Review: Get Ready for An Unforgettable Journey
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 1, 2014
The immediate emotion that comes to mind in regards to reading this trilogy is nostalgia. I haven't tackled a fantasy series in many years - Roger Zelazny and Terry Pratchett were probably my last - and I have since moved into different genres. However, there was something about this trilogy that caught my eye (I must admit, I still skim new fantasy releases). When I saw that it was winning awards and was sort of becoming an underground success, I was compelled to check it out. The imagery and style reminded me of an R.A. Salvatore at certain points, and while the character development wasn't quite as in-depth (only having three books to do it, rather than dozens), it was still remarkably well-written. Each book had a different tone as well, more humorous, more sinister, or simply more battle-heavy (#2). I was immediately sucked in and barely put down one before flipping and beginning another. I don't think I've ravaged a trilogy this quickly since I first read Tolkien.This all may sound dramatic, but Mathias has some seminal skill and is clearly a master world-crafter, nearly on-par with a Pratchett or a Goodkind. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Kings, Queens, Heroes, and Fools, as I hated coming to the end of the third book (knowing the trilogy was over), and I was far too excited while reading the first one because I knew that there were two more still to come. It really brought me back to my childhood when I would stay up all night reading the newest release of a favorite author. I hope to find more work by Mathias, or at the very least, will be keeping a keen eye on the Amazon pages for any new work by this modern day master of fantasy. Tremendously good novels - you'd be foolish not to give them a shot.