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The God Fragments #3
Knight of Stars
Lynx and the rest of the Cards are heading south. There's money in their pockets, beer in their hands and a simple job ahead - sun, sea and not getting shot at much. Throw in the prospect of a bar fight and it's almost a holiday.
But the volatile Mage Islands are a powder-keg, one just waiting for a spark. A bloody-handed exile perhaps, or the agent of a foreign power preparing for war. Maybe even a bunch of trigger-happy drunks who've upset the balance of magic across the Riven Kingdom.
Or all three together, that'd definitely work...
But the volatile Mage Islands are a powder-keg, one just waiting for a spark. A bloody-handed exile perhaps, or the agent of a foreign power preparing for war. Maybe even a bunch of trigger-happy drunks who've upset the balance of magic across the Riven Kingdom.
Or all three together, that'd definitely work...
- GenresFantasyEpic Fantasy
448 pages, Hardcover
First published June 27, 2019
14 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
Tom Lloyd
47 books444 followersTom 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?...
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?...
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 17, 2019
I received an advanced review copy of Knight of Stars in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Tom Lloyd and Gollancz.
"We're here to drink beer an' fuck people up, but we ain't halfway through the beer yet."
After somehow surviving the labyrinth of Jarrazir the soldiers of Anatin's Mercenary Deck seem like they have a simple task for the next few weeks. Lots of drinking, violence, sex, and banter whilst visiting the picturesque Mage Islands and dealing with a debt issue. It turns out that there may be a few complications. Giant golanthas, dragon-like tyserns, Mastrunners, and Teshen - the Knight of Stars - having to deal with his ex-girlfriend.
This is a series that I truly recommend but it has been an interesting one for me. I rated the first two books 7.5/10 which I class as a good rating but something has kept drawing me back everytime a new entry is unleashed more than other higher-rated books would have. They are also tales that I have had to read before they have been released. There is something really addictive about the way Lloyd writes. Lloyd writes action scenes better than anybody in the game at the moment. The author has crafted an amazingly well-thought-out world and it is strikingly impressive in its originality which when combined with other mentioned factors equals excellence.
As discussed, the action is top-notch. No author at the moment can touch Lloyd for the adrenaline-pumping, shit, what the fuck just happened scenes. As always, Anatin's mercenary crew are a pleasure to follow. Lynx, the portly honourable main character. Toil, the intelligent but manipulative and insightful funder of the escapades. Sitain, the young but extremely talented night mage, and Reft, the gentleman-loving brawler who would never lose a fight. These are all great examples, but Teshen, the Knight of Stars really shines here.
Some of the scenes, for me personally, were over descriptive but I cannot deny that Lloyd has a deft talent with words. Perhaps that is why the action scenes hit harder and more precise and just blow the metaphorical doors off. I'm not an author so I can't judge the mechanics but that is my only minor criticism.
The "magic system" is excellent, especially now that certain individuals' skills have been enhanced and I've always liked the flintlock-esque elemental-pistols. After the first two books the vibe that the characters were going to end up fighting a massive monster in a cave or secluded environment was slightly predictable but I don't see that as a negative. Lloyd does what he does well and long may it continue. I believe the next narrative will be the final entry in this story and wow, it builds up to a hell of crescendo about what could occur next. From what I've read of Lloyd's work, he's one of the finest writers of stunning, action-focused fantasy in the world.
"We're here to drink beer an' fuck people up, but we ain't halfway through the beer yet."
After somehow surviving the labyrinth of Jarrazir the soldiers of Anatin's Mercenary Deck seem like they have a simple task for the next few weeks. Lots of drinking, violence, sex, and banter whilst visiting the picturesque Mage Islands and dealing with a debt issue. It turns out that there may be a few complications. Giant golanthas, dragon-like tyserns, Mastrunners, and Teshen - the Knight of Stars - having to deal with his ex-girlfriend.
This is a series that I truly recommend but it has been an interesting one for me. I rated the first two books 7.5/10 which I class as a good rating but something has kept drawing me back everytime a new entry is unleashed more than other higher-rated books would have. They are also tales that I have had to read before they have been released. There is something really addictive about the way Lloyd writes. Lloyd writes action scenes better than anybody in the game at the moment. The author has crafted an amazingly well-thought-out world and it is strikingly impressive in its originality which when combined with other mentioned factors equals excellence.
As discussed, the action is top-notch. No author at the moment can touch Lloyd for the adrenaline-pumping, shit, what the fuck just happened scenes. As always, Anatin's mercenary crew are a pleasure to follow. Lynx, the portly honourable main character. Toil, the intelligent but manipulative and insightful funder of the escapades. Sitain, the young but extremely talented night mage, and Reft, the gentleman-loving brawler who would never lose a fight. These are all great examples, but Teshen, the Knight of Stars really shines here.
Some of the scenes, for me personally, were over descriptive but I cannot deny that Lloyd has a deft talent with words. Perhaps that is why the action scenes hit harder and more precise and just blow the metaphorical doors off. I'm not an author so I can't judge the mechanics but that is my only minor criticism.
The "magic system" is excellent, especially now that certain individuals' skills have been enhanced and I've always liked the flintlock-esque elemental-pistols. After the first two books the vibe that the characters were going to end up fighting a massive monster in a cave or secluded environment was slightly predictable but I don't see that as a negative. Lloyd does what he does well and long may it continue. I believe the next narrative will be the final entry in this story and wow, it builds up to a hell of crescendo about what could occur next. From what I've read of Lloyd's work, he's one of the finest writers of stunning, action-focused fantasy in the world.
July 5, 2019
This review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
Knight of Stars is the third book in the God Fragments series and takes place shortly after the ending of the second book, Princess of Blood. The events that took place in Princess of Blood have left a mark upon the Cards and form part of the story that unfolds in the pages of Knight of Stars as answers are sort for transpired deep in the Duegar labyrinth beneath the streets of Jarrizar. Luckily, Lloyd handily includes a very brief recap and overview at the beginning of the book dubbed ‘what has gone before’ for the previous events in the series. For old readers, this acts as a refresher and for new readers, it will help them to know what’s been going on. While Knight of Stars can be read as a starting point in the series I highly recommend going back to the beginning with book one, Stranger of Tempest and starting from there as (with both Stranger of Tempest and Princess of Blood) you are in for a treat and some top quality fantasy.
After the events of Princess of Blood, Knight of Stars finds the Cards licking their wounds, mourning their losses, trying to figure out what comes next and in true Cards fashion drinking copious amounts of alcohol (to forget, to numb the pain and well, just because that is what the Cards are do) on a barge sailing to the Mage Islands where they have taken on what is supposed to be an ‘easy‘ job.
One of the Holdings on the Mage Islands has reneged on a loan, has been unable to pay back what they owe and are behind on their repayments. With the politics of the islands delicately balanced and the perpetual tensions between the various districts, mage guilds and those who hold power, outsiders are best for the job which is where the Cards come in. They have been employed by a bank and the job is simple, take control of the premises of the Holding so that the bank can then take over and run the Holding, recovering the debt that it is owed.
The cover as to why a group of well-armed and unsavoury mercenaries have just sailed to the Islands. Well, they have just fulfilled a contract, just finished a job and are looking for some downtime, some fun before they embark to the location of their next job and the Islands seem like the perfect place to let of some steam. For those with prying eyes, they have nothing to do with, no interest in the Mage Islands themselves, they are just passing through, killing time, drinking, relaxing and spending their pay.
Things are never that easy, never that simple and as sure as night follows day, as a hangover follows a Cards drinking session events soon escalate and the Cards find themselves right in the middle of it all. Getting themselves mixed up in the power struggle between the rival mage guilds and the rival districts as everything turns to shit.
One of the Cards is originally from the Mage Islands, though, it was another life, another name and it has been years since they have been back but there is history there.
Adding to the story, the Mage Islands were originally built by Mages and are home to many Mages, many powerful and prominent Mages. The Mages from the Cards are looking for aid from the island Mages. They wish to trade their first-hand knowledge of the Duegar labyrinth beneath Jarrazir for help from those who possess far greater insight, resources and understanding of magic in the hope that they will be able to offer them answers as to what happened to the Cards in the Labyrinth and what it means.
For those unacquainted with the series, I will mention the Duegar. The Duegar are a fallen civilisation. They didn’t build up, they built down and now, all that is left of them are the ancient vast underground ruins that run throughout the Riven Kingdom and that lead deep into the bowels of the world. The ruins are very dangerous and only relic hunters venture into them in the hopes of fame and fortune, in search of valuable artefacts and relics from the Duegar. The ruins are also home to an array of diabolical and lethal traps and in the darkness, in the pitch black, an assortment of monsters roam and huge creatures from nightmares dwell.
Anatin’s Mercenary Deck or, as they are more commonly referred to ‘the Cards’ are a foul-mouthed bunch, crass, vulgar and debauched with plenty of banter and bickering on display between them all. They are an unruly group of strong personalities and my favourites are the Commander, Anatin, Sitain, Teshan, Lynx, Toil, Deern, Llaith and Kas. The Cards are very rough around the edges but there is a loyalty to the company. Whilst they are definitely not the most professional they get the job done even if they fuck it up along the way and inevitably, everything goes to shit when they are around.
Mayhem, madness and general shenanigans follow the Cards and when you find yourself in their company you know that you will be in for a raucous time, a wild ride, guaranteed.
For me, the Stranger of Tempest from the Cards, the gruff, often surly and always hungry Lynx is the heart of the series. Originally from So Han, he isn’t like his fellow countrymen, he has honour, morality to him and he follows a code. He tries to do the right thing in a harsh world. He is a former commando who was imprisoned for going against the orders of his commanding officer and, upon his release years later, the only avenue, the only road open to him was to join the Cards. His past haunts him, his birth nation is like a chain around his neck as people see where he is from and judge him. What he has suffered, what he has been through have left a mark on him, a trauma, a wound that won’t heal. His demons follow him, the atrocities that he committed under the So Han banner (So Han tried and failed to take over their neighbouring countries through brutal means and those who were born there are now hated, despised by everyone) and from the years spent in the dark confines of a prison cell.
Once again we learn more about the magic and the world that Lloyd has created delving deeper and adding yet another layer to what we already know. Each of the previous two books has taken place in a different location and Knight of Stars is no different with Lloyd once again bringing us to new lands and a location that we haven’t seen before. The Mage Islands are well realised by Lloyd. They were once a pirate haven, a port and are now a trade centre. Caldaire, the multi-level stone city that was built and shaped by Mages and is made up of a ring of islands and comprised of different districts that are run by different crews. The hellmouths, a trio of ominous stone chimneys located in the centre of the ring of islands. The looming Etrel Cliffs and in the cliff face, at sea-level a massive shadowed maw of a cave mouth, a decaying Duegar canal that no-one dares enter as anyone who enters, doesn’t come out. Then, an important part of the Islands ecosystem is the Tysarn. The Tysarn are four-winged creatures (similar to butterflies crossed with dragons) that are attracted to the scent of blood and range in size from small to huge and both fly and swim.
I really liked how the story played out in Knight of Stars, how the threads wove together, converged and built towards the finale of the book. Add in the looming threat of war, kept well in the background, simmering away and hardly mentioned but there, for future books in the series and in your hands you have a gripping story that unfolds. One that is thrilling to read with some vivid big and bold action scenes that come to life on the pages and are exhilarating to read, some absolutely fantastic and often crude raillery and some quiet moments that can be both contemplative and retrospective.
Knight of Stars is action-packed, full of heart and FUN. Lloyd knows how to tell a great story with spot-on pacing, lots of action and plenty of banter. With the Cards, he has created an unsavoury and motley mercenary crew that is full of big guns and big personalities.
Knight of Stars is the third book in the God Fragments series and takes place shortly after the ending of the second book, Princess of Blood. The events that took place in Princess of Blood have left a mark upon the Cards and form part of the story that unfolds in the pages of Knight of Stars as answers are sort for transpired deep in the Duegar labyrinth beneath the streets of Jarrizar. Luckily, Lloyd handily includes a very brief recap and overview at the beginning of the book dubbed ‘what has gone before’ for the previous events in the series. For old readers, this acts as a refresher and for new readers, it will help them to know what’s been going on. While Knight of Stars can be read as a starting point in the series I highly recommend going back to the beginning with book one, Stranger of Tempest and starting from there as (with both Stranger of Tempest and Princess of Blood) you are in for a treat and some top quality fantasy.
After the events of Princess of Blood, Knight of Stars finds the Cards licking their wounds, mourning their losses, trying to figure out what comes next and in true Cards fashion drinking copious amounts of alcohol (to forget, to numb the pain and well, just because that is what the Cards are do) on a barge sailing to the Mage Islands where they have taken on what is supposed to be an ‘easy‘ job.
One of the Holdings on the Mage Islands has reneged on a loan, has been unable to pay back what they owe and are behind on their repayments. With the politics of the islands delicately balanced and the perpetual tensions between the various districts, mage guilds and those who hold power, outsiders are best for the job which is where the Cards come in. They have been employed by a bank and the job is simple, take control of the premises of the Holding so that the bank can then take over and run the Holding, recovering the debt that it is owed.
The cover as to why a group of well-armed and unsavoury mercenaries have just sailed to the Islands. Well, they have just fulfilled a contract, just finished a job and are looking for some downtime, some fun before they embark to the location of their next job and the Islands seem like the perfect place to let of some steam. For those with prying eyes, they have nothing to do with, no interest in the Mage Islands themselves, they are just passing through, killing time, drinking, relaxing and spending their pay.
Things are never that easy, never that simple and as sure as night follows day, as a hangover follows a Cards drinking session events soon escalate and the Cards find themselves right in the middle of it all. Getting themselves mixed up in the power struggle between the rival mage guilds and the rival districts as everything turns to shit.
One of the Cards is originally from the Mage Islands, though, it was another life, another name and it has been years since they have been back but there is history there.
Adding to the story, the Mage Islands were originally built by Mages and are home to many Mages, many powerful and prominent Mages. The Mages from the Cards are looking for aid from the island Mages. They wish to trade their first-hand knowledge of the Duegar labyrinth beneath Jarrazir for help from those who possess far greater insight, resources and understanding of magic in the hope that they will be able to offer them answers as to what happened to the Cards in the Labyrinth and what it means.
For those unacquainted with the series, I will mention the Duegar. The Duegar are a fallen civilisation. They didn’t build up, they built down and now, all that is left of them are the ancient vast underground ruins that run throughout the Riven Kingdom and that lead deep into the bowels of the world. The ruins are very dangerous and only relic hunters venture into them in the hopes of fame and fortune, in search of valuable artefacts and relics from the Duegar. The ruins are also home to an array of diabolical and lethal traps and in the darkness, in the pitch black, an assortment of monsters roam and huge creatures from nightmares dwell.
Anatin’s Mercenary Deck or, as they are more commonly referred to ‘the Cards’ are a foul-mouthed bunch, crass, vulgar and debauched with plenty of banter and bickering on display between them all. They are an unruly group of strong personalities and my favourites are the Commander, Anatin, Sitain, Teshan, Lynx, Toil, Deern, Llaith and Kas. The Cards are very rough around the edges but there is a loyalty to the company. Whilst they are definitely not the most professional they get the job done even if they fuck it up along the way and inevitably, everything goes to shit when they are around.
Mayhem, madness and general shenanigans follow the Cards and when you find yourself in their company you know that you will be in for a raucous time, a wild ride, guaranteed.
For me, the Stranger of Tempest from the Cards, the gruff, often surly and always hungry Lynx is the heart of the series. Originally from So Han, he isn’t like his fellow countrymen, he has honour, morality to him and he follows a code. He tries to do the right thing in a harsh world. He is a former commando who was imprisoned for going against the orders of his commanding officer and, upon his release years later, the only avenue, the only road open to him was to join the Cards. His past haunts him, his birth nation is like a chain around his neck as people see where he is from and judge him. What he has suffered, what he has been through have left a mark on him, a trauma, a wound that won’t heal. His demons follow him, the atrocities that he committed under the So Han banner (So Han tried and failed to take over their neighbouring countries through brutal means and those who were born there are now hated, despised by everyone) and from the years spent in the dark confines of a prison cell.
Once again we learn more about the magic and the world that Lloyd has created delving deeper and adding yet another layer to what we already know. Each of the previous two books has taken place in a different location and Knight of Stars is no different with Lloyd once again bringing us to new lands and a location that we haven’t seen before. The Mage Islands are well realised by Lloyd. They were once a pirate haven, a port and are now a trade centre. Caldaire, the multi-level stone city that was built and shaped by Mages and is made up of a ring of islands and comprised of different districts that are run by different crews. The hellmouths, a trio of ominous stone chimneys located in the centre of the ring of islands. The looming Etrel Cliffs and in the cliff face, at sea-level a massive shadowed maw of a cave mouth, a decaying Duegar canal that no-one dares enter as anyone who enters, doesn’t come out. Then, an important part of the Islands ecosystem is the Tysarn. The Tysarn are four-winged creatures (similar to butterflies crossed with dragons) that are attracted to the scent of blood and range in size from small to huge and both fly and swim.
I really liked how the story played out in Knight of Stars, how the threads wove together, converged and built towards the finale of the book. Add in the looming threat of war, kept well in the background, simmering away and hardly mentioned but there, for future books in the series and in your hands you have a gripping story that unfolds. One that is thrilling to read with some vivid big and bold action scenes that come to life on the pages and are exhilarating to read, some absolutely fantastic and often crude raillery and some quiet moments that can be both contemplative and retrospective.
Knight of Stars is action-packed, full of heart and FUN. Lloyd knows how to tell a great story with spot-on pacing, lots of action and plenty of banter. With the Cards, he has created an unsavoury and motley mercenary crew that is full of big guns and big personalities.
May 30, 2019
Honesty, you had me at '' hold my beer.. ''. 5 stars right there. Aside from that, another fantastic book in a great series. Adds another level of clever depth to the world, amongst great action and fun moments. Everything a growing fantasy reader needs.
December 6, 2018
Just realized I hadn't posted anything about this ... So, I read the MS of Knight of Stars a while back and loved it. If you've been reading The God Fragments all along, you'll know this is going to be another wild ride of mess and misadventure as Lynx, Toil, Sitain and co. take on yet another job that is never going to be as easy as they expect. Knight of Stars does not disappoint. Our understanding of the characters, the magic, and the world continues to expand and deepen, as the mercenary company known as the Cards takes on monsters, gangs, and, for some, unfinished business from the past in the pirate-ruled Mage Isles. Great escapist adventure, with, at its heart, the burly Stranger of Tempest Lynx, still trying to keep his Vagrim oath, do a bit of good in the world despite the odds being against him, and just finish a good meal without everything blowing up.
October 31, 2019
How are you not reading this series?
July 25, 2019
I received a copy of Knight of Stars from Hachette Australia to review.
Lynx, Toil and the rest of the Cards are back for another rip-roaring fantasy adventure, as the “heroes” of Tom Lloyd’s The God Fragment series prepare to bring all manner of violence and chaos to another unsuspecting corner of their fantasy world.
In this third book, the Cards are celebrating after surviving and getting paid for their previous adventures in the Labyrinth under the city of Jarrazir. However, their last adventure had unexpected side effects as several of the band have also been magically marked by the powerful Dugar artefact they discovered in the Labyrinth. Not only have these marks magically bound many of the Cards together but they have also had unexpected effects on the Deck’s mages, who have found their magical abilities greatly increased.
The Deck’s employer, the dangerous relic hunter and intelligence officer Toil, has found them a relatively simple job in the distant Mage Islands to take over the holdings of a defaulting gang for a powerful bank. With the prospect of good food, sun, booze, bar fights and the chance to let loose in combat, the Cards are treating it like a holiday, especially as it moves them out of reach of several powerful enemies they have recently made. While Toil seeks out allies and resources for her patron city, the company’s mages attempt to research the magical consequences of their time in the Labyrinth.
However, no mission for the Cards ever goes as planned, and the Mage Islands are a very dangerous place to visit. Between the rival mage guilds, the various gangs and the thousands of giant serpentine tsyarn that surround the city, any miss-step could lead to disaster, and none of the Cards are known for treading lightly, especially as their number includes an infamous exile from the Mage Islands who has left many enemies behind. Unsurprisingly, the members of the Deck soon find themselves in conflict with many powerful members of the Mage Islands’ hierarchy. However, the real trouble comes when several of the Cards accidently awaken something dangerous that dwells beneath the islands.
View the full review at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/07/25/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Lynx, Toil and the rest of the Cards are back for another rip-roaring fantasy adventure, as the “heroes” of Tom Lloyd’s The God Fragment series prepare to bring all manner of violence and chaos to another unsuspecting corner of their fantasy world.
In this third book, the Cards are celebrating after surviving and getting paid for their previous adventures in the Labyrinth under the city of Jarrazir. However, their last adventure had unexpected side effects as several of the band have also been magically marked by the powerful Dugar artefact they discovered in the Labyrinth. Not only have these marks magically bound many of the Cards together but they have also had unexpected effects on the Deck’s mages, who have found their magical abilities greatly increased.
The Deck’s employer, the dangerous relic hunter and intelligence officer Toil, has found them a relatively simple job in the distant Mage Islands to take over the holdings of a defaulting gang for a powerful bank. With the prospect of good food, sun, booze, bar fights and the chance to let loose in combat, the Cards are treating it like a holiday, especially as it moves them out of reach of several powerful enemies they have recently made. While Toil seeks out allies and resources for her patron city, the company’s mages attempt to research the magical consequences of their time in the Labyrinth.
However, no mission for the Cards ever goes as planned, and the Mage Islands are a very dangerous place to visit. Between the rival mage guilds, the various gangs and the thousands of giant serpentine tsyarn that surround the city, any miss-step could lead to disaster, and none of the Cards are known for treading lightly, especially as their number includes an infamous exile from the Mage Islands who has left many enemies behind. Unsurprisingly, the members of the Deck soon find themselves in conflict with many powerful members of the Mage Islands’ hierarchy. However, the real trouble comes when several of the Cards accidently awaken something dangerous that dwells beneath the islands.
View the full review at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/07/25/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
September 24, 2021
The Knight of Stars, the third book in The God Fragments series by Tom Lloyd was excellent. Tom Lloyd's stories and the characters incorporate everything that I look for in great adult fantasy novels - action, adventure, camaraderie, great world-building, relatable and interesting characters, and humor (essential). The system of magic introduced in this series is subtle and different, but interesting. In The God Fragments, the Cards play pirate, leave general havoc in their wake, and unleash more magic into the world. A fun romp, worth reading.
Tom Lloyd’s writing style for this series continues to start by jumping back and forth between the present-day and flashbacks, only to gradually transition to chronological order. This can be confusing, especially for an audio reader, but it adds depth to the story and I appreciate the care it must have taken to relate the story in this fashion. Lloyd's writing creates strong and interesting female characters, so much so, that if you forget a name, you cannot identify the gender of the character. One thing that is interesting about Tom Lloyd's writing is that he treats every character with detail and care, even those supporting characters that only briefly appear in the story. This style introduces a lot of characters to keep track of.
The publisher swapped the audio narrator for this book and that was a bit annoying, but Piers Hampton gave a solid performance and the transition was not too jarring. I am peeved with Audible that they have yet to publish the end of the series in audio format, and I may have to dust off my Kindle because I want to know how the story ends. 4.35 Stars.
Tom Lloyd’s writing style for this series continues to start by jumping back and forth between the present-day and flashbacks, only to gradually transition to chronological order. This can be confusing, especially for an audio reader, but it adds depth to the story and I appreciate the care it must have taken to relate the story in this fashion. Lloyd's writing creates strong and interesting female characters, so much so, that if you forget a name, you cannot identify the gender of the character. One thing that is interesting about Tom Lloyd's writing is that he treats every character with detail and care, even those supporting characters that only briefly appear in the story. This style introduces a lot of characters to keep track of.
The publisher swapped the audio narrator for this book and that was a bit annoying, but Piers Hampton gave a solid performance and the transition was not too jarring. I am peeved with Audible that they have yet to publish the end of the series in audio format, and I may have to dust off my Kindle because I want to know how the story ends. 4.35 Stars.
September 1, 2020
I think this book was a good fantasy novel and it continues the original kinda steampunky fantasy of the previous books. It does not break style or lore or anything like that. In that regard it is great. Of the 3 books of the series, I'd say this is the weakest one, although I am not quite sure what exactly it is. I'd have liked to give it 3.5/5 stars rating, because I feel, that 3 is a bit too low for this book and I gave 4 to other books, which I feel are greater.
There is one part in the last third or so of the book, where a battle is described and in that part, I found myself unable to imagine a picture of it in my mind, which seemed fitting to the description. Perhaps I was distracted or perhaps it was, because I was tired when reading it or because I started reading another book about programming at some point. Anyway, at that point, I had a long pause from reading the book and only today finished it. After that part, where imagination failed me, it did pick up pretty good again and finished well.
If you read the first 2 books, I still definitely recommend reading the third of the series as well. It is not that bad a read.
There is one part in the last third or so of the book, where a battle is described and in that part, I found myself unable to imagine a picture of it in my mind, which seemed fitting to the description. Perhaps I was distracted or perhaps it was, because I was tired when reading it or because I started reading another book about programming at some point. Anyway, at that point, I had a long pause from reading the book and only today finished it. After that part, where imagination failed me, it did pick up pretty good again and finished well.
If you read the first 2 books, I still definitely recommend reading the third of the series as well. It is not that bad a read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2020
Ok, everyone knows I love Tom Lloyd's books...all of them. I waited for what seemed like an eternity for Knight of Stars to arrive....maybe though, my expectations might have been way too high as I found myself a little disappointed. Knight of Stars...number three in the God Fragments series just seemed a little like a respite in the series action. All the important characters were there and the Cards provided lots of action, I just think that the Mage Isles might have been a little sleepy as a location. Sorry Tom. I realize that certain happenings required this book to be written at this point but that was how it seemed to me. All that said I would not discourage anyone from reading this book and highly recommend the previous two books. Hopefully the discussion between Toil and Lynx in the final pages is foreshadowing a kick ass final chapter! smile
July 1, 2019
Fun ride
While this is by no means a rip off, this latest installment of the mercenary group reminded me of Glen Cooks the black company. Many more characters got highlighted in this novel, getting a better feel of who these guys are. The dialogue is hilarious at times, often leaves you shaking your head at how trained killers look at the world at large. The plot was always twisting and turning with plenty of action. What struck me as different from the other novels was the word building. I found this story had much more detail which made the location of this book much enjoyable. Well done.
While this is by no means a rip off, this latest installment of the mercenary group reminded me of Glen Cooks the black company. Many more characters got highlighted in this novel, getting a better feel of who these guys are. The dialogue is hilarious at times, often leaves you shaking your head at how trained killers look at the world at large. The plot was always twisting and turning with plenty of action. What struck me as different from the other novels was the word building. I found this story had much more detail which made the location of this book much enjoyable. Well done.
January 5, 2020
After reading the second book of the series shortly before Christmas and the second novella between the years, I had to start reading the third book as the Cards were stuck in my head. Now I'm done and I realised I have to wait for the fourth book till end of this year - this is quite disappointing!
While I liked the first book of the series, I wasn't drawn too much into the plot yet. After the second and especially the third book of the series I'm really sad that I cannot have a beer with (some) of the Cards ; )
While I liked the first book of the series, I wasn't drawn too much into the plot yet. After the second and especially the third book of the series I'm really sad that I cannot have a beer with (some) of the Cards ; )
April 9, 2020
Knight of stars 🌟
The first book of this series took a little getting into as it's a whole new world and magic system, but it's amazing once you get into the world, and has gotten progressively better with every book. This one was brilliant from start to finish, the magic world is complete and while stormcaller remains my favourite Tom Lloyd book, this is excellent. The world is almost apocalyptic with a group of the most unlikely heroes as they are a group of drunk mercenaries cleaning a mess which wouldn't be a problem but for them to start with. Almost antiheroes
The first book of this series took a little getting into as it's a whole new world and magic system, but it's amazing once you get into the world, and has gotten progressively better with every book. This one was brilliant from start to finish, the magic world is complete and while stormcaller remains my favourite Tom Lloyd book, this is excellent. The world is almost apocalyptic with a group of the most unlikely heroes as they are a group of drunk mercenaries cleaning a mess which wouldn't be a problem but for them to start with. Almost antiheroes
June 28, 2019
Lots of action
This book didn't let me down, but it was sort of anticlimactic as well. Nothing to terribly specific, just felt it was missing something. The imagery was nicely done, although there were times it was a bit long. Over all a pretty good book.
This book didn't let me down, but it was sort of anticlimactic as well. Nothing to terribly specific, just felt it was missing something. The imagery was nicely done, although there were times it was a bit long. Over all a pretty good book.
May 15, 2021
Another solid instalment in the series. Action packed and gripping!
April 13, 2024
4.5/5 Stars, another fantastic book in a great series.
August 27, 2021
Love the Cards
This was another decent read in this series. The author has been consistent in writing the characters and the pacing of these books. I enjoyed the first two more but Knight of Stars was still a fun read.
This was another decent read in this series. The author has been consistent in writing the characters and the pacing of these books. I enjoyed the first two more but Knight of Stars was still a fun read.
January 14, 2021
As fantastic as the previous two.
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