Reader Reviews

Martha A. Cheves, author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat, from Charlotte, NC, via her blog and Amazon.com

March 24, 2011

Do You Know the Widowmaker?

"The small village of WillowDown burns. Flames of unending appetite eat away at inns, shops, and homes; not one building on Main Street or the outlying expanse escapes. A Thick, gray smoke clogs the air, filling the sky with clouds of dancing ash. I cover my mouth with a bloody rag and try to ignore the bitter taste of soot that fills my mouth and nose, though my eyes sting more from the heat of the unbridled inferno than from the smoke. Mounds of smoldering flesh, once living residents of Willow Down, rot in the street. Large birds circle high above, waiting patiently for the fire to die so their feast can begin. 'Myna,' someone calls my name. Gradually I begin to advance down what was once Willow Down's Main Street. 'Myna!' The echoing voice becomes more insistent. I quicken my pace, causing the heat-dried mud to crack beneath my worn black boots. I feel the breath of the fire seep into my black leather shirt and breeches. The naked skin of my face and hands turns from pale white to red and begins to blister. Still the voice pulls me onward. 'Myna!' In time I reach the center of Willow Down and stand before the largest of the carrion mounds. 'Myna, I wait for you, my daughter,' the voice flows from the dead."

In The Salvation of Tanlegalle, Author Tim Ahrens created places of make believe, both past and present. Through his imagination he has brought these places to life through his creation of characters, both human and not so human. The story above is called "Death and the Widowmaker." Within this story, the Widowmaker is out to track down Masterson before he destroys other villages and the people within. In "Catherine's Prayer," Catherine is being held prisoner for being a witch. And one of my favorite stories titled "Sassafrass One Seven Four" is the tale of a robot who just might be a bit human. Each story has it's hero and heroine with each fighting for the same cause - justice. Will they succeed?

There are twelve short stories in The Salvation of Tanlegalle, each made up of its own characters but in the end Ahrens has written one last chapter which amazingly brings all of the stories together. I enjoyed them as individuals and really enjoyed them as one.

Yvonne Mason, author of Silent Scream and Brilliant Insanity, from Port St. Lucie, FL, via her blog and Amazon.com.

February 20, 2011

This is Awesome

I am not usually a reader of Fantasy. However, when I was asked to read The Salvation of Tanlegalle for Author, Tim Ahrens I decided to give it a go. I must say that reading this book was a complete and utter joy. Mr. Ahrens took several stand alone short stories and wove them into a wonderful novel of fantasy and suspense. He writes in both first person and third person which as an author is very difficult to do successfully.

He weaves the story in such a way that the reader wants to know how all of these short stories melt together. Tanlegalle is a society that has lost its way and its memories and with that it has also lost its true purpose. All of the history has been destroyed and forgotten through apathy or greed and corruption. All that remains is a city full of citizens who have no souls. But one person is determined to renew the life and vitality of this city and the past. He seeks the "One" who will make that happen.

This book is written in such a way that I would recommend it for young teens as well as adults. It is suspenseful, thrilling, and well written. In many ways Mr. Ahrens has defined our society of today. He has written this story in such a way that shows what happens when people lose their way through greed and corruption and the refusal to learn from the past.

I give this book a five start rating.

G. R. Holton, author of ____ and ____ , from Etowah, TN, via Amazon.com and Goodreads.com

February 2, 2011

This is a MUST Read!!!

Tim is a masterful storyteller from the interludes to the very stories themselves and the artwork is fantastic. He takes the stories of love and strength of many creatures and ties them all into a very neat package. I am sure that anyone who reads The Salvation of Tanlegalle will have their personal favorites; mine will always be "Sassafrass One Seven Four." The ideology of a robot falling in love and protecting the one she loves is a story we can all learn from. The world of fantasy writing has a new name and that name is Ahrens! He is the new face of fantasy writing and is going to be around for quite some time. If you want to have a book that consistently tugs at your very soul, this is the book to read. A definite five star read!

W. Hennings, via Amazon.com

January 21, 2011

Loved Every Moment

I am a very busy stay-at-home mom and this book was recommended to me by a family member. "The Salvation of Tanlegalle" was a wonderful book of short stories that are all so very different and yet connected in some way. I found the book to be cleverly written, intelligent and hard to put down. The author does a great job of bringing the characters to life, and I would be happy to pass this author's name to anyone I know that enjoys a great story.

Thomas Gates, fantasy fan from Vermont, via NBCIndia.com

January 9, 2011

Something for Everyone

I was intrigued by this title once I saw that the great Piers Anthony had written the forward. Upon receiving the book the illustrations looked wonderful and vivid. Very professional. I was actually surprised to find that this was not just one story but a collection of entertaining and often unusual short stories. I found several that I went back to read again.

I will write a longer review later once there has been time to really contemplate the varied stories and deep characters. There is really something for everyone one here.

Very well done. I look forward to the next book.

Find out more about Tim Ahrens's world and writings! Visit:

Lucid Style's Author Accent — So, who is Tim Ahrens, anyway? A brief biography of Tim, and the inspirations that led him toward writing are revealed herein...

Lucid Style's Mewsings — Keep up-to-date on Tim Ahrens's world and writings by following our blog!