S.M. BoyceCritiques
Auteur de Lichgates
Critiques
Stopping here.
"I am a badass" fighting descriptions are no substitute for a story...
I have to say boy, is this book long! The version for my NOOK is 444 pages and took me quite a few days to finish it since I’m not a skim/speed reader like many people.
First I like the cover. I like the simplicity and the aged look to it.
The book blurb does a good job of telling what this story is about as do the numerous other reviews so I won’t go on and repeat it.
I enjoyed the characters and the numerous creatures. The author did a good job of getting across not just the main character personalities and their weaknesses, but also the secondary characters. I like the pairing of the main characters Kara and Braeden and how their relationship is growing closer and also how they fight their own personal demons. I’m wondering where their relationship will end, or if it does. Braeden is destined for the Stele, or so it seems, and Kara is not a yakona, so it appears that there really isn’t a future for the two together, but who really knows?
The idea that the Blood of each group controls the actions of all their subjects is an interesting one. This means that none of the members of the kingdom has any free will over a matter if the Blood wants to use them in any way the Blood so chooses. True freedom is only reserved for the Vagabonds or to an extent the Blood. It’s going to be very interesting to see how the author unfolds this issue in the subsequent books.
Most of the time, it was easy to keep my mind on what I was reading, except for certain scenes. The pace was good during the dialogue and the action scenes, but as soon as the scenes reverted to the scenery or inside the ‘castle’ or how the rooms looked, the pace would slow down dramatically and I couldn’t keep my mind on the story. I kept trying to figure out why were those ‘scenes’ boring? All I can figure is that they weren’t very vivid, or that the scenes were more telling than showing, but it happened consistently.
The formatting is pretty good but there are some instances where the author wasn’t consistent with the honorific titles for the ‘Bloods.’ In the one scene with Twin, Kara and the tiara, Twin would refer to Gavin as Gavin numerous times and Blood Gavin only once even though he was the ruler of Hillside. That should have been caught by the proofer/editor.
This is an interesting read about a world that lives right alongside ours. The characters are easily visualized as are the action scenes, but the scenes involving scenery or environment are not rich enough in description or the way it’s told, to hold the attention. I would still be interested enough to find out where this story goes, so I give this book 4 stars.
The Author has succeeded in this first book in creating some very well-rounded and complex characters, not too complex they baffle the reader, but just enough that the reader wants to engross themselves in their world and continue on the journey with them. The main protagonist is a regular everyday female; but this female is struggling with loss and a feeling of being adrift that, could in another Authors hands, have led to a very despondent and down personality. This is not the case here as, when she finds herself in an unusual and totally alien world, the character pulls on her inner strengths, talents and humour to make the best of her lot. Alongside her is a host of others that are equally well written and full of life, there are no elves or orcs as is usually the case in this kind of novel, but new a strange characters that add dimension not only to the novel, but to the main protagonist as well. The characters are written in just enough detail to pull the reader into their world, and make them care about the outcome.
It takes a great imagination and a certain writing style to bring to the page a world totally different from anything else in this genre, after all so many people have written this kind of novel in the past, but the Author manages to do this with grace and ease exhibiting a creative mind. Although the world she creates is full of amazing detail, but not bogged down with too much ‘fluff’, I did feel that at some points it could have done with a little cleaning up to make the descriptions more precise; regardless of this though it did not interfere in my enjoyment of this book in any way, and I am looking forward to reading the remainder of the Saga.
I would highly recommend this book to lovers of epic fantasy novels, it is also suitable for teens and YA readers.
Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2013/10/08/review-lichgates-the-grimoire-saga-1-s-m-b...
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
It's a story of action, grief, loss and is so creative. The characters are so unique and have depth.
This was kindle unlimited and had a nice page count, I loved how sometimes we got Audrey's POV and how she is training in weapons while Vic trains in other things.
The Fairhaven Chronicles, Book 2
By: S. M. Boyce, Martha Carr
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
New levels happen and for the sake of everyone in Fairhaven, the gals must find Atlantis! Fortunately they have a wizard to help them. Unfortunately, this wizard is a big flirt and full of himself. What happens when they get there is not what they expected!
Narration is super good!
The Fairhaven Chronicles, Book 1
By: S. M. Boyce, Michael Anderle, Martha Carr
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
This is a story of friendship, family, magic, and power. It's also a book about belonging. Two gals who have been friends forever must find a fantasy town and a wizard that lives there. I love this town! Great imagination! I would want to live here! Great plot, action, and it is just a lot of fun!
The narration is terrific too!
The Author has succeeded in this first book in creating some very well-rounded and complex characters, not too complex they baffle the reader, but just enough that the reader wants to engross themselves in their world and continue on the journey with them. The main protagonist is a regular everyday female; but this female is struggling with loss and a feeling of being adrift that, could in another Authors hands, have led to a very despondent and down personality. This is not the case here as, when she finds herself in an unusual and totally alien world, the character pulls on her inner strengths, talents and humour to make the best of her lot. Alongside her is a host of others that are equally well written and full of life, there are no elves or orcs as is usually the case in this kind of novel, but new a strange characters that add dimension not only to the novel, but to the main protagonist as well. The characters are written in just enough detail to pull the reader into their world, and make them care about the outcome.
It takes a great imagination and a certain writing style to bring to the page a world totally different from anything else in this genre, after all so many people have written this kind of novel in the past, but the Author manages to do this with grace and ease exhibiting a creative mind. Although the world she creates is full of amazing detail, but not bogged down with too much ‘fluff’, I did feel that at some points it could have done with a little cleaning up to make the descriptions more precise; regardless of this though it did not interfere in my enjoyment of this book in any way, and I am looking forward to reading the remainder of the Saga.
I would highly recommend this book to lovers of epic fantasy novels, it is also suitable for teens and YA readers.
Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2013/10/08/review-lichgates-the-grimoire-saga-1-s-m-b...
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Ari is a virgin, young, innocent and head over heels for Marcus. He’s a dick, with a capital D. He only wants to get into her pants and place another notch on his belt.
For their date, they are heading to the Lodley farmhouse. Ari should have listened to her instincts and Marcus should have listened to Ari when she said it was a very bad idea.
Now, they are both being haunted, each in their own terrifying and deadly way and these ghosts do plenty more than go bump in the night.
The tension and anticipation I feel as I wait for whatever is coming on the next page and the next page, makes it hard to contain my excitement. I don’t know what’s coming but I am thinking it will get so much worse…
I am loving what S M Boyce has done with this ghostly story about haunting and redemption as it comes full circle.
Now, I have met Mel and Marcus and I can hardly wait to spend more time fighting demons and monsters with them.
to see more visit http://www.fundinmental.com
This world is amazing. So much to discover. The author created new species and realms. I love how every species has different abilities. My favorite character is Braeden. No one in this world can trust another. Loyalties can be twisted, free will taken. Lots of treachery. Various creatures and demons. Every thing you'd expect in an epic fantasy novel. Including a bit of love and heartbreak.
For a scary story, this is a good read. I did find many of the characters' inner thoughts repetitive. But I liked the characters and how the story ended.
Ari is the first book in S.M. Boyce's brand new series To Each His Ghost. Previously I've only read fantasy from this author. Her Grimoire Saga is one of my favorite series of all-time. I won't lie. The previous series was fantasy. There was magic, world building, incredible creatures. All the elements that make fantasy great. I wasn't sure how the transition to a new genre would work for me. Would Boyce be able to pull it off? The answer: Yes. Yes, she did. And I think she did it very well, even coming from a novice horror reader like me.
The only thing that wasn't working for me with this book was the switching of points of view in the beginning of the book. The book, throughout, is told from a 3rd person POV and alternates focus on Ari and Marcus. They're the two main characters. And the switches happen at chapter breaks. In the beginning I felt like the switch was happening a little too often and I wasn't able to get a good feel for the characters. Well, I enjoyed Ari from the start. She felt like the real lead. Marcus on the other hand isn't a likeable character. That's how he's written and there's no issue with that. I think his sections were a little short and I wasn't caring as much for him. This all changed as I kept reading, though. It actually really pulled itself together once I gave it time. I think it was how the book was meant to be done. In the end, I grew to like both characters (and some of the minor ones that come along the way). Marcus grew on me, even if I didn't expect him to.
