Book Description
Sequel to Ghost, Kildar and Choosers of the Slain.
Michael Harmon has been there and done that. Rescued co-eds, killed major terrorists, stopped nuclear assaults. Now he'd just like to kick back and relax with his harem of lovelies. Unfortunately, the world keeps turning. Mike and the Keldara are back tracking down terrorists, rogue Russian bio-scientists and the doomsday weapon to end all doomsday weapons. It's going to take some very tough, hard and nasty people to stop the end of the world. Fortunately, there's Mike Harmon. The Hero of Ghost, Kildar and Choosers of the Slain, along with his company of elite mountain fighters, is sent on a mission to stop an advanced smallpox plague from being turned over to terrorists. But that will only be the beginning as the Kildar and his Keldara rush to stop a host of WMD attacks, coordinated to take out the very heartland of terrorism's enemies. It's a battle for culture, and this time the terrorists aren't aiming at just one building. . . .
Customer Reviews:
Appreciation of John Ringo........2007-07-20
I'm glad to see Ringo get out of the crotch novel attitude. Now if he could just quit the typical recruit use of excessive vulgarities; so when he does use them they actually mean something, that would be much better. I really enjoyed the action in this book but I wonder where Ringo is going to get replacements for his Keldera, he's going through them like free salted peanuts at a bar hosting a sergeants convention.Unto the Breach (Paladin of Shadows, Book 4)
Excellent, fast paced, exciting action.......2007-04-18
Once again John Ringo has added a great action book to this series. The action is explosive, the personal interactions between characters is how real people act when in extraordinary circumstances. This continuing saga should become a very favorite of Ringo's fans and action adventure readers for a long time.
Worth reading.......2007-03-16
John Ringo is a great writter I love his books and read them all over and over.
If you don't get it yet I HIGHLY recommend his books, All of them!
Great Book.......2007-03-09
I really enjoyed the latest book (and I hope not the last) of the "Kildar" series. Mike Jenkins and his Keldara fighters - both male and female - do a great job against seemingly insurmountable odds. A really exciting combat oriented book with just enough of Mike's diversions occuring to make the book balanced. A great read and as I say, I truly hope this is not the end of this series - the adventures are too good to stop now.
On a mission to thwart Armageddon........2007-03-05
Ringo's UNTO THE BREACH continues the saga in a new series: again Michael's looking to kick back from intrigue, espionage and violence - but a visit with the President leads to an unexpected assignment deep into Islamic terrorist strongholds, again on a mission to thwart Armageddon.
Book Description
Sequel to Ghost and Kildar.
Former SEAL Michael Harmon (Ghost, Kildar) has a pretty good life. He's settled down in the country of Georgia and built a solid commando-quality militia out of his local retainers. The Keldara have an ancient history of being first-class mountain warriors and all they needed was a few million in modern weapons and training to bring them up to speed. Now, with the Keldara keeping the area safe from Chechen raiders, and the various other terrorists that want Ghost's head on their wall, he can settle back, relax in his harem and drink a few beers. However, a US senator has a problem. A "major financial contributor's" daughter has been kidnapped into the labyrinthian depths of the Balkans sex-slave trade. The US government has been unable to find her and the Senator is _very_ interested in changing that condition. Five million dollars interested. As Ghost and his Keldara warriors blast a gaping hole through the middle of the trade, it quickly becomes apparent that there is more to the mission than a "poor missing waif." There's a rot underneath, and the stench is coming from the very floor of the Capitol. Being at war with Albanian gangs is one thing. Taking on Washington is a different ball game. But Ghost never believed in fighting fair.
Customer Reviews:
Hitting Stride.......2007-09-04
This was an even better read than Kildar. I will definitely be recommending this series. Good action all around.
Paladin of Shadows.......2007-07-25
I think John Ringo has a hit here, just as he did with his other series. I enjoy the books and feel that John Ringo doeas a great amount of research during the writing process.
best of the series so far........2007-02-21
Great action with the added flair of the D&S. This book had more action and suspense than the 2nd book, and the depiction of the Eastern slave trade was fascinating, and sad.
Hey Ringo, what are you doing?.......2007-01-27
OK Ghost was great, Kildar was good, but this book is getting stupid. I did read it. It's still got enough killing, weapons, sex, and sluts to keep me happy, but Ringo needs to put the pipe down.
I enjoyed it........2007-01-10
In the continuing saga of ex-SEAL Mike Harmon, he gets mixed up in the mid-European sex trade. Serious damage ensues, to the bad guys of course. The places where the action occurs are unusual, and the basic premise is attractive. Who can hate a man who can out-fight and out-bedroom James Bond? Mature readers only.
Customer Reviews:
Lawfully Good can be a pain in the..........2007-04-26
Have you ever tried to deal with a Paladin? Having played a Thief in AD&D I can tell you, they can be a pain in the...purse. Always handing out money, food, and advice to anybody in need. Or anybody at all. Paladins really push their nose into business that, most of the time, has nothing to do with them. And they drag everybody along with them.
So when the Order of the Stick finds itself on the wrong side of a Paladin's pair of sharp swords you know they are in trouble. It seems that they are now on the most wanted list for their actions at Dorukan's Gate.
Popcorn Gods, side quests and the return of Xykon! And crayons! What more could you ask for?
I ain't got the blues.......2007-03-16
One of the greatest, funniest comics I have ever read. As a gamer it makes me like the game even more while being more able to laugh at myself. For the non gamer it would still be in danger of sending them to hopital for surgerey to have their guts stitched back inside.
I would reccomend this comic to my mother in law.
Great Gaming Humor.......2007-01-10
This is the third volume to showcase the stylized stick-figure adventures of the Order of the Stick, a group of sometimes inept and always quarreling swords-and-sorcery adventurers on a quest to defeat their arch-enemy and, of course, obtain wealth and power along the way. The previous two volumes ("Dungeon Crawlin' Fools" and "On the Origin of PCs") were a collection of the first installments of the web comic and a batch of new material to provide character backstories respectively. This present book carries on the plotlines introduced in the first collection. (OOTS also appears now in "Dragon" magazine as a series of one-shots strips that do not pertain to the ongoing story.)
These collections are HIGHLY recommended to any D&D player (especially those familiar with the 3rd Edition rules) or to any fantasy RPG fan in general. The strips feature side-splittingly wry humor, actual character development, worthy and interesting opponents with intricate schemes, recurring NPCs, and nifty adventures. (And, as a bonus, there are almost no typos or grammar errors such as plague almost every other web comic.)
Mr. Burlew provides some authorial reflections in different sections of the book and some hints about what is yet to come (he is projecting a five-to-seven book series before OOTS wraps up). There's also some previously unpublished material included.
High page count and quality paper, too.
Pick this up immediately, and then order a copy for your closest friend.
Well worth the price of admission. .......2006-12-30
Volume two of the Order of the Stick series has great art, dialouge, and storytelling. It's very clever, and doesn't fall into so many of the ruts that many webcomics or gaming cartoons fall prey to. At nearly 250 pages, it's worth the money, and that's before you consider the additional material in the book that's not available on the website.
Highly enjoyable for people who are currently part of the rollplaying scene, or people like me, who left D&D behind a long time ago back when "Advanced" was considered something kinda newfangled and sexy.... I reccomend this book to everyone.
Book Description
Problems, problems, problems! All Mike Harmon ever wanted to be was a SEAL. But after problems in the teams, college student was a decent second best. However, trouble seemed to follow him where he went. Now, after having angered every terrorist on Earth and at least five governments, buying a farm in a third world country was looking pretty good. Of course, nothing was ever simple. With Chechen terrorists knocking on the door and tenant farmers with a truly Byzantine culture, the question was whether he could drag the keldara into the 21st century before the Chechen put them back in the 6th. Kildar answers the question: Where would an international security specialist and former SEAL choose to retire-if he's going to buy the farm, it should be one with beautiful women and the best beer in the world. Valhalla on Earth complete with Vikings.
Customer Reviews:
Good Read and Better than Ghost.......2007-09-04
Good Story and a bit less over the top than Ghost. I would probably recommend this book over Ghost just because it is a better read. The Sex is still there but less in your face than in the first.
If you are a Ringo fan as I am and were put off by Ghost, read this one. Remember it is still in the Mac Bolan, The Destroyer and as someone else mentioned John Carter (Except no Mars)
The Ghost decides to come out of retirement - with dangerous results........2007-09-03
John Ringo's KILDAR tells of Mike, who has always wanted to be a SEAL, but who is currently hated by every terrorist on Earth and many governments. Facing danger, the Ghost decides to come out of retirement - with dangerous results.
Seriously..........2007-08-08
None of you giving more than 1 star review can't be serious, can you? There is absolutely nothing in this mass of drivel which is even remotely compelling.
I get the fact that Ringo is into SOF fanboy fiction, with Jenkins being wealthy, an awe-inspiring warrior, and a sexual dynamo, but at least make a story out of it, Old Boy.
Firstly, Kildar is never in a difficult situation that he can't wave some money at or make a convenient phone call to solve. Isn't the first tenant of storytelling is the hero in a tight spot and has to work his way out?
Next, the dialogue is forced. Not only does Jenkins communicate with the natives in their own dialect in seemingly a matter of days with perfection, but he's using expressions that a clan of people basically out of the 15th century wouldn't even comprehend.
Additionally, there is only a smattering of action at page 440 of a 460 page book. Yep. Basically, you've just read an entire tome about a guy buying a castle, meeting the natives, financing some farming operations, setting up his personal harem, putting together the A-Team and ... nothing.
Lastly, there is not sub-plot or interesting twist. Just a linear omnipotent narration. Pretty boring really.
Edgar Rice Burroughs fantasies for adult males.......2007-07-22
My dad bought this book and I read it and generally liked the story. Ringo is entertaining. This series is sort of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Mars series for adult males. Meaning, in the Mars series the women were subjugated, the men, all masculine, and it appealed perfectly to the juvenile male.
This series appeals perfectly to the adult male, in general. It is the Edgar Rice Burroughs Mars series for adults because of the sex. First the book is a fantasy, Navy seal with 30 million bucks gets cooperation from the local governments and the US govt whenever he needs it; he gets a harem and then finds, very conveniently, a harem manager through a connection in another country. The female harem mgr. loves rough sex and is a fantasy woman in every way, submissive, sexually compliant and inventive, etc. The hero is able to have sex for hours at a time, the girl loves to be beaten and dominated. You get the picture.
Take all that out or minimize it and you have the same plot with a less juvenile approach to life.
I will, no doubt, be criticized for complaining about the sex, so be it, it won't be the first time. The sex and sexual content and stereotypes of women are not needed. Second, even if it were needed, the typically juvenile way that the protagonist's sex partners are portrayed are off the charts stereotypical fantasy women, playboy playmates come to life as it were to make the the fantasies they inspire come true.
The story itself is a 4, the stereotypical way the sexuality and the protagonist's sex partners are handled rate it a 1 or 2, so a total compromise score is 3.
An other good read from John Ringo.......2007-06-30
Not quite as "over the top" as the previous novel, "Ghost", but I look forward to reading the next book in this military fiction series.
Average customer rating:
- "Once, I was a saint."
- A bitter, god-distrusting woman's journey to her identity and...love
- Good but not great
- Excellent Fantasy novel with a spiritual bend
- Well written and exciting un-sequel to `Curse of Chalion'
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Paladin of Souls
Lois McMaster Bujold
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0380818612
Release Date: 2005-04-26 |
Book Description
Follow Lois McMaster Bujold, one of the most honored authors in the field of fantasy and science fiction, to a land threatened by treacherous war and beset by demons -- as a royal dowager, released from the curse of madness and manipulated by an untrustworthy god, is plunged into a desperate struggle to preserve the endangered souls of a realm.
Download Description
'E-Book Extras: ONE: The Keys to Chalion: A Dictionary of People, Places, and Things; TWO: Chalion Miscellany. It's been three years since the curse was lifted, but Ista dy Baocia, Dowager Royina of Chalion, holds a dark secret: she was responsible for the destruction of Chalion years ago. When her kingdom is threatened once again, Ista must defend her homeland, and her soul. One of the most honored authors in the field of fantasy and science fiction, Lois McMaster Bujold transports us once more to a dark and troubled land and embroils us in a desperate struggle to preserve the endangered souls of a realm.
Customer Reviews:
"Once, I was a saint.".......2007-09-04
Earlier on Amazon, I had reviewed the first book in this series: The Curse of Chalion. I had given it a reasonably good review, three or four stars, I believe. I had rarely had such a nasty reaction to a review as the response I had to that one. Beware of giving Bujold a lukewarm reception. I had made the mistake of noting that I had read some of her other work and really disliked it-- earning me several nasty emails from rabid fans.
I still stand by all that. I heartily dislike her earlier work. I thought The Curse of Chalion was okay. I think that Paladin of Souls is really pretty good. Ista is the best Bujold character that I have read so far, and she carries the book. I'm still not sure that the book ever escapes triteness with the plotting. Luckily, the characters were good enough that I really didn't care. I'm not sure that I would have awarded it the Hugo, but it is clearly a cut above the much of the fantasy fiction out there.
So am I going to enjoy The Hallowed Hunt or not? Someone care to explain to me in the comments why she has such a following?
A bitter, god-distrusting woman's journey to her identity and...love.......2007-03-16
~~~SOME MILD SPOILERS for first novel and, perhaps, this one, depending what you consider a spoiler. Be warned~~~
Well, I was so totally delighted with THE CURSE OF CHALION , that I plunged immediately into the sequel, PALADIN OF SOULS, .
This novel picks up three years after the grand and happy conclusion of the first. Here, the Provincara who first sheltered Cazaril (the hero from CHALION) is dead, and Ista--she generally thought driven mad by her sorrows, but whom wise and deep-seeing Cazaril came to understand was one of the specially-sighted, a once-saint of the Mother goddess--remains feeling more trapped than ever in the fortress under the care of the kindly, but overprotective dy Ferrej and her own powerful brother.
She is still much angry with the gods for her sufferings and their meddlings-to her sense, poorly done and mostly ineffectual--in her life. She yearns, desperately, for escape. And so she does, under pretense of a pilgrimage to plead the gods at various holy sites for the boon of a male heir for her daughter and her husband, the rulers of Chalion-Ibra.
But the gods are not done with their reluctant and bitter saint, and the pilgrimage turns into an unexpected and harrowing journey into the demon-infested and tragedy-haunted northlands, where Ista must choose to truly be a saint and work with the gods or remain in defiance and turn her back on a great need in her land.
The choice will make or unmake her.
McMaster Bujold builds slowly, as she did with THE CURSE OF CHALION, but once the key characters are involved--first dy Cabon, the portly and dream-touched divine of the Bastard's order; then the amiable and heroic dy Gura twins from the first book; and the sexually magnetic and magnificent leader Arhys, lord of Porifors, who lives with an uncanny situation and wounds from the past and present; and his stricken brother Illvin, who haunts Ista's dreams and is haunted in dreams by Ista; the spunky female courier Liss; the beautiful marchess Cattilara, obessed and loyal wife of Arhys-- and once the most dreadful conflicts emerge, the pace quickens and much action ensues.
Will Ista find redemption, and will she become an instrument of salvation in doing so? Or is the dark conspiracy too much for a memory-haunted and shame-burdened royina (dowager queen).
As in CHALION, the spiritually focused and dramatic climax is a beautiful and wondrous thing to read and experience.
I still think that I prefer CHALION by a few hairs. I found the repeated capture and rescues in PALADIN a bit tiresome as we neared the grand conclusion. But the characters are sympathetic and flawed, and it is a pleasure to see them face huge obstacles. As in CHALION, there is a lovely romance we root for and heroic men and women who change the world into a better place by just doing what they can according to their abilities as the need arises, and sometimes, even doing what they think they can't, stepping out in faith or hope or love or for honor.
The medieval Spanish/Portuguese echoes are strong here as in the first novel, and the villain is more gruesome. A curse of a different sort becomes the focus for humans and gods. Here, the Bastard god is at work, even as the Daughter goddess was focal in the spiritual action of the first book; and he is absolutely fascinating and quite a tease. The Father god, barely present in the first novel, gets a beautiful scene of his own, one that will resonate with Christians.
The climactic battle sequences are very strong, quite moving, and rivetting, as this is no conventional warfare. I won't divulge any details, because plot points would be ruined, but LMB certainly opened the conduit of creativity to come up with this powerful endgame. I wept, more than once.
This novel won the Hugo award, and it's certainly another fine offering from the very talented LMB. I look forward to delving into THE HALLOWED HUNT, even with the reviews not so glowing for the third in the CHALION series.
Highly RECOMMENDED
Good but not great.......2007-01-23
After the brilliant "Curse of Chalion" I was expecting great things - but this book doesn't perform. Although still quite good, this novel drops back closer to LMB's usual standard.
Lady Ista (a bit character from the first book) goes on a pilgrimage in order to find herself, and finds adventure, trouble and romance. Unfortunately, it's not the Ista we met last time.
In "Curse", Ista was a sad, tormented victim of the evil curse, alone amidst her oblivious family, yet still possessed of a dark and wry wit. In "Paladin", Ista is reduced to a stock character, a 'plucky heroine' type caricature.
None of the other characters did much better, with the dy Gura brothers - here with a larger role - oddly less rounded than in "Curse", where they were only background characters. Liss, Ista's courier lady-in-waiting, had potential, but was never really developed.
The addition of a new magic system, demon magic, didn't help. It seemed a bit contrived, especially since there wasn't even a mention of such powers in the first book.
This book is worth reading if you liked the first book, or if you like romantic fantasy, but I consider it to be only average.
Excellent Fantasy novel with a spiritual bend.......2007-01-20
This is a fantasy novel that covers road trip book, growing up and spirituality.
The fantasy world is European history based, vividly described and makes for a great backdrop for what is a road trip book as the main character of the book, Ista goes about discovering her capabilities and connections.
I found the story flow is quite gripping and had lots of twists and turns to make it right there in my list with other good recent fantasy books such as American Gods.
There is no need to read the first book (The Curse of Chalion) in the series before this one and I would suggest not it as this is the best in the series and carries itself well.
Well written and exciting un-sequel to `Curse of Chalion' .......2007-01-02
I was beginning to get worried...
Of late, the principle character of Lois McMaster Bujold's space opera adventures, Miles Vorkosigan was getting older, settling down and having kids. In the last several novels he was becoming domesticated and sedentary compared to his action-packed youthful exploits with the Dendarii Mercenaries. Moving in diplomatic circles, Miles is doing more detecting than adventuring. I miss Admiral Naismith.
I'm glad Lois ventured back into the fantasy genre with `Curse of Chalion', where she has created a fantasy universe every bit as rich and tactile as Miles' Barryaran Empire.
In a well written and exciting un-sequel to that good story, Lois follows the Dowager Royina Ista, (Iselle's mother) on a holy pilgrimage away from her Castle into a new adventure not unlike one that Miles would experience.
In CofC, Ista was a shadow character, lonely in her misfortune and her madness. But in `Palladin', Ista`s character takes on new life, facing challenges heroically that her CofC character was never capable of.
Ista and her traveling retinue, the brothers dyGura, Ferda and Foix (from CofC), Friar Tuck-like cleric dyCabon, and a new strong young heroine named Liss, meet with considerable bad fortune and interesting events along her pilgrimage. Ista also gets an opportunity for romance, although at first it appears quite remote.
Along the way, they meet with signs of necromancy and demon-mongering, and a dose of Roknari invaders. Throw in some chivalrous new characters, and the usual handful of Bujold plot twists and unexpected events, and we wind up with quite a satisfying novel, even more interesting than its predecessor and comparable to a good Miles Vorkosigan space opera adventure.
Book Description
Alexis Morgan continues her dazzling paranormal series about larger-than-life warriors and the women they love....
As a Paladin warrior, Blake Trahern fights and dies again and again to keep mankind safe from the Others. Sensing his humanity slipping away with each battle, he retreats from the world...until the one person who still has a claim on his soul needs his help. It's been twelve years since Blake vanished from Brenna Nichols's life, years that have turned her from a love-struck teen into a headstrong, sensual woman. He'll fearlessly give his life to protect her -- yet he dare not risk his heart.
Brenna is stunned by Blake's reappearance, and by a shocking discovery about her father. Everything she has ever believed is thrown into question -- everything except the desire that Blake still ignites. But as they search together for a traitor among the Paladins, danger looms: the next battle could tip Blake into madness, destroying his life, his soul...and the only woman he has ever loved.
Customer Reviews:
It must be hard to write a second book.......2007-05-06
Because so many sophomore attempts are awful. (Chance book is an example). The first book was very entertaining with a new concept. This book went for the pity me angle -the I'm so tortured with pain, guilt whatever. I tried to like the characters, but the entire conspiracy angle overwhelmed the story. Also are the others friend's or foes. Make up your mind please. Over all I would borrow but not buy full price.
better than the first.......2007-04-26
I didn't care the first one in this series because there was too many loose ends. I thought this one was better in that it at least addressed the fact that there was loose ends and that even the Paladins didn't understand what was happening, but they were trying to find out.
I also had the impression that answers were on their way. The characters were interesting and worked well together. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Not as good as I thought it would be........2007-04-10
I enjoyed the first in the series, Dark Protector, and was looking forward to Blake's story. Blake is a Paladin and watches the border between our world and the Others. Paladin's are born warriors and often die in the line of duty, but are continuously brought back by their Handlers. Once a Paladin has been brought back one time too many, he becomes an Other and must be put down. In the First book, Blake was very close to becoming an Other. I had the feeling he was on the edge of losing his humanity. I did not get that feeling in this book, even though it kept saying he was close to having to be killed. I just expected more of his character and felt somewhat dissapointed. I didn't care too much for Brenna either. Dr. Laurel Young and Devin Blane's characters were more fleshed out in the first book. I still enjoyed the story but I wouldn't give it 5 stars. It kept my interest for the most part, but just didn't carry me away.
Better!.......2007-02-18
I read the first of the series and it took me a while to wrap my head around the storyline which was very unique. I wasn't sure I was going to care for a hero who died at the end--or I thought I would care to much and then be angry---I was so wrong on it all. I would suggest this book and the first to any who are considering it--just don't go into it with any prepreceived notions--you will be pleasantly surprised either way, but after getting that first book read--this second ones was fantastic because I knew the Paladian universe.
A fun read!.......2007-01-07
What an imaginative story line Ms. Morgan has created! She grabs your attention and then you hang on for the great ride to the end. The barrier divides good and evil, or does it? Can't wait for the 3rd book!
Book Description
Devlin Bane: Born a Paladin, he is a member of an ancient band of warriors locked in a centuries-old war against evil.
His destiny: To die over and over again to protect mankind from the Others, only to be revived each time by his mortal Handler.
But his fierce strength and courage cannot save him from gradually becoming one of the monsters he was born to destroy.
Dr. Laurel Young, who has spent years training to become a Handler, must remain detached from her patients. But each time she revives the darkly compelling Devlin Bane, he claims a little more of her soul and incites in her desires that grow wilder and wilder -- even as he inches closer to losing his humanity. As the war against the Others grows more desperate, Laurel and Devlin can't help but give in to the fierce hunger that's sizzled between them for so long. Now they'll face the ultimate battle together -- to save a dark, passionate love that goes against every rule as they join forces to fight an enemy who is closer than they ever imagined....
Customer Reviews:
Interesting book.......2007-09-27
I like this book because part of the story that it explains is not common... having men coming back from death to fight again... but some of the story is common, exactly the part in which the two characters fall in love with each other, and then the bad/s guy/s take the girl prisioner and the god guy has to save her and save the day too when and if he does.
Besides this common ground with other books I liked how the book was written, even when I got a little bored with the kidnapping thing, because all the book was like centered around it, but you know, it's what it needed to put the heroe in a dangerous position, so, if it had to be it, then... be it.
The books is good, entertaining and fast paced. The girl is strong and beautiful, and the heroe is charming and strong, too. Sorry to describe them like that, but they hold little appeal to me, I was far more interested in one of the secondary characters, Trahern. And his book is one that I want to read!
Yes, maybe I dind't like the characters that much, and maybe I got a little bored with the kidnapping thing, but I liked the book, so I have the two following ones to read, and the fourth one on my wishlist ;-)
Wasn't quite sure about the series but I enjoyed it very much........2007-08-19
The series appears pretty clearcut at first, sort of a fantasy/science fiction/romance. But unlike a lot of authors who develop only the hero and heroine, this author has made the villains and their motives quite interesting. I like the characters, especially the strong female characters who can hold their own against very macho male warriors and I find the premise interesting. The first book definitely moved me into the second book and I've now progressed from the second book into the third. Worth the read.
Interesting concept. But I have to say it, boreing............2007-07-24
Even though the concept is different and exciting the storyline had me bored. I put the book down a few times and I didn't really care to find out what happened cause I could already guess how it would end. There was no good stuff in this book. No action packed fight scenes, No high intensity sex scenes. No real mystery. What I did like was the characters. These Paladins are sexy, funny and dangerous.
I know reading romances you already know the ending....(and they live happily ever after) so it's the meat that's supposed to keep you reading on.
This book was okay. It wasn't good or even great. It does have potential to be a good series as long as the author keeps to these paranormal romance novel guidlines; lots of volience, sex and humor.......
Now this is how you start a series!!!!.......2007-04-21
I really, really liked this book. I am on break from the BDBrotherhood/J.R. Ward series and I needed something to read. This filled the bill. Devlin is awesome and fulfulls every promise of a sexy, strong Alpha that is expected. But Laurel, or should I say Dr. Laurel Young was awesome. I really like this strong, stubborn, kind, loving Heroinne. She is great. She is a great strong, sexy, feminine character without all the silly sarcasm (as in Natasha from the Feehan series). You will actually see their love grow, and know why they are in love and great lust with each other. The Others/Villians are interesting and are not the True Villians of the series. Check it out, you will not be sorry.
Another urban fantasy - but a so-so one.......2007-04-02
In the rash of urban fantasy books at the moment there's a lot of sameness. I had hopes that "Dark Protector" might be the beginning of a series that was a little different, like (for example) J R Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, which is a fresh look at the vampire genre.
"Dark Protector" is the first in a series about the Paladins, semi-humans who exist to protect the barrier between our world and the dark world of 'The Others' who try to cross into our world periodically and who do it harm. The Paladins fight with swords and knives against 'The Others' whenever they break through the barrier (which is related to seismic and volcanic activity in our world) and if they are killed in the fighting they come alive again after a couple of days. Unfortunately the more times a Paladin dies, the less human they become until eventually one day they will wake up as one of 'The Others' and have to be euthanased.
Devlin Bane is one of the oldest Paladins - he's treading perilously close to the edge of losing his humanity and becoming one of the Others. The story starts when he is revived by his Handler, Dr Laurel Young, after a rather unusual fight with a couple of the Others. And from that point on things don't go according to plan as he tries to work out what's going on, discovers someone is plotting against him from the human side, and gets involved with Laurel Young, his Doctor and the woman who will have to end his life when he loses his humanity.
We are introduced, in this story, to several of the other Paladins, most of whom will no doubt feature in subsequent books. The world of this story is an interesting one with a traditional battle between good and evil, with the evil sometimes coming from your own side. At the end of the book there was an interesting loose end about the intrinsic evil of the Others which may serve to muddy the water but had possibilities but is evidently only going to be explored in subsequent books.
Unfortunately for this book, and despite the interesting and different premise on which it's based, there wasn't enough meat to it. The romance seems more about lust than love and it's hard to see quite where it's going long term, the mystery aspect of the renegade human never really grabbed my attention and there were some slow parts of the book. The fighting between Paladins and Others isn't really described very well (which could have added interest to the story) and although the characters are good, they also felt a little one-dimensional. Dr Young is that common-in-fiction completely wonderful doctor who will do anything to help a patient, and yet she also breaks one of the basic rules about the doctor-patient relationship.
I didn't feel that this book lived up to its possibilities and I didn't find myself caring enough about any of the characters to feel that this had been a worthwhile read. It's not badly written, it's just too run-of-the-mill in an overcrowded genre.
Book Description
Divine dedication powers these crusaders.
This book spotlights the champions of deities in the
D&D game, clerics and paladins. It's packed with ways to customize cleric and paladin characters, including:
New feats, prestige classes, weapons, and equipment.
More uses for turning checks, and new magic items and spells designed specially for clerics and paladins.
Information about special organizations such as the Laughing Knives and the Stargazers.
Detailed maps of temples that players and
Dungeon Masters can use as bases of operation or as enemy structures that must be brought down.
Indispensable to both players and
Dungeon Masters, this book adds excitement to any campaign.
Customer Reviews:
Helpful and condensed.......2006-06-24
In building my D&D library, I asked friends about these paperback guidebooks to the various classes. They told me to instead purchase the "complete" hardbacks now currently out. While the hardbacks may have updated 3.5 rules, they are also much more costly and filled with, in my opinion, rarely useful extras. If, like me, you're simply looking for something a cleric and/or paladin might want to see when leveling up during a campaign, I would highly suggest this book.
The older book was better.......2002-11-15
I am referring to the Complete Guide to Paladins for 2nd edtion. That book had far more material in greater depth than Defenders does. Again, this book also seems underdone, like so many 3rd edition books. The most useful material was the section describing how the faiths of specific alignments, and deities, work. As for the rest, it is "overbalanced". Most of the feats are so "balanced" as to be worthless, as are the prestige classes. The kits found in the Complete Guide are better, I think, with real balance, not +'s and -'s canceling each other out. The organizations listed were a little better, but again, the Guide had more interesting ones. Although I have focussed on Paladins, the same holds for priests. The Complete Guide to Priests wasn't that good, so I can't recommend looking for it. Overall, I wouldn't bother buying this again just four about 10 pages of useful material.
worst so far... BUT..........2002-11-13
i got this book for a paladin so i was really disappointed. the only good parts was the section on dragon mounts. but this book has great stuff on clerics, i look at them in a whole new light now. but if you want paladins, back order Dragon #199
worst so far... BUT..........2002-11-13
i got this book for a paladin so i was really disappointed. the only good parts was the section on dragon mounts. but this book has great stuff on clerics, i look at them in a whole new light now. but if you want paladins, back order
Dragon #199
Good Paladin info.......2002-05-28
I really liked it because I had always done Wizards but decided to make a Paladin. This was sitting on my shelf and was incredibly helpful.
Book Description
Alexis Morgan continues her red-hot paranormal series with a mysterious warrior and his forbidden love for a woman who's allegiance lies with his sworn enemy. . . .
Once a warrior for the Others, Barak q'Young is caught between two worlds -- exiled from his homeland, and a pariah among his enemies, the Paladins. While hunting a betrayer who's selling the precious blue gems that light the Others' world, Barak must aid geologist Lacey Sebastian in her research for the Paladins. Barak is instantly drawn to the fiery, beautiful woman, but Lacey initially despises the enemy intruder. Soon she sees beyond his violent past, though, finding the dark warrior intriguing -- and extremely sexy.
Though neither can resist the passion that blazes between them, Barak is torn between loyalties, hiding a secret gift that could prove useful to Lacey's research, at the sacrifice of his own people. But when Lacey is kidnapped and held hostage, Barak realizes he will do anything to save her . . . even risk his own life.
Customer Reviews:
Great Series!.......2007-09-27
I bought Dark Protector (Paladins of Darkness, Book 1) on a lark. I was looking for something with a slightly different premise from the usual vampire/time travel/wolf/ghost paranormals that have seemed to flood the market. Dark Protector held something new; Warriors that returned from the dead to fight again and again but always with the knowledge that eventually, they would become the thing they fought against. Dark Protector was a very good read and though the author's writing was very rough in places, the premise and the character development gave me the desire to give her a chance and read the second, Dark Defender.
Dark Defender (Paladins of Darkness, Book 2) was as good as the first, the writing had improved, the character development in new characters was done well and the original characters stayed true to form. I thought I might have found a winner in Ms. Morgan.
In Darkness Reborn (Paladins of Darkness, Book 3) has verified my trust in her abilities. Her original characters carry through this story well, staying true to themselves and unflinching in their personalities. So many times, first characters tend to become wishy-washy as the series progresses. Not so with Ms. Morgan. In this story, Barak, who we met in the first book, has been well fleshed out and is a rich personality but is his own man and not a carbon copy of any other that she's written. Her heroine, Lacey Sebastian, is humanly flawed which is a delight in the face of so many perfect heroines these days. The story was very well done, easy to become engrossed in and even Barak, as an Other, was easy to relate to as far as the many problems he faces not only trying to fit into the human world, but to keep true to the honor he holds above all else.
If I have any complaints at all about Ms. Morgan, it is that she seems to latch on to an 'favorite phrase' and uses it too often, in this case "she stepped into his arms" or some such subtle variation. Other than that, it has been a joy to watch her growth as an author while I read a well thought out and consistent new series.
My only question now, can she maintain the standard she has set with the first three in her newest which will be released late November, Redeemed in Darkness (Paladins of Darkness, Book 4). I certainly hope so! It's already on my pre-order list.
In Darkness Reborn.......2007-09-25
I fell in love with Barak the first time I read about him. This book just confirmed my feelings. The warriors are all strong as well as their women. I felt Baraks and Laceys pain at not being able to come forward because he was from a different world as well as their undeniable love for each other.
I guess I'm in the minority, but I was disappointed........2007-09-03
I really liked book one in the series. Book two was average and number three was just silly. I can tell how much I enjoy a book by how fast I read it. If I lay the book down repeatedly then I know my interest is lost. It took me a month to read this. While I was interested in Barak's story, there wasn't much of one. To much of Lacey's brother and Lacey herself was annoying. I did not find her character believable at all. She barely spoke to Barak before their first sexual encounter. No chemistry there. Oh well, I gave it a try.
Hooked on Paladins.......2007-08-22
I blew through the first two books in this series and waited anxiously for this one. I was really curious to see how the author would handle Barak as a hero. We met him in Dark Protector when he saved Dr. Laurel Young's life. He's one of the Others, the Paladin's sworn enemy. I had no idea what to expect and - wow, this book was great. No one does the tortured hero like Alexis Morgan.
In the beginning of the book, Barak is alone in every sense of the word - he's a man between worlds. Then he's paired with Lacey, who has no reason to like or trust him. Her brother has dedicated his life to fighting the Others and now she finds herself attracted to the very man she's supposed to despise. But he's not like she expected. He's loyal, determined and intriguing. Both of them are torn. Barak has a secret that, if revealed, could cost more lives.
This book surprised me, made me smile in places and kept me reading way too late into the night.
Excellent book!.......2007-08-20
This third book features Lacey and Barak's story. Barak is an Other from the world the Paladins are constantly fighting. The Paladins protect the barrier. Barak was first introduced in Dark Protector. He helped save Dr. Laurel Young's life and is now living in the world of the Paladins. Lacey is a geologist hoping to track activity of the earthquakes and volcanoes in the Seattle area. Barak's world is a dark world and the Others are leaving their homes to cross the barrier looking for a better life. The Other are using their sacred blue gemstones as payment to cross the barrier. The Paladins want to know who on their side of the barrier is taking the stones as payment to cross. Barak wants to help but not cause his people any more death. We get another look at the characters in the first two books along with Lacey and Barak. The love story was touching and moved beautifully throughout the book. I am looking forward to the next story that will feature Barak's sister and Cullen.
Book Description
In the seventeenth century, in an alternate universe where Mordred defeated King Arthur-now known as "Arthur the Tyrant"-and founded the Pendragon dynasty, much of Europe, Asia, and the New World are part of an Empire ruled from England. The Order of Crown, Shield, and Dragon, originally founded as Mordred's personal bodyguard, has become a legion of special agents for the Crown: special emissaries in time of peace, and invincible warriors in more violent times. They carry special weapons: swords, each of which contains the soul of someone of great power. White swords are inhabited by the souls of saints-and red swords by those who were anything but saints. Even in the hands of a knight of the Order, even wielded in the cause of righteousness, such a sword is terribly dangerous to its owner and all around him. In more evil hands, a red sword is the most dangerous and powerful weapon known to mankind. A single red sword can defeat an ordinary army. Last time, the Empire was threatened by an enemy with an arsenal of red swords. Though three knights of the Order were able to eliminate that danger, at a terrible cost, the Empire is not yet secure. An ancient witch, long thought to be dead, has been reported in Turkey, and the deadly creatures called darklings start to appear throughout Europe. And on the isle of Colonsay, Amadan Dubh, a deadly supernatural being also known as the Sidhe Fairy Fool, has appeared, sending the inhabitants into a frenzy of murderous madness. This time, courage and a strong sword arm, even when armed with a magic sword, may not be enough to save the Empire.
Customer Reviews:
Paladins II Knight Moves.......2007-06-22
Paladins II Knight Moves is an excellent follow-up Paladins by Joel Rosenberg. The genre is alternative hisory/fantasy. The charaterization is awesome. Why, because there is no readily discernable hero. Is it Gray, Cully, or, Niko? Or is it the Admiral? Each one of these people has flaws and foibles that do not fit traditional fantasy. There are characters who you might find more interesting than others- but does not this mirror life. In this second book you find out a little bit more about each of these characters through their thoughts , words and deeds. The novel has a multicultural aspect that reflects the world in which we presently live. Finally, if you are a reader who prefers to read a novel and to be suprised at the ending-- while in afterthought realizing that what seemed a number of unrelated events and characters are woven into a complex, but tight tapestry-- Paladins II is the novel for you. I await the next installment in this oxymoronic realistic/fantasy series.
A hard-hitting fantasy packed with action........2007-03-05
Joel Rosenberg's PALADINS II: KNIGHT MOVES tells of a world ruled by the Pendragon flag, which flies over much of Europe, Asia and the New World, and of magical swords which work in service of good or evil. Add an old force in form of a witch and the undead that are infesting Europe and you have a hard-hitting fantasy packed with action.
Wordy.......2007-01-20
About page 249 someone in this book says, "All this talk isn't getting us anywhere." or something of that nature. It certainly doesn't get us very far. I read the first book and thought that it was worth a look at the second. Probably a wrong decision. There's too much talk and not a live-action for a fantasy/alternative reality book. For example one of the groups of good guys visits some great magician or whatever. Do we really need pages of everyone in the group's reactions, particularly when 90% of it isn't especially relevant to the plot. I think a decent editor would have cut out at least three quarters of this.
The book takes place in an alternative 17th-century, about which I have no great problem but gunpowder hasn't been invented? Perhaps they don't need it with those super magical swords that seem to be able to do anything. This is my next major problem. The swords seem to be so powerful that there is little point in using anything else, apart from collateral damage. You just have to swing them around a little and everything dies.
Lastly this author, among many others, should realise that people don't necessarily read parts of a trilogy one after the other. It's been months since I read the first book, and there are constant references to characters I cannot remember. All right, I may be getting old, but a list of characters at the beginning wouldn't be such a bad thing. At least it would save me constantly having to reference the first volume.
Aside from that it's a fairly typical plot, groups of friends get into danger looking for a looming evil etc. etc. Nothing particularly innovative here.
Great writing: no end........2006-12-09
The first book in the series, Paladins, was a great book. I've long been a fan of Rosenberg (20 years now) and I found Paladins to be one of his best. The characterization was outstanding (as always) and the world interesting.
This book is almost as good from a writing viewpoint. The characters are again great. The only real problem with the writing is that we jump around a bit much between different plots. But I'm generally okay with that. What I greatly disliked is that the book doesn't end. In most of his previous series, each book stood on its own. This one feels like the first half (third?) of a book. Very annoying....
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- Valley of Silence (The Circle Trilogy, Book 3)
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- When the Bough Breaks (Alex Delaware)
- Witches, Druids and King Arthur
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- 2007 Physicians' Desk Reference (Physicians' Desk Reference (Pdr))
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (Signet Classics)
- Ancestry and Narrative in Nineteenth-Century British Literature: Blood Relations from Edgeworth to Hardy (Cambridge Studies in Nineteenth-Century Literature and Culture)
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