Customer Reviews

Path of Glory: BOUNDARYS FALL BOOK 1 (Boundary's Fall, 1)

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Well, as the author of Path of Glory, I of course think it is a stunning work of literature. Oh, if I had to be honest, I wouldn't say it's the best thing I have ever read. But it is the best thing I've ever written, and I am still a young, developing author. I appreciate, and am honored by, the fact that you are even here reading this review, and thus considering my book for purchase. I apologize for the price. As an unknown author, I was unable to find a major publishing house to work with, and was forced to go to a smaller, print-on-demand company (Iuniverse.com). I have been quite happy with their service, and my only complaint is that being a print-on-demand publisher forced the price of my book a little higher than I would have liked. If I can get enough exposure, perhaps my second manuscript, or a reprint of this one, will attract the attention of a big-time publisher. I enjoyed writing Path of Glory, and I hope you enjoy reading it. For information on upcoming events in your area, including booksigning events, please go to my About You page here in Amazon.com's Friends and Favorites section.

Path of Glory, by Bret M. Funk, has all the clichés: reclusive Elves, powerful magicians, and
long-forgotten evil in a pre-industrial society. But if you thought the classic fantasy novel had
nothing left to offer, think again. Told mainly from the intimate perspective of two intriguing,
three-dimensional characters, Funk puts a realistic and thought-provoking spin on the typical
sword-and-sorcery tale. This first book in the Boundary's Fall series combines modern prose and

sensibilities with the epic storylines of Tolkienesque fantasy.

The story follows Jeran, a farm boy living with his uncle, and Dahr, an escaped slave whom
Jeran's family befriends and unofficially adopts. When two former warlords escape from a
magical prison, Jeran and Dahr find themselves saddled with the duty of reporting the news to
the king. They are aided by two Magi, who help Jeran discover his illustrious family roots and
his own magical abilities.

Jeran's ambivalence regarding his magical "gift" is one of many double-edged topics in Path of
Glory, and it adds a degree of thought and relevance that few fantasy writers even consider.
Magi are responsible for most of the civilization's greatest accomplishments, yet they are
resented for their power and have been hunted nearly to extinction. The mysterious Elves, while
revered as wise and nearly immortal, have both helped humanity and enslaved them at various
times in their history. The king of Jeran's land must cope with bickering politicians before he
can worry about the decay of a millennia-old magical Boundary. Not many fantasy novels
discuss the economic disadvantages of tariffs, but Funk avoids Star Trek preachiness by
introducing questions, not answers, and leaving the reader to draw his own conclusions.

In fact, just as with real bureaucracy, years pass before the various countries and races gear up
for the impending war reported by Jeran and Dahr. The story rejoins the boys, now young men,
as they embark on a diplomatic mission to the Elves-the first Elf-Human encounter in over a
century. The friendship is shared by a third, the young prince Martyn, who hasn't quite figured
out the balance between authority and responsibility. The journey along the title Path serves as a
test of strength and loyalty, especially when Dahr is forced to choose between his sworn duty
and his lifelong hatred of slavery. The book ends just as the party enters the Elves' domain,
leaving the rest of the story maddeningly untold until the next installment is published.

This novel is a character-centered work; events unfold in an episodic fashion, but the main
storyline barely gets beyond setup in this first entry of the series. Instead, we experience the
characters' everyday life. Dahr's knack with animals and Martyn's addiction to flirtation are
demonstrated in numerous character-building scenes. The writing is not nearly as concise as one
expects; scenes can exist simply for atmosphere and entertainment, but the witty dialogue among
Jeran, Martyn, and Dahr keeps boredom from setting in. The writing style wavers somewhat
between archaic formalism and modern slang, but taken as a whole it's a fast read and doesn't get
bogged down in purple prose. The whole novel has a warmth to it that is atypical of story-driven
fantasy and Sci-Fi; characters don't just exist to fill a plot point, they have their good and bad
points that grow on you over time. The strength of Funk's writing is his ability to evoke
sympathy for the characters; you are drawn in to their struggles without really noticing, and
putting the book down becomes more difficult each time.

However, there's more to Path of Glory than guilty pleasure. The author has taken great pains to
weave a history of his world; the tales of warriors and noble sacrifices will satiate even the most
hard-core fantasy reader. The descriptions of controlling and using magic are creative and
evocative on their own, but the passages truly come alive in the context of Jeran's experiences.
The bond between the reader and the characters heightens the drama of every situation, holding
the reader's interest throughout every extraordinary revelation.

Path of Glory makes the classic fantasy approachable for every reader, even those turned off by
fantasy series in the past. I'd recommend it for anyone interested in seeing down-to-earth
characters coping with larger-than-life events.

In the land of Madryn, the four races are forced to work together to defeat the evil Darklord Lorthas. The elves, the humans and the Garan'ah fought courageously at the final battle when the mages erected the Barrier to contain Lorthas. The Barrier is a magical mountain range with only one entrance, a portal guarded by a garrison of troops.

A millennium later, the segregated races keep totally to themselves distrusting one another. Young orphan Jeran lives on a farm near the Boundary; he befriends a runaway slave Dahr. The twosome share many happy times together before two outlaws thought to have been exiled inside the barrier attack their homestead. Jeran's uncle sends him to warn King Mathis that the Barrier is weakening. Accompanied by Dahr, Jeran meets allies and enemies in their quest to see the king; even after their message is delivered, the adventures of Jeran and Dahr are just beginning as the monarch has plans for his youthful messengers.

PATH OF GLORY is epic fantasy in the tradition of THE LORD OF THE RINGS and the SHANNARA series. The protagonists are two young people who must learn about their different heritages if they hope to understand what is happening and being able to help when the seemingly inevitable war begins. No one will be in a funk after reading this fine coming of age novel except those who fail to read the next tale, SWORD OF HONOR, in the Boundary Fall series.

Harriet Klausner

Book One of Bret M. Funk's "Boundary's Fall" series, Path Of Glory is a high fantasy about Jeran (an orphan raised by his uncle on a farm near the Boundary) and Dahr (an outcast hiding from his past), two men who find that they must brave a perilous and uncertain journey in order to warn their king of an impending darkness, as the boundary that has sealed the imprisoned Darklord gradually weakens. The four major races of the world, once in alliance, are now squabbling, and new enemies seek to exacerbate the chaos to their own ends and benefits. Path Of Glory is an entertaining epic and a deftly written saga of hope, determination, and courage.

I enjoyed Path of Glory very much. It was little slow getting started as the author had to set up the world, characters and story, but a few chapters into the book it got very interesting. I found the characters so believable I feel as if I know them. The description was so well written, that I could have actually visited the places. The story gets a hold on you and you can't put it down. I can't wait for the next book. I think that is book is a definite must read. If you like books like the Wheel of time by Robert Jordan, you will love Path of Glory.

Bret M. Funk's Path of Glory is the kind of book you often look for but rarely find. It is a complete novel; plot, setting, and character development are fully realized. Themes of loyalty, friendship, and courage are interwoven with the greater themes of good versus evil and the impossibility of knowing what we think we "know"-about historical facts, about other cultures, and even about ourselves.
The imaginative new world created by Funk is familiar enough to be easily understood, yet different enough to leave room for magic and extraordinary powers. The book is appealing and fresh, creative, and just plain fun. It is a fast read that can only be described as a rousing adventure, but the story is textured and the characters complex. I highly recommend Path of Glory to all age groups.

Bret M. Funk's Path of Glory is a terrific first novel by a thoughtful and imaginative author. Not only is the story a rousing adventure in the tradition of Lord of the Rings or Star Wars, but it is also a welcome reminder of the power of loyalty, friendship, and courage in dark times.
The new world created by Funk is familiar enough to be easily comprehended. It is also different enough to leave room for magic, extraordinary powers, and the ability to truly be at one with nature - or the past - or the future. It is a world where both the best and the worst of human nature are possible.
A long book that is a fast read, this book is highly recommended for both young and old. With its youthful protagonists and strong messages regarding the power of truth and friendship, it is a perfect gift for young male readers.

It was by a random chance that I read this book. I'm glad that I did. I loved it. Very well put together, and I enjoy the split perspective that book occasionally takes.

I can't wait to read book 2 in the series.

I found this book by accident while looking at publishers for my own novel, and I was very pleasantly surprised. The plot is very well developed as are the characters, and they are very interesting and captivating. I read the first three books all in a row, and was very impressed. I can't wait to read the fourth one, and I definitely recommend these books to anyone who is looking for something new and original and interesting.

Bret M. Funk's Path of Glory is a terrific first novel by a thoughtful and imaginative author. Not only is the story a rousing adventure in the tradition of Lord of the Rings or Star Wars, but it is also a welcome reminder of the power of loyalty, friendship, and courage in dark times.
The new world created by Funk is familiar enough to be easily comprehended but different enough to leave room for magic, extraordinary powers, and the ability to truly be at one with nature or the past or the future. It is a world where the both the best and the worst of human nature is possible.
A long book that is a fast read, this book is highly recommended for both young and old. With its youthful protagonists and strong messages regarding the power of truth and friendship, it is a perfect gift for young male readers.