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The Chain Breaker #1
The Risen Shard
An assassin with no rival meets a magic he cannot defeat. The Chain Breaker Series begins.
Trained to kill from a young age, Gavin Lorren finally escaped that life. No more killing innocents. No more working alone. The jobs are still dangerous, but at least he can choose.
Now an old friend has invited him to the city of Yoran where the work is plentiful. The Roasted Dragon tavern is rough but cozy. The regulars are seedy but welcoming. The owner Jessica is fond of him. It's almost too good to be true.
His good fortune is fleeting. Gavin finds himself facing a new enemy, fast and deadly El'aras warriors—an ancient race with innate magical talent. By the time he learns sorcery is involved, he's in too deep. To succeed, he’ll have to uncover parts of his past that he'd hoped to forget.
It will take an assassin without equal to survive.
It will take the Chain Breaker.
Trained to kill from a young age, Gavin Lorren finally escaped that life. No more killing innocents. No more working alone. The jobs are still dangerous, but at least he can choose.
Now an old friend has invited him to the city of Yoran where the work is plentiful. The Roasted Dragon tavern is rough but cozy. The regulars are seedy but welcoming. The owner Jessica is fond of him. It's almost too good to be true.
His good fortune is fleeting. Gavin finds himself facing a new enemy, fast and deadly El'aras warriors—an ancient race with innate magical talent. By the time he learns sorcery is involved, he's in too deep. To succeed, he’ll have to uncover parts of his past that he'd hoped to forget.
It will take an assassin without equal to survive.
It will take the Chain Breaker.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
October 13, 2020
I actually pre-ordered this book on a whim for the Kindle. What initially caught my attention was the cool-looking cover art and the synopsis. Unfortunately, those were probably the best parts of the book.
If I had to give any credit, the opening of the book was enjoyable and did a good job introducing the main character and his sidekick, but after the first 20 pages or so I began to recognize some glaring flaws. I am by no means a snob when it comes to books and writing styles, but this book irked me the further it went along.
Writing/Narrative:
Right off the bat, this is clearly a plot-driven story, which I don’t mind, as long as it’s written well. Sadly, this story was incredibly predictable and I found myself devoid of any curiosity about half-way through. The flow of the narrative is choppy, unrefined, and lacked a clear perspective. At times, I often found myself re-reading sentences because their structures and grammar were clunky and rudimentary. The dialogue was repetitive and unengaging, which ultimately led to the characters lacking any distinguishing voice. All in all, it felt like the narrative was plastered on the pages, rather than painted.
Characters:
As previously mentioned, this story’s focus is on the plot. If you are looking for strong character work, I’d suggest you search elsewhere. The protagonist, Gavin Lorren, appears to be the only character with depth but somehow still remains shallow. The antagonist was bland as their motivations seemed forced and ultimately unbelievable. Other than Gavin, and a side character named Gaspar, I found it difficult to care about other characters due to their lack of personalities and one-dimensional traits. For example, a character named Imogen has this sense of mysterious badassness about her, but she doesn’t talk or do anything. She simply exists for Gavin to wonder if she’s a badass or not. I liken her to Captain Phasma. Absolutely pointless.
Worldbuilding:
The story takes place in the city of Yoran, but the majority of the narrative takes place at three locations: a manor; a tavern, and the home of a healer. Out of the three, the tavern seems to be the only location with a sense of life to it. Don’t expect to learn more about Yoran and its identity though, as information about the city is sparse. The only other aspects of worldbuilding I received from this book is a tad bit of historical references, and the El’aras (basically elves) and their differing cultures. There’s magic in this story too, but I’m sure you can gather how its implementation fared based on this review.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I felt like I was reading the first draft of a story, which is a shame because I truly believe there is underlying potential within the narrative. I felt myself longing for the world and characters being fleshed out and fully recognized. The author has released over 100 books since 2013, which is a feat in itself, but it seems the focus is producing quantity instead of quality writing. The prose and grammar were easily the most frustrating of my critiques. I am sure Mr. Holmberg will continue his heavy release schedule. For now, I will hold off from reading anything else from his catalog, as I am open to trying another story a couple of years down the line. Hopefully, there will be a focus on polishing his craft and creating a story I can truly lose myself in. Here’s to hope.
Actual Rating 2.25
If I had to give any credit, the opening of the book was enjoyable and did a good job introducing the main character and his sidekick, but after the first 20 pages or so I began to recognize some glaring flaws. I am by no means a snob when it comes to books and writing styles, but this book irked me the further it went along.
Writing/Narrative:
Right off the bat, this is clearly a plot-driven story, which I don’t mind, as long as it’s written well. Sadly, this story was incredibly predictable and I found myself devoid of any curiosity about half-way through. The flow of the narrative is choppy, unrefined, and lacked a clear perspective. At times, I often found myself re-reading sentences because their structures and grammar were clunky and rudimentary. The dialogue was repetitive and unengaging, which ultimately led to the characters lacking any distinguishing voice. All in all, it felt like the narrative was plastered on the pages, rather than painted.
Characters:
As previously mentioned, this story’s focus is on the plot. If you are looking for strong character work, I’d suggest you search elsewhere. The protagonist, Gavin Lorren, appears to be the only character with depth but somehow still remains shallow. The antagonist was bland as their motivations seemed forced and ultimately unbelievable. Other than Gavin, and a side character named Gaspar, I found it difficult to care about other characters due to their lack of personalities and one-dimensional traits. For example, a character named Imogen has this sense of mysterious badassness about her, but she doesn’t talk or do anything. She simply exists for Gavin to wonder if she’s a badass or not. I liken her to Captain Phasma. Absolutely pointless.
Worldbuilding:
The story takes place in the city of Yoran, but the majority of the narrative takes place at three locations: a manor; a tavern, and the home of a healer. Out of the three, the tavern seems to be the only location with a sense of life to it. Don’t expect to learn more about Yoran and its identity though, as information about the city is sparse. The only other aspects of worldbuilding I received from this book is a tad bit of historical references, and the El’aras (basically elves) and their differing cultures. There’s magic in this story too, but I’m sure you can gather how its implementation fared based on this review.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I felt like I was reading the first draft of a story, which is a shame because I truly believe there is underlying potential within the narrative. I felt myself longing for the world and characters being fleshed out and fully recognized. The author has released over 100 books since 2013, which is a feat in itself, but it seems the focus is producing quantity instead of quality writing. The prose and grammar were easily the most frustrating of my critiques. I am sure Mr. Holmberg will continue his heavy release schedule. For now, I will hold off from reading anything else from his catalog, as I am open to trying another story a couple of years down the line. Hopefully, there will be a focus on polishing his craft and creating a story I can truly lose myself in. Here’s to hope.
Actual Rating 2.25
Did Not Finish
September 13, 2023Dnf page 100
I'm mildly intrigued but so far there's been the D-word numerous times, the h-word, s-word, and b-word twice. To the point I read to, there were no sex scenes or anything, not even kissing, but it's made known that the MC is sleeping with a woman he isn't married to so for all these reasons, no thanksss, not for me.
I'm mildly intrigued but so far there's been the D-word numerous times, the h-word, s-word, and b-word twice. To the point I read to, there were no sex scenes or anything, not even kissing, but it's made known that the MC is sleeping with a woman he isn't married to so for all these reasons, no thanksss, not for me.
October 17, 2020
The Risen Shard by D. K. Holmberg
I thought the story was interesting, but it didn’t grab me like it could have. I enjoyed reading it, and my curiosity demanded that I finish it; but the rest of me felt bored before halfway through the book, not something that has ever happened to me before. Bored, yes, but not this half and half.
It is the first in the Chain Breaker series and can be read as a stand-alone. The story arc is resolved but there are some points to tease you about the next book. At 380 pages it is a full length novel which took me less than my usual time (33% less) to read, so it is a quick, light read though it felt like a much heavier read. There is some light swearing, and the fight scene descriptions were not particularly gory or bloody. One of my favorite things about this story is that it was very well edited as I only noticed a few errors, like three or four.
This is a sword and sorcery fantasy about an assassin for hire who gets drawn in too deeply and the only way to protect those around him is to see it through to the end. The story is very tight and dense, moving from plot point to plot point with a minimum of diversion. My English professor would be in raptures. The characters are believable, but there is a lot that is hinted at and never developed any further. The scenes are only adequately described, and even though Gavin wanders throughout the city, it is barely described at all. Other places are mentioned but no descriptions are given. There were plenty of fight sequences that were well described, but the rest of the story plodded along and was boring. I also felt like Gavin was asking himself a lot of questions but not doing much to find the answers, just reacting to what happens to him. It made it hard to continue reading.
If not for my curiosity, I probably wouldn’t have finished the book, which has only happened twice before. I did like the story, so I will give the next book a try; but I give this one a C+ (3½ stars).
I received an ARC of this book in the hopes that I would voluntarily leave an honest review.
I thought the story was interesting, but it didn’t grab me like it could have. I enjoyed reading it, and my curiosity demanded that I finish it; but the rest of me felt bored before halfway through the book, not something that has ever happened to me before. Bored, yes, but not this half and half.
It is the first in the Chain Breaker series and can be read as a stand-alone. The story arc is resolved but there are some points to tease you about the next book. At 380 pages it is a full length novel which took me less than my usual time (33% less) to read, so it is a quick, light read though it felt like a much heavier read. There is some light swearing, and the fight scene descriptions were not particularly gory or bloody. One of my favorite things about this story is that it was very well edited as I only noticed a few errors, like three or four.
This is a sword and sorcery fantasy about an assassin for hire who gets drawn in too deeply and the only way to protect those around him is to see it through to the end. The story is very tight and dense, moving from plot point to plot point with a minimum of diversion. My English professor would be in raptures. The characters are believable, but there is a lot that is hinted at and never developed any further. The scenes are only adequately described, and even though Gavin wanders throughout the city, it is barely described at all. Other places are mentioned but no descriptions are given. There were plenty of fight sequences that were well described, but the rest of the story plodded along and was boring. I also felt like Gavin was asking himself a lot of questions but not doing much to find the answers, just reacting to what happens to him. It made it hard to continue reading.
If not for my curiosity, I probably wouldn’t have finished the book, which has only happened twice before. I did like the story, so I will give the next book a try; but I give this one a C+ (3½ stars).
I received an ARC of this book in the hopes that I would voluntarily leave an honest review.
January 19, 2022
Not bad at all. Gavin and Wrenlow are likable characters but I’d like to learn more about Wrenlow’s background as well as Cyran’s. Gavin possibly being half El’aras was a twist but not too surprising. This is a pretty quick read without too many dull moments.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2020
I struggled to relate to the characters in this book, a good effort by D.K., just not for me at this time.
March 8, 2023
With the story constantly in motion, The Risen Shard never bored me. However, the lack of character development and a tendency toward repetition took my enjoyment down a few notches. Also, there was some innuendo I could've done without.
But it was easy to get through, and the action and hints of worldbuilding were interesting. I might give the next book in the series a try.
But it was easy to get through, and the action and hints of worldbuilding were interesting. I might give the next book in the series a try.
March 16, 2021
I appreciate (and quite honestly, can only imagine) the amount of work that goes into writing a book, never mind an entire series of books, so I do not wish to disparage the author. However, I have to say, I just do not understand the favorable reviews for this. At all. The reviews even convinced me to start the second book in the series thinking there was something I just wasn't getting or that it would get better, but it just never did. I abandoned it about a third of the way through. The main character is supposed to be a highly skilled assassin but is written more like a bumbling idiot. He's not even especially likeable - not that he's unlikeable, which I guess is another problem. And the text is so repetitive.... I'm sorry
June 22, 2021
DNF 65%
The story is intriguing, but almost every page (up until 20% ish) has had background exposition for the main character. Yes, it is nice learning more about the character, but I feel like there shouldn’t be so much background information in between short action scenes. The dumping of background information slows the further you get in the book.
The conversations between Gavin and Wrenlow are tedious. I think they were meant to be humorous, but it just felt like Gavin was a jerk. The conversations between all of the characters felt unnatural actually. There’s a statement, then a question that challenges the statement, then a justification for the statement that didn’t really justify the statement, or they answered a question with a question. It felt like the conversations were just looping around themselves and going nowhere, especially when repeating information that has been said five times already.
The book was leaving me with too many questions and not providing enough answers. What is this race that Gavin keeps running into? What is so special about them other than the fact that they have magic in them?
The book was tedious as well because Gavin never progresses. He tried fighting the other race, but he got his butt kicked every time. Shouldn’t he at least grow a little bit after each encounter? Try something new?
I stopped at 65% because this book was just not holding my interest.
The story is intriguing, but almost every page (up until 20% ish) has had background exposition for the main character. Yes, it is nice learning more about the character, but I feel like there shouldn’t be so much background information in between short action scenes. The dumping of background information slows the further you get in the book.
The conversations between Gavin and Wrenlow are tedious. I think they were meant to be humorous, but it just felt like Gavin was a jerk. The conversations between all of the characters felt unnatural actually. There’s a statement, then a question that challenges the statement, then a justification for the statement that didn’t really justify the statement, or they answered a question with a question. It felt like the conversations were just looping around themselves and going nowhere, especially when repeating information that has been said five times already.
The book was leaving me with too many questions and not providing enough answers. What is this race that Gavin keeps running into? What is so special about them other than the fact that they have magic in them?
The book was tedious as well because Gavin never progresses. He tried fighting the other race, but he got his butt kicked every time. Shouldn’t he at least grow a little bit after each encounter? Try something new?
I stopped at 65% because this book was just not holding my interest.
March 31, 2021
The Risen Shard
This book was good, the fighting scenes were well written and I didn’t find myself having to force my way through any parts of story. However, the dialogue fell a little flat to me and the main character felt like a bit of a Mary Sue. I did enjoy reading it though, and the story has potential.
This book was good, the fighting scenes were well written and I didn’t find myself having to force my way through any parts of story. However, the dialogue fell a little flat to me and the main character felt like a bit of a Mary Sue. I did enjoy reading it though, and the story has potential.
November 14, 2021
A very fast paced action, magical and character rich book with enough twists and turns to keep you interested. I enjoyed learning about the main character and his mysterious origins and look forward to uncovering more about him and the other characters personalities.
A great start to the series.. :-)
A great start to the series.. :-)
November 27, 2020
Wouldn't recommend
The story had no flow and often seemed to change details from one line to the next. After reading about a quarter way through i couldn't finish the bool, which is a first.
The story had no flow and often seemed to change details from one line to the next. After reading about a quarter way through i couldn't finish the bool, which is a first.
October 10, 2020
What a story. Gavin is a thief and an assassin. He is a completely loveable character and enough action I was completely engrossed in the book and didn’t even realize when I came to to end
April 30, 2025
I've seen reviews that explain exactly how I felt about this book. The premise isn't bad but it really felt like I was reading a first draft of a novel.
December 31, 2020
Was This Written By A 5th Grader
Stopped before finishing the first chapter due to atrocious writing. Recommend author edit work and employ crisp action verbs, eliminate chaff.
Stopped before finishing the first chapter due to atrocious writing. Recommend author edit work and employ crisp action verbs, eliminate chaff.
September 11, 2022
This was my first book by D.K. Holmberg, and I checked this out with my Kindle Unlimited trained membership. Our male MC, Gavin, is a young assassin who travels with a friend to the city of Yoran for a work contract. One fateful job leads them through a wild chase that pits Gavin against his past and a magic he's hidden from most. Gavin was intriguing but I didn't connect with his quest or the characters. The ending didn't provide any answers to questions from the story. This has a solid base and a good premise, but I think it could use some work. (2/5 rating)
March 2, 2024
DNF 7%
I don't like morally dark protagonists. This book's blurb states that an assassin has put that life behind himself and no longer kills innocents. Then the book starts with Gavin killing innocents (guards). Then he spinelessly accepts it when his broker claims Gavin must be punished for failing his mission... nope. Neither morally upright nor ex-assassin tough. I ran out of patience.
I don't like morally dark protagonists. This book's blurb states that an assassin has put that life behind himself and no longer kills innocents. Then the book starts with Gavin killing innocents (guards). Then he spinelessly accepts it when his broker claims Gavin must be punished for failing his mission... nope. Neither morally upright nor ex-assassin tough. I ran out of patience.
January 11, 2023
I stumbled upon this author by accident having never heard of him before. I'm glad I did because I really enjoyed this book. I'm also glad that this book in The Chain Breaker series was also a stand alone and hope that the other books are similar. I hate being held hostage to a series that pulls you through 6-7 books just to tell a single story. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
October 1, 2020
Thank you to author D. K. Holmberg for the chance to review a complementary Advanced Reader's Copy of the book. I've added it to my "Buy It Upon Release" list.
The book follows a thief/assassin, Gavin, who throughout the book, struggles with identity issues and trauma associated with his training and profession. The action throughout the book drops several rather blunt clues that Gavin is not a simple human, but that is how he has identified himself through his life. While this primary character is a thief/assassin, there are several supporting characters introduced as well, who are well detailed and enjoyable. The author leaves some information unknown for Gavin and his supporting characters, which the reader is able to glean slowly over the course of the book, so the reader is left feeling that he has gotten to know them better over time. Yet, at the end, there is some mystery for each character, leaving the reader interested in continuing to follow their exploits. There are a number of twists and surprises in the book involving interactions of characters, so I'll avoid spoilers, and simply state that not all of the twists are something the reader may anticipate, which helps keep the reader's attention over time. The book involves a set of jobs, nearly impossible to complete, that leads Gavin to come to grips with his past, betrayal by friends, and the making of new friends. If the reader is a player of role playing games, this book would provide a great example of how an adventuring group could come together.
Despite the main character being a thief/assassin, the book's action does not revel or glory in gore or sensational description of the violence. Further, while there is a passing reference to sexual relationships (a couple of references to a shared bed between an unmarried couple), there is no appreciable sexual content, and no sexual violence depicted that I recall. I don't recall any excessive cursing or harsh language, although there may have been some mild usages of harsh language. This book was well written and kept my attention throughout, as it was well paced.
One common problem with books that are the start of a series is that the authors struggle to find a good "stop point" for the action. As a reader, much like a series watcher on TV, I hate the "cliffhanger" feeling, where you've finished a book or a TV series, but yet you feel it is unresolved and are left until next season or until a book is written. D. K. Holmberg nails the cutoff with this book. The book does have an obvious lead into the next book, in the closing lines, but the reader is still left satisfied that the major action of the book was resolved.
I loved this book and am eagerly awaiting his next in The Chain Breaker series, The Jade Egg. I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I did.
The book follows a thief/assassin, Gavin, who throughout the book, struggles with identity issues and trauma associated with his training and profession. The action throughout the book drops several rather blunt clues that Gavin is not a simple human, but that is how he has identified himself through his life. While this primary character is a thief/assassin, there are several supporting characters introduced as well, who are well detailed and enjoyable. The author leaves some information unknown for Gavin and his supporting characters, which the reader is able to glean slowly over the course of the book, so the reader is left feeling that he has gotten to know them better over time. Yet, at the end, there is some mystery for each character, leaving the reader interested in continuing to follow their exploits. There are a number of twists and surprises in the book involving interactions of characters, so I'll avoid spoilers, and simply state that not all of the twists are something the reader may anticipate, which helps keep the reader's attention over time. The book involves a set of jobs, nearly impossible to complete, that leads Gavin to come to grips with his past, betrayal by friends, and the making of new friends. If the reader is a player of role playing games, this book would provide a great example of how an adventuring group could come together.
Despite the main character being a thief/assassin, the book's action does not revel or glory in gore or sensational description of the violence. Further, while there is a passing reference to sexual relationships (a couple of references to a shared bed between an unmarried couple), there is no appreciable sexual content, and no sexual violence depicted that I recall. I don't recall any excessive cursing or harsh language, although there may have been some mild usages of harsh language. This book was well written and kept my attention throughout, as it was well paced.
One common problem with books that are the start of a series is that the authors struggle to find a good "stop point" for the action. As a reader, much like a series watcher on TV, I hate the "cliffhanger" feeling, where you've finished a book or a TV series, but yet you feel it is unresolved and are left until next season or until a book is written. D. K. Holmberg nails the cutoff with this book. The book does have an obvious lead into the next book, in the closing lines, but the reader is still left satisfied that the major action of the book was resolved.
I loved this book and am eagerly awaiting his next in The Chain Breaker series, The Jade Egg. I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I did.
October 19, 2020
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
Fantasy, magic, betrayal, romance and redemption. What more could you want? Book One if the Chain Breaker series was filled with great characters, intriguing worlds, and just about every emotion you could have. I loved it. I look forward to more.
When Gavin Lorren, a trained assassin, takes on a new assignment, he is unaware that it may be the last assignment he will ever take. But Gavin is smart, well trained and a thinker. He can solve problems and has a couple of helpers available if he runs into a complicated case.
In Gavin’s world magic is outlawed, but his newest assignment proves to be filled with magic. He must learn to recognize it, defeat it, and use it to his advantage. This requires all of his talents and abilities. Faced with a series of attacks, including magic, Gavin must save himself and his friends or die trying. If you travel with Gavin, you will experience adventure, magical spells, danger and romance. Come along and see for yourself. You won’t regret the trip.
Fantasy, magic, betrayal, romance and redemption. What more could you want? Book One if the Chain Breaker series was filled with great characters, intriguing worlds, and just about every emotion you could have. I loved it. I look forward to more.
When Gavin Lorren, a trained assassin, takes on a new assignment, he is unaware that it may be the last assignment he will ever take. But Gavin is smart, well trained and a thinker. He can solve problems and has a couple of helpers available if he runs into a complicated case.
In Gavin’s world magic is outlawed, but his newest assignment proves to be filled with magic. He must learn to recognize it, defeat it, and use it to his advantage. This requires all of his talents and abilities. Faced with a series of attacks, including magic, Gavin must save himself and his friends or die trying. If you travel with Gavin, you will experience adventure, magical spells, danger and romance. Come along and see for yourself. You won’t regret the trip.
December 14, 2021
How do you rate a book that doesn't have a proper ending? It took me a few hours after finishing it to realize it because there was an ending battle scene. However, it was just a faceless assassin. Not a known opposition. If the major plot is unresolved, do I need to bring up all the other unresolved little details where the characters just shrug off the details and somehow survive deadly encounters with bad information. Talk about frustrating. There were a ton of times where the gist of what was said is basically the author saying "I don't know what is going on" through the character. There are things I like about the characters, sure. There are some amazing things about the world, but I will not continue this series. I am actually surprised I finished the story. I guess it was the action sequences that kept bringing me back. Unless I was hoping the author would give me a flipping clue at some point. Since the author hasn't done so by the end of the book, I am not going to read the next book hoping they will give me a bread crumb of information next time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2021
I had high expectations when I found this series and read some of the reviews. Unfortunately, I'm in agreement with the lower reviews.
The characters weren't likeable and never grew. The world itself was very small with one town and a wooded area nearby.
What I found to be the worst were the 2-person dialogs and fight scenes. All were very basic back and forths. "What do you think?"..."I don't know, what do you think I think?" It was like having a conversation with a 4 year old.
Finally, I got tired of reading the different ways of describing Gavin's "Inner Power". The story repeatedly said it was limited, but it never ran out.
I just didn't like the writing and only finished the book hoping it would get better.
The characters weren't likeable and never grew. The world itself was very small with one town and a wooded area nearby.
What I found to be the worst were the 2-person dialogs and fight scenes. All were very basic back and forths. "What do you think?"..."I don't know, what do you think I think?" It was like having a conversation with a 4 year old.
Finally, I got tired of reading the different ways of describing Gavin's "Inner Power". The story repeatedly said it was limited, but it never ran out.
I just didn't like the writing and only finished the book hoping it would get better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2021
Needs work
I don’t know how many times it says “that core energy” or things like that, but it definitely got under my skin and takes the enjoyment right out of this book.
For me the characters are really flat and boring for the most part. The most interesting character is Tristan and he’s dead.
The story is predictable.
Could really use another pass with a good editor. There’s a scene where the main character and his thief sidekick “blend in” to a crowd while carrying an unconscious blood soaked woman through town. That had me laughing out loud, and I don’t think the joke was intentional.
I don’t know how many times it says “that core energy” or things like that, but it definitely got under my skin and takes the enjoyment right out of this book.
For me the characters are really flat and boring for the most part. The most interesting character is Tristan and he’s dead.
The story is predictable.
Could really use another pass with a good editor. There’s a scene where the main character and his thief sidekick “blend in” to a crowd while carrying an unconscious blood soaked woman through town. That had me laughing out loud, and I don’t think the joke was intentional.
April 30, 2021
I was really excited about this work, but it felt like it was written in a rush. On top of needing a good editing, the characters really needed some development and work. Gavin was pretty much the only one with some depth, and even that wasn't much. I was also excited for the worldbuilding, but you don't find out much about the city and surrounding area, including the culture and people. Overall, everything fell pretty flat. It was a quick, easy read but lacked the depth I wanted from a book like this.
June 10, 2021
I think the author threw a lot of plot stuff at the main characters but sacrificed on character development and forgot to hand out any answers at the end of the book.
I mean seriously the book is called the Risen Shard and I still have no idea what it is. I'll give you a full book leading up to an answer, but not 400 pages of:
"I am the risen shard"
"But what is a risen shard? What does that mean"
"I am the Risen Shard. That is all you need to know. Maybe I'll tell you more in a book or two"
I mean seriously the book is called the Risen Shard and I still have no idea what it is. I'll give you a full book leading up to an answer, but not 400 pages of:
"I am the risen shard"
"But what is a risen shard? What does that mean"
"I am the Risen Shard. That is all you need to know. Maybe I'll tell you more in a book or two"
December 6, 2020
This was my first book by this author, but the summary sounded interesting so I decided to go for it. I alternated between reading and listening to the Audible version, but will admit that I actually listened to most of it. I had no problems with the narration.
This is one of those stories that start, but we learn that it is not really the beginning and we begin to learn more and more information from the past as the story progresses. I have not looked, but I wondered if there wasn't another series that dealt with some of these issues (the actual acquiring and training of the boys by Tristan) and this series was a spin off or continuation. I'll have to look and see.
Anyway, I thought the world building was done nicely. This is only book 1 so there is a lot more for the readers (and I mean me) to learn and understand. There were lots of mentions of geographic locations and other lands with other things that they are known for (for example -magic vs non magic). Like I mentioned before, I listened to this so the descriptions had to help me build the maps in my mind.
The characters were also developed quite nicely and I immediately liked Gavin. I enjoyed the relationship between Gavin and Wrenlow. There were other secondary characters, but even though they took up a fairly big portion of the story, we really don't learn too much about them (Gaspar, Imogen, to name a couple). There is the evil person (well, actually several of those), the unknown (El aras), and of course, the mystery of what exactly Gavin is.
There were a couple times where I thought Gavin was being a bit dense when it came down to abilities that he may or may not have had, but he didn't even stop to consider that the actions might be coming from him. He must get smarter about things like this if he is going to learn what he needs to learn, but I have a feeling that he will have all the help he needs on that front.
I enjoyed this first book and am excited to see where this series goes.
This is one of those stories that start, but we learn that it is not really the beginning and we begin to learn more and more information from the past as the story progresses. I have not looked, but I wondered if there wasn't another series that dealt with some of these issues (the actual acquiring and training of the boys by Tristan) and this series was a spin off or continuation. I'll have to look and see.
Anyway, I thought the world building was done nicely. This is only book 1 so there is a lot more for the readers (and I mean me) to learn and understand. There were lots of mentions of geographic locations and other lands with other things that they are known for (for example -magic vs non magic). Like I mentioned before, I listened to this so the descriptions had to help me build the maps in my mind.
The characters were also developed quite nicely and I immediately liked Gavin. I enjoyed the relationship between Gavin and Wrenlow. There were other secondary characters, but even though they took up a fairly big portion of the story, we really don't learn too much about them (Gaspar, Imogen, to name a couple). There is the evil person (well, actually several of those), the unknown (El aras), and of course, the mystery of what exactly Gavin is.
There were a couple times where I thought Gavin was being a bit dense when it came down to abilities that he may or may not have had, but he didn't even stop to consider that the actions might be coming from him. He must get smarter about things like this if he is going to learn what he needs to learn, but I have a feeling that he will have all the help he needs on that front.
I enjoyed this first book and am excited to see where this series goes.
October 6, 2020
I just love a good rogue story, and Gavin Lorren is one hell of a great rogue! He had been trained from a very young age by his brutal mentor Tristan, beaten and tortured to turn him into what he came to be known as, the chain breaker, because he could get out of any scrap and tangle he came across until he couldn't. He was invited to go to the city of Yoran by his friend Cyran, who had also been mentored by Tristan, but who had escaped his clutches before Gavin. Whilst Gavin had been trained to be the best assassin, Cyran had been trained to be the best poisoner and healer. In Yoran Gavin and his friend Wrenlow, found jobs which were just right for Gavin to carry out, for an anonymous employer who went through a mediator called Hamish. Till the day one job did not go as planned, and Gavin found himself up against El'Aras supernatural killers who had been banned from the city. These were deadly and powerful in the use of magic, and Gavin had a hard time getting out of their clutches as well as those of the Sumter soldiers, he also had to find who the Apostle was and who the Risen Shard was, and how all these were tied to one another. All this whilst the noose was tightening around his neck and that of his threatened friends. I really enjoyed reading this very edge of the seat thrilling assassin adventure, full of exciting twists and turns to make for a very convoluted plot, full of magic, sorcerers, assassins, courage and loyalty as well as betrayal where least expected! I am dying to read book 2 as the end of the book leaves us with a very surprising revelation.
October 11, 2020
Author D.K. Holmberg has done it again! He has created a new series to challenge the mind and to keep those pages turning! In this first volume, Gavin, the protagonist, is quickly revealed to be more complex than at first appearance. Gavin is not just your average assasin. In fact, it was quite fascinating to follow the author's exposition of Gavin's training under a spectacularly difficult "mentor."
The Risen Shard is full of danger, fast action, and complicated relationships. It forms a solid core for the series adventure ahead. Gavin attracts all kinds of trouble but also manages to gather an amazing team to take on the challenges that get this series started.
Strongly recommended!
The Risen Shard is full of danger, fast action, and complicated relationships. It forms a solid core for the series adventure ahead. Gavin attracts all kinds of trouble but also manages to gather an amazing team to take on the challenges that get this series started.
Strongly recommended!
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May 16, 2024I Tried, But The Book Wasn't Good Enough
Have you ever read a book and thought this was a great book? Yeah, for me this wasn't it. I tried to get past the eyebrow raising "spell" equivalent of a modern day communication system between the main character and his side kick. I tried to work through the poorly written fight scenes. Trust me, I have read some bloody fight scenes that made me wonder how the character was supposed to do those feats, but I suspended belief for it. This read more like a person who just started writing and is still finding their feet. After reading a third of the book, I gave up. Between the main character not doing his own information gathering or doing a poor job of it, it's a wonder the character managed to stay alive other than with magic. I couldn't tell you if it got better as the book went along because it was torture for me to continue reading. Maybe someone else loves it, but I will go with the classics. Or someone who knows how to describe a decent fight.
Have you ever read a book and thought this was a great book? Yeah, for me this wasn't it. I tried to get past the eyebrow raising "spell" equivalent of a modern day communication system between the main character and his side kick. I tried to work through the poorly written fight scenes. Trust me, I have read some bloody fight scenes that made me wonder how the character was supposed to do those feats, but I suspended belief for it. This read more like a person who just started writing and is still finding their feet. After reading a third of the book, I gave up. Between the main character not doing his own information gathering or doing a poor job of it, it's a wonder the character managed to stay alive other than with magic. I couldn't tell you if it got better as the book went along because it was torture for me to continue reading. Maybe someone else loves it, but I will go with the classics. Or someone who knows how to describe a decent fight.
May 11, 2021
I will post this same review for all three books.
I've read the first three books of this series and have decided to stop. Very unusual for me.
Initially, I was inclined to give the first book three stars. It was far too chatty and repeated references to looking inside oneself for strength to meet the various challenges began to grate on me.
I decided to read books 2 and 3 in spite of my initial irritation. My initial annoyances began to fade. References to finding one's strength took on new dimensions and the chatter seemed to diminish (or I became accustomed).
I reassessed my initial rating and will now give it 4 stars. This series is not for me at this stage in my life. I expect that I would have been more amenable to this writing style as a younger man. The story lines are strong and diverse. The challenges are growing in scope and danger and the characters have begun to be better defined. I am sure there are individuals who will find this series quite to their liking.
I've read the first three books of this series and have decided to stop. Very unusual for me.
Initially, I was inclined to give the first book three stars. It was far too chatty and repeated references to looking inside oneself for strength to meet the various challenges began to grate on me.
I decided to read books 2 and 3 in spite of my initial irritation. My initial annoyances began to fade. References to finding one's strength took on new dimensions and the chatter seemed to diminish (or I became accustomed).
I reassessed my initial rating and will now give it 4 stars. This series is not for me at this stage in my life. I expect that I would have been more amenable to this writing style as a younger man. The story lines are strong and diverse. The challenges are growing in scope and danger and the characters have begun to be better defined. I am sure there are individuals who will find this series quite to their liking.
July 29, 2021
The repetition, my god, the repetition
Spoiler warning
The book has some promise, but it's lacking in some regards. Mainly the writing style . It feels like the writer needed to get to a certain amount of pages or words. And instead of fleshing out the characters or describing more about the world in which it takes place, he just filled it with the same stuff over and over. We get it, the main character can dip into some energy reserve, but I think about a tenth of the book is just describing that. He needs to find more energy, but he can't. Oh wait, maybe he can. Flashback to training with Tristan. Let's try some more.
That and the maybe's are just exhausting. Maybe this was a good idea, but on the other hand, maybe it isn't.
Unfortunately, based on the ratings I bought the books as a set, so I'll go through them. It has some promise, but the writing style just ruins it for me. Compared to other recent books I've read, this is below standards.
Spoiler warning
The book has some promise, but it's lacking in some regards. Mainly the writing style . It feels like the writer needed to get to a certain amount of pages or words. And instead of fleshing out the characters or describing more about the world in which it takes place, he just filled it with the same stuff over and over. We get it, the main character can dip into some energy reserve, but I think about a tenth of the book is just describing that. He needs to find more energy, but he can't. Oh wait, maybe he can. Flashback to training with Tristan. Let's try some more.
That and the maybe's are just exhausting. Maybe this was a good idea, but on the other hand, maybe it isn't.
Unfortunately, based on the ratings I bought the books as a set, so I'll go through them. It has some promise, but the writing style just ruins it for me. Compared to other recent books I've read, this is below standards.
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