The Hickory Staff

"[A] white-knuckle ride of a story"
--The Times of London

"Combine the storytelling of Goodkind, the world-building of Donaldson, a dash of black humour, an unhealthy dose of dark magic and plenty of action, and you get a confection as irresistible and entertaining as this brilliant debut."
--Book Club Associates

"Don't take it from me. Just read the first three pages and you'll be hooked . . . a series that could easily become as legendary as Donaldson's."
--Outland

"They've been able to take a familiar theme and give it a new life and depth . . . have managed to make it seem like no one has ever written this type of story before . . . a tantalyzing opening volume to what promises to be an exciting sequence of books . . . well worth reading, and what's better is that you know there's more of the same still to come."
--Richard Marcus, Blogcritics.org (see the interview here)

"Classic portal fantasy"
--Guardian

"If you loved Narnia as a kid but feel too grown up to be reading about talking animals, this could be your perfect book. This so far brilliant dual-world trilogy starts with an unconventional bang . . . If you enjoy a good fantasy adventure and want a bit of escapism this summer then this will not disappoint."
--Waterstone's Booksellers' Reviews

"This hefty debut from the late Gordon (1944-2005) and his son-in-law Scott launches a sprawling fantasy trilogy with touches of effective horror. After a lengthy setup, timid bank manager Steven Taylor, athletic history teacher Mark Jenkins and law student Hannah Sorenson fall through a magical tapestry into a politically complex world under the dominion of body-hopping demonic sorcerer Nerak. Several independent subplots and an unwieldy supporting cast slowly draw together as Steven discovers his budding magical powers, Mark finds romance with a fierce resistance fighter and Hannah seeks a way home. Though somewhat unfocused in their plotting and often rehashing standard fantasy elements, Scott and Gordon keep the story moving entertainingly to the end, less a conclusion than a pause before the simultaneously released sequel."
--Publishers Weekly

"This series opener combines old-fashioned action-adventure with epic fantasy, creating a world that resonates with echoes of Earth’s history yet displays its own unique properties. Villains abound, from soul-draining demons to twisted, soulless men, in a bold first novel that deserves a wide readership from fans of classic as well as cross-over fantasy. Highly recommended for all fantasy collections."
--Library Journal, December 2008

"This is an excellent fantasy novel. The world of Eldarn is thoughtfully realised and the enemy is terrifying! The characters are believable, particularly Steven and Mark, thrown into a situation totally outside thier previous experience. Dive in and enjoy!"
--Waterstone's Booksellers

"Do you enjoy fantasy? If so ,read on. A great story tripping between two different worlds. A monstrous villain to boot. Brilliant start to a new trilogy."
--Waterstone's Booksellers

Lessek's Key

"It is the work of imaginative and gifted storytellers."
--Blogcritics.org

The authors return with another episode of this classic portal adventure. With unforgettable characters and a plot twisting like a hurricane, the book sucks you through your imagination's own portal.
--Book Club Associates

"Intelligent fantasy."
--SFX

"Scott continues the fantasy trilogy, created from the notes he and his late father-in-law Gordon wrote when they plotted the series. In this grand-scale installment, bank manager Steven Taylor races across the United States to retrieve the magical Lessek's Key and help his friend Mark Jenkins, who is trapped in the fantasy world Eldarn. Nerak, demonic sorcerer-prince of Eldarn, leaves a trail of horror across modern-day Colorado as Mark and his companions travel to the home of the murdered Larion Senate and the magical table opened by the key, while Steven's girlfriend, Hannah Sorenson, struggles through a forest of ghosts and mysterious visions and attempts to infiltrate Nerak's palace. The story moves along briskly, though Mark's sudden racial sensitivity and expert archer Garec's crisis of conscience are jarring diversions. Much is left dangling to await the concluding volume, due out in March."
--Publishers Weekly

The Larion Senators

"Full of well fleshed-out characters and set in the magnificently realised, magical world of Eldarn, this is one of the best fantasy series of the past ten years."
--Book Club Associates

"It not only lives up to the expectations for a finale, it exceeds them by a long shot . . . With The Larion Senators about to be released not only will that journey have been completed successfully, it will be done in spectacular fashion."
--Richard Marcus, Blogcritics.org (see the interview here)