Song of the Summer King (The Summer King Chronicles) (Volume 1)

So I started with the sample this morning, wound up buying the book and reading it all in a couple hours. It was a really good read. One other reviewer mentioned Redwall in their review, and it does bring to mind Redwall, but wilder.

I will admit that I didn't like the main character till well into the book. While I recognized he was finding himself and didn't know his past his repeated denials of it sounded a bit hollow, almost whiny. However, he came through in the end, and I was left wanting to know who he will be in the future.

Loved this story. I read alot of fantasy fiction and it was a refreshing change. I immediately came back to the store to buy the next book and was very disappointed to see that it has not been released yet.

Song of the Summer King is a beautifully-written book. I won't go into the plot too much here, since it's probably been done better than I could, but it's a page-turner, with wonderful characters and a fascinating background that's hinted at throughout the story. Can't wait for sequels!

It was an enjoyable read and although it had some predictable plot themes (dead parent, etc) there's quite a mystery to it that makes me excited for the next installment to the series. A great book if you are interested in fantasy, talking animals with very human qualities and conquering tendencies.

Shard is a gryfon, a confused gryfon at that. And no wonder, he is taking advice from what he thinks are his hereditary enemies! Raised to be loyal to his King and wingbrother, the Crown Prince, he none the less takes the advice of a wolf. And for a gryfon that can only lead to trouble and uncertainty. When he seeks to learn about his father he only compounds his confusion and that leads him to question his role in the gryfon pride.

It is an interesting story to a point, but by the end, the confusion felt by Shard is reflected in the way the book concludes. An intriguing way to get you to buy the next installment of the if the confusion is deliberate, but it seemed just messy to me.

Moral lessons, intrigue, and mystery in a story about conquering Griffins who are ruled by a mad king. Shard, the only remaining child of the former king, must weigh his options: does he continue to try to remain loyal and best friend to the king's son, or seek his own way to bring peace between the prides?

The story is great, lots of atmosphere and detail to the world, however the biggest problem that I have with this story is the fact that. There are so many characters with similar names that I get confused who is who sometimes. Don't believe me check it out for yourself.
Tyr and Tor
Caj and Catori
Sverin and Sigrun
Hallr and Halvden
Ahote and Ahanu

There are several really good reviews on here already so I will keep this short and too the point.

I received the book for free via the Kindle Lending Library programs and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It was in some ways similar to The Redwall (Book 1, Redwall) series by Brian Jacques. With that being said If I were to compare the this book to any book from the Red Wall series, then it would only get 3 out of 5 stars.

Personally I would rate it at 3.5 stars but that is mostly because I grew up reading the Red Wall series and its hard for me not to compare the two.

Because I feel that there is some personal bias on my part that makes it hard for me to judge this book fairly, I will be giving the book a rating of 4 stars.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good book to read and if you like this book then you will probably fall in love with the Red Wall series.

Signed,
Joshua Durben

I really enjoyed the story. It was refreshing seeing a story about griffins done with such visual imagery, animal wisdom, and wit. The characters were engaging, realistic in terms of personalities, and made more real by their environment (islands that suit a griffin’s flying talents, and a wood that suits a wolf’s hunting talents). It was also a gripping read: part of the reason I tore through it so fast was because I couldn’t put it down. Jess E. Owen also made it a point to avoid some stereotypes, which helped keep the story fresh.

The main drawback of the story to me were all the typos. I saw a number of repeated words and grammatically incorrect words that I thought could have been fixed with a little more proofreading. I’ve read so much that I can adjust the language to the words I know an author means to use, but it does take me out of the story a bit. I also found some of the characters to be too cookie-cutter. The writer conveys characters with enough development to make them believable, but some of them still fell into stereotypical roles early on, so certain behaviors didn't surprise me once I realized that.

Overall, it was a very good read, and I’m excited to see where the series goes.

How would The Lion King look like with gryfons, more grey areas than a movie from the twenties and a strong undertone of political revisionism?

It's an interesting question, and what pushes the story through. Brought us by the pen of Jess E. Owen, this book, the first instalment in a planned series, is an unusual take on the theme of classical heroic fantasy. And as usual I'm late to the party, but I'm glad I picked it up - there's a lot of similar stories out there, but this book really shines in its execution.

First, the basis. It's an animal fantasy story, with no traces of magic - its main source of inspiration as far as iconography goes seems to be the already referenced Lion King - set in a small archipelago of islands (the Silver Isles) where a pride of gryfons, as the author calls them, is caught in a descending spiral of violence against a tribe of wolves.

The author puts a lot of emphasis on the ritualistic aspects of gryfon's society, which seems to be dictated by the King for no immediately apparent reason. Flying at night and fishing are forbidden, and there's a rigid selection of the members of the pride that depends on his judgment - but why? The question is never asked directly, but its shadow appears in every page and is what ultimately pushes Shard, our hero, to oppose the status quo.

Hats off to the author for not choosing the easy way out - there's no (apparent) trace of magic, and the question itself is never answered by a character: this is a book that trusts his readers to be smart, to actually think about what the implication behind certain decisions mean. The theme of cultural demolition (and in the latter half, of creating an enemy for the people) is present throughout the story, with characters from the previous, defeated pride trying their best to never forget their old ways, that the current leaders seem to be trying to erase from everyone's memory.

Let me stop this review to point out one thing: the book is very character-driven, and while there do is a bit of action which increases gradually until the end, some of you folks might find themselves bored by the deliberately slow pace and extremely prolonged first act. This is evidently the point of the story though - the protagonist is torn between trying to fit in the pride (with a really smart move from the King in that sense at a certain point) and facing the fact that the pride itself was born out of a hostile takeover that decimated his original tribe and killed his family, and all that is carefully shown in his character development.

The prose is solid, with an 'old storyteller' feel to it that meshes nicely with the theme of songs and clashing of clans. There is some strong worldbuilding at work, with the adoption of a particular gryfon lingo to avoid breaking the suspension of disbelief: hours are sunmarks, and the cardinal points have been renamed to fit with the point of view of someone whose main references are waves, winds and stars. There's also a map of the Isles included, which is a nice touch.

Definitely recommended. Though its slow pace and sometimes too ancient-sounding prose can deter some people looking for more battle-oriented stuff, there's some talent at work here and a huge dose of trust in its readers. If you enjoy intelligently written fantasy works that can be read on more than one level, this is the book for you. And hey, if you just want to see gryfons and wolves beating each other to a pulp, this book also delivers. Just be warned that it might take a while.

This book is amazing. I was caught by the beautiful cover art. The paragraph blurb thing and title interested me, so I read the first few chapters. On page one I was captivated, and I knew then I would never leave Shard's world. And I was right. I'm still there in the Silver Isles, flying with the gryfons and hunting with the wolves.
The best part about this book is everything. The world building, detail, characters, plot, action, words, thinking, EVERYTHING. I especially love the songs though, and how slowly but steadily Shard changes.
ONE WILL RISE HIGHER
Urgh. Those words send a ripple of shivers down my spine every time I read, think, or speak those words.

Right from the beginning of this you are hooked. If you want to spend a few hours immersed in a completely different, completely creative and entertaining world, well, that's what you should expect.

Once I picked it up I really could not stop reading, you go through twists and turns following Shard and his journey which is really about discovering who he is. Every step of the way you meet others who you are uncertain of and questioning if they will help or hinder Shard and it brings the world of the Silver Isles to life. You can either read this to younger age groups or as an older adult, it really has something there for everyone I think.

The best thing about a new book (to me) is to be able to leave behind the world of reality and immerse yourself completely in the book. Jess Owen lets you do that. It really is a wonderful book with epic moments and characters that you create a bond with and want to follow throughout the journey. I can't wait for the next book to come out because of the great work that she did with a cliffhanger that makes you think "It's over? No, I need to know what happens next!! ". Be prepared to get sucked into this world and have slight anxiety coming back out.

A re-read, worth your buck, all the way.

I absolutely love fantasy and I love "animal adventure" stories, and this book (and entire series!) completely nails that. The first book draws you in and paints the world easily and naturally, leaving you eager to see what happens next.

I’ve always had a fascination with books revolving around non-human characters and this book feeds on that. The author creates a world full of gryphons and wolves each with their own culture and tales to tell. I don’t like spoilers so I’ll leave you with the knowledge that the young hero of this books journey revolves around finding himself in this world and discovering a true sense of right and wrong. So give it a try!

(Review from FantasyGazette.net)

Song of the Summer King is Jess E. Owen's debut novel, and I ripped through it in less than a week. I loved her style, the setting, and enjoyed the characters and plot.

Owen brings Shard's story to life with a style that's rich with strong verbs and vivid descriptions. Throughout the novel I could visualize the scenes and characters--I could see the fur of the she-wolf, the ocean lit by moonlight, and the Gryfon King adorned with dragon gold. For example, here are two sentences I just found scanning over the first part of the novel:

"Birch trees gave way to a ring of skeletal rowan, gnarled and dark. In autumn, their berries blazed like forest fires all over the islands, but now they only added to Shard's tension, for they offered shelter to enemies."

With her style, Owen transported me into another setting, another world. Not only could I feel and smell the Silver Isles, but I wanted to go there. Although the Song of the Summer King doesn't have magic in it, it felt magical.

The characters and plot have an archetypal feel. They are familiar, but not redundant. Owen individualizes them, making them into her own creations. For example, the gryfon Stigr serves as the mentor in the story, but he doesn't meet the same fate I've seen dozens of other mentors meet, which was a nice switch-up. Owen also plays with a few romantic subplots and takes some relationships in unexpected directions. While I encountered areas that were black-and-white when it came to good and bad, Owen lingered in areas where good and bad grayed, giving us situations and characters that felt real. The story also contains several twists and turns, and although none of them shocked me, they were enough to keep the plot fresh (and to keep me reading).

Overall, I loved Song of the Summer King because it balances familiarity with distinction, and because Owen writes with a stunning style. For me, the story was epic like The Lion King, and the creatures were reminiscent of those in Princess Mononoke--two films I watched religiously growing up. I loved the wolves and gryfons, especially Catori, and plan on buying the second book when it's released.

I recommend Song of the Summer King to middle graders and up and to anyone who is looking for an enthralling animal story that will transport them into another world.

I discovered this through Kickstarter, and am honoured for by first backing experience to be something as wonderful as this.

For a very long time I've been anxious about reading fresh material - these days, everyone is so bland, so recycled, and so very stale. But when I read the first few chapters, I felt something I hadn't felt from a new book in a very long time. I felt excited. Hooked. I would've done anything to keep reading, and indeed donated all I could to the project. You know the author's doing something right if you're desperate to read on!

Jess Owens has managed to create a vivid world that not only provides a backdrop for an epic coming of age story, but also gives the impression that the world is a living, breathing thing that existed way before the story's events, and long after the final page. The customs and lifestyle of the gryfons, too, is very well though out, meaning the characters actually feel like characters, and not just NPCs the main character, Shard, can intact with.

The story itself is intelligent and thoughtful, providing insight on a number of different issues and showing that even though we might wish it, things are rarely black and white. There are some brilliant action scenes, a few of which had me breathless in anticipation, and intense moments that sent shivers down the spine.

For those that might be concerned about the main characters being animals, don't be. I thought it might be a little weird at first, but as the story progressed I forgot why I cared so much - even though their bodies are covered in feathers and fur, their minds and souls are so very familiar and relatable you won't even notice it.

It's rare when a book of such caliber comes along, so don't let it slip away. Read it!

I purchased this book through kickstarter, via a recommendation on Deviant Art. Kickstarter is an amazing site for small, just starting projects and I'm glad that I was able to help this book. Moving on...

I just finished Song of The Summer King. It was a great book and I would recommend it to any who are interested in fantasy, gryphons , or adventures. The book was a great read and I would suggest it for pre-teen to teenagers (based on what I read when I was around those ages) I believe that there is a bit too much gore in it for those younger than that, but it isn't really my choice who reads it. Overall a great read that was wonderfully pulled together!
Happy Reading!!!

Like many others here, I first discovered SotSK through its humble beginning as a Kickstarter campaign, and have been thrilled to watch the novel enjoy such widespread success. What more can be added to the dozens of deservedly fantastic reviews for Jess Owen's debut? Song of the Summer King soars higher than the Gryfons of the Silver Isles, capturing readers in its talons from the first page and never letting go. From the amazing world to its diverse characters, everything here is brimming with life and depth. Owen's writing has an almost lyrical quality, and she weaves her narrative threads together in a style that feels effortless.

What are you doing still reading this? If you like fantasy, you need to pick up this book!

First off, I HIGHLY recommend you read this book if you like any sort of fantasy creature or animal stories, or just enjoy a good read. -- I first heard about this on deviantart, which lead me to kickstarter, where I pledged to help with the project. I got the ebook on pre-release and started reading as soon as I could! From the very beginning I was sucked right in. I tend to skim read and found myself *trying* to slow down. It was just SO good that I couldn't. I wound up finishing the book in less than 12 hours total. At the end I was sad because it was over so quick, by my own fault of course. There are plans for a second book, and I hope it will be out sooner than planned.

The descriptions are quite detailed and it easily puts the image in your head. It was kind of like I was watching a movie of it at the same time. Never mind the character names! They are very well thought out, and very original. I am eagerly awaiting more from this author, not just more of this series.

I was lucky enough to recieve this book pre-release through a Kickstarter campaign and have loved reading it.

It creates a magical world of Gryfons and Wolves on the Silver Isles, complete with geography, cultures and history. It has a great plot full of adventure, intrigue and discovery. The story follows a young Gryfon coming of age and discovering a secret legacy that will force him to pick a side in the coming war, but which one? The chapters are the right length to tempt you to keep reading 'just one more before stopping' - I found it difficult to put down! The world is brought to life beautifully and the characters quickly engage you. Although written as YA, like all of the best fiction in that category (Harry Potter etc.), it appeals to all ages and should not be passed over by anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction. The ending sets us up nicely for the next book, which I think might be due out at Christmas. I can't wait to see how the story continues. I wish new readers ''Fair Winds" on their adventures!

I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns the plot took in this story. The characters were more real seeming than other books of this type I have read. Looking forward to reading more of this series.

The Song of the summer king is Incredible, probably one of the best books ever. This book kept me hooked till the very end. Lots of twists and turns witch made the book really exciting. Favorite characters is Einnar and Shard, I like the mystery to the book too. You will Love this book believe me. This is why I rated It Five Stars.