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Dead Stars - Part One (2013)

by Ben Galley(Favorite Author)

4.25 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0956770061 (ISBN13: 9780956770066)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

BenGalley.com

series

Emaneska

review 1: A tale of resurrection and bloody revenge. Magik is everywhere, infecting everything. Three gods have arrived on earth to help track down the child who should not have been born. This girl is the reason that the magik is out of control.Farden has disappeared into the back of beyond, acting as the assassin for one of the Dukes. Farden seems to have multiple addiction problems: the nevermar, women of ill repute and the Scalussen armour. Traced back to his shack, he is despatched but he cannot die, he is sent back. One of the gods has been sent to bring Farden back: the bait is a woman from Farden's past. Farden exacts a bloody revenge on the Duke who tried to have him killed. This scene is particularly gory but Galley neatly deals with it with a cool and matter of fac... moret manner.Running alongside this is the child who is coming to kill Farden and everyone else. I won't spoil this part for you. The betrayals keep on coming - his uncle and the vampire ruler of xxx is literally dethroned by one of the councillors who is being coached by the woman who has brought up the child. The denouement is the wedding of the woman which ends up with demons being pulled down from the sky. There is also the tale of Korin: little hints and snippets, teasing you as to why it's been included.The pace of this story was good, and I found I devoured the book very quickly. I find Farden slightly flat as a character - yes he's been to hell and back, but he is remarkably dense about his emotions, especially with regard to women. I really wanted to shake him hard on this.
review 2: After the epic conclusion of Pale kings, we initially join the story nine years later with the return of Lilleth the seer and Samara, Farden's Daughter. Lilleth was entrusted by Vice, to bring up Samara, fill her head with lies and hatred, to bring to fruition the evil plans of Vice.Samara is nine years old and has been slowly but surely brainwashed, poisoned against those who could possibly have any feelings for her and the truth kept as far from her as possible. They keep a low profile, travelling in the countryside, staying in small inn's as Lilleth instructs Samara in the ways of murder, brutal but with a purpose as their goal becomes written mage's and the tattooed books they possess on their bodies. Her power is developing under the seer's guidance, hatred blossoming, she is a tool under destructive guidance and she will bring devastation.All Krauslung has searched for them for many years but none have come close and long will they continue.We leap another six years into the future as we join the self imposed exile of Farden, fifteen years after the battle for Krauslung. Farden has changed dramatically, addicted to the drug nevermar, his magick long forgotten but still highly accomplished with a blade. He works as an assassin for the Duke of Kiltyrin in Albion, hidden from all who search for him and a solitary recluse. His employer takes an interest in the armour Farden wears, the Scalussen armour that has seen him age not a day since he started wearing it and the Duke will do anything to get it.In Krauslung the search for Farden intensifies as events unfold, Durnus and Tyrfing are now the Arkmages and rulers of Krauslung and in collaboration with the Gods Heimdall and Loki, who they send to seek him out. Not only do the Arkmages face the impending doom of Samara but also the political back stabbing of their council some of whom would see them cast aside.Also running in parallel to the story in Krauslung is the story of Korrin set 1568 years earlier, Korrin is the son of a farmer and he is chosen as one of the nine, an unlikely choice he is trained in the arts of warfare but the reasons are kept from him and his comrades.There is the introduction of more major characters for the series, the most prominent being the God Loki, who faces the impossible task of bringing Farden home, Farden's stubbornness remains a distinguishing feature of his character and their interaction is a highlight of the story. Samara also develops into an interesting character, influenced heavily by the evil seer but you can't help feeling there is some way back for her even as their plans unfold.Dead Stars part 1 sets up the events for the finale perfectly, you may not agree with the choices Farden makes but he is still a riveting character, if not as formidable as he was in the previous novels but the path he must take is obvious to all but himself and its certainly good reading as he stumbles and circumnavigates around every corner.Luckily we don't have to wait for to long for the release of the final novel as Dead Stars parts 1 & 2 are to be released simultaneously. less

Download links for: Dead Stars - Part One

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