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The Service
Since becoming Squire to Vandis Vail, Dingus has had the best -- and worst -- year of his life. The Knights of Air, still reeling from the slaughter last summer, converge on Knightsvalley for the annual Longday Moot, which includes the Qualification Trials for Knighthood.
Dingus's nerves are on the breaking point regarding the Trials, which he desperately wants to pass, but Vandis isn't concerned. Besides, the Head has his own worries, given the growing rumors about his personal life, a demanding Duke, and disturbing news from Muscoda.
Krakus's frustration with Lech pushes him ever more deeply into the world of Section One, and he finds fulfillment in teaching. When Lech lashes out, it opens an irreparable rift between the two Brothers...and sends Krakus back into the Queen of Heaven's service.
Dingus's nerves are on the breaking point regarding the Trials, which he desperately wants to pass, but Vandis isn't concerned. Besides, the Head has his own worries, given the growing rumors about his personal life, a demanding Duke, and disturbing news from Muscoda.
Krakus's frustration with Lech pushes him ever more deeply into the world of Section One, and he finds fulfillment in teaching. When Lech lashes out, it opens an irreparable rift between the two Brothers...and sends Krakus back into the Queen of Heaven's service.
- GenresFantasy
219 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2014
3 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Ray
16 books43 followersI've been reading fantasy since I was very small, starting with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. My enjoyment has become a deep and abiding love. It was only natural that I try to write it.
I would love to discuss fantasy or writing with fans of the same -- and express the hope that you might like my books!
I would love to discuss fantasy or writing with fans of the same -- and express the hope that you might like my books!
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 21, 2014
After the not-quite-satisfying ending of author M.A. Ray's first book, Hard Luck, I was eagerly awaiting the release of The Service. I had so many questions I needed answered. What would happen to Dingus? Would Krakus finally stand up to Lech? How would the Knights respond to the horrible events in Muscoda? Thankfully, most of my questions were answered, but of course new questions arose. It's a vicious cycle when you enjoy a story so much that you're positively drooling for the next installment in the series.
M.A. Ray's characters are well-written and infinitely interesting. They've become part of my literary family and when good things happen to Dingus--like making friends and doing good things during his Trials--I just want to hug him. And when bad things happen, it makes me want to soundly beat anyone who is mean to him. And I'm proud to say (or perhaps proud isn't the word I'm looking for) that my crush on Sir Vandis Vail continues to grow.
The parts that bothered me about Hard Luck--namely the anachronistic slang and cursing--didn't bother me in The Service; I don't know whether I was prepared for it or if there was significantly less usage. All in all, this is an excellent book and I highly recommend it!
M.A. Ray's characters are well-written and infinitely interesting. They've become part of my literary family and when good things happen to Dingus--like making friends and doing good things during his Trials--I just want to hug him. And when bad things happen, it makes me want to soundly beat anyone who is mean to him. And I'm proud to say (or perhaps proud isn't the word I'm looking for) that my crush on Sir Vandis Vail continues to grow.
The parts that bothered me about Hard Luck--namely the anachronistic slang and cursing--didn't bother me in The Service; I don't know whether I was prepared for it or if there was significantly less usage. All in all, this is an excellent book and I highly recommend it!
April 22, 2014
Fan-frickin-tastic. I didn't think I'd be able to fall MORE in love with Vandis and Dingus, but M. A. Ray has created such phenomenal characters that you just can't help it. I blew through this book in one afternoon and cannot wait for the next one!
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June 4, 2014Can't rate this one either. But even more proud.
April 24, 2014
Late last year, M.A. Ray released her debut novel, Hard Luck. We were introduced to a large, diverse cast of characters. Decades before, magic had existed in abundance. It charmed people and things, and was the basis of industry. Then all that collapsed, as we learned in the first volume's prologue, because of a mysterious runed stone.
The characters all live with the consequences of this mysterious event, and move on with their lives. Like Hard Luck, the author focuses her attention on two pairs of characters, the two religious orders that they serve, and how these characters grow and change and overcome their pasts. The misfit half-elven squire Dingus Parsifal Xavier is the primary protagonist, and The Service is primarily his story. A year has passed since we first met him, and he is up for promotion to full membership in the Knights of the Air. His mentor Sir Vandis Vail faces his own trials, as the rival Order of Aurelius, headquartered in the rival realm of Muscoda, seeks the destruction of the Knights, of whom he is Head. He also has to contend with his own knights who are by and large colorful and independent-minded people.
The other side of the story takes place in Muscoda, where the two leaders of the Order of Aurelius carry as bitter and intense a relationship as any two brothers who are as different as night and day. Lech is devious, twisted, and backstabbing; Krakus is gregarious and decidedly more people-oriented. The destruction of the Muscodan branch of the Knights of the Air in Hard Luck has left Krakus deeply troubled. His sworn brother Lech has apparently gone off the deep end, and it is Krakus's responsibility to pull him back in. In the meantime, he faces trials no less daunting than Dingus's--maybe even more so.
The Service is an improvement over Hard Luck in a number of ways. The writing is smoother, the pacing more measured, the author's voice more secure, the plotting more intricate. I am left with the feeling that both Dingus and Krakus are pawns in a bigger game, as the author has dropped hints of where the series is headed. We learn more about both religious orders, and only indications of the bigger picture. More will be revealed no doubt in future installments in this series, for which I eagerly await.
The characters all live with the consequences of this mysterious event, and move on with their lives. Like Hard Luck, the author focuses her attention on two pairs of characters, the two religious orders that they serve, and how these characters grow and change and overcome their pasts. The misfit half-elven squire Dingus Parsifal Xavier is the primary protagonist, and The Service is primarily his story. A year has passed since we first met him, and he is up for promotion to full membership in the Knights of the Air. His mentor Sir Vandis Vail faces his own trials, as the rival Order of Aurelius, headquartered in the rival realm of Muscoda, seeks the destruction of the Knights, of whom he is Head. He also has to contend with his own knights who are by and large colorful and independent-minded people.
The other side of the story takes place in Muscoda, where the two leaders of the Order of Aurelius carry as bitter and intense a relationship as any two brothers who are as different as night and day. Lech is devious, twisted, and backstabbing; Krakus is gregarious and decidedly more people-oriented. The destruction of the Muscodan branch of the Knights of the Air in Hard Luck has left Krakus deeply troubled. His sworn brother Lech has apparently gone off the deep end, and it is Krakus's responsibility to pull him back in. In the meantime, he faces trials no less daunting than Dingus's--maybe even more so.
The Service is an improvement over Hard Luck in a number of ways. The writing is smoother, the pacing more measured, the author's voice more secure, the plotting more intricate. I am left with the feeling that both Dingus and Krakus are pawns in a bigger game, as the author has dropped hints of where the series is headed. We learn more about both religious orders, and only indications of the bigger picture. More will be revealed no doubt in future installments in this series, for which I eagerly await.
July 7, 2014
There's something wonderful about being able to slip inside a book and live in it. Author M. A. Ray's voice is that of a storyteller of old, the kind who carried the tales of a society from village to village in order to pass on news and share traditions.
The Service picks up with Dingus, Vandis, and Kessa in Kingsport preparing for moot--the time when the Knights test their young folk to see who has what it takes to become a knight. Dingus is trying for his leaf, as are the squires we met in Hard Luck. It isn't easy for Dingus, a young man suffering from PTSD and the aftereffects of being bullied and abused most his young life. We get to have a closer look at how Dingus interacts with his world and the people around him. We get to see Vandis in his role as Head and love him for it. We get to see peppy Kessa kick butt in arm-wrestling contests.
Best of all, we get to see the pride and joy Vandis feels as he watches Dingus succeed at the tasks laid out for him.
The beauty in this story is the deceptively easy style of writing that carries you from place to situation with nary a stutter and leaves you enthralled throughout. I felt as proud as Vandis as I read but I won't say more for fear of ruining things for you.
One of my favorite characters of the series so far is Father Krakus. His character has grown near and dear to my heart for many reasons, a lot of it having to do with how much he's grown and changed and I can't wait to find out how his latest trials effect him in the next book and the next.
These stories remind me of a particularly well-written, detailed fairy tale. You'll love them if stories about underdogs, about the broken finding redemption, about honor and justice appeal to you.
Thanks for writing such a great story!
The Service picks up with Dingus, Vandis, and Kessa in Kingsport preparing for moot--the time when the Knights test their young folk to see who has what it takes to become a knight. Dingus is trying for his leaf, as are the squires we met in Hard Luck. It isn't easy for Dingus, a young man suffering from PTSD and the aftereffects of being bullied and abused most his young life. We get to have a closer look at how Dingus interacts with his world and the people around him. We get to see Vandis in his role as Head and love him for it. We get to see peppy Kessa kick butt in arm-wrestling contests.
Best of all, we get to see the pride and joy Vandis feels as he watches Dingus succeed at the tasks laid out for him.
The beauty in this story is the deceptively easy style of writing that carries you from place to situation with nary a stutter and leaves you enthralled throughout. I felt as proud as Vandis as I read but I won't say more for fear of ruining things for you.
One of my favorite characters of the series so far is Father Krakus. His character has grown near and dear to my heart for many reasons, a lot of it having to do with how much he's grown and changed and I can't wait to find out how his latest trials effect him in the next book and the next.
These stories remind me of a particularly well-written, detailed fairy tale. You'll love them if stories about underdogs, about the broken finding redemption, about honor and justice appeal to you.
Thanks for writing such a great story!
May 3, 2014
It’s almost an unwritten law: no matter how good the first episode, the sequel is always better. Empire is better than Star Wars, T2 better than The Terminator. And The Saga of Menyoral: The Service manages to raise the already high bar established by Hard Luck. I have eagerly been anticipating this book since the moment I finished the first and I was not disappointed.
M.A. Ray takes us back to her fantasy world populated with the characters she has created. And now that the introductions are out of the way, she can get down to putting them through their paces. A year has passed since we were last here and Vandis, Dingus, Kessa, Lech, Stas, and Krakus headline a well-rounded cast of secondary characters. Ray obviously doesn’t believe in throw-away cardboard cutouts and it’s obvious in the way she injects enough life that someone like Sir Reed or Francine behaves in a consistent and believable manner.
As Ray pulls back more of the curtain on the scene, we are exposed to the inner workings of the Knights of the Air, the machinations of the Order of Aurelius, and the paths that are going to bring the conflict between them to a head. The writing is tight, the descriptions colorful without being overwhelming, and the story flows at the correct pace. It never seems rushed or slowed and by the end, she leaves you wanting more.
If you’re a fan of well-written fantasy worlds and characters who are completely believable, then the Saga of Menyoral should not be overlooked.
M.A. Ray takes us back to her fantasy world populated with the characters she has created. And now that the introductions are out of the way, she can get down to putting them through their paces. A year has passed since we were last here and Vandis, Dingus, Kessa, Lech, Stas, and Krakus headline a well-rounded cast of secondary characters. Ray obviously doesn’t believe in throw-away cardboard cutouts and it’s obvious in the way she injects enough life that someone like Sir Reed or Francine behaves in a consistent and believable manner.
As Ray pulls back more of the curtain on the scene, we are exposed to the inner workings of the Knights of the Air, the machinations of the Order of Aurelius, and the paths that are going to bring the conflict between them to a head. The writing is tight, the descriptions colorful without being overwhelming, and the story flows at the correct pace. It never seems rushed or slowed and by the end, she leaves you wanting more.
If you’re a fan of well-written fantasy worlds and characters who are completely believable, then the Saga of Menyoral should not be overlooked.
April 12, 2015
I had known M.A. Ray for some time--about a year, I suppose--before I even read Hard Luck, which, as it would turn out, was very, very good.
The Service takes it to an entirely different level. Most authors grow between books and characters develop, but M.A. Ray explodes in a most spectacular fashion. The prose is flawless, and Dingus and Vandis are so real you could swear they were sitting right next to you. Parts of this book even made me tear up.
It's also a great novel to read if you're looking for a laugh on almost every other page. But, jokes aside, it's an emotional powerhouse. I look forward to reading the third installment in the series!
The bond between Dingus and Vandis grows deeper, old wounds reopen, world's shatter and friends are made and lost. Funny thing: I can hardly manage to review the books I like most, but give me a book I loath and I'll give you a chapter. My reviews always feel too short.
So read The Service for yourself and experience awesomeness of prodigious proportions firsthand!
The Service takes it to an entirely different level. Most authors grow between books and characters develop, but M.A. Ray explodes in a most spectacular fashion. The prose is flawless, and Dingus and Vandis are so real you could swear they were sitting right next to you. Parts of this book even made me tear up.
It's also a great novel to read if you're looking for a laugh on almost every other page. But, jokes aside, it's an emotional powerhouse. I look forward to reading the third installment in the series!
The bond between Dingus and Vandis grows deeper, old wounds reopen, world's shatter and friends are made and lost. Funny thing: I can hardly manage to review the books I like most, but give me a book I loath and I'll give you a chapter. My reviews always feel too short.
So read The Service for yourself and experience awesomeness of prodigious proportions firsthand!
May 2, 2014
This second book in the series makes me so happy. Vandis gets the spotlight and shows us a range of personality, while we get to know more about the various religious orders.
Beautiful prose, excellent scene descriptions, and engaging dialogue. What more could you want? The writer definitely did her research on a variety of subjects to pull this story off.
These characters have my heart and I look forward to more sequels.
Beautiful prose, excellent scene descriptions, and engaging dialogue. What more could you want? The writer definitely did her research on a variety of subjects to pull this story off.
These characters have my heart and I look forward to more sequels.
May 6, 2014
I enjoyed this book so much. I really can't wait for another one. But I will if I have to. M. A. Ray's world is as real as you can imagine and her characters live and breathe on the page. I care about them very much. Great for lovers of colorful, character-rich fantasy.
May 25, 2014
M.A. Ray kept me on my toes and flipping to the next page throughout this entire book. I absolutely love how much Dingus grows in this book and the pride Vandis has for his boy. So many cliffhangers though, damn you! Can't wait for the next book!
March 2, 2015
A solid second book in the series as we watch Dingus flourish as he journeys towards becoming a fully fledged Knight. I particularly enjoyed the little details - M.A. Ray draws her world very well, so that you can practically taste it.
Highly recommended, but definitely start with the first book!
Highly recommended, but definitely start with the first book!
February 13, 2015
Captivating!
This was the 2nd in the series, and I was every bit as mesmerized as by the first. The characters are fascinating, and the World Building drew me right in. Can't wait for the 3rd book!
This was the 2nd in the series, and I was every bit as mesmerized as by the first. The characters are fascinating, and the World Building drew me right in. Can't wait for the 3rd book!
August 9, 2014
So far I'm almost half way through and love it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews