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Marysvale Trilogy #2
Alyth
After having escaped the tyranny of Marysvale, John quickly learns that old prejudices are alive in Alyth as well. When the villagers learn of his gifts, new enemies rage with old. However, a darker evil lurks in the shadows of the quiet village, one that threatens to consume John and all who live free. In order to save himself and those he loves, John must first defend the very people who seek his life. This is the second book in the Marysvale series.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2011
6 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Jared Southwick
4 books17 followersJared Southwick enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures, cuisines, and associated foodborne illnesses. He once went night diving in the Pacific Ocean where, although he didn't actually see it, he's sure that a great white shark almost ate him. Jared petted an alligator in the Okefenokee Swamp, and a wild, heavily sedated black bear in her den. He explored the islands of West Africa, where his foot was attacked by a very ferocious, tiny octopus. However, he has never encountered a Brean…
He and his wife live in a quiet, friendly city, in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains, where strange monster sightings are uncommon.
He and his wife live in a quiet, friendly city, in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains, where strange monster sightings are uncommon.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 16, 2023
I went to high school with the author so I might be a bit biased 😂 as the thing I remember most about him was his snarky sense of humor and love of pranks but I enjoyed this even tho it’s dark and John has a hero complex. His characters have a depth I enjoyed.
June 19, 2017
See my review of the 1st book, Marysvale. Same stuff different day anxiously waiting for book 3 to resolve everything.
October 6, 2013
For my full review of this series, or to read reviews of other fantasy books, check out my book review blog at flamebreeze22.blogspot.com!
Things I didn’t like about The Marysvale Trilogy:
The Marysvale Trilogy is littered with typos (“immerge” for “emerge”) and malapropisms (“bazaar” in place of “bizarre”). I’ve noticed that extremely poor editing is a pattern among ebooks (at least Kindle’s). What gives?
The plot, at times, can become a little predictable. As someone who reads a LOT of fantasy books, I am sometimes able to guess what will happen, but with these books it was easier than usual because...
These books can at times get a bit repetitive. Obviously John’s supernatural powers are going to get him into a lot of trouble with the superstitious and conservative villagers he encounters, but after several episodes in which John is accused of witchcraft, with all of the ensuing repercussions, this aspect of the story line becomes a bit stale. The trilogy really picks up steam, however, when shit hits the fan and John is left in charge of a group of refugees. From this point on predictability was not an issue for me; I was pleasantly surprised by some of the ensuing plot twists.
Things that I liked about The Marysvale Trilogy:
The first one is FREE on Kindle! Yes, you read that correctly. Marysvale is 100% free on the Kindle. I actually discovered this series because I am on the mailing list of the website ebookfling.com, which has a system that enables people with lendable ebooks to “fling” them anonymously to other users in exchange for a credit towards downloading any of the lendable ebooks listed on the site. ebookfling also has a regular email to inform members of “weekly steals” on Amazon, which are book promotions where the Kindle version of a book is available for download for FREE! This is actually how I discovered the first book in The Hunger Games series.
The Plot: The author, Jared Southwick, is not afraid to go dark. The Marysvale Trilogy has many violent scenes, although they are never unnecessarily graphic. These books also show some of the uglier sides of humanity—man’s blind hatred and fear of the unknown, disloyalty and betrayal, cronyism and nepotism, and the pursuit of power at all costs. Some of the trilogy’s themes have resonance in today’s world: government overreach, intolerance, and the dilemma concerning the boundaries between security and freedom. The Marysvale Trilogy manages to be relevant to today’s world without coming off as political or overly preachy.
The Characters: John, the main character, is not a perfect guy. John is angry (justifiably so) and sometimes broody, but is committed to helping even the people who fear and loathe him for his unnatural powers. In fact, his short temper frequently exacerbates already tense situations, but in my opinion, this is a good thing because he has a strong personality; John is actually a breath of fresh air when contrasted with his dull love-interest, Jane, whose character does not really add much to the story (fortunately, the romance in this series is incidental and Jane does not have a huge role). Jane’s little sister, Hannah, however, is probably the book’s strongest character. Hannah, a kickass sharpshooter who wants to become a general in a world in which women have few rights and even less respect, provides the book’s comic relief. Most of the book’s funniest moments come from Hannah’s policing of John and Jane’s developing relationship. Hannah has a capital-a Attitude and knows how to employ it to good use. It is worth noting that all of the series’ important female characters are strong, admirable women (even Jane).
The Final Showdown! I won’t give anything away, but the resolution of the trilogy is suspenseful and at times surprising.
So would I recommend The Marysvale Trilogy? Yes. Although these books have not placed Jared Southwick on my “favorite authors list”, all three of the Marysvale books were thoughtful and entertaining. These books are a mix of mind-magic, monsters, western-style sharpshooting, politics and the fight against oppression, and feature a strong protagonist and even stronger supporting female characters. Plus, if you have a Kindle, the first one is free, so what do you have to lose? Check it out.
Things I didn’t like about The Marysvale Trilogy:
The Marysvale Trilogy is littered with typos (“immerge” for “emerge”) and malapropisms (“bazaar” in place of “bizarre”). I’ve noticed that extremely poor editing is a pattern among ebooks (at least Kindle’s). What gives?
The plot, at times, can become a little predictable. As someone who reads a LOT of fantasy books, I am sometimes able to guess what will happen, but with these books it was easier than usual because...
These books can at times get a bit repetitive. Obviously John’s supernatural powers are going to get him into a lot of trouble with the superstitious and conservative villagers he encounters, but after several episodes in which John is accused of witchcraft, with all of the ensuing repercussions, this aspect of the story line becomes a bit stale. The trilogy really picks up steam, however, when shit hits the fan and John is left in charge of a group of refugees. From this point on predictability was not an issue for me; I was pleasantly surprised by some of the ensuing plot twists.
