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How Gods Bleed
The werewolf king Gorgoza is dead leaving the west in turmoil. With the king’s passing it is only a matter of time before someone has claimed the western empire for themselves, leaving the east ripe for invasion. Against the werewolf hordes no eastern kingdom stands a chance for survival.
But all hope is not yet lost for there may be a way to destroy the monsters of the west. Such a chance comes from the most unlikely of sources, Cada Varl the Immortal, the being responsible for the creation of the werewolves.
Accompanied by 6 of the greatest warriors of the great warrior society of Helluv Cada Varl journeys into the west in the hopes of saving the east from utter destruction. Facing impossible odds the group must journey across lands that will offer nothing to them but misery and death
But all hope is not yet lost for there may be a way to destroy the monsters of the west. Such a chance comes from the most unlikely of sources, Cada Varl the Immortal, the being responsible for the creation of the werewolves.
Accompanied by 6 of the greatest warriors of the great warrior society of Helluv Cada Varl journeys into the west in the hopes of saving the east from utter destruction. Facing impossible odds the group must journey across lands that will offer nothing to them but misery and death
502 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 2011
1 person is currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Shane Porteous
66 books32 followersEver since I was old enough to retain memory I have wanted to be an author. I must have written at least 100 original stories as well as alot of fan fiction.
I cannot remember the very first story I wrote because I would have written it years before I could properly spell more than ten words. But the two earliest stories I can remember writing are "Blood got on Big Boss" and "Mad Lab".
Blood got on Big boss was a ridiculous story that told of a group of kids being hunted down by a ruthless crime boss that had motocycle driving ninjas as henchmen along with many other ludicrous things.
Mad Lab was equally ridiculous and told the story of how there was a science building that had been taken over by bio-engineered monsters. It was so dangerous that the police force refused to enter the building and a team of elite mercenaries were called in to destroy the monsters.
In total I wrote 8 sequels to mad lab though I must admit each were only 4 or 5 hand written pages long.
When I was ten or eleven I saw an anime that would forever change the way I wrote and thought about stories. That anime was Guyver Bio-Booster Armor. I was mesmerised by this cartoon that was filled with some of the most goriest scenes I had ever seen at that time. The fact that it was a cartoon that had swearing and intense violence shocked me as much as it thrilled me.
But beyond all the violence and the swearing Guyver Bio- Booster Armor also possessed many layers to it's story. It was a much more complex and philosophical way of telling a story that was light years beyond any movie, book or cartoon I had ever seen before.
Guyver opened my eyes to the world of Manga/Anime, a world where black and white convention was rejected, replaced by a complex world of grey. I loved it and found when I wrote stories that I was always striving to be different.
Now with my boyhood dream of being a published author completed I only hope that I successfully strive to write stories that are a little different. But that is not for me to decide it is up to the readers, so please if you ever read one of my books please let me know what you thought about it!
I cannot remember the very first story I wrote because I would have written it years before I could properly spell more than ten words. But the two earliest stories I can remember writing are "Blood got on Big Boss" and "Mad Lab".
Blood got on Big boss was a ridiculous story that told of a group of kids being hunted down by a ruthless crime boss that had motocycle driving ninjas as henchmen along with many other ludicrous things.
Mad Lab was equally ridiculous and told the story of how there was a science building that had been taken over by bio-engineered monsters. It was so dangerous that the police force refused to enter the building and a team of elite mercenaries were called in to destroy the monsters.
In total I wrote 8 sequels to mad lab though I must admit each were only 4 or 5 hand written pages long.
When I was ten or eleven I saw an anime that would forever change the way I wrote and thought about stories. That anime was Guyver Bio-Booster Armor. I was mesmerised by this cartoon that was filled with some of the most goriest scenes I had ever seen at that time. The fact that it was a cartoon that had swearing and intense violence shocked me as much as it thrilled me.
But beyond all the violence and the swearing Guyver Bio- Booster Armor also possessed many layers to it's story. It was a much more complex and philosophical way of telling a story that was light years beyond any movie, book or cartoon I had ever seen before.
Guyver opened my eyes to the world of Manga/Anime, a world where black and white convention was rejected, replaced by a complex world of grey. I loved it and found when I wrote stories that I was always striving to be different.
Now with my boyhood dream of being a published author completed I only hope that I successfully strive to write stories that are a little different. But that is not for me to decide it is up to the readers, so please if you ever read one of my books please let me know what you thought about it!
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 2, 2012
Loved this book!
the book is about people belonging to a city that is the first line of defense for humans. If the werewolves ever tried to take over the human empire, this would be where the first battle would take place. Naturally, the people living in such a place have to be extraordinary-always alert and ready to defend. Add to that a king who would do anything to ensure his people's survival and warriors who worship him. Could it be more awesome?Yes, it can. The king not only wants to win every war, he also plans to make the werewolves fear him and his warriors. The tricks and maneuvers that the king uses to instill fear in the werewolves are just.. wow! Then there is Cada Varl- the coolest immortal you'll ever read about. He's the best and yet he never gloats but just goes on being his rockin' self! And of course, the 6 Helluvan warriors (poor 7th best warrior) were just that..one helluva adventure!
the book is about people belonging to a city that is the first line of defense for humans. If the werewolves ever tried to take over the human empire, this would be where the first battle would take place. Naturally, the people living in such a place have to be extraordinary-always alert and ready to defend. Add to that a king who would do anything to ensure his people's survival and warriors who worship him. Could it be more awesome?Yes, it can. The king not only wants to win every war, he also plans to make the werewolves fear him and his warriors. The tricks and maneuvers that the king uses to instill fear in the werewolves are just.. wow! Then there is Cada Varl- the coolest immortal you'll ever read about. He's the best and yet he never gloats but just goes on being his rockin' self! And of course, the 6 Helluvan warriors (poor 7th best warrior) were just that..one helluva adventure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2011
"The werewolf king Gorgoza is dead leaving the west in turmoil. With the king’s passing it is only a matter of time before someone has claimed the western empire for themselves, leaving the east ripe for invasion. Against the werewolf hordes no eastern kingdom stands a chance for survival.
But all hope is not yet lost for there may be a way to destroy the monsters of the west. Such a chance comes from the most unlikely of sources, Cada Varl the Immortal, the being responsible for the creation of the werewolves."
What a unique plot!! In the hands of a less capable writer, such a premise could have fallen into a comic book read (Nothing against comic books- love em myself!- but not as novels) yet with the superb writing skills of Shane Porteous, I am so pleased to say, the plot works, and works so very well!
Cada Varl the Immortal is a fully realized character, and the anchor of the book. The character, while certainly not your typical literary protagonist is in very capable hands, as Mr. Porteous has the talent to make even the most fantastic of characters resonate with the reader.
The plot, twists, and supporting castof characters are all deftly handled and very addicting to the reader. While this is certainly fantasy and horror, to label HOW GODS BLEED as a Horror-Fantasy is unfair- this is quite simply a very well written novel, which will appeal to those who enjoy great storytelling!
A JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
But all hope is not yet lost for there may be a way to destroy the monsters of the west. Such a chance comes from the most unlikely of sources, Cada Varl the Immortal, the being responsible for the creation of the werewolves."
What a unique plot!! In the hands of a less capable writer, such a premise could have fallen into a comic book read (Nothing against comic books- love em myself!- but not as novels) yet with the superb writing skills of Shane Porteous, I am so pleased to say, the plot works, and works so very well!
Cada Varl the Immortal is a fully realized character, and the anchor of the book. The character, while certainly not your typical literary protagonist is in very capable hands, as Mr. Porteous has the talent to make even the most fantastic of characters resonate with the reader.
The plot, twists, and supporting castof characters are all deftly handled and very addicting to the reader. While this is certainly fantasy and horror, to label HOW GODS BLEED as a Horror-Fantasy is unfair- this is quite simply a very well written novel, which will appeal to those who enjoy great storytelling!
A JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
January 10, 2012
have only recently started to embrace ebooks and ereaders, to be honest a lot of the stuff I have read recently has been garbage. With that said I am very happy that I gave this book a chance, because it is brilliant. I can’t really find the right way to describe this story. Imagine if Akira Toriyama writer of Dragon Ball Z and Kentaro Miura writer of Berserk got together and decided to write a novel about werewolves. That’s the closest I can come to describing this properly and even that doesn’t feel quite right. To non manga/comic book readers out there, please don’t read my words and think this book is comical or cartoony, because it isn’t. It is very well crafted and complicated.
The origin story about how Cada Varl lost his humanity and was attacked by wolves, effectively giving birth to the werewolf was very cool and instantly got me intrigued in the story. From there the story moves at a great pace and with every turn of the page I was left guessing but not frustrated as to where the story was heading. That is one of the many strengths of this book, the fact that it isn’t obvious or predictable what is happening or where the story is heading.
This is a very different read and I enjoyed it immensely. How Gods Bleed is not a standard literary affair and at the same time isn’t a trashy read by any means. The author has not only written a very original werewolf tale he has written a great one. If you like originality, if you love it when an author thinks outside of the box than chances are you will really enjoy this book.
