What do you think?
Rate this book
The Immortals #1
Shadows & Starstone
A thousand years ago the gods known as The Four created the Immortals to protect and defend their world against an invader known as the Dro-Aconi—and then vanished. Left to fend for themselves, the three races of Ein-Aral and the Immortals banded together to save the world.
Part One: Shadows and Starstone
Ivo, Jaeger, Jadeth, and Emaranthe must protect a desert village and its hoard of Starstone, a power source that can aid the Dro-Aconi’s plans for the dominion over Ein-Aral. Can the companions battle inner demons long enough to defeat legions of enemies and keep the enemy from seizing the Starstone?
Part One: Shadows and Starstone
Ivo, Jaeger, Jadeth, and Emaranthe must protect a desert village and its hoard of Starstone, a power source that can aid the Dro-Aconi’s plans for the dominion over Ein-Aral. Can the companions battle inner demons long enough to defeat legions of enemies and keep the enemy from seizing the Starstone?
119 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2014
134 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl S. Mackey
9 books21 followersI live in Southern California with my adorable hubby and 2 sons. I am a Document Specialist with a mortgage company during the day and a writer during the night!
I have a MFA in Creative Writing and enjoy games, reading and, of course, writing. I grow tall bearded irises and avidly listen to trailer music by groups like Audiomachine, Two Steps from Hell, and Future World Music. I currently have a flash fiction story published online at The Prompt Magazine.
My favorite genre to write and read is YA Fantasy closely followed by YA Paranormal and I would love to dabble in Steam Punk and Dystopian.
I have been writing for myself since I was 13 and using my mother's dinosaur of a typewriter (it was from the fifties I think!) and my father's special resume paper (without his knowledge). Those stories are long gone, but my brain never sleeps without coming up with new ideas. I am also a notoriously SLOW writer because I stress out and OCD over every word, freak out, then redo it. Rinse and repeat and you have why it takes me a year to do a draft.
I have a MFA in Creative Writing and enjoy games, reading and, of course, writing. I grow tall bearded irises and avidly listen to trailer music by groups like Audiomachine, Two Steps from Hell, and Future World Music. I currently have a flash fiction story published online at The Prompt Magazine.
My favorite genre to write and read is YA Fantasy closely followed by YA Paranormal and I would love to dabble in Steam Punk and Dystopian.
I have been writing for myself since I was 13 and using my mother's dinosaur of a typewriter (it was from the fifties I think!) and my father's special resume paper (without his knowledge). Those stories are long gone, but my brain never sleeps without coming up with new ideas. I am also a notoriously SLOW writer because I stress out and OCD over every word, freak out, then redo it. Rinse and repeat and you have why it takes me a year to do a draft.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 2, 2015
Rating: 2/5
This novella was not what I was hoping for. For some reason I could not relate to any of the characters, especially since I felt like the author was trying really hard to make us sympathise with them. Also, even though there was a lot of action, this being a novella featuring four immortal warriors on a quest, I felt bored during the fight scenes. I did get a bit curious though by the ending, but I don't know if it's worth picking the next novella. I will be giving the author's other series a try, though.
All in all, I can't really tell why this one did not really click with me, because it has everything I love on a good epic story, but it surely wasn't for me.
This novella was not what I was hoping for. For some reason I could not relate to any of the characters, especially since I felt like the author was trying really hard to make us sympathise with them. Also, even though there was a lot of action, this being a novella featuring four immortal warriors on a quest, I felt bored during the fight scenes. I did get a bit curious though by the ending, but I don't know if it's worth picking the next novella. I will be giving the author's other series a try, though.
All in all, I can't really tell why this one did not really click with me, because it has everything I love on a good epic story, but it surely wasn't for me.
June 24, 2015
4.5 Cranky Stars!
I read this book for The Book Curmudgeons and give it 4 1/2 stars.
I loved this young adult novella and prequel to The Unknown Sun. It helps establish the character’s background. Each character has a gift or talent from the Gods. All four ride horses and seem to be single minded in their resolve to complete their mission. It reminded me of the Dungeons and Dragons games I played as a kid. We almost always were victorious at our quests because we had a healer and wizard and burly warriors and we always seemed to work together well - just like the characters in this fantasy series.
I like that they are not just empty characters killing bad guys. They each have a secret – a longing – an ironic twist of fate. It has a great concept having the immortal beings remembering past lives. I was glad that the heroes had fear and other emotions. I loved that the characters didn't wear skimpy clothing which is so unrealistic for a warrior to wear. In other words this is not a fantasy story written by a twelve year old little boy, but a novella with heart and promise.
From page one the reader is hooked as a stranger wanders into a small town to share a communal bonfire. The first character, Emaranthe, saunters into a village, which leaves the people wondering who this small girl in the dark hood could be. She wears her long blonde hair in plaits and has golden eyes. The bravest town’s person was Aggie and she seems to be the spokesperson for this mining town. Even after Emaranthe tells Aggie and the others there is an evil coming they seem to scoff and ask lots of questions. The other three arrive soon after Emaranthe.
It is with the arrival of the others that the town’s people seem to take the words of Emaranthe to heart and hide. The elf, Jadeth, was a tall thin creature with blue eyes and red hair---a healer, though they were afraid of her, but it was really the warning of doom that gripped them. The other two warriors were brothers who wore full armor and a helmet. It is Jaeger, one of the brothers, that introduces the starstones as powerful. If he succeeds the races would be killed and the land would be laid barren. It is up to the four heroes to save the world.
The plot unfolds in the desert around the town, where the starstone mines are. The battles include lots of working together and also strong female roles. As the battle for the starstones ensues, the author uses flashbacks to explain each character’s mindset and why they have the talents they have.
The sophisticated flashbacks helped this reader understand the mindset of the characters and feel for them. I hope in future books the evil side will become more developed. I also want to know more about the rulers and the four gods. Is this a past earth, like the Lord of the Rings, because the author mentions horses and coyotes? I am so happy that I have a new series to read and recommend to boys and girls 12 and up.
I read this book for The Book Curmudgeons and give it 4 1/2 stars.
I loved this young adult novella and prequel to The Unknown Sun. It helps establish the character’s background. Each character has a gift or talent from the Gods. All four ride horses and seem to be single minded in their resolve to complete their mission. It reminded me of the Dungeons and Dragons games I played as a kid. We almost always were victorious at our quests because we had a healer and wizard and burly warriors and we always seemed to work together well - just like the characters in this fantasy series.
I like that they are not just empty characters killing bad guys. They each have a secret – a longing – an ironic twist of fate. It has a great concept having the immortal beings remembering past lives. I was glad that the heroes had fear and other emotions. I loved that the characters didn't wear skimpy clothing which is so unrealistic for a warrior to wear. In other words this is not a fantasy story written by a twelve year old little boy, but a novella with heart and promise.
From page one the reader is hooked as a stranger wanders into a small town to share a communal bonfire. The first character, Emaranthe, saunters into a village, which leaves the people wondering who this small girl in the dark hood could be. She wears her long blonde hair in plaits and has golden eyes. The bravest town’s person was Aggie and she seems to be the spokesperson for this mining town. Even after Emaranthe tells Aggie and the others there is an evil coming they seem to scoff and ask lots of questions. The other three arrive soon after Emaranthe.
It is with the arrival of the others that the town’s people seem to take the words of Emaranthe to heart and hide. The elf, Jadeth, was a tall thin creature with blue eyes and red hair---a healer, though they were afraid of her, but it was really the warning of doom that gripped them. The other two warriors were brothers who wore full armor and a helmet. It is Jaeger, one of the brothers, that introduces the starstones as powerful. If he succeeds the races would be killed and the land would be laid barren. It is up to the four heroes to save the world.
The plot unfolds in the desert around the town, where the starstone mines are. The battles include lots of working together and also strong female roles. As the battle for the starstones ensues, the author uses flashbacks to explain each character’s mindset and why they have the talents they have.
The sophisticated flashbacks helped this reader understand the mindset of the characters and feel for them. I hope in future books the evil side will become more developed. I also want to know more about the rulers and the four gods. Is this a past earth, like the Lord of the Rings, because the author mentions horses and coyotes? I am so happy that I have a new series to read and recommend to boys and girls 12 and up.
January 29, 2015
In a world under siege from a race known as the Dro-Aconi, four gods gathered long ago, formed an alliance, creating immortal protectors of the world in time of strife. Feeling their work was complete and the world would be safe because of their immortal warriors, each with their own strengths, the gods disappeared, and the world was let on its own.
How do conquering demons take over other peoples? By use of their power and might, but can they be stopped this time? The goal is to steal all of the starstone, and hoard this vital source of energy. Arriving quietly, in the nick of time, the four immortals find their own fears and pasts may become their own worst enemy as some relive the horrors of the dark shadows from their past lives as mortals. Will they be weakened to the point of being overcome, beaten down and have their physical bodies killed, meaning their souls will need to find a new host? Will they find the inner strength to beat their demons?
The Immortals: Part One: Shadows & Starstones by Cheryl Mackey is an excellent, complete, yet brief ride through myth, magic and fantasy. She has managed to mold her characters into flesh and blood while ramping up the suspense and action with great dialogue and scenes. I could picture heroes quietly arriving, with a mission in mind, all for the glory of good. My only complaint? I could have kept reading about these heroes for hours more, thanks to Ms. Mackey’s way with words.
I received this copy from Cheryl Mackey in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Immortals - Part 1
Publication Date: December 31, 2014
Publisher: Cheryl Mackey
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 78 pages
Available from: Amazon
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
How do conquering demons take over other peoples? By use of their power and might, but can they be stopped this time? The goal is to steal all of the starstone, and hoard this vital source of energy. Arriving quietly, in the nick of time, the four immortals find their own fears and pasts may become their own worst enemy as some relive the horrors of the dark shadows from their past lives as mortals. Will they be weakened to the point of being overcome, beaten down and have their physical bodies killed, meaning their souls will need to find a new host? Will they find the inner strength to beat their demons?
The Immortals: Part One: Shadows & Starstones by Cheryl Mackey is an excellent, complete, yet brief ride through myth, magic and fantasy. She has managed to mold her characters into flesh and blood while ramping up the suspense and action with great dialogue and scenes. I could picture heroes quietly arriving, with a mission in mind, all for the glory of good. My only complaint? I could have kept reading about these heroes for hours more, thanks to Ms. Mackey’s way with words.
I received this copy from Cheryl Mackey in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Immortals - Part 1
Publication Date: December 31, 2014
Publisher: Cheryl Mackey
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 78 pages
Available from: Amazon
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
April 19, 2022
There are several points of view that one can throw into a novel. Some work, some don’t, and really it depends on the writer. The most common (in my experience and not because I researched this) is the third-person limited. That is, the story is told from the point of a view of a character and internal thoughts of others are unknown. The point of view can shift, but there is almost always an obvious break (scene or chapter) to indicate this. A cousin to the third-person limited is first person–again, internal thoughts or even motivations of other characters are out of the purview of the narrator. Unless you’re a god, how would you know?
Another method of writing is the third-person omniscient point of view, which essentially means the writer has the freedom to bounce from person to person, motivation to motivation, thought to thought, feeling to feeling. This can be done, but it can also be very confusing. Unfortunately, this was what I faced with Shadows & Starstone (The Immortals, Part One) by Cheryl S. Mackey. There were too many times when I believed I was in the point of view of one character and things shifted on me. That made parts of the novella very confusing, especially during some of the fight scenes.
Shadows & Starstone (The Immortals, Part One) is a not a bad read. It is a novella, and a prologue to the rest of the series. I’m not against being introduced to a world in this way, but it makes it difficult for the reader to become invested in the world. In fact, I rather enjoyed the plot: four immortals must protect a village and its supply of a power source that can help an invader–the Dro-Aconi–gain complete power. The fight scenes were well thought out, and the interplay between the characters of Ivo, Jaeger, Jadeth and Emaranthe was entertaining.
It is very hard to introduce a fantasy world that has to be built from nothing in 119 pages, and if the reader is unable to connect with the characters because of shifting POVs, then the task is that much harder. All this to say, however, that I will continue the series. The three books in the series are short, and I really think if this was presented to me as a full novel I would have been more engaged. I would recommend Shadows & Starstone (The Immortals, Part One), but only if you see as part of one novel and not something that can stand alone.
Another method of writing is the third-person omniscient point of view, which essentially means the writer has the freedom to bounce from person to person, motivation to motivation, thought to thought, feeling to feeling. This can be done, but it can also be very confusing. Unfortunately, this was what I faced with Shadows & Starstone (The Immortals, Part One) by Cheryl S. Mackey. There were too many times when I believed I was in the point of view of one character and things shifted on me. That made parts of the novella very confusing, especially during some of the fight scenes.
Shadows & Starstone (The Immortals, Part One) is a not a bad read. It is a novella, and a prologue to the rest of the series. I’m not against being introduced to a world in this way, but it makes it difficult for the reader to become invested in the world. In fact, I rather enjoyed the plot: four immortals must protect a village and its supply of a power source that can help an invader–the Dro-Aconi–gain complete power. The fight scenes were well thought out, and the interplay between the characters of Ivo, Jaeger, Jadeth and Emaranthe was entertaining.
It is very hard to introduce a fantasy world that has to be built from nothing in 119 pages, and if the reader is unable to connect with the characters because of shifting POVs, then the task is that much harder. All this to say, however, that I will continue the series. The three books in the series are short, and I really think if this was presented to me as a full novel I would have been more engaged. I would recommend Shadows & Starstone (The Immortals, Part One), but only if you see as part of one novel and not something that can stand alone.
June 29, 2021
I don't normally go for high fantasy, but this one kept my interest! Emaranthe, Jaeger, Ivo, and Jadeth are characters you root for from the start. Mackey is great with setting and keeping an ominous tone throughout. Her battle scenes are great, too! Would recommend!
July 1, 2015
The Immortals, Part One: Shadows and Starstone is a novella by Cheryl S. Mackey. It is part of the Fate Series and it is a prequel of sorts to her full-length novel, The Unknown Sun. This story takes place in a world where evil Dro-Aconi are fighting for dominance and control. Four heroes must work together to protect a small village from being destroyed by the Dro-Aconi. These heroes are Immortals, souls chosen by The Four to become immortal and stand as protectors of all of the races.
I enjoyed this story and I read it leading up to The Unknown Sun, knowing that it took place long before that story, but in the same universe. I enjoyed the world building and the characters. As a novella, there wasn't much to work with in terms of adding a lot of depth to the story but The Immortals did as much as it could to grab the reader's attention in a short amount of pages.
The world in The Immortals is fascinating. First of all, the idea of The Four creating Immortals was intriguing. Being immortal and having powers is an interesting idea and the four needing to work together to save the village had a lot of tension. These four heroes are immortal and have been working together for centuries. It was nice to see their connections to each other and how they interact after so much time in each other's company.
The magic system was interesting as well. Each immortal has a different elemental magic that they can use to fight the forces of evil. The evil forces are incorporeal and must use necromantic magic to control mortals who stumble into their path. I liked the various forms of magic and the way they could work together to thwart the big bad.
The only issue I had with this novel is that there wasn't as much character development as I would have liked. Given that the story is so short, we didn't get that much time to get to know the inner workings of our main characters.
If you have read or are planning to read The Unknown Sun, i recommend checking this novella out. It will add a lot of backstory and depth to that book.
Visit Vicarious Caytastrophe for this review and many more!
I enjoyed this story and I read it leading up to The Unknown Sun, knowing that it took place long before that story, but in the same universe. I enjoyed the world building and the characters. As a novella, there wasn't much to work with in terms of adding a lot of depth to the story but The Immortals did as much as it could to grab the reader's attention in a short amount of pages.
The world in The Immortals is fascinating. First of all, the idea of The Four creating Immortals was intriguing. Being immortal and having powers is an interesting idea and the four needing to work together to save the village had a lot of tension. These four heroes are immortal and have been working together for centuries. It was nice to see their connections to each other and how they interact after so much time in each other's company.
The magic system was interesting as well. Each immortal has a different elemental magic that they can use to fight the forces of evil. The evil forces are incorporeal and must use necromantic magic to control mortals who stumble into their path. I liked the various forms of magic and the way they could work together to thwart the big bad.
The only issue I had with this novel is that there wasn't as much character development as I would have liked. Given that the story is so short, we didn't get that much time to get to know the inner workings of our main characters.
If you have read or are planning to read The Unknown Sun, i recommend checking this novella out. It will add a lot of backstory and depth to that book.
Visit Vicarious Caytastrophe for this review and many more!January 14, 2015
I had read "The Unknown Sun" quite awhile ago, and was very excited to see this new release from this author. My excitement grew when I discovered that the events in this book take place in the same world as the other book, though some time in the past.
I'm going to do this review in reverse for my own reasons, but to start there were a few misses in my eyes. The POV follows the four main characters and switches frequently throughout. This makes the battle scenes, in particular, hard to follow when it seems to jump to an enemy and right back to one of the Heroes.
The dialogue is well done, but a little flat. Many of the characters seem to embody the same personality and speech patterns.
These issues aside, "The Immortals" is a homerun in the creativity department. Taking worldbuilding that rivals more seasoned authors, and combining it with both familiar and unseen fantasy elements show a young author stretching her wings.
While the characters talk a little much an often, where Mackey hits home is her narration. Her words keep the story moving at a great pace making it hard to put down.
I recommend this story, and this author, to anyone. 3.75/5*s for "The Immortals"
I'm going to do this review in reverse for my own reasons, but to start there were a few misses in my eyes. The POV follows the four main characters and switches frequently throughout. This makes the battle scenes, in particular, hard to follow when it seems to jump to an enemy and right back to one of the Heroes.
The dialogue is well done, but a little flat. Many of the characters seem to embody the same personality and speech patterns.
These issues aside, "The Immortals" is a homerun in the creativity department. Taking worldbuilding that rivals more seasoned authors, and combining it with both familiar and unseen fantasy elements show a young author stretching her wings.
While the characters talk a little much an often, where Mackey hits home is her narration. Her words keep the story moving at a great pace making it hard to put down.
I recommend this story, and this author, to anyone. 3.75/5*s for "The Immortals"
November 9, 2015
I really enjoyed this novella. It was fast-paced and had great world building. It drew me in quickly and kept my interest throughout.
We follow four Immortals (warriors with the power of reincarnation that were chosen by The Four, who are missing gods) as they try to protect an innocent village and its mine from the threat of demons and Death. Each of the four has a unique power and it was interesting to see how they used their powers to work together and defeat the demons.
I also liked the glimpses of their pasts that were woven into the story without being too intrusive with the action. It really grounded the characters and helped to show their reasons for being the way they are.
Emaranthe is an enigma that I would definitely like to read more about. There are so many unanswered questions about her.
The end was slow, but made sense. There were a couple of small foreshadowing points for a sequel and I'm intrigued as to where the story could be heading.
We follow four Immortals (warriors with the power of reincarnation that were chosen by The Four, who are missing gods) as they try to protect an innocent village and its mine from the threat of demons and Death. Each of the four has a unique power and it was interesting to see how they used their powers to work together and defeat the demons.
I also liked the glimpses of their pasts that were woven into the story without being too intrusive with the action. It really grounded the characters and helped to show their reasons for being the way they are.
Emaranthe is an enigma that I would definitely like to read more about. There are so many unanswered questions about her.
The end was slow, but made sense. There were a couple of small foreshadowing points for a sequel and I'm intrigued as to where the story could be heading.
August 14, 2015
I think this was a good book. I loved that each Immortal had a different power. I enjoyed finding out and learning more about the characters and the powers. This book kept me interested and wanting to read more. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
March 17, 2022
~About
Emaranthe, an immortal, has been sent to protect the village of Stone Hold from a coming evil which is after the starstone being mined there. It is said to be the last of the starstone in all of Ein-Aral, able to permit the use of portals by the immortal’s greatest foe. With the help of her three immortal companions, Emaranthe must protect the starstone and deter any would be enemies from laying claim to it.
~Characters
As this was a relatively short story, the characters weren’t described in too much depth.
Emaranthe, an immortal master of fire views immortality as a cruel joke and deep down, she feels like a monster. She hides a tragic past behind a seemingly young body, actually being more than 300 years old. She has no past memories and doesn’t truly know who she is.
Her companions Jaeger (master of seas and rivers), Ivo (master of wind and sky), and Jadeth (an Elven healer) are all loyal and caring, each with their own brief backstory mentioned in the story.
The enemy they encounter when fighting on a mountain-side, Alarandia, bears the title of necromancer, possessing the ability to reanimate the dead. A servant of the immortal’s worst enemy, Alarandia secretly longs to be free of the burden placed upon her.
~Positive Aspects
There were several positive elements to this story, which I have detailed below:
-I liked how the author dove straight into the story, explaining the main character’s core goal and giving us a glimpse into her backstory.
-The story is short yet detailed, and easy to read in one or two brief sittings.
-I liked how we got a glimpse into all of the immortal’s pasts, to learn where they came from and how they each came to be an immortal.
~Negative Aspects
There were also some negatives to the story which I’ve included below:
-A lot happens in a short space of time. As a result of this, it became difficult to keep up with the information being thrown at me.
-Even though it was a short novella, I thought more would have happened than one fight and lots of backstory. To me, it didn’t feel quite like a finished story, more like one main event.
~Overview
Overall, Shadows and Starstone was an intriguing start to a new fantasy series, however, I would have personally liked more to have happened.
Themes included immortality, duty, and war.
My Rating: 3 stars.
Recommended to: lovers of short fantasy novellas with interesting character backstories.
March 26, 2022
The immortals
By
Cheryl S Mackey
Their gods betrayed them and turned them into warriors against their will. Now, the Immortals must do everything they can to stop a 15,000-year long war.
Immortals Ivo, Jaeger, Jadeth, and Emaranthe are tasked by the Unknown Sun to protect a desert village to keep its secret. Their mines hide starstone - the power source used to create the great portals that can transport entire armies across the lands.
The Dro-Aconi and his tainted horde of zombies, demons, and dark mages will stop at nothing to get it.
Welcome to Ein-Aral...where nothing is as it seems.
©2014 Cheryl S. Mackey (P)2020 Cheryl S. Mackey
Stories are beautiful, dare I call them magic? Okay, let’s say that, only if they are told well. And Rodney Peel narrates Cheryl S. Mackey’s novel with a passion the likes of which I’ve not heard in a while.
Immortals is the beginning of a truly engrossing tale of which I fail to categorise. Maybe it’s fantasy, action or adventure? But as a fan of horror, I couldn’t help feeling my flesh crawl with delight when…well, I won’t spoil it for you.
Eternal life: a gift in a time of peace and serenity, is the idyllic dream of the idealistic, but when the veil of war darkens and looms heavy, forever is a curse. What was once a sea of tranquillity, of free will and hope, is now slowly flowing, thickening like black poison, evil eddying beneath the surface where stillness and peace once resided.
It is a moral tale of the responsibility that comes with great power. The fear of living forever in a world where the evil dead refuse to lie still, their will to destroy almost as potent as an immortal’s dream of death.
The author is a storm chaser, she’ll hold your hand but beware. Expect to be pushed into the eye of the hurricane.
A tale of fantasy and bloodshed, zombies and skeleton armies. An assault on the senses. I look forward to the second book of this series.
I award the book 5 stars.
Thank you, Cheryl S. Mackey, for sharing your work with The Book Dragon.
Andrew Bell, Official Lead Reviewer of Audio Fiction for The Book Dragon.
By
Cheryl S Mackey
Their gods betrayed them and turned them into warriors against their will. Now, the Immortals must do everything they can to stop a 15,000-year long war.
Immortals Ivo, Jaeger, Jadeth, and Emaranthe are tasked by the Unknown Sun to protect a desert village to keep its secret. Their mines hide starstone - the power source used to create the great portals that can transport entire armies across the lands.
The Dro-Aconi and his tainted horde of zombies, demons, and dark mages will stop at nothing to get it.
Welcome to Ein-Aral...where nothing is as it seems.
©2014 Cheryl S. Mackey (P)2020 Cheryl S. Mackey
Stories are beautiful, dare I call them magic? Okay, let’s say that, only if they are told well. And Rodney Peel narrates Cheryl S. Mackey’s novel with a passion the likes of which I’ve not heard in a while.
Immortals is the beginning of a truly engrossing tale of which I fail to categorise. Maybe it’s fantasy, action or adventure? But as a fan of horror, I couldn’t help feeling my flesh crawl with delight when…well, I won’t spoil it for you.
Eternal life: a gift in a time of peace and serenity, is the idyllic dream of the idealistic, but when the veil of war darkens and looms heavy, forever is a curse. What was once a sea of tranquillity, of free will and hope, is now slowly flowing, thickening like black poison, evil eddying beneath the surface where stillness and peace once resided.
It is a moral tale of the responsibility that comes with great power. The fear of living forever in a world where the evil dead refuse to lie still, their will to destroy almost as potent as an immortal’s dream of death.
The author is a storm chaser, she’ll hold your hand but beware. Expect to be pushed into the eye of the hurricane.
A tale of fantasy and bloodshed, zombies and skeleton armies. An assault on the senses. I look forward to the second book of this series.
I award the book 5 stars.
Thank you, Cheryl S. Mackey, for sharing your work with The Book Dragon.
Andrew Bell, Official Lead Reviewer of Audio Fiction for The Book Dragon.
June 30, 2019
Fans of World or Warcraft & DragonLance may enjoy.
The Immortals is a serialized prequel to Cheryl S. Mackey's The Unknown Sun (Destiny series).
As a new reader, it was difficult to get my bearings in the land of Ein-Aral. There is not much world-building up front which is good for getting to the action but provides little context. The author gives us immediate setting, but the bigger picture remains vague.
The writing is decent. There is some nice imagery but also lots of repetitive descriptions.
I most enjoyed the character development in this story... the mystery of their pasts (how they are tormented by memories or the lack thereof)... the hint of relationships beyond that of comrades (Ivo seems enamored of Emaranthe and even though Jaeger still mourns for his wife and daughter and clings to the hope of their survival and reunion, he has a special concern for the elf Jadeth)... the secrets they keep even from one another.
Their existence itself is compelling. Though Immortals, they are not immune to death. Rather, they are reincarnated, coming back with different names and different bodies with a piece of their souls sacrificed to rebirth. The ultimate risk they face is not zombies, shadow soldiers, or necromancers, but losing themselves and each other (maybe the only thing that makes their existence worthwhile). I would have liked to see how the foursome formed.
I think the character relationships (brotherhood, camaraderie, friendship & maybe more) make this series worth continuing.
The Immortals is a serialized prequel to Cheryl S. Mackey's The Unknown Sun (Destiny series).
As a new reader, it was difficult to get my bearings in the land of Ein-Aral. There is not much world-building up front which is good for getting to the action but provides little context. The author gives us immediate setting, but the bigger picture remains vague.
The writing is decent. There is some nice imagery but also lots of repetitive descriptions.
I most enjoyed the character development in this story... the mystery of their pasts (how they are tormented by memories or the lack thereof)... the hint of relationships beyond that of comrades (Ivo seems enamored of Emaranthe and even though Jaeger still mourns for his wife and daughter and clings to the hope of their survival and reunion, he has a special concern for the elf Jadeth)... the secrets they keep even from one another.
Their existence itself is compelling. Though Immortals, they are not immune to death. Rather, they are reincarnated, coming back with different names and different bodies with a piece of their souls sacrificed to rebirth. The ultimate risk they face is not zombies, shadow soldiers, or necromancers, but losing themselves and each other (maybe the only thing that makes their existence worthwhile). I would have liked to see how the foursome formed.
I think the character relationships (brotherhood, camaraderie, friendship & maybe more) make this series worth continuing.
June 3, 2020
This review was originally posted to https://tinyurl.com/yahokstw.
When the gods unleash a great darkness onto the planet they must leave the world with some defense. Their decision is to make certain humans into immortals to fight the great battles. They themselves also became these immortal mortals, but have lost their memories. But, what if you didn't want to become an immortal and seek only the peace of death? Many years after the gods made this decision battles against the darkness continue as Emaranthe, Ivo, Jaegar, and Jadeth travel to a mining village to keep the starstone safe. When faced with skeletons, zombies, and a necromancer is it possible for them to save the town and it's secret?
While I think this was a good book I am not fond of books that leave off before the story is finished as I have often-times stated. I enjoy a good battle as much as the next girl, but almost 4 hours and I feel like it was little more than an intro into a story. I liked the characters and would have liked to know more about them, but I won't be getting any more of these books as I prefer books to be the full story all in one book, not broken into parts. If you are fond of books that leave off then enjoy this.
When the gods unleash a great darkness onto the planet they must leave the world with some defense. Their decision is to make certain humans into immortals to fight the great battles. They themselves also became these immortal mortals, but have lost their memories. But, what if you didn't want to become an immortal and seek only the peace of death? Many years after the gods made this decision battles against the darkness continue as Emaranthe, Ivo, Jaegar, and Jadeth travel to a mining village to keep the starstone safe. When faced with skeletons, zombies, and a necromancer is it possible for them to save the town and it's secret?
While I think this was a good book I am not fond of books that leave off before the story is finished as I have often-times stated. I enjoy a good battle as much as the next girl, but almost 4 hours and I feel like it was little more than an intro into a story. I liked the characters and would have liked to know more about them, but I won't be getting any more of these books as I prefer books to be the full story all in one book, not broken into parts. If you are fond of books that leave off then enjoy this.
June 23, 2019
This story is definitely more plot than character driven. The action starts very quickly and there is an aura of mystery to the religion and world itself.
More time could definitely have been spent on the characters. We are plunged into the action very quickly but we haven’t really had time to get to know the characters yet so the peril doesn’t feel quite as real. That is the big problem with the story overall—it moves far too quickly. It makes it confusing and unfulfilling at times. More time would have really added flavor.
Overall though, this is a fun and exciting fantasy piece. I am still intrigued enough to look forward to the next installment and I am interested in exploring more of this world.
More time could definitely have been spent on the characters. We are plunged into the action very quickly but we haven’t really had time to get to know the characters yet so the peril doesn’t feel quite as real. That is the big problem with the story overall—it moves far too quickly. It makes it confusing and unfulfilling at times. More time would have really added flavor.
Overall though, this is a fun and exciting fantasy piece. I am still intrigued enough to look forward to the next installment and I am interested in exploring more of this world.
January 21, 2021
An interesting thought on immortality
Narrator: pleasant voice, differentiations could be better
Language: mild
Violence: battles with zombies, charring flesh, skeletons
Sexual content: attention is paid to physiques, described “budding breasts”
Parents: ideation of death is a major theme but makes sense given the nature of the characters immortality. Dungeons and Dragons type battles and characters, I would advise readers be at least 16.
Story: the story is slow yet passes quickly, this is primarily a set-up type of novel so I’m more forgiving of the choppiness and lack of clarity in favor of reading the sequel.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Narrator: pleasant voice, differentiations could be better
Language: mild
Violence: battles with zombies, charring flesh, skeletons
Sexual content: attention is paid to physiques, described “budding breasts”
Parents: ideation of death is a major theme but makes sense given the nature of the characters immortality. Dungeons and Dragons type battles and characters, I would advise readers be at least 16.
Story: the story is slow yet passes quickly, this is primarily a set-up type of novel so I’m more forgiving of the choppiness and lack of clarity in favor of reading the sequel.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
November 4, 2024
My favourite thing about this one is the old school fantasy RPG vibes. You’ve got a great ensemble of heroes, each with unique powers and weapons and personalities, and they’re all working together to accomplish a goal. On top of that, there’s a bigger story unfolding that will be explored in the next two novellas.
I love fantasy that’s hopeful and has characters fighting against chaos and darkness. I do like darker fantasy, as well, but there’s something so fun and escapist about this brand of fantasy.
On to book 2!
I love fantasy that’s hopeful and has characters fighting against chaos and darkness. I do like darker fantasy, as well, but there’s something so fun and escapist about this brand of fantasy.
On to book 2!
March 13, 2018
This was a good start to the Immortals series, I think. I liked the story premise and well-drawn out characters but had a hard time following where they were at or what exactly was going on. Maybe fleshing out this novella and turning it into a full-length novel would give it more depth.
However, the story had a lot of action and great characters.
I'd be interested in seeing what happens next.
However, the story had a lot of action and great characters.
I'd be interested in seeing what happens next.
March 15, 2021
Four immortals are tasked with defending a village and the mines of starstone. Details emerge as to who or what is behind the attacks.
Cheryl S. Mackey has built a very detailed world and storyline. We are left with an insight of what it to come in the next book, and I’m hooked. I’m looking forward to continuing on.
I really enjoyed Rodney Peel’s narration. He performed with so much feeling.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
Cheryl S. Mackey has built a very detailed world and storyline. We are left with an insight of what it to come in the next book, and I’m hooked. I’m looking forward to continuing on.
I really enjoyed Rodney Peel’s narration. He performed with so much feeling.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
June 28, 2021
Cracking little read, Four Immortals have come to defend a desert villages secret from an evil necromancer, sent by the Dark Lord Dro-Aconi, action packed each wielding their own different magical weapons and causing devastation to the enemy, great characters, plot and just so awesomely good, I will definitely be reading the rest of this series, highly recommended...😁
December 7, 2019
Wow, zombies, demons, and dark mages oh my! This is a fast-paced fantasy that has wonderfully developed characters and a great storyline that certainly grabbed my attention!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 31, 2022
Fight on the mountain!
This is a quest story. Jaegar, Jadeth, Ivo, and Emaranthe are sent to protect a village from the perils of the Necromancer. I found this book by Cheryl S. Mackey to by very much an action packed adventure. I think that it was most interesting!
This is a quest story. Jaegar, Jadeth, Ivo, and Emaranthe are sent to protect a village from the perils of the Necromancer. I found this book by Cheryl S. Mackey to by very much an action packed adventure. I think that it was most interesting!
September 7, 2020
Intriguing
A very good fantasy novella. I am very interested in each character`s backstory and how they gained their powers and why the powers they bestow.
A very good fantasy novella. I am very interested in each character`s backstory and how they gained their powers and why the powers they bestow.
October 5, 2020
Too short.
It's like a long chapter. It peaked my interest, but I don't buy books that take me 30 minutes to read.
It's like a long chapter. It peaked my interest, but I don't buy books that take me 30 minutes to read.
August 30, 2022
Enjoyed it. Fascinating worldbuilding, elemental magic, suspense, great battle
April 12, 2016
A thousand years ago the gods known as The Four created the Immortals to protect and defend their world against an invader known as the Dro-Aconi—and then vanished. Left to fend for themselves, the three races of Ein-Aral and the Immortals banded together to save the world.
Ivo, Jaeger, Jadeth, and Emaranthe must protect a desert village and its hoard of Starstone. Can the companions battle inner demons long enough to defeat legions of enemies and keep the enemy from stealing the Starstone, or is this merely the beginning of an even greater quest?
I’m not going to bury the lede here: I’m giving Shadows & Starstone – Part One of The Immortals – 3 out of 5 stars. Cheryl Mackey has written an enjoyable tale set in a world filled with mystery, magic and intrigue. There is an amazing story here and the reader will definitely want to keep reading more stories set in the world of her novel, The Unknown Sun.
Mackey does a great job of world building, setting the tone and pace for her future stories. There is a lot of action and the story and character development move along quite nicely.
As a former World of Warcraft player (Level 80 Dwarf Hunter – “For the Alliance!”) the story and our heroic class-based band of warriors felt very much like a raiding scenario, or what we geeks refer to as “an Instance”: a mage with AOE, a druid-like healer, and two DPS Warrior Brothers battling progressively harder mobs or enemies till the fight culminates in an intense Boss Battle.
I very much enjoyed this story, however, it fails in some places, which is why I started the review with praise. I don’t want deter you from reading this series, but it did have a few issues.
The battle scenes are overly described. The final half of the novella is essentially a slow motion fight scene where we see every drop of sweat fall slowly to the ground, every look and gaze made by our heroes, every furrowed brow slowly furrowing and weapons being slowly drawn, dropped, and picked up again. It’s like one of those slow motion fight scenes in a movie where the bad guy fires a gun and for what seems like ten minutes all you see is the flash from the gun, the bullet slowly leaving the barrel, the casing being slowly discharged and falling slowly to the ground as the bullet moves across space, (again slowly) towards the intended victim. It’s a cool scene, but sometimes it’s over used.
There is a certin obsessiveness with the description of the physical movements of eyes, other facial movements or responses. (furrowed brows, gazing eyes, upturned mouths, smirks, braids and hair movement, gasp, hisses, etc.) Used occasionally, these physical movements tell their own story. Used repetitively it becomes, well, repetitive.
In the end, Mackey’s story shines and THAT is the magic of the novella. The characters are richly drawn, the world is vast and mysterious, and the hints of dangers and evils to come kept me engrossed till the end. I look forward to further exploring this world.
I was provided a free copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review. I hope you take a chance on this amazing author and give The Immortals, Part One a chance. Again, I give this 3 out of 5 stars.
I recently had the wonderful opportunity to interview Cheryl Mackey, (You can read the full interview At www.astoundingbooks.wordpress.com
Ivo, Jaeger, Jadeth, and Emaranthe must protect a desert village and its hoard of Starstone. Can the companions battle inner demons long enough to defeat legions of enemies and keep the enemy from stealing the Starstone, or is this merely the beginning of an even greater quest?
I’m not going to bury the lede here: I’m giving Shadows & Starstone – Part One of The Immortals – 3 out of 5 stars. Cheryl Mackey has written an enjoyable tale set in a world filled with mystery, magic and intrigue. There is an amazing story here and the reader will definitely want to keep reading more stories set in the world of her novel, The Unknown Sun.
Mackey does a great job of world building, setting the tone and pace for her future stories. There is a lot of action and the story and character development move along quite nicely.
As a former World of Warcraft player (Level 80 Dwarf Hunter – “For the Alliance!”) the story and our heroic class-based band of warriors felt very much like a raiding scenario, or what we geeks refer to as “an Instance”: a mage with AOE, a druid-like healer, and two DPS Warrior Brothers battling progressively harder mobs or enemies till the fight culminates in an intense Boss Battle.
I very much enjoyed this story, however, it fails in some places, which is why I started the review with praise. I don’t want deter you from reading this series, but it did have a few issues.
The battle scenes are overly described. The final half of the novella is essentially a slow motion fight scene where we see every drop of sweat fall slowly to the ground, every look and gaze made by our heroes, every furrowed brow slowly furrowing and weapons being slowly drawn, dropped, and picked up again. It’s like one of those slow motion fight scenes in a movie where the bad guy fires a gun and for what seems like ten minutes all you see is the flash from the gun, the bullet slowly leaving the barrel, the casing being slowly discharged and falling slowly to the ground as the bullet moves across space, (again slowly) towards the intended victim. It’s a cool scene, but sometimes it’s over used.
There is a certin obsessiveness with the description of the physical movements of eyes, other facial movements or responses. (furrowed brows, gazing eyes, upturned mouths, smirks, braids and hair movement, gasp, hisses, etc.) Used occasionally, these physical movements tell their own story. Used repetitively it becomes, well, repetitive.
In the end, Mackey’s story shines and THAT is the magic of the novella. The characters are richly drawn, the world is vast and mysterious, and the hints of dangers and evils to come kept me engrossed till the end. I look forward to further exploring this world.
I was provided a free copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review. I hope you take a chance on this amazing author and give The Immortals, Part One a chance. Again, I give this 3 out of 5 stars.
I recently had the wonderful opportunity to interview Cheryl Mackey, (You can read the full interview At www.astoundingbooks.wordpress.com
August 15, 2015
Review of The Immortals: Part One Shadows & Starstone by Cheryl S. Mackey
I read this book for The Book Curmudgeons and give it 4 1/2 stars.
I loved this young adult novella. It is the prequel to The Unknown Sun and helps establish the character’s background. Each character has a gift or talent from the Gods. All four ride horses and seem to be single minded in their resolve to complete their mission. It reminded me of the Dungeons and Dragons games I played as a kid. We almost always were victorious at our quests because we had a healer and wizard and burly warriors and we always seemed to work together well - just like the characters in this fantasy series. I like that they are not just empty characters killing bad guys. They each have a secret – a longing – an ironic twist of fate. It has a great concept having the immortal beings remembering past lives. I was glad that the heroes had fear and other emotions. I loved that the characters didn't wear skimpy clothing which is so unrealistic for a warrior to wear. In other words this is not a fantasy story written by a twelve year old little boy, but a novella with heart and promise.
From page one the reader is hooked as a stranger wonders into a small town to share a communal bonfire. The first character, Emaranthe, sunders into a village, which leaves the people wondering who this small girl in the dark hood could be. She wears her long blonde hair in plaits and has golden eyes. The bravest town’s person was Aggie and she seems to be the spokesperson for this mining town. Even after Emaranthe tells Aggie and the others there is an evil coming they seem to scoff and ask lots of questions. The other three arrive soon after Emaranthe. The town’s community fire seems to be the meeting place for all business in town. It is with the arrival of the others that the town’s people seem to take the words of Emaranthe to heart and hide. The elf, Jadeth, was a tall thin creature with blue eyes and red hair and was a healer, thought they were afraid of her, but it was really the warning of doom that griped them. The other two warriors were brothers who wore full armor and a helmet. It is Jaeger, one of the brothers, that introduces the starstones as powerful. If he succeeds the races would be killed and the land would be land barren. It is up to the four heroes to save the world. The plot unfolds in the desert around the town, where the starstone mines are. The battles include lots of working together and also strong female roles. As the battle for the starstones ensues the author uses flashbacks to explain each character’s mind set and why they have the talents they have.
The sophisticated flashbacks helped this reader understand the mindset of the characters and feel for them. I hope in future books the evil side will become more developed. I also want to know more about the rulers and the four gods. Is this a past earth, like the Lord of the Rings, because the author mentions horses and coyotes? I am so happy that I have a new series to read and recommend to boys and girls 12 and up.
I read this book for The Book Curmudgeons and give it 4 1/2 stars.
I loved this young adult novella. It is the prequel to The Unknown Sun and helps establish the character’s background. Each character has a gift or talent from the Gods. All four ride horses and seem to be single minded in their resolve to complete their mission. It reminded me of the Dungeons and Dragons games I played as a kid. We almost always were victorious at our quests because we had a healer and wizard and burly warriors and we always seemed to work together well - just like the characters in this fantasy series. I like that they are not just empty characters killing bad guys. They each have a secret – a longing – an ironic twist of fate. It has a great concept having the immortal beings remembering past lives. I was glad that the heroes had fear and other emotions. I loved that the characters didn't wear skimpy clothing which is so unrealistic for a warrior to wear. In other words this is not a fantasy story written by a twelve year old little boy, but a novella with heart and promise.
From page one the reader is hooked as a stranger wonders into a small town to share a communal bonfire. The first character, Emaranthe, sunders into a village, which leaves the people wondering who this small girl in the dark hood could be. She wears her long blonde hair in plaits and has golden eyes. The bravest town’s person was Aggie and she seems to be the spokesperson for this mining town. Even after Emaranthe tells Aggie and the others there is an evil coming they seem to scoff and ask lots of questions. The other three arrive soon after Emaranthe. The town’s community fire seems to be the meeting place for all business in town. It is with the arrival of the others that the town’s people seem to take the words of Emaranthe to heart and hide. The elf, Jadeth, was a tall thin creature with blue eyes and red hair and was a healer, thought they were afraid of her, but it was really the warning of doom that griped them. The other two warriors were brothers who wore full armor and a helmet. It is Jaeger, one of the brothers, that introduces the starstones as powerful. If he succeeds the races would be killed and the land would be land barren. It is up to the four heroes to save the world. The plot unfolds in the desert around the town, where the starstone mines are. The battles include lots of working together and also strong female roles. As the battle for the starstones ensues the author uses flashbacks to explain each character’s mind set and why they have the talents they have.
The sophisticated flashbacks helped this reader understand the mindset of the characters and feel for them. I hope in future books the evil side will become more developed. I also want to know more about the rulers and the four gods. Is this a past earth, like the Lord of the Rings, because the author mentions horses and coyotes? I am so happy that I have a new series to read and recommend to boys and girls 12 and up.
May 10, 2021
As the blurb states the immortals are created by the gods known as The Four. These immortals are sent on a quest to protect the world of Ein-Aral from evil known as Dro-Aconi. Task = protecting a village full of innocent people which just happens to have a powerful resource that could be used by demons, potentially bringing about the end of the world as we know it. Although the book was short I think the author packed a lot in, in terms of content. For example each of the four has a unique power which can also work together to help overthrow the demons. We do get a few snap-shot glimpses into the background of each of the four but it doesn’t overtake the action that is being thrown at us but it does help to give a foundation to the story as whole.
I found the Immortal Emaranthe, who holds power over fire, really intriguing and exciting. She has a child-like appearance but yet she has been an Immortal for over three hundred years. Ivo can control the wind, and his brother Jaeger has the power to control water. Finally we have Jadeth who is an elf who can heal. My only complaint here is that we don’t quite get enough about any of them due to the shortness of the book. For me I just wanted a little more to make it feel more real and genuine.
The ending definitely set up the interest for a sequel and although it was a little clichéd in terms of what happens I think that it sets up the next book to start packing the action in once again. I thought the writing of the demons was quite original and the idea that if the immortals physical bodies die then they need to find new hosts was all written well and compacted in. The writing is strong and evocative of what’s going on and really helps to place the reader in the fantasy world.
My only real complaint was a couple of grammatical and punctuation problems throughout but it’s only a little draw-back. Overall a perfect fantasy read, perfect for your lunchbreak and a little escapism to a fantasy land.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
I found the Immortal Emaranthe, who holds power over fire, really intriguing and exciting. She has a child-like appearance but yet she has been an Immortal for over three hundred years. Ivo can control the wind, and his brother Jaeger has the power to control water. Finally we have Jadeth who is an elf who can heal. My only complaint here is that we don’t quite get enough about any of them due to the shortness of the book. For me I just wanted a little more to make it feel more real and genuine.
The ending definitely set up the interest for a sequel and although it was a little clichéd in terms of what happens I think that it sets up the next book to start packing the action in once again. I thought the writing of the demons was quite original and the idea that if the immortals physical bodies die then they need to find new hosts was all written well and compacted in. The writing is strong and evocative of what’s going on and really helps to place the reader in the fantasy world.
My only real complaint was a couple of grammatical and punctuation problems throughout but it’s only a little draw-back. Overall a perfect fantasy read, perfect for your lunchbreak and a little escapism to a fantasy land.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
November 26, 2015
*I was gifted a copy of this story by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Immortals have been created by the gods known as The Four to protect the world of Ein-Aral from evil known as Dro-Aconi. Four such Immortals are sent on a quest to stop the Dro-Aconi from acquiring Starstone from an unprotected village. Starstone is a powerful resource the Dro-Aconi need to break their way fully into Ein-Aral, as currently they are only unformed shadows.
The Immortal Emaranthe holds power over fire. Despite her child-like appearance, she has been Immortal for over three hundred years. Jadeth is an Elf with healing powers. Ivo can control the wind, and his brother Jaeger has power over water. Together, these four Immortals must fight against Alarandia and her guards before the Dro-Aconi are able to get the Starstone.
The Immortals: Part One: Shadows & Starstone is a fantasy novella taking the reader into the world of Ein-Aral. The character descriptions are well thought-out, giving the reader a good picture of just what these Immortals look like. Their powers are described in detail so you know what each character’s strength is. And their backgrounds are provided in this novella to set the basis for future books. Each Immortal needs to use his or her strength to defeat the Dro-Aconi and save the village.
Although I’m not much of a fantasy reader, I did enjoy this story, and the ending sets up the next quest these four Immortals will undertake. The only drawback was that the book could use a little better editing as dialogue was repeatedly punctuated incorrectly and there were a few formatting issues. Overall, it was a good read.
For more of my reviews, please visit https://rachlawrencebooks.wordpress.com/.
Immortals have been created by the gods known as The Four to protect the world of Ein-Aral from evil known as Dro-Aconi. Four such Immortals are sent on a quest to stop the Dro-Aconi from acquiring Starstone from an unprotected village. Starstone is a powerful resource the Dro-Aconi need to break their way fully into Ein-Aral, as currently they are only unformed shadows.
The Immortal Emaranthe holds power over fire. Despite her child-like appearance, she has been Immortal for over three hundred years. Jadeth is an Elf with healing powers. Ivo can control the wind, and his brother Jaeger has power over water. Together, these four Immortals must fight against Alarandia and her guards before the Dro-Aconi are able to get the Starstone.
The Immortals: Part One: Shadows & Starstone is a fantasy novella taking the reader into the world of Ein-Aral. The character descriptions are well thought-out, giving the reader a good picture of just what these Immortals look like. Their powers are described in detail so you know what each character’s strength is. And their backgrounds are provided in this novella to set the basis for future books. Each Immortal needs to use his or her strength to defeat the Dro-Aconi and save the village.
Although I’m not much of a fantasy reader, I did enjoy this story, and the ending sets up the next quest these four Immortals will undertake. The only drawback was that the book could use a little better editing as dialogue was repeatedly punctuated incorrectly and there were a few formatting issues. Overall, it was a good read.
For more of my reviews, please visit https://rachlawrencebooks.wordpress.com/.
April 14, 2023
To start off a new fantasy world within a novella is a very brave thing to do. So often, you need an epic novel due to the amount of world-building that you need to do. Somehow, Cheryl Mackey has managed to build a world, complete with history, within a very short space that is not lacking in any way!
Our four heroes battle against evil and their memories. You get glimpses of their pasts which will intrigue you and leave you wanting more. A lot is answered in this novella but it is Part One so you are left with teasers for the next book, none of which I will mention so as not to spoil it for anyone.
If you are dipping your toe into the genre of Fantasy, or want an atypical fast Fantasy read, then I can definitely recommend this book. In fact, I would recommend it to all Fantasy fans.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 5, 2015
Our four heroes battle against evil and their memories. You get glimpses of their pasts which will intrigue you and leave you wanting more. A lot is answered in this novella but it is Part One so you are left with teasers for the next book, none of which I will mention so as not to spoil it for anyone.
If you are dipping your toe into the genre of Fantasy, or want an atypical fast Fantasy read, then I can definitely recommend this book. In fact, I would recommend it to all Fantasy fans.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 5, 2015
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews