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The Heroes of Spira #1
The Ventifact Colossus
A tale of epic fantasy begins…
Banished to an otherworldly prison for centuries, the monstrous Emperor Naradawk is about to break free and wreak havoc upon the world of Spira. The archmage Abernathy can no longer keep the monster at bay, and has summoned a collection of would-be heroes to help set things right.
Surely he made a mistake. These can’t be the right people.
Dranko is priest-turned-pickpocket, expelled from his church for his antics. Kibilhathur is a painfully shy craftsman who speaks to stones. Aravia is a wizard’s apprentice whose intellect is eclipsed only by her arrogance. Ernest is a terrified baker’s son. Morningstar is a priestess forbidden from daylight. Tor is a young nobleman with attention issues. Ysabel is an elderly farm woman. Grey Wolf is a hard-bitten mercenary.
None of them are qualified to save the world, but they’ll have to do. Even Abernathy himself seems uncertain as to why he chose them.
What starts with a simple scouting mission soon spirals into something more far-reaching and sinister. The heroes will contest with dream warriors, evil cultists, sentient gemstones, and a devious yet infuriatingly polite gentleman with a perfect mustache, on their way to a desperate encounter with the unstoppable: The Ventifact Colossus.
Banished to an otherworldly prison for centuries, the monstrous Emperor Naradawk is about to break free and wreak havoc upon the world of Spira. The archmage Abernathy can no longer keep the monster at bay, and has summoned a collection of would-be heroes to help set things right.
Surely he made a mistake. These can’t be the right people.
Dranko is priest-turned-pickpocket, expelled from his church for his antics. Kibilhathur is a painfully shy craftsman who speaks to stones. Aravia is a wizard’s apprentice whose intellect is eclipsed only by her arrogance. Ernest is a terrified baker’s son. Morningstar is a priestess forbidden from daylight. Tor is a young nobleman with attention issues. Ysabel is an elderly farm woman. Grey Wolf is a hard-bitten mercenary.
None of them are qualified to save the world, but they’ll have to do. Even Abernathy himself seems uncertain as to why he chose them.
What starts with a simple scouting mission soon spirals into something more far-reaching and sinister. The heroes will contest with dream warriors, evil cultists, sentient gemstones, and a devious yet infuriatingly polite gentleman with a perfect mustache, on their way to a desperate encounter with the unstoppable: The Ventifact Colossus.
344 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2016
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March 8, 2019
Lately I have developed a bit of a soft spot for fantasy novels that have strong roots in role-playing games, so early on I knew that The Ventifact Colossus was going to be my kind of good time. First off we’re introduced to Dranko, a half-Goblin former Priest who lives by his wits on the streets. He’s behind on rent, he’s lost his faith, he drinks too much and he’s got a mouth that’s blessed with +2 to sarcasm. We spend a little time getting to know and root for him – he’s your archetypal lovable rogue with his share of tragedy, and I enjoyed him immediately. A chance encounter shows Dranko that his god may not have forsaken him after all, and shortly afterwards he receives a mysterious message summoning him to the tower of the local archmage, Abernathy.
As it turns out, Dranko isn’t alone in being summoned. A motley group of adventurers has been selected by Abernathy’s spell to take on the rather important task of saving the world. Thing is, nobody is sure why they were selected, and Abernathy is fairly clueless on this point too – he trusts the spell, however, and is confident that they have all been chosen with good reason. And with that, he assigns them a quest and off we go!
A big strength of this novel is the characters. They’re distinct, their backgrounds are well thought out and their behavior is consistent with their personalities. I loved that some of them had no affinity for magic and were just normal folk, bakers and farmers who had no clue why they were suddenly thrown into a dangerous adventure but stayed because it was the right thing to do. Others had hidden talents, and a couple were outright powerful either in brawn, brains or spellwork. The dialogue was snappy and fun, and I found myself chuckling out loud several times. This was particularly true when we finally switched from Dranko’s PoV – after spending the first stretch of the novel growing to like and root for him, our second PoV character hates his guts immediately.
While some very bad things happen through the course of the story, the tone is generally light-hearted and adventurous. Clues are discovered and followed, missions are assigned and the group muddles their way through it as best they can. Things go horribly wrong, but the characters pull together and learn how to work with one another, and their individual development is handled really well, with the more complex characters given the lion’s share of time to shine. That’s not to say that the less complicated characters were less enjoyable, mind you. Tor and his gung-ho leap-before-you-look attitude was hilarious, Grey Wolf’s snarly mercenary was a great foil for Dranko, and Ernest’s sweetness rounded out the group perfectly during their more trying moments.
The worldbuilding is fairly standard but with enough richness to be enjoyable, and overall it had the feel of a really great game of Dungeons & Dragons. If that’s your kind of jam then you definitely need to give this one a look. I think in terms of criticism I don’t have a whole lot to talk about – there were some general pacing issues here and there, and I felt that one of the more major events of the novel happened too soon and was therefore robbed of some of its emotional impact for me as the reader. But it was great fun, and I’ll be checking out the rest of the series for sure.
As it turns out, Dranko isn’t alone in being summoned. A motley group of adventurers has been selected by Abernathy’s spell to take on the rather important task of saving the world. Thing is, nobody is sure why they were selected, and Abernathy is fairly clueless on this point too – he trusts the spell, however, and is confident that they have all been chosen with good reason. And with that, he assigns them a quest and off we go!
A big strength of this novel is the characters. They’re distinct, their backgrounds are well thought out and their behavior is consistent with their personalities. I loved that some of them had no affinity for magic and were just normal folk, bakers and farmers who had no clue why they were suddenly thrown into a dangerous adventure but stayed because it was the right thing to do. Others had hidden talents, and a couple were outright powerful either in brawn, brains or spellwork. The dialogue was snappy and fun, and I found myself chuckling out loud several times. This was particularly true when we finally switched from Dranko’s PoV – after spending the first stretch of the novel growing to like and root for him, our second PoV character hates his guts immediately.
While some very bad things happen through the course of the story, the tone is generally light-hearted and adventurous. Clues are discovered and followed, missions are assigned and the group muddles their way through it as best they can. Things go horribly wrong, but the characters pull together and learn how to work with one another, and their individual development is handled really well, with the more complex characters given the lion’s share of time to shine. That’s not to say that the less complicated characters were less enjoyable, mind you. Tor and his gung-ho leap-before-you-look attitude was hilarious, Grey Wolf’s snarly mercenary was a great foil for Dranko, and Ernest’s sweetness rounded out the group perfectly during their more trying moments.
The worldbuilding is fairly standard but with enough richness to be enjoyable, and overall it had the feel of a really great game of Dungeons & Dragons. If that’s your kind of jam then you definitely need to give this one a look. I think in terms of criticism I don’t have a whole lot to talk about – there were some general pacing issues here and there, and I felt that one of the more major events of the novel happened too soon and was therefore robbed of some of its emotional impact for me as the reader. But it was great fun, and I’ll be checking out the rest of the series for sure.
November 21, 2018
Since December 2017, I have read seven books to my 13-year-old son (Josh), or to my wife and son. For the first six books, we have had a string of very good ones with scores ranging from 4.3 to 4.6+ out of 5. I was looking for another book and asked Esme from weatherwaxreport.blog for a suggestion. She recommended The Ventifact Colossus (TVC) by Dorian Hart. I reached out to the author and he sent us a signed copy with the warning “Watch out for turtles!”
The first chapter introduces us to one of the more likeable characters, Dranko, who we learn is a quick tongued, snarky pickpocket that previously served *unsuccessfully* as a priest. He is also remarkable in that he has tusks since he is part-goblin, he has numerous scars across his face and body, and he might possibly have the ability to heal by channeling power from the god of Delioch. Dranko receives a notice that he has been summoned to the tower of Archmage Abernathy, but little more information than that is initially given.
After being instantly teleported inside Abernathy’s tower, Dranko learns that he is one of eight seemingly random, common people who have been magically selected to save the world. Abernathy explains that he needs their help to prevent the escape of an extremely powerful and extremely evil being who is imprisoned and currently being guarded by a team of archmagi. The group of eight also includes a cocky wizard’s apprentice, a grizzled and grumpy mercenary, a priestess whose religious beliefs prohibit exposure to daylight, a young nobleman who often quickly (and often foolishly) rushes into action, a stoneworker who is the “strong quiet type” that can speak with and manipulate rocks (my personal favorite character), a meek baker’s son who can cook, and an older farm woman. They all agree to help and are relocated to a house that will be their base of operations during the mission.
This book takes us through a series of mini-adventures, forcing our “heroes” to work as a team, rely on each other, and use their own emerging strengths. There is plenty of action scenes, and our team faces opposition from many unusual sources including the turtles that the author warned about.
The greatest strength of the book is the characters. This story blends eight unlikely heroes, none of which seem like the best choice to save the world. As the story unfolds and as they find themselves in dangerous (and even lethal) situations, we start to glimpse some of the deeper qualities that each of the members of the group can offer.
This is an optimistic book with a healthy sprinkling of fun moments (often thanks to Dranko). But it also has a charming quality to it, again thanks to the characters. As we discover the backstories of the main characters, mostly who have risen from difficult pasts, it becomes increasingly easier to cheer on these gang of misfits that strangely work quite well with each other.
As I mentioned earlier, this is a book that I have read with my son, and he wants to share some of his thoughts in his own words: “I loved this book, and I agree that this book has a wondrous cast of characters. (My favorite is probably Dranko.) The book ventures into many classic tried-and-true fantasy tropes (such as a group of people embarking on an adventure) to quite unique ones (like being able to be taught by a mentor within dreams), and TVC manages to pull them all off in an exciting and enjoyable way. The book often added new topics as if Dorian was throwing his creative ideas at a wall to see what stuck, and I love this. The book is fast paced and exciting, with an unexpected ending. As a testament to my enjoyment of this book, readers should note that I was in a school production of Pride and Prejudice, and even with my busy schedule, I still would often be chomping at the bit to continue in the adventures of Abernathy’s band of misfits. I tend to like books in a series less since there are often annoying cliffhangers, but TVC resolves most of its plot points, but still maintains a sense of mystery. This book has great pacing, plot, character development, comedy, resolution, and setting. I definitely recommend this book.”
To further emphasize what he just said, we jumped right into the second book (The Crosser’s Maze) and are already 80 pages into that one. I suspect we might like this one even more.
This book was a family-friendly book that was full of twists and turns, surprises and hours of enjoyment. Highly recommended! 4.5 / 5 stars.
Thanks again, Dorian for sending the first two books through TBRindr. We appreciate it very much!
The first chapter introduces us to one of the more likeable characters, Dranko, who we learn is a quick tongued, snarky pickpocket that previously served *unsuccessfully* as a priest. He is also remarkable in that he has tusks since he is part-goblin, he has numerous scars across his face and body, and he might possibly have the ability to heal by channeling power from the god of Delioch. Dranko receives a notice that he has been summoned to the tower of Archmage Abernathy, but little more information than that is initially given.
After being instantly teleported inside Abernathy’s tower, Dranko learns that he is one of eight seemingly random, common people who have been magically selected to save the world. Abernathy explains that he needs their help to prevent the escape of an extremely powerful and extremely evil being who is imprisoned and currently being guarded by a team of archmagi. The group of eight also includes a cocky wizard’s apprentice, a grizzled and grumpy mercenary, a priestess whose religious beliefs prohibit exposure to daylight, a young nobleman who often quickly (and often foolishly) rushes into action, a stoneworker who is the “strong quiet type” that can speak with and manipulate rocks (my personal favorite character), a meek baker’s son who can cook, and an older farm woman. They all agree to help and are relocated to a house that will be their base of operations during the mission.
This book takes us through a series of mini-adventures, forcing our “heroes” to work as a team, rely on each other, and use their own emerging strengths. There is plenty of action scenes, and our team faces opposition from many unusual sources including the turtles that the author warned about.
The greatest strength of the book is the characters. This story blends eight unlikely heroes, none of which seem like the best choice to save the world. As the story unfolds and as they find themselves in dangerous (and even lethal) situations, we start to glimpse some of the deeper qualities that each of the members of the group can offer.
This is an optimistic book with a healthy sprinkling of fun moments (often thanks to Dranko). But it also has a charming quality to it, again thanks to the characters. As we discover the backstories of the main characters, mostly who have risen from difficult pasts, it becomes increasingly easier to cheer on these gang of misfits that strangely work quite well with each other.
As I mentioned earlier, this is a book that I have read with my son, and he wants to share some of his thoughts in his own words: “I loved this book, and I agree that this book has a wondrous cast of characters. (My favorite is probably Dranko.) The book ventures into many classic tried-and-true fantasy tropes (such as a group of people embarking on an adventure) to quite unique ones (like being able to be taught by a mentor within dreams), and TVC manages to pull them all off in an exciting and enjoyable way. The book often added new topics as if Dorian was throwing his creative ideas at a wall to see what stuck, and I love this. The book is fast paced and exciting, with an unexpected ending. As a testament to my enjoyment of this book, readers should note that I was in a school production of Pride and Prejudice, and even with my busy schedule, I still would often be chomping at the bit to continue in the adventures of Abernathy’s band of misfits. I tend to like books in a series less since there are often annoying cliffhangers, but TVC resolves most of its plot points, but still maintains a sense of mystery. This book has great pacing, plot, character development, comedy, resolution, and setting. I definitely recommend this book.”
To further emphasize what he just said, we jumped right into the second book (The Crosser’s Maze) and are already 80 pages into that one. I suspect we might like this one even more.
This book was a family-friendly book that was full of twists and turns, surprises and hours of enjoyment. Highly recommended! 4.5 / 5 stars.
Thanks again, Dorian for sending the first two books through TBRindr. We appreciate it very much!
December 31, 2018
Ventifact Colossus is delightful read and a great fun adventure. Extremely well written, with a wonderfully quirky cast of characters who are gathered together by a powerful wizard and sent off on grand adventures to save the kingdom, and perhaps the world. Each character experiences growth as they learn to work together as a team, help each other develop their strengths, and learn to overcome their weaknesses.
The RPG influence on the narrative is clear and unapologetic, making for a comfortable story with just the right amount of what we've come to expect balanced with an equal dose of exciting surprises.
Highly recommended for lovers of traditional epic fantasy with an updated feel, and those who might like a break from grim violence, nihilistic narratives and cursing. This is good clean fun suitable for teens but with plenty of action and intrigue to keep grown-ups (like me) excited to see what happens next.
The RPG influence on the narrative is clear and unapologetic, making for a comfortable story with just the right amount of what we've come to expect balanced with an equal dose of exciting surprises.
Highly recommended for lovers of traditional epic fantasy with an updated feel, and those who might like a break from grim violence, nihilistic narratives and cursing. This is good clean fun suitable for teens but with plenty of action and intrigue to keep grown-ups (like me) excited to see what happens next.
September 21, 2020
Thank you to the author for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion. It’s available for purchase now.
One of the things I love about fantasy is that you can take a commonality – like a group of unlikely heroes – and make it something new and different. In The Ventifact Colossus, author Dorian Hart created a world that is full of adventure and heart. Brace yourselves, folks: this is going to be a rave.
Where should I start? First of all, the characters were fabulous. The book opens with Dranko, a priest-turned-thief who just happens to also be part human, part goblin. He’s bristly, but a good guy underneath a tough exterior. You can tell he’s been kicked around by life a bit. He finds himself with an unexpected new employer: a wizard who has gathered a ragtag group of possible-heroes. Dranko ends up traveling with several others, each with their own personality and struggles, in an attempt to prevent a very bad thing (no spoilers from me). However, as much as I loved the storyline, it was the well-written characters that won me over.
There is a three-way tie for my favorite characters. Yes, I know that’s a bit ridiculous, but I can’t narrow it down more than that. I thought Dranko was fascinating and had hidden depth. Every time I thought I figured him out, a new facet of his personality would be revealed. I also loved the kindly older woman, Mrs. Horn. She was so sweet, but had a steel backbone. She wasn’t a fighter, like some of the others, nor was she a healer, but her role was vital to the group nonetheless. And Ernie! Oh, how I loved that character! He was a jumble of low self-esteem and a huge heart. Watching his character grow and evolve was so much fun!
I love how interconnected everything was. One thing would have ramifications for others that I never saw coming. It was never done just for convenience though, and the world never felt small. On the contrary, the world was vast and felt Tolkien-esqe (ish?) in that I knew there were things left undiscovered and yet to be experienced. I’m very excited to be continuing the story in book two.
Perhaps my favorite thing about The Ventifact Colossus is its underlying theme of hope and the goodness of people. Don’t get me wrong: the stakes are high, and the author definitely loves making the reader emotional (I’m still salty about a particular scene), but the pages didn’t scream, “Doooommmm!” at me every time I opened the book.
This is the sort of book that reminds me why fantasy is my favorite genre. Come for the adventure, stay for the amazing characters. I highly recommend this one.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
One of the things I love about fantasy is that you can take a commonality – like a group of unlikely heroes – and make it something new and different. In The Ventifact Colossus, author Dorian Hart created a world that is full of adventure and heart. Brace yourselves, folks: this is going to be a rave.
Where should I start? First of all, the characters were fabulous. The book opens with Dranko, a priest-turned-thief who just happens to also be part human, part goblin. He’s bristly, but a good guy underneath a tough exterior. You can tell he’s been kicked around by life a bit. He finds himself with an unexpected new employer: a wizard who has gathered a ragtag group of possible-heroes. Dranko ends up traveling with several others, each with their own personality and struggles, in an attempt to prevent a very bad thing (no spoilers from me). However, as much as I loved the storyline, it was the well-written characters that won me over.
There is a three-way tie for my favorite characters. Yes, I know that’s a bit ridiculous, but I can’t narrow it down more than that. I thought Dranko was fascinating and had hidden depth. Every time I thought I figured him out, a new facet of his personality would be revealed. I also loved the kindly older woman, Mrs. Horn. She was so sweet, but had a steel backbone. She wasn’t a fighter, like some of the others, nor was she a healer, but her role was vital to the group nonetheless. And Ernie! Oh, how I loved that character! He was a jumble of low self-esteem and a huge heart. Watching his character grow and evolve was so much fun!
I love how interconnected everything was. One thing would have ramifications for others that I never saw coming. It was never done just for convenience though, and the world never felt small. On the contrary, the world was vast and felt Tolkien-esqe (ish?) in that I knew there were things left undiscovered and yet to be experienced. I’m very excited to be continuing the story in book two.
Perhaps my favorite thing about The Ventifact Colossus is its underlying theme of hope and the goodness of people. Don’t get me wrong: the stakes are high, and the author definitely loves making the reader emotional (I’m still salty about a particular scene), but the pages didn’t scream, “Doooommmm!” at me every time I opened the book.
This is the sort of book that reminds me why fantasy is my favorite genre. Come for the adventure, stay for the amazing characters. I highly recommend this one.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
March 31, 2022
I just need to open this review with an I loved it….no build up or blurb required. LOVED IT! I am a MASSIVE Terry Pratchett fan and credit him with helping me develop a love of books so you already know fantasy is my thing. I immediately got the Pratchett vibe with the depiction of Dranko almost as the anti hero of the piece. Now I know this isn’t about Pratchett and whilst there are similarities to his style Dorian Hart is unique in his story line, characters and has a fantastic ability to create stories around so many different characters at one time!
I loved the premise of this group of randoms brought together without a clue as to why they were chosen and seemingly unknowing of their skills to help the battle that is coming their way. The first few chapters of building the world around them was brilliant in its ability to allow me to visualise the world around the characters and I loved the dynamic of the group with each having such different backgrounds but all with some level of dissatisfaction or sense of something bigger about them and how each of them have a different role to play in the group to help them succeed in the missions set for them by Abernathy.
If you love epic fantasy games or adventure stories you will love The Ventifact Colossus as much as I did and I cannot wait to read the rest of this series!
Disclosure: The Pursuit Of Bookiness received a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.
I loved the premise of this group of randoms brought together without a clue as to why they were chosen and seemingly unknowing of their skills to help the battle that is coming their way. The first few chapters of building the world around them was brilliant in its ability to allow me to visualise the world around the characters and I loved the dynamic of the group with each having such different backgrounds but all with some level of dissatisfaction or sense of something bigger about them and how each of them have a different role to play in the group to help them succeed in the missions set for them by Abernathy.
If you love epic fantasy games or adventure stories you will love The Ventifact Colossus as much as I did and I cannot wait to read the rest of this series!
Disclosure: The Pursuit Of Bookiness received a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.
March 1, 2021
I’ve been very much in the mood for this kind of adventure fantasy lately, I blame it on all the D&D that I’ve been playing recently, and it’s easy to see the influence here in The Ventifact Colossus with its wonderful group of unlikely heroes.
This was a very character-driven story, and there are a lot of POV characters, but Hart does an excellent job of handling them all as individuals, giving them unique voices, motivations, and struggles. I very much love the idea that this ragtag group was not quite what the archmage who gathered them had been expecting to choose and might not be more than possible heroes. I also liked that it took time for the group to find it’s dynamic, rather than instantly falling into place, and that each of them found their own role, even if some like Mrs Horn weren’t necessarily a traditional ‘essential’ part of a party such as a healer or a fighter. As the party grew and developed, so did the characters as individuals, and we continued to learn new things about each of them.
It is difficult to choose favourites among them, because Hart’s characterisation is fantastic, and I enjoyed all the different viewpoints. I did adore Dranko – the first POV character that we meet, in part because he’s such a fascinating amalgamation of different elements, a priest-turned-thief, part human and part goblin, and with hidden depths to his character that we kept discovering throughout. I also loved Morningstar and Tor, and really all of them for different reasons.
Such a fantastic cast of characters!!
The world-building was just as fun as the characters, and although there were a few places where I might have liked a little more depth, this is the first book in the series and there are more books to explore this world through. There was a lot of fun aspects to this world, and we got to visit quite a few different places during the course of the adventure, and there were certainly glimpses of depth beneath the surface which was more than enough for now. In terms of the magic, it did go back to that D&D feeling with the way that it works, but it was fun to read, and fitting for the world and characters.
I enjoyed the writing, and while there were a few places where the pacing slipped – either events happening a little too soon or a little too slow, for the most part, this was an adventure that was easy to lose yourself in. Hart has an easy, entertaining writing style, and there was plenty of humour and action, in amongst the more serious moments, and it was a page-turner because of that and because of the characters that pull you into their story.
I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a more traditional fantasy adventure, with a delightful twist of something new. And a refreshing read with a little less darkness and a nice sprinkling of hope even amongst the danger and threat, and the heartstrings that the author does an excellent job of pulling on. This is a book that will appeal to both younger readers as well as adults, and it was truly a delight to lose myself between the pages. I will certainly be checking out the rest of the series as soon as possible, hopefully in time to catch the release of the fourth book in April.
This was a very character-driven story, and there are a lot of POV characters, but Hart does an excellent job of handling them all as individuals, giving them unique voices, motivations, and struggles. I very much love the idea that this ragtag group was not quite what the archmage who gathered them had been expecting to choose and might not be more than possible heroes. I also liked that it took time for the group to find it’s dynamic, rather than instantly falling into place, and that each of them found their own role, even if some like Mrs Horn weren’t necessarily a traditional ‘essential’ part of a party such as a healer or a fighter. As the party grew and developed, so did the characters as individuals, and we continued to learn new things about each of them.
It is difficult to choose favourites among them, because Hart’s characterisation is fantastic, and I enjoyed all the different viewpoints. I did adore Dranko – the first POV character that we meet, in part because he’s such a fascinating amalgamation of different elements, a priest-turned-thief, part human and part goblin, and with hidden depths to his character that we kept discovering throughout. I also loved Morningstar and Tor, and really all of them for different reasons.
Such a fantastic cast of characters!!
The world-building was just as fun as the characters, and although there were a few places where I might have liked a little more depth, this is the first book in the series and there are more books to explore this world through. There was a lot of fun aspects to this world, and we got to visit quite a few different places during the course of the adventure, and there were certainly glimpses of depth beneath the surface which was more than enough for now. In terms of the magic, it did go back to that D&D feeling with the way that it works, but it was fun to read, and fitting for the world and characters.
I enjoyed the writing, and while there were a few places where the pacing slipped – either events happening a little too soon or a little too slow, for the most part, this was an adventure that was easy to lose yourself in. Hart has an easy, entertaining writing style, and there was plenty of humour and action, in amongst the more serious moments, and it was a page-turner because of that and because of the characters that pull you into their story.
I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a more traditional fantasy adventure, with a delightful twist of something new. And a refreshing read with a little less darkness and a nice sprinkling of hope even amongst the danger and threat, and the heartstrings that the author does an excellent job of pulling on. This is a book that will appeal to both younger readers as well as adults, and it was truly a delight to lose myself between the pages. I will certainly be checking out the rest of the series as soon as possible, hopefully in time to catch the release of the fourth book in April.
May 7, 2018
After an extended grimdark/adult kick, I was ready for something more lighthearted. And, happily, The Ventifact Colossus turned out to be exactly what I was looking for.
The story follows a group of unlikely individuals who were chosen—seemingly at random, by a wizard’s spell—to carry out a very important mission. Basically, it’s the start to every D&D campaign ever. And, indeed, the ensuing story reads very much like a D&D campaign: a band of reluctant heroes, a mysterious wizard, a series of clues and quests, and a Very Bad Event that our heroes must thwart. But don’t let that put you off. While some D&D-inspired novels struggle to be anything but a D&D campaign transcript, The Ventifact Colossus rises above the inspiration and proves to be an entertaining, relatively lighthearted, and satisfying story with a whole lot of heart.
That heart wouldn’t have existed without the cast of aforementioned reluctant heroes. You have a naive small-town boy, an outcast priestess who is basically allergic to light, a part-goblin drunk who also happens to be a healer, an old woman who runs a farm, a know-it-all apprentice wizardess, a young nobleman with an optimistic outlook on sword fighting, a grizzled mercenary, and a guy who has a special affinity for rocks. Sound like a party? It was! Considering the novel is not incredibly lengthy, the author does a fantastic job of fleshing out the characters and giving them unique voices and personalities. While some characters were more mysterious than others, I still felt like I got to know each of them on a reasonably good level.
The setting was fairly standard as far as fantasy novels go, except for a desert with floating islands in the sand (which was really neat). Worldbuilding was light, overall; the author only provided what was necessary to understand the story. (Which is how I tend to prefer my worldbuilding.) I have no doubt that more layers will be revealed as the story continues. Similarly, the magic system is quite mysterious and “hand-wavy,” but again, I don’t mind, because its usage was consistent and there were clearly behind-the-scenes rules in play.
The plot moved along at a brisk pace, with very little down time, and easily held my interest until the end. And the prose was quite good, striking the perfect balance between rich and sparse. Unlike some self-published books, I only noticed one tiny grammatical error (which is better than some traditionally published books, I might add).
Setting/Worldbuilding: 7.5/10
Characters: 9.5/10
Plot/Pacing: 8/10
Prose: 8/10
Overall: 8.25/10 -> 4/5 stars
Final Thoughts: This novel is nothing groundbreaking, and yet that works in its favor, because the recognizable tropes create a sense of comforting familiarity. (That’s why tropes aren’t evil, kids—you just have to use them well!) I thoroughly enjoyed the story and will certainly be picking up a copy of the sequel. Thanks to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy for review!
The story follows a group of unlikely individuals who were chosen—seemingly at random, by a wizard’s spell—to carry out a very important mission. Basically, it’s the start to every D&D campaign ever. And, indeed, the ensuing story reads very much like a D&D campaign: a band of reluctant heroes, a mysterious wizard, a series of clues and quests, and a Very Bad Event that our heroes must thwart. But don’t let that put you off. While some D&D-inspired novels struggle to be anything but a D&D campaign transcript, The Ventifact Colossus rises above the inspiration and proves to be an entertaining, relatively lighthearted, and satisfying story with a whole lot of heart.
That heart wouldn’t have existed without the cast of aforementioned reluctant heroes. You have a naive small-town boy, an outcast priestess who is basically allergic to light, a part-goblin drunk who also happens to be a healer, an old woman who runs a farm, a know-it-all apprentice wizardess, a young nobleman with an optimistic outlook on sword fighting, a grizzled mercenary, and a guy who has a special affinity for rocks. Sound like a party? It was! Considering the novel is not incredibly lengthy, the author does a fantastic job of fleshing out the characters and giving them unique voices and personalities. While some characters were more mysterious than others, I still felt like I got to know each of them on a reasonably good level.
The setting was fairly standard as far as fantasy novels go, except for a desert with floating islands in the sand (which was really neat). Worldbuilding was light, overall; the author only provided what was necessary to understand the story. (Which is how I tend to prefer my worldbuilding.) I have no doubt that more layers will be revealed as the story continues. Similarly, the magic system is quite mysterious and “hand-wavy,” but again, I don’t mind, because its usage was consistent and there were clearly behind-the-scenes rules in play.
The plot moved along at a brisk pace, with very little down time, and easily held my interest until the end. And the prose was quite good, striking the perfect balance between rich and sparse. Unlike some self-published books, I only noticed one tiny grammatical error (which is better than some traditionally published books, I might add).
Setting/Worldbuilding: 7.5/10
Characters: 9.5/10
Plot/Pacing: 8/10
Prose: 8/10
Overall: 8.25/10 -> 4/5 stars
Final Thoughts: This novel is nothing groundbreaking, and yet that works in its favor, because the recognizable tropes create a sense of comforting familiarity. (That’s why tropes aren’t evil, kids—you just have to use them well!) I thoroughly enjoyed the story and will certainly be picking up a copy of the sequel. Thanks to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy for review!
March 30, 2022
The Ventifact Colossus is the first book in the new epic fantasy series The Heroes of Spira by Dorian Hart. It has all the elements in this that make epic fantasy one of my favourite genres; a rich unique world, magic, unlikely heroes, powerful wizards and dark terrifying threats. But really you can put all that aside and say that like all the best books out there this is not so much a book about a big over-riding plot (though of course that is a big part of it) and really it is a book about characters.
There is Dranko, the pick pocket, Abernathy, this world's version of Gandalf, Aravia the arrogant wizard's apprentice, Tor, Kibilathur, Grey Wolf, gosh so many and I am leaving out some too. You’d think with so many characters they would all start to blend into one and be a bit shallow, but Hart spends much needed timed effort to help the reader get to know them. And it pays off, you find yourself rooting for this rag tag band as they set about their quest.
Great book. Solid 4 stars. Don’t really have anything negative to say about it.
Thanks to the author and the write reads for my copy
There is Dranko, the pick pocket, Abernathy, this world's version of Gandalf, Aravia the arrogant wizard's apprentice, Tor, Kibilathur, Grey Wolf, gosh so many and I am leaving out some too. You’d think with so many characters they would all start to blend into one and be a bit shallow, but Hart spends much needed timed effort to help the reader get to know them. And it pays off, you find yourself rooting for this rag tag band as they set about their quest.
Great book. Solid 4 stars. Don’t really have anything negative to say about it.
Thanks to the author and the write reads for my copy
January 9, 2016
I was a beta reader on The Ventifact Colossus, through several drafts. Lest one take away from that some bias that would incline me to overstate my love for this book, let me be clear that beta reading is not a task I undertake lightly, especially more than once on the same novel. The Ventifact Colossus was a joy to read, and joy to watch evolve. It is a solid fantasy tale, with a satisfying and self-contained ending, while also clearly being the entry point to greater saga whose next volume I eagerly await.
The story is told through the eyes of its seven principal characters, taking chapters in turn. While I will admit to having favorites, all of them have engaging arcs, and all of them offer a lot to invest the reader. The story itself uses the trope of disparate souls brought together by an outside force to achieve a common goal to wonderful effect. The conflicts are believable, as are the relationships they form along the way. The adventure is compelling, the action gripping, the humor delightful while not undermining the seriousness of the story. In short, this book is great fun, and I offer my strongest recommendation on its behalf to anyone looking for a new series!
The story is told through the eyes of its seven principal characters, taking chapters in turn. While I will admit to having favorites, all of them have engaging arcs, and all of them offer a lot to invest the reader. The story itself uses the trope of disparate souls brought together by an outside force to achieve a common goal to wonderful effect. The conflicts are believable, as are the relationships they form along the way. The adventure is compelling, the action gripping, the humor delightful while not undermining the seriousness of the story. In short, this book is great fun, and I offer my strongest recommendation on its behalf to anyone looking for a new series!
January 28, 2022
I was very kindly sent a paperback copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much, Dorian Hart!
A group of eight unlikely heroes is summoned by the Archmage Abernathy and sets out on a quest which soon turns into a journey of self-discovery for some of them. Each of these unlikely heroes are very different to one another but have distinct skills and qualities which are needed in order for the ensuing quest to be successful – much like in a game of dungeons and dragons. Kibi was my favourite with his quiet and slow demeanor and his unusual talent with rocks:
“Gently he kneaded the stone, and it became soft beneath his fingers. He pressed and squeezed it, shaping it like a sculptor, knowing by instinct where to apply pressure so as not to break it apart. Over the course of a minute he transformed the many-faceted, asymmetric piece of rock into a round flat disc. Then he ran his finger over its newly smooth surface, tracing the letter E, and the letter was carved upon the stone from just the lightest touch. When he was done, the rock was pleased with its new shape, and Kibi thanked it silently for its cooperation. He couldn’t change a rock without its approval, after all.”
His philosophy on life makes him seem like the opposite of the impetuous Tor, an eternally optimistic teenage warrior who is always quick to act, and rush into situations without thinking. Kibi is much slower and considered in his actions:
“Kibi never went out of his way to seek company. It wasn’t that he disliked people, but he couldn’t ever think of what to say to them. Other folk moved through life too quickly, not just when they walked, but in how they acted toward one another or in seeking to meet their own needs and desires. It was hard to be social with folk hurrying past on either side. Life would always come to you, he found. No need to rush out and grab it.”
Dranko the goblin-touched loveable rogue with a heart of gold was another favourite. Instantly disliked by the cleric, Morningstar, for his uncouth habits, fondness for drink and coarse turn of phrase. He was once a priest and has scars all over his face from those days. That and his tusks, inherited from the goblin blood somewhere in his DNA has caused him to have a hard life of being judged by his appearance. Morningstar has also been judged by her appearance – she is a priestess of Ell and as such ought to have dark hair and a more nighttime themed name, but the goddess gave her white hair and an incongruous name for which she has been shunned and ridiculed all her life. You would therefore think these two should be allies rather than enemies.
Ernie is a guileless sixteen-year-old, pure of heart and kind to the core, he is a good cook and always looking out for the others, trying to support them where he can. However, he is a coward and is beset by fears of his unworthiness. Before the end of the quest he will find his confidence and become a hero.
Aravia is an apprentice wizard who is very full of herself and her limited magical abilities. Her abilities increase magnificently as she gains access to Abernathy’s spell books and starts studying.
Grey Wolf is the dour, older natural leader of the band of companions and has a good strategic head on his shoulders.
Mrs Horn is an older lady, a farmer who appears to be the voice of reason in the company and whose husband went missing five years ago. She hopes to find him one way or another, by undertaking Abernathy’s quest.
The quest itself is no mean feat. A monster has begun to break out of its prison and is threatening the end of the world as they know it. A series of tasks must be undertaken by the brave heroes, bringing them into peril repeatedly and allowing them to gain confidence and improve their monster fighting skills before they reach their final challenge. Their adversaries are unique, many and varied and the tasks are imaginative. The author is clearly not lacking in imagination.
The world around them is interesting and diverse. In one of the tasks they encounter a desert with wandering islands that move unexpectedly in it. Indeed, the worldbuilding in general in this book is wonderfully visually descriptive:
“Aravia peered into the morning haze rising from a carpet of last autumn’s leaves, and everywhere now among the trees were the husks of a long-dead city, the remnants of its walls and towers and roads resting in mossy silence beneath the forest that had conquered it. The Company crossed what was once a wide avenue, marked now only by a few brave paving stones reaching futilely out of the moldering underbrush. Then another enormous decaying wall loomed before them, the seams between its stones sprouting with moss and rough brown lichen. In the days when it was strong and whole, it would have blocked their path, but time and the woods had conspired to fill it with gaps.”
Add into this world some exciting adventures as the heroes complete their tasks and side quests and gain more powerful/courageous/confident in themselves and you have a wonderful story bursting with positive themes for younger readers to pick up on. Don’t give up! Believe in yourself! Even a simple baker can be a hero! Study hard and you will gain the knowledge you need to save the world! Need I say more…?
I thoroughly enjoyed my journey with the Heroes of Spira and will be reading the other books in this series. Recommended for middle grade readers and up – my thirteen year old son really liked it too!
A group of eight unlikely heroes is summoned by the Archmage Abernathy and sets out on a quest which soon turns into a journey of self-discovery for some of them. Each of these unlikely heroes are very different to one another but have distinct skills and qualities which are needed in order for the ensuing quest to be successful – much like in a game of dungeons and dragons. Kibi was my favourite with his quiet and slow demeanor and his unusual talent with rocks:
“Gently he kneaded the stone, and it became soft beneath his fingers. He pressed and squeezed it, shaping it like a sculptor, knowing by instinct where to apply pressure so as not to break it apart. Over the course of a minute he transformed the many-faceted, asymmetric piece of rock into a round flat disc. Then he ran his finger over its newly smooth surface, tracing the letter E, and the letter was carved upon the stone from just the lightest touch. When he was done, the rock was pleased with its new shape, and Kibi thanked it silently for its cooperation. He couldn’t change a rock without its approval, after all.”
His philosophy on life makes him seem like the opposite of the impetuous Tor, an eternally optimistic teenage warrior who is always quick to act, and rush into situations without thinking. Kibi is much slower and considered in his actions:
“Kibi never went out of his way to seek company. It wasn’t that he disliked people, but he couldn’t ever think of what to say to them. Other folk moved through life too quickly, not just when they walked, but in how they acted toward one another or in seeking to meet their own needs and desires. It was hard to be social with folk hurrying past on either side. Life would always come to you, he found. No need to rush out and grab it.”
Dranko the goblin-touched loveable rogue with a heart of gold was another favourite. Instantly disliked by the cleric, Morningstar, for his uncouth habits, fondness for drink and coarse turn of phrase. He was once a priest and has scars all over his face from those days. That and his tusks, inherited from the goblin blood somewhere in his DNA has caused him to have a hard life of being judged by his appearance. Morningstar has also been judged by her appearance – she is a priestess of Ell and as such ought to have dark hair and a more nighttime themed name, but the goddess gave her white hair and an incongruous name for which she has been shunned and ridiculed all her life. You would therefore think these two should be allies rather than enemies.
Ernie is a guileless sixteen-year-old, pure of heart and kind to the core, he is a good cook and always looking out for the others, trying to support them where he can. However, he is a coward and is beset by fears of his unworthiness. Before the end of the quest he will find his confidence and become a hero.
Aravia is an apprentice wizard who is very full of herself and her limited magical abilities. Her abilities increase magnificently as she gains access to Abernathy’s spell books and starts studying.
Grey Wolf is the dour, older natural leader of the band of companions and has a good strategic head on his shoulders.
Mrs Horn is an older lady, a farmer who appears to be the voice of reason in the company and whose husband went missing five years ago. She hopes to find him one way or another, by undertaking Abernathy’s quest.
The quest itself is no mean feat. A monster has begun to break out of its prison and is threatening the end of the world as they know it. A series of tasks must be undertaken by the brave heroes, bringing them into peril repeatedly and allowing them to gain confidence and improve their monster fighting skills before they reach their final challenge. Their adversaries are unique, many and varied and the tasks are imaginative. The author is clearly not lacking in imagination.
The world around them is interesting and diverse. In one of the tasks they encounter a desert with wandering islands that move unexpectedly in it. Indeed, the worldbuilding in general in this book is wonderfully visually descriptive:
“Aravia peered into the morning haze rising from a carpet of last autumn’s leaves, and everywhere now among the trees were the husks of a long-dead city, the remnants of its walls and towers and roads resting in mossy silence beneath the forest that had conquered it. The Company crossed what was once a wide avenue, marked now only by a few brave paving stones reaching futilely out of the moldering underbrush. Then another enormous decaying wall loomed before them, the seams between its stones sprouting with moss and rough brown lichen. In the days when it was strong and whole, it would have blocked their path, but time and the woods had conspired to fill it with gaps.”
Add into this world some exciting adventures as the heroes complete their tasks and side quests and gain more powerful/courageous/confident in themselves and you have a wonderful story bursting with positive themes for younger readers to pick up on. Don’t give up! Believe in yourself! Even a simple baker can be a hero! Study hard and you will gain the knowledge you need to save the world! Need I say more…?
I thoroughly enjoyed my journey with the Heroes of Spira and will be reading the other books in this series. Recommended for middle grade readers and up – my thirteen year old son really liked it too!
December 31, 2019
This is exactly the type of book I was looking for and it was wonderful! Lots of interesting characters, overall light hearted and hopeful, the perfect fantasy comfort read for a cold winter night.
It is amazing how well written the characters are. I never had a doubt as to who’s POV I was reading. This is a feat in itself.
I loved the characters so much I attempted to MBTI type them.
Morningstar: INTJ
That scene screams Fe trickster like nothing else.
She is practical, makes decisions fast, is good at planning, and can lead a team if needed.
She has a strong sense of intuition, which she gains by channeling into her inner world (Ni) via dreams.
She is physically adept: unlike Aravia, another NT type, she is capable of physical battle.
Aravia: probably meant to be an ENTP, but can come off as ENTJ (Te heavy) with her bragging about her good grades at wizard school. And memorizing books.
ENTPs usually scoff at school: they prefer to do research on their own. An ENTP wouldn’t want Abernathy’s books. They would go around inventing their own magical system, not waiting for some older person’s approval.
But then again she’s a teenager so we could say that she is still emotionally immature and feels the need to show off, making her look ENTJ-ish. Her speech patterns are very ENTP/INTP, but she isn’t INTP because she shows no discomfort with being around other people.
Tor: ESFP?
The Ti trickster is glaring. Confidence in physical action like sword fighting. Values his own virtues over that of the group (Fi over Fe), paired with a strong physical presence makes him impulsive.
Little to no grasp of abstract ideas, but this is to his advantage: he doesn’t get distracted by minute details and can stay focused on the task at hand. Compare with Aravia, who gets carried away by inconsequential details, making her struggle with a certain magical item.
Mrs.Horn: ESFJ or ENFJ. Or could be a mature INFJ.
She cares for people’s feelings and is not scared to show this. She likes to help people open up.
But she isn’t a fluffy ball of nonsense. She makes decisions based on the overall welfare of the team, and projections into the future. This tells me strong Fe, but more matured by experience. A well balanced lady.
Ernie: ESFJ
The overbearing Fe, paired with brief (but critical) flashes of Ti insight that even Aravia couldn’t figure out. He loves to serve other people: shown with his love for cooking. He is not hesitant of expressing his feelings-based views, which tells me he is likely extroverted.
Kibi: ISFP
This one I’m confident about. In his chapters the focus on visual details is much sharper than say a chapter through Aravia’s POV. The story often turns on visual details (for example when he notices something missing from a room).
He has some kind of magical connection with rocks, but unlike Aravia, he prefers not to analyze the phenomenon. He prefers to keep it down to earth and personal.
Grey Wolf: ESTP
Similar to Tor but with a logical backing.
Grounded in reality, very good at maneuvering the physical world, but unlike Tor his decisions are made from cold hard logic. Cares very much for the welfare of the group, and can come off as harsh at times.
He would make an excellent mentor for Ernie and Tor.
Abernathy: mature INTP
How he prefers to use an emotional argument to persuade the members to stay is telling of a more mature INTP. He’s outgrown the “I’m smart!” phase of life and is now devoting his time to the greater welfare of the world. He prefers to stay behind the scenes and outsource action to other people (=the team).
As for the usual INTP traits:
He has his own logical system of thought: Aravia, well-versed in conventional academics, struggles with his notes. High Ti.
He has an intuitive outlook on the world, and is confident enough in his vision to beckon a team of people. High Ne.
He values practicality over niceties: he employs an unpleasant sound to draw the team’s attention. It is physically unpleasant, but works.
He likes to stay in his ivory tower to do research on his own. But the research is for the greater well being of humanity. Classic INTP.
Dranko: ENFP
His unique sense of morality tells me Fi over Fe. He is an extrovert. And likely ENFP considering that he has insight into abstract ideas like religion. Compare with Tor, somebody who is almost 100% grounded in the physical world.
How good he is at physical maneuvering is somewhat non-ENFP ish, but considering his long career as a professional thief, it would make sense.
It is amazing how well written the characters are. I never had a doubt as to who’s POV I was reading. This is a feat in itself.
I loved the characters so much I attempted to MBTI type them.
Morningstar: INTJ
That scene screams Fe trickster like nothing else.
She is practical, makes decisions fast, is good at planning, and can lead a team if needed.
She has a strong sense of intuition, which she gains by channeling into her inner world (Ni) via dreams.
She is physically adept: unlike Aravia, another NT type, she is capable of physical battle.
Aravia: probably meant to be an ENTP, but can come off as ENTJ (Te heavy) with her bragging about her good grades at wizard school. And memorizing books.
ENTPs usually scoff at school: they prefer to do research on their own. An ENTP wouldn’t want Abernathy’s books. They would go around inventing their own magical system, not waiting for some older person’s approval.
But then again she’s a teenager so we could say that she is still emotionally immature and feels the need to show off, making her look ENTJ-ish. Her speech patterns are very ENTP/INTP, but she isn’t INTP because she shows no discomfort with being around other people.
Tor: ESFP?
The Ti trickster is glaring. Confidence in physical action like sword fighting. Values his own virtues over that of the group (Fi over Fe), paired with a strong physical presence makes him impulsive.
Little to no grasp of abstract ideas, but this is to his advantage: he doesn’t get distracted by minute details and can stay focused on the task at hand. Compare with Aravia, who gets carried away by inconsequential details, making her struggle with a certain magical item.
Mrs.Horn: ESFJ or ENFJ. Or could be a mature INFJ.
She cares for people’s feelings and is not scared to show this. She likes to help people open up.
But she isn’t a fluffy ball of nonsense. She makes decisions based on the overall welfare of the team, and projections into the future. This tells me strong Fe, but more matured by experience. A well balanced lady.
Ernie: ESFJ
The overbearing Fe, paired with brief (but critical) flashes of Ti insight that even Aravia couldn’t figure out. He loves to serve other people: shown with his love for cooking. He is not hesitant of expressing his feelings-based views, which tells me he is likely extroverted.
Kibi: ISFP
This one I’m confident about. In his chapters the focus on visual details is much sharper than say a chapter through Aravia’s POV. The story often turns on visual details (for example when he notices something missing from a room).
He has some kind of magical connection with rocks, but unlike Aravia, he prefers not to analyze the phenomenon. He prefers to keep it down to earth and personal.
Grey Wolf: ESTP
Similar to Tor but with a logical backing.
Grounded in reality, very good at maneuvering the physical world, but unlike Tor his decisions are made from cold hard logic. Cares very much for the welfare of the group, and can come off as harsh at times.
He would make an excellent mentor for Ernie and Tor.
Abernathy: mature INTP
How he prefers to use an emotional argument to persuade the members to stay is telling of a more mature INTP. He’s outgrown the “I’m smart!” phase of life and is now devoting his time to the greater welfare of the world. He prefers to stay behind the scenes and outsource action to other people (=the team).
As for the usual INTP traits:
He has his own logical system of thought: Aravia, well-versed in conventional academics, struggles with his notes. High Ti.
He has an intuitive outlook on the world, and is confident enough in his vision to beckon a team of people. High Ne.
He values practicality over niceties: he employs an unpleasant sound to draw the team’s attention. It is physically unpleasant, but works.
He likes to stay in his ivory tower to do research on his own. But the research is for the greater well being of humanity. Classic INTP.
Dranko: ENFP
His unique sense of morality tells me Fi over Fe. He is an extrovert. And likely ENFP considering that he has insight into abstract ideas like religion. Compare with Tor, somebody who is almost 100% grounded in the physical world.
How good he is at physical maneuvering is somewhat non-ENFP ish, but considering his long career as a professional thief, it would make sense.
February 25, 2021
The Ventificat Colossus is the start of something new for me. Where I don’t necessarily need to worry about it being grim-dark all the time, nor do I need to worry about it heroic all the time. It’s a parody and a satire combined into a package of heroic adventure and joy! It is. That said, there’s an intriguing cast of characters in this book. There are one or two that I don’t think weren’t needed at all, because it didn’t add much to the story in my opinion. I don’t want to spoil the novel so much, so this review will contain very minor spoilers.
But this book reminds me of my time in the Ali’kir Desert and the Gold Coast when I played the Elder Scrolls Online. We’re going through magic portals, dealing with turtles! Yes, turtles mind you! We’re dealing with villains, but I don’t think they were as prominent in the book as they should have been. We go to dungeons, we go to a desert setting and I thank Dorian for taking us there. A more diverse setting location is needed in fantasy novels! This was a delight to read. You’ll be going through so much lore at one time it is mind-boggling. Although, some criticisms I have is that there is evidence of a lot of worldbuilding. And sometimes I think this could have been shortened down, or trimmed in certain parts. At some parts of the story, I felt suffered from slow-pacing here and there. Again I would say more but I’d not want to spoil for the sake of the dear reader.
