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Tales of the Amulet #1
A Prince's Errand
2019 Chanticleer International Book Awards for Fantasy (OZMA) 2020 Global Ebook Awards for FantasyAward-Winning 2020 International Book Awards for FantasyAward-Winning 2020 American Fiction Awards for Fantasy #1 New Release in Classic Fantasy A Prince's Errand, Book One of Tales of the Amulet begins an exciting new epic fantasy saga. Several millennia ago a war raged between the factions of dragonkind. With their world ravaged, the Kaldean Alliance forged the Amulet of Draconic Control and the Tethering Stone, and banished their foes to other realms, saving Kalda from utter destruction. Fearing the power of the Amulet, the survivors secreted it away. But now knowledge of the Amulet has resurfaced--and in the wrong hands, war could erupt anew.A PRINCE'S ERRAND Long ago, men harnessed the Channels of Power, creating tevisrals-devices capable of manifesting magic. But men weren't the only ones to accomplish such feats. Dragons crafted the most sophisticated tevisrals. These shaped the world, defining civilization of man and elf alike.Over the centuries, the people of Kalda have fallen into a dark age, where elves are estranged from men and dragons have retreated into legend. Tevisrals are scarce and men are willing to trade everything for them. But there are some who wish to bury the past, and in their lands, possessing tevisrals is tantamount to treason.Still, daring men scour the world in search of Kalda's past. One such man, the scholar Krindal, seeks an ancient order known as the Keepers of Truth and Might. He yearns for their knowledge, long feared lost.Prince Kaescis Midivar also searches for these Keepers. The assassination of his uncle, the emperor of Mindolarn, killed his hopes of peace with his empire's enemies. His empire's survival hinges upon unearthing the Keepers' secrets.An aging warrior, Cornar Dol'shir, longs to be home with his wife. But his retirement must wait, as his band of adventurers is recruited to help find the Keepers' hidden temple on the Isle of Klindala.Haunted by his tragic past, Iltar, the Son of Adrin, does not join in the search for the Keepers. Instead, he seeks to unravel the mysteries held within a volume of prophecy foretelling the advent of the Unspoken One and the return of the Crimson Eye. His search takes him to the Empire of Mindolarn, where all is not as it seems.An ancient war was won by a simple amulet. It brought peace, but in the wrong hands it could spell a doom the likes of which no world has ever seen.May the Crimson Eye remain hidden for all time.Other books published by LOK PublishingTALES OF THE AMULETA Prince's Errand, Book One of Tales of the AmuletThe Dark Necromancer, Book Two of Tales of the AmuletCompanion StoriesA Thief's Way, Companion Story OneThe Last Barsionist, Companion Story TwoPrequel NovelsThe Prisoner of Tardalim, Prequel Novel OneUNTOLD TALES OF KALDADefender of StoneConspiracy in KildathThieves Among NoblesSorter of MagesThe Price of Penitence
961 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2019
168 people are currently reading
577 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
November 23, 2020
As I am sure most people in the fantasy community are diving head first into Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson, the question must be asked what else can I read to fill the void when you are finished? What epic fantasy work can scratch that itch we will all be feeling for the next three years with a grand world, intriguing magic systems, and characters who will grow and become ones you want to support and love, may I present to you A Prince’s Errand. Written by a father and son, the world of Kalda is filled with history, magical weapons, different races, and a engaging story that will keep you guessing until the very end. I listened to this book on audible by the legendary Michael Kramer for all of you audible junkies out there.
The Prince’s Errand is structure pretty much the same way as the Stormlight Archive books. The book is split off into several parts with interlude chapters of other characters across the land of Kalda. This is a multi-POV story and not once did I feel that any specific character dragged the story or was tedious to read. Several millennia ago a war raged between the factions of dragonkind. With their world ravaged, the Kaldean Alliance forged the Amulet of Draconic Control and the Tethering Stone, and banished their foes to other realms, saving Kalda from utter destruction. Fearing the power of the Amulet, the survivors secreted it away. But now knowledge of the Amulet has resurfaced–and in the wrong hands, war could erupt anew.
Over the centuries, the people of Kalda have fallen into a dark age, where elves are estranged from men and dragons have retreated into legend. Tevisrals are scarce and men are willing to trade everything for them. But there are some who wish to bury the past, and in their lands, possessing tevisrals is tantamount to treason. One such man, the scholar Krindal, seeks an ancient order known as the Keepers of Truth and Might. He yearns for their knowledge, long feared lost. Prince Kaescis Midivar also searches for these Keepers. The assassination of his uncle, the emperor of Mindolarn, killed his hopes of peace with his empire’s enemies. His empire’s survival hinges upon unearthing the Keepers’ secrets. An aging warrior, Cornar Dol’shir, longs to be home with his wife. But his retirement must wait, as his band of adventurers is recruited to help find the Keepers’ hidden temple on the Isle of Klindala. Haunted by his tragic past, Iltar, the Son of Adrin, does not join in the search for the Keepers. Instead, he seeks to unravel the mysteries held within a volume of prophecy foretelling the advent of the Unspoken One and the return of the Crimson Eye. His search takes him to the Empire of Mindolarn, where all is not as it seems.
What makes the Prince’s Errand such a great story is the attention to detail not only in the epic worldbuilding, but also in the intricate details of combat scenes especially those involving tevisrals. This book does contain some typical fantasy troupes like elves and dragons but I consider it an homage to classical fantasy with plenty of creativity added to the story to drive the plot forward. After that, the story becomes its own epic tale which will make all epic fantasy fans will rejoice.
By far my favorite characters to read were Iltar and Cornar. Iltar has a dark past which comes to the forefront throughout the story and the way he has to deal with his troubles wwas amazing to read. Cornar is one of the most loyal characters you will ever read. All he wanted to do was retire and be with his wife, but he decided to go on one last mission with his group and the sacrifices he has to make almost brought me to tears. This novel sits at just under 1000 pages an there is plenty of meat on the bone for everyone to enjoy. I believe that the Tales of the amulet is supposed to be 12 novels long and with book 2 The Dark Necromancer looking to be released sometime next year, now is the perfect time to jump into Kalda. The story is a fresh, magical, character driven novel which is worthy of a larger audience and fanbase. I hope you will join the journey!
Cheers!
More reviews at undertheradarsffbooks.com
The Prince’s Errand is structure pretty much the same way as the Stormlight Archive books. The book is split off into several parts with interlude chapters of other characters across the land of Kalda. This is a multi-POV story and not once did I feel that any specific character dragged the story or was tedious to read. Several millennia ago a war raged between the factions of dragonkind. With their world ravaged, the Kaldean Alliance forged the Amulet of Draconic Control and the Tethering Stone, and banished their foes to other realms, saving Kalda from utter destruction. Fearing the power of the Amulet, the survivors secreted it away. But now knowledge of the Amulet has resurfaced–and in the wrong hands, war could erupt anew.
Over the centuries, the people of Kalda have fallen into a dark age, where elves are estranged from men and dragons have retreated into legend. Tevisrals are scarce and men are willing to trade everything for them. But there are some who wish to bury the past, and in their lands, possessing tevisrals is tantamount to treason. One such man, the scholar Krindal, seeks an ancient order known as the Keepers of Truth and Might. He yearns for their knowledge, long feared lost. Prince Kaescis Midivar also searches for these Keepers. The assassination of his uncle, the emperor of Mindolarn, killed his hopes of peace with his empire’s enemies. His empire’s survival hinges upon unearthing the Keepers’ secrets. An aging warrior, Cornar Dol’shir, longs to be home with his wife. But his retirement must wait, as his band of adventurers is recruited to help find the Keepers’ hidden temple on the Isle of Klindala. Haunted by his tragic past, Iltar, the Son of Adrin, does not join in the search for the Keepers. Instead, he seeks to unravel the mysteries held within a volume of prophecy foretelling the advent of the Unspoken One and the return of the Crimson Eye. His search takes him to the Empire of Mindolarn, where all is not as it seems.
What makes the Prince’s Errand such a great story is the attention to detail not only in the epic worldbuilding, but also in the intricate details of combat scenes especially those involving tevisrals. This book does contain some typical fantasy troupes like elves and dragons but I consider it an homage to classical fantasy with plenty of creativity added to the story to drive the plot forward. After that, the story becomes its own epic tale which will make all epic fantasy fans will rejoice.
By far my favorite characters to read were Iltar and Cornar. Iltar has a dark past which comes to the forefront throughout the story and the way he has to deal with his troubles wwas amazing to read. Cornar is one of the most loyal characters you will ever read. All he wanted to do was retire and be with his wife, but he decided to go on one last mission with his group and the sacrifices he has to make almost brought me to tears. This novel sits at just under 1000 pages an there is plenty of meat on the bone for everyone to enjoy. I believe that the Tales of the amulet is supposed to be 12 novels long and with book 2 The Dark Necromancer looking to be released sometime next year, now is the perfect time to jump into Kalda. The story is a fresh, magical, character driven novel which is worthy of a larger audience and fanbase. I hope you will join the journey!
Cheers!
More reviews at undertheradarsffbooks.com
May 25, 2023
Take a look at the cover art. What comes to mind? Classic fantasy? High adventure? Wheel Of Time?
You're right to think all of this, and yet in one regard, you're also a little bit wrong. Yet one should be optimistic, because A Prince's Errand is one of the best series openers I've read in a long while, with a flavour all its own, in spite of certain influences being worn on its sleeve (and interestingly, Wheel Of Time is not the one that immediately comes to mind).
Eschewing the tropes of having the main cast consist of young kids destined to change the world, the Zangari's instead choose to start what hopes to be a grand, long series...mostly a group of middle aged men, close to retirement, longing to go on one last adventure. Note I said "last", because these characters are most definitely experienced, worldly wise, battle hardened men who are all as close as brothers, longing to feel that same sense of excitement so taken for granted by those in their youth.
I won't go on too much about the cast, but the character development here is so intricate and well done, so much so that it's easy in the moment to take it for granted. The writing is fluid, the characters motivations and abilities are believable and the testing of their strength is really impactful, because you know that time isn't necessarily on their side, and their lives have been turned upside down.
The story begins somewhat with the classic trope of a quest. But the story doesn't start with prophecy, at least not in the classic sense. It starts with treasure hunting, rumours of rare riches that pique the interests of a famous band of adventurers. After a fascinating scene involving a magical object that reveals a mystical map that may show the location of a long lost island, they choose to adventure one more time, knowing this could be the discovery of a lifetime.
Mentally, my mind kept thinking of classic adventure stories like the works of Jules Verne, notably A Journey To The Centre Of The Earth. The writing is as enjoyable and as readable as the finest works of Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan or James Islington, and for such a large book (the best part of 1000 pages), A Prince's Errand is an addictive and immersive read that is bursting out with excellent battles, exciting discoveries, loveable characters and a real, genuine sense of history, time and place. The worldbuilding comes so close here to matching the extremely high standards set in the opening volumes of such esteemed classics as Wheel Of Time (Robert Jordan), Memory, Sorrow And Thorn (Tad Williams), The Sword Of Shannara trilogy (Terry Brooks) and has the immediate readability of current fantasy favourites such as Michael J. Sullivan, John Gwynne or Mark Lawrence.
Father son duo Dan and Robert Zangari have been working on this series, The Tales Of The Amulet, for years. A Prince's Errand is actually the first in a series that is being exquisitely rewritten, and I think fans of classic fantasy and current fantasy will find much to enjoy. This has the feel of a potential classic, and the story itself is instantly enjoyable, with depth of character and worldbuilding, witty dialogue, and the balanced pacing to lend itself a broad appeal that many authors aspire to reach, but rarely do.
I've finished this series opener wondering exactly what it is that has prevented it from becoming a more widely read favourite. In the seemingly crowded field of stellar self published fantasy, the Zangari's have all the goods to maybe one day become leaders of the pack. Right now, they are putting together all the pieces that could and should in time thrust them into the bigger leagues.
Take a chance, I've kept the plot details vague, but not my enthusiasm.
9/10
You're right to think all of this, and yet in one regard, you're also a little bit wrong. Yet one should be optimistic, because A Prince's Errand is one of the best series openers I've read in a long while, with a flavour all its own, in spite of certain influences being worn on its sleeve (and interestingly, Wheel Of Time is not the one that immediately comes to mind).
Eschewing the tropes of having the main cast consist of young kids destined to change the world, the Zangari's instead choose to start what hopes to be a grand, long series...mostly a group of middle aged men, close to retirement, longing to go on one last adventure. Note I said "last", because these characters are most definitely experienced, worldly wise, battle hardened men who are all as close as brothers, longing to feel that same sense of excitement so taken for granted by those in their youth.
I won't go on too much about the cast, but the character development here is so intricate and well done, so much so that it's easy in the moment to take it for granted. The writing is fluid, the characters motivations and abilities are believable and the testing of their strength is really impactful, because you know that time isn't necessarily on their side, and their lives have been turned upside down.
The story begins somewhat with the classic trope of a quest. But the story doesn't start with prophecy, at least not in the classic sense. It starts with treasure hunting, rumours of rare riches that pique the interests of a famous band of adventurers. After a fascinating scene involving a magical object that reveals a mystical map that may show the location of a long lost island, they choose to adventure one more time, knowing this could be the discovery of a lifetime.
Mentally, my mind kept thinking of classic adventure stories like the works of Jules Verne, notably A Journey To The Centre Of The Earth. The writing is as enjoyable and as readable as the finest works of Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan or James Islington, and for such a large book (the best part of 1000 pages), A Prince's Errand is an addictive and immersive read that is bursting out with excellent battles, exciting discoveries, loveable characters and a real, genuine sense of history, time and place. The worldbuilding comes so close here to matching the extremely high standards set in the opening volumes of such esteemed classics as Wheel Of Time (Robert Jordan), Memory, Sorrow And Thorn (Tad Williams), The Sword Of Shannara trilogy (Terry Brooks) and has the immediate readability of current fantasy favourites such as Michael J. Sullivan, John Gwynne or Mark Lawrence.
Father son duo Dan and Robert Zangari have been working on this series, The Tales Of The Amulet, for years. A Prince's Errand is actually the first in a series that is being exquisitely rewritten, and I think fans of classic fantasy and current fantasy will find much to enjoy. This has the feel of a potential classic, and the story itself is instantly enjoyable, with depth of character and worldbuilding, witty dialogue, and the balanced pacing to lend itself a broad appeal that many authors aspire to reach, but rarely do.
I've finished this series opener wondering exactly what it is that has prevented it from becoming a more widely read favourite. In the seemingly crowded field of stellar self published fantasy, the Zangari's have all the goods to maybe one day become leaders of the pack. Right now, they are putting together all the pieces that could and should in time thrust them into the bigger leagues.
Take a chance, I've kept the plot details vague, but not my enthusiasm.
9/10
July 15, 2020
3.5 stars
I have trouble reviewing this book, because I can't really pinpoint why I didn't like it. I listened to the audio book.
1. It took me quite aways, maybe 10 to 30 chapters to get into this.
2. Michael Kramer's voice on the in-between characters, almost lulled me to sleep. The characters voices were great. I don't remember having this issue with him while listening to SA, but when RoW comes out I will pay attention, and come back and change this if my option changes.
3. Similar names. To me there was a lot of similar names that I had a hard time differentiating.
4. It's called A Prince's Errand, but I almost think the title should have something to do with necromancy, unless something changes in the future books that I am not aware of yet.
5. There isn't enough heart around the deaths, for me, if that makes sense.
6. There is only one character that I truly like, not true, there's 2, but of all the characters in this story, I feel I should connect to more of them. I am not a big fan of one of the main characters.
I like the premise of the story, Evil coming to conquer good.
The world building is decent, I would love to see Dalgilur on screen. And a town called Damnir, is just funny.
If there is a kickstarter for book 2, I am still in and here's why:
The author acknowledges that this was back written, ( if that's even a terminology). Meaning it was written after the main book for the series was already thought out. I want to get to that main book, because that might be, where all of the things I haven't liked so far, come together.
That's my review. I hope you like the book more that I did, it's a beast!
I have trouble reviewing this book, because I can't really pinpoint why I didn't like it. I listened to the audio book.
1. It took me quite aways, maybe 10 to 30 chapters to get into this.
2. Michael Kramer's voice on the in-between characters, almost lulled me to sleep. The characters voices were great. I don't remember having this issue with him while listening to SA, but when RoW comes out I will pay attention, and come back and change this if my option changes.
3. Similar names. To me there was a lot of similar names that I had a hard time differentiating.
4. It's called A Prince's Errand, but I almost think the title should have something to do with necromancy, unless something changes in the future books that I am not aware of yet.
5. There isn't enough heart around the deaths, for me, if that makes sense.
6. There is only one character that I truly like, not true, there's 2, but of all the characters in this story, I feel I should connect to more of them. I am not a big fan of one of the main characters.
I like the premise of the story, Evil coming to conquer good.
The world building is decent, I would love to see Dalgilur on screen. And a town called Damnir, is just funny.
If there is a kickstarter for book 2, I am still in and here's why:
The author acknowledges that this was back written, ( if that's even a terminology). Meaning it was written after the main book for the series was already thought out. I want to get to that main book, because that might be, where all of the things I haven't liked so far, come together.
That's my review. I hope you like the book more that I did, it's a beast!
December 13, 2022
A solid fantasy but not perfect. Characters were anywhere from annoying to just seeming to lack any personality sometimes. Can't say any character stood outthat much but there is room to improve in the future. The writing seemed little convoluted and clunky at times as well. I did enjoy reading as I was to go for periods and really get into some sections. The magic system was similar to some others I have seen but does try to be something different from other systems as well I think. The whole thing with the gods or whatever was slightly confusing. May be upon a second reading would be more understood but or could be better explained in the next book in the series. It was worth the time reading but could have been so much better. Some would be intrigued to read this I think but the page count may dissuade them from even trying. Will look for the upcoming book and hope to see it improves from this first book.
June 15, 2024
If you have read The Stormlight Archive and open this book it will look eerily similar to The Way of Kings. From the map to the prelude to the Prologue and the way it has the chapter graphics, epigraphs and even the beginning.
The more you read from the prologue the more it will feel like you're reading a carbon copy of The Stormlight Archive.
If you're still in doubt after reading the prologue, going to Part 1 it will cement your impression of how similar the two books are because the page looks exactly like one of the Stormlight pages.
I was hoping that at least the story would be good but I couldn't get last the sloppy writing
It was an immediate DNF
The more you read from the prologue the more it will feel like you're reading a carbon copy of The Stormlight Archive.
If you're still in doubt after reading the prologue, going to Part 1 it will cement your impression of how similar the two books are because the page looks exactly like one of the Stormlight pages.
I was hoping that at least the story would be good but I couldn't get last the sloppy writing
It was an immediate DNF
May 7, 2020
A great Epic!
Definitely reminds me of WoT and the Malazan Empire series which are my of my favorite series. It's not quite as complicated as the Malazan series or as technical as WoT but the plot builds well. Most of the characters so far are interesting and I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the series!
Definitely reminds me of WoT and the Malazan Empire series which are my of my favorite series. It's not quite as complicated as the Malazan series or as technical as WoT but the plot builds well. Most of the characters so far are interesting and I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the series!
December 2, 2022
Damn that was absolutely amazing and a thousand pages full of magical goodness and treachery. A brilliantly put together story by a father and son duo Dan Zangari and Robert Zangari. The worldbuilding, setting, plot is fantastic and the characters are so well rounded and described, I felt I knew each one intimately. One of the main protagonist Iltar has became one of my fast favourite characters. An Epic tale, one that has every magical element possible, not only is this riddled with spectacular battles, but Elves, Dragons, Necromancers, Humans and much much more. The authors have brought and old fantasy style and made it new. I can't wait to check more from this series and the very vast world of Kalda. In The Prince's Errand a group of Scholars, Mages, Necromancers and Mindolarn Royalty have come together for a quest to find an amulet of Draconic Control the Crimson Eye. They must travel to the long lost Island of the Keepers hidden temple on the Isle of Klindala. They must find it before it falls into the wrong hands for war and disaster is what awaits Kalda if it does. If you love your fantasy full of twist and turns, or just fantastic storytelling at its finest, I very highly recommend....😁💙🔥
August 11, 2020
The book had the potential to be great, but ultimately flopped. The main positive is that the worldbuilding is decent. It seems like there's an interesting mythos here and I might read the next book to find out more.
The main problem is that there is just about 0 character development. I don't think there's a single character who grows in nearly 40 hours of audible listening. A lot is hinted here and there about people's pasts, but ultimately nobody views the world any differently learning new information or experience some harrowing adventures. Also, I'm not sure I buy the motivations of almost any characters who are involved in half of the story arcs. Also, it feels like people in this land are kinda dumb or willfully blind to what's going on around them. As a result, it feels like the authors are conveniently making things happen to drive forward a bloated plot. Finally, there are certainly allusions to some smart capable female protagonists, but other than that the women mostly seem like beautiful idiots who are just making trouble for or love to the main characters. A little too wish fulfillment-y for my taste.
Still, I'm a sucker, so I'll probably read the next one and hate myself a little all over again.
The main problem is that there is just about 0 character development. I don't think there's a single character who grows in nearly 40 hours of audible listening. A lot is hinted here and there about people's pasts, but ultimately nobody views the world any differently learning new information or experience some harrowing adventures. Also, I'm not sure I buy the motivations of almost any characters who are involved in half of the story arcs. Also, it feels like people in this land are kinda dumb or willfully blind to what's going on around them. As a result, it feels like the authors are conveniently making things happen to drive forward a bloated plot. Finally, there are certainly allusions to some smart capable female protagonists, but other than that the women mostly seem like beautiful idiots who are just making trouble for or love to the main characters. A little too wish fulfillment-y for my taste.
Still, I'm a sucker, so I'll probably read the next one and hate myself a little all over again.
Want to read
June 20, 2021Kickstarted this novel. It has a gorgeous cover and am looking forward to reading it.
November 3, 2022
TLDR: An amazing opening to what is shaping up to be an awesome, old-school epic fantasy adventure. The pacing was great, the characters were intriguing, and the story has depth without drowning you. I can’t wait for Book 2.
Personal Score: 4.5 stars
Professional Score: 4.5 stars
More reviews available at: www.fsfreviews.com
To start with, a thank you to Robert Zangari for providing me with a copy of the first (sort of) novel in his Tales of the Amulet series. I’m always a little worried when I’m given a free copy by an author in case I end up not liking the book, but I am extremely happy to say that this wasn’t the case here. This book is exactly what I hope for when looking for a new epic fantasy series, and I’m eagerly awaiting the next in the series (even though I’ve already got the prequal to sink my teeth into). Also, I’ll refer to Dan and Robert (a father and son team, I belive) as the Zangaris throughout, hoping that is the correct way to make a plural out of your last names.
So, where to start. A Prince’s Errand is set in a world where magic, monsters, and malevolent forces are all part and parcel of a classic medieval setting. The story broadly follows two old adventuring companions and the titular prince from third-person perspectives plus brief sections from a handful of other characters. The first main character is Cornar, a gruff, weathered leader of an adventuring troop who is hired by Prince Kaescis to assist him in his quest to find ancient treasures and perhaps a great deal more. Iltar, Cornar’s usual adventuring partner, is forced to sit out this adventure as he is busy teaching his small army of apprentice necromancers, leading to the two main story arcs that the book follows. We get a great deal of travel in this novel, giving us a broad view of the world of Kalda and the astounding depth the Zangaris have embarked on to create a truly flesh-out fantasy universe. Spliced between the book’s three parts are short chapters from other random folks currently struggling through the world, and the presence of these short stories really helps build the world in the listener/reader’s mind in a way that you would usually only expect after two or three novels in a series. I’m a sucker for great world building, and this book has it in spades.
The book falls back on a few classic fantasy tropes, but the Zangaris do a great deal to give them their own personal flare. If you’ve read some of my other reviews, then you’ll know that I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder about elves and dragons, namely that they are overused and often lack any originality in their portrayal. Well, this series has both playing fairly key roles, and I have to admit, the Zangaris manage to work their magic and have my usual bigotry towards these two races completely washed away. In particular, this is one of the best depiction of dragons that I have stumbled across since The Traitor Son Cycle, and that’s saying a lot.
Now the magic system is lacking in one notable way, in that there isn’t much of system to speak of. There are mages, and mages do magic, but I haven’t really got much of an idea of how that magic works. There aren’t really any underlying laws and principles governing the magic other than that there are specific branches and schools of magic that each spell falls into and that each mage specialises in. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and I enjoyed the Zangaris’ take on necromancy, but I do love me a good practical magical system that has rules that it is shackled to and tangible aspects that allow it to be used in practical and often ingenious ways, such as in Stormlight Archive or King Killer Chronicles. But really, I’m just nit-picking here. The approach seen here tends to be the norm.
With regards to the writing, the Zangaris do an inspiring job of portraying the existing relationships between the character. Now I know both Zangaris have written many other short stories and such within this universe over the years and so have already established a lot within the canon, but I (and most people) won’t have read those books. However, their ability to convey these pre-existing relationships within this novel alone is exceptional. An example; I’ve not witnessed any of the events that have led to Cornar’s men loving and respecting him, but in short order I completely believe the degree to which they would unquestioningly follow him into the very gates of hell if he asked them to. It’s truly great character writing. Another example where the authors’ talent shines through is in the many switches between character perspectives being both clear and seamless (if that makes sense). There is a fair bit of head jumping, often within the same scenes. This runs the risk of becoming very jarring, but the Zangaris execute this perfectly, with each character having their own very distinctive internal narration and plenty of cues given immediately after a perspective shift without ramming said cues down our throats. It’s a tricky tightrope to balance on, but balance on it they do.
Now I do have some cons for the book. Not a lot, mind, but a few. My biggest is that the Zangaris tends to overly explain things, driving a point home when we already know why someone or something is the way it is. It’s overkill a lot of the time. Their writing ability is plenty good enough to allow for a little more subtly, but they kept spending too long trying to make sure that we understood something, slamming the brakes on the pacing and drawing us out of what is otherwise a very engrossing story. Trust your writing skill, Dan and Robert. It’s good enough. Most of my other cons are just small, niggling things that I found a little annoying, but nothing to really put me off. Like how there are a lot of secondary characters with similar sounding names and it all gets a little confusing at times. Maybe this is less of an issue if you are reading it and not listening, but I’m an audiobook reviewer, so I’m going to review it as an audiobook.
In summation, A Prince’s errand is a great book that I can see turning into a truly amazing series. Keep doing what you’re doing, Dan and Robert, and I can see one of my extremely rare 5-star reviews appearing before too long.
As for narration, well, it’s Michael Kramer, the OG of fantasy narration. You’d have to find something pretty awfully written for that man to not bring it to life within your mind, and as my review has stated pretty clearly, the only time ‘awfully’ should be used to describe this book is if it's followed by the word ‘good’.
Personal Score: 4.5 stars
Professional Score: 4.5 stars
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Personal Score: 4.5 stars
Professional Score: 4.5 stars
More reviews available at: www.fsfreviews.com
To start with, a thank you to Robert Zangari for providing me with a copy of the first (sort of) novel in his Tales of the Amulet series. I’m always a little worried when I’m given a free copy by an author in case I end up not liking the book, but I am extremely happy to say that this wasn’t the case here. This book is exactly what I hope for when looking for a new epic fantasy series, and I’m eagerly awaiting the next in the series (even though I’ve already got the prequal to sink my teeth into). Also, I’ll refer to Dan and Robert (a father and son team, I belive) as the Zangaris throughout, hoping that is the correct way to make a plural out of your last names.
So, where to start. A Prince’s Errand is set in a world where magic, monsters, and malevolent forces are all part and parcel of a classic medieval setting. The story broadly follows two old adventuring companions and the titular prince from third-person perspectives plus brief sections from a handful of other characters. The first main character is Cornar, a gruff, weathered leader of an adventuring troop who is hired by Prince Kaescis to assist him in his quest to find ancient treasures and perhaps a great deal more. Iltar, Cornar’s usual adventuring partner, is forced to sit out this adventure as he is busy teaching his small army of apprentice necromancers, leading to the two main story arcs that the book follows. We get a great deal of travel in this novel, giving us a broad view of the world of Kalda and the astounding depth the Zangaris have embarked on to create a truly flesh-out fantasy universe. Spliced between the book’s three parts are short chapters from other random folks currently struggling through the world, and the presence of these short stories really helps build the world in the listener/reader’s mind in a way that you would usually only expect after two or three novels in a series. I’m a sucker for great world building, and this book has it in spades.
The book falls back on a few classic fantasy tropes, but the Zangaris do a great deal to give them their own personal flare. If you’ve read some of my other reviews, then you’ll know that I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder about elves and dragons, namely that they are overused and often lack any originality in their portrayal. Well, this series has both playing fairly key roles, and I have to admit, the Zangaris manage to work their magic and have my usual bigotry towards these two races completely washed away. In particular, this is one of the best depiction of dragons that I have stumbled across since The Traitor Son Cycle, and that’s saying a lot.
Now the magic system is lacking in one notable way, in that there isn’t much of system to speak of. There are mages, and mages do magic, but I haven’t really got much of an idea of how that magic works. There aren’t really any underlying laws and principles governing the magic other than that there are specific branches and schools of magic that each spell falls into and that each mage specialises in. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and I enjoyed the Zangaris’ take on necromancy, but I do love me a good practical magical system that has rules that it is shackled to and tangible aspects that allow it to be used in practical and often ingenious ways, such as in Stormlight Archive or King Killer Chronicles. But really, I’m just nit-picking here. The approach seen here tends to be the norm.
With regards to the writing, the Zangaris do an inspiring job of portraying the existing relationships between the character. Now I know both Zangaris have written many other short stories and such within this universe over the years and so have already established a lot within the canon, but I (and most people) won’t have read those books. However, their ability to convey these pre-existing relationships within this novel alone is exceptional. An example; I’ve not witnessed any of the events that have led to Cornar’s men loving and respecting him, but in short order I completely believe the degree to which they would unquestioningly follow him into the very gates of hell if he asked them to. It’s truly great character writing. Another example where the authors’ talent shines through is in the many switches between character perspectives being both clear and seamless (if that makes sense). There is a fair bit of head jumping, often within the same scenes. This runs the risk of becoming very jarring, but the Zangaris execute this perfectly, with each character having their own very distinctive internal narration and plenty of cues given immediately after a perspective shift without ramming said cues down our throats. It’s a tricky tightrope to balance on, but balance on it they do.
Now I do have some cons for the book. Not a lot, mind, but a few. My biggest is that the Zangaris tends to overly explain things, driving a point home when we already know why someone or something is the way it is. It’s overkill a lot of the time. Their writing ability is plenty good enough to allow for a little more subtly, but they kept spending too long trying to make sure that we understood something, slamming the brakes on the pacing and drawing us out of what is otherwise a very engrossing story. Trust your writing skill, Dan and Robert. It’s good enough. Most of my other cons are just small, niggling things that I found a little annoying, but nothing to really put me off. Like how there are a lot of secondary characters with similar sounding names and it all gets a little confusing at times. Maybe this is less of an issue if you are reading it and not listening, but I’m an audiobook reviewer, so I’m going to review it as an audiobook.
In summation, A Prince’s errand is a great book that I can see turning into a truly amazing series. Keep doing what you’re doing, Dan and Robert, and I can see one of my extremely rare 5-star reviews appearing before too long.
As for narration, well, it’s Michael Kramer, the OG of fantasy narration. You’d have to find something pretty awfully written for that man to not bring it to life within your mind, and as my review has stated pretty clearly, the only time ‘awfully’ should be used to describe this book is if it's followed by the word ‘good’.
Personal Score: 4.5 stars
Professional Score: 4.5 stars
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September 24, 2023
This is dense epic fantasy. I found it somewhat challenging to read, but it reminded me in some ways of the Wheel of Time which I loved. The world-building is meticulous, and the magic is intriguing. The religion that propels the story is dark but well thought out. There are parallel stories going on in parallel locations and worlds, so it is sometimes challenging, but it is very action-packed. I liked the slow reveals. It was fun deciding who could be trusted and what was really going on. Often there was foreshadowing in the dream sequences if you were looking for it. I know one of the authors is a martial artist, and he has used that knowledge in his fight scenes. This book ends on a cliffhanger so be warned. I am curious about what comes next, but it's going to take a minute to prepare myself for the next book. For someone with my attention span, it will require some dedication to continue the next book, but I would recommend it to someone interested in classical epic fantasy
June 3, 2022
I expected this book to be good. I did not expect it to be THIS good! I listened to the audiobook, and it felt like I was listening to a parallel book in Sanderson's Stormlight Archives. Not because of any plot rip-offs, but because of the style, pacing, and just the overall feel, the way it played in my head. Each plot thread was woven methodically to create a masterpiece of story, and the worldbuilding was done with great finesse. I could feel and see the world, the scenes as they unfolded. The magic system is less formulaic than Sanderson, not a particularly hard system, but it was executed perfectly. If you've ever read R.A. Salvatore, it will seem close to that, which honestly, was so well devised that it seemed like this was the way it was supposed to be. Prince Kaescis Midivar, and Cornar felt the most real to me right from the beginning and their motivations made sense all the way through. Iltar grew on me as well and by the end was one of my favorites. The slow reveal of detail through the opening line in each chapter provided a sense of mystery and wonder to the story, again not unlike Sanderson or Jordan. I love stories with lots of lore! Being read by Michael Kramer only added to the Sanderson/Jordan feel. His narration was PERFECT. Thank you for writing this story!
August 2, 2022
An incredible epic fantasy written in such a deeply well-built world with so much delightful history and mythology sprinkled liberally throughout.
The use of a small number of POVs to tell the story, accompanied by a clever device for giving back story and twists at the right times makes the pace absolutely spot on.
Sometimes I find myself wading through hundreds of pages of dense prose with little to no story or action. Not so here, as this books keeps the reader engaged throughout.
The plot includes enough surprises and twists and excellent action scenes that it was a joy to pick the book back up.
Genuinely a pleasure to read, and well worth what sounds like a long time in the writing process between the 2 authors.
The use of a small number of POVs to tell the story, accompanied by a clever device for giving back story and twists at the right times makes the pace absolutely spot on.
Sometimes I find myself wading through hundreds of pages of dense prose with little to no story or action. Not so here, as this books keeps the reader engaged throughout.
The plot includes enough surprises and twists and excellent action scenes that it was a joy to pick the book back up.
Genuinely a pleasure to read, and well worth what sounds like a long time in the writing process between the 2 authors.
September 27, 2021
I went to sleep immediately after I finished reading this book and I just woke up now. A 9 hour sleep. It is a first for me in many years. I usually cannot sleep for more than 5 hours straight but somebody kept me up for the last 3 days and by the time I went to bed yesterday, I was enervated, exhausted, broken, pissed off, trembling, shocked, ecstatic, miserable, etc.
2022??? You can't do this to me. This is the best book I have read in years including Rhythm of War. I have never seen a combo like this. Stormlight Archive +Wheel of Time+LOTR+D&D. I gorged, gobbled, slobbered my way till page 750 or so, when I got so pissed. I literally cursed and abused my way till page 930 or so when I rejoiced again. And man, what the author has done is criminal. This is the most addictive book I have come across amongst the plethora of books I have consumed in the last years. This should be Trad-published. You should make this big. Do it for humanity. And get me a Delorean from somewhere. I cannot wait till 2022.
The Tales of the Amulet Book 1- A Prince's Errand, is very similar to basic D&D fantasy characterization. I hate D&D and all dice-rolls based RPGs and this book enslaved me and tortured me with sleeplessness. That ought to clearly profess how much I enjoyed this magnificent book. It is epic fantasy on the lines of the Stormlight Archive. The magic system is excellent and thoroughly detailed even though it is not quintessential hard magic. That is a colossally difficult thing to do and it is done in sublime fashion here.
There is a Wheel of Time-sized list of characters, but the important characters are not 2-D at all. They are brilliant and varied enough to allow all vicarious investors to find their personal favorites. The storyline by itself is typical epic fantasy but it is done exceptionally well. The worldbuilding is superlative; the imagery is so spellbinding that one will get lost in it until the plot whips you back in line with no mercy. Dragons, Elves, Wizards, Rogues, Gangolins, Elementals, Enfeoffed Stone-warriors, and everything in between, get page-time in this book. It is a ride that should not be missed.
The writing is stellar and the story is superlative. The Tales of the Amulet is a perfect rival for the Stormlight Archive and it easily surpasses Wheel of Time, LOTR, Malazan, etc. It puts the Epic in Epic Fantasy in an Epic way!!!
****************************
P.S:- Mr. Dan Zangari, I cannot believe you are a writer. Barsion, Telekinesis, Acid, Necromancy, Disintegration, Annihilation, Darkness, Life-Draining, Fire, Wind, Elementals, etc were all available. And you decided to torture as a Grand-Mage, a Master Enthraller. You make addicts of grown men, forcing them to worship at your pedestal, making them grovel for the world to reach 2022.
2022??? You can't do this to me. This is the best book I have read in years including Rhythm of War. I have never seen a combo like this. Stormlight Archive +Wheel of Time+LOTR+D&D. I gorged, gobbled, slobbered my way till page 750 or so, when I got so pissed. I literally cursed and abused my way till page 930 or so when I rejoiced again. And man, what the author has done is criminal. This is the most addictive book I have come across amongst the plethora of books I have consumed in the last years. This should be Trad-published. You should make this big. Do it for humanity. And get me a Delorean from somewhere. I cannot wait till 2022.
The Tales of the Amulet Book 1- A Prince's Errand, is very similar to basic D&D fantasy characterization. I hate D&D and all dice-rolls based RPGs and this book enslaved me and tortured me with sleeplessness. That ought to clearly profess how much I enjoyed this magnificent book. It is epic fantasy on the lines of the Stormlight Archive. The magic system is excellent and thoroughly detailed even though it is not quintessential hard magic. That is a colossally difficult thing to do and it is done in sublime fashion here.
There is a Wheel of Time-sized list of characters, but the important characters are not 2-D at all. They are brilliant and varied enough to allow all vicarious investors to find their personal favorites. The storyline by itself is typical epic fantasy but it is done exceptionally well. The worldbuilding is superlative; the imagery is so spellbinding that one will get lost in it until the plot whips you back in line with no mercy. Dragons, Elves, Wizards, Rogues, Gangolins, Elementals, Enfeoffed Stone-warriors, and everything in between, get page-time in this book. It is a ride that should not be missed.
The writing is stellar and the story is superlative. The Tales of the Amulet is a perfect rival for the Stormlight Archive and it easily surpasses Wheel of Time, LOTR, Malazan, etc. It puts the Epic in Epic Fantasy in an Epic way!!!
****************************
P.S:- Mr. Dan Zangari, I cannot believe you are a writer. Barsion, Telekinesis, Acid, Necromancy, Disintegration, Annihilation, Darkness, Life-Draining, Fire, Wind, Elementals, etc were all available. And you decided to torture as a Grand-Mage, a Master Enthraller. You make addicts of grown men, forcing them to worship at your pedestal, making them grovel for the world to reach 2022.
February 8, 2021
A Prince's Errand
By
Robert Zangari and Dan Zangari
My Review:
A Prince's Errand is a classic fantasy written by the father-son duo Dan Zangari and Robert Zangari. This is the first installment in the Tales of the Amulet series. Dusel, Guardian of Kalda and "A Keeper of truth and might" was given the Amulet of Draconic Control by Shem’rinal. He was asked to safeguard the Amulet and not let it to be in the hands of even Kaldean Alliance.
Prince Kaescis Midivar has the strongest desire among all the prince of Mindolarn to expand the borders. One day at the Feast of Sorrows, there was an attack and Kaescis lost his uncle Monddar. Krindal is ready for a trip to Island of Klindala. At that time, Iltar and Cornar stepped back saying that they won't be joining the trip to search the Keepers.
This is the first time that I have read a novel that is back written, meaning it is written after few books were published in its series. Authors has published this novel to introduce readers to the world of Kalda. World building is so vast and fantasy lovers would find great content in this story. A Cast of characters at the beginning or end of the book would have been helpful. I like to recommend this to avid fantasy lovers. Cover photo is nice.
My Rating: 4.5/5
By
Robert Zangari and Dan Zangari
My Review:
A Prince's Errand is a classic fantasy written by the father-son duo Dan Zangari and Robert Zangari. This is the first installment in the Tales of the Amulet series. Dusel, Guardian of Kalda and "A Keeper of truth and might" was given the Amulet of Draconic Control by Shem’rinal. He was asked to safeguard the Amulet and not let it to be in the hands of even Kaldean Alliance.
Prince Kaescis Midivar has the strongest desire among all the prince of Mindolarn to expand the borders. One day at the Feast of Sorrows, there was an attack and Kaescis lost his uncle Monddar. Krindal is ready for a trip to Island of Klindala. At that time, Iltar and Cornar stepped back saying that they won't be joining the trip to search the Keepers.
This is the first time that I have read a novel that is back written, meaning it is written after few books were published in its series. Authors has published this novel to introduce readers to the world of Kalda. World building is so vast and fantasy lovers would find great content in this story. A Cast of characters at the beginning or end of the book would have been helpful. I like to recommend this to avid fantasy lovers. Cover photo is nice.
My Rating: 4.5/5
January 4, 2022
A Prince’s Errand, written by Dan and Robert Zangari, is a masterfully written tale with an epic scale and world-breaking stakes. The worldbuilding was second only to the fantastic character work. There is a depth to the world that these two created that is hard to be found in a lot of contemporary novels, which is really refreshing for someone who loves deep lore, expansive worldbuilding, and advanced magic systems. Now, the characters, these were the highlight of the story. Each main character feels unique and well fleshed out, driven by understandable needs or desires, and acts as autonomous individuals, not mindless drones doing tasks because plot. All in all, I thought that a Prince’s Errand was an excellent and compelling read for those who love extensive worldbuilding, deep character arcs and lore, and beautiful settings. Plus, there are dragons.
August 26, 2021
Basically this boils down to-
The writing isn't very good but
The world is incredibly imaginative and well developed. This is indeed a love letter to traditional, old school fantasy, and supposedly the series is slated for twelve books in total.
I didn't like how the female characters were portrayed. Every one of them was introduced as either "breathtaking" or "tantalizing", or "plain" or even worse, "not quite ugly".
They're also all either wives of the more important male characters, or love interests. Not a single one is a character of her own, she has to be attached to someone else or fall in love along the way.
The writing isn't very good but
The world is incredibly imaginative and well developed. This is indeed a love letter to traditional, old school fantasy, and supposedly the series is slated for twelve books in total.
I didn't like how the female characters were portrayed. Every one of them was introduced as either "breathtaking" or "tantalizing", or "plain" or even worse, "not quite ugly".
They're also all either wives of the more important male characters, or love interests. Not a single one is a character of her own, she has to be attached to someone else or fall in love along the way.
July 13, 2020
I liked the book. It hearkened back to the Wheel of Time epic. It had the same size and feel of it. Overall all enjoyable and I want to read the next one. The one thing I didn't like was all the made up names. It felt like they were trying to hard to name things differently. A "fenesar", what the hell is that? It took me forever to figure out it was a double bladed Darth Maul like sword, I think? I still couldn't tell you if I got that right or not? Even the characters had names I struggled to keep up with due to how foreign they are. I kept getting Kornar and Coldar mixed up.
August 18, 2020
Epic fantasy at it's finest!!
In the beginning the story gave me Wheel of Time and Stormlight Archives vibes. I mean the cover even looks like the Path of Daggers and they even got Michael Kramer to narrate the audio book. That being said, this book came into it's own very quickly. It delivered all the feels that a great epic fantasy tale gives you and it leaves you wanting more.
Can't wait for the next installment!
In the beginning the story gave me Wheel of Time and Stormlight Archives vibes. I mean the cover even looks like the Path of Daggers and they even got Michael Kramer to narrate the audio book. That being said, this book came into it's own very quickly. It delivered all the feels that a great epic fantasy tale gives you and it leaves you wanting more.
Can't wait for the next installment!
June 21, 2023
I really enjoyed A Prince's Errand (Tales of the Amulet, #1) co-written by Dan and Robert Zangari from beginning to end. Lengthy, it was well written with great, engaging characters and fantastic world-building and situations, in particular, what takes place during the ocean traveling. You won’t go wrong with this. Five stars.
July 30, 2020
Great book. Loved the characters and world building. Loved the different systems of magic. Like that a necromancer was used in a different way than has come before. Will read others by them in the future.
June 28, 2021
Truly an epic story. More so because it's done with the heart of a father and son team. Fantasy, knights, dragons, medieval settings in an age of discovery where magic has distinct systems- you'll chase this story to the end and you'll still want more...
November 12, 2019
A great journey into fantasy with Dan Zangari as our tour guide as this grand scale story is unraveling on the pages of the book. If you enjoy Fantasy and magic you must get this book. I loved it!!!
July 31, 2021
Truly enjoyed every minute of reading this book. A true epic tale of adventure you get, a quest, mages, elves, warriors, dragons and a fun time.
December 30, 2021
great read!
Loved it, really captivating story in a rich and interesting world. I cannot wait to explore more of this world!
Loved it, really captivating story in a rich and interesting world. I cannot wait to explore more of this world!
April 18, 2022
Excellent worldbuilding
This series should soon be up there beside the other classics in high fantasy. It has elves, dragons, lost lore, and top notch world building.
This series should soon be up there beside the other classics in high fantasy. It has elves, dragons, lost lore, and top notch world building.
July 21, 2022
A Prince's Errand is an incredibly ambitious novel, with absolutely stunning world building, split point of views covering virtually every side in events and twists and turns leading to unexpected pathways at almost every point in the story. It's taken me a while to get through it, but the effort has reaped rewards as it was absolutely enthralling throughout.
From the prologue of several millennia before the main storyline, you learn that war ravaged the various dragonkind kin. Complete destruction was only averted by the Kaldean Alliance banishing their foes to another realm. But centuries have passed, and whilst the destruction is not so complete as it would have been, times are hard and war seems imminent. The elves have retreated into solitude and mankind seems intent on destroying each other. Some last remnants of the old age still remain in Tevisrals; wondrous technological pieces with various effects from healing to mapping, timekeeping, communication amongst others. Men will trade almost anything for such wonders.
Into this chaotic, politically unstable world come our characters. And there are a lot of them. Cornar Dol’shir leading a band of adventurers in search of this elusive treasure, even as his dreams suggest that those he travels with may not be as trustworthy as they seem. Krindal, a scholar in search of the enlightenment such Tevisrals might bring, the understanding of the world that came before them and the ancient order of the Keepers of Truth and Might. Prince Kaescis Midivar, with his own reasons for finding the Keepers first. And Iltar, a necromancer, scholar and teacher, seeking to find the truths his own way.
And that is just scratching the surface. The world is intricately built, each of the main characters have complex and sometimes conflicting motivations and interests. Each comes with followers; whether those be those sworn to them, those who follow willingly or students. And each of these come with their own complex character building as the relationships between them all build, stretch and sometimes break. The original quest seems like a typical fantasy trope, yet expands and grows until it is something so much bigger. Yet despite the sprawling reach of the narrative, everything comes to life in front of you; characters, towns, villages and epic battle scenes.
This is epic fantasy at it's best. I'd liken it to some of Brandon Sanderson's works, where he flits across various perspectives to gain a larger view of the whole yet never loses sight of the individual and the minutiae. I never lost interest even when the perspective changed suddenly and despite having definite favourites - Cornar and Iltar for the win - I was completely invested in all of the different views. This is undoubtedly a pretty huge tome, but it's well worth setting aside the time to read it.
From the prologue of several millennia before the main storyline, you learn that war ravaged the various dragonkind kin. Complete destruction was only averted by the Kaldean Alliance banishing their foes to another realm. But centuries have passed, and whilst the destruction is not so complete as it would have been, times are hard and war seems imminent. The elves have retreated into solitude and mankind seems intent on destroying each other. Some last remnants of the old age still remain in Tevisrals; wondrous technological pieces with various effects from healing to mapping, timekeeping, communication amongst others. Men will trade almost anything for such wonders.
Into this chaotic, politically unstable world come our characters. And there are a lot of them. Cornar Dol’shir leading a band of adventurers in search of this elusive treasure, even as his dreams suggest that those he travels with may not be as trustworthy as they seem. Krindal, a scholar in search of the enlightenment such Tevisrals might bring, the understanding of the world that came before them and the ancient order of the Keepers of Truth and Might. Prince Kaescis Midivar, with his own reasons for finding the Keepers first. And Iltar, a necromancer, scholar and teacher, seeking to find the truths his own way.
And that is just scratching the surface. The world is intricately built, each of the main characters have complex and sometimes conflicting motivations and interests. Each comes with followers; whether those be those sworn to them, those who follow willingly or students. And each of these come with their own complex character building as the relationships between them all build, stretch and sometimes break. The original quest seems like a typical fantasy trope, yet expands and grows until it is something so much bigger. Yet despite the sprawling reach of the narrative, everything comes to life in front of you; characters, towns, villages and epic battle scenes.
This is epic fantasy at it's best. I'd liken it to some of Brandon Sanderson's works, where he flits across various perspectives to gain a larger view of the whole yet never loses sight of the individual and the minutiae. I never lost interest even when the perspective changed suddenly and despite having definite favourites - Cornar and Iltar for the win - I was completely invested in all of the different views. This is undoubtedly a pretty huge tome, but it's well worth setting aside the time to read it.
August 14, 2022
An Epic Sword and Sorcery!
A Prince’s Errand by Dan and Robert Zangari
The father/son team, Dan and Robert Zangari, have really put lots of effort into describing the world they have created, and the characters that live and move about in “A Prince’s Errand”!
The Prelude opens with the ending of a war and a man given the eternal responsibility of guarding, and keeping secreted away, a powerful amulet. The Prologue continues with the story 6500 years later at a feast where we meet Kaecis Midivar, a particularly interesting character, seventh in line to be the ruler of the Mindolarn kingdom. Unfortunately during the feast, treachery manifests itself and many are killed. Kaecis survives the assault and is determined to find the mage responsible for killing his uncle.
This is the kind of epic, sword and sorcery novel I love to read!!! My heart and mind were caught up in the story within the first few pages! And it gets better and better as the story moves on. The illustrations that head each chapter are so awesome! And the quotes from various sources really add a great deal of depth and intrigue to the overall story. And maps! I truly love when an author gives their readers maps detailing where all the past or upcoming adventures take place in the worlds they have created!
The pace of the story slows a bit, but that is only because lots of new characters are being introduced. Readers will be rewarded later in the story for their patience in learning about all the new characters - Iltar, Cornar, Pagus and many more! An adventure is proposed to seek treasures from ages past, though some will be seeking weapons - not treasure.
More treachery, several main characters have “dreams” or are the dreams something else? There are stories within stories, character points of view that take you all around Kalda (you may need to consult the map!); if you have read The Wheel of Time then you know what I was feeling like by the halfway point! Once more I will remind you to please read the intros to each chapter and the illustrations used to head each chapter! Amazing work!
I highly recommend this epic, sword and sorcery masterpiece to anyone who loves reading detailed, multi-character points of view interwoven into a cohesive story that will amaze you! And yes there is a book two coming - The Dark Necromancer!
A Prince’s Errand by Dan and Robert Zangari
The father/son team, Dan and Robert Zangari, have really put lots of effort into describing the world they have created, and the characters that live and move about in “A Prince’s Errand”!
The Prelude opens with the ending of a war and a man given the eternal responsibility of guarding, and keeping secreted away, a powerful amulet. The Prologue continues with the story 6500 years later at a feast where we meet Kaecis Midivar, a particularly interesting character, seventh in line to be the ruler of the Mindolarn kingdom. Unfortunately during the feast, treachery manifests itself and many are killed. Kaecis survives the assault and is determined to find the mage responsible for killing his uncle.
This is the kind of epic, sword and sorcery novel I love to read!!! My heart and mind were caught up in the story within the first few pages! And it gets better and better as the story moves on. The illustrations that head each chapter are so awesome! And the quotes from various sources really add a great deal of depth and intrigue to the overall story. And maps! I truly love when an author gives their readers maps detailing where all the past or upcoming adventures take place in the worlds they have created!
The pace of the story slows a bit, but that is only because lots of new characters are being introduced. Readers will be rewarded later in the story for their patience in learning about all the new characters - Iltar, Cornar, Pagus and many more! An adventure is proposed to seek treasures from ages past, though some will be seeking weapons - not treasure.
More treachery, several main characters have “dreams” or are the dreams something else? There are stories within stories, character points of view that take you all around Kalda (you may need to consult the map!); if you have read The Wheel of Time then you know what I was feeling like by the halfway point! Once more I will remind you to please read the intros to each chapter and the illustrations used to head each chapter! Amazing work!
I highly recommend this epic, sword and sorcery masterpiece to anyone who loves reading detailed, multi-character points of view interwoven into a cohesive story that will amaze you! And yes there is a book two coming - The Dark Necromancer!
January 11, 2023
Holy Shit this was a fantastic read! Ok fine - listen. I listened to Michael Kramer narrate it via audible, but damn. I'm so glad I walked up to Robert Zangari's table at the 20Books conference in Vegas.
A Prince’s Errand
By Dan and Robert Zangari, a father-son writing team that just presented the world with a fantastically-well-written start to the Tales of the Amulet series.
Fans of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson need to read this series! As with their books on Audible, Michael Kramer does an incredible job with the narration. The voices are all fantastic and, thanks to both the writing and the excellent narration, the fight sequences are a joy to listen to. Yeah - I was on the edge of my seat, except when driving, of course!
This story follows three main characters: Cornar, a warrior who leads his own band of men who was hired to accompany the Mindolarnian prince, Kaescis who escorted a mage scholar on a quest to discover a legendary site which potentially held magical tools and weapons of old. Iltar, friend and fellow adventurer to Corner is a talented necromancer who takes his students on a scholarly quest of his own to the heart of Mindolarn itself.
Side notes:
* If you’ve read Jordan and Sanderson, you’ll see their influence on the writing in this series - from the world building, to the fast-action and exciting fight and action sequences.
* I don’t think this will be an issue with the print versions. In the audio version, it was confusing for a few chapters because so many people and places started with a K-sound. Kaescis & Cornar, (2 of the 3 main characters) Keepers, Krindel, Kalda, Klindala, Calder, Corinna, and a handful more. (Spelling may be off since I listened and didn’t read these. I’ve also been unable to find a list of characters. I may end up picking up an eBook version anyway!) Once the story got going, the confusion ended.
* Fight sequences - there were a handful of exciting battle scenes, but two that stood out were at Dalgilur - (Chapter 61. Read it.) and at the Ball a few chapters afterwards.
* Chapter 61 - you might end up getting mad at the author. Feel free to let him know. I did. He was entertained by my reaction! OMG - it was so good!
* I just finished listening to the companion novel now and have just started the prequel, The Prisoner of Tardelim. I’m ready for book 2, Misters Zangari!
Adventure, epic battles, deception, ingenuity, third parties who appear but are not as they seem… this book as everything. The battles are intensely exciting and gritty, already worthy of a second listen or read.
This is a spectacular start to the Tales of the Amulet series which promises to release several books. The next book, The Dark Necromancer, is due out (I think) later in 2023.
A Prince’s Errand
By Dan and Robert Zangari, a father-son writing team that just presented the world with a fantastically-well-written start to the Tales of the Amulet series.
Fans of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson need to read this series! As with their books on Audible, Michael Kramer does an incredible job with the narration. The voices are all fantastic and, thanks to both the writing and the excellent narration, the fight sequences are a joy to listen to. Yeah - I was on the edge of my seat, except when driving, of course!
This story follows three main characters: Cornar, a warrior who leads his own band of men who was hired to accompany the Mindolarnian prince, Kaescis who escorted a mage scholar on a quest to discover a legendary site which potentially held magical tools and weapons of old. Iltar, friend and fellow adventurer to Corner is a talented necromancer who takes his students on a scholarly quest of his own to the heart of Mindolarn itself.
Side notes:
* If you’ve read Jordan and Sanderson, you’ll see their influence on the writing in this series - from the world building, to the fast-action and exciting fight and action sequences.
* I don’t think this will be an issue with the print versions. In the audio version, it was confusing for a few chapters because so many people and places started with a K-sound. Kaescis & Cornar, (2 of the 3 main characters) Keepers, Krindel, Kalda, Klindala, Calder, Corinna, and a handful more. (Spelling may be off since I listened and didn’t read these. I’ve also been unable to find a list of characters. I may end up picking up an eBook version anyway!) Once the story got going, the confusion ended.
* Fight sequences - there were a handful of exciting battle scenes, but two that stood out were at Dalgilur - (Chapter 61. Read it.) and at the Ball a few chapters afterwards.
* Chapter 61 - you might end up getting mad at the author. Feel free to let him know. I did. He was entertained by my reaction! OMG - it was so good!
* I just finished listening to the companion novel now and have just started the prequel, The Prisoner of Tardelim. I’m ready for book 2, Misters Zangari!
Adventure, epic battles, deception, ingenuity, third parties who appear but are not as they seem… this book as everything. The battles are intensely exciting and gritty, already worthy of a second listen or read.
This is a spectacular start to the Tales of the Amulet series which promises to release several books. The next book, The Dark Necromancer, is due out (I think) later in 2023.
March 22, 2025
A Prince’s Errand by Dan and Robert Zangari is an impressive feat of classic epic fantasy, immediately evoking the grandeur and depth of The Wheel of Time or The Lord of the Rings. The writing is skillful and immersive, drawing readers into a richly detailed world that feels both lived-in and meticulously crafted.
From the very beginning, the Prelude does an excellent job of pulling you into the story, setting the stage for an epic adventure. The book carries a strong Wheel of Time influence—especially reminiscent of The Path of Daggers—but it never feels like an imitation. Instead, it reads like a heartfelt tribute, crafted by authors who were clearly inspired by Robert Jordan’s storytelling and world-building.
One of the most striking aspects of A Prince’s Errand is how it feels like two distinct yet interconnected stories, following Cornar and Iltar on their separate journeys. Each storyline has moments that feel like climactic conclusions, making the pacing feel grand and sweeping. The depth of the world of Kalda is evident, with a rich history and complex characters that hint at years of development by the authors. While much of this depth is explained in the text, I suspect it would carry more weight emotionally for readers already familiar with other works set in this world—something to look forward to as the series continues.
The world-building is meticulous, and the magic system is intriguing. The religious themes that drive the narrative are dark yet well thought out, adding a compelling layer to the story. This is a dense and complex epic fantasy—some readers may find it overwhelming, but for those who enjoy immersive, intricate storytelling, it will be a rewarding experience.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I didn’t feel deeply emotionally attached to the characters just yet. This is likely due to the large cast and the sheer scope of the story, but I suspect that, much like The Wheel of Time, the emotional investment will grow as the series continues and readers spend more time with these characters.
Overall, A Prince’s Errand is an ambitious and impressive epic fantasy, clearly written with passion and respect for the genre. If you love deep world-building, a complex narrative, and the kind of fantasy that demands your full attention, this is a book worth diving into.
From the very beginning, the Prelude does an excellent job of pulling you into the story, setting the stage for an epic adventure. The book carries a strong Wheel of Time influence—especially reminiscent of The Path of Daggers—but it never feels like an imitation. Instead, it reads like a heartfelt tribute, crafted by authors who were clearly inspired by Robert Jordan’s storytelling and world-building.
One of the most striking aspects of A Prince’s Errand is how it feels like two distinct yet interconnected stories, following Cornar and Iltar on their separate journeys. Each storyline has moments that feel like climactic conclusions, making the pacing feel grand and sweeping. The depth of the world of Kalda is evident, with a rich history and complex characters that hint at years of development by the authors. While much of this depth is explained in the text, I suspect it would carry more weight emotionally for readers already familiar with other works set in this world—something to look forward to as the series continues.
The world-building is meticulous, and the magic system is intriguing. The religious themes that drive the narrative are dark yet well thought out, adding a compelling layer to the story. This is a dense and complex epic fantasy—some readers may find it overwhelming, but for those who enjoy immersive, intricate storytelling, it will be a rewarding experience.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I didn’t feel deeply emotionally attached to the characters just yet. This is likely due to the large cast and the sheer scope of the story, but I suspect that, much like The Wheel of Time, the emotional investment will grow as the series continues and readers spend more time with these characters.
Overall, A Prince’s Errand is an ambitious and impressive epic fantasy, clearly written with passion and respect for the genre. If you love deep world-building, a complex narrative, and the kind of fantasy that demands your full attention, this is a book worth diving into.
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