It is with inconstant conviction that we must confess the Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I (UOR) by Tracy Falbe has slipped quietly into a coma and we have hence removed it from listening-support. In other words - WSRH. The axe fell later in the story than most, around episode 15. Only The Leviathan Chronicles earned a WSRH later (say, perchance we are not chronicle lovers? Nah, silly coincidence). In common, both have some sparkling qualities which make they somewhat compelling. They both share outstanding production. They both failed in the story, which, as we harp-on time and again, needs be the real magic.
Ms. Falbe employed Dark Fire Productions and their near-incomparable Chris Snelgrove to do the job. Aside from Chris's annoying rendition of a French Canadian accent for two female characters (seriously, Chris, we need to talk) he is his usual fantastic. The WSRH would have been assigned had we read the book directly, most assuredly. As always, we wish to illustrate our issues, not merely sling-mud. The writing issues are both global and specific, and despite some attractive aspects of the book. For example, we commend Ms. Falbe on her imagination and unique insights. The story is diverse and the action complex. She demonstrates empathy for her characters - aside, lamentably, from the male lead.
Global issues are the construct of a plot based (we extrapolate from 15 episodes experience) on cooperation and 'union' between god-like magical beings and very pedestrian mortals. In the battle for Heaven, God and his angels did not call on man to form an alliance to defeat evil. Why would they? We would have brought veritable zero to the table. The same flaw barks-out at us in UOR.
When we say there are specific issues we, in the final assessment, could not overlook were, in essence, the lead male. He needed a lot of work to rise to the level of acceptable - passable. His fatal flaw is the he whines incessantly. If we wish to experience whiners, we need only go to work. They are there unavoidable. We do not relish spending our leisure time re-experiencing them. Examples. He gets pissed at his boss and quits at the worse of times because he is essentially an idiot and over-reacts. His girl friend is trapped on an ice mountain and scheduled to expire asap and he whines that he will not attempt a rescue until the children - who are safe in a nice castle - come too. He is told it is unsafe and imprudent to visit the girl friend when they first arrive at the castle. Instead of adhering to good advice from a supportive ally, he whines, that he wants to go to her. Oh yes, whining abounds.
Also, the male lead displays uncanny and consistently imbecilic decision-making. They flee into the wilderness. They are assaulted by ravenous wolves and horrific monsters yet they press-ahead in lieu of a wise retreat (no, Trac, even before the evil queen warped their minds and stole the child - even before that). His arguing with his new buddy about not rescuing his damsel in distress unless the kids come climb the mountain too. At most times, the lead's dialogue - his manner of speech - is stilted and unrealistic. People don't talk like he does and it detracts from the character's credibility. Other flaws abound, Why would the queen go to all the trouble of having said girl friend hauled-off to a mountain top to freeze to death when she could snap her fingers and the girl would burst into flames. It the tiresome old plot twist of setting up a death scenario in which if the villain had only just done the deed no escape would have been possible. Remember Batman and how he always extricated himself because the arch-villain left the scene too soon? Oh, and the cover. Ms. Falbe, a successful novel cannot be fronted with a picture of your neighbor on his way to a Ren-Faire. We notice subsequent covers are quite nice. Why start the series with the weakest cover?
Okay, enough said. We admire anyone with the conviction and insight to pen a work of fiction. We specifically admire Ms. Falbe's efforts. They do not fall too short of passable and she will doubtlessly improve. Hopefully that improvement will be offered in a series other than UOR sequels, as we are out in terms of that series. Even if Book II were brilliant, if we cannot get through Book I we would be in the dark, right? As we say, we are not here to impugn or pick-on Ms. Falbe. We simply, as always, wish only to offer our opinion in the for-what-it's-worth category while supplying specific examples. As a podcast, most listeners will enjoy it as it is so well produced and the story is, as we said, not too far off the mark. We, however, are not most listeners.
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