The horror elements of this book were great. As I said already, I'm not the biggest of horror readers, but I know what'll scare people. I don't get scared from books. I don't even cry during the saddest moments of some. (Maybe I have no soul.) Despite this, Boyce was able to paint a great visual in my mind of the ghosts, demons, and other horrific parts of the book. She didn't hold back much either. I helped when I read this book at night with only my book lamp on. Added to the overall atmosphere as I read along.
Would I recommend this book to other readers? Definitely. I had a great time reading it. I also want to try more horror now. I'm looking forward to other books in this series. I think horror lovers will enjoy it as much as I did, and I don't think it'll turn away non-horror readers, either. Yes, it's scary, but there's a great story underneath it all, too.
S.M Boyce creates new races each with distinguishing characteristics and physical traits that come alive in your imagination and she weaves an intricate historical background with built in prejudices and battles and wars that could feed a stunning prequel to the series one day. You want your own Flick to snuggle and love and Lichgates to travel with. My biggest disappointment with the series is that each book is shorter than the one before it so your ending comes faster than you want it to. Great read, kept me tied up for the entire long weekend with very disgruntled breaks.
I honestly cannot get enough of this series and I will probably be reading it again and again.
S.M Boyce creates new races each with distinguishing characteristics and physical traits and she weaves an intricate historical background with built in prejudices and battles and wars that could feed a stunning prequesl to the series one day.
I honestly cannot get enough of this series and I will probably be reading it again and again.
I don't get creeped out easily. I love ghost hunting shows, horror movies, etc., but I started reading this before bed and ended up having to put it down after the first few chapters because I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to sleep after reading it. I finished it up yesterday, almost jumping through the roof when someone knocked on my front door. The author has a true gift as this was definitely creepier than anything I've watched lately. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
I liked the world of Ourea and its differing kingdoms which didn't limit themselves to elves, trolls, and goblins. In fact, I think they weren't mentioned at all. Ourea was governed by a whole new mythology, new people who didn't look like humans - blue skin, green blood, long limbs. I liked it.
I liked Kara. She just dived into this pocket world, accepted her fate (I hear Rick O'Connell somewhere shout: "'No harm ever came from reading a book.' Remember how that one went?") and went to try and carve her own destiny. She got guts.
No romance, yet, but there were hints such as looks, arms-brushing, but it wasn't really central to the story, yet.
Boyce didn’t disappoint with the release of book two, Treason, either. This is also the case in Heritage, book three. With each book, there is more introduced to the reader and more to hook that reader in. I feel that the author’s writing keeps getting stronger with each book, as well. It’s not often that an author can get me immersed in the world of a book so much where I want to demand the next, but Boyce knows how to do it.
With this box set, I feel a little jealous of those new to the series. For those who get addicted from the beginning, like I did, there won’t be a long wait for the next book because it’s already there. It’s also a great way to get ready for Illusion, the big finale.
Like the read of the books I've read from Boyce, there is no lack of genius writing. Each setting is written beautifully. Whether it's on Earth or in Ourea, I felt like I was there standing beside the characters, taking in the scenery, sounds, and scents. That's one of the things that drew me in early on.
Strong, well fleshed out characters are also offered up in this book. Stone, the main character, was able to develop more in this book compared to when readers first read him in the later Grimorie Saga books. I felt like I was able to understand and sympathize with him even more having read his story, now. The side characters, while not the main focus of this story, were also brought to life to the point that I would enjoy reading books focused on their lives, as well. Each character has something to hook me in and make me curious about what makes them tick.
Another thing that I thought made me enjoy The Misanthrope just a little bit more was that, while being part of a spin-off series to the Grimoire books, it felt like a book all its own. The was much shorter in length, yet packed just as much of a punch. it was a bit faster paced, and I think the story benefited its brevity in certain sections. For a book that covers many decades of Stone's life, it didn't feel like it was jumping forward too fast, nor did it feel like it was bogged down on any one time period.
As with my reading of Boyce's previous books, I'm already getting impatient about her next release. Credric's story will be the next in The Ourean Chronicles and I have no doubts as to whether or not it'll end up at the top of my tbr pile once it's released.
I don’t take to series well. It’s mainly because I like when a story can wrap up at the end of one novel, at most two. Sometimes there just isn’t enough in a storyline to need more than one or two books or my attention goes to something more interesting and I don’t come back to a series. Heritage is proof, to me, that these books are worth sticking around for.
Like the previous installments, this one follows a young woman named Kara, who has been thrown into the world of Ourea. It’s even more perilous and complex than when she first entered through a lichgate (magical portal) months before. Boyce does a great job of getting her readers immersed in the world she’s created, early on and it only continues to expand. Her characters become more and more complex as well. There’s nothing simple about the agendas of the Bloods (royalty). With each turn of the page, a new motivation reveals itself; a new plan is made; twists and turns are abundant.
I can’t say too much about the actual events in this book. It’d be too difficult to avoid spoiling it for those who haven’t read the previous books. As a fan of this series, I feel that it’s moving in a great direction. Book four can’t come soon enough. So much happened in Heritage to make it near impossible to tell how this war to unite (or destroy) Ourea will end. With Boyce’s writing getting better and better with each book, I only know it’s going to be epic.
I could do a close review of this, but I fear saying too much about the plot and outcome. So much happens in this book to tie up the many loose ends that weave through this series. There is a long awaited epic battle, twists and turns, joy and dismay. This book has everything long time fans have felt the series building up to. To say that I'm pleased with the way the author ended things would be an understatement. It can't be easy to create a satisfying ending to an epic like The Grimoire Saga, but I felt it was the way it should all work out.
Boyce's writing continues to gain strength with each book, and Illusion is no exception. Her world of Ourea is just as complex and beautiful as when I first was thrown into it with Kara in the first book. Much of this book takes place in the Steleian Kingdom, a place we've only seen glimpses of before. I feel that even in the midst of the concluding battle, the kingdom was painted with a skill I've grown to admire. I also found it surprising when the story took on different character viewpoints. For most of this series, the chapters are from either Kara or Braeden's POV, with few exceptions. For reasons obvious to those reading the book, these two POVs would have limited a battle as big as what takes place in this book. What was the surprising part is that even with just a chapter or two from the POV of more minor characters (and more impressively from characters, the vagabonds, we know almost nothing about) the author was able to keep me in the story, develop that character in a short time, and get me invested in this part of the larger story. It was a change in style overall, but not a jarring or out-of-place change.
I could go on and on about how much I loved this book, and as a whole this series, but I'd rather leave it at what I've said already. I'm sad that the series is over. Happiness and sadness fell over me when I finished the last line, but isn't that what great books should do? There is a light at the end of the tunnel, as well. It's only about a year until fans of Ourea have to wait for a spin-off series The Ourean Chornicles. I'm looking forward to reading about some of my favorite characters in their own books.
Ce site utilise des cookies pour fournir nos services, optimiser les performances, pour les analyses, et (si vous n'êtes pas connecté) pour les publicités. En utilisant Librarything, vous reconnaissez avoir lu et compris nos conditions générales d'utilisation et de services. Votre utilisation du site et de ses services vaut acceptation de ces conditions et termes.
The Author has succeeded in this first book in creating some very well-rounded and complex characters, not too complex they baffle the reader, but just enough that the reader wants to engross themselves in their world and continue on the journey with them. The main protagonist is a regular everyday female; but this female is struggling with loss and a feeling of being adrift that, could in another Authors hands, have led to a very despondent and down personality. This is not the case here as, when she finds herself in an unusual and totally alien world, the character pulls on her inner strengths, talents and humour to make the best of her lot. Alongside her is a host of others that are equally well written and full of life, there are no elves or orcs as is usually the case in this kind of novel, but new a strange characters that add dimension not only to the novel, but to the main protagonist as well. The characters are written in just enough detail to pull the reader into their world, and make them care about the outcome.
It takes a great imagination and a certain writing style to bring to the page a world totally different from anything else in this genre, after all so many people have written this kind of novel in the past, but the Author manages to do this with grace and ease exhibiting a creative mind. Although the world she creates is full of amazing detail, but not bogged down with too much ‘fluff’, I did feel that at some points it could have done with a little cleaning up to make the descriptions more precise; regardless of this though it did not interfere in my enjoyment of this book in any way, and I am looking forward to reading the remainder of the Saga.
I would highly recommend this book to lovers of epic fantasy novels, it is also suitable for teens and YA readers.
Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2013/10/08/review-lichgates-the-grimoire-saga-1-s-m-b...
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.