Elseerian

The Chronicles of Lumineia, Book 1

By: Ben Hale

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

The assassination of heroes was once a warning... for an invasion that nearly destroyed the world. Nations were slaughtered, cities were erased from existence, and defending armies were crushed into oblivion. In weeks, all life stood on the verge of extinction. But the end did not come. Instead the black horde vanished, leaving terrified survivors... and rumors. As the centuries passed the holocaust faded into legend, and finally myth. Across the southern sea a gifted young man is completing his training. To him the war is forgotten. To the world a warning goes unheeded. And the killings have already begun.

©2012 Ben Hale (P)2013 Podium Publishing

Critic reviews

"Well written... highly detailed." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Ingenious and immersive." ( Best in Fantasy)

Good book but, too predictable

What did you like best about Elseerian? What did you like least?

I thought the detail was great, the flow was flawless, the lore matched up through out the book. Only thing I did not like about the series as a whole was it was too predictable, if you have any bit of deductive reasoning you can figure out every that is going to happen well before it happens.

fun

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

sure. This book and series was enjoyable but was incredibly shallow. THERE IS NO DEPTH TO THIS SERIES. Saying that, I enjoyed it. Very action packed and a quick listen. It's a totally predictable from start to finish but quite fun.

What did you like best about this story?

the action.

Which scene was your favorite?

the testing.

Where did this guy come from (Ben Hale)????

Wow!!! After a few hours into this book I already had bought the rest in this series...It was that good. Plenty of action, solid story and surprisingly clean. I feel comfortable recommending this book to seasoned fantasy readers as well as young adults in my life (nieces and nephews). Very good book!!!

Good story... Ok performance !!!

Would you listen to Elseerian again? Why?

Good story, character interplay & really good fight seans. Good constant pace, that keeps your interest.

What three words best describe Derek Perkins’s voice?

Passable at best. The voices meld together tomuch & the 2 main chaaracers sound similar. LOL their male & female. Now that's sad.

Exciting

I enjoyed this story a great deal. The writing and pacing was excellent and the narration was equally well done. I recommend this story to anyone that enjoys a fun fantasy story similar to R. A. Salvatore.

If you like LOTR

Would you listen to Elseerian again? Why?

Yes. This is like LOTR but not a copycat. I have purchased all four of the series.

What did you like best about this story?

Good characterization with imaginative situations.

Any additional comments?

This is good for YA and adult readers. Much better than I anticipated!

The worst kind of fantasy

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Possibly YA

How did the narrator detract from the book?

His voices for the elves were very similar and for lack of a better term, "wimpy"

Any additional comments?

This title was full of the worst cliches in fantasy. SPOILERS AHEAD

The main protagonist is incredibly powerful (but doesn't know it) but even though he is a master of weapons (he learns how to be a master with throwing knives in one session) he hates to kill. He hates it so much that when his ship of 40 is attacked by 700 (yes 700) pirates he does his best to not hurt them... and in the next book they need to gather EVERY LIVING PERSON from all the races into the elven city in SIX weeks, because then they can last seven days against the oncoming army of a Billion evil minions to give our guy a week to kill a god. The dialogue is very immature and funny, (but it is not intended to be so)

I do not recommend this title.

Not what I was hoping for

What did you like best about Elseerian? What did you like least?

I enjoy a story that includes plot twist, character flaws, and a bit of angst, but I still want it to be fiction so that I can escape. This story was too straight forward. The characters were all too perfect and fixed in their stereotype. If there was a challenge, that challenge would be solved before the next one came up, I enjoy a challenge within a challenge and got none of that in this story.

The fight scenes were very well done and the author painted a good picture of this world and the story had promise, but it just fell flat for me.

Has Elseerian turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, for the most part this is my favorite genre.

Flawed fantasy

Any additional comments?

I agree with the review written by reader M. McCormick (and other critical voices) and cannot understand the 5 star ratings.

Some of the things that most annoyed me about the writing:
-- The characters are one-dimensional. The author had a great opportunity to bring the main character, Taryn, to life right at the beginning on the island of his childhood, but passed up the chance. Motives are stated, but they are not backed up by characterization and there are too many inconsistencies in characterization. Example: For someone who is interested in his elven heritage and who grew up among elves, Taryn knows incredibly little about them. How could he know nothing about the great elven city (with the giant 10,000 year old tree), the elven ruling families or the oracle (of which I will say no more to avoid spoilers)?

-- The author refers to children as "kids". Maybe it is because I've never encountered modern slang expressions in other fantasy novels, but it struck me as an anachronism.

-- The author goes overboard with the use of banter and humor in inappropriate circumstances. Example: a company of elves has just been tragically slaughtered by a mysterious superhuman killer, and the following (modern day) dialogue occurs between two of the survivors:
"I don't think he likes you guys."
"Ya think?"

-- The book is so fast-paced that it often felt like I was hearing an abridged version. Example: The author refers to the superhuman killer as "Death" from the beginning of the book, but even though he looks like the Grim Reaper (as displayed in the cover art), it is odd when the main characters spontaneously start calling him Death as if the chapter when they decided he looked like Death personified was missing.

Derek Perkins is a good reader, but he makes Taryn talk in a high-pitched effeminate voice that doesn't fit the character.

I will listen to the other volumes because I bought them all at the same time, but I am not really enjoying the experience.

Dissapointing.

What was most disappointing about Ben Hale’s story?

The story seems to be a conglomeration of many fantasy novels. The story does not seem to play out well and the writing style is weak. I found my attention wondering constantly while listening. Not one I would recommend.