The Sword (Sons of Destiny Series #1)

Absolutely wonderful

I would recommend this book and the whole series of 8. They were so wonderful that You should buy them all so that you can go from one book to the next.
If this world was a true place I would definately want to live in it. The way they take other world magic and find ways to make the simplist of things from our time into their time is amazing. If you love time travel, suspense, thrills, chills, magic, and love stories then you will definately love the twists and turns and the stories of the eight sons of Destiny. Please Purchase the series and I guarentee you wont be disappointed

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Warpreader_Mom

Sons of Destiny: The Sword by Jean Johnson.
It is a standard alternate universe, nebulous time period, unoriginal tale of interdimensional, magical, exiled brothers living under an eight parted "curse" (one for each of eight brothers). The four sets of twins are all gorgeous, young, built like brick pagodas, and orphaned. Parents dying within months of each other left them vulnerable to the greed of neighbors, and the fear of their fellows (a society of wizards and mages; magic rules). Fearing destruction emanating from the curses, the Mage Council exiles them to a deserted island, though they are not abandoned. Their respective magical talents leave them valuable to the society which expelled them, so they are kept well supplied in exchange for the "goods" they provision. Their respective curses will come to pass when each brother finds true love. The prophesied curses are interpreted to spell destruction not only to themselves, but to the kingdom that expelled them (thus the basis for the separation).

The Sword is the story of the eldest brother, Saber (The Sword... get it?). As he falls in love, his section of the curse is enacted bringing on the first of the eight disasters which they must face and overcome by themselves. Enter deadly magical beasts, marauding explorers; plucky, no, feisty red haired heroine,and the formula is set. Saber must overcome his fear of falling in love (for fear of enacting the curse); his pre-chosen heroine (a contemporary termagant who was spirited away from her own time and place by the youngest and strongest of the eight, and is also determined to change his reluctance by any means necessary), and a series of teleported nasties designated to end his life, and the lives of his brothers.
Each brother in turn will fall to the charms of their destined mates (yes, an eight book series), the fun is in the methods in which they meet their respective downfalls, although true to the formula, all ends well. Note: baby brother is more than he appears, and his appearance is awesome.
This is a good beach-book, an easy read (though badly edited, lots of typos) with no surprises, gorgeous hunks, and the first of the gorgeous and pale eight-brides-for-eight brothers.
The story has been told before, and better. I personally prefer Nora Roberts' "Sign of Seven" trilogy. The wrting is better, and the suspense is better constructed. The characters are less "perfect", more human and believable. One is drawn into the story with the characters, not just observing them from a distance.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

LOVED IT!

I loved this story!! It kept me in stitches!! The characters are well-developed and interesting....the two main characters are hilarious together! I love the way Johnson wove the humor between the tension of them!!! I cannot wait to read the rest of this series.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good Read

A good first book in an 8 book series. I am looking forward in reading the rest of the series.
Donna A.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great Read

This the 1st of J. Johnson's books I've read. I enjoyed it from the 1st page thru the end & have ordered the rest of this series of books that are now available.
these books should be read in the order that they were written to keep the flow of the story line in sequence.
i'm planning on keeping these in my library that I've started so that I
can reread them as I want.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I LIKE it!

Jean Johnson is a newly dicovered author for me. I was very pleased to find myself drawn in to her well-developed characters and story. I found myself quite fond of her heroes, the "cursed" Sons of Destiny. This is an imaginative tale with well conceived plots and side stories. Reading this first book set me on the course of reading all of the series!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Can't Decide

I loved how the book began, snoozed during the middle and then liked the ending to where I immediately jumped to the second book, Wolfe.
She spends a lot of time talking about things that put me to sleep or make it hard to follow. It could have been much shorter and gotten to the good stuff much faster.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Work Buster

Loved the book, as I say it's a work buster because I didn't want to do anything but read what was going to happen next. I had to track down the next book, I do look forward to getting it and reading it but not really sure after reading some of the reviews, hope it's not a dissapointment. Great work on this book, looooooved it!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Magically Romantic

I have to give props to Johnson for creative thinking - I think the concept for the story is very well-thought-out and fascinating. I liked reading about every one of the main characters, and I can't wait to find out what happens to them in their own stories. This was definitely a fun read, with the perfect blend of fantasy and romance...

If you enjoyed Johnson's work, you might also like Jude Deveraux's "The Black Lyon."

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I would recommnd this book

This first book in the series keeps you reading until you get to the end. Very good. I like it so much i Purchased the whole series.

Lacking

The storyline behind this was promising, and the character development was good.. but those things were too few and far between. The book was filled with run-on sentences that described every detail of the clothing and architecture. I enjoy being able to visualize things, but this was excessive and became a hinderance to the story. If you remove those pieces, you would be left with a good novella. I don't regret reading this one, but won't be getting the next book in the series.

Loved it

Get it!!! I loved it it was such a great series!!

great series

If you start this series you have to read them all. Love the characters and you really get wrapped up in the different personalities of all the brothers and there women.

Unexpectedly funny

I loved this book! Some of the scenarios were hilarious. Funny, smart US girl who knows how to defend herself meets magic man & his seven brothers on an island they're exiled on. Enjoyable fun read recommended for adults who want to escape into the arms of eight great men.(Yes-please)

Excellent Start!

This book is a wonderful precursor to the rest of the series. The characters are lively and feisty, and you really get a sense of each of the brothers as individuals. The heroine is independent, witty, and smart, and she easily holds her own in a house full of men. The added intrigue of the mysterious attacks and the prophecy make this a titilating read. Very well written and vividly described. You are transported "through the looking glass" right onto the island along with the Sons of Destiny. I highly recommend that you start here and plow right through the rest of the series, as each book sets the stage for the following.

Magical

I really enjoyed this book and will plan on reading the second in the series. I just loved all the magic casting in the book. The sex wasn't that great but the rest of the story made up for it.

Very interesting different world with great romance

Very intersting story - different ending makes me want to read the next book see below. I'm looking forward to a great series

Very Entertaining - romantic, and wittingly written!

I read all the books in this series, and I enjoyed them all. My favorites were "The Sword," and "The Mage." You should read the entire series to fully appreciate the story about the eight brother who were born twins, four sets. They were forbidden to be with woman. I had lots of fun reading this story which contained sex, humor, and dramatic events.

The first of Sons of Destiny books.

Tried skimming, but really couldn't read this poorly written book. Gave it away.

Romantic Book

Very romantic. It's definitely a rainy day escapism type book. Kind of a palate cleanser after a couple of tough murder mysteries.