- Paperback: 488 pages
- Publisher: Gollancz; paperback / softback edition (16 Mar 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0575077271
- ISBN-13: 978-0575077270
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 15.2 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 719,310 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Stormcaller: Book One Of The Twilight Reign
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Review
It gallops along with scarcely a dull moment. (Lisa Tuttle THE TIMES )
This first novel has good ideas and a suitably flawed hero. The world is beautifully realised, the battles suitably grim and the dragon, when it appears, is magnificent. (THE GUARDIAN )
"A fantasy with the same magnificence of conception, the same sense of looming presences whose purposes are not ours to apprehend. Fragments of old stories which stud and sometimes drive his narrative are not just there as decoration or machinery. They are there to make this world seem deeper and darker than Lloyd's gloom ridden narrative allows." (Roz Kaveney TIME OUT )
"Magical creatures and high speed action scenes... packed with detail without being too heavy. The Stormcaller shows how high the bar has been raised with its sheer vision and inventiveness." (SFX )
As the book progresses, Lloyd's ball-juggling skills improve, and the plot becomes more coherent, his characters more convincing, and his story starts to grip. It'll be interesting to see how both author and series develop. (STARBURST )
"It is intelligently written with good characterization. Fans of fantasy will want to keep an eye out for Tom Lloyd." (CONCATENATION )
The world that Lloyd has created seems much more real than that of most fantasy books. He has created a fantasy world that has believable politics and is inhabited by large numbers of ordinary people... (Cheryl Morgan EMERALD CITY )
Lloyd creates a vivid world, which gradually comes alive and promises more for the future [He] echoes writers such as Moorcock and Gemmell. (Ian Emsley INTERZONE )
Stormcaller's magical land is far from the cosy backwater we've become so used to of late. A pretty confident first novel. (DREAMWATCH )
"This stars Isak, a young man brought up as a 'wagon brat' in a world ruled by the whims of the gods, who have been inactive far too long. Though desperate to escape the fear and abuse, Isak finds himself chosen by the god to be his world's ruler, and facing murderous rivals. A wonderful bit of world building." (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS )
This first novel has good ideas and a suitably flawed hero. The world is beautifully realised, the battles suitably grim and the dragon, when it appears, is magnificent. (THE GUARDIAN )
"A fantasy with the same magnificence of conception, the same sense of looming presences whose purposes are not ours to apprehend. Fragments of old stories which stud and sometimes drive his narrative are not just there as decoration or machinery. They are there to make this world seem deeper and darker than Lloyd's gloom ridden narrative allows." (Roz Kaveney TIME OUT )
"Magical creatures and high speed action scenes... packed with detail without being too heavy. The Stormcaller shows how high the bar has been raised with its sheer vision and inventiveness." (SFX )
As the book progresses, Lloyd's ball-juggling skills improve, and the plot becomes more coherent, his characters more convincing, and his story starts to grip. It'll be interesting to see how both author and series develop. (STARBURST )
"It is intelligently written with good characterization. Fans of fantasy will want to keep an eye out for Tom Lloyd." (CONCATENATION )
The world that Lloyd has created seems much more real than that of most fantasy books. He has created a fantasy world that has believable politics and is inhabited by large numbers of ordinary people... (Cheryl Morgan EMERALD CITY )
Lloyd creates a vivid world, which gradually comes alive and promises more for the future [He] echoes writers such as Moorcock and Gemmell. (Ian Emsley INTERZONE )
Stormcaller's magical land is far from the cosy backwater we've become so used to of late. A pretty confident first novel. (DREAMWATCH )
"This stars Isak, a young man brought up as a 'wagon brat' in a world ruled by the whims of the gods, who have been inactive far too long. Though desperate to escape the fear and abuse, Isak finds himself chosen by the god to be his world's ruler, and facing murderous rivals. A wonderful bit of world building." (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS )
Time Out - Ros Kaveney
...fantasy with the same magnificence of conception, the same sense of looming presences whose purposes are not ours to apprehend.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book does not follow any preconceived formulaes for fantasy fiction novels. Its new, its vibrant and it grips you from the very start. The world is so detailed it feels real, the fact that certain aspects, creatures none central to the plot are just accepted, written as though everyone should know about them, just makes it all the more believable. It makes the reader think in a good way. Politics and intrigues abound but don't overpower the story, aren't overly complicated so that they add lovingly to the plot rather than detract from it or take center stage. By the very nature of the key players violence is always just under the surface barely held in check. The characters have believeable flaws and fears that add depth and credibility. Equal time is given to character development, detailed and enthralling action scenes, politics, mysticism and magic. The Final result is awe inspiring, and beyond doubt the best book I have read since I first picked up david gemmels book Legend when that was first published over 10 years ago. I can not wait for its sequel.
The story centers arround Isak. Isak is a "White Eye" these are stronger faster and alot more violent versions of Humans that are especially born to be the God's representatives on earth, and defenders of the land. A wagon rat with a bleak childhood suddenly raised as Krann the chosen of the god Nartis and heir elect to Lord Bahl Lord of all the Farlan. Everyone wants to use and manipulate him. Its the age of Fulfillment and prophersy, but everyone has there own version, and everyone one of power, all the Gods try to influence it, and Isak for there own purposes. But all they end up making is something none of them intended, Isak has more power than intended but is not ruled by prophersy, or god inspired abmition, or anyone elses whim. The story is far far better than that. It is not your typical phrophercy sword and sorcery bout, it is much much better and a MUST read
The story centers arround Isak. Isak is a "White Eye" these are stronger faster and alot more violent versions of Humans that are especially born to be the God's representatives on earth, and defenders of the land. A wagon rat with a bleak childhood suddenly raised as Krann the chosen of the god Nartis and heir elect to Lord Bahl Lord of all the Farlan. Everyone wants to use and manipulate him. Its the age of Fulfillment and prophersy, but everyone has there own version, and everyone one of power, all the Gods try to influence it, and Isak for there own purposes. But all they end up making is something none of them intended, Isak has more power than intended but is not ruled by prophersy, or god inspired abmition, or anyone elses whim. The story is far far better than that. It is not your typical phrophercy sword and sorcery bout, it is much much better and a MUST read
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Like some other reviewers I found parts of this book not entirely convincing, but I was reading faster and faster, and looking up when the next book in the series is published before I had finished. Complex, enjoyable, and clearly setting the scene for a great series.
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Brought up on a wagon train, Isak is used to being hated and feared. His father blames him for the death of his mother in childbirth, and others see him only as a strong and unpredictable white-eye. His only friend is Carel, a former soldier turned trader who's training Isak to join the Ghosts, an elite band of soldier who serves Lord Farlan. When Isak arrived in Tirah however, he finds that he's been chosen by Nartis, the God of Storms to be the heir (Krann) to Lord Bahl. Pitched into a world of privilege and prophecy, Isak finds himself thrust into a world where men and elves and Gods are in conflict with each other and he is regarded as the only saviour.
Ambitious world-building and story-telling on a huge scale means there is much that is impressive within this novel. Pitched from poverty to wealth and power, Lloyd uses Isak's journey to draw out the complex nature of The Land and its history. He is supported by a wide-ranging cast, of whom the most interesting are Lord Bahl who tutors Isak in magic and his duties, Carel the crusty ex-soldier and the only person Isak trusts and Tila, the high-born lady who serves Isak and tutors him in protocol and politics.
The problem is that there are too many characters at times and while there is a cast list at the back, I frequently found myself having to refer to it in order to keep the character relationships straight. There is also a lot of plot, at times too much, making it difficult to keep track of what is happening to whom and it doesn't help that Lloyd frequently head-hops between POVs within scenes, which is a distraction.
The battle scenes are brutal and well depicted and there's no doubting Lloyd's imagination. However there are times when it's not clear within the writing just what is going on and a key scene towards the end with Lord Bahl happens off-page, robbing it of resonance. While the ending promises an interesting follow-up, there needs to be more focus in the writing for it to remain an interesting read.
Ambitious world-building and story-telling on a huge scale means there is much that is impressive within this novel. Pitched from poverty to wealth and power, Lloyd uses Isak's journey to draw out the complex nature of The Land and its history. He is supported by a wide-ranging cast, of whom the most interesting are Lord Bahl who tutors Isak in magic and his duties, Carel the crusty ex-soldier and the only person Isak trusts and Tila, the high-born lady who serves Isak and tutors him in protocol and politics.
The problem is that there are too many characters at times and while there is a cast list at the back, I frequently found myself having to refer to it in order to keep the character relationships straight. There is also a lot of plot, at times too much, making it difficult to keep track of what is happening to whom and it doesn't help that Lloyd frequently head-hops between POVs within scenes, which is a distraction.
The battle scenes are brutal and well depicted and there's no doubting Lloyd's imagination. However there are times when it's not clear within the writing just what is going on and a key scene towards the end with Lord Bahl happens off-page, robbing it of resonance. While the ending promises an interesting follow-up, there needs to be more focus in the writing for it to remain an interesting read.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good reading but a bit hyped up......
This is a good story for those who wish to dip their toes into Fantasy reading without too much effort. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Shizzlemanizzle
zzzzzz.......
...zzzzzzz. what the?
Sorry, fell asleep reading it again.
On paper it looks looks like a winner. Quite literally. I too was suckered in by its excellent artwork. Read more
Sorry, fell asleep reading it again.
On paper it looks looks like a winner. Quite literally. I too was suckered in by its excellent artwork. Read more
Published 23 months ago by davey boy
The stormcaller
This book has everything you could want from a fantasy book, epic battles, magic, prophecies and dragons. Read more
Published on 2 Mar 2010 by D. Pybus
Less than Ho hum!
As a gal who has read PLENTY of fantasy and usually reads books through to the bitter end, I have to say this was one of the most dull books I have ever picked up. Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2009 by Lady Amalthea
Good and bad
The book presents an entire world and is beautifully written, re-working many of the typical fantasy themes; Gods, demons and dragons and the like a long with a destined hero yet... Read more
Published on 25 Nov 2009 by M. J. W. Sheridan
Some good writing on display
Whilst a few of the elements of the plot seemed confusing (not complex, just unclear), some very good descriptive writing made this superior to many of the current crop of fantasy... Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2009 by Michael Porter
Awesome
The book, is amazing. It delves into a magical world were everything is deeper then it first appears. Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2009 by Mrs. Rina B. D. Land
Fantastic
Very very good book, couldn't put it down. Good Characters and interesting and original story yet with the good old bits from fantasy.
Published on 7 Aug 2009 by David Rees
AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING
If you have not already picked up a copy of 'Stormcaller', by Tom Lloyd, I suggest you do so now. His characters are fascinating, his writing is superb, and the action is non-stop. Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2009 by Kristin Roper
Simply a badly written mess
I just couldn't get into. Too many unsympathetic characters. A mess of a world. And really just badly written. Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2009 by Mark Goodbody
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