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The Sparrow and the Wolf #1
The Seventh Friend
Hero. Monster. Saviour. Butcher. Madman. Recluse. Wolf Narak, the deadly and charismatic god of wolves, has earned all the names men give him, and since the climactic and bloody final battle of the Great War he has shunned the company of mortal men and withdrawn to his forest home. There he is troubled by dreams of blood and fire, tormented by memories of his own deeds.
But fate has not quite finished with the victor of Afael.
He receives an impossible message, and as he follows the trail a suspicion grows to a certainty within him. War is coming again, and Narak must leave his beloved wolves and once more take up his twin blades. Once again he must become the general of the six kingdoms, the terror of his enemies, a hero, a butcher, the bloodstained god.
But fate has not quite finished with the victor of Afael.
He receives an impossible message, and as he follows the trail a suspicion grows to a certainty within him. War is coming again, and Narak must leave his beloved wolves and once more take up his twin blades. Once again he must become the general of the six kingdoms, the terror of his enemies, a hero, a butcher, the bloodstained god.
704 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2014
30 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Tim Stead
19 books23 followersI am a fantasy author who lives in New Zealand within sight of the magnificent Southern Alps and surrounded by sheep, mountains and badly behaved rivers.
I was born in the UK, but have lived in Hong Kong, the UK and now New Zealand. I am very familiar with the Richter Scale.
I was born in the UK, but have lived in Hong Kong, the UK and now New Zealand. I am very familiar with the Richter Scale.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 1, 2016
I LOVED IT.
The book impressed and continuing to impress me. Perfect for young adult fans. The story revolves around the NARAK, the humanised version of wolf god. He hates war, ironically he is good at it.
There are many central characters and most have a beautiful background stories to them. It's easier to get attached to any of them. Best of them is Arbak and Quinn, these characters are lovable and brilliant. Even though it's a relatively large books it finishes very quickly.
The book has romance, friendship, adventure and what not. Best of all in the end you will feel amazing that you decided to read it. And not to mention the goosebumps every now and then.
The book impressed and continuing to impress me. Perfect for young adult fans. The story revolves around the NARAK, the humanised version of wolf god. He hates war, ironically he is good at it.
There are many central characters and most have a beautiful background stories to them. It's easier to get attached to any of them. Best of them is Arbak and Quinn, these characters are lovable and brilliant. Even though it's a relatively large books it finishes very quickly.
The book has romance, friendship, adventure and what not. Best of all in the end you will feel amazing that you decided to read it. And not to mention the goosebumps every now and then.
May 18, 2015
The writing here is beautiful, the imagery and characterization very good. The worldbuilding is fascinating, complex, and epic, while the story stays very close to the characters, which is the best of both worlds. I love the cultural differences between the five kingdoms and the Seth Yarra. I couldn’t always keep all the ancillary geography and political structure straight, but Tim Stead did a really good job of subtly re-explaining what was necessary as he went, so I never had trouble following the actual story. If the academic geography essay in the prologue puts you off, just skip it and go back later if you need a refresher on the layout of the kingdoms.
Some parts are too detailed for my taste, and there’s a bit of repetition. I may not have noticed these had the book not been so very long. The final battle builds up for a long time and then ends rather abruptly, followed by a really lengthy denouement. I really enjoyed the novel, but I would have enjoyed it even more if it had been trimmed a bit.
I would also have liked to see a few more female characters with the same depth as the male characters, who are wonderfully drawn. Narak is fantastic, as are many of the others, and I love getting in the head of the Seth Yarra spy. Well done there.
There are a few typos, but not enough to distract from the enjoyment of the story or the excellent writing. This is the quality independent authors need to aspire to.
This is a great story, with great writing, and so close—so very close—to earning five stars, something I don’t give out liberally. I will certainly read the next book.
Some parts are too detailed for my taste, and there’s a bit of repetition. I may not have noticed these had the book not been so very long. The final battle builds up for a long time and then ends rather abruptly, followed by a really lengthy denouement. I really enjoyed the novel, but I would have enjoyed it even more if it had been trimmed a bit.
I would also have liked to see a few more female characters with the same depth as the male characters, who are wonderfully drawn. Narak is fantastic, as are many of the others, and I love getting in the head of the Seth Yarra spy. Well done there.
There are a few typos, but not enough to distract from the enjoyment of the story or the excellent writing. This is the quality independent authors need to aspire to.
This is a great story, with great writing, and so close—so very close—to earning five stars, something I don’t give out liberally. I will certainly read the next book.
April 24, 2014
This was truly an astounding read, and I am very glad I came across it.
The whole idea about contemplating the world from the point of view of the godlike creatures and their strengths and flaws is fairly original and very well thought; it also plays out quite nicely.
As far as the narration is concerned, the plot moves forward at a proper pace and it is never too quick nor too dull.
Action is intense and captivating, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat, while the descriptive paragraphs are informative and detailed.
What struck me as a most successful part of the story was the careful, quality world creation on one hand, and the interesting character development on the other.
A wide range of different characters was very realistically portrayed and the author had breathed life into them.
Their innermost thoughts and struggles were interesting to follow and the style in which they were represented reminded me a lot of character building of Robin Hobb and G.R.R Martin, two epic fantasy authors who are among my favorites.
I fully recommend this book.
The whole idea about contemplating the world from the point of view of the godlike creatures and their strengths and flaws is fairly original and very well thought; it also plays out quite nicely.
As far as the narration is concerned, the plot moves forward at a proper pace and it is never too quick nor too dull.
Action is intense and captivating, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat, while the descriptive paragraphs are informative and detailed.
What struck me as a most successful part of the story was the careful, quality world creation on one hand, and the interesting character development on the other.
A wide range of different characters was very realistically portrayed and the author had breathed life into them.
Their innermost thoughts and struggles were interesting to follow and the style in which they were represented reminded me a lot of character building of Robin Hobb and G.R.R Martin, two epic fantasy authors who are among my favorites.
I fully recommend this book.
December 25, 2014
This is skilfully woven epic fantasy. The prose flows smoothly across multiple viewpoints that weave together into a dramatic conclusion. There are hints too, of more to come, luring the reader into acquisition of the second book in the series. The characters feel well-developed, starting flawed (in most cases) and growing throughout the narrative.
Overall, for an independently (self published) work, this is a damned fine read, and should be enjoyed by anyone who likes well written high fantasy. The magic is limited, but the mythology of the world rich with ideas and potential. I look forward to reading more.
Overall, for an independently (self published) work, this is a damned fine read, and should be enjoyed by anyone who likes well written high fantasy. The magic is limited, but the mythology of the world rich with ideas and potential. I look forward to reading more.
October 29, 2014
I was given an e-book copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. When I began the novel I was quickly overwhelmed by all the strange names and places. The florid, journalistic writing style also made me feel that this was going to be a difficult read. However, once I got through the introduction and reached the story, the novel became much more accessible.
The characters have depth, each with their own strengths and flaws. Throughout the novel they change and grow and make the reader care for them. The central character, Narak the Wolf god has both strength and vulnerability, physically and emotionally. The secondary character, the hired mercenary turned tavern keeper-spy turned soldier turned leader, easily won my affection. Even the conceited Lord began to grow on me. The women, however, are a bit thin.
There are six kingdoms in this book, each with their own culture and people. There are several gods, the Benetheon, who were created by a more powerful god before he disappeared. These gods are propelled into action when the Seth Yarra attack. The Seth Yarra are religious fanatics who strictly follow the many rules in their holy book. Their way is the only good way and if you refuse to convert then you deserve to die. Sound familiar?
Narak and an odd collection of gods and men set out to prevent the complete slaughter of the six kingdoms by the overwhelming numbers of Seth Yarra. In the past, the invaders were repelled but things have changed in the last 400 years and winning the war is doubtful.
The battle scenes are well written and quickly paced. The author does not fall into the trap of dwelling on every parry and thrust like some fantasy books that read like video games. We feel the pain, fear, and reality of those in battle. The interpersonal scenes are also expertly constructed. Throughout the novel, there are golden pockets of beautiful writing.
"They presented a chaotic, confused image to the eye. Different stones, different styles, different colors all pushing and shoving like a tourney crowd to get the attention they craved." You'll notice that the word trying seems to be missing. Unfortunately there are a few mistakes, such as has instead of had, but not enough to ruin the text.
Stead's descriptions of the landscape are vivid and evoking. "The place was called Hellaree, and it was said that the last great mage Emperor had made his stronghold here, a mass of dark stone climbing up the eastern slopes of the Dragon's Back, but the tales were nearly as ancient as the stones themselves, and just as reshaped by time, worn by a hundred generations of tongues. The stones of a dozen great towers had fallen, making the slopes below a scree of cut stone now weathered back to nature's shapes by frost and wind and rain." The book is sprinkled with beautiful gems like this.
This book is the first in a series. Although some things are concluded, the final outcome of the war is continued in the next book. It was an enjoyable read and kept my suspense to the very end.
The characters have depth, each with their own strengths and flaws. Throughout the novel they change and grow and make the reader care for them. The central character, Narak the Wolf god has both strength and vulnerability, physically and emotionally. The secondary character, the hired mercenary turned tavern keeper-spy turned soldier turned leader, easily won my affection. Even the conceited Lord began to grow on me. The women, however, are a bit thin.
There are six kingdoms in this book, each with their own culture and people. There are several gods, the Benetheon, who were created by a more powerful god before he disappeared. These gods are propelled into action when the Seth Yarra attack. The Seth Yarra are religious fanatics who strictly follow the many rules in their holy book. Their way is the only good way and if you refuse to convert then you deserve to die. Sound familiar?
Narak and an odd collection of gods and men set out to prevent the complete slaughter of the six kingdoms by the overwhelming numbers of Seth Yarra. In the past, the invaders were repelled but things have changed in the last 400 years and winning the war is doubtful.
The battle scenes are well written and quickly paced. The author does not fall into the trap of dwelling on every parry and thrust like some fantasy books that read like video games. We feel the pain, fear, and reality of those in battle. The interpersonal scenes are also expertly constructed. Throughout the novel, there are golden pockets of beautiful writing.
"They presented a chaotic, confused image to the eye. Different stones, different styles, different colors all pushing and shoving like a tourney crowd to get the attention they craved." You'll notice that the word trying seems to be missing. Unfortunately there are a few mistakes, such as has instead of had, but not enough to ruin the text.
Stead's descriptions of the landscape are vivid and evoking. "The place was called Hellaree, and it was said that the last great mage Emperor had made his stronghold here, a mass of dark stone climbing up the eastern slopes of the Dragon's Back, but the tales were nearly as ancient as the stones themselves, and just as reshaped by time, worn by a hundred generations of tongues. The stones of a dozen great towers had fallen, making the slopes below a scree of cut stone now weathered back to nature's shapes by frost and wind and rain." The book is sprinkled with beautiful gems like this.
This book is the first in a series. Although some things are concluded, the final outcome of the war is continued in the next book. It was an enjoyable read and kept my suspense to the very end.
October 29, 2016
I have been rendered incoherent and in a fucking state of disbelief. This book is a masterpiece, IT IS ART. I saw Tim's review on The Fell Sword and thought...hmm could he write a book better?...He did..He really did. I could sing his praises all night and it's just the first book.
400 years after The Great War that devestated Terras, stirrings of war find the recluse Victor, The god, Wolf Narak again.
they are killing dogs in Bas Erinor
7 simple words on a ragged parchment uncovers a conspiracy far more than meets the eye. Narak must transverse a line of deceit, political scheming, treachery and death to bring woe upon his enemies. He must become The Bloodstained god once again, garnering armies, acquiring new and unlikely allies and face old and turned foes along the way.
It reminds me a lot of the Red knight Series but just with easier dialogue and better character understanding.
The detailing and World building is superb. Tim did not shun the minor characters, every character was essential to the storyline. There is a sense of intimacy with the characters and whatever trial they faced. It is fast paced, the storyline diverts and intertwines adequately, there was no unnecessary pause and while I felt anticipation for its final convergence, I did not, thankfully, feel like hitting myself over the head just waiting for the story to bloody move on.
The Seventh Friend, first in The Sparrow and Wolf is the beginning. It is a tale of war, of time and chance, of men, their fight and what they do for what they believe, of great battles and glory and it is a story of their gods.
5 stars isn't even enough.
400 years after The Great War that devestated Terras, stirrings of war find the recluse Victor, The god, Wolf Narak again.
they are killing dogs in Bas Erinor
7 simple words on a ragged parchment uncovers a conspiracy far more than meets the eye. Narak must transverse a line of deceit, political scheming, treachery and death to bring woe upon his enemies. He must become The Bloodstained god once again, garnering armies, acquiring new and unlikely allies and face old and turned foes along the way.
It reminds me a lot of the Red knight Series but just with easier dialogue and better character understanding.
The detailing and World building is superb. Tim did not shun the minor characters, every character was essential to the storyline. There is a sense of intimacy with the characters and whatever trial they faced. It is fast paced, the storyline diverts and intertwines adequately, there was no unnecessary pause and while I felt anticipation for its final convergence, I did not, thankfully, feel like hitting myself over the head just waiting for the story to bloody move on.
The Seventh Friend, first in The Sparrow and Wolf is the beginning. It is a tale of war, of time and chance, of men, their fight and what they do for what they believe, of great battles and glory and it is a story of their gods.
5 stars isn't even enough.
April 6, 2014
I think that this is one of the best books I've read, since the 'Farseer Trilogy' by Robin Hobb. The characters in the novel I've found have such a good back story I just wanted to learn more about them. Looking forward to more by this author. I,ve heard people liken it to the George R. R. Martin's 'Game of thrones' series, I say that I'm waiting for the t.v. series
Want to read
November 27, 2019I was actually searching for The Wolf and the Sparrow, but this also sounds good!
