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Lords of Arcadia #4
Stormfront
Sequel to The Unseen Tempest
Lords of Book Four
Kane’s ordinary life became anything but when he met his soul mate, Hawk, and was drawn into a world of enchantment with rules very different from the world he left behind. Together, Kane and Hawk are on a quest to prevent the destruction of the Nine Realms, and that means rescuing Hawk’s mother and putting a stop to Hawk’s father’s evil plans.
The end of the journey is within their sights at last, but time is running out. Kane and Hawk’s mission to free Titania from the Big Bad Wolf and save Athens from Oberon’s wrath will lead them through many different worlds. And their adventure won’t end there—they will have to face the one who has been pulling the strings and manipulating the situation all along before the Nine Realms will be safe. It’s a journey that will leave them—and everything else—irreparably changed.
Lords of Book Four
Kane’s ordinary life became anything but when he met his soul mate, Hawk, and was drawn into a world of enchantment with rules very different from the world he left behind. Together, Kane and Hawk are on a quest to prevent the destruction of the Nine Realms, and that means rescuing Hawk’s mother and putting a stop to Hawk’s father’s evil plans.
The end of the journey is within their sights at last, but time is running out. Kane and Hawk’s mission to free Titania from the Big Bad Wolf and save Athens from Oberon’s wrath will lead them through many different worlds. And their adventure won’t end there—they will have to face the one who has been pulling the strings and manipulating the situation all along before the Nine Realms will be safe. It’s a journey that will leave them—and everything else—irreparably changed.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2017
4 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
John Goode
35 books669 followersJohn Goode is a member of the class of '88 from Hogwarts school of wizardry, specializing in incantations and spoken spells. At the age of 14 he proudly represented District 13 in the 65th Panem games where he was disqualified for crying uncontrollably before the competition began. After that he moved to Forks, Washington where, against all odds, dated the hot, incredibly approachable werewolf instead of the stuck up jerk of a vampire but was crushed when he found out the werewolf was actually gayer than he was. After that he turned down the mandatory operation everyone must receive at 16 to become pretty citing that everyone pretty were just too stupid to live before moving away for greener pastures. After falling down an oddly large rabbit hole he became huge when his love for cakes combined with his inability to resist what sparsely worded notes commanded and was finally kicked out when he began playing solitaire with the Red Queen's 4th armored division. By 18 he had found the land in the back of his wardrobe but decided that thinly veiled religious allegories where not the neighbors he desired. When last seen he had become obsessed with growing a pair of wings after becoming obsessed with Fang's blog and hasn't been seen since.
Or he is this guy who lives in this place and writes stuff he hopes you read.
Or he is this guy who lives in this place and writes stuff he hopes you read.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 30, 2018
Wow, wow, wow, just... WOW!
This 4-book story was an epic journey, folks.
From beginning to end, this series kept me fully engaged, loving every single moment, and horrified/thrilled at the many unexpected plot twists.
This was definitely a story where I did not, could not predict what was going to happen.
And I loved every single moment along the way, with its loose references to "human" tales like 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'Narnia'. Hell, John even threw in some 'The Three Little Pigs' for good measure.
Other than a bit more romance, I truly couldn't have asked for anything more, so 5 full stars for this entire series.
All 4 of these books are going straight onto my Favorites shelf.
February 23, 2018
Stormfront (Lords of Arcadia, book 4)
By John Goode and J.G. Morgan
Harmony Ink Press, 2017
Four stars
“This, this is just the beginning.”
Whew, ending a series with a cliffhanger! Gutsy, and in this case, it makes a weird kind of sense. Or maybe it’s the start of another series? Or maybe John Goode is just hoping to spark our imaginations, since no story is ever really ended, especially if it caught us up in its journey.
Kane Vess and his boyfriend, Hawk’keen Maragold, enter the final chapter of their whirlwind epic and discover new depths of courage and commitment. Their motley crew of magical beings push themselves to their various limits and test new understandings of loyalty and justice that go beyond narrow beliefs or cultural prejudices. The good guys in this series are wildly diverse, but so are the bad guys. The clash of culture and magic all hinges on doing the right thing—and determining what the right thing is.
I really enjoyed this series—which I read over a period of five or six years. Goode has managed to take this well-worked genre and give it freshness and a contemporary edge. There is also lots of wry humor and very modern sass. As the author says in his afterword, however, it is the centrality of the two young gay characters that really anchors it in my heart. As much as I enjoyed this as an older gay man, I can only imagine what it would have done for me as a teenager. I read Lord of the Rings as a teenager, but read Harry Potter as an adult—in fact read it to my children. One thing that seems to link all variations of this kind of youth-oriented fantasy fiction is the power of love, and the notion of sharing love with those who need it. In the world today, this is a message that cannot be reiterated too frequently.
There are surely a lot of tales to be told about the Nine Realms, even if they’re just in our imaginations.
By John Goode and J.G. Morgan
Harmony Ink Press, 2017
Four stars
“This, this is just the beginning.”
Whew, ending a series with a cliffhanger! Gutsy, and in this case, it makes a weird kind of sense. Or maybe it’s the start of another series? Or maybe John Goode is just hoping to spark our imaginations, since no story is ever really ended, especially if it caught us up in its journey.
Kane Vess and his boyfriend, Hawk’keen Maragold, enter the final chapter of their whirlwind epic and discover new depths of courage and commitment. Their motley crew of magical beings push themselves to their various limits and test new understandings of loyalty and justice that go beyond narrow beliefs or cultural prejudices. The good guys in this series are wildly diverse, but so are the bad guys. The clash of culture and magic all hinges on doing the right thing—and determining what the right thing is.
I really enjoyed this series—which I read over a period of five or six years. Goode has managed to take this well-worked genre and give it freshness and a contemporary edge. There is also lots of wry humor and very modern sass. As the author says in his afterword, however, it is the centrality of the two young gay characters that really anchors it in my heart. As much as I enjoyed this as an older gay man, I can only imagine what it would have done for me as a teenager. I read Lord of the Rings as a teenager, but read Harry Potter as an adult—in fact read it to my children. One thing that seems to link all variations of this kind of youth-oriented fantasy fiction is the power of love, and the notion of sharing love with those who need it. In the world today, this is a message that cannot be reiterated too frequently.
There are surely a lot of tales to be told about the Nine Realms, even if they’re just in our imaginations.
April 11, 2017
I could ask ten different people what their definition of romance is, and probably get ten different answers. If anyone were to ask me if this book is romantic, I’d have to give that question a ginormous yes, not only because it is, but because it is so for several different reasons. The relationships in the Arcadia series, especially that between Hawk and Kane, are everything you might think of when you think of fairy tale romance—the one significant difference being that I don’t buy into it because it fits a certain trope. I’m invested in Hawk and Kane’s relationship because of the time the authors have taken to build a loving and mutual respect between these two young heroes. They may be soul connected, their bond may defy any sort of real world definition, but what makes it realistic is that barring the magic that joins them, it doesn’t feel like an exaggeration to say that Hawk and Kane would still be each other’s everything. That, to me, is about as romantic as it gets.
And now is where I get to throw in a big BUT. But, this book is so much more than a teen romance, and I don’t want to boil it down to that because the world-building and attention to detail are what makes this series rock so hard. Borrowing characters and throwing in myriad fictional references from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Frankenstein, Jack and the Beanstalk, and who knows how many others I either missed or am forgetting, making your way through this novel is like a smile inducing easter egg hunt and an action-packed quest to save the world, all rolled into one. There’s never a moment where the writing team of John Goode and J.G. Morgan allow you to forget you’re in the midst of an epic fantasy, but there are times you might forget Hawk and Kane are so young because of the adult sized hero’s journey they have on their hands. This is one of the many details that elevates this novel; it shows the utmost respect for the intelligence of its teen audience, but it’s thanks to Kane’s point-of-view narration and his sly quips that we’re reminded he’s a contemporary teenager with fantastical powers. And it’s the sacrifices both he and Hawk make that remind us they’re deserving of their hero title.
