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The Saga of Java Mountainstand #1
Firewalker
For Java Mountainstand, the only way to avoid an arranged marriage to a brute is to run away from her life, her home, and him. Java joins the all-female mercenary company called Freeholm's Firewalkers where she is made a Scout. As a scout, Java finds herself in one of the most dangerous positions in the company--and the most exciting.
In response to Emperor Frander's attack on the duchy of Lender's Dale, the Firewalkers are sent to the border between Lender's Dale and the duchy of Greencastle to keep him out as well as they can.
Java and the scouts become the most active force against Frander's forces. Java distinguishes herself in many ways, including breaking the rules to rescue her sergeant's sister.
Java's fortunes turn decidedly for the better when she rescues three young magi, and then stumbles upon the last living member of the Lender's Dale royal family, Samantha.
Then things get interesting.
In response to Emperor Frander's attack on the duchy of Lender's Dale, the Firewalkers are sent to the border between Lender's Dale and the duchy of Greencastle to keep him out as well as they can.
Java and the scouts become the most active force against Frander's forces. Java distinguishes herself in many ways, including breaking the rules to rescue her sergeant's sister.
Java's fortunes turn decidedly for the better when she rescues three young magi, and then stumbles upon the last living member of the Lender's Dale royal family, Samantha.
Then things get interesting.
- GenresFantasy
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2018
114 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 20, 2019
I started reading Firewalker (The Saga of Java Mountainstand #1) by Loren K. Jones hoping for another decent fantasy series with a strong woman MC. Firewalker is well written with engaging characters and a beautifully flawed, but strong woman MC.
Jones is a gifted writer, but I am the wrong reader for Firewalker. There are other better fantasy series that I would rather read and spend my money on rather than The Saga of Java Mountainstand (YMMV).
I do not mind multiple female partners for male MCs. I can live with multiple partners for a woman MC as long as there is only one male. I prefer that the partners remain constant. I dislike when an MC changes partners or has casual sex. Java sleeps with only one woman in the book, but sleeps with a few different men as does her woman lover Robin. The casual sex and sleeping with other people killed Firewalker for me. It may be sexist for me to dislike how Java and Robin had casual sex, but that is how I feel.
I will not buy another book by Jones not because he is a bad writer, but because I did not enjoy Firewalker enough to justify purchasing more books.
Jones is a gifted writer, but I am the wrong reader for Firewalker. There are other better fantasy series that I would rather read and spend my money on rather than The Saga of Java Mountainstand (YMMV).
I do not mind multiple female partners for male MCs. I can live with multiple partners for a woman MC as long as there is only one male. I prefer that the partners remain constant. I dislike when an MC changes partners or has casual sex. Java sleeps with only one woman in the book, but sleeps with a few different men as does her woman lover Robin. The casual sex and sleeping with other people killed Firewalker for me. It may be sexist for me to dislike how Java and Robin had casual sex, but that is how I feel.
I will not buy another book by Jones not because he is a bad writer, but because I did not enjoy Firewalker enough to justify purchasing more books.
February 18, 2025
I enjoyed the book. I liked Java - she's a good kid who becomes a great young woman during the course of the story. Don't pick up this book expecting huge military battles. While there is military action in the book, it's mostly scouting encounters led by Java and some of the light archer units.
I thought the characterizations were fine, and believable for the most part.
The one irk I have the book are the names. I have no idea why Loren Jones used so many coffee references for character names. Java, the Latte' nomads, Moh'Cah and Caloo'Ah, Jah'Moke. I mean...c'mon, man. The names yanked me out of the story.
Other than that, I found it an enjoyable story that I had a hard time putting down.
I thought the characterizations were fine, and believable for the most part.
The one irk I have the book are the names. I have no idea why Loren Jones used so many coffee references for character names. Java, the Latte' nomads, Moh'Cah and Caloo'Ah, Jah'Moke. I mean...c'mon, man. The names yanked me out of the story.
Other than that, I found it an enjoyable story that I had a hard time putting down.
June 6, 2018
A really nice fantasy that reminded me a little of the Paksenarrion books of ‘Elizabeth Moon'.
The story moves quite quickly and the author hasn’t fallen into the trap of many Fantasy writers of trying to produce an ‘epic’ full of overblown descriptions.
Although there is some heartbreak, I still found some of the book a bit too sweet and sentimental, but I will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series.
The story moves quite quickly and the author hasn’t fallen into the trap of many Fantasy writers of trying to produce an ‘epic’ full of overblown descriptions.
Although there is some heartbreak, I still found some of the book a bit too sweet and sentimental, but I will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series.
May 28, 2018
Very disappointing. About 40% in the MC started a lesbian relationship and totally ruined the book for me. DNF and have no plans to read any other books by the author. Too bad because I adored Stavin Dragonblessed series and had high hopes for this book. Such a shame.
May 21, 2018
Very enjoyable. Quite reminiscent of Moon's
Sheepfarmer's Daughter
, but in Jones's own style. The main character is a bit of a Mary Sue (good guys -- actually, mostly girls, tend to love her, or at least feel very protective), but the author is hinting there are Deep Reasons for that -- I am looking forward to reading about that. Perhaps we will find out what it means to be Chosen in this world; something that was left ambiguous in the Stavin books, as it seemed in between mystical bloodlines and social conventions.
Talking of "Stavin Dragonblessed" ( All that Glitters and sequels): while Firewalker is in the same world, it takes place thousands of years later, and there is practically no connection between the two series. There is no need to read the Stavin series first.
Looking forward to the next books in the series.
Talking of "Stavin Dragonblessed" ( All that Glitters and sequels): while Firewalker is in the same world, it takes place thousands of years later, and there is practically no connection between the two series. There is no need to read the Stavin series first.
Looking forward to the next books in the series.
August 1, 2018
A girl who had nothing! A running away ! But she was to chang the lives of some very interesting people !!!
This was a book that kept morphing into the unexpected and led you on into unexpected and darting situations....
Finding later - that you have become some one quite surprising to others mostly - but not letting the cares of others to over rule your own !!!
Many twists and turned that kept you wanting to see how the next several pages went !!!
Discovering friends that you discover later that something you do - or are - brings out a wonderous comerodery that hold people to geather in the worst situations.....
An excellent read that at 1st I wanted to judge - but soon - began to grasp hard times and a state of war of kill or be killed !
But lots of action and reaction - that brought out excellent situations that leave you asking - just how would I have handled something like this ???
Charles R.
This was a book that kept morphing into the unexpected and led you on into unexpected and darting situations....
Finding later - that you have become some one quite surprising to others mostly - but not letting the cares of others to over rule your own !!!
Many twists and turned that kept you wanting to see how the next several pages went !!!
Discovering friends that you discover later that something you do - or are - brings out a wonderous comerodery that hold people to geather in the worst situations.....
An excellent read that at 1st I wanted to judge - but soon - began to grasp hard times and a state of war of kill or be killed !
But lots of action and reaction - that brought out excellent situations that leave you asking - just how would I have handled something like this ???
Charles R.
June 27, 2021
Firebrand is the story of the young teenager Java Mountainstand. At the start of the book she joins an all-women mercenary group to escape from an unwanted marriage. What follows are the first few years of her life in which she slowly develops her combat and leadership talents. With the aid of a few lucky encounters she makes a name for herself during the first few years of a potentially decades long war against a tyrannical mage emperor. As any teenager she makes a few mistakes and she loses friends along the way due to violence. The story is mostly told from Java’s perspective with the occasional switch for a short scene or two, while not distracting they rarely add much either.
It is a simple, straightforward story that feels similar to the story of Stevan. The most notable difference is that there appears to be an overall plot for what looks like to be a trilogy unlike the more slice-of-life story of Stevan. For me that is a good thing. As with Stevan there are ample of stupid, rude and chauvinistic people, but it does make a bit more sense here. Insulting a teenage merc makes a lot more sense than dismissing the adopted prince in golden armour. Enough attention is paid to the fact that Java is not a born soldier, that killing people is not easy and that people do not just shrug off bad events such as the loss of friends or harsh punishment. At the same time, she overcomes those challenges relatively quickly from the readers perspective without dragging on and on.
Of course, while for me the straightforward somewhat simple story is good. Perfect for an entertaining read. It does miss that small push that puts me on the edge of my seat, no action packed battles or food for thought on real life. I am happy with it and I am very much looking forward to the next part, but I can see how to others this can be a bit disappointing. In the end it was an entertaining read the fully fulfilled my expectations.
It is a simple, straightforward story that feels similar to the story of Stevan. The most notable difference is that there appears to be an overall plot for what looks like to be a trilogy unlike the more slice-of-life story of Stevan. For me that is a good thing. As with Stevan there are ample of stupid, rude and chauvinistic people, but it does make a bit more sense here. Insulting a teenage merc makes a lot more sense than dismissing the adopted prince in golden armour. Enough attention is paid to the fact that Java is not a born soldier, that killing people is not easy and that people do not just shrug off bad events such as the loss of friends or harsh punishment. At the same time, she overcomes those challenges relatively quickly from the readers perspective without dragging on and on.
Of course, while for me the straightforward somewhat simple story is good. Perfect for an entertaining read. It does miss that small push that puts me on the edge of my seat, no action packed battles or food for thought on real life. I am happy with it and I am very much looking forward to the next part, but I can see how to others this can be a bit disappointing. In the end it was an entertaining read the fully fulfilled my expectations.
July 19, 2018
This book is really captivating. From her experiences in the beginning, her relationships(both intimate and platonic). Though it doesn't have long drawn out battles, her skirmishes and personal battles/fights make the book interesting. Would really not be happy if she(or the following books) turns soft because of being ennobled. I'm really looking forward to the next books in the series.
I haven't read any book by this author because I prefer books with female leads - so this is my first and it's a good "first" .
I haven't read any book by this author because I prefer books with female leads - so this is my first and it's a good "first" .
January 4, 2022
So much telling in this juvenile book
If ever there was an author that needed to be reminded of the old writer's advice to "show don't tell" It is this one. Right out of the gate with a wordy and completely unnecessary preface AND prologue and continuing throughout the book the telling is so over the top as to be disorienting. With that said, the tale is not a bad one (I'll probably read the second book). Though many scenes seem pointless or thrown in for no reason, the character is likeable enough and the plot moves at a decent pace.
If ever there was an author that needed to be reminded of the old writer's advice to "show don't tell" It is this one. Right out of the gate with a wordy and completely unnecessary preface AND prologue and continuing throughout the book the telling is so over the top as to be disorienting. With that said, the tale is not a bad one (I'll probably read the second book). Though many scenes seem pointless or thrown in for no reason, the character is likeable enough and the plot moves at a decent pace.
June 18, 2018
Very well written
I am always looking for new books. Lately everything seems to be much of the same stories just different characters. I was very happy to see this was much different. The world building and character building are great and the story was well fleshed out. There was one little paragraph with a major flaw in word but otherwise I was very pleased with the book. I could barely put the book down and finished in less than a day.
I am always looking for new books. Lately everything seems to be much of the same stories just different characters. I was very happy to see this was much different. The world building and character building are great and the story was well fleshed out. There was one little paragraph with a major flaw in word but otherwise I was very pleased with the book. I could barely put the book down and finished in less than a day.
June 3, 2018
Multiple problems.
-It has a timeline, a preface, AND a prologue. Only one of these was needed if any was needed at all. The timeline in particular is super dense and has an odd combination of snark and seriousness.
-There's a Shakespeare quote as an epigraph. Very anachronistic and immersion-breaking.
-The people don't talk like people. They talk like they're trying to feed me exposition.
-It has a timeline, a preface, AND a prologue. Only one of these was needed if any was needed at all. The timeline in particular is super dense and has an odd combination of snark and seriousness.
-There's a Shakespeare quote as an epigraph. Very anachronistic and immersion-breaking.
-The people don't talk like people. They talk like they're trying to feed me exposition.
July 7, 2021
For some reason this was recommended to me as military fiction, it's not even close, it's YA wish-fulfilment for teenage girls who think that mercenary warfare is a girl-scout romance. It might be a good book for that, but not what I was recommended or wanted. :D
OK, 1 star review is a bit harsh, but I'm going off what I was sold the book as, which was misleading to say the least.
OK, 1 star review is a bit harsh, but I'm going off what I was sold the book as, which was misleading to say the least.
July 9, 2018
Good read
In the style of Elizabeth Moon and the Paksennarian tales. A truly enjoyable story of a runaway and her intense career as a mercenary. I would like to read the rest of the series but can't find them on kindle.
In the style of Elizabeth Moon and the Paksennarian tales. A truly enjoyable story of a runaway and her intense career as a mercenary. I would like to read the rest of the series but can't find them on kindle.
December 14, 2018
Wow Made me Feel It
This story made me relive my basic training days. A runaway teenager joins a all female mercenary group. Through her bravery she earns nobility. Great fast paced entertaining story.
This story made me relive my basic training days. A runaway teenager joins a all female mercenary group. Through her bravery she earns nobility. Great fast paced entertaining story.
February 21, 2019
Gay relations
I thought maybe this book would be a clean one without sexual remarks until Have shares a tub with Robin. Seriously you can have q great book with sexual stuff in it. Extremely disappointed
I thought maybe this book would be a clean one without sexual remarks until Have shares a tub with Robin. Seriously you can have q great book with sexual stuff in it. Extremely disappointed
June 27, 2018
Looks like the start of something good.
Thoroughly enjoyed the book and can't wait to read the next one. The character is building nicely a bit innocent but not sickly.
Thoroughly enjoyed the book and can't wait to read the next one. The character is building nicely a bit innocent but not sickly.
August 4, 2018
Awesome
Awesome read with twists and turns throughout the tales from commoner to nobility while coming of age during warfare between realms. Can't wait for the next book.
Awesome read with twists and turns throughout the tales from commoner to nobility while coming of age during warfare between realms. Can't wait for the next book.
August 19, 2018
A new series set in the same world as the Stavin DragonBlessed series, but much later.
Very well written with an captivating main character. I'm really looking forward to the next book.
Very well written with an captivating main character. I'm really looking forward to the next book.
January 16, 2019
Interesting book about girl becoming a soldier and then more.
Sometimes it can get meandering, but since I read it in one day, I can't say anything negative about it :)
Sometimes it can get meandering, but since I read it in one day, I can't say anything negative about it :)
April 2, 2019
I like this series, and the world. I am curious to see if books are written to cover the various eras mentioned in the prelude between the first series and this one. I hope so.
May 4, 2019
Excellent!
In the same style as the Stavin books. Really draws one into the characters and story. All his books are must read imho.
In the same style as the Stavin books. Really draws one into the characters and story. All his books are must read imho.
November 9, 2019
Nothing original but I still really enjoyed this book, which is in the style of Tamora Pierce.
March 21, 2025
Very readable
No politics, just a very pleasant easy read. Do not try to read anything political just enjoy, and relax with it.
No politics, just a very pleasant easy read. Do not try to read anything political just enjoy, and relax with it.
May 4, 2018
Readable but I didn’t find it as enjoyable as the Stavin Dragonblessed books. The story takes place more than a thousand years after the time Stavin. I’ll likely read the sequel when it is out but it’s unlikely I’ll reread this book the way I reread All that Glitters and its sequels.
June 30, 2018
I am totally taken with the Firewalkers
Loren K Jones has gone on my must buy list. His books haven't disappointed me yet. I am so looking forward the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book and this author.
Loren K Jones has gone on my must buy list. His books haven't disappointed me yet. I am so looking forward the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book and this author.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews