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Calasade: Sanguinem Isle
This is an alternate cover edition for isbn13: 9780996755511
Wearing naught—
—teeth chattering—
—trapped in a pit—
—staring at the moon that never seemed to move—
—cowering.
Weeping.
Who were they? What had they done? What did they want with her, a lowly serva?
Who, what, what.
She wished for an end to her unrelenting questions and she wished, too, for escape before...What they wanted came to her like a zigzagged bolt illuminating the sky. There was no choice—she had to get out, had to flee. She told herself it did not matter the pit was several times her height or that her knees threatened to buckle as she stood, told herself neither was it of consequence that her legs wobbled in getting her to the wall with the most outcroppings. She reached up and began to climb, whimpering each time her fingers gripped the jagged rocks, moaning when those edges cut into the soles of her feet.
The pain was unimportant. Nothing compared to what her captors planned.
*************************************************************
ABOUT CALASADE Calasade is a Greco-Roman Fantasy world ten years in the making. Influenced enough by our own history and the geography of earth, Calasade will seem familiar in many ways, but it is very much a world of its own and has differences too numerous to count. I’ve worked extensively, Dear Reader, to make Calasade original and worth your hard-earned money. I am sure you will be very entertained and (hopefully) amazed.
Wearing naught—
—teeth chattering—
—trapped in a pit—
—staring at the moon that never seemed to move—
—cowering.
Weeping.
Who were they? What had they done? What did they want with her, a lowly serva?
Who, what, what.
She wished for an end to her unrelenting questions and she wished, too, for escape before...What they wanted came to her like a zigzagged bolt illuminating the sky. There was no choice—she had to get out, had to flee. She told herself it did not matter the pit was several times her height or that her knees threatened to buckle as she stood, told herself neither was it of consequence that her legs wobbled in getting her to the wall with the most outcroppings. She reached up and began to climb, whimpering each time her fingers gripped the jagged rocks, moaning when those edges cut into the soles of her feet.
The pain was unimportant. Nothing compared to what her captors planned.
*************************************************************
ABOUT CALASADE Calasade is a Greco-Roman Fantasy world ten years in the making. Influenced enough by our own history and the geography of earth, Calasade will seem familiar in many ways, but it is very much a world of its own and has differences too numerous to count. I’ve worked extensively, Dear Reader, to make Calasade original and worth your hard-earned money. I am sure you will be very entertained and (hopefully) amazed.
- GenresFantasy
ebook
First published May 19, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 29, 2015
I did give a review on amazon for this book. it is something I do not normally read but enjoyed. the plot the twists the ending. I cant give away to much but it did keep my interest. I will be reading more from this author in the future.
May 19, 2015
"Si vis pacem, para bellum." (if you want peace, prepare for war)
"Facilis descensus Averni." (the descent into hell is easy)
Caderyn, in need of much coin, agrees to be hired by proconsul Lepidus . he must find Indrasena who was snatched from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Caderyn, together with his motley crew, embarks on a journey to look for the people responsible for the deed and rescue the girl before time runs out.
readers who are familiar with Mark Stone's previous works will welcome this latest Calasade book as the continent of Calasade bursts to life once more with all its excesses, intrigues, savagery, magic, bloodlust, greed, wealth and poverty.
Mark Stone's characters in this book are not exactly endearing ones but they are well-developed. each has a story to tell or a role to play in the world they inhabit - be it for good or evil.
for example, Caderyn, the main protagonist, is hardly the sort one would admire after what he has become due to alcohol abuse and guilt over his wife's death. his portrayal is so realistic. though he comes across as pathetic and hopeless, one could not help but feel sorry for him at times. without realizing it at first, Caderyn's quest for the missing Indrasena will be more than that - it is also a quest for personal healing and salvation as he wages a battle within himself and against the ghosts of his past.
later, we find out that Jana and Lepidus have secrets that will impact Caderyn's fate. Jacob, on the other hand, appears to be the most level-headed among the players.
while there is darkness and blood in the storyline, there is also romance squeezed in.
i have to admire as well the distinct language the author has developed for Calasade and its denizens. it is not an easy task to come up with. although, it may be challenging to read at times, it gets its message to the reader. the all too familiar smattering of Latin phrases may upset new readers but they can be understood well enough from the context of the dialogs and descriptions. of course, the ubiquitous illustrations are as good as ever.
all in all, another satisfying read that made me forget about the real world for a while.
lector caveat: do not be dissuaded from reaching the end. it may not be the ending you would expect but something happened and was being conveyed there. for me, it worked.
Disclosure of Material Connection: i received a copy for review. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
"Facilis descensus Averni." (the descent into hell is easy)
Caderyn, in need of much coin, agrees to be hired by proconsul Lepidus . he must find Indrasena who was snatched from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Caderyn, together with his motley crew, embarks on a journey to look for the people responsible for the deed and rescue the girl before time runs out.
readers who are familiar with Mark Stone's previous works will welcome this latest Calasade book as the continent of Calasade bursts to life once more with all its excesses, intrigues, savagery, magic, bloodlust, greed, wealth and poverty.
Mark Stone's characters in this book are not exactly endearing ones but they are well-developed. each has a story to tell or a role to play in the world they inhabit - be it for good or evil.
for example, Caderyn, the main protagonist, is hardly the sort one would admire after what he has become due to alcohol abuse and guilt over his wife's death. his portrayal is so realistic. though he comes across as pathetic and hopeless, one could not help but feel sorry for him at times. without realizing it at first, Caderyn's quest for the missing Indrasena will be more than that - it is also a quest for personal healing and salvation as he wages a battle within himself and against the ghosts of his past.
later, we find out that Jana and Lepidus have secrets that will impact Caderyn's fate. Jacob, on the other hand, appears to be the most level-headed among the players.
while there is darkness and blood in the storyline, there is also romance squeezed in.
i have to admire as well the distinct language the author has developed for Calasade and its denizens. it is not an easy task to come up with. although, it may be challenging to read at times, it gets its message to the reader. the all too familiar smattering of Latin phrases may upset new readers but they can be understood well enough from the context of the dialogs and descriptions. of course, the ubiquitous illustrations are as good as ever.
all in all, another satisfying read that made me forget about the real world for a while.
lector caveat: do not be dissuaded from reaching the end. it may not be the ending you would expect but something happened and was being conveyed there. for me, it worked.
Disclosure of Material Connection: i received a copy for review. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
June 28, 2015
I was given an ARC copy of this book in exchange of an honest review and I’m only sorry that it took me so long to read it (stupid life!).
The first adjective that comes to my mind thinking about this book is different. I am passionate about novels in general and fantasy in particular and I have read many many books, but I’ve never met something like this. This novel is set in Calasade, a Greco Roman Fantasy world. As the author, Mark Stone, says, it has enough in common with Ancient Rome to sound familiar, but it’s also original and unique in its own way. Blood Isle is one episode of many that take place in Calasade world, but it can be read as a stand alone story.
Blood Isle has everything you may want in a novel.
There’s action, right from the beginning, and it’s something that grabs the readers attention from the first page. There are mistery and investigation, and the tension is always high. There’s a touch of magic. There are struggles, both inner and outer. And there’s love.
As a reader, I learnt to expect certain things from a fantasy novel: a great danger for the world and its order, a villain who seeks some form of power and a hero who, willingly or unwillingly, undertakes the voyage to defeat the enemy. Well, this time the danger and the enemy are not clear from the beginning, the reader explores this new world without really knowing who is the bad guy and what he wants and this make you read the entire novel with a different perspective. Moreover the hero, Caderyn, is one of the most unwilling and troubled heroes I’ve ever read about. This adds another layer to the story, because along the way he has to fight his own demons (which are strong and dangerous enough).
The pace of the narration is good, not so fast that you get lost and not so slow that you get bored by details. The main issue that slowed my reading a little was language (but it’s my problem because English is not my mother language). The mixture of English, Latin and Latin-like words adapted to sound more familiar to English-speaking persons is sometimes a little difficult for me, but it’s just a matter of getting used to it (which happens after a couple of chapters).
Then the epilogue… what to say about the epilogue? Really, I didn’t expect nothing like that! (NOSPOILERSNOSPOILERS)
Plus: this book has beautiful illustrations which add an incredible value.
On the whole this novel is interesting and innovative, moreover introduces the reader in a world he can find in other novels such as Wayward (you can read it for free!), Foolish Endeavors and Strife.
The first adjective that comes to my mind thinking about this book is different. I am passionate about novels in general and fantasy in particular and I have read many many books, but I’ve never met something like this. This novel is set in Calasade, a Greco Roman Fantasy world. As the author, Mark Stone, says, it has enough in common with Ancient Rome to sound familiar, but it’s also original and unique in its own way. Blood Isle is one episode of many that take place in Calasade world, but it can be read as a stand alone story.
Blood Isle has everything you may want in a novel.
There’s action, right from the beginning, and it’s something that grabs the readers attention from the first page. There are mistery and investigation, and the tension is always high. There’s a touch of magic. There are struggles, both inner and outer. And there’s love.
As a reader, I learnt to expect certain things from a fantasy novel: a great danger for the world and its order, a villain who seeks some form of power and a hero who, willingly or unwillingly, undertakes the voyage to defeat the enemy. Well, this time the danger and the enemy are not clear from the beginning, the reader explores this new world without really knowing who is the bad guy and what he wants and this make you read the entire novel with a different perspective. Moreover the hero, Caderyn, is one of the most unwilling and troubled heroes I’ve ever read about. This adds another layer to the story, because along the way he has to fight his own demons (which are strong and dangerous enough).
The pace of the narration is good, not so fast that you get lost and not so slow that you get bored by details. The main issue that slowed my reading a little was language (but it’s my problem because English is not my mother language). The mixture of English, Latin and Latin-like words adapted to sound more familiar to English-speaking persons is sometimes a little difficult for me, but it’s just a matter of getting used to it (which happens after a couple of chapters).
Then the epilogue… what to say about the epilogue? Really, I didn’t expect nothing like that! (NOSPOILERSNOSPOILERS)
Plus: this book has beautiful illustrations which add an incredible value.
On the whole this novel is interesting and innovative, moreover introduces the reader in a world he can find in other novels such as Wayward (you can read it for free!), Foolish Endeavors and Strife.
December 18, 2015
To boil down the plot, it’s about an ex-soldier who is hired to find a kidnapped girl.
The world isn’t anything new nor is it explored. You’ve got a decent enough feel for it, but those craving detailed worlds might find this lacking. For me, it did just fine. I got the system and community enough that I felt grounded.
The story read very quick. There was enough going on that I didn’t have a problem finding the curiosity to continue reading or picking it up again. That’s always a bonus. I wouldn’t say it had a lot of action, but the story moved.
The characters aside from Caderyn felt very common to me. Meaning, I’ve read them before in different books. Very standard. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It allowed the in depth character of Caderyn to really shine. He went through some rough times in his soldiering days and it actually affected him in many ways. He took to drink, and he battles it throughout the book. I really liked that part. He was a flawed character that struggled with his demons. Very well done.
The girl Caderyn sets out to save is Indrasena, and we get a few sections in her PoV. I found her engaging enough, and her abilities that reveal themselves are also interesting. I didn’t find her as fleshed out as Caderyn, but compared to the others, I’d say she’s the second most explored.
It’s a short book, so as I said it reads fast. There’s sex and foul language, both of which I had no problems with, but thought I’d mention them. I hate to see a book get bad reviews because some don’t like to read of such things. The writing was smooth, for me.
So overall, I’d recommend this for a fast and entertaining read. I’ll continue the series if I can ever break the surface of my to-read list.
You can see this and other reviews on my website: http://booksbylkevans.com
The world isn’t anything new nor is it explored. You’ve got a decent enough feel for it, but those craving detailed worlds might find this lacking. For me, it did just fine. I got the system and community enough that I felt grounded.
The story read very quick. There was enough going on that I didn’t have a problem finding the curiosity to continue reading or picking it up again. That’s always a bonus. I wouldn’t say it had a lot of action, but the story moved.
The characters aside from Caderyn felt very common to me. Meaning, I’ve read them before in different books. Very standard. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It allowed the in depth character of Caderyn to really shine. He went through some rough times in his soldiering days and it actually affected him in many ways. He took to drink, and he battles it throughout the book. I really liked that part. He was a flawed character that struggled with his demons. Very well done.
The girl Caderyn sets out to save is Indrasena, and we get a few sections in her PoV. I found her engaging enough, and her abilities that reveal themselves are also interesting. I didn’t find her as fleshed out as Caderyn, but compared to the others, I’d say she’s the second most explored.
It’s a short book, so as I said it reads fast. There’s sex and foul language, both of which I had no problems with, but thought I’d mention them. I hate to see a book get bad reviews because some don’t like to read of such things. The writing was smooth, for me.
So overall, I’d recommend this for a fast and entertaining read. I’ll continue the series if I can ever break the surface of my to-read list.
You can see this and other reviews on my website: http://booksbylkevans.com
December 19, 2015
I really enjoyed his book. I was not sure what to expect, and was very pleased with this book. This is a fantasy, about a man on the road for redemption, while being haunted by the mistakes of the past. At first, it took a little to get into, with the language but after the first chapter, I was hooked.
Mark Stone's Greco-Roman fantasy is a very well crafted story with complex characters and a plot that is engaging. The language at times is unfamiliar, but it fits into the story and the overall feel of the book. It reads and feels like a Greco-Roman fantasy, rather than just being placed in a similar setting. The words, when used, are always easy to understand due to the context - the author was careful with the usage and placement, so the reader never feels lost.
I would be interested in reading more of these books. A very great fantasy novel.
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Mark Stone's Greco-Roman fantasy is a very well crafted story with complex characters and a plot that is engaging. The language at times is unfamiliar, but it fits into the story and the overall feel of the book. It reads and feels like a Greco-Roman fantasy, rather than just being placed in a similar setting. The words, when used, are always easy to understand due to the context - the author was careful with the usage and placement, so the reader never feels lost.
I would be interested in reading more of these books. A very great fantasy novel.
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2015
The drink ruins lives: Calasade: Blood Isle by Mark Stone
"Spoiler Alert"
I was given this ARC in exchange for a honest review, I've read from this author before, this was no hardship for me.
Set in the Greco-Roman time, a fantasy with barbarians, swords & sorcery: Caderyn lost his wife to his stupidity of the drink and gambling, he had it all, titles, a great job and a fine place to live with his wife Elianne. Now he was battling demons, always being tested with them and life. Will he win his battle, or is the pull to drink to much? Jana had been looking for him for a fortnight, she was sent by Lepidus to ask him to help find Indrasena for coin. Indrasena was a very young girl kidnapped from his home in the night. With all that has happened in his life already, Caderyn wasn't to keen on someone relying on him but, he needed the money to try to make a fresh start. The other part that bothered him was the pull on his britches that Jana has made, he's still married in his heart. He's never strayed (that he can remember anyway). He's seen way to much, it haunts his dreams. You need to read this book to find out about Caderyn's demons. Jana doesn't give up a lot of information on the girl, it makes Caderyn wonder who and what this girl is to Lepidus. Caderyn decided to do it, he made his demands clear, he needed men, weapons and more money than offered. Jana agreed to his terms as along as she can go back and help find the girl with them. This book is meticulously written. I didn't know some of the words but, I knew what that meant by reading the sentence. Download your copy and read about Caderyn and his journey to find himself again. You will also get a taste of this authors awesome artwork, another reason to download a copy.
"Spoiler Alert"
I was given this ARC in exchange for a honest review, I've read from this author before, this was no hardship for me.
Set in the Greco-Roman time, a fantasy with barbarians, swords & sorcery: Caderyn lost his wife to his stupidity of the drink and gambling, he had it all, titles, a great job and a fine place to live with his wife Elianne. Now he was battling demons, always being tested with them and life. Will he win his battle, or is the pull to drink to much? Jana had been looking for him for a fortnight, she was sent by Lepidus to ask him to help find Indrasena for coin. Indrasena was a very young girl kidnapped from his home in the night. With all that has happened in his life already, Caderyn wasn't to keen on someone relying on him but, he needed the money to try to make a fresh start. The other part that bothered him was the pull on his britches that Jana has made, he's still married in his heart. He's never strayed (that he can remember anyway). He's seen way to much, it haunts his dreams. You need to read this book to find out about Caderyn's demons. Jana doesn't give up a lot of information on the girl, it makes Caderyn wonder who and what this girl is to Lepidus. Caderyn decided to do it, he made his demands clear, he needed men, weapons and more money than offered. Jana agreed to his terms as along as she can go back and help find the girl with them. This book is meticulously written. I didn't know some of the words but, I knew what that meant by reading the sentence. Download your copy and read about Caderyn and his journey to find himself again. You will also get a taste of this authors awesome artwork, another reason to download a copy.
November 25, 2015
Sanguinem Isle is a fantasy novel set in a greco-roman like universe. The novel is a bit graphic at turns (sexual content) yet the fast pace of the story compensates if a reader doesn't enjoy that sort of thing. Because of the setting, the author mixes latin words at points, a bit heavy in the first part of the book and moderately after. It was easier for me to understand most of the latin words as I speak a romance language natively. However, english speakers might find the first part of the book a little difficult.
The main character, Caderyn, is an ex-soldier and an ex-noble. War has taken a toll on him and after becoming a policeman in civilian life he develops a sort of post traumatic stress disorder which leads him to gambling and alcoholism. Consequently, he loses his fortune and status and his wife is murdered by the people he is in debt with.
The story is a story of Caderyn's redemption. He is hired by the proconsul Lepidus to find a missing girl. The reward for this mission is large enough that it will allow him to reclaim his old life back and along his mission he will find ways to fulfill his dying wife's last wish: "become the man I love". Across the book, Caderyn battles his previous habits and eventually solves the mystery surrounding Indrasena's disappearance.
In a weird twist, Caderyn does become the man his wife would love at the end of the book. However, the story is not over with Caderyn's revival in this novel and I am looking forward to the following books.
The main character, Caderyn, is an ex-soldier and an ex-noble. War has taken a toll on him and after becoming a policeman in civilian life he develops a sort of post traumatic stress disorder which leads him to gambling and alcoholism. Consequently, he loses his fortune and status and his wife is murdered by the people he is in debt with.
The story is a story of Caderyn's redemption. He is hired by the proconsul Lepidus to find a missing girl. The reward for this mission is large enough that it will allow him to reclaim his old life back and along his mission he will find ways to fulfill his dying wife's last wish: "become the man I love". Across the book, Caderyn battles his previous habits and eventually solves the mystery surrounding Indrasena's disappearance.
In a weird twist, Caderyn does become the man his wife would love at the end of the book. However, the story is not over with Caderyn's revival in this novel and I am looking forward to the following books.
January 25, 2016
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
Caderyn Fortis used to be a soldier, but now he’s a gambling addict and an alcoholic, a man haunted by his wife’s murder and his own failings in life. Then an opportunity arrives that might give his self-worth back, that might help him make up for the mistakes he has made. He has to rescue a young woman who got kidnapped, but things aren’t as simply as they seem.
With deep roots in the Greek-Roman societies of old, the book presents an interesting fantasy world that the reader can easily settle in. There aren’t many details about this world, but it feels familiar enough that the details aren’t really needed either – you can submerse into this fantasy world without it, and feel instantly at home in this community. Plus, the book relies mostly on action, so long descriptions would slow down the pacing anyway.
On to Caderyn. He has a complex personality, a shaded past, and that makes him intriguing. As a reader, you really get a feel for him, his personality and everything that makes him who he is. He’s troubled and flawed, and all of this makes him interesting.
The pacing is good, there’s action when it’s needed, some slow moments to mix up and get in-depth characterization, and overall it’s an entertaining fantasy book that all fans of the genre will enjoy.
Caderyn Fortis used to be a soldier, but now he’s a gambling addict and an alcoholic, a man haunted by his wife’s murder and his own failings in life. Then an opportunity arrives that might give his self-worth back, that might help him make up for the mistakes he has made. He has to rescue a young woman who got kidnapped, but things aren’t as simply as they seem.
With deep roots in the Greek-Roman societies of old, the book presents an interesting fantasy world that the reader can easily settle in. There aren’t many details about this world, but it feels familiar enough that the details aren’t really needed either – you can submerse into this fantasy world without it, and feel instantly at home in this community. Plus, the book relies mostly on action, so long descriptions would slow down the pacing anyway.
On to Caderyn. He has a complex personality, a shaded past, and that makes him intriguing. As a reader, you really get a feel for him, his personality and everything that makes him who he is. He’s troubled and flawed, and all of this makes him interesting.
The pacing is good, there’s action when it’s needed, some slow moments to mix up and get in-depth characterization, and overall it’s an entertaining fantasy book that all fans of the genre will enjoy.
March 14, 2016
This was an unexpected treat. I’ve often thought of a Mystery and Epic Fantasy mix, and this is the first one I’ve come across. The flow of the story is smooth and engaging as we’re moved along at a good pace. It was a cool experience in not only experiencing a new world, but also to see the process of detection Caderyn uses to locate the girl while battling his own demons.
The only issue I had, and this is more of getting used to a new story than not, was the different terms for various items, people, and acts. It was a little distracting at first, but once I got into the story it wasn’t a problem.
As for the characters, I thought they were well done. Each of them had a life of their own and brought something more to the story. Caderyn captured the tortured hero that’s a staple in Epic Fantasy and the old crime/mystery novels I loved to read as a kid. There were a couple of points I wanted to reach into the book and smack him upside the head, but the other characters tended to do that for me. lol
I am curious as to what happened during the time jump at the end to a few of them, but I won’t go into greater detail due to spoilers and a possible sequel (Hint hint. :) ).
Overall, I really enjoyed this and look forward to more books in the series and other works by the author.
The only issue I had, and this is more of getting used to a new story than not, was the different terms for various items, people, and acts. It was a little distracting at first, but once I got into the story it wasn’t a problem.
As for the characters, I thought they were well done. Each of them had a life of their own and brought something more to the story. Caderyn captured the tortured hero that’s a staple in Epic Fantasy and the old crime/mystery novels I loved to read as a kid. There were a couple of points I wanted to reach into the book and smack him upside the head, but the other characters tended to do that for me. lol
I am curious as to what happened during the time jump at the end to a few of them, but I won’t go into greater detail due to spoilers and a possible sequel (Hint hint. :) ).
Overall, I really enjoyed this and look forward to more books in the series and other works by the author.
July 17, 2015
I received an ARC copy of this book to read and although it's not in a genre that I normally read I found that I enjoyed this one quite a lot. The little bit of a mystery that the protagonist, Caderyn, is hired to solve by Jana. A woman who is mysterious.
The story kicks along at a decent pace, and Caderyn's personal demons really add to the building of the character and the world he is living in.
The story is told pretty much entirely from Caderyn's point of view, but there is a voyage across a sea where we see the story from a different point of view and that worked incredibly well, and added quite a bit of mystery for the next few chapters.
In wrapping this up, I didn't see the ending coming. It really came out of left field and took the story in a totally different direction than I thought it was going in and not many stories have done that in the manner this one did.
Well worth a read.
The story kicks along at a decent pace, and Caderyn's personal demons really add to the building of the character and the world he is living in.
The story is told pretty much entirely from Caderyn's point of view, but there is a voyage across a sea where we see the story from a different point of view and that worked incredibly well, and added quite a bit of mystery for the next few chapters.
In wrapping this up, I didn't see the ending coming. It really came out of left field and took the story in a totally different direction than I thought it was going in and not many stories have done that in the manner this one did.
Well worth a read.
March 3, 2016
I received this through the Goodreads Giveaway Program. It will be the first book I've read by Mark Stone. I'm impressed with all of the highly rated books he's written.
As I flipped through the book before beginning to read, I was immediately impressed with the illustrations! They definitely peaked my interest.
I just finished this book! It had a plot that was captivating and enthralling. You were pulled into a world you were glad you didn't have to live in! Cruelty and love entwined in horrible situations and settings. Characters who made mistakes and some who tried to rectify them. Others who were just horrible and did unforgivable things. Power gone amok.
The cliff hanging of an ending ensures you'll want to read the next!
As I flipped through the book before beginning to read, I was immediately impressed with the illustrations! They definitely peaked my interest.
I just finished this book! It had a plot that was captivating and enthralling. You were pulled into a world you were glad you didn't have to live in! Cruelty and love entwined in horrible situations and settings. Characters who made mistakes and some who tried to rectify them. Others who were just horrible and did unforgivable things. Power gone amok.
The cliff hanging of an ending ensures you'll want to read the next!
May 23, 2015
I was surprised at how easily I fell into the world of Calasade. The main character, though fighting his own demons and being damaged, grabs your heart and your loyalty from the beginning. I found the other characters just as real and capable of stirring an array of emotions in the reader. The story was easy to follow and definitely entertaining. At the end of Blood Isle I was left wanting for more!
December 29, 2023
I've meant to get to this novel for a while, with a promise of Roman-inspired fantasy.
Expect a somewhat confused story about an alcoholic trying to rescue a girl from kidnappers. There are elements of fantasy, with supernatural monsters and magical powers, but they are much in the background. There's enough Latin throughout to make a headmaster happy and send everyone else to the dictionary, but little other elements of Greco-Roman culture (from unrelated fantasy gods to men wearing stolas).
The style feels over-written, with heavy prose that feel stilted and disengages the reader from the story. For those who make it through, the ending is anti-climatic and rather disappointing.
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Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
Expect a somewhat confused story about an alcoholic trying to rescue a girl from kidnappers. There are elements of fantasy, with supernatural monsters and magical powers, but they are much in the background. There's enough Latin throughout to make a headmaster happy and send everyone else to the dictionary, but little other elements of Greco-Roman culture (from unrelated fantasy gods to men wearing stolas).
The style feels over-written, with heavy prose that feel stilted and disengages the reader from the story. For those who make it through, the ending is anti-climatic and rather disappointing.
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Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
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