A review by simonmee
The Ashes of Prospero by Gav Thorpe
4.0
Better than I expected.
A ragtag team including Bjorn the Fell-Handed and adolescent navigator travel to an ancient ruin only to find their quest subsumed by a galactic level threat. In a shade over 300 pages they stop the threat, complete the quest, and find personal resolution.
Straight down the line but Thorpe pulls it off. The way forward is clear and characters get their chance and writing space to prove themselves worthy. It's satisfyingly tied up, and while that's the easier route, I like it here. The story also contributes to the wider lore without being just a vehicle for it.
It's not top tier. The rag tag element gets mumbled a couple of times but otherwise forgotten to push things to the end - it's just a label that doesn't overly reflect the group's limitations. There are also a couple of short stories bolted on - I'm on the fence as to whether they detract or enhance the story but they aren't perfectly integrated. Finally, the dialogue and battle descriptions are fine but I wrote no quotes down, suggesting it didn't get above that.
Still, a pleasant surprise.
A ragtag team including Bjorn the Fell-Handed and adolescent navigator travel to an ancient ruin only to find their quest subsumed by a galactic level threat. In a shade over 300 pages they stop the threat, complete the quest, and find personal resolution.
Straight down the line but Thorpe pulls it off. The way forward is clear and characters get their chance and writing space to prove themselves worthy. It's satisfyingly tied up, and while that's the easier route, I like it here. The story also contributes to the wider lore without being just a vehicle for it.
It's not top tier. The rag tag element gets mumbled a couple of times but otherwise forgotten to push things to the end - it's just a label that doesn't overly reflect the group's limitations. There are also a couple of short stories bolted on - I'm on the fence as to whether they detract or enhance the story but they aren't perfectly integrated. Finally, the dialogue and battle descriptions are fine but I wrote no quotes down, suggesting it didn't get above that.
Still, a pleasant surprise.