deardominique's review
4.0
I was sent a free copy of this book in return for an honest review. All views and opinions written in this post are my own.
The battle scene towards the end gave me Game of Thrones vibes. I really appreciated how descriptive the style of writing is. It really puts the reader in the characters shoes. I felt like I could imagine the scenes in such great depth thanks to the detailed writing of Tavenor.
Admittedly, in the beginning I went in with the assumption that Mono was female. So when the book later mentions that Mono was male I was taken back! I love that this book represents LGBT+ communities by featuring a male couple and their daughter. This was a pleasant surprise for me. I read a lot of fantasy and its always to nice to see equality being depicted more in literary fiction. I do, however, think Monos sex should be made clearer in the beginning.
While the writing itself is exceptionally descriptive and the words used were very captivating. Unfortunately, I found it quite difficult to fully understand what was happening and most importantly why. For stories like this, I feel like more background and fleshing out of characters and history is needed to fully immerse readers. I couldn't connect with a character I barely know! Allowing for a longer story would have meant that I could have more emotional investment in what was happening. It all seems very serious and intense but its hard to get your head around what is actually happening to the fullest extent.
This is a personal preference but I am not the biggest fan of reading from first person. Adding the sections that were from the past tense as well just muddled my brain a bit. It was strange going from being inside someone's head to suddenly thrown into some scenic moment from somewhere else.
Overall, I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars. It has so much potential to be an incredible fantasy novel but on this occasion I feel it was much too short and I feel more detail about the overarching story and characters was needed for me to give it the full five star rating.
The battle scene towards the end gave me Game of Thrones vibes. I really appreciated how descriptive the style of writing is. It really puts the reader in the characters shoes. I felt like I could imagine the scenes in such great depth thanks to the detailed writing of Tavenor.
Admittedly, in the beginning I went in with the assumption that Mono was female. So when the book later mentions that Mono was male I was taken back! I love that this book represents LGBT+ communities by featuring a male couple and their daughter. This was a pleasant surprise for me. I read a lot of fantasy and its always to nice to see equality being depicted more in literary fiction. I do, however, think Monos sex should be made clearer in the beginning.
While the writing itself is exceptionally descriptive and the words used were very captivating. Unfortunately, I found it quite difficult to fully understand what was happening and most importantly why. For stories like this, I feel like more background and fleshing out of characters and history is needed to fully immerse readers. I couldn't connect with a character I barely know! Allowing for a longer story would have meant that I could have more emotional investment in what was happening. It all seems very serious and intense but its hard to get your head around what is actually happening to the fullest extent.
This is a personal preference but I am not the biggest fan of reading from first person. Adding the sections that were from the past tense as well just muddled my brain a bit. It was strange going from being inside someone's head to suddenly thrown into some scenic moment from somewhere else.
Overall, I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars. It has so much potential to be an incredible fantasy novel but on this occasion I feel it was much too short and I feel more detail about the overarching story and characters was needed for me to give it the full five star rating.
bookdrag0n's review
5.0
In this short fantasy story, Mono must leave his husband and daughter in their home of Lethotar, while he–the last commanding officer alive of their army–must lead the final battle against the Holy Empire. If Mono’s force falls, all of Lethotar and its people will be subjected to the mercy (or lack thereof) of the paleskins of the Holy Empire. They have already shown their true colors by breaking the treaty forged in good faith between the two nations… Will the Lord of Light’s, Lethotar’s people manage to hold off the overwhelming force advancing towards them? Or will the paleskin’s tyrannical religion sweep them away?
I read this story in less than an hour. It was so quick and engaging! The story line unfolds as Mono prepares his soldiers for war, but is sprinkled throughout with his past memories. As such, C.D. Tavenor, in such a short number of pages, creates this amazingly round and relatable character of Mono, one that we readers inherently wish happiness and success upon.
Both the characters and the setting–let alone the battle strategy!–create a fully dimensional world that I became entirely immersed in after reading the first few sentences. The storyline reminded me of the movie 300 (2006), where a small force must take overwhelming odds in order to save their country. The Fifth Legion–Mono’s Legion–too was made up of fiercely loyal and patriotic folk, all ready to die for their friends and family.
Also included within the story was a new religion, complete with war rites and prophesies. The religion was so beautifully intertwined within the story and Mono’s culture that it seamlessly blended the two together, further enhancing the story and Lethotar’s plight. I had goosebumps for the entire last half of the story! It tugged on my emotions in a way that is rare for me.
I also found it interesting that the main character was a gay male. It does not go into much detail with this, but he is obviously married to another man, and they have a young daughter. Woman are also allowed important roles in the army/nation, which is refreshing in a medieval-era story.
I highly recommend this story! It is so short and moving that I cannot see the downside… It’ll only take perhaps an hour of your life, but it may–as I know it will with me–stick around in your mind for much longer. It gave me hope. For what, I’m not sure. But I know that I enjoy this feeling.
I read this story in less than an hour. It was so quick and engaging! The story line unfolds as Mono prepares his soldiers for war, but is sprinkled throughout with his past memories. As such, C.D. Tavenor, in such a short number of pages, creates this amazingly round and relatable character of Mono, one that we readers inherently wish happiness and success upon.
Both the characters and the setting–let alone the battle strategy!–create a fully dimensional world that I became entirely immersed in after reading the first few sentences. The storyline reminded me of the movie 300 (2006), where a small force must take overwhelming odds in order to save their country. The Fifth Legion–Mono’s Legion–too was made up of fiercely loyal and patriotic folk, all ready to die for their friends and family.
Also included within the story was a new religion, complete with war rites and prophesies. The religion was so beautifully intertwined within the story and Mono’s culture that it seamlessly blended the two together, further enhancing the story and Lethotar’s plight. I had goosebumps for the entire last half of the story! It tugged on my emotions in a way that is rare for me.
I also found it interesting that the main character was a gay male. It does not go into much detail with this, but he is obviously married to another man, and they have a young daughter. Woman are also allowed important roles in the army/nation, which is refreshing in a medieval-era story.
I highly recommend this story! It is so short and moving that I cannot see the downside… It’ll only take perhaps an hour of your life, but it may–as I know it will with me–stick around in your mind for much longer. It gave me hope. For what, I’m not sure. But I know that I enjoy this feeling.
biteintobooks's review
4.0
I liked this story a lot. It felt like the start of a a bigger story, like a 0.5 book of a series.
The flashbacks in this story gave the main character and the story itself more depth and it was also a good opportunity for the author to explain some things in this story.
It was a thrilling story to read and the war scene actually felt like a real war scene, where some books can lack tactics or action, this book had it all!
The ending was great and I think this is a great debut by C.D. Tavenor.
The flashbacks in this story gave the main character and the story itself more depth and it was also a good opportunity for the author to explain some things in this story.
It was a thrilling story to read and the war scene actually felt like a real war scene, where some books can lack tactics or action, this book had it all!
The ending was great and I think this is a great debut by C.D. Tavenor.
marianc6f98's review
5.0
Legion of Mono captures the resolve of a people's last military leader in the hours before what he knows will be a final battle. His grief at leaving his partner and their child; his pride in his family's honour; his strong bonds with his fellow soldiers: all are skillfully expressed. The author has created, in twenty-five pages, a glimpse into a world that feels solid and complete, a remarkable achievement. The ending left me wanting more, of both the world and the story.
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