D. A. Adams

I must admit that when I was offered this book to review I was only too glad to accept. You see, I have this thing about dwarves in fantasy. I really don’t care if the races: orcs, goblins elves and all the others are the same as they are in every other fantasy, it’s what the author does with them that matters. It is in this area that D.A. Adams pulls off a great character driven story. There’s no ground breaking, genre shattering new ideas just a well-rounded story that leaves you wanting to read more.
The lead character, Roskin, though of noble descent sets out on a gap year to find a fabled statue, so it’s a quest. There are only so many basic story types and this is one of the simplest – so get used to the idea. Too many people are quick to tear new authors apart for their lack of originality, well it was once written ‘there is nothing new under the sun’ and that was over 3000 years ago. With that settled I’ll get back to the story, or will I. You see, I’m not one for giving the story away, after all I’ll see it differently to you as much as you will the next person. So instead, I’ll just say that I found it to be a commendable first novel. The story moves along at a good pace, is filled with background history that adds richness and depth to story, and gives something to set future stories against. It was long enough to enjoy without ever becoming a hard slog. More words do not make a better story.
I’ll round things off by simply saying that I will go on to read the others in the series in the simple hope that they are at least as enjoyable as this one. Most writers improve with practice, I can only hope that D.A Adams does, that way I will have even better stories to look forward to.

I will be hosting an interview with the author on 12th March 2013 on my website www.theonesaga.com… (meer)

I must admit that when I was offered this book to review I was only too glad to accept. You see, I have this thing about dwarves in fantasy. I really don’t care if the races: orcs, goblins elves and all the others are the same as they are in every other fantasy, it’s what the author does with them that matters. It is in this area that D.A. Adams pulls off a great character driven story. There’s no ground breaking, genre shattering new ideas just a well-rounded story that leaves you wanting to read more.
The lead character, Roskin, though of noble descent sets out on a gap year to find a fabled statue, so it’s a quest. There are only so many basic story types and this is one of the simplest – so get used to the idea. Too many people are quick to tear new authors apart for their lack of originality, well it was once written ‘there is nothing new under the sun’ and that was over 3000 years ago. With that settled I’ll get back to the story, or will I. You see, I’m not one for giving the story away, after all I’ll see it differently to you as much as you will the next person. So instead, I’ll just say that I found it to be a commendable first novel. The story moves along at a good pace, is filled with background history that adds richness and depth to story, and gives something to set future stories against. It was long enough to enjoy without ever becoming a hard slog. More words do not make a better story.
I’ll round things off by simply saying that I will go on to read the others in the series in the simple hope that they are at least as enjoyable as this one. Most writers improve with practice, I can only hope that D.A Adams does, that way I will have even better stories to look forward to.

I will be hosting an interview with the author on 12th March 2013 on my website www.theonesaga.com… (meer)

This novel is the third in a series and, while it would be fine to read it on its own, readers would be well served to start at the beginning. I say this having read book four before book three—I enjoyed it, but I’d have enjoyed it more if I’d known where it was coming from.

The Fall of Dorkun fills in the backstories of many beloved characters from earlier books, adding plenty of depth to the series and strengthening the purpose to the action. There’s a compelling consistency to it all—societies beautifully wrought, and characters convincingly portrayed as products of their nature and history. Expressions appropriate to race and age make the world and its characters real. A wise dwarf is described as having “a good beard.” Even hand gestures fit the image. And the viewpoints are consistently convincing.

By the end of this tale Roskin has come full circle, teenager to man, and the world is poised on the brink of further destruction. Readers will eagerly reach for the next book. And me, I’m waiting for book 5.

Disclosure: I won some free ebooks and chose this one because I’d already read and enjoyed books 1 and 4.… (meer)

Ogres, dwarves and elves come to life with their different natures and cultures in the pages of this second book in D. A. Adam’s Brotherhood of Dwarves series. The heavy ponderings of the wise are nicely contrasted with fast action, and complex plans come to naught as wars are born in the lies of misunderstanding. Fear proves the worst of advisors, and folly makes beasts of us all, but a warrior poet is growing into his nature, freed from the perils of youth as he’s tempered by the trials of life above ground.

Convincing and beautifully imagined details characterize these tales. There’s depth in the telling of creatures and their hopes and dreams. And there’s breadth in whole societies beautifully woven together. Deception lurks around every bend, hope behind every despair, and a world waits to be saved from the unknown.

The story weaves between different groups of characters in a somewhat Tolkeinesque way, following one group then another until they all come together in a complex dance. By the end of the tale, Roskin seems to have grown into his heritage, and the stage is set for more. These are books to read in order, characters to savor and follow, and fates that form a thoroughly satisfying tale.

Disclosure: I think I won an ecopy of this one; I chose it because I’d already enjoyed book one.… (meer)