Title: Talon: The Windwalker Archive: Book 1 (Legends of Agora)
Author: Michael James Ploof
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
TALON: Book 1 of the Windwalker Archive follows the early years of a unique boy, a fifteen year old runt living on the barbarian island of Volnoss. Born premature during the frozen plague that took his mother, shunned by his father, and raised by his grandmother, Talon has always felt like he doesn’t belong.
For years he dreams of growing big and strong like the giants that surround him. But as the day of measure draws near, he begins to realize that he will never be named a Vald, and will be cast to the village of the Skomm to live a life of slavery.
Barely surviving the beating that follows his failure to meet the measure, Talon is banished to the village of misfits. There he finds friends in the most unlikely of places, and begins to hope he might find some happiness as a Skomm.
As Talon tries to settle into his life in the slave village he is challenged at every turn. The Vaka overseers have it in for him, as does the Chiefson of Timber Wolf Tribe. The Kelda Agaeti is drawing near, called by the Skomm the night of dying, when seven warriors from neighboring tribes win the right to go on a bloody rampage through the village.
After barely surviving a random attack by drunken Vald that left nearly a dozen dead, Talon and his friends decide that they must somehow escape the island. For Chiefson Fylkin has vowed to kill him first on the night of dying.
What follows is a fast-paced race against time, an underdog story wrought with action and adventure, rich with magic, culture, friendship and lore.
***
Caution: Spoilers ahead!
Wow! Now that was a wild ride! I got sucked in at the first sentence and ended up plowing through until I was done the next day. I doubly appreciate this book due to the fact this author is a self-made man who made it to the bestselling ranks of USA Today.
I jumped into this without knowing any other of Michael’s works, but Talon: The Windwalker Archive takes place chronologically before Whill of Agora, it can be read before or after as a standalone series.
After giving this book a try, I definitely want to try out the rest of the series.
The Good:
World building is phenomenal. Now, when I heard about barbarians, I truly wasn’t prepared to get the blood and guts of barbarians. And I loved it! It really puts human nature in perspective, and shows where morals have to draw a line in the sand.
The main character, Talon, is a good egg. The book shows how hard it is to be tender in a brutal world, and you really feel for the guy.
10/10 for invoking sympathy.
The Bad:
I may be nitpicking here and there, but I felt it was somewhat awkward when introducing Jashin for the first time. He is a man destined to be Talon’s best friend, but whoa, are people really that eager to make friends? Considering Talon is the new kid in the village? Maybe it’s just me, but I wasn’t too brokenhearted when Jashin died. I just saw it coming.
Conclusion:
This earned 4 1/2 Stars in my humble opinion. I’m really feeling the adventure, but I’m not going to be raving to my neighbors about it. I’d definitely recommend this title to my friends, though, so that must make up for my momentary pessimism.
