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The Tormay Trilogy #1-2
The Hawk and His Boy and The Shadow at the Gate
- GenresFantasy
ebook
First published February 26, 2013
1 person is currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Bunn
33 books118 followersChristopher Bunn was born and raised in California. After serving his obligatory sentence in school, he hit the road and spent years wandering around the world. He's worked on all the continents except for Antarctica. Among other jobs, he has worked in a shoe factory in Israel, ran a post office in a UN refugee camp in Thailand, done construction in the Amazon jungle, crewed on TV documentaries and dramas in England, demolished post-hurricane structures in Hawaii, worked in an orphanage in Ethiopia, and produced kids dvds and video games in Chicago. Currently, he lives and works on a farm in California with his family. He loves to bake pie, compose music, and talk to God.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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February 8, 2015I absolutely loved the first part of this trilogy, The Hawk and his Boy, so I was almost afraid I wouldn't like this one as much as the first one. Sequels always seem to be a hard thing to do well, in whatever media genre. It is the one book in which you have to try to keep every storyline going, develop your characters and slowly get people exited for the end. While many authors fail, Christopher Bunn definitely didn't! I absolutely adores this book. I don't know whether I ever finished a book this quickly!
The book is divided into two stories, the first is about Jute and the second about Levoreth. In my review for 'The Hawk and his Boy' I couldn't stop gushing about Levoreth and she was my favourite character. 'The Shadow at the Gate' continues her story perfectly and gives us an even better insight into whom she really is. I wish I could say more about her, but I don't want to spoil anything for the readers. I will say that if you liked her in the first book and are a fan of dramatic scenery and events you will really like what Christopher Bunn has done with Levoreth.
I did find myself warming up to 'The Knife' or Ronan. In the first book he was more of a side-character, but Christopher really used this book to explore his character a bit more. And may I say, if you like surprises READ THIS BOOK. I was seriously stunned after I found out who he was. Christopher Bunn used this book to give the reader some more time to get to know the other characters but especially ... to learn about Tormay and its history.
Every good (!) fantasy book should have a background. It doesn't all have to be in the book, but there has to be at least a reference to other countries, cities, important people from the past, to give it the richness that make good fantasy books, like 'The Lord of the Rings' outstanding. Tormay has such a background. You didn't hear as much about it in the first book, but this book takes a lot more time to expand. For example, we visit Severus' wizard school and we learn more about the Anbeorum. Christoper Bunn really created an original story and with his fluent and imaginative writing style he is sure to captivate anyone who likes a good story.
One of the reasons I haven't given this book 5 Universes is because I want to save those for the final book. That might not be a very good reason, but somehow I know it will be the perfect finale to this story. For the rest I think it is pretty obvious that this was a really good story, the perfect continuation from the first book and just great fantasy.
The book is divided into two stories, the first is about Jute and the second about Levoreth. In my review for 'The Hawk and his Boy' I couldn't stop gushing about Levoreth and she was my favourite character. 'The Shadow at the Gate' continues her story perfectly and gives us an even better insight into whom she really is. I wish I could say more about her, but I don't want to spoil anything for the readers. I will say that if you liked her in the first book and are a fan of dramatic scenery and events you will really like what Christopher Bunn has done with Levoreth.
I did find myself warming up to 'The Knife' or Ronan. In the first book he was more of a side-character, but Christopher really used this book to explore his character a bit more. And may I say, if you like surprises READ THIS BOOK. I was seriously stunned after I found out who he was. Christopher Bunn used this book to give the reader some more time to get to know the other characters but especially ... to learn about Tormay and its history.
Every good (!) fantasy book should have a background. It doesn't all have to be in the book, but there has to be at least a reference to other countries, cities, important people from the past, to give it the richness that make good fantasy books, like 'The Lord of the Rings' outstanding. Tormay has such a background. You didn't hear as much about it in the first book, but this book takes a lot more time to expand. For example, we visit Severus' wizard school and we learn more about the Anbeorum. Christoper Bunn really created an original story and with his fluent and imaginative writing style he is sure to captivate anyone who likes a good story.
One of the reasons I haven't given this book 5 Universes is because I want to save those for the final book. That might not be a very good reason, but somehow I know it will be the perfect finale to this story. For the rest I think it is pretty obvious that this was a really good story, the perfect continuation from the first book and just great fantasy.
August 1, 2013
"The Tormay Trilogy" by Christopher Bunn confounds me. It's a weird felling. I enjoyed the read, but that is in spite of some very definite issues. I'm sick of thieves and murderers being made into heroes, and while the protagonist of the story has some excellent arguments for being a thief (more on that below), in other major cases, it's too jarring to believe that so-and-so is as honourable as he turns out to be, since he's basically been unforgivably horrible from before the start of the story until chapter X.
The root of my issues are in predictability. I had the major "twists" in this story mapped out and predicted well ahead of their appearance in the text. They were not surprising, and in one of the few major cases, I actually think the twist takes away from the story.
I did thoroughly enjoy the world Bunn built. I would return to this world for a different set of stories, or a sequel or prequel, in a heartbeat. The idea of the anbeorun, the companion beasts, the House of Dreams.... I wish this was a larger, deeper, read instead of the good-for-young-readers trilogy that was published. It feels, now that I've finished it, like the story is written with pieces taken from a much larger series, like it's been abridged with large swaths of text removed. That's probably the source of the weird feeling I have. I can only give this series an "ok" rating, because I was left wanting more, but not in ways that I should be left wanting more.
The root of my issues are in predictability. I had the major "twists" in this story mapped out and predicted well ahead of their appearance in the text. They were not surprising, and in one of the few major cases, I actually think the twist takes away from the story.
I did thoroughly enjoy the world Bunn built. I would return to this world for a different set of stories, or a sequel or prequel, in a heartbeat. The idea of the anbeorun, the companion beasts, the House of Dreams.... I wish this was a larger, deeper, read instead of the good-for-young-readers trilogy that was published. It feels, now that I've finished it, like the story is written with pieces taken from a much larger series, like it's been abridged with large swaths of text removed. That's probably the source of the weird feeling I have. I can only give this series an "ok" rating, because I was left wanting more, but not in ways that I should be left wanting more.
March 5, 2016
Technically, I only read the first book (The Hawk and His Boy), not the whole volume, but this isn't for me. I should add, however, that I'm not much of a fantasy fan, which might have something to with it. I just had a hard time following the story and keeping up with the characters (at one point, I got a character confused with a horse, which surprised me when the "horse" spoke). Obviously, the author has a vivid imagination.
July 25, 2013
I love this world and the different characters that the reader follows and how they come together. The slow reveals of plot points and the magic/myths of the world were also great. I got this two pack in a Humble Bundle, and immediately bought the third and final book when I finished these two.
November 13, 2013
Actually a really good book. I enjoyed it - and am looking forward to the next book in the series. Good story - and reasonably good writing.. some klunks occasionally - but then - some really amazing effects /writing!... very good! I recommend it!
November 27, 2013
Competent fantasy - I think i liked the first book better than the others, but I don't regret the series.
September 20, 2013
A little slow at some points, but it's a great read.
I loved the world and lore Christopher has created.
Looking forward for book 3.
I loved the world and lore Christopher has created.
Looking forward for book 3.
March 7, 2014
Enjoyed the whole trilogy. A great, quick read when you want to focus on something other than the work at hand. The wrap up was a little rushed at the end and somewhat less than satisfying.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews