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3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
outstanding Mar 26, 2004
By Helen
This one is good reading and good fun. The author had no trouble taking me to a world like no other. Full of twists and turns, plus a great cast of characters. An indepth story thats guaranteed to envoke your thoughts and entertain you at the same time. A must read for all, but beware, you will be whisked away to the heart of the Dark Continent.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Amazing Mar 22, 2004
By Kenneth Shiro
From the moment I picked it up I couldn't put it down. His descriptions and characters held my attention throughout the story. The range of emotions is gripping, it's the first time I've been on the edge of my seat for a novel.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Gripping Fantasy! with Suprising Depth and Suspense. Mar 18, 2004
By Erica Jensen
My first thoughts as I finished the last page of Tales of the Dark Continent was a profound "Well Done!" and "I hope can read more about these characters soon."
I was surprised by the range of thought provoking topics woven into this adventure; adolescence, grieving, parenting, step parenting, politics and religion. And a bit of romance and humor to boot. A real insight into human nature.
The hero Asahel, whose life is turned upside down by incredible loss, struggles to unravel the mystery of a murder. He has an inner sense allowing him to mindspeak with animals, and a truth sense whereby he can tell if someone's is telling the truth. With his strange talent and a delightfully funny sidekick, Rothiest, he sets out to uncover political and religious conspiracies. While his teenage daughter Landi is thrown into a world of trouble on her own. I don't want to give away any surprises and spoil the story. But rest assured its a good one, and I recommend it whole heartedly.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Couldn't put it down. May 20, 2004
By Doug Jensen
Didn't take long to get hooked and stay up later than I should. Mr. Travis's characters jump right out and grab you. Good guys, bad guys,sexy woman. It has it all. The animals in his imagination are a delight. I especially enjoyed the bladehorses.
Only rarely do I find a book that I don't want it to end. This is one of them. Luckily, theres more to come.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
An educator's opinion--Thoroughly engaging May 05, 2004
By Christina Meeks
Jerry Travis's Tales of the Dark Continent has the potential to become a classic Fantasy novel. It has all of the necessary components: a believable fantasy world, engaging characters, and a well-designed plot told through multiple storylines. All of these elements work together to captivate and engage the reader.It is relatively easy to assimilate into the world of the Dark Continent. There are many parallels with our world, yet there are features that set it apart. A few common, everyday aspects of our lives are novelty to those on the Dark Continent. This makes it easier for us to accept the unique elements which are common in Mr. Travis's world. The real magical parts of this world are as unusual for the book's characters as they would be for us, which lends reliability to the story and aids in connecting with the protagonist. The most compelling feature of Mr. Travis's writing is the characters. He doesn't just write a story; he lets it evolve through the characters. From the very first paragraph, Asahel and Lamae draw you into the Dark Continent with hints of the history of this world and its people. New characters are introduced through existing characters, like meeting new friends through old friends. Tales of the Dark Continent contains a wealth of fully-developed characters. It is very easy to have one, or several, favorites. Likewise, there are several foes to hate. With so many characters, there are also several storylines. The parts all weave together to create the whole picture. As the story unfurls, many of the characters weave in and out of different storylines. The end result is a novel with which the reader interacts. As you become familiar with the personalities of the characters, it is tempting to predict the outcome of certain events. However, Mr. Travis does not make this easy; often another slight twist of the plot on the next page invalidates your reasoning while still maintaining the integrity of the story. In Tales of the Dark Continent, Mr. Travis creates a vivid tapestry of characters and history which supports the plot. It is filled with political intrigue, personal interactions, and religious undertones. Everything is liberally sprinkled with humor. You are pulled into the story with the first sentence, and in the end, begging to know of the future for the characters you've come to love.
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