The origin story about how Cada Varl lost his humanity and was attacked by wolves, effectively giving birth to the werewolf was very cool and instantly got me intrigued in the story. From there the story moves at a great pace and with every turn of the page I was left guessing but not frustrated as to where the story was heading. That is one of the many strengths of this book, the fact that it isn’t obvious or predictable what is happening or where the story is heading.
This is a very different read and I enjoyed it immensely. How Gods Bleed is not a standard literary affair and at the same time isn’t a trashy read by any means. The author has not only written a very original werewolf tale he has written a great one. If you like originality, if you love it when an author thinks outside of the box than chances are you will really enjoy this book.
November 26, 2011
"How Gods Bleed" is a testament to the unlimited potential of werewolves in fantasy literature. Shane Porteous's use of imagery and detail makes this free ebook well worth the read, and captivates the reader every time the page is turned. Cada Varl is a compelling protagonist; vague, dark, brooding and very well written.
While I might nitpick at some grammatical errors, I have very few complaints for "HGB" and truly enjoyed reading this book. I intend to write a more thorough review but for now I will say that "How Gods Bleed" takes werewolf mythology to a gleefully dark place where evil and good clash epically and gloriously.
While I might nitpick at some grammatical errors, I have very few complaints for "HGB" and truly enjoyed reading this book. I intend to write a more thorough review but for now I will say that "How Gods Bleed" takes werewolf mythology to a gleefully dark place where evil and good clash epically and gloriously.
August 28, 2012
Wow, I don't even know how to describe this book. It is incredibly original and very well written. I went into this expecting a more typical fantasy story but with werewolves. But I am very glad to say this is anything but conventional. From the very first word I was greatly intrigued by the story. The pace really hits the ground running and kept me guessing the entire time. Definitely a memorable read, check this out if you are looking for something different.
November 29, 2011
In this day and age it seems almost everyone is writing a story about either vampires or werewolves. This explosion of authors can generally be placed into one of two groups. The twilight influenced writer who portrays werewolves as handsome but misunderstood things. The other group seems hell bent on returning the werewolf to the feared monster of the night that tradition dictates. Either way just about all werewolf stories today fall into one of these moulds. How Gods Bleed however not only stays away from these pitfalls but blows them both away like a tornado upon two houses made of straw.
How Gods Bleed is a tremendously unique story whose originality is so powerful it is difficult to place it in any one genre. This book really is the destroyer of clichés because it has elements of horror, fantasy and action but ignores the limitations of these genres with astonishing ease. I feel almost a little ashamed in using a cliché to describe this story, but Shane Porteous the author has perfected the recreation of the wheel.
Cada Varl is perhaps one of the most original characters ever written into a werewolf story. He is a warrior who has lost his humanity and gained astonishing powers because of it. But what really makes him far more memorable than many literary protagonists is in spite of how fantastical of a character he is, he resonates with the reader as well as any character I have ever read about from any genre.
Cada Varl is not alone in being memorable as the cast of supporting characters are tremendously interesting in their own way. From Granzool, the king of Helluv, whose brutality and darkness is so great that even werewolves are afraid of him, to Aneeku the werewolf warrior who is considered an outcast amongst his fellow monsters.
One of the many strength’s of this story is the twists that the reader will never see coming. Shane Porteous effortlessly moulds the reader into believing his novel will be heading one way, only to turn his created world upside down in a heartbeat.
There are many battles and duels that take place in this story, but unlike the repetitive battles ripped from the pages of history that a lot of fantasy stories use the battles and duels of How Gods Bleed are unique and easily remembered. The duels that Cada Varl and his enemies fight are indeed over the top but they are incredibly entertaining, strengthened even more so by the attention to detail that not once broke the tension or urgency of the duels.
There is much more that I could praise, such as the mythology, which by itself is unbelievably entertaining and original. But I will simply end by ensuring you that if you read this book you will discover a story that is as original as it is superb.
How Gods Bleed is a tremendously unique story whose originality is so powerful it is difficult to place it in any one genre. This book really is the destroyer of clichés because it has elements of horror, fantasy and action but ignores the limitations of these genres with astonishing ease. I feel almost a little ashamed in using a cliché to describe this story, but Shane Porteous the author has perfected the recreation of the wheel.
Cada Varl is perhaps one of the most original characters ever written into a werewolf story. He is a warrior who has lost his humanity and gained astonishing powers because of it. But what really makes him far more memorable than many literary protagonists is in spite of how fantastical of a character he is, he resonates with the reader as well as any character I have ever read about from any genre.
