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Dyscrasia Fiction #1
Lords of Dyscrasia
Lords of Dyscrasia explores the choices humans and their gods make as a disease corrupts their souls, shared blood and creative energies. Historically, dyscrasia referred to any imbalance of the four medicinal humors professed by the ancient Greeks to sustain life. Lords of Dyscrasia presents them as spiritual muses for artisans, sources of magical power, and contagions of a deadly disease.
Back cover: Dyscrasia plagues the insectan elders of the Underworld. Desperate to save them from extinction, the golem Doctor Grave infuses the soul of his dying Queen into the blood of a human artisan, Lord Ante Lysis. Her soul passes through Ante's blood into his offspring, thus the Lysis bloodline carries the diseased Queen's soul as the Doctor perfects the necromancy needed to resurrect her. But the last descendant of Ante is determined quench the Queen's soul, and journeys to the Underworld to do so...
Back cover: Dyscrasia plagues the insectan elders of the Underworld. Desperate to save them from extinction, the golem Doctor Grave infuses the soul of his dying Queen into the blood of a human artisan, Lord Ante Lysis. Her soul passes through Ante's blood into his offspring, thus the Lysis bloodline carries the diseased Queen's soul as the Doctor perfects the necromancy needed to resurrect her. But the last descendant of Ante is determined quench the Queen's soul, and journeys to the Underworld to do so...
270 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2011
5 people are currently reading
1417 people want to read
About the author
S.E. Lindberg
22 books209 followersS.E. Lindberg resides near Cincinnati, Ohio working as a microscopist, employing his skills as a scientist and artist to understand the manufacturing of products analogous to medieval paints. Two decades of practicing chemistry, combined with a passion for the Sword and Sorcery genre, spurred him to write Lords of Dyscrasia, a graphic adventure fictionalizing the alchemical humors. The dark saga continues with Helen's Daimones (cover art by Daniel Landerman) and Spawn of Dyscrasia (cover art by Ken Kelly).
New to the series? Start with the novella Helen's Daimones.
He also publishes with Persied Press in their Heroes in Hell series (Pirates in Hell, Lovers in Hell) and Heroika 1: Dragon Eaters. All contributions are inspired by alchemy.
S.E. Lindberg co-moderates a Goodreads group focused on Sword & Sorcery and invites you to participate (link).
Dyscrasia Fiction on youtube
S E Lindberg Author Blog
New to the series? Start with the novella Helen's Daimones.
He also publishes with Persied Press in their Heroes in Hell series (Pirates in Hell, Lovers in Hell) and Heroika 1: Dragon Eaters. All contributions are inspired by alchemy.
S.E. Lindberg co-moderates a Goodreads group focused on Sword & Sorcery and invites you to participate (link).
Dyscrasia Fiction on youtube
S E Lindberg Author Blog
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 27, 2018
Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
“Have you ever dreamt? At night, with your eyes closed?... Then you know that even with eyes closed, even in complete darkness, your mind can fill a frame for you, your soul, to observe and experience – a stage with color and atmosphere are as realistic as the visions you perceive while awake. This is how we Elders and the undead see, for we look at the world through an astral plane congruent with physical reality, where emotions are tangible shapes, and hopes, fears, and regrets collect themselves into transparent auras.”
A deadly disease of the blood known only as dyscrasia is infecting the insectan elders inhabiting the Underworld. The only one who can save them is a golem necromancer by the name of Doctor Grave. By preserving the soul of his dead Queen and merging it with the souls of the lords of the Lysis clan, Grave buys himself enough time to complete the rituals and obtain the powers and skills needed to resurrect her. But as the time draws near, the last surviving lord, Endenken Lysis, embarks upon a quest of his own.
The world-building seems a bit hurried, and suffers from the fact that the book is very short. The setting itself, however, is remarkably interesting. From the depths of the Underworld Forge to the peaks of Gravenstyne Fortress, S.E. Lindberg has managed to create a world of insects and huge birds, of harrowing diseases and rampaging hordes of undead. I would have very much liked to see what this world be like if it were much larger and more developed. But based on what we get to see here, I am quite impressed by this particular aspect.
The characters are a bunch of strange folks. No heroes, no villains and no clichés. Here is Endenken Lysis, last surviving lord of the Lysis clan and on a desperate quest for vengeance. Here is Doctor Grave, the golem necromantic surgeon whose life is devoted to the revival of his monarch. Here is Dey the artist, his mother Maeve, and Cypria and Haemarr, the last Elders of the avian and insectan races. There are not many characters appearing in the book, and few of them are above average, but overall they are quite an enjoyable bunch.
The storyline itself is where the book suffers. It fails to engage the reader, at least in my case. I was and still am very interested in the setting, and occasionally in some of the characters and their motivations, but the story was unfortunately not quite enough to make the book as good as it could have been. At times it was interesting enough, but often it was a bit boring, and while the book as a whole was rather good, this pulls it down a notch.
Under the title on the cover of the book, it says 'Graphic Sword & Sorcery', and this is indeed something like a midway point between a novel and a graphic novel. The pages are filled with sketches vividly portraying the scenes already described in writing. None of the artwork is particularly remarkable, but it does add something to the book that it could not have achieved by itself.
What is left to say is that Lords of Dyscrasia is a very well thought-out, and surprisingly innovative book. It's difficult to find any works of fantasy to compare it with, mostly because it avoids common tropes, and instead works on finding a way of its own. The main theme is the exploration of choices made by mortals and gods alike, and the consequences they have, something that is very well executed. It is pulled down by elements of plot, characterisation and world-building, but in the end it was an enjoyable read which made me interested about reading more from this world and this author. I would recommend it to everyone who wants a different fantasy experience.
“Have you ever dreamt? At night, with your eyes closed?... Then you know that even with eyes closed, even in complete darkness, your mind can fill a frame for you, your soul, to observe and experience – a stage with color and atmosphere are as realistic as the visions you perceive while awake. This is how we Elders and the undead see, for we look at the world through an astral plane congruent with physical reality, where emotions are tangible shapes, and hopes, fears, and regrets collect themselves into transparent auras.”
A deadly disease of the blood known only as dyscrasia is infecting the insectan elders inhabiting the Underworld. The only one who can save them is a golem necromancer by the name of Doctor Grave. By preserving the soul of his dead Queen and merging it with the souls of the lords of the Lysis clan, Grave buys himself enough time to complete the rituals and obtain the powers and skills needed to resurrect her. But as the time draws near, the last surviving lord, Endenken Lysis, embarks upon a quest of his own.
The world-building seems a bit hurried, and suffers from the fact that the book is very short. The setting itself, however, is remarkably interesting. From the depths of the Underworld Forge to the peaks of Gravenstyne Fortress, S.E. Lindberg has managed to create a world of insects and huge birds, of harrowing diseases and rampaging hordes of undead. I would have very much liked to see what this world be like if it were much larger and more developed. But based on what we get to see here, I am quite impressed by this particular aspect.
The characters are a bunch of strange folks. No heroes, no villains and no clichés. Here is Endenken Lysis, last surviving lord of the Lysis clan and on a desperate quest for vengeance. Here is Doctor Grave, the golem necromantic surgeon whose life is devoted to the revival of his monarch. Here is Dey the artist, his mother Maeve, and Cypria and Haemarr, the last Elders of the avian and insectan races. There are not many characters appearing in the book, and few of them are above average, but overall they are quite an enjoyable bunch.
The storyline itself is where the book suffers. It fails to engage the reader, at least in my case. I was and still am very interested in the setting, and occasionally in some of the characters and their motivations, but the story was unfortunately not quite enough to make the book as good as it could have been. At times it was interesting enough, but often it was a bit boring, and while the book as a whole was rather good, this pulls it down a notch.
Under the title on the cover of the book, it says 'Graphic Sword & Sorcery', and this is indeed something like a midway point between a novel and a graphic novel. The pages are filled with sketches vividly portraying the scenes already described in writing. None of the artwork is particularly remarkable, but it does add something to the book that it could not have achieved by itself.
What is left to say is that Lords of Dyscrasia is a very well thought-out, and surprisingly innovative book. It's difficult to find any works of fantasy to compare it with, mostly because it avoids common tropes, and instead works on finding a way of its own. The main theme is the exploration of choices made by mortals and gods alike, and the consequences they have, something that is very well executed. It is pulled down by elements of plot, characterisation and world-building, but in the end it was an enjoyable read which made me interested about reading more from this world and this author. I would recommend it to everyone who wants a different fantasy experience.
February 1, 2015
Buddy Read with Markus
The one thing that scares me the most in the world are wasp. I have a phobia of wasp, and when I have nightmares its either about wasp or zombies. Something about a humans coming back to life scares the fuck out of me, and I've had my share of horrible experiences with wasp. I've been stung over five times, most of them in the face or hands. Wasp follow me every where...when I'm looking over my shoulder it isn't to make sure I'm being followed by a person but by a wasp. I swear I can hear them coming a mile away and to mess up my day, my cousin will send me pictures of wasp. Not nice. So when there was mentions of wasp I was a little hesitant..then I got more into the book and they are EVERYWHERE! This in no way messed with the way I rated the book. I just had to work through the goosebumps and the chills down my spine. OH GAH, I'm getting them right now.
The story was original, the world was freakishly dark, weird and this felt more like horror than dark fantasy. There are insects, which I like except WASP!, and birds, which I really like. All sorts of demons and ghost like creatures, this book is on a whole other level with the creatures. The problem I had was the way the book read. At times I was so confused and I had to go back and reread to understand where I was and what was going on. It felt forced at time and I couldn't get a hold of the story, but then there were gems likes this..
and this
There aren't any heroes in this book, no morals and lots of blood and I like my dark fantasy that way, but I think it needed better character development and a clearer story.
The one thing the author wanted my opinion on is the art work. I'm a graphic designer by day. I work with images, create illustrations, develop color method and moods. I work with many programs, when to college for this and I'm not saying that I'm the authority on art but I know good art when I see it, and I know when someone created something in photoshop with filter and brushes. This art work was created in that way, and in my line of work I am trained to see that, but I have seen many artist use it and are successful using those settings. These images are dark and eerie but too heavy on overlays and layers and especially with the beveled or embossing filters. It doesn't do much for the image but date it.
The textured filter placed over the image does nothing for the image.
Images like this one work much better. It still has the dark feel to it but simple and clean. I'm not sure if these images were created in color then changed to greyscale, but working the hues while in greyscale can drastically change the image. Not only would the images work better but there would be no need for all the other filters, layers, textures and brushes.
One of my pet-peeves is using the "old paper" as a way of demonstrating sketches. Sometimes it is successful and other times not so much but I've let it go. I can't in this book.
These sketches are way too big for this "old paper", and if you want it to look more like a sketch use those drawings as overlays or even hardlights. It may work but would still look forced and I just prefer the artist to draw it on paper and upload them. Old looking paper can be bought at any craft store, sketched on, and scan them in and only using Photoshop to add text. Also, the old paper looks pixelated. Not sure if it was taken from the internet, if so the dpi in that image would probably be 72 and when adding other images to an image that's already 72 dpi image, it will only degrade the pixelation even more and give it the fuzzy look it has going on. One can tell on the edges of an image, or the outline of the drawing that the pixelation is degrading. Unless the blur tool was used, and it's normally used to hide the pixelation but only makes it worse.
Another thing I highly recommend is hiring an illustrator. They don't charge much and with these drawings they would have an idea of where to start and how to go about creating these images and they would know how to upload them to be high quality images. Now, I gave the images a half star because of the effort. I know for a fact these images took some time, even if filters and brushes were used, but that still doesn't make them amazing images. They are good, but not great. The only thing they add is a darker sense to the book and maybe that's the goal but they just didn't do much for me.
I want to learn more about this world because the concept is so good and has much potential and hopefully Spawn of Dyscrasia is much better.
"Fathered by the He-wasp and by a man who decieved,
Mating the She-bird formerly free,
The gallwraiths and chromantis now fly,
Spewed from Her stone womb,
Wings shrouding all in shadow's hue,
Seeking, ever seeking, their mother
Fevered with dyscrasia,
The gallwraiths and chromantis now sail,
O'er the Land that pitch bleeds,
Feeding on color and beauty,
Seeking comfort through consumption,
Peace through melancholy,
Seeking, ever seeking, their mother"
The one thing that scares me the most in the world are wasp. I have a phobia of wasp, and when I have nightmares its either about wasp or zombies. Something about a humans coming back to life scares the fuck out of me, and I've had my share of horrible experiences with wasp. I've been stung over five times, most of them in the face or hands. Wasp follow me every where...when I'm looking over my shoulder it isn't to make sure I'm being followed by a person but by a wasp. I swear I can hear them coming a mile away and to mess up my day, my cousin will send me pictures of wasp. Not nice. So when there was mentions of wasp I was a little hesitant..then I got more into the book and they are EVERYWHERE! This in no way messed with the way I rated the book. I just had to work through the goosebumps and the chills down my spine. OH GAH, I'm getting them right now.
The story was original, the world was freakishly dark, weird and this felt more like horror than dark fantasy. There are insects, which I like except WASP!, and birds, which I really like. All sorts of demons and ghost like creatures, this book is on a whole other level with the creatures. The problem I had was the way the book read. At times I was so confused and I had to go back and reread to understand where I was and what was going on. It felt forced at time and I couldn't get a hold of the story, but then there were gems likes this..
"Red Lysis flexed his skeleton, his joints spewing black, pluming coughs, his bones glowing as embers, and his hair wrapped into antlers that sharpened with every wisp and tongue of flame. A flashing brilliant ruby he burned! And his ribs expelled torrents of ashen black debris and vomited a smoldering, dead hive that had been his heart. As the hive contacted the earth, it emptied petrified wasps that fractured like fragile statues of spent coal. Haemarr and his minions were no longer alive."
and this
"She sucked blood as it gushed from a decapitated boy. Her wings remained furled behind her like a plumed, elegant robe. Thus exposed, her iridescent skin and peaked breast glistened beneath the sun while blood ran in rivulets down her belly. her arched legs exaggerated her royal grace and drew one's eye away from her taloned, pronged feet and her twisted fingernails and toward her beckoning hips."
There aren't any heroes in this book, no morals and lots of blood and I like my dark fantasy that way, but I think it needed better character development and a clearer story.
The one thing the author wanted my opinion on is the art work. I'm a graphic designer by day. I work with images, create illustrations, develop color method and moods. I work with many programs, when to college for this and I'm not saying that I'm the authority on art but I know good art when I see it, and I know when someone created something in photoshop with filter and brushes. This art work was created in that way, and in my line of work I am trained to see that, but I have seen many artist use it and are successful using those settings. These images are dark and eerie but too heavy on overlays and layers and especially with the beveled or embossing filters. It doesn't do much for the image but date it.
The textured filter placed over the image does nothing for the image.
Images like this one work much better. It still has the dark feel to it but simple and clean. I'm not sure if these images were created in color then changed to greyscale, but working the hues while in greyscale can drastically change the image. Not only would the images work better but there would be no need for all the other filters, layers, textures and brushes.
One of my pet-peeves is using the "old paper" as a way of demonstrating sketches. Sometimes it is successful and other times not so much but I've let it go. I can't in this book.
These sketches are way too big for this "old paper", and if you want it to look more like a sketch use those drawings as overlays or even hardlights. It may work but would still look forced and I just prefer the artist to draw it on paper and upload them. Old looking paper can be bought at any craft store, sketched on, and scan them in and only using Photoshop to add text. Also, the old paper looks pixelated. Not sure if it was taken from the internet, if so the dpi in that image would probably be 72 and when adding other images to an image that's already 72 dpi image, it will only degrade the pixelation even more and give it the fuzzy look it has going on. One can tell on the edges of an image, or the outline of the drawing that the pixelation is degrading. Unless the blur tool was used, and it's normally used to hide the pixelation but only makes it worse.
Another thing I highly recommend is hiring an illustrator. They don't charge much and with these drawings they would have an idea of where to start and how to go about creating these images and they would know how to upload them to be high quality images. Now, I gave the images a half star because of the effort. I know for a fact these images took some time, even if filters and brushes were used, but that still doesn't make them amazing images. They are good, but not great. The only thing they add is a darker sense to the book and maybe that's the goal but they just didn't do much for me.
I want to learn more about this world because the concept is so good and has much potential and hopefully Spawn of Dyscrasia is much better.
August 26, 2020
A very intriguing series beginning! Lords of Dyscrasia by S.E. Lindberg reminds me of a Lovecraft/Moorcock lovechild, a sentence that sounds more profane than intended.
The language is intentionally archaic, setting a tone that marries perfectly with the macabre subject matter of a nobility in the throes of insectine disease. The prose is definitely dense and takes some getting used to. It can slow a reader down, which for me was the book's biggest detraction. One might say it's a distraction, since the erudite language evokes ancient imagery and scenes of horror and disgust too vivid not to picture in one's mind, thus drawing the reader away from the story and slowing down the reading process. But this is one of those complaints that I'll live with, because of the unique experience of delving into such a vibrant world...even if all of its walls are painted in blood.
I loved that this is an epic fantasy and yet there aren't any dragons or wizard schools or played out courtly dramas herein. This is epic in a Dante sense. You plummet with the characters into a devil's playground, a nine pits of Hell kind of world where all the players are dead, dying or parading about in the flayed flesh of the fallen. This is full-length Lovecraft. This is completely unveiled Old Testament.
There are some moody illustrations to go along with Lords of Dyscrasia. I just wish I wasn't trying to view them on my janky old b&w kindle. Let's see if I can't find some examples online...
After finishing half the book on kindle, I got my hands on an audio version and I'm glad I did. The narrator, Thomas B. Hackett is fantastic! I went back and re-listened to some of the book I'd already read and enjoyed the re-read even more, then finished up the book in a whirlwind of pleasure!
The language is intentionally archaic, setting a tone that marries perfectly with the macabre subject matter of a nobility in the throes of insectine disease. The prose is definitely dense and takes some getting used to. It can slow a reader down, which for me was the book's biggest detraction. One might say it's a distraction, since the erudite language evokes ancient imagery and scenes of horror and disgust too vivid not to picture in one's mind, thus drawing the reader away from the story and slowing down the reading process. But this is one of those complaints that I'll live with, because of the unique experience of delving into such a vibrant world...even if all of its walls are painted in blood.
I loved that this is an epic fantasy and yet there aren't any dragons or wizard schools or played out courtly dramas herein. This is epic in a Dante sense. You plummet with the characters into a devil's playground, a nine pits of Hell kind of world where all the players are dead, dying or parading about in the flayed flesh of the fallen. This is full-length Lovecraft. This is completely unveiled Old Testament.
There are some moody illustrations to go along with Lords of Dyscrasia. I just wish I wasn't trying to view them on my janky old b&w kindle. Let's see if I can't find some examples online...
After finishing half the book on kindle, I got my hands on an audio version and I'm glad I did. The narrator, Thomas B. Hackett is fantastic! I went back and re-listened to some of the book I'd already read and enjoyed the re-read even more, then finished up the book in a whirlwind of pleasure!
Read
June 24, 2015No rating from me, since I'm the author. I use this platform to communicate that the Lords of Dyscrasia Audiobook (2015) was just released with narration by Englishman Thomas B. Hackett. While I am here, I'll summarize other people's reviews:
"Pulp fantasy for the horror fan!"Looking for unique horror? Beware, Lords of Dyscrasia is dark. How dark? "...This is, without a doubt, the darkest book I've ever read. I don't have any problem with those sorts of things normally, but this was on a whole other level of twisted evilness. Murder, rape, cannibalism, drinking blood, necrophilia, necrophagia, demonic possession…” writes a disturbed reader.
Foreword Reviews (J. G. Stinson 2011) raves: 5/5 stars "[Lords of Dyscrasia]... highly recommended, though not for the faint of heart... The pace is nearly breathless... makes the majority of current popular fantasy fiction read like recipes..."
Joe Bonadonna, Black Gate contributor & Author, 2015 raves: "Lindberg is the real deal, a gifted writer with a strong command of language, and a soaring talent that stretches beyond the verbal: he illustrates his novel with his own wild and weird and excellent drawings. If you like action-packed dark fantasy with bizarre settings, an original premise and clever twist, then add this one to your Must Read List."
Dyscrasia Fiction explores the choices humans and their gods make as a disease corrupts their souls, shared blood and creative energies. Historically, dyscrasia referred to any imbalance of the four medicinal humors professed by the ancient Greeks to sustain life. Lords of Dyscrasia presents them as spiritual muses for artisans, sources of magical power, and contagions of a deadly disease.
Enjoy the Underworld! Cheers, S.E. Lindberg
Audiobook Sample
Video Trailer
S E Lindberg Author Blog
S.E. Lindberg co-moderates a Goodreads group focused on Sword & Sorcery and invites you to participate.
"Pulp fantasy for the horror fan!"Looking for unique horror? Beware, Lords of Dyscrasia is dark. How dark? "...This is, without a doubt, the darkest book I've ever read. I don't have any problem with those sorts of things normally, but this was on a whole other level of twisted evilness. Murder, rape, cannibalism, drinking blood, necrophilia, necrophagia, demonic possession…” writes a disturbed reader.
Foreword Reviews (J. G. Stinson 2011) raves: 5/5 stars "[Lords of Dyscrasia]... highly recommended, though not for the faint of heart... The pace is nearly breathless... makes the majority of current popular fantasy fiction read like recipes..."
Joe Bonadonna, Black Gate contributor & Author, 2015 raves: "Lindberg is the real deal, a gifted writer with a strong command of language, and a soaring talent that stretches beyond the verbal: he illustrates his novel with his own wild and weird and excellent drawings. If you like action-packed dark fantasy with bizarre settings, an original premise and clever twist, then add this one to your Must Read List."
Dyscrasia Fiction explores the choices humans and their gods make as a disease corrupts their souls, shared blood and creative energies. Historically, dyscrasia referred to any imbalance of the four medicinal humors professed by the ancient Greeks to sustain life. Lords of Dyscrasia presents them as spiritual muses for artisans, sources of magical power, and contagions of a deadly disease.
Enjoy the Underworld! Cheers, S.E. Lindberg
Audiobook Sample
Video Trailer
S E Lindberg Author Blog
S.E. Lindberg co-moderates a Goodreads group focused on Sword & Sorcery and invites you to participate.
February 10, 2017
Know yourself.
Never has a saying been so profoundly true than in one man’s quest to find his place and that special “something” that will bring meaning to his life.
Endenken Lysis is lord of Clan Lysis, inheritor of a proud family lineage that will entail his blending to a godlike creature known as the Muse. Doing so will seal his fate and take away any control he has over his destiny, for only his family stand any hope of ending a blight that destroys the land – Dyscrasia – a disease that warps the soul as it mutates the body.
Regardless, Endenken yearns to be more than a glorified puppet, and the mere thought of submitting himself and his descendants to another meaningless cycle of shattered dreams and inconsequence are more than he can bear. So he rebels, throwing his family and the future into chaos.
Lords of Dyscrasia…
Follow one man’s adventure as he makes a choice, and is then forced to suffer the bitter consequences in a litany of pain and suffering.
Yet hope remains, for his journey into the Underworld Forge is one that grants him both knowledge and experience; discernment and an awakening of purpose; of seeing what lies beneath the façade of what he thought was real. Most of all, it’s a rite of passage.
Containing rich descriptive prose and textured language, I thoroughly enjoyed the ethereal web that Lindberg manages to weave about you in creating Gravenstyne, the Cromlechon and all the Otherworld delights you come across as Endenken’s fate unfolds. You’ll find the gothically evocative style something that provides the perfect template to let your imagination unfurl.
Know yourself.
Will YOU accept the invitation?
Never has a saying been so profoundly true than in one man’s quest to find his place and that special “something” that will bring meaning to his life.
Endenken Lysis is lord of Clan Lysis, inheritor of a proud family lineage that will entail his blending to a godlike creature known as the Muse. Doing so will seal his fate and take away any control he has over his destiny, for only his family stand any hope of ending a blight that destroys the land – Dyscrasia – a disease that warps the soul as it mutates the body.
Regardless, Endenken yearns to be more than a glorified puppet, and the mere thought of submitting himself and his descendants to another meaningless cycle of shattered dreams and inconsequence are more than he can bear. So he rebels, throwing his family and the future into chaos.
Lords of Dyscrasia…
Follow one man’s adventure as he makes a choice, and is then forced to suffer the bitter consequences in a litany of pain and suffering.
Yet hope remains, for his journey into the Underworld Forge is one that grants him both knowledge and experience; discernment and an awakening of purpose; of seeing what lies beneath the façade of what he thought was real. Most of all, it’s a rite of passage.
Containing rich descriptive prose and textured language, I thoroughly enjoyed the ethereal web that Lindberg manages to weave about you in creating Gravenstyne, the Cromlechon and all the Otherworld delights you come across as Endenken’s fate unfolds. You’ll find the gothically evocative style something that provides the perfect template to let your imagination unfurl.
Know yourself.
Will YOU accept the invitation?
October 15, 2023
I can't honestly say that reading this book was pleasant. There's too much blood for me, too much casual death.
So why five stars?
Most contemporary fantasy seems to be written in the same literary style as realistic fiction. Reading contemporary fantasy, you could be reading Tom Clancy, except there are wizards and stuff. The dialogue is idiomatically modern and conversational (or at least is intended to be), the setting is concrete, consistent, and detailed, and the action is narrated to maximize clarity and realism. In other words, you're supposed to be able to visualize real people like yourself really doing and saying the things you're reading. Moreover, the moral landscape of a lot of these stories is painfully unsubtle.
I am sick of benign stories told in banal prose.
This book is not like that. The dialogue is elevated and somewhat archaic. Narration is elaborate and evocative rather than simply descriptive. The characters are emotionally distant, the setting is eerie, and the action is surreal. The story seems allegorical, but in a hazy or cryptic way that I can't decipher.
I don't think the torrent of blood and gore helps the story. But I'm giving the book a lot of latitude due to its stylistic originality.
So why five stars?
Most contemporary fantasy seems to be written in the same literary style as realistic fiction. Reading contemporary fantasy, you could be reading Tom Clancy, except there are wizards and stuff. The dialogue is idiomatically modern and conversational (or at least is intended to be), the setting is concrete, consistent, and detailed, and the action is narrated to maximize clarity and realism. In other words, you're supposed to be able to visualize real people like yourself really doing and saying the things you're reading. Moreover, the moral landscape of a lot of these stories is painfully unsubtle.
I am sick of benign stories told in banal prose.
This book is not like that. The dialogue is elevated and somewhat archaic. Narration is elaborate and evocative rather than simply descriptive. The characters are emotionally distant, the setting is eerie, and the action is surreal. The story seems allegorical, but in a hazy or cryptic way that I can't decipher.
I don't think the torrent of blood and gore helps the story. But I'm giving the book a lot of latitude due to its stylistic originality.
May 11, 2021
LORDS OF DYSCRASIA is a starkly original fantasy epic steeped in horror and weirdness.
The thing I love most about the fantasy genre is its limitless potential. The thing I hate most about the fantasy genre is how little this potential is actually used. Let’s face it, most fantasy authors are simply copyists, slavishly aping either Howard, Tolkein, or more recently Martin. Most fantasy worlds are generic and uninspired, and seem merely to have been cobbled together from the refuse of someone’s high school D&D campaign. Sorting through this dross in search of something truly original often feels exhausting, depressing, even infuriating. Nonetheless, the search pays off when you find something like LORDS OF DYSCRASIA.
LORDS OF DYSCRASIA is truly unique and deeply, deeply weird. Reading it means being immersed in a different reality, one with all the exquisite newness and strange deja vu you might find in a dream. The narrator does little to handhold you through the weirdness either, and parts of the story are beautifully elliptical. The imagery is baroque, eldritch, and horrifying. Here we find the magic wombs of divine and undying insectoid matriarchs used as forges infernal; sentient fogs from which mutilated bodies dangle like gems on a crystal chandelier; crowds of worshippers whose pierced bodies are linked by bloody strands of musically vibrating thread. The rich imagery is everywhere present, as is an atmosphere of deep and uncompromising horror. There is a coldness to the tale, a menacing inhumanity that denies the reader even the most fleeting sense of comfort in its depths. To add to this effect, many of the protagonists are inhuman, and even the mortal ones move through strange states of undeath and deific possession. Nevertheless, their motives are always deeply human, even archetypal – the need for knowledge, the desire for revenge, the urge to be united with a loved one. These classic motives make even the weirdest characters relatable, and link them into an intricate tale of mythical dimensions, filled with treachery, irony, and ominous coincidence. Dread gods manipulate mortal fates, creating a family saga to rival that of the Volsungs or the Atreidae.
If I have any criticisms of LORDS OF DYSCRASIA, it is that the narrative can be so esoteric, so weird, so relentlessly rich in its otherworldly visuals, that it can at times feel alienating. Then again, this is perhaps part of the book’s unique charm and personality. One more definite criticism: there are too many adverbs for my liking, though that is of course a matter of style. Overall I loved the book, and I can even see myself reading it again so I can pour over all the rich descriptions of weird monsters and undead abominations. The visual nature of LORDS OF DYSCRASIA would make it an excellent candidate for adaptation into a graphic medium, especially a comic or video game.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series and I urge anyone who likes truly weird and innovative fantasy to give it a try.
The thing I love most about the fantasy genre is its limitless potential. The thing I hate most about the fantasy genre is how little this potential is actually used. Let’s face it, most fantasy authors are simply copyists, slavishly aping either Howard, Tolkein, or more recently Martin. Most fantasy worlds are generic and uninspired, and seem merely to have been cobbled together from the refuse of someone’s high school D&D campaign. Sorting through this dross in search of something truly original often feels exhausting, depressing, even infuriating. Nonetheless, the search pays off when you find something like LORDS OF DYSCRASIA.
LORDS OF DYSCRASIA is truly unique and deeply, deeply weird. Reading it means being immersed in a different reality, one with all the exquisite newness and strange deja vu you might find in a dream. The narrator does little to handhold you through the weirdness either, and parts of the story are beautifully elliptical. The imagery is baroque, eldritch, and horrifying. Here we find the magic wombs of divine and undying insectoid matriarchs used as forges infernal; sentient fogs from which mutilated bodies dangle like gems on a crystal chandelier; crowds of worshippers whose pierced bodies are linked by bloody strands of musically vibrating thread. The rich imagery is everywhere present, as is an atmosphere of deep and uncompromising horror. There is a coldness to the tale, a menacing inhumanity that denies the reader even the most fleeting sense of comfort in its depths. To add to this effect, many of the protagonists are inhuman, and even the mortal ones move through strange states of undeath and deific possession. Nevertheless, their motives are always deeply human, even archetypal – the need for knowledge, the desire for revenge, the urge to be united with a loved one. These classic motives make even the weirdest characters relatable, and link them into an intricate tale of mythical dimensions, filled with treachery, irony, and ominous coincidence. Dread gods manipulate mortal fates, creating a family saga to rival that of the Volsungs or the Atreidae.
If I have any criticisms of LORDS OF DYSCRASIA, it is that the narrative can be so esoteric, so weird, so relentlessly rich in its otherworldly visuals, that it can at times feel alienating. Then again, this is perhaps part of the book’s unique charm and personality. One more definite criticism: there are too many adverbs for my liking, though that is of course a matter of style. Overall I loved the book, and I can even see myself reading it again so I can pour over all the rich descriptions of weird monsters and undead abominations. The visual nature of LORDS OF DYSCRASIA would make it an excellent candidate for adaptation into a graphic medium, especially a comic or video game.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series and I urge anyone who likes truly weird and innovative fantasy to give it a try.
May 3, 2016
This is kind of hard book for me to review. There was a lot I liked and a lot I thought could use improvement.
The story is strikingly original, pretty much completely incomparable to work from any other author I've read. The story uses some genre tropes well known to fantasy, like fairies, golems and sorcery etc. but even these are interpreted in a new light. The story ultimately revolves around a few specific themes, art, science, culture/religion and a twisted form of family devotion.
The story is generally dark, even horror influenced I would say, but it doesn't really remind me of dark fantasy works like those of Cook, Wagner or Erikson. What this story reminded me most of, almost on a subconscious level more than anything on the surface, was not another book but rather a video game; the original Diablo. The story was so dark, and nearly hopeless (I almost wonder if/how mankind is even in existence in this world) that it just felt like I was descending deeper and deeper into darkness and despair while reading it. I would say it has some gory aspects to it, but I felt very little shock while reading it. Which unfortunately was a bit of a detriment for me. I may be reading about dismemberment, infanticide or cannibalism, but it felt more like I was just being told about it instead of shown it. At times it made it hard for me to imagine a scene, though the art throughout did aid in that aspect. Nonetheless I think a stronger use of imagery I think would have aided in this aspect. The art itself is actually drawn by the author himself, and his art style succeeds in at once adding to the darkness, yet the impreciseness (and even the suggestion that these are quick sketches and not complete likeness) of his style doesn't detract from whatever imagined scene one has in their head.
Structurally Lords of Dyscrasia switched back and forth between first and third person. The third generally representing one character's story and the first representing another (though the stories are connected and analogous). Though I had no issues with this structure itself I found the first person view I worked best and added a certain extra emotional depth that I felt the third person parts were missing. I also felt like the story lacked a bit of tension, suspense and mystery. I rarely wondered what would happen next, I just kept reading more or less just accepting everything as I went, but not necessarily hungering for more.
The prose of Lords of Dyscrasia varied, I found some of it, especially the dialogue and discourse between characters to be somewhat wooden, yet at the same time the subject matter and themes (disease, chemistry, and art) added a beautifully dark aspect and a unique set of word choices not seen in any other fantastic works. I also appreciate the use of verse poetry and song smattered throughout the story, an aspect often missing in modern works of fantasy (and something I love from works of old).
I think was the greatest success of Lords of Dyscrasia is the complete ability to envelope it's reader in darkness. A bit of a bumpy ride at times, but surprisingly professionally executed for an author's first novel especially one independently published (very little grammatical, spelling or structure issues). I didn't love, but I did like it and especially appreciate it for it's uniqueness. 3/5
The story is strikingly original, pretty much completely incomparable to work from any other author I've read. The story uses some genre tropes well known to fantasy, like fairies, golems and sorcery etc. but even these are interpreted in a new light. The story ultimately revolves around a few specific themes, art, science, culture/religion and a twisted form of family devotion.
The story is generally dark, even horror influenced I would say, but it doesn't really remind me of dark fantasy works like those of Cook, Wagner or Erikson. What this story reminded me most of, almost on a subconscious level more than anything on the surface, was not another book but rather a video game; the original Diablo. The story was so dark, and nearly hopeless (I almost wonder if/how mankind is even in existence in this world) that it just felt like I was descending deeper and deeper into darkness and despair while reading it. I would say it has some gory aspects to it, but I felt very little shock while reading it. Which unfortunately was a bit of a detriment for me. I may be reading about dismemberment, infanticide or cannibalism, but it felt more like I was just being told about it instead of shown it. At times it made it hard for me to imagine a scene, though the art throughout did aid in that aspect. Nonetheless I think a stronger use of imagery I think would have aided in this aspect. The art itself is actually drawn by the author himself, and his art style succeeds in at once adding to the darkness, yet the impreciseness (and even the suggestion that these are quick sketches and not complete likeness) of his style doesn't detract from whatever imagined scene one has in their head.
Structurally Lords of Dyscrasia switched back and forth between first and third person. The third generally representing one character's story and the first representing another (though the stories are connected and analogous). Though I had no issues with this structure itself I found the first person view I worked best and added a certain extra emotional depth that I felt the third person parts were missing. I also felt like the story lacked a bit of tension, suspense and mystery. I rarely wondered what would happen next, I just kept reading more or less just accepting everything as I went, but not necessarily hungering for more.
The prose of Lords of Dyscrasia varied, I found some of it, especially the dialogue and discourse between characters to be somewhat wooden, yet at the same time the subject matter and themes (disease, chemistry, and art) added a beautifully dark aspect and a unique set of word choices not seen in any other fantastic works. I also appreciate the use of verse poetry and song smattered throughout the story, an aspect often missing in modern works of fantasy (and something I love from works of old).
I think was the greatest success of Lords of Dyscrasia is the complete ability to envelope it's reader in darkness. A bit of a bumpy ride at times, but surprisingly professionally executed for an author's first novel especially one independently published (very little grammatical, spelling or structure issues). I didn't love, but I did like it and especially appreciate it for it's uniqueness. 3/5
November 21, 2017
A truly operatic dark tale in a uniquely structured setting. Illustrations, appendices and maps help unravel the world-building even more. The writing evoked the dreadful beauty and heroic despair, of the Weird Tales authors of Sword & Sorcery, especially Clark Aston Smith.
April 24, 2017
3 1/2 stars.
review to come.
review to come.
November 7, 2014
Lords of Dyscrasia: Darkly bold and literate fantasy -1st in a series
S.E. Lindberg leads us on an amazing adventure into character and danger with his first in a series, "Lords of Dyscrasia." Lindberg's work is dark, violent; sometimes beautiful, sometimes lyrical; always thoughtfully written. For an emerging writer, Lindberg takes many chances, and almost always succeeds. He is a more thoughtful writer than many, exploring the psyches of humans and their gods. Lindberg is a chemist, and in this story disease corrupts the the characters and their faith in themselves and one another. I loved it, but I am hesitant to characterize it. Is Lords of Dyscrasia it high fantasy, heroic fantasy? You decide.
A dyscrasia is a term the ancient Greeks used to describe imbalance of the four humors needed for life. In Lords of Dyscrasia, these medicinal or physical humors manifest as muses for artisans, dispensers of magical power, and the manifestations of disease. Lindberg twists this sophisticated ancient construct into an unexpected shape, as is his wont.
Lindberg is a bold and literate guide to a uniquely-imagined world, with a deep love for fantasy conventions and equally for surprises. When the soul of a dying queen becomes infused into the blood of a human artisan, the soul of the queen passes through his blood and into his offspring, preserving the bloodline... I'll say no more about Ante and the adventures swirling around him.
As I said, Lindberg takes chances; he's full of energy that infuses this book with passion. The raw power of story, when mixed with a literate intelligence and a taste for beauty, make this writer one to read early and follow on his quest for perfection. I can't wait to see what Lindberg does next, in Spawn of Dyscrasia... although I think I have an inkling....
-- Janet Morris
S.E. Lindberg leads us on an amazing adventure into character and danger with his first in a series, "Lords of Dyscrasia." Lindberg's work is dark, violent; sometimes beautiful, sometimes lyrical; always thoughtfully written. For an emerging writer, Lindberg takes many chances, and almost always succeeds. He is a more thoughtful writer than many, exploring the psyches of humans and their gods. Lindberg is a chemist, and in this story disease corrupts the the characters and their faith in themselves and one another. I loved it, but I am hesitant to characterize it. Is Lords of Dyscrasia it high fantasy, heroic fantasy? You decide.
A dyscrasia is a term the ancient Greeks used to describe imbalance of the four humors needed for life. In Lords of Dyscrasia, these medicinal or physical humors manifest as muses for artisans, dispensers of magical power, and the manifestations of disease. Lindberg twists this sophisticated ancient construct into an unexpected shape, as is his wont.
Lindberg is a bold and literate guide to a uniquely-imagined world, with a deep love for fantasy conventions and equally for surprises. When the soul of a dying queen becomes infused into the blood of a human artisan, the soul of the queen passes through his blood and into his offspring, preserving the bloodline... I'll say no more about Ante and the adventures swirling around him.
As I said, Lindberg takes chances; he's full of energy that infuses this book with passion. The raw power of story, when mixed with a literate intelligence and a taste for beauty, make this writer one to read early and follow on his quest for perfection. I can't wait to see what Lindberg does next, in Spawn of Dyscrasia... although I think I have an inkling....
-- Janet Morris
October 4, 2012
I was pleasantly shocked by the story. If you are looking for something different to read, I suggest that you pick this book up. It is gory and I winced a few times but it was definitely different. I enjoyed the way that the story glued together at the end. Sometimes, destiny happens no matter how hard you try to avoid it.
There are several key characters that come into play in this story. I felt for one of of the characters because, no matter how hard he tried, he still messed everything up. One poor character was just a pawn in a twisted game and it was sad how he was treated. I will read this book again sometime in the future, so I rated it four stars.
There are several key characters that come into play in this story. I felt for one of of the characters because, no matter how hard he tried, he still messed everything up. One poor character was just a pawn in a twisted game and it was sad how he was treated. I will read this book again sometime in the future, so I rated it four stars.
May 18, 2015
S.E. Lindberg is an original voice in fantasy. His prose is lush and colorful, and his style leans toward that of classic literature, without being stilted, self-conscious or pretentious. He has a gift for putting words “down on paper” and constructing sentences that flow with a poetic nuance. Lords of Dyscrasia (an abnormal or disordered state of the body or of a bodily part) is touted as “Graphic Sword and Sorcery,” but to me it has more in common with the dark fantasy of Clark Ashton Smith and the gothic tones of Mervyn Peake’s first two Gormenghast books. There is some nice Lovecraftian shading to this novel, as well, with a touch of Edgar Allen Poe to lend it a feverishness of tone, and even a psychedelic flavor in style. While Lindberg channels his influences with a deft hand, he has mapped out a beautifully grotesque world that is truly his own unique creation. This book was described to me as being part of the Grimdark subgenre of dark fantasy, and it is indeed a grim, dark tale.
Lindberg’s “dyscrasia” is a really nasty plague — a disease of the blood that has infected the insectoid and avian elder lords of the Underworld. The disease also affects pregnant human women, who give birth to mutants — hybrids of human and elders — if they don’t die during pregnancy, that is. The lords of the Underworld are also on the verge of extinction: their Queen is dying. In order to save the elders, a golem named Doctor Grave injects the soul of the Queen into the blood of a human aristocrat, Lord Lysis, who then passes her soul onto his descendants. As a result, they can only mate with those who share their blood and the disease.
Now the main character of the story is Lord Endeken, last descendant of Lysis, and he desires to marry a woman who is not of his bloodline. The Picti are Endeken’s people, and they worship the elder gods of the Underworld, but he doesn’t. He refutes his birthright and rebels against the religious practices of his people, which puts the curse of the plague on their realm of Gravenstyne. What happens next is the story of a man whose choices destroy not only his people, but all that he loves and holds dear. Seeking his revenge against gods and shades of the dead, he passes through death and enters the Underworld. And everything revolving around Endeken is orchestrated by the mysterious Doctor Grave, who has his own plans and his own purpose.
This is a complex and well-written novel, very difficult to describe. The settings and the atmosphere are rich in color and texture, and story’s pace is almost relentless: it rushes along like a bullet train, with very few stops along the way. Although Lysis Endeken is the main character, it is the weird and wonderful Doctor Grave who really rises above all others. He is a very cool and unique creation, and I found myself more interested in him than I did for Endeken’s quest and what happened to him along the way. For me, Endeken wasn’t fleshed out enough, and I never felt anything for him, couldn’t relate to him. On the other hand, Doctor Grave emerges as a strong and sympathetic character, and he is far more interesting than Endeken. The golem comes across as being more human than does the human character.
I think what’s missing here are some quieter, more reflective moments. The human drama is often slighted in favor of action scenes and a fast-paced narrative. There is a lack of insightful and character-revealing dialogue, too — dialogue that could convey information and move the story along in ways that exposition can’t always do. I wanted and needed more character interplay, especially between Endeken and his family; so little time is spent with them. I think Lindberg should have gone deeper into their relationships, their lives, and given us a real sense of family so that when events unfold, we really feel for these characters and for Endeken in particular. This is my take on it, at any rate.
That being said, this is still a wondrous reading experience. I believe this is Lindberg’s first novel, and it’s an impressive one. He knows what he’s doing, and I have a feeling that he’s grown as a writer, and has mastered the art of pace, dialogue and character since this book was published four years ago. Lindberg is the real deal, a gifted writer with a strong command of language, and a soaring talent that stretches beyond the verbal: he illustrates his novel with his own wild and weird and excellent drawings. If you like action-packed dark fantasy with bizarre settings, an original premise and clever twist, then add this one to your Must Read List.
Lindberg’s “dyscrasia” is a really nasty plague — a disease of the blood that has infected the insectoid and avian elder lords of the Underworld. The disease also affects pregnant human women, who give birth to mutants — hybrids of human and elders — if they don’t die during pregnancy, that is. The lords of the Underworld are also on the verge of extinction: their Queen is dying. In order to save the elders, a golem named Doctor Grave injects the soul of the Queen into the blood of a human aristocrat, Lord Lysis, who then passes her soul onto his descendants. As a result, they can only mate with those who share their blood and the disease.
Now the main character of the story is Lord Endeken, last descendant of Lysis, and he desires to marry a woman who is not of his bloodline. The Picti are Endeken’s people, and they worship the elder gods of the Underworld, but he doesn’t. He refutes his birthright and rebels against the religious practices of his people, which puts the curse of the plague on their realm of Gravenstyne. What happens next is the story of a man whose choices destroy not only his people, but all that he loves and holds dear. Seeking his revenge against gods and shades of the dead, he passes through death and enters the Underworld. And everything revolving around Endeken is orchestrated by the mysterious Doctor Grave, who has his own plans and his own purpose.
This is a complex and well-written novel, very difficult to describe. The settings and the atmosphere are rich in color and texture, and story’s pace is almost relentless: it rushes along like a bullet train, with very few stops along the way. Although Lysis Endeken is the main character, it is the weird and wonderful Doctor Grave who really rises above all others. He is a very cool and unique creation, and I found myself more interested in him than I did for Endeken’s quest and what happened to him along the way. For me, Endeken wasn’t fleshed out enough, and I never felt anything for him, couldn’t relate to him. On the other hand, Doctor Grave emerges as a strong and sympathetic character, and he is far more interesting than Endeken. The golem comes across as being more human than does the human character.
I think what’s missing here are some quieter, more reflective moments. The human drama is often slighted in favor of action scenes and a fast-paced narrative. There is a lack of insightful and character-revealing dialogue, too — dialogue that could convey information and move the story along in ways that exposition can’t always do. I wanted and needed more character interplay, especially between Endeken and his family; so little time is spent with them. I think Lindberg should have gone deeper into their relationships, their lives, and given us a real sense of family so that when events unfold, we really feel for these characters and for Endeken in particular. This is my take on it, at any rate.
That being said, this is still a wondrous reading experience. I believe this is Lindberg’s first novel, and it’s an impressive one. He knows what he’s doing, and I have a feeling that he’s grown as a writer, and has mastered the art of pace, dialogue and character since this book was published four years ago. Lindberg is the real deal, a gifted writer with a strong command of language, and a soaring talent that stretches beyond the verbal: he illustrates his novel with his own wild and weird and excellent drawings. If you like action-packed dark fantasy with bizarre settings, an original premise and clever twist, then add this one to your Must Read List.
August 10, 2012
"Just be mindful to sacrifice your dark emotions whence you arrive. Your soul will pale. The hue of your memories will desaturate. You will be cleansed. Protected."
This is a story of a man who worked to free himself from a lineage of bondage. He starts with simply denying the Rite of Inheritance of his forefathers, and soon finds himself undead and clothed in the skin of his enemies.
For this is the land of the Lords of Dyscrasia, a land where blood and ichor color the landscape.
Reanimation, specters and murderers are ever-present here, as are the traces of insectan elders and terrible harpies. They battle for the supremacy of their masters, fueled by contempt and guilty memories. They fill your senses with sanguine touches, and they haunt your soul with unforgiving murmurs.
I would definitely say that this is unique. I haven't read a lot of this genre, of speculative/horror/gore, but I must say that I had quite an enjoyable ramble as I walked through a world where I could sink my feet in bloodied pools or rotten corpses.
While this is not a book for the sick of heart, it is a fairly great story told by quite a technical hand. You have to be rather good at context clues (but it wouldn't be a problem if you're paying enough attention), but the details are consistent, surprising, shocking. I had some problems with the storytelling (rather confusing at times), but I'm sure that some details may be bypassed while still enjoying the story. The unraveling of the plot itself, however, was pretty good. The little details were significant too, which surprised me as I went along.
(Oh, and just to add: I absolutely loved Dey's parts. I liked this young artist of a man, with his sketches and searches for pigment. Bonus points for Dey!)
If you have no qualms reading dark fantasy (and feeling as if you've bathed in blood), pick up this book and enjoy. Come, the Lords of Dyscrasia are beckoning, calling you to claim your nightmares.
[ Note: I think this is more of a 3.5-3.75 for me, really... So I'll peg this at 4, to be generous ;) ]
This is a story of a man who worked to free himself from a lineage of bondage. He starts with simply denying the Rite of Inheritance of his forefathers, and soon finds himself undead and clothed in the skin of his enemies.
For this is the land of the Lords of Dyscrasia, a land where blood and ichor color the landscape.
Reanimation, specters and murderers are ever-present here, as are the traces of insectan elders and terrible harpies. They battle for the supremacy of their masters, fueled by contempt and guilty memories. They fill your senses with sanguine touches, and they haunt your soul with unforgiving murmurs.
I would definitely say that this is unique. I haven't read a lot of this genre, of speculative/horror/gore, but I must say that I had quite an enjoyable ramble as I walked through a world where I could sink my feet in bloodied pools or rotten corpses.
While this is not a book for the sick of heart, it is a fairly great story told by quite a technical hand. You have to be rather good at context clues (but it wouldn't be a problem if you're paying enough attention), but the details are consistent, surprising, shocking. I had some problems with the storytelling (rather confusing at times), but I'm sure that some details may be bypassed while still enjoying the story. The unraveling of the plot itself, however, was pretty good. The little details were significant too, which surprised me as I went along.
(Oh, and just to add: I absolutely loved Dey's parts. I liked this young artist of a man, with his sketches and searches for pigment. Bonus points for Dey!)
If you have no qualms reading dark fantasy (and feeling as if you've bathed in blood), pick up this book and enjoy. Come, the Lords of Dyscrasia are beckoning, calling you to claim your nightmares.
[ Note: I think this is more of a 3.5-3.75 for me, really... So I'll peg this at 4, to be generous ;) ]
June 4, 2015
This book is not like any other I've read. It's weird and complex and graphic.....Seth Lindberg has an attention to detail that speaks volumes about his chosen profession and skills. You have to pay attention while reading it and for me, it was easier to read it in chunks rather than all the way through.
There is an interesting take on the concept of blood: the power in the blood, power of the blood, the Gods' need of it, and the inheritance that is passed through the blood from one generation to the next. These concepts are present in many of the ancient religions, especially those that demand sacrifice. Christianity itself speaks of the 'blood of the lamb'. But in this book the concepts are combined and articulated in a manner that arouses the true horror in believing in blood as atonement, as an offering to a deity and as a substance to be bargained or taken by force.
A good question is also raised: are our lives destined by fate or by choice? If there are beings deciding our lives and we choose to defy them, then can we ever truly circumvent fate? After all, they do not have our interests in mind. This book does not shy away from that: it shows the eldritch gods as they would be.
Who would this book appeal to? Someone whose tastes is not limited to stories with characters that are easily identifiable as good/evil and doesn't mind a story that is richer in exploring concepts than following a predictable plot.Someone who reads Dunsany (particularly The Gods of Pegana), George MacDonald, Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros, and Micheal Moorcroft would probably
enjoy this book.
There is an interesting take on the concept of blood: the power in the blood, power of the blood, the Gods' need of it, and the inheritance that is passed through the blood from one generation to the next. These concepts are present in many of the ancient religions, especially those that demand sacrifice. Christianity itself speaks of the 'blood of the lamb'. But in this book the concepts are combined and articulated in a manner that arouses the true horror in believing in blood as atonement, as an offering to a deity and as a substance to be bargained or taken by force.
A good question is also raised: are our lives destined by fate or by choice? If there are beings deciding our lives and we choose to defy them, then can we ever truly circumvent fate? After all, they do not have our interests in mind. This book does not shy away from that: it shows the eldritch gods as they would be.
Who would this book appeal to? Someone whose tastes is not limited to stories with characters that are easily identifiable as good/evil and doesn't mind a story that is richer in exploring concepts than following a predictable plot.Someone who reads Dunsany (particularly The Gods of Pegana), George MacDonald, Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros, and Micheal Moorcroft would probably
enjoy this book.
February 17, 2014
Lords of Dyscrasia reads like a descent into a mania induced visionary night terror. Superficially presented under the 'Sword and Sorcery' umbrella fans of the genre will be taken on a gloriously twisted ride. Whilst the main narrative is one of traditionally breathless action, the underlying psychological back-drop weaves it's way into the reader's imagination. It is a novel that will stay with you, whether you like it or not.
The landscape created for you to endure along with the characters is one of acrid putridity and horrendous suffering. You have been warned. However, there is a transcendent quality to the writing which is rare. There is imagery here that borders on the ecstatically religious. This is juxtaposed with an old-fashioned yarn so joyously told that at several moments I had to grin with the sheer gusto of it all.
I'd recommend this to fantasy and horror fans who are interested in extremes of behaviour and the subconscious. There is a lot of blood, guts and gore here also. When I say a lot, I mean oodles. The reader is plunged into a world created with flesh and rancid fluids. I was reminded of Clive Barker, and even the body horror of David Cronenberg.
Lords of Dyscrasia is worth taking a risk on. There is a lot more going on here than shock and awe. Several images will are extremely memorable and I feel I will revisit this book in the future. All in all, hugely intriguing and revelatory.
I received this book as a First Reads giveaway from the Goodreads website, but all opinions are my own.
The landscape created for you to endure along with the characters is one of acrid putridity and horrendous suffering. You have been warned. However, there is a transcendent quality to the writing which is rare. There is imagery here that borders on the ecstatically religious. This is juxtaposed with an old-fashioned yarn so joyously told that at several moments I had to grin with the sheer gusto of it all.
I'd recommend this to fantasy and horror fans who are interested in extremes of behaviour and the subconscious. There is a lot of blood, guts and gore here also. When I say a lot, I mean oodles. The reader is plunged into a world created with flesh and rancid fluids. I was reminded of Clive Barker, and even the body horror of David Cronenberg.
Lords of Dyscrasia is worth taking a risk on. There is a lot more going on here than shock and awe. Several images will are extremely memorable and I feel I will revisit this book in the future. All in all, hugely intriguing and revelatory.
I received this book as a First Reads giveaway from the Goodreads website, but all opinions are my own.
April 16, 2021
Almost five stars, but if I take away that impression from book 1, there's nowhere for it to go to absolutely blow me away in future volumes. This is a really strange fantasy book about dead, decaying and inbred gods, petrified gods, evil presences that use wasps to rob stone gods of their essence. We're talking a centuries long cold war of the gods. The language is flowery, but never to the point of excess. I've highlighted several of the best passages in previous entries here on this one. I didn't always understand where Lindberg was taking me, but the scenery was always compelling and I could feel that the conflicts being weighed out were important. Turns out there's a 'gateway Dyscrasia' book, Helen's Daimones. I note this as unusual because the book I'm reviewing is volume one and yet the author describes in the synopsis for book 2
(Daimones) that it's the gateway book. I'm sure I'll read as many as Lindberg writes. I do highly recommend this to people who enjoy offbeat fantasy, and probably the types who would read Conan, Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn, Karnov, Gunthar and Caylen-Tor would all find something enjoyable here.
(Daimones) that it's the gateway book. I'm sure I'll read as many as Lindberg writes. I do highly recommend this to people who enjoy offbeat fantasy, and probably the types who would read Conan, Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn, Karnov, Gunthar and Caylen-Tor would all find something enjoyable here.
February 24, 2012
This book has some curious ideas and strong characterization. The main characters go through many trials and the will of their souls are challanged on every page. The loss that the main characters go through is heartbreakening and yet they carry on. The last 30 pages were harder to read through and I almost gave up but I skipped over a couple of pages so that I would not miss the ending. If Lindberg could shorten the book a lttle then the story would be tighter and feel less sometimes like a long journey but a great adventure.
This is also the first book I have read on the Nook Color.
This is also the first book I have read on the Nook Color.
November 12, 2015
I received this book from a goodreads giveaway.
Definitely going to re read this sometime.
Well written book with lots of action, twists and turns.
Never read anything quiet like this before but i really enjoyed it.
If you like a dark bloody book you wont be disappointed with this.
Definitely going to re read this sometime.
Well written book with lots of action, twists and turns.
Never read anything quiet like this before but i really enjoyed it.
If you like a dark bloody book you wont be disappointed with this.
October 27, 2012
There is much that I like about Lords of Dyscrasia. For one thing, I like the author's illustrations, which have a dark and brooding quality to them that matches the narrative. The cover illustration is spectacular in colour and I wonder how some of the book's other illustrations would look this way too (I'm presuming they are all grey-scale versions of original colour works). I also like the appendices, which I didn't realise existed until I came to the end of the book (I read a PDF of the printed volume provided to me by the author). These appendices provide a chronology of key events, a pedigree of the heirs of the Queen's Muse, a genealogical diagram showing the inter-relationships of humans, elementals and elders (deities), and an index or dictionary identifying places, people and things that appear in the narrative. They are not critical to understanding the story as you read it but they are a handy aide mémoire for anyone writing a review, or perhaps discussing the book with friends, afterwards!
I also liked the descriptions of horror – notably the often visceral ways people were tortured and killed in the course of the story. I expect to read at least some disturbing scenes from dark fantasy and horror and there are plenty of them in this book! The genealogical dimension to the plot reminds me a little of Frank Herbert's Dune , only with a more tragic dimension than is found in the latter. In common with many epic fantasy novels (and ancient mythology), the main characters' lives in Lords of Dyscrasia seem to be pre-destined, although they struggle against their destiny. It is this struggle that is at the core of Lords of Dyscrasia, with humans being used not only as pawns in the machinations of two elder beings but also for their very life-force. So one wonders whether the humans or the elders (and their allies, the elementals) will triumph in the end.
My only real problem with the book is that it is bleak. The main characters experience tragedy after tragedy so that, after a while, a sense of hopelessness develops for the reader even while the characters struggle on to avenge these tragedies but at increasing cost to themselves and to others around them. And when the elders pit one character against the other – one victim against another – it's impossible to take sides and so the only way to continue reading the story is to detach yourself from the main characters and see how the outcome unfolds. A somewhat precarious hope is restored with the appearance of a legion of warriors later on in the book but to say what happens as a result would give too much away.
One interesting aspect of the story was the emphasis on art and craft and how, essentially, almost all human activity in the world was viewed as both. Thus, individuals like Dey not only took pride in their art but also the different human clans specialised in distinct crafts with which they became identified. Craftwork and art also had a key role in ritual. It's notable that the author himself is not only an artist but also a chemist who works as 'a complex fluid microscopist, employing his skills as a scientist and artist to understand the manufacturing of liquids analogous to medieval paints' (p. 258). This helps explain the author's use of archaisms with respect to both the artistic and medico-scientific endeavours of his characters. An an artist himself, I suspect that the author agrees with Dey's view 'on the purpose and value of art' as he discusses a special mosaic he has created:
While likening the production of art to having children is probably a common enough notion for artists of all hues, I wonder how many people would agree with Dey's later assertion that 'to willingly bear witness to art is to accept it and promote it' (p. 246). Hmm. Perhaps, having read Lord of Dyscrasia, I have willingly borne witness to it and by virtue of this review I am therefore promoting it, but I don't think I've fully accepted it – is this my struggle against my destiny?! ;)
Lords of Dyscrasia is a good example of literary horror in terms of the high quality of the writing and that the author does not shy away from using rare, archaic or obsolete terms in his text. Because many of these terms were in vogue in the seventeenth century or earlier (e.g. aliquot, cataplasm, cruor and dyscrasia), their use helps to posit the narrative in an antique era – that the story happened long ago. Such archaic terminology appeals to me as an archaeologist and historian and also as somebody who likes to learn new things. I also always chuckled when I read the word 'baldric', though, as I'm sure fans of Tony Robinson's character in the various Blackadder series will appreciate! I was less happy with the appropriation of the word Pict/Picti (the name given to the pre-Scottish inhabitants of Scotland but used here to mean the 'native, tribal humans of the Land'), and also of dolmen and cromlech(-on) (Breton and Welsh terms for megalithic tombs), as they give an unnecessary pseudo-Celtic dimension to the story, which is otherwise not overtly 'Celtic'.
While well-written, there are occasional slips. The formulation 'comprised of', which is a common confusion for the distinct phrases 'comprised' and 'composed of', is used on eight occasions throughout the book, although 'comprised' is used correctly on its own on three occasions (on pp. 127 and 253). Other errors that ought to have been picked up by an editor include 'a children's finger' (as opposed to a child's finger) on p. 238, the repetition of 'he' in 'Make your children sad, and he will he feed on their sadness...' on p. 244, and references to 'a larvalwyrmen' (pp. 111, 226, 235) when perhaps 'larvalwyrman' would've been more appropriate in referring to an individual. Nevertheless, errors like these are few and far between.
Overall, I enjoyed the book for its literary and artistic qualities as well as for its interesting plot and its depictions of horror, but its unrelenting bleakness made it harder to keep reading after a certain point without putting it down for a while – there is only so much tragedy one can take! That said, I will be interested in reading further books by Seth Lindberg in the future.
I also liked the descriptions of horror – notably the often visceral ways people were tortured and killed in the course of the story. I expect to read at least some disturbing scenes from dark fantasy and horror and there are plenty of them in this book! The genealogical dimension to the plot reminds me a little of Frank Herbert's Dune , only with a more tragic dimension than is found in the latter. In common with many epic fantasy novels (and ancient mythology), the main characters' lives in Lords of Dyscrasia seem to be pre-destined, although they struggle against their destiny. It is this struggle that is at the core of Lords of Dyscrasia, with humans being used not only as pawns in the machinations of two elder beings but also for their very life-force. So one wonders whether the humans or the elders (and their allies, the elementals) will triumph in the end.
My only real problem with the book is that it is bleak. The main characters experience tragedy after tragedy so that, after a while, a sense of hopelessness develops for the reader even while the characters struggle on to avenge these tragedies but at increasing cost to themselves and to others around them. And when the elders pit one character against the other – one victim against another – it's impossible to take sides and so the only way to continue reading the story is to detach yourself from the main characters and see how the outcome unfolds. A somewhat precarious hope is restored with the appearance of a legion of warriors later on in the book but to say what happens as a result would give too much away.
One interesting aspect of the story was the emphasis on art and craft and how, essentially, almost all human activity in the world was viewed as both. Thus, individuals like Dey not only took pride in their art but also the different human clans specialised in distinct crafts with which they became identified. Craftwork and art also had a key role in ritual. It's notable that the author himself is not only an artist but also a chemist who works as 'a complex fluid microscopist, employing his skills as a scientist and artist to understand the manufacturing of liquids analogous to medieval paints' (p. 258). This helps explain the author's use of archaisms with respect to both the artistic and medico-scientific endeavours of his characters. An an artist himself, I suspect that the author agrees with Dey's view 'on the purpose and value of art' as he discusses a special mosaic he has created:
I had given birth to a wild, awesome work of art while affirming my skills and self-worth as an artist. I could feel my soul bond with this earth [....]. It was part of me now and vice versa.
The art one creates, the subject of it, and the artist are three separate entities – though they imprint their souls onto each other. On rare occasion, the process of this sharing is orgasmic and resembles procreation; the product assumes a sentient thing, possessing some spirit of the creator's although ultimately a new being. These events are special, happening only a few times in one's life. Some artists are infertile in this regard.
These children of beauty are an artist's legacy, and I have had none ere now. To date, I had completed only minor feats of artisanship and had felt correspondingly worthless as an artist, so the present moment was indeed the pinnacle of my happiness. (p. 64)
While likening the production of art to having children is probably a common enough notion for artists of all hues, I wonder how many people would agree with Dey's later assertion that 'to willingly bear witness to art is to accept it and promote it' (p. 246). Hmm. Perhaps, having read Lord of Dyscrasia, I have willingly borne witness to it and by virtue of this review I am therefore promoting it, but I don't think I've fully accepted it – is this my struggle against my destiny?! ;)
Lords of Dyscrasia is a good example of literary horror in terms of the high quality of the writing and that the author does not shy away from using rare, archaic or obsolete terms in his text. Because many of these terms were in vogue in the seventeenth century or earlier (e.g. aliquot, cataplasm, cruor and dyscrasia), their use helps to posit the narrative in an antique era – that the story happened long ago. Such archaic terminology appeals to me as an archaeologist and historian and also as somebody who likes to learn new things. I also always chuckled when I read the word 'baldric', though, as I'm sure fans of Tony Robinson's character in the various Blackadder series will appreciate! I was less happy with the appropriation of the word Pict/Picti (the name given to the pre-Scottish inhabitants of Scotland but used here to mean the 'native, tribal humans of the Land'), and also of dolmen and cromlech(-on) (Breton and Welsh terms for megalithic tombs), as they give an unnecessary pseudo-Celtic dimension to the story, which is otherwise not overtly 'Celtic'.
While well-written, there are occasional slips. The formulation 'comprised of', which is a common confusion for the distinct phrases 'comprised' and 'composed of', is used on eight occasions throughout the book, although 'comprised' is used correctly on its own on three occasions (on pp. 127 and 253). Other errors that ought to have been picked up by an editor include 'a children's finger' (as opposed to a child's finger) on p. 238, the repetition of 'he' in 'Make your children sad, and he will he feed on their sadness...' on p. 244, and references to 'a larvalwyrmen' (pp. 111, 226, 235) when perhaps 'larvalwyrman' would've been more appropriate in referring to an individual. Nevertheless, errors like these are few and far between.
Overall, I enjoyed the book for its literary and artistic qualities as well as for its interesting plot and its depictions of horror, but its unrelenting bleakness made it harder to keep reading after a certain point without putting it down for a while – there is only so much tragedy one can take! That said, I will be interested in reading further books by Seth Lindberg in the future.
June 13, 2012
Book Info: Genre: Dark High Fantasy Reading Level: Adult
Disclosure: I received a free ebook copy of this text from the LibraryThing Members Giveaway program in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Dyscrasia plagues the insectan elders of the Underworld. Desperate to save them from extinction, the golem Doctor Grave infuses the soul of his dying Queen into the blood of a human artisan, Lord Ante Lysis. Her soul passes through Ante's blood into his offspring, thus the Lysis bloodline carries the diseased Queen's soul as the Doctor perfects the necromancy needed to resurrect her. But the last descendant of Ante is determined to quench the Queen's soul, and journeys to the Underworld to do so...
Lords of Dyscrasia explores the choices humans and their gods make as a disease corrupts their souls, shared blood and creative energies. Historically, dyscrasia referred to any imbalance of the four medicinal humors professed by the ancient Greeks to sustain life. Lords of Dyscrasia presents them as spiritual muses for artisans, sources of magical power, and contagions of a deadly disease.
My Thoughts: Dyscrasia is a terrible disease in this book – one affecting mainly pregnant women who, if they survive their pregnancy, give birth to mutated creatures half-way between human and elder. The elders are either avian or insectile and they themselves are becoming extinct, leaving only a few, lesser members behind. The cult of people who worship the elders are called Picti, and Lord Endenken is the last of the Lysis clan, the only ones who can handle the power that is transmitted through their blood, only able to mate with those of the same blood or the dyscrasia takes them. It’s quite a dilemma, and Endenken wants nothing to do with it – he wants to make his own way.
Lindberg has a real way with words – the language washes over the reader, completely immersing one within the world being created. But this is a very dark world that has been created – while many scenes occur in the daylight, everything I see in my mind is dark – there is no light anywhere. Also the scope is very large – there are scenes, of course, but overall it feels like everything is taking place at a distance. Analyzing my reaction, I think the reason I felt this way is that there are no “good” sides; everyone is really sort of evil, and there is no hero – or antihero – for which to root. Endenken is the main focus of the story, and he started with good intentions, but he’s really not a nice man at all. Without someone to root for, I was left feeling sort of unmoored in the story. Dey was the only one I really felt any sympathy toward, and I much preferred Cypria and her quest for freedom over Haemarr.
All the art in this book – cover image and illustrations – are also done by the author. Amazing the amount of talent in one person! Also, amazing how much he overuses exclamation points... Every sentence that could possibly be emphatic ends with an exclamation point! I didn’t notice it at first, but eventually I started to see that there was indeed exclamation point abuse occurring. There was also a lot of very awkward and ungrammatical phrasing throughout the book, although since this was an ARC, that might have been corrected before the final publication.
So, I have mixed feelings about this book. The language is lovely and it is beautifully written in many ways, but there is an excess of exclamation points and awkward/ungrammatical phrasing. There is no real hero/antihero for whom to cheer – or at least there were none for whom I felt any connection – and the scope is so large it is sometimes hard to keep track of it. I am sure there are some fans of high fantasy, especially dark fantasy, who will quite enjoy this tale, but it really wasn’t for me.
Disclosure: I received a free ebook copy of this text from the LibraryThing Members Giveaway program in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Dyscrasia plagues the insectan elders of the Underworld. Desperate to save them from extinction, the golem Doctor Grave infuses the soul of his dying Queen into the blood of a human artisan, Lord Ante Lysis. Her soul passes through Ante's blood into his offspring, thus the Lysis bloodline carries the diseased Queen's soul as the Doctor perfects the necromancy needed to resurrect her. But the last descendant of Ante is determined to quench the Queen's soul, and journeys to the Underworld to do so...
Lords of Dyscrasia explores the choices humans and their gods make as a disease corrupts their souls, shared blood and creative energies. Historically, dyscrasia referred to any imbalance of the four medicinal humors professed by the ancient Greeks to sustain life. Lords of Dyscrasia presents them as spiritual muses for artisans, sources of magical power, and contagions of a deadly disease.
My Thoughts: Dyscrasia is a terrible disease in this book – one affecting mainly pregnant women who, if they survive their pregnancy, give birth to mutated creatures half-way between human and elder. The elders are either avian or insectile and they themselves are becoming extinct, leaving only a few, lesser members behind. The cult of people who worship the elders are called Picti, and Lord Endenken is the last of the Lysis clan, the only ones who can handle the power that is transmitted through their blood, only able to mate with those of the same blood or the dyscrasia takes them. It’s quite a dilemma, and Endenken wants nothing to do with it – he wants to make his own way.
Lindberg has a real way with words – the language washes over the reader, completely immersing one within the world being created. But this is a very dark world that has been created – while many scenes occur in the daylight, everything I see in my mind is dark – there is no light anywhere. Also the scope is very large – there are scenes, of course, but overall it feels like everything is taking place at a distance. Analyzing my reaction, I think the reason I felt this way is that there are no “good” sides; everyone is really sort of evil, and there is no hero – or antihero – for which to root. Endenken is the main focus of the story, and he started with good intentions, but he’s really not a nice man at all. Without someone to root for, I was left feeling sort of unmoored in the story. Dey was the only one I really felt any sympathy toward, and I much preferred Cypria and her quest for freedom over Haemarr.
All the art in this book – cover image and illustrations – are also done by the author. Amazing the amount of talent in one person! Also, amazing how much he overuses exclamation points... Every sentence that could possibly be emphatic ends with an exclamation point! I didn’t notice it at first, but eventually I started to see that there was indeed exclamation point abuse occurring. There was also a lot of very awkward and ungrammatical phrasing throughout the book, although since this was an ARC, that might have been corrected before the final publication.
So, I have mixed feelings about this book. The language is lovely and it is beautifully written in many ways, but there is an excess of exclamation points and awkward/ungrammatical phrasing. There is no real hero/antihero for whom to cheer – or at least there were none for whom I felt any connection – and the scope is so large it is sometimes hard to keep track of it. I am sure there are some fans of high fantasy, especially dark fantasy, who will quite enjoy this tale, but it really wasn’t for me.
January 4, 2015
While Lords of Dyscrasia benefits from an extremely original setting and intense, driving action, my enjoyment was hindered by some storytelling issues.
The premise is an interesting one. We're introduced to Endenken Lysis, who rules an unusual tribe afflicted with Dyscrasia, an imbalance of the humors that has resulted in a long history of birth defects and mutations within the society. An epic struggle results when Endenken refuses to play his preordained role in a mystic ritual, instead coming to the aid of a fleeing woman from the outside. Complications ensue and Endenken soon finds himself undead and infused with necromantic magic, caught in a struggle between two ancient divinities.
Rather than high or low fantasy, the book has a particularly mythic feel. There's not much introspection or even dialogue, the bulk of it focuses on the epic deeds of larger than life figures (most undead). The downside to this approach is that it felt like the characters were ciphers. Apart from the immediate aim (e.g., "strike down this enemy"), their overall goals or motives were frequently hard to ascertain.
The setting was very fresh and interesting (some of it reminded me of Tanith Lee, minus the eroticism but with the gruesome dialed to maximum), but likewise rendered in broad strokes. This is seen frequently in the sword & sorcery sub genre, where intriguing names and concepts are touched upon but usually not elaborated in detail. While this is a perfectly valid storytelling approach, the amount of setting-specific jargon in the text left me feeling confused for much of the book. While it was possible to "go with the flow" for most of the narrative, I think the reliance on insufficiently explained terms kept the central plot (including a betrayal by a supporting character) from having the intended impact. When you have two opposing characters spouting bewildering dialog at each other, it's difficult to appreciate the stakes underlying their conflict.
Surprisingly, the book concluded with a detailed glossary and dramatis personae. Tucked away in the back of the ebook, this appendix obviously did me no good while reading the story, but it did manage to clear away a lot of the confusion lingering after the narrative ended. While it would have been nice to know about this glossary before reading the book (the Table of Contents only--unhelpfully--marks this section as an "Index"), it would have been even better if this background had been better incorporated into the text itself as terms are introduced.
Finally, while the action scenes are plentiful and exciting (a blade that slices through bone while leaving flesh intact; how cool is that?), there's an almost comical over-reliance on exclamation points in the second half of the book. The prose was strong enough to stand on its own, the constant exclamation points felt like having somebody poking me at the movie theater, saying "This is the cool part!" every few moments. I can see that it's cool, no need to jab me.
While the storytelling issues hindered my enjoyment of the book, I respect its ambition, originality, and exciting action a great deal. Parts confused and frustrated me, but I was never bored. I think most of my issues can be chalked up to a first-time novelist finding his footing, and look forward to reading the second Dyscrasia novel.
The premise is an interesting one. We're introduced to Endenken Lysis, who rules an unusual tribe afflicted with Dyscrasia, an imbalance of the humors that has resulted in a long history of birth defects and mutations within the society. An epic struggle results when Endenken refuses to play his preordained role in a mystic ritual, instead coming to the aid of a fleeing woman from the outside. Complications ensue and Endenken soon finds himself undead and infused with necromantic magic, caught in a struggle between two ancient divinities.
Rather than high or low fantasy, the book has a particularly mythic feel. There's not much introspection or even dialogue, the bulk of it focuses on the epic deeds of larger than life figures (most undead). The downside to this approach is that it felt like the characters were ciphers. Apart from the immediate aim (e.g., "strike down this enemy"), their overall goals or motives were frequently hard to ascertain.
The setting was very fresh and interesting (some of it reminded me of Tanith Lee, minus the eroticism but with the gruesome dialed to maximum), but likewise rendered in broad strokes. This is seen frequently in the sword & sorcery sub genre, where intriguing names and concepts are touched upon but usually not elaborated in detail. While this is a perfectly valid storytelling approach, the amount of setting-specific jargon in the text left me feeling confused for much of the book. While it was possible to "go with the flow" for most of the narrative, I think the reliance on insufficiently explained terms kept the central plot (including a betrayal by a supporting character) from having the intended impact. When you have two opposing characters spouting bewildering dialog at each other, it's difficult to appreciate the stakes underlying their conflict.
Surprisingly, the book concluded with a detailed glossary and dramatis personae. Tucked away in the back of the ebook, this appendix obviously did me no good while reading the story, but it did manage to clear away a lot of the confusion lingering after the narrative ended. While it would have been nice to know about this glossary before reading the book (the Table of Contents only--unhelpfully--marks this section as an "Index"), it would have been even better if this background had been better incorporated into the text itself as terms are introduced.
Finally, while the action scenes are plentiful and exciting (a blade that slices through bone while leaving flesh intact; how cool is that?), there's an almost comical over-reliance on exclamation points in the second half of the book. The prose was strong enough to stand on its own, the constant exclamation points felt like having somebody poking me at the movie theater, saying "This is the cool part!" every few moments. I can see that it's cool, no need to jab me.
While the storytelling issues hindered my enjoyment of the book, I respect its ambition, originality, and exciting action a great deal. Parts confused and frustrated me, but I was never bored. I think most of my issues can be chalked up to a first-time novelist finding his footing, and look forward to reading the second Dyscrasia novel.
September 3, 2022
I don't generally read a lot of small-press or self-published books, but when one snags my attention, I'm more than willing to give it a shot. Lords of Dyscrasia is one of those books where everything fell into place - the cover caught my eye; the review blurb comparing it to "the works of Poe and Lovecraft" made me curious; and the concept of infected bloodlines, diseased souls, and necromancy assured it a spot on my shelf.
Stylistically, this was a very interesting read, with a mix of high fantasy, pulp adventure, and visceral horror that worked as well as I could have hoped. Elements of it did indeed remind me, at different times, of H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe, but I also detected the flavour of Robert E. Howard, and even some early Books of Blood era Clive Barker.
The storyline here is interesting, and the investment in the mythology is quite impressive. It's definitely one of the more unique concepts I've come across in a long while, taking a very Cthulhu-like approach to an otherwise standard fantasy trope of interracial breeding and the mingling of mortal & immortal races. The world-building doesn't quite live up to the mythology, but only because we don't get explore enough of it.
This is a very intense, very frantic, very driven read that leaps from scene to scene. The action and the tension is relentless, which has a definite appeal for some readers, but I felt it suffered somewhat because of it. I think one more pass at the story to build some narrative bridges between the scenes, and to pad out the intensity with some subtler moments of reflection could have really served the book well. It's not very often that I put down a book wishing it had been just a bit longer, but her I would have welcome some fluff to round things out.
That said, what's on the page works very well. Doctor Grave is a fantastic character, secretive and manipulative, but driven by an honest purpose. His ethereal assistant is definitely a nice touch, and the ways in which she is used outside the Doctor's environment were a very pleasant surprise. Lysis, unfortunately, came across as a bit one-dimensional for me. I would have like to see some more vulnerability in him, some lighter emotions, but I suspect that lack is due more to the unrelenting intensity of his quest than to any failings on the part of the book.
Other reviewers have said this is a very dark book, and they're right. This is pulp fantasy for the horror fan (not the other way around), and it is wonderfully grotesque. There's a very clinical detachment from much of the horror, which actually serves to elevate the monstrosities to a higher level. Like I said earlier, this reminds me of Books of Blood era Clive Barker on the page, or original Hellraiser era Clive Barker on the screen, and I delighted in that visceral element.
By no means a perfect book, but one that manages to offer something new, and which does an admirable job of bringing it all together. I look forward to seeing what Lindberg produces next, and would even be up for a reread were he to expand the text here . . . and author's preferred edition, if you will.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Stylistically, this was a very interesting read, with a mix of high fantasy, pulp adventure, and visceral horror that worked as well as I could have hoped. Elements of it did indeed remind me, at different times, of H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe, but I also detected the flavour of Robert E. Howard, and even some early Books of Blood era Clive Barker.
The storyline here is interesting, and the investment in the mythology is quite impressive. It's definitely one of the more unique concepts I've come across in a long while, taking a very Cthulhu-like approach to an otherwise standard fantasy trope of interracial breeding and the mingling of mortal & immortal races. The world-building doesn't quite live up to the mythology, but only because we don't get explore enough of it.
This is a very intense, very frantic, very driven read that leaps from scene to scene. The action and the tension is relentless, which has a definite appeal for some readers, but I felt it suffered somewhat because of it. I think one more pass at the story to build some narrative bridges between the scenes, and to pad out the intensity with some subtler moments of reflection could have really served the book well. It's not very often that I put down a book wishing it had been just a bit longer, but her I would have welcome some fluff to round things out.
That said, what's on the page works very well. Doctor Grave is a fantastic character, secretive and manipulative, but driven by an honest purpose. His ethereal assistant is definitely a nice touch, and the ways in which she is used outside the Doctor's environment were a very pleasant surprise. Lysis, unfortunately, came across as a bit one-dimensional for me. I would have like to see some more vulnerability in him, some lighter emotions, but I suspect that lack is due more to the unrelenting intensity of his quest than to any failings on the part of the book.
Other reviewers have said this is a very dark book, and they're right. This is pulp fantasy for the horror fan (not the other way around), and it is wonderfully grotesque. There's a very clinical detachment from much of the horror, which actually serves to elevate the monstrosities to a higher level. Like I said earlier, this reminds me of Books of Blood era Clive Barker on the page, or original Hellraiser era Clive Barker on the screen, and I delighted in that visceral element.
By no means a perfect book, but one that manages to offer something new, and which does an admirable job of bringing it all together. I look forward to seeing what Lindberg produces next, and would even be up for a reread were he to expand the text here . . . and author's preferred edition, if you will.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
November 1, 2011
The book revolves around the characters: Doctor Grave, Crypia, Endenken, and Dey. Endenken seeks revenge, Doctor Grave dreams of restoring what was lost, Crypia wants to live, and Dey is running away from his past. In a world of disease, monsters, and danger, will the passions and desires that drive them be enough to help them survive?
A very well done book by S.E. Lindberg! From the beginning, we are treated to vivid descriptions of the carnage and ruin created by the disease, dyscrasia. Don't expect this author to pull his punches, he's not afraid to make readers squirm! The plot is engaging and fast-paced, once you get through all the exposition. While I don't feel all that sympathetic to some of the characters, they stood out in their own way and are not strictly "good" or "evil".
I should point out that I wouldn't recommend this book to any young readers. Some of the scenes can be pretty brutal. Also, one thing I have an issue with is that the beginning can be a bit confusing, especially when coupled with the book's intricate language. Lindberg switches viewpoints a lot so it's easy to lose track of what's happening sometimes. However, once you get used to the author's style, the book becomes even more enjoyable and you'll finish it in no time!
Pro: flowery and vivid descriptions, complex characters, unique setting
Con: Somewhat confusing in the beginning
Received this book for free through a giveaway in return for a review
A very well done book by S.E. Lindberg! From the beginning, we are treated to vivid descriptions of the carnage and ruin created by the disease, dyscrasia. Don't expect this author to pull his punches, he's not afraid to make readers squirm! The plot is engaging and fast-paced, once you get through all the exposition. While I don't feel all that sympathetic to some of the characters, they stood out in their own way and are not strictly "good" or "evil".
I should point out that I wouldn't recommend this book to any young readers. Some of the scenes can be pretty brutal. Also, one thing I have an issue with is that the beginning can be a bit confusing, especially when coupled with the book's intricate language. Lindberg switches viewpoints a lot so it's easy to lose track of what's happening sometimes. However, once you get used to the author's style, the book becomes even more enjoyable and you'll finish it in no time!
Pro: flowery and vivid descriptions, complex characters, unique setting
Con: Somewhat confusing in the beginning
Received this book for free through a giveaway in return for a review
May 26, 2013
Lindberg depicts an intensely savage and volatile world within the pages of Dyscrasia. It is a persistent plague that invades the blood and changes the human genome forever. Doctor Grave desperately seeks to save the long bloodline of his sick queen.
"The lifeless embryos exhibit the disease explicitly. The stillborn mutants present eldritch traits, all unique and terrible. Beaks and downy feathers adorn the avian ones. Translucent, soft-shell exoskeletons wrap the invertebrate insectan type, which are always infected with worms."
The disease has sunken into every crevice of daily life. It is no longer an aberrant anomaly, it has become an accepted form of life. Yet there is an unspoken hope that still exists.
Endenken, the leader of a dying culture, wrestles with his own personal demons. Expected to abide by the traditional rules of his people, he must make difficult decisions in a world strife with the disease. His decision will mark the beginning of an end.
The gruesome tale continues and illuminates the struggle within the bonds of humanity. An edict of the soul resounds throughout the pages of this nightmarish other-world with spots of dark humor. Lindberg has created an alternate reality that forces the reader to expand the limitations of their imagination.
Read the full review here:
Bookend Chronicles
"The lifeless embryos exhibit the disease explicitly. The stillborn mutants present eldritch traits, all unique and terrible. Beaks and downy feathers adorn the avian ones. Translucent, soft-shell exoskeletons wrap the invertebrate insectan type, which are always infected with worms."
The disease has sunken into every crevice of daily life. It is no longer an aberrant anomaly, it has become an accepted form of life. Yet there is an unspoken hope that still exists.
Endenken, the leader of a dying culture, wrestles with his own personal demons. Expected to abide by the traditional rules of his people, he must make difficult decisions in a world strife with the disease. His decision will mark the beginning of an end.
The gruesome tale continues and illuminates the struggle within the bonds of humanity. An edict of the soul resounds throughout the pages of this nightmarish other-world with spots of dark humor. Lindberg has created an alternate reality that forces the reader to expand the limitations of their imagination.
Read the full review here:
Bookend Chronicles
December 15, 2012
What a book…if you like dark fantasy and horror you have to read this book. I would call it “Splatter punk” I don’t know if that term is still used anymore but it is what came to mind while I was reading this book…blood, guts, rape, cannibalism, incest, necrophilia, feeding on carrion, torture, and much much more.
Mr. Lindberg has written a well constructed story line one that I enjoyed and not one that I have read before. The book was disturbing at times which I don’t mind but I do not like to read about children or animals being abused in any way. I don’t even like to hear that they were sent to bed without dinner and believe me this book goes beyond that, way way beyond. Everyone has their own terror buttons and this book not only pushes all of them, but pushes them until they break.
The artwork in the book is brilliant and exceptional. I love graphic novels and I think Mr. Lindberg should take his work to this type of novel also. I would like to see more of his art.
I do recommend this book to anyone who wants a very interesting ride into terror, this book will incite fear and/or revulsion through the portrayal of grotesque, sadistic, and supernatural events. This book is not recommended to young adults or children.
Mr. Lindberg has written a well constructed story line one that I enjoyed and not one that I have read before. The book was disturbing at times which I don’t mind but I do not like to read about children or animals being abused in any way. I don’t even like to hear that they were sent to bed without dinner and believe me this book goes beyond that, way way beyond. Everyone has their own terror buttons and this book not only pushes all of them, but pushes them until they break.
The artwork in the book is brilliant and exceptional. I love graphic novels and I think Mr. Lindberg should take his work to this type of novel also. I would like to see more of his art.
I do recommend this book to anyone who wants a very interesting ride into terror, this book will incite fear and/or revulsion through the portrayal of grotesque, sadistic, and supernatural events. This book is not recommended to young adults or children.
August 25, 2012
If you like horror, fantasy and mythology, this is your book! I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline. It was a little slow – and at times a little confusing – toward the beginning, but the story picked up by the second chapter and delivered everything I wanted in a horror story: decapitation, disembowelment, cannibalism, castration (my personal favorite), rape, incest, mythological Gods, insects, birds…the list goes on. It was very disturbing, but that’s what I like. I want a story that shocks the conscious and this story delivered!
Bravo, Mr. Lindberg, for a job well done! The story was unusual and your artwork was phenomenal. I look forward to reading your future novels.
Bravo, Mr. Lindberg, for a job well done! The story was unusual and your artwork was phenomenal. I look forward to reading your future novels.
November 8, 2011
I really, really did not like this book at all. My apologies to the author, who obviously, worked very hard on it. He did create a world completely unlike anything you have ever read about and kudos to him for that. However, it was an extremely arduous read. Another review said it's very confusing in the beginning, but stated that it was much easier the farther you got into it. I have to respectfully disagree with that statement. The whole book, to me, was confusing and just felt rushed. Maybe the underlying themes didn't get fully fleshed out or he was trying to put too much in one book, or it was the way the story seemed to skip time without telling you, but I just couldn't get fully immersed in the story. Another problem I had was the underlying tone of the book. This is, without a doubt, the darkest book I've ever read. I don't have any problem with those sorts of things normally, but this was on a whole other level of twisted evilness. Murder, rape, cannabilism, drinking blood, necrophilia, necrophagia, demonic possession, and things involving children that I wish I had never read. It also seemed irreverent on the subject of life and death and the character's reactions seemed to match that. Someone dies, and then comes back, or is possessed, or sees their family killed and gets kind of upset about it, but they may come back to life, or half-life, or not, and they may have to kill them again, and that sucks but whatever. That kind of somes up the book. You can try to compare it to Poe, who is dark, but not holy crap this is seriously effed up psycho dark.
In summary, this is an amazingly intricate and unique story line which is totally psychotic and I will never read it again.
In summary, this is an amazingly intricate and unique story line which is totally psychotic and I will never read it again.
December 8, 2011
This is an unusual book. It is a mixture of fantasy, horror, and adventure that defies true classification. Now, it is not for everyone, since it does have many grotesque images and scenes, but if that doesn’t bother you, then it might be something for you to pick up.
What I enjoyed most was the atmosphere. There is a really gritty, violent mood to the pages that had me really captivated. It is completely different from anything I’ve read. Yes, sometimes the violent images seem enhanced more for effect than for the actual plot, but still, there are some very visceral images that will stick with you long after you finish reading the book.
I do wish we’d had a bit more character development, but, since it is a plot-driven novel, it doesn’t really affect the story too much. The fantastical elements more than make up for any lack of characterization. The epilogue alone is worth the whole book. It is nicely done, bringing us, the reader, a bit closer to the story.
As I said, this book is not for everyone, but for those of you that like a good dose of horror with your reading, this one might be a fun one to try.
What I enjoyed most was the atmosphere. There is a really gritty, violent mood to the pages that had me really captivated. It is completely different from anything I’ve read. Yes, sometimes the violent images seem enhanced more for effect than for the actual plot, but still, there are some very visceral images that will stick with you long after you finish reading the book.
I do wish we’d had a bit more character development, but, since it is a plot-driven novel, it doesn’t really affect the story too much. The fantastical elements more than make up for any lack of characterization. The epilogue alone is worth the whole book. It is nicely done, bringing us, the reader, a bit closer to the story.
As I said, this book is not for everyone, but for those of you that like a good dose of horror with your reading, this one might be a fun one to try.
January 25, 2012
Tired of cookie cutter formulaic dark fantasy? Need a jolt of distubia? Then this book is for you.
First off this story is dark fantasy not contemporary hide it from the kids dark but deeply planned out epic dark fantasy. The plot is intricate and once you get going you'll start to see the how intricate the connections between the characters and themes are woven together. The author manages to blend artistic theory, tools, & techniques with theology and family history to build one of the most unique fantasy worlds I have ever come across. The artwork peppered throughout the book really added to the epic feel and mood of the book for me as I read it. If you are a fan of Charles de Lint and the artist Brom then you will enjoy this book. I have to say if you want a unique read and fresh take on world building then this book is definitely worth reading.
First off this story is dark fantasy not contemporary hide it from the kids dark but deeply planned out epic dark fantasy. The plot is intricate and once you get going you'll start to see the how intricate the connections between the characters and themes are woven together. The author manages to blend artistic theory, tools, & techniques with theology and family history to build one of the most unique fantasy worlds I have ever come across. The artwork peppered throughout the book really added to the epic feel and mood of the book for me as I read it. If you are a fan of Charles de Lint and the artist Brom then you will enjoy this book. I have to say if you want a unique read and fresh take on world building then this book is definitely worth reading.
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