Stranger of Tempest

The God Fragments #1

by Tom Lloyd

Lynx is a mercenary with a sense of honour; a dying breed in the Shattered Kingdom. Failed by the nation he served and weary of the skirmishes that plague the continent's principalities, he walks the land in search of purpose. He wants for little so bodyguard work keeps his belly full and his mage-gun loaded. It might never bring a man fame or wealth, but he's not forced to rely on others or kill without cause. Little could compel Lynx to join a mercenary company, but he won't turn his back on a kidnapped girl. At least the job seems simple enough; the mercenaries less stupid and vicious than most he's met over the years. So long as there are no surprises or hidden agendas along the way, it should work out fine.

Genres: Fantasy, Adult, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Fiction, Adventure, Magic

457 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2016

About the author

Tom Lloyd was born in 1979 and showed almost no interest in writing until the age of eighteen. I blame the teachers myself.

Nevertheless he did eventually find himself with a long summer to spare before university, and decided to start a novel when it was suggested he get a job to pass the time. This tells you much of what there is to know about him. The rest can be derived from the fact that he first had the idea of writing a book to annoy a schoolfriend by getting published before him.

No, honestly; he's actually that shallow.

It was swiftly apparent that this was not the quick route to fame and fortune that he’d hoped for. The first sign of this was the realisation that being good at writing was required, but he managed to surprise everyone by not giving up on something he didn’t show immediate promise in.

Studying Politics and International Relations at Southampton University had very little appreciable effect on him, beyond giving him a couple of ideas for future novels, but that was largely due to spending most of those three years in London shacked up with the god-daughter of an Asian dictator. Upon leaving university he decided – along with what seemed like half of all other graduates, some of whom had had the temerity to study English – that doing “book stuff” sounded like a fun alternative to working out what sort of job he wanted to do. There was also the intriguing suggestion of literary talent being passed on by some osmosis-like process. As a result of a little work experience at Simon and Schuster - combined with some shameless flirting with the HR manager - he got a job as an editorial assistant on the Scribner list, which allowed him to mistype letters to a whole host of talented writers.

Certain luminary examples there made it clear that before he became a fantasy editor he was going to have to spend several years iron-cladding his liver. Towards this goal, he decamped to the A M Heath Literary Agency by way of Random House, which was silly because walking down Longacre would have been a lot quicker, to work in foreign rights while also freelancing for writersservices.com and constantly revising what was slowly becoming The Stormcaller.

A three year litany of madcap adventures in the crazy world of agenting ensued, but it would be far too time-consuming to detail any of that so suffice to say that his hangover cleared sufficiently one morning in 2004 for him to realise that he wasn’t quite so bad at writing now. Maybe there was something to this osmosis thing after all - although if that’s true Katie Fforde and Dave Hill might get a surprise at the effect they’d had.

Securing the services of John Richard Parker at MBA Literary Agents proved a surprisingly painless experience – despite being previously rejected by one of John’s colleagues, which just goes to show how persistent one has to be – and soon he was sat in the office of Jo Fletcher at Gollancz trying to persuade her how much of a geek he was. After four years as contracts manager at Blake Friedmann Literary Agency he decided he didn't like other authors that much so he swapped his dark corner of Camden for one at Atlantic Books where it quickly became apparent that he prefers winning arguments to scruples.

Writing part-time, also known as watching loads more TV, he also manages to play a little sport in between trips to the pub and battering his next book - into a semblance of shape.

http://tomlloyd.livejournal.com/ http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?...

Reviews

[James Tivendale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of Stranger of Tempest in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Tom Lloyd and Gollancz.

I am not ashamed to admit that I was drawn to reading this book by how stunning Jon McCoy's cover artwork is. The second thing that made me think this novel was well worth my time is that it has one of the best opening chapters that I have read in a long time which begins with...

"For a damsel in distress, she was rather more spattered with someone else's blood than Lynx had expected. And naked. Very naked.

'Well?' she demanded.

Lynx could only gape a while longer. Finally his words spilled out in an abashed mumble.

'Um - come to rescue you, Miss.'

'You'll have to wait,' she snapped at the knot of mercenaries crowding the doorway. 'I'm busy.'

The main protagonist in Stranger of Tempest is a portly but effective warrior called Lynx who is astonishingly honourable yet has had a pretty brutal and mysterious past. Lynx begrudgingly joins a band of mercenaries at the beginning of the book as he has no other options. The crew that he is now involved with are a colourful bunch with some well crafted individual characters and are led by the Prince of Sun - Anatin. The mercenaries were reminiscent of a biker gang featuring strong personalities and lots of banter. Experienced members become "named" and get a cool picture on their jackets depicting a card from this world equivalent of poker. Prince of Sun, Knight of Blood and Stranger of Tempest are a few examples. I thought the whole card system portraying crew members status was cool and unique.

The action sequences in this book are often intense, especially the above-mentioned beginning and the thrilling ending, however; some sections do drag on a bit in the middle and weren't very exciting. In my mind, this book was cruising for a 3.5-star rating because of that until the excellent finale persuaded me otherwise.

Similar to a good number of fantasy books that introduce new readers to a multilayered world with histories, Gods and magic systems that are already established, we follow a current and a past account of events. I was surprised when the past story stopped what I think was abruptly about half way through the book. The timeframe for the past events is two weeks prior to the current so I thought full details bridging the time gap would have been included. There are about six points of view perspectives yet a large majority of the narrative surrounds Lynx. Lloyd also includes more of Lynx's background when the veteran warrior ponders past happenings.

This is book #1 of The God Fragments and although the fragments are mentioned in passing they are not really explained and this creates a sense of mystery in a good way that Lloyd's world has a lot more to offer. Similarly, the magic seems really interesting with different classes of mages that all have unique abilities relating to their alignment. We are only really presented the possibilities surrounding one magic class (Night) so a great amount more could be revealed in future tales. The weapons many of the mercenaries wield are Mage Guns which are super cool and computer game-esque. These guns can fire phenomenally powerful bullets based on a certain element (icers, burners etc...) There are also mysterious beings called Elementals which I am sure will be featured and explained further in The God Fragments next story.

Although Stranger of Tempest isn't perfect, there are a lot of positives here. I thought this book had a great opening, an awesome ending, and relentless action scenes - with good humour and crew comraderies thrown into the mix for good measure. This can be read as a complete standalone as everything is wrapped up nicely. I am pretty excited about the follow-up Princess of Blood which I believe is due for release July 2017. This is a pretty enjoyable fantasy story with a protagonist that cares.

[Paul O’Neill · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's definitely a great story in here, somewhere. Mage guns, monsters, gods and god fragments. It could've been great but it just fell down on delivery. Characters are very boring and cliched, the narrative structure could've been simpler but above all, it all felt a bit aimless.

A pity. What I would've done (although I'm hardly an author I do know a good tale) is to have more explaination over what the god fragments are, feature the mage guns more, give our main character a less cliched back story and some personality and have this team be on more of a quest rather than just a bunch of mercs doing merc like things.

[Liviu · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread 2017 when book 2 was published

i would write again pretty much the original review as i enjoyed this one quite a lot on the reread too


Original review 2016
Never had any luck with the author's books to date (dropped fairly fast from The Stormcaller and read Moon's Artifice but after a very promising beginning it fizzled so much that I did not have any desire to pick up its sequel/concluding volume), so when i saw this release I thought that I would skip it, but the available excerpt sounded really good, so once again I got it thinking that i would regret it like with Moon's artifice...

However Stranger of tempest stayed very interesting till the end and I really want to see what happens next so the announced novella excerpted at the end of this one is an asap in the fall with presumably volume 2 next summer

The blurb gives a reasonable idea about the book's content, but there are a few things that add a lot of depth and make this book stand out in the crowded mercenary fantasy subgenre (in addition to the narrative energy that kept me turning the pages, while I really enjoyed the split between the past action and the present one, with a very good stopping point in the end)

- the world building with many cities, nations, militant orders, ruins, dead gods, extinct advanced races, powerful predators etc is rich and gives a sense of openness which is usually not found in the fantasy worlds containing 2-3-5 warring kingdoms or cities

- the past story of Lynx who was a literate son of a prosperous shopkeeper in a nation that decided to conquer the world under a charismatic leader, conscripted and trained its young men (women being property there) and proceeded to try do that with extreme brutality until it all fell apart as narrated in the book - a commando officer, Lynx starts being sickened by the atrocities committed by him and his comrades and things happen, while later we see how he gets to be a mercenary far from home (in a region untouched by his country's wars of conquest) though even there the echoes of his nation's brutality (and his distinctive racial traits marking him as from there) make him an occasional target and object of hatred from people affected by those wars who happen to live here now; trying to redeem himself and leave as "good" a life he can, Lynx generally finds trouble for his efforts and only his martial skills (even now a bit on the portly side, his commando reflexes hold) and generally civilized/law abiding lands he is living now in, have been keeping him from a sudden demise

- the hints about the story line to come and the rest of the characters, from Lynx's new comrades, to the young girl he feels compelled to save from indentured servitude to a powerful militant order and hence incur its enmity (both for himself and his new companions who obviously are not thrilled by that), to the ambiguous assassin/spy Toil who appears so interestingly on the first page excerpt and with whom Lynx gets quite taken with as time passes, to their multiple enemies, human, predator and possibly supernatural, all add to the reason why this book really worked so well at least for me

overall, superior entry in the crowded mercenary fantasy sub-genre, highly recommended for the reasons above (characters, world building, narrative power)

[Marc Aplin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you could judge a book by its cover then Tom Lloyd’s Stranger of Tempest would be one of the finest books of the year, unquestionably. However, we all know that doing this – judging a book by its cover – is a sin. So, instead, you need to read the thousands upon thousands of words inside in order to make your mind up and just hope… really hope… that the humongous demon standing before the dude with the gun on the front cover (left) does make an appearance (spoiler: he does… and YES, he is about as bad as he looks!).

I’ve never considered a career as a mercenary, but, should I ever go down that route, I’d not trust the man/woman who hires me with the promise that ‘this will be an easy job’. I mean, if a job was easy you’d not need me, right? Well, when our protagonist Lynx, a soldier with a regrettable past, runs into a band of mercenaries who promise him said easy job, Lynx knows it is too good to be true and is ready to tell them where to go. However, there’s this girl, a wild, feisty, beautiful girl named Kas who sweetens the deal and has him drop his guard for just a few moments too long. After a night of sex and the realisation that – having just been let out of prison – he could do with some money, company and adventure (maybe some more sex too), Lynx signs up with the crew… just until this mission is complete, anyway.

As for why Lynx is in demand… In addition to years working as a solider (a plus for any mercenary band looking to hire), he owns a mage-gun. A mage-gun is weapon that you load with magic bullets that are made from what is said to be the fragments of broken Gods. The type of gun you own will determine the kind of bullets you can load it with, but the majority will fire elements that will freeze, puncture or explode things. The magical technology that powers the gun (as opposed to mechanical) means that Lloyd is able to insert guns into an epic fantasy setting and equip his heroes with firearms as opposed to swords. This creates an interesting and rare dynamic in a fantasy novel that we should probably see more of. It also means that our heroes have a chance against even the largest monsters and demons, such as the Golantha you see on the front cover.

So, Mage-Gun armed, mercenary crew by his side, Lynx sets of on a mission to rescue a damsel who has apparently been kidnapped. However, upon arrival:

For a damsel in distress, she was rather more spattered with someone else’s blood than Lynx had expected. And naked. Very naked.

‘Well?’ she demanded.

Lynx could only gape a while longer. Finally his words spilled out in an abashed mumble.

‘Um – come to rescue you, Miss’

‘You’ll have to wait,’ she snapped at the knot of mercenaries crowding the doorway. ‘I’m busy.’

And so, it turns out that perhaps there is more to this mission than first appeared (dammit). This woman is far less damsel in distress and more secret agent who has been working undercover. To say much more than that would spoil a couple of the reveals, but I can say that her tongue is as sharp as any of the mercenaries and her abilities and willingness to kill is probably in excess. Did I mention she was beautiful? Anyway, lied to or not, the mercenaries need to get this woman, named Toil, to the person who hired them to save her.

All the answers to the many questions that the book begins to raise are told in a Then and Now set of narratives. If you’ve read Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora then it is, essentially, the opposite to that (which was Now and Then).

The Then chapters tell the tale of Lynx coming out of prison and reintegrating back into society. This is a man who has spent a long time behind bars and went away feeling very disillusioned with the world. Very early on in this Then narrative, Lynx and the mercenaries run into a group of knights who are transporting a young girl. The girl cries out to Lynx and the mercenaries for help. With no money in it and a potentially sticky situation with a powerful order should they get involved, the mercenaries are keen to move along. However, Lynx has this pesky sense of honour that means he can’t simply walk away. When Lynx quizzes the knights about where they are taking her and why, they threaten him. Before Lynx knows it he has taken the girl from them and convinced the mercenaries to allow her to travel with them to safety. Who is this girl though? Why were the knights carrying her away? Will the mercenaries protect Lynx and the girl should the knights show up looking to take her back?

The Now chapters, which initially are less frequent, feature the story of Toil, the damsel *cough* agent *cough* who ends up leading Lynx and the mercenaries in a Tolken-esque adventure through some caves where we meet a whole host of interesting and dangerous creatures. Along the way we learn more about the young girl who the mercenaries reluctantly rescued and witness the dysfunctional mercenaries try to work together in order to survive the dangers that await. Although he doesn’t initially trust the people he ends up with, Lynx’s relationship with the flirtatious Kas and the risking of his life to protect the young girl are the beginnings of re-building his life and re-crafting himself as a person.

