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The Sword of Light Trilogy #1–3
The Sword of Light: The Complete Trilogy
For five hundred years the Gods have united the Three Lands in harmony. Now that balance has been shattered, and chaos threatens.
A town burns and flames light the night sky. Hunted and alone, seventeen year old Eric flees through the wreckage. The mob grows closer, baying for the blood of their tormentor. Guilt weighs on his soul, but he cannot stop, cannot turn back. If he stops, they die.
For two years he has carried this curse, bringing death and destruction wherever he goes. But now there is another searching for him – one who offers salvation. His name is Alastair, and he knows the true nature of the curse. Magic.
Brandon Sanderson meets David Gemmell in this original fantasy by New York Times Bestselling Author Aaron Hodges.
A town burns and flames light the night sky. Hunted and alone, seventeen year old Eric flees through the wreckage. The mob grows closer, baying for the blood of their tormentor. Guilt weighs on his soul, but he cannot stop, cannot turn back. If he stops, they die.
For two years he has carried this curse, bringing death and destruction wherever he goes. But now there is another searching for him – one who offers salvation. His name is Alastair, and he knows the true nature of the curse. Magic.
Brandon Sanderson meets David Gemmell in this original fantasy by New York Times Bestselling Author Aaron Hodges.
Audible Audio
Published August 14, 2024
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About the author
Aaron Hodges
53 books295 followersAaron Hodges was born in 1989 in the small town of Whakatane, New Zealand. He studied for five years at the University of Auckland, completing a Bachelor's of Science in Biology and Geography, and a Masters of Environmental Engineering. After working as an environmental consultant for two years, he now spends his time traveling the world in search of his next adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 11, 2018
The Sword of Light: The Complete Trilogy
By: Aaron Hodges
Narrated by: David Stifel
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
This book has all the fantasy I like, dragons, wizards, adventure, touch of romance, good vs evil, gods, supernatural gifts, and more. Book one was a book was a young boy with a gift and it and him coming of age. Learning to control it was a no go without the wizard that finds him. It was a constant adventure, one thing after another, never boring. At the same time, another boy is after the kid for burning down the town and killing his family. The two groups come together at the end and a lot of things have changed by then. The next book continues with the girl with the dragon, the one that everyone has the hopes of the world on. Eric, the boy with the power, is mastering his power. There is also a big surprise noted in this book! They still are fighting demons, helped by gods, and it is still wonderful! The last book, sob, raps up the trilogy well and maybe someday the author will come back and give us more from this world. I liked the world building, the well developed characters, the twists (esp in the last book) and the fun fantasy.
The narrator made the book flow extraordinary! He performed the voices faultlessly. He made the suspense, tension, fighting, and romance seem so real. I felt like I was watching a movie! Great job!
By: Aaron Hodges
Narrated by: David Stifel
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
This book has all the fantasy I like, dragons, wizards, adventure, touch of romance, good vs evil, gods, supernatural gifts, and more. Book one was a book was a young boy with a gift and it and him coming of age. Learning to control it was a no go without the wizard that finds him. It was a constant adventure, one thing after another, never boring. At the same time, another boy is after the kid for burning down the town and killing his family. The two groups come together at the end and a lot of things have changed by then. The next book continues with the girl with the dragon, the one that everyone has the hopes of the world on. Eric, the boy with the power, is mastering his power. There is also a big surprise noted in this book! They still are fighting demons, helped by gods, and it is still wonderful! The last book, sob, raps up the trilogy well and maybe someday the author will come back and give us more from this world. I liked the world building, the well developed characters, the twists (esp in the last book) and the fun fantasy.
The narrator made the book flow extraordinary! He performed the voices faultlessly. He made the suspense, tension, fighting, and romance seem so real. I felt like I was watching a movie! Great job!
July 3, 2019
Though it does have its problems, here we have a fun YA fantasy tale with strong, well developed characters and a simplified WoT-eske plot.
David Stifel gives us a solid audio performance with a good selection of voices. His female voices are better than a lot of male narrators, but his vocal inflections do leave something to be desired. My main critique here, however, is his lack of tempo changes throughout the text.
Right off the bat, I was immediately drawn to Inga. Almost from the first page we meet her on, you can feel how conflicted she is and how meeting Erick causes a radical shift in her world view.
And while they weren't my favorite characters, Erick and Gabriel both hit me on a visceral level. They both have powerful motivations and conflicts that I couldn't help but feel. All the more so because they spend so much time being diametrically opposed.
At first, the direct involvement of the gods turned me off a bit. But later on there are some things revealed about the gods that very much mitigate that.
There are numerous small victories throughout that really help these characters to build their confidence as each is learning to use the abilities they possess.
On a side note, I couldn't help but laugh at the reversal in regard to fighting skills. The fact that the women are vastly more skilled than the men is kind of awesome.
Now, I do have a few critiques.
First, I really hate finding colloquialisms in fantasy that isn't post-apocalyptic. I end up spending a ton of time trying to work out how such a phrase might exist in a medieval world instead of being invested in the characters and story.
And in most cases (this being no exception), I can't come up with any reason such phrases might exist.
Second, and this is fairly minor, but there are a few instances where the wrong word has been used (such as ancestor when the author clearly meant descendant).
I find the dividing line between the different types of magic to be both arbitrary and very strange. Why earth, sky, and light? Apart from those being the powers of the gods who ostensibly govern magic, there is no real explanation given.
And lastly, I apologize if this is slightly spoilery, but I have a really hard time swallowing the main villain's powers. I can get behind the idea that black magic is more powerful than light because it is a violation of the natural order. But the idea that a few centuries practicing it could make him more powerful that not only one, but (potentially) all three gods combined just seems more than a little preposterous to me.
Now, all that aside, the author told a good story that was fun to read and more satisfying that most YA fantasies.
While the end seemed rather short to be the final conclusion to an epic fantasy trilogy, it was exciting, well-paced, and ultimately came to a satisfactory close.
I would definitely recommend this book to any fan of YA fantasy, particularly if you're looking for strong female characters that feel real and don't end up overpowering every other character in the book.
David Stifel gives us a solid audio performance with a good selection of voices. His female voices are better than a lot of male narrators, but his vocal inflections do leave something to be desired. My main critique here, however, is his lack of tempo changes throughout the text.
Right off the bat, I was immediately drawn to Inga. Almost from the first page we meet her on, you can feel how conflicted she is and how meeting Erick causes a radical shift in her world view.
And while they weren't my favorite characters, Erick and Gabriel both hit me on a visceral level. They both have powerful motivations and conflicts that I couldn't help but feel. All the more so because they spend so much time being diametrically opposed.
At first, the direct involvement of the gods turned me off a bit. But later on there are some things revealed about the gods that very much mitigate that.
There are numerous small victories throughout that really help these characters to build their confidence as each is learning to use the abilities they possess.
On a side note, I couldn't help but laugh at the reversal in regard to fighting skills. The fact that the women are vastly more skilled than the men is kind of awesome.
Now, I do have a few critiques.
First, I really hate finding colloquialisms in fantasy that isn't post-apocalyptic. I end up spending a ton of time trying to work out how such a phrase might exist in a medieval world instead of being invested in the characters and story.
And in most cases (this being no exception), I can't come up with any reason such phrases might exist.
Second, and this is fairly minor, but there are a few instances where the wrong word has been used (such as ancestor when the author clearly meant descendant).
I find the dividing line between the different types of magic to be both arbitrary and very strange. Why earth, sky, and light? Apart from those being the powers of the gods who ostensibly govern magic, there is no real explanation given.
And lastly, I apologize if this is slightly spoilery, but I have a really hard time swallowing the main villain's powers. I can get behind the idea that black magic is more powerful than light because it is a violation of the natural order. But the idea that a few centuries practicing it could make him more powerful that not only one, but (potentially) all three gods combined just seems more than a little preposterous to me.
Now, all that aside, the author told a good story that was fun to read and more satisfying that most YA fantasies.
While the end seemed rather short to be the final conclusion to an epic fantasy trilogy, it was exciting, well-paced, and ultimately came to a satisfactory close.
I would definitely recommend this book to any fan of YA fantasy, particularly if you're looking for strong female characters that feel real and don't end up overpowering every other character in the book.
May 5, 2020
All in all, each book had a fair amount of action and engaging characters.
April 21, 2018
Potential but gave up half way through
I gave this trilogy a good try nearly half way but gave up. The characters just did not gel for me and create any sort of connection. The romance between the characters almost seemed to develop out of no where and for me just did not seem believable based on the other character traits. I quite frankly was not bothered if the characters succeeded or not.
This story has potential to be good, but for me needs a lot more work.
I gave this trilogy a good try nearly half way but gave up. The characters just did not gel for me and create any sort of connection. The romance between the characters almost seemed to develop out of no where and for me just did not seem believable based on the other character traits. I quite frankly was not bothered if the characters succeeded or not.
This story has potential to be good, but for me needs a lot more work.
June 6, 2019
*This is the review I left on Audible. I'm leaving in the parts about the narration in case anyone is curious about picking up the audiobook as well.*
The Sword of Light was the first books by Aaron Hodges that I've read (listened) to, but it won't be my last. I love grand, sweeping adventures, similar to Lord of the Rings, and this trilogy did not disappoint. The narration was solid and the world-building was excellent.
The Sword of Light trilogy tells the tale of the 3 lands, their gods and their fight against Archon. It's a grand adventure full of magic and a daring effort to fight back the forces of darkness. It reminded me a lot of the Lord of the Rings series (I know, that gets said a lot, but it was true for me with this series) and had some similarities, but also some differences from it. We meet our unlikely hero, Eric and things quickly go from bad to worse. Along the way, he's joined by new members of the company that will each play a pivotal role in the final battle against Archon's dark forces.
I really love the world Aaron creates in this series. We're giving pieces of the mystery a little at a time so there are still things to learn about how the world came to be by the time you reach book 3. The mystery of trying to figure out how the world came to be the way it is and what events led up to it are a nice way to break up the story without being frustrating. The actions comes fast and often in each book. Each book is also told through alternating members of the company, so you get a chance to get inside each character's head a little more than just "hearing" the events from the view of Eric.
There's a lot of character growth in these books as well. While Eric starts out as an unlikely hero, he grows into the role by the final battle and the progression feels right. It's not too rushed or unbelievable. Each company member has some degree of growth and they each have a little different personality that keeps the book interesting. There are several twists and turns along the way and it definitely kept the story from getting too predictable. You will need to read the whole series though. Each book ties into the next one, so if you're reading book 1 thinking it will wrap up neatly in case you don't want to continue the series, it doesn't. Each book ends with clear, unfinished business leading into the next book. All the books in this series are out now, so just plan on reading (or listening) to them all. It's worth it!
Aaron did a great job with this trilogy. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. The narration was well done also. There were a lot of voices for the narrator to keep track of and David did great with them. I'm looking forward to the next adventure from Aaron.
The Sword of Light was the first books by Aaron Hodges that I've read (listened) to, but it won't be my last. I love grand, sweeping adventures, similar to Lord of the Rings, and this trilogy did not disappoint. The narration was solid and the world-building was excellent.
The Sword of Light trilogy tells the tale of the 3 lands, their gods and their fight against Archon. It's a grand adventure full of magic and a daring effort to fight back the forces of darkness. It reminded me a lot of the Lord of the Rings series (I know, that gets said a lot, but it was true for me with this series) and had some similarities, but also some differences from it. We meet our unlikely hero, Eric and things quickly go from bad to worse. Along the way, he's joined by new members of the company that will each play a pivotal role in the final battle against Archon's dark forces.
I really love the world Aaron creates in this series. We're giving pieces of the mystery a little at a time so there are still things to learn about how the world came to be by the time you reach book 3. The mystery of trying to figure out how the world came to be the way it is and what events led up to it are a nice way to break up the story without being frustrating. The actions comes fast and often in each book. Each book is also told through alternating members of the company, so you get a chance to get inside each character's head a little more than just "hearing" the events from the view of Eric.
There's a lot of character growth in these books as well. While Eric starts out as an unlikely hero, he grows into the role by the final battle and the progression feels right. It's not too rushed or unbelievable. Each company member has some degree of growth and they each have a little different personality that keeps the book interesting. There are several twists and turns along the way and it definitely kept the story from getting too predictable. You will need to read the whole series though. Each book ties into the next one, so if you're reading book 1 thinking it will wrap up neatly in case you don't want to continue the series, it doesn't. Each book ends with clear, unfinished business leading into the next book. All the books in this series are out now, so just plan on reading (or listening) to them all. It's worth it!
Aaron did a great job with this trilogy. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. The narration was well done also. There were a lot of voices for the narrator to keep track of and David did great with them. I'm looking forward to the next adventure from Aaron.
July 8, 2018
The Sword of Light Trilogy truly is an epic story told on a grand scale. It’s also grand fun. Each of the novels is easily a five star book and the series itself is so addictive that it’s hard to stop between volumes. That being the case, buying them as a set makes perfect sense.
The following are my reviews of each novel, done when I read it.
Stormwielder (Book 1)
This is my first time with a book by this author and I’m very happy I took the chance on it. Stormweilder was indeed an excellent book, solidly written and with well-crafted characters, a well designed world and an excellent plot full of adventure. I had a lot of fun reading this book and am happy to recommend it.
Firestorm (Book 2)
I really loved Stormweilder, the first book in Aaron Hodges’ The Sword of Light trilogy. Now, in Firestorm (book 2), Elena and Eric’s separate adventures continue. This is an exciting book and an important part of what’s becoming a truly epic tale. Once again well written and with a plot with everything one would want, be it demons, gods, battles or intrigue, plus a really surprising twist.
Soul Blade (Book 3)
The Sword of Light trilogy is a truly epic tale and this, it’s third and final book, provides the perfect epic conclusion. I don’t want to spoil anything so I will defer to the publisher’s blurb for a description, but I’m happy to confirm that this story has all the action and adventure, character development, twists and turns one could ask for - and will definitely satisfy those who have been addictively following along.
But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises - the trilogy definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the trilogy is most definitely one to read, it is easy to highly recommend.
The following are my reviews of each novel, done when I read it.
Stormwielder (Book 1)
This is my first time with a book by this author and I’m very happy I took the chance on it. Stormweilder was indeed an excellent book, solidly written and with well-crafted characters, a well designed world and an excellent plot full of adventure. I had a lot of fun reading this book and am happy to recommend it.
Firestorm (Book 2)
I really loved Stormweilder, the first book in Aaron Hodges’ The Sword of Light trilogy. Now, in Firestorm (book 2), Elena and Eric’s separate adventures continue. This is an exciting book and an important part of what’s becoming a truly epic tale. Once again well written and with a plot with everything one would want, be it demons, gods, battles or intrigue, plus a really surprising twist.
Soul Blade (Book 3)
The Sword of Light trilogy is a truly epic tale and this, it’s third and final book, provides the perfect epic conclusion. I don’t want to spoil anything so I will defer to the publisher’s blurb for a description, but I’m happy to confirm that this story has all the action and adventure, character development, twists and turns one could ask for - and will definitely satisfy those who have been addictively following along.
But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises - the trilogy definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the trilogy is most definitely one to read, it is easy to highly recommend.
July 29, 2018
I was able to purchase the boxed set of this series, which includes all three books of the trilogy; Stormwielder, Firestorm, and Soul Blade. Book one: Stormwielder; introduces us to Eric, a young man in his teens who believes he is cursed. Eric wanders the wilderness steering clear of towns and people as much as possible because death and destruction follow him wherever he goes. Forced to enter a town for supplies he is attacked by slavers. Fire begins to emanate from Eric and within minutes the slavers and the town are ablaze. Chased by survivors Eric must run for his life. Another man, Alastair searches for Eric for totally opposite reasons. Once united Alastair begins to answer many of Eric’s questions dispelling his notion of a curse. Book two: Firestorm; enter Enala, the young woman everyone searches for. By blood and birthright she may be the last person alive to wield the Sword of Light. Time runs short, Archon’s forces gather to eliminate the humans once and for all. Eric continues to learn, improve and control his magic. Deception and corruption runs deep in the capital city, not even the King is immune. Book three: Soul Blade; enter the dragons! The gold dragons made their appearance in the previous volume, but now they have been recruited to help the humans repel Archon’s forces. A well-kept secret is revealed to Eric that changes everything in more ways than one. Inken, the bounty hunter, has a secret of her own! Eric’s friend Gabriel is tested, perhaps beyond his ability. The war begins! Will the defenders survive? Will they defeat Archon and his armies? There is yet one massive revelation coming; prepare yourselves for how it all began and the origin of the gods. With that knowledge, welcome to the final battle! This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.
July 26, 2019
This trilogy is filled with magic; earth, sky, light, and black. There is a main antagonist, but he has many ways of getting to the heroes of the story.
Eric is the central MC, but the other MCs definitely play very important roles. Like most magic users who are born with a gift, but untrained, Eric loses control of his powers, causing death and destruction. As he runs from the second incident, he meets a guide and teacher, Alastair.
Along the way, they encounter men with revenge in their hearts, who have unknowingly accepted help from the enemy; a bounty hunter with a conscience and common sense; the girl they believe the fate of the three Nations depends upon; two deities and finally the third; dragons; and the enemy himself, although they have been fighting him at every turn.
It was nice to see women portrayed as strong and even more talented in some things, such as battle, than some of the men. There are twists and turns throughout the story, but it keeps the action rolling most of the time. There is a romance, but no explicit scenes or descriptions.
There are funny times, and there is loss. This story has a WoT feel to it, in a way, but it is uniquely its own. The story wraps up fairly quickly, but it is high energy and completes the trilogy.
I think the narrator did a great job. His character differentiation was very good, but I felt like his pacing and intonations could have been just a little better. Still, he does a great job and I highly recommend this audiobook.
* I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author, narrator, or publisher through audiobook boom.com. *
Eric is the central MC, but the other MCs definitely play very important roles. Like most magic users who are born with a gift, but untrained, Eric loses control of his powers, causing death and destruction. As he runs from the second incident, he meets a guide and teacher, Alastair.
Along the way, they encounter men with revenge in their hearts, who have unknowingly accepted help from the enemy; a bounty hunter with a conscience and common sense; the girl they believe the fate of the three Nations depends upon; two deities and finally the third; dragons; and the enemy himself, although they have been fighting him at every turn.
It was nice to see women portrayed as strong and even more talented in some things, such as battle, than some of the men. There are twists and turns throughout the story, but it keeps the action rolling most of the time. There is a romance, but no explicit scenes or descriptions.
There are funny times, and there is loss. This story has a WoT feel to it, in a way, but it is uniquely its own. The story wraps up fairly quickly, but it is high energy and completes the trilogy.
I think the narrator did a great job. His character differentiation was very good, but I felt like his pacing and intonations could have been just a little better. Still, he does a great job and I highly recommend this audiobook.
* I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author, narrator, or publisher through audiobook boom.com. *
February 14, 2024
I have given this trilogy 3 stars for entertainment value, although much of the entertainment for me was in the number of tropes that followed on from each other throughout. I know the saying, "nothing new under the sun", and understand that most stories are recycled from others, yet this one didn't seem to do a lot to disguise the fact.
The story seemed to draw heavily from Robert Jordan, specifically in travelling "The Ways". a means of travelling from one place to another which was tainted with dark magic, but also many other concepts. Also shades of Lord of the Rings, CS Lewis, various demon and dragon books.
Then I really cracked up laughing when it turned out Eric had a twin sister separated as babies. (Star Wars anyone?) I could hear Darth Vader saying, "Siissster; you have a twin siissster. Obi Wan was wise to hide her from me. Lol. The raptors were straight out of Jurassic Park.
There were so many recognisable themes or tropes, throughout the three books, that original ideas were a surprise. It's okay to get ideas from other stories, but only an idea that is built into something of your own, not bits taken in entirety and plopped into a story almost continually.
One irritation was the proofing of the work. Please get the 'to', 'too' concept right, lent, not leant, to name but a few.
Overall, a quick read, with fun in places I don't think were intended, but it kept me amused for a couple of days. Won't be reading any others of his though.
The story seemed to draw heavily from Robert Jordan, specifically in travelling "The Ways". a means of travelling from one place to another which was tainted with dark magic, but also many other concepts. Also shades of Lord of the Rings, CS Lewis, various demon and dragon books.
Then I really cracked up laughing when it turned out Eric had a twin sister separated as babies. (Star Wars anyone?) I could hear Darth Vader saying, "Siissster; you have a twin siissster. Obi Wan was wise to hide her from me. Lol. The raptors were straight out of Jurassic Park.
There were so many recognisable themes or tropes, throughout the three books, that original ideas were a surprise. It's okay to get ideas from other stories, but only an idea that is built into something of your own, not bits taken in entirety and plopped into a story almost continually.
One irritation was the proofing of the work. Please get the 'to', 'too' concept right, lent, not leant, to name but a few.
Overall, a quick read, with fun in places I don't think were intended, but it kept me amused for a couple of days. Won't be reading any others of his though.
June 10, 2018
My third read/listen from author Aaron Hodges. I bought this book back in October of 2016 and then got the Audible edition in March of 2017 but never got around to reading them, my loss. Now that I'm on an Aaron Hodges binge I read it in a day, it was attention-grabbing and enjoyable as is all Hodge's writings. The first book in the Sword of Light series. I look forward to the next book in the series. Aaron Hodges has moved up on my TBR list and since I own 8 books by him that won't be a problem. On to Firestorm book 2.
My fourth read/listen from author Aaron Hodges. I'm on an Aaron Hodges binge I read this in a day, it was attention-grabbing and enjoyable as is all Hodge's writings. The second book in the Sword of Light series. I look forward to the next book in the series. Aaron Hodges has moved up on my TBR list and since I own 8 books by him that won't be a problem. On to Soul Blade book 3 and the conclusion of the trilogy.
My fifth read/listen from author Aaron Hodges. I'm on an Aaron Hodges binge It was attention-grabbing and enjoyable as is all Hodge's writings. The final book in the Sword of Light series. Almost 30 hours of listening with an outstanding narrator. Aaron Hodges has moved high on my TBR list and since I own 8 books by him that won't be a problem.
My fourth read/listen from author Aaron Hodges. I'm on an Aaron Hodges binge I read this in a day, it was attention-grabbing and enjoyable as is all Hodge's writings. The second book in the Sword of Light series. I look forward to the next book in the series. Aaron Hodges has moved up on my TBR list and since I own 8 books by him that won't be a problem. On to Soul Blade book 3 and the conclusion of the trilogy.
My fifth read/listen from author Aaron Hodges. I'm on an Aaron Hodges binge It was attention-grabbing and enjoyable as is all Hodge's writings. The final book in the Sword of Light series. Almost 30 hours of listening with an outstanding narrator. Aaron Hodges has moved high on my TBR list and since I own 8 books by him that won't be a problem.
July 3, 2020
Thought I'd give this one a go whilst waiting for Book2 of The Descendants of the Fall, previously had only read Book 1 of DotF. As with most books/stories in this genre it's very easy to see similarities to previous authors, certainly this Trilogy has more than a passing resemblance to David Eddings but that also isn't a bad thing. What I did particularly like is the fact that it is a Trilogy, yes the main characters may return in a later series but it is a self contained trilogy, my recent authors just seem to go on & on, to the point where I actually lose interest.
There is enough meat to the characters that you get to know them & cam empathise, it's a very easy read, at a good pace, any fight scenes are quite tame in comparison to say Abercrombie but there's enough detail to know what's happening.
Well worth a read
There is enough meat to the characters that you get to know them & cam empathise, it's a very easy read, at a good pace, any fight scenes are quite tame in comparison to say Abercrombie but there's enough detail to know what's happening.
Well worth a read
May 21, 2021
Total package
I named my review the total package because this trilogy had it all. This is the kind of work that makes me love fantasy novels.. It was not predictable. It was full of drama., romance, conflict and action. It was the kind of story that you couldn't put down. You just had to read more to find out what was going to happen. Also it was good reading about characters that we learned about in earlier books. Seeing how they came to be..I give this trilogy an A+ and recommend it to everyone. It was great. The only bad thing I could say about it is that it was over too soon. I can't wait to read more of Aaron vHodges work.
I named my review the total package because this trilogy had it all. This is the kind of work that makes me love fantasy novels.. It was not predictable. It was full of drama., romance, conflict and action. It was the kind of story that you couldn't put down. You just had to read more to find out what was going to happen. Also it was good reading about characters that we learned about in earlier books. Seeing how they came to be..I give this trilogy an A+ and recommend it to everyone. It was great. The only bad thing I could say about it is that it was over too soon. I can't wait to read more of Aaron vHodges work.
September 14, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook - but then - I am an old school Dungeons & Dragons (pencil & paper) player, as well as a computer RPG player.
What's not to love about this??? Dragons, sword-fights, magic-users, god-magic, mimics, tricks & traps; you name it - it's all here...oh.....as well as a little romance thrown in.
I found it very similar in places to the Starsea Cycle series by Kyle West (which I absolutely loved 🧡🧡🧡)
Great work by a New Zealand (which is NOT a state of Australia) author - but perhaps I'm biased because that's where I'm from (also where the creators of the computer game Path Of Exile originated from)
What's not to love about this??? Dragons, sword-fights, magic-users, god-magic, mimics, tricks & traps; you name it - it's all here...oh.....as well as a little romance thrown in.
I found it very similar in places to the Starsea Cycle series by Kyle West (which I absolutely loved 🧡🧡🧡)
Great work by a New Zealand (which is NOT a state of Australia) author - but perhaps I'm biased because that's where I'm from (also where the creators of the computer game Path Of Exile originated from)
November 26, 2018
I was really torn on the rating for this one. While I liked the story and characters, some things aspects were just a little too much. The drama in some individual characters lives was just a little too heavy. Some characters were "chopped to pieces" and brought back to health too many times. It was a satisfying ending to the trilogy without being too trite. If you like the Licanius Trilogy, or Game of Thrones you should like this one.
August 18, 2019
The Sword of Light trilogy is a terrific, epic fantasy trilogy with tons of action and adventure. The writing is almost poetic at times, with wonderfully visual descriptions and artfully chosen wording. The ending leaves the reader wanting more, but the author has written more books that, while not sequels, do provide answers as to what happens next.
The narrator does a very good job with these books.
The narrator does a very good job with these books.
April 20, 2018
Well written but hard to read
It's a good story and the author is talented. My only problem with the book is the the tension level is so incredibly high throughout the entire book. The poor heroes went through so much without a moment's reprieve. In certain parts I could only read a page before setting the book back down. It is worth the read if you can handle the suspense.
It's a good story and the author is talented. My only problem with the book is the the tension level is so incredibly high throughout the entire book. The poor heroes went through so much without a moment's reprieve. In certain parts I could only read a page before setting the book back down. It is worth the read if you can handle the suspense.
March 6, 2024
A series you can't put down
A captivating story of to what ends one will go to seek revenge and to defend one's people, friends and country. Follow 4 brave and determined young people through their quest to return peace to their country, gaining loyal friends as they go and fighting a war where seemingly all odds are against them.
A captivating story of to what ends one will go to seek revenge and to defend one's people, friends and country. Follow 4 brave and determined young people through their quest to return peace to their country, gaining loyal friends as they go and fighting a war where seemingly all odds are against them.
January 4, 2019
Only Three
It would have been a full five if the book had been written for adults but it's not. So, young beginners, fear not. It is well worth your buying as it really will give you many hours of good reading. A synopsis is not a review, but, enjoy!
It would have been a full five if the book had been written for adults but it's not. So, young beginners, fear not. It is well worth your buying as it really will give you many hours of good reading. A synopsis is not a review, but, enjoy!
March 9, 2021
Story development
This trilogy was a bit chaotic. At times it felt like a train wreck, but it was one that I simply could not put down. The story itself came together in a magical way (pun intended).
This trilogy was a bit chaotic. At times it felt like a train wreck, but it was one that I simply could not put down. The story itself came together in a magical way (pun intended).
March 18, 2021
Well worth reading!!
I really enjoyed all of these books. New concepts and ideas I have not prwviously seen in a fantasy book. Loved the characters and enjoyed how the story developed and the challenges faced by the mai characters. Well worth reading.
I really enjoyed all of these books. New concepts and ideas I have not prwviously seen in a fantasy book. Loved the characters and enjoyed how the story developed and the challenges faced by the mai characters. Well worth reading.
February 6, 2022
Loved it
Aaron doesn't disappoint. This book is everything you hope it would be. All the action, connection and danger that keeps you on the edge of your seat + a very satisfying wrap up.
Aaron doesn't disappoint. This book is everything you hope it would be. All the action, connection and danger that keeps you on the edge of your seat + a very satisfying wrap up.
February 24, 2022
The Sword of Light
Wow, a great triology! The central characterj is a young man named Eric. He discovers that he has magic it becomes a long journey to master it. Eric falls in love, battles a dark god of black magic and the Sword of Light becomes his to command.
Wow, a great triology! The central characterj is a young man named Eric. He discovers that he has magic it becomes a long journey to master it. Eric falls in love, battles a dark god of black magic and the Sword of Light becomes his to command.
March 8, 2024
I've just finished reading the Trilogy ( The Sword Of Light 3 Books ) I really enjoyed reading another series written by Aaron Hodges, I love the story following Book after Book, having trouble putting my Kindle to Sleep Ha Ha. I can only highly recommend anyone who Lover Fantasy Books to seriously look into Aaron Hodges series he wright a great Fantasy. Now onto my next series by Aaron
July 10, 2018
This book was really good but it had too much evil winning. I am thankful for the good who survived.
Heart stopping action.
Heart stopping action.
October 29, 2018
Not a bad series from a young author. It's entertaining, though don't make a drinking game out of how many times characters shiver. You'll die.
August 30, 2019
The Sword of Light
I really enjoyed reading this book-it was fast paced kept your attention - the story moved along briskly and was entertaining
I really enjoyed reading this book-it was fast paced kept your attention - the story moved along briskly and was entertaining
December 5, 2021
The story was too two dimensional for me. It had a lot of potential with its tormented hero boy but the more i read the more it reminded me of those old 2d low pixel games..
April 9, 2022
bad ending
There is more left to finish the story,what happen’s when the story is really done,damn I hate endings like that
There is more left to finish the story,what happen’s when the story is really done,damn I hate endings like that
April 29, 2022
excellent
This was a story I couldn’t put down. It was excellent, loved it. The story was great. Can’t wait to read his other books
This was a story I couldn’t put down. It was excellent, loved it. The story was great. Can’t wait to read his other books
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