The to-read list can never be too long, can it?
The to-read list can never be too long, can it?
August 26, 2017
Excellent
Good read, plenty of action, a little humor. A fine story and great first book o any series. I probably will get the next one.
Good read, plenty of action, a little humor. A fine story and great first book o any series. I probably will get the next one.
August 9, 2014
Wolf Narak is something of a leader amongst the Benetheon. 400 years ago, he led a war which pushed back and defeated the Seth Yarra army. Now they have returned. Narak is once again at the helm of the nations of his world, but there are darker forces at work. Narak just need to find the right people to assist him, and he finds them in some surrising places, after some shocking events. Now, he leads again, but can he defeat the Seth Yarra a second time?
WOW!!! a long book, 704 pages, the longest I've read since Game Of Thrones but by golly what a fabulous book!
The Benetheon are a group of people, men and women, who were graced by Pelion, the God of All, with immortality, strength, wisdom, and the power to shift into a given animal. Narak is a wolf. Pascha, a sparrow, Belof, a bear. the list goes on. they are worshipped as Gods in places and feared as Gods in others. The Seth Yarra do not fear, they conquer. After their defeat 400 years ago at the hands of Narak they retreat, but now, they return, with a larger force than ever seen before. BUT things are not always as they seem, and Narak needs to weddle out the traitors, those who would oppose him, and those who will do anything to see Narak fail.
A MASSIVE cast of characters, and it does take a while to get going, jumping from one place to the next, from person to person, to set the scene. As it begins to come together, the story picks up, and flies but then it hits a flat spot, in preperation for the battle at The Green Road and I found it a little hard going. Not long though, maybe 10/15%, that all, BUT as said this is a long book. Some might give up. The world building is outstanding, character descriptions impressive, and you feel a connection to them all, even the ones who are up to stuff they really have no business getting up to! Its written from all the main players point of view, along with some minor ones too, and I loved that!
It is the first in a series, with 2 other books out already (but I've no idea how many are planned ), and so does not end, as such. Indeed, the last chapter gives some light into who is up to what they are up to, but not WHY, yet. And so, I'd love to be able to read the next two books, to see where this is going.
It is clean, but violent in places, although not overly graphic. If you read Game Of Thrones, and could keep up with George RR Martin's flipping from place to place, and JR Ward's long ass way of getting stories together, these may be the ones for you to try.
Just a note, although these Benetheon ARE shifters, sort of, there is none of the usual lore that goes with them. So, toss all that you have read about shifters out the window, and go into this with an open mind.
4 fangs
Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock
WOW!!! a long book, 704 pages, the longest I've read since Game Of Thrones but by golly what a fabulous book!
The Benetheon are a group of people, men and women, who were graced by Pelion, the God of All, with immortality, strength, wisdom, and the power to shift into a given animal. Narak is a wolf. Pascha, a sparrow, Belof, a bear. the list goes on. they are worshipped as Gods in places and feared as Gods in others. The Seth Yarra do not fear, they conquer. After their defeat 400 years ago at the hands of Narak they retreat, but now, they return, with a larger force than ever seen before. BUT things are not always as they seem, and Narak needs to weddle out the traitors, those who would oppose him, and those who will do anything to see Narak fail.
A MASSIVE cast of characters, and it does take a while to get going, jumping from one place to the next, from person to person, to set the scene. As it begins to come together, the story picks up, and flies but then it hits a flat spot, in preperation for the battle at The Green Road and I found it a little hard going. Not long though, maybe 10/15%, that all, BUT as said this is a long book. Some might give up. The world building is outstanding, character descriptions impressive, and you feel a connection to them all, even the ones who are up to stuff they really have no business getting up to! Its written from all the main players point of view, along with some minor ones too, and I loved that!
It is the first in a series, with 2 other books out already (but I've no idea how many are planned ), and so does not end, as such. Indeed, the last chapter gives some light into who is up to what they are up to, but not WHY, yet. And so, I'd love to be able to read the next two books, to see where this is going.
It is clean, but violent in places, although not overly graphic. If you read Game Of Thrones, and could keep up with George RR Martin's flipping from place to place, and JR Ward's long ass way of getting stories together, these may be the ones for you to try.
Just a note, although these Benetheon ARE shifters, sort of, there is none of the usual lore that goes with them. So, toss all that you have read about shifters out the window, and go into this with an open mind.
4 fangs
Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock
October 19, 2014
Holy Epic Fantasy! This book was such an amazing awesome surprise! The beginning takes awhile to get into and so I was really nervous, but this book blew me out of the water. It picks up and I couldn't put it down. It contained so much world building and complex characters that kept pushing the story forward and not once did I feel like it was too much or boring. I feel like I should include a warning that this review might not make sense because I tend to ramble and get all confusing when I absolutely love a book!
The Seventh Friend is a epic fantasy novel that follows the story of multiple players in the upcoming events in the land of Terras. The looming threats of war mimic the events of 400 years before when Terras was invaded by the Seth Yarra. The kingdoms must face their differences to join together and defeat the enemy. With the help from the Benetheon ( The Gods) ,the kingdoms face a great struggle.
While weaving together multiple different character arcs, Stead develops some fantastic characters that are dynamic and face much internal struggle and personal growth. While the story continually switches from each main player in the events it also includes some secondary characters was refreshing and also enjoyable. You really got to learn about the world from every angle and perspective.
Tim Stead put so much work into developing a complex world and really thought through everything and every move that presented itself. The kingdoms are so diverse and each has their own way of life, customs and qualities. The world is so well crafted with all character story arcs coming together and enhancing the depth of the world.
This book was action packed and Stead sure knows how to write a battle scene. He has an eye for details and cleverly wrote an amazing fantasy novel that is unique and intriguing. The Seventh Friend is the first in a series and I absolutely can't wait to continue on with this series. I highly recommend this book. It has quickly moved up on my favorites of 2014 and want more people to read this so I can share my love of this underrated and undiscovered epic fantasy novel. Even though I haven't yet read any of the work, but it has been recommended to fans of Song of Fire and Ice by George R.R. Martin and those fans of Robin Hobbs work!
The Seventh Friend is a epic fantasy novel that follows the story of multiple players in the upcoming events in the land of Terras. The looming threats of war mimic the events of 400 years before when Terras was invaded by the Seth Yarra. The kingdoms must face their differences to join together and defeat the enemy. With the help from the Benetheon ( The Gods) ,the kingdoms face a great struggle.
While weaving together multiple different character arcs, Stead develops some fantastic characters that are dynamic and face much internal struggle and personal growth. While the story continually switches from each main player in the events it also includes some secondary characters was refreshing and also enjoyable. You really got to learn about the world from every angle and perspective.
Tim Stead put so much work into developing a complex world and really thought through everything and every move that presented itself. The kingdoms are so diverse and each has their own way of life, customs and qualities. The world is so well crafted with all character story arcs coming together and enhancing the depth of the world.
This book was action packed and Stead sure knows how to write a battle scene. He has an eye for details and cleverly wrote an amazing fantasy novel that is unique and intriguing. The Seventh Friend is the first in a series and I absolutely can't wait to continue on with this series. I highly recommend this book. It has quickly moved up on my favorites of 2014 and want more people to read this so I can share my love of this underrated and undiscovered epic fantasy novel. Even though I haven't yet read any of the work, but it has been recommended to fans of Song of Fire and Ice by George R.R. Martin and those fans of Robin Hobbs work!
May 24, 2014
The Seventh Friend is the first in Tim Stead’s series of books about the Gods of the Benetheon and the world they live in. It’s an epic adventure that weaves together several different character arcs and manages to tie them neatly in a bow with a clear ending – while still leaving a cliff hanger for the next book.
It’s cleverly done and very well written. This is high epic fantasy with magic, swords and epic battles which are well depicted. The story never gets bogged down by too much “data-dumping” and the characters portrayed genuinely change throughout the novel – some of whom my opinion of was completely changed by the time I’d finished. Wolf Narak, our protagonist, is joined by a supporting cast of several characters who are put through the mill. Narak is an interesting character a god, or god-like being, who has a huge history that haunts him.
This is high fantasy but with a clever twist and a completely new world which is well crafted and has significant depth to it. People are going to throw out Robin Hobb, George R.R. Martin. David Geddings and Terry Brooks – and they wouldn’t be wrong it has that feel about it and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The back story to the Benetheon is intriguing and while lots of questions are answered in this volume (I wasn’t feeling unsatisfied when I finished) there are many more that need answering – this is a series to watch for.
It’s cleverly done and very well written. This is high epic fantasy with magic, swords and epic battles which are well depicted. The story never gets bogged down by too much “data-dumping” and the characters portrayed genuinely change throughout the novel – some of whom my opinion of was completely changed by the time I’d finished. Wolf Narak, our protagonist, is joined by a supporting cast of several characters who are put through the mill. Narak is an interesting character a god, or god-like being, who has a huge history that haunts him.
