Heroes Die
Ratings25
Average rating4.2
15
Ratings25
Average rating4.2
HEROES DIEBut Caine's no hero. He's an assassin.Renowned throughout the land of Ankhana as the Blade of Tyshalle, Caine has killed his share of monarchs and commoners, villains and heroes. He is relentless, unstoppable, simply the best there is at what he does. He is free.At home on Earth, Caine is Hari Michaelson, a superstar whose adventures command an audience of billions. Yet he is shackled by a rigid caste society, bound to ignore the grim fact that men die on a far-off world for the entertainment of his own planet--bound to keep his rage in check.But now Michaelson has crossed the line. His estranged wife, Pallas Rill, has mysteriously disappeared in the slums of Ankhana. To save her, he must confront the greatest challenge of his life: a lethal game of cat and mouse with the most treacherous rulers of two worlds.Matthew Woodring Stover has created a spectacular, page-turning epic where a Jackal-type assassin maneuvers through a vivid Tolkienesque world. With a plot as driven as its main character and drawn against a setting as vivid as the very best in fantasy, Heroes Die is a brilliant feat of the imagination.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Series
4 primary books5 released booksThe Acts of Caine is a 5-book series with 4 primary works first released in 1998 with contributions by Matthew Woodring Stover.
Series
3 primary booksAkty Caine'a is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 1998 with contributions by Matthew Woodring Stover.
Reviews with the most likes.
Executive Summary: Dark Fantasy/Sci-Fi that is more gruesome in places than anything I've read from [a:Joe Abercrombie 276660 Joe Abercrombie https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1207149426p2/276660.jpg] or [a:George R.R. Martin 346732 George R.R. Martin https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1351944410p2/346732.jpg].Full ReviewIt's hard to believe this book was published in the late 90's. It would be right at home with all the Dark Fantasy that seems to be abundant these days. This book is way more gruesome in places than most of the so-called “grimdark” fantasy I've read recently. This seems to be a book that has gone under the radar of most fantasy fans.This is definitely one of those man's man kind of books. Caine is a total badass who kills first and doesn't even bother asking questions later. I can imagine a lot of grunting and snarling as I read along.The female characters are rather thin. They are badass too, but they also bombshells. You won't find a Brienne of Tarth, or Arya Stark here.If you don't read the description before starting the book, you'll likely be a little taken aback when an assassin in a fantasy novel starts making references to CRTs and Elmer Fudd. It's not bad writing/editing though.This is really the story of two worlds. A futuristic dystopian Earth, and a fantastical world full of magic called Overworld. Somehow humanity has found a way to send people to Overwold all while allowing the super rich to virtually “ride along”.It is the most popular form of entertainment for the privileged class. Watching lower class “Actors” fight, kill and often times die for their entertainment. This is no simulation. These are real people who are dying. The ultimate in bloodsport experience.This is what makes really made the book for me. The parallels between the two worlds, and how the politics and caste system of Earth's impact on the politics of Overworld.This is no simple revenge story, but one with political undertones. Similarly Caine is no simple thug, but the smart and calculating Hari Michaelson.Overall I really enjoyed it. The story feels pretty self contained, so while there are other books, I don't feel a need to rush out and read the next one.It got a little slow in places though. Mr. Stover doesn't seem to write the politics as well as he does gruesome violence and action sequences. That cost it the extra star, but I will definitely be continuing on the series at some point. I'd highly recommend it to any Dark Fantasy fans who like me had never heard of this series/author.
I recognize that this setting and plot is pretty cool (and it's so much more than its cover would suggest), but unfortunately this never really grabbed me. The first 10% I even considered DNF'ing it, but I ended up liking it a bit more as I pushed through. Caine is alright, but everyone else I couldn't really care less about. I mostly just wanted to be done with it.
Granted, I'm not one for fast-paced action books (which this was), but it also didn't give me much else.
The actual equivalent of 2,5 stars! I literally just finished it now and based on how I'm currently feeling I fear I might have to round down.
Heroes Die was the most action I believe I've ever read in a book and it is very very dark. It kind of reminds me of Assassins Creed or avatar in the sense that you have a real world people that are connected to a machine or something and brought into a new world and you're being televised on your murderous adventures. Caine is the most famous “Aktir” and makes his company lots of money by slaughtering people in this “overworld”. He also has marriage problems with another aktir. She was on her own journey but is stuck in the Overworld and now Caine must save the woman he loves even though she hates him.
I also enjoyed the Joe Abercrombie-esque introspective quotes in this book!
