- Paperback: 400 pages
- Publisher: Bantam; New edition edition (1 Sep 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0553813749
- ISBN-13: 978-0553813746
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 10.8 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 479,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'If there is a sub-genre of Naval Fantasy, Paul Kearney is its master and commander...He is to my mind one of the very best writers of fantasy around. And recognition of that is long overdue.' - STEVEN ERIKSON 'Impressive for its human insights, its unusual take on the use of magic, and its fine blending of historical elements with sheer invention' - LOCUS magazine 'Powerful stuff, intelligently written...Kearney does not only write good battles - he remembers the causes that battles are fought for' - amazon.co.uk 'One of the best fantasy works for ages...tough, muscular realism...Kearney paints the gore, the sex and the lust for power in vivid colour.' - SFX
Book Description
Gripping start to a great new fantasy series by one of the UK's best writers in the genre.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid Effort From UK Fantasist,
By
This review is from: The Mark Of Ran (Paperback)
Firstly, thanks to the folk at Transworld for sending me this one! I'd been told it was good by quite a few people...
In the veins of Rol Cortishane lies the blood of the Elder race. Angels some say they are, exiled for sins none now remember. Other say they are demons...Either way, his folk are mistrusted by most they meet, and he is driven from his home. Fleeing to one of his race's ancient strongholds, he meets Psellos, the man who will guide and train him in the art of murder, the one man with knowledge of Rol's true parents. A knowledge that Psellos will use to exert power over Rol. And destroy everything Rol holds dear. Defying Psellos. he flees to the high seas... I felt that some parts of the set-up had great potential to turn into a highly cliched typical fantasy--a boy, with no knowledge of his parents, highly gifted, etc--but Paul Kearney skillfully avoided the possible pitfalls. His characters, most neither good or bad (or if they are bad, they are for a very good reason) were certainly original. Rol, particularly, the boy (later man) fleeing to an ancient stronghold of his race, to learn of his ancestry, could have been so uninteresting and typical. But he was not. He's a mixed bag, good and bad within him, and you're never sure which way he'll turn. Eventually, and much more satisfyingly, he just accepts the dueling nature within him and goes on to lead his life. His blood, so we discover, is more pure than any others of his race descended from the Elders...he could even be one...which, of course, is impossible... With Rowen, the female assassin, also an Elder descendant, Rol falls in love. It was interesting to see the inevitable love grow (and then end) between them, but Kearney did it in a way that would leave many surprises, and much more to add to the tale. Later, with Rol on the high seas, captaining his own ship, it was strange to see his powers developing, particularly in battle. It's done in a refreshing way, but I still felt it made Rol too powerful. With such strength I could not see him having any difficulty in any kind of battle, be it magical or not. The Mark of Ran ended well though--it's relatively self-contained for a book that's the first in a series. It was a fun and unusually good story, with characters that develop as the book moves on. There were a few flaws, but I look forward to what Paul Kearney makes of Book 2. Before reading The Mark of Ran, though, I would advise that you not look at the back cover blurb. It reveals half the story! 7 and a half out of 10. For more fantasy/SF reviews, regular amazing competitions, and author interviews, visit: www.thebookswede.blogspot.com
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shiver me Timbers!,
By
This review is from: The Mark Of Ran (Paperback)
I shamelessly picked up this book in my local Waterstones because the cover shouted out at me! I was very interested in seeing how a maritime ship based fantasy novel would go and I am really pleased I bought it!
A slow start soon speeds up gear into a real saltwater romp with plenty of action and some very interesting characters. This is a fantastic read and the world that Paul Kearney has created is incredibly detailed with great depth and interest and I loved referring back to the map at the front of the book. I loved this book so much, I have ordered book two from Amazon even before I finished this one!
4.0 out of 5 stars
good book and good news,
By
This review is from: The Mark Of Ran (Paperback)
good book, paced well, descriptive but no info dumps, great characters and dark enough to drag it away from other contemporary authors. i've read both books in this seris and after a long wait i'm pleased to say the third and final chapter should be out by autumn 2012. something just a little differant.
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