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roguish_reads's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
For a debut book, it sure doesn’t feel like it! This was a fantasy read. Dark and gritty. It is the perfect grimdark fantasy. The author has no favorites and everyone is at stake. The writing was fantastic. Not a moment dragged.
afittingdistraction's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“[...]the biggest lie of it all, had been that some thought war was not inevitable. It was always inevitable, Revek thought, smiling.
Because we designed it that way.”
The Fangs Of War is a grimdark military style fantasy with properly morally grey characters, ancient gods, eldritch looking monsters and plenty of blood & gore.
Military fantasy isn't usually a subgenre I reach for but after loving The Sword Of Kaigen (another excellent indie) back in June I decided to give this one a go and I'm so glad I did because WOW!
If you like a book with a pov that let's you get into the heads of the villain/bad guys then this is the one for you. Most of these characters are terrible people yet E.J. Doble still manages to make you want to read more about them and dare I say it root for them at times?!
Something to be aware of the prose is very wordy, which I know won't be for everyone. It was definitely one I needed full concentration for otherwise I ended up having to read the same sentence a couple of times for my brain to grasp what was being said. But when I did 😘🤌 BEAUTIFUL!
In fact it was so hard to choose a quote to feature because I had highlighted so many. Also it has what might be one of my favourite opening lines I've read in a long time!
I still can't quite get over the fact that this is a debut, and by an author so young as well. Highly recommend checking it out, especially if you're a fan of authors like Joe Abercrombie.
I'm really looking forward picking up the second book when it comes out in February.
Because we designed it that way.”
The Fangs Of War is a grimdark military style fantasy with properly morally grey characters, ancient gods, eldritch looking monsters and plenty of blood & gore.
Military fantasy isn't usually a subgenre I reach for but after loving The Sword Of Kaigen (another excellent indie) back in June I decided to give this one a go and I'm so glad I did because WOW!
If you like a book with a pov that let's you get into the heads of the villain/bad guys then this is the one for you. Most of these characters are terrible people yet E.J. Doble still manages to make you want to read more about them and dare I say it root for them at times?!
Something to be aware of the prose is very wordy, which I know won't be for everyone. It was definitely one I needed full concentration for otherwise I ended up having to read the same sentence a couple of times for my brain to grasp what was being said. But when I did 😘🤌 BEAUTIFUL!
In fact it was so hard to choose a quote to feature because I had highlighted so many. Also it has what might be one of my favourite opening lines I've read in a long time!
I still can't quite get over the fact that this is a debut, and by an author so young as well. Highly recommend checking it out, especially if you're a fan of authors like Joe Abercrombie.
I'm really looking forward picking up the second book when it comes out in February.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: War
Minor: Confinement
sguser23's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Really enjoyed this one. I liked the world building and the twists (except for maybe one) we're all unexpected. Seriously this book kept me guessing constantly. There are so editing issues, such as not telling whose pov we are in for a page or twice but overall I can say it was highly enjoy and i'll be picking up book 2 for sure!
witchkingreads's review against another edition
3.0
2.5/5
“The cattle may despise the savage…but the savage does not care. Why? Because the savage does not think the cattle have the capacity to suffer in the same way. I’m sorry, truly, that for so long your people have enjoyed being the butcher.”
First, I’d like to thank E.J. Doble for sending me his book to read. With a title like The Fangs of War and an ominous cover that features a striking snake, I knew I’d be in for a brutal ride.
The Fangs of War is a self-published novel by E.J. Doble telling the bloody tale of a brutal war following the death of Provenci’s king. Alvarez, against the wishes of the All-Mother, a God-like being, leads the charge of a new military government hell-bent on taking the fight to the Tarrazi, believed to be responsible for the king’s death. Pride and greed reign over the kingdom, making it hard to tell for Cavara, a general at odds with the war, which side is the right one. Revek, a Commander, will make sure she knows her place. In this multi-perspective grimdark novel, blood is shed, and backs are stabbed, driven to the point of madness, by the figures that move in the shadows.
This is a book that can definitely be categorized in the grimdark genre. There is a healthy amount of brutality and bloodshed, making the plot of an ongoing war that much more prevalent. There is a lot of attention to detail underlining the prejudices and consequences of war. An example being when Savanta, a former military leader in the Provenci army, consistently refers to the enemy as it. I greatly enjoyed this small detail that shined a light on the callousness that lives in those scarred by warfare. The world itself is not one I would care to enter into. There are beasts that burrow into the chests of those who cross their path and tyrants who hold no qualms about murdering men, women, and children alike.
I found some characters to be well rounded while others left me struggling to understand their motivations. The two characters I was most interested in were Savanta and Markus. They start out as old friends serving in the military together, and when catastrophe hits Markus follows Savanta on her path for revenge. The journey of their friendship leads them to the new people they’ve become, and their duo became the most fascinating relationship to read about. What I struggled with were characters like Revek and Alvarez. Their motivations as antagonists fell flat for me. Revek’s constant reminders that he was the one in charge made a lot of his actions feel like he was overcompensating. There were a few times that he had taken up the mantel and gone through with his threats, but I found him to be mostly bark and no bite. There are many villains in this novel, and all have the habit of monologuing their dark deeds to the heroes, giving the reader info through dialogue which didn’t sit very well with me. In some instances the protagonists were told what they needed to know by the very people they’re fighting against instead of finding it out for themselves. However, when threats were followed through… they were followed through.
The first half of this book was interesting and had some great ideas! For example, some chapters were dedicated to nameless soldiers fighting in the war. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it at first because I kept searching for a name to better connect with the characters. Once I realized these were soldiers, one of hundreds to be forgotten in the coming battles, I appreciated what Doble was trying to accomplish. During these scenes we get a ground look at what the opposite side of the conflict looked like, and I was excited to dive deeper into that. However, this only happened a few times in the beginning of the book, transitioning into the nameless perspectives of random people in the later half to eventually become nonexistent.
This book is beautifully written. There is a wonderful prose etching the horrors of loss, grief, and pain. There is no disputing that this novel was written with a careful and detailed hand, diligent in the craft of storytelling. There are some truly beautiful poetic lines and thought-provoking exchanges. I enjoyed the highly evolved prose, but there were moments where I just wanted to get to the crux of the matter. I would sometimes start a chapter and not know whose point of view I was reading until a page and a half later. Occasionally I would believe I was in one person’s perspective, only to discover a few paragraphs later I was wrong and needed to reread the entire section again. This would be especially frustrating when I was in a chapter with a nameless character. I felt that some of the scenes were repetitive, reminding me of thoughts/feelings/events that I already knew. Descriptions are a major pillar when writing and I love being able to see in detail where I am in a book, but The Fangs of War was too poetic in its prose for me. It was overtly descriptive, where it could’ve been condensed into a few sentences with the same effect.
The ending was a crescendo of unexpected deaths and world-building expansion. I applaud Doble for a job well done on some unforeseen outcomes and emotionally charged confrontations. Ultimately, this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an audience for it! I am of the firm belief that there is a reader for every book, but not necessarily a book for every reader. Just because I didn’t quite enjoy this book as much as I wished to doesn’t mean you can’t. If you’re in the market for a dark story with elevated prose, unique shifting perspectives, and harrowing circumstances, then this is a good one to pick up. Despite my criticisms this book is very well written! I wish Doble the best of luck with the sequel, which, as I understand is in its final stages of editing for those of you who will want to jump right into the second book!
“The cattle may despise the savage…but the savage does not care. Why? Because the savage does not think the cattle have the capacity to suffer in the same way. I’m sorry, truly, that for so long your people have enjoyed being the butcher.”
First, I’d like to thank E.J. Doble for sending me his book to read. With a title like The Fangs of War and an ominous cover that features a striking snake, I knew I’d be in for a brutal ride.
The Fangs of War is a self-published novel by E.J. Doble telling the bloody tale of a brutal war following the death of Provenci’s king. Alvarez, against the wishes of the All-Mother, a God-like being, leads the charge of a new military government hell-bent on taking the fight to the Tarrazi, believed to be responsible for the king’s death. Pride and greed reign over the kingdom, making it hard to tell for Cavara, a general at odds with the war, which side is the right one. Revek, a Commander, will make sure she knows her place. In this multi-perspective grimdark novel, blood is shed, and backs are stabbed, driven to the point of madness, by the figures that move in the shadows.
This is a book that can definitely be categorized in the grimdark genre. There is a healthy amount of brutality and bloodshed, making the plot of an ongoing war that much more prevalent. There is a lot of attention to detail underlining the prejudices and consequences of war. An example being when Savanta, a former military leader in the Provenci army, consistently refers to the enemy as it. I greatly enjoyed this small detail that shined a light on the callousness that lives in those scarred by warfare. The world itself is not one I would care to enter into. There are beasts that burrow into the chests of those who cross their path and tyrants who hold no qualms about murdering men, women, and children alike.
I found some characters to be well rounded while others left me struggling to understand their motivations. The two characters I was most interested in were Savanta and Markus. They start out as old friends serving in the military together, and when catastrophe hits Markus follows Savanta on her path for revenge. The journey of their friendship leads them to the new people they’ve become, and their duo became the most fascinating relationship to read about. What I struggled with were characters like Revek and Alvarez. Their motivations as antagonists fell flat for me. Revek’s constant reminders that he was the one in charge made a lot of his actions feel like he was overcompensating. There were a few times that he had taken up the mantel and gone through with his threats, but I found him to be mostly bark and no bite. There are many villains in this novel, and all have the habit of monologuing their dark deeds to the heroes, giving the reader info through dialogue which didn’t sit very well with me. In some instances the protagonists were told what they needed to know by the very people they’re fighting against instead of finding it out for themselves. However, when threats were followed through… they were followed through.
The first half of this book was interesting and had some great ideas! For example, some chapters were dedicated to nameless soldiers fighting in the war. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it at first because I kept searching for a name to better connect with the characters. Once I realized these were soldiers, one of hundreds to be forgotten in the coming battles, I appreciated what Doble was trying to accomplish. During these scenes we get a ground look at what the opposite side of the conflict looked like, and I was excited to dive deeper into that. However, this only happened a few times in the beginning of the book, transitioning into the nameless perspectives of random people in the later half to eventually become nonexistent.
This book is beautifully written. There is a wonderful prose etching the horrors of loss, grief, and pain. There is no disputing that this novel was written with a careful and detailed hand, diligent in the craft of storytelling. There are some truly beautiful poetic lines and thought-provoking exchanges. I enjoyed the highly evolved prose, but there were moments where I just wanted to get to the crux of the matter. I would sometimes start a chapter and not know whose point of view I was reading until a page and a half later. Occasionally I would believe I was in one person’s perspective, only to discover a few paragraphs later I was wrong and needed to reread the entire section again. This would be especially frustrating when I was in a chapter with a nameless character. I felt that some of the scenes were repetitive, reminding me of thoughts/feelings/events that I already knew. Descriptions are a major pillar when writing and I love being able to see in detail where I am in a book, but The Fangs of War was too poetic in its prose for me. It was overtly descriptive, where it could’ve been condensed into a few sentences with the same effect.
The ending was a crescendo of unexpected deaths and world-building expansion. I applaud Doble for a job well done on some unforeseen outcomes and emotionally charged confrontations. Ultimately, this book didn’t quite hit the mark for me, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an audience for it! I am of the firm belief that there is a reader for every book, but not necessarily a book for every reader. Just because I didn’t quite enjoy this book as much as I wished to doesn’t mean you can’t. If you’re in the market for a dark story with elevated prose, unique shifting perspectives, and harrowing circumstances, then this is a good one to pick up. Despite my criticisms this book is very well written! I wish Doble the best of luck with the sequel, which, as I understand is in its final stages of editing for those of you who will want to jump right into the second book!
rebeccareader's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My current favourite self-published fantasy book.
The Fangs of War, it’s self-published, grim dark, my god is it dark, it’s military fantasy and it’s a new favourite self-published fantasy, yes! This reminded me why I love military fantasy so much!
The Fangs of War, it’s self-published, grim dark, my god is it dark, it’s military fantasy and it’s a new favourite self-published fantasy, yes! This reminded me why I love military fantasy so much!
The Fangs of War at its most basic centres on two neighbouring nations at war, Provenci and Tarraz. After the execution of the Provenci King by Tarraz forces, the country is thrown into militia rule by men long awaiting to take power. We follow several military linked POV’s. The maddening Supreme Governor in place of the King, the absolutely psychotic (but brilliant) Commander, Generals, scouts etc.
We see all of these POV’s living and fighting through a huge power struggle. People in charge, weaving lies to fuel war and chaos, so fixated on power that they will take it through corrupted, dark means.
It’s an exploration of war, of greed, of hatred for those different, of revenge. I never expected to enjoy this so much but I fell into the book, one chapter would go to 10 and time would be gone. There’s God like beings, monsters, gladiator fighting, it’s got it all! The ending of this book blows wide open the fantastical elements and whilst my brain hurt in some areas there, it didn’t dampen my love for this book and I fully imagine book 2 will give much more explanation.
Credit goes to E.J Doble’s writing, it flows beautifully!! I’ll read whatever this author throws out next because his style of writing is the reason I read over 300 pages in a day! The author also throws in fantastic humour that makes you laugh with the characters most depraved. I was a sucker for Revek!
Absolute cut throat, brutal! I lost my way in a group of characters with barely a single moral between them. Outstanding debut, gives me a lot to think about. I patiently obsessively await the sequel!
novoaust's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
The Fangs of War starts of with the execution of a king, and it takes off running from there. Between the multiple POVs, short and quick chapters, and the overall blistering pace of this book, I struggled to put it down.
We follow a varied bunch of characters, though they all originate from the same region in this world. We have Alvarez, Revek, Cavara, Savanta, Markus, Broska, and Jinx. All of these characters were unique in their own ways. Some characters will be easy to root against, others are easy to root for, but I never felt the author was trying to force the reader to like or dislike a certain character. Take Sav, a character who is damaged by the impacts of war. While I was rooting for her, I struggled to actually like her, as she was selfish and headstrong throughout the entirety of the novel.
One aspect of Doble's characterization that I loved was that he challenged often static roles. The dynamic between Markus and Savanta is brilliant, and simply based on genders, it is usually the other way around in novels. Doble writes tough, strong women, and not in a cliche way. This was a breath of fresh air in a genre like fantasy. He also does not shy away, and a lot of his character choices are ballsy. You will end up loving a character, only to have those emotions ripped away.
Another aspect of the story that I found expertly done is how Doble chose to build the world. It unfolded alongside the plot, which is what I like to see. When reading fantasy, I find that I much prefer to be shown the world instead of being told about the world. The author was able to carefully craft this world, enough so to paing a clear and vivid picture, without bogging the reader down with massive amounts of information. This story contains various cities, landscapes, and the countryside is riddled with terrifying creatures that I would not want to cross paths with.
While I would consider this book to be mostly character driven, the plot is still a huge part of this book. War is a huge theme in this book, as is evident with the title. There is blood. A lot of blood. Doble plants little seeds for us readers where we can start to envision where story lines come together, and while I had favorites, I truly enjoyed following each of these characters. This story moves fast, and I found there were little to no dull spots. Every time I picked this book up, I ended up putting serious dents into the page count. I finished the 551 pages in just 3 days.
I was also quite surprised by the writing, as the author is only 20 years old. While the prose may not be for everyone, I found it to be quite refined. For me, it read easy, but was still layered with detail, which helped me get immersed in the story. I really look forward to seeing what is next from Doble.
My only complaints are minor. Like with most indie novels I have read, a more stringent editing process would have benefitted this book as I did find some spelling and phrasing errors. Without getting into spoilers, there is a twist between two of our main characters that I unfortunately saw coming from a mile away. It was well done, but because I foresaw the outcome, the tension building just didn't work for me. I also found that fight scenes could become repetitive at times, as the author uses beheading and body dismemberment fairly often. Limbs be flying and heads be rolling tons in this one.
Overall, The Fangs of War is the best Indie book I have read to date, and I would recommend it to anyone looking to read a good fantasy story.
We follow a varied bunch of characters, though they all originate from the same region in this world. We have Alvarez, Revek, Cavara, Savanta, Markus, Broska, and Jinx. All of these characters were unique in their own ways. Some characters will be easy to root against, others are easy to root for, but I never felt the author was trying to force the reader to like or dislike a certain character. Take Sav, a character who is damaged by the impacts of war. While I was rooting for her, I struggled to actually like her, as she was selfish and headstrong throughout the entirety of the novel.
One aspect of Doble's characterization that I loved was that he challenged often static roles. The dynamic between Markus and Savanta is brilliant, and simply based on genders, it is usually the other way around in novels. Doble writes tough, strong women, and not in a cliche way. This was a breath of fresh air in a genre like fantasy. He also does not shy away, and a lot of his character choices are ballsy. You will end up loving a character, only to have those emotions ripped away.
Another aspect of the story that I found expertly done is how Doble chose to build the world. It unfolded alongside the plot, which is what I like to see. When reading fantasy, I find that I much prefer to be shown the world instead of being told about the world. The author was able to carefully craft this world, enough so to paing a clear and vivid picture, without bogging the reader down with massive amounts of information. This story contains various cities, landscapes, and the countryside is riddled with terrifying creatures that I would not want to cross paths with.
While I would consider this book to be mostly character driven, the plot is still a huge part of this book. War is a huge theme in this book, as is evident with the title. There is blood. A lot of blood. Doble plants little seeds for us readers where we can start to envision where story lines come together, and while I had favorites, I truly enjoyed following each of these characters. This story moves fast, and I found there were little to no dull spots. Every time I picked this book up, I ended up putting serious dents into the page count. I finished the 551 pages in just 3 days.
I was also quite surprised by the writing, as the author is only 20 years old. While the prose may not be for everyone, I found it to be quite refined. For me, it read easy, but was still layered with detail, which helped me get immersed in the story. I really look forward to seeing what is next from Doble.
My only complaints are minor. Like with most indie novels I have read, a more stringent editing process would have benefitted this book as I did find some spelling and phrasing errors. Without getting into spoilers, there is a twist between two of our main characters that I unfortunately saw coming from a mile away. It was well done, but because I foresaw the outcome, the tension building just didn't work for me. I also found that fight scenes could become repetitive at times, as the author uses beheading and body dismemberment fairly often. Limbs be flying and heads be rolling tons in this one.
Overall, The Fangs of War is the best Indie book I have read to date, and I would recommend it to anyone looking to read a good fantasy story.
gobbledybooks's review against another edition
4.0
What an amazing read this was! An absolute pleasure to read from start to finish and an outstanding addition to the fantasy genre.
Our story opens with the assassination of a king and the subsequent succession of a military tyrant, who declares war on neighbouring territories.
It is multiple POV, following different characters within the same region: the maniacal tyrannist; the ambitious and psychotic military leader; the vengeful and morally grey scout; her best friend and comrade journeying with her to keep her sane; a loyal and dutiful general only wanting the best for her people; a kind-hearted general whose only crime was being witness to a brutal murder and cover up; and his criminal underworld sister who would do just about anything to protect him.
After the war breaks out, the story jumps between characters as they begin their journeys through the epic and vivid landscape. I loved this as it meant there wasn't too much info dumping in the early chapters, instead the world expanded alongside the plot.
Instead, these early scenes were used to expertly craft these incredible characters; they danced to life on the page and honestly don't think I've ever felt as connected to characters since a Hobb book. Throughout the story you can understand their motivations, feel their pain, and really route (and hate) for them. Be prepared because this is a novel about war, and Doble is not afraid to hurt your favourite characters.
Our story opens with the assassination of a king and the subsequent succession of a military tyrant, who declares war on neighbouring territories.
It is multiple POV, following different characters within the same region: the maniacal tyrannist; the ambitious and psychotic military leader; the vengeful and morally grey scout; her best friend and comrade journeying with her to keep her sane; a loyal and dutiful general only wanting the best for her people; a kind-hearted general whose only crime was being witness to a brutal murder and cover up; and his criminal underworld sister who would do just about anything to protect him.
After the war breaks out, the story jumps between characters as they begin their journeys through the epic and vivid landscape. I loved this as it meant there wasn't too much info dumping in the early chapters, instead the world expanded alongside the plot.
Instead, these early scenes were used to expertly craft these incredible characters; they danced to life on the page and honestly don't think I've ever felt as connected to characters since a Hobb book. Throughout the story you can understand their motivations, feel their pain, and really route (and hate) for them. Be prepared because this is a novel about war, and Doble is not afraid to hurt your favourite characters.
afictionalescapist's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Tarazzi forces have killed Provenci’s King, making way for a new and brutal government to take over. New leader Alverez is hell bent on the destruction of Tarraz, building an army bigger than the world has ever seen and sending them to war against the foul creatures and populations of a feral enemy land.
Believed to be dead for the last 25 years the Iron Queen lies in wait, to take revenge on those who put her in her suspected grave. Striking a deal with the All Mother, a God like entity and force to be feared she dreams of revenge against all those who terrorised her land decades before.
Cavara has been betrayed by her people, left for dead after the discovery of the king far from home, she is rescued by a stranger and taken to a brighter land where she is deemed as an outcast and is suddenly on the run. She must remain hidden while putting together pieces of her past orders and coming to terms with her new life, before she faces the great feared Alberdane.
This book was very, very dense but beautifully written. Each time I picked it up, it would take a little while for my brain to catch up to the writing style but once I did it became an addiction. I would just want more. The imagery portrayed in these pages is nothing short of stunning (and terrifying as we are in a world full of God like beasts which I would NOT want to come up against). It took a little brain power to get through, but this author certainly has potential to create one heck of an epic series.
Rated 3.5 – Rounded up to 4.
Watch for my full review on epicindie.net and over on my YT channel at A Fictional Escapist!
Believed to be dead for the last 25 years the Iron Queen lies in wait, to take revenge on those who put her in her suspected grave. Striking a deal with the All Mother, a God like entity and force to be feared she dreams of revenge against all those who terrorised her land decades before.
Cavara has been betrayed by her people, left for dead after the discovery of the king far from home, she is rescued by a stranger and taken to a brighter land where she is deemed as an outcast and is suddenly on the run. She must remain hidden while putting together pieces of her past orders and coming to terms with her new life, before she faces the great feared Alberdane.
This book was very, very dense but beautifully written. Each time I picked it up, it would take a little while for my brain to catch up to the writing style but once I did it became an addiction. I would just want more. The imagery portrayed in these pages is nothing short of stunning (and terrifying as we are in a world full of God like beasts which I would NOT want to come up against). It took a little brain power to get through, but this author certainly has potential to create one heck of an epic series.
Rated 3.5 – Rounded up to 4.
Watch for my full review on epicindie.net and over on my YT channel at A Fictional Escapist!
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