The Riddler’s Gift
FIRST TALE OF THE LIFESONG
In a time when the world was ravaged by chaos, one kingdom remains; ordered, isolated, protected. Then Tabitha Serannon awakens an ancient power and the world begins to change.
She is hunted for her talent. The Shadowcasters whisper in her ears as their evil closes around her. Soon the Riddler walks beside her, but is he on her side?
She has a moment to learn the magic before she loses her grasp of the Lifesong, but the path she must follow leads into Darkness; into terror, treachery and desire.
To survive she must give voice to a music that she hardly understands, an enchantment that will echo through all time.
Recent reviews
“A highly recommended fantasy novel – enormous fun to read and extremely easy to lose yourself within.” www.fantasybookreview.co.uk “When you reach the end of The Riddler’s Gift, you’re left wanting more. Highly, highly recommended.” fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com “Utterly compelling … with a blistering climax.” Terry Grimwood, Author: The Exaggerated Man
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Readers’ reviews
Read it? What did you think? Leave a Reply on this page. Or post a link to a review you wrote of at least 50 words (it could be on GoodReads, Amazon
admin
June 22, 2010 at 1:53 pm
I bought The Riddler’s Gift at CT airport on the way to Kruger…and then couldn’t put it down until finished. Spent the first 2 days with my nose firmly buried in the book; birds, photography and the big 5 forgotten…reckon that’s about as good a compliment as you could get! Riveting read from the first page: the ‘recipe’ is close to perfect. The characters have that little something which draws a person in further…can’t quite pin it down.
JACKIE DURING
admin
June 22, 2010 at 1:54 pm
It transports you. It has all the important elements of a good fantasy story – a heroine, a villian, magic and a credible ‘new’ world.
JACKIE AMBROSE
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June 22, 2010 at 1:55 pm
An excellent book; well-written characters, interesting world…
The Wizard’s Ring. Clear. Near-invisible even in full daylight. It enhanced the senses, it improved memory, it aided in the learning and use of magic. It was very hard to take off without losing your finger. Until it found you unsuitable; then it became very hard to keep at all. For the ring is looking for the right person. And, for the last twenty years, it has been in posession of the Darkmaster, who spreads fear in his wake.
But now it – and the enigmatic Riddler, who follows the ring from owner to owner but will not take it himself – has left the Darkmaster, looking for a more suitable wearer…
CASEY CALLAGHAN
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June 22, 2010 at 1:56 pm
The pace was great, and the descriptions were very real. The dark, evil stuff was the most powerful. I got into it, I got pretty tense at times. I really enjoyed the whole concept of dark and light. It definitely left me with a feeling of wanting to read more. Well done! An excellent book; well-written characters, interesting world…
NIC GOOD
admin
June 22, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Had to read the book during work, just had to find out what happened. The descriptions are great – I want to see the movie! There are all the elements of a good story – romance, action, magic. The spell works – it’s a great book.
LAURA SMITH
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June 22, 2010 at 1:57 pm
The book was fast and exciting. The story grabbed me from the beginning. Eyri was very familiar but in a warm sort of way. The magic was great – a physics textbook could be written on it. The characters have stayed with me – I’m still wondering what they are up to.
JULIE
admin
June 22, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Wow! I have to admit I am really impressed. I thought it was really good. Odd characters stand out for me: Arkell, Tabitha’s mother, Gabrielle. The dark figures in the book are really convincing and Hamerton paints them very strongly and well. The parallel world inhabited by the wizards really makes the book for me – gives it another dimension and more scope.
VICKI SHAW
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June 22, 2010 at 1:59 pm
The book got better and better as I got into it. By the end I was itching to read it each night and sorry when it ended.
FIONA STEWART
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June 22, 2010 at 1:59 pm
The makings of a legend – if there is a film it is going to be awesome. I loved the vivid imagery. The physics in spirituality seemed a very real, graphic truth. The Morgloth were scary. There’s a huge amount of work evident in The Riddler’s Gift. I loved it!
IAN DE VRIES
admin
June 22, 2010 at 2:00 pm
I was totally hooked. I had little sleep this week from reading late every night. I enjoyed it tremendously!
PETER PRUKL
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June 22, 2010 at 2:00 pm
The fantastic imagery and well-paced storyline kept me hooked until the last page. Original ideas about the world of magic are hard to find but the author has managed to create a well-constructed fantasy world filled with believable characters and a beautiful storyline. Leaves you wanting more, thank goodness this only the first book of the trilogy!
