Mystic Warrior

Do you like dream sequences? Then have I got the book for you! Anyway, this is about a human named Galen who can hear inanimate objects talk. This is widely seen as insanity, and one day he is whisked away in an annual ceremony (which he has thus far been able to avoid) where he learns the horrible truth about what happens to the crazies. Meanwhile, he connects via dreams to a faerie named Dwynwyn and a goblin named Mimic, and nobody's quite sure what the dragons are up to. There's a whole lot going on, and a ridiculous amount of worldbuilding to keep up with (complete with footnotes), and all in all I wasn't too interested. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly memorable either. It was more something to pass the time than an show more engaging fantasy experience. I won't bother with the rest of the trilogy.

A note on the audio: The narrator was great, but it's not clear why the fairies all had vaguely Mexican-sounding accents and the goblins all sounded like a cross between Jimmy Stewart and Don Knotts. show less

I thought this was a promising start to a new series. In this new world, there are dragons, of course, but the dragons mostly stay out of events of the world, except to act as puppet masters for the races that live there. Magic is rare and those with magic rule, but there are always rebels. Not tremendously different from the Hickman's, but I still enjoyed it.

The problem with audio and me is that I can't listen to book that I doing like the orator. I've turned away great books just because I couldn't stand listening to the voice actor - usually it's baritone men. So if you didn't listen to this book most the this review wont make sense. I was fine when the actor was doing the humans, but the accents for the fairies - Lord, aggravating - I almost wanted to stop listening.

The plot is very intricate, and a little hard to understand until half way through. I gave it the benefit of the doubt. I liked most of the characters but was confused about where the goblin actually fit into the entire thing. Maybe the biggest thing is editing - I think that a lot could have been pared down or taken out and show more it still would have functioned well. show less

7.5/10
The first book of The Bronze Canticles introduces us to the three linked worlds of the faeries (and other magical creatures), the goblins (and many mechanical objects and creatures), and humans (and dragons). The main characters in each world are struggling to find safety, truth, and a better understanding of the magic they discover. Because they don’t fully understand how the magic works and its consequences, neither does the reader, which was frustrating. Themes of love, loyalty, ambition, and power run through the narrative.

3 worlds. One of men, dragons and dwarves. One of goblins and mechanical titans. One of elves, dryads, nyads, etc. One man, Galen, is taken as an Elect", or madman under the laws of the dragonkings. He dreams of another world. The fae world. His dreams and communications within them become real. Begins the start of humanity throwing off the chains of the dragonkings. It seems that all 3 worlds are somehow going to become one and the dreams are precursor to it. It seems that communication between worlds opens up the user to a well of "deep magic". Plan on finishing the series."

"On one world faeries suffer in a devastating war against hordes of centaurs and satyrs. On another world tiny goblins scrabble about the ruins of strange, giant machines left by a race of vanished Titans." "And on the third world humans and dwarves are ruled by five immortal dragons. Reigning over theocracies of magic, these dragonkings use monks and priestesses to keep the peace by removing the insane - the troubled, violent "Elect" - from society." "Galen Arvad, a young blacksmith, hides a terrible secret from his bride and his dwarven friend, Cephas. By night he is plagued by dreams of a winged woman, a goblin, and a mysterious stranger. During the day he is tortured by common objects - statues, swords, doorknobs - that talk to him. show more Unable to shield his eccentricities from the monks' magic staffs, Galen is taken prisoner, dragged away from his beloved, and forced into exile." "Now among madmen, Galen Arvad plunges into a deep chasm of intrigue and adventure. The Grand Inquisitor of the monks appears trapped in Galen's visions. Lunatics of the Elect proclaim Galen their leader. The winged woman in his dreams influences events in the waking world. And Galen realizes that his madness is a sign of magic... a revelation that enrages the dragonkings." For Galen's sorcery could bridge realms and strike down living gods. But can Galen learn to use his power before he's destroyed by the monsters that rule his world? show less

listened to 2 hours 16 min. abs cabby get into book