The Legacy of Skur Volume One

by L.F. Falconer

The Legacy of Skur is as grim a fairy tale as one could want. Volume One begins with Fane's quest of misfortune upon the mountain of Skur which ultimately leaves him imprisoned there. His sole companion has come from underground. And his only protection is a crystal talisman. When Fane's brother, Kael is unwittingly thrust into the care of Fane's newborn daughter, he also gains possession of the crystal talisman. Yet when the talisman's rightful owner comes to demand its return and holds Fane's daughter for ransom, an impossible choice must be made. How much is Kael willing to sacrifice? More than he realizes.

417 pages, Paperback

First published August 13, 2015

About the author

Award-winning author L.F. Falconer's powerful, page-turning style of dark fantasy has been consistently praised as both "gripping" and "captivating." Skillful, character-based artistry fuses magic and the supernatural with reality to bring her audience a unique reading experience.

Awards:

The Vagabond's Son: Prelude to a Legacy
Finalist in Epic Fantasy, Readers' Favorite International Book Awards, 2015

A Debt of Survival
Horror Finalist in 2017 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year
Horror Finalist In 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
Horror Finalist in 2017 Reader Views Book Awards

Reviews

[K.P. Ambroziak · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there’s one thing I’m certain of when it comes to L. F. Falconer’s stories—and this is the second novel I’ve read, though it’s difficult to really say how many of her stories I’ve actually experienced since both the novels move seamlessly from story to story, promising more than one in each—they are filled with unexpected moments that’ll break your heart as much as those of her characters. Falconer has a way of peeling back their skins and showing you their guts—and I’m not speaking anatomically, but metaphorically. She pushes their psychological limits and shows you how strong-willed and resilient they are. She pens heroes and heroines into being when you’re not looking since you’re too busy enjoying the tale. I can quite easily say I’m a fan of this writer’s work, but also I admire the skill she employs to burst open worlds and design landscapes that are not only new but also alive and familiar. The delicacy with which she draws her trolls and ogres and dragons and sprites and men makes them all sympathetic characters, despite their imperfections and, for some, their lowdown cruelties.

“The Legacy of Skur” is unique in that readers are given more than one hero to love. The story begins here and ends there, true to the legacy in its title. I promise it is filled with adventure, and at times wrenching sorrow that may have you gasping. It is not for the faint of heart, and yet it’s pure fantasy—fantasy that isn’t tainted with rosy colors or given a bend for children. Falconer’s works of fantasy are for adults, dressed with adult themes and offering adult action. But also there’s a unique perversity to it all, as Falconer adorns her fantastical species with familiar traits, all of them of human ilk in ways. Or perhaps it’s that through Falconer we see how easily we may be trolls and ogres and sprites and dragons, at times treating each other to a touch of magic, at other times doling out the deepest wounds. There’s no lack of gore, no lack of heartache, and no lack of excitement. I’m itching to get my hands on Volume Two … Elva’s in a bit of a bind and I think she may … Well, you’ll know what I mean once you begin.

[Shawn Remfrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falconer is the most difficult author to review. Let me tell you why. When I first pick up a book, I approach it from the viewpoint of one of two avenues. The first, that of Shawn the Reviewer. If it's an author I don't know, normally I'm a little skeptical about the content. I grab my sticky notes and pen, get comfortable, and delve in. Since I don't know what to expect, I can spend most of the book having a grand time picking it apart. The second avenue is that of Shawn the Reader. In this case, I'm familiar with the author or the book looks particularly interesting. In this case, I grab my sticky notes and pen, get comfortable, and delve in. Since I have some idea of what to expect, I can sit back and enjoy the book a little more and only make notes as something really strikes me. Falconer is in a league of her own. I can't approach it as Shawn the Reviewer or Shawn the Reader. As soon as I crack the spine, there is no Shawn. I'm lost in a world that I have no control in. It's not just the writing, or the suspense, or the twists and turns, or the fascinating way that she dives into the human psyche. It's everything above and so much more. I know when I pick up one of her books, I won't be picking things apart or taking notes. There will be no dishes that need washed. The house could catch fire and I wouldn't have a clue. I'm no longer Shawn the Human, I just simply am.

I picked up Volume Two of Skur last night and began to read it. I know ahead of time that I'll have a horrible time reviewing it as well.

So, here is the necessary information. If you like fantasy, this is a must-read. If you don't like fantasy, you WILL like this fantasy. Set aside some time to read it, because you won't be doing anything else until you've finished. Volume One is set into three distinct books, all related. If you have to take a break, that gives you a good point. Use the restroom and refill your drink. Change clothes and bathe if you must. Possibly get food. That's a lot to do though when you know you have the next section waiting on you! Also, make sure that you have Volume Two on stand-by for when you've finished Volume One. It picks up exactly where Volume One stops.You do NOT want to go through the waiting that I did! Be prepared! Be preeeepppppaaaared!

[Ian Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book. It teases you away from reality and drops you firmly in a new land, with all its beauty and ugliness laid bare before you. It’s an art, to steal the reader’s attention without them even noticing it. Looking down my Kindle, Abercrombie has it, Zelazny certainly possesses it, I grew up in Stephen Donaldson’s mind, and now Falconer has joined that band of literary thieves.
I was drawn in from the first words that Fane muttered from the pages. Fith the wizard, Jink the friend and Kael the older brother all coming alive in fast sequence. Their dialogue told me more about them than a description ever could, easy, somehow placing them straight into the scene and story. Real dialogue, not forced or stilted, dialogue that grows the setting rather than stilts the tale. Even in fantasy, problems, jealousy, and family wranglings all occur and these help to ground you and ready you for the fantastic journey ahead.
The Legacy Of Skur is a book I would wholeheartedly recommend, as I would any book by this author.

[Donna Chadwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all l would like to say a big thank you to L.F falconer for sending me her book and giving me a chance to read this story l was sent this book in exchange for a honest review l am glad this book is on my bookshelf l would tell people that you should step outside your comfort zone with books because it is good to add more authors and genres to your reading portfolio even if you do not read books of this genre but l stepped outside my comfort zone with authors and genres l am so glad l did because l have read so many great books l highly recommend this book the author is really nice and kind l would love to read more from this author l was sent this book by bostick communications who l want to say thank you to as well l really enjoyed reading this book l found this book easy to get in to l was sad to read that jinks body was taken over by a witch and he was raped by the man who was suppose to look after him. He was sold to this man by a woman who was looking after him. Jink's mother was a whore and he did not know his father. Kael and fane was brothers their mother had passed away she liked Jink and thought just because his mother was a whore he did not deserve to be treated nicely. Kael and fane's father dian did not like Jink. Fane was learning magic with a wizard fith. Fane went looking for ragg's gold with Jink. Jink dead saving fane's life. Ragg made himself look like Jink to get the crystal off fane so he could kill fane. The witch who took over Jink's body was called larque. Fane ended up eating trolls to stop him from dying and ragg getting the crystal. Fane meet a troll named hhaak and she took what she wanted from him because he was to weak to stop her and she got pregnant by him. Kael found his brother he told kael that Jink died saving his life he died a warrior and hhaak is my mate and she is pregnant with my child l can not leave this cave because if l do ragg will kill everyone in avar. Fane told his brother to promise he will look after hhaak and his baby. This crystal stops ragg touching me but l want you to take it. Do not let ragg get his hands on it. Kael told fane that their father would understand the honor of his death. He wanted Jink to have the same honor in death. Hhaak went in to labour so he found a midwife who did not tell anybody of the births she attended. Hhaak had a baby girl but she died in childbirth the baby was crying to be fed the midwife let the baby girl suck on her finger the baby girl looked like a normal baby apart from her pointed ears. The midwife told kael to go find a girl named alyn who give birth two days ago to a little girl who was stillborn. He found alyn but alyn was in debt to this man for letting her and her two siblings stay there after their parents passed away alyn's brother and sister passed away the man she worked for paid for their funerals so she was in more debt with him so he made her sleep with men for money. Kael paid off her debt of two crowns. Alyn agreed to be a wet nurse for Kael's niece he let alyn choose her name she named the baby elva the name she was going to name her daughter who sadly passed away. He took alyn and elva to Kael's home and told Kael's father that fane married alyn before he went to find ragg's gold and left her pregnant with elva. Kael went to war and nearly died but he survived he had fallen in love with alyn the first day he saw her and they got married with the blessing of Kael's father. Dian said he was happy to take alyn as his daughter in law again.elva called kael papa and dian grandpapa a year after kael and alyn got married alyn give birth to their son they named him lundin the following year they had a daughter sashi after the birth of their third child the following Autumn, tragedy struck their third born was another son named Devon when Devon was one month old he passed away in his sleep. Kael buried the baby behind the house Devon was not ill. Kael found out his father had passed away kael got his father's coronet handed to him he would wear it from now on. Ragg found out kael had the crystal from one of the guys that help him after he was stabbed when he was at war. Ragg ate fane's friend fith but the poor wizard was dead before he hit the floor. Ragg theated Kael's wife alyn and children and his niece. Alyn found elva missing the next morning but their house was still locked up. Ragg change himself in to a mouse so he could get into the house he give Elva to blugort and then went back to put the bar back down but he changed himself in to alyn to make elva think it was her mama who sent her away. Ragg told Elva that Kael killed her mother because she was a troll and that he wanted her gone too ragg wanted blugort to kill Elva and bring her ears and heart to show Kael that he meant business but blugort could not go through with killing Elva so he killed a troll so he could sell Elva to a ogre ragg changed himself in to Kael to make alyn think it was her husband he made alyn come to the barn with him he wrapped her in to his arms she said this is not the time he put a noose around her neck and pull her up and she chocked to death the last thing she saw was her husband cutting open her belly. Ragg killed alyn and their unborn baby. Kael buried them behind their house near their baby son Devon and Elva's bloody nightdress covering alyn and their unborn baby. Blugort tried to sell Elva to the ogre but he did not want her so the blugort left poor Elva in the cave to die. I was sad to read that alyn and their unborn baby died and that Elva throught alyn and Kael did not want her because of Ragg telling her that they both hated her when really they loved her like she was their own daughter l was sad to read that Elva was raped and she thought she was pregnant by that horrible boy. I feel sorry for gwin that his mother said he was cursed because he was born without a arm but Elva told gwin that may be it was his mother was cursed not him Elva loves gwin but rudne theated gwin to stay away from Elva or he would lose a foot poor Elva thinks her papa and mama and their children are living it up in the palace but she does not know her mama is dead and so is the baby she was carrying but Elva wants to kill her uncle for not wanting her. Gwin sounds like a great boy just a shame his mother is so nasty and l was sad to read gwin's father went hunting and never returned. Elva was a very brave girl she stood up for herself and Kael thought Elva was dead but he didn't know the horrible things his niece had been through. I found it funny that she said she had a real man in her last night meaning gwin. I was sad to read that gwin lost his hand for kissing Elva and l was happy that she stood up for herself and killed that horrible boy because he was going to rape her again and l am so glad she did not kill her uncle and she listened to her heart. Elva thought she would see her papa, mama and children running around with more children by none but that was not the case Kael told Elva that Ragg was a shape changer and he made alyn think he was Kael and he killed her and the baby she was carrying and he made you think that mama give you to that blugort so you would think we did not want you. Kael told Elva that he had failed alyn and their unborn baby, Elva and his brother fane. The author kindly signed my book it says cheers Donna pay attention to your sparks. This book was hard to put down once l started reading it and this book has 400 pages and l loved this book

[Lance Carney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Legacy of Skur is an epic, adult-themed fantasy, skillfully crafted by L.F. Falconer. The book is divided into three connected, yet diverse parts that flow together like a fine symphony. Part One: The Pathways of Darkness and Light is told from the point of view of Fane, a young man who desires to be a wizard’s apprentice, in spite of objections from his brother, Kael and his father, both warriors. Fane is lured to the mountain of Skur by an old wizard who claims the treasure of the mountain includes gold, the key to eternal life. The mountain and treasure are guarded by the dragon Raag. With Skur looming in the distance, Fane begins his quest along with his friend Jink; severe tests befall them on the way, including an evil, soul-stealing witch, a giant black boar, and Seret, the winged lion.

Part Two: The Wizard Stone follows Kael as he deals with the birth of Fane’s daughter as well as the crystal talisman given to him by Fane. A touching love story builds between Kael and Alyn, a young girl initially indentured to a tavern owner who Kael hires to nurse the baby. But the climax of Part Two is Kael’s battle with the shape-shifting dragon Raag. It raised my heart rate and caused me to clutch the pages tightly; the most exciting time I’ve had reading in quite some time!

Part Three: The Dragonslayer is the story of Elva, Fane’s young daughter-the Legacy of Skur. She is tricked by Raag into believing ill of Kael and Alyn and the story follows her own personal quest to become a wizard and a warrior. And for revenge.

The Legacy of Skur-Volume One is simply the best book I’ve read in many years. I have read other books by L.F. Falconer, but in my eyes this is the author’s masterpiece. It is deserving of a fantasy book award in my opinion. And the best part, there’s more to follow in this epic tale!

[Joe Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Legacy of Skur is a rather brilliant tale told in three parts, and the manner in which Falconer tells this tale makes it so much more powerful. It is told from three perspectives, one per Part, with the first and last being in first-person past, and the middle in a third-person past omniscient. It may sound strange, but it is so effective and I must applaud the author's use of this highly unusual style.

That being said, let the reader understand that this is dark fantasy (and I had to look that up to be specific, since I was confused as to whether it was more horror or fantasy). At times it can be soul-crushing, bleak, horrifying, and just explicit enough to make you wince. This is not, however, to say it's bad, because as the five-star rating should indicate, it's "bloody brilliant." It's not for the squeamish or prudes, but if you're into dark fantasy and can deal with some questionable behavior of a sexual nature, the story is compelling. In the interest of fair warning, there is a little bit of explicit sexual content; it is effective in its use, but it's not for everyone and both readers and authors should understand that.

I was very impressed with the story, the characters, the pacing, the action, the love, the hate...I don't think there was a single thing I didn't like about this. I've had some experiences in my life that made some of the things that happen in the book hit me a little more squarely than they may hit other readers, but in all honesty, it allowed me to better empathize with the characters.

In short, I highly recommend this book to fans of darker fantasy, but please take heed of my warning, because I don't want to see people bash the author because they went into this book blindly and got offended by some of what they read.

- I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah-Jayne Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

Although this book did hit one of my pet peeves in the switching between first and third person, I did find this book to be an entertaining read. It drew me in and I liked the fact that most of the characters had darker sides to them and that I had the opportunity to learn more about their pasts.

There were a lot of really disturbing scenes in this book. Larque especially was a really hard character to see any redeeming qualities to... and although the majority of the troll characters were really disturbing, I liked the fact that not all of them were bad. And I did feel a lot of sympathy for Hhaak. While most of the romances in the book didn't seem to be explored in the way they could have been, I didn't find them irritating... and despite there being a lot of characters, I was able to get to know most of them.

I liked seeing Fane's relationship with his father and brother... and also his friendship with Jink. It was interesting to see that there was a lot of tension between Jink and Kael, even though Fane was obviously really close to both of them.

I didn't really like the fact that the book slipped between past and present tense... I thought that it would have been better for it to just stay in the past tense.

I didn't like Fith as a character. I didn't think he gave Fane all of the skills he needed to go to Skur. I was also interested in the Shadowland... though I would have liked to see more details of the place. I was confused about whether it was another realm or something else.

I did like the fact that Kael's relationship with Alyn was allowed to develop and I thought both of them were really sweet while interacting with Elva.

I did think that the descriptions in the book came across really well. I was able to picture a lot of the characters and the events in my mind. I didn't really like the glossing over of time, though... I was confused about how much time had passed.

I probably would read the sequel to this book at some point in the future. I'd like to see more of Elva and the people she interacts with.

[Elizabeth Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I was reading this book, The Legacy of Skur, a blockbuster movie-in-the-making was all I could picture. Every chapter, every scene, was laid out before my eyes with such precision, such mastery, such descriptive prose that only a master at the craft of writing could accomplish, and L.F. Falconer is just that.

This "grim" tale could do no wrong. While darker than I normally like and gorier than I normally tolerate, it had me absolutely hooked from the very first page, the very first scene.

I pictured everything as if seated in a movie theatre, watching this tale unfold on a silver screen in panavision and technicolor. Move over Lord of The Rings because this Legacy needs to be seen and heard by the masses!

My heart was pounding from the get-go in Part One reading Fane and Jink's trek to the dreaded mountain of Skur, and their encounters with Larque and Seret and Ragg were marvelous.

Ms. Falconer's words jump right off the page and onto the silver screen of my imagination . . . it's THAT good because this author is that good! I cannot wait to get my hands on Volume Two. Hurry it up, Ms. Falconer. Your loyal fans await the next exciting installment with bated breath.

[Xsiomara Chavez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never have I experienced an adventure such as this and its nor over. Falconer plays with your emotions from absolute anger, desperation, sadness,lust, a temporary happiness, lost hope and hate. You will not put the book down. But there are some stuff that could be better like some of the wording its kind of difficult to get but you get as you read on. There is also a clash between languages at the beginning which makes the reading a bit slow and boring. But it gets better later on. Its an interesting book in general.

[Jacci · Rating 4 out of 5]

L.F. Falconer is one of my favorite authors. This book was no exception in its complexity. It was like reading three different books that were all connected. The writing was superb, and the characters compelling. I learned a new word on almost every page. That being said, I wish I had known it was a dark fantasy going in. I'm more of a PG-PG13 reader and this book deserved more of an R rating. Plus, it was dark, which is not my preference. So, it's a matter of taste. If you want a fantastic dark fantasy, you'll love the Legacy of Skur. I guarantee it!

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book through good reads and was unexpectedly suprised. I really enjoyed the storyline and unconventional endings. Very unpredictable and enjoyable. Seeking the next book in the series to find out the rest of Alva's story.