The Bookwyrm's Review of Paladin Unbound by Jeffrey Speight

 Author: Jeffrey Speight

Length: 334 Pages

Publisher: Literary Wanderlust

Release Date: July 1, 2021

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Amazon Link

Rating: 10/10 Stars

PLOT SYNOPSIS

The last of a dying breed, a holy warrior must rise up against a growing darkness in Evelium.

The most unlikely of heroes, a lowly itinerant mercenary, Umhra the Peacebreaker is shunned by society for his mongrel half-Orc blood. Desperate to find work for himself and his band of fighters, Umhra agrees to help solve a rash of mysterious disappearances, but uncovers a larger, more insidious plot to overthrow the natural order of Evelium in the process.

As Umhra journeys into the depths of Telsidor's Keep to search for the missing people, he confronts an ancient evil and, after suffering a great loss, turns to the god he disavowed for help.

Compelled to save the kingdom he loves, can he defeat the enemy while protecting his true identity, or must he risk everything.

REVIEW

When I first heard of this book from another blogger, I thought it had a solid premise and would make a fun, light fantasy read. Now that I'm finished, it is definitely a fun read, but I'll say this up front: Paladin Unbound is now tied with M.L. Spencer's Dragon Mage as my fantasy book of the year. I was just enthralled throughout the story, and spent a few sleepless nights just transported into this incredible world.

The world building in this story is top rate. We are introduced to the world of Elevium on the first page at the end of a war between its creator gods. The Fire God Naur has been defeated in his efforts to take over the world, and is banished by his sister goddess Vaila to Pragarus, a hell cut off from the world where he should be locked for all eternity. What Vaila didn't know was Naur left an insurance policy behind that had the potential to free him in the future if some truly evil people enact an insane plan.

This foundation leads us to the modern world of Elevium, where Naur is an all but forgotten myth, and the truly great magics are long in the past. It's a world divided into many countries, with their own agendas and peoples. There are humans, and some new fantasy races that are reminiscent of some of the more traditional fantasy races such as dwarves, elves, etc., but with their own twists that make them perfect for this world. There are also some tensions between the races, especially with the Orcs, who are seen as vicious barbarians. This makes life difficult for the orcs that choose to leave their homeland, since no one believes they can act any different. This creates a lot of tension throughout the book, adding another layer of struggle. 

There is a variety of magic in the book. There is divine magic, given to priests and paladins from their gods to help protect the people of Elevium. There are also shape changing druids and other mages, as well as magical creatures such as vampires. A lot of the magic is tied into bonding an element through infusion, such as gold and platinum, which is about as high as modern mages get. The ancient mystics supposedly could bond Rhodium, basically giving them the power of minor gods, but no on has done that in many centuries. Its a very interesting system that isn't dwelled on too much, but just enough to intrigue the reader. It just lays a solid foundation that allows the story to flow without a lot of overcomplicated magical mumbo jumbo. Sometimes a magic fireball is just a magic fireball.

The characters in this book truly shine in a way that just grabs the reader. Umhra the Peacbreaker, the main character, is such a great character. A half orc/human, he is the leader of an Orc mercenary band that takes commissions to clear out monsters and bandits, all while generally being distrusted or even hated by the people around them. Umhra is such an optimist, even though he has led such a life of struggle. Raised by a monk after his village was wiped out by barbarian raiders, he is a brave, honorable man, trying to take care of his men, and when a mission they undertake goes horribly wrong, Umhra takes matters into his own hands to try and stop the world threatening conspiracy they have uncovered. Umhra's own secret could be the only thing that can save the world, although he faces possible death if his secret is revealed. It is his determination in the face of personal danger that really makes him shine.

Umhra's companions are also as good a group of fantasy companions as you could ask for. Laudin the ranger, Gromley the warrior priest, Naivara the druid, Shadow the rogue and Nicholas the mage, as well as Balris the healer priest and Talus the warrior are just a fantastic group, complementing each others abilities and working as a cohesive group. Their backgrounds and abilities are shown throughout the book, without any info dumps that are such a bane to immersing yourself in the story. Their character's grow and struggle throughout, and they have well plotted character arcs that really keep you wanting to read more about them. These are very much traditional heroes, even Shadow, who you can imagine being sketchy at a game of cards or dice, but would follow you through the gates of hell for a good cause. There is no grey morality here, but a wonderful throwback to traditional fantasy, where heroes are heroes, and proudly so.

The villains are an interesting bunch. They are separated throughout the story, and each encounter with one individual or group leads to another page unfolding in the greater conspiracy. There are no easy battles, no flawless victories. These are hardened, evil, and most importantly, powerful villains, who are not just going to be overpowered, and are a threat at all times to the heroes. They are truly evil, for different reasons with each villain, whether it be lust for power, selfishness, or fulfilling a prophesy, they are irredeemable because of their actions, and they wouldn't have it any other way. Again, a throwback to a more traditional fantasy style, and this really keeps the reader engaged all the way through to the final epic confrontation with the final force of evil, Naur himself.

All in all, this is easily one of the best books I have read in the past decade, and tying for my favorite fantasy book of this year with Dragon Mage is no small feat. I just kept getting drawn deeper into the story, finding myself constantly referring to the map as I went along (it's a beautiful map, so it added to the immersion), realizing just how epic this journey was. This is a book that will have appeal to so many fans of fantasy, and is even ok for younger readers, not having any sex or super graphic violence that could scare younger readers. Its just an intensely entertaining story, that I was sorry to see end. I do hope to read more adventures with Umhra and his companions soon, though, and congratulate the author on writing such an amazing adventure.

A Q&A with Tripp Ainsworth, Author of The Spokepit Fairytale Series.

Tripp, thanks so much for being willing to share something of yourself. I think people will enjoy getting to know you a little better.

 

What made you decide to sit down and start writing the Smokepit Fairytales? What made you say to yourself "this is what I want to do"?

For years I had ideas in my head about stories, and aspirations to write. AT some point I started carrying around a little black moleskin book and started taking notes of humorous stories or situations I came across or heard. In 2015 I was on the USS Bonhomme Richard with the 31^stMEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) out of Okinawa and having all but filled up that little black book, I started transferring the notes to a word document on my laptop. I hadn’t really anything to do on ship, and the idea sparked to flesh out the notes into a series of short stories, which is where I got the name Smokepit Fairytales. I didn’t get around to making all them what they were before I decided that it would be more entertaining to make it pure fiction and have all those scenarios happen to a small group of characters instead of unconnected individuals. In the end I ended up writing the first two books back to back on that deployment.

Is there a genre you don't write in that you are a fan of, that you might consider writing in one day? If so, which one?

I’m not a huge fan of romance novels. It’s not that I don’t like romantic things, or soft core porn (That most love novels are), but their tone irks me, and the authors more often than not, don’t make the story enjoyable. That’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of romance, and graphic sexual encounters in my work, but to dedicate a whole novel to it seems a bit much. My fourth novel kind of takes a jab at that. Chainsmoke Your Problems Away could almost be defined as an anti-romance novel. Half of the story is focused on a failing relationship, but the other half id space-naval-warfare, and barracks life on Mars.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Either inspirational or just for entertainment?

Ernst Junger and Robert Heinlein are the two that immediately come to mind. Junger started with memoirs about his time on the western front in the first world war and then transitioned to writing science fiction later in life. Heinlein is almost exclusively science fiction.

I've always heard the expression write what you know. How much of you is in Smokepit?

All of everything anyone writes is 100% the author. While they might be based on someone in real life, every character ever written is in some way shape or form a reflection of who wrote them. There’s no way of getting around that, only hiding it. That being said, almost all of the situations my characters have gone through are things that either my friends and I have done, or are handled in a way that I think me or my friends would handle it. Like, I’ve never been tied up and assaulted while my friends were ritually sacrificed to dark spirits, but my characters reacted how I think the people I know in real life would.

There are some really crazy scenes throughout the books. How much of your real life experience is in them? Not just the combat, but stuff like the barracks “accident”. Is that something that really happened, not necessarily to you, but on post? Or did you just think up something just over the top and run with it?

A good chunk has happened directly to either me or someone I know, however a lot of it’s fiction. One of the ways I get ideas is by hearing a story, watching a movie, or reading a book and thinking a situation is dull and could be improved by a certain thing happening. I’ll take that situation form whatever it was then add my spin of the interesting thing happening.

I really enjoyed the illustrations throughout the books. Were these things you started while you were still on active duty, or something you drew specifically for these books?

The illustrations in the books were made specifically for the books. I also use them as almost a writing guide sometimes. If I’m not sure what I want to happen in a scene, or how things should “look” to the reader, I’ll often draw out the scenario then base the writing on what ended up being drawn.

I know this questions might be controversial, but are there any trends in current Sci-fi and Fantasy you aren't a big fan of? And conversely, trends you are really into.

Not with the trend themselves, but the band wagoning. Someone might come out with a good sci-fi idea that really hits home, but it can be completely ruined by Hollywood making 50 carbon copies of the plot and saturating the market. 

Finally, so where do you see the series going? Any finite plans for series completion?

Smokepit Fairytales is half over. I plan to have 12 books in the series and cap it off. Then from there I do have other series and stand alone books I plan to write. Though so far they’re all in the same universe. I want to write a book about Elcair after Russia, “In the Mood’s” Pilot from St Petersburg, Jorge McKenzie after Six Pistols and a Dagger, and I have a whole series planned for the Virescents who left earth.

Again, thanks for sharing a bit of yourself with the rest of us. Hopefully, we'll have more entries in the series for years to come.

For anyone interested in learning more about Tripp, or checking out his books, which I highly recommend, here is the link to Tripp's Amazon author page, as well as his social media links.

Amazon Author Page

Twitter

Instagram

The Bookwyrm's Review of Nocturna: Reveille by Heath Stallcup

Author: Heath Stallcup

Length: 294 Pages/ 6 Hours, 20 Minutes (Audio)

Publisher: Devil Dog Press

Release Date: October 27, 2020/ March 18, 2021 (Audio)

Narrator: Eric A. Shelman

Rating: 9/10 Stars

Amazon Link

SYNOPSIS

At a time when mankind should have been reaching for the future, life devolved into a nearly apocalyptic present, pitting neighbor against neighbor and nation against nation as three different viruses ravaged the population. Civil wars reduced the world population even more.

Then came the asteroid Wormwood, and everything changed. Man did what nobody expected...they pulled together and worked to save the planet and themselves. Years after the space rock did its damage, people began to change. Old tensions were brought back as those afflicted were targeted by the fearful.

Then the real monsters appeared, and nobody was ready for what happened next.

REVIEW

This second book in the Nocturna series picks right up where book one left off. Still set in the post multiple pandemic, post civil war America in 2035, it's an America, and a world in general, that's holding on to civilization by a thread. Cities are abandoned, left to the "insurgent" scavengers who rose up against the government in a hopeless fight against America's military might brought against them. When the asteroid called Wormwood hit the planet in Northern Africa, the world's counties put aside their petty squabbles to help. Of course, they had no idea Wormwood brought a bigger threat to mankind than just dust in the air and shortages. This may spell the end for mankind once and for all.

The characters in this story are such a joy to read about. They are a varied bunch of scientists, soldiers, former insurgents and just regular people, trying to do their best in a truly unique situation. The military characters are extremely well thought out and realistic, not surprising given the author's military background. They come across as real people with real motivations, not just tin soldiers so often portrayed in books. The scientists are also well thought out, with differing backgrounds and specialties informing their decisions, not always in the best ways. They just read like real people, with strengths and flaws on display throughout. The "insurgents" are really well done. They could have been caricatures of rebels like Fidel and Che, but instead, they are realistic people caught up in horrific events, doing the best they can to take care of their people. These disparate groups all find their way together to fight an enemy they could have never expected, that is growing in complexity. There is also a conspiracy from people higher up in the government that is slowly revealing itself, and I'm interested to see where that angle goes. There is also a revelation of a secret order of warriors within the military that I didn't expect, but actually fits when the history of the country is taken into account. All in all, these characters are a real strength to the story.

The narration for the audiobook is handled by Eric Shelman. He has excellent narrative pacing, never letting the story bog down with a monotone, and emphasizing just right when the action picks up. He does a great job of creating differing voices for the characters, and you are never in doubt which character is speaking at any time. I am definitely interested in checking out his out audiobook work.

Second books can often be a letdown, but not in this case. This book takes everything that made the first book so good and amped it up just a bit. More action, better villains, and a conspiracy that's looming in the background that will have ramifications for everyone in the story. This is a must read for fans of military and sci-fi thrillers, and even horror fans can find something to love here. Can't wait to see what book three holds in store for us.

The Bookwyrm's Review of Dark Seas End by Richard Nell

Author: Richard Nell

Length: 275 Pages

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: June 1, 2021

Rating: 9/10 Stars

Amazon

This review is part of the Dark Seas End Blog Tour, which will conclude tomorrow, June 4, on Out of This World Blogspot. Be sure to check it out as well.

SYNOPSIS

Feared pirate and scoundrel ‘Lucky’ Chang has a dirty secret: he loves his crew, and would die to protect them. As he’s dragged from prison to face the dark sea and a dangerous new world, he just might have to.

Zaya, warrior and skald from the land of ash, knows she has a destiny. Having left her homeland with only a knife and a dream of adventure, she finds herself captured by pirates. To discover her fate, and become a hero from the book of legends, she must first survive the sea.

With a monstrous pilot as guide, and an ex-assassin as captain, Chang, Zaya, and the crew of the mighty Prince sail into uncharted waters. There they may find new lands and wealth, as well as glory beyond their dreams, or nothing but their doom.

Set in the same epic world as the award winning Kings of Paradise...this new series from author Richard Nell can be read on its own, or as a continuation of the Ash and Sand trilogy.

REVIEW

When I was offered the chance to read this, I didn't really know what to expect. Not having read the Ash and Sand Trilogy, I was unfamiliar with the author's writing style, other than hearing it was "grimdark". What does that mean? Does it mean it has unredeemable villains as characters that you really don't care about? Anti-heroes? Or maybe scoundrels forced into situations though desperate circumstances and having to get a job done by any means necessary, a la the Black Company. For my tastes, It turns out more like The Black Company.

Usually I'll break down the characters first in a review, but this time, I'm going to mention world building first, because that world building sets the stage in such a way that its integral to the characters. Realizing there is a whole trilogy setting the stage for it, I was surprised just how deep the author chose to make this books world building. Starting from the empire of the islands, we get an idea just how large this world is, as we realize they had been in a war not too long ago with a group of Northerners that they had never expected to be able to reach them. We get introduced to some of the main characters in jail, awaiting the King's justice for piracy in a world where piracy is more and more of the noble's privateer variety, and sea wolves are almost gone. Freed from that prison, they take a journey across an ocean to the edge of the map and beyond, finally reaching a land of unfamiliar people. 

You can tell the author took a lot of the inspiration for this land from Mexico and Central America, and the Spanish invasions. We see a land of great pyramids and city states, but also a land of subjugated tribes, looking at those cities with loathing, having to do with the religious practice of human sacrifice for their devourer god. That does, like it did in the Americas, tend to unite people against the oppressive rule of those city states, as it does here. With multiple POV's, we get to see life inside the great city-state as well as the tribal lands under their thumb. We also get a peak at the magic they have, allowing them things like the gift of languages, and ability to tame even the biggest predators. Not exactly fireballs and magic missiles, but useful all the same. You really get immersed into this world throughout the story. We even get a fairly deep look into the culture and norms, and the clash between the newcomers and natives, something sadly lacking in so many books.

The characters are such an interesting group. A group of pirates, who, except for the captain and first mate go by job titles, not by names, so as not to attract the goddess of the seas attention. Pirates who look to their captain, Lucky Chang, for leadership, and for that, he treats them like he would family, because in a real sense, they are. Then there is Zaya, a woman from the land of Ash far to the North, a trained Skaal (bard), who ends up running into the last person she ever expected, the great shaman of her people, called Ruka, on the ship with the pirates he and his companion Eka sprung from jail, and are now sailing across the ocean. Her father was Ruka's Skaal during his conquering days, so she thinks fate has led her to this point. Ruka is such an enigma, but in the best way, as his struggle with his own personal demon is slowly revealed throughout the story, in some pretty intense ways, and his arc has such a big impact on the story as it's revealed what he's dealing with.

The skills Zaya has learned in life, languages and fighting, are put to the test, as the violent land they end up in changes drastically for her, as she is captured and enslaved with Ruka. We see an interesting character arc for her here, as what I took to be a bit of Stockholm Syndrome is just revealed to be practicality and biding her time. 

We also get to meet Yakat, a prince and general of the main city state, and see his struggles as his past comes back to haunt him as a priest of the devourer god maneuvers for revenge on him in the most personal way possible, and Yakat struggle with the demands of duty to his king and duty to his children as a father. How this arc progresses is so intense, you really get drawn into his decision making and anguish, because no matter what, he will hurt someone, either his father the king or himself.

This is definitely a book I can recommend. While it has grimdark elements, its much more a story of redemption for a large portion of the characters. There is a lot of action and some great storytelling, with revelations about characters really keeping you into the story. 

About Richard Nell

Richard Nell concerned family and friends by quitting his real job in 2014 to 'write full-time'. He is a Canadian author of fantasy, living in one of the flattest, coldest places on earth with his begrudging wife, who makes sure he eats.

His books mix his love of history and ideas with the epic glory of fantasy, because reality could use some sprucing up. He's the author of dark, epic fantasy Kings of Paradise and Kings of Ash, and a new gritty flintlock series starting with The God King's Legacy. He hopes you like them.

If you are interested in any or Richard's other books, they can be found at this link:

Richard Nell Amazon Author Page