Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Bantam Spectra Fantasy (2000), Edition: Reprint, 754 pages
Description
The first of a new fantasy series A fast-paced epic with enormous scope, believable and appealing characters and an impressively imagined world. The Empire of Nar is being torn apart by the ambitions of its states and the lax rule of its Emperor. The balance has been tipped by the unleashing of magic by the sorcerer Tharn. The Emperor wants control of the magic, Tharn wants to rule the Empire and countless thousands of people are caught up in the struggle. And now the love of Prince Richius's life has been spirited away by Tharn. But all is not what it seems. Richius is a flawed hero pursuing a woman he has met just once. The Emperor is greedy and lazy, while Tharn is a dying man touched by the gods and struggling to use his power for good.
User reviews
LibraryThing member vivaraquel
Riveting, I devoured this book and I can't wait to get started on the next.
Excellent, I had no trouble following the story, the battle scenes were believable and I didn't forecast quite a few of the events to come which was good.
I gasped and held my breath as though I were watching a movie. In
And as a former WOW player, I imagined the desription of some of the people and landscapes from places in the world of warcraft. LOVED IT!
Excellent, I had no trouble following the story, the battle scenes were believable and I didn't forecast quite a few of the events to come which was good.
I gasped and held my breath as though I were watching a movie. In
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fact and although movies don't normally do a book justice, I'd love to watch this story.And as a former WOW player, I imagined the desription of some of the people and landscapes from places in the world of warcraft. LOVED IT!
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LibraryThing member rdjanssen
John Marco has proved to be a very talented and entertaining writer. I admit that the book started out a bit slow for me. Perhaps it was being thrown into a war situation with John using terms (e.g. Drol, gog, Triin) that I didn't comprehend. After I figured out the vocabulary the book really
Within the first hundred pages I wasn't sure if I was going to continue with this series. After finishing the book I am definitely going to read the second, "A Grand Design." This book is highly recommended.
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started to take shape. I was most impressed by the depiction of the shear villany of Biagio and Blackwood Gayle. Sending a box containing the severed head of a someone's wife is definitely a startling way to make a point. Within the first hundred pages I wasn't sure if I was going to continue with this series. After finishing the book I am definitely going to read the second, "A Grand Design." This book is highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member clong
The Jackal of Nar features gritty military writing in a style reminiscent of Glen Cook's Black Company series, but with more ambitious and complex characters. The protagonist Richius is a not entirely convincing flawed hero, but in a way that rings true to an adolescent thrust into what he comes to
This is character driven fantasy, with much focus on motivations and ethical decisions. And while some of the dialogue and plot development is less than perfect (as you might expect with a first novel), I found the book a compelling read--especially the battle sequences--and thought it one of the more promising debuts I have read in recent years. I have continued to enjoy Marco's later books.
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see as an unjust war in a foreign country. And while Blackwood Gayle is pretty cookie-cutter as a villain, the evil Emperor Arkus and his henchman Biagio are really very interesting characters. This is character driven fantasy, with much focus on motivations and ethical decisions. And while some of the dialogue and plot development is less than perfect (as you might expect with a first novel), I found the book a compelling read--especially the battle sequences--and thought it one of the more promising debuts I have read in recent years. I have continued to enjoy Marco's later books.
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LibraryThing member WillieD
Brillant! Although it was very difficult to get into at the beginning - the reason for this being character names and place names etc, being a bit overwhelming at first. Your trying to figure out what's going on through characters conversations - not easy. However, once your past that - the story
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is brillant, with lots of twists and turns. Characters are well developed (even ones that don't last too long!). Can't wait for the next one. Show Less
LibraryThing member StefanY
To be quite blunt, I LOVE this book.
When I started it I wasn't sure what to expect. Whatever I was expecting, it certainly paled in comparison with what I got. John Marco brings us a gritty fantasy with believable characters and a plot with many unseen twists and turns. The characters in the book
The plot itself if rife with political intrigue and even when the reader is not immersed in the heat of battle, the story carries you along at a feverish pace that is extremely hard to put down.
If you are a fan of the fantasy genre (and even for most who are not) I HIGHLY recommend The Jackal of Nar.
When I started it I wasn't sure what to expect. Whatever I was expecting, it certainly paled in comparison with what I got. John Marco brings us a gritty fantasy with believable characters and a plot with many unseen twists and turns. The characters in the book
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are presented in such a way that there is no cut and dried good vs. evil as in so many fantasy novels. Marco has done an excellent job in portraying the motivations of his characters in such a way that no-one is shown as being purely good and at the same time, even the villains are given redeeming qualities. What this does is flesh out the story in such a way that even though it is still a fantasy novel, the characters and story seem more real.The plot itself if rife with political intrigue and even when the reader is not immersed in the heat of battle, the story carries you along at a feverish pace that is extremely hard to put down.
If you are a fan of the fantasy genre (and even for most who are not) I HIGHLY recommend The Jackal of Nar.
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LibraryThing member Ayling
I remember loving this, being really addicted to it - I can't remember what age I was now. About 16/17 but I don't think I'd like it now for some reason I'm not sure. I'm just not into adult kind of fantasy.And I just couldn't get into the second book either which is a shame. I would like to
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re-read. I wonder if the library has it... Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1999
Physical description
754 p.; 4.2 inches
ISBN
0553578871 / 9780553578874