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The Fatemarked Epic #5
Lifemarked
The Four Kingdoms and the fatemarked face the most powerful army the world has ever seen...
In Phanes, Roan Loren, the Peacemaker, has high hopes for a united response to the threat from the Horde, but swiftly realizes the only true ally he has is his arch nemesis, Bane. Meanwhile, Rhea Loren, a new mother with a secret must decide whether to protect her child or share what she knows with the fatemarked...
To the north, Annise Gäric, Tarin Sheary and their allies are hunted mercilessly by the army of barbarians known as the Horde, led by her long-lost uncle Helmuth, now known as Klar-Ggra. While she seeks refuge in the east, Tarin once more struggles with his own demons...
In the west, Ennis Loren and his brothers, including self-proclaimed king of the west, Sai, return to Knight's End against the advice of the fatemarked, who they despise. Secretly, they plot another attack on the south...
In the east, Gareth Ironclad returns to Ferria hoping to find a unified people with a common enemy, but instead faces a fractured kingdom uncertain of its future. But when he makes a drastic decision, everything begins to unravel...
In Calyp, Raven Sandes returns with the most unlikeliest of friends: Gwendolyn Storm. But when tragedy strikes at the heart of the empire, the survivors are left behind and forced to pick up the pieces...
The fate of the Four Kingdoms hangs in the balance in the epic finale to the Amazon #1 bestselling series!
In Phanes, Roan Loren, the Peacemaker, has high hopes for a united response to the threat from the Horde, but swiftly realizes the only true ally he has is his arch nemesis, Bane. Meanwhile, Rhea Loren, a new mother with a secret must decide whether to protect her child or share what she knows with the fatemarked...
To the north, Annise Gäric, Tarin Sheary and their allies are hunted mercilessly by the army of barbarians known as the Horde, led by her long-lost uncle Helmuth, now known as Klar-Ggra. While she seeks refuge in the east, Tarin once more struggles with his own demons...
In the west, Ennis Loren and his brothers, including self-proclaimed king of the west, Sai, return to Knight's End against the advice of the fatemarked, who they despise. Secretly, they plot another attack on the south...
In the east, Gareth Ironclad returns to Ferria hoping to find a unified people with a common enemy, but instead faces a fractured kingdom uncertain of its future. But when he makes a drastic decision, everything begins to unravel...
In Calyp, Raven Sandes returns with the most unlikeliest of friends: Gwendolyn Storm. But when tragedy strikes at the heart of the empire, the survivors are left behind and forced to pick up the pieces...
The fate of the Four Kingdoms hangs in the balance in the epic finale to the Amazon #1 bestselling series!
839 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2017
About the author
David Estes
78 books2,555 followersGet a FREE short story from David Estes' #1 Amazon bestselling epic fantasy series, Fatemarked, when you sign up for his mailing list: https://www.subscribepage.com/b2v6v3
David Estes has written more than 40 science fiction and fantasy books. He loves chatting with his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends. David lives in Hawaii with his beautiful Aussie wife, Adele, his moody cats, Bailey and Luna, and his rambunctious sons, Beau and Brody.
Join 3,000+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/7...
Books by David Estes:
-The Fatemarked Epic- For fans of A Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and The Way of Kings! Four kingdoms. A century-old war. One ancient prophecy that could change everything.
-The Kingfall Histories- a follow up series to the #1 Amazon bestselling series, The Fatemarked Epic
-Strings- “A wonderful retelling of the Pinocchio story…I simply couldn’t put this book down.”—Rysa Walker, bestselling author of TIMEBOUND
-The Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.
-Salem's Revenge trilogy- the witch apocalypse begins!
-Slip Trilogy- "Someone must die before another can be born..."
-The Adventures of Nikki Powergloves- Kid superheroes? 'Nuff said.
David Estes has written more than 40 science fiction and fantasy books. He loves chatting with his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends. David lives in Hawaii with his beautiful Aussie wife, Adele, his moody cats, Bailey and Luna, and his rambunctious sons, Beau and Brody.
Join 3,000+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/7...
Books by David Estes:
-The Fatemarked Epic- For fans of A Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and The Way of Kings! Four kingdoms. A century-old war. One ancient prophecy that could change everything.
-The Kingfall Histories- a follow up series to the #1 Amazon bestselling series, The Fatemarked Epic
-Strings- “A wonderful retelling of the Pinocchio story…I simply couldn’t put this book down.”—Rysa Walker, bestselling author of TIMEBOUND
-The Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.
-Salem's Revenge trilogy- the witch apocalypse begins!
-Slip Trilogy- "Someone must die before another can be born..."
-The Adventures of Nikki Powergloves- Kid superheroes? 'Nuff said.
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November 14, 2017*falls over gasping* It feels like I've just run a marathon. The Fatemarked Epic is finally finished. It took nearly two years to write this 4,000+ page epic adventure, but the time was well worth it. I nearly lost my mind trying to keep all the characters straight, but somehow *I think* they all came together for the conclusion. I also added five short stories as epilogues so you get to see what becomes of all your favorite characters.
This series has been special to me for a lot of reasons: 1) Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings was my favorite series as a kid, and I always wanted to write something EPIC, but was always too scared I would fail. Mr. Tolkien, I didn't fail, so thank you for all the inspiration. 2) #1 Amazon bestseller in three categories! Miracles do happen. 3) Writing this series comes along with the memories of my son's first two years of life. Now THAT is special. 4) READERS! You all have been AMAZING. Thanks for the support and encouragement, you were with me every page of the way.
I truly hope you all enjoy reading this series as much as I have writing it. For those who haven't started, now is the time as you won't have to wait for any sequels...it's finished! Here are the linksies:
Fatemarked- http://amzn.to/2kkKdhm
Truthmarked- http://amzn.to/2lmSO0M
Soulmarked- http://amzn.to/2kEnKcN
Deathmarked- http://amzn.to/2qGTlMy
Lifemarked- http://amzn.to/2h08DcI
This series has been special to me for a lot of reasons: 1) Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings was my favorite series as a kid, and I always wanted to write something EPIC, but was always too scared I would fail. Mr. Tolkien, I didn't fail, so thank you for all the inspiration. 2) #1 Amazon bestseller in three categories! Miracles do happen. 3) Writing this series comes along with the memories of my son's first two years of life. Now THAT is special. 4) READERS! You all have been AMAZING. Thanks for the support and encouragement, you were with me every page of the way.
I truly hope you all enjoy reading this series as much as I have writing it. For those who haven't started, now is the time as you won't have to wait for any sequels...it's finished! Here are the linksies:
Fatemarked- http://amzn.to/2kkKdhm
Truthmarked- http://amzn.to/2lmSO0M
Soulmarked- http://amzn.to/2kEnKcN
Deathmarked- http://amzn.to/2qGTlMy
Lifemarked- http://amzn.to/2h08DcI
August 27, 2021
Now THAT was a perfect ending to an amazing epic series!! David Estes has once again blown all of my expectations out of the water and delivered one of the best series endings I've seen. I knew this last book in this epic story would be amazing, but he has surpassed "amazing" and delivered an astounding finale!
The entire Four Kingdoms finally meet to work together to fight the Horde led by the evil Painmarked Helmuth Garic. I've never seen an enemy quite like them and there were many times when I knew all had to be lost.
And as he's done time and time again, Estes once more delivers the twist of all twists that made me sit up and gasp in shock. As is typical with his books, I sure didn't see that coming.
So what are the fates of Roan, Annise, Tarin, Gareth, Gwen, Rhea, Grey, Raven, Falcon, Shanti, Siri, and all the rest? Will there be anything left of the Kingdoms after the Horde have destroyed everything in their path and massacred the people?
And then, just when you finally get your emotions back under control, you find that Estes has given us another gift of 5 epilogue stories of the Future of the Four Kingdoms, several of which left me with those dang goosebumps again.
The Fatemarked Epic is right up there for me with Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings as my favorite epic fantasies!!
*Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
The entire Four Kingdoms finally meet to work together to fight the Horde led by the evil Painmarked Helmuth Garic. I've never seen an enemy quite like them and there were many times when I knew all had to be lost.
And as he's done time and time again, Estes once more delivers the twist of all twists that made me sit up and gasp in shock. As is typical with his books, I sure didn't see that coming.
So what are the fates of Roan, Annise, Tarin, Gareth, Gwen, Rhea, Grey, Raven, Falcon, Shanti, Siri, and all the rest? Will there be anything left of the Kingdoms after the Horde have destroyed everything in their path and massacred the people?
And then, just when you finally get your emotions back under control, you find that Estes has given us another gift of 5 epilogue stories of the Future of the Four Kingdoms, several of which left me with those dang goosebumps again.
The Fatemarked Epic is right up there for me with Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings as my favorite epic fantasies!!
*Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
November 25, 2017
A must read series!
I absolutely loved, and devoured this series! After each book, I couldn't wait to read the next! There is never a dull moment in these books, from beginning to end! You will come to know and love each one of these characters, and never forget them! The Four Kingdoms, and all of their people will stay with you long after you have finished reading! There is a little bit of everything you'd want to see in a fantasy world- love, loss, war, magic, monsters, and heroes..I recommend this series to anyone who loves a fantastic, epic fantasy!!!! Enjoy! I sure did!!! I was sad to see it end! Can't wait for more from this amazing author!
I absolutely loved, and devoured this series! After each book, I couldn't wait to read the next! There is never a dull moment in these books, from beginning to end! You will come to know and love each one of these characters, and never forget them! The Four Kingdoms, and all of their people will stay with you long after you have finished reading! There is a little bit of everything you'd want to see in a fantasy world- love, loss, war, magic, monsters, and heroes..I recommend this series to anyone who loves a fantastic, epic fantasy!!!! Enjoy! I sure did!!! I was sad to see it end! Can't wait for more from this amazing author!
April 20, 2023
The series started off well and upto the third book, I was completely
invested in it. Unfortunately, the introduction of a new external threat completely negates the initial premise of the series and dilutes a lot of things (like character development, politicking etc) that made it stand out. It ends ok enough but I feel disappointed at how it panned out.
invested in it. Unfortunately, the introduction of a new external threat completely negates the initial premise of the series and dilutes a lot of things (like character development, politicking etc) that made it stand out. It ends ok enough but I feel disappointed at how it panned out.
July 8, 2024
Wow! So comes an end to one hell of a series. I started this epic on a recommendation (wizards, warriors and words) and what a great one it was.
It’s brilliant enough I’d rate it right there with other YA greats Salvatore, Alexander, Brooks, Eddings, Paolini, Weis and Hickman. More recently ML Spencer and Abercrombie’s Shattered Seas.
That’s not bad company.
This reads like a friendlier version of Martin’s Ice and Fire. That’s not to say you won’t find deaths and dastardly deeds. You’ll find just as many POV characters and Kingdoms. Lots of epic battles, dragons and prophecy. It’s really grand in scope and author David Estes keeps the momentum propelling forward.
This was great escapism and I cannot recommend enough. Five Stars for the whole series.
It’s brilliant enough I’d rate it right there with other YA greats Salvatore, Alexander, Brooks, Eddings, Paolini, Weis and Hickman. More recently ML Spencer and Abercrombie’s Shattered Seas.
That’s not bad company.
This reads like a friendlier version of Martin’s Ice and Fire. That’s not to say you won’t find deaths and dastardly deeds. You’ll find just as many POV characters and Kingdoms. Lots of epic battles, dragons and prophecy. It’s really grand in scope and author David Estes keeps the momentum propelling forward.
This was great escapism and I cannot recommend enough. Five Stars for the whole series.
November 24, 2017
This book is an awesome read in its own right, and a totally awesome end to the series! The plot is so gripping that every time I had to put the book down was torture. The characters feel like real people, and watching them grow as the series developed has been a wonderful experience. Also, the writing itself is fantastic! Even though the ending was so well done, I didn't want to leave the world, so was glad of the chance to linger a little longer via the epilogue stories.
November 17, 2017
A great book
I completely and totally love this series! Every single book made me laugh, cry and cheer. A little sad that it’s finished but I’m enjoying the fact that while one of the best characters died(I cried tons) everyone got a happy ending.
I completely and totally love this series! Every single book made me laugh, cry and cheer. A little sad that it’s finished but I’m enjoying the fact that while one of the best characters died(I cried tons) everyone got a happy ending.
August 22, 2020
Lifemarked by David Estes is the fifth and final book in his Fatemarked epic fantasy series. After having read thousands of pages, we are finally here at the end. The fate of the Four Kingdoms rests in the final battle with the Horde. I’m just going to come flat out and say it: I consider Lifemarked a disappointment. I was fairly excited after having finished Deathmarked but I should have known that it would end up being like this.
One of my biggest gripe with Lifemarked is how the author somehow decided it was a good idea to just pile on all the action at once. We go through battle and skirmishes on and on to the point where I did something I haven’t really done in the previous books and that is skipping over these redundant sections until I got to the dialogue. The execution felt really off. For one, we as the readers most likely know that our heroes won’t be outdone in these fights prior to the main battle so reading them felt like a huge chore. Secondly, the author just doesn’t seem to mix things up a bit in these fighting sequences. I could only stand having to read of the barbarians and soldiers being impaled or hacked at for so many times before I eventually get bored. I guess the author felt the need to turn this into a blockbuster movie and so what does every action movie require? Action. And lots of it.
“The scales of justice are not borne on one man’s shoulders alone.” – Jai Jiroux
Regarding characters, I still don’t feel the connection with many of them. Did I root for them? Sure. But that’s only because there wasn’t really any other choice. The whole ordeal between Gwendolyn and Siri the dragon just felt weird with that whole “my soul” thing they got going on. Tarin and Annise are still irritating. I’m still a bit confused as to who or what Lisbeth is, Roan will just be Roan and Rhea will always still be that woman who has changed for the better and always reminding us of it every single darn time. Helmuth’s backstory was at least a bit interesting to read in the last book but here in Lifemarked, he’s just a cookie cutter villain who has nothing going on for him. I really felt the author wasted too much time talking and rehashing of past events instead of building on the present.
The ending we got is pretty much what we’ve all come to suspect in a way. While I understand it may not be to the author’s style, I really think adding a bit of political and character scheming/backstabbing and plot twists would help a whole lot with the story overall. My general rule is if I don’t at least consider rooting for the villain, even if just a little, the author would have failed me. Although I enjoyed reading the epilogue at the end, I just couldn’t help but keep finding plot holes. Bear Blackboot’s mission to the mountain just felt completely unbelievable as well as Noura’s adventure into a certain location and encountering certain people after so many years have gone by.
“Hope is never naive.” – Falcon Hoza
Sounds like I’ve written a pretty negative review here and for the most part it is. I just hate when I have to do this because I have such high hopes going into it. The signs were there it would end up being this way but I stubbornly refused to acknowledge it until the very end. Is this series a bad one? Absolutely not as I would not have made it to the last book if it was. I just wished the author would have done many things differently, however.
One of my biggest gripe with Lifemarked is how the author somehow decided it was a good idea to just pile on all the action at once. We go through battle and skirmishes on and on to the point where I did something I haven’t really done in the previous books and that is skipping over these redundant sections until I got to the dialogue. The execution felt really off. For one, we as the readers most likely know that our heroes won’t be outdone in these fights prior to the main battle so reading them felt like a huge chore. Secondly, the author just doesn’t seem to mix things up a bit in these fighting sequences. I could only stand having to read of the barbarians and soldiers being impaled or hacked at for so many times before I eventually get bored. I guess the author felt the need to turn this into a blockbuster movie and so what does every action movie require? Action. And lots of it.
“The scales of justice are not borne on one man’s shoulders alone.” – Jai Jiroux
Regarding characters, I still don’t feel the connection with many of them. Did I root for them? Sure. But that’s only because there wasn’t really any other choice. The whole ordeal between Gwendolyn and Siri the dragon just felt weird with that whole “my soul” thing they got going on. Tarin and Annise are still irritating. I’m still a bit confused as to who or what Lisbeth is, Roan will just be Roan and Rhea will always still be that woman who has changed for the better and always reminding us of it every single darn time. Helmuth’s backstory was at least a bit interesting to read in the last book but here in Lifemarked, he’s just a cookie cutter villain who has nothing going on for him. I really felt the author wasted too much time talking and rehashing of past events instead of building on the present.
The ending we got is pretty much what we’ve all come to suspect in a way. While I understand it may not be to the author’s style, I really think adding a bit of political and character scheming/backstabbing and plot twists would help a whole lot with the story overall. My general rule is if I don’t at least consider rooting for the villain, even if just a little, the author would have failed me. Although I enjoyed reading the epilogue at the end, I just couldn’t help but keep finding plot holes. Bear Blackboot’s mission to the mountain just felt completely unbelievable as well as Noura’s adventure into a certain location and encountering certain people after so many years have gone by.
“Hope is never naive.” – Falcon Hoza
Sounds like I’ve written a pretty negative review here and for the most part it is. I just hate when I have to do this because I have such high hopes going into it. The signs were there it would end up being this way but I stubbornly refused to acknowledge it until the very end. Is this series a bad one? Absolutely not as I would not have made it to the last book if it was. I just wished the author would have done many things differently, however.
July 20, 2018
A great conclusion to a captivating series. The characters are fully fleshed out with some moral ambiguities and flaws like real people. I liked that the series was long enough to keep my attention for a while without the many plot lines getting too confusing. Good characters and a balance between plot development and action sequences.
January 12, 2018
I loved this series and all its characters. The author did an amazing job keeping me interested. And even though the story moved quickly between characters, I never felt lost or confused.
Definitely a recommended reading for anyone who likes epic fantasy.
Definitely a recommended reading for anyone who likes epic fantasy.
April 29, 2018
Review is for the whole 5 books.
Obviously a YA series. I bought all 5 at the same time based on reviews. After reading them all , It's not bad just simplistic. I wouldn't recommend them to adults though.
Obviously a YA series. I bought all 5 at the same time based on reviews. After reading them all , It's not bad just simplistic. I wouldn't recommend them to adults though.
January 18, 2018
Wonderful series
Wonderful series of books. Well developed characters with lots of surprises as the characters struggled to fulfill their life purposes
Wonderful series of books. Well developed characters with lots of surprises as the characters struggled to fulfill their life purposes
October 27, 2018
Up to this point I'm guessing all of the positive reviews must have come from friends and family this book was beyond garbage
July 9, 2021
I thought long and hard before I decided to write a review. This is actually a review on the series as a whole, because I thought that after completing the series and all is said and done - that is when you, as a reader, determine whether the time and energy invested is all worth it.
So, was it? In short...yes.
I did enjoy this series - some books more than others. I think that the world building done by David Estes was complex and intriguing, the characters were varied - some much more developed than others. The relationships between the various characters are what in my opinion made the series, but in that same vein - it was also one of the things that kept it from being great. High fantasy is a difficult genre to write and even more difficult to get right. I'm trying - still trying, even as I write this - to find the words that are in my head to try to put down and explain my feelings. I' m not sure whether any of this will make sense - but I'll give it a try.
I did my normal (which is to both listen on Audible -when in the car and working around the house - and reading as well, usually at night) which usually gives me a more solid foundation. Don't ask me why, that just works for me. Also, on a side note- I think having a narrator with English accent reading a fantasy novel just gives it that extra oomph - I know, I know - crazy American thinking, but I digress.... So, the narration was good, no problems there. So, what WAS the problem? If I had to try to put in it one sentence, it would be that I was always aware of the fact that the book (s) weren't over yet and sometimes even looked to see how much time/pages were left. When reading Robin Hobb, or Brandon Sanderson - it is the exact opposite. I don't want to look, because I'm afraid that the book will be over too soon and I will have to exit the world in which I am fully invested. I'm not sure if anyone will get that - but to me - that is the difference between a good series and a great series.
Now, about the series. It was interesting to see ALL of the characters and their lives as they dealt with the growing adversity and knowing that some or all of these leaders were going to be killed by Bane. It lead to the suspense of not knowing who the next target might be, and then trying to decide if that made you happy or mad. I liked the way at the beginning of sections that Estes told you who was going to be featured in those sections. It reminded me a bit of Games of Thrones in the fact that really, no one was safe - good guy or bad. But on that note, there were huge, entire sections that absolutely drove me crazy. I think that even at the end there were still plot holes and questions that were never really answered. Yeah, if you glossed over them, they kind of made sense, but if you put thought into it - some things fell apart.
Things that drove me crazy:
Relationships (Gwen, Gareth, Roan) - The relationship - or should I say the non relationship - between Gareth, Gwen and Roan. Geez - for people who are in most cases very intelligent, they sure as heck didn't act it. That part frustrated me to no end. I do not want to put any spoilers in this, so I am going to try to be vague, but ugh!!!
(Rhea, Grey, Kayla) - I am not a fan of InstaLove and that triangle just fell flat for me. He leaves Rhea, twice. Falls for Kayla - promises her dad that he will always take care of her and then....oops - not giving spoilers - so all I will say is...Seriously????
(Shanti, Jai, Falcon) - This one was just not really realistic to me. Falcon came across as incredibly weak and Shanti an evil witch, I mean - really... blowing up an entire city with mothers and children because you're sad?
Redemption - Well, I'm not sure what to call it. It gave me whiplash the way some characters went from absolute EVIL to "hey, I'm sure you were just misunderstood...." (Rhea, Bane, The Western Oracle, Shanti)
And the ending - without going into spoilers, that is going to be difficult, but I am having a hard time trying to figure out what the Western Oracle had in mind when she put everything on motion. It is stated that she couldn't tell the future, so that kinda blows all the theories out of the water. If she couldn't see the future, how in the world would she know about the Horde and the timing of everything? I mean, what if the Horde came before Bane was even old enough to walk, or after he had died? What if the first death that set everything in motion happened because the Queen and Zelda's plan happened first? Would that have counted?
Anyway - those are just things that rattle around in my head. I really just wish we were left with a better understanding of the total and complete picture - we are given a partial one, but like I said, plot holes. Where did Lisbeth come from - well, we KNOW where she came from, but who created her and sent her to the land at that exact time? And what was the whole thing about "the death of Absence?" I know what occurred because of it - the stealing of the people of Teragon into slavery, but what did that have to do with the Western Oracle? And what a mother....I mean, how cruel. She left her son alone for centuries and put the responsibility of saving the world on his shoulders with virtually no support and more importantly, with no compassion or love. Okay, I'm rambling now. time to stop.
I did enjoy the epilogues - it is always nice to be able to see what happens afterwards, that has always been something that helps me to tie a bow into the story knowing that there has been closure - especially if it does tie everything up and not drop another bomb in.
After typing all of this it actually helped to clarify my thoughts. I really did enjoy this series. I went through the gamut of emotions during each and every book, -from happiness, to joy, to anger to fear, to anxiety. That is the effect of good writing. I was not/ am not happy with his decision regarding a certain character, but I do understand it - still NOT happy, but I guess I understand.
What did stop me from rating this any higher was the fact that I was never FULLY immersed into the story. I never felt that I couldn't go to sleep because I HAD to know what was happening next. There were also certain events that pulled me out of the story, things that were breaks in either the style of writing or actions by characters that were so out of context that it broke the continuity of the story. And, this is just me, but when reading Hobbs' Fitz and the Fool series, I SOBBED - I mean sobbed like a crazy person when something happened at the end. To be THAT invested in a character scares the daylights out of me, but it was so worth it to have been able to experience and feel so deeply about this character. In this series, there were certain things that happened that made me sad, and maybe my eyes watered, but ......
So, was it? In short...yes.
I did enjoy this series - some books more than others. I think that the world building done by David Estes was complex and intriguing, the characters were varied - some much more developed than others. The relationships between the various characters are what in my opinion made the series, but in that same vein - it was also one of the things that kept it from being great. High fantasy is a difficult genre to write and even more difficult to get right. I'm trying - still trying, even as I write this - to find the words that are in my head to try to put down and explain my feelings. I' m not sure whether any of this will make sense - but I'll give it a try.
I did my normal (which is to both listen on Audible -when in the car and working around the house - and reading as well, usually at night) which usually gives me a more solid foundation. Don't ask me why, that just works for me. Also, on a side note- I think having a narrator with English accent reading a fantasy novel just gives it that extra oomph - I know, I know - crazy American thinking, but I digress.... So, the narration was good, no problems there. So, what WAS the problem? If I had to try to put in it one sentence, it would be that I was always aware of the fact that the book (s) weren't over yet and sometimes even looked to see how much time/pages were left. When reading Robin Hobb, or Brandon Sanderson - it is the exact opposite. I don't want to look, because I'm afraid that the book will be over too soon and I will have to exit the world in which I am fully invested. I'm not sure if anyone will get that - but to me - that is the difference between a good series and a great series.
Now, about the series. It was interesting to see ALL of the characters and their lives as they dealt with the growing adversity and knowing that some or all of these leaders were going to be killed by Bane. It lead to the suspense of not knowing who the next target might be, and then trying to decide if that made you happy or mad. I liked the way at the beginning of sections that Estes told you who was going to be featured in those sections. It reminded me a bit of Games of Thrones in the fact that really, no one was safe - good guy or bad. But on that note, there were huge, entire sections that absolutely drove me crazy. I think that even at the end there were still plot holes and questions that were never really answered. Yeah, if you glossed over them, they kind of made sense, but if you put thought into it - some things fell apart.
Things that drove me crazy:
Relationships (Gwen, Gareth, Roan) - The relationship - or should I say the non relationship - between Gareth, Gwen and Roan. Geez - for people who are in most cases very intelligent, they sure as heck didn't act it. That part frustrated me to no end. I do not want to put any spoilers in this, so I am going to try to be vague, but ugh!!!
(Rhea, Grey, Kayla) - I am not a fan of InstaLove and that triangle just fell flat for me. He leaves Rhea, twice. Falls for Kayla - promises her dad that he will always take care of her and then....oops - not giving spoilers - so all I will say is...Seriously????
(Shanti, Jai, Falcon) - This one was just not really realistic to me. Falcon came across as incredibly weak and Shanti an evil witch, I mean - really... blowing up an entire city with mothers and children because you're sad?
Redemption - Well, I'm not sure what to call it. It gave me whiplash the way some characters went from absolute EVIL to "hey, I'm sure you were just misunderstood...." (Rhea, Bane, The Western Oracle, Shanti)
And the ending - without going into spoilers, that is going to be difficult, but I am having a hard time trying to figure out what the Western Oracle had in mind when she put everything on motion. It is stated that she couldn't tell the future, so that kinda blows all the theories out of the water. If she couldn't see the future, how in the world would she know about the Horde and the timing of everything? I mean, what if the Horde came before Bane was even old enough to walk, or after he had died? What if the first death that set everything in motion happened because the Queen and Zelda's plan happened first? Would that have counted?
Anyway - those are just things that rattle around in my head. I really just wish we were left with a better understanding of the total and complete picture - we are given a partial one, but like I said, plot holes. Where did Lisbeth come from - well, we KNOW where she came from, but who created her and sent her to the land at that exact time? And what was the whole thing about "the death of Absence?" I know what occurred because of it - the stealing of the people of Teragon into slavery, but what did that have to do with the Western Oracle? And what a mother....I mean, how cruel. She left her son alone for centuries and put the responsibility of saving the world on his shoulders with virtually no support and more importantly, with no compassion or love. Okay, I'm rambling now. time to stop.
I did enjoy the epilogues - it is always nice to be able to see what happens afterwards, that has always been something that helps me to tie a bow into the story knowing that there has been closure - especially if it does tie everything up and not drop another bomb in.
After typing all of this it actually helped to clarify my thoughts. I really did enjoy this series. I went through the gamut of emotions during each and every book, -from happiness, to joy, to anger to fear, to anxiety. That is the effect of good writing. I was not/ am not happy with his decision regarding a certain character, but I do understand it - still NOT happy, but I guess I understand.
What did stop me from rating this any higher was the fact that I was never FULLY immersed into the story. I never felt that I couldn't go to sleep because I HAD to know what was happening next. There were also certain events that pulled me out of the story, things that were breaks in either the style of writing or actions by characters that were so out of context that it broke the continuity of the story. And, this is just me, but when reading Hobbs' Fitz and the Fool series, I SOBBED - I mean sobbed like a crazy person when something happened at the end. To be THAT invested in a character scares the daylights out of me, but it was so worth it to have been able to experience and feel so deeply about this character. In this series, there were certain things that happened that made me sad, and maybe my eyes watered, but ......
December 11, 2020
Really great fantasy series; longer reads but so captivating you just want to keep going. Well worth reading!
July 1, 2018
This book man. This book. This whole series actually. Words cannot describe, it was seriously so good, I read the whole series in a week!!! I laughed, I cried, I got angry, so many emotions. The writing was phenomenal, unsurprisingly. Thanks David Este for this amazing adventure. I can’t wait to read your other books and love them just as much!!!
June 23, 2021
This entire series was fantastic. Every book in the series was so captivating that it was impossible to stop reading! The characters David created was nothing short of amazing. They were all so different and you feel almost connected to them. I recommend this to anyone that enjoys fantasy. Easily one of my favs. I look forward to what this author comes out with next!
August 11, 2020
Really loooong series. My eyes are screaming. LoL But I enjoyed it very much. It was well thought out and the ending was good. I wasn't left with a lot of questions. I would recommended it.
January 12, 2019
This series is a tremendous accomplishment from an author whose ability to enthrall an audience knows no bounds. He manages to set himself apart from other fantasy writers with his attention to detail, non stop action, and adept story telling.
With this series David Estes is on equal footing , even surpassing , other prominent, contemporary fantasy writers. I admire that he uses magic sparingly, for instance, and doesn’t resort to ‘deus et machina’ when in a literary quandary. I especially like his depiction of long distance communication with ink reeds as opposed to Jeff Wheelers myriad ‘travel lines’ of communication. Wheelers stories often dissolve from the ubiquitous use of magic while Estes integrates magic in the storyline as seen in his brilliant depiction of the fate marked.
If you love fantasy then this series is for you. David Estes impresses us with this epic entry into fantasy.
With this series David Estes is on equal footing , even surpassing , other prominent, contemporary fantasy writers. I admire that he uses magic sparingly, for instance, and doesn’t resort to ‘deus et machina’ when in a literary quandary. I especially like his depiction of long distance communication with ink reeds as opposed to Jeff Wheelers myriad ‘travel lines’ of communication. Wheelers stories often dissolve from the ubiquitous use of magic while Estes integrates magic in the storyline as seen in his brilliant depiction of the fate marked.
If you love fantasy then this series is for you. David Estes impresses us with this epic entry into fantasy.
July 20, 2021
I devoured this series.i read all 5 novels and three short story collections all in a row. What David Estes created here was special. It only took me a few pages of the first book to know that the journey ahead would be of epic proportions. Davids writing is superb and it's so refreshing to have a author who puts the pedal to the metal to deliver such a epic tale in about two years time. This last book was everything I hoped it be. The overall war taking place was on such a colossal scale that you really shared in the unity and anguish of the forces of good battling the horde. Each character could easily be the main protagonist in another authors book. That's how well thought out they were. Sometimes characters are just thrown into a book but serve no real purpose. That was not the case here. I love all these characters for one reason or another. As the story went on each one of them became a part of me. As much as I needed to know how things turned out I was saddened to finish the series. I didn't want to say goodbye to these heroes or this world. David I just want you to know you made me laugh, you made me cry, you made me put down my kindle and gather myself when times were rough but you also made me want to stand besides these heroes when all but a tiny speck of hope existed. When they fell it broke my heart when they persevered against insurmountable odds I shouted out in triumph. When sacrifices for the greater good were made I turned the page with tears in my eyes. Thank you so much David for allowing me to share in this wondrous world and rest assured as you told me a few weeks ago that another saga would take place in the same world I don't know that I have ever in my life been anticipating the release of a series the way I will this next one. When it comes to your writing count me life marked forever.
February 19, 2018
The whole series was very pleasant to read, I really enjoyed it ! At first I was afraid I might get lost between the frequent jumps from places and characters to other places and other characters, but in the end it happens to be pretty entertaining and it is the one thing that made it impossible for me to close the books ! Because each time, I had to leave characters I thought were my favorite in delicate situations just to come back to other characters also left in a delicate situation juste before... and I realised I was so pleased to hear about them again that in the end I'm not able to tell who's my favorite set of characters. I even liked the super villain, his loss, his aching, his issues, his power, his determination to annihilate (but that might just be my twisted mind, feel free to hate him... ;)
Although I've read the entire series in one lenght not so long ago, I still can't say if it's too happy or too sad, if the ending should have been better or worse, that's a strange felling when you can't put your finger on what you feel. You want everything to be perfect for the characters you shared so much time with, and at the same time it just wouldn't feel right to end up things with "they got married, lived a long life and had many children" David Estes was able to cope with that, and that's the real tricky part of the work, so well done David !
And you, who are reading this review to the end, despite my too long sentences and approximate mastering of english, read the books !! Enjoy, and let us know what you thought about them !
Although I've read the entire series in one lenght not so long ago, I still can't say if it's too happy or too sad, if the ending should have been better or worse, that's a strange felling when you can't put your finger on what you feel. You want everything to be perfect for the characters you shared so much time with, and at the same time it just wouldn't feel right to end up things with "they got married, lived a long life and had many children" David Estes was able to cope with that, and that's the real tricky part of the work, so well done David !
And you, who are reading this review to the end, despite my too long sentences and approximate mastering of english, read the books !! Enjoy, and let us know what you thought about them !
May 25, 2018
Last of the series, sad. These were epic fantasy. Loved the whole lot of them. I give them five stars. The last book didn't disappoint and brought closer to all the characters, left living anyway. Great writing style another favorite from David Estes. I can recommend for ages 16 and up. This series is more mature than some of his other works. There is implied sexual content, violence, and some swearing (made up swear words).
February 27, 2018
Thrilling ride
This is the last book in the series, so one might think the final battle would be predictable. No! This was a beautiful, complex adventure that kept surprising me. The author really delivers an emotional wallop here, both heartening and sad. It is rare to see so many well-developed characters and to feel the love, nobility, frailty and tenderness inherent in them all.
This is the last book in the series, so one might think the final battle would be predictable. No! This was a beautiful, complex adventure that kept surprising me. The author really delivers an emotional wallop here, both heartening and sad. It is rare to see so many well-developed characters and to feel the love, nobility, frailty and tenderness inherent in them all.
January 10, 2018
I hate it. . .
. . . when I love a story so much that I cannot stop reading it and all of a sudden (five books later) it is over. I have enjoyed this Fatemarked series tremendously a d plan to read every Estes book ever published. Thank you Mr. Estes for giving me such an enjoyable week.
. . . when I love a story so much that I cannot stop reading it and all of a sudden (five books later) it is over. I have enjoyed this Fatemarked series tremendously a d plan to read every Estes book ever published. Thank you Mr. Estes for giving me such an enjoyable week.
March 24, 2018
Fantastic series
I enjoyed this series so much. I read all of the books in three days because I couldn't wait to see was going to happen next. If you're interested in great fantasy then I recommend this series.
I enjoyed this series so much. I read all of the books in three days because I couldn't wait to see was going to happen next. If you're interested in great fantasy then I recommend this series.
February 20, 2018
Awesome
This was a truly great series to read. Would highly recommend to anyone. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.
This was a truly great series to read. Would highly recommend to anyone. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.
February 23, 2018
Great!
Enjoyed the story immensely. The characters drew me in fully with unexpected plot twists to keep me guessing. I highly recommend.
Enjoyed the story immensely. The characters drew me in fully with unexpected plot twists to keep me guessing. I highly recommend.
May 7, 2018
Breathtaking
Wonderful conclusion to a roller coaster series.
All the lose ends are well tied together. Looking forward to more from the author.
Wonderful conclusion to a roller coaster series.
All the lose ends are well tied together. Looking forward to more from the author.
January 30, 2020
What an Ending
****Spoilers*****
The end of this tale arrived and I couldn't be happier that it's done. Some books I mourn the series end but not this one. I was getting impatient for the final battle that had built across so many perspectives from each kingdom. I was in denial for a while about the blood marks on Bane's head or perhaps just overly optimistic that more characters wouldn't have to die, particularly those rulers who had seen the errors of their war hungry ways and had begun to turn over a new leaf.
Helmuth's vengeance was short sighted which was puzzling considering the reader is told about his great ability to strategize. Although he'd been cast out and aside by his own father, I couldn't get behind his world destruction mentality. Once the horde finished off the four kingdoms and there was no more human blood to satiate them, then what was supposed to happen next assuming he was the sole survivor?
I still dislike Rhea and can't believe she out of all of the people in the book gets a happy ending. I was rooting for Falcon and Shanti the whole time and was happy to see them together at the end.
Windy Sandes was a disappointment but I can't say that she didn't live up to what I expected of her since she lost so many loved ones to wars.
Gwen was a favorite to the end once we got past the earlier books where she was much too aloof. I enjoyed reading her bond with Siri but I was thrown off and confused about the dragon babies. At least 50 or more years passed and yet when Siri gets back to the nest, the baby dragons just begin to hatch but I guess that's possible as other extraordinary things occur in the book.
When Raven died in the pit fighting along with her Aunt Viper that was what I expected. But what I didn't understand was why Raven didn't take Goggin up on his offer the night prior for a little piece of love even if it wasn't to last. Her explanation or rationale for her actions kept to who she was throughout the books so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised.
Bane turns out to be the hero and I couldn't be more happy that he was given a chance at something different and was able to reconnect with his sister Annise at long last. She didn't give up on him or kill him once she knew he was her brother even after knowing what his purpose was. Annise and Terrin deserved the happiness they achieved and were among the most honorable in the series and very easy to like.
Everyone played a part for the peace of the four kingdoms, some sacrifices more profound than others. That Roan had to sacrifice his life was unexpected and heartbreaking to read though he was well aware of his fate and role to play as the 10th dead. This is a series that's great while it lasts but I wouldn't pick it back up for another read through. Probably just because there's so much death of the main characters which is also what makes it good because it's unexpected.
****Spoilers*****
The end of this tale arrived and I couldn't be happier that it's done. Some books I mourn the series end but not this one. I was getting impatient for the final battle that had built across so many perspectives from each kingdom. I was in denial for a while about the blood marks on Bane's head or perhaps just overly optimistic that more characters wouldn't have to die, particularly those rulers who had seen the errors of their war hungry ways and had begun to turn over a new leaf.
Helmuth's vengeance was short sighted which was puzzling considering the reader is told about his great ability to strategize. Although he'd been cast out and aside by his own father, I couldn't get behind his world destruction mentality. Once the horde finished off the four kingdoms and there was no more human blood to satiate them, then what was supposed to happen next assuming he was the sole survivor?
I still dislike Rhea and can't believe she out of all of the people in the book gets a happy ending. I was rooting for Falcon and Shanti the whole time and was happy to see them together at the end.
Windy Sandes was a disappointment but I can't say that she didn't live up to what I expected of her since she lost so many loved ones to wars.
Gwen was a favorite to the end once we got past the earlier books where she was much too aloof. I enjoyed reading her bond with Siri but I was thrown off and confused about the dragon babies. At least 50 or more years passed and yet when Siri gets back to the nest, the baby dragons just begin to hatch but I guess that's possible as other extraordinary things occur in the book.
When Raven died in the pit fighting along with her Aunt Viper that was what I expected. But what I didn't understand was why Raven didn't take Goggin up on his offer the night prior for a little piece of love even if it wasn't to last. Her explanation or rationale for her actions kept to who she was throughout the books so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised.
Bane turns out to be the hero and I couldn't be more happy that he was given a chance at something different and was able to reconnect with his sister Annise at long last. She didn't give up on him or kill him once she knew he was her brother even after knowing what his purpose was. Annise and Terrin deserved the happiness they achieved and were among the most honorable in the series and very easy to like.
Everyone played a part for the peace of the four kingdoms, some sacrifices more profound than others. That Roan had to sacrifice his life was unexpected and heartbreaking to read though he was well aware of his fate and role to play as the 10th dead. This is a series that's great while it lasts but I wouldn't pick it back up for another read through. Probably just because there's so much death of the main characters which is also what makes it good because it's unexpected.
June 12, 2020
****************************WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD*****************************
This book was a build-up of all the previous books, all of the characters who never met each other uniting to defeat a great evil. Normally fantasy books end with the main character swopping in and saving the day but not this book, in the end, the main character( Roan The Peacemaker) lays down his life to save everyone else, healing all their wounds from the final battle. What I really enjoy about this book is that every one of the main characters is tied into the plot in some way. For example, the Queen of the North's uncle is the main villain, her younger brother and Roan were talked about in a few prophecies together, because Roan has a fatemark ( which is a special power given to some people at their birth, displayed with a mark on their skin stating what the are.) the lifemark and her brother has the deathmark, Roan's sister's boyfriend's sister also had a fatemarked but hers was special it was called the halfmark as it required two people who each had one half to work together to either destroy all the fatemark or enhance the powers of three. I know it is all very hard to understand but I highly encourage you to go read the whole series, The Fatemarked.
This book was a build-up of all the previous books, all of the characters who never met each other uniting to defeat a great evil. Normally fantasy books end with the main character swopping in and saving the day but not this book, in the end, the main character( Roan The Peacemaker) lays down his life to save everyone else, healing all their wounds from the final battle. What I really enjoy about this book is that every one of the main characters is tied into the plot in some way. For example, the Queen of the North's uncle is the main villain, her younger brother and Roan were talked about in a few prophecies together, because Roan has a fatemark ( which is a special power given to some people at their birth, displayed with a mark on their skin stating what the are.) the lifemark and her brother has the deathmark, Roan's sister's boyfriend's sister also had a fatemarked but hers was special it was called the halfmark as it required two people who each had one half to work together to either destroy all the fatemark or enhance the powers of three. I know it is all very hard to understand but I highly encourage you to go read the whole series, The Fatemarked.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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