Customer Reviews

The Kingdoms & The Elves Of The Reaches (Keeper Martin's Tales , Book 1)

5 star:		(140)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

I can't understand why this book has such great reviews. I usually don't write reviews, but I was so disappointed by this book, I felt I had too. Bad grammar, boring characters, jumps in the plot that make NO sense, and terrible formatting. The illustrations where not great either. The book is only 140 or so pages, and I have had to force myself through them. Save your money, don't buy this book. There are MUCH better fantasy writers out there.

I am a HUGE Robert Stanek fan. I love the magical world he creates in the Ruin Mist Chronicles. This book takes the first half of Keeper Martin's Tale and makes it a bit easier for younger readers. As the father of two young readers, I couldn't wait to introduce them to these books. Both are already fans!

The Kingdoms and the Elves is for readers 9-12. The books have print that is easy on the eyes and the approach is much easier to read and tote around. These split versions of the books are great because your kids are much more likely to finish and then want the next book and the next and so on. Mine certainly did. They started with The Kingdoms and the Elves book 1, went on to book 2, then The Elf Queen and the King book 1, then The Elf Queen and the King book 2.

Now my kids are waiting for The Kingdoms and the Elves book 3 due out in August. The funny thing is that I am too. According to the description, book 3 picks up where Keeper Martin's Tale left off, meaning it should be the first part of the 2nd Keeper Martin book. Heck, I'm there. You don't have to tell me any more. Beats waiting!

I'm really glad Robert took the time to make adult and children's versions of his books. I actually preferred the children's version of Elf Queen's Quest (The Elf Queen and the King books I and II) to the adult version. The children's version has a completely different organization, which makes it flow more logically (IMHO). Whatever version you choose, regardless, you're going to have fun. Fun reading it what it's all about. Enjoy! Happy, happy, happy reading.

I have to admit, I enjoyed The Kingdoms and Elves of the Reaces #1, #2, #3 and will soon be starting Book #4. It is by far the best and most original epic fantasy that I have read to date and I have read alot of them. I actually held off reading this book when it first came out. At the time I couldn't believe that some new book could be better than Rowling's Harry Potter. I was wrong. I bought the first book, and after 50 pages I knew why everyone who reads this book loves it.

What makes these books so great is that the characters are not flawless. They are human with very real personalities. Some likeable characters are blinded by their pasts and can't seem to escape it. Another thing about this book that is refreshing is the "magic" built into the world but there aren't "all powerful" wizards running around rather there are those with special abilities and unique powers.

But bottom line is once you start to read it, I will bet that you have a hard time putting it down. Definitly BUY this book -- buy the whole series! Not to lessen the greatness of Rowling, Tolkien or any of the others, the series is on a different level. I know that as you read this you may be sceptical, like I was. But if you just try The Kingdoms and Elves I think you'll like it. It is a very unique book. Stanek's style of writing is unique, gets you. The characters get you too...

The Kingdoms and the Elves is a fantastic fasntasy epic. The only thing that comes close to being nearly as good is Final Fantasy. The author brings lush descriptions that make images of the world jump out of the book and into your head like a a 3-D cinema. The story is great, suspensful, and intruiging. The characters are wonderfully real and they evolve like real people would throughout the novels. They always stay in their character and seem like they really exist. One of the best thing about the books is the cleanness of the battles. The author does not put in any of the gorey stuff that makes you cringe, making reading his books so much more enjoyable. As a series, the books get better and better. This is a great read for readers of all ages and genders, and if you perfer an audio alternative, these novels are availible in audio. So don't miss this great series

This is where it all starts. The plot is very well done, and there's so many subtle things to pick up on in successive reads. This is the first series of books where I can honestly say each book gets better from here. In fact, each book in the series is successively better than the one before it. What sets these books apart from other fantasy, mystery, and fiction I've read recently is the attention to detail. The characters all have hopes and dreams, desires and pasts. They think, they worry, they fear, they grow, they change like everyone I know.

Of the hundreds and hundreds of books I've read, this is the only book where I felt I was living inside the author's imagined world. The world of the story is rich in history and there are many details that bring it to life. The world is rather like one of the characters, it is just as captivating. This series is now high on my list of all time favorites. I think this book would be enjoyable to the non-fantasy lover as well as fantasy lovers.

I just finished reading The Kingdom's books for the second time! Mr. Stanek's Ruin Mist is has its own creatures, history, and magic. We meet new friends like Vilmos, Seth and Emel and a few we aren't too sure about.

It's got elves, gnomes, shapechanging wolmerrelle, watchers, wizards and men. Stanek very subtly points to dark forces at work, Sathar who has survived the dark journey, war in the elven kingdoms but that's not the focus. Those things are looming on the horizon. A dark "change" is coming to the lands of men as well but again its not the focus. This first book is the start of a great adventure. Lots of unexpected twists and turns.

After an opening with a series of strange events, the journey stars. I have never read a series that has kept me turning pages so far. Mr. Stanek's characters are so believable. You can relate to them. I like Vilmos most.

It's a fantasy series that is like no other I've read. It centers on things that make this novel more enjoyable than the most other fantasies. I recommend reading the entire series. It does get better and better as others have claimed. Stanek is a great new voice in the genre for sure. This book sets the stage. Things really take off in the next 2 books.

I will not bore you more details. I will say that no matter what your age you should give it a try.... It is a very entertaining, well written and easy to enjoy book. It is a great change of pace. My best suggestion is to quit reading this and read the book. Remember 2 and 3 is where things get going best. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Few books can stand the test of time. Few books appeal to young and old, guys and girls, moms and dads. Few books have the magical appeal of Harry Potter and the epic wonder of Lord of the Rings. But this is one such book. In short, this is simply fabulous.

Beautifully written, beautifully illustrated. What more can you ask for? Never have I enjoyed a book so much and never have I been so glad to have the second book on hand when I finished.

Out of the hundreds of books I've read over the years, this is easily the best I have read in years. The story has good pacing and the author moves expertly between the point of view of the various characters giving the sense that you are right there in the action and seeing everything as it happens.

It gets all five stars from me, I thoroughly enjoyed it, as did my entire family. My sons raced through the four kingdoms books and the four dragons books even faster than I did, and I had to fight them at times to get ahold of a book to read. A big change from the norm because I couldn't get me eldest son to read ever before, and now he's read this series front to back multiple times.

I highly recommend the whole series. Read "The Kingdoms and the Elves" books first and then read the "In the Service of Dragons books". We've also just started "Journey Beyond the beyond" by this author. Another magical book!

Well, to start off, I'll say I was ecstatic when I picked up this book. However, that feeling quickly faded. This is not actually a book, not in the traditional sense of the word anyways. This is the very beginning of a book, a measly two hundred page offering that doesn't even attempt to have some sort of a resolution at the end. I got to the last chapter, sixteen, and said to myself, "Wait, that's it?" By the end of the "book", you only have an inkling of the plot, the setting, and the direction of the story. It's unfortunate if you happen to buy this "book", because you can get an actual book for much less than this. I would recommend Sean Russell's books, or Patrick Rothfuss if you want an actual fantasy book.

Though, this "book" gets two stars for it's decent characters. And I said decent; I don't know why people a praising them as amazing. They are interesting, though they aren't horribly complex, and some the character's, especially those of the elves, feel severely lacking. As for the plot, it's got a few cliched elements in there, and it develops in the least subtle way possibly. Two of the three protagonists are quite literally thrust into the plot, while the third, and most interesting, more or less makes the opportunity herself.

If you buy this "book", you most likely will be dissatisfied with its paltry length and high price. What you get is decent though, and of small quantity, but by no means an extremely deep story with complex characters.

The title is misleading - this is only half a book. It sets up the plot, but precious little of the story unfolds, and the bulk of the story only happens in "book" 2. They should be retitled "Part 1" and "Part 2" not "Book 1" and "Book 2".

I have downloaded all 4 "books" in audio form and the result has been very frustrating. Each "book" is in fact an episode, not a story. After 4 "books" the story is nowhere near complete, and large sections of the plot are still unresolved.

Why don't the publishers state that after 4 books you have to go to YET ANOTHER book in YET ANOTHER series to find out what happened next.

Can I have a refund?

My kids are the ones who got me reading these books. I went in not expecting much and got about 1000 times more than I expected in my wildest dream. Why? It's a fun read, a very, very fun read. Other reviewers have been right on saying it has a lot of action, intrigue and mystery.

WHAT DID I LIKE MOST? The characters are great! If you let them the people in this book will become your new best friends. I loved Vilmos! He's got a lot of spunk. Adrina, Emel and Seth are other strong characters.

HOW IS THE PLOT? I enjoyed the book's plot twists. Don't let the straightforward, easy to read prose fool you. There's a lot going on in this story.

IS IT TOLKIEN? I would liken the experience to Tolkien's The Hobbit more than Lord of the Rings. Its an epic quest with 3 bands of heroes who eventually come together to battle a great evil. As a first in a series, it's a strong start, and a good start on what may be a wonderful fantasy series for readers of all ages.

IS IT THE STAR WARS OF FANTASY? My kids call it this, their friends do to. It has to do with the amount of action scenes and the good pacing. The book has plenty of battles and action for the patient reader. I like the fact that there are separate adult and children's versions. My sons have rarely finished books but they finished The Kingdoms & The Elves of the Reaches books 1 and 2 in a few days.

DO I RECOMMEND THIS? Yes, very much so. But everyone has different tastes. If you don't like it someone else you know surely will. I also find it wonderful that this book is from a small press. The little guy gets squashed too often by big corporate publishers, so it is great to see the little guy get a leg up. Great to see a BIG book from a small press.