Customer Reviews

Swashbuckling Fantasy

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

 

 

How disappointing! I would have been upset if I hadn't gotten this book for free. It is NOT a book of swashbuckling fantasy, each entry is a short sample of a much longer piece. If you just want to sample to see if a piece is interesting, then this might appeal to you.

I am NOT a fan of samples. So, with that said when I read in the description that it was a sampling of 10 series from good authors, I almost passed it by. But then, I thought it's free and why not. I have been finishing some series that I have loved but they have come to an end and I have been looking for new ones to start. So, for me this was neat because I got a few chapters of 10 stories to see if I liked and for free.

Although most I had heard of, the first one of Jolly was new to me. I didn't think I would really like it being that the only seeming thing for her was she could run or walk on water. But the pirate theme got to me and I enjoyed it. Being able to jump into multiple series and see the different writing styles, perspectives, storylines,and plots was nice and made for a good read. Although I didn't get excited about any of them in particular, I liked looking at them as short stories.

All in all, it was a pleasant read and for anyone shopping for new series then I would definitely recommend. The 10 included are:
1. The Wave Walkers: Pirate Curse by Kai Meyer
2. Shadow Children: Among the Free by Margaret Haddix
3. Leven Thumps: Leven Thumps and the Gateway of Foo by Obert Skye
4. The Ratbridge Chronicles, Vol 1: Here Be Monsters by Alan Snow
5. The Cronus Chronicles, Book 1: The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu
6. Gideon the Cutpurse by Linda Buckley-Archer
7. Pendragon, Book 7: The Quillan Games by D. J. MacHale
8. The Eidolon CHronicles, Book 1: The Secret Country by Jane Johnson
9. Uglies by Scott Westerfield
10. Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie by Holly Black

Many free Kindle books are awesome. Not this one. I got this in paperback form from our bookstore a year or so ago. You don't get 10 stories, you get mediocre previews of 10 books.

I downloaded this knowing full well the stories are samples, but still I think it is a good collection, particular Gideon the Cutpurse. Maybe it's just me but to sample the writing styles of various authors is in itself a good thing too!

I was all excited to read this cool new book but its just a trick to get you lured in to liking the book and then having to buy the full version. Not happy. I am very disappointed.

I just want to address those whom downloaded this ebook.... Please read... It says is "sample". You are not to expect the whole book if a sample.

I should have read the reviews before I downloaded, granted it was free, but I was really looking forward to a collection of short stories, and the first one had me pretty sucked in until it abruptly ended. I thought perhaps it was just a bad ending, but no, I figured out after the second story that these are just the first chapter or so of actual books. Not at all what I like to read. So I hope you pay more attention than I did.

A story that could of been really great was squashed into a short essay style writing and left me disappointed. Wasn't worth the money or time. Leave this one on the shelf.