Gravedigger

by Michael-Israel Jarvis

Dead or alive. Good or evil. Hero or fugitive.

Gravedigger.

Valo needs a particular solution to a particular problem. The human Claimfold and prigon Torzsi draw apart. War is promised in the West. The magi of Nagyevo are meddling with the dead.

Perin may be the answer Valo needs, if he doesn't get killed before he works out what's going on. And then there's the chance that fate hasn't called him after all. The gods are nameless and silent. And the best laid plans have a way of going badly wrong.

Enter the spade and sorcery world of Valo.


Gravedigger follows Perin, an apprentice gravedigger. No friends, no culture, no future.
And then a giant bull-man and his dead friend arrive. Kesairl the Prigon and Medrivar the undead king come seeking the services of Perin’s master, and shatter the insular world of his graveyard.

GRAVEDIGGER’s landscape is a canvas for great events. From the Claimfold’s little towns to great Nagyevo City, all is most definitely NOT well.

GRAVEDIGGER is about living people, dead people and living dead people. It has corrupt mages, secret societies and ale-drinking anarchists.
It’s also about brotherhood and resilience in the face of adversity. It questions the existence of fate and the motivations of the gods.

Ah yes, and it also has a fair amount of bloody violence.

If you’ve ever wondered what kind of hero wields a spade, then Perin’s story is one you should read. GRAVEDIGGER is available through Amazon, on all kindle-supporting devices and as a paperback.

Just search for the book title and the author’s name: Michael-Israel Jarvis.

Genres: Fantasy

420 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2012

About the author

Born in Cambridge on the 3rd of November 1989.
Educated at The Christian School in Takeley, Birchwood High School and Oriel High School.
Further educated at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, where he wrote "The Maker's Bloodline: Land Rising".
Even further educated at the University of Northampton, attaining a First in Creative Writing.

Married his wife, Kate Jarvis, summer of 2010. They have a painted conure together, called Bowie.

Wrote "Gravedigger" while attending University, publishing through Amazon on 2nd November 2012.

Michael-Israel Jarvis is an author of fantasy fiction, which varies from relatively traditional old world fantasy, to dark urban fantasy, to science fiction and beyond. He likes to follow stories across genre boundaries. There's nothing quite so intriguing as a hybrid.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Fantasy, the classic battle of good versus evil, hard fought and hard won battles, pain, growth, are all parts of good fantasy and they are all parts of Michael-Israel’s Gravedigger. Only in a fantasy can an unremarkable boy become a legendary hero, a wanted villain and a warrior against all that stands in his way from fulfilling his quest. Follow as a young apprentice gravedigger without family friends or support becomes part of the world of the living dead when he is sworn to secrecy on a dark and frigid night by two strangers, one with the head of a bull and one a skeletal king who is part of the living dead world. Will a pact be made between this undead king and young Perin?

Perin will set out in the world on a mission. He will face battles full of blood and gore, he will take lives and save lives, make friends and make enemies, but in the end, it is he who must stand for another and only then can things be set right.

Whether you are a fan of true fantasy with all of its fantastical world building, or if you are new to the vast detail supplied, there is never a moment that Michael-Israel Jarvis will let you down. This world comes to life with all of its shortcomings and all of its characters through the details drawn by this imaginative author. Not for those who wish to rip through a book at the speed of sound, but for those who can relax into another world as each scene plays out with rich descriptions. Feel the emotions of each character; learn their quirks and the quirks of the world they live in. Feel their fears, their lack of reliable information and its results. Enter Perin’s world of mages and magic and war and watch a boy grow into a warrior with honor and a hidden secret.

I received this copy from the author, Michael-Israel Jarvis, in exchange for my honest review. We have no personal or professional relationship.

Publisher: Booktrope Editions
Publication Date: October 24, 2015
Genre: Science Fiction | Fantasy
Print Length: 332 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Boundless Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perin, a young man learning to become a gravedigger, takes readers on his unusual and violent journey into manhood. Perin is a lone soul, he doesn’t have much to look forward to; yet, he is still kind, optimistic, and even a bit heroic.

Gravedigger is a well written story of fantasy. The characters are well developed and extremely well described; readers are made to feel as if they are literally in the adventure. I can’t get into too many details, for fear of spoiling it for future readers; but I can say, you’ll love it. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves, fantasy, action, suspense, and a good hearted coming of age story. It’s a strong 5 Boundless Stars; I absolutely loved it....Beth

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[Stace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst the title of the book might have you assuming that this book is a horror story, you would be wrong. The truth is that this book is a fantasy, action, adventure story, not for the faint-hearted.

The book feels huge, in terms of events, characters and complexity. You really do need to make time to read this book, in order to absorb all that is happening. For that reason, I find it quite difficult to give you a proper outline as to what the book is about, as there was so much going on from beginning to end.

Perin Foundling, the main character, is an apprentice gravedigger, working for a very wise elderly gravedigger, who for me stole the show at times. Perin may also be the only one able to save Valo, where he lives.

There are a vast amount of characters in the book, and it sometimes felt like new ones were popping up all the time. I did find myself struggling a few times to remember which side some of the characters were on, as this is very much a good vs evil book.

If you are looking for a fantasy novel with dragons and mythical folk then you are going to be disappointed as this book has neither. What it does have is a complete adventure, fast-paced, enjoyable action, come fantasy, with a brilliantly executed plot and dramatic scenes that will have you eagerly turning the pages wanting more.

Well done Mr. Jarvis. I feel those that are into the likes of Warcraft and Dungeons and Dragons etc, will love this book.

Reviewed by Stacey at www.whisperingstories.com

[Chels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thoughts When I Finished:

I was pleasantly surprised after finishing this book. Most of the story was a solid 3-4 stars for me but I really love how the ending turned out and that's what pushed my rating up higher.

What I Loved:

I think what I loved most about this book was the idea that this plain boy could become something so much greater than himself. I especially liked Perin because he was just thrown into this strange situation and he ended up being a person that people looked up to and lead them. I also really loved that there was no judgement in this book, which is a little unrealistic I guess. There were humans, mages, undead, and so many more creatures but Perin just kind of banded together with whoever he wanted. There was one boy who was a mage and the mages weren't well loved in this book. But Perin ended up becoming like a brother to him even though their relationship wasn't easy. It was easily all the themes and morals that really made this book for me.

What I Didn't Like:

There wasn't anything I could say that I didn't like but I found that the plot made me confused quite a bit. The world building was lacking a little and it made it hard for me to figure out what was happening at some points. I think this book could have gotten 5 stars if it wasn't for the world building and some plot points early on.

Who I'd recommend To:

I'd recommend this book to lovers of high fantasy. It's not a light read by any means so you need to be dedicated to the fantasy genre to be able to get through this whole story. That's not a bad thing, it just means that this shouldn't be one of your first fantasy books maybe. I think it would also be a good book for people who love coming of age books. You can really see the character development of the main character and how he never forgets where he came from.

Review Summary:

A great story for seasoned fantasy lovers of all kinds! It's a fantasy book without following the usual patterns of other fantasy books. Be prepared for something a little different! It's not a book you'll be able to speed through, but a book where you would relax and be fully integrated into the story. The action and adventure is drawn out until the very end so at not point during this book will you be bored.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page, this story thrusts the reader into a vivid world of danger, adventure and true heroes.

Perin is a teenage boy with a job most people shun--he's an apprentice gravedigger. His master is kind, but friends and acceptance are words he's never known. Still, he's got a good heart and holds no grudges. He's the kind of character which finds a soft spot in the heart and refuses to let go. Especially when an odd duo steps into the graveyard, and Perin's hidden potential of bravery and heroism begin to shine through.

The scenes in this are masterfully described, making it simple to slide right into Perin's world and breathe it in along with him. It's a fantasy world but has the familiarity (at first) of a historic town, allowing the characters to shine through before the more fantastic creatures and plot get underway. Which was good because this plot does race off and grow in complexity as the story thickens.

In many ways, this is a coming of age tale. Perin progresses from a naive teen into an incredible man as a twist of fate takes him on a journey which molds him in ways a reader could never suspect. He makes mistakes, but never in a way that is frustrating. Instead, it's a joy to cheer him on as he picks himself back up to do what he must to help those around him...even if he's not sure he really has a chance to succeed or knows what he's doing. The characters around him round it off, giving the story the right amount of color and depth.

This is a packed 330 pages, not letting up on tension until the last page. The intrigue, lies, and secrets of a country about to fall into chaos are expertly woven with magic, mages, gods and the undead, creating an exhilarating ride. Despite all of the layers, it was simple and mostly logical to follow. Only the very last couple of pages hiccuped a little, leaving the last death a bit skimmed over.

Summed up: This is a sheer delight for fantasy fans. The writing pulls flawlessly into a fantastic world with a heroes not easy to part with. . .which I'm hoping we won't have to yet.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Rajalakshmi Prithviraj · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title attracted me to read this in the first place. I presumed that the story would unfold with elements of horror. I was proved wrong.

The plot revolves around a grave digger but it takes the reader into realms of fantasy. There is magic, sorcery and the quintesstential fight between good and evil. But I must admit, the treatment given to this comcept is what has made all the difference.

Michael is a good writer but there were a few places where descriptions ended up confusing me. As a reader, I lost conversations, their underlying meaning and in a way a part of the story itself. Hence, in my opinion the language used was a bit difficult to comprehend. He has used imageries in various depictions. These imageries did pop up in my head every time I understood what was going on. I also found bits of breaks in the narration. A few places had scenes that could have been elaborated for better understanding.

