4.1 Stars Out Of 5
4.1 out of 5
(9)
(7)
(4)
(1)
(0)
Quality:
4.5 out Of 5
(4.5 out of 5)
Value:
4.4 out Of 5
(4.4 out of 5)
Meets Expectations:
4.1 out Of 5
(4.1 out of 5)
90%
of customers would recommend this product to a friend.
SORT BY:
SEE:
Displaying items 1-5 of 21
Page 1 of 5
  1. debwilson
    Summerfield, FL
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    December 21, 2013
    debwilson
    Summerfield, FL
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    It is 1312 AD and all Thomas knows about his past history is that he was raised for the first ten years of his life by a woman named Sarah. When a fever took her too soon from him, he was placed in a tiny monastery and cared for by four greedy monks. Not one to question his lot in life, he clings to the stories of the Immortals his nursemaid passed down to him and practices all the things she taught him. The library she has knowledge of and shares with him, and all the wonderful powers he can have with the simple study of herbs and powders. Chafing under the injustice of the monks who were supposed to be his guardians, he holds back all his studying and tends to the endless task of the garden for their gluttonous bellies.

    On the night of his planned escape, things go wrong. Forced to reveal his knowledge of their wrong deeds, he barely escapes the monastery with all he needs to make is journey. His destination is the castle of Magnus; a formidable, unconquerable and legendary place of evil. To become king of such a fortress it must be taken from another; but Thomas has a clever plan to make it his. Among his companions there is the knight he recused from the gallows, a beautiful, silent girl and a young pickpocket sentenced to hang for his crimes. Sure of his destiny, he is completely unprepared for the challenges he is about to face. Will the mysterious knight be able to make Thomas the great king he is supposed to be? Or is destiny ever truly enough?

    While I enjoy watching films from the medieval time period, I cannot say I've ever enjoyed reading about this time period. So coming into this novel, I was hoping to be at least mildly entertained at best. But I discovered instead an author who does more than entertain and amuse; he actually takes you to the time and place of the story. I am now staunch supporter of the mystical/fantasy/medieval genre, and I highly recommend this book for anyone.
  2. debwilson
    Summerfield, FL
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    May 26, 2013
    debwilson
    Summerfield, FL
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for The Orphan King, Merlin's Immortals Series #1.
    It is 1312 AD and all Thomas knows about his past history is that he was raised for the first ten years of his life by a woman named Sarah. When a fever took her too soon from him, he was placed in a tiny monastery and cared for by four greedy monks. Not one to question his lot in life, he clings to the stories of the Immortals his nursemaid passed down to him and practices all the things she taught him. The library she has knowledge of and shares with him, and all the wonderful powers he can have with the simple study of herbs and powders. Chafing under the injustice of the monks who were supposed to be his guardians, he holds back all his studying and tends to the endless task of the garden for their gluttonous bellies.

    On the night of his planned escape, things go wrong. Forced to reveal his knowledge of their wrong deeds, he barely escapes the monastery with all he needs to make is journey. His destination is the castle of Magnus; a formidable, unconquerable and legendary place of evil. To become king of such a fortress it must be taken from another; but Thomas has a clever plan to make it his. Among his companions there is the knight he recused from the gallows, a beautiful, silent girl and a young pickpocket sentenced to hang for his crimes. Sure of his destiny, he is completely unprepared for the challenges he is about to face. Will the mysterious knight be able to make Thomas the great king he is supposed to be? Or is destiny ever truly enough?

    While I enjoy watching films from the medieval time period, I cannot say I've ever enjoyed reading about this time period. So coming into this novel, I was hoping to be at least mildly entertained at best. But I discovered instead an author who does more than entertain and amuse; he actually takes you to the time and place of the story. I am now staunch supporter of the mystical/fantasy/medieval genre, and I highly recommend this book for anyone.
  3. Blooming with Books
    Bloomer, WI
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Orphan King-Page Turner to Capture the Imagination
    September 16, 2012
    Blooming with Books
    Bloomer, WI
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for The Orphan King, Merlin's Immortals Series #1.
    The Orphan King

    Merlin's Immortals Book 1

    By Sigmund Brouwer

    Thomas has been raised in secrecy, hidden from the world outside the walls of Harland Moor Abbey. His true identity has been hidden to protect him from those who had killed his family when their kingdom was taken.

    But the time has come for Thomas to fulfill his destiny and to take Magnus - the place where darkness lives and fear abounds! Thomas is joined on his quest by William a mysterious knight, Tiny John a condemned child thief, and Isabelle young woman who pretends to be who she isn't. Unknown to Thomas two opposing forces are determined to use him and to sway him to their cause.

    Much that Thomas should know about his past was lost when the woman who acted as his nurse died before she could impart most of her knowledge. One piece of information that Sarah gave him was that she had hoped to see "him grow into a man and to become one of the Immortals and to help them destroy the circle of evil." But who or what these Immortals were died with Sarah.

    Along the way Thomas learns important lessons in trust and in whom to place it which proved invaluable once he and his army of three were trapped within the walls of Magnus. All too soon Thomas and William find themselves locked away in the dungeon with another prisoner who has been locked away for ten years.

    How is Thomas to fulfill his destiny when he is beneath the very island castle he is determined to free? Can he bring hope to the helpless and the downtrodden who are trapped within the castle as much as he is? Does the phrase "Delivered on the wings of an angel, he shall free us from oppression" hold the answers he seeks?

    The Orphan King is a page turner that holds your attention. Set in Northern England in AD 1312, the truth of Christianity struggles against the darkness of the pagan religions that have a hold upon the land.

    I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. The opinions I expressed are my own.
  4. Moriah
    Maine
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: Female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    An incredibly good book!
    September 3, 2012
    Moriah
    Maine
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: Female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 4
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for The Orphan King, Merlin's Immortals Series #1.
    While I had at first thought that this book might be kind of weird, there wasn't much selection to choose from if I wanted a print book from the blogging program, so I ordered The Orphan King to read and review, and now am glad I did! This book piqued my interest from the first page and kept me eager to continue reading.

    Thomas, an orphan who doesn't have a clue of what his family's mysterious past is or the destiny he is to fulfill, escapes the corrupt monastery where he was raised and ends up on an urgent quest with three mysterious companions who may or may not be just what they seem: a knight, a pickpocket, and a mute and deaf girl. Can Thomas trust them? Are they allies or enemies? And what lies beyond the walls of the city Magnus?

    I just have to add, I really liked the bold, creative, ingenious main character Thomas- and mischievous young Tiny John, the pickpocket. All the characters were well-written and memorable, but those two were my favorites!

    I read this whole book in less than 24 hours and couldn't put it down! (My mom and two of my siblings have also read it now, and they were hooked, too!) I am now eagerly anticipating the second book in the series, Fortress of Mist, which is coming out in February.

    To sum up, the author, Sigmund Brouwer, writes a captivating and unforgettable story. I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars because it was way more than just a good book. This book was outstanding!

    A big thank-you to WaterBrook Multnomah for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest revew!
  5. Faye
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: Female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A favorite re-published
    August 29, 2012
    Faye
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: Female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This review was written for The Orphan King, Merlin's Immortals Series #1.
    A favorite re-vamped.

    Thomas is a young man, living in an unproductive abbey, in the possession of ancient secrets that could change the world in the wrong hands. A fight between good evil rages, who can Thomas trust?

    The Orphan King is the re-vamped edition of one of my long time favorites that has been published under many different titles (Magnus, The Winds of Light Series, Wings of Dawn), and I was happy to see it yet again return to print. But when I opened the pages I found to my pleasure and surprise that it was slightly different! While the same premise and basic plot remains, little things have been changed here and there, as well as an added tidbit into the bad guy's view.

    Slow to start, it quickly accelerated in pace with many twists, and unexpected turns. It is probably just me but I found it a little harder to get into this one than the past editions, but maybe it's just because I have read the other version about 6 times! I also noticed that there were added scenes and that this first volume is longer than volume one of the children's edition of Magnus,(Wings of Dawn) which was titled Wings of an Angel, though it was basically the same book. But one thing that I can say is that the next (what I presume will be) five books will be ever better than this one! Another thing is that they come right after one another making reading the first book necessary.

    Thomas is a likable character who is unreadable on the outside, with quick-thinking, whirring brain on the inside, and under that a seeking heart.

    Overall, I guess I can honestly tell you that personally this first book is my least favorite part of the story, but it gets much better later on, with non-stop action, and chase scenes spanning from Old England to the Holy Land and the Crusade. Romantic tension and tests of trust, all the while God is drawing Thomas ever closer to Him. I highly recommend the tale as a whole, and this part as well. Perfect for guys too, this is one of my brother's favorite stories.

    I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Displaying items 1-5 of 21
Page 1 of 5