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The Aspect #3
Chaos Risen
Chaos is burning through the world. An unnatural mist rises each and every night, and lurking within the vapours, the dead are being reborn into monstrosities.
At the centre of everything, Kehlem stands ready to protect those he holds closest, but with the Aspect changed forever, what hope is there for those who would rely on its power?
The Risen will come forth and taste of the flesh of Chaos.
Long Live Chaos.
Long Live the Dead.
Chaos Risen is the thrilling finale to volume I of the Aspect series.
At the centre of everything, Kehlem stands ready to protect those he holds closest, but with the Aspect changed forever, what hope is there for those who would rely on its power?
The Risen will come forth and taste of the flesh of Chaos.
Long Live Chaos.
Long Live the Dead.
Chaos Risen is the thrilling finale to volume I of the Aspect series.
- GenresFantasy
Unknown Binding
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 2, 2023
Chaos Risen blends all the best things from the first two instalments together to close out Volume 1 of The Aspect series with an absolute bang!
The best thing about this series for me is how each book got progressively darker, leading up to a straight-up horror fantasy blend in this final instalment. I think Holloway did a very good job of steadily amping up the horror and building up the suspense, which makes this story so unpredictable and refreshing. The magic here comes at such an incredibly high cost, and that really increased the stakes to thrillingly high levels.
The character development over the course of the series is also simply astounding. Looking back to the start of book 1, it’s almost inconceivable to imagine how these characters have progressed to this point, yet it feels earned and natural because we’ve been with them every painful step along the way. Mental health is a very big focus in this series, and I am super impressed with how well and authentically the author explored each character's individual struggles.
Kehlem is such a complex character and I like that Holloway took big risks with his character arc. Even thoguh some elements in his storyline were a bit too out there for me, I also think those risks really paid off in the end.
And I really appreciated that we got two additional perspectives from Eva and Ban in this instalment, because I think it would have been a LOT to constantly be in Kehlem’s head as he was slowly spiralling due to plot reasons.
Also, just a moment of praise for the female characters in this series, because they absolutely rock. Both Eva and Ban are very strong-willed and resilient, but in their own unique ways. And even though I sometimes felt like Ban acted unbelievably mature for her age, I also just can’t deny that I enjoyed her foul mouth and spitfire attitude a lot.
I think my only quibble with this series is that I wish it would have been a bit longer, as I personally found this finale to be a bit rushed in the end.
There are some awkward little time skips which made the pacing feel a bit rocky, and I think that ultimately just hindered my emotional investment. Also, the tense political situation, the development of the side characters, and the reveals about the magic all left me a bit wanting, which made some parts of the story fall flat for me personally.
That said, I still think it’s incredibly impressive how much the author was able to accomplish in three books that are all under 350 pages.
I really appreciate that Holloway took risks and didn’t pull any punches, because there were some twists and turns along the way which ended up landing a lot harder than I was expecting. The final few chapters were absolutely brutal and devastating in the best way possible, which allowed me to leave this arc of the series on a high note.
If you like your fantasy dark, fast-paced, character-driven, emotionally devastating, and with a good dose of horror elements blended in, then I can’t recommend The Aspect series highly enough.
The best thing about this series for me is how each book got progressively darker, leading up to a straight-up horror fantasy blend in this final instalment. I think Holloway did a very good job of steadily amping up the horror and building up the suspense, which makes this story so unpredictable and refreshing. The magic here comes at such an incredibly high cost, and that really increased the stakes to thrillingly high levels.
The character development over the course of the series is also simply astounding. Looking back to the start of book 1, it’s almost inconceivable to imagine how these characters have progressed to this point, yet it feels earned and natural because we’ve been with them every painful step along the way. Mental health is a very big focus in this series, and I am super impressed with how well and authentically the author explored each character's individual struggles.
Kehlem is such a complex character and I like that Holloway took big risks with his character arc. Even thoguh some elements in his storyline were a bit too out there for me, I also think those risks really paid off in the end.
And I really appreciated that we got two additional perspectives from Eva and Ban in this instalment, because I think it would have been a LOT to constantly be in Kehlem’s head as he was slowly spiralling due to plot reasons.
Also, just a moment of praise for the female characters in this series, because they absolutely rock. Both Eva and Ban are very strong-willed and resilient, but in their own unique ways. And even though I sometimes felt like Ban acted unbelievably mature for her age, I also just can’t deny that I enjoyed her foul mouth and spitfire attitude a lot.
I think my only quibble with this series is that I wish it would have been a bit longer, as I personally found this finale to be a bit rushed in the end.
There are some awkward little time skips which made the pacing feel a bit rocky, and I think that ultimately just hindered my emotional investment. Also, the tense political situation, the development of the side characters, and the reveals about the magic all left me a bit wanting, which made some parts of the story fall flat for me personally.
That said, I still think it’s incredibly impressive how much the author was able to accomplish in three books that are all under 350 pages.
I really appreciate that Holloway took risks and didn’t pull any punches, because there were some twists and turns along the way which ended up landing a lot harder than I was expecting. The final few chapters were absolutely brutal and devastating in the best way possible, which allowed me to leave this arc of the series on a high note.
If you like your fantasy dark, fast-paced, character-driven, emotionally devastating, and with a good dose of horror elements blended in, then I can’t recommend The Aspect series highly enough.
June 13, 2023
A huge thank you to the author for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 rounded up.
This is by far the strongest entry to the Aspect yet and I adored the horror elements that Holloway has incorporated into this installment.
The prose flows off the page so naturally it didn’t feel like I was reading at all, but consumed the story.
Review to come while I collect my thoughts because good golly … that ending.
4.5 rounded up.
This is by far the strongest entry to the Aspect yet and I adored the horror elements that Holloway has incorporated into this installment.
The prose flows off the page so naturally it didn’t feel like I was reading at all, but consumed the story.
Review to come while I collect my thoughts because good golly … that ending.
September 3, 2023
4/5
Mark Holloway’s The Aspect is without a doubt one of my favourite indie fantasy series currently. Every book has been a pleasure to read. Holloway’s ability to seamlessly transition between several different genres and blend them together is incredibly gifted. Each book in this series gets progressively darker with Chaos Risen by far the darkest yet. So much so that it outright becomes a fantasy horror story.
I have been consistently been impressed with so many different elements of Holloway’s writing ability. His prose is so refined and lyrical at times, his character work is raw, and the magic system of The Aspect is refreshingly original. However the man’s ability to write a powerful ending is the most impressive thing. Sanderson watch out, you have competition. Each book of The Aspect has these incredibly emotional and climactic endings that shakes up the story setting the stage for the books to come. The ending seen in Chaos Risen is perhaps my favourite, with Holloway setting up several different plot hooks as well a staggering twist that has massive implications for the rest of the series.
My only criticism this time around is that Chaos Risen is too short! Whilst there is very little fat, with everything feeling concise as well as the intense pacing we’ve seen throughout this series - Chaos Risen would have benefited from more pages to help better expand the scope of what was going on in this story, as well as more time dedicated to expanding its secondary characters who are being primed to become major characters themselves as the series progresses. With an extra 100 pages or so, this would have been my favourite of the series.
However, as usual when I write a review for this series; I implore all fantasy fans to check it out. Without a doubt one of the best indie fantasy series out there that all fantasy lovers should check out.
Mark Holloway’s The Aspect is without a doubt one of my favourite indie fantasy series currently. Every book has been a pleasure to read. Holloway’s ability to seamlessly transition between several different genres and blend them together is incredibly gifted. Each book in this series gets progressively darker with Chaos Risen by far the darkest yet. So much so that it outright becomes a fantasy horror story.
I have been consistently been impressed with so many different elements of Holloway’s writing ability. His prose is so refined and lyrical at times, his character work is raw, and the magic system of The Aspect is refreshingly original. However the man’s ability to write a powerful ending is the most impressive thing. Sanderson watch out, you have competition. Each book of The Aspect has these incredibly emotional and climactic endings that shakes up the story setting the stage for the books to come. The ending seen in Chaos Risen is perhaps my favourite, with Holloway setting up several different plot hooks as well a staggering twist that has massive implications for the rest of the series.
My only criticism this time around is that Chaos Risen is too short! Whilst there is very little fat, with everything feeling concise as well as the intense pacing we’ve seen throughout this series - Chaos Risen would have benefited from more pages to help better expand the scope of what was going on in this story, as well as more time dedicated to expanding its secondary characters who are being primed to become major characters themselves as the series progresses. With an extra 100 pages or so, this would have been my favourite of the series.
However, as usual when I write a review for this series; I implore all fantasy fans to check it out. Without a doubt one of the best indie fantasy series out there that all fantasy lovers should check out.
August 22, 2023
3.5/5
One of my favorite aspects of this series is how Holloway is able to play with different tones, as each book gradually becomes darker and darker. The first book was a relatively light read until the shocking ending, and that transitioned us into a darker read that was The Soul's Instrument's. With Chaos Risen, you could argue that this book was a horror novel, crafted with care and a desire to ruin the reader. It was dark, the pacing was relentless, and drew emotions from me that few books have.
It's hard to talk about this series without gushing about the magic system. I think it strikes that perfect line between being this hard and defined magic, versus a system that is completely up in the air. It really comes down to a "learn to control it, or become controlled by it" sort of system, leading to some exciting moments. Plus, the art of Aspecting itself is unique and well developed.
The characters were a mixed bag for me in this one, sadly. For the most part, we have alternating perspectives focused on two story lines; one focusing on Kehlem and Eva, and the other focus on Ban. These three are characters I have come to love, but sadly felt nothing for any of the new characters involved, specifically those on Ban's side of the story.
The plot was truly chaotic, but in a good way. I would say this is the most exciting of the three books, as the addition of the Risen (unique creatures that could have been pulled from the best horror movies) constantly keeps readers on their toes. I did end up with lots of questions regarding the Risen and the overall chaos, though this just leaves me eager for what comes next.
Like the previous two books, this story moves at a breakneck pace. While I loved that in the first two books, I do believe this one could have used a heavier page count to help with character development and where the plot headed. The ending was insane, but I felt that what got us there happened far too quickly, and I simply wasn't sold on some of the character decisions.
Holloway's writing has also improved, and it reads as though he has become much more confident. There were some great lines in this one, and I love the world that has been built, so I am excited to see what the future Aspect novels hold.
One of my favorite aspects of this series is how Holloway is able to play with different tones, as each book gradually becomes darker and darker. The first book was a relatively light read until the shocking ending, and that transitioned us into a darker read that was The Soul's Instrument's. With Chaos Risen, you could argue that this book was a horror novel, crafted with care and a desire to ruin the reader. It was dark, the pacing was relentless, and drew emotions from me that few books have.
It's hard to talk about this series without gushing about the magic system. I think it strikes that perfect line between being this hard and defined magic, versus a system that is completely up in the air. It really comes down to a "learn to control it, or become controlled by it" sort of system, leading to some exciting moments. Plus, the art of Aspecting itself is unique and well developed.
The characters were a mixed bag for me in this one, sadly. For the most part, we have alternating perspectives focused on two story lines; one focusing on Kehlem and Eva, and the other focus on Ban. These three are characters I have come to love, but sadly felt nothing for any of the new characters involved, specifically those on Ban's side of the story.
The plot was truly chaotic, but in a good way. I would say this is the most exciting of the three books, as the addition of the Risen (unique creatures that could have been pulled from the best horror movies) constantly keeps readers on their toes. I did end up with lots of questions regarding the Risen and the overall chaos, though this just leaves me eager for what comes next.
Like the previous two books, this story moves at a breakneck pace. While I loved that in the first two books, I do believe this one could have used a heavier page count to help with character development and where the plot headed. The ending was insane, but I felt that what got us there happened far too quickly, and I simply wasn't sold on some of the character decisions.
Holloway's writing has also improved, and it reads as though he has become much more confident. There were some great lines in this one, and I love the world that has been built, so I am excited to see what the future Aspect novels hold.
July 2, 2023
A must read series that I would recommend again and again.
It’s dark fantasy at its best, the descriptions are so vivid throughout that you forget you are reading and the story becomes scarily immersive. The dead not only rising but mutating is something out of a nightmare - not for the faint hearted. The mist is also so unnerving and one scene in particular is like something out of a Stephen King/James Herbert novel.
Be warned there is emotional damage incoming if you read this, despite the other two books in the series being somewhat heartbreaking I was still not prepared for it.
I love the magic system, the characters and the journey. The ending is sublime.
Thank you so much to the author for this series.
It’s dark fantasy at its best, the descriptions are so vivid throughout that you forget you are reading and the story becomes scarily immersive. The dead not only rising but mutating is something out of a nightmare - not for the faint hearted. The mist is also so unnerving and one scene in particular is like something out of a Stephen King/James Herbert novel.
Be warned there is emotional damage incoming if you read this, despite the other two books in the series being somewhat heartbreaking I was still not prepared for it.
I love the magic system, the characters and the journey. The ending is sublime.
Thank you so much to the author for this series.
July 8, 2023
A satisfying, heart-wrenching conclusion to a good trilogy, with some great themes and serious standout moments. Kehlem and Eva were fantastic as ever, and Ban was a good addition to the storyline overall. I was left with a lot more questions than answers by the end, which was good and bad in some ways, but it didn't dent my overall enjoyment of the characters and the finale to the Aspect series.
September 25, 2023
Done! A satisfying conclusion to the series. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the previous books but that last chapter hit me hard. A series you should definitely at a look at.
August 3, 2023
I am seriously holding back tears.
I’ll let this settle for a few days and then come back to give it a proper review, okay?🤧
I’ll let this settle for a few days and then come back to give it a proper review, okay?🤧
July 17, 2023
After reading Chaos Risen, The Aspect serie became the best series I've read this year and now it's one of my favourite series of all time, too!
It's really difficult to talk about its plot points without actually spoilering anything, so let me just say that the story is so gripping from the first page, it's very fast-paced and the third book is definitely the most action-packed installment. The whole atmosphere drastically shifted to a very dark tone. The world feels more brutal, more dangerous and chaos is truly rising.
The reasons why I love the series so much are the characters. They've changed so much throughout the series. I could feel their thoughts and emotions, and how the world affects them too. We get more POVs this time around, too, and all of the characters provided different perspectives of what's actually happening and how they adjust to that. My favourite character is definitely Eva.
And all of these is set in a very unique world with a unique magic system. You can either control this power or it can control you. Although many questions were answered regarding it, there is still so much to explore and explain in the upcoming books.
I'm glad that I discovered this gem and I can't wait for another book written by the author. Until then, I'm sure I'll re-read it a lot of times.
It's really difficult to talk about its plot points without actually spoilering anything, so let me just say that the story is so gripping from the first page, it's very fast-paced and the third book is definitely the most action-packed installment. The whole atmosphere drastically shifted to a very dark tone. The world feels more brutal, more dangerous and chaos is truly rising.
The reasons why I love the series so much are the characters. They've changed so much throughout the series. I could feel their thoughts and emotions, and how the world affects them too. We get more POVs this time around, too, and all of the characters provided different perspectives of what's actually happening and how they adjust to that. My favourite character is definitely Eva.
And all of these is set in a very unique world with a unique magic system. You can either control this power or it can control you. Although many questions were answered regarding it, there is still so much to explore and explain in the upcoming books.
I'm glad that I discovered this gem and I can't wait for another book written by the author. Until then, I'm sure I'll re-read it a lot of times.
October 14, 2023
Mark knocks it out of the park once again with this outstanding conclusion to the first trilogy in the Aspect Series.
Book 1 (and still possibly my fave), Mark demonstrates his ability to write incredible characters and relationships, along with astonishingly vivid and cosy worldbuilding.
In book 2 Mark shows more skill within plot writing as the story takes a darker turn.
In book 3 Mark masterfully crafts together both epic worldbuilding, characters you'd die for, and incredibly fast-paced plots to create the perfect story.
He weaves in some horror elements to book 3 which is both gruesome and un-put-downable - also perfect for a Halloweeny / winter read (thing mega mutant zombies)!
Be prepared he doesn't shy away from pain for the MCs and continues to follow in the footsteps of book 1 and 2 in that it will completely shatter your heart into a million pieces.
Mark is now an auto-buy author for me and I'm utterly obsessed with his stories. If you haven't read this series yet you are doing yourself a serious disservice. Please please please get yourself on this and come and join our #CultofChaos - you won't regret it.
Book 1 (and still possibly my fave), Mark demonstrates his ability to write incredible characters and relationships, along with astonishingly vivid and cosy worldbuilding.
In book 2 Mark shows more skill within plot writing as the story takes a darker turn.
In book 3 Mark masterfully crafts together both epic worldbuilding, characters you'd die for, and incredibly fast-paced plots to create the perfect story.
He weaves in some horror elements to book 3 which is both gruesome and un-put-downable - also perfect for a Halloweeny / winter read (thing mega mutant zombies)!
Be prepared he doesn't shy away from pain for the MCs and continues to follow in the footsteps of book 1 and 2 in that it will completely shatter your heart into a million pieces.
Mark is now an auto-buy author for me and I'm utterly obsessed with his stories. If you haven't read this series yet you are doing yourself a serious disservice. Please please please get yourself on this and come and join our #CultofChaos - you won't regret it.
December 5, 2024
Mark Holloway’s Chaos Risen, the third and final installment in The Soul’s Aspect series, brought this classic feeling epic dark fantasy saga to a close but, unfortunately, left me feeling disappointed. While the first two books competently balanced dark moments with glimmers of hope this concluding instalment of the series tipped the scales entirely toward despair. The result was a bleak, nihilistic story that lost much of what made the earlier instalments so compelling to read!
The plot picked up where The Soul’s Instruments left off plunging us into a world on the brink of destruction. Kehlem, our tortured protagonist, continued his desperate struggle to survive and protect those he loved in the face of the catastrophic Risen plague, the weird issues with the Aspect, and from the general awfulness of anyone who got near a position of power or influence in the kingdoms of Vin and Cassere. Kehlem’s love interest, Eva, remained a vital character who provided an emotional anchor for Kehlem in the midst of all the chaos. As the Risen (reanimated corpses that were reminiscent of the monsters found in Netflix K-Drama Sweet Home) ravaged the land their hopes dwindled. The story followed Kehlem’s efforts to survive and figure out how to rid the world of the Risen and fix the issues with the Aspect.
The Risen had been a shocking development at the end of the previous book but their lack of depth as antagonists ultimately made them less compelling than the villains of the first two books. The mindless, zombie-like creatures were relentless in their destruction, but their motivations were limited to their insatiable hunger for death and destruction, leaving little room for complexity or moral ambiguity. This lack of villainous nuance made them shitty antagonists. I guess they were definitely effective but just a bit dull.
Character development, which had been a strong suit in the first two books, suffered badly in this final installment. Kehlem, who had been the main character and one of the few characters easy to root for faced a tragic story arc that marked a definite downturn in the quality of the story. His love interest, Eva, also had a pretty brutal story arc. Meanwhile, Ban, a young woman who had been introduced in the second book, played a pivotal role here as both a POV character and a newfound Aspecter. Unfortunately, Ban’s character arc took a negative turn, and her development led to actions that were difficult to reconcile with the person she had once been. All in all pretty much every character had a crappy and unsatisfactory story arc in this one.
The conclusion of Chaos Risen offered a definitive resolution to the issues with the Risen and the mysterious problems with the Aspect, which had caused the loss of power among the Aspectors of old. The cause and problem of the Risen (the Aspect bleeding into the real world and granting powers to previously powerless individuals) was finally addressed. However, this resolution came with devastating consequences. The ending was undeniably bleak and nihilistic.
Time for a spoiler filled rant!
While Holloway’s world-building and writing remained solid the overall tone of the story felt overwhelmingly grim. The pacing, action sequences, and emotional stakes kept me turning pages but the relentless tragedy and nihilism made it difficult to engage with the resolution. By the end I was left feeling unsatisfied with the fate of the characters and world I had grown attached to over the course of the series.
All in all Chaos Risen delivered a definite ending but one that was far from satisfying. The focus on the Risen as the main antagonists, combined with the overwhelming bleakness of the tale and the irreversible character transformations, left me feeling emotionally drained and feeling ultimately disconnected from the world I had invested in. If a sequel appears I’m unlikely to be interested in continuing after the deeply unsatisfying conclusion to this series. Which is a real shame as the early books were some of the more enjoyable fantasy fare I’ve read so far in the 2020s.
Rating: 2.5 stars. The shitty ending really killed this one. It was GoT TV show bad.
Audio Note: Audio Note: This was narrated by Joel Jackson. He did OK with the audio but sounded a little lispy for my liking. I’ve gotten used to him over the course of the series.
The plot picked up where The Soul’s Instruments left off plunging us into a world on the brink of destruction. Kehlem, our tortured protagonist, continued his desperate struggle to survive and protect those he loved in the face of the catastrophic Risen plague, the weird issues with the Aspect, and from the general awfulness of anyone who got near a position of power or influence in the kingdoms of Vin and Cassere. Kehlem’s love interest, Eva, remained a vital character who provided an emotional anchor for Kehlem in the midst of all the chaos. As the Risen (reanimated corpses that were reminiscent of the monsters found in Netflix K-Drama Sweet Home) ravaged the land their hopes dwindled. The story followed Kehlem’s efforts to survive and figure out how to rid the world of the Risen and fix the issues with the Aspect.
The Risen had been a shocking development at the end of the previous book but their lack of depth as antagonists ultimately made them less compelling than the villains of the first two books. The mindless, zombie-like creatures were relentless in their destruction, but their motivations were limited to their insatiable hunger for death and destruction, leaving little room for complexity or moral ambiguity. This lack of villainous nuance made them shitty antagonists. I guess they were definitely effective but just a bit dull.
Character development, which had been a strong suit in the first two books, suffered badly in this final installment. Kehlem, who had been the main character and one of the few characters easy to root for faced a tragic story arc that marked a definite downturn in the quality of the story. His love interest, Eva, also had a pretty brutal story arc. Meanwhile, Ban, a young woman who had been introduced in the second book, played a pivotal role here as both a POV character and a newfound Aspecter. Unfortunately, Ban’s character arc took a negative turn, and her development led to actions that were difficult to reconcile with the person she had once been. All in all pretty much every character had a crappy and unsatisfactory story arc in this one.
The conclusion of Chaos Risen offered a definitive resolution to the issues with the Risen and the mysterious problems with the Aspect, which had caused the loss of power among the Aspectors of old. The cause and problem of the Risen (the Aspect bleeding into the real world and granting powers to previously powerless individuals) was finally addressed. However, this resolution came with devastating consequences. The ending was undeniably bleak and nihilistic.
Time for a spoiler filled rant!
While Holloway’s world-building and writing remained solid the overall tone of the story felt overwhelmingly grim. The pacing, action sequences, and emotional stakes kept me turning pages but the relentless tragedy and nihilism made it difficult to engage with the resolution. By the end I was left feeling unsatisfied with the fate of the characters and world I had grown attached to over the course of the series.
All in all Chaos Risen delivered a definite ending but one that was far from satisfying. The focus on the Risen as the main antagonists, combined with the overwhelming bleakness of the tale and the irreversible character transformations, left me feeling emotionally drained and feeling ultimately disconnected from the world I had invested in. If a sequel appears I’m unlikely to be interested in continuing after the deeply unsatisfying conclusion to this series. Which is a real shame as the early books were some of the more enjoyable fantasy fare I’ve read so far in the 2020s.
Rating: 2.5 stars. The shitty ending really killed this one. It was GoT TV show bad.
Audio Note: Audio Note: This was narrated by Joel Jackson. He did OK with the audio but sounded a little lispy for my liking. I’ve gotten used to him over the course of the series.
May 6, 2024
The story went to a lot more weirder direction than I could've guessed after finishing the book one; rather than going through the normal from village kid to the great hero way, the story ended up going into all kinds of dark places.
All in all, the whole series is very unique and original and I'm glad I gave it a try.
Looking forward to Mr. Holloway's future releases.
All in all, the whole series is very unique and original and I'm glad I gave it a try.
Looking forward to Mr. Holloway's future releases.
August 29, 2023
I really loved the first two books in this series so I was really looking forward to this. Unfortunately it did not hit the mark for me.
It felt...rushed. I feel like this could have easily been another 100 pages and also needed another round of editing as there were numerous grammatical errors.
I love the author's style of writing and especially how detailed he is when it comes to certain aspects. Some of the scenes in this book were almost on the level of horror and he did an amazing job in describing the monsters and the fight scenes. Which brings me to my next biggest issue with this book...
WARNING THIS NEXT PART IS A BIT OF A SPOILER>>>
There is a particular scene with one of the "Risen", a monstrous and terrifying creature that one of our characters needs to fight and kill to prove to her village that these beasts exist. In the process of fighting this creature she breaks her arm, and not just breaks her arm... the author describes in detail her forearm breaking and the bone sticking out. To the point where one of the other characters throws up. But she continues on and keeps fighting for her life with her one good arm. She is given some pain medicine to help but this effects her ability to use her magic as it dulls not only her pain but her mind. Fast forward and the beast is dead and they get back to the village and yada yada... NOT ONE MENTION OF HER BROKEN ARM EVER AGAIN!! She does multiple things around the village and all around and not once... not once is her broken arm mentioned again even though the BONE WAS STICKING OUT!! In the time and place of the book this would be a MAJOR setback for an individual. And if somehow it was healed with magic well than say so! But no one has healing magic anymore since the world is in chaos so I really do not think that was even plausible. How can you go into that much detail about a fight and an arm breaking that badly and then just forget in the next chapter???? It is mind blowing to me.
And I went back and re-read this chapter as well as the next chapter with her in it 3 times to see if I missed it. I missed nothing, cause nothing was there about her arm healing in any way or fashion.
Again it all felt rushed. Even without the broken arm mishap it really just missed the mark for me. In the first two books all the characters were so well developed that you felt connected with each of them. Here I just didn't care about any of them except Eva and Kehlem. Ban was too much for me in this book, which was maybe his point and I am ok with that. But the ending was too rushed and I was left feeling like I missed something.
It is just unfortunate cause I REALLY wanted to love this book like I loved the first two. This had amazing potential.
It felt...rushed. I feel like this could have easily been another 100 pages and also needed another round of editing as there were numerous grammatical errors.
I love the author's style of writing and especially how detailed he is when it comes to certain aspects. Some of the scenes in this book were almost on the level of horror and he did an amazing job in describing the monsters and the fight scenes. Which brings me to my next biggest issue with this book...
WARNING THIS NEXT PART IS A BIT OF A SPOILER>>>
There is a particular scene with one of the "Risen", a monstrous and terrifying creature that one of our characters needs to fight and kill to prove to her village that these beasts exist. In the process of fighting this creature she breaks her arm, and not just breaks her arm... the author describes in detail her forearm breaking and the bone sticking out. To the point where one of the other characters throws up. But she continues on and keeps fighting for her life with her one good arm. She is given some pain medicine to help but this effects her ability to use her magic as it dulls not only her pain but her mind. Fast forward and the beast is dead and they get back to the village and yada yada... NOT ONE MENTION OF HER BROKEN ARM EVER AGAIN!! She does multiple things around the village and all around and not once... not once is her broken arm mentioned again even though the BONE WAS STICKING OUT!! In the time and place of the book this would be a MAJOR setback for an individual. And if somehow it was healed with magic well than say so! But no one has healing magic anymore since the world is in chaos so I really do not think that was even plausible. How can you go into that much detail about a fight and an arm breaking that badly and then just forget in the next chapter???? It is mind blowing to me.
And I went back and re-read this chapter as well as the next chapter with her in it 3 times to see if I missed it. I missed nothing, cause nothing was there about her arm healing in any way or fashion.
Again it all felt rushed. Even without the broken arm mishap it really just missed the mark for me. In the first two books all the characters were so well developed that you felt connected with each of them. Here I just didn't care about any of them except Eva and Kehlem. Ban was too much for me in this book, which was maybe his point and I am ok with that. But the ending was too rushed and I was left feeling like I missed something.
It is just unfortunate cause I REALLY wanted to love this book like I loved the first two. This had amazing potential.
June 16, 2023
“Hair whiter than snow, in his eyes a bloody glow, red death within his hands, behind him a trail of woe.”
So here we are at the end of arc 1 of The Aspect series. This series quickly shot up to be one of my all time favourites, but it has to be emphasised that Chaos Risen is Holloway’s best work to date. Now it’s worth nothing I rated the first two books 5 stars, if I could I’d give this 6 stars because it improves on so many aspects of what made me fall in love with this series in the first place.
Where book 1 was character focussed and book 2 was more plot focused Chaos Risen balances the two perfectly making for a thoroughly enjoyable read. The plot is dark and gripping there are so many elements at play but at no point does it feel like the plot is meandering or confusing.
When you combine the plot with the phenomenal character work it’s the prefect recipe for Holloway to inflict sever levels of emotional damage onto the reader. I cared so much about Khelem and Eva they story caused me pain, Ban was one of my favourite characters but her arc was done so well I ended up hating her. I don’t think I’ll ever recover form the epilogue, when I finished the book I needed an hour just to be in my feelings because it got me that bad.
The biggest improvement for me came with the world building and the prose, Holloway’s writing has always been top notch but in Chaos Risen it’s just another level. The descriptions of the world itself, certain events and the creatures is so vivid it captivates completely. I was completely drawn in and never wanted to put the book down, and because I could see how short the chapters where on my Kindle I was constantly telling myself ‘you can fit one more in’.
I can’t wait to see what Holloway does next, 100% an auto buy author for me. I encourage anyone who like dark fantasy to pick up this series because it does not disappoint. However if you are sensitive to certain themes please check the trigger warnings for this series because it does touch on some very sensitive themes throughout.
So here we are at the end of arc 1 of The Aspect series. This series quickly shot up to be one of my all time favourites, but it has to be emphasised that Chaos Risen is Holloway’s best work to date. Now it’s worth nothing I rated the first two books 5 stars, if I could I’d give this 6 stars because it improves on so many aspects of what made me fall in love with this series in the first place.
Where book 1 was character focussed and book 2 was more plot focused Chaos Risen balances the two perfectly making for a thoroughly enjoyable read. The plot is dark and gripping there are so many elements at play but at no point does it feel like the plot is meandering or confusing.
When you combine the plot with the phenomenal character work it’s the prefect recipe for Holloway to inflict sever levels of emotional damage onto the reader. I cared so much about Khelem and Eva they story caused me pain, Ban was one of my favourite characters but her arc was done so well I ended up hating her. I don’t think I’ll ever recover form the epilogue, when I finished the book I needed an hour just to be in my feelings because it got me that bad.
The biggest improvement for me came with the world building and the prose, Holloway’s writing has always been top notch but in Chaos Risen it’s just another level. The descriptions of the world itself, certain events and the creatures is so vivid it captivates completely. I was completely drawn in and never wanted to put the book down, and because I could see how short the chapters where on my Kindle I was constantly telling myself ‘you can fit one more in’.
I can’t wait to see what Holloway does next, 100% an auto buy author for me. I encourage anyone who like dark fantasy to pick up this series because it does not disappoint. However if you are sensitive to certain themes please check the trigger warnings for this series because it does touch on some very sensitive themes throughout.
July 6, 2023
One of the pieces I have loved most about this series is the ability of each book to have a significant shift in tone while still feeling well connected to the other books in the series. Chaos Risen is no different, and as expected, this book was darker than the others.
Chaos Risen picks up just after the events at the end of The Soul's Instruments. We follow primarily Kehlem and Eva as well as Ban as they deal with the consequences of having the Aspect free within the world and the resulting changes in who has power. As with the previous installments, there is excellent character development across the book. The book is full of vivid imagery allowing me to easily picture the terrifying things that happened - including the Risen which are some of the most horrifying monsters I have encountered in a book.
The story is well paced as it moves between the various perspectives. The only reason, you might, like me, read it a bit more slowly is because you also are dreading what terrible things will happen to the characters leading to up to the end of this volume. Because realistically, after the last two books, you have to go into this expecting emotional damage by the end.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book.
Chaos Risen picks up just after the events at the end of The Soul's Instruments. We follow primarily Kehlem and Eva as well as Ban as they deal with the consequences of having the Aspect free within the world and the resulting changes in who has power. As with the previous installments, there is excellent character development across the book. The book is full of vivid imagery allowing me to easily picture the terrifying things that happened - including the Risen which are some of the most horrifying monsters I have encountered in a book.
The story is well paced as it moves between the various perspectives. The only reason, you might, like me, read it a bit more slowly is because you also are dreading what terrible things will happen to the characters leading to up to the end of this volume. Because realistically, after the last two books, you have to go into this expecting emotional damage by the end.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC of the book.
May 5, 2024
The Risen will come forth and taste of the flesh of Chaos.
Long Live Chaos.
Long Live the Dead.”
Overall I enjoyed the first two books more than Chaos Risen. The first book remains my absolute Favorite. That is not to say this isn’t a great book. If You like character driven books and if you like fantasy horror, there’s a great chance you’ll enjoy the his seriesz
Some parts Of Chaos Risen in particular felt like Horror for me. Nothing is predictable, the magic system and monsters are very fascinating. I loved Kehlem and Eva’s POV, but couldn’t get into Ban’s POV.
Maybe it felt a bit rushed for me:
I think Book 1 was my Favorite because of the school setting, and friendships with unexpected dark twists. Book 2 and Book 3, take a completely different setting which is not a bad thing but I enjoyed it slightly less.
Great Triology, will be reading more by the author
Long Live Chaos.
Long Live the Dead.”
Overall I enjoyed the first two books more than Chaos Risen. The first book remains my absolute Favorite. That is not to say this isn’t a great book. If You like character driven books and if you like fantasy horror, there’s a great chance you’ll enjoy the his seriesz
Some parts Of Chaos Risen in particular felt like Horror for me. Nothing is predictable, the magic system and monsters are very fascinating. I loved Kehlem and Eva’s POV, but couldn’t get into Ban’s POV.
Maybe it felt a bit rushed for me:
I think Book 1 was my Favorite because of the school setting, and friendships with unexpected dark twists. Book 2 and Book 3, take a completely different setting which is not a bad thing but I enjoyed it slightly less.
Great Triology, will be reading more by the author
June 30, 2024
This goes deeper into fantasy-horror than I usually like to go, but I was so invested in the story at this point that I didn't even care. Parts of this book were infuriating as I just wanted to scream at Ban especially -- but I don't mean infuriating in a bad way, rather to show that I was deep in my feelings about what was happening.
The only real complaint I have about this book, and the reason it's 4 stars instead of 5, is that the ending felt too rushed.
The only real complaint I have about this book, and the reason it's 4 stars instead of 5, is that the ending felt too rushed.
December 28, 2024
Another excellent book from Mark Holloway. This is one of my favourite series. This book is dark and gruesome. The relationships and emotions are intense.
I enjoyed that nothing was clear-cut or predictable. It felt real and raw. There continues to be complex relationships between characters, and intriguing world building.
This was a very enjoyable read.
I enjoyed that nothing was clear-cut or predictable. It felt real and raw. There continues to be complex relationships between characters, and intriguing world building.
This was a very enjoyable read.
July 15, 2024
Another corker from this author
August 14, 2023
Chaos Risen is a well-done end to the first arc. It brings the story full circle, while at the same time leaving enough open ends for the next instalment. The magic system is inventive, as are the sufficiently creepy Risen.
Fans of Dark Fantasy should definitely give this series a go.
Fans of Dark Fantasy should definitely give this series a go.
June 22, 2023
I was incredibly lucky to be sent an ARC of this to read but it's taken me a couple of weeks to be able to actually write a review that wasn't just a garbled WTF WOW and endless question marks! This installment is such a solid ending to the beginning trilogy of the saga. All the returning characters had their arcs fleshed out (or ended) in believable ways that - although I wasn't always happy with (Ban looking at you) they felt true to the characters and their motives were understandable. Kehlem and Eva's love story keeps trundling on alongside scenes of true horror - if you thought things at the end of book 2 weren't looking great, prepare yourself! New characters with questionable intentions and further expansion of the world previously built and twisted and how people continue to react to the events of previous books - in positive and negative ways. There are SOOOO many questions left unanswered, the story isn't finished in any way, shape or form - and even writing this before the actual release date I'm already looking forward to volume 2 and beyond!
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