Visions of Zarua by Suzanne Rogerson

visions_of_zarua

I won this book (mobi format) in the author’s giveaway.

My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Plot
(by Goodreads)

Two wizards, 350 years apart. Together they must save the realm of Paltria from Zarua’s dark past.

An ancient darkness haunts the realm of Paltria.

Apprentice wizard Paddren is plagued by visions of a city on the brink of annihilation. When his master Kalesh dies in mysterious circumstances, the Royal Order of Wizards refuses to investigate.

Helped by his childhood friend, the skilled tracker Varnia, and her lover Leyoch, Paddren vows to find the killer.

The investigation leads Paddren down a sinister path of assassins, secret sects and creatures conjured by blood magic. But he is guided by a connection with a wizard from centuries ago – a wizard whose history holds the key to the horror at the heart of the abandoned city of Zarua. Can Paddren decipher his visions in time to save the Paltrian people from the dark menace of Zarua’s past?

Genre(s):	Fantasy > Sword & Sorcery, Epic
Series:	n.a.
Length:	472 pages
Release date:	2015-11-16

Teaser

Paddren paced at the back of the hall, his gaze constantly flicking to the doorway. His hands shook at his sides and he forced himself to take a deep breath; this wasn’t the way to make a good impression on his peers.

He snubbed the idea as old feelings of resentment resurfaced – why should he care what they thought? They’d never accepted him as one of their own. Coming from non-magic blood had seen him shunned and bullied by the older boys, while the senior wizards ignored his torment.

My Opinion

This book introduces you to Paddren, a wizard in Paltria, and to Jago, a wizard in Zarua – 350 years ago.

With Visions of Zarua, Suzanne Rogerson has created a quite intriguing fantasy story. It is a compelling read, combining the well-known ‘good vs evil’, reluctant hero, and unusual twists. The reader is drawn into the worlds of Paddren and Jago, feeling the sinister forces first-hand – as invisible ally. Suzanne Rogerson paints a crystal clear picture of Paddren’s mind while the story evolves. Paddren is very likeable, he is complex, the other main characters are of sufficient depth – depending on their relevance. The story begins slowly to provide the reader with a solid background; it soon takes on a faster pace, comprises interesting turns, and has a really good flow.

This is a book for you if you like fantasy and adventure, reluctant heroes gaining confidence, stubborn female characters, interesting and unanticipated turns.

Recommended!

In brief:

Cover	⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Writing	⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Plot	⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Characters	⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Mood	Suspenseful, dark
Pace	Steady
POV	Third person – past tense
Language	– 😳
Violence	😳 – 😡
Sexual content	– 😳

About the author

Suzanne lives in Middlesex with her hugely encouraging husband and two children.

She wrote her first novel at the age of twelve. She discovered the fantasy genre in her late teens and has never looked back. Giving up work to raise a family gave her the impetus to take her attempts at novel writing beyond the first draft, and she is lucky enough to have a husband who supports her dream – even if he does occasionally hint that she might think about getting a proper job one day.

Suzanne is interested in history and enjoys wandering around castles. But most of she likes to escape with a great film, or soak in a hot bubble bath with an ice cream and a book..

Connect with the author:

Website: https://suzannerogersonfantasyauthor.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rogersonsm

Amazon: Suzanne Rogerson

Buy links: books2read.com/u/4XgEy5

Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading. Now I am asking you. 🙂

My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you? What did you think about Visions of Zarua? Or – if you did not yet read Visions of Zarua – are you now interested in reading it yourself?

I am looking forward to reading your comments. 🙂

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