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Torchlight
The demands on High Alchemist Isa are mounting. Without her spheres of light, the demons that prowl their ruined isle will pass through the wards of protection etched into Aranado’s walls and slaughter the last of her order. But between a distant king’s demand for alchemical light and the magic-eating nature spirits she is cursed to hide, there isn’t enough for the wall. Worse, should her spirits grow restless in their hunger and expose themselves, she will be exiled.Like her lover, Hura.Hura doesn’t hide his spirits. He hunts with them and feeds them the hearts of demons. In return, they keep him safe. One day, Isa will be thankful he let the serpentine spirits be strong. Walls don’t keep her safe. He does.They travel to see the king, grateful for the time together. When a molting dragon appears in the moorland, its discarded scales promise a new source of magic strong enough to enchant Aranado’s walls, permanently.Hura can’t let her have them. What would he be to her if not her protector? Just a dog, chained outside the wall, until the king comes to kill them all. He will betray anyone to have his way.But Isa should not be underestimated."Great pacing and great prose made this book a very satisfying standalone, and I can't wait to see what he writes next!" -- A. Empey
310 pages, Paperback
Published December 4, 2023
7 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 10, 2023
"Torchlight" by Ryan Lance seems to epitomize the pitfalls of uninspired fantasy writing, offering a narrative that struggles to rise above tired clichés and formulaic storytelling. The fact that the book has garnered zero ratings and reviews might indicate a lack of reader interest or, perhaps more tellingly, a deliberate effort to shield the work from genuine critique.
The synopsis introduces High Alchemist Isa, a character seemingly plucked from the generic fantasy archetype handbook. Her task of fending off demons and meeting the whims of a distant king unfolds in a landscape riddled with overused fantasy jargon like "spheres of light" and "magic-eating nature spirits." Rather than immersing the reader in a unique and well-developed world, the synopsis regurgitates familiar elements that have been done to death in the genre.
The central conflict involving Isa's cursed relationship with the magic-eating spirits is a narrative device that has been exhausted in countless fantasy tales, contributing to the overall lack of originality. The dynamic between Isa and her lover, Hura, reeks of predictability, falling into the trope of a protective companion and doing little to carve out a distinctive identity for the characters.
The attempt to inject tension with Hura's betrayal and the appearance of a molting dragon feels forced and lacks the creativity needed to captivate readers. The notion of seeking magic through dragon scales is a hackneyed concept that fails to evoke any sense of intrigue or excitement.
The reader testimonial at the end, citing "great pacing and great prose," is devoid of specificity and reads more like a generic endorsement than a thoughtful critique. The absence of any critical reviews raises suspicions about the authenticity of the feedback, suggesting a potential effort to manipulate perceptions of the book.
In a genre that thrives on originality and inventive storytelling, "Torchlight" seems to fall woefully short, recycling tired fantasy tropes without offering any compelling reason for readers to invest their time. Without a more substantial and innovative approach to world-building and character development, the book risks being overshadowed by more imaginative entries in the fantasy genre.
The synopsis introduces High Alchemist Isa, a character seemingly plucked from the generic fantasy archetype handbook. Her task of fending off demons and meeting the whims of a distant king unfolds in a landscape riddled with overused fantasy jargon like "spheres of light" and "magic-eating nature spirits." Rather than immersing the reader in a unique and well-developed world, the synopsis regurgitates familiar elements that have been done to death in the genre.
The central conflict involving Isa's cursed relationship with the magic-eating spirits is a narrative device that has been exhausted in countless fantasy tales, contributing to the overall lack of originality. The dynamic between Isa and her lover, Hura, reeks of predictability, falling into the trope of a protective companion and doing little to carve out a distinctive identity for the characters.
The attempt to inject tension with Hura's betrayal and the appearance of a molting dragon feels forced and lacks the creativity needed to captivate readers. The notion of seeking magic through dragon scales is a hackneyed concept that fails to evoke any sense of intrigue or excitement.
The reader testimonial at the end, citing "great pacing and great prose," is devoid of specificity and reads more like a generic endorsement than a thoughtful critique. The absence of any critical reviews raises suspicions about the authenticity of the feedback, suggesting a potential effort to manipulate perceptions of the book.
In a genre that thrives on originality and inventive storytelling, "Torchlight" seems to fall woefully short, recycling tired fantasy tropes without offering any compelling reason for readers to invest their time. Without a more substantial and innovative approach to world-building and character development, the book risks being overshadowed by more imaginative entries in the fantasy genre.
October 21, 2024
A rare book where the hero is an underdog that you want to root for, but when he stumbles and falls yet again, my reaction is mostly "yeah, that makes sense...And he sorta had it coming". Lance does a good job of illustrating a character who never lets a teachable moment get in the way of his myopia, and the result is some very breezy reading.
Hura doesn't carry this burden alone, and Torchlight is at its best when we are watching he and the other perspective characters connive at cross-purposes, or internally wrestle with their worst impulses. Several characters seem quite smart, but no one is as clever as they think. Plans unravel in an instant and there's something darkly enjoyable watching this crew fall back to acting on instinct.
The world building is more of a mixed bag. The author falls victim to a "tell, don't show". As one vague example: long-forbidden and long-forgotten magic has its dangers clearly articulated. Still, some parties in the book are dabbling with these forces again...As a reader, I know why this is a bad idea, but I'd love to see what makes these powers alluring enough to ignore the clear dangers. This one of a few instances where some aspect of this world is very clearly explained by characters, but still felt like remote realities for me as a reader.
Hura doesn't carry this burden alone, and Torchlight is at its best when we are watching he and the other perspective characters connive at cross-purposes, or internally wrestle with their worst impulses. Several characters seem quite smart, but no one is as clever as they think. Plans unravel in an instant and there's something darkly enjoyable watching this crew fall back to acting on instinct.
The world building is more of a mixed bag. The author falls victim to a "tell, don't show". As one vague example: long-forbidden and long-forgotten magic has its dangers clearly articulated. Still, some parties in the book are dabbling with these forces again...As a reader, I know why this is a bad idea, but I'd love to see what makes these powers alluring enough to ignore the clear dangers. This one of a few instances where some aspect of this world is very clearly explained by characters, but still felt like remote realities for me as a reader.
April 24, 2024
This book definitely takes a different approach take on fantasy and magic! The world building is done well and I felt like I could "see it" easily! It also was the first book by a male author I've read in a long time (not that I have anything against them. But the books I had been reading just happened to be by females) and I enjoyed the differences! Magic. Disgruntled hero. Violence. Spice. Gore. Good story line!!!
October 3, 2024
Great sword and sorcery
This book is a roller coaster of good old fashion sword and sorcery adventure. Deeply flawed characters duke it out over how best to save their isle. The entire last half of the book flows so well and is a real page turner. Everyone gets what they want in the end, even if its a cruel joke of a wish granted. I'm very excited to read more by the author and can't wait to see more of the world and story.
This book is a roller coaster of good old fashion sword and sorcery adventure. Deeply flawed characters duke it out over how best to save their isle. The entire last half of the book flows so well and is a real page turner. Everyone gets what they want in the end, even if its a cruel joke of a wish granted. I'm very excited to read more by the author and can't wait to see more of the world and story.
January 6, 2024
Really enjoyed this fantasy adventure. Action, magic, love, a dragon, and more. A somewhat simple quest turns into a much more complicated one. This adventure went on a path I didn't quite expect. A happy ending that makes me want to laugh in a somewhat evil way.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews