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Lythinall #1
The Darkness Returns
** New Revised Edition **
When an ancient evil is loosed upon the land of Lythinall, a young warrior is swept up in a perilous journey across his homeland to stop it. Drawn into a dangerous prophesy, he travels with the legendary bard Karsis and the Princess of Everknight to realms he never knew existed. They will be tested as hidden forces watch with bated breath, knowing this could be the end.
When an ancient evil is loosed upon the land of Lythinall, a young warrior is swept up in a perilous journey across his homeland to stop it. Drawn into a dangerous prophesy, he travels with the legendary bard Karsis and the Princess of Everknight to realms he never knew existed. They will be tested as hidden forces watch with bated breath, knowing this could be the end.
- GenresFantasy
310 pages, Paperback
Published July 12, 2019
1 person is currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Michael D. Nadeau
24 books36 followers Born in the usual way, I found fantasy at the age of 8 in the game Dungeons and Dragons. I loved being different people, races, and especially casting magic. I found that I could be anything and by the late 90's I also found reading. My favorite teacher had given me her personal books to bring home and I couldn't get enough. Soon I had even more ways to explore the great worlds out there, and it was harder and harder to come back.
So finally when I was much older, and had created and destroyed more worlds than I could count, I decided to delve into the literary world. I finished My first book and just kept writing. In 2018, I was signed by Kyanite Publishing, and I'm up to my first trilogy and several short stories. So the quest continues, and I keep writing, and playing.
So finally when I was much older, and had created and destroyed more worlds than I could count, I decided to delve into the literary world. I finished My first book and just kept writing. In 2018, I was signed by Kyanite Publishing, and I'm up to my first trilogy and several short stories. So the quest continues, and I keep writing, and playing.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 9, 2019
Not a review in and of itself, but more of a hope you like it speech. The book has been a long time in the making and my love of fantasy is keeping me going strong. I've been playing fantasy games for over 30 years and I have created races, cities, and even worlds; Then I brought them all crashing down more times than I can remember. So when I sat down to write this book I created the land of Lythinall, and it just grew everyday, so much so that I had to delve into creating a type of Elven language just for the book. If you like epic fantasy and sarcasm galore, then this just might be the book for you (And yes I gave my own book 5 stars, #notashamed)
September 22, 2017
Review form for : “Darkness Returns” (A Lythinall Novel)
On a five-star rating, five being highly satisfied one unsatisfied
Story/Concept: _4 stars___________________
Re-readability: __4 stars____________________
Originality:____3 stars _____________________
Book length: ___5 stars____________________
Overall satisfaction: _5 stars ________________
Review questions:
(five being highly interested, one being not interested)
1. Did “Darkness Returns” (A Lythinall Novel), keep you interested? : 4 stars
(five being that you would recommend, one being no recommendation)
2. Would you recommend, “Darkness Returns” (A Lythinall Novel) to a family member, friend, acquaintance? : 5 stars
(five being Yes place it in my favorites, one being no do not add it among favorites)
3. Would you place, “Darkness Returns” (A Lythinall Novel) in your personal favorites of literature? ex: (personal library collection) : 4 stars
Personal comments on
“Darkness Returns” (A Lythinall Novel)
By Michael D. Nadeau
First, I’d like to say that reading, “Darkness Returns” (A Lythinall Novel) was a pleasure on many levels. The world that Author Michael D. Nadeau vividly paints for the audience is breathtaking, likewise as the situations and characters that are involved in the everchanging elements of Lythinall.
Secondly, I’d would mention that Author, Michael D. Nadeau has written the next screen gem for fans of magic and mystical lands filled with action-packed plots and characters larger than life, yet they reflect the very audience that cheers them on.
Lastly, I’d simply implore you to embark on the epic and massive journey within this (Lythinall) tale that Author Michael D. Nadeau paints for us word by word.
-
Review by
Marcus G. Monroe
–
An O.A.B. Representative and The Author of Deranged: Volume 1 and Deranged: the series
On a five-star rating, five being highly satisfied one unsatisfied
Story/Concept: _4 stars___________________
Re-readability: __4 stars____________________
Originality:____3 stars _____________________
Book length: ___5 stars____________________
Overall satisfaction: _5 stars ________________
Review questions:
(five being highly interested, one being not interested)
1. Did “Darkness Returns” (A Lythinall Novel), keep you interested? : 4 stars
(five being that you would recommend, one being no recommendation)
2. Would you recommend, “Darkness Returns” (A Lythinall Novel) to a family member, friend, acquaintance? : 5 stars
(five being Yes place it in my favorites, one being no do not add it among favorites)
3. Would you place, “Darkness Returns” (A Lythinall Novel) in your personal favorites of literature? ex: (personal library collection) : 4 stars
Personal comments on
“Darkness Returns” (A Lythinall Novel)
By Michael D. Nadeau
First, I’d like to say that reading, “Darkness Returns” (A Lythinall Novel) was a pleasure on many levels. The world that Author Michael D. Nadeau vividly paints for the audience is breathtaking, likewise as the situations and characters that are involved in the everchanging elements of Lythinall.
Secondly, I’d would mention that Author, Michael D. Nadeau has written the next screen gem for fans of magic and mystical lands filled with action-packed plots and characters larger than life, yet they reflect the very audience that cheers them on.
Lastly, I’d simply implore you to embark on the epic and massive journey within this (Lythinall) tale that Author Michael D. Nadeau paints for us word by word.
-
Review by
Marcus G. Monroe
–
An O.A.B. Representative and The Author of Deranged: Volume 1 and Deranged: the series
November 24, 2019
Fantasy is one of my favorite genres to read. By definition magical elements impossible to the regular world are necessary to the plot. There are various subgenres within the standard fantasy genre. Michael Nadeau’s The Darkness Returns falls into the category of High Fantasy. In this sub-genre, the story is set in a world of the authors creation, usually a medieval but magical world. At the same time the plot is carried by a hero’s quest. In my review I will explore how Michael not only creates his magical world of Lythinall, but follows or in some cases turns the standard archetypes on their heads to build his story.
Archetypes and the Hero’s Quest
It is impossible to discuss the high fantasy genre without defining the standard archetypes associated with the genre.
http://www.soulcraft.co/essays/the_12...
What I really enjoyed about Michael’s story is that while he does employ some of the basic archetypes, he twists them in such a way so that they are fresh. We are not stuck with the tired, old valiant heros, virgin princess, ancient seer, etc. I will explore these in more depth when I get into the characters.
Motivations and themes of the Hero’s Quest
Then there are four motivations that drive our hero forward according to the traditional Hero’s quest. Some call them the orientations. They are common to certain archetypes over others. I would argue they also motivate the antagonist as well. Michael does a good job of using one or more of these themes for each of his characters to drive his story forward.
• Ego
• Order
• Social
• Freedom
In all stories these four themes are at the heart of what drive a character’s actions according to Jung and Campbell. They are particularly important to the genre of High Fantasy.
Storyline
From the very beginning Michael sets a good pace to the story, starting us out first in the head of the villain as he awakens and claws his way out of the ground. He then moves through the land of Lythinall, on a path of destruction. He literally decays all he comes into contact with. Michael maintains the pace throughout, while dropping hints of previous stories where the minor characters (in this book) had quests with one another.
Characters
Dar’Krist
His villain was possibly the most well written character of all the characters of the story. As he moves through the story bent on destruction his attitude and personality reminded me of Randall Flagg, “The Walking Dude” from Stephen King’s the Stand. So as not to include any spoilers from Michael’s story, I won’t give away his supernatural origins. Dar’Krist has broken free of his containment and is loose. He is a destructive force and is now bent on revenge for being so confined. Michael plays on all 4 of the above motivations with this character. I would say the biggest is Ego. Which also becomes this character’s fatal flaw. He is so sure he is unstoppable that he misses vital clues when he charges into a fight.
Allissanna
One thing that the fantasy world gets a bad rap for is sexism and objectification of its female characters. Either subjugating them to a damsel in distress role, over the top sexualization, or creating harsh female “butch” characters. Michael on the other hand, has created a relatable and believable character in the Princess Alyssa. He neither saddles us with a frail damsel or a Mary Sue. With Alissanna, Michael is combining both the princess/maiden and the hero/warrior archetype into one character. Ego and Social standing play a huge part in this Alissa’s development. Both her mother and father (the King and Queen) were legendary warriors so she wants to show that she is just as capable and more than just a princess. Her desire to prove herself, and her youth lead her to make mistakes that almost get her killed on several occasions. As she and Rhoe travel through Lythinall fighting both fighting Dar’Krist and trying to get back to Castle Everknight, she begins to mature.
Rhoe
Part of the Hero’s Quest is also a sense of magical destiny. To some extent it involves Alissanna, but from the very start of the story, when Rhoe has a vision of Dar’Krist’s approach, we know that Rhoe is something out of the ordinary. He embodies three characters rolled into one: the hero archetype and to some extent, the magician and the innocent. While he and Alissanna end up on the quest together, there is a lot of foreshadowing that the ultimate climax and showdown is going to be between Rhoe and Dar’Krist. Michael does a good job of building up the mystery of Rhoe’s magical capabilities and origins, leaving the reader wanting to know more
I enjoyed the romance between Rhoe and Allissanna. Michael doesn’t try to sell us on some tired trope of having them start out hating each other or something silly like that. Instead he shows us two young people who are attracted to each other but don’t quite know how to express it at first. Their awkwardness is realistic and endearing. By the end of the Darkness Returns, they have confessed their mutual feelings for one another. I get the sense that it will be the reality of their social standings and possibly the origins of Rhoe’s magic that creates conflict in their relationship as the story progresses.
Karsis the Bard
Karsis is definitely a unique character. He can be any archetype at any given point in the story, as he tends to morph to what the other characters need at the time. His character is very fluid and dynamic. To Rhoe and Allisanna is he a mentor and sage. Though predominantly, he is the jester/explorer travelling throughout the land of Lythinall singing songs and combatting evil. Like Rhoe, we get hints of his magical past.
Side Characters
Michael creates and intriguing cast of side characters. At the risk of spoilers for what I hope will be the rest of his series, I will leave off go into detail here, but we get a sense of previous adventures with Karsis, Carana the warrior, The Kind and Queen of Everknight, and many others.
Telling
There were times in the story that I felt there could be more showing and less telling. Some of the scenes felt a little compressed with a lot of side information and subplots (which I would expect from a good fantasy novel). I wanted to see more build-up between the characters in certain high-intensity scenes (especially the scene between Carana and Karsis). At the same time, Michael does a good job of keeping a steady pace, so more showing might have sacrificed the momentum he sets from the beginning of the story. He also keeps this story to a length that is digestible for a first novel. It gets the reader invested in the world and characters, but without dragging it out too much. Michael does a great job of leaving the reader wanting more.
I really enjoyed my journey through Michael’s world of Lythinall. I can’t wait to see where he takes us next and how our young heroes Allissanna and Rhoe will deal with Dar’Krist.
Archetypes and the Hero’s Quest
It is impossible to discuss the high fantasy genre without defining the standard archetypes associated with the genre.
http://www.soulcraft.co/essays/the_12...
What I really enjoyed about Michael’s story is that while he does employ some of the basic archetypes, he twists them in such a way so that they are fresh. We are not stuck with the tired, old valiant heros, virgin princess, ancient seer, etc. I will explore these in more depth when I get into the characters.
Motivations and themes of the Hero’s Quest
Then there are four motivations that drive our hero forward according to the traditional Hero’s quest. Some call them the orientations. They are common to certain archetypes over others. I would argue they also motivate the antagonist as well. Michael does a good job of using one or more of these themes for each of his characters to drive his story forward.
• Ego
• Order
• Social
• Freedom
In all stories these four themes are at the heart of what drive a character’s actions according to Jung and Campbell. They are particularly important to the genre of High Fantasy.
Storyline
From the very beginning Michael sets a good pace to the story, starting us out first in the head of the villain as he awakens and claws his way out of the ground. He then moves through the land of Lythinall, on a path of destruction. He literally decays all he comes into contact with. Michael maintains the pace throughout, while dropping hints of previous stories where the minor characters (in this book) had quests with one another.
Characters
Dar’Krist
His villain was possibly the most well written character of all the characters of the story. As he moves through the story bent on destruction his attitude and personality reminded me of Randall Flagg, “The Walking Dude” from Stephen King’s the Stand. So as not to include any spoilers from Michael’s story, I won’t give away his supernatural origins. Dar’Krist has broken free of his containment and is loose. He is a destructive force and is now bent on revenge for being so confined. Michael plays on all 4 of the above motivations with this character. I would say the biggest is Ego. Which also becomes this character’s fatal flaw. He is so sure he is unstoppable that he misses vital clues when he charges into a fight.
Allissanna
One thing that the fantasy world gets a bad rap for is sexism and objectification of its female characters. Either subjugating them to a damsel in distress role, over the top sexualization, or creating harsh female “butch” characters. Michael on the other hand, has created a relatable and believable character in the Princess Alyssa. He neither saddles us with a frail damsel or a Mary Sue. With Alissanna, Michael is combining both the princess/maiden and the hero/warrior archetype into one character. Ego and Social standing play a huge part in this Alissa’s development. Both her mother and father (the King and Queen) were legendary warriors so she wants to show that she is just as capable and more than just a princess. Her desire to prove herself, and her youth lead her to make mistakes that almost get her killed on several occasions. As she and Rhoe travel through Lythinall fighting both fighting Dar’Krist and trying to get back to Castle Everknight, she begins to mature.
Rhoe
Part of the Hero’s Quest is also a sense of magical destiny. To some extent it involves Alissanna, but from the very start of the story, when Rhoe has a vision of Dar’Krist’s approach, we know that Rhoe is something out of the ordinary. He embodies three characters rolled into one: the hero archetype and to some extent, the magician and the innocent. While he and Alissanna end up on the quest together, there is a lot of foreshadowing that the ultimate climax and showdown is going to be between Rhoe and Dar’Krist. Michael does a good job of building up the mystery of Rhoe’s magical capabilities and origins, leaving the reader wanting to know more
I enjoyed the romance between Rhoe and Allissanna. Michael doesn’t try to sell us on some tired trope of having them start out hating each other or something silly like that. Instead he shows us two young people who are attracted to each other but don’t quite know how to express it at first. Their awkwardness is realistic and endearing. By the end of the Darkness Returns, they have confessed their mutual feelings for one another. I get the sense that it will be the reality of their social standings and possibly the origins of Rhoe’s magic that creates conflict in their relationship as the story progresses.
Karsis the Bard
Karsis is definitely a unique character. He can be any archetype at any given point in the story, as he tends to morph to what the other characters need at the time. His character is very fluid and dynamic. To Rhoe and Allisanna is he a mentor and sage. Though predominantly, he is the jester/explorer travelling throughout the land of Lythinall singing songs and combatting evil. Like Rhoe, we get hints of his magical past.
Side Characters
Michael creates and intriguing cast of side characters. At the risk of spoilers for what I hope will be the rest of his series, I will leave off go into detail here, but we get a sense of previous adventures with Karsis, Carana the warrior, The Kind and Queen of Everknight, and many others.
Telling
There were times in the story that I felt there could be more showing and less telling. Some of the scenes felt a little compressed with a lot of side information and subplots (which I would expect from a good fantasy novel). I wanted to see more build-up between the characters in certain high-intensity scenes (especially the scene between Carana and Karsis). At the same time, Michael does a good job of keeping a steady pace, so more showing might have sacrificed the momentum he sets from the beginning of the story. He also keeps this story to a length that is digestible for a first novel. It gets the reader invested in the world and characters, but without dragging it out too much. Michael does a great job of leaving the reader wanting more.
I really enjoyed my journey through Michael’s world of Lythinall. I can’t wait to see where he takes us next and how our young heroes Allissanna and Rhoe will deal with Dar’Krist.
December 9, 2019
Michael D. Nadeau constructed something special with this book. It's hard to get into it without giving a ton of spoilers away, but I will say his unique narrative style allows the reader to fully immerse themselves into Lythinall.
You can FEEL the bravery and heartache the characters go through. The fantasy world is rough and lived-in, but that does not mean it doesn't have the level of mysticism that people expect from high fantasy. Whether you're a fan of the genre or not, I highly recommend you pick this one up.
You can FEEL the bravery and heartache the characters go through. The fantasy world is rough and lived-in, but that does not mean it doesn't have the level of mysticism that people expect from high fantasy. Whether you're a fan of the genre or not, I highly recommend you pick this one up.
May 18, 2020
High fantasy is not a genre I usually read, but this book blew my socks off. The world of Lythinall was immense and enthralling. The characters were vibrant and diverse, and even though there were numerous characters, each had their own unique voice and I had no trouble identifying each one.
At first, I had some difficulty with the omniscient viewpoint, but soon got the hang of it and found I really enjoyed being able to experience what each character was thinking.
My favorite characters were Karsis the Bard who made me smile, and Carana whose strength and toughness I admired, and I loved getting peeks at her rare vulnerabilities.
The action scenes were so vivid they transported me into the scene with the characters. I felt their fear and adrenaline.
If you love high fantasy with a wonderfully crafted world and dynamic characters, then I highly recommend The Darkness Returns!!
At first, I had some difficulty with the omniscient viewpoint, but soon got the hang of it and found I really enjoyed being able to experience what each character was thinking.
My favorite characters were Karsis the Bard who made me smile, and Carana whose strength and toughness I admired, and I loved getting peeks at her rare vulnerabilities.
The action scenes were so vivid they transported me into the scene with the characters. I felt their fear and adrenaline.
If you love high fantasy with a wonderfully crafted world and dynamic characters, then I highly recommend The Darkness Returns!!
March 17, 2020
Michael Nadeau has created a truly awesome world within the pages of ‘The Darkness Returns’. He has crafted a world full of every conceivable element one could desire to enthral and excite. A cast of characters who are deeply realised and developed so as to engage with the reader and create a sometimes cruel connection. A world so vibrant and enticing that you can’t help but be immersed. Nadeau has clearly gone to great lengths to build such a rich depth to this fantasy world. Highly recommended if feel the desire to have your fantasy fancy tickled. A great read.
July 29, 2019
I will be honest with you. I am a latecomer to high fantasy and epic fantasy stories. I start off saying this because I want you to understand where I am coming from when I write a review of certain things. I am also going to be bluntly honest, I loved this book. It is an incredible tale with a fascinating cast of characters. It doesn't disappoint in that regard.
One thing that took me a bit to get used to was thread jumping. And by this I mean, that Michael takes the time to pull at each individual thread of this tale, jumping from one to the next before finally showing you how it all ties together. I know for some people, this is not a style they enjoy, but I can assure that it is well worth it in this case because he doesn't leave you waiting for future books in this series to find out how the threads of each tale may tangle together.
Although there were times I wish I could get to know the characters of one thread before he moved on to the next, it did not detract from my overall enjoyment of this story. As the story progresses in this first book of an epic fantasy series, a rhythm develops that becomes much easier to follow and as the threads of each tale move closer together, it becomes easier to lose yourself in this story.
And what a story it is.
The characters are dynamic and wonderful, his creativity in building this world is a treat to the imagination. I adore these characters and I do want to see them succeed... well, most of them anyway. I mean, I'm not cheering for the bad guy here (although, I kinda like him too). There is so much to love and I look forward to seeing how everything unravels in the next book.
This is a series that you will fall in love with. You are not left unsatisfied at the end of the first book, as many series can do, but there are still hints at a mystery bigger than this single book, and those unanswered questions keep you wanting to know more, to dig deeper. And as much as I would love to pester the author about a few things that I want to know the answer to NOW, I have a feeling those questions will be answered if I just wait for the next books.
I would highly recommend checking it out if you enjoy any type of fantasy. It's well worth the read.
One thing that took me a bit to get used to was thread jumping. And by this I mean, that Michael takes the time to pull at each individual thread of this tale, jumping from one to the next before finally showing you how it all ties together. I know for some people, this is not a style they enjoy, but I can assure that it is well worth it in this case because he doesn't leave you waiting for future books in this series to find out how the threads of each tale may tangle together.
Although there were times I wish I could get to know the characters of one thread before he moved on to the next, it did not detract from my overall enjoyment of this story. As the story progresses in this first book of an epic fantasy series, a rhythm develops that becomes much easier to follow and as the threads of each tale move closer together, it becomes easier to lose yourself in this story.
And what a story it is.
The characters are dynamic and wonderful, his creativity in building this world is a treat to the imagination. I adore these characters and I do want to see them succeed... well, most of them anyway. I mean, I'm not cheering for the bad guy here (although, I kinda like him too). There is so much to love and I look forward to seeing how everything unravels in the next book.
This is a series that you will fall in love with. You are not left unsatisfied at the end of the first book, as many series can do, but there are still hints at a mystery bigger than this single book, and those unanswered questions keep you wanting to know more, to dig deeper. And as much as I would love to pester the author about a few things that I want to know the answer to NOW, I have a feeling those questions will be answered if I just wait for the next books.
I would highly recommend checking it out if you enjoy any type of fantasy. It's well worth the read.
June 17, 2018
I'm conflicted with this review so i'm going to break it into pieces.
Story and style 5 stars.
The story had me at the edge of tears near the end of the book. That's a great sign. This writer did a great job building the characters and fleshing them out so that I cared what happened to them.
Format and copy edit 2 stars
There are errors in this book. There are errors in every book. I think I took it personally because I was so enjoying the story that every time I came across an error it pulled me out of the flow. The story is too good to allow these minor mistakes to bring it down, but they do.
It hurts to only give this book 4 stars. It deserves 5 but I cannot in good faith award five stars. Let me say again, without the formatting and copy editing errors, this book is a hit.
If you truly love a great tale and appreciate raw talent, this book is for you.
Story and style 5 stars.
The story had me at the edge of tears near the end of the book. That's a great sign. This writer did a great job building the characters and fleshing them out so that I cared what happened to them.
Format and copy edit 2 stars
There are errors in this book. There are errors in every book. I think I took it personally because I was so enjoying the story that every time I came across an error it pulled me out of the flow. The story is too good to allow these minor mistakes to bring it down, but they do.
It hurts to only give this book 4 stars. It deserves 5 but I cannot in good faith award five stars. Let me say again, without the formatting and copy editing errors, this book is a hit.
If you truly love a great tale and appreciate raw talent, this book is for you.
August 16, 2019
I received an ARC of The Darkness Returns in exchange for an honest review.
I don't read many straight-up fantasies, yet I enjoy this story. It was an epic tale with interesting characters. My favorites were Karsis and Rhoe.
I did struggle between giving this a four or five star because there were editing issues that pulled me from the story. However, I read an ARC, and many times these are fixed in the final version. Naduea is a great storyteller and that is what I rated, the story.
I'd recommend this book to fantasy readers. I believe they'd enjoy this book, and the ones to follow.
I don't read many straight-up fantasies, yet I enjoy this story. It was an epic tale with interesting characters. My favorites were Karsis and Rhoe.
I did struggle between giving this a four or five star because there were editing issues that pulled me from the story. However, I read an ARC, and many times these are fixed in the final version. Naduea is a great storyteller and that is what I rated, the story.
