The Battlebone (Wizard's Helper #4)

Published September 21st 2019 by Casiepress LLC, Kindle Edition 338 pages

Jack Winder travels to a far country to retrieve an ancient object. In order to proceed to recover the object is, Jack must learn a new culture and a new philosophy if he is to succeed. The quest is complicated by a revolution spawned by an enemy organization. The learning process takes much longer than expected, giving his enemies time to build strength while Jack and his group prepare to capture the object. Every step along the way is fraught with peril and possible death.

User Reviews

Stuart Macmartin

Rating: really liked it
I marked this as young adult, but at its core this is more an exploration of a foreign culture perhaps more than it is an adventure, and I don’t know if that would keep the attention of teen readers. It is dangerous when an author borrows so heavily and obviously from a culture, but from my protected perspective the growth of understanding of the characters - and by extension, me - from early trepidation to immersion in the power structure of his imagined culture paid tasteful and respect homage to his source material, if a bit too obviously at times.

I enjoyed the detailed machinations. I particularly liked that the various characters level-ups were hard earned and took time. And the adventure itself was fun.

(There are a lot of typographical errors, particularly with quote marks. Look past those. Unless you are an editor, in which case please address them)

Jim Duncan

Rating: really liked it
Excellent

But the same good writing as the others in the series. Jack finds increased fighting and sorcery abilities, along with a new girl to fall in love with. And then lose her. So he will be "stuck" with Penny?

Dick Strange

Rating: really liked it
Not a greaft read

Did not enjoy the book at all. It did not flow and kept swithing to diferent story lines to often

Will Smith

Rating: really liked it
I enjoyed the multiple twists and turns the story took.

Curtis

Rating: really liked it
Great Adventure

I really enjoy reading this series. The author’s writing still is interesting and a bit formal; it all reminds me a lot of Fritz Lieber’s Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser. (And Sword & Sorcery doesn’t get any more classic than that, folks.)

This book in particular marks a turning point in Jacks life. He turns 20, and spends roughly two years in a country very different to his home. He learns to read, write, and speak a new language, and he becomes friends with new leaders and new gods. Adventure, magic, and romance abound. It all tends to change a person, leaving a mark (literally, in Jack’s case). It will be interesting to see what happens when he gets back home. He won’t see things the same, and he certainly won’t be the same young man who left.

But that will have to wait, because the book ends with yet another adventure pressing forward, with the rescue of a fair damsel! Onwards Jack!

Definitely recommended (all ages)

Michael White

Rating: really liked it
Jack is growing up

This one is pretty good and tuned jack up a little bit. He is still a bit unsure of himself but I think the next book will be interesting because it’s about Penny.

Marcie

Rating: really liked it
Great adventure!

Hard to put down! Another great continuation of this story. I hate that I have to wait for the next book!