Gathering

by Brian G. Turner

A group of young travellers come together on a promise of work in the city of Corianth. They intend to discover their dreams and fortunes.

Instead, they'll be snared in a conspiracy, and left fighting for their lives...

Sirath is on the run. Erin wrestles with her faith. Dalathos seeks his place in a world that would otherwise shun him.

Against them is Molric, who has journeyed to the past to destroy it. He plots to assassinate the Emperor and arm his allies with the secret of explosives.

But there is a gathering of forces bigger than anyone realises. The decisions made here will decide not only the fate of an empire, but the future of humanity.

Genres: Fantasy

372 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2016

About the author

I’m a freelance technology editor and writer, covering everything from cloud computing to exoplanets.

My big passions are ancient and mediaeval history, mythology and planetary science.

I live in the Highlands of Scotland where I run the world’s largest online science fiction and fantasy community at SFFchronicles.

In June 2020 I had a reaction to medication which left me with severe CFS, from which I am only very slowly recovering.

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the face of it, you would think that Gathering (the first book in Brian G. Turner’s ‘Chronicles of Empire’) is a fairly standard fantasy novel, where a group of disparate travellers come together - more by luck than judgement - and find themselves drawn into a greater quest to put the world to rights. And if it were to be presented to you as that you might well think ‘ho hum’.

But hold your horses, because Turner subverts your expectations straight away, in the prologue, by introducing an element which effectively subverts those thoughts, an element which underpins the whole tale and keeps you on your toes, awaiting the next surprise.

For me, it was these hints at something more going on beneath the surface that kept me turning the pages. The chapters are each told from the point of view of one of the characters, and are kept refreshingly short, which serves to create pace and drive the story forward. The city of Corianth – to where the travellers journey on the promise of work and a future - is well realised and has the feel of the ancient world about it, and the action scenes convey the confusion of the battlefield with aplomb. Suffice to say, nothing is quite as it seems, and there are forces at work beyond their comprehension.

There are plots within plots and conspiracies within those plots, and a group of characters who are drawn with subtlety and whose backstories are gradually elaborated upon, so you feel like you get to know them as they get to know each other.

As a personal thing, I tend to find in novels with multiple viewpoints that some characters work better than others, and that was also the case here. I was really drawn to Erin, Dalathos and Ezekial. Dalathos, in particular, is a character who plays with the fantasy norm, and his friendship with Ulric has the ring of some of David Gemmell’s classic relationships. On the other hand, I wasn’t so keen on Jerine and Sirath and I think this was largely because I didn’t quite buy into their relationship or get why they liked each other so much. I would’ve liked a bit more zip and zing in the dialogue, more humour and banter, as I always find this helps to bring the characters to life – in any book, not just this one. It’s a personal thing, but it always seems to be those characters who work best for me. Jerine and Sirath are likeable people but their stories didn't hold my attention as much as Dalathos or Erin, or intrigue and excite me as much as Ezekial.

But that really is a minor niggle. I enjoyed Gathering very much. I am quite jaded on fantasy at the moment and have largely moved away from it over the past couple of years, so I was expecting to find this a bit of a struggle. Instead, I found it to be a fast-paced and refreshingly different take on the genre, and there is much promise for future instalments. In particular, I can’t wait to find out more about the surprise elements mentioned earlier - and which I have no intention of spoiling – and where they will take these unsuspecting characters.

A debut twenty years in the making, this is an exciting and intriguing beginning.

[J.L. Dobias · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked the Chronicles of Empire Gathering by Brian G Turner up because it promised both Fantasy and Science Fiction with a taste of something--possibly of Historical Fiction. It doesn't disappoint in creating that combination and I have to admit that I truly enjoyed the story and the characters. But there were some elements that made this a difficult read for me and after finishing the first time through I had questions about things that I couldn't honestly say were not answered in the book because, as it turns out, on my second read through I discovered that I must have been thrown out of the story several times. Sometimes this can be the book and sometimes it can be the reader. I'm glad I read this through a second time, because once I made a pact with myself to pay better attention to what I was reading, most of the questions were answered.

It may be that some aren't because this is a series or it might be that I still missed a few things. I'll get into a few of those along the way here.

I think one problem in my first read was a feeling of slight disjointedness between the Science Fiction elements and the Historical Fiction element. It felt almost like the Science was overlaid on top of a Historical Fiction. Part of that might be the attention to detail paid toward the historical detail along with reasonable well written material concerning metal working. The metal work is integral to the story and certainly adds to it. Some other detail becomes somewhat questionable allowing in part some bit of wild speculation about the Science Fiction part.

By this I mean that from my understanding (and please understand I might have some of this confused even after two reads), this planet is not earth regardless of the fact that the wildlife and flora seem to parallel earth quite well. It would make for a nice parallel Earth story, except (again from my understanding) this world has some part to play in the making of our Earth. So-unless somewhere down the line we find that as it goes streaking through our solar system it somehow transports all of these element onto the earth (maybe likes James Blish's Cities in Flight) It just seems too much a coincidence to be so closely parallel.

So the science fiction part of the story involves two characters protagonist and antagonist. I had a difficult time deciding which was which.

Molric seeks to save the past of this planet; which seems destined to some catastrophe in the future where he comes from. Ezekial also comes from the future; but knowing that this planet's doom is imperative to Earth's existence he seeks to stop Molric.

But in the main story itself, which does in many ways remind me of the Three Musketeers with all the political and social intrigue, there are forces working against them both.

Rodrigan seems to represent an element of the religious order who are working with Molric (he is not aware exactly what Molric is other than a way to gain power over the empire and depose the emperor.) His motive could be good; but his methods sink any possibilities of putting him in a protagonist position.

The group that is gathering are ultimately working for the Emperor, who also would not qualify well as a protagonist. But primarily Jerine and her sister Tilirine seem intimately associated with some higher power and they are presently aligned with Ezekiel without knowledge of his past or even his goals.

There is a vast intrigue that seems to orbit these two primary groups of players and in some large way it gives the appearance of one group attempting to push back the tide of time; while the other tries to restore it; while all else conspires to let time march on as it always has.

Though the historical accuracy (of peoples; institutions; economy and politics and not actual history of ours) can for some readers (this one) often throw them out, it does add both a mood and a sense of world building that makes it quite authentic. Add to this the peopling of believable characters both flawed and sometimes downright frustrating; this is a well written book that deserves a good read and probably more attention than I gave it the first run through.

---Possible spoiler alert-though my obvious confusion might abrogate it.-----
I am however still confused about the future characters mentioning having seen this worlds technological development before it's destruction when in another place it appears that the planet will be ripped from wherever it is and be thrown into our solar system where it becomes unlivable while its presence is necessary for the seeding the Earth with life.

What is not so clear is the possibility that Ezekiel is from a further future than Molric and has larger insight into what needs to take place. I'm only guessing at this because of what each character seems to have witnessed. Which brings us back to neither of them necessarily being the antagonist because they have differing perspectives from which to operate.(So even on the second read I may have missed something vital.)

I read this through Kindle Unlimited and initially when I started my comments I discovered that it had been prematurely taken back; so in order to see my notes and read it a second time I had to check it out again and I've no idea how that works out for the author as far as payment.

I shall purchase a copy soon for my personal library; not to read a third time (at least not right away), but rather just to help insure the author can sustain himself while finishing the work; so I can read the rest.

J.L. Dobias

[Anushka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chronicles of Empire: Gathering
Brian G. Turner
A review by Anushka

Gathering is a first book in the series Chronicles of Empire by the debut writer Brian G. Turner. It is a fantasy book primarily set in a late Middle Ages sort of world, but there are clear elements of sci-fi most represented in form of time travelers such as the main antagonist Molric and the technology to come being referenced at times.

The book is an impressive debut from an author with a clear passion for his work and the work that went into writing it is obvious in each sentence which gives you exactly what it needs to give. The grammar and vocabulary are first-rate and one would be hard pressed to find a grammar mistake anywhere if there even exists such an error. I certainly had not found one.

The writing flows well and is consistent with events described. The descriptions flow and sometimes take their time, but they do not overly distract from the plot at hand, but rather reflect it. This is best utilized in one of key elements later in the story where the antagonist and a protagonist (Erin) directly clash for the first time. The way the description of the scene mixes with antagonist’s thoughts is pulled off masterfully and remains, at least for me, one of the best-written and most impactful scenes in the book even if I saw the revelation it offered much earlier in the story. The pace is consistent throughout and makes the reading a smooth experience with clear references to what happens when as the point-of-view chapters of different characters overlap and intertwine. Had the pace been any different, the references probably would not have worked out.

The plot starts somewhat slowly and takes its time to escalate the events, but that works rather well in the context as the author made sure to include hints and intrigues to drive the interest of the readers and the primary interest in the first part was to establish our protagonists and antagonists and their relationship. The choice of first chapter was perfect as it sets up the world rather well without revealing too much and gives the reader a good foundation on which the world is to be developed. And because it is done in the way it was, it does not feel forced. The in-world references come by as rather natural and there is nothing forced in them as is often the case with debut writers who are in a hurry to reference and establish everything. The author takes his time with both the world-building and plot escalation and it pays off. The natural and gradual world-building further helps keep the interest of the reader and when the plot escalates, it escalates most epically and nothing is on the same track after it.

The characters are likeable and relatable and the reason the characters are so truly relatable even though they come from a completely different world is that they are just humans dealing with the very same issues we deal with. The contemporary themes and struggles are adjusted to the period, but lose little of their essence and everyone can recognize their own struggles in this or that character. However, they are even more impressive because each of them holds a distinct flavor even while dealing with similar struggles and because they often come to same conclusions from completely different premises and experiences which brings them closer together. It gives a true sense of realism in the book which is not an easy achievement in the genre. The well-written characters make this a very human story and they manage to drive the story even before the plot escalates as the reader wants to get to know them. The reader wants to know what they are about, what their issues are, and how they will deal with them.

The relationships between characters are well-thought out and build slowly off their respective personalities as they clash and compliment furthering their development through encountering differing opinions and adapting through self-reflections. The development through disillusionment is most notable for Erin from early on as it had already set in prior to the start of the story, but Sirath’s experiences and Jerine’s insight help her further it and help her come with the terms to the ways of the world.

Another element which fascinated me was how the world was built with so much care from elements all around us and it must have been laborious for the author does nothing half-way. The influences of our world, most obviously the influences of various cultures and architecture are recognizable, but not in a way where one could postulate that this or that culture from the book is influenced by a singular culture from our own history. Instead of basing the world culture and society on a historical set up, the society and culture are rather arranged as if they would fit in a particular period of time while being entirely unique and independent of any existing culture and society. I much enjoyed recognizing different influences, most notably the architectural ones and then attempting to guess their direct source in our world.

Same goes for the different religions referenced by the characters. In that regard, I was much reminded of A Song of Ice and Fire series. The research author did holds up in many other references of actual details about different professions and procedures be they Middle Ages blacksmithing or elements of modern sciences. It is another element in which the tremendous care for the book on the part of the author is highly obvious.

The book has kept me interested and it engaged me into the world through its interesting plot and truly relatable characters. The storytelling enhanced the great elements and I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series as the ending promised even more than the first book delivered.

[Cathbad Maponus · Rating 5 out of 5]

GATHERING: CHRONICLES OF EMPIRE

Title:  Gathering (Chronicles of Empire)
Author:  Brian G. Turner
Publisher and Copyright:  Brite (www.brite.co.uk) © 2016 Brian G. Turner
Price:  $10.99 (paperback)  $4.99 (Kindle)
Cathbad’s Rating: 9 of 10
Release Date:  November 15, 2016


A Review by, Cathbad


Chronicles of Empire:  Gathering

The first thing I noticed about this book is that the technical aspects of the writing puts mine to shame.

It’s clean.  The pace is near perfection.  Grammatical errors are non-existent.  The characters have identifiable differences, and the author is consistent, not only with the character’s personalities, but with the complex storylines.  I was 20% into the book before I found an editing error – even if it was merely the juxtaposition of two words!  And it’s saying something that that’s the only one I found in a tome this large!

In short, this is a professionally produced book.  Very impressive for any first-time Self-Publisher!
Though the early descriptions and intrigue kept my interest, some might find the lack of real action through the first 20% of the story off-putting.  I’d advise, however, for the reader to persevere!  Starting with a workhouse explosion – using explosives that weren’t supposed to be in use in that time – the pace of the action starts to increase!

The story is indeed complex.  One group – the ‘Adventurers’ – have come to the great city of Corianth, ostensibly to get work, though at least one had other reasons:  Erin was seeking to further her career in the Ministry.

In another storyline, General Adoras seeks to advance the cause of the Emperor’s Guard – through an act of treachery!  With the help of accomplices – including those who don’t even know they’re accomplices – he hopes to restore their pride and status – and enhance his own! 

Then there is the most intriguing storyline:  Councilor Molric has devised a complex scheme to ‘save the Empire’ – and all of humanity.  He has come from a different time, to save a world he saw burn.

Of course, he hasn’t come alone.  Unbeknownst to Molric another, an albino going by the name Ezekiel now, had followed him through the fissure into the past.  And he intends to stop Commander Molric – and save Earth!

As the story progresses, things don’t go well for… Anyone.  Or, at least, things don’t go as expected for Anyone.   Now, normally, I’d be rolling my eyes, and saying to my cat, “Oh, come on, now!”  But these things are presented in such a way that they are neither forced nor cliché, and actually seem like logical, expected events!  I mean, do any serious, complex plans – or even our lives - ever go perfectly?  In this case, I think the story is only enhanced by the troubles each group – and individuals – have; especially seeing how they respond to those challenges!

The action – and the emotional feel – becomes intense.  I found I was unable to pull myself away – even to have lunch – and that’s saying something, indeed!

But the book is all about the characters – and few can write so diverse and complex characters, all of whom grab your attention, and make you want to follow their individual stories!  Bravo, Brian!
The part of the ending of this book that surprised me was Molric’s fate.  But, as Daria said, “Surely you didn’t really believe it could end any other way?”  As for the rest?  I can’t wait for the next book, AWAKENING!


I give this novel a strong 9 out of 10 rating.

[T.I.M. James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that has been a long time in the making. Not only has it given the writer a lot of hard work, or studying writing and understanding writing, it has also managed to spawn the biggest SFF forums on the internet, all without a word being published.

But all the hard work, has it paid off?

Turner delivers a book that on the face of it is a standard fantasy, or at least that it how it is packaged, but within a few pages you rapidly discover there is a lot more to it than that. In fact I found myself completely wrong-footed, because the revelation when it comes is so early in the book the reader is just not expecting it. It is the kind of thing that might normally be held back to be used as a shocking revelation toward the end of the book. Here Turner gets it out of the way, and I feel the story works all the better for it. The reader is aware of things that otherwise would not be obvious and it adds to the thrill ride of the tale.

Another thing that really stands out, and something I am always partial to, is the oblique nature of the main characters. The start of the novel introduces the reader to Molric a figure reaching for power, but one who knows that the world is in danger of destruction and he is determined to do everything he can to save it.

It really works well, you have a group of characters who are prepared to topple society as they see it to be corrupt and in order to make things better, for the world and the people.

However (it's always good when you can write that), as the reader is introduced to more characters we begin to see a different view point, and the water becomes muddied. Turner has managed to create a likeable group of misfits and relateable characters who you want to root for, but soon realise are being drawn into opposition of Molric which means that technically they are the bad guys...

Until we get to see a glimpse into the mind of albino Ezekiel and everything gets turned on it's head one more time...

But even then there is a lot more depth than clear-cut good and evil, as major events happen, you can see that in many ways Molric is right to cut out the corruption, especially when we get to see the depravities of the Emperor he wants to replace.

The characters are well drawn and likeable, from the group leader Jerine to sometime thief Sirath and the unexpected romance, to Rodrigan a man working for Molric believing that all he does is for the betterment of his world. Each character has a different worldview that is exemplified in their POV chapters, and all of them have good and bad points.

The story is a well balanced mix of character, plot development and action, not dwelling too much on over-the-top detail, but giving the perfect amount to keep the reader hooked and invested in the story and characters that inhabit it.

I would say there are three major twists in the story, and the third comes right at the end, but is logical and subtlety signposted throughout, making it all the more satisfying.

So the question: does a lot of reading, research, learning and preparation pay off? If this book is the answer, then it is a resounding yes.

[Dominic Cheverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the face of it, ‘Gathering’, the debut novel by Brian Turner, is a typical fantasy; unlikely travellers fated together to battle their foes, but Tuner flips this on its head brilliantly with the introduction of Molric in the first chapter. The novel’s primary antagonist, Molric is a traveller from the future who brings advanced technology back with him in a bid to save the world from destruction.

The fact that the novels antagonist is trying to save the world speaks volumes for the world Turner has sculpted, but more importantly it speaks volumes about the characters, the heart and soul of the story. There is no black or white answer, and each has their own view of right and wrong, and their own reasons for fighting.

The short, sharp chapters are each told from a single perspective, with the reader rooted deep in that character to experience the vast and rich world as though living in it. And while some characters work better than others, and some I prefer to others (which is only to be expected) they all come together in the end in the expertly woven narrative.

The first few chapters open with a quick succession of new names, places, character affiliations and motivations, and while showing the huge amount of work Turner has invested in this work, to begin with I was a little lost and confused at times. But once the characters had gathered, a few chapters in, and made their way to the city of Corianth, where the bulk of the story takes place, I’d already come to know the individualities of each character, and the confusion vanished.

What replaced it was an intrigue, a fascination with the world and the stories of each of the characters. In the city the major players are all thrust into conflict with each other and the world around them, but perhaps most importantly with themselves, their past, their future and destiny.

Mixing epic fantasy, with great elements of historical fiction and the snap of sci-fi technology was always going to pique my interest, but it was the characters and their journeys that maintained it throughout.

‘Gathering’ is brimming with intrigue and excitement, built on imagination and long years of hard work, and rounded off with very accomplished characterisation and excellent world-building. Altogether the lightning pace of the narrative, the twits and turns one has come to expect from the modern epic fantasy genre, the ease of Turner’s clean prose, and the completeness of his vast world all conspired to grab complete hold of me and not let up until the final pages, which with one final twist leave me wanting more than a sneak peak of the next installment, ‘Awakening’.

[Idoru · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only knew about this book because I’m a member of SFF Chronicles, a forum set up by the author. Unsurprisingly he’s advertising the book on his forum and I followed the link to find out that I could ‘borrow’ the book via Amazon Prime.

The story follows a group of travellers thrown together by circumstance, all of whom for reasons of their own are going to their country’s capital city. The team is rather disparate and under normal circumstances would surely have never met never mind worked together. And yet their growing co-operation is effectively realised. One of my major issues - among many others - with the film Suicide Squad is that at no point is it believable that the individual characters would work together; this isn’t the case here, and despite their differences I believed almost from the beginning in the cohesiveness of the group.

There is of course much more to the book than this - this is epic fantasy on a grand scale, reminding me in scope and style of Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight series. There are several opposing factions all desperate to grab power, often for reasons that as yet remain unclear. I found the large cast of characters hard to keep track of at times, but that probably says more about me than the writing.

Talking of the writing, the use of language at times is stunning and the book has been exceptionally well edited - I’m a magazine editor, I notice these things. The characters are well drawn and believable. You do find yourself rooting for the heroes, even if they’re not all that heroic. I especially liked the combination of present and future, with glimpses into the lives of a couple of characters who have travelled through time, as well as tantalising mentions of Earth - what might that turn out to mean?

It’s pleasing that three of the main ‘gang’ are female, as are a number of the peripheral characters. And they’re not just Victim or Decoration or (just as cliched as the first two) Strong Female Character. They have strengths and weaknesses, flaws, motivations, emotions - in short, they’re, you know, people.

This book is the first in a series and it very ably sets up the premise, providing plenty of intrigue and interest. I was, however, disappointed that there was little conclusion to the story in this episode. That said, I’m looking forward to finding out what happens in the next edition.

[Steven Poore · Rating 3 out of 5]

To say that Gathering is an epic would be something of an understatement - Brian Turner has collected most of the standard tropes of fantasy fiction, given many of them a brush-up and turned them to fresh angles, and then thrown in a few SF elements for good measure. There's a heck of a lot going on here, making for an ambitious debut novel.

Some of the gambles pay off: Rodrigan is an immediately sympathetic villain, and a great viewpoint from which to look at Molric's machinations. Of the heroes themselves, Turner seems most comfortable inside the heads of unfortunate thief Sirath, would-be plot orchestrator Jerine, and the doubt-ridden novice Erin. The fact that none of the group are instant, pre-mixed full-on heroes works in their favour - they struggle and get things hopelessly wrong all the way through the book.

But while those parts do work - and the fight scenes too, which are confused and dangerous melees - they are dragged back somewhat by the sheer number of POV characters in the book. The Gathering's plot is so vast that it can't be told effectively through only a few POV characters, and short chapters undoubtedly help spur the pace along, but the swift chop'n'change from one POV to another, using a lot of characters from outside the main grouping, actually harms the telling of the story. Because Molric's plan is revealed to us quickly, because we know exactly who Ezekiel is, and we know what's going to happen when Ulric and Dalathos go out on patrol, there's a great deal of dramatic tension lost. The few genuine shocks (Erin's calamitous meeting with Rodrigan, for example) do come out of the blue but feel poorly signalled as a result.

Turner redeems himself with the ending of the book, leaving our heroes no better off - indeed, probably worse off - than when they started, bitter and wounded by their adventures. The good guys don't always win, sometimes they just manage to survive. It'll certainly be interesting to see how they manage to cope from here.

The Gathering is an interesting set-up, that shows its hand a bit too early, but with hints of magic to come beyond what has already been revealed.

[Gnrevolution · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I was underwhelmed. There I said it, I can’t take it back. But bear with me. The opening to Chronicles of Empire: Gathering, reads like a typical fantasy trope, a group of almost seemingly random strangers meet in the midst of a storm, and somehow all contrive to group together. A typical mix of Cleric, Fighter and Thief, I started to wonder if I was back in my D&D days and where this was going to go. Seemingly in the direction I thought, staying at inns, arriving in big cities, it all sounded very familiar (if somewhat more realistic than other novels I could mention). They get a job as mercenaries from a shadowy individual, this all sounds like it’s going one way.

And then. And then it changes. In one brief chapter we are suddenly thrown out of the story completely, and everything changes. The characters, their motivations, the world around them, suddenly it all takes on a different perspective, as though someone has shone a light into the abyss and found something staring back at them. From then on in the story goes into many a convoluted plot, with treachery, butchery and even some levity thrown in. The characters I had first thought stereo-typed start to come out of their shell and develop as individuals, none more so for me than Ulric (and maybe Dalathos a little). I’ll admit I wasn’t a big fan of Erin, maybe it’s a faith thing but I found her storyline to be annoying and not terribly rewarding, but Sirath certainly grew on me, and even the sisters Jerine and Tilirine became more palatable as the book went on.

There are more twists and turns to this than an Italian vineyard, and the final reveal at the end will have you choking on your wine, but will also want you begging for the next book, let’s hope it doesn’t take too long to come!

[Elvet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gathering is a strong fantasy debut, with an interesting plot twist that I had not encountered before. The story unfolds as rather familiar tale of a collection of disparate characters, who become embroiled in a plot to assassinate the ruling emperor. It is told in multiple POVs, something that I am fond of if done well, which this is. The story flows from one POV to another, and moves along at a good pace. This group of people have some expected skills - the fighter, the thief, the blacksmith, the ringleader - but they don't fall into predicable patterns. Indeed, this is a very 'twisty' book. There are subplots within subplots, and scenes that can turn your head around within the length of a paragraph (the Emperor's reckoning comes to mind). Despite the complexity, the storyline came across smoothly, always bringing us back to the core group. My one niggle would be the abundance of names for places, religious orders, acquaintances, etc. that fleshed out the world, but left me wondering what I had to remember.
I am a big fan of 'fish out of water' stories, in fact I started a list here at Goodreads for modern character goes to fantasyland type books. Gathering arguably can fit into that description. Even without that aspect, this was an enjoyable read for me, and I look forward to the next in the series.

[Margaret Weighell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morlic is from the future. Power hungry and determined to stop the destruction he knows is to come.
A group of young misfits meet and journey to the city Corianth on the promise of work. Their they are joined by Ezekiel who is also from the future and determined to stop Morlic destroying humanity.
Instead of finding their place they are drawn into the power struggle and their lives are in danger.

A slow build up but once they reach the city it fast paced and completely draws you in. Some nice twists and far from run of the mill fantasy.

Cant wait for the next one

[Stewart Hotston · Rating 4 out of 5]

a strong, solid start to a world that I want to explore further. Turner has built a cast with depth and differing motivations that I enjoyed spending time with.

[CR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gathering is a book rich in characterization, plotlines, atmosphere, and period detail. It has the feel of an epic fantasy (large cast, characters traveling to meet their fate, graphic battle scenes, arch villains), but there’s a very nice twist into another genre that unexpectedly adds layers of intrigue that I found quite pleasing.
There’s a huge cast of characters in the work; our band of protagonists is made up of a group of strikingly well-defined individuals. And I was very pleased that there were so many strong female characters; indeed, much of the book seems driven by the actions or decisions of the female leads in the story.
I really liked our group of heroes. I really enjoyed the novel’s complex plotting. And there were many-many surprises along the way (not least the number of instances of sly humor in the book).
My only caveat would be that, after a whiz-bang opening chapter, the book takes a fairly long time to get back to the action parts of the story. There are long passages where the large cast of characters are introduced, and brought together. But I rarely read epic fantasy, and I think this sort of diversion into characterization is something that many fans of the genre expect, and even look forward to. So that might be my science fiction bias at work, here.
I would highly recommend this book (it seems very well edited, too). I’m really looking forward to the next instalment of the series.