Dragon Age: The Calling

Apr 112011
 

The Grey Wardens are an Order of peerless warriors from all nations and walks of life, who sacrifice themselves to protect the continent of Thedas from the all consuming Darkspawn Blights.  200 years ago, the order was expelled from Ferelden after a rebellion and now are seeking to return.  This is their chance to restore their lost honour and to once again do their duty and prevent Ferelden from becoming a tainted wasteland.

King Maric knows more than most, how vital the the Grey Wardens are, and when they appeal to him for entry to Ferelden and explain their mission, he unexpectedly agrees to accompany them.  Something once told to him by the Witch of the Korcari Wilds means he must go, but in truth since the death of his wife two years earlier, he hasn’t really been alive.  Neither his love for his young son, Prince Cailan, nor the bond that remains between himself and Teyrn Loghain can hold him back. The Grey Wardens live on borrowed time, because of the taint they take into their bodies.  When their Calling comes, they go to the dwarven Deep Roads, seeking death amongst the darkspawn.    Even the most senior Grey Warden can’t avoid it and there is a strong suspicion that the former Commander might have been captured or turned traitor when his time came.  He was one of the few privy to knowledge that could have devastating consequences and the Wardens must find him before the threat of a new Blight could rise.

Just a small recap about what I said about tie-ins from the review of Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne.

I think this is the first time I’ve ever read original stories based on a game.  Let me touch on the game as it has had such a big impact on me and my imagination.  The game is Bioware’s Dragon Age and is a single player RPG (on PC/PS3/Xbox).  It comes from the same people that made Baldur’s Gate, Knights of the Old Republic among others and something Bioware is very, very good at, is creating a game that immerses you not only in the story but the characters as well.  Dragon Age is quite simply one of the best games I have ever played (and still playing repeatedly because of the many different outcomes you can get through different choices!).

The Stolen Throne is an original story written by one the lead story writer of the game, set earlier than Dragon Age: Origins but featuring people you know about through the historical snippets you learn in game.  A very nice touch.

As I mentioned when I reviewed Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne, I feel I can’t really view the book impartially and separate it from what I would say was a good fantasy novel, because of its connection to a game I happen to love.  However, since I was extremely engaged and entertained by it, I felt it deserved a review just as the first one did.

The Calling is technically a sequel to The Stolen Throne, as it takes place a number of years after the liberation of Ferelden and Maric is still King.  That it focuses on the Grey Wardens is the exciting part as in Dragon Age: Origins, you play a Grey Warden and are faced with direct consequences from this book as well as meet some of the same characters.

I actually felt this book was the more emotional of the two, knowing the hard choices that Grey Wardens must make to keep people safe yet never be thanked for it.  It did have all of the heart, action, sacrifice and heroism that both the first book and the game do and it was extremely gripping on top of that.

My complaint from the first book about overuse of certain phrases was much less prevalent in this one, although it did still crop up occasionally.

The characters again were wonderful, it was good to be back with Maric once more, although bittersweet as he had lost his zest for life.  You felt for him as he went through the motions but it was great seeing him come back to life again.  You meet Duncan as a young man of about 18, which intrigued me no end.  If you’ve played the game, you will know who Duncan is and why it made me very excited.  If you haven’t, then he is still a wonderful and integral character you will come to love.  This book made me laugh quite a lot from the comments and banter between the characters and also want to cry as certain events came to pass.  I felt it was well written and had enough twists and turns to keep you gripped yet simple enough to follow even without prior knowledge from the game itself.

I do have to touch on the ending.  Okaaaay, didn’t see that coming!  Although there are no names attached, you know who it has to be and well… woah!

Just like Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne, if you are a fan of the game, you really have to read this.  If you aren’t, read it and hopefully it will get you into the game.  It really is that good!

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

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Shadow’s Son

Mar 072011
 

Caim is a killer for hire and a troubled young man in a city which is the mirror image of his own character.  Othir is a seething den of conspiracy, deceit and poverty covered with a veneer of religion, order and riches.  With few friends and a heart full of revenge, Caim believes he is killing those who deserve to be dead, and earning money on the side.  Then, when a short notice job goes wrong, he begins to suspect he’s at the centre of something greater and deadlier than he could have imagined.  His list of friends grows shorter, as the roster of enemies increases.

Shadow’s Son is a reasonably short, well paced novel.  Set almost entirely within the city of Othir, it provides a somewhat claustrophobic setting in which to play out the drama of Caim’s discoveries.  Caim is an interesting character, and he is given a chance to grow a little.  However, he isn’t as believable as he needs to be to carry the majority of the story.  Life threatening wounds are too easily shrugged off, and there are times when he behaves in a way which is at odds with his apparent skill.

The setting appears to be loosely based on Europe in the 12th century.  The underlying plot is engaging, and I was interested enough to keep turning the pages to find out what the end game was, finishing the book in one sitting.  The prose is easy to read, although one or two phrases really caused me to pause, but that’s a minor stylistic issue.  The story has little humour and the interplay between the characters is mostly serious, with only one or two light hearted moments.  Along with the claustrophobic setting this combination gives the world a bleak and foreboding feeling.

The significant cast is small for which I’m grateful, and it fit well within the scope of the story.  Along with Caim we have three contenders for the enemy, a sorcerer, an assassin and a priest; working with Caim we have the damsel in distress, Josephine.

It’s easy to categorise the enemy and the primary female character in that way since they’re pretty much standard tropes in fantasy literature.  The sorcerer is dark, mysterious and evil.  The assassin is cocky, arrogant and skilled (but not as skilled as he thinks), and the priest is devious and deeply involved in conspiracy and deceit.  The damsel is gorgeous and soft on the outside with an inner iron core of resolve.  Maybe I’m being a little unfair, but I do think the story deserved a richer cast with fewer clichéd characteristics.

The botched assassination and the arrival of Josephine change Caim’s life for ever – and set him on a path of discovery.  Readers of fantasy literature will remain unsurprised at the various revelations that are presented, but they are presented well, and despite the familiarity they are still worth the effort.

Shadow’s Son is an interesting read with an engaging plot that is ultimately let down by a lack of credibility in the protagonist, and a reliance on too many common fantasy tropes.

Rating: ★★½☆☆ 

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First Lord’s Fury

Apr 132010
 

In Calderon it began and in Calderon it will end, one way or another.  The last defence and hope of the realm against the Vord Queen and her endless horde.  If Gaius Octavian and his scattered army can’t win through, it will be the end of all things.

It’s bittersweet picking up the last book in a series.  I know, no matter how it turns out, it’s going to be the last one.  I try and read slowly, take it all in but as usual I get caught up in the story, progress at my usual pace and all too soon I am on the last page.  After I closed First Lord’s Fury, I sat there for a good fifteen minutes just staring in to space to absorb it and think it through.  It’s simply that good.

Some books I finish and while I might have really enjoyed it, I am straight on to another.  Others, like this one, I have to wait, reflect and in some respects grieve a little that it’s finished.  I didn’t expect it to have that much impact.

Jim Butcher is a master at creating characters you really care about, a story that is compelling and extremely engaging and this book takes both of those into overdrive.  It’s a bit of a dizzying cast, but with the Vord taking Alera apart piece by beloved piece, her defenders also have to be numerous.  Having said that, you get to see all the characters you’ve come to love fight for the realm that they loved, or those you hate continue their work to betray it.  It’s harrowing and grim yet moments of hope, love and laughter lighten your heart and keep you glued to the pages.  So many heart in mouth moments, heroic feats, sacrifice and sorrow for those that are lost are matched with the fast pace of battle.   At times I felt as if I was in the character’s shoes, not knowing what emotion is going to hit you next.

If there is anything negative I have to say about this book is that not quite as much use was made of the alliances as there could have been.  Then again, I had to remind myself that while there were a considerable number of Canim present,  that was all that was left of their race and at the end of the day, it was the battle for Alera.

A breathtaking end to an amazing series.

Rating: ★★★★★ 

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Shadow Prowler

Mar 102010
 

With a few notable exceptions, I haven’t read much fantasy for a while.  I was actually starting to wonder if I had lost my love for the genre as nothing seemed to peak my interest in the way it used to.  Simon and Schuster UK kindly sent me an advance review copy of a book they strongly believed in and aside from the fact it was originally written in russian and translated into english, it looked like just the kind of formulaic fantasy that had me so out of sorts.

Shadow Harold, master thief and appropriator of coveted items is happy to let the world go on around him.  The world however has different ideas.  The Nameless One is stirring after centuries of peace, calling an immense army of dreadful creatures to his side.  His goal is to strike at the heart of Siala, the great city of Avendoom. Harold’s unique talents are needed to gain access to the one thing that can save Siala and while it’s a mission of great urgency and danger, once commissioned, Harold is oath bound to see it through.  Even at the cost of his own life.

Having just finished Shadow Prowler, I am quite astonished.  It reminded me of the old favourites that I still have and re-read, of a few authors I love that are a cut above the rest and most importantly, why I fell in love with fantasy in the first place.

Right from the first few pages, I liked the main character Harold.  He’s an intelligent and witty reluctant hero, with a knack for getting out of a tight spot. Getting used to a new author’s ‘voice’ can be tough and Harold is what made it a smooth transition and kept me reading until I was caught up in the story.

The world Pehov has built for this series is rich in detail and character and I love the way he has turned around what I would say are usually standard facets of a fantasy book and used them to his own end.

As the story progressed and new characters were introduced, I found them just as well rounded and interesting as Harold, even those that that were only present for a brief time.  A few even tugged at my heart though their time in the book was short.

The pace was really good, no sudden stop/starts or breakneck rush but a smooth movement through the excellent storyline firing up with some great action scenes and then returning to that flow when it was time.

Magic is present, used in daily life and there are different forms of it, used by different races.  I found that interesting and thought it also showed just how much enthusiasm and work Alexey Pehov put into the world he created.

I have to touch on the translation from Russian by Andrew Bromfield.  I think it has been so skillfully done that I wouldn’t have been able to tell that it wasn’t first written in English.  I would love to know how the two versions compare and have to wonder if it was even more enjoyable in its native tongue.

I enjoyed this book a huge amount and can’t wait to read the second in the series to find out how Harold and his companions are faring!

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

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Recommendations: David Gemmell

Feb 102010
 

David Gemmell was pretty unique as an author, and it’s not easy to find good quality books that are similar to his.  However, there are authors which write good quality stuff which share some aspects of David’s books, so if you enjoyed Gemmell you might well enjoy the following authors / books.

James Barclay

James’ Raven series share their action packed nature with Gemmell’s work.  They’re quick paced with plenty of combat played out by interesting characters.  James can be found here, and you can read plenty of information about the Raven books by starting here (and scrolling up!)

Conn Iggulden

If you liked the historical fantasy side of David’s work, you should check out Conn’s historical fantasy books.  At the time of writing they are his Emperor Series and Conqueror Series.  You can check out information about the books on Conn’s website (and specifically the first Emperor and first Conqueror books).

Stan Nicholls

Stan’s has written one series and is working on a second series of books about a fighting band of Orcs.  While they have a more obvious fantasy slant than David Gemmell’s work, they are also gritty, fast paced and action packed, with plenty of humour to break up the combat.  You would do well to take a look at them.  You can find Stan’s site here.

If you have any other authors or books you feel would be enjoyed by people who loved David Gemmell, feel free to comment on this article with your recommendations.

Princeps’ Fury

Jan 072010
 

After managing to engineer peace with the Canim, Tavi holds to his promise and escorts them home.  Widespread devastation meets them and the belief that all would be well once Varg and his countrymen had set foot back on their own soil vanishes as they realise the dreaded Vord had laid waste to their entire country.  Back home, his loved ones are fighting their own battle with the Vord and go far and above the call of duty for the love of Alera and her Furies.  Alera must prevail.

So far, this series has been nothing short of amazing and yet Princeps’ Fury still manages to step it up a notch.  It has been a while since I read book four but I had no trouble at all diving right back into the story and greeting old friends.  Some authors tend to have a few major characters that I love intensely, but Butcher manages to sneak an entire legion into my heart.  Tavi, Kitai, Isana, Bernard, Max, Amara, Varg, Nausag – the list just goes on and I have no idea how he keeps them all straight or devotes as much intense attention to them all as he does.  With so many central characters I wouldn’t fault you for thinking it would be too many for them all to be so well rounded. Honestly though, the characterisations are just so good. I even felt I got to know the people better than before as they acted and reacted to the events unfolding in their lives.

The plot itself for this book is very different to what I was expecting.  Shocking, emotional, harrowing and heroic.  In between it all there are still shots of humour and love.  I found this book deeply emotional and I can’t say more than that without spoilers but if you are at all like me, have some tissues handy.  The pace chopped and changed a bit but that was dictated by the story and didn’t detract at all.  In fact it would have been a bad thing had certain scenes been rushed as it would have lost all impact and emotion, and that is where the quality of the storytelling lies.

A truly engaging and entertaining book by a master storyteller!

Rating: ★★★★★ 

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The David Gemmell Legend Award For Fantasy – 2010

Nov 022009
 

Stan Nicholls just sent over this press release, for next years (2010) David Gemmell Legend Award for Fantasy.

New Award Categories

When we established The David Gemmell Legend Award For Fantasy it was with the intention of subsequently introducing further award categories to cover other aspects of the fantasy genre. We are now pleased to announce two new, additional awards, to be presented at next year’s ceremony. They are -

The David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Newcomer

and

The David Gemmell Ravenheart Award for Best Fantasy Cover Art

The Morningstar Award will give recognition to emerging talent in the field of fantasy fiction. As David Gemmell always took a keen interest in new writers, and helped many onto the path to publication, we regard this as an appropriate category to add, and one we feel sure David would have approved.

The Ravenheart Award will honour the best fantasy book cover art. The importance of fantasy cover art deserves admiration, as do the artists who produce it, yet there is no major UK award acknowledging this. The Ravenheart Award will fulfil that role.

Like the Legend Award, the winners of these new awards, for best debut author and best cover/artist, will be decided by popular vote. The first Legend Award, for best fantasy novel of the year, presented at a ceremony in London in June of this year, garnered an incredible 11,000 votes from around the world. We are confident that the Morningstar and Ravenheart awards, which are being created with the full approval of the Gemmell family, will be greeted with no less enthusiasm.

Details of the process whereby these new awards will be administered can be found on our website.

Our aim is to establish, over time, a set of awards covering all aspects of the fantasy genre. Launching this pair of new awards takes us a step nearer to that objective.

The 2010 David Gemmell Awards ceremony will again be held at The Magic Circle headquarters in London, on Friday 18th June.

Please feel free to contact either of us if more information is needed.

Stan Nicholls (Chair)

Deborah Miller (Awards Administrator)

www.gemmellaward.com

Kushiel’s Mercy

Oct 292009
 

With their love made public, Imriel nó Montrève de la Courcel and Sidonie, heir to the throne of Terre d’Ange have no choice but to obey Queen Ysandre’s edict.   Unless Imri can bring his traitorous mother to justice, they will not be allowed to marry.  The foster parents he loves, Phèdre and Joscelin help him begin the search by sending word to various contacts they have made throughout their own journeys and information begins to filter back.  The city is thrown into a buzz of excitement when a visiting diplomat asks for Sidonie’s hand in marriage.  With his suit refused, he casts an evil enchantment that holds the city in thrall and the belief that not only has Sidonie happily consented to the marriage but that Terre D’ange has agreed to support him in a foreign war.  Only Imriel is spared, courtesy of the mother he’s never known but still loves him, and he alone remembers the love that he and Sidonie shared.  With help from an unexpected source, he sets out to find Sidonie and break the enchantment.  If he can’t, he’ll lose his beloved sun princess and Terre D’Ange will be at civil war.

I’ve been a huge fan of the original Kushiel trilogy for years.  So much so, I’ve read them several times (and plan to again!).  The Treason’s Heir trilogy have been just as good, even though the main focus of the story wasn’t on my favourite characters of Phèdre and Joscelin but on their foster son Imriel.  Having said that, watching Imriel’s journey from a frightened boy, having endured too much already, into a man who knows honour, duty, grief and love, you can’t help but fall in love with him.  This grows as the trilogy progresses and now, having finished the final book Kushiel’s Mercy, I am left feeling almost bereft that the story is over.

That Love is religion in Terre D’Ange and has always played a huge part in the books has always fascinated me. Their main tenet ‘Love as thou wilt’ is intriguing and the religious aspects that spring from that.  Carey created a world that was vibrant, erotic and sensual, filled with characters that you genuinely feel you come to know and love.

The book was just phenomenal, as they all have been.  Her writing is clean and crisp, the story flowing smoothly and the plot takes you through so many emotions you both laugh and cry.  It’s also complex and the twists and turns it takes as the story unfolds keep you glued to the pages.  I couldn’t put it down and now want to go back and read from the very first book in the original series, if only so I can review them all, as they deserve to be.

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Book Information

Why you should read – David Gemmell

Oct 232009
 

David Gemmell wrote tales about flawed heroes.  He wrote them in settings which are fantastical in nature, but generally low in magic and high in spiritualism.  However, the settings are secondary to the characters, and it is those characters and their nature that drive the underlying narrative in David’s books.

It could be argued that the range of characters in a David Gemmell book are limited and that the same themes crop up again and again, and I don’t disagree in principal.  I just don’t think this is a negative aspect of his work, but simply an aspect of his work.  David revisited the same themes with different characters, different viewpoints and sometimes different results.  He often looked at themes of redemption, the nature of evil, growing old, true heroism, loyalty and honour.

There is also no denying that David’s prose is simple and his style is sometimes accused of being ‘macho’.  However, the other side of those coins provide us with a fast paced story which never gets bogged down in its own style, and an easy to read prose which delivers a raw emotional punch.

So why should you read David Gemmell?

His tales evoke deep emotional responses.  You are drawn in to the story through the realistic and flawed characters, and once there you are pushed along by an emotional and moving story towards an often bitter sweet climax.

His stories are full of humour, but not humour delivered in a comic manner, rather humour drawn from the reality of life, the situation and David’s thorough appreciation of people and their motivations.

The books are both personal and epic in nature.  It’s difficult to expand on that comment in a reasonably short number of words, but I will try.  While the story might focus on a single person or small group of people and their emotional and heroic attempts to stave off some great evil, you have no choice by to find yourself questioning the very nature of heroism, good, evil, redemption, honour and loyalty.  What is it that makes one person’s actions heroic and another’s evil?  What is bravery, and how can you be brave without ever feeling fear?  These questions are driven from the core of the personal emotions in the stories, but their scope is epic.

David’s journalism background, his innate story telling ability and his very nature means the books are rich with life and honesty.  The stories evoke a feeling of ancient legends and myths told around a blazing fire, fighting to keep the darkness away.  They are rousing tales of honesty, truth and loyalty in the face of almost absolute despair.

You might not be a fan of fantasy, but don’t be put off by the book store labelling.  Quite apart from his historical fantasy (for example, the three Troy books), the rest of the books have a solid grounding in reality and there are no elves or dwarves, just a rich mythology and spattering of alternate-history.

To finish though, the reason why you should read David Gemmell’s books is that the tales in them are alive, demanding to be read, trying to be free.  These are more than just stories, these are legends and myths brought to life by a master story teller.

A Princess of Landover

Oct 062009
 

Mistaya Holliday is a typical 15 year old girl.  She wants to be in charge of her own life,  thinks she has all the answers and thinks her parents decide too much for her.  However, she is far from ordinary – a child born of three worlds and the daughter of Ben Holliday, King of Landover.  Sent to a boarding school in the mundane world, she rebels after feeling as though she can’t fit in.  Suspended for her behaviour, she returns to Landover and decides she won’t be going back.   Her father however has other ideas.

I loved the original Landover books, I thought they were funny and had a unique appeal of their own.  When I heard a new one was coming out, I was excited and looked forwards to it.

Having just finished it, I am very disappointed.  The focal character is Mistaya and I found her just plain annoying, even if she is doing the things 15 year olds do to start establishing their independence.   The old characters who I once loved had very weak roles, none of their old charm and zip and were very bland and boring.

I found it hard to keep reading and it really wasn’t until over halfway through did I feel it remotely interesting and even then it felt contrived and obvious and that includes the ending.

For a series that I once had a lot of love for, this was a lacklustre addition and as I have the feeling there will be more coming, sadly I won’t be rushing to read them.

Rating: ★½☆☆☆ 

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