The Historian Tales (First Three Books) by Lance Conrad, Book Review

Lance Conrad

I met Lance Conrad at the 2017 Salt Lake Gaming Convention. A friend and I talked to him about his books and were intrigued about the idea of a series of books where the link between them was the narrator. Between the two of us we bought the first three books, which were available at the time of the series.

I read the books in order of publication: The Price of Creation, followed by The Price of Nobility, and ended with The Price of Loyalty. However, the order they are read doesn’t influence the stories. The only character who is present in all of the books is the narrator, the Historian. The Historian travels across time and place collecting stories. Each book is the retelling of one of the stories he has amasses over time.

The three books were set in fantasy. Two of the three had elements of magic while the other was based in a kingdom with a dethroned king. Each book is only about 230 pages. The length works well for the style the stories are told in.

Each story is told to impart a moral. The books start when the Historian comes across a situation where a story is developing and stays with it until the story runs its course. Once the story ends the Historian moves on to find another story. From the telling, and style of the writing used, each story is presenting a lesson for the reader. Lessons can be taken away from almost everything we read. And, in the Historian Tales, this intention is clear.

The Price of Creation

The Historian comes across a village where a child is born who is different. His family shelters him and helps him to develop his own talents. Eventually, the community drives the young man out. This leads him to find his meaning for life and how he can help the people he came from and those who have been their enemies for as long as they have known.

 

The Price of Nobility

The Historian enters a kingdom that appears to be doing well, but the kingdom is struggling with the succession from the founding king to his son. A small group who were loyal to the father, and the kingdom, have a plan to help the son become a better king. The plan takes a dangerous turn when the kingdom is overthrown by the barbarians the founding king fought. The new king now must retake his thrown.

The Price of Loyalty

The Historian enters a land where people become inflicted with magic. There is a lone sorcerer who discovered how to control the infliction, and his earlier intent of helping others has created horrible consequences. A small group must face a larger group of the wizard’s early students who are using their abilities to enslave the people of the land.

The reading is a lighter read for adults and can be easily read by young adults and middle school ages. Concepts are well developed so that when a scene is presented the Historian than gives the reader what it means or how the other character is reacting to the stimuli of the moment. This development of the reasoning compliments the style of being taught from a story.

The Price of Creation, followed by The Price of Nobility, and ended with The Price of Loyalty are good books for younger readers and to be shared with them. The point of view coming from the Historian as narrator allows the stories to be easily read aloud to an audience.

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