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astraia_sun's review
DNF @ 15% I found it very hard to crack into this book. The characters weren't interesting to me, and the plot didnt truly seem to start in the chunk I read. I don't know if it's because I've had a hard time focusing lately or if it's just not my cup of tea. it's not bad, I just had a hard time personally. hopefully other people will be hooked more than I was.
odeem's review
4.0
I enjoyed this story enough that I constantly thought of going back to it. My biggest complaint is that the world building feels... forced... and in need of some polishing. The Landkist seems to me to be an interesting system of magic, and I'm eager to find out more.
liisp_cvr2cvr's review
DNF @ 30% because:
- slow start even though with tons of action scenes... strange that, but I just didn't get captured...
- I felt disengaged from all the action because I felt disengaged from characters, thus not interested..
- nothing really, truly happened up to the 30% mark, so slightly bored...
- 'It's me, not you, dear Book'.
The above is based purely on personal preference and I don't feel it's fair to rate. I could have kept reading... I'm sure there's interesting stuff to happen yet (based on reviews from others) but in this case, me and the book are breaking up. Sorry.
- slow start even though with tons of action scenes... strange that, but I just didn't get captured...
- I felt disengaged from all the action because I felt disengaged from characters, thus not interested..
- nothing really, truly happened up to the 30% mark, so slightly bored...
- 'It's me, not you, dear Book'.
The above is based purely on personal preference and I don't feel it's fair to rate. I could have kept reading... I'm sure there's interesting stuff to happen yet (based on reviews from others) but in this case, me and the book are breaking up. Sorry.
bookishchas's review
5.0
Fantastic Debut
Some of my favorite things in fantasy are great character building, and unique magic. This book has both, and then some. The ember magic is a fascinating power, and there is just enough description of how it works to keep you gripped every time its used, but just enough mystery to tell you there's more to be revealed. As far as characters go, the races are well thought out, and the central characters are engaging and full of back story. Every battle had me on edge too, which isn't always easy to accomplish. To this debut novel I applaud Kelliher for pulling off an exciting and refreshing tale. Bravo!
Some of my favorite things in fantasy are great character building, and unique magic. This book has both, and then some. The ember magic is a fascinating power, and there is just enough description of how it works to keep you gripped every time its used, but just enough mystery to tell you there's more to be revealed. As far as characters go, the races are well thought out, and the central characters are engaging and full of back story. Every battle had me on edge too, which isn't always easy to accomplish. To this debut novel I applaud Kelliher for pulling off an exciting and refreshing tale. Bravo!
kartiknarayanan's review
2.0
I could not finish this book despite trying four times. I reached page 100, but it was difficult to get "into" it since the characters were quite disappointing. On top of it, the names were also starting to blur in my mind. Its too bad since there seemed to be some potential in it.
jamesnotlatimer's review
4.0
An ambitious debut, full of interesting concepts and characters, plenty of action, and lots of lore. Not always the easiest journey, keeping track of countless characters while absorbing the refreshing novelty of the world - more like an Anime setting than most traditional Western fantasies - can be a challenge, but in the end it's one worth undertaking.
kittyg's review
4.0
* I was sent this book for free from the author in exchange for a review *
This is book one in a new fantasy series which I am eager to keep up with. The series has very strong vibes of works like Peter V Brett and his Demon Cycle books, becuase this story focuses on a world where humans and demon-like dreadful monsters have to continually fight one another for survival. The World Apart is a place of horrors and every now and then some of these monsters manage to creep through and ambush the humans. Luckily the Valley of people we're following is home to a few of the remaining Embers, people who can burn like fire and have magical gifts of their own to help them fight off the monsters. Sadly, there's very few Embers left, and when one of their brightest is attacked in the forests by a monster unseen for many years, it's time to act...
What I really enjoyed about this was that it felt fun and exciting right from page one and I actually read this entire book in just one day becuase I was so immersed into the story. I definitely think it's a book that will excite and enchant readers who love writers like Brett and Sanderson, and I think it feels fresh and unique too.
The characters are mainly Kole, our Ember, and Linn, a woman who is eager to help her people and find someone else who might be able to step in. They're good friends and brave warriors and they each go on their own journey to try and help the people of the Valley. I do think we could have developed the characters more than we did, but I hope that as this is a series book number two will continue to expand upon them.
Overall a definitely fun story and book I'd highly recommend. 4*s overall :)
This is book one in a new fantasy series which I am eager to keep up with. The series has very strong vibes of works like Peter V Brett and his Demon Cycle books, becuase this story focuses on a world where humans and demon-like dreadful monsters have to continually fight one another for survival. The World Apart is a place of horrors and every now and then some of these monsters manage to creep through and ambush the humans. Luckily the Valley of people we're following is home to a few of the remaining Embers, people who can burn like fire and have magical gifts of their own to help them fight off the monsters. Sadly, there's very few Embers left, and when one of their brightest is attacked in the forests by a monster unseen for many years, it's time to act...
What I really enjoyed about this was that it felt fun and exciting right from page one and I actually read this entire book in just one day becuase I was so immersed into the story. I definitely think it's a book that will excite and enchant readers who love writers like Brett and Sanderson, and I think it feels fresh and unique too.
The characters are mainly Kole, our Ember, and Linn, a woman who is eager to help her people and find someone else who might be able to step in. They're good friends and brave warriors and they each go on their own journey to try and help the people of the Valley. I do think we could have developed the characters more than we did, but I hope that as this is a series book number two will continue to expand upon them.
Overall a definitely fun story and book I'd highly recommend. 4*s overall :)
adancewithbooks's review
3.0
3,5 stars
I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
Valley of Embers is the debut of Steven Kelliher and a high fantasy. You all know I love a good fantasy book, and in the core I wasn’t disappointed by this book.
We start in a place called Last Lake situated in a valley. In the months of dark they are often attacked by creatures from the World Apart. With the Embers, those with the power of fire, and soldiers they are able to fight them off. The start explains the setting and how they ended up in this situation. Personally I would have liked just a line here or there of extra explanation about the faery and the World After and so on. I just felt I needed a bit more to fully grasp it at the start. And at some point there was a conversation that was a bit heavy on the history information with a lot of just newly introduced side characters. It would have been better to have that spread out a little.
However after that the world became more clear through seeing the world as we followed the characters on their quest. I find this world with Landkist (with different powers) and sages very interesting. I really want to learn more about these sages (and what they exactly are), the World After and the world beyond the valley. The plot seems to be heading in that direction. The plot in itself was good. Nothing to surprising with the exception of a few bits here and there, but a solid set up for a good series I feel. I always find it interesting when in a plot there is the question as to who really is the enemy. And if the goal justifies the means. These were also present here. I like seeing how characters react differently to these things.
The writing was solid. There were various point of views that we followed with a few side characters. I enjoyed seeing the various aspects of the plot through this means. The amount of side characters at the start was narrowed down a bit and all were fleshed out so I could keep them apart rather well.
The main characters were all deepened out well. They all each had their flaws. I can’t say I prefer any specific character over the other. They were all rather serious. There certainly wasn’t a character that I disliked. But I don’t think that is a bad thing for a first book where we are still discovering the characters and the world.
So overall I feel this is a solid high fantasy debut and certainly worth a read for a fantasy fan.
I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
Valley of Embers is the debut of Steven Kelliher and a high fantasy. You all know I love a good fantasy book, and in the core I wasn’t disappointed by this book.
We start in a place called Last Lake situated in a valley. In the months of dark they are often attacked by creatures from the World Apart. With the Embers, those with the power of fire, and soldiers they are able to fight them off. The start explains the setting and how they ended up in this situation. Personally I would have liked just a line here or there of extra explanation about the faery and the World After and so on. I just felt I needed a bit more to fully grasp it at the start. And at some point there was a conversation that was a bit heavy on the history information with a lot of just newly introduced side characters. It would have been better to have that spread out a little.
However after that the world became more clear through seeing the world as we followed the characters on their quest. I find this world with Landkist (with different powers) and sages very interesting. I really want to learn more about these sages (and what they exactly are), the World After and the world beyond the valley. The plot seems to be heading in that direction. The plot in itself was good. Nothing to surprising with the exception of a few bits here and there, but a solid set up for a good series I feel. I always find it interesting when in a plot there is the question as to who really is the enemy. And if the goal justifies the means. These were also present here. I like seeing how characters react differently to these things.
The writing was solid. There were various point of views that we followed with a few side characters. I enjoyed seeing the various aspects of the plot through this means. The amount of side characters at the start was narrowed down a bit and all were fleshed out so I could keep them apart rather well.
The main characters were all deepened out well. They all each had their flaws. I can’t say I prefer any specific character over the other. They were all rather serious. There certainly wasn’t a character that I disliked. But I don’t think that is a bad thing for a first book where we are still discovering the characters and the world.
So overall I feel this is a solid high fantasy debut and certainly worth a read for a fantasy fan.
cathuluu's review
4.0
One hundred years ago, the Emberfolk of the high desert were ushered into the Valley for protection by their King, and a Sage known as the White Crest. The Ember King's people were meant to be shielded from the World Apart and their ultimate enemy, the Eastern Dark, but as time wears on, attacks by the Dark Kind increase in frequency and ferocity while the number of Embers, those who can absorb and wield fire as a weapon, dwindle. When Kole Reyna survives an attack the likes of which none have seen before, he begins to question both his people's place in the Valley, and the narrative repeated about the role of the White Crest as protector. His questions ignite his peers, and they all set off to find their own answers as a darkness awakens in the Valley.
Epic fantasy is one of my favorite genres; the bones that make up stories belonging to that genre are easily recognized here, but the flesh upon those bones is what makes this story its own. The worldbuilding is detailed and distinct. The way Emberfolk identify with their geographical surroundings is reminiscent of Melina Marchetta's Lumatere Chronicles. I confess to being initially confused about Embers, the Faey, the Rockbled and Landkist in general; as I read further, the differences between these gifted groups of individuals was explained in depth so I understood what made them each unique. The writing comes across as carefully crafted, but the pacing is uneven in places. The premise of attacks occurring at night, and what it means to live in a society that expects these attacks in the darkness is similar to Peter V. Brett's Demon Cycle, and Benedict Patrick's [b:They Mostly Come Out At Night|29743933|They Mostly Come Out At Night (Yarnsworld #1)|Benedict Patrick|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459364987s/29743933.jpg|50098128], but I didn't find [b:Valley of Embers|31296952|Valley of Embers (The Landkist Saga, #1)|Steven Kelliher|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1469891747s/31296952.jpg|51961898] to be derivative at all. It is set apart as its own story, taking much different twists and turns to reach its conclusion.
I'm looking forward to continuing the series with [b:The Emerald Blade|35060597|The Emerald Blade (The Landkist Saga, #2)|Steven Kelliher|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493875370s/35060597.jpg|56353290]!
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book to me in exchange for an honest review.
Epic fantasy is one of my favorite genres; the bones that make up stories belonging to that genre are easily recognized here, but the flesh upon those bones is what makes this story its own. The worldbuilding is detailed and distinct. The way Emberfolk identify with their geographical surroundings is reminiscent of Melina Marchetta's Lumatere Chronicles. I confess to being initially confused about Embers, the Faey, the Rockbled and Landkist in general; as I read further, the differences between these gifted groups of individuals was explained in depth so I understood what made them each unique. The writing comes across as carefully crafted, but the pacing is uneven in places. The premise of attacks occurring at night, and what it means to live in a society that expects these attacks in the darkness is similar to Peter V. Brett's Demon Cycle, and Benedict Patrick's [b:They Mostly Come Out At Night|29743933|They Mostly Come Out At Night (Yarnsworld #1)|Benedict Patrick|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459364987s/29743933.jpg|50098128], but I didn't find [b:Valley of Embers|31296952|Valley of Embers (The Landkist Saga, #1)|Steven Kelliher|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1469891747s/31296952.jpg|51961898] to be derivative at all. It is set apart as its own story, taking much different twists and turns to reach its conclusion.
I'm looking forward to continuing the series with [b:The Emerald Blade|35060597|The Emerald Blade (The Landkist Saga, #2)|Steven Kelliher|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493875370s/35060597.jpg|56353290]!
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book to me in exchange for an honest review.
tomunro's review
4.0
A well paced read by a debut author - I reviewed it more fully on my blogspot
http://tomunro.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/a-roaring-debut-valley-of-embers-by_15.html
http://tomunro.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/a-roaring-debut-valley-of-embers-by_15.html