Friday Face Off : ‘I wandered lonely as a cloud’
21 September 2018
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books by Proxy, Friday Face off, Marc Turner, The Chronicles of the Exile #1, When the Heavens Fall
Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy . This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers. The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book, compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite. Future week’s themes are listed below – the list has been updated to help out those of you who like to plan ahead – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme. This week’s theme:
‘I wandered lonely as a cloud’ – a cover featuring clouds
This week wasn’t two bad although I did have two books in mind but unfortunately they didn’t have alternative covers. My book this week is When the Heavens Fall (The Chronicles of the Exile #1) by Marc Turner? Check out the covers below:
My covers:
My favourite this week:
I just really like this one, everything seems to stand out, it’s very dramatic and it’s perfect for the theme. Which is your favourite?
Next week – a cover featuring eyes
Future themes: (if you’re struggling with any of these themes then use a ‘freebie’ of one of your favourite covers)
28th September – Eyes wide shut – a cover featuring eyes
5th October – “He sounded like a man who had slept well and didn’t owe too much money.” – A cover that is ‘noir’
12th October – “The impossible could not have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances.” – A cover for a mystery novel
19th October -“If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear!” – A horror cover
26th October – Trick or treat – A halloween inspired cover
2nd November – ‘Remember, remember the fifth of November,’ – A cover inspired by Bonfire Night
9th November – ‘All right! They’re spiders from Mars! You happy?’ – A cover feturing a critter of the eight legged variety
16th November – There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.’ – A scary cover
23rd November – ‘The child is in love with a human. And not just any human. A prince!’ – A cover featuring a mermaid/man
30th November – “..the children of the night. What music they make!” – a cover with a vampire
7th December – ‘I am Aragorn son of Arathorn; and if by life or death I can save you, I will.’ – A cover featuring a hero
14th December -“Heavy is the head that wears the crown” – A cover featuring a crown
21st December – ‘ho, ho, ho’ – A seasonal cover
28th December – A freebie – choose one of your favourite titles and compare the covers
2019
4th January – A cover that is fresh – New beginnings for a New Year
11th January – ‘I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king’ – A cover that depicts a novel set in the Tudor period
18th January – A cover featuring an Amulet – either in the cover or title
25th January – ‘Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.’ – A cover featuring a monk/priest/person of the cloth
1st February – A comedy cover
8th February – ‘Hi little cub. Oh no, don’t be ssscared.’ – A cover with snakes
15th February – A heart – for Valentine’s day past
22nd February – “Woe, destruction, ruin, and decay; the worst is death and death will have his day.” – A cover with abandoned building/s
1st March – ‘who will buy this wonderful morning’ – A cover featuring a shop or market
8th March – ‘Two little fishes and a momma fishy too’ – A cover featuring a fish/fishes or other sea creatures
15th March – ‘Beware the moon, lads.’ – A cover with a shapeshifter
22nd March – ‘A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse’ – A cover featuring a king
29th March – “I thought unicorns were more . . . Fluffy.” – A cover featuring a unicorn
5th April – ‘nomad is an island’ – A cover featuring a desert landscape
12th April – ‘Odin, Odin, send the wind to turn the tide – A cover featuring a longboat
19th April – ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times – A cover featuring a school
When the Heavens Fall by Marc Turner
Just finished reading the first few chapters in When the Heavens Fall by Marc Turner. This is the start of a swords and sorcery epic fantasy with magic, Gods and plenty of swordplay.
This is an odd review to write because at the moment I’ve only read an excerpt of the story but I can already say that this is a story that I would definitely continue with as this got off to a very promising start.
The plot begins with a stolen book. A powerful book that in turn attracts powerful people in it’s search. We are introduced in fairly quick succession to a number of characters who all have a part to play. Lurker is a Guardian, he is pulled into the search for the book against his better judgement and also because he needs to find a friend who seems to have gone missing in connection with this missing artefact. He will be accompanied by a female friend and assassin called Jenna who seems to join the search in order to escape her own problems. We have Ebon, a prince and heir to the throne who begins his introduction to us in a daring rescue mission. Ebon is undoubtedly being set out as the hero of the piece, his status is raised just within these few short chapters however he himself is plagued and tormented by strange voices. The other two strands are those of a Priestess called Romany who has been set on a course to find the Book by her master and separately the storyline of Parolla who – well, more about in a moment
So, in terms of first impressions. The writing is appealing and flows quite well although for a fairly short introduction there are a lot of new characters introduced with different undertones and politics. Turner doesn’t hold your hand but basically throws you straight into the story and you’re left to gather what you will through conversation and character observations. The plot is quite interesting and there is no shortage of action. For me personally I would have liked more character development, although this is only the first part of the story so there is still room for more in that area. I would say that Parolla has captured my attention primarily. She’s an intriguing character that I’m keen to learn more about – especially why she seems to have incurred the wrath of the antlered God! She comes across almost as a delicate blossom and yet she is very capable and indeed seems to wield powerful magic. Interesting and I’m keen to know what her story will turn out to be.
For me, and I wish I had a better phrase, this comes across ‘old school’. It doesn’t have the feel of the more modern grimdark type of fantasy reads and doesn’t contain the witty dialogue that we come across in more recent stories but gets back to good old fashioned chases, sword fighting and magic with a few underlying currents and a feel of never being given the full picture. In that respect it undoubtedly in some areas put me in mind of elements of other stories but not, I hasten to add, in a copied sort of fashion – just more a gentle nudge in certain directions.
I don’t usually rate books but I would say that this would warrant a 3.5 – 4 stars review for me. I thought it was a good introduction with a promising story, I definitely want to learn more and I think there’s plenty of room for development.
I received a copy from the publishers through Netgalley for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
Books and travelling with Lynn 