King's Cure

Rating:
Summary: Unexpectedly Special Delivery
Review: "The King's Cure" is the third in Daniel Hood's series, starring Liam Rhenford and Fanuilh, his dragon familiar. It opens with Liam's arrival at Master Cade's home in the capital city of Torquay, to deliver a package from Liam's employer, Vespasianus, Duke of the Southern Tier. Whatever the package is, Cade inspects it and then promptly asks Liam to carry it one step further. This time Liam is to take the packet to a man named Bairth, and he is warned to avoid notice.

Liam's irritation at running errands vanishes when his visit to Bairth's house puts him in the midst of a murder from which he barely escapes with his own life, helped considerably by Fanuilh's facility with spellcasting. As Liam avoids the Peacekeepers, he discovers that the package is a small vial containing the King's Cure, a remedy specific to those of royal blood. King Nicanor's health has been failing quickly and apparently the Duke had decided to offer aid. Unfortunately, someone else is determined to prevent the vial from reaching the King, and has set up Liam as the scapegoat.

Violent death seems to pursue Liam everywhere as he tries to resolve the crime and deliver the vial. Not only does he face betrayal, but his every move seems to be anticipated by the Pacifex Warden. He and Fanuilh are driven to the most extraordinary measures to avoid capture as they flee from place to place in Torquay. Rarely is there enough time for Rhenford and the dragon to formulate a workable plan of action as they are foiled repeatedly by the brilliant Pacifex.

I wish that Liam's relationship with Fanuilh was a bit better developed. The little dragon has considerable intelligence and many glints of personality. But Liam shifts from affection to master/servant with little rhyme or reason. Given the size of Fanuilh's part, more character development is called for to avoid him becoming a deus ex machina.

King's Cure is not really a true mystery story, but more of a fantasy adventure tale with a bit of a mystery at its inception. This hardly harm's the plot, but the reader should not anticipate another Lord D'Arcy. Instead enjoy it for what it is. Daniel Hood spins an inventive and engaging tale. Liam Rhenford is a character with depth as well as resourcefulness, much enhancing the tale. The reader will also enjoy the vivid scenes of the city of Torquay. The story stands quite well on its own. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Unexpectedly Special Delivery
Review: "The King's Cure" is the third in Daniel Hood's series, starring Liam Rhenford and Fanuilh, his dragon familiar. It opens with Liam's arrival at Master Cade's home in the capital city of Torquay, to deliver a package from Liam's employer, Vespasianus, Duke of the Southern Tier. Whatever the package is, Cade inspects it and then promptly asks Liam to carry it one step further. This time Liam is to take the packet to a man named Bairth, and he is warned to avoid notice.

Liam's irritation at running errands vanishes when his visit to Bairth's house puts him in the midst of a murder from which he barely escapes with his own life, helped considerably by Fanuilh's facility with spellcasting. As Liam avoids the Peacekeepers, he discovers that the package is a small vial containing the King's Cure, a remedy specific to those of royal blood. King Nicanor's health has been failing quickly and apparently the Duke had decided to offer aid. Unfortunately, someone else is determined to prevent the vial from reaching the King, and has set up Liam as the scapegoat.

Violent death seems to pursue Liam everywhere as he tries to resolve the crime and deliver the vial. Not only does he face betrayal, but his every move seems to be anticipated by the Pacifex Warden. He and Fanuilh are driven to the most extraordinary measures to avoid capture as they flee from place to place in Torquay. Rarely is there enough time for Rhenford and the dragon to formulate a workable plan of action as they are foiled repeatedly by the brilliant Pacifex.

I wish that Liam's relationship with Fanuilh was a bit better developed. The little dragon has considerable intelligence and many glints of personality. But Liam shifts from affection to master/servant with little rhyme or reason. Given the size of Fanuilh's part, more character development is called for to avoid him becoming a deus ex machina.

King's Cure is not really a true mystery story, but more of a fantasy adventure tale with a bit of a mystery at its inception. This hardly harm's the plot, but the reader should not anticipate another Lord D'Arcy. Instead enjoy it for what it is. Daniel Hood spins an inventive and engaging tale. Liam Rhenford is a character with depth as well as resourcefulness, much enhancing the tale. The reader will also enjoy the vivid scenes of the city of Torquay. The story stands quite well on its own. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Unexpectedly Special Delivery
Review: "The King's Cure" is the third in Daniel Hood's series, starring Liam Rhenford and Fanuilh, his dragon familiar. It opens with Liam's arrival at Master Cade's home in the capital city of Torquay, to deliver a package from Liam's employer, Vespasianus, Duke of the Southern Tier. Whatever the package is, Cade inspects it and then promptly asks Liam to carry it one step further. This time Liam is to take the packet to a man named Bairth, and he is warned to avoid notice.

Liam's irritation at running errands vanishes when his visit to Bairth's house puts him in the midst of a murder from which he barely escapes with his own life, helped considerably by Fanuilh's facility with spellcasting. As Liam avoids the Peacekeepers, he discovers that the package is a small vial containing the King's Cure, a remedy specific to those of royal blood. King Nicanor's health has been failing quickly and apparently the Duke had decided to offer aid. Unfortunately, someone else is determined to prevent the vial from reaching the King, and has set up Liam as the scapegoat.

Violent death seems to pursue Liam everywhere as he tries to resolve the crime and deliver the vial. Not only does he face betrayal, but his every move seems to be anticipated by the Pacifex Warden. He and Fanuilh are driven to the most extraordinary measures to avoid capture as they flee from place to place in Torquay. Rarely is there enough time for Rhenford and the dragon to formulate a workable plan of action as they are foiled repeatedly by the brilliant Pacifex.

I wish that Liam's relationship with Fanuilh was a bit better developed. The little dragon has considerable intelligence and many glints of personality. But Liam shifts from affection to master/servant with little rhyme or reason. Given the size of Fanuilh's part, more character development is called for to avoid him becoming a deus ex machina.

King's Cure is not really a true mystery story, but more of a fantasy adventure tale with a bit of a mystery at its inception. This hardly harm's the plot, but the reader should not anticipate another Lord D'Arcy. Instead enjoy it for what it is. Daniel Hood spins an inventive and engaging tale. Liam Rhenford is a character with depth as well as resourcefulness, much enhancing the tale. The reader will also enjoy the vivid scenes of the city of Torquay. The story stands quite well on its own. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best fantasy writers around!
Review: Dan Hood is one of three authors on my "must buy" fantasy list. The others being Steven Brust and George R.R. Martin (Though I will say that George has the potential of going the way of Robert Jordan and taking far too long to tell his story). His world is skillfully developed and feels both real and fantastic at the same time. His characters are interesting and well defined but remain mysterious - leaving a reader with the desire to learn more about them. (I REALLY want to know more about Liam's past as the scion of a noble house fallen on difficult times...)

Hood's plots, however, are the real reason you should buy his novels. He combines logical mysteries with the fantasy world he created and weaves puzzling and challenging plots which leave a reader always wanting to keep on turning pages. One reviewer of an earlier novel (Fanuilh - Hood's first) said it was predictable. I disagree, there were always several possible murderers until near the end - at which point the focus was more on how Rhenford was going to handle the situation.

These novels are great for fantasy enthusiasts and mystery lovers alike. Those who are both are in for a rare treat.

Unfortunately Mr. Hood has recently noted on his website that his publisher is suspending the series due to lower than expected sales. For this reason I suggest that all lovers of good fantasy get out their wallets and buy King's Cure - it is a great read and maybe we can get Liam Rhenford a second chance.

My reason for this is, of course, purely selfish: I want to read more Daniel Hood novels!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best fantasy writers around!
Review: Dan Hood is one of three authors on my "must buy" fantasy list. The others being Steven Brust and George R.R. Martin (Though I will say that George has the potential of going the way of Robert Jordan and taking far too long to tell his story). His world is skillfully developed and feels both real and fantastic at the same time. His characters are interesting and well defined but remain mysterious - leaving a reader with the desire to learn more about them. (I REALLY want to know more about Liam's past as the scion of a noble house fallen on difficult times...)

Hood's plots, however, are the real reason you should buy his novels. He combines logical mysteries with the fantasy world he created and weaves puzzling and challenging plots which leave a reader always wanting to keep on turning pages. One reviewer of an earlier novel (Fanuilh - Hood's first) said it was predictable. I disagree, there were always several possible murderers until near the end - at which point the focus was more on how Rhenford was going to handle the situation.

These novels are great for fantasy enthusiasts and mystery lovers alike. Those who are both are in for a rare treat.

Unfortunately Mr. Hood has recently noted on his website that his publisher is suspending the series due to lower than expected sales. For this reason I suggest that all lovers of good fantasy get out their wallets and buy King's Cure - it is a great read and maybe we can get Liam Rhenford a second chance.

My reason for this is, of course, purely selfish: I want to read more Daniel Hood novels!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best fantasy writers around!
Review: Dan Hood is one of three authors on my "must buy" fantasy list. The others being Steven Brust and George R.R. Martin (Though I will say that George has the potential of going the way of Robert Jordan and taking far too long to tell his story). His world is skillfully developed and feels both real and fantastic at the same time. His characters are interesting and well defined but remain mysterious - leaving a reader with the desire to learn more about them. (I REALLY want to know more about Liam's past as the scion of a noble house fallen on difficult times...)

Hood's plots, however, are the real reason you should buy his novels. He combines logical mysteries with the fantasy world he created and weaves puzzling and challenging plots which leave a reader always wanting to keep on turning pages. One reviewer of an earlier novel (Fanuilh - Hood's first) said it was predictable. I disagree, there were always several possible murderers until near the end - at which point the focus was more on how Rhenford was going to handle the situation.

These novels are great for fantasy enthusiasts and mystery lovers alike. Those who are both are in for a rare treat.

Unfortunately Mr. Hood has recently noted on his website that his publisher is suspending the series due to lower than expected sales. For this reason I suggest that all lovers of good fantasy get out their wallets and buy King's Cure - it is a great read and maybe we can get Liam Rhenford a second chance.

My reason for this is, of course, purely selfish: I want to read more Daniel Hood novels!

Rating:
Summary: This was great
Review: I felt that the story was fast paced. I really enjoyed the story and read it in one sitting of three hours. I have previously read two other books of Daniel Hood and enjoyed them as well. I hope sales of this series will pick up so that he may publish the next Liam Rhenford book that is sitting on his shelf as he said in his web page.

Rating:
Summary: Hood continues his fresh approach to Fantasy/Mystery.
Review: King's Cure is the fifth of the Fanuilh series but there's no need to read the earlier novels to enjoy this - however, you'll want to read them because they're pretty good! Liam is tasked by the Duke to travel to the capitol to research old trade routes. And, as long as you're going there, might as well deliver this unimportant package to a friend of the Duke....

In short order Liam is accused of treason and multiple murders , pursued by the police and their eerily efficient leader who always seems to be one step ahead of him, chased by the bad guys who have infiltrated the police and discovers Fanuilh thinks the whole deal is pretty funny!

Some things that impressed me about this novel... A brutally realistic brawl in which Liam makes the mistake of bringing a knife to a sword fight. Liam's narrow escapes from his pursuers which compared favorably with similar scenes from movie, "The Fugitive" (the Harrison Ford version).

Can't wait until the next Fanuilh book!

Rating:
Summary: Hood continues his fresh approach to Fantasy/Mystery.
Review: King's Cure is the fifth of the Fanuilh series but there's no need to read the earlier novels to enjoy this - however, you'll want to read them because they're pretty good! Liam is tasked by the Duke to travel to the capitol to research old trade routes. And, as long as you're going there, might as well deliver this unimportant package to a friend of the Duke....

In short order Liam is accused of treason and multiple murders , pursued by the police and their eerily efficient leader who always seems to be one step ahead of him, chased by the bad guys who have infiltrated the police and discovers Fanuilh thinks the whole deal is pretty funny!

Some things that impressed me about this novel... A brutally realistic brawl in which Liam makes the mistake of bringing a knife to a sword fight. Liam's narrow escapes from his pursuers which compared favorably with similar scenes from movie, "The Fugitive" (the Harrison Ford version).

Can't wait until the next Fanuilh book!

Rating:
Summary: Liam takes a dive in the capital of Torquay!
Review: Liam Rhenford meets his investigative match and small Dragons do have a sense of humor. Already we learn a couple of new facts.

In the latest Rhenford/Fanuilh adventure Liam is sent on a mission to the capital to look up some information and, "Oh yes, drop off this small package to an old friend of mine."

With that the chase is on. Liam finds the pursuit extremely challenging, particularly when he's bested at every turn by the Pacifex. The topic is quite bleak with the imminent demise of the heirless King in the offing but we find the usual touches of humor and wit.

Liam has gotten quite a bit more comfortable with Fanuilh and their partnership is every bit as entertaining as in the previous books.

Diverting and excellent.