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Ballad of Sir Benfro #2
The Rose Cord
leeing the vengeful Inquisitor Melyn, Sir Benfro is drawn to the last resting place of a great dragon of legend, Magog, deep in the ancient forest. Through Magog's spirit, Benfro discovers the true nature of his forebears - a history of unimaginable power and mystery over mankind. But with this knowledge comes terrible danger.
Errol Ramsbottom's dreams of becoming a great Warrior Priest have been shattered by his discovery of the dark secret of the Holy Order's power. And yet as a chosen noviciate he is trapped, unwillingly drawn deeper into the sinister plans for war which will engulf Gwlad.
With the forces of magic gathering so the destinies of Errol and Sir Benfro further entwine...
Errol Ramsbottom's dreams of becoming a great Warrior Priest have been shattered by his discovery of the dark secret of the Holy Order's power. And yet as a chosen noviciate he is trapped, unwillingly drawn deeper into the sinister plans for war which will engulf Gwlad.
With the forces of magic gathering so the destinies of Errol and Sir Benfro further entwine...
472 pages, Paperback
First published April 8, 2012
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564 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
April 4, 2025
Unfortunately a lot of repetition in this book.. In each chapter the same things happen, one of the main characters gets nearly killed, the other finds some kind of (evil) mentor but escapes or learns a valuable skill. I found part two not as strong as part one. I am curious to see how the story progresses, though..
November 6, 2017
I kinda feel bad for only giving it 2 stars...but.. it was just soooo sloooow.
And repetitive. I felt like I read the same chapter over and over again...( )
It’s a pity, really, considering how great the mythology is...the story just didn’t hold my attention well enough to make make me care about the characters.. so yeah, I’m putting the rest of this series on hold for now.
And repetitive. I felt like I read the same chapter over and over again...( )
It’s a pity, really, considering how great the mythology is...the story just didn’t hold my attention well enough to make make me care about the characters.. so yeah, I’m putting the rest of this series on hold for now.
March 26, 2017
A significant improvement over the first book in this series. Quite enjoyable.
April 23, 2015
My review for Dreamwalker (the first book in the series).
It would seem that this series keeps getting better and better. While I rated the first book 3½ stars, this book receives 4 whole stars from me. Yes, it took me a while to read it but it was really engaging in ways one wishes to be engaged by a fantasy novel.
While the first book was simpler both plot and character wise, I felt that both Benfro and Errol (our heroes) grew so much in the course of this novel. Or should I say that they matured a great deal?
The rest of my review can be found HERE.
It would seem that this series keeps getting better and better. While I rated the first book 3½ stars, this book receives 4 whole stars from me. Yes, it took me a while to read it but it was really engaging in ways one wishes to be engaged by a fantasy novel.
While the first book was simpler both plot and character wise, I felt that both Benfro and Errol (our heroes) grew so much in the course of this novel. Or should I say that they matured a great deal?
The rest of my review can be found HERE.
May 8, 2019
Even better than the first (which is to be expected or hoped for I guess)! But I am really loving this series!
It ended on a very interesting note, so I’m gonna pop by my local bookshop asap and get the third!
It ended on a very interesting note, so I’m gonna pop by my local bookshop asap and get the third!
August 30, 2014
[The Rose Cord is a direct follow-up to Dreamwalker, so please be aware this review contains spoilers for that book. Also, this is a long book and the beginning was a long time ago and has been wiped from my memory: I appreciate a heads-up on any details I've got wrong]
I reached the end of The Rose Cord earlier than I anticipated due to an extract of the next book being included. I was glad. This is the kind of book which makes me want to shake the author; there is a decent novel in here with some brilliant details and fabulous ideas, but it's been buried in one of the most tedious and repetitive things I've read in ages. You know the second series of Game of Thrones where Rob Stark spent 86 hours looking grumpy in a variety of fields? The Rose Cord is basically that, but without Mike from Casualty.
At the end of Dreamwalker, Benfro, a dragon, watched his mother beheaded by Inquisitor Melyn, head of the warrior priests and all round disliker of things scaly. The Rose Cord picks it up in the next scene: Benfro flees through the woods before returning to the village to find everybody he has ever known slaughtered. On the advice of the memory of his mother, Benfro heads north in search of Corwen, a mage dragon who taught Morgwm, but instead he finds something else: the remains of the great and legendary dragon Magog, and his unreckoned jewel...
Meanwhile, Errol Ramsbottom, Warrior Priest-in-training and (unbeknownst to him) heir to the throne, is trying to learn how to keep Inquisitor Melyn out of his head. As in psychic powers, not trepanning. Melyn, though, has a job Errol is just *perfect* for...
To begin with, The Rose Cord is pretty good despite some minor issues, but unfortunately these are the same issues which will come back to haunt it later: repetition. Rather than having a single scene which achieves all it needs to, Oswald has a habit of having his characters plod through a similar situation multiple times advancing their understanding only a small amount with each.
For instance: Beulah, the young Queen occupying Errol's throne, discovers a plot to kill her, so she deals with it in her own inimitable way: kills her would-be assassin and shouts at everybody for a bit. Naturally, he was not acting alone, so there's another would-be assassin to deal with. And then there's another.
Although each scene is different, and each moves the story forward in its own vital way, it's a good example (within the first 13%) of how the scenes should be working harder and doing more.
Benfro suffers from this problem the most. In Dreamwalker he was entertaining and tremendously likeable, but with the removal of the villagers he's mostly a dragon wandering through a wood. He occupies the bulk of the book but vast swathes of it involve him being on his own not doing a great deal and it's all the more frustrating because there is gold them thar chapters, it's just not worth the trog to get to. Plus, doing so requires reading about Malkin the squirrel, a character I would happily watch taken out at dawn.
The pacing, too, is wrong. From 70% I was reading believing it would get better - the third in the series is already out in ebook with the paperback happening soon; there is going to be a forth. From 88% I was reading with the glazed determination of somebody who's read that much and is jolly well going to finish just so she can write a fair review of the damn thing. The great dramatic end-scene is crippled by the billion pages of Benfro-is-in-a-cave which precedes it. Throughout, so much space was given to things not happening that when something did, it was ... lost.
Errol has more to do in this book and his is a far stronger story than in the first, but for much of the book - as in Dreamwalker - he is at the mercy of things which happen *to* him, and he's too bland for me to care much. His story is more engaging, but not enough to carry the book.
I liked Dreamwalker a lot - I gave it four stars - but The Rose Cord is weeping for structural edit so hard I do wonder if this is the original self-pubbed text and a new version will get introduced close to its November paperback release date. There are some really great ideas in The Rose Cord, but the last 15% (of this 476 page book) is shear tedium; I won't be continuing with the series: 2 stars.
I reached the end of The Rose Cord earlier than I anticipated due to an extract of the next book being included. I was glad. This is the kind of book which makes me want to shake the author; there is a decent novel in here with some brilliant details and fabulous ideas, but it's been buried in one of the most tedious and repetitive things I've read in ages. You know the second series of Game of Thrones where Rob Stark spent 86 hours looking grumpy in a variety of fields? The Rose Cord is basically that, but without Mike from Casualty.
At the end of Dreamwalker, Benfro, a dragon, watched his mother beheaded by Inquisitor Melyn, head of the warrior priests and all round disliker of things scaly. The Rose Cord picks it up in the next scene: Benfro flees through the woods before returning to the village to find everybody he has ever known slaughtered. On the advice of the memory of his mother, Benfro heads north in search of Corwen, a mage dragon who taught Morgwm, but instead he finds something else: the remains of the great and legendary dragon Magog, and his unreckoned jewel...
Meanwhile, Errol Ramsbottom, Warrior Priest-in-training and (unbeknownst to him) heir to the throne, is trying to learn how to keep Inquisitor Melyn out of his head. As in psychic powers, not trepanning. Melyn, though, has a job Errol is just *perfect* for...
To begin with, The Rose Cord is pretty good despite some minor issues, but unfortunately these are the same issues which will come back to haunt it later: repetition. Rather than having a single scene which achieves all it needs to, Oswald has a habit of having his characters plod through a similar situation multiple times advancing their understanding only a small amount with each.
For instance: Beulah, the young Queen occupying Errol's throne, discovers a plot to kill her, so she deals with it in her own inimitable way: kills her would-be assassin and shouts at everybody for a bit. Naturally, he was not acting alone, so there's another would-be assassin to deal with. And then there's another.
Although each scene is different, and each moves the story forward in its own vital way, it's a good example (within the first 13%) of how the scenes should be working harder and doing more.
Benfro suffers from this problem the most. In Dreamwalker he was entertaining and tremendously likeable, but with the removal of the villagers he's mostly a dragon wandering through a wood. He occupies the bulk of the book but vast swathes of it involve him being on his own not doing a great deal and it's all the more frustrating because there is gold them thar chapters, it's just not worth the trog to get to. Plus, doing so requires reading about Malkin the squirrel, a character I would happily watch taken out at dawn.
The pacing, too, is wrong. From 70% I was reading believing it would get better - the third in the series is already out in ebook with the paperback happening soon; there is going to be a forth. From 88% I was reading with the glazed determination of somebody who's read that much and is jolly well going to finish just so she can write a fair review of the damn thing. The great dramatic end-scene is crippled by the billion pages of Benfro-is-in-a-cave which precedes it. Throughout, so much space was given to things not happening that when something did, it was ... lost.
Errol has more to do in this book and his is a far stronger story than in the first, but for much of the book - as in Dreamwalker - he is at the mercy of things which happen *to* him, and he's too bland for me to care much. His story is more engaging, but not enough to carry the book.
I liked Dreamwalker a lot - I gave it four stars - but The Rose Cord is weeping for structural edit so hard I do wonder if this is the original self-pubbed text and a new version will get introduced close to its November paperback release date. There are some really great ideas in The Rose Cord, but the last 15% (of this 476 page book) is shear tedium; I won't be continuing with the series: 2 stars.
December 16, 2014
This book started right where the previous one left off. Even though it wasn't as good as the previous one I still enjoyed it a lot, mainly because of the interesting characters. I wanted to know what happened to them and right now, I cannot wait for the next book to be released in print.
What I enjoyed about this book:
- The characters. I wanted to know what happened to do, and the author knows when to switch point of view. I just had to read on to discover what happened after to a certain character.
- The descriptions are amazing. While sometimes they were a bit too detailed for me, particularly when I was tired, they make it very easy to create the world in my head. It also added to the atmosphere
- The way, like in the previous book, little texts from books existing in Gwald gave some background information on the world. An original and entertaining way to build a world without having to dump a lot of information on the reader. It reminded me a bit of the books than can be found in games such as The Elder Scrolls and Dragon Age.
- The original approach to dragons. Even though their relationship with humans isn't so original, the dragons as a race itself came across as very original to me. I enjoyed learning more and more about it, and getting a clearer vision of how they used to be and what they are now.
There were, however, a few things that could have been better:
- The pace of the book was rather slow. And it never really picked up.
- I had the feeling that most of the time, more or less the same thing happened to the main characters, but slightly altered. And at times that gave me trouble to remain focused. It also gave me the feeling that some of the things happening in the book were page-filling.
What I enjoyed about this book:
- The characters. I wanted to know what happened to do, and the author knows when to switch point of view. I just had to read on to discover what happened after to a certain character.
- The descriptions are amazing. While sometimes they were a bit too detailed for me, particularly when I was tired, they make it very easy to create the world in my head. It also added to the atmosphere
- The way, like in the previous book, little texts from books existing in Gwald gave some background information on the world. An original and entertaining way to build a world without having to dump a lot of information on the reader. It reminded me a bit of the books than can be found in games such as The Elder Scrolls and Dragon Age.
- The original approach to dragons. Even though their relationship with humans isn't so original, the dragons as a race itself came across as very original to me. I enjoyed learning more and more about it, and getting a clearer vision of how they used to be and what they are now.
There were, however, a few things that could have been better:
- The pace of the book was rather slow. And it never really picked up.
- I had the feeling that most of the time, more or less the same thing happened to the main characters, but slightly altered. And at times that gave me trouble to remain focused. It also gave me the feeling that some of the things happening in the book were page-filling.
March 16, 2016
When I started the first book I got a bit confused about the characters, and then I mean especially Benfro. He is the dragon but his parts are written the exact same way as the human parts, so I had a bit of a hard time with remembering Benfro as a dragon. I also had a hard time picturing the dragons after I finished the first book, but now that I've finished this one I understand everything so much better. I have a whole images in my head now, which I didn't have after I read the first book. If they ever would decide to make these books with drawings, I would be over the moon. I really love the story and I'm so excited about Benfro and Errol their storylines finally coming together. (That's a spoiler I guess, I'm sorry).
This book reads really quick in the beginning, there were so many things happening, but right before the end I reached some kind of dip and couldn't really concentrate anymore. I felt like it got a little less interesting, but then right before the end it gets super interesting again, so I'm very eager to start the next one.
At some points I kind of felt like I missed something in Benfro his storyline, probably because of the magic stuff that was happening, I couldn't really click some parts together but in the end it all turned out great. I must say, Benfro his storyline was by far my favorite in this book. And a character of the first book is returning in the end of this book which I'm SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT.
Okay, I'm going to start on the 3th book now.
This book reads really quick in the beginning, there were so many things happening, but right before the end I reached some kind of dip and couldn't really concentrate anymore. I felt like it got a little less interesting, but then right before the end it gets super interesting again, so I'm very eager to start the next one.
At some points I kind of felt like I missed something in Benfro his storyline, probably because of the magic stuff that was happening, I couldn't really click some parts together but in the end it all turned out great. I must say, Benfro his storyline was by far my favorite in this book. And a character of the first book is returning in the end of this book which I'm SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT.
Okay, I'm going to start on the 3th book now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2016
The Rose Cord picks up right where Dreamwalker left off. This, I really appreciated. I'm not a fan of when sequels spend the first 20 pages recapping what happened in the preceding book. *ahem* I actually tend to speed read through those. :s
The writing style, pacing and format (?) is still very much like the first book. So I got more of all the things I loved about the first book.
The excerpts from old texts were particularly good at framing my understanding of the chapter that followed. Just that short bit of text revealed so much about the dynamic between dragons and humans, the relationship between dragon and nature, human and nature and the evolution of societies. Love it.
The beautiful world building continues, revealing even more aspects of this magical world that Benfro and Errol, and hence the reader, had no idea about. And as the book reveals more details, it also gives more questions.
I could go on, but I've yammered on for long enough. Suffice to say I'm glad I've already bought the next book... and may pre-order the fourth installment.
The writing style, pacing and format (?) is still very much like the first book. So I got more of all the things I loved about the first book.
The excerpts from old texts were particularly good at framing my understanding of the chapter that followed. Just that short bit of text revealed so much about the dynamic between dragons and humans, the relationship between dragon and nature, human and nature and the evolution of societies. Love it.
The beautiful world building continues, revealing even more aspects of this magical world that Benfro and Errol, and hence the reader, had no idea about. And as the book reveals more details, it also gives more questions.
I could go on, but I've yammered on for long enough. Suffice to say I'm glad I've already bought the next book... and may pre-order the fourth installment.
August 27, 2021
Right, firstly I would say that this book was interesting, but a chore. I think there is something called “too much description”. The 20+ page chapters really dragged throughout the whole book at times and I feel that this was unfortunately down to the excessive description the author was using. It made reading even 1 chapter a sitting difficult without lulling towards sleep.
.
It took me 6months to read this book and therefore I’m not sure my review could do it justice. Things that happened in the beginning seem like a lifetime ago to me know and I am aware of how far all the characters have come since those first pages, but I can only go off of my general feeling after finishing the book.
.
I felt like Benfros chapters were stagnating during times in the book off on his own, and I was just ready for him to reintroduce himself to the characters and get stuff done, instead of the roundabout of learning he seemed to be on.
.
I am interested in the world and I will likely read the third, but I need a good break before coming back. 3 stars feels generous, but I’m sure it is probably in fact quite harsh 😂
.
It took me 6months to read this book and therefore I’m not sure my review could do it justice. Things that happened in the beginning seem like a lifetime ago to me know and I am aware of how far all the characters have come since those first pages, but I can only go off of my general feeling after finishing the book.
.
I felt like Benfros chapters were stagnating during times in the book off on his own, and I was just ready for him to reintroduce himself to the characters and get stuff done, instead of the roundabout of learning he seemed to be on.
.
I am interested in the world and I will likely read the third, but I need a good break before coming back. 3 stars feels generous, but I’m sure it is probably in fact quite harsh 😂
November 29, 2015
This story has me captivated. I went to the library yesterday to get the third book (as the website said it was available) but I couldn't find it - very disappointing!
However back to the book; I love the story and am completely hooked. I can't wait to see what befalls Erroll and Sir benfro and if I hadn't got another book from the library to read I would just have downloaded it on my Kindle.
This is one of only a few series that I have just wanted to get straight into reading the next instalment whereas usually I like to have a break in between. I'm obviously binging on this and although I'm keen to know what happens, I also don't want it to end.... an awesome read :)
However back to the book; I love the story and am completely hooked. I can't wait to see what befalls Erroll and Sir benfro and if I hadn't got another book from the library to read I would just have downloaded it on my Kindle.
This is one of only a few series that I have just wanted to get straight into reading the next instalment whereas usually I like to have a break in between. I'm obviously binging on this and although I'm keen to know what happens, I also don't want it to end.... an awesome read :)
May 5, 2016
3.5 stars.
Review to come
Review to come
January 17, 2017
I enjoyed this for the most part, but found it dragging toward the end. Still excited to read the next one, though.
August 5, 2017
Usually, it takes me a long time to start to read the second of a series without being prompted. This one, I actively sought out shortly after finishing the first, showing that I had enjoyed the first of the series and were eager to find out more. I was not disappointed. In fact, I enjoyed The Rose Cord more than Dreamwalker, mainly as the first of the series had been more about setting the scene and there was more plot in the second book.
The Rose Cord started exactly where Dreamwalker left off, with the death of Benfro’s mother. After finding that he is the only villager alive, Benfro must now make his own way in life. He is not alone for long however, and finds himself being taught by Magog, a great dragon who died many years ago. At the same time, Errol has regained his memories and is now trapped in a life he did not choose, trying to keep his magic hidden from Melyn.
There are many times when Benfro and Errol nearly meet and I found myself excited for the time when it would eventually happen. Their multiple perspectives helped to build tension in the book as sometimes the knowledge of one of them, taught you something important for the other character which they were unaware of. The snippets of information, often from books within the story, at the beginning of each chapter also built tension by teaching the reader things the characters did not know, such as . These bits of information also helped to increase the knowledge of the world the story is set in, information we may not naturally learn through the course of the story.
I have a few speculations over the rest of the series. I am quite sure that we will see Martha again and believe that there is something special about her that we are yet to discover. In the notes I took whilst reading this book, I also wrote that I wondered whether the Shepard was Magog’s brother. I don’t however, remember there being a Shepard so I can’t make any further comment.
Although I read the second in the series not long after the first, and already own the third and fourth, it might take me a while to read the next book. This has nothing to do with my enjoyment of the book but rather the amount of other books I have to read in order to complete different reading challenges I decided to do this year. I am looking forwards to reading the rest of this series (even though I can’t remember what happened at the end of The Rose Cord) and hope that the series continues to be as good as it has been so far.
The Rose Cord started exactly where Dreamwalker left off, with the death of Benfro’s mother. After finding that he is the only villager alive, Benfro must now make his own way in life. He is not alone for long however, and finds himself being taught by Magog, a great dragon who died many years ago. At the same time, Errol has regained his memories and is now trapped in a life he did not choose, trying to keep his magic hidden from Melyn.
There are many times when Benfro and Errol nearly meet and I found myself excited for the time when it would eventually happen. Their multiple perspectives helped to build tension in the book as sometimes the knowledge of one of them, taught you something important for the other character which they were unaware of. The snippets of information, often from books within the story, at the beginning of each chapter also built tension by teaching the reader things the characters did not know, such as . These bits of information also helped to increase the knowledge of the world the story is set in, information we may not naturally learn through the course of the story.
I have a few speculations over the rest of the series. I am quite sure that we will see Martha again and believe that there is something special about her that we are yet to discover. In the notes I took whilst reading this book, I also wrote that I wondered whether the Shepard was Magog’s brother. I don’t however, remember there being a Shepard so I can’t make any further comment.
Although I read the second in the series not long after the first, and already own the third and fourth, it might take me a while to read the next book. This has nothing to do with my enjoyment of the book but rather the amount of other books I have to read in order to complete different reading challenges I decided to do this year. I am looking forwards to reading the rest of this series (even though I can’t remember what happened at the end of The Rose Cord) and hope that the series continues to be as good as it has been so far.
March 29, 2018
I went in to reading this book with an unknown caution since the first book was good but had it's very unique style of story telling which sometimes I didn't appreciate or understand fully, especially the use of Welsh for names of places.
James does a fantastic job of further cleverly explaining the background of his world, the current problems and the state of affairs for the main characters.
I finished reading this book recently and the whole story is ramped up from book one in magnificent style. The ending of this book is amazing and perfect and makes you want to read the third book even more.
It is, in my opinion, a very underrated series of books. I think that James has an excellent style of writing fantasy and I hope in the future he writes more fantasy as I know he writes a lot of crime fiction novels.
Get the first book in the series and hang tight because it is brilliant.
James does a fantastic job of further cleverly explaining the background of his world, the current problems and the state of affairs for the main characters.
I finished reading this book recently and the whole story is ramped up from book one in magnificent style. The ending of this book is amazing and perfect and makes you want to read the third book even more.
It is, in my opinion, a very underrated series of books. I think that James has an excellent style of writing fantasy and I hope in the future he writes more fantasy as I know he writes a lot of crime fiction novels.
Get the first book in the series and hang tight because it is brilliant.
August 5, 2024
Siento que no ha pasado nada en todo el libro exceptuando 3 capítulos y el final???
A ver, si que han pasado muchas cosas. Benfro ha hecho muchas cosas y al pobre Errol le han dado por todos lados. HOWEVER, tiene alguna algún tipo de influencia en el desarrollo de la historia más allá que los 3 últimos capítulos de Benfro y el último de Errol? I dont think.
Also, no los soporto son los dos tontisimos y están todo el rato con la misma historia. Benfro que quiere aprender mucho pero no hace caso ni se fija en nada y Errol te el día llorando por su pasado pero tampoco intenta acordarse xd.
El marco general me sigue interesando mucho y no hay nada que me capte más que un mundo chulo con misterios que descubrir, also MARTA qué personaje tan interesante tiene toda mi atención y deseando que le den el protagonismo que se merece.
3 estrellas que diría que son más por las expectativas que me crea de los otros tres y lo bonito que escribe que por lo que ha sucedido en el libro.
A ver, si que han pasado muchas cosas. Benfro ha hecho muchas cosas y al pobre Errol le han dado por todos lados. HOWEVER, tiene alguna algún tipo de influencia en el desarrollo de la historia más allá que los 3 últimos capítulos de Benfro y el último de Errol? I dont think.
Also, no los soporto son los dos tontisimos y están todo el rato con la misma historia. Benfro que quiere aprender mucho pero no hace caso ni se fija en nada y Errol te el día llorando por su pasado pero tampoco intenta acordarse xd.
El marco general me sigue interesando mucho y no hay nada que me capte más que un mundo chulo con misterios que descubrir, also MARTA qué personaje tan interesante tiene toda mi atención y deseando que le den el protagonismo que se merece.
3 estrellas que diría que son más por las expectativas que me crea de los otros tres y lo bonito que escribe que por lo que ha sucedido en el libro.
May 9, 2017
Book 2 allows us to spy more on the continuous struggles for survival of both Errol and Benfro. Less eventful than the first book, but undoubtedly carving out a great, intense storyline, The Rose Cord introduces new characters with spirit. I did not put this book aside for more than a day. A little less interesting was to see that when the teller shifted to antagonists. Their actions seemed to be set in stone, and though it felt natural to give them attention as well, none of the antagonists seemed to have changed a lot over the course of the book. That was a tad dissatisfying.
Taking it all into account, Errol's and Benfro's stories are far more intricate, as hinted by the fragments of text at the beginning of each chapter. You will not regret this read.
Taking it all into account, Errol's and Benfro's stories are far more intricate, as hinted by the fragments of text at the beginning of each chapter. You will not regret this read.
September 3, 2021
It’s a really slow-paced book. The author apparently loves describing things, and I do wonder sometimes how he managed to get his crime novels popular, or are they slow-paced as well and not thrilling at all?
Well, I do like reading this series though. I love sinking deep into the world he’s created and following the characters into their next adventure.
In this book I especially loved the friendship between Benfro and Malkin. A bit unexpected and unusual but that’s just makes it so beautiful. I just wish Malkin would’ve stick around a bit longer, but perhaps he’ll make an appearance in the next books. I hope so.
Nonetheless, I already bought the 3rd book so let’s head right into it. :D
Well, I do like reading this series though. I love sinking deep into the world he’s created and following the characters into their next adventure.
In this book I especially loved the friendship between Benfro and Malkin. A bit unexpected and unusual but that’s just makes it so beautiful. I just wish Malkin would’ve stick around a bit longer, but perhaps he’ll make an appearance in the next books. I hope so.
Nonetheless, I already bought the 3rd book so let’s head right into it. :D
July 4, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator's work and how he brings the characters and their regional differences to life. The story has definitely picked up pace but is slightly more dreamlike or vague at some moments. But this book does much to explain how this world got to the way it is - the tensions between humans and the dragons in their more humble forms and the magic or "subtle arts" of this world - and takes more time for individual character growth, especially for Benfro. I enjoyed Benfro's arc a lot more than Errol's. I look forward to reading the next one.
July 18, 2017
The Rose Cord definitely had a lot more to it than Dreamwalker had. There was more action and fight and I think this book was more magical than the first.
There is still a lot curiosity and learning involved because of Errol and Benfro's personalities. They have both made the same impression on the "bad guys" and I can't wait for their stories to intertwine, and see what will happen in the next book..
There is still a lot curiosity and learning involved because of Errol and Benfro's personalities. They have both made the same impression on the "bad guys" and I can't wait for their stories to intertwine, and see what will happen in the next book..
March 11, 2018
The second book in the "The Ballad of Sir Benfro" series, and it's a rather good read. A bit slow sometimes as J.D. Oswald from time to time needs a few pages to explain a very simple thing. But on the whole this book is pleasantly paced as we see the lives of Sir Benfro (young dragon, and moren and more possessed by the spirit of the ancient and evil dragon Magog)) and Erroll (youngish boy who simply refuses to die) intertwine.
February 27, 2022
There are 5 books in this series and after reading the first book I was looking forward to reading the whole series. Despite being an interesting read it felt sooo long. The descriptions just go on and on. I love descriptive writing (that's what makes the fantasy genre so fantastical) but not when they are so repetetive. The ending has a good cliff hanger but the built up to it ruined it. I will give the third book a try but I will not commit to finishing it if I find it repetitive.
October 6, 2023
Weird old read, surprisingly repetitive and honestly much too slow. Had been looking forward to the series really getting going after the first book but doubt I'll pick up the next one unfortunately.
And honestly, huge pet peeve, the two main characters seriously lack agency - it really felt like stuff just kept happening to them and they were all wrapped up neatly by fate, not because of anything to do with them.
And honestly, huge pet peeve, the two main characters seriously lack agency - it really felt like stuff just kept happening to them and they were all wrapped up neatly by fate, not because of anything to do with them.
January 20, 2025
4,75 stars
This book was amazing. Both Errols story as Benfros were so compelling and had me laughing or gasping out loud several times. Im so hyped to read the next book in this series, they have both grown a lot and Im curious to see if theyll learn from eachother as well as learn together from Corwen.
Btw I think the "Ruby" Melyn prays to is a dragon jewel from Gog. It cant be only Magog comes into play in this story, his brother has to make an appearance. Right?! For the balance at least.
This book was amazing. Both Errols story as Benfros were so compelling and had me laughing or gasping out loud several times. Im so hyped to read the next book in this series, they have both grown a lot and Im curious to see if theyll learn from eachother as well as learn together from Corwen.
Btw I think the "Ruby" Melyn prays to is a dragon jewel from Gog. It cant be only Magog comes into play in this story, his brother has to make an appearance. Right?! For the balance at least.
February 13, 2018
Didn't like it as much as the first book. Skipped quite a lot of paragraphs about the young dragon. It feels like the first half is more focus on the journey of young dragon and the second half is more about the young boy/man now as time pass.
But the whole plot is getting more interesting! The dragon and the boy showing their special abilities.
But the whole plot is getting more interesting! The dragon and the boy showing their special abilities.
March 10, 2019
Love this series so far. I wanted to be taken away from my daily life and that’s exactly what happened: the setting is vivid, the characters complex and the language is vibrant.
I’m going through a reading and life slump, and I’m grateful to the author for rescuing me out of both.
Already got the next book!
I’m going through a reading and life slump, and I’m grateful to the author for rescuing me out of both.
Already got the next book!
November 2, 2021
Blumin heck lol well young errol ramsbottom been through so much torture this book makes you hate inquisitor melyn and that foul creature Queen beulah. Many points in this book was i thinking give the kid a break. And sir benfro let’s hope magog don’t get his way.
But such is the way a series is written mr oswald thank you loving the series.
But such is the way a series is written mr oswald thank you loving the series.
June 9, 2024
While the plot moves very slow, the way it is written is quite compelling and draws you in. Making you forget that while nothing big has happened you did just read another 100 pages.
The moment I have been waiting for since book 1. Has finally arrived unfortunately for me the book also ends there so part 3 Here I come.
The moment I have been waiting for since book 1. Has finally arrived unfortunately for me the book also ends there so part 3 Here I come.
January 3, 2019
Great again, itching to get my hands on The Golden Cage. Although the second half of this one was a little difficult to read, as both Benfro and Errol spent SO much time being exhausted/cold/in pain!!
April 11, 2020
Excellent story telling- never know whats going to happen next.
Does change perspective too much for me and occasionally so involved in the story end up having to reread paragraph because character changed and i didn't realise! Also excepts start chapter annoying- i never bother reading them.
Does change perspective too much for me and occasionally so involved in the story end up having to reread paragraph because character changed and i didn't realise! Also excepts start chapter annoying- i never bother reading them.
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