BOOK ONE of the award-winning Conjurer Fellstone Trilogy that continues with GRAVENWOOD and KINGSHACKLE.Sixteen-year-old Tessa Skye, a locksmith’s apprentice, loves to shapeshift into a sparrow using a windrider—a forbidden magical amulet. During one of her outings, she accidentally reveals herself to the Conjurer Lord Fellstone. The tyrant sends his knights after her, resulting in the murder of … murder of her father. Driven to reverse his fate, Tessa and her two companions embark on a perilous quest seeking love, revenge, and a cure for death.
“For those who enjoyed Harry Potter but who seek a feisty, determined female protagonist.” -Midwest Book Review
Silver Medalist, SPR Book Awards: “A stellar entry into the genre of YA fantasy.”
Bronze Medalist, Wishing Shelf Book Awards: “A gripping fantasy adventure, highly recommended.”
“The quest narrative is exciting and compelling… a work of classic fantasy.” -The BookLife Prize
“Celebrates life and love the way only the best fantasy tales can.” -Kirkus Reviews”
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Three and a half stars.
Enjoyable characters and plot.
Coming of age fantasy set in a well described and easy to envisage medieval setting. The characters are well developed and the antagonists were suitably dastardly. I particularly enjoyed Calder who has undoubtedly had some unusual adventures in his life this far. He’s a likeable rogue indeed, and I’m rather hoping he makes a reappearance in further books.
Perhaps I read too much fantasy and as a result found it far too easy to pick where this storyline was heading at a very early stage. Nevertheless, I still found it an enjoyable tale and I will definitely be on the lookout for the next book.
This is a straightforward fantasy book with an interesting read and a good pace. With today’s authors what’s not there is as important As what is there. This author did not stop in the middle of the plot to spend a couple of paragraphs exploring pornographic Fantasies. I have bought the follow up books
Good young reader story. Tess has a necklace that she has quite accidentally learned will let her become a Sparrow. She accidentally, well maybe accidentally, sees something she shouldn’t have. In this story our young hero finds out who friends are, what happened to her mother, and what monsters are hiding in the castle. I found the tale to be easy to read and since magic is involved I could not poke too many holes in the plot.
Of course, being a good young reader story, there is no sex and violence is not written out in gory detail.
Throughly enjoyed reading it myself.
Bit woolly but not bad
This is the first book in the epic fantasy adventure, The Conjurer Fellstone Trilogy. The storyline flows smoothly and quickly with action, adventure, danger and romance. The excellent crafted personable characters with insecurities, foibles and strengths. It was great introduction into this magical world and the differences between the quality of life of the classes. I enjoyed this book and look forward the next one.
Good characters in an interesting story.
Fun little read, wish it continued.
Light reading for an elderly lady
I could not get into it.
A gripping romantic horror story, you want to read on in the series.
A good series for YA readers. Moved right along with realistic (or slightly idealized) characters – the bad guys are bad and the good guys grow/develop.
Definitely has you wanting for the next book in the series.
3.5 stars
While I admittedly don’t read a ton in the Fantasy/Adventure genre, I do love medieval settings filled with magic and mayhem. Dreadmarrow Thief has plenty of both with magical amulets, a wicked conjurer living in a dark castle, and a quest that seems doomed to fail. The story is told from the perspectives of Tessa, Ash, and Calder – three people whose lives are intertwined by secrets both past and present. As the story progresses and secrets are revealed, the action ramps up for this trio and main character, Tessa, learns more than she bargained for.
The characters are interesting and the premise is a good one, especially for those that enjoy reading about medieval quests and magic. I did find the writing style to be more telling than showing, which tends to keep the reader on the outside looking in, and the point of view switches from first to third person were an added distraction. Other than that, the book does introduce an exciting world and is a promising lead-in to the series.