The Ventificat Colossus has some of the most iconic characters that you’d never hope to pair in a fantasy novel, and somehow it works! It works brilliantly. It is the most unlikely pairing of characters you could ever hope to see. Abernathy the old wizard is the architect of this brilliant investiture! Dranko is one of those characters that you’ll get attached to eventually. For me, I got attached to him the most. Then Tor, who’s our brilliant head-strong guy that reminds me of the man who never fears anybody. It’s a shame that his style of character has become sort of cliched in a way in other fantasy novels because here’s it's very refreshing. Gray Wolf, I’m undecided on. I’m not sure whether I like him yet. Morningstar is very much like Dranko, and I ship them as a couple. They’re made for each other in many ways. However, Ernest and Kibil? They’re very awesome. This book has a very colorful cast of characters, intriguing backstories, and great humor!
The dialogue serves its purpose, and there are locations you’ll sometimes even wonder how the characters manage to go there. It also is a dark contrast to the idea that the minute you grab a bunch of people and force them to deal with a Kingdom’s magical beast problem because all the best heroes are dead, that they should be able to relate to each other instantly. And that doesn’t work. Over time, the group slowly opens up to each other. In this sense, it’s a very smart way of writing the story. There’s so much mystery in this book, so much fascinating lore, and so much awesome stuff, I’m surprised this series is so under-rated. I’d compare this to Kings of the Wyld. It takes itself seriously at times, and at times it doesn’t. It’s perfect for reading to children. It is an adventure, and most of all, I had a great time reading this book. I thoroughly recommend this!
But this book reminds me of my time in the Ali’kir Desert and the Gold Coast when I played the Elder Scrolls Online. We’re going through magic portals, dealing with turtles! Yes, turtles mind you! We’re dealing with villains, but I don’t think they were as prominent in the book as they should have been. We go to dungeons, we go to a desert setting and I thank Dorian for taking us there. A more diverse setting location is needed in fantasy novels! This was a delight to read. You’ll be going through so much lore at one time it is mind-boggling. Although, some criticisms I have is that there is evidence of a lot of worldbuilding. And sometimes I think this could have been shortened down, or trimmed in certain parts. At some parts of the story, I felt suffered from slow-pacing here and there. Again I would say more but I’d not want to spoil for the sake of the dear reader.
The Ventificat Colossus has some of the most iconic characters that you’d never hope to pair in a fantasy novel, and somehow it works! It works brilliantly. It is the most unlikely pairing of characters you could ever hope to see. Abernathy the old wizard is the architect of this brilliant investiture! Dranko is one of those characters that you’ll get attached to eventually. For me, I got attached to him the most. Then Tor, who’s our brilliant head-strong guy that reminds me of the man who never fears anybody. It’s a shame that his style of character has become sort of cliched in a way in other fantasy novels because here’s it's very refreshing. Gray Wolf, I’m undecided on. I’m not sure whether I like him yet. Morningstar is very much like Dranko, and I ship them as a couple. They’re made for each other in many ways. However, Ernest and Kibil? They’re very awesome. This book has a very colorful cast of characters, intriguing backstories, and great humor!
The dialogue serves its purpose, and there are locations you’ll sometimes even wonder how the characters manage to go there. It also is a dark contrast to the idea that the minute you grab a bunch of people and force them to deal with a Kingdom’s magical beast problem because all the best heroes are dead, that they should be able to relate to each other instantly. And that doesn’t work. Over time, the group slowly opens up to each other. In this sense, it’s a very smart way of writing the story. There’s so much mystery in this book, so much fascinating lore, and so much awesome stuff, I’m surprised this series is so under-rated. I’d compare this to Kings of the Wyld. It takes itself seriously at times, and at times it doesn’t. It’s perfect for reading to children. It is an adventure, and most of all, I had a great time reading this book. I thoroughly recommend this!
April 3, 2022
4.5
Book source ~ Tour
Eight strangers are summoned to archmage Abernathy’s Tower. There they learn that a villain who was imprisoned 100s of years before is slowly making a break for it. The archmages who guard him are old and worn out. They need serious help. They need heroes. But the people they get are…interesting. It remains to be seen if they are heroes.
Holy shit! This epic fantasy is completely captivating! There’s an interesting collection of characters, magic, an evil villain, and an eccentric old wizard who sends them out on quests. Ok, maybe not quests per se, but more like fact-finding missions. While reading it I am reminded of Lord of the Rings, the tv show Supernatural, and every group project I was ever forced to endure. You know what I’m talking about, right? If you’ve read the book, see if you can match the character to my description.
The smart ass.
The know-it-all.
The one who makes you use all the proper citations and frowns upon plagiarism.
The one who isn’t the sharpest crayon in the box, but is enthusiastic.
The one who drops out suddenly.
The highly involved one who suddenly disappears for a while due to unforeseen circumstances leaving the group to flounder a bit.
The goth chick.
The quiet one who comes up with the brilliant project-saving idea.
These people have no idea why they’ve been summoned. On the surface only one has a true skill, the magic-wielding apprentice Aravia. But whether they believe it or not, they all have what is needed to save their world. They just have to trust that Abernathy’s spell picked them for a reason they haven’t figured out yet. And they need to dig deep within themselves, have faith, and trust each other. Yeah, that’s not as easy as it sounds.
I love this world so much. The one drawback is my confusion over how Emperor Naradawk is imprisoned and all the artifacts. I’m not sure I quite understand this bit. But that’s ok. This story has some awesome characters who grow over the course of their quests and I love the different chapters where I get to see this tale through their eyes. There’s a balance to the fantasy as well. It’s not all dark and gory, but it’s not sweet fluffy pancakes either. There’s danger and action, but humor and downtime, too. The characters are my absolute favorite. I love them. They are perfectly flawed. I want to bring them out of the pages to live with me. Do I need to state how much I’m looking forward to continuing this series? Because bring it!
Book source ~ Tour
Eight strangers are summoned to archmage Abernathy’s Tower. There they learn that a villain who was imprisoned 100s of years before is slowly making a break for it. The archmages who guard him are old and worn out. They need serious help. They need heroes. But the people they get are…interesting. It remains to be seen if they are heroes.
Holy shit! This epic fantasy is completely captivating! There’s an interesting collection of characters, magic, an evil villain, and an eccentric old wizard who sends them out on quests. Ok, maybe not quests per se, but more like fact-finding missions. While reading it I am reminded of Lord of the Rings, the tv show Supernatural, and every group project I was ever forced to endure. You know what I’m talking about, right? If you’ve read the book, see if you can match the character to my description.
The smart ass.
The know-it-all.
The one who makes you use all the proper citations and frowns upon plagiarism.
The one who isn’t the sharpest crayon in the box, but is enthusiastic.
The one who drops out suddenly.
The highly involved one who suddenly disappears for a while due to unforeseen circumstances leaving the group to flounder a bit.
The goth chick.
The quiet one who comes up with the brilliant project-saving idea.
These people have no idea why they’ve been summoned. On the surface only one has a true skill, the magic-wielding apprentice Aravia. But whether they believe it or not, they all have what is needed to save their world. They just have to trust that Abernathy’s spell picked them for a reason they haven’t figured out yet. And they need to dig deep within themselves, have faith, and trust each other. Yeah, that’s not as easy as it sounds.
I love this world so much. The one drawback is my confusion over how Emperor Naradawk is imprisoned and all the artifacts. I’m not sure I quite understand this bit. But that’s ok. This story has some awesome characters who grow over the course of their quests and I love the different chapters where I get to see this tale through their eyes. There’s a balance to the fantasy as well. It’s not all dark and gory, but it’s not sweet fluffy pancakes either. There’s danger and action, but humor and downtime, too. The characters are my absolute favorite. I love them. They are perfectly flawed. I want to bring them out of the pages to live with me. Do I need to state how much I’m looking forward to continuing this series? Because bring it!
April 1, 2022
The Ventifact colossus, book 1 of the Heroes of Spira series is a character driven epic fantasy series that hits a lot of the right spots! A rag tag band of ruffians and misfits are summoned to stop an ancient evil from returning and wreaking his terror across the world! The arch mage Abernathy teleports them all to his wizard tower in Tal Hae and hires them as his agents as he is otherwise occupied. Even Abernathy himself doesn’t know why these individuals in particular were chosen, at least so he claims.
There is a big cast of characters in this. Dranko a part goblin, pickpocketing, former priest, Morningstar of Ell, a priestess, Ernest, a baker’s son, Grey Wolf, a hardcore sell sword, Tor Bladebearer, and expert swordsman with a mysterious past, Aravia Telmir, a wizard’s apprentice and more. There are so many that at first glance it might seem like too much, but the author does a great job spending time on each one and helping the reader get to know them. I’ve seen others mention that this is like a D&D cast and I can see why.
The writing itself is solid. You are not going to get amazing prose or anything but its perfectly acceptable and nicely paced. You don’t find yourself cringing over the writing or anything at any point. Overall a fun read with a rich cast of characters that should keep most fans of the genre entertained.
Thanks to the author and write reads for my copy
March 17, 2022
Wow! I have surprised by how much I enjoyed this! Incredible D&D vibes but this is partially form all the D&D I have been playing recently...anyway this is a brilliant book, ticking a lot of boxes for me with a an intriguing and well build world, brilliant character both primary and secondary.
Watch out for my full review as part of The Write Reads tour soon.
Watch out for my full review as part of The Write Reads tour soon.
February 19, 2020
With fantasy in general being rather grim and dark these days, it's quite refreshing to encounter The Ventifact Colossus by Dorian Hart. This is the kind of book that reads like your typical D&D campaign, but with a slight Disney-esque flavour to keep things from getting too heavy. Magical McGuffins, check; wizards, check; weird beasties, check; a flying carpet, check. Dorian also does what so many authors struggle to do – balancing a story where there are multiple viewpoint characters, and giving each a unique voice. I'm team Morningstar all the way, just so you know.
The gist of the story is that a ragtag of eight random characters who seemingly have nothing that makes them remarkable, are drawn together by a wizard's spell for the purpose of saving the world. All are, to a degree, rejects or your average joe, thrown together to do the extraordinary, heading off on quest after quest while hoping to find all they need to stop the Big Bad. It feels a little like a lower-deck story, but I suspect in subsequent novels in the series, that the characters will really come into their own.
I can't say much more other than this was a fresh-faced, fun story that although I struggled to suspend disbelief with certain events near the end, I was overall entertained. And I'd say that this is also a novel that you can happily pass on to even your teen readers. This feel-good adventure has a sincerity to it that I've been missing in fantasy of late. It may be too light for some tastes, but it's just right if you're in the need of reminding that the world is not all doom and gloom.
The gist of the story is that a ragtag of eight random characters who seemingly have nothing that makes them remarkable, are drawn together by a wizard's spell for the purpose of saving the world. All are, to a degree, rejects or your average joe, thrown together to do the extraordinary, heading off on quest after quest while hoping to find all they need to stop the Big Bad. It feels a little like a lower-deck story, but I suspect in subsequent novels in the series, that the characters will really come into their own.
I can't say much more other than this was a fresh-faced, fun story that although I struggled to suspend disbelief with certain events near the end, I was overall entertained. And I'd say that this is also a novel that you can happily pass on to even your teen readers. This feel-good adventure has a sincerity to it that I've been missing in fantasy of late. It may be too light for some tastes, but it's just right if you're in the need of reminding that the world is not all doom and gloom.
February 13, 2016
A wizard magically summons a ragtag group of adventurers to save the world from the return of an ancient evil.
The Big Bad is bottled up in a prison dimension, and the wizard Abernathy wants to keep him there. He plucks eight people with diverse skills and backgrounds from their everyday lives, and the party go a-questing. Which may sound rather cliché, but this book is a joy to read. It’s got interesting, well-developed characters; a soundly constructed plot; inventive fantasy; lots of humour; and excellent writing.
Setting is about the only weak point I can identify. While there’s a lot of fun detail, like the moving islands in the desert or the various gods, there’s no deep world-building on display. The clerical/wizardly magic system could be ripped straight from Dungeons & Dragons. But I can’t say I minded because the characters are so good.
The story is told in multiple points-of-view, jumping between the eight members of the party in different chapters. Though I had my favourites, all the characters are good fun. The writing is accomplished and very readable throughout, with no editing errors that I noticed.
This is clearly intended as the first in a series, but is satisfactory to read as a standalone story.
The Big Bad is bottled up in a prison dimension, and the wizard Abernathy wants to keep him there. He plucks eight people with diverse skills and backgrounds from their everyday lives, and the party go a-questing. Which may sound rather cliché, but this book is a joy to read. It’s got interesting, well-developed characters; a soundly constructed plot; inventive fantasy; lots of humour; and excellent writing.
Setting is about the only weak point I can identify. While there’s a lot of fun detail, like the moving islands in the desert or the various gods, there’s no deep world-building on display. The clerical/wizardly magic system could be ripped straight from Dungeons & Dragons. But I can’t say I minded because the characters are so good.
The story is told in multiple points-of-view, jumping between the eight members of the party in different chapters. Though I had my favourites, all the characters are good fun. The writing is accomplished and very readable throughout, with no editing errors that I noticed.
This is clearly intended as the first in a series, but is satisfactory to read as a standalone story.
March 5, 2016
What a great fun adventure. Each character in turn leads you through the story with heart and humor. Just when you think you have a favorite character the next one comes along wins you over. This is a book that absorbs you into its story and does it from multiple points of view making you honestly feel like you are traveling with them. If you want a book that is simply fun, this is it. Grab this book and a nice cuppa and get lost in Mr Hart's wonder adventure. Then be sad wondering how long before book two comes into this world.
November 28, 2017
A genuinely fun and satisfying read. Characters with a lot of humanity, solid plotting. Occasionally felt like I was listening in on a friend's D&D campaign ... but with a truly excellent DM at the helm, it is well worth your time. Definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy with a twist or two (or maybe just a really bad roll of the d6?)
August 4, 2019
The characters in this book are amazing! They all feel real with flaws and strengths of real people. As the chapters change to see things through each persons perspective, the views subtly shift to present new facts as well as new questions.
I am excited to read many more and see the world unfold in a natural telling. Evocative, enthralling, exciting!!
I am excited to read many more and see the world unfold in a natural telling. Evocative, enthralling, exciting!!
June 16, 2020
Review based on a free copy provided by the author in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.
Dranko is a thief, a former cleric, and part goblin. An outcast of the highest degree, he's the last person anyone would expect to be summoned to the high tower of an archmage. Upon accepting the invitation, however, Dranko finds himself with seven new companions who are as equally baffled at being selected to perform a task for one of the greatest wizards in the kingdom. There's a mercenary, a baker, a sorcerer's apprentice, the son of a nobleman, a paladin of the church of night, a stonesmith, and an old woman who runs a farm. Yet each of these people was specifically chosen by the archmage's spell to be a person integral to the saving of the kingdom. A dark force that has been locked away for centuries is on the verge of breaking out, and only these unlikely heroes can turn the tide and save the world.
THE VENTIFACT COLOSSUS is a wonderful outing for those who want some good old-fashioned adventure. You won't find much grimness or morally grey characters here, just a lot of people out of their depth trying to do the best they can. The writing at times can feel like it skews slightly younger, but never in a way that felt like "bad" writing. Those familiar with D&D will see a lot of influences, particularly in the way that magic-users and clerics access (and are drained by) their magic, and in the way that our eight heroes very much seem to make up a D&D adventuring party (a rogue, a paladin, a warrior, a cleric etc.). One thing I particularly appreciated was that women, for the most part, are treated fairly equally in this medieval society, and you are as likely to see a woman warrior listed as a fabled hero as you are a man.
The author also does a fairly good job of fleshing out the characters, even with so many in the party. Chapters swap between third person limited POVs, so you get a chance to know what's happening in everybody's head as they figure out this destiny they're now involved in, and try to adjust to the different personalities they're being forced to work with. In particular I liked Morningstar, a warrior of the church of night (an order dedicated to protecting people from creatures of darkness) who is not supposed to walk in the sun, but must if she to aid her allies in their quest. Tor, a young nobleman's son who is just to be excited to be on an actual adventure, is saved from being conceited by the fact that he believes that his role in this group is to protect the others from harm - even if that means putting himself in between them and oncoming danger. Everyone has their own little quirks, and even if sometimes they were a little too earnest, I found myself falling for this little band.
The story itself manages to be both self-contained but also set up a much larger arc that will take place over a total of five books (three of which have been released at the writing of this review). Our heroes go on quests of increasing difficulty, and much like pen-and-paper heroes, start with small monsters and work their way up to much MUCH bigger monsters (remember that colossus mentioned in the title of the book?). I should be clear, that this tale never comes off as a LitRPG, but shares much with the "classic" style adventure on which so many D&D-style games are based. Is the story particularly deep? No. Did I find myself having a grand old time watching this motley crew sneak into cultist bases or fight off flying bat-monsters? Absolutely. It's the kind of book that's easy to read, and I frequently convinced myself I had time for just one more chapter before I needed to put the the book down. It's clear from the threads left hanging that we've only scratched the surface on why the archmages's spell chose this particular group, and I, for one, can't wait to see what's in store.
Dranko is a thief, a former cleric, and part goblin. An outcast of the highest degree, he's the last person anyone would expect to be summoned to the high tower of an archmage. Upon accepting the invitation, however, Dranko finds himself with seven new companions who are as equally baffled at being selected to perform a task for one of the greatest wizards in the kingdom. There's a mercenary, a baker, a sorcerer's apprentice, the son of a nobleman, a paladin of the church of night, a stonesmith, and an old woman who runs a farm. Yet each of these people was specifically chosen by the archmage's spell to be a person integral to the saving of the kingdom. A dark force that has been locked away for centuries is on the verge of breaking out, and only these unlikely heroes can turn the tide and save the world.
THE VENTIFACT COLOSSUS is a wonderful outing for those who want some good old-fashioned adventure. You won't find much grimness or morally grey characters here, just a lot of people out of their depth trying to do the best they can. The writing at times can feel like it skews slightly younger, but never in a way that felt like "bad" writing. Those familiar with D&D will see a lot of influences, particularly in the way that magic-users and clerics access (and are drained by) their magic, and in the way that our eight heroes very much seem to make up a D&D adventuring party (a rogue, a paladin, a warrior, a cleric etc.). One thing I particularly appreciated was that women, for the most part, are treated fairly equally in this medieval society, and you are as likely to see a woman warrior listed as a fabled hero as you are a man.
The author also does a fairly good job of fleshing out the characters, even with so many in the party. Chapters swap between third person limited POVs, so you get a chance to know what's happening in everybody's head as they figure out this destiny they're now involved in, and try to adjust to the different personalities they're being forced to work with. In particular I liked Morningstar, a warrior of the church of night (an order dedicated to protecting people from creatures of darkness) who is not supposed to walk in the sun, but must if she to aid her allies in their quest. Tor, a young nobleman's son who is just to be excited to be on an actual adventure, is saved from being conceited by the fact that he believes that his role in this group is to protect the others from harm - even if that means putting himself in between them and oncoming danger. Everyone has their own little quirks, and even if sometimes they were a little too earnest, I found myself falling for this little band.
The story itself manages to be both self-contained but also set up a much larger arc that will take place over a total of five books (three of which have been released at the writing of this review). Our heroes go on quests of increasing difficulty, and much like pen-and-paper heroes, start with small monsters and work their way up to much MUCH bigger monsters (remember that colossus mentioned in the title of the book?). I should be clear, that this tale never comes off as a LitRPG, but shares much with the "classic" style adventure on which so many D&D-style games are based. Is the story particularly deep? No. Did I find myself having a grand old time watching this motley crew sneak into cultist bases or fight off flying bat-monsters? Absolutely. It's the kind of book that's easy to read, and I frequently convinced myself I had time for just one more chapter before I needed to put the the book down. It's clear from the threads left hanging that we've only scratched the surface on why the archmages's spell chose this particular group, and I, for one, can't wait to see what's in store.
August 6, 2018
I received a copy of this book through TBRindr in exchange for an honest review.
The Ventifact Colossus is a fun, upbeat epic fantasy. Dorian Hart has given us a tale that feels familiar and yet not overly repetitive. The tone reminds me an awful lot of the BBC series Merlin. There is humor, sometimes over the top, sometimes things the characters take seriously that you can’t help but laugh at, but it all comes together in the end.
One of the things Hart has done very well in The Ventifact Colossus is give us characters that feel different. While some of the characters fall easily into fantasy tropes (the know-it-all wizard, the grizzled veteran mercenary) what is impressive is that each perspective feels different. Hart has done an excellent job of distinguishing character voice in his writing. This is an infrequent achievement and deserves praise. The story itself has some very funny and comedic moments. These weave well into the generally scrappy, upbeat, underdog nature of the team of main characters. There is a lot to like in the Ventifact Colossus.
There are some areas of weakness, however. While I largely enjoyed the comedic moments, there were times when I wasn’t quite sure if the moments were supposed to be comedic or serious. As I mentioned above, this put me in mind of the Merlin TV series, where the peril was sometimes so over the top as to be comical. I enjoy comedy, but I prefer to know I’m supposed to be amused. The world building and general setting is also generic and a bit weak at times. At times I just didn’t know things about the world that I felt like I should have. Finally, there were some pacing issues through the first two thirds of the book. The ending was excellent, however.
This is a book that has a great deal of fun to it. It’s optimistic, epic fantasy that is wonderful if you’re in the mood for a fun read that can feel a little campy at times. I’ll be picking up the sequel sometime to see how this story continues playing out, especially after that epilogue! This is a hard book to rate, as I feel like three stars doesn’t quite do it justice, but it isn’t quite at four either. In the end I settled on 3.4/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – I liked it, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
The Ventifact Colossus is a fun, upbeat epic fantasy. Dorian Hart has given us a tale that feels familiar and yet not overly repetitive. The tone reminds me an awful lot of the BBC series Merlin. There is humor, sometimes over the top, sometimes things the characters take seriously that you can’t help but laugh at, but it all comes together in the end.
One of the things Hart has done very well in The Ventifact Colossus is give us characters that feel different. While some of the characters fall easily into fantasy tropes (the know-it-all wizard, the grizzled veteran mercenary) what is impressive is that each perspective feels different. Hart has done an excellent job of distinguishing character voice in his writing. This is an infrequent achievement and deserves praise. The story itself has some very funny and comedic moments. These weave well into the generally scrappy, upbeat, underdog nature of the team of main characters. There is a lot to like in the Ventifact Colossus.
There are some areas of weakness, however. While I largely enjoyed the comedic moments, there were times when I wasn’t quite sure if the moments were supposed to be comedic or serious. As I mentioned above, this put me in mind of the Merlin TV series, where the peril was sometimes so over the top as to be comical. I enjoy comedy, but I prefer to know I’m supposed to be amused. The world building and general setting is also generic and a bit weak at times. At times I just didn’t know things about the world that I felt like I should have. Finally, there were some pacing issues through the first two thirds of the book. The ending was excellent, however.
This is a book that has a great deal of fun to it. It’s optimistic, epic fantasy that is wonderful if you’re in the mood for a fun read that can feel a little campy at times. I’ll be picking up the sequel sometime to see how this story continues playing out, especially after that epilogue! This is a hard book to rate, as I feel like three stars doesn’t quite do it justice, but it isn’t quite at four either. In the end I settled on 3.4/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – I liked it, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
April 7, 2022
As a long-time fan of the fantasy genre, I am always on the lookout for new authors and the universes they create. I enjoy meeting new characters and traveling to new lands and I really enjoy seeing the kinds of tropes the author uses. Because while there are some who look down on using tropes of any kind, I personally believe that they can be used effectively.
Plus, there are some that when they are used well, they are a treat.
The main trope that Hart uses for The Ventifact Colossus is the Ragtag Bunch of Misfits. And considering the people who make up the chosen team, it is so very true. They could not be more different and yet they will have to learn to at least tolerate one another. Especially if they are going to stop the evil Emperor.
There were a great many things I enjoyed in reading The Ventifact Colossus. For instance, how the team does not initially get along. Many times in a book (or movie or TV show) when a random group of characters is brought together for some reason they almost immediately begin to cooperate and work together with one another. The opposite is true here, these eight individuals quibble and fight almost from the moment they meet one another. This continues through the book even as they begin to rely on one another. They still argue and disagree and have their differences.
The world of Spira that Hart has created for the series is just as fun as the characters that inhabit it. We the reader are taken to a decent number of locations, each one unique. There are more places hinted at in dreams and visions and considering this is the first book of the series I am quite sure we will be visiting many of them.
The overall writing for The Ventifact Colossus was very enjoyable. Hart has an easy and entertaining writing style, making it easy to lose yourself in the story. There is plenty of action as well as humor, even in some of the more serious moments. It is because of these little moments along with the group of characters that makes the story a real page turner.
I really enjoyed reading The Ventifact Colossus and would definitely recommend it to my readers. Fans of fun easy reads will like it, as will readers of fantasy. While it is certainly possible to read all of the book in a day, I recommend the reader take it a bit slower. Revel in the world Hart has created and become friends with the characters. And then go read the rest of the series, I know I will.
January 2, 2023
This book has the feel of a D&D adventure, episodic with numerous mini quests en route to a larger goal. It's got a well-rounded cast of characters, many of them your typical young adventurer types, but some older and more experienced, and not all of them likeable.
Dranko is the star of the show, a former priest turned pickpocked turned potential savior of the world. He's kind of despicable at times, a bit sexist and crude by design, but he grows throughout the book, and I couldn't stop rooting for him.
Morningstar is another interesting character, a priestess forbidden from daylight forced out of her comfort zone. Both she and Dranko are outcasts from their temples, and the book deals with their faiths in interesting ways.
Aravia is a wizard prodigy with a chip on her shoulder, definite Hermione energy, but she gets some seasoning through the course of the book.
There are other characters too--the book has an impressive cast of POVs and they are all nicely distinct. The writing is excellent, neither flashy nor dull, and it fits the book's themes nicely.
This is listed as adult fantasy, which it is--there are dark themes and a death that hits pretty hard, but at the same time it reads younger in some ways. This is not a criticism; the book is chunked into bite-sized adventures, much as one sees in MG or YA books, which helps move the plot along. It also has some plot devices more common in books intended for younger audiences, which makes it a nice safe little nostalgic reading space, like visiting books from your childhood but finding them all grown up.
It ends with a nice bridge to the next book, Crosser's Maze, which will surely find its way into my reading future before too long.
There may be a longer review on Before We Go Blog, but for now I'm behind on my reviews so I'm getting them in while I can!
Dranko is the star of the show, a former priest turned pickpocked turned potential savior of the world. He's kind of despicable at times, a bit sexist and crude by design, but he grows throughout the book, and I couldn't stop rooting for him.
Morningstar is another interesting character, a priestess forbidden from daylight forced out of her comfort zone. Both she and Dranko are outcasts from their temples, and the book deals with their faiths in interesting ways.
Aravia is a wizard prodigy with a chip on her shoulder, definite Hermione energy, but she gets some seasoning through the course of the book.
There are other characters too--the book has an impressive cast of POVs and they are all nicely distinct. The writing is excellent, neither flashy nor dull, and it fits the book's themes nicely.
This is listed as adult fantasy, which it is--there are dark themes and a death that hits pretty hard, but at the same time it reads younger in some ways. This is not a criticism; the book is chunked into bite-sized adventures, much as one sees in MG or YA books, which helps move the plot along. It also has some plot devices more common in books intended for younger audiences, which makes it a nice safe little nostalgic reading space, like visiting books from your childhood but finding them all grown up.
It ends with a nice bridge to the next book, Crosser's Maze, which will surely find its way into my reading future before too long.
There may be a longer review on Before We Go Blog, but for now I'm behind on my reviews so I'm getting them in while I can!
April 5, 2022
I enjoyed the ventifact colossus immensely. The first book in Dorian Hart's ‘The Heroes of Spira’ epic fantasy series introduces a big, big cast of characters, a large new fantasy world and a complex plot full off secrets and intrigues. It’s like an old fashion 80s fantasy movie or roll playing game where you have a tonne of different characters all with various abilities (and flaws) setting out on a quest to save the world from the returning evil dark lord.
I found it to be an engaging read. Well written and characters like Dranko, Morningstar of El, Grey Wolf and all the others are sure to keep you invested. Its a solid 4 stars from me.
I received a free copy of the book but that has not affected my impressions
I found it to be an engaging read. Well written and characters like Dranko, Morningstar of El, Grey Wolf and all the others are sure to keep you invested. Its a solid 4 stars from me.
I received a free copy of the book but that has not affected my impressions
March 2, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It’s similar to the Mistborn series in the fact that there’s a band of misfits attempting to save their world from destruction; however, you don’t have to get through as much initial world-building and can just dive right in! Sometimes, you just need a light fantasy read that you can just immerse yourself in; this one did that for me!
I loved the multi-povs in each chapter! If I had to choose a favorite character, it would definitely be Morningstar of Ell! I would love to pick her brain about her Dreamwalks and Seer-dreams!
I NEED the rest of the series! I want to dive back into this story ASAP!
I loved the multi-povs in each chapter! If I had to choose a favorite character, it would definitely be Morningstar of Ell! I would love to pick her brain about her Dreamwalks and Seer-dreams!
I NEED the rest of the series! I want to dive back into this story ASAP!
August 16, 2020
A fantastic book. It's about an eclectic group of strangers that are chosen to save the world. The characters are somewhat your typical tropes with one major exception. Of course, very early in the book the author kills the most interesting character. It almost ruins the book. The one thing that helps the book stand out among so many similar books is gone by chapter 6. Now I want to read a book about this type of character. Anyway, the rest of the book is still good enough to get 4 stars. It feels like a DnD adventure.
June 20, 2019
It's not easy to write a band of adventurers well (I assume). To have them all be fully fleshed out and not just cardboard cutouts. Reading Ventifact Colossus was reminiscent of playing D&D with my friends as a kid, even down to the bickering.
Well written, enjoyable read.
Well written, enjoyable read.
August 17, 2019
I enjoyed this classic fantasy. A powerful wizard assembles a team to save the world from danger imminent. Characters made the book for me. It takes a while to get used to the various POVs, but around 1/3 mark it becomes just a background detail and you start to enjoy the journey with the team.
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