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Book three of the Marysvale Trilogy.With their city lying in ashes, the people of Alyth are confronted with a dismal, dangerous future. As winter falls around the homeless refugees, their powerful enemies combine forces against them. But before the battle of redemption can be won, John must confront his deepest fear.
- GenresFantasy
436 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2013
5 people are currently reading
52 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 12, 2015
Great finish to the sequel and a happy ending. Love the twist and turns in the plot in this book and the military strategy involved. However, the book needs a lot of editing as there are a lot of grammatical and syntactic errors.
September 6, 2018
Good very good
The first two books were much better ,this one a bit slow and drawn out until middle tho I thoroughly enjoyed all three ! Rarely do I find a book i can finish ,usually they are a source of foul language of sexuality so grateful to come across this author's trilogy will look into his other works.
The first two books were much better ,this one a bit slow and drawn out until middle tho I thoroughly enjoyed all three ! Rarely do I find a book i can finish ,usually they are a source of foul language of sexuality so grateful to come across this author's trilogy will look into his other works.
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.
November 9, 2014
Rarely do I write a review but felt compelled to after reading this trilogy. I read Marysvale and Alyth back in 2011, then bought Anam when it was released but life got in the way.....so in the past week, I re-read Marysvale and Alyth and then went right into Anam. This genre is not at all my typical genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed stepping into a different world that Jared Southwick so skillfully created. I was reeled in immediately from the start and though at a few times throughout the series, felt some repitition, it all worked beautifully to take the reader on an amazing journey. I thought the character development was superior; it was like I knew each of the main characters personally. The descriptions were vivid and I could picture everything so clearly in my head....a great accomplishment for an author writing fantasy, being read by a reader who does not really read fantasy. A masterful story that was told without a single expletive.....even better!!! My only suggestion for improvement for future (I hope) novels....a much more thorough proofreading process.....maybe most people are unbothered but I found it distracting and submitted dozens of corrections via "report content error" through my Kindle. I'd love to volunteer to be a future proofreader, Jared. But I would not for a minute let that stop a potential reader from picking up this amazing trilogy. I look forward to more works by this very talented author.
June 29, 2013
Loved it!
This was such an awesome series, and I was rather sorry to reach the end of the last story. So many characters had become near and dear, and I cannot help but think they will surely have some other quest to head out on in the future.
Here's to hoping!
I have a review of the entire trilogy available at:
http://voices.yahoo.com/in-review-mar...
Jared Southwick's kept it spectacular and kept it clean! So, I can easily recommend it for readers of nearly all ages, from young adults and up.
This was such an awesome series, and I was rather sorry to reach the end of the last story. So many characters had become near and dear, and I cannot help but think they will surely have some other quest to head out on in the future.
Here's to hoping!
I have a review of the entire trilogy available at:
http://voices.yahoo.com/in-review-mar...
Jared Southwick's kept it spectacular and kept it clean! So, I can easily recommend it for readers of nearly all ages, from young adults and up.
December 16, 2013
I cannot pick a favorite book in this trilogy. I loved them all! Anam was everything a final book needed to be and so much more. The characters, action, and settings were rich in detail. The ending was perfect. I have to say that the Marysvale trilogy is one of my all-time favorites and one I have read several times.
I highly recommend this series to readers who love mystery, magic, and a bit of horror. You'll fall in love the the characters and are sure to have a hard time letting them go at the end. I know I did.
I highly recommend this series to readers who love mystery, magic, and a bit of horror. You'll fall in love the the characters and are sure to have a hard time letting them go at the end. I know I did.
November 5, 2013
I really liked the idea for the storyline and thought it had a very interesting ending. Despite this it just wasn't my favorite book in this series. 3.5 stars, it was a little slow at times and discussed several topics over and over again.
March 23, 2015
It has been awhile since I finished a book or even a series. This was a fun and adventurous read. My 13 yr old is in book two and is loving it. Not necessarily life changing but good. The insight however on what hatred and anger can do to a person was poignant. This would make a great movie!
January 9, 2014
I loved the end, all questions answered, but a little slow getting there.
December 12, 2015
It was fun to read my neighbor's books and he did a pretty good job. I admired his imagination. I wish him the best as he continues to write more novels and I hope to read them as well!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews