C. J. Daley

This is an indie fantasy that I threw on my wishlist because of the cover, and I got it as a gift for Christmas—which is awesome. 

One of the things that struck me immediately when I started reading was the author's chosen voice and how it came across. It's first person, and a lot of the comments are witty, tongue-in-cheek, retorts and I felt like it had an immediate likening to the voice of Jeff Lindsay throughout the Dexter series (vastly, wildly different content though). Therefore, I was pretty taken with the novel right off the bat. 

This is an urban fantasy, which other than showing us part of a small town (and one specific bar) in Alaska, does most of its storytelling in another dimension. This happened to really work for me, as I don't typically get along with urban fantasy too often. The world building and the explanation of all of the lore did a fantastic job of distancing the real world from the other dimension for me. And at just over 200 pages, the author did a great job of not making it feel like an info dump. Nor are we walked through every single day in the life of training, which was refreshing to me most of the time. 

The magic system, or ethos, is passed down through lineage and is from a direct bloodline with the gods (do not think Percy Jackson here...it's not). A person's full potential is only unlocked after their ethos has been evoked. One thing I loved about this magic system is that it was linked to stamina, but also emotions. There is no 100 page bout of the main character overusing and passing out, no training to use a bit more day after day. It's just boom, here you have it, now please just figure out what your power is. 

The plot was solid, and the writing is of a good quality for sure. A few parts skipped around a bit for me, where pages would cover months at a time, but I'll allow it to get a 237 page gut-punching fantasy. There is most definitely some spiciness in this novel, if that's your thing. There is also a straight up erotic scene, if that's also your thing. It is most definitely not my thing, but it didn't ruin it for me. 

Worth your time, money, or effort to read. Follow and support the author!

This is book one of The Voice of No Quarter, and a book that was on my radar for a while. The author very kindly sent me a copy for my reading enjoyment, and therefore I bumped it up the TBR stack!

The author sets up a world where humans and elves haven't really ever been able to get along. The humans would much rather eradicate them instead. The elves, who are the more peaceful of the two, are still brutal warriors. I've kind of really been waiting for a story with elves that are kind of scary powerful, and I feel like this novel did teeter on that line (there are several TRIPLE headshots in this book). 

The world the author created is nicely fleshed out. Cellagor is interesting and filled with places that were described in very easily pictured ways. I will admit I'd really like a map for book two though, not because I felt lost while reading, but because I'm actually interested in the world and land he created. 

The characters are especially good in my opinion. They read as real and well thought out. Their conversations feel like people talking to me, and that's not always how a book reads. The elves have some really awesome (very Tolkien-esque) names and are frankly all badass. 

I will say that although I did enjoy William and Baldric giving the reader that authentic old school fantasy feel of a traveling journey, their chapters at times seemed to trouble the pacing for me. As a small criticism I would say that I think they should have ended toward the middle, with the other bits following as the climax. It kind of read as two full climaxes in a row the way. 

This is the same author of The Yellow Oak that I've also reviewed before! This was a short story that I received for signing up to the author's newsletter! Free! And supporting and indie author! 
This short focuses on the idea of time and the multiverse, or alternative universes. If the theory of the multiverse, or alternative universes is true, then what if without knowing they all converged at a single point simultaneously? At the Memoren Diner perhaps? 
The author does a good job of giving us a succinct vision with this short story. I'm impressed with what he was able to get across in such a short time. I love his ability to mix horror and suspense into the other genres he writes. A scifi, thriller, horror short story? I am absolutely on board. 
Personally a 4/5* for me. Such a short story, how could you not give it a go! And a newsletter that includes it for free? Come on, folks! Follow the author and sign up today! 

This is a prequel novella to Nightmare Tenant, and although you could totally read it separately, I believe it's best enjoyed together. Also, you can support and read for free by signing up for the author's newsletter (which is how I got it)!
I originally read Nightmare Tenant last November. The story was enticing and exciting, so when I saw that there was a prequel novella, I was immediately interested. As this one of course takes place some years earlier, we get a group of new characters (someone familiar too). And with new characters we receive new personalities, quirks, and behaviors. The author does a good job of making the people feel real and grounded in such a short story.  It's written well, and the backstory to the novel is great!
In Nightmare Tenant, the story follows the supernatural events in Chivron Tower. In this prequel, we get to see some of the supernatural things surrounding the tower and how it originally came to be. I think the author picks an interesting enough plot to keep readers engaged and satisfied on this 70 page journey.

If I had to give a small gripe, I would say that although it's only 70 pages long, it does have a lot of breaks. Personally, as the reader, I think this would have been best served if there were still chapters to separate it/events. That would have felt more like a fully fledged novella to me, as this is not just a short story. 

This is a prequel novella to The Godling Chronicles, and the latest I've finished from the included prequels on Audible. 

I really liked how this one started. Lee is a man born of lower status that was later in life left an inheritance that allowed for him to parade around as a nobleman. Mention of parties every night, a butler like assistant, expensive horses and swords. That's not to say that I liked him, he is a pompous prick in this, but I liked that it was a different approach on the character set up. Oh, and did I mention that he's a godling? That fact kind of threw the lowborn status up in the air for me, but I liked that seemingly no on at all knows this. 

The world building/lore isn't a lot, but it is present. I liked what I heard, but this one really closely follows what the character is doing with little information or deviation. 

The jewel part of the story itself was kind of convoluted to me though. Not to mention that the jewel speaks to people and tampers with their brain in an all-too-Gollum like way. The climax was kind of dull and ended quickly to the point of almost being pointless. I guess though, if you have read the series, the backstory may be a nice pay off. I don't think I'll continue though. 

This is a prequel novella from the Cytoverse aka the Skyward series. This apparently started as its own thing, but was eventually reworked into what we see today. 

The novella follows Jason Write of the Phone Company. The PC was the first earthly company to discover FTL communications (which are kind of like brain powered (Cytonic) long-distance radio calls into space).  They then used this accidental first contact to become completely autonomous from governments and to virtually become to most powerful company in the world.

Jason, a blind Cytonic, and agent of the PC is sent on a mission to recover a kidnapped scientist. I enjoyed this character and the fact that the author created him for the purpose of introducing Cytonic powers. Because he is blind, he uses these powers to sense everything around him (a thing that was described in a way that had me closely picturing Daredevil honestly). 

What fell short for me, at least as a huge fan of Skyward and the following releases, is that this isn't the prequel I would have expected or looked for. This tells an incredibly closed off story, which I won't go into more of. I would have looked for more background information on Cytonics, or FTL, or the state of earth/space travel while humans were still attached to earth. That's not to say that it was bad of course, I'm just surprised. 

I would definitely say the in between novellas with Janci Patterson are way more necessary reads than this, but it is quick and worth a read. (Sadly no audio, so my dear Suzy Jackson wasn't heard on this one). 

I received an e-ARC from the author, very luckily for me, and I was stoked to get into this one. Out officially May, 22nd, be sure to be on the lookout for the e-book and paperback! 

This is an epic fantasy novel, and it is just that, EPIC (EPIC EPIC). It has everything you're used to loving in a fantasy novel, and even better, it's also done well. The writing is slick and intelligent, I wasn't bored with a single page. 

The characters truly come alive on the page. It was honestly a treat to have them each blossom into their own individual being over the 500+ page book. The story features three main perspectives, from three  siblings, (and some added spice via interlude appearances) and even the characters that aren't in the main spotlight are incredibly well fleshed out. 

Raiz: arguably the true “main character” in this story. A true ‘chip on the shoulder' character, with absolutely tons of teenage angst. His is a tale of empowerment and revenge, of courage and action. His decision making may have you pulling your hair out, but I did not question a single thing as being outside of his character. He also has a companion creature that you will just have to read to see and understand. So cool!

Dazen: the elder brother, the father's favorite, the perfect prince. A character that grows from a teen to a man under his father's shadow. The author still somehow manages to make him multilayered, dynamic, and believable. Not to mention honorable. Probably some of my favorite character development is from him. 

Isha: the middle child and perhaps most unfortunate. When a princess is turned into a slave in the collection of a rich untouchable, the story ignites into a battle for sanity, inner strength, and wanted opportunities for escape. The author really impressed me with this character. Not only does she project just incredible strength and warmth as a character, but she is lovable and believable as well. 

This novel does some very interesting things with its magic system. Some men and women have the ability to harvest the strength of the sun, or Zur, their god. This sun magic is referred to as Shine and it is used for light, fire, and heat. Almost every character has a slightly different way that they use the ability and I loved that it was drawing from a natural source. Some are more powerful than others while others cannot use it at all, and I thought it was amazing that some of it has to do with lineage, and than others seem to be more powerful simply by chance. I love when there's not necessarily a rhyme or reason. 

I will say honestly that this novels tropes are certainly going to trope (trope trope). There's no getting around that. From found family, to chosen ones, to enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, long lost family, hidden family, underdog heroes, and I'm sure I'm missing a few. But I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I bought in, I was entirely invested in their outcome. 

A new favorite for sure. As this is a debut, I know you haven't read this author yet, but believe me, you're going to want to. Follow him and add his novel on Amazon to some list that you can order when it releases. I will tell my mom to read this book, I will tell babies to read it. I do not have a physical copy of it, but my shelf absolutely demands it. 

Also referred to as Evren's Story. This is a prequel novella to the Heirs of Destiny and the latest I've finished from the included Podium Audio prequels on Audible. 
This prequel novella focuses on the darker side of the world. Well, a fantasy world. It mainly focuses on the darker side of humans and human nature. Evren, an apprentice priest wants to escape the confines of his cell. The priests are nothing more than aggressive rapists and abusers, that call their nightly visits “prayers” (to me this is unfortunately mentioned so often it's literally beaten into the ground). The older apprentice boys manage a fight club, so that they can bet on others' suffering. When an opportunity to escape surfaces, Evren will soon find out that the streets are no safer or kinder. 
The rest that ensues, to me, doesn't really do anything in the way of setup for a series that I can see, other than perhaps giving backstory on the character of Evren. We also only get the world building through the eyes of exactly what the characters see. So a seedy church compound and seedy poor city streets. There's not much in the way of lore or anything else. I didn't mind or dislike listening to this one, but I find now that I can't really think of good things to say. 
I will say that the narrator didn't do a bad job, but he is American and doing an accent. Because it is not his actual accent, it comes off as sounding Spanish and Italian and Russian depending on what he's saying. Which I guess in a fantasy world isn't necessarily a bad thing at all, but it did pull me out of it more than once. 
Just didn't really work for me. 

This is a prequel novella to the Nightfall Wars Series. It is also the latest completed out of the free Podium Audio prequels on Audible. You will stop seeing me say this one day, but it is not this day. 

Overall this is a set up for a series about ‘good vs. evil.' It is posed as the battle between light and dark, and in this series, it quite literally means day and night, or darkness. The heroes of old, the ones that predate even this prequel, were the chosen ones, or priests imbued with powers above those of mortal men to face the dark. Although this novella does not show any of that action, I felt myself heavily leaning on the movies ‘Priest' (2011), and ‘Legion' (2010), to fill in the blanks of what that looked like...aka Paul Bettany as an assassin priest with angel powers. 

The novella follows two parents that are ex-church spies turned merchants. As merchants they deal in lanterns, wicks, oils, flint, aka all things light...just like when they worked for the church, but hopefully less dangerous. To me this did a good job of making the characters interesting and real even though the set up is obviously for their son, Alesh, who the series is about. (I have not read it though). 

Unlike the author's other novella I just finished, The Silent Blade, this one totaled over 4 hours of listening, double that of the first one I completed. With that came a bit more lore and world building, some of which did end up feeling kind of like a dump, and there were things that I found repetitive. Still enjoyable though, and I am tempted to continue the series because of how I've been picturing the world. This series is a total of five books, but with the last one releasing mid-2020 I don't know if it's finished yet. 

Personally a 3.5/5* for me. Both prequel novellas are currently free with an audible subscription, and the quality is good! 

This is a The Seven Virtues prequel novella, and my latest completed from the free Podium Audio fantasy prequels on Audible. 

This one is a very fast paced, action packed, bloodbath. When a sellsword's necklace—the only earthly possession he has of his mother's—gets stolen, he does what any person would do...he cuts (and guts) a path of destruction across the seedier part of the city known as The Downs. I won't give anymore away, but I loved the use of a morally gray character that you're still made to love. 

The author does a good job of gearing this prequel towards introducing this one character. While various others are more than likely introduced as well (I haven't read the series), the two chapter novella focuses on Aaron Envelar, or as he's known through reputation, the silent blade. Although, I will say that he's definitely making some noise in this tale. 

The world the author creates is a seedy fantasy one that is seemingly without magic. The Downs are the poor, more spaced out, part of the city. The reader also gets to see the rich part of the city which to me felt kind like a bustling Rome, but that may have just been because of the shop descriptions. 

Personally a 4.5/5* on this one, I really enjoyed it. This series is a 7 book one, which is a bit longer than I'm looking for right now, but I'm really interested in continuing. 

This journey originally started with me pretty much spamming the author's page with likes because of how much I loved this cover. I was then very graciously offered an e-ARC, so how do you like them apples. Still love the cover, now I get to love the novel. 

So the original title for this was ‘A Child's Awakening' and the e-arcs came with that original title on the cover. Just wanted to point out how cool I think that is when you get something that feels like a b-side or second, and then you literally have it forever (another example: my copy of Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good came with the book inserted upside down into the attached hardcover...). Anyway, just thought that was a really cool tidbit, the title ‘Awakening' is much broader, as it is fitting to several others, not just children, so great choice on the author's part. 

The author sets up an interesting first novel. There is not a lot of action, but when there is, it is well done and the pacing is right. As a fantasy, this is very dialogue driven, and with that in mind, it felt kind of reminiscent of Andrzej Sapkowski's style (to me). You spend a lot of your time absorbed in what they're saying, and therefore it's not all about what they are doing. Very tricky, especially for a debut!!

The author gives the characters life with all their own traits, thoughts, quirks, and twitches. With this being young adult, their are multiple children in the story, and even they don't read as flat or similar. Two of the main characters even are brother and sister, and they read as drastically different. The bad people, or the outright villains, also read as multilayered, with redeeming qualities or traumas, so that they don't just read as “evil” or “bad.” I was very impressed by the fact that I found myself caring for people that were not viewed as good, or found myself disliking someone that was supposed to be helping. 

The magic system is interesting, but still a little hazy to me. I think that works well only because the people with powers are often untrained, especially the children. So in that sense, they don't know what the magic is or how it works either, so when reading it feels more like mutual discovery. The ability to take over and control others' minds is a pretty continuous one during the story, and that is a !crazy! power. Also, although it is not really explained, the ability for some magic wielders to connect with an animal companion is really cool! I would love to the see the story continue and use some larger, less frequently seen animals as companions, like a lion, hippopotamus, or even an eagle/hawk (kind of Assassin's Creed-esque). 

In terms of plotting this isn't really something you haven't seen before by any means, however it is certainly refreshed and interesting throughout so that it doesn't feel the same as other novels. The author really drives home character, and therefore relationships, which is not always something that goes hand in hand (at least done well...), and I'm really impressed with it. And talk about a cliffhanger ending! 

I absolutely need a copy of this for my own shelf, not just for the amazing cover, but because I am very impressed with the work. Have I intrigued anyone? Was anyone looking out for this one anyway?! The novel releases May 1st and it can be preordered now!! 

This is a prequel novella to The Chronicles of Lumineia: The White Mage Saga, and the latest that I've completed from Podium Audio as there is a ton of prequels from them included on audible right now. 

This one kind of felt like the complete opposite of the prequel novella I just finished (Shield Knight: Ghost Orcs by Jonathan Moeller). It didn't do much in the way of world building, or lore, and it literally described nothing. The story is actually urban fantasy, which from the cover you'd never guess, but it says it starts in New York. If it wasn't for the fact that at one point he's in a wood and steel warehouse I don't think it even points to a time period either. Even though that descriptor alone points to what, industrial-modern? Plus with this being so short, other than naming it on earth (via New York, Florida and Russia), it doesn't have anything that involves our normal world in it weirdly enough. 

The story is about an assassin, aka ‘the swordsman,' who can use magic to enhance his fighting, sneaking, or killing. Which honestly are all cool and give some nice fight sequences. I will say the character uses something simply called a ‘board' or ‘air board' to fly incredibly fast (even over an ocean) and it does not get an explanation...so I'm thinking like silver surfer??? It became a little confusing as I just did not know what I was supposed to picture. 

Personally a 3.5/5* for me! This is a series of five, so a bit shorter than the last, but I'm not sure I'll continue. This was fun though!

This is a Sevenfold Sword (and Shield Knight) prequel novella. It is also another Podium Audio that is currently included on Audible...are you seeing the trend here? 

This one kind of broke the mold, I feel. It used a novella to do its world building and lore. Every bit of information you receive is interesting and makes you think, “wait, what is that?!“ I actually rewinded the audio multiple times to make sure I was hearing it correctly because it was a creature, or place, or person with an uncommon name. I feel like this is short fiction done right. 

Necromancy? UNDEAD skeletal orcs? Ghost orcs that are pale and can turn invisible? Dark, evil elven magic? A sword with the power to burn out the darkness? Need I say more????

So, this is a series of 12, with just about as many accompanying novellas. Not sure when I'll continue, but I'm really really intrigued. 

This is an Iconoclasts prequel novella (can you see where I'm at this March?) and another Podium Audio that's currently included on audible. This is a real short one, probably bordering right on the line of what you'd consider a novella. It's almost the length of a prologue in a lot of fantasy novel. 
With this one being so short, it kind of lacks all descriptors. Not much in the way of world building or lore, which typically isn't always a bad thing. However in this one, it's solely a single story, almost a single instance. It goes right from introductions to the climax, and that left me wanting. I guess the thought process is it entices you just enough to pick up the first book...
The story follows some seedy characters as they treasure hunt in the Barrowlands, which cannot be entered without permission...needless to say these guys don't have it. The climax takes place in a tomb, which I thought felt more The Mummy (1999)–think the scarabs in the wall—than Lara Croft. I was definitely digging that!
The covers of the series intrigue me, but I'm not sure I'll continue just yet. 

This is a prequel to The Darkness Within Saga, and yet another free Podium Audio from audible. Free is my favorite price. 

This one kind of falls in between my two most recent prequel reads. It does a great job of not being an exposition or lore dump (similar to Terry Goodkind's Debt of Bones), but I feel like it kind of lacks a decent amount of world building, or explanation/thoroughness. That's not to say that I think it's bad in any way, it just referenced some things (or only mentioned people once) and it felt like it was leaving me hanging. But I guess that's the nature of short prequels!

The story follows Yrlissa Blackmist, an elven assassin and overall badass. She's been alive for an unbelievable amount of time, and as an assassin, she doesn't have the best track record...some people are pissed. So as one does when faced with multiple enemies, she falls in love and starts a family. Read or listen for yourself to learn why (and it's included from audible, the narrator is good!).

Something the author does really well with this one is the characters (that are the main feature in the prequel). They feel fleshed out and interesting and there was a certain amount of heart even with it being so short. The best take away for me though (very much like Shackled by Michael Wisehart) is it left me wanting more. I feel the draw, I am interested enough to grab the next. Luckily this one is once again a shorter series (although not finished yet), so I will probably continue with it at some point. 

The author very graciously sent me a copy for my reading enjoyment. The story itself is broken into three parts, or three stories, and follows the experiences of three broken men. 

In part one, or story one, ‘I Found Myself in You', we follow Ben in his lackluster life. I really enjoyed how the author made you feel the claustrophobic mundanity of the characters everyday life. He's a little older, a little fatter, perhaps a little sadder. He doesn't have enough money, or enough love or attention, or even enough will to get what he wants. Ben is your average man, a character that reads as real. When an old coworker gives him a card to a costume shop that he found help at, perhaps some unnatural or even supernatural things take place. You'll have to read to find out! 

In part two, or story two, ‘One Moment in Time', we follow Nick Holland, who is perhaps one of the most messed up character I've ever read about. There are no redeeming qualities to me, not that I assume there's meant to be. This is a victim-turned-abuser story, which typically does have some kind of redeeming aspect to it, I just didn't find any. It is one of the most disgusting and disturbing, and therefore horrifying, things I've ever read through. 

In part three, or story three, ‘Return to Me', we follow Jason, a second shift hardware store worker and recovering alcoholic. This is the longest of the three and dives into what you would possibly do, and the consequences of, being able to change the life you were given. Sometimes people aren't dealt the best hand in life, sometimes we are the way we are because of that, and sometimes we are the way we are because we simply aren't good. 

These three very different stories all use time, or time travel, as a means to change. Three broken men wish to change their lot in life, but by accepting the chance to go back, to change, are they damning themselves in the process? This novel deals in pain, loss, abuse, mundanity, fear. It shows us these things through desperation, aggression, further abuse, murder, and more. This is certainly a horror novel, with the subject matter being particularly horrifying. 

Be sure to check out this novel if horror is your thing! You may find it to be absolutely amazing, this one just really wasn't for me. 

This is a prequel to The Aldoran Chronicles, which I have not read yet. This is another one from audible that I saw under “free” and “fantasy,” which are two out of three of my favorite F words. I've also been intrigued with these prequels because of their length, as I'm looking for in between listens. 

The author does a fantastic job in this one of just smashing your face right into the world he's created. Similar to the last read by Terry Goodkind, these are prequels that seemingly dropped after their series already started. Therefore, you're not getting a lore dump or continuous world building. The author gets right to the point and tells a singular story. This once again worked really well for me. 

The story follows Ferrin, a talented blacksmith that uses his magical abilities to imbue his work with an additional something something (if you will). I enjoyed the way the character was built by the author in only 2.5hrs. He is brusque and brooding, quick to act yet not without thought. It's believable that he does everything he can for his sister. Although his name is not outright in the synopsis for book one, I can only imagine he has a prominent role in the series. 

Unlike reading Terry Goodkind's Debt of Bones (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4596638040), The Aldoran Chronicles currently only has an additional 3 books out (as opposed to Goodkind's like 11), so honestly I think I'm going to continue with it (at some point). 

This is another e-ARC that I received from (SF/F)or the culture. It's a dark urban fantasy that centers around magic and revenge. 

I believe I saw that this was an earlier release that later got reworked and released as a Wahida Clark Presents. Which is cool with me, I love when authors get a second chance at presenting what they really wanted. This release had very few errors and was concise, so it seemingly went well! 

When the story begins we have a very timid, damaged, and trapped main character. Throughout the novel we get to see a change over time, where now our MC is strong, purposeful, energized. I think this speaks to the author's abilities with character development. It's not an immediate shift, we see the struggles, and that's exactly what development looks like. 

As an atmosphere I would relate this to a few things. It does have the whole hidden magic from the real world building like in Harry Potter (but no wands!), as a dark fantasy it has a grittier world feel kind of like Underworld with witches, and because of the deep rooted revenge quest it read to me like a magic The Revenant. And this very well could be a villain origin with its vengeful body horror. 

For me, I will say the ended did wrap up a little too quickly. With a vast majority of the story taking place in a single setting, it just kind of slams you into the ending. If the overall climax had been mentioned earlier in the book, I think it would have fit into its trajectory better. But those are just my personal thoughts!

Absolutely worth your time, effort, and money to read this book. 

The author very graciously sent me a copy for my reading enjoyment, and enjoy I did. He posed it as a crime noir novel, and I wasn't really sure if I had read anything even in the same league, but I was willing to give it a try. 
The story is first person and follows a merchant marine turned reluctant investigator (he's really not, but he hasn't figured that out yet). He is characterized in the general noir style—witty, dark, perhaps morally questionable, pessimistic as ever—but done in such a way that it reads as true and is refreshing along the way. The secondary characters are all done exceptionally well as well, all of their traits and choices lined up perfectly for me. 
As it is a crime novel, and the first person perspective is not a detective, or one that follows around the detective, I did have some trouble drawing the lines between some conclusions. But hey, I am very used to reading Agatha Christie at this point. That is not this. Nor is it trying to be. There are certainly still twists and turns as you'd wait for in any kind of novel of its kind, and they worked for me. 
The author really does a great job with personality. The story here really reads as Mickey Fairfax. In many ways, I assume the author's voice has simply come out as Mickey's, and I love when that reads as genuine. 
Absolutely worth your time, effort, and money to read this book. 

This is a prequel novella to the Sword of Truth series. I haven't read the series before, but I saw free audible fantasy, and I said yes. 
Firstly, I think this would have been more enjoyable (and made more sense) if I had read any of the series before. This is one of those novellas that came out after the series was releasing (a lot like The Wheel of Times ‘New Spring'), so it's not written with too much of the lore or world building in mind. It's really only setting out to tell a singular tale. I'm pretty curious if this is mentioned in the series itself and then the author later wrote it out as a novella? 
Secondly, the thing that this one does the best is tell a single concise tale. It's only 150 pages (or 3.5hrs audio) and that really worked for me here. I didn't feel bogged down by series references or name drops (although I'm sure there are some) and I actually think this adds up to a good starting point for the story chronologically. 
Thirdly, if you're wondering if this is for you...it has heart, love, anger, and twists all packed into a little storyline. Family ties, kidnappings, war, and magic all wrapped up into one. The only reason I think I'll hold off on the series is my mind, body, and soul are not ready to start another 12+ book series right now. 

I wanted to give this a go because it said it was attached to producers from The Walking Dead (including Robert Kirkman). 
A comet hits earth, clouding the atmosphere and making the sunlight disappear, which leads to the open emergence of vampires? I said yes, I could get behind that. And it has these really cool kinds of vampires too: there are mindless zombie-eating type vampires (kind of reminded me of I am Legend (the movie)), then shades which are like your run-of-the-mill vampires, then there are overlords which have gifted powers, and then there's of course a vampire queen. Plus there's a badass female vampire Hunter with a sword? Felt like a post apocalyptic Underworld. 
The problem I personally had with this one is that it is an audio performance, not an audio narration. I'm guessing I could have easily found that out if I did even the simplest research, so that's on me. However, I have stated several times in the past now that they just aren't for me. The performances were fantastic, so it's not that I have anything against it, it's just to the point where it's more of a play, or like listening to a movie without seeing it, than reading. 
The production is filled with noises—scuttling feet, fighting, heavy breathing, background noise—sometimes to the literal detriment of the audio levels. And because it's filled with those noises, there's next to no description within the story. If you're not fired up to use your imagination the entire time, this probably isn't the one for you. It was not easy to listen to while going about my day. 
My biggest gripe though was that in between the chapters there would be music. Some of which was so bad that I actually considered stopping the entire thing, and it's only 4.5 hours long. I hate music in audiobooks. 
Great concept, iffy execution. I don't think at this point I'll continue with the teased sequel. 

This was picked as a buddy read for me and my friend Jeremy. It was also my first buddy read ever. We both got the Orbit books trilogy boxset...and neither of us liked it. 

I will say for everything that follows, please note that this did NOT work for me. I would say that almost everything worked against me, rather than for me, in that sense. Right from the beginning, there was this race of creatures with next to no explanation or set up. I thought that perhaps it was how some fantasy writers set up their story as “otherworldly” by hitting you with something you know you've never heard before...but no, this novel just never fully explains anything. The creatures get mentioned many times, but never really come back or get fleshed out. Overall the biggest crux to me was this right here, lore and world building will never be at their fullest if you simply cannot understand what is going on. Oh, this big bad guy and this big good guy fought it out right here at the beginning of time or whatever? Cool, where are we even? Why? How?

I might add that if you are a huge fan of set up, please please buckle up. This novel has set up from page one on and on and on and on and on, until you finally get to page 500, and nothing has really happened yet. I've read and seen people call this book a prologue to the rest of them, and I guess that's kind of cool, maybe it would pay off later, but it just totally is lost on me. I did not enjoy, I don't even know if money could make me continue. There is truly no solidified plot to this one. 

This book was suggested to me over and over by many people who's opinions I respect quite a lot. I just don't see it, or don't get it. I've seen so many five star reads of this, and by the time I got to the ending I was not only reconsidering my anti-DNF stance, but my overall view on life. 

The characters...the characters: 
Jezal is a white privileged, egotistical asshole, who only seemingly becomes more complex as the novel goes along, just to have his character development wholly crushed about 3/4s in, by having a chapter start with a complete character reversion. 
Glokta, the crippled, PoW turned government inquisitor, is the same insufferable half-beat just over and over and over again. He complains about climbing stairs for approximately 100 out of the 501 pages. 
Logen, the Bloody-nine, is presented as a kind of complex, but perhaps mentally simple, northern thug. When you get his thoughts he seems like a well created character (at times they all do), but whenever he is not in perspective he get downgraded to a blubbering baboon in the most simplifying fashion. It was so frustrating to read. The author did that to every character. 

I also didn't understand what time period this was modeled after? Not that it necessarily has to follow one, or only one. Medieval seemingly with the weapons, but I kept saying that Glokta chapters felt kind of like the game Dishonored's aristocracy? The agriont stuff kind of made me feel or picture semi-industrial? I honestly said more than once that I thought Glokta and Logen were going to be revealed later as two different time periods, that's how much I felt it read different. And I was only more surprised and confused when they meshed, and I knew for sure it was all one timeline. They just didn't read the same to me. 

I'm sure this may ruffle some feathers. I don't intend to offend any fans of the author or series, and I promise I'm not mad, I just did not like this. I distinctly remember telling Jeremy multiple times while reading it with him that something in the writing I liked. I kept thinking I would like the book. But over the rest of it, I don't really know what happened. I feel like at times I was legitimately reading this book at 5 minutes a page. Some action sequences even could put me to sleep. So I guess in that sense I can't really even say I enjoyed the prose. 

At this point in the game, I would not suggest this. I'm also not sure if I'd try something else by the author. 

I got this as an added bonus attached to Of Blood and Fire's audiobook, so naturally I had to continue right into it. 

I think something this novella does really well is the perspectives. In this sense, it's giving you the lives of four individuals during the fall of the dragon order. Therefore, it's not 100 pages of lore and world building dump, it's actually showing you through the eyes of people there (and maybe a face or two we already know?). In such a short span of time the author packs such a heavy punch. The amount of heart in this one is crazy for it's size. It also does a very good job of distancing itself from the others of its kind that people relate it to. This one to me read as it's own entity entirely. 

If I had one gripe it would be that with it being short, I still didn't feel like this told one single concise story. I'm still not entirely sure what happened to the order, nor do I really know what caused its fall, nor do I really further understand the villain yet. But there is another novella incoming that I saw, so perhaps that'll continue on the background lore. 

Worth your time, effort, or money to read or listen! The audio quality is great! 

I have seen this all over bookstagram of course, and many of my friends have sent it to me as a phenomenal indie. After giving the audible audio a sample, I decided to go with it, and Derek Perkins did a good job with it. 

I do feel like I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this, especially with it being an all-time favorite of mine. I read other reviews of this, and I'd have to agree with some of it, at least on the surface. In the beginning of the novel especially, the lore and world building can read as very formulaic or cookie cutter to Christopher Paolini's Eragon. I was afraid that this would read as a negative (and overall I do wish that there were some wider gaps in the similarities), but I found some of the super harsh reviews to be kind of closed minded? Do we not remember the wave of people bashing Paolini for being unoriginal? (I have quite a lengthy review in defense of him). When you're dealing with dragon eggs, dragon riders, young underdog heroes, evil tyrants, it tends to mesh a bit. 

What I found to be the most enjoyable were the parts that differed from it. Although it's similar, it also tells its own tale, with lore and world building and beings all its own. As a fellow reader Nat recently said to me, “if it's cookie cutter, at least it's my favorite brand of cookie.” I would agree. The author distances himself from others like him by focusing on the traits he's pulled from, and fleshing them out on his own. 

I've also heard that the sequel does an even better job of distancing the two. At this point, I will absolutely move onto a second book. I'm actually listening to the prequel right now. 

Worth your time, effort, or money to read. 

I received this book while being offered an ARC reading link from (SF/F)or the Culture, which miraculously qualified me to download like NINE books?! Super cool. I will say the cover of this story really drew me in, as well as it being posed as an African American military fantasy epic. 

This might honestly be one of the most colloquially written books I've ever read, but that's not to say that it was bad in any way, it was just super informal in ways that books usually aren't. Because of that you get this gritty, raw realness that I'm not really sure I've read before. It was interesting, gripping, and seriously fun. 

Along with the fun of this story, the reader is also faced with the vast darkness that warfare brings: blood, guts, feces, severed limbs, the evilness of humanity, excessive death. And this book does not shy away from a single piece of it (there are a lot of chopped testicles???). The battles are fast paced, making you feel like you're right in the center of them, and although they are somewhat tough to read because of the realness, I found I couldn't get enough. The main character can be a bit hard to get behind, but there are snippets of heart in there that will have you following along. 

If it had to nitpick a bit: a gripe of mine would be that the cover—the armor, the sword—did make me feel more like it was medieval, meanwhile the emperors and names felt wholly Roman in nature. However this is a fantasy world, so it can be whatever you want it to be. There are literally races that are humanoid, but not human...so Gius can do and be whatever he wants...but so is the nature of the nitpick. 

Totally worth your time, money, or effort to read!