Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

MY 30-SECOND SUMMARY OR, THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY The Good: • This is a novel with no profanities; making this a story written in language suitable for all audiences. • This is a fantasy that stimulates one’s imagination to dare to dream of doing the impossible. • Golden Age is the first in a series; no need to worry about reading another book first. • Best thing; this story is a nice break from a presidential election process that is quickly devolving into a Black Comedy that makes one fearful for the future. • Golden Age will soon be released as an audio book and will be a good book for the road. The Bad: Although it does not end on a cliffhanger, it certainly does end with a teaser of things to come. Some won’t like this, while others will love knowing another great adventure awaits them. Just as are many readers, I am not a patient man… The Ugly I love the story but wish I wouldn’t have to wait so long for the next installment. Length: Print, 466 pages; Audible, 12 hours 22 minutes. Although I have already read this novel, I pre-ordered it using my Audible account so I can listen to it during our Summer drive to the Coast. Target Audience/Genre: Golden Age: Shifting Tides Book 1 is a Fantasy-Adventure Young Adult. Q - What was the Amazon Rank on the date this review was published? A – 7,958. Q - How was this book obtained? A – I purchased this as my Amazon Prime Kindle First Selection, giving me a head start on reading it. Q - Is this a book that I can read without having to read others first? A – Yes. Q – If this is a recurring character or a series, does it have a cliffhanger ending? A – This does not end with a cliffhanger. It does, though, end with an intriguing hint of a pending adventure that sharply tugs at readers, just as a freshly brewed mocha latte topped with a chocolate-coated coffee bean at zero-dark-thirty beckons a coffee-holic… Q - Are there a lot of typos/misspellings, grammatical errors or other editing failures? A – No. Q - Is this a fast, easy read, or is it more of a leisure read? A – Golden Age is best read at leisure so you can allow each scene to tickle each of your senses. The vivid imagery is terrific, even if the story is just a bit over the top at times. Q - What sort of language does this writer use to amplify the points made? A – This is written in plain English, suitable for all ages. I found not a single foul word in this novel. Q - My biggest pleasure or disappointment? A – I like the flow and the scenes depicted in a literary manner and found the lack of harsh, profanity-laden language a nice respite. Especially since foul language is becoming so common throughout our society. Don’t take this the wrong way, though, I sometimes slip into that very language myself. I’m just saying that it is nice to read a book that doesn’t depend on shock and awe to stimulate readers. The dialogue, though it is not bad, does not come across as natural. At least not to my ears. Having stated that I enjoyed the literary descriptions, I think there also is a danger when it bumps up against the tendency to become a bit too flowery and the oft-resorted to cliches. On occasion, it did do so, but not so much to become a bother for me. I’m just saying… To give a feel for the editing, style, and flow of this work, I am posting a brief excerpt below. Excerpt Following his gaze she saw the silhouettes of two robed men standing by the path, just inside the gap in the waist-high stone. Kargan hefted a heavy chest in his arms and began to walk up. Chloe followed. She sensed the watching eyes of the soldiers but she hugged close to the tall Ilean as if following instructions, and with a wall cutting the shoreline off from any escape route no one moved to stop her. She fell in just behind the big man and with his attention on the priests he didn’t notice her. After climbing up the beach she soon felt grass beneath her feet, soft and pleasant. Kargan came to a halt just in front of the gap in the wall. ‘Kargan, overlord of the Nexotardis, master of the sun king’s navy and adviser to the ruler of the Ilean Empire,’ one of the magi intoned. ‘We see you, as does the Seer.’ The two magi were twins, identical in every way. Both had shaved heads and wore white robes belted with black ropes. They were so thin as to be emaciated, giving their features an angular sharpness, all bones and tightly drawn skin. They had sunken cheeks and deep-set eyes. ‘I bring an offering from Solon, the sun king of Ilea,’ Kargan said. It was the first time that Chloe had seen him appear anything close to afraid. He bent down and placed the chest on the ground, unwilling to take a single step further. ‘Your offering will ensure your night on Athos passes without danger,’ the other magus said. ‘We will pray to the gods for Solon.’ Kargan bowed. ‘Tell your men that none may approach who does not have an offering for the Oracle.’ ‘I will.’ ‘And none may step onto the path who does not wish to consult the Seer. Will you step onto the path, Kargan of Lamara?’ Kargan bowed and took a step back. ‘No—’ He noticed Chloe for the first time. ‘Girl, what are you—?’ Chloe had been thinking about her own uncertain future all day. Before she thought too hard about what she was doing, she had pushed past Kargan, made her way through the gap in the wall, and stepped onto the path. Kargan grunted as he reached out, but his fingers clasped empty air. One of the magi turned his sunken eyes on Chloe. ‘You have an offering?’ Chloe unclasped her copper chain. She removed the heavy amulet before returning the bare necklace to its place around her neck. ‘I do,’ she said, displaying the amulet. ‘She must stay with me!’ Kargan growled. The magus closest to Kargan fixed his dark eyes on the bigger man. ‘You have made your offering, and so we will ensure she is returned to you. But she has stepped onto the path, and now we will take her to the Seer.’ ‘I cannot—’ he began. ‘Do you wish to know the manner of your death?’ the magus said. ‘For I can tell it to you, Kargan of Lamara. There is no curse greater.’ Kargan shook his head. Relenting, he scowled at Chloe. ‘I will wait here.’ ‘Come,’ both of the magi said in unison. Chloe’s heart raced as she followed them up the winding path. She passed flames the color of sapphire that lit the surrounding rock blue, and crimson fire as red as blood. The path was wide and the two magi flanked her on both sides. Thinking about the threat they had made to Kargan, she suddenly felt terrified about… Maxwell, James (2016-05-01). Golden Age (The Shifting Tides Book 1) (pp. 150-151). . Kindle Edition. Bottom Line: Golden Age is a very good start to a promising series. I look forward to reading, and listening to, future installments. Yes, you read that correctly. I am purchasing each tale also through my Audible account, to augment my Powder River series by Jerry Robbins. These types of adventures make cross country travels even more pleasurable than the scenes we actually observe. Four stars out of five. Comments regarding your opinion of this book or of my review, whether favorable or unfavorable, are always welcome. If you buy the book based on my review and become disappointed, especially, I do want to know that and I want to understand how I can improve as a book reviewer. Just please be polite. Thank you.