Beyond the Pale
Book One of The Last Rune
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4.2 • 22 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
A strange rift in ordinary reality draws saloon owner Travis Wilder and ER doctor Grace Beckett into the otherworld of Eldh--a land of gods, monsters, and magic that is sorely in need of heroes.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Launching a new fantasy series, Anthony, an erstwhile Forgotten Realms author (Curse of the Shadowmage, etc.), makes use of the classic premise of humans from our mundane world transported to a fantasy milieu; in this case, the travelers are two Coloradans, bartender Travis Wilder and ER physician Grace Beckett. The pair are not wholly surprised at their journey, as the world of Eldh has made several bloody visitations to Colorado already, but the reality of Eldh, full of political intrigues, is still terrifying, despite the protagonists' ability to work magic there. Anthony's pacing is spotty, frequently slow--there is just not enough matter here to justify the sheer mass of words. His characterizations are also uneven, sometimes exceedingly original and moving, other times relying on simplistic fantasy archetypes. He lays down exceptionally exciting action scenes, however, particularly those set in Colorado, as when Travis must escape an onslaught of fierce creatures from Eldh. This novel is only a so-so series kickoff, but if Anthony pumps up the pace and writes to his strengths in future volumes, the series could gain many a fan.
Customer Reviews
Great series!
I liked these books a lot! I was not familiar with this author previously, but got drawn into this series by excellent writing, compelling characters, nicely-paced action, interesting ideas, and a great story. The pages flew by....I was sorry to see it end. Enjoyed it immensely. Worth the $$ for the books following the free book 1.
An eagerly-read adventure
Mark Anthony's 'Last Rune' series has a compelling mythology which becomes the focus of each individual character's development. The pace is moderate, and rich with real-world imagery from the author's Colorado home. He also employs satisfying sociological aspects that any reader can identify with, and each book builds on the previous, creating a more essential and solid enjoyment for the reader.
I really like this series, and look forward to Mr. Anthony's future writings.
Nice.!
A coworker recommended this book to me after I told her I was reading a series called "The Sword of Truth" which is of the same genre. the book gets into the action of the story at a pretty rapid paste and was hooked on it from the start. Really recommend especially if your into stories of fantasy and magic. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.