Customer Reviews

The Victor

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Exceptional first novel, The Victor is taunt, intense and well paced. The characters are well drawn and even though the language is a bit dense at first (which I think serves to strengthen the medieval setting) I was quickly drawn into the story.

The thing I liked least about The Victor (in a good way) is how insidious Lucius is; how you can see him enacting evil and how oblivious characters let him. It's awful to watch someone's demise, not suddenly but piece by piece in choices they make and lies they listen to. It was horrible and so uncomfortable I had to put the book down a few times. It felt absolutely appalling. Bad things happen, darkness descends and not all evil can be undone, however much can be redeemed.

But there is also good. There is such relief in hope and restoration and sweet, playful love; in strength and courage and humor.

The brilliant thing about it is how real it is. As I was reading it, more than once, I was struck by the thought that, "This is a succinct, poignant picture of the reality we live in." And it's good to remember.

Since I'm not a fan of medieval fantasy, it took me about 3 chapters to get into in the book, but once I did, I was hooked. This is a story about the battle between good and evil. It's full of action, fighting, adventure, love, hate, betrayal, loyalty and is the best allegory based on the Bible that I've ever read. The cover is beautiful and the first page of each chapter is illustrated beautifully also.
The characters were amazingly well written as is the story and I found myself being drawn into what I was reading as if I were with them on their adventures. As I sit here writing this review, I am thinking about the book and how much I loved it. I can't believe it, I not only read a medieval fantasy, but actually loved it!!! Although I may still not be a fan of medieval fantasy, I am if it is written by Marlayne Giron. She has a wonderful gift when it comes to writing and I hope this is the first in a long line of books from her.

The Victor starts off raw and shocking and brutal. Not at all what I expected from a Christian novel. In fact, I would not hesitate to recommend this book to non-Christians, because it contains no overtly religious references or preaching. It's an action-packed historical romance with a hint of the supernatural. Violence, and some sexual innuendo that fits the story, might put off some readers. The good guys are very good, and the bad guys are very bad. The language and details are carefully researched. As a homeschool parent, I also purchased the available study guide, and recommend this book for high schoolers.

The Victor is a fantastically written story about how good triumphs over evil. Filled with conflict, despair and heartache, this novel depicts that love conquers all and to not lose hope.

The medieval world that Giron creates is captivating, and after the first few chapters (see below) I was sucked in. Her descriptions are brilliant; I did not want to put the book down.

The Prologue and 1st chapter are long and a little slow. I almost lost interest. I think the author should have broken up the prologue into a few chapters.

Though The Victor is an allegory of major Bible events, you do not have to be religious to appreciate the fantasy world that the author has created.

I am usually not a fan of medieval fantasy. However, the positive feedback on this novel intrigued me. Ms. Giron's story is action-packed, fast-paced, and thoroughly enjoyable. You will be unable to put the book down once you begin reading.

When Baron Lucius of Northumberland is banished for high treason against King Ellioth, he vows revenge. Lucius craftily infiltrates himself into the province of Shiloh, where Ellioth's adoptive son, Ardon, is ruling until Joshua, the blood heir to the throne, comes of age. The ruthless traitor vows to destroy any who stand in his way. Now, Joshua and his betrothed, Lyoness, must fight to gain rightful possession of the kingdom and the sword called Ethlal. Only through weilding its powerful blade can justice prevail. Who will emerge victorious and at what cost?

The characterization in this novel is superbly drawn. My favorite character is Sir Penloth, a short-tempered, yet loyal knight with a heart of gold.

My favorite aspect of the novel is Ms. Giron's treatment of the craftiness of evil. Lucius' character reminded me of Iago in Shakespeare's Othello. The spiritual truths are evident but never preachy.

Read "The Victor" and embark on a thrilling journey never to be forgotten. God bless you all.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this being as it is not from a large publishing house, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The story is compelling and fun. It reads like a King Arthur saga with the reader following the adventures of several knights, each adventure bringing us towards the conclusion and each necessary to the plot.

While the final confrontation is projected from the opening pages, there were enough surprises to keep me guessing until the final page. One scene had me laughing uproariously (the tournament scene).

Towards the final pages I really didn't know who was going to make it or how and I missed several hours sleep reading to the end. I would give The Victor a five star but for a few rough patches in the writing, not enough to detract from the overall enjoyment.

A great book from a new and up coming author, Marlayne Giron. This book was a page turner for me right from the start! I could hardly put it down. A historical epic, full of richly developed characters, this is a story about good and evil. As the drama and excitement unfolds, you wonder which one will prevail, Lucius or Joshua? I didn't want the book to end! Can't wait for another book from this author who is destined to become a best selling author!

I greatly enjoyed this historical tale of betrayal, victory and romance.

While not without its flaws, The Victor is an enjoyable read that has a happy ending--my favorite kind! The story is simple: a man named Lucius seeks revenge against the king for banishment and nearly succeeds before the king's son saves the day. And you know what, the plot line works, plain and simple. My biggest issue was getting a grasp on the passage of time. Too often "many years passed," or something happened "year after year," leaving me with an uncertain feeling as to just how much time actually did pass throughout the story--ultimately, about 6-7 years. And perhaps the usage of "thee," "thou," and "thy" seemed a bit awkward at times, but generally I did not find it to be a detraction.

Overall, I thought The Victor was a nice read and never boring, which was nice. Giron minced no words, scenes, or characters to convey her exciting tale. I heartily recommend this book if you are looking for an epic historical romance that is a relatively easy read and ends with everyone getting his or her just desserts.

In the book marketplace today with the choices of stories that present chivalry and honor disappearing rapidly, it is great to have this one appear unexpectedly. But what kind of story is this...is it a romance? Or an adventure? Think back to classics of the past such as Knights of the Round Table with Robert Taylor and Ava Gardner. If you ask a guy, he'd say it's an adventure. But ask any gal and she'll likely say its a romance. So there you have it! Classics usually do appeal to both genders, and this story is very much styled in classic form.

I entered this story blind, reading without age or purpose in mind. Rather than limiting its existence to a younger crowd, I see great potential appeal to teens and adults to share together. I also see it as engaging the reluctant readers who have good reading skills but may be hard to pin down and read. Let's face it: just looking at the size of a classic like Tolkien's Lord of the Rings can scare anyone off. So this medieval tale of under 300 pages might be the answer! See our review at and then join in the discussion at our website.

"Two princes wage the battle for eternity... but the Victor has been known from the start."

The land of Ellioth is ruled by the mighty king Eloth, and will one day be ruled by his son, Joshua. Baron Lucius knows and loathes this fact, but his jealous attempts to seize the throne have all gone awry. Banished from Eloth, he bides his time in the desert, waiting for his chance to strike a blow to the king's heart.

Llyonesse is betrothed to Prince Joshua, but when her father is crowned steward she goes to live in Shiloh, which is across the sea from Ellioth and, more importantly, Joshua. Will their love for each other blossom or fall apart?

Unthinkable tragedy strikes when Lucius comes back onto the scene, setting into motion plans he's spent many bitter years conceiving. Will he emerge the victor in this struggle to govern mankind?

The Victor by Marlayne Giron is quickly becoming one of my favorite medieval allegories. It's normally hard for me to connect with characters in books written from the omniscient point of view, but Joshua, Llyonesse, and the knights in this story are hard not to like. Despite the prologue, I thought The Victor had an unnecessary charm to it, but a quarter of the way into things the plot thickened and the happiness of the earlier pages became a foggy memory as the characters began to fight back against Lucius. Recommended to those who love tales of betrayal, love, and sacrifice.