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Blight #1
Ascension
In a world similar to our own 17th century, one man's kindness lifts a poor, homeless boy from the dirt and sets him on an unlikely path of adventure.
An average man would use a silver coin to buy food for a week.
An extraordinary boy can use that same coin to build an empire.
An average man would use a silver coin to buy food for a week.
An extraordinary boy can use that same coin to build an empire.
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First published June 28, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 9, 2016
It has all the elements required to make an amazing story. Yet, somehow, it misses that final spark.
October 21, 2015
I thought that the book was alright yet also difficult to read at points. Since there is no time-frame between chapters meaning that anything ranging from a few weeks to 2 years can pass without you knowing. There isn't really any explanation as to how he earns most of his wealth after the first quarter of the book since it just says random things as to what he is doing. Meaning that it gives you the impression that he earns money, goodwill, power and loyalty too easily and is too well liked for being a moneylender. All this somehow makes him fabulously wealthy without really having a scale of how wealthy within a few years without making the common people absolutely poor even though he's amassing a vast wealth even if he spends a lot. So the story is pretty much based around secrecy and mystery that he for some reason has the right combination of talents to easily influence the world to his whims meaning that he can convince people to do things that they normally would never do.
Which is why I have to give this story 2 stars for poor world building, plot, time management, scene setting and character relations.
Which is why I have to give this story 2 stars for poor world building, plot, time management, scene setting and character relations.
August 24, 2015
This book has no context
Too much of the story is missing, vital worldbuilding is left out and too . Too Much time passes at various points without indication. And answering a bunch of questions at the end only works in detective novels and that only works because the answers come with an explanation too.
Also the weird spaces around every exclusion mark. what's up with that?
Too much of the story is missing, vital worldbuilding is left out and too . Too Much time passes at various points without indication. And answering a bunch of questions at the end only works in detective novels and that only works because the answers come with an explanation too.
Also the weird spaces around every exclusion mark. what's up with that?
August 6, 2015
Great book
For the most part I really liked this book. The first 3/4 of the book were about Leo building his empire and I couldn't stop reading. Then something changes and the last quarter of the book is completely different than the rest the book and I honestly kind of struggled through the rest. If the last quarter of the book had been similar to the rest of the book then this would probably be one of my all-time favorite books. One other although much smaller issue for me was there were large jumps in time and it wasn't always clear how much time passed which led to some confusion for me. For the most part a great read.
For the most part I really liked this book. The first 3/4 of the book were about Leo building his empire and I couldn't stop reading. Then something changes and the last quarter of the book is completely different than the rest the book and I honestly kind of struggled through the rest. If the last quarter of the book had been similar to the rest of the book then this would probably be one of my all-time favorite books. One other although much smaller issue for me was there were large jumps in time and it wasn't always clear how much time passed which led to some confusion for me. For the most part a great read.
July 2, 2015
Addicting
I lead hooked from the beginning. I read it as it came out through Terry's fan emails, and I read each section he sent out the day I got the emails. I liked how Terry takes creates a story that gives you just enough information to keep you wanting more and this is another example of Terry doing just that. Terry is a great writer and you will not be disappointed with this tale, until it ends...
I lead hooked from the beginning. I read it as it came out through Terry's fan emails, and I read each section he sent out the day I got the emails. I liked how Terry takes creates a story that gives you just enough information to keep you wanting more and this is another example of Terry doing just that. Terry is a great writer and you will not be disappointed with this tale, until it ends...
January 11, 2018
I am not sure if I am doing this book justice by rating it at 2 stars, but simply avoiding the pitfalls of other indie author's is not enough for a 3 star rating in my opinon.
The book is not bad really, it is just ... simple.
The writing style is simple, the characters are simple, the story is simple and the world building is so simple, I still have no idea what the world looks like or how the government system of the city the story plays in actually works.
It is a pleasent read still, but there are no twists, no major character development, no real magic system to speak of and the protagonist is what we know from animes as the "boy genius". He is good at everything, better at most things than everyone else, achieves everything and it proceeds that way until the very end of the book.
If I had not run out of interesting fantasy books to read in the middle of 2017, I would have put this book aside.
The book is not bad really, it is just ... simple.
The writing style is simple, the characters are simple, the story is simple and the world building is so simple, I still have no idea what the world looks like or how the government system of the city the story plays in actually works.
It is a pleasent read still, but there are no twists, no major character development, no real magic system to speak of and the protagonist is what we know from animes as the "boy genius". He is good at everything, better at most things than everyone else, achieves everything and it proceeds that way until the very end of the book.
If I had not run out of interesting fantasy books to read in the middle of 2017, I would have put this book aside.
October 22, 2021
I have a set of 'beginnings' that included this book, and it was an excellent story; one that I wish that the next in the series was available - hopefully, not too long to wait.
This is a story set in a place where the poor live on the streets...yet an act of kindness changes everything. But the story is far more than that.
As usual, this author's work has many levels, with mysteries to solve and sometimes even magic. I have enjoyed everything I have read so far.
A great writing style, characters and plot made this a compelling read.
Highly recommended.
This is a story set in a place where the poor live on the streets...yet an act of kindness changes everything. But the story is far more than that.
As usual, this author's work has many levels, with mysteries to solve and sometimes even magic. I have enjoyed everything I have read so far.
A great writing style, characters and plot made this a compelling read.
Highly recommended.
April 24, 2020
Meandering story of moderate interest, but then ends with the promise of a sequel which has no signs of ever materializing. The author's website is singularly useless in this regard, having neither updates nor blog section. I would have continued reading to see if the sequel carried through and improved upon the potential of the first, but it seems I'll not get the chance to find out.
Beware, if you're looking for a complete story, this is not and seems unlikely ever to be such.
Beware, if you're looking for a complete story, this is not and seems unlikely ever to be such.
February 13, 2021
I liked this book; easily the best one I've read from this author.
Leo is a pathetic street urchin with a lofty mission. Penniless and lowest of the low, Leo encounters a thoughtful baker whom completely changes his young life with a coin and a bath.
The story follows the street kid through the years with his plans, friends and rivals.
A good read with a little flavor of fantasy mixed with Dicken's Victorian age.
Leo is a pathetic street urchin with a lofty mission. Penniless and lowest of the low, Leo encounters a thoughtful baker whom completely changes his young life with a coin and a bath.
The story follows the street kid through the years with his plans, friends and rivals.
A good read with a little flavor of fantasy mixed with Dicken's Victorian age.
December 27, 2023
great author
This book held my attention from the first page to the last. I’m not a big reader but I do enjoy all the book Terry has wrote. Haven’t found one I don’t like yet. I recommend reading this book.
This book held my attention from the first page to the last. I’m not a big reader but I do enjoy all the book Terry has wrote. Haven’t found one I don’t like yet. I recommend reading this book.
June 30, 2015
Mystery game
An interesting read. Mostly well done, but I felt some of the plot elements were forced, especially towards the end. A lot of mystery throughout, but at some point, one tires of this game of hide and seek with what's driving this story, and wants to know the rules of play. the reader is left in the dark throughout, although we have enough clues to venture some guesses at what's really going on. Unfortunately my curiosity waned. Others might enjoy this mystery game more.
An interesting read. Mostly well done, but I felt some of the plot elements were forced, especially towards the end. A lot of mystery throughout, but at some point, one tires of this game of hide and seek with what's driving this story, and wants to know the rules of play. the reader is left in the dark throughout, although we have enough clues to venture some guesses at what's really going on. Unfortunately my curiosity waned. Others might enjoy this mystery game more.
July 3, 2015
While I enjoyed this book a lot, it seemed familiar already in many ways. I'm interested to see how it differentiates from the Game Is Life series and how well it does in doing so. It seems to have much the same writing style and secrets hidden behind things as those books did. Certainly worth the $.99 either way!
August 16, 2015
Loved it. I think Terry is thinking about the life game a totally different way this time. I'm afraid to say anything else except that this is a big world he's built with great characters. Thinking about a back to back read to see what I missed.
August 11, 2015
Fascinating
January 2, 2016
A promising beginning for the series, though it got a little weird and hard to follow in the last 25%.
August 20, 2016
Great book, i got the chills at the end, i had such a great time reading it, it is short, but that makes it lack annoying and useless fill up pages. Great read, lots of fun, recommend it to everyone.
July 12, 2015
I love this author. I couldn't stop reading!
March 27, 2017
This one is strange. The beginning hooked me. The middle confused me. The ending disappointed me. Whether it is worth reading probably depends on what happens in the next book, which isn't available yet.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews