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Pale Kings (Emaneska Series Book 2) Kindle Edition
The Pale Kings are rising. Emaneska's Long Winter remains as bitter as a blade between the ribs. War is fast approaching. Gods and demons are hovering on the horizon. Long-lost revelations arrive to haunt the lives of three men.
While Farden the Written mage busies himself digging up his past in the strange deserts of Paraia, the storm-clouds begin to gather for Durnus, Elessi, Cheska, and Modren.
Together with Farfallen and his dragon-riders, they must fight to survive against the Long Winter, the vicious machinations of the new Arkmage, and the arrival of something much deadlier than both combined.
War, deception, and murder are quickly becoming the only paths to salvation.
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication date27 Feb. 2012
- Reading age15 - 18 years
- File size4498 KB
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All 4£18.96
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First 3£13.97
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All 4£18.96
This option includes 3 books.
This option includes 4 books.
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Product description
About the Author
Aside from writing and dreaming up lies to tell his readers, Ben works as a self-publishing consultant and tutor, helping fellow authors from all over the world to publish and sell books. His guide Shelf Help will tell you all you need to know about DIY self-publishing.
Ben can be found being loquacious and attempting to be witty on Twitter (@BenGalley), Facebook (/BenGalleyAuthor) or at his website bengalley.com.
Product details
- ASIN : B007EW03P4
- Publisher : BenGalley.com; 1st edition (27 Feb. 2012)
- Language : English
- File size : 4498 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 599 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: 166,206 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 101 in Low Fantasy (Books)
- 472 in Nordic Myth & Legend Fantasy eBooks
- 489 in Arthurian Fantasy
- Customer reviews:
About the author
Get a free copy of "The Iron Keys" - a prequel short story from Ben's Emaneska Series at: www.linktr.ee/bengalley
Ben Galley is a British author of dark and epic fantasy who currently lurks in Vancouver, Canada. Since publishing his Emaneska Series in 2010, Ben has released the award-winning Scarlet Star Trilogy and The Heart of Stone, the critically-acclaimed Chasing Graves Trilogy and Scalussen Chronicles, and the new Bloodwood Saga.
When he isn't conjuring up new stories or arguing the finer points of magic systems and dragon anatomy, Ben terrorises the Canadian wilds, swills Scotch single malts, and snowboards very, very badly. One day he hopes to haunt an epic treehouse in the mountains and dole out side quests to passersby.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings, help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoyed the storyline and found it a great continuation of the previous tales. They appreciated the writing quality, character development, and vivid portrayal. Many found the book enjoyable and addictive, calling it an exciting and brilliant continuation of the series. Readers also praised the author's imagination and world-building skills. Overall, they described the book as an exciting, thrilling read that kept them hooked until the end.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the engaging storyline. They find it a great continuation of the previous tales, with important plot twists and answers. The story builds to a big battle finale, but it can be slow at times. Overall, readers praise the epic fantasy with plenty of action and adventure.
"...I LOVE THESE BOOKS!! The story is action packed, twisty, turny and so so intriguing and compelling and gripping. The characters are also amazing...." Read more
"...knows this author is a master storyteller, the way he can twist and turn a plot and keep his reader guessing for almost an entire book is nothing..." Read more
"...There is so much going on in Pale Kings and so many important plots and answers that to write too much would spoil it for those of you that have not..." Read more
"...The story builds to a big battle finale but it was a bit slow at times getting there...." Read more
Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written with intense descriptions and wonderful characters. The author is talented and chooses his words carefully for each scene. Readers appreciate the intelligent plot and action sequences that are interlaced in an excellent story. Overall, they describe the book as imaginative, fast-paced, and a joy to read.
"...I still love Mr G's style of writing and the way he develops characters and plot lines. Smooth, involving and very intelligent...." Read more
"...Peake for wordsmithery any time in the near future, he displays a great vocabulary and picks his words perfectly for each scene and the exciting..." Read more
"...So vivid in its portrayal, so masterfully planned and written with such intense description and wonderful characters that you can't help but be..." Read more
"...on The Written in every aspect, bigger & bolder, well written action sequences interlaced in an excellent plot...." Read more
Customers enjoy the characters and storylines. They find the portrayal vivid and masterfully planned.
"...The characters are also amazing. Farden is a total babe and there is another mage that crops up who is almost as babelicious (but I won't say who)...." Read more
"...He has a great imagination and his characters are colourful and exceptional. I see the potential for a movie (maybe three) with some tweaking ...." Read more
"...him tackle them (or, sometimes, reluctantly tackle them) expanded his character and made him all the more enjoyable...." Read more
"...I don't mind an anti hero character but this guy is an arse. The story builds to a big battle finale but it was a bit slow at times getting there...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book series. They find the books engaging and addictive. The series is described as an engrossing page-turner that grips readers.
"...A really enthralling series that has gripped me, just like Robin Hobb did when I discovered the Farseer Trilogy at the tender age of 17..." Read more
"...However, another reason for so swift a reading was that this book is simply excellent and I couldn't help but complete it fully and immerse myself..." Read more
"Fabulous story, thoroughly enjoyed it and the previous instalments - great shame the book (and the previous ones) was full of typos, looks like it..." Read more
"...and it all makes for a fast paced, action packed, emotional and enjoyable read...." Read more
Customers appreciate the imagination and world-building in the book. They say the ideas are sound, but some aspects of the world-building were poorly executed.
"...He has a great imagination and his characters are colourful and exceptional. I see the potential for a movie (maybe three) with some tweaking ...." Read more
"...shadow and attempt to influence the fight, all contribute to excellent world building as the battle reaches epic proportions...." Read more
"...But... in this case, though the ideas are sound, I found the whole world very confusing...." Read more
"...The story has been written by someone who has a great imagination and a great writing skill...." Read more
Customers find the book engaging. They describe it as action-packed, with an exciting tone and a twisty plot. The second book in the traditional fantasy series is described as amazing, glorious, and addictive.
"...The characters are also amazing. Farden is a total babe and there is another mage that crops up who is almost as babelicious (but I won't say who)...." Read more
"...and picks his words perfectly for each scene and the exciting tone of the book...." Read more
"Absolutely bloody amazing!..." Read more
"Second book in addictive, & engrossing, traditional fantasy series. Really enjoyed this second book in series & looking forward to the next books...." Read more
Customers like the style of the book. They say it's stylish and well-finished, with an excellent cover picture of a Gryphon.
"Another excellent cover picture, this time a Gryphon, a legendary creature with the head, talons, and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion...." Read more
"...The cover designs are pretty cool as well!" Read more
"...What did I like? The premise, though that has been done before, is nice enough and the magic system is okay but it's not Brian Sanderson stuff, for..." Read more
"Stylish and well finished..." Read more
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 September 2013This is the second book in Mr G's series! Farden is back and things have gone somewhat to shit and guess who has to sort it out??? We pick up a few months after the last book......
I LOVE THESE BOOKS!! The story is action packed, twisty, turny and so so intriguing and compelling and gripping. The characters are also amazing. Farden is a total babe and there is another mage that crops up who is almost as babelicious (but I won't say who). The evil characters are evil personified, the good are gloriously good. Elessi is still a tit and I can't stand her still, but I've never been a fan of wet, weak and pathetic female characters, but then again, who is?
I still love Mr G's style of writing and the way he develops characters and plot lines. Smooth, involving and very intelligent. Glorious fantasy all round that gives you everything from vamps, to mages to dragons to wizards to Gods!!!
I really do recommend this series (and I'm only on book 2) to everyone who loves fantasy and I think people who aren't big fantasy fans should maybe give it a go as there as so may aspects of it and layers to love. A really enthralling series that has gripped me, just like Robin Hobb did when I discovered the Farseer Trilogy at the tender age of 17 (bloody hell that was 10 years ago now!!!!).
Please read these they are stonking! BRING ON THE NEXT ONE!
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 September 2021I had difficulty getting into book one; but once I got into it I could not put it down .
I was let down by the use of the sometimes modern day dialect and "past time" dialect. In particular, there were certain modern day phrases and pros which did not collaborate with the theme of the story .
He has a great imagination and his characters are colourful and exceptional. I see the potential for a movie (maybe three) with some tweaking . Unfortunately for those writers who have this vivid imagination , "Star Wars" & Harry Potter" have set the andards of originality nigh
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 February 2013It's not always a compliment to say that you read a book in three days. To read something so quickly that took months to prepare doing draft, redraft and further redraft can be quite irksome for an author and, I have to admit, part of my hast in reading this book was due to another obligation to the author. However, another reason for so swift a reading was that this book is simply excellent and I couldn't help but complete it fully and immerse myself once more in Emaneska.
Reading this book reminded me of how much I'd missed the company of Farden. The great anti-hero is developed further in this book and becomes an even greater anti-hero for it. The challenges (both epic and personal) that he face in Pale Kings dwarf everything he faced in The Written and seeing him tackle them (or, sometimes, reluctantly tackle them) expanded his character and made him all the more enjoyable. Furthermore, it was great to see more of Modren (one of my favourite characters from The Written) and the addition of Tyrfing to the clan was welcome. However, my favourite supporting character in this book was Durnus who we simply didn't see enough of in The Written.
So yes, the story is great and the characters perhaps more so, but what of Galley as an author? Obviously anyone who has read The Written knows this author is a master storyteller, the way he can twist and turn a plot and keep his reader guessing for almost an entire book is nothing short of magic(k). But, as a wordsmith, the reader certainly can't complain either. Although Galley isn't going to rival Proust or (more realistically) Mervyn Peake for wordsmithery any time in the near future, he displays a great vocabulary and picks his words perfectly for each scene and the exciting tone of the book. Some would argue he could learn a thing or two from Cormac McCarthy and his ilk, however, certainly to my mind (and as much as I adore Cormac McCarthy), it could be argued that literature has become too rationed with its words, especially adjectives, and that the Fantasy genre, above all, deserves slightly more embellishment.
Pale Kings is a worthy successor to The Written and one that really shows Galley's development as an author. I highly recommend it highly.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 May 2013Absolutely bloody amazing! I can't speak more highly of this masterpiece of a fantasy epic, I loved every minute of it and even rationed it as I didn't want to finish it too quickly. Damn! I'm finished and now I have to wait until the end of May for the last two books in the Emaneska series, Dead Stars parts one & two to come out. I can't wait!
There is so much going on in Pale Kings and so many important plots and answers that to write too much would spoil it for those of you that have not had the joy of reading this series yet. What I will say is this book builds strongly on the characters you meet in the first book "The Written", the world of Emaneska opens out and you get a feeling of what an epic world this is. So vivid in its portrayal, so masterfully planned and written with such intense description and wonderful characters that you can't help but be drawn in to this world and find it hard to come out again...
This is rapidly becoming one of my favourite fantasy series ever, a classic to stand up there in the bookshelf with the more well known classics. Mr Ben Galley is an incredibly talented author! You have to read this series!
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 July 2020At the end of the last book the penny seemed to have finally dropped for Farden. It was that if he controlled his temper he could think straight . So it was a bit surprising that here he was again being Mr angry and screwing things up again. I don't mind an anti hero character but this guy is an arse. The story builds to a big battle finale but it was a bit slow at times getting there. Lots of detailed descriptions of decore, clothes etc while making a more complete picture does not make for an entertaining fast paced thrill ride. The mythology is somewhat varied and Asgard becoming Hasgard is hardly ground-breaking. There's a kernel of a good story though so I will try the next book.
Top reviews from other countries
- ChrisZReviewed in the United States on 6 February 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire series.
This series remains in the top tier of best books I have read!
After reading literally thousands of books since I retired (little else to do), I have re-read this series 3 times over the years.
Witty, imaginative and enthralling, , I highly recommend to fans of futuristic and thrilling fantasy - adventure stories.
I don't write a lot of reviews (lazy?) - don't ask......, but, I do read a lot and this EMANESKA SERIES deserves this recognition from this grateful reader for such an immersive story.
Thank you Ben. Keep writing. This is really good stuff! I'm a FAN!
- RobertReviewed in Germany on 23 November 2012
5.0 out of 5 stars ^^
as the previous book i liked this one very much the ending could have been better and i wish i could already read the next one...
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VeraReviewed in Canada on 10 December 2024
2.0 out of 5 stars Arrivé abîmé
Couverture pliée - Vraiment pas appréciable pour un cadeau.
- MarilynReviewed in the United States on 23 April 2023
4.0 out of 5 stars a very good sequel
I enjoyed this sequel very much. There were some quick references to some creatures like faeries, which I got excited to hear about. But then, alas, nothing more came of it. There was only the one lycan, Jergan, who appeared again briefly but in a very important event. Also we heard about the elves but they weren’t around in the present. I wonder if there will be more about them in the next books,
Durnus was one of my favorite characters from the first book, and I was glad to see him develop into a very important one in this book. I wasn’t expecting the revelation so made it even more exciting. Tyrfingr was another complicated character. I did not suspect his certain power at all. Also I was happy that the explanation of the talking cat was addressed early on. Elessi was a bit perplexing for me. I didn’t understand her jealousy. She was a servant to Farden and nothing more was ever offered. So some of her decisions didn’t make sense to me.
But all the different magicks were interesting and enhanced the story. I particularly loved Ilios.
“He could feel Ilios picking apart his memories and his personality as though he were picking apart a carcass.” His mental ability was uncanny but mesmerizing.
At the end we witnessed a grand battle where people good and bad died. But we were left with an unholy notion that their job was still left unfinished.
What will Farden and the others do about it?
- T. Smith-PenaReviewed in the United States on 14 November 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down!
I started reading "Pale Kings" immediately after finishing "The Written" and was not disappointed. It was definitely a page-turner which nicely fleshed out the world created in the first book. Characters were well-developed, and I appreciated that the battle sequences were not excruciatingly detailed and belabored like most fantasy books I have read. We are drawn further into the history and events leading up to the present day, learn the fate of Farden's uncle, the mystery of the Written, and explore the world of the Sirens and Dragons.
Unlike another review here, I enjoyed the descriptive passages which painted the background of the story. I was glad to see that Ben Galley did not fall back on the usual fantasy tropes in continuing to build the world of Emaneska, yet still touching on familiar myths and concepts of deity and magic -- with just a bit of a twist.
And while the ending wasn't a big surprise (the whole book inexorably marches to the expected conclusion), I found myself wondering whether Farden would do what was expected of him, or remain true to his character.
Now on to the final two books in the series...