The protagonist stood out as one strong character and that was a major plus point for the story. Sadly, many of the important characters were introduced in groups. Due to this it really became difficult to separate one from another at times.

To sum up, if you are looking for a fantasy story that has loads of violence in it, then this book is worth reading. Maybe a second reading might help change my opinion or a sequel might succeed clearing up my doubts and answering the questions lingering in my mind. Only time will tell.

P.S - Thank you Dane and Booktrope Publishing for giving me a book that gave a different perspective about the fantasy genre. Hopefully, the next story, a sequel if there is one, would be a much improved version.

[Ashley Tomlinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying this cover is amazing and definitely called to me. Along with the name because I like creepy stuff and the name gives off that creep factor. I loved all of the different magical aspects of this book. I'm a sucker for anything that has mages in it so I was sold as soon as I saw that.

I liked the overall concept of the story and all of the morals thrown in there. It made it more enjoyable for me to read. I wish everyone could get along and no judge as easily as they did in this book. The world would probably be a happier place if they did.

I recommend to anyone that likes a great fantasy book with creative characters and an enjoyable plot.

[Dane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantasy novels come with a certain set of expectations - cheesy plot-lines, clunky dialogue and a certain sameness that's plagued the genre for years. Jarvis' book avoids all of this, with a solid storyline and believable characters that feel like old friends by the third chapter. Go out and buy yourself a copy - whether you're a lifelong fantasy fan or a first-timer, Gravedigger will make you fall in love with the brave people of the Claimfold and their wise Prigon neighbours. Oh, and give my regards to Perin.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read the free excerpt and I'm very impressed. I thought it was an original piece of writing but could be compared to other high quality stories such as Lord of the Rings. It was beautifully written and very well researched I feel. I want to read the rest of it!

[Chrissy Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael-Israel Jarvis gives us a fabulous fantasy story. This book makes you want to read more! I could not put it down!

[Joseph Parsonage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gravedigger is an action/adventure fantasy – and before you switch off, be assured that there are no elves, dwarves or dragons; the setting is original, and more attention has been paid to the characters and the story than to the fantasy elements, which themselves all weave together nicely to create an interesting and supportive backdrop to the whole thing. The world in which the story is set is easy to get into – the town at the beginning of the book is just a town, the people are just people, and the nasty oppressive government is just a group of nasty, oppressive government. Just that they’re sorcerers.

As can be gleaned from the title of the book, the story is about a gravedigger; Perin Foundling, a young apprentice gravedigger who lives and works in the local graveyard, who gets caught up in events that will affect the entire future of the land of Valo and which will lead him to Nagyevo, the bustling capital city. There he knuckles under the thumb of the Tacnimag - the corrupt government mages - signing on with a squad of Borderers (militia), whilst he looks for some way to free an imprisoned friend of his, held by the Tacnimag. Naturally this promises violence.

Good points about the book: the pace of the story is exceptional! It starts off with just Perin and his mentor, the elderly gravedigger, as they eke out a living by burying deceased townsfolk. The old gravedigger’s philosophical approach to his work makes him one of the best characters, instantly believable, and that he passes his views on to his apprentice is one of the main driving forces behind the book. After a brief interlude the story picks up again as Perin travels to Nagyevo with his new friend Kesairl, who immediately gets captured by the Tacnimag on trumped-up charges, thus leaving the young gravedigger lost and adrift. While this section is a little slow, it’s not long before Perin signs up with the Borderers, a group of misfit ‘volunteer’ soldiers with whom interesting social dynamics and camaraderie develop as they investigate the mysterious appearance of ferocious beast-men called Drizen (okay, these guys are effectively Jarvis’ answer to Orcs, the archetypal bloodthirsty ‘evil soldier’, but they are scary at least). From the start of the Borderers’ section to the final chapter, the story is brilliant – it flows so nicely that it is damned difficult to put the book down, and at some points even impossible to do so.

And I need to just make a mention about the violent content of the book.

There is a lot of violence.

A name like ‘Gravedigger’ doesn’t exactly conjure up cheerful images, but the gritty, graphic portrayal of the fights against the Drizen is definitely worth mentioning – but it is the psychological reactions of the characters that I want to point out. The reactions the characters have immediately after the savage combat gives this story an edge that I have rarely seen - it is important to note that very few of the characters are hardened killers, the Borderers all being completely new to the job, and even my inability to tell the lesser characters apart did not stop the scene after the first Drizen encounter from being one of the most stirring and memorable in the book.

So there you have my verdict: Gravedigger is a good book. You’ll never view a spade in the same light again.

[Joseph Parsonage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gravedigger is an action/adventure fantasy – and before you switch off, be assured that there are no elves, dwarves or dragons; the setting is original, and more attention has been paid to the characters and the story than to the fantasy elements, which themselves all weave together nicely to create an interesting and supportive backdrop to the whole thing. The world in which the story is set is easy to get into – the town at the beginning of the book is just a town, the people are just people, and the nasty oppressive government is just a group of nasty, oppressive government. Just that they’re sorcerers.

As can be gleaned from the title of the book, the story is about a gravedigger; Perin Foundling, a young apprentice gravedigger who lives and works in the local graveyard, who gets caught up in events that will affect the entire future of the land of Valo and which will lead him to Nagyevo, the bustling capital city. There he knuckles under the thumb of the Tacnimag - the corrupt government mages - signing on with a squad of Borderers (militia), whilst he looks for some way to free an imprisoned friend of his, held by the Tacnimag. Naturally this promises violence.

Good points about the book: the pace of the story is exceptional! It starts off with just Perin and his mentor, the elderly gravedigger, as they eke out a living by burying deceased townsfolk. The old gravedigger’s philosophical approach to his work makes him one of the best characters, instantly believable, and that he passes his views on to his apprentice is one of the main driving forces behind the book. After a brief interlude the story picks up again as Perin travels to Nagyevo with his new friend Kesairl, who immediately gets captured by the Tacnimag on trumped-up charges, thus leaving the young gravedigger lost and adrift. While this section is a little slow, it’s not long before Perin signs up with the Borderers, a group of misfit ‘volunteer’ soldiers with whom interesting social dynamics and camaraderie develop as they investigate the mysterious appearance of ferocious beast-men called Drizen (okay, these guys are effectively Jarvis’ answer to Orcs, the archetypal bloodthirsty ‘evil soldier’, but they are scary at least). From the start of the Borderers’ section to the final chapter, the story is brilliant – it flows so nicely that it is damned difficult to put the book down, and at some points even impossible to do so.

And I need to just make a mention about the violent content of the book.

There is a lot of violence.

A name like ‘Gravedigger’ doesn’t exactly conjure up cheerful images, but the gritty, graphic portrayal of the fights against the Drizen is definitely worth mentioning – but it is the psychological reactions of the characters that I want to point out. The reactions the characters have immediately after the savage combat gives this story an edge that I have rarely seen - it is important to note that very few of the characters are hardened killers, the Borderers all being completely new to the job, and even my inability to tell the lesser characters apart did not stop the scene after the first Drizen encounter from being one of the most stirring and memorable in the book.

So there you have my verdict: Gravedigger is a good book. You’ll never view a spade in the same light again.

[Dane Cobain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gravedigger was written by a good friend of mine, Mr. Michael-Israel Jarvis – in fact, I’ve already interviewed him about his work over on the blog. He was one of the first authors that we spoke to, and Gravedigger featured prominently in the questions and his responses.

The book is in the vein of an epic fantasy adventure, but with a twist – the protagonist, Perin, defies the norm and steps away from tradition, a gravedigger who uses his shovel as a weapon. He’s pretty epic, as heroes go – a hero that we can all relate to, and that we could all very easily be if we found ourselves in his world.

I’m going to avoid touching the story-line here, because I don’t want to ruin it and because it gets kind of complicated at times – it’s also a long book, and lots happens. It’ll wear me out if I try to get through everything! Suffice to say though, that Jarvis has a gift for fantasy writing, and that his style is perfectly matched to his subject matter. Jarvis also has an eye for detail, which is just what you want if you’re creating an entirely new world of your own.

It’s also been well edited, and there’s nary a typo in sight – that’s made even more impressive by the sheer size of the book, and the amount of work it must’ve taken. You really can call Gravedigger an epic, in the fine tradition of Tolkien – he’s clearly been an influence on Jarvis, but his work is more like a hotpot of Tolkien, Pratchett, Hemingway and Asimov, a sort of (dare I say superior?) mix of styles which is pleasing on the mind.

If I was to criticise the book at all, which I should because Izzy is my friend, I would warn you that it’s a tiring read because of its length, and the cover art could do with some work. Can’t fault it anywhere else!

You do need a passing interest in the fantasy genre to really appreciate the nuances of what Jarvis is doing, though – as for me, fantasy isn’t exactly my favourite genre, but I like it enough to dip in and out of it now and then. This book is perfect for you if you do the same, and who knows? It might even turn you in to a bigger fan of fantasy!

[Michael-Israel Jarvis]

Taken from the first customer review of the book on Amazon.co.uk -

"Fantasy books often follow a pattern; this one shakes things up with major "didn't see that coming" points along the way. To get within 2 chapters of the end & still know how things are resolved is a rare treat, this is one to keep the pages turning."

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. While it isn't your typical Gravedigger story and or fantasy, it is a pretty good story with lots of violence and action. The characters are interesting and the story flows well. Not my usual type of book but entertaining to the end.