Tom Lloyd has always been a fantastic writer. However, I feel that Tom’s books have always been a little off trend. This is actually a strength for bloggers such as myself and avid readers who are always on the look out for something new and a little bit different. However, for bookshops and casual readers, who tend to look for ‘a book that is very much like x’, you could argue that this has held him back from reaching the same sales figures as other authors in the genre (which is a shame). With Stranger Of Tempest though, Tom has written a book that is dead on trend and should do very, very well. You’ve got the Mercenary banter that is Abercrombie-esque, you’ve got the Mage-Guns that would fit well in a Sanderson novel, you’ve got huge demons that Peter V. Brett would be proud of and you’ve got an adventure through a strange would that, as I’ve said, feels very Tolkien-esque.

Overall, this is a book I have no trouble in recommending. For those who like their books fast, fun and full of action Stranger Of Tempest has everything you want. For those who like a little more depth, this book has it too; if you want to spend a little more time investing in the history, reflecting on the internal struggles of Lynx, then Lloyd provides more than enough material for you to do so. For me, the characters, their interactions, the relentless battles and constant surprising/exciting reveals meant this is one the best books I’ve read this year. I really hope this is the book that has the more casual SFF readers learning about Tom’s work and picking up his back catalogue (which is equally brilliant).

[Richard]

The dreaded DNF pile. I read 25% of this book and wasn't getting into it at all. I went away for the weekend and upon coming back home the thought of picking this up and reading another 75% made me dread to think how long it would be before I finished it.

The plot is a little generic but the writing style starts off well enough. Things just rapidly went down hill and disappeared along with my interest. It may have picked up and become better but it wasn't for me.

[Sade · Rating 2 out of 5]

Heads will roll, because someone definitely lied about how awesome this book is..
First off, i loved Lynx it wasn't so much that he could kick ass but that the book presented him with vulnerabilities. Ever so often you're able to glimpse the measure of the man Lynx is, to have gone through so much but still come out of it with his sense of right and wrong still intact.

"I've seen right, i've seen wrong. I've seen life, i've seen death but i only hate one o'those. Death's just another day. I won't be like him or any of the monsters in here. Life's not worth that".

When you begin this book, you'll likely think this book is about Lynx because duh the blurb, heck you might even think there'll be tons of magic shit happening, and like gods or something equally fantastical. but you'll soon discover this book takes a long winded road to an abysmal plot - and quite frankly i'm being generous here. You spend 10 chapters, (I counted) in some freaking tunnel like abandoned city, half of which is spent walking and shit, then then about 3 chapters or so spent trying to kill the monster on the cover of the book.. Which really has no bearing to the plot as a whole.
Do you learn anything tangible about God Fragments?? Fuck no
Do you learn anything about the God's themselves? Well, unless you call reading POV's of fanatical religious baddies then i guess that counts.
What's the deal with naming themselves after cards?? Shrug* Who the fuck knows?? Maybe Tom does, but he certainly wasn't sharing.
What's the deal with the cards even? Is there a wider significance???? Yup, your guess is as good as mine.
Is there a story here? Probably.. But seeing as Book 1 basically just felt like a pointless plot, i'm not really holding out hope.
I'm also curious as to why the author just didn't use this book to lay the foundation on straight. Get all your explaining out there in book 1, i don't want to get to book 2 and still be wondering about simple things like the magic system or some trivial shit like that. This isn't some epic fantasy. You don't get the luxury of dragging stuff out like that in my opinion.

I figure the author was trying to be mysterious cos in chapter 29 we're introduced to some Archelect character who hints at some sort of conspiracy going on in the book. Again, i'm sure it was supposed to pique our interest but i'm just going to call fail on that angle.
This book basically read like one of those serials where every book was about something entirely different. You don't get the feel that the plot here is about something bigger. Sure it might have seemed that way at first but after you've bumbled in a tunnel for like ten chapters you tend to lose focus.

All in all not an inspiring start to the series.

[Lynn Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 of 5 stars
I spotted Stranger of Tempest a while ago when the stunning cover was running amok on the internet and was immediately keen to pick up a copy as it looked and sounded great. Does the book live up to the promise? Yes, I’m happy to say it does. I found this a really intriguing story and a great set up for the rest of the series. It’s a great blend of fantasy and action set predominantly in dark tunnels and a ruined city that are riddled with scary creatures, unusual dwellers and something even darker that stalks the night

At the start of the story we witness a man called Lynx as he searches for his latest meal ticket. He reluctantly finds work with a band of mercenaries known as The Cards who are about to head out on their latest mission. Lynx is answerable to nobody, he doesn’t seek much in life above a full stomach and is content to take on any number of small jobs usually trying to avoid bands of mercenaries and other conflicts. However, when he’s approached by a group of hardened mercs who are about to take on the rescue of a kidnapped young girl he can’t refuse. Of course, the best laid plans rarely go accordingly and the same can be said of this rescue. Within fairly short measure things have headed downhill and Lynx and the band of Cards are being chased by an army of religious fanatics (The Knights Charnel accompanied by the Torquen dragoons) and the only hope of outrunning their pursuers is to take the tunnels that lead to the Duegar City ruins.

For a first in series I was really impressed with the great balance between world building, characterisation and plot that the author achieves, there’s still a lot to be explored but this is a tantalising first instalment. This has the makings of a fascinating and gripping series and I really look forward to learning more about the world that Lloyd has created. The Riven Kingdom has mages whose magic differs and in turn seems to have an affinity with certain elementals (I don’t think I have a full grip on elementals – little is known about them as people who encounter them usually don’t live to tell the tale, there are fire elementals for example and it will be interesting to see how this aspect is expanded upon). The Kingdom has suffered a number of wars and clearly the possibility of conflict still looms on the horizon.

The characters. Well, we obviously have the Mercenary Deck or The Cards as they’re more commonly known. These are a rough bunch of characters whose origins and histories differ widely. They fight hard and play hard and in that respect I suppose they don’t bring anything new to the mercenary role – however, in spite of that I enjoyed reading about them and their loyalty to each other is clearly defined. They’re a diverse bunch of characters, definitely not shy of drinking, gambling and fighting, their language is colourfully entertaining and they’re certainly flawed.

