Ε·±¦ΣιΐΦ

*** 4 ***

A buddy read with the Epic Fantasy aficionados at BB&B!

I can't believe I waited so long to read this series! Unfortunately, I am weird and used to start on a series only when the last book of said series was published. Then I came to the understanding that if I stuck with this trend, there would be way too many good books I might never get to enjoy in my lifetime. Too many authors, for one reason or another, take decades to finish up a story... So, instead of starting the series as I wanted to in the 80's...hm, I am dating myself, I read the first volume in the first week of this new 2017 year.

"...�- Nisi se ružno ponela prema meni, Karlina. Ja sam se ponaőao kao tupan.
- Ne, ti si se samo ponaΕ‘ao kao prijatelj Rolande. Rekao si mi istinu, a ne ono Ε‘to sam ΕΎelela da čujem.β€�..."

It is a good thing that I was raised on the Fantasy genre as mother's milk, because there are obvious trends from the time this work was written and were more typical then. The biggest such trend is the mostly linear story line, which seems to have gone by the wayside in the storytelling of today. We have about 4-5 POV's and they are not as jarring as the way the contemporary writers tend to employ them. I call the Feist way, a classic fairy tail for adults:-) And I love it! It feels cozy, comfortable and somehow, despite a certain degree of predictability, feels like an adventure you set on with your best friend and the sky is the limit!

I am not very good at justifying why I feel one way or another about something I read. Different books affect me in different ways, and thank goodness for that abundance of diversity out there! But I am also not blind to some of the weaknesses in the writing. Despite that, I am going to rate this on how it made me feel, and I thoroughly enjoyed and loved it!

"...β€œDolgan: ’Tis a wise thing to know what is wanted, and wiser still to know when β€˜tis achieved.
Rhuagh: True. And still wiser to know when it is unachievable, for then striving is folly.�..."

The story is mostly about a young orphan boy who becomes an apprentice to an old magician, and the community where he grows up and finds himself having to defend against invading forces from a place far, far away... The world is populated with humans, Elves, Fae folks, Dwarfs, there was a Dragon, and a distant cousin of it, the little Drake, which is no bigger than a dog and loooooves to cuddle:-) Oooo...

"...β€œSome love comes like the wind off the sea, while others grow slowly from the seeds of friendship and kindness."..."

I would recommend this book and series to everyone who loves the Fantasy genre, those who are interested in getting acquainted with it, and even those who just now start showing interest in reading - a story like this is bound to get anyone addicted to the magic of reading!!! I loved this book and I ma looking forward to going into the next one:) What a wonderful journey it promises to be!!!

Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you find joy in every book you read!!!