundation of character development.
If you can get past the first 120 pages, the book starts to pick up and Ducie settles into his element. He makes connections and plot twists that you would never expect, but then swear you should have seen it a thousand miles away when you think about all those hidden clues from the beginning.
Meh, it's just that I see a lot of elements taken from his fanfiction within this book. The Eternal Clock, revelations of an antagonist's identity, Atlantis: these are all components that have been transported from a certain fanfiction story. Which is fine because it's his own original work. But a little bit not fine because I actually felt like it was better written in the fanfiction.
It was an okay book. Two stars.
Not really recommended. I'd probably point to Dresden series before I pointed you to this one if you were looking for a scifi/urban fantasy with a male protag.
August 26, 2014
The "Distant Star", doesn't quite read like the first book of a new series. It reads like a book in a well establish fictional universe. Mainly because, there are so many epic events, so much back story that's hinted throughout the tale that it would make anyone wonder, where's the other books? Not that is a bad thing mind you, throughout the story, the author weaves into the ever expanding picture, hints of the protagonist, Declan Hale's, life. It's another good reason to keep turning the page. Reading each and every sentence slowly.
Speaking of the main character, I found him refreshing. There is no climbing the ladder with Declan Hale, he's already a Master of sorts. Why is that new? The character doesn't need to find himself, he knows who he is and has the confidence and dare I say it the power to back it up. The book's hero knows what he needs to do, it's nice to see a main point of view holding more cards than his enemies for once.
The story itself is fast paced, there are barely and lulls. Heck, the story starts off with someone dying in the bookstore and from there the scale of the action only increases, to legendary proportions. As I read through, I was surprised with the number of twists and turns the story took. It left me unable to predict the coming events, which is always great in any story.
The universe this story takes place is quite interesting. I was expecting fantasy like elements, but what the author has produced is new and imaginative. At least to me, someone who has read a gaggle of fantasy stories. To be honest I wonder what else can be done with this Fictional 'Will'.
Lastly the writing. The flow is great most of the time. The prose and what descriptions can be found, left my imagination on overdrive. I could literally see some of the places and actions in my minds eye. The sad thing about this is, not all the locations are described heavily. Something that I hope he remedies it in any sequels.
Bottom line. A good and refreshing read. Try it.
Speaking of the main character, I found him refreshing. There is no climbing the ladder with Declan Hale, he's already a Master of sorts. Why is that new? The character doesn't need to find himself, he knows who he is and has the confidence and dare I say it the power to back it up. The book's hero knows what he needs to do, it's nice to see a main point of view holding more cards than his enemies for once.
The story itself is fast paced, there are barely and lulls. Heck, the story starts off with someone dying in the bookstore and from there the scale of the action only increases, to legendary proportions. As I read through, I was surprised with the number of twists and turns the story took. It left me unable to predict the coming events, which is always great in any story.
The universe this story takes place is quite interesting. I was expecting fantasy like elements, but what the author has produced is new and imaginative. At least to me, someone who has read a gaggle of fantasy stories. To be honest I wonder what else can be done with this Fictional 'Will'.
Lastly the writing. The flow is great most of the time. The prose and what descriptions can be found, left my imagination on overdrive. I could literally see some of the places and actions in my minds eye. The sad thing about this is, not all the locations are described heavily. Something that I hope he remedies it in any sequels.
Bottom line. A good and refreshing read. Try it.
July 14, 2012
Have you ever heard a clock scream?
Distant Star is an engrossing tale which holds up a standard of excellency within Fantasy. Most books are slow-starting, or feature boring characters, or do boring things. Like Ender's Game, Joe Ducie's work illuminates not only what Fantasy could do, but what Fantasy could do for readers.
When I started reading this book, I decided I'd take it slow. Mainly I was studying for my last few exams, so I would read the book between study sessions and laugh if it was bad or pace myself if it was good.
However, after I started it, I couldn't really stop. I got through the first fifty pages in one sitting, put it down, then picked it up again later hours before my exam. Despite not studying at all, I still feel really happy that I read this instead, because it was a great experience.
The book has a very well-defined main character. His personality pulls through the initial slog lots of fantasy novels have in the beginning, where the reader has to get used to the changed world. The only downfall is that he pulls straight through the story, too; the other characters, whose edges aren't nearly as sharp as Declan Hale's, become somewhat blurred throughout the fast-paced conflict. There is still enough remembrance to point out the cast, but if ever anyone stole the spotlight, it was Declan.
Not to say that the characters aren't individual, or even that they aren't strong. In many other novels, these characters would be easily remembered, but the structure of Distant Star lends to some confusion at times.
The plot is strong in this one. Clearly defined conflict at all times keeps the reader hooked in, while still leaving room for some character growth and development of the situations. Declan Hale and his past make a magnificent tale for this story to tell.
Sometimes the characters rush through situations, and sometimes the edges get blurry. There's not much more you could expect from a wonderful race against time, through worlds of whimsy and dream. Overall, Ducie's book is an excellent exception to what I see as a slump in enjoyable new novels for a genre whose depths are infinite.
Distant Star is an engrossing tale which holds up a standard of excellency within Fantasy. Most books are slow-starting, or feature boring characters, or do boring things. Like Ender's Game, Joe Ducie's work illuminates not only what Fantasy could do, but what Fantasy could do for readers.
When I started reading this book, I decided I'd take it slow. Mainly I was studying for my last few exams, so I would read the book between study sessions and laugh if it was bad or pace myself if it was good.
However, after I started it, I couldn't really stop. I got through the first fifty pages in one sitting, put it down, then picked it up again later hours before my exam. Despite not studying at all, I still feel really happy that I read this instead, because it was a great experience.
