What do you think?
Rate this book
Glintchasers #1
They Met in a Tavern
The band is getting back together—and they really wish they weren’t.
The Starbreakers were your classic teenage heroes. Using their combined powers and skills, they were the most successful group of glintchasers in Corsar. But that all changed the day the city of Relgen died. The group went their separate ways, placing the blame on each other.
Brass carried on as a solo act. Snow found work as a notorious assassin. Church became a town’s spiritual leader. Angel was the owner of a bar and inn. And after overcoming his own guilt, Phoenix started a new life as a family man.
Years after their falling out, a new threat looms when bounty hunters attack the former heroes. Phoenix tries to reunite the Starbreakers before everything they have left is taken from them. But a lot can change in seven years. And if mending old wounds was easy, they would have done it a long time ago.
The Starbreakers were your classic teenage heroes. Using their combined powers and skills, they were the most successful group of glintchasers in Corsar. But that all changed the day the city of Relgen died. The group went their separate ways, placing the blame on each other.
Brass carried on as a solo act. Snow found work as a notorious assassin. Church became a town’s spiritual leader. Angel was the owner of a bar and inn. And after overcoming his own guilt, Phoenix started a new life as a family man.
Years after their falling out, a new threat looms when bounty hunters attack the former heroes. Phoenix tries to reunite the Starbreakers before everything they have left is taken from them. But a lot can change in seven years. And if mending old wounds was easy, they would have done it a long time ago.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published August 10, 2021
43 people are currently reading
8391 people want to read
About the author
Elijah Menchaca
5 books69 followersElijah Menchaca was born and raised in Bakersfield, California and has been writing and telling stories since he was five. After seeing his first short stories on his grade school classroom's bookshelf, he knew he was destined for greatness. To chase that greatness (and a girl), he attended the University of Louisville where he minored in Creative Writing, discovered a love for Dungeons and Dragons, and got engaged.
Now, based in Ohio, when he isn't exploring the world he's created with more stories, he's making new memories around the virtual table with his old friends, pondering the worlds of fantasy and superheroes on his YouTube channel, and playing the role of devoted partner to a woman far too good for him.
Now, based in Ohio, when he isn't exploring the world he's created with more stories, he's making new memories around the virtual table with his old friends, pondering the worlds of fantasy and superheroes on his YouTube channel, and playing the role of devoted partner to a woman far too good for him.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
August 16, 2021
The life of the career fantasy adventurer has long been a fascination of me. What kind of a person decides to actually go out and live that life? What kind of world do they live in that makes it possible?
Sure it's dangerous, but anyone who's read a few old school fantasy stories or rolled a few d20s knows it's pretty much par for the course to get at least a found family out of the arrangement, to say nothing of the potential fortune and glory. How cool would it be to have all that?
How would it feel to lose it?
Tavern is the story of a group of people who had it all and lost it all, and did their best to build a life in the shadow of their own past success. Their feelings towards each other are inexorably linked to their feelings of their old lives together—some of them miss it, some of them hate it, and all of them don't know what to do when this part of their lives they thought was gone comes tearing back in.
I love this aspect of They Met in a Tavern, that it tackles this "afterward" period in the characters' lives. And I love these characters. At once archetypal and uniquely mine, a dysfunctional found family given a second chance. I could write a dozen books about them and never get tired of spending time with them. The Starbreakers especially, but a lot of their supporting cast as well.
Whether you're here for the pontifications on grappling with our pasts, the magic sword fights, or the dick jokes, I hope you have as great a time reading this book as I did writing it.
Sure it's dangerous, but anyone who's read a few old school fantasy stories or rolled a few d20s knows it's pretty much par for the course to get at least a found family out of the arrangement, to say nothing of the potential fortune and glory. How cool would it be to have all that?
How would it feel to lose it?
Tavern is the story of a group of people who had it all and lost it all, and did their best to build a life in the shadow of their own past success. Their feelings towards each other are inexorably linked to their feelings of their old lives together—some of them miss it, some of them hate it, and all of them don't know what to do when this part of their lives they thought was gone comes tearing back in.
I love this aspect of They Met in a Tavern, that it tackles this "afterward" period in the characters' lives. And I love these characters. At once archetypal and uniquely mine, a dysfunctional found family given a second chance. I could write a dozen books about them and never get tired of spending time with them. The Starbreakers especially, but a lot of their supporting cast as well.
Whether you're here for the pontifications on grappling with our pasts, the magic sword fights, or the dick jokes, I hope you have as great a time reading this book as I did writing it.
August 14, 2021
You can also read my review here: https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....
Review: 4.5 Stars
I hadn’t heard of this book until I saw the book tour for it. The title alone had me intrigued and the blurb sounded interesting so I figured that I’d give it a shot. Right away the writing grabbed my attention and I knew I was going to love this one. I love finding a great hidden gem and They Met in a Tavern should be on every fantasy fan’s radar. This book was full of action, had really great characters and a fast paced plot.
The characters in this book are all extremely well fleshed out. My favorite character was Brass. He was so funny and tons of his lines had me laughing out loud. I also really connected with Phoenix. Phoenix has a really pure heart and has worked hard to get past his horrific memories. I found him incredibly easy to empathize with and he had some really raw moments. I also really loved Snow. Snow is an assassin and a pretty morally grey character, but you can tell that she’s a good person underneath and just watching out for her old friends. Since this book is about the Starbreakers reuniting there is a lot of history between all of these characters and while it is given to you a piece at a time you really get to understand all of the relationship dynamics and why the group fell apart.
The plot was incredible. All of the Starbreakers are on a hit list and constantly attacked so they wind up coming back together to try and stop it and stay alive. The pacing is fast and the book is incredibly action packed. There were so many moments where I was on the edge of my seat. I loved the writing too, it was so vivid and I was transported into the story. I kept finding time to read, even when I should have been doing other things.
The world is really interesting. You get thrown right into the world without a lot of explanation. There are a several different kinds of magic that you get to see in the book and while some of it is slowly explained a lot of it isn’t. I wish the world building was a little bit clearer, but I wasn’t confused or anything. I loved all of the different types of magic an the entire world. I would totally love to read a prequel series about the adventures of the Starbreakers or get another book in this world.
They Met in a Tavern is an incredible indie debut. This book is a hidden gem and deserves all the hype. I can’t remember the last time I read such a fun fast paced fantasy. The world was so cool and while I would have liked a bit more history and explanation of the magic system I was never confused. I absolutely loved this book and was really impressed by the whole thing. If you’re looking for a funny and fast paced fantasy full of action you really need to check out They Met in a Tavern.
July 7, 2021
The Starbreakers used to be the best team of freelancers out there. They saved the world, got paid and had the time of their lives. Until they made a mistake and an entire city died. With nothing but blame and hate between them, the team has broken up and gone their separate ways. Phoenix became a dad; Snow an assassin; Angel owns a bar that can move whenever she needs to run; and Church is a beloved priest. Only Brass is still freelancing. Years after the event that ripped them apart, a bounty is put on their heads and the old team has to get back together to save themselves, if they can forgive each other first. I loved this book. It's a classic fantasy adventure that plays with tropes but still leaves you guessing. Dungeons and Dragons players will recognize and enjoy many nods to the classic game, but knowledge isn't required to fall in love with these unique characters. A great fantasy for both newcomers to the genre and fantasy lovers who appreciate a speedy, action-packed read.
---
I received a digital review copy of this book from CamCat Books and Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.
---
I received a digital review copy of this book from CamCat Books and Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2023
I have it on good authority that the author of this book is really bad at League of Legends
October 18, 2022
Fast paced and at times, very funny. Really enjoyed the rapport between the characters.
November 17, 2021
Witness the story of the Starbreakers, a freelancer company once celebrated as the greatest heroes in the land, now broken apart and embittered by their failure to save a city seven years ago.
When a price is put on their heads, an inventor, a duelist, a priest, an angel, and an assassin will have to reunite for one last job, or lose what lives they’ve managed to build for themselves.
I stepped into this book utterly by chance. The cover caught my eye and the blurb captivated me, so I decided to give it a shot. And I am so glad I did.
They Met in a Tavern was the kind of book you can't put down, that inescapably sucks the readers into the story from page one and, once finished, makes them wanting more.
I generally find a third-person omniscient pov quite annoying, but here it definitely did the trick. Not only the author switched among the main characters' points of view (at times in the span of a few paragraphs), but he somehow managed to make each voice unique, distinctive, recognizable. I loved it: it gave a deeper insight into their thoughts and feelings and made his narration utterly captivating and vivid.
As you can tell, Mr Menchaca has a way with words.
The story was action-packed, and the characters were all tridimensional and excellently fleshed out. It was impossible not to root for them and to get enthralled in their quest.
I also loved the Dungeons and Dragons vibes. However, I fear a reader less accustomed to D&D may struggle a bit more, lacking some important references since the wordbuilding was left mostly implicit - I would have loved to see it more developed.
That is, in my opinion, the only critical aspect of an otherwise stellar debut, a hidden gem that deserves to receive more attention.
I received a digital review copy of this book from CamCat Books and Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2021
Trigger warning: fighting, torture
“I hope your kid’s first word is cunt!”
If you like Dungeons and Dragons, you will absolutely adore this book. I have never read anything that even comes close to the way this book captures the spirit of DND, from the humor to the serious moments to the characters to the fights. Each of the characters feel real and important and go through their own arc. The fights are easy to follow but still complex enough to be interesting, especially with the wide range of powers that each character has. No two characters fight the same way and it adds to their characterization.
I was honestly spellbound (pun not intended) from beginning to end. This was an incredible book, especially for a debut novel and I hope the author writes more.
“I hope your kid’s first word is cunt!”
If you like Dungeons and Dragons, you will absolutely adore this book. I have never read anything that even comes close to the way this book captures the spirit of DND, from the humor to the serious moments to the characters to the fights. Each of the characters feel real and important and go through their own arc. The fights are easy to follow but still complex enough to be interesting, especially with the wide range of powers that each character has. No two characters fight the same way and it adds to their characterization.
I was honestly spellbound (pun not intended) from beginning to end. This was an incredible book, especially for a debut novel and I hope the author writes more.
February 5, 2024
A fun, fast paced sword-and-sorcery adventure that feels like a great home-brewed D&D campaign got a novelization! And with a surprising amount of heart.
Toss in a bit of humor and this was a great ride. While it won’t have much appeal for the non-fantasy folks, it’s perfect rainy day or beach reading for D&D/fantasy nerds. If magic swords and fighting clerics, ice-powered assassins working with incarnate angels and inventor mages while fighting for their lives sounds like your thing, you’ll have a great time here!
Toss in a bit of humor and this was a great ride. While it won’t have much appeal for the non-fantasy folks, it’s perfect rainy day or beach reading for D&D/fantasy nerds. If magic swords and fighting clerics, ice-powered assassins working with incarnate angels and inventor mages while fighting for their lives sounds like your thing, you’ll have a great time here!
August 29, 2021
We all know what happens to heroes who die young. They become legends, they become tavern songs carried by wandering bards, they become bedtime fables that inspire the next generation of adventurers and fortune seekers. They Met in a Tavern invites you to learn the story of the Starbreakers; a group of heroes who were lucky enough to survive beyond the ending of their own story.
The Good: If you enjoy Five Man Bands, well-paced mysterious, pre-established romantic partners who actually love each other, magic spells, and fully realized female characters, They Met in a Tavern is a book you should read. Not only are the characters distinctive and enjoyable to read, everyone in the story contributes something important to the mystery and overall adventure. The multiple perspectives in the book allow the reader a complete picture of the emotions in play and how muddy a shared history between five people's memories can get. With short and eventful chapters, They Met in a Tavern is suitable for readers that do not have long periods of time to binge-read through pages and pages of slow-burn.
The Bad: Due to the quick-paced nature of story, there isn't much extra room for world building. The fantasy elements and slang are familiar enough not to weigh the story down but they did leave me curious about some of the larger cultural details of the world setting. Additionally, as with any story that juggles a large cast of dynamic, fleshed-out personalities, some secondary characters do feel like they fall in and out of story at times.
Final rating, solid 5/5.
A well-written adventure with a serious, emotional discussion that lasts from beginning to end.
The Good: If you enjoy Five Man Bands, well-paced mysterious, pre-established romantic partners who actually love each other, magic spells, and fully realized female characters, They Met in a Tavern is a book you should read. Not only are the characters distinctive and enjoyable to read, everyone in the story contributes something important to the mystery and overall adventure. The multiple perspectives in the book allow the reader a complete picture of the emotions in play and how muddy a shared history between five people's memories can get. With short and eventful chapters, They Met in a Tavern is suitable for readers that do not have long periods of time to binge-read through pages and pages of slow-burn.
The Bad: Due to the quick-paced nature of story, there isn't much extra room for world building. The fantasy elements and slang are familiar enough not to weigh the story down but they did leave me curious about some of the larger cultural details of the world setting. Additionally, as with any story that juggles a large cast of dynamic, fleshed-out personalities, some secondary characters do feel like they fall in and out of story at times.
Final rating, solid 5/5.
A well-written adventure with a serious, emotional discussion that lasts from beginning to end.
July 24, 2023
Let's not kid ourselves here; this is a D&D novel. Or maybe Pathfinder if you prefer.
It's not set in any iconic locations from either of those IPs, and the names have been changed to protect the novel from punitive cease-and-desist orders, but this is effectively a book written about the aftermath of a D&D campaign. In that it's not bad as it's an area not often explored.
Your standard adventuring party (Rogue, Bard, Cleric, Barbarian, and magic user who seems to mostly be an alchemist) broke up after royally messing up an adventure. The exploration of how each character's life evolved after the end of their adventures gave this a little more depth for me than just reading about an adventuring party.
That said, the characters are mostly archetypes. If you know the "prototypical personality" of each class, the characters basically stay in those stereotypes. The Rogue acts like she doesn't care about anything and is always out for number 1...except deep down they're not. The Bard is a wild, carefree, have sex with anything agent of chaos. The cleric is devoted to a fault and grudgingly tolerates his companions. The alchemist is an obsessed expert who forgets about people's feelings, and the barbarian is always just this side of a roid-rage incident.
It's still a good adventure tale, and as mentioned setting it after the protagonists have "retired" puts enough of a twist on the usual tale that I was entertained by it. Enough to pick up the second book anyway.
It's not set in any iconic locations from either of those IPs, and the names have been changed to protect the novel from punitive cease-and-desist orders, but this is effectively a book written about the aftermath of a D&D campaign. In that it's not bad as it's an area not often explored.
Your standard adventuring party (Rogue, Bard, Cleric, Barbarian, and magic user who seems to mostly be an alchemist) broke up after royally messing up an adventure. The exploration of how each character's life evolved after the end of their adventures gave this a little more depth for me than just reading about an adventuring party.
That said, the characters are mostly archetypes. If you know the "prototypical personality" of each class, the characters basically stay in those stereotypes. The Rogue acts like she doesn't care about anything and is always out for number 1...except deep down they're not. The Bard is a wild, carefree, have sex with anything agent of chaos. The cleric is devoted to a fault and grudgingly tolerates his companions. The alchemist is an obsessed expert who forgets about people's feelings, and the barbarian is always just this side of a roid-rage incident.
It's still a good adventure tale, and as mentioned setting it after the protagonists have "retired" puts enough of a twist on the usual tale that I was entertained by it. Enough to pick up the second book anyway.
September 19, 2023
I won this book via Goodreads giveaway
Nice. A fun read.
This will be a familiar setting for anyone who is into fantasy and RPGs, and it somehow managed not to feel super tropey.
I like the concept of forcing the renegade band back together and picking up bits and pieces of history along the way. I also enjoyed the reason revealed for the contract. This was easy to get through and made me laugh along the way. I would read more.
One small note for editing: the repeat use of some words, especially names, was kind of annoying. I get that with multiple players and similar naming conventions it helps solidify who is who, but it probably wasn’t necessary to do that many times. Also, would be super helpful if you could put the sword names in italics or something (it was done once for Fountaine). Otherwise, I had to stop mid-sentence and be like “who?” only to realize it wasn’t a who and rather a “what.” It was a bit detracting from the story.
Nice. A fun read.
This will be a familiar setting for anyone who is into fantasy and RPGs, and it somehow managed not to feel super tropey.
I like the concept of forcing the renegade band back together and picking up bits and pieces of history along the way. I also enjoyed the reason revealed for the contract. This was easy to get through and made me laugh along the way. I would read more.
One small note for editing: the repeat use of some words, especially names, was kind of annoying. I get that with multiple players and similar naming conventions it helps solidify who is who, but it probably wasn’t necessary to do that many times. Also, would be super helpful if you could put the sword names in italics or something (it was done once for Fountaine). Otherwise, I had to stop mid-sentence and be like “who?” only to realize it wasn’t a who and rather a “what.” It was a bit detracting from the story.
October 24, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC of They Met In A Tavern.
This book read just like a Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) campaign, and as a player myself, I loved that. I felt like you really were sat around the adventuring table flowing all of these classes through a campaign.
I did find the narrator of this audio book to be a bit mumbly at times, but otherwise an enjoyable listen.
I would recommend to any fantasy lover, or any D&D player!
This book read just like a Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) campaign, and as a player myself, I loved that. I felt like you really were sat around the adventuring table flowing all of these classes through a campaign.
I did find the narrator of this audio book to be a bit mumbly at times, but otherwise an enjoyable listen.
I would recommend to any fantasy lover, or any D&D player!
April 1, 2023
Evocative of D&D, this story brings back together a team of heroes that separated under very horrible circumstances. Now, someone's put a price on their heads. And they need to figure out who and put a stop to it before anyone dies.
March 11, 2022
3 stars
The heart of this story is relationships. How much does it take to ruin friendships, and can they be repaired? How can you ask your family to forgive you, and are you able to come back together in times of need? It just so happens to be that these friendships take place in a fantasy world, between a group of adventurers with incredible powers, fighting powerful and magical enemies.
The characters were all distinct, and sympathetic, and the author did a great job of providing story and background details with flashbacks and changes in POV. Although interpersonal drama isn’t really my favorite theme, the author did a great job and kept me invested throughout.
The heart of this story is relationships. How much does it take to ruin friendships, and can they be repaired? How can you ask your family to forgive you, and are you able to come back together in times of need? It just so happens to be that these friendships take place in a fantasy world, between a group of adventurers with incredible powers, fighting powerful and magical enemies.
The characters were all distinct, and sympathetic, and the author did a great job of providing story and background details with flashbacks and changes in POV. Although interpersonal drama isn’t really my favorite theme, the author did a great job and kept me invested throughout.
November 19, 2024
Great LitRPG. I love Brass I dont know "what" he is but hes funny. If you arent familiar with D&D terms and class types you may get a little lost without looking it up. This was a Goodreads giveaway
October 1, 2021
ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
Elijah recently appeared as a guest on my and M.E.Vaughan's podcast Dissecting Dragons Check it out.
If you're looking for light, humorous fantasy with heart, look no further. They Met in a Tavern takes the immersive fun of a D'n'D campaign combines it with fast paced fantasy narrative and poses the question: what happens when we all grow up?
This question is at the core of the book and Menchaca tackles it with enthusiasm and sensitivity through the story. The basic plot is a little like Kings of the Wyld in that it takes place after the adventures of a group of misfit heroes are apparently over. Where Kings takes it from the perspective of a character who has reached middle age and retired from highly dangerous activities in order to settle down, not to mention avoid dying in a gruesome fashion, They Met in a Tavern is from the viewpoint of people who were teens on a quest, closer than family, and then everything went sour. Now, having grown up and grown away from who they used to be, they are forced to work together one last time. All the past grudges and slights are coming to the fore, and a fair bit of nostalgia too. I won't go into details to avoid spoilers, but I just want to shout out to my favourite character, Brass. Got to love a character who is morally ambiguous, doesn't really expect life to be kind and is just utterly stoked to see his old friends again. The guy who never really left high school/ college/ the band - seriously check out the podcast episode, we talk about all of this :)
Overall this was a fun, fast paced and enjoyable novel. Recommended reading for fantasy fans. I look forward to what Menchaca writes next.
Elijah recently appeared as a guest on my and M.E.Vaughan's podcast Dissecting Dragons Check it out.
If you're looking for light, humorous fantasy with heart, look no further. They Met in a Tavern takes the immersive fun of a D'n'D campaign combines it with fast paced fantasy narrative and poses the question: what happens when we all grow up?
This question is at the core of the book and Menchaca tackles it with enthusiasm and sensitivity through the story. The basic plot is a little like Kings of the Wyld in that it takes place after the adventures of a group of misfit heroes are apparently over. Where Kings takes it from the perspective of a character who has reached middle age and retired from highly dangerous activities in order to settle down, not to mention avoid dying in a gruesome fashion, They Met in a Tavern is from the viewpoint of people who were teens on a quest, closer than family, and then everything went sour. Now, having grown up and grown away from who they used to be, they are forced to work together one last time. All the past grudges and slights are coming to the fore, and a fair bit of nostalgia too. I won't go into details to avoid spoilers, but I just want to shout out to my favourite character, Brass. Got to love a character who is morally ambiguous, doesn't really expect life to be kind and is just utterly stoked to see his old friends again. The guy who never really left high school/ college/ the band - seriously check out the podcast episode, we talk about all of this :)
Overall this was a fun, fast paced and enjoyable novel. Recommended reading for fantasy fans. I look forward to what Menchaca writes next.
February 3, 2022
This book had me hooked from the start and I finished it in one sitting. The characters were all interesting, unique and relatable. I liked the premise of what happens after the adventuring party retires. It is an action-packed adventure full of heart and I fully recommend it.
August 6, 2021
Check out my full review coming on August 9th on The Broke Book Blog (https://thebrokebookblog.com)! Extra goodies include: a custom playlist, Favorite Quotes, and a chance to a win a copy of THEY MET IN A TAVERN!
MY TOP FIVE REASONS TO READ THEY MET IN A TAVERN:
1) I am a Dungeon and Dragons nerd (currently in two campaigns and trying to create a homebrew one to DM), and this book has big RPG vibes. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Menchaca had gotten inspired by a campaign he was playing/running and then chose to create a story around what happened next.
2) I love reading about what happened to protagonists AFTER The Big Event, and Menchaca delivers on that in this story. We get to hear about Phoenix’s family, Brass having “over-experimented with mind-altering substances in my youth”, Church’s regret and guilt over The Big Event, and more.
3) Brass’s fast-paced quips in the face of danger often had me chuckling at my work desk.
4) To go with the previous point, Menchaca has a way with words that had me highlighting all over TMIAT. Here are some of my favorite quotes:
“You gentlemen neglected to introduce yourselves, even though you know my name. So, until you learn your manners,” Brass warned, pointing at the two men, “you’re Greg, and you’re Wallace.”
Strength and guidance. It’s all anyone really needs in the world, isn’t it? Besides bread and a roof, obviously.
“Because your murder boner is turning you into a literal beacon, and spying on people usually takes subtlety.”
“You’re trying to help yourself,” Angel corrected. “The fact that it would help me at all is an accident.”
“You were always a good person, but you got distracted. You would find a problem to solve and fixate on it and forget that the people around you are people, not puzzle pieces.”
And at least this mage wasn’t a murderous psychopath --- just incredibly full of herself.
“He fucked up, you fucked up, how about we just admit we all fucked up and be a pile of fuckups? Wow, that’s an image.”
“That ‘companies are families’ stuff’s bullshit and survivor’s bias.”
5) I love how Arman, a.k.a Phoenix, is autistic-coded and still known to be a normal/unbroken person. It is clear that his mental processes are neurodivergent - Elizabeth seems to be his helpmeet and guide when he needs her to be. However, Aron is not inherently challenged or set back by this - he is still an intelligent inventor, who can make snap decisions that will make or break his chances of survival.
My only real complaint is that Menchaca writes his female-presenting characters as rather one-dimensional in comparison to the male-presenting characters. There are four major AFAB characters within They Met In A Tavern: Elizabeth (Phoenix’s wife), Snow (former Starbreaker and current assassin), Ruby (the lady of the night hired by Brass for a sting and unfortunately trapped in their drama), and Angel (actual angel who has been born as a human). I could honestly sum up each person with one specific trait and the reader would probably learn everything they need to know from that word/phrase. For example: Elizabeth - mother/wife, Snow - cold shoulder, Ruby - wrong place, wrong time, and Angel - just wants to run her inn.
Granted, there is Thalia, who I love and would like to propose to if she were real, but she isn’t a major character - she is just a side character meant to support one of the Starbreakers. Meanwhile, we get Church’s internal conflict with his regret and what he knew he had to do or Brass’s struggle to be authentic while keeping himself safe. It is a bit disappointing to realize that the reason I keep forgetting about the female characters three-quarters of the way through is because it feels like Menchaca did too. I feel we could chalk this up to inexperience writing from the AFAB point of view, but honestly it isn’t that hard.
MY TOP FIVE REASONS TO READ THEY MET IN A TAVERN:
1) I am a Dungeon and Dragons nerd (currently in two campaigns and trying to create a homebrew one to DM), and this book has big RPG vibes. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Menchaca had gotten inspired by a campaign he was playing/running and then chose to create a story around what happened next.
2) I love reading about what happened to protagonists AFTER The Big Event, and Menchaca delivers on that in this story. We get to hear about Phoenix’s family, Brass having “over-experimented with mind-altering substances in my youth”, Church’s regret and guilt over The Big Event, and more.
3) Brass’s fast-paced quips in the face of danger often had me chuckling at my work desk.
4) To go with the previous point, Menchaca has a way with words that had me highlighting all over TMIAT. Here are some of my favorite quotes:
“You gentlemen neglected to introduce yourselves, even though you know my name. So, until you learn your manners,” Brass warned, pointing at the two men, “you’re Greg, and you’re Wallace.”
Strength and guidance. It’s all anyone really needs in the world, isn’t it? Besides bread and a roof, obviously.
“Because your murder boner is turning you into a literal beacon, and spying on people usually takes subtlety.”
“You’re trying to help yourself,” Angel corrected. “The fact that it would help me at all is an accident.”
“You were always a good person, but you got distracted. You would find a problem to solve and fixate on it and forget that the people around you are people, not puzzle pieces.”
And at least this mage wasn’t a murderous psychopath --- just incredibly full of herself.
“He fucked up, you fucked up, how about we just admit we all fucked up and be a pile of fuckups? Wow, that’s an image.”
“That ‘companies are families’ stuff’s bullshit and survivor’s bias.”
5) I love how Arman, a.k.a Phoenix, is autistic-coded and still known to be a normal/unbroken person. It is clear that his mental processes are neurodivergent - Elizabeth seems to be his helpmeet and guide when he needs her to be. However, Aron is not inherently challenged or set back by this - he is still an intelligent inventor, who can make snap decisions that will make or break his chances of survival.
My only real complaint is that Menchaca writes his female-presenting characters as rather one-dimensional in comparison to the male-presenting characters. There are four major AFAB characters within They Met In A Tavern: Elizabeth (Phoenix’s wife), Snow (former Starbreaker and current assassin), Ruby (the lady of the night hired by Brass for a sting and unfortunately trapped in their drama), and Angel (actual angel who has been born as a human). I could honestly sum up each person with one specific trait and the reader would probably learn everything they need to know from that word/phrase. For example: Elizabeth - mother/wife, Snow - cold shoulder, Ruby - wrong place, wrong time, and Angel - just wants to run her inn.
Granted, there is Thalia, who I love and would like to propose to if she were real, but she isn’t a major character - she is just a side character meant to support one of the Starbreakers. Meanwhile, we get Church’s internal conflict with his regret and what he knew he had to do or Brass’s struggle to be authentic while keeping himself safe. It is a bit disappointing to realize that the reason I keep forgetting about the female characters three-quarters of the way through is because it feels like Menchaca did too. I feel we could chalk this up to inexperience writing from the AFAB point of view, but honestly it isn’t that hard.
October 13, 2022
ARC audiobook provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
“They Met in a Tavern” is a fantasy book that follows the story of the Starbreakers, a mixed group of former freelancers, in a fight for survival when a hit is put out on them. The Starbreakers used to be the best freelancers in the game. Relying on various powers and skills, the group worked together to save lives and fight evil. Until the day it all went wrong, and the entire city of Relgen died under their watch. The loss and devastation tore the group apart in a mixture of animosity and blame.
Now seven years later, the Starbreakers have each moved on from each other to start new lives. Brass became a solo freelancer, Snow an assassin, Church a cleric and spiritual leader, Angel an owner of a bar and inn, and Phoenix a family man. Their new lives are violently interrupted when bounty hunters suddenly begin attacking each member, and these former heroes find out there is a price on their heads. In a desperate fight for their lives, the former Starbreakers soon find themselves drawn back to each other. Can they band together and save themselves? Or will their complicated history be their undoing?
I greatly enjoyed this book. It follows an interesting cast of characters as they maneuver through a lush fantasy world of magic, powers, heroes, and evildoers. The author does an excellent job at setting up this complex environment. The characters are interesting, fleshed out well, likeable, and engaging. Although they were once heroes, each character is brought back to reality with a variety of flaws. The overall story arc flowed well and kept me hooked from beginning to end. The author has an easy writing style that made this book a quick, engrossing, enjoyable read. The way this book is structured, the way the plot progresses, and the story’s final resolution seem to set up this book as a first in a series. I enjoyed this book so much that if it does continue as a series, I will definitely pick up a copy of future books.
The only negative I have with this book is that the ending does seem to wrap up a bit too rapidly. The book sets up the past and present adventures of the characters well throughout the narrative, but when it reaches the climax and resolution, it suddenly speeds up and quickly ends. It also wraps up while leaving questions unanswered and some of the plot unresolved. As I noted above, this book does seem like it would be the first in a series, but I haven’t found any indication that the author will be continuing with this story in future books. As a standalone novel, it did leave me feeling a bit unsatisfied with the conclusion. However, if it does proceed as a series, the ending would be just fine.
My copy of this book was an audiobook, so I must comment on the narrator. I thought he did an excellent job. This book has numerous characters, and the narrator had clear voices for each that made them easily identifiable. He did a good job with both male and female voices, and his overall narrative pace waws well done.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book. I recommend this book to fans of fantasy novels and both adult and older young adult readers. I look forward to more books from this author, and I really hope this book continues as a series!
“They Met in a Tavern” is a fantasy book that follows the story of the Starbreakers, a mixed group of former freelancers, in a fight for survival when a hit is put out on them. The Starbreakers used to be the best freelancers in the game. Relying on various powers and skills, the group worked together to save lives and fight evil. Until the day it all went wrong, and the entire city of Relgen died under their watch. The loss and devastation tore the group apart in a mixture of animosity and blame.
Now seven years later, the Starbreakers have each moved on from each other to start new lives. Brass became a solo freelancer, Snow an assassin, Church a cleric and spiritual leader, Angel an owner of a bar and inn, and Phoenix a family man. Their new lives are violently interrupted when bounty hunters suddenly begin attacking each member, and these former heroes find out there is a price on their heads. In a desperate fight for their lives, the former Starbreakers soon find themselves drawn back to each other. Can they band together and save themselves? Or will their complicated history be their undoing?
I greatly enjoyed this book. It follows an interesting cast of characters as they maneuver through a lush fantasy world of magic, powers, heroes, and evildoers. The author does an excellent job at setting up this complex environment. The characters are interesting, fleshed out well, likeable, and engaging. Although they were once heroes, each character is brought back to reality with a variety of flaws. The overall story arc flowed well and kept me hooked from beginning to end. The author has an easy writing style that made this book a quick, engrossing, enjoyable read. The way this book is structured, the way the plot progresses, and the story’s final resolution seem to set up this book as a first in a series. I enjoyed this book so much that if it does continue as a series, I will definitely pick up a copy of future books.
The only negative I have with this book is that the ending does seem to wrap up a bit too rapidly. The book sets up the past and present adventures of the characters well throughout the narrative, but when it reaches the climax and resolution, it suddenly speeds up and quickly ends. It also wraps up while leaving questions unanswered and some of the plot unresolved. As I noted above, this book does seem like it would be the first in a series, but I haven’t found any indication that the author will be continuing with this story in future books. As a standalone novel, it did leave me feeling a bit unsatisfied with the conclusion. However, if it does proceed as a series, the ending would be just fine.
My copy of this book was an audiobook, so I must comment on the narrator. I thought he did an excellent job. This book has numerous characters, and the narrator had clear voices for each that made them easily identifiable. He did a good job with both male and female voices, and his overall narrative pace waws well done.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book. I recommend this book to fans of fantasy novels and both adult and older young adult readers. I look forward to more books from this author, and I really hope this book continues as a series!
August 13, 2021
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to TBR & Beyond Tours, Edelweiss, and CamCat Books for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
Did I just use the same or similar gif because I adore this part of the series? Yes, yes I did. Plus it matches because it happened in a tavern, and don’t we just adore taverns?
This was certainly an interesting novel, and one that I don’t know if I would have found on my own. This is why I appreciate taking chances on book tours, especially if its for a book that I haven’t seen much news about.
I thought it was really interesting what everyone ended up doing after their stint of being heroes. I honestly don’t know if they would have stayed heroes if the event that broke them apart in the first place didn’t end up happening. Something else could have split them, to be frank. Based on how each of them coped during the aftermath, it’s clear that each of them were affected differently and probably in ways that their fellow teammates wouldn’t have understood. The fact that its been seven years since their split and they haven’t somehow made up can tell you a bit about that.
While I personally have not played Dungeons and Dragons – as a lot of people compare elements of this novel to that game – there are other RPG (role-playing games) that I adore playing so I can kind of guess what they mean. I think what I like most about RPG is that while the main mission is important, you can still see what your character is doing outside of those main tasks, after the main tasks, etc. Maybe not every single game, but the ones that do make for a cooler experience in my opinion. Like a lot of people have mentioned with this one, being able to see the story heroes outside of the “main event” is something great to see and experience, since that’s not normally the case with fantasy novels. I also like that these heroes did not end up staying together after what happened, although I could totally understand why they didn’t. I honestly don’t know if I would be able to either, even though it ends up being a shared experience.
I also appreciate the fantasy aspects of this novel and being able to see heroes interact in a world different from ours. I love the idea of superheroes or heroes working together, and when they happen off what we know as Earth.. boy oh boy does it get more interesting. I recommend this for either new or infrequent fantasy readers the most, but I think any level fantasy reader could find something they like about this novel! Definitely take a chance on it, and I’m excited to listen to the audiobook when it becomes available!
Did I just use the same or similar gif because I adore this part of the series? Yes, yes I did. Plus it matches because it happened in a tavern, and don’t we just adore taverns?
This was certainly an interesting novel, and one that I don’t know if I would have found on my own. This is why I appreciate taking chances on book tours, especially if its for a book that I haven’t seen much news about.
I thought it was really interesting what everyone ended up doing after their stint of being heroes. I honestly don’t know if they would have stayed heroes if the event that broke them apart in the first place didn’t end up happening. Something else could have split them, to be frank. Based on how each of them coped during the aftermath, it’s clear that each of them were affected differently and probably in ways that their fellow teammates wouldn’t have understood. The fact that its been seven years since their split and they haven’t somehow made up can tell you a bit about that.
While I personally have not played Dungeons and Dragons – as a lot of people compare elements of this novel to that game – there are other RPG (role-playing games) that I adore playing so I can kind of guess what they mean. I think what I like most about RPG is that while the main mission is important, you can still see what your character is doing outside of those main tasks, after the main tasks, etc. Maybe not every single game, but the ones that do make for a cooler experience in my opinion. Like a lot of people have mentioned with this one, being able to see the story heroes outside of the “main event” is something great to see and experience, since that’s not normally the case with fantasy novels. I also like that these heroes did not end up staying together after what happened, although I could totally understand why they didn’t. I honestly don’t know if I would be able to either, even though it ends up being a shared experience.
I also appreciate the fantasy aspects of this novel and being able to see heroes interact in a world different from ours. I love the idea of superheroes or heroes working together, and when they happen off what we know as Earth.. boy oh boy does it get more interesting. I recommend this for either new or infrequent fantasy readers the most, but I think any level fantasy reader could find something they like about this novel! Definitely take a chance on it, and I’m excited to listen to the audiobook when it becomes available!
August 15, 2021
4.25/5
I really enjoyed this book. Probably more than I thought I would. The synopsis was very reminiscent of Kings of the Wyld, but with a slightly different edge. The members of the band The Starbreakers did not part on good terms. Probably the on worst of terms, actually. What really surprised me was the urban feel to this read. While the story definitely doesn’t take place in a modern setting, the world Menchaca built with the police force, the criminal gangs, the descriptions of the city and it’s people, lent a more urban, civilizied approach to your typical Dungeons and Dragons -esque story.
What I enjoyed most about this book were the characters. Brass was definitely my favorite. You could tell he was supposed to be the comedic member of the group, the one who is good looking, but kind of dumb. However, Brass is a very clever character, and most often acts stupider than he really is. It’s another weapon in his arsenal, a way for his opponents to underestimate him. Which happens quite often. Also, he had some pretty great one liners.
I feel we definitely got to know the most about Phoenix, as a large majority of the story was from his perspective. He was the leader of The Starbreakers, and still carries a lot of guilt (thought he doesn’t necessarily admit that) about how the group disbanded. He spends a lot of time trying to live up to his old self, which doesn’t always work out for him.
Church, Snow, and Angel are the most mysterious members of the band, thought each are intriguing in their own way. I do wish we would have gotten a bit more backstory into the characters. We learn briefly how they came together, but most of the flashbacks were focused on what went wrong. Learning more about how they came to be freelancers in the first place, how they got their monikers, would have been very interesting to read about.
The overarching plot did feel a bit weak to me, why all of this was happening in the first place, but I was able to overlook that by how much I was enjoying reading about the plights of our characters. My main complaint would probably be the shifting perspectives in the storytelling. We would switch from the inner thoughts of one character to the thoughts of another within the same paragraph, a that did change how the story was perceived just a tad.
Overall, this was a very fun, adventurous read with dynamic characters, nonstop action, and an imaginative magical element. I would definitely be interested in reading more from this world with these characters. I would urge any fan of fantasy to pick up and read They Met in a Tavern.
I really enjoyed this book. Probably more than I thought I would. The synopsis was very reminiscent of Kings of the Wyld, but with a slightly different edge. The members of the band The Starbreakers did not part on good terms. Probably the on worst of terms, actually. What really surprised me was the urban feel to this read. While the story definitely doesn’t take place in a modern setting, the world Menchaca built with the police force, the criminal gangs, the descriptions of the city and it’s people, lent a more urban, civilizied approach to your typical Dungeons and Dragons -esque story.
What I enjoyed most about this book were the characters. Brass was definitely my favorite. You could tell he was supposed to be the comedic member of the group, the one who is good looking, but kind of dumb. However, Brass is a very clever character, and most often acts stupider than he really is. It’s another weapon in his arsenal, a way for his opponents to underestimate him. Which happens quite often. Also, he had some pretty great one liners.
I feel we definitely got to know the most about Phoenix, as a large majority of the story was from his perspective. He was the leader of The Starbreakers, and still carries a lot of guilt (thought he doesn’t necessarily admit that) about how the group disbanded. He spends a lot of time trying to live up to his old self, which doesn’t always work out for him.
Church, Snow, and Angel are the most mysterious members of the band, thought each are intriguing in their own way. I do wish we would have gotten a bit more backstory into the characters. We learn briefly how they came together, but most of the flashbacks were focused on what went wrong. Learning more about how they came to be freelancers in the first place, how they got their monikers, would have been very interesting to read about.
The overarching plot did feel a bit weak to me, why all of this was happening in the first place, but I was able to overlook that by how much I was enjoying reading about the plights of our characters. My main complaint would probably be the shifting perspectives in the storytelling. We would switch from the inner thoughts of one character to the thoughts of another within the same paragraph, a that did change how the story was perceived just a tad.
Overall, this was a very fun, adventurous read with dynamic characters, nonstop action, and an imaginative magical element. I would definitely be interested in reading more from this world with these characters. I would urge any fan of fantasy to pick up and read They Met in a Tavern.
August 16, 2021
[Blog]::[Youtube]::[Twitter]::[Instagram]::[Pinterest]::[Bloglovin]
“They Met in a Tavern” is a creative fantasy novel that grew on me, and I enjoyed reading it.
Before I begin, I must say I hardly know anything about Dungeons and Dragons. I heard from quite a few other people how the story inspired elements from the role-playing game. So my thoughts are purely on the tale and how I reacted to it. Initially, it took me a while to adjust to the story. The novel is a bit bumpy in the beginning because you don’t know who the characters are and how they are connected. Moreover, there are many characters on canvas, and it took a while to get used to them. But once I read more about Church, Phoenix, Brass, and the group, I could not put it down.
I am impressed with how the author executed the story, considering that this is his debut. I loved the concept of the story of how he dives into the aftermath of The Starbreakers. The world-building is also vast and has potential, and we get to know about the Antemers and Iandrans and Servitor Hearts. Similarly, I also liked how the author introduced Fellblade and thought the character brought intensity to the story. Moreover, the author always makes the story light-hearted, even with the action and excitement that made the story entertaining.
The characters are also distinctive and stand apart. More than the action, it was interesting to see the emotions between the group members, like how Snow worries about how Church and Angel would react. My favorite character was Brass, and I liked his quick wit. The story had many memorable moments, from when they meet at the Clocktowers Hideout to meet the Handler.
Overall, “They Met in a Tavern” is an exciting fantasy novel worth reading.
October 18, 2022
This is basically the story of what happens to your D&D party after the campaign ends and everyone goes their own separate ways. The Starbreakers were one of the best group of freelancers ("glintchasers", as they're called) in the business. Then something really bad happens and they all blame each other and go their separate ways. Now someone is hunting them down, along with other groups, and if they can't put aside their differences, it might be the end of them.
As someone who played the same D&D campaign for six years, bringing my character from a green rookie to beyond level 20, I recognised a lot of this. It really did feel like D&D with the serial numbers filed off. From the spellcasting clerics, to thieves with short range teleport, to charismatic duelling ladies men and more. But I enjoyed spending time getting to know these people. Phoenix, the mage whose power comes from the magic items he forges, obviously cares about the group, but doesn't know how to make the first approach. Brass, the duellist and face man (*cough*bard*cough*) carried on with the lifestyle. He's charming, never seems to take offence and is delighted when he has a chance to meet his former comrades (although the feeling isn't always mutual). These two are the group members we meet first and spend most time with.
I feel Snow and Angel got a bit short-changed, since they're both lumped in the "angry woman" category, and don't get an awful lot of characterisation beyond that. One is an assassin with cold powers, and the other an angel fighter. They antagonise each other a lot and beyond knowing that Snow used to date Phoenix, there's little about them. The final member of the group, Church (the cleric), is a bit bland, although we don't spend much time in his head getting to know him.
It might sound disparaging, comparing Menchaca's world to a D&D campaign, but honestly, it's not. I spent many happy hours not just playing my campaign, but thinking about it, on my own and with my GM, and world-building. Menchaca has done the same with his world. He obviously cares for it and enjoys writing it, and I enjoyed reading it. It's maybe not as self-assured as it could be, which gives it away as a first novel, but the fast pace and easy reading style more than makes up for it. I want to find out what the Starbreakers do next.
As someone who played the same D&D campaign for six years, bringing my character from a green rookie to beyond level 20, I recognised a lot of this. It really did feel like D&D with the serial numbers filed off. From the spellcasting clerics, to thieves with short range teleport, to charismatic duelling ladies men and more. But I enjoyed spending time getting to know these people. Phoenix, the mage whose power comes from the magic items he forges, obviously cares about the group, but doesn't know how to make the first approach. Brass, the duellist and face man (*cough*bard*cough*) carried on with the lifestyle. He's charming, never seems to take offence and is delighted when he has a chance to meet his former comrades (although the feeling isn't always mutual). These two are the group members we meet first and spend most time with.
I feel Snow and Angel got a bit short-changed, since they're both lumped in the "angry woman" category, and don't get an awful lot of characterisation beyond that. One is an assassin with cold powers, and the other an angel fighter. They antagonise each other a lot and beyond knowing that Snow used to date Phoenix, there's little about them. The final member of the group, Church (the cleric), is a bit bland, although we don't spend much time in his head getting to know him.
It might sound disparaging, comparing Menchaca's world to a D&D campaign, but honestly, it's not. I spent many happy hours not just playing my campaign, but thinking about it, on my own and with my GM, and world-building. Menchaca has done the same with his world. He obviously cares for it and enjoys writing it, and I enjoyed reading it. It's maybe not as self-assured as it could be, which gives it away as a first novel, but the fast pace and easy reading style more than makes up for it. I want to find out what the Starbreakers do next.
October 28, 2022
They Met in a Tavern by Elijah Menchaca is a self-published fantasy novel modeled off the author's Dungeons and Dragons campaign. I listened to the audiobook, which clocks in at thirteen hours and is narrated by Chris Ciulla. We follow multiple characters with a third-person point-of-view.
An adventuring party known as the Starbreakers ran around as mercenaries in their late teens and early twenties. Their talents melded well, making them the best glint (aka money) chasers in the land of Corsar. But one of their contracts ended poorly--with each member blaming the others--and they haven't seen each other in seven years. And that's when a hefty bounty is placed on all of their heads.
I'm a big fan of Dungeons and Dragons. I've been in several long-term campaigns and am currently playing a blood cleric of the Matron of Ravens in a Tal'dorei campaign (aka the world of Exandria from Critical Role). Once I heard about this book, I had to get my hands on it.
Overall, the plot could have been tightened up a bit. But I had a great time figuring out what classes and races these characters were while following this group of fools. Figuring out the nods to equipment and spells was also super fun. I read this whole book in one day, I just didn't want to put it down.
I'm very pleased there will be a second book in this series, slated to publish in 2023.
If you're a fan of Dungeons and Dragons, or role-playing games in general, you might like this book. If you liked The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski, give this one a try!
Tropes in this book include: mercenary party, getting the gang back together
CW: violence, murder
I was provided an audio galley of this book for review. All opinions contained herein are my own.
If you want to see more from me, check out my blog and my bookstagram!
An adventuring party known as the Starbreakers ran around as mercenaries in their late teens and early twenties. Their talents melded well, making them the best glint (aka money) chasers in the land of Corsar. But one of their contracts ended poorly--with each member blaming the others--and they haven't seen each other in seven years. And that's when a hefty bounty is placed on all of their heads.
I'm a big fan of Dungeons and Dragons. I've been in several long-term campaigns and am currently playing a blood cleric of the Matron of Ravens in a Tal'dorei campaign (aka the world of Exandria from Critical Role). Once I heard about this book, I had to get my hands on it.
Overall, the plot could have been tightened up a bit. But I had a great time figuring out what classes and races these characters were while following this group of fools. Figuring out the nods to equipment and spells was also super fun. I read this whole book in one day, I just didn't want to put it down.
I'm very pleased there will be a second book in this series, slated to publish in 2023.
If you're a fan of Dungeons and Dragons, or role-playing games in general, you might like this book. If you liked The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski, give this one a try!
Tropes in this book include: mercenary party, getting the gang back together
CW: violence, murder
I was provided an audio galley of this book for review. All opinions contained herein are my own.
If you want to see more from me, check out my blog and my bookstagram!
December 3, 2022
"Life was something to fight for, every day, any way you could."
The Starbreakers were your classic teenage heroes and the most successful group of glintchasers in Corsar. But that all changed the day the city of Relgen died. The group went their separate ways, placing the blame on each other. Brass carried on a solo act. Snow became a notorious assassin. Church became a spiritual leader. Angel was the owner of a bar and inn. And after overcoming his own guilt, Phoenix settled down. Years after their falling out, a new threat looms. Phoenix tries to reunite the Starbreakers before everything they have left is taken from them. But a lot can change in seven years.
The book is very much about a strained relationship between old friends who are now trying to save themselves by finding out who has taken out a hit on them. My problem with this book is that it just jumps into that story without really giving us anything about the past or our characters. And I can't believe I'm saying this but, it needed more world building. There is a chapter towards the end of the book that I think should have been the start since it is showing how the team broke up and why. To me it just felt like a lot of the time we were reading about something we should have known, but didn't.
That being said I also kept getting The Boys vibes from this group (think a less dramatic version of The Seven). It was this group of complete misfits who met when they were kids and bonded but now have completely separate lives and don't even like one another. The group doesn't even "get together" until the very last four chapters. In my opinion they had this big quest, but 90 percent of the book was them going on side quests. The fight scenes in the book were great and engaging, but I just felt like something was missing for me with this book. It is well written and the characters do seem to have some development and growth throughout the story.
December 6, 2022
Menchaca Tells They Met in a Tavern in a Unique Way. The author does a lot of world-building and character development as this novel grows, but doesn't exactly begin this story at the beginning. He starts what feels like a new story following new developments and conflicts concerning a team of former heroes -the Starbreakers. While the author gives readers pieces of the past as his characters interact and the storylines grow, readers may feel like they missed the first book or two of a series until enough of the pieces of the past fall into place.
A Large Cast of Characters Creates the Story. This novel brings several main characters and supporting characters into the scenes to create a fantasy world and plot. It takes a bit of work to keep the characters straight and organized. Much of the novel grows through side stories as the author sets his scenes and tells his characters' stories. The story flows well with engaging characters that entertain and interest the reader. It is hard to choose a favorite character as they each have their own quirks, issues, and strengths and have much to offer readers and the storyline.
Would I Recommend They Met in a Tavern by Elijah Menchaca? Fantasy fans of novels with misfit characters uniting to battle evil through magic and heroic efforts will find a lot to love in this novel. The author has an easy-to-read world-building style that is never boring and very engaging--even though, for a while, it feels that you are beginning the series in the middle! I enjoyed the characters and their stories and would definitely continue the series either with new adventures or prequel-style stories that feature the earlier days of the team.
I received a copy of this book from the author or publisher for use in a blog review. All opinions are my own.
A Large Cast of Characters Creates the Story. This novel brings several main characters and supporting characters into the scenes to create a fantasy world and plot. It takes a bit of work to keep the characters straight and organized. Much of the novel grows through side stories as the author sets his scenes and tells his characters' stories. The story flows well with engaging characters that entertain and interest the reader. It is hard to choose a favorite character as they each have their own quirks, issues, and strengths and have much to offer readers and the storyline.
Would I Recommend They Met in a Tavern by Elijah Menchaca? Fantasy fans of novels with misfit characters uniting to battle evil through magic and heroic efforts will find a lot to love in this novel. The author has an easy-to-read world-building style that is never boring and very engaging--even though, for a while, it feels that you are beginning the series in the middle! I enjoyed the characters and their stories and would definitely continue the series either with new adventures or prequel-style stories that feature the earlier days of the team.
I received a copy of this book from the author or publisher for use in a blog review. All opinions are my own.
January 21, 2024
This book predominantly follows 2 main characters, Armam and Brass who used to be members of a mercenary company called the Starbreakers who were at the top of the game before they made a mistake that cost countless lives. The company members consisting of Brass, Arman (also called Pheonix), Church, Angel and Snow. After blaming each other for their fatal mistakes the company ends on bad terms. 7 years later they've all moved on until a mysterious bounty has been placed on their heads forcing them to work together again.
Overall I think the story had a slow start to the point where it didn't grab me as much as I would have liked, but it quickly picked up around one third of the way through the book and it allowed me to finish the 400 page book in 5 days.
The weakest point of the story I think though is sadly Arman - the main character. He is a bit of a mary sue and has what I like to refer to as "shark repellentism". He seems to have something in his bottomless bag (literally. The D&D influence in this book is obvious, especially considering the title of the book, and the sequel is called 'They Split the Party') for every situation.
The rest of the characters are more than fine though, and the story is structured in a way that each of the company's characters have their time in the spotlight. The standouts for characters are Snow - your typical edgy "I don't need anyone" type of character who is a cryomancer and member of Starbreakers and one of my favourite characters I've read for a while, as well as Elizabeth (Armans wife) who doesn't fall into the fantasy trope of being a useless housewife while her husband goes out kicks ass/damsel in distress and the story balances her motherhood as well as being a bad ass.
Overall I'd say 4/5
Overall I think the story had a slow start to the point where it didn't grab me as much as I would have liked, but it quickly picked up around one third of the way through the book and it allowed me to finish the 400 page book in 5 days.
The weakest point of the story I think though is sadly Arman - the main character. He is a bit of a mary sue and has what I like to refer to as "shark repellentism". He seems to have something in his bottomless bag (literally. The D&D influence in this book is obvious, especially considering the title of the book, and the sequel is called 'They Split the Party') for every situation.
The rest of the characters are more than fine though, and the story is structured in a way that each of the company's characters have their time in the spotlight. The standouts for characters are Snow - your typical edgy "I don't need anyone" type of character who is a cryomancer and member of Starbreakers and one of my favourite characters I've read for a while, as well as Elizabeth (Armans wife) who doesn't fall into the fantasy trope of being a useless housewife while her husband goes out kicks ass/damsel in distress and the story balances her motherhood as well as being a bad ass.
Overall I'd say 4/5
October 10, 2022
I received an audio copy through Netgalley for an honest review.
As a fan of DnD, I did thoroughly enjoy this book. But, there were a few things that I found that did lower the rating, in all honesty, it is more like a 3.5. Firstly, the the perspective of which character we are following shift so much sometimes, that it is hard to tell who we are following. Secondly, we go from chapter 37 with each character in their own spot to chapter 38 where the group is together and falling in a sky ship. I had to go back and re-listen to previous chapters as I thought that I had missed something and was confused as to what was going on. In the physical copy, it might not be that bad, but it was very confusing as to what was going on. This occurred again in a later chapter to explain how snow got her powers? I think it was trying to do. Another thing that had bugged me was that multiple characters had gone by two names. The last thing that lowered the rating was the plot twist? that Snow was working with the enemy for sometime and killed the guild from the beginning that Phoenix was investigating. At the time that this was reviled to the group the reader already knew and thus it wasn't that big of a thing that it was supposed to be.
But, where it did have a few things against it, it did have as many thing working for it. The world building was good, there was diverse characters and it was action packed.
As a fan of DnD, I did thoroughly enjoy this book. But, there were a few things that I found that did lower the rating, in all honesty, it is more like a 3.5. Firstly, the the perspective of which character we are following shift so much sometimes, that it is hard to tell who we are following. Secondly, we go from chapter 37 with each character in their own spot to chapter 38 where the group is together and falling in a sky ship. I had to go back and re-listen to previous chapters as I thought that I had missed something and was confused as to what was going on. In the physical copy, it might not be that bad, but it was very confusing as to what was going on. This occurred again in a later chapter to explain how snow got her powers? I think it was trying to do. Another thing that had bugged me was that multiple characters had gone by two names. The last thing that lowered the rating was the plot twist? that Snow was working with the enemy for sometime and killed the guild from the beginning that Phoenix was investigating. At the time that this was reviled to the group the reader already knew and thus it wasn't that big of a thing that it was supposed to be.
But, where it did have a few things against it, it did have as many thing working for it. The world building was good, there was diverse characters and it was action packed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2022
While I am a Sci-Fi/Fantasy fan and was once an avid DnDer, I have not really been very interested in DnD-esque stories. I read and reviewed an awful RPG book that did nothing to change my mind. Though I have seen plenty of good press for Salvatore I just have not been interested in exploring this subgenre. Until now.
Menchaca has written an engaging tale with flawed, lively characters who jump off the page. Even the bad guys are, at the very least, interesting. Each of the main characters has his or her own style and set of foibles. Their interactions are believable given their personalities and backgrounds. The plot is solid, though it carries few surprises.
In a book full of great qualities, there is one point I found to be stellar…the narration. Ciulla is brilliant! He speaks each character to life, modulating his pitch, timbre, and intensity to figuratively embody them. I could listen to this dude read an address book!
Five stars and well-deserved. While the author did indulge in one of my pet peeves, this book has me reevaluating my views on an entire subgenre. The narration by Chris Ciulla was nonpareil. Salvatore, here I come!
My sincere thanks to the publisher, author, narrator, and NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
#TheyMetInATavern #CamCatBooks #FantasyTale #DnD #IfCatsCouldRead #DandelionTheCatModel #DaffodilTheCatModel #FiveStarRead #BrilliantNarration #KindlesAllTheWayDown
Menchaca has written an engaging tale with flawed, lively characters who jump off the page. Even the bad guys are, at the very least, interesting. Each of the main characters has his or her own style and set of foibles. Their interactions are believable given their personalities and backgrounds. The plot is solid, though it carries few surprises.
In a book full of great qualities, there is one point I found to be stellar…the narration. Ciulla is brilliant! He speaks each character to life, modulating his pitch, timbre, and intensity to figuratively embody them. I could listen to this dude read an address book!
Five stars and well-deserved. While the author did indulge in one of my pet peeves, this book has me reevaluating my views on an entire subgenre. The narration by Chris Ciulla was nonpareil. Salvatore, here I come!
My sincere thanks to the publisher, author, narrator, and NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
#TheyMetInATavern #CamCatBooks #FantasyTale #DnD #IfCatsCouldRead #DandelionTheCatModel #DaffodilTheCatModel #FiveStarRead #BrilliantNarration #KindlesAllTheWayDown
November 22, 2022
They Met in a Tavern is the first book from the Glinchasers series and my first experience with the talents of Elijah Menchaca. I am not a huge fan of the fantasy and science fiction genre but I was fascinated by the cover and blurb peaked my interest and wanted to give it a try. After reading They Met in a Tavern, it definitely gives me a reason why it is good to go outside my comfort zone and not miss out on a great read. I thought this was an adventurous tale and loved taking this journey with the characters. I found the writing style and the plot to be unique to me. I liked getting to know all involved in The Starbreakers and seeing how it would all end for them all. This was not a predictable story that had me engaged from start to finish. Overall, it was a wonderful novel to read.
I am giving They Met in a Tavern four and a half stars. I believe readers who enjoy reading science fiction and / or fantasy fiction will enjoy reading this one. I am interested in reading this next installment from the Glintchasers series, They Split the Party, to see what else the author, Elijah Menchaca, has in store for his readers.
I received a paperback copy of They Met in a Tavern from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
I am giving They Met in a Tavern four and a half stars. I believe readers who enjoy reading science fiction and / or fantasy fiction will enjoy reading this one. I am interested in reading this next installment from the Glintchasers series, They Split the Party, to see what else the author, Elijah Menchaca, has in store for his readers.
I received a paperback copy of They Met in a Tavern from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews