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Crossbones #1
Crossbones
A world on the brink of war. A quest for vengeance. A secret that could change everything.
Dean and Eldric Whittaker have never known their parents. Orphaned in a pirate attack on their village, they were raised by the mysterious wizard, Rorschach. The only clue to their heritage, their strange abilities to control the power of Fire and Ice.
Harboring a hate for the pirate lords and a thirst for revenge, the brothers set out on their own voyage to hunt down and kill the man who murdered their parents. But in a world inhabited by monsters and ruled by men with the power of gods, can they survive long enough to achieve their goal?
Crossbones is the first installment in a series of swashbuckling fantasy novels.
If you like action-packed battles, swashbuckling heroes, and witty one-liners, then you'll love Stefan M. Nardi's epic high seas adventure.
Dean and Eldric Whittaker have never known their parents. Orphaned in a pirate attack on their village, they were raised by the mysterious wizard, Rorschach. The only clue to their heritage, their strange abilities to control the power of Fire and Ice.
Harboring a hate for the pirate lords and a thirst for revenge, the brothers set out on their own voyage to hunt down and kill the man who murdered their parents. But in a world inhabited by monsters and ruled by men with the power of gods, can they survive long enough to achieve their goal?
Crossbones is the first installment in a series of swashbuckling fantasy novels.
If you like action-packed battles, swashbuckling heroes, and witty one-liners, then you'll love Stefan M. Nardi's epic high seas adventure.
250 pages, Paperback
First published September 23, 2015
2 people are currently reading
711 people want to read
About the author
Stefan M. Nardi
11 books73 followersStefan M. Nardi grew up on a healthy diet of books, books and more books (pretty sure there was some lollies and other junk in there too). He read his first fantasy novel, Deltora Quest when he was 6 years old. Coincidently it was about the same time that his dad sat him in front of the TV and put Star Wars in the VCR. From then on he was hooked, he consumed every fantasy and science fiction novel, television show and movie he could get his hands on. He is now a self-confessed nerd and can be found most days with his eyes glued to a television or wedged firmly in the pages of a book.
After writing many horrible first chapters of various stories which usually ended up in the bin, in 2015, at the ripe old age of 21, he managed to get to the second chapter of (and eventually complete) a story and released his first fantasy serial 'Crossbones'.
He currently lives in Brisbane, Australia with his loving girlfriend (Hi sweetie!) and his wonderful parents and brother. He also now feels like one of those annoying people who talk about themselves in the third person all the time and is going to stop now. He promises.
After writing many horrible first chapters of various stories which usually ended up in the bin, in 2015, at the ripe old age of 21, he managed to get to the second chapter of (and eventually complete) a story and released his first fantasy serial 'Crossbones'.
He currently lives in Brisbane, Australia with his loving girlfriend (Hi sweetie!) and his wonderful parents and brother. He also now feels like one of those annoying people who talk about themselves in the third person all the time and is going to stop now. He promises.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
February 24, 2016
This book is a swashbuckling fantasy, not something which would usually grab my interest, so when this was recommended to me, I wasn't sure what to expect, however, I can say that I was pleasantly surprised.
I was impressed with the fast pace of the story, there is no slow build-up, it just dives straight into the action. I like the premise of the story - in a world controlled by pirates, two brothers who possess special powers, set out on a voyage of their own.
This book is only the first installment in a series, I'm already looking forwarding to the next one!
I was impressed with the fast pace of the story, there is no slow build-up, it just dives straight into the action. I like the premise of the story - in a world controlled by pirates, two brothers who possess special powers, set out on a voyage of their own.
This book is only the first installment in a series, I'm already looking forwarding to the next one!
July 7, 2020
When you're in your journey to finish the anime ''One Piece'' and accidentally come across a book about pirates = true love Haha
I really liked it, the chapters were short and fun, there were so many different but nice povs. I was so excited to read its sequel ''Burning Rage'', but I can't find it anywhere ):
I really liked it, the chapters were short and fun, there were so many different but nice povs. I was so excited to read its sequel ''Burning Rage'', but I can't find it anywhere ):
July 3, 2016
Crossbones feels like the most fun party ever I haven't been invited to.
I have read the first part of it last year, considering it some sort of a teaser and I saw a lot of potential in it. The author provided me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review and I was excited to discover how the magic-fae-pirate idea evolved.
I will start with the things that I liked. The beginning of the book starts in the middle of the action, with the so called opening incident. This thing told me the book has a plan behind, it follows some kind of book architecture. The chapters have a very cinematic feeling, the whole story is structured like a film script and I think it would make a rather interesting action packed film. The fighting scenes are dynamic and engaging. Considering the fact that half of the book consists of such scenes, there is no time to get bored. But...
...there are some things I didn't liked. The main downer of this book is being too short. The structure and planned events are made for a full length novel, but the actual length of it is of a novella. This is caused by the fact that each of the chapters are 1-2-3 pages long. Because of it every event feels rushed, it all ends before the reader had any chance to take a peek at characters and surroundings. There is no build up, therefore the immersion into the story is minimal. The characters are interesting, their personalities trying to burst out in the short one-page chapters, but because they are cut out so quickly they appear to be manic and lacking solid reason. Also because of being too short, the events are condensed, every piece of the puzzle falls in place too soon, everything is so obvious (making me say "oh, come on!" every 5 minutes) resulting in unbalance in favor of the "good" party, their invulnerability making it one sided.
I did enjoyed the diversity of the elements the writer used in the story, but I did not liked all the clichés of the YA genre like the mocking between main characters in the middle of some serious events, the need to introduce a romantic relation when it does not benefit to the story at all.
The editing work of the book could be better too.
In the end I do believe the idea and the author skill is up to make a great fantasy novel, it just lack the effort of planning and about 70 thousands words.
It's an "OK" type of novel, nothing more.
I have read the first part of it last year, considering it some sort of a teaser and I saw a lot of potential in it. The author provided me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review and I was excited to discover how the magic-fae-pirate idea evolved.
I will start with the things that I liked. The beginning of the book starts in the middle of the action, with the so called opening incident. This thing told me the book has a plan behind, it follows some kind of book architecture. The chapters have a very cinematic feeling, the whole story is structured like a film script and I think it would make a rather interesting action packed film. The fighting scenes are dynamic and engaging. Considering the fact that half of the book consists of such scenes, there is no time to get bored. But...
...there are some things I didn't liked. The main downer of this book is being too short. The structure and planned events are made for a full length novel, but the actual length of it is of a novella. This is caused by the fact that each of the chapters are 1-2-3 pages long. Because of it every event feels rushed, it all ends before the reader had any chance to take a peek at characters and surroundings. There is no build up, therefore the immersion into the story is minimal. The characters are interesting, their personalities trying to burst out in the short one-page chapters, but because they are cut out so quickly they appear to be manic and lacking solid reason. Also because of being too short, the events are condensed, every piece of the puzzle falls in place too soon, everything is so obvious (making me say "oh, come on!" every 5 minutes) resulting in unbalance in favor of the "good" party, their invulnerability making it one sided.
I did enjoyed the diversity of the elements the writer used in the story, but I did not liked all the clichés of the YA genre like the mocking between main characters in the middle of some serious events, the need to introduce a romantic relation when it does not benefit to the story at all.
The editing work of the book could be better too.
In the end I do believe the idea and the author skill is up to make a great fantasy novel, it just lack the effort of planning and about 70 thousands words.
It's an "OK" type of novel, nothing more.
September 21, 2015
There are some people who fantasize about pirates but still want that magic kick and if you are one of those people then this book is for you.
The author uses an interesting writing technique where every chapter is a scene with a certain set, feeling, and group of characters. They have rather different lengths and while the first chapter throws us in the middle of the action to meet our main characters, the second chapter is a mere one page frame to make the transition to the next set. If at the beginning you could smell the odor of Young Adult style, the end of chapter 3 should dispel any doubt. Chapter 4 was an interesting one in the way that narrator’s perspective shifts completely to a single character. His story was ephemeral and while the emotional revealing was stronger than even that of the main characters, his actual purpose slipped my mind.
From the start you are invited in a fantasy archaic world, straight in the middle of the story with no further preparation. What defines this novel is action; there is no build up, you have no time to smell the roses or enjoy the scenery because there is always a brawl around.
The main characters though don’t seem to be well-defined, their only purpose appears to be their vendetta against a certain group of people (hint: not stormtroopers) and despite the scarce information I got about them I can’t resonate with any. Considering the direction of the book and the number of pages of the first Episode, I hope that will change in the next one.
What I liked the most about this novel is that it does not pretend to be a fancy complex novel with many insights and life lessons for you to reflect about. It’s just a fun action novel with pirates and magic and a strong comic book feeling. You have no time to get bored and can be read in just one sitting.
4/5
Many thanks to @StefanMNardi and @Booktips_tweet for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
The author uses an interesting writing technique where every chapter is a scene with a certain set, feeling, and group of characters. They have rather different lengths and while the first chapter throws us in the middle of the action to meet our main characters, the second chapter is a mere one page frame to make the transition to the next set. If at the beginning you could smell the odor of Young Adult style, the end of chapter 3 should dispel any doubt. Chapter 4 was an interesting one in the way that narrator’s perspective shifts completely to a single character. His story was ephemeral and while the emotional revealing was stronger than even that of the main characters, his actual purpose slipped my mind.
From the start you are invited in a fantasy archaic world, straight in the middle of the story with no further preparation. What defines this novel is action; there is no build up, you have no time to smell the roses or enjoy the scenery because there is always a brawl around.
The main characters though don’t seem to be well-defined, their only purpose appears to be their vendetta against a certain group of people (hint: not stormtroopers) and despite the scarce information I got about them I can’t resonate with any. Considering the direction of the book and the number of pages of the first Episode, I hope that will change in the next one.
What I liked the most about this novel is that it does not pretend to be a fancy complex novel with many insights and life lessons for you to reflect about. It’s just a fun action novel with pirates and magic and a strong comic book feeling. You have no time to get bored and can be read in just one sitting.
4/5
Many thanks to @StefanMNardi and @Booktips_tweet for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
October 20, 2015
Review: Crossbones: Episode 1 by Stefan M. Nardi Publisher: Mystic Inkwell (11 Sept. 2015)
ASIN: B0122J434U
Source: Author provided review copy
Rating: 5*
Synopsis:
For two hundred years, the world of Alarisia has lived through a great age of piracy. Men take to the seas to seek their fortune or die trying. Controlled by the seven pirate lords and hounded by the world navy, they sack and pillage their way across the oceans. But not all prosper under their rule, for many the pirate lords create only misery and death. Dean and Eldric Whittaker have never known their parents, orphaned in a pirate raid on their village the two brothers were raised by the mysterious wizard Rorschach. The only clue to their heritage, their strange abilities to control the elements of Ice and Fire. Harboring a hate for the pirate lords and a thirst for revenge, the brothers set out on their own voyage. But in a world inhabited by monsters and ruled by men with the power of gods, can they survive long enough to achieve their goal?
Review:
Crossbones: Episode 1 is the first in a series to feature Dean and Eldric Whittaker, half-brothers who have mystical powers over ice and fire. There is plenty of action to keep the reader interested, and the characters are given a chance to develop over the length of this episode.
The author has conjured up the world of Alarisia with clear vision, even down to small details; he's obviously got great imagination and talent in storytelling.
I'm looking forward to reading Crossbones: Episode 2!
ASIN: B0122J434U
Source: Author provided review copy
Rating: 5*
Synopsis:
For two hundred years, the world of Alarisia has lived through a great age of piracy. Men take to the seas to seek their fortune or die trying. Controlled by the seven pirate lords and hounded by the world navy, they sack and pillage their way across the oceans. But not all prosper under their rule, for many the pirate lords create only misery and death. Dean and Eldric Whittaker have never known their parents, orphaned in a pirate raid on their village the two brothers were raised by the mysterious wizard Rorschach. The only clue to their heritage, their strange abilities to control the elements of Ice and Fire. Harboring a hate for the pirate lords and a thirst for revenge, the brothers set out on their own voyage. But in a world inhabited by monsters and ruled by men with the power of gods, can they survive long enough to achieve their goal?
Review:
Crossbones: Episode 1 is the first in a series to feature Dean and Eldric Whittaker, half-brothers who have mystical powers over ice and fire. There is plenty of action to keep the reader interested, and the characters are given a chance to develop over the length of this episode.
The author has conjured up the world of Alarisia with clear vision, even down to small details; he's obviously got great imagination and talent in storytelling.
I'm looking forward to reading Crossbones: Episode 2!
October 26, 2015
FREE EBOOK ON AMAZON AT TIME OF POSTING
Great beginning to a fantasy world complete with pirate fae. This is a very short read at only 37 pages. Two brothers set out looking for adventure on the seas. Almost immediately, they're taken as prisoners on a slave ship where they discover a secret about their birth parents. There's a lot of action packed into those 37 pages. I thought this story was entertaining and engaging, and I look forward to the second installment.
Great beginning to a fantasy world complete with pirate fae. This is a very short read at only 37 pages. Two brothers set out looking for adventure on the seas. Almost immediately, they're taken as prisoners on a slave ship where they discover a secret about their birth parents. There's a lot of action packed into those 37 pages. I thought this story was entertaining and engaging, and I look forward to the second installment.
December 24, 2016
This review was originally posted on Blame It On The Books
Crossbones is a fantasy serial which tells the tale of Dean and Eldric Whittaker, two pirate brothers who are somehow able to control fire and ice. In Episode One, the reader is dropped into the world of these two boys while they are right in the middle of an adventure. From page one, you are in the midst of all the action, traveling the high seas with Dean and Eldric.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading Crossbones. I mean...Pirates? Magic? What else do you need? This was a really fun, action packed adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. There was no time wasted on exposition; it was just action followed by more action, which I actually found to be very refreshing. Although it wasn’t discussed much, the world of Alarisia and the magic system of this world seemed really interesting, and I am excited to learn more.
Because this is a fantasy serial, it is quite short, so there wasn’t a ton of time for world building or character development. I am hoping that this is addressed in Episode Two, because there are still many unanswered questions and to ignore them would be unfortunate. One other thing that distracted me a little while reading was the presence of a couple typos and run-on sentences. Things like that really distract me while I am reading, but I know that it doesn’t bother some people at all.
All in all, I was really impressed with Crossbones. I was shocked that I could get that invested in a story after only 37 pages. I am really interested in learning more about this world and discovering more about Dean and Eldric’s powers. I definitely want to pick up Episode Two to see how the story progresses.
Crossbones is a fantasy serial which tells the tale of Dean and Eldric Whittaker, two pirate brothers who are somehow able to control fire and ice. In Episode One, the reader is dropped into the world of these two boys while they are right in the middle of an adventure. From page one, you are in the midst of all the action, traveling the high seas with Dean and Eldric.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading Crossbones. I mean...Pirates? Magic? What else do you need? This was a really fun, action packed adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. There was no time wasted on exposition; it was just action followed by more action, which I actually found to be very refreshing. Although it wasn’t discussed much, the world of Alarisia and the magic system of this world seemed really interesting, and I am excited to learn more.
Because this is a fantasy serial, it is quite short, so there wasn’t a ton of time for world building or character development. I am hoping that this is addressed in Episode Two, because there are still many unanswered questions and to ignore them would be unfortunate. One other thing that distracted me a little while reading was the presence of a couple typos and run-on sentences. Things like that really distract me while I am reading, but I know that it doesn’t bother some people at all.
All in all, I was really impressed with Crossbones. I was shocked that I could get that invested in a story after only 37 pages. I am really interested in learning more about this world and discovering more about Dean and Eldric’s powers. I definitely want to pick up Episode Two to see how the story progresses.
July 19, 2016
I received an e-book copy of Crossbones direct from the author Stefan M. Nardi in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly all I was going to write for this review was PIRATES and MAGIC! I mean, what else can you want from a fantasy book?
In all seriousness though, I wasn't 100% sure that pirates and magic would work well together but boy, was I wrong! (Not a fan of Peter Pan, Jake and The Neverland Pirates however is good). I really think it works incredibly well and it is really well balanced.
The story follows the brothers Dean and Eldric, both pirates who have their own magical powers. The book jumps straight into the action and immediately showcases the characters of both Dean and Eldric. Dean is the older brother, confidence verging on cocky, but with just enough charm that you can't help but smiling. Eldric is the younger brother, he has a bit more of a serious head on his shoulders. Their relationship is wonderful and you can tell they really love each other. I definitely like portrayals of strong sibling bonds.
The book goes from one bit of action to the next, barely pausing to let the characters catch a moment to relax. This is where my only complaint about the book comes in, it's too short. I like a huge world and lots of good description in my fantasy novels, but Crossbones is very short for a fantasy. The story, world and character building however does not suffer for the book being shorter, it is just my selfishness of wanting more and wanting to know more about the whole world because I enjoyed it so much,
Overall an exceptionally enjoyable read and a well constructed story. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series as I definitely want to learn more about Dean and Eldric and I also want to know what will happen after the climax of the first book, lives have been changed irreparably.
Honestly all I was going to write for this review was PIRATES and MAGIC! I mean, what else can you want from a fantasy book?
In all seriousness though, I wasn't 100% sure that pirates and magic would work well together but boy, was I wrong! (Not a fan of Peter Pan, Jake and The Neverland Pirates however is good). I really think it works incredibly well and it is really well balanced.
The story follows the brothers Dean and Eldric, both pirates who have their own magical powers. The book jumps straight into the action and immediately showcases the characters of both Dean and Eldric. Dean is the older brother, confidence verging on cocky, but with just enough charm that you can't help but smiling. Eldric is the younger brother, he has a bit more of a serious head on his shoulders. Their relationship is wonderful and you can tell they really love each other. I definitely like portrayals of strong sibling bonds.
The book goes from one bit of action to the next, barely pausing to let the characters catch a moment to relax. This is where my only complaint about the book comes in, it's too short. I like a huge world and lots of good description in my fantasy novels, but Crossbones is very short for a fantasy. The story, world and character building however does not suffer for the book being shorter, it is just my selfishness of wanting more and wanting to know more about the whole world because I enjoyed it so much,
Overall an exceptionally enjoyable read and a well constructed story. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series as I definitely want to learn more about Dean and Eldric and I also want to know what will happen after the climax of the first book, lives have been changed irreparably.
November 2, 2015
Crossbones: Episode 1 was a fast-paced, interesting read.
Overall, this is a great start to what sounds like an action-packed and enticing story.
My only (very minor) issues are with the voice and language.
In the beginning, it was a little tough for me to find and fall into the voice of the novel (which is Dean at the start). But once I became more familiar with the main characters, it got much easier...so it wasn't too much of an issue.
However, I am confused about the language and style of speak throughout the story so far. With pirates and slaves, I feel as though the story is set far into the past ... but the language is very current and modern. The names of things are unique...but I still don't know when or where this is set. Granted, I am sure it will be made known in the next installment...but I would have liked more of an idea from the start to help immerse me into the story.
When it comes to pacing...the story is great because it is a quick read, but at the same time, everything seems to happen too quickly (i.e. character thoughts/plans). There isn't much time to process and understand before the character is onto the next thing. I would have liked for the author to take a little more time ... paint more of a picture.
One more thing...I really liked Chapter 4. It was from the perspective of a pirate guard, named Janos Salt. It was short, but helped give the story some more depth (painting the picture).
Again, overall it is a good and fast-paced read. I am definitely looking forward to continuing the story. So many questions to be answered!!
Overall, this is a great start to what sounds like an action-packed and enticing story.
My only (very minor) issues are with the voice and language.
In the beginning, it was a little tough for me to find and fall into the voice of the novel (which is Dean at the start). But once I became more familiar with the main characters, it got much easier...so it wasn't too much of an issue.
However, I am confused about the language and style of speak throughout the story so far. With pirates and slaves, I feel as though the story is set far into the past ... but the language is very current and modern. The names of things are unique...but I still don't know when or where this is set. Granted, I am sure it will be made known in the next installment...but I would have liked more of an idea from the start to help immerse me into the story.
When it comes to pacing...the story is great because it is a quick read, but at the same time, everything seems to happen too quickly (i.e. character thoughts/plans). There isn't much time to process and understand before the character is onto the next thing. I would have liked for the author to take a little more time ... paint more of a picture.
One more thing...I really liked Chapter 4. It was from the perspective of a pirate guard, named Janos Salt. It was short, but helped give the story some more depth (painting the picture).
Again, overall it is a good and fast-paced read. I am definitely looking forward to continuing the story. So many questions to be answered!!
September 30, 2015
5 Stars
Im giving this 5 stars because Im really excited as to where this will go its got me hooked and I want more. Theres only 8 chapters in this first "book" or episode as its called. Im super annoyed with that because I want to read more and I can be super impatient I don't know why its coming out a book a month I find this happening a lot more lately and Im not a fan of this style.
General Comments
Pirates, Magic, Fae, what more could you want. Im excited to see where this goes, there really isn't much I can say with only a short amount Ive read but I enjoyed it and Im looking forward to the next one. We leave off right when its getting interesting so this will be a test of my patients for the next few books.
Characters
So far we have only a glimpse at our characters in this book I don't really have a visual on any of them yet but Im hooked so far.
World Building
Again, we haven't got a full view of the world this is in, the first book has mostly focused on a ship and being on the ocean with mentions of a few kingdoms.
Definitely check this book out its a short read, so even if you realize its not for you in the end you haven't wasted so much time reading and can make your decision if you want to move on to the next one. I say go for it though!
Im giving this 5 stars because Im really excited as to where this will go its got me hooked and I want more. Theres only 8 chapters in this first "book" or episode as its called. Im super annoyed with that because I want to read more and I can be super impatient I don't know why its coming out a book a month I find this happening a lot more lately and Im not a fan of this style.
General Comments
Pirates, Magic, Fae, what more could you want. Im excited to see where this goes, there really isn't much I can say with only a short amount Ive read but I enjoyed it and Im looking forward to the next one. We leave off right when its getting interesting so this will be a test of my patients for the next few books.
Characters
So far we have only a glimpse at our characters in this book I don't really have a visual on any of them yet but Im hooked so far.
World Building
Again, we haven't got a full view of the world this is in, the first book has mostly focused on a ship and being on the ocean with mentions of a few kingdoms.
Definitely check this book out its a short read, so even if you realize its not for you in the end you haven't wasted so much time reading and can make your decision if you want to move on to the next one. I say go for it though!
October 13, 2015
Pirates and the Fae! Who wouldn't love this?
We are dropped into the action from page one. With the Whittaker brothers, Dean and Eldric, just trying to keep their pirate ship The Black Phoenix from being destroyed by a nasty storm. After being knocked around and passing out, they awaken in another ship filled with slaves, shackled together, with the situation looking pretty dismal. Their ship has been taken over by a slave ship and in that escape attempt we find out the brothers have powers. Strong Fae powers. With the help of the Elemental Erasmus they fight to free the slaves and get back their ship.
The brothers have plans of their own, but Erasmus can tell them who they are. They don't know their fathers, they just know they have different fathers and the same mother, but when their village was raided, they escaped somehow. The news Erasmus has for them is about to change their lives I believe.
I love books about pirates, magic and the Fae. I really wanted more of this series, like right now!
We are dropped into the action from page one. With the Whittaker brothers, Dean and Eldric, just trying to keep their pirate ship The Black Phoenix from being destroyed by a nasty storm. After being knocked around and passing out, they awaken in another ship filled with slaves, shackled together, with the situation looking pretty dismal. Their ship has been taken over by a slave ship and in that escape attempt we find out the brothers have powers. Strong Fae powers. With the help of the Elemental Erasmus they fight to free the slaves and get back their ship.
The brothers have plans of their own, but Erasmus can tell them who they are. They don't know their fathers, they just know they have different fathers and the same mother, but when their village was raided, they escaped somehow. The news Erasmus has for them is about to change their lives I believe.
I love books about pirates, magic and the Fae. I really wanted more of this series, like right now!
March 9, 2017
I honestly wavered between giving this one and two stars, but it's still a good concept so i guess two stars it is. everything was just very rushed. all the chapters were like 2-3 pages long which made the entire book very jarring because it was just a ton of really really short scenes one after the other. and it was just very 'this happened then this happened and she looked sad and then he said this'. there was never really any time to have any emotional connection to the characters and none of them had any real characterization other than like oh that is the Evil King [tm] and this is A Wizard [tm] and this one is The Girl! it could have been something good if anyone was given any kind of interesting personality quirk and it was about 3 times longer to give you any time to get attached to anyone, but as it is i'm not going to read the sequel or any other works by this author, even though at first glance the summary makes them look interesting.
January 2, 2016
Action packed, witty one-liners, and Fae magic mixed with swashbuckling pirates!!! YES!
I enjoyed the story, but wished for more character building. The action is spot on, and the magic is mystifying, but without a solid character foundation I found myself wanting more.
That being said, I am curious to partake in the next installment. This is a 37 page "episode", and I think that over a few of said episodes, I could easily fall in love with the cast. It's like a Netflix find, at first you are all "eh" over the show, but 3 or 4 episodes in, you find you are binge watching all the seasons! :) Will add the next episode to my TBR.
I enjoyed the story, but wished for more character building. The action is spot on, and the magic is mystifying, but without a solid character foundation I found myself wanting more.
That being said, I am curious to partake in the next installment. This is a 37 page "episode", and I think that over a few of said episodes, I could easily fall in love with the cast. It's like a Netflix find, at first you are all "eh" over the show, but 3 or 4 episodes in, you find you are binge watching all the seasons! :) Will add the next episode to my TBR.
November 6, 2020
Voto: 2.25
Avevo voglia di personaggi divertenti e trame dal ritmo serrato così ho optato per questo libro. Si tratta di un libro di un autore australiano che credo che sia autopubblicato, ma che in Italia è stato tradotto da una casa editrice (anche se ammetto di non averla mai sentita nominare). I personaggi principali però mi ispiravano e i rimandi agli anime anche, quindi ho deciso di dargli una possibilità.
Il primo impatto con lo stile non è stato affatto buono. Se da un lato ho apprezzato l’incipit con una scena movimentata (cosa che purtroppo accade raramente) dall’altro lo stile mi ha fatto storcere il naso. Insomma, buona la vena avventurosa, che consente di non annoiarsi e mantenere un buon ritmo e anche i personaggi sono divertenti e abbastanza interessanti, ma lo stile... lo stile. Mai letto niente di tanto sintetico e raccontato. Ed è un peccato perché così la storia scivola via senza lasciare quasi niente.
Si vede lo sforzo nel cercare di rendere la storia avventurosa e non annoiare (non ci sono mai punti morti) e anche gli scambi di battute tra i personaggi non sono male; in tutto questo ricorda un’impostazione da manga e forse ne sarebbe venuto fuori un bel manga, ma gli manca ciò che definisce un libro: lo stile.
Andando avanti, poi, hanno cominciato a venire fuori anche le altre mancanze. I personaggi, per quanto superficialmente sembrino interessanti, non hanno il minimo approfondimento e alla fine sembra di non averli conosciuti affatto. Accanto a ciò, c’è il fatto che alcune svolte si rivelano banali. All’inizio l’atmosfera divertente e avventurosa ha permesso di ignorare la cosa, ma andando avanti certi passaggi si rivelavano parecchio ingenui e semplicistici e in generale ho trovato che ci fosse troppo buonismo.
Forse sarei riuscita a passare sopra a questi ultimi difetti se almeno lo stile fosse stato decente, ma non è stato così. Credo che l’autore si sia fatto influenzare molto da anime e manga, ma non abbia idea di cosa significhi scrivere un libro. Per quanto infatti alla fine non si riveli proprio osceno come libro, c’è anche da dire che è molto al di sotto della media dei libri pubblicati. L’ho letto senza difficoltà, ma si limita a scivolare addosso senza lasciare nulla.
November 12, 2017
Great action story.
I really liked the magic being used in a sensible way, nothing too fantastical. The characters are strong and I look forward to seeing them become even better as time goes on for the author. Fabulous step by step fight scenes and all in all the action is pretty dang good for a first book.
I really liked the magic being used in a sensible way, nothing too fantastical. The characters are strong and I look forward to seeing them become even better as time goes on for the author. Fabulous step by step fight scenes and all in all the action is pretty dang good for a first book.
March 26, 2018
I could not put this book down.
It starts right of with fast action and does not stop.
I like most of the characters in the book and I wish I had brothers like Dean and Eldric.
You discover something about both of them.
I like the way the characters are described and the way the scenes are set.
It starts right of with fast action and does not stop.
I like most of the characters in the book and I wish I had brothers like Dean and Eldric.
You discover something about both of them.
I like the way the characters are described and the way the scenes are set.
May 20, 2017
Not bad. It was a fast paced action packed adventure. I enjoyed the premise but I'm not sure how I feel about the characters.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc from the author.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc from the author.
March 12, 2018
this was quite fast paced action packed adventure. It was highly entertaining. I would recommend it to people who enjoy adventure books. Definitely entertaining read
July 3, 2018
I have not seen a good pirate adventure for some time.
July 28, 2020
Badly written, reads like a screenplay and often times confusing. A pity because the concept is fun.
February 5, 2018
I just didn’t understand what this book was all about. And well, I really really tried. At first, it did manage to catch my attention. But there just wasn’t anything that I really wanted to read about here.
I barely know anything about the world or even any of the characters at all. They are mostly just really really flat, and nothing really interested me about them.
And the plot was nowhere. For lack of better word. And if I don’t care for the characters, I really won’t care for the plot at all.
Perhaps it is because I just read too much of this genre, and I expect something to be different rather than generic. Which with this always happens to be the latter rather than the former. And also happened with this book.
Well, I guess I should take a break from this genre unless I’m certain that it is bringing something different to the table. Perhaps this is for you, but it certainly isn’t for me.
I barely know anything about the world or even any of the characters at all. They are mostly just really really flat, and nothing really interested me about them.
And the plot was nowhere. For lack of better word. And if I don’t care for the characters, I really won’t care for the plot at all.
Perhaps it is because I just read too much of this genre, and I expect something to be different rather than generic. Which with this always happens to be the latter rather than the former. And also happened with this book.
Well, I guess I should take a break from this genre unless I’m certain that it is bringing something different to the table. Perhaps this is for you, but it certainly isn’t for me.
June 28, 2016
Crossbones is a bit of a charming mess. The charm may just be in the nostalgia, though, because the plot, characters, and dialogue are tropes familiar to nerds of all fandoms. Surprise parentage, characters whose deaths have been greatly exaggerated, the sarcastic princess who is good with weaponry and will open her own damn doors but is totally up for a little fanservice just before the climactic storming of the castle, the etymological soup of improbable names- you've read it all before. All of it. Especially some of the more clichéd dialogue ("You cannot defeat me!"; "$realName? THE $realName?").
This book still reads like fanfiction, but it's fanfiction of an entire genre. All the familiar elements are present, in theoretically novel combinations, but nothing original is happening yet. Some amusingly awkward missteps (a secondary character named Errol Flynt; a character using magic to produce "blue balls"), anvil-drop backstory, and inconsistent editing add to the book's problems. Crossbones might not be irredeemable, but it certainly needed another draft and polish before being exposed to the harsh light of publication.
Still, the pace was quick and the drama was high, so fans of the genre might find this a fun read.
(Disclosure: I was provided with a review copy by the author.)
This book still reads like fanfiction, but it's fanfiction of an entire genre. All the familiar elements are present, in theoretically novel combinations, but nothing original is happening yet. Some amusingly awkward missteps (a secondary character named Errol Flynt; a character using magic to produce "blue balls"), anvil-drop backstory, and inconsistent editing add to the book's problems. Crossbones might not be irredeemable, but it certainly needed another draft and polish before being exposed to the harsh light of publication.
Still, the pace was quick and the drama was high, so fans of the genre might find this a fun read.
(Disclosure: I was provided with a review copy by the author.)
June 27, 2016
So, I'm part of the Booktasters community which means that when I took a look at this I got a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to read this book because immediately, it hit about three of my favourite things: pirates, fae, and magic. So I was more than happy to take a look.
I'll start by saying that I loved the idea behind it the moment I picked it up, and I could see a lot of spirit in the characters. I've mentioned before that I love brother/sister/family relationships, too. Dean and Eldric were fun characters, definite pirate types.
I think the part that was less great, for me, was that everything moved so fast. It felt like one minute we were out on a ship in a storm and then the next there were new people that we hadn't been properly introduced to, changes of scenery, lore that could have been expanded on. As a book, Crossbones is very short, but not through lack of content. It seems like it's that way through lack of expansion.
I'm awful for remembering to give certain detail at times myself, but this does make me a little sad. I think this book could be SO GOOD. It just needs a little more of that life poured into it.
I wanted to read this book because immediately, it hit about three of my favourite things: pirates, fae, and magic. So I was more than happy to take a look.
I'll start by saying that I loved the idea behind it the moment I picked it up, and I could see a lot of spirit in the characters. I've mentioned before that I love brother/sister/family relationships, too. Dean and Eldric were fun characters, definite pirate types.
I think the part that was less great, for me, was that everything moved so fast. It felt like one minute we were out on a ship in a storm and then the next there were new people that we hadn't been properly introduced to, changes of scenery, lore that could have been expanded on. As a book, Crossbones is very short, but not through lack of content. It seems like it's that way through lack of expansion.
I'm awful for remembering to give certain detail at times myself, but this does make me a little sad. I think this book could be SO GOOD. It just needs a little more of that life poured into it.
June 27, 2016
So, I'm part of the Booktasters community which means that when I took a look at this I got a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to read this book because immediately, it hit about three of my favourite things: pirates, fae, and magic. So I was more than happy to take a look.
I'll start by saying that I loved the idea behind it the moment I picked it up, and I could see a lot of spirit in the characters. I've mentioned before that I love brother/sister/family relationships, too. Dean and Eldric were fun characters, definite pirate types.
I think the part that was less great, for me, was that everything moved so fast. It felt like one minute we were out on a ship in a storm and then the next there were new people that we hadn't been properly introduced to, changes of scenery, lore that could have been expanded on. As a book, Crossbones is very short, but not through lack of content. It seems like it's that way through lack of expansion.
I'm awful for remembering to give certain detail at times myself, but this does make me a little sad. I think this book could be SO GOOD. It just needs a little more of that life poured into it.
I wanted to read this book because immediately, it hit about three of my favourite things: pirates, fae, and magic. So I was more than happy to take a look.
I'll start by saying that I loved the idea behind it the moment I picked it up, and I could see a lot of spirit in the characters. I've mentioned before that I love brother/sister/family relationships, too. Dean and Eldric were fun characters, definite pirate types.
I think the part that was less great, for me, was that everything moved so fast. It felt like one minute we were out on a ship in a storm and then the next there were new people that we hadn't been properly introduced to, changes of scenery, lore that could have been expanded on. As a book, Crossbones is very short, but not through lack of content. It seems like it's that way through lack of expansion.
I'm awful for remembering to give certain detail at times myself, but this does make me a little sad. I think this book could be SO GOOD. It just needs a little more of that life poured into it.
January 21, 2017
This was great fun! It would have been rated higher if not for the tremendous cliffhanger. The book is pure action with a fast pace and LOTS of gore. There are so many beheadings, throat slittings, blood spraying, etc that I definitely don't recommend it for the squeamish! Chapters are extremely short, just scenes really, and that's what keeps everything moving along so briskly. The brothers have very engaging personalities. Dean is impulsive, reckless, manic, and protective. Eldric is skeptical, humorous, a planner, and Dean's reins. Other characters are similarly well crafted and enjoyable. The magic elements are big and spectacular (and contribute highly to the body count). I feel fortunate to be reading the book now that the second in the series is coming out than before when there was such a wait on the resolution to that cliffhanger. Of course I think the pattern is set and I have a sneaking suspicion that the next we may find the same device in future installments. But I'm still willing to endure it just to have more of this great swashbuckling adventure and great characters.
December 30, 2015
Pirates and fae, now all that's missing is romance
I really liked this book and have high hopes for the continuing story about the orphan brothers Eldric and Dean. Thea both have rather interesting abilities of ice and fire. (No other resemblance to G R R Martins boks though) I found that although short, I got invested in the story and I want to read more.
The book did not end with a major cliffhanger, but rather an interesting revelation that made me curious about wether One or the other brother would get the mystery princess.
I hope that the next installments would be a bit longer as I personally prefer not to finish a book in under 1 hour
Highly entertaining book with quirky, fun dialogs that seemed real and not forced.
Thank you to both author @StefanMNardi and @booktips_tweet that made it possible for me to read this book.
I really liked this book and have high hopes for the continuing story about the orphan brothers Eldric and Dean. Thea both have rather interesting abilities of ice and fire. (No other resemblance to G R R Martins boks though) I found that although short, I got invested in the story and I want to read more.
The book did not end with a major cliffhanger, but rather an interesting revelation that made me curious about wether One or the other brother would get the mystery princess.
I hope that the next installments would be a bit longer as I personally prefer not to finish a book in under 1 hour
Highly entertaining book with quirky, fun dialogs that seemed real and not forced.
Thank you to both author @StefanMNardi and @booktips_tweet that made it possible for me to read this book.
January 3, 2016
"Crossbones Episode 1" is the first installment of the series "Crossbones Season 1". We start the book with Dean and Eldric Whitettakes, the two principal character of the story, who have a gift that allow the control over the elements of fire and ice. This episode is composed by 37 pages where the author has captured and entertained the attention of the reader. I found the reading fast and intriguing; we find lots of action, magic and piracy. Crossbones is a good young adult novel for everyone who loves action mixed with magic. I really enjoyed reading this book! And I recommend it to everyone who loves this type of adventure. And many thanks to @StefanMNardi and @Booktipos_tweet for giving to me the opportunity to read this book! Thanks , Grazie ! :)
July 4, 2016
For me this was a slow start. There were so many characters, so many back stories that it was a twisting turning hodgepodge of a story forming. All the while swashbuckling heroines and Heroes danced across the pages.
It took a while but once the action started it was griping. I'm eagerly awaiting the next books in this series.
This has a slow start but if you hang in you catch glimpses of how well this story will plough forward. I can easily see this as a movie or mini series! The characters are well drawn out and the female lead is no shrinking violet.
The way the book ended was a great surprise but to paraphrase Shakespeare death need not be the end...
It took a while but once the action started it was griping. I'm eagerly awaiting the next books in this series.
This has a slow start but if you hang in you catch glimpses of how well this story will plough forward. I can easily see this as a movie or mini series! The characters are well drawn out and the female lead is no shrinking violet.
The way the book ended was a great surprise but to paraphrase Shakespeare death need not be the end...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2017
This is a magical fantasy fraught with violence, blood and gore. The brothers at the centre of this tale are men of action.
A ship has sails not sales.
Either:
His uncle selected a sword from the table of weapons that had been set out for them and passed it to him.
Or:
and selected his own weapon from the table.
A horse has reins not reigns.
By way of saying this text needs an editor’s attention.
The book has many short chapters and moves quickly along. With some attention it could be an excellent read but its violence marks it as an adult read. This is a freebie given to sell future volumes in the series.
A ship has sails not sales.
Either:
His uncle selected a sword from the table of weapons that had been set out for them and passed it to him.
Or:
and selected his own weapon from the table.
A horse has reins not reigns.
By way of saying this text needs an editor’s attention.
The book has many short chapters and moves quickly along. With some attention it could be an excellent read but its violence marks it as an adult read. This is a freebie given to sell future volumes in the series.
July 10, 2016
Crossbones is a enjoyable short novel. Loads of action packed on every chapter.
When I started reading I thought muy copy was missing pages because every chapter cuts to the chase. What you read is what happens. Dont go looking for stilted and pages long landscape descriptions.
Interesting characters outlined between the sword and magic fights. Yes, this is Pirates with magic trying to free their world from evil.
Certainly i' ll be reading the sequels to keep up with Dean and the rest of the troupe.
When I started reading I thought muy copy was missing pages because every chapter cuts to the chase. What you read is what happens. Dont go looking for stilted and pages long landscape descriptions.
Interesting characters outlined between the sword and magic fights. Yes, this is Pirates with magic trying to free their world from evil.
Certainly i' ll be reading the sequels to keep up with Dean and the rest of the troupe.
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