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Adventurers Wanted #4
Sands of Nezza
A call for help draws wizard Alexander Taylor into an adventure that he knows nothing about. To save a friend, Alex must travel to the land of Nezza, a land where war is part of daily life, where adventurers are imprisoned, and where all magic is believed to be black.
Chance brings Alex into contact with young Rallian, a prince who might just be the true king of Nezza, and Alex's desire to do good sets loose a spell that could drive the land into all-out war. Alex must find a way for Rallian to be crowned king while also bringing peace to the land, but his magic and wizardry alone cannot make peace happen. His task is made more difficult when he learns that a group called the Brotherhood is actively working to keep the people of Nezza divided.
Join Alex and some familiar friends in their search to unite the land of Nezza in this new adventure that will test their courage to the very core.
Chance brings Alex into contact with young Rallian, a prince who might just be the true king of Nezza, and Alex's desire to do good sets loose a spell that could drive the land into all-out war. Alex must find a way for Rallian to be crowned king while also bringing peace to the land, but his magic and wizardry alone cannot make peace happen. His task is made more difficult when he learns that a group called the Brotherhood is actively working to keep the people of Nezza divided.
Join Alex and some familiar friends in their search to unite the land of Nezza in this new adventure that will test their courage to the very core.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
157 people are currently reading
2,169 people want to read
About the author
M.L. Forman
6Ìýbooks730ÌýfollowersMark Forman was born and raised in Utah and now resides in the foothills of the western Rockies. He tries to write as much as possible when he's not working as a systems administrator and attending to his many other hobbies, such as fishing, camping, hiking and almost anything that will allow him to enjoy the magic of nature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
February 24, 2013
Just a quick note here. I'm note sure how anyone has rated this book already, as I'm still working on the final version. Very strange? With a lot of work and a little luck I believe this will be out in May. Yes, I know you don't want to wait that long, but I am going all out to get the final fixed version to my editor by March 17. I am sorry for the delay, but I would rather have it come out later than planned and good than come out on time and be... well, wrong. -Mark
October 26, 2013
Was at Desert Book the other day, and when I saw this on the shelf, I just about died of fangirling.
And, oh, it was SOOOOO worth the wait! It was absolutely amazing.
But there was one problem....
Now that I know about Alex's sweet dragon powers, some strange part of my brain thinks that he needs to use them for EVERYTHING.
Can't open that jar of pickles?
I'll be a dragon could.
And it's really getting ridiculous. It's like:
Look! Alex got captured by some soldiers! How's he going to get out of this one?
Turn into a dragon and eat them all!
Oh no! It's a giant snake! What's Alex going to do?
Turn into a dragon and eat it!!
AAAHHH!! An evil wizard!!
Turn into a dragon and EAT HIM!!!
I dunno. I guess I'm just weird that way (that doesn't make Alex a cannibal, does it?
Yeah...no. No, we're not going there)
Uh, yeah....anyhoo....*awkward smile*
The book was soooo AWESOME! Just no other way to put it. So, if you need me, I'll be over fangirling in a corner till the next one comes out. Ta!
And, oh, it was SOOOOO worth the wait! It was absolutely amazing.
But there was one problem....
Now that I know about Alex's sweet dragon powers, some strange part of my brain thinks that he needs to use them for EVERYTHING.
Can't open that jar of pickles?
I'll be a dragon could.
And it's really getting ridiculous. It's like:
Look! Alex got captured by some soldiers! How's he going to get out of this one?
Turn into a dragon and eat them all!
Oh no! It's a giant snake! What's Alex going to do?
Turn into a dragon and eat it!!
AAAHHH!! An evil wizard!!
Turn into a dragon and EAT HIM!!!
I dunno. I guess I'm just weird that way (that doesn't make Alex a cannibal, does it?
Yeah...no. No, we're not going there)
Uh, yeah....anyhoo....*awkward smile*
The book was soooo AWESOME! Just no other way to put it. So, if you need me, I'll be over fangirling in a corner till the next one comes out. Ta!
October 3, 2014
Are we there yet?:(
Ahhhhh so close yet so far!!! I want it......
So I would like to know why people have rated a book that has not been released yet?
Ahhhhh so close yet so far!!! I want it......
So I would like to know why people have rated a book that has not been released yet?
February 10, 2015
I first want to say that this series has had potential from the beginning. It is funny, moral, clean, and engaging, and it drew me in from the first. Forman clearly also have a lot of creativity and originality--I would simply like to see it lose the copying from other literary masterpieces. I love the premise, Alex is pretty interesting, and there are just enough "plot balls" thrown into the air that I want to see how they fall. ("Plot balls" are something that a fiction teacher once told me about. Authors juggle plot balls--a plot here, a subplot here, and another one there--by throwing them into the story at different times and resolving them at different times as well.) I still want to know what's going to happen, even though I have been somewhat disillusioned by the series by now.
There are some interesting premises in this series. I like the whole idea of adventurers, and the concepts are pretty unique--adventuring bags (oh, wait, that was in Fablehaven), wizardry, the Wall, and the Oracles. (Okay, so maybe not ENTIRELY unique.) And Alex is a paragon. He is, after all, a dragon, a dragon lord, a dragon slayer (are those compatible?), part-human/dwarf/elf (with a good dose of missing parent syndrome), a superhero wizard, a healer, an adventurer, a prophecy-fulfiller, a mini-Oracle/sage, a warrior, a raven-whisperer, a shadow-slayer, and a perfect person in every way. I like a good hero, but there is such a thing as going too far. Plus, whenever Alex goes to the wall (the border of death in this book), it is consistently described as difficult to go to because it is so compelling, but he never has any trouble with it. Instead, he saves lots of people from being pulled over the wall into the shadow of death. If someone is perfect already, where in the world can he go? There isn't even a shadow of potential for real character development. In this book, the character development is limited to discussions about Alex's identity as a wizard--meaning, he is a wizard and doesn't try to hide it at all. Don't get me wrong--I love the adventures Alex has, and everything really is very exciting and is frequently well-written enough to hook me, but the two-dimensionality of the protagonist is frustrating for me as a reader. Maybe I'm not the target age for this series, but I like books that can honestly appeal to multiple age levels. The Chronicles of Narnia, for example, is well written, is deep, and is understood AND adored by children, teens, and adults alike. Maybe that isn't a fair comparison, but I really like books that have multiple target audiences and are appropriate for those groups. (For contemporary YA books, The Scorpio Races and The False Prince are two very different books that fulfill that criterion.)
I also don't actually see Alex changing. He is a very two-dimensional character for me; he sometimes is [sort of] tempted to stray off of the right and moral path, but he easily conquers such temptations because he is a god. Or not. The closest he gets to real temptation is through the villains' spells, BUT because he is a true wizard (remember?) he can throw such spells off easily. But really, he doesn't actually have any real internal struggles, and he destroys everything in his path with no effort whatsoever. The worst that happens to him is that he gets really tired and has to take a nap for three days. Two of his acquaintances are violently killed and he emerges without a single scratch. Just exhaustion. Plus, we can't even empathize with his acquaintances because they had no real role. I don't remember their names, any hint of an actual appearance, what they did, why/how they died...because I didn't care.
The main problem with this series is that it often seems to openly plagiarize The Lord of the Rings series. We have seen the LOTR pattern since the beginning, ever since Alex faced off a troll and turned it to stone by exposing it to sunlight (refer to "The Hobbit"). He found a ring. He has been traveling with a band of adventurers--the Fellowship--, and in the first book, he fought a dragon with the elvish-made sword Moonslayer (Sting, the elvish-made sword) while protected with a true silver (mithril) vest. The second and third books were a little better. There was, of course, a continuation of the past ideas and motifs, but Forman expanded his ideas a little. There were more adventures without so much obvious dependence on J.R.R. Tolkien's inspiration.
But this...
First of all, it is NOT alright to have a chapter entitled "Many Meetings." If we're talking about plagiarism, don't chapter titles count, too? That is one of the most memorable chapter titles in the LOTR series (The Fellowship of the Ring, Part II, Chapter I). And who isn't familiar with the song from the Peter Jackson LOTR movies that has the same title? If you don't believe me, go to this link: . I'd bet that you know it.
And then we have the cameo that Alex makes for a certain young lady. Is it just me, or is that from Eragon? Remember, that series blatantly plagiarized from LOTR as well, so this is borrowing from a borrower...right? Correct me if I'm wrong.
But the worst one is that we finally figure out that the ring Alex has been carrying around truly is "The One Ring to Rule Them All," meant for the Returning King [of Nezza].
Oh, I can't wait to find out who Sauron is, since we've already met Saruman (Magnus).
There are some interesting premises in this series. I like the whole idea of adventurers, and the concepts are pretty unique--adventuring bags (oh, wait, that was in Fablehaven), wizardry, the Wall, and the Oracles. (Okay, so maybe not ENTIRELY unique.) And Alex is a paragon. He is, after all, a dragon, a dragon lord, a dragon slayer (are those compatible?), part-human/dwarf/elf (with a good dose of missing parent syndrome), a superhero wizard, a healer, an adventurer, a prophecy-fulfiller, a mini-Oracle/sage, a warrior, a raven-whisperer, a shadow-slayer, and a perfect person in every way. I like a good hero, but there is such a thing as going too far. Plus, whenever Alex goes to the wall (the border of death in this book), it is consistently described as difficult to go to because it is so compelling, but he never has any trouble with it. Instead, he saves lots of people from being pulled over the wall into the shadow of death. If someone is perfect already, where in the world can he go? There isn't even a shadow of potential for real character development. In this book, the character development is limited to discussions about Alex's identity as a wizard--meaning, he is a wizard and doesn't try to hide it at all. Don't get me wrong--I love the adventures Alex has, and everything really is very exciting and is frequently well-written enough to hook me, but the two-dimensionality of the protagonist is frustrating for me as a reader. Maybe I'm not the target age for this series, but I like books that can honestly appeal to multiple age levels. The Chronicles of Narnia, for example, is well written, is deep, and is understood AND adored by children, teens, and adults alike. Maybe that isn't a fair comparison, but I really like books that have multiple target audiences and are appropriate for those groups. (For contemporary YA books, The Scorpio Races and The False Prince are two very different books that fulfill that criterion.)
I also don't actually see Alex changing. He is a very two-dimensional character for me; he sometimes is [sort of] tempted to stray off of the right and moral path, but he easily conquers such temptations because he is a god. Or not. The closest he gets to real temptation is through the villains' spells, BUT because he is a true wizard (remember?) he can throw such spells off easily. But really, he doesn't actually have any real internal struggles, and he destroys everything in his path with no effort whatsoever. The worst that happens to him is that he gets really tired and has to take a nap for three days. Two of his acquaintances are violently killed and he emerges without a single scratch. Just exhaustion. Plus, we can't even empathize with his acquaintances because they had no real role. I don't remember their names, any hint of an actual appearance, what they did, why/how they died...because I didn't care.
The main problem with this series is that it often seems to openly plagiarize The Lord of the Rings series. We have seen the LOTR pattern since the beginning, ever since Alex faced off a troll and turned it to stone by exposing it to sunlight (refer to "The Hobbit"). He found a ring. He has been traveling with a band of adventurers--the Fellowship--, and in the first book, he fought a dragon with the elvish-made sword Moonslayer (Sting, the elvish-made sword) while protected with a true silver (mithril) vest. The second and third books were a little better. There was, of course, a continuation of the past ideas and motifs, but Forman expanded his ideas a little. There were more adventures without so much obvious dependence on J.R.R. Tolkien's inspiration.
But this...
First of all, it is NOT alright to have a chapter entitled "Many Meetings." If we're talking about plagiarism, don't chapter titles count, too? That is one of the most memorable chapter titles in the LOTR series (The Fellowship of the Ring, Part II, Chapter I). And who isn't familiar with the song from the Peter Jackson LOTR movies that has the same title? If you don't believe me, go to this link: . I'd bet that you know it.
And then we have the cameo that Alex makes for a certain young lady. Is it just me, or is that from Eragon? Remember, that series blatantly plagiarized from LOTR as well, so this is borrowing from a borrower...right? Correct me if I'm wrong.
But the worst one is that we finally figure out that the ring Alex has been carrying around truly is "The One Ring to Rule Them All," meant for the Returning King [of Nezza].
Oh, I can't wait to find out who Sauron is, since we've already met Saruman (Magnus).
May 16, 2019
Reading to my 11 & 9 year old boys and we are all loving this series!
October 4, 2013
SPOILER ALERT
This book was fantastic! It was about as amazing as the first book! I never would believe how important the ring turned out to be though, and it pleased me that Mr. Forman added an antagonist that could pose a big problem in the future. I have several questions which I will probably ask later on Forman's blog, however I will have to wait a month or two so most people will have time read the book.
I still don't like how powerful Alex is, it's really cool about his dragon form and how much his magic has come, but it feels like he can do anything and that there is no more walls that can come up against him. I hope that in the books to come, there will be a major struggle for Alex to face. However, this book did hit some of that and he did have his struggles here and there, I really like this one a lot better than the last two (don't get me wronged I love those books as well) because it was fast paced and events were happening all the time instead of two chapters of traveling on the road.
Very well done, I wish M.L. Forman the best of I luck in his 5th book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2022
I liked the outcome of the main story but not sure I like the character Alex has become. I liked when he was more part of and connected to a team. That happened peripherally in the story. There was more sad things in this story than I liked. I missed having an elf as a key character. I didn’t like the inner voice arguments. I LOVED the raven! This story, more than the others left too much undone. I will read the next book but hope that the story ends as I think I am getting a little tired of it, mainly because of some of the direction taken with Alex’s character.
October 22, 2017
I have enjoyed this series very much, as have many students I've recommended it to. I stopped after book 3, not bearing the thought of finishing book 4 with no book 5 in sight. Now that Forman has rallied from an extended illness and the series has completed, I'm eager to see it through. That said, this book is probably my least favorite in the series. The characters and action felt stilted and not animated in the least. Alex, in particular, who has always seemed too good to be true, just doesn't seem to have any flaws, making his hero's journey implausible. It seems he has nothing to overcome and too many talents and gifts to accomplish whatever challenges may come his way. He has no self-doubt, not a scion of ego, and no flaw of judgement. And he's never defeated or setback. The Sands of Nezza sets up the final wizarding battle of the series, the triumph of good over evil. The outcomes seems foregone, the only question being if the tension will feel real and satisfying.
January 4, 2015
3.5 stars
The Sands of Nezza was exactly what I was expecting. The writing has been consistently simplistic (but still carries the good voice throughout). Each chapter is exactly what it says it will be in the title, and each is a little like its own mini adventure. And Alex is just out of training, but even before now he could defeat anything.
These books are fun for other reasons. For my brother and I we try to guess which fantasy novels he is pulling tropes from (other than Tolkien). And I actually even enjoyed The Sands of Nezza more than the others because it was more original than the first three (my brother lovingly describes them as abridged versions of the Hobbit that are longer). The Adventures Wanted books can be fun, and are an easy read. I actually look forward to a fifth book because I have hopes we will see another more original storyline.
The Sands of Nezza was exactly what I was expecting. The writing has been consistently simplistic (but still carries the good voice throughout). Each chapter is exactly what it says it will be in the title, and each is a little like its own mini adventure. And Alex is just out of training, but even before now he could defeat anything.
These books are fun for other reasons. For my brother and I we try to guess which fantasy novels he is pulling tropes from (other than Tolkien). And I actually even enjoyed The Sands of Nezza more than the others because it was more original than the first three (my brother lovingly describes them as abridged versions of the Hobbit that are longer). The Adventures Wanted books can be fun, and are an easy read. I actually look forward to a fifth book because I have hopes we will see another more original storyline.
January 14, 2021
2.5 stars ~
Super cringe-y. No character growth. And little action. A lot of empty discussions and repeated conversations. 😶
Super cringe-y. No character growth. And little action. A lot of empty discussions and repeated conversations. 😶
September 17, 2022
I read the last three books in this series on a car trip and they are melding together so I'll try to keep this one to just this book.
Alex continues to be the most powerful and luckiest superhuman ever known throughout all existence. This one has a new twist I guess? And he learns about letting other people actually do the (little) that they can. Convenient solutions continue and no real surprises, but somehow still a fun world and idea.
Alex continues to be the most powerful and luckiest superhuman ever known throughout all existence. This one has a new twist I guess? And he learns about letting other people actually do the (little) that they can. Convenient solutions continue and no real surprises, but somehow still a fun world and idea.
July 12, 2020
Another fun story. More details could have made this tale epic - but, alas, most details and speeches were brushed over in exchange for speedy conclusions. Still enjoyable though!
January 23, 2019
My name is Rallian, and Alex Taylor does not fit any description I've ever learned about wizards, except for his immense power. I'd still be a prisoner of my uncle and his evil sorcerer if Alex hadn't chanced upon my cell while rescuing his friend. The different regions of Nezza have been fighting for years, and all-out war seems to be imminent. I'm rumored to be the true heir of Nezza, but I don't know if I want to declare my intentions. I'm just a boy, and I fear the rulers of the regions will reject me. However, my uncle must be stopped, and his sorcerer's evil magic is still enchanting the lands. Alex thinks there's something called the Brotherhood actually controlling the sorcerer, and its influence spreads beyond Nezza. Alex has proven to be a formidable force, and I'm thankful he's staying with me until I'm accepted as king.
You should at least read Slathbog's Gold before this book to get a sense of the background story. This one differs from the previous books in that Alex, the main character, isn't officially part of the group of adventurers. He is magically summoned by an imprisoned friend and is uncertain of what he'll find in Nezza. It's the first land in the series where wizards and magic are openly feared by most of the minor characters. In the previous books, I've enjoyed the camaraderie between adventurers, and that's lost a little bit this time. Even Alex feels the disconnect. However, he still displays his honor and loyalty, as he risks his life for his friends and the prince. The early books mentioned a possible underlying evil, but this one fully embraces the problem. The Brotherhood has come to the forefront and will be a conflict in this book's sequel. As the threats grow, Alex's magical powers are stretched to their limits. This wasn't always the case in the earlier books. Overall, I'm still enjoying the series, although I miss the dynamics of a group of adventurers working together on a quest. Alex is mostly flying solo right now.
You should at least read Slathbog's Gold before this book to get a sense of the background story. This one differs from the previous books in that Alex, the main character, isn't officially part of the group of adventurers. He is magically summoned by an imprisoned friend and is uncertain of what he'll find in Nezza. It's the first land in the series where wizards and magic are openly feared by most of the minor characters. In the previous books, I've enjoyed the camaraderie between adventurers, and that's lost a little bit this time. Even Alex feels the disconnect. However, he still displays his honor and loyalty, as he risks his life for his friends and the prince. The early books mentioned a possible underlying evil, but this one fully embraces the problem. The Brotherhood has come to the forefront and will be a conflict in this book's sequel. As the threats grow, Alex's magical powers are stretched to their limits. This wasn't always the case in the earlier books. Overall, I'm still enjoying the series, although I miss the dynamics of a group of adventurers working together on a quest. Alex is mostly flying solo right now.
March 20, 2014
I really liked this whole series, and this book is no exception. It is a wonderful addition to the series. I really like the whole idea of magic bags, and the author portrays how magic works. The author did an awesome job on this book, and the rest of the series.
One thing I have to admit, is that Alex (the main character) gets way to powerful. Like, too powerful. But, in the end, it sounds like their are a couple people out there who can match his power, and challenge it. Also, the prince is kind of annoying. At least he isn't in the end though.
Another thing I really liked about this series, is that honor is a pretty big deal, and I like how Alex is really humble. Even with all the power he has, and all the chances he has to make more money, he isn't greedy, and he isn't too prideful. It is also cool how Alex is willingly to sacrifice his life, or even his honor, to save his friends or do the right thing.
I would recommend this book, (if you haven't read the rest of the series, start at the first book obviously) to any age of any gender, as long as you love fantasy, dragons, quests, adventure, and everything else awesome. It is a really exciting and awesome book, and it is very fun to read.
One thing I have to admit, is that Alex (the main character) gets way to powerful. Like, too powerful. But, in the end, it sounds like their are a couple people out there who can match his power, and challenge it. Also, the prince is kind of annoying. At least he isn't in the end though.
Another thing I really liked about this series, is that honor is a pretty big deal, and I like how Alex is really humble. Even with all the power he has, and all the chances he has to make more money, he isn't greedy, and he isn't too prideful. It is also cool how Alex is willingly to sacrifice his life, or even his honor, to save his friends or do the right thing.
I would recommend this book, (if you haven't read the rest of the series, start at the first book obviously) to any age of any gender, as long as you love fantasy, dragons, quests, adventure, and everything else awesome. It is a really exciting and awesome book, and it is very fun to read.
December 26, 2013
2.5
I'm sorry, but I really have to say that this installment fell short of the mark. I know the author spent a great deal of time on this, and the editors and publisher required some significant revisions. It should have been awesome. I have no idea if the changes resulted in something better, or what the readers were delivered.
The book was a quick, easy read. Unfortunately, it lacked any twisting, turning, or interesting elements that would make it greater than ok. The story was highly predictable and eh. The main character turned from someone who was growing into his own to a real life living legend. The character development fell short.
I was totally bummed that the story didn't live up to my expectations. It felt like maybe because there was supposed to be learning points and discussion topics, it detracted from the flow and creation of a solid narrative. The fact it wasn't that great won't stop me from picking up the next book, or recommending the series. I can only hope the author gets back in his groove and avoids a second book like this in the series.
I'm sorry, but I really have to say that this installment fell short of the mark. I know the author spent a great deal of time on this, and the editors and publisher required some significant revisions. It should have been awesome. I have no idea if the changes resulted in something better, or what the readers were delivered.
The book was a quick, easy read. Unfortunately, it lacked any twisting, turning, or interesting elements that would make it greater than ok. The story was highly predictable and eh. The main character turned from someone who was growing into his own to a real life living legend. The character development fell short.
I was totally bummed that the story didn't live up to my expectations. It felt like maybe because there was supposed to be learning points and discussion topics, it detracted from the flow and creation of a solid narrative. The fact it wasn't that great won't stop me from picking up the next book, or recommending the series. I can only hope the author gets back in his groove and avoids a second book like this in the series.
May 23, 2016
I had a great joy in yet another reading by M.L.Forman. This new book completes what Alex needs in all the other books. These books are a great read to just read through at home. Reading this book has given me a new sense of adventure at that. But While meeting Rallian, Alex learns that Rallian is the true king of nezza and needs to be crowned so there can be peace in the land of the sand.(Forman 134) how do we know what's the difference between the truth and fiction, because in the book after Rallian told Alex that he was the true king he didn't believe him but after the trials they faced and pulled through he found not to be fiction. He was truthfully the king and a great one to bring peace to their lands. I would recommend this book and the rest of the series to readers who enjoy mystery and plot filled adventurous books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2018
I really like this series, but this one is not my favorite. I miss Alex being part of the quest. He goes to Nezza to save a friend and pretty much is on the outside of the group and on his own for a lot of the book. I keep waiting for him to meet some of his relatives, but still nothing in this book. A good read, just not as good as the last one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
May 9, 2013I can not wait its so close. This is my new favorite series after lord off the rings.
July 28, 2015
3.5 stars
Better story line then the first three.
Better story line then the first three.
June 3, 2017
The 4th book by M. L. Forman in his Adventurer's Wanted series, Alex is once more whisked away onto an adventure when a friend from his first adventure calls for his aid bringing him to the far off lands of Nezza.
NOTE: I read the audiobook version of this and a large part of my critique will cover the actual narrator of the book.
This book was an exciting addition to the series, and while overall a great story, there definitely parts that left me wanting for /less/ in this case. While it was continuing the build of brought through from book three (Albrek’s Tomb), it felt way to rushed. Something i think happens to authors once they have all but said their character is the 'chosen one'.
Though I will give it some leway as this is a children's book series, so pacing of the storyline tends to be different. A single quest can't take more than one book, et cetera.
Alex has already excelled in many ways, proven to be an ultra quick learner and sort of jack-of-all-tradesman. But his progression in the last book and this one was so fast it left me feeling queasy in some areas. But all around, not really far off from what I was expecting.
However, while certainly things that were disappointing in this book it was also completely different and a lot of things i really enjoyed:
This book was Alex's second real adventure on his own as a 'true wizard'. He was confident enough that he didn't rely on Whalen so heavily except when he just needed honest advice or just passing along information. It was nice to see Alex finally feel comfortable enough not to go on and on about how he had 'only just become a wizard', et cetera.
It also brought adventures to the large scale, larger than even Horn of Moran, in the lands of Nezza. Alex was doing something on his own as a friend and also as a wizard, that wasn't as a member of a group. But because he had been called to do something. It gave Alex, and the readers, a broader scope of the overarching plot of what is happening in the known-lands.
As far as the narrator for the audio version: R. C. Bray... Disappointing.
That is to say, Bray did a decent job and if you did not compare his work to the first three books you would have had a pretty dang good job. Except this is a continuous series, and when the first three books have the same narrator and is suddenly switched.. it does need to be taken into account.
The overall production quality lacked in this book, even if you don't count Bray's work compared to to E. B. Stevens. There were effects, like in the first three but they were by no means consistent from the first three let alone in this one book itself.
Bray felt like he was just... reading. Which, sounds silly when he is a narrator but very often his voice and tone didn't match what was going on. Alex sounded uncertain of himself nearly constantly even when he was clearly confident and sure of himself. His voices to differentiate between characters was lackluster and women's voices (while few) all sounded exactly the same (soft, timid, nasally).
I of course, hope they bring back Stevens, if they can. Bray just felt like he was reading flatly from the book with little interest as to what was actually happening. Emotions- if there- didn't match what was happening. Production quality clearly went down- as if it had an entirely new time all together with only post it notes of random things to reference.
But I would still recommend this book. It's an excellent, if mildly rushed, addition to the series and it has me excited to move on to the fifth book (The Axe of Sundering) slatted to come out later this year. I just hope that maybe Forman took a few steps back and decides to slow down and that Shadow Mountain either works on overall production or just brings back Stevens at the very least.
NOTE: I read the audiobook version of this and a large part of my critique will cover the actual narrator of the book.
This book was an exciting addition to the series, and while overall a great story, there definitely parts that left me wanting for /less/ in this case. While it was continuing the build of brought through from book three (Albrek’s Tomb), it felt way to rushed. Something i think happens to authors once they have all but said their character is the 'chosen one'.
Though I will give it some leway as this is a children's book series, so pacing of the storyline tends to be different. A single quest can't take more than one book, et cetera.
Alex has already excelled in many ways, proven to be an ultra quick learner and sort of jack-of-all-tradesman. But his progression in the last book and this one was so fast it left me feeling queasy in some areas. But all around, not really far off from what I was expecting.
However, while certainly things that were disappointing in this book it was also completely different and a lot of things i really enjoyed:
This book was Alex's second real adventure on his own as a 'true wizard'. He was confident enough that he didn't rely on Whalen so heavily except when he just needed honest advice or just passing along information. It was nice to see Alex finally feel comfortable enough not to go on and on about how he had 'only just become a wizard', et cetera.
It also brought adventures to the large scale, larger than even Horn of Moran, in the lands of Nezza. Alex was doing something on his own as a friend and also as a wizard, that wasn't as a member of a group. But because he had been called to do something. It gave Alex, and the readers, a broader scope of the overarching plot of what is happening in the known-lands.
As far as the narrator for the audio version: R. C. Bray... Disappointing.
That is to say, Bray did a decent job and if you did not compare his work to the first three books you would have had a pretty dang good job. Except this is a continuous series, and when the first three books have the same narrator and is suddenly switched.. it does need to be taken into account.
The overall production quality lacked in this book, even if you don't count Bray's work compared to to E. B. Stevens. There were effects, like in the first three but they were by no means consistent from the first three let alone in this one book itself.
Bray felt like he was just... reading. Which, sounds silly when he is a narrator but very often his voice and tone didn't match what was going on. Alex sounded uncertain of himself nearly constantly even when he was clearly confident and sure of himself. His voices to differentiate between characters was lackluster and women's voices (while few) all sounded exactly the same (soft, timid, nasally).
I of course, hope they bring back Stevens, if they can. Bray just felt like he was reading flatly from the book with little interest as to what was actually happening. Emotions- if there- didn't match what was happening. Production quality clearly went down- as if it had an entirely new time all together with only post it notes of random things to reference.
But I would still recommend this book. It's an excellent, if mildly rushed, addition to the series and it has me excited to move on to the fifth book (The Axe of Sundering) slatted to come out later this year. I just hope that maybe Forman took a few steps back and decides to slow down and that Shadow Mountain either works on overall production or just brings back Stevens at the very least.
April 12, 2020
I must say, as the books continue to progress, they get better and better. I am slowly getting wrapped up, always excited for more. The story is beginning to take its own shape, forming a more unique and original plot. Although at some points the penmanship is lacking, there are, of course, the excellently written parts. Personally, one of my favorite parts is where Alex flies into the city of Ossbo, to heal and restore order. As he is healing the people, M. L. Forman prefects the mood, enhancing the readers vision in the story. Brilliantly written! Another of my favorite things about M. L. Forman's writing is the complexity in Alex's personality that Forman is able to ingeniously express. Alex's desire for his dragon form and his human form. At the beginning of the series, I did not like Alex. I thought he was too good, too perfect. A goody-two-shoes, a common flaw in middle-age writing. However, as the series progressed and I was able to see more of Alex, his human flaws came into the light, in turn making his personality all the more appealing. He messes up as the rest of the characters in the story, yet is humble enough to admit it. Another thing middle-age authors often do is to make the main character have an amazingly endless supply of powers (of course, the book would struggle to be as exciting if the main character was a useless hobo with no powers or anything special). Alex has amazing and astounding powers, yet has his limits and is able to humbly help others grow in their own powers. I think specifically to this book (again in the city of Ossbo) where he encourages Roanna to grow, saying even she could be a greater healer than he. This trait of Alex is one of my favorite traits of his. He may have amazing (super cool, might I add) powers and abilities, yet is always looking to help and support others in their powers. This super humble personality usually ticks me off because nobody is truly like that, but for some reason, Alex is growing to be one of my favorite characters over all fantasy novels. I think I can point this to Forman's authoring style. He shows Alex's internal fights with his own pride, giving his more than just a 2D face. His personality is incredibly complex, layers upon layers of pride and conscience and justice. I guess that was a long shabbeelll.... but i highly recommend it. :D
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October 7, 2022I liked the book a lot it's one of my favorites.Why i liked it was because it could keep me entertained through the whole book. it also,has a good plot and it kept me on the edge of my seat, and was wondering what was going to happen next.I would definitely recommend this book to a friend because. I think they would enjoy it very much just like how I enjoyed it.
**Spoilers**
Summary
Alex had a friend that was in trouble in the city of karmus,so he changed shape into a bird and went to mr.clutter to find information on his friend but mr.clutter could not help that much so he said to go and find savage and old adventurer.so alex did just that, and went to go find savage but when he found him there was a golem that was attacking them when they defeated the golems alex went to karmus and rescued his friend along with his company by putting them in his magic bag.then he found prince rallin that was imprisoned he and the others then started traveling to an oracle to see where there travels lead them but before they could do that they had to break the magic on the river to get it flowing again also there was an evil snake that tried to take rallin.but alex killed it then they went to the orical when they got there they were greeted with open arms and they got told what they needed to hear like what they could become and things like that.They then went traveling to the kingdom of talos and befriended the king they then got rallin to be king.they then are about to go to war but the camp got attacked shadow soldiers and they took the king rallin alex and a group of people serving rallin but the enemy escaped.
**Spoilers**
Summary
Alex had a friend that was in trouble in the city of karmus,so he changed shape into a bird and went to mr.clutter to find information on his friend but mr.clutter could not help that much so he said to go and find savage and old adventurer.so alex did just that, and went to go find savage but when he found him there was a golem that was attacking them when they defeated the golems alex went to karmus and rescued his friend along with his company by putting them in his magic bag.then he found prince rallin that was imprisoned he and the others then started traveling to an oracle to see where there travels lead them but before they could do that they had to break the magic on the river to get it flowing again also there was an evil snake that tried to take rallin.but alex killed it then they went to the orical when they got there they were greeted with open arms and they got told what they needed to hear like what they could become and things like that.They then went traveling to the kingdom of talos and befriended the king they then got rallin to be king.they then are about to go to war but the camp got attacked shadow soldiers and they took the king rallin alex and a group of people serving rallin but the enemy escaped.
November 29, 2019
This book is full of action, lots of magic, a slight romance, and a good amount of mystery. It’s well written, the character development is very good, and it is an excellent addition to this fun series. The main character is Alexander Taylor, a wizard that we meet in the first book and his timeline and growth as a character kept me interested throughout the book. Once in Nezza, Alex meets a new band of adventurers and joins them in their quest to find young Prince Rallian the man destined to become the rightful king of Nezza. In their path lies a deadly sand monster, a wise oracle, a massive army of illusions, and a bunch of lords and leaders ready to fight for and against the king of their land. However, a dark shadow threatens Alex’s every step and Alex will learn to overcome and grow to the increasing number of threats that oppose him.
This book kept me interested and it's a really easy read that doesn't take long at all. Although the almost 400 pages may seem daunting, it still was a quick and easy read. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes fiction adventure books and any sorts of wizardry.
This book kept me interested and it's a really easy read that doesn't take long at all. Although the almost 400 pages may seem daunting, it still was a quick and easy read. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes fiction adventure books and any sorts of wizardry.
November 11, 2016
Alex is at his new house when he gets a message that his friend is in danger and he needs to get there as fast as he can. when he gets there his friends have been captured and he has to free them. While freeing his friends he frees the true king of Nezza, who had been missing for a long time. War starts because nobody knows who the king is until the true king gets the ring, then ge gets the ring and everything is good.
Orcal-i think it is a person who knows a lot.
Weir lights- Lights that obey your command until you forget about them
Conjured- to make something
The theme of this book can be a whole lot of things. As humans we tend to do things without thinking. In the book alex does that a lot but in the end gains control. We can gain control by thinking before acting.
My opinion of the book is that it was a good book. i liked how alex had to go through many challenges and he succeeded at all of them. i also liked how he can change his form. The book was just overall good
Orcal-i think it is a person who knows a lot.
Weir lights- Lights that obey your command until you forget about them
Conjured- to make something
The theme of this book can be a whole lot of things. As humans we tend to do things without thinking. In the book alex does that a lot but in the end gains control. We can gain control by thinking before acting.
My opinion of the book is that it was a good book. i liked how alex had to go through many challenges and he succeeded at all of them. i also liked how he can change his form. The book was just overall good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2018
In my opinion, this is one of the best if not the best book in the adventurers wanted series. The only reason I have not said it is the best book is because I have not read book five but even so it is still a very good book to read.It is full of action and mystery like when Alex is trying to fight off the huge sand snake and as a result he has his friend killed. I think that M.L. Forman did a great job narrating this book and I really like how he detailed this book so much that I can literally see it and hear it in my head. If I could compare this to any other book it would be Harry Potter because both of these authors did an amazing job detailing their books and they did a very good job making the books more like movies. I would recommend this book to everyone that is interested in mystical creatures, magic fights, and in the medieval times. This book really was a page turner and it was hard for me to ever put down. This book was great and I would recommend it to anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2019
The book was great. I love the plot and new story that it offered and created. It created a new story while still adding to the previous books. The book starts out in Alusia where the main character lives. He then gets a note about his friend in danger. He sets out to the land of Nezza and solves a mystery of an evil advisor and foolish king. He finds the missing prince and sets out to right the royal situation. The story plays out with war with many twists and turns. It has so many examples of creativity, plot twists, and adventure. I love how this book really relates to the world because some people in the world are forced to see things with a certain view from the government or dictators in their society. The book shows this because the king forces the people to think that all magic is bad. It also showed how foolish those in charge can be and how much faith we put in leaders who may not know what’s right. I very much enjoyed this sequel and I think that the author did amazing continuing this amazing series, and I can’t wait to read the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2017
The least enjoyable Adventurers Wanted book so far, and it is still excellent. Alex suffers from the same struggles here as in three, he is too powerful. Forman at least appears to recognize this character defect and has Alex struggle with being isolated. That isolation is critical to the character remaining at all enjoyable to the reader, but also forces an issue weak development in secondary characters. Which weakens the story. Still the writing is paced well. Considering this was finished after one in the morning, perhaps the story compels one to stay up past their bedtime. Again, besides the blatant witchcraft and wizardry, nothing in the story should be offensive to those capable of reading the story.
April 26, 2018
Forman takes things in a different direction here in terms of setting: the desert! That plus some interesting-but-almost-cheating dampening on Alex's amazing magical abilities make the story a bit different. While it's usually a cheat to give a character huge powers in one book and then nerf them in a later one because they're inconvenient, the author is okay here because Alex can still use his powers and is facing a wizard enemy he does score successes against. So his powers aren't fully nerfed, just restricted in an interesting way.
The oracle in this story is more unusual and fun to read than previous ones, especially if you include the crow, who was one of my favorite characters in the whole book :) The fulfillment of prophecy was fun too.
The oracle in this story is more unusual and fun to read than previous ones, especially if you include the crow, who was one of my favorite characters in the whole book :) The fulfillment of prophecy was fun too.
March 4, 2019
I thought this was an amazing storytelling of one of the most harrowing journeys in the adventures of Alexander Taylor. I have read the previous books in the series, and this one amps up the action, mystery, and suspense of all the others. This book manages to connect many precious characters and plot lines, while at the same time managing to incorporate an entirely original story as well. It was very enjoyable to read, as there was plenty of everything for me to read about. From action and dangerous battles, to suspenseful meetings and tense moments, Mr. Forman truly has outdone himself with this addition. I highly recommend this book to fellow readers of this series, action/adventure fanatics, and, of course, anyone looking for a good read.
August 15, 2017
Alex, as always, is perhaps too strong and too good to be true. If I can complain about anything with this series I can complain about that. While Alex being so strong does make for good story telling I appreciate characters who have flaws and heroes who don't always win their battles. Everything seems to come easily to our young hero.
But that is really the tone of Adventurers Wanted. The books are happy tales where our hero faces great adversity, but always magically overcomes overwhelming odds.
I look forward to the fifth book if only to see how the series will wrap up.
But that is really the tone of Adventurers Wanted. The books are happy tales where our hero faces great adversity, but always magically overcomes overwhelming odds.
I look forward to the fifth book if only to see how the series will wrap up.
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