Book Review: A Draw of Kings (Spoilers)

I was asked awhile back by Bethany House and my good friend and fellow author Patrick W. Carr to review his book, "A Draw of Kings", the final book in the Staff and Sword Series.

As I was planning on reading this book and reviewing it anyway, I was especially honoured by the copy that they sent me in the mail. :) 

Nothing makes a day better than choosing between a new book and unfinished assignments that need to be done... :\ Okay, so I'll admit maybe that wasn't the greatest thing ever, having lots of school to do and a new book isn't fair at all! :(

However, it is not schoolwork that made me so slow reading this last book- it was that I did not want this beautiful story to come to an end, and I tried so hard to prolong it...but I alas, could not. But now I am getting ahead of myself!

I was SO excited about this book, I can't even begin to tell you how long I've been waiting for this book to come out...alright, so it wasn't really that long, waiting for this was certainly a shorter wait time than a new series of Sherlock. But then again, Patrick W. Carr knows that quite a few of his fans know where he lives...so he isn't quite as safe from their wrath as Steven Moffat is. 

Oh, how can I begin, it was amazing, and exciting and thrilling and too short! 

I am only prejudiced about it being too short because I did not want The Staff and Sword Series to end. Sometimes, when coming to the end, it is like saying goodbye to an old friend, and knowing that next time you see them, the same ending will come about and make you sad once more. 

I'm not saying the book wasn't marvelous, it was! Patrick W. Carr has outdone himself with this amazing book, it is beautiful, romantic, tragically sad, surprising and thrilling. 

There won't be a moment when you aren't caught up in the brilliance of the story, sometimes I would forget myself and be far too engrossed to notice how much time had passed, or that my mum had called me for dinner four different times.

I will admit there are times in this book where I wanted to smack a few characters (not Errol this time, I could have slapped him in "The Hero's Lot" for being a bit of an idiot, but that is just me...).

No, I'm talking about that awful Duke Weir, yes that slimy little git comes back to haunt book three! 

I want to take Errol's staff and beat the guy black and blue! (Him and his daughter!) 

I'm going to stop being enraged, before this review turns into a rant.

I confess, the plot changes so quickly and so cleverly, sometimes I can't believe that Patrick W. Carr can keep everything that is going on straight! Luckily, reading the book is a lot simpler, however being a writer myself, I have wondered how he kept everything straight.

 If I had to describe this book in one word it would be: AWESOME!!!!!

Through the book, I found myself in constant despair when Errol is imprisoned by that awful man Weir and made to cast lots...

Or when Adora is being beaten by Weir's daughter, I also confess it was horrible to watch the hope slip further and further away from the heroes as their journeys continued. 

I was terribly sad that Errol, Adora, Liam, Marten, Luis and Rohka all seemed to go on their own separate journeys in this book- I rather missed them all being together. However, it was interesting to see how they all got along without one another.
I was so caught up with the last message from the king I think I must have been more eager for the answer than everyone else! Not to mention the malus which- (is basically when a demon is allowed into a human body) scared me so bad, I couldn't sleep- especially when Adora, Rohka and Waterson were being persued by one!
Yikes!

The action in this book was exciting and mind boggling, the plot of the book was deep and rich- continuing from the first two books. Of course it is amazing to see how Patrick W. Carr's writing has matured, not that his first books were crude or immature...but I feel like his writing ability has certainly gained new aspects and heights since he wrote his first books.

The end of A Draw of Kings, was sad, however, I believe the worst sadness was that the series was over. I will say that this has been one of the best fantasy series that I have read in a long time- one that has kept me eagerly anticipating the next novel!

I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone who enjoys a good great fantasy series.
While the final book does contain a few things which some parents may not want their younger children to read, (mainly just hints of lovemaking and how a certain character is not a "gentle lover". Some parents may not want to explain this).

Beside that, this book is for anyone! While it is a Christian Fiction, I do believe like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, it can be read and enjoyed by Christians and non-Christians alike.

I would suggest getting a good piece of chocolate a nice cup of tea and drawing up a comfy chair for reading A Draw of Kings- chances are...you won't be moving for awhile. ;)

♥ Happy Reading! ♥

The Staff and the Sword: Books #1 and #2

How does one begin to describe a truly fantastic series?

DISCLAIMER THE FOLLOWING CONTENT MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS....

A Cast of Stones, 

our story opens up in the village of Callowford, with Errol Stone, the village outcast, the village sot, beaten by the village priest Antil...Errol, is sent by a churchman, to deliver two letters to the hermit priest Pater Marten who lives alone except for a reader by the name of Luis. Errol is offered a half crown for delivering the letters to Pater Marten, and is to receive another half crown when he returns with the proof that he has indeed delivered the letters to Pater Marten. On his way there, a mysterious cloaked figure appears to be following him and it isn't long before the assassin takes a shot at Errol, unfortunately causing Errol to jump into the pool, destroying the two letters which were meant for Marten and Luis.

Errol had little idea, that when accepting to deliver these letters, he sealed his fate forevermore. 

Errol, is cast into adventure with the hermit priest Pater Marten, the reader Luis, the warrior Cruk, and the perfect hero Liam. 

But there is one thing which Marten, Luis and Cruk did not expect, that all the times they are attacked in A Cast of Stones, it is always Errol that the bandits and assassins target. Which is explained later, so we think that he is an omne...but was that really the simple truth or was Patrick W. Carr hiding something from us...

Here is a small hint: yes.yes.yes.yes.Yes.

The Hero's Lot, not The Hero's Lost- (as I almost mistakenly gushed it, in front of the author..), within the first few chapters, Errol gets put under another compulsion, in which he has to go and kill Sarin Valon, (yes, the compulsion is administered by the Grand Judica, the church itself....)

So....why is the church so desperate to send the only omne to his death by sending him to kill a man who could see their every move in the last book?!

*Coughs*

Traitors in the church.

*Coughs* 

Once more do we depart on a deliciously colorful and thrilling adventure, with returning characters, Namaan Ru, Rohka, Conger and Rale, whom were all delightful in the last book...(I thought Namaan Ru was really cool, despite the fact he held Errol against his will and made him cast lots for a profit... he was still good...in a way...) Pater Marten, Luis and Cruk have to leave Erinon though, because alas, the fact they drew lots questioning the future king- to put it plain, the church wasn't really thrilled with that.

So they set off in different directions, but in the end, they are destined to fight together, fight to escape.

Now, if you were waiting for Errol Stone to do something stupid...I'll tell you now...uh...I don't know that guy when he is in the tavern, and the woman is singing,( no spoilers... I'm just saying) I don't know him at this part of the book...because here he was incredibly stupid.

In The Hero's Lot, we get to meet Namaan Ru's uncle which is utterly fascinating, and the betrothal dance is really interesting too. Not to mention the blood rose which is very endearing and poetic...

And the ending, (no pun intended viewing a few circumstances which occur at the end), the ending is to die for. Adora and Rohka are two fantastic heroines, and while many people would think Adora would always be simpering and in the way, she is surprisingly useful and isn't annoying at all. The ending scene with Adora and Rhoka wearing the silk dresses posing as merchandise...Patrick W. Carr is BRILLIANT!

Getting back...

  The Hero's Lot, is just brilliant all the way around. 

The Hero's Lot,  has more religious overtones than the first, but beyond that I cannot say it was better or worse than A Cast of Stones, because both books are equally entertaining, and you won't get bored reading either of them so...I would say both of them are exactly the same as far as being brilliantly beautiful works of art, and of course, a good solid addition as ever to the growing fantasy shelf.

An interesting fact for you:

I had little idea, but suddenly whilst reading The Hero's Lot, I became aware of Patrick W. Carr's ferrals.... like I was actually seeing them for the first time...

Ferrals are frightening monsters which have jagged teeth and beast-like faces who bay and howl...and travel in packs...

Feral
Adjective

1. (esp. of an animal) In a wild state, esp. after escape from captivity or domestication: "a feral cat".
2. Resembling a wild animal.

That was clever... very clever. And the poison which is used on Errol in The Hero's Lot, is called Styrich and gives the same effects as Strychnine poisoning, and Papaverine is used to slow the poisoning, an interesting fact about Papaverine is the fact it is an opium alkaloid antispasmodic drug, used primarily in the treatment of visceral spasm, vasospasm (especially those involving the heart and brain.) Now I can't tell whether Errol comes out of that one alive or not...big spoilers like that aren't my area...besides that, I can say nothing more without giving too many spoilers away, as it is the author probably won't be pleased with how many spoilers I've revealed, and he probably won't let me read another one before the release date- ever again. Even if it is to recommend it to all my friends... (I hope that isn't so though.)

For a fast paced novel which appeals to the quick-set time we now live in, this is an admirable novel which if the time is taken to read it slowly, this novel becomes very enlightening in meaning. I was caught off guard when I examined each book closer...and I think anyone who reads any of Patrick W. Carr's novels slowly, and appreciatively, they'll see all the hidden surprises which hide inside the plots. Undoubtedly, The Staff and the Sword series is very good for any fantasy lover, or anyone who simply wants a good read. :)

Now, go read these books! :)

And do you want to know why you should go and read these books?!

© All the characters and plot-lines/summery of A Cast of Stones and The Hero's Lot, belong to Patrick W. Carr, and Bethany House, none of it belongs to me.


© Batman cartoon by How it Should Have Ended, I do not own this piece of artwork.

© Batman belongs to DC comics, and does not belong to me either. (Sadly.)