Sign in with Facebook
Kitty G Books's Reviews > Unfettered
Unfettered (Unfettered #1)
by
by
This is an Anthology put together by Shawn Speakman in order to help to pay off his medical bills which came after getting cancer for the second time. Due to being a cancer survivor before he was unable to get insurance and is now very much in need of financial help. All of the stories were donated by various authors and there were no restraints put on what they could include and write about.
It's hard to rate the book as a whole because there are such a mix of authors, stories, lengths and genres, but I have settled on 4*s as that was what I rated the majority of stories, however, I have reviewed and given a small synopsis for each novella in the collection.
Imaginary Friends by Terry Brooks
I just read my first ever Terry Brooks story and I liked it an awful lot. A tale of elves and magic in an everyday world which revolves around our main character Jack, 13 years old, who is battling a disease. An enchanting and action-packed story which I enjoyed thoroughly 5*s and I look forward to picking up some of his longer works in future!
How Old Holly Came To Be by Patrick Rothfuss
After reading the Rothfuss story I feel a little saddened as it was written in what seemed to me almost to be a sad lament of poetry or a chant of a mournful memory. The story is about a Lady, and an Old Holly tree. it's written in an odd way, but the tempo is engaging and whilst it's sad it's also, in places, chirpy. It certainly makes you think, about what I don't know... 4*s as I like it, but don't understand it.
The Old Scale Game by Tad Williams
Another first with Tad Williams story and I must say another good one. I loved the idea of a dragon-slayer and a dragon who were both elderly and wanted to work a con together for once, straight away it was interesting and fun and the writing style was pleasant too. I found it slightly predictable, but a fun read all the same so a 4* rating for this story too (so far so good!)
Game of Chance by Carrie Vaughn
I just read carrie Vaughn's story and again this is another first time reading her work. It was certainly a different story with a peculiar viewpoint and a strange kind of appeal about a young woman who lives outside of time and history and who works to change it with small everyday changes. I'd have to say 3*s as it was good, but a little bit too odd for my liking.
The Martyr Of The Roses by Jacqueline Carey
A Jacqueline Carey story next which was again new to me. I didn't like this as much as I would have liked because although the idea was solid and the story was interesting there just wasn't enough of a connection for me. It's a story of a journey to a shrine which takes a bittersweet turn in the form of a young boy. 2*s it was ok.
Mudboy by Peter V Brett
Just read the Peter V Brett story and it was wonderful to be back in the Demon Cycle world even looking at a different character's POV. I really enjoyed the tale of Briar and i hope that we shall see more of him in the future because although his story is a sad one it's also a good one to learn both to show the brutality of their world and to show the dangers of being selfish. 5*s
The Sound of Broken Absolutes by Peter Orullian
This story is one of the longer stories included within the anthology and I must say that whilst initially I was confused, having never read anything before by this author and not really knowing their style, I soon found myself enjoying the storyline and the world.
The world is very heavily based around music with being the magical element of the world. There is a song, a song called Suffering, which can be played which will kill an enemy. There is a war, suffering is necessary, but it exacts a price and that’s what our main character has to learn.
On the whole a very interesting concept and a peculiar but believable world. I would certainly recommend this story and I would like to check out more from this writer now :) 4.5*s
The Coach With Big Teeth by R A Salvatore
This was a rather weird story in my eyes as it was basically told in brief in the intro, then retold in depth in the story, then finished off with some weird fantastical elements.
This is the story of a young boy who is not the best at Baseball and gets on the wrong side of his coach. Quickly this leads to him being left out of the game, and finally, when the game takes a turn, it leads to some very grizzly ends indeed.
I don’t really understand Baseball and I just didn’t enjoy the story layout here, it all felt a bit like a commentary or a disjointed story so only 1* from me� I just didn’t like it unfortunately.
Keeper of Memory by Todd Lockwood
This is a story about dragons. I like Dragons. This story was, therefore, good! And I don’t just mean because of the dragons :) There was a good bit of backstory which had been developed to add context, the main character was interesting and had a good adventure, and on the whole it was a nice storyline.
