Customer Reviews

Elfsorrow: Legends of the Raven

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is solid writing from an author that I was previously ignorant of. Barclay puts interesting twists on classic fantasy archtypes while combining vivid imagery during action sequences to create a thrilling read. Great detail is afforded to the uses and limitations of magic and melee combat in tactical situations. Each of the characters depicted is a hero, but the group is legend. Possibly the most enticing of the long list of positives is the elves introduced in this novel. They are, without doubt, the most hardcore BAMF'in version of an elf I have ever encountered. These folk would take Tolkein's and anyone else's, close call with Salvatore's Dark Elves,to school and then some. Worth the read just to see what the little buggers can do.

After reading the previous books, I was ecstatic to find the legends of the raven series. Could not put them down!

Elfsorrow certainly had its own rhythm compared to the first three books, but fabulous nonetheless. Barclay's elves totally rock, giving Tolkien's elves a run for their money. Yeah, the elves were in and out of the previous novels, but here we get to see them in their full glory: Armed to the teeth and ready to kick some serious butt while fighting along side the Raven mercenaries. Most of the times unwillingly, but in the end, the elves see value in the Raven's actions. (I can't wait to read Barclay's Elves series)

What a sad, sad, sad, ending. The title certainly lives up to it's name. I got teary eyed; one tear escaped and went rolling down my cheek. A little embarrassing considering I was in the waiting room of the dentist office at the time.

The one thing I love most about the Raven serial is character uniformity. From book one of the Chronicles of the Ravens and throughout the Legacy of the Ravens the characters stayed true. The author never falters in the personalities and distinctive qualities of each of the characters, weather they be the Raven mercenaries themselves or other important figures in the epic tale: No mater what the time span between each book. A few authors could take a lesson in consistency from Barclay.

Too many elves are annoying, sure, but killing them all is just a tad extreme.


Barclay writes an entertaining sort of fantasy, and despite the horrendously cheesy title this is more of a Western or even jungle action tale in this book, as an all-out war has started between the colleges of magic, and some elven artifacts are desired by the most powerful of them. This leads the Raven into an action packed and deadly confrontation to try and prevent the death of a lot of pointy ears, including one of their own. Jungle wartime, it is.

Wow!

I'm a 20 year old security guard so I'm no wimp, but I was seriously almost in tears at the end.

Read it, and you'll know why...

Awesome series.

P.S. Does anyone know anything about Shaun Hicks and his fantasy book "Army of five men"?... email me if you do