Helpful Score: 3
Not really a fan of Fantasy, only got this book because it's one of my favorite authors James Clemens/James Rollins, same person. Since not a big fan of fantasy, this was a really great book. Started off fast, got my attention quick. I do think he went into too much detail about the little things, like describing a room or hallway way too much and just made the book that much longer. Interesting characters and magical powers/abilities great creatures and deamons. All in all this was very good and I'll be writing a review on the second book as well. Great read, recommend!
book one in a new fantasy series where gods are strong and terrible and the knights stalk the shadows.
Clemens crafted an incredible and unique fantasy world with an interesting and mysterious backstory that is a great take on the 'gods' and their powers and how they manifest on the mortal plane of existence. Well worth the read.
A really rape heavy story.
Our main hero Tylar is a crippled disgraced knight who starts the story saving a girl from being raped and as a result he is nearly raped himself. He then sees a god being killed and gains super powers which he uses to kill his attempted rapist.
Meanwhile our secondary hero is a young girl (virgin) who is raped. Her rapist is then killed by a dog that is powered by the blood released in her rape.
At one point Our hero is captured by an evil god who threatens to rape one of his virgin companions.
This isn't the only rapist god though. Near the end the main bad god is revealed to have raped one of his assistants. His seed burned her insides leaving a hollow shell that is used as a puppet.
You get the idea. That's not all that is wrong with the book though.
Other than all of the rape you also have other problems. There are characters from a foreign language that are used in the beginning of the book, but which is quickly abandoned. You have the most generic fantasy world ever complete with random monster encounters and airships. The political intrigue is badly done, and predictable. The main characters are 'cursed' with all powerful super powers that activate when they are hurt.
On the other hand I did finish the book, and I have read worse. It's something a young adult might have written plot wise, but the prose are good.
All in all? Meh.
Our main hero Tylar is a crippled disgraced knight who starts the story saving a girl from being raped and as a result he is nearly raped himself. He then sees a god being killed and gains super powers which he uses to kill his attempted rapist.
Meanwhile our secondary hero is a young girl (virgin) who is raped. Her rapist is then killed by a dog that is powered by the blood released in her rape.
At one point Our hero is captured by an evil god who threatens to rape one of his virgin companions.
This isn't the only rapist god though. Near the end the main bad god is revealed to have raped one of his assistants. His seed burned her insides leaving a hollow shell that is used as a puppet.
You get the idea. That's not all that is wrong with the book though.
Other than all of the rape you also have other problems. There are characters from a foreign language that are used in the beginning of the book, but which is quickly abandoned. You have the most generic fantasy world ever complete with random monster encounters and airships. The political intrigue is badly done, and predictable. The main characters are 'cursed' with all powerful super powers that activate when they are hurt.
On the other hand I did finish the book, and I have read worse. It's something a young adult might have written plot wise, but the prose are good.
All in all? Meh.
I've liked other books by Clemens (his W'itch novels) but I have to admit that I haven't read this one yet. Somehow I ended up with two copies, so I'm putting one up for grabs.
From back cover: Four millennia have passed since the gods came to Myrillia, creating the nine lands of peace as a haven from the nightmarish, accursed Hinterlands. In all this time nothing has disturbed the harmony of the nine lands. But now the goddess of the Summering Isles has been murdered. The only witness is Tylar de Noche, a crippled and disgraced former Shadowknight. As he holds the dying goddess, her last breath bestows a powerful blessing on him-a mark that heals his broken body. A mark that many see as proof that he killed a god. A mark that unleashes a powerful force of darkness within him. Chased across Myrillia by enemies both human and ethereal, Tylar must uncover and face down a being powerful enough to kill an immortal-the true godslayer. For if he fails, all of Myrillia will fall into shadow.
From back cover: Four millennia have passed since the gods came to Myrillia, creating the nine lands of peace as a haven from the nightmarish, accursed Hinterlands. In all this time nothing has disturbed the harmony of the nine lands. But now the goddess of the Summering Isles has been murdered. The only witness is Tylar de Noche, a crippled and disgraced former Shadowknight. As he holds the dying goddess, her last breath bestows a powerful blessing on him-a mark that heals his broken body. A mark that many see as proof that he killed a god. A mark that unleashes a powerful force of darkness within him. Chased across Myrillia by enemies both human and ethereal, Tylar must uncover and face down a being powerful enough to kill an immortal-the true godslayer. For if he fails, all of Myrillia will fall into shadow.
