Through the Wildwood

The Legend of Vanx Malic #1

by M.R. Mathias

A half-Zythian bard is in chains for getting too well aquainted with the Duke of Highlake's wife. And thats just the begining.....

The Legend of Vanx Malic is a continuing “serial” type of fantasy affair. After I finished writing The Wardstone Trilogy, I still had several months to go before I would be released from prison. I did not want to lapse in my religious routine of penning three thousand words a day, so I didn’t. Book One – Through the Wildwood, is a fun and intense book that introduces a few of the series main characters. I have over a thousand pages worth of Vanx Malic and his curious group of companions sitting here in longhand. I will be publishing them in eBook format, about two hundred fifty pages at a time, over the next year and a half.

Enjoy the journey, M. R. Mathias

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Action, Amazon

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2012

About the author

M. R. Mathias is a member of the Authors Guild who cares for his wife, a Breast Cancer Warrior who has Parkinson's. After raising two boys into fine young men, they and two dogs split their time between a modest smalltown home, and an apartment built on a floating dock on Lake Ultura (aka Lake Texoma) which foots into an amazing State Park brimming with all sorts of wildlife. Like the wizards of old, he tends to the animals who share the area and inspire the creatures in his works. He likes to fish, write, play guitar, and he builds all sorts of things out of reclaimed wood. He sold over two million eBooks most of them before eBooks were cool. His work is critically acclaimed, and has earned multiple literary awards, including a coveted Locus Poll nomination.

**Featured in the March 2020, Publisher's Weekly article, "As Luck Would Have It"

"The Master of Epic Fantasy" - Kindle Nation Daily, Nov. 2017

Mathias has authored several fantasy series and compiled an admirable list of accolades along the way.

--Devious Arcana, (ongoing)

--The Wardstone Trilogy (3 Books)

-- Perpetual Fantastica Fantastica (4 Books)

--The Dragoneer Saga (6 Books)

--The Legend of Vanx Malic (10 Books)

--The Crimzon and Clover Short Story Series (8 Books)

--Master Zarvin's Adventures (3 Books)

--Dragon Racers (3 books)

If you are a Kindle Unlimited user, treat yourself to some of the best "hidden gem" fantasy ever written.

Find M. R. Mathias online: mrmathiasbooks .com

Here is what others are saying about M. R. Mathias:

"There are few writers in the genre of fantasy that can equal the creative mind of M.R. Mathias - now acknowledged as a master in this genre of dragons and dwarves, and magic, and spells, and all aspects of fantasy."-- Top 100, Hall of Fame, Vine Voice, Book Reviewer, Grady Harp

"M.R. Mathias imagines a setting that will entice readers and lead them, along with his characters, on a breathtaking adventure." -- Readers Favorite Book Awards review of M. R. Mathias's 2017 Award Winning novel "A Gossamer Lens" from The Legend of Vanx Malic series

"M.R. Mathias is a master at world building and is so good with creative descriptions that you can almost feel the wind whipping through your hair as you soar along on the back of a dragon." -- Readers Favorite Awards review of M. R. Mathias's 2015 "Gold Medal" Award Winning novel "Blood and Royalty" from The Dragoneer Saga"

"You've (Mathias) already achieved much, much more than so many people who like to think of themselves as writers." -- @Gollancz The Deputy Publishing Director of SF, Fantasy & Horror list of the Orion Publishing Group, 2013

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through the Wildwood (The Legend of Vanx Malic #1) by M.R. Mathias is the first book in a great fantasy adventure book. Great book with epic characters, world building, adventure, and fantasy. Got caught up in the story right away. Will definitely finish this series.

[Dylan C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a love and hate relationship with this book because the writing isn’t as exceptional as other mainstream fantasy authors. I don’t have a problem with indie authors. But I often wonder about how many revisions a popular novel gets before it can be published – what most indie novels probably don’t go through, correct me if I’m wrong. However, Vanx Malic is definitely one hell of a character, and that is something that Mathias has done right. His protagonist is flawed, including the bunch of secondary characters that became his accidental companions as he was about to be sold as a slave. I’m a picky reader, but it’s easy for me to give this book 4 stars because the author’s talent cannot be ignored. I am yet to know if the writing has improved throughout the series and his other works. It’s hard for self-published authors to break away from this market, and this generation where reader’s attention span is getting shorter – cutting books into easy to read sequels seemed to work. I’ll put an eye on this author; his Wardstone series look interesting, too. I’ll check it out after picking the sequel to The Legend of Vanx Malic.

[Ojo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's somewhat difficult to say how I feel about this book. First of all, I expected something a lot more heroic from 'The Legend of Vanx Malic'. Even the name Vanx sounded Viking, kind of, promising some gruff, violent hero. Instead, I got a young boy, who's as cute as a girl but brave. That's a step lower than what I expected.
Asides that, the story wasn't too bad. The characters, especially Matty were ok. The plot just lacked enough fire to make it gripping.

[Thomas Drinkard · Rating 5 out of 5]

M.R. Mathias has given his readers a new hero, Vanx Malic, in his book, Through the Wildwood (The Legend of Vanx Malic). Along with the protagonist, he introduces a supporting cast of fully-developed, engaging characters.

Vanx Malic, when we first meet him, is in chains. He is to be sold as a slave because he allowed himself to be seduced by the Dutchess of Highlake. The Duke, her husband, learns of the couple’s trysts and—although he’s not allowed to execute Vanx outright—plans to have him sold as a slave.

The humans, in the caravan with Vanx, are hunted and attacked by other humans as well as gigantic, bloodthirsty ogres. Unusual allies, Kobalts (read to find out who these are), wizards and royalty join in the battles.

I’ve read Mathias’ Dragoneer books and reveled in his world-building imagination. In the Vanx Malic book, he has created a new world, populated with a fresh set of believable characters, both friendly and evil.

At the beginning of each chapter the reader sees a short poem. Some are ominous; some are bawdy; others are just fun. They are attributed to various inhabitants of Vanx Malic's world and add a flavor of greater reality to the landscape Mathias has created.

When you get to the end of Through the Wildwood (The Legend of Vanx Malic), you’ll want more—don’t despair, Mathias has a free, five-chapter sample of the sequel. Have fun!

[Carla Brink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through the Wildwood is a massive, world-building fantasy novel that can surely immersed the readers from start to finish. Read a sample from Amazon by clicking on the expanded views, and see it for yourself. If the first few pages don’t catch your attention, then nothing else could. This is not a typical fantasy book that’s written mainly with male readers in mind. I’m a girl, and I fell in love with this book because Mathias was able to create badass female characters. I have to commend him for that. Many parts of the story highlights Mathias’ ability in creating compelling, believable and endearing characters. It’s also possible to both love and hate the same character, with the case of Vanx Malic. I may need to nit-pick a few insignificant flaws of the book, and one would be some parts or events that lack a sort of explanation. I knew this book run as a part of a series, but the intrigue can be a pain sometimes. Most of you are probably leering for the Wildwood mystery just like me. Although it isn’t new, the concept of having a mysterious, enchanted place can make imaginations run wild.

[Destiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this wouldn’t be my cup of tea, but I was wrong. The Legend of Vanx Malic is an amazing series. I’ve finished two books in one and a half weeks despite a really tight schedule: work, family gatherings and moving in to a new apartment. I had a crazy week, and this series added up to the insanity of the events. Vanx Malic is your unlikely hero – ladies will definitely brand him as a playboy, and the gents are surely envious of his wild adventures. This book is intense, amusing, full of detailed imageries of creatures, and distinct settings. Fans of fantasy genre will like M.R. Mathias and his ability, no doubt about it, as a great storyteller. It contains twisted, unpredictable plot that it’s hard to decide who to root for among the characters. The fact that no one is totally good or totally evil makes this first installment exciting and thoroughly engrossing. If you have groundless fear of indie authors; it’s about time you let this authors enter your shelves, or to others, your ebook readers. If you want a beautifully crafted fantasy, with well thought of characters and complex plot, this book will satisfy you.

[Minn Ackerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised to uncover that M.R. Mathias, also known as Michael Robb Mathias Jr. has been writing fantasy since 2009. I can't believe I've waited four years to pick a book by him. My reading list is already overflowing with books I've been meaning to read, but just can't find time to start with. I was recently promoted and granted a week-long vacation leave. I know this isn't the type of book you would read during a 3 hour flight, but I'm a fantasy junkie, so there... The author brought me to place that although magnificent and remarkable, was described vividly, palpable - that one can truly feel being transported to a different world. Book one is an easy read, finished it in just a day. The initial idea is to help me fall asleep, but before I knew it, my night lamp's burning until 4 am. I've read that Mr. Mathias has completed, or is still writing more than a thousand pages of The Legend of Vanx Malic series, which means we still have more to expect from our infamous hero. My only suggestion is for Vanx Malic to have a back story, something that can show the other side of him - his family, growing up years, and what motivated him to become what he is.

[Carmen Folmers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too early to hail this as a new epic fantasy, but this is undoubtedly a good, immersive book that will have you asking for more. The cultures, geography and society in this book was carefully realized and well-crafted, you can actually feel how to live there. The layering of stories is intricate; lovers of word-building fantasy will be delighted by this. I don’t know about Mathias, but even great fantasy writers took years (some, more than 10 years) to create all the details of a good fantasy: believable characters, average town person’s way of life, their language, religion and monetary standards. Action and sex will blatantly hook you to keep reading, but that’s not all this book has to offer. Needless to say, this is also not the type of book you just plow through. It needs to be savored like fine wine, or a sweet, delectable dessert. Through the Wildwood started with a tragedy and stays there. It followed Vanx Malic’s life as the Duchess’ daughter tried to rescue her from the Duke’s soldiers. This book is full of intrigue, betrayal, and captivating plot that even meticulous fantasy enthusiasts will not be disappointed.

[Shelly B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanx Malic is a new hero to root for, but he’s not your ordinary hero. You may not even like him (and his wild rendezvous) at first. But this book is all about him: his story, his struggles. His wit and titillating appeal will certainly grow on you, and you would be unable to put this book down. This is my first book from M.R. Mathias, and definitely not the last. My brother read his Dragoneers and Wardstone series, and because I don’t want him to feed me spoilers while reading, I chose Through the Wildwood which he hasn’t got a copy yet. After finishing Dragon Isle (The Legend of Vanx Malic Book 2), I plan to secretly start with his Wardstone series on my Kindle Fire. There are many characters from this book that found a place in my heart that I find it hard to think about the prospect of losing them on the next books. The injustices done both by Vanx and the Duke may be hard to fathom – makes you wonder – did Vanx deserve this troubles? Probably. But he’s our hero, and heroes can get away with anything.

[Megan Stapleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

First chapters from the book discussed his affairs with the Highlake Dutchess, leading to his demise when the duke found out about it. He was thrown into a caravan together with other slaves to be sold. The action and adventure starts here because Vanx's caravan is awaiting an impending doom because of the Duke's trickery. The only way to get away from the Duke's mercenaries is to choose an equally dreadful path - the Wildwood. But Wildwood is a place everyone has feared to enter; those who did, never came back. What will happen to Vanx and the rest of the gang? Will they choose death, or the terror and mystery waiting for them in Wildwood? That's up to you to find out. The only thing you will hate about this series is waiting for the third installment.

[Daniel Beazley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through the Wild Wood was a good read and a great beginning to what is undoubtedly going to be an amazing series, my only complaint though was the short length of it which disappointed me a little. As usual Mathias’ writing style flowed nicely and was full of interesting characters together with a captivating fantasy plot. I particularly enjoyed the protagonist, Vanx Malic, who immediately has you vying for him as he goes from one dilemma to the next, drumming up a small band of followers along the way.

If you enjoyed The Dragoneers Saga then you’ll like this and I can’t wait to read the next instalment. As I said though, it was far too short.

[Emily L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t believe I haven’t heard about Mr. Mathias before; he surely can create such a fine narrative. Although the book reminds me of other stories I’ve read in the past; it’s so easy to get swept inside the new fantasy world that he created. Vanx Malic is living in a gritty world and his life is in danger as a slave. I’ve followed his adventure with surprise, admiration and sometimes, annoyance. But one thing can’t be denied, Mathias has a knack in creating suspense filled plot and engaging characters. This is a little short compared to other fantasy books I’ve read, but I’m glad there are a lot of books from the series that continued the story.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was great. Writing style easy to read just like all of M.R. Mathias' work. It was a fast paced adventure that ended to abruptly for my taste. However, considering how quickly he gets titles out and with his addition taste for the second book at the end it was worth it. Purchased for .99 at Amazon so I rightfully can not complain any more than that. Keep it up!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a simple, unchallenging book a couple nights ago, so I don’t know what prompt me to pick M.R. Mathias’ book. I was choosing between this book and Vortex, but dumped the latter because I cannot handle any more YA lit for this month. I have at least a chapter left but I’m also in the mood to write a review, so I have to post this in advance.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dragons, Heros, Adventure, Fantastical Creatures, and More
The first in The Legend of Vanx Malic Series this book, Through the Wildwood, is full of well-developed characters, creatures, and scenes as the main character, a half-zythian bard named Vanx is held captive for bedding the Duke's wife. When he is sent away to be sold, the group is attacked by bandits, trolls, and other mountain creatures. The Duke wanted him dead, but his wife had other wishes and had secretly sent their daughter, Gallarael, to buy his freedom from the slave markets. Thanks to excellent descriptors, perfect editing, and the author's mastery of language Wildwood comes to life as you turn each page. You can see in your mind's eye the fauna of the forest, the haulkattens' smooth stride as they carry the group to safety, and the mist as it covers the ground. I know I heard the sound of the arrows flying through the air and the smell of burnt corpses as I read a few times. The cover is as mystical and mesmerizing as the pages within. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series as well as other books from this talented writer.

[Tony Hinde · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not yet convinced that this series is worth my time. The central character is interesting, but his narrative voice of a cynical, world-weary traveler is at odds with his choices. If he has a selfish bone in his body, it's not in evidence. Perhaps this is self-delusion?

The fight scenes are a little frenetic and subscribe to the "Die Hard" school of physiology. The central characters can get beaten, cut, get thrown into trees and many other travails and yet they carry on with only a manly wince. Yes, this is fantasy, but there can be no sense of peril if consequences don't exist. In fantasy, it's traditional to supply health potions or healing magic to address this problem. Not here though.

At one point in the later part of the book, Vanx displays a power completely disproportionate to both his and the reader's expectations. "Ah ha!" we think, "The plot thickens." But it is not addressed, even in Vanx's internal musings. I'm all for mystery, but when a horn grows out of my forehead, I'm likely to take a moment to assess the change.

This is a highly rated series, so I'll probably give the next book a read.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanx Malic: Through the Wildwood

We meet our hero in chains as he has recently been made a slave by the Duke for committing adultery with the Duchess...Classic!! On his way to auction, the escort comes under attack, allowing him to escape but in order to remain free, he must brave the Wildwood.

This is a fun opening to the series. We are introduced to the same world the author's other stories take place in, just several centuries later, which I think is awesome. I sense that there is more to Vanx than even he knows and I'm looking forward to discovering it together.

[Richard W Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed

Fast paced and lively, some interesting characters, good storyline so far, even though seems like more and more Sword and Sorcery books have a hard time coming up with something fresher. It's Definitely a Adult book. Enjoy

[Lisa Brick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. Some spots were a bit slow and almost boring. I did enjoy all the action and I am just a little bit curious about what will happen in book two. Occasionally I enjoy books that end with a sort of "to be continued".

[bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly liked it but mixed feelings on ending. In some ways it could be argued a reasonable transitional point, in others too much left hanging... 3 stars since I would read more yet am not that overly eager to do so.

[Connie Jasperson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've become both enamored and aggravated by a series from indie author M.R. Mathias, the Legend of Vanx Malic. I love it, it pisses me off, and I love it. Book one, Through the Wildwood is intriguing, irritating, and left me feeling like I had just met my future ex-boyfriend--from the outset I was enchanted by the whole notion of the badboy bard, but knew the relationship was gonna turn ugly. It did, and I loved it anyway.

The Blurb:

A half-zythian bard named Vanx is in chains for bedding the Duchess of Highlake. The Duke wants him dead, but his wife secretly sent their daughter to buy his freedom from the slave markets.

This is bad news, for bad things can happen to an ill guarded caravan in the mountains. When the duke's mercenaries attack to kill the adulterous prisoner all hell breaks loose. Now, the only way Vanx and the Princess of Highlake can escape the duke and his men is if they can somehow make it through the Wildwood, a place that no one has ever returned from before.....

My Review

I think my favorite line in this book comes a little more than halfway through the book. "I usually show up in a place riding in the lap of luxury and leave in chains." That completely describes Vanx Malic. He is a slave to his libido, which has led to being sold as a slave in actuality. Not only that, but a badass duke wants him dead, as Vanx rather publicly humiliated him by making the duke's wife very happy.

M.R. Mathias sets the scene well, describing the environment just enough that the reader's mind fills in the gaps. The beasts are awesome, and the atmosphere of barbaric splendor reeks of old-school sword and sorcery novels.

I love the way Vanx is portrayed. He is out there, warts and all, charming, roguish, and rather like my favorite barbarian, Fafhrd. The female characters are two-dimensional, though, which is why this is really the sort of tale Fritz Lieber would have written. Alas, I adored Fritz in all his currently politically incorrect glory, and so I love this tale.

It's an adventure, raw, violent, sexy if you're a man, sexy if you're a girl who can't walk away from the badboys. I'm giving it 5 stars despite the fact I yelled at the book several times. (My husband is used to that.) The fact Mathias was able to involve me in the tale to that extent deserves the high rating

[LyndaVee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Game of Thrones type adventure story. The main character is half human, half-zythian and, as such a hybrid is exceptionally rare, he encounters a lot of prejudice. It seems that no matter how far we stray into fantasy worlds the old human suspicions and bigotry still manifest themselves. The uplifting message in this book, however, is that by working in a team the humans can benefit from Vanx’s special abilities to overcome enemies and evil. The author writes that he has many other pages written about this character, Vanx, and will be publishing them all over the next year and a half. I look forward to reading them.

[Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not since Tolkiens' Fellowship of The Rings trilogy has a fantasy novel sucked me in so quickly!

Vanx is half Zythian, which makes him unique in many ways... one of which, and not in the least the most important, is that he is incredibly attractive to human women... which lands him in the trouble we find him in the beginning of the story. He was caught having an affair with the Dukes wife, and as punishment, was sold into slavery.
Then things pick up in nail-biting scenes with ogres and bandits and arrows flying. The story is an edge of your seat adventure, which kept me turning page after page (errr... well, um... clicking page after page I suppose I should say).

This book should be made into a movie.... and quick! I could see it all in my minds eye in epic scenes directed by Peter Jackson.... lush sweeping landscapes and Ogres and Knights battling while the sun glints off their armor... and in runs Vanx... ok I will stop there before I spoil it for you...

Off to read the second book ... Dragon Isle.... so excited :) I bought book one this morning and read it in about 8 hours ... barely got out of my chair lol

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, magic or just would love to get lost in a really well written fantasy novel.

[Thomas Oneil · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading ‘Through the Wildwood’, I wasn’t sure if I was dipping into some feisty fantasy erotica. The title character was about to get intimate with a busty wench, the Duchess of the land, as it turns out. It also turns out it was just a dream, but it was a great way to start the book! Vanx Malic is one of the best fantasy characters that I have seen in a long time. He is a philandering, sexy, intelligent combination of human and something called a Zythian, which seems to be an elf-like race of creatures known for their long lives and great beauty.

Vanx finds himself in a tricky situation when he is caught with the Duchess, and sent off as a slave to be auctioned off. He ends up in the middle of a conspiracy to end his life and fighting to save the life of a pretty young thing that just happens to be the Duke’s daughter. It seems unlikely that our dashing rascal hero can make it out of the nasty wild lands alive, but there’s hope for him yet.

I won’t give anything away, but I will say that this book ends quite abruptly, and doesn’t have a firm conclusion. That is because the author intends it to be the first in a series that will continue the story in subsequent books. The story works well in this format, and the author certainly knows how to leave the reader in anticipation of the next part of the story.

This is a great, quickly moving read that will impress fans of the fantasy genre, and will likely be a great success for the enigmatic author. It definitely gets a five star rating from me!

[Taggerung · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect book for light reading, and easily read on a smartphone or e-reader. The chapters are short, the action and characters fairly well rounded and intense in their emotions even with the short chapters. I read this book on lunch breaks on my phone with no difficulty in picking up the story between chapters or when I had to stop and go back to work.

You start off reading about the main character's actions that got him into trouble, then the character broadens and almost turns into a paragon of goodness, which nearly turned me off of reading this, but he continued to wonder why he was acting in the manner he was, and turned out to be willing to risk everything to assist people he barely knew but liked and had grown fond of.

The author put a lot of effort into describing some of the settings, but not much into the societies beyond a few hints from conversation. The main characters are filled out, but the new ones or side characters are a bit flat. I'm not sure if it was because they were not central to the story or if they were added in to move the story along.

The magic and the way it's used is fairly typical of fantasy books, but the nonhuman creatures and allies Vanx meets along the way were interesting in their portrayal. No one shows Kobalds as more than greedy and vicious little creatures, but in this book they were much more than that. Nothing makes me happier about a book than novel portrayals of characters or creatures.

[Elizabeth (Stuffed Shelves) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Legend of Vanx Malic

This book is definitely categorized as a action packed fantasy book, which I enjoyed greatly. It drew me into a whole new world, right away. It has a great opening that really sets the mood to the book. There are so many creative aspects to this book, the authors talent really shines through.

You'll be taken on a wild ride through the forest with poisonous flowers that behave like snakes, wizards, half-troll creatures who ride wolves, and mysteries that only Mathias can describe. I truly felt like I was companion to Vanx, riding along side with him through his adventures.

The book is full of a wide variety of strong characters with a plot that is unrelenting. I was very impressed by the amazingly descriptive and creative writing that instantly enthralled me into this universe that Mathias created. There won't be a moment where you aren't entertained as you go on this exciting adventure.

There's even an adult theme to a good portion of the book, keeping this book from feeling anything but juvenile. It has a great length to the book, containing enough pages to keep you entertained for hours, but not overwhelming you with vast amount of pages.

The cover grabbed me from the beginning. The lack of spelling and grammar issues made this a refreshing read. I'd rate this book as a 5/5.

[Jason Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanx is an exciting character to follow throughout the book. Vanx is the protagonist and is just one of the many engaging characters in this book. These characters really make the story and that is why the book is such a good read.

The book opens with Vanx Malic in chains. He was seduced by the Duchess of Highlake. The Duke learns of the illicit affair between his wife and Vanx and attempts to have him sold at the slave market.

Vanx and the princess are hunted by the duke’s men. Many of them are ogres and will do anything in their power to kill Vanx. Many wizards join in to help Vanx. You will have to read the entire book to find out what happens.

I love the worlds created by Mathias in his books. In Through the Wildwood, he has created a new fantasy world, with an outstanding set of characters. Some of them are good and some of them are evil.

This book leaves you wanting more. However you won’t be disappointed since at the end of this book there is a five-chapter sample of the second book in this series. The free sample is another thing to love about this book. You can read the beginning of the sequel and know if you want to purchase it before shelling out your hard earned money.

[Nolan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really does have a lot of different genres in it; the witty dialogue and hilarious poetry give it a dash of humor while the characters and plot are purely fantasy driven. The action is non-stop, and it’s like a roller coaster that never quite stops; just when you think things are slowing down there’s a twist or a dip and you’re off gaining speed again.

Vanx is a great character. He’s likeable and charming to the ladies, but even though he gets around and has a bit of a reputation he is a good guy at heart who won’t leave anyone behind if they’ve helped him, as with the situation with the Princess. He could have left her and Trevin to die in the Wildwood but didn’t because they had only been there to save him from being sold into slavery.

The females in the story are all feisty, from the Duchess who started the whole mess to Matty, the one-handed prostitute who becomes quite attached to Darbin. I like that they aren’t just helpless females like in some fantasy books, but the overt sexual tone around them did wear thin just a bit. Less sexy, more dragons! Apart from that, I think this is the beginning of a great series and a fun cast of characters makes the book fly by fast. I’ll definitely be reading the next one!

[Ethan Westfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first this book confused me. There was an apparent sex scene right from the start, then the main character was introduced as being something other than just human, and you really don’t have any idea about his background. I was scratching my head but kept reading because the author’s style was kind of addictive, easy to read and kind of funny. I’m glad I kept reading, because everything was explained in the end, but I can see some people giving up on the book before they give it a real chance.

The story follows a travelling bard called Vanx who is locked up for sleeping with a Duchess and making her husband very irate. He is in the process of being shipped off as a slave when his wagon train is attacked, giving him the perfect opportunity to flee. Instead he chooses to help a somewhat spoiled princess because she was enroute to buy back his freedom on behalf of her mother, the duchess. Chaos ensues, and while fleeing from a maniacal member of the Duke’s guards the girl is injured and falls into a coma.

Vanx knows the only way to clear his name and do the right thing is to get the cure the princess needs and make sure that the conniving Duke gets his comeuppance. This book is full of action and intrigue, but mostly great characters and fun dialogue.

[Elizabeth Ehlen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vanx is pretty sure he can escape his shackles, but there is the matter of the pretty girl to save also. He can tell their party is about to be ambushed, and he feels compelled to save her, as he is quite certain she was sent to purchase his freedom by her mother, who was fond of Vanx warming her bed. But can he save her from the poison she encountered on her escape? And what of the strange wizard’s pack and the unnatural attraction to it the ogres seem to display? Will he ever work his way out of the Wildwood?

In The Legend of Vanx Malic Mathias follows up his hugely successful Wardstone Trilogy with a new hero, the half Zythian Vanx Malic. This is a shorter tome than the three Wardstone books, but no less entertaining or engaging. The fast paced book doesn’t have a whole lot of time for character development, but the potential is certainly there and the story well done enough to keep the reader guessing and looking for more history. I hope that Mathias is able to keep the series going and continue the tie-ins to his previous trilogy, as I can see this particular fantasy realm being rather engrossing if he can. There was some minor grammar and editing needed but for the most part I thought it was really well done.