Review: Excellent short story. Followed by a double teaser act.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 12, 2011
Two friends off on a hunt, knowing that they will be separated this coming summer, possibly forever. The friendship passes back and forth and they care deeply for each other as young men do... teasing each other and boasting as they hunt. They see the magnificent stag... and don't kill it. Which seals a bond and memory between them. A good short story.Then, there are 3 or 4 chapters telling the story of the Royal Dragoneer... at the end of the chapters... it says, "To find out what happens next visitmrmathias dot com/Dragoneers and treat yourself to a copy of the Royal Dragoneers.I went to the site... it said click on the book cover to read free online. The Kindle purchase price is $3.33.Since I was reading and enjoying the characters and the story... I went to the online book and started reading on my computer to finish the book.I think the link took me to Smashwords. I read until page 98 and then it abruptly stopped and said... purchase this book to support... or some such words... WHAT? I'm supposed to be reading the book free online! Why did it stop me at page 98?I would rather have had the sample to read... and then have it stop and have to purchase the book... than to be told I can read the book for free online... and have it stopped as I am further into the story. The marketing ploy, instead of drawing me in... has pushed me away. I feel robbed... like I wasted my time, since the site said read the book for free... but didn't let me read the book for free.I like mrmathias ... the books written under that name... and would enjoy reading more of the writing by this author. Great writing for young adults to read or others that like a fantasy world filled with humans and druids and dragons and trolls and orcs and goblins.UPDATE: A comment on my review let me know that M.R. Mathias has corrected the error on his website. It was intended to be only a free sample of reading and not the complete book. I checked and it has been changed to a 100 page preview being offered. I guarantee, if you read the preview, you'll want to read the rest of the book!