This is high fantasy but with a clever twist and a completely new world which is well crafted and has significant depth to it. People are going to throw out Robin Hobb, George R.R. Martin. David Geddings and Terry Brooks – and they wouldn’t be wrong it has that feel about it and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The back story to the Benetheon is intriguing and while lots of questions are answered in this volume (I wasn’t feeling unsatisfied when I finished) there are many more that need answering – this is a series to watch for.
August 2, 2014
I loved it. The plot moved along well, and the character development was superb. I truly liked Narak. He was a man I could really identify with and understand. Being over a thousand years old, his character was already well-developed. Being the main character, we get to know him pretty soon and pretty quickly. There was a small section there in getting to know him that might have been a little more telling rather than showing, but it’s quick and the rest of the story so enjoyable it’s quickly forgotten. It was good to watch the other characters develop. A lowly mercenary ascends to high society, a noble obnoxious jerk becomes a good man, Narak, a master strategist, might very well have been outmaneuvered, and an untested crippled noble becomes a capable leader. The battle scenes flow well and are very engaging.
There are a few mistakes, all of which looked to be typographical errors, but there aren’t many. Several of them were things like “now” when “not” was needed, things spell check wouldn’t catch, or spacing errors. As mentioned, there are one or two areas that seem to be more telling than showing, but these are very short and soon forgotten. There is a large cast of characters which some readers, such as myself, have difficulty keeping straight, but the fact that I have difficulty remembering names isn’t the writer’s fault.
This was a very enjoyable story and I eagerly await the next installment.
There are a few mistakes, all of which looked to be typographical errors, but there aren’t many. Several of them were things like “now” when “not” was needed, things spell check wouldn’t catch, or spacing errors. As mentioned, there are one or two areas that seem to be more telling than showing, but these are very short and soon forgotten. There is a large cast of characters which some readers, such as myself, have difficulty keeping straight, but the fact that I have difficulty remembering names isn’t the writer’s fault.
This was a very enjoyable story and I eagerly await the next installment.
August 21, 2014
First, I would like to thank the author Tim Stead for giving me this book for an honest review. I enjoyed reading this book. The story-line is very good and unique since the story is from a God's point with showing that a God can be just as infallible as people. The world building is very good. The characters are well developed and written. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
Favorite quotes from the book:
“But a trick doesn't seem clever if you reveal it before it's played.”
“Killing men is not like fencing. There's no room for fine touches in battle. Every second that you blade is stuck in one man's body is a second that another can use to skewer you.”
“There are men who will not take the world as it is, who see to change things, to make an advantage for themselves.”
Favorite quotes from the book:
“But a trick doesn't seem clever if you reveal it before it's played.”
“Killing men is not like fencing. There's no room for fine touches in battle. Every second that you blade is stuck in one man's body is a second that another can use to skewer you.”
“There are men who will not take the world as it is, who see to change things, to make an advantage for themselves.”
January 5, 2016
I should probably add an Epic Fantasy category but I come across so few that fall into that list these days. This one qualifies as it has many of the factors; a great war, interesting heroes and anti-heroes, unique magic and races with a dash of prose like philosophy.
The writing style is formal but that doesn't make it cumbersome. The story never drags even when mundane activities are described, mainly because they're not worked to death (this is an on going complaint with me about many fantasy writers. I hate padding!!)
So, a good start to a series. I'm very taken with the humans who have been given godly powers to protect nature. The Wolf, Sparrow, Eagle, ect. gods reminds me of The animal gods Of North American myth.
The writing style is formal but that doesn't make it cumbersome. The story never drags even when mundane activities are described, mainly because they're not worked to death (this is an on going complaint with me about many fantasy writers. I hate padding!!)
So, a good start to a series. I'm very taken with the humans who have been given godly powers to protect nature. The Wolf, Sparrow, Eagle, ect. gods reminds me of The animal gods Of North American myth.
August 21, 2014
I love a good action read. This book is set in an amazing paranormal setting. I love the idea behind this book. The world created is highly intriguing. It was a really run read for me. I love a good action read and pair that with the paranormal, and I was head over heels falling into this book.
I really enjoyed the characters. They were easy to get into and fun to follow through this story. If you like action and you like a paranormal read, you will love this book. Jump into the world of this God of Wolves.
I really enjoyed the characters. They were easy to get into and fun to follow through this story. If you like action and you like a paranormal read, you will love this book. Jump into the world of this God of Wolves.
June 17, 2016
The Seventh Friend is an entertaining military/fantasy novel. Better than Tolkien or the later Game of Thrones novels.
August 14, 2016
This trilogy is absolutely wonderful. well-written with a memorable cast of characters, it is high fantasy at its very best.
May 7, 2017
"Once again he must become the general of the six kingdoms, the terror of his enemies, a hero, a butcher, the bloodstained god." - When a book arrives with a blurb like this I couldn't possibly refuse a read. 'The Seventh Friend' is your classic epic fantasy tale which encompasses the lives of Gods, mages, and man in a time of war... This was quite an aspirational book for a relatively unknown author - it was a hefty read at well over five hundred pages long, multiple point of view (POV) characters with equally numerous plots intertwining and characters ranging from common soldiers to kings... Even Gods were included in this...
Aspirational indeed... I'm impressed that he pulled it off.
The Good:
1) All powerful Gods - It's quite difficult including purposely over-powered characters in your story since it's hard to create sensible problems for them. The Benetheon are a group of characters classed as gods; They're immortal beings who don't age, never grow tired, have superhuman physical abilities and can transform into, and see through the eyes of various animals like wolves, bears and sparrows etc. Needless to say your average brute with a sword poses little threat to these people, which meant that the author had to come up with clever little ways in which he could limit these characters - after all there would be no interesting story if they could simply click their fingers and send all the conflict away.
2) Character development - The events of most epic fantasy books span a period of months and years, yet it only takes weeks or even days for us to read them. Because of this we can only get a real sense of how hard the journey has been by seeing how the characters have changed on the last page compared to the first; are they stronger now? Are they driven by the same desires? Is their perspective on life the same? If the answers are no,yes, yes in that order then I'm afraid that there's been little to no character development. Thankfully this book doesn't suffer from that problem.
The Bad:
1) Nice description but a little excessive - This is a fairly long book for a new-ish author and quite a lot of that is due to the slightly overkill amount description. Don't get me wrong, it's necessary sometimes for proper world building and immersion aspects to describe the spices in the food, chill of the wind and emptiness of the room, but there's a limit to how much is needed. Lay the description groundwork for sure, but after a while you should give plot priority over setting...
2) Slight overreach with POV character numbers - Having multiple POV characters is a growing trend these days and when handled well I have absolutely no problem with that... Given that it's handled correctly. A few times in this book I was halfway down the page before I knew whose head I was in, and I wasn't a great fan of how characters were given POV chapters once or twice in the book then seldom seen or heard from again. Personally I think POV status should be reserved for a select few characters who we stick with from start to finish - it's easier to stay connected and invested that way.
3) Typos - It's a very small problem but one too many times there were errors I noticed that should have been picked up in the editing or proofreading stages... "Then" when there should have been "Than", "An" when there should have been "And". It only happened a handful times to be fair but that's quite a lot when you consider how many stages and eyes a book goes through before publishing.
In conclusion, 'The Seventh Friend' is a solid book for the first in a trilogy and an easy four star addition to my bookshelf. The world was vast and detailed with characters who were both easy to route for while still maintaining an air of 'grey' to their moral canvas. There was nothing especially unique about some of the large scale battles that unfolded which caused me to scan those scenes rather than read them, however, overall this is a satisfying read and a great introduction to a trilogy I look forward to completing.
Aspirational indeed... I'm impressed that he pulled it off.
The Good:
1) All powerful Gods - It's quite difficult including purposely over-powered characters in your story since it's hard to create sensible problems for them. The Benetheon are a group of characters classed as gods; They're immortal beings who don't age, never grow tired, have superhuman physical abilities and can transform into, and see through the eyes of various animals like wolves, bears and sparrows etc. Needless to say your average brute with a sword poses little threat to these people, which meant that the author had to come up with clever little ways in which he could limit these characters - after all there would be no interesting story if they could simply click their fingers and send all the conflict away.
2) Character development - The events of most epic fantasy books span a period of months and years, yet it only takes weeks or even days for us to read them. Because of this we can only get a real sense of how hard the journey has been by seeing how the characters have changed on the last page compared to the first; are they stronger now? Are they driven by the same desires? Is their perspective on life the same? If the answers are no,yes, yes in that order then I'm afraid that there's been little to no character development. Thankfully this book doesn't suffer from that problem.
The Bad:
1) Nice description but a little excessive - This is a fairly long book for a new-ish author and quite a lot of that is due to the slightly overkill amount description. Don't get me wrong, it's necessary sometimes for proper world building and immersion aspects to describe the spices in the food, chill of the wind and emptiness of the room, but there's a limit to how much is needed. Lay the description groundwork for sure, but after a while you should give plot priority over setting...
2) Slight overreach with POV character numbers - Having multiple POV characters is a growing trend these days and when handled well I have absolutely no problem with that... Given that it's handled correctly. A few times in this book I was halfway down the page before I knew whose head I was in, and I wasn't a great fan of how characters were given POV chapters once or twice in the book then seldom seen or heard from again. Personally I think POV status should be reserved for a select few characters who we stick with from start to finish - it's easier to stay connected and invested that way.
3) Typos - It's a very small problem but one too many times there were errors I noticed that should have been picked up in the editing or proofreading stages... "Then" when there should have been "Than", "An" when there should have been "And". It only happened a handful times to be fair but that's quite a lot when you consider how many stages and eyes a book goes through before publishing.
In conclusion, 'The Seventh Friend' is a solid book for the first in a trilogy and an easy four star addition to my bookshelf. The world was vast and detailed with characters who were both easy to route for while still maintaining an air of 'grey' to their moral canvas. There was nothing especially unique about some of the large scale battles that unfolded which caused me to scan those scenes rather than read them, however, overall this is a satisfying read and a great introduction to a trilogy I look forward to completing.
September 14, 2025
They say, one should not judge a book by its cover. And it is true for this series. Very interesting story, nicely paced and difficult to put down. The story felt like a roller coaster ride.
However I am going to give this book four stars as the cover-art is terrible...
However I am going to give this book four stars as the cover-art is terrible...
December 20, 2023
I love Tim's writing his words take you with him into different realms. If you love fantasy try reading these books
June 6, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed reading.
May 30, 2021
Amazing!
I had read it a long time ago and loved it. Now I re-read it and loved it even more.... Epic fantasy at its finest.
Marvelous world-building, deep rounded characters, fantastic writing style.
Simply A - M - A - Z - I - N - G!!
I had read it a long time ago and loved it. Now I re-read it and loved it even more.... Epic fantasy at its finest.
Marvelous world-building, deep rounded characters, fantastic writing style.
Simply A - M - A - Z - I - N - G!!
Read
December 8, 2023The Seventh Friend by Tim Stead is an Epic Fantasy of phenomenal proportions. It is a complicated tale encompassing a whole continent. Four hundred years before the Seth Yarra came to the shores of Terras. The religious fanatics tried to convert the people of Terras by sword but did not make it further than Afael. They met with the fury and vengeance of Wolf Narak, the Wolf god, one of the Benetheon created by Pelion to look after the continent of Terra and its surrounding seas. Now, the Seth Yarra have returned and has a different tactic. As traitors show their colors and friends are lost, Narak attempts to thwart the Seth Yarra invaders. The most unlikely heroes arise and come together at the gate on the Green Road between Telas and Berash, the gateway to the rest of Terras. In this first book of the Sparrow and Wolf series, we meet the core characters and the battle for the gate against staggering odds.
Tim Stead has written a tome of a fantasy novel, an epic story with charismatic and flawed characters. The novel takes a hard look at human relationships, honor and loyalty. The topic of redemption is clear from the novel's beginning until the end. Most of the main characters feel they need to prove themselves either because of their physical shortcomings or circumstances created by their families. The novel delves into what motivates men and women and the personal growth gained from making and correcting mistakes. The novel is serious, fast-paced, and written in beautiful language, bringing Terras and its champions to life. From running through the woods with Narak to facing the attackers on the Green Road, the reader is taken on a journey where you can almost touch and smell the surroundings. The world-building is excellent, and the characters carry a story of intrigue and mystery.
Tim Stead has written a tome of a fantasy novel, an epic story with charismatic and flawed characters. The novel takes a hard look at human relationships, honor and loyalty. The topic of redemption is clear from the novel's beginning until the end. Most of the main characters feel they need to prove themselves either because of their physical shortcomings or circumstances created by their families. The novel delves into what motivates men and women and the personal growth gained from making and correcting mistakes. The novel is serious, fast-paced, and written in beautiful language, bringing Terras and its champions to life. From running through the woods with Narak to facing the attackers on the Green Road, the reader is taken on a journey where you can almost touch and smell the surroundings. The world-building is excellent, and the characters carry a story of intrigue and mystery.
November 24, 2014
This review reflects my honest views and my opinions are my own. I received a free copy of The Seventh Friend for reviewing. First of all, I so wanted more characterization of the wolf shapeshifter, Narak. I liked him and it took until the last quarter of the book to learn a little about him. I didn’t know how to picture him in my mind. I understood that he was some sort of god, but that didn’t satisfy my curiosity. It wasn’t fully explained how he came to be as he was. There are more descriptions of the surroundings than of him. There are changes of view point which threw me off occasionally and I had to re-read to see who’s head I was in. I admit, I wanted the story to be told more from Narak's view, since I was first introduced to him, in his wolf form. I noticed there are many places of telling where I wanted more "showing." Some of the characters Narak encountered were rather clichéd, or too many characters introduced and not many seemed to be different from the others. I enjoyed the fight and battle scenes, though. Other than the nuances mentioned above, I found the story enjoyable and it kept my interest.
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