Nick Child (Author of Realms Beyond)

Nick Child wants to read Everfont by Alexander Rob	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Nick Child is now following Damien Francis Author of The Tome Of Haren
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Nick Child is now following Alexander Rob Author of Land of the Ill-Imagined
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Nick Child rated a book it was amazing Land of the Ill-Imagined by Alexander Rob	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Every reader has an idea of the kind of book they enjoy. We gravitate toward particular genres, character types, or themes that we know will resonate with us. Sometimes we even judge a book by its cover or, more importantly, by the blurb on the back. ...more
Sep 10, 2025 12:03PM · like · see review
Nick Child rated a book it was amazing There Will be Thousands by Alexander Rob	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
In recent years there has been a glut of movies where the villain takes centre stage and the tale is retold from their perspective. I’m thinking of Cruella, Maleficent, and Wicked. What these all had in common, though, was that they made you like the ...more
Sep 10, 2025 12:02PM · 1 like · like · see review
Nick Child rated a book it was amazing The Tome Of Haren by Damien Francis (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Growing up in the seventies and eighties, I was drawn into fantasy through great series like The Belgariad, Dragonlance, and The Wheel of Time. One thing those classics all had in common was their focus on a group of heroes. While a single protagonis ...more
Sep 10, 2025 12:01PM · like · see review
Nick Child rated a book it was amazing The Tome Of Haren by Damien Francis (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Growing up in the seventies and eighties, I was drawn into fantasy through great series like The Belgariad, Dragonlance, and The Wheel of Time. One thing those classics all had in common was their focus on a group of heroes. While a single protagonis ...more
Sep 10, 2025 12:00PM · like · see review
Nick Child rated a book it was amazing Autolycus the thief: A Greek Myth Retelling by Michail Sidiropoulos	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Autolycus the Thief is a tale that immerses you in the world of Greek mythology. It tells the story of young Autolycus, from his upbringing to the birth of his son, Odysseus. As a lover of Greek myths, I eagerly ploughed through this book. Written ent ...more
Sep 08, 2025 02:37AM · like · see review
Nick Child rated a book really liked it THE BIG CRUNCH: Layered Resonance Theory: Move – Unite – Fragment — A Metaphysical Fiction (Exploring Ideas: The Mehmet Çalışkan Collection) by Mehmet Çalışkan (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
In Layered Resonance Theory, Caliskan takes on some big questions about the universe, time, matter, and existence. The book is split into short, engaging chapters, which makes it really easy to dip into without feeling overwhelmed. I think longer cha ...more
Sep 01, 2025 09:36AM · 1 like · like · see review
Nick Child is currently reading Land of the Ill-Imagined by Alexander Rob	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 28, 2025 05:30AM · like

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Everfont
by Alexander Rob

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Damien Francis

Author of The Tome Of Haren

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Alexander Rob

Author of Land of the Ill-Imagined

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Land of the Ill-Imagined
by Alexander Rob

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Every reader has an idea of the kind of book they enjoy. We gravitate toward particular genres, character types, or themes that we know will resonate with us. Sometimes we even judge a book by its cover or, more importantly, by the blurb on the back.
Every reader has an idea of the kind of book they enjoy. We gravitate toward particular genres, character types, or themes that we know will resonate with us. Sometimes we even judge a book by its cover or, more importantly, by the blurb on the back. If it echoes something familiar — a beloved author, a favourite trope, or a tone we recognise — we’re more likely to take it home. Personally, if I pick up a book that feels unlike anything I’ve read before, I tend to hesitate, worrying that I won’t connect with it. I know I’ve probably missed out on some brilliant stories because of this mindset.
But when reviewing for places like EpicIndie, you can’t afford to stick to narrow preferences. Being a reviewer means stepping beyond comfort zones, embracing the unexpected, and giving unusual books the chance to surprise you. The Land of the Ill-Imagined by Alexander Rob falls firmly into that category — a book that doesn’t just step outside traditional fantasy, but completely redefines it.
This is not a story set in a familiar medieval-style kingdom or a well-worn magical realm. Instead, Rob has created a world unlike anything I’ve encountered before. The central concept is ingenious: the land is populated by Thoughtlings, half-formed ideas conjured in someone’s imagination but never brought fully to life on the page. These discarded fragments of creativity inhabit a landscape of pure invention, and they are as bizarre and varied as you might expect. We meet six-foot owls, dragon alarm clocks, an axe-wielding bunny, gelatinous guards, and even a man who bakes pastries out of meat. The sheer strangeness of it all is disorienting at first, yet it’s this very originality that makes the book impossible to put down.
The protagonist, Pyrus, is himself a newcomer to the land. Through his eyes, we as readers experience the wonder, absurdity, and occasional horror of this world. A particularly clever device is the guidebook Pyrus receives upon arrival. Each chapter opens with snippets from this text, which both grounds the reader and provides playful, often humorous context for the bizarre things that follow. It’s a technique that reminded me of footnotes in Pratchett or Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy — equal parts explanation and entertainment.
What struck me most, however, was the contrast to Rob’s earlier work. Having read and enjoyed There Will Be Thousands — a bleak, brutal tale of crime and punishment — I was astonished by the tonal shift here. Where that novel was grim and unflinching, The Land of the Ill-Imagined is surreal, quirky, and oddly charming despite its occasional disturbing moments. It demonstrates Rob’s versatility as a writer; he can move from dark psychological territory to whimsical invention without losing his command of prose or pacing.
The writing itself is deceptively simple — clear, fluid, and easy to read. Yet beneath the surface there is careful control: moments of wild, chaotic imagination are balanced with quieter beats of reflection, giving the reader space to process the sheer strangeness of what’s unfolding. The pacing is tight and purposeful, with every chapter adding new layers to the world and deepening our connection with Pyrus’s journey.
I understand that The Land of the Ill-Imagined has been accepted for publication and is scheduled for release in October 2025. It’s easy to see why it was picked up. This is a wonderfully strange, inventive, and confidently told tale, one that proves Alexander Rob is not afraid to take creative risks. For readers willing to step outside the boundaries of conventional fantasy, this book is a rare treat. Rob has shown already that he can write dark, morally complex fiction; here, he demonstrates that he can also weave whimsy, satire, and surrealism into a narrative that feels wholly fresh.
In short, The Land of the Ill-Imagined is weird, witty, unsettling, and absolutely worth reading ...more

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There Will be Thousands
by Alexander Rob

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In recent years there has been a glut of movies where the villain takes centre stage and the tale is retold from their perspective. I’m thinking of Cruella, Maleficent, and Wicked. What these all had in common, though, was that they made you like the
In recent years there has been a glut of movies where the villain takes centre stage and the tale is retold from their perspective. I’m thinking of Cruella, Maleficent, and Wicked. What these all had in common, though, was that they made you like the antagonist. They made you feel sorry for them and relate to the choices they made that shaped the hero’s journey in the original version. Several books have done the same — Circe by Madeline Miller or Heartless by Marissa Meyer, for example. Instead of presenting the antagonist as flatly evil, these stories dive into their psychology, background, or social circumstances, making them sympathetic or at least understandable.
So, when I picked up There Will Be Thousands by Alexander Rob and read the blurb, I expected a tale in a similar vein. Sitter was a bandit and a slaver, and the choices he made were cruel and callous. When he himself is captured and enslaved, he is forced to face the reality of what his victims endured. It sounded as though the novel would be a dark twist on the same formula — a story designed to make me pity someone I would otherwise despise.
I started the book hesitantly. Firstly, I’ve never been much of a fan of first-person narratives, and secondly, I assumed I was about to be manipulated into excusing the inexcusable. What I found instead was a thoroughly engaging and unexpectedly gripping read. From the opening, you are thrown into the action as Sitter murders the men of a family and enslaves the women. It’s shocking and brutal, yet it pulls you in. Here is a character you detest — his actions are repulsive — yet there is a subtle hint that not all is as it seems.
As the book progresses, Alexander Rob masterfully reveals fragments of Sitter’s story. What are his motivations? Where did he come from? Where is his path leading? Every decision Sitter makes forces you to recoil at the harshness, yet through his eyes you begin to understand the logic behind them. Unlike the stories I mentioned earlier, There Will Be Thousands does not sugar-coat its protagonist’s crimes. The book never asks you to forgive Sitter — and it is only at the very end that you finally understand what drove him into a life of murder and enslavement. The effect is far more unsettling than the glossy “villain origin” tales we’ve become used to, because the moral greyness is never softened for comfort.
The reading experience is immersive and surprisingly addictive. The pacing is tight — every chapter seems to end with a revelation or decision that makes you want to continue — and the grim atmosphere lingers even when you put the book down. Rob’s prose is clean, vivid, and never overwrought; he gives you enough detail to paint the picture without drowning the reader in description. In There Will Be Thousands, Alexander Rob has crafted a dark, powerful, and original story. His prose is fluid and immersive, the world he builds vast yet tantalisingly glimpsed in fragments, leaving the reader eager for more. This is no children’s tale — it is grim, unflinching, and utterly compelling. Rob Alexander is a writer to watch; if his future work is as bold and uncompromising as this, readers are in for a treat. ...more

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The Tome Of Haren
by Damien Francis (Goodreads Author)

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Growing up in the seventies and eighties, I was drawn into fantasy through great series like The Belgariad, Dragonlance, and The Wheel of Time. One thing those classics all had in common was their focus on a group of heroes. While a single protagonis Growing up in the seventies and eighties, I was drawn into fantasy through great series like The Belgariad, Dragonlance, and The Wheel of Time. One thing those classics all had in common was their focus on a group of heroes. While a single protagonist might carry the story, it was the supporting cast that gave the adventure real heart. You became invested in each character’s fate — you knew that Tanis, Garion and Rand would be safe, but their companions were never guaranteed survival. I still remember the pain of Sturm Brightblade’s death in Dragons of Winter Night; I cried for days.
It’s been a long time since a cast of characters has gripped me with that same level of concern for their safety — until I read The Tome of Haren.
This is a mammoth book, weighing in at over a thousand pages. It could easily have been split into smaller novels. Multiple points of view are explored, though the story largely unfolds through Aeidor. He and his friends are orphans on the cusp of leaving the orphanage to begin their adult lives. Each has a clear path forward — except for Aeidor. That changes when legendary hero Cailad chooses him as an apprentice.
Aeidor is young, inexperienced, and still in training when he is thrust into a dangerous quest to recover the fabled Tome of Haren. The Tome may be the only hope of saving his homeland from invasion, and so a fellowship of legendary heroes is formed to undertake the perilous journey.
It’s here that the book truly shines. The group of companions is varied, with clashing personalities and complementary abilities, and you quickly become invested in their fates. The dangers they face feel real, and the sense that anyone could fall keeps the tension high. Their victories feel earned, their struggles believable, and their conversations often bring moments of humour or poignancy that balance the darker tones of the story.
The narrative also branches beyond the quest. We see how Aeidor’s fellow orphans fare as they pursue their chosen careers, each subplot woven seamlessly into the overarching tale. The effect reminded me of The Wheel of Time, where individual journeys develop separately but inevitably converge in an epic confrontation with evil. What I especially admired was how naturally these side stories flowed; they never felt like interruptions but rather enriched the world and made the stakes feel even larger.
The worldbuilding is rich and detailed, the characters feel authentic, and the threat of death hangs palpably over every page. Francis writes with a confidence and clarity that is rare for a debut — his prose is accessible yet vivid, and he knows how to balance description with action so the pace never drags for long. For a first novel, this is an astonishing achievement. The Tome of Haren rekindled my love for fantasy — something no mainstream release has managed to do in years. I could not put it down, and I am eagerly awaiting the next instalment.
There is really nothing negative to say about this book, except that it is a bit too long. It takes commitment to read a novel of this size, especially when the first hundred pages are spent setting the stage through multiple POVs. But believe me, the perseverance pays off — it’s a cracker. ...more

