Blades of Magic: Crown Service, Book 1

De: Terah Edun

Narrado por: Sylvia Roldn Dohi

Blades of Magic by Terah Edun is a rich epic fantasy perfect for fans of The Girl of Fire and Thorns and Mistborn.

It is not a peaceful time in the Algardis Empire. War is raging between the mages and seventeen-year-old Sara Fairchild will be right in the middle of it. She just doesn't know it yet.

Sara is the daughter of a disgraced imperial commander, executed for desertion. Sara is also the best duelist and hand-to-hand combatant in Sandrin. She lives quietly with her family's shame but when challenged about her family's honor, her opponent inevitably loses. On the night she finds out her father's true last actions, she takes the Mercenary Guilds' vows to serve in the emperor's army. Using her quick wits and fierce fighting skills, she earns a spot in the first division. There she discovers secrets the mages on both sides would prefer stay hidden. Dark enemies hunt her and soon it's not just Sara questioning the motivation behind this war.

While fighting mages, blackmailing merchants and discovering new friends, Sara comes across something she's never had before - passion. The question is - can she fight for her empress against a mage who might unwittingly claim her heart?

This is year one of the Initiate Wars. Sara is hoping it doesn't become the year she dies. On the night she finds out her father's true last actions, she takes the Mercenary Guilds' vows to serve in the emperor's army. Using her quick wits and fierce fighting skills, she earns a spot in the first division. There she discovers secrets the mages on both sides would prefer stay hidden. Dark enemies hunt her and soon it's not just Sara questioning the motivation behind this war.

©2014 Terah Edun (P)2014 Terah Edun

An imaginative read.

Any additional comments?

This is my first Terah Edun book but it definitely won't be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed it. You are brought into the story right from the start and its pretty much a non stop, action packed, roller coaster.

I loved the MC Sara. She was totally kick ass. Despite what everyone thinks about her father, she knows that deep down if he did desert then he had a really good reason to. I admired her faith in him and her tenacity to prove him innocent.

I also love Saras' powers. The idea of her powers, if used constantly, could possibly make her become a beserker was unique and quite awesome! Not only does she battle the people who want to harm her everyday, she also battles her powers and fears.

Ezekiel was awesome too!! He was witty, kind, clever and an all round great person to know. I loved seeing both of them together and seeing their friendship blossom.

The plot was really fast paced and gripping. Poor Sara is put through the paces the whole way through. She is first hired as a watcher (a security guard for magical items). During this time she is forced to guard certain items multiple times, then she learns that her dad may be innocent and ends up as a mercenary to try to get information, then she is sent to a battlefield!! It was so fast paced but also well thought out and developed.

In all I really enjoyed this and will definitely keep on with the series. There are plenty of answers still to come!!

The audio of this was fantastic. The narrator nailed Saras' spunkieness perfectly. She gave each character their own "voice" so it was really easy to differentiate each one.

*I received this for review as part of a blog tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

A brilliantly woven fantasy tale

A digital audio version of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Audio books are usually not my cup of coffee - literally. I always claim that there's something amiss in not being able to curl up with the book, when having it narrated to you instead. This book made me take back my words completely. With a fabulous narration by Sylvia Roldn Dohl, the book is a brilliant treat. I had heard from fellow reviewers and book lovers that a good narrator is key to a successful audiobook. After listening to Dohl's expressive narration, I so agree! I'm eagerly looking forward to listening to another one by her.

The story revolves around young Sara Fairchild, eager to prove to the world and herself, that she is capable of becoming a warrior. But fate thinks otherwise, and she is forced to take up a job at a fishery. When Sara is assigned by the fishery owner an additional task of having to watch over his warehouse of special artifacts, she is left to travel through a maze of unraveling mysteries. The journey also takes her through getting to know about her dad's death and what he did. The characterisation is handled well - be it Sara's self-discovery through her journey and the different emotions she goes through, or Ezekiel's mild eccentricities, the characters linger on in the mind. The pace of the book is just right, of course aided by Dohl's soulful voice.

I would highly recommend this book to lovers of fantasy and adventure genres.

My rating for this book: 4 stars

Can’t wait for the others to be on Audible

Sounds like it will be a good series. Disappointing that the other 3 available in Amazon are not on Audible yet.

Blades Of Magic

Would you listen to Blades of Magic: Crown Service, Book 1 again? Why?

No but I would listen to book 2

What about Sylvia Roldn Dohi’s performance did you like?

I didn't like it at first,but warmed up to her as she got further into the book.

Any additional comments?

I wasn't sure in the beginning if I would finish this book.It was violent and 'Hunger Games ish'.I read on and there was a different story here.I liked it.

Entertaining Listen

Would you try another book from Terah Edun and/or Sylvia Roldn Dohi?

I would likely listen to the second book in this series.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I like the idea of being a battle wizard. Rather than projecting magic without, its focused within to enhance one's self. Sort of like a super hero.

Have you listened to any of Sylvia Roldn Dohi’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not.

Was Blades of Magic: Crown Service, Book 1 worth the listening time?

Sure.

This is not a bad book. The dialogue and writing can be clunky at times and offer too much detail into things needlessly while not offering enough where I wanted it.

Any additional comments?

In my opinion book's biggest weakness is that it relies on a series of coincidences. It really bugs me when a book's plot only advances through a series of unlikely happenstances that only occur because someone met the right person at the right time at the right place.