- ISBN13: 9780756404123
- Condition: New
- Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Product Description
Brought to the world of Kerith by an unknown cataclysm, the Vaelinar race is both magical and arrogant, considering themselves far superior to the natives whose own magic has been shorn away by a civil war. As hated as they are revered, the Vaelinars have retreated to seclusion after anchoring their magic to the new world by a series of Talent-wrought Ways, passages of power, always hoping that one day they will create the Way back to the world they lost.
Two young people, one broken of soul and the other broken of mind, find their fates intertwined as their mixed bloodlines both curse and bless them. Can a river-borne slave and a street-savvy half-breed find their own personal truth in time to avert another civil war?
JSyv @ 8:52 pm
I read fantasy books all the time, almost exclusively. I absolutely LOVED this book, and as other avid readers know, good books ARE hard to find. The Four Forges is refreshing! The story seems a bit complicated at first but once you get into the book it is hard to put down. The author creates wonderful and interesting characters. Some you love and some you hate. The plot is full of twists and turns and there isn’t a dull moment. The author builds up each character but it’s done in a way that keeps you reading. I felt like she didn’t waste any words (like so many other authors do). To sum it up the book follows the lives of Sevryn (an orphaned elf who grows into a deadly fighter), Nutmeg and her family (a lovable bunch of “Dwellers”), Rivergrace (a shy elf with a mysterious past and mysterious powers), Daravan (a shadowy elf who has his own agenda), Quendius (the villain with powerfully deadly demon weapons), and the Queen of the Vaelinars (the elfs)…and that’s only a few of the interesting characters. While reading this book you can also look forward to deadly assassins, rowdy brawls, an ominous Dark Ferryman, and lots of laughs. Conclusion: I LOVED The Four Forges by Jenna Rhodes, great book, great characters! I look forward to more books from this author!
S. Rychnovsky @ 11:48 pm
The Four Forges presents an unusual take on the Elves (Vaelinars) and Hobbits (Dwellers) and Orcs (Bolgers) of Tolkien’s classic. The back-story is original and interesting, and the Elves are much darker than in Tolkien’s vision. The story revolves around two main characters, Sevryn and Rivergrace. Both of their personal histories are obscured. War is brewing, and the various elvish factions and other races are jostling for position. There are many strange characters including an ominous boatman, an immortal assassin, an ambitious weapons maker, a spy, and a warrior queen. There are the makings for a good story in the mix, but it never escapes from the writer’s pen.
The story is very choppy, with abrupt and confusing transitions, and important characters that just appear without back-story or explanation. The pace of the book is slow even with the all the factions and characters running around doing mysterious things. The characters do not act in ways that are consistent with their history. For example, the feared assassin never manages to kill any important character, even though he does make a number of attempts. There is a spy in one of the groups, and the other members are oblivious to his presence, even after having been warned. You the reader, on the other hand, can count up the likely suspects on one finger. The transitions between story lines are bizarre. In one case there is a fight that takes place in one afternoon. That thread is interspersed with another story line that takes place over a week. These transitions needlessly add to the confusion of the reader.
The final action sequence in the book left me surprised and unsatisfied. Where did that come from? The book is too long, and it badly needs an editor to help tighten up the narrative, improve the flow of the book and introduce enough foreshadowing to help the reader make sense of the story.
Peekablue @ 2:30 am
I picked this book up, on a whim, at the bookstore. I didn’t expect much but, once I started, I could not put it down. The plot is interesting, even during the slow parts. The book has it all: solid characters, humor, action, intrigue, sorrow, greed, lust, and love. I can’t wait for the next book to come out.
Aidanmee @ 3:50 am
The Four Forges is the first in a series of four books. It is a very well written book with an intriguing storyline. Enter the world of Kerith and immerse yourself with its wonderful inhabitants from the ordinary folk to the ruling mighty.
Jenna Rhodes has created a rich and vibrant world and has done so with 25 years plus writing. It shows! After you finish this first book you will want to start on the second in the series, The Dark Ferryman which has been published recently.
Enter the world of Kerith, you will not regret it!
Chris D. Jones @ 4:23 am
I saw this book for sale at a good price and decided to give it a try. It went into my pile of unread books (currently at 44 books) for many months before I got around to reading it. I was very pleasantly surprised! The book has fantastic characters, a tight plot, and more mystery and depth than I’ve read in any book in a long time. I’m really looking forward to seeing where this series is heading!