I am certainly interested in finding out more about this author as I liked the pacing and fluid tones of the writing and I felt immersed within the story�4*s, would be better with more about the actual Dragons ;)
Heaven in a Wild Flower by Blake Charlton
This story took a little while to get into and I wasn’t sure if I was going to find it interesting or not but once I grasped the general idea of the world (a big division which means some people are in a new heaven and have been reincarnated) I liked the characters and although the world seemed a little bit crazy, it was interesting.
I would be interested in learning more about this world but I believe it’s a standalone novella and not part of a bigger world. It was a beautiful short story, but maybe a little bit of a cop-out ending�3*s
Dogs by Daniel Abraham
This was a horror story which is not what I enjoy. I did not actually finish this at all as I really wasn’t enjoying it so I don’t have a rating other than ‘Not for Me�.
The Chapel Perilous by Kevin Hearne
This was a peculiar story about Druids and magics of an old and intriguing time. I was interested in this story but I felt that this wasn’t explained enough to make me truly comprehend the world in the short amount of words. I did like what I read but felt that it was a part of a bigger story so I don’t know what that entails. 2.5*s
Select Mode by Mark Lawrence
This is a companion novella from Lawrence’s Broken Empire world so I was intrigued by this, having read Prince of Thorns earlier this year. I did like seeing a little snippet more of the characters from that series, although I had expected it to be a lot longer than it actually was, it was very short.
I felt that the story had a few interesting points to add a bit to the story, but on the whole it wasn’t a massive load of info more than I already knew. 3*s
All the Girls Love Michael Stein by David Anthony Durham
This is a charming little story about a ghost cat. I really liked this story actually and I was very happy that it was included as it was a warm and sweet tale compared to many of the others which were darker or more brutal. This was a light, fun and enjoyable read from start to finish and certainly one I enjoyed more than many others 4.5*s
Strange Rain by Jennifer Bosworth
Iris and Ivan were born as conjoined twins and separated at birth which leads to a close bond throughout their lives. However, Ivan wants to be free and do his own things without Iris which causes much hurt and many problems within their relationship. I really liked the writing of this and how easy and approachable the story felt even though it’s a novella exploring two characters from a larger series. I am certainly interested in checking out more works by Bosworth now. 4*s
Nocturne by Robert V S Redick
This story was weird. Not weird but WEIRD. It was a very peculiar, jumbled, crazy and mad journey inside the head of a madman and I certainly can’t claim that I understood it at all. I was very enchanted with the lyrical writing style which was a very nice part, but as for the story itself it was just too confusing and mad to really capture and keep my attention and therefore I didn’t rate it too high, 2*s
Unbowed by Eldon Thomson
Kylac is a character from another series by the author which is called the Legend of Asahiel trilogy and is now a series which I am very interested to look into picking up. I had never heard of the author or of the series, but after reading this wonderful short story about Kylac and Brie as youngsters, I know that the wiring style is just what I love and it seems like the story must continue in a very interesting way too. Certainly one of the most enjoyable in the anthology so far! 4.5*s
In Favour With Their Stars by Naomi Novik
This is a story about humans, dragons and new planets and worlds…a good combination you would think so immediately I was interested in reading this. Whilst I did enjoy the fast-pacing and the imagery of the story I felt that there certainly could have been more development of characters and world building which would have made me connect more with the story rather than just read it and find it pleasant. On the whole it was okay but not massively original and exciting so a 3* rating.
River of Souls by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
This is a deleted scene from book 14 of Wheel of Time and as I have yet to get to Wheel of Time book 14 (I’m only on book 6 at the moment) I decided to skip this for now and come back to it once I have read all the WoT books. I am looking forward to it however as I really enjoy the WoT books so hopefully I won’t forget about this! [No rating yet]
The Jester by Michael J Sullivan
I really enjoyed this story and having just bought the first book in the Riyria Revelations a week ago, I am now certain that I will enjoy reading about these comical and entertaining characters. I had never read any of Sullivan’s work until now but I am confident that I will enjoy the characters of Hadrian and Royce as just this small but exciting story certainly endeared them to me and I am looking forward to seeing the backstories and trouble for these two in their other adventures :) 5*s
The Duel by Lev Grossman
This is a small novella which is to do with some characters from what I believe is Grossman’s Magician series. I hadn’t yet read this series, but after reading this which I thoroughly enjoyed and found very humorous and enjoyable, I am very excited to buy it and read it soon. This is a great short story about a duel and I am now very interested to see more from this world and these characters as all the hinting and mystery you see in this story has made me curious! 5*s
Walker and the Shade of Allanon by Terry Brooks
This was a bit of an odd little tale, one of the shortest within the anthology and yet it still managed to get my attention. I have certainly decided I need to get some of Terry Brook’s books to read as I just enjoy his style, and I am sure I will like his other works.
