Customer Reviews

Prophecy of the Flame

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is one of the most uninspired and boring storytelling I've read in a long time. The main character, the Archmage Reba, is a horrible Mary Sue. She is perfect, can do anything with magic, and everyone wants to get into her pants. There is very little plot development, her companions are demoted to small side/incidental characters, and the majority of the book is devoted to her personal eating/sleeping/bathing schedule. There is very little to zero sense of danger to this character. If someone doesn't like her, she fixes their problems with magic and they like her within the next few pages. Everyone continually comments on how beautiful and wonderful she is. She casts spells that make her super strong, super fast, and can fly. She can throw fireballs, erect giant magical shields over cities, and the god of that world even makes exceptions for her. The only thing she's unable to reliably do is go home to her original world, which would, destroy whatever plot was trying to get around the heroine's ridiculously boring and complicated day-to-day schedule.

This is fiction, no, fan-fiction, at its' worst. Avoid these books.

I bought this book because I actually met the author at a local signing. The book was $0.99, so I figured I had nothing to lose, right? Good thing it was so cheap. The story may have seemed interesting, but I could not get past the author's use of first person tense and had a pervasive feeling that the author was trying to run me through a table-top pen & paper game. I would be willing to try her stories again if she were to work in a different tense.

PROPHECY OF THE FLAME by Lynn Hardy is a sci-fi fantasy. #1 "Love Dawning". It has a world of magic,many hurdles to overcome, a bit of romance, magic, and a lot of sci-fi,fantasy. It is the story of Rebecca(Reba), a firery heroine, an ordinary housewife,who enters a game,a wife,game player,and the Archmage.Alexandros,the Crown Prince of this magical world and his younger brother Szames. Alexandros, feels he must bed or wed Reba to gain "The Prophecy of the Flame". If you enjoy a Dungeons and Dragons theme,then this is a good book for you. It is written in first person,in depth with some likable characters. It is listed as a YA,but I feel it may be for a little older than YA groups. Received for review from the author. Details can be found at her website and My Book Addiction and More.

It's a worry of every gamer's partner in the real world. That some day, their partner will just up and disappear into the game! (wait...that's my fear...so I assume that's everyone who's SO plays constantly) It is another new take on the fantasy/sci fi genre. It took me awhile to get into the book, but it kept my interest throughout the story. There were some really neat characters complete with flaws. This is a great book for those who always want to live in the game and see how things are really different! There is a lot of action to keep the story going and keep you involved in the book! I really liked the way that Reba handled herself during her struggles. It's worth a look, but don't blame me if you have to pick up book #2!

The story focuses on a group taking part in a roll playing activity and are transported to another dimension. A wizard in that dimension called for them to help his kingdom that is being attacked by demons. It turns out that there is a prophecy that was tailor made for the female Mage named Reba

This is the first book that I have read that deals with roll playing. It was written in the first person and was done well. It read at a nice pace and you found yourself sucked in to the story. I liked the fact that it focused on the honor of the characters and that they looked at the consequences of their actions. I did find Reba doing most of the work was a little unrealistic. I would expect her partners to add more to what was being done.

I found myself staying up till 2am in the morning on a work night to finish the book. I would recommend it to anyone that likes fantasy and action. I am looking forward to the second installment in the book to see where the characters end up.

I was expecting a great sci-fi story and what I got was a poorly written and disjointed piece of garbage. Everything was choppy and seemed forced. There was no believable relationship between the main character and the others. Thank goodness I only paid $0.99 for it or I'd be angry. I'm pretty forgiving about writing styles as long as the plot is decent, but there was very little about this story to keep my interested - I had to force myself to finish it. Don't waste your money.

I had an original review here and i guess i must have did something by accident sorry about that Lynn.


I had truly enjoyed this book, i really really enjoy modern romance novels and it takes alot for me to enjoy mystical/sci-fi ones and this did it for me this had a little of everything. I remember how the author had written Reba in the book, it gave you that sense that you the reader felt like you were Reba. I enjoyed the other characters in the book, the plot, the ending and i see the author has a follow up book that also looks interesting.

Thanks Lynn Hardy I truly enjoyed your work.

The author, Lynn Hardy, passes out flyers as a way of greeting customers where she is conducting a book signing. These flyers boldly state:

"I was up till 2 am, I couldn't put it down...." Yivi M., Toronto Canada

"Love's Dawning makes the realm of magic fascinating to someone who's never read a fantasy novel." Jane F., Durrant, OK

"Prophecy of the Flame brings you back to the wonderment of childhood when you first believed that magic really existed." Jarod G., CA

"This story embodies every RPG player's fantasy." J.R., Chantilly VA

"An extremely well written story."
Gloria: an independent editor in Oakton, VA

After reading Prophecy of the Flame: Love's Dawning I agree whole-heartedly with all these statements.

Here is the simple premise:

Five average Americans are snatched from modern day America and thrown into a world of magic. These nondescript strangers are given the powers and abilities they where pretending to have. The main character is Rebecca who becomes the ArchMage Reba.

Yes, this theme has been done a few times before, but never like this. Lynn writes in a first person PRESENT voice that drew me in right away. I believe the reason First Person works so well for Prophecy of the Flame is that Reba has an empathetic ability. This allows an occasional glimpse into the motives of those around her, while maintaining a first person aspect.

Not only are the Crusaders of the Light endeavoring to save the world, but Reba also struggles to remain true to her wedding vows.

This is a true Fairy Tale for adults, complete with two princes:

Alexandros: Crown Prince in line for the throne believes he must wed or at least bed the ArchMage in order to fulfill the Prophecy of the Flame.

Szames: Younger brother of Prince Alexandros befriends Reba, and quickly falls in love with the fiery heroine.

Negatives:

There could be more hurtles for the heroine. Also, like Eragon, this book is the first of a series and leaves you wanting more. I hate waiting for the next book!

I have given this book five stars:

It is fast paced, a real page-turner, well written and ties every aspect nicely put together. There are a few too many typos, but I noticed it was cleaned up in the next edition. Being a self-published book I will let those slide.

3 1/2 Stars Review:

Talk about LARPing gone wrong. That's the basis of the Prophecy of the Flame. A group of role players are participating in a live action event when they are suddenly summoned into another world where magic and demons are real.

The characters were excellently written, personalities and flaws were unique and clearly defined / shown. I was eager to read past the intro. The beginning drags a bit but once they are in the `new' world things really pick up and you don't want to put it down!

Magic is a major event in this world and while what can be done with it seems to be limitless (well, only limited by imagination of the welder) there are consequences and physical limits to how much and how often it can be used.

My only complaints honestly are based on the vehement use of the idea Judeo/Christian god as being the only one and that `pagan' is bad. For Christians I'm sure that is a great selling point but as a Wiccan it chaffs a bit while reading. The other thing I had trouble with was the strange morality both of the world and of Reba. The worlds lack of commitment I can buy, though I would hate to live like that, but Reba's morality issues with her hubby bother me.

That aside, the story is great, the characters engaging, and both the `war' and the `love story' kept me wanting more. I reached the last page and was frustrated that I didn't have book 2 to immediately begin!

Don't let the RPG throw you, this is a fun and engaging Fantasy read!

Interview with Author Lynn Hardy - [...]

Note: A movie, based on Prophecy of the Flame, is in production.

***warning a few spoilers written in here but nothing that will ruin the story***

This is a excellent idea for a novel gamers being pulled into the world of their game and how they adapt and fight a war to save it. But it is so poorly written it feels like a chore to read, the main character find herself being hit on by every single man in this world! multiple times! she repeats multiple plot arch's multiple times going down the same path, where the main character explains sex and marriage to these primitive people over and over and over again, stressing the monogamy of this husband that she has that has absolutely no background to him which leaves you saying leave the boring idiot who abandoned you to eat at the buffet on your anniversary rather then spend the time with you. You begin rooting for one of these guys in her new harem to just end up with her in the end instead of going back to her guy she constantly remains true to. I still have not finished this book normally I Read one every 2 days still 80% of the way through a weeks later.

Pros: Good plot, interesting sub characters

Cons: poor writing, Painful low points, Repetitive.