The book has a very well-defined main character. His personality pulls through the initial slog lots of fantasy novels have in the beginning, where the reader has to get used to the changed world. The only downfall is that he pulls straight through the story, too; the other characters, whose edges aren't nearly as sharp as Declan Hale's, become somewhat blurred throughout the fast-paced conflict. There is still enough remembrance to point out the cast, but if ever anyone stole the spotlight, it was Declan.
Not to say that the characters aren't individual, or even that they aren't strong. In many other novels, these characters would be easily remembered, but the structure of Distant Star lends to some confusion at times.
The plot is strong in this one. Clearly defined conflict at all times keeps the reader hooked in, while still leaving room for some character growth and development of the situations. Declan Hale and his past make a magnificent tale for this story to tell.
Sometimes the characters rush through situations, and sometimes the edges get blurry. There's not much more you could expect from a wonderful race against time, through worlds of whimsy and dream. Overall, Ducie's book is an excellent exception to what I see as a slump in enjoyable new novels for a genre whose depths are infinite.
September 5, 2012
I've read some stuff by Joe before, and it is all very well written. That being said, he can tend to get a bit wordy and overly epic when writing so while I was really looking forward to this book I wasn't quite sure what to expect. With that out of the way, let me say that it widely exceeded my expectations. It is easily one of the best books that I have read recently.
The world that is created is something that I have never seen done in such a fashion, but it works. It combines some of the best elements from the best in the genre, but makes it into its own. What I mean by this is that while reading you'll get the feel of some other similar works such as Dresden Files, but what is going on will be nothing like what happens during the Dresden Files.
The story itself is perhaps a bit too short, but that just makes for a very addicting read that you will not want to set down. There are never any dull moments in the book, and the action parts of the book are amazing. The downside to this is that I would like to see the characters flushed out a bit more. I really hope that Joe plans to write some prequels or short stories showing some of the moments referred to in the book, because I think it would be fascinating to find out a lot of the inside jokes and stories that are mentioned in the book but not explored fully.
The way the book is set up does make it interesting to read though, and a lot more exciting than many first books are. While books of this genre usually have a novice who is learning his way in the first book, Declan is already at the top of the game in this book which is a refreshing change of pace that allows for an avoidance of many clichés. It also allows for a more believable plot to be constructed because there is a lot of back story that we the readers don't know. That being said, I would love to learn more about it, and I'm sure that we will as the series progresses.
I really have nothing bad to say about this book, except that I want more of it. The plot twists in the end are superb, and the writing is magnificent. Congratulations to Joe, you deserve a nice glass of scotch. Once that is drunk though, you had better get working on the next book!
The world that is created is something that I have never seen done in such a fashion, but it works. It combines some of the best elements from the best in the genre, but makes it into its own. What I mean by this is that while reading you'll get the feel of some other similar works such as Dresden Files, but what is going on will be nothing like what happens during the Dresden Files.
The story itself is perhaps a bit too short, but that just makes for a very addicting read that you will not want to set down. There are never any dull moments in the book, and the action parts of the book are amazing. The downside to this is that I would like to see the characters flushed out a bit more. I really hope that Joe plans to write some prequels or short stories showing some of the moments referred to in the book, because I think it would be fascinating to find out a lot of the inside jokes and stories that are mentioned in the book but not explored fully.
The way the book is set up does make it interesting to read though, and a lot more exciting than many first books are. While books of this genre usually have a novice who is learning his way in the first book, Declan is already at the top of the game in this book which is a refreshing change of pace that allows for an avoidance of many clichés. It also allows for a more believable plot to be constructed because there is a lot of back story that we the readers don't know. That being said, I would love to learn more about it, and I'm sure that we will as the series progresses.
I really have nothing bad to say about this book, except that I want more of it. The plot twists in the end are superb, and the writing is magnificent. Congratulations to Joe, you deserve a nice glass of scotch. Once that is drunk though, you had better get working on the next book!
June 27, 2012
Imagine a world you could travel to using books. “Book Diving” is the ability to cross between the realms, and the Story Thread is what ties all the universes together.
Declan Hale, a hero to some, was exiled to True Earth after what he had done at the Battle of the Tome Wars. In an effort to hide the treasures of Atlantis, Declan and Tal did what they thought best. Unfortunately, others did not, and a great many others perished.
When Declan is visited by himself, only to watch himself die in his own arms, he decides he must do something to try to prevent his death, or find out why he was dying. Even though he had been exiled, he decided to travel once more, and his friends were not going to let him go alone. Once he traveled back, he met his enemies once again, Jon Faraday, King Morpheus Renegade and his Queen. All of whom want him dead. But who is responsible for his death, and why?
Travel along with Declan and his friends in a unique story traveling between worlds. A great mix of characters with a story line that keeps you turning pages. Very well written, and keeps you wanting more.
Declan Hale, a hero to some, was exiled to True Earth after what he had done at the Battle of the Tome Wars. In an effort to hide the treasures of Atlantis, Declan and Tal did what they thought best. Unfortunately, others did not, and a great many others perished.
When Declan is visited by himself, only to watch himself die in his own arms, he decides he must do something to try to prevent his death, or find out why he was dying. Even though he had been exiled, he decided to travel once more, and his friends were not going to let him go alone. Once he traveled back, he met his enemies once again, Jon Faraday, King Morpheus Renegade and his Queen. All of whom want him dead. But who is responsible for his death, and why?
Travel along with Declan and his friends in a unique story traveling between worlds. A great mix of characters with a story line that keeps you turning pages. Very well written, and keeps you wanting more.
November 7, 2017
Updated November 2017:
This was one of the first adult UF series I ever read, so I think the introduction to that genre made Past!Me a smidgen overexcited about the quality of this book. Current!Me would like to rectify that.
This does not read like the first book in a series. Hell, I’ve read the first three books and it still vaguely confused me. Now that I don’t have to juggle all the random details of the world around in my head, thus using all of my spare brainpower, I’m able to notice other things about this book. Like the fact that there’s no character development at all. We’re just thrown into this overly complicated world and expected to go with it. Which, granted, I love me a well built fantasy world. But even more, I love well developed characters. Honestly, even having read the first three books (I decided to reread before starting the fourth), I can’t think of any significant details about Declan or any of the other characters that make them into actual, fleshed out people. That’s a shame, because the world is interesting enough that the characters who live in it could be really great. As of now, it feels more like Ducie created a world and then decided to plop some characters in it, not really caring about who they are or how the world would affect them. Plus, the writing style kind of bugs me, but I do believe that’s an issue that clears up in the next couple of books.
I’ll continue reading them, just to be sure, but I’m pretty disappointed, truth be told. I remembered loving this series, and it’s pretty upsetting to realize that it was more the genre I fell in love with than this actual series. For now, I’ve taken a short break around 3/4 of the way through this book to catch up on some ongoing series and finally to give the ‘Hidden Legacy’ series by Ilona Andrews a try. I love their other books, especially the Kate Daniels series, and I’ve finally gotten up the courage to look past the godawful covers of the HL series and read them.
* * * * * * * *
How do I even begin to review this book? I finished it, along with the sequel, a week ago, but have been putting off writing this because I genuinely don't know how to word just how much I love this book.
It's been five years since Declan Hale ended the Tome Wars in a very, shall we say, direct way. Basically, he screwed over whole universes, sold his shadow, and lost his girlfriend. Because of this, he's been exiled to True Earth, and is living out his days drinking, writing a never-ending manuscript and selling books (because he likes to be ironical). That is, until his future self ends up falling through a portal and landing on the floor of his shop, bleeding and dying. That tends to put a damper on things, I'd imagine. He sets out to try and figure out who kills/killed him. This means risking his life (ha) and breaking his exile.
Declan is an alcoholic, slightly insane former-Knight of an alternate dimension full of people who use Will (not magic!) to dive into the worlds inside books. One thing that I really enjoy about his is that, despite his age, he's well-honed in his craft. He's strong and doesn't make stupid mistakes. Probably because, at fifteen, he was sent out on the front line of a century-long war that spanned multiple universes and killed millions of people. Declan alone is directly responsible for at least eight million of those deaths. He's relatively self-pitying, but it's pretty understandable why. For the most part, he manages to put it aside and do what needs to be done. I admire that about him.
Ducie was really playing with fire for the first few chapters. I had to double check that I was reading the first book in the series because of the complete lack of explanation at the beginning of the book. Words and names were used with no definition or correlation. "The Degradation," Forget," "Tal," "Story Thread," etc... Luckily, Ducie is fireproof, and managed to slide enough explanation in to tide readers over until everything was properly explained. If you're confused, just keep reading. I promise that everything will make sense. Ducie has created a beautiful, enchanting world that makes you fall in love without really understanding why or how it's happening. I know at least one reviewer on here didn't like the pacing, but I feel that it fit the story well.
Read this book. I promise you that you won't regret it.
This was one of the first adult UF series I ever read, so I think the introduction to that genre made Past!Me a smidgen overexcited about the quality of this book. Current!Me would like to rectify that.
This does not read like the first book in a series. Hell, I’ve read the first three books and it still vaguely confused me. Now that I don’t have to juggle all the random details of the world around in my head, thus using all of my spare brainpower, I’m able to notice other things about this book. Like the fact that there’s no character development at all. We’re just thrown into this overly complicated world and expected to go with it. Which, granted, I love me a well built fantasy world. But even more, I love well developed characters. Honestly, even having read the first three books (I decided to reread before starting the fourth), I can’t think of any significant details about Declan or any of the other characters that make them into actual, fleshed out people. That’s a shame, because the world is interesting enough that the characters who live in it could be really great. As of now, it feels more like Ducie created a world and then decided to plop some characters in it, not really caring about who they are or how the world would affect them. Plus, the writing style kind of bugs me, but I do believe that’s an issue that clears up in the next couple of books.
I’ll continue reading them, just to be sure, but I’m pretty disappointed, truth be told. I remembered loving this series, and it’s pretty upsetting to realize that it was more the genre I fell in love with than this actual series. For now, I’ve taken a short break around 3/4 of the way through this book to catch up on some ongoing series and finally to give the ‘Hidden Legacy’ series by Ilona Andrews a try. I love their other books, especially the Kate Daniels series, and I’ve finally gotten up the courage to look past the godawful covers of the HL series and read them.
* * * * * * * *
How do I even begin to review this book? I finished it, along with the sequel, a week ago, but have been putting off writing this because I genuinely don't know how to word just how much I love this book.
It's been five years since Declan Hale ended the Tome Wars in a very, shall we say, direct way. Basically, he screwed over whole universes, sold his shadow, and lost his girlfriend. Because of this, he's been exiled to True Earth, and is living out his days drinking, writing a never-ending manuscript and selling books (because he likes to be ironical). That is, until his future self ends up falling through a portal and landing on the floor of his shop, bleeding and dying. That tends to put a damper on things, I'd imagine. He sets out to try and figure out who kills/killed him. This means risking his life (ha) and breaking his exile.
Declan is an alcoholic, slightly insane former-Knight of an alternate dimension full of people who use Will (not magic!) to dive into the worlds inside books. One thing that I really enjoy about his is that, despite his age, he's well-honed in his craft. He's strong and doesn't make stupid mistakes. Probably because, at fifteen, he was sent out on the front line of a century-long war that spanned multiple universes and killed millions of people. Declan alone is directly responsible for at least eight million of those deaths. He's relatively self-pitying, but it's pretty understandable why. For the most part, he manages to put it aside and do what needs to be done. I admire that about him.
Ducie was really playing with fire for the first few chapters. I had to double check that I was reading the first book in the series because of the complete lack of explanation at the beginning of the book. Words and names were used with no definition or correlation. "The Degradation," Forget," "Tal," "Story Thread," etc... Luckily, Ducie is fireproof, and managed to slide enough explanation in to tide readers over until everything was properly explained. If you're confused, just keep reading. I promise that everything will make sense. Ducie has created a beautiful, enchanting world that makes you fall in love without really understanding why or how it's happening. I know at least one reviewer on here didn't like the pacing, but I feel that it fit the story well.
Read this book. I promise you that you won't regret it.
June 19, 2012
Distant Star
Joe Ducie
http://writesofscoo.blogspot.com/2012...
Enjoyment **** Plot *** Interactions *** Characters **** World ***** Originality **** Grammar **** Style ***
With Distant Star, Author Joe Ducie has produced a book that is a cross between Jasper Fford's Thursday Next series, Cornelia Funke's Inkheart and Roger Zalazny's Nine Princes In Amber series. That's a good pedigree.
Mr. Ducie has written an interesting and dense story that requires careful reading. It evokes Zalazny's style more than Fford's or Funke's.
In the opening scene, the reader is introduced to Declan Hale's life when the young bookstore owner is challenged to an old western style gunfight, but with books. Hale lives in True Earth and for those with Will stories and words have power and books written with Will can tap into the primal forces of the universe and create entire new worlds.
Most of the unfolding story revolves around the War of the Tomes which Declan single-handedly ended five years ago. Apparently no-one is happy with what he did to end it, especially not Declan. Now Declan has been banished to True Earth and spends his time drinking and writing an endless book. He is bitter, tired, and cynical and most of the action in the book consists of reactions by Declan to repercussions from that war.
As this fast paced story unfolds, Declan's history is told in bits and pieces. The history that is revealed is intricate and interesting with an epic feel and by the end, the reader can fully sympathize with Declan's dark side.
Upon reflection, the history was more interesting than the actual story which is perhaps why Mr. Ducie told it the way he did.
Cons
The author is too frugal with information. This makes the story hard to read and leaves a lot of questions about what exactly happened.
Some of the terminology felt misplaced and used more because it sounds cool than because it makes sense. The worlds created by the books is referred to as 'The Forgotten' which is anything but forgotten. He refers to the worlds created by Willful writers as the 'Infernal Worlds' and the powers used to create them 'Infernal'. That one still has me scratching my head. Even the title Distant Star which sounds cool would seem more at ease on a space opera than this multi-worlds urban fantasy.
Some of the interactions and dialog between characters seem designed to be evocative and fraught with innuendo and hidden meaning without ever revealing what the characters intended.
Using books as weapons to evoke gunslinger images was a stretch and felt more goofy than interesting. It felt like maybe that was the genesis of the book: 'Hey, wouldn't it be cool if these guys dueled with books?' But, when the story evolved beyond that goofy concept, the author couldn't bring himself to let it go.
Pros
Interesting story with good pacing.
Sympathetic characters
Strong engaging writing style.
Deep and complex world. There was a great feeling of depth to it.
Conclusion
If you were to just read the pros and cons you might think I didn't enjoy the book, but that is not the case. I enjoyed the story and have found myself reflecting on it a lot. In my book, that means it was worth reading.
After perusing some of the other reviews, the things which I felt were shortcomings obviously didn't have the impact on other reviewers that they did on me. If you enjoyed Zalazny's Nine Princes In Amber series, you will enjoy this. This is book is a fun read and Mr. Ducie is an author to watch.
Joe Ducie
http://writesofscoo.blogspot.com/2012...
Enjoyment **** Plot *** Interactions *** Characters **** World ***** Originality **** Grammar **** Style ***
With Distant Star, Author Joe Ducie has produced a book that is a cross between Jasper Fford's Thursday Next series, Cornelia Funke's Inkheart and Roger Zalazny's Nine Princes In Amber series. That's a good pedigree.
Mr. Ducie has written an interesting and dense story that requires careful reading. It evokes Zalazny's style more than Fford's or Funke's.
In the opening scene, the reader is introduced to Declan Hale's life when the young bookstore owner is challenged to an old western style gunfight, but with books. Hale lives in True Earth and for those with Will stories and words have power and books written with Will can tap into the primal forces of the universe and create entire new worlds.
Most of the unfolding story revolves around the War of the Tomes which Declan single-handedly ended five years ago. Apparently no-one is happy with what he did to end it, especially not Declan. Now Declan has been banished to True Earth and spends his time drinking and writing an endless book. He is bitter, tired, and cynical and most of the action in the book consists of reactions by Declan to repercussions from that war.
As this fast paced story unfolds, Declan's history is told in bits and pieces. The history that is revealed is intricate and interesting with an epic feel and by the end, the reader can fully sympathize with Declan's dark side.
Upon reflection, the history was more interesting than the actual story which is perhaps why Mr. Ducie told it the way he did.
