Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining Read
Review: "Devlin's Luck" by Patricia Bray is a wonderful book that is well written, and doesn't go into the convoluted writting style employed by many fantasy writers. The book starts after the traumatic events that push Devlin (hero) into become the kingdom's Chosen One, a person that is dedicated to answering requests for help from anyone in the kingdom, peasant or noble. Unfortunately, few people recently want to take up the challange, and the position has changed recently, with the advent of a wage paid, and a geas laid on the Chosen, making it immpossible for the Chosen to turn down a commission. Also, the last few Chosen Ones have all died during their first jobs.Devlin becomes the Chosen One, and meets Stephan, a minstral who is eager to write a great piece, describing the efforts of a Chosen One. Devlin longs for death, but felt the need to support his sister-in-law, after her husbands and eldest child's death, in an attack that also killed Devlin's wife and daughter. He is from a kingdom that was incorporated into a greater empire only 50 years ago, and bitterness against the conquerors still runs deep. This book does nothing surprising (except for the lack of a living romantic interest) but does not suffer for all of that. Devlin is strongly characterised, as is Stephan, and the ancillary characters. The story progresses logically, and the characters grow through their adventures. A satisfying, entertaining novel. I look forwatrd to the next book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable
Review: "Devlin's Luck" centers around one character, a middle aged man who is depressed over the death of his wife, his child, and his brother. Devlin seeks a post as "The Chosen One" as a means to provide for his sister-in-law and her children. That, and because the previous "Chosen" have been short lived (he is depressed, after all).
This book takes place the vague "middle ages" so popular among fantasy novels, supplemented with some limited amounts of magic. The role of the "Chosen" is to give people in the kingdom a hero to go to for help. Much of the book revolves around Devlin's heroic missions and his at first unwilling efforts to improve the kingdom. A strength of this book was that Devlin starts out with a fair variety of skills and abilities.
I bought this book from Amazon on the strength of other reviews and was not disappointed. I didn't like the over-generosity of the last couple pages, but this is really a minor complaint.
Rating: 
Summary: A quick read
Review: A fairly easy novel perfect for a flight or vacation. The blurb says it all. Decent character development. No real romantic interest, but with a deceptive eye for detail that propels you through the novel at lightning speed.
Rating:
Summary: my brother loved this book
Review: And so did I. I love it when the underdog seems to come out on top. A sequel comes out later this year, and I'm looking forward to it.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Sword and Sorcery
Review: Devlin Stonehand of Duncaer is a man who has lost everything dear to him in life. However, he still has some kin obligations to forfill, and in order to do that he needs something he doesn't have ' money. So, in desperation, and in the hope that the role will kill him swiftly, like it has done for all other recent holders of the rank, he applies for the Jorsk position of Chosen One. Much to his, and everyone else's shock Devlin is not killed in the oath taking of the Chosen One, or even in the first of the 'heroic' missions he is sent on. The Chosen One is an ancient position in Jorsk, but the kingdom, despite holding a stranglehold on Devlin's homeland for the last 50 years, is in serious decline. Its borders are beset with troubles and its King weak and in the hands of self-serving advisors. Devlin in his role of Chosen One is forced by his oath to put justice and the kingdom's needs before his own ' even if that means his own longing for death. Devlin is a well written character. He's not a man of many words, and he is tormented, but this book drags you in and keeps you interested for its length. He is a classic outsider who proves to be more than first appearances lead you to believe, and his character, and those around him grow in the book. This is a classic sword and sorcery book, and it does have a magic component to it, but at this point I'm grateful no dragons have turned up. I'm looking forward to reading book 2 of this series, which is thankfully already released, so if you want a no stress, enjoyable fantasy read these are recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Lightweight read
Review: Devlin's Luck is an entertaining enough read, but is fairly lightweight. Despite a promising opening, you very quickly lose any sense that Devlin is in real danger or risk, and he seems to be 'going through the motions.' Oh, all the plot elements are there: A tragic past, a self-imposted burden, occupied homelands, political intrigue, dangerous quests, treason high and low, and more... But despite some really intersting possibilities, the story never takes life of it's own. Instead, the reader is taken along for a ride that is never more than mildly interesting. I'm not at all sorry to have read Devlin's Luck, and will very likely read the next installments, but will be doing so for a different reason than I picked this one up: I'll be looking for a light break from meatier stories.
Rating:
Summary: The Start of a Fun New Series!
Review: Devlin's Luck is the first book in a new series by Patricia Bray. The book is set in the kingdom of Jorsk, an empire that is slowly decaying from within. Jorsk is ruled by a king who is afraid of making a wrong decision, so he makes no decisions at all. There has long been a tradition in Jorsk of the Gods selecting a "Chosen One" who will defend the kingdom from enemies both natural and unnatural. In recent years, the Chosen One has lasted about a month before dying. Only the foolhardy and the desperate now apply for the position. Devlin is desperate and he has a death wish. He has lost his wife, his newborn daughter, his brother and his nephew and has nothing left to live for. He applies for the position and to everyone's suprise becomes the Chosen One. Everytime Devlin is sent out on a task, he prepares himself for death so that he can rejoin his family. However, he always seems to escape death. As the court realizes that this Chosen One is different, powerful forces plot against him to try and eliminate him before he can become a symbol of honor, hope and strength within the empire. This is just a fun, easy read for those who enjoy fantasy. The characters are not particularly unique, the problems are much the same, but Bray has a nice, easy writing style that most readers will enjoy. I hope that this author will continue to develop in style and creativity. It is worth your while to check out this new addition to the fantasy genre.
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Summary: wonderful fantasy adventure
Review: Duncaer is a country occupied by the conquering forces of the mighty Jorst Empire. Vet, Devlin Stoneland, named Kinslayer by the people of Duncaer marches into the conqueror's capital city of Kingsholm to win the substantial payment by becoming the Country's Chosen One. He is found worthy and a magical geas is placed on him, forcing him to protect the realm even if it costs him his life. Without any family or home to call his own, Devlin seeks death and believes that the danger facing the Chosen One will give him the reward he seeks. Three times he places his life in danger to protect the people of the realm and three times he emerges the victor. His exploits are talked about in political circles and without even trying, he becomes the rallying point of a nation. Now the man who sought death seeks to lead the people against the enemies of Jorst. DEVLIN'S LUCK is a beautiful sword and sorcery tale yet despite all the heroic battles, the magical attacks, and the deadly politics, it is the hero who brings heart to this story. Devlinis a tortured soul, who in spite of himself, finds redemption by saving lives and becoming a leader that a country, an empire and even a world needs. Patricia Bray is a grand storyteller who provides a wonderful fantasy adventure. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Keeper Shelf Material
Review: Have you ever started reading a fantasy trilogy, found the first book great, the second book so-so, and stopped reading the third before you were a quarter of the way through? Most times it's because the author has changed the main character so much, mainly towards the superhero type, that you can't identify with them anymore, or even care about them. They simply inhabit a world where everyone is in awe of them and there's nothing interesting about them at that point. The worst case of that that I've read was the Elizabeth Haydon series which started with Rhapsody. Rhapsody was absolutely wonderful. The second book was ok, and the third book bogged down to Barbie Doll Rhapsody (you know, perfect house, perfect clothes, perfect boyfriend). The first book of that series remains on my keeper shelf, but not the others. Another series that did that to me was the Deborah Chester series The Sword, the Ring, and the Chalice. Same thing happened. You need character development, but the characters don't have to be turned inside out.
Which leads me to Patricia Bray's Sword of Change series. All of three of these are right on my keeper shelf and for good reason: these books are not only great fantasy reading, the plot of the series hangs together and still has a believable hero at the end. He has his flaws and that's ok. He's realistic. The kind of character that even when the third book ends and the plot is wound up, you can still think of him---the hero remains a real person to you. That's a quality of writing that you don't see all that often. Another author that writes with this ability is Carol Berg. Her Transformation series is on par with Bray's. Patricia Briggs' writing, especially the series starting with Dragon Bones, is yet another author who writes marvelous books in this style. If you like either of their books you will love Patricia Bray.
Authors that are capable of writing more than one genre are always very skilled, and Ms. Bray does not differ in this respect. She has been writing now in two different genres, historical romance and fantasy, and assigning five stars for this series was an easy choice.
She is currently at work on another series taking place on a different world than the one in this series, with the first book entitled The First Betrayal. I'm really looking forward to that one!
Rating:
Summary: Would rate 4.5 stars, if it existed.
Review: I changed my mind several times between 4 stars and 5 stars on this one. I decided to go ahead and give it 5 stars because I did enjoy the book very much and will definitely purchase the sequel. 4.5 stars would be more accurate, though, because the book is not perfect. The story seemed to lose some of its "oomph" about 3/4 of the way through. To be fair, it may be because I had to put the book down a couple of times. Nevertheless, Devlin is my new favorite "reluctant" hero. As an incurable romantic, I hope Ms. Bray will give Devlin a love interest in future books. He deserves it.
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