Sparrow's Flight: A Fantasy [Paperback]

Curtis Craddock (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2000

Erupting from the depths of a madman's nightmare, a foul tide of twisted magical abominations sweeps across the kingdom of Neffrom, devouring everything in its path, spreading a terrible, soul-corrupting curse like a plague across the land. Hope burns small, its feable flicker sheltered in the hearts of two young nobles, a disinherited lording, Sparrow of Blackaker, and a blind swordsman, Kisha -- together they must stand against a deadly god and the final sacrifice must be the ultimate weapon.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

When the hordes of Hezra-Thrall threaten to engulf the land of Neffrom, the forces of fate choose a blind princess and a disgraced nobleman to save their people from conquest and slavery. Craddock's first novel relates a tale of transformation and maturation as his heroes battle their own imperfections even as they strive to fulfill their destiny. Skillful storytelling and engaging characters make this a suitable addition to large fantasy collections.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Devouring evil, in the form of the magical creations and ruthless host of the immortal Hezra-Thrall, is marching on the kingdom of Neffron. Hope of resistance lies with Sparrow of Blackaker, a dispossessed nobleman's heir, and the blind swordswoman Kisha, Sparrow's companion. Together they face the enemy, physically and psychologically, and learn the power and the danger of sacrifice before struggling through to victory. Very little in Craddock's remarkably deft first novel is not archetypal to fantasy fiction, but very little lacks enough originality (note the character of Kisha, in particular) not to raise the whole book to a respectable level of readability and suspense. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 380 pages
• Publisher: Write Way Publishing (July 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885173857
• ISBN-13: 978-1885173850
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,392,384 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A surprisingly Wonderful Gem, July 10, 2000

By 

Philip Ficara (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sparrow's Flight: A Fantasy (Paperback)

A refreshing entry into the field, this book's strengths lie exactly where so many high fantasy novels falter. The plot is crisp and deceiving. Every time you think the author is slipping into one of the many high fantasy plot ruts, he offers a surprise.

More importantly, the surprises make sense. In fact the entire world is internally consistent and believable.

Leading all of these strengths are the characters who are powerful, three dimensional and very real. Also, Craddock's female characters are strong without being cliched (something sadly still lacking in many high fantasy novels).

Strongly recommended for most ages, although the darker aspects of the plot may be a bit much for those under thirteen or so.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulously unusual, August 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sparrow's Flight: A Fantasy (Paperback)

Ok, I have to admit--at first I didn't like the protagonist, Sparrow. At all. What kept me going was the adept world-building and the magic. Wow! This isn't a cookie-cutter high fantasy. As "Sparrow's Flight" continued, Sparrow started to reveal depth and dimensions, and I got to sympathizing with him both as a person and with his increasingly perilous predicament. And the predicament--the plot, the story--is so full of unexpected twists and insights into the human condition that I found myself enthralled. The suspense is terrific, the characters change and grow believably, and nobody could begin to guess at the end. This is dark, but rewarding, and I recommend that everybody read it. If this is Craddock's first book, then I look forward eagerly to what else he's going to write!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enthralling, August 2, 2000

By 

Glenn Bundy (Columbus, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sparrow's Flight: A Fantasy (Paperback)

I rate Sparrow's Flight highly, for the simple reason that the book captures the reader's imagination and attention (and free time) from the very first page. I place it in the rare category of 'books you cannot put down.'

The characters have a refreshing depth to them, drawing the reader along with their plight as they struggle to understand that a hero is not measured by how perfect they are, but rather by the hope they give others. As Sparrow and Kishatet grow and overcome themselves and their adversaries, there are many peices of each one to identify with. This made it easy to care about the characters, providing an enthralling read and an instant classic.