The Piaras Legacy [Paperback]

Scott Gamboe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2008

Long ago, so the legends say, the Necromancer Volnor invaded the continent of Pelacia. His legions of undead soldiers ravaged the land unchecked, until the three nations united and pushed their evil foes back into the Desert of Malator. But that was centuries ago, and few people still believe the tale. Other, more worldly matters occupy their time, such as recent attacks by renegade Kobolds. But Elac, an elf who makes his way as a merchant, is too concerned with his business affairs to become involved in international politics—until a marauding band of Kobolds attack Elac's caravan and he finds himself running for his life. Befriended by an elfin warrior named Rilen, he travels to Unity, the seat of power on the Pelacian continent. There he is joined by a diverse group of companions, and he sets out on an epic quest to solve the riddle of his heritage and save the land from the growing evil that threatens to engulf it.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The author of The Killing Frost moves from space opera to epic fantasy in a fast-moving story that should satisfy fans of classic quest adventures."  —Library Journal

About the Author

Scott Gamboe is the author of The Killing Frost. He has been a police officer since the mid 1990s, and he currently serves as a crime scene investigator. He lives in Edwards, Illinois.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Medallion Press (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933836253
• ISBN-13: 978-1933836256
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,310,757 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars interesting, March 24, 2010

By 

jennifer cowan "avid reader" (Dayton, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Piaras Legacy (Paperback)

I read this entire book hoping that the story would get better, but it really didn't. The plotline was good, but it was slow and predictable. I actually felt I was reading a Dungeons and Dragons game. You can tell it's the first attempt at a novel. I think, with practice this author will get much better, and that he would be an author to watch out for.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Just not that good, July 12, 2009

By 

Mike "Mike" (Northeast US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Piaras Legacy (Paperback)

I read this while on vacation, picking it off the shared shelf. I finished it in the hopes that it would improve... It didn't. Character development individually and in general is lacking, the narrative is choppy, thin, and too predictable.

the author populates his book with elves dwarves and humans, and Kobolds kind of doggish humans. The problem is that all 4 are essentially medeval humans with slightly different looks, so why have the "fantasy" characters?

The villians count on the readers image of the name from other more imaginative books, well, really, movies, with no unique characteristics thought up by the author. Skeleton warriors, zombies, vampires are all very formulaic.

Simply not worth reading, much less purchasing, and really not even worth writing a bad review.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars exhilarating fantasy, April 19, 2008

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Piaras Legacy (Paperback)

Led by the Necromancer Volnor, a legion of the dead invaded the three countries that make up the continent of Pelacia. They killed everyone in sight ravaging the land in a blighted earth policy. Previous rivalries are put aside and the trio of nations united; they successfully repel the enemy horde forcing Volnor and his minion to take refuge in Desert of Malator.

Over time that great saviors' war became part of the ancient mythos with nobody believing that a malevolent soulless one raised the undead into an army as there are more pragmatic concerns for those residing on the continent today. In that environs Elac the Elf makes a living as a merchant with no thoughts on legends. However, renegade Kobold marauders attack his caravan leaving him fleeing for his life. Rilen the Elven warrior rescues Elac who joins him on his journey to Unity where the former hopes to gain support while calling the alarm that Volnor is back. No one except Elac and a hand full of travelers heeds his warning; so that the only hope resides within the soul of the merchant who, if he can figure out what it means in today's context, has ties to the last successful repelling of Volnor and his evil.

This is an exhilarating fantasy due to the two elves, Rilen and Elac, and the threat of Volnor, deftly handled to increase the suspense. Rilen is like a Jeremiah ignored by the leaders who scoff at the return of a mythological necromancer. However Elac is the more fascinating character as he is a successful businessman who suddenly is thrust at the head of a save the world quest in a sort of coming of age way. Fans will appreciate Scott Gamboe's fine fantasy and seek his previous science fiction thriller, THE KILLING FROST.

Harriet Klausner