The Clock and the Candles

by Anthony Dean

Roland, who is the Keeper of the Clock, and Gwenivere, former crown princess of the Lands, are separated by 46 feet of stone. After seizing the throne from her father, King Adolphus had the Prison Maxiumus constructed around Gwen. She lives in a cell with no door that measures eight feet on every side, and which is centered in a structure that measures a hundred feet on every side. Gwen has been the jail's only resident for seven years.

In the Clock Forest, Roland returns home from his duties tending the Ebony Clock to find that someone has left an unsigned letter on his kitchen table. The letter reads:

Dear Roland,

Consider five statements. Three of them are true. Two of them are lies.

1. You are the last of your kind.

2. King Adolphus is an immortal being.

3. The creatures who walk the Lands after sunset serve no master.

4. Gwenivere's prison was not constructed according to specifications.

5. The Ebony Clock is not connected to anything at all.

Sort the truth from the lies, and you will be free.

So begins the latest epic from Anthony Dean, author of the Voided Man trilogy.

Genres: Fantasy

311 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2024

About the author

I have had a long career as a professor (28 years and counting), and I am at the podium still. I am also a lifelong fan of science fiction.

I plan to add new installments to my Voided Man series several times a year for the foreseeable future.

Reviews

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really LOVED this book! It had a grown-up fairy tale feel to it, which I always enjoy. The story, setting, and characters were so well fleshed out that I was sort of playing the movie in my head the entire time I read this. The story was really engaging. I feared for the good guys and hated the bad guys. The bad guys were really bad, but there was nothing super disturbing to me—at least no brain bleach necessary. Also, the cover is amazing! I am well into book #2 in this series and will definitely be sad when it is over.

[Jeff Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed the book and the story. It could be called a classic tale of good vs evil or it could be called somewhat formulaic and cliche. Both assessments would be somewhat correct. The characters do seem a bit two dimensional, either all light or all dark which does make them more difficult to relate to as we all have some of each in us. The exception is the main character, Roland, who displayed both.
The story moved along at a good clip and was satisfying even if predictable. The clock, however, is not a predictable entity. Based on what has happened thus far, I suspect the characters will flesh out more in the upcoming books and the story will be more unique. I am a fan of fantasy and adventure in books and this one delivers on both.
I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book. The enjoyable aspects far outweigh any negative I may have mentioned.
If you are looking for an entertaining and exciting fantasy, I would absolutely recommend this book.

[Barbieprivilege · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and finished it pretty quickly!

I thought the writing was engaging and the plot moved along at a nice pace. I also like the little hints peppered throughout that Something™ happened and this world is our world. They were enough to make me curious without pulling focus from the story itself. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway 😊

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good, fun, easy read. The story flowed really well, and I really liked it was more plot driven than setting based. The world building was not overdone so the story moved along quickly and I liked the characters in it as well. Some more background on some of them would be interesting and I'm hoping for that in the next book. Thank you to goodreads giveaway and the author for winning this book and I look forward to continuing the story!

[Jesse Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I did not immediately fall in love with this book, as I did with the Voided Man series, I did grow to enjoy it much more as time went on. As the characters developed and I realized who the key players were, I really started to read it more and couldn't put it down by the end!
Another job well done by Anthony Dean!

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this book! i could not put this book down. the plot was well developed, there wasn’t too much world building, it was the right amount where i could visual what it looked like. and i liked the characters. i’m hoping for more character background in the next book. thank you goodreads giveaway and the author, i won this. i am looking forward to reading the next book :)

[Juliana Veale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly good

I was cautious to get the book at first, as it seemed another Arthurian inspired tale. I am happy to be proven wrong. If anything, the post-apocalyptic, science-fiction-inspired fantasy is not something one finds often, or at least one that's executed well

[Barbara Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a fun surprise

I was a little apprehensive when I picked this book to read based on the synopsis but within only a few pages I was hooked. The book took me on an unimaginable journey that I could never have foreseen.

[Sraah · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh how amazing!
this was so so good
when it started talking about space time i was like
F K Y E S!!!!
this is so so interesting and well written (save for the many many typos and redundant words that should have been removed)
i’m very excited to read the next book

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously LOVED this book!!! You get immersed in the characters lives as we see the princess locked in the fortress and her love is the keeper of the clock. Now don't get me wrong, this almost felt like a Repunzal story with some fantasy elements. But overall had be engaged throughout the entire book.

I can see the author doing a prequel to this story to get an understanding as to why the ebony clock was constructed. (Maybe this is touched upon in book 2 but I haven't read that yet.)

Ultimately, give this book a try. Never hurts to read a new story and find characters that you might like.

[Paul Vanderburg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written stupidity

I hate the clock. If anyone built that device and made a clock as the control panel, I can only hope that the entire United Nations would demand they be executed.

I hate the zombies. The reason they exist doesn't make sense to me, nor does the dramatic scene at the end of the book.

I hate the female lead. She's a useless princess. I hate the male lead. He's a useless hero. I hate the villain. He's uselessly evil.

But! The grammar and spelling are good.

In short, I am deeply disappointed in everyone who gave this book 5 stars.

[Renae Hackley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would average a 3.5/5. At the beginning it was tough following all the characters and connecting the storyline. I felt it jumped all over and was confusing. The last quarter of the book I enjoyed more and everything fell together smoother.
I do suggest reading a whole chapter at a time to help connect storylines and characters better. I was reading at night and falling asleep too quickly, so that may be part of the problem.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Clock and the Candles

A woman who was set to rule is now a prisoner. Forced to write every day and given meager supplies to sustain herself. She ends up befriending the man that brings and takes away her daily supplies. With the help of many people that do not like the current leader, they work together to free her. This is the first book in the series and sets up the key players and the beginning of the escape.

#GoodreadsGiveaways

[Iain R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really different interesting starting premise, and that theme continued as the story evolved. Totally enjoyed, great characters, neat setting, exciting, and now for part 2 - can the author maintain the innovation and surprise?

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun fantasy… elves, enchanted forest & clock, and an imprisoned princess.

Thanks to the publisher for gifting this book.

[Hollie & the hyperfixation · Rating 1 out of 5]

Littered with mistakes, poor writing, I almost hope this is AI content. 5 books in six months from this author might suggest that it is…

[Ron]

Giving up at 50% It's just a little too much like a fever-dream to me. The setting and tale don't inspire me to believe in this world.

[Dee Ohliger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good fantasy story. The few misspelled words didn’t slow me down. Probably could use a new proof reader. I’m on to Book Two….

[David M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as other books from Anthony Dean, but nonetheless and enjoyable, gentle, adult fantasy in a rather fairy-tale setting