Cada Varl is not alone in being memorable as the cast of supporting characters are tremendously interesting in their own way. From Granzool, the king of Helluv, whose brutality and darkness is so great that even werewolves are afraid of him, to Aneeku the werewolf warrior who is considered an outcast amongst his fellow monsters.
One of the many strength’s of this story is the twists that the reader will never see coming. Shane Porteous effortlessly moulds the reader into believing his novel will be heading one way, only to turn his created world upside down in a heartbeat.
There are many battles and duels that take place in this story, but unlike the repetitive battles ripped from the pages of history that a lot of fantasy stories use the battles and duels of How Gods Bleed are unique and easily remembered. The duels that Cada Varl and his enemies fight are indeed over the top but they are incredibly entertaining, strengthened even more so by the attention to detail that not once broke the tension or urgency of the duels.
There is much more that I could praise, such as the mythology, which by itself is unbelievably entertaining and original. But I will simply end by ensuring you that if you read this book you will discover a story that is as original as it is superb.
Read
January 18, 2012First off, I will not give this any star rating, because I didn’t finish it. I gave How Gods Bleed plenty of time to catch my attention and draw me in, and gave up after reading 66% of it on my Kindle.
I jumped at the chance to read this after seeing the word werewolf, but quickly found out that it was more of a Lord Of The Rings/Fantasy/Exploring/Adventure and not the Horror/Blood/Guts/Terror that I usually read. I gave it a chance anyway, knowing that I didn’t like The Lord Of The Rings books, (I’m sure to never hear the end of that.) but still found myself trying to drag myself through this story, hoping that the werewolves would capture my attention. Don’t get me completely wrong, I like action/fantasy movies, but I can never get into the books.
The story line is basic enough. Cada Varl is an Immortal, and he holds the key to the complete destruction of the werewolf race. He asks for the help from a human society to track down what he needs to complete this task. What follows is months of tromping through the wilderness, battling stray werewolves, and the most awkward silent treatment amongst a group of seven people I’ve ever encountered.
I’m not a huge talker myself, but this group doesn’t have much dialog, and when it does it’s mysteriously missing punctuation. Not just a few periods or commas, every line of dialogue when attributed to a speaker is missing the ending punctuation. I’m not sure if this was intentional, or an oversight of the author, but none-the-less baffling. At one point the book seemed to be missing several pages, and I felt that I might have lost some important information there. Along with and overabundance of repetitive sentence starts, I found myself wanting to edit this book more than read it.
The book is certainly action packed, with whole chapters written showing move by move through a battle scene, but it was just too much for me. Every strike between opposites was painfully narrated out, not only through every second, but the attacks were broken down into the ten things that were happening in the battle in a nanosecond.
I’d say overall this book just wasn’t meant for me, but with a good editing, there is a crowd of action/fantasy fans out there that would enjoy it. This book has great potential if it was executed properly.
I jumped at the chance to read this after seeing the word werewolf, but quickly found out that it was more of a Lord Of The Rings/Fantasy/Exploring/Adventure and not the Horror/Blood/Guts/Terror that I usually read. I gave it a chance anyway, knowing that I didn’t like The Lord Of The Rings books, (I’m sure to never hear the end of that.) but still found myself trying to drag myself through this story, hoping that the werewolves would capture my attention. Don’t get me completely wrong, I like action/fantasy movies, but I can never get into the books.
The story line is basic enough. Cada Varl is an Immortal, and he holds the key to the complete destruction of the werewolf race. He asks for the help from a human society to track down what he needs to complete this task. What follows is months of tromping through the wilderness, battling stray werewolves, and the most awkward silent treatment amongst a group of seven people I’ve ever encountered.
I’m not a huge talker myself, but this group doesn’t have much dialog, and when it does it’s mysteriously missing punctuation. Not just a few periods or commas, every line of dialogue when attributed to a speaker is missing the ending punctuation. I’m not sure if this was intentional, or an oversight of the author, but none-the-less baffling. At one point the book seemed to be missing several pages, and I felt that I might have lost some important information there. Along with and overabundance of repetitive sentence starts, I found myself wanting to edit this book more than read it.
The book is certainly action packed, with whole chapters written showing move by move through a battle scene, but it was just too much for me. Every strike between opposites was painfully narrated out, not only through every second, but the attacks were broken down into the ten things that were happening in the battle in a nanosecond.
I’d say overall this book just wasn’t meant for me, but with a good editing, there is a crowd of action/fantasy fans out there that would enjoy it. This book has great potential if it was executed properly.
February 21, 2012
I have never read anything like this. How Gods Bleed easily could be considered the most original werewolf story ever told. It’s completely crazy but in the best possible way. The story is bold and ambitious and Shane Porteous has definitely earned my respect for telling such a unique story. This isn’t thinking outside of the box, it is dousing the box in petrol and setting it on fire.
How Gods Bleed is the very embodiment of what a great independent release should be. It ignores the boundaries of tradition and genre, forming a tale that is truly all its own. The story sets out in a typical fantasy way, a group of warriors head into enemy lands to save their homeland from destruction. But once within those lands an unforeseeable twist sets the story on its head and leaves the reader guessing the entire time.
What I really liked about this story is the idea of heading into the unknown. It allows the story to remain fresh and keeps the reader eager to read onward. Not once do you leave the side of the protagonists, you only know what they do and are left as perplexed as they are. At the same time I never once found myself frustrated and remained intrigued the entire time. This keeps the twists fresh because you never see them coming.
The action scenes are insane and over the top, but are incredibly entertaining and a lot of fun to read. They play a huge part in the story and conflict makes up the largest part of this book. I found myself getting completely immersed inside the duels, which are described in great detail. That is the really interesting thing about this novel, there is a great emphasis on action and conflict but the plot remains refreshing and complex.
It was really interesting that this novel could be so over the top and yet thought provoking at the same time. This isn’t a conflict between good and evil, but rather a struggle for existence and an exploration of identity. At its core, How Gods Bleed explores themes of humanity and its true value, set in a world of monsters, men and immortals.
How Gods Bleed is the very embodiment of what a great independent release should be. It ignores the boundaries of tradition and genre, forming a tale that is truly all its own. The story sets out in a typical fantasy way, a group of warriors head into enemy lands to save their homeland from destruction. But once within those lands an unforeseeable twist sets the story on its head and leaves the reader guessing the entire time.
What I really liked about this story is the idea of heading into the unknown. It allows the story to remain fresh and keeps the reader eager to read onward. Not once do you leave the side of the protagonists, you only know what they do and are left as perplexed as they are. At the same time I never once found myself frustrated and remained intrigued the entire time. This keeps the twists fresh because you never see them coming.
The action scenes are insane and over the top, but are incredibly entertaining and a lot of fun to read. They play a huge part in the story and conflict makes up the largest part of this book. I found myself getting completely immersed inside the duels, which are described in great detail. That is the really interesting thing about this novel, there is a great emphasis on action and conflict but the plot remains refreshing and complex.
It was really interesting that this novel could be so over the top and yet thought provoking at the same time. This isn’t a conflict between good and evil, but rather a struggle for existence and an exploration of identity. At its core, How Gods Bleed explores themes of humanity and its true value, set in a world of monsters, men and immortals.
November 13, 2011
I absolutely loved this novel, it was such a unique story and so well written and executed. The only other novel I can think of that has a similar story is Mathion: Book One of the Mavonduri Trilogy. But where Mathion is a very traditional story with a new twist, How Gods Bleed is the very epitome of the brilliance that can be achieved when a writer thinks outside of the box.
While the mythology of How Gods Bleed is some of the best that I have ever read or heard of it is far more driven by its characters, all of which are immensely interesting and memorable. Cada Varl the Immortal, the main character of this amazing story is not your typical hero of the piece, at the same time he isn’t the typical tragic character either. He is flawlessly formed over the course of the story making the reader invested in his plight more and more with every turn of the page.
How Gods Bleed has elements of fantasy, horror and action genres, but is not bound by the traditions of any of these genres, transcending effortlessly to portray its own unique story. It is almost inconceivable that someone could take the werewolf, a creature who has had so many stories written about it and write something extremely original and yet Shane Porteous has done just that.
I don’t want to talk on behalf of other readers but I honestly believe that this story is done so well that both hardcore werewolf fans and non-fans will enjoy this story. The werewolf fans can see the werewolf in a way that they would have never seen before and the non-fans can enjoy the story because it is not the typical werewolf tale.
And best of all this ebook is completely free, that’s right you heard me. You don’t have to pay a single cent for it. I only add this comment because I think this story is so superb and deserves to be read!
While the mythology of How Gods Bleed is some of the best that I have ever read or heard of it is far more driven by its characters, all of which are immensely interesting and memorable. Cada Varl the Immortal, the main character of this amazing story is not your typical hero of the piece, at the same time he isn’t the typical tragic character either. He is flawlessly formed over the course of the story making the reader invested in his plight more and more with every turn of the page.
How Gods Bleed has elements of fantasy, horror and action genres, but is not bound by the traditions of any of these genres, transcending effortlessly to portray its own unique story. It is almost inconceivable that someone could take the werewolf, a creature who has had so many stories written about it and write something extremely original and yet Shane Porteous has done just that.
I don’t want to talk on behalf of other readers but I honestly believe that this story is done so well that both hardcore werewolf fans and non-fans will enjoy this story. The werewolf fans can see the werewolf in a way that they would have never seen before and the non-fans can enjoy the story because it is not the typical werewolf tale.
And best of all this ebook is completely free, that’s right you heard me. You don’t have to pay a single cent for it. I only add this comment because I think this story is so superb and deserves to be read!
December 11, 2011
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and people have a right to disagree with that opinion. A number of these reviews rather quite annoy me and to be honest I seriously question if several of them have actually read How Gods Bleed in full. To call How Gods Bleed a “Lord of the Rings” styled story is like comparing Rihanna with Ozzy Osbourne, they’re both singers. In the same vain Lord of the Rings and How Gods Bleed are both fantasy stories, that’s where the similarities stop.
How Gods Bleed is not a conventional story, it doesn’t adhere to the traditions and clichés of any genre. Shane Porteous, the author doesn’t write with convention formulas, but as far as I am concerned that only makes this already unique story even more special. It is clear that he did not go to a writing school and learn the “right” way how to write, he wrote from the heart and I for one praise him for it. This prevents How Gods Bleed from being cold and stale; he does use highly imaginative descriptions but isn’t that a good thing with a book such as this?
This isn’t a story about good v.s evil, you could hardly call a king who publicly tortures his detractors, forces his people to wear a single cloth in the dead of winter and enjoys devouring the flesh of werewolves a good guy. He is called the man monsters fear; he didn’t get such a title from being a good guy.
How Gods Bleed is a struggle between two sides, which for reasons neither can control, cannot continue to co-exist. It is a testament to the need for survival and the importance of keeping one’s identity.
Let me lay it out for you like this, if you like convention, you won’t find it in this book, so read something else. However if you want an original story that hasn’t been done to death, then trust me you’ll love this.
How Gods Bleed is not a conventional story, it doesn’t adhere to the traditions and clichés of any genre. Shane Porteous, the author doesn’t write with convention formulas, but as far as I am concerned that only makes this already unique story even more special. It is clear that he did not go to a writing school and learn the “right” way how to write, he wrote from the heart and I for one praise him for it. This prevents How Gods Bleed from being cold and stale; he does use highly imaginative descriptions but isn’t that a good thing with a book such as this?
This isn’t a story about good v.s evil, you could hardly call a king who publicly tortures his detractors, forces his people to wear a single cloth in the dead of winter and enjoys devouring the flesh of werewolves a good guy. He is called the man monsters fear; he didn’t get such a title from being a good guy.
How Gods Bleed is a struggle between two sides, which for reasons neither can control, cannot continue to co-exist. It is a testament to the need for survival and the importance of keeping one’s identity.
Let me lay it out for you like this, if you like convention, you won’t find it in this book, so read something else. However if you want an original story that hasn’t been done to death, then trust me you’ll love this.
March 1, 2012
Over the last several years readers have been confronted with countless new ebooks. 99 percent of which are little more than generic stories or blatant knock-offs of popular paperbacks. But once in a blue moon a story comes along that is completely different, something that can honestly be called original, How Gods Bleed is just such a book. To describe this book as anything but unique would be a terrible lie. It takes werewolves to a place that they have never been taken to. Very few, if any authors can claim to have done such a thing.
The thing is, not only is this book different in premise, but different in execution. It takes the idea of the quest and shapes it in a way that I have never seen before. The stale premise of good v.s evil is thrown completely out of the window. It deals with ideas of humanity and takes the reader into an unique and complicated world.
What I loved the most about this story is just how important every single character is. The author ensures that none of them are generic or helpless. I was constantly surprised again and again by the depth and personality traits of the characters. That’s the great thing about this book, the reader is left guessing with every turn of the page.
Keeping this in mind I don’t want to spoil any of the many surprises you will find in How Gods Bleed. But I will say that How Gods Bleed goes beyond merely being ‘just another werewolf story’ and becomes an experience that will be remembered long after it is read.
The thing is, not only is this book different in premise, but different in execution. It takes the idea of the quest and shapes it in a way that I have never seen before. The stale premise of good v.s evil is thrown completely out of the window. It deals with ideas of humanity and takes the reader into an unique and complicated world.
What I loved the most about this story is just how important every single character is. The author ensures that none of them are generic or helpless. I was constantly surprised again and again by the depth and personality traits of the characters. That’s the great thing about this book, the reader is left guessing with every turn of the page.
Keeping this in mind I don’t want to spoil any of the many surprises you will find in How Gods Bleed. But I will say that How Gods Bleed goes beyond merely being ‘just another werewolf story’ and becomes an experience that will be remembered long after it is read.
May 9, 2012
I got myself a copy of this, because I wanted to read something similar to Mathion. With that said I was a little worried this would be a knock off after reading the introduction. However I am very happy to say that the two books couldn’t be more different. Yes they have a similar premise but the difference in their execution is like fire and ice.
How Gods Bleed is like no other werewolf story I have read, honestly I cannot think of one remotely like this. It definitely isn’t a paranormal romance; it isn’t really a horror story (although at times it is very bloody and violent.) It is a dark fantasy, but isn’t bound by the rules of such a genre.
Look I have to admit I love tradition, I love the classic tale of good vs evil. The morale hero defeats the overwhelming villain is something that I never get tired of. Frankly that is my comfort zone and I am saddened that so many authors try to rewrite the rules of fantasy. That is because most authors fail miserably. How Gods Bleed on the other hand not only succeeds but excels brilliantly at being alternative.
Would I want an entire bookshelf worth of How Gods Bleed? No, but as a one off How Gods Bleed is a breath of fresh air and a fantastic read. This book amazed me by being so radically different and yet incredibly satisfying.
How Gods Bleed is like no other werewolf story I have read, honestly I cannot think of one remotely like this. It definitely isn’t a paranormal romance; it isn’t really a horror story (although at times it is very bloody and violent.) It is a dark fantasy, but isn’t bound by the rules of such a genre.
Look I have to admit I love tradition, I love the classic tale of good vs evil. The morale hero defeats the overwhelming villain is something that I never get tired of. Frankly that is my comfort zone and I am saddened that so many authors try to rewrite the rules of fantasy. That is because most authors fail miserably. How Gods Bleed on the other hand not only succeeds but excels brilliantly at being alternative.
Would I want an entire bookshelf worth of How Gods Bleed? No, but as a one off How Gods Bleed is a breath of fresh air and a fantastic read. This book amazed me by being so radically different and yet incredibly satisfying.
February 3, 2013
Thousands of years after Cada Varl unwittingly sired the vicious werewolves and became an immortal he believes he has found a way to destroy them all. The way is dangerous, so he travels into the heart of werewolf territory with six of the finest warriors from the country of Helluv and hopes he can carry out his plan before the werewolves figure out what he is doing.
First, the concept of this story is sound and I liked it. It is what I refer to as a ‘Lord of the Rings’-type story where someone or several people set out on a quest or mission in order to save or protect the world at large. I like to read about the journey, the hardships conquered, the friendships formed and the battles that must be fought.
However, the writing needs some heavy editing. Punctuation is missing, paragraphs sometimes were two pages or more long and sentences were awkwardly worded or stilted.
This would be a wonderful story if it had a lot of polishing and fine-tuning done to it.
Free from Smashwords.
First, the concept of this story is sound and I liked it. It is what I refer to as a ‘Lord of the Rings’-type story where someone or several people set out on a quest or mission in order to save or protect the world at large. I like to read about the journey, the hardships conquered, the friendships formed and the battles that must be fought.
However, the writing needs some heavy editing. Punctuation is missing, paragraphs sometimes were two pages or more long and sentences were awkwardly worded or stilted.
This would be a wonderful story if it had a lot of polishing and fine-tuning done to it.
Free from Smashwords.
January 21, 2017
This has to be the most original werewolf story that I have read. Shane Porteous has taken this creature of myth and made it into something much greater. Porteous brilliantly imagined the werewolves boosting their already formidable strength and speed with unique weapons and armor previously unseen in literature. Additionally, the introduction of Aneeku and his ilk provide another exciting twist to the idea of the traditional werewolf.
The history of his world was fantastic, and the Helluvan warriors were both individually and collectively impressive in their tactics and demeanor. The Helluvans operate with the skill and precision of a special forces unit and never shirk from a challenge.
Cada Varl, the immortal, brings a complex persona to the story, in that he is simultaneously both hero and villain; possessed of unimaginable power, and yet robbed of humanity. His character was a living embodiment of the history of this imagined world, and brought sorrow, danger and excitement to the story.
How Gods Bleed is a unique work that offers a bold new chapter in werewolf lore.
The history of his world was fantastic, and the Helluvan warriors were both individually and collectively impressive in their tactics and demeanor. The Helluvans operate with the skill and precision of a special forces unit and never shirk from a challenge.
Cada Varl, the immortal, brings a complex persona to the story, in that he is simultaneously both hero and villain; possessed of unimaginable power, and yet robbed of humanity. His character was a living embodiment of the history of this imagined world, and brought sorrow, danger and excitement to the story.
How Gods Bleed is a unique work that offers a bold new chapter in werewolf lore.
January 3, 2012
My first foray into lycanthropy has been intriguing. An Immortal and six escorts are sent into the West to investigate the death of the Werewolf king and his usurpation and the Immortal wishes to give his life to reverse the devastation he has unwittingly released on the world. The plot is fascinating, fantastic in the best possible way and the description of the territory and the action scenes is dense and prolonged. The lead characters are sufficiently taciturn to reveal little about themselves other than by there actions, unless it is a first person backfill. I do think that the overall presentation would benefit from third party editing because certain word choices are either highly imaginiative or homonymous and can jar from the overall smoothness of the writing. It can be read as a stand-alone or as the foundation of a series - it seems apparent that darker things yet are afoot.
November 21, 2011
This is an original and unique werewolf story that follows Cada Varl and six Helluvian warriors as they trek into the depths of the Werewolf kingdom to destroy the Werewolf race once and for all. It is an entertaining and original read but I found the story got a little lost in the rather over the top epic battles that constantly cropped up. The mythology and worlds that Porteous has created are superb in themselves and the characters are really well written with the balance between their warrior and human sides written superbly. However this skill is over-whelmed by the numerous battles that are fought and the sheer time and detail that these are given. Personally I would have prefered a bit more tension and anticipation rather than a battle every other chapter. Overall though a fairly enjoyable read and if you like epic action, you'll love this.
December 3, 2011
This is one of the best books that I have ever read and is perhaps the only one that left me speechless after I had finished reading it. How Gods Bleed not only accomplishes many many things, it does so with remarkable ease. Dare I say that this may be the most original werewolf story ever written, the sheer fact an author was able to accomplish an original werewolf story is worth tremendous praise. But there is far more to love in this novel than sheer originality. From page one I excited and as I read further and further on, not once was I disappointed by the story. How Gods Bleed truly is a magnificent read and one I would recommend to anyone that likes good stories.
January 8, 2012
This is a super interesting story that I loved reading. There's a lot to like here such as the mythology, characters, twists and action scenes. How Gods Bleed is difficult to place into a specific genre. It is fantasy, it is horror, it is action and it is thriller but none of these lables seems to quite fit. Nor do any of them quite do this book justice.
This book probably isn't for everybody, because it doesn't follow any genre formula. But I really liked the fact that the author Shane Porteous was able to think outside of the box. In doing so he has written an original werewolf story that is radically different to just about everything I have ever read or heard of.
This book probably isn't for everybody, because it doesn't follow any genre formula. But I really liked the fact that the author Shane Porteous was able to think outside of the box. In doing so he has written an original werewolf story that is radically different to just about everything I have ever read or heard of.
January 4, 2012
I don't normally write reviews because I am not very good at it, but this book was mind-blowing. It is extremely original and I was pulled into the story as soon as I read the introduction. The mythology, characters, battles and twists are awesome in every way. But the biggest praise I can give this book is that the author has managed to write an action-packed book while still having compelling characters and a complex plot. In a word "amazing"
November 9, 2011
What’s this, an actual original werewolf story? By the gods can such a thing be true?
The answer is “Oh Hell Yeah!”
How Gods Bleed is a fast paced, deep level action story with elements of both Horror and Fantasy. With a tremendously unique plot, superb mythology, highly entertaining characters and battles/duels that are the very epitome of epic.
In a word "awesome"
The answer is “Oh Hell Yeah!”
How Gods Bleed is a fast paced, deep level action story with elements of both Horror and Fantasy. With a tremendously unique plot, superb mythology, highly entertaining characters and battles/duels that are the very epitome of epic.
In a word "awesome"
October 1, 2012
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book! Loved the new take on how werewolves were created. It didn't have much dialogue but I easily loved the Helluvian warriors and the immortal. I found myself cheering for them with each battle they fought; Porteous even managed to shock me a few times throughout the book. It did have a few convention problems but not enough to distract. Awesome tale!
January 8, 2012
This ebook may be free but it was one of the best ebooks that I have ever read. I just wanted to mention that because others have written better reviews than I could to capture just how great of a story this is.
July 29, 2016
Utterly Brilliant
January 8, 2012
Simply put this story is MIND BLOWING in the best posssible way. I loved it and will read it many many more times!
February 15, 2014
Adore this story. Have read and reread it many many times.
December 9, 2011
A truly original werewolf story, very unique and supberly written!
June 26, 2012
THIS BOOK F**KING ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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