The Hero's Lot

The Staff and the Sword #2

by Patrick W. Carr

With the King Near Death, Will the Kingdom Fall?

When Sarin Valon, the corrupt and dangerous church leader, flees the city of Erinon and the kingdom, Errol Stone believes his troubles have at last ended. But he and his friends still have dangerous enemies working against them in secrets and whispers.

In a bid to keep them from the axe, Archbenefice Canon sends Martin and Luis to Errol's home village, Callowford, to discover what makes him so important to the kingdom, and in that journey they discover amazing new secrets about the workings of Aurae.

Back in Erinon, Errol is unjustly accused of consorting with spirits. Convicted, his punishment is a journey to the enemy kingdom of Merakh, where he must find Sarin Valon and kill him. To enforce their sentence, the church leaders place Errol under a compulsion--he must complete his task, or die trying.

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Christian Fantasy, Adventure, Science Fiction Fantasy

449 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2013

About the author

Patrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last eighteen years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary. Patrick and Mary have four sons who are living their own adventures all across the country. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.

Reviews

[Ariana Pedigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve said it once- to the author in fact- this book is simply scrumdiddlyumptious!
My previous experience with the first novel in the Staff and the Sword series, A Cast of Stones, left me breathless from excitement, not to mention praising Deas for Patrick W. Carr and his adventurous series. (Read my full review for "A Cast of Stones" Here):http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

The Hero's Lot, starts off just as mysterious as "A Cast of Stones", each chapter is filled with such exuberance, and the characters, are just as fantastic as before! I'll admit there is a bit more of a romantic flair to "The Hero's Lot", especially between Errol and another person of supreme importance... One of the lines I particularly enjoyed, was- “Her mouth set. "I've already lost one man I loved tonight. I will not lose the other." She glared at him. "And curse you, you stone head, for making me say it first.”
With a book like "The Hero's Lot" on your bookshelf you will not be bored.

We begin with Earl Errol Stone, is summoned before the Judica,and is put under compulsion to go and kill Sarin Valon. While Marten, Luis and Cruke head in the opposite direction, returning their attentions to Callowford. On their journey there, they meet a new character Karele who probably is my new favorite, he is a horsemaster. Errol teams up with an enemy from the first book, and we are rejoined by the defrocked priest Conger. We are delighted once more with Rohka's presence, and Rale's...(Rale who was a fantastic character in the first book is even cooler in the second book.) Though,not as fascinating as Marten in this novel, I think Marten had a lot more interesting characteristics in this book than the first.

While each party is sent in different directions they are destined to meet once more to finish in the second novel, together. From there I really don't have to continue...the summoning just paralyzes the heart, and suddenly your own mind cannot translate the words on the page fast enough for the brain, because you want to know how the story ends as quickly as possible! Our heroes go from one dangerous spot to another, so close to the brink of war, with Rodran in declining health. This book will take you on a crazy and wild ride, the plot twists and is filled with unexpected surprises! I would say this novel is an absolute and profoundly delighting gyre!

Of course, it should be known this book mainly keeps to the same characters as "A Cast of Stones", but it doesn't have much about Liam, so...anyone who was a fan of Liam in the earlier novel will be disappointed to find that most of the time, he is just mentioned.

There is a really, really, amazing scene in this book which will blow you away! When Marten is in the Shadow Lands, I was terrified, and I did have nails at one time or another but sadly they're all gone now. The Blood Rose, is a very emotional and beautiful part in the book, "To die before marrying anyone else", is a beautiful and very poetic thing for Patrick W. Carr to add to this series.

This book is a brilliant anywhere and everywhere book to read,you don't actually think about sitting down and reading the book, your mind just guides you to the chair and your hands know where you last stopped, and you never notice how time slips away, or that you lost feeling to your feet two hours past. There is a good mixture of laughs, love, and adventure.

The Hero's Lot, is a must read for any fantasy lover, and like I said before, if you aren't a lover of Christian Fiction that is no problem, the Biblical messages are strong, but not overbearing. The action, adventure and romance is fantastic, it is superb for most any age to enjoy. It does include some violence, but with books they are only as gruesome as our imaginations make them. This book, is destined to please.

[Madisyn Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Rating
***

When in Illustria, there are five rules to remember:
1) Don't receive a compulsion.
2) Don't receive excommunication.
3) Don't claim to be an herbwoman or of having anything to do with said herbwoman.
4) Shifty things are afoot in the capital.
5. Don't anger a priest.

Somehow, Errol Stone has managed to forget four out of five rules.

PLOT
Picking up where A Cast of Stones left off, the reader is immersed into a tale of convoluted politics, questionable loyalties, sympathetic characters, danger, missions, and more danger. I remained on the edge of my seat the entire time.

SETTING
There are as many different settings as there are characters, yet Carr does an excellent job of keeping everything straight and helping the reader not get confused.

CHARACTERS
Errol:
I want to both hug and slap Errol. He needs hugs because of all he's been through (and all he will be going through, yet sometimes he can't see the truth in front of him. His character arc is shaping up to be magnificent, thought.

Martin:
Fat priest and liturgy extraordinaire, Martin is both impulsive and a thinking man. I really like how his arc commenced, as it provided us with a deeper insight into his thoughts, actions, and growth.

Secondary Characters:
Luis, Karele, Rale, Cruk, and Ru were great, as always. I liked Adore more in this book, but she does have some moments of empty-headedness, which can be mildly irritating. Nothing that subtracts from my rating, though.

And I need more of Merodach, please and thank you.

FAITH
This series feels like it's written from a more Catholic bent, and while I have multiple issues with the general of Catholicisim, I didn't notice any questionable religion/faith in this book. I mentioned this in Book One, but it still bugs me how no one takes Errol under their spiritual mentorship wing. They teach him fighting and other skillsets, but only one character is invested in his faith, and that for only a short bit of time.

There is demon possession, but it is not painted favorable. An allegory of the demons being chained in the Tigres River is alluded to.

There were a few instances where I couldn't tell if the Lord's name in vain is being used, so there's the .5 star reduction.

VIOLENCE
There is a lot of violence, but all handled very well. Characters fight, are chased, shot, and injured, people sacrifice their lives for others, and are attacked. There's nothing gruesome.

CONTENT WARNING
It is implied that a certain people group are...passionate individuals. Nothing more is said on the matter. A harem is mentioned and a female character reassures a male character she hasn't been "taken" in that way.

WHAT I WASN'T FOND OF
Aside from Adora being irritating on occasion and the potential Lord's name in vains, parts of the writing style bugged me. Now, keep in mind I think Carr is a masterful author. His ability to string together a captivating story, complete with complex characters and intricate worldbuilding, astounds me. But I hate this type of writing: He stopped. Just. or, He glanced at his hand. Grimaced.. There isn't a ton of that, but it is sprinkled in, and that style just drives me up the wall and batty as batty can be. It's a detriment to Carr's fantastic story-weaving abilities.

But, like I said, it's not in there often. Just enough to occasionally annoy me.

CONCLUSION
Superb worldbuilding and captivating plots and characters combine to make The Hero's Lot one incredible continuation. While I do have a few beefs, my rating stands strong at 4.5. Do be sure to read A Cast of Stones before this one, though, else you'll be lost. As in, Errol-wandering-through-the-capital-on-his-first-day lost.

[Terri Rochenski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been dying for this book since I gobbled up the first, A Cast of Stones, back in January. You can find my 5 star review HERE.

In book one we were introduced to Errol Stone, a young village drunk, who as typically in fantasy stories goes on to be some one of great importance to the kingdom. I’m not a fan of giving plot points away in reviews, so I’ll just say that Mr. Carr wove the story in a fresh, new way that had me clicking away on my kindle until ‘The End’. Couldn’t get enough of his character, of the young man’s plight, and his flight across the country.

In The Hero's Lot, Mr. Carr once again takes the reader into a well thought out world, one full of intrigue and details to create and roll a movie though the mind. Without fluff or purple prose, Errol’s country comes alive. The characters are consistent and more than one tugs on the heart strings.

On occasion, fantasy sequels bring about one problem after another in order to make up a series, often feeling forced. Not so with The Staff and the Sword! Book two is a perfect continuation of the conflict from book one. There is a natural progression that is pleasing and comfortable for someone as nitpicky as I am.

In The Hero's Lot, the focus is on two journeys, and I have to be honest and say that Errol’s took a back seat to Martin’s, the priest, for me. The emotions Martin deals with, the choices he is confronted with moved me much more than Errol’s. Yes, our MC is once more facing danger and death, but *spoiler alert is a must here* an element of romance is brought in that fell flat and felt forced for me. There is zero emotional development between the two – nix that. There is some on the female’s side, but we’re not given enough insight into Errol’s thoughts concerning her beyond his confusion. I’ve never met a male as clueless as our Errol, and for me that’s a big believability issue, which you all know I’m a total stickler for.

For that reason, book two started out slow for me. Yes, I was interested, but I had no problem putting down my kindle when I got tired. Just wasn’t as compelling as book one until about the ¾ mark. THEN we got rolling. The problem is, is that once that climactic moment hit, there were a lot of scenes that were summed up – told in a way that lowered the tension. When a group of people are escaping death, I want to taste and feel their fear for as long as possible.

Now it could be that some scenes were skimmed over in order to keep the word count at a decent number, but I would have enjoyed this book much more had the first half been skimmed and what should have been heart-pounding ending drawn out until I sweated.

All that being said (can we tell I was woken up early this morning and only had ½ cup of coffee??) I really did enjoy this book. It is complex, well thought out, and well worth the read.

Will I read book three? I heard Mr. Carr has finished writing it, but it won’t be available soon enough in my opinion. Can’t wait.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hero's Lot is a case of the second book in the trilogy exceeding the first. From page one, the action is non-stop and the pacing is just right. The learning and growth of the characters are sprinkled in just enough to keep me invested where pure action wouldn't.

I don't know why there's a big focus on this being a Christian Fantasy. I actually think it would be appreciated by a wider audience, and I'm glad I stumbled on the first book through NetGalley.

It's not a very obvious or simple allegory as some in this category are, and is hardly recognizable as our Medieval Christian past. I feel as if I'm reading about another, well-developed world with its own history and religion. Other than the priests and a sort of Trinity, one of whom is a son who saved humanity at some point, it's not recognizably Christian either. (Well, it's more obvious now that I think about it, but it wasn't while I was reading.) I would say the worldview has its inspiration there, but the story is a great adventure with some thoughtful and noble characters who really know what they're doing with a sword or a staff.

The first book set up the world, the magic of lots, and the characters, and now they begin to live. Corruption in the church has the upper hand for now, but in spite of the odds being against him, Errol's hopeless journey is one of discovery. Beliefs are challenged, what is known is proven false, and even the priests question their own prejudices and assumptions.

Beyond that, there are sword fights and whirling staffs, and demon-possessed monsters giving chase. This was solidly an adventure more than political or religious intrigue. As a second book, it increased the complexity and tension of the conflict that's coming instead of getting bogged down. The ending left me eager to find out what happens next. All hell is going to break loose - literally, I think. I can't wait to see how it plays out.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hero's Lot is the second installment in The Staff and The Sword trilogy by Patrick W. Carr. After being pleasantly surprised by the first book, A Cast of Stones, I was looking forward to starting this one and am glad to say it was also good.

I liked how we learned a lot more about Errol in this story and some of it was surprising. I liked the fighting scenes, as they were intense and grabbed your attention. There were a few sections that I didn't find as interesting (basically the ones that didn't involve Errol), but the ending made up for that as I LOVED the way it ended. It was a great ending and one that leaves me anxious to finish the trilogy as soon as I can.

If you like fantasy novels I think you will enjoy The Hero's Lot.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has come out of nowhere to be a big favorite of mine. It continues to be a fairly traditional fantasy story, with a few twists. As I've said before, being 'traditional' is not a negative for me. I love a good story done well, and that is exactly what Carr has done here. If you thought Errol was put through the ringer (i.e. met with a lot of bad circumstances) in book 1, just wait until you read this second book. His character continues to grow and evolve, despite the continued bad circumstances. How he deals with these situations, and grows with them is one of my favorite parts of the book. Errol is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters in the last several years, in any book/series. He is that good.

Overall, this was another emotionally draining, excellent addition to The Staff & The Sword series. If you are a fan of the Riyria series by Michael Sullivan, you NEED to read these. Just about everything you liked about those books, you will find here. This series truly deserves a wider audience.

[Pam Funke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley for the purpose of review. The review is my honest opinion and I was not paid for this service.

The author gives us another great story with the continuation of Errol's journey in The Hero's Lot. The author continues to entertain the reader and draw them into the world of Errol. I was definitely not disappointed with this next book in Carr's The Staff and The Sword series. Carr is a wonderful storyteller with a creative imagination. This story is full of action and twists and turns to keep the reader glued to the book. This is one series that is hard to put down.

I recommend this book for anyone who wants to read a good medieval times story.

[Denali Christianson ~Semi-active~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
I really liked this book. It was a dizzying ride through dangerous new lands and new characters. I especially loved Errol's character development and the introduction of Karele (who is the coolest person ever to live if I might add my personal opinion!)
The writing was smooth and easy to follow. The descriptions were complete but didn't take up too much space, and Carr succeeded in painting more of his world with immense success. As stated above, the character development was wonderful and all the characters turned out to be very well-rounded. The mystery and the stakes rose to another level, which was maddening and fun to read at the same time. Carr did a masterful job of revealing the answers slowly, making it less of a drop off a cliff and more of a discovery. I especially enjoyed the variety of the plot. If not an improvement from the first book, it certainly lived up to expectations, finishing on a complete note but leaving plenty (and I mean plenty ) of space for a sequel.
I think my only problem with the story would have been the emotions. In order for me to give a book 5 stars, I need to become one with the fantasy world. In order for this to be accomplished, the emotions of the characters involved must be raw and revealing, to the point that I myself can feel them. This never once occurred throughout the entirety of the book. I definitely struggled with this, as there were moments when it was clear that Errol should have been screaming in emotional pain and yet... somehow he wasn't? Confused here? Maybe I'm too much of an emotion junky, but it felt flat.
All in all, I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of Christian fantasy.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even better than book one. So glad I have a copy of the third book so I can continue with this story.

[India Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im really enjoying this series. Feels like I've read this before although Im pretty sure I haven't. Its jsut weirdly familiar

[Pamela Bronson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than the first one. I really enjoyed this tale of a desperate quest.

This is obviously part of a trilogy, but it stops in a good place. However, I hope the library can get me the third one soon.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book #2 in the Staff and the Sword series by Patrick Carr.

I really enjoyed A Cast of Stones and I had such high hopes for this book but I just wasn’t feeling it.

I hate saying that because the author is such a friendly and cool guy—participating on facebook and interacting with fans. I still admire that and I will still be picking up book three when it comes out!

I have to be honest though and say that I just didn’t connect with this book. I felt it hit a lull in parts and the story didn’t pick up until the last six chapters or so. Once the story picked up I felt that it was a bit rushed. I just felt a little bored and I have to be honest no matter how much I appreciate and enjoy the author. Truth is, you're not going to like every single book by any author. So please don't let my review scare you off from this fantastic writer.

Errol is under a compulsion and is off on his next adventure. At this point in time he’s went from a sorry drunk to the hero in the grand scheme of things—that doesn’t mean that people like him or trust him.

I have to admit, I skimmed a good bit because I felt bored but there’s a love interest for Errol and I thought she was a bit—dull. I’m not sure why I found the love interest to be so boring but I literally had to yawn whenever he fawned and drooled over her so I won’t spend much time hitting on that aspect of the story.

Martin is off having an adventure of his own—I have to admit that jumping between the story lines was another bit of contention for me. I wanted to read about one or the other and just as I started to be interested it would change views. I don’t remember multiple views in the first book but it just annoyed me in this one.

Overall—it’s a solid three star. I would like to have seen a rich development on Errol and a bit of the intensity and drama that was apparent in the last chapters of the book.
View all my reviews|Read an Excerpt

[Kira Murphey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew when I started this book last night that I wouldn't sleep. I stayed up way too late reading, and then started again as soon as I could in the morning; the highest praise I can give a book.

[R.M. Lutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent sequel to A Cast of Stones. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has read the first book! (Read more at my blog, thebookhoundchristianspecfic.blogspot.com)

[Lydia Redwine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My actual rating for this book is 4.5, but I've rounded it up to 5 because consistency. It makes my eyeballs feel good.

This rating means I have more issues with this second installment of The Staff and Sword trilogy, but it is also the second book in my favorite trilogy of all time so obviously I loved in for plenty of reasons!

Some issues though:

•I'm going to try not to scream but this book seriously 100000% needs a map. A MAP. There are soooo many places in this book and a map representing where they are in relation to each other as well as with details of mountains and water sources would make the reading experience far better. *sighs deeply*

•I've said before that I appreciate this series for having adult characters for reasons other than to just killing them off, making them utter idiots, or making them evil, and this installment has one of these characters with his own pov. Which I really really liked except for the fact that I don't really like the guy. So yes, Martin. He's an interesting, realistic character, yes, but I don't care for him much or relate to him. More on that below...

•There are ALOT of inconsistencies with the magic of casting lots and the compulsions which I won't go into much. I didn't really notice them until they were blatantly pointed out to me but now leaves me feeling rather irked. The compulsions I may be able to understand because perhaps it works different with different people but even this is never mentioned on the book.

•Although my love for Rokah is infinite, there is one aspect about her character in this book that I disliked. Rokah's idea of how women should be treated is rather twisted. She advocates mind games to Errol when he's pursuing Adora by claiming that Adora won't want him if she believes Errol doesn't want her while Errol believes at first that if you want someone you're suppose to honor and respect them. So yes, I love that Errol believes that and doesn't follow Rokah's advice but STILL. Rokah may enjoy mind games herself (which is fine), but her pushing them onto Errol rather annoyed me. It all plays up to the "nice guys finish last" persona that I quite frankly despise and the fact that the author has implemented the idea from the FEMALE character irks me. Had a male character in competition with Errol for Adora been the one I would have better accepted it even if it were extremely cliche.

•The romance is very much based on infatuation and not real love between Errol and Adora. Yes, the kissing scenes are great (ya'll know about my love for a well written kiss) BUT Adora seems to get angry with Errol too quickly, and Errol at many times seems completely unconcerned for her welfare. So do I ship it? In this book, not really.

•There is absolutely no diversity when it comes to religion. Zero. Okay...there are some minor characters who are more diverse but...
Every single one of the main characters acknowledges that God exists etc. etc. which I like EXECPT for the fact that there are very very few main/supporting atheist characters. And the only reason I have an issue with this is because in real life, in a real world with many places, there are differences in religion. Yes, some religious differences are seen in this book, but there aren't any apparent characters who are straight up atheist. Even the frickin Morgols worship their horses! As for the "Christian" (except they aren't called Christians) don't really have much of a spiritual depth themselves or with Deas (God) which bugs me because why is religion so important to people but not something that the main characters actually think deeply about?? Martin has more of a relationship with Deas but I mean, he has to if he's a priest right?? I kinda feel like religion is just thrown into the story when actually it's far more prevalent in a deeper manner in the real world to even those who don't practice religion. Most people understand that religion is important, even if it isn't important to them, but that it is for others. Most people don't acknowledge religion as "simply being there" as most of the characters in this book do.

•The writing style while still beautiful in word choice and flow drops significantly in this book. There is sooooo much telling and far to little showing with scenes consisting of "this happened" and then "this happened" and the characters hardly give any reaction! This makes everyone in the story look like a piece of cardboard when in reality they could be so much more!

Yes, I just called my favorite characters cardboard...help (book 3 is so much better!)

As for why this book has stolen my heart...

•Imma take a moment to go back to Martin because even while I don't love him his part of the story had a lot going to for it. It had fantastic world building/history behind certain things in the world. It had more clarity on the religious structure of his nation. It had dangerous missions with a BIG reveal (okay...a few big reveals), and held a very exciting part of the story. Plus his lack of physical strength left a comical aspect to the story. He's a smart, loyal character who could be a favorite if I could actually relate to him.

•The character growth is wonderful, and nearly everyone has it.

Let's talk about my girls first:

•Adora appeared at the end of A Cast of Stones, and because she wasn't a huge part of the first installment I skipped over her in that review BUT HERE she plays a larger role. Adora is at first a rash, somewhat stupid, spoiled princess who makes decisions based on her infatuation for Errol rather than ya know THE GOOD OF HER PEOPLE. But she has some things going for her. She's independent minded, knows what she wants and is determined to get it, and is fierce and loyal. By the end of The Hero's Lot, we already glimpse her development and will see much more in book 3! So if you're extremely annoyed with her in this book, it will actually make you love her all the more later on!

•Rokah is baaaaack and that's about all of have to say since I've previously established my love for her character. I would, however, like to mention that we do see a more vulnerable side to her in this book as well as her talents in healing which weren't a huge part of book one. In this installment Rokah (and can we talk about how much I love her name???) becomes a far more vital piece of the story.

•And now for my previously mentioned darling Errol (Earl now) Stone. Still my favorite of ever even if he is kinda like cardboard in this book. We learn so much about him here!!

•Some other characters I really like come back like Cruk, Rale, and Naaman Ru whose development from to-hell-with-that-bastard to OK-You're-actually-loyal-and-awesome-now is pretty much one of my favorite things.

Some other things I liked:

•The Compulsions. Even with its inconsistencies, this aspect of the story turns the church from "perfect" to "it's actually kinda horrible cuz ya know...its run by HUMANS." When the church wants to force someone to do something they lay a compulsion on them which means if they do not fulfill the task set before time in a timely manner they will lose their mind and die. This is a horrible thing but makes the story interesting. And ultimately drives the plot since Errol is under compulsion to go kill Sarin Valon. Aka the evil dude.

•Sarin Valon is perhaps the best villain name I've ever heard of.

•Actually all the names in this book are great. People and places.

•The ENDING (the lasts 6 chapters or so) is the best part of the story. Hands down. The action and plot accelerates to a point that nearly saves the story from its cardboard characters. It's a really really good ending and one of the best I've read!

•World Building is this book's best aspect. In A Cast of Stones, the world building is minimal (no thanks to the absence of a map) and quite frankly, left me wanting more...which is usually good but not in that case. In THIS BOOK, however, we learn more about a kingdom threat known as the Morgols (if I'm even spelling that right) who live in the mountains. (It's kinda got a Game of Thrones vibe which IM LIVING FOR.) We also learn more of people called the Basquons (again idk about the spelling because I'm too lazy to go back to the book and figure it out) who have err...interesting wedding ceremonies. And finally, FINALLY we enter Merakh (I think spelled it right??) and boy is it interesting!

If only I had a map to show me where all of IT IS.

So all in all I have issues with the book but also a great amount of love. I would tell first time readers of this book that the read is worth it if you liked book 1. And book 3 is so much better!! (I CANT WAIT TO REVIEW IT.)

"I say bad things happen. Sometimes it's because of the choices we make, and sometimes it's because of the choices other people make, and sometimes it's just happens."

[Lemon · Rating 4 out of 5]

OOH! It got better!! With the romance (somewhat...still skeptical), with the story, even with the world!! The spiritual elements were so well woven in again and never felt out of place! And I loved how every character's arc in the book progressed (and I....love how the journey into the enemy kingdom went. Mostly because of the ANGST and SPOILERS).

Yup. That's basically my two cents of the book. Amazing again, better-written-than-last, still a bit skeptical on some things, but eagerly awaiting reading the third book! I'm rooting for deaths, for lifes, and all that stuff...but we shall see. :D

[Fadé · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite author yet!

[Janet Sketchley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Staff & The Sword series needs to be read in order. And it's worth reading without seeing the spoilers for book 1 that will appear in the following review of book 2. If you haven't read book 1, A Cast of Stones, you can see my review here. If it appeals, pop over to your favourite internet bookstore and download the book for free in Kindle, Nook or Kobo format.

I have so many books in my to-read stash that I'd forgotten I had A Cast of Stones until a review caught my interest. It took great self-control not to immediately buy The Hero's Lot when I finished, and this time I went ahead and bought book 3, A Draw of Kings, to read immediately after book 2. Book 3 is $9.99 Canadian. I'll only pay that much for an exceptional ebook. This series is worth it.

Enough rambling. Here's my review of book 2, with the aforementioned spoilers for book 1:

The Hero's Lot continues the saga of Errol Stone, a reluctant hero who somehow survived the first book. Naturally (for Errol) just when life is looking good, he's thrown back into danger. This time he's sent on an impossible quest. His friends Martin and Luis are sent on another path that turns out nearly as dangerous.

The world of Illustra bears a striking similarity to a mediaeval type of Earth, and its religion echoes key elements of Christianity. Illustra's deity is a Trinity: Deas, Eleison and the "unknowable" spirit, Aurae. Except that the healers, rejected by the official Church (definitely a capital C for this institution) say Aurae communes with them.

Illustra's Church has many devout priests, as well as others who have done untold harm in its name. Errol knows this better than most, and his pain is almost his undoing. The characters take an honest look at the problem of hypocrisy and abuse of power within the Church, and I think readers who've had their own negative experiences with Christians and/or the church will find this series a safe place to be. No pat answers, no denial, but perhaps a gradual presentation of hope.

Lovers of epic fantasy, whether they're people of faith or not, can appreciate the sweeping nature of the series, with its intricately-crafted world and cultures, characters who inspire loyalty (or enmity), chases, combat scenes, plus threads of romance and the occasional funny line.

Some of my favourite lines:

Questions chased each other through his mind like unruly acolytes playing tag before vespers. [Martin, a priest. Kindle page 58]

"I always think better when I hold a cup of tea," Karele said. "It keeps my hands from running away with my thoughts." [Kindle page 75]

Naaman Ru moved through opposition like a phantom, and the touch of his shadow brought death. [Part of a fight scene. Kindle page 423]

I read a lot of books, most of them very good. Sometimes it starts to feel like work. With A Cast of Stones and The Hero's Lot, I wanted to keep reading and see what happened, but I also wanted to take it slowly so the story wouldn't end too soon. For me, that's rare.

It's also worth noting that the covers for this series are amazing.

Patrick W. Carr is an award-winning author of character-driven fantasy. His new series, The Darkwater Saga, releases this fall. For more about the author or to sign up for his newsletter, visit patrickwcarr.com.

[Review copy from my personal library.]

[KJ Hoelscher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love a great trilogy

Adventure awaits, but beware, it may keep you up past your bedtime...you’ve been warned! Now, where is that third book!

[Christian Fiction Addiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick W. Carr returns in fine form with the second book in "The Staff and The Sword" series. The pages are alive with action-packed scenes, stirring drama, and a splash of romance too! Carr has done a masterful job at continuing to develop the character of Errol, a character that inspires loyalty with his painful past and the manner in which he continues to grow and succeed over insurmountable odds. "The Hero's Lot" adds a lot to the series, providing many answers to what is going on in the Kingdom, and hinting at who Errol really is and the future role he will play in determining the fate of the kingdom. The supporting cast of characters continue to be fantastic as well, and I am eager to find out how they will all fare in the third book in the series. The book is quite lengthy, but I felt that the overall pace of the story kept moving along quite well. I do wish that the book included a map of all of the different locations that the characters visit as I would like to clearly visualize who was going where in the story. However, the book is filled with vivid descriptions that allowed me to create the world in my mind...and perhaps that's how the author prefers it!

I continue to enjoy how the story captures the essence of faith, and the parallels to the Holy Spirit and his interaction in the lives of the people in the story particularly interested me. Despite being a fantasy fiction novel, the scenes that I read stirred my faith as well, and I am confident that readers will find a lot to relate to in the midst of this imaginative story.

I strongly recommend this fine addition to the fantasy fiction genre, and award it 4 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

[Aj Hult · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say that hasn't already been said?
I loved, and I mean loved, this book.
Lately there have been too many sequels that have fallen flat in their storytelling because of the rush to create a trilogy. Trilogy's are wonderful things when there is a story to tell...especially when non stop action and character development fill those books.
Mr. Carr's second book, Hero's Lot, in no way fell short in this trilogy. In fact, it took this trilogy to a new level in both action, character development and reader emotion. (I add readers emotions because I found myself slamming my kindle down and shouting "WHAT?!?! NO!!!!" at a certain and specific scene. Those of you who read it...well...you should know of which I speak.)
I forced myself to read this book as slowly as possible, but half way through gave up and read to simply enjoy the journey. To say that when I found out the third book doesn't come out until Feb, broke my heart...well...that really was not an understatement. (I am now in the process of appealing to this author to let me have a sneak peak before I die of anticipation!)

PS...I also want to just quickly say how impressed I am with this author and his writing style. To think that Cast of Stones was this Authors first novel is mind blowing to me.

Well...Tootles!

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Hero’s Lot is the second book in Patrick W. Carr’s The Staff & The Sword series. I enjoyed A Cast of Stones, the first book in the series. I found it engaging.

The Hero’s Lot was not as good. I struggled to finish it. It was much less interesting that the first. The characters were not very distinct, and new ones were introduced, and I had a hard time keeping them apart. (It doesn’t help that they sometimes have more than one name, like Rale/Elar Indomiel.) I also found the vocabulary of the fantasy world getting in the way as there were words whose meaning I just couldn’t remember. I could have used both a glossary and a cast of characters in the back of the book.

I also felt that the book became much more religious. This series is published by Bethany House, a Christian publisher, but I didn’t find the religion heavy handed in the first book. Occasional plot twists were quite eye-rolling, and the narrative lost focus at times. The romance between main character Errol and Princess Adora felt utterly unoriginal.

The last 75 pages or so returned to the level of the first book, but it was a long slog to get to them (the book is 437 pages long). Still, those final pages renewed my interest enough that I will try the third book, A Draw of Kings.

[Zac Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot twists keep you interested in each chapter, although at times they can be a little too convenient for the story. Errol's plight is delved into from his perspective and we hear of little from his companions througout the second half of this book.
I'm interested to see how the final book in this series portrays Aurae. The church in Illustra is still somewhat mysterious but I bet the Draw of Kings will clear that up.

[Ed Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Very good story line with unexpected twists and turns that left me breathless. His characters are lifelike and believable, like people everywhere. Highly recommended.

[rodger reece · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was whisked off my feet by this book!

[Antonie Kler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The adventures continue and expand, loved the inner dialogue of a man who never wanted to be a hero accepting his lot in life.

[Brittney Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Rating: 4.5 stars

Note: This is the 2nd volume in the Staff and the Sword series so this will not be an in-depth review.

We, as Christians, are taught that the Lord fills any individual that chooses to follow his path with the Holy Ghost and uses them to further his teachings, but what if a society of people was to lose this knowledge? In Patrick W. Carr’s series The Staff and the Sword, this question and the many others that surface as a result are explored. These series is set in a world called Illustra, which closely resembles late medieval Europe. Due to an event in their past, the kingdom has lost access to its only copy of Deus’s (God’s) word. After this occurred, the church or Judica was desperate to cover up their mistake so they hide the fact that the book even existed and reworked the entirety of the religion using what they could remember from their studies of the book. However, Deus has other plans and so he enables two young boys to be born- Liam and Errol, and sets them on the path to rectify the mistakes that the church have made and bring His Word back to the people.

The best thing about this book was how it opened up the world more as so far, we have only been in Illustra. In this book, our cast of characters gets split up and goes on two separate quests- one group to the neighboring kingdom of Merakh and one group back to Errol and Liam’s home village of Callowford because the church wants to know why they are so important to the kingdom. Over the course of both of these quests, we get to see the world fleshed out on a grand scale and we learn so much background on this world and characters (I can’t give details because of spoilers, but these journeys mirror many of the grand Biblical journeys if you want some perspective.) These journeys were hands-down the best part of the story.

I also loved the character development that Errol goes through, both mentally and physically. For instance, Errol learns some very troubling information about his past and what Deus’s intended purpose for him might be. At first, Errol loses his will to live because he doesn’t see the point if his life is already predetermined, but after having a very personal experience with Deus’s word (which I won’t spoil as it is a major plot point in the book); he is able to come to terms with his place in the fabric of Deus’s will. Also, Errol is an amazing fighter, whether it is with the staff or his twin blades, Dextra and Sinistra. Before he left to go to Merakh, he was known as the 2nd-best fighter in the kingdom, but that was when he could only fight with the staff. After learning how to fight with Dextra and Sinistra, I guarantee that he will be the best fighter, although we won’t know that until he gets back to the kingdom in book 3. I love the fact that he is this amazing natural fighter that actually abhors killing. Finally, I love the fact he isn’t our traditional hero as he is filled with self-doubt and always questioning if he deserves the renown that he has received. He thinks his friend, Liam, deserves it because Liam does fill the traditional hero troupe. He actually says at one point that fate/Deus must not like him because he keeps putting challenges in his way, not realizing that Deus is putting all those challenges in his way to prepare him for the responsibly of leading, whether he likes it or not. I love that he is going through these struggles and challenges because it makes his character so much believable and makes me want to root for him. To be honest, if Errol’s story wasn’t so interesting, then I wouldn’t keep reading these books or rating them so highly.

All in all, if you want a fantasy that has wholesome Christian themes and an interesting main character that you can’t help but root for, then I highly recommend this series. It has become one of my favorites and I look forward to buying my own copies when I get a little extra cash. Although, I will be checking out the next book from my library ASAP because I can’t wait to see what happens next. 4.5 stars

[Honeybee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books in recent memory! I read a Cast of Stone by the same author--thanks to a free eBook offered at Christian Book Distributors. I enjoyed that one so much, I added the rest of the series to my wish list on Amazon. When no one in my family took the hint and got the second book for me, I ordered it myself on sale. I am SOOOO glad, since this book is even better than the first!

The Hero's Lot picks up where A Cast of Stone left off. Errol Stone is recovering from injuries incurred when he rescued the kingdom of Illustra from a vicious attack by ferrals--beasts that are half man/half demon (or mallus, as they are called in the Staff and Sword series). Although the young hero has been awarded the title of earl for his bravery, he is still regarded by many of the gentry as a mere peasant and a foolish boy. Falsely accused of serious crimes in the eyes of the church, Errol soon finds himself on a quest to find and kill the man that poses the greatest threat to the kingdom--a fellow omne, who has defected to the enemy kingdom of Merakh and has launched multiple attacks against Illustra in general and Errol in particular. Placed under compulsion by the church, the young man encounters many adventures and eventually finds the object of his quest, Valon, who is possessed by a powerful mallus and is in league with the Merakhi high priest and warlord. Along the way, Errol pledges his eternal love to the princess Adora and earns the respect of Naaman Ru and his uncle. Both Errol and the princess learn new skills of self-defense and strategy. However, the earl and his fellow travelers are betrayed, captured and enslaved before they are able to make a move to free themselves and the Merakhi from the evil forces at work in the desert kingdom.

Meanwhile, the priest, Martin, is sent on an assignment of his own: Find out what makes Errol so important to the Merakhi. Martin returns to the village where A Cast of Stones first took place. There he learns the ugly truth of both Errol and Liam's parentage. He also meets a healer who claims to know the third, and purportedly unknowable, member of the Illustrian Trinity, Aurae. The man, who calls himself a solis, demonstrates his power over Luis' ability to cast an accurate lot, and then leads Martin, his guard Cruk, and the reader Luis to two the leaders of the solis, Radere and Adele, despite the presence of enemy forces all around them. The two herbwomen tell Martin more than he wants to hear and then give their lives to save the little band from the Merakh army. He realizes the seriousness of the compulsion he has placed on himself by vowing to tell Errol everything he knows.

Everything Martin has been taught as a member of the clergy is challenged by his experiences along his journey--his religious beliefs, his understanding of history and his role in the church and the kingdom. He has a life-changing personal encounter with the God he thought no man could know. While imprisoned in the Merakh fortress, Errol has a life-changing encounter, as well. He is invited by his captor to read the holy book that was lost to Illustra long ago. And in it, he finds new meaning and a reason to go on living.

Going back and forth between the points of view of Errol and Martin, this story had me hooked from page one. I hated putting it down to go to bed, and I found myself longing to pick it up again while I was at work. The plot, the action, the suspense and the characters drew me in, and would not let me go!

If you enjoy romance, adventure, intrigue, and magic, with a positive, spiritual message, then this is a fantasy worth reading. It is as engaging and well-written as any Tolkien or Lewis novel, and yet it is unique in its plot and elements. I can't wait to read the third and final book in the series!

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having helped unmask Sarin Valon as the corrupt, possessed reader working to undermine the Judica and destroy the kingdom, Errol Stone desperately hopes that at long last his troubles have ended. For in a so short a relative span of time as to leave his head spinning, Errol's life has been left irrevocably changed by the church's call on his life. Raised from the Callowford ale barrel to an earldom by the king, honored as a captain of the watch, and hailed far and wide as a hero, with the adoration of a princess, Errol remains ill at ease in his new skin, still wary of association with the church that he holds responsible for many of his darkest memories. But Errol's respite is destined to be a short one, as with Illustra's king on his deathbed and the identity of Deas's (God) appointed heir shrouded in mystery, those who would seek to supplant Deas's direction and the power of the church marshal their forces, eager to strike a blow at the heart of the kingdom at its weakest and usurp the throne. As an omne -- one with the power to read a lot cast by any reader -- Errol's gift marks him as an ally of the church and a threat to be eliminated -- or turned -- by those seeking to overthrow the kingdom. It is from the latter quarter where the latest threat to Errol manifests itself, as he is brought before the Judica on charges of consorting the spirits -- specifically, the herbwomen who claim Aurae is knowable -- and more seriously, of seeking to undermine the church's authority by participating in Martin and Luis's efforts to cast for the next king.

In a desperate bid to save Errol from the charge of treason, the Archbenefice arranges to have him convicted on the lesser charge of consorting with spirits -- but the gambit has unexpected consequences. The Judica's ruling is to place a compulsion on Errol, ordering him to follow the traitorous Valon into the heart of Merakh and kill him. It's a death sentence in all but name; nevertheless, Errol is forced to obey the compulsion, and gathers an unlikely group of allies to aid him in his quest. Meanwhile, Martin and Luis have fled the capital to Errol's home village, seeking to uncover why Deas has so magnified Errol's importance to the kingdom, irrevocably weaving the unlikely hero's future with Illustra's best hope of survival. As their respective journeys progress, the dangers mount, even as the compulsion Errol is under intensifies, driving him onward. Secrets are revealed and faith is tested, and Errol is forced to decide if Deas's call on his life, greater than any compulsion which the church could place on him, is worth the sacrifice of service, even unto the cost of his very life.

A Cast of Stones, the first installment chronicling Errol's journey and Carr's masterful debut, was one of my favorite reads upon discovery, and happily remains so upon revisiting. The Hero's Lot avoids the pitfall of the sophomore slump entirely -- every bit as good as its predecessor, here the characterizations and world-building that made Errol's first adventure such a captivating, enriching experience are deepened and expanded. Errol's journey is a fully-realized, gloriously imaginative world laced with deeply personal, thought-provoking spiritual truths. This is my favorite kind of storytelling -- absorbing, fast-paced, and breathtakingly original.

Carr is proving to be a master at bringing fresh life to the monomyth, Joseph Campbell's term defining the universal nature of the heroic journey. That journey consists of three parts: the separation, initiation, and return, and both this and the previous installment of Errol's journey contain elements of this cycle. But as the middle installment of a trilogy, The Hero's Lot delves deeply into what it means for the hero to be initiated -- the process, the cost, and the risk. Having been called out of his former life as Callowford's resident drunk, Errol is no longer who he was, but not yet all he can be, all he shall be if he responds to the call upon his life. And this initiation that Errol endures over the course of this novel is the darkest, most intense test of his mettle yet. The journey into Merakh is an exploration of the nature of heroism and sacrifice at its finest, richly imagined, and at its center a wonderfully, painfully relatable character whose weaknesses and doubts mirror our own -- but who, in still acting, paints a picture of the best we can be -- and that encapsulates, I think, why stories of this ilk have such enduring power.

I love the world-building in these novels. In the first installment Carr introduces a society peopled by nobles, priests, warriors and peasants, a world at once both instantly recognizable and tantalizingly foreign, enough of a fresh twist on the tropes of a medieval fantasy to fire the imagination and keep one turning pages at a rapid pace. In The Hero's Lot, Carr takes his world-building to new heights, diving deeply into the rich possibilities of the social and religious hierarchy he's created. At the heart of Errol and his companions' journey -- particularly as relates to Errol and Martin -- is an exploration of what it means to seek to know one's God, to hunger for a deeper relationship with the divine Creator. Concurrently with that personal theme is a study of what it means to be part of the church, that glorious mix of human failings and unlimited potential. Through Errol, Carr offers an oft-times stark, wrenching exploration of the failings and fall-out of the human side of the church, but never fails to contrast the dark with what it means when that collective body is at its best. It's a thought-provoking call to remember that while man may -- and indeed, will -- fail, the God of that most fragile of organizations, the church, is ever-ready to answer one's call.

That is one of the many reasons I adore fiction of this type, for its ability to illustrate eternal truths through the lens of a compelling story. The Hero's Lot is superb storytelling -- fast-paced, old-fashioned adventure laced with subtly-drawn spiritual truths and unforgettable characters that captivate your heart and stay in your imagination long after the final pages are turned. This is a world I've grown to love and characters so dear, so wonderfully-realized I consider them friends. Much like its predecessor, The Hero's Lot is an experience to savor, and like the best fantasy fiction, it entertains, enlightens, and challenges readers, hooking you with its compelling lead and breakneck pace, leaving you eager for the next installment and loathe to leave its world behind, even briefly. I LOVE this story and am so happy to experience this richly rewarding journey. The Hero's Lot is a hero's tale, worthily, magnificently told.

This reading marks my second time to experience this dark crisis hour of Errol's journey, and I was powerfully struck afresh by the heartache woven throughout his story, forming such an integral part of his character. Pain of any sort is the one thing mankind would perhaps agree on wishing to avoid, however, there is nothing like heartache for stripping away the dross and reminding one of what is truly precious. As Errol and Martin each discover in their own way that Aurae, the Spirit of Deas, is knowable -- without priestly intercession, knowable to any who seek Him -- I was powerfully reminded of how much, how easy it is to take my faith for granted. Errol's journey from drunk to hero is writ with the power of scriptures on his heart, refining and redeeming the broken pieces of his soul -- and gorgeously-rendered illustration of the transformative power of sold-out faith. This is fiction at its finest, worth revisiting often and carefully, for the truths within point to eternal truths that never lose their power.

Note: I first reviewed this book in February 2014. This review is a slightly revised & expanded version of my initial thoughts on the book.

[Melissa Bunce · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my review of Book 1, I expressed some disappointment that the first installment did not give me a sense of God's presence in the narrative. The book was clearly influenced by Christian theology, but Deas did not seem to have any true connection or relationship to the characters.

That changed in Book 2. The characters express their faith more, and they even interact with Deas through his spirit, Aurae. Book 2 definitely met my expectations as Christian Fiction, and I predict we'll experience more development in Book 3, which I can't wait to read.

While Book 1 was told entirely from Errol's perspective, Book 2 alternates between Errol and the priest, Martin. I personally enjoyed Errol's perspective more, but Martin's journey was so important to the narrative, it kept my attention. Martin's story introduced readers to Karele, a fascinating new character who demonstrates how even the most faithful believers can still fall short. His addition to the story explained so much about Book 1, and I desperately want more scenes between him and Errol in Book 3.

Book 2 also developed Errol's relationship with the princess, Adora. I'm always interested to see how authors of one gender portray characters of the other gender. Sometimes I'm impressed, and sometimes I'm disappointed. In this case, I was initially undecided because of Rokha.

Rokha is your standard strong female character. I don't object to this because she has the backstory to support her strength and personality. But the way she describes women manipulating men had me questioning how closely the author shared her views. Rokha made several comments about Adora's (and all women's) preferences that are stereotypical and honestly unkind. I didn't want Rokha's opinions to be validated, because she's often portrayed as competent, intelligent, and credible. But I genuinely don't like how Rokha views other women.

Fortunately, I think it's safe to separate Rokha's opinions from the author's opinions. Adora's character has been consistently kind, courageous, and faithful. She's also reckless and potentially selfish, depending on how you feel about a princess’s obligation to her kingdom, but it's hard to say, because we're reading from Errol's perspective, not Adora's.

Regardless, both Adora and Rokha have their flaws. They are both portrayed as strong females (in different ways), but neither of them are perfect, which is something I personally appreciate as a reader.

I really enjoyed this book, and I can't wait to start the next one.