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Reviewed by Caitlin Lyle Farley for Readers' Favorite
When Durvious leaves his home to pursue a life of adventure, he has no idea just how soon his adventures will begin. An encounter with a forest of enchanted, sentient trees with homicidal tendencies leaves him badly injured. He liberates Fergusson, the son of a wealthy trader, from the wreckage of his carriage, and the pair are fortunate enough to be rescued by high ranked soldiers, who deliver them to the Shifting Fortress in Karthridge to be healed. When Fergusson’s adopted sister appears and hears of her family’s death in the forest, she calls for her brother's and Durvious’ heads. Arling the Battle Mage helps the pair escape from the fortress and, in return, they agree to deliver a magical artefact to the Temple of the Empty Fist. Bad fortune, mercenaries, and the powerful warlock hunting them complicate this task.
Beginner’s Luck by Jon Wlodarek is action-packed and filled with adventure from the first page. There’s some repetitiveness in the first few chapters, but it’s minor. The omniscient viewpoint caught me off guard at first since it’s somewhat unusual in modern fiction. Apart from these two points, I found Beginner’s Luck engaging, stimulating, and humorous. There are violent scenes and they are explicit at times, but I thought they were realistic rather than gratuitous. Durvious’ lack of experience and skill adds an interesting aspect to his character and this story, forcing him into decisions and situations one doesn’t often encounter with more typical heroes. Wlodarek’s potential is undeniable and Beginner’s Luck is an excellent start to what promises to be a captivating series.
