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The Spaces Between
A fearless mercenary and a drunken landowner's son, a sort of chosen one, are set out on a quest to learn the deeper secrets of magic from a warlock who dwells in the far north. The journey of death defying adventures throws Bruce and Darrell into an entirely different world. But the heroes, if you dare call them that, will have to learn one very important lesson.
424 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2011
3 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Martin D. Gibbs
13 books41 followersMartin Gibbs writes in several genres, from fiction to fantasy to bizarro. He enjoys cross-country skiing, biking, and burning béarnaise sauce. He has two very active boys who share his wild imagination, and a wonderful wife who supports all the craziness.
He lives in the tropical paradise of MN.
He lives in the tropical paradise of MN.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 24, 2012
MARK'S REVIEW
It's interesting that this book has the subtitle "A Drunkard's Journey." At least on Amazon. Because that's how the story begins, but Zhy the drunk plays only a very small portion of the plot. There's a lot more going on with the story.
I haven't read a lot of fantasy, but from what I'm familiar with, it seems to fit the standard quest subgenre, except the nature of the quest is unclear—even muddled—for most of the story. The three main characters traveling together do a lot of just that—traveling. Because of that, there were some scenes that weren't necessary. But that doesn't mean it was a horrible story.
On the contrary, the story was quite enjoyable. There were times I laughed and other times I couldn't wait to know what was going to happen next. Also, much of the time I wondered how the characters fit together. I realized from the beginning that there was something bigger happening, and this alone kept me reading.
Plus the world building was excellent. I want to know more about the history of the world described, especially the Order of the Knot. I don't know if the author has plans to continue writing in this world, but if he doesn't, he should.
I recommend it for any fan of fantasy. You may bore in a few spots, but keep reading. The ending was foreshadowed after I thought about it, but it was a surprise the first time. A great fantasy read!
The Masquerade Crew (http://s.tt/1rTBQ)
It's interesting that this book has the subtitle "A Drunkard's Journey." At least on Amazon. Because that's how the story begins, but Zhy the drunk plays only a very small portion of the plot. There's a lot more going on with the story.
I haven't read a lot of fantasy, but from what I'm familiar with, it seems to fit the standard quest subgenre, except the nature of the quest is unclear—even muddled—for most of the story. The three main characters traveling together do a lot of just that—traveling. Because of that, there were some scenes that weren't necessary. But that doesn't mean it was a horrible story.
On the contrary, the story was quite enjoyable. There were times I laughed and other times I couldn't wait to know what was going to happen next. Also, much of the time I wondered how the characters fit together. I realized from the beginning that there was something bigger happening, and this alone kept me reading.
Plus the world building was excellent. I want to know more about the history of the world described, especially the Order of the Knot. I don't know if the author has plans to continue writing in this world, but if he doesn't, he should.
I recommend it for any fan of fantasy. You may bore in a few spots, but keep reading. The ending was foreshadowed after I thought about it, but it was a surprise the first time. A great fantasy read!
The Masquerade Crew (http://s.tt/1rTBQ)
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September 11, 2014Shock still hung over Zhy like the oppressive smoke from a thousand cook fires. “If we are going to encounter that again, I’m afraid we won’t last long,” he said, his focus on nothing and everything. His eyes felt glazed over and he was numb. For a minute he thought he was getting the drunken shakes, but he quickly realized it was simple shock at the previous encounter. Never had he seen such a sword fight and never had he heard of a magical spell that could literately erase a person from existence.
The mercenary nodded. “I should have known better. I’m sorry.” His voice sounded faded and distant, as if for once he was pondering the fragility of his own existence. Most likely in one-syllable words. “Ach!” Bruce snarled.
The mercenary nodded. “I should have known better. I’m sorry.” His voice sounded faded and distant, as if for once he was pondering the fragility of his own existence. Most likely in one-syllable words. “Ach!” Bruce snarled.
May 3, 2012
I don’t even know where to begin with this story. I agreed to write a review for it just for the fun of it. I was almost discouraged by the length of the story when I first got it but decided to give it a shot anyway. It begins with a mercenary with the idea of an adventure. He visits a local bar to find a companion on his journey. This is when he runs into the town drunk. The mercenary, Quainur, promises an adventure of a lifetime to the drunk, Zhy, if he joins him on his quest. It seemed that Quainur did not want to venture into the unknown alone. But all Zhy wanted to do was drink, pass out, and drink some more. He had a depressed soul and was trying to drown all the feelings he had ever lived through down with ale. You find out later what made him so depressed. Zhy reluctantly agrees to go on this journey after making sure Quainur won’t do anything foolish with him while he sleeps. I found it funny how many times they used the line “Sacuan’s Scrotum.” It actually made me laugh in the context of the sentence and how many times they could change it up. The whole point of the journey was to find a wizard and a temple so Quaiur could learn magic. On the way there, they pick up/save a wizard named Torplug and he joins them on their quest north. They learn about Demons and all sorts of other things that Zhy believed to be mere tales his father used to tell him. They have to defend their lives more than once when they are attacked by a group of soldiers – or ninjas – called the Black Dawn. I honestly could not stop reading this story. There was just something about it that made me want to find out what happened.
I put down the book a few times and didn’t want to continue but there was always something nagging in the back of my mind to find out how Zhy and his companions ended up. There was also another story that intertwined itself with the adventurers. Bimb, a simple minded boy, was being led by Zhy’s dead father’s ghost. Bimb could hear his voice in his mind whenever he played his musical instrument. Zhy’s father wanted to save Zhy because he was in danger. I enjoyed reading those parts. The end of the story was definitely not predictable and it seems there is a sequel which I would like to read someday. But for now, it is back to my short fantasy novels. I would recommend this book to whoever likes a well written soft adventure story with many twists and turns.
I put down the book a few times and didn’t want to continue but there was always something nagging in the back of my mind to find out how Zhy and his companions ended up. There was also another story that intertwined itself with the adventurers. Bimb, a simple minded boy, was being led by Zhy’s dead father’s ghost. Bimb could hear his voice in his mind whenever he played his musical instrument. Zhy’s father wanted to save Zhy because he was in danger. I enjoyed reading those parts. The end of the story was definitely not predictable and it seems there is a sequel which I would like to read someday. But for now, it is back to my short fantasy novels. I would recommend this book to whoever likes a well written soft adventure story with many twists and turns.
August 23, 2012
Book exchanged for a review~Per Goodreads Policy
Our story follows two adventurerers making their way to a powerful Seith named Ar'Zoth. Our adventurerer's are Zhyfrael or Zhy, a local drunk, and Qainur, a mercenary, who is seeking a powerful Seith named Ar'Zoth. Zhy wonders if he's made the right decision about going to leave Belden with this young man. Zhy has nothing better to do anyway and it could be fun maybe. Qainur has all the supplies ready for their trip and is excited about starting on this adventure even if Zhy is not sure about it. Along the way, two traveler's meet up with Torplug claiming to be a mage but that remains to be seen. Torplug slowly becomes part of the two traveler's group yet keeps to himself. As the traveler's continue on their journey, they're attacked by a Gherwza and they barely manage to escape. Then the traveler's see a man possessed by a demon and they barely escape with their lives. Meanwhile Bimb and Zhy's father Lynn travel a little known tunnel to reach Zhy and his companions before meeting Ar'Zoth. Zhy and his companions have been attacked by The Knights of Black Dawn twice on their journey so far with no real explanation as to why it is so. Zhy is uneasy about seeing this Seith and doesn't understand why Qainur is hellbent on meeting this Seith. Torplug is an unknown quantity in the group although he is willing to share his opinions and thoughts about Seith yet goes about his business. Will they find Ar'Zoth? Will Ar'Zoth teach Qainur? What is Torplug hiding? Will Zhy ever be comfortable? Will Bimb and Lynn reach Zhy and his companions in time? What is Ar'Zoth planning? Your answers await you in The Spaces Between.
While reading this story, I found at times that it dragged in places where it should have been moving at a faster pace than it is going. I also found that when it was moving to fast it left me behind in the story leaving me confused and frustrated at the same time. I liked the overall concept of the story. The story was told in a fascinating way that leaves the reader wanting to know more about the characters and what will happen next. This is why it's a three star rating instead of a four star rating.
Our story follows two adventurerers making their way to a powerful Seith named Ar'Zoth. Our adventurerer's are Zhyfrael or Zhy, a local drunk, and Qainur, a mercenary, who is seeking a powerful Seith named Ar'Zoth. Zhy wonders if he's made the right decision about going to leave Belden with this young man. Zhy has nothing better to do anyway and it could be fun maybe. Qainur has all the supplies ready for their trip and is excited about starting on this adventure even if Zhy is not sure about it. Along the way, two traveler's meet up with Torplug claiming to be a mage but that remains to be seen. Torplug slowly becomes part of the two traveler's group yet keeps to himself. As the traveler's continue on their journey, they're attacked by a Gherwza and they barely manage to escape. Then the traveler's see a man possessed by a demon and they barely escape with their lives. Meanwhile Bimb and Zhy's father Lynn travel a little known tunnel to reach Zhy and his companions before meeting Ar'Zoth. Zhy and his companions have been attacked by The Knights of Black Dawn twice on their journey so far with no real explanation as to why it is so. Zhy is uneasy about seeing this Seith and doesn't understand why Qainur is hellbent on meeting this Seith. Torplug is an unknown quantity in the group although he is willing to share his opinions and thoughts about Seith yet goes about his business. Will they find Ar'Zoth? Will Ar'Zoth teach Qainur? What is Torplug hiding? Will Zhy ever be comfortable? Will Bimb and Lynn reach Zhy and his companions in time? What is Ar'Zoth planning? Your answers await you in The Spaces Between.
While reading this story, I found at times that it dragged in places where it should have been moving at a faster pace than it is going. I also found that when it was moving to fast it left me behind in the story leaving me confused and frustrated at the same time. I liked the overall concept of the story. The story was told in a fascinating way that leaves the reader wanting to know more about the characters and what will happen next. This is why it's a three star rating instead of a four star rating.
April 13, 2012
The Spaces Between
By Martin Gibbs
“We are all complex knots, interwoven and intertwined.”
Qainur and Zhy meet in the local tavern Qainur is a traveling mercenary and Zhy is the local drunk. Qainur manages to convince Zhy to accompany him on his journey north to find a wizard who may be able to teach him magic. Along the way they are joined by Torplug who is on his way home after studying magic at the university. The three end up having to fight for their lives as they are hunted by demons and elite warriors’ known as the Knights of the Black Dawn. Why we travel with the three unlikely companions we are also introduced to Blimb, a simple minded man who is able to talk with Zhy’s deceased father, Zhy’s father begs for Blimb’s help saying his son is in grave danger and only Blimb can help him. But that is only one twist of the knot in this story, we also join Blimb’s father on his journey to protect the temple in the north that is the only thing that stands in the way of a horde of demons over taking the world.
Each story is complex and beautifully interwoven in this novel. At first it seemed a bit slow but the further I got into the book the more I became entranced. Martin Gibbs did a wonderful job, just as I was getting angry with the book Martin Gibbs completely blindsides you and has you wondering what in the world is going on. It was absolutely unexpected and extremely addictive I definitely recommend giving this book a try and if Martin Gibbs wanted to guarantee you would read the next book he could not have ended this one any better.
As always if you have any requests or recommendations email me at:
Reflections.of.a.BookWorm@gmail.com
Be sure to visit my blogs at:
http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpre...
http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/
You can even follow me on Twitter
@BookWormRflect
By Martin Gibbs
“We are all complex knots, interwoven and intertwined.”
Qainur and Zhy meet in the local tavern Qainur is a traveling mercenary and Zhy is the local drunk. Qainur manages to convince Zhy to accompany him on his journey north to find a wizard who may be able to teach him magic. Along the way they are joined by Torplug who is on his way home after studying magic at the university. The three end up having to fight for their lives as they are hunted by demons and elite warriors’ known as the Knights of the Black Dawn. Why we travel with the three unlikely companions we are also introduced to Blimb, a simple minded man who is able to talk with Zhy’s deceased father, Zhy’s father begs for Blimb’s help saying his son is in grave danger and only Blimb can help him. But that is only one twist of the knot in this story, we also join Blimb’s father on his journey to protect the temple in the north that is the only thing that stands in the way of a horde of demons over taking the world.
Each story is complex and beautifully interwoven in this novel. At first it seemed a bit slow but the further I got into the book the more I became entranced. Martin Gibbs did a wonderful job, just as I was getting angry with the book Martin Gibbs completely blindsides you and has you wondering what in the world is going on. It was absolutely unexpected and extremely addictive I definitely recommend giving this book a try and if Martin Gibbs wanted to guarantee you would read the next book he could not have ended this one any better.
As always if you have any requests or recommendations email me at:
Reflections.of.a.BookWorm@gmail.com
Be sure to visit my blogs at:
http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpre...
http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/
You can even follow me on Twitter
@BookWormRflect
January 18, 2012
Through this fascinating fantasy runs a motif of knots and knot-tying. It's a fitting metaphor for life and death and the four elements, earth, wind, fire and water. A fearless mercenary and a drunken landowner's son -- a sort of chosen one -- set out on a quest to learn the deeper secrets of magic from a warlock who dwells in the far north. Along the way they meet all manner of creatures, magic and mortal, and adventures. The book is elegantly written und carefully edited. With his slightly baroque prose, Martin Gibbs succeeds in creating another world while preserving very tangible connections to our own world. This book is ideal for an escape into a landscape of danger and adventure.
August 12, 2016
From the snow bank ramparts of a centuries old fortress the warning is issued: "He comes". A drunk is recruited to go on an adventure by a mysterious warrior to find a warlock in the far north from whom he wishes to learn magic. And they are followed by another. Thus begins a journey of danger and discovery in this exciting fantasy yarn.
The Spaces Between is a well written, funny, and action packed fantasy adventure documenting the bumbling journey of an unlikely set of heros. Great fun!
I enjoyed the book very much and hightly recommend it.
The Spaces Between is a well written, funny, and action packed fantasy adventure documenting the bumbling journey of an unlikely set of heros. Great fun!
I enjoyed the book very much and hightly recommend it.
December 14, 2011
Review coming soon!
December 6, 2014
Like a bad high school play
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews