Here’s my standard disclaimer. I received a free copy of this title from the Author in exchange for an honest review. A rating will follow this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
I review books based on the story itself. I’m not an editor and I’m not reading these books to proof them for Authors. I’ve read classics or best sellers with mistakes in them. The only time I will let mistakes effect my review is if the mistakes made reading the book cumbersome. At that point, I will just give it a lower number rating while reviewing the actual story itself.
I don’t like reading a review that is basically the back cover blurb, or something that gives away too much of the story. Personally, I like suspense. I like to discover the details of the story as I read them. So, please enjoy this spoiler free book review!
I’m happy to announce that the sixteenth book I’m reviewing on my blog is a book called JAMES CLYDE AND THE DIAMONDS OF ORCHESTRA by Colm McElwain.
JAMES CLYDE AND THE DIAMONDS OF ORCHESTRA is sword & sorcery, fantasy & magic, literary fiction. This story can be enjoyed by every kind of fantasy reader. If you like sorcery, magic, a coming of age tale, knights, kings & queens, monsters, kids discovering their destiny, and maybe even a gun scene or two? This is your story! The story will take you on an emotional roller coaster. You cheer James Clyde on at times, then you want to tell him to stop… You cringe when he’s in danger, and cheer him on to succeed!
You first meet James Clyde in an interesting situation. He’s on the run, and learns something about himself as he’s hiding out. Then you see him in his home and school setting. It’s a good introduction to the character, because he’s relate-able. What’s the story about, and where is it going? He’s just a regular kid with some good friends. What’s fantastic about that? Get ready for a ride!
The story shifts. An other-wordly man appears and changes James’ life forever. He’s now in his true birthplace, a place he’s only heard about in stories. Not only that, but his whole life had been leading up to this return. He learns everything that he’s ever wondered about and then some. Not only that, he discovers that there’s more to him than he ever could have guessed. He doesn’t have much time to digest the information though. The Kingdom is under attack, and he takes actions into his own hands. Actions that will have dire consequences.
This is a great book. It has all the aspects of what you love about the fantasy genre. There is intrigue and plenty of twists. None of it is predictable, and you’ll enjoy how the story plays out. It’s a fresh and original take of an age old tale.
One thing I enjoyed about this story is that it didn’t end with a cliff hanger. The story is well developed and there is closure even though you can tell that this will be the first book in a series. It ends in a way that leaves you feeling satisfied by the resolution, while looking forward to what happens next. And everyone who reads this book will want to read the next one to see what happens to our friend James and his companions. I recommend this book. I rate this book 5 out of 5!
-PRP3 The Author Media. January 13, 2017
Paul Russell Parker III 