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The Black Orb
An accomplished thief, Aria runs cons and picks pocket so that she can support her older brother, who is one of nature's innocents. When he disappears, she fears he has been abducted by the minions of the Queen of Azmeer, and forcefully recruited in her army. While seeking word of his fate, she narrowly escapes capture herself. She is aided by an old man who appears to have strange and magical powers. Bikkar claims to know how she can free her brother and at the same time defeat the Queen's potent weapon, the Black Orb, which sucks power from mages.
But before they do that, Bikkar must escape the stone warriors who pursue him, and Aria must die, for no living person can wield the magical Dragon Claw.
But before they do that, Bikkar must escape the stone warriors who pursue him, and Aria must die, for no living person can wield the magical Dragon Claw.
- GenresFantasy
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2011
11 people want to read
About the author
Sabine A. Reed
8 books22 followersSabine A. Reed has always been an avid reader. She loves fantasy, paranormal, thrillers and romance.
After her two novellas, The Black Orb and Ashuliya, were published by Uncial Press, she decided to step into self-publishing with The Demon Mages, the first novel in The Power of Three trilogy.
She can often be found at Goodreads as well discussing her favorite books with fellow readers. Her blog Writing and Publishing Resource is meant as a guide for new writers who are discovering that the path to publication can be difficult, but doesn’t have to be lonely.
After her two novellas, The Black Orb and Ashuliya, were published by Uncial Press, she decided to step into self-publishing with The Demon Mages, the first novel in The Power of Three trilogy.
She can often be found at Goodreads as well discussing her favorite books with fellow readers. Her blog Writing and Publishing Resource is meant as a guide for new writers who are discovering that the path to publication can be difficult, but doesn’t have to be lonely.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 14, 2011
Three and a half stars: A well written debut fantasy novel.
The book opens with our heroine Aria engaged in a plot of trickery and cunning deception. A smile and promise of intimacy with a gold laden stranger lead to a sleight of hand, a draft of a sleep inducing drug into a wine glass, the inevitable comatose respite of the rich man and the adept removal of his heavy purse. A hooded figure melts into the shadows smiling with the knowledge that the coins will provide her with food and other necessities. Aria, who was orphaned at young age has led a hard life. She is a nimble thief with an arson of disguises and cons to insure her survival. Yet, she is content in her life, since she has always had her beloved older brother at her side. Then Marcus disappears and Aria is fraught with worry over his safety. She soon discovers that he was taken prisoner by the Queen of the land. Aria journeys to the Queen’s castle with the aid of a stranger named, Bikkar. He promises to aid her in recovering her brother in exchange for a favor that he will later name. When Aria reunites with her brother she is distraught to find that he is a comatose shell of his former self because he is under the influence of the orb. The Black Orb, an object of great power, bent to the Queen’s dark desires, controls and steals the will and magic of anyone who dares to go against the malicious, meglomaniacal Queen. The only way to restore her beloved brother is to destroy the Black Orb. To achieve this mission she must embark on a dangerous journey that may even result in death. Will Aria be able to rid the world of the evil Black Orb?
What I Liked:
*Aria, is a strong, admirable, lead heroine. She is resourceful, determined, nimble, rash, adept in trickery, a skilled thief and exceedingly loyal to her brother. Aria is also completely capable of protecting herself. Armed with a quick wit and sharp tongue she is an absolute force to be reckoned with. I loved having a fantasy novel centered around such a formidable female lead. Her growth and character development are impressive. I admired the lengths that she was willing to go to save her brother, even if it meant losing her life.
*Bikkar, at first meeting he is an enigmatic stranger but as the story progresses his depth and complexity are exposed. He is noble, kind and self sacrificing. I liked the way the relationship formed between he and Aria. It starts on shaky ground; neither of them willing to trust the other, but as they progress on their journey they learn to trust each other and end up forming a strong friendship. He is a gentleman that I grew to admire. I hope he will be in future books.
*The writing is smooth and flows nicely. Ms. Reed provides beautiful,detailed descriptions. She creates an impressive world filled with magical and fantastic characters. I especially enjoyed the visit to the Dryad forest and encountering the wise, mystical creatures who dwell there and commune with the trees.
*While the story line of this book is familiar to the fantasy genre, Ms. Reed does a good job with the elements. Her characters are rich and detailed. The story has danger, action, mystery and a surprisingly difficult decision that Aria must make to save her brother. The book resolves neatly but the door is left open for Aria to continue her adventures.
And The Not So Much:
*I admit I don’t foray often into the fantasy genre so maybe this is my ignorance showing; Ms. Reed does a nice job of creating her own world but I felt a little lost. I would have liked just a touch more reference for a time and a little more depth and detail regarding the environment. How many people inhabit the land? Who are these varied inhabitants? What kind of land do they live in? Adding a little more development in the world building would enrich the experience.
*There was a bit of conflicting information regarding the Queen taking possession of the orb. This does not detract from the overall story but I was a little confused over the details around the Queen’s ascension to the throne and her acquistion of the Black Orb.
*While I appreciated Aria’s absolute loyalty toward her brother this point was brought up numerous times in the book and it became a bit redundant.
*The story takes it’s time developing and unfolding. It proceeds at an even deliberate pace but the ending felt a bit rushed. I would have liked the ultimate battle to have been a little more difficult and climatic. I was grateful for a neat resolution and thankfully no cliffhanger ending.
*One final detail that was perplexing was that Aria had palms with no lines that were supposed to better help her control her destiny but as she reached the end of her climatic journey it was not mentioned how her unique hands were helpful in her quest.
The Black Orb provides a nice entry into the fantasy world especially for novices, like myself. Ms. Reed does a great job building a magical world that is easy to immerse into, especially since it isn’t weighed down with intricate, strange languages and foreign creatures. The story is easy to follow and the writing is smooth and detailed. This is a good debut novel in the fantasy genre. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Sabine Reed’s work.
Favorite Quotations:
“Humans lives are so short that they don’t even register in the order of the universe. Still you humans manage to make the most chaos in the world despite your short life span.”
“The future is a mass of possiblities. It could be one thing or another. Each choice a person makes affects another person. One thing leads to another. Nothing is fixed until it takes place....and then it is fixed forever.”
The book opens with our heroine Aria engaged in a plot of trickery and cunning deception. A smile and promise of intimacy with a gold laden stranger lead to a sleight of hand, a draft of a sleep inducing drug into a wine glass, the inevitable comatose respite of the rich man and the adept removal of his heavy purse. A hooded figure melts into the shadows smiling with the knowledge that the coins will provide her with food and other necessities. Aria, who was orphaned at young age has led a hard life. She is a nimble thief with an arson of disguises and cons to insure her survival. Yet, she is content in her life, since she has always had her beloved older brother at her side. Then Marcus disappears and Aria is fraught with worry over his safety. She soon discovers that he was taken prisoner by the Queen of the land. Aria journeys to the Queen’s castle with the aid of a stranger named, Bikkar. He promises to aid her in recovering her brother in exchange for a favor that he will later name. When Aria reunites with her brother she is distraught to find that he is a comatose shell of his former self because he is under the influence of the orb. The Black Orb, an object of great power, bent to the Queen’s dark desires, controls and steals the will and magic of anyone who dares to go against the malicious, meglomaniacal Queen. The only way to restore her beloved brother is to destroy the Black Orb. To achieve this mission she must embark on a dangerous journey that may even result in death. Will Aria be able to rid the world of the evil Black Orb?
What I Liked:
*Aria, is a strong, admirable, lead heroine. She is resourceful, determined, nimble, rash, adept in trickery, a skilled thief and exceedingly loyal to her brother. Aria is also completely capable of protecting herself. Armed with a quick wit and sharp tongue she is an absolute force to be reckoned with. I loved having a fantasy novel centered around such a formidable female lead. Her growth and character development are impressive. I admired the lengths that she was willing to go to save her brother, even if it meant losing her life.
*Bikkar, at first meeting he is an enigmatic stranger but as the story progresses his depth and complexity are exposed. He is noble, kind and self sacrificing. I liked the way the relationship formed between he and Aria. It starts on shaky ground; neither of them willing to trust the other, but as they progress on their journey they learn to trust each other and end up forming a strong friendship. He is a gentleman that I grew to admire. I hope he will be in future books.
*The writing is smooth and flows nicely. Ms. Reed provides beautiful,detailed descriptions. She creates an impressive world filled with magical and fantastic characters. I especially enjoyed the visit to the Dryad forest and encountering the wise, mystical creatures who dwell there and commune with the trees.
*While the story line of this book is familiar to the fantasy genre, Ms. Reed does a good job with the elements. Her characters are rich and detailed. The story has danger, action, mystery and a surprisingly difficult decision that Aria must make to save her brother. The book resolves neatly but the door is left open for Aria to continue her adventures.
And The Not So Much:
*I admit I don’t foray often into the fantasy genre so maybe this is my ignorance showing; Ms. Reed does a nice job of creating her own world but I felt a little lost. I would have liked just a touch more reference for a time and a little more depth and detail regarding the environment. How many people inhabit the land? Who are these varied inhabitants? What kind of land do they live in? Adding a little more development in the world building would enrich the experience.
*There was a bit of conflicting information regarding the Queen taking possession of the orb. This does not detract from the overall story but I was a little confused over the details around the Queen’s ascension to the throne and her acquistion of the Black Orb.
*While I appreciated Aria’s absolute loyalty toward her brother this point was brought up numerous times in the book and it became a bit redundant.
*The story takes it’s time developing and unfolding. It proceeds at an even deliberate pace but the ending felt a bit rushed. I would have liked the ultimate battle to have been a little more difficult and climatic. I was grateful for a neat resolution and thankfully no cliffhanger ending.
*One final detail that was perplexing was that Aria had palms with no lines that were supposed to better help her control her destiny but as she reached the end of her climatic journey it was not mentioned how her unique hands were helpful in her quest.
The Black Orb provides a nice entry into the fantasy world especially for novices, like myself. Ms. Reed does a great job building a magical world that is easy to immerse into, especially since it isn’t weighed down with intricate, strange languages and foreign creatures. The story is easy to follow and the writing is smooth and detailed. This is a good debut novel in the fantasy genre. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Sabine Reed’s work.
Favorite Quotations:
“Humans lives are so short that they don’t even register in the order of the universe. Still you humans manage to make the most chaos in the world despite your short life span.”
“The future is a mass of possiblities. It could be one thing or another. Each choice a person makes affects another person. One thing leads to another. Nothing is fixed until it takes place....and then it is fixed forever.”
April 28, 2012
The Black Orb is an excellent traditional fantasy, a quest with all the elements enjoyed by fans of the genre. Essentially, a plucky heroine and her guide search for the object of power that will overcome an evil queen, and free the heroine’s brother and the people of their kingdom from the queen’s compulsion.
The blurb
Aria is a young conniving thief and a con artist, living in the city of Kalaba. When her brother Marcus is taken prisoner by the Queen of Azmeer, Aria embarks on a desperate quest to free him. To save her brother, she has to enlist the help of an old wizard, Bikkar, who is critical of her thieving habits. The way to sever the power of the Queen is to break her magical weapon, the Black Orb, with which she plans to enslave not only her own subjects but other kingdoms also. In order to gain access to the Dragon Claw, the only weapon that can destroy the Black Orb, Aria has to travel with Bikkar to the end of the kingdom and enter the mythical Forest of the Drayds, fight with the stone warriors and endure the company of the old man whom she secretly despises.
I enjoyed the characters very much. Both Aria and Bikkar came alive for me as did the world they lived in. The growth in their relationship and in Aria’s sense of responsibility was skilfully done. The descriptions, particularly of the Forest of the Drayds, were very evocative without being wordy, and the magnificent scene at the end leapt off the page with vibrancy.
The ending left me feeling satisfied, as you do after enjoying an excellent meal.
The only issue I had with it was a slight tendency early on to overstate things, for example we are told several times that Aria would do anything for her brother. Once was enough; after that we could see what she was doing, we didn’t need to be told it. This tendency didn’t continue into the rest of the book, however, and would be solved easily with the deletion of a few lines here and there. The author may well do this in the electronic version at some stage, so don’t let this put you off buying the book.
I feel that this is an author with great potential.
The blurb
Aria is a young conniving thief and a con artist, living in the city of Kalaba. When her brother Marcus is taken prisoner by the Queen of Azmeer, Aria embarks on a desperate quest to free him. To save her brother, she has to enlist the help of an old wizard, Bikkar, who is critical of her thieving habits. The way to sever the power of the Queen is to break her magical weapon, the Black Orb, with which she plans to enslave not only her own subjects but other kingdoms also. In order to gain access to the Dragon Claw, the only weapon that can destroy the Black Orb, Aria has to travel with Bikkar to the end of the kingdom and enter the mythical Forest of the Drayds, fight with the stone warriors and endure the company of the old man whom she secretly despises.
I enjoyed the characters very much. Both Aria and Bikkar came alive for me as did the world they lived in. The growth in their relationship and in Aria’s sense of responsibility was skilfully done. The descriptions, particularly of the Forest of the Drayds, were very evocative without being wordy, and the magnificent scene at the end leapt off the page with vibrancy.
The ending left me feeling satisfied, as you do after enjoying an excellent meal.
The only issue I had with it was a slight tendency early on to overstate things, for example we are told several times that Aria would do anything for her brother. Once was enough; after that we could see what she was doing, we didn’t need to be told it. This tendency didn’t continue into the rest of the book, however, and would be solved easily with the deletion of a few lines here and there. The author may well do this in the electronic version at some stage, so don’t let this put you off buying the book.
I feel that this is an author with great potential.
May 23, 2012
Don't mistake me for a lady, old man, or that might be the last mistake you'll ever make.
Aria has been searching for her brother for several weeks when she finds out he's been taken prisoner by the Queen. In her desperation to bring back her only family member, Aria places her trust in Bikkar after he aids in her escape of the guards. They head to the seat of the throne, only to find Aria's brother has been put under the spell of the Black Orb, leaving him a mindless husk intent on serving the Queen. To rid the world of the Queen's rule, Aria and Bikkar travel to the end of the kingdom in search of the Dragon Claw, a magical item to break the Black Orb - and her only hope at getting her brother back.
While the world was very detailed, the characters were very simple. Aria only wants her brother back, and repeats this often. There were few minor characters that could have been developed further that would have helped flush out the story, yet Aria was a strong character and Bikkar was a nice compliment to her. The writing was very smooth: the places Aria and Bikkar went seemed to come alive. The ending, while nice and tidy, felt abrupt or forced, the climax too-quickly resolved.
With wonderful descriptions of the surrounding world and enough action to keep the plot moving nicely, The Black Orb is a quick fantasy story that readers can get lost within its pages.
Aria has been searching for her brother for several weeks when she finds out he's been taken prisoner by the Queen. In her desperation to bring back her only family member, Aria places her trust in Bikkar after he aids in her escape of the guards. They head to the seat of the throne, only to find Aria's brother has been put under the spell of the Black Orb, leaving him a mindless husk intent on serving the Queen. To rid the world of the Queen's rule, Aria and Bikkar travel to the end of the kingdom in search of the Dragon Claw, a magical item to break the Black Orb - and her only hope at getting her brother back.
While the world was very detailed, the characters were very simple. Aria only wants her brother back, and repeats this often. There were few minor characters that could have been developed further that would have helped flush out the story, yet Aria was a strong character and Bikkar was a nice compliment to her. The writing was very smooth: the places Aria and Bikkar went seemed to come alive. The ending, while nice and tidy, felt abrupt or forced, the climax too-quickly resolved.
With wonderful descriptions of the surrounding world and enough action to keep the plot moving nicely, The Black Orb is a quick fantasy story that readers can get lost within its pages.
October 24, 2011
The Black Orb is absorbing all the magic from the Kingdom of Azmeer. The Queen is using its power to turn her armies into mindless zombies who care only about her. Aria never thought her brother would be one of them, but when the Queen's army takes him away to join them, she decides to save him. With the help of a weird old man, who is so much more than he originally seems, they travel to the Queen's city only to find her brother already under her spell. The old man tells Aria that the only way to stop the Orb and save her brother is the Dragon Claw, a mystical weapon with more power than anything else, they set out to find it and so their journey begins.
The world that Sabine A. Reed created was beautiful. A lot of magic, different races and so many beautiful sceneries. If only the book was bigger like over 400 pages it'd be so much better. I'd love to get a good description of everything and get some more detailed scenes and history facts. But it was a great fast read, with lots of adventure and...no romance, I loved especially that part, it was kind of refreshing!
I had a hard time connecting with the characters, in the end I didn't care if they lived or died, which usualy doesn't happen. The character of Aria was strong and devoted to her brother and cause but it felt like something was missing.
The writing style is really beautiful. It seems like the author gave thought every word and created a masterpiece. Some of the descriptions were so beautiful that got me lost in the poetry of everything.
I reccomend this to anyone who wants a fast read, full of adventure, magic and no romance!
The world that Sabine A. Reed created was beautiful. A lot of magic, different races and so many beautiful sceneries. If only the book was bigger like over 400 pages it'd be so much better. I'd love to get a good description of everything and get some more detailed scenes and history facts. But it was a great fast read, with lots of adventure and...no romance, I loved especially that part, it was kind of refreshing!
I had a hard time connecting with the characters, in the end I didn't care if they lived or died, which usualy doesn't happen. The character of Aria was strong and devoted to her brother and cause but it felt like something was missing.
The writing style is really beautiful. It seems like the author gave thought every word and created a masterpiece. Some of the descriptions were so beautiful that got me lost in the poetry of everything.
I reccomend this to anyone who wants a fast read, full of adventure, magic and no romance!
October 17, 2011
From the first paragraph, this book grabs you and has you holding your breath. An exciting adventure that starts as Aria's desperate plan to find her brother and develops into a crazy quest to save the world. There's lots of action and twists that keep your nose glued to your kindle. The story is near perfect.
My only complaint is that I felt it was hard to "get to know" Aria. She's a great character who you immediately want to see succeed, but I felt the author was slow to open Aria up to the reader and I wanted more. About 1/3 of the way, you learn that Aria's quite young, a teen, and that detail seemed to help me understand her more. But I felt some things, like the reason for Aria's devotion to her brother, could have been explained better. And again, at the conclusion where Aria must face a great temptation, I felt a greater emphasis on those moments would have lent to the suspense.
Overall, this was a fantastic read! I look forward to reading more from Ms. Reed.
My only complaint is that I felt it was hard to "get to know" Aria. She's a great character who you immediately want to see succeed, but I felt the author was slow to open Aria up to the reader and I wanted more. About 1/3 of the way, you learn that Aria's quite young, a teen, and that detail seemed to help me understand her more. But I felt some things, like the reason for Aria's devotion to her brother, could have been explained better. And again, at the conclusion where Aria must face a great temptation, I felt a greater emphasis on those moments would have lent to the suspense.
Overall, this was a fantastic read! I look forward to reading more from Ms. Reed.
November 18, 2011
I loved this book. It's a good, fast, read. Well-written fantasy story that's got something for everyone. For a first book, this was very very good. I would have liked some more character development, but that would have been difficult for a book this length.
June 11, 2018
Enlightenment
Well I never expected to enjoy this story as much as I have. Indeed it was a joy. I would like to have had more of the story or time relating to the Dryads. Perhaps someone would be kind enough to let me know if there is a follow-up to this story, a sequel perhaps. It feels as if the adventure has only just begun.
What would you do if you had power available, would you be wise enough to make a difference to yourself or for the good of all. Intriguing isn't it?
Well I never expected to enjoy this story as much as I have. Indeed it was a joy. I would like to have had more of the story or time relating to the Dryads. Perhaps someone would be kind enough to let me know if there is a follow-up to this story, a sequel perhaps. It feels as if the adventure has only just begun.
What would you do if you had power available, would you be wise enough to make a difference to yourself or for the good of all. Intriguing isn't it?
September 25, 2018
I have read a lot from this author! One of my favourite authors! Hoping to see more and would definitely recommend!
March 24, 2014
The Remarkables:
I love this cover. It’s intriguing, it’s certainly professional, and perfectly conveys fantasy. Self-publishing authors, take note. Way. Awesome. Cover!
The magical elements are very intriguing and unique. And the negative and positive consequences of these are also interesting. The device that resolves the conflict, the Dragon Claw, its origin, ability, and how it’s employed is very original.
There’s also a secondary character, the heroine’s brother, who was a breath of fresh air. He’s “slow” as the heroine describes him, and typically characters like this are recluses and usually stand offs. This one is well loved, and it was very nice to see him with a devoted partner as opposed to being the isolated, pitiable character we commonly see.
Overall concept of the book is also really engaging, and there are elements to the world building that are inspired—such as the Dryad’s and the way they are tied into the forest. Traditional, and yet not. Very nicely done.
Presentation is above average, wholly professional, and it’s clear the author has employed professionals to meet this expectation. Good job!
The Not-so-remarkables:
While the story was interesting, it just wasn’t as captivating as I had hoped it would be. It’s entertaining, but it isn’t mesmerizing.
I found the heroine a bit over the top – she never failed at anything, pulled off some miraculous deeds, achieved “legendary status” with little work, and pretty much was guaranteed to achieve her goal. I never felt like she was ever in danger, and that breathless, hanging-on-the-edge tension just wasn’t present. She’s too belligerent at times, too snarky, lacked internal struggle, and jumped too readily into her circumstances for her background. I like more tension, more conflict both internally and externally. I like more of a true journey of the soul, where values and beliefs are tested.
It wasn’t a bad book by any means. But as a professional editor who has worked with a multitude of books, what was most disappointing is the potential that’s right there but just not quite making it to the page in the right areas. Perhaps this is a result of this being a somewhat older book of the author’s, and in all fairness, I must mention that. Honestly, I don’t fault the author at all; a solid developmental editor should have pulled those aspects out, and I’m saddened this didn’t occur.
I think overall, I can sum up my thoughts with it was a good, enjoyable read, but I expected great, and was disappointed by the fact it could have been exceptional with a little more depth. If you’re looking for a short entertaining passing of time, pick it up and check it out. If you’re looking for a read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I don’t make the recommendation.
I love this cover. It’s intriguing, it’s certainly professional, and perfectly conveys fantasy. Self-publishing authors, take note. Way. Awesome. Cover!
The magical elements are very intriguing and unique. And the negative and positive consequences of these are also interesting. The device that resolves the conflict, the Dragon Claw, its origin, ability, and how it’s employed is very original.
There’s also a secondary character, the heroine’s brother, who was a breath of fresh air. He’s “slow” as the heroine describes him, and typically characters like this are recluses and usually stand offs. This one is well loved, and it was very nice to see him with a devoted partner as opposed to being the isolated, pitiable character we commonly see.
Overall concept of the book is also really engaging, and there are elements to the world building that are inspired—such as the Dryad’s and the way they are tied into the forest. Traditional, and yet not. Very nicely done.
Presentation is above average, wholly professional, and it’s clear the author has employed professionals to meet this expectation. Good job!
The Not-so-remarkables:
While the story was interesting, it just wasn’t as captivating as I had hoped it would be. It’s entertaining, but it isn’t mesmerizing.
I found the heroine a bit over the top – she never failed at anything, pulled off some miraculous deeds, achieved “legendary status” with little work, and pretty much was guaranteed to achieve her goal. I never felt like she was ever in danger, and that breathless, hanging-on-the-edge tension just wasn’t present. She’s too belligerent at times, too snarky, lacked internal struggle, and jumped too readily into her circumstances for her background. I like more tension, more conflict both internally and externally. I like more of a true journey of the soul, where values and beliefs are tested.
It wasn’t a bad book by any means. But as a professional editor who has worked with a multitude of books, what was most disappointing is the potential that’s right there but just not quite making it to the page in the right areas. Perhaps this is a result of this being a somewhat older book of the author’s, and in all fairness, I must mention that. Honestly, I don’t fault the author at all; a solid developmental editor should have pulled those aspects out, and I’m saddened this didn’t occur.
I think overall, I can sum up my thoughts with it was a good, enjoyable read, but I expected great, and was disappointed by the fact it could have been exceptional with a little more depth. If you’re looking for a short entertaining passing of time, pick it up and check it out. If you’re looking for a read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I don’t make the recommendation.
May 18, 2013
A Review of The Black Orb By Sabine Reed.
The aging wizard must find one honest person to help him before the forces of dark magic take over his world. Failing that, he finds a petty thief and con artist who will have to do. Placing his trust in young Aria who does what needs to be done for all the wrong reasons, the wizard and the girl undertake a dangerous and arduous journey in search of the one magical device with enough power to destroy the weapon being used on Aria's people.
I recommend this book for young adults and anyone interested in an easy light read.
Plot Four stars
Characterizations Four Stars
Technical execution Five Stars
I am not a fan of prologues and this one could have been left off with no harm done. The story starts slowly and gradually picks up speed. The bulk of the story has a comfortable pacing that varies and flows as needed. I was impressed with the pacing and the skill with which those parts which should be drawn out were and those parts that needed to run along did.
Unfortunately, the ending, while appropriate and proper, seems rushed. The actions in the rest of the work are thoroughly thought through and the motivations behind each action are clear. In the critical chapters near the end, much of the thought process that had been typical of the body of the work is missing. This is unfortunate. While I agree that the actions taken by the characters are correct, I would have liked to see them agonize over their decisions a little longer.
The writing style is fluid and easy to follow. The text is free of grammatical and technical errors. I especially like the interaction between Aria and the old wizard. The dialogue is crisp and fresh.
The characters of Aria and Bikkar, the old wizard, are drawn with nice depth, but I would have liked to see more development in some of the minor characters like Shayla and the Vizier. As they are, they are flat caricatures more than true characters. In the end, Marcus, the most important secondary character, needs more depth. Why is he worth fighting for? This question is touched on but not answered in the depth I think it should be. The question of Aria's motivations provides an interesting common thread that runs through the book. Why Aria does what she does is as important as what she does.
So, now that I have finished trashing the book, I liked it. I have problems with it, but that does not mean you should not read it. It's a good book. It's not a great book. Read it and enjoy it for what it is.
I hope future works are more like the center two thirds of this book and less like the beginning and the end.
The aging wizard must find one honest person to help him before the forces of dark magic take over his world. Failing that, he finds a petty thief and con artist who will have to do. Placing his trust in young Aria who does what needs to be done for all the wrong reasons, the wizard and the girl undertake a dangerous and arduous journey in search of the one magical device with enough power to destroy the weapon being used on Aria's people.
I recommend this book for young adults and anyone interested in an easy light read.
Plot Four stars
Characterizations Four Stars
Technical execution Five Stars
I am not a fan of prologues and this one could have been left off with no harm done. The story starts slowly and gradually picks up speed. The bulk of the story has a comfortable pacing that varies and flows as needed. I was impressed with the pacing and the skill with which those parts which should be drawn out were and those parts that needed to run along did.
Unfortunately, the ending, while appropriate and proper, seems rushed. The actions in the rest of the work are thoroughly thought through and the motivations behind each action are clear. In the critical chapters near the end, much of the thought process that had been typical of the body of the work is missing. This is unfortunate. While I agree that the actions taken by the characters are correct, I would have liked to see them agonize over their decisions a little longer.
The writing style is fluid and easy to follow. The text is free of grammatical and technical errors. I especially like the interaction between Aria and the old wizard. The dialogue is crisp and fresh.
The characters of Aria and Bikkar, the old wizard, are drawn with nice depth, but I would have liked to see more development in some of the minor characters like Shayla and the Vizier. As they are, they are flat caricatures more than true characters. In the end, Marcus, the most important secondary character, needs more depth. Why is he worth fighting for? This question is touched on but not answered in the depth I think it should be. The question of Aria's motivations provides an interesting common thread that runs through the book. Why Aria does what she does is as important as what she does.
So, now that I have finished trashing the book, I liked it. I have problems with it, but that does not mean you should not read it. It's a good book. It's not a great book. Read it and enjoy it for what it is.
I hope future works are more like the center two thirds of this book and less like the beginning and the end.
September 21, 2014
Discovering her beloved brother is nothing but a mere bed slave for the cruel and immoral Queen of Azmeer, whom has the powerful Black Orb in her control, Aria has no choice but to accompany a stranger on a quest to save all humanity and magic from the impending slavery.
(A big thank you to Sabine A. Reed for sending me her work for an honest review. Please be aware that this review may contain spoilers before reading further.)
Admittedly, I found this overall book quite difficult to read. With the initial expectation of an exciting and perilous adventure, the reality was a disappointment. I found myself unable to really appreciate the story as, unfortunately, it didn't pull me in. Everything rushed by so quickly, perhaps too quickly for my liking. I would have preferred some particular things fleshed out more; the two main characters for instance.
We did get to know a lot about the feisty thief and con-artist, Aria, but not very much about Bikkar. I would have loved to have read something about his past. Did he have a family? What was his life like previously? He was definitely more interesting, to me, than his childish companion. Aria irritated me and it was nothing to do with her fiery attitude or cockiness, as those types of females appeal to me more in general. I just couldn't warm to her. Sometimes that happens with characters.
The bond that formed between them, well, I didn't entirely see a bond, or at least one I understood. Yes, they spent a lot of time together and he saved her from a sexual attack, but they didn't have a lot of meaningful or decent conversations. Not to mention Aria was all about her brother, which was stated again and again. She didn't even get to know Bikkar well, and as far as I was concerned, he was shrouded in mystery even for her. Friendship can indeed be created from dislike and hate, but I just couldn't get my head around it.
The writing was another thing I found bothersome, or more specifically, the repeated words and statements. It’s simply a pet peeve of mine, that I loathe things I already know being told to me more than once or twice. I knew from the beginning Aria would do anything to get her brother back, I didn't need reminded at every opportunity. Other than that, and certain words being mentioned too many times, the writing was good and flowed smoothly.
The ending, anticlimactic and over easily, but an all-powerful weapon will do that. I'm glad I finished it though, even if it was a slight struggle.
© Red Lace 2013
(A big thank you to Sabine A. Reed for sending me her work for an honest review. Please be aware that this review may contain spoilers before reading further.)
Admittedly, I found this overall book quite difficult to read. With the initial expectation of an exciting and perilous adventure, the reality was a disappointment. I found myself unable to really appreciate the story as, unfortunately, it didn't pull me in. Everything rushed by so quickly, perhaps too quickly for my liking. I would have preferred some particular things fleshed out more; the two main characters for instance.
We did get to know a lot about the feisty thief and con-artist, Aria, but not very much about Bikkar. I would have loved to have read something about his past. Did he have a family? What was his life like previously? He was definitely more interesting, to me, than his childish companion. Aria irritated me and it was nothing to do with her fiery attitude or cockiness, as those types of females appeal to me more in general. I just couldn't warm to her. Sometimes that happens with characters.
The bond that formed between them, well, I didn't entirely see a bond, or at least one I understood. Yes, they spent a lot of time together and he saved her from a sexual attack, but they didn't have a lot of meaningful or decent conversations. Not to mention Aria was all about her brother, which was stated again and again. She didn't even get to know Bikkar well, and as far as I was concerned, he was shrouded in mystery even for her. Friendship can indeed be created from dislike and hate, but I just couldn't get my head around it.
The writing was another thing I found bothersome, or more specifically, the repeated words and statements. It’s simply a pet peeve of mine, that I loathe things I already know being told to me more than once or twice. I knew from the beginning Aria would do anything to get her brother back, I didn't need reminded at every opportunity. Other than that, and certain words being mentioned too many times, the writing was good and flowed smoothly.
The ending, anticlimactic and over easily, but an all-powerful weapon will do that. I'm glad I finished it though, even if it was a slight struggle.
© Red Lace 2013
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