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GnomeSaga #2
Tinkermage
Nikselpik Nur has become the city of Hightower’s staunchest—albeit unwilling—ally. He’s hardly learned to cope with his debilitating bugging addiction, much less take on the duties of being the city’s First Wizard. Can he embrace this new path? And will he? Meanwhile, Stena Wavebreaker is pulled from her seafaring duties by the Precisor General and given command of a raggedy airship to scout the ultraworldly enemy from the perilous skies above the Southern Reaches. Her mission: gain the support of the unpredictable ‘swamp elves,’ the Giyipcias. Lastly, Niksabella Nur has set off from Hightower at the behest of the grim stonekin leader, Jontuk. The gnomestress must unlock the full potential of her invention, the recursive mirror, and her own powers, to bear what might be the heaviest burden of all. What will she discover along the way? And will Jontuk be able to keep her alive long enough to save them all?
414 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2014
3 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Kenny Soward
84 books161 followersWelcome to my little space out on the web. I'm Kenny Soward, and I'm an author, musician, and once IT guy. I write books in many sub-genres of Science Fiction and Fantasy, including post-apocalyptic, military science fiction, epic fantasy, and horror. I'm influenced by authors such as Stephen King, George R. R. Martin, Anne Rice, J.K. Rowling, Mark Lawrence, Dan Simmons, Robin Hobb, Robert McCammon, Larry Correia, and Mike Kraus.
I love all kinds of movies and shows from Battle Star Galactica (reboot) to the Walking Dead. There's nothing I won't try.
I grew up in Kentucky in a small suburb just south of Cincinnati, Ohio, listening to hard rock and playing outdoors. In those quiet 1970's streets, I jumped bikes, played Nerf football, and came away with many scars.
My grandfather and many of my uncles and cousins served in the United States Military, and my father was a Kentucky State Trooper. Their efforts taught me the meaning of sacrifice and gratitude. I've always had an avid curiosity about the world around me, and I hope my enthusiasm for life carries over into my stories, even the dark ones.
I love all kinds of movies and shows from Battle Star Galactica (reboot) to the Walking Dead. There's nothing I won't try.
I grew up in Kentucky in a small suburb just south of Cincinnati, Ohio, listening to hard rock and playing outdoors. In those quiet 1970's streets, I jumped bikes, played Nerf football, and came away with many scars.
My grandfather and many of my uncles and cousins served in the United States Military, and my father was a Kentucky State Trooper. Their efforts taught me the meaning of sacrifice and gratitude. I've always had an avid curiosity about the world around me, and I hope my enthusiasm for life carries over into my stories, even the dark ones.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 5, 2016
Nivo kvaliteta je ostao otprilike na istom nivou sto uopste nije lose ali knjiga pati od sindroma medju knjige, dosta toga se desava ali u sustini nista suvise znacajno. Saznajemo par novih detalja ali to je to.
Nije losa knjiga ali imao sam malo veca ocekivanja.
Plus i dalje se sve cita kao da je deo jedne knjige posto prica nije podeljena u celine vec kao da je iseckana neka veca knjiga.
Nije losa knjiga ali imao sam malo veca ocekivanja.
Plus i dalje se sve cita kao da je deo jedne knjige posto prica nije podeljena u celine vec kao da je iseckana neka veca knjiga.
December 8, 2014
4.5 of 5 Stars Review copy
Tinkermage continues with the GnomeSaga which began in Rough Magick earlier this year. Author, Kenny Soward, continues to weave a wonderfully complex world filled with stone creatures, swamp elves, orcs, gnomes (of course), and more.
Niksabella Nur and her brother, Nikselpik, continue to develop their skills in magick as the threat to Hightower, from the Baron and his forces from the Ultraworld become more of a threat.
There is plenty going on in Tinkermage; in addition to preparing to battle the Baron's forces, Nikselpik has to be on the lookout for the former First Wizard out for revenge, and there is romance in the air for Niksabella. That being said, book two in the GnomeSaga dragged a bit for me. Although there is a big battle scene near the end of Tinkermage, it's not the one we're waiting for. Look's like we'll need to wait for book three for that one.
I do like Kenny Soward's writing style, the ebb and flow of his words, his attention to detail, and his well-defined characters, all contribute to another good read.
Soward does a good job of bringing the reader up to speed with some highlights from Rough Magick, but I certainly recommend reading book one before reading Tinkermage.
I would be remiss if I didn't give kudos to cover artist Arman Akopian. I actually found myself attracted to a Gnomestress. There's something I never expected to type.
Tinkermage is published by Ragnarok Publications and is available in both paperback and Kindle formats from Amazon.com.
If you love epic fantasy, you'll love this series. Highly recommended.
Tinkermage continues with the GnomeSaga which began in Rough Magick earlier this year. Author, Kenny Soward, continues to weave a wonderfully complex world filled with stone creatures, swamp elves, orcs, gnomes (of course), and more.
Niksabella Nur and her brother, Nikselpik, continue to develop their skills in magick as the threat to Hightower, from the Baron and his forces from the Ultraworld become more of a threat.
There is plenty going on in Tinkermage; in addition to preparing to battle the Baron's forces, Nikselpik has to be on the lookout for the former First Wizard out for revenge, and there is romance in the air for Niksabella. That being said, book two in the GnomeSaga dragged a bit for me. Although there is a big battle scene near the end of Tinkermage, it's not the one we're waiting for. Look's like we'll need to wait for book three for that one.
I do like Kenny Soward's writing style, the ebb and flow of his words, his attention to detail, and his well-defined characters, all contribute to another good read.
Soward does a good job of bringing the reader up to speed with some highlights from Rough Magick, but I certainly recommend reading book one before reading Tinkermage.
I would be remiss if I didn't give kudos to cover artist Arman Akopian. I actually found myself attracted to a Gnomestress. There's something I never expected to type.
Tinkermage is published by Ragnarok Publications and is available in both paperback and Kindle formats from Amazon.com.
If you love epic fantasy, you'll love this series. Highly recommended.
May 29, 2015
The first book in the GnomeSaga, Rough Magick, introduced us to a tinkerer who was unaware of the worlds changing device she's created. That story showed her accidental discovery by way of a crooked 1st Wizard and her subsequent imprisonment. While she languishes in jail, her bug addicted brother has been sent to fight the front line forces of an ultraworld invasion. See my review for more on that wonderful first entry in this unique series by Kenny Soward.
The superb narration by Scott Aiello, as well as the fun tone and gnomish adventure continues in the sequel, Tinkermage, but it's improvements seemed to come at a cost in areas where I felt it was less enjoyable than the first book.
The improvements are centered on what we learn about Niksabella, the tinkerer and worlds saver, and her bother, Nikselpik, the wizard battling to overcome his addiction. Both of them learn new depths to their magick, which will be necessary as they near the war to come in book three. The problem was, none of the battles in this book seemed to matter. I enjoyed the listen as they happened--the narration and author's gift of writing action were awesome--but I felt like the adventure in this book was easily forgettable.
Tinkermage PaperbackThe best moments were where the two pov characters I cared about became more fleshed out (Niksabella and Nikselpik), but I wanted that AND the fight scenes stolen by the pov I didn't care for, Stena. She's given the journey to acquire the new ally, and while there are some inventive battle scenes against the ultraworldly monsters, I don't remember any significant connection to her. She fought a good fight, but it was the difference between watching a fight by someone you have long rooted for and watching two strangers fight for a prize you've never heard of.
As it leaves us going into book three, it seems like some alliances were made, some lives were lost, our cast of heroes developed their powers to sweet levels, but the main enemies have been hidden for book three. Maybe that's unavoidable. If I could have my cake and eat it too, I'd want something like the character development of this book combined with the action to come in the next.
All that to say, I'm eager to get to book three, Cogweaver (available in print and ebook, but not yet audio). I think he's righted the course with what Niksabella and Nikselpik have to accomplish. They have learned their lessons and are ready to step into the forefront of the battle. Hopefully, this will mean less of Stena, or more of a reason to enjoy the times she takes my favorite two off the page.
The superb narration by Scott Aiello, as well as the fun tone and gnomish adventure continues in the sequel, Tinkermage, but it's improvements seemed to come at a cost in areas where I felt it was less enjoyable than the first book.
The improvements are centered on what we learn about Niksabella, the tinkerer and worlds saver, and her bother, Nikselpik, the wizard battling to overcome his addiction. Both of them learn new depths to their magick, which will be necessary as they near the war to come in book three. The problem was, none of the battles in this book seemed to matter. I enjoyed the listen as they happened--the narration and author's gift of writing action were awesome--but I felt like the adventure in this book was easily forgettable.
Tinkermage PaperbackThe best moments were where the two pov characters I cared about became more fleshed out (Niksabella and Nikselpik), but I wanted that AND the fight scenes stolen by the pov I didn't care for, Stena. She's given the journey to acquire the new ally, and while there are some inventive battle scenes against the ultraworldly monsters, I don't remember any significant connection to her. She fought a good fight, but it was the difference between watching a fight by someone you have long rooted for and watching two strangers fight for a prize you've never heard of.
As it leaves us going into book three, it seems like some alliances were made, some lives were lost, our cast of heroes developed their powers to sweet levels, but the main enemies have been hidden for book three. Maybe that's unavoidable. If I could have my cake and eat it too, I'd want something like the character development of this book combined with the action to come in the next.
All that to say, I'm eager to get to book three, Cogweaver (available in print and ebook, but not yet audio). I think he's righted the course with what Niksabella and Nikselpik have to accomplish. They have learned their lessons and are ready to step into the forefront of the battle. Hopefully, this will mean less of Stena, or more of a reason to enjoy the times she takes my favorite two off the page.
December 4, 2014
I absolutely love this book and the first in its series, Rough Magick. If you've read Rough Magick, which you really should before you read Tinkermage, then you know what to expect in terms of wit, adventure, excitement, and good writing.
The story picks up a little after where it left off in Rough Magick, and though there was a little bit of a time skip, the gaps are filled in nicely and when the reader needs to know the information. The plot thickens with Niksabella and the Prophetess, and I'm even more intrigued and excited for the third installment, Cogweaver. I can't wait for it to come out!
Kenny Soward is a wizard. He doesn't fall into the trap of the middle book, which I've seen with other trilogies. Others are lackluster, only serving as a bridge between the first and third books. Tinkermage is a wonderful middle book filled with as much plot as the first one. It continues the main plot beautifully, and the subplots are wonderful additions instead of just tangents. There's a lot of character growth and development, which is one of the most important things for me as a reader.
The story picks up a little after where it left off in Rough Magick, and though there was a little bit of a time skip, the gaps are filled in nicely and when the reader needs to know the information. The plot thickens with Niksabella and the Prophetess, and I'm even more intrigued and excited for the third installment, Cogweaver. I can't wait for it to come out!
Kenny Soward is a wizard. He doesn't fall into the trap of the middle book, which I've seen with other trilogies. Others are lackluster, only serving as a bridge between the first and third books. Tinkermage is a wonderful middle book filled with as much plot as the first one. It continues the main plot beautifully, and the subplots are wonderful additions instead of just tangents. There's a lot of character growth and development, which is one of the most important things for me as a reader.
May 7, 2017
More characters. More conflict. More magick. More gnome!
GnomeSaga is the epic fantasy #gnomepunk series by author Kenny (KENNAH!) Soward.
GnomeSaga is the epic fantasy #gnomepunk series by author Kenny (KENNAH!) Soward.
January 3, 2015
After finishing the first book in the trilogy, Rough Magick, I was very excited to get my hands on the second and much of what I loved from the first book carried over. The world Kenny has built (Sullenor) is both fun and dark at the same time with many fantasy races (his own take on them) from the cookie cutter build (humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, etc) but centres around the quaint race of Gnomes.
The Gnomes are really where the books come alive as well and Kenny does a fantastic job of making them seem very different from the normal heroes we see. Even when the world is facing certain peril we find these Gnomes finding time to enjoy food, drink, the company of their kin, and tinkering with sproketboxes and automatons. In fact, of the entire central cast there is not a human amongst them and that decision strikes me as truly genius as we are forced to empaphise with different races instead of taking the easy road.
It was good to see the characters I had come to love from the first book making a return and the addition of a few new ones also helped to spice up the mix though one of the new characters (I believe it is the very one on the cover) never interacted with any of the others and because of this felt a little disconnected from the rest of the narrative.
I had some problems with the pacing of the book. It seemed to fall into the same trap that many middle books do. With the initial peril of the first book out of the way, the scene set and the plot for the trilogy established, and the looming big bad coming in the third, the story seemed to trundle along at times getting lost in exposition with many scenes full of characters sitting around chatting and not doing much of anything at all. It made for slow reading and I often found myself putting down the book at the end of a chapter instead of hungrily devouring the next one.
Then came the finale and what an excellent finale it was. Without giving too much away: Whoosh, bang, stab, crackle, ROAR, stab, urgh, boom, heartbreak.
The third book in the trilogy, Cogweaver, is coming soon and I'll definitely be picking it up.
The Gnomes are really where the books come alive as well and Kenny does a fantastic job of making them seem very different from the normal heroes we see. Even when the world is facing certain peril we find these Gnomes finding time to enjoy food, drink, the company of their kin, and tinkering with sproketboxes and automatons. In fact, of the entire central cast there is not a human amongst them and that decision strikes me as truly genius as we are forced to empaphise with different races instead of taking the easy road.
It was good to see the characters I had come to love from the first book making a return and the addition of a few new ones also helped to spice up the mix though one of the new characters (I believe it is the very one on the cover) never interacted with any of the others and because of this felt a little disconnected from the rest of the narrative.
I had some problems with the pacing of the book. It seemed to fall into the same trap that many middle books do. With the initial peril of the first book out of the way, the scene set and the plot for the trilogy established, and the looming big bad coming in the third, the story seemed to trundle along at times getting lost in exposition with many scenes full of characters sitting around chatting and not doing much of anything at all. It made for slow reading and I often found myself putting down the book at the end of a chapter instead of hungrily devouring the next one.
Then came the finale and what an excellent finale it was. Without giving too much away: Whoosh, bang, stab, crackle, ROAR, stab, urgh, boom, heartbreak.
The third book in the trilogy, Cogweaver, is coming soon and I'll definitely be picking it up.
January 18, 2016
Tinkermage is the sequel to the 2014 Rough Magic and the second of the GnomeSaga books by Kenny Soward. The premise of the series is it follows the adventures of the most overlooked race in fantasy as they attempt to deal with an extra-planar invasion by a dimension-spanning warlord.
The books are a throwback to the Nineties and early millennial fiction by TSR then Wizards of the Coast. Back when I was a teenager, I purchased hundreds (no exaggeration) of cheap paperback novels containing stories based around settings or rules. The series is more tied-together by plot than most of these and doesn't take place in any canonical world but are close enough they wouldn't be out-of-place with a boxed set for the setting.
For me, it was welcome nostalgia.
But it feels very D&D.
In the previous book, Rough Magic, the sibling pair of Nikselpik and Niksabella Nur discovered the plight of the enslaved elemental Stonekin. Niksabella has been chosen by the mysterious Prophetess to help them while Nikselpik has decided to protect his sister against all dangers. Nikselpik's vow to protect his sister is made difficult by the fact he's given up "bugging" (insects whose bite produces an effect similar to heroin), which has left him a shadow of his former self. Worse, the mysterious Baron who rules over a twenty-worlds has decided to make the gnomes world his next target.
Kenny Soward avoids several cliches would would have made the book less enjoyable like no one believing in an ultraworld (what other dimensions are called) invasions. Instead, the warning is taken seriously and they send out messengers to other lands so they can be roused against the threat.
Much of the book is devoted to character development like Nikselpik being forced to choose between his necromancy and a future as a priest. Given he's only considering the latter because he's attracted to a gnomestress (female gnome) priest, I'm not surprised it's much of a choice. As a big fan of dark powers belonging to good people, I hope Nik continues to study the Dark Arts as they are in dire need of representation in D&D-related fiction.
We also get the discovery Niksabella is possessed of powers which go far and beyond those of being a genius inventor. I'm rather iffy on this development as I think she's just fine as the sort of person who creates amazing inventions. Her relationship with the Prophetess, who has taken up semi-permanent residence in her head, is the most interesting part of the book. I can't recall a villainess I've hated quite as much as the Prophetess and I hope we get to see Niksabella destroy her soon.
A new major character is introduced this volume with the airship captain Stena. Stena is a likable enough character and I've been predisposed to liking anything related to airships since Final Fantasy I. Unfortunately, Stena doesn't have much relationship to the other two gnomish protagonists so it was hard to get invested in her storyline.
Indeed, the major flaw of the book is it's very well-written but not a lot happens. It's mostly getting everyone up to speed on the invasion, who is doing what, and why. There's some good action sequences with one of the few scenes in fantasy where orcs are genuinely threatening (and against steampunk gnomes no less). I was hoping we'd be getting to fighting the Baron directly by Book 3# so the slower pace is somewhat annoying. I'm in no mood for Gnomesaga to end but I hope the next volume will have some more developments.
In conclusion, Tinkermage is a worthy sequel to Rough Magic. I like the characters, the unique world, the steampunk 19th century gnomes living in a 12th century fantasy world, and the series' trademark humor. I'm even a fan of the silly words which Kenny Soward throws in to make the English language (or, I suppose, "Common tongue") more gnomish.
8.5/10
The books are a throwback to the Nineties and early millennial fiction by TSR then Wizards of the Coast. Back when I was a teenager, I purchased hundreds (no exaggeration) of cheap paperback novels containing stories based around settings or rules. The series is more tied-together by plot than most of these and doesn't take place in any canonical world but are close enough they wouldn't be out-of-place with a boxed set for the setting.
For me, it was welcome nostalgia.
But it feels very D&D.
In the previous book, Rough Magic, the sibling pair of Nikselpik and Niksabella Nur discovered the plight of the enslaved elemental Stonekin. Niksabella has been chosen by the mysterious Prophetess to help them while Nikselpik has decided to protect his sister against all dangers. Nikselpik's vow to protect his sister is made difficult by the fact he's given up "bugging" (insects whose bite produces an effect similar to heroin), which has left him a shadow of his former self. Worse, the mysterious Baron who rules over a twenty-worlds has decided to make the gnomes world his next target.
Kenny Soward avoids several cliches would would have made the book less enjoyable like no one believing in an ultraworld (what other dimensions are called) invasions. Instead, the warning is taken seriously and they send out messengers to other lands so they can be roused against the threat.
Much of the book is devoted to character development like Nikselpik being forced to choose between his necromancy and a future as a priest. Given he's only considering the latter because he's attracted to a gnomestress (female gnome) priest, I'm not surprised it's much of a choice. As a big fan of dark powers belonging to good people, I hope Nik continues to study the Dark Arts as they are in dire need of representation in D&D-related fiction.
We also get the discovery Niksabella is possessed of powers which go far and beyond those of being a genius inventor. I'm rather iffy on this development as I think she's just fine as the sort of person who creates amazing inventions. Her relationship with the Prophetess, who has taken up semi-permanent residence in her head, is the most interesting part of the book. I can't recall a villainess I've hated quite as much as the Prophetess and I hope we get to see Niksabella destroy her soon.
A new major character is introduced this volume with the airship captain Stena. Stena is a likable enough character and I've been predisposed to liking anything related to airships since Final Fantasy I. Unfortunately, Stena doesn't have much relationship to the other two gnomish protagonists so it was hard to get invested in her storyline.
Indeed, the major flaw of the book is it's very well-written but not a lot happens. It's mostly getting everyone up to speed on the invasion, who is doing what, and why. There's some good action sequences with one of the few scenes in fantasy where orcs are genuinely threatening (and against steampunk gnomes no less). I was hoping we'd be getting to fighting the Baron directly by Book 3# so the slower pace is somewhat annoying. I'm in no mood for Gnomesaga to end but I hope the next volume will have some more developments.
In conclusion, Tinkermage is a worthy sequel to Rough Magic. I like the characters, the unique world, the steampunk 19th century gnomes living in a 12th century fantasy world, and the series' trademark humor. I'm even a fan of the silly words which Kenny Soward throws in to make the English language (or, I suppose, "Common tongue") more gnomish.
8.5/10
December 1, 2014
(With apologies to Sir Elton John)
She's a gnome, she's a gnome
The gnomestress is back....
Yes, Niksabella and Nikselpik are back, and have brought a new friend to play: Stena Wavebreaker.
Stena is ship's captain who's been pressed into Air Service by the gnome General Precisior Dale Dillwind. Her mission is to seek out the Swamp Elves and other races on Sullenor, to either warn them about the amorphs, or to get their help in the upcoming battle.
Meanwhile, Niksabella finally meets the Stonekin Jontuk and travels south with him. Her gnome boyfriend, Termund, doesn't love the idea of her traveling alone with the unknown Stonekin, and persuades her to travel with his delegation of Thrasherville gnomes, at least part of the way. Niksabella also learns more about the gnomestress Jontuk calls The Prophetess--and not all of it is welcome news.
Back in Hightower, Nikselpik is dealing with his new status as First Wizard, after defeating Raulnock, the former First Wizard, and recovering from his battle with Raulnock and the effects of bug-withdrawal.....
And Dale Dillwind? All he has to do is figure out how to fight (and hopefully defeat) the ultra world forces The Baron is sending into Sullenor.
All in all, I really enjoyed Tinkermage. Some of the problems I had with Rough Magick are clarified and explained to my satisfaction (I know, I know, I should know by now to wait until at least the second book before I worry about characters). I really like Stena Wavebreaker and think she makes a fine addition to the gnome crew. Nikselpik and Niksabella show growth, and are becoming the characters I hoped they'd be. Except for Stena, there's not as much action in this book, but that just means that Cogweaver is probably setting us up for Action of Epic proportions!
She's a gnome, she's a gnome
The gnomestress is back....
Yes, Niksabella and Nikselpik are back, and have brought a new friend to play: Stena Wavebreaker.
Stena is ship's captain who's been pressed into Air Service by the gnome General Precisior Dale Dillwind. Her mission is to seek out the Swamp Elves and other races on Sullenor, to either warn them about the amorphs, or to get their help in the upcoming battle.
Meanwhile, Niksabella finally meets the Stonekin Jontuk and travels south with him. Her gnome boyfriend, Termund, doesn't love the idea of her traveling alone with the unknown Stonekin, and persuades her to travel with his delegation of Thrasherville gnomes, at least part of the way. Niksabella also learns more about the gnomestress Jontuk calls The Prophetess--and not all of it is welcome news.
Back in Hightower, Nikselpik is dealing with his new status as First Wizard, after defeating Raulnock, the former First Wizard, and recovering from his battle with Raulnock and the effects of bug-withdrawal.....
And Dale Dillwind? All he has to do is figure out how to fight (and hopefully defeat) the ultra world forces The Baron is sending into Sullenor.
All in all, I really enjoyed Tinkermage. Some of the problems I had with Rough Magick are clarified and explained to my satisfaction (I know, I know, I should know by now to wait until at least the second book before I worry about characters). I really like Stena Wavebreaker and think she makes a fine addition to the gnome crew. Nikselpik and Niksabella show growth, and are becoming the characters I hoped they'd be. Except for Stena, there's not as much action in this book, but that just means that Cogweaver is probably setting us up for Action of Epic proportions!
February 3, 2016
The first quarter or so of this one is a bit slow, all dialogue and not too much else to get into. Then why another 5 stars? Because even though the first quarter or so is slow, it's still entertaining, and informative, and develops character relations and growth. Even though it was slow, it didn't slow my reading of it, if that makes sense -- I didn't get bored, not once.
And then out of nowhere you're in an airship fighting against a huge, flying, ultraworld creature-ship. You're introducing the 'party' to your giant golem buddy. You're riding around in a cool gnomish mechanical-spidery carriage, fighting orcs. You're meeting swamp elves. You're...you're having a lot of fun and ingesting a lot of activity even if it doesn't seem like it at first -- look back once you finish and you're like, "By Tock, a lot of stuff went down in this one."
So, yes, there's a lot of dialogue in this one, but none of it is worthless, quite the opposite. All the growth, both individually and between characters, is much appreciated.
And then out of nowhere you're in an airship fighting against a huge, flying, ultraworld creature-ship. You're introducing the 'party' to your giant golem buddy. You're riding around in a cool gnomish mechanical-spidery carriage, fighting orcs. You're meeting swamp elves. You're...you're having a lot of fun and ingesting a lot of activity even if it doesn't seem like it at first -- look back once you finish and you're like, "By Tock, a lot of stuff went down in this one."
So, yes, there's a lot of dialogue in this one, but none of it is worthless, quite the opposite. All the growth, both individually and between characters, is much appreciated.
February 8, 2015
ENCHANTING TALE
What makes a book tick? Mr. Soward has found the answer with this second book in the GnomeSaga trilogy. Books are written in black and white and it is up to the author to paint a canvas with those words. Kenny paints an impressive picture of characters with strengths and weaknesses. Gritty and real. Easy to connect with characters (even if they are gnomes).
The lands of Sullenor expand in this tale. Orcs, elves, and even gnomes are not your stereotypical races. They have a unique flavor that are all Kenny’s. Toss in a fantasy world with wizards and Steampunk tech and you have a world worthy of exploration.
My reading time is precious to me. I don’t like to spend it reading something I wish I hadn’t. I would rather put something down that bores me. But, I thoroughly enjoy delving into the adventures of the inhabitants of Sullenor and beyond. Couldn’t put it down.
Even secondary and tertiary characters are given depth. Magic is not only shown but explained. Mr. Soward shows us (not tells us) what it means to invoke magic and build strength up as a wizard. How in the world does one do that? Why does it work? Here is your chance to find out.
Kenny is one of my favorite authors. Do yourself a favor and crack open the GnomeSaga (please start with book 1: Rough Magick) and enjoy the ride. Strong female characters that are still feminine. Join the heroes and heroines as they attempt to save the races of Sullenor from the otherworldly forces that seek to destroy them. Hang from the sail riggings of the aerostats as they break through the clouds in search of unifying the races of Sullenor. When you are done, you are going to want to share this book with your friends.
What makes a book tick? Mr. Soward has found the answer with this second book in the GnomeSaga trilogy. Books are written in black and white and it is up to the author to paint a canvas with those words. Kenny paints an impressive picture of characters with strengths and weaknesses. Gritty and real. Easy to connect with characters (even if they are gnomes).
The lands of Sullenor expand in this tale. Orcs, elves, and even gnomes are not your stereotypical races. They have a unique flavor that are all Kenny’s. Toss in a fantasy world with wizards and Steampunk tech and you have a world worthy of exploration.
My reading time is precious to me. I don’t like to spend it reading something I wish I hadn’t. I would rather put something down that bores me. But, I thoroughly enjoy delving into the adventures of the inhabitants of Sullenor and beyond. Couldn’t put it down.
Even secondary and tertiary characters are given depth. Magic is not only shown but explained. Mr. Soward shows us (not tells us) what it means to invoke magic and build strength up as a wizard. How in the world does one do that? Why does it work? Here is your chance to find out.
Kenny is one of my favorite authors. Do yourself a favor and crack open the GnomeSaga (please start with book 1: Rough Magick) and enjoy the ride. Strong female characters that are still feminine. Join the heroes and heroines as they attempt to save the races of Sullenor from the otherworldly forces that seek to destroy them. Hang from the sail riggings of the aerostats as they break through the clouds in search of unifying the races of Sullenor. When you are done, you are going to want to share this book with your friends.
March 5, 2016
I know some people think the pace of this book was slow. But I think it was necessarily slow--It's a build-up to the war that's coming! It makes for great contrast, I think, to the fast-paced action that is to come.
As in the first book, Soward does a marvellous job with character development. I loved how flawed the characters are (Nik and his necromancy, Nika and her temper) but how they strive to do right by the people around them. I particularly liked that Soward develops Fritzy's character towards the end of the book while still paying attention to Nika and her growing powers.
I took 1 star off because I thought the part where the goddess is introduced as Nik and Nika's mother felt too rushed and too jarring. I think Soward could have described more interactions between Nika and her mother prior to the revelation. Also, after the revelation, Nika just accepted, "Yeah, that's my mother." The reader is left wondering about the backstory. What was Nik and Nika's childhood like? How did their mother disappear? What about their father? etcetcetc. Perhaps these answers are in Cogweaver but I think it is strange for a person to not reminisce about the past when she comes head-to-head with her own previously-missing mother.
Otherwise, great story. Looking forward to Cogweaver.
As in the first book, Soward does a marvellous job with character development. I loved how flawed the characters are (Nik and his necromancy, Nika and her temper) but how they strive to do right by the people around them. I particularly liked that Soward develops Fritzy's character towards the end of the book while still paying attention to Nika and her growing powers.
I took 1 star off because I thought the part where the goddess is introduced as Nik and Nika's mother felt too rushed and too jarring. I think Soward could have described more interactions between Nika and her mother prior to the revelation. Also, after the revelation, Nika just accepted, "Yeah, that's my mother." The reader is left wondering about the backstory. What was Nik and Nika's childhood like? How did their mother disappear? What about their father? etcetcetc. Perhaps these answers are in Cogweaver but I think it is strange for a person to not reminisce about the past when she comes head-to-head with her own previously-missing mother.
Otherwise, great story. Looking forward to Cogweaver.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2016
Gnomes are awesome!
I repeat, gnomes are awesome! They don't get much treatment in fantasy, but Kenny Soward tinkered with the race until he created an ecosystem so believable it'd make you think he invented gnomes.
This book suffers somewhat from the 2nd-book-in-a-trilogy syndrome: It takes a while until it picks up steam and by the time it ends you feel slightly underwhelmed that the overall plot hasn't moved as much as you'd expect (maybe it has, but I haven't noticed too much).
Herein lies my main qualm with this book - the world and characters are great, the plot has you hooked too (interplanetary invasion anyone?) BUT I found the pace is off. There is usually a reason for me picking up a book and finishing reading it only a month or so later...
Make no mistake though, I'm curious to see this journey through and will be picking up the 3rd book in the series soon!
Final verdict of sorts: Solid writing, great characters and a world you want to learn more about, but all of it moving at a pace you probably won't appreciate (but hey, it's gnomes, so maybe there is a reason to it).
4 out of 5 stars!
I repeat, gnomes are awesome! They don't get much treatment in fantasy, but Kenny Soward tinkered with the race until he created an ecosystem so believable it'd make you think he invented gnomes.
This book suffers somewhat from the 2nd-book-in-a-trilogy syndrome: It takes a while until it picks up steam and by the time it ends you feel slightly underwhelmed that the overall plot hasn't moved as much as you'd expect (maybe it has, but I haven't noticed too much).
Herein lies my main qualm with this book - the world and characters are great, the plot has you hooked too (interplanetary invasion anyone?) BUT I found the pace is off. There is usually a reason for me picking up a book and finishing reading it only a month or so later...
Make no mistake though, I'm curious to see this journey through and will be picking up the 3rd book in the series soon!
Final verdict of sorts: Solid writing, great characters and a world you want to learn more about, but all of it moving at a pace you probably won't appreciate (but hey, it's gnomes, so maybe there is a reason to it).
4 out of 5 stars!
April 3, 2015
3.35 STARS...Decent conception. Decent writting. Decent characters. Decent plot. This review pretty much applies to the whole series to date. The books are entertaining enough to finish when one has nothing better to read or do. The plot and characters were relatively novel (not cookie-cutter-esque), the world and story made sense, and the "special abilities" were mostly well developed and thoughtful. That said, the books were also lacking a few important things; they were too short, needed at least another 150 pages to be considered a big girl/boy book (to develop the already existing ideas as well as to roundly add more material) and lacked, in an obvious way, the polishing and plot-hole-removal that comes with first class/professional editing. Lastly, there was not enough emotion.
September 28, 2015
Little things I noticed while reading.
62 Year old Milf Gnomes... Ha!
Cleric did a 180° on the hostilities.
I was right before, sparing turns around to bite them in the arse.
Illegal travel, and two counts of bodily harm, with the intent to maim or disfigure, is met with smiles, pats on the back and a plate of food....
>tfw no chubby Gnomish gf who boxes
Why live?
I expected that revelation about dream walker
These books are so short.
I have a feeling that persons who get close, and call certain people "Sir", will die painful deaths to pass on some measure of humanity/give a life lesson.
4/5 Stars
62 Year old Milf Gnomes... Ha!
Cleric did a 180° on the hostilities.
I was right before, sparing turns around to bite them in the arse.
Illegal travel, and two counts of bodily harm, with the intent to maim or disfigure, is met with smiles, pats on the back and a plate of food....
>tfw no chubby Gnomish gf who boxes
Why live?
I expected that revelation about dream walker
These books are so short.
I have a feeling that persons who get close, and call certain people "Sir", will die painful deaths to pass on some measure of humanity/give a life lesson.
4/5 Stars
February 6, 2016
Super fun, unique, great story telling. Looking forward to the third in the series.
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