Sword of Fire and Sea / Erin Hoffman

Sword of Fire and Sea

(Chaos Knight #1)

by Erin Hoffman

fantasy

copyright 2011

read in August 2017

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

Nice people tackling difficult challenges in a complex world.

Unfortunately the challenges are overcome too easily... See a problem, wave a sword or a magic spell, problem overcome.

And the complex world is barely described. People, countries, cities appear from nowhere, do their bit, then disappear. Some of them barely have a "bit" to do... One man, for example, serves coffee each morning, gives a gift of coffee, goes his own way. Does it add anything to the plot? Not as far as I can tell. He is a stranger who is met on the trail -- to no purpose.

The whole book is a lot like that: interesting people and places, coming unannounced and going, having added little of value.

The plot itself is largely unexplained. Plenty can be understood, sometimes after the result. But there is a lot of inexplicable motivation. My best guess is that it's because the country is a dungeons and dragons game world. Players -- and the author -- know the world. The reader is left in the dark.

For all that, it's a pleasant book to read. I won't seek out book two -- but I will be happy to read it if it appears.

And the cover... is very nice :-) Definitely one of the better book covers.

Great cover. Unclear plot. Nice characters. Too little world explanation. Easy reading. Light and forgettable.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
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Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming 'WOO HOO what a ride!'