- Paperback: 432 pages
- Publisher: iUniverse (30 Sep 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0595528805
- ISBN-13: 978-0595528806
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15.2 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,614,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Shadow of the Ghost: Book 1: Lord of Chaos Trilogy
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Chaos reigns as warring gods engulf an entire planet in their conflict in Shadow of the Ghost, an epic fantasy that places the fate of creation in the precarious hands of Ky, an unpredictable elven child. Their planet is a place where the inhabitants are suffocated by unbridled power that must be checked. Rachk'sha believes that all creation is his to manipulate as he wishes. With no remorse, he imprisons his brother, an old man, and begins to replace the gods, The Nine and the Council of Darkness, as if it were a game. The planet on the verge of war, Maker decides to send Ky, a "Seed," to set things right. Ky has his work cut out for him. Denied his coming of age and exiled in a cruel world, Ky must first deal with haunting memories and an insatiable need for revenge before he can seek meaningful justice.
About the Author
The recipient of a Bachelor's Degree in Education and a Master's Degree in Human Resources, Tanner taught Language Arts and Math for twenty years. Leaving the structured writing of the classroom, he now creates fantasy as an author. He makes his home in Suffolk, Virginia with his cat, Kara.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Kindle Edition
Some reviewers like to compare books to food. I've seen books described as everything from fast foods to rich desserts (and a few comparisons that were not so flattering). If I were to compare `Shadow of the Ghost' (Tanner Artesz) to food, it would be a smorgasbord of plotlines, characters, and settings, spiced with humor. The offerings would be expertly prepared, with rich and exciting flavors and overtones. Mr. Artesz writes well.
First, the strengths: The writing is competent and well edited. The author makes excellent use of imagery and exposition, so that the reader is well placed in the scene. There are too many characters to develop them all, but some are developed well. They are interesting and unique to say the least, particularly Ky, the main character. It is quite obvious that the author really, really enjoys and cares about this character--a good thing in a fantasy.
Nothing about this book is simple. Ky, the main character, is an enigmatic little elf, who turns out to be quite the force to be reckoned with. I wasn't sure whether I liked him for a few chapters, but once I began to realize his nature, I warmed to him. By the time I came to the end of the story, I really enjoyed him (when is an elf NOT an elf....?) I will say no more.
The`down' side: this is a complicated, multi-layered story requiring attention, or one may be quickly lost (at least, I was). I found some parts confusing, but after a bit of explanation by the author, I was back on track. This is not a story to be tackled by an under-motivated reader--this is a challenging tale that will keep you engaged, as long as you don't allow too many distractions. It's not the best choice for a first-time reader of fantasy.
The diversity of characters suggests roots in RPG, and I have recommended this book to any and all of my `gamer' friends. They will have no trouble following it. I wouldn't recommend this book for mindless entertainment; however, if you want to be intrigued, challenged, and excited by a good, intricate plot line, `Shadow of the Ghost' is for you.
First, the strengths: The writing is competent and well edited. The author makes excellent use of imagery and exposition, so that the reader is well placed in the scene. There are too many characters to develop them all, but some are developed well. They are interesting and unique to say the least, particularly Ky, the main character. It is quite obvious that the author really, really enjoys and cares about this character--a good thing in a fantasy.
Nothing about this book is simple. Ky, the main character, is an enigmatic little elf, who turns out to be quite the force to be reckoned with. I wasn't sure whether I liked him for a few chapters, but once I began to realize his nature, I warmed to him. By the time I came to the end of the story, I really enjoyed him (when is an elf NOT an elf....?) I will say no more.
The`down' side: this is a complicated, multi-layered story requiring attention, or one may be quickly lost (at least, I was). I found some parts confusing, but after a bit of explanation by the author, I was back on track. This is not a story to be tackled by an under-motivated reader--this is a challenging tale that will keep you engaged, as long as you don't allow too many distractions. It's not the best choice for a first-time reader of fantasy.
The diversity of characters suggests roots in RPG, and I have recommended this book to any and all of my `gamer' friends. They will have no trouble following it. I wouldn't recommend this book for mindless entertainment; however, if you want to be intrigued, challenged, and excited by a good, intricate plot line, `Shadow of the Ghost' is for you.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
8 reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Get Ready for Chaos!
22 Dec 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Some reviewers like to compare books to food. I've seen books described as everything from fast foods to rich desserts (and a few comparisons that were not so flattering). If I were to compare `Shadow of the Ghost' (Tanner Artesz) to food, it would be a smorgasbord of plotlines, characters, and settings, spiced with humor. The offerings would be expertly prepared, with rich and exciting flavors and overtones. Mr. Artesz writes well.
I will not summarize the plot here, as other reviews have already done so. I will simply comment as to what I perceived to be the strengths and weaknesses of this work. First, the strengths: The writing is very competent and well edited. The author makes excellent use of imagery and exposition, so that the reader is well placed in the scene. There are too many characters to develop them all, but some are developed well. They are interesting and unique to say the least, particularly Ky, the main character. It is quite obvious that the author really, really enjoys and cares about this character--a good thing in a fantasy. `Shadow' is not like any other fantasy I have read; it is a unique approach.
Nothing about this book is simple. Ky, the main character, is an enigmatic little elf, who turns out to be quite the force to be reckoned with. I wasn't sure whether I liked him for a few chapters, but once I began to realize his nature, I warmed to him. By the time I came to the end of the story, I really enjoyed him (when is an elf NOT an elf....?) I will say no more.
Only `down' side: this is a complicated, multi-layered story requiring attention, or one may be quickly lost (at least, I was). I found some parts confusing, but after a bit of explanation by the author, I was back on track. This is not a story to be tackled by an under-motivated reader--this is a challenging tale that will keep you engaged, as long as you don't allow too many distractions. The four-star rating reflects my occasional confusion rather than the quality of the writing.
The diversity of characters suggests roots in RPG, and I have recommended this book to any and all of my `gamer' friends. They will have no trouble following it. I wouldn't recommend this book for mindless entertainment; however, if you want to be intrigued, challenged, and excited by a good, intricate plot line, `Shadow of the Ghost' is for you.
I will not summarize the plot here, as other reviews have already done so. I will simply comment as to what I perceived to be the strengths and weaknesses of this work. First, the strengths: The writing is very competent and well edited. The author makes excellent use of imagery and exposition, so that the reader is well placed in the scene. There are too many characters to develop them all, but some are developed well. They are interesting and unique to say the least, particularly Ky, the main character. It is quite obvious that the author really, really enjoys and cares about this character--a good thing in a fantasy. `Shadow' is not like any other fantasy I have read; it is a unique approach.
Nothing about this book is simple. Ky, the main character, is an enigmatic little elf, who turns out to be quite the force to be reckoned with. I wasn't sure whether I liked him for a few chapters, but once I began to realize his nature, I warmed to him. By the time I came to the end of the story, I really enjoyed him (when is an elf NOT an elf....?) I will say no more.
Only `down' side: this is a complicated, multi-layered story requiring attention, or one may be quickly lost (at least, I was). I found some parts confusing, but after a bit of explanation by the author, I was back on track. This is not a story to be tackled by an under-motivated reader--this is a challenging tale that will keep you engaged, as long as you don't allow too many distractions. The four-star rating reflects my occasional confusion rather than the quality of the writing.
The diversity of characters suggests roots in RPG, and I have recommended this book to any and all of my `gamer' friends. They will have no trouble following it. I wouldn't recommend this book for mindless entertainment; however, if you want to be intrigued, challenged, and excited by a good, intricate plot line, `Shadow of the Ghost' is for you.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Actually, worthy of more than 4 stars!
21 Mar 2009
Format:Paperback
Let me start by saying that while I am an avid reader, this is my first official review, so bear with me. Also, it needs to be stated that I do not know Tanner Artesz, and therefore, have no bias. I've learned that on Amazon, some reviews are not trustworthy due to relationships.
That being said, I honestly enjoyed the author's in-depth journey into his fantasy world, written with tribute to powerful Gods and an unlikely, underestimated elven hero. The reader is quickly introduced to many of the players, and requires a great deal of careful attention to follow, especially at first. The storyline is thoroughly considered. I'd imagine that this epic took a considerable amount of thought, effort and time to come to fruition, which is as positive of a remark as can be made. In today's fantasy, too much is rehashed from the popular, cult-driven successes. The author's uniqueness here can not be denied.
The author lets you get close to many characters, while leaving others to a bit of intriguing mystery. While this can be construed as a negative, in many ways, it is actually a bonus, as it allows the reader's imagination to come into play.
I particularly liked the brutal honesty in the narrative at times. While some authors try to describe horrific accounts to shock a reader into submission, Artesz simply tells it like it is, with a proper amount of necessary graphicness. "Inside, a horse lay in nine parts. Its jagged, bloodied bones protruded from its ripped flesh. They turned the corner at the end of the fence and found the first of the elven victims. Three dismembered bodies lay scattered in front of the stables..."
Criticisms? The first thing that comes to mind has nothing to do with the story. While I appreciate seeing the main character on the cover, I don't feel as though the cover captures the intensity of the story. The other criticism has already been iterated in a prior review, and while it wasn't a distraction for me, the complexity of the plot could turn some readers off. On the other hand, it could be considered a worthy challenge.
I do see the analogy to gaming, with references to hobgoblins, goblins and such.
Overall, I give Tanner Artesz a high mark for his creation. It is without a doubt carefully spawned, leaving recklessness to where it belongs, outside of quality fantasy.
Incidentally, the author's website is outstanding. It offers simple, quick-hitting explanations of Artesz's world, as well as other bonuses.
~ Brian L. Stowe, Author of Cross-Winds (2008) & Wounds and Scars (2009).
That being said, I honestly enjoyed the author's in-depth journey into his fantasy world, written with tribute to powerful Gods and an unlikely, underestimated elven hero. The reader is quickly introduced to many of the players, and requires a great deal of careful attention to follow, especially at first. The storyline is thoroughly considered. I'd imagine that this epic took a considerable amount of thought, effort and time to come to fruition, which is as positive of a remark as can be made. In today's fantasy, too much is rehashed from the popular, cult-driven successes. The author's uniqueness here can not be denied.
The author lets you get close to many characters, while leaving others to a bit of intriguing mystery. While this can be construed as a negative, in many ways, it is actually a bonus, as it allows the reader's imagination to come into play.
I particularly liked the brutal honesty in the narrative at times. While some authors try to describe horrific accounts to shock a reader into submission, Artesz simply tells it like it is, with a proper amount of necessary graphicness. "Inside, a horse lay in nine parts. Its jagged, bloodied bones protruded from its ripped flesh. They turned the corner at the end of the fence and found the first of the elven victims. Three dismembered bodies lay scattered in front of the stables..."
Criticisms? The first thing that comes to mind has nothing to do with the story. While I appreciate seeing the main character on the cover, I don't feel as though the cover captures the intensity of the story. The other criticism has already been iterated in a prior review, and while it wasn't a distraction for me, the complexity of the plot could turn some readers off. On the other hand, it could be considered a worthy challenge.
I do see the analogy to gaming, with references to hobgoblins, goblins and such.
Overall, I give Tanner Artesz a high mark for his creation. It is without a doubt carefully spawned, leaving recklessness to where it belongs, outside of quality fantasy.
Incidentally, the author's website is outstanding. It offers simple, quick-hitting explanations of Artesz's world, as well as other bonuses.
~ Brian L. Stowe, Author of Cross-Winds (2008) & Wounds and Scars (2009).
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
An entertaining read
10 Mar 2009
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was intriged when I saw that this book appealed to "gamers" so I gave it a try. It is not the classic Dragonlance novels that one might think of when "gamers" are mentioned but this was a fun read in its own right. It was a bit chaotic at times, but really, when the book has "Lord of Chaos" in the title, it better be, right? I am really looking forward to the next book.
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