Things that I liked about The Marysvale Trilogy:
The first one is FREE on Kindle! Yes, you read that correctly. Marysvale is 100% free on the Kindle. I actually discovered this series because I am on the mailing list of the website ebookfling.com, which has a system that enables people with lendable ebooks to “fling” them anonymously to other users in exchange for a credit towards downloading any of the lendable ebooks listed on the site. ebookfling also has a regular email to inform members of “weekly steals” on Amazon, which are book promotions where the Kindle version of a book is available for download for FREE! This is actually how I discovered the first book in The Hunger Games series.
The Plot: The author, Jared Southwick, is not afraid to go dark. The Marysvale Trilogy has many violent scenes, although they are never unnecessarily graphic. These books also show some of the uglier sides of humanity—man’s blind hatred and fear of the unknown, disloyalty and betrayal, cronyism and nepotism, and the pursuit of power at all costs. Some of the trilogy’s themes have resonance in today’s world: government overreach, intolerance, and the dilemma concerning the boundaries between security and freedom. The Marysvale Trilogy manages to be relevant to today’s world without coming off as political or overly preachy.
The Characters: John, the main character, is not a perfect guy. John is angry (justifiably so) and sometimes broody, but is committed to helping even the people who fear and loathe him for his unnatural powers. In fact, his short temper frequently exacerbates already tense situations, but in my opinion, this is a good thing because he has a strong personality; John is actually a breath of fresh air when contrasted with his dull love-interest, Jane, whose character does not really add much to the story (fortunately, the romance in this series is incidental and Jane does not have a huge role). Jane’s little sister, Hannah, however, is probably the book’s strongest character. Hannah, a kickass sharpshooter who wants to become a general in a world in which women have few rights and even less respect, provides the book’s comic relief. Most of the book’s funniest moments come from Hannah’s policing of John and Jane’s developing relationship. Hannah has a capital-a Attitude and knows how to employ it to good use. It is worth noting that all of the series’ important female characters are strong, admirable women (even Jane).
The Final Showdown! I won’t give anything away, but the resolution of the trilogy is suspenseful and at times surprising.
So would I recommend The Marysvale Trilogy? Yes. Although these books have not placed Jared Southwick on my “favorite authors list”, all three of the Marysvale books were thoughtful and entertaining. These books are a mix of mind-magic, monsters, western-style sharpshooting, politics and the fight against oppression, and feature a strong protagonist and even stronger supporting female characters. Plus, if you have a Kindle, the first one is free, so what do you have to lose? Check it out.
December 16, 2013
Heart pounding, breathless, scared, angry, laughter through tears...these are all the emotions I felt and more when reading the second book in the Marysvale Trilogy. My only regret was when it ended. Southwick is so talented! His characters jump from the pages, grab your hands, and take you along in this fast-paced adventure full of magic, mystery, and monsters. I cannot wait to read the last book, though I know I'll wish I'd taken my time and savored every moment when the finale comes.
READ THIS SERIES! It's one of the best.
READ THIS SERIES! It's one of the best.
June 29, 2013
I read Marysvale, and I'm not sure if I even stopped for a nap before I jumped right into Alyth.
Jared Southwick surely yanked me into an incredible adventure with this series.
It's outstanding and a good read for nearly all ages, from young adults and up.
I have a full review of the entire trilogy available on Yahoo Voices at the following web address:
http://voices.yahoo.com/in-review-mar...
Jared Southwick surely yanked me into an incredible adventure with this series.
It's outstanding and a good read for nearly all ages, from young adults and up.
I have a full review of the entire trilogy available on Yahoo Voices at the following web address:
http://voices.yahoo.com/in-review-mar...
February 11, 2013
I like the author's wit and writing style... I read his books in an English accent, which is fun, but I definitely liked the first book better. But having said that, I did like this book. Just not as captivating as the first, fewer page-turners.
Side note: if this series ever was turned into a movie, Huge Grant needs to play the main character! Right?!
Side note: if this series ever was turned into a movie, Huge Grant needs to play the main character! Right?!
October 21, 2012
Good storytelling. It picks up right where "Marysvale" leaves off, so I would suggest reading both books close together. There are several typographic errors in this book, including the use of "bazaar " instead of "bizarre. " These errors are distracting. I probably would have given this book four stars if the errors had been corrected.
September 11, 2014
Alyth is a Great Adventure
Alyth has a little bit of everything. Strong characters with depth,special gifts, purpose,some very interesting bad guys and just enough romance to keep it interesting. All set in a time when people were made of strong stock with the superstition of Salem. Nothing is all good or all bad. I enjoyed this read very much.
Alyth has a little bit of everything. Strong characters with depth,special gifts, purpose,some very interesting bad guys and just enough romance to keep it interesting. All set in a time when people were made of strong stock with the superstition of Salem. Nothing is all good or all bad. I enjoyed this read very much.
July 12, 2015
A good sequel to the first book, "Marysvale." Interesting military strategies and surprising resolutions to conflicts in which the main human characters find themselves. The usual, evil against good and the temptation of avoiding evil despite the promises of power and fame.
July 18, 2016
Good second book
The same interesting characters, excitement and action of the first book. With believable monsters and curious special abilities to spice up the tale. Ready for book three in this delightful trilogy.
The same interesting characters, excitement and action of the first book. With believable monsters and curious special abilities to spice up the tale. Ready for book three in this delightful trilogy.
January 11, 2013
I love these books. They are different than anything I've read before, and I have really enjoyed them so far.
March 31, 2014
I love action with some "magic". This has been a fun trilogy so far. Looking forward to the last one.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews