State your favorite book per series by Joe Dever and why?

[jmisno1]

How about we each state what our favorite book per series by Joe Dever and why. I've done mine and I am and if you want you can count Lone Wolf Books 1 to 5, 6 to 12, 13 to 20 and 21+ as series's within a series and can include them if you want and as Ben wrote it with information and notes wrote/given by his father you can list Book 30 if you want

In Lone Wolf Books 1 to 5 its Book 5 cos it was the last present a dear friend who died less then 6 weeks later ever got me

In Lone Wolf Books 6 to 12 its Book 11 for actually getting to slay The Chaos Master, who is supposed to be a god

In Lone Wolf Books 13 to 20 its Book 16 cos of the thrill I got from finally killing Cadak

In Lone Wolf Books 21+ its Books 21 cos its the only Book by Joe Dever, not just Lone Wolf Books, that I ever managed to beat on my 1st playthrough without cheating and without using A Guide

For The 4 Freeway Warrior Books its Book 4 due to how seeing what happened Mad Dog Michian after his plunge in Book 3 actually made me feel sorry for him

For The 4 World of Lone Wolf Books its Book 4 cos I'd secretly always wanted some of Samu's People to have survive and when I found out 1,000 or so had it was the only time I'd cried with joy over something in a book

[andyc]

Okay, I'll bite...
Kai Series: 5 Shadow on the Sand, the first five are all great, but this one has it all. A real thrill to read from start to finish.
Magnakai: 10 The Dungeons of Torgar, many great moments like the epic battle, the return of Roarke and the infiltration of Torgar itself. Also Gnaag showing his truly devious colours of course.
Grandmaster: 20 The Curse of Naar, linear yes, but I really enjoyed descending deeper and deeper into the Realm of Darkness. I just wish it had been 400 sections so the last bits could have been expanded upon.
New Order (original): 25 Trail of the Wolf, great to get back to the Darklands and all its miserable wickedness.
Finale (so far): 30 Dead in the Deep, Lots of call backs as well as raising the stakes for the upcoming final battle. Loved it.

[juanconmiedo]

here I go:
1-5): they're all amazing but I'd chose number 5 because of the two parts narrative structure and the thrilling of being the hunted not the hunter... and obviously number 1 has a special place in my heart.
6-12): number 6 for being like a restart with few disciplines and the wonderful travel through the stornlands... but also number 7 for all the dungeon-like atmosphere that evolves you since the start ... it's curious that in spain we couldn't enjoy number 12 'till project aon was born (only books 1 to 11 were published ) but when i finally read it I felt a bit dissapointed.
13-20): most of these books are a bit weak on their narrative and being almost a superhero doesn't help, but I'll chose number 17 for being one of the toughest adventures and number 20 for the hostile environment and face all these evil deities.
21 onwards): did not read none of 'em.

[heroaltair2]

Kai series:

4 and 5: 4 because of all the air of mistery of not known what happened with Captain D'Val and his men and the further revelation that Barraka was trying to resurrect Darklord Vashna.

5 simply has all, action, adventure, the reencounter with Banedon, the incredible plot twist of Haakon looking for the Book of the Magnakai and how a mission that was supposed to be a diplomacy mission turns out to be a scape mission and after that a race against the time to find and retrieve the Book of the Magnakai before Haakon and his servants.

Magnakai series: I liked the 6, it was a great beginning for the series and introduced many important characters like
Roark or Gwynian (idk if i wrote it well).

I also enjoyed a lot the 9, the narrative level is quite superior to the two previous books imo, i also liked the mystical air of an ancient city buried under the streets of Tahou. Furthermore,it contributes pretty much to the lore of the series, explaining you for the first time who was Nyxator and why the Lorestones are named after him.

10th is also very nice, specially if you forfeit Sebb-Jarel help and go all the way by the Isle of Ghosts; the return of Roark, the introduction of Cener Druids and explanation of how they almost wiped out the Elder Magi with their lethal Plague Virus, and Tagazin's emergence was brutal.

Finally, the first formal apparition of Archlord Gnaag and his iconical dialogue 'Vengeance is mine, Lone Wolf! The vow I gave at Tahou shall be fullfiled, now I shall destroy you and the Lorestones!' that part is simply and plainly magistral.

Grand Master series:

Some of these books are a bit lames imo, however, i loved the three last ones (18, 19 and 20):

18 for revisiting the Stornlands and see how the things have changed since our last visit, the return of Gwynian and the fact that once more is he who bestows upon you the knowledge and the means to save your people (the Sun Crystal), the fight against Roark's ghost and that again you are embarked in a quest against the time, but in this ocassion to return to the Kai Monastery, take the command of your frail acolytes and lead the counterattack against the Lavas. Also the uncertainty of knowing that Banedon and Rimoah could be dead increases the strain and makes the book even more exciting! My favorite part is when you are dragged into the Shadow Gate and learn that the Lavas' invasion wasn't but a warmimg-up and Naar has an entire army of deadly and gigantic evil dragons waiting to be launched against your home!



In the book 19 we meet somes of Lone Wolf's students and get to see a few more of his relationship with them. The persecute and final showdown with your evil alter ego is just [fudgeing] epic! The best part is the final revelation that Naar was in possession of the fabled Moonstone of the Shanti.

And 20th is just an epic final, with all the Sommerlund's most powerful magicians assembling to open a Shadow Gate to the Plane of Darkness. Lone Wolf traveling throughout its distinct realms and domains and facing the mightiest Naar's subordinates in order to retrieve the Moonstone and rescuing Alyss.

New Order Series (only 21-28, since i haven't readed Storms of Chai neither Dead in the Deep yet)

Tbh i don't actually enjoyed the most of these books, since they are very linear with pretty nitwit plots and enemies/quests, the only ones that are a few outstanding imo are the 23, since it presents a new country that we have never met before and also Prince Karvas is a good character, and 26 which shows us a brand new land that, although is often mentioned and referenced in previous books, we had never actually traveled to until now. And i consider their villain is one of the most originals and great from the new order series too.

[wisestrider]

Kai Series - The Chasm of Doom - always liked the mystery, slowly peicing together what happened to D'Val, and seeing how long my Rangers could survive. Then navigating the mines and the battle where you get to act as a commander. Finish with a "behind enemy lines" rescue attempt and climatic fight on the brink of the Maakengorge. It jumps between different adventure styles several times but it always feels like a natural progression of the story.

Magnakai Series - The Kingdom's of Terror - just always liked the feel of this adventure - no Darklords or invading armies, or race against time. Just Lone Wolf exploring a new part of the world and hunting for a long lost treasure. He meets good men and evil, but there is no greater threat he needs to overcome to save the world. Confront a tavern bully, compete in an archery tournament, maybe fight an apprentice Necromancer, seek out some loremasters, sign up with a mercenary company, fight some river pirates, then try to get into a city under siege through the sewers.

Grand Master Series - Dawn of the Dragons - my first Lone Wolf book, so nostalgia plays a big part here. Just a desperate race against time - crossing the entire Northern Continent trying to get home. You meet many allies along the way and need to leave them behind (sometimes in difficult circumstances) as you push on with your journey. Just a lot of fun and you really feel the constant urgency to keep moving.

New Order Series - Dead in the Deep - maybe cheating to name this given the gap between this and the main bulk of the New Order books - but this is a great book. Really felt like a proper Lone Wolf adventure (which other New Order books are a bit hit and miss about - some feel too similar as "long journeys" while others retread similar ground / revisit locations from earlier books without offering much new - also New Order books start feeling very linear) - Dead in the Deep hints towards what the New Order series could (should?) have been - with a threat too big for Lone Wolf alone, instead the whole New Order need to work together to stand a chance.

Grey Star series - Grey Star the Wizard - first look at Southern Magnamund, and new game rules, meant it was different yet familiar enough to draw me in - that first shot of a wider world outside of Lone Wolf was great. Main thing I like about this series as a whole is that Grey Star has a goal right from the start and the series ends once it's done - Lone Wolf & New Order series tend to jump around a bit more regarding the "main goal" of each series - this feels better planned from the start.

Freeway Warrior series - not managed to finish a proper playthrough of this yet, so can't judge.