Goodreads Teaser: "She is a Dog - one of the many children and teens across the empire of Ansborn who have been sentenced to fight in the arenas. There they fight in battle after battle until they die for the sport of the people of Ansborn - an empire built atop the peaks of five mountains.
But one day she picks up a knife... and everything changes.
She discovers she is a Greater Gift - one of a handful of magic users with powers so great they only have two choices: to join the Empire as one of its premiere assassins, or die as a threat to the Empire itself.
She is no longer a Dog. Now, she is Sword. And soon she will realize that in this Empire, not all is what it seems. Good and evil collide, and she can never be sure whom to trust - not even herself.
She holds life in her hands for some. Brings death by her blade to others.
She is a killer.
She is a savior.
She is Sword."
Title: The Sword Chronicles: Child of The Empire
Author: Michaelbrent Collings
Publication Date: December 3, 2015
Isis' Review:
I would like to thank Michaelbrent Collings for a copy of this e-book to review. Though I received this for free, that has no impact upon the honesty of my review.
Definitely a unique world, with a fascinating twist to an old story. Dog can't recall life before the kennels, or at least very little of it. Just enough to know that she can read and write, but even those skills are limited, and certainly nothing shell ever need as a Dog. As horrid as her life may appear on the outside, she's made a kind of peace with it. So the day she is thrown a knife while in the arena she's given a choice, both ways end with her death. But when she picks up the knife something happens. Something that takes her away from her life as a Dog.
Following her journey from Dog, to Sword, and the changes that follow her once she becomes Sword is intriguing, entertaining, and emotional. Watching her navigate the world outside the kennels is astounding, as it's so well done that the kennels and attendant lifestyle seem very real. Which is rather horrifying to say the least. But her innate intelligence shines through, and given just the smallest crumbs Sword promptly begins making up for all the education she lacked in those dark years. But part of what makes her so interesting is that she doesn't regret her years as a Dog, for they pared down her world to the very basics, the only true rule of which was survival. And when she meets others that lacked that experience she sometimes feels sorry for them; sorry that they've not had an experience to hone their sense of life and refine their inner fire.
Sword finds a family in the other Blessed Ones, something she's never had before, or at least not in her memory. Her joy in having a family, in finally belonging, is almost tangible. But it comes at at cost. She accepts everything about her life as a Blessed One at face value, never questioning the Empire and the things that are allowed, or even encouraged, under its rule. She accepts what she sees and is told as truth. So when forced to confront the fact that her current truths may in fact be lies she struggles mightily. Sword must once again find her way in her latest incarnation. She must face the new realities of her life, regardless of how she feels about them. And eventually she comes to terms with the changes in her life, though they bring both great satisfaction and heart rending sorrow.
The other characters, especially the Blessed and Cursed Ones, are very powerful influences in Sword's life. As such they've been well crafted and most could easily stand alone with their own story, though we're not usually given anything remotely close to their whole story. But each one has qualities that are necessary, and all play roles of similar importance. In fact I think I'd have been quite happy to follow most any of their stories much further, going much more deeply into their backgrounds. Hopefully I'll get the chance in future books in this series.
All told this story moved quite smoothly, with nice transitions between each segment of Sword's life thus far. The character development played into the arc of the story very melodiously, creating a book that was as much story as it was bardic tale. Even the time of the Empire lent itself well to the crafting of one epic bard's tale. Each character helped to create yet another layer to the tale, adding a warp and weft that made a tapestry of imaginary people come to vivid life before my very eyes. I cared about these people, and found myself invested in the outcome of their personal stories. I can't think of better praise for a book than that!
Michaelbrent Collings is a #1 bestselling novelist and screenwriter. He has written numerous bestsellers, including Darkbound, Apparition, The Haunted, The Loon, Rising Fears, and the bestselling YA fantasy series The Billy Saga, beginning with Billy: Messenger of Powers.
He hopes someday to develop superpowers, or, if that is out of the question, then at least to get a cool robot arm.
Michaelbrent has a wife and several kids, all of whom are much better looking than he is (though he admits that's a low bar to set), and also cooler than he is.
Michaelbrent also has a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MichaelbrentC...and can be followed on Twitter through his username @mbcollings. Follow him for cool news, updates, and advance notice of sales. You will also be kept safe when the Glorious Revolution begins!
"Ellary Dane knows she deserves to die
Constance Roberts is a retired flight attendant who turned in her wings to stay at home with her adventurous daughter and to write. She and her husband live in St. Louis, Missouri where they spend the weekends playing board games with friends. She spends way too much time on Pinterest and her house is littered with half-finished craft projects. She is currently working on Bloodstones, the second book in the Onyx Moon Trilogy, and has big plans for another fantasy series.
