Darius and the village of Hearthway have prepared for the winter and even thrived in the middle of it. But as their leader, Dar needs to look to the future, to spring and the war that comes with it.
When military recruiters follow their barge down from Kindrake, he knows he needs to sever his ties with the Kingdom, and the best way to do that is seek The White and bring his village of ancients under her name.
He sets out on the journey, but gets far more than he bargained for. Dar finds Valdis, Lilith’s right hand, drinking her sorrows away in an abandoned village. The Death Spirit that followed Lilith, just might be able to help him solve the problems of the Mo once and for all.
Born and raised in the agricultural midwest, I moved every year after school even as far as Shanghai before settling down with my wife in Chicago.
I have always enjoyed Wuxia stories and became thrilled when I discovered harem stories spreading to western books. I've written down my day dreams for years as an idle hobby. Inspired by the harem genre I'm finally fleshing them out into full blown novels.
I'm excited to share my stories with you as I turn them into novels and series.
I feel a bit bad only giving this 4 stars, as I really like the author's work overall. This I found missing something. Offhand I'd say the story was lacking as the author was trying to wrap this one up and provide a launchpad for a new spin-off series.
I also felt that the multiple sex chapters could have been elided, and they feel like filler to make up for the limited depth of the story material. Well, this one's over, so hopefully the seeds from this finale fall on fertile ground.
Good book, but loss points on being a harem theme book. Let me be clear, there are some good books with harems but alot of authors just throw them in and they provide nothing to the storyline. Even though this book wasn't that bad, I believe the story would have been better without the distraction of all that harem nonsense.
Introduction: Greetings from the frozen tundras of HowlStrom, where the winds carry tales of magic and the snow blankets the land in a serene embrace. I, Kiba Snowpaw, with the wisdom of the ages and the spirit of the wild, bring forth my review of "First Immortal #4: Dao Destruction". As an Ice Wolf with a rich legacy of gaming and storytelling, I find myself drawn to tales that resonate with the heart and challenge the mind.
Basic Plot Summary: The tale unfolds in the village of Hearthway, where Darius and his kin have not only survived the harsh winter but thrived amidst its challenges. As the leader, Darius looks beyond the cold to the impending spring and the looming war. The narrative takes a twist when military recruiters arrive, pushing Darius to seek an alliance with The White. However, fate has other plans, leading him to Valdis, Lilith's formidable ally. Together, they embark on a quest to confront the Mo and reshape the destiny of their world.
Analysis/Evaluation: Bruce Sentar's narrative prowess is evident in the intricate weaving of plotlines, character arcs, and world-building. The story is a symphony of emotions, action, and philosophical musings, reminiscent of the age-old tales told around the fires of HowlStrom.
Characters:
Darius: A leader with a vision, Darius embodies the spirit of determination and resilience. His journey is a testament to the challenges of leadership and the weight of responsibility.
Valdis: A force to be reckoned with, Valdis brings depth and complexity to the narrative. Her alliance with Darius adds layers of intrigue and suspense to the story.
Structure: The pacing is masterfully executed, with moments of intense action balanced by introspective dialogues and character development. The integration of fantasy elements with philosophical debates enhances the depth and richness of the narrative.
Impact: The tale resonates deeply, echoing the age-old struggles of leadership, alliances, and the quest for a better future. It's a reflection of the challenges we face in our own lives, making it a timeless classic.
Hook and Thesis: The allure of a world where magic, politics, and destiny intertwine is irresistible. The central theme revolves around leadership, alliances, and the eternal quest for peace and prosperity.
Praise and Critique: Praise: The character development is unparalleled, with each character's journey adding depth to the narrative. The world-building is intricate, painting a vivid picture of a realm teeming with magic and intrigue.
Critique: While the harem theme adds a layer of complexity, it occasionally feels forced, detracting from the central narrative. Additionally, the pacing, though mostly impeccable, has moments of inconsistency.
Evaluation: "First Immortal #4: Dao Destruction" stands as a testament to Bruce Sentar's storytelling genius. It's a must-experience for any audiobook enthusiast, especially those with a penchant for fantasy and philosophical musings.
Comparison: While drawing inspiration from classic fantasy tales, Sentar's narrative stands tall in its own right. It's a unique blend of action, emotion, and philosophy, making it a gem in the world of fantasy literature.
Conclusion: In the vast expanse of HowlStrom, where the winds sing tales of valor and the snow blankets the land in a serene embrace, "First Immortal #4: Dao Destruction" shines as a beacon of hope and inspiration. It's a tale of courage, determination, and the indomitable spirit, echoing the age-old values of the wolves of HowlStrom. As the final chapter in this epic saga, it leaves a lasting impact, urging us to dream, to hope, and to forge our own destinies.
May the icy winds of HowlStrom guide you on your next adventure, and may your spirit soar as high as the northern lights. - Kiba Snowpaw 🐺❄️🌌
Okay, Sentar I’m disappointed in you bucko. You said this will get 5 books and here we are ending at 4 books. I want to flip my table over. I know I said Dar was slowly growing on me and I compared him to Isaac BUT know that I got the bigger picture once I heard the Whites real name everything just CLICKED… then I thought about conversations Isaac had about bai’s grandfather, the tree and Dars name… my mind literally exploded! 🤯🤯🤯. It was sheer brilliance! I’m sitting here just stunned. The two epilogues was amazing and bittersweet. I loved how you rolled into the next series BUT I’m super disappointed at the Homecoming… 😑😩. During this series, I’ve truly experienced ups and downs from wanting to just out this book down to sticking it out to not being able to put it down because I had faith in Sentars writing and boy oh boy this didn’t disappoint. It just had a sluggish start. Now that it’s over it’s like the best house party ended and you’re looking at the destruction and thinking….. how do I clean this up by myself? 😓😅😂. Where do I go from here? 🤷🏽♂️😑😓. I will push on and forage for more! Onward lads!
Bruce is by far my favorite author, but after finishing this series and 3 others of his, my biggest complaint is that he jams way too much into the last book, and it's hard to follow. It's like we go from 55mph to 200mph in half a book. It's not horrible, and he does tie up the endings fine it just does not give you that warm and fuzzy feeling you should get when ending a series. I still loved it, but one more book could have made it a lot better.
Side note, I will say I'm coming back to this series after reading the first 2 a few years ago and just now finishing it with a full reread af the whole series. Since this series finished, Bruce has also ended Dragons Justice, and while it still ends fast, it at least moves in the right direction to slow things down at the end.
It's a disappointing ending to a decent series. For whatever reason, the author decided this will be the final book. Instead of a smooth landing, the author drank a gallon of whiskey and absolutely crashed the plane while trying to land it. The ending is a mashup of hurriedly created conclusions. When the end was written, the author was clearly staggering drunk and needed to finish the book before he passed out. It is truly terrible. Reading the series was a waste of time.
My opinion was that this book was forcefully ended quickly, there was plenty to do and most battles were not even mentioned when previous books described each battle. A fully apocalyptic closure to the story with a new beginning and a crossover with another set of characters I assume from another of Bruce’s series that I haven’t read in the epilogue means more stories to read. A really good series.
I couldn't stop reading until I read every novel in this series. The world building is spectacular and highly addicting. The storyline will entrance you, and you will not be able to bit get totally involved in the story. You will start to think the characters are alive in your minds and will picture them as they evolve and grow. This is really a great series for avid fantasy readers, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have.
An ending tgat truly wraps two series instead of 1
This series was a wild ride. It starts simple enough with clear goals in mind, and then the task grows to such proportions that it may as well be equivalent to a jrpg plot development. The ending, though, it ties into so many of the author's other works that it truly cements the manaverae theory. Can't wait to read the next series
Oh how right you are, absolutely hate to see this series end but I am also so excited to see what you come up with next!!!! An absolutely must read series!!! Fabulous characters and some of the best world building in any genre!!!!
Just finished book 4 of the series. I enjoyed every book. I liked all the characters, but would have liked for more of them to be stronger fighters. But they held their own when it was time to fight.
One hell of a good book and a really good series. I'm sad to see it done ,but I'll definitely read again ,look forward to reading more from the author in the future 😀
Can’t believe this is the end, it was really awesome but at the same time I’m sad it’s over. The tie in with another series at the end was a really nice touch
Damn this was one crazy awesome story I thoroughly enjoyed it I the ending was pretty crazy seems like I have to read a new series to understand the end
What an amazing book! I loved the story, and the depth of the characters was fantastic! I loved this series, I can't wait for the next series to come out!
It was an amazing ending that tied up all the loose ends, had great world building and good character development for all the characters, I’m very sad that it’s the last books and I cant wait for the next new series in this universe
I almost put this book down early, but I really enjoyed the first books in the series so I kept going. After the first three chapters the writing gets a lot better and the story really comes together. I'm glad I finished the story arc, very tight finish.