Customer Reviews

The Twins (Gemquest, Book 1) (Gemquest)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Who is this child? And why does he need protection? What motives compel those seeking him out with such frenzied abandon? And what drives the woman trying to save him? Gary Wassner's story opens with the tension of a pivotal moment that fills the reader with concern, curiosity, and dread. As the chapters unfold, answers to questions get doled out masterfully, but they only lead to more involved questions that draw Wassner's audience further into his words. As the exciting introduction to the Gemquest Series, "The Twins" is an action thriller sure to interest fantasy and fiction readers alike.

Wassner's story reveals the structure of a world in jeopardy. It is a world where nature and intelligent life are one and the same; where the ancient Lalas trees protect the good people of their planet through magic and the communicative power of their globe-stretching roots. It is a naturalist's utopia of harmonious existence filled with religious nuance. The trees select extraordinary humans called Chosen to be their life partners, and through that joining they are able to impart knowledge of the world and its elemental magic that could be known no other way. The Chosen are revered among the people, their power is well known, and their words are respected. They are teachers and healers that complete the union between nature and the creatures that live in nature's domain. But there is a stain on the portrait of this perfect world; a smudge that disrupts the harmony. Evil is present and it soils the canvas with its destructive influence.

The Lalas trees are dying and even the Chosen are not completely sure why. With each death, the protective blanket of power the Lalas have over the planet diminishes and evil spreads like disease. Colton D'are Agenathea, the embodiment of evil, threatens the world with dissolution. With his amassed army of abhorrent creatures, he wields the powers of annihilation and ruin. His lust is not for world domination; it is for the obliteration of everything. Evil beyond reason, he is compelled only to destroy.

"The Twins" are two boys who happen to be the heirs to the high throne of Gwendolen. The great books known as the Tomes of Caradon, have prophesied a role for the twins in this struggle between good and evil. They are the best chance the world has to resist the assault of Colton D'are Agenathea. Embraced by the magic of the remaining Lalas, the boys' destiny is central to this growing conflict. Allied with powerful friends, including a Chosen, it is they who must find the First Tree, and retrieve the Gem of Eternity if the world is to live on. Wassner weaves a story of the struggles that surround the twins into a novel of apocalyptic dimension.

"The Twins" is a tale of hope in the midst of great adversity; of life in the face of imminent destruction. Wassner cleverly details a world filled with imaginative creatures, a naturalistic philosophy, and the ever presence of magic. His characters are unusual and interesting. As Wassner chronicles several of their separate struggles, individual adventures quickly turn pages into chapters and fast paced chapters into an action packed novel. Offering an ever-widening plot, "The Twins" is an epic tale with several intertwined sub stories.

Wassner's writing is intelligent and crisp. His well stated phrasing leaves the reader feeling smarter for having read it. From concept to conclusion, the story is unusual and gripping. To this reviewer, there are two things that make a book an excellent read. One is when the story is compelling enough to keep the pages turning and the other is when the foundations of the tale inspire thought even after the cover is closed. Gary Wassner's "The Twins" is an excellent read by both measures.

It's easy to dismiss a book, which is part of a trilogy, featuring elves, orcs, a dark lord and a quest, as simply another Tolkien clone.

As a reader repulsed by Jordan and Goodkind, and a fan of the grittier, new wave of fantasy by the likes of Stover, Meiville and Bakker, why on earth did I read The Twins?

Firstly, a publisher taking a gamble on a new author is rare enough in this over-flooded market place where there are rumoured to be more manuscripts seeking acceptance than actual readers within the market; let alone a publisher releasing the first three books of a series together by a new author! Have you ever heard of such a thing? Okay I can see the strategy there, shelf space and fanbase building, sure, but that is incredible belief from a publisher.

Secondly, this guy can write and you only have to read his recent interview at WOTMANIA to see he is an articulate, talented and passionate author.

So enough hype, is it any good?

The first thing that struck me, is that you will love these characters. There is a depth to Wassner's characterization and some of his creations are brilliant. There is a magic to the world he creates and the author's love of nature and the harmony he must feel himself with our world, bleeds throughout.

The idea of sentient trees and their connection with their humanoid 'chosen' is fascinating and compelling. The Twins is a page turner where you almost wish you weren't coming to the end, but you must continue regardless.

This adventure truly is epic and whilst written with philosophical undertones, the exploration of evil is just as detailed and fascinating as the beauty of the Lalas.

Light and shade give this work resonance and I applaud the publisher for having the vision to release three books and of course, the author for writing excellent, twenty-first century, epic fantasy.

For those looking for a Tolkein clone, you'll not find that here. Wassner weaves a world and positions his characters like a master chess player. Each piece has its part to play in the greater game that is Gemquest. Sacrifices must be made and each move grips your heart and drives you to read onward. You end with a satisfaction, but wanting, no, needing to continue.

It's rare when I read a book and need time before picking up the second in a series. In this case, the ramifications of the characters feel so real that I want to fully digest what I've read before plunging headlong into a second book. I have that book next to me. Waiting. I can already hear the characters' calling me back. I think I'll heed their call.

This 1st offering from Gary Wassner shows great promise.

He created a fairly unique and interesting world to set his story in. His magic and characters are interesting and provide ample room for a good tale to be told. There is some room for improvement and since this is an earlier work of his I have reason to suspect his latter books solve any problem. This work shows that Wassner is a writer to be reckoned with and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

One cannot read this first book in the GemQuest series without being reminded of Tolkien's immortal Lord of the Rings, but this epic fantasy quickly succeeds in taking on a vibrant life of its own. Wassner constructs this tale around a significant number of characters, but he describes each of them so intimately that you feel as if you know them (so there's no problem keeping them all straight). From the harrowing abode of the Dark Lord to the prosperous human city of Pardatha to the beautiful tree-top elfin city of Seramour, Wassner truly transports the reader to every location of his envisioned fantasy land.

In this world of Wassner's creation, a great darkness is spreading over the landscape, an evil so dark and dangerous that even the Lalas, ancient and sentient trees that have served as the guardians of the land for eons, have begun to fade in power and to die. Colton dar Agonthea, the Dark Lord, has begun amassing an army of orcs, trolls, sorcerers, and even more frightening creatures, knowing that his time has come at last. Ancient prophecies of a terrific struggle between good and evil are now being realized, and Colton sets out with a grim determination to eliminate the only potential threat to his genocidal plans. Legend has foretold that a young prince would appear, a last true heir of the renowned and celebrated Gwendolyn family, and that he alone would possess the power to defeat the evil Coltan and thwart his bloodthirsty ambitions. Only the true heir can discern the location of the first Lalas and remove the Gem of Eternity which lies hidden somewhere in its massive trunk. That Gem alone holds the power to stop the encroaching darkness spreading over the land and thwart Coltan's evil plans for good.

That royal child, whom only a handful of people even know about, has now appeared in the city of Pardatha. Knowing nothing of his heritage, the young man must be instructed in the use of his formidable powers - and so it is that Baladar, ruler of Pardatha, has summoned three accomplished young people to guide and teach him: Cairn of Thermaye, a brilliant scholar; Robyn dar Tamarand, an expert in magic and one of the Chosen (each Lalas tree chose one individual to intimately commune with); and Filaree par D' Avalain, a skilled female warrior. Each of them faces his/her own ordeals just trying to get to Pardatha, but their problems pale in comparison to the predicament Baladar finds himself in when the boy, the world's only true hope for the future, disappears. Colton, believing the boy dwells in Pardatha still, is determined to crush that city and find the enemy he seeks. This all culminates in an action-packed and extended siege outside the walls of Pardatha by Colton and his minions of evil.

I can't say enough about the characterization skills that Wassner displays in his writing. He really brings each character vividly to life, which serves to establish a strong emotional bond between the reader and the story's noble heroes early on. And yet, despite feeling as if I knew these characters personally, Wassner managed to surprise me with a major revelation about one or two of them well into the journey. Wassner also excels in the art of creating worlds, and he makes great use of this skill by transporting the reader to a fantastical setting that manages to combine a sense of the familiar alongside the exotic. The mutual relationship between the denizens of this world and their natural environment is a crucial theme, and Wassner's writing intertwines the two almost effortlessly. And, if you're looking for excitement, there is plenty of that to be found throughout these pages, culminating in the siege and determined defense of Pardatha in the later chapters.

This first novel in the GemQuest series definitely leaves you wanting more, and fortunately you don't have to undergo an agonizing wait for the next installment. In an unusual but welcome publishing move, the first three GemQuest novels were released at the same time, which means you can jump right into Book Two and continue the adventure as soon as you finish reading The Twins.

Being somewhat new to the genre of "Epic Fantasy", I wasn't sure what to expect with The Twins. I got more than I bargained for in one of helluva roller coaster, and as there is soon to be 4 books in the series, it ain't over yet.

I can't do justice to Wassner's story telling skills without divulging some plot details. Don't worry, no spoilers, yet. The World of The Twins is populated by humans, elves, dwarves, trolls, other magical creatures, and it's most beautiful facet, the sentient race of trees, known as the Lalas. Every Lala chooses a human partner, who, once chosen, is seen as a sacred representative of the Lalas, and treated like priestly nobility. The Lalas communicate with each other, and their chosen, through their network of interconnected roots, which cover the entire earth. They are literally a binding force, keeping the world and it's peoples at peace. All Lalas descend from "The First" Lala, an ancient and myth shrouded tree, who holds the sacred Gem of Eternity. When the Gem begins to fade, the trees begin to die, taking their chosen, and soon the rest of the world, with them. The child of the ancient prophecies must be found and trained to fulfill his destiny, the Gem of Eternity must be found, and the Dark Lord with a deep hatred of the Lalas in his heart must be stopped.

Sound heavy? It is. Sound epic? It is. If you think you can read just the first book in the series and get everything out of it that's to be gotten, think again.

As a fan of the "don't tell me, show me" style of writing, I appreciated the ways in which Wassner introduces us to his incredibly detailed world: through the eyes and experiences of his characters. Everyone is reshaped in some fashion by what happens to them. Nothing in this world happens in a vacuum, and everything happens for a reason. The Twins involves a kaleidescope of characters, all with fully developed personalities, backgrounds, and belief systems. From the mysterious boy Tomas, to the creepy and seductive Dark Lord Colton, everyone has a story to tell, and everyone must work together to ensure that their side wins the ultimate battle. As much as I want to say how cool the battle scenes are, and how suspenseful the chase scenes are (they are very cool, and quite suspensful), the action is merely the byproduct of what's going on in the plot.

The book is beautifully written, there is enough detail that I felt I was getting to know everyone quite well, but not so much that I felt I was drowning in it. In an emotional, evocative manner, The Twins reminds me a little of The Neverending Story, although the plots are drastically different. That's my crazy brain for you!

Wassner is a master of foreshadowing, while still keeping the reader guessing at every plot twist. He is a loving and passionate creator for this world, giving it strengths, passions, it's own mythology, and a dark side to balance it all out. Plot lines and character's lives intertwine in unexpected ways to show that everything is connected in one manner or another.

The less than positive comments I have are personal pet peeves, and probably have nothing to do with the quality of the book. Someone who I thought was going to be a main character spends the entire book in a coma, so I didn't get to know him at all. I'm going to assume that Wassner has a good reason for this. At the end, I felt the chapters get a little short. Not that they weren't full of information, because they were, they just seemed cut up a little oddly, and made things a little choppy at times.

Also on a personal note, I'm a bit of a tree hugger, so I just adored the sentient tree thing.


Four and a half spaceships out of five.


Reviewer: Andrea Johnson for Multiverse Reviews

WHILE READING THE NOVELS I WAS TOTALLY SWEPT UP IN THE VISUAL BEAUTY AND IMAGINATIVE STORY - IT HAD SUCH AN ORGANIC FLOW I READ ALL THREE BOOKS IN THE SERIES IN ONE MONTH...AND HAVE BEEN LEFT HUNGRY FOR THE FOURTH.

I WAS IMPRESSED WITH GARY'S STYLE OF WRITING. THE WAY ALL YOUR SENSES ARE AT PLAY - EVEN THE SUBCONSCIOUS. YOU FEEL MANY THINGS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME - ALL ON DIFFERENT LEVELS. THE FEELING THAT THE BOOK IS BEING GUIDED BY A SPIRITUAL ENERGY - THE CONSTANT UNDERCURRENT OF THE DARK FORCES AND THE LIGHT MOVING THROUGHOUT THE BOOKS SIMULTANEOUSLY AS THIS INSPIRING STORY IS TOLD.

THIS IS A STORY OF THE GREAT LALAS TREES, NURTURING THE CHOSEN LIKE A PARENT - PREPARING THEM TO AID IN THE SURVIVAL OF THE PLANET - PASSING ON ANCIENT WISDOM AND VIBRATIONS FROM DEEP WITHIN THE EARTH - FROM ROOTS TO VEINS BECOMING ONE - EACH OTHER'S LIFE LINE - THE CONNECTION TO HUMANITY AND NATURE IN PERFECT HARMONY - PREPARING THE CHOSEN FOR THE INEVITABLE - THE RETURN OF COLTON THE DARK LORD, WHOSE DESIRE IS TO RULE THE PLANET AND BRING FORTH DESTRUCTION TO HUMAN KIND AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

THE IMAGERY AND SYMBOLISM IS SO POWERFUL - IT SETS THE BASIS OF A STRONG FOUNDATION TO THIS NOVEL.

GARY'S NOVELS ARE THE PERFECT ESCAPE - BRILLIANT MAGICAL KINGDOMS
THAT TAKE YOUR IMAGINATION TO A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL - THE BATTLE SCENES HAD ME INSPIRED, WEEPING AND EXHAUSTED ALL AT THE SAME TIME. CHARACTERS YOU GROW TO LOVE AND REVERE - A FICTIONAL TALE WRITTEN WITH INSIGHT, DEPTH AND SENSIVITY. AFTER READING THE NOVELS MONTHS AGO THE ESSENCE LINGERS. HAVING HAD TIME TO DIGEST THEM MY CONSCIENCE WAS PRICKED. I BEGAN TO QUESTION OUR RELATIONSHIP TO OUR PLANET - GARY WRITES BRILLIANT CHAPTERS IN EACH BOOK THAT DEPICT THE DRAMATIC AND DESTRUCTIVE FORCES OF GLOBAL WARMING, BEAUTIFUL CHAPTERS ON HOW NATURE IS VITAL TO OUR SURVIVAL, REMINDERS OF HOW WE ARE NURTURED BY NATURE SPIRITUALLY, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY, INSPIRING EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE...THAT BRING NATIONS TOGETHER, BREAKING DOWN WALLS OF IGNORANCE AND FEAR.

I honestly wasn't sure what to expect and I read the book with some trepidation. I know very little of the publisher, Windstorm Creative, the second publisher Mr. Wassner's Gemquest series has been with since the books have been in print. All that said, by book's end, Mr. Wassner had me hooked into his story and the world he created.

While I enjoyed the book, it is not without its faults. Some occaisionally repeated words and phrases cropped up, and times, some passages in general were a overly wordy. The style is almost lyrical, and as I became more entrenched in the world Wassner created, things either became less wordy and evened out, or I simply became more acustomed to the style. The occasional wordiness is perhaps the only negative about the book, so I figured I'd get that out of the way first.

The blurb/TV Guide version of the book is this: The Lalas, sentient trees who have acted as protectors to the land and the people, are dying. The dark wizard Colton wants to hasten the death of all the Lalas, which will further him towards his goal of disollution. In order to see his goal, Colton must kill the prophesized saviour, the heir the throne of Gwendolen to the kingdom which he destroys in the beginning of the novel. Baladar, the ruler of the city of Pardatha, calls a select group of people together to shephered and educate the young heir of Gwendolen towards his final conflict with Colton. While this is a familiar formula to most fantasy readers, its in what Wassner does with this theme, adding different flavors and his own voice that make the story work. I think writers, fantasy writers in particular, walk a pretty fine line between dumping too much information about the world they created and balancing that with providing a truly immersive reading experience. One good way Wassner showed his world was through the characters and their reactions and feelings about the world. By the end of _The Twins_ I felt I knew the world pretty well and could sympathise with the characters, but there were still more things I wanted to discover. The world of GemQuest is both familiar and fresh, that's why I like Epic Fantasy so much, I think. I enjoy some of the familiar trappings of the genre and style, but I also like seeing a new flavor thrown in, a new twist on things - something Gary has been able to do.

Though the early parts were a bit slow, about halfway through, things really picked up for me and I became wrapped up in the plight of these people and fully immersed in the world. Wassner did some really interesting things in the book, some things I haven't come across in reading alot of the fantasy I've read. One of the greater strengths of the story is how Wassner managed to craft a story in the tradition of the genre, specifically the quest and struggle against Dark Lord, that both honors the tradition and forges something fresh and entertaining. I think he did a nice job with the characters and found it particularly interesting that by novel's end, one of the titular Twins, while on stage for many scenes, was still unconcious. Some characters come across more genuinely than others. The young Tomas is quite intriguing and I'm looking forward to being the fly on the wall when he meets his twin, Davmiran. While Baladar, the one who calls these people together, fits the Gandalf role in some respects, I like that he doesn't quite have all the answers. Baladar is trying to bring all these people together, but he certainly doesn't know everything and is playing within rules he doesn't completely know. I think Cairn, one of those called by Baladar, fits the Gandalf role in some respects, too, but I think he is much more than that, as well. I'm getting good sense of how important Tomas may be through Cairn's eyes. Thus far, Colton seems like the typical almost faceless, Dark Overlord, I'm hoping more is revealed about Colton in later volumes. Wassner conveyed a good sense of connectivity between the people and the trees and the importance of the trees to the land itself.

Despite a bit of deus ex machina towards the ending of _The Twins_, the price the defenders of Pardatha was quite high. At one point, I was almost expecting Gary to somehow return the characters to the status quo, a lesser writer may have indulged in the happier ending. I think Gary took the proper fork in the road there, not that writers should indulge in shaking up the status quo just for hell of it. If it serves the story, then fine. Here it did.

To sum it all up, while a bit flawed as most debut novels are, _GemQuest: The Twins_ was an enjoyable reading experience and I'm looking forward to reading more about these characters and the world they inhabit.