The Lone Apprentice

by I.K. Spencer

When a forgotten member of Isaencarl’s secret King’s Guard is ambushed outside a tavern, his horror truly begins when he discovers his attacker’s identity. With no one to trust in the elite covert brotherhood, it falls to a mere apprentice, Anthen, to risk his very soul on a quest of many leagues to stop a powerful sorcerer and gathering darkness that threaten to obliterate the entire realm and beyond.

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570 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 4, 2014

About the author

I. K. Spencer lives in New Hampshire with his wife and family pets. He is currently working on several projects, including the next book in the Guardsman series. When I. K. is not writing, he works as a software engineer.

"If you enjoyed one of my books, please consider reviewing or rating the book at your favorite retailer and/or here. Many readers use review/rating counts in eBook selection so they are critical in helping readers find books from authors who aren't already household names.

Thank you very much for taking the time to visit this profile and I can be reached at [email protected]."

Reviews

[Jarome · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely and I especially liked the protagonist. I like stoic, introspective, understated heroes who are men/women of few words so am drawn to Anthen as I am to Roland Deschain, Arathorn, and any Clint Eastwood character. I also favor the direct writing style as well the author's discipline to avoid tangents and stay on plot. Add to that an unpredictable yet straightforward plot and you get what I consider a 5-star novel. Fantasy readers who are of a similar mindset should enjoy this book.

[Darrul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice classic quest fantasy that is never predictable. Like GOT it's light on the fantasy scale and has complex, realistic characters but also unlike GOT, avoids being convoluted. It builds suspense from the start and has a strong ending.

[Geanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Lone Apprentice" is now one of my favorites in this genre. I appreciate that it doesn't make me wait a hundred pages for anything interesting to happen. The author starts off with action and seamlessly weaves in needed background while maintaining suspense, and the level of suspense is greater than with most fantasies. It's almost a hybrid fantasy-thriller. It has a strong plot and even stronger characters. Can't wait for the sequel!

[Aegrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel. It's fast-paced and unpredictable and has great, believable characters. I especially liked Kyreial. To me it's the best kind of fantasy novel - the world may be a fantasy but the characters seem very real.

[Lindab · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read and I enjoyed it. Yes it is a classic quest fantasy so in that sense is formulaic but there are enough unique elements to make it a compelling and fast read. Another reason is that it has deep and realistic characters, unlike many books of this genre, and even a love triangle. It starts off with a bang and then drags a bit for a few chapters but picks up again and keeps you interested the rest of the way.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was hard to put down and I find that more and more rare. I loved the characters...very believable. And I loved that it was never confusing or convoluted like a lot of books today, which I think helps get and keep you interested. A good quest fantasy takes you on a suspenseful adventure and this is one of the best quest fantasy novels I've read from that perspective.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! It has it all... a compelling story, fast pace, suspense, believable characters, great imagery, etc

[Helene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific!! Started with a bang and kept me interested throughout. I like the combination of the imaginary world with realistic characters that behave like real people would. I also like that the plot didn't get overly complex with too many characters. That made it more suspenseful, along with the down-to-earth writing style.

[Kermit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice quest fantasy with some unusual elements, like the special ops/cia-like organization, Anthen's special ability, and some unusual creatures (especially those creepy things in the labyrinth). I also like that it was not convoluted and I didn't have to wade through a hundred pages before anything interesting happened.

[Sofie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Lone Apprentice" is about a special apprentice in an elite fighting force who has to be used to stop a traitor. I found the plot suspenseful and the book easy to read but I especially enjoyed the cast of characters the apprentice finds along the way. I liked their interaction and the descriptions of their journey and I didn't want their adventure to end.

[Wesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd recommend this to anyone who likes "old school" quest adventure fantasies. It starts off with action, has a lot of suspense, and has a great ensemble of characters. And though it may follow the quest fantasy formula it's never predictable. I thought the premise and plot both quite unique, as well as the fantasy world in which they live.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it - a unique and interesting plot with great characters written in a way that kept me turning pages from start to finish.