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Griffins & Gunpowder #1
The Cerberus Rebellion
War changes everything.
On the world of Zaria, Elves, magic and mythical beasts coexist beside rifles and railroads. The futures of two nations hang in the balance as rebels and revolutionaries trade gunfire with loyalists and tyrants.
The King of Ansgar, secure in his belief that his loyal nobles and fearful subjects answer to his every whim, seeks to gain favor with friends across the sea. But his decision to send armies thousands of miles away will test that fear, and loyalty.
In war, little is held back; in revolution, nothing is safe
A Novel of approximately 93,000 words.
On the world of Zaria, Elves, magic and mythical beasts coexist beside rifles and railroads. The futures of two nations hang in the balance as rebels and revolutionaries trade gunfire with loyalists and tyrants.
The King of Ansgar, secure in his belief that his loyal nobles and fearful subjects answer to his every whim, seeks to gain favor with friends across the sea. But his decision to send armies thousands of miles away will test that fear, and loyalty.
In war, little is held back; in revolution, nothing is safe
A Novel of approximately 93,000 words.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2012
5 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Johnson
8 books14 followersJoshua Johnson is the author of "Gunpowder Fantasy" The Cerberus Rebellion and the creator of the Griffins & Gunpowder universe. When he isn't working or spending time with his family, he writes novels, short stories and novellas.
He currently lives in Northern Illinois with his wife and kids.
His second book, The Hydra Offensive, is available for pre-order!
He currently lives in Northern Illinois with his wife and kids.
His second book, The Hydra Offensive, is available for pre-order!
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 19, 2017
I've read other books belonging to the genre of "gunpowder fantasy", and i consider the ones from the "Powder mages serie" amongst my favorites fantasy novels of recent (post 2000) publication. There was magic, there was military mayhem, war, treachery, love and unforgettable characters.
The Cerberus rebellion feels noticeably different, in my opinion, and it's not so a good thing.
First of all: fantasy.
There are strange lands, with exotic names. There are elves (few) but you could easily forget them if the author from time to time does'nt remember they beeing really old. Sure there are griffins, plunging on the enemy soldiers from above about at three quarters of the plot, but they don't give you the sensation of "oh crap a huge fantasy beast is feasting on those poor guys". They could be large eagles, large hunting dogs...
There is even magic: basically one character uses it a couple of times. No fireballs, no complicated enchanting, not even the strange and subtle powder-trance of the above mentioned books from McClellan. Magic does not affect the plot, if not by saving one of the characters from beeing hacked in pieces by a platoon of enemies.
The whole setting is a little bit blurry and unfocused: for example there are trains, supposedly coal powered (?), but you don't get any clear visual detail about them. The characters are ... well. Let's say that i really did'nt got any affection to any of them. They were too little "alive", too sketchy.
The best thing about this book is the military know-how: regiments and division manouver on the field, making flanking, cover fire, charges, trenching and using artillery in realistic way.
The armies take a lot of casualties, the battlefield is littered of bodies. It's real war, won or lost using terrain, reinforcements and a good timing.
So in the end i liked it: it's a good book about war in the gunpowder age, with a hint of "fantasy".
If only i could feel a little of fear seeing the main characters charging in the middle of a gunfire volley...
The Cerberus rebellion feels noticeably different, in my opinion, and it's not so a good thing.
First of all: fantasy.
There are strange lands, with exotic names. There are elves (few) but you could easily forget them if the author from time to time does'nt remember they beeing really old. Sure there are griffins, plunging on the enemy soldiers from above about at three quarters of the plot, but they don't give you the sensation of "oh crap a huge fantasy beast is feasting on those poor guys". They could be large eagles, large hunting dogs...
There is even magic: basically one character uses it a couple of times. No fireballs, no complicated enchanting, not even the strange and subtle powder-trance of the above mentioned books from McClellan. Magic does not affect the plot, if not by saving one of the characters from beeing hacked in pieces by a platoon of enemies.
The whole setting is a little bit blurry and unfocused: for example there are trains, supposedly coal powered (?), but you don't get any clear visual detail about them. The characters are ... well. Let's say that i really did'nt got any affection to any of them. They were too little "alive", too sketchy.
The best thing about this book is the military know-how: regiments and division manouver on the field, making flanking, cover fire, charges, trenching and using artillery in realistic way.
The armies take a lot of casualties, the battlefield is littered of bodies. It's real war, won or lost using terrain, reinforcements and a good timing.
So in the end i liked it: it's a good book about war in the gunpowder age, with a hint of "fantasy".
If only i could feel a little of fear seeing the main characters charging in the middle of a gunfire volley...
September 15, 2012
In this complex book, we go to war.
I've never read what the author describes as "gunpowder" fantasy. The mix of guns and other technology with true fantasy items like elves was a strange thing to get used to. It wasn't bad, just different, and every now and then something would make me jolt and I'd be out of the story for a moment (like when the king tucked a newspaper under his arm ... it made me feel as though I was in modernish times and not in another world).
Kudos to the author for remarkably complex and complete world-building. I do wish a map had been included with the book, perhaps at the front for reference, as this is a very diverse place and the author is quite definite about setting. I imagine him writing in a room with maps and pictures of each character with incredibly lengthy character information (perhaps pages and pages on each person). It really is amazing how much he clearly knows about everyone in this book -- and there are many, many characters which populate it.
This is not an easy read, but it's an interesting one. Much of the time, in the beginning, I wasn't sure who to root for. Should I sympathize with the king? With the rebels? As time and pages passed, my allegiance became firmly entrenched with one side, but I could understand the feelings of the other.
While I enjoyed this book immensely, and thought the story was quite good, there were some things that slowed down the reading. The book suffers a bit from narrator intrusion -- we get lengthy descriptions of fairly unimportant things (clothing, room decoration, etc) and much is told, not shown. Instead of "showing" us a person's tattoo, we're told he has one and what it's of. Instead of learning a character's personality through ongoing observance, we're given paragraphs of information up front. It was a bit frustrating, and I had to fight skipping entire paragraphs when this happened.
Still, as mentioned, the plot line was intriguing. It's very complex, and I was fascinated by the way so many things were interwoven. The author must have carefully planned this book, because I can't imagine something this involved just happened by chance.
If you enjoy books with amazing world-building, if you like to read about the ins and outs of war on many fronts, if you like your fantasy mixed with a bit of technology you're going to love this book. One thing of note, however: it's clearly the beginning of a series. Don't read this expecting all the loose ends to be tied.
4/5 Flowers -- This was a very good book!
I've never read what the author describes as "gunpowder" fantasy. The mix of guns and other technology with true fantasy items like elves was a strange thing to get used to. It wasn't bad, just different, and every now and then something would make me jolt and I'd be out of the story for a moment (like when the king tucked a newspaper under his arm ... it made me feel as though I was in modernish times and not in another world).
Kudos to the author for remarkably complex and complete world-building. I do wish a map had been included with the book, perhaps at the front for reference, as this is a very diverse place and the author is quite definite about setting. I imagine him writing in a room with maps and pictures of each character with incredibly lengthy character information (perhaps pages and pages on each person). It really is amazing how much he clearly knows about everyone in this book -- and there are many, many characters which populate it.
This is not an easy read, but it's an interesting one. Much of the time, in the beginning, I wasn't sure who to root for. Should I sympathize with the king? With the rebels? As time and pages passed, my allegiance became firmly entrenched with one side, but I could understand the feelings of the other.
While I enjoyed this book immensely, and thought the story was quite good, there were some things that slowed down the reading. The book suffers a bit from narrator intrusion -- we get lengthy descriptions of fairly unimportant things (clothing, room decoration, etc) and much is told, not shown. Instead of "showing" us a person's tattoo, we're told he has one and what it's of. Instead of learning a character's personality through ongoing observance, we're given paragraphs of information up front. It was a bit frustrating, and I had to fight skipping entire paragraphs when this happened.
Still, as mentioned, the plot line was intriguing. It's very complex, and I was fascinated by the way so many things were interwoven. The author must have carefully planned this book, because I can't imagine something this involved just happened by chance.
If you enjoy books with amazing world-building, if you like to read about the ins and outs of war on many fronts, if you like your fantasy mixed with a bit of technology you're going to love this book. One thing of note, however: it's clearly the beginning of a series. Don't read this expecting all the loose ends to be tied.
4/5 Flowers -- This was a very good book!
November 12, 2013
This is a very crowded canvas that the author has unfolded before us. It is a story of the empire of Ansgar (ruled currently by King Eadric), the rebellion of an area within it called Kerberos (why there is a difference in spelling between the text and the title escapes me) and also that of a group of nobles holding fiefs, titles and/or land, etc., in "the West."
The story seems relatively simple; the Kerberosi have never really accepted Ansgari rule; they and the nobility of the West see an opportunity to escape Ansgari taxes and commercial regulation when King Eadric decides to help some peoples across "the Vast Sea." He orders levies which give his enemies the pretext to gather their forces and while his attention is focused on the threats/opportunities over the sea, the rebellions break out.
Otherwise, there is general confusion, caused and compounded by a plethora of names. By default, Eadric is the main character even though others appear more interesting; none of them develop. The nobles shift alliances guided by wisdom on the order of "You don't want to marry your heir to a house that you do not want to one day rule." Military superiority is achieved by drilling farmers and peasants every day "to ensure that their form was as close to perfect as could be expected." (What does the author think the other parties doing?)
The nobility have some delineation--greater lords, lesser lords, etc., but it is somewhat disconcerting that both dukes (there are several) and the King of all Ansgar are indiscriminately addressed as "Your Grace."
The author has shown that he can invent characters and situations; the story-telling remains an open question. The language definitely needs work.
The story seems relatively simple; the Kerberosi have never really accepted Ansgari rule; they and the nobility of the West see an opportunity to escape Ansgari taxes and commercial regulation when King Eadric decides to help some peoples across "the Vast Sea." He orders levies which give his enemies the pretext to gather their forces and while his attention is focused on the threats/opportunities over the sea, the rebellions break out.
Otherwise, there is general confusion, caused and compounded by a plethora of names. By default, Eadric is the main character even though others appear more interesting; none of them develop. The nobles shift alliances guided by wisdom on the order of "You don't want to marry your heir to a house that you do not want to one day rule." Military superiority is achieved by drilling farmers and peasants every day "to ensure that their form was as close to perfect as could be expected." (What does the author think the other parties doing?)
The nobility have some delineation--greater lords, lesser lords, etc., but it is somewhat disconcerting that both dukes (there are several) and the King of all Ansgar are indiscriminately addressed as "Your Grace."
The author has shown that he can invent characters and situations; the story-telling remains an open question. The language definitely needs work.
June 26, 2021
Fantastic!!
A war and gunpowder story, with a smattering of magic and characters with depth. It could do with the help of a good editor, but was other brilliant.
A war and gunpowder story, with a smattering of magic and characters with depth. It could do with the help of a good editor, but was other brilliant.
March 15, 2016
This title falls into the category of gunpowder fantasy, as you can probably tell from the subtitle. The genre is not so heavily populated, but unfortunately this is really not the best example if you are just getting started.
The writing is rather clunky, there's an overabundance of descriptions of all sorts. Every time some people enter enter the scene, all their names and titles are listed whether they matter or not. Instead of "a group of nobles entered the room." you'll get "a group of nobles entered the room, Duke of x at the head of the group, followed by Earl of y and Earl of z then Baron a, Baron b, Baron c and finally Baron d." The prose most definitely doesn't flow.
Then there's the story. Now this is of course just my taste, but I couldn't find a simple character to sympathize with. I'm not sure if this was the author's intention to just tell the realistic story where there are no heroes and to show that even the seemingly noble causes are undertaken by people who are not necessarily defined as good or unselfish. At first, it seemed like the Western nobles were supposed to be good guys. But that quickly degenerated into various power plays and greediness. You could sympathize with the Kerberosi - living under the yoke of the conquerors, but really, it was their own fault. If you go and try to invade someone then you can hardly complain when the tables are turned. Even so I could've liked the book a bit more if the rebellion didn't get crushed. If I really wanted to read a book which story I didn't like and with characters I don't care for I'd continue with Steven Erikson's Malazan series. At least the writing was better.
Why 2 stars then? Well, because there are no half stars and I would have given 1,5 for the imagination and the basic plot.
The writing is rather clunky, there's an overabundance of descriptions of all sorts. Every time some people enter enter the scene, all their names and titles are listed whether they matter or not. Instead of "a group of nobles entered the room." you'll get "a group of nobles entered the room, Duke of x at the head of the group, followed by Earl of y and Earl of z then Baron a, Baron b, Baron c and finally Baron d." The prose most definitely doesn't flow.
Then there's the story. Now this is of course just my taste, but I couldn't find a simple character to sympathize with. I'm not sure if this was the author's intention to just tell the realistic story where there are no heroes and to show that even the seemingly noble causes are undertaken by people who are not necessarily defined as good or unselfish. At first, it seemed like the Western nobles were supposed to be good guys. But that quickly degenerated into various power plays and greediness. You could sympathize with the Kerberosi - living under the yoke of the conquerors, but really, it was their own fault. If you go and try to invade someone then you can hardly complain when the tables are turned. Even so I could've liked the book a bit more if the rebellion didn't get crushed. If I really wanted to read a book which story I didn't like and with characters I don't care for I'd continue with Steven Erikson's Malazan series. At least the writing was better.
Why 2 stars then? Well, because there are no half stars and I would have given 1,5 for the imagination and the basic plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2012
Cerberus Rebellion is a science fiction piece set in a land filled with mythical griffins, elves, and nobles trying their best to rule. I don't always read science fiction, but this one caught my eye and held my attention. With palpable tension between the nations and the action of war, this story is fantastic.
I found the writing to flow smooth and easy, and the lyrical words kept the read going. Mr. Johnson has a vivid imagination, and his images have come alive on the page. I'd recommend this read for anyone who can set reality aside and travel into a world we can only dream of.
I found the writing to flow smooth and easy, and the lyrical words kept the read going. Mr. Johnson has a vivid imagination, and his images have come alive on the page. I'd recommend this read for anyone who can set reality aside and travel into a world we can only dream of.
December 10, 2012
I don't normally read "war" novels. But the premise of this one with "griffins and gunpowder" intrigued me. I was pleasantly pleased with the book. It was fairly easy to read, although the descriptions of so many of the characters got a bit monotonous. I was highly amused of the coincidence of names of people I actually know. I'm guessing it's purely coincidental as I don't believe the author knows the same people I do. I have already recommended the book to others and plan to continue. Well done!
December 12, 2012
This was a fantastical war novel that caught my attention with its "Griffins and Gunpowder" heading. There were many epic battles fought with sword and guns and flights on Griffins that later continued on trains. It was hard to wrap my head around the anachronisms but incredibly enjoyable. Like a giant game of fantasy Risk. I will definitely read another book in the series
March 27, 2016
Good but not great
I enjoyed the book but thought the story lacked a certain depth and detail. It was not easy to keep track of characters and locations.
I enjoyed the book but thought the story lacked a certain depth and detail. It was not easy to keep track of characters and locations.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews