The Ruby of Helios – My Review!
After a long hiatus, I have decided to resume posting my reviews to my blog! I think the last time I posted a review was in 2013, so it just seemed the time to start again. I’m proud to relaunch my blog review posts with The Ruby of Helios by Scott Collins!
I read the first two books of this series (gave them both 5 star ratings), so it was only natural for me to read the third installment. As with the first two, this one was also an excellent read!
Synopsis (from the author):
In their quest to overthrow the reign of the evil King Argyle so they can free their parents and the rest of his slaves, a small clan of youngsters has banded together to reunite the jewels of the Scepter of Harmony.
Having stolen the Emerald of Phaunos and reuniting it with the scepter, they must once again test their skills and resolve as they face the challenge of grabbing the Ruby of Helios from a ruthless band of raiders.
With the diegylis still hot on their heels, the band of rebels navigate the waters of the Great Lake, as well as the scorching desert of the Land of Sands, before facing a tribe of reptilian beasts who would rather die than relinquish the power of the ruby.
Though unexpected help comes from two powerful sources, will it be enough to save one of them from certain death, and the others from overwhelming odds?
Failure is not an option, for if they don’t succeed, Argyle will destroy the scepter, and the kingdom will collapse into ruin.
What I liked:
The characters of Daniel, Aidan, Lilly, Olivia, and Zack are familiar and ones with which I connected early in the series. I enjoyed this particular set of trials, from pirates, and merpeople, to the diegylis, and the threat of Argyle himself. The ingenuity of the characters to exploit their own abilities to help get out of scrapes makes for a fun read.
What I didn’t like:
Argyle, the evil King, seems a little one-dimensional to me. I understand the need to portray the villain as purely evil, but a little more depth, or even some additional background on the King would help frame him better. Other than that, not much to dislike.
Overall impression:
Like the first two books of this series, I truly enjoyed the read. The familiar characters, interesting situations, and the continuing quest to free their world from the clutches of King Argyle make this book an excellent addition to the series. Recommended for fantasy readers of all ages!
My rating:
5 Stars
Connect with the author:
Give this book a try, but I would say that it would be most helpful to read the first two books of the series first. If you do, please consider leaving a review. I know Scott will appreciate it! Find out more about Scott on his Amazon author page or on his website!
Connect with me:
If you want to leave me a comment on my review, please do! If you want to connect with me on social media, I can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, or just email me at bill@williamlstuart.com!