LESLEY RICHARDS (HORN)
admin
June 22, 2010 at 2:01 pm
This is the most brilliant book I have read in the fantasy genre since The Lord of the Rings. I was totally hooked! Greg’s style of writing is really beautiful, the images he conveyed were so real. I felt that I was a part of Tabitha’s adventure.
JILL INGRAM
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June 22, 2010 at 2:02 pm
This book gripped me from the first few pages and had me struggling to put it down (I know this sounds cliché but it is true). When I had finished it I wanted to go knocking on the Author’s door to demand that he finish the next book immediately.
The world that The Riddlers Gift takes us to, though alien to us, is still amazingly real. Somehow Greg has managed to weave an energy and spirituality into the world so that it is as alive and vibrant as the world we live in.
Greg gently introduces us to this new world by telling an everyday story that would be exactly the same in our world with slight differences that are introduced slowly. Before we know it we are part of this world and its differences and strange customs are known to us.
The plot is complicated but not in a way that makes your brain ache trying to keep track of what is going on but in a way that when you think you know what is going to happen you are pleasantly surprised to see you are wrong.
The book is also deep in that it introduces shades of Grey which are often missing from Fantasy offerings. Mostly there is a clear cut line between Good and Bad and Light and Dark, but in this book even though you know which characters you are ‘cheering’ for they are definitely not archetypical heroes. Even the villains, though clearly shunned by you, are not completely evil but merely twisted. Even though you clearly don’t want to be like them you can understand how they became what they are. This makes the characters extremely real and I feel like I have come to know them.
Hurry up Greg and write the next book so that I can find out what has happened to my friends and foes!
JOHN BRODERICK
admin
June 22, 2010 at 2:02 pm
I think it is amazing to be able to create a book like The Riddler’s Gift that is so completely different to reality, I think you have to have a very special gift to be able to do that. I really enjoyed the book and can’t wait for [Second Sight]. The Riddler’s Gift is by far the best fantasy book I have ever read.
CARA WHITE
admin
June 22, 2010 at 2:05 pm
One of the most beautifully written books. Imagery is played on every sentence, taking you to depths of a mind wrecking story. I will never forget the many great lessons learnt from the book. Cannot wait for the second tale of the lifesong…
MALCOLM WEAICH
admin
June 22, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Flippen awesome, its a page turner from the first page, i believe it will continue to be that way to the sequel…
A gripping novel bringing emotion from the depths within oneself. With the expertly given description of each character, from the serene backgrounds to the excitement and anticipation felt by them, one is left confused between fiction and non-fiction as your world becomes one. The description of how sprites and moats are used with daybreak and a morning song renewing the essence for life. A good song gives birth to a smile, a smile is and indication of enjoyment and fulfilment. Enjoyment and fulfilment give rise to eternal memories. My good song is the Lifesong which will forever be etched in my mind.
SHERWYN SEAN WEAICH
admin
June 22, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Hamerton has the dry wit and humour, moments of heart-warming tenderness and the magic, mystery and that little bit of mayhem that made Tolkien the world\’s first and greatest fantasy writer, and Hamerton is definitely following in those footsteps.
The story starts in Oldenworld, which is being ravaged by Chaos and the Sorcerer Ametheus. The Gyre, a group of seven wizards, create the olde worlde domain of Eyri protected by a very strong shield of magic which keeps Chaos out. Within this protected land a slow simmering battle between the King and the Lightgifters on one side and Cabal the Darkmaster and his Shadowcasters on the other begins to take hold. In doing so a young Truthsayer and Singer, Tabitha Serannon, is caught up when she stands up to a Shadowcaster intent on kidnapping a local child.
As the story continues Tabitha finds herself on the path to the Wizard and she must follow the path of both the Dark and the Light to obtain her goal. Helping in this task is the Riddler, an enigmatic and delightful character who can only speak the truth, but only in rhyme. Tabitha is also aided by Glavenor, the King\’s Swordmaster (head of the Swords, Eyri\’s Army), who saves her from the Shadowcaster and she in turn saves him from something worse.
This is an absolute epic fantasy story but once it grabs you, it is impossible to put down. Hamerton develops each of his characters perfectly and really makes you feel for them and get involved in the story whole-heartedly. At one point I was that engrossed I was muttering rather loudly that Tabitha couldn\’t see what was right in front of her (it was very frustrating I must say, but a huge relief when she finally got it). The story does develop at a slower pace than usual but this fits the tale perfectly and unknown to you drags you deeper and deeper into the story (hence my comparison to Tolkien, very much of a similar style).
The detail Hamerton puts into his writing is fantastic, throughout the book you feel like you are there in Eyri and beyond, watching events unfold and feeling everything the characters do. You feel love and hate, joy and despair, victory and defeat and everything in between. A brilliant start to what is bound to be a brilliant series, I cannot wait until the second installment is out
SAMANTHA SHOVE
admin
June 22, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Fantastic. A definite must read.
BENNIE SMIT
admin
June 22, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Simply spell-binding — it doesn’t get better than this!
After a long cookies-and-coffee night I finished this book and all I can say is “WOW”. I fell in love with the story at first page and it has been a relationship to which I have remained faithful for over a year. Intoxicating!
CHARMAINE ZWAINE
admin
July 8, 2010 at 9:14 am
I really loved it and can’t wait until the next one comes out. I was really concerned when I realised you were using a ring as a source of power for Tabitha because I thought you may be skating too close to Tolkein. But you used the ring very differently and I loved the fact that it could be used for light or dark depending on the wearer. The manner of gathering energy from light motes is wonderful because (strangely, you may say) I believe that this may well be possible. I had never thought that the same may be true of darkness and being able to harness power from those motes. Your characters are really well rounded and multi dimensional. I always lose interest when I read a book where the ‘good guy’ is only capable of good and the ‘bad guy’ is pure evil. There are, in reality, spirits that are pure evil, but humans are more often more complex. I think you have captured that perfectly. I won’t babble on any more, but just want to add that I absolutely loved the Riddler’s quotations at the top of each chapter.
ALISON MARTIN
admin
July 8, 2010 at 9:16 am
A story which has inspired me to pursue my own talents, a theme which is depicted so clearly yet simply in this fantastic tale.
I performed a section of The Riddlers Gift for an examination in prose performance, and after reading the whole novel I was actually gobsmacked at how a tale of fantasy and magic could be so relevant to my 21st centuary life. I found myself re-reading some chapters because I just felt such connection between author and reader and the so alike- yet so different characters all relate to me. There is not a dull moment in this book and it is by far THE best book I have read and will continue to read again and again! I am absolutley looking forward to the second tale of the Lifesong!
JAY WARN
admin
July 8, 2010 at 9:40 am
A refreshing merge of wit, imagination, talent and insight; The Riddler’s Gift is like a piece of cake: waiting to be enjoyed and consumed…
An intricate plot, refreshing, full characters, an original system of magic, and detailed descriptions of the land, makes The Riddler’s Gift a first-class read. One feels compassion for Tabitha, revulsion for the Shadowcasters, a good book always engages you emotionally, as did The Riddler’s Gift until the very end. I particularly enjoyed the references to the ‘Lifesong’, how it fills one with energy and expands one to higher planes of consciousness as if when Tabitha sings she is one with the Universe and its song, almost one with All…It seems to one that these references hints at being drawn not from ones imagination alone but rather from the authors own connection to self and the universe, insights and feelings of enlightenment, and “At-One-ment,” portrayed through a fictitious character in a fantasy book…quite stunning! Praise to Greg Hamerton!
CASEY SWALES
admin
July 8, 2010 at 9:42 am
One of the most incredible reads ever, I have already re-read it 12 times..
Extremely well written, the characters are easily identified with, The magic is in the pages and the song flows out and grabs hold. I honestly couldn’t put it down and finished it the first day I bought it, I think I finally went to sleep around 4 am. I am really looking forward to the second installment.
CANDICE BRASS
admin
July 12, 2010 at 7:36 am
Your book is absolutely, breathtakingly beautifull and to me it falls in the same category as JRR Tolkien, C Paolini and Robin Hobb. Truly a masterpiece! I cant wait for the sequel! Thanks for a splendid book!!
CHRISTIAN ROSSOUW
admin
July 12, 2010 at 7:37 am
The Riddler’s Gift is by far the best book ive ever read. I just loved it-i, alongwith many of my friends are so excited for the release of the next one, i cant wait to find out where the story goes!
DEBBIE RYDER
admin
July 12, 2010 at 7:37 am
Great book , when will the next one be released ??
MATTHEW RILEY
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July 12, 2010 at 2:36 pm
A brilliant read. Greg had me hooked from page one. I love the characters and the near impossible situations he puts them in and then gets them out of again. Can’t wait for the next Tale of the LIFESONG to hit the shelves.
GERHARD BOTHMA
admin
July 12, 2010 at 2:42 pm
I won this book, and I’m so glad I did!
Tabitha Serannon has a hidden power, but to access this she needs to go through many trials and tribulations to discover her inner strength. With the help of an unlikely friend, she has to find her way. The Dark stands in the path she must follow but so does love.
This book was really gripping and one I did not want to end! I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
LU