Keeper Martin's Tale (Ruin Mist Chronicles, Book 1) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Sunrise loomed across the horizon, pale as jasmine and mostly obscured by dark, feral clouds..." (more)
Key Phrases: sectional commander, lore keeper, palace guardsmen, Father Jacob, Robert Stanek, Captain Brodst (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Heroic fantasy series are plentiful these days, mass-produced without any regard for quality. Robert Stanek's Ruin Mist Chronicles bucks this trend. Keeper Martin's Tale and the other books in the series represent years of labor during which the author filled out the backstory of the land, the politics and the characters. Copious supplements--maps, glossaries, and illustrated cast lists--show Stanek's commitment to worldcraft. No matter how fascinating a fantasy world is, it fails if not animated by a compelling story and Stanek gives us not just one, but three, tales in Keeper Martin's Tale. One story follows the bored, rebellious Princess Adrina, who flees her moribund kingdom in search of adventure. Another thread concerns the peasant boy Vilmos, whose forbidden magic powers attract the interest of both good and evil forces. Finally, Seth, a warrior priest and part of the Elf Queen's elite personal guard, sets off as an envoy to the human lands. A prolific non-fiction writer, Stanek's focus on instruction influences his fiction with a penchant for clear and simple prose. Stanek's military expertise as a decorated Air Force vet who served in Gulf War I also informs his written work. He enjoys stories of complex strategies, alliances and espionage, like those in his past. He also prefers swift, action-oriented scenes. Keeper Martin's Tale is solidly built. Stanek moves among his three main characters with ease, always switching at a climactic moment to maintain suspense. The accessible, brisk language keeps things moving: "Crying out in the darkness, alone, afraid and drenched in sweat, Vilmos woke... The whole of his small body shivered uncontrollably. Opening eyes and uncurling his huddled form from a corner, moist with perspiration yet still cold from the night's chill, was a slow, time-consuming process." -- Clar Reviews, June 1, 2007 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Description

All new edition for 2005! This edition replaces the standard edition and has the same price/ISBN. Features deluxe maps, lavish illustrations, guide to the characters, and more. The deluxe edition also available in 2005 features the full Encyclopedia of Ruin Mist.

Unleash the power of your imagination and enter a world you never dreamed existed! Best-selling author Robert Stanek delivers an epic fantasy adventure that'll open your mind and your heart. Three heroes set out on an epic journey of discovery only to find that at the end of their journey nothing is what they thought it was and that their world is undergoing a transformation that will change everything. Survival in a changing world depends on their ability to adapt and if they fail, their world and everything they believe in will perish.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: Reagent Press (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575450429
• ISBN-13: 978-1575450421
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (268 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #454,359 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quite good, April 29, 2006

By	M. Hinzo - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the first Stanek book I read and it will not be my last. I found it to be quite good... so much so that I went out and bought the next one already. The story is fast-paced, and Robert Stanek has a unique style that permits him to tell the much larger story of an entire world in turmoil through the eyes of those experiencing it. He weaves magic, lore, and mythos into the novel and makes you wonder if this could have possibly happened at some time in our own history. I read this book in two days most of that one sitting. It definitely will not be the last of his books that I read.

102 of 115 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply excellent, March 22, 2006

By	Scott Rue "Scott" (Blue Springs, MO USA) - See all my reviews

Having read all four books so far written, I believe it is impossible not to consider this series as one of the best offerings in fantasy. This particular book is as exciting as any of the others, but this first book in the series deserves a lot of credit for setting the groundwork for the other books. The basic premise of this series is revolves around a world undergoing a great change and the people caught up in what's happening. I don't want to ruin the story, but the story probably isn't what you think it is. It seems to be about one thing (several things really) but it is about something entirely different. Over the course of the books the story increases quickly and progresses into something that really makes you think and start to question what could happen next. The truth of the story is undeniable. Stanek has created a world that is unforgettable, with a cast as equally varied and diverse, and a story that is unique. Certainly, Stanek's writing occasionally has its flaws, but it is hard to deny this is a great story. I actually find this first book in the series to be the weakest, mostly due to the slow buildup at the beginning. Fortunately this failing is not repeated in the books that follow. This series is huge and there's a lot to like. I love the seeming simplicity of the first book, and the underlying complexity. Anything and everything has meaning in the story, connecting all the dots and hidden meanings isn't necessary to understand the story but it adds great depth. This is true of the Robert Stanek Series and its one of the only series I've read twice back to back. There are things that happen in this book (Keeper Martin's Tale) that do not actually make sense until later in the series. I am amazed that simple references made early in the series, completely forgotten about by the reader until their true meaning is revealed later in the series. Having re-read the series, I am frequently saying ah and oh because he's forshadowing an event that won't happen for several books. If you have a great imagination, I think you'll like this.

105 of 119 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magical, April 16, 2006

By	Walter Cleary (Greensboro, NC USA) - See all my reviews

I agree with the many reviews who have said this is the start of something special. Like many series openers, The Keeper Martin's Tale introduces the fantastic world and the people who live there. This is a fantastic book. I loved the story, and I couldn't wait to read more each day.

Beyond the many characters, the author does well with describing it all. There's not too much detail, but enough so you can get a sense of the world and its many places. The world itslef is as interesting as the characters, and I can't think of another book or movie where I thought that except maybe lord of the rings. This isn't lord of the rings, but it is just as magical.