Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Starting off with the fact I have never read a book by Michael Fletcher so I have no other works of his to compare this to, but I am glad I discovered him. Solid 3 star read for me, would have been 4, but some side characters aren't as fleshed out as I'd have liked to have seen them - which isn't a surprise being this is told from one POV, still an excellent read.
From prologue to epilogue this was an engrossing and addictive read. With interesting characters, an imaginative world, immersive writing, and intense moments mixed with a bit of black humor - I found myself consistently surprised. This is written from one POV, that of Khraen, who starts off as an animalistic savage with no recollection of his past. Throughout the novel he is drawn to shards that bring back his memories little by little, and he starts to grow and remember that he was a demonolgist - a group of people either misunderstood or feared. Never revealing too much at one time and having an internal moral dilemma connecting who he was to who he is becoming - Krahen has an identity crisis throughout. Travelling with a necromancer named Henke, who may or may not be a reliable source of information, she encourages Khraen along the way. What is Evil? Is it subjective? Was/Is Kharen Evil? He's definitely not inherently good. Read the book for yourself and take the journey with him to find out.
From prologue to epilogue this was an engrossing and addictive read. With interesting characters, an imaginative world, immersive writing, and intense moments mixed with a bit of black humor - I found myself consistently surprised. This is written from one POV, that of Khraen, who starts off as an animalistic savage with no recollection of his past. Throughout the novel he is drawn to shards that bring back his memories little by little, and he starts to grow and remember that he was a demonolgist - a group of people either misunderstood or feared. Never revealing too much at one time and having an internal moral dilemma connecting who he was to who he is becoming - Krahen has an identity crisis throughout. Travelling with a necromancer named Henke, who may or may not be a reliable source of information, she encourages Khraen along the way. What is Evil? Is it subjective? Was/Is Kharen Evil? He's definitely not inherently good. Read the book for yourself and take the journey with him to find out.
Some of the grimmest grimdark I have read! The main protagonist is a reborn fragment of a previous super powerful despot, who ruled the world using demons and fear. He wakes up with only a fragment of his memory. Encounters with other fragments of himself lead to him gradually reassembling his obsidian heart and regaining memories.
This story is bleak, violent and definitely at the darker end of the spectrum. The characters are extremely flawed, all of them operating in various shades of grey. The main protagonist obviously has a horrific past. The theme of predestination is played on a lot, but obviously from a darker angle (ie if you were previously a violent despot are you destined to become one again?)
I am a massive grimdark fan and this really ticks all the boxes for me. I am really looking forward to continuing the series and seeing where it ends up!
This story is bleak, violent and definitely at the darker end of the spectrum. The characters are extremely flawed, all of them operating in various shades of grey. The main protagonist obviously has a horrific past. The theme of predestination is played on a lot, but obviously from a darker angle (ie if you were previously a violent despot are you destined to become one again?)
I am a massive grimdark fan and this really ticks all the boxes for me. I am really looking forward to continuing the series and seeing where it ends up!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My Ratings:
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing: 3/5
Overall: 4.5/5
My Review/Thoughts:
The book was very good, it poses a lot of questions and answers very few but it is only book one in a series so that is to be expected
It's a very interesting concept, to have a main character that's as much a mystery to you as they are to themselves, it makes you feel closer to the character in a sense and it feels rewarding when both of you learn something about them and their past
The book constantly goes back and forth over the concept good and evil, and what makes a person good or evil which is always a fun little discussion to have
The book is mysterious and the characters are more so, but it has a lot of twists and turns that keep the plot not only moving but also interesting and they don't come as a surprise. If you're paying attention to the story and the details you can predict certain twists and pick up on some foreshadowing
Overall the book was great and kept me engaged the entire time, ot kept the pace going and consistent making it engaging and carry a sense of urgency when needed.
Can't wait to read the rest of the book.
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Writing: 3/5
Overall: 4.5/5
My Review/Thoughts:
The book was very good, it poses a lot of questions and answers very few but it is only book one in a series so that is to be expected
It's a very interesting concept, to have a main character that's as much a mystery to you as they are to themselves, it makes you feel closer to the character in a sense and it feels rewarding when both of you learn something about them and their past
The book constantly goes back and forth over the concept good and evil, and what makes a person good or evil which is always a fun little discussion to have
The book is mysterious and the characters are more so, but it has a lot of twists and turns that keep the plot not only moving but also interesting and they don't come as a surprise. If you're paying attention to the story and the details you can predict certain twists and pick up on some foreshadowing
Overall the book was great and kept me engaged the entire time, ot kept the pace going and consistent making it engaging and carry a sense of urgency when needed.
Can't wait to read the rest of the book.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
This self-published grimdark novel was a group read. Fletcher's debut novel was traditionally published, however all of his subsequent novels, including this one, have been self-published.
Once again I've deceived and disappointed myself from what I thought it'd be about based on how it begins. I have no one other than myself to blame for that. Based on the cover, the synopsis, and the opening, I thought it'd be about an active and exciting protagonist on a possibly grand adventure with an intriguing cast of characters. That's not what this is and now I don't know why I thought it'd be.
What I read instead was a relatively passive protagonist who was both sullen and horny. There's a considerable amount of sex though it isn't described in detail. His primary activities seemed to be introspection, whining, rumination, and above all else, brooding over the concept of evil. There wasn't anything I liked about him, or really any of the characters. He has a goal in mind, so he isn't wandering aimlessly, but it felt like to me that much more ought to have been accomplished over the course of the book. The journey itself was lackluster as well.
There's grimdark edginess that may put readers off, or alternatively be a draw for them, but I found myself mostly indifferent to it. Based on the reactions of others, there is definitely a demographic for this who greatly enjoys it, but apparently I don't find myself within that.
As this is planned to be a dual trilogy, a six book series, I won't be reading the second book and may not read any books from this author again. I'm significantly disappointed. Maybe it'd be worthwhile after reading all the books after however many years it takes for them to release, but I don't have any interest in finding out whether they are.
Once again I've deceived and disappointed myself from what I thought it'd be about based on how it begins. I have no one other than myself to blame for that. Based on the cover, the synopsis, and the opening, I thought it'd be about an active and exciting protagonist on a possibly grand adventure with an intriguing cast of characters. That's not what this is and now I don't know why I thought it'd be.
What I read instead was a relatively passive protagonist who was both sullen and horny. There's a considerable amount of sex though it isn't described in detail. His primary activities seemed to be introspection, whining, rumination, and above all else, brooding over the concept of evil. There wasn't anything I liked about him, or really any of the characters. He has a goal in mind, so he isn't wandering aimlessly, but it felt like to me that much more ought to have been accomplished over the course of the book. The journey itself was lackluster as well.
There's grimdark edginess that may put readers off, or alternatively be a draw for them, but I found myself mostly indifferent to it. Based on the reactions of others, there is definitely a demographic for this who greatly enjoys it, but apparently I don't find myself within that.
As this is planned to be a dual trilogy, a six book series, I won't be reading the second book and may not read any books from this author again. I'm significantly disappointed. Maybe it'd be worthwhile after reading all the books after however many years it takes for them to release, but I don't have any interest in finding out whether they are.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny