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Legends of Windemere #2
Prodigy of Rainbow Tower
Luke Callindor and his friends are about to learn that the life of an adventurer can be brutally unforgiving.
Hungering for another adventure, Luke agrees to escort the heir of Serab along the L’dandrin River and into the safety of Gods’ Voice. A deadly gauntlet of cunning traps and savage creatures lay before the young warrior and his companions. Lacking the powerful magic needed to combat his enemies, Luke’s survival and victory may be in the hands of his newest ally. That’s if the temperamental Nyx doesn’t set him on fire first.
Luke will bravely face everything that is thrown at him, but how can he defend himself when he’s ignorant of the truth behind his mission?
Hungering for another adventure, Luke agrees to escort the heir of Serab along the L’dandrin River and into the safety of Gods’ Voice. A deadly gauntlet of cunning traps and savage creatures lay before the young warrior and his companions. Lacking the powerful magic needed to combat his enemies, Luke’s survival and victory may be in the hands of his newest ally. That’s if the temperamental Nyx doesn’t set him on fire first.
Luke will bravely face everything that is thrown at him, but how can he defend himself when he’s ignorant of the truth behind his mission?
- GenresFantasy
376 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2013
10 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Charles E. Yallowitz
37 books178 followersCharles E. Yallowitz was born, raised, and educated in New York. Then he spent a few years in Florida, realized his fear of alligators, and moved back to the Empire State. When he isn't working hard on his epic fantasy stories, Charles can be found cooking or going on whatever adventure his son has planned for the day. 'Legends of Windemere' is his first series, but it certainly won't be his last.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 10, 2013
So, I read the first book in this series and enjoyed it, and I sort of thought this one would be a simple continuation of that, but it isn't, exactly. This book gives far richer details about the setting of Windemere and the lives of the colourful cast of characters you will come to love when you get to know them. There are also a lot of underrated characters in this story that i have a feeling will become major players later in consecutive books.
I enjoyed this book for many reasons. Firstly, I love Fizzle. Everyone should have a Fizzle in their life. He is the kind of character that adds a bit of goofy humour right when the book needs it the most. He is also a valuable character which I truly appreciate because often times the side character that is responsible for comic relief is useless in nearly every other way. I love you Fizzle. Really.
Next, There is a pretty decent amount of action in this story. The varied personalities of the characters all tend to work around the character Nyx, who is very strong in and of herself. I thought she was a good heroine to lead a major part of this story. She is interesting, has a lengthy history that the author can expand upon and is a formidable enemy to face. She is still tough even when things do not go her way and she finds herself somewhat limited. Her emerging relationship with Luke is a little strained and kind of awkward and this adds another dimension of tension to the atmosphere of the story. It will be interesting to see where that goes, although I somehow can't really see them together.
I personally am not as excited about the relationship between Luke and Kira. This could just be me, but I don't see it lasting forever, yet another secret that the author holds in his mind that us readers will have to wait to discover in future books. It isn't that I don't think they work well together, it just seems like the meeting between them was too easy and that it doesn't have the flair and drama I would expect between two characters that are destined to be together. This could just be my penchant for reading romance novels way too often drifting across the lines of genre.
Hands down, my favourite part of this book is the showdown between Luke and a demon in the city square. It was not at all what I was expecting, and I felt it really worked well for a relief of some very tense scenes that had happened right before. Often, it is these unexpected scenes that make or break a book for me and this one was classic.
Something I find unique about this fantasy novel that I don't often find in others, is that the hero, Luke Callindor is rather of the unlucky variety. He does not get everything he asks for, he stumbles, falls, gets knocked down (literally)and taught lessons as he goes. This is helping him to grow into the hero that was promised in the first book. He is learning new things with every adventure and his flaws are they type that all good main characters should have. He has already changed a lot from when we met him in Beginning of a Hero, where I rather thought of him as a spoiled prat for the first half of the story. It is nice to see an author take growth of his characters seriously.
The Lich is another character that is high on my list of reasons to love this book. He is evil, and yet respectful in a way of the endurance his enemies have. I think this gives him more personality that a lot of the other hellbent characters I have seen in many books. He can step back and send in people to do what he would like to have done, or he can take matters into his own hands and you are never sure what he is going to do. Also, he seems to really enjoy evil. I do too.
The group of individuals that Charles Yallowitz has chosen travel together are unusual, fun and work off of one another as a real group of friends would. It is easy to feel like you are one of them whilst reading his work. Plus there are griffons. Who doesn't love griffons?
The world of Windemere is being shaken up by evil forces and there are so many different things happening in the various places that only time will tell how it is all going to end. I am happy that I have been able to be with these characters from the start and looking forward to seeing what they do next.
Visually, I felt this book was much more detailed than the first. You get a real sense of what the layout of the lands are like and it is a much more sensory-filled experience than previously. I especially enjoyed the scene with Bessaria and Fritz on the ship. I love it when an unlikely hero saves the day and in this case, I did not see what happens coming at all. It is the unlikeliness of the group in general that makes this story so much fun.
I would recommend this book to those who like fantasy/adventure stories where they can come to know a group of characters and stay with them throughout the duration of their adventures. This book is a lot of fun and long enough to keep you reading for hours of enjoyment. Pick up your copy as soon as you can.
I enjoyed this book for many reasons. Firstly, I love Fizzle. Everyone should have a Fizzle in their life. He is the kind of character that adds a bit of goofy humour right when the book needs it the most. He is also a valuable character which I truly appreciate because often times the side character that is responsible for comic relief is useless in nearly every other way. I love you Fizzle. Really.
Next, There is a pretty decent amount of action in this story. The varied personalities of the characters all tend to work around the character Nyx, who is very strong in and of herself. I thought she was a good heroine to lead a major part of this story. She is interesting, has a lengthy history that the author can expand upon and is a formidable enemy to face. She is still tough even when things do not go her way and she finds herself somewhat limited. Her emerging relationship with Luke is a little strained and kind of awkward and this adds another dimension of tension to the atmosphere of the story. It will be interesting to see where that goes, although I somehow can't really see them together.
I personally am not as excited about the relationship between Luke and Kira. This could just be me, but I don't see it lasting forever, yet another secret that the author holds in his mind that us readers will have to wait to discover in future books. It isn't that I don't think they work well together, it just seems like the meeting between them was too easy and that it doesn't have the flair and drama I would expect between two characters that are destined to be together. This could just be my penchant for reading romance novels way too often drifting across the lines of genre.
Hands down, my favourite part of this book is the showdown between Luke and a demon in the city square. It was not at all what I was expecting, and I felt it really worked well for a relief of some very tense scenes that had happened right before. Often, it is these unexpected scenes that make or break a book for me and this one was classic.
Something I find unique about this fantasy novel that I don't often find in others, is that the hero, Luke Callindor is rather of the unlucky variety. He does not get everything he asks for, he stumbles, falls, gets knocked down (literally)and taught lessons as he goes. This is helping him to grow into the hero that was promised in the first book. He is learning new things with every adventure and his flaws are they type that all good main characters should have. He has already changed a lot from when we met him in Beginning of a Hero, where I rather thought of him as a spoiled prat for the first half of the story. It is nice to see an author take growth of his characters seriously.
The Lich is another character that is high on my list of reasons to love this book. He is evil, and yet respectful in a way of the endurance his enemies have. I think this gives him more personality that a lot of the other hellbent characters I have seen in many books. He can step back and send in people to do what he would like to have done, or he can take matters into his own hands and you are never sure what he is going to do. Also, he seems to really enjoy evil. I do too.
The group of individuals that Charles Yallowitz has chosen travel together are unusual, fun and work off of one another as a real group of friends would. It is easy to feel like you are one of them whilst reading his work. Plus there are griffons. Who doesn't love griffons?
The world of Windemere is being shaken up by evil forces and there are so many different things happening in the various places that only time will tell how it is all going to end. I am happy that I have been able to be with these characters from the start and looking forward to seeing what they do next.
Visually, I felt this book was much more detailed than the first. You get a real sense of what the layout of the lands are like and it is a much more sensory-filled experience than previously. I especially enjoyed the scene with Bessaria and Fritz on the ship. I love it when an unlikely hero saves the day and in this case, I did not see what happens coming at all. It is the unlikeliness of the group in general that makes this story so much fun.
I would recommend this book to those who like fantasy/adventure stories where they can come to know a group of characters and stay with them throughout the duration of their adventures. This book is a lot of fun and long enough to keep you reading for hours of enjoyment. Pick up your copy as soon as you can.
July 9, 2013
Our daring hero has graduated from the prestigious military academy and now sets out with his friends on another adventure. Follow Luke through mishaps and miracles as he and his friends welcome new allies and battle new enemies. Betrayals and life-changing choices plague our hero almost to the point of death. He also meets a fiery young woman who might be his worst nightmare...or maybe his best friend. Be prepared for many heartbreaking twists and hilarious turns. I loved that I was drawn into the book so much that I got to know all the characters in a way that I was brought to tears at the passing of one character and could laugh out loud at Luke’s endearing sense of humor.
I really liked how I could hear the author’s voice through the main character, hero Luke Callindor. And I can’t help but admire how well written and thorough each character is, from the treacherous Lich and the latest villains to Luke’s newfound friends and old companions.
Prodigy of Rainbow Tower is an enticing fantasy novel from breakthrough author Charles E. Yallowitz and is the enjoyable sequel to Beginning of a Hero.
I really liked how I could hear the author’s voice through the main character, hero Luke Callindor. And I can’t help but admire how well written and thorough each character is, from the treacherous Lich and the latest villains to Luke’s newfound friends and old companions.
Prodigy of Rainbow Tower is an enticing fantasy novel from breakthrough author Charles E. Yallowitz and is the enjoyable sequel to Beginning of a Hero.
July 10, 2013
Once again, I am impressed with Charles Yallowitz's storytelling as well as his ability to bring something new to the table with each turn of the page. Prodigy of a Rainbow tower surpasses its predecessor, Beginning of a Hero, and lures the reader into a lush world of adventure and magic.
I am not often a fan of sequels (in a series, I usually jump favorites from book 1 to 3) but Prodigy is an exception. Aside from characters and plot, I just love seeing the writing style develop. Rather than lose his voice halfway through, as tends to happen with some authors, Yallowitz remains strong until the end. Prodigy is definitely not an "in between" booklet. It is definitely a must-read.
This series is very enticing to the active reader who is seeking to get lost in a story. I find myself even enjoying Luke Callindor's character a bit more (don't get your ego puffed up too much, Luke) as he continues to grow and is fleshed out.
I am very eager to see where this series is headed. Charles Yallowitz has my full attention and a place on my shelves.
I am not often a fan of sequels (in a series, I usually jump favorites from book 1 to 3) but Prodigy is an exception. Aside from characters and plot, I just love seeing the writing style develop. Rather than lose his voice halfway through, as tends to happen with some authors, Yallowitz remains strong until the end. Prodigy is definitely not an "in between" booklet. It is definitely a must-read.
This series is very enticing to the active reader who is seeking to get lost in a story. I find myself even enjoying Luke Callindor's character a bit more (don't get your ego puffed up too much, Luke) as he continues to grow and is fleshed out.
I am very eager to see where this series is headed. Charles Yallowitz has my full attention and a place on my shelves.
August 1, 2013
I received an advanced copy of this book and am really glad I did. Picking up where Beginning of a Hero left off, Luke and company are to escort Duke Solomon's heir and daughter, Kellia, back home. However, the villains are not simply sitting on their haunches. The Lich and Trinity are working together (begrudgingly, of course) to thwart our heros' trip and mission. Since our party is leaving the school behind for their next adventure, it's time to say goodbye to all the teachers and headmistress at Selenia Hamilton's Military Academy. Don't worry, the new characters are very different, but just as good.
As in the first book, all the characters are fleshed out, their perspectives, emotions, and beliefs evolving as the story progresses. The characters are still the same to a degree. Fritz is his greasy, womanizing self, Nimby is the happy thief, and Aedyn still carries himself as far wiser than his years would suggest. However, the previous adventures at the school have changed them and those changes are evident to varying degrees.
In their next adventure, they meet a new ally, and the first meeting is...interesting. I really enjoyed this book for many reasons. My favorite characters from the first book are back, and new characters are diverse. We get to see more of Windemere and admire the cities for all their beauty, as well as learning that not every place is friendly. An excellent read, continuing the story and still leaving the reader wanting to know what happens next. And of course, Fizzle is back. Gotta have Fizzle.
As in the first book, all the characters are fleshed out, their perspectives, emotions, and beliefs evolving as the story progresses. The characters are still the same to a degree. Fritz is his greasy, womanizing self, Nimby is the happy thief, and Aedyn still carries himself as far wiser than his years would suggest. However, the previous adventures at the school have changed them and those changes are evident to varying degrees.
In their next adventure, they meet a new ally, and the first meeting is...interesting. I really enjoyed this book for many reasons. My favorite characters from the first book are back, and new characters are diverse. We get to see more of Windemere and admire the cities for all their beauty, as well as learning that not every place is friendly. An excellent read, continuing the story and still leaving the reader wanting to know what happens next. And of course, Fizzle is back. Gotta have Fizzle.
December 15, 2013
With Beginning of a Hero Yallowitz dipped his toe in the ruffled waters of fantasy. With Prodigy of Rainbow Tower he has dived in head first and come up swimming strongly.
This second book in the Windemere series is richer, deeper, darker... and funnier. The world develops in detail and scope, the characters, already vivid and alive, take on a greater breadth and complexity... and the plot, of course, thickens, leaving a third book eagerly awaited.
It is somewhat unusual to find such strongly drawn female characters in a male-led fantasy. They are not simply warrior women in bikinis, nor soft, helpless maidens, but deep and complicated participants in the web of relationships and adventures.
You are likely to laugh, you may shed a tear... but you will be drawn in.
Highly recommended.
This second book in the Windemere series is richer, deeper, darker... and funnier. The world develops in detail and scope, the characters, already vivid and alive, take on a greater breadth and complexity... and the plot, of course, thickens, leaving a third book eagerly awaited.
It is somewhat unusual to find such strongly drawn female characters in a male-led fantasy. They are not simply warrior women in bikinis, nor soft, helpless maidens, but deep and complicated participants in the web of relationships and adventures.
You are likely to laugh, you may shed a tear... but you will be drawn in.
Highly recommended.
March 21, 2017
Luke is looking for another adventure and he gets far more than he can handle in this book. Filled with action scenes to take your breath away and mysterious characters to make you wonder, Prodigy of Rainbow has it all. I really enjoyed it and can't wait for the next book in the series.
My Rating: 5 stars
My Rating: 5 stars
October 2, 2013
***I was given a copy of Prodigy of Rainbow Tower by the author, Charles E. Yallowitz, in exchange for an honest review***
Prodigy of Rainbow Tower is, in my mind, Charles’ best work to date. Now, I have only read one other of his books and I loved Beginning of a Hero, but Prodigy of Rainbow Tower has that something extra for me. Nyx. Is. Awesome. She’s feisty, hot-tempered, imperfect, and full of herself (or so she portrays to others). We get to know her during the task Luke, Nimby, Fritz, and Aedyn take part in, escorting a noblewoman to God’s Voice. This story has it all. Tension, awesome snarky back-and-forth banter, elves, demons, and lots more. And Fizzle. Who couldn’t love Fizzle?
Nyx is such a strong personality. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and more of the other characters, new and already known, with the rich tapestry of Windemere unfolding in between intense actions scenes and moments of kindness and budding friendships. Throughout this story, we grow to respect even the bad guys (the Lich, for example), and are given a deeper understanding into Luke’s world. I enjoyed how Charles gives us insights into each of the characters; he weaves them together with flourish and heart.
Charles has created a world where friendship and loyalty are as important, if not more so, than riches. His characters are far from one dimensional. They have their faults, their pasts, and yet when the moment appears, they prove their strength of character, each coming into his or her own. If you enjoy a good Fantasy series, I highly recommend Legends of Windemere to you.
Prodigy of Rainbow Tower is, in my mind, Charles’ best work to date. Now, I have only read one other of his books and I loved Beginning of a Hero, but Prodigy of Rainbow Tower has that something extra for me. Nyx. Is. Awesome. She’s feisty, hot-tempered, imperfect, and full of herself (or so she portrays to others). We get to know her during the task Luke, Nimby, Fritz, and Aedyn take part in, escorting a noblewoman to God’s Voice. This story has it all. Tension, awesome snarky back-and-forth banter, elves, demons, and lots more. And Fizzle. Who couldn’t love Fizzle?
Nyx is such a strong personality. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and more of the other characters, new and already known, with the rich tapestry of Windemere unfolding in between intense actions scenes and moments of kindness and budding friendships. Throughout this story, we grow to respect even the bad guys (the Lich, for example), and are given a deeper understanding into Luke’s world. I enjoyed how Charles gives us insights into each of the characters; he weaves them together with flourish and heart.
Charles has created a world where friendship and loyalty are as important, if not more so, than riches. His characters are far from one dimensional. They have their faults, their pasts, and yet when the moment appears, they prove their strength of character, each coming into his or her own. If you enjoy a good Fantasy series, I highly recommend Legends of Windemere to you.
October 7, 2014
Excellent first 2 books, series goes to hell in book 3 and beyond when the young adult characters become sexually active. This author has serious problems writing women, relationships, and sex, in a respectful and believable fashion. He has fallen into the trap of the "Mother, Virgin, Whore" triad; his previously strong romantic female characters start acting like sluts and whores once they become sexually active (see spoiler). It is almost as if he hired a junior high school student to write the sexual relationships in his books. The author needs to stop trying to mix material that is better suited for dark fantasy with his Swords and Sorcery High Fantasy, which would otherwise be quite good.
October 21, 2013
As a non-fantasy reader, I jumped into Beginnings of a Hero in the Legends of Windemere series and really enjoyed it. So, it made perfect sense for me to read the next book in the series, Prodigy of Rainbow Tower.
The adventures continued - and I mean adventures, as in many adventures. Always with a twist and always fun. The humor in these books makes me smile - but the adventures were amazing. Luke and Nyx and the others jumped from one interesting battle into another. I know what you're thinking - that they always survive unscathed. Not so, there were a couple of times that I was sure someone wasn't going to make it with a healing potion in time. But that added to the heart pounding fun.
Really, I don't typically read these kind of books. But I highly recommend these. They are well written and very entertaining.
The adventures continued - and I mean adventures, as in many adventures. Always with a twist and always fun. The humor in these books makes me smile - but the adventures were amazing. Luke and Nyx and the others jumped from one interesting battle into another. I know what you're thinking - that they always survive unscathed. Not so, there were a couple of times that I was sure someone wasn't going to make it with a healing potion in time. But that added to the heart pounding fun.
Really, I don't typically read these kind of books. But I highly recommend these. They are well written and very entertaining.
July 25, 2022
Review of Prodigy of Rainbow Tower by Charles Yallowitz
OVERVIEW:
This is a continuation of the story told in The Beginning of a Hero. In this book, Luke and his companions, Fritz, the gnome, Nimby, the halfling, Aeden, the priest,and Fizzle, the little dragon-like creature known as a drite, set off to escort the heir to Duke Solomon home to Gods' Voice.
First, though, they need to collect a caster apprentice from Rainbow Tower. She is a very prickly individual. Her first meeting with Luke does not go well.
The book is full of action. On the journey along the L'landrin River, they meet with traps and agents of the litch from book 1 that are trying to kill them.
We also learn that the litch is serving a much more powerful master that even the gods themselves fear.
