Review #1 - Guiamo
My Review/Thoughts:
I have to be completely honest… If I was walking in the book store or
searching for a book on line this would have picked up the book and thought the
cover was beautiful….but reading the descriptions probably would have made me
put it back on the shelf. This time in
History, the time of Caesar is one of my least favorite times. When I started reading I thought this is
probably not going to be one of my favorite books. I was given this book in exchange for an
honest review, so I thought I am just going to give it a chance. I am so glad I did. I really enjoyed this book. This first book was good, but the following
in the series are even better. So let’s
start with book one.
I found myself attached to sweet Guiamo
immediately. I was blown away at the
heartless people he had to live with and then was abandoned by. When abandoned Guiamo never stops to feel
sorry for himself, he sees a fisherman and asks to work with him and in return
the Fisherman takes Guiamo in and cares for him.
Soon we are introduced to another character by
the name of Gabinius who I also really love.
Gabinius is such a kind and loving man.
I liked that Guiamo is always learning new things and doing whatever is
asked of him.
This may be totally off base but in “MY OPINION”
Guiamo reminds me of a character from the Bible, Joseph, who is sold by his
brothers. The brothers thought there
family would be better off without him, and yet Joseph is the one who
prospered, a lot like what Guiamo went through.
Yes, I am sure it is not supposed
to remind me of that, but it does.
Guiamo was abandoned and faced with trials and yet did everything he
could to better his life and all that was around him. He always made the best of whatever situation
he is in.
The book gets intense towards the end and gets
me even more excited to pick up the second book in the series! I hope you all enjoy it.
My Rating:
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Review #2 - Cumoro
My Thoughts / Review
I want to
start with a quote in this book that I love love love that is said as Cumoro
(aka) Guiamo and Sreng (another
character we are introduced to in this book) are faced with battle.
Sreng says "It
is far better thing to fight for a hope, however faint, than to linger in fear
while suffering the pangs of doubt ever gnawing at your soul."
AWESOME!
This book is
filled with battle after battle and I couldn't put it down. I found myself loving Curmoro (Guiamo) even
more in this book. He amazes me. I love his connection with the land and the
animals. I love that no matter what situation he is in, he is always doing the
best he can. The battle scenes are so
intense and some of the descriptions were so real to me that I found myself
clenching my fists waiting for the outcome.
This series
is just getting better. I cannot wait to
see where the adventure takes me next. Thanks Marshall Best for introducing me
to an era I probably never would have read about if it wasn't for these amazing
books.
My Rating:
=====================================================
Review #3: Morlanos
My Review /
Thoughts
Again, I
need to begin by saying I am new to this whole review thing, and I don’t think
I have quite figured out how to do a “real” review without giving important
details away.
In this book
Guiamo is known as Morlanos which means “filled with greatness”, such an
appropriate name for him.
We are
introduced to more creatures in this book and more intense battle scenes. Some of the descriptions I have to admit
grossed me out a little bit, but they were fantastic.
I found a
quote in the book that I always want to remember Guiamo says: “So the perception of truth is not the same as
the truth. The discrepancy between one
man’s truth and another’s shows that mere perception or perspective is not an
adequate measurement of truth”
Morlanos has
grown into a great young man who is favored by the Gods. What I found interesting in this book is that
they refer to the “good Gods” and the “bad Gods”. Morlanos and his people are faced with
battle after battle with creatures that are almost impossible to kill. If the book was a movie I would have been on
the edge of my seat the whole time. I
have been fascinated with how much I have connected with characters lately and
how much an affect written words can have on me and my emotions. This book is intense.
Morlanos has
to be trained for 19 years before he can get married, but is finally introduced
to a woman in this book, and I really like the character. Her name is Sona. Guiamo says of Sona (he appreciated her uncanny
ability to know when to remain silent, listen, not with mere patience, but with
sincere interest as his need to speak percolated to the surface). How many times have we needed that someone to
just listen.
With every
book I keep thinking that it cannot get more intense but it seems that Marshall
Best has a fabulous way of describing battle scenes. I know I have said it before but I am still
surprised at how much I love this series because it’s not something I would
have read if not given this opportunity to review. I am also thankful for the glossary at the
end of the book, because there are a LOT of unfamiliar words and terms used in
the series. I love reading a book that
teaches me new things, even if it’s just how people spoke during a particular
time in history or just words that are not used very often.
I hope that you enjoy reading this series as
much as I have.
My Rating:
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Review #4 - Inis Emain Ablach
My
Review/Thoughts
This book
has probably been my favorite so far out of them all. I am probably getting something totally
different out of this book than most people do, there are quite a few times in
this book that I thought to myself “this is the creating of the world”, and a
lot of this is similar to the Bible. I
may be totally off base, but these are my thoughts.
Guiamo
continues to be an amazing young man. He
is faced with terrible hardships in this book and is caused great pain, yet he
still does all he can to make the world a better place. He finds himself losing favor with the Gods
and some of the people. It seems like
just when there is a resemblance of peace something else happens. There is so much contention in this book.
I think
Guiamo is such an honorable and loyal man.
He stays true to the things he has been taught regardless of whether
they are popular or not. He finds out
who his true friends are and then is saddened by things that happen between him
and his friends. Relationships that I
thought would be life long are challenged.
Guiamo
translates some ancient papers, and in so doing causes a little rift, yet he
continues because he knows it’s the right thing to do. Yet another reference to scripture…in my
opinion.
Guiamo finds
a way to travel between his world and the world of the Gods, and it makes for
some interesting encounters.
There are so
many things I want to say but don’t want to spoil the book for those who
haven’t read it. I may have done that
already but that was not my intention.
There are a
few things I am going to say that you may want to stop reading now because they
MIGHT spoil a little.
Guiamo
finally gets word back to his family that he is still alive, and in return is
rewarded with some sweet letters from those who helped raise him. This may have been the best part of the whole
book for me. I love that Guiamo gets a
taste of his home and his loved ones. It
was one of the sweetest moments as he sits to read the letters from his loved
ones, being so thankful and relieved to find out after many years that he was
still alive and well. I got a little
chocked up at one of the letters.
I think I
said this at the beginning of my reviews, but I am going to repeat myself. I am so glad I had the chance to review these
books, because they are totally out of the “norm” for me. I would have walked by them in the book store
and thought the covers were awesome, but when I read what they were about, and
when they took place I would have put them back on the shelf and not given them
a second glance, and now I know I would have really missed out on a great
series.
I cannot
wait for the saga to continue. Marshall
Best is a great writer. I am glad I
ventured out of my “comfy” zone and was introduced to this great series.
I honestly
hope that if you have this on your “to read” list that you enjoy it as much as
I did, and if you don’t add it! You
won’t regret it! This is such a great story!
If you like battles, this series has plenty of them.
It’s very
clean although some of the battle scene descriptions grossed me out; I consider
this series very clean.
My Rating:
Source: I was given all four of these books to download from Smashwords in return for an honest review. I was not compensated in anyway for these reviews. These are my PERSONAL thoughts on these books.
In 60 B.C., ten-year-old Guiamo Durmius Stolo, an exceptionally gifted Roman orphan, is abandoned in Gaul . Left to fend for himself, Guiamo is set onto a path of legend. Recognized by the gods as having world-changing talents, he is given a weapon that changes his destiny and the world’s forever.
Guiamo Durmius Stolo sails in 55 B.C. with Rome’s 7th Legion as Julius Caesar invades Britain. But Caesar has not before encountered the Fomori, a dominion of wicked creatures which wage war against the human inhabitants and dominate much of Britain. Armed with his god-made spear, Guiamo joins with the tribal kings against their Fomori foe when Caesar departs.
Having destroyed the Fomori in Britain , Guiamo Durmius Stolo decides in 51 B.C. to bring the Cruthin people, once slaves to the Fomori, to Ireland , but encounters the Fomori who reside there as well. Guiamo discovers that the gods venerated by the Druids are unworthy. The gods are displeased with him and begin to work against him.
In 50 B.C. Guiamo Durmius Stolo finds himself victor over the detested Fomori whose leader, Cichol, is slain and those few who survived are scattered. Guiamo explores the secret places where Cichol kept his most important secrets and discovers there the treasures of Cichol's master, the goddess Domnu.
Goodreads * Creatspace * Smashwords
The Author:
Marshall Best is an avid reader, father of six and business owner. In the past several years he has found his love of writing as well. What began as a desire to write a story for his children has evolved into a nine book series.
Marshall has done extensive research into the history behind the legends, people and places of England, Scotland and Ireland involved in his books. He loves being able to weave real people and legends into his stories making them come alive. He is definitely a writer that tends to the details often mapping out timetables, calendars, geneologies, etc. that pertain to his book to ensure that it is as realistic as possible.
Marshall also enjoys putting real life issues into his books, delving into a bit of philosophy while entertaining with orcs, dragons, magic and battles. He is someone who loves a grand adventure but makes sure it's not a shallow one.
Tour-Wide Giveaway:
-One print set signed by author – world wide giveaway
-One complete e-book set – codes provided to smashwords
-Two winners: e-book of Cumoro and a $5 Amazon gift card each
-Two winners: e-book of Morlanos and a $5 Amazon gift card each
-Two winners: e-book of Inis Emain Ablach and a $5 Amazon gift card each
Ends 12/20. Please see restrictions on Rafflecopter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow the Chronicles of Guiamo as they unfold on...
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12/13: Grande Finale
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The Watcher
Millennia ago, he fell from heaven for her.
Can he face her without falling again?
Fascinated with ancient civilizations, seventeen-year-old Mia Crawford dreams of becoming an archaeologist. She also dreams of wings—soft and silent like snow—and somebody trying to steal them.
When a horrible creature appears out of thin air and attacks her, she knows Michael Fontaine is involved, though he claims to know nothing about it. Secretive and aloof, Michael evokes feelings in Mia that she doesn’t understand. Images of another time and place haunt her. She recognizes them—but not from any textbook.
In search of the truth, Mia discovers a past life of forbidden love, jealousy and revenge that tore an angel from Heaven and sent her to an early grave. Now that her soul has returned, does she have a chance at loving that angel again? Or will an age-old nemesis destroy them both?
Ancient history is only the beginning.
