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benlundns's review against another edition
3.0
It was good. Better then I expected, I started reading it once, a while ago, and put it back down. It seemed very bogged down in the politics of the realm, and it didn't seem all that exciting. The book opens on a battlefield, and there is sooooo much talking. I gave up and though maybe I'll try again later. I'm glad I came back to it, my initial problem is the same, it is not a fast paced book, every day seems like it's drawn out in pain staking detail, but there is enough happening after you get past the setup in the first 3rd of the book, that it is enjoyable. I already knew there was a sequel so I was interested enough in what happens at the end that I want to read the other books to continue the story. Apparently this is Marco's first book, (the cover refers to this as his debut novel), but it's pretty well formed, and he's got a whole 3 countries to play with. You get introduced to some of them briefly in the novel, and I would really like to learn more about them in later books.
lauregul's review
2.0
Prinz Richius, auch der Schakal genannt, schlägt Schlacht für Schlacht im Grenzland von Lucel-Lor. Er tut dies jedoch nicht für seinen Vater, den König, sondern für den Imperator, sein Land unterworfen hat und ein fragwürdiges Bündnis mit dem Herrscher von Lucel-Lor einging, um seine eigenen Interessen voranzutreiben. Als Richius sich dann auch noch verliebt, schwindet sein Glaube an den Krieg mehr und mehr.
[b:The Jackal of Nar|908330|The Jackal of Nar (Tyrants and Kings, #1)|John Marco|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403171748l/908330._SY75_.jpg|1368875] ist der erste Band der Reihe Tyrants and Kings. Grundsätzlich lässt sich das Buch wohl am besten in das Subgenre Military Fantasy einordnen. Dabei nehmen die Schlachten und der Krieg zwar eine zentrale Stellung in der Handlung ein, vorangetrieben wird diese allerdings – zumindest auf Richius Seite, der nun mal der Hauptcharakter ist – nur durch die Liebesgeschichte.
Richius ist ein inkompetenter General und Prinz, der zwischen seinen Pflichten als Prinz und General und seinen persönlichen Interessen hin- und hergerissen ist. Er gibt immer wieder vor, dass seine Pflichten als Prinz und General wichtiger sind. Trotzdem trifft er permanent Entscheidungen, die nur seinen persönlichen Interessen entsprechen, während sie seinem Land, seinen Untertanen und sogar seinen eigenen Soldaten schaden. Zwar wird wiederholt erwähnt, wie kompetent Richius als General ist, gezeigt wird es jedoch kaum – im Gegenteil, in den meisten Fällen erscheint er eher inkompetent. Mir war Richius extrem unsympathisch, wobei sich das gegen Ende des Buchs etwas besserte.
Leider gibt auch die Liebesgeschichte nicht viel her und wirkt unglaubwürdig. Urplötzlich verliebt sich der Prinz in eine Frau, die ihm zuvor vollkommen unbekannt ist – und das so sehr, dass er direkt bereit ist, sein Leben, das seiner Freunde sowie das Bestehen seines eigenen Landes aufs Spiel zu setzen. Noch dazu kommt die andere Seite der Liebesbeziehung. Die Frau, in die er sich verliebt, hasst Richius und das, wofür er steht.
Das Worldbuilding ist soweit solide. Die verschiedenen Länder und Fraktionen werden ausführlich genug dargestellt und wirken alle spannend. Besonders Nar, die Schwarze Stadt, hat mir gut gefallen und die Beschreibung lässt die Stadt innerhalb der Welt besonders außergewöhnlich erscheinen. Leider erhält sie weniger Zeit im Rampenlicht, als ich mir wünschen würde.
Auch die verschiedenen Fraktionen und Charaktere auf den unterschiedlichen Seiten des Krieges gefallen mir äußerst gut. Ihre Motviation ist glaubwürdig, sie wollen nicht einfach nur die Welt erobern, sondern verfolgen persönliche Ziele, die den Konflikt für sie zu einer Notwendigkeit macht. Es ist zwar klar, wer in dem Konflikt im Unrecht, also der Bösewicht, ist, jedoch gibt es kein klares Schwarz-Weiß-Schema – beide Seiten tun Dinge, die falsch bzw. böse sind, und auch die Handlungen der Bösen sind logisch nachvollziehbar.
Leider hat mir The Jackal of Nar nicht besonders gut gefallen. Erwartet habe ich eine Geschichte mit klarem Fokus auf militärische Aspekte in einem groß angelegten Konflikt. Obwohl das Buch von dieser Erwartung deutlich abweicht, ich Richius nicht ausstehen kann und ich die Liebesgeschichte katastrophal fand, habe ich noch Hoffnungen für die restlichen Bände der Reihe. Sollten diese den Konflikt vernünftig weiterführen und ausbauen sowie Richius sich vernünftig weiterentwickeln, während die unglaubwürdige Liebesgeschichte in den Hintergrund tritt, würde mir die Reihe wahrscheinlich noch viel Spaß bereiten.
[b:The Jackal of Nar|908330|The Jackal of Nar (Tyrants and Kings, #1)|John Marco|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403171748l/908330._SY75_.jpg|1368875] ist der erste Band der Reihe Tyrants and Kings. Grundsätzlich lässt sich das Buch wohl am besten in das Subgenre Military Fantasy einordnen. Dabei nehmen die Schlachten und der Krieg zwar eine zentrale Stellung in der Handlung ein, vorangetrieben wird diese allerdings – zumindest auf Richius Seite, der nun mal der Hauptcharakter ist – nur durch die Liebesgeschichte.
Richius ist ein inkompetenter General und Prinz, der zwischen seinen Pflichten als Prinz und General und seinen persönlichen Interessen hin- und hergerissen ist. Er gibt immer wieder vor, dass seine Pflichten als Prinz und General wichtiger sind. Trotzdem trifft er permanent Entscheidungen, die nur seinen persönlichen Interessen entsprechen, während sie seinem Land, seinen Untertanen und sogar seinen eigenen Soldaten schaden. Zwar wird wiederholt erwähnt, wie kompetent Richius als General ist, gezeigt wird es jedoch kaum – im Gegenteil, in den meisten Fällen erscheint er eher inkompetent. Mir war Richius extrem unsympathisch, wobei sich das gegen Ende des Buchs etwas besserte.
Leider gibt auch die Liebesgeschichte nicht viel her und wirkt unglaubwürdig. Urplötzlich verliebt sich der Prinz in eine Frau, die ihm zuvor vollkommen unbekannt ist – und das so sehr, dass er direkt bereit ist, sein Leben, das seiner Freunde sowie das Bestehen seines eigenen Landes aufs Spiel zu setzen. Noch dazu kommt die andere Seite der Liebesbeziehung. Die Frau, in die er sich verliebt, hasst Richius und das, wofür er steht.
Spoiler
Obendrein zahlt er bei dem Bordell, in dem sie Zuflucht sucht, dafür, ihre Jungfräulichkeit zu nehmen – was in ihrer Religion vor der Ehe ein Sakrileg ist und sie auch definitiv nicht möchte. Obwohl er sie also vergewaltigt und ihr ohnehin schon unsympathisch ist, verliebt sie sich nach nur wenigen Tagen unsterblich in ihn, weil er versucht, sie vor dem Mann zu beschützen, den sie fürchtet und der sie zur Frau nehmen möchte. Klar, der Feind meines Feindes ist mein Freund, aber das geht meiner Meinung nach zu weit.Das Worldbuilding ist soweit solide. Die verschiedenen Länder und Fraktionen werden ausführlich genug dargestellt und wirken alle spannend. Besonders Nar, die Schwarze Stadt, hat mir gut gefallen und die Beschreibung lässt die Stadt innerhalb der Welt besonders außergewöhnlich erscheinen. Leider erhält sie weniger Zeit im Rampenlicht, als ich mir wünschen würde.
Auch die verschiedenen Fraktionen und Charaktere auf den unterschiedlichen Seiten des Krieges gefallen mir äußerst gut. Ihre Motviation ist glaubwürdig, sie wollen nicht einfach nur die Welt erobern, sondern verfolgen persönliche Ziele, die den Konflikt für sie zu einer Notwendigkeit macht. Es ist zwar klar, wer in dem Konflikt im Unrecht, also der Bösewicht, ist, jedoch gibt es kein klares Schwarz-Weiß-Schema – beide Seiten tun Dinge, die falsch bzw. böse sind, und auch die Handlungen der Bösen sind logisch nachvollziehbar.
Leider hat mir The Jackal of Nar nicht besonders gut gefallen. Erwartet habe ich eine Geschichte mit klarem Fokus auf militärische Aspekte in einem groß angelegten Konflikt. Obwohl das Buch von dieser Erwartung deutlich abweicht, ich Richius nicht ausstehen kann und ich die Liebesgeschichte katastrophal fand, habe ich noch Hoffnungen für die restlichen Bände der Reihe. Sollten diese den Konflikt vernünftig weiterführen und ausbauen sowie Richius sich vernünftig weiterentwickeln, während die unglaubwürdige Liebesgeschichte in den Hintergrund tritt, würde mir die Reihe wahrscheinlich noch viel Spaß bereiten.
eososray's review against another edition
2.0
Not a book that managed to catch my interest or imagination. Neither the characters nor the story appealed to me.
lazylys's review against another edition
3.0
John Marco è un carnefice. Punto. Non ho altro da dire^^
roaming_enn's review against another edition
4.0
Like all books that begin in the middle of battle, things will make more sense in time. So try to bear with it, because this story is worth it. This volume introduces a group of characters that will make you cringe, or cheer, or both (because that's just how Marco is), at the sound of their name. Many, if not most, will only stick around in this book, so be prepared for that! Others will live on for the second, and even fewer for the third. So while I tried not to get too attached to any of the characters since I knew that many will die, I just couldn't help but love them. But I suppose that's just what a good writer can make you do.
There is a Socratic dialogue of sorts (though I'm well aware that the man instigating the conversation isn't as meticulous as Socrates was) within this book that I feel sums up much of what Marco writes. It's between four men, Tharn--leader of Lucel-Lor--Vorn, Raig and Nagrah. I don't believe this conversation exposes any spoilers, so I will write it here (pp. 602-3):
Tharn: "I have been wondering something. About cruelty. I am wondering where it comes from."
Raig: "Evil. Cruelty comes from evil."
Tharn: "Evil. Hmm, maybe. Like the Narens, Raig?"
Raig: "Yes. The Narens are evil. It makes them cruel. Only evil men could do what was done at Ackle-Nye."
Vorn: "Is this a game, Master?"
Tharn: "No, not a game. Oh, you three think I have all the answers, but I do not. I wonder things, too. Sometimes it helps me to philosophize." [Turns to Nagrah] Well? What do you say?"
Nagrah: "I think Raig is right. Evil makes men cruel. Why are you wondering this, Master?"
Tharn: "I ask the questions. What about the warlords? Are they cruel?"
Raig: "No. They are warriors."
Tharn: "When Delgar fought Praxtin-Tar at Reen, he buried fifty captured warriors up to their necks on the shore and waited for the tide to come in. Before they drowned the crabs and gulls ate out their eyes. Does that qualify as cruelty to you, Raig?"
Raig: [long pause] "Yes, I suppose. Maybe Delgar is evil."
Tharn: "Delgar is helping us now. He's fighting with us against the Narens. Does that make us evil?"
Nagrah: "Master, what is this about? I do not understand. We are not evil."
Tharn: "Hush, boy. I never said we were. Raig, tell me. Is Delgar evil, or are you wrong about the cause of cruelty?"
Raig: "I do not know."
Vorn: "I think Raig is wrong. Delgar is cruel. Shohar, too. But they are not evil."
Tharn: "No. I agree with you. They are honorable men, both of them. Brutal, perhaps, but honorable. As are we all. [Looks to Nagrah] Right, Nagrah? [Nagrah meets Tharn's eyes and a long pause ensues.] Nagrah? Why are men cruel?"
Nagrah: "Men are cruel when they are weak, Master. Men are cruel when they have desires and are frustrated."
The conversation cuts off at that uncomfortable conclusion. I wish Marco had written more. But I think it's a beautiful representation of what he tries to show in each of his books. Like pretty much every reviewer of John Marco on Goodreads says, every character has virtues and vices; each has his/her own motivations that make sense when seen from his/her point of view. When you're reading, be open to each character and their perspective. Just like each person in this world, each perspective in this book is just as valid as any other.
I award this book 4.5/5 stars. :)
There is a Socratic dialogue of sorts (though I'm well aware that the man instigating the conversation isn't as meticulous as Socrates was) within this book that I feel sums up much of what Marco writes. It's between four men, Tharn--leader of Lucel-Lor--Vorn, Raig and Nagrah. I don't believe this conversation exposes any spoilers, so I will write it here (pp. 602-3):
Tharn: "I have been wondering something. About cruelty. I am wondering where it comes from."
Raig: "Evil. Cruelty comes from evil."
Tharn: "Evil. Hmm, maybe. Like the Narens, Raig?"
Raig: "Yes. The Narens are evil. It makes them cruel. Only evil men could do what was done at Ackle-Nye."
Vorn: "Is this a game, Master?"
Tharn: "No, not a game. Oh, you three think I have all the answers, but I do not. I wonder things, too. Sometimes it helps me to philosophize." [Turns to Nagrah] Well? What do you say?"
Nagrah: "I think Raig is right. Evil makes men cruel. Why are you wondering this, Master?"
Tharn: "I ask the questions. What about the warlords? Are they cruel?"
Raig: "No. They are warriors."
Tharn: "When Delgar fought Praxtin-Tar at Reen, he buried fifty captured warriors up to their necks on the shore and waited for the tide to come in. Before they drowned the crabs and gulls ate out their eyes. Does that qualify as cruelty to you, Raig?"
Raig: [long pause] "Yes, I suppose. Maybe Delgar is evil."
Tharn: "Delgar is helping us now. He's fighting with us against the Narens. Does that make us evil?"
Nagrah: "Master, what is this about? I do not understand. We are not evil."
Tharn: "Hush, boy. I never said we were. Raig, tell me. Is Delgar evil, or are you wrong about the cause of cruelty?"
Raig: "I do not know."
Vorn: "I think Raig is wrong. Delgar is cruel. Shohar, too. But they are not evil."
Tharn: "No. I agree with you. They are honorable men, both of them. Brutal, perhaps, but honorable. As are we all. [Looks to Nagrah] Right, Nagrah? [Nagrah meets Tharn's eyes and a long pause ensues.] Nagrah? Why are men cruel?"
Nagrah: "Men are cruel when they are weak, Master. Men are cruel when they have desires and are frustrated."
The conversation cuts off at that uncomfortable conclusion. I wish Marco had written more. But I think it's a beautiful representation of what he tries to show in each of his books. Like pretty much every reviewer of John Marco on Goodreads says, every character has virtues and vices; each has his/her own motivations that make sense when seen from his/her point of view. When you're reading, be open to each character and their perspective. Just like each person in this world, each perspective in this book is just as valid as any other.
I award this book 4.5/5 stars. :)
mpetruce's review against another edition
1.0
I have tried to read this book numerous times and once again found I was forcing myself to read it. I have too many other books I want to read and have yet to discover to put up with that. So many characters right at the outset and so many "fantasy" names that just seemed to be pulled out of a hat or a Boggle game, that I just wasn't feeling it.
seak's review against another edition
5.0
This is an article I wrote for fantasyliterature.com called "Why You Should Read... John Marco."
I was first introduced to John Marco a number of years ago by a good friend of mine through the first book in his Tyrants and Kings Trilogy, The Jackal of Nar. After that I was hooked. To this day, years later, I can vividly see the cathedral of Nar being frescoed, hear the din of each battle, but most of all I can still feel every bit of pathos written into his books.
And that’s what draws me back to John Marco; his characters are so real you can practically reach out and touch them. They could be any one of us and their struggles are monumental. Marco takes you to highs and brings you down low with a manageable amount of characters with whom you grow unbelievably attached. Their motivations are understandable and their suffering can be heart-wrenching at times, not to mention their exhilarating triumphs.
If you’re looking for gray, Marco pretty much wrote the book on it (hehe). I’m always impressed when authors, like George R.R. Martin, can have you sympathizing for the most dastardly character and Marco does it over and over. Characters such as the Machiavellian Biagio will always stay in my head as a prime example of someone I wanted to hate, but could not help but root for.
I could probably go on for pages about his characters, but I’ll save you that at least. In summary, they’re deep, they’re three-dimensional, and if you don’t love them, you’ll at least be impressed with them.
While I appreciate the fast-paced, run-and-gun novel, Marco employs a much more descriptive style to bring about his reading experience. Through this approach, he paints a picture that stays with you. You’ll find yourself inside the characters’ heads, feeling what they feel and seeing the world how they do.
When I found out about this project, I emailed the man himself, John Marco, and here’s what he had to say about his writing:
“The only thing I might say, however, is that I’ve never undertaken a story I’m not passionate about. Some folks love my books, some dislike them intensely, but I’ve always taken heart in knowing that I’ve done my best and told the stories I wanted to tell.”
Marco has written two trilogies, Tyrants and Kings, and the Lukien Trilogy, and his first foray into the young adult scene Starfinder, book 1 in the Skylords series. He is currently working on another Lukien book. (Don't you just love commas?)
Do yourself a favor and read John Marco.
I was first introduced to John Marco a number of years ago by a good friend of mine through the first book in his Tyrants and Kings Trilogy, The Jackal of Nar. After that I was hooked. To this day, years later, I can vividly see the cathedral of Nar being frescoed, hear the din of each battle, but most of all I can still feel every bit of pathos written into his books.
And that’s what draws me back to John Marco; his characters are so real you can practically reach out and touch them. They could be any one of us and their struggles are monumental. Marco takes you to highs and brings you down low with a manageable amount of characters with whom you grow unbelievably attached. Their motivations are understandable and their suffering can be heart-wrenching at times, not to mention their exhilarating triumphs.
If you’re looking for gray, Marco pretty much wrote the book on it (hehe). I’m always impressed when authors, like George R.R. Martin, can have you sympathizing for the most dastardly character and Marco does it over and over. Characters such as the Machiavellian Biagio will always stay in my head as a prime example of someone I wanted to hate, but could not help but root for.
I could probably go on for pages about his characters, but I’ll save you that at least. In summary, they’re deep, they’re three-dimensional, and if you don’t love them, you’ll at least be impressed with them.
While I appreciate the fast-paced, run-and-gun novel, Marco employs a much more descriptive style to bring about his reading experience. Through this approach, he paints a picture that stays with you. You’ll find yourself inside the characters’ heads, feeling what they feel and seeing the world how they do.
When I found out about this project, I emailed the man himself, John Marco, and here’s what he had to say about his writing:
“The only thing I might say, however, is that I’ve never undertaken a story I’m not passionate about. Some folks love my books, some dislike them intensely, but I’ve always taken heart in knowing that I’ve done my best and told the stories I wanted to tell.”
Marco has written two trilogies, Tyrants and Kings, and the Lukien Trilogy, and his first foray into the young adult scene Starfinder, book 1 in the Skylords series. He is currently working on another Lukien book. (Don't you just love commas?)
Do yourself a favor and read John Marco.
vaderbird's review against another edition
3.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish