This book deserves something between four and five stars.
For me it is a kind of a refreshing dark fantasy tale which is well executed. This is the firsThis book deserves something between four and five stars.
For me it is a kind of a refreshing dark fantasy tale which is well executed. This is the first of six planned books.
The end of the novel is like a rest on a long journey and I must say I lookforward to continue the journey.
MY REVIEW
My Expectations Based on the blurb I expected a coming of age story mixed with myths and magic including twists and turns. The cover promise a lot of non human characters.
The Delivery The 200 pages of the story are divided into a prologue and thirteen numbered chapters. Without any judgement let me say, that this is short compared to most of the books I read.So I could read the book in just two sessions.
I will not give any more detailed information about the story itself because the blurb above delivers enough about the plot.
But do not think it delivers all aspects of the story. There is more behind the story as you may think after reading the blurb. And the revelation of information about characters and especially about the past is well dosed and intertwined with current development. There is much more to unveil in the following books.
Benjamin David Burrell knows to tell a story. The mix of action, inner thoughts, descriptions, dialogue and information from the past has been varied in a manner that keeps the pace steady.
Remember I mentioned the non humans on the cover. And indeed I could not detect one human being. There are three main races of people: - the zo with their hunched over furry animal like bodies - the botann with their bodies of branches and leaves - the petra with their bodies of stone Each of them inhabitat specific areas of the world and do not allow others to pass them. There is always the danger of conflicts. Beside that there are also areas where the three races intermingle.
But as ancient journals show there has been another, superior race called the Reds. They disappeared with the murder of the last living Red which lead to a disastrous war. Until today the past in form of the Reds has an impact on the daily life. With every page the urge to get more information about the Red rises. A hunger which will hopefully satisfied in the following books.
It is not difficult to connect with the main characters. Fortunately there are characters who are neither black nor white and what you always hope and not always get there are characters which follow their very own plans.
The description of the landscape is well done and transport enough information to create images in your head.
All in all this is a well done debut novel with a lot of potential and a minor flaw. To have a cast of characters at hand in the beginning would have been helpful. Thanks to the notes I took while reading it was not necessary for me to page back and forth.
I know there will be people complain about the cliffhanger like end of the book. Let me tell you that the end of Red Leaves and the Living Token looks much more like a rest on a long journey and I must say I lookforward to continue the journey.
All in all is fantasy novel which delivers more as you may assume at first sight. It is a good start into a world full of mysteries interesting characters and races. it has the potential to be a series beyond the well-trodden path of coming of age stories. The heyday lies ahead.
Merged review:
This book deserves something between four and five stars.
For me it is a kind of a refreshing dark fantasy tale which is well executed. This is the first of six planned books.
The end of the novel is like a rest on a long journey and I must say I lookforward to continue the journey.
MY REVIEW
My Expectations Based on the blurb I expected a coming of age story mixed with myths and magic including twists and turns. The cover promise a lot of non human characters.
The Delivery The 200 pages of the story are divided into a prologue and thirteen numbered chapters. Without any judgement let me say, that this is short compared to most of the books I read.So I could read the book in just two sessions.
I will not give any more detailed information about the story itself because the blurb above delivers enough about the plot.
But do not think it delivers all aspects of the story. There is more behind the story as you may think after reading the blurb. And the revelation of information about characters and especially about the past is well dosed and intertwined with current development. There is much more to unveil in the following books.
Benjamin David Burrell knows to tell a story. The mix of action, inner thoughts, descriptions, dialogue and information from the past has been varied in a manner that keeps the pace steady.
Remember I mentioned the non humans on the cover. And indeed I could not detect one human being. There are three main races of people: - the zo with their hunched over furry animal like bodies - the botann with their bodies of branches and leaves - the petra with their bodies of stone Each of them inhabitat specific areas of the world and do not allow others to pass them. There is always the danger of conflicts. Beside that there are also areas where the three races intermingle.
But as ancient journals show there has been another, superior race called the Reds. They disappeared with the murder of the last living Red which lead to a disastrous war. Until today the past in form of the Reds has an impact on the daily life. With every page the urge to get more information about the Red rises. A hunger which will hopefully satisfied in the following books.
It is not difficult to connect with the main characters. Fortunately there are characters who are neither black nor white and what you always hope and not always get there are characters which follow their very own plans.
The description of the landscape is well done and transport enough information to create images in your head.
All in all this is a well done debut novel with a lot of potential and a minor flaw. To have a cast of characters at hand in the beginning would have been helpful. Thanks to the notes I took while reading it was not necessary for me to page back and forth.
I know there will be people complain about the cliffhanger like end of the book. Let me tell you that the end of Red Leaves and the Living Token looks much more like a rest on a long journey and I must say I lookforward to continue the journey.
All in all is fantasy novel which delivers more as you may assume at first sight. It is a good start into a world full of mysteries interesting characters and races. it has the potential to be a series beyond the well-trodden path of coming of age stories. The heyday lies ahead....more
It was good to get the first seven chapters for free. I read them. Now I know that I will not buy a copy because it did not captivate me.
Merged review:It was good to get the first seven chapters for free. I read them. Now I know that I will not buy a copy because it did not captivate me.
Merged review:
It was good to get the first seven chapters for free. I read them. Now I know that I will not buy a copy because it did not captivate me....more
I don't know why but I forgot to add the book to my list of books I read in 2017.
I like to discover crime fiction series new to me. This debut novel waI don't know why but I forgot to add the book to my list of books I read in 2017.
I like to discover crime fiction series new to me. This debut novel was an entertaining read. It is set in the fictional town of Kinloch on the West Coast of Scotland. I liked the setting and the characters a lot. The author delivered a story with twist and turns, sadness and humour, and and not to forget horrid crime scenes. ...more
This is a book for one long session but not in my case. To read in the evening after a long working day limits the time.
I was not sure if it would worThis is a book for one long session but not in my case. To read in the evening after a long working day limits the time.
I was not sure if it would work for me. To my satisfaction this story starting with just one single mistake evolves to a non-stop ride of bad decisions, lot of dead bodies , an incredible character development of the main character, a lot of blood (a blood bank would dance a jig for that) and disasters. I don't know how often I shook my head. The end of the story fits. In the end I liked it a lot and felt well entertained.
If you would like to know what can happen after one mistake and you do not faint when reading about bloody results of action then you should give it a try. ...more
I like to read crime fiction beside fantasy and science fiction. Today we still know Agatha Christie but who knows Annie Haynes. Born in 1865 she wroteI like to read crime fiction beside fantasy and science fiction. Today we still know Agatha Christie but who knows Annie Haynes. Born in 1865 she wrote a dozen crime novels until she died in 1929. I'm more than happy that her books are now available in digital format. I bought copies of all of them and then I had to decide which book to start with - stand-alone novel or Inspector Furnivall or Inspector Stoddart.
I decided to go for a stand-alone novel. The Bungalow Mystery is not perfect. But there is something in Annie Haynes' writing which kept me on reading. The story is set between 1900 and before the Great War. I like the depiction of the scene and te description of the characters ad their motifs. Now I look forward to discover the rest of her books.
Reading taste change when you get older. This book is one more proof for me. This book has been published first in 2009 - a time when I was not really Reading taste change when you get older. This book is one more proof for me. This book has been published first in 2009 - a time when I was not really interest in crime fiction. That changed I lot. Now I'm on my way to discover authors new to me and I'm more than happy that I read The Crossing Places. Dr Ruth Galloway, a no more longer young female archaeologist struggling with her weight and other problems. But she loves her job. DCI Harry Nelson disenchanted beside the fact of a perfect marriage. But he loves his job. I highly appreciated the interaction between them and how passionate they are when it comes to work. The mix of archaeology and crime is well done done.
I will not rate this book because I did not finish it.
I must say I was really intrigued by the book descriptions and had expectations. After reading 23I will not rate this book because I did not finish it.
I must say I was really intrigued by the book descriptions and had expectations. After reading 23% I gave up for three reasons - I found the story confusing - I could not connect to one of the characters - I could not cope with the writing style of the author
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