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The Casere #1
The Aebeling
Major (Ret.) Conn MacLeod is no ordinary forty year old - and he has a very long list of achievements to prove it. From his decorated army career, his celebrated status as a world champion in several sports, his acknowledged expertise in history, science, and engineering gained through his numerous university degrees, and his notoriety as a millionaire playboy, he has more notches in his belt and trophies on the wall than ten men combined. Despite living his entire life in a breakneck, carefree and almost suicidal manner, Conn MacLeod has been the proverbial unstoppable force. But they say that all good things must come to an end... has he finally bitten off more than even he can chew? He now plans to go alone to a place that he knows absolutely nothing about - where the risks are unforeseeable and the outcomes inconceivable. Despite any possible preparations, this is not something you do every day - and expect to survive. Conn MacLeod has finally devised a key that will open a portal into a parallel world. Author Bio: Michael O'Neill is a high school teacher from Queensland, Australia, who has had a lifelong fascination with the world of Science Fantasy -- starting from his introduction to the genre by J.R.R. Tolkien's books. His favorite books remain the Belgariad series written by David Eddings. Deciding to take up the mantle himself, he started writing his own book -- one volume that has turned into an epic -- and now with a planned sequel and two prequels, it will extend to seven volumes. 'The Aebeling' is part one of 'The Casere'; part two. 'The Eaorl', will follow soon. Keywords: Fantasy, Epic, Medieval, Dark Ages, Adventure, Science Fiction
407 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2014
41 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Michael O'Neill
8 books44 followersMichael O'Neill is a high school teacher from Queensland, Australia, who has had a life long fascination with the world of Science Fantasy -- starting from his introduction to the genre by J.R.R. Tolkien and CS Lewis. His favorite books remain the Belgariad series written by David Eddings. Deciding to take up the mantle himself, he started writing his own book - one volume that has turned into an epic journey of four books. The "Casere" series is now complete and available on Amazon; 600,000 words completed in less than three years!
His other interest include horse racing and genealogy.
His other interest include horse racing and genealogy.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 11, 2014
I will go out on a limb and say that I would have rated this 4 stars with some editing.
The books sufferers from 2 problems. One is the horrible introduction. The backstory told here is just facts with no answer to why. (Just swallow the first 30 pages then it gets better.) The biggest question the reader must ignore for now in this book is: Why was he so well prepared if he knew nothing about where he was going?
The second problem is that the book reads like a bunny on crack.
And the xxx and then xxx and then xxx and then xxx. Well you get the picture. No time to reflect is given to the reader and that's the problem. The Hero has no downtime simply said. (No break between story arcs) Its quite fun to read the high paced story since its good so don't get me wrong there. The high pacing in most places are actually very good and fits perfectly. (Just the way I like it)
The writer might like David Eddings but he for sure doesn't write like him (positive). Eddings books suffers from horrible pacing problems where nothing happens. Funny how the writer was influenced by Eddings xD
If you ignore the small problems I have mentioned there is a fascinating world to discover in this work (5 stars). The story in itself is solid (4 stars). The joy the author had telling this story is shown clearly to the reader. This is a very strong 3 star.
The books sufferers from 2 problems. One is the horrible introduction. The backstory told here is just facts with no answer to why. (Just swallow the first 30 pages then it gets better.) The biggest question the reader must ignore for now in this book is: Why was he so well prepared if he knew nothing about where he was going?
The second problem is that the book reads like a bunny on crack.
And the xxx and then xxx and then xxx and then xxx. Well you get the picture. No time to reflect is given to the reader and that's the problem. The Hero has no downtime simply said. (No break between story arcs) Its quite fun to read the high paced story since its good so don't get me wrong there. The high pacing in most places are actually very good and fits perfectly. (Just the way I like it)
The writer might like David Eddings but he for sure doesn't write like him (positive). Eddings books suffers from horrible pacing problems where nothing happens. Funny how the writer was influenced by Eddings xD
If you ignore the small problems I have mentioned there is a fascinating world to discover in this work (5 stars). The story in itself is solid (4 stars). The joy the author had telling this story is shown clearly to the reader. This is a very strong 3 star.
April 6, 2023
This book is unapologetic wish fulfillment. The protagonist is the author's idea of a perfect man; young, tall, handsome, an expert in everything, and with gold that pours out of a bottomless purse. The enemy as a whole is just as cartoonishly evil – racist, sadistic, misogynistic, and arrogant. And there's the fun. We can enjoy watching this paragon of a man defeating the evil empire again and again – humiliating them as he dismantles their convoluted plans.
If that were all there was, I'd rate it three stars. However, there's a warmer heart to the story. Conn is not just an unstoppable force for good, progress, and the American way. He takes every opportunity to find the best in others, giving them the opportunity to grow into their potential. His enemies, at least on an individual basis, are worthy of redemption and thus offered forgiveness and given a second chance. After all, their god is in their head and is quite insane.
Later books in the series become repetitive, but they're still entertaining. Feel free to stop when you've had your fill.
Note: Why the author named the hero "Connor MacLeod" I can not say. At no time does Conn cut off anyone's head. [Sad sigh]
If that were all there was, I'd rate it three stars. However, there's a warmer heart to the story. Conn is not just an unstoppable force for good, progress, and the American way. He takes every opportunity to find the best in others, giving them the opportunity to grow into their potential. His enemies, at least on an individual basis, are worthy of redemption and thus offered forgiveness and given a second chance. After all, their god is in their head and is quite insane.
Later books in the series become repetitive, but they're still entertaining. Feel free to stop when you've had your fill.
Note: Why the author named the hero "Connor MacLeod" I can not say. At no time does Conn cut off anyone's head. [Sad sigh]
March 24, 2016
Very enjoyable book
I first saw this book several months ago but based off the description I didn't think I would like it but boy was I wrong. Based off the description of the protagonist I thought I wouldn't like him but I really did. It also had two of my favorite things in a book, someone using our modern understanding to advance an less advanced society and someone using an advantage they have to build there own empire. The only thing I didn't like was the use of really old words for certain things instead of their modern names like fyrd instead of army. Besides making it harder it didn't make sense to me because there is some magic that allows everyone to understand each other regardless of what language they speak. If that's the case shouldn't the protagonist hear the word army instead of fyrd because he is from modern day earth and that's how he would understand it? Other than that a very good book that I highly recommend.
I first saw this book several months ago but based off the description I didn't think I would like it but boy was I wrong. Based off the description of the protagonist I thought I wouldn't like him but I really did. It also had two of my favorite things in a book, someone using our modern understanding to advance an less advanced society and someone using an advantage they have to build there own empire. The only thing I didn't like was the use of really old words for certain things instead of their modern names like fyrd instead of army. Besides making it harder it didn't make sense to me because there is some magic that allows everyone to understand each other regardless of what language they speak. If that's the case shouldn't the protagonist hear the word army instead of fyrd because he is from modern day earth and that's how he would understand it? Other than that a very good book that I highly recommend.
July 24, 2015
This book and series in general has lots of typos and homophone errors. This does cause the reader to have to have to translate the text at times. The editing problems only get worse, not better from one book to the next. The author makes it clear that he thinks that gays are deviants and pederasts, while having interest in lesbianism thus revealing his textbook heterosexism. The protagonist has incredible good fortune and money is just there with no explanation how he always is able to carry so much.
Still, I find the series engrossing and I will continue to read these books until my heart is content.
Still, I find the series engrossing and I will continue to read these books until my heart is content.
April 27, 2018
Accomplishments that takes years the MC does in months...
The MC essentially builds a utopia in months and by the time one lunar (year) has passed he has changed the entirety of all society within his purview. All of this happens within the first quarter of the book. The MC comes across as if he knows everything about everything. The author has no concept of time nor believable plots. I didn’t read more than 1/4 of the story as it is full of blather and annoying character development which is to say no character development. Extremely shallow and very boring.
The MC essentially builds a utopia in months and by the time one lunar (year) has passed he has changed the entirety of all society within his purview. All of this happens within the first quarter of the book. The MC comes across as if he knows everything about everything. The author has no concept of time nor believable plots. I didn’t read more than 1/4 of the story as it is full of blather and annoying character development which is to say no character development. Extremely shallow and very boring.
December 20, 2014
Book badly needed editing and I found it boring.
On re reading this book most of the editing and proofreading was done and the book much more enjoyable.
On re reading this book most of the editing and proofreading was done and the book much more enjoyable.
December 21, 2016
Very bad. The author does not know how to use the English language.
December 11, 2022
A novel without boring things like descriptions and good pacing. DNF @ 10%.
The Aebeling is the SparkNotes summary of an interesting novel. I think these two amazon reviews give a good overview of the problems with this novel:
"...Descriptions of combat and his various sexual encounters are almost nonexistent. We are treated to boring economic explanations that seem to go on forever. A vague magical system remain poorly defined. Needs a lot of work to be average." - E.P. McLean
"...The fight scenes were also pathetically written, for such a great fighter I would expect derailed fights not, 'He drew his sword and fought the hostiles and two fell one was left'..." - Donald Larkin
The Aebeling is the SparkNotes summary of an interesting novel. I think these two amazon reviews give a good overview of the problems with this novel:
"...Descriptions of combat and his various sexual encounters are almost nonexistent. We are treated to boring economic explanations that seem to go on forever. A vague magical system remain poorly defined. Needs a lot of work to be average." - E.P. McLean
"...The fight scenes were also pathetically written, for such a great fighter I would expect derailed fights not, 'He drew his sword and fought the hostiles and two fell one was left'..." - Donald Larkin
August 3, 2019
The premise is ok if you are into the escapism kind of yarns. I have read three books in the series now, I'm taking a break because of the atrocious usage of English grammar. English is not my primary language but I struggled through the first two books, the third is proving to have been better edited.
If you are a grammar Nazi, don't touch these books. The stories by themselves are enjoyable. I tried relating the books to the given maps on the author's blog (wordpress links in the ebooks), it was a very painful experience trying to relate. North-South and East-West are used ambiguously in the books, my advice is: don't look at the maps, sometimes they are accurate but mostly will get you very confused and irritated. (I guess my attention to detail is too much.)
If you are a grammar Nazi, don't touch these books. The stories by themselves are enjoyable. I tried relating the books to the given maps on the author's blog (wordpress links in the ebooks), it was a very painful experience trying to relate. North-South and East-West are used ambiguously in the books, my advice is: don't look at the maps, sometimes they are accurate but mostly will get you very confused and irritated. (I guess my attention to detail is too much.)
January 12, 2015
Overall good book, can't believe he has had so many kids.
March 25, 2015
interessant genug aber Conn ist etwas zu perfekt und das Buch brauch dringend eine Überarbeitung
January 13, 2018
Really enjoyed the book and went straight into the 2nd. Can't wait for number 3.
May 26, 2017
This thing seriously needs a Glossary so many terms that need a firm detail on what they are.
May 28, 2018
Not a bad story however, it is full of plot holes, information dumps and the author tends to contradict himself in a number of places.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews