Armen Pogharian asked me to read his novel "Counterfeit Count". It is a sequel to "Poisoned Princess" but it was delightful how stand-alone it is. I will examine Plot, Character and Polish, and then assign a grade.
PLOT
This one is like the Final Exam from Hell. Adara is in the final stages of her Warder training (basically black ops for the kingdom of Eridan) when her final test, one of stealth, stumbles into a conspiracy where a failing grade will lead to her death. Without her mentor and few resources, she needs to unravel the conspiracy before it can reach its goal.
There are other viewpoints involved but what I like about this book is how it is used. There are two others, Toran (Adara's fellow Warder) and Geren (her mentor). Toran's viewpoint is basically meeting up with her at the city where the plot takes place, at which point their viewpoints merge. Geren's viewpoints are few and far between, to add useful information to the reader's perspective as well dramatic irony. In other words, the multiple viewpoints do not compete for space and instead blend well.
There's also an exclusive scene or two with the villains, but one of them is the prologue to set up the plot in the first place.
While the previous story was a Quest narrative, this one is conspiracy/mystery thing. The heroes need to find the real count and figure out the evil plan so they can thwart it. It's like the same players but different D&D module. Which creates a different sort of fun with the same sort of charm. There's even a scene where the quartermaster (so to speak) of the Warden's is explaining the range of a mission critical ranged weapon.
I like the ending. It is both complete and incomplete. It's like The Adventure Continues but diving immediately into the details of that adventure; no pause between them.
CHARACTERS
There is a lot of Adara this time. In the previous story, she didn't have the skills for such a quest but here she puts her new training to good use. There's also more of her backstory and personal traits. Little details like her favorite tea blend fill in characterization. Then there's her sneaky and spying and deducing stuff.
As for Toran, the protagonist of the previous story, he seems to be a lot more worried about Adara than the other warders.
The villain isn't going to win any prizes for depth or sympathy or magnificence etc. He's rather flat as an ambitious and ruthless individual but I'd hardly call that a fault. The wider context of villainy and conflict is plenty interesting.
POLISH
It looks good, technically speaking.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "Counterfeit Count" an A+
This has been a free review request. The author requested an honest review so I provided one.
Click here for my next book review: Medieval Military Technology
Click here for my previous book review: Stolen Magic
Brian Wilkerson is a independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).
PLOT
This one is like the Final Exam from Hell. Adara is in the final stages of her Warder training (basically black ops for the kingdom of Eridan) when her final test, one of stealth, stumbles into a conspiracy where a failing grade will lead to her death. Without her mentor and few resources, she needs to unravel the conspiracy before it can reach its goal.
There are other viewpoints involved but what I like about this book is how it is used. There are two others, Toran (Adara's fellow Warder) and Geren (her mentor). Toran's viewpoint is basically meeting up with her at the city where the plot takes place, at which point their viewpoints merge. Geren's viewpoints are few and far between, to add useful information to the reader's perspective as well dramatic irony. In other words, the multiple viewpoints do not compete for space and instead blend well.
There's also an exclusive scene or two with the villains, but one of them is the prologue to set up the plot in the first place.
While the previous story was a Quest narrative, this one is conspiracy/mystery thing. The heroes need to find the real count and figure out the evil plan so they can thwart it. It's like the same players but different D&D module. Which creates a different sort of fun with the same sort of charm. There's even a scene where the quartermaster (so to speak) of the Warden's is explaining the range of a mission critical ranged weapon.
I like the ending. It is both complete and incomplete. It's like The Adventure Continues but diving immediately into the details of that adventure; no pause between them.
CHARACTERS
There is a lot of Adara this time. In the previous story, she didn't have the skills for such a quest but here she puts her new training to good use. There's also more of her backstory and personal traits. Little details like her favorite tea blend fill in characterization. Then there's her sneaky and spying and deducing stuff.
As for Toran, the protagonist of the previous story, he seems to be a lot more worried about Adara than the other warders.
The villain isn't going to win any prizes for depth or sympathy or magnificence etc. He's rather flat as an ambitious and ruthless individual but I'd hardly call that a fault. The wider context of villainy and conflict is plenty interesting.
POLISH
It looks good, technically speaking.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "Counterfeit Count" an A+
This has been a free review request. The author requested an honest review so I provided one.
Click here for my next book review: Medieval Military Technology
Click here for my previous book review: Stolen Magic
Brian Wilkerson is a independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).
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