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A Hero's Downfall
During an entertaining jousting tournament, a mysterious villain attacks the capital with his army. Because of this disastrous event, Stephen Brightflame, a nineteen-year-old who aspires to become a knight, embarks on a quest to save the kingdom from further destruction. He joins up with a convicted felon, an arrogant warrior, and a Halfling woman, but quickly learns their pasts are just as dark and disturbing as his own.
- GenresFantasy
483 pages, Paperback
Published March 4, 2020
22 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 21, 2020
A Hero's Downfall left me numb upon completion. Just emotionally drained. Any author that leaves me with with a 'book hangover' in my opinion is an amazingly talented one. Tony Johnson is a name to keep your eyes and ears open for. I for one can not wait to place this book on my physical bookshelves next to many of other greats of Fantasy.
With in moments of reading, Mr. Johnson makes you feel as if you have know these characters. You smile when they smile, you grieve when they grieve, you want to fight when the fight. My heart broke more then once and I was crying before I even hit the 50 page mark. We have a book that is full of action and lightheartedness, with lovable characters and a kick to the gut all in one. Our cast of characters no matter what they face they fight and go on even when all hope seems to be lost. He has also written the evil so well, the darkness that in enveloping this world
Not only is the story wonderfully and intensely written. It is a fantasy that touches on serious issues in the real world and how it effects how people grow and become who they are. From bullying, racism, abandonment, child abuse, depression, suicide, and PTSD. So many fantasy stories don't go into the aftermaths of events on how they deal, and to read one that does is refreshing.
I loved this book, you'd think with all the darkness, destruction and death how could someone? It's written so well that it really makes it hard not be taken in. I don't want to spoil anything about it, you really need to read this one for yourself. What I thought I figured out and knew after finishing, I realize I in fact didn't know and I'm in shock and surprised, probably a little lost and in need of more of the story.
Thank you storytellers on tour and Tony Johnson for this opportunity.
Blog: https://icanhasbooks.blogspot.com/202...
With in moments of reading, Mr. Johnson makes you feel as if you have know these characters. You smile when they smile, you grieve when they grieve, you want to fight when the fight. My heart broke more then once and I was crying before I even hit the 50 page mark. We have a book that is full of action and lightheartedness, with lovable characters and a kick to the gut all in one. Our cast of characters no matter what they face they fight and go on even when all hope seems to be lost. He has also written the evil so well, the darkness that in enveloping this world
Not only is the story wonderfully and intensely written. It is a fantasy that touches on serious issues in the real world and how it effects how people grow and become who they are. From bullying, racism, abandonment, child abuse, depression, suicide, and PTSD. So many fantasy stories don't go into the aftermaths of events on how they deal, and to read one that does is refreshing.
I loved this book, you'd think with all the darkness, destruction and death how could someone? It's written so well that it really makes it hard not be taken in. I don't want to spoil anything about it, you really need to read this one for yourself. What I thought I figured out and knew after finishing, I realize I in fact didn't know and I'm in shock and surprised, probably a little lost and in need of more of the story.
Thank you storytellers on tour and Tony Johnson for this opportunity.
Blog: https://icanhasbooks.blogspot.com/202...
May 25, 2020
I read this epic fantasy in a matter of days and couldn’t put it down! The action, mystery, and strong characters kept me very engaged and in suspense throughout. The cliff hanger chapter endings kept me reading well past my bedtime. I appreciated that the descriptions of the world, creatures, and characters allowed me to easily imagine the whole story and really enjoy it. I can’t wait to continue the adventure in future installments of the series.
May 29, 2020
Grim Dark Fantasy
War and deadly magic where heroes try to protect the people from dark forces. Wonderful three dimensional characters.
This would have been a five star but for the unnecessary character introductions at the beginning, which I skimmed and almost missed the beginning of chapter one.
War and deadly magic where heroes try to protect the people from dark forces. Wonderful three dimensional characters.
This would have been a five star but for the unnecessary character introductions at the beginning, which I skimmed and almost missed the beginning of chapter one.
July 24, 2020
First, a big thank you to the author,Tony Johnson for sending me a free e-book copy of A Story of Evil, A Hero's Downfall. This was sent in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Second, I'm really tempted to give this book 4 stars. I really enjoyed it, but at the same time there are a couple things holding me back from a full 4 star review. But 3 stars just doesn't feel like enough. I don't want to cheat the book of the things it does really well for the few things that nagged at me. As such I will try and explain them in appropriate detail.
I found the overall story to be very well conceived with fantastic pacing. I saw a few other reviews that stated they couldn't put the book down and I can absolutely see why. I was able to grab onto the characters from the beginning rising and falling with their triumphs and defeats. The chapters were the perfect length. They started where I wanted them to and always ended with me wanting more. I'm really excited to pick up and read the rest of this trilogy.
I loved Steve's dedication to duty and service. He is a great example of the "square-jawed" superhero I have come to enjoy from a lot of stories. He is humble and does the things he does not for love or adoration but because he knows they must be done. And ultimately because he took a vow to do them.
Ty may be my favorite character. I can absolutely put myself in the shoes of the comic relief. But that isn't all that Ty is. He has a big heart and he truly cares. (I was really glad I peeked at the excerpt of book 2 at the end of book 1). He doesn't even realize he is the heart of the companions, but he totally is.
Kari is a great well rounded companion. She perfectly rounds out the trio. She is the balance. She knows when to say enough is enough. She can laugh at Ty's dumb jokes, but also let him know when he's gone too far. At the same time she knows when Steve is just plain over doing it. When his dedication to service is going to risk his or all of their lives. But she knows when to trust his judgement and let him bring up the morale of the group.
I'm really curious to see where Grizz fits into things from here on out (or if he does at all). I honestly found his dark skin a bit unnecessary. I'm still not really sure what purpose that served. Aside from a few passing lines, it didn't seem to really have any affect on him or how people viewed him. It seems to me the same could've been accomplished by people's prejudice of dwarves in general. That said, a party of adventurers just isn't complete without a mysterious, surly dwarf. That said, he was a very well written character. I found myself just as curious about his past as the Serendale warriors asking him about it. To back up to pacing a bit, to know from the beginning that he will never see his family again once he leaves them gave me a stomach knot. I think knowing actually made his discovery of that fact even more impactful.
I'm always impressed with really good world building, and the world of Element is no exception. I think the dual god creations is a really interesting twist on stereotypical fantasy monsters and races. I would like to see a little bit more of the magic system, though. I don't dock the book points for the lack of description there, though, because it does seem to make sense that more will come with that in time. Likely as our trio is introduced to powers...maybe of their own??
And finally for the things that hold this book back from a higher star rating. The writing style in general is very lacking in maturity. I find it really hard to describe, but their is a certain flow that keeps a reader engaged that I found missing here. I often found myself second guessing word choices or the way a sentence was phrased. A few things here or there can be easily overlooked, but this was often enough that it pulled me from the immersion of the story. The only real negative I have from a world building side is the inclusion of seemingly modern things in a historical setting. Obviously, this is a fantasy world and anything can exist. I'm totally fine with that, but there are some things that again cause that pause or questioning that pulled me out of the immersion of the story. The word "parkour" was a really good example.
There were other times where things were over explained. Specifically regarding one or more of the character's feelings or intentions. There is a part where Ty is talking to Kari and he makes a joke about not knowing girls can have personalities because how he has treated his relationships in the past. At that point in the story, I know who Ty is. There have been other references to his fleeting relationships. Ty's statement should end with "Ty joked." Instead it goes on to explain the joke. It's an unnecessary micromanaging of the characters. I found the characters strong enough on their own. They didn't require that kind of micromanagement.
Lastly, I was not a big fan of the characters' internal thoughts. Normally I don't think this would be an issue, but for me it was really jarring. There were some thoughts and feelings that were narrated, as I found are typical in most cases. Whereas other thoughts and feelings were given voice. And some times these were also over explanations of things occurring. In the beginning of the story it made sense to be mostly inner thoughts because the characters were all by themselves dealing with different issues. There wasn't anyone to talk to. As such I can see the first few chapters coming off as kind of dry when your characters don't seem to have a voice. But I expected that to taper off, but it didn't.
A lot of criticism I have here, I think, are signs of an inexperienced writer, not a bad one. This is the first book in a trilogy, and I'm guess Tony Johnson's first book. When I first got into the Dresden Files I saw a lot of criticisms to the writing that people said got better by book 3. I'm really looking forward to reading the remainder of this series to find out if that is the case here. Although, truth be told the story and characters alone would be enough for me to want to pick up the next book.
Second, I'm really tempted to give this book 4 stars. I really enjoyed it, but at the same time there are a couple things holding me back from a full 4 star review. But 3 stars just doesn't feel like enough. I don't want to cheat the book of the things it does really well for the few things that nagged at me. As such I will try and explain them in appropriate detail.
I found the overall story to be very well conceived with fantastic pacing. I saw a few other reviews that stated they couldn't put the book down and I can absolutely see why. I was able to grab onto the characters from the beginning rising and falling with their triumphs and defeats. The chapters were the perfect length. They started where I wanted them to and always ended with me wanting more. I'm really excited to pick up and read the rest of this trilogy.
I loved Steve's dedication to duty and service. He is a great example of the "square-jawed" superhero I have come to enjoy from a lot of stories. He is humble and does the things he does not for love or adoration but because he knows they must be done. And ultimately because he took a vow to do them.
Ty may be my favorite character. I can absolutely put myself in the shoes of the comic relief. But that isn't all that Ty is. He has a big heart and he truly cares. (I was really glad I peeked at the excerpt of book 2 at the end of book 1). He doesn't even realize he is the heart of the companions, but he totally is.
Kari is a great well rounded companion. She perfectly rounds out the trio. She is the balance. She knows when to say enough is enough. She can laugh at Ty's dumb jokes, but also let him know when he's gone too far. At the same time she knows when Steve is just plain over doing it. When his dedication to service is going to risk his or all of their lives. But she knows when to trust his judgement and let him bring up the morale of the group.
I'm really curious to see where Grizz fits into things from here on out (or if he does at all). I honestly found his dark skin a bit unnecessary. I'm still not really sure what purpose that served. Aside from a few passing lines, it didn't seem to really have any affect on him or how people viewed him. It seems to me the same could've been accomplished by people's prejudice of dwarves in general. That said, a party of adventurers just isn't complete without a mysterious, surly dwarf. That said, he was a very well written character. I found myself just as curious about his past as the Serendale warriors asking him about it. To back up to pacing a bit, to know from the beginning that he will never see his family again once he leaves them gave me a stomach knot. I think knowing actually made his discovery of that fact even more impactful.
I'm always impressed with really good world building, and the world of Element is no exception. I think the dual god creations is a really interesting twist on stereotypical fantasy monsters and races. I would like to see a little bit more of the magic system, though. I don't dock the book points for the lack of description there, though, because it does seem to make sense that more will come with that in time. Likely as our trio is introduced to powers...maybe of their own??
And finally for the things that hold this book back from a higher star rating. The writing style in general is very lacking in maturity. I find it really hard to describe, but their is a certain flow that keeps a reader engaged that I found missing here. I often found myself second guessing word choices or the way a sentence was phrased. A few things here or there can be easily overlooked, but this was often enough that it pulled me from the immersion of the story. The only real negative I have from a world building side is the inclusion of seemingly modern things in a historical setting. Obviously, this is a fantasy world and anything can exist. I'm totally fine with that, but there are some things that again cause that pause or questioning that pulled me out of the immersion of the story. The word "parkour" was a really good example.
There were other times where things were over explained. Specifically regarding one or more of the character's feelings or intentions. There is a part where Ty is talking to Kari and he makes a joke about not knowing girls can have personalities because how he has treated his relationships in the past. At that point in the story, I know who Ty is. There have been other references to his fleeting relationships. Ty's statement should end with "Ty joked." Instead it goes on to explain the joke. It's an unnecessary micromanaging of the characters. I found the characters strong enough on their own. They didn't require that kind of micromanagement.
Lastly, I was not a big fan of the characters' internal thoughts. Normally I don't think this would be an issue, but for me it was really jarring. There were some thoughts and feelings that were narrated, as I found are typical in most cases. Whereas other thoughts and feelings were given voice. And some times these were also over explanations of things occurring. In the beginning of the story it made sense to be mostly inner thoughts because the characters were all by themselves dealing with different issues. There wasn't anyone to talk to. As such I can see the first few chapters coming off as kind of dry when your characters don't seem to have a voice. But I expected that to taper off, but it didn't.
A lot of criticism I have here, I think, are signs of an inexperienced writer, not a bad one. This is the first book in a trilogy, and I'm guess Tony Johnson's first book. When I first got into the Dresden Files I saw a lot of criticisms to the writing that people said got better by book 3. I'm really looking forward to reading the remainder of this series to find out if that is the case here. Although, truth be told the story and characters alone would be enough for me to want to pick up the next book.
September 3, 2020
This was definitely a good epic fantasy, and its characters were enjoyable. I did feel that the writing style slightly hindered it, there were a ton of info dumps, making it hard at times to get into the story. Those info dumps did contribute to the excellent world building this story contained, so I guess it's an even trade. I also found myself picking at the way certain sentences were structured, or the words that were used. That's on me though, everyone has their own style of writing.
Despite my slight issues with the writing style, I really connected to all of the characters. Grizz and Ty were my personal favorites, but I liked all of them. Kari and Steve did have a bit of an insta-love relationship, but that was really only at the beginning, and it wasn't forced on us. I think Johnson did a good job of writing his villain, he really drew you in and made you anxious to know more.
While not necessarily a problem, this author enjoys breaking his readers' hearts. I can't even count how many characters were killed off in this book. Over the course of the book, I realized that Johnson isn't the normal fantasy author who dances around death, and is constantly adding random miracles to save characters. The few characters in this who are "revived" have valid reasons, and their resurrection made sense to the story.
My expectations for this book were totally wrong, but I did enjoy watching them break. I shouldn't have expected a story of rebellion due to the title, like it literally says "A Hero's Downfall." Stupidly, I kept expecting our characters to win a battle, or even achieve their goals. This never happened though, this entire book was setting up for the eventual rebellion I expect to see. Because of the constant failure of plans, this book was action packed, and the pacing was set up well. I'll most likely be looking into reading the next books, just to see if all of the characters make it out alive.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Despite my slight issues with the writing style, I really connected to all of the characters. Grizz and Ty were my personal favorites, but I liked all of them. Kari and Steve did have a bit of an insta-love relationship, but that was really only at the beginning, and it wasn't forced on us. I think Johnson did a good job of writing his villain, he really drew you in and made you anxious to know more.
While not necessarily a problem, this author enjoys breaking his readers' hearts. I can't even count how many characters were killed off in this book. Over the course of the book, I realized that Johnson isn't the normal fantasy author who dances around death, and is constantly adding random miracles to save characters. The few characters in this who are "revived" have valid reasons, and their resurrection made sense to the story.
My expectations for this book were totally wrong, but I did enjoy watching them break. I shouldn't have expected a story of rebellion due to the title, like it literally says "A Hero's Downfall." Stupidly, I kept expecting our characters to win a battle, or even achieve their goals. This never happened though, this entire book was setting up for the eventual rebellion I expect to see. Because of the constant failure of plans, this book was action packed, and the pacing was set up well. I'll most likely be looking into reading the next books, just to see if all of the characters make it out alive.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2020
The Story of Evil - A Hero's Downfall is an immersive story about four warriors with different and dark backgrounds, who embark on a quest to save the rest of the kingdom from further damage after an attack from an unknown villain with a monster army.
Straight away, I was drawn into the world and invested in the characters. Johnson made every emotion the characters were feeling very real, and you could sense the terror and sadness the warriors felt. The journey to the other parts of the kingdom were long, and Johnson makes you feel tired and worn down as the characters do.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and will definitely be reading the next books in the series. It was easy to read and, throughout most of the book, I couldn't put it down!
Straight away, I was drawn into the world and invested in the characters. Johnson made every emotion the characters were feeling very real, and you could sense the terror and sadness the warriors felt. The journey to the other parts of the kingdom were long, and Johnson makes you feel tired and worn down as the characters do.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and will definitely be reading the next books in the series. It was easy to read and, throughout most of the book, I couldn't put it down!
June 23, 2020
I picked up this book because I enjoy a good fantasy story. Sadly this wasn’t it. Although the synopsis sounded interesting, there was nothing in the first few chapters that made me want to continue reading. It was unfortunately bland and had several items, such as barbecue sauce, that seemed out of place in the medieval fantasy context of the book. I have heard that the writing becomes more enjoyable later on, but it wasn’t able to hold my attention long enough to get to that point.
I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Reader Only in exchange for my honest review.
I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Reader Only in exchange for my honest review.
August 23, 2020
If you are someone who has never read fantasy and looking for a great book to read to see if it's a genre you'll enjoy, this is that book.
It was an absolute delight. I was hooked right away by the action-packed, fast moving story. Also, can I just say how refreshing it was to read a fantasy where one of the main characters was named Steve?
The magic system was so neat - if you had magic, you were able to manipulate one to two of the five elements. There are a rare few beings who possessed all five.
I enjoyed that the humanoid races were said to be created by one god, while the monsters (orcs, gryphons, dragons, direfoxes and such) were created by the other.
I appreciated that it wasn't a farmboy trope (even though I love farmboy tropes) Our main characters are older teenagers who have already attained the rank of warrior status - the story picks up during the annual jousting tournament.
There is a lot of mystery, intrigue and death. I have come to believe fantasy authors kill more people than horror authors do! I had my heartbroken no less than three times by Chapter 4 - so that is an example of how well written the characters are written for me to form an attachment to them to so quickly and feel the pain of loss.
I thoroughly enjoyed this page turner - I can't wait to see what happens next!
As a side note, the cover art is freaking amazing, as well as the quality of the book - the pages were a nice, smooth quality with a thickness that just feels good to the touch.
It was an absolute delight. I was hooked right away by the action-packed, fast moving story. Also, can I just say how refreshing it was to read a fantasy where one of the main characters was named Steve?
The magic system was so neat - if you had magic, you were able to manipulate one to two of the five elements. There are a rare few beings who possessed all five.
I enjoyed that the humanoid races were said to be created by one god, while the monsters (orcs, gryphons, dragons, direfoxes and such) were created by the other.
I appreciated that it wasn't a farmboy trope (even though I love farmboy tropes) Our main characters are older teenagers who have already attained the rank of warrior status - the story picks up during the annual jousting tournament.
There is a lot of mystery, intrigue and death. I have come to believe fantasy authors kill more people than horror authors do! I had my heartbroken no less than three times by Chapter 4 - so that is an example of how well written the characters are written for me to form an attachment to them to so quickly and feel the pain of loss.
I thoroughly enjoyed this page turner - I can't wait to see what happens next!
As a side note, the cover art is freaking amazing, as well as the quality of the book - the pages were a nice, smooth quality with a thickness that just feels good to the touch.
May 20, 2020
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only. I really enjoyed this book. It is epic fantasy at it's most epic, with an extremely strong and organised enemy, lots and lots of violence, destruction and death. There are also some very interesting main characters with good character development. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
June 5, 2020
A powerful sword and sorcery epic fantasy novel, the first book in a trilogy whereby we witness the downfall of Celestial, the death of the heroic and beloved King Oliver Zoran to the hands of the evil Hooded Phantom and Prince Silas Zoran, who seem to be working together to bring down the Kingdom of Element. Celestial was the main city in a Kingdom of peace, where people helped one another and looked out for each other, they were the children created by the God of Light Alazar, and all of his four races lived and worked together however, now they were attacked by the creatures of the dark Lord Zebulon, his anthropomorphic as well as his animal monsters who intended to bring the whole Kingdom under their rule. Witnessing these deaths were three young heroes, Stephen Brightflame the heroic champion jouster from the tournaments, his half brother the elf Ty and Kari Quinn an archer and also the daughter of a warrior. All three young people were orphans and had no family left to mention, and all vowed to get revenge on the Shadow traitorous Prince and the hooded phantom who rode the obsidian scaled dragon known as Nightstriker. This fearsome dragon was the son of Draviakhan, the legendary dragon supposedly killed by King Zoran. They travelled across the land to give warning of what was to be expected to other towns and villages but the amount of monsters they had to face took the companions our heroes picked on the way out one by one. I really enjoyed reading this very gripping grimdark tale with monsters such as orcs, ogres, gryphons, phoenixes and all kinds of dire monsters following the orders of the faceless one. It is a very gripping and sad tale but hopefully our courageous hero Stephen Brightflame will save his world from the darkness invading it with Kari by his side as the fight between light and dark forces escalates. I cannot wait to read the next book in the trilogy.
April 2, 2021
2.5 Stars
This is the story of Stephen Brightflame the champion jouster, his adopted brother Ty, the elven aerial warrior, and Kari the half-elf archer. Follow them as they battle anthropomorphic creatures, giant spiders, orcs, and minotaurs who are in service of the elemental wielding Hooded Phantom and his obsidian scales dragon, Nightstriker. Being betrayed by their own Prince, Silas Zoran, who is in league with the Hooded Phantom, they embark on an whirlwind adventure to save the world they know.
The actual prose are good, but the story feels like the author did too much, especially in terms of wanting to have tons of creatures and a go, go, go story. I would have like to see less going on and more story and character development. As a reader I was placed in the characters thoughts but it either didn't feel necessary (e.g., an MC put his hair back to ride on a griffon and we are told so it doesn't get in his face) or it would actually pull me out of the story. There were moments that, for me, were not logical or just seemed too far fetched to really have the heroes pull off the moment (e.g., two MCs riding on a horse with total choas going on around, one shotting a bow, and just wiping out monsters). Also, references to modern day, not medieval, things like umbrellas and foster brother just yanked me out of the story. I think there is wonderful potential here if the author can work on some of these snags. It is action packed and moves well.
This is the story of Stephen Brightflame the champion jouster, his adopted brother Ty, the elven aerial warrior, and Kari the half-elf archer. Follow them as they battle anthropomorphic creatures, giant spiders, orcs, and minotaurs who are in service of the elemental wielding Hooded Phantom and his obsidian scales dragon, Nightstriker. Being betrayed by their own Prince, Silas Zoran, who is in league with the Hooded Phantom, they embark on an whirlwind adventure to save the world they know.
The actual prose are good, but the story feels like the author did too much, especially in terms of wanting to have tons of creatures and a go, go, go story. I would have like to see less going on and more story and character development. As a reader I was placed in the characters thoughts but it either didn't feel necessary (e.g., an MC put his hair back to ride on a griffon and we are told so it doesn't get in his face) or it would actually pull me out of the story. There were moments that, for me, were not logical or just seemed too far fetched to really have the heroes pull off the moment (e.g., two MCs riding on a horse with total choas going on around, one shotting a bow, and just wiping out monsters). Also, references to modern day, not medieval, things like umbrellas and foster brother just yanked me out of the story. I think there is wonderful potential here if the author can work on some of these snags. It is action packed and moves well.
June 26, 2020
Disclaimer: I was provided of copy of this novel by the author.
This novel had an interesting premise set in a fantasy world where creatures were created by two different Gods, where the creations of one of the gods are imbued with mythical powers. The creatures of nightmares are born from the dark God with the high chance of having other worldly powers. The underdogs of this story are the humans, dwarfs and giants who band together against these nightmarish creations with no powers of their own. These underpowered creatures of the light only contain a select few denizens whom have powers. One would think that the dark creatures with their powers would easily overpower the light denizens, but thankfully the monsters hardly ever band together....Unfortunately for our heroes, the monsters do begin to rally beyond a common banner, which spells trouble and destruction for our heroes.
There were some flaws in the writing that are hopefully remedied in further development of this story line. This series was also recently condensed into three parts which may be the cause of this. Unfortunately, this review is on the condensed version so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt but still delve forth into my issues.
Lack of character and kingdom exposition. The first several chapters lacked the much needed character exposition. The story starts in a cheerful setting and then takes a turn for the worse. The reader is detached from the characters at this point. There is no emotional attachment to them as of yet since we don't even know them. This leads to a lack of interest in the trials and tribulations of the main characters because we have no investment in them. The same goes for the kingdom that is decimated at the start. We haven't been fed any background or events leading up to the tournament so we can solidly invest in the story as the dramatic event unfolds. It does get better in the third chapter as we are given some much needed character background on our heroine so we can feel moved by them and what they are going through. Exposition helps define the character so we can know their faults and strengths so when they fail, it hits the reader harder. The start of this novel suffers from this, but it does it better as the story continues.
Time skipping. This may have been caused by the recent condensing of the series but I have only read this condensed version. There are a lot of points in the story where the characters start to move to a new location and in the next sentence, they arrive at their destination. There are so many time skips that could have been utilized to add extra character development or description of the areas around the hero's so we can visualize the setting. I enjoy a descriptive environment because it makes the setting more immersive so I can find myself engrossed in the story as if I am actually there.
Besides these issues, the story shows promise and I look forward to continuing on this journey to see how it progresses.
This novel had an interesting premise set in a fantasy world where creatures were created by two different Gods, where the creations of one of the gods are imbued with mythical powers. The creatures of nightmares are born from the dark God with the high chance of having other worldly powers. The underdogs of this story are the humans, dwarfs and giants who band together against these nightmarish creations with no powers of their own. These underpowered creatures of the light only contain a select few denizens whom have powers. One would think that the dark creatures with their powers would easily overpower the light denizens, but thankfully the monsters hardly ever band together....Unfortunately for our heroes, the monsters do begin to rally beyond a common banner, which spells trouble and destruction for our heroes.
There were some flaws in the writing that are hopefully remedied in further development of this story line. This series was also recently condensed into three parts which may be the cause of this. Unfortunately, this review is on the condensed version so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt but still delve forth into my issues.
Lack of character and kingdom exposition. The first several chapters lacked the much needed character exposition. The story starts in a cheerful setting and then takes a turn for the worse. The reader is detached from the characters at this point. There is no emotional attachment to them as of yet since we don't even know them. This leads to a lack of interest in the trials and tribulations of the main characters because we have no investment in them. The same goes for the kingdom that is decimated at the start. We haven't been fed any background or events leading up to the tournament so we can solidly invest in the story as the dramatic event unfolds. It does get better in the third chapter as we are given some much needed character background on our heroine so we can feel moved by them and what they are going through. Exposition helps define the character so we can know their faults and strengths so when they fail, it hits the reader harder. The start of this novel suffers from this, but it does it better as the story continues.
Time skipping. This may have been caused by the recent condensing of the series but I have only read this condensed version. There are a lot of points in the story where the characters start to move to a new location and in the next sentence, they arrive at their destination. There are so many time skips that could have been utilized to add extra character development or description of the areas around the hero's so we can visualize the setting. I enjoy a descriptive environment because it makes the setting more immersive so I can find myself engrossed in the story as if I am actually there.
Besides these issues, the story shows promise and I look forward to continuing on this journey to see how it progresses.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2020
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The Story of Evil: A Hero's Downfall is a wonderful work of sword and sorcery fiction! This series has been re-edited and combined into a trilogy for release in 2020! Another epic fantasy novel that draws you in from page 1 and doesn't let you go until the very end! There is a cast of characters the reader meets in the beginning, humans, elves, halflings, dwarves, and a dragon among others! It can be challenging to keep up with all of the characters, but Tony Johnson really keeps it all together in a great way! I never felt lost in the names and always felt like I knew where I was within the story and the world of the story.
A note about names. I love the names in this book! First, Stephen Brightflame goes by Steve. Which I find a bit comical, but also very fitting! It's a simplistic name for a decidedly non-simplistic character! Steve is funny, interesting, and oh so full of life! Also, Clyx? I love it! A horse sort of side-kick with an amazing name? Here for it! Kari is another great character, along with Ty! There are many more characters in this book, but I would encourage you to read it to find out more! Your favorite character might be someone else! Could it be Cassandra? Titus? Or Nightstrike himself?
The pacing of this book is fast! From start to finish, I was hooked! It's rare for me to have a truly, "couldn't put it down" experience. I had one with this novel! Tony is a talented writer who knows how to weave background information into plot. I didn't feel like I had information dumped on me at any point in the book! I can see the elements of high fantasy in this book and the influences from more modern high fantasy writers! It's a thrill ride of swords, magic, dragons, griffins, kings, elements, orphans, and action! All the elements of fantasy that I love out of a book in this genre!
Another great book on tour with Storyteller's on Tour! Thank you to the SoT team and Tony Johnson for the opportunity to read and review this book! It's on my recommendation list for epic fantasy novels and I'll certainly be looking forward to the next chapter in this series!
The Story of Evil: A Hero's Downfall is a wonderful work of sword and sorcery fiction! This series has been re-edited and combined into a trilogy for release in 2020! Another epic fantasy novel that draws you in from page 1 and doesn't let you go until the very end! There is a cast of characters the reader meets in the beginning, humans, elves, halflings, dwarves, and a dragon among others! It can be challenging to keep up with all of the characters, but Tony Johnson really keeps it all together in a great way! I never felt lost in the names and always felt like I knew where I was within the story and the world of the story.
A note about names. I love the names in this book! First, Stephen Brightflame goes by Steve. Which I find a bit comical, but also very fitting! It's a simplistic name for a decidedly non-simplistic character! Steve is funny, interesting, and oh so full of life! Also, Clyx? I love it! A horse sort of side-kick with an amazing name? Here for it! Kari is another great character, along with Ty! There are many more characters in this book, but I would encourage you to read it to find out more! Your favorite character might be someone else! Could it be Cassandra? Titus? Or Nightstrike himself?
The pacing of this book is fast! From start to finish, I was hooked! It's rare for me to have a truly, "couldn't put it down" experience. I had one with this novel! Tony is a talented writer who knows how to weave background information into plot. I didn't feel like I had information dumped on me at any point in the book! I can see the elements of high fantasy in this book and the influences from more modern high fantasy writers! It's a thrill ride of swords, magic, dragons, griffins, kings, elements, orphans, and action! All the elements of fantasy that I love out of a book in this genre!
Another great book on tour with Storyteller's on Tour! Thank you to the SoT team and Tony Johnson for the opportunity to read and review this book! It's on my recommendation list for epic fantasy novels and I'll certainly be looking forward to the next chapter in this series!
December 1, 2020
Okay, so I just picked this one up where it left off from the first book in the series. Here is a review for both book.
This book contains the first and second books in the Story of Evil. The first half of this one is about the good people of Celestial being attacked by a massive army of monsters who are following the Hooded Phantom. Steve, Ty, and Kari each have run-ins with monsters and other people. They each are doing their best to survive and help others in their search for escape. Ty and Kari escape being hurt too badly but Steve ends up in a fight with the Phantom himself and is then tortured to near death. Silas is the prince and has revealed himself as a traitor. Since Steve embarrassed him, Silas is using Steve as an example of what happens to those who resist his right to rule over all people and monsters. He believes if he kills Steve in front of everyone that they will lose all hope of fighting back or being saved. Ty and Kari manage to save Steve from the hangman and work their way out of Celestial.
The second half of the book continues the fight for survival from the destruction of Celestial. Steve, Ty, and Kari continue to fight their way free from Celestial in the hopes that they can warn other cities before they too are overrun by monsters. As they fight their way out, they start to feel helpless. They manage to come up with escape plans on the fly, only to have to keep changing them as they go. There is an endless number of monsters after them. They finally escape Celestial only to be chased by more monsters and the dragon Nighttrike. Even though the monsters are more organized then they have ever been they still fight over everything, which gives Ty, Steve, and Kari a better chance to escape. Ty knows that Steve is severely hurt but can't make him stop long enough to check the injuries. Steve is determined to make it to Serendale to get help to get the word out about what happened in Celestial. Is he pushing himself past his limits? Can they avoid even more attacks? Is there a safe place to go?
This book is not for those who expect happy ending, it is the story of evil after all.
This book contains the first and second books in the Story of Evil. The first half of this one is about the good people of Celestial being attacked by a massive army of monsters who are following the Hooded Phantom. Steve, Ty, and Kari each have run-ins with monsters and other people. They each are doing their best to survive and help others in their search for escape. Ty and Kari escape being hurt too badly but Steve ends up in a fight with the Phantom himself and is then tortured to near death. Silas is the prince and has revealed himself as a traitor. Since Steve embarrassed him, Silas is using Steve as an example of what happens to those who resist his right to rule over all people and monsters. He believes if he kills Steve in front of everyone that they will lose all hope of fighting back or being saved. Ty and Kari manage to save Steve from the hangman and work their way out of Celestial.
The second half of the book continues the fight for survival from the destruction of Celestial. Steve, Ty, and Kari continue to fight their way free from Celestial in the hopes that they can warn other cities before they too are overrun by monsters. As they fight their way out, they start to feel helpless. They manage to come up with escape plans on the fly, only to have to keep changing them as they go. There is an endless number of monsters after them. They finally escape Celestial only to be chased by more monsters and the dragon Nighttrike. Even though the monsters are more organized then they have ever been they still fight over everything, which gives Ty, Steve, and Kari a better chance to escape. Ty knows that Steve is severely hurt but can't make him stop long enough to check the injuries. Steve is determined to make it to Serendale to get help to get the word out about what happened in Celestial. Is he pushing himself past his limits? Can they avoid even more attacks? Is there a safe place to go?
This book is not for those who expect happy ending, it is the story of evil after all.
July 24, 2020
In the classical fantasy style world building, the author Tony Johnson has written a solid epic fantasy. Faced paced action filled, along with magical atmospheric world building to satisfy any fantasy reader.
The Story of Evil A Hero’s Downfall ” by Tony Johnson @mightytonyj is the first book in this fantastical epic adventure trilogy.
The book catapults you right into the riveting world of Element. Our three young heroes witness a devastating orchestrated attack during a jousting tournament in Celestial. Along with catastrophic losses of man and beast, King Zoran of Celestial is also slain. Stephen Brightflame is a heroic champion jouster from the tournaments, along with his half brother the elf Ty and Kari Quinn an archer who is the daughter of a warrior.
The traitorous son of the dead king, King Zoran, Prince Silvanus steps in and does the unthinkable by handing over the over the fallen city to the Hooded Phantom and his treacherous dragon Nightstrike. The betrayal of the prince earns himself the name “ “Shadow Prince”.
The young night Stephen Brightflame takes a stance against Prince Silvanus, he is earned a death sentence. Freed with the help of his friends they bond together and set about a treacherous journey to warn all of the upcoming attacks by creatures of the dark Lord Zebulon.
A stunningly satisfying book, I cannot quite say just how impossibly good this is, from the first page I was completely immersed, I flew through the pages at lighting speed. It is an addictive, dramatic and gripping fantasy tale. Filled with fleshed out memorable characters, that I enjoyed following. Great dialogue within wonderful banter. The author descriptive narration of the emotions the main protagonist felt, was truly remarkable and incredible. The sub characters are notable and diverse array of fantastic creatures really adds to the enjoyment of this compelling read.
I am excited to read the next installment in this epic fantasy series by this wonderful author.
The Story of Evil A Hero’s Downfall ” by Tony Johnson @mightytonyj is the first book in this fantastical epic adventure trilogy.
The book catapults you right into the riveting world of Element. Our three young heroes witness a devastating orchestrated attack during a jousting tournament in Celestial. Along with catastrophic losses of man and beast, King Zoran of Celestial is also slain. Stephen Brightflame is a heroic champion jouster from the tournaments, along with his half brother the elf Ty and Kari Quinn an archer who is the daughter of a warrior.
The traitorous son of the dead king, King Zoran, Prince Silvanus steps in and does the unthinkable by handing over the over the fallen city to the Hooded Phantom and his treacherous dragon Nightstrike. The betrayal of the prince earns himself the name “ “Shadow Prince”.
The young night Stephen Brightflame takes a stance against Prince Silvanus, he is earned a death sentence. Freed with the help of his friends they bond together and set about a treacherous journey to warn all of the upcoming attacks by creatures of the dark Lord Zebulon.
A stunningly satisfying book, I cannot quite say just how impossibly good this is, from the first page I was completely immersed, I flew through the pages at lighting speed. It is an addictive, dramatic and gripping fantasy tale. Filled with fleshed out memorable characters, that I enjoyed following. Great dialogue within wonderful banter. The author descriptive narration of the emotions the main protagonist felt, was truly remarkable and incredible. The sub characters are notable and diverse array of fantastic creatures really adds to the enjoyment of this compelling read.
I am excited to read the next installment in this epic fantasy series by this wonderful author.
July 22, 2020
TAG: The Story of Evil: A Hero’s Downfall, Fantasy by Tony Johnson
Review:
Characters: 6/10
I wouldn’t describe the main characters as particularly complex or root-worthy, but I definitely enjoyed how Steve, Ty, Kari, and Grizz were characterized and, in Steve’s case, developed, though Kari does come off to me as a token character. In the big picture, the characters, both major and minor, were interesting enough to follow, and interactions between them really helped to increase the drama and tension.
Plot: 7/10
To me, the story sort of lacked a central driving force, as the characters spent the story just...traveling. Granted, there’s a ton of high-stakes action involved, and it soon goes into the story of a fourth character named Grizz. There were definitely moments where I found myself at the edge of my seat, but there were other moments, especially at the beginning, where pacing was slow because of the abundance of non-dramatized info dumps and I felt reading it was a chore.
Worldbuilding: 9/10
I really liked the world this story is set in! The large-scale features described in A Hero’s Downfall as well as the small details weaved in were unlike anything I had read before! Johnson’s worldbuilding in his story is clever and unique, and I can’t wait to see how he expands on it in the next volume!
Overall, I definitely found myself enjoying this book, and the next one is already on by TBR. A Hero’s Downfall is slow (the same story could be told with half the words) and its characters and plot seem to lack that “WOW!” factor, but this book is worth your while! Definitely for you if you’re a fan of medieval fantasy, non-happy endings, and epic villains!
I received this book from Voracious Readers Only.
*This book contains heavy, graphic violence and peril, including a suicide.
Review:
Characters: 6/10
I wouldn’t describe the main characters as particularly complex or root-worthy, but I definitely enjoyed how Steve, Ty, Kari, and Grizz were characterized and, in Steve’s case, developed, though Kari does come off to me as a token character. In the big picture, the characters, both major and minor, were interesting enough to follow, and interactions between them really helped to increase the drama and tension.
Plot: 7/10
To me, the story sort of lacked a central driving force, as the characters spent the story just...traveling. Granted, there’s a ton of high-stakes action involved, and it soon goes into the story of a fourth character named Grizz. There were definitely moments where I found myself at the edge of my seat, but there were other moments, especially at the beginning, where pacing was slow because of the abundance of non-dramatized info dumps and I felt reading it was a chore.
Worldbuilding: 9/10
I really liked the world this story is set in! The large-scale features described in A Hero’s Downfall as well as the small details weaved in were unlike anything I had read before! Johnson’s worldbuilding in his story is clever and unique, and I can’t wait to see how he expands on it in the next volume!
Overall, I definitely found myself enjoying this book, and the next one is already on by TBR. A Hero’s Downfall is slow (the same story could be told with half the words) and its characters and plot seem to lack that “WOW!” factor, but this book is worth your while! Definitely for you if you’re a fan of medieval fantasy, non-happy endings, and epic villains!
I received this book from Voracious Readers Only.
*This book contains heavy, graphic violence and peril, including a suicide.
July 24, 2020
This was one of the most emotional and heartbreaking stories I’ve ever read. It is traditional fantasy, and while it takes the tropes of fantasy and grapples it side by side, man. The story really gets moving at the later paces of the novel and this is a good thing. I’m filled with sadness writing this. The writing was good, but many places could have been improved. Some parts did drag within the story, and I felt a shorter tightening would have been better. It is because of one tournament that everything goes up side down. And Grizz was my favorite character. Poor Griz.
It is impossible for me to summarise this story’s plot – because its a story full of revenge and loss, horror and hope. There are so many secrets in this novel you’ll be surprised. The world building is excellent and I can hopefully tell, that the author has spent his time playing World of World of Warcraft, Guild Wars II and ESO/Skyrim. There’s a lot of influences from that. I really enjoyed all the characters in this except the arrogant crown prince and his father. The novel itself is really a set up of what is to come.
I loved Ty so much, and I felt that Kari was a good character but I wanted to see more of her developing her own personality as opposed to being juxtaposed between Steve and Ty. There are tales of heartbreak, tales of love, fighting monsters and there’s the brave resistance, the hope that you’ll fight back against over-whelming evil. And in a way, it represents the nature of warfare itself. Young people dying for nothing but for the whims of old generals. I suspect there’s a lot more to this world.
Its a very big novel, and all I will say is, go read this. You won’t regret a single moment. Its a massive collection of a story and I want to see what happens in the next novel!
It is impossible for me to summarise this story’s plot – because its a story full of revenge and loss, horror and hope. There are so many secrets in this novel you’ll be surprised. The world building is excellent and I can hopefully tell, that the author has spent his time playing World of World of Warcraft, Guild Wars II and ESO/Skyrim. There’s a lot of influences from that. I really enjoyed all the characters in this except the arrogant crown prince and his father. The novel itself is really a set up of what is to come.
I loved Ty so much, and I felt that Kari was a good character but I wanted to see more of her developing her own personality as opposed to being juxtaposed between Steve and Ty. There are tales of heartbreak, tales of love, fighting monsters and there’s the brave resistance, the hope that you’ll fight back against over-whelming evil. And in a way, it represents the nature of warfare itself. Young people dying for nothing but for the whims of old generals. I suspect there’s a lot more to this world.
Its a very big novel, and all I will say is, go read this. You won’t regret a single moment. Its a massive collection of a story and I want to see what happens in the next novel!
July 2, 2020
"The Story of Evil A Hero's Downfall " by Tony Johnson is the first book in this fantastical, epic adventure trilogy.
We are introduced to a main cast of characters from humans, elves, and a dragon. Usually, a novel such as this, with numerous characters, it is challenging to keep track and follow along until we get further in the story. I appreciate being provided a bio to help keep the characters straight, and am able to reference back.
As we go further along, we meet more engaging supporting characters such as dwarves, giants, and many humongous grotesque monsters, and creatures.
There is non-stop suspense, action, and excitement that is palpable and is carried throughout the novel. The reader is kept on edge with how Tony Johnson describes and captures everything that is happening to where we can imagine his vision. It is hard to put the book down as the warriors battle obstacles after another, as we anticipate whether our group of warriors, survivors and main characters; Steve, Kari, and Ty are able to conquer evil under insurmountable odds. These characters have lost so much, experienced so much pain, heartache, seen so much devastation that we hope they can overcome them to avenge their loved ones, the destruction of their cities, and destroy the Hooded Phantom and subvert his evil machination to dominate the world by using monsters.
I cannot wait to read the next installment in the series.
Thank you Tony Johnson for providing a free e-book copy to review.
We are introduced to a main cast of characters from humans, elves, and a dragon. Usually, a novel such as this, with numerous characters, it is challenging to keep track and follow along until we get further in the story. I appreciate being provided a bio to help keep the characters straight, and am able to reference back.
As we go further along, we meet more engaging supporting characters such as dwarves, giants, and many humongous grotesque monsters, and creatures.
There is non-stop suspense, action, and excitement that is palpable and is carried throughout the novel. The reader is kept on edge with how Tony Johnson describes and captures everything that is happening to where we can imagine his vision. It is hard to put the book down as the warriors battle obstacles after another, as we anticipate whether our group of warriors, survivors and main characters; Steve, Kari, and Ty are able to conquer evil under insurmountable odds. These characters have lost so much, experienced so much pain, heartache, seen so much devastation that we hope they can overcome them to avenge their loved ones, the destruction of their cities, and destroy the Hooded Phantom and subvert his evil machination to dominate the world by using monsters.
I cannot wait to read the next installment in the series.
Thank you Tony Johnson for providing a free e-book copy to review.
August 18, 2020
I really liked this book because it did not waste time getting to the action and was packed full of excitement from the start to the end. It really leaves you wanting to read more as it does not really have a break. Tony Johnson while having the endless excitement was able to portray the world of Element well and give the reader a sense of the world past and present. There was a black flash or two that seemed awkward in their sudden lack of excitement, in particular when the history of the sword Brightflame was explained. Maybe it was a bit too long but the story just seemed to take a sudden stop where it didn't seem all too natural. There were some heavy coincidences that at first were hard to stomach but I can understand how they need to be what they were. Negatives aside, it was wonderful. I quickly became fully immersed in the lives and well being of Tony's characters. The story was gruesome and heartbreaking but I could not put it down. Also, the strong bond of knighthood and how much each individual of the town cares and he's each other is heartwarming in an otherwise terrifying first book.
June 14, 2020
First, a big thank you to the author,Tony Johnson for sending me a free e-book copy of A Story of Evil, A Hero's Downfall. This was sent in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Ok, so, it is fast pace. I did feel like it might have been a little too fast paced. I saw the description for this book stated that it was originally multiple books and this year they have condensed them down to a trilogy. I hope nothing was lost from the original prints. Despite the pacing and some agitating character traits, it is enjoyable, and I am curious to see what happens next.
I really donot want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't read this, so I will say for trigger warnings, there is a suicide and while I understand why the character did it, it angered me so much, because I liked him alot and would have loved more from him. There is a lot of violence and death as it action packed.
Ok, so, it is fast pace. I did feel like it might have been a little too fast paced. I saw the description for this book stated that it was originally multiple books and this year they have condensed them down to a trilogy. I hope nothing was lost from the original prints. Despite the pacing and some agitating character traits, it is enjoyable, and I am curious to see what happens next.
I really donot want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't read this, so I will say for trigger warnings, there is a suicide and while I understand why the character did it, it angered me so much, because I liked him alot and would have loved more from him. There is a lot of violence and death as it action packed.
September 1, 2020
So sadly this was a dnf for me. It sounded good and the writing was a little simple but it seemed to be getting somewhere but I was so annoyed at the way the chapters were written, I made it 26% and there were three main characters who had their own chapters from their povs... And they overlapped each other which I just found it really annoying as it was just being repeated, and rhere wasn't a whole lot of difference between the povs.
It was also a little heavy on the details and background scenes which weren’t really necessary, like the mc getting into sword making was a big part of one whole chapter and honestly I skipped it because i don’t need to know that.
Mostly i dnfed it because I felt like I’d read sooo much and yet I was only at 26% and I just didn’t like it enough to finish, I have other arcs I need to read and books from Kindle Unlimited that I’m more interested in 😊
It was also a little heavy on the details and background scenes which weren’t really necessary, like the mc getting into sword making was a big part of one whole chapter and honestly I skipped it because i don’t need to know that.
Mostly i dnfed it because I felt like I’d read sooo much and yet I was only at 26% and I just didn’t like it enough to finish, I have other arcs I need to read and books from Kindle Unlimited that I’m more interested in 😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2020
The first thing to note is that this is a release (reedit, repacking) of the author's original series. This contains books 1 and 2 of the first series. I note this as it confused me on Amazon.
Now, that said, this is an epic fantasy story with lots of action, battles, heroic actions, betrayal, etc. All the elements you expect from a good fantasy story are here. The world is well developed and populated with interested beasties, cunning races, good guys and bad guys. The characters are also well done and nicely detailed, forming the core of our story and keeping us grounded in the story. There is a lot going on here, but it moves along at a good pace and definitely kept my attention. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and look forward to reading the next book once it is re-released.
Highly recommended.
I received an ARC from Hidden Gems for review purposes.
Now, that said, this is an epic fantasy story with lots of action, battles, heroic actions, betrayal, etc. All the elements you expect from a good fantasy story are here. The world is well developed and populated with interested beasties, cunning races, good guys and bad guys. The characters are also well done and nicely detailed, forming the core of our story and keeping us grounded in the story. There is a lot going on here, but it moves along at a good pace and definitely kept my attention. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and look forward to reading the next book once it is re-released.
Highly recommended.
I received an ARC from Hidden Gems for review purposes.
June 11, 2020
Hold on to your hats, ladies and gents - once this story starts, there is no stopping it! There are three main characters in this story, as well as several supporting characters along the way. Steve, Ty, and Kari are all very real and personable actors in this epic fantasy novel. The sights, sounds, and smells of the insane battle and the aftermath the three are thrown together in truly come to life from each of their viewpoints. This is not a lighthearted read, but a well-written and fast paced one that will keep you concerned for the heroes until the last chapter, and then desperate to know what happens next.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only*
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only*
June 23, 2020
Okay this is a bit of a special one for me in that someone trusts my reviews enough to ask me to read it and review.
I honestly really did enjoy the story in this book and I am hooked into what will come into light in the second one. When I got reading I didn't want to put it down as the mythological creatures in this book are a plenty and it doesn't feel like they clash at all for me. The banter between the characters is always something I like because the characters feel more real and relatable. My honest only flaw is that the narrative doesn't quite change enough for each character point but the characters are very strong that it's not a big deal
I honestly really did enjoy the story in this book and I am hooked into what will come into light in the second one. When I got reading I didn't want to put it down as the mythological creatures in this book are a plenty and it doesn't feel like they clash at all for me. The banter between the characters is always something I like because the characters feel more real and relatable. My honest only flaw is that the narrative doesn't quite change enough for each character point but the characters are very strong that it's not a big deal
July 20, 2020
Great story with lots of action, fighting, and bloodshed. Starts out with a scene in a coliseum, some kind of games and gladiator type fighting, then monsters attack and all hell brakes loose. Reminds me somewhat of Race The Sands, since they are racing monsters, Griffons and other beast. Except in this story the monsters are not under control of trainers, they are just wild beast killing for fun or food. This had some very warm loving moments, but also a great shock value. Very graphic, I like that.
All opinions are solely my own and have no ill intent towards the author, publisher, or promoters of this book.
All opinions are solely my own and have no ill intent towards the author, publisher, or promoters of this book.
May 31, 2020
The setting and premise of the story were interesting and full of promise, and even the events in the story were well-written and full of twists and turns. However, the characters were not engaging and felt one-dimenstional, making it difficult to care when they were in danger. The heavy amount of flashbacks and backstory throughout the story bogged down the narrative. Overall it was a good read, but was lacking in several different areas that kept it from being great.
I received a compimentary copy of this work through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest opinion.
I received a compimentary copy of this work through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 26, 2020
I was sent this free through Voracious Readers. While this is a typical bad v good story and similar to 'Lord of the Rings' etc. I did enjoy the fact that the characters were very human. They had petty moments, became depressed, expected too much of themselves and so on. They were more three dimensional that many books of this genre. Naturally they also got away from situations they should have died in but this is not 'Game of Thrones'. Look forward to seeing the sequel.
June 5, 2020
I received the PDF version free from the author in return for an honest review.
I really liked the characters Ty, Kari and Steve. I was a bit confused by the addition of electricity as an element but after seeing it used in battle it made more sense. I liked the dialogue and fight scenes along with the passion and perseverance of the main characters.
I'd recommend this to people who liked the Dragonlance books or books in that genre.
I really liked the characters Ty, Kari and Steve. I was a bit confused by the addition of electricity as an element but after seeing it used in battle it made more sense. I liked the dialogue and fight scenes along with the passion and perseverance of the main characters.
I'd recommend this to people who liked the Dragonlance books or books in that genre.
September 10, 2020
A multilevel story of good versus evil, what is family and hope. The story line is fast reading and gripping although the cliffhanger of an ending left me a little annoyed (Mr. Johnson a few more paragraphs would have been nice.) Although at the beginning I couldn’t see myself picking up the second book of this series, I now have to to see what happens next. I voluntarily read this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2020
Well written with multiple story lines. I couldn’t wait for all the characters to finally come together and when they do, there are even more connections and stories. You will find yourself feeling excited, anxious, scared, and sad as you follow in their footsteps. I look forward to more of their story.
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