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Rhone
Mars has a hero that will defy both god and man ...
Rhone is an ex-soldier of mixed blood, more man than demon but with reserves of hellish power. He has led a peaceful life as a fisherman since his soldiering days and is raising a daughter, Enna. Returning home one day he finds Enna murdered -- or so he believes.
And so begins Rhone's manipulation by Ducain, a demigod hell-bent on ruling the heavens. After avenging his daughter's death, Rhone grieves and isolates himself in the mountains. Ducain tells him his daughter's soul is locked in purgatory but can be retrieved ... and if Rhone also frees the titan who once defied the king of gods, Enna will live again.
Rhone is an ex-soldier of mixed blood, more man than demon but with reserves of hellish power. He has led a peaceful life as a fisherman since his soldiering days and is raising a daughter, Enna. Returning home one day he finds Enna murdered -- or so he believes.
And so begins Rhone's manipulation by Ducain, a demigod hell-bent on ruling the heavens. After avenging his daughter's death, Rhone grieves and isolates himself in the mountains. Ducain tells him his daughter's soul is locked in purgatory but can be retrieved ... and if Rhone also frees the titan who once defied the king of gods, Enna will live again.
- GenresFantasy
384 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2010
1 person is currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
John Andrew Karr
20 books225 followersJohn Andrew Karr (also John A. Karr) writes of the strange and spectacular. He is the author of a handful of independent and small press novels and novellas, including the Mars Wars science fiction series via Kensington Books’ Rebel Base imprint. Short stories have appeared in New Reader Magazine, Flame Tree Publishing, Danse Macabre, Allegory and others.
He’s a North Carolina resident, IT worker, and all-around family guy. He is also an ardent believer in the quote from Carl van Doren (1885-1950), U.S. man of letters: Yes, it's hard to write, but it's harder not to.
www.johnandrewkarr.com
He’s a North Carolina resident, IT worker, and all-around family guy. He is also an ardent believer in the quote from Carl van Doren (1885-1950), U.S. man of letters: Yes, it's hard to write, but it's harder not to.
www.johnandrewkarr.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 8, 2010
wrote it!
Mars has a hero that will defy both god and man ...
Rhone is an ex-soldier of mixed blood, more man than demon but with reserves of hellish power. He has led a peaceful life as a fisherman since his soldiering days and is raising a daughter, Enna. Returning home one day he finds Enna murdered -- or so he believes.
And so begins Rhone's manipulation by Ducain, a demigod hell-bent on ruling the heavens. After avenging his daughter's death, Rhone grieves and isolates himself in the mountains. Ducain tells him his daughter's soul is locked in purgatory but can be retrieved ... and if Rhone also frees the titan who once defied the king of gods, Enna will live again.
Fantasy Book Critic blog has a cool review ....
http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com...
Excerpt:
John A. Karr has written a straight forward heroic fantasy which has enough twists and turns in to be enjoyable. His writing is smooth and the prose is far from being soporific. The tale though a revenge story becomes much more than what the blurb hints at. The author has mixed some SF bits and set this tale on Mars and time period is around when the dinosaurs were wiped out from the face of the Earth. The story is very fast paced and makes the reader follow through entirely.
The downside to Rhone is that there are some editing typos which might put off people however I didn’t think it detracted anything from the tale. Also, the ending which comes naturally to this tale tries to encompass a bit of what happened afterwards and that seemed a bit too much in too little space that is devoted to it.
Rhone was a very enjoyable heroic fantasy book and the only complaint I had was that the climax ended in a way that makes you want to read the next book at the earliest possible convenience. Give Rhone a try if you have like dark sword and sorcery tales or heroic fantasy, as for me this was another highly enjoyable book and John A. Karr becomes another addition to my list of authors to watch out for.
Mars has a hero that will defy both god and man ...
Rhone is an ex-soldier of mixed blood, more man than demon but with reserves of hellish power. He has led a peaceful life as a fisherman since his soldiering days and is raising a daughter, Enna. Returning home one day he finds Enna murdered -- or so he believes.
And so begins Rhone's manipulation by Ducain, a demigod hell-bent on ruling the heavens. After avenging his daughter's death, Rhone grieves and isolates himself in the mountains. Ducain tells him his daughter's soul is locked in purgatory but can be retrieved ... and if Rhone also frees the titan who once defied the king of gods, Enna will live again.
Fantasy Book Critic blog has a cool review ....
http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com...
Excerpt:
John A. Karr has written a straight forward heroic fantasy which has enough twists and turns in to be enjoyable. His writing is smooth and the prose is far from being soporific. The tale though a revenge story becomes much more than what the blurb hints at. The author has mixed some SF bits and set this tale on Mars and time period is around when the dinosaurs were wiped out from the face of the Earth. The story is very fast paced and makes the reader follow through entirely.
The downside to Rhone is that there are some editing typos which might put off people however I didn’t think it detracted anything from the tale. Also, the ending which comes naturally to this tale tries to encompass a bit of what happened afterwards and that seemed a bit too much in too little space that is devoted to it.
Rhone was a very enjoyable heroic fantasy book and the only complaint I had was that the climax ended in a way that makes you want to read the next book at the earliest possible convenience. Give Rhone a try if you have like dark sword and sorcery tales or heroic fantasy, as for me this was another highly enjoyable book and John A. Karr becomes another addition to my list of authors to watch out for.
June 29, 2010
This is a cracking adventure story set on Mars with the hero tackling the very gods themselves. It's a real page-turner - full of action and bloodshed. It's violent and gritty, but also has more than a couple of twists along the way to keep you guessing. It is a good mix of science fiction and fantasy (I'm more sci-fi than fantasy usually, but I found the mix very readable). There were a couple of people who said that it had a lot of editorial problems - I didn't find that. There were one or two errors here and there, but no more than the average novel.
June 8, 2010
Review originally at Fantasy Book Critic
Overall rating = 3 & 1/2 stars.
I was intrigued by the book description when John A. Karr approached us for a review. This book was featured as a dark heroic fantasy set on Mars and among his literary idols, Karr counts upon Robert E. Howard, Michael Moorcock, Karl Edward Wagner and Edgar Rice Burroughs whose works inspired this book. The blurb details made it sound very inviting and so I started it with high anticipation.
The tale begins with Rhone who is now a fisherman living in the small town of Iylan, he spends most of his time fishing and making himself inconsequential. The thing he loves the most is his daughter Enna and he makes sure that she gets all of his attention. What he does not know that because of his soldier past and his demon genes. He has been targeted by Ducain, a demigod amongst the Marsii God pantheon, a vital cog in Ducain’s plan to kill Acteon the God King and usurp the mantle of Godking. Oblivious to all of this Rhone carries on with his life and meets with his comrade Satho who is passing by his town and they reminisce about their battles. Ducain on the other hand has plans to murder Rhone’s daughter to push him to the brink of his sanity and then nudge him over to become his godslaying pawn. What Ducain doesn’t count upon is that someone else who has their own plans with Rhone’s lineage.
The tale starts off with Enna’s murder by an assassin under Ducain’s patronage. Rhone wildly escalates in to a raving weapon which is exactly where Ducain wants him. He then introduces himself as a immortal who can help him retrieve Enna’s soul from purgatory if Rhone can travel there and retrieve another object from Purgatory. This object being a weapon shaped from a meteorite which can kill even a god. Rhone acquiesces as he sees no alternative but Ducain puts him into a coma before having him begin his journey to avoid suspicion about his plots, thus begins the journey which will make Rhone a legend upon the Marsii Continent.
John A. Karr has written a straight forward heroic fantasy which has enough twists and turns in to be enjoyable. His writing is smooth and the prose is far from being soporific. The tale though a revenge story becomes much more than what the blurb hints at. The author has mixed some SF bits and set this tale on Mars and time period is around when the dinosaurs were wiped out from the face of the Earth. The story is very fast paced and makes the reader follow through entirely.
The downside to Rhone is that there are some editing typos which might put off people however I didn’t think it detracted anything from the tale. Also, the ending which comes naturally to this tale tries to encompass a bit of what happened afterwards and that seemed a bit too much in too little space that is devoted to it.
Rhone was a very enjoyable heroic fantasy book and the only complaint I had was that the climax ended in a way that makes you want to read the next book at the earliest possible convenience. Give Rhone a try if you have like dark sword and sorcery tales or heroic fantasy, as for me this was another highly enjoyable book and John A. Karr becomes another addition to my list of authors to watch out for.
September 20, 2019
I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.
I wasn't particularly impressed by this book. The found the editing to be poor. I caught a few grammar and spelling errors, and even a couple places where the author has some minor things happen that are contradictory to what he'd written previously. These things were distracting and pulled me out of the story.
This book takes a mythical Greece type of setting and places it for no apparent reason on Mars. The setting seems somewhat shallow. This isn't a problem if the story is not about the setting. However, by picking the unusual location and attempting to fill in some of the details, the author gives the impression that the setting is important without actually doing a good job of presenting it.
The book is somewhat saved by the fact that at times the author does a great job of pulling you into the story. The combat was generally well described. The plot was essentially solid. The main character was reasonably believable.
Unfortunately, I found the good storytelling to be inconsistent, with frequent problems that pulled me back out of the story.
I wasn't particularly impressed by this book. The found the editing to be poor. I caught a few grammar and spelling errors, and even a couple places where the author has some minor things happen that are contradictory to what he'd written previously. These things were distracting and pulled me out of the story.
This book takes a mythical Greece type of setting and places it for no apparent reason on Mars. The setting seems somewhat shallow. This isn't a problem if the story is not about the setting. However, by picking the unusual location and attempting to fill in some of the details, the author gives the impression that the setting is important without actually doing a good job of presenting it.
The book is somewhat saved by the fact that at times the author does a great job of pulling you into the story. The combat was generally well described. The plot was essentially solid. The main character was reasonably believable.
Unfortunately, I found the good storytelling to be inconsistent, with frequent problems that pulled me back out of the story.
Read
August 17, 2021I was given a copy of "Rhone" by John A. Karr through the early reviewers program at LibraryThing.Com. I signed up for it, as is the way the program works, but sadly didn't finish reading it.
From the back of the book, also found at Amazon.Com and the description I found interesting enough to try and request a copy:
It seemed like it would be a mix between sci-fi and fantasy, which really appealed to me. I was interested is reading the author's ideas of what life on Mars would be like. Being one that gets into sci-fi's world building, I had hopes that this would be a sleeper book, unknown by the mass reading public because it was from a small time press. But for my tastes and hopes, the book failed. The world building, or at least the part of the book I made it through, was missing. There were towns and lakes on Mars but nothing behind why they were there.
Also, the style of the story was such that I am not accustomed to, nor do I want to be. The dedication at the beginning is to the author's brother and mentions the likes of other authors like Robert E. Howard, Michael Moorcock, Karl Edward Wagner, and Edgar Rice Burroughs. I have never read any of the works by these authors, other then Moorcock, and based on the experience and what I have heard, this book very much falls in line with that style. And I think that was the biggest "problem" I had. Meaning, that it wasn't the authors fault.
The characters seemed to be throwbacks from that time of fantasy and sci-fi novels. Evil characters with sinister laughs, taking their buxom blond ladies in passionate intimacy. The heroes destroying all in their path, and talking about the "good ol' days" with former colleagues. Gods gaining total control over a subject, while that subject fights to overcome those chains. Again, I didn't read the whole book, but that seemed to be the general direction of the book. And that's not what I had hope for and not what I am interested in.
Karr can write though. It's not like he's some hack that got a book published because he sweet talked someone into it. I can see some easily liking this book. Maybe not being blown away by it, but enjoying it. He writes with vigor. He's descriptive and well spoken. His subject matter is what bothered me.
From the back of the book, also found at Amazon.Com and the description I found interesting enough to try and request a copy:
Mars has a hero that will defy both god and man ...
Rhone is an ex-soldier of mixed blood, more man than demon but with reserves of hellish power. He has led a peaceful life as a fisherman since his soldiering days and is raising a daughter, Enna. Returning home one day he finds Enna murdered -- or so he believes.
And so begins Rhone's manipulation by Ducain, a demigod hell-bent on ruling the heavens. After avenging his daughter's death, Rhone grieves and isolates himself in the mountains. Ducain tells him his daughter's soul is locked in purgatory but can be retrieved ... and if Rhone also frees the titan who once defied the king of gods, Enna will live again.
It seemed like it would be a mix between sci-fi and fantasy, which really appealed to me. I was interested is reading the author's ideas of what life on Mars would be like. Being one that gets into sci-fi's world building, I had hopes that this would be a sleeper book, unknown by the mass reading public because it was from a small time press. But for my tastes and hopes, the book failed. The world building, or at least the part of the book I made it through, was missing. There were towns and lakes on Mars but nothing behind why they were there.
Also, the style of the story was such that I am not accustomed to, nor do I want to be. The dedication at the beginning is to the author's brother and mentions the likes of other authors like Robert E. Howard, Michael Moorcock, Karl Edward Wagner, and Edgar Rice Burroughs. I have never read any of the works by these authors, other then Moorcock, and based on the experience and what I have heard, this book very much falls in line with that style. And I think that was the biggest "problem" I had. Meaning, that it wasn't the authors fault.
The characters seemed to be throwbacks from that time of fantasy and sci-fi novels. Evil characters with sinister laughs, taking their buxom blond ladies in passionate intimacy. The heroes destroying all in their path, and talking about the "good ol' days" with former colleagues. Gods gaining total control over a subject, while that subject fights to overcome those chains. Again, I didn't read the whole book, but that seemed to be the general direction of the book. And that's not what I had hope for and not what I am interested in.
Karr can write though. It's not like he's some hack that got a book published because he sweet talked someone into it. I can see some easily liking this book. Maybe not being blown away by it, but enjoying it. He writes with vigor. He's descriptive and well spoken. His subject matter is what bothered me.
April 21, 2015
I've been trying on and off to read this book ever since I received it in April, and I'm totally subject to this amazing guilt complex as a consequence. There is every reason why I should like it -- epic fantasy, guy starting off small and pitting himself against the world & Gods & etc..... But every time I get back started with it, I get totally irritated with something else. This is not to say that it isn't good -- it's a great first book -- but the settings and archetypes that the author has chosen to work with have too much baggage for me to deal with comfortably. Your mileage may vary. :)
To begin with, the author really sets himself up for failure by setting the book on Mars. A story with a Mars setting carries with it a humongous amount of baggage on its back that it has to live up to -- set it on Sram and don't mention anything about Terra or Earth and it wouldn't have struggled so much. I realize that this is an unfair critique, and that every author has the right to create his own setting, but there are some settings that you just need to pay homage to What Has Come Before.
My other big complaint that came up every single time I picked the book back up was something that someone else mentioned earlier that I just couldn't put my finger on until they said it -- the bad guys are such complete stereotypical Bad Guys that they become laughable.
Otherwise.... I really wanted to like this book. I really, truly, honestly did. It had everything going for it, but just didn't pull it off for me. I think that my suspension of disbelief just kept getting suspended by something or other; a good editor who wasn't afraid to ask the author to simplify (think of that, me, an epic fantasy buff who really enjoys a good politically driven story, asking for a story to be simplified!) certain aspects of the story in order for it to flow more easily would have done a world of good. :/
To begin with, the author really sets himself up for failure by setting the book on Mars. A story with a Mars setting carries with it a humongous amount of baggage on its back that it has to live up to -- set it on Sram and don't mention anything about Terra or Earth and it wouldn't have struggled so much. I realize that this is an unfair critique, and that every author has the right to create his own setting, but there are some settings that you just need to pay homage to What Has Come Before.
My other big complaint that came up every single time I picked the book back up was something that someone else mentioned earlier that I just couldn't put my finger on until they said it -- the bad guys are such complete stereotypical Bad Guys that they become laughable.
Otherwise.... I really wanted to like this book. I really, truly, honestly did. It had everything going for it, but just didn't pull it off for me. I think that my suspension of disbelief just kept getting suspended by something or other; a good editor who wasn't afraid to ask the author to simplify (think of that, me, an epic fantasy buff who really enjoys a good politically driven story, asking for a story to be simplified!) certain aspects of the story in order for it to flow more easily would have done a world of good. :/
February 14, 2011
Part sorcerer, part demon, but most of all, loving father, Rhone of Iylan dares to battle a god bent on the domination of both mortals and immortals alike. Rhone is an ex-soldier turned fisherman, who wants nothing more than a good catch and to raise his young daughter in peace. Falling victim to the manipulative demi-god Ducain, Rhone believes his daughter is dead. In mind-numbing grief, he plays into Ducain’s hands and vows to travel to the literal ends of the planet to save her soul and return her to the land of the living.
Rhone by John A. Karr is an action-packed tale that moves rapidly from one adventure to the next. Using a strong mythological background and an intriguing setting, Karr weaves an intricate plot that leaves the reader guessing, while at the same time, sympathizing with a father grieving for the daughter he’s lost. Be warned, this novel is not for the faint of heart. Rhone’s journey is filled with gore and graphic violence, but in the end, Karr leaves the reader wanting to share more adventure with the half-Demon hero who defied a god.
-- ML Hamilton
Author of Emerald
Rhone by John A. Karr is an action-packed tale that moves rapidly from one adventure to the next. Using a strong mythological background and an intriguing setting, Karr weaves an intricate plot that leaves the reader guessing, while at the same time, sympathizing with a father grieving for the daughter he’s lost. Be warned, this novel is not for the faint of heart. Rhone’s journey is filled with gore and graphic violence, but in the end, Karr leaves the reader wanting to share more adventure with the half-Demon hero who defied a god.
-- ML Hamilton
Author of Emerald
June 12, 2010
On a fantasy Mars filled with numerous monsters and demons, the demigod Ducain plots to kill Actaeon, the king of the gods. In order to do so he needs the help of the retired soldier Rhone, who is half-demon. His demon blood enables him to access a magical weapon with the ability to harm Actaeon. In order to motivate Rhone to help with his scheme, Ducain fakes the death of Rhone's beloved daughter.
That is as far as I was able to get into this book. It may have a decent fantasy adventure story, but the writing itself made it unreadable to me. There are grammar errors in almost every paragraph, along with missing words, and a heavy overuse of adjectives. Spotting the errors dragged me out of the story, and after almost a hundred pages I couldn't continue.
That is as far as I was able to get into this book. It may have a decent fantasy adventure story, but the writing itself made it unreadable to me. There are grammar errors in almost every paragraph, along with missing words, and a heavy overuse of adjectives. Spotting the errors dragged me out of the story, and after almost a hundred pages I couldn't continue.
January 22, 2011
I don't see the need to post a summary of the story since others have already done so.
I was initially overwhelmed with all of the details presented at the beginning of the story, but found that the information was necessary to provide a foundation for the rest of the story. The author does a great job in building the reader's relationship with the hero, and the adventure unfolds at an increasingly rapid pace as one nears the end of the tale.
I understand that the author has taken steps to resolve some editing issues, which resolves some of the comments I've seen regarding this minor issue.
The book is worth reading, and I can see the possibility of a few companion volumes if the author chooses to expand upon his world building.
I was initially overwhelmed with all of the details presented at the beginning of the story, but found that the information was necessary to provide a foundation for the rest of the story. The author does a great job in building the reader's relationship with the hero, and the adventure unfolds at an increasingly rapid pace as one nears the end of the tale.
I understand that the author has taken steps to resolve some editing issues, which resolves some of the comments I've seen regarding this minor issue.
The book is worth reading, and I can see the possibility of a few companion volumes if the author chooses to expand upon his world building.
July 18, 2010
Collaboratively reviewed at Speculative Book Review
July 21, 2010
My review here.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews