Mike Jefferies

2014 Review:

  This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.com by express permission of this reviewer.   Title: Palace of Kings Series: Loremasters of Elundium Author: Mike Jefferies Rating: 3 of 5 Stars Genre: Fantasy   Synopsis: Thane has risen to lead the show more alliance to destroy Krullshards. Only, he chooses the life of his grandfather Thoron over the death of Krullshards and that opens up a whole new can of worms. Kyot, Thane's friend and archer, must find the Maker of the glass arrows of Clatterford. For only these arrows, with light imbedded in them, can truly harm Krullshards.   My Thoughts: I DNF'd this, not because it was badly written, or horrible or the author was a troll or even a democrat, but because I realized I had outgrown it. I have such fond memories of adventuring with Thane, rescuing Elionbel, finding Clatterford with Kyot and just being a Heroic Knight in a Grand Adventure that I decided to not finish this book. If I were to finish this my memories would be destroyed with my current thoughts about the book and I don't want that.   I would highly recommend this to young and older teens who love epic fantasy, like Tolkien but didn't necessarily like the slow pace of Tolkien.   Now I am just sad. I guess that is part of growing up and getting older. But I don't have to like it, nor do I have to mar the past. I'll remember these books very fondly for the future and just not re-read them is all.  " show less

In principle this should have been a book I enjoyed, with Earth hidden away from the external realities by the Clockmaster at the beginning of time. But now the boundaries are breaking down as strange creatures are appearing at random points all over the place, described as fakes, or hallucinations, but an environmental scientist in Cambridge believe these strange creatures herald the end of things as we knew it. In New York, an author's agent is faced by a stranger who he assumed to be a show more street person until he's confronted by clear evidence of the man's otherworldly existence. But it's the author the stranger wants. Back in England, the scientist, Mya Capthorne, is confronted by her own otherworldly apparition who persuades her join him on the journey to the City of Time on the back of his dragma.

The descriptions of the worlds the groups travel through are good, as you would expect - as well as being a writer Jeffries is an illustrator and the 'visuals' shine through. but the story itself is pretty much a straight run through with little feeling that things are going to go badly for the group, even when things are at their apparent worst. show less

2000 Review:
I'm pretty sure I read this in January 2000 anyway...


2014 Review:
  This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.com by express permission of this reviewer.   Title: The Road to Underfall Series: Loremasters of Elundium Author: Mike Jefferies Rating: show more 3.5 of 5 Stars Genre: Fantasy/YA   Synopsis: Holbian, the last of the Granite Kings, is afraid of the dark. With that hidden fear, he allows Krullshards, master of Nightmares, to escape into his City of Night. Because of this act of cowardice, the Bond between Men, Owls, War Horses and Border Runners [dogs] is broken. Nevian, Master Magician, foretells of a King to Come who will not be afraid of the dark and will reforge the bonds between the races. To protect this chosen one, Holbian sends him to the End of World, to Underfall, Fortress against the Darkness. Along this journey he becomes legendary swordsmen, leader of men and re-forger of the bonds. This is the story of Thane.   My Thoughts: Having read this multiple times in highschool and in college and read it a last time in 2000, I loved this.   This directly falls into the Fairy Tale style [Bigger than big, no small details were talked about, Highlights of main points] and Epic Gloss. Epic Gloss I define as being like Tolkien in scope, tone and language, but not the depth of Tolkien. The talking was the main thing I noticed. In many ways it was like reading from the King James Bible. A different form of English when talking.   The older, more experienced me recognized the young adult in this book. It isn't a bad thing in any way, it simply is.   The story is cliched enough to captivate and enjoy. Kind of like mashed potatoes with sour cream and chives. It tastes good and you can end up eating too much but it doesn't really fill you up.   I know I would have given this a 5 back in the day, but now, I find I can only give 3.5 stars. I now need new things to feed my insatiable hunger, or a book that is deep enough to stand up to re-readings.   In a little side note, I apologize to those of you who liked my accidentally pre-released post. I hadn't written this all and clicked the post button by accident. Then I somehow deleted the whole post and had to rewrite this. " show less

This series was written in Tolkien style but was a bit darker. It wasn't overly complex or involved, but I enjoyed it.