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Companions of Arcrea #2
Burdney
When a villain's grand scheme takes flight, who will rise up to clip their wings?
Years after an act of betrayal lowers a dark cloud over Burdney, Lady Agatha seeks vengeance and respect, while her sister, Aeryn, chases after freedom and peace. When a young slave named Epic arrives at the Mizgalian castle disguised as a nobleman in need of shelter, the conflicted youth soon finds himself caught in a web of intrigue that reaches further than anyone suspects.
In a race against time and doom, Blunt the minstrel must travel to Burdney for the vindication of a condemned friend. When his travels take an unexpected turn - and sometimes even go in circles - the Arcrean bard must learn to trust that God is always in control.
Secrets and deception lie in wait around every corner, until a conspiracy is revealed that will wage a battle for hope and justice on the grounds of Burdney.
Years after an act of betrayal lowers a dark cloud over Burdney, Lady Agatha seeks vengeance and respect, while her sister, Aeryn, chases after freedom and peace. When a young slave named Epic arrives at the Mizgalian castle disguised as a nobleman in need of shelter, the conflicted youth soon finds himself caught in a web of intrigue that reaches further than anyone suspects.
In a race against time and doom, Blunt the minstrel must travel to Burdney for the vindication of a condemned friend. When his travels take an unexpected turn - and sometimes even go in circles - the Arcrean bard must learn to trust that God is always in control.
Secrets and deception lie in wait around every corner, until a conspiracy is revealed that will wage a battle for hope and justice on the grounds of Burdney.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2015
1 person is currently reading
264 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Sager
17 books146 followersNicole Sager is an avid reader and coffee drinker who enjoys writing Inspirational Fantasy set in a medieval-like era.
"I hope my books will encourage families to read together. If read by children, I hope the books broaden your vocabulary just a bit and introduce you to a life of endless possibilities in Christ. If read by adults, I hope you're inspired and encouraged to deepen your relationship with our Savior.
In writing each book, I pray that it will bring honor and glory to God, and that He will use it as a tool to bring at least one person to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Thanks for stopping by!"
Favorite Authors: Joanna Davidson Politano, Lori Benton, Kristy Cambron, MaryAnn Minatra.
"I hope my books will encourage families to read together. If read by children, I hope the books broaden your vocabulary just a bit and introduce you to a life of endless possibilities in Christ. If read by adults, I hope you're inspired and encouraged to deepen your relationship with our Savior.
In writing each book, I pray that it will bring honor and glory to God, and that He will use it as a tool to bring at least one person to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Thanks for stopping by!"
Favorite Authors: Joanna Davidson Politano, Lori Benton, Kristy Cambron, MaryAnn Minatra.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 8, 2016
Burdney by Nicole Sager is the exciting sequel of Hebbros, and takes us on quite the journey! Thrilling. Humorous. Mysterious. Darkness is slowly closing in over the pages; but hope and laughter definitely have their part. *smiles*
In this book, we peer into the lives of a pair of sisters. The eldest is the jilted, would-be-bride of Lord Bradley. Bitterness colors her every move. The younger is hurting, but still clinging to hope. Along with her faithful protector, Lathan, she tries to live her life under her sister Agatha's miserable authority.
Meanwhile, a slave named Epic mourns his former master and struggles with the deception his new owner is forcing him into.
Blunt the minstrel embarks on a frantic journey to save his friends.
And Lathan searches for long-hidden answers.
Agatha, Aine, Lathan, Epic, and Blunt are all POV characters (oh, and Dainger too, who is a dragon-slayer! And his sister Miriam) ... and their lives entwine in the most intriguing and wonderful ways! Burdney was such an adventure! And a mystery of sorts, with secrets abounding. It was so fun trying to figure everything out; and amazing to see it all come together in the end! What a grand escapade! *grins* There were the dark moments too, though. The Faithful (Christians) are still not very safe speaking of their beliefs; and many a character has sneaky and treacherous plans up their sleeves. Dark happenings are going on, and fatal proclamations are made to dear characters. But as I mentioned above, there was an abundance of humor to balance the heavier themes. I found myself grinning and laughing time and again over these characters and their strange adventures. I loved Dainger and his teasing attitude, and his battles with the venomous plants-of-sorts! XD That was great. Blunt made me chuckle with his choice of clothing. And his journey with Symone and her father was quite hilarious and exasperating and endearing. I really like Epic! Would definitely like to see more of him! Lathan was very intriguing.
The message of the story, I found very poignant. Bitterness, betrayal, revenge. Hope and loss. Utter alone-ness. I love how God's hand was shown so clearly in Burdney, when everything seemed lost, you saw how perfectly He had brought everything and everyone together. In the midst of human failure, deception, and pain, God was turning things around for the good of His people. Wow. In kind of bittersweet way, there was much beauty to Agatha and Aine's story. I hope we can see more of them.
Overall, Burdney was an incredible story set in a non-magical fantasy world with complex characters and intriguing mysteries. Unfolding a thought-provoking message, this book takes us on a sensational journey full of twists and turns, surprises and fun. A page-turner. So many beautiful moments, especially in the ending.
Fans of non-magical fantasy, mysteries, and action-filled adventures should definitely give Burdney a try. And please, read the amazing first book of the series, Hebbros, as well! I can't wait to read more by Nicole Sager! ^_^
In this book, we peer into the lives of a pair of sisters. The eldest is the jilted, would-be-bride of Lord Bradley. Bitterness colors her every move. The younger is hurting, but still clinging to hope. Along with her faithful protector, Lathan, she tries to live her life under her sister Agatha's miserable authority.
Meanwhile, a slave named Epic mourns his former master and struggles with the deception his new owner is forcing him into.
Blunt the minstrel embarks on a frantic journey to save his friends.
And Lathan searches for long-hidden answers.
Agatha, Aine, Lathan, Epic, and Blunt are all POV characters (oh, and Dainger too, who is a dragon-slayer! And his sister Miriam) ... and their lives entwine in the most intriguing and wonderful ways! Burdney was such an adventure! And a mystery of sorts, with secrets abounding. It was so fun trying to figure everything out; and amazing to see it all come together in the end! What a grand escapade! *grins* There were the dark moments too, though. The Faithful (Christians) are still not very safe speaking of their beliefs; and many a character has sneaky and treacherous plans up their sleeves. Dark happenings are going on, and fatal proclamations are made to dear characters. But as I mentioned above, there was an abundance of humor to balance the heavier themes. I found myself grinning and laughing time and again over these characters and their strange adventures. I loved Dainger and his teasing attitude, and his battles with the venomous plants-of-sorts! XD That was great. Blunt made me chuckle with his choice of clothing. And his journey with Symone and her father was quite hilarious and exasperating and endearing. I really like Epic! Would definitely like to see more of him! Lathan was very intriguing.
The message of the story, I found very poignant. Bitterness, betrayal, revenge. Hope and loss. Utter alone-ness. I love how God's hand was shown so clearly in Burdney, when everything seemed lost, you saw how perfectly He had brought everything and everyone together. In the midst of human failure, deception, and pain, God was turning things around for the good of His people. Wow. In kind of bittersweet way, there was much beauty to Agatha and Aine's story. I hope we can see more of them.
Overall, Burdney was an incredible story set in a non-magical fantasy world with complex characters and intriguing mysteries. Unfolding a thought-provoking message, this book takes us on a sensational journey full of twists and turns, surprises and fun. A page-turner. So many beautiful moments, especially in the ending.
Fans of non-magical fantasy, mysteries, and action-filled adventures should definitely give Burdney a try. And please, read the amazing first book of the series, Hebbros, as well! I can't wait to read more by Nicole Sager! ^_^
April 8, 2018
Whoa! WOW! What?!?!
I don't know where to start in writing this review. My new favorite book from Nicole Sager!
Burdney; the book I've waited to read for a year. The book I've raved about for a year. Now I've read it and can actually rave about it while I know what I'm talking about.
The number one thing I love about this book: The characters.
The characters are awesome!! Aeryn, Dainger (I love his name!), Epic, Symone, Symone's Father, Miriam, Lord Burdney, Blunt, Warin, Agatha, Cyrus, Valden, Sadie, Deirdre, Roland, and... LATHAN!!!!! Don't get me started on Lathan! His character and secrets were brought out throughout the book and it just made him all the more loveable.
The number one thing I hated about this book: The ending.
I want to find out what happens next. I can't wait to find out what happens next! All of Nicole's books end like this, so I guess I can't complain. But Nicole, I hope the next one is soon to come!?!?
The whole time I was reading this book, I had a thought going through my head; how is Nicole going to end this without a crash? The plot and characters continued to build up, growing and growing through the book, I could hear the dramatic music in the background. And, somehow, it ended with a bang, a musical bang. Beautiful!
High five, Nicole! I look forward to the next book with extreme enthusiasm!
I don't know where to start in writing this review. My new favorite book from Nicole Sager!
Burdney; the book I've waited to read for a year. The book I've raved about for a year. Now I've read it and can actually rave about it while I know what I'm talking about.
The number one thing I love about this book: The characters.
The characters are awesome!! Aeryn, Dainger (I love his name!), Epic, Symone, Symone's Father, Miriam, Lord Burdney, Blunt, Warin, Agatha, Cyrus, Valden, Sadie, Deirdre, Roland, and... LATHAN!!!!! Don't get me started on Lathan! His character and secrets were brought out throughout the book and it just made him all the more loveable.
The number one thing I hated about this book: The ending.
I want to find out what happens next. I can't wait to find out what happens next! All of Nicole's books end like this, so I guess I can't complain. But Nicole, I hope the next one is soon to come!?!?
The whole time I was reading this book, I had a thought going through my head; how is Nicole going to end this without a crash? The plot and characters continued to build up, growing and growing through the book, I could hear the dramatic music in the background. And, somehow, it ended with a bang, a musical bang. Beautiful!
High five, Nicole! I look forward to the next book with extreme enthusiasm!
August 31, 2016
If someone told me they were going to read only one of my books, I would recommend Burdney. This one has a special place in my heart. Praise God for His guidance, for without Him this book would not exist.
October 14, 2019
Age Appropriate For: 13 and up for violence, some mildly scary scenes
Best for Ages: 12-20
Read on Kindle Unlimited
I’m so happy to finally be catching up on Sager’s works. Her stories are some of my favorites. This book was even better than Hebbros.
This story has a few things going on, but unlike a few times in Hebbros when I was a little confused, this story was clear and all the characters were so different, I had no trouble keeping them all sperate. Each character was unique and fun.
While I loved the main story, Symone, a side character had me laughing, but also touched my heart. I love how things worked out for her. Each character was interesting and had depth, that’s one of the reasons I love Sager’s books.
The plot of this book kept me on the edge of my seat, which for such a long book is hard. I didn’t want to stop reading for a moment. I wanted to know what was up with those birds and who was plotting against whom.
The setting is a very mild fantasy, devoid of magic, but with a country and history all its own. If you’ve read any of Sager’s other works, you know what I mean. It was fun to see some old favorite characters again, as well as meant new ones.
As always, the faith aspect of the book was powerful. The importance of sharing your faith, the value of life, God’s redemption, as well as other important truths are woven in.
I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy non-magical fantasy, faith-building stories, and clean reads.
Best for Ages: 12-20
Read on Kindle Unlimited
I’m so happy to finally be catching up on Sager’s works. Her stories are some of my favorites. This book was even better than Hebbros.
This story has a few things going on, but unlike a few times in Hebbros when I was a little confused, this story was clear and all the characters were so different, I had no trouble keeping them all sperate. Each character was unique and fun.
While I loved the main story, Symone, a side character had me laughing, but also touched my heart. I love how things worked out for her. Each character was interesting and had depth, that’s one of the reasons I love Sager’s books.
The plot of this book kept me on the edge of my seat, which for such a long book is hard. I didn’t want to stop reading for a moment. I wanted to know what was up with those birds and who was plotting against whom.
The setting is a very mild fantasy, devoid of magic, but with a country and history all its own. If you’ve read any of Sager’s other works, you know what I mean. It was fun to see some old favorite characters again, as well as meant new ones.
As always, the faith aspect of the book was powerful. The importance of sharing your faith, the value of life, God’s redemption, as well as other important truths are woven in.
I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy non-magical fantasy, faith-building stories, and clean reads.
July 16, 2015
After reading Hebbros, I knew I would be on the lookout for anything more the author had to offer. Thus I was thrilled for the continuing story in Burdney. I would recommend reading Hebbros first, but I don’t feel reading the author’s original trilogy, The Heart of Arcrea, is entirely necessary to enjoying the Companions of Arcrea series, as her older series doesn’t carry quite the same skill and style as her newest releases (though they’re still good stories). This tale can stand well on its own, but it carries on questions left unanswered from Hebbros and focuses on an easily overlooked character—the jilted bride of Bradley.
I do believe Burdney may be the best book she’s written yet. Its plot has pace slower than Hebbros, but it’s by no means boring. It’s a story of political intrigue, monarchy greed, government intrusion, and layers of conspiracy. Each scene, each move is precisely planned by the author, each piece falling into place to reveal the full picture. For a little while, one certain storyline seems a tad unnecessary. Yes, it is cute and funny, but it’s seems to just be taking up time when we want to go back to the real plot on hand. But as it turns out, that little side story is absolutely vital to the main one. Really, this is expert plotting, something you don’t always see in self-published authors.
And the characters. Oh my, the characters. There are a lot of them. And that doesn’t matter, not for an instant, because each character is so individual and unique that the reader cannot easily mix them up or forget them. Each character is firmly woven into the plot and with each other. Cunning queens, cooks with swords, slaves as lords. Lathan, a blind warrior, is simply too cool for words. But my favorite was probably Dain, the Dragon Slayer. His attitude. Oh my, oh my, oh my. It was nice to see a young man of faith still be full of personality, rashness, and attitude, because it’s so realistic. Really, I want more of his story please. Like another book about him.
Fans of Hebbros will be glad to see more of Epic, sit on the edge of their seats for Warin, and sigh at prevalent mentions of Bradley. Also, the charming minstrel Blunt from The Heart of Arcrea is a very important character.
When I first read Hebbros, the spiritual truth of the story threw me off because the characters were speaking of Jesus Christ and the death and the resurrection, and that feels strange to me in a fantasy world. But one thing that helped me is to consider this series as an alternate reality, dealing with countries that could have existed. The world doesn’t have any magic or rules to be different from ours, so it can easily be pretended to have existed in days long ago.
Too often in Christian fantasy, when the author starts dealing with the religion of the characters, I start feeling preached to. I start feeling like the characters are only people who would exist in a book. I got a little of that feeling in Hebbros, but that changed to something else that I also found in Burdney. The faith of the characters is genuine and real. It is so real, these people might as well be around you, and I want them to be my best friends. There’s nothing contrived about it, nothing written by the author just to get their point across. The people’s faith truly comes to life, their walk complete with doubts, stumbling, and imperfection. I don’t know how to explain it…many Christian authors try to make their character’s faith real, but Nicole Sager succeeds in a way I don’t often come across. Burdney doesn’t deal with the persecution of the church as Hebbros did, but the need for faith in God is still very potent and beautiful.
So looking for an exciting tale of excellent quality? Here’s one. :)
February 27, 2016
Another great read by Nicole Sager! Her plots are wonderfully complex and beautifully tied together. Favorite character? Lathan. All the way baby!
July 25, 2016
This is one of my favorite books. It was hard to put down. I kept wanting to see what happened next. Some of the Biblical parts were personally encouraging to me. I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out.
June 30, 2015
"A man could only pretend for so long before he had nothing left to hide behind."
Betrayal and forgiveness. Hatred and love. Bitterness and surrender. Deception and simplicity. Bondage and freedom.
There are games afoot and something sinister in the air beneath the wings of Burdney Hall, and it will take a strong band of Faithful to brave the shadows and uncover the secrets that seemingly everyone is hiding.
As you journey once again to the neighboring kingdoms of Arcrea and Mizgalia, the battle for truth and light over darkness and evil is constantly waging, and you never know what may be hiding behind each rock and tree...or façade; carnautars and nobles alike have the tendency to appear where and how you would least expect them (with the potential of causing a terrible fracas).
Be prepared to get mercilessly pulled into this gripping whirlwind- and to hold on tight! Intrigue and mystery are around every corner; nearly every chapter ending with a new clue and more suspense, building up to a race for time and discovery that will leave you breathless with excitement.
Readers of all ages will love this beautifully and cleverly written epic, and you will both laugh and cry along with a cast of characters you can't help but grow attached to. (And they won't mind you joining them, for they love visitors.)
"There's beauty in the ruins, once you wade through the rubble and climb higher than the shadows."
Betrayal and forgiveness. Hatred and love. Bitterness and surrender. Deception and simplicity. Bondage and freedom.
There are games afoot and something sinister in the air beneath the wings of Burdney Hall, and it will take a strong band of Faithful to brave the shadows and uncover the secrets that seemingly everyone is hiding.
As you journey once again to the neighboring kingdoms of Arcrea and Mizgalia, the battle for truth and light over darkness and evil is constantly waging, and you never know what may be hiding behind each rock and tree...or façade; carnautars and nobles alike have the tendency to appear where and how you would least expect them (with the potential of causing a terrible fracas).
Be prepared to get mercilessly pulled into this gripping whirlwind- and to hold on tight! Intrigue and mystery are around every corner; nearly every chapter ending with a new clue and more suspense, building up to a race for time and discovery that will leave you breathless with excitement.
Readers of all ages will love this beautifully and cleverly written epic, and you will both laugh and cry along with a cast of characters you can't help but grow attached to. (And they won't mind you joining them, for they love visitors.)
"There's beauty in the ruins, once you wade through the rubble and climb higher than the shadows."
March 30, 2020
Ohhhh-kay... I think I'm running out of gushing phrases, which is horrible because these books deserve them so much! As always, the characters are to die for, and I fell in love with so many of them in this book. Lathan--adore, adore, adore! And I did a physical double-take/scrambling back to re-read everything he'd previously done when his secret was revealed. So incredible!!! I really liked Aeryn from early on as well, even though I could see the flaws in her attitude. And Epic was just... *wants to wrap him up in a fluffy blanket and protect him from anything bad happening ever again* Also, how does an author introduce a random character and have me begging for the next book to be his before he's even finished his first scene? Because I was--so bad! (And I can neither confirm nor deny rumors of a happy dance ensuing after I went back and read the description for Cleftlocke. :D) Those are just the beginning, though; I just adored so many of them!
And all the old characters--those from the last book as well as those from the Arcrean Conquest--goodness, they've wrapped themselves so hard around my heart! And I love how I can sometimes recognize them by just a single phrase or a snatch of description. <3<3<3 Also, Blunt's part of the plot... *jaw drops in shock* Confession: Blunt has always struck me as rather on the silly side, as characters go, and the way he was sandwiched between a deadly serious mission on the one hand and exponentially sillier companions on the other...just totally floored me! It was so, so well done! And I also loved the gentle way that Simone and her father were portrayed, while still making me laugh out loud too many times to count.
The plot...what can I say about the plot? It's the kind that gets to the point where you've decided we're in deep enough and need to start untangling some of these threads--only to have three or four more threads added in for good measure! And I loved how the theme of wanting control and needing to rely on God was woven through so many of the storylines that came together to make an incredible whole. Also, I won't give spoilers, but the eventual solution to the mystery element had a really unique, almost dystopian feel to it that was extremely cool! :D
Overall, another absolutely amazing story from this author! I can't wait to finish the series, but I'm also going to be very sad to see it end. :)
Content--fights and violence; mentions of deaths, including murder and attempted murder; mentions of injuries, blood, and wounds (not graphic); mentions of cursing (no words); various threats and danger; lying and deception (not condoned); mentions of drinking; kidnapping
And all the old characters--those from the last book as well as those from the Arcrean Conquest--goodness, they've wrapped themselves so hard around my heart! And I love how I can sometimes recognize them by just a single phrase or a snatch of description. <3<3<3 Also, Blunt's part of the plot... *jaw drops in shock* Confession: Blunt has always struck me as rather on the silly side, as characters go, and the way he was sandwiched between a deadly serious mission on the one hand and exponentially sillier companions on the other...just totally floored me! It was so, so well done! And I also loved the gentle way that Simone and her father were portrayed, while still making me laugh out loud too many times to count.
The plot...what can I say about the plot? It's the kind that gets to the point where you've decided we're in deep enough and need to start untangling some of these threads--only to have three or four more threads added in for good measure! And I loved how the theme of wanting control and needing to rely on God was woven through so many of the storylines that came together to make an incredible whole. Also, I won't give spoilers, but the eventual solution to the mystery element had a really unique, almost dystopian feel to it that was extremely cool! :D
Overall, another absolutely amazing story from this author! I can't wait to finish the series, but I'm also going to be very sad to see it end. :)
Content--fights and violence; mentions of deaths, including murder and attempted murder; mentions of injuries, blood, and wounds (not graphic); mentions of cursing (no words); various threats and danger; lying and deception (not condoned); mentions of drinking; kidnapping
October 1, 2016
Wahoo - here I come Goodreads Community - first review ever!
Finished this book last month, I read the whole thing in two days or so. It was amazing. Well done, Nicole! I stumbled across your books on amazon and burned through all of your books in a few weeks and now I'm going back to read them all again. Though these books were published over a span of several years, I saw Nicole Sager grow immensely as a writer in a period of just two weeks! It was like blinking and then having a plant in front of me suddenly blossom.
Burdney is a little different from Nicole's other Arcrean stories as it is a closed door situation - she really lets the reader feel a sense of claustrophobia juxtaposed with the mystical beauty of the setting - you want to be there, but you don't... The top 3 things that really impressed me about this book was. 1. Writing a character that is blind - I've done it and it can be difficult to write from the perspective of a character that can not see, let alone have them involved in the action - Lathan does more than be involved, he makes the action! He is just plain cool! It can be difficult writing this 'quiet, cool and good' characters but she does a great job. 2. Writing a slave that has a noble character - again I've tried this and it is hard. How does someone who has had very little example or training in how to mold their character behave? Nicole does not write Epic as a groveling type (though he knows he has to mind his place) he is quite an interesting character, written with a touch of humor to offset his tragic position. 3. Writing a character (Agatha) that is really, truly horrible and yet I desperately want her to get redeemed! There is nothing obviously likeable about Agatha at all and yet I am screaming inside to witness her come to her senses because somehow despite all odds I want to love this person. I really, really hope Nicole writes a sequel that has Agatha and Aewyn getting resolved.
The relationship between Aewyn and Agatha was powerful - having two sisters of my own I could really feel Aewyn's ache and shock at the fracture between her herself and her sibling. The end scene in the garden "....Hello Aewyn." I squealed out loud at the punch this moment packed, the agony of risking rejection, the hope of regeneration, the desperate cry for healing - oh my goodness, this is just one of the best endings I have ever read.
As for the other characters - At first I wasn't sure about Simone but her and her father really grew on me - a good lesson about how we often judge people too quickly and define intelligence in a narrow minded way.
I was also super excited to see that Warin finally had a happy ending, I would really like to see more of him in the next book (hint, hint!).
My goodness people - the plot itself is just so original - a fascinating concept and one that seemed oddly (in a good way) foreign to me in a fantasy setting. It wasn't at all what I was expecting but I was not unpleasantly surprised. I think the authoress did a good job of indicating how our culture is going by showing a government that increasingly wants to control its people by tracking their every move - only with the Internet instead of birds.
I was also impressed with how chaste the romances are in Ms. Sager's books. Just enough of a hint to have some characters marry at the end, but not even hugs or kisses are indicated. This is HUGE. Most CHRISTIAN writers put way too much premarital romance (sometimes even inappropriately so) in their books. This is a series I could hand to a twelve year old with a clear conscience, because while it supports and celebrates biblical marriage, they never deviate from their chastity.
I could go on and on about this book but I will simply summarize and say that I would recommend this book to anyone - and I am recommending it everyone on the internet - read this book - buy a copy. I found a copy on amazon that had a personal inscription by the authoress and snatched it up. I'm going to pretend that she inscribed it to me!!!!!!!
Keep up the good work, Nicole - May Jesus Christ continue to establish the work of your hands.
Finished this book last month, I read the whole thing in two days or so. It was amazing. Well done, Nicole! I stumbled across your books on amazon and burned through all of your books in a few weeks and now I'm going back to read them all again. Though these books were published over a span of several years, I saw Nicole Sager grow immensely as a writer in a period of just two weeks! It was like blinking and then having a plant in front of me suddenly blossom.
Burdney is a little different from Nicole's other Arcrean stories as it is a closed door situation - she really lets the reader feel a sense of claustrophobia juxtaposed with the mystical beauty of the setting - you want to be there, but you don't... The top 3 things that really impressed me about this book was. 1. Writing a character that is blind - I've done it and it can be difficult to write from the perspective of a character that can not see, let alone have them involved in the action - Lathan does more than be involved, he makes the action! He is just plain cool! It can be difficult writing this 'quiet, cool and good' characters but she does a great job. 2. Writing a slave that has a noble character - again I've tried this and it is hard. How does someone who has had very little example or training in how to mold their character behave? Nicole does not write Epic as a groveling type (though he knows he has to mind his place) he is quite an interesting character, written with a touch of humor to offset his tragic position. 3. Writing a character (Agatha) that is really, truly horrible and yet I desperately want her to get redeemed! There is nothing obviously likeable about Agatha at all and yet I am screaming inside to witness her come to her senses because somehow despite all odds I want to love this person. I really, really hope Nicole writes a sequel that has Agatha and Aewyn getting resolved.
The relationship between Aewyn and Agatha was powerful - having two sisters of my own I could really feel Aewyn's ache and shock at the fracture between her herself and her sibling. The end scene in the garden "....Hello Aewyn." I squealed out loud at the punch this moment packed, the agony of risking rejection, the hope of regeneration, the desperate cry for healing - oh my goodness, this is just one of the best endings I have ever read.
As for the other characters - At first I wasn't sure about Simone but her and her father really grew on me - a good lesson about how we often judge people too quickly and define intelligence in a narrow minded way.
I was also super excited to see that Warin finally had a happy ending, I would really like to see more of him in the next book (hint, hint!).
My goodness people - the plot itself is just so original - a fascinating concept and one that seemed oddly (in a good way) foreign to me in a fantasy setting. It wasn't at all what I was expecting but I was not unpleasantly surprised. I think the authoress did a good job of indicating how our culture is going by showing a government that increasingly wants to control its people by tracking their every move - only with the Internet instead of birds.
I was also impressed with how chaste the romances are in Ms. Sager's books. Just enough of a hint to have some characters marry at the end, but not even hugs or kisses are indicated. This is HUGE. Most CHRISTIAN writers put way too much premarital romance (sometimes even inappropriately so) in their books. This is a series I could hand to a twelve year old with a clear conscience, because while it supports and celebrates biblical marriage, they never deviate from their chastity.
I could go on and on about this book but I will simply summarize and say that I would recommend this book to anyone - and I am recommending it everyone on the internet - read this book - buy a copy. I found a copy on amazon that had a personal inscription by the authoress and snatched it up. I'm going to pretend that she inscribed it to me!!!!!!!
Keep up the good work, Nicole - May Jesus Christ continue to establish the work of your hands.
May 9, 2016
Those who like Nicole Sager's medieval world of non-magical fantasy - the world of the Arcrean Conquest series - will not be disappointed by her fifth such work, Burdney. It's clean, original, exciting, and consistent with the values of Scripture.
What I liked about the book:
- It was flat-out entertaining to read (which is not a point to be taken for granted, even in a novel with lots of action). I stayed up more than one late night finishing this one.
- There was no content I found objectionable - which, for me, is saying a lot.
- The central plot of the mezmekeet birds, though a fairly straightforward parable of modern realities, was most original when set in a medieval story context.
- Further on the plot, I could see some intriguing subtleties and symbolism in the way Agatha's character developed and .
- As always with the Arcrea series, the Christian characters were good role models (with the exception of hot-headed and prideful Dain), and shared their faith competently.
- Burdney had very few typos and grammar problems - probably 90% fewer than The Heart Of Arcrea. Sager's editing skills appear to be growing along with her writing voice.
- Symone and her father are wacky but hilarious, reminding me strongly of silly characters my siblings and I used to make up long ago.
What I didn't like:
- Someone may call me out on this, but I think the concept of is unknown to history and pretty far removed from reality. I have a very close friend who shares said handicap, so this element really bothers me. There are many things people so afflicted can do, but in my opinion, the feats of Lathan could never conceivably be among them. This is most of the reason I'm giving Burdney three stars instead of four.
- Lathan was very similar to Falconer, and giving him a major handicap didn't do much to change that in my view.
- The way the said handicap came to be, which bookends the novel, seemed to me unrealistic, hard to envision, and dubiously relevant.
- I tend to favor shorter novels, and Burdney is not one of the shorter works I've read. I felt like the story could have been accomplished in fewer chapters without losing too much.
- Not having read Hebbros, I found the subplot of Roland and Warin confusing even after the recap.
I've mentioned this, but it bears repeating: Nicole Sager is getting better as a writer all the time. I'm looking for brevity, realism, and character depth to continue growing in her work. But in the meantime, I'll keep reading.
What I liked about the book:
- It was flat-out entertaining to read (which is not a point to be taken for granted, even in a novel with lots of action). I stayed up more than one late night finishing this one.
- There was no content I found objectionable - which, for me, is saying a lot.
- The central plot of the mezmekeet birds, though a fairly straightforward parable of modern realities, was most original when set in a medieval story context.
- Further on the plot, I could see some intriguing subtleties and symbolism in the way Agatha's character developed and .
- As always with the Arcrea series, the Christian characters were good role models (with the exception of hot-headed and prideful Dain), and shared their faith competently.
- Burdney had very few typos and grammar problems - probably 90% fewer than The Heart Of Arcrea. Sager's editing skills appear to be growing along with her writing voice.
- Symone and her father are wacky but hilarious, reminding me strongly of silly characters my siblings and I used to make up long ago.
What I didn't like:
- Someone may call me out on this, but I think the concept of is unknown to history and pretty far removed from reality. I have a very close friend who shares said handicap, so this element really bothers me. There are many things people so afflicted can do, but in my opinion, the feats of Lathan could never conceivably be among them. This is most of the reason I'm giving Burdney three stars instead of four.
- Lathan was very similar to Falconer, and giving him a major handicap didn't do much to change that in my view.
- The way the said handicap came to be, which bookends the novel, seemed to me unrealistic, hard to envision, and dubiously relevant.
- I tend to favor shorter novels, and Burdney is not one of the shorter works I've read. I felt like the story could have been accomplished in fewer chapters without losing too much.
- Not having read Hebbros, I found the subplot of Roland and Warin confusing even after the recap.
I've mentioned this, but it bears repeating: Nicole Sager is getting better as a writer all the time. I'm looking for brevity, realism, and character depth to continue growing in her work. But in the meantime, I'll keep reading.
July 22, 2015
Excellent! My favorite so far. I've loved everything by this author. I was blessed by reading this book. I laughed, cried, pondered spiritual truths, got angry at characters and cherished others.
I love Nicole's writing style. Although I trust her, knowing her books are clean, Christian, no magic, and will most likely have a happy ending, it's always an interesting journey that is not always predictable along the way.
There are many touch points that she gets across well. The 'subtle soapbox' using the birds, bitterness and forgiveness, pain and healing and even trusting the Lord to work things out for the best, even if it looks nothing like we think it should.
I appreciate hearing the author fun facts and how the Lord worked with her on these writing projects. Her works and heart's desire for her work are bringing glory and honor to God and it's refreshing and uplifting to the readers.
Great job!
I love Nicole's writing style. Although I trust her, knowing her books are clean, Christian, no magic, and will most likely have a happy ending, it's always an interesting journey that is not always predictable along the way.
There are many touch points that she gets across well. The 'subtle soapbox' using the birds, bitterness and forgiveness, pain and healing and even trusting the Lord to work things out for the best, even if it looks nothing like we think it should.
I appreciate hearing the author fun facts and how the Lord worked with her on these writing projects. Her works and heart's desire for her work are bringing glory and honor to God and it's refreshing and uplifting to the readers.
Great job!
July 24, 2015
Ever since I finished "Hebbros", I've been anxiously waiting for Burdney! It wasn't disappointing! From the beginning the plot pulled you in and made you want to know what was happening! It kept your attention and there wasn't a dull moment. The the plot was captivating and the characters were amazing! I especially like how there were still some of the characters from "Hebbros"! Another amazing book!!
August 12, 2015
Absolutely loved this book! Definitely a pager turner and I think my favorite from Nicole so far. I hope to see more with these characters!
September 13, 2019
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The authors' style continues to get better as time goes on, and this book showed a great example of how good she's gotten.
The characters were all amazing, none of them without motivation or a reason for being in the story. I loved the mystery surrounding Burdney, even if I could never quite figure out how to pronounce the title of the book. ;)
I loved Lathan. He was a pretty awesome guy. I did find it a little unrealistic how nobody guessed his secret. Only the people he told knew. I felt that was a bit extream.
The character development was awesome for all the characters, and I loved seeing some old 'friends.'
Overall, I really liked this book. It was much better then Hebbro's in my opinion and I look forward to the next book.
The characters were all amazing, none of them without motivation or a reason for being in the story. I loved the mystery surrounding Burdney, even if I could never quite figure out how to pronounce the title of the book. ;)
I loved Lathan. He was a pretty awesome guy. I did find it a little unrealistic how nobody guessed his secret. Only the people he told knew. I felt that was a bit extream.
The character development was awesome for all the characters, and I loved seeing some old 'friends.'
Overall, I really liked this book. It was much better then Hebbro's in my opinion and I look forward to the next book.
April 4, 2020
Great book! The plot was amazing and there were so many little surprises along the way to keep it interesting. Each one of the characters was well thought out and the lessons they learn along the way are worthwhile. I have to say my favorite character was probably Lathan, but each one of the, was interesting. I Love this book and series.
March 12, 2023
That was another crazy ride! The author has a talent for making each of her many characters very uniquely and vividly described! It was so intriguing to see how so many characters stories crossed paths. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book! (That’s because it’s about Dain and I know he’s gonna put us readers through a lot of good stuff!)
April 10, 2016
Better. Much better. That's the word to describe this "Companions of Arcrea" as opposed to the first one, Hebbros. Even though I liked the message of truth and faithfulness in Hebbros better than Burdney's story of a girl who's still mad over being jilted and a reused bad guy's evil plans, the latter was better done as a novel. There weren't too many redundant characters who all have the same ending, yay! Really the two main problems I have with Burdney are the reuse of Valden from the previous book as the antagonist (though he does get his chance to shine here) and the fact that people are continually being thought dead and mourned when they're still alive—and the reader knows they're still alive. Kinda takes away from the emotion that's supposed to be felt. And I'm a bit over the Frozen trope of a cold, shut off elder sister and her warm, longing-for-companionship younger sister. But with that out of the way, I did enjoy Burdney!
Many characters seek fulfillment in these pages. When Bradley's planned bride Lady Agatha is embarrassed by his marriage to slave Sarah, she becomes bitter and vengeful, while her sister Lady Aeryn is left shunned and lonely. Blind bodyguard Lathan seeks for answers in the halls of castle Burdney. Slave Epic finds new life in Christ and wrestles with serving in the evil plans his master Valden is pursuing. And Blunt the minstrel travels to plead for the lives of Roland and Warin in a tense battle between the Kings of Mizgalia and Arcrea. He travels with unique, absent minded Symone and her father and wonders if God is in control of their bumbling, time-wasting journeys.
One of the most mysterious and chilling parts of this book is Lady Agatha. Angered by Bradley's rejection of their planned marriage which she was eagerly anticipating, and embarrassed by how her father announced the fact in front of all the guests, she turns into a veritable rage monster. Who evolves into an obsessive control freak capable of hideous things. A primitive government surveillance system using birds is an interesting touch. This is mostly well played out, but I do feel Agatha's father's behavior did not warrant her despicable actions. It was a bit over the top.
The imagery in this book is poignant. Ruined castles and walls that need to fall. Storm clouds and rain congruent to a veil of blindness. Mystery abounds in the devious plans Agatha and Valden are cooking up. Or is it just them? Aeryn is the literal damsel in distress more than once, which gets rather annoying, but I guess it's gotta be someone ;-P In the end, God breaks down the walls and clears the rain and the mystery. And everyone is in their right place, or on the path to it.
Many characters seek fulfillment in these pages. When Bradley's planned bride Lady Agatha is embarrassed by his marriage to slave Sarah, she becomes bitter and vengeful, while her sister Lady Aeryn is left shunned and lonely. Blind bodyguard Lathan seeks for answers in the halls of castle Burdney. Slave Epic finds new life in Christ and wrestles with serving in the evil plans his master Valden is pursuing. And Blunt the minstrel travels to plead for the lives of Roland and Warin in a tense battle between the Kings of Mizgalia and Arcrea. He travels with unique, absent minded Symone and her father and wonders if God is in control of their bumbling, time-wasting journeys.
One of the most mysterious and chilling parts of this book is Lady Agatha. Angered by Bradley's rejection of their planned marriage which she was eagerly anticipating, and embarrassed by how her father announced the fact in front of all the guests, she turns into a veritable rage monster. Who evolves into an obsessive control freak capable of hideous things. A primitive government surveillance system using birds is an interesting touch. This is mostly well played out, but I do feel Agatha's father's behavior did not warrant her despicable actions. It was a bit over the top.
The imagery in this book is poignant. Ruined castles and walls that need to fall. Storm clouds and rain congruent to a veil of blindness. Mystery abounds in the devious plans Agatha and Valden are cooking up. Or is it just them? Aeryn is the literal damsel in distress more than once, which gets rather annoying, but I guess it's gotta be someone ;-P In the end, God breaks down the walls and clears the rain and the mystery. And everyone is in their right place, or on the path to it.
December 19, 2015
It was good! Nicole did a great job with how all the details unraveled. I did like it better than Hebbros.
I just didn't like how it ended with Lathan marrying Miriam. :( But Nicole is a very talented writer!! :)
I would recommend it. :)
I just didn't like how it ended with Lathan marrying Miriam. :( But Nicole is a very talented writer!! :)
I would recommend it. :)
September 26, 2023
I really wanted to like this book. I have enjoyed Sager's other books in the past, but I really struggled to even read all the way through.
It seemed like the book could have been two instead of one. I kept forgetting about one storyline and it slowed down the reading whenever it switched back to it. I'm used to the author's large number of POV's but this time it felt overwhelming and distracting. Lastly, one of the biggest plot points for the main storyline, felt like it relied on people not paying attention at all. At least one person is going to be awake at midnight and notice if something big is happening every night.
I did really enjoy Lathan's story and liked everything connected to Epic, Lathan, and Aeryn (I also love this spelling of the name). She always includes strong faith themes, typically with at least one character coming to faith for the first time or a greater understanding.
It seemed like the book could have been two instead of one. I kept forgetting about one storyline and it slowed down the reading whenever it switched back to it. I'm used to the author's large number of POV's but this time it felt overwhelming and distracting. Lastly, one of the biggest plot points for the main storyline, felt like it relied on people not paying attention at all. At least one person is going to be awake at midnight and notice if something big is happening every night.
I did really enjoy Lathan's story and liked everything connected to Epic, Lathan, and Aeryn (I also love this spelling of the name). She always includes strong faith themes, typically with at least one character coming to faith for the first time or a greater understanding.
September 25, 2025
Very good. Well written and kept my interest throughout. Wonderful character development. Characters appear here and in other of her books.
June 14, 2016
Epic! In more than one sense of the word...
I couldn't wait for the next Arcrea Companion book to come out; Nicole's books are like a breath of fresh air in a sea of smog & filth! Hebbros is in my top 5 books, and I was really hoping Burdney would be joining it. It did not disappoint! A riveting story line, enjoyable and admirable characters, humor...all without magic, foul language, or *ahem* questionable content. I would not hesitate to suggest this book to any age group.
As for characters...there are many! They are introduced more gradually than in Hebbros, and I had no problem keeping up with who was who. I don't think I could pick a favorite character, but it's between Lathan and Epic. Epic reminded me of myself, and his growing faith inspired me to trust more fully in God. And Lathan was just....awesome :) His being amazingly skilled, with a sense of humor, yet kind and intelligent, coupled with ...sigh. Some might say his story is far-fetched, but to me he was too amazing to quibble over such details :) The gospel message was certainly central to the story. It flowed so well with the story, and the Faithful felt like authentic, genuine believers; nothing came across as 'preachy' to me. I enjoyed Blunt much more in this book than the original Arcrea trilogy; I loved his interaction with Symone...and Pork...and Percy....
All that being said, Agatha's reaction to being rejected seemed a little...much. However, the fact that even she came to realize the extreme she had taken her vengeance to made it more believable. I was initially sad that Bradley didn't actually feature in Burdney, but his physical presence wasn't necessary and probably would've distracted from the story....ah well.
All in all, an enjoyable read that will keep you turning pages 'till midnight (I speak from experience; I've read it twice so far...sorry for taking so long to review it, Nicole!). There was just never a point where I thought, "Hmm, this is a boring scene; a perfect place to stop reading for the night!" Keep up the good work; I can hardly wait for Cleftlocke to be released!
PS. I love the happy endings! Too many authors enjoy killing off my favorite characters and when it's over all you want to do is cry :( No such worries with these books!
I couldn't wait for the next Arcrea Companion book to come out; Nicole's books are like a breath of fresh air in a sea of smog & filth! Hebbros is in my top 5 books, and I was really hoping Burdney would be joining it. It did not disappoint! A riveting story line, enjoyable and admirable characters, humor...all without magic, foul language, or *ahem* questionable content. I would not hesitate to suggest this book to any age group.
As for characters...there are many! They are introduced more gradually than in Hebbros, and I had no problem keeping up with who was who. I don't think I could pick a favorite character, but it's between Lathan and Epic. Epic reminded me of myself, and his growing faith inspired me to trust more fully in God. And Lathan was just....awesome :) His being amazingly skilled, with a sense of humor, yet kind and intelligent, coupled with ...sigh. Some might say his story is far-fetched, but to me he was too amazing to quibble over such details :) The gospel message was certainly central to the story. It flowed so well with the story, and the Faithful felt like authentic, genuine believers; nothing came across as 'preachy' to me. I enjoyed Blunt much more in this book than the original Arcrea trilogy; I loved his interaction with Symone...and Pork...and Percy....
All that being said, Agatha's reaction to being rejected seemed a little...much. However, the fact that even she came to realize the extreme she had taken her vengeance to made it more believable. I was initially sad that Bradley didn't actually feature in Burdney, but his physical presence wasn't necessary and probably would've distracted from the story....ah well.
All in all, an enjoyable read that will keep you turning pages 'till midnight (I speak from experience; I've read it twice so far...sorry for taking so long to review it, Nicole!). There was just never a point where I thought, "Hmm, this is a boring scene; a perfect place to stop reading for the night!" Keep up the good work; I can hardly wait for Cleftlocke to be released!
PS. I love the happy endings! Too many authors enjoy killing off my favorite characters and when it's over all you want to do is cry :( No such worries with these books!
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