Cons
The author is too frugal with information. This makes the story hard to read and leaves a lot of questions about what exactly happened.
Some of the terminology felt misplaced and used more because it sounds cool than because it makes sense. The worlds created by the books is referred to as 'The Forgotten' which is anything but forgotten. He refers to the worlds created by Willful writers as the 'Infernal Worlds' and the powers used to create them 'Infernal'. That one still has me scratching my head. Even the title Distant Star which sounds cool would seem more at ease on a space opera than this multi-worlds urban fantasy.
Some of the interactions and dialog between characters seem designed to be evocative and fraught with innuendo and hidden meaning without ever revealing what the characters intended.
Using books as weapons to evoke gunslinger images was a stretch and felt more goofy than interesting. It felt like maybe that was the genesis of the book: 'Hey, wouldn't it be cool if these guys dueled with books?' But, when the story evolved beyond that goofy concept, the author couldn't bring himself to let it go.
Pros
Interesting story with good pacing.
Sympathetic characters
Strong engaging writing style.
Deep and complex world. There was a great feeling of depth to it.
Conclusion
If you were to just read the pros and cons you might think I didn't enjoy the book, but that is not the case. I enjoyed the story and have found myself reflecting on it a lot. In my book, that means it was worth reading.
After perusing some of the other reviews, the things which I felt were shortcomings obviously didn't have the impact on other reviewers that they did on me. If you enjoyed Zalazny's Nine Princes In Amber series, you will enjoy this. This is book is a fun read and Mr. Ducie is an author to watch.
August 31, 2013
While I admire Ducie's talent and he obviously has great ideas, I felt this book was overly frenetic and had some intense pacing issues. There was just too much crammed in to such a short novel and there was a lot of showing rather than telling that could have been handled better with say, another hundred extra pages of padding (Declan's love for Tad, for instance, and the love triangle with Clare, felt really forced to me because we didn't really see any of what happens between the three).
This is like the little brother to Jim C. Hines's excellent Libriomancer - similar, if slightly differently handled ideas of drawing from books as a source of weaponry, and disgraced heroes who struggle to make things right. Hines, however, shows his experience as a novelist with a much stronger and full picture of his world building. Ducie is good but I think still young and it shows in his style - it's like a sledgehammer to the face when a good strong jab would have done the job.
This is like the little brother to Jim C. Hines's excellent Libriomancer - similar, if slightly differently handled ideas of drawing from books as a source of weaponry, and disgraced heroes who struggle to make things right. Hines, however, shows his experience as a novelist with a much stronger and full picture of his world building. Ducie is good but I think still young and it shows in his style - it's like a sledgehammer to the face when a good strong jab would have done the job.
July 2, 2013
The first book I read by Joe Ducie was a short story that I found on Amazon for free months ago. At least, I think that was where I found it. It was called THE FORGETFUL LIBRARY, and was just a short story. I liked the Declan Hale character, and saw Ducie had this novel out, I was excited, yet it took me awhile to get around to actually getting it.
That being said, this novel, for my return to this realm, was awesome! Declan Hale has been exiled from his world, a world within the nether called Forget. I won't go into the details of why, but this story is of events that cause him to return to the event that created his exile.
As I mentioned before, I loved the Declan character, and the supporting ones, though they are not really developed in the story aside from what is needed, they help provide the main character support. Plot and build-up were great, and the pace moved quickly throughout. In fact, things moved fast enough, there were times I would have liked a bit more detail/rumination. Knowing that there is a sequel, I won't expand about wanting to know more about the background of everything, as some may be revealed in the second book. Great read!
That being said, this novel, for my return to this realm, was awesome! Declan Hale has been exiled from his world, a world within the nether called Forget. I won't go into the details of why, but this story is of events that cause him to return to the event that created his exile.
As I mentioned before, I loved the Declan character, and the supporting ones, though they are not really developed in the story aside from what is needed, they help provide the main character support. Plot and build-up were great, and the pace moved quickly throughout. In fact, things moved fast enough, there were times I would have liked a bit more detail/rumination. Knowing that there is a sequel, I won't expand about wanting to know more about the background of everything, as some may be revealed in the second book. Great read!
April 12, 2013
I don't give out a lot of five star reviews. My criteria is when I finish a book and think, "I wish I had wrote that." If I do, then the book gets five stars. Joe Ducie's Distant Star gets five stars from me.
In the interests of full disclosure, I know Joe online and one of his short stories (Upon Crystal Shores) appears in the second volume of my Horror, Humor, and Heroes anthology series. Still, I am no shill. Joe has talent and I am certain he will do great things.
Joe gives the reader a vibrant and richly described world with a truly broken hero as a protagonist named Declan Hale. Hale has the Will and he can literally use words in books to open pathways to other realms. Ducie's story will capture your attention and provide a rich backdrop for the reader. There is plenty of action and enough mystery to intrigue you.
All in all, this is an excellent work and an engrossing tale that I greatly enjoyed. I plan to start on the sequel soon.
In the interests of full disclosure, I know Joe online and one of his short stories (Upon Crystal Shores) appears in the second volume of my Horror, Humor, and Heroes anthology series. Still, I am no shill. Joe has talent and I am certain he will do great things.
Joe gives the reader a vibrant and richly described world with a truly broken hero as a protagonist named Declan Hale. Hale has the Will and he can literally use words in books to open pathways to other realms. Ducie's story will capture your attention and provide a rich backdrop for the reader. There is plenty of action and enough mystery to intrigue you.
All in all, this is an excellent work and an engrossing tale that I greatly enjoyed. I plan to start on the sequel soon.
December 8, 2013
Ducie’s work is a cocktail mix of the best elements of fantasy, both classic and contemporary. A debut author, Joe Ducie, concocts his merry story like a bartender would mix me my tequila and pineapple juice: fast, sweet, sexy, and strong. Both the descriptive factors and the characters taste familiarly of the Dark Tower and the Dresden Files. This is a tale of love lost, redemption unfound, the schemes men make for power, and the remaking and unmaking of worlds. It’s a descent into madness and chaos, and it’s a helluva ride.
February 24, 2016
I really enjoyed this grumpy old 24 year old. That was the weirdest thing, he is so young, yet seen so much. Anyway, this is a story where you can jump through certain books to get to the story thread and then fight and kill over it. Lots of folks with magic, everyone has an agenda and you don't really know what is happening until it is over. There is a lot of backstory that slowly is explained. Lots of folks mad at him because he did a good thing, but caused a lot of damage to do it. Anyway, the book ends during a pause and I am curious to see what will happen next!
September 1, 2013
Written grandiosely, Joe Ducie clearly shows that his writing skills is one of the highest notch I've ever countered. Great story, great beginning, though several scenes felt over-prosed, Distant Star marks the beginning of new and one of the best fantasy series I've ever read for years. Very enjoyable. Recommended.
May 6, 2022
Interesting read and I liked the idea of being able to move in around the landscapes of stories and books. However I was never quite certain that I had a handle on Declan's character and abilities and felt rather rushed through the main events of the book.
January 7, 2014
* 3.5 Stars *
So I liked this book. It was nothing like I ever read before and I really really liked that evolved books so much. I wish I could enter a book and travel through all of these amazing stories and meet all the characters. I would be a dream come true.
I liked the book but I think it was kinda of confusing especially in the beginning. Things stared to make more sense in the second part but still, I think that were some things that are kinda vague and confusing.
Even with the characters I was't able to fully understand their personalities. I really like Declan Hale (and I like the name too) but it was so difficult to picture him! He's like what ? 25 years old ?! But half of the time I imagine him like an old man, specially when he's in his bookshop. Then when he goes to Ascension City he changes and I like that Declan better. (I loved the scene when he's being chased by demons and he's running around naked xD)
I like you Declan Hale! I don'r care what people think.
Which leads too Emily Grace. I really didn't see this coming. Since the beginning that I had the feeling that she was somehow related to Declan's world but
Poor Declan he really has no luck with woman. :(
"'First one to fall in love loses. Ready, set...' I cupped Tal's cheek and kissed her lips. 'Go.'"
I'm so completely in love with this line !!! <3
So I liked this book. It was nothing like I ever read before and I really really liked that evolved books so much. I wish I could enter a book and travel through all of these amazing stories and meet all the characters. I would be a dream come true.
I liked the book but I think it was kinda of confusing especially in the beginning. Things stared to make more sense in the second part but still, I think that were some things that are kinda vague and confusing.
Even with the characters I was't able to fully understand their personalities. I really like Declan Hale (and I like the name too) but it was so difficult to picture him! He's like what ? 25 years old ?! But half of the time I imagine him like an old man, specially when he's in his bookshop. Then when he goes to Ascension City he changes and I like that Declan better. (I loved the scene when he's being chased by demons and he's running around naked xD)
I like you Declan Hale! I don'r care what people think.
Which leads too Emily Grace. I really didn't see this coming. Since the beginning that I had the feeling that she was somehow related to Declan's world but
Poor Declan he really has no luck with woman. :(
"'First one to fall in love loses. Ready, set...' I cupped Tal's cheek and kissed her lips. 'Go.'"
I'm so completely in love with this line !!! <3
November 23, 2016
Distant Star is a relatively short book that can be read in one sitting. For a first novel, I found I enjoyed it but it suffered from some flaws. This book starts out with a murder in the shop of our protagonist, Declan Hale, and from there never has a moment of rest which is unfortunate in its own way. The great action never stops and the tension constantly ramps but as a result little time is given to the secondary characters except one who appears for the shortest amount of time. The plot is engaging but suffers as a result of the one-dimensional characters and the short length.
A lot of work was put into the world-building but not enough exposition was given to make you truly understand what was going on. Inevitably this story will be compared to the Dresden Files and this book reads like a later volume in the series but lacks the explanation that gives any Dresden Files novel the ability to stand on its own. Again this comes back to the short length of the book. I would say give it a try. I certainly did and I don't regret it.
Other faults include the use terms like 'Infernal' and 'Forget' in exchange for simply explaining what they mean. Sometimes it feels like the author added these simply for the sake of making certain sections of the prose sound more exciting.
In conclusion, this book works for people who enjoy quick, tension-filled thrillers with quite a bit of action. If you enjoy quite drama and lots of character building then this would not be for you. This is a good book with fundamental flaws that will determine your personal enjoyment of it.
A lot of work was put into the world-building but not enough exposition was given to make you truly understand what was going on. Inevitably this story will be compared to the Dresden Files and this book reads like a later volume in the series but lacks the explanation that gives any Dresden Files novel the ability to stand on its own. Again this comes back to the short length of the book. I would say give it a try. I certainly did and I don't regret it.
Other faults include the use terms like 'Infernal' and 'Forget' in exchange for simply explaining what they mean. Sometimes it feels like the author added these simply for the sake of making certain sections of the prose sound more exciting.
In conclusion, this book works for people who enjoy quick, tension-filled thrillers with quite a bit of action. If you enjoy quite drama and lots of character building then this would not be for you. This is a good book with fundamental flaws that will determine your personal enjoyment of it.
May 25, 2016
Before I say anything else, let me say that I enjoyed this book. The feeling that I was dropped into a second or third book in a series was disconcerting but also added suspense and a desire to keep reading to find out more. It was like getting to know the characters in the same way we do in life, over time through interacting with them. The book was very fast paced with lots of action and little downtime. It meant I didn't feel I got to know any of the supporting cast very well which I would have liked as some of them seemed very interesting. I am hoping that these other characters get fleshed out more in further books in the series. I gave this book 4 stars rather than 5 because, whilst I did enjoy the curiosity factor regarding Declan's past I found it somewhat frustrating that so much is still unknown at the end of the book and even though the book was written well to show the rapid pace of events, I felt that this left little room to flesh out the story and the events that were occurring. I probably would have been happier with a book this fast paced if it was not the first in the series and I had already a good grasp of the characters and world. Even so, it was a very good book and I will definitely be reading more of this author.
June 19, 2012
I enjoyed the novel, and I liked the concept of the Story Thread.....that particularly well envisioned books have spawned actual mini-universes in the greater cosmos that some talented people are able to visit, or utilize in some way to affect actual physical beings. People with enough Will are able to quite literally delve into a good book; I did wish that the concept was employed more, and hope that the author utilizes it more in the future.
The only drawback that I had with the book is that a fair amount of important imagery was not detailed enough. It is possible that the Degredation and the Void are meant to be abstract concepts that simply cannot be conveyed well, but I did get the impression that both the protagonist (and the author) had a clear picture of what they looked like, however, I could not wrap my head around them. Well, the Void, I can envision, based on similar uses of that concept, but, as far as I can tell, the Degredation could have simply been the Nothing from "The Neverending Story".
All in all, an exciting, pleasant read, and I look forward to the continuation.
The only drawback that I had with the book is that a fair amount of important imagery was not detailed enough. It is possible that the Degredation and the Void are meant to be abstract concepts that simply cannot be conveyed well, but I did get the impression that both the protagonist (and the author) had a clear picture of what they looked like, however, I could not wrap my head around them. Well, the Void, I can envision, based on similar uses of that concept, but, as far as I can tell, the Degredation could have simply been the Nothing from "The Neverending Story".
All in all, an exciting, pleasant read, and I look forward to the continuation.
May 22, 2014
I enjoyed this book more than I expected to. I picked it up at the recommendation of a friend, and I'm definitely going to check out the sequel. That said, in hindsight there are so many bizarre little flaws in this book. For instance, the coolest concept in this book is the idea of the Story Thread and of being able to travel into your favorite novel and visit its world. This... isn't really used. Our protagonist travels to different worlds, but they are created by Mr. Ducie for this book specifically (or are generic fantasy locations such as Atlantis).
When we're first introduced to someone using magic they use a book to channel their Will and the book is thematic to their purpose (Assassin). However, later in the novel you get people throwing all types of Will around left and right without any book channeling it. In fact the magic system doesn't seem to have any rules.
Those flaws aside, the characters are interesting if not fully fleshed out (just due to the length of the novel). The fight scenes are tense and the setting is interesting. I just hope that the next book utilizes the setting even more so than this one.
When we're first introduced to someone using magic they use a book to channel their Will and the book is thematic to their purpose (Assassin). However, later in the novel you get people throwing all types of Will around left and right without any book channeling it. In fact the magic system doesn't seem to have any rules.
Those flaws aside, the characters are interesting if not fully fleshed out (just due to the length of the novel). The fight scenes are tense and the setting is interesting. I just hope that the next book utilizes the setting even more so than this one.
July 12, 2014
I'm a fan of Joe's from long ago, and I'm ashamed it's taken me so long to get around to reading this. It's certainly not a comment on the book itself, which is fabulous.
Anyone familiar with Joe will be pleased to know that this is Ducie at his sterling best. An intoxicating mixture of accessible writing, fascinating ideas and ever present glimpse of something truly epic, just out of reach behind the curtain.
It's certainly a style that won't please everyone. As a reader, you're dumped head first into the world of Declan Hale, with little preamble. It took me a few chapters to get into the rhythm of it all, but once I did Joe took me on a seriously wild ride.
I'll echo what a few other reviewers have mentioned; it feels a little short and cuts a hectic pace. But what is there is gold; the characters are captivating, the plot is fascinating and Ducie's trademark style keeps you turning page after page.
I'm just glad I've got two more of these to read in the not so distant future.
Anyone familiar with Joe will be pleased to know that this is Ducie at his sterling best. An intoxicating mixture of accessible writing, fascinating ideas and ever present glimpse of something truly epic, just out of reach behind the curtain.
It's certainly a style that won't please everyone. As a reader, you're dumped head first into the world of Declan Hale, with little preamble. It took me a few chapters to get into the rhythm of it all, but once I did Joe took me on a seriously wild ride.
I'll echo what a few other reviewers have mentioned; it feels a little short and cuts a hectic pace. But what is there is gold; the characters are captivating, the plot is fascinating and Ducie's trademark style keeps you turning page after page.
I'm just glad I've got two more of these to read in the not so distant future.
February 21, 2013
My major issue with this book is that there are no challenges presented to the protagonist.
For the first two-thirds of the book (yes, two-thirds), he does what others force him to do. He doesn't really make choices. In the last third, he is rescued, other people give him everything he acquires, and the group goes off to save the day. It isn't until the last tenth where he actually breaks away and does something on his own, but from there it's a straight shot to the goal. Literally no challenges.
This book read like the author wanted to write a "character-focused story" about redemption and self-discovery. And they did. And it's not a book that is strong in the way that urban fantasies are strong.
