Official Rachel Aaron Website
Order “Part-Time Gods ” HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Forever Fantasy Online"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "FFO: Last Bastion"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Nice Dragons Finish Last"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "One Good Dragon Deserves Another"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "A Dragon Of A Different Color"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Last Dragon Standing"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Minimum Wage Magic"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "The Spirit Thief"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of “The Spirit Rebellion”
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of “The Spirit Eater” & “Spirit’s Oath”
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of “The Spirit War”
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Spirit's End"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Fortune's Pawn"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Honor's Knight"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Heaven's Queen"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's joint interview with Rachel Aaron & Travis Bach
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Interview with Rachel Aaron
Read Eli Monpress series completion interview with Rachel Aaron
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Interview with Rachel Bach
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Heartstrikers interview with Rachel Aaron
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Second Heartstrikers interview with Rachel Aaron
Read "Why A Nice Dragon" by Rachel Aaron (Guest post)
Order “Part-Time Gods ” HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Forever Fantasy Online"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "FFO: Last Bastion"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Nice Dragons Finish Last"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "One Good Dragon Deserves Another"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "A Dragon Of A Different Color"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Last Dragon Standing"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Minimum Wage Magic"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "The Spirit Thief"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of “The Spirit Rebellion”
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of “The Spirit Eater” & “Spirit’s Oath”
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of “The Spirit War”
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Spirit's End"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Fortune's Pawn"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Honor's Knight"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Heaven's Queen"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's joint interview with Rachel Aaron & Travis Bach
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Interview with Rachel Aaron
Read Eli Monpress series completion interview with Rachel Aaron
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Interview with Rachel Bach
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Heartstrikers interview with Rachel Aaron
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Second Heartstrikers interview with Rachel Aaron
Read "Why A Nice Dragon" by Rachel Aaron (Guest post)
AUTHOR INFORMATION: Rachel Aaron lives in Colorado with her family. She has graduated from University of Georgia with a B.A. in English Literature. She has been an avid reader since her childhood and now has an ever-growing collection to show for it. She loves gaming, Manga comics & reality TV police shows. She also posts regularly on her blog about publishing, books and several other intriguing things.
OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: Life in the magical mess of the Detroit Free Zone is never easy. When you’re laboring under the curse of a certain prideful, overbearing dragon, it can be down right impossible.
My name is Opal Yong-ae, and I’m a Cleaner. At least, I used to be. Thanks to the supernatural bad luck that turns everything I do against me, these days I’m more of a walking disaster. Getting rid of this curse is the only way to get my life back. Unfortunately, dragon magic is every bit as sneaky and deadly the monsters behind it, and just as hard to beat.
But I’ve never been one to take her doom at face value. Cornered doesn’t mean defeated, and in an awakened city that rules herself, dragons are no longer the biggest powers around.
FORMAT/INFO: Part-Time Gods is 374 pages long divided over eleven numbered chapters and a prologue. Narration is in the first person via Opal Yong-ae solely. This is the second volume of the DFZ series.
June 11, 2019 marks the e-book publication of Part-Time Gods and it will be self-published by the author.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Part- Time Gods is the sequel to Minimum Wage Magic and continues the further exploration of the DFZ that began with Minimum Wage Magic. I was excited about this title and after finishing it, I can only say that Rachel is really having a lot of fun with her first sequel series.
The plot actually begins almost immediately after the events of book 1 and we see Opal trying to figure out what she can do with the curse that has been inflicted upon her. She along with her partner Nik have to come up with a new plan to outwit the dragon’s curse laid on her. Never one to step back from a challenge, Opal will have to figure out one of life’s biggest mysteries: How do dragon curses work? There’s also life in the DFZ and other mysteries to unravel but can she do all of it and yet pay her debt? All of this and more happens in the middle volume of this trilogy as both the readers and the Dragon of Korea discover just how stubborn Opal can be.
As with the first book, we get a cracking story and more DFZ exploration. And similar to the last time, we are given a ringside view of the events with Nik and Opal. Both these characters have issues and yet are endearing to each other. There’s a lot of stuff that was hinted at in Minimum Wage Magic, in Part-Time Gods, we get to see more of their backgrounds and there’s some big surprises unveiled. I enjoyed knowing more about Nik and I hope the author gives us more as the half cyborg has some intriguingly dark things in his past. But with Opal, we get to see some glorious flashbacks as well as current family situations. I loved reading about the family dynamics of the only dragon who consorts with humans and keeps them around. The Dragon of Korea has been a shadow over Opal’s life and it's fun to see Opal work out the kinks that have been strangulating her luck. The relationship between Opal and her father is a very strange one and it's not as one-sided as we have been led to believe. This is where Rachel's characterization and plotting comes to the fore as we see things aren't black and white. Dragons feel differently than human beings but they do feel....
Opal as a character is stubborn and while it has led to where she is. Her stubbornness also stops from seeing the big picture and it’s this very lack of insight which seems to have marred her life. We as readers get to see this very trait over and over again with this volume and it was a tad irritating. As a reader, you want to be able to make her see and indeed a couple of famous characters do try but Opal being the person she is, doesn’t see it that way. I feel that the trilogy ender will definitely be a make or break one for her. The other characters also introduced in this book are very, very intriguing (as has been the case with the Heartstrikers series as well). The world is intriguing as it is and in this volume, we get to see more of the DFZ and her changes she has wrought.
The DFZ as she was formed had a very violent birth but since then has learnt what it means to be a free city. The problem is that with the freedom, there comes a certain leeway with the populace that it attracts and the DFZ isn’t all that happy about it. That’s another interesting priesthood angle that’s set up within this story and I enjoyed that aspect of avatars/priest that has been cultivated within. I hope that the author explores more of this as the DFZ as a spirit and as a city is just too interesting an entity to not do so. Lastly since the first book, as a reader I’ve been dying to see/hear about the Heartstrikers and in this book we get some solid and wonderful cameos. It’s always fun to see our favorite characters after all these years and these characters don’t disappoint whenever they appear.
The only thing that stuck down my craw about this story was a plot twist that happens near the end which seemed more than a bit contrived. I hold Rachel Aaron in very high regards and hence this drawback could be subjective for me. But other than that there were no other issues from this read considering its aims and genre.
CONCLUSION: Part-Time Gods is a sequel that ratchets up the tension, avoids the middle book syndrome and gives the readers an excellent thrill ride with a generous sprinkling of character cameos that are sure to bring a smile to many a readers’ faces. Part-time Gods is a solid story that outshines its predecessor in every way and made me excited for the trilogy ending
OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: Life in the magical mess of the Detroit Free Zone is never easy. When you’re laboring under the curse of a certain prideful, overbearing dragon, it can be down right impossible.
My name is Opal Yong-ae, and I’m a Cleaner. At least, I used to be. Thanks to the supernatural bad luck that turns everything I do against me, these days I’m more of a walking disaster. Getting rid of this curse is the only way to get my life back. Unfortunately, dragon magic is every bit as sneaky and deadly the monsters behind it, and just as hard to beat.
But I’ve never been one to take her doom at face value. Cornered doesn’t mean defeated, and in an awakened city that rules herself, dragons are no longer the biggest powers around.
FORMAT/INFO: Part-Time Gods is 374 pages long divided over eleven numbered chapters and a prologue. Narration is in the first person via Opal Yong-ae solely. This is the second volume of the DFZ series.
June 11, 2019 marks the e-book publication of Part-Time Gods and it will be self-published by the author.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Part- Time Gods is the sequel to Minimum Wage Magic and continues the further exploration of the DFZ that began with Minimum Wage Magic. I was excited about this title and after finishing it, I can only say that Rachel is really having a lot of fun with her first sequel series.
The plot actually begins almost immediately after the events of book 1 and we see Opal trying to figure out what she can do with the curse that has been inflicted upon her. She along with her partner Nik have to come up with a new plan to outwit the dragon’s curse laid on her. Never one to step back from a challenge, Opal will have to figure out one of life’s biggest mysteries: How do dragon curses work? There’s also life in the DFZ and other mysteries to unravel but can she do all of it and yet pay her debt? All of this and more happens in the middle volume of this trilogy as both the readers and the Dragon of Korea discover just how stubborn Opal can be.
As with the first book, we get a cracking story and more DFZ exploration. And similar to the last time, we are given a ringside view of the events with Nik and Opal. Both these characters have issues and yet are endearing to each other. There’s a lot of stuff that was hinted at in Minimum Wage Magic, in Part-Time Gods, we get to see more of their backgrounds and there’s some big surprises unveiled. I enjoyed knowing more about Nik and I hope the author gives us more as the half cyborg has some intriguingly dark things in his past. But with Opal, we get to see some glorious flashbacks as well as current family situations. I loved reading about the family dynamics of the only dragon who consorts with humans and keeps them around. The Dragon of Korea has been a shadow over Opal’s life and it's fun to see Opal work out the kinks that have been strangulating her luck. The relationship between Opal and her father is a very strange one and it's not as one-sided as we have been led to believe. This is where Rachel's characterization and plotting comes to the fore as we see things aren't black and white. Dragons feel differently than human beings but they do feel....
Opal as a character is stubborn and while it has led to where she is. Her stubbornness also stops from seeing the big picture and it’s this very lack of insight which seems to have marred her life. We as readers get to see this very trait over and over again with this volume and it was a tad irritating. As a reader, you want to be able to make her see and indeed a couple of famous characters do try but Opal being the person she is, doesn’t see it that way. I feel that the trilogy ender will definitely be a make or break one for her. The other characters also introduced in this book are very, very intriguing (as has been the case with the Heartstrikers series as well). The world is intriguing as it is and in this volume, we get to see more of the DFZ and her changes she has wrought.
The DFZ as she was formed had a very violent birth but since then has learnt what it means to be a free city. The problem is that with the freedom, there comes a certain leeway with the populace that it attracts and the DFZ isn’t all that happy about it. That’s another interesting priesthood angle that’s set up within this story and I enjoyed that aspect of avatars/priest that has been cultivated within. I hope that the author explores more of this as the DFZ as a spirit and as a city is just too interesting an entity to not do so. Lastly since the first book, as a reader I’ve been dying to see/hear about the Heartstrikers and in this book we get some solid and wonderful cameos. It’s always fun to see our favorite characters after all these years and these characters don’t disappoint whenever they appear.
The only thing that stuck down my craw about this story was a plot twist that happens near the end which seemed more than a bit contrived. I hold Rachel Aaron in very high regards and hence this drawback could be subjective for me. But other than that there were no other issues from this read considering its aims and genre.
CONCLUSION: Part-Time Gods is a sequel that ratchets up the tension, avoids the middle book syndrome and gives the readers an excellent thrill ride with a generous sprinkling of character cameos that are sure to bring a smile to many a readers’ faces. Part-time Gods is a solid story that outshines its predecessor in every way and made me excited for the trilogy ending
12:00 PM | 
Posted by
The Reader |
Official Author Website
Order The God King's Legacy over HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Kings Of Paradise
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Kings Of Ash
Read Fantasy Book Critic interview with Richard Nell
Today we have another excellent cover reveal courtesy of Richard Nell and cover designer Shawn T.King. Richard has been on my radar after his debut Kings Of Paradise blew Lukasz's and my mind. Since then he's released a sequel to it and also managed to write about a whole new series and world. The God King's Legacy is an omnibus of novellas that serve as prequels to the main series The God King Chronicles.
Order The God King's Legacy over HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Kings Of Paradise
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Kings Of Ash
Read Fantasy Book Critic interview with Richard Nell
Today we have another excellent cover reveal courtesy of Richard Nell and cover designer Shawn T.King. Richard has been on my radar after his debut Kings Of Paradise blew Lukasz's and my mind. Since then he's released a sequel to it and also managed to write about a whole new series and world. The God King's Legacy is an omnibus of novellas that serve as prequels to the main series The God King Chronicles.
The cover art and design is by Shawn T. King and looks very, very snazzy while perfectly illustrating what readers can expect within. Knights with gunpowder and swords, demon infestations and political intrigue. Here's the blurb for it:
From the author of Kings of Paradise comes two tales in a world of knights and demons, muskets and cannon fire. God-king Marsun, the 'Demon King', has ruled for centuries. Once just an illiterate tribal chief, Marsun trapped an ancient evil within his mighty soul, united scattered tribes in peace, then retreated from the world. But his sacrifice is all but forgotten by those he now rules. Technology marches on; new ambitious powers rise; unhappy lords plot rebellion; and from every corner of civilization, savage enemies gather. The god king's legacy, it seems, has just begun...
1) Rebellion of the Black Militia - Johann Planck, bastard and scribe of the god-king's tower, is yanked from his peaceful life of academia, and ordered to capture an immortal creature of darkness. If the knight he's accompanying doesn't kill him, or the demon 'Sazeal', fresh rebellion just might.
2) Devil of the 22nd - A crumbling empire. An abandoned army. Kurt Val Clause is an ordinary man trying to keep it all together because no one else has the balls. Now he has one chance to win a glorious future, die in agony, or lose his soul. He might do all three...
From the author of Kings of Paradise comes two tales in a world of knights and demons, muskets and cannon fire. God-king Marsun, the 'Demon King', has ruled for centuries. Once just an illiterate tribal chief, Marsun trapped an ancient evil within his mighty soul, united scattered tribes in peace, then retreated from the world. But his sacrifice is all but forgotten by those he now rules. Technology marches on; new ambitious powers rise; unhappy lords plot rebellion; and from every corner of civilization, savage enemies gather. The god king's legacy, it seems, has just begun...
1) Rebellion of the Black Militia - Johann Planck, bastard and scribe of the god-king's tower, is yanked from his peaceful life of academia, and ordered to capture an immortal creature of darkness. If the knight he's accompanying doesn't kill him, or the demon 'Sazeal', fresh rebellion just might.
2) Devil of the 22nd - A crumbling empire. An abandoned army. Kurt Val Clause is an ordinary man trying to keep it all together because no one else has the balls. Now he has one chance to win a glorious future, die in agony, or lose his soul. He might do all three...
Richard was also very kind to answer a few questions about the cover, his new upcoming series, the world within and more...
Q] Welcome back to Fantasy Book Critic and thank you for the opportunity to allow us to host this cover reveal. Can you tell us about why you decided to go the omnibus route?
RN: My pleasure! The two stories in The God King’s Legacy are very much intended to ‘showcase’ the world. Both are stand-alone and fast-paced, and together should give the reader a good sense of what they’re getting into with the series to come. If you like this, basically, buckle up…
Q] You are currently writing an epic, epic fantasy that perhaps offers the only fantasy equivalent to Hannibal Lecter. But yet you wrote these novellas between the releases of Kings Of Paradise and Kings Of Ash. What motivated you to create this story?
RN: I’m one of those writers with 15 projects on the back-burner. I chose these partially as a break from the giant, 600 page epics that are the Ash and Sand books - almost like therapeutic writing. But beneath these shorter adventure stories is another detailed world of multiple continents, epic wars and social turmoil, spanning a trilogy with likely more room for novellas.
Q] What can you tell us about the inception of the Godking Chronicles of which this omnibus is a prequel to? Particularly that title is very intriguing and when can we expect the main series?
RN: I’m a fan of Brian McClellan, Django Wexler and similar writers, and wanted to try my hand at ‘flintlock’. My stuff is in many ways lower magic, and maybe presents a more brutally realistic world plucked from the pages of history. But then, there are flesh and spirit rending demons…so, there is that. I hope to have the first book in the trilogy by the end of 2020.
Q] I loved the cover for the Omnibus with its haunting image and the demonic aspects. What were your main pointers for Shawn as you both went through the process of finalizing it? What were the main things that you wished to focus on in it?
RN: I love it, too! I really didn’t tell Shawn much - I told him the genre, a little about the world and the magic aspect. I find it best with professionals like him to just go where he takes you and not interfere too much. Couldn’t be happier with the end result.
Q] Welcome back to Fantasy Book Critic and thank you for the opportunity to allow us to host this cover reveal. Can you tell us about why you decided to go the omnibus route?
RN: My pleasure! The two stories in The God King’s Legacy are very much intended to ‘showcase’ the world. Both are stand-alone and fast-paced, and together should give the reader a good sense of what they’re getting into with the series to come. If you like this, basically, buckle up…
Q] You are currently writing an epic, epic fantasy that perhaps offers the only fantasy equivalent to Hannibal Lecter. But yet you wrote these novellas between the releases of Kings Of Paradise and Kings Of Ash. What motivated you to create this story?
RN: I’m one of those writers with 15 projects on the back-burner. I chose these partially as a break from the giant, 600 page epics that are the Ash and Sand books - almost like therapeutic writing. But beneath these shorter adventure stories is another detailed world of multiple continents, epic wars and social turmoil, spanning a trilogy with likely more room for novellas.
Q] What can you tell us about the inception of the Godking Chronicles of which this omnibus is a prequel to? Particularly that title is very intriguing and when can we expect the main series?
RN: I’m a fan of Brian McClellan, Django Wexler and similar writers, and wanted to try my hand at ‘flintlock’. My stuff is in many ways lower magic, and maybe presents a more brutally realistic world plucked from the pages of history. But then, there are flesh and spirit rending demons…so, there is that. I hope to have the first book in the trilogy by the end of 2020.
Q] I loved the cover for the Omnibus with its haunting image and the demonic aspects. What were your main pointers for Shawn as you both went through the process of finalizing it? What were the main things that you wished to focus on in it?
RN: I love it, too! I really didn’t tell Shawn much - I told him the genre, a little about the world and the magic aspect. I find it best with professionals like him to just go where he takes you and not interfere too much. Couldn’t be happier with the end result.
Q] Can you tell us more about the world that The Godking chronicles is set in? What are the curiosities (geographical, mystical, etc.) of this world?
RN: This is a ‘flintlock’ world with early gunpowder, in historical terms maybe 14th or 15th century. Armies still use swords and spears and cavalry, but they also have cannons, muskets and pistols. It’s a time of huge chaos, both on and off the battlefield, with wealth changing hands, monarchy in crisis and new republics forming to challenge them. The main magical aspect of the world is the presence of ‘demons’, a kind of seemingly immortal predator that men have managed to imprison by binding them inside an individual’s flesh, usually with magical consequences. The ‘godking’ is one such man, and has ruled over a kingdom for centuries with his enhanced powers. But times, they are a changin’…
Q] So what should readers expect from this omnibus and will you be releasing any more novellas in the near future?
RN: Expect fast-paced, character-driven adventure, with flintlock battles, knights and demons in a gritty, low-fantasy world. I’d honestly like to do several more novellas, but the next on my list involves a mysterious woman with amnesia who becomes a rather terrifying pirate. And if that sounds a little unlikely, you just remember it’s historically inspired!
Q] What are you currently writing and what will be your next release?
RN: I’m currently hard at work on the final book in the Ash and Sands series, Kings of Heaven. I intend to release it January of 2020, and so far so good. For me it will be the end of five years of love and labor.
Q] Do you have any parting thoughts or comments you’d like to share with our readers?
RN: Just a thanks as ever for being patrons of the arts and the genre. I couldn’t do what I do without readers supporting, reviewing, and spreading the word. I hope you enjoy the books.
RN: This is a ‘flintlock’ world with early gunpowder, in historical terms maybe 14th or 15th century. Armies still use swords and spears and cavalry, but they also have cannons, muskets and pistols. It’s a time of huge chaos, both on and off the battlefield, with wealth changing hands, monarchy in crisis and new republics forming to challenge them. The main magical aspect of the world is the presence of ‘demons’, a kind of seemingly immortal predator that men have managed to imprison by binding them inside an individual’s flesh, usually with magical consequences. The ‘godking’ is one such man, and has ruled over a kingdom for centuries with his enhanced powers. But times, they are a changin’…
Q] So what should readers expect from this omnibus and will you be releasing any more novellas in the near future?
RN: Expect fast-paced, character-driven adventure, with flintlock battles, knights and demons in a gritty, low-fantasy world. I’d honestly like to do several more novellas, but the next on my list involves a mysterious woman with amnesia who becomes a rather terrifying pirate. And if that sounds a little unlikely, you just remember it’s historically inspired!
Q] What are you currently writing and what will be your next release?
RN: I’m currently hard at work on the final book in the Ash and Sands series, Kings of Heaven. I intend to release it January of 2020, and so far so good. For me it will be the end of five years of love and labor.
Q] Do you have any parting thoughts or comments you’d like to share with our readers?
RN: Just a thanks as ever for being patrons of the arts and the genre. I couldn’t do what I do without readers supporting, reviewing, and spreading the word. I hope you enjoy the books.
Today we have the utmost pleasure of hosting Dyrk Ashton, who is allowing us the grand honour of revealing the cover to his third and final book of his debut trilogy. So without further ado, we hand over the reins to our good friend Dyrk.
*---------------*---------------*---------------*
Hi everybody!
First of all, I’m thrilled and honored that Fantasy Book Critic has agreed to host the reveal of the final book in The Paternus Trilogy - thank you everyone at FBC!
So here it is, the cover Paternus: War of Gods. I’ve actually had this for a couple of months, and it’s been killing me not being able to show it to everyone yet. I think illustrator John Anthony Di Giovanni and cover designer Shawn King of STK Kreations have really done it again. A few folks have told me they think it’s the best one yet. Can’t wait to hear what you all think.
First of all, I’m thrilled and honored that Fantasy Book Critic has agreed to host the reveal of the final book in The Paternus Trilogy - thank you everyone at FBC!
So here it is, the cover Paternus: War of Gods. I’ve actually had this for a couple of months, and it’s been killing me not being able to show it to everyone yet. I think illustrator John Anthony Di Giovanni and cover designer Shawn King of STK Kreations have really done it again. A few folks have told me they think it’s the best one yet. Can’t wait to hear what you all think.
The blue beastie with all the arms is Pratha, in the form of Kali, Goddess of Death, and there in front of her is, you guessed it, Fiona Megan Patterson, in her Valkyrie gear. Note that the copy on the back is there as a placeholder for now (see below). All except the tagline at the top, “Let slip the gods of war,” that’s staying :)
I have no solid release date yet–sorry! This one has proven incredibly challenging, with all the threads to tie up and a massive battle with dozens of characters to coordinate, but progress is good, and I still plan for a Fall release—early Fall, hopefully. There may also be a Kickstarter to fund hardcopies for all three books, some other fun swag kind of stuff, and maybe even a very special box set. That may push back the release a bit, but I’ll keep everyone updated.
I have no solid release date yet–sorry! This one has proven incredibly challenging, with all the threads to tie up and a massive battle with dozens of characters to coordinate, but progress is good, and I still plan for a Fall release—early Fall, hopefully. There may also be a Kickstarter to fund hardcopies for all three books, some other fun swag kind of stuff, and maybe even a very special box set. That may push back the release a bit, but I’ll keep everyone updated.
If you like, you can sign up for my newsletter on my site or hit “want to read” for War of Gods on Goodreads. I’ll announce the release date and the Kickstarter on social media, but if you want to be sure to get the news, and get it first, those are the places to be.
If you haven’t read book one yet, and have any interest at all, Paternus: Rise of Gods is on sale for $0.99 right now through June 12, in both the U.S. and the UK. As the magnificent Scott Lynch said to me when I met him at a Worldcon a few years ago and told him I’d just purchased The Lies of Locke Lamora, “I hope it doesn’t suck.” (Don’t tell Lynn Kempner, she hates it when I say that ;)
If you haven’t read book one yet, and have any interest at all, Paternus: Rise of Gods is on sale for $0.99 right now through June 12, in both the U.S. and the UK. As the magnificent Scott Lynch said to me when I met him at a Worldcon a few years ago and told him I’d just purchased The Lies of Locke Lamora, “I hope it doesn’t suck.” (Don’t tell Lynn Kempner, she hates it when I say that ;)
Enough said. Thank you for taking a look!
All the best,
Dyrk
All the best,
Dyrk
*---------------*---------------*---------------*
Official Author Website
Order Paternus: Rise Of Gods OVER HERE (US) & OVER HERE (UK)
Order Paternus: Wrath Of Gods OVER HERE (US) & OVER HERE (UK)
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Paternus: Rise Of Gods
AUTHOR INFORMATION: Dyrk Ashton is a writer, educator, filmmaker and former actor active in storytelling and media making. Born and raised in the Ohio, he spent his formative years in the American Midwest wherein he got a BFA, Masters & PhD in the field of filmmaking & Movie studies. Dyrk loves the outdoors and even more the genre of speculative fiction. He currently resides in Ohio, but the fantasy landscape is the place he calls his true home. Paternus: Rise Of The Gods was his debut.
NOTE: Author picture and all other art courtesy of the author.
Order Paternus: Rise Of Gods OVER HERE (US) & OVER HERE (UK)
Order Paternus: Wrath Of Gods OVER HERE (US) & OVER HERE (UK)
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Paternus: Rise Of Gods
AUTHOR INFORMATION: Dyrk Ashton is a writer, educator, filmmaker and former actor active in storytelling and media making. Born and raised in the Ohio, he spent his formative years in the American Midwest wherein he got a BFA, Masters & PhD in the field of filmmaking & Movie studies. Dyrk loves the outdoors and even more the genre of speculative fiction. He currently resides in Ohio, but the fantasy landscape is the place he calls his true home. Paternus: Rise Of The Gods was his debut.
NOTE: Author picture and all other art courtesy of the author.
OFFICIAL AUTHOR INFORMATION: AC Cobble is the author of the Benjamin Ashwood and Cartographer series.
OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: A heinous murder in a small village reveals a terrible truth. Sorcery, once thought dead in Enhover, is not. Evidence of an occult ritual and human sacrifice proves that dark power has been called upon again. Twisting threads of clues lead across the known world to the end of a vast empire, and then, the trail returns home.
Duke Oliver Wellesley, son of the king, cartographer, and adventurer, has better things to do than investigate a murder in a sleepy fishing hamlet. For Crown and Company, though, he goes where he’s told. As the investigation leads to deeper and darker places, he’ll be forced to confront the horrific spectres rising from the shadows of his past. When faced with the truth, will he sacrifice what is necessary to survive?
Samantha serves a Church that claims to no longer need her skills. She’s apprenticed to a priest-assassin that no one knows. Driven by a mad prophecy, her mentor has prepared her for a battle with ultimate darkness, except, sorcery is dead. When all is at stake, can she call upon an arcane craft the rest of the world has forgotten?
FORMAT/INFO: Quill is 539 pages long divided over fifty-two chapters.This is the first volume of The Cartographer series.
The book was self-published by the author on June 1st, 2019 and is available in print or as an e-book.
Oliver Wellesley is a rake, albeit one with royal blood. When he isn't bedding nubile noble twins, he's out mapping the world, and to his credit he is good at his job (on both accounts). Oliver's father is the king of fantasy England, a land called Enhover, and it is apparent from the start that Cobble's world-building is strongly dependent on its parallels to our own. This was, in fact, such a strong component of the setting that I was worried it would reflect too much our own history. Thankfully, my initial misgivings were soothed and Cobble does eventually set his world apart. In structure, it very much looks like 18th century Europe, but there are enough details to give it its own flavor, and this is vital to this type of work.
The beginning of Quill begins with a grisly murder, and Oliver is called on to investigate it due to the noble personages involved. The Church of Enhover, a very Roman Catholic-like institution, sends its "Priestess" Samantha along with him. There is sorcery involved, and the Church's role in Cobble's world is one of stamping down the magic arts in favor of faith. There is an immediate repoire between Oliver and Sam, and though there are some banter-jokes between them that fall extremely flat (such as a joke about the title of Duke and whether it's a name or not), their relationship evolves into one of depth that is engaging to follow. They make a good team, and it isn't long before they are both wrapped up in a massive conspiracy involving the crown, the church, and the fate of sorcery itself.
I like quite a bit about Quill. It completely captures the adventurous spirit of the colonial age, to the point where I found myself smiling as characters would look out on the horizon at some new landscape, wishing I too were on that airship discovering new lands. The amount of exploration is limited to places that, at least, Oliver has already visited, but the spirit is there, and I hope to see more exploration in further novels in the series. Quill is set up as a murder mystery, but by the end it is clear that there is a larger story at work here, and Cobble has a multitude of options open to him in exploring his built world.
There are also aspects of Quill that I found difficult to stomach. Cobble calls the book sexy on his website, in comparison to his other works, but I found much of the sexual descriptions downright pornographic. I have no qualms with this, it just did not fit the rest of the narrative very well and felt disharmonic. The character of Sam is also consistently put down and derided, despite proving herself time and time again, and while I understand this is a novel set in an parallel era when women were seen as little more than objects, I still cringed every time someone called Sam "girl." It happens more times than I could count. And this is fantasy, a fantasy where a woman fairly easily becomes captain of an airship and where the clergy seem to be held in high esteem. Calling one of the main characters "girl" over and over again does not feel in line with the world. Aside from that, the writing itself is not without flaw, and there were many times throughout the book that I saw the absence of professional editing. It is self-published, but that isn't necessarily a free pass when it comes to mistakes and syntax errors.
ANALYSIS (MIHIR): I was attracted to Quill for three main reasons, firstly that it was a conspiracy thriller in the fantasy mode and secondly because of the underpinnings of the story as mentioned by the author in our interview:
- “I spent a lot of time considering the implications for these cultures before/after colonial rule”,
- “there is a lighter nautical theme in my book. There are ships, airships, and even pirates”.
Lastly the series title which hints at the occupation of one of the protagonists, combined with my love of maps, I knew I HAD to read this book.
We have our two protagonist Duke Oliver Wellesley, a rake with a good heart and a cartographer to boot. Then there’s Samantha, apprentice priestess to Priest Thotham and a badass of her own might. We begin the story with these two and these two only come together because of a horrific murder. Things soon take a turn for the worse as the murder turns out to be related to the dark arts that have been outlawed. Things just spiral from there and our two protagonists find themselves swinging from location to location going down the rabbit hole and trying to make sense of it all.
This story was a real fast read and it very much read like a conspiracy thriller. The plot really takes off from the opening pages and with each POV change we are taken further and further down the rabbit hole. I liked this aspect and with the fast pace, there are quite a few twists within the story as well. The author also gives us protagonists who are refreshing good natured and its fun to see them spar. There’s a mild romantic angle that’s set up and I hope the author explores it in the sequels. Lastly the action is more on a personal level and so there’s not much to be found for those looking on an epic scale. But there’s enough hints and scenes provided within to keep the readers entertained.
There are a couple of things about this book that didn’t click for me. Particularly the world building which is there but only hinted at. Perhaps this was done for the expediency of the plot pace but I’m hoping the author reveals more in the sequels because the world is a very intriguing one. Lastly the author had mentioned this book was about the after effects of colonialism and I wish there was more about this as it would have brought a more interesting angle than the one presented. The author focuses on religion and secret societies as a means of the repressed to get back at their oppressors and I can’t wait to see what happens next as the ending is a mild cliffhanger.
Overall I really enjoyed AC Cobble’s writing style and the way this book ended, I wanted to read what happens next immediately. I think that’s a solid sign of AC’s ability to get readers hooked in. As a reader I don’t think I can ask more of an author. AC Cobble showcases himself as a writer to watch out for with his mix of thriller stories within a fantasy lens, read Quill to see why both David & I enjoyed it thoroughly.
CONCLUSION (DAVID): As I said, I liked Quill, and I would read more of this world that Cobble is building (cobbling?). It strikes a nice balance between world-building and plot, and the main characters are genuinely likable and worth following. There are enough unique fantasy hooks to make this stand out, and the setting is almost untouched in the genre even if it remains very Euro-centric in its roots.
Order The Nine over HERE
Black market courier Rowena Downshire is just trying to pay her mother’s freedom from debtor's prison when an urgent and unexpected delivery leads her face to face with a creature out of nightmares. Rowena escapes with her life, but the strange book she was ordered to deliver is stolen.
The Alchemist knows things few men have lived to tell about, and when Rowena shows up on his doorstep, frightened and empty-handed, he knows better than to turn her away. What he discovers leads him to ask for help from the last man he wants to see—the former mercenary, Anselm Meteron.
Across town, Reverend Phillip Chalmers awakes in a cell, bloodied and bruised, facing a creature twice his size. Translating the stolen book may be his only hope for survival; however, he soon realizes the book may be a fabled text written by the Creator Himself, tracking the nine human subjects of His Grand Experiment. In the wrong hands, it could mean the end of humanity.
Rowena and her companions become the target of conspirators who seek to use the book for their own ends. But how can this unlikely team be sure who the enemy is when they can barely trust each other? And what will happen when the book reveals a secret no human was meant to know?
ANALYSIS: The Nine doesn’t sit comfortably in any singular genre. Rather, it reshapes various fantasy subgenres in an engrossing tale that takes place in an alternate universe.
Imagine a world where Science has become a religion. God the Experimentor maintains life as an experiment. He continually reevaluates his experiment by observing the way The Nine (randomly chosen human beings whose names remain unknown to anyone but God) live their lives. Some factions and creatures want humankind to fail God’s trial.
Thirteen-year-old underworld courier Rowena Downshire loses a book that writes itself to a creature called Aiganamuxa. Afraid of her brutal patron Ivor, she chooses to report the theft to book recipient – infamous and dreadful Alchemist. Accompanied by Alchemist old friend/foe of dubious morality – Anselm – they’re thrown into a dangerous quest. They become the target of conspirators who seek to use the book for their own ends.
The Nine hooked me from page one. Mix of imaginative secondary world, vulnerable and relatable characters and a layered plot was hard to resist. While I consider myself atheist, I’m fascinated by religions and the way Tracy Townsend touches the subject is interesting and intelligent. It gives plenty of space for spinning and reassessing ecclesiastical theories. Religion, though, is just one side of the story focused on character arcs. The idea of creation being an ongoing experiment is fun, but the book focus lies elsewhere. Don’t expect it to be a philosophical treatise; it’s a fascinating adventure tale that touches more serious issues.
The journey we’re taken on seems well-conceived. Parts of the plot intertwine in surprising ways, and some twists are genuinely surprising. All ideas presented in the book come together in elegant ways. The world is admirably dark, filled with people struggling to survive in poorly lit alleys. Given that Rowena’s mother is enclosed in debtors jails and our protagonist tries to repay her debt, the story has some Dickens vibe to it.
Apart from humans, there are two other races in the city –anatomically impossible aigamuxa with eyes in the soles of their feetand Lanyani – kind of living trees that enjoy feeding on human bodies.
Characters presented in the book are well portrayed. Rowena is stubborn, loyal and fierce. The Alchemist POV is introduced later in the book, so while we observe him through other characters eyes, he seems reserved and sullen. On the other hand, we see enough to acknowledge that underneath grumpy appearance, he’s a good guy with a big heart. There’s also Anselm. Anselm is cool. He’s cold and cynic ex-mercenary who enjoys his decadent retirement. He describes himself as a villain with a penchant for self-aggrandisement and a portfolio of maladjusted habits. At one time he states:
Also, interactions between the three characters are done very well. There’s another character I liked a lot that, sadly, was killed by Tracy Townsend. After her r/fantasy AMA I thought she was a nice person but, clearly, I was wrong. Killing cool characters is uncool, you know.
If you look for intelligent, well-plotted book that mashes political intrigues, conspiracies, heists, found family, steam- and clockpunk stylings, redemption arcs, interspecies conflict and grey morality, you can stop right now. This is it. Do yourself a favour and grab a copy.
OFFICIAL AUTHOR INFORMATION: Tracy Townsend is the author of The Nine and The Fall (books 1 and 2 in the Thieves of Fate series), a monthly columnist for the feminist sf magazine Luna Station Quarterly, and an essayist for Uncanny Magazine. She holds a master's degree in writing and rhetoric from DePaul University and a bachelor's degree in creative writing from DePauw University, a source of regular consternation when proofreading her credentials. She is the former chair of the English department at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, an elite public boarding school, where she teaches creative writing and science fiction and fantasy literature. She has been a martial arts instructor, a stage combat and accent coach, and a short-order cook for houses full of tired gamers. Now she lives in Bolingbrook, Illinois with two bumptious hounds, two remarkable children, and one very patient husband.
OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: In the dark streets of Corma exists a book that writes itself, a book that some would kill for...
OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: In the dark streets of Corma exists a book that writes itself, a book that some would kill for...
Black market courier Rowena Downshire is just trying to pay her mother’s freedom from debtor's prison when an urgent and unexpected delivery leads her face to face with a creature out of nightmares. Rowena escapes with her life, but the strange book she was ordered to deliver is stolen.
The Alchemist knows things few men have lived to tell about, and when Rowena shows up on his doorstep, frightened and empty-handed, he knows better than to turn her away. What he discovers leads him to ask for help from the last man he wants to see—the former mercenary, Anselm Meteron.
Across town, Reverend Phillip Chalmers awakes in a cell, bloodied and bruised, facing a creature twice his size. Translating the stolen book may be his only hope for survival; however, he soon realizes the book may be a fabled text written by the Creator Himself, tracking the nine human subjects of His Grand Experiment. In the wrong hands, it could mean the end of humanity.
Rowena and her companions become the target of conspirators who seek to use the book for their own ends. But how can this unlikely team be sure who the enemy is when they can barely trust each other? And what will happen when the book reveals a secret no human was meant to know?
FORMAT/INFO: The Nine is 366 pages long. This is the first volume of the Thieves of Fate series.
The book was published by Pyr on November 14th, 2017 and it's available as an e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Cover art and design is provided by Adam S. Doyle.
ANALYSIS: The Nine doesn’t sit comfortably in any singular genre. Rather, it reshapes various fantasy subgenres in an engrossing tale that takes place in an alternate universe.
Imagine a world where Science has become a religion. God the Experimentor maintains life as an experiment. He continually reevaluates his experiment by observing the way The Nine (randomly chosen human beings whose names remain unknown to anyone but God) live their lives. Some factions and creatures want humankind to fail God’s trial.
Thirteen-year-old underworld courier Rowena Downshire loses a book that writes itself to a creature called Aiganamuxa. Afraid of her brutal patron Ivor, she chooses to report the theft to book recipient – infamous and dreadful Alchemist. Accompanied by Alchemist old friend/foe of dubious morality – Anselm – they’re thrown into a dangerous quest. They become the target of conspirators who seek to use the book for their own ends.
The Nine hooked me from page one. Mix of imaginative secondary world, vulnerable and relatable characters and a layered plot was hard to resist. While I consider myself atheist, I’m fascinated by religions and the way Tracy Townsend touches the subject is interesting and intelligent. It gives plenty of space for spinning and reassessing ecclesiastical theories. Religion, though, is just one side of the story focused on character arcs. The idea of creation being an ongoing experiment is fun, but the book focus lies elsewhere. Don’t expect it to be a philosophical treatise; it’s a fascinating adventure tale that touches more serious issues.
The journey we’re taken on seems well-conceived. Parts of the plot intertwine in surprising ways, and some twists are genuinely surprising. All ideas presented in the book come together in elegant ways. The world is admirably dark, filled with people struggling to survive in poorly lit alleys. Given that Rowena’s mother is enclosed in debtors jails and our protagonist tries to repay her debt, the story has some Dickens vibe to it.
Apart from humans, there are two other races in the city –anatomically impossible aigamuxa with eyes in the soles of their feetand Lanyani – kind of living trees that enjoy feeding on human bodies.
Characters presented in the book are well portrayed. Rowena is stubborn, loyal and fierce. The Alchemist POV is introduced later in the book, so while we observe him through other characters eyes, he seems reserved and sullen. On the other hand, we see enough to acknowledge that underneath grumpy appearance, he’s a good guy with a big heart. There’s also Anselm. Anselm is cool. He’s cold and cynic ex-mercenary who enjoys his decadent retirement. He describes himself as a villain with a penchant for self-aggrandisement and a portfolio of maladjusted habits. At one time he states:
Turpitude is my problem, not degeneracy. A law-abiding life was out of the question from the start.
Also, interactions between the three characters are done very well. There’s another character I liked a lot that, sadly, was killed by Tracy Townsend. After her r/fantasy AMA I thought she was a nice person but, clearly, I was wrong. Killing cool characters is uncool, you know.
If you look for intelligent, well-plotted book that mashes political intrigues, conspiracies, heists, found family, steam- and clockpunk stylings, redemption arcs, interspecies conflict and grey morality, you can stop right now. This is it. Do yourself a favour and grab a copy.
Official Author Website
Order Kingshold over HERE
OFFICIAL AUTHOR INFORMATION: Born in Derby in England, on the day before mid-summers day, David Peter Woolliscroft was very nearly magical. If only his dear old mum could have held on for another day. But magic called out to him over the years, with a many a book being devoured for its arcane properties. David studied Accounting at Cardiff University where numbers weaved their own kind of magic and he has since been a successful business leader in the intervening twenty years.
Adventures have been had. More books devoured and then one day, David had read enough where the ideas he had kept bottled up needed a release valve. And thus, rising out of the self doubt like a phoenix at a clicky keyboard, a writer was born. The Wildfire Cycle is David's debut series.
He is married to his wife Haneen and has a daughter Liberty, who all live with their mini golden-doodle Rosie in Princeton NJ. David is one of the few crabs to escape the crab pot.
OFFICIAL BLURB: The King is Dead. Long Live the People!
Mareth is a bard, a serial under achiever, a professional drunk, and general disappointment to his father. Despite this, Mareth has one thing going for him. He can smell opportunity. The King is dead and an election for the new Lord Protector has been called. If he plays his cards right, if he can sing a story that will put the right person in that chair, his future fame and drinking money is all but assured. But, alas, it turns out Mareth has a conscience after all.
Neenahwi is the daughter to Jyuth, the ancient wizard who founded the Kingdom of Edland and she is not happy. It's not just that her father was the one who killed the King, or that he didn't tell her about his plans. She's not happy because her father is leaving, slinking off into retirement and now she has to clean up his mess.
Alana is a servant at the palace and the unfortunate soul to draw the short straw to attend to Jyuth. Alana knows that intelligence and curiosity aren't valued in someone of her station, but sometimes she can't help herself and so finds herself drawn into the Wizard's schemes, and worst of all, coming up with her own plans.
Chance brings this unlikely band together to battle through civil unrest, assassinations, political machinations, pirates and monsters, all for a common cause that they know, deep down, has no chance of succeeding – bringing hope to the people of Kingshold.
FORMAT/INFO: Kingshold is 506 pages divided over 47 numbered and titled chapters and an epilogue, and is the first entry in The Wildfire Cycle series. The book is currently available in e-book, paperback, and audiobook format, as well as on Kindle Unlimited. It was self-published by the author on April 17, 2018. Cover art and design by Jeff Brown.
CLASSIFICATION: Epic fantasy, Political fantasy
ANALYSIS: Kingshold is an incredible political fantasy debut that could be the initial stepping stone for a truly remarkable series. This book has been on my radar for quite some time and I'm really glad I've finally gotten to dive into this fascinating world the author has so meticulously created.
The city of Kingshold is in upheaval after the unexpected assassination of its king and queen and dissolution of its monarchy. For the first time in history, the decision of who rules will be in the hands of its citizens - or at least those that can afford a voice. In a campaign to determine who will assume the mantle of Lord Protector, prominent figures emerge as favorites. However, after witnessing the social injustices of the current lay of the land, a group of unlikely compatriots are steadfast in their resolve to bring change that will benefit all in the city and not just those in the Upper Circle.
There are so many things to praise in this story, the characters and setting topping the list. We spend most of our time in the sprawling city of Kingshold, so finely constructed and detailed by Woolliscroft, that it becomes comfortably familiar. The hierarchical social structure directly affecting the layout of the different districts, each inhabited by realistic people making the environment tangible. Whether running across rooftops in the slums or meditating in a palace chamber, you feel as though you've truly been transported into this world.
We're introduced to a wonderful cast of beautifully developed, colorful characters, all of different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. The story has a large group of point of view characters, but the author seamlessly weaves them together to keep the story flow fluid and easy to follow. Lately I've been on a binge of darker fantasy and I can't tell you how refreshing it was to spend time with a group of likable protagonists that aren't apparently masking malice with charm.
Another thing I adored about this story was its organic and almost lighthearted humor. As we're dealing with a story of political intrigue peppered with assassinations and suppression of the common people, there's always a chance that adding splashes of humor can feel forced or out of place - this is definitely not the case with Kingshold. Woolliscroft manages to expose very serious concepts in a natural way without dipping into the darker aspects that are currently flooding the fantasy genre.
Thanks to SPFBO and a larger focus on self-published writers, I've had the honor of reading some impressive works by authors that I may not have heard of otherwise. This story is no exception. There are a few loose ends that need tying and I'm really looking forward to continuing my journey in the Jeweled Continent in future installments of The Wildfire Cycle. I highly recommend.
Order Kingshold over HERE
OFFICIAL AUTHOR INFORMATION: Born in Derby in England, on the day before mid-summers day, David Peter Woolliscroft was very nearly magical. If only his dear old mum could have held on for another day. But magic called out to him over the years, with a many a book being devoured for its arcane properties. David studied Accounting at Cardiff University where numbers weaved their own kind of magic and he has since been a successful business leader in the intervening twenty years.
Adventures have been had. More books devoured and then one day, David had read enough where the ideas he had kept bottled up needed a release valve. And thus, rising out of the self doubt like a phoenix at a clicky keyboard, a writer was born. The Wildfire Cycle is David's debut series.
He is married to his wife Haneen and has a daughter Liberty, who all live with their mini golden-doodle Rosie in Princeton NJ. David is one of the few crabs to escape the crab pot.
OFFICIAL BLURB: The King is Dead. Long Live the People!
Mareth is a bard, a serial under achiever, a professional drunk, and general disappointment to his father. Despite this, Mareth has one thing going for him. He can smell opportunity. The King is dead and an election for the new Lord Protector has been called. If he plays his cards right, if he can sing a story that will put the right person in that chair, his future fame and drinking money is all but assured. But, alas, it turns out Mareth has a conscience after all.
Neenahwi is the daughter to Jyuth, the ancient wizard who founded the Kingdom of Edland and she is not happy. It's not just that her father was the one who killed the King, or that he didn't tell her about his plans. She's not happy because her father is leaving, slinking off into retirement and now she has to clean up his mess.
Alana is a servant at the palace and the unfortunate soul to draw the short straw to attend to Jyuth. Alana knows that intelligence and curiosity aren't valued in someone of her station, but sometimes she can't help herself and so finds herself drawn into the Wizard's schemes, and worst of all, coming up with her own plans.
Chance brings this unlikely band together to battle through civil unrest, assassinations, political machinations, pirates and monsters, all for a common cause that they know, deep down, has no chance of succeeding – bringing hope to the people of Kingshold.
FORMAT/INFO: Kingshold is 506 pages divided over 47 numbered and titled chapters and an epilogue, and is the first entry in The Wildfire Cycle series. The book is currently available in e-book, paperback, and audiobook format, as well as on Kindle Unlimited. It was self-published by the author on April 17, 2018. Cover art and design by Jeff Brown.
CLASSIFICATION: Epic fantasy, Political fantasy
ANALYSIS: Kingshold is an incredible political fantasy debut that could be the initial stepping stone for a truly remarkable series. This book has been on my radar for quite some time and I'm really glad I've finally gotten to dive into this fascinating world the author has so meticulously created.
The city of Kingshold is in upheaval after the unexpected assassination of its king and queen and dissolution of its monarchy. For the first time in history, the decision of who rules will be in the hands of its citizens - or at least those that can afford a voice. In a campaign to determine who will assume the mantle of Lord Protector, prominent figures emerge as favorites. However, after witnessing the social injustices of the current lay of the land, a group of unlikely compatriots are steadfast in their resolve to bring change that will benefit all in the city and not just those in the Upper Circle.
There are so many things to praise in this story, the characters and setting topping the list. We spend most of our time in the sprawling city of Kingshold, so finely constructed and detailed by Woolliscroft, that it becomes comfortably familiar. The hierarchical social structure directly affecting the layout of the different districts, each inhabited by realistic people making the environment tangible. Whether running across rooftops in the slums or meditating in a palace chamber, you feel as though you've truly been transported into this world.
We're introduced to a wonderful cast of beautifully developed, colorful characters, all of different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. The story has a large group of point of view characters, but the author seamlessly weaves them together to keep the story flow fluid and easy to follow. Lately I've been on a binge of darker fantasy and I can't tell you how refreshing it was to spend time with a group of likable protagonists that aren't apparently masking malice with charm.
Another thing I adored about this story was its organic and almost lighthearted humor. As we're dealing with a story of political intrigue peppered with assassinations and suppression of the common people, there's always a chance that adding splashes of humor can feel forced or out of place - this is definitely not the case with Kingshold. Woolliscroft manages to expose very serious concepts in a natural way without dipping into the darker aspects that are currently flooding the fantasy genre.
Thanks to SPFBO and a larger focus on self-published writers, I've had the honor of reading some impressive works by authors that I may not have heard of otherwise. This story is no exception. There are a few loose ends that need tying and I'm really looking forward to continuing my journey in the Jeweled Continent in future installments of The Wildfire Cycle. I highly recommend.
OFFICIAL AUTHOR INFORMATION: Mike Shel was born in Detroit, Michigan and grew up in the suburb of Dearborn. He has practiced as a psychotherapist for over 20 years and is a freelance adventure designer for Paizo Publishing and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with his wife Tracy and has three children, Haylee, Trinity, and Leo. And two dogs, Neko and Elsie. Let’s not forget the dogs.
OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: A year has passed since Auric Manteo descended into the haunted depths of a Djao ruin to return a lethal artifact, only to face down a bloodthirsty, imprisoned god. Now his daughter Agnes comes to bring him back to the capital with promises of hidden secrets finally revealed.
But the city decays, poisonous disorder is rife, and whispered prophecy foretells of cataclysm and doom. Summoned by their no-longer human queen, Auric and Agnes are commanded to carry out an impossible task, one that can be accomplished only with the mysterious blade Szaa’da’shaela, gifted to Auric on a lunatic's whim.
Can Auric and his daughter survive a duty fraught with blood, menace, and madness? And can they pay the price demanded by a being every bit as evil as the Aching God?
FORMAT/INFO: Sin Eater is 574 pages long divided over forty chapters.This is the second volume of the Iconoclasts series. Aching God was one of the top ten finalists in the 2018 SPFBO.
The book was self-published by the author on May 16th, 2019 and it's available in print or as an e-book.
The story picks up not long after Aching God. Auric Manteo has attempted to return to his retirement home in Daurhim, bringing with him his godslaying blade Szaa’da’shaela (there is no pronunciation guide, so good luck). It isn't long before events conspire to drag him, once more, out of this serene life and into high adventure. This happens when his daughter, a character hinted at but never truly explored in Aching God, comes to fetch him back to the Syraeic League headquarters. Agnes Manteo can not tell Auric why he is needed, only that some real bad stuff is happening again, and he's the only one who can help. The first thing I thought, as I watched these two characters draw closer together, was how much I wanted to see a father-daughter team-up, and Shel did not disappoint. However, as much as I wanted this to be a buddy-cop style relationship, Shel makes it clear from the start that there are unresolved issues between Agnes and her father, and where Aching God took place entirely from Auric's point of view, Sin Eater dives into Agnes' head as well.
Mike Shel's storytelling style is an obvious product of his time spent building and playing role-playing adventures. Aching God had a very measured journey from one place to another and back again, and Sin Eater follows much the same route. Auric is summoned, he receives his mission, he gathers a crew, and they set out to fight an evil overlord. One could find fault in Shel's use of the same narrative structure, but many series do this and do it well. Sin Eater feels slightly derivative because so many of the same points hit in nearly the same pattern. Auric and company travel to a different land, but the journey is filled with many of the same stopping points. Thankfully, Shel's world-building is engaging enough that this never becomes a problem. I like meeting the new characters, and re-visiting a few of the old ones, and I enjoy seeing what new vistas Shel has to offer. Where Aching God took place in a desolate land full of the ruins of ancient civilization, Sin Eater journeys into a Heart of Darkness-like land of unknown motivation with heavy inspiration from Greek mythology. Their goal is fairly straight-forward - they must kill a god.
Auric's crew, like those that made up Aching God, are a mixed bunch. Chalca is an androgynous thief, with the characteristic wit of a roguish type and an actor's background. Kennah is the group's gruff, thick-skinned warrior, a fellow Syraeic brother and Shel's channel for exposing the nastier side of do-gooders. A wild sorcerer named Queelb, a mage untethered by the characteristic binding jewel that marks magicians of the Hanifax Empire, provides power to the group, and Sira Edjani makes a return as the compassionate priestess who binds wounds along the way. Replace Auric or Agnes with an archer of some type, and you have yourself a pretty typical D&D party. I like the characters in Sin Eater. They are all unique, with distinct personalities, but aside from Auric and Agnes, and possibly Kenneh due to the amount of time we spend with him as Agnes' companion, we do not get much in the way of characterization. Aching God had some of this as well, but the characters felt a little more realized because there was more of that novel. Chalca and Queelb almost feel irrelevant to this one, and each only have one major part to play before we can safely forget about them. I wish this weren't the case because I feel as though they were well-built characters who simply weren't utilized. I think Shel could possibly remedy this characterization problem in future books by diving into more points of view. If we had whole chapters seen through Chalca's eyes, his journey might have felt more relevant. Queelb almost feels even more tragic given his complicated history, and I could read an entire book about what he's gone through.
It is impossible for me not to draw similarities between Aching God and Sin Eater, both because they are part of a continuing series with the same characters, and because they are so similar. The ending to Sin Eater has many of the same problems as I had with the ending to Aching God. It feels like a let down, given all that is building in the novel chapter after chapter, league after league. I appreciate that Shel is working towards something monumental in the third novel of the Iconoclasts series, but I think he could get there in a more satisfying way for his readers. There is a web of events and characters that is all very tightly woven, but which, by the end, feels completely impossible and contrived, and it's hard to say much more than that without giving the ending away. Suffice to say that it left me feeling hungry for a bigger meal.
But really, Mike Shel is such a great writer, so accomplished with nearly every word he writes, that I don't even necessarily need a great ending or more robust characters. It's incredibly refreshing, especially with a self-published book, to read from page one to the end without stumbling over awkward sentences or misspelled/misused words. Shel's writing feels like poetry, or an Italian libretto that doesn't even need its music to succeed. There is no doubt that I am sticking with Shel through this series and beyond, and I can't wait to see what bombs he drops in the next book of the Iconoclasts.
Official Author Website
Order Breaking Chaos over HERE (US) and HERE (UK)
OFFICIAL AUTHOR INFORMATION: Ben Galley is an author of dark and epic fantasy books who currently hails from Victoria, Canada. Since publishing his bestselling debut The Written in 2010, Ben has released a range of award-winning fantasy novels, including the weird western Bloodrush and the epic standalone The Heart of Stone. He is also the author of the brand new and critically-acclaimed Chasing Graves Trilogy.
When he isn't conjuring up strange new stories, Ben works as a self-publishing consultant, helping fellow authors from around the world to publish their books. Ben enjoys exploring the Canadian wilds and sipping Scotch single malts, and will forever and always play a dark elf in The Elder Scrolls. One day he hopes to live in an epic treehouse in the mountains.
Ben can be found on Twitter or vlogging on YouTube @BenGalley, or loitering on Facebook and Instagram @BenGalleyAuthor. You can also get a free eBook copy of his bestselling fantasy The Written at http://www.bengalley.com.
OFFICIAL BLURB: The endgame has begun.
The battle for the emperor's throne grows ever fiercer. The City of Countless Souls cowers behind locked doors as the whims of the downtrodden and the powerful bring the great game of Araxes to its chaotic conclusion.
With the soulblade at his hip and magic in his soul, Caltro's freedom is almost within reach. But as Temsa reign of murder clashes with Widow Horix's plans, the locksmith's fate becomes all the more entwined with the needs of dead gods, the Cult, and vengeful royals. Caltro realises his struggle is not just for his redemption, but for that of the entirety of the Far Reaches.
While the Core Districts descend into chaos, debts left unpaid in the desert haunt Nilith's long-awaited arrival in the city. A new foe is hunting her through the streets, an enemy with enough power to rival even that of the Cloudpiercer.
And yet all their struggles pale in comparison to the dark omen that is spreading through the Arctian Empire:
The River Nyx is drying up.
FORMAT/INFO: Breaking Chaos is 550 pages long divided over 27 numbered and titled chapters, and is the third and final entry in The Chasing Graves Trilogy. The book is available in e-book and paperback format, as well as on Kindle Unlimited. It was self-published by the author on March 14, 2019. Cover art by Chris Cold, cover design by Shawn T. King.
ANALYSIS:
The City of Countless Souls holds its breath as is stands upon the precipice of chaos as factions war for power on all sides. With deceit and treachery leading everyone astray, and blood flowing freely throughout sprawling streets, the knotted mysteries buried under the sands of Araxes begin to unravel and finally rear their ugly heads. While petty greed reigns, a great unknown threatens the city and beyond, and all who inhabit it, living and dead alike. Locksmith Caltro Basalt seeks freedom. Empress Nilith Renala seeks change. Tal Horix seeks vengeance. Empress-in-waiting Sisine Talin Renala seeks the throne. Tor Boran Temsa seeks more. Although polluted with clouds of betrayal and lies, their fates are entwined, and the future of the Empire rests in their hands as the surging Flood aims to violently sweep them all away.
And so the struggle of Araxes comes to a close, and what a harrowing journey it has been. Breaking Chaos is a perfectly pertinent and wildly entertaining conclusion to The Chasing Graves Trilogy. It is a story of perseverance and sacrifice, and one that upholds the ideal that it only takes one person, one voice to power the machine of change. Submitting to the detrimental and blinding effects of the poisons of hatred and rage, true change will remain unattainable. It is a story of choice, believing in one's intuition, and how the consequences of your choices solidify your fate. The first half of the book continues to build tension as each of the characters stumble their way towards the Core districts, but the last half is such a staggering reward for readers of the trilogy. Secrets unveil themselves, alliances are forged, and the true threat is presented in a blood-soaked and terrifying way. Once I reached the turning point, it was almost impossible for me to put this down.
Throughout the series we've been involved in our fair share of nail-biting situations, but Breaking Chaos forcefully cranks up the action meter. From Temsa's disorganized marches on Tors, Tals, and Sereks, to Nilith's narrow escape from Chaser Jobey, there's no shortage of edge-of-your-seat clashes and strife. The Battle of Araxes is one of the most impressively visceral and momentous pinnacle battles I've ever read - a chaotic whirlwind where Galley refuses you a single moment of rest. The ample buildup leads to intense moments, and nothing you've been introduced to is wasted. The final few chapters are just simply amazing and perfectly wrap up the series.
The Chasing Graves Trilogy is one of the most artistically unique and captivating series I've had the pleasure of reading. I cannot thank the author enough for providing me a complimentary copy of this book to bring my adventure across The Long Sands and through Araxes to a satisfying close. Breaking Chaos is a perfect example of what the dark fantasy genre has to offer, a tale drenched in hopelessness, yet set on a course that will guide you to the light at the end of the tunnel. It's beautifully tragic with surprises at every turn. I highly recommend.
Order Breaking Chaos over HERE (US) and HERE (UK)
OFFICIAL AUTHOR INFORMATION: Ben Galley is an author of dark and epic fantasy books who currently hails from Victoria, Canada. Since publishing his bestselling debut The Written in 2010, Ben has released a range of award-winning fantasy novels, including the weird western Bloodrush and the epic standalone The Heart of Stone. He is also the author of the brand new and critically-acclaimed Chasing Graves Trilogy.
When he isn't conjuring up strange new stories, Ben works as a self-publishing consultant, helping fellow authors from around the world to publish their books. Ben enjoys exploring the Canadian wilds and sipping Scotch single malts, and will forever and always play a dark elf in The Elder Scrolls. One day he hopes to live in an epic treehouse in the mountains.
Ben can be found on Twitter or vlogging on YouTube @BenGalley, or loitering on Facebook and Instagram @BenGalleyAuthor. You can also get a free eBook copy of his bestselling fantasy The Written at http://www.bengalley.com.
OFFICIAL BLURB: The endgame has begun.
The battle for the emperor's throne grows ever fiercer. The City of Countless Souls cowers behind locked doors as the whims of the downtrodden and the powerful bring the great game of Araxes to its chaotic conclusion.
With the soulblade at his hip and magic in his soul, Caltro's freedom is almost within reach. But as Temsa reign of murder clashes with Widow Horix's plans, the locksmith's fate becomes all the more entwined with the needs of dead gods, the Cult, and vengeful royals. Caltro realises his struggle is not just for his redemption, but for that of the entirety of the Far Reaches.
While the Core Districts descend into chaos, debts left unpaid in the desert haunt Nilith's long-awaited arrival in the city. A new foe is hunting her through the streets, an enemy with enough power to rival even that of the Cloudpiercer.
And yet all their struggles pale in comparison to the dark omen that is spreading through the Arctian Empire:
The River Nyx is drying up.
FORMAT/INFO: Breaking Chaos is 550 pages long divided over 27 numbered and titled chapters, and is the third and final entry in The Chasing Graves Trilogy. The book is available in e-book and paperback format, as well as on Kindle Unlimited. It was self-published by the author on March 14, 2019. Cover art by Chris Cold, cover design by Shawn T. King.
ANALYSIS:
Whys and what-ifs plague a soul throughout life and in death. It is human to mourn the past, and to curse the way time slips through our fingers like sand, impossible to catch or reclaim.
The City of Countless Souls holds its breath as is stands upon the precipice of chaos as factions war for power on all sides. With deceit and treachery leading everyone astray, and blood flowing freely throughout sprawling streets, the knotted mysteries buried under the sands of Araxes begin to unravel and finally rear their ugly heads. While petty greed reigns, a great unknown threatens the city and beyond, and all who inhabit it, living and dead alike. Locksmith Caltro Basalt seeks freedom. Empress Nilith Renala seeks change. Tal Horix seeks vengeance. Empress-in-waiting Sisine Talin Renala seeks the throne. Tor Boran Temsa seeks more. Although polluted with clouds of betrayal and lies, their fates are entwined, and the future of the Empire rests in their hands as the surging Flood aims to violently sweep them all away.
And so the struggle of Araxes comes to a close, and what a harrowing journey it has been. Breaking Chaos is a perfectly pertinent and wildly entertaining conclusion to The Chasing Graves Trilogy. It is a story of perseverance and sacrifice, and one that upholds the ideal that it only takes one person, one voice to power the machine of change. Submitting to the detrimental and blinding effects of the poisons of hatred and rage, true change will remain unattainable. It is a story of choice, believing in one's intuition, and how the consequences of your choices solidify your fate. The first half of the book continues to build tension as each of the characters stumble their way towards the Core districts, but the last half is such a staggering reward for readers of the trilogy. Secrets unveil themselves, alliances are forged, and the true threat is presented in a blood-soaked and terrifying way. Once I reached the turning point, it was almost impossible for me to put this down.
We were all the sum of our years, but also the product of what we made of them. A life spent in hate will cripple any soul, wrap it in shadow and rot it from within.There are many aspects of this story that are worthy of praise, including the complexity of its conflicts, the vivid portrayal of the sunbaked city with its alien soaring towers and deep Nyxwater wells, and its highly imaginative societal structure. However, I have to say the character crafting and development has to be the finest. We've already been introduced to bits and pieces of the histories of Caltro, Nilith, and Temsa, but there are plenty of jaw-dropping revelations that decide to blindside you when you least expect it. In addition to the several POV characters, auxiliary characters, such as Pointy, Bezel, and Ani Jexebel, are stunningly utilized to add rich depth and history to the Far Reaches. Galley's ability to bring about sympathy for characters that shouldn't deserve even an ounce of it is just incredible.
Throughout the series we've been involved in our fair share of nail-biting situations, but Breaking Chaos forcefully cranks up the action meter. From Temsa's disorganized marches on Tors, Tals, and Sereks, to Nilith's narrow escape from Chaser Jobey, there's no shortage of edge-of-your-seat clashes and strife. The Battle of Araxes is one of the most impressively visceral and momentous pinnacle battles I've ever read - a chaotic whirlwind where Galley refuses you a single moment of rest. The ample buildup leads to intense moments, and nothing you've been introduced to is wasted. The final few chapters are just simply amazing and perfectly wrap up the series.
The Chasing Graves Trilogy is one of the most artistically unique and captivating series I've had the pleasure of reading. I cannot thank the author enough for providing me a complimentary copy of this book to bring my adventure across The Long Sands and through Araxes to a satisfying close. Breaking Chaos is a perfect example of what the dark fantasy genre has to offer, a tale drenched in hopelessness, yet set on a course that will guide you to the light at the end of the tunnel. It's beautifully tragic with surprises at every turn. I highly recommend.
Official Author Website
Order Grim Solace over HERE (US) and HERE (UK)
OFFICIAL AUTHOR INFORMATION: Ben Galley is an author of dark and epic fantasy books who currently hails from Victoria, Canada. Since publishing his bestselling debut The Written in 2010, Ben has released a range of award-winning fantasy novels, including the weird western Bloodrush and the epic standalone The Heart of Stone. He is also the author of the brand new and critically-acclaimed Chasing Graves Trilogy.
When he isn't conjuring up strange new stories, Ben works as a self-publishing consultant, helping fellow authors from around the world to publish their books. He enjoys exploring the Canadian wilds and sipping Scotch single malts, and will forever and always play a dark elf in The Elder Scrolls. One day he hopes to live in an epic treehouse in the mountains.
Ben can be found on Twitter or vlogging on YouTube @BenGalley, or loitering on Facebook and Instagram @BenGalleyAuthor. You can also get a free eBook copy of his bestselling fantasy The Written at http://www.bengalley.com.
OFFICIAL BLURB: Nothing is certain in Araxes. Not even death.
Stolen from the widow's clutches, master thief and ghost Caltro Basalt must learn new ways to survive the cutthroat society of the Arctian Empire. His one hope for freedom and justice? A gift from the dead gods, who continue to beg for a saviour.
Breaking a soul takes time, and Caltro's spirit is far from broken. Many try to weave him into their plots, but he is set on salvation by no means but his own.
As Caltro finds himself ever ensnared in Araxes' cruel games, Nilith fights to survive the Dune Plains in her quest for redemption, Sisine continues her game of claiming ruler, and Temsa works toward his reign of chaos, one noble at a time
The board is set. The players chosen. Who will win the great game of Araxes?
FORMAT/INFO: Grim Solace is 455 pages long divided over 23 numbered and titled chapters, and is the second entry in The Chasing Graves Trilogy. The book is available in e-book and paperback format, as well as on Kindle Unlimited. It was self-published by the author on January 24, 2019. Cover art by Chris Cold, cover design by Shawn T. King.
ANALYSIS (Justine): The epic game continues in Grim Solace, the ambitious and unrelenting sophomore installment in The Chasing Graves Trilogy.
And so we carry on with our journey into a battle of life and death, where mysteries are bound to arise from beneath the punishing sands. The so-called "Dead Gods" scheme with hopes of fixing a fractured world, but as with all the others with skin in the game, who can presume their true intentions? Factions lurking in the shadows cast by Araxes' spiring towers at sunset clash for supremacy with no regard for collateral damage and the only measurements of success are either in the weight of their copper half-coins or the number of white feathers upon the breasts of the wronged. With the introduction of a whole new multitude of monsters and mayhem, only the grains slipping through the hourglass will tell who will reign triumphant.
We begin right where we left off as Caltro finds himself in the clutches of another who will gladly use him as easily as he himself uses his tools to breach an impenetrable vault. As he is passed from one bad situation to the next, he internally struggles on which path to freedom will best suit his selfish needs. However, a gift given to him by the gods proves him a valuable asset to all the parties involved in the fight for power.
Temsa continues to carve a path to the top of the food chain, a path drenched in blood and littered with carnage. His unfounded and blind ambition, as well as his willingness to play both sides of a raging war, may be his demise as the loyalty of those closest to him begins to waver.
Empress Nilith races to reach Araxes to fulfill her master plan while outrunning a group of bandits fueled by a malicious grudge. Her path is rife with horrors, both natural and man-made, but her belief that she can undo the travesties set forth by those before steadily pushes her forward.
There are others with curious and unknown designs working in secret and outside of earshot that may very well play a crucial role in the outcome of the game. Will their crafty planning turn the tide as a hopeful victor reaches the finish line?
Grim Solace is a wonderfully realized story dominated by impeccable and deepening character development, and while book one introduced a cast of great characters, this one allows us to peek deeper into their minds and witness their struggles and machinations. The story moves along at a breakneck pace as peril awaits at every turn. The cunning and danger are palpable and the overall feeling is grim and futile, however there remains a seed of hope that there will be justice where justice is due. A welcomed dark, snide humor breaks up the aura of complete hopelessness, making Caltro's passages particularly enjoyable to read. Galley also beautifully graces the pages with exotic and vividly depicted places and creatures, making a read that remains captivating throughout. When things begin to settle down to an almost ordinary level, he throws in a fresh and fantastical adversary or hellish landscape, challenging your brain to let go and believe in the unbelievable.
The threads are beginning to come together, even though we are left grasping the edge with several cliffhangers. The story is becoming more compelling with each chapter and I'm really excited to see how Galley concludes this tale, which has definitely piqued my interest and violently drawn me in. As I dive deeper into this world, it's becoming more difficult to decide on who I'd like to see victorious, because if I've learned anything from these exquisite characters, it's to trust no one. The fight for Araxes continues in Breaking Chaos.
A huge thank you to Ben Galley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
Order Grim Solace over HERE (US) and HERE (UK)
OFFICIAL AUTHOR INFORMATION: Ben Galley is an author of dark and epic fantasy books who currently hails from Victoria, Canada. Since publishing his bestselling debut The Written in 2010, Ben has released a range of award-winning fantasy novels, including the weird western Bloodrush and the epic standalone The Heart of Stone. He is also the author of the brand new and critically-acclaimed Chasing Graves Trilogy.
When he isn't conjuring up strange new stories, Ben works as a self-publishing consultant, helping fellow authors from around the world to publish their books. He enjoys exploring the Canadian wilds and sipping Scotch single malts, and will forever and always play a dark elf in The Elder Scrolls. One day he hopes to live in an epic treehouse in the mountains.
Ben can be found on Twitter or vlogging on YouTube @BenGalley, or loitering on Facebook and Instagram @BenGalleyAuthor. You can also get a free eBook copy of his bestselling fantasy The Written at http://www.bengalley.com.
OFFICIAL BLURB: Nothing is certain in Araxes. Not even death.
Stolen from the widow's clutches, master thief and ghost Caltro Basalt must learn new ways to survive the cutthroat society of the Arctian Empire. His one hope for freedom and justice? A gift from the dead gods, who continue to beg for a saviour.
Breaking a soul takes time, and Caltro's spirit is far from broken. Many try to weave him into their plots, but he is set on salvation by no means but his own.
As Caltro finds himself ever ensnared in Araxes' cruel games, Nilith fights to survive the Dune Plains in her quest for redemption, Sisine continues her game of claiming ruler, and Temsa works toward his reign of chaos, one noble at a time
The board is set. The players chosen. Who will win the great game of Araxes?
FORMAT/INFO: Grim Solace is 455 pages long divided over 23 numbered and titled chapters, and is the second entry in The Chasing Graves Trilogy. The book is available in e-book and paperback format, as well as on Kindle Unlimited. It was self-published by the author on January 24, 2019. Cover art by Chris Cold, cover design by Shawn T. King.
ANALYSIS (Justine): The epic game continues in Grim Solace, the ambitious and unrelenting sophomore installment in The Chasing Graves Trilogy.
And so we carry on with our journey into a battle of life and death, where mysteries are bound to arise from beneath the punishing sands. The so-called "Dead Gods" scheme with hopes of fixing a fractured world, but as with all the others with skin in the game, who can presume their true intentions? Factions lurking in the shadows cast by Araxes' spiring towers at sunset clash for supremacy with no regard for collateral damage and the only measurements of success are either in the weight of their copper half-coins or the number of white feathers upon the breasts of the wronged. With the introduction of a whole new multitude of monsters and mayhem, only the grains slipping through the hourglass will tell who will reign triumphant.
We begin right where we left off as Caltro finds himself in the clutches of another who will gladly use him as easily as he himself uses his tools to breach an impenetrable vault. As he is passed from one bad situation to the next, he internally struggles on which path to freedom will best suit his selfish needs. However, a gift given to him by the gods proves him a valuable asset to all the parties involved in the fight for power.
Temsa continues to carve a path to the top of the food chain, a path drenched in blood and littered with carnage. His unfounded and blind ambition, as well as his willingness to play both sides of a raging war, may be his demise as the loyalty of those closest to him begins to waver.
Empress Nilith races to reach Araxes to fulfill her master plan while outrunning a group of bandits fueled by a malicious grudge. Her path is rife with horrors, both natural and man-made, but her belief that she can undo the travesties set forth by those before steadily pushes her forward.
There are others with curious and unknown designs working in secret and outside of earshot that may very well play a crucial role in the outcome of the game. Will their crafty planning turn the tide as a hopeful victor reaches the finish line?
Grim Solace is a wonderfully realized story dominated by impeccable and deepening character development, and while book one introduced a cast of great characters, this one allows us to peek deeper into their minds and witness their struggles and machinations. The story moves along at a breakneck pace as peril awaits at every turn. The cunning and danger are palpable and the overall feeling is grim and futile, however there remains a seed of hope that there will be justice where justice is due. A welcomed dark, snide humor breaks up the aura of complete hopelessness, making Caltro's passages particularly enjoyable to read. Galley also beautifully graces the pages with exotic and vividly depicted places and creatures, making a read that remains captivating throughout. When things begin to settle down to an almost ordinary level, he throws in a fresh and fantastical adversary or hellish landscape, challenging your brain to let go and believe in the unbelievable.
The threads are beginning to come together, even though we are left grasping the edge with several cliffhangers. The story is becoming more compelling with each chapter and I'm really excited to see how Galley concludes this tale, which has definitely piqued my interest and violently drawn me in. As I dive deeper into this world, it's becoming more difficult to decide on who I'd like to see victorious, because if I've learned anything from these exquisite characters, it's to trust no one. The fight for Araxes continues in Breaking Chaos.
A huge thank you to Ben Galley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
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