This story is a conversation between a Druid and a Shade (dead). I found it to be a good read with a lot of thought-provoking conversation and I think it would certainly have worked well as part of a larger story or world (maybe it is I don’t know for sure) so I would give it 3.5*s. It would have been better if it was a little more fleshed out and longer.
The Unfettered Knight by Shawn Speakman
This was one of the longer stories, of course due to being written by Speakman himself who organised the whole anthology. I hadn’t read any of his work prior to this but I found myself enjoying his writing style and the story he’d crafted even so. It’s a tale about the Heliwr who is basically someone that can travel between the real and fey worlds to ensure peace is kept and there is no discovery in the real world of the Fey existence.
I immediately liked the idea and the world cross over, and I thought that the religious implications and time period were very interesting too. I do enjoy the comparison of beliefs with mystical fantasy and I think it made for a good novella.
I would certainly be interested in reading more work by Speakman (which is good as I have some of his books on my Kindle) and I am sure I will do so soon.
Also, a story with Vampires that I enjoyed is a feat indeed, 4*s
The Twilight Dragon by Shawn Speakman
This us another story set in the same two worlds as the one before. I really loved the inclusion of the Dragon as I felt like it was appropriate to the time period, the speech was very believable (as far as believing in a Dragon can be) and I just enjoyed the narrative which had a very interesting twist!
On the whole a shorter but just as fun novella, 4*s also
Overall I really enjoyed this anthology and a lot of the stories were very impressive and exciting or made me want to read more by that author. I am sure I will go on to pick up longer works by some, but if you have read any of these authors and enjoyed their works I would 100% recommend this collection.
I think that if you support any of these authors than supporting what they believe is a good cause by purchasing this yourself is a brilliant idea.
Plus, out of all 24 stories I rated 13 of them as 4*s or above, which is pretty awesome!
It's hard to rate the book as a whole because there are such a mix of authors, stories, lengths and genres, but I have settled on 4*s as that was what I rated the majority of stories, however, I have reviewed and given a small synopsis for each novella in the collection.
Imaginary Friends by Terry Brooks
I just read my first ever Terry Brooks story and I liked it an awful lot. A tale of elves and magic in an everyday world which revolves around our main character Jack, 13 years old, who is battling a disease. An enchanting and action-packed story which I enjoyed thoroughly 5*s and I look forward to picking up some of his longer works in future!
How Old Holly Came To Be by Patrick Rothfuss
After reading the Rothfuss story I feel a little saddened as it was written in what seemed to me almost to be a sad lament of poetry or a chant of a mournful memory. The story is about a Lady, and an Old Holly tree. it's written in an odd way, but the tempo is engaging and whilst it's sad it's also, in places, chirpy. It certainly makes you think, about what I don't know... 4*s as I like it, but don't understand it.
The Old Scale Game by Tad Williams
Another first with Tad Williams story and I must say another good one. I loved the idea of a dragon-slayer and a dragon who were both elderly and wanted to work a con together for once, straight away it was interesting and fun and the writing style was pleasant too. I found it slightly predictable, but a fun read all the same so a 4* rating for this story too (so far so good!)
Game of Chance by Carrie Vaughn
I just read carrie Vaughn's story and again this is another first time reading her work. It was certainly a different story with a peculiar viewpoint and a strange kind of appeal about a young woman who lives outside of time and history and who works to change it with small everyday changes. I'd have to say 3*s as it was good, but a little bit too odd for my liking.
The Martyr Of The Roses by Jacqueline Carey
A Jacqueline Carey story next which was again new to me. I didn't like this as much as I would have liked because although the idea was solid and the story was interesting there just wasn't enough of a connection for me. It's a story of a journey to a shrine which takes a bittersweet turn in the form of a young boy. 2*s it was ok.
Mudboy by Peter V Brett
Just read the Peter V Brett story and it was wonderful to be back in the Demon Cycle world even looking at a different character's POV. I really enjoyed the tale of Briar and i hope that we shall see more of him in the future because although his story is a sad one it's also a good one to learn both to show the brutality of their world and to show the dangers of being selfish. 5*s
The Sound of Broken Absolutes by Peter Orullian
This story is one of the longer stories included within the anthology and I must say that whilst initially I was confused, having never read anything before by this author and not really knowing their style, I soon found myself enjoying the storyline and the world.
The world is very heavily based around music with being the magical element of the world. There is a song, a song called Suffering, which can be played which will kill an enemy. There is a war, suffering is necessary, but it exacts a price and that’s what our main character has to learn.
On the whole a very interesting concept and a peculiar but believable world. I would certainly recommend this story and I would like to check out more from this writer now :) 4.5*s
The Coach With Big Teeth by R A Salvatore
This was a rather weird story in my eyes as it was basically told in brief in the intro, then retold in depth in the story, then finished off with some weird fantastical elements.
This is the story of a young boy who is not the best at Baseball and gets on the wrong side of his coach. Quickly this leads to him being left out of the game, and finally, when the game takes a turn, it leads to some very grizzly ends indeed.
I don’t really understand Baseball and I just didn’t enjoy the story layout here, it all felt a bit like a commentary or a disjointed story so only 1* from me� I just didn’t like it unfortunately.
Keeper of Memory by Todd Lockwood
This is a story about dragons. I like Dragons. This story was, therefore, good! And I don’t just mean because of the dragons :) There was a good bit of backstory which had been developed to add context, the main character was interesting and had a good adventure, and on the whole it was a nice storyline.
I am certainly interested in finding out more about this author as I liked the pacing and fluid tones of the writing and I felt immersed within the story�4*s, would be better with more about the actual Dragons ;)
Heaven in a Wild Flower by Blake Charlton
This story took a little while to get into and I wasn’t sure if I was going to find it interesting or not but once I grasped the general idea of the world (a big division which means some people are in a new heaven and have been reincarnated) I liked the characters and although the world seemed a little bit crazy, it was interesting.
I would be interested in learning more about this world but I believe it’s a standalone novella and not part of a bigger world. It was a beautiful short story, but maybe a little bit of a cop-out ending�3*s
Dogs by Daniel Abraham
This was a horror story which is not what I enjoy. I did not actually finish this at all as I really wasn’t enjoying it so I don’t have a rating other than ‘Not for Me�.
The Chapel Perilous by Kevin Hearne
This was a peculiar story about Druids and magics of an old and intriguing time. I was interested in this story but I felt that this wasn’t explained enough to make me truly comprehend the world in the short amount of words. I did like what I read but felt that it was a part of a bigger story so I don’t know what that entails. 2.5*s
Select Mode by Mark Lawrence
This is a companion novella from Lawrence’s Broken Empire world so I was intrigued by this, having read Prince of Thorns earlier this year. I did like seeing a little snippet more of the characters from that series, although I had expected it to be a lot longer than it actually was, it was very short.
I felt that the story had a few interesting points to add a bit to the story, but on the whole it wasn’t a massive load of info more than I already knew. 3*s
All the Girls Love Michael Stein by David Anthony Durham
This is a charming little story about a ghost cat. I really liked this story actually and I was very happy that it was included as it was a warm and sweet tale compared to many of the others which were darker or more brutal. This was a light, fun and enjoyable read from start to finish and certainly one I enjoyed more than many others 4.5*s
Strange Rain by Jennifer Bosworth
Iris and Ivan were born as conjoined twins and separated at birth which leads to a close bond throughout their lives. However, Ivan wants to be free and do his own things without Iris which causes much hurt and many problems within their relationship. I really liked the writing of this and how easy and approachable the story felt even though it’s a novella exploring two characters from a larger series. I am certainly interested in checking out more works by Bosworth now. 4*s
Nocturne by Robert V S Redick
This story was weird. Not weird but WEIRD. It was a very peculiar, jumbled, crazy and mad journey inside the head of a madman and I certainly can’t claim that I understood it at all. I was very enchanted with the lyrical writing style which was a very nice part, but as for the story itself it was just too confusing and mad to really capture and keep my attention and therefore I didn’t rate it too high, 2*s
Unbowed by Eldon Thomson
Kylac is a character from another series by the author which is called the Legend of Asahiel trilogy and is now a series which I am very interested to look into picking up. I had never heard of the author or of the series, but after reading this wonderful short story about Kylac and Brie as youngsters, I know that the wiring style is just what I love and it seems like the story must continue in a very interesting way too. Certainly one of the most enjoyable in the anthology so far! 4.5*s
In Favour With Their Stars by Naomi Novik
This is a story about humans, dragons and new planets and worlds…a good combination you would think so immediately I was interested in reading this. Whilst I did enjoy the fast-pacing and the imagery of the story I felt that there certainly could have been more development of characters and world building which would have made me connect more with the story rather than just read it and find it pleasant. On the whole it was okay but not massively original and exciting so a 3* rating.
River of Souls by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
This is a deleted scene from book 14 of Wheel of Time and as I have yet to get to Wheel of Time book 14 (I’m only on book 6 at the moment) I decided to skip this for now and come back to it once I have read all the WoT books. I am looking forward to it however as I really enjoy the WoT books so hopefully I won’t forget about this! [No rating yet]
The Jester by Michael J Sullivan
I really enjoyed this story and having just bought the first book in the Riyria Revelations a week ago, I am now certain that I will enjoy reading about these comical and entertaining characters. I had never read any of Sullivan’s work until now but I am confident that I will enjoy the characters of Hadrian and Royce as just this small but exciting story certainly endeared them to me and I am looking forward to seeing the backstories and trouble for these two in their other adventures :) 5*s
The Duel by Lev Grossman
This is a small novella which is to do with some characters from what I believe is Grossman’s Magician series. I hadn’t yet read this series, but after reading this which I thoroughly enjoyed and found very humorous and enjoyable, I am very excited to buy it and read it soon. This is a great short story about a duel and I am now very interested to see more from this world and these characters as all the hinting and mystery you see in this story has made me curious! 5*s
Walker and the Shade of Allanon by Terry Brooks
This was a bit of an odd little tale, one of the shortest within the anthology and yet it still managed to get my attention. I have certainly decided I need to get some of Terry Brook’s books to read as I just enjoy his style, and I am sure I will like his other works.
This story is a conversation between a Druid and a Shade (dead). I found it to be a good read with a lot of thought-provoking conversation and I think it would certainly have worked well as part of a larger story or world (maybe it is I don’t know for sure) so I would give it 3.5*s. It would have been better if it was a little more fleshed out and longer.
The Unfettered Knight by Shawn Speakman
This was one of the longer stories, of course due to being written by Speakman himself who organised the whole anthology. I hadn’t read any of his work prior to this but I found myself enjoying his writing style and the story he’d crafted even so. It’s a tale about the Heliwr who is basically someone that can travel between the real and fey worlds to ensure peace is kept and there is no discovery in the real world of the Fey existence.
I immediately liked the idea and the world cross over, and I thought that the religious implications and time period were very interesting too. I do enjoy the comparison of beliefs with mystical fantasy and I think it made for a good novella.
I would certainly be interested in reading more work by Speakman (which is good as I have some of his books on my Kindle) and I am sure I will do so soon.
Also, a story with Vampires that I enjoyed is a feat indeed, 4*s
The Twilight Dragon by Shawn Speakman
This us another story set in the same two worlds as the one before. I really loved the inclusion of the Dragon as I felt like it was appropriate to the time period, the speech was very believable (as far as believing in a Dragon can be) and I just enjoyed the narrative which had a very interesting twist!
On the whole a shorter but just as fun novella, 4*s also
Overall I really enjoyed this anthology and a lot of the stories were very impressive and exciting or made me want to read more by that author. I am sure I will go on to pick up longer works by some, but if you have read any of these authors and enjoyed their works I would 100% recommend this collection.
I think that if you support any of these authors than supporting what they believe is a good cause by purchasing this yourself is a brilliant idea.
Plus, out of all 24 stories I rated 13 of them as 4*s or above, which is pretty awesome!
Sign into Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to see if any of your friends have read
Unfettered.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
July 24, 2014
–
Started Reading
July 24, 2014
– Shelved
July 24, 2014
–
6.0%
"I just read my first ever Terry Brooks story and I liked it an awful lot. A tale of elves and magic in an everyday world which revolves around our main character Jack, 13 years old, who is battling a disease. An enchanting and action-packed story which I enjoyed thoroughly 5*s and I look forward to picking up some of his longer works in future!"
July 24, 2014
–
7.0%
"After reading the Rothfuss story I feel a little saddened as it was written in what seemed to me almost to be a sad lament of poetry or a chant of a mournful memory. The story is about a Lady, and an Old Holly tree. it's written in an odd way, but the tempo is engaging and whilst it's sad it's also, in places, chirpy. It certainly makes you think, about what I don't know... 4*s as I like it, but don't understand it."
July 24, 2014
–
10.0%
"Another first with Tad Williams story and I must say another good one. I loved the idea of a dragon-slayer and a dragon who were both elderly and wanted to work a con together for once, straight away it was interesting and fun and the writing style was pleasant too. I found it slightly predictable, but a fun read all the same so a 4* rating for this story too (so far so good!)"
July 25, 2014
–
15.0%
"I just read carrie Vaughn's story and again this is another first time reading her work. It was certainly a different story with a peculiar viewpoint and a strange kind of appeal about a young woman who lives outside of time and history and who works to change it with small everyday changes. I'd have to say 3*s as it was good, but a little bit too odd for my liking."
July 25, 2014
–
18.0%
"A Jacqueline Carey story next which was again new to me. I didn't like this as much as I would have liked because although the idea was solid and the story was interesting there just wasn't enough of a connection for me. It's a story of a journey to a shrine which takes a bittersweet turn in the form of a young boy. 2*s it was ok."
July 25, 2014
–
21.0%
"Just read the Peter V Brett story and it was wonderful to be back in the Demon Cycle world even looking at a different character's POV. I really enjoyed the tale of Briar and i hope that we shall see more of him in the future because although his story is a sad one it's also a good one to learn both to show the brutality of their world and to show the dangers of being selfish. 4.5*s"
August 14, 2014
–
60.0%
August 16, 2014
–
90.0%
August 16, 2014
–
98.0%
August 17, 2014
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-6 of 6 (6 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Scott
(new)
-
added it
Aug 17, 2014 10:30AM
Wonderful review Kaitlin! Your short synopsis for each story is very helpful. Very much looking forward to this collection. *Side note: indeed, the shorter Terry Brooks story is set within the larger scope of the Shannara series :)
reply
|
flag
Great review! I had thought about picking this one up and will now do so after reading your excellent synopsis of each story. Thanks.
Scott wrote: "Wonderful review Kaitlin! Your short synopsis for each story is very helpful. Very much looking forward to this collection. *Side note: indeed, the shorter Terry Brooks story is set within the larg..."Thanks Scott! I really want to pick that series up now. Have to read a few of the books I already own first, but it's on my to-buy list :)
Also I will try and reply to your message soon, I meant to earlier but Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ was down for a few hrs and has only just come back to life so maybe tomorrow :D
Wendell wrote: "Great review! I had thought about picking this one up and will now do so after reading your excellent synopsis of each story. Thanks."I'm glad you like the sound of it! It's a very good read indeed and certainly one of the better anthologies I have read so far!
Excellent review, Kaitlin! I picked this up at the Kindle store recently, so I'll get to it soon. I'm glad you enjoyed Terry Brooks, and I too would recommend the Shannara series :)
You are right about skipping Wheel of Time story as it contains a huge spoiler for the last WoT book.