[As a side note, the hitch at the end (a cliffhanger-type ending without the mortal danger) is a weak gimmick to get people to buy the second book.]
For the first two-thirds of the book (yes, two-thirds), he does what others force him to do. He doesn't really make choices. In the last third, he is rescued, other people give him everything he acquires, and the group goes off to save the day. It isn't until the last tenth where he actually breaks away and does something on his own, but from there it's a straight shot to the goal. Literally no challenges.
This book read like the author wanted to write a "character-focused story" about redemption and self-discovery. And they did. And it's not a book that is strong in the way that urban fantasies are strong.
[As a side note, the hitch at the end (a cliffhanger-type ending without the mortal danger) is a weak gimmick to get people to buy the second book.]
June 14, 2014
All the elements to like this book were there, but I didn't like it at all. In many ways the book told the story, instead of showing or gripping me into it.
The book starts with a scene, tells what happens and from there on it is a scene after scene - wait, where's the description of the worlds, what about the character's family, how about.. - yes. I found myself struggling to get to know the characters and like them. The reactions seemed weird and off and not knowing at all what was going on made it more puzzling.
As a reader it felt to me like I was fed a story instead of experiencing it. If a character knows something and we read it from his point of view, shouldn't we also know what the character knows? Oh yeah, that guy is my big brother, she is my dead lover's little sister.. Where were the emotions? The thoughts?
Sorry. This style of writing or book just isn't for me.
The book starts with a scene, tells what happens and from there on it is a scene after scene - wait, where's the description of the worlds, what about the character's family, how about.. - yes. I found myself struggling to get to know the characters and like them. The reactions seemed weird and off and not knowing at all what was going on made it more puzzling.
As a reader it felt to me like I was fed a story instead of experiencing it. If a character knows something and we read it from his point of view, shouldn't we also know what the character knows? Oh yeah, that guy is my big brother, she is my dead lover's little sister.. Where were the emotions? The thoughts?
Sorry. This style of writing or book just isn't for me.
July 20, 2014
Can say enough good things about this book, and the author.
being a fellow west Australian im appreciative of an author that knows Australia for more than kangaroos and the outback as it does get tedious after a while.
but in regards to the book.
i honestly loved it,
it is well written and well thought out.
i ADORED the world that Jo Ducie built.
to me it felt so vibrant and responsive to the story.
the only one criticism i could possibly put in was the lack of forthright back story on the main character so it was a little hard to get behind him at first (a non issue as you read further into the series) but unfortunately that's the nature of the beast when your include a person where one of their main characteristics is being a mysterious brooding man.
All in all a great read that i would (and already have) recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.
being a fellow west Australian im appreciative of an author that knows Australia for more than kangaroos and the outback as it does get tedious after a while.
but in regards to the book.
i honestly loved it,
it is well written and well thought out.
i ADORED the world that Jo Ducie built.
to me it felt so vibrant and responsive to the story.
the only one criticism i could possibly put in was the lack of forthright back story on the main character so it was a little hard to get behind him at first (a non issue as you read further into the series) but unfortunately that's the nature of the beast when your include a person where one of their main characteristics is being a mysterious brooding man.
All in all a great read that i would (and already have) recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.
April 4, 2014
Declan Hale is the lead character in this and he's immediately become a favourite character of mine. This book is just so good. Declan lives in Australia and he's not supposed to be using magic anymore. This doesn't go to plan when people from his past turn up needing help. And his past is such a good story. He reminds me of a young Harry Dresdon and I think that anyone who is a fan of the Dresdon files will love this book.
Its a strong novel for a new author, the book is well written, the characters are all brilliant and I immediately had to read the sequel. I can absolutely recommend this book.
Its a strong novel for a new author, the book is well written, the characters are all brilliant and I immediately had to read the sequel. I can absolutely recommend this book.
April 15, 2013
This book is an original! A fantasy that takes you deep into worlds we could only hope may exist somewhere in the galaxy. The idea of traveling through books into the world of that particular book is brilliant and something we have all wanted to do at some stage when reading something thrilling. I absolutely love the charms of often-drunk-Delcan (main character)and the crazy ways he seems to get himself and his friends out of trouble. Would definitely recommend this book and its sequels!
Love Peppy
Love Peppy
December 8, 2013
Very original. I felt pretty confused even up to the end of how both the magic system and the mechanics of the world worked. The book was also pretty gritty. Perhaps a little too gritty for my tastes. No happy endings... I don't think I'll read the second book mostly for the three things I said above: Combination of its gritty nature, confusion on the magic/world mechanics and no happy endings.
February 25, 2016
I desperately wanted to love this book but unfortunately I couldn't. Others have already said it: we never really get to know the characters and the story kind of jumps all over the place. I really love Joe's fanfiction and it was really nice to see some of those settings return, but now it read like a slightly different Dresden novel. Let's hope that part 2 is better!
February 26, 2014
This book was all kinds of weird. I totally loved it. Half the time I was confused (that may have been due to being zombied by work) and the other half I was like "Ha! More please!". There's not really much I can say about this without tangling myself into a knot of unnecessary babble so I'll just say it was a sweet read and I will definitely be grabbing up the sequel.
January 7, 2016
Nice idea, but the writing was entirely tell and not show. The plot unravelled more than progressed. For a book written in the first person, there was no emotional connection to the protagonist whatsoever.
It's a pity. There were just enough flashes of something interesting to make the book incredibly disappointing that it never got there.
It's a pity. There were just enough flashes of something interesting to make the book incredibly disappointing that it never got there.
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