Kindle Edition Download to your Nook (eBook) Download from Apple iTunes (eBook) Download from Smashwords (eBook) Amazon Gambit of the Glass Crowns Category:  Fantasy Publisher: Rookpen Publishing ISBN-10:  0989260712 Type: Fiction Pages: 370 Copyright: May 6, 2013 ISBN-13: 9780989260718 Price: $4.95 (eBook) The heart of any great fantasy novel has always been the characters, and the heart beats fierce and free in volume one of Risso’s The Sundered Kingdoms Trilogy."Gambit of the Glass Crowns," a tale of conspiracy, adventure, magic, and romance. Bled dry by decades of war, religious strife, and bloody political intrigue, Dweömer is changing. At the heart of the tumult is Connor, the unwitting harbinger to the end of an era and doomed to die before his time. From the chivalrous royal court of the high king to the sacred forest enclave of Arlais, Connor must find his own part to play on the mummers’ stage, just as Gawain, the duke’s renegade bastard son, and Bronwen, the ambitious young queen, navigate their own ways through the tempest. With so much hanging by a thread, the stage is set for the final act of a dying age. Conspiracy, adventure, magic, and romance abound in this first book in Risso’s The Sundered Kingdoms Trilogy.

★★★★★ Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
Gambit of the Glass Crowns by Ethan Risso is Volume One of The Sundered Kingdoms Trilogy. Connor unwillingly becomes a herald of his era, due to the poisonous Féinmhuinín’s arrow that nearly killed him. Wars, tension between clans, political conspiracy as well as magic and romance -- Connor must find his destined path through all this.

Gambit of the Glass Crowns hits the ground running with the attack of Castle Cærwyn in Chapter I. The pace of the story is excellent. Political drama, magic, and other elements blend perfectly in this exciting fantasy tale. I appreciate the fact that a glossary for characters' names and backgrounds is provided in the beginning of the novel. It certainly helps to identify with the diverse set of characters. Ethan Risso brilliantly weaves the story with faultless prose and ensures each character receives enough attention and development as the novel progresses.

Volume One is, without doubt, a great start for the trilogy, and I genuinely think that Ethan Risso has sealed his place in the writing industry through his debut. The plot is unpredictable and multi-layered. Readers will definitely gravitate toward Connor in no time, and will support his endeavors and cheer every time he survives an ordeal. I'm also fascinated with the Meïnir and I cannot wait to see how Connor will adjust to his new role in Arlais.

All in all, I highly recommend this beautifully crafted fantasy to fellow readers and I look forward to Volume Two of The Sundered Kingdoms Trilogy.

★★★★★ Excellent Piece of Work
Talk about jumping in with both feet! This is not a novel where pages and pages linger on about the backstory of the world and characters. Risso is definitely an author who knows how to reveal the world to us a little at a time, always tantalizing us with wanting more.

I've always been a firm believer in the success of a fantasy story being if it hold up as a terrific read if you strip it of any and all magic. It's as though Risso read my mind, as that's precisely how well the characters are written. Be warned! You are going to hate some of these people. But, you are also going to love a good number of them. I couldn't help root for Connor as he went from a weakling who didn't know what to do into a strong hero, in control of his own destiny.

This is a great new series. There's mystery, actions, drama, and romance, pretty much everything you could want in a series. Nothing in the book is ever just as it seems either. Without giving too much away, you will think you have everything figured out, only to be astounded by plot twist after plost twist!

I can't wait for the next book to come out!

★★★★★ Opens Readers To A New World
Gambit of the Glass Crowns is not your average fantasy novel. Believe me, I should know! Typically after reading the first ten pages of a fantasy novel, I tend to get confused or bored. Please do not take this as an offense.

However, after being introduced to Ethan's characters in the first book of The Sundered Kingdoms trilogy, I found myself very connected to them and this new world that I am thrown into. Dweömer feels so real and the detailed description throughout contributes to the captivating setting. I think it's very rare to find such an emotional connection to characters of the fantasy genre. It takes away from the adventure, but it helps build characterization.

This one is definitely a winner! it goes beyond magic and adventures, but dedicate its time to characters and their lifestyles. A must read indeed!