I'd recommend this book to fantasy readers. I believe they'd enjoy this book, and the ones to follow.
March 8, 2021
It's an interesting tale of a swashbuckling bard that teeters between YA and noble bright adult. Not all of the characters are completely relatable but they are likeable and have some interesting and entertaining qualities. I actually think the author would have a better opportunity marketing this to a slightly younger crowd based on the character personalities. The overall story is formulaic to fantasy standards and was pretty much what I expect from a fantasy novel. One of my favorite characters was the adorable little fairy and hope she comes back in future books. She could probably carry her own book as she was unique and more relatable and extremely likeable. I liked the overall story but down graded the rating due to all the grammatical errors, weak verb choices, and a lack of a clear POV. The head hopping between POVs was confusing at times. I understand that was most likely intentional for an omniscient POV but scene breaks and dialogue tags could have been utilized to help clarify whose view the reader was seeing. My copy, which I'm finally getting around to reading was from the original publisher who is now closed. I'm tempted to re-read this from the new publisher who signed on the books to see if some of these issues were addressed.
January 26, 2021
I went back and forth between 2 stars and 3 stars. Now I know why this was sitting in my nook for so long. I started reading it a few years ago and then put it aside because the grammar drove me bonkers. But then, I was looking for something to read, saw this and thought, I'd give it a go once more. The story was okay. The action was okay. The plot was predictable.
For a fantasy, it's not bad. It's what you'd expect but it seriously reads like a first draft. Maybe I have an unedited version because I bought mine so long ago. Can I say 2 1/2 stars?
For a fantasy, it's not bad. It's what you'd expect but it seriously reads like a first draft. Maybe I have an unedited version because I bought mine so long ago. Can I say 2 1/2 stars?
September 22, 2021
Fun ride!
I quite enjoyed this. I especially liked the way it turned some of the usual fantasy tropes so they weren't quite what I was expecting. I like a story that can surprise me. The characters were fun and I liked getting to know them and following their adventures. The more I read the more I got sucked into the world and the dangers the heroes faced. Looking forward to reading the rest of this trilogy, even more than I had expected I would.
I quite enjoyed this. I especially liked the way it turned some of the usual fantasy tropes so they weren't quite what I was expecting. I like a story that can surprise me. The characters were fun and I liked getting to know them and following their adventures. The more I read the more I got sucked into the world and the dangers the heroes faced. Looking forward to reading the rest of this trilogy, even more than I had expected I would.
March 12, 2024
An "incarnation" threatens the Kingdom of Everknight, terrorising its inhabitants, and in addition some assassins are after the king. A "sword and sorcery"-type novel set in a mid-20th-century faux medieval world, with the characters switching between formal-imagined medieval speech and 1950s slang, with lots of sentences ending with phrases like "and soon" or "and quickly".
It could do with a good edit to clear out the cringeworthy cliches, which could add one or two stars to the rating.
It could do with a good edit to clear out the cringeworthy cliches, which could add one or two stars to the rating.
March 28, 2021
the author really dove into the making of this book. the characters had personality and it was easy to see through their eyes. this would make a fantastic tv-series/movie series. but only if they followed the book to the T of course. I look forward to more of this deep interesting world
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 26, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed every chapter of this book. It flowed well and I found myself immersed in this magical world. The pacing was spot on and there was no lull in the story at all. Very relatable characters that I found myself liking right from the beginning because of their bravery and smart ass senses of humor. Also enchanting landscapes and beautiful magical creatures fall easily into the mix of this mesmerizing world and quest. I thought the ending was great and left me dying to dig right in to the next book in the series. Well done Nadeau. Looking for to reading more of your work.
March 20, 2023
Great Read!
I really enjoyed this fantasy from this author. His world building was impressive, sucking me into the book, making it hard to put down.
I really enjoyed this fantasy from this author. His world building was impressive, sucking me into the book, making it hard to put down.
March 25, 2023
Epic fantasy, unique! I can't wait to start book two.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews