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The Sword of Light Trilogy #1
Stormwielder
Not all magic is a gift…
When Eric was young, a terrible power woke within him, destroying all it touched. Horrified by what he had done, Eric fled his village. For two years he has wandered the wilderness alone. Now, determined to redeem himself, Eric seeks a new life in the town of Oaksville.
But this world is not the same one he left behind. The power of the Gods is failing, and dark forces have crept into the Three Nations. Both will seek to use Eric for his magic. With a war brewing, Eric must tread carefully to survive the coming conflict.
When Eric was young, a terrible power woke within him, destroying all it touched. Horrified by what he had done, Eric fled his village. For two years he has wandered the wilderness alone. Now, determined to redeem himself, Eric seeks a new life in the town of Oaksville.
But this world is not the same one he left behind. The power of the Gods is failing, and dark forces have crept into the Three Nations. Both will seek to use Eric for his magic. With a war brewing, Eric must tread carefully to survive the coming conflict.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2021
897 people are currently reading
2346 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Hodges
53 books295 followersAaron Hodges was born in 1989 in the small town of Whakatane, New Zealand. He studied for five years at the University of Auckland, completing a Bachelor's of Science in Biology and Geography, and a Masters of Environmental Engineering. After working as an environmental consultant for two years, he now spends his time traveling the world in search of his next adventure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
May 13, 2017
I began Storm Wielder quite hopeful. The cover art and all aesthetics of the book were great, and the prose was very polished. A few pages in, there were a few clunks, the prose was a bit 'telly' and at times the language was a bit anachronistic. Nonetheless there was a good setup, and I was interested to see where the story would go.
About halfway however the story and my enjoyment took a big hit. I don't want to heap criticism on a work that Hodges clearly put a tonne of effort in but I will provide enough evidence to justify my stance.
The first problem is that 50% of the way in the story presented a well constructed tension - a young man with out of control magic being helped by a mysterious mentor while a victim of his power stalks them with vengeance on the mind. What I particularly liked about the story is that Gabriel, a man who had lost his family due to the MC's power was not a completely unsympathetic villain, there was real potential of genuine moral conundrum in how the plot resolved. Instead we get introduced to a Goddess, a mass of exposition is dumped upon us and the plot abruptly changed to trying to hunt down an important little girl. A half dozen characters get shoe-horned into the story without much hullabaloo and I'm not even 100% on what happened to poor Gabriel (but I have a feeling he got squished by a dragon)
Most of my other concerns stem from this basic problem - the characters had far too much emotion, and not enough emotional arc, as they pursued a goal that I myself had no investment in, and rather than proper story conflict the goodies just had bigger and bigger baddies thrown at them, which were CONSTANTLY just defeated by more and more magic.
I would love to read an alternate version of this novel where the initial characters were more fleshed out and the morality of out of control magic actually addressed. After all the main character did destroy an entire village, killing maybe hundreds of people a fact which seemed swept under the rug at some point of the story.
The opportunity to read this was much appreciated and I wish the author all the best for the series and others he has published. Considering this is a first novel its about 1000x better than most of the dross us writers produced upon first attempt.
About halfway however the story and my enjoyment took a big hit. I don't want to heap criticism on a work that Hodges clearly put a tonne of effort in but I will provide enough evidence to justify my stance.
The first problem is that 50% of the way in the story presented a well constructed tension - a young man with out of control magic being helped by a mysterious mentor while a victim of his power stalks them with vengeance on the mind. What I particularly liked about the story is that Gabriel, a man who had lost his family due to the MC's power was not a completely unsympathetic villain, there was real potential of genuine moral conundrum in how the plot resolved. Instead we get introduced to a Goddess, a mass of exposition is dumped upon us and the plot abruptly changed to trying to hunt down an important little girl. A half dozen characters get shoe-horned into the story without much hullabaloo and I'm not even 100% on what happened to poor Gabriel (but I have a feeling he got squished by a dragon)
Most of my other concerns stem from this basic problem - the characters had far too much emotion, and not enough emotional arc, as they pursued a goal that I myself had no investment in, and rather than proper story conflict the goodies just had bigger and bigger baddies thrown at them, which were CONSTANTLY just defeated by more and more magic.
I would love to read an alternate version of this novel where the initial characters were more fleshed out and the morality of out of control magic actually addressed. After all the main character did destroy an entire village, killing maybe hundreds of people a fact which seemed swept under the rug at some point of the story.
The opportunity to read this was much appreciated and I wish the author all the best for the series and others he has published. Considering this is a first novel its about 1000x better than most of the dross us writers produced upon first attempt.
August 25, 2024
A decent enough start to a trilogy, though I have chosen not to continue with the other two books.
Give the author a try though because you never know if you might find a new favourite, and some of his books are currently free on Kindle so there's nothing to lose.
Give the author a try though because you never know if you might find a new favourite, and some of his books are currently free on Kindle so there's nothing to lose.
February 5, 2017
Wow, well-written story, very dramatic, with its fair share of humour near the end, but the book might as well be titled, "Everyone Hates Eric."
The virtuous characters get almost no reprieve in this book. First it's Eric, then Alistair, then the unlucky-but-determined band keeps growing to a good size, but they're all ruthlessly hated and hunted down, even by all the ordinary townsfolk. Good characters die, in some cases, more than once or twice. It's a very grim storyline indeed. The only love in this book is within Eric's posse, which they probably grasp the best they can, because there's no love elsewhere in this harsh, doomed world. For hundreds of years, even before Eric's birth, it seemed like the entire planet was a hellhole, with a demon releasing its wrath on entire civilizations. Even the climate is said to be oppressive, with searing heat of the sun and a desert-like atmosphere.
The plot is excellent, the characters are complex with hidden agendas and resolute desires to at least leave behind some good in this world. The battles are breathtaking--without giving too much away, let me say that Balistor's final battle is definitely cinema-worthy. The explanation of magic is astounding, showing its complexity, richness, and unpredictability.
I think I would give this book full approval if it took some time to show the love and beauty of the world, wherever it could be found, such as the brief scenes were Eric and Inken are bonding joyously in the rare lush scenery, the forest in which the dragons live. Instead, the tension meter was on full tilt, causing me to anticipate but also dread going to the next chapter. I felt sorry for all the characters in this forsaken fantasy world, and I know I would never like to drop in for a visit, even for a second.
The virtuous characters get almost no reprieve in this book. First it's Eric, then Alistair, then the unlucky-but-determined band keeps growing to a good size, but they're all ruthlessly hated and hunted down, even by all the ordinary townsfolk. Good characters die, in some cases, more than once or twice. It's a very grim storyline indeed. The only love in this book is within Eric's posse, which they probably grasp the best they can, because there's no love elsewhere in this harsh, doomed world. For hundreds of years, even before Eric's birth, it seemed like the entire planet was a hellhole, with a demon releasing its wrath on entire civilizations. Even the climate is said to be oppressive, with searing heat of the sun and a desert-like atmosphere.
The plot is excellent, the characters are complex with hidden agendas and resolute desires to at least leave behind some good in this world. The battles are breathtaking--without giving too much away, let me say that Balistor's final battle is definitely cinema-worthy. The explanation of magic is astounding, showing its complexity, richness, and unpredictability.
I think I would give this book full approval if it took some time to show the love and beauty of the world, wherever it could be found, such as the brief scenes were Eric and Inken are bonding joyously in the rare lush scenery, the forest in which the dragons live. Instead, the tension meter was on full tilt, causing me to anticipate but also dread going to the next chapter. I felt sorry for all the characters in this forsaken fantasy world, and I know I would never like to drop in for a visit, even for a second.
April 21, 2016
This was a fairly dull YA fantasy. I pulled the plug on this read about a third of the way through when it became apparent that I was not particularly interested in the story or the characters.
The premise was pretty interesting. In a moment of panic 17 year old Eric lost control of his magic, causing a lightning storm that wreaked death and destruction on a village. He finds a mentor in the shape of Alistair, a servant of the goddess, who has been tasking with training Eric so he can properly control his magic and then use it in the battle the gods wage against the demonic Arkon. To complicate matters Gabriel, a villager who lost his whole family, is on Eric's trail and desperate for vengeance.
I failed to connect with either of the two POV characters, Eric and Gabriel. I also found Aaron D. Hodges writing to be a bit distant and dull. Another real flaw for this story was the complete lack of humor or wit in any of the dialogue.
I got the audio version of this book as a free gift for signing up to the AudaVoxx. I just wish I had enjoyed it better!
Audio Note: David Stifel gave a competent performance with the audio.
The premise was pretty interesting. In a moment of panic 17 year old Eric lost control of his magic, causing a lightning storm that wreaked death and destruction on a village. He finds a mentor in the shape of Alistair, a servant of the goddess, who has been tasking with training Eric so he can properly control his magic and then use it in the battle the gods wage against the demonic Arkon. To complicate matters Gabriel, a villager who lost his whole family, is on Eric's trail and desperate for vengeance.
I failed to connect with either of the two POV characters, Eric and Gabriel. I also found Aaron D. Hodges writing to be a bit distant and dull. Another real flaw for this story was the complete lack of humor or wit in any of the dialogue.
I got the audio version of this book as a free gift for signing up to the AudaVoxx. I just wish I had enjoyed it better!
Audio Note: David Stifel gave a competent performance with the audio.
August 23, 2025
a book with a very story line and potential to be a great trilogy. I felt at times it was slightly dragging and I didn't have the urge to keep reading. I surprised with a very good ending. not sure if ill read the others
July 3, 2019
I read this as part of the collected edition. See my review of the trilogy as a whole at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
February 2, 2016
Stormwielder starts out with a young man named Eric traveling to a faraway medieval town to make a new start. We soon find out the boy has special powers after three ruffians attempt to Shanghai him. He is able to generate powerful storms, replete with lightening, but the storms are unfocused—harming many more than their intended victims. An innocent family is killed by the lightening, which leaves just their son Gabriel, alive. Gabriel pursues the young man, Eric, who caused the calamity but he is protected by a wizened older man with fighting skills. Gabriel, we come to find out has the ability to freeze things. The narrative reminds me of a medieval version of the X Men, with some of the Fifth Element pared down and put in. A pursuit ensures between the residents of the destroyed town and Eric and a wizened old protector, Alastair (Professor X?) who can perform magic as well. The two adversaries are attacked, seemingly by a medieval biker gang—I mean what else would you call a gang named the Baronian of the Black Leather?
One criticism I have is that the author describes mundane tasks in too much detail. In one chapter he describes climbing a rope in such detail that it makes me ask why. I guess it was because he was trying to build tension, but I don't think it had the desired effect.
The writing is okay, but not captivating in any way. If you're inventing a fantasy world bound only by your imagination, take the ball and run with it—and be original. All fiction is derivative—there is no need to make it obvious. Naming your characters should be one of the most important things you do, to avoid giving characters names that are either mundane or bizarre.
There are minor grammatical issues, such as the use of fiancé in place of fiancée. Based on those factors, I could offer no more a rating of fair. If the author is going to make this into a series, I would suggest he hone the plot a bit more and work with a developmental editor to sharpen the plot.
One criticism I have is that the author describes mundane tasks in too much detail. In one chapter he describes climbing a rope in such detail that it makes me ask why. I guess it was because he was trying to build tension, but I don't think it had the desired effect.
The writing is okay, but not captivating in any way. If you're inventing a fantasy world bound only by your imagination, take the ball and run with it—and be original. All fiction is derivative—there is no need to make it obvious. Naming your characters should be one of the most important things you do, to avoid giving characters names that are either mundane or bizarre.
There are minor grammatical issues, such as the use of fiancé in place of fiancée. Based on those factors, I could offer no more a rating of fair. If the author is going to make this into a series, I would suggest he hone the plot a bit more and work with a developmental editor to sharpen the plot.
January 29, 2016
Its been a long time since I read anything in this genre and seeking something different I plucked this book from the air, well my kindle actually, wiggled my fingers and dived into it yesterday and finished it today. In fact its been so long since I revisited Fantasy that I had to look up the genre.
So what of the book? Well it has everything you'd expect, hero's, magic, villains, demons, gods and lots of fiery action to speed the story along. Its a first book in a forthcoming series, but is a nicely contained story in itself, though you'll want to know more when you finish this one.
A whole plethora of characters litter its pages, some not quite what they seem, others maybe more than they appear. All are well described though the occasional modern phrase does delight the mind, ('yes you've found a slip up,' you think in delight) A book that can be read by young teens, well there's far more violence on an x-box, and adults. highly recommended if you like the genre or maybe you'll take a dip like I did.
So what of the book? Well it has everything you'd expect, hero's, magic, villains, demons, gods and lots of fiery action to speed the story along. Its a first book in a forthcoming series, but is a nicely contained story in itself, though you'll want to know more when you finish this one.
A whole plethora of characters litter its pages, some not quite what they seem, others maybe more than they appear. All are well described though the occasional modern phrase does delight the mind, ('yes you've found a slip up,' you think in delight) A book that can be read by young teens, well there's far more violence on an x-box, and adults. highly recommended if you like the genre or maybe you'll take a dip like I did.
February 12, 2016
Had my doubts from sample
I was not sure about this book after reading the sample. I thought the cost was high for the length $3.99 but put it my wish list because it did grab my attention. Then I caught the book on a price drop and have completed it for a very enjoyable reading experience. It had good story, well written characters and several surprises. Really not sure how it can take this into next book but will be interested in reading. The biggest disappointment was the author afterward saying that he is just now starting writing book 2. This I find really surprising and curious if this has been a story he has been thinking about for years. I hope and assume there is a broad layout and the writing is putting details where the story is supposed to go. At least I hope that is case otherwise I fear a very long wait for book 2 and the quality of writing to be lower!? I hope this will not be the case because there is huge potential with this story and characters. Just have too wait and hope for the best book in the least amount of time?
I was not sure about this book after reading the sample. I thought the cost was high for the length $3.99 but put it my wish list because it did grab my attention. Then I caught the book on a price drop and have completed it for a very enjoyable reading experience. It had good story, well written characters and several surprises. Really not sure how it can take this into next book but will be interested in reading. The biggest disappointment was the author afterward saying that he is just now starting writing book 2. This I find really surprising and curious if this has been a story he has been thinking about for years. I hope and assume there is a broad layout and the writing is putting details where the story is supposed to go. At least I hope that is case otherwise I fear a very long wait for book 2 and the quality of writing to be lower!? I hope this will not be the case because there is huge potential with this story and characters. Just have too wait and hope for the best book in the least amount of time?
December 23, 2024
I do believe that Aaron Hodges has really managed with this his very first book to begin an epic fantasy trilogy which i would compare with some of the best sagas i have read including Jordan's wheel of time series! His characters are great,i particularly loved Alastair, Eric though very naive and with no clue about his own strength and how to wield this is lovable and Inken is a very strong character too. we will have to wait for the next reads to get to know how Enala's character is going to turn out but i do hope she comes through for the three kingdoms! The fight of good against evil is as strong as any i have read, the demons just as evil and the dragons, Nerissa just as awesome! Love the way the Goddess Antonia of Plorsea every so often comes to the aid of those who so faithfully serve her and her cause. This is a trilogy that needs to be read and enjoyed.
February 8, 2016
A stormy ride.
A boy who accidentally blows things up, an old wizard who can move objects, and a red-haired girl who can kick ass, are sent on a quest by a child-like old earth goddess to find The One. Add a telepathic wolf, a ninja skeleton, some dragons, a velociraptor, Mount Doom, the dark side of the force, and... a piano?
Stormwielder is a well written, epic fantasy with a rich, if at times oddly familiar, cast. The reader is swept along, into the fray, from beginning to end, in this action-packed adventure. The occasional déjà vu and some highly unlikely twists and turns, I can forgive, but the ending...? I guess I’ll have to check out the sequel.
A boy who accidentally blows things up, an old wizard who can move objects, and a red-haired girl who can kick ass, are sent on a quest by a child-like old earth goddess to find The One. Add a telepathic wolf, a ninja skeleton, some dragons, a velociraptor, Mount Doom, the dark side of the force, and... a piano?
Stormwielder is a well written, epic fantasy with a rich, if at times oddly familiar, cast. The reader is swept along, into the fray, from beginning to end, in this action-packed adventure. The occasional déjà vu and some highly unlikely twists and turns, I can forgive, but the ending...? I guess I’ll have to check out the sequel.
February 12, 2017
For two years Eric has dealt with his curse. Fires are burning in the town. He is being chased, but if he stops it is too dangerous for everyone. An amazing magical book for young adults and adults as well. It's not to be missed
December 6, 2018
I wanted to like this better. Then I wanted to hate it. Neither really happened, I was just left confused and undermined by this novel. It starts with a bang, and introduces the chance for an antivillain and an antihero - which, let's face it, is just up my alley. But halfway through the book it's like the author suddenly changed his mind, and decided now he wants to do things differently, and focus on other characters because he finds these boring. So new characters are introduced, a very awkward plot twist too, and because these new characters are not given a voice from the start, the reader disregards them completely. They are side kicks. Well, in the final chapters turns out they're not, but seeing there was absolutely no foreshadowing, the whol thing feels forced, contrived, stupid. If on the one hand, I enjoyed this book for its first half, the final half was really a downer. And the David Eddings' vibes were way too obvious. I really wanted to either have really liked it, or really hated, but I'm left in the middle with really not much of an opinion. I wish the author picked this one up again and simply re-wrote it, focusing either on the plot of the first half and running with it, or the one on the second and doing it better.
September 6, 2023
Eric is seven years old when he meets Alastair, a Mage who will become his mentor in order to save the three nations from destruction by the forces of evil.
For a couple of years, Eric has been led to believe that he is cursed as he cannot control whatever is inside of him and the result is destruction, chaos and loss of life. When he meets Alastair, the older Mage takes Eric under his wing and explains the mysteries of what is commonly known as Magic.
The author has created a great story about battles against evil forces and demons by gifted people who have sworn to use their gifts for the greater good. However, a good tale would not be complete without a traitor in the midst.
My personal opinion is that the story carries passages that are lengthy for no special reason that I found. The battles are epic, the characters great and the plot fantastic with dragons, demons, gods and magicians as well as love, hate, treachery and a fantastic ending that leaves the reader looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Because of the lengthy passages, I rate the book as 4 Stars but recommend it if for no other reason than the ending as well as Eric and Inken' s story.
For a couple of years, Eric has been led to believe that he is cursed as he cannot control whatever is inside of him and the result is destruction, chaos and loss of life. When he meets Alastair, the older Mage takes Eric under his wing and explains the mysteries of what is commonly known as Magic.
The author has created a great story about battles against evil forces and demons by gifted people who have sworn to use their gifts for the greater good. However, a good tale would not be complete without a traitor in the midst.
My personal opinion is that the story carries passages that are lengthy for no special reason that I found. The battles are epic, the characters great and the plot fantastic with dragons, demons, gods and magicians as well as love, hate, treachery and a fantastic ending that leaves the reader looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Because of the lengthy passages, I rate the book as 4 Stars but recommend it if for no other reason than the ending as well as Eric and Inken' s story.
July 18, 2023
A solid start to a YA high fantasy trilogy. The tone and language reminded me a lot of Eragon by Christopher Paolini. While a little derivitive in places, I did enjoy the moments where Hodges chooses to take a trope in a different direction, particular with our country-boy hero and a kickass bounty hunter as the female love interest.
All in all, a fun and easy read with nothing too heavy or confronting in its pages.
All in all, a fun and easy read with nothing too heavy or confronting in its pages.
December 20, 2021
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. A boy, thinking he is cursed. A magicker on a mission. Both want to overcome the darkness. From the first page to the last, this author will keep you enthralled at the teachings young Eric has to learn, so as to control the storm and stop the destruction his wild magic causes. The magicker tries to train Eric, but must also fight battles to drive away the dark that wants victory. The Gods are watching, can they help? The pages are filled with action, heart beating moments and heartfelt moments as you read the many twists and turns written. Will the darkness be vanquished, or will it, and it’s entities take control
July 17, 2019
I was a little unsure when I first started this, as it is the first book by Aaron Hodges. But I quickly discovered that this is a very engaging and fascinating read. I found myself quickly connecting with the main characters and getting invested in their success (or failure) rather easily. The story itself is not necessarily too original (super-powerful bad guy trying to take over the world...with magic). There isn't a "promised one", but there is one on whom which the rescue of the world depends...if they can just find her. You have the experienced magic user, the experienced swordsman, a woman bounty hunter and some others in the group. There is a hunt for them and the girl they hope to save, as well as possible betrayal lurking on the horizon.
The two main characters are Eric, who can wield the power of a storm, and Gabriel, who is non-magical. The latter mysteriously disappears near the end of the story (the implication being that he could have possibly died...but I've read the sequel trilogy, so...[spoilers]). I'm not sure that 'disappearance' was the best narrative choice, at least right now. But I'm rolling with it for the time being. Hodges does a solid job weaving his stories together and I'm curious to see how he resolves that particular tension.
That said, this is the first book in a trilogy. Most of the lines of conflict/tension seem to be resolved (except for the question of what happened to Gabriel noted above), though in the epilogue there is a bit of a cliff-hanger. I'm really curious to see how Hodges' is going to resolve that particular plot point.
Hodges' use of magic has a sort of sense about it, and you can tell there are rules (at least of sort) governing the magic. The characters themselves feel decently fleshed out to me. I've always felt Hodges' does a good job of providing motivations for each character, and he doesn't shy away logical actions. If it would make sense for "the bad guy" to stab someone in the back, he gets his stab on.
There is a little bit of romance mixed in with the story. I would almost be tempted to classify this as some YA fiction, except the world-building seems a little more thorough than what that genre usually proffers up and the tragedy some of the characters deal with is a bit much for that genre as well.
[Note: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review]
The two main characters are Eric, who can wield the power of a storm, and Gabriel, who is non-magical. The latter mysteriously disappears near the end of the story (the implication being that he could have possibly died...but I've read the sequel trilogy, so...[spoilers]). I'm not sure that 'disappearance' was the best narrative choice, at least right now. But I'm rolling with it for the time being. Hodges does a solid job weaving his stories together and I'm curious to see how he resolves that particular tension.
That said, this is the first book in a trilogy. Most of the lines of conflict/tension seem to be resolved (except for the question of what happened to Gabriel noted above), though in the epilogue there is a bit of a cliff-hanger. I'm really curious to see how Hodges' is going to resolve that particular plot point.
Hodges' use of magic has a sort of sense about it, and you can tell there are rules (at least of sort) governing the magic. The characters themselves feel decently fleshed out to me. I've always felt Hodges' does a good job of providing motivations for each character, and he doesn't shy away logical actions. If it would make sense for "the bad guy" to stab someone in the back, he gets his stab on.
There is a little bit of romance mixed in with the story. I would almost be tempted to classify this as some YA fiction, except the world-building seems a little more thorough than what that genre usually proffers up and the tragedy some of the characters deal with is a bit much for that genre as well.
[Note: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review]
December 12, 2017
This is one of those books that gets better and better the further you are into the book. The beginning was interesting enough to make me keep on reading it. I wasn't really into the book until I was nearly halfway through the story. It gets way better and more intriguing later on.
And also, in my mind, I had been picturing Eric as a 13 / 14 year-old boy from the start of the book. I didn't realise he was actually 17 until Alistair asked him and he said it. Just everything Eric said and did and those descriptions of him made me think he was younger than he actually was. But overall, this is a good book.
And also, in my mind, I had been picturing Eric as a 13 / 14 year-old boy from the start of the book. I didn't realise he was actually 17 until Alistair asked him and he said it. Just everything Eric said and did and those descriptions of him made me think he was younger than he actually was. But overall, this is a good book.
July 23, 2019
This story was very well written, with the world building well rounded. There's a bit of history in the tale. I enjoyed how his main character free right before your eyes. He has an uncontrollable power that he thinks is a curse, but it really is a gift from the Gods. The boy at the beginning is living alone in the woods, he needs to go to a town for supplies and he gets grabbed and told he's going to be sold as a slave. This is where the story takes off. He gets scared and his curse is released. He runs but another man finds him to train him. He learns to start controlling his gift and history. He learns to forgive his own past and to move on.
Mr. Hodges sound a tale that keeps you wanting more.
Mr. Hodges sound a tale that keeps you wanting more.
May 6, 2017
This is the first book in the Sword of Light Trilogy and is full of danger, curses, suspense, fantasy and drama. A well written fast paced book that is fun to read. The plot is detailed, but the book is easy to read. If you like to read fantasy, you will enjoy this book. I receive a free copy via an instafreebie promotion and voluntarily chose to review it.
November 9, 2021
A good read.
May 24, 2020
“Stormwielder” is the first in a fantasy trilogy that was also the debut novel of Aaron Hodges, a young New Zealand writer with over a dozen titles to his name. While this first book was not the pinnacle of fantasy reading, it was a very readable book with a great plot and interesting ideas.
The story begins with a prologue which introduces us to Alastair, a solitary Magicker alone in the wilds, who has been tasked by the Goddess Antonia to track down the demons which have returned to the world after a war many years before. Antonia visits him again, telling him that he needs to make a detour to rescue someone.
That someone happens to be Eric, a young man who has been living on his own in the wilds for two years after the death of his family. He is plagued by guilt because he was the unwitting cause of his family’s death when his magic broke through one night while he was sleeping. When he decides to try to return to civilisation in the town of Oaksville, he is lured into a situation where he is going to be captured and sold into slavery, but the resulting fear and anger unleashes his magic, destroying much of Oaksville and killing a significant portion of its population.
Alastair rescues him from the vengeful townspeople and together they begin their journey to the place where the war against the demons and their leader, Archon, ended over a century before. They are searching for the relatives of Alastair’s friend, Thomas, the one who with the Goddess Antonia and the God Jurrien, stood against the power of Archon and drove him back. Their purpose is to find those of his blood who will be able to wield the Sword of Light made by the God Darius before he disappeared. The Sword of Light is the only weapon strong enough to counter Archon’s magic, but only those of Thomas’s blood are able to wield the sword.
With the allies they gather along the way, the pair of Magickers face villagers bent on revenge, money-hungry bandits, dark powers, dirty tricks, and betrayal in their attempt to prepare for the battle with Archon.
The story had a good range of twists and turns and a broad cast of unpredictable characters. The locations did feel a little simplistic, as did some of the interactions between the characters, but on the whole, the story moved at a good pace and generated a desire to know what was going to happen next.
One of the highlights was a good system of magic that was well-explained. The system is based on three elements, these being Light, Sky and Earth, each with a god or goddess representing or embodying that element. The power of that element is present within certain people, Magickers, but the power itself is more than just a force, having a personality of its own and requiring mastery and willpower to ensure that it remains under control, rather than taking control of its host. Where the power does gain ascendency, the host’s personality is subsumed and a demon is unleashed on the world.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I did find a few typographical errors and places where the wrong homonym was used. I also found a couple of places where there appeared to be continuity errors. However, these did not detract from the whole, and I would thoroughly recommend the series.
The story begins with a prologue which introduces us to Alastair, a solitary Magicker alone in the wilds, who has been tasked by the Goddess Antonia to track down the demons which have returned to the world after a war many years before. Antonia visits him again, telling him that he needs to make a detour to rescue someone.
That someone happens to be Eric, a young man who has been living on his own in the wilds for two years after the death of his family. He is plagued by guilt because he was the unwitting cause of his family’s death when his magic broke through one night while he was sleeping. When he decides to try to return to civilisation in the town of Oaksville, he is lured into a situation where he is going to be captured and sold into slavery, but the resulting fear and anger unleashes his magic, destroying much of Oaksville and killing a significant portion of its population.
Alastair rescues him from the vengeful townspeople and together they begin their journey to the place where the war against the demons and their leader, Archon, ended over a century before. They are searching for the relatives of Alastair’s friend, Thomas, the one who with the Goddess Antonia and the God Jurrien, stood against the power of Archon and drove him back. Their purpose is to find those of his blood who will be able to wield the Sword of Light made by the God Darius before he disappeared. The Sword of Light is the only weapon strong enough to counter Archon’s magic, but only those of Thomas’s blood are able to wield the sword.
With the allies they gather along the way, the pair of Magickers face villagers bent on revenge, money-hungry bandits, dark powers, dirty tricks, and betrayal in their attempt to prepare for the battle with Archon.
The story had a good range of twists and turns and a broad cast of unpredictable characters. The locations did feel a little simplistic, as did some of the interactions between the characters, but on the whole, the story moved at a good pace and generated a desire to know what was going to happen next.
One of the highlights was a good system of magic that was well-explained. The system is based on three elements, these being Light, Sky and Earth, each with a god or goddess representing or embodying that element. The power of that element is present within certain people, Magickers, but the power itself is more than just a force, having a personality of its own and requiring mastery and willpower to ensure that it remains under control, rather than taking control of its host. Where the power does gain ascendency, the host’s personality is subsumed and a demon is unleashed on the world.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I did find a few typographical errors and places where the wrong homonym was used. I also found a couple of places where there appeared to be continuity errors. However, these did not detract from the whole, and I would thoroughly recommend the series.
February 4, 2017
I'm reviewing Stormwielder, the first of the Sword of Light trilogy by Aaron D. Hodges. Based on the information given about the world in which the book is set, the genre could be epic/high fantasy, but since this first book was only concerned with a small number of characters and events, I’m more inclined to simply call it medieval fantasy for now.
As we learn in the first chapters of the book, the protagonist is a young man named Eric who is cursed with a magical connection to the weather. Anytime he gets upset or angry, storms and lightning fill the air around him, wreaking havoc. His inability to control prevent this reaction causes an entire city to be burned up by lightning strikes, causing Eric to flee from the vengeful survivors of the city, who believe him to be a demon. As he flees, Eric is aided by an old man named Alistair, who is eventually revealed to be a ‘magicker’ (the term this author uses for characters who might otherwise be called wizards). Alistair mentors Eric in the control and use of his magical powers and guides him through many dangers and perils with the goal, eventually, of saving the world from ominous forces led by the dark lord Archon, who seeks to take control over it.
Now, I will readily admit that this book uses some very common clichés. The teenager whose superpowers make him a danger to others could come right out of an episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The wise old wizard mentor has been played out in Gandalf, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander, and so on throughout fantasy culture. The power-hungry magical dark lord has likewise been seen dozens of times in Sauron, Voldemort, Arawn Death-Lord, and others. Much of the book’s content has been done many times before. However, it did have a few concepts that I hadn’t seen before, such as the particular way that magic works in this world. I can’t explain that here without giving major spoilers, but it was unique.
There were also a lot of typos throughout the work. I’ve come to generally expect that of self-published novels, having spent a year reading them, but it still always irritates me. Apart from that, many aspects of the book’s plot relied on plot twists which I thought came rather abruptly and clumsily. With a good plot twist, the reader can see in retrospect how the story led up to the twist, but with the few plot twists that this book had, I got the impression that they were just dropped into the story without any lead-up. There was also a romantic arc which I didn’t find convincing or necessary, but of course different people will have different preferences about that.
I don’t want to criticize too much though, because I did enjoy the book. As a fan of the fantasy genre, I thought it was a fun read and I’m sure other fans of the genre will think the same. It’s also more light-hearted than something like, say, A Song of Ice and Fire. There wasn’t any profanity, the violence was at times descriptive but still generally PG-13, and there wasn’t any explicit sex. There was implied sex, but not explicit. I think parents could allow their teenage kids to read this book without too much concern.
As we learn in the first chapters of the book, the protagonist is a young man named Eric who is cursed with a magical connection to the weather. Anytime he gets upset or angry, storms and lightning fill the air around him, wreaking havoc. His inability to control prevent this reaction causes an entire city to be burned up by lightning strikes, causing Eric to flee from the vengeful survivors of the city, who believe him to be a demon. As he flees, Eric is aided by an old man named Alistair, who is eventually revealed to be a ‘magicker’ (the term this author uses for characters who might otherwise be called wizards). Alistair mentors Eric in the control and use of his magical powers and guides him through many dangers and perils with the goal, eventually, of saving the world from ominous forces led by the dark lord Archon, who seeks to take control over it.
Now, I will readily admit that this book uses some very common clichés. The teenager whose superpowers make him a danger to others could come right out of an episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The wise old wizard mentor has been played out in Gandalf, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander, and so on throughout fantasy culture. The power-hungry magical dark lord has likewise been seen dozens of times in Sauron, Voldemort, Arawn Death-Lord, and others. Much of the book’s content has been done many times before. However, it did have a few concepts that I hadn’t seen before, such as the particular way that magic works in this world. I can’t explain that here without giving major spoilers, but it was unique.
There were also a lot of typos throughout the work. I’ve come to generally expect that of self-published novels, having spent a year reading them, but it still always irritates me. Apart from that, many aspects of the book’s plot relied on plot twists which I thought came rather abruptly and clumsily. With a good plot twist, the reader can see in retrospect how the story led up to the twist, but with the few plot twists that this book had, I got the impression that they were just dropped into the story without any lead-up. There was also a romantic arc which I didn’t find convincing or necessary, but of course different people will have different preferences about that.
I don’t want to criticize too much though, because I did enjoy the book. As a fan of the fantasy genre, I thought it was a fun read and I’m sure other fans of the genre will think the same. It’s also more light-hearted than something like, say, A Song of Ice and Fire. There wasn’t any profanity, the violence was at times descriptive but still generally PG-13, and there wasn’t any explicit sex. There was implied sex, but not explicit. I think parents could allow their teenage kids to read this book without too much concern.
November 4, 2024
Stormwielder is a functionally fine, but ultimately uninteresting story. It's a fairly standard fantasy with magic, epic battles, a dark lord, and normally this would be fine except that the execution is just uninteresting. Your main characters are archetypical with the young male lead that needs to grow, the grizzled old veteran teacher, and the tough female lead, but thats almost all they are, reduced almost exclusively to their archetypes. The magic system is elemental based and used bluntly, though one of the book's more interesting concepts is how the magic is actively anarchic to the wielder but not much is done with this concept. The Dark Lord individual is just a Dark Lord. The plot is just an adventure that evolves into a save the princess, but the danger to the princess is just her being hunted. There are demons in the book but the demons are just corrupted magic wielders, etc. The story utilizes so many fantasy concepts, and they're executed fine, but doesn't play or really try to innovate on any of them.
The book's strongest part is its opening third, because it is here with the plot is most conflicted and the core concept most original. The inciting event of the story is our main character actively committing and accidental massacre due to his out of control magic, and thus (justifiably) earning a vendetta against himself. The massacre incites several plot events for the story, and features heavily in the MC's guilt and psyche, and part of the story where this (and the conflict between him and his hunter) is where the book's at its strongest. Then the pursuer gets corrupted, the MC migrates away from the scene of his massacre and it falls off from the story, and the pursuers ultimately forgets why he was pursuing the MC. There's no scene where they're forced to interact, no drama, so concrete redemption for the MC at the scene of his error, it all just resolves (albeit incompletely.) All that powerful drama resolves into almost nothing.
My harping may give you the wrong impression, Stormwielder is fine. The action scenes are comprehensible and well spaced, there's some nice heroics, and the author shows real grit in his storytelling, allowing for several scenes (like the inciting massacre) where no punches are held. There are some cool moments of magic, and the author's aforementioned grit allows for some scenes of real tension near the end. Most of the book just feels standard.
The book's strongest part is its opening third, because it is here with the plot is most conflicted and the core concept most original. The inciting event of the story is our main character actively committing and accidental massacre due to his out of control magic, and thus (justifiably) earning a vendetta against himself. The massacre incites several plot events for the story, and features heavily in the MC's guilt and psyche, and part of the story where this (and the conflict between him and his hunter) is where the book's at its strongest. Then the pursuer gets corrupted, the MC migrates away from the scene of his massacre and it falls off from the story, and the pursuers ultimately forgets why he was pursuing the MC. There's no scene where they're forced to interact, no drama, so concrete redemption for the MC at the scene of his error, it all just resolves (albeit incompletely.) All that powerful drama resolves into almost nothing.
My harping may give you the wrong impression, Stormwielder is fine. The action scenes are comprehensible and well spaced, there's some nice heroics, and the author shows real grit in his storytelling, allowing for several scenes (like the inciting massacre) where no punches are held. There are some cool moments of magic, and the author's aforementioned grit allows for some scenes of real tension near the end. Most of the book just feels standard.
May 15, 2017
Full disclosure. I received this copy free after signing up for the author's news letter.
This is the first fantasy book I have read in about 35 years. I only read one other when I was a teen and was first discovering my love of reading and collecting books. My first foray into fantasy was a total disaster. It was a terrifically horrible story and shall forever go unnamed in public. It completely turned me off to even considering reading another fantasy book. After my husband began badgering me to spread my wings and try some variety instead of my normal diet of sci-fi, I settled on Mr. Hodges' offering, pretty much randomly. Boy did I luck out!
For an author's first novel, I am tremendously impressed, both in the quality of the writing and the plot of the story itself. Fully fleshed characters come to life and you get to know them and what drives them. And as I learned, right up until the very last page of the book, nothing happens without a damned good reason. I was tied to the characters in a way that few books have managed to do. I actually felt the fear and the horror one of our heroes, Eric, feels during the course of events. Alastair's story is slower to come out, but it is just as compelling.
As I said, I have not read fantasy in decades, so perhaps Mr. Hodges way magic works is quite generic, but to me it was new and original. I grew up playing Dungeons & Dragons and now play Pathfinder, so I am really only familiar with those processes. I enjoyed that a caster did not have to memorize spells out of a books and casting a spell was as simple as freeing a force that has a limited number of effects, but can be used in a variety of ways.
I can quite honestly say that this is the best fantasy book I have ever read, but keep in mind that it is only the second one I have read. I can't wait to dive into the second and third books.
I only have one issue with this book which really doesn't detract from the story at all...
Romance. I have never read a story that a relationship between two characters didn't seem to happen in the blink of an eye. I'm a cynic when it comes to that so really my opinion doesn't count for a hill of beans in this regard. I'm an old fashioned kinda guy and like to see a period of courting before the "L" word comes up. It's not like the couple in question meet, lock eyes and get married within a paragraph or two, but it is still a whirl-wind event. I'm not an author and I can't do it better, so I guess I'll shut up about it now.
This is the first fantasy book I have read in about 35 years. I only read one other when I was a teen and was first discovering my love of reading and collecting books. My first foray into fantasy was a total disaster. It was a terrifically horrible story and shall forever go unnamed in public. It completely turned me off to even considering reading another fantasy book. After my husband began badgering me to spread my wings and try some variety instead of my normal diet of sci-fi, I settled on Mr. Hodges' offering, pretty much randomly. Boy did I luck out!
For an author's first novel, I am tremendously impressed, both in the quality of the writing and the plot of the story itself. Fully fleshed characters come to life and you get to know them and what drives them. And as I learned, right up until the very last page of the book, nothing happens without a damned good reason. I was tied to the characters in a way that few books have managed to do. I actually felt the fear and the horror one of our heroes, Eric, feels during the course of events. Alastair's story is slower to come out, but it is just as compelling.
As I said, I have not read fantasy in decades, so perhaps Mr. Hodges way magic works is quite generic, but to me it was new and original. I grew up playing Dungeons & Dragons and now play Pathfinder, so I am really only familiar with those processes. I enjoyed that a caster did not have to memorize spells out of a books and casting a spell was as simple as freeing a force that has a limited number of effects, but can be used in a variety of ways.
I can quite honestly say that this is the best fantasy book I have ever read, but keep in mind that it is only the second one I have read. I can't wait to dive into the second and third books.
I only have one issue with this book which really doesn't detract from the story at all...
Romance. I have never read a story that a relationship between two characters didn't seem to happen in the blink of an eye. I'm a cynic when it comes to that so really my opinion doesn't count for a hill of beans in this regard. I'm an old fashioned kinda guy and like to see a period of courting before the "L" word comes up. It's not like the couple in question meet, lock eyes and get married within a paragraph or two, but it is still a whirl-wind event. I'm not an author and I can't do it better, so I guess I'll shut up about it now.
July 23, 2017
STORMWIELDER: Wenn der erwartete Sturm nichts mehr ist als ein grummelndes "Langweilig!" meinerseits
"Stormwielder", eines der ersten Bücher des jungen neuseeländischen Autoren Aaron Hodges, hat von der Inhaltsangabe her alles, was ich mir in einem Buch wünschen kann: der Protagonist, Eric, ruft bei Angst extremste Gewitterstürme hervor und die Menschen fliehen beim Anblick seiner stechend blauen Augen. Ein mysteriöser alter Mann und Krieger, allein er kann Eric den Weg weisen. Noch immer schwelende Kriege aus der Vergangenheit, Götter und Dämonen ... Es klang doch alles nach einem spannenden Beginn für die "The Sword of Light Trilogy"!
Zuallererst hat mich gestört, wie klischeehaft das Buch angefangen hat (und, ja, bis zum Ende geblieben ist). Beim 17-jährigen Eric bin ich mir nicht sicher, ob sein Charakter einfach nur so schlecht ausgearbeitet wurde oder der Autor bewusst eine bis zum Himmel stinkende Naivität und Gefühlslosigkeit vorhergesehen hat. Erst als die durchtrainierte, selbstverständlich super-attraktive Jägerin Inken auftaucht, scheint sie auch nur da zu sein, um wohl in die Handlung noch das obligatorische Liebesdrama zu stopfen. Einmal gesehen, und schon schwören sich beide die unsterbliche Liebe fürs Leben. Gut, das mit der sogenannten "Instalove" ist ja inzwischen ein Buch-Klischee geworden, aber muss das denn überall sein?
Je mehr ich darüber nachdenke, umso mehr fallen mir die störenden Dinge an "Stormwielder" auf. Alles hat mich stark an die Eragon-Bücher von Christopher Paolini erinnert, sogar die netten Drachen sind dabei und der weise Mentor, der (Ach, vergisst es - aber wenn ihr den Namen "Brom" kennt, wisst ihr, was völlig Vorhersehbar auch in "Stormwielder" passieren wird) ... Der Schreibstil war relativ einfach und hat zur Handlung selbst gepasst: nichts Überraschendes und mit zu vielen glücklichen Zufällen.
Alles in allem bin ich sehr skeptisch, was die "The Sword of Light"-Trilogie angeht. Juckt es mich zu erfahren wie es weitergehen wird? Leider nicht, denn überwiegend stelle ich gerade nur fest, dass ich mich mehr gelangweilt als unterhalten gefühlt habe!
"Stormwielder", eines der ersten Bücher des jungen neuseeländischen Autoren Aaron Hodges, hat von der Inhaltsangabe her alles, was ich mir in einem Buch wünschen kann: der Protagonist, Eric, ruft bei Angst extremste Gewitterstürme hervor und die Menschen fliehen beim Anblick seiner stechend blauen Augen. Ein mysteriöser alter Mann und Krieger, allein er kann Eric den Weg weisen. Noch immer schwelende Kriege aus der Vergangenheit, Götter und Dämonen ... Es klang doch alles nach einem spannenden Beginn für die "The Sword of Light Trilogy"!
Zuallererst hat mich gestört, wie klischeehaft das Buch angefangen hat (und, ja, bis zum Ende geblieben ist). Beim 17-jährigen Eric bin ich mir nicht sicher, ob sein Charakter einfach nur so schlecht ausgearbeitet wurde oder der Autor bewusst eine bis zum Himmel stinkende Naivität und Gefühlslosigkeit vorhergesehen hat. Erst als die durchtrainierte, selbstverständlich super-attraktive Jägerin Inken auftaucht, scheint sie auch nur da zu sein, um wohl in die Handlung noch das obligatorische Liebesdrama zu stopfen. Einmal gesehen, und schon schwören sich beide die unsterbliche Liebe fürs Leben. Gut, das mit der sogenannten "Instalove" ist ja inzwischen ein Buch-Klischee geworden, aber muss das denn überall sein?
Je mehr ich darüber nachdenke, umso mehr fallen mir die störenden Dinge an "Stormwielder" auf. Alles hat mich stark an die Eragon-Bücher von Christopher Paolini erinnert, sogar die netten Drachen sind dabei und der weise Mentor, der (Ach, vergisst es - aber wenn ihr den Namen "Brom" kennt, wisst ihr, was völlig Vorhersehbar auch in "Stormwielder" passieren wird) ... Der Schreibstil war relativ einfach und hat zur Handlung selbst gepasst: nichts Überraschendes und mit zu vielen glücklichen Zufällen.
Alles in allem bin ich sehr skeptisch, was die "The Sword of Light"-Trilogie angeht. Juckt es mich zu erfahren wie es weitergehen wird? Leider nicht, denn überwiegend stelle ich gerade nur fest, dass ich mich mehr gelangweilt als unterhalten gefühlt habe!
April 13, 2018
This is a promising debut novel. The construction and characterization are not seamless, but it held my attention until the end. I have read another of the author's books, set in modern times, and overall I liked this one better.
Where I think the author's writing especially shines is in coming up with plot developments that make sense and move the action forward. The story is fast paced and never gets bogged down. The battle and action scenes are well written and enjoyable but also skimmable if you get tired of that sort of thing after a while, the way I do.
A character whose magic is too strong for him to control so that he unwittingly commits terrible deeds is an intriguing premise. This would have been a good setup for the development of a dark wizard. That Eric doesn't go that way, but is actually led towards redemption, could be a very powerful character arc. That potential is largely unrealized in this novel. Eric learns to control his magic pretty easily and quickly once he meets up with Alastair, and never looks back.
In general the relationships between Eric and Alastair and Eric and Inken are pleasant to read but I think they could have used more development. If a story is going to start with magic so strong out of control that it burns down an entire village, murdering dozens if not hundreds of people, it is going to have to take more than a week or two and a few lessons for the magicker to learn to control that magic. A more drawn-out and suspenseful learning curve would have also given us more opportunity to learn about the history of the world and the magical system.
This book almost seemed like 2 stories, stuck uncomfortably together. The first deals with Eric, his magic, and the fallout from his destroying Gabriel's village. It is basically an origin story for Eric. The second is when the real quest begins, to save the world from Archon. I liked both stories but found them a little thin in this format. I hope that in future installments Eric's past comes back to haunt him and provide some further conflict.
Where I think the author's writing especially shines is in coming up with plot developments that make sense and move the action forward. The story is fast paced and never gets bogged down. The battle and action scenes are well written and enjoyable but also skimmable if you get tired of that sort of thing after a while, the way I do.
A character whose magic is too strong for him to control so that he unwittingly commits terrible deeds is an intriguing premise. This would have been a good setup for the development of a dark wizard. That Eric doesn't go that way, but is actually led towards redemption, could be a very powerful character arc. That potential is largely unrealized in this novel. Eric learns to control his magic pretty easily and quickly once he meets up with Alastair, and never looks back.
In general the relationships between Eric and Alastair and Eric and Inken are pleasant to read but I think they could have used more development. If a story is going to start with magic so strong out of control that it burns down an entire village, murdering dozens if not hundreds of people, it is going to have to take more than a week or two and a few lessons for the magicker to learn to control that magic. A more drawn-out and suspenseful learning curve would have also given us more opportunity to learn about the history of the world and the magical system.
This book almost seemed like 2 stories, stuck uncomfortably together. The first deals with Eric, his magic, and the fallout from his destroying Gabriel's village. It is basically an origin story for Eric. The second is when the real quest begins, to save the world from Archon. I liked both stories but found them a little thin in this format. I hope that in future installments Eric's past comes back to haunt him and provide some further conflict.
July 26, 2021
This was an interesting story, and I felt like it had potential. The storyline was a little confusing, but the biggest issue I had was with the characters. The characters behaved...oddly. For example, one character saved another character’s life, and the one who was saved thanked him, then slapped him. And then he was fuming throughout the rest of the book. Yes, I can understand being mad because what the person did to save your life was dangerous, but he still saved your life.
Eric’s character was annoying. He seemed overly dramatic, always running away in fear and screaming. It would have been nice to have Eric be the main character, since the blurb seemed to be about him, but the story skipped between characters a lot. Frequently, when the story was written from Eric’s perspective, he was just standing to the side watching.
The character of the goddess Antonia was annoying as well because she seemed to be overly dramatic too.
I didn’t know who the antagonist in the story was. Another review mentioned that the storyline seemed to flip at around the 50% mark from running from someone who wanted revenge to suddenly wanting to find and protect a girl. Thinking back on the book, this annoyed me too. What is the goal of the story? Is it running from someone and learning to control your magic? Or finding a random girl who is supposed to save everyone?
One thing that I did like was the magic in the story. The magic and its rules seemed to be well developed.
Eric’s character was annoying. He seemed overly dramatic, always running away in fear and screaming. It would have been nice to have Eric be the main character, since the blurb seemed to be about him, but the story skipped between characters a lot. Frequently, when the story was written from Eric’s perspective, he was just standing to the side watching.
The character of the goddess Antonia was annoying as well because she seemed to be overly dramatic too.
I didn’t know who the antagonist in the story was. Another review mentioned that the storyline seemed to flip at around the 50% mark from running from someone who wanted revenge to suddenly wanting to find and protect a girl. Thinking back on the book, this annoyed me too. What is the goal of the story? Is it running from someone and learning to control your magic? Or finding a random girl who is supposed to save everyone?
One thing that I did like was the magic in the story. The magic and its rules seemed to be well developed.
November 20, 2017
The story of evil vs good is a lot more complicated than just black and white.
Having great powers to wield is both a blessing and a curse as we find out in this story of our Hero Eric a young boy who finds himself causing almost as much harm as good whilst trying to be a better wielder of magic and a better person in a time when good is nearly ready to fail in its fight against evil forever.
As with many narrators although clear i did find him hard to follow for a time and quite droning at times. Move past this and you may find that the story progression makes this worthwhile. for some this may seem a bit rushed in character development and i do wonder if this works better as a book than audible. Have got the book to try this as i found the story interesting enough to look at following the series.
For some this may work out and others may choose to leave this at Book 1. Others may sit on the fence dependant on credits etc to make this worthwhile for keeping with an audio version.
Having great powers to wield is both a blessing and a curse as we find out in this story of our Hero Eric a young boy who finds himself causing almost as much harm as good whilst trying to be a better wielder of magic and a better person in a time when good is nearly ready to fail in its fight against evil forever.
As with many narrators although clear i did find him hard to follow for a time and quite droning at times. Move past this and you may find that the story progression makes this worthwhile. for some this may seem a bit rushed in character development and i do wonder if this works better as a book than audible. Have got the book to try this as i found the story interesting enough to look at following the series.
For some this may work out and others may choose to leave this at Book 1. Others may sit on the fence dependant on credits etc to make this worthwhile for keeping with an audio version.
March 12, 2020
Another fast moving tale of magic.....
Having enjoyed another book by this author I took advantage of an offer of a free book as long as I would give an honest review of what I thought after finishing it.
Well, I was not disappointed by reading this book and had a hard time putting it down To get some sleep at night.The tale was a genre I do not ordinarily thrive on but the story moved rather quickly and had some nice characters in it And brought back memories of days when I was much younger that had to do with magic and the wonders of the world. After mini bottles of different kinds Good, of course, triumphed over evil.If there was any negative to this it was a flaw that I've seen and all books of this nature. That is when the young hero to be hero to be was supposed to be thought of as the male good guy, and mostly was, but seemed A little to not leave, innocent, and ignorant, to carry this role off Totally well. However with the help of the heroine he succeeds And leaves one wondering what will be in the next book of the series. All in all It was quite good.
Having enjoyed another book by this author I took advantage of an offer of a free book as long as I would give an honest review of what I thought after finishing it.
Well, I was not disappointed by reading this book and had a hard time putting it down To get some sleep at night.The tale was a genre I do not ordinarily thrive on but the story moved rather quickly and had some nice characters in it And brought back memories of days when I was much younger that had to do with magic and the wonders of the world. After mini bottles of different kinds Good, of course, triumphed over evil.If there was any negative to this it was a flaw that I've seen and all books of this nature. That is when the young hero to be hero to be was supposed to be thought of as the male good guy, and mostly was, but seemed A little to not leave, innocent, and ignorant, to carry this role off Totally well. However with the help of the heroine he succeeds And leaves one wondering what will be in the next book of the series. All in all It was quite good.
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