Shepherd's Quest (The Broken Key, Book 1) Review
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Shepherd's Quest is a role playing style book unlike many others in that it doesn't rely heavily on the elements of role playing. Rather, they supplement the story. Sure there are scrolls, but the characters don't use them all the time, potions, same thing. There's very little character development, that comes into play in the second book. Magic items? There are a few, but the characters don't readily know what they do. In fact, their resident magic user Kevik has a real confidence problem and shies away from trying to ascertain what their powers may be. Being an apprentice without a master hasn't given him much ability to ward off or counter any traps which may be associated with the magical items.
In this book, Riyan and Chad are not really capable of defending themselves, being a shepherd and miller's son. Instead, they have to leave it Bart and Kevik to repeatedly pull their bacon out of the fire. And if the truth be known, I believe it is Kevik, with all his lack of confidence, who is the real hero. But that's just my opinion.
Plenty of dungeon delving, skulking, hiding, thieving, trap detection/nullification, etc. It's really quite a fun adventure. There are a few intense moments especially near the end. Pratt has a way to build the tension as the heroes face deadly challnges.
Having come to this series as I did after reading his earlier work The Morcyth Saga, I was happy to discover he hadn't lost his touch. I greatly enjoyed Shepherd's Quest.
As in all of Pratt's books, there is an element of levity. That was never more evident than when Bart and Chad, in an effort to pay Rupert(the resident bully) back, snuck into his home and planted increminating evidence.
Addendum for Kindle...
The formatting is off a bit and it lost a star for that. By off a bit I mean there is more border on the right side than the left. It hardly inhibits the enjoyment of the story. I've encountered this a couple times before. Wonder if it is an indemic problem when authors upload their books? Either way, .99 is a heck of a lot better deal than .95!!
Shepherd's Quest begins a story about three lads from the small town of Quillim: Riyan Borenson, Chadric Kelon, and Bartholomew Agreani. When Riyan stumbled upon an ancient burial tomb, he and the others soon discovered they had found the fabled King’s Horde. A place reputed to hold a vast fortune.
However, before they could gain access to the King’s Horde, they must first recover the segments of the key that will open the sigil inscribed portal. One key they found within the ancient burial tomb in the hand of a long dead thief.
Somehow they must find the segments of the key and open the Horde before word gets out. For should others learn that they have found the fabled King’s Horde, less scrupulous men will be after them to claim the Horde for themselves.
Their quest for the rest of The Broken Key ultimately leads them to a place located deep within hostile goblin territory, a place where even the goblins fear to go.
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Very Enjoyable Read - T. Gruver - Ft Worth, TX
Much like Pratt's first series (Morsyth Saga) these books are very entertaining. I mostly enjoy the fact that the author does not go into long drawn out descriptions of locations and surroundings like other writers. Instead he focuses more on the story and the characters instead of trying to impress the reader with BIG, HUGE, GIGANTIC adjectives. I will continue to purchase any books that he writes, hopefully alot.
Jul 10, 2010 17:46:06
