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Bloodforge #1
Exile
Librarian Note: Alternate Cover Edition for ASIN: B00L2N1CNI.
On the fringes of the Verian Empire, two small boys stumble upon a strange altar, buried in the heart of a mountain. There they awaken a horror unseen for generations, that will descend upon the realm of men while it is at its weakest. For Veria is a nation at war with itself, only recently recovered from a bloody rebellion, and the time of heroes has passed. The empire is in a state of chaos, and while its ruler, the Empron Illis, rids the land of his remaining enemies, unseen forces are gathering at the borders. However all eyes are turned inwards. The Empron is not a well man, and there are whispers among the common folk that his advisors are spies; demons that only wear the flesh of men.
Yet there is hope...
In the distant mountains, a forester who has buried his past learns that he has not been forgotten, and that his crimes have sought him out at last. But he is no simple woodsman. He is Beccorban the Helhammer, Scourge, Burner and the Death of Nations, and his fury is a terrible thing.
For when all the heroes are gone, Veria will turn to those it has forgotten, before all is lost.
On the fringes of the Verian Empire, two small boys stumble upon a strange altar, buried in the heart of a mountain. There they awaken a horror unseen for generations, that will descend upon the realm of men while it is at its weakest. For Veria is a nation at war with itself, only recently recovered from a bloody rebellion, and the time of heroes has passed. The empire is in a state of chaos, and while its ruler, the Empron Illis, rids the land of his remaining enemies, unseen forces are gathering at the borders. However all eyes are turned inwards. The Empron is not a well man, and there are whispers among the common folk that his advisors are spies; demons that only wear the flesh of men.
Yet there is hope...
In the distant mountains, a forester who has buried his past learns that he has not been forgotten, and that his crimes have sought him out at last. But he is no simple woodsman. He is Beccorban the Helhammer, Scourge, Burner and the Death of Nations, and his fury is a terrible thing.
For when all the heroes are gone, Veria will turn to those it has forgotten, before all is lost.
- GenresFantasy
Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2014
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May 13, 2015
Whilst climbing the mountain of Widowpeak, two young brothers (Loster and Barde) discover an ancient chamber. There, they awaken something, something from stories of old, something that would have been better left sleeping.
Three years pass. Loster, now fourteen, is haunted by what happened in the chamber that day. He is a boy filled with fear. When he is sent to be a priest, he thinks it is the best thing for him.
The Forester, Beccorban, is a man with a past. He has another name, one that strikes fear into all who hear it. Most people think he is dead. Others do their best to make sure he soon will be.
Callistan has no memories. He has been in battle. With who, and why? He must discover who he really is and find his family before it’s too late.
Riella is a woman who remembers her old life all too well. That is why she wants to go to Kressel, to become a priestess at the Temple Dawn.
These characters must face a new, terrifying world. They must fight slipskins and echoes, the creatures of stories, the creatures of nightmare … the creatures who want this world to be their own.
So that’s a little of the story …
… and here’s what I thought:
There’s a lot to take in in a fantasy like this – new lands, unusual names, frightening creatures. Handled differently, this could have been hard to digest. But here, the writer handles it extremely well. I was never once confused about where the characters were or where they were heading. But if I had been confused, the book comes with a trusty map.
The writing is vivid. Gory moments made me wince. Battle scenes had me on the edge of my seat. The romantic moments (yes, there were one or two) had me smiling. The writing is so vivid, in fact, that everything takes on a personality. Even the weapons. Esha, Riella’s weapon, has a particularly poignant story behind its name.
By the end of the book I knew the characters so well that I did not want it to end. Luckily for me, I hear that there’s a second Bloodforge book to come.
Three years pass. Loster, now fourteen, is haunted by what happened in the chamber that day. He is a boy filled with fear. When he is sent to be a priest, he thinks it is the best thing for him.
The Forester, Beccorban, is a man with a past. He has another name, one that strikes fear into all who hear it. Most people think he is dead. Others do their best to make sure he soon will be.
Callistan has no memories. He has been in battle. With who, and why? He must discover who he really is and find his family before it’s too late.
Riella is a woman who remembers her old life all too well. That is why she wants to go to Kressel, to become a priestess at the Temple Dawn.
These characters must face a new, terrifying world. They must fight slipskins and echoes, the creatures of stories, the creatures of nightmare … the creatures who want this world to be their own.
So that’s a little of the story …
… and here’s what I thought:
There’s a lot to take in in a fantasy like this – new lands, unusual names, frightening creatures. Handled differently, this could have been hard to digest. But here, the writer handles it extremely well. I was never once confused about where the characters were or where they were heading. But if I had been confused, the book comes with a trusty map.
The writing is vivid. Gory moments made me wince. Battle scenes had me on the edge of my seat. The romantic moments (yes, there were one or two) had me smiling. The writing is so vivid, in fact, that everything takes on a personality. Even the weapons. Esha, Riella’s weapon, has a particularly poignant story behind its name.
By the end of the book I knew the characters so well that I did not want it to end. Luckily for me, I hear that there’s a second Bloodforge book to come.
June 2, 2015
What a ride.
I've been meaning to write this review for a long time but, alas, I'm a procrastinator at heart. Anyway, being that Tom Stacey is not one of the big names in the fantasy scene (yet, at least) I couldn't let this book pass without me leaving a review.
I was a bit fearful when I started reading Exile, I must admit. When it all starts with Loster and his brother uncovering an ancient temple, I started fearing that I was in for a rehash of the cliché "young-boy-finds-something-magical-and-saves-the-world" coming of age fantastical story.
I was wrong, of course. While Exile is straight fantasy, and doesn't really bring something new to the genre, it still manages to be a breath of fresh air. At least it was for me.
I started reading it after a hard fantasy binge. The last book I had read had left a sour taste in my mouth: Blood Song, by Anthony Ryan, a new up-and-coming fantasy writer. Although many readers praise it (Mark Lawrence, from Prince of Thorns, loved it!), I hated it. The main character seemed like a carbon copy from Kvothe (from Rothfuss's Kingkiller), and I didn't feel any real depth to it.
Now, with Exile, I was in for a surprise. Although the story is fairly interesting in its own, it isn't enough to grab your attention. The characters did it for me: fully-fleshed and wholly human, they were enough for me to devour the book. With a sharp attention to detail, Stacey knows how to add depth to its characters with simple scenes, being capable of "showing, not telling", unlike many other authors.
Is Exile perfect? No - but almost no book is. Still, it's absolutely worth reading. I actually preferred it to works by Rothfuss or Anthony Ryan (no ill meant to those authors, though). Try it - if anything, the characters should be enough to hook you (Beccorban is a real treat!).
I hope I'm not being misunderstood - although I believe the characters are what really drives the book, Stacey still manages to write powerful scenes (the introductory scene to Beccorban is, in my humble opinion, one of the most gripping, down-to-earth, and badass scenes I've read in fantasy).
I want Exile to succeed, most of all, because I believe Tom Stacey has a lot of room to grow as a writer. And if Exile was such a treat to me, I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
Maybe not everyone that reads it will like it as much as I did. That's okay, too. But at least give it a try. You might find it yourself enjoying it more than you expected.
I've been meaning to write this review for a long time but, alas, I'm a procrastinator at heart. Anyway, being that Tom Stacey is not one of the big names in the fantasy scene (yet, at least) I couldn't let this book pass without me leaving a review.
I was a bit fearful when I started reading Exile, I must admit. When it all starts with Loster and his brother uncovering an ancient temple, I started fearing that I was in for a rehash of the cliché "young-boy-finds-something-magical-and-saves-the-world" coming of age fantastical story.
I was wrong, of course. While Exile is straight fantasy, and doesn't really bring something new to the genre, it still manages to be a breath of fresh air. At least it was for me.
I started reading it after a hard fantasy binge. The last book I had read had left a sour taste in my mouth: Blood Song, by Anthony Ryan, a new up-and-coming fantasy writer. Although many readers praise it (Mark Lawrence, from Prince of Thorns, loved it!), I hated it. The main character seemed like a carbon copy from Kvothe (from Rothfuss's Kingkiller), and I didn't feel any real depth to it.
Now, with Exile, I was in for a surprise. Although the story is fairly interesting in its own, it isn't enough to grab your attention. The characters did it for me: fully-fleshed and wholly human, they were enough for me to devour the book. With a sharp attention to detail, Stacey knows how to add depth to its characters with simple scenes, being capable of "showing, not telling", unlike many other authors.
Is Exile perfect? No - but almost no book is. Still, it's absolutely worth reading. I actually preferred it to works by Rothfuss or Anthony Ryan (no ill meant to those authors, though). Try it - if anything, the characters should be enough to hook you (Beccorban is a real treat!).
I hope I'm not being misunderstood - although I believe the characters are what really drives the book, Stacey still manages to write powerful scenes (the introductory scene to Beccorban is, in my humble opinion, one of the most gripping, down-to-earth, and badass scenes I've read in fantasy).
I want Exile to succeed, most of all, because I believe Tom Stacey has a lot of room to grow as a writer. And if Exile was such a treat to me, I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
Maybe not everyone that reads it will like it as much as I did. That's okay, too. But at least give it a try. You might find it yourself enjoying it more than you expected.
December 22, 2014
"Exile" is the saga of a land breaking apart after a young boy inadvertently releases an ancient demonic/supernatural force (known as the Echoes) upon the world. Four unwilling heroes—the infamous Helhammer, the noble Lord Callistan, the feisty former prostitute Riella, and the young boy, Loster--find themselves thrown together as they fight this new enemy that is about to dominate (and perhaps annihilate) humanity.
The story’s language is engaging, the fight scenes are dramatic, and most chapters have well crafted cliffhangers. It takes a while for the story to draw the disparate characters together and reveal their connections, but for the first half this isn’t a problem—the language and pace makes you confident the author is leading you on an epic journey. Overall the story is fun and dynamic, and the attention to detail (military tactics, hunting practices, etc.) sets vivid scenes that hook.
I greatly enjoyed the story and the writing, but towards the middle, the book lost some of its steam plot wise. We are given very little information about the enemy Echoes—what do they want? Where do they come from? What is their goal, besides killing everything in their path? There are hints that they have a grand plan, because they have a fearsome leader, and more than one Echo drops ominous threats about humanity’s impending doom, but we are given no clue as to what this plan is. This means that the main characters have little to act against—they seem to be moving from fight scene to fight scene, with no ultimate goal of where they want to go or what they will do once they get there. Only 80% of the way through the book do we get an explanation for who the Echoes are, what they are doing, and what the humans might have to do to survive. This information would have been welcome around the midpoint, and would have helped propel the story forward.
The book’s stated reader age range of 12 to 18 might also be a little off—some of the detailed violence and gore would probably be more suited for 15 and up. That said, the ending shows that author Stacey knows where the next books are going, and promises more taut, well written action.
I was given a free copy by the author in exchange for a review.
The story’s language is engaging, the fight scenes are dramatic, and most chapters have well crafted cliffhangers. It takes a while for the story to draw the disparate characters together and reveal their connections, but for the first half this isn’t a problem—the language and pace makes you confident the author is leading you on an epic journey. Overall the story is fun and dynamic, and the attention to detail (military tactics, hunting practices, etc.) sets vivid scenes that hook.
I greatly enjoyed the story and the writing, but towards the middle, the book lost some of its steam plot wise. We are given very little information about the enemy Echoes—what do they want? Where do they come from? What is their goal, besides killing everything in their path? There are hints that they have a grand plan, because they have a fearsome leader, and more than one Echo drops ominous threats about humanity’s impending doom, but we are given no clue as to what this plan is. This means that the main characters have little to act against—they seem to be moving from fight scene to fight scene, with no ultimate goal of where they want to go or what they will do once they get there. Only 80% of the way through the book do we get an explanation for who the Echoes are, what they are doing, and what the humans might have to do to survive. This information would have been welcome around the midpoint, and would have helped propel the story forward.
The book’s stated reader age range of 12 to 18 might also be a little off—some of the detailed violence and gore would probably be more suited for 15 and up. That said, the ending shows that author Stacey knows where the next books are going, and promises more taut, well written action.
I was given a free copy by the author in exchange for a review.
September 28, 2014
With a host of heroic characters set in a majestically sweeping landscape, Exile delivers the very definition of epic fantasy. Alien creatures that imitate humans in near-perfect fashion undermine the kingdom of Veria and herald the onslaught wrought by the Echoes, an ancient race of humanoids bent on recapturing their homeland. High atop a mountain, two young brothers stumble upon a Bloodforge and accidentally set into motion the death of their kingdom. Exile begins with a wonderfully heroic theme that is never lost throughout the entire novel. Fans of low (or urban) fantasy should be wary when picking up Exile - much of the background of not only the characters but the world itself is not revealed until very late in the novel which can make it a difficult read. Unlike most high fantasy series, Exile (at least in the eBook version) lacks a map to help guide the reader along. Some of the chapter transitions, especially before the characters are firmly established, can be quite jarring. Tom Stacey's writing style is reminiscent of Joe Abercrombie - stunning imagery, a large cast, and very well placed metaphors that bring the characters to life. - Stuart Thaman, Author of The Goblin Wars series - stuartthamanbooks.com
September 23, 2014
Though the writing was well done, I couldn't get too far in the book. I do not mine perspective switches in chapter forms, but when it's every other paragraph as it was in this novel, I found it impossible to imagine anything I was reading in my head. However, despite this, it had an amazing opening and I would have loved to continue onward had it not been for the perspective.
April 8, 2015
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and of course, Goodreads for this 'free' reading copy.
Strong plot and characters.
Great start of a very interesting fantasy series.
Strong plot and characters.
Great start of a very interesting fantasy series.
November 26, 2019
Exile
It was a little slow at the start but it Ga t better hope the next book is coming Thank you
It was a little slow at the start but it Ga t better hope the next book is coming Thank you
April 6, 2015
I was given a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review so here goes:
Exile opens with two brothers, Barde and Loster, sons of a local lord, in a forest, where they find an entrance to an altar in a mountain. There they encounter a huge, armored creature, who kills Barde, and Loster manages to escape.
From there the story continues three years later, following multiple POV characters, detailing their conflicts and journeys.
The story is really set up into two parts: For the first half, all the characters are sedentary, pretty much, and by the second half they are all traveling. The conflict is between the human characters and the supernatural forces destroying the cities and killing humans, such as doppelgangers and many armored creatures like the one from three years ago in the story. But anyway, the actual events of the novel I didn't find all that enjoyable, and it was very slow to get going. I liked the first few chapters the best. There was a lot of fighting in the story, which I hated reading through, so I just skimmed through those sections, and not a lot of enjoyable non-battle events. It wasn't particularly gripping. It was very easy for me to stop reading and start doing something else. There were some parts I wanted to know what happened next, but overall, it didn't inspire much curiosity. It took me over a month to finish this 326-page novel (which is no big deal for me to read, usually), which shows just how interested in it I was.
The actual prose and writing style of the novel wasn't bad at all. I thought a few lines corny but for the most part, the dialogue was believable, and descriptions and such well-written.
We have four main characters: Loster is a literal good-for-nothing. He's a wimp and everyone knows it. Beccorban is a legendary warrior, now 60 years old and everyone thinks he's dead. Riella--I don't know what she was supposed to be, a former prostitute and now fighter, and Callistan, a famous army officer, whose life is ruined at the hands of the doppelgangers. The characters clearly have their own histories, and personalities, (and I appreciated this effort on the author's part), with the exception of Callistan. He doesn't have a personality, other than wants revenge for what was done to him and is gloomy. And I think Loster would frustrate some people with his lame personality ( him killing in the final fight and experiencing "the thrill of battle" was like a joke. He can't do anything!). Beccorban and Riella are cool, though, I don't have any issues with them.
For the worldbuilding: The continent of Daegermund (love that name) has a history as well. The novel mentions many times events taken place in the cities, and famous people from the past wars and so on. Though! It's a pretty boring place, despite all that. Nowhere in the novel did it say that a particular city had soaring towers, with bricks shining gold in sunlight, or if there were caves with glowing crystals in them, or giant colourful butterflies living in a field-- nothing that captured the imagination or anything remotely interesting! I thought when I was done, "What's the point in fighting for such a boring continent, anyway?" There's not much to say about the world of the story except that it was just dull. To do with magic: just the enemies are supernatural, and Loster can hear a voice in his head, talking to him, so there's that for the magic part, but otherwise, no magic humans use in their daily lives or anything like that.
My overall impression wasn't that the novel was groundbreaking, or awesome, or it had anything special in it, just okay. There was nothing in it I haven't read about before. I am not really interested in reading this book's sequel. This one ended with the humans marching to fight more monsters and take back their country, so I just know the next book will be riddled with boring battles, and that I don't want to read about at all. The enemies in the book wore armor and they did seem pretty tough, but with some battles they were dispatched quickly. :/ I can kinda see how the next book will go...
So to finalize:
Re-readability: Low
Priority: Low
I recommend this book for: Someone who is interested in reading a story about a war legend's new adventures in the making.
My thoughts: Nothing groundbreaking, despite the premise, which I thought interesting, but didn't deliver much enjoyable content.
Exile opens with two brothers, Barde and Loster, sons of a local lord, in a forest, where they find an entrance to an altar in a mountain. There they encounter a huge, armored creature, who kills Barde, and Loster manages to escape.
From there the story continues three years later, following multiple POV characters, detailing their conflicts and journeys.
The story is really set up into two parts: For the first half, all the characters are sedentary, pretty much, and by the second half they are all traveling. The conflict is between the human characters and the supernatural forces destroying the cities and killing humans, such as doppelgangers and many armored creatures like the one from three years ago in the story. But anyway, the actual events of the novel I didn't find all that enjoyable, and it was very slow to get going. I liked the first few chapters the best. There was a lot of fighting in the story, which I hated reading through, so I just skimmed through those sections, and not a lot of enjoyable non-battle events. It wasn't particularly gripping. It was very easy for me to stop reading and start doing something else. There were some parts I wanted to know what happened next, but overall, it didn't inspire much curiosity. It took me over a month to finish this 326-page novel (which is no big deal for me to read, usually), which shows just how interested in it I was.
The actual prose and writing style of the novel wasn't bad at all. I thought a few lines corny but for the most part, the dialogue was believable, and descriptions and such well-written.
We have four main characters: Loster is a literal good-for-nothing. He's a wimp and everyone knows it. Beccorban is a legendary warrior, now 60 years old and everyone thinks he's dead. Riella--I don't know what she was supposed to be, a former prostitute and now fighter, and Callistan, a famous army officer, whose life is ruined at the hands of the doppelgangers. The characters clearly have their own histories, and personalities, (and I appreciated this effort on the author's part), with the exception of Callistan. He doesn't have a personality, other than wants revenge for what was done to him and is gloomy. And I think Loster would frustrate some people with his lame personality ( him killing in the final fight and experiencing "the thrill of battle" was like a joke. He can't do anything!). Beccorban and Riella are cool, though, I don't have any issues with them.
For the worldbuilding: The continent of Daegermund (love that name) has a history as well. The novel mentions many times events taken place in the cities, and famous people from the past wars and so on. Though! It's a pretty boring place, despite all that. Nowhere in the novel did it say that a particular city had soaring towers, with bricks shining gold in sunlight, or if there were caves with glowing crystals in them, or giant colourful butterflies living in a field-- nothing that captured the imagination or anything remotely interesting! I thought when I was done, "What's the point in fighting for such a boring continent, anyway?" There's not much to say about the world of the story except that it was just dull. To do with magic: just the enemies are supernatural, and Loster can hear a voice in his head, talking to him, so there's that for the magic part, but otherwise, no magic humans use in their daily lives or anything like that.
My overall impression wasn't that the novel was groundbreaking, or awesome, or it had anything special in it, just okay. There was nothing in it I haven't read about before. I am not really interested in reading this book's sequel. This one ended with the humans marching to fight more monsters and take back their country, so I just know the next book will be riddled with boring battles, and that I don't want to read about at all. The enemies in the book wore armor and they did seem pretty tough, but with some battles they were dispatched quickly. :/ I can kinda see how the next book will go...
So to finalize:
Re-readability: Low
Priority: Low
I recommend this book for: Someone who is interested in reading a story about a war legend's new adventures in the making.
My thoughts: Nothing groundbreaking, despite the premise, which I thought interesting, but didn't deliver much enjoyable content.
January 30, 2015
I received free a copy of Exile from the author in exchange for an honest review. That doesn't affect my review of the book, except that I will make no comments on price point or value.
This is the first written review of a book I've ever done. Usually, my review for a book would be me handing it to my younger brother, who likes the same kinds of books, and saying, “Here, this is good.”
What is it?
Exile by Tom Stacey is straight-up fantasy. I’m sure somebody has already gone to the trouble of naming the sub-genres of fantasy fiction, but I can’t be bothered to Google it. I’ll just sum up what kind of book Exile is instead. This is dark, gritty fantasy. No elves, dwarves, or wizards (there is, of course, magic). Exile is full of action, with explicit fight scenes written down in the blood and the mud. There’s some bad language sprinkled throughout. This is adult fantasy by my rating. I hesitate to compare authors, but if that makes you more comfortable, then Exile smacks of the best of David Gemmel (for my money that’s Druss) or maybe Steven Erikson (with fewer characters and less complexity).
The Good:
Tom Stacey tells a fine story, with interesting well-developed characters, and the pacing is just right.
I found this to be a page turner, and for long sections at a time didn't want to put it down. It’s been a while since I sacrificed sleep to read.
The author hasn't reinvented the fantasy wheel with this book, but if you like the shape of that wheel (and I do) then Exile will take you on a few more enjoyable turns. I knew the old legendary warrior was going to break out his fabled weapon, long set aside, from the first page of Chapter 1. Did that bother me? Hell no. The storytelling is solid enough, that I was eagerly waiting to see if was going to be a sword or an axe (spoilers - it’s neither).
The Bad:
This book could still use a little more editing to be as good as it could be. I’m not talking about the story or the characters, rather some of the technical aspects of the writing. (Self-editing is hard, that’s a fact). This didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story, and was, for me, probably a good thing, breaking up what was otherwise a very addictive read.
The Bottom Line:
If you've never liked fantasy in general, I doubt this will be your cup of tea. Exile doesn't cross any genres, but I recommend this to any fantasy fan. If you like your fantasy served up dark and gritty, Tom Stacey has a heaping plate waiting for you. With an epic series the final question for me is always, “Will I buy the next book?” My answer for this one… “On the day it becomes available.”
“Here, this is good.”
This is the first written review of a book I've ever done. Usually, my review for a book would be me handing it to my younger brother, who likes the same kinds of books, and saying, “Here, this is good.”
What is it?
Exile by Tom Stacey is straight-up fantasy. I’m sure somebody has already gone to the trouble of naming the sub-genres of fantasy fiction, but I can’t be bothered to Google it. I’ll just sum up what kind of book Exile is instead. This is dark, gritty fantasy. No elves, dwarves, or wizards (there is, of course, magic). Exile is full of action, with explicit fight scenes written down in the blood and the mud. There’s some bad language sprinkled throughout. This is adult fantasy by my rating. I hesitate to compare authors, but if that makes you more comfortable, then Exile smacks of the best of David Gemmel (for my money that’s Druss) or maybe Steven Erikson (with fewer characters and less complexity).
The Good:
Tom Stacey tells a fine story, with interesting well-developed characters, and the pacing is just right.
I found this to be a page turner, and for long sections at a time didn't want to put it down. It’s been a while since I sacrificed sleep to read.
The author hasn't reinvented the fantasy wheel with this book, but if you like the shape of that wheel (and I do) then Exile will take you on a few more enjoyable turns. I knew the old legendary warrior was going to break out his fabled weapon, long set aside, from the first page of Chapter 1. Did that bother me? Hell no. The storytelling is solid enough, that I was eagerly waiting to see if was going to be a sword or an axe (spoilers - it’s neither).
The Bad:
This book could still use a little more editing to be as good as it could be. I’m not talking about the story or the characters, rather some of the technical aspects of the writing. (Self-editing is hard, that’s a fact). This didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story, and was, for me, probably a good thing, breaking up what was otherwise a very addictive read.
The Bottom Line:
If you've never liked fantasy in general, I doubt this will be your cup of tea. Exile doesn't cross any genres, but I recommend this to any fantasy fan. If you like your fantasy served up dark and gritty, Tom Stacey has a heaping plate waiting for you. With an epic series the final question for me is always, “Will I buy the next book?” My answer for this one… “On the day it becomes available.”
“Here, this is good.”
January 17, 2015
Exile is the promising beginning for an intricate fantasy series. The characters are so uniquely, and thoroughly flushed out that I feel as though I deeply know them. They each have their minute idiosyncrasies and quirks that I look forward to seeing (although I will admit that I was growing frustrated with the constant Loster/Barde headache moments; we get it, Loster's got some crazy stuff happening in his head. Beating us over the head with it doesn't make him seem cooler) The setting seems like it can be quite immense, but it is tough to get a grasp for where cities exist in relation to each other without some reference. It seems stereotypical to have a map in a fantasy novel, but this is one case where I need a map. I feel as though I was missing a chunk of understanding that a quick reference to a map would've amended. Mr. Stacey, I implore you, in your next publications, in the sequel(s), please include a map. It doesn't have to be sea monsters in the ocean detailed (though I'm a sucker for a good sea monster and crazy compass), but at least give us a lay of where your cities are in relation to one another and so we can track the movement of the party.
There were a few typographical errors (some grammatical, a few that were merely a slip of the keyboard, and a handful that were actually publishing/layout errors that took away from the immersion. I realize that this was not published through one of the traditional publishing houses, and humans are humans, but really, widows and orphans (having one or two words alone on a page if it's the last page in a given chapter) do not make the cut in those companies because they are not visually appealing. These are also things for Mr. Stacey to consider when he works through the publication of his next novels.
The pacing was perfect when the characters were all separated and it slowed dramatically when they converged (because time could not be skipped as readily I suppose) and that made for the last say 200 pages of the book to drag on a bit. It seemed to me like the group was just traveling from one fight to the next with seemingly no explanation as to how the echos could follow so easily/rapidly. Maybe that's going to be addressed in the next installments.
The cover is pretty awesome too!
Overall I'd say Exile is a solid start to a fantasy series with insanely vivid characters; I will definitely be picking up its sequel(s).
I received this book for free through Goodreads first reads.
There were a few typographical errors (some grammatical, a few that were merely a slip of the keyboard, and a handful that were actually publishing/layout errors that took away from the immersion. I realize that this was not published through one of the traditional publishing houses, and humans are humans, but really, widows and orphans (having one or two words alone on a page if it's the last page in a given chapter) do not make the cut in those companies because they are not visually appealing. These are also things for Mr. Stacey to consider when he works through the publication of his next novels.
The pacing was perfect when the characters were all separated and it slowed dramatically when they converged (because time could not be skipped as readily I suppose) and that made for the last say 200 pages of the book to drag on a bit. It seemed to me like the group was just traveling from one fight to the next with seemingly no explanation as to how the echos could follow so easily/rapidly. Maybe that's going to be addressed in the next installments.
The cover is pretty awesome too!
Overall I'd say Exile is a solid start to a fantasy series with insanely vivid characters; I will definitely be picking up its sequel(s).
I received this book for free through Goodreads first reads.
February 27, 2015
Lets get one thing straight before I make a review. I sit next to the author of Exile, Tom Stacey, at work (yes, he has a day job) and I consider him to be a very good friend. This however will not affect (affect? effect? I don't know, Tom would though, he's a decent writer) my review. I do some amateur photography and he has given me some pretty honest feedback so we know where we stand...if there is no integrity on the internet then what will the world become?
Now, i'm not the most experienced reader. I don't read a lot, mainly because i'm a very slow reader so it just takes me a bit of time to get through books. The books I do read are mainly science fiction so I was excited to read Exile.
The opening of the book doesn't mess around with any long elaborate nonsensical descriptions of settings or characters that take forever to get through before anything actually happens (obviously longer for me because I read slow, I hate books that start slow!). Exile gets straight down to business, action packed from the beginning and Tom has a really good way of describing things that gives you a perfect visual but also never detracts from what is happening (Although he does indulge when talking about a particular war hammer, he just really loves it)
Pretty much every chapter leaves you with a cliff hanger, which is annoying but it's also really cool. The action picks up again so quickly in the next chapter that you forget how angry you are anyway...until he leaves you with yet another cliff hanger!
I really like the story concept, it was original and not what I expected initially.
He loves a good character death so be prepared for that. He really pissed me off when one of the characters died...I obviously let him know at work the next day.
For those out there that think the book needs a map, I agree. I can also confirm there is one on the way, i've seen a draft.
My daily work schedule now involves me asking when the second Bloodforge novel is coming out because I am keen to know what happens next and I think that for someone like me (a non-reader) this is big.
You won't be disappointed with Exile, it is a great debut for a young man and I think it will only get better throughout the series. Apparently the copy I read was a first edition too so the newer version contain some extra little gems!
Just read it.
Now, i'm not the most experienced reader. I don't read a lot, mainly because i'm a very slow reader so it just takes me a bit of time to get through books. The books I do read are mainly science fiction so I was excited to read Exile.
The opening of the book doesn't mess around with any long elaborate nonsensical descriptions of settings or characters that take forever to get through before anything actually happens (obviously longer for me because I read slow, I hate books that start slow!). Exile gets straight down to business, action packed from the beginning and Tom has a really good way of describing things that gives you a perfect visual but also never detracts from what is happening (Although he does indulge when talking about a particular war hammer, he just really loves it)
Pretty much every chapter leaves you with a cliff hanger, which is annoying but it's also really cool. The action picks up again so quickly in the next chapter that you forget how angry you are anyway...until he leaves you with yet another cliff hanger!
I really like the story concept, it was original and not what I expected initially.
He loves a good character death so be prepared for that. He really pissed me off when one of the characters died...I obviously let him know at work the next day.
For those out there that think the book needs a map, I agree. I can also confirm there is one on the way, i've seen a draft.
My daily work schedule now involves me asking when the second Bloodforge novel is coming out because I am keen to know what happens next and I think that for someone like me (a non-reader) this is big.
You won't be disappointed with Exile, it is a great debut for a young man and I think it will only get better throughout the series. Apparently the copy I read was a first edition too so the newer version contain some extra little gems!
Just read it.
November 4, 2015
I received this book for free as part of a first reads giveaway. However, I will not bias my review based on that fact.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this book and would give it probably a 4.3/5 - I'd like to thank Tom for providing a free copy to me (sorry the review took so long, I was abroad until 2 days ago). Congratulations on a strong (first?) novel.
If you want a plot summary, read other reviews or the above plot summary, I like to get down to business.
The most accurate and general description I can give to this novel is that it is a sci-if/gritty fantasy novel that is fast paced and moderately bloody, but at the same time has a good level of character development. It reads much like a novel that could translate well to the screen, and at certain points I noticed stylistic similarities to Sanderson, Cameron, and Lawrence. Tom is an excellent and thoroughly descriptive writer, but his greatest strength might actually lie in the text and pacing of action scenes. They were pleasantly evocative. The edition I read was well edited with two very nice maps.
In terms of plot/character details, I was a tad hesitant at the beginning of the book, seeing as how the story seemed to be adopting heavily abused tropes including "awkward boy turned to hero", "tortured soldier seeking redemption", and "mysterious and terrible dark spirit wreaks havoc" that one often finds in fantasy. However, as the story progressed I found that most characters either did not fit the tropes or, if they did in general, they were developed in a acceptably unique manner. I could sympathize with most of the characters and understand their motivations and how significant events changed them for good or bad. Beccorban was a badass! I read through the entirety of the middle of the book in one sitting - the rising action and climax were very well formed.
Two things I should mention that I thought could see improvement were world-building and a more provocative/more fully explained "enemy". I found that I trailed off in interest towards the end of the book due to my not receiving answers as to the motivations of and mysteries surrounding the Echoes.
Overall a pretty good read, would recommend to gritty/military fantasy fans
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this book and would give it probably a 4.3/5 - I'd like to thank Tom for providing a free copy to me (sorry the review took so long, I was abroad until 2 days ago). Congratulations on a strong (first?) novel.
If you want a plot summary, read other reviews or the above plot summary, I like to get down to business.
The most accurate and general description I can give to this novel is that it is a sci-if/gritty fantasy novel that is fast paced and moderately bloody, but at the same time has a good level of character development. It reads much like a novel that could translate well to the screen, and at certain points I noticed stylistic similarities to Sanderson, Cameron, and Lawrence. Tom is an excellent and thoroughly descriptive writer, but his greatest strength might actually lie in the text and pacing of action scenes. They were pleasantly evocative. The edition I read was well edited with two very nice maps.
In terms of plot/character details, I was a tad hesitant at the beginning of the book, seeing as how the story seemed to be adopting heavily abused tropes including "awkward boy turned to hero", "tortured soldier seeking redemption", and "mysterious and terrible dark spirit wreaks havoc" that one often finds in fantasy. However, as the story progressed I found that most characters either did not fit the tropes or, if they did in general, they were developed in a acceptably unique manner. I could sympathize with most of the characters and understand their motivations and how significant events changed them for good or bad. Beccorban was a badass! I read through the entirety of the middle of the book in one sitting - the rising action and climax were very well formed.
Two things I should mention that I thought could see improvement were world-building and a more provocative/more fully explained "enemy". I found that I trailed off in interest towards the end of the book due to my not receiving answers as to the motivations of and mysteries surrounding the Echoes.
Overall a pretty good read, would recommend to gritty/military fantasy fans
November 4, 2015
I received this book for free as part of a first reads giveaway. However, I will not bias my review based on that fact.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this book and would give it probably a 4.3/5 - I'd like to thank Tom for providing a free copy to me (sorry the review took so long, I was abroad until 2 days ago). Congratulations on a strong (first?) novel.
If you want a plot summary, read other reviews or the above plot summary, I like to get down to business.
The most accurate and general description I can give to this novel is that it is a sci-if/gritty fantasy novel that is fast paced and moderately bloody, but at the same time has a good level of character development. It reads much like a novel that could translate well to the screen, and at certain points I noticed stylistic similarities to Sanderson, Cameron, and Lawrence. Tom is an excellent and thoroughly descriptive writer, but his greatest strength might actually lie in the text and pacing of action scenes. They were pleasantly evocative. The edition I read was well edited with two very nice maps.
In terms of plot/character details, I was a tad hesitant at the beginning of the book, seeing as how the story seemed to be adopting heavily abused tropes including "awkward boy turned to hero", "tortured soldier seeking redemption", and "mysterious and terrible dark spirit wreaks havoc" that one often finds in fantasy. However, as the story progressed I found that most characters either did not fit the tropes or, if they did in general, they were developed in a acceptably unique manner. I could sympathize with most of the characters and understand their motivations and how significant events changed them for good or bad. Beccorban was a badass! I read through the entirety of the middle of the book in one sitting - the rising action and climax were very well formed.
Two things I should mention that I thought could see improvement were world-building and a more provocative/more fully explained "enemy". I found that I trailed off in interest towards the end of the book due to my not receiving answers as to the motivations of and mysteries surrounding the Echoes.
Overall a pretty good read, would recommend to gritty/military fantasy fans
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this book and would give it probably a 4.3/5 - I'd like to thank Tom for providing a free copy to me (sorry the review took so long, I was abroad until 2 days ago). Congratulations on a strong (first?) novel.
If you want a plot summary, read other reviews or the above plot summary, I like to get down to business.
The most accurate and general description I can give to this novel is that it is a sci-if/gritty fantasy novel that is fast paced and moderately bloody, but at the same time has a good level of character development. It reads much like a novel that could translate well to the screen, and at certain points I noticed stylistic similarities to Sanderson, Cameron, and Lawrence. Tom is an excellent and thoroughly descriptive writer, but his greatest strength might actually lie in the text and pacing of action scenes. They were pleasantly evocative. The edition I read was well edited with two very nice maps.
In terms of plot/character details, I was a tad hesitant at the beginning of the book, seeing as how the story seemed to be adopting heavily abused tropes including "awkward boy turned to hero", "tortured soldier seeking redemption", and "mysterious and terrible dark spirit wreaks havoc" that one often finds in fantasy. However, as the story progressed I found that most characters either did not fit the tropes or, if they did in general, they were developed in a acceptably unique manner. I could sympathize with most of the characters and understand their motivations and how significant events changed them for good or bad. Beccorban was a badass! I read through the entirety of the middle of the book in one sitting - the rising action and climax were very well formed.
Two things I should mention that I thought could see improvement were world-building and a more provocative/more fully explained "enemy". I found that I trailed off in interest towards the end of the book due to my not receiving answers as to the motivations of and mysteries surrounding the Echoes.
Overall a pretty good read, would recommend to gritty/military fantasy fans
March 1, 2015
Free copy of the book provided by the author, in exchange for an impartial review.
In the heart of the Verian Empire, two young boys are about to awaken a dark horror, something not seen in their land for generations. An appealing simple premise, perhaps, but it's one that sets a far wider-reaching and more complex plot in motion in Exile, an epic fantasy novel filled with war, rebellion and a cast of strong characters.
It's the latter, in particular, that I found appealing. Too much of the 'grimdark' fantasy I've read of late has focused on characters that are deeply unpleasant. Exile's main cast, on the other hand, seem to be essentially decent people, forced into horrible circumstances by their enemies. There's plenty of violence and darkness here, and the characters don't go unchanged by those things, but Beccorban, Loster, Riella and even Callistan all felt sympathetic to me, their worst excesses easily understandable given the events they go through during the course of the novel.
Exile's biggest strength though, in my view, is its pacing. For a book of this length, there's rarely a dull moment, yet it never feels rushed as the requisite fights and battles are well broken up by quieter moments. The prose, too, is strong (I came across only one major mistake, where an odd POV change halfway through a scene felt to have been left over from an earlier, unedited draft), meaning Exile is a surprisingly quick read, and the plot rarely flags.
My biggest issue with that plot was how long the reader has to wait for answers. That the characters and their country are facing a formidable foe is clear: just who that foe is, though, and what they want, is a long time in coming. In fact, they don't even have a name until the book is three-quarters done, and I would have preferred some of this information a bit earlier in the novel.
Still, that's really only a minor gripe in an otherwise impressive book. Exile is well-written, well-paced (particularly given its length) and with characters you can't help but root for, as they struggle to overcome both their own demons and a powerful, often deadly foe.
In the heart of the Verian Empire, two young boys are about to awaken a dark horror, something not seen in their land for generations. An appealing simple premise, perhaps, but it's one that sets a far wider-reaching and more complex plot in motion in Exile, an epic fantasy novel filled with war, rebellion and a cast of strong characters.
It's the latter, in particular, that I found appealing. Too much of the 'grimdark' fantasy I've read of late has focused on characters that are deeply unpleasant. Exile's main cast, on the other hand, seem to be essentially decent people, forced into horrible circumstances by their enemies. There's plenty of violence and darkness here, and the characters don't go unchanged by those things, but Beccorban, Loster, Riella and even Callistan all felt sympathetic to me, their worst excesses easily understandable given the events they go through during the course of the novel.
Exile's biggest strength though, in my view, is its pacing. For a book of this length, there's rarely a dull moment, yet it never feels rushed as the requisite fights and battles are well broken up by quieter moments. The prose, too, is strong (I came across only one major mistake, where an odd POV change halfway through a scene felt to have been left over from an earlier, unedited draft), meaning Exile is a surprisingly quick read, and the plot rarely flags.
My biggest issue with that plot was how long the reader has to wait for answers. That the characters and their country are facing a formidable foe is clear: just who that foe is, though, and what they want, is a long time in coming. In fact, they don't even have a name until the book is three-quarters done, and I would have preferred some of this information a bit earlier in the novel.
Still, that's really only a minor gripe in an otherwise impressive book. Exile is well-written, well-paced (particularly given its length) and with characters you can't help but root for, as they struggle to overcome both their own demons and a powerful, often deadly foe.
March 28, 2015
Pack your bags, assemble the crew, and get your tail out the front door; an adventure is about to happen because some old bad guys are back, they're mean as hell, and they are super pissed.
That would be my one line synopsis of this novel and I have to say that I quite enjoyed the ride. This book is fantasy to its core and doesn't pretend to be anything else (I mean that as a complement). An ancient evil is unwittingly released back into the world and you need some heroes to step up and fight back. Enter a group of dysfunctional cast members that, includes the unlikely coward, the retired badass, the reformed prostitute, and the unhinged wildcard. If you think that might make for an interesting read, you'd be right.
The novel moves foreword at a blistering pace and it never looks back. Despite this, the author finds the time to fit in some wonderfully descriptive scenes and doesn't skimp on the detail. And if you like action, get in here because this novel has plenty and then some. Having said that, it is gritty and often dark. The violence is written in grim and often gory detail. Those of you looking for a light hearted romp should look elsewhere. Those who are into the growing trend of gritty fantasy will likely find this to be right in their wheelhouse.
I will say that I was occasionally frustrated by what felt like a lack of information given to the reader about the world. You can tell that there is a whole world out there but you are unsure exactly how large it is and how to fit it all together. Sometimes I felt I would appreciate what was happening a little better if I had an understanding of the world even just a little bit closer to that of the characters.
Is this book perfect? No. Is it worth your time? Absolutely... and I say that knowing I'll have to read the rest when they come out to get the whole story. Looking foreword to it. Well played Mr. Stacey.
That would be my one line synopsis of this novel and I have to say that I quite enjoyed the ride. This book is fantasy to its core and doesn't pretend to be anything else (I mean that as a complement). An ancient evil is unwittingly released back into the world and you need some heroes to step up and fight back. Enter a group of dysfunctional cast members that, includes the unlikely coward, the retired badass, the reformed prostitute, and the unhinged wildcard. If you think that might make for an interesting read, you'd be right.
The novel moves foreword at a blistering pace and it never looks back. Despite this, the author finds the time to fit in some wonderfully descriptive scenes and doesn't skimp on the detail. And if you like action, get in here because this novel has plenty and then some. Having said that, it is gritty and often dark. The violence is written in grim and often gory detail. Those of you looking for a light hearted romp should look elsewhere. Those who are into the growing trend of gritty fantasy will likely find this to be right in their wheelhouse.
I will say that I was occasionally frustrated by what felt like a lack of information given to the reader about the world. You can tell that there is a whole world out there but you are unsure exactly how large it is and how to fit it all together. Sometimes I felt I would appreciate what was happening a little better if I had an understanding of the world even just a little bit closer to that of the characters.
Is this book perfect? No. Is it worth your time? Absolutely... and I say that knowing I'll have to read the rest when they come out to get the whole story. Looking foreword to it. Well played Mr. Stacey.
April 8, 2015
The book starts quickly and I was captured by the story...then we skipped years and it started again and seemed to slow. I thought that, this being the first in a series, it had a lot of set up for future books.
The characters didn't develop well for me. I found it hard to relate to them as there was really not a lot of background. There is really never any reason given for why the creatures are there, who they really are and where they came from. The creatures are an army come back to take a land they believe is theirs by right. We don't know about them...are they smart, do they have a world with family? Do they just want to eat humans? It just wasn't clear for me what they wanted to accomplish. Who are their slaves, why don't they turn on their masters and help the humans? Plus many other questions that would have brought me a better connection to what is going on.
With all that said, the book held my interest and it has great fighting and wars. I am not sure it is appropriate for younger readers, maybe 16 plus.
I can recommend this book to people that are war and action lovers. It does drag at times but there is a lot of gore and killing. I was really disappointed by the ending as it left too much in question. I love a good cliffhanger but this just felt too vague and unfinished for me. I may read the next book in the series, I just don't know. Give it a try, you may enjoy it moore than you think.
The author gave me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
The characters didn't develop well for me. I found it hard to relate to them as there was really not a lot of background. There is really never any reason given for why the creatures are there, who they really are and where they came from. The creatures are an army come back to take a land they believe is theirs by right. We don't know about them...are they smart, do they have a world with family? Do they just want to eat humans? It just wasn't clear for me what they wanted to accomplish. Who are their slaves, why don't they turn on their masters and help the humans? Plus many other questions that would have brought me a better connection to what is going on.
With all that said, the book held my interest and it has great fighting and wars. I am not sure it is appropriate for younger readers, maybe 16 plus.
I can recommend this book to people that are war and action lovers. It does drag at times but there is a lot of gore and killing. I was really disappointed by the ending as it left too much in question. I love a good cliffhanger but this just felt too vague and unfinished for me. I may read the next book in the series, I just don't know. Give it a try, you may enjoy it moore than you think.
The author gave me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
March 1, 2016
On the fringes of the Verian Empire, two small boys stumble upon a strange altar, buried in the heart of a mountain. There they awaken a horror unseen for generations, that will descend upon the realm of men while it is at its weakest. For Veria is a nation at war with itself, only recently recovered from a bloody rebellion, and the time of heroes has passed. The empire is in a state of chaos, and while its ruler, the Empron Illis, rids the land of his remaining enemies, unseen forces are gathering at the borders. However all eyes are turned inwards. The Empron is not a well man, and there are whispers among the common folk that his advisors are spies; demons that only wear the flesh of men. Yet there is hope... In the distant mountains, a forester who has buried his past learns that he has not been forgotten, and that his crimes have sought him out at last. But he is no simple woodsman.
This is a fantasy that is full of guts and glory. It is a book replete with fight scenes and bloody clashes. Readers that love fighting, battle scenes, and gore will love this story. But, other than that it is written by an author who obviously wants to put the reader to sleep. I usually read a book in about 1 to 2 days, this one took double close triple that time. I kept falling asleep, this book could not hold my interest at all. This writer is a pour example for this genre. Fans of this type of tale will immediately fall to sleep. It is on you if you read this, I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!
This is a fantasy that is full of guts and glory. It is a book replete with fight scenes and bloody clashes. Readers that love fighting, battle scenes, and gore will love this story. But, other than that it is written by an author who obviously wants to put the reader to sleep. I usually read a book in about 1 to 2 days, this one took double close triple that time. I kept falling asleep, this book could not hold my interest at all. This writer is a pour example for this genre. Fans of this type of tale will immediately fall to sleep. It is on you if you read this, I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!
May 12, 2015
Won this book from GoodReads. The story plot was very good and the writing.I really enjoyed the prologue of this book. Really caught my attention and interest. Tom really made me feel all the pain that Kiren endured with his injuries. I just couldn't get over when the lady came and used a knife to cut his finger to remove his ring not knowing that he was still alive. The constant cutting with a dull knife had my hair standing. He was very strong to lay there as if he was dead while someone did such a terrible act, while not trying to move an inch. Being caught alive would just make him get killed. When Tom describes the fighting seen I feel like I am there being tortoured and trying to survive. This book had a nice array of characters each had there own secrets. Thanks for the chance on reading your book.
July 30, 2015
I received this ebook quite a while ago from the author with the request that I give an honest review when I was done. Life has gotten in the way this first half of the year for many reasons and reading the book took way longer than I would have liked. This is of course to no fault of the author. I really enjoyed this book in it's entirety. From the first chapter I was a little concerned as the violence was of a very shocking, graphic nature that I do not read in books I choose frequently. What unfolded in the following chapters really drew me in and made me want to keep turning page after page. I am really looking forward to more books in the series.
March 31, 2016
Received book through Goodreads Giveaway.
As a fan of fantasy stories, I found this one to meet my expectations. I enjoyed the novels stronger characters, Beccorban and Callistan, and how they trek through this crisis the land is suddenly plunged into. I can't say that the character Loster is a bad one, but can come off as a bit one-note given his circumstances, showing most of his growth in the latter half of the story. I plan to read the next entry into this series at some point in the future, and hope that the character Riella can see more development, as for most of this story, it seemed like she was mostly either admiring or criticizing other characters while not doing much herself.
As a fan of fantasy stories, I found this one to meet my expectations. I enjoyed the novels stronger characters, Beccorban and Callistan, and how they trek through this crisis the land is suddenly plunged into. I can't say that the character Loster is a bad one, but can come off as a bit one-note given his circumstances, showing most of his growth in the latter half of the story. I plan to read the next entry into this series at some point in the future, and hope that the character Riella can see more development, as for most of this story, it seemed like she was mostly either admiring or criticizing other characters while not doing much herself.
January 30, 2015
Exile by Tom Stacey is the kind of book that picks you up by your throat and starts shaking you, and doesn't let go until the last page. And even on the last page, it doesn't let go of you, you're still dying to know what happens next. I cannot WAIT for the second book. The monsters are amazing and terrifying and PERFECT. The characters are deep and interesting. The writing was beautiful. (The only issue i had was the overly detailed depictions of gore, but the good far outweighs that.) Great book, would recommend.
April 8, 2015
While I certainly wasn't blown away by anything strikingly original, I did rather enjoy this fresh take on epic fantasy. The characters endure a great deal of trial, and their thoughts are presented in an interesting way, while not slowing down the action. The pace never really lagged, and after a bit of a rough start, you become engrossed in the vivid journey through another world. 4 stars for Tom Stacey's first installment in the Bloodforge series, which means I'm looking forward to the next part!
***received ARC in exchange for honest review***
***received ARC in exchange for honest review***
March 21, 2015
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review, but this has not in any way influenced my review.
Exile by Tom Stacey is an extremely enjoyable fantasy novel - the first part of a new series. I'm a huge fan of fantasy as a genre and this book certainly didn't disappoint. There's a kind of old school fantasy flavour running throughout, with an epic backstory with well fleshed out characters that keep you reading. I look forward to future instalments.
Thanks Tom for the free book.
Exile by Tom Stacey is an extremely enjoyable fantasy novel - the first part of a new series. I'm a huge fan of fantasy as a genre and this book certainly didn't disappoint. There's a kind of old school fantasy flavour running throughout, with an epic backstory with well fleshed out characters that keep you reading. I look forward to future instalments.
Thanks Tom for the free book.
May 6, 2015
A pair of brothers exploring, a fatal attack, Echoes in the night that look like men, and a great war, are the underlying themes for this novel. Yet there is so much more going on it will almost take your breath away trying to comprehend it all. The characters are solid and carry the story with power. Their lives interact masterfully allowing the story to flow off the page into your imagination. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, war, science fiction, or character driven story.
November 3, 2014
Loved it. Hope the next one is out soon. I don't really like long books but once I got going on this one I kept at it. Three major story lines that set the pace and fleshed out the main characters. When they all joined it was non-stop action. This book is well worth the time to read it. A whole new world and new evils to conquer. Secrets to uncover and lies to discover. Way to go Mr. Stacey keep it up.
thank you for the free book.
thank you for the free book.
November 28, 2014
I don't read fantasy book a lot because I personally think that it's hard to visualize things in real life. However, that's not the case in Exile. Clearly, the author has quite stunning imagination. I don't need to explain in detail about his writing skill because he did a great job in using words. And amazingly, when I read this, I feel like there's a movie screen playing inside my head. I know this book is gonna attract more fans when it goes into a big screen. Fingers crossed.
September 15, 2015
Exile is an energetic, driving dark medieval fantasy full of dynamic characters. The slipskins in particular are deliciously terrifying, and Callistan and Riella were a joy to read. I look more to seeing more from Tom Stacey!
March 1, 2015
An excellent fantasy! An ancient evil awakes and an unlikely quartet will try to save the land from it.
I do not like reviewers spoiling a story and so do not try to a summarize the action.
This one is worth reading and I am eagerly awaiting a continuation sequel.
I do not like reviewers spoiling a story and so do not try to a summarize the action.
This one is worth reading and I am eagerly awaiting a continuation sequel.
September 30, 2014
I generally don't read fantasy fiction, but this had me hooked from the first page. An epic story, with great characters and a brilliant ending.
Hope it catches the attention of more people.
Hope it catches the attention of more people.
October 1, 2014
I was hesitant to read this at first, not usually being a big fantasy fan, but I really got hooked and enjoyed every minute of it! Would strongly recommend.
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