The Chocolate Prophecy - E. L. Ward

By
                                                    click on the image to go to amazon

The Chocolate Prophesy – E.L. Ward falls comfortably into the genre of Epic Fantasy. The story starts with Jek the unimportant lighthouse keeper and his wife Audrey –though she looks more like and Aaliyah- who are both kidnapped by The Old Man on the very day that the Inquisition and the Inspector also come for their respective duties. They go on a harrowing journey to find the Indigo Knights who must help save the world. They have to run from the Despotopian assassins and make allies out of some of the most unlikely enemies. Visit the Wading Island and converse with Dragons. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Idriulthoronton Archipelago, Parissah and Horus Templar follow their own journeys that will lead them to join the unprepared saviours of the world.

In the tradition of Tolkien, a grand adventure begins with two characters who go on an unexpected (though forced) adventure, then the fun starts. E.L. Ward spins a tale as fantastical as the Hobbit while colouring it with the wit, and wisdom of Pratchett as well as the easy humour of Douglas Adams. The plot is straightforward but has so many characters and subplots that you cannot predict anything in this hilarious adventure. From the start you have to read and savour the story (sometimes you may need a dictionary to really get the joke), you will want to read every word of the 600 plus pages and I guarantee you that you will want to read it again. The characters are complex with hidden talents. I really liked the humour and the classic way in which it is conveyed. I hope to read more of Ward’s books in the future.



I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Enigma of Ted Bundy by Kevin Sullivan

By
Image
                                                      click on the image to go to amazon There are followers of true crime who have a particular fascination for Ted Bundy as he was essentially the guy next door.  This book by Kevin Sullivan gives a detailed rendition of the police reports available as well as of the victimology for those who want more information on Bundy than was previously available.   The author attempts to find answers to some of the nagging questions that have come up through the years. This is a good read and it contains an immense amount of information that will hold your attention until the book is finished.  There are however small instances where some knowledge about certain facts in the investigation is needed. Maybe the author could add some of this information in a foreword. For example: In the police report it is mentioned that there is a tear in his vehicle's seat, the relevance and importance of this fact is uncertain if you are a first time reader
Read more

As promised, here is DODGER!

By
Image
If you know the words 'Please sir may I have some more, you also know who said it and which book.  Oliver Twist, to some, is the best known of Charles Dickens' books.  Yes, A Tale of two cities and Great Expectations are also well known but did not honour being made into a Disney Animated Film or a musical. As with many books, the title character is not always the one that people end up liking.  In the case of Oliver Twist , the Artful Dodger is the character that steals the show and how appropriate for Terry Pratchett to take this lovable character and give him the Pratchett makeover. Those of us who have read the Discworld novels and novels such as Nation  know that anything is possible once Pratchett has taken a character into his world.  For some, it might be disappointing to realize that there was nothing magical in Dodger .  That is to say nothing magical as in the Discworld novels. Knowing who Dodger is and knowing the brilliance of Pratchett, one can
Read more

Time's Orphan by Hayley Chow

By
Image
Time's Orphan by Hayley Chow is a YA fantasy that tells the story of Emara, who lives in Okarria, a land destroyed by war and overrun by cannibals and undead doing the bidding of the Dead King. A Mage and a Necromancer have resurrected Idriel, or the Dead King as he is known, but they need a Time Heir, blessed with a healing gift, to heal Idriel's broken body. Emara has hidden her gift of healing all her life and only uses it to help ease pain and heal minor wounds. When the city of Faveno falls to the enemy, she is captured and taken to Austerden, where the Dead King rules. On her way there, she is joined by a talking black cat and reunited with the Shadow Heir and Dragon Heir. Together, they can kill the Dead King and save their beloved Okaria. But as all seems lost, something miraculous happens, and Emara is sent back in time with the order to find Bellaphia, a Magus who can help her with her gift as Time Heir. In the past she makes friends with a street rat and the second
Read more