This book has some shocking twists, but \I won't spoil it by letting the cat out of the bag.
You will laugh and cry reading this book.
BLURB
Luke Callindor and his friends are about to learn that the life of an adventurer can be brutally unforgiving.
Hungering for another adventure, Luke agrees to escort the heir of Serab along the L’dandrin River and into the safety of Gods’ Voice. A deadly gauntlet of cunning traps and savage creatures lay before the young warrior and his companions. Lacking the powerful magic needed to combat his enemies, Luke’s survival and victory may be in the hands of his newest ally. That’s if the temperamental Nyx doesn’t set him on fire first.
Luke will bravely face everything that is thrown at him, but how can he defend himself when he’s ignorant of the truth behind his mission?
CHARACTERS
Mr Yallowitz has continued to enthral his readers with his story. We meet a new character in this book. She is the Prodigy of the title. Her name is Nyx and she is an extremely powerful caster. Sadly, she has a character flaw. She loses her temper extremely quickly, and with her being such a powerful caster, with a tendency to use fire magic, she is a dangerous individual.
Mr Yallowitz writes strong women. I love them.
We meet a new enemy, Trinity, the Queen of the Chaos Elves, who wishes to exact revenge on Nyx after they fight over the rooftops. Of course there is the Hellfire Elf who seems almost human in his desire to get his revenge on Luke.
There is the usual squabbling between friends, but nothing serious. This is how friends behave in real life. And we see lasting friendships beginning to form.
Nyx's growing friendship with Luke makes her become less prickly.
As before, Luke and his friends are well-drawn. I fell in love with them all, but especially Fizzle.
WRITING
The world is believable, and fully realised and described.
We are introduced to a number of fight scenes that Mr Yallowitz describes excellently. As I have already said, the characters are well drawn and believable, and change as we progress through the book.
Sadly, though, this book has many typos, as well as grammatical errors and the wrong word used in some cases. (as Nyx's weapon, a morning star, which Mr Yallowitz calls a mourning star all through the book.)
This gave me a problem as to how to rate it. The story deserves 5*, but the typos and grammar should have put it at 3*. I compromised by going with the average.
I gave the book 4*
My ranking of books. In order to get a particular number of stars, it is not necessary to meet all the criteria. This is a guide only.
5* Exceptional. Wonderful story. Setting well drawn, and characters believable. Not perfect, but with flaws. Will keep you up all night. No typos or grammatical errors.
4* A thoroughly enjoyable read. Great and original story. Believable setting and characters. Very few grammatical errors or typos.
3* I enjoyed it. Good story. Characters need some development. Some typos or grammatical errors.
2* Not for me. Story not very strong. Unbelievable and flat characters. Setting not clearly defined. Many typos or grammatical errors.
1* I hated it. Story almost non-existent. Setting poor. Possibly couldn't finish it.
Book review, review of Legends of Windemere, Charles Yallowitz, The Prodigy of Rainbow Tower, fantasy, fantasy review,
OVERVIEW:
This is a continuation of the story told in The Beginning of a Hero. In this book, Luke and his companions, Fritz, the gnome, Nimby, the halfling, Aeden, the priest,and Fizzle, the little dragon-like creature known as a drite, set off to escort the heir to Duke Solomon home to Gods' Voice.
First, though, they need to collect a caster apprentice from Rainbow Tower. She is a very prickly individual. Her first meeting with Luke does not go well.
The book is full of action. On the journey along the L'landrin River, they meet with traps and agents of the litch from book 1 that are trying to kill them.
We also learn that the litch is serving a much more powerful master that even the gods themselves fear.
This book has some shocking twists, but \I won't spoil it by letting the cat out of the bag.
You will laugh and cry reading this book.
BLURB
Luke Callindor and his friends are about to learn that the life of an adventurer can be brutally unforgiving.
Hungering for another adventure, Luke agrees to escort the heir of Serab along the L’dandrin River and into the safety of Gods’ Voice. A deadly gauntlet of cunning traps and savage creatures lay before the young warrior and his companions. Lacking the powerful magic needed to combat his enemies, Luke’s survival and victory may be in the hands of his newest ally. That’s if the temperamental Nyx doesn’t set him on fire first.
Luke will bravely face everything that is thrown at him, but how can he defend himself when he’s ignorant of the truth behind his mission?
CHARACTERS
Mr Yallowitz has continued to enthral his readers with his story. We meet a new character in this book. She is the Prodigy of the title. Her name is Nyx and she is an extremely powerful caster. Sadly, she has a character flaw. She loses her temper extremely quickly, and with her being such a powerful caster, with a tendency to use fire magic, she is a dangerous individual.
Mr Yallowitz writes strong women. I love them.
We meet a new enemy, Trinity, the Queen of the Chaos Elves, who wishes to exact revenge on Nyx after they fight over the rooftops. Of course there is the Hellfire Elf who seems almost human in his desire to get his revenge on Luke.
There is the usual squabbling between friends, but nothing serious. This is how friends behave in real life. And we see lasting friendships beginning to form.
Nyx's growing friendship with Luke makes her become less prickly.
As before, Luke and his friends are well-drawn. I fell in love with them all, but especially Fizzle.
WRITING
The world is believable, and fully realised and described.
We are introduced to a number of fight scenes that Mr Yallowitz describes excellently. As I have already said, the characters are well drawn and believable, and change as we progress through the book.
Sadly, though, this book has many typos, as well as grammatical errors and the wrong word used in some cases. (as Nyx's weapon, a morning star, which Mr Yallowitz calls a mourning star all through the book.)
This gave me a problem as to how to rate it. The story deserves 5*, but the typos and grammar should have put it at 3*. I compromised by going with the average.
I gave the book 4*
My ranking of books. In order to get a particular number of stars, it is not necessary to meet all the criteria. This is a guide only.
5* Exceptional. Wonderful story. Setting well drawn, and characters believable. Not perfect, but with flaws. Will keep you up all night. No typos or grammatical errors.
4* A thoroughly enjoyable read. Great and original story. Believable setting and characters. Very few grammatical errors or typos.
3* I enjoyed it. Good story. Characters need some development. Some typos or grammatical errors.
2* Not for me. Story not very strong. Unbelievable and flat characters. Setting not clearly defined. Many typos or grammatical errors.
1* I hated it. Story almost non-existent. Setting poor. Possibly couldn't finish it.
Book review, review of Legends of Windemere, Charles Yallowitz, The Prodigy of Rainbow Tower, fantasy, fantasy review,
October 18, 2019
Prodigy of Rainbow Tower, Book 2 is an action-packed fantasy that has a gripping storyline and memorable characters. The author has created a fun story with plenty of adventures for the main character, Luke Callindor, and his cohorts.
I read Book 1 more than a year or so ago but picked right up with Luke and his friends as if I never left them. This book continues with more adventures, odd creatures, spells, castors, gnomes, and the usual suspects that kept this reader enthralled.
This series could be made into a TV series or full-length movies as in the Lord of the Rings. It is not as complex as the Lord but equally fascinating and fun. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, Luke, Fizzle, Fritz and Nyx.
I look forward to reading and learning more about these endearing characters and their fun and challenging adventures. Kudos to the talented and creative Charles E Yallowitz!
I read Book 1 more than a year or so ago but picked right up with Luke and his friends as if I never left them. This book continues with more adventures, odd creatures, spells, castors, gnomes, and the usual suspects that kept this reader enthralled.
This series could be made into a TV series or full-length movies as in the Lord of the Rings. It is not as complex as the Lord but equally fascinating and fun. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, Luke, Fizzle, Fritz and Nyx.
I look forward to reading and learning more about these endearing characters and their fun and challenging adventures. Kudos to the talented and creative Charles E Yallowitz!
October 17, 2019
I read this as part of The Legends of Windermere Fantasy Series Bundle 1.
Kira and Luke need to part company, because Luke and his friends, Fritz, Nimby, Aedyn, from the Hamilton Academy, and the drite, Fizzle, have been assigned to act as escort / bodyguards to Kellia on her journey back to her home.
As well as ambushes, battling a variety of monsters and demons, they meet some old enemies, make some new friends and gain one new, very talented, companion.
An excellent continuation of this series.
See my review also at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prodigy-Rain...
Kira and Luke need to part company, because Luke and his friends, Fritz, Nimby, Aedyn, from the Hamilton Academy, and the drite, Fizzle, have been assigned to act as escort / bodyguards to Kellia on her journey back to her home.
As well as ambushes, battling a variety of monsters and demons, they meet some old enemies, make some new friends and gain one new, very talented, companion.
An excellent continuation of this series.
See my review also at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prodigy-Rain...
August 19, 2017
This is a well-written book, which has an interesting and exciting plot, as well as a fantastic cast of fun and well-rounded characters. It grabs your attention from the start, and holds it until the very last word, entertaining you while taking you on an amazing adventure.
July 17, 2017
Very good
One thing u should know is that near the end you are gonna get the feels and ur gonna be sad
One thing u should know is that near the end you are gonna get the feels and ur gonna be sad
September 24, 2018
Still crying
I was so heartbroken! I’m going to miss that gnome. I just love this series and I can’t wait to read book 3.
I was so heartbroken! I’m going to miss that gnome. I just love this series and I can’t wait to read book 3.
August 10, 2016
Prodigy of Rainbow Tower follows Luke and his new friends; Nimby, Fritz, Aedyn and Fizzle as they make their way to the city of Gaia to collect the apprentice of Rainbow Tower and board the River Scout to protect Kellia, heir of Duke Solomon on her journey home to Gods’ Voice. However now Luke has major enemies – not just the Lich but his demon servant, the Hellfire Elf who has sworn revenge. Although Luke and his friends expect trouble on their journey, little do they realise just how much trouble they will get – and that those two aren’t the only enemies that they are up against.
As it has been two years since I read Beginning Of A Hero, I really should have read it again to refresh my memory as I vaguely remember some details but it’s very hazy and I was a little bit lost with some things. Surprisingly the author doesn’t waste any time doing the “big recap” that so many books do where they basically give a summary of the previous book at the beginning of the next book. I found this both good and bad. It’s great because if you’ve just read the previous book, it really is a waste of time and it’s almost like it’s bringing up to speed any readers who haven’t read the previous book (which unless it’s by accident, why wouldn’t you start at the beginning?) however it’s also bad because if it’s been a bit of time between books, it’s nice to have a bit of recapping to help jog your memory. However in my case, it’s been long enough that I really should have reread Beginning Of A Hero.
Again, I really loved the characters. Luke continues to grow and mature and although he can be stubborn and reckless, he’s definitely not as annoying as the first book. It was interesting to read and learn more about Nimby, Fritz and Aedyn. Without spoiling anything, I was surprised at who I started to like more and the flaws that appeared in some of the others. Fizzle was as adorable as ever and I really enjoyed getting to know the new characters.
There were a lot of action scenes and sequences throughout this book involving both sword play and casting of spells. I really enjoyed reading how the characters interacted with one another while fighting and using their strengths together to help defeat their enemies.
There were quite a few twists throughout and I really didn’t see any of them coming! It was quite refreshing to be able to read a book and really go along for the ride without knowing what was coming next.
There was a lot going on in this book, not too much that it felt too busy, just a lot that it kept you absorbed in the story and keeping up really kept you on your toes. Interestingly enough, the book is fairly medium paced so although there is a heck of a lot going on, it doesn’t feel rushed at all and isn’t too slow that it bores you.
I’d also like to point out that in my review of Beginning Of A Hero, I mentioned there were quite a few grammatical errors throughout and the book could have been edited a bit more closely. I’m happy to say that this book was not like that at all. On that note, the author has definitely improved and this book was really well written (not that the first book was terrible, however it was the author’s debut and it’s good to see improvement – it gives credit to the author and the series). I’m really looking forward to reading the next book.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book, and this series. You really need to start with the first book in the series though, Beginning Of A Hero. Like I said in my previous review, it has all the things a great fantasy should have: strong characters, both good and evil; a quest; mythical creatures; battle scenes; and even some romance. I am really looking forward to continuing the series!
www.readingforthemasses.wordpress.com
As it has been two years since I read Beginning Of A Hero, I really should have read it again to refresh my memory as I vaguely remember some details but it’s very hazy and I was a little bit lost with some things. Surprisingly the author doesn’t waste any time doing the “big recap” that so many books do where they basically give a summary of the previous book at the beginning of the next book. I found this both good and bad. It’s great because if you’ve just read the previous book, it really is a waste of time and it’s almost like it’s bringing up to speed any readers who haven’t read the previous book (which unless it’s by accident, why wouldn’t you start at the beginning?) however it’s also bad because if it’s been a bit of time between books, it’s nice to have a bit of recapping to help jog your memory. However in my case, it’s been long enough that I really should have reread Beginning Of A Hero.
Again, I really loved the characters. Luke continues to grow and mature and although he can be stubborn and reckless, he’s definitely not as annoying as the first book. It was interesting to read and learn more about Nimby, Fritz and Aedyn. Without spoiling anything, I was surprised at who I started to like more and the flaws that appeared in some of the others. Fizzle was as adorable as ever and I really enjoyed getting to know the new characters.
There were a lot of action scenes and sequences throughout this book involving both sword play and casting of spells. I really enjoyed reading how the characters interacted with one another while fighting and using their strengths together to help defeat their enemies.
There were quite a few twists throughout and I really didn’t see any of them coming! It was quite refreshing to be able to read a book and really go along for the ride without knowing what was coming next.
There was a lot going on in this book, not too much that it felt too busy, just a lot that it kept you absorbed in the story and keeping up really kept you on your toes. Interestingly enough, the book is fairly medium paced so although there is a heck of a lot going on, it doesn’t feel rushed at all and isn’t too slow that it bores you.
I’d also like to point out that in my review of Beginning Of A Hero, I mentioned there were quite a few grammatical errors throughout and the book could have been edited a bit more closely. I’m happy to say that this book was not like that at all. On that note, the author has definitely improved and this book was really well written (not that the first book was terrible, however it was the author’s debut and it’s good to see improvement – it gives credit to the author and the series). I’m really looking forward to reading the next book.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book, and this series. You really need to start with the first book in the series though, Beginning Of A Hero. Like I said in my previous review, it has all the things a great fantasy should have: strong characters, both good and evil; a quest; mythical creatures; battle scenes; and even some romance. I am really looking forward to continuing the series!
www.readingforthemasses.wordpress.com
August 8, 2013
"Prodigy of Rainbow Tower", the follow up to one of my favorite books that I've read this year "Beginning of a Hero", left me satisfied but also ever-so-slightly disappointed.
What I liked.. ...
- The Windemere series continues to be a rare breed of "Fun Fantasy"
- Nyx is an excellent cast addition.
- Mr.Yallowitz's sense of humor and tendency to poke fun at his own archetypes is going strong.
- At 99 cents on amazon, this book is an absolute steal.
What I didn't like..
- The plot wasn't as interesting as in the first book. Fantasy escort mission, relatively straight forward.
- What seemed like a pretty huge plot hole toward the end.
- The Kira character stumbled in a lot of ways.
This adventure in the Legends on Windemere series focuses on Luke, and company, escorting a certain princess home and protecting her from the Lich's continuing attempts to capture her. And along the way joining up with a temperamental super-powerful wizard's apprentice, Nyx. Needless to say there are plenty of entertaining bumps on that particular road but it is a far more simplistic story than Beginning of a Hero. Where before Luke had to do something much more complicated in figuring out who the princess was, not be discovered, and THEN protect her; this time he just has to get her there.
This installment filled that void by using the journey to do a great deal of world building and a fair amount of character work. But to be honest I would have preferred a little more action. That being said, there are still plenty of adventures and plot twists to keep you reading.
The romance aspect was something I don't really know what to do with though. Luke's relationship with his girlfriend Kira Grasdon has progressed quite a lot in between the first book and this one off page but hits a bit of a cultural speed bump when she informs him of a "problematic" custom that she wants him to follow. I don't really have any issue with the custom persay, but the way her character handles the whole thing put me off quite a bit. That combined with the way her characterization seems to have changed from kind of a clumsy, endearingly spoiled, quirky girl to more an A-typical girlfriend character didn't sit well with me either. In addition to all that she ended up introducing what seems to me like a pretty huge plot hole at the end....
But in the grand scheme of things she's a very small part of this book; which more than compensates for it by the introduction of Nyx; who is a character that shows signs of being every bit as fun as Luke in her own way.
--------------------------------------
So, while the Prodigy of Rainbow Tower had some things about it I didn't like, it's still and easy recommendation to anyone who liked the first book.
What I liked.. ...
- The Windemere series continues to be a rare breed of "Fun Fantasy"
- Nyx is an excellent cast addition.
- Mr.Yallowitz's sense of humor and tendency to poke fun at his own archetypes is going strong.
- At 99 cents on amazon, this book is an absolute steal.
What I didn't like..
- The plot wasn't as interesting as in the first book. Fantasy escort mission, relatively straight forward.
- What seemed like a pretty huge plot hole toward the end.
- The Kira character stumbled in a lot of ways.
This adventure in the Legends on Windemere series focuses on Luke, and company, escorting a certain princess home and protecting her from the Lich's continuing attempts to capture her. And along the way joining up with a temperamental super-powerful wizard's apprentice, Nyx. Needless to say there are plenty of entertaining bumps on that particular road but it is a far more simplistic story than Beginning of a Hero. Where before Luke had to do something much more complicated in figuring out who the princess was, not be discovered, and THEN protect her; this time he just has to get her there.
This installment filled that void by using the journey to do a great deal of world building and a fair amount of character work. But to be honest I would have preferred a little more action. That being said, there are still plenty of adventures and plot twists to keep you reading.
The romance aspect was something I don't really know what to do with though. Luke's relationship with his girlfriend Kira Grasdon has progressed quite a lot in between the first book and this one off page but hits a bit of a cultural speed bump when she informs him of a "problematic" custom that she wants him to follow. I don't really have any issue with the custom persay, but the way her character handles the whole thing put me off quite a bit. That combined with the way her characterization seems to have changed from kind of a clumsy, endearingly spoiled, quirky girl to more an A-typical girlfriend character didn't sit well with me either. In addition to all that she ended up introducing what seems to me like a pretty huge plot hole at the end....
But in the grand scheme of things she's a very small part of this book; which more than compensates for it by the introduction of Nyx; who is a character that shows signs of being every bit as fun as Luke in her own way.
--------------------------------------
So, while the Prodigy of Rainbow Tower had some things about it I didn't like, it's still and easy recommendation to anyone who liked the first book.
April 10, 2014
I was so sorry to finish Prodigy of Rainbow Tower by Charles Yallowitz since I wanted the characters to really get closer together. Without spoiling anything, Kira and Luke belong together and it looks like they will make it in spite of separation and Luke’s desire to finish his quest of heroism before settling down. There is a very tender ending which made me want to turn the page to see where it went. Up to the ending there is enough fighting, laughing, and magic to satisfy anyone looking for a first rate Fantasy. The story begins with the promise of an adventure to end all adventures. The reader will not be disappointed since in addition to the main mission there are a host of twists and turns needing resourceful teamwork. One of the most intriguing pieces of the plot is the introduction of the character NYX. She is something special with the arrogant highs of an accomplished spell caster coupled with the humble lows of someone who violated the rules. In the end, the reader likes her a lot for her loyalty and skill. A very interesting concept also introduced is the doppelganger. This is a creature that can turn itself into other characters. It is very hard to tell a doppelganger from the real thing and makes the story so much richer for the addition. I would recommend this book to anyone whether or not they read fantasy. This is a good read period. I can't wait to get to the next book.
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