Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4096 in Books
• Published on: 2005-06-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Customer Reviews

fast-paced popcorn fantasy
This was an enjoyable enough read: fast-paced almost from the beginning, moving quickly from one action set-piece to the next, with frequent cliff-hangers nudging you into reading 'just a little bit more.'
The world, although not laid out on an epic scale, is solidly thought through, with many references to greek and roman myth and culture, and the magic system described is interesting and original, (although the author's 'furies' are vaguely reminiscent of Pulman's 'daemons').
The writing style is solid, although without any real flare - dialogue is not particularly humorous or gripping.
The characters are an interesting bunch, although, again, no one really stands out, and i did not at any point feel any kind of tension or great concern for any of them.
I've given this book 3 stars, but if amazon did half marks i probably would have upped it to 3 and a half.
Overall an entertaining, but somewhat forgetable read, a bit like one of those 'time-filler' movies you rent on a saturday night when the movie you really wanted is gone. I will most likely get part two, but i will not rush.

The start to one of those epic series
while this book is a very good book in its own right its like the fellow ship of the rings movie. great but it sets up for an even better series. if you have ever looked for a series to bye and the revies arnt to descriptive and ur not certain. just stop and bye all four here and now u will not regret it. it follows three main charecters a younge boy who will become a hero. a secret agent of the kings and a country farm holder. in this land all people have magic elementals who are there form of magic. every one who is at puberty age or over has them and complete daily lives with there help. every one except the boy who is the main charecter. and while out with his uncle they come across and invading horde of rampaging beastlike men. magicless alone and defenceless the younge boy has to save the kingdom . yes that old wallnut but done so well and with the later books being amazing you will be engrossed. so if you enjoy a complex well thought out action packed book with not to many charecters to follow this is it. it rocks.

Nothing at all like Harry
This book is completely different form Harry Dresden files. But this doesnt mean to say it isn't any good. Its Great! Admittedly if you've got your "harry" head on, you start looking for clues that remind you of his series but you need to switch it off. However give this series a go, not to everyones taste, but you can't please everyone. I really enjoyed it, refreshing to see how Tavi (main character) evolves and by book 4 you see the man he becomes. Jim Butcher is one of those authors who writes so well that you want to rush through the book to find out what happens but force yourself to slow down because you don't want to miss anything.