13 May 2016

THE CONJURERS.

Quite a benchmark, today's book is the 800th book I've reviewed on Pen and Paper since I began blogging in April 2009.

THE CONJURER'S by DAVID WAID.

BACK COVER BLURB: A war of shadows spills into the night.

The magical knowledge that returned with crusaders from the Holy Land has spread in secret among the learned few. The world stands poised on a knife's edge between two futures - science or sorcery - and a cabal of ruthless wizards pursue two young people who can tip the balance forever.

When brigands savagely attack an Irish village, Eamon, a peasant's son, flees with his family. The night of trauma and terror that follows triggers a magical ability he doesn't understand and can't control. Four hundred league's south, Teresa, the fiercely determined daughter of a Genovese nobleman, uncovers her brothers murder and witnesses her father's wrongful imprisonment. Soon, she too begins to manifest magical powers.

The architect of their misfortune is Maestro Lodovicetti, chief of a secret order that knows the truth behind their burgeoning gifts. Lodovicetti will do anything in order to steal this magic and use it to shatter the restraints on sorcery. Separated by a continent and the circumstance of their births, Eamon and Teresa must come together and master legendary magic or be sacrificed as the Age of Kings comes to an end and a dark tyranny of sorcerers begins.

FIRST SENTENCE{Part One ~ Winter, 1380: 1. The Road To Dublin. Leinster}:

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 242}: A roar of soundless fury engulfed the inn. The walls trembled with it, the door rattling in its frame. Even through the wooden portal, the hatred of it beat on Eamon in waves. Its rage blotted all fear, all thought.

SOURCE: A paper copy received for review from the author. Yet to be published, The Conjurers will be available on Kindle as from the 1st of June.

MY THOUGHTS: I'm confused. Very confused as to just what age range The Conjurers is intended.

A cover totally at odds with the books contents. Despite the sub-title of 'A Gritty Fantasy of Witches and Wizards' I really hadn't expected such an incredibly dark tale with quite as much graphic violence including (albeit fairly brief and thankfully not too graphic) child cruelty and animal dissection.

A book that isn't without potential. Just when I thought I'd come across everything as far as magical characters goes, it was refreshing to come across something that bit different - 'Heket', 'Geistmage', Maleficarum', anyone?

The first in a series. It stands to reason that the foundation for future books is being laid and yet for me personally there were too many threads left wide open (including the establishing of just exactly what these characters are and how they became what they are).

Set in the 14th century. The story is told via main protagonists, Eamon and Teresa, the drama unfolding between Ireland and Genoa as the characters converge. The problem here (for me at least) being there wasn't any real sense of time nor place.

Still, intrigued by this, a series I feel could go places. I'm just that tad bit disappointed that it didn't have a stronger start.


9 comments:

The Bookworm said...

wow 800 books! Sorry to hear this one was disappointing, hopefully the next one will be better.

Kelly said...

Congratulations on your review total. Impressive!

I like the idea of the time and place for this one, but not sure about it overall, based on your comments.

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

Congraties on 800! I have no idea how many have been on my blog. Now I'm curious.

I don't mind a meh start to a book since I'm an ending girl. As long as it ends well, I'm good. :) Might have to check this one out.

Natasha said...

Ah wow, congratulations on 800 books Tracy! This one does sound good but I'm sorry to hear it didn't click with you. I'll have to keep an eye out for it, but I agree, a couple of dark topics to stick into the plot there from your review - not something you'd expect in a children's novel but it does sound good and different. - Tasha

Brian Joseph said...

Congratulations on reaching 800 reviews Tracy. That is an impressive accomplishment!


One would expect the first book in a series to be one of the best. Thus I would be hesitant to continue with more books. When a plot has potential it can be discouraging when the book does not live up to it.

Sandra Cox said...

This sounds like an interesting read. I'd be curious as to what age group too. New adult? Congrats on the 800 reviews! Woo Hoo!

Yvonne @ Fiction Books Reviews said...

Hi Tracy,

800 reviews is some impressive statistic, when according to my stats, I have only racked up 863 posts in total :)

Here's to the next 800 :)

Yvonne

Suko said...

Congratulations on reviewing 800 books, Tracy! Your reading career is remarkable.

Thank you, again, for your honest review. I have been away but am back now. I hope to "catch up" in my blogging a bit. Have a great week!

carol said...

Congrats on 800 books!! It's a shame this one didn't quite live up to its potential.