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The Nandor Tales #1
Exile
‘Exile’ is a fast-moving tightly-plotted fantasy adventure story with a strong thread of romance
Aron of Darien, raised in exile after his homeland is conquered by a treacherous warlord, makes his way in the world on the strength of his wits and skill with a sword. Both are sorely tested when he is impressed into the service of the Earl of Nandor to rescue his heir from captivity in the fortress of Sarazan. The rescue goes awry. Aron and his companions are betrayed and must flee for their lives. Pursued by steel and magic, they find new friends and old enemies on the road that leads, after many turns, to the city of the High King. There Aron must face his father’s murderer before risking everything in a fight to the death with the deadliest swordsman in the kingdom.
Aron of Darien, raised in exile after his homeland is conquered by a treacherous warlord, makes his way in the world on the strength of his wits and skill with a sword. Both are sorely tested when he is impressed into the service of the Earl of Nandor to rescue his heir from captivity in the fortress of Sarazan. The rescue goes awry. Aron and his companions are betrayed and must flee for their lives. Pursued by steel and magic, they find new friends and old enemies on the road that leads, after many turns, to the city of the High King. There Aron must face his father’s murderer before risking everything in a fight to the death with the deadliest swordsman in the kingdom.
- GenresFantasy
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2016
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November 15, 2025This book was given to me in the bar outside Bristolcon, which is where you'll find me on the one day a year that Bristolcon takes place. Author Paul Lavender gave it to me on behalf of the actual author Martin Owton.
I get given quite a few books at Bristolcon, most of them self-published (as I assumed this one was, though it turns out to have come from a small press). If I don't like a book I either don't review it or I focus on the nice things I can say about it. This book however is rugged enough for me to voice some of my issues with it as well as some of the things I enjoyed. The copy I got was a nice sturdy hardback with the cover art printed directly onto the cover (no dust jacket) as they do in some European countries. I like that style and this was a high quality binding. The story is also quite solid and sturdy.
The book was entered in the first Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) and went out without comment (I'm now told this was because it turned out not to be self published)- but it did feature in the same group that yielded the book that won the whole contest, The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids. So for all we know, if that book had had a nasty accident, this one might have won!
Owton has a clear and direct writing style that passes unnoticed. There's no ornamentation. I don't recall a seeing a single simile in the whole book. There must have been some ... surely? That may sound like criticism but it really isn't. To write a book that isn't a chore to read is a rare skill. To write prose that lets the reader glide through rather than labour across requires talent. The writing will probably not wow you but it is solid and lets the story take centre focus.
The setting is a kingdom in the land of Generica, which is my smart arse way of saying fantasy-everywhere, a medievalesque land of castles dukes, kings, taverns, farmers, the occasional wizard or wise-woman, a "standard" comfortable fantasy land where you'll encounter no surprises and feel at home. Again, you could read this as a criticism, but the reason many authors rely on established fantasy common ground is so they can focus on story.
So, the story! Well, it's a quite small scale tale. Small scale for fantasy that is. There are no wars, the fate of nations is not really at stake. There's no evil other than the common or garden human variety. No magical cataclysm approaches. We are concerned with one point-of-view character. He wants revenge on a powerful man but gets sucked into the affairs of an impoverished duchy. The bulk of the book concerns his getting involved with the local minor nobility and mounting an attempt to rescue the duke's son from a rival holding him hostage over some land dispute. Not high stakes stuff, but interesting in a small scale swords & sorcery way.
Exile is a "traditional" fantasy of the sort that wouldn't raise any eyebrows twenty years ago but might now get readers asking "what about the women?". The women largely feature in the form of the duke's wife and two daughters (both husband hunting) and later a minor goddess, all four of whom sleep with or snog our hero. Other women are relegated to serving maids, whores and wise-women. I've written books in this style but it does seem that the tide may have turned toward fantasy equality of the style Robin Hobb championed 20+ years ago when the castle barracks turned out both male and female soldiers without remarking on the fact.
I'm poking at this book, but as I said, it's sturdy enough to take it. I enjoyed the story. It was sword-swinging, castle climbing, hard drinking fun.
There were moments of very literal deus ex machina but it didn't bother me. It is, in a good way, a simple undemanding story that offers amusing diversion, and that's a good thing.
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I get given quite a few books at Bristolcon, most of them self-published (as I assumed this one was, though it turns out to have come from a small press). If I don't like a book I either don't review it or I focus on the nice things I can say about it. This book however is rugged enough for me to voice some of my issues with it as well as some of the things I enjoyed. The copy I got was a nice sturdy hardback with the cover art printed directly onto the cover (no dust jacket) as they do in some European countries. I like that style and this was a high quality binding. The story is also quite solid and sturdy.
The book was entered in the first Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) and went out without comment (I'm now told this was because it turned out not to be self published)- but it did feature in the same group that yielded the book that won the whole contest, The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids. So for all we know, if that book had had a nasty accident, this one might have won!
Owton has a clear and direct writing style that passes unnoticed. There's no ornamentation. I don't recall a seeing a single simile in the whole book. There must have been some ... surely? That may sound like criticism but it really isn't. To write a book that isn't a chore to read is a rare skill. To write prose that lets the reader glide through rather than labour across requires talent. The writing will probably not wow you but it is solid and lets the story take centre focus.
The setting is a kingdom in the land of Generica, which is my smart arse way of saying fantasy-everywhere, a medievalesque land of castles dukes, kings, taverns, farmers, the occasional wizard or wise-woman, a "standard" comfortable fantasy land where you'll encounter no surprises and feel at home. Again, you could read this as a criticism, but the reason many authors rely on established fantasy common ground is so they can focus on story.
So, the story! Well, it's a quite small scale tale. Small scale for fantasy that is. There are no wars, the fate of nations is not really at stake. There's no evil other than the common or garden human variety. No magical cataclysm approaches. We are concerned with one point-of-view character. He wants revenge on a powerful man but gets sucked into the affairs of an impoverished duchy. The bulk of the book concerns his getting involved with the local minor nobility and mounting an attempt to rescue the duke's son from a rival holding him hostage over some land dispute. Not high stakes stuff, but interesting in a small scale swords & sorcery way.
Exile is a "traditional" fantasy of the sort that wouldn't raise any eyebrows twenty years ago but might now get readers asking "what about the women?". The women largely feature in the form of the duke's wife and two daughters (both husband hunting) and later a minor goddess, all four of whom sleep with or snog our hero. Other women are relegated to serving maids, whores and wise-women. I've written books in this style but it does seem that the tide may have turned toward fantasy equality of the style Robin Hobb championed 20+ years ago when the castle barracks turned out both male and female soldiers without remarking on the fact.
I'm poking at this book, but as I said, it's sturdy enough to take it. I enjoyed the story. It was sword-swinging, castle climbing, hard drinking fun.
There were moments of very literal deus ex machina but it didn't bother me. It is, in a good way, a simple undemanding story that offers amusing diversion, and that's a good thing.
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Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
June 26, 2017
There's always a tendency in fantasy to go big or go home and that's actually one of the biggest problems in the genre. Much like comic books, saving the world is something that happens every other week so it's hard to take stories where a ragtag band of adventurers stops the end of the world with quite the same gravitas as it deserves.
By contrast, some of my favorite stories are much smaller scale like the Dunk and Egg tales by George R.R. Martin. Usually, nothing is at stake so much as a lady's honor. Really, the fact the stories are small make them unpredictable as you know the world isn't going to end in most fantasy stories but a tragedy might befall our hero when he's only fighting for an acquaintance.
EXILE by Martin Owton is a remarkable fantasy novel by itself because it's just the story of a hostage situation as the kinds happened in hundreds of real life Medieval dust-ups. Maybe not in quite so dramatic a fashion as this, though at least several hostages did have rescues like this, but in a manner which really just matters between a Duke and a neighboring Earldom.
In this case, Aron of Darien, he kills the Nandor Earldom's Blademaster in a tavern fight so he ends up dragooned into helping rescue their missing heir. This ends up gradually exploding in everyone's face as Aron kills quite a few more guards than is healthy for a small-time feud, attracts the attention of a local goddess, and gets a chance to murder a long-time enemy only if he act as a prostitute. Oh and every noble lady in Nandor wants to bed him.
There's been some comparisons to both Westerns ("The Man with No Name" has popped up in a few reviews) and The Witcher but I actually think this most resmebles a Medieval version of the Three Musketeers. Aron may have a low opinion of chivalry, much more like the rough and tumble heroes of the Wild West, but this is a story all about intrigue, romance, and drama.
Aron's less than chivalrous qualities are actually what causes the story to go in unexpected and interesting directions. For example, early on we get a budding romance between Aron and one of the Earl's daughters who we're inclined to think will be the romance of the story--right before Aron beds the Earl's wife. It's moments like that which make the story good, truly.
The book also has some similarities to William King's excellent Kormak Saga, which I recommend fans of either check the other's work out. In this case, though, Exile functions primarily because the politics are complex enough to be interesting but never confusing. It's easy to sympathy with the Earl of Nandor over his rival but, honestly, this isn't a conflict between good and evil. It's a feud between two landowners which has gotten out of hand. The only scumbags in the book are spread throughout the each side and do their dirty deeds for themselves rather than any ideology.
The characters are likable and while none of them have any deep or tragic backstories, they're also perfectly believable and serviceable characters. I was particularly fond of the Nandor women as all of them have their appeals. I was actually rooting for a couple of the pairings which the book sets up as possibilities as the Earl is such a flake that he actually believes in giving the hand in marriage of one to the man who saves his son. The fact the book pauses to explain both why this is a really dumb idea and why the Earl would do it works well for the story.
The battle scenes in the book are exceptional as they're not overdescribed but work around specific events that don't wear out the reader's welcome. They're also kept reasonably believable. Aron is able to fight roughly two men at once as the limit of his badassery but is always engaging with his environment to get an advantage. Battles are swift and decisive while escapes are usually through careful planning. The arrival of Idunn disrupts matters a bit but I actually enjoyed her as a character even if she was a literal Deus Ex Machina.
I was actually kind of saddened by the ending as, while appropriate to the genre, still went against my expectations. However, because of the series being called the Nandor Tales and Aron being the star, I have no doubt the sides separated will end up together again. I confess also to hoping the next book manages the balance of honorable, dishonorable, lecherous, militant, pragmatic, and bloodthirsty behaviors which make our hero so interesting.
9/10
By contrast, some of my favorite stories are much smaller scale like the Dunk and Egg tales by George R.R. Martin. Usually, nothing is at stake so much as a lady's honor. Really, the fact the stories are small make them unpredictable as you know the world isn't going to end in most fantasy stories but a tragedy might befall our hero when he's only fighting for an acquaintance.
EXILE by Martin Owton is a remarkable fantasy novel by itself because it's just the story of a hostage situation as the kinds happened in hundreds of real life Medieval dust-ups. Maybe not in quite so dramatic a fashion as this, though at least several hostages did have rescues like this, but in a manner which really just matters between a Duke and a neighboring Earldom.
In this case, Aron of Darien, he kills the Nandor Earldom's Blademaster in a tavern fight so he ends up dragooned into helping rescue their missing heir. This ends up gradually exploding in everyone's face as Aron kills quite a few more guards than is healthy for a small-time feud, attracts the attention of a local goddess, and gets a chance to murder a long-time enemy only if he act as a prostitute. Oh and every noble lady in Nandor wants to bed him.
There's been some comparisons to both Westerns ("The Man with No Name" has popped up in a few reviews) and The Witcher but I actually think this most resmebles a Medieval version of the Three Musketeers. Aron may have a low opinion of chivalry, much more like the rough and tumble heroes of the Wild West, but this is a story all about intrigue, romance, and drama.
Aron's less than chivalrous qualities are actually what causes the story to go in unexpected and interesting directions. For example, early on we get a budding romance between Aron and one of the Earl's daughters who we're inclined to think will be the romance of the story--right before Aron beds the Earl's wife. It's moments like that which make the story good, truly.
The book also has some similarities to William King's excellent Kormak Saga, which I recommend fans of either check the other's work out. In this case, though, Exile functions primarily because the politics are complex enough to be interesting but never confusing. It's easy to sympathy with the Earl of Nandor over his rival but, honestly, this isn't a conflict between good and evil. It's a feud between two landowners which has gotten out of hand. The only scumbags in the book are spread throughout the each side and do their dirty deeds for themselves rather than any ideology.
The characters are likable and while none of them have any deep or tragic backstories, they're also perfectly believable and serviceable characters. I was particularly fond of the Nandor women as all of them have their appeals. I was actually rooting for a couple of the pairings which the book sets up as possibilities as the Earl is such a flake that he actually believes in giving the hand in marriage of one to the man who saves his son. The fact the book pauses to explain both why this is a really dumb idea and why the Earl would do it works well for the story.
The battle scenes in the book are exceptional as they're not overdescribed but work around specific events that don't wear out the reader's welcome. They're also kept reasonably believable. Aron is able to fight roughly two men at once as the limit of his badassery but is always engaging with his environment to get an advantage. Battles are swift and decisive while escapes are usually through careful planning. The arrival of Idunn disrupts matters a bit but I actually enjoyed her as a character even if she was a literal Deus Ex Machina.
I was actually kind of saddened by the ending as, while appropriate to the genre, still went against my expectations. However, because of the series being called the Nandor Tales and Aron being the star, I have no doubt the sides separated will end up together again. I confess also to hoping the next book manages the balance of honorable, dishonorable, lecherous, militant, pragmatic, and bloodthirsty behaviors which make our hero so interesting.
9/10
January 4, 2021
First book review of 2021. Happy New Year all.
So, Exile by Martin Owton, where to begin with this one?
Exile is old-school, castle-climbing, sword-swinging adventure fantasy, narrower in scope than most of its ilk (which is by no means a criticism, quite the opposite actually) and all the more intimate with its cast of characters for it. A swiftly told tale of revenge, there's no world-ending grand scheme/plot, or mathmatically-complex monolithic magical sojourn into the arcane mysteries of the world the writer presents us with (though its magic system is subtle and intriguing and suits its side-role well), but rather a straightforward bullet ride of an adventure. The prose is stripped down, to the point and has some excellent moments of poignance, poetry and also grimness.
It also happens to be a book that is going to hold a bit of a special place with me. I ended up in hospital on the 23rd December in the worst pain I'd ever felt in my life. The first day of it was pretty bad, I'd not slept for about 30+ hours and was being given codeine and morphine regularly and felt absolutely terrible. I had nothing on me the first night except for my phone, and it was this book that kept me going through it until I eventually nodded off and got some much needed rest.
I really enjoyed it. There's never a dull moment in the book, its literally adventure from start to finish whilst never being tiring, and takes me back to a lot of the books I read in my teens.
According to my yam-based scoring system, I give it 5/5 yams, aka: 'Yammelujah, the Yam Hath Yammed!'
Great work, Martin, I'll be picking up the 2nd instalment come payday.
Tl;dr: It's a great book, I'd recommend it to anyone who likes old school fantasy, or wants a break from immense, epic, world-breaking tomes, and fancies something more refreshing and intimate.
So, Exile by Martin Owton, where to begin with this one?
Exile is old-school, castle-climbing, sword-swinging adventure fantasy, narrower in scope than most of its ilk (which is by no means a criticism, quite the opposite actually) and all the more intimate with its cast of characters for it. A swiftly told tale of revenge, there's no world-ending grand scheme/plot, or mathmatically-complex monolithic magical sojourn into the arcane mysteries of the world the writer presents us with (though its magic system is subtle and intriguing and suits its side-role well), but rather a straightforward bullet ride of an adventure. The prose is stripped down, to the point and has some excellent moments of poignance, poetry and also grimness.
It also happens to be a book that is going to hold a bit of a special place with me. I ended up in hospital on the 23rd December in the worst pain I'd ever felt in my life. The first day of it was pretty bad, I'd not slept for about 30+ hours and was being given codeine and morphine regularly and felt absolutely terrible. I had nothing on me the first night except for my phone, and it was this book that kept me going through it until I eventually nodded off and got some much needed rest.
I really enjoyed it. There's never a dull moment in the book, its literally adventure from start to finish whilst never being tiring, and takes me back to a lot of the books I read in my teens.
According to my yam-based scoring system, I give it 5/5 yams, aka: 'Yammelujah, the Yam Hath Yammed!'
Great work, Martin, I'll be picking up the 2nd instalment come payday.
Tl;dr: It's a great book, I'd recommend it to anyone who likes old school fantasy, or wants a break from immense, epic, world-breaking tomes, and fancies something more refreshing and intimate.
May 24, 2016
Very much enjoyed this "old school" epic fantasy that makes a great change from those Grimdark works that are so much in vogue. The Exile has likable heroes, endearing heroines, and even some romance (gasp) and the author has built a plot that deftly rockets along providing a suitable stage for the adventures of leading man Aron. The book balances the romance and the magical elements well with the action, including some great set-piece dueling scenes.
April 26, 2021
Exile by Martin Owton is a fantasy novel about a man named Aron who was exiled from his home and ends up being asked to protect an earl’s son. Things seem to go smoothly until a brawl ensues and suddenly nothing is going as planned.
This was a good read. I enjoyed the world building. It felt dark and dreary and medieval. No one could be trusted which I felt really made this story exciting. The main character was likeable. He came across almost perfect until danger hit and then his faults appeared. I thought that was well done. Some of the other characters were also nicely developed.
This is one of those stories where the pacing is consistent, and the actions aren’t so overly exciting all the time. There are exciting and action-packed scenes that are thrown in at the right time to create that tension and rush, but it’s kept to a minimal. I found that nicely done.
The only thing that bothered me was, and it might not be an issue for you, is that I received an ebook copy from the author and for some reason the spacing was off. At times, the book was double-spaced, and other times, it was single-spaced. I also found a lot of grammatical errors. Often, if there are between one and three, I’ll let it go because that’s not enough to need to mention, but when there’s about six plus, it can get annoying. Normally, when I come across this many errors, I won’t continue reading, but the errors were found later in the story and I’d already invested time into the characters. This was so unfortunate because it impeded a smooth read. Other than that, the story itself was excellent.
Who should read this book: Anyone who enjoys a good story with a hero and magic. It’s rare to find a simple fantasy these days without too much gore or too much romance and whatnot. I find that sometimes stories get too complex or there are too many subplots, and the end doesn’t really tie everything together. This book is your clean-cut, simple fantasy with a touch of grimdark magic, and with an ending that leaves you satisfied.
This was a good read. I enjoyed the world building. It felt dark and dreary and medieval. No one could be trusted which I felt really made this story exciting. The main character was likeable. He came across almost perfect until danger hit and then his faults appeared. I thought that was well done. Some of the other characters were also nicely developed.
This is one of those stories where the pacing is consistent, and the actions aren’t so overly exciting all the time. There are exciting and action-packed scenes that are thrown in at the right time to create that tension and rush, but it’s kept to a minimal. I found that nicely done.
The only thing that bothered me was, and it might not be an issue for you, is that I received an ebook copy from the author and for some reason the spacing was off. At times, the book was double-spaced, and other times, it was single-spaced. I also found a lot of grammatical errors. Often, if there are between one and three, I’ll let it go because that’s not enough to need to mention, but when there’s about six plus, it can get annoying. Normally, when I come across this many errors, I won’t continue reading, but the errors were found later in the story and I’d already invested time into the characters. This was so unfortunate because it impeded a smooth read. Other than that, the story itself was excellent.
Who should read this book: Anyone who enjoys a good story with a hero and magic. It’s rare to find a simple fantasy these days without too much gore or too much romance and whatnot. I find that sometimes stories get too complex or there are too many subplots, and the end doesn’t really tie everything together. This book is your clean-cut, simple fantasy with a touch of grimdark magic, and with an ending that leaves you satisfied.
September 7, 2018
Aron of Darien kills a notable swordsman in a bar brawl, and then has to serve the Earl of Nandor to make up for it. Nandor is out in the sticks or something because they don't have a lot of great heroes or money. They do have daughters who are both very attracted to Aron. You get the idea they don't have a lot of visitors coming through, and you see their different personalities through their advances. Aron is a very talented swordsman and these ladies are both very eligible. It sets up a love triangle that, being sisters, definitely brings tension and stress to Aron. Not to mention, their mother's not been satisfied with the Earl in awhile, so she's making eyes at Aron, too.
Just when things are heating up, Aron has to leave Nandor. The Earl sends him to rescue a kidnapped nobleman (the Earl's son) and the adventure really begins there. They send a small party to help, which leads to more complications than Aron bargained for.
It's a fairly classic style of fantasy, although Aron is not your classic fantasy hero. He seems humble and uncertain about his direction in an endearing way, with a pessimistic and sometimes humorous outlook. Rather than charming the ladies with confidence, he's indecisive and overwhelmed with the romantic attention he receives. As far as his ego is concerned, he is willing to do anything to achieve his objectives, including cross-dressing. The hair and makeup scene was delightful.
The setting feels like medieval Europe, but has some unique religions and customs to give it its own sort of flair. The ending did not wrap everything up as smoothly as I'd hoped, but it is book one of a series, so I'm sure the author desired to leave some questions open.
I recommend this story for readers who enjoy classic medieval European fantasy with risky adventures and complicated romances.
Just when things are heating up, Aron has to leave Nandor. The Earl sends him to rescue a kidnapped nobleman (the Earl's son) and the adventure really begins there. They send a small party to help, which leads to more complications than Aron bargained for.
It's a fairly classic style of fantasy, although Aron is not your classic fantasy hero. He seems humble and uncertain about his direction in an endearing way, with a pessimistic and sometimes humorous outlook. Rather than charming the ladies with confidence, he's indecisive and overwhelmed with the romantic attention he receives. As far as his ego is concerned, he is willing to do anything to achieve his objectives, including cross-dressing. The hair and makeup scene was delightful.
The setting feels like medieval Europe, but has some unique religions and customs to give it its own sort of flair. The ending did not wrap everything up as smoothly as I'd hoped, but it is book one of a series, so I'm sure the author desired to leave some questions open.
I recommend this story for readers who enjoy classic medieval European fantasy with risky adventures and complicated romances.
May 24, 2016
For readers who like fast-paced fantasy, Exile is wonderful good fun. The young hero Aron is quietly competent, and the supporting players are fully realized. Exile is awash with dark magic, a hint of romance, and danger. Fast-paced and well-plotted, Exile is an engaging summer fantasy read.
August 2, 2016
“Aron of Darien, raised in exile after his homeland is conquered by a treacherous warlord, makes his way in the world on the strength of his wits and skill with a sword. Both are sorely tested when he is impressed into the service of the Earl of Nandor to rescue his heir from captivity in the fortress of Sarazan. The rescue goes awry. Aron and his companions are betrayed and must flee for their lives. Pursued by steel and magic, they find new friends and old enemies on the road that leads, after many turns, to the city of the High King. There Aron must face his father’s murderer before risking everything in a fight to the death with the deadliest swordsman in the kingdom.”
I flew through this book pretty quickly, and would have finished it all the faster were it not for a lengthy game of D&D and other commitments along the way. Not that it was short, at around 270-ish pages it was just about right. The book is more or less an adventure tale with a young adult protagonist, I enjoyed the way Aron’s character developed over the length of the story following his various trials and tribulations. His growth as a swordsman and as a person are a joy to watch, I feel the need to point out that whilst on paper the book sounds a little PG-13 there are rather a large amount of dark and bloody moments. That said they are all weaved into the plot and entirely necessary the violence is not forced or over the top. The book has a great way of luring you in with it’s layered approach to revealing characters, like a flow unfolding we learn little by little more and more about the plot and the people that drive it.
The characters are well written and whilst the book is not an epic saga they very quickly grow on you, not just the good ones either. The villains in this book are vile and whilst you might hate them, you’ll love to do so. I have to make a point of the simple brilliance of the opening of the book, the tension gradually builds into the first of many swordfights in the series and it introduces and frames Aron as the academy trained swordsman who goes onto get into a lot more fights throughout. The fights themselves are gritty and intense in a way that only swordfighting can be, a nick here, a cut there, a riposte and a witty remark. The romance in the book adds another level to Aron’s character and makes him feel a lot more relatable, the humour in the book mostly brought on by Davo the books lovable rogue is brilliant and had me clutching my sides more than once.
I can’t think of anything else to say really this is a thoroughly enjoyable read and has been compared by many to Gemmell, a statement I would echo. To wrap up I would definitely endorse this book and suggest it to anyone looking for a nice manageable slice of Grimdark that is well worth picking up. Sequels are as far as I know in the works and I can’t wait to get my teeth into them, well done Martin.
Treat yourself ladies and gents it’s a bloody good read.
I flew through this book pretty quickly, and would have finished it all the faster were it not for a lengthy game of D&D and other commitments along the way. Not that it was short, at around 270-ish pages it was just about right. The book is more or less an adventure tale with a young adult protagonist, I enjoyed the way Aron’s character developed over the length of the story following his various trials and tribulations. His growth as a swordsman and as a person are a joy to watch, I feel the need to point out that whilst on paper the book sounds a little PG-13 there are rather a large amount of dark and bloody moments. That said they are all weaved into the plot and entirely necessary the violence is not forced or over the top. The book has a great way of luring you in with it’s layered approach to revealing characters, like a flow unfolding we learn little by little more and more about the plot and the people that drive it.
The characters are well written and whilst the book is not an epic saga they very quickly grow on you, not just the good ones either. The villains in this book are vile and whilst you might hate them, you’ll love to do so. I have to make a point of the simple brilliance of the opening of the book, the tension gradually builds into the first of many swordfights in the series and it introduces and frames Aron as the academy trained swordsman who goes onto get into a lot more fights throughout. The fights themselves are gritty and intense in a way that only swordfighting can be, a nick here, a cut there, a riposte and a witty remark. The romance in the book adds another level to Aron’s character and makes him feel a lot more relatable, the humour in the book mostly brought on by Davo the books lovable rogue is brilliant and had me clutching my sides more than once.
I can’t think of anything else to say really this is a thoroughly enjoyable read and has been compared by many to Gemmell, a statement I would echo. To wrap up I would definitely endorse this book and suggest it to anyone looking for a nice manageable slice of Grimdark that is well worth picking up. Sequels are as far as I know in the works and I can’t wait to get my teeth into them, well done Martin.
Treat yourself ladies and gents it’s a bloody good read.
November 7, 2018
This is a real gem of a fantasy story, action packed, a little bit of love, a fair sprinkling of magic and characters names that I can actually pronounce and remember! When Aron fights and kills the Earl’s swordmaster, in a local bar, his punishment is to take the swordmaster’s place and train the men. Aron has real talent for fighting with a sword, far superior to the haphazard, fighting ways of the rabble he is given. The Earl strikes a deal with him. Go out on a rescue mission and return with his heir to the throne, who is being kept prisoner and he will release Aron from his service. Now there has been a little flirting going on with the Earl’s two daughters and a lot more than flirting with the Earl’s wife which makes for some light entertainment. They are characters that play major roles throughout the book.
The fight scenes are superb, realistically brutal in Technicolor detail that played out in my mind. Every stroke with a purpose, the techniques, planning and adjustments made for each unique coupling of their opponents. The further Aron and the Earls men travel together the more they gel. There aren’t any second chances you win or die. There is superstition that keep people in line and for those that dare there is magic to help the mission.
The magic I loved but it had its warnings for those that ventured into it. Unlikely alliances and promises that mustn’t be broken were made and I felt really like ‘do you want to do this?’ The second half of the book is way beyond entertaining. Oh wow talk about build up, each page just took me further from tense to dread. I hated what was happening and yet there was no way I could stop reading. It is top class with each page dripping in magic.
I loved how the Earl’s daughters roles grew in the story, very gutsy ladies. As for Aron well I believe there is to be a second book. If his adventures are anything like this then it is a must read. This is all round entertainment with characters that mature and become real feel people. This really is an outstanding read. If you haven’t read any fantasy type stories before then read this.
I wish to thank the author for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly
The fight scenes are superb, realistically brutal in Technicolor detail that played out in my mind. Every stroke with a purpose, the techniques, planning and adjustments made for each unique coupling of their opponents. The further Aron and the Earls men travel together the more they gel. There aren’t any second chances you win or die. There is superstition that keep people in line and for those that dare there is magic to help the mission.
The magic I loved but it had its warnings for those that ventured into it. Unlikely alliances and promises that mustn’t be broken were made and I felt really like ‘do you want to do this?’ The second half of the book is way beyond entertaining. Oh wow talk about build up, each page just took me further from tense to dread. I hated what was happening and yet there was no way I could stop reading. It is top class with each page dripping in magic.
I loved how the Earl’s daughters roles grew in the story, very gutsy ladies. As for Aron well I believe there is to be a second book. If his adventures are anything like this then it is a must read. This is all round entertainment with characters that mature and become real feel people. This really is an outstanding read. If you haven’t read any fantasy type stories before then read this.
I wish to thank the author for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly
October 29, 2018
I audiobooked this so my spelling may be way off – my apologies!
The book starts off with a moderately long prologue showing a Lord Torellan attacking a city even though he knows his King won’t approve of it, and he will likely be banished or worse. He bribed some clansmen into helping them, and in return all they want is a reasonable payment and for the invading army to kill every last Dorian soldier.
It then skips to a young man named Aron who’s having a drink in a bar, one things leads to another and he finds himself in a fight with one of the guardsmen for the city and he ends up killing him. He was set to hang since the guardsmen was the top swordsmen that Earl Baldwin had at his disposal. The Earl’s wife convinced him that they should spare Aron and instead enlist him into service to pay back his debt for killing the guard, Merrick.
Aron finds himself training with the Earl’s men and he finds out quickly that they are very poor swordsmen, he’s able to defeat them easily in practices and starts to make enemies fast – not only had he killed one of their own, but now he’s there shoving his talent in their faces.
The Earl’s son has been captured by a neighboring city’s lord and is being held captive, he wants Aron to go on a mission lead by his nephew to bring back his son. It’s a tall order though, and the soldiers going with him are skeptical it can even be done. It’s a poorly planned mission as well, they leave with literally no plan other than to go scope out the city, get some intel, and try to act on that intel when they get it.
Tangrid, a relative of the Earl, is technically in charge of the mission to get back the Earl’s son. He’s an arrogant ass that doesn’t listen to or like Aron. He makes a lot of mistakes and puts the entire mission in jeopardy. There’s also a drunk known as Devo who constantly gets himself into trouble, the only reason why he’s on the mission is that he’s originally from Sarazan and knows the city. The downside is that he’s a wanted man in the city and will likely hang if the authorities get wind he’s there.
Getting into Tankrid’s face about his poor decisions doesn’t do him any favors with the man, but it does make his popularity grow with the other soldiers on the mission and slowly he’s accepted into their group despite their original reluctance.
Aron doesn’t even know where to start because he doesn’t know where the man is being held prisoner, so he decides he needs to find a Wise Woman who knows how to “Walk the Mists”. That’s basically taking your consciousness into the spirit world and finding others within it, it works best if the other person is sleeping. It takes him a long time to find the right woman and even when he gets there things aren’t easy because in order to find someone in the Mists, you have to know them well, or have a piece of their clothing/hair, and since Aron has neither of these he firsts has to find Edith, who can then lead them to her brother. Edith does successfully find her brother and Aron comes up with a risky plan involving a boat.
Eventually, he does end up rescuing Maldwin, the Earl’s son, but as soon as they leave the city they are being tracked by a Wizard who is helping the Sazarian’s. He’s able to track where they go through magic and even influence the weather around them to sink their ship. It doesn’t help that someone from their group gets captured and turns their cloak in order to save themselves from the Sazarian lord.
I think I finally started to like Aron and other characters when he starts bonding with Maldwin, it brought out more depth to Aron as he recounted his past and started to feel like he had a friend. I had a hard time getting attached to the secondary characters since they weren’t quite as in depth as Aron’s character. Some of them you weren’t really supposed to like, though, this would maybe appeal to those who like villain POV’s as well as the hero POV.
There were some things that didn’t totally work for me, the main character has an entire family of women basically throwing themselves at him, complete with the married mother sleeping with him just to “bond” him to her. It’s not a magic thing, just a sex thing and it felt a little shoehorned in. There’s another scene where he sleeps with a goddess too – basically, it was just a little too much MC worship for me. I do think this book would appeal to those who like going on a quest adventures with a decent amount of action once the quest gets underway.
Audience:
Multi POV
high fantasy
old school magic and wizards
low key magic (not a ton used)
going on an adventure
villain pov
Ratings:
Plot: 11/15
Characters: 10/15
World Building: 11/15
Writing: 10.5/15
Pacing: 11/15
Originality: 11/15
Personal Enjoyment: 6.5/10
Final Score: 71/100 = 3.55/5 stars on GR
The book starts off with a moderately long prologue showing a Lord Torellan attacking a city even though he knows his King won’t approve of it, and he will likely be banished or worse. He bribed some clansmen into helping them, and in return all they want is a reasonable payment and for the invading army to kill every last Dorian soldier.
It then skips to a young man named Aron who’s having a drink in a bar, one things leads to another and he finds himself in a fight with one of the guardsmen for the city and he ends up killing him. He was set to hang since the guardsmen was the top swordsmen that Earl Baldwin had at his disposal. The Earl’s wife convinced him that they should spare Aron and instead enlist him into service to pay back his debt for killing the guard, Merrick.
Aron finds himself training with the Earl’s men and he finds out quickly that they are very poor swordsmen, he’s able to defeat them easily in practices and starts to make enemies fast – not only had he killed one of their own, but now he’s there shoving his talent in their faces.
The Earl’s son has been captured by a neighboring city’s lord and is being held captive, he wants Aron to go on a mission lead by his nephew to bring back his son. It’s a tall order though, and the soldiers going with him are skeptical it can even be done. It’s a poorly planned mission as well, they leave with literally no plan other than to go scope out the city, get some intel, and try to act on that intel when they get it.
Tangrid, a relative of the Earl, is technically in charge of the mission to get back the Earl’s son. He’s an arrogant ass that doesn’t listen to or like Aron. He makes a lot of mistakes and puts the entire mission in jeopardy. There’s also a drunk known as Devo who constantly gets himself into trouble, the only reason why he’s on the mission is that he’s originally from Sarazan and knows the city. The downside is that he’s a wanted man in the city and will likely hang if the authorities get wind he’s there.
Getting into Tankrid’s face about his poor decisions doesn’t do him any favors with the man, but it does make his popularity grow with the other soldiers on the mission and slowly he’s accepted into their group despite their original reluctance.
Aron doesn’t even know where to start because he doesn’t know where the man is being held prisoner, so he decides he needs to find a Wise Woman who knows how to “Walk the Mists”. That’s basically taking your consciousness into the spirit world and finding others within it, it works best if the other person is sleeping. It takes him a long time to find the right woman and even when he gets there things aren’t easy because in order to find someone in the Mists, you have to know them well, or have a piece of their clothing/hair, and since Aron has neither of these he firsts has to find Edith, who can then lead them to her brother. Edith does successfully find her brother and Aron comes up with a risky plan involving a boat.
Eventually, he does end up rescuing Maldwin, the Earl’s son, but as soon as they leave the city they are being tracked by a Wizard who is helping the Sazarian’s. He’s able to track where they go through magic and even influence the weather around them to sink their ship. It doesn’t help that someone from their group gets captured and turns their cloak in order to save themselves from the Sazarian lord.
I think I finally started to like Aron and other characters when he starts bonding with Maldwin, it brought out more depth to Aron as he recounted his past and started to feel like he had a friend. I had a hard time getting attached to the secondary characters since they weren’t quite as in depth as Aron’s character. Some of them you weren’t really supposed to like, though, this would maybe appeal to those who like villain POV’s as well as the hero POV.
There were some things that didn’t totally work for me, the main character has an entire family of women basically throwing themselves at him, complete with the married mother sleeping with him just to “bond” him to her. It’s not a magic thing, just a sex thing and it felt a little shoehorned in. There’s another scene where he sleeps with a goddess too – basically, it was just a little too much MC worship for me. I do think this book would appeal to those who like going on a quest adventures with a decent amount of action once the quest gets underway.
Audience:
Multi POV
high fantasy
old school magic and wizards
low key magic (not a ton used)
going on an adventure
villain pov
Ratings:
Plot: 11/15
Characters: 10/15
World Building: 11/15
Writing: 10.5/15
Pacing: 11/15
Originality: 11/15
Personal Enjoyment: 6.5/10
Final Score: 71/100 = 3.55/5 stars on GR
December 26, 2018
Exile is a self-published fantasy, the debut novel by Martin Owton. I received this book through TBRindr in exchange for my honest and fair review. Admittedly I was unfamiliar with this author or his novel, and I was able to read this book with no biases.
The brief synopsis tells us: “Aron of Darien, raised in exile after his homeland is conquered by a treacherous warlord, makes his way in the world on the strength of his wits and skill with a sword. Both are sorely tested when he is impressed into the service of the Earl of Nandor to rescue his heir from captivity in the fortress of Sarazan. The rescue goes awry. Aron and his companions are betrayed and must flee for their lives. Pursued by steel and magic, they find new friends and old enemies on the road that leads, after many turns, to the city of the High King. There Aron must face his father’s murderer before risking everything in a fight to the death with the deadliest swordsman in the kingdom.”
Before I share any other thoughts, I want to help de-bunk a common assumption of self-published or independent fiction, the one that believes they will all be of poor quality. I offer Exile as an example of an exception. The story is filled with likeable characters, the primary one who consistently displays noble qualities and good judgment. The prose is arguably the strength of this book, flowing well throughout, fast-paced when necessary, and elegant in others. The plot, while not the most unique, does offer some satisfying twists and reveals that carry the reader effectively toward the big finish.
I tend to be an “emotional reader” rather than a “critical reader” (my terms). I tend to simply get swept up by a good book (or carried away by a great book) instead of deliberately dwelling on the reasons “why” a book is having this effect on me. As a result, I am not a natural book reviewer. It is sometimes hard to articulate what made the book move me in a positive or negative direction. With that said, I genuinely liked the book in a general sense.
In reflecting on the book, I think it would make a great book for someone who wants to try out a sword and sorcery fantasy. It is relatively short (especially compared to some of the bricks that are out there). It’s an easy read without being simplistic or juvenile. It includes some romance, some magic and some well-done fight scenes. Who knows, this might just be type of book that will hook someone to read more and more fantasy.
This is a likeable book that is easy to read, and easy to recommend. 4.25 / 5 stars. Well done Martin, and thanks for sending a copy to me.
The brief synopsis tells us: “Aron of Darien, raised in exile after his homeland is conquered by a treacherous warlord, makes his way in the world on the strength of his wits and skill with a sword. Both are sorely tested when he is impressed into the service of the Earl of Nandor to rescue his heir from captivity in the fortress of Sarazan. The rescue goes awry. Aron and his companions are betrayed and must flee for their lives. Pursued by steel and magic, they find new friends and old enemies on the road that leads, after many turns, to the city of the High King. There Aron must face his father’s murderer before risking everything in a fight to the death with the deadliest swordsman in the kingdom.”
Before I share any other thoughts, I want to help de-bunk a common assumption of self-published or independent fiction, the one that believes they will all be of poor quality. I offer Exile as an example of an exception. The story is filled with likeable characters, the primary one who consistently displays noble qualities and good judgment. The prose is arguably the strength of this book, flowing well throughout, fast-paced when necessary, and elegant in others. The plot, while not the most unique, does offer some satisfying twists and reveals that carry the reader effectively toward the big finish.
I tend to be an “emotional reader” rather than a “critical reader” (my terms). I tend to simply get swept up by a good book (or carried away by a great book) instead of deliberately dwelling on the reasons “why” a book is having this effect on me. As a result, I am not a natural book reviewer. It is sometimes hard to articulate what made the book move me in a positive or negative direction. With that said, I genuinely liked the book in a general sense.
