Review by rebeccav -- A Kingdom Forgotten
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rebeccav
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Review by rebeccav -- A Kingdom Forgotten
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Kingdom Forgotten" by Charles W. McDonald Jr..]
3 out of 4 stars
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A Kingdom Forgotten is an interesting novel that jumps in time and to different planets to tell a broad reaching story. This tale follows several different characters that all have their own agendas to accomplish their own secret plans. The main characters are powerful magic users or lameans as they are called following their own paths. They range from a young man just realizing the power he possesses, to men and women whom have lived centuries honing their craft for their own ends and desires.
You jump through portals to different planets including a version of Earth and their home world of Perion and a young planet called Eden. Some of these planets are on the brink of destruction and are just waiting for the last little push to bring them over the edge. Others have already been pushed over the edge and are trying to not destroy themselves. The one idea most inhabitants are slowly learning is that the "End of Times" will sweep them all away, in spite of everything that they try to prevent it from happening.
This book is great for people that enjoy what can be considered high fiction. This first book of the series reminds me of sweeping tales like the Wheel of Time, A Song of Ice and Fire, The Lord of the Rings, and The Sword of Truth, just to name a few. This book has you Portal around visiting different characters, their surroundings and their actions. You move from medieval worlds to ones that are similar to ours learning how powerful these lameans can be and what their intentions are focused towards. This would not be a comfortable made of reading for people that do not like switching point of views or seemingly differing story lines.
There were a few things that I did not enjoy about the novel that actually brought me back to reality a little bit. Some of them happened when we are on Earth and we have a character using a Sig Sauer(TM), or another character is wearing Levi (TM) jeans. These just surprised me when they appeared because I am not used to seeing trademarked products appear in something I am reading. They end up standing out from the rest of the text. The spells the lameans use could almost be mini commercials themselves with names like: Damon's Improved Shield, Damon's Surprise, and Damon's Damnation just to name a couple, and they are mentioned many times when they are being cast.
I also would have liked a little more explanation with some of the characters beforehand. Some of those you meet seem to be mostly normal when you are introduced. Then later in the action they suddenly seem to have abilities and characteristics that were completely hidden before and not even hinted at the possibilities. They have powers you don't expect or turn others into creatures that didn't exist on some planets before. Maybe some of these will be addressed later on, but they were just confusing the first time around.
Besides these personal complaints the story on the whole was great. There was an even balance of types of action. You don't just jump from one crisis to another and most jumps make sense by the end of the first book. I would definitely recommend this to other readers that enjoy epic and engrossing novels. I give this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars.
******
A Kingdom Forgotten
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
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3 out of 4 stars
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A Kingdom Forgotten is an interesting novel that jumps in time and to different planets to tell a broad reaching story. This tale follows several different characters that all have their own agendas to accomplish their own secret plans. The main characters are powerful magic users or lameans as they are called following their own paths. They range from a young man just realizing the power he possesses, to men and women whom have lived centuries honing their craft for their own ends and desires.
You jump through portals to different planets including a version of Earth and their home world of Perion and a young planet called Eden. Some of these planets are on the brink of destruction and are just waiting for the last little push to bring them over the edge. Others have already been pushed over the edge and are trying to not destroy themselves. The one idea most inhabitants are slowly learning is that the "End of Times" will sweep them all away, in spite of everything that they try to prevent it from happening.
This book is great for people that enjoy what can be considered high fiction. This first book of the series reminds me of sweeping tales like the Wheel of Time, A Song of Ice and Fire, The Lord of the Rings, and The Sword of Truth, just to name a few. This book has you Portal around visiting different characters, their surroundings and their actions. You move from medieval worlds to ones that are similar to ours learning how powerful these lameans can be and what their intentions are focused towards. This would not be a comfortable made of reading for people that do not like switching point of views or seemingly differing story lines.
There were a few things that I did not enjoy about the novel that actually brought me back to reality a little bit. Some of them happened when we are on Earth and we have a character using a Sig Sauer(TM), or another character is wearing Levi (TM) jeans. These just surprised me when they appeared because I am not used to seeing trademarked products appear in something I am reading. They end up standing out from the rest of the text. The spells the lameans use could almost be mini commercials themselves with names like: Damon's Improved Shield, Damon's Surprise, and Damon's Damnation just to name a couple, and they are mentioned many times when they are being cast.
I also would have liked a little more explanation with some of the characters beforehand. Some of those you meet seem to be mostly normal when you are introduced. Then later in the action they suddenly seem to have abilities and characteristics that were completely hidden before and not even hinted at the possibilities. They have powers you don't expect or turn others into creatures that didn't exist on some planets before. Maybe some of these will be addressed later on, but they were just confusing the first time around.
Besides these personal complaints the story on the whole was great. There was an even balance of types of action. You don't just jump from one crisis to another and most jumps make sense by the end of the first book. I would definitely recommend this to other readers that enjoy epic and engrossing novels. I give this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars.
******
A Kingdom Forgotten
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
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Latest Review: "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon
