The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf by Gerald Morris

(Cover picture courtesy of Rainbow Resource Center.)

“A lady,” the dwarf repeated.  “I’ve just been disarmed and taken prisoner by a lady.”  He shook his head slowly.  “I really am pathetic.”

Lady Lynet’s life has become unbearable: Her castle is besieged by an evil knight who beheads her would-be rescuers.  Her only chance for freedom is to ask King Arthur for help.  But to do so, first she must get to Camelot.  So one night she slips away and meets a dwarf named Roger.  He doesn’t appear to be the most likely companion, but Lady Lynet soon learns that people can be more than they seem, including herself.

For those of you hoping Book 3 of The Squire’s Tales would contain more about the adventures of Terence and Sir Gawain, you’ll be sadly disappointed.  Both Terence and Gawain do appear at various points throughout the novel, but the main focus is on Lady Lynet.  This was disappointing for me at first, but then Lady Lynet became such a strong character I had no choice but to connect with her.

Although I know the basic story of Beaumains I really did not see the twist coming at the end.  Wow.  And it actually made sense, but was surprising at the same time!  Gerald Morris also added much more depth to the original legend, most importantly in the case of Roger the dwarf and Lynet.  Lynet isn’t just a nagging woman who constantly torments poor Beaumains and Roger the dwarf isn’t just comic relief.

The plot went a little more quickly this time, but that’s probably because we were introduced to the conflict right off the bat: evil knight keeping beautiful damsel captive and killing all knights who try to rescue her until she agrees to marry him.  This time the beautiful damsel is not-so-nice and it is her sister, Lynet, who decides to do something to stop the bloodbath.  The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf isn’t so much plot driven as character driven.  You would think that would make it slow and boring, but the characters are so vivid and the world-building Gerald Morris did was incredible so it worked in this case.

I give this book 5/5 stars.

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“The Infinity Ring: Divide and Conquer” by Carrie Ryan

Two weeks ago I posted a review on the first book in The Infinity Ring series and it just so happens that when that review was posted the second book, Divide and Conquer was mere days away from release. Of course that meant that I was going to grab it as soon as it was available and use it for my next review here on The Mad Reviewer.

I was excited to read this book because I am in love with the entire concept behind the series as it currently stands. However, I was a little concerned about how things would go switching to a new author for this installment. I really shouldn’t have worried though, Carrie Ryan takes the characters, personality traits, and little things that James Dashner put forth in the first book and carries them seamlessly into this one as well. As a matter of fact, it was so incredibly seamless that I don’t know if I would be able to pick out which book was written by which author if I was to do a blind test on them while reading. I think that bodes incredibly well for the series moving forward.

Dak and Sera fixed a break involving Christopher Columbus in the first book, and now they are tasked with fixing a break surrounding the viking invasion of Paris in the year 885. Talk about a different type of situation in all regards. For most of the book Dak is separated from Sera and Riq in some fashion because of his innate ability to not think before he does something. This flaw in Dak did wear my patience a little thin at times because it became predictable. They children would solve one problem, get things back on track with their plan, and then you knew a mile away that Dak was going to simply leave the group unannounced and mess everything up again. It must have happened at least half a dozen times in this book. If there is one thing I hope the next author improves upon with the series it is finding a new flaw for Dak because this one has been beat to death.

I was pleased overall with how the characters grew up just a little bit in this installment. They had to make some tougher decisions this time around in deciding how to go about fixing the break in time. They also had to deal with some unintended consequences as they jump from one time period to the next to re-fix a break they broke again on accident. Crazy, eh?

The next book in The Infinity Ring series will arrive this coming February and I must say, I’m rather excited for when it does. It appears as though after dealing with Christopher Columbus and Paris-invading vikings, Dak and Sera will be jumping into the fray with the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. That should be quite interesting.

Grade: B
Length: 192 pages

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Writers: Beware the False Editor

[Out of respect for the author involved, I will not be publishing his name.]

I recently read a self-published book that desperately needed editing.  I’m talking about grammar mistakes galore, poor writing quality, a nonexistent plot, one dimensional characters…basically everything that give self-publishing a bad name.  I emailed the author and politely suggested that he needed a good editor and his reply shocked me:

“I have already had a professional editor look over my work.” (Not a direct quote.)

His reply got me thinking and, by extension, researching.  What I discovered was not all that shocking: many self-published novelists have been taken in by either malicious or clueless freelance editors.  Now, there are some excellent freelance editors out there.  But the big question is: How do you find editors who are competent? Continue reading →

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

Today I’m guest posting over at Steam Trains and Ghosts for Margaret.  I reviewed a post apocalyptic novel that has a male protagonist but no zombies.  How is that possible?  Well, go on and check it out here!  And while you’re there, check out the rest of Margaret’s site for a healthy dose of steampunk.

Giveaway: Finding Time by Steve Poling

Like time travel?  Science fiction with actual science in it?  Great characters?  Then have I ever got a book for you!  Steve Poling graciously agreed to do a giveaway with me so we have two copies of Finding Time up for grabs in Kindle format only.  For my fellow Luddites all that means is you will have to download and read it through Amazon on your computer.

RULES:

1.  You must answer one or both of the questions provided.

2.  Your answer can be as serious/funny as you like.  There really is no wrong answer.

3.  You may enter only once.

PRIZES:

1.  Two Kindle versions of Finding Time.

One thing we’re doing differently this time is that Steve Poling will be picking his favourite answer, but we will also be using Random.org to randomly pick a winner.  So even if your answer is not Steve’s favourite, you have a chance at being chosen randomly based on the order of your comment because I will be using the random number generator.  Now here are the two questions:

1.  If you had a time machine, what would you rescue?

2.  If you could talk with just one historical figure (without all the nasty time travel related consequences) who would it be and why?

Today is November 20 and I will be closing the giveaway on November 27 November 30 (Update at 11:55am 21/11/12).  I will be announcing winners at 12:01am on December 1.  Make sure you have a valid email address attached to your account because I will be giving them to Steve Poling.  If he does not receive a reply from the winner(s) within seven days, the prizes will be going to someone else.