The key members of the Cards are given a bit of fleshing out and certainly enough to demonstrate their allegiances/friendships and capabilities. Lynx is the main character and his personality is developed very well with occasional moments where he reflects on his past. These don’t come across as info dumps at all I hasten to add. Link is So Han, a race of people who are warriors. In the past they swept across the country fighting and terrorising their neighbours in a bid for supremacy. Not exactly renowned for their friendly disposition and kindness they have consequently become a race of people that are feared and despised in equal measure. Lynx, whilst being So Han, defies expectations by having a keen sense of honour and a will to do the right thing – traits that saw him imprisoned for his trouble. These are the primary characteristics that define Lynx and also lead him into a whole bunch of trouble. The other main characters are Toil and Sitain. I don’t really want to say too much about either as it would definitely lead to the Land of Spoilers. What I can say is that both, whilst on the face of it appearing to be damsels in distress, are far from it. Sitain is a mage, very inexperienced and certainly not in control of her own abilities, but with a strange affinity to night elementals. Toil also seems to have something of a background and turns into something of a female Indiana Jones leading the crew fearlessly through the labyrinth of tunnels and evading all sorts of traps and critters along the way. I suspect that both of these characters will play very prominent roles in the series.

And so to the setting. Well, we basically go underground. In an attempt to escape pursuit The Cards, Lynx and their two unlikely damsels in distress, take the much feared tunnels that lead to the ruins of Duegar. This is not a road to be taken lightly and within fairly short measure we find out the reasons why. The darkness in these tunnels is just plain eerie. Huge insects, waspids and a race of people known as the Whisper Clans occupy this space and you can’t help wondering why they would want to do so! There is clearly a strange balance struck between them all and strangers wandering aimlessly into their midst clearly upset that precarious balance. Not to mention the smell of ‘walking food’ is clearly an incentive for all sorts of strange critters to come out of their hidey-holes! The ruined city is also a very strange place. Vast ruins that even now, amidst an encroaching jungle, are spectacular in their scope. Creeping vines and plants that are carnivorous all add to the menace.

I can’t deny that Stranger of Tempest shares a number of similarities to Tolkien’s LoTR. The creature on the cover undoubtedly puts me in mind of a Balrog and the character could almost be shouting ‘you shall not pass’, the tunnels are as dark and dangerous as the Mines of Moria and are swarming with dark characters and this has a road adventure feel with a band of characters trying to stay one step ahead of the game. However, the similarities end there. It actually feels like a shout out to Tolkien but with a story that stands on it’s own two feet and a cast of gritty characters that have nothing in common with those from the Fellowship.

In terms of criticisms, very little really. This is a fast paced and action packed story with plenty of surprises and conflicts that are well described and easy to imagine. I was puzzled by the weapons which seem a little bit more advanced than you would expect and would like to know more about how all of this was developed. I would like to know more of the history here both in terms of the So Han and the Charnel Knights but that being said there is plenty of time for those issues to be examined further and frankly I think for the first instalment Lloyd has struck the perfect balance and given us a compelling read, unburdened by info dumps that leave a desire to read on and find out more.

I would definitely recommend.

I received a copy through Netgalley courtesy of the publisher for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

[Jack Beaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up on a whim in a Waterstone’s, having seen considerable praise for it on the internet. New and shiny as it was, it obviously shot to the top of my TBR pile, and I started it in the next few days. In short: I read it in about 3 sittings and absolutely loved it. The very first page pulled me in and made me laugh both, to an extent unmatched by any book I’ve read up until now. Hot off having finished Glen Cook’s The Chronicles of the Black Company, I’m enjoying reading about mercenary companies. Thinking about it, I’ve always enjoyed reading mercenary stories: as noted in an earlier review, I massively enjoyed The Deed of Paksenarrion, and the following Paladin’s Legacy, though my love of mercenary companies can be traced (I think) back to Stan Nicholls’ Orcs, and Raymond E. Feist’s Serpentwar Saga. The bonus of using a mercenary company as the central group of characters is that there is more license to be crude and more overtly humorous. In Stranger of Tempest, this is achieved incredibly well. I’m unsure as to whether or not it is my specific sense of humour or not, but I found the dialogue in particular to be very funny, bordering on hilarious, throughout the book.
The world of The God Fragments series is wonderfully thought out as well, with an interesting history and some amazing twists, such as the way the company is based on a deck of cards. I also love the premise of mage-guns; the way they are dropped into the story as if they are nothing out of the ordinary and only later examined in detail. The one thing which would have improved it however, would have been a map.
The plot did not give me any respite. The story moved incredibly fast, and it was only once I had had a few moments to consider did I realise that not much actually happened. Without giving too much away, the plot works up to a central event by the clever (and effective) use of flash-backs and flash-forwards, which occurs in the first half of the book, and is then followed by a thrill-ride/horror type story, punctuated by some fantastic actions sequences. The space which might have been spent on more major events is, in my opinion spent more wisely on a greater volume of snappy dialogue and world-building. Overall, I didn’t find myself able to take enough of a break to question it during reading, and even having observed it since, I still don’t find myself at all disappointed with the book.
‘Stranger of Tempest’, by Tom Lloyd is the first in The God Fragments Series.

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishing for providing me with an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review!

Definitely surprised me at how good it was and I cannot wait to continue on with the God Fragments series by starting Princess of Blood!

We follow the perspective of Lynx, a former soldier of the cruel and war-loving warrior republic So Han. After some time in a mining prison for contradicting his direct superior, he now works as a hired gun for merchants to cleanse himself ofthe things he has seen and done in the past. After one such job, he meets Kas, who introduces him to a mercenary Deck, the Cards, run by Anatin. Every member of the company represents one playing card and after Lynx decides to join them on a job, he is assigned the Stranger of Tempest. However, this presumably easy job leads him and the Deck into some serious trouble.

The first half of this book was a bit confusing at times due to its heavy focus on introducing the mercenary Deck and its characters and structure. It did not really help that we switch between present and past events and get a lot of the world explained. But once you are accustomed to the world, the magic system and the characters, this book is pure fun!

There are mages in this world that are forced to produce ammunition for the mage-guns that is fueled by the repective magical power (e.g. fire or ice). We also get to meet Sitain, who is another sort of mage and is rescued by Lynx and the mercenaries.

The pacing picks up greatly in the second half and I was so excited when it became clear were the characters were headed to. I will not spoil the fun, but it reminded me a bit of Moria and the horrible creatures the Fellowship encouters there! Also, the book cover reveals a lot.

So if you enjoy a story revolving around a bantering company of mercenaries that seem to attract trouble at every corner and have to fight their way out of it, you should definitely pick this book up!

I hope the second book can live up to the first and explains a bit more of the world, its politics and intrigues and the magic system.

[RG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Couldn't really get going with this one. The magic system is cool, the characters are a little cliched and one dimensional but still likeable. The world seemed very cool with a military type feel. My issue was the structure. It just seemed a little too complicated for the story it was telling.

[proxyfish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed on my blog - Books by Proxy

5 Stars

With a premise which promised action and grit by the spadeful, and a dramatic cover boasting an awesome Diablo-Balrog mash-up, it didn’t take me long to crack open Stranger of Tempest once I got my hands on it. Having already impressed with the first in his Twilight Reign series, a book which spent a leisurely nine years on my bookshelf before its eventual dusting off, Tom Lloyd has surpassed himself with this action-packed and enthralling tale of mercenary misadventure.

Stranger of Tempest is an intense thrill-ride across disreputable cities, sprawling plains, and the deepest dark; where conflicts of power, marauding bands and the deadly unknown reign supreme. With a cast of colourful characters, and a blisteringly bloody pace throughout, this novel is a thrilling and high-octane opener to what promises to be a spectacular new series.

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An ex-soldier of So Han on the run from his past, Lynx is a mercenary who travels the Riven Kingdom taking contracts and drinking heavily – whilst accepting general contempt for the legacy of his people, of course. When his path crosses that of Anatin’s Mercenary Deck, a band of seemingly honourable mercenaries widely known as The Cards, he throws in his lot and embarks on a quest to free a kidnapped girl from the clutches of an unknown rogue.

But the intentions of mercenaries are seldom clear cut. When everything that could go wrong blows up in spectacular fashion, Lynx and his new found band of brothers – along with a stray and said damsel in distress – attempt to flee across the Riven Kingdom whilst hunted by the Knights-Charnel. But when this pursuit pushes them into the deepest dark, a band of militant zealots hot on their heels is likely to be the least of their problems.

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In an explosion of burners, icers and sparkers, Stranger of Tempest is marked by its gorgeous descriptions, its witty dialogue and a driven storyline which beats a bloody path through the ensuing chaos. This is a land where cultures have been thrown together through war and conquest; a land where people do what they can to carve out an existence under the shadow of the militant orders. From underground ruins from long gone civilisations, to the vibrant and debauched cities of the Riven Kingdom, Tom Lloyd has created a wonderfully diverse world which is fleshed out with the solid weight of history and conflict.

The mysterious and much sought-after God Fragments, the rare powers of the mages, and the creatures of the deepest dark come together to make the first in The God Fragments series an incredibly inventive, infinitely mysterious and highly addictive concoction of fantasy delights. With a unique and well thought out magic system, Stranger of Tempest unleashes a whirlwind of innate elemental powers across the storyline which give rise to dangerous elemental monsters and fuel the weaponry whose inventiveness becomes the driving force behind much of the action in the novel.

And if the thought of beautiful – if bloody – descriptions, inventive weaponry and a unique magic system weren’t enough to whet your appetite then the Mercenary Deck might just push you over the edge. With a varied assortment of gamblers, drinkers and debauchers, The Cards live for the fight but maintain a vague sense of collective morality throughout. From the gigantic and terrifying Reft, to the infinitely likeable Himble and their calculating leader Anatin, Stranger of Tempest is driven forwards by its cast of colourful characters, where everyone has a past and nothing is ever as it seems.

However, whilst The Cards and their associates may present an entertaining front, it is Lynx – our aforementioned protagonist – who steals the show throughout this novel. Past his prime but incredibly dangerous, he is a man whose anger and rage boils beneath the surface but are dampened by his sense of honour and his determination to do the right thing even if it costs him. A man with a complex past, one which slowly unravels over the course of the novel, Lynx is a memorable character who remains captivating throughout and retains enough mystery and intrigue to carry over to the next novel.

Told in alternating chapters from the recent past to the present, this novel builds a detailed picture of the world and its characters before crashing together in spectacular style in a richly imagined centre. And whilst at times the switch between character’s thoughts and the main body of the narrative may have been a little confusing, the narrative style is incredibly engaging and the quality of the writing is apparent throughout. From the incredible opening chapter to its tense conclusion, Stranger of Tempest is truly a non-stop thrill-ride from beginning to end.

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With flawed characters, a fascinating world, and a veritable cornucopia of antagonists throughout, Stranger of Tempest is a powerful and impressive series opener. Tom Lloyd has crafted a captivating and well imagined world which promises great things to come in what is set to be a storming new series. Fantasy fans who have yet to discover Tom Lloyd: Now is the time!

[Krystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at page 205 (64%)

50,000 mercenaries, whose names you are supposed to remember, get into a whole lot of fights.

In these fights, they use confusing magic guns.

The best fighter of all is the new recruit outcast who has his own agenda. He's a bit chubby but he's still the one who lands the Hot Badass Female.

There is fighting, crass language, blood, booze, and general foulness.

There's also something about a super-powerful-but-also-pathetic female who is naturally drawn to our chubby outcast hero.

The characters sass each other.

I think there was a plot somewhere but it jumps between 'now' and 'then' and both time periods involve a lot of fighting so it's really hard to keep track of what's actually happening.

Did I mention there was a lot of fighting?

I tried, I really tried. But I'm officially giving up.

[Ivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stranger of Tempest je zametak novog serijala Toma Lojda, koji je svojim prvim fantazijskim serijalom (Twilight Reign) postigao umereni uspeh. Međutim, meni je prvi roman u tom serijalu bio odveć klišeiziran da bih ga tada svario, pa sam propustio ceo serijal.

Lojdu sam se pukim slučajem vratio romanom Moon's Artifice, u kojem se odmetnuo od generičke fantazije i potrudio se da svetu da veoma lični pečat, spajajući motive stimpanka i orijentalne postavke sveta (što je, istini za volju, vrlo popularno u poslednje vreme). Krajnji proizvod su dva vrlo dobra romana, koja neće promeniti žanr as we know it, ali su zabavni i osvežavajući, a malo li je to na ovu skupoću?

Stoga sam se i obradovao romanu Stranger of Tempest. Nažalost, razočarao sam se. Pisac eksperimentiše sa strukturom i unutrašnjom hronologijom romana, što nažalost ne dovodi do sjajnih rezultata. Iako su likovi solidno oslikani, priča se svodi na besmislenu jurnjavu uz random encounters iz monotonih RPG avantura. Nedostataka je bilo taman u dovoljnoj meri da sam se nosio mišlju da dignem ruke od čitanja. No, istrajao sam.

Sve u svemu, nikako ne bih preporučio Stranger of Tempest. Istini za volju, u ovom romanu se krije zametak potencijalno zanimljivog malazanolikog storilajna, ali ostaje da se vidi šta će Lojd da uradi s nastavkom. Što se mene tiče, više se nadam trećem nastavku njegovog prethodnog serijala.

[Peat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stranger of Tempest is almost two books in one; the first half about how a mercenary company gets themselves into a ton of trouble, the second about how they get themselves out.

The first half is awesome. Its filled with memorable characters, witty lines, great interpersonal dynamics, and a good mix of intrigue, action and growth. The use of the two different time lines was really well done. I was convinced I had a new favourite author.

The second half was a savage disappointment. Maybe its a result of the circumstances the characters find themselves in, but the dynamics are reduced to the same thing over and over. The action heavy nature of the plot makes the characters feel more like stereotypes than people but, despite all the action and how often the characters warn us about the incredible dangers, I never once felt like they were really in trouble.

I still enjoyed the book but not nearly as much as I thought I would.

[James (ObservantRaven) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can one say about their first impression of a book cover with so much eye candy like Stranger of Tempest. Well upon seeing the cover for Stranger of Tempest two thoughts come to mind. One, “I really want to read this book”. Secondly “Wow that is one seriously badass cover and that beast reminds me of the balrog from Lord of the Rings”. I think the cover artwork done by Jon McCoy is fantastic and just pure eye candy.

Over the number of years I have spent reading I have learnt the hard way that judging a book by its cover is a dangerous game as a great book cover doesn’t always represent the quality of whats inside and vice versa with a bad book cover. However what Stranger of Tempest gives us is not only a great cover but it firmly represents its greatness on the inside.

When I started reading this book it was immediately noticeable due to the chapter breaks that this book was going to take place in the past and present. I have read quite a few books that have attempted this in different manners, with good and bad results. I admit that I initially found it difficult to find my footing in this world and learn about it as well as its inhabitants. However once I got used to Tom Lloyds method of story telling in this book I quickly found myself getting lost in its world, past and present.

There are many books out there that are trying to carve their own version of a magic system, some of which have become more successful than others. Some of those magic systems are very complex in nature and others a very simplistic, this can either make or break a book on both spectrum’s. If you make a magic system to complicated then a reader can become either very bored or confused but if you make a to simplistic then the reader can also become either very bored or uninterested. I think Tom Lloyd has found the perfect balance between having a magic system that is simplistic but still very interesting. This is because he sticks to the main forms of elemental magic but with a twist as it exists within certain bullet type and can these can only be used with specialist guns called mage guns. I have come across a number of books that use guns as the core of their magic system but nothing like this and due to this I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all the different bullet types and their powers.

One aspect of the book that really intrigued me was how each mercenary is put into a particular part of the group through the use of whats called the mercenary deck. This somewhat set each character into a particular set of people but you quickly find that each one is very unique in their own right and have their own personality traits which I found where very well drawn out. I also think Tom Lloyd uses this characterisation method in the best way possible as at the start of the both you can see which card group each character is assigned to.

The story of this book is certainly an interesting one, especially when you are trying to keep track of two different timelines and it also eventually splits into different perspectives. This may sound like a lot to take in but I believe this is what helps to not only give weight and depth to the story but also the world as a whole. However this does also cause some of the weaker parts of the book as I felt that certain aspects were slow going but thankfully there weren’t to many of those. Even with the slight pacing issues I still really enjoyed the story and was consistently intrigued by what was going on.

So…did this book meet my expectations set by the cover?

It certainly did. Stranger of Tempest has some slow points and the writing style does take some getting used to but this certainly does not detract from how good this book is. This book is certainly the full package when it comes to a great book, pretty on the outside and great on the inside. With that in mind whether you were thinking of picking up this book purely because of the cover or because you like the sound of it I would recommend you do so.

[Sibil · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and to the editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The thing that got me hooked up was the beginning, I found it captivating and humorous, and I am a sucker for humorous so… here we are!
After reading the first sentences I fell in love with the book! It’s not perfect and I thought that this one was the first book of the author, because I do not know how to say it well, but it has some things that you can found in debut works usually and some lackings that are typical of first works, but all in all was a good read!

Lynx is an unusual main character, a grouchy, experienced man of arms and we follow him while he finds himself part of a deck of mercenaries, a really peculiar one at this. We read about his adventures now, while he is with the mercenaries, and we read also about how he became a part of this really peculiar group. The story is captivating and fast-paced. We follow Lynx and the mercenaries while they try to save a damsel in distress (who is as little a damsel in distress as she can be a unicorn!) and this alleged rescue would precipitate our “heroes” in more dangerous adventures, who are unexpected and pure madness. I do not want to say more about the plot because I do not want to spoiler something for you, but it’s a good plot in which we can find adventure, danger, interesting places and characters and also good enemies.

The thing that I liked more, humour aside (and we can find a lot of sarcasm, humour and fun in these pages because the mercenaries are continually bantering ), are the characters. Lynx is a good MC, is not the usual hero but he has honor and this is his best and principal trait, and I liked it a lot (also, I am dying to meet again with him, so I hope to read the second book really soon!), but all the mercenaries are great! I can’t say that I loved all of them, because it would be untrue (and I really hated some of them) but all are well characterized and they are not just plain figure on the walls but they come alive in the pages, and we learn to know at least a little bit of all of them. And I really liked them!

Sooo… I really liked this book, and I would read the second one as soon as I can put my hands on it. And if you are searching for a good fantasy that is fast-paced and full adventure, this one could be the right one for you!

[James Barclay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Lloyd has always been a very good writer but ‘Stranger of Tempest’ demonstrates that his skills have reached whole new level. It is beautifully designed and superbly executed. It felt to me like this novel had been churning around in Tom’s mind for years and years, awaiting its chance to appear on the page but only when he felt he had the expertise to deliver it exactly the way he wanted it. From the opening scene to the final words, Stranger of Tempest was gripping, funny, carried great emotional punch, was immersive and perfectly paced. I loved Lynx…he carries a few extra pounds and is properly cynical about where he’s found himself. But it’s his capacity for ‘doing the right thing’ that sets him apart. And when you know he’s about to do it again, you admire him while wincing at the likely consequences. But I shouldn’t single out one…the whole cast of characters was wonderful and I hung on every word they said and every action they made. Stranger of Tempest is an outstanding and refreshingly original work of fantasy fiction; and even in a genre crowded with incredible talent and content, it will undoubtedly stand out and, I hope, propel Tom centre-stage where he clearly now belongs.

By the way, yes it is my name on attached to the cover quote below Tom's name. I offered that quote because I utterly loved this book. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[Dezideriu Szabo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting world building but the story was yet another "running trough Moria to the Bridge of Khazad-Dum".

[THE BIBLIOPHILE (Rituranjan) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dungeons and dragons type of fantasy, but wildly subverted and renewed with excellent vigour. There's a lot of fun elements here, some are pretty grim too, but the wit and humour imbued into the characters and the story make it a light-hearted romp filled with action, adventure/misadventures, and camaraderie. I enjoyed it.

The worldbuilding is complex and has a deep history, which is hinted at, but not yet fully explored. There are ancient ruins, a long dead race mentioned frequently, varied magics/elementals, magic guns, a pseudo-rreligious military order bent on controlling magic, which makes up for quite the plot. Add to it a band of misfit and irreverent mercenaries, and you have a spicy concoction of a story emerging.

I was thrilled by the parts which happened in an underground ruin. Lloyd captures the darkness and the effect it has on people brilliantly. What makes the story interesting is the characters. I loved Toil. Honestly, that woman is freaking badass and hot. I want more of her please. Lynx was also good. Lloyd did a good thing in developing the character with a brutal shady past, which added an intriguing quality to Lynx's personality. I loved the witty and dirty banter among the mercenaries, that elicited a chuckle everytime I came across their eccentricities.

The fights were bloody brutal. There being magical guns firing ice and sorcerous flames. It was exolosive. The magic system isn't expanded yet, but, we get to know that it's varied and powerful. There's enough action and fascinating monsters in the mix, including the shitty humans. We also haven't yet seen or know what the supposed "god fragments" are, except that they pack some serious magic. I would read the other books just to know more, and see more of Toil and her sexy badassery.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a little while to get into this, but as soon as I gave myself a decent amount of time to sit down and read rather than grab minutes here and there suddenly it flew by!

One of the first things I like is how well rounded the cast of characters appear to be. The band of merceneries is diverse and whilst you often get main characters like Lynx with traumatic back stories it is rare that a writer in a fantasy series actually reflects on how mental health would be impacted by a brutal upbringing and torture.

This is also a nice change from the 'save a girl and then look after and don't expect her to do anything herself' trope we often get in fantasy. Tom's approach feels far more realistic for a bunch of merceneries.

The world-building is intriguing and much is left to be understood - again something I liked rather than having characters give unnecessary exposition to you the reader that they would never do in real life. The plot is essentially a long chase which is enjoyable and the action keeps moving. The bad guys also have an understandable justification for their actions which also makes a nice change.

Overall I really enjoyed this and am definitely looking forward to the next in the series!

[Bogdan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fast read. I was undecided for some time for the rating, but now I`m sure.

I totally agree that the book feels like it`s broken in a half. The first one, it`s very well made, the story goes

back and forth over a small period of time, the characters have excellent voices, for the most important ones we have interesting background stories, the intrigue looks like it has a lot of potential and directions to go, and sometimes the novel made me think at the first novel by Jeff Saliards, Scourge of the Betrayer. I don`t know why, for sure at least.

It has some humour, but on decent levels, the worldbuilding has appeal and the story was in the same bag, too.

All good and beautiful until the second part of the book, when the interludes from the past disappear and the other two action strings were reunited in the present time.

Now we have a big and long chase, not bad, but not great either and quite typical for this kind of novels. And, surprisingly, the appealing of the book started to get lower, until it felt it was on a kind of "meh" level.

So, a much better book than others, but evidently not so great, with it`s evident flaws, but because it delivers some satisfaction I couldn`t feel like regreting to be reading it.

[Jon Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable, entertaining read.

It had a few quirks that kept it from 5 stars. For instance, I think the author needs some more wildlife experience so he'll quite comparing everything to the size of a pony.

I have already purchased the follow-up. Hopefully with less ponyisms.

[JohnHooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the combination of crass humor and themes of darkness and fear.
The nod to J. R. R. Tolkien near the end was just brilliant.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always imagined being a mercenary in some far off, fantastical land would be the hardest of lives to live. Based on what I’ve learned in Stranger of Tempest, the latest offering from Tom Lloyd, it would appear I was entirely right. When you join Anatin’s Mercenary Deck, chances are you’re going to find yourself living fast and very probably dying young.

I warmed to Lynx immediately. Out of shape and with a habit of waking up in jail cells, the only thing Lynx has going for him is a deeply ingrained sense of honour and an unshakeable need to do what is right. I enjoyed how Lloyd drip feeds details of Lynx’s murky past into the main narrative. You get to learn just enough about the events that have led the man to be the way he is. That said, I get the distinct impression that there is still more to be revealed in the future. I certainly hope so.

The rest of the men and women who make up the mercenary company are a suitably eclectic and rowdy bunch. Their commander, Anatin, is a salty old sort, and Kas is a hedonist who is always ready for a fight. My personal favourties though, were Reft and Deern. Reft is a giant of a man, silent and deadly. I don’t think he utters a word in the entire novel. Deern is the polar opposite, a mouthy troublemaker who causes problems just about everywhere he goes. There is a strong sense of camaraderie between all these disparate characters. The longer he spends in the company of his new brothers and sisters in arms, the more Lynx stops being just “the new guy” and starts being treated as an equal. This is a group who bleed for one another, and that level of commitment forms the strongest of bonds.

Lynx’s dysfunctional little family find themselves on the run when they fall foul of a militant holy order. Turns out the mercs latest job may have been mis-sold to them slightly. The only option is to run, and the only direction they can run is towards the ruins of an ancient underground city. What follows is a fight for survival. Good job Lynx and his new comrades are natural born survivors.

A large chunk of the book takes place below ground as the mercenaries attempt to flee their pursuers. This whole section of the novel was executed perfectly. Lloyd’s narrative dances that fine line between fantasy and horror. The dark caverns, and various beasts that lurk therein, are damned gruesome. I particularly liked how both groups, the pursuers and the pursued, start to fall apart after prolonged time in the dark. The physical and psychological effects start to weigh heavy on them all. The growing sense of claustrophobia and unease that various characters start to exhibit feels almost palpable. They are attacked by horrors both real and imagined. The traumatic events they experience also acts as the perfect opportunity to once again highlight the growing bonds of comradeship between Lynx and his new friends.

Now, time for an embarrassing admission – I’ve not read any of Tom Lloyd’s other books. Based on how much I’ve enjoyed Stranger of Tempest however, I will be correcting this gross oversight as soon as I possibly can. If you’re an existing fan of this author’s work, and I can fully appreciate why you would be, then I’m sure this new series will appeal. It is chock full of fantasy action, memorable heroes and more explosions than you can shake a fully loaded mage gun at. If you’re a newbie, like me, then I suggest you consider this your gateway drug of choice. By the book’s end, I considered myself a convert to this author’s work.

[The Tattooed Book Geek (Drew). · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley, this has in no way affected my review.

I’d seen the cover reveal for this book posted on Twitter quite a while ago and it looked awesome, a human with sword raised standing alone against a massive demon that to me looks like a cross between Diablo from the Diablo computer games and Balrog from Lord of the Rings and thought…..now that looks like a book I’d like to read!

I found Lynx to be an engaging main character, he has a heart and a penchant for trying to do the right thing even if it causes trouble, he’s got some issues but tries his best to keep them in check, isn’t that young, enjoys his food and is far more rotund than your average stereotypical muscle-bound protagonist. With myself enjoying food and being rotund it gives guys like us hope that we can be the hero to! With his traits and flaws Lynx really shows his humanity and you can’t help but both relate to and like him as he tries to do the honourable thing.

The characters are all well thought out with their own individual voices and qualities and put together the mercenaries are a diverse, eclectic bunch of miscreants who on the whole are likeable and form a great group. Apart from Lynx, my favourite characters would have to be Anatin the aging mercenary captain and Toil, who is best described as assassin, adventurer and agent, she’s a really interesting character who I’m sure we’ll both see and learn more of in future books.

The world building is of an outstanding richly detailed standard and the author has crafted a large world full of political intrigue, religion, magic, unique characters, creatures and places. As it’s the first in a new series not to much is mentioned about the history and lore of the world but what snippets and fragments-see what I did there as the series is called The God Fragments.:) that are offered are well developed. Your given enough to become interested in the world but tantalisingly few that your left wanting to find out more and what you are shown hints at a large pool of history still to come in future books.

This is the first book I’ve read by Tom Lloyd and it’s cracking good! It’s an enthralling well written read from the first page through to the last. The first half of the book builds the story and characters while the second half just flies by in a blur of fast paced, frenetic, engrossing action and storytelling…..

…..But it is another first book in yet another new series and from personal experience I know that there are alot of both old and new fantasy series out there, some worth your time and some not in the never ending chasm of the reading realm and the dreaded TBR (to be read) lists all vying for your attention. So, the question is, should I buy this book and start yet another new series???

And the answer is a resounding yes!!!

For fantasy fans this is a must read book, while action packed and occasionally humorous it is also character driven filled with a great cast of unforgettable characters that you care about, creatures, magic and magical weapons, a detailed world and an engrossing story, it has everything a fantasy book needs done to the highest quality level.

It’s a great start to a new fantasy series and with this book Tom Lloyd has created what is sure to be one of the standout fantasy works of 2016.

Highly recommended!

[Tanabrus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questo fantasy, primo titolo di una serie, richiama alla mente immediatamente il Malazan book of the fallen di Steven Erikson ma anche il buon vecchio Joe Abercrombie.
Oltre, andando avanti con la lettura, a farci pensare sia a Skyrim che a quel mostro sacro che è Il signore degli anelli.

Mi spiego meglio.

Erikson e Abercrombie sono con noi per buona parte del tempo per via del tipo di fantasy che stiamo leggendo, per l'ambientazione, per i personaggi.
Perché questa storia si inserisce in quella zona grigia che ondeggia tra i gruppi mercenari, le bande di soldati, il puro grim fantasy.
Il protagonista, Lynx, ricorda un poco Caul Shivers all'inizio di Il sapore della vendetta... ma invece di venire reclutato da Monza, finisce con l'unirsi a un gruppo mercenario, Anatin's Deck. I mercenari di Anatin, che formano il suo mazzo di carte, ognuno rappresentato da una carta. La qual cosa unisce in maniera sublime l'atmosfera da Bridgeburners con il lavoro dei Falchi di Griffith in Berserk.
Mercenari e carte, quindi, ma anche pistole in grado di sparare speciali proiettili magici (esplosivi, ghiaccianti, elettrici... un'evoluzione dei proiettili di Erikson, insomma, lanciati con pistole invece che a mo' di razzi).

Un territorio quindi abbastanza familiare, senza mai però assomigliare troppo a un autore o a un libro ben precisi.

Buono il background di questa ambientazione, buono il background di Lynx, sufficientemente interessanti i membri del Mazzo.


Piacevole la parte relativa alle rovine, che ho immaginato essere come le rovine naniche di Skyrim.
Con meno artefatti robotici nanici, però, e più creature oscure... con tanto di nemico inarrestabile proveniente dalle profondità più remote e scontro finale su un ponte.
Ricorda niente? Il saluto di passaggio a Tolkien era dovuto, vista la situazione in cui si era.

Mi è piaciuta anche la narrazione della prima parte del libro, con l'alternanza tra il presente con la missione in corso, e il passato recente che ci ha mostrato cosa fosse successo da quando Lynx si era unito ai mercenari fino al momento in cui lo incontriamo nel primo capitolo, fornendoci tasselli importanti per comprendere la situazione in cui si trova il nostro, e il mondo in cui siamo finiti.


E' il mio primo incontro con questo autore, sicuramente proverò a leggere qualche sua opera precedente in attesa che continuino le avventure di Lynx.

[Edward Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynx is an honest man, haunted by the atrocities of his homeland, his past is nicely dark and mysterious. He is misunderstood, viewed with suspicion, and often treated as an enemy even by his mercenary comrades. Lynx is fundamentally good, he just finds getting into trouble very, very easy.

Stranger of Tempest is one of those books that gives you the kind of fantasy yarn that you recognise but rarely in the way you expect. There are magic and monsters and magical weapons, along with action and intrigue and a great mix of characters, but it’s how Lynx’s penchant for doing the right thing throws a spanner in the works that sets this story apart. In a world that’s lawless and corrupt, his honest ways really aren’t particularly helpful.

It’s while the mercenary company that Lynx belongs to is on its way to rescue a noble’s daughter that trouble brews. Sitain, Lynx’s countrywoman and a mage, is being held captive by a small company of fanatical knights. Lynx doesn’t like that. He doesn’t like that at all. He frees Sitain, and by doing so his fellow mercenaries become unwilling participants in the deaths of every knight. This moments sows a seed that complicates what should be a straightforward mission in hideous and glorious ways. Lynx didn’t stop to think that the small company of fanatical knights might be missed by a lot of fanatical friends.

There’s much to admire in this book, but I sort of fell in love with Lynx. He’s a little old and frayed around the edges, and he’s a portly fellow who eats for pleasure. Being something of a food-loving dumpling myself, I appreciate and relate to Lynx. He makes me believe that I can set off with my sword and mage-gun and take on the world while still being allowed to enjoy a pie or two. There’s something down to earth and refreshing about this character, and it’s interesting to see how his colleagues fit in around him.

Stranger of Tempest grips you from the beginning and doesn’t let go until the end. This is Tom Lloyd at his best, and my money is on Stranger being a standout fantasy for 2016. And just look at that cover!

[Robin Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

I’ve been a fan of Tom Lloyd’s writing for some time, his is an easy fantasy, that’s not to say simplistic, because the world building is deep, complex and utterly believable. Its more that the narrative and flow of the story is paced to perfection, carrying the reader, making the reading effortless, its pace increasing with the pace of fight and flight and then smoothing down to a calm laconic pace when the protagonists are at rest, tense and gripping in the dark places and light and funny at the camps fireside.

for full review : https://parmenionbooks.wordpress.com/...

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I just did not like the way this was written, switching from the past to the present on alternate chapters.
I found this to be totally disruptive to the story.
The characters though were well thought out and had plenty of depth.

[Aliette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and fast paced romp in which a mercenary company's latest job goes horrendously wrong and they have to evade pursuit. A great cast and some very good action set pieces.