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The Unwilling #1
The Unwilling Adventurer
The first book in the COMPLETE six-book fantasy series!
A serious fantasy series that doesn't take itself seriously.
An old man, a young armor-wearing girl, and a farm boy walk into a story, and this is what you get; a fantasy series of monsters and mayhem where each day leads them into new troubles and intrigue. Fred is the farm boy, a serf bound to his lord by the debt of his deceased parents. He's thrown out into the world against his will and into the company of an armored young woman by the name of Pat and her cloaked, bearded companion, Ned. Together they make an unlikely group as they wind their way through troubles with perilous plant monsters, dangerous dog-beasts, and a good book that refuses to be put down. Literally.
The Unwilling Adventurer is a fantastical fantasy for lovers of sword and sorcery, action and adventure, panic and pandemonium, and a bunch of other epic adjectives.
Also in the UNWILLING
Book The Unwilling Adventurer - amazon.com/dp/B00IJEDHPY
Book The Unwilling Apprentice - amazon.com/dp/B00JO4HNK8
Book The Unwilling Ambassador - amazon.com/dp/B00KWCPO8O
Book The Unwilling Aviator - amazon.com/dp/B00MALUPCK
Book The Unwilling Accomplice - amazon.com/dp/B00OVH7LUK
Book The Unwilling Avatar - amazon.com/dp/B013NB6EZW
A serious fantasy series that doesn't take itself seriously.
An old man, a young armor-wearing girl, and a farm boy walk into a story, and this is what you get; a fantasy series of monsters and mayhem where each day leads them into new troubles and intrigue. Fred is the farm boy, a serf bound to his lord by the debt of his deceased parents. He's thrown out into the world against his will and into the company of an armored young woman by the name of Pat and her cloaked, bearded companion, Ned. Together they make an unlikely group as they wind their way through troubles with perilous plant monsters, dangerous dog-beasts, and a good book that refuses to be put down. Literally.
The Unwilling Adventurer is a fantastical fantasy for lovers of sword and sorcery, action and adventure, panic and pandemonium, and a bunch of other epic adjectives.
Also in the UNWILLING
Book The Unwilling Adventurer - amazon.com/dp/B00IJEDHPY
Book The Unwilling Apprentice - amazon.com/dp/B00JO4HNK8
Book The Unwilling Ambassador - amazon.com/dp/B00KWCPO8O
Book The Unwilling Aviator - amazon.com/dp/B00MALUPCK
Book The Unwilling Accomplice - amazon.com/dp/B00OVH7LUK
Book The Unwilling Avatar - amazon.com/dp/B013NB6EZW
187 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2014
28 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Willard
25 books23 followersBorn near the last wilds of northeastern Washington state, Heidi Willard now resides in the lower state with her husband and insane cats. She writes in the paranormal and fantasy (and sometimes both) genres. She always enjoys a good chat with fans and book junkies, so feel free to drop her a line.
Visit her at her website at heidiwillard.com
Sign up for her newsletter at eepurl.com/V3BhL
Visit her at her website at heidiwillard.com
Sign up for her newsletter at eepurl.com/V3BhL
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 25, 2015
Thoroughly enjoyed this. It was a quick read and ended all too soon. Definitely will be reading the next in the series, because I want to see what happens to Fred, Ned, and Pat.
December 16, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed some bits and almost fell asleep or gave up during other parts.
The writing was not exactly bad, but I didn't care for the mostly narrative telling. I like a more vivid kind in my fantasy books and this lacked the colorful descriptions I like for painting the picture of a new world. There were no textures, smells, sound sand hardly any color. Those are things that elevate a book in my opinion. There doesn't have to be much of that, but more than I got reading this.
The characters were quirky. A little underdeveloped but a good start of something really good. To me they felt like cut more or less directly from the Belgariad (Pawn of Prophecy), but that might just be my brain trying to stereotype the characters because there are plenty of other fantasy characters that might just as well fit. The mischievous streak of the old wizard can be found in Belgarath as well as in Gandalf. Fred is so much like Belgarion, both grew up poor on farms, without any education and very little knowledge of the surrounding world. Both are unexpectedly thrown into adventure at a young age, but where Belgarion embraces the adventure Fred only longs to be home in the safety of his hovel. In that aspect he is a bit more like Bilbo (or Frodo), reluctantly tagging along on an adventure he could have done without. Pat, on the other hand, is Ce'Nedra without the annoying tantrums. A bit of an improvement to me... And I like that the girl, so far, seems to have a more significant part to fill of the fulfillment of the story/ mission than most girls are given.
The similarities are not bad. In fact the familiarity was often what made me trudge on during the less intriguing parts.
The plot was an intriguing idea. What I did lack was an explanation to the overall adventure, the reason for even going on an adventure. There were mentions of prophesies, but no explanation of what they entailed or what people actually thought they were. That was a significant problem to a lot of things in this world building. I expected some more explanation, but the things that set this world apart from reality or even other fantasy worlds were just glossed over, like what to look for in a castor. That was just glossed over by saying it wouldn't have helped because he didn't actually encounter a castor.
I think that there were new exiting things in this story, but they were dulled by the many problems I had with the book in general. However the problems I had really emerging myself into the world and especially with the lacking end makes me hesitant to pick up the next book, even if I'm curious about how it will pan out.
The writing was not exactly bad, but I didn't care for the mostly narrative telling. I like a more vivid kind in my fantasy books and this lacked the colorful descriptions I like for painting the picture of a new world. There were no textures, smells, sound sand hardly any color. Those are things that elevate a book in my opinion. There doesn't have to be much of that, but more than I got reading this.
The characters were quirky. A little underdeveloped but a good start of something really good. To me they felt like cut more or less directly from the Belgariad (Pawn of Prophecy), but that might just be my brain trying to stereotype the characters because there are plenty of other fantasy characters that might just as well fit. The mischievous streak of the old wizard can be found in Belgarath as well as in Gandalf. Fred is so much like Belgarion, both grew up poor on farms, without any education and very little knowledge of the surrounding world. Both are unexpectedly thrown into adventure at a young age, but where Belgarion embraces the adventure Fred only longs to be home in the safety of his hovel. In that aspect he is a bit more like Bilbo (or Frodo), reluctantly tagging along on an adventure he could have done without. Pat, on the other hand, is Ce'Nedra without the annoying tantrums. A bit of an improvement to me... And I like that the girl, so far, seems to have a more significant part to fill of the fulfillment of the story/ mission than most girls are given.
The similarities are not bad. In fact the familiarity was often what made me trudge on during the less intriguing parts.
The plot was an intriguing idea. What I did lack was an explanation to the overall adventure, the reason for even going on an adventure. There were mentions of prophesies, but no explanation of what they entailed or what people actually thought they were. That was a significant problem to a lot of things in this world building. I expected some more explanation, but the things that set this world apart from reality or even other fantasy worlds were just glossed over, like what to look for in a castor. That was just glossed over by saying it wouldn't have helped because he didn't actually encounter a castor.
I think that there were new exiting things in this story, but they were dulled by the many problems I had with the book in general. However the problems I had really emerging myself into the world and especially with the lacking end makes me hesitant to pick up the next book, even if I'm curious about how it will pan out.
August 16, 2016
I had to feel sorry for poor old Fred, all he wanted was to live out his boring and safe life on his master's estate. He didn't have any ambitions or curiosity about the wider world, until a stranger turned up one day. Suddenly he's embroiled in things he doesn't understand, with a magician who doesn't take life too seriously and an aggressive young woman who can't decide whether she likes him or not. He's immediately thrust into danger and longs for his old job back. His world is even more chaotic when he sits in a certain chair and later becomes aware that he can do magic.A well written and easy to read tale with likable characters, plus a few laughs!
December 16, 2016
Good, clean, classic fantasy adventure. A nice trio of main characters with fun banter and good pacing makes for a fun story. The author's writing style is easy to read and straightforward. The fact that one of the main character is truly unwilling to participate in the adventuring and is not at all a hero is (for me) refreshing. I do not read coming-of-age story, but I think this is one of them, so it might not be that original but I found it so.
June 1, 2014
It was okay. Still debating if I should jump into the sequel. The title of the story is perfect for the MC. He really doesn't want to go on an adventure and is quite ignorant of the world (an ignorance he is aware of), although he's coming around. I thought it made it hard to get into the adventure really when the adventurer just wants to go home.
June 13, 2015
The ending is sudden with no sense of closure. Overall it displays a need for editing, both for tightening the writing and stabilizing the POV.
I find the use of castor uncomfortable: would prefer caster, as in one who casts, instead of a word that conjures visions of oil and oily substances.
Overall an unsatisfying read that feels like the intro to something, not a story.
I find the use of castor uncomfortable: would prefer caster, as in one who casts, instead of a word that conjures visions of oil and oily substances.
Overall an unsatisfying read that feels like the intro to something, not a story.
December 22, 2017
A decent-enough fantasy novel (or series opener), but not outstanding for character development or worldbuilding.
The plot was a bit linear (I like a more complex interweaving of stories) and the characters weren't much different at the end of the book than at the beginning.
Still, a good, lightweight read.
The plot was a bit linear (I like a more complex interweaving of stories) and the characters weren't much different at the end of the book than at the beginning.
Still, a good, lightweight read.
September 12, 2014
I've just finished this book and I must say it was real good. I highly recommend it. The characters were great, they seemed so real and life like, to me, the setting was descriptive and I loved the main character. I hope he survives it all and lives happily.
January 6, 2016
Good book
There are some errors in the book. I can forgive them for they few and far between. It is a good story. It has it ups and downs. It seems kinda short though. That is fine as well. I will be reading the next book.
There are some errors in the book. I can forgive them for they few and far between. It is a good story. It has it ups and downs. It seems kinda short though. That is fine as well. I will be reading the next book.
April 22, 2017
I started reading this book with no expectations. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the characters! This was a grand adventure and I now have to read the following books.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews