Patrick Welch Reviews

Added May 30, 2006

Brendell Rogue Thief

Author: Patrick Welch
Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing
Available At: www.double-dragon-ebooks.com
Publishing Date: January 2005
Genre: Fantasy: Medieval/Historical
Format: Ebook download in PDF/HTML/LIT
Price: $5.99
ISBN: 1-55404-218-6
Author Website: www.sff.net/people/patrickw/
Reviewer: Kathy Martin
Rating: 6 Gargoyles

Brendell had had a very successful career as a thief. He was a Journeyman with the Thief's Guild and had completed contracts that not even Master Thieves could accomplish. Yes, sometimes he broke the rules, but who didn't?

Now the Guild has put a contract out on Brendell. They went and stole from Brendell's father, and most likely would be after his brothers and sisters next. For years, Brendell had been sending money home to his father. Brendell's father was dying, and he wanted his father to be comfortable for his last few years. All of that was gone now. So Brendell became a rogue thief and set out to ruin the Guild. He started by making sure the contracts that had been made could not be completed. All he hoped was that he would live long enough to see some damage done to the Guild.

I have to say that the premise of this story was very predictable. Brendell would just move from city to city, make trouble for the Guild, and then move on and hope not to get caught and killed. And there is no doubt that one day the Guild would catch up with him.

Although, what made me keep reading was the way in which the book was written. It is like a "living diary." Written in the first person, everything is from Brendell's point of view. There is a complete look into his own introspections, beliefs and feelings. There are also a group of both interesting and funny characters that Brendell bumps into along the way.

While I did not find this book as captivating as the other works I have read by Patrick Welch, if you are a fan of his writing, you will like reading this one as well.

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Added May 25, 2006

The 13th Magician

Author: Patrick Welch
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Available At: www.twilighttimesbooks.com
Publishing Date: Available Now
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Ebook download in PDF/HTML/LIT
Price: $4.50
ISBN: 1-931202-48-X
Author Website: www.sff.net/people/patrickw/
Reviewer: Kathy Martin
Rating: 7 Gargoyles

Daasek was a peaceful man of the fisherman's guild in Myniah. He had been one of the few of his people to complete the "Great Sail." He had proof of his survival as he carried a Warback's heartstone next to his own heart.

But Daasek does not remember any of that life. Actually, Daasek does not remember where he was yesterday. All he knows is that he is driven by some sort of instinct to a city, and once there, he kills.

Nyxx, a very powerful magician, has stolen Daasek's soul and made him into a killer. Nyxx has sent Daasek out to kill the other 12 magicians of Horea so that the God he worships can rule over the world.

But with each murder, Daasek slowly comes to realize that he is gaining his own soul and memories back. Now Daasek wants to go back to Myniah and kill the evil magician who almost destroyed him.

I found this book to be captivating from the start. In the first few pages, I was thrown right into the middle of one of Daasek's kills. The mystery behind why he is killing hooked me into wanting to keep reading.

I also liked how the book moved. The chapters are just long enough to give the information needed and then moves on. The only thing for me that was a bit disturbing was the detailed descriptions of the violence and killings. This was not over-done, but just a bit more detailed than the other fantasy books I have read. I am by no means suggesting to not read the book, just to be aware of the violence it contains.

I would not describe The 13th Magician as a "page-turner" or "just can't put down" sort of book. But it is entertaining and engaging. The details are vivid enough to stay clear even if the book is put down for a couple of days.

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