Legends of Nale [Paperback]

This story has everything a good storyline, a great band of characters, side splitting jokes, and plenty of action. No matter who you are or how old you may be you won't be able to deny the fact that this is a fantastic book.

Legends of Nale is a book that has made me believe once again in the fantasy genre. The book's uniqueness comes from its ability to mix fantasy narrative structures with modern day lingo and landmarks that brings the fantasy closer to a mental reality. The story is centred around two generation of Nale's finest warriors who are called upon to save the kingdom from external evil forces that seek to destroy its equilibrium. In the first generation, Nathaniel and Jacob (with conflicting personalities) are called upon to save the kingdom from an evil sorcerer Aiden, possessed with the ability to unleash unimaginable terror upon the earth. In the second generation, we find the sons of Jacob and Nathaniel, Luke and Lance respectively, take their fathers' role as nale's finest in vanquishing the power of an evil sorceress, Elos who has killed their fathers and Nale's true sorcerer, Elzador. I couldn't help but continue flipping the pages as every page is layered with action, suspense, drama, humor and adventure. If this was a Hollywood blockbuster, you would be guaranteed that every minute of your time in the theatre would be worth it. This book is entertaining and fun and will appeal to anyone with the minutest of adrenaline running through thier blood. A must read!

British author Joseph Johnson's second book, Legends of Nale, chronicles two generations of heroes saving the Kingdom of Nale from countless evil threats. Described by the author as "a comic book without pictures," Legends of Nale is extremely fast-paced and over-the-top.

The book chronicles the adventures of two generations of heroes: the first half is about Jacob and Nathaniel, who must stop the evil sorcerer Aiden from summoning the Hell Knight Sorax. The remainer of the book tells the adventures of their children, Lance, Luke, and Prince Nathaniel (the son of Jacob). They must defeat Elos, a new threat to the kingdom.

Because of the book's very fast pace, readers never come to know the characters on an intimate level, resulting in a severe lack of reader-character empathy. The characters are never challenged by the obstacles they face, and it's difficult to care when an army bears down on them; they're going to win anyway, probably without effort, so there's little emotional involvement.

Often the characters seem to suffer from identity crises. Jacob is described as the most proficient martial artist in the Kingdom, but he becomes the king's jester because he disdains violence and would rather make people happy. Nathaniel (the elder) is a powerful knight in the kingdom's standing army, but repeatedly sheaths his sword in favor of martial arts.

All five heroes are powerful fighters; indeed, they repeatedly take on armies single-handed and win. The many fight scenes that comprise the bulk of the book are fast-paced, but lack descriptive detail. Instead, monsters are described as derivatives of animals: a bull-like monster, or a demonic hedgehog (really). Each of these is dispatched with ease by the heroes, who never seem to be in any personal danger, even when they clearly should be (such as when chained up in the villain's dungeon). After half-a-dozen of such fight scenes, they become redundant, and readers may find themselves skimming over them.

While the Kingdom of Nale is presented as a standard medieval fantasy kingdom, most fights degenerate into hand-to-hand combat. Indeed, the heroes are all masters of martial arts, including Nathaniel, who is a knight trained in the use of heavy armor and swords.

Johnson is a part-time martial arts instructor, and his interest in writing characters that use such combat techniques is understandable, but martial arts constantly trump more conventional fantasy combat techniques, introducing an anachronistic element. It seems unlikely that karate kicks, regardless of the practitioner's skill, are going to be more effective than a sharp sword (especially an enchanted one).

Indeed, anachronisms are a problem in this book. Jacob is described as oriental, a description that should mean nothing in a fantasy world not based upon the real world. Halfway through the book, the three young heroes make their way to China (which makes one wonder just where the Kingdom of Nale is). Johnson makes many references to tai-chi, Robin Hood, chainsaw-wielding monsters, and other anachronistic elements that pull the reader from the action and make it difficult to suspend disbelief.

The book's editing job is lackluster at best. There are many minor punctuation problems, especially with commas. The typesetting is occasionally off, with odd double and triple spaces between words. Johnson's spelling is usually fine, but every time he describes his heroes readying themselves for a battle, they go into a "fighting stands" (stance). He is consistent with this error, at least.

Legends of Nale is indeed a comic book without pictures. The fast, tireless pace, over-the-top action, and super-hero characters overcoming insurmountable difficulties will appeal to younger audiences and fans of comic books. As a book competing against other fantasy novels on the shelves of book stores, however, Legends of Nale falls far short of the mark. The prose just isn't up to par.

"I believe my book, despite its shortcomings, will appeal to any individual who will take the time to sit down and read an action comic book," explains Johnson, and he's probably right.