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Song of the Aura
Gribly is the best thief in Ymeer because of the hidden power he wields over the elements of the city. But one day a simple burglary goes horribly wrong, and soon an army of assassins and soldiers are hunting him. His only way out is to join Lauro, a prince-turned-vagabond, and Elia, an orphaned nymph girl, on an insane quest to find the abode of one of the mighty guardian spirits, the Aura. The only problem is, no one has seen them for hundreds of years.
It would be easier if people didn’t keep dying all around Gribly, and if he could convince the world the murders aren’t his fault- a hard task, since the killer looks exactly like him, and might be the only one who knows the truth of his past. One hero isn’t enough. Can three unlikely champions control their wildly unpredictable gifts, throw down a thousand-year-old tyranny, and challenge Fate itself? The more Gribly learns about himself, the more he wishes he hadn’t come on this adventure. But without him, his friends will die and the world will burn. The truth is inescapable:
Real heroes don’t have a choice.
It would be easier if people didn’t keep dying all around Gribly, and if he could convince the world the murders aren’t his fault- a hard task, since the killer looks exactly like him, and might be the only one who knows the truth of his past. One hero isn’t enough. Can three unlikely champions control their wildly unpredictable gifts, throw down a thousand-year-old tyranny, and challenge Fate itself? The more Gribly learns about himself, the more he wishes he hadn’t come on this adventure. But without him, his friends will die and the world will burn. The truth is inescapable:
Real heroes don’t have a choice.
- GenresFantasy
854 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2012
5 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Gregory J. Downs
17 books23 followersI'm the author of a few books and the drinker of many smoothies. My interests in writing are primarily fantastic things and true things. I suppose you could call that Good Stories and Theology. If I had to pick a favorite genre, it would be fantasy, but there are good books in nearly every corner of the library, so to speak.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 10, 2013
This book is a lot to take in, there are three parts and honestly I feel like I should have wrote a review after every part just because it is so long and so much happens.
The story itself is pretty unique, but under the over all flow of it there is something akin to the fight between God and the Devil. Anyone that is even partly religious will notice this, but it doesn't take away from the story at all, and really it could be just the way I myself interpreted everything. If looked at another way it could be of the eternal struggle between good and evil. It in no way preaches to you at all, so you shouldn't let this discourage you from reading it.
The characters themselves are good, and there is a lot of them. Everyone grows and changes in different way through the entire book. Its told from a hold slew of point of views, but this is done very well. You always know when its switching so you aren't left trying to figure out whats going on.
The plot is good, and very intense. There is a lot of different things going on all over the place. In the beginning you are mainly focused on Gribly and the people around him, but as the book progresses things start to focus on other people, it has that flow where everyone eventually meets up with each other at some point.
Its hard for me to write this review just because I can't really focus on anyone part of the book, partly because it was such a long read but mainly because there is just so much that happens that I can't pick and choose and I also don't like putting any spoilers in my reviews. I can say that it was a worth while read and that the author has a lot of talent.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, but only if you are looking for a book to really dig into and focus on for a while. I'm a fast reader and it still took me 3 days to finish and process everything, for someone else I can see it taking a few weeks.
http://zephyrbookreviews.blogspot.com/
The story itself is pretty unique, but under the over all flow of it there is something akin to the fight between God and the Devil. Anyone that is even partly religious will notice this, but it doesn't take away from the story at all, and really it could be just the way I myself interpreted everything. If looked at another way it could be of the eternal struggle between good and evil. It in no way preaches to you at all, so you shouldn't let this discourage you from reading it.
The characters themselves are good, and there is a lot of them. Everyone grows and changes in different way through the entire book. Its told from a hold slew of point of views, but this is done very well. You always know when its switching so you aren't left trying to figure out whats going on.
The plot is good, and very intense. There is a lot of different things going on all over the place. In the beginning you are mainly focused on Gribly and the people around him, but as the book progresses things start to focus on other people, it has that flow where everyone eventually meets up with each other at some point.
