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Fuel to the Fire #2
Ruler's Desire
Davran returns to her place of birth in this sequel to 'Fuel to the Fire' to find her father leading the beginnings of a revolution. She is determined to join the attempt to overthrow the tyrannical ruler Saurian, even if it means dying for the cause. First they must recruit more people; convince them that dying while fighting for life is not suicide. But after spending her entire fifteen years disguised as a boy, she is even more determined to do so as a woman. Prophesy, it seems, has given her little choice in the matter.
- GenresFantasy
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
5 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
David Staniforth
8Ìýbooks222ÌýfollowersI’ve been inventing stories as far back as I can remember (mostly to keep me out of trouble), but began writing seriously after finishing an English studies BA as a mature student. My writing is influenced by so many things: a love of reading all genres; films; music; raising my two daughters; hill walking; and much, much more. I tend to take all I know, throw it into a setting and see what comes out.
My first four books were all fantasy, but then a new story entered my mind that insisted on being a psychological thriller. Just like raising children, a story insists on being what it was always meant to be: Characters will behave as they want, and plots will demand to go in a certain direction. All I do as an author is transfer their antics into writing and then release them into the world to see what readers make of them.
I have more fantasy tales to tell and more thrillers too. I can’t promise all readers that they will like my stories, but I can promise one thing: I will never publish anything that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed myself.
My first four books were all fantasy, but then a new story entered my mind that insisted on being a psychological thriller. Just like raising children, a story insists on being what it was always meant to be: Characters will behave as they want, and plots will demand to go in a certain direction. All I do as an author is transfer their antics into writing and then release them into the world to see what readers make of them.
I have more fantasy tales to tell and more thrillers too. I can’t promise all readers that they will like my stories, but I can promise one thing: I will never publish anything that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed myself.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 20, 2014
Just knowing that out there, in some distant unreachable place, there was somebody who cared about her; that would have been enough to sustain her.
"You became a symbol of hope. Without meaning to, you've brought all these people together."
In Ruler's Desire, the second installment in the Fuel to the Fire trilogy, Davran and Ronyn return to Davran's world to try and beat back the darkness that is plaguing the land due to Saurian's influence and in turn fulfill the ancient prophecy. Davran must leave the wondrous, beautiful, and safe realm that Ronyn is from to return to her world of darkness and shadows. But she is not the same scared young girl she was when she left. She is stronger now, more confident in herself and what she believes in. Dangers abound and intensity flares as the young couple receive help from Davran's parents and the other villagers and move towards overthrowing Saurian.
Wow. As much as I loved the first book in this series I am surprised to admit that I loved this one even more. There are so many things to love about this book, I almost don't know where to start! Okay, one of my favorite things I want to talk about is the story itself. Fantasy is a genre that is known for its unique storylines but this one really blows a lot of others out of the park. I love the idea of the two worlds; one light and one dark and that they have to have a balance between them. One of my favorite things about David Staniforth's writing style (which I discovered in Alloria) is the highly descriptive way in which he writes. It is perfect in this sort of story because I could see so vividly the various aspects of both Davran's and Ronyn's worlds and it was almost like I was experiencing everything right alongside of Davran. I love when a fantasy story does that!
The other aspect which I absolutely loved was the character development, particularly with Davran. In the first book she was unsure, timid, and full of fear most of the time. Which was understandable of course because of the world in which she grew up. I can't even imagine how hard that must have been, living in constant fear and having to disguise who you really are all the time. But after traveling to Ronyn's world, experiencing the kindness and generosity of him and his family and seeing rainbows for the first time, she is filled with something other than fear. Hope. Hope that the world can be a better place. Hope that the evil reign of Saurian will end and that the people of her world can finally be free. Hope that she can live the way she wants to live with the people she loves. And she is fueled by the passion and desire to grow and be even stronger as a person. I look forward to seeing her character develop even more as the series progresses even further!
And holy crap what a twist near the end! I was blown away by the complexity of it and how it tied SO MANY things together! I won't give it away because I want you to experience it for yourself but just be prepared for your mind to explode with awesomeness!
I love this series so much and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys unique, well written fantasy stories with highly developed characters.
"You became a symbol of hope. Without meaning to, you've brought all these people together."
In Ruler's Desire, the second installment in the Fuel to the Fire trilogy, Davran and Ronyn return to Davran's world to try and beat back the darkness that is plaguing the land due to Saurian's influence and in turn fulfill the ancient prophecy. Davran must leave the wondrous, beautiful, and safe realm that Ronyn is from to return to her world of darkness and shadows. But she is not the same scared young girl she was when she left. She is stronger now, more confident in herself and what she believes in. Dangers abound and intensity flares as the young couple receive help from Davran's parents and the other villagers and move towards overthrowing Saurian.
Wow. As much as I loved the first book in this series I am surprised to admit that I loved this one even more. There are so many things to love about this book, I almost don't know where to start! Okay, one of my favorite things I want to talk about is the story itself. Fantasy is a genre that is known for its unique storylines but this one really blows a lot of others out of the park. I love the idea of the two worlds; one light and one dark and that they have to have a balance between them. One of my favorite things about David Staniforth's writing style (which I discovered in Alloria) is the highly descriptive way in which he writes. It is perfect in this sort of story because I could see so vividly the various aspects of both Davran's and Ronyn's worlds and it was almost like I was experiencing everything right alongside of Davran. I love when a fantasy story does that!
The other aspect which I absolutely loved was the character development, particularly with Davran. In the first book she was unsure, timid, and full of fear most of the time. Which was understandable of course because of the world in which she grew up. I can't even imagine how hard that must have been, living in constant fear and having to disguise who you really are all the time. But after traveling to Ronyn's world, experiencing the kindness and generosity of him and his family and seeing rainbows for the first time, she is filled with something other than fear. Hope. Hope that the world can be a better place. Hope that the evil reign of Saurian will end and that the people of her world can finally be free. Hope that she can live the way she wants to live with the people she loves. And she is fueled by the passion and desire to grow and be even stronger as a person. I look forward to seeing her character develop even more as the series progresses even further!
And holy crap what a twist near the end! I was blown away by the complexity of it and how it tied SO MANY things together! I won't give it away because I want you to experience it for yourself but just be prepared for your mind to explode with awesomeness!
I love this series so much and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys unique, well written fantasy stories with highly developed characters.
August 18, 2013
'Don't you get it yet: evil can only survive in a world where people allow it to. Nobody has to die for hatred to stop, they simply have to stop hating.'
My Thoughts
I read this more or less straight after the first in the series; I just couldn't wait to see what would become of Ronyn and Davran when they set off back to Davran's world. This book hooked me just as much as the first one, maybe even more so, since I was already connected with Davran and was eager to find out what happens to her.
What she encounters on her return home was heartwarming; citizens that previously kept to themselves and didn't trust one and other were coming together in the search for Davran, the cause bringing them closer and allowing them to trust again. I loved this aspect of the story. In the first book, people were too terrified to even talk to each other, fearful of Saurian's spies, and life was desolate and miserable. The search for Davran brought new hope to their lives, they built new friendships and learned to trust each other. This was essential to try and overthrow Saurian.
Davran really grows as a character in this book. We already got a sense of how brave she is in the first book, but she really matures in this one, putting her own life on the line in order to save others. She realises how important her role in the prophecy is, and takes on the responsibility with no thoughts of herself. Her relationship with Ronyn continues to grow in this book. Although they don't seem to spend a lot of time together, they are determined to save each other, even if it costs them their lives.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The cliffhanger at the end is keeping me gripped on this series, and I hope the next one comes out soon so I can stop wondering what happens!
The Author
A huge thank you to David Staniforth for yet another free copy of one of his books. I love David's writing style; I can imagine the worlds he creates due to his brilliant descriptions, and I always find myself immersed in them. I highly recommend this series, as well as David's other fantasy series, 'Alloria.'
My Thoughts
I read this more or less straight after the first in the series; I just couldn't wait to see what would become of Ronyn and Davran when they set off back to Davran's world. This book hooked me just as much as the first one, maybe even more so, since I was already connected with Davran and was eager to find out what happens to her.
What she encounters on her return home was heartwarming; citizens that previously kept to themselves and didn't trust one and other were coming together in the search for Davran, the cause bringing them closer and allowing them to trust again. I loved this aspect of the story. In the first book, people were too terrified to even talk to each other, fearful of Saurian's spies, and life was desolate and miserable. The search for Davran brought new hope to their lives, they built new friendships and learned to trust each other. This was essential to try and overthrow Saurian.
Davran really grows as a character in this book. We already got a sense of how brave she is in the first book, but she really matures in this one, putting her own life on the line in order to save others. She realises how important her role in the prophecy is, and takes on the responsibility with no thoughts of herself. Her relationship with Ronyn continues to grow in this book. Although they don't seem to spend a lot of time together, they are determined to save each other, even if it costs them their lives.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The cliffhanger at the end is keeping me gripped on this series, and I hope the next one comes out soon so I can stop wondering what happens!
The Author
A huge thank you to David Staniforth for yet another free copy of one of his books. I love David's writing style; I can imagine the worlds he creates due to his brilliant descriptions, and I always find myself immersed in them. I highly recommend this series, as well as David's other fantasy series, 'Alloria.'
March 13, 2015
I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Davran, Khalil, and Ronyn have returned back to the dark side of the boundary to fulfill the ancient prophecy that was told to them by the Keeper Hesperus. Their plans get derailed when they are all captured by Saurian. Can they escape his ruling desire before it is too late? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a great installment of the fuel to the fire series. It was action-packed and a great fantasy read. If you love fantasy, action, and dragons, then this book is for you. I look forward to reading the final book of this trilogy in the future. Look for this book on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
Davran, Khalil, and Ronyn have returned back to the dark side of the boundary to fulfill the ancient prophecy that was told to them by the Keeper Hesperus. Their plans get derailed when they are all captured by Saurian. Can they escape his ruling desire before it is too late? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a great installment of the fuel to the fire series. It was action-packed and a great fantasy read. If you love fantasy, action, and dragons, then this book is for you. I look forward to reading the final book of this trilogy in the future. Look for this book on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
May 21, 2017
Well this book is worth more than 5 stars. loved it could not stop reading it. And the last chapter was very very good , brings every thing together but sad too. Time for Elemental Cascade 😀
January 13, 2015
3.5 stars!
WOW, THAT ENDING! I CAN'T EVEN...!
After reading Fuel to the Fire I thought I had this series all figured out. After finishing the first book, I delved instantly into this one, eager to find out what would happen to Davran and Ronyn as they rode on the back of a dragon back to her world.
What I liked about this installment is that we get to experience more of Davran's world, the people inhabiting it and get into the mindset of their tyrannical leader, Saurian. This book is all about transformation. I enjoyed watching the people of Davran's world begin to hope for the first time, Davran's relationship with Ronyn begins to mature and the character development that takes place within Davran is phenomenal.
Davran and her people are in danger. By daring to oppose their ruler they are signing a death warrant and the odds are stacked firmly against them. The beautiful prose captures the haunting tone of her world whilst retaining it's optimism in the form of those who fight to keep it alive. You can't help but wonder how the story will play out and if they will succeed in averting the imminent disaster. My nails were abused frequently from the suspense!
One thing that never ceases to bother me is when I can see a plot twist coming from a mile off. But I'll say this for David Staniforth, I never saw any of his plot twists coming. Despite the awesome plot, for some reason I enjoyed Ruler's Desire a teensy bit less than the previous book. Perhaps because the antagonist, Saurian had so much screentime, fuelling my intense dislike of him for most of the novel. But I guess that just means he's a great villain!
The second novel in this series is intense and filled with desperation. The very world they know could come to an end and Davran may be the only one who can stop it. I loved learning more about Saurian (despite my dislike of him) and certain characters' histories and I struggled to put this down as the story progressed. The end was very satisfying and I cannot wait to begin the third and final novel in the trilogy, Elemental Cascade.
This book was recieved in exchange for an honest review.
WOW, THAT ENDING! I CAN'T EVEN...!
After reading Fuel to the Fire I thought I had this series all figured out. After finishing the first book, I delved instantly into this one, eager to find out what would happen to Davran and Ronyn as they rode on the back of a dragon back to her world.
What I liked about this installment is that we get to experience more of Davran's world, the people inhabiting it and get into the mindset of their tyrannical leader, Saurian. This book is all about transformation. I enjoyed watching the people of Davran's world begin to hope for the first time, Davran's relationship with Ronyn begins to mature and the character development that takes place within Davran is phenomenal.
Davran and her people are in danger. By daring to oppose their ruler they are signing a death warrant and the odds are stacked firmly against them. The beautiful prose captures the haunting tone of her world whilst retaining it's optimism in the form of those who fight to keep it alive. You can't help but wonder how the story will play out and if they will succeed in averting the imminent disaster. My nails were abused frequently from the suspense!
One thing that never ceases to bother me is when I can see a plot twist coming from a mile off. But I'll say this for David Staniforth, I never saw any of his plot twists coming. Despite the awesome plot, for some reason I enjoyed Ruler's Desire a teensy bit less than the previous book. Perhaps because the antagonist, Saurian had so much screentime, fuelling my intense dislike of him for most of the novel. But I guess that just means he's a great villain!
The second novel in this series is intense and filled with desperation. The very world they know could come to an end and Davran may be the only one who can stop it. I loved learning more about Saurian (despite my dislike of him) and certain characters' histories and I struggled to put this down as the story progressed. The end was very satisfying and I cannot wait to begin the third and final novel in the trilogy, Elemental Cascade.
This book was recieved in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2013
We are once again in the twin worlds we entered in Fuel to the Fire and the barrier between them is weakening, potentially allowing evil to swamp and totally overwhelm good. Davran, the girl brought up disguised as a boy, is pivotal in fulfilling an old prophecy. She returns to her ‘dark� world with Ronyn, her dragon trainer friend, to her family who thought she was dead. She needs to persuade the downtrodden people that hatred is fuelling the Ruler Saurian’s power, and they must refuse to hate. Unfortunately, Saurian manipulates them and tries to persuade Davran to fall in love with him and rule with him. The story builds to a great climax and there are enough dangling threads to ensure that David Staniforth will be able to continue this tale into at least another book.
The writing contains some clever and powerful imagery, lovely descriptions and a thoughtful take on love, hatred, power and manipulation in ruling and swaying a people. I was particularly taken by the concept of The Unfortunates, those who are not truly, peacefully dead, because they took their own lives. There is much debate about whether fighting justly in a hopeless cause is actually suicide. You can’t win, but you haven’t despaired. Saurian uses the fear of becoming an Unfortunate as a tool to oppress the people; to prevent their rebellion. I have really enjoyed both these books in the Fuel to the Fire series. I would heartily recommend them to anyone who enjoys thoughtful and beautifully written fantasy tales.
The writing contains some clever and powerful imagery, lovely descriptions and a thoughtful take on love, hatred, power and manipulation in ruling and swaying a people. I was particularly taken by the concept of The Unfortunates, those who are not truly, peacefully dead, because they took their own lives. There is much debate about whether fighting justly in a hopeless cause is actually suicide. You can’t win, but you haven’t despaired. Saurian uses the fear of becoming an Unfortunate as a tool to oppress the people; to prevent their rebellion. I have really enjoyed both these books in the Fuel to the Fire series. I would heartily recommend them to anyone who enjoys thoughtful and beautifully written fantasy tales.
August 5, 2013
The second book of the ‘Fuel to the Fire� series by David Staniforth � Rulers Desire.
I loved the imagination of book 1 and there was always a part of me that worried I wouldn’t like the second book as much. Well, I needn’t have worried as I actually loved it even more.
The story continues with Davran and Ronyn (the dragon tamer) arriving back into the dark world. Faced with her parents who thought her dead, and a whole host of people who had been searching for her persistently the last 6 months, Davran must persuade them all that hope is still alive. That they must reach for the rainbows.
Davran is now faced with Saurian, the evil ruler of the Dark Kingdom, and his unrelenting desire that Davran must fall in love with him and be his bride.
There are twists, plots and things that will make you shudder. A great second instalment!!
I loved the imagination of book 1 and there was always a part of me that worried I wouldn’t like the second book as much. Well, I needn’t have worried as I actually loved it even more.
The story continues with Davran and Ronyn (the dragon tamer) arriving back into the dark world. Faced with her parents who thought her dead, and a whole host of people who had been searching for her persistently the last 6 months, Davran must persuade them all that hope is still alive. That they must reach for the rainbows.
Davran is now faced with Saurian, the evil ruler of the Dark Kingdom, and his unrelenting desire that Davran must fall in love with him and be his bride.
There are twists, plots and things that will make you shudder. A great second instalment!!
March 21, 2017
Ruler's Desire Book 2 Fuel to the fire
This was the second book in this series and even though I read this and the first one as well I know that this series is one that many will find liked by all in the fantasy world. Who or what is the RULER'S DESIRE and what does or is this FUEL TO THE FIRE pertaining to...these are just a few questions that you will want to search answers for on your journey through this magical world...good luck and happy hunting
This was the second book in this series and even though I read this and the first one as well I know that this series is one that many will find liked by all in the fantasy world. Who or what is the RULER'S DESIRE and what does or is this FUEL TO THE FIRE pertaining to...these are just a few questions that you will want to search answers for on your journey through this magical world...good luck and happy hunting
August 30, 2017
The second book in this series is much darker than the first book. Lots of cruelty & pain and many deaths which became somewhat irritating & unpleasant. However this part ends with new problems to solve and everything to play for. Roll on book 3!
October 16, 2016
This is a wonderful follow on from the first book in the series ‘Fuel to the Fire�. David Staniforth certainly knows how to capture your attention with his incredibly captivating stories. I love his imagination in coming up with so many great characters, and a very unique storyline with a world being split into two. Davran returns to her world, but this time she is not alone. She has come back riding Basalt the black dragon, along with Ronyn and Khalil. They no sooner send the dragon away then the Razor Hounds make their presence felt, and there sounds like a lot of them. So they head towards the Unfortunates, believing that would be a much better alternative. They may well be the spirits of the dead, but they still manage to grab hold of Ronyn and inflict pain on him. Somehow the Unfortunates listen to Davran when she yells at them to stop. It wouldn’t be good living in a world where it doesn’t rain, there’s no trees or grass, and there are things that want to constantly kill you. To top it all off, there is an evil man in charge that likes to inflict pain and suffering. Davran’s parents Samaq and Varna are surprised to see her return, as they thought she had died in the caves. She explains to them that Hesperus the Keeper, revealed to her that she must return to fore fill the prophecy. It makes sense to everyone when Khalil explains why the two worlds are both good on one and evil on the other. The Wizards thought that evil was going to take over the whole world, so they divided the worlds in two with a boundary between them. They are worried that there could be a balance shift and the worlds will merge again. If the boundary between the two worlds collapses and Saurian takes charge, then he could turn the whole thing into darkness where evil would rule. Davran and Ronyn show a group of people what the other world is like, and to have that all they need to do is to gather up as many people as they can to defeat Saurian. Unfortunately, with the power he has, this is going to be a lot harder than they all thought. There is a part in this story that really took me by surprise (I won’t spoil it for other readers), but it really is a masterstroke by the Author. I enjoy those wow moments that you don’t always expect. Add David Staniforth’s books to your reading list, you won’t be disappointed.
March 17, 2014
Straight after finishing up Fuel to the Fire I couldn’t resist starting the second book to the trilogy, Ruler’s Desire.
The story takes place right after the first one ends and things have changed in Davran’s world, more importantly the people in her world have changed. Whilst Davran was gone the people banded together to find her and in such started to trust each other, something that is new to all of them.
Saurian has been rounding up pretty much every male that could work for his guards and that has led the new group of friends to send the men into hiding, but Saurian has eyes everywhere and although the men in hiding are trusted are all of them on the same page or are any of them willing to turn on either Davran or each other?
I think the people of this world really come to life when Davran shows all of those currently in hiding a piece of Ronyn’s world.
More than anything Davran grows as a character and when she shows herself to be female to the world everything changes for her and the story.
I think what I love about this particular book is all the details. Overall this story moves smoothly, makes sense and is brilliantly written. I found with this book I wanted to read more and more of it with every page. I struggled to put it down, and although I enjoyed the first I found the second to fly by.
My one real surprise in it wasn’t the few twists and turns they didn’t shock me what did surprise me was the size of Kalil, in the first book you get the idea he’s a small chap, maybe Tyrion Lannister size, but not can fit in a goblet or under a serving dish. The only previous clue to just how small he was said he could fit in Davran’s bag with no clue to the size of the bag. I had him in my mind as Tyrion’s sort of size and I struggled to get this new Kalil or even old Kalil size into my mind. But I love him, his determination to keep Davran on the path for the prophecy and true to herself is wonderful, his heart and love for Davran is as big as any normal sized person.
I really loved this book, better than the first one, a well deserved 5 stars, and I’m moving straight onto the final. I’m already dreading the end and not being a part of this world anymore.
The story takes place right after the first one ends and things have changed in Davran’s world, more importantly the people in her world have changed. Whilst Davran was gone the people banded together to find her and in such started to trust each other, something that is new to all of them.
Saurian has been rounding up pretty much every male that could work for his guards and that has led the new group of friends to send the men into hiding, but Saurian has eyes everywhere and although the men in hiding are trusted are all of them on the same page or are any of them willing to turn on either Davran or each other?
I think the people of this world really come to life when Davran shows all of those currently in hiding a piece of Ronyn’s world.
More than anything Davran grows as a character and when she shows herself to be female to the world everything changes for her and the story.
I think what I love about this particular book is all the details. Overall this story moves smoothly, makes sense and is brilliantly written. I found with this book I wanted to read more and more of it with every page. I struggled to put it down, and although I enjoyed the first I found the second to fly by.
My one real surprise in it wasn’t the few twists and turns they didn’t shock me what did surprise me was the size of Kalil, in the first book you get the idea he’s a small chap, maybe Tyrion Lannister size, but not can fit in a goblet or under a serving dish. The only previous clue to just how small he was said he could fit in Davran’s bag with no clue to the size of the bag. I had him in my mind as Tyrion’s sort of size and I struggled to get this new Kalil or even old Kalil size into my mind. But I love him, his determination to keep Davran on the path for the prophecy and true to herself is wonderful, his heart and love for Davran is as big as any normal sized person.
I really loved this book, better than the first one, a well deserved 5 stars, and I’m moving straight onto the final. I’m already dreading the end and not being a part of this world anymore.
August 23, 2017
I got a free copy of this book from Mr David M.Staniforth in exchange for an honest review.
Well, Thanks a lot Mr David :) I don't think i could have waited longer after finishing Fuel To the fire!
I enjoyed reading it very much!! I loved it when after reading the first book of a series, i find that the next one is even better! That's what i experienced with Ruler's desire!
For the beginning i felt that i turned another page of the book not reading a new one! I felt that i didn't leave Davran's world, it's an amazing feeling!
The first book was set in the world of light, in this one Davran returned to her world, the dark one! The contrast between them is overwhelming!
All the characters seems more mature, especially Davran,i loved her more in this sequel, she became wiser and tougher!
And then, halfway through the book a great twist changed everything!! I really didn't see it coming!! I stoped reading, went back few lines and thought that was really amazing!!
And that prophecy gave me a lot to think about, i kept building theories to try and understand it before it's revealed, but i couldn't!! I felt part of the story! That's kind of crazy!!!
But i loved the characters,i held my breath during the last few chapter, hoping that nothing catastrophic will happen to them!!
The end, though, took me completely by surprise!! I mean, some parts i expected them but
It's really a good book, i can't wait to find what will happen next!! Thanks again Mr David :)
Well, Thanks a lot Mr David :) I don't think i could have waited longer after finishing Fuel To the fire!
I enjoyed reading it very much!! I loved it when after reading the first book of a series, i find that the next one is even better! That's what i experienced with Ruler's desire!
For the beginning i felt that i turned another page of the book not reading a new one! I felt that i didn't leave Davran's world, it's an amazing feeling!
The first book was set in the world of light, in this one Davran returned to her world, the dark one! The contrast between them is overwhelming!
All the characters seems more mature, especially Davran,i loved her more in this sequel, she became wiser and tougher!
And then, halfway through the book a great twist changed everything!! I really didn't see it coming!! I stoped reading, went back few lines and thought that was really amazing!!
And that prophecy gave me a lot to think about, i kept building theories to try and understand it before it's revealed, but i couldn't!! I felt part of the story! That's kind of crazy!!!
But i loved the characters,i held my breath during the last few chapter, hoping that nothing catastrophic will happen to them!!
The end, though, took me completely by surprise!! I mean, some parts i expected them but
It's really a good book, i can't wait to find what will happen next!! Thanks again Mr David :)
March 9, 2013
I read Ruler’s Desire immediately after finishing Fuel To The Fire, the first book in this fantastic fantasy series. Unlike many second in the series books, Ruler’s Desire picked up the story from the exact moment Fuel To The Fire left off, meaning there was no uncomfortable jolt from one story to the next. In the last book we got to see how Davran copes in the light, bright, fertile world of Ronyn, which is completely alien to her. In this one the tables are turned as we get to see how well-fed Ronyn copes in a world of darkness and scarcity. The descriptive passages in this novel are even more vivid than in the first, my stomach rolled with Ronyn’s at the stench of squeal bug stew, I shuddered at the description of the terrifying witch, Grizzle and felt the all-encompassing fear that is both a friend and enemy to the people of Davran’s land.
What I loved most about this series is that nobody was absolutely good or absolutely evil, there were shades of grey in every character, which made them so very believable (as well as making the “bad guys� less predictable and therefore much more frightening). I still don’t fully know if I trust Hesperus or not, and I like him all the more for that. Even the traitorous Yusmuth has moment of indecision, and remorse.
Although this story ends with a “to be continued�, I didn’t feel robbed of an ending at all (although I am very much looking forward to reading book 3!). Again I would give this book four and a half stars and recommend it for readers over 15. If you have a friend that sees every situation in black and white and you’d like to introduce them to the idea of nuance, and of good and evil existing side by side, even in the same person, this is the perfect gift for them. A very enjoyable series.
What I loved most about this series is that nobody was absolutely good or absolutely evil, there were shades of grey in every character, which made them so very believable (as well as making the “bad guys� less predictable and therefore much more frightening). I still don’t fully know if I trust Hesperus or not, and I like him all the more for that. Even the traitorous Yusmuth has moment of indecision, and remorse.
Although this story ends with a “to be continued�, I didn’t feel robbed of an ending at all (although I am very much looking forward to reading book 3!). Again I would give this book four and a half stars and recommend it for readers over 15. If you have a friend that sees every situation in black and white and you’d like to introduce them to the idea of nuance, and of good and evil existing side by side, even in the same person, this is the perfect gift for them. A very enjoyable series.
October 26, 2013
Ruler's Desire start right of from where Fuel to the Fire ended. We see Davran arriving back to her side of the world with Ronyn and discovers not only her becoming a symbol of hope for the many people searching during her time of absence but also her true role in the prophesy.
This is definitely much more better than the first book and that's usually hard to find since most of the time the second book pales in comparison to its predecessor. It answered a lot things missing in the first book. It had many twists,better pacing and the characters are more fleshed out here especially Davran's parents.As a result, this had more of a grip on me than the first one.
In short, I am curious on what will happen next on the third after the ending. Hopefully we get to see Davran grow in the next book and what will they do after the events of the ending.
(This was sent to me by the author for a good ol' honest review)
This is definitely much more better than the first book and that's usually hard to find since most of the time the second book pales in comparison to its predecessor. It answered a lot things missing in the first book. It had many twists,better pacing and the characters are more fleshed out here especially Davran's parents.As a result, this had more of a grip on me than the first one.
In short, I am curious on what will happen next on the third after the ending. Hopefully we get to see Davran grow in the next book and what will they do after the events of the ending.
(This was sent to me by the author for a good ol' honest review)
April 13, 2013
So many fantasy series seem to start off well and then deteriorate rapidly - this is most certainly not the case with the Fuel To The Fire series! Following on from Fuel To The Fire, Ruler's Desire plunges straight back into the action without drawing a breath. I particularly enjoyed the characterisation, all the characters were well drawn and believable. The witch-like Grizzle merits special mention for nastiness. There are enough turns in the storyline to be interesting without becoming convoluted and an exciting finish - what more could you want?
January 19, 2015
Back to the brutal, and because of that, more interesting dark world which has some really despicable characters! Pressure is ramping up as the imbalance of the two worlds grows!
August 8, 2014
Originally posted at -
Wow, there is so much that I want to say about this book, it's difficult to know where to start! Just like Fuel to the Fire, this book was really well written, with believable and well rounded characters, but just... wow!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, even more so than the first! We really see Davran find herself in this book, which was lovely. Rather than accepting the prophecy as it is, she takes control of it (I wont spoil it, but there is one moment in particular that had me cheering her on). I also enjoyed the interactions she had with Ronyn in this book; one scene was particularly heart felt and beautifully written. It was great to see my favourite characters again, though I didn't realise when reading the first book just how small Khalil is! We were told of him fitting in Davran's bag, but he is so much smaller than I imagined!
The descriptions in Ruler's Desire were really well written, creating a vivid picture in my mind (sometimes too vivid!) which really brought the story to life. I felt like I was learning about everything right alongside Davran, which made me cheer her on and feel sorry for her. I was desperate to know what was going to happen next, and found it impossible to put the book down. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, I was proven wrong. The ending is proof of that! It really blew me away. Not only did I not see it coming, but it explained so much! It was very clever.
Wow, there is so much that I want to say about this book, it's difficult to know where to start! Just like Fuel to the Fire, this book was really well written, with believable and well rounded characters, but just... wow!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, even more so than the first! We really see Davran find herself in this book, which was lovely. Rather than accepting the prophecy as it is, she takes control of it (I wont spoil it, but there is one moment in particular that had me cheering her on). I also enjoyed the interactions she had with Ronyn in this book; one scene was particularly heart felt and beautifully written. It was great to see my favourite characters again, though I didn't realise when reading the first book just how small Khalil is! We were told of him fitting in Davran's bag, but he is so much smaller than I imagined!
The descriptions in Ruler's Desire were really well written, creating a vivid picture in my mind (sometimes too vivid!) which really brought the story to life. I felt like I was learning about everything right alongside Davran, which made me cheer her on and feel sorry for her. I was desperate to know what was going to happen next, and found it impossible to put the book down. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, I was proven wrong. The ending is proof of that! It really blew me away. Not only did I not see it coming, but it explained so much! It was very clever.
December 15, 2015
When I began Ruler's Desire, I had to wonder if there was anywhere to go and where the story could be improved from Fuel to the Fire, ur I'm quite happy to admit that I was wrong!
Ruler's Desire is a direct continuation of the story, and if you thought the tension in Fuel was exciting, you're in for a real treat. As Davran and Sauian move in ever decreasing circles towards one another, we can't help but worry about the conclusion of the story and wonder if it's going to be as satisfying as we want it to be. You won't be disappointed!
This is not your classic good verses evil story and you'll need to be prepared for a healthy dose of humanity along the way, but it will leave you wanting more. David Staniforth understands his characters and must know them back to front to be able to weave the threads of this intelligent and thought-provoking story together. If, like me, you want a story that leaves you yanking at your hair and biting your nails, then you've come to the right place. There are other works by this author and if they're anything like this series so far, i can't wait to get into them.
Lastly, I just want to congratulate Mr Staniforth on a thoroughly compelling read and look forward to reading further instalments in this universe.
Ruler's Desire is a direct continuation of the story, and if you thought the tension in Fuel was exciting, you're in for a real treat. As Davran and Sauian move in ever decreasing circles towards one another, we can't help but worry about the conclusion of the story and wonder if it's going to be as satisfying as we want it to be. You won't be disappointed!
This is not your classic good verses evil story and you'll need to be prepared for a healthy dose of humanity along the way, but it will leave you wanting more. David Staniforth understands his characters and must know them back to front to be able to weave the threads of this intelligent and thought-provoking story together. If, like me, you want a story that leaves you yanking at your hair and biting your nails, then you've come to the right place. There are other works by this author and if they're anything like this series so far, i can't wait to get into them.
Lastly, I just want to congratulate Mr Staniforth on a thoroughly compelling read and look forward to reading further instalments in this universe.
September 14, 2013
I was given an ebook copy of this story by the author in return for my review.
The book starts almost exactly where the previous one left off and doesn't give you that much back story so really don't read these out of order. With that warning done I can say these books are amazing. I think this one was even better than the first and I really liked the first.
The fantasy world is very rich and feels so believable and I love the contrasts between Davran's home and Ronyn's. I think I'd have liked this book expanded a little. It glossed over the change in Saurian's mindset a little I think. Although we were told several days had passed, I think I'd have liked to see more of how he changed, but I still loved how it was done and I didn't see the link from the backstory coming.
Definitely got to read the next one.
The book starts almost exactly where the previous one left off and doesn't give you that much back story so really don't read these out of order. With that warning done I can say these books are amazing. I think this one was even better than the first and I really liked the first.
The fantasy world is very rich and feels so believable and I love the contrasts between Davran's home and Ronyn's. I think I'd have liked this book expanded a little. It glossed over the change in Saurian's mindset a little I think. Although we were told several days had passed, I think I'd have liked to see more of how he changed, but I still loved how it was done and I didn't see the link from the backstory coming.
Definitely got to read the next one.
March 16, 2014
This book is another absolutely amazing read, and an excellent addition to the series. Just like the first book in this series, this book is wonderfully written, very detailed in its descriptions, filled with well-rounded characters, and has a plot that moves at a nice pace.
December 15, 2014
Following the adventures of Davran while she searches for her destiny has been a very fun read. Ruler's Desire kept my interest so much that I didn't want to put the book down. I like how the book started right where Fuel to the Fire left off, a smooth transition right to the next book.
Shelved as 'might-read-sequels'
April 15, 2015Received a copy for review � I wonder if there'll be black dragons in this one too?
November 11, 2014
Wow even better than the first! So gripping, the type of book that you can't stop reading, what you can't get out of your head and makes you wish you didn't have a social life!
January 7, 2015
Great book with dragons, alternate realities and all that good stuff. Ties up the story in a very interesting way with more dimension to the villain than normally seen.
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