Warlord Rising novel

[McSmash Smash]

I just finished reading Warlord Rising by Michales Joy and man, was it a fun read. I admit it's not the deepest fantasy novel I've ever read, but if you love Warlord and want to delve into an adventure in that setting I highly recommend the book. The author incorporates all 10 Taltos factions and even hints at some of the factions from Northern Adon. I a real sucker for fluff and you really get to see the relationships the factions have with each other. I think I might even start a Savage Worlds campaign in the Taltos setting. Has anyone else read the book and what are your thoughts without giving any spoilers out for those who might want to pick it up.

[Humansquish]

I have it and loved it. Eagerly awaiting the second book. Warwick, when are we getting the second book?

[Warwick]

Smash, thanks for the kind review. I had a good time writing it. Working in all the factions was quite a job of weaving. I didn't want to do a book with a token Dwarf and a token Elf, that sort of thing. I tried to make each character my favorite character so it didn't feel like a one man show with his entourage of sidekicks.

Humansquish, the second novel is done. Has been done for a while. Reaper has had it for probably a year now, I think. You have to rattle their cage.

You can also read my fantasy novel Season of Peril during the wait.

[ObsidianCrane]

Maybe that is something to get sorted as part of KS2...

[Fremen]

Warwick, I thoroughly enjoyed Warlord Rising, and I can't wait to read the next novel! I will definitely check out Season of Peril in the meantime, but I hope Reaper puts number 2 out in the near future.

[McSmash Smash]

@ Warwick, Thanks for writing such a great book. I especially liked how you portrayed the Reptus and the Overlords. I felt they fit well with the fluff and how I always pictured them in my mind's eye.

 

I did see the second book, Warlord Revenge, available on Amazon in e-book format. I am going to download it tonight and read how this epic journey ends.

[Warwick]

Well I'll be an Overlord's uncle! Looks like Book 2 is out for Kindle! Please give it a review on Amazon when you're done with it. And here so I know what you think.

[Last Knight]

Well I'll be an Overlord's uncle! Looks like Book 2 is out for Kindle! Please give it a review on Amazon when you're done with it. And here so I know what you think.

Looks like both of them are available on Kindle. Hmmm...

[McSmash Smash]

Warning, the following may contain some Spoilers. You've been warned, lol.

 

So I just finished the second book, Warlord Revenge, and it like the first one was a great piece of light fantasy reading. Man, did Odwain's personality really change from the first book to this one. But, I guess almost being crushed to death and having possessed evil gauntlet strapped to your hand would do that. Speaking of which where did that gauntlet come from? I got the part where there was the exchange between the Nefsokar and the Dwarves, the gauntlet for the canopic jar, but how did it end up on Odwain's hand? He seemed just to wake up with it. I also liked that we got to travel to Denelspire the underground cities of the Darkspawn. I only wish we got to explore these places a little more. I did find the ending to be lacking a bit. The story was built up with the great escape of Durion with Curugon with the legions of the Darkspawn after them lead by Rauthuros himself. Then you have the Reptus marching to Firegate Pass to intercept the Darkspawn to atone for a sin their ancestors committed centuries ago. But, our heroes end up in a cave with this epic battle raging overhead and its outcome is mention just as an after thought. Don't get me wrong the whole gate way to the gods was pretty cool and Pendle being a god stripped of his powers was unexpected, but I still was wondering when we would here of the battle overhead. I mean it was frickin Rauthuros leading the charge the which is probably Warlord's equivalent to satan. An epic clash of good and evil! <sigh> Oh well....

 

There was a couple of little annoyances which had nothing to do with the story but the formatting. Warlord Revenge followed by an odd number would randomly appear on the screen in random spots. I think this was suppose to be a page header with the title and the page number, but on an e-reader were you can control the amount of text on a "page", page headers don't really work. Another thing with formatting would be that some words ran together, missing the space between words.

 

It was a really entertaining and fun read and I hope this won't be the last adventure taking place in Taltos.

[Warwick]

Smash, I set out to leave a few mysteries unanswered in this book, so forgive the loose ends. I wanted Taltos to have the feel of many story arcs going on, and only some of them will be known from start to finish. The origin of the gauntlet is one of those. The fate of some characters is left vague, the motivation of others left blank. That's just how Taltos is. There were so many side stories, I had trouble cutting it down to one story. I have epilogues for all the survivors, too. I call it follow through, like a golf swing. No one will get to read it, but it's essential to a good ending.

I'm disappointed by not showing the fight between the Reptus and the Darkspawn. With no central character involved, though, it wouldn't have been exciting. I like the idea of Rauthuros getting super angry when he felt the doorway to godhood slam shut and going berserk on friend and foe alike, driving everyone from the field. Then he flies back home. It would be a bad time to be in the dark cities below Knotthorn that day.

[Mortanius]

Now I am really getting curious about these books. I just ordered the first and am waiting for that to arrive so I can read it.

[Warwick]

I hope you enjoy them, Mortanius! And if you have any questions, please ask.

[Humansquish]

Weren't there plans for 3 books? Or am I remembering wrong?

[Warwick]

It was indeed planned on being a trilogy. I decided after finishing most of book two (Warlord Revenge) that too much of book 3 was going to be side quest nonsense. I could wrap up the story in a few extra chapters. Also, I was bothered by the whole "gotta be a trilogy" mentality that seems to dominate fantasy. With a two book story, no book has to be random quests and side adventures. Book one sets up the pins. Book two knocks them down. If I was going to return to writing Taltos books, I would stick with stand alone adventures for the punch one book can have.

Anyway, Warlord Rising and Warlord Revenge tell the entire tale of a single adventure in Taltos. Lots more where that came from.

[Mortanius]

Good to know that there is just going to be the two books, I just got the first one in the mail today and will start reading it soon.