Media Type: Print Book (ARC)
Title: A Chronicle of Endylmyr: The Witches of Endylmyr
Author: Charles Hall
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Pages: Paperback; 564
Release Date: September 28, 2010
Source: Pump Up Your Book Promotions
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Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy
HDB Rating: 5 Keys to My Heart
Recommended to: Fantasy lovers
Add it on: Goodreads / Shelfari / Amazon / B&N
A clash of civilizations
Full of ambition an Eastern despot seeks to control all magical items in the world of the novel. These items include a magical falcon, a magical owl, and crystal orbs that allow their owners to pierce the veils of space and time. Created in the distant past the items have become scattered over time, some coming into the possession of the Khan, others into the possession of a primitive pastoral people, and yet others into the possession of the European-like community of Endylmyr, located in the far reaches of the western plains. When the Khan sends armies to seize the devices, the various peoples of the North and West band together to resist, using the magical devices themselves to defeat the Khan’s schemes. Led by the retired mercenary, Gylfalin, and his cousin, Pendaran the Archer, the allies use the magical objects to move through space and time to rescue captives and mount a defense against the invading Easterners.
Ah Fantasy. Once I read this genre like there was no tomorrow. Devouring books about dragons, mages, wizards, witches and the like. At some point, that I can’t seem to remember happening, I fell out of love with these books and moved on to more realistic fiction. I’ve been wanting to get back into the world I left behind though, so I jumped at the chance to review Charles Hall’s The Witches of Endylmyr. I sat down, cracked open the book and was suddenly lost to the world for three hours. Yes, that’s how good this book was.
For those of you out there who are Fantasy fans like me, you know that the key to a good book in this genre is world building. The characters can be perfection, the action can flow beautifully, but without that very special and new world built for the reader there is no story. I am always impressed when authors can build a world so perfectly, without breaking any of their own rules, and bring it to life for the Fantasy reader. That being said, I applaud Charles Hall for his world of Endylmyr. From rock, to tree, to animal, his world shines off the pages with vivid clarity. Close your eyes, and you can see it there before you. I was so amazed! Even before I fell in love with the cast of characters, I was already in love with the land in which they resided.
Once again, speaking to those who frequent this genre, you know that these books often have a copious amount of characters within them. It is part of the world building (lineage and all that), and therefore also an essential piece of drawing the reader in. Hall’s characters are well developed and interesting, from the hero to the most supporting character! He brings his characters to life, each with their own personalities. It will likely surprise you how easily you slip into their world and begin to remember each of them. It is as if you are standing there with them as they journey!
Action abounds in this story, and it is a very fast-paced read. Hall weaves an epic fantasy that caught me in its web and drew me in until the very last page. Thank you to Outskirts Press for leading me to this gem, and I cannot wait for the next installment!
To say that I highly recommend this book is a given. Those of you out there who have a love of Fantasy, please pick this up. You are in for a treat.
FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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