***Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of the book. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

Summary

This story is a fun coming of age adventure that is set in a medieval fantasy. Thurmond, a peasant boy from a village in the middle of nowhere, dreams of becoming an adventurer. Unfortunately, the Order of adventurers will not accept him because he lacks training and equipment, which leads to him working odd jobs in the city until he gets his big break. One fateful day, Thurmond is approached by a stranger with an opportunity to get the experience he needs, which sets him off on a series of life-changing adventures that give him the opportunity to (maybe) become a professional adventurer himself one day. He faces a series of obstacles, including trolls, goblins, and powerful witches, all of which test his mettle and ideals.

Things I Liked

There is so much to like about this book. The attention to detail about the medieval setting is very good. I learned a lot about the armor and weapons from this time period. Thanks to reading this on my Kindle, I learned a lot of new words, as well. I found the writing and story to be engaging throughout the book. It was easy to follow and full of action until the very end. The romance element was incorporated in a fun way and progressed naturally without overshadowing the rest of the story.

The characters were amusing. I particularly enjoyed the humor of the dwarf and the way Sarah was characterized and utilized in the story. She was just as much the hero as any of the male characters, and I liked that the author showed the internal struggle of the men to accept her as a vital part of the group despite the prevailing attitudes of the time toward women. Thurmond’s adventures also led to him learning important lessons and losing some of his naivete as the story progresses.

Things I Didn’t Like

There wasn’t much I didn’t like about this book. However, the characterization of many of the other characters in the book was a bit one-note, especially the villains. They were portrayed as pretty dumb and prone to having fits of rage or hysteria, which were a bit over the top and almost comical. While this was fun to read, it took away a lot of gravitas the book could have had otherwise.

Wrap-Up

All in all, Thurmond’s Saga is a fun, fast-paced fantasy adventure set in medieval times. It is a great coming of age story for both the main protagonist, Thurmond, and one of his companions, Sarah. The detail of the world-building and structure of the story are easy to follow and understand. While the main villains came off a bit flat, I definitely recommend this adventure to people who enjoy fantasy, magic, and the medieval world. Therefore, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.