When sword and sorcery fail, only words remain.
Dialogue focused scenes drive stories inward, emphasizing the character’s inner conflict.
Fans of the fantasy genre will likely find this anthology a refreshing change from the more common forms. Epic battles and grandiose adventures litter these pages, but almost always on the horizon, a backdrop for the story at hand. Warriors may fight, but find strength alone cannot win the day. Instead they must rely on cunning and insight. Often it’s their own perspective that defeats them, until they learn to see things another way. Summaries help things along, covering days or weeks in a matter of moments. Dialogue frequently plays a critical role, either hinting or bluntly stating the meaning of the story. But blunt or subtle, light or dark, every story has a certain charm.
+Strong Dialogue
+A nice mix of mellow and serious, simple and elaborate
*Atypical Fantasy Plots
The Amethyst Carekeeper 3/5
By Barbara Denz
To save her new home, Carekeeper Elissa must finish the conversation she fled many years ago.
+Strong Dialogue
*Mellow Conflict
-Somewhat anticlimactic
The Arrow’s Flight 4.5/5
A story so layered in secrets, audiences may not realize the truth until the end.
+Strong Dialogue
+Crisp Scenes
+Strong Narrative Techniques
Istar-Zu 2/5
By D.A. Bach
A quest that begins full of questions, and hurries to end, hinting at future adventures.
+Strong Descriptions
*Familiar Plot
-A little predictable
The Siege of Kintomar 3.5/5
By Millea Kenin
Desperate rulers discover a grim truth, and struggle to atone.
+Strong Narrative Techniques
+Strong Dialogue
*Challenging Read
-Overly ambitious in scope
Stealing Souls 2.5/5
Long awaited revenge blossoms into a maze of monsters and traps.
+Strong Characters
*Familiar Plot
-Low Tension
Ladyknight 3.5/5
Donning the mantle of a hero, a young woman learns she wears it well.
+Strong Characters
+Strong Descriptions
*Familiar plot patterns
Festival Night 3/5
Besot with good fortune, a young man fails to heed the warnings, and hurries to a tragic end.
+Strong Use of Summaries
*Challenging Writing
-Slow Pacing
Kayli’s Quest 2.5/5
Those who challenge a rural wizard and a dragon soon learn their folly.
+Rich Character History
*Humble Narrative
-Low Tension
The Seven Year’s Night 3/5
By M.H. Lewis
In a world of magic, only myth can guide the wayward home.
+Strong imagery & symbolism
*Distant character
*Vague themes/meaning
The Dance of Kali 4/5
All things must end, lest a worse fate befall them.
+Strong Themes/Ideas
*Minimalist writing style
*Quick Read
Ancient Heartbreak 2.5/5
When power wakes, dreams end, leaving a hard task, and a heavy price.
+Strong Relationships
*Familiar plot
-Underdeveloped Themes/Meaning
Hero Worship 3/5
A simple ambition leads to harsh realities and difficult choices.
+Strong Themes
*Mellow tone
*Emphasis on internal conflicts
A Matter of Life 3.5/5
Wounded, he sought help. Healed, he searches for an enemy.
+Strong microcosm storytelling
*Mellow Tone
*Serious, moral focus
The Moon Who Loved the Man 3/5
Bereft, a young man runs from his pain, until something takes pity upon him.
+Strong Descriptions
*Mellow, serious tone
*Slow pacing
Last Quarrel 2.5/5
An injured warrior refuses to give up.
*Slow, Mellow Narrative
*Summary focused
*A humble story within an epic backdrop
Crooked Corn 2.5/5
A warrior learns new ways to fight, and finds her way.
*Mellow narrative
*Clear cut themes
-A little predictable
Next Time…
Codex Alera Series Review