In reflecting on the book, I think it would make a great book for someone who wants to try out a sword and sorcery fantasy. It is relatively short (especially compared to some of the bricks that are out there). It’s an easy read without being simplistic or juvenile. It includes some romance, some magic and some well-done fight scenes. Who knows, this might just be type of book that will hook someone to read more and more fantasy.
This is a likeable book that is easy to read, and easy to recommend. 4.25 / 5 stars. Well done Martin, and thanks for sending a copy to me.
June 24, 2017
Aron is the title’s exile, struggling to survive in a world in which basically everything except his talent with a sword and his sense of duty has been taken from him.
When we meet Aron, he’s in the wrong place at the wrong time – and pays the price for that by being pressed into the local Earl’s service, which not only launches the first novel’s plot and introduces us to most of the tale’s important players, but also gives us a good understanding of Aron. He doesn’t suffer fools, and yet also doesn’t blindly barge into situations which might overwhelm him. He can be headstrong, but also shows empathy and sympathy. He’s the kind of guy you wouldn’t mind getting to know, and the kind of guy who’ll have your back as your friend. His skill with a sword is cool to behold, and most of the time he knows how to navigate politics and intrigue – but his skills don’t help him when it comes to ladies. 😉
‘Exile’ gives us a good view of the world Aron lives in – a distant king who seems to not really give a damn; dukes vying for prestige and honours from said king; scattered towns filled with merchants and men-at-arms; slavers and bandits. There are also magicians, and what’s interesting is that they serve, and aren’t served – it’s a refreshing angle to read, especially in Fantasy.
And Exile also sets us up for book two’s events, in which Aron’s quest will culminate, while bringing to a close certain threads begun in the first book. The book has (and maintains) great pace, is peppered with witty dialogue and serious moments, has an important love story, and features great combat, as well as what reads as well-researched knowledge of the kinds of pre-industrial technology present in Aron’s world.
Exile is old school and enjoyable – it doesn’t reinvent anything, but also doesn’t need to. 🙂
When we meet Aron, he’s in the wrong place at the wrong time – and pays the price for that by being pressed into the local Earl’s service, which not only launches the first novel’s plot and introduces us to most of the tale’s important players, but also gives us a good understanding of Aron. He doesn’t suffer fools, and yet also doesn’t blindly barge into situations which might overwhelm him. He can be headstrong, but also shows empathy and sympathy. He’s the kind of guy you wouldn’t mind getting to know, and the kind of guy who’ll have your back as your friend. His skill with a sword is cool to behold, and most of the time he knows how to navigate politics and intrigue – but his skills don’t help him when it comes to ladies. 😉
‘Exile’ gives us a good view of the world Aron lives in – a distant king who seems to not really give a damn; dukes vying for prestige and honours from said king; scattered towns filled with merchants and men-at-arms; slavers and bandits. There are also magicians, and what’s interesting is that they serve, and aren’t served – it’s a refreshing angle to read, especially in Fantasy.
And Exile also sets us up for book two’s events, in which Aron’s quest will culminate, while bringing to a close certain threads begun in the first book. The book has (and maintains) great pace, is peppered with witty dialogue and serious moments, has an important love story, and features great combat, as well as what reads as well-researched knowledge of the kinds of pre-industrial technology present in Aron’s world.
Exile is old school and enjoyable – it doesn’t reinvent anything, but also doesn’t need to. 🙂
June 17, 2017
I've read hundreds of fantasy stories over the years. There are so many clichés and examples of bad writing out there that when a decent, semi-original story comes around it seems better than it is. So I've taken my time before reviewing this book, chewed over my thoughts on it to be sure that I mean what I say.
The story starts with a prologue, setting the scene with the fall of Darien and thus giving some back story to the main character, Aron (though he doesn't make an appearance at this point). This is, for me, the weakest part of the whole book. The prose in the prologue is plodding and I very nearly gave up. In fact, had I not been stuck on a flight with no other entertainment, I would have given up. I'm so glad I didn't.
Chapter 1 introduces Aron. He's a fantastic character though his layers are revealed slowly through the story. If I say too much I might detract from your enjoyment but safe to say he is a fine example of a flawed, and thus believable, hero. Like a Clint Eastwood character from a Spaghetti Western but with a sword and yet also vulnerable. Emotionally and physically. He stands out as a character I will long remember. The problem with the prose in the prologue? Gone. Like it was written by a different author. I simply don't understand how such a gripping multi-layered tale which is as compellingly written as this is has such a flat beginning. My advice: speed through the prologue for the background and maybe remember a character or two but don’t waste too much time on it or let it put you off.
There are no elves, dwarves, orcs or other fantasy tropes in this story. OK, magic but it’s understated and the involvement of gods and goddesses is more a matter of dreams and visions. This is fantasy that is closer to Martin’s world than Tolkien’s (though not epic like either, rather intimate and character driven). It’s not as bleak as a Song of Ice and Fire and there are no dragons (at least in this story…). That works in its favour. The cast of characters is smaller and you really get to know them, so when one dies, it matters.
The world feels solid and believable. The plot is good and felt fresh. Characters do things for real world reasons and though there are plenty of twists and turns in the story, none of them ever felt forced. Dialogue is tight and lacks any jarring anachronisms or ‘cutesiness’, which really ruin so many fantasy stories for me. The author renders some dialects but these are not overdone and added rather than taking away.
Every time I was forced to put Exile down, I walked away from it reflecting on how good it was. How the author so often refused to take a predictable and clichéd route but did so in a natural, unforced way.
I started this review by referring to semi-original and decent fantasy stories that can cause a knee-jerk, ‘Oh this is great’ reaction. This isn’t one of those. It is up there with any of the big names in modern Fantasy. It is genuinely and quite simply: Bloody Brilliant. (Just not the prologue!)
The story starts with a prologue, setting the scene with the fall of Darien and thus giving some back story to the main character, Aron (though he doesn't make an appearance at this point). This is, for me, the weakest part of the whole book. The prose in the prologue is plodding and I very nearly gave up. In fact, had I not been stuck on a flight with no other entertainment, I would have given up. I'm so glad I didn't.
Chapter 1 introduces Aron. He's a fantastic character though his layers are revealed slowly through the story. If I say too much I might detract from your enjoyment but safe to say he is a fine example of a flawed, and thus believable, hero. Like a Clint Eastwood character from a Spaghetti Western but with a sword and yet also vulnerable. Emotionally and physically. He stands out as a character I will long remember. The problem with the prose in the prologue? Gone. Like it was written by a different author. I simply don't understand how such a gripping multi-layered tale which is as compellingly written as this is has such a flat beginning. My advice: speed through the prologue for the background and maybe remember a character or two but don’t waste too much time on it or let it put you off.
There are no elves, dwarves, orcs or other fantasy tropes in this story. OK, magic but it’s understated and the involvement of gods and goddesses is more a matter of dreams and visions. This is fantasy that is closer to Martin’s world than Tolkien’s (though not epic like either, rather intimate and character driven). It’s not as bleak as a Song of Ice and Fire and there are no dragons (at least in this story…). That works in its favour. The cast of characters is smaller and you really get to know them, so when one dies, it matters.
The world feels solid and believable. The plot is good and felt fresh. Characters do things for real world reasons and though there are plenty of twists and turns in the story, none of them ever felt forced. Dialogue is tight and lacks any jarring anachronisms or ‘cutesiness’, which really ruin so many fantasy stories for me. The author renders some dialects but these are not overdone and added rather than taking away.
Every time I was forced to put Exile down, I walked away from it reflecting on how good it was. How the author so often refused to take a predictable and clichéd route but did so in a natural, unforced way.
I started this review by referring to semi-original and decent fantasy stories that can cause a knee-jerk, ‘Oh this is great’ reaction. This isn’t one of those. It is up there with any of the big names in modern Fantasy. It is genuinely and quite simply: Bloody Brilliant. (Just not the prologue!)
November 8, 2018
In the expansive world of indie fantasy, it's easy to note the abundance of dark, edgy novels, with many authors attempting to out-shock their peers.
I'm a Grimdark fan, but I began my fairly late entry in to Fantasy fiction with Epic series like Sanderson's Stormlight Archive, and Robin Hobb and Pat Rothfuss' work so every once in a while a novel like Martin Owton's Exile, with its more classic style and themes feels extremely welcome and refreshing.
Without rehashing the overall plot extensively, Exile tells the story of Aron, a young assassin who after killing one of an Earle's top swordsman in a bar brawl, finds himself enlisted by the Earle and his wife on a mission to save their captive son.
Being a top swordsman and a clear commodity to the Earle, Aron finds himself surrounded by a realm of intrigue which includes advances by not only the Earle's two daughters, but his wife as well, which leads to family feuding, questions of motive and often frustration for Aron, who for much of the book attempts to remain aloof and focus on his mission. Oh and somewhere along the way he manages to be seduced by a fertility Godess...and we all know where that motive lies.
While I have often found fault with stories that focus on a roguish gentlemen being the subject of every female character's affection, and while it's true that Lady Alice and her daughters Celaine and Edith may not be the finest examples of progressive females in literature, it is important to view the novel for what it seems to be modelled most after, or at least how it reads which is that of a period piece.
Much like Jane Austin and Patrick O'Brian, Owton seems to place his world in a time where chivalry rules the day, and equality isa a non issue. By focusing on an MC that is often confused, reluctant and even disinterested, and female characters pulling the strings from behind the scenes , he bridges the gap between then gallant Errol Flynn style swashbucklers and the more gritty style popularized by GRRM.
Much of the novel features excellent battle sequences and some great character moments. There is an ongoing power struggle between Aron and Tancrid, a relative of the Earle entrusted to lead the mission which leads to many tense moments and some wonderful dialogue.
I found much to love here, and I am
looking forward to the conclusion of Aron's story. Owton is a great writer whose prose is fluid and readable. Like many self published works there are a few very forgivable typos but overall I found the book to be in the top tier of self published works from an editing perspective.
Give Exile a try if you are looking for a beautifully written escape and maybe even some fun in your reading.
4.5
I'm a Grimdark fan, but I began my fairly late entry in to Fantasy fiction with Epic series like Sanderson's Stormlight Archive, and Robin Hobb and Pat Rothfuss' work so every once in a while a novel like Martin Owton's Exile, with its more classic style and themes feels extremely welcome and refreshing.
Without rehashing the overall plot extensively, Exile tells the story of Aron, a young assassin who after killing one of an Earle's top swordsman in a bar brawl, finds himself enlisted by the Earle and his wife on a mission to save their captive son.
Being a top swordsman and a clear commodity to the Earle, Aron finds himself surrounded by a realm of intrigue which includes advances by not only the Earle's two daughters, but his wife as well, which leads to family feuding, questions of motive and often frustration for Aron, who for much of the book attempts to remain aloof and focus on his mission. Oh and somewhere along the way he manages to be seduced by a fertility Godess...and we all know where that motive lies.
While I have often found fault with stories that focus on a roguish gentlemen being the subject of every female character's affection, and while it's true that Lady Alice and her daughters Celaine and Edith may not be the finest examples of progressive females in literature, it is important to view the novel for what it seems to be modelled most after, or at least how it reads which is that of a period piece.
Much like Jane Austin and Patrick O'Brian, Owton seems to place his world in a time where chivalry rules the day, and equality isa a non issue. By focusing on an MC that is often confused, reluctant and even disinterested, and female characters pulling the strings from behind the scenes , he bridges the gap between then gallant Errol Flynn style swashbucklers and the more gritty style popularized by GRRM.
Much of the novel features excellent battle sequences and some great character moments. There is an ongoing power struggle between Aron and Tancrid, a relative of the Earle entrusted to lead the mission which leads to many tense moments and some wonderful dialogue.
I found much to love here, and I am
looking forward to the conclusion of Aron's story. Owton is a great writer whose prose is fluid and readable. Like many self published works there are a few very forgivable typos but overall I found the book to be in the top tier of self published works from an editing perspective.
Give Exile a try if you are looking for a beautifully written escape and maybe even some fun in your reading.
4.5
May 21, 2020
3.5
When Aron of Darien, dispossessed noble and swordsman for hire, gets in a brawl at a local pub in Nandor, the consequences have him leading a rescue for the Earl Baldwin’s heir, Maldwyn.
A successful rescue needs a good plan and those are only as good as the people who execute them. Unfortunately for Aron, the plan is non-existent, and the group of men that he is leading to execute said plan- aren’t exactly top-tier soldiers (or for that matter even interested in being led by Aron in the first place). As you can imagine with that kind of a base, things start to go south right from the get-go.
***
This story has some of that old school fantasy charm on a small scale (meaning the end of the world isn’t going to happen if our MC doesn’t succeed in his quest). Aron has been looking for justice for the death of his family and the loss of his home, but unlike the typical ‘seeking revenge for a past wrong’ story, the thought of revenge doesn’t consume every waking second of Aron’s life or effect every choice he makes as we move through this rescue attempt, dealing with several women’s affections, and the more complicated play for power that freeing the son of an Earl disrupts.
I did like that his past grief/injustice was just a piece of Aron’s make-up and not the total shape of the character Aron had become; giving us a more of a rounded person outside of that need for revenge.
Eventually, there is an interception of his goals, which did surprise me because I expected the search for the people responsible and their payback to unfold over the course of a few books.
It did seem to me though that the resolution when the opportunity presented itself for justice, was very easy and a bit anticlimactic, making it feel almost incidental to this story.
***
Outside of the world itself, the magic and the fantasy aspects were a combination of things but I personally liked the mist walking; sometimes with the Gods other times with people he knew well. I also liked the wizard magic; especially the weather controlling aspect of it. I have always been a big pushover for the old school fantasy stories with the magically produced storms on the high seas (or rivers in this case) so this was a lot of fun for me.
***
The story moves along at a nice pace, never out-staying its welcome as it moves through the rescue and escape. There are some backstabbing family plots to spice things up and even a little romance (or maybe I should say a lot of every woman wants our mc) sprinkled with some fun duelling fights (especially the final battle of the champions).
***
This was a nice comfortable fantasy read that entertains without being too predictable. It's worth checking out if you are looking for something on the noble bright edge of the genre.
Other notes-
The girl’s naivety was a little annoying at times but also could be expected as they were somewhat sheltered by remoteness in the relaxed county life of Nandor.
Thank you to Martin Owton for supplying a copy in exchange for a review and for the patience while waiting a full year for this review.
When Aron of Darien, dispossessed noble and swordsman for hire, gets in a brawl at a local pub in Nandor, the consequences have him leading a rescue for the Earl Baldwin’s heir, Maldwyn.
A successful rescue needs a good plan and those are only as good as the people who execute them. Unfortunately for Aron, the plan is non-existent, and the group of men that he is leading to execute said plan- aren’t exactly top-tier soldiers (or for that matter even interested in being led by Aron in the first place). As you can imagine with that kind of a base, things start to go south right from the get-go.
***
This story has some of that old school fantasy charm on a small scale (meaning the end of the world isn’t going to happen if our MC doesn’t succeed in his quest). Aron has been looking for justice for the death of his family and the loss of his home, but unlike the typical ‘seeking revenge for a past wrong’ story, the thought of revenge doesn’t consume every waking second of Aron’s life or effect every choice he makes as we move through this rescue attempt, dealing with several women’s affections, and the more complicated play for power that freeing the son of an Earl disrupts.
I did like that his past grief/injustice was just a piece of Aron’s make-up and not the total shape of the character Aron had become; giving us a more of a rounded person outside of that need for revenge.
Eventually, there is an interception of his goals, which did surprise me because I expected the search for the people responsible and their payback to unfold over the course of a few books.
It did seem to me though that the resolution when the opportunity presented itself for justice, was very easy and a bit anticlimactic, making it feel almost incidental to this story.
***
Outside of the world itself, the magic and the fantasy aspects were a combination of things but I personally liked the mist walking; sometimes with the Gods other times with people he knew well. I also liked the wizard magic; especially the weather controlling aspect of it. I have always been a big pushover for the old school fantasy stories with the magically produced storms on the high seas (or rivers in this case) so this was a lot of fun for me.
***
The story moves along at a nice pace, never out-staying its welcome as it moves through the rescue and escape. There are some backstabbing family plots to spice things up and even a little romance (or maybe I should say a lot of every woman wants our mc) sprinkled with some fun duelling fights (especially the final battle of the champions).
***
This was a nice comfortable fantasy read that entertains without being too predictable. It's worth checking out if you are looking for something on the noble bright edge of the genre.
Other notes-
The girl’s naivety was a little annoying at times but also could be expected as they were somewhat sheltered by remoteness in the relaxed county life of Nandor.
Thank you to Martin Owton for supplying a copy in exchange for a review and for the patience while waiting a full year for this review.
May 26, 2021
I received a arc copy free for a honest review. Actual star score is 3.75 rounded up.
Aron is traveling to revenge the deaths of his father and most of the people of his country when he ends up in Nandor and falls in with the ruling family. He sets out to rescue the son who was captured and is held for ransom by the richer county next to Nandor.
Most of the characters were well developed, but ones that were added later in the story weren't, plus the way that they were set up to interact with such one's like Aron effected the story in ways that took away from the main story.
Aron is traveling to revenge the deaths of his father and most of the people of his country when he ends up in Nandor and falls in with the ruling family. He sets out to rescue the son who was captured and is held for ransom by the richer county next to Nandor.
Most of the characters were well developed, but ones that were added later in the story weren't, plus the way that they were set up to interact with such one's like Aron effected the story in ways that took away from the main story.
September 10, 2016
This is one of those serendipitous occasions, aka Dave De Burgh has a new version of one of his short stories out and offered one to me for review...having forgotten that I'd already reviewed it. :D So he then suggested Martin's work instead, and I figured what the hell, send it my way!
I'll tell you up front: this novel won't change your life. It won't give you any deeper sense of meaning, nor will it ignite a love of fantasy literature. Hear me out lol.
As I was reading it I had to stop myself for a moment and stand back, as I was comparing this novel to my standard bearers of the genre: Rothfuss, Lynch, Siler-Jones and so on, and it was having a hard time holding up. But then I realized just how fast I had burned through the novel and how much I'd actually enjoyed it. Owton doesn't ask you for a lengthy investment, he doesn't bury you in worldbuilding, nor is there a huge cast to keep up with. What he has plenty of is fun, action, and even a couple of nice plot twists. (The end fight...so not what I expected to happen, but a definite breath of fresh air and it's nice to see that kind of outcome versus the typical finish. Hopefully that didn't give anything away!)
Anyhow, not every author is going to be The Next Big Thing...that's what I realized while reading Exile, and that's why I'm giving this a rounded-up-to-4 3.5 stars. But some authors chug away, putting out still-solid-even-if-not-rockstar levels of work. I think Martin has a very solid book here, with lots of room to expand this story and his readership in the following volumes. I know I'm looking forward to the next installment. :D
I'll tell you up front: this novel won't change your life. It won't give you any deeper sense of meaning, nor will it ignite a love of fantasy literature. Hear me out lol.
As I was reading it I had to stop myself for a moment and stand back, as I was comparing this novel to my standard bearers of the genre: Rothfuss, Lynch, Siler-Jones and so on, and it was having a hard time holding up. But then I realized just how fast I had burned through the novel and how much I'd actually enjoyed it. Owton doesn't ask you for a lengthy investment, he doesn't bury you in worldbuilding, nor is there a huge cast to keep up with. What he has plenty of is fun, action, and even a couple of nice plot twists. (The end fight...so not what I expected to happen, but a definite breath of fresh air and it's nice to see that kind of outcome versus the typical finish. Hopefully that didn't give anything away!)
Anyhow, not every author is going to be The Next Big Thing...that's what I realized while reading Exile, and that's why I'm giving this a rounded-up-to-4 3.5 stars. But some authors chug away, putting out still-solid-even-if-not-rockstar levels of work. I think Martin has a very solid book here, with lots of room to expand this story and his readership in the following volumes. I know I'm looking forward to the next installment. :D
September 15, 2016
An enjoyable fantasy in the traditional mode. Aron of Darien is forced to make his way in the world after his land is betrayed and his father, the ruler, and many other Dariens are killed. When the story opens, he is picked on in an inn by a braggard and drunk who turns out to be the local ruler's swordsmaster. Aron kills him and has to take his place in a daring raid on the castle of an enemy to try to rescue the ruler's heir. He has to deal with animosity, incompetence and malice in his subsequent adventures.
Unusually for the type of story, there is a strong romantic element though it is not overpowering. It is also good to see believable and admirable female characters including a goddess who befriends Aron along the way. There is some realistic nastiness and believable dialogue, including some nicely nasty sarcasm between the chief baddie and his steward. There is also plenty of tension as it appears at various points along the way that Aron is in a desperate position, and the realism in the swordfights will appeal to readers who like a military element to their fantasy.
Unusually for the type of story, there is a strong romantic element though it is not overpowering. It is also good to see believable and admirable female characters including a goddess who befriends Aron along the way. There is some realistic nastiness and believable dialogue, including some nicely nasty sarcasm between the chief baddie and his steward. There is also plenty of tension as it appears at various points along the way that Aron is in a desperate position, and the realism in the swordfights will appeal to readers who like a military element to their fantasy.
April 21, 2024
7/10. This a book that is very well written and the pages just fly by. I thought it was a perfectly fine story and if you like something with a smaller scope than a world saving adventure then it is a book you should like.
We have our MC Aron who gets himself into trouble and ends up being forced into saving the son of the earl in the town he is in. He’s incredibly capable and fairly honorable. He also seems to somehow manage to sleep with the earl’s wife and a goddess during the story.
My only real issue is that I never really found myself caring about any of the characters all that much. It was a fun read but it just didn’t hook me in a way that I would have been particularly upset if any of the characters had died or if the “bad guys” had won. The book is only 286 pages long and there’s a lot of politics at play and I think I needed a couple hundred pages more to really develop the world.
We have our MC Aron who gets himself into trouble and ends up being forced into saving the son of the earl in the town he is in. He’s incredibly capable and fairly honorable. He also seems to somehow manage to sleep with the earl’s wife and a goddess during the story.
My only real issue is that I never really found myself caring about any of the characters all that much. It was a fun read but it just didn’t hook me in a way that I would have been particularly upset if any of the characters had died or if the “bad guys” had won. The book is only 286 pages long and there’s a lot of politics at play and I think I needed a couple hundred pages more to really develop the world.
January 15, 2019
I received a copy of Exile in exchange for an honest review. To start things off, Exile is a great example of a fantasy novel that leans more realistic side. There is a huge, world ending issue that threatens the people. Exile centers around a hostage problem.
The characters are relatable, and I love that when a good fantasy novel completes that task. We all want to live in a fantasy world, and when a book's world is relatable...it makes the story even better.
There are themes that run through the story, i.e. politics, battles, murder... themes that seemed that occurred in the medieval times.
One of my favorite parts is the world itself. I was blown away by the descriptions. The story pulled me, and I didn't have a moment that wasn't in the book.
The battle scenes were PERFECT. Some authors tend to over-describe (I'm guilty of it too) and the reader isn't allowed to form their own image in their head. I recommend the book to anyone who likes fantasy.
Martin did a fantastic job.
The characters are relatable, and I love that when a good fantasy novel completes that task. We all want to live in a fantasy world, and when a book's world is relatable...it makes the story even better.
There are themes that run through the story, i.e. politics, battles, murder... themes that seemed that occurred in the medieval times.
One of my favorite parts is the world itself. I was blown away by the descriptions. The story pulled me, and I didn't have a moment that wasn't in the book.
The battle scenes were PERFECT. Some authors tend to over-describe (I'm guilty of it too) and the reader isn't allowed to form their own image in their head. I recommend the book to anyone who likes fantasy.
Martin did a fantastic job.
January 12, 2018
This is a well written, hard working fantasy novel that doesn't pretend to be something it's not. I found the story refreshing, even though it relies on familiar tropes. There were enough twists and turns to keep me going and I found the ending to be quite powerful and tragic.
Well played, sir.
Well played, sir.
March 13, 2021
This book deserves much more recognition. The fights are great, plot interesting and who doesn't love medieval intrigue? Excited to check out book two. This reminds me of Red Knight by Miles Cameron in a good way.
January 10, 2022
Exile starts instantly with adventure and intrigue. Aron the hero begins a rescue mission. Filled with great medieval history and references the reader can be transport back in time. Against the medieval back drop we get an insight into the mindsets, politics and environment of the time.
March 14, 2021
A great read which picks up pace the deeper you delve into this immersive world.
Don’t let the homemade cover put you off. I was pleasantly surprised by this enjoyable read.
I loved the approach to world-building in this novel. It is definitely one of the stronger aspects and for the most part, is embedded seamlessly into the narrative. The setting is a medieval world filled with low key dark and light magic used mostly by Wizards and Wise Women. How the magic system functions is not explained or a focus of this book. The culture is hierarchal with a High King, Dukes, Earls, Nobles and lowlifes (represented by thieves, sellswords and whores) all competing for power, land and riches etc. Women are subjected to patriarchy which today’s readers might criticize for its inequality. The daughters, in particular, are following cultural expectations by seeking a husband. As a whole, the structure of society felt complete and in keeping with this world.
As you’d expect, we see castles, fortresses, inns, brothels and districts familiar in the more traditional high fantasy genre, all are described well without slowing the pace. The world feels real and is easy to imagine.
I particularly liked some of the character descriptions, ‘[he] would have screamed if he had a larynx.’, and ‘he clutched his neck in a vain attempt to hold his life in.’, come to mind. There are plenty of fresh descriptions such as, ‘Aron drew breath through clenched teeth like a man pulling a splinter from a finger.’, which make the narrative feel unique.
I liked Aron, the MC. The author is gifted at writing male characters. Aron is smart, honourable and intuitive. He is a talented swordsman and knows the art of his world regarding war, soldiers, thieves and the darker edge of society. He has a well developed back story and motivation for his overall quest. Saying that, I wasn't convinced by his reasoning for changing his course of action. I also thought he lacked emotional responses to the extreme things he experienced. He is very analytical, maybe that’s why I liked him! The fight scenes were written particularly well, dramatic without becoming confusing or laborious.
The blurb mentioned romance, and here I found the novel lacking compared to other fantasy novels with romantic arcs. So if you are expecting a true love fantasy romance, this book isn’t it. The romance arc is pretty much non-existent, especially on an emotional level. I wouldn’t even define it as a secondary plot arc, but more a potential for romance mentioned fairly often which isn’t backed up by Aron’s actions. As honourable as Aron is, he isn’t saving himself for a love! I wouldn’t define Aron as a player, he just takes the opportunities given to him, on a plate, literally. In some way, it made Aron more realistic and not a perfect hero.
There are two antagonists, both very different, well developed and unlikeable! Lord Hercival is a fool trying to live by his ancestor’s standards, who refuses to listen to wise counsel. Tirellion is one heck of a scary dude. I’d dread meeting him in person. One aspect of the book I appreciated was how the author handled a particularly triggering scene, using a technique I haven’t seen often. It created intense tension and drama, and although as a reader I knew what was taking place, the details were left to the imagination. It was well handled and the effect will stay in my mind for some time.
There were a couple of minor plot holes. I found it difficult to believe a person could swing and throw a grapnel hook onto a high castle wall or tip a boat filled with men while treading water? Maybe I’m wrong, but this part didn’t feel very realistic?
Also, some minor editing issues, but nothing that ruined the story. The pacing and conflict built well towards a satisfying end.
I enjoyed spending time in this world, and Aron is a great character who intrigues me enough to continue with his story. I believe this book will be enjoyed by those who love the more traditional high fantasy genre.
Don’t let the homemade cover put you off. I was pleasantly surprised by this enjoyable read.
I loved the approach to world-building in this novel. It is definitely one of the stronger aspects and for the most part, is embedded seamlessly into the narrative. The setting is a medieval world filled with low key dark and light magic used mostly by Wizards and Wise Women. How the magic system functions is not explained or a focus of this book. The culture is hierarchal with a High King, Dukes, Earls, Nobles and lowlifes (represented by thieves, sellswords and whores) all competing for power, land and riches etc. Women are subjected to patriarchy which today’s readers might criticize for its inequality. The daughters, in particular, are following cultural expectations by seeking a husband. As a whole, the structure of society felt complete and in keeping with this world.
As you’d expect, we see castles, fortresses, inns, brothels and districts familiar in the more traditional high fantasy genre, all are described well without slowing the pace. The world feels real and is easy to imagine.
I particularly liked some of the character descriptions, ‘[he] would have screamed if he had a larynx.’, and ‘he clutched his neck in a vain attempt to hold his life in.’, come to mind. There are plenty of fresh descriptions such as, ‘Aron drew breath through clenched teeth like a man pulling a splinter from a finger.’, which make the narrative feel unique.
I liked Aron, the MC. The author is gifted at writing male characters. Aron is smart, honourable and intuitive. He is a talented swordsman and knows the art of his world regarding war, soldiers, thieves and the darker edge of society. He has a well developed back story and motivation for his overall quest. Saying that, I wasn't convinced by his reasoning for changing his course of action. I also thought he lacked emotional responses to the extreme things he experienced. He is very analytical, maybe that’s why I liked him! The fight scenes were written particularly well, dramatic without becoming confusing or laborious.
The blurb mentioned romance, and here I found the novel lacking compared to other fantasy novels with romantic arcs. So if you are expecting a true love fantasy romance, this book isn’t it. The romance arc is pretty much non-existent, especially on an emotional level. I wouldn’t even define it as a secondary plot arc, but more a potential for romance mentioned fairly often which isn’t backed up by Aron’s actions. As honourable as Aron is, he isn’t saving himself for a love! I wouldn’t define Aron as a player, he just takes the opportunities given to him, on a plate, literally. In some way, it made Aron more realistic and not a perfect hero.
There are two antagonists, both very different, well developed and unlikeable! Lord Hercival is a fool trying to live by his ancestor’s standards, who refuses to listen to wise counsel. Tirellion is one heck of a scary dude. I’d dread meeting him in person. One aspect of the book I appreciated was how the author handled a particularly triggering scene, using a technique I haven’t seen often. It created intense tension and drama, and although as a reader I knew what was taking place, the details were left to the imagination. It was well handled and the effect will stay in my mind for some time.
There were a couple of minor plot holes. I found it difficult to believe a person could swing and throw a grapnel hook onto a high castle wall or tip a boat filled with men while treading water? Maybe I’m wrong, but this part didn’t feel very realistic?
Also, some minor editing issues, but nothing that ruined the story. The pacing and conflict built well towards a satisfying end.
I enjoyed spending time in this world, and Aron is a great character who intrigues me enough to continue with his story. I believe this book will be enjoyed by those who love the more traditional high fantasy genre.
October 28, 2019
I was given an ebook copy of this novel by the author in exchange for a fair review. This did not influence my assessment of the book.
Some years ago, when his homeland of Darien was conquered, the swordsman Aron fled along with the noble he was sworn to protect. Now he finds himself having to make himself scarce after getting into too much trouble. He ends up in the out-of-the-way district of Nandor, where he is pressed into service of the Earl to rescue the Earl's heir who has been kidnapped a neighbouring, and much more powerful, earldom. In the course of the rescue, Aron finds himself coming up against the same enemies who invaded his homeland and killed his father. He must keep heir safe, stay ahead of the pursuing kidnappers, and confront the enemies responsible for his exile.
Exile is a fairly traditional - some would say old-fashioned, although that wouldn't be entirely fair - adventure set in a familiar fantasy-Medieval kingdom. It certainly wouldn't have seemed entirely out of place if it had been published in the 1980s, although it does have some more modern influences. There's a touch of David Eddings to it, as well as a touch of David Gemmell (never a bad thing), and who knows, maybe some other Davids. It is a straightforward story, where the bad guys are very clearly bad, the good guys are generally good, and there isn't an enormous amount of grey. That's not a criticism; some people will prefer that, others will prefer more ambiguous stories and characters.
Owton writes with good pace and a clarity that makes the story a quick, involving, smooth read. There's plenty of action, although it doesn't overwhelm the other parts of the story, and Owton paints clear, concise pictures of the world we are in.
The major criticism I had (and not everyone will find this a negative) is that the main character, Aron, is a bit of a Mary Sue: he is an incredible swordsman, every woman he meets falls in love with him or wants to have sex with him, and he is more intelligent and competent than pretty much everyone he meets. He spends time wondering which of the Earl's daughters he should marry, while also sleeping with their mother and a goddess he happens to meet. Like I said, this will work for many readers. The nearly perfect hero is a popular trope. My personal preference is for less perfect characters, which is why this is a four star book for me.
If you enjoy traditional fantasy adventures, which are well-written, well-paced, and with plenty of intrigue and action, Exile is the start of a series that will undoubtedly appeal and satisfy. Book 2, Nandor, is also out now.
Some years ago, when his homeland of Darien was conquered, the swordsman Aron fled along with the noble he was sworn to protect. Now he finds himself having to make himself scarce after getting into too much trouble. He ends up in the out-of-the-way district of Nandor, where he is pressed into service of the Earl to rescue the Earl's heir who has been kidnapped a neighbouring, and much more powerful, earldom. In the course of the rescue, Aron finds himself coming up against the same enemies who invaded his homeland and killed his father. He must keep heir safe, stay ahead of the pursuing kidnappers, and confront the enemies responsible for his exile.
Exile is a fairly traditional - some would say old-fashioned, although that wouldn't be entirely fair - adventure set in a familiar fantasy-Medieval kingdom. It certainly wouldn't have seemed entirely out of place if it had been published in the 1980s, although it does have some more modern influences. There's a touch of David Eddings to it, as well as a touch of David Gemmell (never a bad thing), and who knows, maybe some other Davids. It is a straightforward story, where the bad guys are very clearly bad, the good guys are generally good, and there isn't an enormous amount of grey. That's not a criticism; some people will prefer that, others will prefer more ambiguous stories and characters.
Owton writes with good pace and a clarity that makes the story a quick, involving, smooth read. There's plenty of action, although it doesn't overwhelm the other parts of the story, and Owton paints clear, concise pictures of the world we are in.
The major criticism I had (and not everyone will find this a negative) is that the main character, Aron, is a bit of a Mary Sue: he is an incredible swordsman, every woman he meets falls in love with him or wants to have sex with him, and he is more intelligent and competent than pretty much everyone he meets. He spends time wondering which of the Earl's daughters he should marry, while also sleeping with their mother and a goddess he happens to meet. Like I said, this will work for many readers. The nearly perfect hero is a popular trope. My personal preference is for less perfect characters, which is why this is a four star book for me.
If you enjoy traditional fantasy adventures, which are well-written, well-paced, and with plenty of intrigue and action, Exile is the start of a series that will undoubtedly appeal and satisfy. Book 2, Nandor, is also out now.
October 10, 2017
'Exile' (The Nandor Tales #1) by Martin Owton.
This is the first book in the Nandor Tales duology. Falling under the fantasy genre, it is a tale of adventure and love (though the latter is not overbearing).
Aron, is raised in exile after his homeland, Darien is conquered by treacherous means. He manages to be a proficient swordsman over the coming years. Fate lands him on a dangerous mission of rescuing the heir of Earl of Nandor from the almost impenetrable fortress of Sarazan.
Honestly speaking, I was a bit turned off with the book in the beginning. The characters felt one-dimensional, and then there were some things which the protagonist got easily served on his plate. There were some instances where the dues ex machina seemed to be too strong. I carried on towards the second half see what the author offers further, thus indecisive over reading the next book.
But things improved as the story progressed. The prose is smooth and the characters are quite likable. Being a traditional fantasy there are some events which surprise you as the story goes on. The character development over the book was great, and the author tries to expand his world by introducing magic and gods as well. But the characteristic feature of the book were the action scenes. They were well written, and the sword fights were incredible.
The ending was a bit surprising and promises us of a better conclusion in the next book, which I'm definitely going to read. I would have given this book a 3.5 but giving it a 4.0/5 just for the epic fight sequences.
This is the first book in the Nandor Tales duology. Falling under the fantasy genre, it is a tale of adventure and love (though the latter is not overbearing).
Aron, is raised in exile after his homeland, Darien is conquered by treacherous means. He manages to be a proficient swordsman over the coming years. Fate lands him on a dangerous mission of rescuing the heir of Earl of Nandor from the almost impenetrable fortress of Sarazan.
Honestly speaking, I was a bit turned off with the book in the beginning. The characters felt one-dimensional, and then there were some things which the protagonist got easily served on his plate. There were some instances where the dues ex machina seemed to be too strong. I carried on towards the second half see what the author offers further, thus indecisive over reading the next book.
But things improved as the story progressed. The prose is smooth and the characters are quite likable. Being a traditional fantasy there are some events which surprise you as the story goes on. The character development over the book was great, and the author tries to expand his world by introducing magic and gods as well. But the characteristic feature of the book were the action scenes. They were well written, and the sword fights were incredible.
The ending was a bit surprising and promises us of a better conclusion in the next book, which I'm definitely going to read. I would have given this book a 3.5 but giving it a 4.0/5 just for the epic fight sequences.
May 25, 2018
Excellent stuff—more on the sword end of sword and sorcery, and well written (prose that conveys the setting, but isn’t so stiff that it’s weird, nor is it plain old ungrammatical/poorly written). I especially enjoyed the bits of dry humour here and there. The setting is well done too; it’s not quite Ye Olde Standarde Medieval Castle with Knights &c, but a good riff on it, with enough politics and class dynamics to give context and motivation to the characters.
Also, praise the gods, this isn’t yet another rehash of the hero’s journey/Bildungsroman. Aron, the main character, is already competent (my favourite!) but in reduced circumstances and sort of figuring out what to do with himself and how to advance his family’s revenge. He’s got a great combination of moral fibre and a bit of cynicism, as well as a “let’s get on with it, I suppose” reaction to the crises he encounters.
The secondary characters are decently dimensional for the most part, and their actions and motivations are believable.
Anywho! Do recommend. I’d better pick up the sequel so I can find out what happens next. :)
—
Disclaimer: I received a free copy for review, through Esme’s TBRindr in r/fantasy. This is an honest opinion review.
Also, praise the gods, this isn’t yet another rehash of the hero’s journey/Bildungsroman. Aron, the main character, is already competent (my favourite!) but in reduced circumstances and sort of figuring out what to do with himself and how to advance his family’s revenge. He’s got a great combination of moral fibre and a bit of cynicism, as well as a “let’s get on with it, I suppose” reaction to the crises he encounters.
The secondary characters are decently dimensional for the most part, and their actions and motivations are believable.
Anywho! Do recommend. I’d better pick up the sequel so I can find out what happens next. :)
—
Disclaimer: I received a free copy for review, through Esme’s TBRindr in r/fantasy. This is an honest opinion review.
April 3, 2017
I have very few things I require from a book 1) It needs to entertain me 2) It needs to have a solid pace and 3) I prefer it engage my mind in some way. As Meatloaf famously sang two out of three ain't bad. I call these types of books popcorn reading. It isn't going to fill you up but you might sit and partake all day long. If you enjoy sword play, adventure, and most of the old school fantasy elements then reading this will be time well spent. That might not sound like resounding praise but it's difficult to hit many of the same notes and still keep it interesting. The author did that here. One reason I really enjoyed this was that the magic wasn't overbearing. While it was a bit of a get out of jail free card for the protagonist at times it wasn't overwhelming to the plot of the story. To me that's a good thing. So I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for something lite to pass the time. I'll certainly read the second installment.
July 13, 2019
Hidden gem! Just what I needed to get out of reading slump. Fun and easy read!
September 19, 2017
As an introduction to fantasy fiction, I couldn't have started with a better book than this. The imagery painted by the author is exceptional. You see - touch - this story as it unfolds, and at every turn. I look forward to reading more from this author.
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