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Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Kings or Pawns (Steps of Power #1) in Books

Nov 18, 2019  
Kings or Pawns (Steps of Power #1)
Kings or Pawns (Steps of Power #1)
J.J. Sherwood | 2016 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book contains the usual staple fantasy races: elves, humans, dwarves, centaurs. There are epic battles and bold heroes, princesses in peril and magic. There is even a map at the front.

But that is where any similarity between this book and most other epic fantasy novels ends. Sherwood tells the tale of an elven country that has become corrupt with a ruling council who make decisions for reasons of profit, driving the rightful kings away and installing a puppet regime. Meanwhile the country is facing a war led by a brilliant defector.

When his father, the king, dies young Prince Hairem is determined to stand up to the council and stop the rot. But the council has ruled for hundreds of years, how can he possibly change things? Meanwhile Jikun, the general of the army must obey the council's wishes, even if the orders will only lead to destruction.

Sherwood starts with a few scenes and set pieces and gradually introduces the key players; Jikun is bold and brilliant but has a lot of inner demons which threaten to destroy him. Hairem is idealistic but naive.

The machinations of the council are real House of Cards type stuff, every way that Hairem tries to exert his authority blunted and diverted by the wily council members, who simultaneously try to make out they are on his side. As a political thriller this works amazingly well despite being set in a fantasy world; the descriptions and characters are perfectly pitched. It seems that pretty much everybody has dark secrets which everybody else is either trying to discover or use to their advantage.

There are scenes of action too, with Jikun and the army and also Sellemar mounting a daring raid into enemy territory plus duels and assasination attempts. This book really does have everything packed into it and the ending is both shocking and perfectly balanced to allow for further books in the series while satisfyingly closing a number of plot threads.

I was expecting a fairly standard fantasy book when I started this; what I got was an absolute gem that just begged to be read. A total masterpiece.
  
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Chloe (778 KP) rated Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition in Video Games

May 3, 2020  
Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition
Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition
Action/Adventure
10
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Video Game Rating
Fantasy (3 more)
Fun
Puzzle
Clever
Too short (0 more)
Definitively epic
The premise of the story is something I've not seen before. You are a little creature trying to return the light (and other things) to the world that it is situated in. Helping other beings along the way and spreading love/light. I played on my xbox one.

It is a puzzle game that really gets you thinking and is very clever. I spent quite some hours on this game trying to figure out the puzzles. There are several "boss battles" although these are not in the usual sense. I recommend giving it a go to find out.

The fantasy setting is stunning, the special effects, the colours, everything is just dialed up and it looked so wonderful on my HD tv.

The game is almost too sure although I have spent 20 hours completing it, I've now gone back to finish each section of the map to 100%.

If you like puzzle games I would highly recommend even for the less frequent gamer (like myself).