SFF Chronicles News
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- Oct 20, 2013
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6th August 2013 04:22 PM
Tim James
Laura J Underwood has been a member of the Chronicles Network since August 2006, and although not a prolific poster looks in regularly. She has the stunningly clever user name of LauraJUnderwood. I have had no interaction with her, but it is nice to know that she still looks in on the community from time to time.
Dragon’s Tongue is a book that has not been published traditionally in the UK as yet, although it is available on the Kindle. This is a shame because it is a very enjoyable read and I will probably be looking out the sequel at some point in the future.
As far as these things go it is a standard fantasy, but with the author’s own spin on the traditional formula. Drawing on Celtic mythology and a European/British feel to the accents, it tells the story of Alaric, a young man who has serious potential as a Bard, something he longs to be, until magic comes*alive in him and he discovers his is going to have to learn that side of his nature… This*opens*up*a*wider*world,*but*also*one*of*danger,*demons*and*so*much*more.
The story is well written, becoming more engaging as it goes on, with some strong characters that you soon engage with, unless it is those that you just want to slap, either for their*outright evil nature, or their blinkered world view that is so unable to bend that it causes nearly as much trouble as the evil forces.
For a book that has an almost epic feel, and indeed there is the world saving quest at the heart of it, it is nicely played out on the small scale, with very few characters outside of the main ones. This gives it a lot more intimate feel allowing you to appreciate and like/loathe those characters as the story unfolds. It also means that it carries the story faster. As events build to a climax things go very quickly indeed, without them being bogged down with what a supporting cast is doing.
Of the main characters there is not one weak one, all coming across well. Worth a note is the demon Vagner who grows and changes throughout the story, until you feel you would be sorry to see him go.
Although the story is brought to an end, there is still a cliffhanger to carry you forward to the next novel, and a good enough one to make you want to read it!
The writing itself, to me at least, started off slightly clumsily in places, but it soon settles down, driving the book through to the end. Well worth a read.
Tim James
Laura J Underwood has been a member of the Chronicles Network since August 2006, and although not a prolific poster looks in regularly. She has the stunningly clever user name of LauraJUnderwood. I have had no interaction with her, but it is nice to know that she still looks in on the community from time to time.
Dragon’s Tongue is a book that has not been published traditionally in the UK as yet, although it is available on the Kindle. This is a shame because it is a very enjoyable read and I will probably be looking out the sequel at some point in the future.
As far as these things go it is a standard fantasy, but with the author’s own spin on the traditional formula. Drawing on Celtic mythology and a European/British feel to the accents, it tells the story of Alaric, a young man who has serious potential as a Bard, something he longs to be, until magic comes*alive in him and he discovers his is going to have to learn that side of his nature… This*opens*up*a*wider*world,*but*also*one*of*danger,*demons*and*so*much*more.
The story is well written, becoming more engaging as it goes on, with some strong characters that you soon engage with, unless it is those that you just want to slap, either for their*outright evil nature, or their blinkered world view that is so unable to bend that it causes nearly as much trouble as the evil forces.
For a book that has an almost epic feel, and indeed there is the world saving quest at the heart of it, it is nicely played out on the small scale, with very few characters outside of the main ones. This gives it a lot more intimate feel allowing you to appreciate and like/loathe those characters as the story unfolds. It also means that it carries the story faster. As events build to a climax things go very quickly indeed, without them being bogged down with what a supporting cast is doing.
Of the main characters there is not one weak one, all coming across well. Worth a note is the demon Vagner who grows and changes throughout the story, until you feel you would be sorry to see him go.
Although the story is brought to an end, there is still a cliffhanger to carry you forward to the next novel, and a good enough one to make you want to read it!
The writing itself, to me at least, started off slightly clumsily in places, but it soon settles down, driving the book through to the end. Well worth a read.
