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4.5 AVERAGE
4.5 AVERAGE
More like a 3.5 for me but I did enjoy it (and this time I will save it before hitting submit, thanks for nothing internet fail). I received this book from a goodreads giveaway which in no way influenced my review.
The story centers on Timothy, a young man along with his brother, Robert (adoptive relationship here), who is growing up in the years after being completely conquered. Completely is the operative word here. In just a generation their language is lost and their history suppressed after the Botani king had been betrayed allowing the Huctans to take over their land.
Timothy and Robert know they could be killed for just being non-Huctan but that doesn't stop them from going a few towns over to a festival where they are taken with all the other able-bodied teens as slaves to the Huctan soldiers. They are later rescued by Selena.
Selena is one of the titular thanes but she was not supposed to rescue anyone let along bring them back to the rebel encampment. The thanes are training to do what usually happens when you have cruel conquerers, rebel. Timothy is quick to want to join them, Robert much less slow. Timothy trains with Selena and Jesher, one of the best young thanes, and others, including older mentors who remember a time before the conquest.
However just as Timothy and Robert start out on their first missions they learn not all is as it seems. They learn why the Huctans are taking children and worse, that there is traitor among them.
I liked the characters a lot. The reason this isn't a pure 4-star for me is that it does drag a bit during the training. Also Selena (who is the only female of note) goes from rescuer and kick-butt thane to being on the sidelines a bit too much for my tastes. It also ends on a bit of a cliffhanger (even though the main story arc is wrapped up i.e. Timothy becoming a thane). I was wondering why the three main characters have more or less every day names and everyone else has more fantasy-styled names but that is a minor quibble. As in most dystopic fic about a brewing war, not everyone is going to have a happy ending.
That said I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next.
The story centers on Timothy, a young man along with his brother, Robert (adoptive relationship here), who is growing up in the years after being completely conquered. Completely is the operative word here. In just a generation their language is lost and their history suppressed after the Botani king had been betrayed allowing the Huctans to take over their land.
Timothy and Robert know they could be killed for just being non-Huctan but that doesn't stop them from going a few towns over to a festival where they are taken with all the other able-bodied teens as slaves to the Huctan soldiers. They are later rescued by Selena.
Selena is one of the titular thanes but she was not supposed to rescue anyone let along bring them back to the rebel encampment. The thanes are training to do what usually happens when you have cruel conquerers, rebel. Timothy is quick to want to join them, Robert much less slow. Timothy trains with Selena and Jesher, one of the best young thanes, and others, including older mentors who remember a time before the conquest.
However just as Timothy and Robert start out on their first missions they learn not all is as it seems. They learn why the Huctans are taking children and worse, that there is traitor among them.
I liked the characters a lot. The reason this isn't a pure 4-star for me is that it does drag a bit during the training. Also Selena (who is the only female of note) goes from rescuer and kick-butt thane to being on the sidelines a bit too much for my tastes. It also ends on a bit of a cliffhanger (even though the main story arc is wrapped up i.e. Timothy becoming a thane). I was wondering why the three main characters have more or less every day names and everyone else has more fantasy-styled names but that is a minor quibble. As in most dystopic fic about a brewing war, not everyone is going to have a happy ending.
That said I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next.
*I received a free copy of this book. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
As a fan of epic fantasy, I can confirm that Thane is both epic and fantastic, and can thoroughly recommend it to any fellow fantasy fans.
Not only are the characters individual and believable, but there are moments in their thoughts (‘If there was one thing Timothy hated, it was people that said, ‘three, or rather, four‘ when they had obviously known from the beginning that there were four.’), dialogue and actions (‘There was a look of barely-contained frustration on his face, the look a person gets when someone tells their favourite joke, but says all the lines wrong.’) where I found myself nodding vigorously, smiling and almost wanting to applaud and just how perfectly the author had got under the skin of these people.
Relationships too: the banter, acceptance and awkwardness that can all flourish within a close sibling relationship; the beautiful discomfort of a budding romance with a work colleague and the immediate stick that work-business can put in those spokes; the thrilling warmth of a friend who gets you without a word or a glance required. Travis Daniel Bow has captured all of these and more.
With all that, this story rattles along full of intrigue and action. The reader is kept wondering who is who, and what underlying motivations we’re glimpsing, whilst simultaneously agonising over the present and physical dangers our protagonists face on all sides.
I absolutely refuse to rave any more about how much I loved this book, as I’m terrified I might accidentally drop a spoiler in my enthusiasm, so I’ll just finish by saying that fans of Robin Hobb, Robert Jordan, Patrick Rothfuss et al should be just as hooked as I am. Go read it now!
“Take comfort,” Ricera said. “I may fail. All my plans may crumble around me, and I may never send for you. You may never have to betray those who trust you, as I have. You may even succeed in starting a real resistance. The Huctans may govern poorly. Perhaps, in time, you will throw their shackles off and win independence and freedom for Botan. Maybe your son will hear of your name and come to your throne with open arms.”
Ricera’s hand touched Verinald’s shoulder, and Verinald jerked as if burned. He looked up to find a mirthless smile on Ricera’s face.
“But don’t count on it,” Ricera said. “Don’t count on it.”
– Travis Daniel Bow, Thane
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2018/05/07/thane-travis-daniel-bow/
As a fan of epic fantasy, I can confirm that Thane is both epic and fantastic, and can thoroughly recommend it to any fellow fantasy fans.
Not only are the characters individual and believable, but there are moments in their thoughts (‘If there was one thing Timothy hated, it was people that said, ‘three, or rather, four‘ when they had obviously known from the beginning that there were four.’), dialogue and actions (‘There was a look of barely-contained frustration on his face, the look a person gets when someone tells their favourite joke, but says all the lines wrong.’) where I found myself nodding vigorously, smiling and almost wanting to applaud and just how perfectly the author had got under the skin of these people.
Relationships too: the banter, acceptance and awkwardness that can all flourish within a close sibling relationship; the beautiful discomfort of a budding romance with a work colleague and the immediate stick that work-business can put in those spokes; the thrilling warmth of a friend who gets you without a word or a glance required. Travis Daniel Bow has captured all of these and more.
With all that, this story rattles along full of intrigue and action. The reader is kept wondering who is who, and what underlying motivations we’re glimpsing, whilst simultaneously agonising over the present and physical dangers our protagonists face on all sides.
I absolutely refuse to rave any more about how much I loved this book, as I’m terrified I might accidentally drop a spoiler in my enthusiasm, so I’ll just finish by saying that fans of Robin Hobb, Robert Jordan, Patrick Rothfuss et al should be just as hooked as I am. Go read it now!
“Take comfort,” Ricera said. “I may fail. All my plans may crumble around me, and I may never send for you. You may never have to betray those who trust you, as I have. You may even succeed in starting a real resistance. The Huctans may govern poorly. Perhaps, in time, you will throw their shackles off and win independence and freedom for Botan. Maybe your son will hear of your name and come to your throne with open arms.”
Ricera’s hand touched Verinald’s shoulder, and Verinald jerked as if burned. He looked up to find a mirthless smile on Ricera’s face.
“But don’t count on it,” Ricera said. “Don’t count on it.”
– Travis Daniel Bow, Thane
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2018/05/07/thane-travis-daniel-bow/
I didn’t have super high expectations for this book. The summary was just vague enough that I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I had no idea what a Thane was (some sort of magician?), but the rebellion part was interesting enough to make me pick it up.
Timothy was a great character, and I could relate to him in a lot of ways. His social awkwardness around people his own age reminded me of me as a younger teen. And his desire to do something important, without having any idea what he should be doing, is a feeling I know very well. I loved him so much.
I also enjoyed Robert, Timothy’s brother. He was Timothy’s complete opposite in many ways, but he had strengths of his own. He wasn’t a major player in the beginning, but he became more important towards the end, and I’m looking forward to more of him in future books.
There were some interesting other characters, too, especially Timothy’s fellow thanes. None of them were majorly important, but they made great supporting characters.
I felt like this was a lot of a setup book. That’s not to say there wasn’t action or excitement or plot, because there was. But it focused on Timothy becoming a thane and setting up the major battles. There were rebels in THANE, but the actual fighting didn’t start until the end. There was lots of action here, but I bet there will be much more in the next books.
The thing I loved the most about the book was Timothy’s Thane training. It was like medieval spying, but better. I want somebody to put together a Thane curriculum, because I would totally buy that.
THANE blew my expectations out of the water. I thoroughly loved the story. And that ending…. Book two had better be coming out soon, because I want more.
I received a free review copy of THANE from the author. His generosity in no way influenced, or sought to influence, this review.
Timothy was a great character, and I could relate to him in a lot of ways. His social awkwardness around people his own age reminded me of me as a younger teen. And his desire to do something important, without having any idea what he should be doing, is a feeling I know very well. I loved him so much.
I also enjoyed Robert, Timothy’s brother. He was Timothy’s complete opposite in many ways, but he had strengths of his own. He wasn’t a major player in the beginning, but he became more important towards the end, and I’m looking forward to more of him in future books.
There were some interesting other characters, too, especially Timothy’s fellow thanes. None of them were majorly important, but they made great supporting characters.
I felt like this was a lot of a setup book. That’s not to say there wasn’t action or excitement or plot, because there was. But it focused on Timothy becoming a thane and setting up the major battles. There were rebels in THANE, but the actual fighting didn’t start until the end. There was lots of action here, but I bet there will be much more in the next books.
The thing I loved the most about the book was Timothy’s Thane training. It was like medieval spying, but better. I want somebody to put together a Thane curriculum, because I would totally buy that.
THANE blew my expectations out of the water. I thoroughly loved the story. And that ending…. Book two had better be coming out soon, because I want more.
I received a free review copy of THANE from the author. His generosity in no way influenced, or sought to influence, this review.