Nick Child rated a book it was amazing

The Tome Of Haren
by Damien Francis (Goodreads Author)

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Growing up in the seventies and eighties, I was drawn into fantasy through great series like The Belgariad, Dragonlance, and The Wheel of Time. One thing those classics all had in common was their focus on a group of heroes. While a single protagonis Growing up in the seventies and eighties, I was drawn into fantasy through great series like The Belgariad, Dragonlance, and The Wheel of Time. One thing those classics all had in common was their focus on a group of heroes. While a single protagonist might carry the story, it was the supporting cast that gave the adventure real heart. You became invested in each character’s fate — you knew that Tanis, Garion and Rand would be safe, but their companions were never guaranteed survival. I still remember the pain of Sturm Brightblade’s death in Dragons of Winter Night; I cried for days.
It’s been a long time since a cast of characters has gripped me with that same level of concern for their safety — until I read The Tome of Haren.
This is a mammoth book, weighing in at over a thousand pages. It could easily have been split into smaller novels. Multiple points of view are explored, though the story largely unfolds through Aeidor. He and his friends are orphans on the cusp of leaving the orphanage to begin their adult lives. Each has a clear path forward — except for Aeidor. That changes when legendary hero Cailad chooses him as an apprentice.
Aeidor is young, inexperienced, and still in training when he is thrust into a dangerous quest to recover the fabled Tome of Haren. The Tome may be the only hope of saving his homeland from invasion, and so a fellowship of legendary heroes is formed to undertake the perilous journey.
It’s here that the book truly shines. The group of companions is varied, with clashing personalities and complementary abilities, and you quickly become invested in their fates. The dangers they face feel real, and the sense that anyone could fall keeps the tension high. Their victories feel earned, their struggles believable, and their conversations often bring moments of humour or poignancy that balance the darker tones of the story.
The narrative also branches beyond the quest. We see how Aeidor’s fellow orphans fare as they pursue their chosen careers, each subplot woven seamlessly into the overarching tale. The effect reminded me of The Wheel of Time, where individual journeys develop separately but inevitably converge in an epic confrontation with evil. What I especially admired was how naturally these side stories flowed; they never felt like interruptions but rather enriched the world and made the stakes feel even larger.
The worldbuilding is rich and detailed, the characters feel authentic, and the threat of death hangs palpably over every page. Francis writes with a confidence and clarity that is rare for a debut — his prose is accessible yet vivid, and he knows how to balance description with action so the pace never drags for long. For a first novel, this is an astonishing achievement. The Tome of Haren rekindled my love for fantasy — something no mainstream release has managed to do in years. I could not put it down, and I am eagerly awaiting the next instalment.
There is really nothing negative to say about this book, except that it is a bit too long. It takes commitment to read a novel of this size, especially when the first hundred pages are spent setting the stage through multiple POVs. But believe me, the perseverance pays off — it’s a cracker. ...more

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Autolycus the thief by Michail Sidiropoulos

Autolycus the thief: A Greek Myth Retelling
by Michail Sidiropoulos

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Autolycus the Thief is a tale that immerses you in the world of Greek mythology. It tells the story of young Autolycus, from his upbringing to the birth of his son, Odysseus. As a lover of Greek myths, I eagerly ploughed through this book.

Written ent ...more

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THE BIG CRUNCH: Layered Resonance Theory: Move – Unite – Fragment — A Metaphysical Fiction (Exploring Ideas: The Mehmet Çalışkan Collection)
by Mehmet Çalışkan (Goodreads Author)

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In Layered Resonance Theory, Caliskan takes on some big questions about the universe, time, matter, and existence. The book is split into short, engaging chapters, which makes it really easy to dip into without feeling overwhelmed. I think longer cha ...more

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Land of the Ill-Imagined
by Alexander Rob

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	Realms Beyond: The Asanja Saga Book One 4.71 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2025 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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