Review: Hmm
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 5, 2012
OK, I've just read the three books in this series.  Overall it's a C+ effort in my opinion.  It's not terrible, I enjoyed reading it overall, but it could certainly be improved with a few simple changes.First off is the editing.  As a number of reviewers have pointed out the editing problems already, and it pretty distracting.  Incorrect words are used in several spots, or the phrasing is awkward.  There are also several bits that are re-used for no apparent reason.  There is a scene where some clandestine group is meeting and someone says that Flare is a forerunner of the Kelcer prophecy, and again later the same scene is repeated.  Likewise there is a bit about Flare struggling to take the first step, but each step gets easier.  Not a big deal, but it's another indication of sloppy editing.Next is the makeup of the storyline.  I think there are a few different issues here.  Sometimes the author goes to great length to describe something for no apparent reason, while other times things that are potentially more interesting get short shrift.  Also, there are some things that just don't make sense.There is a long section where Flare, Attock and Peter are in the catacombs.  The book goes into great detail about all the weird rooms they pass through, but what's the point?  The catacombs are apparently huge with many rooms and tunnels.  But the Guardians hike right through directly to the sword.  It's a needle in a haystack search, but they go directly to it without any backtracking or guidance.  There isn't any character development here, none of the things they see are at all related to the overall story.  It's just filler.On the other hand, when Flare is in the valley of the ancients and goes to train with the sorcerer spirit it's completely glossed over.  Apparently he has a decade or more of experiences there, but not a mention of it.  His struggles with sorcery and travails living in the spirit world could have been used to develop his character.As it turns out, it seems like he doesn't learn anything from the training.  Before the training the only thing he could do was magically club attackers with rocks.  After a decade of training he does the same thing.  Apparently he needs to be captured to progress the storyline, but it could have been handled in a more interesting way.The author has promise.  The plot has merit and the characters are likable and believable.  I'm looking forward to the fourth book, hopefully with a little more polish!