The Orphan King by Sigmund Brouwer--Review

Title: The Orphan King
Author: Sigmund Brouwer
Series: Merlin's Immortals-Book 1
Pages: 213
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: 5 stars

Summary: Thomas has been an orphan for as long as he can remember, living in the abbey at Rievaulx. But just before his nurse, Sarah, died, she revealed that she was actually his mother, pretending to be his nurse to hide. She gave him instructions to go to the castle Magnus, which had been taken from his family, and reclaim it. Now, Thomas knows it is time to follow his mother's advice. Bu tin order to complete his quest, he will need help. He devises a plan to free a knight condemned to the gallows. He also frees a boy accused of theft and a beautiful girl who is both deaf and mute. The four begin the journey to Magnus, but they first must learn to trust each other.

My Thoughts: I LOVED this book! Thomas is a strong character who wants to do what is right, but doesn't always know how. He wants to help everyone he can and has a hard time seeing the bad in some people. He wants to trust the knight, but doesn't know if he can. One thing I really liked about Thomas was that he wouldn't kill his enemies. When he took back the castle, he wanted the soldiers that opposed him to have the choice of pledging their loyalty. If they refused, they would be imprisoned, not killed. It must have taken great wisdom and strength to spare the men who might have been the ones who killed his family.
The book started out with a mysterious chapter, with the reader not knowing who was talking, or who they were talking about. This didn't really confuse me, it just made me want to read the rest of the book. The end set the scene for the next book, which I will be eagerly waiting for.

**Book 1 in Merlin's Immortals**
Next book: Fortress of Mist


For more information:

• Author's Web Site
• Author Podcast - The Orphan King
• More Info
• Read Chapter One
• Author Bio

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. (Thank you!)

Eye of the Sword by Karyn Henley

Title: Eye of the Sword
Author: Karyn Henley
Series: Angelaeon Circle-Book 2
Pages: 233
Publisher:WaterBrook Press
Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: 3 1/2 or 4 stars


Summary: Maelaia only recently discovered that she is the daughter of the angle, Dreia,  and the King of Camrithia. Being the heir to the throne is not easy, especially now. She loves Trevin, but her father wants her to marry Prince Varic of Dremooria for a peace treaty.
    Trevin loves Melaia as well, but he fears they will never be together. As a newly appointed comain, he is sent by the king to find the missing comains, and he also seeks the harps Melaia needs to restore the angels' gateway.
    Secrets, lies and hidden pasts complicate things even more. Can Trevin complete his quest and return in time to save Melaia from the heinous Dregmoorian prince?

My Thoughts: Karyn Henley has written an amazing story. I couldn't put it down! The characters are easy to identify with and the action keeps you on the edge of your seat. The surprising plot twists kept me guessing what would happen next. I will definitely read book 3.

Things I didn't like:
   -Drinking. in the opening scene, Trevin finds his brother drunk with some Dremoorians. Also, there is a dink called gash that people drink to "stay young." It keeps them looking young, but eats away at them, from the inside. We see the affects of gash addiction in a few characters.
   -On pg. 11, Trevin is late to dinner because of an incident with the Dregmoorian soldiers. The gatekeeper assumes that he was "with a lady" and she "kept his tunic." This is not true. though.
   -Family trees: **SPOILERS** Malaia is the daughter of Dreia and the king of Camrithia. Jarrod is the son of  Banasin and Dreia. Trevin is the son of Arelin and Stalia. Varic is the son of Stalia and his father is not mentioned (that I remember)
   -Varic kills  a few men, and then blames Trevin for the murders.
   -Varic and his men kill children. Apparently, young blood mixed with gash makes the drink more affective.

**Book 2 in the Angelaeon Circle**
Previous book: Breath of Angel

Next book: Throat of the Night

• Author's Site
• More Info
• Read Chapter One
• Author Bio

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. (Thank you!)

Please rate my review by going here.

Masters and Slayers by Bryan Davis

Masters and Slayers by Bryan Davis
415 pages

    Adrian Masters is one of the few people who believe in the exisence of the dragon world, Dracon. In fact, he knows that it exists: his brother went there and sent a message back. The ledgends say that a hundred years ago, a dragon took a bunch of humans captive back to Dracon. Adrian is determined to find the Lost Ones, and his brother, and bring them home.
    Marcelle also believes in the dragon world, but many otheres don't, and since she is a noble's daughter, it is hard for her to express her beliefs. But like Adrian, she is determined to rescue the captives. The two team up with the Starlighter Cassabrie, from the dragon planet, but will they be able to free the slaves from the dragons?

**Book 1 in Tales of Starlight**
Next book: The Third Starlighter

Rebel Fire by Andrew Lane

Rebel Fire by Andrew Lane
335 pages

    A teenage Sherlock Holmes is about to find himself immersed in his second mystery, this time in America! His brother Mycroft and his tutor, Amyus Crowe have heard rumours that the infamous American assassin, John Wilkes Booth, is still alive. Rebel confederates are planning on using him to rally new troops and cause a major rebellion. As Amyus Crowe prepares to leave for America, Sherlock and Matty find themselves trapped in the temorary headquarters of the very same men they are tracking. With exclusive information, they set off to tell Crowe, but Matty is kidnapped.
    Crowe takes Sherlock and his daughter, Virginia, with him to America to track down Matty and the criminals, but the web of conspirators is even more complex than any of them can imagine.

**Book 2**
Previous book: Death Cloud

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