Book One of the Journals of the Huntress
From Goodreads:
Kyra Halland rated it 4 of 5 stars
The Last Ranger of Sarn is an epic fantasy telling the story of a young woman, Vespias, who grows to become the commanders of the legendary Rangers at a time of terrible war against a demon-possessed prince and his armies of the undead.
Last Ranger is a big, sprawling book, mainly focusing on Vespias's growth and progress from hunter's child to commander of the entire Castian military. It goes into her early life quite a bit to show how she becomes the woman she eventually becomes, and illustrates the loves, tragdies, triumphs, and losses she experiences. I originally read this book a few months ago, and felt that other aspects of the story were shortchanged, but in this new edition, the book is well-balanced between Vespias's story and the events that led to the downfall of the Prince and his war against the Castians.
The book features of number of strong female characters, and I came to care about not just them but all the main characters. The writing is clear and easy to follow, though there are some missing commas.
Overall, engaging characters, an intriguing world, and lots of exciting action makes this a fun, gripping read.
The Last Ranger of Sarn
Review by: Walt Marsters on Jan. 07, 2014 :
If you like a mix of a fantasy tale and a zombie apocalypse, then this is the book for you.
The Central figure is Vespias, a young woman of humble origin, whom we see evolve from a happy youth to a tough, and emotionally damaged general, fighting a hopeless war against endless undead hordes.
She, and most characters, are portrayed as realistic people, and not as fearless superheroes, who cut their way through the enemy, without even breaking a sweat. That's something I appreciated a lot, as good character development and creating people that feel real is not easy, but the author manages to pull it off seemingly without effort.
The author's style is clear and the story is well written. The plot is easy to follow, without being simplistic. The fantasy element is clearly present in the races, exotic beasts and magic, but never goes overboard, helping again in creating a world and characters that feel real.
Maybe the main characters were crying a bit too often for my taste, but that is only a very minor point in an otherwise truly enjoyable read. I finished it in about a week and it never bored me for a moment.
The Last Ranger of Sarn by Ed Ireland
Review by Trista Borgwart on April 13, 2015
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I never thought I would enjoy fantasy novels as much as I do and thanks to Mr. Ireland, I am more willing to give a fantasy book a second look and even consider reading it! I will read every book written by this author as I read his other series and have to say that it was one of the best series I have ever read. When Mr. Ireland offered me this book for review I was ecstatic!
Now, onto the book. In this book we are introduced to Castia and Mr. Ireland does a great job of detailing the history of this world and how things came to be throughout the story. We learn of the past wars and the alliances among the different races of people. Vespias is introduced in the beginning of the book as just a newborn and we watch her and her siblings grow. Vespias’ character is unique and well portrayed from very early on and her character achieves great depth by the end of the book. Vespias becomes a great hunter and a powerful leader amongst her people. When she joins the Rangers to help protect their land from the undead, she climbs the ranks quickly. She is smart and was born to lead.
Mr. Ireland does an incredible job of weaving everyone’s story together and detailing relationships and character interaction. There is love, passion, hate, despise, sadness, loss and pride throughout this story. You will experience a wide range of emotions as you read their story and when it ends, you will be craving more. The battle scenes are craftily written and keeps you on the edge of your seat. They are suspenseful, violent and detailed so that you can picture the battle as if it were in your own backyard.
Overall, a well written and thoroughly designed world. I wouldn’t call this a novel, but rather a whole new world with different characters that obviously comes from an impressive imagination! Great work! Can’t wait to read the second one.
Reviews
ByCP on July 22, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Disclaimer: I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve become a big fan of this author, and I think this is his best work yet. The story flows and expands on the world within in a poetic style reminiscent of JRR Tolkien. The action and description are well balanced between the characters’ growth making this a fast and engaging read.
To be honest, it is easy to get lost among all the characters and locations if we’re not paying attention, but that’s one of the book’s enduring qualities. To me, each character and place played a role in the story and really brought the world together and gave the story a new level of life.
The characters were the usual complex, yet with simple enough goals to make them believable. There’s something special about seeing simple, normal characters being put into extraordinary circumstances and forced to rise or sink to the occasion.
If you’re looking for a great fantasy read, then check this out.
ByBoyko Ovcharov on September 10, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Nicely written, seamlessly interwoven story of magical creatures and numerous heroes. Mature prose, somewhat complicated at times, but immersive overall. Particularly liked the good cause the author fights for in real life, i.e. the preservation of wildlife and nature.
5 stars
By Anonymous
Format: Nook
I purchased a copy of this book. Having read it I find myself waiting for the next book in the series. The book is very well written and you can tell that the author takes the time to let you get to know his characters. You can also tell that the Author cares deeply for the characters and wants you to feel the same way. You find yourself completely immersed in this world he has created. The book takes you on the journey of his main character Vespias. You see the world she grows up in through her eyes. You see her struggles, her joys her triumphs, and her sorrows. You see the heart and soul of a young girl tested to its limits and she emerges sometimes broken but never beaten. You will find yourself crying for her and with her at times and other times you will be smiling. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy. This book reminds me very much of the Lord Of The Rings books. It is written in the same style.