Ok, so Rise of the Red Hand (RotRH) was NOT the story I imagined it would be. I thought it was going to be a dark horror story with the living dead taking center stage. I thought men would figure prominently throughout the story and frightened women would need rescuing. When I’m wrong, I go all out. This story was more similar in structure and pacing to stories inspired by The Lord of the Rings and maybe The Wheel of Time. I hope I’m not wrong about that, as well, but that’s what I think now that I’ve finished reading it.
In just 126 pages, RotRH offers intricate world-building and unique characters. I’m usually overwhelmed by the details of fantasy stories that strive to reinvent worlds and cultures, but that wasn’t the case with RotRH. Here’s why- the author makes the very most out of each sentence. Words are not wasted on superfluous details. Readers are also not denied essential information, which is equally important. I could picture the world the author created, and I had no trouble following along as he introduced various characters from a myriad of tribes which each presented different cultural histories. There are even Trolls and Goblins. This is all revealed as quite essential as the story progresses.
RotRH features a female “blade for hire” named Lena who is hired to protect a traveling professor named Kristaad Durwynn. Let me just say now, I really enjoyed Lena’s character. The author wrote her as an independent woman with an agenda all her own. Also, Lena’s not fighting for her rights as a female blade for hire throughout this story. Her capabilities are established through her skills and reputation. The fact that she's a woman is a non-issue in the story. She presents with authentic energy in her role and is regarded as formidable without being masculine. I felt she was relatable in her goals. I also like the fact that in fight scenes and battle scenes, Lena can take punch as well as give one. It was all fun to read.
The story reads as a journey. The hostilities along the way aren’t gratuitous. Confrontations are meaningful. Connections with others along the journey are vital to the climax. Relationships, fraught or friendly are relevant. The miscommunication trope doesn’t exist in this story. (I hate that trope.) Like I said above, no words are wasted in this 126 page story. It’s a relatively short story despite the introduction of unique characters and an elaborate world. I understand that this story is a prequel to Lancour’s book Storm Cloud Rising, but this story can be read as a standalone. It offers a solid beginning, middle, and satisfying ending that suggests more adventures ahead for the main characters. I highly recommend you check it out as an introduction to the author’s writing style and imagination! It's definitely worth the time to read this story and be introduced to this fascinating world and characters created by the author.
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A great adventure story. Compact and full of imaginative details.
Ok, so Rise of the Red Hand (RotRH) was NOT the story I imagined it would be. I thought it was going to be a dark horror story with the living dead taking center stage. I thought men would figure prominently throughout the story and frightened women would need rescuing. When I’m wrong, I go all out. This story was more similar in structure and pacing to stories inspired by The Lord of the Rings and maybe The Wheel of Time. I hope I’m not wrong about that, as well, but that’s what I think now that I’ve finished reading it.In just 126 pages, RotRH offers intricate world-building and unique characters. I’m usually overwhelmed by the details of fantasy stories that strive to reinvent worlds and cultures, but that wasn’t the case with RotRH. Here’s why- the author makes the very most out of each sentence. Words are not wasted on superfluous details. Readers are also not denied essential information, which is equally important. I could picture the world the author created, and I had no trouble following along as he introduced various characters from a myriad of tribes which each presented different cultural histories. There are even Trolls and Goblins. This is all revealed as quite essential as the story progresses.RotRH features a female “blade for hire” named Lena who is hired to protect a traveling professor named Kristaad Durwynn. Let me just say now, I really enjoyed Lena’s character. The author wrote her as an independent woman with an agenda all her own. Also, Lena’s not fighting for her rights as a female blade for hire throughout this story. Her capabilities are established through her skills and reputation. The fact that she's a woman is a non-issue in the story. She presents with authentic energy in her role and is regarded as formidable without being masculine. I felt she was relatable in her goals. I also like the fact that in fight scenes and battle scenes, Lena can take punch as well as give one. It was all fun to read.The story reads as a journey. The hostilities along the way aren’t gratuitous. Confrontations are meaningful. Connections with others along the journey are vital to the climax. Relationships, fraught or friendly are relevant. The miscommunication trope doesn’t exist in this story. (I hate that trope.) Like I said above, no words are wasted in this 126 page story. It’s a relatively short story despite the introduction of unique characters and an elaborate world. I understand that this story is a prequel to Lancour’s book Storm Cloud Rising, but this story can be read as a standalone. It offers a solid beginning, middle, and satisfying ending that suggests more adventures ahead for the main characters. I highly recommend you check it out as an introduction to the author’s writing style and imagination! It's definitely worth the time to read this story and be introduced to this fascinating world and characters created by the author.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2023
In just 126 pages, RotRH offers intricate world-building and unique characters. I’m usually overwhelmed by the details of fantasy stories that strive to reinvent worlds and cultures, but that wasn’t the case with RotRH. Here’s why- the author makes the very most out of each sentence. Words are not wasted on superfluous details. Readers are also not denied essential information, which is equally important. I could picture the world the author created, and I had no trouble following along as he introduced various characters from a myriad of tribes which each presented different cultural histories. There are even Trolls and Goblins. This is all revealed as quite essential as the story progresses.
RotRH features a female “blade for hire” named Lena who is hired to protect a traveling professor named Kristaad Durwynn. Let me just say now, I really enjoyed Lena’s character. The author wrote her as an independent woman with an agenda all her own. Also, Lena’s not fighting for her rights as a female blade for hire throughout this story. Her capabilities are established through her skills and reputation. The fact that she's a woman is a non-issue in the story. She presents with authentic energy in her role and is regarded as formidable without being masculine. I felt she was relatable in her goals. I also like the fact that in fight scenes and battle scenes, Lena can take punch as well as give one. It was all fun to read.
The story reads as a journey. The hostilities along the way aren’t gratuitous. Confrontations are meaningful. Connections with others along the journey are vital to the climax. Relationships, fraught or friendly are relevant. The miscommunication trope doesn’t exist in this story. (I hate that trope.) Like I said above, no words are wasted in this 126 page story. It’s a relatively short story despite the introduction of unique characters and an elaborate world. I understand that this story is a prequel to Lancour’s book Storm Cloud Rising, but this story can be read as a standalone. It offers a solid beginning, middle, and satisfying ending that suggests more adventures ahead for the main characters. I highly recommend you check it out as an introduction to the author’s writing style and imagination! It's definitely worth the time to read this story and be introduced to this fascinating world and characters created by the author.
A great adventure story. Compact and full of imaginative details.
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2023
Ok, so Rise of the Red Hand (RotRH) was NOT the story I imagined it would be. I thought it was going to be a dark horror story with the living dead taking center stage. I thought men would figure prominently throughout the story and frightened women would need rescuing. When I’m wrong, I go all out. This story was more similar in structure and pacing to stories inspired by The Lord of the Rings and maybe The Wheel of Time. I hope I’m not wrong about that, as well, but that’s what I think now that I’ve finished reading it.Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2023
In just 126 pages, RotRH offers intricate world-building and unique characters. I’m usually overwhelmed by the details of fantasy stories that strive to reinvent worlds and cultures, but that wasn’t the case with RotRH. Here’s why- the author makes the very most out of each sentence. Words are not wasted on superfluous details. Readers are also not denied essential information, which is equally important. I could picture the world the author created, and I had no trouble following along as he introduced various characters from a myriad of tribes which each presented different cultural histories. There are even Trolls and Goblins. This is all revealed as quite essential as the story progresses.
RotRH features a female “blade for hire” named Lena who is hired to protect a traveling professor named Kristaad Durwynn. Let me just say now, I really enjoyed Lena’s character. The author wrote her as an independent woman with an agenda all her own. Also, Lena’s not fighting for her rights as a female blade for hire throughout this story. Her capabilities are established through her skills and reputation. The fact that she's a woman is a non-issue in the story. She presents with authentic energy in her role and is regarded as formidable without being masculine. I felt she was relatable in her goals. I also like the fact that in fight scenes and battle scenes, Lena can take punch as well as give one. It was all fun to read.
The story reads as a journey. The hostilities along the way aren’t gratuitous. Confrontations are meaningful. Connections with others along the journey are vital to the climax. Relationships, fraught or friendly are relevant. The miscommunication trope doesn’t exist in this story. (I hate that trope.) Like I said above, no words are wasted in this 126 page story. It’s a relatively short story despite the introduction of unique characters and an elaborate world. I understand that this story is a prequel to Lancour’s book Storm Cloud Rising, but this story can be read as a standalone. It offers a solid beginning, middle, and satisfying ending that suggests more adventures ahead for the main characters. I highly recommend you check it out as an introduction to the author’s writing style and imagination! It's definitely worth the time to read this story and be introduced to this fascinating world and characters created by the author.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2022
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2022
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2023
Sword & sorcery at its finest! So much to love about this book. It passes the Bechdel test on page 9, & again on page 12, & again regularly throughout the story. Subjects such as unjust resource extraction, & taking an active stand against the town guard exercising their “human privilege”, are touched on in passing. The strong female sword-for-hire regularly drinks tea in taverns, & makes a point of telling her older male employer not to call her “dear”. A female supporting character hails from a matriarchal culture. & there are gems such as this exchange between a father & son:
“ ‘A long time ago, his king and our king made some bad choices,’ he responded with a sigh. ‘A lot of people got hurt.’
‘But you said it was a long time ago. Why is he still mad?’
‘When one people injures another, amends must be made, or the wound remains.’ His father's voice sounded sad.”
This isn’t a genre I read often, but I’m definitely looking forward to diving into the next book, Storm Cloud Rising. It continues the adventures of the tea drinking lady sword-for-hire, & I can’t wait to see what happens to her next!
“ ‘A long time ago, his king and our king made some bad choices,’ he responded with a sigh. ‘A lot of people got hurt.’
‘But you said it was a long time ago. Why is he still mad?’
‘When one people injures another, amends must be made, or the wound remains.’ His father's voice sounded sad.”
This isn’t a genre I read often, but I’m definitely looking forward to diving into the next book, Storm Cloud Rising. It continues the adventures of the tea drinking lady sword-for-hire, & I can’t wait to see what happens to her next!
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Top reviews from other countries
GS
Great read!
Reviewed in Germany on October 30, 2021
GS
Reviewed in Germany on October 30, 2021
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