I have always loved stories about Egypt and the pyramids! So when I found out there was a Spine Chillers book about mummies and Egypt, I had to read it! This book reminded me so much of some books I read back in the 1990’s, so it was the perfect throwback read for me.
Check out my review of Tuck Me In, Mummy, book #9 in the Spine Chillers series at the link below!
I have a somewhat long history with Wayne Thomas Batson’s Sword in the Stars, book one in the newly renamed The Myridian Constellation series. I picked up the original version of this book when it came out almost 10 years ago now after reading his Isle of Swords pirate novel. I got about one-third into that version and put it down for other books, as I felt a little bored and left wondering when the story would pick up.
So when I saw that Batson was about to re-release Sword in the Stars in an “author-ized” version, I was intrigued and somewhat excited to try this epic fantasy series again. And I must say: it did not disappoint. If you are looking for an incredible, action-packed fantasy adventure with elements of horror, this is definitely the series to read.
Just when retired-assassin Alastair Coldhollow is ready to give up hope of ever finding the coming Halfainin — a savior long-promised to save the land of Myriad — a mysterious constellation appears in the sky: a sword in the stars. As Coldhollow searches for the Halfainin, dark forces stir setting into motion a plot that will change what the world has known about everything. Ancient evils whisper in the darkness. Half-hearted kings seek new resolve. And nation rises against nation, seeking to end life for anyone standing in their bloodthirsty way.
Sword in the Stars is true epic fantasy with multiple plot threads weaving in and out of each other leading to a breathtaking climax. Part of the fun of a book like this is exploring the world the author has created. And Myriad is one of those worlds. There are so many cities, caves, secret passages, and forgotten corners of this world, it kept my imagination peaked. Batson is at the top of his game giving us a fleshed out setting without the copious amounts of descriptive passages upon passages. At the opening of every chapter are short vignettes from lore, holy books, fireside conversations captured on paper, and bits of almanac-esque information that serves to further expand the world set up here in the first of seven novels.
At times, I did wonder whether this book classified as a young adult novel or an adult fantasy epic novel. It sometimes wavers between the two, and most often in the way characters are depicted. At times some of the dialogue comes across as definitely belonging to a young adult book, but at other times, the action and violence seem to bring this book to the adult world. It straddles an interesting line, and I can’t help but wonder if that is simply because it was written under a YA banner ten years ago and then updated, or whether the author unintentionally wrote it that way.
Some of the characters are fairly obvious and straightforward and hit the tropes of a fantasy novel, and others are highly intriguing and kept me wondering when we would return to their storyline. Not all of the threads are tied off by the end of the book, and The Errant King in book two picks up with other characters and continues their stories.
At the end of the day, if you are looking for a beautifully written, fast-paced fantasy adventure, then I highly recommend Sword in the Stars.
Thrones fans! It’s finally here! The re-release of Sword of the Broken Son will be out on May 11th in ebook form, and May 25th in paperback! I am so excited to share this updated and revised version of the story with you. Not much has changed, but there are a couple of fun sequences I was able to add in to make this story even better than before.
Plus, did I mention there’s a sneak peek of Thrones III: Skin of the Dragon Lord? For those of you who have been asking me about the third book, I am so thrilled to tell you it is on schedule and coming this Fall! If you thought the twists and turns of books one and two were enough to keep you gasping along, then you are going to love book three!
Sword of the Broken Son is one of my favorite stories so far, exactly the sort of book I wish I had had in my hands as a student. The questions of loneliness, betrayal, and purpose ring true for each one of us, and while I will never lay down pat answers to these tough issues, I love to wrestle with them and offer what I can: hope in the midst of the darkness.
If you are looking for something to tide you over until release day, consider checking out my other series: The Runners of Abra. I will neither confirm nor deny that these two worlds may exist alongside each other. I love Easter eggs (both the plastic kind and the story hint kind), and there are plenty to be found.
Until then, keep adventuring,
Shaun
I’m so excited to reveal the cover for The Barren Prison, book #2 in The Runners of Abra series! Book one, The Last Runner was a ride I will never forget writing. From the first page, I knew I had stumbled upon a world and a story that begged to be told. And as Eric’s journey spiraled out of control throughout the first installment, I cannot wait for you to read what happens to him and his friends in the second book!
Writing The Last Runner as a serial novel was a fascinating experience. I wrote chapters weekly and as they were posted, I realized I couldn’t go back and change anything that had been published already. The story morphed along with reader reaction, and it was definitely an adventure to figure out how to get Eric past the various monsters, traps, and adversaries that came his way.
And then, (no spoilers!) where I left off with book one wasn’t where I had originally intended to take the story at all. It threw my plans for the rest of the series for a spin, and I had to go back and look at all my notes and outlines and tweak them to fit where everything left off. And I must say, I am so excited about where Eric is heading and what is going to happen.
I’ve written the first few chapters of The Barren Prison, and it’s going to be crazy. Definitely buckle yourself to the saddle for what’s about to happen in the world of Abra. Chapters will be posting weekly soon!
A year was a long time to wait for Five Kingdoms: Book 4: Death Weavers, but, a year wait does not disappoint when it comes to Brandon Mull. Mull’s signature high stakes fantasy adventure fills the pages of this next installment, and definitely leaves a few surprises for the very end that had me gasping at the last pages.
Cole and his friends have been through three of the five kingdoms in the Outskirts: Sambria, Elloweer, and the futuristic kingdom of Zeropolis. And now, they have finally ventured over into Necronum, the land of the dead. Apparitions appear frequently with slippery deals and valuable information. Hunters lick up their trail. And a mysterious fiery horse named the Mare has been sighted roaming the vast lands. When Cole’s friends fall prey to an evil entity, Cole must travel to the land inbetween the Outskirts and death and try to rescue his friends before they are separated from him for good this time.
Death Weavers felt very different from Mull’s other books, but also very similar in some ways. At this point, we have arrived at a bit of a formula for these Five Kingdoms books: find a princess, rescue the princess, and reunite her with her run-amuck power. While that structure is truly at the heart of this fourth book, there are also some other pieces at play. We finally discover more information about some of the evils lurking throughout the Outskirts, and we also learn more about what exactly has happened to bring Cole to these kingdoms. As usual, Mull is quite innovative when it comes to twisting up the typical fantasy tropes and make them into his own creations, giving us some of the most unique places in the five kingdoms yet.
However, Cole continues to remain something of a flat character. This is something I noted from previous installments in the series, and it is definitely true here. Cole has a bit of a character arc, but he feels much more typical than Seth and Kendra from Fablehaven or even Jason from Beyonders. There is something about Cole that seems to keep him stunted in character growth. Is the story still entertaining? Yes. Is it a page-turner? Oh yes. Is Cole someone worth rooting for? Sure…?
Fans of the previous books will love Death Weavers. Newcomers will definitely feel lost entering the series here, and it is really best to go back to Sky Raiders and start from there. Mull has set up some great conflicts for the last book in the series coming in another year, and it will be interesting to see how he ends up wrapping things up.
You can purchase this book on Amazon.com.
