Legends of the Realm is a series I have enjoyed immensely and even purchased as gifts for others. When this, the third installment was published earlier this year, I was counting down the days until I could get my own copy. And all I can say is I want more, more!

I love Locke’s writing style. His depth of scene pulls the reader headlong into the book, allowing them to experience the story right next to the characters. His pacing when it comes to dialogue is also very well done, allowing for more natural-feeling conversation than I usually find in other works.

Mysteries and riddles that were introduced in the first two books are explored more in “The Golden Vial”, but there are still answers to be had, and a final victory to be won. I look forward to the next installment, whenever and however it comes!

I received a review copy of this work from the publisher through NetGalley

This book is the conclusion in the Legends of the Realm trilogy. I liked seeing the story line wrapped up and how Lady Shona worked at leading her people even with everything that was against her. I liked seeing how she had to put her reliance in someone that she did not know and did not know if they could get the job done, but had to trust that they could.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher, the review is my own.

Legends of the Realm by Thomas Locke

My rating is 4.5 Stars


This was my favorite book of the trilogy and had my favorite characters, Dally and Connell.
Dally has a way of communicating with the wolfhounds that her master, the Mayor raises. She also has giftings of magery and “seeing” that have been hidden to those around her. The villagers have always shunned and feared her. Never having seen herself in a mirror and only judging her appearance by the reactions of those around her, she assumes she is homely. Her humility and yet willingness to do whatever she needs to is endearing.

I was captivated by Connell in his cameo in The Merchant of Alyss and had high hopes that he would return. He is a master mage and a favorite instructor among the apprentices. In The Golden Vial, he is a pillar of strength despite the queen passing him over for a great role in the Realm.

"The chief wizard of Emporis was tall and handsome, with the clear blue eyes of a midsummer dawn. He wore his blond hair standing straight up, like a yellow brush. His blond goatee ended in a woven strand as long as his thumb. He did his best to provoke—outrage, humor, attraction—any response would do, Hyam suspected, so long as it was robust. Connell was everything Hyam was not and never would be. Hyam already liked the young man immensely."

From The Merchant of Alyss

While I normally don’t like to read stories that contain witches (shudder!), the ones in this story are more sirens than typical Halloween witches, and though they are by no means nice, it didn’t bother me that they made an appearance.

There were a myriad of creatures I’ve never heard of before, and each one was creatively described in such a way that I could picture it well. Despite the fact that there was a full cast of important characters to keep track of, they were introduced in such a way that when they appeared later, I was not too overwhelmed to be able to know who each one was.

Though the description of this book declares it to be the last of the trilogy, there is unfinished business and hints of more to come. According to author Thomas Locke’s blog, there is a possibility of this series becoming a major motion picture, and if so, there could be more to the stories. I can only hope that is the case.


This review was originally posted on AmongTheReads.net.

Get a Preview of Legends of the Realm at AmongTheReads.net


I would like to thank Netgalley, Revell for giving me this copy of the book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book.
When first starting this book, I did not realise that it was part of a series that I actually never read. I had no idea what was going on and who the characters were. This could explain my low rating.
I really struggle getting engaged with the story and getting attached to the characters.
I found the plot very slow and it started to drag after a couple of chapters.
The book was also relatively short so it felt really rushed and there was not much room for character development and story building.

The battle for the realm continues brining in some new characters to freshen up the story.

Darkness has settled over the Three Valleys area, cutting off the towns from the outside world. Little by little the darkness squeezes the area in closer. The townspeople have started to ignore the threat and accepted that it was always this way. There is one that has not. Dally’s entire family was killed by the dark force and she was left orphaned and taken in by the town mayor. She hasn’t gotten along well with people, but she has always had the ability to talk with the mayor’s dogs. When Lady Shona arrives to combat the evil forces, she request the presence of Dally and her ability. It is also discovered the Dally has the power of a great mage, but has never been taught. She joins Lady Shona’s band of faithful followers on her quest to save the realm, with hopes to save Hyam as well.

This series has been my favorite fantasy series in quite some time and I have been looking forward to this book for well over two years. It went in a different direction than what I expected, but it is a transition novel to the next storyline. Locke has done a really good job of weaving everything in the world together, which can be daunting when you have to create the world to begin with. The descriptive nature of the scenery has continued so that it is easy to jump back into the realm at a moment’s notice. The cast of characters continue to be a fun bunch to be around much of the time. As the main character, Dally struggles with confidence much like Hyam did in the first book. Given their similarities, I would not be surprised to find that they are related in some way in the future.

Undoubtedly, this series will not be for everyone; however, I recommend that you give it a try. Each book is serious, but has a lot of humor to keep it a little lighter. This book is a great read for young adults and up. If you haven’t read the first two, I recommended it as there is a lot of back story that needs to fill you in.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Golden Vial was an okay read. It was interesting but I just don’t think it was a read me. I give it three stars.

The Golden Vial is the third volume in The Legends of the Realm series. It is a very nice read, although I found some things a little bit strange.
The main character of the previous books has been pushed to the background to make place for an entirely new main character, Dally. I had not expected this, but it was not a bad move. Dally flows in nice and naturally and turns out to be a very powerful ally.
The enemy is more powerful than ever, but there is little action and even less resistance, which is completely out of line with the previous books. Left with the feeling that The Golden Vial is an interlude, I wonder if there will be a next volume. This book could be the end, but it is not really the end.
All in all, this is a pleasant story to read. The characters are nice and the storyline flows well.

If you enjoy fantasies with elves, humans and dragons you will so enjoy this book. This is Book three in the Legends of the Realm series. You don’t have to read books 1 and 2 to understand this one but if they are as good as this one then you should read them. Dally is a wonderful character who is full of magic that she doesn’t understand. She helps to save this world. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I was hooked on this series when I started reading Emissary, the first in the series. The Golden Vial is just as good a read.

Dally is a young orphan girl, who is the servant of Norvin, the mayor of the village of Honor, and his prickly wife Krim. But Dally has a strange affinity with the huge Wolfhound dogs Norvin breeds. She can see through their eyes, and communicate with those far away.

Before long, an army is camped just outside Honor, and Dally's abilities are no longer secret. Her use of magic is crude and uneducated, but potent. And she must use it to face a foe which could destroy everything she knows, and kingdoms beyond.

I really enjoyed this book, and finished it wishing for more. There is plenty of action, a hint of romance, and lots of complexity. In my admittedly personal view, 'Legends of the Realm' is the best series written by Thomas Locke/Davis Bunn in any genre. A must read for any fantasy fan.

I have to confess to being rather disappointed with this final instalment in Thomas Locke’s Legends of the Realm series. We’ve been waiting for this final book for a little over two years, and we left Hyam at a rather crushing moment in his life. The glimpses we got of Shona in Merchant of Alyss had made me keen for The Golden Vial, since it seemed as though it would pick up her story. Seemed being the operative word there.

Shona was really only a peripheral character, as was Hyam. This was all about a completely new character known as Dally, a young orphan girl who ends up being the key to everything. I love Thomas Locke’s writing, and that remained true for this book, but I couldn’t help thinking “Where’s the real story?” I felt like these characters were going through the expected motions; I never got that ‘How are they going to get out of this?’ feeling. And when I got to the last page, I couldn’t believe that was it. It felt so . . . unfinished. I mean, it resolved as far as Dally was concerned, but it was like it finished in the middle of a conversation. Underwhelmed is the word.

In The Golden Vial, Hyam suffers from a strange wasting illness. Lady Shona leads her band of loyal followers to Hyam’s hometown to find answers, even if it means they must build new alliances and face deadly enemies.

Meanwhile, an orphaned servant girl named Dally – who lives in Hyam’s hometown – has kept her unique abilities a secret. But she may be the key to winning the final battle against an ancient evil threatening them. Will Dally step forward and embrace her role, and at what cost?

What a great Cinderella story, with a fantasy filled plot! Dally is an orphan being raised by the town mayor and his slave driving wife Krim! She is forced to slave away at menial chores all day, and live in an old toolshed in the yard! Her only joy is the wolfhounds that the mayor, Norvin, raises, she is attached to them like they are family!
Then, one day, Dally receives a message from Shona, a woman she has been seeing in her dreams, Shona is coming to visit Dallys village, to protect them from the evil beasts that killed Dally’s family many years ago, and she is bringing an army of magic warriors and wolfhounds with her!
Through this visit, Dally’s life will change dramatically and permanently, she has gifts she doesn’t even realize that need to be awakened and she will help to save her world!
You will have to read the story for yourself to see who Dally meets and how her gifts are awakened!

The Golden Vial Is a wild child. It is a great book if you couldn't tell. It was about freedom, gifts and abilities and now they were going to use them. There was bravery and the want of healing. There is fight or flight for you and your Kingdom or them and theirs. The imagery is unreal. The story telling is off the charts - though this is the 3rd book in a series and I wish I had read the 1st two but I don't think totally needed, but maybe it might help a lot.

I am a genuine fan of Thomas Locke. And this series has been outstanding. I must say that I was a disappointed in the way this one ended if it is indeed the final episode in the series. The story had me engaged and tracking with both old and new characters. But it seemed like the ending was rushed and somewhat anticlimactic. I don't want to give away the plot or the ending so I don't feel like I can go into further detail about that. With that being said, I still think this is an excellent book. I think the reader will be engaged and will want to read it even when they have to stop for the night! It's dynamic and fast paced like the other works by the author. His attention to detail is phenomenal You can visualize all the places and characters thanks to his incredible writing skills. I hope there will be some way to provide a better wrapping up of the story as a transition to another series. I feel like the readers are in some way owed that!. .

Wow, just wow. I read The Golden Vial in one sitting. I admit I got up a few times but what a story. When it came in the mail, I just grinned and couldn't wait to read it. I was not disappointed. Locke does an amazing job of continuing the Legends of the Realm series with descriptive prose, action-packed scenes, compelling characters, and just a hint of a romance too. The story moves quickly with quests and battles, wizards and fiends, a magic dragon and a renegade elf. And most captivating of all, Dally, an orphaned servant girl hidden away in a garden shed with gifts she is only beginning to understand. I loved seeing how she is hesitant and untrained and yet willing to do whatever is necessary to bring unity to the realm, a realm that has been in the enemy's shadow for far too long. She has fears and questions that gnaw at her--just who is she? does she have a place, a future?--and yet perhaps she could learn how to reach inside herself and find a power that could free her from those fears. The book is tagged as #3 of 3 in the series but I am hoping there is a spin-off in the future. I heartily recommend this story of a mystical and magical-filled journey.
I received a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

For a moment there I thought Hyam was getting his own harem. I really liked Dally, with her purity and innocence and so eager to help. I liked the support from the other characters, mainly Maeda and the eleven queen, they genuinely wanted to help. I didn’t like Shona and Dally’s interactions, it felt like all Shona cared about was Hyam and was using Dally. I liked how there is a small amount of romance in the story, so close to soulmates. The enemy must be terrifying if no one has tried to stop the budding alliances. Looking forward to the next continuation for this one.

WORTH THE WAIT
The third book in the ‘Legends of the Realm’ series by Thomas Locke, ‘The Golden Vial’ was definitely worth the wait. Interestingly the main characters from the previous two books appear more in the role of supporting characters in this one, and a new character, Dally, takes center stage. Nevertheless this story is strongly tied to the previous ones and also brings one of the main characters, Hyam, full circle (in terms of location), back to the place where he started from in the first book, but clearly (for which I am glad even though it means another wait), the story still has some way to go before reaching a final conclusion. This book does not end with a ‘cliff-hanger’ as such, but it certainly gives hints of continuation. I imagine it is possible to read it without having read the previous books, but for greater enjoyment, take the whole journey. I really enjoyed this book, and now I will have to go back and re-read all three to catch up on all the threads as it is a while since I read books one (Emissary) and two (Merchant of Alyss).
Thanks for a great read, and thanks to Revell for giving me the chance to read this. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

In the book The Golden Vial, author Thomas Locke follows a young untested orphan named Dally. Is that even her real name? Could she be the key to winning the battle that is coming?
I would recommend this book but not without reading the previous books in the trilogy! I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thomas Locke is a pseudonym used by David Bunn. Books authored by Locke fit in the genre epic fantasy or techno thrillers. I received a complimentary copy of The Golden Vial - Legends of the Realm Book #3 to review. This book meets your expectations for an epic fantasy. Battle lines are drawn and the forces of good build alliances to defeat the evil. As the quest to preserve the current world order unfolds, readers will meet wizards, mages, elves, and more. On one hand, it may seem different for a Christian publishing company to present a book with wizards and sorcery. But there are elements that mirror the plot details of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. It’s imaginative and fast paced. Thomas Locke writes with flair and great word choice.

If you’re a fan of strategy, you’ll appreciate the quote, “No matter how wise a leader might be, good fortune must still play a role.”

Readers will find the main character Dally’s story compelling. At one point, these words are repeated to her, “You have a good heart, young lady. It will take you far.” Dally has a far-seeing ability that drives the plot in multiple instances.

In the tradition other noteworthy epic fantasy books, the setting is all important. A map helps readers visualize the layout of the Realms. Fans of this genre will be pleased with the plot, strong characters, and fantasy elements.

Even though I have read the first two of these books, I was a bit lost at the beginning because of the time between the release of the books. The book was good, just not great. It seemed to lack some depth in the characters. I found myself skipping through the book to the end.