Reviews and Comments from various sources:
Carolyn Trower, February 16, 2014, via Wordpress:
Having surrendered to both of Mr. Woodward’s books, I was enchanted with his ability for character development, creativity and his poetic prose. Turning the last page of the first book, a feeling of loss surprised me. Living with and building a relationship with his characters became a truly sublime experience. Waiting for the second book’s availability prompted me to reread “The Eight Walls of Rogar” several times. His novels gently take the reader through life lessons we all need to learn. Both novels are timeless classics in the truest sense of the word.
ALEXGEORGEAL, February 19, 2014, via Wordpress: For this blog
An underground city! Sounds fascinating, and the way you dscribe it, with the lake and such, brings to mind Loch Ness. This whole site has an English/ Scottish feel to it. Makes me feel right at home.
Happy writing,
Alex George
Author of Under the Dragon’s Claw
http://www.authoralexgeorge.com
Anonymous, June 2, 2012, via Barnes and Noble
On The Eight Walls of Rogar:
Highly Recommended one of my favorite booksThis is a masterpiece of a tale of an otherworldly universe with Rogar and a young Andaris a long way from home.
The cover says it all February 26, 2009, via Amazon For The Eight Walls of Rogar
By ubelzwilling
Format:Hardcover
They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but it certainly can be a clue, can't it? In this case the intriguing cover provides ample testimony to the story within. The Eight Walls of Rogar is what people used to call a ripping good yarn. (That they don't anymore being another censure of modern society.) It's not a new story--old as the hills, actually--but told with a bloom and gusto that only a new writer, or terribly talented experienced one, can achieve. Here the lucky reader gets both. I'll cop to having not read a lot of fantasy, as it's not typically my cuppa, but that should serve notice to how much fun this one is. Unlike so many that fall into fairy tale silliness or self-conscious epic--you know the ones, where one can almost hear the earnest orchestral swelling--Woodward manages the difficult feat of balancing the two aspects. A rather simple story gradually takes on the gravity and scope of a timeless one. No surprise that it seems to promise a sequel, in which case I suppose this one will not long feel so lonely next to the Gunslinger series.
One of my favorite books, from one of my favorite authors February 26, 2009, via Amazon
By Carole Hayes
Format:Hardcover
This book, and its sequel, quickly earned a place on my shelf, among my favorite books. The world of Rogar is every bit as fully developed as Pern, Narnia, or Middle Earth, the characters and storylines as compelling.... I'm a big fan of series, and this is one of those that keeps me up late at night, reading because I can't make myself put the book down.
William Woodward is now on my "favorite authors" list, and I eagerly await whatever he decides to write next. (part three...?) : )
4.0 out of 5 stars hard to stop reading this February 21, 2014 For The Eight Walls of Rogar
By Jennifer Kleber
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I had a hard time putting this down (or, in this case, turning off my phone). The characters quickly drew me into the story. My highest praise, though, is that I could not predict the ending, and I look forward to reading the second book in this trilogy.
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy March 5, 2014 For The Eight Walls of Rogar
By Deborah Voorhees
Format:Hardcover
Woodward has a strong voice that fantasy readers will love. His sequel is equally as strong. Waiting for the final book in this trilogy.
5.0 out of 5 stars Spiraling Plot March 7, 2014 For The Stair of Time
By Deborah Voorhees
Format:Kindle Edition
Often books are either story or character driven, William Woodward combines the two for a real page turner. His plot unfolds as the reader learns of the psychology of the characters most inner thoughts, fears, and desires.
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy Lover's Dream March 7, 2014
By Amazon Customer
Format:Kindle Edition
William Woodward's "The Stair of Time" is a tense, exciting read. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait until the final book in his trilogy.
5.0 out of 5 stars Further up and deeper in.... March 9, 2014 The Stair of Time
By Carole Hayes
Format:Kindle Edition
I've been reading sci-fi/fantasy novels for as long as I've known they existed. One of my favorite things about them is that so often they tend to be written as series, so I'm given a chance to not only fall in love with characters, but to get to know them well.
Sure, you could read the first book of this trilogy, or any other, and stop there if you wanted to; the first novel is a full and complete story that stands well on its own. But with this series, as with all of my favorites, when you choose to continue beyond the first book you'll wonder how on earth you were ever able to think that you were "done" without these newest pages.
By the end of this one I felt that I was leaving good friends, and I didn't want to. When the next book is finished I'll be the first to pre-order my copy, because I'm still running scenarios through my head as to what happens next, and I really, really want to know if any of them are right!
(Do you hear that, William Woodward? We NEED the next book, because we miss our friends and want to know what on EARTH is happening to them....)
4.0 out of 5 stars A solid sequel March 11, 2014
By ubelzwilling
Format:Kindle Edition
I read The Eight Walls of Rogar, the prequel to this, because I was intrigued by the title and got carried away by its rollicking yarn. I read Stair of Time based on the strength of the first book. It holds up equally well, but is a different kind of story. There is very much a sense of Star Wars/Empire Strikes Back here, Rogar being the great epic adventure that gets the series started while Stair of Time is the more serious, introspective follow-up. Plenty of adventure still awaits, but it turns more on the internal quests of the protagonists. Woodward's high style is still just as fun to read, and there are more mind-bending puzzles and twists here than even in Rogar. Well worth the current amazingly low 99¢ entry fee. Grab both books for yourself and enjoy some unabashed high entertainment.
Having surrendered to both of Mr. Woodward’s books, I was enchanted with his ability for character development, creativity and his poetic prose. Turning the last page of the first book, a feeling of loss surprised me. Living with and building a relationship with his characters became a truly sublime experience. Waiting for the second book’s availability prompted me to reread “The Eight Walls of Rogar” several times. His novels gently take the reader through life lessons we all need to learn. Both novels are timeless classics in the truest sense of the word.
ALEXGEORGEAL, February 19, 2014, via Wordpress: For this blog
An underground city! Sounds fascinating, and the way you dscribe it, with the lake and such, brings to mind Loch Ness. This whole site has an English/ Scottish feel to it. Makes me feel right at home.
Happy writing,
Alex George
Author of Under the Dragon’s Claw
http://www.authoralexgeorge.com
Anonymous, June 2, 2012, via Barnes and Noble
On The Eight Walls of Rogar:
Highly Recommended one of my favorite booksThis is a masterpiece of a tale of an otherworldly universe with Rogar and a young Andaris a long way from home.
The cover says it all February 26, 2009, via Amazon For The Eight Walls of Rogar
By ubelzwilling
Format:Hardcover
They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but it certainly can be a clue, can't it? In this case the intriguing cover provides ample testimony to the story within. The Eight Walls of Rogar is what people used to call a ripping good yarn. (That they don't anymore being another censure of modern society.) It's not a new story--old as the hills, actually--but told with a bloom and gusto that only a new writer, or terribly talented experienced one, can achieve. Here the lucky reader gets both. I'll cop to having not read a lot of fantasy, as it's not typically my cuppa, but that should serve notice to how much fun this one is. Unlike so many that fall into fairy tale silliness or self-conscious epic--you know the ones, where one can almost hear the earnest orchestral swelling--Woodward manages the difficult feat of balancing the two aspects. A rather simple story gradually takes on the gravity and scope of a timeless one. No surprise that it seems to promise a sequel, in which case I suppose this one will not long feel so lonely next to the Gunslinger series.
One of my favorite books, from one of my favorite authors February 26, 2009, via Amazon
By Carole Hayes
Format:Hardcover
This book, and its sequel, quickly earned a place on my shelf, among my favorite books. The world of Rogar is every bit as fully developed as Pern, Narnia, or Middle Earth, the characters and storylines as compelling.... I'm a big fan of series, and this is one of those that keeps me up late at night, reading because I can't make myself put the book down.
William Woodward is now on my "favorite authors" list, and I eagerly await whatever he decides to write next. (part three...?) : )
4.0 out of 5 stars hard to stop reading this February 21, 2014 For The Eight Walls of Rogar
By Jennifer Kleber
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I had a hard time putting this down (or, in this case, turning off my phone). The characters quickly drew me into the story. My highest praise, though, is that I could not predict the ending, and I look forward to reading the second book in this trilogy.
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy March 5, 2014 For The Eight Walls of Rogar
By Deborah Voorhees
Format:Hardcover
Woodward has a strong voice that fantasy readers will love. His sequel is equally as strong. Waiting for the final book in this trilogy.
5.0 out of 5 stars Spiraling Plot March 7, 2014 For The Stair of Time
By Deborah Voorhees
Format:Kindle Edition
Often books are either story or character driven, William Woodward combines the two for a real page turner. His plot unfolds as the reader learns of the psychology of the characters most inner thoughts, fears, and desires.
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy Lover's Dream March 7, 2014
By Amazon Customer
Format:Kindle Edition
William Woodward's "The Stair of Time" is a tense, exciting read. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait until the final book in his trilogy.
5.0 out of 5 stars Further up and deeper in.... March 9, 2014 The Stair of Time
By Carole Hayes
Format:Kindle Edition
I've been reading sci-fi/fantasy novels for as long as I've known they existed. One of my favorite things about them is that so often they tend to be written as series, so I'm given a chance to not only fall in love with characters, but to get to know them well.
Sure, you could read the first book of this trilogy, or any other, and stop there if you wanted to; the first novel is a full and complete story that stands well on its own. But with this series, as with all of my favorites, when you choose to continue beyond the first book you'll wonder how on earth you were ever able to think that you were "done" without these newest pages.
By the end of this one I felt that I was leaving good friends, and I didn't want to. When the next book is finished I'll be the first to pre-order my copy, because I'm still running scenarios through my head as to what happens next, and I really, really want to know if any of them are right!
(Do you hear that, William Woodward? We NEED the next book, because we miss our friends and want to know what on EARTH is happening to them....)
4.0 out of 5 stars A solid sequel March 11, 2014
By ubelzwilling
Format:Kindle Edition
I read The Eight Walls of Rogar, the prequel to this, because I was intrigued by the title and got carried away by its rollicking yarn. I read Stair of Time based on the strength of the first book. It holds up equally well, but is a different kind of story. There is very much a sense of Star Wars/Empire Strikes Back here, Rogar being the great epic adventure that gets the series started while Stair of Time is the more serious, introspective follow-up. Plenty of adventure still awaits, but it turns more on the internal quests of the protagonists. Woodward's high style is still just as fun to read, and there are more mind-bending puzzles and twists here than even in Rogar. Well worth the current amazingly low 99¢ entry fee. Grab both books for yourself and enjoy some unabashed high entertainment.