Customer Reviews

Kingmaker's Sword (The Rune Blade Trilogy, Book 1)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book is a positive joy to read. Everything you could want is there: action, wrangling with fate, loyalty, love, and a sizable share of humor. Few fantasy books have so successfully married drama with humor. The book is not a comedy, but if you don't find yourself laughing aloud at Cullin's dry comments, Kian's verbal arguments with his magical sword ("worthless piece of tin"), and the constant banter between the main characters, I'd be surprised. The book would make a fantastic movie; I kept getting flashbacks from Willow. The three main characters - Kian, Cullin, and Kerri are extremely appealing. Unlike many books, the pivotal relationship here is that of Kian and his uncle/foster father, Cullin. The author creates an inticing world and breathes life into it through detailed description and customs that although we may not practice, we will find deeply moving. The enemies in this book are not always well-defined, and some relationships are barely explored at all (Kian's first wife, for example). The end will leave you a bit unsatisfied, but it is realistic in that it does not compromise for the neatly-tied-up happy ending. Besides, what are sequels for? In all, an excellent book, well worth your time.

I stumbled on this book by chance at my library a few weeksago. I read the back, and decided it looked pretty good, so I checkedit out. I was not expecting this! It was fantastic! I laughed and cried and sat on the edge of my seat, dying to know what would happen and not wanting it to be over! I am currently in the middle of The Western King, which is just as fantastic. If you want a real classic of fantasy or just a darned good book to read, get your hands on a copy of Kingmaker's Sword!

This book was great! Anne Marston is a fantastic author and will most definitly become a fantasy legend. I love how in Kingmaker's Sword she dosen't make the women all meek and docile, they are just as strong characters as the men, sometimes better. Not that the men aren't great, all the charcters are. Marston really has a good, unique style that lets you get to really know the characters, feel their emotions, think what their thinking. That helps mix the suprise and that,"Oh! Now that you point it out, I knew that was going to happen" detials, she made me laugh in one paragraph and bite my nails in frusteration the next. It was absolutly a great book about very heroic people who didn't know they were, trying to save a land from destruction, while at the same time dealing with everyday emotions, saddness, confusion, frusteration, joy. Just an average day. But NOT an average book.

I hope you will excuse me for my English, I don't speak it very well (nor write it!). My suggestion is: don't buy this book!It is not worth the expense. I think this is almost the worst fantasy book I've ever read (and the following ones are just the same). It is boring, the characters are really poorly developed, but above all, if you go through the whole series, you'll realize they are ALWAYS THE SAME! The men are always big and strong, the women brave and with a saucy tongue... I cannot distinguish them one from the other. So if you like soft readings and replicants, this is the item for you!

There are a lot of things good about this book including interesting characters and an okay plot even if it is a little formulaic (noble born child kidnapped into slavery so he doesn't know who he is). Ms. Marston does have skill as a writer, particularly in description. However, this book is BADLY in need of an editor. Redundancy, sometimes in back to back sentences was particularly annoying. The characters lapse in and out of their accents more than Kevin Costner did in his infamous "Robin Hood." There are pages and pages of build up but then the climatic scenes are over in a few paragraphs. Nothing a good rewrite wouldn't fix. Perhaps the publisher had a deadline. At any rate, I'm not going to take a chance on the rest of the trilogy.

This book is sort of the paperback version of the hit TV show "The Highlander" in that the main characters are sword swinging celts saying "Aye, wee lassie" and "I dinna know." The book is narrated in first person, and perhaps that accounts for why most of the characters are so flat. There isn't much world building and description either. The one female character fights, of course, all the time with the man, of course, whom she will marry. Along the way she threatens to "box his ears" and her "lips drew a thin line," and all the other cliches of characterization. The book is not bad but don't expect something along the lines of McFarland or Jordan. I'd suggest buying just this first one and only then deciding on whether to get the other two.

Ms. Marston's style is refreshing and yet familiar with Celtic/Gaelic/Scottish references. I fell in love with Kian and Kerridwen right from the start and purchased the other two books after reading only three chapters and read all three in four days! I have just gotten Cloudbearer's Shadow and am plowing my way through it too. I can't wait for the next installment. I really like how she takes each new book and focuses it on the next generation. We'll need a new family tree (hint hint) to keep up. I also LOVE the artwork on the covers and if truth be told, that is why I picked up the first book. So far, I've turned on three others to this series. Keep writing Ms. Marston, you have FANS!!! Thanks so much for the wonderful tales.

I was completely engrossed throughout the whole thing. The characters are real and the plot is unlike any I've read before. The style of all Ann Marston's books is unique. The world created is so well detailed and wonderfully decribed that you'll feel as if you actually there. A magnificient tale of adventure, exitement ,and romance, mixed with dashes of humor, this book will transport you to a world where magic is commonplace, people diverse and interesting, and you never know what's waiting at the next turn. You'll begin it wondering what will happen next, you'll end it breathless and impatient for more.

Ms.Marston does a nice job, especially when using dry humor. These characters appeal because they are believable and very "normal". No super-heroes here, thank goodness. Just an enjoyable story with an engaging cast. Worth buying.

There are no words to describe how wonderful this book is. It was exciting, emotional, well written, and all the other possitive adjectives you can think of. The characters were very well portrayed, the plot was well developed, and the suspense was just right. Kingmaker's Sword captured my attention from the very beginning. Needless to say, this is one of my favorites.