Stopping Oberon, Hawk’s father, and rescuing Hawk’s mother, Titania, from an unexpected captor takes a lot of help, so the story is told from multiple points of view out of absolute necessity. Every single character—elves, a barbarian, a clockwork girl, sentient gems, and the Fates, just to name a few—plays a significant part in the carrying out of Hawk and Kane’s mission to keep the World Seed safe until it can be planted and the Nine Realms reunited. Through it all, the mission is met with suspenseful moments, uncertain alliances, and unimaginable sacrifice. Not to mention the sort of excellent writing that allows readers to picture every single fantastical scene as it’s playing out. The final scenes back in Athens, in the human realm and Kane’s hometown, are not only filled with some outstanding imagery, but there are some pretty awesome lessons on hand as well, ones I embraced for being true while avoiding being preachy. Not to mention it sets up some interesting character and story advancement as the series moves forward.
With plenty of “aw” moments, any number of reasons to smile and cheer and hold my breath in anticipation, Stormfront delivers an adventure fraught with danger and action, and a diverse reading experience which the authors deftly ended with a baited hook that has left me anticipating the next leg of the journey—one that is inherently and utterly romantic in its hope to resurrect true love.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach Reviews
And now is where I get to throw in a big BUT. But, this book is so much more than a teen romance, and I don’t want to boil it down to that because the world-building and attention to detail are what makes this series rock so hard. Borrowing characters and throwing in myriad fictional references from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Frankenstein, Jack and the Beanstalk, and who knows how many others I either missed or am forgetting, making your way through this novel is like a smile inducing easter egg hunt and an action-packed quest to save the world, all rolled into one. There’s never a moment where the writing team of John Goode and J.G. Morgan allow you to forget you’re in the midst of an epic fantasy, but there are times you might forget Hawk and Kane are so young because of the adult sized hero’s journey they have on their hands. This is one of the many details that elevates this novel; it shows the utmost respect for the intelligence of its teen audience, but it’s thanks to Kane’s point-of-view narration and his sly quips that we’re reminded he’s a contemporary teenager with fantastical powers. And it’s the sacrifices both he and Hawk make that remind us they’re deserving of their hero title.
Stopping Oberon, Hawk’s father, and rescuing Hawk’s mother, Titania, from an unexpected captor takes a lot of help, so the story is told from multiple points of view out of absolute necessity. Every single character—elves, a barbarian, a clockwork girl, sentient gems, and the Fates, just to name a few—plays a significant part in the carrying out of Hawk and Kane’s mission to keep the World Seed safe until it can be planted and the Nine Realms reunited. Through it all, the mission is met with suspenseful moments, uncertain alliances, and unimaginable sacrifice. Not to mention the sort of excellent writing that allows readers to picture every single fantastical scene as it’s playing out. The final scenes back in Athens, in the human realm and Kane’s hometown, are not only filled with some outstanding imagery, but there are some pretty awesome lessons on hand as well, ones I embraced for being true while avoiding being preachy. Not to mention it sets up some interesting character and story advancement as the series moves forward.
With plenty of “aw” moments, any number of reasons to smile and cheer and hold my breath in anticipation, Stormfront delivers an adventure fraught with danger and action, and a diverse reading experience which the authors deftly ended with a baited hook that has left me anticipating the next leg of the journey—one that is inherently and utterly romantic in its hope to resurrect true love.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach Reviews
May 23, 2018
4.5 stars. I blame myself for this. While I was following Todd's reviews when he was reading, not once did I ask "is this series complete?" *sigh* And it is not. Once again, I am left hanging while Kane and Hawk and the rest run off to the next part of the adventure. *side-eyes John Goode* Which I'm telling myself will be soon. Because I need it to be. Soon.
Great series, I'm so caught up in the story. Exciting, fast paced, action packed plot set in a wildly imaginative world with entertaining characters and a sweet romance. A bit more romance is really all I could possibly wish for.
Soon, right?
Great series, I'm so caught up in the story. Exciting, fast paced, action packed plot set in a wildly imaginative world with entertaining characters and a sweet romance. A bit more romance is really all I could possibly wish for.
Soon, right?
March 14, 2017
WOW! EPIC!
This book blew my mind!
If you're reading this, than just like me, you must be a Lords of Arcadia fan and have been waiting for the next chapter in this adventure for a while now. And wow, was the wait worth it!
The world building, the intrigue, the suspense (omg, THE SUSPENSE)and the turnarounds in plot will keep you on the edge of your sit and you won't get a wink of sleep until you get to the end.
The book starts exactly where "The Unseen Tempest" left off and our beloved hero and main character Ruber....eh... just kidding, but I am as you know "Sonia ~Ruber's fiancé in Crystal Court universe~ Nosia ". So, we jump right in the middle of things where our awesome heroes, Kane and Hawk, together with their ever growing entourage are planing their next moves against Oberon and Inmediares. The threat they're preparing to face is great and imminent, therefore, unlikely and sometimes dangerous alliances are formed by our heroes in their quest to stop the end of the Nine Realms.
I won't get into plot details because that will ruin the whole experience of the book (trust me, you must stay away from any and all spoilers because the emotions some of the table turners will evoke will blow your mind). But I do want to mention a few things that you should expect:
- AMAZING character development!!! Not only for Kane (boy, will he surprise you) and Hawk, but also for Ferra and Molly (I had loooots of questions about Molly and her creators that were finally answered.. prepare yourself... seriously PREPARE!!!), Ruber, Adamas, Kane and Hawk's parents.... Finally! So many answers! And what I loved the most is that almost all of them surprised me.. I didn't see them coming; and in my opinion that's how you can tell quality writing apart.
- New awesome characters! Who will be both good and bad, but they will entertain you to no end. One of my new favorites is Woogie and I will share with you a quote from the book:
- EPIC BATTLES There are many fight scenes in the book (a war is amiss after all) but you should look forward to Hawk and the Wolf King's awesome fight, which I loooved but also broke a little of my heart (you'll see why) and also Kane's battle with... well... a lot of people *snickers* you don't know how loaded that statement is *wink*
- PLOT TWISTS Sooo many of them!! My adrenaline skyrocketed so many times!!
You just need to read the book. The writing is AMAZING, but I was already expecting that from John Goode and also his co-writer J.G. Morgan.
I had the honor to read a first draft of "Stormfront" before publishing day, and i finished it in one night, I had no sleep.. It is that amazing. I've read this book 3 times now and I still can't get enough.
I will leave you with this :
This book blew my mind!
If you're reading this, than just like me, you must be a Lords of Arcadia fan and have been waiting for the next chapter in this adventure for a while now. And wow, was the wait worth it!
The world building, the intrigue, the suspense (omg, THE SUSPENSE)and the turnarounds in plot will keep you on the edge of your sit and you won't get a wink of sleep until you get to the end.
The book starts exactly where "The Unseen Tempest" left off and our beloved hero and main character Ruber....eh... just kidding, but I am as you know "Sonia ~Ruber's fiancé in Crystal Court universe~ Nosia ". So, we jump right in the middle of things where our awesome heroes, Kane and Hawk, together with their ever growing entourage are planing their next moves against Oberon and Inmediares. The threat they're preparing to face is great and imminent, therefore, unlikely and sometimes dangerous alliances are formed by our heroes in their quest to stop the end of the Nine Realms.
I won't get into plot details because that will ruin the whole experience of the book (trust me, you must stay away from any and all spoilers because the emotions some of the table turners will evoke will blow your mind). But I do want to mention a few things that you should expect:
- AMAZING character development!!! Not only for Kane (boy, will he surprise you) and Hawk, but also for Ferra and Molly (I had loooots of questions about Molly and her creators that were finally answered.. prepare yourself... seriously PREPARE!!!), Ruber, Adamas, Kane and Hawk's parents.... Finally! So many answers! And what I loved the most is that almost all of them surprised me.. I didn't see them coming; and in my opinion that's how you can tell quality writing apart.
- New awesome characters! Who will be both good and bad, but they will entertain you to no end. One of my new favorites is Woogie and I will share with you a quote from the book:
“Good enough to teleport in without you noticing,” a voice replied from way up in the shadows that obscured the ceiling.
We all looked up, expecting a wizard of great importance to come floating down in a ball of light or some crap. Instead a small dragon, no bigger than a full-grown cat glided down on the tiny bat-like wings on its back. The same purple as an oil slick, the Woogie had iridescent scales that changed colors with the movement in light. It landed in front of Demain and bowed deeply, which looked comical coming from something so small.
“You bellowed?” I liked him already.
From the smirk in his thoughts, so did Hawk.
“You will respect me, lizard,” she snapped, gritting her teeth.
“I did,” it replied with mock surprise.
“Didn’t you see me bow? Should I curtsy as well?”
- EPIC BATTLES There are many fight scenes in the book (a war is amiss after all) but you should look forward to Hawk and the Wolf King's awesome fight, which I loooved but also broke a little of my heart (you'll see why) and also Kane's battle with... well... a lot of people *snickers* you don't know how loaded that statement is *wink*
- PLOT TWISTS Sooo many of them!! My adrenaline skyrocketed so many times!!
You just need to read the book. The writing is AMAZING, but I was already expecting that from John Goode and also his co-writer J.G. Morgan.
I had the honor to read a first draft of "Stormfront" before publishing day, and i finished it in one night, I had no sleep.. It is that amazing. I've read this book 3 times now and I still can't get enough.
I will leave you with this :
May 2, 2018
Awwww man
Freaking have to wait. I hate waiting.
And now I'm impatient and a pouter.
This one wrapped up some important plot lines, left a couple of small danglers, and opened the door for a whole new world of storyline possibilities.
And the end ... well the end was the bomb. And now I have to wait. Thus, the pouting.
So, I'll leave it at that, spoiler-free. Read this series, you won't regret it. Then you can join me on the bench with the rest of the pouters until book 5 comes out.
Freaking have to wait. I hate waiting.
And now I'm impatient and a pouter.
This one wrapped up some important plot lines, left a couple of small danglers, and opened the door for a whole new world of storyline possibilities.
And the end ... well the end was the bomb. And now I have to wait. Thus, the pouting.
So, I'll leave it at that, spoiler-free. Read this series, you won't regret it. Then you can join me on the bench with the rest of the pouters until book 5 comes out.
March 10, 2017
The whole series was great YA fiction, and the author's retelling and interpretation of classic works gave fresh life to the old stories. And it was fun to read, great!
May 2, 2018
It's been a long time since a series has grabbed me like this one. From the very start it was a wild ride and the hits just kept on coming. You know that saying " never a dull moment ?" Well I swear it was invented to describe this entire 4 book series. Like I stated in a review of the previous book YA is not usually my thing, but this series just took hold and doesn't let go. There is a lot going on, without too much going on if you catch my drift. I was easily able to follow all the connecting story lines and I thoroughly enjoyed how they all came together in the end. I wasn't just invested in the MCs, but the fates of all the supporting heroes along for the ride. John Goode can tell a story, and he can tell it well. The writing was spectacular. A truly engaging series which I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy. 5 stars
October 8, 2018
What an excellent series. I am really glad I found it after it was all out so I didn’t have to wait for the next book....maybe? I liked the way book 4 ends with the hint that there could be another book or not. The characters and world building is really fantastic. I loved the way all the fairy tales were woven into the story.
July 23, 2017
Wow this was just great ! So many twists that I didn't see coming at all ! We get to know more about all our characters too !
This should be read by every fantasy fan ! It's not a gay story it's a story about pure fantasy at its best where characters happen to be gay. It's not the focus IMO
This should be read by every fantasy fan ! It's not a gay story it's a story about pure fantasy at its best where characters happen to be gay. It's not the focus IMO
March 19, 2019
There's a tear or two in my eye, which is high praise coming from me. I'm pleased not merely with the story, though it does wrap up beautifully. I'm also enchanted with the big picture--the dream of a world where power is shared and heroes rely on collaboration to get things done. Kane is who I'd like to be, and the world he works to build is one I'd be content to join.
So much of what has turned me away from fantasy is the lack of vision. Even celebrated authors seemed unable or unwilling to imagine an equitable world that is better than what we humans have created. How could these staggering talents fail to execute a utopia that someone would actually find appealing? Why was the lone, brooding hero so popular? What made so many of these writers believe that inventing whole universes was reasonable, but inventing a truly just society was a bridge too far? Why did so many notable fantasy books cling stubbornly to the status quo? Surely if any genre could escape our "99% versus 1%" power struggle, it would be fantasy. So why did I always feel empty when I read these supposedly ground-breaking books?
I think I have my answer. It takes authors like John Goode, who dream of better and give it life, to speak to my spirit. It takes courage to develop flawed but selfless characters like Kane. It takes guts to insist that humans could choose to live in a kinder world. It's a bit of a blue sky thought, sure ... but I'd rather read stories that dare to imagine that better world than those that repackage what we have now, add a few dragons and call it fantasy.
We need these stories. We need the representation and diversity they bring, and we need the compassionate optimism that understands who we are while believing in who we could be. Now that I know there are people out there, telling that kind of story, I want nothing less.
So much of what has turned me away from fantasy is the lack of vision. Even celebrated authors seemed unable or unwilling to imagine an equitable world that is better than what we humans have created. How could these staggering talents fail to execute a utopia that someone would actually find appealing? Why was the lone, brooding hero so popular? What made so many of these writers believe that inventing whole universes was reasonable, but inventing a truly just society was a bridge too far? Why did so many notable fantasy books cling stubbornly to the status quo? Surely if any genre could escape our "99% versus 1%" power struggle, it would be fantasy. So why did I always feel empty when I read these supposedly ground-breaking books?
I think I have my answer. It takes authors like John Goode, who dream of better and give it life, to speak to my spirit. It takes courage to develop flawed but selfless characters like Kane. It takes guts to insist that humans could choose to live in a kinder world. It's a bit of a blue sky thought, sure ... but I'd rather read stories that dare to imagine that better world than those that repackage what we have now, add a few dragons and call it fantasy.
We need these stories. We need the representation and diversity they bring, and we need the compassionate optimism that understands who we are while believing in who we could be. Now that I know there are people out there, telling that kind of story, I want nothing less.
August 16, 2019
Wow. A LOT happened in this book.
Let me just say that I loved this series. Mythology, magic, action, adventure, romance, it had EVERYTHING. I'm sad that this is the last in the series but also excited because the ending left things open for more but that means waiting! But within all of the elements there's the love and cherishing between Hawk and Kane and that's what drew me to the series in the first place.
Anxiously awaiting more!
Let me just say that I loved this series. Mythology, magic, action, adventure, romance, it had EVERYTHING. I'm sad that this is the last in the series but also excited because the ending left things open for more but that means waiting! But within all of the elements there's the love and cherishing between Hawk and Kane and that's what drew me to the series in the first place.
Anxiously awaiting more!
March 17, 2017
A nice wrap up for the YA series.
February 20, 2019
Really good!!!
July 9, 2020
Rating =
4.5 Stars - really clever at the end
Blurb = (Scale 1-5)
4
My Genre Scale = (Scale 1-5)
3 - 1 star for YA and 5 stars for fantasy
Development of: = (Scale 1-5)
*World = 5 (at least when combined as a series. Read back to back, so it is difficult to tell for the individual book.
*Plot = 4
*Characters (scratch below the surface?) = 4
What stood out =
The message the author inbeds in the story. How the World Tree is saved. The Diamond King. Definitely "The Promise" and how it works.
Warnings =
None - except those sensitive to shifting POV's
Series Notes = 4th and final thus far
*Reading on? N/A
*Reading back to back? Yes, all 4
*Can be easily read without the previous? Hard for me to tell due to the above. My guess - possible but I would suggest reading them all.
Rating Notes =
This ends with a solid HFN. For the relationship itself it's a HEA, they just still have a lot to take care of before they can focus just on themselves. I was pleased with how this arc was wrapped up, but the author opened some doors for future books.
It flowed okay and kept me engaged. A few times the POV's didn't seem quite as clear but weren't bad. And as previously mentioned in prior reviews, I wish the author had chosen a different name for Ater. My brain kept reading it as "after" thinking it was a typo especially when the 1st word in the sentence.
I felt in many ways the series got better as it went along; which is a nice thing. I could feel this was a labor of love for the author not about just publishing quickly as possible for the money. That really helps. I also loved the comments and thoughts by the author after each story.
**************
Below are my explanations or thoughts on reviewing!
***************
1.Obviously no one review can take into account all the various personal pet peeves of readers. But, I do try to take into account the common ones often bemoaned by other reviewers
2. My thoughts on the use of the term Brain candy - It has its uses, and at times, it is my preference; so it does not carry a negative connotation for me - unless I'm expecting the next great novel. (What falls under brain candy? The book is meant for pure entertainment to pass time. It may be formulaic, from an author published quickly like monthly, things escalate fast, and are often solved easily etc.. Publishing industries version of pop music. Beach type reads etc... ).
3. Blurb rating purpose:
Like many readers, I do not like to think I'm reading one kind of story; just to end up with another type. But...I also don't think a book should be docked stars for being as stated. If I don't like stories about "_________", and I choose to read one. I shouldn't give it 2 stars based JUST on my preferences. Unless... it wasn't clear in the blurb.
4. Other Factors that effect my perspective when revising:
Since 2009, I have exclusively read m/m. My 1st was in 2007. I am a Kindle diehard, and I never do audio for m/m. I read at least 100+ books a year - with an average length of 220± pages; but the total number of books is usually much higher. My Goodreads lifetime rating (at the start of 2020) was a 3.72 average for 1390 books. Which considering, you should be better at picking out books the more you read, , I feel is a accurate average. I have over 700 reviews within the m/m genre here on Goodreads.
4.5 Stars - really clever at the end
Blurb = (Scale 1-5)
4
My Genre Scale = (Scale 1-5)
3 - 1 star for YA and 5 stars for fantasy
Development of: = (Scale 1-5)
*World = 5 (at least when combined as a series. Read back to back, so it is difficult to tell for the individual book.
*Plot = 4
*Characters (scratch below the surface?) = 4
What stood out =
The message the author inbeds in the story. How the World Tree is saved. The Diamond King. Definitely "The Promise" and how it works.
Warnings =
None - except those sensitive to shifting POV's
Series Notes = 4th and final thus far
*Reading on? N/A
*Reading back to back? Yes, all 4
*Can be easily read without the previous? Hard for me to tell due to the above. My guess - possible but I would suggest reading them all.
Rating Notes =
This ends with a solid HFN. For the relationship itself it's a HEA, they just still have a lot to take care of before they can focus just on themselves. I was pleased with how this arc was wrapped up, but the author opened some doors for future books.
It flowed okay and kept me engaged. A few times the POV's didn't seem quite as clear but weren't bad. And as previously mentioned in prior reviews, I wish the author had chosen a different name for Ater. My brain kept reading it as "after" thinking it was a typo especially when the 1st word in the sentence.
I felt in many ways the series got better as it went along; which is a nice thing. I could feel this was a labor of love for the author not about just publishing quickly as possible for the money. That really helps. I also loved the comments and thoughts by the author after each story.
**************
Below are my explanations or thoughts on reviewing!
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1.Obviously no one review can take into account all the various personal pet peeves of readers. But, I do try to take into account the common ones often bemoaned by other reviewers
2. My thoughts on the use of the term Brain candy - It has its uses, and at times, it is my preference; so it does not carry a negative connotation for me - unless I'm expecting the next great novel. (What falls under brain candy? The book is meant for pure entertainment to pass time. It may be formulaic, from an author published quickly like monthly, things escalate fast, and are often solved easily etc.. Publishing industries version of pop music. Beach type reads etc... ).
3. Blurb rating purpose:
Like many readers, I do not like to think I'm reading one kind of story; just to end up with another type. But...I also don't think a book should be docked stars for being as stated. If I don't like stories about "_________", and I choose to read one. I shouldn't give it 2 stars based JUST on my preferences. Unless... it wasn't clear in the blurb.
4. Other Factors that effect my perspective when revising:
Since 2009, I have exclusively read m/m. My 1st was in 2007. I am a Kindle diehard, and I never do audio for m/m. I read at least 100+ books a year - with an average length of 220± pages; but the total number of books is usually much higher. My Goodreads lifetime rating (at the start of 2020) was a 3.72 average for 1390 books. Which considering, you should be better at picking out books the more you read, , I feel is a accurate average. I have over 700 reviews within the m/m genre here on Goodreads.
May 22, 2018
3.5 stars.
February 27, 2017
Well these books certainly did make an impression on me. I thought the first and the second were pretty good, but the third and fourth had a few things that I wish were different but were also good.
The first thing that kind of irked me in the third and fourth books was the breaking of the fourth wall every few pages. I know it was meant to be funny, but I honestly thought it just took away from the story. Once per book would have been fine, but it started happening every time Kane's POV ended and that was a little irritating.
The second thing that I wish had been different was the suspense... or lack thereof. I never felt at any point in the books that a main character would die. But it is a YA book, not an adult one, so I really can't complain about it too much.
The third thing that I didn't like was the main character's attitude toward killing things. I'm perfectly fine with the main character being a pacifist but I thought it was taken too far. For instance, *SPOILER* Hawk was nearly killed because he and Kane's soul blade didn't cut Inmediares except to give her a paper cut. Yes, I shit you not. A paper cut. How would Kane feel if Hawk died because his weapon is useless? That's what I was thinking when that happened. But of course Hawk didn't die because he's a main character. *SPOILER*
One last thing that that I personally didn't like was Molly and Ferra's perspective. Often I was so bored with it that I skipped it entirely. I felt like they were given characterization that could have gone to Hawk and Kane or Ater and Kor. I felt like by the end the main character's relationship was given less work than Molly and Ferra's and I liked the main characters much better so I was pretty disappointed in that.
All in all, I did enjoy the books despite their shortcomings. The ending felt a little like an advert for socialism, which is wonderful in theory but hasn't worked in practice. The author also left a few loose ends that I hope he intends to clean up in the future, perhaps with another series.
The first thing that kind of irked me in the third and fourth books was the breaking of the fourth wall every few pages. I know it was meant to be funny, but I honestly thought it just took away from the story. Once per book would have been fine, but it started happening every time Kane's POV ended and that was a little irritating.
The second thing that I wish had been different was the suspense... or lack thereof. I never felt at any point in the books that a main character would die. But it is a YA book, not an adult one, so I really can't complain about it too much.
The third thing that I didn't like was the main character's attitude toward killing things. I'm perfectly fine with the main character being a pacifist but I thought it was taken too far. For instance, *SPOILER* Hawk was nearly killed because he and Kane's soul blade didn't cut Inmediares except to give her a paper cut. Yes, I shit you not. A paper cut. How would Kane feel if Hawk died because his weapon is useless? That's what I was thinking when that happened. But of course Hawk didn't die because he's a main character. *SPOILER*
One last thing that that I personally didn't like was Molly and Ferra's perspective. Often I was so bored with it that I skipped it entirely. I felt like they were given characterization that could have gone to Hawk and Kane or Ater and Kor. I felt like by the end the main character's relationship was given less work than Molly and Ferra's and I liked the main characters much better so I was pretty disappointed in that.
All in all, I did enjoy the books despite their shortcomings. The ending felt a little like an advert for socialism, which is wonderful in theory but hasn't worked in practice. The author also left a few loose ends that I hope he intends to clean up in the future, perhaps with another series.
March 2, 2017
Book 4 of the Lords of Arcadia series. I seriously pray and hope it won't be the last. Everything's been leading to this..... this last battle that will determine the fate of earth and the nine realms, and I can say I wasn't disappointed. Kane and Hawk go on another adventure that finally ends up getting them and their friends back on earth and I have to say, the death of a certain person in this book leaves me very satisfied, and the ending left me wanting for more..... John Goode and JG Morgan are geniuses and I hope this won't be their last book in this series. Kudos to you guys.
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