Genre: Fantasy/Young
Adult/Short Story Collection
Description:
Every world needs heroes.
Be they old or young, willing or reluctant, or merely following their
destiny, heroes capture imaginations and provide an escape from everyday life.
In these stories set in the magical world of Aldura, the heroes stand
as defenders of good, be they struggling against their own insecurities, fears,
or the unbeatable forces of the enemy, each must find the will to persevere,
and the courage and strength to triumph.
These tales transverse the gamut of emotions and reveal the quiet
depth and resolution of those who are willing to sacrifice to help others.
Author:
Susan Stuckey: “Currently (mostly) retired, but 'back in the day'
Susan was a meek, mild-mannered, self-effacing accountant/auditor by day but
after 5:00 her imagination broke free. She either played with historical
stories, or in the magical World of Aldura she created.
Besides playing in fantasy worlds and/or historical times, Susan
dabbles in various hobbies, loves to try new recipes, and is the servant of
multiple fur-children (both feline and canine).”
Appraisal:
I have read and reviewed several of Ms. Stuckey’s stories here at
BigAl’s Books and Pals. I like that Ms. Stuckey has put these stories in a
timeline order omnibus to read. All of these novellas and short stories have an
overall theme of honor, commitment, family, and all have difficult choices to
be made. She is a masterful storyteller.
Listed first are a few lines from the stories I have reviewed before.
To see the full review please enter the title in the search box at BigAl’s
Books and Pals.
Previously reviewed include:
Tears of
a Seeress: A prequel to Phaedra. It’s
a powerfully emotional tale about love and commitment for family, clan, and
hope for a better future… The magic is well thought-out and fascinating.
Phaedra: She has
known her fate since the time she was born, she thought becoming a ranger would
help prepare her for her task. This is an emotional story of honor, fortitude,
strength, and destiny. I found it heart-wrenchingly well told.
Choices: Ranger Thaenad
hears a call for help in the ether. A small group of refugees, mostly
younglings, are held up in a small broken down hovel being hunted by a group of
Halurdow and they are closing in on their location. The plot moves quickly as
our small band flees for the safety of Stryker Pass. Thaenad and the black
wolves prove to be a heroes, in every sense of the word.
Kaserie’s
Choice: As Kaserie, a slave for the past eight years, escapes the barbarian
Halurdow who enslaved her waiting for her potential magical powers to manifest.
She heads to the Temple of Azrael, upon arrival her powers begin to manifest.
With the help of the black wolves and a Liheiren Ranger named Thaenad, she
learns she has some seemingly impossible choices to make and tasks to complete
to change the future for the Kalieri people.
Jezrei's
Justice: This short story is a glowing testament for love and faith on many
levels. Jezrei is an elderly Lieheiren Muhadun, a teaching priest with healing
powers, of the Kalieri. Jezrei has been tasked with the protection of a group
of children in the Temple while the barbarian Halurdow storms the town killing
and burning everything along their way. To keep the children calm he begins
telling the children about the Twin Gods who created their world. I loved the
ending of this story. Out of the mouths of babes was never so powerful.
The Sword
of Isyndral: After the murder of her parents, the King and Queen of Dragons Keep,
Allena must learn the secret to unleash the Twin Gods magic from the Sword of
Isyndral in the midst of an epic battle surrounding the Dragons Keep. All the
clans of Aldura are at risk of annihilation by the Halurdrow if Dragons Keep
falls. There is intrigue, magic, broken oaths, treason, and dragons.
New stories I have not reviewed before:
The Fall
of Azraelis:
Is the war ballad of how Galdona’s capital city of Azraelis fell to
the Halurdow. The battle beasts of the Dark God, Urdow.
Friends:
A sweet
little story told mostly through Jaelyn’s eyes. A young healer, from the city, who
has been sent to work in the remote Fernwood Valley. It’s a lonely existence
when the town is skeptical of their newcomer. She has been asked to assist with
the birth of the Klussner’s tenth baby. As she passed Fernwood Creek on her way
to their cottage deep in Fernwood’s wilderness she found three circular stones
with holes in the middle, known as friendship stones in the city. She stashed
them in her pocket missing her friends back home.
At the baby’s birth Jaelyn is envious of the camaraderie of the
family’s friends who have gathered to help. On her way back to her own cottage
darkness is falling faster than expected. Having heard trolls had been spotted
by the creek every sound she hears starts to unnerve her. So she takes off
running and trips over an exposed root. What she sees next causes her to faint
dead away.
This is a story of the blessing of acceptance, trust, and friendship
from those
you never knew existed.
Alliandre:
A warring fleet of ships have conquered the Isle of Ipsen Watch. They
need to find the Guardian of Ipsen to break the shield protecting Ipsen. On a
small island just outside the shield they find an old crone when what lured them
to the isle was the sight of a young woman in a green dress. Their mages can
learn nothing from the crone, her memory only goes back to the day the
conquerors arrived. They decide to keep her alive hoping to gain her trust so that
one day she will break and tell them her name and where the Guardian of Ipsen
is hiding. The tale is told through the eyes of her female caretaker. Alliandre is well written and
captivating.
The
Bonding - Tale of Aethnad and Stormwing:
I viewed this poem as a ballad. Stormwing is a dragon watching a
drowning man and decides to save him. Death and Fate intervene. This is a story
which will be told and re-told on Aldura.
It is amazing how much story Ms. Stuckey can pack in so few words. I
always enjoy the way she tells a story. I highly recommend you pick up this
omnibus today.
FYI:
All the stories included in this publication are also available as
stand-alone publications.
Format/Typo
Issues:
No issues with proofing or formatting.
Rating:
***** Five Stars
Reviewed
by: ?wazithinkin
Approximate
word count: 60-65,000 words
