The Sword Chronicles: Child of the Empire

The Sword Chronicles #1

by Michaelbrent Collings

A Top 100 Overall Bestseller in the Kindle Store!

She is a Dog - one of the many children and teens across the empire of Ansborn who have been sentenced to fight in the arenas. There they fight in battle after battle until they die for the sport of the people of Ansborn - an empire built atop the peaks of five mountains. But one day she picks up a knife... and everything changes."[A] thoroughly amazing experience." - My SF ReviewsShe discovers she is a Greater Gift - one of a handful of magic users with powers so great they have only two to join the Empire as one of its premier assassins, or die as a threat to the Empire itself."[A]n excellent story, with well developed characters..." - Making It Happen reviews."She is no longer a Dog. Now, she is Sword. And she will soon realize that in this Empire, not all is what it seems. Good and evil collide, and she can never be sure whom to trust - not even herself."A great book..." - Game Industry NewsShe holds life in her hands for some. Brings death by her blade to others. She is a killer. She is a savior. She is Sword."Epic fantasy meets superheroes, with lots of action and great characters. The Sword Chronicles is dark yet hopeful, and very entertaining. Collings is a great storyteller." - Larry Correia, New York Times bestselling author of Son of the Black SwordFans of Sanderson, Jordan, Feist, and more will thrill to the adventures of a land unlike any you've ever seen. Tap the link and grab your copy of The Sword Chronicles now!

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Young Adult, Action

499 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 3, 2015

About the author

One of the most versatile writers around, Michaelbrent Collings is an internationally bestselling novelist, produced screenwriter, and multiple Bram Stoker Award finalist. While he is best known for horror (and is one of the most successful indie horror authors in the United States), he has also written bestselling thriller, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, humor, young adult, and middle grade works, and Western Romance.

In addition to being a bestselling novelist, Michaelbrent has also received critical acclaim: he is the only person who has ever been a finalist for a Bram Stoker Award, a Dragon Award, a RONE Award, and a Whitney award: and he and his work have been reviewed and/or featured on everything from Publishers Weekly to Scream Magazine to NPR. He is also a frequent guest at comic cons and on writing podcasts like Six Figure Authors, The Creative Penn, and Writing Excuses.

Find more about him at his website, WrittenInsomnia.com, or sign up for his mailing list (and get a free book!) at http://writteninsomnia.com/michaelbre....

Reviews

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve declined some cringe worthy books in the last few months for review and The Sword Chronicles: Child of the Empire was a blast of fresh air. Collings knows his craft and fans (teens through to adults) of fantasy and dystopian fiction will enjoy reading this book.

Collings’ novel is set in the kingdom of Anborn. Anborn is built on five mountains named – Faith, Strength, Knowledge, Fear and Center. It rests above the cloud line and anyone from Anborn who attempts to travel below the clouds dies horribly. The one dynasty has ruled Anborn for generations.

The narrative opens with the dramatic, bloody dream of a girl – a dog. People, often children, are sold into the fighting pits (kennels) and once there, they are known as dogs. Everything about life in the kennels is dehumanising and torturous. The rule of life, for this girl, is kill or be killed. The girl doesn’t know her name or her age. She knows nothing of life outside the kennels. At the end of one of her fights events take a strange turn and she becomes one of Anborn’s Blessed Ones and in the service of the emperor. This sparks the beginning of an adventure that is action packed and has plenty of heart as well.

Collings’ opening scenes had me intrigued and hooked me to continue reading this story. The initial dream and the girl’s point of view are conveyed wonderfully well. The action sequences are gritty with no holds barred. The use of staccato sentences in the action sequences adds to the pacing, provides great emphasis on key elements and directs the reader’s attention. “There was that particular noise of sword cleaving flesh. A gurgle…He laughed. The blood washed away. The day was begun.“

These abrupt sentences also place emphasis on the girl’s fragmented point of view early on. It serves to highlight animalistic nature of her existence – moment to moment survival and a struggle to understand the unfamiliar.

This also works to create an effect for the reader like a camera panning in on specific moments in a film. This is a very cinematic piece of writing. The reader will have no trouble visualising the story as it unfolds and Collings sets a cracking pace.

The characterisations within the novel are well written. The girl's culture shock at life outside the kennels, her psychological recovery and gradual education are handled well and though she is the heroine of this story she is not without fault. The supporting cast are all well rounded and given detailed backstories which are woven into the narrative seamlessly. My only complaint was that it became clear to me early on who the bad guy really was, although there was a nice little twist to that which I didn't anticipate.

Collings blends familiar dystopian elements along with many fantasy genre tropes and the tech in the novel is a blend of science and magic. Overall the world building has an eastern flare to it. The combination works and even though I knew where the story was heading, its execution was so good that I really didn’t mind – I was carried along on the roller coaster ride until the end.

Would I read the next one? You bet!

Four Stars!

[AudioBookReviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My original Child of the Empire audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Child of the Empire is the first novel in the series called the Sword Chronicles by Michaelbrent Collings. She is a Dog, a girl fighting for her life for the entertainment of people more fortunate that her. Fighting in the dog arenas is all that she remembers. One day she picks up a knife for the first time in her life, and without any training, she utilizes it with expert precision. Suddenly, she is pulled out of the arenas to serve the empire and emperor as an assassin or die. Her greater gift of magic that allows her to use weapons with expert skill gives her the new name, Sword, and a brand new family of greater gifts. As she trains and carries out her job as an assassin, she is soon confronted with the facts that begin to make her believe that she might have been fighting on the wrong side all along. Now, she must try to figure out what is true for herself.

The story of Sword is really compelling. The first half of the story is focused on the becoming of Sword and her growing relationships with the other greater gifts of the empire. It’s a coming of age story as she leaves behind her traumatic childhood and becomes accustomed to her new life. As the story progresses, her worldview is challenged and she has to figure out how she really fits into the world. While this struggle is not unique, it is still a good story. In addition to this struggle, there is a lot of action as the greater gifts are busy with their role as assassins. There is also an element of how to make decisions when the orders coming from the top are in conflict with what you think is right, which is a good element to the story. There are a lot of additional characters that serve as friends and mentors to Sword and these relationships changes as the story, and Sword, develops.

The narration by Danielle Cohen was okay, but it felt a little forced, as if there was an attempt to make every sentence sound really dramatic. This was a bit distracting. The production quality of the novel was good. I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys coming of age stories and epic fantasy.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author.

[Kirsty (Amethyst Bookwyrm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Michaelbrent Collings for giving me this book to review.

Child of the Empire is a very enjoyable fantasy novel which has a slight steampunk feel to it. Even though the main protagonist is a teenager this book can easily be read by adults as it is not full of angst. This book has lots of twists but the first half of the book has more world building and the second half is more action packed.

Sword wants to feel like she belongs, but she is also naïve and trusting. There are a lot of other character in this book including kind Garden, protective Armour, surly Arrow, enigmatic Wind and Cloud, and secretive Devar. The bad guys were a bit too evil for me, as I prefer when I can understand their motives rather than them being evil for evils sake.

The ending was a bit rushed but I am looking forward to reading the next book Child of Sorrows. I would recommend Child of the Empire to fans of Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo and Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.

This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm

[Christina Frøkjær · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a big fan of fantasy since I was very young, so I was so exited, when indie author Michaelbrent Collings reached out for readers on his Facebook page.
This is my first time reading one of his novels, and I was immediately drawn into the story! “The Sword Chronicles: Child of the Empire” starts in a dark place, with a young girl whose past is unknown, and whose present is dominated by the reality that she must fight and kill in order to survive. She is the lowest of the low, a Dog who must fight in the Arena for the entertainment of others. Despite the grimness of her existence, she dreams of a Man and a Woman who once loved her, a mysterious part of her past that seems to fuel her strong will to survive. During one particularly brutal fight, this young girl picks up a weapon that has been thrown into the Arena and awakens a gift that will utterly change the course of her life.
She is trained to become part of an elite force that protects the Emperor and the interests of the Empire, and is given the name Samira. Samira believes she has found a purpose beyond survival, and a family, but all is not what it seems.

All seems well for Samira as she settles into her new life with her fellow Blessed Ones, but along the way she begins to have doubts that what she is doing is right.
I really enjoyed following her development throughout the book. Despite her horrendous childhood, Samira somehow manages to hold on to her humanity, and develop a good sense of right and wrong. She understands that death is sometimes necessary for the survival of the Empire, but she begins to question her missions when asked to kill innocent bystanders to maintain secrecy. And during one such mission gone horribly wrong, she is kidnapped by the “enemy” and is forced to face the possibility that everything that she has known and has been taught is wrong.
I was rooting for Samira throughout the whole book, hoping that she would make the right choices, and that she would find a way though the confusion and treachery surrounding her. I also was greatly concerned with the fates of her “family”, both the old and the new.

The author does a fantastic job of showing that although the world contains great good and great evil, for most the reality is actually a grey area. Many of the characters in the story truly believe what they are doing is right, or have other motivations that drive their actions, and therefore I really felt connected to them even though they were on the “wrong” side.
The story also has lots of twists and turns, some which you could guess and some that were total surprises. Overall, this was an excellent story, with well developed characters that you just can’t help but to like. Although the mystery of Samiras past was resolved in this book, the story ended with a great twist that indicated that her journey was far from over, and which makes me very eager to read the following two books in the trilogy!

[Coucher de soleil · Rating 3 out of 5]

In general I enjoyed this one, but it had certain issues. 3.5 stars (rounding down to 3)



Please note that I have avoided spoilers as much as possible, but there are still some below, since I discuss some elements of the plot (while trying not to give too much away).

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Good points:
Characters: The characterizations was well done for certain characters (some comments on this below however). The reader was shown certain things about certain characters that were important to understanding who they were: for instance one fellow named Armor (i.e., who was a mentor of sorts to the main character) was shown to love his wife and how he maintained this relationship despite being mostly separated from her by the work he did for the empire. His love of family (and by extension the main character and others he worked with) was at the center of his personality and worldview.

World building: This was interesting, although some things were not explained in this book (perhaps in later installments?). For instance, it is explained that everything takes place in an empire that was founded a long time ago at the top of several mountains. At the time the book opens, the empire has moved further in the direction of absolute control of its people (with all the horror that entails). There is no contact with the world from which they came from, further down/away from the summit of the mountains, as apparently all who have tried have somehow been magically killed. Indeed, magic exists in this world and many are born with certain magical abilities. A very few have more ability than most and are recruited to serve the empire and referred to as ‘blessed ones’.

As the above demonstrates, there was a fair amount/degree of detail regarding the world building in this book.

Plot: In general things moved along at a fairly good pace. For example, the book moves quickly from an introduction to the main character’s difficult life before being recruited to serve the empire, to her time as a ‘blessed one’, to her rebellion and on to further related political events during the course of the book.

Bad points/constructive criticism:

Characterization: While in general the characterization was well done for certain characters, I felt this could have used a bit more detail in some other cases. In particular, I would have liked to get more of a feel of who Sword (i.e. the main character) was as a person. For instance, it is revealed at the beginning that she was a slave who was sold as a child and forced to fight to the death in an arena for the amusement of others: a fundamental difference between her and the others in this horrific gladiatorial environment is shown to be her mental toughness and will to survive. My issue with this is that I never got a good sense of why: why was she so determined to survive what was effectively hell and an environment where escape itself seems to have been unlikely? I understand that the will to survive is instinctual, but at some point if life is only pain… I would have liked to have understood what sustained her. Later, when she is recruited by the empire to serve and taken out of the ‘gladiator’ environment she was in before, she cleaves to her fellow ‘blessed ones’ and sees them as family. This is of course understandable on one level, since she had been alone until this point (and had just been taken out of a truly hellish environment when she was recruited to serve, and gratitude is a big motivator), however I did not really get a very good understanding of why she found it so easy to trust these people. I understand that she was emotionally starved from the horrible environment wherein she had spent much of her youth, but on the other hand she had seen the worst that humanity has to offer, so why was she not more immediately suspicious?

There was also another character named Garden, who is the main character’s close friend (both work for the empire). We never learn very many details of where Garden came from and I never got a good sense of why she would be so trusting of the empire either. It was of course clear that part of this trust came from her ignorance of how horrible the empire had become. It was made clear that she and the main character were being lied to in order to maintain their cooperation, however I would have liked to have a bit more understanding into some of the key characters (including Garden and the main character).

I never got a really good feeling for WHO some of these characters were (e.g. Who were their parents? How had they been raised? In what circumstances were they recruited to work for the empire? What were they taught and what did they know about the empire before joining the ‘blessed ones’? What were some of their ‘quirks’ as individuals, aside from their abilities: their favorite food(s), their hopes and dreams and deep desires, their favorite story(ies), and so on?).

So ultimately, I felt distanced from some of the characters (including the main character) in this book.

Plot: My main comment however pertains to the plot. I felt that there were some plot elements which could have benefitted from a more gradual introduction. What I mean by this is that there are some major twists at the end of the book, and these felt to me a bit as if they ‘came out of left field’.

I apologize for using this expression, but my personal opinion is that unexpected twists in a story feel more ‘organic’ and real in a novel if there is some kind of introduction or ‘foreshadowing’ of what will happen. The greatest twists I have ever experienced in a story are the ones for which I had all the *ingredients* beforehand but for which I mistook the final product.

What I mean by this can be shown by a good example: I never expected the twist and the end of the film ‘The Sixth Sense’ for example, but then I was blown away by the fact that the elements relating to this ending were actually present throughout the film yet I (as was the case for a great many viewers) had not seen these elements for what they truly were until all was revealed at the end. As a reader this is honestly WAY more satisfying than a twist for which there is essentially no buildup.

I felt that the revelations regarding who Sword was and was not, as well as who the Regent was, came rather abruptly and with relatively little preparation. We for example had not been much introduced to the Captain who was guarding the emperor and who wound up having an important role in these revelations at the end. We also knew very little about Rune’s past as well and it would have been more believable if we had had some information about her past which could have prepared the reader for the revelations regarding her and the rest.

A final point is that I wasn't entirely sure what the audience for this book was: there was no explicit sexuality but considerable violence, so I am not certain that minors are the best audience. One issue with the YA label is that my impression is that this is marketed partly to adolescents (see for example the YA tag description here on Goodreads).

I apologize if this review makes it seem as though I hated or otherwise disliked this book -I didn't! I do however believe in constructive criticism so that is what I was aiming for.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book through Book Funnel, in exchange for an honest review.

[Kel · Rating 4 out of 5]

With The Sword Chronicles: Child of the Empire, Collings is now entrenched and concreted into my “auto-buy” author list. The fact that I received this copy free in exchange for an honest review almost feels like robbery because I want to shove money at Collings so he literally gets paid to write (and publish) book 2 as soon as super-humanly possible. I guess for now the review will have to do.

So, here goes: Child of the Empire is incredible.

This is an epic tale, in the glorious, valiant and tragic senses of the phrase; there are children and youth kept in kennels, there are kings and dead princesses, there is family and traitors and skills called gifts that made my jaw drop. Tucked into every corner is the world building, done so deftly that you don’t even realise you’re gulping down the details – and what’s not to be hungry for, when the kingdom is on a mountain above thick clouds, descending into the cloud means death, and has done for hundreds of years? When lighting exists in balls, only because someone tied it there? Where a bullet has to be enchanted by a Push to be able to move? And these examples are only the smallest of morsels to the banquet inside this world.

We follow a girl, who once was a Dog, then wasn’t. We follow her from the kennels, into the marketplace, where her life explodes into light, colours, sharp blades and hungry smiles. She is going to save the kingdom, as one of the king’s most precious group of fighters – after she has taken a bath. And delousing. And learnt more of the world.

It’s so difficult to talk about this book without ruining the stunning twists, turns, ambushes and joys inside it. Child of the Empire is a genre changer for Collings, but also refuses to sit conveniently docile long enough to label. This tale is a tragedy, so there is treachery and suffering, but it is also an epic, so there is belonging and victories, and all galloping along madly with a brilliant cast of characters that I’m still thinking about days later. If you’re into bookshelf labels, it’s kind of fantasy because technology is done with innate talents or skills, but it’s also crime because there are mysteries and deaths and awful people responsible for most of them, and it’s philosophical too while still remaining firmly grounded in the story. It may be marketed as YA, but I’ll be shoving it at adults and teens alike, saying “Read this, there are good people and horrible decisions and Gifts you will not believe!” because it’s a tale for all ages. This damn book made me cry, which is a punishable offence, and made me laugh aloud on public transport, which is a seriously impressive feat to drag out of an anxiety-torqued introvert.

Downsides? There were three typos. Having a job got in the way of me reading this as fast as I wanted to. It made me cry, and I laughed in public reading it. That’s it.

Simply, this book is a complicated, escapist delight, and I’ll be buying book 2 as soon as the pre-order button goes live.

Favourite quotes (that do not contain spoilers!):
“His body looked soft. Not the soft of a person lazy, but the soft of one who has never suffered, never known the boot or the water. For some reason, that made Samira sad for him. Made her feel as though he had missed out on something important.”

“Grief gives way to mere sadness. Mere sadness to silence. Silence to time. And time a return to self.”

“Sometimes the world is awful. Sometimes it is evil, and cruel. But sometimes that very cruelty serves to remind us we are together in the dark, and must cling to each other long enough to find the light.”

Rating: PG – people are killed, themes of good, evil, revenge, the cost of maintaining order and obeying rules, laws and orders.

Recommended to:
• Those of us who still hopes they have an undiscovered superpower or ability
• Anyone who enjoy exploring and wrestling the grey areas of “good vs evil”
• People who enjoy some fantastic world building and fast pacing to their reading escapes

Not recommended for:
• Anyone who has never wanted to be a hero or super-powered at some point
• People who read IKEA instructions for fun
• Those who can’t stand waiting for the next book to come out…

[Shannon Saigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a big fan of the fantasy genre since I was very young, but lately have had trouble finding a good fantasy book. This is my first time reading a Michaelbrent Collins novel, and I was immediately drawn into the story! “The Sword Chronicles: Child of the Empire” starts in a dark place, with a young girl whose past is unknown, and whose present is dominated by the reality that she must fight and kill in order to survive. She is the lowest of the low, a Dog who must fight in the Arena for the entertainment of others. Despite the grimness of her existence, she dreams of a Man and a Woman who once loved her, a mysterious part of her past that seems to fuel her strong will to survive. During one particularly brutal fight, this young girl (who has no name) picks up a weapon that has been thrown into the Arena…and awakens a gift that will utterly change the course of her life. She is trained to become part of an elite force that protects the Emperor and the interests of the Empire, and is given the name Sword. Sword believes she has found a purpose beyond survival, and a family, but all is not what it seems.

All seems well for Sword as she settles into her new life with her fellow Blessed Ones, but along the way she begins to have doubts that what she is doing is right. I really enjoyed watching her development throughout the book. Despite her horrendous childhood, she somehow manages to hold on to her humanity, and develop a good sense of right and wrong. She understands that death is sometimes necessary for the survival of the Empire, but she begins to question her missions when asked to kill innocent bystanders to maintain secrecy. And during one such mission gone horribly wrong, she is kidnapped by the “enemy” and is forced to face the possibility that everything that she has known and has been taught is wrong. I found myself rooting for Sword throughout the whole book, hoping that she would make the right choices, and that she would find a way though the confusion and treachery surrounding her. I also was greatly concerned with the fates of her “family”, both the old and the new. The author does a fantastic job of showing that although the world contains great good and great evil, for most the reality is actually a grey area. Many of the characters in the story truly believe what they are doing is right, or have other motivations (like threats against loved ones), that drive their actions, and therefore I really felt connected to them even though they were on the “wrong” side. The story also has lots of twists and turns, some which you could guess and some that were total surprises. Overall, this was an excellent story, with well developed characters that you just can’t help but to like. Although the mystery of Sword’s past was resolved in this book, the story ended with a great twist that indicated that her journey was far from over, and which makes me very eager to read the next one!

[Cranky - The Book Curmudgeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was asked to read this book for The Twisted Book Curmudgeon. All I can say is this is a five star book. If you are looking for a great fantasy book to read this is it.



The author takes you on a journey of the rebirth of the main character, who has no name in the beginning. She is a strong, young girl who lives in a world where "kill or be killed" is the norm.



From her lowly beginnings as a "dog", which is a sort of gladiator who must fight to the death as entertainment for the masses, she becomes a talented warrior and is given the name " Sword." All the while she dreams of a man and woman who once loved her.



The twists and turns and action in this plot made it impossible to put down. The lines between good and evil are blurred with each character Sword encounters. Who are the good guys and who are the bad is really questionable.



There is no real evil in the story. It seems the characters believe their motives are pure. The plot moves quickly and flows seamlessly - a pure joy to read.



Written for young adult reads I would say about sixth grade and up based on the sophisticated plot twists and inference used in this story. I really think adults would enjoy this book as well.



Throughout the book, I found myself intrigued by Sword and her adventures. Unlike many series, the story ends with so much explained. Yet, there is so much more I really want to know. I love when a book stays on your mind and you can't wait to read more.



I am so looking forward to the next book.

With thanks to Lilac Reviews

http://twistedbookcur.blogspot.ch/201...

[Melissa Haggerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are always these wonderful moments when I find a book that is so perfectly long and detailed and adventurous that I know I will love it every single time I read it. I can without a doubt say that Child of the Empire is one of those books. I could open it back up right now and read it all over again and enjoy it just as much as the first time. In fact, I know when I re-read it I will still be left loving it and wanting more.

Child of the Empire takes place in a world sat upon five mountains. The mystery surrounding even that aspect of the story was amazing. I was constantly wondering what could be below the clouds, and how this empire came to be. Then there was the empire itself. Ansborn is a complex empire, with a lot of shady dealings and unanswered questions.

The characters that Michaelbrent Collings created are amazing. They are a complex cast, each bringing something important to the story. Sword is a survivor and I loved her. She was clever and learned quickly. She was blunt and asked questions that many would probably avoid. Her personal journey from a Dog to Sword and everything she does as Sword is impressive. Other characters throughout the story pull everything along and add so much. I fell in love with so many of them. I was surprised by them, grieved for their troubles, and was excited by their triumphs.

I loved this book so much. It is an epic fantasy that will intrigue readers. I wish they could make a movie that could do it justice. Now I am left, as it always seems when I find a new series to love, waiting for another book. I think it will be well worth the wait.

[Andy Peloquin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fantasy reader through and through, and I love discovering books that bring fantasy worlds to life in new and unique ways. This book does just that!
The world created by the author is original, yet just familiar enough that the reader is immediately at home in the fantasy realm. From politics to religion to economics to human nature, the book treads familiar ground in a new and unique way.
The character of Sword is interesting (if not the most unique), but it's the people around her that really make the story worth reading. All of her fellow "Blessed/Cursed Ones" have their own individual flavor and personality that I found highly enjoyable.
The plot itself isn't the most unique, but it still held me captive throughout the book. The writing was top-notch, with no grammar or punctuation mistakes. All in all, it was a book I highly enjoyed, and one I would recommend to all fantasy readers.
My only serious complaint: it's a standalone and not a series. I would have loved to learn more about the world and characters in the book!

[Myra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sword has worked in the 'kennels' as a Dog all her life—basically, a child gladiator—until in one desperate fight she picks up a knife. Normally this means death for a Dog, but in her case, it meant life, as she proves she has unnatural skill with any weapon she can get her hands on. Turns out she is one of the Blessed Ones, and that means her only option for the future is to spend her life dedicated to the Empire and the Emperor, preserving their righteous existence.
Except it's not so righteous, and Sword is going to have identity problems until the very end.

This is my first Michaelbrent Collings book. I've heard him at multiple conventions and am working through his writing workshop, but I don't like horror and that's mostly what he writes. I was happy to try out this fantasy book, and I really enjoyed it. It was definitely fast-paced, and it kept me entertained. (There are some horror elements that I can appreciate in this setting.) The paragraphs and chapters are REALLY short, which is kind of irritating if you are sitting down for a long read, but it makes a GREAT airport book!

I found that it was too fast-moving to really connect with the characters, even so I liked most of them and had some regret at their various fates. I liked that the immediate issues of the plot always had that shadow of a bigger world—the empire is at the top of 5 mountains, and anyone who descends below the clouds appears, dead, on spikes up above. Who is down below? This is the larger question that I look forward to exploring more in the next book.

Child of the Empire concluded the immediate plots. It's definitely setup for a series, but I was satisfied with it as a single story. I will read more.

[Sean Flanagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read this kind of book. I don't like this kind of book. I couldn't put this book down.

This book was a gift, and I only considered accepting it because I had been given a book by Collings that seemed it might be a good dystopian but more likely a suspense/thriller whodunnit, which I love. Within the first chapter I realized I had made a mistake. Nevertheless, in fairness to the author, I resolved to give Sword my best effort at a careful read so I could give an honest squelch to it.

It took a couple of days to get a chance to read it and frankly, I hadn't finished the first chapter before I realized that I'd made a mistake; no way could I stand to read this kind of book.

By the end of the second chapter that notion had subsided a bit, and I was mildly curious to find out if the following pages might be interesting.

Many chapters (and hours) later, I realized that I was enthralled; I couldn't read this book in just one sitting, yet it was a terrible struggle to find a place that I could stop reading, even for just a little while.

Collings is a very gifted writer, and he creates characters (numerous, in this book) that, whether good or bad, have characteristics that are engaging, if not endearing. The heros have flaws, some of which are applying; all of the bad ones have some good qualities (though Collings is very sneaky, and someone you might be convinced is detestable might, some pages later, shock you).

Collings has placed this story in an unlikely place; one in which we can't readily imagine living, and he develops scenarios that likewise we cannot imagine yet cannot fully dismiss. Somehow he gets us immersed in a world that he's created (I dearly hope so, anyway) and involves us in the unfolding and the outcome. And {spoiler alert} the outcome isn't exactly fairytalelike.

It would be disingenuous to warn you of the dangers from reading "The Sword of Chronicles" when I am eager to get more of his books, yet I must warn you: he has more tricks up his sleeve than Penn and Teller combined, and I can imagine Carl Sagan describing his blind alleys; potholes; abd plot twists: "beel-yuns and beel-yuns".

[Daniel Yocom]

The Sword Chronicles: Child of the Empire is a fast paced hero story. If you’re not running to keep up, it will grab you and drag you along for the adventure.

Michaelbrent Collins hangs his hat on a traditional story type and tells it in an intriguing fashion that is enjoyable and fun. I found myself not wanting to put down the book as the story kept ramping up. I applaud his unique application.

Child of the Empire is a good read for everyone. There is violence with the fights taking place and starts with an arena fight of two packs facing off against each other. The descriptions, however, are not graphic.

You can read the complete review at https://guildmastergaming.blogspot.co...

[DeAnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review, and I am VERY happy to report I loved it. I've been reading Collings and his father for a few years now, and this is officially my favorite book of his so far.

The characters were interesting, and had unique abilities that I really enjoyed. The world felt fleshed out and well-created (good world-building is very important in my opinion). There were many twists I didn't see coming, and the ending definitely had me on the edge of my seat. I managed to demolish the book in just a couple days, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next one!

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book with no real expectation as I had never heard of it or the author before. However, I was very surprised by how good it was. The plot was well paced and didn't move too slowly like a lot of other books. The world was quite different than any others books I've tried and I enjoyed the many layers of the society from the gifted to the mountain isolation. I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys an action based fantasy novel.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

MbC is one of my favorite authors and he doesn’t disappoint with The Sword Chronicles. Interesting and entertaining characters that are well described as well as a world that’s easy to see in my mind’s eye makes for a fast paced adventure! It does need a bit of proofreading but, I was able to ignore the errors, due to great storyline. I highly recommend it!

Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.

[christine dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down

Grabbed me from the start. All the characters are amazing especially with their gifts (i want to be one).
The battle scenes are well written. The world is a really interesting construction. I've already got the second book and I'm going to start reading it now.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the plot and the characters on this book. There were a few errors am editor should have caught and fixed, such as the wrong name being used or a description such as "dark white hair with a streak of white in it" which didn't really make sense and this is what brought my rating down. Otherwise an enthralling read.

[Keith Bornmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story. The World they built is a mountaintop suspended between two layers of clouds. There is one ruler trying to take over the land. A young girl is rescued from a gladiator style existence to become the hero of the land. Fascinating story. The characters are likable the emotional reactions are realistic and the storyline has suspense

[Rosie Bray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book, fantasy with what felt like a streamline vibe. Lots of sneaky twists and reveals in the last gasping the book - very devious but very effective. This is definitely an author that I can't believe I've never come across until very recently

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written fantasy story. This is my second book by michaelbrent collings. And vastly different from each other. Took me a wee while to get into the story but when i did it was smooth easy reading. Exciting twists and turns in the search for some truths and a better life.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed both the world and character building in this story. The characters were dynamic and the plot moved along briskly. The story is complete in itself but hints at future directions. Already bought the sequel to read.

[CuddleWolf52 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had a good premise...then everything just fell apart towards the end.
Well...I think there were early warning signs. It just feels as if the whole thing was rushed and, by the end, I was just reading to finish it. I have absolutely no interest in continuing the series whatsoever.

[Eyke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow-just wow!

I was sucked into this world and didn’t want to come back to “reality”. I would love to see this as a movie but I’m afraid it wouldn’t be done properly. Excited to continue with book 2!

[Joshua · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm guessing this is a middle grade/YA novel. It just felt very juvenile to me. All the bad guys are as evil as you can get. Mustache-twirling cackle-while-they-commit-mass-murder type villains. Just felt like there could've been more nuance.

[B.A. Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written fantasy adventure that will rip your guts out... literally. She kills people with the efficiency of paper shredder in a Kleenex factory.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea. Characters should have names, not be called Sword, etc. I did finish it, so I was invested enough...but not enough to buy the next one.

[R Grove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Couldn't put it down. Very well written. Definitely a must read. I've read this author before and loved all his books

[Cynthia Silvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one. The characters are well thought out and likeable.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my style.
Nice that the second book will start on such a consolidated front, (happy in one manner of speaking), but this isn't my kind of story. No idea if I'll continue the series or not.