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juan_adhd_reading's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
TLDR: This was an incredibly high-paced book, full of action and magic! The main character and villain interactions were amazing, and the magic system felt original and very powerful. I am beyond excited to keep reading and learning about this world.
Wow! This book was a fantastic debut to an original D&D-based world. It's incredibly high-paced. From the first chapter, we start getting into battles with the main villain in the series: Inquisitor Deza. He was my favorite character in the book because he actually felt DANGEROUS. I think it's a difficult job to make the human characters feel like this in a fantasy world with wizards, giants, and 10-foot hyena men, but Casey managed it, and it only gets better when we actually find out his true motivations for pursuing Malfus.
Besides the villain, the highlight of this book was the battle scenes. Casey writes an incredibly realistic portrayal of war, where no one is safe, everyone is scared and the tides could change at any moment. The descriptions of pain, death, and fear were so vivid, it almost made me feel uneasy at times, but it also made it hard to put the book down! You can tell Casey used his own experiences as an ex-military and his remarkable abilities as a storyteller derived from his years as a D&D dungeon master.
The magic system is another highlight for me. Both the character of Malfus and the magic system reminded me a bit of T. Kingfisher's Minor Mage (albeit much more bloodier), in so far as he acknowledges he is far from the best (or even a good) necromancer and the act of pulling energy from the void to perform magic. This was an original take on zombies as basically puppets for the means of war. You can kind of see why an entire religion would ban necromancy as a powerful but disgraceful art.
The growth of Malfus throughout the book felt natural, and it does fit with the description of a "morally grey protagonist". As he learns more about his own necromantic abilities, Malfus becomes a dangerous and powerful individual. Of course, we know he was able to do it thanks to his ruby (spoilers if you know), but it highlights just how far he could go on his own.
Unfortunately, I don't think the other characters in the book were developed as well as Malfus or Deza. There are a handful of soldiers from whom we learn their motivations for signing up for the Tithe, but they weren't around long enough to sympathize and care about them.
I really hope we get to learn more about this world, necromancy and Malfus. I am very interested in the other schools of magic, and the true power the Inquisiton holds. I also hope we get to learn more about the other soldiers and especially Morten. I am fascinated with this book, and can't wait for more!
TLDR: This was an incredibly high-paced book, full of action and magic! The main character and villain interactions were amazing, and the magic system felt original and very powerful. I am beyond excited to keep reading and learning about this world.
Wow! This book was a fantastic debut to an original D&D-based world. It's incredibly high-paced. From the first chapter, we start getting into battles with the main villain in the series: Inquisitor Deza. He was my favorite character in the book because he actually felt DANGEROUS. I think it's a difficult job to make the human characters feel like this in a fantasy world with wizards, giants, and 10-foot hyena men, but Casey managed it, and it only gets better when we actually find out his true motivations for pursuing Malfus.
Besides the villain, the highlight of this book was the battle scenes. Casey writes an incredibly realistic portrayal of war, where no one is safe, everyone is scared and the tides could change at any moment. The descriptions of pain, death, and fear were so vivid, it almost made me feel uneasy at times, but it also made it hard to put the book down! You can tell Casey used his own experiences as an ex-military and his remarkable abilities as a storyteller derived from his years as a D&D dungeon master.
The magic system is another highlight for me. Both the character of Malfus and the magic system reminded me a bit of T. Kingfisher's Minor Mage (albeit much more bloodier), in so far as he acknowledges he is far from the best (or even a good) necromancer and the act of pulling energy from the void to perform magic. This was an original take on zombies as basically puppets for the means of war. You can kind of see why an entire religion would ban necromancy as a powerful but disgraceful art.
The growth of Malfus throughout the book felt natural, and it does fit with the description of a "morally grey protagonist". As he learns more about his own necromantic abilities, Malfus becomes a dangerous and powerful individual. Of course, we know he was able to do it thanks to his ruby (spoilers if you know), but it highlights just how far he could go on his own.
Unfortunately, I don't think the other characters in the book were developed as well as Malfus or Deza. There are a handful of soldiers from whom we learn their motivations for signing up for the Tithe, but they weren't around long enough to sympathize and care about them.
I really hope we get to learn more about this world, necromancy and Malfus. I am very interested in the other schools of magic, and the true power the Inquisiton holds. I also hope we get to learn more about the other soldiers and especially Morten. I am fascinated with this book, and can't wait for more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Torture, Police brutality, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror and Blood
zephyr_trashwolf's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book is an exceptionally strong start for a fresh new author, and I am eagerly awaiting his next installment. Not many works of fiction worm their way into my brain like this book has. I hope I don't have to turn myself into a lich to wait.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Alcohol, and War
paper_bound's review
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and War
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