Hi people! I’m really happy to start my #ARCtober with a review of a book I really liked! Ok, it’s a book that I have read this summer and yes, I am way behind with my ARC’s review, but I am trying to keep it up and now I am here to speak with you about it, so all is good, right?
Thanks to NetGalley and to the editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Title: Stranger of Tempest
Author:Tom Lloyd
Published: May 2016 by Gollancz
Series: The Gods Fragment #1
Page Count:320
Lynx is a mercenary with a sense of honour; a dying breed in the Shattered Kingdom. Failed by the nation he served and weary of the skirmishes that plague the continent’s principalities, he walks the land in search of purpose. He wants for little so bodyguard work keeps his belly full and his mage-gun loaded. It might never bring a man fame or wealth, but he’s not forced to rely on others or kill without cause. Little could compel Lynx to join a mercenary company, but he won’t turn his back on a kidnapped girl. At least the job seems simple enough; the mercenaries less stupid and vicious than most he’s met over the years. So long as there are no surprises or hidden agendas along the way, it should work out fine.
The thing that got me hooked up was the beginning, I found it captivating and humorous, and I am a sucker for humorous so… here we are!
For a damsel in distress, she was rather more spattered with someone else’s blood than Lynx had expected. And naked. Very naked.
“Well?” she demanded.
Lynx could only gape a while longer. Finally his words spilled out in an abashed mumble. “Um – come to rescue you, miss.”
“You’ll have to wait”, she snapped at the knot of mercenaries crowding the doorway. “I’m busy.”
After reading these sentences I fell in love with the book! It’s not perfect and I thought that this one was the first book of the author, because I do not know how to say it well, but it has some things that you can found in debut works usually and some lackings that are typical of first works, but all in all was a good read!
Lynx is an unusual main character, a grouchy, experienced man of arms and we follow him while he finds himself part of a deck of mercenaries, a really peculiar one at this. We read about his adventures now, while he is with the mercenaries, and we read also about how he became a part of this really peculiar group. The story is captivating and fast-paced. We follow Lynx and the mercenaries while they try to save a damsel in distress (who is as little a damsel in distress as she can be a unicorn!) and this alleged rescue would precipitate our “heroes” in more dangerous adventures, who are unexpected and pure madness. I do not want to say more about the plot because I do not want to spoiler something for you, but it’s a good plot in which we can find adventure, danger, interesting places and characters and also good enemies.
The thing that I liked more, humour aside (and we can find a lot of sarcasm, humour and fun in these pages because the mercenaries are continually bantering ), are the characters. Lynx is a good MC, is not the usual hero but he has honor and this is his best and principal trait, and I liked it a lot (also, I am dying to meet again with him, so I hope to read the second book really soon!), but all the mercenaries are great! I can’t say that I loved all of them, because it would be untrue (and I really hated some of them) but all are well characterized and they are not just plain figure on the walls but they come alive in the pages, and we learn to know at least a little bit of all of them. And I really liked them!
Sooo… I really liked this book, and I would read the second one as soon as I can put my hands on it. And if you are searching for a good fantasy that is fast-paced and full adventure, this one could be the right one for you!
and half!
What about you? Have you read this book? Or have you read some other books by the author? Let me know!
Good reading!
S.
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