Review: Hero’s Lot by Patrick Carr

The Hero’s Lot (The Staff and the Sword Trilogy #2) by Patrick W. Carr
Reviewed by: Amber McCallister
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: July 2013

The Hero’s Lot is a spellbinding, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride that will leave you breathless and reeling from the truly masterful and immensely pleasurable writing of Patrick W. Carr. The Hero’s Lot is a captivating tale of hope amidst despair, life amidst death, and love amidst hate. The complexity of this story is quickly unraveled by the simple truth of faith. The beautifully crafted characters are rich with depth and overflowing with life as they come alive through the pages of this exquisite, heart-wrenching story.

As we catch up with our hero, Errol Stone, we find him once again inadvertently and yet forcibly placed at center stage. He is handed a judgment to fulfill or he will be faced to endure a greater punishment. As with the normal progression of our hero, he is taken advantage of by those in power who wield the law like a seasoned soldier wields his sword in battle.

Errol is forced to face who is he is again, but this time, he has something precious to lose. He must find out what kind of man he is as he comes face to face with the secrets of his past. His choice is taken away as it always seems to be, and the little power he thinks he has is ripped from him as he decides if his life is worth living and if he has the heart and the will to prove that he is worth more than some deem him.

My heart broke each time Errol’s heart was laid bare before all to see and his life was continually colored with a shadow that shifted each time he desperately tried to focus on finding the answers that eluded him. I agonized with him each time that he was destroyed and remade by the path that he was destined to walk. His resilience to the pain and reshaping of his heart was truly awe inspiring. The human heart has a remarkable way of fighting through the gloom and the pain to remind us why we need to live. Errol tried to make the best of what those around him forced on him. He complained and wished for an easy road, but in the end he always did what was required of him. This is the example that we should all desire to strive for – quiet persistence amid a storm of questions, doubts, and trials.

Readers of fantasy and epic adventure will enjoy every second of this beautifully crafted, mesmerizing story that is rich with intriguing characters, magnificent landscapes, and compelling questions. The only disappointed reader will be the one who never reads The Hero’s Lot for they will not experience the awaking of the heart and the soul in this unforgettable journey.

Rated PG-13: There are a few topics discussed that are not suitable for younger children.

Note: This review originally appeared at Radiant Lit.