The Shadowed Path: A Jonmarc Vahanian Collection (Jonmarc Vanhanian Collection)

This is a tough one for me to rate because on one hand I like it but, on the other, not so much.I absolutely loved the Chronicles of The Necromancer series, (The Summoner, The Blood King, Dark Haven, and Dark Lady's Chosen), as well as the follow-up Fallen Kings Cycle books, (The Sworn, and The Dread), so I jumped at grabbing this book that tells the back story of Jonmarc Vahanien, one of my favorite characters from those books. Or so I thought, by the time I was half way through I was quite sure that it wasn't going to get into his time as a mercenary or his time in Nargi as a fight slave, or his smuggling days, etc.... Going to have to buy another book if I want the rest of the story.The majority of this book is following his time with Maynard Linton's travelling caravan. By the time you get through that part of his story it starts to feel a little pushed to me. I mean, I have no trouble buying into all the fantasy aspects of a story like this when it's well written but, other aspects have to be at least somewhat believable still and by the end it doesn't feel believable that a travelling caravan of performers, and the other people and things necessary to keep things running, would have THAT MUCH trouble find them.I always hate it when a writer can't/doesn't remember their own lore in their books. In the CoTN books when a vayash moru, (vampire), was stabbed in the heart it would put them into a comatose state where they couldn't move and were in incredible pain for as long as the blade/stake stayed in place and if/when it was removed they could heal from it, but in this book it destroys them completely.Another thing that bugs me is that while this is written as an on-going story from chapter to chapter rather than a collection of short stories, in every single chapter you get renewed descriptions of main characters as if you were starting a new book, which, for me, gets old very quickly. Yet, while doing this, in one part of the book a Sworn comes into the story and you get almost nothing in the way of explanation about who the Sworn are, as if people are just supposed to know...or maybe not know, but every chapter you need to know about Jonmarc's physical appearance and that he got strong working in the forge from the time he could carry the tools, among other things that apparently need to be explained over and over and over...Overall, I really enjoy Gail Z. Martin's style of story-telling, her world building, and her ability to bring a character to life, while that also applies to this book, for me, there are too many problems here for it to be as enjoyable to read as her other books that I've gotten through so far. With all that said though, I did tear through this story pretty quickly, so it was still an enjoyable read, just not as enjoyable as others.

A good look into the development of Jonmarc Vahanian, a much loved character first introduced in Martin's Chronicles of the Necromancer series. Also introduces some other characters and locals you will recognise from the series. Overall I thought it was very well written and I enjoyed it quite a bit. You could read this before or after the series but I liked already knowing the characters and getting a glimpse of them years before the series takes place.

this is really a series of short stories but the theme is on going life of Jonmarc from ages 15 to what 19? when he joins the Mercs.due to the short story bit, it gets a bit old, intro character, enter drama, fight, solve. wash rinse repeat. having said that, they are good short stories and the over all moves the character to where he joined mercenary. now I have to pull out my hard copies of the other books by this author to find him as a secondary character. sigh. I did like him, and would have like to have some endings instead of on going danger follows me...but that is real life too.

You are kept on the edge and wondering we is going to happen next, but that makes the book good. You want it to keep you on your toes while you read.

A brilliant look at the past of one of Gail Martin's most enigmatic characters. From his first glimpse of fighting to joining a mercenary band, these stories show us what went into making Jon Marc Vahanian.

Older teen kids loved this series!

This a collection of fast pace adventure stories in the sword and sorcery category. Highly recommended. The only reason for one star less is because I like novels better.The author writes good novels too.

really wanted to like it. but boring. not much of a plot.

An excelent book

Good read just wanted more