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Xeresgate: The Castle Within
A tale of medieval magic aimed at the 20- to 30-year-old crowd (for a change), "Xeresgate: The Castle Within" is for everyone that has ever dared to imagine that modern life doesn't HAVE TO include cubicles, texting, and traffic... for everyone that's ever wanted to let their hair down, loosen their ties, and just run through an open, grassy meadow with reckless abandon... for everyone that feels like - just MAYBE, deep inside - they might be a magic-wielding hero, armored knight, or even Royalty!
Full of cultural references that every plugged-in member of Generation X will know and love, the story follows Malachi Hunter... just a regular urban schmoe... with an UNBELIEVABLE history. Come along with him as he does the things you've only imagined... winning the lottery, constructing a medieval kingdom, even discovering his roots - which hide powerful magics that could change the world FOREVER. Read the story that you KNOW everyone will be talking about!
Come... to XERESGATE!!
Full of cultural references that every plugged-in member of Generation X will know and love, the story follows Malachi Hunter... just a regular urban schmoe... with an UNBELIEVABLE history. Come along with him as he does the things you've only imagined... winning the lottery, constructing a medieval kingdom, even discovering his roots - which hide powerful magics that could change the world FOREVER. Read the story that you KNOW everyone will be talking about!
Come... to XERESGATE!!
214 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 25, 2014
Horrendously fun, but not in the way the author intended. The obvious author stand-in protagonist (Michael Holt = Malachi Hunter) spends most of the book espousing horrifying views about "bitches", has little to no self awareness, and for the most part has whatever he wants handed to him with no realistic conflict. If the author didn't also have a sizable blog full of rants on just the sort of things his character says, I'd be tempted to call this some Poe's Law level satire. But in truth, I want this to be real. I want this to be the Plan 9 From Outer Space of books: a shining, golden turd, one that was clearly a labor of love, even if that love was deeply, fatally misguided.
P.S. If you're going to review your own book, Mr. Holt, at least change your name first.
P.S. If you're going to review your own book, Mr. Holt, at least change your name first.
April 24, 2014
I have purchased and read this book with the hope that I would love it. I love to support new and up and coming authors on their literary journey. I, unfortunately, did not 'love' this book at all. :(
Xeresgate: The Castle Within was a quick read and I finished it easily over a few evenings. I was engaged in the story but was confused on the Fantasy genre - it did not turn into a "fantasy" novel until about chapter 30 or so which, to me, was quite a while. Up to that point it was a story about a guy who lives in New York who won the lottery, quit his job, traveled to "someplace" (actual location within what I believe is the US never was revealed) seeking to purchase land to build his dream castle. Why it took 30 chapters for Malachi Hunter to get that far I am not sure. The other characters in the books are not developed well and all seem to speak the same: same tone, same vocabulary, nothing that earmarks memory.
Malachi Hunter, the main character, seems to have an inflated ego, thinks quite highly of himself (and even remarks in the story that he doesn't think of himself "better than anyone else" - odd to mention if it wasn't an actual factor), definitely has specific gender roles in his head, and seems to place himself above others in numerous areas and situations within the story. The machismo/holier-than-thou attitude bothered me and the way he 'spoke down' to many in the book. He spoke and treated other characters like they were dumb although it seems that is not what the author may have intended to do - it just may be a natural thing to the author - but that is definitely how it comes across. I ended up disliking Malachi rather than cheering him on which isn't really what I think one should be doing to the main character of the story.
Michael, another character, is Malachi's best friend throughout the book, but then 3/4's in, they get into an argument and Michael takes off - leaving no real impression to exactly what his purpose was within the story. He was a typical "loser" best friend who Malachi, the great man he is, always saved him, helped him, thought the best of him, blah blah. Unless Michael has some epic return in book #2, there was a lot of wasted situation and dialog with him for absolutely no reason.
When we finally get to the "fantasy/magic" part of the book, it is quick, the story starts becoming very rushed, and was all over the place. There was such a long, drawn out work up to this point and for it to start zooming through, to me, was odd. The dialog between characters was strange; not what would be expected. Some of the characters are treated and explained like simpleton folk but then, when needed for the story, have some remarkable intelligence and their language goes from a 4th grade to a college level in an instant. It was all very confusing to actually place these characters into categories of purpose, give them a face, voice, and a personality. There was a consistent inconsistency with them. In fact, the only consistent theme throughout the story was Malachi's self importance.
Xeresgate: The Castle Within was not the worst book I have ever read - don't misunderstand my words - it just was not, to me, really good. I do not think I will purchase the other books within the series if they are released.
Xeresgate: The Castle Within was a quick read and I finished it easily over a few evenings. I was engaged in the story but was confused on the Fantasy genre - it did not turn into a "fantasy" novel until about chapter 30 or so which, to me, was quite a while. Up to that point it was a story about a guy who lives in New York who won the lottery, quit his job, traveled to "someplace" (actual location within what I believe is the US never was revealed) seeking to purchase land to build his dream castle. Why it took 30 chapters for Malachi Hunter to get that far I am not sure. The other characters in the books are not developed well and all seem to speak the same: same tone, same vocabulary, nothing that earmarks memory.
Malachi Hunter, the main character, seems to have an inflated ego, thinks quite highly of himself (and even remarks in the story that he doesn't think of himself "better than anyone else" - odd to mention if it wasn't an actual factor), definitely has specific gender roles in his head, and seems to place himself above others in numerous areas and situations within the story. The machismo/holier-than-thou attitude bothered me and the way he 'spoke down' to many in the book. He spoke and treated other characters like they were dumb although it seems that is not what the author may have intended to do - it just may be a natural thing to the author - but that is definitely how it comes across. I ended up disliking Malachi rather than cheering him on which isn't really what I think one should be doing to the main character of the story.
Michael, another character, is Malachi's best friend throughout the book, but then 3/4's in, they get into an argument and Michael takes off - leaving no real impression to exactly what his purpose was within the story. He was a typical "loser" best friend who Malachi, the great man he is, always saved him, helped him, thought the best of him, blah blah. Unless Michael has some epic return in book #2, there was a lot of wasted situation and dialog with him for absolutely no reason.
When we finally get to the "fantasy/magic" part of the book, it is quick, the story starts becoming very rushed, and was all over the place. There was such a long, drawn out work up to this point and for it to start zooming through, to me, was odd. The dialog between characters was strange; not what would be expected. Some of the characters are treated and explained like simpleton folk but then, when needed for the story, have some remarkable intelligence and their language goes from a 4th grade to a college level in an instant. It was all very confusing to actually place these characters into categories of purpose, give them a face, voice, and a personality. There was a consistent inconsistency with them. In fact, the only consistent theme throughout the story was Malachi's self importance.
Xeresgate: The Castle Within was not the worst book I have ever read - don't misunderstand my words - it just was not, to me, really good. I do not think I will purchase the other books within the series if they are released.
March 18, 2014
This book is an entertaining walk through the mind of a medieval/fantasy writing veteran at the top of his personal game (so far).
The character of Malachi Hunter is easy to identify with, although readers will also likely find parts of themselves in the other myriad, interesting characters as well.
This is no doubt going to be "the next big series", and I look forward to the sequel!
I put a link to the TPB and eBook editions here on my blog (which is also fun reading, if you enjoy a good rant).
The character of Malachi Hunter is easy to identify with, although readers will also likely find parts of themselves in the other myriad, interesting characters as well.
This is no doubt going to be "the next big series", and I look forward to the sequel!
I put a link to the TPB and eBook editions here on my blog (which is also fun reading, if you enjoy a good rant).
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews