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Saga of Menyoral #1
Hard Luck
Dingus Xavier has the worst luck ever. As if just being named "Dingus" weren't enough, he's the red-headed son of an elven mother and a human father.
He might also be a berserker -- and that's just the stuff he knows about.
After Dingus's personal idol happens along in time to rescue him from an angry mob, Sir Vandis Vail expresses an interest in training him. Being part of the Knights of the Air, as Vandis's Squire, no less, is something he's always dreamed of, but never thought he could have. He thinks his luck might actually be starting to turn around.
He couldn't be more wrong. Nobody bargained on the Glorious Kingdom of Muscoda and its state religion, or on how far they'd be willing to go to suppress the Knights of the Air.
Dingus thought he had it bad before, but his rotten luck is only beginning.
He might also be a berserker -- and that's just the stuff he knows about.
After Dingus's personal idol happens along in time to rescue him from an angry mob, Sir Vandis Vail expresses an interest in training him. Being part of the Knights of the Air, as Vandis's Squire, no less, is something he's always dreamed of, but never thought he could have. He thinks his luck might actually be starting to turn around.
He couldn't be more wrong. Nobody bargained on the Glorious Kingdom of Muscoda and its state religion, or on how far they'd be willing to go to suppress the Knights of the Air.
Dingus thought he had it bad before, but his rotten luck is only beginning.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2013
7 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Ray
16 books43 followersI've been reading fantasy since I was very small, starting with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. My enjoyment has become a deep and abiding love. It was only natural that I try to write it.
I would love to discuss fantasy or writing with fans of the same -- and express the hope that you might like my books!
I would love to discuss fantasy or writing with fans of the same -- and express the hope that you might like my books!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
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June 4, 2014Seems egotistical to rate this. Awfully proud of it, though. :D
December 31, 2013
Oxymoronic
A great word to describe this interesting piece of work.
A dark and gritty setting contradicts the character driven narrative which centers around a knight and his squire.
A writing style that flows as smoothly as any young adult literature collides with a flare for profanity and vulgar reality.
A world in which racism seems more focused on persecuting the bridges between races than actually disputing racial differences.
Even the characters are outlined with stark contrasts against their own profiles. A wounded boy abused and scarred is blessed with near prodigious skills and abilities. A besmeared girl with the outward appearance of one beyond her years, yet innocent and naive. An esteemed knight whose prose and posture are covered by a silhouette of brash tendencies for snap decisions and crude outbursts.
Right down to the plot which points to a young protagonist on a journey of growth and development who seems to grow very little, while his teacher the knight careens into a chasm of self-discovery he never expected, the contrasts are manifest throughout.
All this clash and contest of contradictions comes together surprisingly well in a fun, if short, intro to what would presumably become a series.
There are a few moments of pause, loose concepts, and undeveloped thoughts that poke out, but they do little to lessen the experience. Perhaps the greatest of these is the wandering story arc, which never seems to nail itself down into any dedicated point or goal. With more direction and a clear goal or antagonistic force for the characters to work with, this story could and likely will (in the following installments) become a great and memorable set of adventures into an intriguing world.
A good way to spend an hour or two, especially if you are into character fueled stories.
A great word to describe this interesting piece of work.
A dark and gritty setting contradicts the character driven narrative which centers around a knight and his squire.
A writing style that flows as smoothly as any young adult literature collides with a flare for profanity and vulgar reality.
A world in which racism seems more focused on persecuting the bridges between races than actually disputing racial differences.
Even the characters are outlined with stark contrasts against their own profiles. A wounded boy abused and scarred is blessed with near prodigious skills and abilities. A besmeared girl with the outward appearance of one beyond her years, yet innocent and naive. An esteemed knight whose prose and posture are covered by a silhouette of brash tendencies for snap decisions and crude outbursts.
Right down to the plot which points to a young protagonist on a journey of growth and development who seems to grow very little, while his teacher the knight careens into a chasm of self-discovery he never expected, the contrasts are manifest throughout.
All this clash and contest of contradictions comes together surprisingly well in a fun, if short, intro to what would presumably become a series.
There are a few moments of pause, loose concepts, and undeveloped thoughts that poke out, but they do little to lessen the experience. Perhaps the greatest of these is the wandering story arc, which never seems to nail itself down into any dedicated point or goal. With more direction and a clear goal or antagonistic force for the characters to work with, this story could and likely will (in the following installments) become a great and memorable set of adventures into an intriguing world.
A good way to spend an hour or two, especially if you are into character fueled stories.
September 25, 2014
I loved this. No single element in this book is astonishing, but calling that a negative would be like taking a bite of an incredible new cookie and saying, "Meh. It's just another cookie. Flour, sugar, butter and some other things. Same as any other one." Some things are more than the sum of their parts. Some cookies are so good that I keep the whole jar in my lap and refuse to share it with anyone, not even Beloved In-House Reader. This book is that kind of good.
It being a book and not a cookie, belly-selfishness does not apply. I am eager to share. Hard Luck is a big bucket of good old-fashioned fantasy fun, and more than that, it is more than just that. Holy wow, is it more. I love this world and the characters M. A Ray has created for it.
Fantasy stories do not have to be about originality, especially not ones that are coming-of-age stories about unwanted outsiders finding a place to belong and setting out on the path to become a shining star. Especially not fantasy stories about unwanted outsiders who have a hidden heritage/destiny that they will have to take up. There's a reason those tropes are so popular. They touch on emotions and conflicts that speak to almost everyone. They made a great foundation.
