Of Last Resort (Princes of the Blood) (Volume 1) Paperback – January 1, 2014

I don’t know that I’ve ever felt more conflicted about a review. Partly because I really loved this story and its setting, and partly because Megan Derr is a fairly terrific writer, but also because Megan Derr is a master at short stories. I’ve read dozens of hers, singly and in collections, and I’m consistently impressed. Writing a successful short story requires a certain economy of language.One of the reasons I feel so ambivalent about this book is that she seems to have applied those same principles here, and, IMO, the story suffers for it. This book could have been *epic*. The world Derr thought up is massive and sweeping, with flavors that remind me a bit of the Wheel of Time and the Stormlight Archive – both hefty series that suck you in so deeply you can taste the air and count the threads in the nobles’ clothing and feel the tingle of magic right there in your bedroom – with a dash of Dungeons & Dragons, what with the magic coming from divine, profane, and arcane sources.It never makes it to “epic,” though, because even though we get a taste of what could be, Derr made the decision to stay largely on the surface. Is it because a 700-page book is harder to sell? There are risks in going that direction, I’m sure, not least of which is a slew of reviewers clamoring for the author to shut up and get to the point already. (I’m fairly sure I’ve never posted that sentiment in a review, but I may have thought it once or twice. *cough*Goodkind*cough*) In other words, with a world less rich, with characters less developed, I’d probably agree with the less-is-more folks. But this had all the hallmarks of a story able to survive the wordy detail and come out on the other side with a rabid fandom. Deserving a rabid fandom! The author could have just taken part one – just the first few chapters – and expanded them into an entire volume, and the world Derr built could have supported it. There’s so much potential to dive into, and yet it stayed short and skimmed the surface. Similarly, the characters are so nuanced and well done, but the story skims along so fast that we don’t get to know them as intimately as we could. There are fourteen kinds of magical folks, but even the couple that have direct action in the story are barely explored. I’m not saying she told the story poorly, and I'll say right up front that it doesn't come across as shallow so much as just not as substantial as it could be. For what it is, it’s really good. It just could have been so, so much better. She dreamed up this amazing world with its amazing people, amazing magic, amazing races, and then, IMO, she sold it all short.Megan Derr made some odd choices. Well, I shouldn’t phrase it that way. I’ve read enough of her stuff to be able to trust that she’s making her decisions for a reason, but had I been telling this story, I might (OK, would) have chosen differently.One of those choices is with the point of view. It switches between two characters, but only twice. The book is divided into three parts, and each entire part is devoted to one POV. That was a bit jarring. In my opinion, there’s a sweet spot for authors who want to alternate main characters, and it lies somewhere between switching so often the reader gets seasick (and exasperated, since that method tends to result in about a million mini-cliffhangers) and giving whole swaths of story to one character. We need to change often enough to be able to relate to both characters equally by the time the book hits its stride. That didn’t happen here, and I was, if not disappointed, then at least surprised. The spacing was broad enough that you forget how to relate to the other character.Then there’s the little stuff. The map in the beginning? I like maps. I like to be able to see where people are, and are going, and to judge distances and proximity...the maps add to the experience for a reader like me. Never mind that in the e-book version on my little 7” Kindle, the photo doesn’t expand enough to read the florid script used for the labels. No, because even with that, whoever drew it dribbled spots all over it. (Ink? Blood? Dunno what it’s supposed to represent.) It’s just a tease.I’ve used a lot of words to describe why the book didn’t get five stars, but before I quit altogether I want to make sure you realize that I STILL almost gave the book, well, not sure, but more than three. Even though I could almost cry with disappointment since Derr got so. freaking. close. to writing the story that I’ve been searching for for perhaps my entire adult life. But if I ignore that disappointment, I see a story that turns our notions of good and evil, heaven and hell, on their ears. I see a book in which I could totally submerge myself, even as I knew I was still playing in the shallow end. I see a world that makes me itch to find out more about the different countries and the different kinds of magic and the different races of beings.I see a story that, despite its failure to reach a potential that, since Megan Derr has proven that she knows what she’s doing to my satisfaction, I can only assume she didn’t WANT to reach for some reason (Woman, are you nuts?? You almost got compared to Robert Freaking Jordan and his millions of readers and his posthumous 47 million book contract!), kept me reading every last minute I could spare. And some I couldn’t; I was late to work yesterday.So how’s that for being no help at all? I don’t want to recommend it because in some ways it’s such a failure to launch and will drive you crazy if you’re anything at all like me, and I HAVE to recommend it because even as a disappointment it was great. (If it helps, I'm starting book two as soon as I post this.)

I pretty much agree with another third star reviewer. I click buy on pretty much every novel by this writer, but while this one contains several trademarks of her style, I did not feel it was her best effort.It has complex magical system, where interesting creatures (humans, and not humans, humans but not quite) defend the kingdom from evil and the hero who is thrown in the set up partially by chance, but partially because he is brave and felt the need to offer himself instead of his brother to help his family.Hero maturing on the job, being accepted by fellow warriors, I read it in her books before, but I did not feel that the set up was the same at all, she almost always gives it a nice twist. However it felt like the story piqued in several wrong places and what I felt was needed to tell me as a reader was not and information I got several times felt kind of useless.But I am making allowances for this being first book in the series - especially because several characters felt underdeveloped. It was a gripping story, but I needed more.

I cannot believe I overlooked Fred's Princes of Blood stories for so long. I actually got interested in Derr's unique brand of style with Kristof and Hakon's story a couple of years ago, then got sidetracked by her tales of some unicorn and fantastical shifter creature and Sarrica and Allen's The King's Golden Tongue until Korin and Telme's story threw me so off track, I lost my taste for the Princes of Blood. I had, unfortunately, or fortunately as the case may be, already purchased all the Princes books -- I simply couldn't make myself read anymore of their stories for awhile. I was (temporarily, it seems) repelled by all that befell and was revealed in that one story that had all of them dying save Korin and Telme. Recently, I went through all my ebooks left unread after purchase, and ventured into Derr's PoB books (again), succumbing to their "magic," sense of exotic history, and most of all, her characters' dry witticisms and banter yet again. What can I say? I just enjoy her writing even though I found that one tale distasteful.Raffe and Alrin's story is beautiful, albeit plagued with unfairness, and it seems Raffe will never get his HEA, but in true Derr fashion, the twists and turns of her plot are intriguing and satisfying aside from her abrupt endings. I wish she'd give more detail in her epilogues, which are quite abbreviated when compared to her elaborate plot twists, but that is part of her style, I suppose. Still, one can wish. 4.5 stars.

Demons, prists, dragons, shifters, Mages, paladins. Alchemists, shades, shadowmarch... Welcome to the Legion. The elite military force that guards the kingdom and literally fights back hell on earth. And it just gets better from there. This is an Incredibly well crafted, gorgeous Fantasy world with the kind of depth you can really skin your teeth into. Complex characters, epic plot, very well written and very cleverly written as well. If you love either fantasy or epic romance you will drool all over your ipad for this book. The span and complexity of the setting is just immense, but the story grabs you just as fiercely. You very much get the feeling that you're following just one or two characters in a huge cast, but that everyone else has stories that are just as interesting. The book overall is very polished, with most defects being minor and nothing that really detracts from the book. I would encourage the author to write a revision with greater depth and explanation into certain aspects of the characters' lives - magic systems for example - and filling in some of what happens during the time skips, but that kind of excess would enhance the book while not being strictly essential.Certainly looking forward to more from this author and this universe. Rating: approx. 4 stars

I enjoyed every minuet off this book as i felt I was shoved into this world from the very first word, the first chapter just caught me and I was hooked. I did try to put it down as I have exams extremely soon but I need to know what would happen to these amazing characters. This novel is an epic thriller/ fantasy with a nice helping of romance and these strong warriors who protect their kingdom Princes of the Blood have husbands and it is not discussed just expected and I thought that was amazing. Alrin was definitely my favourite character as he is the coolest Dragon Captain and possessive as hell - His pov of the story was my favourite as it gave a different perspective to this story. The book cover is also amazing I wanted the book just because of this cover its so pretty. So overall a great book!

Megan Derr at her best - I loved it. It's a clever intricate tale with demons,angels,sorcerers, - just about every type of paranormal is here somewhere with the fairytale elements of classic Derr - kings, princes and kingdoms to be protected. The main character is an unassuming man who ends up so much more. I hope more tales follow as this is up there with my previous favourites of her the dance with the devil series ( which is brilliant so worth a read if you haven't already ) . More please

brilliant story cant get enough from this author

Im a big fan of the fantasy genre and this one is a good one. I haven't read any of her other books but will definitely be looking for more - love the world she has created and her writing is excellent. I always love to find new authors and it is very rare that I find one where it's worth investing in their other books. Well done!