Its hard for me to write this review just because I can't really focus on anyone part of the book, partly because it was such a long read but mainly because there is just so much that happens that I can't pick and choose and I also don't like putting any spoilers in my reviews. I can say that it was a worth while read and that the author has a lot of talent.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, but only if you are looking for a book to really dig into and focus on for a while. I'm a fast reader and it still took me 3 days to finish and process everything, for someone else I can see it taking a few weeks.
http://zephyrbookreviews.blogspot.com/
September 23, 2013
Three volumes in one huge work of pure fantasy. An excellent read full of adventure with a touch of mythical, as well as religiosity, and all elemental forces of nature, some combined.
This was a journey to take with Gribly, Lauro, Elia, and of course Gramling through a world gone to chaos where evil is at work.
The Golden Nation is on the rise and they must try to stop Sheolus, the Gold Aura; and Automo, the Red Aura; before the Golden Nation's power over takes them all and the Legion is unleashed from its prison. Traveller, the Gray Aura; Wanderwillow the Brown Aura; team up with this bunch of nymph and men to fulfill destiny and one brother, one twin who shouldn't be Prophet who will correct all. As fate is unraveling and the Earth and the Otherworld begin to collide they will need to be strong enough, brave enough, and fast enough to stop the END of the World!
I enjoyed this book and think its a dynamic and entertaining work from a very imaginative writer. Thank the Aura for writers who can keep your attention! :)
This was a journey to take with Gribly, Lauro, Elia, and of course Gramling through a world gone to chaos where evil is at work.
The Golden Nation is on the rise and they must try to stop Sheolus, the Gold Aura; and Automo, the Red Aura; before the Golden Nation's power over takes them all and the Legion is unleashed from its prison. Traveller, the Gray Aura; Wanderwillow the Brown Aura; team up with this bunch of nymph and men to fulfill destiny and one brother, one twin who shouldn't be Prophet who will correct all. As fate is unraveling and the Earth and the Otherworld begin to collide they will need to be strong enough, brave enough, and fast enough to stop the END of the World!
I enjoyed this book and think its a dynamic and entertaining work from a very imaginative writer. Thank the Aura for writers who can keep your attention! :)
January 26, 2015
Gribly has a unique gift that helps with his thievery; as a Sand Strider he can scale up and down anything made of sand and stone like a gecko. When his powers catch the eye of a demon sorcerer, he finds himself running for his life. With the help of friends made along the way, they set out to find the Aura with the hope of stopping the evil that is posed to destroy the world.
This was a highly-enjoyable coming of age story, that tests the strength of friendship and magic in a beautifully developed epic fantasy world, filled with dragons, nymphs and demons just to name a few. Lauro and Elia were strong characters as well who hold their own, and are as complex and interesting as Gribly himself.
Though this certainly isn't a short read (with six volumes of the series in one) it's a refreshingly unique and riveting one to invest in.
This was a highly-enjoyable coming of age story, that tests the strength of friendship and magic in a beautifully developed epic fantasy world, filled with dragons, nymphs and demons just to name a few. Lauro and Elia were strong characters as well who hold their own, and are as complex and interesting as Gribly himself.
Though this certainly isn't a short read (with six volumes of the series in one) it's a refreshingly unique and riveting one to invest in.
April 20, 2013
I had to set this book aside for now. The story premise had a lot of potential, but I found the numerous grammar mistakes unbearable. Also, there were times descriptions the author was providing felt very awkward as if he was trying to over-describe situations. I caution you to take my review with a grain of salt since I was only about seven percent into the story when I decided to move onto a new story.
August 8, 2013
It takes a while to get going but it is a well written tale. Lots and lots of story here.
June 2, 2014
Great fantasy adventure ala The Hobbit. Characters are sufficiently developed, good plot!
September 22, 2015
Nothing is particularly wrong with this book. got to 35% but it was just not clicking for me, who knows why.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews