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The Medford Family Chronicles #1
Reckless Ambitions
The beloved, highly respected, and automatically obeyed Palamaran Emperor John Cardillion III suddenly has died without naming a successor. He has four very powerful sons, An Arch Cleric, a Fighter, a Wizard and a Merchant Prince (aka thief), who are eager to slay each other and claim their father’s Ruby Throne. Earl Thomas Medford, the former Emperor’s best friend and Commander of the Imperial Guard, has to decide which royal brother to support for the throne and marry his deliciously gorgeous only daughter too. Earl Medford intends to either avert or win a bloody and vicious civil war. Meanwhile Earl Medford’s daughter Christina has fallen hopelessly in love with one of the many Imperial Guard officers, Nick Armand. Christina and her best friend, Abigail Theosoar, do everything they can to hide this passionate romance. The not-so-simple Palace Gardener, Dr. Andrew Numil, who has his own agendas, discovers Christina’s secret and uses it to his advantage. Abigail Theosoar’s father, former gladiator and tavern owner Robert Theosoar, falls under a terrible curse with politics as the new Lord Mayor of the Palamaran Capitol. Finally, Professor Oliver Wendell Enalan, a middle-aged Illusionist spellcaster from the Gamemasters University, finds new psionic abilities within himself as he falls in love with a beautiful Elven refugee Princess. The Gamemasters University, of which Professor Enalan is employed, is dedicated to searching the limitless multiverse for new and exciting games to play augmenting their magical powers. Will Enalan be able to defend the GMU mission and fulfill his destiny? Is the price of ultimate power bitter loveless loss? You shall judge in the end.
312 pages, Paperback
First published May 24, 2015
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7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 6, 2026
An unserious adult sword and sorcery story littered with various modernisms. This book needs a professional edit.
February 3, 2017
I will start by saying I didn't enjoy this novel and found it very difficult to get through the first 100 pages, though I will say it went much faster after that first 100. That said, in a 277 page novel this is not a good thing.
This novel is written in such a way as to bring what is obviously an RPG game based tale to life. I really didn't enjoy it. I found the characters (barring one which I will mention) shallow and undeveloped. I found the situations unrealistic. I found the plot scattered. With more than 10 main characters to follow in just 277 pages there was just too much bouncing around to really bring this story to life. Finally, I found it difficult to decide who the target audience is. With some descriptions, particularly those of female characters, it was pre-adolescent boy language. However, I still am not sure the age group desired.
Let me balance this with the reason I gave it two stars rather than one. There is a clear tale of intrigue being presented, with some interesting characters introduced and the author has a story to tell that has a rather nice twist.
My biggest issue with this novel is that it was clear to me that the author didn't have the kind of editor that was needed. This 277 page novel could easily have been 800 pages with all of the plot points and characters that were brought in. The author spends most of the time with dialogue. As was recommended to me by a well known UK publisher, ACTION is where your reader is gripped. I will say the dialogue moves the plot along, sometimes too much. There is dialogue expose of every situation where there could be intense introduction of action instead. Backstory is revealed through conversation and inner monologues abound, none of which is necessary to move this story on.
I am almost angry, not at the author but at his beta readers for not pulling what could have been a truly epic novel out. It is clear to me that the author could be capable of bringing something brilliant forward, but he has to get out of the conversations first.
The character that I felt most developed and interesting still remains underutilized, and that was Abigail.
I didn't enjoy this (actually spent almost 20 minutes after I finished explaining to my SO why this novel needed a better editor more than anything else) and won't be recommending it in general. However, if you are a fan of D&D and prefer a shorter read, you may enjoy this one.
This novel is written in such a way as to bring what is obviously an RPG game based tale to life. I really didn't enjoy it. I found the characters (barring one which I will mention) shallow and undeveloped. I found the situations unrealistic. I found the plot scattered. With more than 10 main characters to follow in just 277 pages there was just too much bouncing around to really bring this story to life. Finally, I found it difficult to decide who the target audience is. With some descriptions, particularly those of female characters, it was pre-adolescent boy language. However, I still am not sure the age group desired.
Let me balance this with the reason I gave it two stars rather than one. There is a clear tale of intrigue being presented, with some interesting characters introduced and the author has a story to tell that has a rather nice twist.
My biggest issue with this novel is that it was clear to me that the author didn't have the kind of editor that was needed. This 277 page novel could easily have been 800 pages with all of the plot points and characters that were brought in. The author spends most of the time with dialogue. As was recommended to me by a well known UK publisher, ACTION is where your reader is gripped. I will say the dialogue moves the plot along, sometimes too much. There is dialogue expose of every situation where there could be intense introduction of action instead. Backstory is revealed through conversation and inner monologues abound, none of which is necessary to move this story on.
I am almost angry, not at the author but at his beta readers for not pulling what could have been a truly epic novel out. It is clear to me that the author could be capable of bringing something brilliant forward, but he has to get out of the conversations first.
The character that I felt most developed and interesting still remains underutilized, and that was Abigail.
I didn't enjoy this (actually spent almost 20 minutes after I finished explaining to my SO why this novel needed a better editor more than anything else) and won't be recommending it in general. However, if you are a fan of D&D and prefer a shorter read, you may enjoy this one.
June 12, 2015
Reckless Ambitions is the first novel in what will be a series of fantasy novels set in Palamar, the realm created in the fertile imagination of the author. Those who have played Dungeons and Dragons or similar fantasy games will find a lot to like here. The story opens with the Palamar Emperor John Cardillion IV dying of a series of strokes and without naming a successor. In this realm, primogeniture does not prevail, the Emperor is expected to name his successor and that doesn't happen. He has four sons, all of which want to stake their claim to the Ruby Throne. Enter Earl Thomas Medford, current Lord Chancellor. He wants to avoid a destructive civil war and act as Kingmaker. He is calling an Imperial Duma to settle who will have the throne. And, he wants his beautiful daughter married off to the man who does become Emperor.
Well, as one would expect things don't go quite the way good Earl Medford envisions. There are attempted coups and assassinations, honorable people and treacherous ones, just as one would expect in a fantasy game campaign. One item I truly enjoyed is that there is a Gamemasters University, where the mages and wizards seek out new games, new challenges to hone their craft within the multiverse. This is all very satisfactory, the story stays within its bounds and does not break through the dreaded 'fourth wall.'
The characters are well crafted and believable. I found myself caring about the fate of several of them. I could give a firm description of where the story goes, but that would be a spoiler and that I do not wish to do. I WILL say there are a couple of twists that even I, a gamer and fan of fantasy for decades, was caught by surprise, so well done sir.
The brothers won't compromise, Earl Medford ends up acting in ways that even he did not see coming from the beginning. His beautiful daughter ends up having an affair with an army officer, not one of the royal brothers. A twisted web we weave.
So is there a civil war? Does one of John IV's reckless children end up on the Ruby Throne? What about outside forces? Just go read RECKLESS AMBITIONS and find out for yourself! You will enjoy the ride!
Well, as one would expect things don't go quite the way good Earl Medford envisions. There are attempted coups and assassinations, honorable people and treacherous ones, just as one would expect in a fantasy game campaign. One item I truly enjoyed is that there is a Gamemasters University, where the mages and wizards seek out new games, new challenges to hone their craft within the multiverse. This is all very satisfactory, the story stays within its bounds and does not break through the dreaded 'fourth wall.'
The characters are well crafted and believable. I found myself caring about the fate of several of them. I could give a firm description of where the story goes, but that would be a spoiler and that I do not wish to do. I WILL say there are a couple of twists that even I, a gamer and fan of fantasy for decades, was caught by surprise, so well done sir.
The brothers won't compromise, Earl Medford ends up acting in ways that even he did not see coming from the beginning. His beautiful daughter ends up having an affair with an army officer, not one of the royal brothers. A twisted web we weave.
So is there a civil war? Does one of John IV's reckless children end up on the Ruby Throne? What about outside forces? Just go read RECKLESS AMBITIONS and find out for yourself! You will enjoy the ride!
October 25, 2016
John Enfield’s Review of Reckless Ambitions by John Paul Ried
“…..I wish I could say that all we need to do is recover a lost holy sword, find the foretold chosen warrior, destroy the magic ring, or follow the sacred scriptures of some such deity. Unfortunately, we live exist in the real world with genuine hatreds and lethal plots…We must contend with the vilest greed, power lust, and most reckless ambitions in human nature.”
This quote from John Paul Ried’s book Reckless Ambitions sums it up well. A fantasy adventure story that is at once realistic and gritty and at the same time witty and fun. It has a plot with twists that genuinely surprised even a veteran fantasy and mystery novel reader like me. Ried has managed to write a book that is a fond homage to the great fantasy role-playing games and novels while cleverly poking fun at them at the same time.
I was impressed with how Ried squeezed stories of coming of age, political intrigue, surprising discoveries and encounters with a few things RPG fans will enjoy seeing all into one reasonably sized novel: not so short as to leave too many story lines unresolved while not so long as to seem too daunting for some readers. Like another great author, C.S. Lewis, he sometimes glosses over the gory details of battles, but his characters and their intertwining lives are where the fun is at in this book. You’ll meet clerics (some more pious than others), warriors (some valiant some vile), shady dealers, not exactly delicate damsels and perhaps the most unique take on wizards you’ve ever seen. It reads fast, with no boring or dry parts. Exposition is handled deftly through natural sounding dialog between characters and in a very interesting Appendix with a timeline of this new story world’s history and what is perhaps the most entertaining creation myth I’ve ever read. There is a really well done map in the front of the book that you can also download for free from their website or pick up a big, beautiful poster of if you meet Mr. Ried at a convention. He’s a great guy and you’ll like him instantly if you ever get a chance to meet him.
There are four rival princes vying for the Imperial Ruby Throne now that their beloved father is dead. What I love is that they are each a different 'class' of character like a D&D adventure party: a fighter, a wizard, a cleric and a rogue. That's neat as it makes it easy to tell them apart and it's a neat twist on literary characters because they may not be the heroes of the story, but could be seen as the villains depending on point of view.
Who the real heroes of the story are may surprise you and how they become heroes is both entertaining and thought provoking as they are very frank and honest depictions of heroism. Even a bit emotional. I really connected with two of them on a personal level and can’t wait to find out what happens with them in the next book. The story is also peopled with some very vividly portrayed and memorable characters whom you may simply love and in some cases, love to hate. When the not so nice ones get their comeuppance, it’s really satisfying. Some you may like at first, then find yourself questioning your own definitions of ‘good guy’ when more is revealed about them later on.
I’ve just finished reading this book and am looking forward to the next one, Capricious Deities, which luckily for me, is already in print. Look for my review of it soon.
.
“…..I wish I could say that all we need to do is recover a lost holy sword, find the foretold chosen warrior, destroy the magic ring, or follow the sacred scriptures of some such deity. Unfortunately, we live exist in the real world with genuine hatreds and lethal plots…We must contend with the vilest greed, power lust, and most reckless ambitions in human nature.”
This quote from John Paul Ried’s book Reckless Ambitions sums it up well. A fantasy adventure story that is at once realistic and gritty and at the same time witty and fun. It has a plot with twists that genuinely surprised even a veteran fantasy and mystery novel reader like me. Ried has managed to write a book that is a fond homage to the great fantasy role-playing games and novels while cleverly poking fun at them at the same time.
I was impressed with how Ried squeezed stories of coming of age, political intrigue, surprising discoveries and encounters with a few things RPG fans will enjoy seeing all into one reasonably sized novel: not so short as to leave too many story lines unresolved while not so long as to seem too daunting for some readers. Like another great author, C.S. Lewis, he sometimes glosses over the gory details of battles, but his characters and their intertwining lives are where the fun is at in this book. You’ll meet clerics (some more pious than others), warriors (some valiant some vile), shady dealers, not exactly delicate damsels and perhaps the most unique take on wizards you’ve ever seen. It reads fast, with no boring or dry parts. Exposition is handled deftly through natural sounding dialog between characters and in a very interesting Appendix with a timeline of this new story world’s history and what is perhaps the most entertaining creation myth I’ve ever read. There is a really well done map in the front of the book that you can also download for free from their website or pick up a big, beautiful poster of if you meet Mr. Ried at a convention. He’s a great guy and you’ll like him instantly if you ever get a chance to meet him.
There are four rival princes vying for the Imperial Ruby Throne now that their beloved father is dead. What I love is that they are each a different 'class' of character like a D&D adventure party: a fighter, a wizard, a cleric and a rogue. That's neat as it makes it easy to tell them apart and it's a neat twist on literary characters because they may not be the heroes of the story, but could be seen as the villains depending on point of view.
Who the real heroes of the story are may surprise you and how they become heroes is both entertaining and thought provoking as they are very frank and honest depictions of heroism. Even a bit emotional. I really connected with two of them on a personal level and can’t wait to find out what happens with them in the next book. The story is also peopled with some very vividly portrayed and memorable characters whom you may simply love and in some cases, love to hate. When the not so nice ones get their comeuppance, it’s really satisfying. Some you may like at first, then find yourself questioning your own definitions of ‘good guy’ when more is revealed about them later on.
I’ve just finished reading this book and am looking forward to the next one, Capricious Deities, which luckily for me, is already in print. Look for my review of it soon.
.
September 16, 2019
I kind of lied, I didn’t actually finish the book. I tried to, I really tried. After taking a week break from the book I read about 10 pages more (I think I got to about page 80) when I read about a 9 year old who watched a girl’s boobs bounce as she came closer and I closed the book.
Let me start by saying this book had so much potential. I picked it up thinking it had vibes of D&D in it. Four sons, all different classes, fighting for the throne? Sounds like it could be great, but there were two fatal flaws:
1. So much is jammed into this 270 page book that it takes away from the book. In nearly every paragraph there is a list of some sort that could be broadened out to chapters. This book could easily be a 500+ page good book, but it’s smooched together. It either needs a good amount of cutting or a good amount of expanding, but where it is right now does nothing but kill it.
2. The sexism in this made me want to vomit. There is just SO MUCH. Of course I’m talking about how every single woman in the book is sexualized (how many ways can you describe an hour glass figure?) but I’m also calling out the injustice the author gave his male characters as well. Any man to came into contact with a female turned into a lustful beast. Way to go if you wanted to kill any realistic traits of the book. Like I said before, even a 9 year old couldn’t look away from one of the like 10 luscious women.
I’m sad that this book fell so hard. I don’t think I’ve been so disappointed. I do a monthly “Library Adventure” video on YouTube and I was so excited because I got to pick a local author and I got this book. Anyway, so if you want my opinion, don’t bother with this book. You’ll leave it sad and feeling nauseous.
Let me start by saying this book had so much potential. I picked it up thinking it had vibes of D&D in it. Four sons, all different classes, fighting for the throne? Sounds like it could be great, but there were two fatal flaws:
1. So much is jammed into this 270 page book that it takes away from the book. In nearly every paragraph there is a list of some sort that could be broadened out to chapters. This book could easily be a 500+ page good book, but it’s smooched together. It either needs a good amount of cutting or a good amount of expanding, but where it is right now does nothing but kill it.
2. The sexism in this made me want to vomit. There is just SO MUCH. Of course I’m talking about how every single woman in the book is sexualized (how many ways can you describe an hour glass figure?) but I’m also calling out the injustice the author gave his male characters as well. Any man to came into contact with a female turned into a lustful beast. Way to go if you wanted to kill any realistic traits of the book. Like I said before, even a 9 year old couldn’t look away from one of the like 10 luscious women.
I’m sad that this book fell so hard. I don’t think I’ve been so disappointed. I do a monthly “Library Adventure” video on YouTube and I was so excited because I got to pick a local author and I got this book. Anyway, so if you want my opinion, don’t bother with this book. You’ll leave it sad and feeling nauseous.
abandoned
August 25, 2022Decided that I didn't like the sexist cover. Going to d0nate to goodwill.
July 12, 2016
“…..I wish I could say that all we need to do is recover a lost holy sword, find the foretold chosen warrior, destroy the magic ring, or follow the sacred scriptures of some such deity. Unfortunately, we live exist in the real world with genuine hatreds and lethal plots…We must contend with the vilest greed, power lust, and most reckless ambitions in human nature.”
This quote from John Paul Ried’s book Reckless Ambitions sums it up well. A fantasy adventure story that is at once realistic and gritty and at the same time witty and fun. It has a plot with twists that genuinely surprised even a veteran fantasy and mystery novel reader like me. Ried has managed to write a book that is a fond homage to the great fantasy role-playing games and novels while cleverly poking fun at them at the same time.
I was impressed with how Ried squeezed stories of coming of age, political intrigue, surprising discoveries and encounters with a few things RPG fans will enjoy seeing all into one reasonably sized novel: not so short as to leave too many story lines unresolved while not so long as to seem too daunting for some readers. Like another great author, C.S. Lewis, he sometimes glosses over the gory details of battles, but his characters and their intertwining lives are where the fun is at in this book. You’ll meet clerics (some more pious than others), warriors (some valiant some vile), shady dealers, not exactly delicate damsels and perhaps the most unique take on wizards you’ve ever seen. It reads fast, with no boring or dry parts. Exposition is handled deftly through natural sounding dialog between characters and in a very interesting Appendix with a timeline of this new story world’s history and what is perhaps the most entertaining creation myth I’ve ever read. There is a really well done map in the front of the book that you can also download for free from their website or pick up a big, beautiful poster of if you meet Mr. Ried at a convention. He’s a great guy and you’ll like him instantly if you ever get a chance to meet him.
There are four rival princes vying for the Imperial Ruby Throne now that their beloved father is dead. What I love is that they are each a different 'class' of character like a D&D adventure party: a fighter, a wizard, a cleric and a rogue. That's neat as it makes it easy to tell them apart and it's a neat twist on literary characters because they may not be the heroes of the story, but could be seen as the villains depending on point of view.
Who the real heroes of the story are may surprise you and how they become heroes is both entertaining and thought provoking as they are very frank and honest depictions of heroism. Even a bit emotional. I really connected with two of them on a personal level and can’t wait to find out what happens with them in the next book. The story is also peopled with some very vividly portrayed and memorable characters whom you may simply love and in some cases, love to hate. When the not so nice ones get their comeuppance, it’s really satisfying. Some you may like at first, then find yourself questioning your own definitions of ‘good guy’ when more is revealed about them later on.
I’ve just finished reading this book and am looking forward to the next one, Capricious Deities, which luckily for me, is already in print. Look for my review of it soon.
This quote from John Paul Ried’s book Reckless Ambitions sums it up well. A fantasy adventure story that is at once realistic and gritty and at the same time witty and fun. It has a plot with twists that genuinely surprised even a veteran fantasy and mystery novel reader like me. Ried has managed to write a book that is a fond homage to the great fantasy role-playing games and novels while cleverly poking fun at them at the same time.
I was impressed with how Ried squeezed stories of coming of age, political intrigue, surprising discoveries and encounters with a few things RPG fans will enjoy seeing all into one reasonably sized novel: not so short as to leave too many story lines unresolved while not so long as to seem too daunting for some readers. Like another great author, C.S. Lewis, he sometimes glosses over the gory details of battles, but his characters and their intertwining lives are where the fun is at in this book. You’ll meet clerics (some more pious than others), warriors (some valiant some vile), shady dealers, not exactly delicate damsels and perhaps the most unique take on wizards you’ve ever seen. It reads fast, with no boring or dry parts. Exposition is handled deftly through natural sounding dialog between characters and in a very interesting Appendix with a timeline of this new story world’s history and what is perhaps the most entertaining creation myth I’ve ever read. There is a really well done map in the front of the book that you can also download for free from their website or pick up a big, beautiful poster of if you meet Mr. Ried at a convention. He’s a great guy and you’ll like him instantly if you ever get a chance to meet him.
There are four rival princes vying for the Imperial Ruby Throne now that their beloved father is dead. What I love is that they are each a different 'class' of character like a D&D adventure party: a fighter, a wizard, a cleric and a rogue. That's neat as it makes it easy to tell them apart and it's a neat twist on literary characters because they may not be the heroes of the story, but could be seen as the villains depending on point of view.
Who the real heroes of the story are may surprise you and how they become heroes is both entertaining and thought provoking as they are very frank and honest depictions of heroism. Even a bit emotional. I really connected with two of them on a personal level and can’t wait to find out what happens with them in the next book. The story is also peopled with some very vividly portrayed and memorable characters whom you may simply love and in some cases, love to hate. When the not so nice ones get their comeuppance, it’s really satisfying. Some you may like at first, then find yourself questioning your own definitions of ‘good guy’ when more is revealed about them later on.
I’ve just finished reading this book and am looking forward to the next one, Capricious Deities, which luckily for me, is already in print. Look for my review of it soon.
April 5, 2016
Reckless Ambition is an exciting new book series by a talented new author and great gentlemen John Paul Ried. At last Tucson Comic Con I had the honor of getting to interview and spend some time with John and Kathrine a great photographer. In our Interview we talked about how much Dungeons and Dragons has impacted Johns life and how this first book is a labor of love based around a game world he has made and evolved over many many years!
As I said if you like Dungeons and Dragons, you’ll really enjoy Reckless Ambitions’ setting with psionics, magic, wizards, clerics, soldiers, and so many thieves! The setting is rich with romance, action and a nice little Civil War brought forth by the fertile and devious imagination of the John. The characters are well crafted and very believable, I instinctively found myself caring about them and how several of ended up at the end of this tale (and where they will be in Capricious Deities, book 2).
I would love to give a firm description of where the story goes, but that would be spoiling the journey and that I never wish to do in a review. Just know you will not be disappointed and I will let you know there are a couple of twists that even I, a gamer and well-read consumer of fantasy, was pleasantly surprised. John, my friend as a Game Master and fellow gamer tip my hat to you!
A Crown without a Successor, a possible Civil war, Fantasy at its best and purest… and a Game masters University!
So is there a dreaded civil war? Does one the Palamar Emperor John Cardillion IVs reckless children end up on the Ruby Throne? What about other most interested parties to the Empire? Please go read RECKLESS AMBITIONS and find out what I can’t…no won’t spoil for you!
You will enjoy the trip!
…And if you enjoy it look for John on Facebook as he loves meeting and addressing his readers!
http://creativeplayandpodcastnetwork....
As I said if you like Dungeons and Dragons, you’ll really enjoy Reckless Ambitions’ setting with psionics, magic, wizards, clerics, soldiers, and so many thieves! The setting is rich with romance, action and a nice little Civil War brought forth by the fertile and devious imagination of the John. The characters are well crafted and very believable, I instinctively found myself caring about them and how several of ended up at the end of this tale (and where they will be in Capricious Deities, book 2).
I would love to give a firm description of where the story goes, but that would be spoiling the journey and that I never wish to do in a review. Just know you will not be disappointed and I will let you know there are a couple of twists that even I, a gamer and well-read consumer of fantasy, was pleasantly surprised. John, my friend as a Game Master and fellow gamer tip my hat to you!
A Crown without a Successor, a possible Civil war, Fantasy at its best and purest… and a Game masters University!
So is there a dreaded civil war? Does one the Palamar Emperor John Cardillion IVs reckless children end up on the Ruby Throne? What about other most interested parties to the Empire? Please go read RECKLESS AMBITIONS and find out what I can’t…no won’t spoil for you!
You will enjoy the trip!
…And if you enjoy it look for John on Facebook as he loves meeting and addressing his readers!
http://creativeplayandpodcastnetwork....
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