The trick is building something interesting on the bedrock foundation--creating a world that is complex enough to feel real and creating a hero who has struggles that make sense. M. A Ray does that, and then presents the result in prose that is deceptively simple and yet shifts seamlessly with the perspective of the characters. Every detail revealed as the plot develops adds to the reader's understanding that there is much more to every situation than meets the characters eyes. The world-building is right where it should be: in the background. The past is where it should be: in stories and asides and comments. The action moves along fast enough to hold interest, but with plenty of room for characters to interact and develop.
If you've read any of my other reviews, you know I am not inclined to gush. I am a nitpicker, and a detail-noticing critical reader of the most demanding kind. Hard Luck has structural flaws that usually drop me out of a story the way cutting the cords of a parachute sends a skydiver plummeting to the earth. It contains indie-publishing foibles that usually bother me the way the sound of fingernails on a blackboard bother other people. There are issues, yes, but I would have to give it 6 stars out of 5 if it didn't have those flaws. I liked it that much. Seriously.
Sometimes--rarely, oh, so rarely-- a story comes along that is so much itself, so solidly designed and so beautifully presented that I stop noticing little things like too-exuberant use of adjectives, weird paragraph structure, odd name choices, and grammar hiccups. This is one of those. The first few pages did not spark my interest, because prologue, but then, a few paragraphs into the main story, I stopped reading. I immersed myself in the words and rolled around in them like a cat in catnip. I stopped reading and started living the story along with the characters. That doesn't happen often even with books that are polished to a much higher technical standard. It was an amazing experience, and that's not even the best part.
The best part? There are two more books, and each one gets better. One caveat -- cliffhangers, sort of. This series haz them. I hate cliffhangers. And I love these anyway. That's the highest praise I can offer any story.
It being a book and not a cookie, belly-selfishness does not apply. I am eager to share. Hard Luck is a big bucket of good old-fashioned fantasy fun, and more than that, it is more than just that. Holy wow, is it more. I love this world and the characters M. A Ray has created for it.
Fantasy stories do not have to be about originality, especially not ones that are coming-of-age stories about unwanted outsiders finding a place to belong and setting out on the path to become a shining star. Especially not fantasy stories about unwanted outsiders who have a hidden heritage/destiny that they will have to take up. There's a reason those tropes are so popular. They touch on emotions and conflicts that speak to almost everyone. They made a great foundation.
The trick is building something interesting on the bedrock foundation--creating a world that is complex enough to feel real and creating a hero who has struggles that make sense. M. A Ray does that, and then presents the result in prose that is deceptively simple and yet shifts seamlessly with the perspective of the characters. Every detail revealed as the plot develops adds to the reader's understanding that there is much more to every situation than meets the characters eyes. The world-building is right where it should be: in the background. The past is where it should be: in stories and asides and comments. The action moves along fast enough to hold interest, but with plenty of room for characters to interact and develop.
If you've read any of my other reviews, you know I am not inclined to gush. I am a nitpicker, and a detail-noticing critical reader of the most demanding kind. Hard Luck has structural flaws that usually drop me out of a story the way cutting the cords of a parachute sends a skydiver plummeting to the earth. It contains indie-publishing foibles that usually bother me the way the sound of fingernails on a blackboard bother other people. There are issues, yes, but I would have to give it 6 stars out of 5 if it didn't have those flaws. I liked it that much. Seriously.
Sometimes--rarely, oh, so rarely-- a story comes along that is so much itself, so solidly designed and so beautifully presented that I stop noticing little things like too-exuberant use of adjectives, weird paragraph structure, odd name choices, and grammar hiccups. This is one of those. The first few pages did not spark my interest, because prologue, but then, a few paragraphs into the main story, I stopped reading. I immersed myself in the words and rolled around in them like a cat in catnip. I stopped reading and started living the story along with the characters. That doesn't happen often even with books that are polished to a much higher technical standard. It was an amazing experience, and that's not even the best part.
The best part? There are two more books, and each one gets better. One caveat -- cliffhangers, sort of. This series haz them. I hate cliffhangers. And I love these anyway. That's the highest praise I can offer any story.
December 20, 2013
I agree with the praise of others who have reviewed Hard Luck and since they touched on all the important parts, I'll settle myself in to talk a little bit about what this book could mean to someone who is going through life being bullied.
Dingus is a kid who grew up reviled and degraded because of something he couldn't change about himself--he was born half-elf, half-human in a town that looked down on anyone different than they. Bullying of any kind is awful and Dingus lives the first 16 years of his life in a place where the other folk think it's okay to allow their full blood children crap on another kid's chest because he's different.
The author doesn't give any easy answers, either. Vandis Vail, Knight of the Air, saves Dingus from being hung but he doesn't swoop in and rescue the kid, tucking him away from harm. He teaches him, instead, giving him tools he can use to find his own way. It's never a good idea to rescue someone--you never get that right--and Vandis is smart enough to know that he has to let Dingus find his own way.
I disagree with some reviewers who say this is a book for adults--sure, adults will love it too, but this book is for kids who stick out, who are different, who've heard someone moo when they walk down the hall or have been called names or pushed up against a locker, "Because I don't like your face."
This is a book for the kids who haven't made it into the media for shooting up schools or shopping malls, who are still looking for a reason why they are who they are and the way they are despite the constant abuse from the outside world that doesn't understand them.
I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading the next installment of Dingus' story. Yay!
Dingus is a kid who grew up reviled and degraded because of something he couldn't change about himself--he was born half-elf, half-human in a town that looked down on anyone different than they. Bullying of any kind is awful and Dingus lives the first 16 years of his life in a place where the other folk think it's okay to allow their full blood children crap on another kid's chest because he's different.
The author doesn't give any easy answers, either. Vandis Vail, Knight of the Air, saves Dingus from being hung but he doesn't swoop in and rescue the kid, tucking him away from harm. He teaches him, instead, giving him tools he can use to find his own way. It's never a good idea to rescue someone--you never get that right--and Vandis is smart enough to know that he has to let Dingus find his own way.
I disagree with some reviewers who say this is a book for adults--sure, adults will love it too, but this book is for kids who stick out, who are different, who've heard someone moo when they walk down the hall or have been called names or pushed up against a locker, "Because I don't like your face."
This is a book for the kids who haven't made it into the media for shooting up schools or shopping malls, who are still looking for a reason why they are who they are and the way they are despite the constant abuse from the outside world that doesn't understand them.
I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading the next installment of Dingus' story. Yay!
December 7, 2013
Today’s review is of M.A Ray’s debut novel, the Saga of Menyoral: Hard Luck. The main character is Dingus, a sixteen-year-old boy with extraordinarily bad luck. Not only was he born a half-breed in a racist backwater, but he has a tendency to lose his temper in a spectacular way. It would be better for Dingus if he could keep his head down-an ability which he quickly proves he does not possess. He only survives a lynching due to the interference of Sir Vandis Vail, a famous knight with orders from a goddess to make poor Dingus his squire.
I enjoyed Hard Luck more than anything I’ve read in a while. It reads like an extended beginning, which makes sense because it is the first book of what sounds like it will be a pretty long series. Even so, it kept my interest: the characters were as real as people you’d meet on a bus, even the ones that could fly. There was just a hint of the epic battle to come, but there was enough to keep me rooted in place. I read the whole thing in two sittings and wished I had more.
This book was a solid beginning and a riveting review. If you have time for a well-written fantasy epic in your life, Hard Luck is for you. Five stars here.
You can find Hard Luck at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H5IPASW
I enjoyed Hard Luck more than anything I’ve read in a while. It reads like an extended beginning, which makes sense because it is the first book of what sounds like it will be a pretty long series. Even so, it kept my interest: the characters were as real as people you’d meet on a bus, even the ones that could fly. There was just a hint of the epic battle to come, but there was enough to keep me rooted in place. I read the whole thing in two sittings and wished I had more.
This book was a solid beginning and a riveting review. If you have time for a well-written fantasy epic in your life, Hard Luck is for you. Five stars here.
You can find Hard Luck at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H5IPASW
December 23, 2013
Every now and then I like to try new authors, and as I do enjoy a good fantasy tale, I decided to give Saga of Menyoral: Hard Luck a try. Well, I'm sure glad I did! Thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish! A very relaxing, easy read which flowed along nicely. It tells the tale of several key characters, the main being a young man named Dingus, a persecuted half-breed who "lucks" into becoming a Squire of Sir Vandis Vail, a Knight with a hard reputation- and an interesting way of dishing out justice...
If you enjoy a good epic fantasy, then give this one a try. You won't be disappointed.
If you enjoy a good epic fantasy, then give this one a try. You won't be disappointed.
April 3, 2015
This was my first true dive into the world created by M.A. Ray and I didn't want to leave just yet. I've read one of her shorts involving the wonderful knight by the name of Vandis Vail, but in this story I got to not only get to know Vandis better, but I also met Dingus. Yes, Dingus. I love the name, Dingus.
This story starts out with a prologue in the grand way prologues go. Very vivid detail and cinematic prose that brings the image of a ritual gone horribly wrong into the mind's eye. After that, though, we see the impact of that ritual. A magical world stripped of its magic, with only vestiges of it remaining. The story involved a fantasy world but it had a strong base in reality, really. Reality for a made up world is a difficult thing to pull off but there you have it. I adored Dingus. He was a plucky character, very easily likable, honest, yet not without his foibles and things that make you just want to smack yourself in the head and go, "oh, Dingus!"
As for the writing, there were no places where I found myself dragged out of the narrative, but there were some instances where I had to go back and re-read a sentence once or twice to figure out what was being said. There were a few places of telling as opposed to showing, but in a story like this, sometimes that's necessary. Or, a tidbit given by telling was or is going to be something that's important down the road or in the moment. Such as us being told that Vandis had a sweet tooth, but couldn't eat candies like he used to. Well, that told us that his sharing of a caramel later on was a rather important thing for him to do. The book tackles issues such as racism with aplomb and wonderful contrasting flowing ideas. Kessa's predicament given her tender, tender age broke my heart and Dingus' honor with her made me love him even more.
Plot wise, I'm sure that what happened in this book sets up for much more down the road, but I did find the ending a little abrupt. I wanted more and that's a good thing, especially after the culmination of one subplot involving a young boy and burgeoning magic, and the other with Dingus himself and his own heretofore "hidden" talent. The action scenes at the end were well rendered and painted vivid pictures in my mind. The wander/quest plot did wander a bit, but I understood why and it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story at all. The plot was dark yet light hearted if that makes any sense. Definitely not for kids, though. I never criticize a book for swearing, ever, but as a review I gotta say it's in there. It's in there but it leant to the truthfulness of the story, the backwater kid and the cranky knight, of course they're going to swear. :) Some hints of sexual situations and violence, but nothing more violent than what's seen in much YA fiction these days anyway.
I think Vandis and Dingus are going to stick with me for a long while. Also, after I finished reading Hard Luck I picked up the sequel. As a friend of mine says, she votes with her wallet when it comes to things she reads, and I do as well. My vote's been cast.
This story starts out with a prologue in the grand way prologues go. Very vivid detail and cinematic prose that brings the image of a ritual gone horribly wrong into the mind's eye. After that, though, we see the impact of that ritual. A magical world stripped of its magic, with only vestiges of it remaining. The story involved a fantasy world but it had a strong base in reality, really. Reality for a made up world is a difficult thing to pull off but there you have it. I adored Dingus. He was a plucky character, very easily likable, honest, yet not without his foibles and things that make you just want to smack yourself in the head and go, "oh, Dingus!"
As for the writing, there were no places where I found myself dragged out of the narrative, but there were some instances where I had to go back and re-read a sentence once or twice to figure out what was being said. There were a few places of telling as opposed to showing, but in a story like this, sometimes that's necessary. Or, a tidbit given by telling was or is going to be something that's important down the road or in the moment. Such as us being told that Vandis had a sweet tooth, but couldn't eat candies like he used to. Well, that told us that his sharing of a caramel later on was a rather important thing for him to do. The book tackles issues such as racism with aplomb and wonderful contrasting flowing ideas. Kessa's predicament given her tender, tender age broke my heart and Dingus' honor with her made me love him even more.
Plot wise, I'm sure that what happened in this book sets up for much more down the road, but I did find the ending a little abrupt. I wanted more and that's a good thing, especially after the culmination of one subplot involving a young boy and burgeoning magic, and the other with Dingus himself and his own heretofore "hidden" talent. The action scenes at the end were well rendered and painted vivid pictures in my mind. The wander/quest plot did wander a bit, but I understood why and it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story at all. The plot was dark yet light hearted if that makes any sense. Definitely not for kids, though. I never criticize a book for swearing, ever, but as a review I gotta say it's in there. It's in there but it leant to the truthfulness of the story, the backwater kid and the cranky knight, of course they're going to swear. :) Some hints of sexual situations and violence, but nothing more violent than what's seen in much YA fiction these days anyway.
I think Vandis and Dingus are going to stick with me for a long while. Also, after I finished reading Hard Luck I picked up the sequel. As a friend of mine says, she votes with her wallet when it comes to things she reads, and I do as well. My vote's been cast.
June 12, 2014
Alright start to this series, I love Berserks since I was a kid and watched Record of Lodoss War, haven't found too many books with berserkers in it, closest I've found were some books with Vikings, Demonsouled by Jonathon Moeller and Legend by David Gemmel.
I liked the story, but not enough action for me...I enjoyed a few of the characters, but once you start to get attached to them the book ends. I got book 2 just to see where Dingus ends up...
One thing I didn't like, was as soon as you are introduced to Keassa - she offers herself to a character in some pretty suggestive ways..then you find out she's twelve! Don't know why the author couldn't age her up a bit...another thing, the party gets attacked by 5 men at one point, you have a Knight who is supposed to be this bad ass, yet he just accepts that they are going to rob him of pretty much everything? And Dingus had been training by this point and has proven that he was also capable swordsman (with either hand!) so why the hell let yourself be robbed? I liked how that ended...but still, Vandis is supposed to be epic, and I've yet to see him do much of anything.
I like the Knights of Air situation and whats going on in the world, and I hope Dingus can man up a bit in the next book. You are no Drizzt Do'Urden, but I'm still waiting to see you dual wield those epic blades you have.
I liked the story, but not enough action for me...I enjoyed a few of the characters, but once you start to get attached to them the book ends. I got book 2 just to see where Dingus ends up...
One thing I didn't like, was as soon as you are introduced to Keassa - she offers herself to a character in some pretty suggestive ways..then you find out she's twelve! Don't know why the author couldn't age her up a bit...another thing, the party gets attacked by 5 men at one point, you have a Knight who is supposed to be this bad ass, yet he just accepts that they are going to rob him of pretty much everything? And Dingus had been training by this point and has proven that he was also capable swordsman (with either hand!) so why the hell let yourself be robbed? I liked how that ended...but still, Vandis is supposed to be epic, and I've yet to see him do much of anything.
I like the Knights of Air situation and whats going on in the world, and I hope Dingus can man up a bit in the next book. You are no Drizzt Do'Urden, but I'm still waiting to see you dual wield those epic blades you have.
March 21, 2014
M.A. Ray has a winner with this first installment of the Saga of Menyoral. The book takes a common fantasy book trope--that of a misfit kid with blood ties to nobility (think Carrot from the Discworld books by Sir Terry Pratchett, only Dingus has been raised by elves and not dwarfs)--and breathes new life into it. While slightly anachronistic and definitely not for kids, I still loved this book. It's a quick, fun read with some bright, engaging characters. (Seriously. I have a bit of a crush on Vandis!) The only thing that disappointed me was the ending. It was so abrupt and not satisfying. Luckily, the next book will be out soon!
December 28, 2013
In reading this author, I am reminded of some of the early works of Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis. The fantasy world created by M. A. Ray provides for a very enjoyable read. The beginning can take a little while to get into, but once the story gets going, it takes off.
The characters of Vandis and Dingus are very memorable. I can honestly say that I am eager to see what this author puts out next!
* Content and/or language not suitable for young children. *
* I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
The characters of Vandis and Dingus are very memorable. I can honestly say that I am eager to see what this author puts out next!
* Content and/or language not suitable for young children. *
* I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
October 26, 2016
I loved this book so much. I had a glimpse of Dingus in a short story of an anthology. I have to say since then I was begging for more, and now I need more. Good thing I have the rest of the books!
August 2, 2017
that was a pretty good book.. However, I dont understand the "bad luck" thing. The way I see it he has pretty awesome luck. His grandfather on his mothers side is a famous Elvin warrior who taught him how to fight, hunt, live in the wild, basically anything remotely necessary to be a knight. Hes abnormally fast, smart and strong, His father is also a famous warrior who left him two famous one of a kind ancient dwarven swords. His grandfather on that side of the family is a Duke who is completely willing to name Dingus as his heir even though they have never met. Plus when he is about to be killed his idol and famous Knight just so happens to wonder by and offer to make him his squire and train him (even though he really doesn't need the training). The supposed "bad luck" refers to the fact that he is a half blood living in a hick town and so is bullied and eventually nearly lynched and the fact that his name is Dingus, but are either of those things really luck? or just the bad decisions of his weird overprotective bitchy mother. I wish I had this guys luck!! Plus I dont understand why he doesn't go by like "Gus" or his middle name and/or last name because he has both but decides to tell everyone he meets immediately that his name is Dingus.
March 9, 2017
This is a really enjoyable and compelling read. I'm buying an e-reader just so I can read the rest of the books! The main character is an extremely relatable outsider who sees himself (like so many of us do) as a collection of weaknesses, and in this story he has to come to terms with his strengths. While this is the thread of many coming-of-age novels, Hard Luck does not over-simplify what maturing feels like: it sucks, and it's scary. The world of Menyoral is fascinating--I can't wait to learn more about it--and complex, and is a realistic world with just enough fantasy thrown in. There is also an interesting reflection on both racism and sexism happening in the novel that is important.
March 29, 2014
Rothganar was a land that flourished with magic. And then one day it stopped. The fairies disappeared, and civilization faltered.
That does not matter so much to Dingus Xavier as the story opens. Dingus lives in Thundering Hills, a village of Elves, who don't care for his mixed heritage. His father, you see, is a human. Dingus is a tall, red-headed teenager who keeps to himself as much as possible. His only friend is a tree that stands alone just outside the village. When he fights back against the local bully, the whole town turns out to lynch him.
Into this closed community comes Sir Vandis Vail, head of the Knights of the Air, a religious order dedicated to promoting personal freedom. His goddess has plans for Dingus, and Vandis disperses the lynch mob and patches up the half-elf boy, whom he takes on as his new squire. Dingus then steps, painfully at first, into a wider world fraught with danger and possibilities.
M. A. Ray presents the world of Rothganar through the eyes of fully fleshed-out characters, including Dingus and Vandis. She also presents those who oppose the Knights of the Air, in the kingdom of Muscoda, in just as much detail. But a big conflict between the two is surely on the horizon.
The Saga of Menyoral is adult fantasy set in an original world, but many of the characters' problems are not so different from our own. The struggle for personal freedom is a major theme. Dingus comes into conflict with the community where he grew up--they call him by the Elvish word for 'half-person'--with his family, and ultimately with himself. Ray's writing is direct and compelling, largely lacking in flowery prose and flourish, which I found refreshing. I recommend this book for adult fans of fantasy.
That does not matter so much to Dingus Xavier as the story opens. Dingus lives in Thundering Hills, a village of Elves, who don't care for his mixed heritage. His father, you see, is a human. Dingus is a tall, red-headed teenager who keeps to himself as much as possible. His only friend is a tree that stands alone just outside the village. When he fights back against the local bully, the whole town turns out to lynch him.
Into this closed community comes Sir Vandis Vail, head of the Knights of the Air, a religious order dedicated to promoting personal freedom. His goddess has plans for Dingus, and Vandis disperses the lynch mob and patches up the half-elf boy, whom he takes on as his new squire. Dingus then steps, painfully at first, into a wider world fraught with danger and possibilities.
M. A. Ray presents the world of Rothganar through the eyes of fully fleshed-out characters, including Dingus and Vandis. She also presents those who oppose the Knights of the Air, in the kingdom of Muscoda, in just as much detail. But a big conflict between the two is surely on the horizon.
The Saga of Menyoral is adult fantasy set in an original world, but many of the characters' problems are not so different from our own. The struggle for personal freedom is a major theme. Dingus comes into conflict with the community where he grew up--they call him by the Elvish word for 'half-person'--with his family, and ultimately with himself. Ray's writing is direct and compelling, largely lacking in flowery prose and flourish, which I found refreshing. I recommend this book for adult fans of fantasy.
July 9, 2015
Rothganar, land of magic, unicorns, dragons, and elves. But in the prologue, the priests banish magic. They all die in the backlash, but what wider effects will take place after they destroyed a huge part of their ecosystem? No healers, for one, and drearier lives for all. The firat chapter takes place 37 years later, so a generation and a half grew up with no magic.
Kill the magic – and kill the elves. Chapter One opens with a crowd gathering to lynch Dingus the half-elf for beating on the bully who had beaten him dozens of times. The tree they want to rope him up on is a dryad, a friend. She can’t save him, , but she can mess up the rope, delay the hanging Dingus – until a Knight of the Air comes to rescue him. Seriously, flying? awsome talent.
Sir Vandis thinks he’s going to be a hero to the kid – and he is – but Dingus surprises him by having forestry skills, the ability to make a three course meal by hunting, and a quick brain. Also, surprising, Dingus expects to be hit every time he asks a question, or makes a mistake. Sir Vandis is going to work on that. And then there are some relatives that even Dingus doesn’t know about, but he looks just like that guy…
Education and adventure ensue. Watching Dingus grow from a teen who hides from everyone to a hero who rescues people is fun, and watching the person he rescues become an even better fighter than him is more fun.
Then there’s the priests – killing off the magic wasn’t enough, there’s another plan afoot, not resolved in this book but building up to the next book in the Menyroyal Saga.
Bechdel Test – pass
Johnson Test –skin color is never mentioned, hair ranges from red to yellow to black
Kill the magic – and kill the elves. Chapter One opens with a crowd gathering to lynch Dingus the half-elf for beating on the bully who had beaten him dozens of times. The tree they want to rope him up on is a dryad, a friend. She can’t save him, , but she can mess up the rope, delay the hanging Dingus – until a Knight of the Air comes to rescue him. Seriously, flying? awsome talent.
Sir Vandis thinks he’s going to be a hero to the kid – and he is – but Dingus surprises him by having forestry skills, the ability to make a three course meal by hunting, and a quick brain. Also, surprising, Dingus expects to be hit every time he asks a question, or makes a mistake. Sir Vandis is going to work on that. And then there are some relatives that even Dingus doesn’t know about, but he looks just like that guy…
Education and adventure ensue. Watching Dingus grow from a teen who hides from everyone to a hero who rescues people is fun, and watching the person he rescues become an even better fighter than him is more fun.
Then there’s the priests – killing off the magic wasn’t enough, there’s another plan afoot, not resolved in this book but building up to the next book in the Menyroyal Saga.
Bechdel Test – pass
Johnson Test –skin color is never mentioned, hair ranges from red to yellow to black
April 10, 2014
All I can say is wow. I will not lie, besides the gripping intro, the other thing I noticed was the vulgar language. It made me squirm a bit, but I realized it really played into the situations and characters. The description M.A Ray wrote with actually allowed me to see, hear, taste, smell all that was going on, may it be good or bad.
The story not only captivated my senses and my imagination, but my emotions as well. There were times that I cheered, I teared up (just a little), and got disgusted with a few characters. There were a good many times that I laughed as well because of witty banter.
It was also unique. It was like every fantasy story. Some of the cliche fantasy races were different, the way they talked and acted were different. The feel of the story had fantasy to it, but with a marvelous twist, which is refreshing. Plus, it has a realistic feel to it. It is not one of those, "He was tormented and now that he is away from his tormentors and everything is daisies and sunshine," type of stories. It is realistic in the feel on a victim trying to deal with what happened.
The story focuses around Dingus, an abused, but very strong young man who is essentially saved by a Knight named Vandis. Vandis, teaches this young man and trains him, yet lets him find himself along the way, with a little guidance. Even when Dingus is faced with horrible truths and a long journey!
I would recommend this book to anyone may they be young or old, as long as profanity, sexual content, and viscera does not phase them.
The story not only captivated my senses and my imagination, but my emotions as well. There were times that I cheered, I teared up (just a little), and got disgusted with a few characters. There were a good many times that I laughed as well because of witty banter.
It was also unique. It was like every fantasy story. Some of the cliche fantasy races were different, the way they talked and acted were different. The feel of the story had fantasy to it, but with a marvelous twist, which is refreshing. Plus, it has a realistic feel to it. It is not one of those, "He was tormented and now that he is away from his tormentors and everything is daisies and sunshine," type of stories. It is realistic in the feel on a victim trying to deal with what happened.
The story focuses around Dingus, an abused, but very strong young man who is essentially saved by a Knight named Vandis. Vandis, teaches this young man and trains him, yet lets him find himself along the way, with a little guidance. Even when Dingus is faced with horrible truths and a long journey!
I would recommend this book to anyone may they be young or old, as long as profanity, sexual content, and viscera does not phase them.
May 7, 2014
It's important going into this book to know two things:
1.) It's just the start of a bigger story
2.) It's not for children, maybe teens, but not kids.
This is more of a character study in that it didn't really have that much plot but there were some threads and some set ups that hinted at a much larger story to come.
It mostly follows Dingus on his quest to find himself, to break out of his shell and become a man (or, half elf in this case) and to try and get over the hardships he's had to suffer at the hands of a village which hates. We know they hate him because he's introduced being chased, then lynched. If not for the interference of Vandis, a knight, Dingus would be dead.
From there you have your basic wizard mentoring a child trope. When done poorly or with characters we don't care about this trope can get old and boring really fast. I'm very happy to say that doesn't happen here as M.A. has a handful of very colorful, well thought out characters that really pop off the page. You can feel a lot of care and love in her work and it seems she really gets and understands the people she's writing about. When the big fight near the end happens I really felt bad for the group.
I would highly recommend the book to anyone as long as they know what they're getting into. I'll check out the second because I really want to see where this is all going and how each character turns out.
1.) It's just the start of a bigger story
2.) It's not for children, maybe teens, but not kids.
This is more of a character study in that it didn't really have that much plot but there were some threads and some set ups that hinted at a much larger story to come.
It mostly follows Dingus on his quest to find himself, to break out of his shell and become a man (or, half elf in this case) and to try and get over the hardships he's had to suffer at the hands of a village which hates. We know they hate him because he's introduced being chased, then lynched. If not for the interference of Vandis, a knight, Dingus would be dead.
From there you have your basic wizard mentoring a child trope. When done poorly or with characters we don't care about this trope can get old and boring really fast. I'm very happy to say that doesn't happen here as M.A. has a handful of very colorful, well thought out characters that really pop off the page. You can feel a lot of care and love in her work and it seems she really gets and understands the people she's writing about. When the big fight near the end happens I really felt bad for the group.
I would highly recommend the book to anyone as long as they know what they're getting into. I'll check out the second because I really want to see where this is all going and how each character turns out.
August 12, 2016
Old Sins Cast Long Shadows
On a summer night nearly five decades ago, six magi gathered around a stone. In the surface of the stone, etched characters moved when eyes looked away, and reassembled themselves in new patterns when the eyes returned. After the stone wrecked havoc, Rothganar was changed. And not for the better.
Now, Dingus Xavier is a downtrodden worm. Bullied by the sadistic Aust day after day, year after year, Dingus takes the abuse. Then one day, the worm turned. Dingus fought back. He went mad with the pent up rage.
Fearing what they don't understand, the elven townspeople decide to lynch Dingus.
Sir Vandis Vail, the head of the Knights with powers of his own, intervenes to save the boy.
And so begin the adventures of Dingus Xavier.
M.A. Ray's Saga of Menyoral: Hard Luck is a beautifully written fantasy. With her gift for storytelling, Ms. Ray creates a wonderful world and populates it with compelling characters. The story moves along at a brisk pace, with some surprises along the way.
On a summer night nearly five decades ago, six magi gathered around a stone. In the surface of the stone, etched characters moved when eyes looked away, and reassembled themselves in new patterns when the eyes returned. After the stone wrecked havoc, Rothganar was changed. And not for the better.
Now, Dingus Xavier is a downtrodden worm. Bullied by the sadistic Aust day after day, year after year, Dingus takes the abuse. Then one day, the worm turned. Dingus fought back. He went mad with the pent up rage.
Fearing what they don't understand, the elven townspeople decide to lynch Dingus.
Sir Vandis Vail, the head of the Knights with powers of his own, intervenes to save the boy.
And so begin the adventures of Dingus Xavier.
M.A. Ray's Saga of Menyoral: Hard Luck is a beautifully written fantasy. With her gift for storytelling, Ms. Ray creates a wonderful world and populates it with compelling characters. The story moves along at a brisk pace, with some surprises along the way.
February 12, 2014
Hard Luck, is right!
Poor Dingus has the worst luck ever, but he deals with it rather well, considering. A half-elf, bullied by his own kind, Dingus also may be a Berserker. The beleaguered teen has never even had a good birthday in his life. But Someone is looking out for him, if not a bit late for comfort.
This story is artfully told in third person, with the narrative voice matching the character who is the focus of each chapter. I don't recall ever seeing this technique before, and it is well done. A difficult thing to accomplish. The characters are well developed and I care about what happens to them. The dialogue is engaging and full of amusing banter.
Some explicit language and violence make the book unsuitable for younger children. But I strongly recommend this book to older teens and adults. Anyone who likes dark fantasy will love this story!
I am looking forward to the sequel coming soon!
Poor Dingus has the worst luck ever, but he deals with it rather well, considering. A half-elf, bullied by his own kind, Dingus also may be a Berserker. The beleaguered teen has never even had a good birthday in his life. But Someone is looking out for him, if not a bit late for comfort.
This story is artfully told in third person, with the narrative voice matching the character who is the focus of each chapter. I don't recall ever seeing this technique before, and it is well done. A difficult thing to accomplish. The characters are well developed and I care about what happens to them. The dialogue is engaging and full of amusing banter.
Some explicit language and violence make the book unsuitable for younger children. But I strongly recommend this book to older teens and adults. Anyone who likes dark fantasy will love this story!
I am looking forward to the sequel coming soon!
October 24, 2014
M.A. Ray’s characters pulled me in right from the start. I couldn’t help but love Dingus and Vandis. The reader goes through the torment with Dingus, and it’s easy to identify with him. The author weaves the real-life issue of intolerance into the story, which drew me in and kept me wanting to know what would happen next. M.A. Ray has a writing style that flows beautifully. The dialogue and character thoughts ensured that I would remain emotionally invested in the characters throughout the story. There were parts of the book where I was angry for the characters, parts where I chuckled, and parts where I whooped out loud. I read the book as quickly as my schedule would allow because I just couldn’t put it down. The book does end abruptly, and although it’s not a cliffhanger, I had to buy the next one right away so I could read the next section of the story. I enjoyed this story wholeheartedly, and I highly recommend reading it!
January 13, 2014
I give it 5 stars
A masterpiece of magic and terror, hinting at an elaborately constructed fantasy world that makes you instantly eager to learn more about it.
M.A. Ray presents the world of Rothganar through the eyes of fully developed characters, including Dingus and Vandis. She also presents those who oppose the Knights of the Air, in the kingdom of Muscoda, in just as much detail.
This is a well written story that depict the life of a half-breed named Dingus. When Vandis saves him from being lynched, Dingus accompanies him on his journey, while being trained to become one of the Knights of the Air. Surprises await them throughout the story, some good others not so good.
With many of the characters' problems not so different from our own, The Saga of Menyoral is adult fantasy set in an original world not much different from our own.
A masterpiece of magic and terror, hinting at an elaborately constructed fantasy world that makes you instantly eager to learn more about it.
M.A. Ray presents the world of Rothganar through the eyes of fully developed characters, including Dingus and Vandis. She also presents those who oppose the Knights of the Air, in the kingdom of Muscoda, in just as much detail.
This is a well written story that depict the life of a half-breed named Dingus. When Vandis saves him from being lynched, Dingus accompanies him on his journey, while being trained to become one of the Knights of the Air. Surprises await them throughout the story, some good others not so good.
With many of the characters' problems not so different from our own, The Saga of Menyoral is adult fantasy set in an original world not much different from our own.
March 10, 2015
Wow. Just wow.
Hard Luck is quite unlike any fantasy I've ever read before, yet at the same time it embodies fantasy in its truest form. Adventure, camaraderie, carnage, struggle, magic and pure life and love.
All through this darkly glittering gem, I caught myself cringing, laughing and giggling quite maniaclly and sometimes exclaiming
"Wait, what?" Hard Luck is truly an enjoyable read, though I wouldn't recommend it for children. Teens and adults are quite another thing entirely. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I found the first 5 pages or so tedious to get through, opening up to a delightful world of fantasy, guts and love. But, don't take it from me! Experience it firsthand! You won't regret it.
Hard Luck is quite unlike any fantasy I've ever read before, yet at the same time it embodies fantasy in its truest form. Adventure, camaraderie, carnage, struggle, magic and pure life and love.
All through this darkly glittering gem, I caught myself cringing, laughing and giggling quite maniaclly and sometimes exclaiming
"Wait, what?" Hard Luck is truly an enjoyable read, though I wouldn't recommend it for children. Teens and adults are quite another thing entirely. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I found the first 5 pages or so tedious to get through, opening up to a delightful world of fantasy, guts and love. But, don't take it from me! Experience it firsthand! You won't regret it.
July 18, 2014
I loved this book. As a person who faced bullying as a youth, I immediately empathized with Dingus, and cheered when he was given a chance to escape the torment he faced daily. Every time he proved himself, I felt like I was winning, too. And I wanted to beat up the same people he did.
I was less enthusiastic about some of the other characters' storylines, not because they were less interesting, but because I wanted to get back to Dingus as soon as I could. Perhaps the next time I read it, I'll follow their stories more closely. And I definitely intend to read it again.
I was less enthusiastic about some of the other characters' storylines, not because they were less interesting, but because I wanted to get back to Dingus as soon as I could. Perhaps the next time I read it, I'll follow their stories more closely. And I definitely intend to read it again.
August 11, 2018
A good fantasy read. Surprised that it does not have a higher rating in Goodreads. While there is nothing much original about the story, it is the telling of it that makes the reader go on an on to the next page. The quality of narration was very good. Dingus Xavier is a half breed, a mix of human and elf. He is persecuted in his childhood and the story begins when he is on the verge of being lynched. Vandis is a Knight of the Air, happens to be flying around and rescues Dingus. Rest of the book is about how Dingus becomes a squire and is a learning and coming of age story.
April 3, 2014
Refreshing change of pace from the usual Tolkienesque D&D ripoff's that have become all to common in the genre. Gritty, flawed, well-thought out characters round out a world that feels "lived in" and original with a fast paced storyline that leaves you wanting to know what happens next. Can't wait for the next installment.
May 31, 2014
I picked this book up this weekend, and read it every second I could. It was absoutly amazing! I loved watching Dingus grow through his struggles, and seeing the obstacles that are being placed in front of him. The relationship with Vandis and Dingus is spot on. As soon as I hit "5 stars" I went and bought the second one. Fabulous job, Em!
May 21, 2014
Very good story but a little lopsided. There were two plot-lines. The first, Dingus, was interesting and compelling. The second, the priests was slower to develop and, to me, less interesting. Don't let my feelings toward the alternate plot-line deter you from reading this novel if you're into fantasy. I suspect the second book will bring about both plots and may even have them converge.
February 10, 2015
Amazing.....WOW
I read a lot, and I mean a lot, yet I can't remember reading a fantasy that had me so engaged I couldn't put it down to eat or anything else, this story is rich and complex and on par with Robert Jordan, Tolkien, and GRRM. I can't wait for the next installment and am starting it at midnight which means there is a huge chance I'll have book flu tomorrow.
I read a lot, and I mean a lot, yet I can't remember reading a fantasy that had me so engaged I couldn't put it down to eat or anything else, this story is rich and complex and on par with Robert Jordan, Tolkien, and GRRM. I can't wait for the next installment and am starting it at midnight which means there is a huge chance I'll have book flu tomorrow.
June 13, 2016
When I first started reading this book, I was surprised at the words choice the author used. But as the story goes on, I understand her choice of the words. The story is really intriguing and I stayed up late just to finish reading it(Now I regret it because I don't have anything else to read after finishing all three books).
I hope the forth one comes out soon!
I hope the forth one comes out soon!
June 28, 2016
Once in a while, along comes a book which is truly original. Hard Luck is one of these. With sparkling prone and sense of humour to burn, MA Ray paints the picture of Dingus, who has had a rough life (including that name!) but his luck changes when a knight chooses him as his squire. Is everything perfect after that? Of course, not but it's damn funny and very clever.
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