My name is Damon, and I've volunteered to investigate the rumor of humans, including wizards, trespassing on the dwarven lands of Kal-Thax. Something mysterious emerged from a strange fog and has destroyed three villages, and magic may be behind it. I ventured to the top of Steepcliff where I found three wizards preparing to build some kind of structure. They tried to cast spells at me, but my hammer crushed the head of the first. The third one was curious about how I was able to withstand his magic, and I must admit it stung a little. However, he seemed to think his spells were real. I decided to keep this wizard to study his magic, as it may be helpful against the growing army of humans. I'm sure the wizards in charge will resort to trickery, and I plan to be prepared.
This book could be read alone, since it took place about ninety years after the first one. I might actually recommend you skip the first book due to its meandering story. Dwarves lived for hundreds of years, and Damon was a newborn in the last book. The plot in the second book was more focused, so it was easier to follow. Once again, the land of the dwarves was being invaded, but the wizards and their magic presented a new threat. However, the dwarves' response to the spells presented a new challenge for the wizards. It also added a bit of humor to the story. The whole conflict centered on the humans' invasion into Kal-Thax, and the dwarves' efforts to defend themselves. There was another serious issue with a dragon, but it was forgotten for large periods of time. It wasn't really needed in this story and could have been the center of another book. Dwarves were the focus of the story with humans being the minor characters and antagonists. Be forewarned that there were many unusual dwarf names to remember. Overall, this series has been entertaining, the second book more than the first, and I recommend lovers of dwarves give it a shot.
My name is Micah, and I've suspected for awhile that something was wrong with Zed. I know I've treated him like crap, but he was behaving stranger than normal. Then, he appeared in my dream and told me what was going on. A witch named Makiva took over his body, and she was responsible for the massacre in the town square. I don't think Zed fully knows what she's planning, but he wanted me to exorcise her from his body. Unfortunately, I tried but wasn't powerful enough to free him from her control. To Liza and Brock, the exorcism looked like I was bullying Zed again, so no one will trust anything I have to say. They don't know what I really think about him. Everyone in Freestone fears a repeat of the Day of Dangers, and I'm beginning to suspect Makiva is trying to summon it again.
You should read the previous books in the series to fully understand the background story of this trilogy. I never imagined I'd use Micah's point of view to share the teaser. He was a pompous, arrogant character and hard to like. This book showed there was more depth to his character hidden beneath his cocky exterior. The previous books have described a growing bond between the new Adventurers, but their unity was in peril. Makiva's efforts and characters' secrets eroded the harmony. The fun twist to the plot was how Zed's soul was a character but had no influence over how Makiva controlled his body. His etheral spirit observed everything going on but wasn't able to communicate with any other characters, except for Micah. Dark magic was abhored by the king and all the guilds, so Micah couldn't tell anyone about Zed without risking his life. Unlike the previous two books, the third one took place within the walls of Freestone. The characters seemed to venture into all kinds of previously unvisited nooks and crannies, while trying to resolve the conflict. It took them quite awhile to fully understand the real problem, so the suspense was able to slowly build. Overall, I really liked this series and recommend you give it a shot.
My name is Zed, and there is unrest within the walls of Freestone. Our elven neighbors have been forced to flee their homes, and many citizens of Freestone resent the presence of these refugees. The elven queen has asked the Adventurer's Guild for help, and they think my green flame may be the only way to destroy the dark magic haunting Llethanyl. However, Freestone's king has denied the queen's request, so our mission must remain secret. I'm still learning to use my magic, and hopefully I won't need it to hold off the Dangers we'll encounter in the forest. My father was an elf from Llethanyl, but I don't know anything about him. I was hoping the High Ranger of the elves would share some information, but I wasn't prepared for the truth.
I recommend you first read The Adventurers Guild #1 in order to fully understand the background story of the series. Zed was the main character, although alternate chapters followed his best friend Brock. Their friendship became strained, as they were both hiding secrets. A large focus of this book involved Zed trying to discover more about his past. The fact that he never knew his father may resonate with readers from divorced or adopted families. I enjoyed Zed's vulnerability and uncertainty, as he learned new information about his father. However, Zed agreed to a secret pact that came back to bite him in the butt. Luckily, it turned out a couple of friends were more than they seemed, and their abilities were needed during the plot's climax. The interaction of the characters was the most enjoyable part of the book. It included playful bantering, strained relationships, compassion, and teamwork as the Adventurers worked together. An old/new character joined the cast in the later pages of the book. The plot again included mystery, as the Dangers presented some hard-to-explain problems. Overall, I'm enjoying the series and have already started reading the third book Night of Dangers.
I am called Emrys, and I live with a woman calling herself my mother. I know she is not, as I know the truth about my real name is out there beyond our village. The others call my "mother" a sorceress, but they still come to her for poultices and remedies. I know some of them fear her, and I've heard stories of women accused of witchcraft being burned. I don't understand how, but I suspect I have some abilities myself. The bird pooping on a bully's head was no accident, and I feel as if I can sense life in the trees. However, I've learned the danger of my magic and sworn that I'll never use it again. I must now venture out into the world and discover who I am. I have no idea where to begin my journey, so I'll return to the ocean shore, the site of my earliest memories.
This book followed the life history of young Merlin and wasn't at all what I expected. His early bad experience with magic took that power away from his character for most of the book. The loss was self-imposed, as the magic frightened him. The meat of the plot took place in a mystical land between heaven and earth. This setting featured a respectful balance between all living things that was being threatened by an outside force. Emrys saved the life of a merlin, and they became odd allies. (The merlin is an real animal, a type of small falcon.) This aggressive predator was quick to attack, and it took Emyrs awhile to realize it was only being protective of him. However, he quickly named the bird Trouble. The theme of the book became pretty clear when the trees, plants, and animals were threatened. Society needs to protect and preserve wildlife from destruction and development. The surrounding lands in the story even took on a barren, rust color which seemed to symbolize construction or urbanization of rural areas. Even though the plot lacked the magic from Merlin that I expected, I still found the book quite entertaining. It was nice to see a main character actually show respect and restraint toward newly found power. I recommend you give this book a shot, and I plan to read the sequel The Seven Songs of Merlin when it becomes available at my local library.
My name is Fort, and I'm determined to find a way to rescue my father from the world of the Old Ones. The only downside is betraying my friends and possibly destroying all of humanity. My plan involves stealing the Summoning book and opening a portal to the other world. Unfortunately, opening the portal will also allow monsters to return to Earth and unleash their fury and revenge upon us. That's how my father disappeared in the first place. The tricky part of my plan is trying to master the Summoning spell while avoiding my new roomate Gabriel. I can't believe how he treats the guards and staff, and he seems overly curious about what I'm doing. I can't let my dangerous plans hurt anyone else, so I need to somehow sneak away on my own.
You really need to read the first book in the series, The Revenge of Magic, to fully understand this one. I really hate the number of times I read about characters deceiving their friends and endangering the world. Why can't they learn? Answer, to create entertaining stories, although it's an all too common factor in book plots. Fort feels responsible for his father's disappearance in the first book even though there was absolutely nothing he could have done about it. For that lame reason, he's willing to risk the survival of all mankind. This second book doesn't have the budding camraderie I enjoyed in the first one, and I miss it. Even Sierra's presence in Fort's mind is removed after her early assistance. The first book implied Fort has minor magical power due to his birthday, but he gets pretty good at teleportation in this book. I like the fact that no single character is all-powerful, and this even applies to the Old Ones. The story shares a lot of information about the other world and explains the overall problem in the series. That detail was fuzzy after the first book. Overall, I'm enjoying the series and hope to read the third one as soon as my local library reopens. It's a victim of the Coronvirus.
My name is Ruthie, and I've always been wishing that something remarkable would happen in my life. I enjoy visiting the art museum with my best friend Jack, and I especially like the Thorne Room. It has sixty-eight displays showing replicas of miniature rooms from throughout history. I would love to sleep in one of the canopy beds! Then, something exciting happened. Jack found a key in a back hallway that allows me to shrink down to five inches tall! We don't know why it won't work for Jack, but it makes me the perfect size for exploring the tiny rooms. I've learned that I can exit the rooms and enter their worlds from the past. Everything I've seen is from those time periods except for a wooden pencil and a plastic barrette. Did someone else visit these rooms before me?
This book is the first one in a series, and I suppose the others will have more depth to them. For me, this book meandered along without a clear conflict, so it never developed any tension or suspense. I was three-fourths of the way through the book before a clear problem emerged, so I couldn't foresee when the story might come to an end. It felt like this book was setting the stage for its sequels. That being said, a lot of events transpired during the last fourth of the book, so I had an idea of what's to come. Ruthie and Jack were tight friends with high morals and character. They were very reluctant to break the rules and dishonesty didn't come easy. I was surprised and pleased to see them make responsible decisions and not let the opportunities get out of hand. I wonder if that will continue in the sequel. Overall, I liked the book but didn't love it. The lack of a clear, main conflict made it hard to get emotionally involved and didn't create any suspense. I haven't decided if I'll read Book 2, but I can see some younger readers taking to the series.
My name is Fort, and I lost my father six months ago. We were visiting Washington D.C. when a huge creature erupted from the earth and pulled him back underground. I was devastated and despondent until I met Dr. Opp. I learned that four books were excavated thirteen years ago, and they can train children to perform magic. Those born on Discovery Day are the most powerful, so I'm not sure why Dr. Opp has invited me to his top-secret school. However, this opportunity has broken me out of my funk and gives me hope. I must learn the magic of Destruction, so I can punish the monsters that took my father. I'll make them suffer slow, painful deaths! The school is not what I expected, and I don't understand the looks I get from teachers, students, and guards. Why would I be invited here if everyone wants me gone?
It might just be my taste, but this book ended up being much more than I expected. A twelve-year-old learning new abilities wasn't anything new, but the whole scenario surrounding the conflict reeked of creativity. For some reason, only children born after Discovery Day could learn magic, and each student was required to focus on one type of magic. Fort seemed incompetent, but he was getting mental help from an unknown source in order to pass an impossible test. Students learned spells from books, but the spells could only be viewed one at a time. The book forced them to master one spell before moving on to the next. Clearly, there was more to Fort than met the eye. He only had one real friend throughout the story, although a couple of other students reluctantly helped him along the way. The big mystery for me was why the school director thought Fort might kill everyone. He was an unremarkable boy, so what was the problem? The book's resolution presented a possibility about the monster attack that I suspected from the beginning, although I have no idea why it might have occurred. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot, as I've already checked out its sequel, The Last Dragon.
My name is Faryn, and my grandfather Ye Ye trained me to become a warrior in the Jade Society, sworn to protect San Francisco from demons. Many of the members are less devoted, and some of the leaders have become hungry for power and money. My life changed during the start of the Lunar New Year when I helped a god slay a powerful beast. Later, I was shocked to discover I was chosen to be the new Heaven Breaker, wielder of Fenghuang and leader of an army of dragons. To fulfill this destiny, I must locate Peng Lai Island and face the gods before the end of the Lunar Festival. My father was headed for the island before he disappeared. I know my little brother Alex will be helpful with solving the riddles, but I'm not sure how I'll get along with my former best friend Moli. It's overwhelming!
This book was the author's debut novel. The most admirable quality of the story was Faryn's character. She was respectful to the gods, loyal to her friends and family, and selfless toward others. These traits were challenged, as she was teased by other society children and stumped by her brother's unpredictable emotions. Moli's presence provided an additional test, although it wasn't hard to predict they'd eventually get over their past problems. The book shared many facets of the Chinese culture including food, religion, clothing, and mythology, as Faryn visited several Chinatowns across the United States. The most annoying part of the story was the arrogance and vanity of the Chinese gods. Many of them weren't very nice and demanded worship from mortals. They expected prayers from the humans and actually used the pleas to make themselves more powerful. This detail became an important factor in the overall conflict. The resolution of the plot emphasized the fact that the problem was much larger than expected. The last sentence of the story indicated the sequel, The Fallen Hero, offers new twists as the adventure continues.
My name is Cale Greeneye, and my dreams of seeing far-off lands is coming true. Unfortunately, it's taken war against the humans to realize my ambitions. We were content living inside the mountain, and we looked forward to trading with our neighbors during the annual Balladine celebration. However, my father, Colin Stonetooth, became uneasy as chieftain of Thorin. Our most dependable patrol failed to return from a mission, and thousands of armed humans amassed outside our walls among the regular guests. Our fears turned to violence when the strangers breached our defenses. Now, I am leading thousands of survivors, as we search for Kal-Thax. An old dwarf spoke of this mythical land, and we hope to find our dwarven relatives for sanctuary. My longing to scout the world has come at a costly price.
I always enjoy the characters in books, but this book made that difficult. I tried to make connections to the characters, but many of the dwarves died shortly after their introduction and there wasn't a clear main character. For those reasons, I didn't know how to write the summary above until I discovered who could actually tell it. Cale Greeneye seemed to be the best choice. War was the main problem right away with jealousy and envy fueling the dispute. Many humans viewed the dwarves as wealthy and privileged, and an evil leader took advantage of that sentiment. A different antagonist created unrest in the second half of the book, but his motivations were very similar. The second half of the book was more cohesive, as it focused on the area around Kal-Thax. The different dwarven factions around the mountain distrusted each other, and their alliance was in peril. The Thorin refugees added to the strain, but they also presented solutions. If you don't like conflict, fighting, and discontent then you shouldn't read this book. Overall, I liked the book and problems but wanted a main character or two to follow along the way. I get the sense my wish may come true in the sequel. There wasn't as much unrest at the end (there are still foreseeable issues remaining), so I plan on giving Hammer and Axe a shot.
